Till There Was You

Chapter 6: "Ordinary Day" or "Lose Yourself"

Disclaimer: I don't own them and I'm not trying to say I do. You can sue me if you want, but I don't have anything to give you……….

A/N: Well here the sixth chapter. How many chapters will this be you ask? Honestly I have no idea. Depends on how long it takes me to get where I'm going with all of this.  Well enjoy…

Just a day, just an ordinary day 
just trying to get by 
just a boy, just an ordinary boy but
he was looking to the sky and 
as he asked if i would come along 
i started to realize that everyday he finds just what he's lookin' for 
and like a shooting star he shines, and he said
 
take my hand 
live while you can 
though you feel dreams are right in the palm of your hand
 
and as he spoke, he spoke, ordinary words 
though they did not feel 
for i felt what i had not felt before 
and you'd swear those words could heal and 
as i looked up into those eyes, his vision borrows mine 
and i know he's no stranger 
for i feel i've held him for all time and he said
 
take my hand 
live while you can 
though you feel dreams are right in the palm of your hand
in the palm of your hand
 
please come with me, see what i see 
touch the stars for time will not flee 
time will not flee, can you see?
-Ordinary Day Vanessa Carlton
 
~*~*~*~*~
 
You better lose yourself in the music, the moment 
You own it, you better never let it go
You only get one shot, do not miss your chance to blow
This opportunity comes once in a lifetime
-Lose Yourself, Eminem

            The following Thursday Hermione was having a late lunch with Ginny. Ginny was going on about how surprised she had been when Harry proposed and everything they had discussed as possible wedding plans since that night. Hermione had started out trying to pay attention but her mind was elsewhere. She was thinking about the same thing she's been thinking about for the past five days: Fred. Fred Weasley had kissed her. After they had broken apart, Hermione frantically tried to tell herself that she hadn't just been kissing her fiancée's brother.

            "Fred we… Oh and Ron!" Hermione still couldn't think straight.

            "I know Mione trust me I know. But I can't fight this. I tried. I don't know what to do."  Before she could respond to him, George popped his head out the back door and said that Oliver was getting ready to leave but wanted to say goodbye. Fred hesitantly got up and went back into the house. Hermione never found excuse to be alone with him again that night.

            Sunday morning Hermione woke up early so that she could sneak up the attic and talk to Fred before Ron woke up. When she got there she found the twins we gone. It was then that she remembered that they had planned to go to The Wizarding Invention Convention in Scotland for a few days.

            Sitting with Ginny Hermione was anticipating her meeting with Fred when she got back to the Burrow. The twins were supposed to have arrived home sometime in the early afternoon and she still had no idea what she was going to say when she saw Fred.

            "Hermione! Are you listening to me?" Hermione came back to reality to the sound of Ginny's impatient voice. "What's wrong with you?"

            "Nothing," Hermione answered.

            "Sure fine. You don't have to talk about it, but I know there's something," Ginny shrugged. "Anyway as I was saying. Harry and I were talking about the wedding. I personally want a huge extravagant wedding. You know everybody that's somebody would be invited; you know, sweet revenge on anyone who ever gave us a dirty look. And you know Harry has enough in Gringotts for me to indulge myself with the plans." Ginny was comfortable teasing about the money she was marrying into since by this point it was clear to anyone Ginny would marry him if he lived in a box. "Harry wants a small private wedding though just close friends and family. He doesn't want the Prophet doing a special insert on The-Boy-Who-Lived's Wedding," she continued. "Personally I wouldn't mind being the bride in the wedding of the year, but I understand why he doesn't like all the attention. It's still weird to me sometimes and I grew up on stories about him. Just the other day the Prophet had a whole article on the engagement. I don't know who told them. Some one at the party I guess…." Hermione sighed as Ginny kept going on. She didn't blame her for being excited. The whole wizarding community was talking about the girl who captured the heart of Harry Potter, hailing her as an angel for bringing love and happiness to a person who's given them all so much. Hermione just had more important things to worry about.

            When Ginny finally ran out of things to say about her and Harry the girls decided to pay and leave. Ginny who was going back to Harry's said goodbye to Hermione and offered to tell Harry hello for her. After Ginny had disapparated, Hermione took a deep breath and apparated back to the burrow. She noticed two trunks just inside the front door. The twins were home. She took a seat on the living room couch, not quite ready to see Fred. Hermione's thoughts drifted to Ginny  and all of her stories about the things Harry had done for her since the engagement. He seemed almost more thrilled Ginny had said yes than Ginny was that he asked. She then thought about the conversation with Ron about when he had proposed to her, and finally to the morning Harry had questioned her love for Ron. Hermione sorted through her thoughts for a moment and suddenly realized what she needed to say.

            When she reached the attic she knocked on the closed door. George answered. He quickly ushered her in and shut the door behind her. He looked at her apologetically before speaking a word.

            "If you're here to say you don't think you can help us with the business anymore I understand. Fred told me what he did and…" George stopped when he noticed Hermione was looking straight past him. Fred had come out of the bedroom and stopped in the doorframe when he saw Hermione. Their eyes met and both of them locked their gaze. Without a word being spoken, Hermione rushed toward him and kissed him the way he had kissed her at the party. George quickly slipped away, not willing to watch their act of betrayal.

            "Hermione…" Fred wavered when they pulled apart.

            "I know. We shouldn't be doing this but I can't shake this feeling that if we don't, I'll regret it for the rest of my life." Her face was serious and confident.

            "Mione, Ron's my brother, he's your fiancée. I don't think you're thinking clearly." Fred tried to make her think about what was happening. Hermione didn't back down

            "Fred, when you told me you're in love with me, did you mean that?"

            "Mione…" Fred tried to avoid the question.

            " Answer me Fred."

            "Yes," he said answered honestly.

            "You know when you asked me if that was how I felt for Ron?" Hermione continued on with her point. Fred didn't respond but she knew he remembered. "I don't answer." Hermione paused for a second and took in a sharp breath, and made sure Fred was listening. "And the reason I didn't answer is because that's not how I feel for Ron. Those feeling I described are the feelings I feel when I'm with you." After this they both just stood there, neither one knowing what to say, or where to go from there. Tears began to form in Hermione's eyes and despite her struggle to fight them, one managed to escape and roll down her cheek. Fred then stepped forward and used his thumb to gently wipe it away.

            "I've always been a firm believer in following your heart Mione, and if what you just said is true, no matter how horrible all of this seems, ignoring it would be worse," he said honestly and bravely. "It won't be easy. It'll be one hell of a journey, but if you love me the way I'm in love with you, then I think we need to take it; so are you coming with me Mione? Are we going to do this?"

            At Fred's sudden proposition Hermione suddenly felt as if her head was spinning. She had come up her to tell him that she needed him and now here she was scared to death of taking this leap with him.

            "But the wedding and Ron, and the rest of your family…" Hermione said half to herself, considering her future if she did this.

            " I'm not saying this is going to change everything. You'll probably still marry Ron, and move on with your life. I'll have to too."

            "But…"           

            "But," Fred interrupted her hold up a finger to tell her he wasn't done yet. "But, I'm in love with you, and pretty soon we're going to lose our chance to have even a few moments to remember. Live while you can right?" he asked her. She responded by kissing him.  He quickly accepted her into his arms. They broke apart and looked at each other.

            "Live while you can," Hermione whispered.

            Hermione, for the second time in her life, awoke in the arms of Fred Weasley. She smiled at first, unable to recall a time when she'd been more comfortable. Suddenly though a sad guiltiness swept over her as she realized what she'd done. She sat up and let out a sigh. Fred stirred next to her and opened his eyes to see a pensive Hermione.

            "What did we do?" Hermione looked down at him.

            " It's okay Mione." Fred said, not wanting her to become upset. Hermione however remained calm and let out a small ironic laugh.

            "What we did is not okay," Hermione shook her head. "Ron's going to be home tonight. He's going to know." If the thought of this worried her, she didn't show it at the moment.

            "No he won't; not unless you tell him."

            "What we did is horrible, we probably shouldn't have done it," she stated to make sure it was a fact Fred was aware of.

            "I know," he admitted, looking away.

            "But I don't regret it," he looked up at her after she said this.

            "But you were just saying…."

            "Just because I know what I did was wrong, and I feel bad about it, doesn't mean I regret it. Fred I wouldn't give up last night for anything in the world. Besides," she added. "I think we're past regrets now." Fred didn't respond; he just sat there. "I'd better get back downstairs before everyone one else wakes up." She kissed him briefly and disapparated.

            As quickly as Hermione left, George burst through the door.

            "What were you thinking?!" he exclaimed. "Wait I know. You weren't!"

            "George listen," Fred got himself out of bed.

            "No you listen, what just happened has the potential the tear apart this family, and friendships, and relationships, and… what were you… Christ Fred!  I don't think you've ever done anything this stupid." George sat and rubbed his face with his hands, giving his brother an exasperated look.

            "I'm in love with her…"

            "No. You are not in love with her!" George commanded

            "Hey! Wow! You right! I'm not in love with her. Man George, you really helped me out there," Fred spat back bitterly. "Hell George, don't you think that was the first thing I tried? Denying it? Of course I did. Ever since Christmas…"

            "Christmas!" George looked up at his brother.

            "When I kissed her," Fred said and George now remembered the incident that had seemed trivial at the time. "That was when I felt it. At first I just shook it off, but then we started spending so much time together and suddenly before I even realized it was happening I started needing to be around her as much as possible. I felt like I was sick or something when she wasn't around. And eventually, I couldn't hide it anymore."

            "You are in love with her," George sighed in defeat.

            "You won't tell anyone?"

            "Of course not," George answered in a tone that made sure his twin knew that had been a stupid question.

            "What am I going to do?"

            "I'll tell you what not to do," he smiled a little, don't let Ron find out."

Hermione was in the kitchen cooking supper. Mrs. Weasley had gone to spend a few hours visiting with her sisters to brag about Ginny's engagement. Hermione remembers meeting Ron's Aunt Cecile and Aunt Anna well. Mrs. Weasley had taken her to tea with them once right after the engagement. Aunt Cecile had spent the entire time bragging about he daughter's recent marriage to the son of a head official in the ministry of magic, and Aunt Anna, had talked non stop about the famous Quidditch player her daughter was engaged to. Hermione at the time had wondered why Molly hadn't mentioned Ginny was serious with the Harry Potter; however, she now realized Molly Weasley had been waiting for this moment to rub her sisters faces in it. Now, not only was her only daughter actually engaged, rather dating, on of the mot important names in wizarding history, Mrs. Weasley had the extra pleasure of showing her sisters the scrapbook she had made of all the news articles about Harry and Ginny since the engagement. Excited that Mrs. Weasley was finally going to be able to get back at her sisters for years of petty bragging over love, Hermione had quickly agreed to cook supper for her. She also didn't mind having something to keep her mind off the previous night.

            As the thought of Fred entered her head, she felt two hands land on either side of her waist,. She jumped at the touch and turned around to see Fred with an amused look on his face.

            "Didn't mean to scare you," he smiled charmingly. "Cooking something?"

            "I offered to make dinner for your mum."

            "You're a more helpful daughter than Ginny ever was," he said.

            "That because I'm not actually her daughter. I have to work for her to like me."

            "Right, and so does Harry," Fred rolled his eyes, " I can't think of one thing either of you could do to make mum angry at you."

            "I can think of one thing," Hermione looked at Fred and knew he knew what she meant.

            "Well if it makes you feel any better I think she'd have my head first." Hermione tried to smile at this but felt a familiar nauseous guilt coming over her again. Fred noticed the sudden change in her mood and kissed her gently on the forehead, and drew her closer to him.

            "Fred…" she said in protest but only half fought to pull back.

            "It's okay. No one else is home. Look," he pointed to clock. Mr. Weasley, Bill, Charlie, Percy and Ron's hands all pointed to work. Mrs. Weasley's pointed to Visiting Family, Georges pointed to simply Out and Ginny's pointed to Harry's. Fred was right; it was just they in the house, and no one was even traveling.  She looked back to Fred who leaned down and kissed her. She accepted but then pulled away.

            "Fred we still can't do this like this. It's to risky, anyone could apparate in."

            "I know, but I was upstairs and I realized this might be my last chance to see you until Monday. Ron will be home tonight and I didn't want wait till the weekend was over to be alone with you again after this morning and last night. Since no ones home, this is my only chance."

            This was going to be harder than Hermione had anticipated, not that she thought it would be easy. She glanced back up at the clack and then turned to Fred who kissed her again. She kissed back but the quickly pulled away again, this time more panicked. She looked up at clock and confirmed what she thought she had seen when she had glanced at it before. Ron's hand now pointed to traveling. She looked at Fred whose eyes were now as wide as hers. Neither of them had a chance to say anything before there was a popping noise behind them. Hermione spun around on the balls of her feet, plastering a false smile on her face.

            "Ron!" she exclaimed with artificial excitement. She ran forward to hug him. He lifted her off her feet and spun her around in his arms, before he set her down still hugging her. She now found herself facing Fred. She gave him a look over Ron's shoulder as if to tell him that had been to close. He responded by giving her the same look.

            She now tried to turn her attention toward Ron. "You're home early," she smiled as she said this so not seem to be accusing him

            "Thought I'd surprise you!" he replied proudly. Her heart sank at the proud grin on his innocent face, and her nauseous feeling tripled in intensity. Ron now turned around to greet his brother, not noticing the look on his that suggested he now too felt as sick as Hermione. "Been keeping my girl busy for me?" he smiled at his older brother

            "You could say that," Fred replied trying to grin.

            "Are you cooking something?" Ron peered at the ingredients on the counter.

            "Dinner, for your mum."

            " Are Harry and Ginny coming?" Ron asked hopefully.

            "No but we're supposed to go to lunch with them tomorrow."

            "Good I haven't seen them since the party. Has Ginny been talking your ear off about her wedding? I bet she has the whole thing planned already."  Ron went on as he opened a package Hermione had set out of the counter ready to cook. Fred had quickly slipped away and Hermione told herself she was going to have to act normal around Ron. She quickly realized though, this was going to be the hardest weekend of her life.

A/N: So finally I'm done with the sixth chapter! Sorry it took awhile but I had some trouble writing it. I think its finally the best its going to be though. Hopefully the next chapter will be up faster than I got this one up. Also, I was reading through some other chapters and noticed a bunch of those annoying spelling/grammar errors that the computer doesn't find. I promise to fix the eventually… If they REALLY REALLY bother any of you let me know and maybe I'll make more of an effort to get them fixed sooner…. Anyway, hope you like it so far!

Love,

Bella