"I'm going to bed. Goodnight!" She waved over to the three Weasleys as she climbed the stairs to the girls' rooms. Like she expected, she heard Ginny bid the twins goodnight and quickly followed her up the stairs. Before she opened the door, she pressed her finger to her lips as she glanced over her shoulder to Ginny, she nodded and they silently walked to her bed. Hermione changed into her pajamas and threw a pair to Ginny, who quickly changed as well. Hermione was used to Ginny sleeping over and always had an extra set of pajama's ready. After they changed, they climbed in her bed and closed the curtains. Casting a silencing spell over them.
"Okay now spill!"
"Spill what?" Hermione tried to ask innocently.
"You know damn well what. Even Ron can see that something is going on and that is saying a lot."
"We are friends Gin."
"Friends?"
"Yeah, friends up until an hour ago." Hermione couldn't stop a big smile from forming on her face.
Ginny squealed as she jumped up and down the bed.
"I knew it. How did it happen?"
Hermione told her what happened that that led up to this evening, Ginny smiling wide the entire time. Ginny, like Fred, asked about Ron. About how Ron felt about her and she about him. She told the same thing she told Fred. That they were just friends. They laid down on the bed, facing each other as they kept chatting the rest of the night.
"You need to promise me one thing though."
"What?"
"Please don't tell anyone, George knows of course but the others. You know how Ron will react and this is their last year at Hogwarts."
"I'll keep it a secret, but you can't keep hiding it forever..."
"I know but this is new, really new." She chuckled. "We need to figure out what this is."
"Alright so is he a good kisser?"
"Merlin Ginny that's your brother!" Hermione laughed and Ginny soon joined in.
- FWHGFWHGFWHGFWHGFWHGFWHGFWHGFW -
Fred sat down next to his brother as he smiled at the fireplace.
"Don't leave me hanging. What happened that makes you look like a grinning fool?"
Fred turned his head towards his brother, smiling. "I kissed her."
"Figured as much but this is like the third time, right?"
"Yes, but I told her I liked her."
"You're joking?"
"No, I'm serious!"
"No, you're Fred. What did she say?"
"That she liked me back." Fred was still grinning like a fool.
"What about Ron?" George's eyes fell to the boys' staircase.
"She sees him as a friend, a brother. Nothing more but she knows how he feels about her. Could you keep this to yourself and Ginny probably?" Fred chuckled as his eyes found the girls' staircase. "With this being new and us leaving in a couple days. We are going to take it slow."
"Sure, secret is save with me. Think it's for the best actually, if Ron or mum found out..-" He trailed off. They both stared at the fire for a while before George started singing.
"Fred and Hermione sitting in a tree. K-I-S-S-I-N-G!"
Before George could continue Fred pushed him from the sofa. "Sod of!" He chuckled as he made a beeline to the stairs.
- FWHGFWHGFWHGFWHGFWHGFWHGFWHGFW -
A few days later Hermione left the library after studying for her DADA exam. She was walking down the corridor, heaving her heavy book bag when a hand clasped her mouth and dragged her in an alcove. Hermione grabbed her wand and poked him in the side.
"Oi!" Fred yelped. He let his hand drop from her mouth and she turned to him glaring.
"Be glad I didn't hex you!"
"Sorry love, wanted to get a moment alone with you." Fred shrugged, smiling at her. "We are leaving today."
"Oh." She said barely a whisper. Fred took her by the waist and pulled her close, one hand placed a loose curl behind her ear. Hermione wrapped her arms around his neck. "Better give you a good sendoff then." She wiggled her eyebrow, Fred looked shocked for a moment before Hermione planted her lips on his. They kept snogging until they were out of air. "Do you need help with anything?"
"No, you make sure you're in the Great Hall and that the teachers see you."
"Okay, when-?"
"I'm meeting George in half an hour." He glanced at his watch. "I'm going to miss you. I just got used to seeing you every day."
"I was getting a bit annoyed really." She laughed at his mock hurt expression. "You'll write, won't you?"
"As much as I can, we'll be busy getting the shop ready, but I'll make time, promise."
"Good!" She planted a soft kiss on his lips as she stood on her toes.
"Are you planning on staying at the burrow this summer?"
"Yes, mum and dad already cleared it with your mum. I'll arrive the first of august. Then you can see me everyday."
Fred's brows knitted together. "Actually, George and I have a flat above the shop, we'll be moving in, in the next few days."
"Oh." She lowered herself from him.
"But my dear twin suggested something."
"And what's that?"
"You come to work with us this summer. That way we can see each other throughout the summer."
"What about your mum?"
"What about her? Just tell her that you need a summer job, that it is a muggle thing youngsters do and that we offered you one. George and I will still be busy creating, so an extra hand is certainly welcome." He smiled at he pulled her flush to his body. She rested her chin on his chest looking up at those beautiful dark blue eyes.
"Alright." She grinned. "On one condition."
Fred grinned back at her; eyebrows shot up. "Yes?"
"I'll get a goodnight kiss every day."
"I can make that happen." He reached down and snogged her senseless, both lost in their own little bubble.
- FWHGFWHGFWHGFWHGFWHGFWHGFWHGFW -
Hermione ran outside to the courtyard, Harry and Ron on her heels as the twins flew out on their broomsticks. Hermione smiled from ear to ear as she saw her favorite red head swirling in the air. Before they flew off, they called out the address of their new shop in Diagon Alley. Fred's eyes found her and gave her an exaggerated wink before he followed George out in the sky.
A couple dozens letters and weeks later she was taking her O.W.L.s and the next thing Hermione knew was Harry falling down, saying Sirius was in trouble, Umbridge, centaurs, thestrals (never flying again!), the ministry, death eaters and a blinding purple light and then darkness.
- FWHGFWHGFWHGFWHGFWHGFWHGFWHGFW -
Fred and George were busy in their shop when they got a patronus of Arthur saying that Ron and the others had been lured into a trap at the ministry and they laid injured in the hospital wing of Hogwarts. Fred was frozen to the ground as the patronus disappeared, shaking slightly. He barely registered that George took his arm and apparated them to Hogsmeade. They used the floo in the train station that landed them in McGonagall's office. The professor was waiting for them and they quickly followed her through the castle.
"What happened? Are they alright?"
"Harry is with professor Dumbledore, he's fine. Ginny, Luna and Neville had some cuts and bruises but nothing serious."
George glanced over to Fred who was still in a daze. "Ron and Hermione?" And the sound of her name Fred's head shot up and looked at the worried look on McGonagall's face.
"Ron has been attacked by brains."
"Brains?" George asked ins disgust.
"Yeah, he's out cold but should be fine apart from some scarring on his arms."
"Hermione?"
"She was hit with a very dangerous curse from Dolohov. If she didn't silence, him the curse would've killed her."
Fred breath hitched and George placed his hand on his shoulder squeezing it gently. "But she'll be okay right?"
"Madam Pomfrey thinks so. It was touch and go for a minute but she's stable. Madam Pomfrey put her in an induced coma to let her heal. She will be asleep throughout the night."
They reached the big doors of the hospital wing and they heard soft talking coming from the other side. McGonagall slowly pushed the door open and let George and Fred enter before her. The next thing they knew, they were squished together by two small arms and a head full of red hair. They both placed one arm around her and hugged her back.
"Gin, you're okay." Fred whispered. Ginny pulled back slowly as she looked at Fred.
"She'll be fine. Go see Ron first. Mum and dad are here." She whispered as she led them to the first curtain. Molly and Arthur jumped up and hugged them tight before their eyes fell on Ron. Who was deep asleep, snoring loudly, red marks spread across his arms.
"Mum." George whispered. Molly turned, tears in her eyes.
"He's going to be fine." She assured him. George looked around and saw Neville and Luna sitting on a bed together, staring at Ron. "Neville, Luna." He nodded in their direction. "Alright?"
"All good. Thanks." Neville gave him a small smile. Madam Pomfrey came from behind the curtain as she shooed them away, so she could tend to Ron's wounds. Before she closed the curtains she pointed at the end of the room.
"I have four beds empty. You can all stay here tonight." She turned towards George and Fred. "If you behave!"
"Yes ma'am." They said in unison making the healer smile at their antics.
"Come on Molly, let's get you laid down." Fred heard his father whisper. He turned and saw him guiding his mother to the beds on the very end.
"Go see her. I'll keep them distracted." George whispered as he nudged him to the last curtain. "Mum, let me help you." George strode over and helped fluff the pillow for his mum.
"Want me to come with you?" Ginny asked as she slides up next to him.
"No, I need a moment."
"Okay, I'll be with Neville and Luna if you need me."
"Thanks Gin." He kissed the top of her head. He took in a deep breath and pulled the curtain aside. He quickly slipped in and closed the curtain behind him. Fred stopped breathing for a moment when he saw Hermione laying still in the hospital bed.
"Mione, love." He whispered as he sat down on the chair next to her and grabbed her hand gently, placing it between his. He looked over to her; she laid so still. She was pale, very pale and her arms and torso were covered in bandages. Only a slight movement of her chest confirmed she was still breathing, still alive.
"Sleep love. I need you to recover, so you can help us at the shop this summer." A soft hoarse chuckle left him.
His eyes glanced over her face. "Please be okay."
He dropped his head on the bed as he kept a hold on her hand. He didn't know how long he sat there, holding her hand, listening to her breathing before a cough was heard behind him. RON. He carefully placed her hand on the bed and bent down to kiss her forehead. "
I'll come back." He whispered before disappearing behind the curtain and walked over to a very confused baby brother that was already surrounded by the rest of the family.
When Fred sat down on the last open chair, Harry walked in followed by the headmaster. Harry, Ron, Ginny, Neville and Luna retold them what had happened. Fred's mind going back to the injured witch behind him and the conversation that was going on in front of him.
