Hi everyone! This chapter is dedicated to my first reviewer, Fairyflights.

Hope you enjoy!

~Phantombookworm

Next morning, Fred woke late. Dreams of his arms wrapped around Hermione's waist danced in his consciousness until very late last night. Rolling over, he noticed that everyone else in his dormitory- excluding George, obviously- had gone down to breakfast.

"Morning, sleeping beauty," George said, throwing Fred's robes across the room at him.

"Mornin'," Fred yawned, scrambling out of bed. He pulled on his robes and hurriedly pulled a comb through his unruly hair. "What time is it?"

"Twenty-to."

"Aw, damn it." Fred moaned, lacing up his shoes. "I'm hungry!"

"Well maybe don't sleep for half the morning then mate," George shrugged. "I already went down to the kitchens, though, so…" He held out a bacon sarnie and a flask of hot coffee, black, no sugar.

"You're the best, George!"

"I know," George replied, grinning. "But hurry up, we've got McGonagall first, and you know how mad she gets if you're late."

Fred rolled his eyes. "Don't remind me. I don't think my hands were quite the same after she got us to clean all the taper-holders* in the dungeons."

Eighteen minutes later, the two twins were waiting outside the Transfiguration classroom, accompanied by the rest of their year.

"Where were you at breakfast, guys?" Lee asked, lounging against the wall of the corridor.

"Fred overslept."

"George!"

"What?! You did!" George ducked as Fred swatted his head in indignation. He retaliated by throwing a soft punch to his twin's stomach, whilst Lee roared with laughter.

"Weasley, Weasley and Jordan!" A sharp voice sounded from the classroom doorway. "Just what do you think you are doing?"

"Nothing, Professor McGonagall," all three chorused innocently.

"Hmmm," she raised an eyebrow. "Get in the classroom and sit down." As the class silently filed into the room and took their seats, McGonagall strode to the front of the classroom. "So now that the mature students have shown us how to behave," she threw a pointed glare at the three boys seated at the back of the room, "we will start the Inanimatus Conjurus spell."

As the class progressed, Fred felt restless. Yeah, making a chair appear from mid-air would be cool, but McGonagall, as always, was starting small- with buttons. Again.

Suddenly, Fred felt something soft wind around his outstretched legs. Something furry. Something alive.

"What-?" He glanced down.

"Is anything wrong, Mr Weasley?"

"N-no, Professor. I just dropped my wand."

"Well, be more careful next time." She turned away to answer a question from Angelina.

What on earth was Crookshanks doing here? Why was he here?

Fred bent down on pretence of retrieving something form his bag. He offered his hand out to the ginger cat- he must be part kneazle, Fred thought (not for the first time) - and was surprised when the cat prowled closer and nuzzled it, offering his collar to Fred. There was a note attached. Wait- not just one, but two. Each addressed to a different twin.

Fred hurriedly pulled both the notes from Crookshanks collar and handed the other note to his brother. He sat staring at the scrap of parchment with his name: Frederick F** Weasley, written in neat, bottle green cursive. There was only one person this note could have come from.

Hermione.

His hands shook as he split the seal holding the parchment shut. Dear Fred,he read.

I did not see you at breakfast this morning- so she had noticed his absence, he thought- and I wanted to thank you for your actions last night. I left the library too late to reach Gryffindor Tower before curfew, and I am thankful that your presence last night spared me punishment or detention.

I sent this note with Crookshanks once I realised that you would miss the normal morning post. I hope that he does not disturb your lesson. He seems to like you. I guess cats have good taste.

If there is anything I can do, please ask.

Thank you,

Hermione J Granger.

Fred stared at the name written at the bottom of the parchment. Hermione noticed him. Hermione thought to write to him. Hermione thought that liking him was 'good taste'.

Wait. He mustn't over analyse the situation.

"George, what did yours say?"

His twin shrugged. He showed the note to Fred, who say that it only displayed a few lines, thanking him for mending her books and bag, thus saving her from both Filch, her teachers and Madam Pince.

"What about yours?" George asked.

"Just the same. Thanks and all that."

George scanned his twins face, noting the blush that was creeping up from under his collar, and the slight grin.

"Yeah, right-"

"MR WEASLEY, WILL YOU PLEASE FOCUS ON YOUR WORK, AND NOT TALK TO YOUR BROTHER ABOUT IT."

Even though McGonagall had just admonished him, even though the class was now staring at him, even though his brother was giving him an 'I know what you're hiding' grin, Fred smiled.

Hermione might like him.

*Tapers are small, tapering (obviously) candles. They are referenced in one of the books to have a bluish-light. Fred's reference to his hands was that since they are enchanted to keep burning, his hands got rather burnt from hot wax.

**The F is reference to the unmentioned middle name of Fred. It is suggested that his is Fabian, which I quite like, so decided to include it.