I know it's been a long time since the last update but I have good excuses! School's started back up and I've started my A Levels and I got ill and was taken to hospital. I'm okay now and somewhat back. I'm on a semi-hiatus. Please R&R and enjoy! ~Bethany

'How're we feeling today, Mr Weasley?' Madam Pomfrey chirped, setting a tray on Fred's wooden and ageing bedside table.

Madam Pomfrey had brown speckling hair, she was of medium height and a very stern woman. She didn't take nonsense from anyone and took her job incredibly seriously.

The hospital wing was empty apart from a Ravenclaw student who had an accident during Physical Education.

'Very well, thank you, Madam Pomfrey.' Fred answered, sitting upright in bed and smiling at the woman who was pottering around with a thermometer and something that didn't look particularly appetising for breakfast.

Madam Pomfrey nodded and placed her hand against his forehead.

'And how many times did you vomit last night?'

'Just the once.'

Fred had been in the hospital wing for a week now. He vomited a lot at the beginning, so much that he would vomit mostly stomach acid, but now the amount of times he'd do so had been considerably lowered. He had managed to work up a fever in the middle of the week, and even refused to eat a few times because all the vomiting had managed to put him off of his food.

'Open up.' Madam Pomfrey instructed.

Fred obliged and she shoved the thermometer under his tongue. There was approximately thirty seconds of awkward silence before the long awaited beep of the stick in Fred's mouth finally went off. Madam Pomfrey took it out and checked the result.

'You're back to your normal temperature now so I should be able to let you go later today or tomorrow morning.' Pomfrey said with a smile.

'Thanks, Madam Pomfrey.

'It's my pleasure, Mr Weasley. I suggest that you don't swallow foreign objects or liquids again. You don't know how toxic they might be. It's also just plain stupidity. I would have thought that someone your age would know better.'

Fred rolled his eyes behind her back and sighed quietly.
'Yes, Madam Pomfrey.'

The Matron left the questionable food behind and took the tray with her back to her office. Fred looked at the bowl of something lumpy and beige in colour. Even the smell of it made him want to throw up all over again. He lifted the spoon up out of the bowl and let the contents of the spoon splash back in to the bowl. He pushed it away and stuck his tongue out in disgust.

xx

There was now only one week left until the camping trip that Harry had organised and the Christmas season was well under way.
Twelve Christmas trees had been erected in the Great Hall, they were largely decorated with baubles, tinsel and a huge gold stars right at the top. The Christmas trees were not the only seasonal items that the Hall had become home to; there was synthetic snow on the tables and the walls had holly on them too, mistletoe hung from the ceiling and Christmas spirit had filled the air along with the smell of mince pies, cinnamon and hot roasted dinners.

Christmas seemed like a comforting time of year, even for poor little Harry, now that Mrs Weasley would graciously make him feel welcome every Christmas. It beat staying at Hogwarts alone any way. Staying with the Weasley's was like coming home for Christmas, but he supposed that he really was after all.

'What's the matter, Harry?' Hermione asked inquisitively, as she, Harry and Ron sat together at the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall. 'You've been awfully quiet.'

Harry looked up suddenly and his eyes took a little while to focus in on Hermione.
'Hm?' Harry seemed out of touch with reality. 'Oh. The truth is, there's more to this camping trip than I've let on.'

Hermione sighed.
'I thought as much.' She replied, resting her chin on the palm of her hand. Ron stared at her with one eyebrow raised.

'How could you have known?!' He asked completely bewildered.

'I don't see another reason we would be camping, do you? It's not like we would do it for some fun.' Hermione retaliated.

Ron frowned.
'Well we could of!'

'Don't start fighting again.' begged a weary Harry.

'What's the reason then?' Ron wondered, giving Hermione a quick dissatisfied look before giving Harry his full attention.

'I'll tell you when we get there. I don't want anyone listening in.' Harry said under his breath, leaning in towards both Ron and Hermione so that only they could hear him.

Hermione gasped quickly, sat back upright then bolted back down again and whispered.
'This is about Tom Riddle, isn't it?!' She hissed. 'He's been after you for years.'

Harry gave a solemn nod.
'But don't worry, he can't, and won't. get me.'

'As long as you're sure...this is pretty serious...' Hermione trailed off and her eyes darted around the room. Although it would be unlikely for any of Riddle's spies to be listening in.

'I am. There's more I need to tell you but I will let you know when we've left.'

The three of them sat back and began to eat like the previous conversation hadn't even happened at all. But of course, it had, and that little fact was always in the back of their minds. They smiled on the outside and joked and laughed, but on the inside, where no one else could see, they were worried and scared and were thinking of all the things that Tom Riddle could possibly be planning against them. Or, to be more specific, against Harry himself.

xx

Hermione could feel the gentle movements of Fred's fingers through her wild and untamed hair. They could hear nothing but the heartbeats of one another and the sounds of their breathing. Hermione was laid across her boyfriend's lap as Fred sat upright on the sofa. He had been released from the hospital wing earlier that day, he was very thankful that he didn't have to stay there much longer with Madam Pomfrey and her disgusting medicines and her disgusting breakfast foods.

'I'm bloody starving.' Fred frowned.

'Maybe you should have eaten the breakfast Madam Pomfrey gave you this morning then. After all, breakfast is the most important meal of the day.'

'I know. I know...I need to give you your jumper back.' Fred said, trying to change the topic so Hermione wouldn't give him a lecture.

'Keep it.' replied Hermione.

'Are you sure?'

'Positive.'

Hermione reached up to her neck and fiddled with the bejewelled F that hung from the silver chain. She honestly loved that necklace, if she could, she would never take it off. The silver looked particularly striking against the light shade of her skin, making her feel like she was made of porcelain. She felt quite bad that she had nothing to give to Fred in return for the necklace. It looked like it must have cost a fair bit. That made her feel worse because the Weasley family were quite poor, he must have saved up for a while. She was also concerned that it took her that long to realise how much it must have cost him in the first place. She wanted to ask, but she knew that he wouldn't give her an answer.

'What would you like for Christmas?' She asked eventually.

'It's a bit late to be asking that, isn't it?' Fred replied.

'Not at all...Maybe...I don't know.'

'That'll be a first.' smirked Fred.

'Hey!' She cried, sitting upright and elbowing him in the side.

'That,' said Fred, rubbing his side, 'was uncalled for.'

Both of them couldn't help but giggle.

'I'm not seeing your point.' She shrugged.

'Hello, 'ello. What've we got here, then?' George asked, jumping over the common room sofa, landing on it very ungracefully and putting his feet up on the table.

'Two large geckos, obviously.' Fred said sarcastically.

George nodded and grinned.

'Oh yeah, I can see it now. When did Pomfrey let you go?'

'Around two, I think.'

'Thinking isn't really your strong point though, is it?' George said in a mater of factly tone.

Hermione got up and smiled awkwardly.

'I should leave you two to catch up.'

Fred reached out and grabbed Hermione's wrist.

'No, no no no, stay! George doesn't mind, do you?' Fred gave George a pleading look. George smiled at the both of them.

'Of course I don't.'

Hermione paused and looked at them both before finally giving in and sitting back down to join the conversation.

They spoke for a while about everything and nothing in particular, the weather, school, their favourite things about Christmas (for Hermione it was everyone's spirit, for Fred, it was the food, and for George, he admitted that he loved getting presents, despite the ugly jumpers he receives from his mother.), they even half heartedly discussed politics.

'Speaking of politics, I've got an essay to write.' Hermione told them.

'What kind of essay?' George wondered, taking his feet off the table. His legs hurt from keep them outstretched for so long.

'History.'

'How did a discussion of politics remind you of that?' Fred asked.

'It's political history.'

'Ah.'

Hermione got up and kissed the crown of Fred's head, then she went over and patted the top of George's.

'See you both later!' Then she bounded up the stone steps and in to her dorm.

Once she was there, she let her smile drop. She had lied, she didn't have an essay to write about the history of politics. Really, she wanted somewhere quiet to think about what she could get Fred for Christmas. She had the idea of getting him a matching necklace with an 'H' on it, but decided that it would probably be too mushy and Fred probably wouldn't want to wear a necklace. She thought about getting him a teddy bear, or a new pair of football boots as his were starting to fall apart, or a joke book, or joke shop products. Nothing seemed right though. How could it be so difficult to buy a Christmas present for someone?

Luckily, Ginny had just walked in.

'What do you think Fred would like for Christmas?' Hermione asked her.

'Hello to you too. You've left it a bit late haven't you?'

'Yes, I know.' Hermione sighed heavily.

'If it helps,' Ginny began, 'I got him a pair of novelty socks.'

'Well, Fred got me this necklace, he just gave it to me early.' She touched the piece of jewellery carefully.

Ginny smiled.

'I know. I helped him pick it out.'

'Oh. Help me pick something for him. Please?' She begged.

'Sure.' She gave Hermione a hopeless smile and sat down.

'Tell me all the ideas that you've had so far.'

xx

It was dark outside and very very cold. It was approximately four am on a Sunday morning when Fred quietly walked in to the girl's dormitory and found his way to Hermione's bed, which took more effort than he thought. He knelt down and gently shook her awake.
She groaned and opened her eyes very slightly and yawned.

'Morning, Hermione.' he whispered to her. She just groaned in reply.

Eventually she managed to wake herself up enough to engage in conversation.

'What're you doing here?' she asked almost inaudibly.

'Get up, put on your warmest clothes and meet me in the common room in five minutes.'

'Why?'

'It's a surprise.' Fred got up to leave but then crouched back down again. 'I almost forgot, make sure you wear shoes with an okay grip.' Then, he left.

Five minutes later, Hermione walked down the stairs in a pair of trousers, a jumper, a coat, hat, scarf and gloves. She folded her arms and yawned.

'What are you up to?' She asked moodily.

'Come with me and you'll find out.'

Fred held her hand and began walking away with her.

She reluctantly went along with him. They quietly crept through the castle corridors and down the stairs, making sure they avoided bumping in to Argus Filch, the Caretaker.

'Where're we going?' Hermione whined under her breath.

He led her out in to the courtyard and towards the the lake.

'We're going to get in to trouble!' continued Hermione when Fred wouldn't give her an answer.

'We're here now any way.' Fred told her.

On the bank by the lake was a large picnic blanket, with a flask and a basket on top. He sat down on the blanket and pulled her down next to him.

'We're going to have breakfast before we have breakfast. After all, breakfast is the most important meal of the day.' He picked up the flask and unscrewed the lid with a large grin. 'Hot chocolate?'

Hermione laughed, appreciating the joke he made and then nodded.

'Sure. As long as we're quick.'

'We'll be fine, I promise. You need to loosen up a bit.' He took out a mug from the basket and poured the brown liquid in to it and handed it over to her. She took it and held it in between her gloved hands.

'Thank you.' she said taking a sip.

Fred poured himself out a mug as well.

He searched through the basket and pulled out a croissant.

'Still warm. Thankfully.' Fred handed it over to her.

'How did you get all of this?' Hermione asked warily, putting her mug down to take the pastry.

'It doesn't matter.' Fred looked up at the sky. 'Very pretty.'

Hermione looked up too and saw the stars as they twinkled in the the moon light that Fred was talking about.

'Not as pretty as you though.' Fred told her, looking at her and smiling like a love sick child.

'Oh, stop it.' Hermione blushed, luckily, it was too dark for Fred to see.

Fred grinned and his eyes widened.

'No, I honestly mean it.'

Hermione paused and grinned.

'Thank you.' She used one of her hands to hold on to his.

There was a few minutes of silence.

'Drink and eat up! There's more!' The words burst out of Fred like he couldn't possibly hold on to it for much longer.

They drank and ate pretty much in silence after that. Occasionally looking at each other or up into the sky. Once they had finished, Fred stood up and took her closer to the lake. He stepped on to it. It was completely frozen.

'No, Fred! It's too dangerous!' Hermione panicked, trying to pull him back.

'It's frozen! See!' Fred jumped on it. 'I tested it out earlier.' Fred let go of Hermione's hand and walked across it, then he ran, then he slid. 'It's fine. Come on! Just five minutes. Please? You might actually have some fun.'

Hermione gave in, although she had a sinking feeling in the pit of her stomach that signified danger to her. She stepped on the ice warily and slipped. Fred held her steady.

'It's okay. I've got you.' He whispered and guided her on to the ice. 'You okay?'

Hermione laughed nervously.

'I'm not sure.'

'Hold on to my waist.'

Hermione did so.

Fred walked along the ice slowly so Hermione could get used to the ice. After that, five minutes turned in to ten, ten turned in to twenty. Before they knew it, it was half past five. Hermione was starting to slide along the ice now, despite the few tumbles and falls she had suffered.

'I think it's time to go back.' Hermione laughed as Fred tried to show off and fell down on to his bum.

Fred stood back up but ended up looking like Bambi on ice.

'I think you're right.' he got back the control of his limbs and walked over to Hermione who was trying to keep herself steady. 'But first...' he paused and leaned over to kiss her. Their lips caught each other, despite the fact they were both cold, they felt very warm. Fred's arms went around Hermione's waist and Hermione's went around the back of his neck.

Hermione moved to get more comfortable but slipped instead. They both laughed and Fred helped her up.

'Definitely time to go.' He agreed. 'Did you have fun?'

'I did, actually. Thank you. It was lovely.'

They walked back on to the bank and packed away their pre-breakfast breakfast things. They took one another's hand and walked back towards the castle to return to their beds before anyone noticed that they had gone at all.