A Midnight Stroll

Hermionie lay in bed for a long time trying to think, but she couldn't think with presence of Ron. She quietly got out of bed and snuck into the hallway. She saw a light at the end of the stairwell, so she crept down the stairs to see who was still up at this hour.

She came down the stairs to find Fred sitting at the table, sipping something and staring absentmindedly out the window at the moon. "Why are you up so late?" Hermionie whispered. Fred flinched in his chair.

"I didn't see you there. And I could ask the same of you," Fred responded. Hermionie pulled up a chair and sat down next to him.

"Do you want to take a walk outside with me?" Hermionie asked. Fred nodded in agreement.

"Would you like a cup of tea or hot chocolate?" he asked, once they were outside.

"Hot chocolate, please." He took his wand out of his pocket and conjured up a cup of hot chocolate for her. "So why were you up so late and just sitting at the table?" she asked him.

"I have a lot on my mind right now. Mum, the shop, my future, and you," he said the last part rushed.

"Oh," she said; not comprehending what he just said. "Wait, ME?" she said in disbelief.

"Yes. You have really grown up this year. And you are very smart, loving and kind; A perfect woman in my eyes." As Fed said this, he stopped walking and looked deep into her eyes.

"I…I had no idea," Hermionie managed to stutter out. "For how long?"

"Well, I've always loved your company, but really in this last year I've noticed that I had feelings for you. I want you to be mine." This hit Hermionie hard. She never had any idea that Fred had feelings for her. She was dumbfounded.

"It's OK if you don't feel the same way about me; I even expect that. I just want you to know that you will always be special to me." With that, he hugged her and ran inside; and soon heard footsteps up the stairs. Hermionie stood there, not sure of what to do. This was all very new to her. Fred and Ron?

She suddenly realized she had Goosebumps and was getting quite cold. She scurried inside and set her hot chocolate mug in the sink and went upstairs. She walked by Fred's room and saw a small light on and heard muffled whispers.

"I'm telling you George, she's the girl for me. I don't know what I would do if she started acting weird around me and ignored me all the time. I just couldn't go on with life. I just want to be with her forever, you know?"

"Fred really feels this much about me? He wants to be with me forever?" Hermionie thought to herself.

"Hate to pop your love balloon, but Ron got to her first. Ginny told me earlier tonight," George told Fred, with an unmistakable hint of humor.

"He...What-WHEN…Why?" Fred spluttered.

"Yep, Mate, he beat you to it. There'll be other girls, though," George said. Fred was in shock. When did ikkle Ronnie-kins have the nerve to ask a girl out?

"Just kill me now," moaned Fred. Hermionie heard shuffling of feet.

"Pull yourself together, Mate. I never said if she answered him," George said with exasperation.

"Well?" asked Fred with a hint of excitement.

"She hasn't answered him yet, but Ginny said she only wanted to be friends; nothing more." Fred heaved a great sigh of relief. "But that still doesn't mean you're out of the woods yet; how do you know that she has the same feelings for you as you do her?" George asked skeptically.

"I know…" Fred sighed again.

"It's really late. I should probably get some rest," Hermionie thought to herself. But she could not pull away from the door.

"Fred, Mate, you've got to get some sleep; you haven't had a full nights rest since you found out she was coming for the summer. I'm going to bed." With that, Hermionie grudgingly heaved herself away and headed to her room.

The next day, Hermionie woke up to find herself alone in the Ron's bedroom. She looked over at the clock. It read 1:37. It seemed like her little nighttime outing had caused her to be extremely tired so she slept in very late. She hastily got dressed and headed down the stairs to find everyone else in the house.

"There you are, darling," Mrs. Weasley said from the kitchen where it appeared she was making lunch. "We were starting to get worried about you and were going to come wake you up if you hadn't come down by lunch."

"I couldn't fall asleep last night. I had a lot on my mind so it kept me up late," Hermionie told her.

"If you don't mind me asking, what is keeping you up at night?" she asked.

"To tell you the truth, your sons. Ron has just asked me out and Fred told me of his everlasting love for me; all in one night, so I've had a lot to think about."

"Well dear, they do have a point about you, though. You are smart, kind, caring, anything anybody would ever need. Have you decided which one you are going to be with?"

"I really only want to be a friend to Ron. That's what he's always been to me, and I don't want anything to change between us. On the other hand, I don't really know Fred that well. I'm in a pickle." As Hermionie started speaking, Ron had slipped unnoticed inside and looked hurt.

"So that's it; the infamous line, 'Let's just be friends.' I see how it is; you don't like me, so you move on to my brother. Maybe I was wrong about you Hermionie." With that he stalked upstairs; undoubtedly to sulk in his room.

"Ron wait! That's not what I meant…," but trailed off because he was already halfway up the stairs. Hermionie made a move to go up after him, but Mrs. Weasley stopped her.

"It might be best if you just let him blow off some steam; he'll need some time to

vent." But despite her words, Hermionie went upstairs to talk to Ron.

She knocked on the door. "Ron," she asked gently, "may I come in?"

"It's your room too," he said, sounding dejected. She came in and sat down by him on his bed.

"Ron, you misunderstood me. I didn't say I liked your brother or disliked you. I said I was unsure."

"No. I heard perfectly well what you said. You made it quite clear that you didn't want to be with me. Just leave me in my misery." He turned around and flopped face first into his bed.

"Ronald Weasley, don't be like that. I want to go out with you; I really do," Hermionie said. "Why did I say that? I know perfectly well that I don't want to." Something had come over her to make her change her mind, but wasn't sure what it was.

"Why the sudden change in thoughts?" he shot back at her. "Don't do me any favors. Just go with Fred, your love."

"Ron," she said, sounding hurt, "I do not love Fred and I really want to go out with you."

"Really?" he asked in awe. "Why?" he asked skeptically, getting quickly defensively.

"Yes. You are a really sweet guy, Ronald. You have a temper, but that's something I think I can get over," she the last part in mock seriousness. They stood up and hugged each other, both for different reasons. Ron, in happiness, and Hermionie in cooperation. They locked fingers and headed down to lunch.