fred&hermione - doing just fine on your own

chapter thirteen

grimmauld place

fred's pov.

within seconds, our apparating came to a standstill and we found ourselves stumbling onto the street outside the grimmauld building. it looked the same as ever, never changed.

the place was seeped in the presence of those who were no longer even present. an eerie chill ran up my spine, giving me goosebumps. i glanced for my side at the tiny, curly haired witch, standing looking rather upset beside me. her face screwed up slightly as she tried to silently hold in the tears, wiping them away.

i stepped forward, opening the door to grimmauld place, glancing back at her to follow. she did. we stepped inside and i closed the door behind us, dust rose as the door slammed shut. the hallway was dark and dusty, it almost looked like a fog.

hermione lifted her wand, pointing down the hallway, "homenum rovelio." she incanted.

nothing. empty.

"we're alone." she assured me, pushing her wand into her pocket again.

i glanced down at her, her face as solid as stone, but you knew inside, she was breaking. i gently placed my arm around her, pulling her close, rubbing my cheek on her soft, curly hair. i wished we could of just stayed like that for hours. a small sneeze and sniffle broke the silence, hermione rubbing her nose and sighing.

"come on, before this dust gives you an allergic reaction." i chuckled.

she followed as we stepped into the kitchen, "lumos," i chanted, turning the cobweb-covered lights on.

i approached the china cupboard mum had always been fond of - a little piece of her in grimmauld place, i always thought, rummaging around the shelves for that secret something dad had hidden from christmas fifth year. he thought he was smart, but i was smarter.

"what are you looking for?" hermione asked, as she sat down at one of the chairs at the long table.
"a little something - ah, got it!" i exclaimed, "special." presenting to her, a bottle of dad's favourite fire whiskey that he was fond of at christmas. what he didn't know, was that i was rather fond of a few sneaky sips as a teenager, but he never needs to know that.

"what do you say then?" i asked, opening the cork and pouring a shot into two glasses sitting by the sink, bringing them to the table with a smirk.
"fred, i can't drink that, i-" hermione started.
"oh, come off it, granger, butterbeer will get you nowhere in life." i scoffed, setting the glass down in front of her, taking a seat opposite her.
"but i-"

i pushed the glass into her hands, tapping it with mine, with a ding! "cheers, or as they say in ireland, 'slainté'." i smirked.

she reluctantly took a sip and i held eye contact with her, smiling and downing my glass. she followed, twisting her face and covering her mouth, coughing.

"fred weasley, this is ghastly!" she exclaimed.
"oh, don't worry, a few more and you'll get used to it." i assured her, pouring us another glass each.

she shook her head, smiling. we cheersed, and she downed her glass this time, following me. the same reaction.

"don't worry, it gets easier, granger. i'll drink you under the table in no time." i added, filling the glasses.
"i'd like to see you try, weasley." she replied, taking a large sip, trying to keep a straight face.
"oh, so you really wanna do this then?" i asked, downing mine, "i see."
she smiled, finishing her glass.
"it's on, then, granger." i challenged her, filling the glasses once again.

she eyed me up and down from across the table, leaning back into her chair, pulling her knee to her chest and taking another sip. she smirked competitively.