This chapter has been half finished on my computer for over a week, but was delayed because I was struggling to decide how to continue the plot. I couldn't seem to get into Hermione and Fred's heads the way I usually do. If you notice it dragging or seeming a little lost, I apologize. Hopefully finishing the chapter and getting a fresh start on the next will help with the writer's block. As a side note - a partial inspiration for this chapter was how I pictured Hermione as a first year. Thank you for your continued support, I hope you enjoy.
This time Fred didn't hesitate to grab her hand back. As far as he was concerned, it belonged in his now. Hermione's eyes darted down to glance at their hands, seemingly in surprise. It didn't worry him though. Her understanding and eagerness to help had sealed her fate for good. If anything he was more concerned about his self-control. He was an openly affectionate person by nature and all day it'd been a struggle to control his urges. Though that morning's conversation felt like it'd occurred eons ago, he hadn't forgotten it. As much as he looked forward to the freedom to pull her into a proper snog anytime, anywhere he pleased, he knew patience vital. He'd root himself in her life and heart first, just as much as she'd become rooted in his. Then he'd get her in his arms, and in his bed. In the meantime, he'd just focus on the here and now.
"Where do we begin?" he swept his free arm out, gesturing to the expanse of books around them. Books were her treasure, and he was looking forward to seeing her joy as she went hunting for her newest piece of it.
"We should start back to The Burrow," Hermione smiled, almost softening the blow as she continued, "I'll begin sometime after work this week in the muggle library near my parents' place. It'll help to see what psychology and neurology books say about the condition so we know where to focus our efforts."
Fred gaped at her, momentarily at a loss. Divide and conquer was not what he had in mind. So used to taking the solo role of research, Hermione didn't notice his bafflement. She further shocked him by standing suddenly and pulling him to his feet, leading the way out of their private little corner. He wasn't sure if he was more surprised that she thought she could brush him off so easily, or by the fact that he hadn't expected her to continue their hand hold so easily. They'd reached midway down the stairs before his brain finally caught up. "Like hell she's taking this on by herself," he thought crossly. "Fuck that. We're putting learn to let Fred do the heavy lifting at the top of the damned list."
He took advantage of his longer legs and dropped a few steps lower than her, swinging around to leave them eye to eye. "Hell no," he snapped; her eyes widened before shifting away from his. He barely resisted the urge to snap at her again for shying away from him. Instead, he took a deep, calming breath, "I'm not letting you do all that work by yourself. That's not how a team works."
"That's not how a relationship works, silly witch," was what he really wanted to say. But he held back. He was a firm believer in the power of show, don't tell. So he'd just have to show her he was more than happy to have her lean on him instead.
"It makes more sense to let me do it Fred. I'm already more familiar with the subjects. Besides, you said this is top secret. If we go together, everyone will start asking why we're going out just the two of us," Hermione finally met his eye, apparently proud of her piece of logic. She faltered when he didn't immediately agree with her the way she expected. If anything, his cold glare grew even more icy. "I'm not saying you wouldn't understand the material," she quickly added, completely misunderstanding his rising ire, "just that being already familiar with it would give me a head start."
"No." Emphatic and harsh, it was the only most Fred could say without risking outright yelling at her. It royally pissed him off that the sight of the two of them going out alone together would send everyone into a frenzy. But that wasn't her fault. "We'll just have to come up with excuses to go out alone and meet up," the plan grated on his nerves, but at least he'd get his way in the end.
Hermione couldn't shake the feeling she was missing something big in their disagreement. Silence hung heavy, extending the moment uncomfortably as the couple stared each other down. She furrowed her brow, biting her lip as she thought over the strange demand. "I'd feel the same way if it was to help Harry," she finally concluded, brushing his temperamental display off as a cast off of the stress released from their earlier conversation. "We'll just have to come up with an excuse for us to be together so often… I don't want to hide and lie anymore than we must."
Fred grinned, ridiculously pleased that she had no desire to hide the time they'd be spending together. It was a step in the right direction at least. Properly placated, he gently tugged her hand, prompting her to continue their way down the stairs, watching her from the corner of his eye. She was still biting that tempting lip, though this time the look on her face a more peaceful, contemplative one.
Ginny didn't respond. Instead, she turned heel and marched off in the opposite direction of home, knowing George and Luna would follow her. She eventually led them off the path further away from the house to the outer edges of the property. Without much conversation, they picked out a lightly shaded area and transfigured some of the rocks and twigs into cushions to sit on. "We can hang out here for a bit and pretend to run into Fred and Hermione when they come back," Ginny nodded, proud of her scheme. George nodded in approval as Luna pulled out her wand to cast a spell to alert them when the couple arrived on the property. It'd probably be too much of a hassle to sneak in the house or make up a story about why the groups split anyway. The weather was uncommonly beautiful for this time of year and there was no reason to fight the inevitable. Taking advantage of the extra time, he dug back into the question at hand.
"What happened this afternoon? Does it have to do with why she was crying earlier?" George didn't bother pretending they hadn't witnessed the end of the scene earlier. Everything was out in the open now anyway. May as well get all the info he could now so he knew what he was yelling at Fred for later.
"She was upset that Hermione isn't happy living here," Luna at least knew how to answer a direct question without beating around the bush. Ginny shot her a look at her from the corner of her eye. Obviously she'd been hoping to push George to the edge of his limited patience before answering.
"Since when isn't Hermione happy here?" George's eyes flitted back and forth between the two girls in confusion. He thought back trying to recall if Hermione had ever seemed unhappy at home. He didn't think she ever had… but he couldn't exactly recall seeing her bursting happy all that often either.
"That not it,"Ginny shook her head. "It not about her being unhappy per say... She's just the kind of person who feels uncomfortable relying so much on someone else. So it sort of upsets her to be here for so long and feel like she's just not contributing." She shrugged, obviously not agreeing with their friend's self assessment.
George nodded. He could understand why his mother would react the way she did to such a misunderstanding. It a funny way, the two women's personalities clashed in the best of ways. Mum thrived on taking care of people. She was the kind of person who loved nothing more than being a mother and taking care of her kids. It went without saying that love and nurturing went far beyond her biological children as well. For her, taking care of everyone wasn't a duty, it was a pleasure. It was becoming obvious Hermione was similar but he wouldn't quantify it as being in a good way. More like a compulsion. Take care of everyone else first. Do the most and expect the least in return. The fact that it would make her so uncomfortable to be reliant on others like this… somehow it rang of insecurity to him. He had an increasingly sinking feeling about what'd transpired throughout the afternoon.
"And what about when you guys left the room?" He had to ask.
"What about it?"
"Her and Harry…" he trailed off. He wanted to know, but felt it wouldn't be right to broadcast the tender, private moment. Fortunately, the girls seemed well aware of the relationship between the two, saving him from trying to explain.
"Harry's the only one who understands," Luna explained.
"No, that's not it," Ginny corrected her. "Harry isn't the only one who understands, but he's the only one she's let in far enough to actually be there for her. After the war… it was like they both shut off a part of themselves to everyone but each other. It was hard… knowing he loved me, but went to her instead. At least now, he knows he has me to go to. But Hermione… she still doesn't have anyone that'll give her that love to heal. Harry is her soul's brother. But she needs a soul mate."
George ran his fingers over his ear, carefully avoiding the scar that surrounded it. He could understand what Ginny was trying to express far more than she realized. Family loves and supports you unconditionally. They're always matter how much he struggled he knew he was lucky. He had Fred. Hermione's family would never truly understand what she'd been through. The Weasley's tried to fill that gap best they could. But if he was right about her deep-set insecurity, he could see where finding the right partner would go a long way to helping change things for the better. She didn't need someone to complete her; she was more than enough just as she was. She just needed someone to show her that. To help bring out all the best and kick the rest to the curb.
"Do you really think he can do it? This isn't some half-ass game. Someone's gotta put her first for once," Ginny easily read his thoughts on his face.
"Dumb-ass has been in love with her for what… a decade? If anyone can do it, it's Freddie."
"If he fucks up…"
"You'll be first in line to kick his ass."
"Second actually. Provided Harry hasn't hexed it off already," she grinned darkly. There was a long line of people who'd kick Fred's ass if he hurt Hermione. George had to admit, he'd probably somewhere on that list too.
"That seems sort of lopsided though," Luna startled them both. For a moment, they'd forgotten she was there. "What would Fred get out if it all? You guys say this is supposed to be a for-keeps thing. Would he be happy in a relationship where he doesn't stand anything to gain like that?"
George winced as Ginny's arm shot out to smack Luna's roughly. "He gets her you…"
"I doubt Hermione's the type to be happy just taking like that," George quickly cut her off. "Like you guys just said, she's not comfortable unless she's giving far more than she receives. That's the beauty of it." The girls stopped their impending wrestling match to stare at him in obvious anticipation. He shrugged, "He likes spoiling his women rotten. She'll have to learn to just enjoy it." He looked away for a moment, recalling just how well Fred had treated the women his life in the past despite still holding a flame for the little bookworm. Judging from the loud moans and little screams that occasionally kept him up at night, it was safe to assume he treated them just as well behind closed doors as well. For a moment, the conversation that started this whole thing flashed in his mind. Hermione was about to go from planning each moan like a chess move to having them wrenched mercilessly from her lips. Once again, he wondered if someone should warn the poor girl.
Mischievous grins met him when he looked back up. Apparently he didn't have as good of a poker face as he thought. Nonetheless, he couldn't resist grinning back. "Let's just hope they remember to use silencing spells."
"Then we're just left with one question," Luna once again spoke up as the voice of reason between the giggles and chuckles. "Are we sure she's actually attracted to him?"
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