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Chappie 9: Confessions

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Previously:

The two stood there, staring at each other, ignoring the cat calls and unconscious Ron on the floor. They hadn't noticed him try and stand, ending up losing balance and smashing his overly large head on the nearby table. They didn't notice anything besides each other. But then again, since when was that new?

Sweet nothings were murmured in comfort as Fred held the shaking girl in his arms. She was furious and disgusted and distraught- in short, the war veteran was a mess…

The Weasley dinner had been a very quiet affair since Ron fell, and the twins refused to let anyone move Ron while they played exploding snap on his back. However, he had eventually woken, head shrunk to a normal size (though his head was still extremely large- in more ways than one!), and came into the dining room. After a quick confrontation, Hermione tried to leave. Yet Ron grabbed her arm to stop her, and he stood there holding a bloody part of Hermione's forearm.

Anger with Ron aside, the Weasleys patched her up best they could before bringing her to St Mungo's hospital. The girl was terrified, but with a little help from Fred, the Healers had the situation under control. However, despite their assurances that everything would be fine, Fred was worried. As Hermione's shaking slowed to a stop and he felt her calm down in his arms, he finally allowed himself to relax. She would be fine, he tried to assure himself. He planted a kiss on the top of her head, and slowly tucked her in to the hospital bed without protest. Her hair was even frizzier than before, as it had gotten even worse as the Healers tried to fix her. The hospital gown was unflattering, not hiding the bony ribs that jutted out of her. The war had been over for a year, but it still hadn't stopped the terrors which plagued many, and often lost in thought Hermione forgot to eat. She sometimes even forgot she had food, as she had been on the run and so hungry for so long. With all the work required to rebuild the castle, Hermione had only truly started to focus on her career four months prior to the whole incident. But she was often given time off, and though she didn't like to admit it, it was for the best.

"I love you." Fred whispered quietly into her hair, stroking it.

"I...love...you...too…" She said quietly, tiring herself out from the energy required to speak in her condition. Fred's hand stopped it's actions, freezing against her. She had been about to sleep, had she not? It wasn't supposed to happen this way- no there should've been a romantic moonlight walk through the forest where he'd tell her how he felt and then show her how he felt. But Hermione had beat him both times- first when she thought he was asleep and then when she kissed him at the Burrow. If she really felt her love for him with as much passion in which she kissed him, a wonderful relationship was inevitable.

"Hermione, I can't promise to be the perfect boyfriend, and always be mature for you. I can't say that no matter what, I will always be what you want me to be. I lost part of me during that war- I thought I would die! But if you're willing to accept my imperfections and stick with me, then know that I will always be there. I may be missing a few things, but how much I care for you is not one of them. I love you, Hermione." She looked up at me with wide eyes, filled with love and promises of a future.

"I want to wake up every morning with you in my arms, and bring you breakfast in bed without a reason, and hold you hand while we walk through Diagon Alley. I want the whole deal with you, Hermione. Just say what you want, and I will do whatever I can to be what you want. And if being with someone else means that you'll be happy, I won't be ecstatic but I will support you. I just want you to be happy...but, ya know, it would be nice if that could be with me."

"Fred, I love you. I want to be with you so badly, but what happens if we break up? Awkward silences amongst us, small talk taking the place of the conversation we had about anything and everything that mattered? I don't know if I could live like that." Hermione said, pain in her gaze. He saw the look she was giving him and pondered carefully about what to say.

"Could you be happy with me?" He asked.

"I-I don't know." She responded, looking down at the sheets as though they were the most fascinating things in the world.

"Could you be happy without me?" He then asked.

"No." Hermione said without a moment hesitance.

"Then it's settled." He said, smile bright and hopefully, the boyish grin which turned her resolve to putty dominant upon his emotions and features.

"I guess it is…" She said softly, thinking about what had happened in such a short time span. It had taken her a week (only seven days!) and she had done what she had been trying to accomplish for months. She looked up at him through long eyelashes, a nervous smile on her lips.

"So does this mean we're dating? Boyfriend and girlfriend at last?" She asked.

"I should hope so!" Fred replied teasingly.

"Then I guess it would be okay if I did this…" She said, with a smirk that rivaled both the twins and the marauders. She propped herself up on the pillows with her elbows and gave him a kiss. It was slow and sweet, and full of new beginings and leaving behind dark ends. It was the start of them. They had all the time in the world, and they simply enjoyed the privacy while it lasted- after all, it was their begining. Why shouldn't they savour it?

Thank you to all, more next chappie in epilauge!

glazedwater: Nope! One more after this. Really?! Oh thank you so much. Your reviews always make me smile! You're wonderful, and thanks a ton for sticking with this story. Very pleased you like it!

Sampdoria: I wouldn't say perfect, but it warms my heart to hear that you do! Thank you so much! Your reviews have helped inspire me to update and always have such sweet things to say! Thank you! Glad that you liked that scene between the pair!

PurebloodGirl: Is that a good thing? ;) You are wonderful my dear, thank you so much! I'm really glad that you've been enjoying this. You have inspired me to be a better author, and this story (with so much writing and so much love) was born and bred for you! I'm so glad that you like it, and have continuously provided feedback and praise for this! Thank you so much- it means the world to me!

paisleyhollis60: Thank you so much! I'm really glad you like it! Writing this has been a blast, so I'm very pleased you want more!

LUNA GURLZ: Thank you very much- I didn't know which one so thanks a ton for fixing that and letting me know!