"Can we stop for a moment?" Hermione asked. Fred raised his eyebrow in curiosity as he watched his companion take her shoes off and rub her feet. He hadn't realised that aside from walking around in a ball gown, Hermione was also wearing heels, and wondered how much pain she must have been in.
"Won't your feet get cold?" he asked, worry filling him as his ears adjusted from the clinking of her steps to silence.
"Yeah, but it's not that bad," she replied as she followed him along. "Besides it's not really that cold when you have things to think about."
"And what is it that you're thinking about?" Fred asked with a smirk, hoping the fake confidence would be enough to mask his concern for her warmth.
"The animagus reporter thats in a charmed jar in a charmed bag with a girl who is both eccentric and drugged, of course," Hermione replied smugly.
"I guess that is something to think about," Fred responded, an impulse as well as a very thrilling realisation popping into his mind. "But if I were you I'd be more concerned about losing a toe." as he said this, Fred quickly bent down and scooped Hermione up off the ground, her face bursting in a blush as she began to giggle loudly.
"Put me down, Fred," Hermione retaliated, squirming in his arms with laughter as he continued to walk down the hall.
"Not a chance, Granger," he replied, swaying her lightly to get a rise. "Besides, we're going on an adventure."
As she stayed in his arms, Hermione rolled her eyes with exhaust. She fully expected something like this to happen, but it didn't mean that it wasn't going to be tiresome for her. Fred continued to carry Hermione all until the set of moving staircases where he lightly put her down and held onto her wrist. Fred tried to hide his strange anxiousness and silently hoped that Hermione didn't find it strange him holding her from the wrist, as he felt like it'd be too far to hold her hand as they walked up the stairs. It was at the end of the second flight that they had reached the seventh floor.
"Do you want to be carried again or would you like to walk?" Fred asked, hoping Hermione would pick the former but knowing full well she wouldn't.
"I'm good to walk, but thank you," Hermione replied, refusing to make eye contact as she did so. The two continued on as Fred led them as they wandered through the hallways in a seemingly random manner before finally coming to an empty hall- the only thing in sight a large tapestry that Hermione had never seen before, as she had never walked down this particular hall before. It was just another instance of Fred taking her to random parts of the castle at the risk of severe trouble.
"Just stand here and don't move, okay?" Fred asked, holding Hermiones shoulders as he did so. Hermione nodded curiously in response as the boy walked off towards the centre of the hallway. Fred then turned back around and walked towards Hermione, before turning once again and walking away. While Hermione walked towards him, wondering if he was mad, Fred watched as the doors to his secret room began to open up, revealing a small door for the two to walk through.
"Whats going on?" Hermione finally asked as she looked at the door in wonder. Fred searched both sides for onlookers before taking Hermiones wrist once more and leading her inside. The two entered the dark room quickly, the door snapping shut behind them and giving them both a slight shock. Following this, lanterns along a great large room began to light up, exposing the rooms contents and shocking Hermione to her core. In front of her was an enormous pool- at least 50 metres Hermione thought. It seemed like it was endlessly deep as well, but she didn't want to believe that. The decorations around the room were magnificent and regal, and the room radiated a warmth that seemed far more like a summer night than the midst of winter- the entire place seemed to be a masterpiece.
"What is this place, Fred?" Hermione asked in utter awe, turning in circles to take in the room.
"It's the Room of Requirements," he replied. "George and I found it last year but… It's complicated."
"Well uncomplicate it then," Hermione retorted mindlessly, putting a large grin on Freds face.
"Well it only ever appeared to us once and then never again no matter how hard we tried," he started. "I think it only comes when you're in need- because it was only because I was down on my luck with the second task that the door appeared for me and gave me a pool to practice transfiguration."
"Well thats nice and all," Hermione looked at Fred in the eyes, her cheeks blushing as she did so. "But why bring me here?"
Fred grinned, his realisation hadn't yet struck Hermione. "I'm genuinely quite hurt you haven't thought about it yet." he replied jokingly.
"Thought about what?" Hermione asked, walking towards the edge of the pool and dunking her feet in to feel the welcoming coolness of the water.
"The fact that we aren't being watched or talked about. The fact that Rita Skeeter is in two levels of charms in the form of a beetle with no form of escape." Fred watched as the realisation struck Hermione too and he smiled, knowing that she must have been feeling the same sense of relief he had when he decided to bring Hermione to the pool. Romantic emotions aside, Fred hated Rita Skeeter and the pressure she was putting on him to be some sort of poster boy when he wasn't. He hated feeling blackmailed with his own family's name, and hated Hermione feeling so threatened by a beetle. So knowing she was sleeping easy with Luna was a dream come true.
"I can't believe I hadn't thought about that, Fred," Hermione smiled, turning to face him brightly. "I actually feel free for the first time all year!"
Fred watched Hermione as she smiled brightly and turned back around to sit at the pools edge, the trickster in the young boy tempted to push her, but knowing that ruining her dress would be a hassle for them both. Instead, Fred took off his shoes, robes and pants and walked into the pool, right towards where Hermione sat. Being on the very shallow end and of his height, he stood only slightly lower from where she sat. They faced each other in a calm silence, Fred wondering if he should kiss her, but ultimately deciding not to.
"Would you like to join me?" Fred asked, trying to keep his cool despite his desire to pull her into the pool and hold her.
"I'd love to," Hermione replied softly, leaning back to stand up before Fred quickly grabbed her hand to keep her where she sat. The twos faces were equally bright red, glowing with nervousness and excitement as Fred tip-toed and leaned forwards to reach and unzip Hermione's dress. She continued to unzip it all the way down and gather together the ends of the dress, pulling it up and off of her swiftly. Fred watched as she rose to her feet to put the dress away from the pool water before returning back to where she sat, now only in her undergarments.
Freds height still matched Hermione's fairly considering their position, and using this to his advantage, Fred grabbed her waist and pulled her into his torso, taking her into the pool. Smiling, she quickly wrapped her legs around his body and arms around his neck tenderly.
"You're so nice when you're silent," Hermione finally said with a grin.
"Feel special, you're about the only one that can shut me up," Fred retorted, closing his eyes to feel her embrace and letting his hand travel up and down her back softly as they stood by the shallow end of the pool. Fred silently wanted to do more with her, but put away these thoughts, enjoying the tenderness of their current embrace. Hermione rested her chin on his shoulder, moving her arms so theyd snake down to hug him, breathing in his smell. It was the first time since the beginning of the year that she felt free and at peace, like she didn't have to run around after anybody or watch what she said or did, and yet something still felt wrong to her.
"Just because Rita Skeeter isn't an issue doesn't mean this can still happen, you know," Hermione said, hugging him tighter as she did so. "I mean you're my friend, Ron's my best friend, and your family is so special to me… But if anything were to happen with us, I could lose it all."
"Hermione, you're the dumbest genius I've ever met," Fred replied, walking towards the edge of the pool and lifting Hermione up, placing her back to where she was previously sitting. The boy took a step back to face her completely, the ends of her hair and most of her body drenched. "You really think that- if we were to get together, and we broke up for whatever reason- you would somehow lose my entire family as well?"
Hermiones face went red, not knowing exactly how to respond, and Fred still stood opposite her, a hand on his hip as he opened his mouth to scold her.
"You could literally shatter my heart, spit on my face and push me down the castle stairs and that still wouldn't be enough for you to lose Ron, or for mum to stop caring about you. You could hate me with every inch of your soul and you'd still be welcome home every summer because like you said, we're friends and nothing else will change that. So could you stop worrying about losing everyone if you did something that made you happy?"
"You don't know that for a fact, Fred," Hermione replied harshly. "As much as I like you, I fear losing you even more and I know that'll never happen if we stick to being friends."
"I do know it for a fact. I can promise you now, Hermione, if our friendship ends it won't be by my doing. I'm always going to be loyal to you, and you're always going to be welcome in my home. I promise," Fred was tearing up as he said this, staring at Hermione deeply, but Hermione didn't cry back. She was nervous and her heart was fluttering, but after hearing what Fred said, she wasn't afraid. Slowly, she submerged herself back into the water and walked towards him, pulling the tearful boys head into her shoulder and brushing his hair calmly.
"I'm sorry for making you cry," she uttered, holding him firmly.
"I don't want you to feel pressured into being with me, or having the same feelings as I have for you," Fred started, standing upright to look at Hermione. "But I also don't want you to think that theres something wrong with taking risks and doing something you know will make you happy, just because theres the mystery—"
Freds speech was cut off in a single moment, Hermione now on her tip toes with her lips on his softly, as if nervous she had done the wrong thing. Instinctively, Fred pushed back to continue the kiss, deepening it as he placed a hand on her cheek and her waist, pulling her closer towards him. Hermiones arms snaked around his neck, moving with him as the single kiss intensified into something deeper. Fred began to walk forwards, pushing Hermione to the pool wall and picking her up as her legs responsively wrapped themselves around his body.
Whatever thoughts or arguments Hermione once had were now gone as she was completely taken over by a natural instinct, following his actions and pulling him as close towards her as she possibly could. Mindlessly, Fred began to trace up from her waist, feeling as much of her as he possibly could as they kissed harshly against each other. The hand caressing her cheek fell down to her chin and Fred softly pushed Hermiones head away.
"So is this a yes?" he asked, smiling softly as he stared into her wide brown eyes.
"Take it more as me feeling the same way as you do," Hermione replied, staring back at him with admiration. "But I still think we can't be together. At least not right now."
"Well what about in secret?" Fred asked, now brushing her cheek softly.
"I mean…" Hermione silently thought about this, the rush of passion and adrenaline now settling down and allowing reason to shine through. "I think I'd like that. But secret means just us knowing. Not George or Lee, and not Harry or Ron, okay?"
"I think I know better than to tell Lee anything, unless you're keen on him commentating our entire relationship over a quidditch match," Fred smiled, recieving a giggle back from Hermione. "Anyways, I think we best get back to the common room, it's nice here but unless a bed magically appears I'm not keen on sleeping here."
As the two walked out of the pool and towards their stuff, they began using the towels to dry themselves off, Hermione looking around in wonder.
"Is there not a drying room like the prefects bathroom?" she asked.
"No, why do you ask?" he responded, drying his hair off with his towel.
"Well, Fred, my undergarments are drenched and I have to put a ballgown on," she replied sassily.
"Just wear them under, we'll be back to the common room soon enough." he now had a towel wrapped around his waist. "Or just go commando."
Hermione blushed as she watched him squirm with his hand on the inside of the towel and pulled off the boxers he was wearing. "How can you just do that aren't you embarrassed?"
"It's you, why should I be embarrassed?" he responded, now putting his pants on as he was still covered by the towel. "Besides it's not like you can see anything." Fred pulled away the towel now only wearing the pants and, to both his and Hermione's deep embarrassment, she could see it all.
"Fred I am begging you to put your underwear back on," she said, looking up at the ceiling with a bright red face. "No offence to you, but I think it's a bit too early for… That."
"Hermione this isn't the time for snide remarks I am dying of shame," Fred replied, wringing his boxers out as much as he could before repeating the procedure of putting pants on.
"You spend your entire life making snide remarks to improve situations, please let me do it just this once."
Hermione finally looked down from the ceiling and found Fred now leaning on the wall shirtless, his face still pink from the embarrassment, meanwhile she was still standing in her undergarments deciding finally that she would just walk in wet clothes and hope she didn't get sick on the way to the common room. The two eventually were fully changed and ready to head out, Fred grabbing Hermiones hand just before she walked out the door.
"Before we go, one last kiss?" he asked, the same sweet smile on his lips that had always made Hermiones heart skip a beat. The two kissed once more and walked out the room of requirement, watching the door disappear behind them.
"Where in the world have you two been?" George asked with a smirk as the two walked into the common room. He was sitting by the fireplace with Harry and Ron, Ron seemed to be completely fine while Harry leaned back on his chair wincing in pain.
"Dropping Luna off, why do you ask?" Hermione replied quickly, hoping he would take it.
"Last I checked the Ravenclaw common room wasnt an hour away," Ron replied, taking a sip out of a mug.
"We had to go a long route because it was already curfew," Fred retorted, feeling the same as Hermione with his nervousness.
"Did that long route involve swimming across a lake?" George asked, barely able to keep in his laughter. Hermione looked at Fred, whose hair was still damp, and Fred at Hermione, who also still had damp ends of her hair.
"I've no idea what you're talking about, anyways I'm exhausted. Rest that foot, brother, and get well soon you too good night to you all!" Fred said in a rush as he walked up the stairs to the boys dorm.
Hermione cursed him to herself as she was left alone with the other three, Ron and George looking like vultures for gossip, and the second Fred was out of sight, they let lose.
"I've always seen you as a sister, Mione, but I never thought you'd actually officially become one," he snickered, Hermione rolling her eyes at him as she stood.
"You clearly have good taste, but I'll tell you this for nothing I am the better twin," George remarked, also snickering.
"You two are clearly very funny, but theres nothing going on between Fred and I," she huffed. "We bumped into Myrtle on the way here and she tried to drench us." Hermione crossed her arms and hoped that the excuse was believable enough.
"Whatever you say, sister," Ron remarked with a smile, Hermione forcing herself not to grin in return and instead deciding to walk up the stairs.
"Oh Ron," she started as she was at the top of the staircase. "Your wife sent her regards, I'm going to see her tomorrow if you'd like to come."
Hermione snickered, followed by George, as the two looked at Ron who was now the one feeling shy.