Second Chances (Fremione)

12.

"So what's with you and Weasley?" Lavender asked as they set their trunks down at the foot of the bed.

Hermione laughed. So the obsession is starting early this time. "Ron? Oh, nothing. We're just friends."

Lavender looked confused. "No, not Ron. Fred! Or is it George? I can never tell them apart. The one who you got off the train with and you were laughing with at dinner!"

"Oh that's Fred! Yeah, we're becoming really good friends."

"Friends? Ok." Lavender smiled knowingly.

"We are! We were just talking on the train!" Hermione insisted.

"Talking? Alone? For hours?" Lavender repeated.

"We're friends!"

"The laughing?" She asked again.

"He's a really funny guy!" Hermione smiled.

"Fine. But I saw the way he looked at you. He likes you."

Hermione smiled. Maybe he does. I hope he does. She grabbed her books and headed down to the library, much to Lavender's confusion.

Opening the books and laying them out on an empty table, Hermione looked around at the library. She loved it here. She always had.

"And the bookworm is at it already!" A familiar voice laughed from behind her.

Hermione smiled and turned to see Fred rounding the table and coming to sit across from her.

"It's how you know I'm still me!" Hermione retorted. "You'd be completely confused if I changed my ways now!"

Fred smiled and picked up a book, absentmindedly flipping through it as he stared at Hermione studying. She looked up at him quickly, then back down at the book.

"Fred, you're not really thinking of entering that tournament, are you?" Hermione asked. "You're not even old enough."

Fred smiled. "Georgie and I have ways of working around the age limit. And yes, we are! Eternal glory, monetary rewards, it's all right up our alley."

Hermione scoffed. "Ah, yes. Danger, death, all very exciting."

Fred looked up at Hermione with a knowing smirk. "Hermione Granger! If I didn't know better I'd say you were worried about me!"

She laughed. "Of course I'm worried about you!" She insisted. "We're friends! That's what friends do! They worry about their friends' safety. They point it out when they think their friends are about to do something incredibly stupid!" With the last two words, she looked at him out of the corner of her eye and elbowed him playfully in the ribs (admittedly, harder than she had intended).

Fred laughed as he turned to her. "Oh, is that what friends do?"

"Yes. It is."

"Do friends also hurt each other?" He laughed through the words as he punched her gently in the shoulder.

"When the situation calls for it, yes. I believe a little harmless violence can be an excellent motivational tool!" She smiled as she returned to her book.

Fred scoffed. "Harmless violence? No such thing! And even if there were, that's definitely not it! Your elbow is going to leave a permanent indention in my rib cage!" He laughed, rubbing his side. "Your little act of harmless violence might have actually broken a rib!"

"Oh yeah?" Hermione smiled as she turned back to him. "Was it this one?" She asked poking one of his ribs. "Maybe this one?"

"Yup. Both of them! The whole thing is shattered." He whimpered.

"If you'll promise me you won't enter the tournament, I'll fix it for you." Hermione smiled.

"Fix it? How?" He asked, never breaking eye contact.

"Magic! Now promise me!" She said.

He jumped up. "Oh look! All better."

Hermione scowled at him, but then she couldn't help but smile. As he was turning to leave, she jumped up. "Hey, Fred?"

He turned around. "Hmm?" She ran toward him and wrapped her arms around his neck. She could sense his surprise at first, but then he gently snaked his arms around her waist, and by the end, he was hugging tighter than she was. Finally he let go and looked at her with an embarrassed but completely endearing grin across his face.

"What was that for?" He asked sheepishly, running his hands through his hair.

"I never thanked you for what you said on the train. Really. I know I was a little crazy and emotional, but all those things you said... really. Thank you."

"That's what friends are for, 'Mione." He smiled.

"I thought that was the harmless violence." She laughed.

"Well, yeah. That too." He said, gently punching her in the arm again.

Hermione smiled and sat back down at the table, opening a book again and letting out a heavy yawn. Fred strolled back over to the table. "Oh, and one more thing friends are good at. Unsolicited advice."

Hermione looked up, confusion evident on her tired face.

"Get some sleep. The books can wait until tomorrow. Or even, dare I say it, until term actually starts!" He said, reaching over and closing the book on the table.

"You're right, you're right!" Hermione smiled as she started packing up.

"Good night 'Mione!" He called, not looking back.

"Good night, Fred." She answered, barely above a whisper as he disappeared around the corner.