Defining Secrets // Ron Weasley

Chapter Four: The Power Of Friendship and Some Kind Of Feeling

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.