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CHAPTER 19.
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True to his word, Fred had returned before Hermione was ready. So went to his own room to change.
He came out dressed in formal muggle clothes. He had black trousers and wore a tucked in midnight blue shirt with a semi formal black blazer on it.
He had just come out and Hermione walked out of her room looking much fresher than she had earlier.
She wore a knee length blue-green chiffon dress which had only one shoulder. It clung tightly at her thin waist and ballooned ever so slightly from there. Modest silver heels, a silver watch and diamond solitaires completed the outfit.
She had her hair in soft curls and left open. She barely had any make up on. Fred found her prettier without make up. But she had used glamour charms on her eyes, so they no longer looked like they were bloodshot, but the soft brown eyes that he could immerse himself into.
Both were now blatantly staring at each other, not used to seeing each other so dressed.
"Mione! We're matching!" Fred said.
Hermione laughed.
"That's all you could say!" She asked, raising her eyebrows.
He stepped closer toward her and took both her hands in his large ones. They felt so perfect to him. His large hands and long fingers holding her dainty ones. He entwined his fingers with hers and for a second he felt he could never let them go now.
He looked into her eyes, searching for any trace of the afternoon's sadness. He found none. But he did see his reflection in the chocolate pools and found himself enjoying it.
"You look beautiful, Hermione. Remind me to thank Ginny later." He whispered.
She laughed again. He loved the sound of her laughter. Especially after today's scare, he was worried that he would lose a part of her. But she had come back. Like always. She had been doing this alone for the past 4 years and had emerged from it. But now she wasn't alone.
He wasn't going to let her be alone. Whether she wanted or not, he would be there by her side, to pick her up when she fell, to hold her when she needed to be held, to hear her when she wanted to speak. From now on, he was going to get her out of her misery.
"You don't look too bad yourself Weasley. Who knew you'd carry off muggle clothing so well?" She said.
Suddenly she looked deeper into his eyes and for the second time they mesmerised her. They were so deep. Deep blue. His shirt complemented his eyes and how. She felt herself going closer and without breaking any eye contact, she whispered, "you have amazing eyes ".
Fred didn't know what had caused his heart to jam against his rib cage so loudly. The fact that Hermione Granger had crossed the remaining distance to come closer to him or the sheer sincerity and intensity of her complement. Also the fact that she seemed to still be looking into his eyes didn't help.
Hermione had no idea what had prompted her to do what she did but right now she was so emotionally spent that she didn't want to think. This evening seemed to be promising, so she decided to go with the flow.
Fred didn't know what to think. He couldn't deny that having Hermione around had become a happy bonus but being so close to her was even better. When he had held her today, all he could think of was how good it felt to be close to her and he took solace by the fact that his proximity had comforted her greatly.
If keeping her happy and smiling serenely as she was now meant never having to let go of her, he was prepared to hold onto her forever.
He was very confused by these feelings and thoughts but right now they weren't important. He could sort himself later.
What mattered now was Hermione. She had to be comforted and he would do that first. Today's date was a day of sadness in her life and he wasn't going to let that happen. It should be celebrated and he was going to celebrate this day with her every year till she wanted him to.
He couldn't let her slip into the unhealthy guilt trips she sent herself on.
As much as he'd love to just be next to her and keep looking at her, there was somewhere he needed to take her to and he was ready.
He removed a dark purple silk handkerchief and proceeded to tie it across her eyes.
"You're blindfolding me Weasley ? Should I be worried? It's been long since you pranked Me.", Hermione joked.
"A little faith perhaps Granger." He retorted back.
"Only one question." she pleaded.
"You don't trust me, do you? Fine. Go ahead. "He relented.
"Wherever we're going, I hope we don't have to walk much. I can barely stand in these heels." She said scowling.
Fred laughed.
"I'll apparate you directly and all you have to do is sit. I would have suggested you leave those heels behind, but it's ok. You're not walking at all." He said. "And besides," he whispered, moving closer so he reached her ears, "they look awesome on you."
He moved back and took her hand. "You should dress this way for school. I bet every young wizard will want to marry you."
She laughed again. "Shut up Weasley. I'm not a cougar."
Their arms entwined in each others, Fred apparated both of them away.
When they reached, Hermione couldn't see where they were but it was surely out in the open. The gentle breeze billowed her dress and she could feel the cool night sky above.
Slowly, Fred removed her blindfold.
She opened her eyes and looked around.
She turned around and took into her surroundings.
She blinked, out of disbelief and also to prevent the tears from falling.
Fred had his arm around her waist and she was thankful for that because she was weak and she wasn't sure her feet could hold her up.
She turned sideways and looked at Fred and the next instant she was hugging him ferociously.
Tears be damned. She didn't care. She was openly weeping now.
"I didn't bring you here to cry again, love." He said gently.
"I know" she said her voice still watery."But these aren't sad tears. I just can't believe you'd do all this for me."
"I'll do anything for you." He replied in the flow without thinking.
The words were out of his mouth and he bit his tongue. He didn't know why he'd said that. But the words were true. He would do anything for her. But he believed now was not the time to tell her that.
Luckily, she accepted that and gazed around at her surroundings again.
She was standing on the terrace of her parent's home. A hundred candles were floating in the air, lighting up the place beautifully. In the background, in the sky, the famous www fireworks were putting up a spectacular silent colourful show. Just bursts of lights in all colours, shapes and directions.
In the middle of the area, there was a table for 2, with covered dishes and a bucket of fine elf wine.
"Fred!" she choked up. "This is magical."
"All the adjectives in your vocabulary and you choose magical?" He said. "You forget. We are magical."
"I know. But this..." She said sweeping her hands all around. "Is truly magical. I love it Fred. Thank you so much. You didn't have to go through all this trouble. In such a short span of time that too."
"Eh..." he said nonchalantly shrugging his shoulders. "It was nothing."
"What I meant was that even some of your handmade devil's chocolate cake with rum would do." She said mischievously.
"I've opened Pandora's box." He sighed. "Show you one talent of mine and you'll exploit it for a lifetime."
"Fred!" She exclaimed. "How do you know Pandora's box? It's such a muggle story."
"You forget that you introduced me to the world of muggle books, Granger." He said.
"Oh yeah. That's wonderful. I can discuss so many things with you now." She exclaimed.
"More than what we already discuss?" He asked, winking at her.
"Yep. We could never run out of things to talk about." She said happily as she hooked her arm in his and pulled him toward the table.
"Come on. I'm starving. And I really do feel like wine tonight." She said.
I'm never going to get enough of being close to her. Fred thought. You've got it bad mate.
Shaking his head at himself and Hermione's childlike enthusiasm, he pulled a chair for her and then sat down himself.
The food was take away but kept warm under charms and was delicious nevertheless. Wine flowed freely and so did conversation, which mostly included Hermione talking about her growing up days and tales about the house and her muggle school.
After dinner, Fred took her to another small table that had a big round covered dish.
"Open it. Its dessert." He said.
She opened it, to see a big devil's chocolate cake with icing on it that read 'Happy Anniversary Mum and Dad.'
She couldn't see through her tears, neither could she speak anything. So she just settled on hugging Fred again, this time careful not to ruin his shirt. She really liked it on him and the colour suited him brilliantly.
"If your mum ever found out what a softie you actually are, Fred Weasley, she's never going to let you go. She'd be coddling you every 2 minutes." Hermione joked.
"You wouldn't!" He said eyes wide mockingly.
"We'll see. I may blackmail you though." She replied.
"And everyone thinks Ms. Granger is so innocent." He said shaking his head.
"Does that mean you feel like coddling me every 2 minutes?" he asked softly, tone teasing but an anxious look in his eyes.
Hermione blushed but covered up quickly, "that depends." She said. "On how good the cake is."
"Let's cut. But save a piece for me please." He teased.
She slapped his arm and cut the cake.
She fed him a small piece and he did the same.
It was a small thing but Fred loved how the cake tasted better after Hermione had fed it to him.
They had some more wine and Fred conjured up a radio which started playing some songs on which they had practiced their moves.
He held his hand in front of her, she looked reluctant but took it either way and they started dancing.
The song wasn't even over but Hermione had kicked off her shoes and was dancing merrily bare feet. Fred had removed his blazer too.
The songs became more upbeat with every dance and Hermione did not regret her decision of foregoing the shoes.
Today should be celebrated. Not mourned like I always do. I'm so glad Fred was here. I don't know how I'd have coped. There is so much more to his prankster twin image than he shows. He really is dedicated to making people laugh.
I'm so glad we got a chance to know each other this month. I love the person I am when he's around. Hermione thought.
She really was having a good time. The house had been shut since the war and even though Hermione had repaired most of the destruction, she couldn't bear to visit or live here.
She showed Fred around and they talked a bit more before apparating back home.
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Thanks for reading.
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