Fred entered the Hog's Head door, the bell chiming as he eyes scanned the place for Hermione. In the furthest booth, he saw her, book on hand sipping on a mug of frothing butterbeer. Fred strode over to the booth and slipped in the other side. Hermione was so immersed in her reading, she did not notice him at first.
Fred cleared his throat, giving her a fright. She dropped her book on the table, getting spilling some of her butterbeer upon it. "Fred, look what you made me do! This is Hogwarts: A History! Ugh!" she said in disgust. "Reparo!" Fred said, pointing his wand at the book, just as Hermione was pointing hers to do the same. Wands touching, Hermione felt a rush of heat wave through her body and she felt at ease once more.
"I would have done that, thank you very much!" Hermione chirped in annoyance. "I know." Fred said, chuckling. "Don't laugh at me!" she ordered, becoming red in the face. "You asked me here to apologize, didn't you?" Fred said, grinning. Hermione forgot the reason she had asked him to come to the Hog's Head. "Y-yes. Right." Hermione said, gripping her napkin nervously.
"Right." He said, his tone soft, "Hermione, you don't have to say sorry. You don't have to worry either, I am not going to tell anyone." Hermione didn't look convinced, more like an emotional wreck all over again. She rested her trembling hand upon the table and sighed brokenly. Fred reached out and took her hand.
"I won't say anything, on one condition." Fred said, a smile clicking into place. Hermione went to jerk her hand away from his, but Fred interlaced his finger with hers, holding her hand tightly in his. "What's the catch?" Hermione demanded, sounding angry to cover her surprise. Fred didn't mind her tone at all, the same tone he received from many people for his reckless behavior.
"You have to be my friend." Fred said. Hermione wasn't sure she heard him right. "Excuse me?" she said in confusion. Fred took her confusion as being repulsed by the thought and it hurt. Even though he didn't show it to anyone but George, he did get hurt by people's words, quite often in fact; anyone would know if they took a look at his arms.
He let go if her hand and looked away, "Never mind" he said quietly, his face cross. Hermione placed her delicate hand upon his and he looked to her, "I'll be you're friend. Of course I will, Fred. Why would I not? You're keeping my secret…" something told her that was not the only reason she was going to be his friend, to be close to him, but she shoved the inner call aside. "Just don't try to sell me anything of yours and George's." she said with a laugh.
Fred grinned from ear to ear, taking her hand in both of his. "Who knows, maybe one of these days you'll be in need of something I have to offer." He said allusively. Hermione looked confused, but before she had time to think, Fred laid a few galleons on the table and tugged her out of the booth, barely giving her warning enough for her to grab her book.