It seemed like Fred and I were in our own separate dimension as we stared at each other from across the room. I wonder if he knew everything I did about Patronuses. Like for instance the fact that Harry's parents were soul mates because their Patronuses were paired animals. I wonder if he knew that the fact that he had the same Patronus as I did without ever seeing my Patronus before pretty much meant the same thing. For instance, if he had known beforehand that my Patronus was in fact an otter and he had been practicing Patronus making for years he might have been able to match mine. This was not the case however. I quickly realized however that while I might have thought I was in a different dimension with Fred and Fred alone, I was in fact in a room surrounded by people. Surrounded by people that were all staring between us, mouths agape. I shot a glance around the room then did the only thing that was logical; I bolted out of the room faster than Snape would when confronted with shampoo.

Now I had a reputation as a know-it-all, bookworm, I didn't have a reputation for being an all-star athlete. Which is probably why I had made it about two corridors before there was a stitch in my side and I could hardly breathe. I slumped against a wall and slid down it.

Bloody hell.

What had just happened to me? Sure I had successfully made a corporal Patronus without the presence of a Dementor. I also so happened to be so called soul mates with my ex's big brother. For once in my life, I wanted to think a book was wrong. That the whole soul mates nonsense was just that, nonsense. I couldn't be Fred's soul mate, I just couldn't be. I was the bookworm, muggleborn; prefect that everyone thought was annoying. He was the prankster, pureblood, troublemaker that everyone loved. It didn't matter than I could have been harboring a small crush on him since I had met him at the Burrow years ago. There was no way he would ever even think about dating someone like me. He had girls like Angelina Johnson, beautiful, athletic, with more than manageable hair. Why would he ever even spare me a glance?

Before I knew it I felt tears running down my cheeks. I hastily wiped them away. I would not cry over this boy. I bet he didn't even know about the whole soul mate nonsense. I mean why would he; it was people like me that would know that. But no matter what I told myself, the tears wouldn't stop coming.

"Hermione?" A voice called down the hall.

Bloody hell!

Why is it when you're avoiding someone, it's always that person who finds you.

"'Mione, you alright? You ran out of there pretty quick." Fred loomed above me.

"I'm fine, erm, headache is all." I said keeping my face down to try and hide the tears so keen on betraying me.

"Are you sure, 'Mione?" He asked and slid down next to me.

"Yep, never better." I purposely looked the opposite direction until I felt cool fingers on my chin.

"Hermione, please don't lie to me." He said softly, wiping the tears on my cheeks away with his thumb.

"I'm not lying, I'm completely fine. I've just got something in my eye is all."

He rolled his eyes. "Both your eyes have tears in them."

"The other one is just sympathetic."

"Hmm. I see. Look there is no reason to be embarrassed."

"Why would I be embarrassed?" I asked taking a deep breath, trying to calm my heart from jumping out of my chest from the way Fred was touching my face.

"'Mione I may not be a bookworm, but I know what matching Patronuses means."

"I'm afraid I have no idea what you're talking about." I made a move to get up and escape. Perhaps to the girl's dormitory, where he wouldn't be able to follow. But he wrapped his spare hand around my wrist and pulled me back down. The hand that had been wiping away tears shifted. Before I knew what was happening, Fred had leaned forward and attached his lips to mine. His fingers wrapped through my hair and secured my face to his.

I was too shocked to even respond to his kiss before he pulled away and stood up.

"I'm sorry." He muttered before walking away from me.

I bolted to my feet faster than I thought possible for myself and ran after him.

"Fred!" I called and he paused halfway down the hall and turned towards me. I wish I had had a camera to capture his face as I grabbed his tie, pulled him down to my level and kissed him as hard as I could muster. His uptake was much quicker than mine had been, and I felt his arms circle me, pushing me up against the wall, using one of his hands to bow my body to his.

Several minutes or perhaps days later, we broke apart, both panting. I had never done anything like that before, I always thought through my decisions a hundred times over before actually executing them. For once in my life I had done the most illogical thing I could think of and acted on it. And I had to say I was glad I had.

"Hermione," He sighed, leaning his forehead against mine. "You have no idea how long I've wanted to do that."

Now that one threw me for a loop. Why in the world would Fred Weasley even think about kissing me?

"Why?" I asked, curiosity getting the better of me.

"What do you mean?" He asked looking genuinely puzzled.

"Why would you want to kiss me, you have girls like Angelina practically falling over you. I'm nothing special."

"You know, 'Mione, for being the brightest witch of your age, you're not very smart."

I glared at him.

"I mean, come on, you're brilliant, beautiful, part of the famous golden trio. Who wouldn't want to kiss you?"

"Ronald." I said recalling what had happened just merely weeks ago.

"He's a prat and an idiot."

"I can't exactly deny that." I said but I still didn't understand why Fred would want me. Fred let go of me and drug a hand down his face.

"I'm no good at this," He sighed. "I'm good at pranks and jokes; I'm no good at explaining my feelings to people. That's what I have a twin for. Hermione… You are the most beautiful girl I have ever laid eyes on, and I've been thinking that since I met you years ago. I would quit pranking to get the chance to go on just one date with you. Does that help explain how I feel at all?" He asked his eyes searching my own. All I could do was stare up at him as his words washed over me. Pranking? For me? I briefly debated pinching myself because there was no way this was actually happening to me. My thoughts were interrupted however when I heard George calling down the hall.

"Oi, Fred!" Fred's head snapped up and his familiar grin quickly materialized.

"Yea, George?" He asked not moving from his position inches from me.

"I was just wondering why you disappeared, alright?" George called not moving from down the corridor.

"Yea, I'm fine, I'll be back in a bit." There must have been some kind of twin telepathy going on, because George turned around and returned to the Room of Requirement without another word.

Fred's eyes shifted back to my own and his serious demeanor returned.

"I guess what I'm trying to say is will you give me a chance, 'Mione? Just one chance, that's all I'm asking for."

I took a deep breath and smiled up at him. "Of course."

A.N.

I am so so so so so so so sorry! I know it's been over a month since I updated, actually around two months I think and what I have done is unforgiveable, but I hope the update helps. I finally graduated high school, and with that came a lot of things to finish. I had to do graduation practice and graduation and a million and two graduation parties, and then college shit. But I'm hoping the updates will be more frequent now, I'm finally able to enjoy my short summer vacation before college starts. Thanks for sticking with me my faithful readers!

Love, Alexis