"Fred?"

"Yes, Hermione?"

He could smell her sweet breath as she spoke to him, her face close to his. His eyes began to adjust to the darkness but still, he could only make out her eyes which stared at him intensely.

"What are you thinking about?" she asked quietly.

Fred thought about what to tell her. He felt a sense of courage in him that he hadn't felt with her before. This new found bravery urged Fred to tell her. He bit his lip and looked at her and told her the truth.

"About you," he said simply. "How I could ignore you for so long."

"This is happening too fast, Fred," Hermione told him. She stood up quickly and heard her footsteps moving away from him.

Fred pawed at the floor until his fingers felt his wand. He picked it up and lit it up again as he stood up.

"Hermione," Fred said, finding her silhouette as he jogged up behind her. He looked at her worried face and knew how she felt. He didn't know where the sudden change came from but he wanted her more than anything at that moment. "I'm sorry."

"What?" she asked, her arms tucked nervously behind her back. She looked at Fred and watched as disappointment fell over him.

"I'm sorry. I'm pushing you for something you're not sure about."

"Fred," Hermione said, moving her hands out from behind her and playing with them in front of her. She wrapped and unwrapped her fingers, watching them as she spoke. "I'm sure. I'm just…nervous."

"Why?" Fred asked, wondering what he had done wrong.

"I've never even had a real boyfriend, Fred."

"Do you think that matters to me?" he asked her. Sure, he had had several girlfriends. He wasn't new to flirting or even snogging. But he hadn't ever thought of Hermione differently because she was not the same way. "Besides, I just want one thing."

Fred saw it in his head. He yearned so bad to just lean over and kiss her. Just a kiss. That's all he wanted. To see what it was like to finally be close to her.

"What?" she asked though he knew she was aware of his intentions. He could tell by her uneasy stare, but he took her hand regardless.

"Just a kiss," he murmured. "Just one."

She didn't say anything. Fred watched her cheeks change color and she lifted her gaze to his. Fred felt everything begin to move slowly and he held her hand tighter.

He leaned in carefully and pressed his lips against hers. He felt his insides spark with excitement and relief as their lips met. Fred put his hand against her cheek as she kissed him back.

He kissed her innocently at first but soon, he let his lips part with hers, their mouths moving in unison. After a few moments, he pulled away and kept his face close to hers. He let out a long breath and an enormous grin covered his face. Fred looked at Hermione, who wore the same blissful smile, and grabbed her hand again.

"Just a kiss," Hermione recited. "Fred, I don't want to rush this." She became serious, her smile leaving her face.

"Okay," Fred said, feeling slightly let down. He gave her an encouraging smile. "We can take this slow."

Hermione played with Fred's hand in hers and traced the scars on it.

"Are you ready to head back?" Fred asked her. She looked up and nodded at him subtly. Fred smirked at her and he led her through the darkness, back towards the common room.

Fred walked into the common room and released Hermione's hand. He knew that she wanted to keep things under wraps for a little while. When he saw no one there, he turned around and smiled at her. She returned the smile and started towards the staircase. Fred followed after her and stood in front of her as she turned around a few steps up.

"Thank you," she mumbled, looking down at him from the stairs. She laughed lightly and stared at Fred who was trying not to show his yearning to kiss her again.

He raised an eyebrow at her and she gave him a curious look. As if she read his mind, she walked down one step and their lips met again. Fred leaned towards her, his hands on either side of the arch frame. Fred enjoyed her soft lips against his and smiled while they said their goodnight.

"Fred!"

His heart dropped into his stomach and he stumbled away from the archway, leaving Hermione with a shocked look on her face, staring at Fred nervously. He looked up the stair well at Ron.

His face was beat red and he was clenching onto the banister of the stairs, staring at his brother and best friend. Hermione looked at Fred and then darted up the staircase and into the girl's dormitory, locking the door loudly behind her.

Fred stared up at his brother who dark eyes were watching him closely. He felt his stomach lurch as Ron walked away, his eyes moist and unforgiving.