A/N: This is my first work dedicated to my favorite fandom and equally favorite pairings. Many things, including the feelings and emotions of the characters, can differ from the canon, so I'm warning you about this in advance. Please, leave reviews about this work.
I also have an Russian version of this work, but since neither English nor Russian is my native language, I cannot guarantee that you will not find any grammatical errors. /readfic/11000855
Disclaimer: All original characters and canon events belong to JKRowling. I'm not making any profit from posting this fanfic.
The Gryffindor common room has always been cozy. It carefully wrapped it's warmth around everyone who was ever fortunate enough to cross the threshold. But Hermione Granger was tortured every day in the same living room for the second year already. In the evenings, she took her favorite place near the fireplace and invariably opened another dusty thick tome, intending to leave the gray reality at least for a while, where he was the only color spot. In order to just surrender with a sigh and at least for a few minutes look from behind the book, where every time her eyes, unnoticed by everyone, sought out bright red hair and blue sparkling eyes filled with mischief. The eyes that never looked back at her.
Hermione hated unsolved problems, questions, riddles and hated being left in the dark. Therefore, the first thing she did when she developed feelings for the most unlikely member of the Weasley family, she wanted to know the reason why the stupid organ called the heart strove to rip the ribcage and leave its mistress behind for the blue-eyed prankster. But to this day, she has not found an exact answer to this question, because if you look back in time, then everything that was happening now seemed inevitable.
Maybe this is due to the fact that from the moment of their first meeting, he reminded her of the hero of her favorite book from childhood - Peter Pan. And even if the aforementioned hero did not have a twin brother, can you prove to Hermione Granger that she is wrong? And if a flamboyant third-year student running through the corridors of Hogwarts with his brother without care, wreaking havoc by breaking the rules and making others laugh with skillful jokes, is not suitable for the role of Peter Pan, then who deserves this title?
Then in the first year - whom she was deceiving, even now many still do not know how to distinguish between them - when her friends found it difficult to find the differences between the twins, she could easily say who she was dealing with, despite the fact that they knew about each other nothing at all. At that time, the Gryffindor was proud of this fact as another small victory over her peers, however, what if for her it was always him and not him?
At first, he caused her a feeling of admiration and gratitude - no one had ever stood up for an eleven-year-old girl so bravely just for a vile word, although this word no, no, but caused an all-consuming resentment. And he was also a social butterfly, which, despite the abstruse speech and outstanding grades, she would never become. He easily fluttered from one group of students to another, while not causing others to want to get rid of him as soon as possible, and playfully bowed out after a while, because urgent "business" awaited him and his brother, where they certainly arranged problems for old Filch.
Or maybe all these feelings came when the twins paid a visit to the Hospital Wing in her second year after the Basilisk incident, where they, ignoring the lack of an answer, spent time with her, talking about their school routine and antics in the hallway. Even in her petrified state, she was ready to burst into tears with happiness, because Harry and Ron had an important mission, which is why she whiled away most of the days in anticipation of the unknown, while time passed its own way only this time around her.
Or maybe she fell in love with him in her third year, when everyone avoided her like a plague? Yes, the twins were also upset because of Firebolt, but they did not throw accusing, angry looks at her and did not throw hurtful words after her.
And yet, sitting now with her back to the fireplace and watching him with glazed eyes, she understood that it was the Yule Ball that had opened her eyes. She expected a joking invitation to dance, or at least a gaze that would undoubtedly linger on her. But of course not. A fleeting surprised look, a proud smile and... And that's all. The whole evening twinkling blue eyes did not leave the figure of Angelina Johnson, his eyes sparkled every time, as soon as his classmate laughed at another sharp remark about a couple passing nearby. Since then, his eyes did not leave her, not for a long time. Even when Granger scolded and threatened them for testing products on innocent first-years. He just smiled condescendingly at her and ended his twin's caustic comments that she should relax and not worry, otherwise, God forbid, she will turn into Percy.
Every now and then says that hope is the last to die. But unfortunately for Hermione, she felt how with each passing day she herself faded and only that notorious hope stubbornly kept her afloat, preventing her from drowning in the unpleasant feelings that filled her. Yes, hope dies last, nevertheless everything dies before it.
Lost in thought, Hermione did not notice the blue eyes following her. It would seem that it is time for her to rejoice, because he is looking at her - it means something, right? But no, no. Then what's the catch? It's the fact that those eyes did not belong to the love interest of Hermione Granger. No, those identical blue eyes, so similar to the others, belonged to Fred Weasley.
"Oi, Granger! Anything you want to tell us?"
GW&HG&FW
Contrary to popular belief, Fred Weasley had many moments in his life when he just wanted to be sad and as gloomy as Snape on Christmas Day. Only having George never allowed him to lose heart for a long time. Gred and Forge. Growing up, he thanked Merlin every day just for having a twin brother. Fred never regretted that his identical copy walked next to him, that everyone confused his name - and people didn't even feel guilty! - and generally did not accept him as a separate person. No, he never regretted it. Until he met her.
All his adult life - okay, maybe not all, but still - Fred carried on his shoulders a heavy burden called "expectations." Of course, it is difficult not to expect great heights from him, when all his brothers were successful young people who worked as a cursebreaker, in the reserve for breeding dragons, in the Ministry of Magic. Yes, the twins were geniuses, and they could easily achieve the same successes as their brothers, but why do they need it? They won't be the first prefect of Gryffindor or the headboy of Hogwarts in the family, they won't be the first to successfully pass twelve OWLs, so what's wrong with them doing what they want with George?
However, this is not important. Because for the first time Fred regretted having a twin brother, with whom he looked like two peas in a pod. After all, how not to regret when the brown eyes - those same ones - were watching George so attentively and lovingly, when her voice barely noticeably softened, as soon as she turned to his brother, when Hermione Granger was unrequitedly in love not with him.
Fred Weasley always had a curious personality, so when he had the first signs of falling in love with a certain brunette, he immediately went out in search of reasons. And, to his displeasure, he discovered that all the events involving Hermione had grappled into one big incomprehensible tangle, with which, if it were his will, the Crookshanks would play with a great pleasure.
Fred guessed that his dream of marrying someone who could distinguish him from others - namely from George - with just one glance, played a key role in developing feelings for Granger.
A little curly-haired witch with an impossibly straight posture that even good old Percy would have envied, she was able to distinguish the twins from the moment they first met. She addressed them exclusively by name, as if she had a personal compass, where Fred and George were designated instead of North and South. At first, the twins, of course, decided that this was a lucky guess, and then they wanted to confuse her, saying "you're wrong, I am George and he's Fred," and in the end they just accepted her talent. Then she subconsciously became the one for Fred. Hermione perceived the Weasley twins as separate individuals who had a lot in common. And that also worked in her favor, because sometimes Fred actually believed that "and George" was his middle name.
In his fourth year at Hogwarts, Fred felt helpless for the first time in a long time. Despite the efforts of the twins, no one smiled genuinely, Ginny gradually faded before their eyes, and Hermione and the rest of the basilisk incident victims remained in the form of silent statues in the Hospital Wing. Of course, then he did not know that the concern for Granger – for ickle Ronniekins' friend - was not just worry for a fellow student of the Gryffindor house, but feelings that already took root in his heart. So he didn't pay enough attention when he and George paid a visit to the Hospital Wing and spent an hour talking to the girl, if, of course, talking to a petrified person is considered such.
The fifth year, filled with guilt for the bushy-haired brunette, flew past him as fast as Harry's new Firebolt. And the sixth year... The sixth year finally opened his eyes. Hermione Granger, in a periwinkle blue robe, fluttered about the room no worse than a Veela from Beauxbatons, and Fred could have sworn she was a real vision. That evening, when Granger looked at him from the other end of the Great Hall, he was ready to leave Angelina in George's reliable company and steal the brown-eyed gryffindor from Krum. It was only in the next second that he realized that the brown eyes of the color of dark chocolate were not looking for him, but for George, who, in turn, smiled tenderly at Fred's date Angelina Johnson. The Yule Ball ended with bittersweet aftertaste of Fred and Hermione's unrequited love and with a brand new couple Angelina and George.
There was some irony in the fact that for all others, Fred was always the more sociable and daring of the twins, he was the initiator of almost all pranks and tricks, after all, it's not for nothing that they are Fred and George, and not vice versa. But he was willing to bet that in Hermione Granger's mind it was just the opposite, that for her there was always only George and Fred.
Staying in the shadow of his brothers was nothing new to Fred, at least until he and George went to Hogwarts. It's hard to not notice them when they did everything possible to make their existence bright, loud and memorable. Therefore, at first, the Gryffindor could not believe that Granger did not notice him. Even when she scolded the twins for not being responsible, for their antics and mischief, and for their testing methods of fever fudges, threatening them with a letter to Mrs. Weasley and the like, the brown eyes never focused on him for long. No, they've always focused on George Weasley. Fred often loudly began phrases and jokes that undoubtedly annoyed and infuriated the Gryffindor prefect, for which he received harsh answers from her, but only his twin owned her attention. This was the most unfair thing in the world.
George dated Angelina Johnson, went on dates, snogged his girlfriend till she was breathless, and, incidentally, did everything that lovebirds do. However, Fred understood that Ange, who from time to time still had hard times in distinguishing the twins, would sooner or later lose his brother's interest. Sure, she was loyal, fun, athletic and beautiful, but she was not the ideal candidate for his twin's wife. Fred knew that if - cross it out - when George noticed Hermione's feelings, his brother would almost immediately reciprocate. How could he not respond to her feelings if she looked at him like that? As if he were her universe. Even Angelina didn't look at George that way. And in any other case, Fred would be happy to play a matchmaker, he would be happy that his twin - the most dear person for him on Earth - was loved and appreciated like he always deserved. In any other case, but not in this one. Because Hermione Granger was his universe. Because Fred was unrequitedly in love with her.
Until then... Until George had the slightest idea of the Gryffindor princess's feelings, Fred had a chance. Therefore...
"Oi, Granger! Anything you want to tell us?" he loudly addressed to the brunette, hoping that at least this time her beautiful chocolate brown eyes would pay attention to his – Fred's – blue ones.
GW&HG&FW
George Weasley was happy. Yes, of course, dark times were just around the corner, but he was happy. Soon the twins will finish their studies at Hogwarts, their joke shop with Fred - the childhood dream of innocent teenagers - will turn into reality, they will become official members of the Order and will fight evil in a variety of ways: be it explosives and fireworks or especially painful spells.
And George also has a girlfriend with whom he is dating and to whom he can entrust almost all of his secrets. Only recently it seemed to him that something was missing in their relationship with Angelina, but he did not dare to talk about it directly with the girl. Because first of all, she was his friend, and he did not want to lose her friendship to a failed relationship. True, the word "failed" was not entirely accurate, but still...
And then lately George had a strange feeling, as if he was being watched. Occasionally. But Fred assured him that it was simply a sin not to stare at such handsome blokes. More interesting was the fact that the stares of the mysterious witch - George never found her, despite all his efforts - did not bring any discomfort, on the contrary, they were warm and gave the comfort that Burrow possessed in abundance.
By the way, George was willing to bet that he had just felt the same feeling when...
"Oi, Granger! Anything you want to tell us?" Fred spoke loudly to the Gryffindor sitting by the fireplace and, judging by the way she startled, who was deep in her thoughts.
"No," she said shortly, without even glancing in their direction, preferring the dusty pages over the group of loud ginger twins.
The Common room had already begun to empty, and the light emanating from the fireplace also dimmed, as if sensing that the time was late. Usually, Gryffindors liked to stay up late for another game of gobstones and exploding snaps, but despite the fact that the school year was just beginning the endless homework, which was supposed to prepare them for upcoming OWLs and NEWTs, together with Umbridge, they sucked much more energy from the students than they should. Except for the rare first-years who were scribbling something on long scrolls, there was no one left in the room except the Weasley twins and Hermione - Harry and Ron also retreated to their dormitory, grumbling that the first lesson for tomorrow was double Defence Against Dark Arts.
"I have to disagree with that, because you looked at our side for so long," Fred smiled meaningfully at his brother, "that if we took a galleon for staring-"
"-Then we would have bathed in gold at the end of this wonderful evening," George winked at Hermione, even if she stubbornly did not look up from the dusty pages of her book. The twins were ready to swear that she was hiding an invisible extra eye somewhere, because she always sees everything.
"I don't think I'm yet ready to sacrifice galleon for your impeccable appearance, Fred," she turned to the aforementioned Weasley and continued, now looking at George. "I was just thinking about something and therefore looking through you."
Even after five years since their acquaintance, George still sometimes wondered at her ability to distinguish the twins, because even their own mother confused their names, and Lee Jordan gave up on this thankless task ages ago.
"You wound us," they said in chorus, leaving their cozy dark corner, which they occupied earlier, and approached the prefect, who closed the book in defeat and lowered it to her crossed legs. "And we just wanted to invite you to the company of dashing gentlemen.
"We would have even talked about a very interesting spell-"
"-Which we will just go through next week-"
"-But if a beautiful lady wants to argue about our equally handsome looks-"
"-Who are we to resist her will?" as always George finished their joint remark.
Fred and George were well aware of the fact that their habit of finishing each other's speech quickly annoyed others, and in some cases even dripped on their nerves. But in the quiet of the common room, where shades of scarlet and crimson undeniably prevailed, Granger looked almost peaceful, almost fond of them. She didn't look at them in turn like the others, who looked ridiculously like the birds swinging their heads. No, she looked at them as if she had no difficulty in following their rapid flow of thoughts and words.
"Excuse me, gentlemen, what kind of spell are we talking about?" Hermione just could not hold back her curiosity. She may not approve of their inventions - in most cases - but it doesn't make them less brilliant.
"But where is the fun in this if we ourselves give you all our secrets?" Fred asked mock upset, giving his hand to the seated girl. "And then, we do not want to deprive you of sound healthy sleep."
Hermione Granger was not at all surprised that Fred dodged the question. She only quietly took his help and stared at George expectantly, not paying attention to the fact that Fred put his hand on her waist.
George, on the other hand, had caught a glimmer of despair that came from the other end of their twin bond, but he put it off to a distant corner of his mind, since now he did not have time to think about it.
"Yes, my precious twin is right as always. Plus, I'm sure you'll find out very soon," said George, and finished with Fred. "Goodnight, Granger."
As he climbed the stairs to the boys' dormitory, George did not notice the brown eyes that lingered on his back. Just like Hermione did not see Fred Weasley's blue eyes staring at her as he stopped in the middle of the stairs to look at the petite witch.