Time Slipped By

Sorry it's been taking me so long guys! I just started a new fic (Gendrya/GOT) and I've also just been SUPER busy and TIRED! But I felt you guys deserved having this fic updated before I post chapter two of my new fic. Thanks loyal readers! Please leave reviews—they chase away my exhaustion! Happy Reading!

Chapter 9: Let Fred Kiss Her

Hermione figured Fred must be the most patient bloke she had ever dated. He definitely did not get it from the Weasley side of the family. For if there was anything Hermione knew about the majority of the Weasley's is that they did not have a patient bone in their bodies. Except Mrs. Weasley and, shockingly, as Hermione was coming to find, Fred Weasley.

It's not that Hermione didn't want to kiss Fred. She did! If there was anything she fantasized about more during her earlier teen years of fancying him, she could not recall. There was definitely a very detailed library fantasy she had about him that still made her blush if she thought about it too long. A fantasy that definitely gave a new definition to the library's "Restricted Section."

So, no, wanting to kiss Fred was not the problem. And liking him on top of that was also not the problem. Two months of dating had definitely secured in her the absolute resolution that Fred Weasley was the man she was supposed to spend the rest of her life with. He was silly and reckless for sure. He could make a joke out of almost anything. And while this frustrated her at times, for she was always the first to become serious in any situation, there was so much more to Fred than that. He was also kind and considerate. He knew when she needed him to be serious, but also when she could really use a laugh. He didn't have to constantly be loud; he could be quiet and thoughtful. He was also incredibly intelligent. She could talk to him about anything from creature's rights to curse breaking, and he could hold his own in the conversation.

These were all things she had caught on to for the most part over the years. But actually dating him, instead of just being his little brother's friend, had taken this understanding to a whole new level. Because these actions and traits were focused directly on her.

Regardless, the trait of patience still threw her off guard. Whenever they would end a date, he would walk her to her door, say goodnight, give her a warm hug, and then apparate away with a smile. That's not to say he didn't attempt a kiss after their first date. They got to her door, they were laughing, and Hermione didn't remember the last time she felt so happy. She remembers them quieting, her smiling softly up at him, him leaning down, and then…..she pulled away. Stepped back towards her door with a forced laugh and a, "I had a really lovely time tonight, Fred. See you tomorrow?"

She vaguely remembers him smiling back at her, nodding, and then replying with, "I did, too. Yes, see you tomorrow." And with that he apparated away, and she moved quickly inside the door.

Hermione wanted to cry when she went to bed that night. All she could think of was how now guy would ever want to date a girl who rejected their kiss after such a lovely date! It was like she was giving him a sign that, despite what her words told him, that she did not have a great time and she was not interested in dating him. With those thoughts, Hermione let a few tears slip down her face, and slept restlessly the rest of the night.

If Hermione had known that Fred was not to be deterred from dating her that easily, she would have slept much better that night. For just the next morning, she got an owl from Fred with a delivery of chocolates (non-pranked), a solitary white tulip, and a note.

Hermione,

I couldn't wait until I saw you today to send you these. I'm hoping that this will make up for not asking you immediately last night for another date. Maybe Friday after work? Let me know when you see me today.

Love,

Fred

The fact that he wanted to beg her forgiveness when she turned away from a kiss they both wanted was baffling to Hermione. But he was still eager to continue seeing her, so she let her worries about the rejected kiss fade to the back of her mind. And when they continued to go on dates, at least once a week, and he never tried to kiss her again, Hermione was torn between relief and annoyance, but mostly she felt safe. Safe in the knowledge that Fred seemed to be waiting for her to make the first move. For her to be ready to take their relationship to that level.

Because maybe he knew why she was so hesitant to take that step. Dating was one thing. Even serious dating. But the moment that things turned physically intimate is where Hermione knew their relationship was turning more….permanent. And permanency had a way of leading to comfort and security. And security had a way of fooling someone into thinking that they couldn't get hurt. And then they got hurt.

Hurt was something Hermione had become all too familiar with in the past few years. The loss of Sirius, then erasing her parent's memories which effectively erased her from their minds forever, then the many deaths that accompanied the war. Hermione was sick of losing people. But more importantly, she was sick of the hurt that came along with that loss. So some part of her, the more irrational part of her that she was certain was connected to one of her weaker heartstrings, figured that if she didn't kiss Fred it wouldn't hurt so much if she lost him.

And while he seemed to determine to prove to her that he wasn't going anywhere. Death had a funny way of surprising its happy and unsuspecting victims. Proof of that was in the near death that had already tried to take Fred from this world already. So that irrational part of Hermione prevailed, and she continued to let Fred end dates with a hug with no signs that she ever wanted to take things further. And he seemed….okay with all of it. Perfectly, patiently okay.

That's where the annoyance kicked in. She knew that if he tried to kiss her again before she was ready she would be forced to turn away again—ultimately furthering her guilt. But she couldn't help feel a little unwanted at times when he wouldn't even make the attempt. Fred was smart; too smart. He knew that his kiss would be rejected so he didn't even make the attempt. And she was grateful. Really. It was just the entirety of the situation which angered her. Caused almost completely by her insecurities and emotional damage caused by that blasted war.

This is what Hermione finally decided to blame this entire situation on the night of the weekly date; the war. It was the war's fault she was the way she was. She never had any problem kissing boys she liked before the war. After the Yule Ball, Hermione kissed Viktor plenty of times! Well…four times to be exact…and they weren't exactly the most amazing of kisses…but that was beside the point! This war had bloody ruined her outlook on kissing, and soon it would ruin her budding romance with Fred. She could feel it.

"So, I thought we would go into muggle London today. You said there was that ice rink you and your parents used to go to?" Fred's words drew Hermione from her bitter thoughts.

"Hmmm? I mean, yes! That sounds wonderful. I'll apparate us there once we get into muggle London." Her smile was genuine, if not a little forced due to her reeling from her previously angered thought process.

Fred seemed to notice, but didn't question it as she side-apparated them to their destination. Nor did he seem to dwell on it as they rented their skates, and she dragged him along the ice, skating backwards at times to pull his tense body across the frozen rink. And the constant laughter and Fred's incapability to stay standing for more than a few minutes at a time led Hermione to forget her bad mood as well. She was happy. Fred made her so happy. And happiness was the best thing in the world Hermione had ever been. Top of her class at Hogwarts had never felt this amazing.

This made her stare at him when she should have been untying her skates to return them once their two hours were up. He was happily doing so; ready to get the pizza she promised at a pub down the lane. But mid-unknotting, Hermione was just enraptured in everything that Fred was. And so she continued to stare until the feel of her gaze became obvious enough for him to look up from the shoes he was now pulling on, "What is it, Hermione? You look…. Well, I don't know. You look kinda amazed. Surprised I was able to get those blasted skates off my feet?"

His wink took her a bit out of her reverie, but only enough for her to be absolutely confident in her next words to him, "Kiss me."

The coy expression that was just covering his face turned rapidly to surprise. But that, too, only lasted for a moment as a soft, happy smile moved across his face, "Yeah?"

"Yeah," she nodded, "Please." Please before I lose my confidence. Before the fear takes over me again. Before I start thinking of the possibility of you leaving me.

His face moved slowly closer to her's, and just before their lips met he whispered, "I'll never leave you, love."

After two months of waiting, Hermione Granger and Fred Weasley shared their first kiss.

So what did you think? They finally kissed! I didn't think you'd appreciate it if I went about this chapter week by week. Or date by date. So, I hope you enjoyed the approach I took! Please leave reviews because they keep me motivated and happy! Thanks for reading!