Chapter Four

"Where did you end up last night Freddie?" asked George the following day. "You missed a right old barmy between ickle Ronnikins and Granger" Fred's eyes snapped up to his twin, "oh yeah?" he asked, trying to sound as uninterested as possible, as memories from the previous night flashed through his mind. "yeah" said George stretching his arms over his head and giving a huge yawn, "Ron being a jealous twit about her going with Krum- he's such an idiot."

"Yeah" said Fred, guilt twisting his stomach. "But she had every right to go with Krum. Its not like Ronnikins is ever going to make a move is it? not like he has any say in who she dates"

"Try telling Ron that" shrugged George, "Anyway, hope you don't mind but I may have picked up the slack after you disappeared and kept your date company, for the remainder of the night" George wagged his eyebrows at Fred who grinned at clapped his twin on the back. He settled back to listen to George tell him all about Angelina, his mind elsewhere.

Fred threw down the copy of Witch Weekly that had a colourful article about a love triangle between Harry, Hermione and Krum. He felt a twist of jealousy at the story, even though he knew it was just Skeeter rubbish. The thought of Hermione with anyone seemed to wake a growling, menacing creature in his chest. He thought about Ron and how must have felt reading that article.. probably a lot like how I feel thought Fred wryly. The main thing this article seemed to drive home to him was that Hermione was desirable, she was popular, beautiful, smart. And it wasn't going to be long before others started stepping up to the challenge.

Hermione's eyes looked over the top the Standard Book of Spells Grade Four at Fred who was huddled in the corner with George. She absently chewed at her bottom lip as she thought how attractive he was. His red hair framed his face and as she watched, a few tendrils fell into his eyes. He impatiently ran his hand through his hair pushing it back. Her mind drifted to how much she wanted to run her hand through his hair when his shoulders tensed and his eyes looked up to meet hers. It was there again, that intense look in his eyes. The beam that connected them seeming to draw them into each other. Hermione blushed at being caught staring at him, but she couldn't look away. Fred lips twitched in a small smile seeing her face flood with colour. Fred muttered something to George and stood up making his way to the portrait hole, he looked over at Hermione again and gave a tiny, imperceptible jerk of his head.

Hermione hesitated- she looked over at Ron and Harry who were having a game of wizards chess. Harry was egging a trembling pawn forward while Ron's knight gripped its sword menacingly. She stood suddenly.

"Where are you going?" asked Ron accusingly.

"Library" replied Harry and Hermione at the same time. Ron and Harry laughed. Hermione rolled her eyes at them and walked away as Ron's Knight attacked Harrys pawn. The hallway beyond the portrait hole was deserted. She hesitated, an overwhelming sense of disappointment filling her. Then thinking she might as well go to the library now she made her way down the corridor. Halfway down Fred's arm shot out from behind a tapestry and pulled her out of sight. She gasped in shock as she found herself in another hidden alcove, but she didn't have a chance to look around before Fred's lips crushed into hers. She responded just as enthusiastically, kissing him eagerly. The past month seemed to have intensified the fire between them. Fred lifted her up as she wrapped her legs about his waist and he pushed her back against the wall. "I have been wanting to this since the Yule Ball" Fred murmured as he trailed kisses along her collar bone and up her neck. She gasped as his lips closed around her earlobe sending waves of shivers down her entire body. "Your all I can think about Hermione" He covered her mouth with his own again and gave a long lingering kiss as he lowered her down. They rested their foreheads against each other and breathed in their scents.

"We shouldn't be here" said Hermione breathlessly.

"No" whispered Fred as he trailed feather light kisses along her jaw, pausing as his hand came up to touch the little freckle at the corner of her mouth.

"But I can't help myself" he gave her one more heady kiss, before slipping back out into the corridor, leaving Hermione alone.