Unforgettable (Fred & Hermione)

VI

Those memories seemed so long ago as Hermione thought back on them sitting there now with Fred.

"So was this our  place?" Fred enquired tilting his head towards her before looking around him. 

It made sense. He liked being outside and the air was fresh and crisp by the water. It was quiet but not spookily quiet like the forbidden forest and at night he was sure they'd be able to see the castle lit up, warm and inviting light glowing in the windows. 

Hermione looked back at him. There wasn't the same look in his eyes anymore. He didn't look at her with that sense of calm he used to say she brought him. But there was still something there, a curiosity or confusion. 

"Well, during fifth year Umbridge made up all these rules, enforcing curfews and disbanding any clubs or teams"

Hermione began to explain, not sure how much Fred knew or remembered. 

"And we were being watched like a hawk, she knew we were up to something"

Fred listened, nodding and watching her carefully. She looked out at the lake and down at the ground but he found himself desperately wanting her eyes to meet his.

"And then we found the Room of Requirement"

It was the middle of the night in Spring. Hermione had been up late studying when a paper aeroplane flew up the stairs to her dormitory and onto her lap.

 Opening it up read the familiar scrawl "Oi Granger. Up for a late night stroll? Xx F".

She hadn't seen him properly for a few days, not being able to sneak out or get any time alone. So, she didn't hesitate to shove a bookmark in and pull on some shoes.

Sneaking around with him was fun and exciting, like their own little secret but it was down right annoying sometimes. Fred had to stop himself from leaning over and putting his arm around her when they sat in the common room or giving her a kiss when she sat down beside him for meals. More and more people had begun to suspect the relationship between them but people didn't call them out on it. Not when Fred would sit beside her on the floor by the fire and she would lean against him tiredly or when she would rest her head on his shoulder and whine about how tired she was. Not when Hermione would forget where she was and let Fred stand behind her and wrap his arms around her shoulders in what most people would guess was more than a friendly hug. Especially with Hermione who wasn't a particular tactile person. And yet Fred and her seemed attached at the hip these days.

Harry and Ron would needle her relentlessly about it but she never admitted anything, saying Fred and her were just friends. But the boys weren't clueless about love. Friends didn't look at each other the way Fred and Hermione looked at one another when they thought no one was watching.

She tiptoed out of the bedroom, careful not to wake Lavender and Parvarti and down the stairs where Fred waited for her by the doorway.

"Hey" she smiled leaning in to give him a quick kiss but Fred kept it quick and almost chaste on his part. When she pulled away Fred held his finger up to his mouth urging her to stay quiet. He pointed to the armchairs where Harry and Ron had fallen asleep with the marauder map still searching for somewhere for the DA to practice.

With Umbridge's tyrannical rule it was getting harder and harder for Fred and Hermione to meet and she felt guilty that she didn't spend more time trying to find somewhere for the DA to practice rather than somewhere for her and Fred to have even just ten minutes uninterrupted.

Hermione and Fred found themselves in a deserted corridor. Fred walked behind her, his arms around her neck matching her steps. Being much taller than her Fred had to take much smaller steps but wouldn't walk any other way. Hermione couldn't keep the grin off her face as he rubbed his face into her neck, placing kisses across her shoulder and up her neck. Late at night in the quiet and in the boathouse were the only places they could be themselves, could be together.