Title: Fred Has It Bad
Author: edjo
Pairing: Fred/Hermione
Rating: PG-13
Word Count: 1,367
Summary: Takes place 6th year for trio, during a nice day at Hogwarts. Ginny watches an argument between Fred and Hermione. Fluff, really!
Disclaimer: None of this belongs to me. JKR, now that's a different story.
A/N: This one was fun to write. I hope it shows.
"It really is a beautiful day, isn't it?" Ginny said, stretching out an arm to snag another pumpkin pasty.
It was a gorgeous day. It was Saturday and oddly enough it was the one weekend where a Quidditch match hadn't been planned in advance. Fred had shown up at school to visit Hermione as a surprise. He hadn't had to do much pleading at all to convince her to spend the day with him rather than in the library, and Ginny was planning on teasing Hermione about that fact later.
"Mmm, it really is," Hermione agreed distractedly.
After lunch the group had decided to take their dessert outside and finish it near the lake, where they could enjoy the nice weather. Ron and Harry were currently discussing the Chudley Cannons, and Ginny would have been putting in her two cents as well, but she felt the day was much too nice to start an argument with the boys about the team's strategy. She was content with relaxing for the moment.
Hermione was sitting cross-legged with a text-book open on her lap, but was actually idly watching as Fred tried to use his wand to capture a beetle in the grass. Seamus, Dean, and Neville were sitting a few feet away, and from their crazed arm gestures Ginny presumed they were re-enacting some sort of wild adventure. The group formed a sort of lopsided circle on the grass. Ginny thought it was the perfect way to spend the afternoon.
She bit into the pumpkin pasty, and tilted her head slightly to better hear what Seamus and Dean were talking to Neville about. She heard the name Lavender, and turned her head to stare at the boys for a moment. She was concentrating very hard on making out their words when some movement in front of her caught her eye.
She turned back to see that Hermione had gone back to reading her book, and that Fred had shifted to sit next to her. Ginny was suddenly struck with an intense longing for Dean's company, and was about to go over to sit with the boys when her eyes fell on Fred's wand, hovering unnoticed over Hermione's left shoulder. Ginny opened her mouth to warn Hermione that he was more than likely about to do something very mischievous.
Alas, she was too late. Fred leaned over with a huge grin, and whispered something into Hermione's ear. She opened her mouth to respond, an odd little smile spreading across her face, when suddenly all of her skin turned a deep blue.
Ginny's mouth dropped open in shock and the entire group fell silent, looking over at Hermione in wonder. Fred started to chuckle and was soon clutching his sides with laughter. Hermione's blue face frowned in confusion and as she looked around to see what Fred thought was so funny, she happened to catch sight of her completely blue arms.
She quickly held her hands up to her face for inspection, obviously in shock. Her mouth closed with an audible snap, only to open again immediately.
"Frederick Weasley, you didn't dare!" she shouted. Her tone of voice, and the look on her face showed she meant serious business. Fred was still laughing, but the sound died in his throat when he caught sight of her expression.
Ginny looked on in absolute confusion as Hermione glared at her brother, whose face was losing its healthy colour by the second.
"Hermione," he said feebly and held out a placating hand. Hermione only snarled at him and drew her wand. Fred gulped, terrified into silence. Ginny absently wondered if she should fear for Fred's life. She realized he was wondering exactly the same thing when he leapt up from the ground and took off at a run. In a flash, Hermione was up and after him.
Everyone seated within fifty yards turned to see what would happen. Ron snorted behind her at the image of a blue Hermione chasing Fred and Harry seemed genuinely worried for Fred's safety. He stood up and moved forward a few feet immediately after Hermione left the grass.
Ginny had to hand it to her. Fred had long legs, and she knew from personal experience that he was a very fast runner. He only made it about a hundred feet however, before Hermione pointed her wand squarely at his back and shouted out the jelly-legs jinx. Fred wobbled drunkenly for a second before falling flat on his back.
Hermione reached him a moment later and quickly sat down on him, straddling his waist and pointing her wand directly at his chest. Harry began to move forward, but Ginny reached out a hand and grabbed his pant leg.
"It's okay Harry, she won't kill him. At least, I don't think so," she said. He frowned, but sat down with them again. Ginny turned back to see what was going on. The couple was far enough away that she could only hear parts of what they were saying, but it was clear Hermione was absolutely furious. Fred opened his mouth, and Ginny strained to hear what he was saying. Hermione's response cleared the matter up.
"A couple of hours!?" she shrieked angrily, simultaneously smacking him with her free hand. Ginny grimaced. It really didn't look good for Fred. He quickly responded, and Ginny was sure he had said something about...
"Funny!?!?" Hermione yelled. "That was between you and me!" she continued, before lowering her voice. Ginny frowned in confusion as Hermione continued to berate him angrily. What exactly is this about? she wondered silently.
The rest of the argument continued for several minutes, but Ginny was unable to pick up any more of their dialogue. Instead she watched as Hermione's irate demeanour slowly but steadily softened until both she and Fred were giggling madly. Ginny was still shocked however, when Hermione bent down and threaded a hand through his hair before kissing him. They continued to snog for several moments until Seamus broke them apart with a loud whistle.
"Way to go Fred!" he hollered teasingly. The couple moved apart, and the group watching them started to laugh. Ginny joined in, shaking her head in disbelief. How exactly does Fred manage to get himself out of these situations? she asked herself idly.
Harry was clearly amused. "For a minute there, I really thought Fred was a goner," he said laughing.
"Yes, how did you talk your way out of that one?" Ron asked Fred as the couple rejoined the circle on the grass.
"Weasley charm," Fred answered with a suave grin. Hermione smacked him again.
"Honestly!" she rolled her eyes. "Fred has agreed - ever so nicely - to make it up to me," she corrected, an evil smirk fixed on her face. She winked at Ginny before continuing, "I think about two weeks of mayhem will be enough to ensure he never does something like this again."
Ginny looked at Fred to see what he thought about this, and was surprised to find him looking rather sheepish. She couldn't help it, a giggle forced its way out, and she was soon laughing uproariously. Hermione's smirking blue face only served to make her laugh even harder. Oh poor, poor Fred, she thought to herself, wiping tears of laughter out of the corner of her eyes. The expression on his face had made it all clear to her. Fred has it bad, she thought, laughing even more at this ridiculous concept.
Once she stopped giggling, it didn't take long for the atmosphere of the group to return to normal - with the exception of Hermione's blue skin. Ginny finished off her pumpkin pasty, quietly observing the couple. The blue colour seemed to be fading, already it had lightened several shades. As she mused on the type of charm Fred must have used, they shared another long kiss. The colour of Hermione's skin darkened until it was a deep blue once more, and suddenly everything snapped into place for Ginny. She quickly turned away, her cheeks blushing red. She made a mental note to definitely not bring this up with Hermione later on, before quickly getting up and moving over to sit next to Dean.
A/N: This is just a drabble, so if it wasn't clear... Fred charms Hermione's skin to turn blue whenever she's thinking naughty thoughts about him. ;)