Fred
Fred
It was the crease, just in the centre of her forehead, that gave her away. To everyone else in the crowded room, Hermione Granger was paying rapt attention to his mum. Not to Fred though, no Fred Weasley had been staring at that face secretly for the last six years. That was certainly her thinking face. The one she made when the solution to whatever problem she was working through was just out of reach.
Tea. He should get her a cup of tea, the peppermint she favoured when she was thinking. But would that give it all away? Would it all come down to a cup of tea for her to figure him out like one of her problems? He’d been working hard to give her space, the time she needed to take him seriously. Sure, she hadn't dated anyone in over a year. No one since Ron and that could hardly be considered dating, could it? He knew from Ginny that nothing serious had happened there. And Ginny wouldn't lie about that. Would she? No…
“Freddie would love to do that,” George said loudly, pulling Fred from his musing.
“Oh well, that’s a big job. Do you think you’d be up for that dear?” Molly asked, looking at Fred with that damn look of concern.
“Of course, I can, Mum,” Fred said breezily. “Piece of cake.”
“Oh no, dear. Biscuits. Perhaps some help? Is anyone interested in baking the Christmas biscuits with Freddie this year?” Molly asked, a kind smile on her face. He was going to object, his blasted leg wasn't that much of a hindrance, and he could bloody well bake biscuits.
“Hermione is a great baker,” Ginny said before he got the chance.
Oh. alright, it was all a set-up then. Damn meddling siblings. Of course, it was those two.
“That’s n-” Fred began, only to be cut off.
“I’d love to,” Hermione said, then looked questioningly at Fred. Well, ok then. He gestured for her to continue. “I would hardly call myself a great baker, but making the biscuits was always one of my favourite things to do… before.”
Of course, before. Before the bloody war ripped her family apart. Before she was forced to remove herself entirely from her parents. Fred silently vowed to do anything he could to make this holiday as easy on her as possible.
“Granger and I can make biscuits. Maybe we’ll have Luna’s kids help.”
“They aren’t mine, yet, Fred,” Luna piped up, head still bent over the cross stitch she was working on.
“Close enough, they spend every minute with you and Rolf already,” Ginny said.
“I still can't believe you are going to adopt three muggle-borns out of the blue,” Percy put in.
“Just had a feeling we were needed,” Luna said matter-of-factly.
“It is very lovely, dear, but shall we finish this up before it gets too late?” Molly said though she squeezed Luna’s arm affectionately. “Now, Oliver, Percy says we may be able to have a nice sleigh ride at your parents'?”