Fred's POV:
I blinked. Once, twice. Only then did I respond. "What?"
Hermione bit the inner corner of her lip, already deeply regretting her decision. But I couldn't help it. I had to hear it from her again.
She let out her most contained, yet angry sigh. "I said, I need your help."
I clicked my heels in joy. If I hadn't had the self control to stop myself, that is. Instead, I coughed, my fist covering my smile. Hermione, yes - the Hermione Granger - the most stubborn and ridiculously independent woman known to man, had just asked for help. My help. And I would've turned myself into Saint Mungo's if I let an opportunity like this pass.
But I didn't need her to know how much of a desperate man I was, so I paused. My hand rubbed my chin. Hermione frowned, knowing I was only pretending to be deep in thought. But I used this moment to annoy her further, letting out both a loud and deeply sarcastic sigh, rubbing my chin harder.
I looked her up and down. Hermione was at the point where steam was shooting from her ears. She stood, silent, her anger building.
"I just-" I sighed, "I'm not sure. What's the hourly pay?"
"Forget it!"
"No, no, wait." I'd grown tall enough over the past two summers to be able to reach the door before Hermione, forcing myself in-between her and it.
Her eyebrow twitched. "What?"
"You need to learn how to take a joke, Granger. Of course I'll help you."
Her anger softened. "You... will?"
She still wasn't smiling, wouldn't let herself around me, but it was enough for me to.
"Of course," I said, "I care about Elise just as much as you. And if there's something going on with her that you think we need to intervene, then I will. I trust you."
At this, her lips twisted up long enough to be construed as a smile. But it vanished before I could tease her about it. "Well, I appreciate that. Thank you."
It was strange how perfect the lighting suddenly became. It broke through the open windows and past stormy clouds, into the empty classroom. But it was nowhere near as strange as what I felt when it hit Hermione. Her gorgeous brown curls became a warm, chocolate gold. They shined and shimmered like the sun itself, warmed under the heat, softening my heart. She became almost ethereal under its magic. Arms crossed, lips pressed together, cheeks flushed, eyes glistening.
Hey, maybe that thesaurus at home was good for something.
Hermione, not having noticed the way the sun crept in the room, or me sobering up so she didn't see me stare, cocked her head to the side. "So... are you going to get out of the way?"
"What?" I whirled my head around, "Oh! Right. Sorry."
Hermione didn't protest. Happy to see I'd unlocked the door for her as well, and still had another five minutes to get to her next class. She smiled. Perfect.
***
Elise's POV:
Ron groaned, dropping his head on the table with a loud bam. Heads turned curiously.
I bit back my third laugh of the day. "Come on, Ron. You're not going to get anywhere unless you get your head from that table."
"Can't," his voice muffled, "this is bollocks. I don't want to learn this."
I ran my hands over my eyes. "But Molly said-"
"I don't care if Mum does disown me!" Ron exclaimed, "she's said it before and I'm still here."
"You know what? I'm not even going to argue. I'm sick of this too." I slammed the Transfiguration book shut.
Ron raised a hand, pointing at me. "And that is why I love you."
I held back from blushing cherry red, instead shoving all the textbooks back into my bag. I bonked Ron in the head with his and sat back down before he could catch me in the act.
"Bloody hell. El-"
I rested my chin in my hands and stared right back at him. I wouldn't let myself concentrate on how his blue eyes swam in the sun until he looked away.
He groaned in protest. "You know I can't argue with you when you do that!"
"Exactly why I do it."
Ron, knowing our game of who can make the other look away first was over, glanced at me again. "Thanks for the help. You know I couldn't do this without you."
I had to remind myself that, again, what he said was between friends. Completely platonic appreciation. But I just couldn't help the way my childish crush would flip meanings around like that. It was ridiculous. About as ridiculous as Ron ever imagining us together.
I hid another regretful blush. "It's no problem."
Ever since the year began, both Harry and Ron had been struggling with their classes. They would never admit, to neither Hermione nor I, that we were right. And that they should have studied. But they did do their part in improving by coming to us for help. And while Harry went to Hermione, Ron came to me. I was sure it was just because he wanted to escape her wrath, but a little part of me got excited to. So I accepted.
I knew Ron was smart and capable. I also knew he would get there just like he did last time - and every other time before. He just needed to believe it as much as I did.
Ron saw me avoid his eyes and leaned back, confused. But while unlucky for him and great for me, the second half of our group arrived. Hermione ushered us out of the Library at the news that Lunch was about to start. Although none of us felt the need to protest.
It was strange to think it had already been a week since we got back - the time flew by so fast. October was just under a month away. And yet, not fast enough. Because as we sat by the Gryffindor table, a new - and rather unpleasant - subject came up.
"We're all so sorry about the newspapers, Harry." Hermione said.
"Yeah, it's all complete bollocks." Ron replied. I shook my head in distaste.
We had all come to know from some other Gryffindor boys what had happened the previous night between Harry and Seamus, and it was safe to say Hermione and I weren't in the least bit pleased about it.
