Disclaimer: Not mine.
A/N: Hey y'all, how's it going? I know, it's been a while since I've updated! But I have an excuse- and a good one too! Some workers who were putting in a cable line for our neighbor, were digging in my yard and cut the phone line, and this was just a couple of days after Christmas, and we just got it back a few hours ago. So I'm sorry! And to make it up to you, here's chapter six!
Love Means Never Having to Time-Travel
Chapter Six: In Which Love is Declared
"It is a curious thought, but it is only when you see people looking ridiculous that you realise just how much you love them." –Agatha Christie
"Good morning."
"Mmm, morning," Hermione mumbled sleepily as she opened her eyes and turned over to see Fred looking at her. "Were you watching me sleep?"
"Couldn't help it."
"I can't believe that time is going so fast," Hermione commented as she closed her eyes and moved so she was closer to Fred.
"Yeah, the first of November already," he agreed, running his hand up and down her back lightly. "And I can say it's been fun too."
"Mm-hmm. Oh, let's make a point of doing this every morning."
"What?"
"Waking up in each other's arms," Hermione gave an impish grin. "I think I could get used to that."
"Good, cause I was planning on it," he replied closing his eyes again.
"You don't think we're moving too fast at all, do you?" She asked after a minute's silence.
"You mean kissing and sleeping in the same bed?" He asked, and felt her nod against his chest. "Well for a married couple, we'd be slower than slugs. For a dating couple, I'd still say no. It's just like what you've done with Harry and Ron."
"Really?" She smirked up at him.
"The whole sleeping in the same bed thing, you know what I mean," he rolled his eyes as she let out a soft giggle.
"We should get up," she mumbled against his chest once she had calmed down.
"Why Mya? It's a Saturday; no one else'll be up till at least noon, and right now it's only ten."
"Good point," she yawned, and promptly went back to sleep. He chuckled slightly, tightened his arms around her, and also joined her in dreamland again.
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"Good morning everyone," Hermione said politely as she and Fred sat with the marauders and Lily for the late weekend brunch.
"Morning," Lily replied, looking through a book.
"Looking for something?" Fred watched as she furiously flipped through the text.
"Well, Professor Laurient mentioned something about one of the potions we might need to know for NEWTS," Lily began to explain. "And he said it makes those who drink it see their worst fear all around them, like a hallucinogen of sorts. He also assigned us a scroll of parchment specifically detailing the affects of the potion, and how it compares to a boggart."
"So what's the problem?" Fred quirked an eyebrow in question as he bit into a piece of toast.
"Well we never covered boggarts," James answered this time.
"Yeah, we've never heard of them, no one has," Peter spoke up.
"You can tell," Remus added. "All the seventh years have been combing the library, but we can't seem to find much on them for some reason."
"I see," Hermione nodded, then stood up and headed for the head table.
"What's she doing?" James questioned Fred.
"Not a clue," Fred grinned as he shook his head.
"If I may have your attention please?" Hermione used the sonorous charm to magnify her voice to project across the hall. "It has come to my attention that seventh years have a potions assignment in which they need to compare a potion's affects to a boggart, correct?"
"Yeah, and we haven't a clue!" Anthony Collins, a seventh year Slytherin spoke up for everyone in his year.
"So I've been told," Hermione laughed lightly. "Which is why Professor Greg and myself will be holding a special defense class for all seventh years at three o'clock this afternoon. We'll go over boggarts, and give you a chance to practice defending yourselves against one."
"Well that answers what she was doing," Fred shrugged to the others as Hermione removed the charm and came back to the table.
"Thank you professor," Lily looked much more at ease.
"Not at all," Hermione smiled. "It's my job as professor to see you learn things."
"Do we even have boggarts around?" Fred asked as he stretched out along the bench, resting his head in Hermione's lap as she sipped along on her tea.
"I know there is one Argus found in a trunk in storage one day when he was chasing after Peeves," Hermione answered, looking down at him with a wry smile. "Not to mention Albus has one living in his sock drawer, and Filius has one residing in his old school trunk. All we need is one, so I figure we can simply take Albus' drawer and put a lid on it, and use that one for the students to practice on. The other two I'd like to keep for the younger students, though if we do need another one I know there's one living in a compost box behind greenhouse two they can use."
"How do you find this out?" Fred looked up at her in awe.
"By asking around," she laughed, then suddenly paled as she saw a familiar scrap of parchment being pulled out by Sirius. Reaching over, she snatched it from him with a reproving glare. "I'll be holding onto this for the time being Mr. Black."
"But it's just a bit of parchment Professor," Sirius gave her his best innocent and confused look as she tucked it into her pocket.
"Since when is anything you four have just a bit of parchment?" She gave them all an amused glare. "You can't fool me Mr. Black."
"C'mon love, we'd best get the boggarts to the classroom," Fred said as he sat back up, having watched the exchange curiously.
"You'll get your bit of parchment back in due time Mr. Black," Hermione smirked slightly as she and Fred left. Once out of the great hall, she sighed in relief.
"What was that about?"
"The marauders map," Hermione kept her voice low as they made their way to their quarters. "I assume they either haven't used it yet, or had an occasion to look for us on it, since they haven't come storming to our quarters demanding to know who Fred Weasley and Hermione Granger are."
"Oh…OH!" Fred's eyes widened in understanding as they walked into their study.
"I solemnly swear that I am up to no good," Hermione pointed her wand at the map and watched it work. She made quick work of locating her and Fred on it, and indeed saw Fred Weasley and Hermione Granger in its spindly script. "Confundus!"
"Confusion spell, not a bad idea," Fred said impressed. Their names swirled a moment before stopping, and reappeared as Greg Wilson and Mya Wilson.
"Now, it'll be safe to give back to them," Hermione said in satisfaction. "Mischief managed."
"Well what excuse are you going to give them for taking it?"
"Just that I thought it was some spelled paper for some prank or another," Hermione shrugged. "Doesn't terribly matter. I'm a professor, that's excuse enough."
"Evil Slytherin you are," Fred smirked. "Now, let's go get those boggarts."
"Ugh," Hermione couldn't help but shudder.
"What?"
"I don't like boggarts," she grimaced. "The one time I face it in Defense finals it turned into Professor McGonagall, and she told me I'd failed!"
"Oh the horror!" Fred gave a mock gasp as they headed for Filch's office to retrieve the trunk.
"Well what was yours?" Hermione asked in a huff.
"Mum appeared, telling me George was missing," he replied easily.
"Not dead?"
"Nope. As a twin, I'd know if he was dead, we've got such a strong bond between us. If he was simply missing, I didn't know what was happening to him; if he was okay, if he was hurt, or anything. It was that fear of the unknown that scared me."
"I see," Hermione nodded. It was true, sometimes not knowing was worse than knowing, because all too often, your mind continually seemed to imagine the worst possible scenarios. Goodness knows, that's why she was glad to be teaching. Not knowing what was going on in the future with Harry, Ron, and all her other friends and family was terrifying it she dwelled on. At least she had Fred, and no matter what happened, he promised to stay with her.
OooOooOooO
"Now, a boggart is also referred to as a shape shifter," Hermione began the lecture for the special class. "No one knows what they look like in their natural state, as whenever around a person, they take on the form of the thing feared most by that person. This is what classifies them as a dark creature, along with the fact that they seem to feed on the emotion of fear, using it as a defense mechanism."
"But have no fear!" Fred hopped off the desk, taking a gallant stance to the student's amusement. "There is a defense against it."
"Of course there is," Sirius spoke out. "Otherwise you wouldn't teach about it!"
"True, true," Fred conceded with a laugh. "But as I was saying, once the boggart has appeared at the thing you fear the most, simply imagine it in an amusing form, and say Riddikulus, using force of mind."
"To give you an example," Hermione added. "Let's say you fear mummies. Simply imagine a mummy unraveling as you say Riddikulus, and it will do so."
"And to completely finish a boggart off, all you need to do is laugh," Fred finished the lecture. "Laughter is what does it in. The more, the heartier, the better."
"Now, we're going to ask you to form a line, and one of you at a time will come forward to face it," Hermione instructed, and there was a great clamoring as everyone scrambled to form a line. "Now, even though the final goal is to finish it off, do try and hold your laughter till everyone has had a chance. Ready?"
"Yeah!" The class shouted out, Anthony Collins the loudest, as he was in front.
"Then let's begin," Fred announced, motioning Anthony forwards as he waved his wand to open the lid they had made for Albus' sock drawer to keep the boggart there.
As Anthony stepped forward, the boggart appeared from the sock drawer as the grim. When Anthony shakily shouted Riddikulus a moment later, it suddenly turned white and pick polka dotted. And so it went, each student stepping up. Some of the fears that appeared were a vampire, lightning bolts, a banshee, a huge poisonous snake, a cockroach, fire, the moon, the deatheater's morsemordre symbol, and when Lily stepped up, it turned into her sister Petunia screaming at her that she really wasn't a witch and that magic wasn't real. Lily seemed to forget that this was only a boggart and not real, and began backing up in fear. Hermione ran forward to distract the boggart while James quickly rushed to reassure Lily.
"No," Hermione whispered as the boggart suddenly changed into Fred (in his Greg form) lying still and bloodied on the ground, obviously dead. She began to tremble and paled to a startling shade of white.
"Mya!" Fred caught her just as she passed out.
"Riddikulus!" Severus shouted forcefully, and the boggart disappeared with a pop.
"Will she be all right professor?" Lily asked worriedly.
"She'll be fine," he nodded. "Ten points to Slytherin for your help Mr. Snape. Everyone, class dismissed."
Fred stood up, Mya in his arms, and quickly left the class headed for their chambers. Giving the password, he walked into their bedroom and gently rested her on the bed. He picked up his wand, and cast ennervate, sighing with relief as she came to.
"You're all right Mya, it was just a boggart, I'm not dead, or hurt," he was quick to say in soft tones.
"You've quickly become the most important person in my life," she sobbed, curling up against his chest, her hands grabbing fistfuls of his robes as his arms circled her. "I just saw you there, and I knew it wasn't real, but I couldn't handle the sight of you lying dead there."
"Hey, the same thing probably would've happened to me too," he whispered, rocking her back and forth. "I don't think I could stand to lose you either. I love you too much Mya."
"What?" She pulled back slightly at that and looked him in the eye searchingly.
"Not the most romantic way of telling you I guess," he sighed. "I didn't want to rush things since you just agreed to be my girlfriend last night."
"I don't care you idiot," she laughed through her tears. "I love you too."
"Really?" He looked shocked.
"Of course," she nodded, wiping her eyes with the sleeve of her robe. "You didn't think I would?"
"Well I hoped, but I just can't help but think that you're too good for me," he shrugged slightly. "Not to mention you asked if you thought we were moving too fast."
"Well we decided we weren't, not to mention I feel the same way, so let's just say we're even," she giggled, reaching up to take his face in her hands. "I love you Frederick Weasley."
"I love you too, Hermione Granger," he gave her a soft smile before lowering his head slightly to capture her lips in a tender kiss.
OooOooOooO
"Professor Mya?"
"Yes Lily?" Hermione turned away from the board to face her student. It had been a week since the boggart incident, and everything had settled back into routine, except for the fact that she and Fred were closer than ever. Something they were both very happy with.
"Do you have a moment to talk?"
"Of course, go ahead," Hermione nodded.
"If you don't mind my asking, when did you realise that you were in love with your husband?" Lily asked hesitantly, sitting down at one of the tables.
"Actually, I didn't even know until he told me," Hermione said truthfully, taking a seat next to the girl. "I knew I liked him, and that he was the most important person in my life in many ways, but I hadn't realised I loved him. Until he said he loved me, and then I just knew instantly that I felt the same."
"Oh."
"Now may I ask what brought this on?" Hermione questioned lightly, a twinkle in her eye. She knew what brought it on, but wanted to hear Lily say it.
"Well, James said he loved me," Lily said slowly. "And he understood that I didn't feel ready to say it back, but I feel like I should. I mean, I care deeply about him, but…Love?"
"What do you think about love?"
"I think it's a big word for all that it only has four letters," she gave a short laugh. "It holds a lot of promise, expectations, and responsibilities. I just feel like too many people take it too lightly."
"I think I have to agree with you," Hermione smiled. A wistful part of her wished she was a student instead of a professor; she and Lily could've been such good friends.
"Me too," Fred spoke up suddenly, startling both of them. "Sorry. But you really don't need to worry. From what you said, it sounds like Mr. Potter will be willing to wait as long as you need him to before you can say it back. He doesn't seem like the type of guy to give you an ultimatum, or force you into anything that you feel you're not ready for. So just keep progressing as you are, and someday you'll feel ready to say it back to him."
"Thank you," Lily smiled her thanks at them both before gathering her things up and leaving the room.
"Those were some pretty wise words Professor Greg," Hermione spun around in her seat and stood, walking over to him.
"What can I say, I'm just too smart for my own damn good," he sighed, rubbing his knuckles against his chest.
"More like too egotistical," Hermione laughed, punching him lightly on the arm.
"Ouch, not nice," he pouted. "I think I deserve a kiss to make the boo-boo all better."
"Well, anything to make the boo-boo all better," Hermione nodded her head in mock-agreement, before bursting into a fit of giggles.
Fred stopped her giggling as his lips captured hers in one swift movement. Hermione leaned up to meet his kiss eagerly, her fingers digging into his short hair as her arms tightened around his neck. Smiling against her lips, he trailed soft kisses along her jaw. He nudged the side of her chin with his nose, silently demanding access to her neck. At the first touch of his lips to the sensitive skin of her collarbone, she gave a small gasp of pleasure. Fred couldn't help but chuckle lightly at that, and the vibrations against her skin caused chills to run through her. Meticulously moving upwards, he found the space right beneath her ear, nibbling and tasting the skin there in delight.
"Class in ten minutes love," he said as he pulled back, feeling particularly evil.
"Oh you are most definitely going to pay for that," she replied without opening her eyes. He smiled as he took in her annoyed appearance, and flushed skin. He had succeeded in getting to her.
"Well you're the one who didn't want to kiss my boo-boo all better," he protested in mock-innocence.
"Hmph," she opened her eyes to glare at him, though he could see a mischievous glint in them. "Just remember one thing Greg."
"And what's that Mya?"
"Paybacks are a bitch," she grinned, and walked back to the desk to pull out the next class' lesson plan.
"And I am most definitely looking forward to it," he whispered silkily in her ear, sending chills down her spine, just as the first students walked in.
OooOooOooO
"And for homework, ten inches on werewolves, their habits, and how they differ from normal wolves, as well as animagi," Hermione called just before the bell rang, dismissing their last class of the afternoon. The third year Ravenclaws and Slytherins groaned good-naturedly, not really upset with the assignment. It was much easier than some they received in other classes, not to mention neither of the professors were extremely hard graders.
"Mm," Fred kissed the side of her neck as he wrapped his arms around her waist, hugging her from behind. "Love you."
"I love you too," she smiled immediately at his words. "And not that I mind, but what has gotten into you? You're always touching me and kissing me."
"Dunno," he shrugged, spinning her around, dancing with her slowly. "I think, knowing that you love me back, I can just hardly believe it. Feels like a dream, you know? And I want to take advantage of it while I can, before I wake up."
"Well believe it," she gave him a sharp pinch on the arm, laughing as he pretended to be in great pain. "I think you're stuck with me."
"Damn. Oh well, I suppose there're worse people I could be stuck with," he sighed dramatically.
"Are we interrupting?" An amused voice called from the doorway.
"Not at all Mr. Potter, come on in," Fred replied as he dipped Hermione, allowing her to see James, Sirius, Remus, and Peter in the doorway, grins on their faces. Lily was fighting back giggles.
"What can we do for you?" Hermione asked as they walked further in. She slapped at Fred's hands when he tried to pull her back into another dance. "Stop that for a minute."
"We were just wondering if we could have our bit of parchment back," Sirius asked, kicking at the floor lightly as he did so.
"I suppose," Hermione nodded after a moment. "On one condition."
"What?" James asked slowly.
"Make us a copy so we don't have to leave our rooms for patrol duty," Fred chuckled.
"And you don't go out after hours to do anything dangerous," Hermione added as she perched herself on the desk.
"I think we can agree to that," Remus answered once the four of them had conversed.
"How did you figure it out anyways?" Lily asked, curious.
"Ooh, good question Lils," Peter interjected as he and the other boys nodded their agreement.
"A friend I once knew had something similar," Fred shrugged nonchalantly. "And knowing you four, it didn't take all that long to figure out the password."
"Is that everything then?" Sirius asked once Hermione had retrieved the map and given it to them.
"Just make sure to play some pranks before the holidays," Fred laughed. They had about six weeks till break started on the twentieth of December.
"As long as they're harmless, not too embarrassing, and not done to any of the professors," Hermione sighed resignedly.
"You're actually encouraging pranks," Lily stared at her in shock as she hopped onto the desk also.
"Well you know them better than I do," Hermione nodded pointedly to the boys. "Do you honestly think they'd listen if I told them to stop?"
"No, I suppose not," Lily giggled after looking over at the boys, including Professor Greg, who were already plotting a few things. "They'd probably just do even more instead."
"Besides," Hermione lowered her voice. "What with the attacks that seem to be happening more and more lately, I think laughter is the best thing for everyone."
"Why so serious you two?" Fred asked, having looked up and seen the two conversing quietly.
"Oh, just some girl talk about how silly you all are," Hermione replied, a smile playing about her lips.
"And how even though you're a bunch of goofballs, we still love you for some reason," Lily added teasingly.
"Aha!" James teased back. "I knew you loved them more than me!"
"Of course not. You're the only one I love," Lily said, but there was no teasing in her voice.
"You mean it?" James walked over to her. Hermione slid off the desk where she and Lily had been sitting and went to stand next to Fred, letting the two have their moment. She was glad to witness it though, as it would add to the growing collection of memories for Harry.
"Yes, I love you James," she smiled.
"I love you too Lily," James kissed her passionately before remembering they weren't alone. "Uh, hi."
"Hi," Sirius watched them with a smile, happy for his friends.
"Guess what, I convinced her she loves me," James pulled Lily against his side as she socked him in the arm playfully.
"Well good for you," Remus chuckled. "Now the trick is to never let her get away."
"I'm sure he has no plans to," Peter piped up, then blushed slightly as his stomach grumbled lightly.
"On that note, let's get some lunch," Fred took Hermione's hand, leading the way to the great hall.
"Excuse me a sec, would you?" James kissed Lily quickly before running up to the high table and jumping on top of it. "Excuse me everyone."
"Oh no, what is he doing!" Lily hissed as she dropped her head in her hands. There was a smile on her face though.
"A few minutes ago, our beautiful head girl finally admitted she loves me back, and I just want to say one more thing to her," James grinned as several girls sighed. "I LOVE YOU LILY!"
"Thank you for sharing that joyous bit of news Mr. Potter, you have our congratulations," Albus smiled as James hopped off the table and ran to sit next to Lily, who promptly began smacking his arm all while trying not to smile. "Though perhaps in the future, you might refrain from jumping on the table?"
"Of course sir," James called cheekily, bringing a round of laughs from everyone. "I'll simply make a banner next time."
"Splendid idea," Albus called back, a twinkle in his eye as he took his seat. "I daresay this will be a year to remember, don't you Minerva?"
"Quite Albus," she nodded primly, though her eyes betrayed her amusement at what had just transpired. "Between the soap opera that is the marauders and Lily's life, as well as our two defense professors, things have been interesting."
"Yes," he nodded. "I think I've become spoiled from having two such enthusiastic and talent teachers. I'm sure I'll constantly be comparing new applicants to them."
"Well that happens with anyone you know," she pointed out logically. "Remember Professor Thistle all those years back? We all thought he was a wonderful herbology teacher. Then he retired and we hired Pomona. And now look, we can't hardly remember him, she's done such a wonderful job."
"Still, I can't help but think we'll lose something special when they leave us," Albus let a little sigh escape.
"Maybe so," Minerva patted his hand comfortingly. "But who knows what else the future may bring?"
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A/N: Well, that's chapter six- Houston, we have definite romance take-off! First with our favourite couple- Fred and Hermione, and then with James and Lily. Lots of fun lol. I can just see James being so excited about Lily finally saying she loves him, that he just had to announce it to the world. I don't know…just my take on it. I like to have light-hearted moments like that. And they happen in real life too- my best friend did that when his girlfriend told him she loved him, much the same way Lily did. Anyways, I hope you liked it, and let me know what you thought, if you're so inclined!