Goodnight, Hermione
The walk back to Hogwarts was colder than they had expected. The wind whipped through the narrow streets of Hogsmeade, biting sharply at their cloaks and stinging their cheeks. But as Hermione walked between Fred and George, their presence was a welcome contrast to the chill in the air. She felt their warmth beside her—the steady rhythm of their footsteps echoing against the cobblestones, the faint brush of their cloaks against hers—and it made the biting cold outside seem almost bearable. Snowflakes fell softly, dusting the ground in a fine layer of white, and the quiet of the evening settled around them like a peaceful blanket.
The castle loomed ahead, its spires jutting out against the dark sky, and the light spilling from its windows painted the snow-covered ground with an amber glow. The path leading up to the castle doors was bathed in a soft, ethereal light, and for a moment, Hermione felt like she was walking through a dream, one that felt surreal yet comforting.
As they ascended the stairs, their boots crunching in the snow with each step, the quiet between them deepened. No one spoke. The usual playful banter, the teasing jests that had filled the air all day, was absent now. It was replaced by something gentler, something softer. An unspoken understanding seemed to hang in the air, like a secret shared between the three of them. The words they had spoken earlier, the ones that had shifted the dynamic between them, were still fresh in Hermione's mind. She couldn’t shake the feeling that the world around her had slowed down, that time had taken a pause, allowing her to simply be—to exist in this moment without rushing forward into the uncertainties of the future.
For the first time in a long while, Hermione didn’t feel like she was carrying the weight of a thousand worries. She wasn’t thinking about the homework that awaited her, or the ever-present pressure of exams, or the way she sometimes felt like a puzzle everyone was trying to solve. Nor was she worrying about the way her feelings for Fred and George had suddenly become complicated and confusing. Right now, there was only the present—only the gentle crunch of their footsteps, the soft murmurs of the wind, and the warmth of the two Weasley brothers by her side.
George, ever observant, stepped forward slightly, his expression soft but purposeful. His usual smirk was nowhere to be found, and instead, there was a look of genuine appreciation in his eyes. “And we’re glad you chose to share it with us, Hermione,” he said quietly, his voice carrying a warmth that seemed to seep into her bones. He brushed his hand lightly against hers, the touch brief but significant, and it left a small spark of electricity in its wake.
Hermione’s breath caught slightly at the tenderness in his voice, and for a moment, she felt as though the world had narrowed to just the three of them. Her heart fluttered, unsure of what to say, but she couldn’t bring herself to break the quiet moment. She had known all day that this moment was coming, but now that it was here, she didn’t quite know how to process it. The space between them, once filled with playful teasing, had transformed into something more—something that felt delicate, yet undeniably real. It was intimate, in a way she hadn’t expected, and it made her chest tighten with a mixture of excitement and uncertainty.
“I think I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t enjoying this more than I expected,” Hermione admitted, her voice barely above a whisper. She met George’s eyes, and for the first time, there was no need for words to convey the depth of what she was feeling. It was all in the look they shared—the understanding that they had crossed a threshold, and there was no going back now.
Fred let out a soft chuckle, the sound warm but devoid of the usual mischief that so often marked his humour. “You did agree to the date, Granger,” he teased, though the words were light, almost playful. He reached out and tucked a loose strand of hair behind her ear, the touch gentle and deliberate, as though he was enjoying every second. His fingers brushed against the side of her face, and the warmth of his touch spread through her, sending a shiver down her spine.
Hermione leaned into his touch instinctively, her breath catching as the sensation of his fingers against her skin lingered. There was something almost reverent about the way he held her gaze, as if he were trying to memorize the moment. The tension in the air was thick, but there was a quiet gentleness in the space they shared, as though neither of them wanted to rush what was happening.
For a long moment, Fred’s hand lingered against her cheek, his thumb brushing along her jawline. Hermione felt her heart race in her chest, the soft brush of his touch causing her thoughts to scatter. She could feel the warmth of both Fred and George standing so close to her, and she knew that this moment—this quiet, intimate space—was one she would never forget.
George cleared his throat softly, but there was no mistaking the warmth in his eyes as he looked at her. His gaze shifted to Fred, then back to Hermione, as if they both knew this was the moment they had been waiting for. “I think we both have something to say, don’t we, Fred?” George’s voice was softer than usual, but there was a quiet strength to it that made Hermione’s heart beat just a little faster.
Fred nodded, his smile soft and sincere, his eyes locked onto Hermione’s. “We do,” he said, his voice steady but filled with something deeper—something that made Hermione feel as though the world had slowed down just for them.
Without another word, Fred leaned in, the space between them narrowing, and he kissed her. The kiss was light at first, hesitant, as if they were both unsure of what this meant. Yet, there was a quiet certainty in the way their lips met, as if this was something that had been building for far longer than just the course of the evening. The kiss was slow, almost languid, and it felt like a promise—a quiet, delicate pledge that time would stop for just a second, and nothing else mattered but this.
Hermione’s heart skipped a beat as she closed her eyes, the world around her fading away. It was a kiss of exploration, a kiss of softness, and for that one moment, everything felt right. There was no hurry, no rush, just the feeling of his lips against hers, warm and tender.
When they pulled apart, Fred’s eyes were searching hers, looking for any sign of hesitation or doubt. But Hermione couldn’t find it in herself to feel anything but warmth. There was no regret, no uncertainty—just the flicker of something new, something exciting.
Before she could respond, George stepped closer, his hand slipping around her waist in a way that felt natural, intimate. His lips met hers with the same softness, but this time there was something more daring about it, something more confident. It wasn’t as soft as Fred’s, but it wasn’t rough either—it was a kiss that spoke of things unsaid, of the way he had been waiting for this moment too. His kiss was slow, deliberate, and Hermione could feel the care and emotion behind it.
When they finally pulled apart, neither of them spoke right away. They simply stood there, close enough to feel each other’s warmth, the quiet of the castle surrounding them like a protective cocoon. The night felt suspended, as though time had paused just for them.
Finally, Fred spoke, his voice low and almost uncertain, “Goodnight, Hermione.”
George echoed him with a soft smile, his hand still gently resting on her waist. “We’ll see you tomorrow.”
Hermione nodded, her heart still racing, but now it was for entirely different reasons. She wasn’t sure what the future held, or what the next day would bring, but in that moment, she didn’t need to know. For once, the uncertainty felt like possibility, like the beginning of something new.
“Goodnight,” she said softly, her voice warm as she looked at both of them.
She wasn’t sure where this was going, but she was content to wait and see. As she turned to head inside, a small grin tugged at the corners of her lips. Maybe, just maybe, this—whatever this was—wasn’t so bad after all.
Fred and George watched Hermione disappear through the entrance, their gazes lingering on her retreating form until the door to the common room clicked shut behind her. There was a quiet pause between them, a shared understanding settling into the air. Neither of them spoke immediately, as if the weight of the moment had left them both momentarily speechless.
Finally, Fred let out a deep breath and turned to George, his usual easy grin returning, though there was a hint of something softer in his expression. “Well,” he said, his voice low and a little breathless, “that was… unexpected.”
George snorted, a quiet laugh escaping him as he gave his brother a sideways glance. “Unexpected? You kissed her first, Fred. I’m just following your lead.”
Fred shot him an amused look, but there was no denying the warm glow of satisfaction that lingered between them. “Don’t act like you didn’t want to,” he teased, elbowing George lightly in the ribs. “Besides, you were the one who insisted on doing this properly. No games, no tricks, remember?”
“Yeah, yeah,” George muttered, rubbing his side where Fred had nudged him. But there was a playful light in his eyes as he reached into his pocket and retrieved the small piece of parchment that held the password. He glanced at Fred, his grin widening. “You ready to face the common room, then?”
Fred’s smile softened as he nodded, a quiet chuckle escaping him. “Always. But let’s get in there before Lee starts worrying about us.”
With a shared glance, they turned toward the entrance to the Gryffindor common room, the massive wooden door standing tall before them. Fred stepped forward, his voice clear and strong as he called out the password.
“Caput Draconis.”
The door creaked open, the familiar warmth of the common room spilling out to meet them. The sounds of students chatting, the crackling of the fire, and the smell of butterbeer and parchment filled the air, a welcome contrast to the cold of the evening outside.
George held the door open for Fred, who slipped inside first. As he passed through the threshold, Fred glanced back at his twin, a grin still tugging at the corners of his lips. “That’s it then. We’ve kissed her, said goodnight, and now… we wait.”
George raised an eyebrow. “You’re already acting like it’s done,” he teased, stepping into the common room beside him. “This is just the beginning, Fred.”
Fred paused for a moment, looking around the common room. The firelight flickered softly against the stone walls, casting long shadows across the furniture. Their fellow Gryffindors were scattered throughout the room—some studying, others chatting, and a few still playing chess. But the moment they’d just shared with Hermione seemed to linger in the air, its weight both heavy and thrilling.
“I know,” Fred said softly, his voice more serious now. “But for the first time, I think we’ve got it right.”
George nodded, his expression thoughtful as he followed Fred toward the couch. “Yeah, it feels different, doesn’t it?”
Fred’s grin returned, but this time it was more subdued, more contemplative. “It does. But that’s what makes it worth it. We’re in this together, Georgie.”
“Always,” George replied, settling down onto the couch beside him.
The fire crackled in front of them, and for a moment, the noise of the common room seemed to fade into the background. The twins sat in comfortable silence, the weight of the evening settling into them. Whatever came next, they knew they had taken the first step in a new direction—one that they couldn’t quite predict, but one that felt right.
After a few moments, Fred broke the silence, his voice light but with an edge of something more sincere. “Think she’ll kiss us again tomorrow?”
George snorted, leaning back against the cushions. “I reckon she might,” he said with a grin, “but only if we play our cards right.”
Fred’s eyes twinkled mischievously, and he leaned back too, his mind still on the girl they both cared about. “Well then, we’d better make sure tomorrow’s even more fun than today.”
The fire crackled and popped, casting dancing shadows on the walls as they sat side by side, knowing that the next chapter of this unexpected journey was just beginning. But for now, they were content to let the night carry them forward—one step at a time.