Harry Potter One Shots

Fred and Hermione - The Beginning

We must be willing to relinquish the life we've planned, so as to have the life that is waiting for us  

- Joseph Campbell

As the bell tolled midnight Hermione found it relentless to get any sleep, she had been tossing and turning for over an hour now and sleep just wouldn't come to her. She sighed and shoved her blankets back before grabbing her dressing gown and walked to the kitchen. The house was quiet, which was unusual considering two of the noisiest people she knew were living with her. Two mischievous red headed twins who would not stop joking or causing mayhem, but as much as Hermione hated to admit it, she wouldn't have the twins any other way. Especially one certain twin. 

"Looks like someone else can't sleep" 

A husky voice shook her from her thoughts and she jumped a little, her hand clenching her wand tightly in her hand before she turned slowly to see that it was only Fred, he was leaning against the door frame with a smug look on his face, like he was proud to have scared her. 

"Fred Gideon Weasley, don't you dare scare me like that again" She scolded, trying to sound as Mrs Weasley like as she could muster, although that only seemed to please Fred being when Hermione told him off.

He moved past her easily to get a glass from the cupboard and Hermione couldn't help but notice how nice he smelt, like cinnamon and vanilla, a small smile crept up on her face but she kept her head down so he wouldn't notice. An awkward silence fell over them which surprised her, Fred never knew when to shut up. 

"What has you up this late Mione?" Fred asked

"Just couldn't sleep, what about you?" 

Fred shrugged, "I couldn't sleep either. Plus George was being a git keeping me awake so here I am" Fred smiled

Hermione nodded slowly and sat down at the kitchen table opposite Fred, finding her glass very interesting all of a sudden after she caught his eyes. Without warning Fred was suddenly beside her, he was so close that she could feel the warmth radiating from him. She could feel his eyes staring at her, so she slowly turned her head and raised her eyes to meet his. There was a look in his eyes, something she couldn't place her finger on but she would be lying if she said she didn't like it, it made her insides explode with some kind of fluttering...oh no..

Hermione's eyes widened slightly, she knew this feeling all too well, she had initially felt these for Ron when they had first met back in their first year of Hogwarts but those flames were soon extinguished. Ron was too immature for her and he certainly had no qualms about telling people how it is or hurting her feelings. But this feeling she had now, it was the butterflies. 

"Why are you looking at me like that Fred?" She whispered

"Like what?" Fred smiled a little, just enough that the corners of his mouth were tugging up ever so slightly. 

Hermione was at a loss for words, the feeling of him watching her made her lose all train of thought. "Just...like I'm some piece of meat" She lied smoothly, Fred pursed his lips and shrugged the comment off. 

"I'm not staring at you like that, you're way more precious than a piece of meat Mione" Fred took one last sip of his water before smiling at her, drumming his fingers on the wooden table.

"Moving on" Hermione coughed, "Am I taking inventory, working the register or helping customers tomorrow?"

Hermione smiled, ever since the War had ended and Harry along with Ron went on to become Aurors, she felt like something was missing from her life, something that not even books or being a knot it all could feel, and of course she wasn't the only one to notice this. Fred had seen her one evening in the living room of the Burrow staring into a book sadly, re-reading the same page over and over again. So, Fred took it into his own hands and asked her to work in the shop while Verity was on maternity leave. Soon after Verity returned the twins had offered her a permanent position after watching the sales of their products rocket when they announced that one third of the Golden Trio would be working for them, which meant that Verity was moved to do inventory while Hermione fronted the shop.

Verity didn't mind, though she did inform Hermione that she much preferred being behind the scences plus with her new hours the twin's had offered her were much more suitable now that she had her new baby son. 

Turns out though that working for the twins wasn't too bad, she was able to move out of the Burrow and in to the guest bedroom the twins had converted for her, plus the pay was good and she couldn't ask for anything more. Especially as she got to spend so much more time with Fred. 

"I think you'll be on the register a while, we're closing earlier since it's Halloween. And as tomorrow is one of the most popular holiday's for Weasley's Wixard Weezes, we need all the help we can get serving the customers"

Hermione mentally face palmed herself, she completely forgot that it was Halloween tomorrow. she had been so busy with getting the products ready that she hadn't had a chance to find a costume. Mrs Weasley would not be happy. Fred, noticing the look on Hermione's face let out a hearty laugh much to Hermione's surprise. 

"Don't worry Mione, George and I have it covered. We were able to get you a costume, which Ginny recommended by the way" Fred winked, not missing the way that Hermione's cheeks turned pink. He would have to do that more often. "So you know with Ginny's choice it's not going to be...uh...showy for you"

Hermione blushed again, if she had known the twins were getting her costume and they had been left to their own devices, she just knew the kind of outfit they would put her in just to embarrass her. But still, who knows what Ginny had chosen for her. 

"Thanks Fred, I appreciate it" She murmured and he tilted his head in appreciation

"Anytime Mione" Fred smiled again before stretching and letting out a tired yawn, he slowly and regretfully raised himself from the table. "Right, well I think I'm going to go try fall asleep again. We have a long day tomorrow and then we have to pick up some dessert for the party. Night Mione" Fred smiled as he leaned down and pressed a gentle kiss to the top of her head before disppearing down the hallway. 

Hermione only let herself breathe when she heard his bedroom door close with a soft thud. 

"This is not happening" Hermione whispered to herself, "I'm getting a crush on Fred Weasley"