Disclaimer: Not mine-the song or the characters :)
My inspiration for this chapter:
Get a load of me, get a load of you
Walking down the street and I hardly know you
It's just like it was meant to be
Holding hands when we're out at night
Got a girlfriend and you say it isn't right
But I've got someone waiting too
This is, this is just the beginning
We're already wet and we're gonna go swimming
Why can't I breathe whenever I think about you
Why can't I speak whenever I talk about you
It's inevitable, it's the fact that we're gonna get down to it
So tell me, why can't I breathe whenever I think about you
Isn't this the best part of breaking up
Finding someone else you can't get enough of
Someone who wants to be with you too
It's an itch we know we are gonna scratch
Gonna take a while for this egg to hatch
But wouldn't it be beautiful
This is, this is just the beginning
We haven't fked yet but my head is spinning
Why can't I breathe whenever I think about you
Why can't I speak whenever I talk about you
It's inevitable, it's the fact that we're gonna get down to it
So tell me, why can't I breathe whenever I think about you
I would love for you to make me wonder
Where it's going
I would love for you to pull me under
Somethings growing
For this that we can't control
Baby I'm dying
Why can't I breathe whenever I think about you
Why can't I speak whenever I talk about you
Why can't I breathe whenever I think about you
Why can't I speak Whenever I talk about you
It's inevitable, it's the fact that we're gonna get down to it
So tell me, Why can't I breathe whenever I think about you
Why Can't I -Liz Phair
Chapter 4 Firewhiskey
Hermione Granger sat on her bed, getting ready for another night out with Fred; it was their next Pixie Night, as Fred had reminded her when she had seen him at lunch. She found herself remembering the conversation at the end of their night out the week before. Not the conversation with Fred, no, she was dwelling on her conversation with Ginny once she had gotten back into the room.
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"What is it Ginny?" asked Hermione.
"Well, as you know, or at least I think you do, I was helping George and Harry out with Ron this afternoon and well-" Ginny stopped, and looked nervously up at Hermione. Hermione didn't like this conversation already.
"Spit it out Gin. I want to get to bed tonight," said Hermione.
"Well, Ron was out of control at first, but then he started talking sense, and he said-" Ginny stopped again. Hermione gave her a look that clearly said 'keep going.' "Well, he said that he was really upset about the break up, and that he lost control, he hadn't meant for it to happen."
"Damn right he lost control," said Hermione.
"Well that's not the worst of it," replied Ginny. "He started saying how he wants to get back together with you again."
"I don't think that can happen," said Hermione slowly. "We just didn't work out."
"That's what I was afraid of," said Ginny sadly. "I always noticed the two of you got on much smoother when you were friends. When you two went out you began to flinch away at his touch, and shrink back at his kisses."
Hermione thought for a moment, before tears began to form in her eyes. Ginny walked over and sat down next to her on the bed. She wrapped her arms around the older girl, and hugged her. "I think he liked me more than I liked him," said Hermione with realization. "I've been leading him on all this time. Oh Merlin Ginny, what have I done? I've ruined our friendship, and probably Harry's too, all because I thought I we could work out."
Ginny hugged her friend and comforted her, but then pulled back. "Hermione, I know you're not going to like this, but there's more to the story. Ron says that he fancied himself in- in love with you. He was planning to tell you this summer. He wants to get back together again."
Hermione burst into tears at this. "I don't want to hurt him Gin, but I don't want to lead him on. What should I do?"
"Well," began Ginny. "I think that you have to tell him how you feel. I don't want to see him go through pain any more than you do, but if you let him think anything other than the truth, he's going to get his heart broken, and he may never be able to fix it."
The girls talked for hours into the night about what to do, and in the end they decided to go with Ginny's plan. Hermione wouldn't say anything to Ron, unless he came to her first. That way, if Ron was able to get over her, he wouldn't be unnecessarily hurt, and Hermione wouldn't have to be the one to hurt her friend. If he came to her though, she would have to let him down, albeit gently.
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Hermione closed her eyes and took a deep breath. She felt like such a coward. She had been avoiding Ron all week, in hopes of not having to talk to him. She had actually been avoiding everyone save Ginny and Fred. She didn't think she was ready to face the disappointment of Molly Weasley just yet. She was saved from having to think about the situation any further however, when Fred Weasley popped into the hall, and knocked on the door. Hermione heaved one last sigh, and opened the door. There was Fred grinning at her, and looking adorable.
"Ready to go?" he asked her grinning.
"Of course," she replied, a slow smile creeping onto her face as well. The pair apparated to their second official Pixie night. Once they walked into the club, they sat down at the same table they had sat the week before, and ordered the very same drinks. Her, a butterbeer and he, a firewhiskey.
"Are you alright Hermione?" asked Fred suddenly. He peered at her over his drink.
"What makes you ask that?" asked Hermione, taken aback t the abruptness of the question.
"Well," began Fred looking a bit hesitant. "George told me about how Ron felt on the subject of your breakup."
"You mean the fact that he's in love with me?" she asked miserably. She glanced up at Fred, and noticed a strange look pass across his face, before it flickered back to his look of concern. She shook it off, thinking it not to be important.
"Yeah, that," said Fred looking at her. "Has he talked to you at all?"
"Well, I've been avoiding him and everyone really, so I haven't given him the chance. It's too scary to have o tell him that I don't love him back, at least not in that way. I don't want to make him hate me, and I certainly don't want to break his heart."
"I'm sure you'll be able to do just fine," said Fred suddenly grinning. A new song by the weird sisters was playing. "And this is a great song. I'm sure a little dancing with yours truly will cheer you up."
"Well if you insist," she said, smiling. He grabbed her hand, and whisked her out onto the dance floor, where they began to dance, loosing themselves in the music, and each other.
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After another few hours of dancing, Fred and Hermione made their way back to their table. They were both flushed from dancing, and although neither of them would admit it, also from the close proximity in which they had been dancing. They sat to try and regain their breath. The waitress came up and asked them if they wanted anything else. Fred ordered another firewhiskey, and Hermione, a butterbeer. They sipped their drinks, enjoying each other's company for a quarter of an hour, before the DJ's voice became magically magnified over the club.
"Who knows what day it is?" he cried to the crowd.
"Tuesday!" cried the crowd in unison.
"Tuesday! Well then, all you regulars out there know what that means! Witches and Wizards, it's time for our weekly dance off! Let's get this party started!"
This announcement was followed by excited cheers from the crowd, including Fred and Hermione.
"Well, do you think we should try to hold on to our title?" asked Fred.
"Certainly," replied Hermione.
They got up and made their way to the dance floor as the first song began.
Five songs later, they were once again being voted the best couple among the crowd, and had been declared the champions, for the second week running. They left the club grinning from ear to ear and portkeyed back to the burrow.
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The next morning, Hermione was shaken awake by Ginny Weasley. She opened her eyes, and looked up into the red head's brown eyes, twinkling with mischief. "So, Hermione, where were you last night?"
What are you talking about?" asked Hermione, becoming nervous, for some reason she didn't know.
"You weren't at the Burrow from dinner, to a bit after midnight last night," replied the youngest Weasley smirking. "So where were you?"
The normal Hermione would have simply explained to Ginny the situation, however the Hermione that seemed to take her over after that first night with Fred in his room, decided she wanted to have a secret of her own and Fred was going to be it. She didn't want to share him with anyone. "I was trying to avoid Ron. I'm sorry I missed you, Ginny. Was there some reason you were looking for me?"
Hermione was amazed at how easily the lie had rolled off her tongue. It was believable, and Ginny wouldn't question it. Hermione got a rush of adrenaline, and relished in the feeling. She had a secret. It felt good to break free from her constraints. Now, she was still the same Hermione, but it felt good to have a bit of rebellion in her life. Just to make things more interesting.
She had been right in thinking that Ginny wouldn't question her lie, as it was believable. She smiled with satisfaction, and then began to get dressed.
When Hermione walked down into the kitchen, she stopped when she heard two voices talking. It was Ginny and George.
"You sure you didn't see her at all last night?" George was asking.
"If I had, I wouldn't be asking you if you knew where she had gone, now would I?" replied Ginny rolling her eyes.
"I was just making sure," replied George. "That's interesting though…" George trailed off into hi own world for a few minutes, while Ginny stood impatiently tapping her foot. He had a look of sudden enlightenment on his face. When she got tired of her brother ignoring her, she gave him a sharp tap on the head, and watched as George was jerked out of his reverie.
"Ouch!" cried George. "What in the bloody hell was that for?"
"Well you were ignoring me," replied Ginny as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "What exactly is so interesting about the fact that she wasn't here last night, other than the fact that she may have a bloke she's hiding? That doesn't seem like the type of thing that would interest you."
George looked like he was about to tell her what was so interesting, but then he seemed to think better of it. "Nothing Ginny," he replied in a would-be casual voice. "Just a new trick I thought of. Must go talk to Fred. Later." With that, George walked out of the kitchen, presumably to find Fred for whatever joke he had just come up with, and left Ginny standing in the kitchen looking irritated. After he left, Hermione waited for another minute, so as to make it look like she hadn't been listening to them discussing her whereabouts, before making her way into the kitchen for breakfast.
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Ginny approached Hermione after dinner the next day. "Hermione you're the most organized person I know, and I need to talk to you about something."
Perplexed, she sat down, and waited for Ginny to speak. Ginny however, poked her head out of the door as if to make sure there was no one listening, before she spoke again.
"Gin, what is this all about?" asked Hermione, puzzled by her friend's actions. Ginny sat down across the table from Hermione, and began to speak in a low voice.
"You know how I kind of…" she trailed off, and looked behind her, before getting a sudden look of determination on her freckled face. "Oh screw it. You know how I like Harry?"
"Yes," said Hermione slowly, still puzzled at where this was supposed to be going.
"Well I want to get him to notice me, you know? So I was thinking, Why not throw him a party?"
"Party?" repeated Hermione.
"Yes, a surprise party, and that should surly get his attention. Also it would give him a chance to take his mind off everything."
"Ginny that sounds like a great idea! That's what you want my help with?"
"Yeah. I figured you could help me organize it. We'll need to get my brothers to help of course, and probably let my parents know."
"Excellent," replied Hermione, reaching for a piece of parchment on the counter. She began to write a list of things that needed to be done. "I think the first thing we should do is round up everyone who will be helping, and hold a meeting without Harry knowing."
"Alright, you and I could spread the word throughout the day, and tomorrow, we could have a meeting," she said thoughtfully. "And I suppose I could ask my parents. That way Mum could keep him busy while we hold our meeting."
"That would be excellent," started Hermione, before falling silent as the doorknob began to turn. Ginny looked around just as Harry Potter entered the room. "Hello Harry," said Hermione, while hurriedly stuffing her list into her robes.
"Hey, Hermione," he said, never taking his eyes off Ginny. "Hey Ginny."
Hermione decided it would be best to leave her two friends alone at the moment, and politely excused herself, explaining that she had a good book she had wanted to finish before bed. She caught the look of thanks Ginny sent her as she exited.
On her way up the stairs to Ginny's room, she spotted Fred on the landing. "Hey," she said.
"Hey Mione," he said, turning to face her.
"Ginny wants to have a surprise party for Harry, and she needs help-" She was cut off as George emerged from the bathroom.
"What's this about a party?" he asked looking between the two.
Hermione started again. "Well, as I was just beginning to tell Fred, Ginny wants to have a surprise party for Harry. Probably a few days after his birthday, just so it will be really surprising."
"That's smart," remarked George.
"Yeah, I didn't think Ginny was capable of scheming like that," added Fred looking a bit proud.
"Yes, well she needs all of your help, and probably Ron's too, if someone would be so kind as to tell him for me. Ginny's going to get your mum to distract him for a bit, while we all meet sometime tomorrow, alright?" Hermione looked between them, and caught the identical grins that they wore. "What are you going to do now?" she asked.
"Oh nothing," replied George. "It's just that if there's a surprise party, then we could probably provide a few things to make it more surprising."
"Please excuse us, Mione," said Fred throwing her a grin, before he and George walked to their room, heads together whispering.
"Oh dear," muttered Hermione to herself.
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Hermione looked up as Ginny threw herself into the room. It as around midnight, and she was being a bit loud. Hermione was about to tell her off, when Ginny ran over to her.
"Merlin, Hermione, you'll never guess what just happened!"
"Was it good or bad?" asked Hermione.
"It was bloody excellent!" exclaimed Ginny. Hermione looked at her, and then remembered whom she had last been seen with. It dawned on her why Ginny was so happy, and she let out a squeal.
Merlin, Ginny! Did Harry…"
"He bloody kissed me Hermione! Can you believe it? He kissed me!"
Well then," said Hermione with a sly grin. "It looks like you won't have to use your mother to distract him tomorrow after all. I'm sure Harry would enjoy himself loads more if it were you distracting him. I would imagine that you could keep him much more occupied than your mother ever could."
"Hermione!" cried Ginny, blushing. "Stop it,"
"You know you want to," replied Hermione.
Hermione and Ginny broke into giggles, and stayed that way for quite a while before they were able to lapse into sleep.
When they woke up the next morning, they entered the kitchen still in considerably high spirits. The boys were all sitting around the table, and Mrs. Weasley greeted them as they entered. Ginny sat herself down next to Harry, and Hermione sat in the only other available seat, between Ginny and Fred. Hermione noticed the constant touching, and glances shared by Ginny and Harry, along with the occasional blush. Once they were finished eating, Ginny offered to help her mother with the dishes after giving Harry a last glance, and sharing a significant look with Hermione. Hermione knew she was going to talk to her mother to see about the party, so she got everybody else out to the garden.
Ten minutes later, Mrs. Weasley came running out of the house, still wearing her apron. "Harry James Potter!" Harry looked up startled, just as Mrs. Weasley wrapped him in a bone crushing hug. "I'm so excited! Come in here with me for a moment."
Ginny emerged from the Burrow next, shot Harry an apologetic look, then winked at Hermione and the others, before ushering them over to a table at the side of the house.
"What did you tell her to make her so happy?" asked Hermione as she and Ginny sat down.
"I told her a bit about what has happened to me in the last 24 hours," said Ginny smirking.
"You didn't!" exclaimed Hermione. "Poor Harry!"
"Not all of it," whispered Ginny. "Just that we seem to like each other. I told him I'd tell her his morning, just so he didn't piss his pants from her surprise attack."
Ginny and Hermione broke into fits of giggles once more, before Ron spoke up. "What is so funny exactly?" he asked.
"Nothing, dear brother of mine," replied Ginny cheerfully. "Now let's begin."
Hermione pulled out her list, and they began to add to it. Ginny brought up the point that they needed to get out invitations as soon as possible, and Hermione scribbled it out on their list. After 15 minutes, they were compiling a list of everyone they thought Harry would want there, including all of seventh year Gryffindor plus a few other select Gryffindors, the Weasleys, everyone who had played Quidditch with him at Hogwarts, the Order, and the entire D.A. When they finished the list, which was at least 40 people, they divided up the list, and gave each person a list of names that they had to write invites for.
When Ron brought up the issue of the decorations, Fred and George grew identical evil grins.
"We could probably provide the party with a few items," said Fred still grinning. Hermione and Ginny exchanged worried glances, both fully aware of what the twins were capable of producing for the party.
"Maybe someone should check over what you two bring," said Ginny slowly. She looked at Hermione. "Hey Hermione, could you do it? Just work with Fred or George, and check over everything a few days before we actually need it."
Hermione thought it over, and then decided she would really like to have some sort of control over the Wheezes products that came to the party, and nodded.
"Great!" exclaimed Ginny. "You could do that on the day the rest of us go shopping for food and other stuff. Who's going to mail all the invites after we've written them?"
"Fred and I can probably do it," said George. Fred nodded.
"Yeah, we're in business in Hogsmeade next week, so we could just take them to the post office," added Fred.
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The next week went by without much in the way of planning. Harry could only be distracted by Mrs. Weasley so many times before he began to suspect something was up. Everyone did however; manage to get their set of invitations done. Slowly, and very discretely, Fred and George began reviewing the invitations that they were to take to the post office. Hermione slipped up to the twins' room on Sunday, and brought her invitations, the last ones of the bunch. When she got there George was in there, packing for their trip to Hogsmeade. Apparently they would be staying at the Three Broomsticks.
"I have the last of the invitations here," said Hermione, holding out her invitations for him to take.
"Thanks, Hermione," said George, adding them to a sack full of all the others. "We'll probably mail them on Wednesday."
"Not until Wednesday?" asked Hermione. "I thought you were going to be in Hogsmeade all week. We really do need them sent as soon as possible you know."
"I know that," replied George. "We are not leaving until Wednesday morning though. For some reason Fred insists that we can't leave until after Tuesday. We're going to leave bright and early on Wednesday morning."
When Hermione left the room, she was floating on air. She was glad nobody could see the stupid grin on her face. Fred had wanted to stay because of her! She knew it didn't even mean anything, but it was just so touching to have someone who seemed to genuinely enjoy spending time with her. That's what she kept telling herself anyway.
Just then, she happened upon the object of her thoughts.
"Hey Hermione," said Fred.
"Hey Fred," she replied. 'What a stupid thing to say,' she thought.
"I just wanted to check, and make sure we're still on for Pixie Night. We are, right?" asked Fred, looking slightly nervous for some reason.
"Of course Fred," she replied, grinning again. "I could never cancel Pixie Night."
"Great," he replied, letting out a breath he didn't know he'd been holding. "I'll come to Ginny's room with a portkey around seven."
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When Monday came, Hermione was excited. She found that she had begun to look forward to her nights out with Fred. She went through the day feeling very cheerful, knowing that she had only one more night until Pixie Night. She had thought she'd remain cheerful for the rest of the day, but she hadn't counted on Ron. He'd cornered her in the garden, behind the house, while everyone else was playing Quidditch. She sucked in her breath, knowing that if he wasn't at Quidditch with the others, then he had come for a private conversation. She had a feeling she wasn't going to like what he had to say.
"Hermione, can I talk to you for a moment?" he asked nervously.
She glanced around, and seeing that there was no excuse to be made to avoid it, she nodded her head, and allowed herself to be led around the back of the house.
"Herms," he began, not noticing her wince at the ugly nickname he seemed to think was so cute. "I want to start out by apologizing for my actions a few weeks ago. I haven't seen you since then, probably because you've bee avoiding me, not that I can blame you." He paused to take a break, and look at her, before continuing.
"I want you to know that I was out line. I know that now. The only reason that I got so upset was that I didn't want to share you. It was selfish, and I know that but I was only like that because I care about you. I care about you a lot Hermione."
"Ron, I-"
"No, you don't have to say anything. I really want to get back together. I think that we would be great together Herms. I promise not to treat you the way I did ever again. I've been kicking myself for three weeks now. I can't live without you Hermione."
"Ron-"
"No, you need to hear this. I love you Hermione Granger. I love you."
That was it for Hermione. She had tears in her eyes before she could stop them. She hated the fact that she had to let down her best friend, but that was all she thought of him as. Her best friend and nothing more. To get back together with him would be wrong, and she would just be leading him on. She had no desire to be that cruel to him.
"Ron," she began slowly. "That was very sweet, and I hate to see you upset. We've been best friends for seven years, and I don't want that to end now. I can't get back together with you though. I care about you too much too see you hurt, and that's what would happen. This whole relationship has been unfair to you. You've been giving it a hundred percent, and I haven't."
She paused to catch her breath, and wipe her tears which were falling hard and fast now. She couldn't bring herself to look up at Ron, because she knew she was hurting him, and she hated that she as the cause of it. She honestly hated seeing him in pain.
"I can't do that to you. You deserve someone who can love you back. I can't give you that. I care about you but as a friend. I realized that after we fought. I have been hurting you this whole time, and I'm really sorry for it Ron, I really am."
"Hermione, how can you say all this!" cried Ron in a very hurt tone.
"Ron, I would just be leading you around, and I would hate to do that to you. I couldn't bear to hurt you."
"Like hell!" cried Ron. "Don't you realize that you've hurt me more in the last five minutes than I've ever been hurt in my entire life? You've just ripped my heart out; trod all over it, and then you have the nerve to tell me you care about me? You say you don't want to see me hurt? Well you had better not look at me for a while then, as it will be your entire fault if you're seeing me hurt now."
Hermione was crying harder than ever now, and made the fatal mistake of looking at Ron. He had fallen silent and slumped against the wall of the Burrow, looking like someone had just killed his owl. This did it for Hermione. She felt trapped, and had to get out of there as soon as possible. She ran up to Ginny's room, locked the door, and began to cry her eyes out.
Ginny came up half an hour later. She instantly ran over to Hermione, and gave her a huge hug. She helped comfort Hermione through the night. Hermione was immensely grateful for it.
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The next night Hermione was up in Ginny's room, halfheartedly getting ready for Pixie Night. She was actually thinking of telling Fred she couldn't go, but she knew she needed to get out of the Burrow and clear her head.
Just then the object of her thoughts poked his head inside the door. "Ready to go, Mione?" asked Fred.
"Yes, lets go," she said, still depressed.
"What's wrong, Mione?" asked Fred looking up at her dejected tone. Then he seemed to catch her red eyes. "It's Ron isn't it? I heard he was going to talk to you soon. He did, didn't he?"
Hermione sniffed, and nodded, before straightening and making her way to the door by which Fred was standing. "I'm fine, Let's go."
She toughed the portkey in his hand before he had the chance to react, ad suddenly they found themselves in Hogsmeade, right outside of Pixie's.
"Let's go inside," said Hermione once they arrived. Fred looked a bit worried about her, but nodded. They went inside and made their way to their usual table. Everything was normal in fact, until the normal waitress came over to take their orders.
"A Firewhiskey please," said Fred as soon as she asked.
"One for me as well," said Hermione. Fred looked up and his eyes widened. The waitress merely nodded and walked away.
"Hermione, you're not okay, are you?" asked Fred, still with a shocked look on his face.
"Nonsense, Fred," she said airily. 'What makes you think that?"
"You just ordered a firewhiskey," he replied. "That is not something the Hermione Granger I know does."
"Well the Hermione Granger you know has never had to break the heart of her former best friend slash boyfriend before," she replied.
Fred opened his mouth to say something, but just then, the waitress came back with two firewhiskeys. Hermione took hers and took a sip while Fred just watched with raised eyebrows. She winced when the alcohol first touched her mouth, but after that it surprisingly wasn't all that bad. She slowly finished hers and looked up at Fred. Fred drained his and then looked at her sharply as she expressed her desire to have another one.
"No, Mione," said Fred, looking at that moment very much like his mother. "I didn't bring you here to drink away all your problems. I don't want you to get drunk."
"What if I want to?" she asked. "I think I should have that choice."
"Listen to yourself," he replied. "You don't really want to get drunk. That firewhiskey will help you get looser, and it looks like it did. Now we're going to dance. Trust me, it'll help you forget."
"I guess you're right Fred," she said, embarrassed that she had actually asked him to get drunk. "Can we just forget about this for now, and dance?"
"Sure thing, Miss Granger," he replied grinning. This was one thing that she loved about Fred. He acted responsibly when the situation called for it, but he was also so easygoing and spontaneous. He was so different from Ron. Ron was sweet, but with Fred it was fun, never knowing what was going to happen next. She liked the change from predictable to unpredictable.
As a new song came on, they got up and danced. They danced for hours, until the dance contest was announced ("lets get ready to kick some ass," said Fred). They danced their hearts out and won the contest for the third week running. Afterwards, they made their way back to their table.
"Want to go walk around Hogsmeade or something?" asked Fred. Hermione smiled. It was this random spontaneous attitude that she liked about him.
"Sure, Fred," she replied with a smile. They got up and left Pixie's and took a stroll around the village. They got to the stile where Hermione, Ron, and Harry had met Sirius years before, and Fred climbed to the topmost bar. The very same bar that they had seen Sirius perched on when they had met him. "Fred Weasley, Where are you going?"
"Aww," cried Fred from the top. "Is Mione afraid that she can't keep up?"
"As if," she huffed. Then she set down her purse, and began to climb. Once she had joined him at the top, she looked around and gasped. "I didn't realize we were so high."
"You're afraid of heights?" asked Fred with curiosity as he moved to a little platform met for sitting. He leaned his back against a row of horizontal bars.
"Well, a bit yes actually," she stammered, embarrassed. She had been so stupid to come up here in the first place when she was fully aware that she hated heights. She felt her cheeks begin to flush, and just as she was about to climb back down, Fred suddenly pulled her to him.
"You're not going anywhere missy," he said smartly. He wrapped his arms around her and turned her so that she was sitting between his legs, with her back against his well muscled chest. "You have to see this great view."
Hermione sucked in a breath when she looked up again. From their perch she could see the entire village lighted up in the night, and beyond it lay the lake, shimmering in the moonlight, and the grand Hogwarts castle sitting on the hilltop overlooking its magnificent grounds.
"Wow Fred," she whispered in awe. "This is amazing."
"Yeah, it is," responded Fred, resting his chin on top of her head. She could feel his strong arms circled around her stomach, holding her securely in place. Se smiled, and for the first time in her life as she looked down she wasn't afraid. She sighed and leaned her head back into his chest.
After half an hour of sitting there, they decided it was time to go back to the burrow, since people were going to begin to miss them. They hadn't been telling anyone about their Pixie nights, stating that they didn't want to upset Ron as their excuse, and no one knew where they had gone. They climbed back down, and Hermione picked up her purse.
They walked slowly back in the direction they came, not really feeling like leaving just yet. Fred set the portkey to go off in fifteen minutes. They reasoned that they still had at least that long before Molly would be sure to notice them missing, so they walked slowly.
"Thank you Fred," said Hermione suddenly.
"For what?" asked Fred, puzzled.
"For being nice, and supportive about this whole Ron situation, and for not letting me get myself drunk tonight," she replied. "And for keeping me safe on the stile."
Fred stopped and tuned to her. "I like to protect you, Mione," he said seriously.
"Just like Ron and Harry," she said with a small smile. "Before everything…"
"Which one are you comparing me to?" asked Fred looking extremely serious. Hermione never noticed how his eyes always had a slight trace of the prankster within him, even when he was being completely serious. "Harry your best friend, or Ron who was more than a friend?"
"Well, I don't know…" she said trailing off slowly. Which did he want to be? More importantly, which did she want him to be?
"Actually I don't think I'd like to be either," Fred said thoughtfully. "Ron because he's well…Ron, and Harry because he's your friend."
"What do you mean, Harry because he's a friend?" asked Hermione, turning to look at his face properly. She had to tilt her head up to see his face, as he was a good six inches taller than her 5'6".
"Well, I don't think I'd fancy being just a friend," he told her.
"What?"
"I think I'd like to be something more," he said.
Then he began to lean down, and suddenly his lips were covering hers. He kissed her gently, yet with passion, and Hermione got butterflies in her stomach that she had never felt with Ron. It was warmth that spread to the tips of her fingers and toes. She began to respond to his kiss, and she felt his arms creep around her back pulling her closer to him. She lifted her arms and placed them around his neck, and she felt his tongue glide across her lips, asking for entrance.
Then quite suddenly the kiss was ended as the portkey activated, and within seconds they were standing outside the Burrow. They both landed sprawled on the ground. Fred got up first, and then helped her up.
"Uh, thanks Fred," she said, not really knowing what else to say, or how to address what had just happened. "I'll just be going inside then."
She walked through the door and into the house. Once inside she ran to Ginny's room, throwing herself on her bed, and she began to berate herself for how stupid she had just been. She had just left him standing there in the garden!
0000000
The next day Hermione had been nervous about seeing Fred, as she didn't know what she was going to say to him, but found she didn't have to worry. She had just remembered that Fred and George had left for Hogsmeade for the next five days, and wouldn't be returning until Sunday.
Over the next few days, when she was not helping Ginny plan the party, or finally taking and passing her apparition test, Hermione thought a lot about what she would say to Fred, and if she even wanted to be in a relationship with him at the present time. She had just gotten out of a relationship with his younger brother, and she didn't want Fred to be a rebound guy.
Then she thought about Ron. He was still very much in love with her, and couldn't even look at her anymore. She knew she would be breaking his heart all over again if he were to know about her and Fred. She also knew it would most likely end the relationship between the two brothers, and she didn't want to be the cause of that.
At the same time, the brief kiss with Fred had sent electricity through her, and left her felling giddy all the next day. It was a magical feeling that was unlike anything she had experienced before. She loved being with Fred, and she loved who she was with Fred. She wasn't Harry Potter's Best Friend, she wasn't The Girl Who Dated Krum, she wasn't The Know-It-All Bookworm, she was Hermione Granger.
As the days passed she thought more and more about it, and suddenly found that it was Sunday, and Fred and George were due back later that night. At around 11pm she heard them come in, and she made her way to their room. When she got to their door she took a deep breath, and turned and knocked on the door. George answered the door and once he saw who it was his eyes widened, and he stepped into the hall. Hermione was beginning to feel very nervous, and she hoped she would get to see Fred before her confidence left her.
"Hermione, Fred told me what he did, and I'm sorry," George began. "I understand if you don't want to work with us on the party, but please just be gentle to him. He feels really bad about everything, especially since he thinks you're not over Ron. Let him down easy."
"I'll do no such thing George," she said, suddenly grinning that Fred apparently liked her too. "In fact, I came to do the opposite."
George's face broke out into a grin, and he pushed open the door for her. "Good luck then," he whispered, before closing the door after her, and leaving them alone.
Once in the room, Fred looked up, and their eyes met. She opened her mouth to speak, but Fred started babbling before she got the chance. "Hermione, I don't know what came over me, and I just couldn't help it, you looked so beautiful there, and something just came over me, and you probably hate me, and you're probably still not over Ron, and-"
She had made her way across the room, and was now standing directly in front of him. "Shut up Fred," she said, and sealed her lips over his, effectively cutting off his rambling.
"What was that?" asked Fred when they parted a few second later.
"I needed some way to shut you up," she replied grinning. "You were talking nonsense."
"So am I a friend, or more than a friend?" he asked with a slight smile.
"I think I'll let you figure that out," replied Hermione, before kissing him once more.