5 Times Hermione Impressed Fred and 1 Time He Impressed Her
1-1998
Quiet. All he can hear is quiet. An occasional owl screeches in the distance, but the only thing that makes any sound is that of his own thoughts. Chaos, death, and destruction have been the center of his life for the past twenty-four hours. No, the last seven years have been focused around that, however indirectly or directly it may have been. The last twenty-four hours had just been the culmination of it all. It was finally over. Harry Potter could live a life without fear of an egocentric man-lizard lurking in the shadows and priming himself to make a move. The War has ended, at the cost of those he knew and loved, but it was finally over. He had lost no one in his family, his business is still doing well, even if the shop had suffered at the hands of the Death Eaters, and he had been reunited with the most brilliant witch of their time just a day prior. So why does he still feel this tightness in his chest?
Fred sighs and squeezes his eyes shut. He needs to get his shite together. He can finally move forward with his life, maybe even have happiness that wasn’t dependent on Harry defeating the darkest wizard from their time. He snorts as he remembers throwing a snowball directly into the gooey face of He-Who-Must-Not- no, Voldemort , his third year at Hogwarts. At least one good thing came out of that detention.
His eyes drift over the dark yard, only lit to the small pond that is around the side of the Burrow. He can still smell the charred wood of his childhood home. Mum had put them right to work when they came from Hogwarts. He knows it was her own way of allowing them time and space to process what had happened at the school. Time to quietly grieve their friends as they worked to repair their home. Time to seek reassurance and comfort from one another. For Fred, this time was spent between Ron, Hermione, and George. He spent the first hour of repairs stood next to his youngest brother, heart pounding and trying his hardest to not be noticed scanning over the gangly teen for injuries that hadn’t been addressed. Thankfully, it was Ron so his covert glances were never noticed as the red-head muttered spells and curses under his breath. Truly, spells like that had never been his strong suit.
He then focused his attention on George, joking and laughing as much as he could manage. Somehow, it felt hollow on both sides, jokes never quite soothing the sting of the brutal battle. He could see the pinched expression on his twin's face, watching as it would morph into a smile that didn’t quite reach his eyes. He would look over, a tired joke on the tip of his tongue to fill the silence and see glossed over eyes and a grimace on the other’s face. The jokes never left his mouth when he would catch those looks. Those moments were the hardest. When they finished in Charlie and Bills old room, he stood in front of his twin and grasped his shoulders.
“We made it. We get to grieve, heal, and move on with our lives. He doesn’t get to take this from us, not when he lost. Georgie, we get to live now.”
George's eyes had filled with tears and he let out a watery chuckle. “Alright you big prat, I get it.” His eyes met Fred’s and for the first time the smile actually seemed genuine. “Merlin, you kiss Granger once and suddenly her wisdom has rubbed off on you.”
Fred had laughed, cuffing his brother over the back of his head and pulling him in for a hug. “Git.”
His time spent with Hemione had been more quiet than with George, but there were glances and quick touches meant to soothe. Their work, while it should have been easier than most other rooms, took them nearly twice as long because of that. He would find himself lost in her gaze, eyes worried and wand always held tightly in her hand. He remembers gripping her other hand and rubbing his thumb against her knuckles. He had moved closer, making her tilt her head up to keep his gaze. He had set his own wand down, allowing him to cup her face.
“Thank you for coming back to me.” He had murmured.
She had smiled and whispered back “Always. I will always come back to you.”
Fred is broken out of his memories when a loud crash echoes behind him. He stands, wand in his hand as he turns towards the sound. His eyes scan over what he can see and his gaze is drawn to the open window when he hears his mother screech. He pauses before he can really start moving when he sees two of his brothers trying their hardest not to laugh as their mother berates them.
“Charlie! Bill! Honestly, you two are far too old to be acting like this. Dishware with legs, really?”
“But mum, they were already broken! We were going to fix them after, we swear!” Charlie laughs as he dodges his mum’s intended whack across the back of the head.
“Merlin woman, it was just a bit of fun!” Bill pipes in.
“Oh, you two! Honestly, you’re worse than Fred and George!”
Fred smiles and takes a step towards the side door, the bottom closed but the top open for him to lean against.
“Oi!” Fred and George cry at the same time. “We haven’t done a single thing-”
“That would require such a vicious attack on our character.” George finishes.
Hermione and Ginny snort from the doorway to the living room that is still under construction. Fred turns his feigned hurt face to both of them. Ginny giggles at the look on his face and he opens the bottom half of the door and closes it quickly behind him. Ginny darts behind the older girl and laughs as Fred tries to grab her in order to get her into a headlock. Hermione laughs and tries to help the younger girl fend off the long arms.
“Fred! Where have you been?” His mum asks, hands firmly planted on her hips.
“Slaggin’ off I reckon.” Ron mutters from his position between the two oldest Weasley children.
Fred rolls his eyes. “I was just looking out over the yard in order to see what would need to get done tomorrow.” He fibs, pauses, and squints at the crumbs he can clearly see around the corners of Ron’s lips. “Seems like you took a break yourself. Managed to find the biscuits that somehow were untouched in all this?”
Ron’s cheeks deepen in color and Mum swivels around to gape at him. She huffs and is about to start in on him, but Ginny beats her to it. “Gods Ron, were they even good? They’ve been sitting in there for months.”
“Well-I-they weren’t, y’know, bad, but I-”
“Oh, for the love of-everyone into the kitchen. We need to get it sorted before any dinner can get worked on. Ron, love, I know you’ll be an active part of this because you were clearly hungry already.” Mum says and starts ushering her children, plus Fleur and Harry, into the kitchen.
“Hey!” Ron whines as she steers him over.
Ginny looks between Fred and Hermione, hands having intertwined at some point in his attack on them. She rolls her eyes at them and heads off to follow Harry, who had kindly waited at the doorway for her, to begin the cleanup process. Fred looks down at the witch in front of him and gives her a small smile. She looks up at him and her lips quark up at the corners.
“Alright, love?” He asks quietly, laughter already seeping out of the room behind them.
“Yes, quite.”
He tugs her hand and her body follows, slotting into his open arms. She rests her head on his chest and feels his strong heartbeat beneath the jumper he’s wearing. He runs a hand down her back while the other gently massages her scalp at the base of her head. They simply breathe together for a moment. Allowing the quiet to overtake them, existing in their own world. Her hands fist in the fabric and she takes a deep breath in before pulling away. His hand moves from her hair to her chin, tipping it up so he can lean down and brush his lips against hers. She raises up on her toes to deepen it for a moment before dropping back down and breaking the kiss.
He touches his head to hers, reminiscent of what he had done a day prior in the Great Hall after spotting her for the first time in too many months away, worrying about her.
“Spend the night with me tonight? I already cleared out mine and George’s old room, or we can go to the flat above the shop. I stopped over briefly and the flat itself didn’t look to be touched. I think the charm George and I had been working on succeeded.”
She bites her lip and her gaze darts down briefly before locking back into his. “I get nightmares. I don’t sleep very well. I wouldn’t want to keep you and George awake.”
He pulls away and places both hands on her cheeks. “‘Mione’, love, I don’t care. I spent far too long laying awake and worrying about you for some nightmares to truly bother me. I get them too.” He sighs and strokes a thumb next to the corner of her lips. “It’s up to you, but don’t worry about the nightmares being an issue. I want to help you with them.”
She lets out a shaky breath and nods her head. “Ok. I’ll spend the night with you.” She says quietly.
He smiles and goes to pull into another kiss, but Ron breaks into their little bubble, the prat.
“Oi! Mum said everyone should help. I want dinner, so you gotta come help us so mum can cook.”
2-2000
She looks beautiful. Her tan skin takes a golden hue in the setting sun. Her curls have been tamed and wrangled into a brilliant half-up half-down style, courtesy of Ginny. She’s dancing with Harry and his sister, laughing as the younger witch twirls her out into Harry’s, admittedly, unsure grasp. Her dress twirls around her like they did in the 50s. He lifts a glass of champagne to his lips and smiles as she pushes the perfect curls out of her face.
He remembers how Ginny had come out of the bedroom flushed and sweaty, cursing under her breath about unruly hair. She had shot Harry a glare and beckoned him over so she could work on his own unruly hair. Fred had chuckled and taken a sip of the firewhiskey he had in hand. Ginny turned her own withering glare to him and put her hands on her hips. Merlin, she was going to give mum a run for her money in the next ten years.
“Care to add anything Fred?” He had opened his mouth to do just that, but she had cut him off before he could get anything out. “Say one word and I’ll get mum to cut your hair even shorter.” His mouth had closed with a click.
She had smirked and pulled Harry along behind her. Harry had looked over his shoulder and shot Fred a pleading and desperate look. Fred had raised his glass in a mock toast and let the fiery little witch drag him off to do as she pleased. Godrick knew he wasn’t going to get involved in that.
He jerks to the side when he hears someone clear their throat slightly behind him. Ron has his hands shoved in his pockets and is hunched awkwardly towards Fred. He jerks his head to the dance floor that mum and dad had made, looking at Hermione. She’s still smiling and dancing with Ginny. Her ring sparkles in the sunlight, sending a flash to him. He can feel his own, cool and smooth, against his finger.
“She’s beautiful, inn’t she.” Ron says.
She throws her head back in a laugh at that moment as Fleur, belly hanging low in her dress, shimmies behind her.
“Yeah, bloody gorgeous.” Fred says before looking back to Ron.
Ron holds his gaze and jerks his chin to the two chairs in front of them. Fred raises his brows and sits down after Ron doesn’t break his gaze. Bloody hell, leave it to Ron to be serious on the day of his wedding. Ron drags the other chair in front of Fred, effectively breaking his gaze with the beautiful witch. He clears his throat and Ron leans forward.
“Fred, I’m not trying to ruin your or ‘Mione’s day, but I just gotta get this out there.” Fred feels the surprise flit across his face at not only his little brother’s words, but how serious he sounds. “She’s one of my best mates, Fred. I spent seven years of my life fighting with her to end something that took our childhood.” He explains quietly. “I would do anything for her. Yeah, she can be a bossy know-it-all,” Ron carries on over Fred’s indignation, “but I love her. She’s one of the most important people in my life, I won’t let anything hurt her more than she’s already been hurt. And that includes my own brother.” He gives a firm nod of his head.
Fred takes a moment to digest what his little brother, usually oblivious and putting his own foot in his mouth, has said to him. He takes a deep breath and leans forward to match Ron’s posture as he responds.
“I appreciate that, mate.” He sees the surprise flit across his brother's face at the admission. “I’m glad that you’re looking out for her like that. She’s been through a lot and she’ll never admit it, but she needs people to look out for her like that. She’s a Gryffindor through and through; she may be the smartest witch of our age, but she can be loyal to a fault.” He explains. “She means the world to me. I don’t know how I got so lucky, or how I convinced her to pick me and say yes to being my wife, but Merlin, I love her.” He admits the last part softly, never breaking his brother’s gaze.
“I don’t know either.” His brother snorts, but leans back and the tenseness leaves his body. “But she did. Y’know, I always thought that she would be a Weasley some day, I just didn’t think it would be this way.”
Fred feels his mouth open in shock at his brother's admittance. Ron shrugs and gives a small smile. “Don’t worry, I think any hope I had of being with her slipped away in the Great Hall that day.” He rolls his eyes at Fred’s expression and kicks his older brother, dodging the kick Fred sends back on autopilot. “S’alright, Fred. She’s happy. That’s all I care about. I see the way she looks at you. Like you hung the moon and proposed to her with the stars.” His smile is genuine, not sad in the way that Fred would have expected it to be after confessing, or rather implying, something like that. “I can move on with that part of my life. She’s pretty great, but she doesn’t belong with me.” He shrugs.
He stands up and claps Fred on the shoulder. “Congrats mate. I really am happy for you. Both of you.” He walks away, going back to the gangly teen with his hands shoved deeply in his pockets.
Fred leans back and picks up the champagne glass, downing it in one quick go. The glass refills itself automatically and he just holds it. He plays with the gold band on his left ring finger, twisting the metal as he watches Ron awkwardly tap Hermione on the shoulder and offer his hand to her. She smiles and takes it, letting him clumsily lead her in a way that reminds Fred of the lessons McGonagall had for the Yule Ball. He startles when a hand slaps his shoulder and someone throws themselves into the chair Ron had vacated.
George offers him a grin, face flushed from the drinks and dancing. “Hey Freddie! Staring at your bride?”
Fred laughs and takes a sip of his drink. “You know I can’t keep my eyes off of her.”
George’s nose scrunched at the blatant swooning of his twin. “Mate, I still don’t know how you got her to say yes, let alone fall in love with you.”
A loud laugh breaks out of Fred before he can stop it. “You and me both, ya bloody prat.”
George leans forward, eyes alight with mischief and curiosity. “No, really. How’d you get her to say yes? I knew she would, but not for another seven or eight years at the earliest. We both know she’s got to turn the entire ministry upside down.”
Fred snorts. “I don’t know. I think it was because she and McGonagall couldn’t reverse the Obliviate on her parents.” He sighs and tips the rest of the champagne back. “She was gutted when they got back from Australia. She was so quiet for days after, wouldn’t even talk to me. Just said that they would be Monica and Wendell Wilkins for the rest of her life. I had the ring in my pocket, you know I had been carrying it around for weeks.” He smirks and shakes his head. “She’s too bloody smart for me. Couple weeks after she came back, she told me she knew I had the ring. Asked why I hadn’t proposed yet.” He chuckles and spins the gold band on his finger. “I told her that I didn’t want to propose yet when she hadn’t been able to accomplish the foundation she wanted, had been wanting, for herself within the Ministry and the DMLE as Hermione Granger, not Hermione Weasley. She bloody well rolled her eyes at me and called me an idiot.” George snorts.
“She said that she can still do all those things, eventually become Minister for Magic, but be married before she runs, before she makes the changes she wants to make. She would still be Hermione Granger, just married.” He gets quiet for a moment and George frowns. “She said that Voldemort had already taken enough from her, she wasn’t going to waste any more of her time and life living by societal conventions. She had already lost too many people, it wouldn’t be fair to those that wouldn’t be able to live their lives to not live hers to the fullest. She wasn’t going to stop herself from being happy any longer.” He looks over at George, holding his gaze. “She wasn’t going to have her parents at any wedding she had, whether it be now or twenty years from now. Why wait? Why deny herself a day of happiness because being young and married wasn’t expected of her. I pulled out the ring and did the muggle thing that we saw in some of the movies she showed us.” He laughs and looks down. “She also told me that it wouldn’t be Hermione Weasley, it would be Hermione Granger-Weasley, so I shouldn’t worry about her not getting the credit she deserves.”
He sets his glass to the side and hoists himself up. “Now, I have a beautiful wife that I am dying to dance with. Might want to take Angelina on the floor yourself, she’s been making eyes at you this whole time.”
He hears George scramble up behind him but pays no mind to that, eyes already locked on his beautiful wife. His wife . He can’t believe it. She looks up as he approaches and her smile greets him. He offers her his hand and she places her own in his grasp without hesitation. He pulls her away from the throng of people and towards the edge of the floor. They can still hear the music, but the chaos of Weasleys’ and family friends isn’t as bright here.
He grabs her waist in his free hand and pulls her in to dance with him, slower than anyone else on the floor with exception of Fleur, her stomach not allowing for the fast dancing the others are doing. He peers down into her dark chocolate eyes, glinting in the lanterns above.
“Have I told you how ravishingly beautiful you look?”
“Only a few dozen times, Mr. Weasley.” She laughs.
“Well, I can’t seem to think of anything else when I’m in your presence, Mrs. Granger-Weasley.”
She giggles and he can feel the warmth spread in his stomach. Much the same as when it happened his fifth year in the Gryffindor Common Room. He leans down and brushes his nose against hers and gives her a quick peck on the lips. Her makeup is charmed to perfection, so when he pulls away, her lipstick is still pristine.
“Thank you.”
Her brows furrow. “What do you mean? I didn’t do anything?”
He laughs quietly. “You did. You gave me everything. Everything that I knew I wanted. Even the things I didn’t know I wanted. I never saw this for myself. If you had asked me during your fifth year if I ever thought I would end up married to the Gryffindor Prefect? I would have laughed.” She glares playfully and steps on his toes. “Ouch! Mind the toes, woman. You didn’t let me finish. I would have laughed, but deep down I would have been hoping that it would come true.”
She smiles softly up at him. “I think I would have done the same thing.”
He hums and pulls her closer, effectively only allowing for them to gently sway. Her hair smells like coconut and something floral. But her body wash smells like his. He knew she kept stealing it every time she showered. He places a kiss on the crown of her head and pulls away. She looks up at him in confusion when he digs through his trouser pocket. He pulls out a small velvet box and hands it to her. Her eyes are filled with curiosity as she turns the box over in her hands.
“What’s this?”
“Open it and find out.”
She pops the lid open, revealing an orange satin. In the folds, a golden ring with a central diamond lays delicately. The band has intricate metal work, looking like the vines of a flower. Beveling and smaller diamonds dot the band. The ring glitters in the sunlight, eerily familiar to the young witch. She looks up quickly at her new husband, confusion evident on her pretty face.
“Fred, how did you-”
“Gin showed me some of the pictures that you still have of your parents. I was actually still working on this when you told me that you knew I had your engagement ring in my pocket. It isn’t 100% like your mum’s, but I wanted you to have something that reminded you of her, other than some muggle photographs. I charmed it with Bill to have some pretty heavy duty protection spells, so it should keep you safe from anyone out there with ill-intent aimed at you. I wanted you to have a piece of her, especially when she couldn’t be here today.” He says quietly.
Her eyes shine and her chin wobbles. “It’s perfect, thank you. Thank you so much.” She slips it on and pulls him into a tight hug.
He hears her sniffle a couple of times and he runs a soothing hand down her back. She grips his robes tightly, not allowing him to move an inch. As if he would have wanted to. She pulls back just enough to look up at him.
“Thank you.”
“Really Hermione, it wasn’t a hardship to make-”
“No, I mean thank you . Thank you for giving me everything I knew I wanted. And the things I didn’t know I wanted.” She says with a knowing look.
His lips tug up and he bends down to kiss her. He hears catcalls and whistles from the dance floor, unaware that they had an audience. He flips them the bird and curls a hand in his wife's hair, angling her to deepen the kiss. He can bloody well kiss his wife on his wedding day, family be damned.
3-2002
“‘If the potion turns gold, that means the witch is with child. If it turns red, it means the witch is not pregnant and should try again at her next missed cycle.’” He reads. He looks down at the potion, glowing gold and bright. “Well, I would say that it’s fairly gold.”
She glares at him. “Oh, brilliant. You’re able to tell the color of the potion. Someone tell Dumbledore to give Gryffindor ten points.” His brows climb up towards his hairline and she deflates at the look. “I’m sorry. I just-I didn’t think it would turn gold.”
He sighs and hops off the counter. He neatly side steps the stack of tiles in front of the cabinet, making a note to finish the bathroom up this coming weekend. He wraps her in a hug and drops a kiss on the top of her head.
“‘Mione’, love, tell me what’s going on in that big, brilliant brain of yours.”
She’s quiet for a moment before she steps back and leans against the wall. “I just feel like I’m not ready. Fred, we’re so young. I would be twenty-four when the baby is born. Doesn’t this all just seem a bit fast to you?”
He looks at her and blinks. “No.” She huffs and goes to leave but he catches her arm before she can. “‘Mione’, twenty-four isn’t too young. Mum was twenty-one when she had Bill. Fleur had Victoire when she was twenty-three. Lily and James had Harry when they were twenty. Love, we have more than enough money between the both of us that we wouldn’t struggle like mum and dad did, we have a beautiful house, and a loving family.” Her eyes shone with unshed tears. “If it’s something else, please, let me know.” She sniffles and he sighs. “I know you’re still a couple years away from making department head of the DMLE, so if you truly think you aren’t ready, we can figure something out.”
The tears stream down her tan cheeks and she sucks in a deep breath. “I don’t know how to be a mum.” She whispers, like it’s a dirty secret.
He laughs. “Love, I promise I’m not hiding any kids from you. I don’t know how to be a dad either.” She says nothing and he frowns. “There’s got to be something more.”
“My mum was supposed to be here for this.”
He feels the warmth and happiness dim, the moment catching him off guard. Her tears come freely now, shoulders shaking. He pulls her into another tight embrace and lets her cry. Harsh sobs fill the silent bathroom, echoing back to him and making his own eyes water. He feels his throat tighten, wanting to let out the pent up despair. He has to remind himself that she lost more than just friends to the War.
They stay like that, for minutes or hours, lost in their own thoughts. Memories filled with loved ones, now long gone and properly buried, or in her case, alive and well but completely unaware of a daughter that they share, living her life on another continent. Eventually, her sobs lessen and she’s able to break the tight embrace that felt like the only thing keeping her from flying apart.
“She was supposed to be here. It isn’t fair . She was supposed to get to hold her first grandchild and answer my phone calls when I didn’t know what to do. I love your mum Fred, I truly do, but she isn’t my mum.”
“I know. I know , Hermione. It isn’t fair. I’m so sorry that you can’t have her here for this. I promise you, I will do everything I can to make this a happy time for you. I’ll rub your feet when they ache and swell, I’ll keep my mouth shut when you get cross with me, I’ll make food runs at three in the morning when you get hit with some ungodly craving. I’ll even go to muggle London, you just have to show me the muggle money again.” She smiles at him but her eyes are still watery. “If this is something you want, I will support you every step of the way. But if this is something that you can’t, or don’t want to do, we’ll figure it out. I’ve always imagined having kids with you, but I want you more than a dream.”
She sniffles and presses her forehead against his. “I do want this, I’m just scared. It’s one thing to fail a test, however inconceivable that may seem, but it’s another to fail a child.”
“Love, that’s just what parenting is.”
“What?” She pulls back and stares at him in confusion.
He laughs. “I’m serious! I don’t know how many stories Bill and Charlie have of mum and dad being clueless. Dad will admit it before mum would, but your first kid is always the one you make the most mistakes on. They’re your first child, you never know what to do with the first one.” She stares at him in disbelief. “I promise! Bill and Fleur will admit it too. Even though Bill helped to raise us, he still makes mistakes with Victoire. Hell, he let his two year old on one of those brooms that you give to five year olds. Cracked her head right open. Don’t tell Fleur!” He hastily adds when he sees her face.
“Is that supposed to make me feel better?”
He frowns, “That was the intention, yes. Listen, I’m just saying that the first kid is never going to be perfect. Actually, scratch that, no one is ever going to be able to raise any of their children perfectly. They’re all different. Ron was a quiet baby, only cried when he wanted to eat or be changed, go figure. Ginny was a monster. She wailed at everything, no matter what my parents did. She sounded like the mandrakes. While something may work on one baby, it isn’t always going to work on the other. It’s ok to make mistakes. I’ll probably leave out some of the products George and I are working on at some point. It isn’t the end of the world because we’ll love the baby.”
She lets out a steadying breath. “Ok.”
“Ok?”
“Ok, let’s have this baby.”
He kisses her sloppily, laughing against her lips. Joy fills him, shining brightly from within. If he had to guess, he would say that he matched the forgotten potion on the counter. Gold. Everything around him is gold. While the years post-War have been nothing short of a dream come true, this is the moment that makes everything worth it. A baby. A baby . He’s going to be a father. He can see it now.
Freckles on tanned skin, hazel eyes glinting up at him. Little teeth just poking through the surface of pink gums, a genial smile in place. Light copper hair that catches in the light, a smirks that are a tell for mischief and intelligence. Bright laughter, filling a new home, and happy faces of family members as they watch chubby hands tear into birthday gifts.
The War may have taken a lot from the wizarding world, a fact that he knew intimately every time he looked into Teddy’s round face. But this. This had to be the greatest gift he could have received from the bright rays shining from ash.
4-2006
He stands next to Ginny, Hugo squirming in his arms, and George on his other side. Ginny adjusts her stance uncomfortably, pregnant belly making her back hurt. He winces when Hugo elbows him in the sternum and readjusts him to fit more comfortably in his grasp. The little boy whines, his tiredness peeking through. The three year old whines again when he wipes his nose in the crook of Fred’s neck. Gross.
“Buddy, we have to pay attention to what mummy is saying. Remember, she’s giving a big talk today?” He whispers to his son.
“But daddy, ‘m tired.”
“I know, but mummy is going to call Uncle Harry and Uncle Ron up to the podium with Mr. Kingsley to sign her idea. We need to clap for her.”
“I know.” He says, with all the indignation that a three year old can manage to shove into a two word sentence. “‘M not dumb . ‘S just boring .”
Fred sighs. “I know, but it’s super important to mummy. If you're a good boy, I think we can convince her to stop at Diagon Alley for some ice-cream on the way home.”
Hugo’s little head bounces off his dad’s shoulder and a wide smile stretches across his face. “Really!?” He says, a little too loudly.
Fred quiets him as George throws him a curious look. “Yes, I’ll think of something to bribe mummy with. Maybe Uncle George and Auntie Angie will want to come too. Uncle Bill may even bring your cousin.”
The little boy wrinkles his nose at the mention of his older cousin. “Daddy, she’s mean.”
“She’s not mean, you just don’t like that she’s right more than you.”
The child huffs. “‘S because she’s older , daddy.”
Ginny elbows him before he can respond, effectively ending the bickering between father and son. He watches as Hermione wraps up the rest of her proposal speech. Kingsley is nodding along, as well as some of the other members of the departments, even a few of the Wizengamot. The proposal is meant to require all non-muggle born witches and wizards to take the Muggle Studies course at Hogwarts, something that Hermione even offered to teach until they found the perfect professor. Of course, McGonagall had thanked her for her generous offer, but politely declined and instead offered it to Dean Thomas as Hermione was only a month and a half away from giving birth to the twins. Thank Godrick for McGonagall.
“I will now invite Harry Potter and Ronald Weasley to join me as I, and other members of the Ministry, sign this bill into effect.” She waddles, and Gods help him if she ever hears him utter those words, to the parchment displayed. Her large belly is heavy, having dropped the previous week. She holds a quill in one hand and rests the other on her stomach as she waits for her best friends to make their way to her.
Harry hands off a content James to Bill, allowing his wife to continue standing, and glaring, unburdened. Ron kisses Hannah Abott on the cheek quickly before following behind his shorter friend. They reach Hermione and Harry gestures for her to sign first. She finishes her name with a flourish before handing it off to her friend, and then watching as Ron signs his name as well.
“Minister for Magic, Kingsley Shaklebolt, will now sign the proposal, making it a legal bill that will go into effect for this school year.”
Kingsley squeezes her shoulder and takes the quill from her proffered hand and signs the parchment quickly. He turns around and addresses those in the audience, and those that work for the Ministry.
“Today is a day that marks great strides happening within our world. Mrs. Granger-Weasley has created, proposed, and helped to pass a monumental bill. This is just the first step in helping to heal and educate the wizarding world. While there are still issues surrounding blood purities and the effects that they have had, and continue to have on our community, this is something that will change the course in favor of equality. I would like to thank Mrs. Granger-Weasley, as without her, this bill would have never come to fruition. Let us applaud her.” He ends with his own clap.
“Clap for mummy! Clap as loud as you can.” Fred says and then whistles over the ruckus of noise.
“Mummy!” The little boy chants as he claps his small hands together.
Ginny is clapping and hooting from his side, all discomfort forgotten at this moment. He looks up and catches his wife’s eye. He winks and whistles again. Her dark cheeks flush, glowing from success, approval, happiness, and the acknowledgement of her boss. She catches his eye again and he can see the radiating happiness that resides from within her. This is something that she had spent countless nights researching and writing. She had spent months in bitter disagreements with the more conservative members of her own department, and those that oversee magical education. McGonagall has endorsed it from the beginning, along with Kingsley, but the older and more rigid wizards had fought tooth and nail to have the bill scrapped and thrown out.
Harry wraps an arm around her shoulder and gives her a hug from the side, resting his free hand on her stomach. He whispers something in her ear and she nods her approval before pulling away. She wraps him in a hug that can only be described as physically awkward given her stomach. Ron joins in, wrapping an arm around each of his friends, heads all bowed together. Fred is reminded of all those years they spent in the Gryffindor Common Room, the same position, discussing how best to survive that year.
“Let’s go to mummy!” Breaks him out of his reverie.
“Ok, let’s go get her buddy.”
The toddler starts squirming in his arms again, filled with a renewed energy. “Oi, Georgie, we’re going to go to Florean’s after this if you and Angie want to come?”
“Sounds great! Let me ask her.”
Fred makes his way past Bill, muttering the same words to his older brother, getting confirmation before he continues on the path to his wife. He dodges people left and right, making his way down to where she’s still standing with Harry and Ron. He slides past McGonagall and gives Hermione a quick peck on the lips when he reaches her.
“Mummy! Mummy!” The little boy yells and tries to lunge out of Fred’s arms. Hermione laughs and gives him a kiss and tickles his belly, making him laugh.
“Absolutely brilliant, love. Don’t think I expected anything different, but you absolutely blew us away.”
“Thank you! I was hoping that everyone would be as pleased with the bill as I have been.” She bites her lip to keep her smile from growing too big.
“It was bloody perfect! I think you accomplished that based off of the absolute madhouse this place became after Kingsley finished.” She giggles and rubs a hand down her belly. “Oh! I promised the young lad that we would get ice-cream after your speech. I think most of the family is coming, Bill is for sure.”
Her nose wrinkles. “I wanted to go home and prop my feet up with some icing balm. Your children have been abusing and kicking me all day today.”
He laughs and leans down with Hugo so he’s level with her belly. “Oi! Little buggers, you better behave in there. Your mum has been kind enough to give you free housing for seven and a half months.”
“Be nice! Mummy says ‘snot nice to kick.”
She laughs and pulls them both up. “How ‘bout a nice foot rub with the icing balm when we get home from ice-cream? I’ll even make some of that tea the healer said you can have occasionally.”
Her eyes light up at the prospect of her tea. “Really? Well, that certainly sounds like a fair trade. Ice-cream and tea? What a wonderful afternoon.” She winces as a foot lodges itself in her ribs.
Fred tsks and rubs firmly on her rib where twin A likes to kick her most. He can feel his son's little foot wiggling under the thin skin. He pushes down and the foot comes free. He feels a couple of light kicks on his palm before he seems to calm down.
“Naughty little bugger, huh.”
“Gee, I wonder who he gets that from.” She deadpans.
Hugo giggles. “He ‘sn’t naughty mummy! He’s just a baby!”
“And I take offense to that, woman!”
She rolls her eyes and turns to Harry and Ron. “You two are welcome to come as well. Seems like it’ll be a family outing. Although, Ginny seems to be about five minutes away from snapping Percy in half.” She winces in sympathy for her pregnant friend.
Harry winces, but for an entirely different reason. “Uh, I’m thinking it’ll probably have to be a raincheck ‘Mione, I have to go save her brother from a horrible death.” He mutters and hurries away to save his brother-in-law from a grizzly fate.
Ron clears his throat. “I think Hannah and I will be able to go. Don’t see why not. She has the day off from the hospital today.”
“Can you take Hugo? We’ll meet you there but I want to make sure that we can stop at home really quickly so she can change into something more comfortable.
“Yeah, no problem mate. Want to come with Uncle Ron and Ms. Hannah?”
Hugo huffs. “I guess.”
Hermione smiles and turns back to Fred. The afternoon light is glittering in through the stained glass windows. Her hair is frizzy from the summer heat, but she looks better than anyone he’s ever seen. He cups her jaw and gives her a soft kiss. He hears Hugo yell ‘ew!” from where he’s looking over Ron’s shoulder as he makes his way back to his girlfriend. Fred and Hermione laugh. He brings his hands to rest on the side of her stomach.
“Have I told you that you look absolutely stunning today?”
She rolls her eyes. “No I don’t. Ginny wasn’t awake to help me with my hair and I know it looks as bad as it did before I learned any of those beauty charms in fifth year. My stomach looks massive. Granted, there’s two babies in there, but I look like a bloated whale that beached itself.”
“Oi! That’s my wife you’re talking about. I think you look stunning, absolutely gorgeous, ravishing. I can even give you more of a massage after we put Hugo down for the night.” He says with a waggle of his brows.
She scoffs. “In case you forgot, that’s exactly how we made these children.” She points to her stomach.
He laughs. “Yeah, but if I remember correctly, you didn’t seem to have any complaints about it.”
“You’re the worst!”
He pulls her in again and gives her head a quick kiss. “I’m really proud of you. I can’t believe how much you’ve been able to accomplish this year. All while being a mum, carrying our kids, and being an amazing wife.”
Her eyes sparkle as she smiles tenderly at him. “It’s because I have a lovely husband that has supported everything I’ve done.” She smirks, “But also because I’m so stubborn I won’t let the conservative old men of this community continue to create laws that divide us."
He laughs and intertwines their fingers as they head to the floo station. Gods, how did he get so lucky.
5-2009
“Mum, Bennet and George are playing with the garden gnomes again! They’re trying to get DJ to play with them too!”
Hermione sighs and puts her spoon down. “Merlin give me strength.”
“I can get them, love.” Fred says and puts the half-filled container of mashed potatoes down. “I thought Harry and Gin were outside with the little ones?”
“No, it’s ok. I should make sure the twins get inside for their bath anyway.” She brushes a piece of hair from her face. “Ginny went to change Lily, I bet Harry is stuck talking to Ron and Hannah. You know she’s had a rough time at St. Mungos lately, lots of old-school wizards rolling through."
“If you’re sure?” She nods her head. “Alright, I’ll finish putting away the rest of dinner. Send Hugo in here when you make it outside.”
He scoops the rest of the potatoes into the container and floats it to the fridge. He starts on the ham when he hears the back door slam open and quick footsteps approaching the kitchen.
“Dad! You’re not gonna believe it. Uncle Bill and Uncle Charlie were chasing the gnomes earlier, right? Well, I saw them doing Quidditch moves on them, feinting left and right. Kinda like in the sport that grandpa bugs mum to put on. So I started chasing them after Uncle Bill and Uncle Charlie went to the barn with Uncle George and Aunt Angie, and then Bennet and George started following me! So I-”
“Bud, can you tell me all about this when I put you to bed later? I asked mum to send you in so I could tell you to go get your PJs on.”
“But dad! Everyone is still here!”
Fred sighs and dumps the rest of the ham from the tray into a large bag that sucks the air out of with his wand, sending it over to the freezer with the other food in line.
“And they’ll be here tomorrow as well. It’s nine-thirty, your normal bedtime is nine pm.”
“Grandma was just telling us how you and Uncle George always stayed up late when you were my age.”
Fred brows raise. “Yeah? And if you ask your mum, that’s what led to your Uncle and I not finishing Hogwarts. She’ll say it’s a slippery slope to ride. One thing leads to another and suddenly Headmistress McGonagall isn’t sending you your Hogwarts letter.”
Hugo’s mouth opens in horror. “But dad! She has to send me my letter! I already have magical accidents.”
“Not with that attitude she doesn’t. Good boys that listen to their mums and dads get Hogwarts letters. Naughty boys that stay up late and give their dad lip end up working in Ms. Rosmerta’s bar as a barhand.”
Hugo stomps his foot. “Headmistress McGonagall wouldn’t let someone with untrained magic not go to Hogwarts. Mum told us about obscurials the other day.”
Fred can feel his eye twitch. “Fine, Headmistress McGonagall is going to send you your letter anyways, but if you listen to me and go get changed right now, I’ll talk mum into letting you come to the store and work with Uncle George and I all day on Monday.”
The little boy's eyes widen with joy and hope. “Ok! I’ll go get dressed right now!”
Fred watches as his son bolts past him and up the stairs to his room. Fred sighs and places the last of the food into a storage bin and waves his hand so the table clears and cleans itself. Gods, if you had told him that he would be bribing and bargaining with his own son seven years ago, he probably would have made a bet that that would be every interaction instead of every other. Merlin, him and Hermione made some scary children. The twins were only just turned three and already having magical mishaps. Mainly to each other, but still.
He makes his way over to the large window that overlooks the backyard and watches as his wife kneels before his sons, wiping dirt off of their smiling little faces. Bennet giggles and clumsily hugs Hermione. She pats his back before snagging George before he could tumble over his own feet. She gives each of them a kiss and continues her ministrations.
“Ever think that this would be your life?”
Fred jumps and turns around to find Bill smiling at him smugly.
“Depends.”
Ginger brows rise on the older Weasley. “On what?”
“When you would have asked me.” He says with a shrug.
“That summer before you started your seventh year.” He replies after a few moments of thinking.
Fred sighs and crosses his arms. “I would have said no.” Bill looks at him suspiciously. “You asked if I would have thought I could have this, not if I would have wanted it.”
“Why in Merlin's name did you not think you could have it? You should have seen how she looked at you when we were at Sirius’s place.”
“I think I was too busy hoping that it would happen and not paying attention to how she was actually feeling. Bill, be real. She’s the smartest witch of our age, and pretty uptight, or at least she was then, to prove it. I couldn’t take anything seriously. I don’t know if it would have worked at that point of our relationship. I think it would have exploded before it even had the chance to form something great.”
“So you wouldn’t have wanted to be in a relationship with her that year?” Bill asks.
“I dunno.” Fred says quietly. “I think I definitely would have wanted it, but I’m glad that it didn’t happen yet. I think we needed to wait. There was always something happening, something serious going on. I don’t think either of us were ready for this type of relationship at that point. So I s’pose I’m glad nothing happened that year.”
The two sit in silence for a couple minutes. They can hear laughter and squealing from the younger kids upstairs, all getting ready for bed and the sleepover that was promised to them.
“What about at mine and Fleur's wedding? I saw some of the photos that mum got before all hell broke loose. I have one where you can see the two of you dancing way in the back. Never quite remembered to ask you what that was about.”
Fred snorts. “She was telling me about how the three of them weren’t returning to Hogwarts. Said they were going to go Horcrux hunting instead.” He’s quiet for a moment. “Made me promise that if she didn’t come back I wouldn’t let McGonagall go to Australia to fix her parents' memories.” He adds, frowning quietly as he remembers that night
Bill whistles. “Damn. That’s a pretty heavy subject to discuss.”
“You’re telling me. I was still reeling from the fact that the three of them were going on some big mission. Scared the living shite out of me. Made her promise me something in return though.”
“What’s that?”
“That she would come back. Come back to me.” Fred takes a deep breath. “That’s when I started to see our future together. I was going to do everything I could to make it happen.”
Bill contemplates that. “Y’know, you two really do work perfectly. I didn’t quite see it that day at Grimmauld, but I knew it was going to last forever on your wedding night. When you danced, it was like what Fleur and I felt during our own wedding. Peace. Utter and absolute peace. With ourselves, each other, and the world. We were one. I saw that your wedding night. You got a good one Fred Weasley, you don’t ever let it go.” He finishes with a nod and claps Fred on the shoulder as he heads up the stairs to say goodnight to his kids.
“I don’t plan on it.” He whispers to the empty room.
“Plan on what?” Hermione asks from the doorway. He looks for the twins but doesn’t see them toddling around next to her. “Harry said that he would put them to bed. I think he was really just trying to escape the work talk. You know how he is about that.”
“Ah yes, so Ron and Hannah had him in their clutches and that’s why no one was minding the children.”
She rolls her eyes and comes up to him to lean against. “You should have seen his face. His eyes were completely glazed over. I don’t think he even knew that Ron was talking about the Cannons.”
Fred snorts. They stay in comfortable silence. His fingers twirl in her long hair, twisting the strands around his long digits. He can hear Bill putting on funny voices for the kids, the laughter far away in the barn as George shows them some of the discarded projects that they haven’t had time to finish. He feels her take a deep breath against him.
“You amaze me, you know that?”
She hums. “And why is that?”
“You do it all. You’re the department head of the DMLE, you’re passing more bills than anyone else has in that blasted department in the past century. Bills that are actually making a difference and helping people. You come home and you’re an amazing mother to our chaotic gremlin children, and you’re the perfect wife. You put me in my place but still support me.”
“You do the same, don’t sell yourself short.”
“I know.” He admits. “ I s’pose I’m just glad that I have all this. All of this is the best thing to happen to me. Truly.”
She smiles up at him. “And you’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me. You always know when I need a shoulder. I wouldn’t change a single thing about my life.”
He brushes his lips against hers. “Me neither.”
+1- 2017
She closes the door behind her and sits down on the steps of their porch. Fred is in the middle of the charmed field that he had turned into a pitch earlier that day. She watches as different spells fly out of his wand, disappearing into wisps of light as they dissipate. She can see him frown and cast another spell over a certain corner that had given him trouble when he was first setting it up. They only have ten minutes before the under 10s get here for their match-up.
She watches as his strong arms, clad in the sad attempt of the jumper that she made and given to him last Christmas, wave their intricate patterns over the afflicted area. The same arms that held their children until they no longer wanted to be held. The same arms that picked her up so effortlessly, even as they aged. The same arms that protected her five years ago when a weak attempt of a Death Eater raid happened in Diagon Alley. The same arms that held her close when she woke from a nightmare. Blocked her from the world, dream and real alike, as she composed herself.
Her gaze lowers to his hands. Gods, those hands. She could wax sonnets about them until the cows would come home. Those hands wiped her tears from her face. Cooked her meals when she was too tired from her new position at the Ministry to do so. Cleaned their children. The same hands that got tangled in her hair, his favorite spot for them, as they kissed. The hands that held her own to force some warmth into when the air got too brisk for her. Hands that traced over the cruel scar on her forearm as he whispered words of encouragement, love, and strength to her.
She watches as his frown turns to a smirk when he figures out what’s wrong with his previous spellwork. She scans his beautiful eyes as they light up in excitement. The same eyes that gaze at her with adoration, even all these years later. Eyes that still hold the same love for her as they did on their wedding day. Even before then, years before, if she’s willing to admit it to herself. Eyes that sparkle with mischief as he tinkers with George at the kitchen table, no matter how many times she’s told them not to. Eyes that burn with passion and stubbornness when they fight. Eyes that remain kind, even when she certainly doesn’t deserve them.
His mind, quite possibly her favorite aspect of him, never ceases to amaze her. His quick wit, humor, and compassion are among her favorite aspects. He always has a new idea to test, a new way to show his love for her and their children. She has never met anyone that can spellwork a new invention in forty minutes flat, while also being emotionally aware of his surroundings. He surprises her everyday with new knowledge on a topic she didn’t know he researched. Usually for her. She fell in love with that beautiful mind more and more each day, something that she never thought possible.
He amazes her beyond words. Gentle with their children, yet firm when needed. She was worried when she first got pregnant that she would always be the bad cop. He surprised her by giving the first time out to Hugo. Her gaze catches on his ring, making her realize she’s spinning her own on her finger. The thoughtfulness that went into it catches her off guard every time she looks at it. Chest tight with emotion, love filling every crevice of her soul. Yes, Hermione Granger-Weasley got lucky beyond words with her husband. A devoted worker, husband, and father.
“Hermione! You made it!” He calls from across the yard.
“Of course I did! I wouldn’t miss it for the world.” She shouts back to him.
He laughs and she goes back to quietly watching him work. She would come back to him every single time. No matter where he is, she will be there, standing next to him. He made her life complete. Yes, Hermione Granger-Weasley would come back to Fred Weasley, no matter if it was in life or death.
“Always.” She whispers.
Always is going to surpass this world that they had built for themselves. Hermione is sure of it.