When Fred and Hermione appeared back at the burrow they were back in their landing, before Hermione could speak Fred spoke "Mione can I ask you one more thing please I don't want to embarrass you but could you please help me into the shower I haven't had a proper one since all this happened I've been cleansing with spells and George has helped me into the bath but it's too much hard work to get me back out again even with Bills help and well it's mortifying and god I can't stop rambling" Fred said coming to a stop
"Fred of course I will help you into the shower just keep your pants on until I'm outside of the bathroom please" she laughed
"thank god you agreed no cleansing charm is going to work on me the amount I've sweat today" his usual grin back in place but not quite stopping the exhaustion showing in his eyes.
Hermione went to let herself into the bathroom finding it locked
"Gin are you in there?" she said with a knock hearing water sloshing about
"shit yeah are you and Fred back god I fell asleep. I will be out in a min let me grab a towel.
Fred and Hermione waited, Ginny exited the bathroom wrapped in a towel and one wrapped around her long hair. "ahhh Gin get some clothes on I didn't need to see you nearly naked" Fred shouted covering his eyes and laughing.
"well I didn't expect you perves to be waiting on the landing did I." Ginny laughed flicking her middle finger at Fred and slamming her bedroom door behind her
Hermione and Fred laughed as Hermione wheeled Fred into the small bathroom. "Mione, can you go and get me some clean pants and pajamas please?"
When Hermione returned with Fred's pajamas and underwear she found a red-cheeked Fred sat in just his pants in his wheelchair. Hermione smiled at him and tried not to let her eyes scan his almost naked body. "right Fred how are we doing this" she said determined to help and not give in to her brain's urges to scan his still muscled from quidditch form.
"I was thinking if you turn the shower on and get it running help me onto the side of the bath and to swing my legs over the side of the bath you can leave then and I can pull myself up on the pipes and remove my pants, have my shower and wrap myself in my towel and then shout you to help me get my clothes part way on and then I'm sure I can do the rest from there and remember I can always wait for George or Bill or Dad."
"Fred I'm okay honestly, I want to help and I will try and not look at anything while I'm helping I promise"
"Thanks, Mione but you know the only reason you are avoiding looking at me naked is that once you get a look at me you won't be able to control yourself" Fred laughed and through a comical wink at Hermione as she lent past him and switched on the shower.
"Weasley get your mind out of the gutter else I will turn the shower to cold" she laughed and smiled back at him.
"you would never do that to me a poor war-wounded wizard" Fred poked his bottom lip out and the two of them really began to laugh. Hermione assisted Fred to stand and helped him sit and swing his legs over the side of the tub. Seeing Fred twist in this way really highlighted his toned and defined stomach, Hermione swallowed, she needed to stop thinking about Fred in this way.
"right, stick your hand out and check the temperature and I will leave you to vanish your pants and enjoy your shower. If your legs get tired sit-down and if you need me for anything else shout I will be out on the landing." Hermione placed her hand on Fred's shoulder Fred reached up and covered Hermione's hand with his own and squeezed it
"Thanks, Mione, I do really appreciate it you know"
"I know Fred and I know that you would do the same for me. now, get on with it Weasley".
Hermione shut the door behind her and leaned against the wall outside the bathroom trying to banish the thought of what Fred's muscled body beneath the streaming water would look like. She really needed to stop thinking about him like that, there was no way Fred would ever think about his little brother's friend in that way the witches he always flirted with and dated at school were outgoing, athletic, and funny. Hermione thought to herself, I'm none of those things.
Hermione heard a huge bang and a lot of swear words coming from the bathroom, she lurched into action threw the bathroom door wide open, and ran towards Fred who was muttering
"shit, shit, shit, bloody fuck, shit"
"Fred, I'm coming don't move"
"mione stay there I'm fine I've just slipped and" he let out a long breath "fuck I'm not okay I'm on the shower floor and there is no way I'm ever going to get back up without help."
"right well I'm going to move the shower curtain" he must have closed it when he stood up she thought to herself "I'm going to pass you a towel to cover yourself with and then I'm going to take my shoes off and step in to help you get up."
"okay poke your hand through with the towel and I will tell you when I'm covered," Fred thought, this was just his bloody luck he should have at least waited for George to be home. Hermione passed him a towel through the curtain, and he covered himself up.
"right I'm decent"
Hermione removed her shoes, threw back the shower curtain, and stepped in smiling at Fred hoping to help him not feel so helpless.
"come on Fred, let's get you up Hermione said bending her knees and offering him her hands. "when you start to stand up move your weight so you can twist yourself round to sit on the side of the bath okay" Hermione instructed Fred in her problem-solving way. Fred nodded and began to move his weight so that she could help him stand up.
"Hermione I'm going to try and twist now is that okay" Hermione nodded focusing on keeping Fred's balance steady. As Fred began to turn his body both Hermione and himself realised where they had gone wrong, the bath was still too slippery and before either of them could correct their movements Fred had begun turning and falling at the same time pulling Hermione beneath him as they both shouted out loud. Fred automatically tried to catch himself and protect Hermione's head from hitting the bottom of the bath. When they both landed faces close together they realised that they were stuck and the shower was still running, soaking them with a stream of warm water, Fred's broad shoulders protecting Hermione's face from the stream.
"fuck" they said in unison before shouting for Ginny who was the only other person in the house.
"what the bloody hell are you two shouting about," ginny said stepping from her room toweling her long hair dry, seeing Fred's wheelchair in the bathroom ginny stepped into the room. Hermione and Fred heard her footsteps approaching.
"Gin don't be alarmed but we've had a bit of an accident and were stuck, Freds slipped, and I've ended up stuck trying to help him up, the bath was so slippy we've both ended up falling and were kind of tangled up and …"
"what Hermione is trying to say is we're really stuck and I'm stark bollock naked and getting cold. Floo to the flat and get George and I think you might have to Patronus Bill as well I'm sure how we've landed has at least dislocated Hermione's shoulder and I think when I've landed I might have broken her wrist."
"shit okay, Fred I'm going to throw a towel over you and switch the shower off and then I will be gone and be straight back. "Freddie," Ginny said quietly, "I think this is my fault, I forgot to rinse the bath after using that new wonder witch conditioner you gave me for my birthday"
"oh, shit Gin it even says on the bottle to clean the bath with magic after its no wonder it was like a bloody ice rink. I forgive you just go and get George and Patronus bill I don't need the whole family seeing my naked arse"
Ginny ran from the bathroom and straight to the floo.
When she stepped out of the floo in the flat she headed towards the stairs that led to the twin's workshop and was met by George on the stairs.
"I need you back at the flat, Fred had an accident, we need bill as well Hermione hurt as well"
George sent a Patronus to bill and without waiting for Ginny stepped through the floo eager to get to his injured twin. Ginny followed George through and when they entered the living room grabbed George by the arm and led him to the bathroom.
"come on they're in the shower"
"the shower" George spat out stopping Ginny on the stairs " what the hell were they doing in the shower together"
"nothing Georgie, I forgot to rinse the bath after using my new wonder witch conditioner and Fred must have gone for a shower cause they had just got back from his physio appointment, he slipped and mione went to help him and shes stuck under a naked Fred. Shit George she is never going to forgive me.
George burst out laughing "this is priceless, Fred is stuck naked on top of the witch he fancies"
Ginny smiled beginning to see the funny side.
"now you know where they are I'm going to wait for Bill in the living room"
"George" Bills voice came from by the back door
"up here Bill"
Bill jogged up the stairs to Ginny and George at the top of the stairs.
"where's Fred? What's happened?"
"he's in the bathroom. He slipped in the shower and mione tried to help him up and he thinks she broken her wrist and dislocated her shoulder when they landed"
"they're in the shower together, hmm wouldn't have seen the two as a couple. Mind you he is the only one she trusts enough to let in after everything. They would be cute together …"
"bill stop being a gossip" Ginny snapped, "you're the worst, my best friend is hurt and stuck under my naked brother and they're both hurt come on we need to get them up," she said dragging both her brothers through the bathroom door.
While Ginny was gone looking for help Fred attempted to move his weight off Hermione.
"Fred lie still I don't want you to hurt yourself further. Wait until Bill can tell you if you've broken anything."
"okay. Mione I am so sorry about this" Fred said tears beginning to gather in his eyes. Everything today had just been a bit much and his frayed emotions couldn't take much more. Hermione saw the tears gathering and moved her free arm so that her hand could cradle his face.
"shh, Fred. Shh, everything is okay. Think about if this was anyone else and you didn't feel like you'd been hit by the night bus how funny with would be. What if this was Ron and a witch or George and Angelina and you had to come to the rescue. You would be wearing that mischievous Weasley grin and poking fun at him. wouldn't you?" Fred nodded.
"I'm sorry Mione, I'm so tired and achy and I just wanted a shower and to go to bed, and now your hurt and were stuck and I'm cold"
"Fred come on," Hermione said moving her hand to stroke the fringe off his forehead "We're fine, I will be fine. You did so well today I'm so proud of how strong you were. You were a true Gryffindor today and we're not going to let that little bit of dark magic win are we?"
Fred nodded "thanks for today mione, I don't think I could have done it without you"
"anytime Fred." Hermione smiled up at him. Fred rested his forehead on Hermione's and plucked up his Gryffindor courage. He began to lean his lips down to meet Hermione's when they heard George Bill and ginny enter the bathroom. Internally Fred groaned. Hermione couldn't believe it, Fred Weasley had just nearly kissed her, and she had wanted nothing more than to get lost in his brown eyes and feel his lips on hers.