Notes: This is my story, A Kiss at Midnight, told from Fred's perspective. If you haven't read it, I definitely recommend reading it first. Please let me know what you think. If there is enough interest I will keep it going.

Chapter 1

Fred Weasley wasn't really sure when it had started. All he knew was that it was making him mental. Even now as he and George fooled around with a few of their latest products, he was distracted. Right now, for instance, she kept sighing and fidgeting. He knew George found it irritating, but he thought it was cute. How pathetic was that?

It was true though. Somewhere along the way, Fred had fallen for Hermione Granger. Sure, he'd always had a strange attraction to her even back in school. Lee and George had made fun of him enough for it, hadn't they? But during the war when she was off saving the world with the Boy Wonder, he had realized it was a lot more than that. She was the one he had worried about. She was the one he thought about right as the final battle began. He knew then he had it bad.

He had made up his mind to tell her as soon as the war ended, but then she went and kissed Ron. RON! His stupid git of a brother. How in Merlin's name either of them ever thought that was a good idea was beyond him. Sure put a wrench in his plans though. He couldn't be the guy that hit on his brother's girl. They had realized it wouldn't work pretty quickly, of course, but by that point he was a little unsure what to do. What was an acceptable amount of time to wait after something like that? Now it had been over a year and still he had said nothing. Hadn't changed how he felt though. Yeah, he sounded like a girl. It was awful.

George had been pushing him to do something for awhile. He was pretty sure that was more because he was tired of hearing about it more than any real interest in his relationship with Hermione, but whatever, he made good points. So now here they were, all at the Burrow for the holidays, and he knew it was now or never. He had to make a move. He just hadn't quite figured out how to do that yet.

"Do you have to do that in here?" she snapped suddenly, jolting him out of his thoughts. He had to laugh out how embarrassed she looked at losing her cool. She had clearly been thinking it for a while, but was too nice to actually say anything.

George caught his eye and they sat down beside her. "What's the matter, Granger?" he whispered in her ear, trying desperately to ignore the excitement he felt at sitting so close to her.

"Yeah, Herms, are you alright" George added.

She looked up straight into his eyes. He hadn't been expecting that and it unnerved him for a second, but he was a Weasley twin, after all, and he recovered quickly. He gave her his best pitiful face, hoping to loosen her up.

"I want to finish my book," she said. "It's nearly impossible with you lot." He knew she was really annoyed, but maybe his exaggerated expression did the trick because she seemed to relax a little.

"Oh, loosen up, Granger," George teased. "It's nearly New Year's Eve. A time for mischief!" He winked then before running off, clearly suggesting it was time to make a move. But what? He was usually pretty cool around girls, but Hermione was different. She wouldn't fall for any of his normal nonsense and if he was perfectly honest, he wouldn't want her to.

"And what, pray tell, is so special about the New Year that we need to celebrate five days early?" she asked her eyebrows raised in speculation.

"It is going to be a special year, Granger, have you not heard?" he asked.

He watched her forehead wrinkle in confusion as she tried to process what he was saying. He couldn't take his eyes off of her and he thought his heart was going to jump out of his chest when she returned his gaze. Yeah, he was turning into a pansy.

"Wha-what?" she asked awkwardly. She hadn't looked away though. That was good, right? She seemed to realize and blushed before turning away. "What did I miss?"

Now or never, he thought. Summoning some of that Gryffindor courage he relied on quite frequently in his crazy life, he took a chance. "This year, sweet Hermione," he whispered, "I am going to kiss you at midnight." He laughed at her expression and decided to jump in completely, winking at her before sauntering off.

Oh, Merlin, what had he done.

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