Clever Mischief Chapter 17: Just a Kiss
Clever Mischief #17 Just a Kiss
Date: Saturday September 24, 2005
Location: Weasley joke shop
Characters: Hermione, Fred, George
Rating: Any Age
Hermione woke to the smell of fresh coffee. It took her a moment to remember where she was as she blinked at the unfamiliar ceiling. The sound of an Irish lilt singing some very inappropriate song, especially for this early in the morning, was all she had to hear to remember. She rolled out of bed and stretched, wondering if she should tell Harry and Ron tonight that she'd woken up in some strange man's bed this morning wearing nothing but her bra and knickers, just to see their reactions.
She pulled on her jeans but bypassed her shirt to pick up one of Seamus' that was clean and comfortable. She had a bad habit of stealing her male friends' shirts, though she liked to think of it as borrowing without intent to return. There were shirts from Ron, Harry, Kingsley, Seamus, and even one she'd swiped from Neville hanging in her wardrobe at home. A quick stop at the loo and then she was seated at the table with fresh scones and coffee as Seamus continued singing dirty songs while he got ready for work.
When he started to dance, she couldn't help but laugh. He shook his finger at her and proceeded to roll his hips in a suggestive way while singing about some bloke who was looking for love in wrong places, including an alley and a pub loo. The morning passed well as they debated how unlikely it was that anyone would go to a pub loo to find love. When he had to get downstairs to start work, she cleaned up the kitchen and then left.
On her way back to the castle, she had to pass by George and Fred's store. She shifted her bag on her shoulder and stared at their shop. After stealing one of her chocolates from the bag, despite it being far too early for sweets, she impulsively decided to stop in and say hello. She thought that seeing them would prove that it had just been a nice but unexpected kiss and that nothing had changed.
Fortunately, it seemed they were already in the store. Hermione opened the door and walked inside, wondering why she felt nervous at seeing Fred and George. It was just a kiss, she told herself when she saw them working. And you do not have a crush on Fred so stop it.
"Good morning," she greeted them as she glanced around to see the progress they'd made. " I was in the area and thought I'd stop by and say hello on my way back to the castle. "
The two redheaded men in the shop froze at the sound of her voice. George, on the left, nearly dropped his phial of Peruvian Instant Darkness Powder. Fred, baiting something that seemed to be an overgrown Muggle mousetrap, nearly snapped the wicked-looking coil on his own fingers, a goofy smile blooming across his face before he managed to school in his expression to nonchalance.
"Ah, Hermione," Fred said, recovering his powers of speech first. "Meant to nip up to the castle to say hello this week, but I didn't manage it." Actually, he had chickened out, because he had not a clue what to say or do around Hermione. He liked her. He'd admitted that much to himself. And he bloody well should have kissed her that day in the bookstore. He knew that now. It was foolish to be shy about these things- either she'd have returned the kiss and they could be onto much more worthwhile pursuits than small talk now, or she'd have shoved him away. At least then he would know where he stood. And as it was, George had been strangely reticent about discussing the matter. Fred had teased him all week about being moodier than Ginny at that time of the month.
George, for his part, felt as if all the air had been sucked out of the room. He tried not to stare at her, standing so casually in their doorway. He ignored Fred's attempts at being cool. He'd managed to avoid letting his twin know what had happened on Monday, but it was gnawing at him, the guilt that he had kissed her and the guilt that he wanted to do so again. He'd been able to think of nothing else all week but the softness of her skin beneath his fingertips and the sound of her breath just as they'd broken apart...
Fuck. And now here she was as if she bloody well owned the place- hell, owned the whole town- as if nothing had happened between them. He grunted a greeting at her, avoiding her eyes, and said to Fred, "Got that jarvey trap set yet?"
"Nearly," Fred said, not really paying attention to the question. "How's your week been, love?"
God, what had she been thinking? She shouldn't have come here. Fred was smiling in a way that made her belly go flip-flop and taunted her that the crush or whatever it was hadn't gone away. As for George, it was taking all of her best efforts not to stare at his lips.
She recovered quickly and smiled pleasantly. "You can feel free to come visit anytime you'd like, Fred," she offered as she walked further into the shop. She glanced at George and looked away before she started to blush. "You too, George."
She leaned against the counter. "My week has been busy. I'm actually pleased that it's the weekend. How have you both been this week?"
"Busy as well," Fred said with a grin. "Getting ready to open up to the public at last." He frowned when George didn't immediately chime in. He was so used to the two of them overlaying and finishing each other's sentences that it threw him off not to hear George's voice.
"Oh, you've finally decided to have a Grand Opening then? Did you think of a name yet?"
The twins exchanged their first shared look since she entered the store, confirming with each other.
"Yeah, we've got a name now," George muttered, looking critically at the dust on the shelves.
"Argued back and forth a bit about it."
Again, George didn't continue the banter, and Fred frowned, picking up his own line. "We're going with Double Trouble." He noticed that Hermione was watching him closely, and couldn't help the way his grin widened, feeling more sure about himself. Maybe he would pop up to the castle tomorrow and ask her out.
"Double Trouble, huh? That seems rather appropriate," she decided as she looked away from Fred and stared at George. He was acting odd, which made her wonder if he was thinking about the kiss and regretted it. It was too confusing. She was conflicted in a way she never had been before and hated it. Logic and order was what she liked, not chaos and awkward feelings.
"Fred, do you have those traps finished yet?" George demanded. A change in subject seemed to be in order.
Fred rounded the front desk to go poke his twin in the ribs.
"Hey!"
"If you're so preoccupied with those stupid jarveys, you set the traps."
"It's not-" George began, but then he shut himself up. If it wasn't the infestation of those overgrown ferrets, then he'd have to explain what it was that was bothering him, and that would be uncomfortable for all of them. He cast a quick glance at Hermione and caught her staring at his lips. Oh god, was she still thinking about the kiss too? His stomach did a strange little backflip while he told himself to calm the fuck down.
"Not what?" Fred pressed.
"Nothing." He finally turned to Hermione and really looked at her for the first time. Was that a man's shirt she was wearing? He couldn't stop the heated flash of jealousy that burned through him. No woman would own a shirt with that logo. "Interesting fashion choice."
Hermione shifted subtly when George looked at her, looking away from him and then realized she was staring at Fred, which didn't help either. She suddenly took an interest in a display on the counter before George's comment registered. She smiled. "I suppose so," she said as she looked down at Seamus' shirt. "It was what I picked up when I rolled out of bed this morning. You don't think it suits me?"
George, meanwhile, was cursing inwardly. She was staring at his twin. She wanted Fred. That... thing on Monday had been a fluke. "Well, you're not a man," he reasoned, "and that's a man's shirt."
Fred hadn't picked up on that fact immediately, but he looked closer and realised that his brother was right. Wait- had she spent the night with someone other man? Had he been imagining the looks he thought he'd been sharing with her this morning?
"I rather like it," she told them as she smoothed down the T-shirt. She hadn't paid much attention to it this morning and now noticed that it was one she'd teased Seamus about before. A large arrow was on the front, one direction pointing up with the words 'The Man' and the other end pointing down with 'The Legend' written in bold letters. It was rather obvious now how they'd known it wasn't her shirt. She laughed as she felt a little of the tension leave her. "It's actually one of his nicer ones. Most are downright filthy or rude."
Both Fred and George did a double take that would have been highly comical had either seen the other. As it was, though, they were both staring at her as if they'd been slapped in the face.
"His?" they demanded in unison, but George snapped himself out of his shock first, his tone dropping at least twenty degrees.
"I didn't realise you had a boyfriend, Hermione. He doesn't sound like your type." He abruptly turned back to the shelves and began to fiddle with the Sunshine Explosions.
Fred was too busy chastising himself inwardly for not guessing that she was with someone to say anything out loud. Of course she had a boyfriend. She was beautiful and smart and witty. And taken. Damn it all to hell, he needed a very big drink.
"Boyfriend?" Hermione sputtered as she gaped at George's back, his tone stinging as he accused her of actually kissing him while she was with another man. "I don't have a boyfriend and haven't in more years that I care to count. This shirt belongs to Seamus. He is a boy and he happens to be a good friend of mine but he's not my boyfriend," she explained with a frown, a bit annoyed with herself for feeling a need to defend her wardrobe to them.
Fred relaxed immediately. Well, that was all right then, wasn't it? George, on the other hand, tensed even further. Damn it, damn it, damn it, he should not be filled with irrational glee at his. It wasn't good, and he knew it would bring trouble down on his head.
"Seamus... the one in our house?" Fred asked, elated by the confirmation that she was single, though he was a little baffled by it. "Is he still around, then? Here in town?"
"Yes, Seamus from our house," she confirmed as she watched George for a sign that he recognized she'd not kissed him on a whim. Of course, then she looked at Fred and felt the butterflies in her tummy and couldn't think about anything except what would have happened if he'd just kissed her at the bookstore when she thought he might.
This had to stop. She was just friends with them both. It was just a kiss that neither had planned and meant nothing to George, and Fred had no idea he was the subject of her current immature infatuation and that was the way things had to stay if she planned to keep her sanity. "He's been in Hogsmeade since the war. He makes me the most sinful chocolates and, thus, I am his willing slave."
Fred's smile grew playful and he winked at her. "So what would happen if I started making you the most sinful chocolates in the world?"
"Oh, I don't know if you'd ever be able to make them as good as Shay," she teased in a way that she suddenly realized could be construed as flirting. She couldn't flirt with Fred! Not when she kept thinking about kissing George. It wasn't fair despite the fact that she was also thinking about kissing Fred, strictly to prove to herself that there was nothing at all happening besides friendship between her and either of the twins.
George slammed his fist against a shelf, two glass bottles toppling off its edge and smashing on the floor. Fuck. He couldn't stand here and listen to this. Not when he wanted her. Damn it, he wanted her, and this had to stop right now. "I'm sorry," he muttered, bending to cast a quick reparo charm on the bottles. "I'll just... things in the back I need to check."
"George!" Fred called, but George all but ran across the shop and disappeared through the door leading into the back room. Fred shook his head, staring after his twin. "I don't know what's wrong with that lunatic, I really don't."
She turned to look at Fred, suddenly aware of how close they were now standing. Without the counter between them. She glanced at his lips and licked her own before she looked up and met his gaze. "Maybe he's just having a bad morning," she suggested softly.
What Fred meant to do was turn around to face her so that he could apologize for George's odd behaviour. Really, that had been his plan. And he did turn, but she was there- right there before him, as close as they'd been in the bookstore. And really, what did he have to lose?
"Hermione," he murmured, and he reached out, suddenly feeling awkward, to brush his fingertips against her cheek. He wanted to give her plenty of opportunity to pull away if she didn't want this. His clumsiness melted away as he leaned forward. "Hermione," he whispered again against her lips before he kissed her at last, asking a question that he didn't know how to put into words.
His skin was warm and his fingers slightly rough against her cheek. She didn't think about walking away, didn't hear a voice tell her this was wrong after she'd just kissed his brother not even a week ago, didn't do anything except sway towards him as he whispered her name.
"Fred," she whispered in reply, wanting him to know she knew who she was kissing, and then his lips were pressed against hers. Her eyes fluttered shut and she leaned into the kiss, her hand moving up to grip his hair as she parted her lips beneath his.
It was just as he'd been imagining it, even better than he'd dreamed it, her fingers in his hair sending tingles through him as his lips moved softly against hers. Not pushing, not yet, but he couldn't help the quiet moan that escaped his throat as it dawned on him that she was kissing him back, welcoming him. He wrapped his arms around her waist, holding her close, tracing small spirals on her back. Gently, he stroked her lower lip with his tongue, teasing and testing to see how she would react, if she wanted to take it further.
Fred's moan made her press closer and she whimpered softly as he teased her without deepening the kiss. She forgot everything the moment their lips met and could only think about this kiss and how desperately she wanted more. She lightly stroked his tongue with hers before she kissed him back. It was gentle and slow but she could feel past emotions rising up as the kiss became more intense.
Oh yes, Fred thought, parting her lips to follow her tongue with his own, tasting her mouth now, one hand moving to tangle in her hair. Why hadn't he done this last week? Or last month? Or hell, years ago? This was absolutely perfect, and as the kiss heated up, he abandoned conscious thought and let himself be guided by instinct, sucking her tongue into his mouth, rocking her slowly.
He tasted of toothpaste, a soothing minty flavor that she found very pleasant. Hermione pulled his hair gently and pulled back enough to nibble on his bottom lip, rubbing her nose against his before she kissed him again. It was a slow building passion that began to rise as she swayed against him and returned the kiss in a way she hoped made his toes curl.
His toes curled. For someone who hadn't had a boyfriend in years, the girl could kiss, and Fred's need was spiking as he held her, deepening the kiss further, his tongue dancing with hers, and almost unconsciously, he slipped his hand underneath the rude t-shirt, seeking the soft skin of her back.
The kiss deepened even more, if that was possible, but still maintained a tender gentleness that still managed to feel passionate. She was startled when she felt his fingers on her bare skin and pulled back. "Fred." She said his name softly as she felt her cheeks flush with color. She shouldn't have kissed him when she'd just kissed George the other day. God, it had been such a good kiss and she didn't regret it at all but it just made things far too complicated.
"I should go now. I need to get ready for my date with Harry and Ron tonight and things are just too confusing at the moment. Tell George I said good-bye. I need to go. Right. I'm sorry." She ran her fingers through her hair as she stepped around the counter, picked up her bag, and left after taking one last glance Fred, who looked as confused as she felt.
Fred stared at her as she whirled around and left, one hand drifting to touch his swollen lips. What the hell? Only a moment ago she was kissing him back and now...
Shaking his head, he spun around and nearly jumped out of his skin. "George! I didn't see you there, brother."
George's jaw was tight, his eyes blazing, and Fred wondered just how long he'd been there, how much he had seen. But surely watching Fred kiss Hermione wasn't enough to draw out that ugly expression on his face? George had encouraged this, after all. "George, what's wrong?"
George bristled. "Nothing. Nothing at all. I need some air." He pushed past his twin and out the door, leaving Fred thoroughly bewildered. George just kept walking, vibrating with rage and jealousy. He didn't know what to think, either about his own feelings or about the way she had kissed them both. When had life gotten so complicated? Oh yes, the day they'd walked into Hermione Granger's library.
Date: Saturday September 24, 2005
Location: Weasley joke shop
Characters: Hermione, Fred, George
Rating: Any Age
Hermione woke to the smell of fresh coffee. It took her a moment to remember where she was as she blinked at the unfamiliar ceiling. The sound of an Irish lilt singing some very inappropriate song, especially for this early in the morning, was all she had to hear to remember. She rolled out of bed and stretched, wondering if she should tell Harry and Ron tonight that she'd woken up in some strange man's bed this morning wearing nothing but her bra and knickers, just to see their reactions.
She pulled on her jeans but bypassed her shirt to pick up one of Seamus' that was clean and comfortable. She had a bad habit of stealing her male friends' shirts, though she liked to think of it as borrowing without intent to return. There were shirts from Ron, Harry, Kingsley, Seamus, and even one she'd swiped from Neville hanging in her wardrobe at home. A quick stop at the loo and then she was seated at the table with fresh scones and coffee as Seamus continued singing dirty songs while he got ready for work.
When he started to dance, she couldn't help but laugh. He shook his finger at her and proceeded to roll his hips in a suggestive way while singing about some bloke who was looking for love in wrong places, including an alley and a pub loo. The morning passed well as they debated how unlikely it was that anyone would go to a pub loo to find love. When he had to get downstairs to start work, she cleaned up the kitchen and then left.
On her way back to the castle, she had to pass by George and Fred's store. She shifted her bag on her shoulder and stared at their shop. After stealing one of her chocolates from the bag, despite it being far too early for sweets, she impulsively decided to stop in and say hello. She thought that seeing them would prove that it had just been a nice but unexpected kiss and that nothing had changed.
Fortunately, it seemed they were already in the store. Hermione opened the door and walked inside, wondering why she felt nervous at seeing Fred and George. It was just a kiss, she told herself when she saw them working. And you do not have a crush on Fred so stop it.
"Good morning," she greeted them as she glanced around to see the progress they'd made. " I was in the area and thought I'd stop by and say hello on my way back to the castle. "
The two redheaded men in the shop froze at the sound of her voice. George, on the left, nearly dropped his phial of Peruvian Instant Darkness Powder. Fred, baiting something that seemed to be an overgrown Muggle mousetrap, nearly snapped the wicked-looking coil on his own fingers, a goofy smile blooming across his face before he managed to school in his expression to nonchalance.
"Ah, Hermione," Fred said, recovering his powers of speech first. "Meant to nip up to the castle to say hello this week, but I didn't manage it." Actually, he had chickened out, because he had not a clue what to say or do around Hermione. He liked her. He'd admitted that much to himself. And he bloody well should have kissed her that day in the bookstore. He knew that now. It was foolish to be shy about these things- either she'd have returned the kiss and they could be onto much more worthwhile pursuits than small talk now, or she'd have shoved him away. At least then he would know where he stood. And as it was, George had been strangely reticent about discussing the matter. Fred had teased him all week about being moodier than Ginny at that time of the month.
George, for his part, felt as if all the air had been sucked out of the room. He tried not to stare at her, standing so casually in their doorway. He ignored Fred's attempts at being cool. He'd managed to avoid letting his twin know what had happened on Monday, but it was gnawing at him, the guilt that he had kissed her and the guilt that he wanted to do so again. He'd been able to think of nothing else all week but the softness of her skin beneath his fingertips and the sound of her breath just as they'd broken apart...
Fuck. And now here she was as if she bloody well owned the place- hell, owned the whole town- as if nothing had happened between them. He grunted a greeting at her, avoiding her eyes, and said to Fred, "Got that jarvey trap set yet?"
"Nearly," Fred said, not really paying attention to the question. "How's your week been, love?"
God, what had she been thinking? She shouldn't have come here. Fred was smiling in a way that made her belly go flip-flop and taunted her that the crush or whatever it was hadn't gone away. As for George, it was taking all of her best efforts not to stare at his lips.
She recovered quickly and smiled pleasantly. "You can feel free to come visit anytime you'd like, Fred," she offered as she walked further into the shop. She glanced at George and looked away before she started to blush. "You too, George."
She leaned against the counter. "My week has been busy. I'm actually pleased that it's the weekend. How have you both been this week?"
"Busy as well," Fred said with a grin. "Getting ready to open up to the public at last." He frowned when George didn't immediately chime in. He was so used to the two of them overlaying and finishing each other's sentences that it threw him off not to hear George's voice.
"Oh, you've finally decided to have a Grand Opening then? Did you think of a name yet?"
The twins exchanged their first shared look since she entered the store, confirming with each other.
"Yeah, we've got a name now," George muttered, looking critically at the dust on the shelves.
"Argued back and forth a bit about it."
Again, George didn't continue the banter, and Fred frowned, picking up his own line. "We're going with Double Trouble." He noticed that Hermione was watching him closely, and couldn't help the way his grin widened, feeling more sure about himself. Maybe he would pop up to the castle tomorrow and ask her out.
"Double Trouble, huh? That seems rather appropriate," she decided as she looked away from Fred and stared at George. He was acting odd, which made her wonder if he was thinking about the kiss and regretted it. It was too confusing. She was conflicted in a way she never had been before and hated it. Logic and order was what she liked, not chaos and awkward feelings.
"Fred, do you have those traps finished yet?" George demanded. A change in subject seemed to be in order.
Fred rounded the front desk to go poke his twin in the ribs.
"Hey!"
"If you're so preoccupied with those stupid jarveys, you set the traps."
"It's not-" George began, but then he shut himself up. If it wasn't the infestation of those overgrown ferrets, then he'd have to explain what it was that was bothering him, and that would be uncomfortable for all of them. He cast a quick glance at Hermione and caught her staring at his lips. Oh god, was she still thinking about the kiss too? His stomach did a strange little backflip while he told himself to calm the fuck down.
"Not what?" Fred pressed.
"Nothing." He finally turned to Hermione and really looked at her for the first time. Was that a man's shirt she was wearing? He couldn't stop the heated flash of jealousy that burned through him. No woman would own a shirt with that logo. "Interesting fashion choice."
Hermione shifted subtly when George looked at her, looking away from him and then realized she was staring at Fred, which didn't help either. She suddenly took an interest in a display on the counter before George's comment registered. She smiled. "I suppose so," she said as she looked down at Seamus' shirt. "It was what I picked up when I rolled out of bed this morning. You don't think it suits me?"
George, meanwhile, was cursing inwardly. She was staring at his twin. She wanted Fred. That... thing on Monday had been a fluke. "Well, you're not a man," he reasoned, "and that's a man's shirt."
Fred hadn't picked up on that fact immediately, but he looked closer and realised that his brother was right. Wait- had she spent the night with someone other man? Had he been imagining the looks he thought he'd been sharing with her this morning?
"I rather like it," she told them as she smoothed down the T-shirt. She hadn't paid much attention to it this morning and now noticed that it was one she'd teased Seamus about before. A large arrow was on the front, one direction pointing up with the words 'The Man' and the other end pointing down with 'The Legend' written in bold letters. It was rather obvious now how they'd known it wasn't her shirt. She laughed as she felt a little of the tension leave her. "It's actually one of his nicer ones. Most are downright filthy or rude."
Both Fred and George did a double take that would have been highly comical had either seen the other. As it was, though, they were both staring at her as if they'd been slapped in the face.
"His?" they demanded in unison, but George snapped himself out of his shock first, his tone dropping at least twenty degrees.
"I didn't realise you had a boyfriend, Hermione. He doesn't sound like your type." He abruptly turned back to the shelves and began to fiddle with the Sunshine Explosions.
Fred was too busy chastising himself inwardly for not guessing that she was with someone to say anything out loud. Of course she had a boyfriend. She was beautiful and smart and witty. And taken. Damn it all to hell, he needed a very big drink.
"Boyfriend?" Hermione sputtered as she gaped at George's back, his tone stinging as he accused her of actually kissing him while she was with another man. "I don't have a boyfriend and haven't in more years that I care to count. This shirt belongs to Seamus. He is a boy and he happens to be a good friend of mine but he's not my boyfriend," she explained with a frown, a bit annoyed with herself for feeling a need to defend her wardrobe to them.
Fred relaxed immediately. Well, that was all right then, wasn't it? George, on the other hand, tensed even further. Damn it, damn it, damn it, he should not be filled with irrational glee at his. It wasn't good, and he knew it would bring trouble down on his head.
"Seamus... the one in our house?" Fred asked, elated by the confirmation that she was single, though he was a little baffled by it. "Is he still around, then? Here in town?"
"Yes, Seamus from our house," she confirmed as she watched George for a sign that he recognized she'd not kissed him on a whim. Of course, then she looked at Fred and felt the butterflies in her tummy and couldn't think about anything except what would have happened if he'd just kissed her at the bookstore when she thought he might.
This had to stop. She was just friends with them both. It was just a kiss that neither had planned and meant nothing to George, and Fred had no idea he was the subject of her current immature infatuation and that was the way things had to stay if she planned to keep her sanity. "He's been in Hogsmeade since the war. He makes me the most sinful chocolates and, thus, I am his willing slave."
Fred's smile grew playful and he winked at her. "So what would happen if I started making you the most sinful chocolates in the world?"
"Oh, I don't know if you'd ever be able to make them as good as Shay," she teased in a way that she suddenly realized could be construed as flirting. She couldn't flirt with Fred! Not when she kept thinking about kissing George. It wasn't fair despite the fact that she was also thinking about kissing Fred, strictly to prove to herself that there was nothing at all happening besides friendship between her and either of the twins.
George slammed his fist against a shelf, two glass bottles toppling off its edge and smashing on the floor. Fuck. He couldn't stand here and listen to this. Not when he wanted her. Damn it, he wanted her, and this had to stop right now. "I'm sorry," he muttered, bending to cast a quick reparo charm on the bottles. "I'll just... things in the back I need to check."
"George!" Fred called, but George all but ran across the shop and disappeared through the door leading into the back room. Fred shook his head, staring after his twin. "I don't know what's wrong with that lunatic, I really don't."
She turned to look at Fred, suddenly aware of how close they were now standing. Without the counter between them. She glanced at his lips and licked her own before she looked up and met his gaze. "Maybe he's just having a bad morning," she suggested softly.
What Fred meant to do was turn around to face her so that he could apologize for George's odd behaviour. Really, that had been his plan. And he did turn, but she was there- right there before him, as close as they'd been in the bookstore. And really, what did he have to lose?
"Hermione," he murmured, and he reached out, suddenly feeling awkward, to brush his fingertips against her cheek. He wanted to give her plenty of opportunity to pull away if she didn't want this. His clumsiness melted away as he leaned forward. "Hermione," he whispered again against her lips before he kissed her at last, asking a question that he didn't know how to put into words.
His skin was warm and his fingers slightly rough against her cheek. She didn't think about walking away, didn't hear a voice tell her this was wrong after she'd just kissed his brother not even a week ago, didn't do anything except sway towards him as he whispered her name.
"Fred," she whispered in reply, wanting him to know she knew who she was kissing, and then his lips were pressed against hers. Her eyes fluttered shut and she leaned into the kiss, her hand moving up to grip his hair as she parted her lips beneath his.
It was just as he'd been imagining it, even better than he'd dreamed it, her fingers in his hair sending tingles through him as his lips moved softly against hers. Not pushing, not yet, but he couldn't help the quiet moan that escaped his throat as it dawned on him that she was kissing him back, welcoming him. He wrapped his arms around her waist, holding her close, tracing small spirals on her back. Gently, he stroked her lower lip with his tongue, teasing and testing to see how she would react, if she wanted to take it further.
Fred's moan made her press closer and she whimpered softly as he teased her without deepening the kiss. She forgot everything the moment their lips met and could only think about this kiss and how desperately she wanted more. She lightly stroked his tongue with hers before she kissed him back. It was gentle and slow but she could feel past emotions rising up as the kiss became more intense.
Oh yes, Fred thought, parting her lips to follow her tongue with his own, tasting her mouth now, one hand moving to tangle in her hair. Why hadn't he done this last week? Or last month? Or hell, years ago? This was absolutely perfect, and as the kiss heated up, he abandoned conscious thought and let himself be guided by instinct, sucking her tongue into his mouth, rocking her slowly.
He tasted of toothpaste, a soothing minty flavor that she found very pleasant. Hermione pulled his hair gently and pulled back enough to nibble on his bottom lip, rubbing her nose against his before she kissed him again. It was a slow building passion that began to rise as she swayed against him and returned the kiss in a way she hoped made his toes curl.
His toes curled. For someone who hadn't had a boyfriend in years, the girl could kiss, and Fred's need was spiking as he held her, deepening the kiss further, his tongue dancing with hers, and almost unconsciously, he slipped his hand underneath the rude t-shirt, seeking the soft skin of her back.
The kiss deepened even more, if that was possible, but still maintained a tender gentleness that still managed to feel passionate. She was startled when she felt his fingers on her bare skin and pulled back. "Fred." She said his name softly as she felt her cheeks flush with color. She shouldn't have kissed him when she'd just kissed George the other day. God, it had been such a good kiss and she didn't regret it at all but it just made things far too complicated.
"I should go now. I need to get ready for my date with Harry and Ron tonight and things are just too confusing at the moment. Tell George I said good-bye. I need to go. Right. I'm sorry." She ran her fingers through her hair as she stepped around the counter, picked up her bag, and left after taking one last glance Fred, who looked as confused as she felt.
Fred stared at her as she whirled around and left, one hand drifting to touch his swollen lips. What the hell? Only a moment ago she was kissing him back and now...
Shaking his head, he spun around and nearly jumped out of his skin. "George! I didn't see you there, brother."
George's jaw was tight, his eyes blazing, and Fred wondered just how long he'd been there, how much he had seen. But surely watching Fred kiss Hermione wasn't enough to draw out that ugly expression on his face? George had encouraged this, after all. "George, what's wrong?"
George bristled. "Nothing. Nothing at all. I need some air." He pushed past his twin and out the door, leaving Fred thoroughly bewildered. George just kept walking, vibrating with rage and jealousy. He didn't know what to think, either about his own feelings or about the way she had kissed them both. When had life gotten so complicated? Oh yes, the day they'd walked into Hermione Granger's library.