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 III, Scene I

But You Make It So Easy


When their Prefect meeting ended early that day, Ron wanted to catch up to Quidditch practice, but Hermione decided it was best to resign herself to the library and read up on more Defence Against the Dark Arts textbooks.

She had brought her trusty quill and parchment with her to take notes of everything she felt was too important to forget. She drew wand patterns and quietly practised the proper incantations to as many jinxes and counter-jinxes she could she was concentrating so hard on studying, Hermione hadn't noticed someone had approached her until they spoke up.

"Fancy seeing you here, Granger."

Hermione looked up from what she was reading and, to her surprise, found Fred leaning against a bookcase and smiling down at her. He was holding a book in his hand and smirking at her in his usual way.

"I should be the one saying that to you. I always wondered if you even knew where the library was," Hermione quipped, trying to go back to her writing.

"You know I love it when you're snippy," he said as he took out a chair to sit down across her. "I was wondering why you didn't show up at Quidditch practice today, and now I know why."

"Well, seeing as how we've been duelling almost every day this week, I thought it might be nice to get into a bit of light reading," she gestured to the stack of books beside her, to which Fred arched his eyebrow at.

"Alright, then. Don't let me disturb you," he said as he opened his book and went back to reading. "Just came here to read, and then I'll be on my way."

Hermione eyed him curiously. "Are you reading Hogwarts: A History?"

"Yes, I heard it was fascinating," Fred told her with a twitch in his mouth, though his eyes were still glued to the pages.

"You heard that from me," Hermione corrected. "And I know for a fact you weren't listening when I told you that."

"What makes you so sure?" He smirked at her, and she felt something inside her squirm. "Maybe I have plenty of other well-read friends you don't know about."

Without another word, she took the book from his hands, flipped to the very last page, and showed him the library card. It had only one name on it: Hermione Granger.

She smirked at him triumphantly. "You were saying?"

"Oh, bugger off," Fred laughed, sticking his tongue out at her. He took his book back and chided, "Do try not to look so pleased with yourself, Granger."

"But you make it so easy, Fred," she teased.

For the rest of the hour, they try to read in silence, but really, they were pretending not to notice each other. Finally, Hermione closed her textbook shut and put her quill away.

"Well, I think that's enough for today. I'm heading up to the dormitory now," she told him.

"Alright then. I'll join you," Fred said, standing up.

Hermione shook her head, "You don't have to do that."

"I know I don't have to, 'Mione, but the company would be nice," he said. "And on the way up, you can tell me how you always manage to tell me and George apart."

At that, she paused and gave him a look of confusion. "What are you talking about, George?"

"Oh, very funny," Fred rolled his eyes at her fondly. "But now's not the time to get a sense of humour. I'm seriously asking. How do you do it when most people can't?"

Hermione pondered on that for a moment. "Well, to tell you the truth, one of you is more annoying. And believe me, it's definitely not George."

"Now you're just being hurtful," Fred feigned a pained expression on his face, to which Hermione did not seem even the slightest bit apologetic about. "I think I might cry myself to sleep tonight because of that."

"I thought mischief never sleeps?"

"Ah, but you see, these dashing good looks need to be pampered with beauty rest."

"Right. And maybe with enough beauty rest, you can finally become the more handsome twin, huh, Fred?"

"Whatcha mean 'finally'? I've always been the more handsome twin."

"Oh? That's not what everybody else tells me."

"Who says otherwise?" he demanded, but she only laughed harder.

"Good night, Fred," she said, and he hadn't noticed they had entered the common room. It was empty and they were right at the steps upstairs and downstairs to where they had to part ways.

Fred smiled, and for a moment, Hermione thought she saw a glimmer of hesitation in his eyes.

"Good night, Miss Prefect," he reached forward to place a soft kiss on the back of her hand and turned around to leave.


Author's Note: I wish there were more Fremione shippers in the fandom. I love these two so damn much, I wish they were canon or even just hinted at a bit more! Let me know in the reviews what your Harry Potter otp and brotps are :))