Part 34

As Fred sat in the chair directly across from Hermione's figure, he began to think. He began to think about himself, and about Hermione, and about George and Angelina…

Fred had to admit it.

He didn't love Angelina anymore.

He just didn't feel it anymore. He didn't feel any special connection, no desire to be around her, no desire to hear her speak, whereas Hermione….

Hermione was different.

Fred didn't obsess over her every word, and he didn't need to always be in her immediate vicinity. He just had to know she was there, somewhere, and that was enough.

Across the fire, Hermione was deep asleep, breathing slowly. Her face was not like Fred had ever seen it, even when they had been playing Tag. Now, when Hermione was asleep, she was completely void of any stressful agitation, or from a disapproving brow. Her face was open, and relaxed. Fred liked looking at it. It was like he was seeing a deep secret, another Hermione that she kept locked up, except in the late hours of the night.

Fred smiled, and sank low into his chair. He had said he wouldn't leave Hermione, and he wasn't planning to. So he closed his eyes, remembering how the firelight traces it's way around Hermione's face. And with that, he allowed his mind to find it's way into the realm of dreams.

Part 35

The rain had stopped it's constant pattering on the rooftop, leaving instead a still, noiseless night.

Perhaps it was this new silence that caused Hermione to open her eyes.

She was surprised to find herself not in the grass outside the greenhouse, but instead on her favorite couch in the Gryffindor Common Room, nearest to the dying fire, a jacket draped around her shoulders. As her eye adjusted to the low light of the weak fire, Hermione could make out a dark figure sitting in the armchair opposite her. softly snoring, and obviously quite asleep. Hermione watched the soft glow of the fire flicker over Fred's face, painting it in deep reds and oranges, and dashes of yellow danced across his nose.

How had she gotten to the Common Room? She had fallen asleep on the grass outside the greenhouse, she was sure of it. She was still barefoot, and she could feel the now dried trails on her cheeks where her tears had been. Yes, it has not been a dream. So how had she gotten...

Fred.

A punch seemed to go through her stomach as she realized what must have happened.

Fred.

It had been him. Of course it had been him. He must have found her, and carried her to the Common Room, and not being able to go to the Girls Dormitory, had placed her here, and probably had fallen asleep from exhaustion. Hermione's face became red as she gradually recalled what had happened. She had meant to figure out what the pieces of parchment meant, but instead ha sensed up a blubbering, emotional mess. Worse, she had spoken things that no one else had ever heard, that she hadn't wanted anyone to hear. And now Fred knew. Her deep fears, one of the few things that could move her to tears...

But underneath the embarrassment, underneath the humiliation, there was a girl. A teenage girl that was across from the person she loved, having just realized that he had found her, carried her up here, put her on the couch, gave her his jacket and a k...

A kiss?

Part 36

Hermione's heart skipped a beat.

A kiss?

She shook her head. No. No it couldn't be. She had been dreaming. Yes. She had just woken up, was stilly sleepy. She must have confused her dreams and reality. That was it. It wasn't real. Of course not. Settled, Hermione tried to fall asleep again on the couch, too tired to go up to the dormitory. But she couldn't.

What if... What if it hadn't been a dream? What if it had been real, as real as the couch and his jacket. Slowly, barely daring to check, Hermione lifted her hand, her heart began to beat faster. Gently, she touched the space between the corner of her eye and her was damp. Hermione's heart nearly jumped out of her throat, and her eyes snapped to the dark figure across from her, fingers still on the place of the kiss.

And the figure was staring back.

"Good morning, sunshine" said Fred, smiling. "I see you remember a bit from last night."

Part 37

"Good morning, sunshine. I see you remember a bit from last night."

Hermione looked at Fred, sitting in the armchair across the fire, relaxed and comfortable, looking back at her, smiling. She hadn't realized he had woken up. But there he was, looking back, grinning at her, making Hermione blush harder than she ever had.

"W-w-what do you mean?" asked Hermione, cursing her stammering.

Rising out of his chair, Fred began moving toward her couch.

"Well, Hermione, I am talking about the events of last night. I assume you remember them, judging from your current expression." Said Fred, still smiling at her.

Hermione ducked her head, trying to hide her face and the redness that was traveling across her cheeks.

"You do remember them, don't you?" asked Fred, his happy tone slightly dampened. Worried. He was closer to her now, just a couple feet away.

"Y-yes. I remember them." Said Hermione to her knees. Fred's grin returned. Picking up her feet, he sat on the couch beside her, placing her feet back down on his lap. Her feet tingling, Hermione curled them up, tucking them next to her. Fred scooted closer.

"Hermione" asked Fred.

"Hmm?" she replied.

"Please lift up your face."

"Nuh-uh". Hermione answered.

"Please?" Fred asked.

"No" was her reply.

"Hermione. Please. I want to see your face. Please." Asked Fred again.

Receiving no reply this time, Fred slowly, cautiously took her chin, turning her head up to face him.