Pairing: Fred Weasley/Hermione Granger

Note: Takes place during OOTP, Fred is 17 and Hermione is 15.

Disclaimer: All properties belong to their rightful owners.


Act II, Scene I

Wanna Know a Secret?


"You tired yet, Granger?" Fred asked her with a cocky grin.

She glared at him from where she had fallen onto the grass after he hit her with a Jelly-Legs Jinx she failed to shield herself from.

They were out sparring in the courtyard under the afternoon sun. Hermione had a free period today, before Ancient Runes and after Herbology, and she planned to spend it practising as many defensive spells as she could.

He held out his hand to her, but she simply stood up and dusted the grass off her skirt. "Again," she ordered.

"Are you sure?" Fred asked. "That'll be the fourth time I've jinxed you. I think you could use a break."

"You're right," Hermione sighed. "We've been at this for an hour."

Fred sat down on the grass, cross-legged, and pat the space beside him. "Come on, then, Granger. Have a seat."

She obliges and riffles through her bag. From it, she takes out a bottle of water and some soda. She offers the latter to him, and for a while, they just sit there and sip their drinks quietly.

"I never knew you were so talented at combat magic," she remarked.

"Try not to sound too surprised," Fred said with a lopsided smile. "Otherwise, it'd hurt my feelings."

"Sorry, I –" A nervous chuckle bubbled up inside her, and she pressed on. "I didn't mean it like that."

"I know. I was just teasing," he shrugged. "Nothing hurts my feelings."

Hermione looks down at the bottle of water in her hands, thinking. "How is it that in the five years that we've known each other, this is the first time we've ever spent any time alone together?"

Fred smirked. "And why, pray tell, would you want to be alone with me?"

"Oh, don't flatter yourself, Fred," Hermione rolled her eyes, but Fred could see a bit of colour rising in her cheeks. Or maybe it was just from the heat.

Either way, he chuckled. "You tell me, Hermione, you're supposed to be the genius."

"Well, maybe because we've never really had the chance, what with you running off with George all the time doing Merlin knows what."

"While you spend all your time with Ron and Ginny whenever you come to visit, and you never want to play Quidditch with us," he shot back.

She shook her head, "I hate flying. And you wouldn't want me on your team. I'm a rubbish player."

"I don't know about that," Fred said. "You might be better than Ron."

"Fred, that's not funny," she scolded, but her lips quirked up in a small smile.

Fred chuckled, "Wanna know a secret?"

She eyed him apprehensively before answering, "Only if it's the good kind."

For dramatic effect, Fred looked around before he leaned in to whisper, "I always thought you didn't like me."

"What?" Hermione was taken aback. "That's ridiculous. Why would you ever think that?"

"Oh, did I misread all those times you've told George and I off and landed us in trouble? My bad," he deadpanned.

She frowned. "I have a duty to uphold as a prefect. It's nothing personal. But shenanigans aside, I do like you, Fred…I mean, it's kind of hard not to. Everyone likes you."

With that, he smiled. "This is one of those rare times when it actually feels good to be proven wrong by you."

She smiled, her eyes still downcast, "I hope I'm not taking up too much of your time."

"Not at all. You've just given me a great excuse not to do my homework today."

"Fred!" She swatted his arm.

"I'm joking, I'm joking!" Fred chuckled, but Hermione was almost certain he wasn't.

"What I meant was, don't you have somewhere more important to be? Or someone more important to be with?"

He only shrugged.

Hermione hesitated before saying, "What's your girlfriend going to think about you spending all your free periods with me?"

"Angelina? I don't know. I don't think she cares much, now that we've broken up," Fred answered casually.

"Oh," was all she replied. She hadn't known that.

"What about you? How's little Ronniekins going to feel about you running off to ditch him all the time?"

"I honestly couldn't care less," Hermione huffed.

"Well then," Fred got up and held out his hand to her. "We better get back to work on taking all his money, then."

She took his hand and gave him a small smile. "I think Ron might have less than thirty galleons on him."

"Even better. We'll put him into debt."


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