Aaannndd here's chapter 4! Thanks for all of you who stuck with me this far, it means a lot! Remember to read, rate, and review!
Luckily, no one had caught Fred as he carried Hermione down the corridors. He also could have sworn he saw her eyes flutter open, but it was probably just his imagination.
He had been grateful that no one had seen them; he had enough cleaning for the remainder of his 7th year. Once they had reached the common room, he transfigured a soft pillow out of a quill he saw on the table, and let Hermione be. Hopefully, she would have the best day she'd have in weeks.
Fred set off to Quidditch practice with the rest of team, but their noise woke Hermione up. She wondered where the warmth she had fallen asleep to had gone. She snapped her head to the exiting Gryffindor team, when Harry caught her eye. He murmured, "I'll be down in a few minutes," to Angelina, and sat down next to Hermione on the couch.
"Harry..." She began, she needed to explain everything to him, it was what he deserved, and she truly hoped that he was there to listen to her.
"No." He said firmly, and tears welled up in her eyes, she began to stand up when Harry pulled her back on the couch beside him. "I'm sorry. I should've heard the whole story before I jumped to conclusions, given the rumors about me that have been going around. I'm glad that Fred talked to me and Ron yesterday or I don't think I would've come around." His eyes were apologetic and Hermione had to immediately forgive him. She couldn't say mad at him for long.
But then, she'd processed what he'd said. "Wait, Fred talked to you? What did he say?" She asked hopefully. Harry explained, but Hermione was lost in thought. Had he really cleared it all up for her? He certainly had more Gryffindor courage then she, that's for sure.
"Hermione, I have to go to practice. But… I have to ask you something before you go." He said tentatively. Hermione threw her arms around him and nodded, grasping him in a hug for his understanding. He began to walk away as he asked, "Do you… erm… fancy Fred?"
Hermione blushed fiercely, but Harry only smiled. "Don't worry, you're secret is safe with me. And I expect to see you at breakfast and in the common room more often." Harry winked and walked off towards the Quidditch pitch, and finally, Hermione felt all her courage flooding back into her.
What had she been afraid of? Whispers behind her back and glares against her head? She laughed at herself for being so foolish at letting herself be tortured by idiots. She went up to her dorm, and sat patiently on her bet, waiting for the other occupants to wake up.
Lavender woke first, and saw Hermione sitting on the bed, staring into space. She began to summon up vile words, but remembered her conversation with Fred the night before. She sighed and began to explain. "Hermione, I'm… sorry for spreading that rumor. I didn't realize how it hurt you so until Fred… well; I mean I'm just sorry." She mumbled everything, and Hermione suppressed a smile. She really had to thank Fred.
"It's alright, Lavender. I know that must've been hard for you, thank you." Hermione beamed. She got dressed in one of her weekend robes, and suddenly she remembered what day it was; September 19th. Oh Merlin, how could she forget? It was her birthday! With all the mayhem that was going on she had completely forgotten.
Hermione rarely did anything special for her birthday. She got a few presents from Harry, Ron, and the rest of the Weasleys that happened to be at Hogwarts that year.
She frolicked down the stairs and came face to face with a grinning Ron Weasley, but his smile was sad, apologetic almost. "Hermione I…" But Hermione just wrapped her arms around him (quite awkwardly at that). "I know," she said so softly, it really should have been a whisper.
"Right… er Happy Birthday, then!" Ron said, handing her a box that she assumed was her present. She smiled and opened it, and it was the only thing she could expect from and awkward, clueless Ron Weasley. A book.
She chuckled, "Thank you Ronald. Come on then, let's go to breakfast." She smiled warmly, excited to see the Great Hall because she hadn't seen it in almost two weeks.
She made her way down to breakfast and expected to hear the muffled whispers, but was shocked when people came up to her saying "Happy Birthday" and "I'm sorry." She knew exactly who was behind this. Okay, he cleared her name. Now she really had to thank Fred, and somehow make it up to him.
She entered the Great Hall with the biggest smile she'd worn all year. She sat down at the Gryffindor table, right across from Fred, George, and Harry who looked beat form their practice. Fred smiled shyly and weakly, while George just smirked.
"Ah, so the bear came out of hibernation I see! How does it feel being out in the open, Granger?" George sniggered and Fred threw him a glare and stomped on his foot beneath the table.
"Oh, I'm not used to the lighting; after all, the cave is so dark. Thanks for asking though, George. And as for your detentions… oh yes, don't think that I've forgotten, George. You too Fred. You will be serving them every Wednesday night for 6 weeks." She had used a joke. Who was this girl, thought Fred? He hadn't seen Hermione crack a joke since… well, ever.
"Nice one, Granger. Anyway, here's your present. Compliments of George and Fred Weasley." He grinned, handing Hermione a small box, which happened to be one of their creations that was bound to get banned if Umbridge found out (Dumbledore would most likely let it slide).
"Actually, it's compliments of George Weasley, period. I have a gift for you, sorry I didn't bring it to the breakfast, it's upstairs." Fred smirked, and Hermione had to fight the blush rising up her cheeks.
"And, as for your best mate, I have decided to give you a very special gift; love." Harry said dramatically, "After all, the best things in like are free." He smiled as he pulled out a box and handed it to Hermione. It was a charmed locket that every time she opened it, Harry's and Ron's voice said I'm sorry. Beneath it was a small card, which included one favor she could ask him for, whenever she needed it. "You might need that locket especially, with Ron's temper."
Ginny was next in the gift-giving ceremony. She gave Hermione a rather large bag, and it was filled with all the girly essentials Hermione tended to live without. It included makeup, jewelry, tightly fitted close, and hair products. "Ginevra Molly Weasley; I have managed to live sixteen years without all this rubbish, and I plan on keeping it that way!" Hermione scoffed, she had no clue what Ginny was up to; she usually gave her what she wanted (books, of course).
Ginny smirked and leaned over the table and whispered in Hermione's ear, "Now, I don't think that you can impress Fred with a book in your nose, now can you?"
Hermione's cheeks turned a color that was certainly deeper than Gryffindor's blood red, and ducked her head so that all she could see was her food. "Well, um thank you everyone. I really appreciate your gifts." She gave everyone a thank-you hug, and when she stood up to give Fred one, he grabbed her arm, pulling her out of the Great Hall.
"I'll have her down in a minute, mates. I still have to give her my gift." He threw George a wink, and Harry and Ron shrugged and headed off to Merlin-knows-where.
"Oh, no Fred its fine, you don't have to give me anything. You've already given me enough," she whispered so quietly, she could barely hear herself. However, somehow Fred managed to hear.
"No, I haven't, Hermione. I put you into to such a mess; it was only prudent that I got you out of it. I have much more to pay you back for two weeks of torture." Fred said softly. He awkwardly slipped his arm around her waist, and guided her to the Gryffindor common room. Hermione's heart fluttered at his touch, and she felt there was no place she'd rather be then in the arms of Fred Weasley.
"Expecto Patronum" They muttered simultaneously as they stepped through the portrait door. The Fat Lady giggled as Fred released his arm, and grabbed Hermione's hand, leading her up to his dormitory.
"Oh, Fred I-I'll just wait out here. I couldn't get- no not, again." She stumbled over her words and her voice was pleading, but Fred put a finger under her chin and pulled it up so she was looking straight into her eyes.
"It's just a gift, love. I'll set anyone that talks straight." Fred coolly replied, and they both started up the stairs to his dorm.
"Come on, we haven't got all day, you know." He smirked, "Actually, on second thought, wait out here for just a moment."
"Well, somebody's a bit bipolar today, now isn't he?" Hermione laughed as he shrugged, and leaned on the wall next to the door. What could possibly be so special that Fred needed to take her up to his dormitory for?
"Alright, come on in then. Yes, yes it's in the room. Come on now, Hermione, I haven't got all day." Fred pestered her into coming into the room, which she still wasn't 100 percent comfortable with.
She walked in and gaped. To her surprise, the beds were not in their place, but were transfigured into couches that were and orange-red, her favorite color. There was a white table in the room and mugs with butterbeers on them, and on the side there were chairs that she thought would be perfect to read in. There were different quills on the table with different types of ink; gold, invisible, and one that took the color of the mood that you were in. There was also a bookshelf, full of her favorite Muggle literature, and her favorite books that were in the library. She was in awe.
"This is your room, Fred! You shouldn't have done this." Hermione said, but there was joy in her voice, she was ecstatic.
"Well, I knew people wouldn't leave you alone today, and I know you like your alone time. I thought this might be the only place you might get it without anyone finding you. Don't worry, George and Lee know, they don't need to use the dorm until we go to sleep, anyway." Fred explained. He was terribly worried that she wouldn't like it though. "So… er, do you like it?"
"Fred, I love it! How could I not! Oh I have to get my books though, Accio Books! Oh thank you so much, this is so thoughtful. Would you like to stay and study with me?" Hermione asked, and she was giggling up a storm. Fred couldn't have asked for a better reaction.
"Oh, I would love to. What do you want for lunch? I could always have the house elves bring it here."
"Oh, I don't know yet. It's far too early to think about that! Would you help me study? After all, you have already taken your O.." Hermione asked rather hesitantly, she knew Fred wasn't the one to study.
"Of course I would, but I must warn you, I'm not the sharpest knife in the drawer. I don't need education for what I want to do when I leave this place." Fred laughed, as if he just remembered something. "What do you need help with, pray tell?"
"Oh, I would have to say my worst subject is Defense Against the Dark Arts. Well, it's obvious that the written part is in my area of expertise, but the practical part…" She trailed off and cringed. She knew she needed a real teacher; not that old hag Umbridge.
"I… I could help you if you'd like." Fred asked gently, he never thought he would be the one offering her help.
"Oh, would you Fred? That would be lovely. I was also thinking about having Harry be a teacher. Not just to me, to all of us. I suppose I should talk to Ronald about that though… anyway, should we move the tables out of the way?" She was babbling on, obviously still ecstatic about her birthday presents.
"Oh, I put a charm on the room. It turns into whatever you may need it for, kind of like the Room of Requirement. One moment, Opus Defense Room." He muttered the spell and the room changed to a room with a white marble floor with books and books of DADA spells.
"Well, let's get started then, what are you having trouble with?" He asked Hermione. She hesitated, then said,
"Well, I need a bit of help with Expelliarmus. Umbridge doesn't practice spells, so I can't seem to get it down on my own." She explained. "But, then again I don't have an effective Stupefy."
"Alright then, let's try it. Concentrate on your target, really concentrate, and say the incantation."
"Expelliarmus." She said plainly, and nothing happened to the statue that was holding Fred's wand. He approached her, and said "Here, let me help." He stepped behind her and put his arm on hers, his whole body shivering with excitement. He practiced the flicking movement, and cried, "Expelliarmus!" And the wand flew out of the statue's hand. Hermione looked back up at him and beamed.
"Fred, are you alright? You seem to be cold," she jeered. She tried it by herself this time, and without an hesitation, she disarmed the statue.
"Fred! Fred, I did it!" She jumped up and down hysterically and wrapped her arms around him. Being surprised, he wrapped his around her waist and spun her around; a cheesy romantic gesture. He had never been that cheesy before, but then again; he hardly knew himself these days.
Hermione didn't release him, but looked up into his eyes. They were a charming color, a warm brown. Then she found him staring at her lips, and leaning in closely. They were centimeters apart from each other, and Hermione's heart was palpitating. She knew this wasn't right.
But as their lips pressed together, she couldn't find one wrong reason not to just live in the moment. In a moment, their kiss deepened, and the stiff Hermione finally gave in. It wasn't like snogging Viktor, that was a disaster, all wet and all over the place. This was nice, passionate, and wonderful.
As for Fred, he had kissed his fair share of girls, but none could compare to this. Hermione's lips were as soft as her eyes, and his hand moved through her hair. Hermione loved it, but she knew she couldn't take it anymore. She stepped back.
"I… I can't do this Fred." She sobbed. "I can't go through that torture again," and now, her voice was just a whisper. She cleared her eyes and left the room with a similing Fred. But why was he smiling? Hermione made her way down to the common room to head for dinner (she had been so occupied they had skipped lunch), and as she made her way down to the common room, she couldn't believe what she had found…
Sorry guys, another cliff hanger! But it's a good that the Hermione is accepted back into the Gryffindor clan easily, right? Riiiighhtt. Its too early for the real plot to form, so I'll just stick with teasing you guys (: