Silken Red Hair

By corset-rebellion-follower

Disclaimer: I don't own HP

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Chapter 5- The Hospital Wing

What happened? I feel like I got hit with a brick. Hermione sat up. She was in a bed, but it wasn't hers. She was in the hospital wing.

"She's awake!"

The first face she saw was Fred's. He had a concerned look on his face. Ron, Ginny, Harry, and Neville were the next people she saw.

"Hermione, are you ok?" Ginny asked immediately.

"I have a headache the size of a Quidditch pitch. What happened?" she asked, rubbing her temples.

"You fainted. For a minute we thought you had gone into a coma or something," Neville explained. Fred slipped her hand into his. Ron scowled at both of them.

"Ron, do you have to be such a prat? Hermione fainted and all you can think about is who she snogged?" Ginny hissed.

"She kissed me, Ginny. Imagine if you kissed someone, then you found him draped over another girl, snogging for anyone to see. Then imagine that this girl was your sister. Then you'd know how I feel," he snapped back. Hermione sat up and looked at Ron. He looked away. She sighed and looked at the white sheets on the bed. I knew he was going to hate me. And I was the one scolding Fred about being more careful before I completely snogged him without wondering if Ron would come back through the portrait hole.

She glanced to Fred. He still had his worried expression, and he was holding her hand and stroking it with his thumb. She looked to Harry next. He was frowning, but he looked more worried than angry. He hadn't said anything to her since she woke up.

"Um, can I talk to Harry alone, please?" she asked everyone. Ginny and Neville left her bedside immediately, Ginny dragging Ron with her. Fred gave her a small smile before detangling their fingers and following them out of the hospital wing. She looked up into Harry's green eyes.

"Harry… are you alright?" she asked.

"Why didn't you tell me?" he demanded.

"Fred and I weren't going to tell…"

"I can understand why you didn't tell Ron, but why not me? I probably wouldn't have thought about it twice," he said.

"I know. But Fred and I weren't even together for a day yet when Ron found us. In fact, Fred hasn't asked me to be his girlfriend yet. This whole thing sort of caught me by surprise, but it's probably one of the best things that have ever happened to me. So I'm sorry that I didn't tell you." They were both silent. Harry was now looking at the floor.

"So, I guess you'll need someone to keep Ron in check, won't you?" he asked. Hermione nodded.

"Probably. I wouldn't be surprised if Ron was pummeling Fred as we speak," Hermione replied.

Harry sighed. "You were going to tell me, right?" Hermione rolled her eyes.

"Yes, we were probably going to tell you first anyway," she said. He smiled a little.

"Alright, I forgive you." Hermione jumped up and hugged Harry tightly.

"Thank you! And promise to keep Ron from killing Fred," she insisted.

"I'll try. But if Ron kills me, I'm going to haunt you forever," Harry warned jokingly. Hermione giggled. Fred strode back over to them.

"Is this something I should know about?" he asked. Hermione laughed and let go of Harry. Fred glanced at him. Harry took the hint and ran off to find Ron, Ginny, and Neville. Once he was gone, Fred placed a hand on Hermione's cheek.

"Are you all right?" he asked softly. She nodded.

"Yeah. I feel really stupid for letting Ron find us like that. I guess he's really mad at you," she whispered.

"Yes, he is, but he'll get over it. Eventually." Hermione smiled a little. She opened her mouth to say something, but was cut off by Madam Pomfrey.

"What are you doing out of bed? Lay back down this instant!" she screeched. Hermione quickly scrambled back into her bed. "And you, young man," Madam Pomfrey scolded, turning to Fred, "You may have permission to stay here until I discharge her, but I don't want any funny business, or I'll have you banished from the grounds for good!" She bustled off to her office and quietly closed the door.

"She really needs to lighten up," Fred said quietly. Hermione nodded.

"Are you really going to stay until I'm discharged?" she asked. He sat down in the chair next to her bed.

"Yes. What kind of boyfriend would I be if I didn't watch your every move while your sick?" he replied.

"You know, I'm not your girlfriend yet because you haven't asked me out," Hermione noted. He looked into her brown eyes.

"Well I am now. Hermione Granger, will you be my girlfriend?" he asked.

Hermione smiled, tears forming in her eyes.

"Yes. I will."

Fred grinned. "Excellent." He kissed her forehead and intertwined their fingers. "I love you. You know that right?" he whispered. She nodded and sighed happily. I'll deal with Ron later. If he wants to be a git about this, than let him. She could feel her eyelids drifting shut. The last thing she saw before she fell asleep was Fred smiling at her.

A/N: Sorry about the short chapter. I have a new story idea, so I think I'm only going to give this story one more chapter. Sorry to all my loyal fans, but I got to keep things fresh. Enjoy the last chapter(s).