I had a good response to the last chapter!
So I thought I'd update sooner today since I hated the idea of ending on that note.
Thank you all for reviewing, and as I said I hate fights!
I hope you like this chapter as much as you've liked the others!
Happy reading!
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CHAPTER 25.
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"I'm really glad George is coming back soon. I don't think I could've lived with you any longer."
Her words kept replaying in his mind over and over again like a spoilt record.
And what was worse was the look on her face when she said those words to Fred.
Her eyes boring right into his, unseeing and emotionless at that moment.
It was only this look and the finality in her tone that had prevented Fred from bursting into her room to talk to her.
But something told him that she would not see reason right now.
And what would he tell her? What reason did she need to see? After hearing her opinion about the prank and also her opinion about herself how was Fred going to excuse himself for the joke?
What started out as a prank turned into something so ugly that he was once in his life scared that it may have caused a permanent damage to the unlikely friendship between the bookworm and the prankster?
He was fond of pranking, yes. But only to get a smile and a few laughs out of people. He had never intentionally pranked anyone with the idea of hurting their feelings. Except maybe Snape and Malfoy in school.
His family had never bothered to hide their surprise when they had seen how well he and Hermione got along. Maybe it was hoping for too much.
One day his pranking was bound to irk the rule following, righteous teacher. And then what? Good bye? It was good while it lasted.
She had made it clear that she didn't want to talk to him tonight. She was also relieved that George would be coming soon and relieving her from her responsibility.
All Fred wanted to do was to abide by her wishes right now. But if he did that, he would never get to speak with her again. And he needed to. He needed to tell her that he was sorry.
He wasn't sorry for the prank he'd played. But he was sorry how it panned out and how it had hurt Hermione.
Even if she didn't forgive him, he didn't care. He wanted to tell her that all what she thought about herself was far from true. He wanted her to see herself in a different light. She probably wouldn't believe him but he was going to try nonetheless.
But tonight was not the time. From what he knew of her, it took a lot to get her angry. But when she finally did, she would retreat and think and rethink and overanalyse the situation, just like her studies and this process of thinking calmed her down. And he needed her to be calm when he apologised. Because he was going to throw hard facts at her and she needed to be calm to come to terms with it.
With a sinking feeling, he retreated to his bedroom. He did not sleep a wink the entire night.
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Hermione continued to cry as she locked her door and cast silencing and anti apparition spells over her room.
The last thing she needed was Fred following her to explain himself.
What had she expected? He was Fred Weasley after all. Prankster Extraordinaire.
A few weeks with him and a prank war could not change who she really was. And what she truly was the bushy haired bookworm and insufferable know-it-all.
And that is what she would always be. Who was she kidding? Living with Fred Weasley would always be just that. Him joking away and her picking up behind him.
She was so mad right now that she didn't really know what she was angry about. But more than that she felt sad. Unbearably empty and sad, which was not what she was feeling when she had come home.
Her parting words to Fred, were meant to slice him. To make him feel bad for what he had done to her. But why then was she so affected by them? Why did she have the strong urge to go back and hope for a moment that she had not said that.
The minute she had the words out of her mouth, the look that crossed his face had momentarily made her forget that she was furious with him. She could feel exactly what he felt, because she had felt the same. Unable to bear looking at him, she had turned and locked herself.
She was not supposed to be feeling bad for him. She was supposed to be angry with him.
Her date which was supposed to have gone perfectly had been ruined by him. And she wanted to feel angry about it. Sure when she had realised what was happening, she was seeing red.
But now as she sat thinking, she realised that she wasn't sad or angry that she had not been able to kiss the other Fred. Or that he had been not been able to show her that he liked her.
She was upset because it had been Fred who had done this to her. She had come to trust him so much that when he did what he did, she felt like all the times they had shared were being snatched away from her.
What was wrong with her? She was beginning to make no sense. Even to herself.
Here she was, sitting and crying copiously over what she didn't even know.
Maybe she was over reacting. After all Fred was known for this. It wouldn't be the first time that he had pulled something like this.
And they were technically still in the midst of their prank war.
Fred had not known that she was considering taking her new relationship to another level. How would he have known? When she had refrained from talking about anything about it lately.
How would he have known that today would have been their first kiss and probably the first time for something more?
Surely, when you see it that way it seemed like a harmless prank. Funny even.
She had definitely over reacted. She was blinded by her own insecurities and inferiority and probably that was what had caused her to further things with McIntosh.
She was afraid that he would finally see her as how she perceived herself to be and she would be alone again. At the mercy of Ginny and Luna, who without tiring were finding dates for her.
And Fred had no idea about this. If he did, she was sure he wouldn't have done what he did.
This, she realised as she calmed down.
Oh my god.
Now not only is he going to think of me as an over-reacting lunatic but also as a low self esteemed wreck.
There you go. Drove a friend away. Just like you drive the men away in your life.
He had been so kind and considerate over the past few days.
Never had she shown her vulnerabilities to anyone, in fear of people's perception changing toward her. But Fred had not only seen them but also helped her out of it.
But after today, he would realise what a lost cause she was. And she was to blame for it.
She didn't know how to face Fred tomorrow. She had really hurt him with her last words. Hell, she was ashamed at herself for her hypocrisy.
Just a day ago, she was hoping that George and Angelina wouldn't come back so soon and today she had venomously declared that she was glad to be rid of him soon.
She didn't sleep at all either.
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The next day, Fred tried catching her eye but she seemed steely and stiff and refused to look at him.
There was no conversation from the adult's side.
Dan and Bruce kept yapping away, happily oblivious.
Without saying a word, she left for school.
The evening was a repeat of what happened at breakfast.
Unable to bear it any longer, Fred cornered Hermione as she was exiting the bathroom, before she locked herself into the room.
Wearily she looked at him for the first time in 24 hours.
And he saw no anger. Just disappointment. He almost choked but decided that he should say what he wanted to quickly before he chickened out or before she hexed him.
"Hermione. We need to talk."
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I know. I know.
I promised they would make up in this chapter.
But it was going to be one looooong chapter so I decided to break it up.
But at least you know what each one thinks now! also i updated earlier !
Next chapter will have words between them, I promise.
Any ideas on how they shud make up?
I have the idea but review and let me know how you think it shud go about. If I like your idea better than mine, I might just use it!
Again, I want to thank you all for such a great response to my last chapter.
Highest number of reviews I've received so far! please keep it up!
I was so sceptical about including the fight! But it seems like you'll have taken it pretty well!
Please continue reviewing! It makes me want to write faster and better for you'll.
Don't forget, any ideas from ul will be welcome.!
Thanks for reading!
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