Anything Can Happen

by mistress-of-the-soul

Hermiones heart is broken. So is Fred's. Together the go through the trials and tribulations of losing yourself to the world, and then finding redemption in another who has shared the same fate.

4. Chapter 4

Anything Can Happen

By: mistress-of-the-soul

Chapter Four

Fred and Hermione did their best to run the shop by themselves over the next two weeks but it proved to be fruitless. "We need to hire someone who is good with people," Hermione said. "We need at least two people on the floor at all times, especially when you are in the back tinkering with your toys." Fred laughed and retorted, "I like tinkering with my toys! Without them we wouldn't have any business!" "I know," Hermione laughed. That day after work, Fred and Hermione went to the Daily Prophet headquarters to place an ad in the paper for the next day's edition. After placing the ad they headed back to the flat above the shop.

"It is your turn to cook," Hermione said. "Do I have to? Please Mione, ca you do it?" Fred pleaded. Hermione blushed at the use of this nickname that Fred had given her. "No," she replied, sporting a scowl similar to McGonagall's. "I have cooked ever since we moved in here. It is your turn." Hermione went and seated herself on the couch and took a book from the coffee table. "But what am I supposed to cook?" Fred asked in a helpless tone. Hermione looked over the back of the couch at Fred. He was looking at the kitchen warily. "Come on," Hermione said, finally giving in. "But this time you are helping me!" Fred followed Hermione into the kitchen. She started pulling out pots and pans from cabinets Fred didn't even know existed. "Whoa, I didn't know that I had all of these. Every night you pull outs something new." "How did you stay fed before I got here?" Hermione asked incredulously. "Well," Fred said a bit sheepishly, "I usually skipped meals and ate out, before I went back to the Burrow."

At mention of the Weasley home, both Fred and Hermione busied themselves with other things. Fred went and got two butterbeers out of the refrigerator while Hermione pulled out ingredients from the pantry. "Do you like spaghetti and meatballs?" Hermione asked. "I have ever had them before," Fred replied excitedly. "Great," Hermione replied. Hermione showed Fred what to do with the noodles and sauce. When Fred poured the noodles out of the pot and onto two plates, he was amazed. "They turned all soft!!!" he said. Hermione busted out laughing. "Men, they are hysterical!" Hermione could not make the giggles seem to go away. All through dinner she laughed and Fred was getting frustrated. "What are you laughing at?" he asked. "You," Hermione said. "The look on your face was priceless when you realized that the noodles went all soft."

Fred shrugged his shoulders, "Well, at least you didn't get a picture of it or anything. I bet I looked like a fool." Hermione's face flushed and she began eating with gusto. After a few moments Hermione's plate was spotless, and Fred's was almost there. Not being able to take it anymore, Hermione started laughing. Fred looked up at her like she was crazy. "What are you laughing at woman?" he asked. Hermione just reached down underneath the table and pulled something out. Hermione slowly turned it around. Seeing what it was, Fred blanched. "You didn't…" he breathed. "I did!" she squealed, "and I will do it again!" This confused Fred and his face was unbearable. Hermione pulled a camera out from underneath and tapped it with her wand. It started clicking away madly, rushing through the air and whirling around Fred. Laughing Hermione got up to clear away her dishes. "Oh no, you don't," Fred yelled.

Hermione looked up to see Fred charging at her from the opposite side of the table. Hermione squealed and ran towards the living room. Fred chased after her and crashed into her, sending them both flying onto the floor. Hermione landed on her back with a loud "Oomph!" Fred landed on top of Hermione with a grunt. "Oh come on," Hermione said, "that hurt me more than it did you. Now will you please get off of me?" Fred smirked and sat up, straddling Hermione's waist. "Fred," Hermione said in a warning tone, "I suggest you get off of me right now." Fred grinned and leaned down close to Hermione's face. "No," he said simply.

Instead of waiting for a retort from Hermione, he started tickling her. Hermione laughed and tried to push Fred off of her. "Fred!" she squealed. "Stop! Stop!" The whole time the camera was clicking away madly. Hermione was still squealing and Fred was laughing. Both were having the most fun that they had had in quite a few months. "Stop!" Hermione begged. "Please?!" "Only if you give me that picture," Fred said, never ceasing his tickling. Hermione managed to push Fred over and now she was the one tickling him. "Never!" she declared! Fred was laughing harder now that Hermione was tickling him. Rolling, Fred managed to get Hermione back underneath him and he pinned her arms above her head. "Now who's winning?" he asked in a mischievous voice. Hermione smirked, "It depends on your meaning of winning." Hermione looked over to where the camera was floating taking pictures still. Fred gawked but made no move to get up off of Hermione.

Hermione looked into his blue eyes and saw something that she had never noticed before, his eyes. Of course, he had blue eyes like the rest of the Weasleys, but there was something different about them. "You have green in your eyes," Hermione said. "That I do," Fred said. "No one but you has noticed that before." Hermione studied his face, neither noticing that Fred was still on top of Hermione and that the camera was still flashing. Fred looked into Hermione's eyes and felt a sense of peace. "I have a question," he said. "And I have an answer," Hermione replied back, smiling. "I thought you would," Fred said. "How could you always tell George and me apart? Nobody else can. Not even mum." "Well," Hermione said, "you always seemed to be so tense and George was always a little looser around people. He usually did the talking and you sat back and did the agreeing. You always seemed to be the more thoughtful twin. You usually knew when to stop things. You were a lot more considerate of people's feelings." Fred looked down at Hermione in awe. She knew so much about him, just by the way he was around other people and yet he couldn't see, to figure her out at all. "Plus," Hermione added, "You never called me annoying, or prudish. You were actually always pretty nice to me."

"How is it you have a perfect answer for everything?" Fred asked. "I don't always have the answers; people just ask me a lot of good questions. Plus, I can't even keep my life together. Ron left me and I don't know why. Maybe I was too bookish. Maybe I was just not the perfect girl he had always dreamed of." Hermione averted her eyes from Fred as they brimmed with tears. At that point, Fred realized their positions and rolled off of Hermione. He lay back on the carpet and motioned for Hermione to lie beside him. "Hermione," he said. "You can keep your life together; you just have to pull a little bit harder than most people. There was only thing wrong with your relationship." Hermione turned her head towards Fred and asked, "What was that?" "Ron," he replied. "You do have a way with words Mr. Weasley," Hermione said. "Hey," Fred joked, "I was the smarter twin you know." Hermione smiled. "You have a strange way of making me feel better. Nobody has ever been able to make me feel better when I am sad."

"Not even Ron?" Fred asked. Hermione blushed, "Not even Ron." Fred's inside started to turn inside and out. He had never felt this anxious around Alicia. "There is just something about her," Fred thought. Fred rolled onto his side and looked at Hermione. "You are one special girl Hermione," he said. Hermione looked up at him and smiled, "You're pretty special too Fred." Fred smiled at the simplicity of the situation, and then frowned at the complicity. Hermione noticed the change in his eyes, not only his facial expression. "What's wrong?" she asked. "I just realized how simple life is, then I really got thinking about it and realized how complicated it all was." Hermione smiled. "I thought I was the only one who thought like that." "Now there is two of us," Fred said, smiling. Hermione scooted closer to Fred and laid her head on his chest. Fred was startled, but found her closeness comforting. He wrapped his arms around her and pulled her closer.

"Thanks for everything Fred." "No problem Mione," Fred said. Hermione smiled and within minutes she was asleep. Fred gently kissed the top of her head and whispered, "Goodnight Hermione." He too, fell asleep with a smile on his face. And the camera had caught it all.

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The next morning Fred woke up with something tickling his nose. He opened his eyes and noticed the first rays of the morning sun poking through the window curtains. Looking down to see what had awoken him he smiled. Hermione Granger was lying wrapped in his arms. Her head was on his chest, rising and falling with every breath he took. Her legs were entwined with his and her arm hung across his waist. Fred smiled and his heart started to beat rapidly. "Bloody hell, I could wake up like this every day," he breathed. Hermione stirred at h is voice. "Fred," she called. Fred smiled, "I ca definitely wake up to this," he thought. "Yes?" he asked. Hermione lifted her head from his chest, much to his disappointment. "I was just making sure you were there," she said, blushing. Fred flashed his lopsided grin that Hermione secretly loved. Fred and Hermione untangled themselves and sat up.

"Seems like we left the dishes," Hermione said. "Yeah," Fred said looking at the mess on the table and in the kitchen. "And the camera," Hermione giggled. Fred leaned back on his hands as Hermione scrambled up and went to get the camera, which was still emitting occasional flashes. Hermione came back and sat beside Fred. She grabbed her wand from where it lay on the floor and tapped the camera three times. Suddenly, a rather large stack of photos had appeared in front of Hermione. Fred laughed at the large stack, "I am scared to see what is in there," he said, Hermione giggled and picked up the first picture. Fred scooted behind Hermione so that he could see the pictures better. Surprisingly Hermione leaned into him and sighed. The first picture was of Fred standing at the stove poking at the noodles with a spoon. Hermione laughed, where as Fred flushed a deep shade of scarlet. The next pictures were all of Fred cooking and his looks of fascination at seeing what things did when cooked the muggle way.

When Hermione picked up the first picture of both of them she laughed even harder. Even Fred laughed. Hermione was running and Fred was right behind her. The look on Hermione's face was priceless. Her mouth was wide open and her eyes were full of light. Fred's face was the same, except he had some spaghetti sauce on his chin. When they reached the photos of them sleeping, both Hermione and Fred smiled. They were wrapped in each others arms like they were long time lovers. Fred wrapped his arms around Hermione's waist and whispered in her ear, "Waking up with you beside me like that is something I would like to do everyday." Hermione flushed and turned around to face Fred. He smiled and Hermione melted. "I would like that," she said. Fred smiled. In fact, he couldn't keep the silly grin off of his face.

"You look like a little kid with a new toy," Hermione giggled. "Yes," Fred said, "but this is so much better than that." Both Hermione and Fred blushed at his declaration. Slowly, Fred's face inched closer to Hermione's and Hermione's face came closer to his. The instant their lips met, a jolt of electricity shot through the both of them. It was a simple yet meaningful kiss. It held all the love and passion in the world. Hermione slowly pulled away from Fred. "Wow," she breathed. "Wow," Fred echoed. Fred rested his forehead on Hermione's. "Things are looking up Mione," he said. "Yes, they are," Hermione replied. "And the camera wasn't even on!" The two got up and got ready fro the day laughing and joking, knowing the sun was shining on their side.

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Longest chapter yet! I am a bit disappointed at the lack of reviews. I love hearing what people think of my work. Please read and review!!!! Lots of love!

Mistress-of-the-soul