Hermione Ships - Oneshots

He Knew - Fred

The three walked back into the twin's shop after having followed Malfoy to Borgin and Burke's. Hermione's attempt to discover his interest in the shop was pathetic and they all made a point of letting her know. Harry, Ron especially. Borgin. The walk back was painfully long as they weaved through the few people in the street under the cloak. Once inside, they made quick work of ditching the cloak and dispersing.

"I thought Fred said that cream would clear up your black eye in 5 minutes. It's been at least a half an hour." Ginny was looking at Hermione concerned.

"Is it still there?" Instinctively, her hand raised to her face and she felt the dull pain. "I completely forgot about it actually." Fred and George's boxing telescope was high on Hermione's WWW condemnation list.

"Where were you three?"

"What? Oh, I don't know about them two, but I was looking at the love potions again. I was curious how-"

"Don't do that, Hermione. Don't lie to me too. I covered for you three when Mum noticed you weren't around. I can help too if you guys just let me know."

"Ginny-" she was going to continue to deny everything when she realized that Ginny was right. She deserved to know, even if she wasn't allowed to. "I can't tell you, you know that, but you are right though. I shouldn't lie to you." It looked like she was going to speak up, so Hermione continued. "Listen, I want to find Fred before your mother drags us all out of here. Hopefully he can actually follow through and help me clear up this black eye."

"Not George?" Hermione gave the redhead a questioning look, to which Ginny simply shook her head and went off to look at the Pygmy Puffs again without bothering to expand upon her strange inquiry further.

Hermione made her way through the crowd in the direction of the stockroom. She wasn't quite sure where it was but she had seen the twins bring Harry up to the second floor and toward the back, so she figured it was a safe bet. Her suspicions were confirmed when she heard the twins talking through the gap in the door that was left slightly ajar.

"You should tell her one of these days."

"There is nothing to tell, George."

"Oh, so you are not pining over her anymore?" This was a new development. She never knew of either twin to pine over a witch. George with Angelina, perhaps, but certainly not Fred. Even when he took Angelina to the Yule Ball, it was clearly to make a point to George.

"I was never-"

"Sure, sure. You put on a good front, but you can't fool me, brother."

"Not trying to." She could hear in his voice as the words were pushed through his teeth that he was trying to hold back his frustration. While George was more level headed of the two, Fred was constantly bursting at the seams with emotion. Thankfully, his emotions tend to fall on the jovial side of the spectrum.

"I see. So why is it that you never let me talk to her? Why is it that when you jump into their conversations you always address only her, why do you-"

"Enough, George!" There was a long pause and Hermione wondered if they were communicating nonverbally. When Fred continued, he sounded defeated almost. "She's Ron's-"

"Ron's what? What is she to our loving younger brother?"

Knowing the conversation was coming to a close, she thought it best to announce her presence before they noticed on their own. She also thought she could perhaps spare Fred by interrupting them. "Fred?" She knocked and pushed the door open slightly. "George, hey." She instantly regretted her decision. The air was thick with tension and words left unsaid.