The unexpectable Fred and Hermy!

by Gallie

It's been a terribly long time since this one has been updated, but it's a good read if you're willing to put up with it, and brings along giggles and squirmy feelings inside if you're a Fred/Hermione shipper.

3. One Secret Revealed

Lee Jordan was sitting in the common room, reading up on the essence of murtlap for the scratches on his hand. Yes, another detention from Umbridge for talking back in class had made his cuts open up once more.
Flipping the page of the book, Lee scratched the side of his dread-locked head, and fixed his brown eyes on a picture in the book.

"I told you Ron, for the fiftieth time this morning. You may or may not find out in TIME."
The annoyed voice of Hermione Granger drifted down the hallway as Ron, Harry, and Hermione made their way you breakfast in the great hall.
"Hermione, I am dying to know what happened down there, as far as I know, you rushed out while halfway through your date with Fred at the Halloween ball, and ran down the lawn in the snow to drink a potion bottle hidden in a tree. Is this true? At least tell me that."
"Well, it is true."
"Why did you do it?"
"RON!"
"Fine, fine . . ."
Ron muttered under his breath as Hermione sat down promptly, and propped a book on werewolves against the milk jug.

Hermione had gotten most of her old-self back with the coming of a new day, but was still constantly thinking about the previous night, and how eventful it had been.
'Not only eventful, but wonderful . . .' The brown haired girl thought as she pretended to read the book.
Ron seemed to have noticed, for he seized the book and stared at it.
"You must read really well if you can read upside-down." He said blankly.
Hermione swiped the book back and glared at Ron.
"There is something strange, going on . . ." Ron muttered, cocking his eyebrow at Hermione, who had paused mid-spoonful of porridge to stare into space.
"Hermione, d'you fancy Fred?"
Hermione's eyes darted to Ron. "No."
"Does he fancy you?"
"I don't know. Why?"
"I just thought it'd be cute, you and him, you know . . ."
Hermione seemed to relax, but was still staring at Ron blankly.
"Well I really have no idea whether he fancies me or not, and quite frankly, he is just a good friend."
Ron snorted and Harry grinned.
"It's true! We just went to the ball together, because . . ."
"He didn't go with Angelina." Ron interrupted promptly as Harry spread more jam on his toast and took a bite, looking at both Ron and Hermione.
"Yes, well, that's because George went with her . . ."
Still grinning, Ron went back to his toast as well. "Sure Hermione . . ."

Fred and George were talking together in low tones as they walked into the common room, leaving the boys' dormitories.
"Come ON, Fred, can't you just tell me already?"
"No."
"Really -- just at the beginning of the Ball Hermione dashes off, you disappear, and next time I see you you're soaking wet and won't explain a thing!"
"So?"
"So?! I'm your brother! I wanna know what happened."
"Well, I'm not going to tell you, so you're just going to have to bug off and stop pestering me."
Fred grinned at his very flummoxed brother. They were on their way to the Great Hall of breakfast. All night and most of the morning George had been pestering him over the events of last night -- Fred was, however, less than vague in his responses. He spotted Lee Jordan a short distance away, immersed in a book. Intrigued, he walked over, glad to find a reason to get George off his back.
"'Lo, Lee," he said, looking at him curiously, and then in a more suspicious tone, "What have you got there? Not studying, are you?"

Lee looked up.
"If you call reading on how to get these bloody cuts on my hand healed studying, yes." He said darkly, then grinned.
"George, what's wrong, mate? You could fry an egg on your face . . ."

George opened his mouth, the look on his face obvious that he was going to complain about his brother, and Fred interrupted him, elbowing past his twin to squint at the book.
"Essence of whatsit?" he blinked at the pages. "Wow, mate, I'd just take a trip to the hospital wing if I were you. Looks too complicated to me..."
The book, in fact, looked like something that Hermione would be interested in. He smirked. In fact, he wouldn't have been even remotely surprised if it had been she who loaned it to him. Thinking of Hermione, he asked, "Coming to breakfast?"

Lee stood up and stretched.
"Maybe I'll take a break and eat . . . say Fred, the whole school's in a whisper about Hermione and you now. Rumors, whispers, you know." He scratched the back of his neck. "Some say that you and Hermione are together now, some say that the potion bottle was because she has an incurable disease," He snorted. "Some even say that she drank the potion because she was feeling too in love with you. What's the deal? I thought it was suppose to be a secret. Well, naturally, the whole school knows . . ."

"So, are you going to hang out with me and Harry today? Or do you have plans with Fred . . ." Ron muttered to Hermione, causing Harry to snort into his pumpkin juice and spill some on the table.
Hermione gave him a cold look.
"For your information, Ron, I am going to be spending the day with myself if you continue this interrogating."
Ron fell silent as Harry finished off his toast.
"So, first class is what now?"
"Potions." Ron replied gloomily, still staring at Hermione, who was spooning porridge into her mouth calmly and reading the book.

Fred winced painfully. Oh great. First he had to contend with George, now he had the whole school to look forward to being badgered by. Usually he enjoyed the attention, so long as he got it by causing some sort of trouble or another with George. Lee's information was nothing that he hadn't heard already - George had been shoving the stuff at him since he opened his eyes that morning.
"Well, it's a whole load of rubbish," he said gruffly with a pointed look at George and Lee. He began to lead the way to the portrait hole. "And nobody else's bloody business."
"Hmm. Let's see, seeing as we're your friends and / or TWIN BROTHERs," came George's comeback. "I'd say it is our business."
Fred didn't answer. He didn't feel like talking about the last night - he was still rather confused about the whole ordeal. If he had to talk to anyone about it, he would rather talk to Hermione, and not nosy teenagers - even if that did include Lee and his twin.

"Oh goody." Harry replied glumly. "Another torturing hour. And that starts at what time?"
"9 o'clock is the first class, and it's 8:20 now . . ." Ron muttered, eyes glued on Hermione.
"Okay then." Harry rubbed his hands together. "We'll finish eating, and then go?"
"What made you so cheery?" Ron suddenly asked, turning to Harry with a frown.
"Trying to brighten the mood from your dull spirits."
Hermione was still eating porridge, and reading the book, brown eyes fixed on it insolently.

Fred tramped into the Great Hall, still being tailed by his twin. He was definitely looking forward to breakfast, barely having eaten anything the night before. He saw that the Hall was reduced to its normal decorum, all sign of Halloween gone, from the pumpkins to the smallest piece of candy. He walked over to the Gryffindor table. He caught sight of Hermione, Ron and Harry, and made a B-line for their direction. Well, it was where he and George normally sat anyway - the stares he was receiving were most definitely uncalled for.
"Hullo," he said with a grin, dropping down beside them.

At the sound of Fred's voice, Hermione immediately looked up, and upon seeing him, moved aside a book, and made room for him to sit in between her and Ron. This was probably for the best of things, as Ron was still glowering after her.
"Oh fine, make room for him beside you and not your best friend . . ." He said angrily, but keeping his voice quiet as Harry finished off his juice and waved slightly to the twins.
"Notice how she only makes room for Fred, and not George . . ." Ron muttered under his breath into Harry's ear and causing him to grimace.

Knowing that Ron would probably be making some sort of comment or another, Fred chose to ignore him as he walked up. "Thanks," he said, and as he went to sit down he accidentally toppled Ron backwards off of the bench. He blinked at him. "Ah, sorry, mate." He grinned brightly. George cocked an eyebrow at Fred, and then wandered off to sit near Angelina, and judging by the volume of her voice they were either discussing Quidditch or the ball last night.
"Alright, Hermione?" he asked, eyeing her as he reached for some toast.

Hermione nodded and turned the page in her book, taking a hasty swig of pumpkin juice at the same time.
"Alright after last night," She threw him a grin and then turned back to her book. "Sure thing."
Ron was muttering under his breath angrily as he got up and brushed himself off.
"No problem." He spat at Fred, words dripping with sarcasm as he moved over to Harry's left side. Harry looked to his right at Fred, and then shrugged, turning back to Ron, where they began to talk.
"I can't decide whether dragon breeding was outlawed in 1709 because of laws, or because of the Ministry of Magic's decision. . ." Hermione continued in a very Hermione-ish way . . . though there was still something that seemed, off. Or, different about her tone. Perhaps it was slightly more high-pitched, or perhaps it was just the morning that was making her eyes look very tired.

Fred blinked in a very Fred-ishly confused way, being posed with such a statement that was really a question that was really just Hermione musing. He seemed to remember Binns mentioning something about this when he was in fifth year, but really, when had he ever paid attention to Binns?
"Er..." he glanced suspiciously at Ron and Harry as they began to talk. But he faced Hermione again and squared his shoulders, his mind finally made up to ask her the question that had been posed to him multiple times that day. "Say, Hermione, could you tell me what happened last night? I mean -- why did you go out there in the first place?"

Hermione set down her pumpkin juice flask with slightly wide eyes.
"Well . . ." She began as Ron's ear twitched from beside Harry, and they both stopped talking.
Upon spotting them, Hermione rolled her eyes and stood up, cramming the book into her bag. "I might if we can get away from them . . ." Gesturing to Ron and Harry, who were watching her out of the corners of their eyes, she looked back at Fred.
"Somewhere else then?"

Fred nodded enthusiastically, getting to his feet. "Sure thing." He was willing to climb to the very highest tower if only to get some answers. He looked at the younger males with a mock-scathing expression. "What?" he asked. "Did you just swallow a fly in your pumpkin juice or something, Ron?" He shook his head and turned to Hermione, asking, "Where to?"

Hermione began to walk down the hall, some people gaping after her, some whispering, some staring – all manner of rude gestures and impolite things flitting about.
"Oh I don't know. Anyway to get away from Mr. Jealous Killjoy . . ." She replied briskly, brown hair limp and bouncing behind her.

The twin grinned, walking after her. He was used to the tiffs forming between Ron and Hermione, though he had to admire miss Granger's skills for being able to pinpoint his brother exactly. He felt his mood brightening even as he walked down the Hall, surrounded by gossiping students.
"Right, then," he replied, elbowing one of the little nosy miscreants by "accident" and sending them tumbling into another.

Hermione strode out into the hall directly outside the morning breakfast air and towards the front steps.
It was still snowing softly, billowing -- yet light. A few students were fighting their way through the blizzard in order to speak to either Hagrid or Professor Sprout about something that they might squeeze in before class at nine o'clock.
There was a worried glint in Hermione's panicky eyes, yet her face was calm as she walked down the warm and inviting hall towards the staircases, and paused right beside a suit of armor entitled, 'Sir Robert Akin'.
Still holding one large book in between her arms over her chest, and book bag over her shoulder in yet another Hermione-ish way, the glossy brown eyed girl paused and stared past Fred uncomfortably. "Well what exactly did you want to know . . ."

Fred bit his lip a bit, and shifted his weight from one foot to the other so that he leaned into her line of vision again. "Well --" he began. "I would like to know... why did you leave last night? I mean, I'm not put off or anything, it's just - well, I was just worried, you know? I mean, it's not every day that you go running off into the snow - I mean, except for that time in the library, but, well, yeah."
He was rambling. He blinked at her, hoping she had caught at least some of what he had said.

Hermione took a deep breath, and blew it out of her mouth slowly, wincing a bit.
"I really don't want anyone to know this . . . but since I trust you, I guess I will tell you. . . ." She paused for a brief moment, as if contemplating actually telling him, but ignored the thought and continued, still staring past him and avoiding his eyes.
"Last year, I was approached in the library by Draco Malfoy. He told me the usual, mudblood . . . bushy hair . . . all of that rubbish . . . and then, when the ferret incident happened, I didn't realize just how angry he was about me saying how twitchy he was. I did make a comment about it. Well anyways, in the hallway one day, while I was reading about Herbs, he hexed me with a spell."
There was a pause, as she bit her bottom lip and threw a quick glance at Fred.

Fred oggled at her. He had half a mind to turn around and go look for Draco and give him a good lesson in muggle-dueling, but he merely satisfied himself by twitching a little.
"He - he HEXED you?" he snarled.

Hermione closed her eyes briefly, then opened them and stared past Fred once more.
"Well, what do you expect from a slime-ball like him? Though, I didn't realize how powerful the spell was, until one night, when I had difficulty breathing. Little did I know, I still don't know to this day where Malfoy learned it, probably his father or something -- but it's a permanent curse. One that forces me to take a potion every single night . . . or stop breathing."
There was another pause as a group of chattering girls passed by, whispering and pointing to the both of them. Hermione was biting her lip again and now looking back at Fred.

Fred didn't reply all at once, instead stood quietly as he absorbed this information - a very odd thing indeed, for it was rare for one of the Weasley twins to go for any length of time without making some sort of movement or comment. Then, slowly, he began to get angry. He shot a hasty, venomous look about him.
"And - did Dumbledore know?" he hissed. "They let the - the..." he couldn't think of a strong enough word to describe Malfoy. "They LET him get away with this?"

Hermione gave a some-what nervous wince.
"Well, they don't really know . . . see, up until now, Professor Mcgonagall and me are the only ones who know. I've never told anyone else." She said quietly, now looking straight at him.

For a moment Fred was struck by the fact that he had been taken into such confidence. Yet this only made him angrier at Draco - what gave him the right to attack Hermione? Even if she insulted him until he began to have the self-esteem of a squished slug, nothing gave him the right to put such a spell on her!
"And... you just let him get away with it?" he demanded. "Hermione, what if he tries it again? I mean, the git is so stupid, maybe he'll just - try to finish the job off!"
He was genuinely worried. He cast a look about him again, as if hoping that the slimy son of a snake would dare show his face nearby.

Hermione swallowed and cast a nervous look around as well, that was almost sheepish.
"I know, I know . . . but I really don't think Malfoy is that stupid . . to try and, well, kill me, would get him expelled. And his father wouldn't like that, so I don't think it'll get any more serious." She spoke in such a tone, that you would think it was alright for her – even if she did have a curse that prevented her from breathing every nigh if she didn't take it. It almost seemed . . . like she was just dealing with it.

Fred opened his mouth to say something, paused, reconsidered his words, and then tried again.
"Well, still, you just can't let him get away with it," he was adamant to remain very angry with Draco, even if his excuses to chuck him off the side of a cliff were becoming weak. "I mean - knowing some kind of curse like that - couldn't he get into trouble with the Ministry? He could- even be locked up in Azkaban!"
Oh, the visual was wonderful.

Hermione bit her lip and adjusted her bag on her shoulder.
"There are . . certain reasons, and complications Fred. I just told you what I did, because I trust you. . ." She softly tried to nudge his arm with a weak smile, as if the conversation drained her of energy.
"Now you need to get to class, and so do I . . ." The girl continued, brown eyes spotting Ron and Harry not far away, walking towards them.

Fred gazed mournfully at her, being denied - well, it was her revenge he was worried about, so he realized that he really had no claim to Draco's life after all. He glanced in the direction of Ron and Harry, and realized that George probably wouldn't be far behind.
"Yeah," he said glumly. "I suppose so. I'm sorry - I didn't really have any idea 'bout any of this. Really."
He smiled. He felt bad, now, nagging her about why she ran off during the ball. Sure, he didn't nag as much as George or Ron, but he still did nag. Good heavens, he was getting sentimental! He wondered if he was going crazy.

"Thank you. . ." Hermione gave a genuinely warm smile, and went forth to meet Ron and Harry, but halted and turned on her heel, going back towards Fred, and then leaning in slightly, "Oh and Fred," She said softly, with the corners of her mouth breaking into a weak grin. "Please don't tell anyone else, alright?"

"'Couse," Fred replied, a grin finally breaking out on his features. It made him look a great deal more Fred-ish. "Your secret is safe with me, even if I can't kill him."
Oh, George was definitely going to appreciate this. He had an idea that he was going to have two very annoyed brothers on his hands.

Hermione bit her bottom lip for a brief moment, though not in worry now – it was in a contemplating state, as if she were debating something inside her head.
Then, quite briefly and softly, she gave Fred a quick hug, and swept away from him smiling, going back to Harry, and Ron, who's jaw had dropped so low, you would've thought he had swallowed a bowling ball.

Fred's eyebrows momentarily lifted in surprise, but before he could react Hermione was already moving away. He blinked, and grinned, egged on by the look on his brother's face. He glanced over Harry's shoulder and was unsurprised to see George striding up the hall.
"I'll see you later, then," he said.

Hermione turned back at his voice and waved slightly with a grin, then was taken away by Harry, and a glaring daggers Ron.
"What was all that about??" Ron asked loudly as they walked towards the dungeons.
"Just giving Fred your insights on a book, perhaps? Or maybe TELLING HIM ABOUT LAST NIGHT."
Hermione scowled. "Either way, it's really none of your business, Ron."

Fred was treated similarly, being dragged in the opposite direction by his twin.
"Well? What happened?" George demanded. "Will you tell me what happened NOW?"
Annoyed, he yanked his arm out of George's grasp.
"Gerroff," he exclaimed. "And, no."
"Why?"
"Because I don't feel like it."
"Come ON," grumbled George. "When's the last time you kept something from me, eh? We're not supposed to do that - we're twins!"
"Thanks for reminding me," Fred said dryly. "Lay off, George. I promised I wouldn't tell you."
The mirror image of himself snorted. "Isn't that noble of you."

Hermione, who was now walking down the hall of the dungeons, was also being annoyed.
Ron was nearly steaming at the ears. "What the HELL could you possibly be keeping from your BEST FRIENDS, and tell FRED, who ISN'T your best friend?!?!?"
"None of your business." Hermione said, nettled.
Harry was simply keeping quiet. This was not his conversation, for if Hermione didn't want to tell them, she didn't have to.
"Hermione, you are so rude. I can't believe you, this is ridiculous . . ." Ron muttered under his breath angrily as they made their way into the Potions classroom and set their bags on a table.

"She made you promise not to tell ME? Your own TWIN?"
"Not just you!" Fred replied, exasperated. Why was George getting so riled about this? "Will you get off of it? It's none of your bloody business!"
"Fine," George snarled, pushing past him. "Choose her over me, then, I don't mind."
Fred gaped after him. "What are you TALKING about?"
But now George was officially not speaking to him. It took several tries for Fred to finally realize this, and so both were in equally sullen moods as they trudged into the History of Magic classroom - Fred wished it was something else, because he just couldn't fall asleep NOW while his mind was so cluttered.