Unforgettable (Fred & Hermione)

V

After that night they tried to see each other as much and as covertly as possible. They met in the boathouse and sometimes they would sneak out after curfew and just wander the halls together. Fred liked listening to her babbling, her rants and her problems that she wanted to hash out. He liked watching how her hands gesticulated constantly and her eyes were so emotive he felt like he could read her like a book. He liked that he could always make her laugh when she came to a frustrating lack of a conclusion over whatever she was discussing whether it was Harry's mental state or the control Umbridge was gaining. 

Fred made her feel rational like she wasn't some neurotic bookworm who overthought and tried to fix everything. He had always been a problem solver, whether it was how to pull off a prank or get creative about some Weasley Wizard Wheeze's products. And so, Hermione found herself coming to Fred with her questions and ideas, finding him to be the perfect person to talk to. He would listen and nod, smile and break the silences with a joke or even just distract her with a kiss. Her evenings where she pretended to go on extra prefect's rounds or stay in the library, became her favourite part of every day. And it frightened her logical mind to think that Fred was becoming perhaps her favourite person in the world. 

Once remembering that Harry had the Marauder's Map and often watched it when he couldn't sleep Hermione knew this had to stop. If he saw them together, whether it was in the boathouse or the library (both very unlikely places for them to have bumped into each other), their secret would stop being theirs and George's. 

They had nowhere else to go though. Hermione looks at one memory in particular with both fondness and embarrassment.

There was one evening in the darkness of miserable January that Hermione was coming back from the library. She had three new books in hand which all revolved around the intricacies of defensive and offensive spells, especially non-verbal spell casting. While that wasn't on the curriculum for fifth years Hermione had always liked being a few steps ahead. And with Umbridge's classes being utterly snooze worthy, Hermione had started researching defensive magic on her own, even if she was struggling hugely with the practical side of it.

It was approaching curfew and when this time hit, all students were to be in bed with the lights out. While Hermione had no doubts that the boys were still complaining miserably over their Potion's essay back in the Common Room, the rules were very clear about not being out in the corridor's, even if you were Hermione Granger. Umbridge's reign was becoming more and more tyrannical with punishments being handed out as if they were fliers. Hermione had yet to be caught doing anything outside the rules and she had no intention of starting now. While Fred and George were punished almost religiously for joking around or playing pranks, Hermione had a squeaky clean record which Fred loved to rib her about.

"My little Miss perfect" He had said once, with a grin as he sat beside her down by the water. 

He was sitting beside her, her body leaning in close to him as they sat side by side. Hermione's heart did a little flutter. 

My 

Fred looked away from her, pretending to see something interesting across the lake before he started asking her for an opinion on something to stabilise the fever fudge sweets. She knew he was doing it to distract her, but she couldn't keep the smile off her face even when discussing the potential use of blowfly wings.  

Hermione's footsteps echoed in the empty corridors that were dimly lit by candles burning on the window sills. She had always found Hogwarts a little bit scary at night, especially when alone therefore she usually tried to avoid walking around in the dark but she had, as per usual, lost track of time with her head stuck in a book. 

A noise behind her startled her, causing her to tighten her grip on her books and walk faster. She kept shooting looks over her shoulder checking for anyone around but as she had expected she was alone. Turning the corner quickly Hermione gasped as a hand covered her mouth and an arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her behind a wall tapestry. It was too dark to see anything but she quickly realised there was a secret space behind this tapestry that she had never read about. Reacting quickly, just as Harry had taught her in their DA lessons she snapped her wand upright and uttered "expelliarmus" which disarmed whoever still held her around the waist and shoved them back against the wall.

"Blimey 'Mione what was that for?"

Hermione gasped, realising her assailant. Muttering "lumos" she lit up the space to find it was only the size of a cupboard with stone walls and a small window looking out on the quidditch pitch. She also lit up the room to see Fred rubbing his head and smirking at her.

She felt a smile burst onto her face as it always did when she saw him. "Sorry Fred" she laughed "but don't sneak up on me like that, you silly fool".

Rolling his eyes Fred leaned forward and wrapped his arms around her waist "I was trying to be romantic and spontaneous" he sighed.

Her hands ran up his chest and interlaced her fingers behind his head as she felt a tiny bump raising on his scalp where he had bounced his head off the wall.