Until the Very End

Sharing Secrets & Boosting Confidence

Hogwarts was coming very quickly for the six who were still attending, but they still had one more exciting activity before the new year started. It had been only a few weeks since Hermione and Harry had stayed at the Burrow, and the Quidditch World Cup was something they were all very much looking forward to, except for the early departure tomorrow morning.

Earlier in the summer when Fred and George had heard that they were going this year, George got so excited that it started to scare Fred.

"Gred, do you realise what this means?! You get to spend all of that time with Hermione! Not to mention watching one of the best Quidditch matches we'll ever see, and you get to watch it with her!"

Fred rolled his eyes at his twin, but smiled nonetheless. "I know George, and I'm excited too, but you need to calm down. Hermione doesn't even know that I like her, ok? And I kinda want it to stay that way until I feel ready to tell her. George? Did you hear anything I just said to you?"

But George was sitting dreamily on his bed with a smile on his face, and looking at something that Fred couldn't see.

"George!"

"Hmm? Oh, I was just imagining what it will be like when you and Hermione have kids. All of them will have red hair, her eyes and mouth, your nose and freckles. They'll be geniuses, no doubt, but have a knack for pranking, like you and me--"

"George, if you say one more word, I will stop talking to you forever."

"No you won't."

"...Alright, but I'll leave the room."

George shrugged and tipped over onto his pillow, staring up at the ceiling. Fred mirrored his movements.

"Are you going to tell her, Fred? I mean, it's been almost six months since you admitted to me that you liked her, so who knows how long you've really fancied her."

Fred sighed and thought about it. If he said anything now, she'd think he was pranking her and wouldn't believe him. If he waited too long, she'd be off and dating other blokes and he'd tell her on her wedding day, and she'd be so torn, but she couldn't break her promise to her fiancé, so she'd leave crying and he'd be left standing there like an idiot--

Ok, he needed to stop. He shook his head and answered his brother. "Yeah, but I'm going to wait a bit, and see how everything plays out. I'm going to start being better friends with her, and see how that goes. Then, I'll go with the flow."

George nodded from his spot, but his twin couldn't see. "Sounds like a plan." There was silence for half a minute before he spoke again. "You know, if you need help with anything--anything at all--just ask me. I'm sure Lee would love to help too; he loves a good laugh."

Fred rolled his eyes. "Thanks George. You're a real confidence booster, you know that?"

"Anytime."

*********

In Ginny's room, Hermione sat on Ginny's bed watching the red-head who was finishing packing her trunk.

"Gin," she said after a few minutes of watching as Ginny folded her many Weasley sweaters into her trunk. "Would you promise not to laugh if I told you something?"

Ginny looked up with concern. "Of course, 'Mione. Why would I laugh?"

Hermione shifted in her seat. "Well, I didn't know...you see, recently, I've had some...thoughts about a guy...no, not anything like that!" She exclaimed as Ginny's eyes widened. "No! That didn't come out right...I've recently found him to be very...attractive, to say the least, and I feel silly. I haven't told anyone yet."

Ginny nodded, face contorting into a thoughtful one. "Is it someone I know?"

Hermione nodded.

"Is it someone in your year?"

"No." Hermione shook her head.

"Is it...someone in my grade, or lower?"

"No!"

"Okay! Just checking. Ummm...has he left Hogwarts? No? Ok, well that means it has to be someone in either their fifth, sixth, or seventh year...that narrows it down." She said sarcastically. "Wait, he goes to Hogwarts, right? It's not some Muggle?"

"Right. He's in Gryffindor, too."

"Cool, so at least it's not some Slytherin git. Well awesome, 'Mione! I'm glad you're starting to set your sights on someone! I hope they know how lucky they are to be fancied by you, the 'Brightest Witch of Our Age'."

Hermione's face was as red as Ginny's hair. "He doesn't know."

"What?! How could you not tell him?" Ginny walked over to Hermione and shook her shoulders gently.

Hermione looked helplessly at the younger girl. "It's not as easy for me as it is for you to do that, Gin. I'm the nerdy, bookwormy, know-it-all of Hogwarts; I don't know that much about liking guys or flirting. I've only ever hugged Harry and Ron, and they're my best friends!" She stood up and started pacing. "I mean, what if he thinks I'm mad? What if he thinks I'm too young for him? Or not popular enough? Or not--"

Ginny stopped her. "Hermione. No bloke in his right mind would ever think that of you. One of your best friends is Harry Potter for Merlin's sake. You're the best in your year, and in the school, except for playing Quidditch, which doesn't really matter, unless he's hard-core like Wood--just kidding! He won't ask you out based on your ability to fly a broom! And if he does, then don't accept. And tell me, because then I can use a new hex I've been dying to try out."

In spite of herself, Hermione had a small smile playing on her lips at Ginny's words; they'd made her hopeful, and boosted her confidence in herself.

"Better?" Ginny asked, and Hermione nodded, her brown curly tresses bouncing on her head. "Alright, now let's get to sleep. I know it's early, but we have to leave before dawn Dad says."

But Hermione was awake for a good half an hour thinking about a certain someone before she finally fell asleep.