I am so so so sorry for not updating FWITWOM for nearly 3 weeks!
I am so terribly ashamed and I hope you guys are still here, reading and reviewing as always :)
My only excuse for the late uploading is purely the fact I have been at my aunts for a week which obviously meant no files or my own documents :( I was then planning on uploading this on Thursday but I totally forgot I was going out for my BIRTHDAY which was on the Friday! And then I couldn't upload on the Friday because well, birthday celebrations, so here I am writing on a Sunday evening for you guys!
Again, I hope you enjoy and I'm so sorry about the updates-
Chapter 23-
"Fweddie! Wake up!"
The high pitched voice rang through out Fred's bedroom causing him to groan and bury his head further into his pillow. He had been at Hermione's house for nearly three weeks now and he was finally starting to adjust to Hermione's early mornings.
Although this morning wake up was slightly different.
"FWEDDIE!"
Nate's shout echoed in the silent house and caught Fred's attention almost instantly. He sat up in his bed to find Nate perched like an owl at the end of his bed. A gigantic smile was spread across Nate's face, making his doughy brown eyes sparkle.
It was the exact look Fred had seen many a times mirrored on George's face when they had caused mischief.
"Alright Natey, I'm up!" Fred held his hands up in surrender causing a small laugh to escape from Nate's mouth, "what are you doing up so early anyway?" Fred asked as he noticed it was barely 6:30 in the morning.
Nate giggled before pointing to the window to the side of Fred's bed.
"It snowed again, me wanna pway with you!" he practically squealed.
Fred groaned but smiled softly when he noticed Nate had already attempted to dress himself in order to play in the snow.
He had his wellies on the wrong feet, his trousers were on backwards and his hat was pulled right down over his ears which smoothed his hair down into his eyes.
"Judging by your outfit, I'm guessing Mione's not up then, eh?" Fred chuckled as he got out of his bed and walked over to the mis-matched Nate.
Nate shook his head quickly, his hat falling further down his head.
"She swaid not to wake her up in the mownings… but she didn't say not to wake up Fweddie," a small smirk covered Nate's already cheeky grin as he tried his best to look innocent.
If Nate didn't have brown hair, Fred would have sworn they were related.
'If only he was older, then we could really have some fun' Fred thought as he smirked back at Nate.
Nate just shrugged his shoulders and smiled sweetly as Fred bent down and picked him up.
"Right, I'm just going to ignore the fact that you are potentially some sort of evil genius and most likely not related to Hermione at all, so how about I help you get dressed and we can go back out in the garden before Mione wakes up?"
"Yay!" Nate laughed as Fred carried him into Hermione's parent's room where Nate was currently staying.
After Nate was changed, with his trousers on the right way round this time, they headed into the back garden.
A fresh blanket of snow had fallen during the night, hiding all evidence that a mass snowball fight had taken place there just yesterday.
Nate ran out of the door and straight to the middle of Hermione's garden. Fred trudged through the snow behind him, dragging his feet through the soft inches of fresh snow.
By the looks of it, they were in for a very white Christmas. There was only a week until Christmas day and if this weather kept up then they would surely be snowed under.
Nate started to roll what looked to be the beginning of a snowman when the realisation finally hit Fred.
He had been here for 3 weeks. That only left one more week to learn everything he could about muggles for his test. And that also only left one more week with Hermione.
The muggle thing he was sure wouldn't be a problem, he had been living as a muggle for nearly a month. Hermione had taught him the basics early on and Fred had managed to pick up the odd bit of muggle culture here and there too, so the test shouldn't be too challenging.
But the real problem was Hermione.
He knew he really liked Hermione and seeing as they were going out, he was pretty sure she liked him too but the actual going out with Hermione wasn't the problem.
The problem was they hadn't told anybody.
'How am I going to explain to George that I'm going out with 'perfect prefect Granger'? Or how am I ever going to persuade mum that I'm not just messing with her? And Ron's probably going to murder me for dating his best friend without his permission and Mr. Granger is going to murder me for corrupting his sweet little daughter…oh Merlin, I'm a dead man…'
Fred was shook out of his thoughts when a thick lump of snow hit him in the back. He spun around to see Hermione dressed in her green parka and wellies smirking at his shocked expression.
"Hey! What happened to no snowballs?" he asked as Hermione walked up to him and Nate, who had just finished rolling out the head of his snowman.
"Ahh, well you broke that rule yesterday so I thought why can't I?"
Fred opened his eyes as wide as he could and gapped at Hermione as she rolled her eyes.
"Did I just hear Hermione Granger say she wanted to break a rule?"
Hermione shook her head as she replied, "it was hardly a rule now was it?"
Fred gasped and brought his hand to his mouth for extra emphasis, "Hardly a rule?! It doesn't matter if it's the world's stupidest rule, you still broke it!"
"Trust me; I've broken plenty of rules. But unlike some I just make a bit more of an effort to not get caught,"
"I'm offended! The great Miss Granger is doubting my sneaking abilities, I will have you know George and I have snuck round you plenty of times when you're on prefect patrol," Fred replied smugly.
Hermione smirked, "I'd watch it if I were you Weasley, telling a top prefect things like that is going to get you quite a few detentions,"
Fred walked up to Hermione with a cheeky grin on his face as he wrapped his arms gently around her waist.
"Ahh see this is the clever part, I won't get in trouble because I hear the top prefect has a bit of a soft spot for ginger pranksters," he whispered gently in her ear.
"Umm yeah, I hear that George Weasley is a bit of a ladies man," she smiled back.
Fred pulled back from her ear and gave her a glare.
"You will regret that Granger,"
Fred bent down and scooped up a handful of snow and as quick as he could he reached back up and dumped the snow rather unceremoniously on top of Hermione's head.
"MERLIN THAT'S COLD!" Hermione screamed as she grabbed her own handful of snow and threw it right at Fred's chest.
The snow splattered across his coat and slid down to coat his shoe. "Good shot, but I think you wanna aim a little higher next time," Fred teased as he began to roll another snowball.
"Oh, now that's fighting talk Weasley," she laughed as she threw her next snowball.
It spun through the air before whacking into Fred's shoulder.
"I have to admit, you're improving," he laughed as she ran full speed towards him.
Fred turned but before his feet could react Hermione had already jumped onto his back.
She clung onto his shoulders for dear life as she got her grip. Her legs wound around Fred's waist causing him to wobble slightly as Hermione wrapped her arms around his neck.
They were both laughing hysterically as Fred swayed with Hermione wrapped around him in piggy back style.
"Hey Nate, pass me a snowball please," Hermione breathed out through her laughing.
Nate ran obediently to Hermione and handed him a snowball, Fred glaring daggers at the little boy and the laughing Hermione all the while.
"Don't you even dare," Fred warned as he turned his head slightly to get a better look at Hermione.
Boy was that a wrong move.
As soon as Fred turned his head Hermione smothered the snowball into his face as gently as she could.
Fred spluttered a few times before laughing as the snow ran down his face and into the front of his coat. Hermione jumped off of his back and was laughing so much, tears started to form in her eyes. Nate was also giggling but was trying and failing to cover it with his hand.
Fred wiped the remaining snow from his face and growled jokingly at the breathless Hermione. He took a short run up and grabbed her waist from behind, bringing them crashing to the ground.
They both groaned as they hit the floor but luckily the landing was made slightly softer by the fresh snow.
Fred picked up a small handful of snow and put it down the back of Hermione's coat causing her to scream out again through the giggles.
"Stop! Stop! I give up! I surrender!" she breathed out airily as Fred stopped pouring snow into her clothes.
"Ahh, never mess with a Weasley, Granger," he smiled as he stood up and offered Hermione his hand.
They stood up and shared a few last giggles as they dusted themselves down.
It was nearly 7'oclock in the evening when they had finally decided to call it a night.
They had come in for some lunch earlier in the day but other than that they had been in the garden all day, it had even snowed a little bit more around 5'oclock.
"Nate why don't we go run in a nice warm bath and Fred can make us some hot chocolate before bed?" Hermione asked as she pulled off his snow ridden wellies.
"Yeah!" Nate replied enthusiastically as he clapped his hands together.
"Right, you run up to the bathroom, I will be there in a minute," Hermione replied sweetly.
Once Nate had left the room she turned to see Fred looking sheepish by the fridge.
"You have no idea how to make hot chocolate the muggle way do you?" she asked kindly as Fred shook his head solemnly.
"I'm not even allowed to make it with magic anymore, I swear one spider in Ron's cup and it's all over for my cooking career,"
Hermione laughed as she gently hit his shoulder, "you're an evil older brother do you know that?"
"You forgot the absolutely amazing part before that though," he replied.
"Huh, you're modest too. Anyway, I will make the hot chocolate you go run in the bath for Nate," Hermione smiled as she started to make the hot chocolate.
"Your wish is my command malady," Fred quipped as he ran up the stairs after Nate.
By the time Nate was washed, dried, and happily sipping on hot chocolate it was nearly 9'oclock. He had been changed into his dinosaur pyjamas and the ridiculously long dressing gown he loved. Hermione had also taken the time to change into her pyjamas, some purple check trousers and a tight black t-shirt.
"Hot chocolate's ready" Fred sung as he walked into the living room where Nate was curled up next to Hermione.
They had lit the fire and closed the curtains on the big window, meaning the only light was from the flickering fire and the gentle glow of the TV. Fred had no idea what they were watching but it was incredibly funny.
After about half an hour of watching the TV and drinking the hot chocolate, Nate's eyelids started to drop.
"Fred, I think we need to put him to bed. It's been a long day," Hermione whispered as she took the empty cup from his small hands.
"I'll take him," Fred smiled as he scooped Nate up in his arms and walked slowly to his temporary bedroom.
He gently placed Nate in the big double bed and tucked him in extra tight seeing as it was very cold and likely to get colder.
Fred whispered a quiet good night and turned around to find Hermione watching him in the doorway. She had a soft smile on her face and was leaning easily against the doorframe.
"I never realised you were the maternal type," she whispered as he walked closer to her slowly retreating frame.
"Yeah well what can I say? I'm a man of many talents," he shrugged as they walked back to the living room.
"What are these talents exactly?" Hermione asked as they settled down onto the sofa in front of the fire.
"Well I'm excellent at snowball fights," Fred smirked as he shifted closer to Hermione and wrapped one arm around her shoulders. She responded by leaning into his side and draping an arm around his waist.
"I suppose I could give you that, although I think I won the fight earlier,"
Fred raised an eyebrow but chuckled softly anyway, "I'm also a good cook, apart from the whole spider in Ron's drink stuff,"
"And the fact when we made pancakes you got more flour on my dad then you did in the bowl," Hermione giggled as she rested her head on his shoulder.
"Merlin, don't remind me, that was definitely not one of my highlights,"
"So what has been your highlight of this month?" she asked curiously.
Fred pretended to think for a while before replying, "Hmm, that's a tricky one but I'd have to say going on the brilliant date with Mel,"
Hermione smacked him on the arm, before laughing at his girlish squeal.
"That is totally not funny, I don't even know why we were friends," Hermione smiled as Fred squeezed her shoulder reassuringly.
"I'm joking, I think my highlight has definitely been getting to know you as Hermione and not just Ron's best mate or the bossy prefect that liked to ruin my pranks," Fred teased.
"Hey! I'm not bossy! But thank you, in your own special way that was actually quite sweet and if it means anything that has been my highlight too. It turns out you do actually have a brain," she laughed, Fred glared but soon they were both chuckling softly.
Fred stopped laughing and gave Hermione a serious look.
"You know Hermione; you're actually pretty awesome, well for a prefect anyway,"
"Why thank you Fred, you're pretty 'awesome' too," Hermione replied softly.
Fred leant down slowly and softly placed his lips on Hermione's. Their lips moulded together in perfect sync and his tongue traced her bottom lip gently. The kiss deepened and soon a soft moan escaped her lips. A few minutes later, Fred nibbled her lip slightly before pulling away.
"Actually, I think that was my highlight."
:)
Okay, that chapter didn't really have much of a story just some mindless fluff but that's just the way it came out. You know what they say- these things really do write themselves.
Anyway, Please review because I have a surprise guest planned for the next chapter… any guesses as to who will find them asleep on the sofa?
PLEASE REVIEW, THEY ALL MEAN SO MUCH :)
Love always, SophieSolemnlySwears.
