Chapter Seven

Book 5

"Hermione dear, please come with us" her parents said as she stood on the doorway saying her goodbyes.

"No way- I will not miss school! You know its my O.W.L year, you know how important these examinations are!" she smiled at her mum and gave her a big hug. "I'm going to be fine, Mrs Weasley has said I am more than welcome and there is only a few weeks left of the holidays anyway and then ill be back to Hogwarts". Her mothers eyes filled with tears as she got into the car. They were leaving to visit family in Australia and wouldn't be back until Christmas. Hermione had spent most of the summer holidays convincing her parents to leave her behind. She just couldn't be half a world away when there was so much going on. She went upstairs and finished writing a letter to Ron promising she would be with them by the evening. She was going to get the night bus, but Mrs Weasley had insisted she wait for an escort who was meant to be arriving at six pm. She was going to join the Weasleys at Number 12 Grimmauld Place- the headquarters for the Order of the Pheonix. She packed the rest of her trunk, made sure the house was secure and curled up on the sofa with a book. At 6pm there was a knock at the door. She opened it and smiled in complete surprise. Fred and George stood on her doorway, with identical grins.

"Told you she would be surprised" said George

"Priceless" said Fred as he help up a camera and snapped a shot of her stunned expression. As George walked in past Hermione, her eyes met Fred's and he winked at her.

"So you two are my escort?"

"Yeap. We are now both official adults and are not tethered to your non-magical muggle ways during the holidays" said George.

"Best part? Being able to just-" Fred clicked his fingers and disappeared with a loud crack.

"So which one is your room?" called a voice from upstairs. Hermione rushed upstairs for find Fred laying down on her double bed his hands clasped behind his head. "Verrrrrrry nice" he teased.

"Get off there, I've just changed the sheets!" Hermione went and grabbed his arm meaning to pull him off the bed. But the when her hand clasped around his bare forearm they both jumped as that current passed between them. She found herself simply holding his arm, her fingers tracing small patterns along the muscle. Fred sat up in one fluid motion had pulled her down onto the bed, twisted her so she was underneath him and he was leaning over her, propped up on his elbows. His eyes greedily looked at her face, taking in all the details he had missed so sorely over the summer. He lowered his face to hers and just as his lips ghosted hers George called up the stairs.

"Hurry up you two and bring the trunk down" Fred smiled wryly at her and stood up waving his wand at her trunk which levitated, while she gathered Crookshanks in her arms. "Shall we?" Fred asked winking at her again.

It was almost two weeks before she was able to be alone with Fred again. Mrs Weasley had kept them so busy with household chores, always pairing her with Ron or Ginny that it was in complete desperation that she volunteered for washing up duty one evening that was meant to be the Twins. "Thanks Granger" said George and disapparated out of the kitchen a look of glee on his face.

"Fred" warned Mrs Weasley "don't you dare abandon Hermione too. She offered to help you."

"Wouldn't dream of it" said Fred a smile playing around his lips.

The group soon retired to the drawing room to play chess, or read. Hermione and Fred stood side by side at the sink washing the crockery. Their hands touched under the warm soapy water and she looked up at him.

"Fred?" she whispered.

"Hermione" he breathed. Then she was in his arms, water going everywhere as she kissed him. He waved his wand at the door and kissed her back. Her hands wound their way up into his hair and his wrapped around waist pulling her into him. She couldn't get close enough to him, she pressed her body into his and made soft whimpering noises as she realised this wasn't enough, she wanted more. After a few minutes they broke apart but stayed in each other's arms. She looked at him with his soaked shirt and soap suds in his hair and started laughing. He pretended to look offended and then splashed the soapy water up at her, catching her chest and face. She shrieked "Fred!" and then laughing splashed him back. There was a muffled thump on the door as someone walked into it expecting it to open.

"Hey what's wrong with the door?" came Ron's muffled voice. Fred flashed Hermione another grin and waved his wand at the dishes, which all soared up into the air and stacked themselves neatly in the cupboard, the floor dried and the kitchen door opened just as Fred disappeared.

"What happened to you?" asked Ron looking at her soaked hair and flushed face.

"Water fight" Hermione said still chuckling to herself.

"Right." Said Ron frowning at her. "Anyway. Harry's been attacked by dementors! He's on his way here at last!"