Chapter Three: Explanations Galore

Hermione stepped through the Floo with annoyance. It had been a week since she saw Fred naked, and he avoided her like a bad case of dragon pox. His room was always empty, and when she would come down to the store to go to work, he would be locked away in the offices. George tried to talk to her about his sour mood that morning, but she was running late for work and promised him they would speak tonight.

Entering the storefront, she found him sitting on a stool behind the counter as he closed up shop.

As George closed the register, he commented, "So... Fred told me about the invisibility mist gone wrong. Something new we've been working on, when you spray this mist over yourself it's supposed to turn all of you invisible, but for some reason, it was only turning whatever touches your skin invisible, hence the... naked state you found him in."

"I see." It's the only thing she can think to say.

"But I hope you know that we aren't identical in that department. Mine is much larger." George gave her a cheeky grin, and Hermione felt her face heat at the memory.

"Blimey, what's with you two? It was an accidental naked slip. No big deal, right?"

Hermione cast her gaze to the floor, her feelings for Fred invaded her thoughts, and she worried that they would show on her face. She didn't need George to know she was completely in love with his brother.

Apparently, it didn't work.

"Oh, shite. You like him too, don't you?"

Hermione glanced up to George in surprise. "What do you mean 'too'?"

George threw up his hands in exasperation. "Merlin, Hermione! The git's only been in love with you since...well I don't even know how long it's been. Your third year, maybe?"

Hermione blinked, processing George's words. "What?"

George's shoulders start to shake as chuckles racked through his body. In a matter of a few seconds, he turned into a laughing mess. Hermione could feel her face heat in embarrassment and anger, and she crossed her arms as she fixed a pointed glare at George.

After a moment, he collected himself and wiped the tears from his eyes. "I'm sorry, Hermione. It's just too perfect. Do you know how long I've had to listen to this tosser pine over you?" His voice rose as he imitated Fred. " Hermione can tell us apart. Hermione looks so pretty in her periwinkle dress. Did you notice the smattering of freckles across Hermione's nose? Blegh!"

Hermione fell into the stool beside him, feeling her heart pick up speed as she finally understood what George was saying. "But what do I do, George?"

"Here's my advice," George said as he stood and patted the top of Hermione's head. "Fred is currently hiding in the back room. I'm going home, and the shop is locked. You can either continue on with this awkwardness or go in there and finally tell him how you feel. It's your choice, but I'd recommend the latter."

With a grin and a thumbs-up, he exited the shop, leaving Hermione alone on the stool as she tried to decide what to do. She pulled the necklace Fred had bought for her birthday, and smiled as a sudden realisation dawned on her. "I'm such an idiot."

The pendant was made of rose quartz, the crystal that symbolised love and romance. Standing from the stool, Hermione knew exactly what she was going to do.

Moments later, she knocked rapidly on the door to the offices, and waited nervously in front of it. Fred answered, looking both surprised and apprehensive as he realised who had knocked.

Hermione held the necklace up from around her neck. "Did you know I wear this every day, Fred? Every. Single. Day."

Fred said nothing, but she could see his adam's apple bob as he swallowed.

"I have—" Hermione took a deep breath as she steeled herself, though her voice came out barely above a whisper. "I have loved you since I was thirteen. I wanted to go to the Yule Ball with you and tell you how I felt, but you asked Angelina, and I—"

"Hermione," Fred interrupted, reaching out to grasp her hand. "I was going to ask you to the Yule Ball." A small smile curled his lips, "I asked Angelina as George, because he was too nervous, and at the time, she couldn't tell us apart. I was going to ask you later, but by the time I finally got a chance to, you had already accepted Krum."

Hermione's mouth popped open, forming a silent o, and Fred reached up to cup her face. She leant into his touch, but another question ate away at the back of her mind. "And that picture I gave you for your birthday?"

Fred smirked, "You mean the one of you and George ?"

"What?" Hermione blinked, "Wait..." Sifting through her memories of the picture, Hermione startled. George had been half-turned when the photo was taken, and with him wearing a hat, all the tell-tale signs Hermione frequently used to distinguish the twins apart were hidden.

"Oops."

Fred chuckled, "It was the best, and worst, birthday present I got. George had a right, good laugh about it. I think the picture is framed somewhere."

"Well...what about when I kissed you?"

Fred gave her a sad smile as the conversation turned more serious. "You thought I was dying, Hermione. I tried to tell you I was fine, but you gave this speech about staying with you, which was bloody brilliant by the way, and then you kissed me... I thought it was a pity kiss, that you only did it because you thought I was dying. So when I woke up after the battle well... I thought it would be best to pretend it never happened."

His thumb left a trail of fire as he moved it gently across her cheek, and she tentatively placed her hands on his chest. "Could we... could we try again?"

Fred's sad smile turned into a roguish grin as he bent down and captured her lips. The hand that cupped her face now moved into her hair, tangling in the curls. Hermione gripped the front of Fred's suit and pulled him closer as a jolt shot down her spine. Their lips fit together as if made for each other, and she let out a small moan as his other hand circled her waist.

Fred pulled back, breaking their kiss, and Hermione let out a huff at the loss of contact.

"Oh, don't worry," Fred said with a smile, as he trailed his lips lightly over her cheek. "I plan to make up for the years I've wasted. I just have to tell you something first."

"What?" Hermione asked breathlessly, his lips igniting her skin.

He pulled back, his dark chocolate eyes hazy as they searched her face. "I love you, too."

It took a moment for her muddled brain to register what he had said. Once it did, however, Hermione pulled him down for a searing kiss that had both of them sighing and her toes curling. Then, without breaking their embrace, Fred suddenly yanked her into the office, shut the door, and pushed her against it—all in one seamless movement.

Hermione let out a squeak at the suddenness of the action, and Fred pulled back with a grin.

"I promised to make up for what I've wasted, yeah?"

Hermione swallowed thickly and nodded mutely, her brain racing too quickly to speak.

Fred's long hair fell into his eyes as he leant forward, and Hermione reached up with shaking hands to tangle her fingers through the fiery locks. His lips trailed lightly over her neck, and he gripped her hips with his large hands, pulling her flush against him. The feel of his body pressed against her sent a raging inferno straight to her core, and she whimpered when he ground into her.

"I have dreamt of this moment for years ," Fred whispered into her ear. The raspiness of his voice had her panting into the dimly lit office. His usually carefree nature was replaced with sincerity; he knew how important this moment was for both of them.

Hermione dropped her arms from his hair down to his shirt, working the buttons open while Fred kissed paths of fire up and down her neck.

"Hermione, I want you to know there's been no one but you," Fred mumbled into the side of her neck, spelling out to her plain as day that he had waited for her.

It made her heart clench.

"Me too." She replied, her voice nearly catching in her throat.

That small confession seemed to spur something in Fred, and he reached up to pull her hair free from her bun. Placing his hands on either side of her face, his fingers threaded through her mane as he pressed his lips to hers, their tongues dancing together in a new familiarity. Hermione continued to work at his buttons, and finally coming to the last one, placed her hands against his hot skin through the opening.

Fred stilled, pulling back from the kiss to lean his forehead against hers. "We don't have to—"

Hermione reached one hand up, placing her thumb over his swollen lips as she cupped his face. "Fred, if you tell me, after all this, that you don't want to shag me..."

Fred huffed a laugh, trailing his nose over her cheek. "That's just it, Hermione. I want you too much. But if you're not ready, I don't want you to feel forced."

"I'm not. I don't," she replied, her voice coming out in a whisper and heart fluttering from the care he showed. "I want you, Fred. All of you."

To make her point, she pushed the shirt from his shoulders, revealing his scared torso from his brush with death. She brushed her fingers gently over a significant mark right overtop his heart and leant down to press a chaste kiss to it.

Fred's breath stuttered as she continued a path of kisses and nips from his chest, over his neck, and back up to his lips. Pressing her mouth to his, she instantly deepened it and pulled him closer. With shaking hands, he lifted her shirt off, his rough fingers causing her to break out in goosebumps. The coolness of the air as it hit her skin made her pull Fred closer, and they both moaned as their naked torsos pressed against each other. Hermione was still frustrated, however, that her bra was in the way, and she reached behind her with one hand to undo it.

Freeing the clasp, she leant back to remove it and could feel Fred's dark eyes following her movements. Tossing the bra to the floor, she suddenly felt a surge of shyness and moved to wrap her arms around herself.

"Don't," Fred said, grabbing her wrists to stop her. "You're beautiful."

Hermione could feel her cheeks flame, but moved her arms back to her sides as Fred captured her lips again. He shifted his hips against hers, and his evident desire for her made her moan against his mouth.

"Fred, I-I need—"

"I know," he whispered against her lips, sliding his hands over her bare sides to grip her hips. "Can I?"

"Yes," Hermione breathed, "Please."

With anyone else, her begging would have made her feel like a right harlot. But with Fred, she felt safe, wanted, like she could voice any desire, and he would do it without complaint.

His long fingers made quick work of the button and zipper of her trousers, and they both worked them over her hips and off her legs. It left her in her white lace knickers, and she could feel the shyness take over again as Fred looked her up and down. Remembering his words, however, she made no move to cover herself.

Reaching forward, Hermione pulled the button of his trousers with shaking fingers, her desire creating the feeling of fire under her skin. Fred pulled away to divest himself of his clothes, and as he kicked his trousers from his legs, his obvious erection pressed against his purple pants made Hermione swallow thickly.

Fred reached out to her, and she didn't hesitate before letting him lead her towards the desk in the centre of the room. He sat her atop it, settling himself between her legs, and pressing another hot kiss to her mouth as she sat back on her hands.

"Do you trust me?" Fred asked as he pulled back.

Hermione crooked a smile, "Depends on the situation..." They both let out a chuckle. "But in this instance, yes, wholeheartedly."

"Good." Fred trailed a line of kisses down her neck, gently moving his hand down her stomach and over her knickers. Hermione sucked in a breath as he pressed his fingers right over her centre, and drove them gently back and forth over top the fabric.

Stealing another kiss, Fred drank in her moans as she felt her knickers become completely ruined from his ministrations. She reached a hand forward to pull off his boxers, but he swatted her hand away.

"I'm not done yet." He moved his fingers up, and hooked his thumb in the waistband of her knickers, pulling them down. She lifted her hips to help him in removing them and yelped in surprise when he pulled her to the edge of the desk.

Fred peppered kisses down her neck and over her shoulder, stopping briefly to pull a nipple into his mouth, which elicited a strangled moan from Hermione's lips. His tongue flicked over the bud, and he moved to the other breast to do the same.

A buzzing filled her brain at the feel of it, but that was nothing in comparison to what Fred did next. Continuing on his path, his hot mouth left wet kisses over her stomach, and he flickered his eyes up briefly to hers as he knelt between her legs.

Hermione's heart sped as she finally realised what he was doing. She opened her mouth to protest, her insecurity beginning to take shape once more, but the words never left her lips as Fred lent forward to swipe his tongue over her wet core.

A strangled moan bubbled from her throat, and her elbows buckled when Fred did it again. He tossed her legs over his shoulders, pressing his mouth firmly against her clit. Lying back, Hermione squeezed her eyes shut while he continued to devour her, and when he pressed a finger to her entrance, she choked from the desire that shot up her spine.

He pumped his finger in and out while he licked at her bundle of nerves, working her into a frenzied puddle. Hands gripping the edge of the desk to centre herself, Hermione's mind buzzed as she felt herself reach her peak.

Her moans filled her ears, and her body felt as if it was floating as Fred feasted on her. With a few more surprisingly expert strokes of his tongue, she came against his mouth, bucking her hips erratically while his fingers worked her through her orgasm.

Fred stood and wiped the wetness from his chin, a satisfied smirk on his face. Hermione could feel her face heat as he looked her over; flustered and body leaden, lying atop the desk.

Something in her changed as his hungry eyes took her in, and she felt the insecurities fade away to be replaced with confidence. All she wanted was to give him as much pleasure as he had given her, and she quickly stood from the desk. Pulling him against her, Fred's surprised face faded as she closed her eyes and captured his mouth. Their kiss turned fervent, the taste of herself on his tongue spurred her on.

In a swift movement, she pulled his boxers down and turned them around, forcing Fred to now sit against the edge of the desk. A tuft of ginger hair trailed from his navel further down, and she nervously swallowed as she took in his length. He had been soft the last time she saw him naked, so she couldn't truly tell his size, but now that he was fully hard beneath her... Well, it was a bit intimidating, to say the least.

"Impressed?" Fred asked, grinning and leaning back on his elbows.

Hermione pursed her lips and reached out to wrap her hand around him, eliciting a groan from Fred. "Well, George said you aren't identical in this department, and his is much bigger."

Fred opened his mouth to retort, but it snapped shut as Hermione moved her hand up and down again. He bucked his hips and closed his eyes when she swiped her thumb against the swollen head, and she tried not to laugh at how utterly uncontrolled Fred became as she worked him.

Licking her lips, she knelt down and before she could overthink her actions, swiped her tongue along the underside of his cock. Fred cried out in surprise, his eyes opening wide as he looked down at her. With a grin, she did it again, this time taking the head into her mouth when she reached the tip.

Fred fell back, in much the same way as she had, and something in her pulsed with hunger knowing she caused this. She experimentally moved her mouth along his length, figuring out exactly how to angle her jaw so as not to scrape her teeth against his sensitive flesh. After a few passes, Hermione finally figured out her rhythm, and Fred's moans turned to cries of pleasure as she bobbed her head. Both hands pressed on the inside of his thigh, and she moved one to grasp the base of his length.

Fred reached down to tangle his hand in her curls, wrapping them in his fist, and pulling her mouth from him. He sat up, grabbed her jaw, and pressed a searing kiss to her lips. Standing on shaking legs, Hermione gestured for Fred to scoot back and once he did, she straddled his hips atop the desk. His wet cock pressed against her still-dripping entrance, and they both moaned as his length slid against it.

Reaching between her legs, Fred gripped himself and pressed it against her core. Taking the cue, Hermione moved her hips down, sinking herself around him. There was a slight pinch of pain, and she whimpered as he fully sheathed himself inside her, stretching her in ways she never thought possible.

Their pants mingled together, and once the pain subsided and Hermione was able to move, Fred began to mumble incoherent words into her shoulder. He bucked his hips to meet with hers, causing him to hit a spot deep within her that made her see stars. Tangling her fingers in his hair, Hermione gripped roughly to anchor herself as they moved.

In a sudden and swift movement, Fred stood and flipped them over, pressing Hermione's back into the desk. From this angle, he thrust even deeper inside of her, and she cried out from the pleasure the new position brought.

Fred arched his back and bent low to capture one of her nipples in his mouth as he moved a hand south to flick his thumb over her clit. Hermione's throat felt raw as she mewled and writhed, nearing the edge again. Gripping Fred's shoulders, she pulled him in for another kiss, and she clenched around him, cresting the edge and falling down the other side. Spots danced behind her eyelids, and with a few more wild movements, Fred fell too, mumbling her name over and over against her lips.

They both panted heavily as they tried to get their bearings, and Fred peppered her face with gentle kisses as he pulled himself from her and laid down. "So, did I make up for the missed years?"

Hermione turned her head to look at him and smirked, "Not even close—"

The door suddenly pulled open, and both Fred and Hermione yelled in surprise, trying to cover themselves. George stood in the doorway, wide-eyed with a shocked expression on his face as he took in what just transpired. Fred grabbed his wand and flicked it, knocking George to the ground as the door snapped shut.

"When I said to tell him how you feel, Hermione, I didn't mean shag him in our office!" She heard him yell from the other side. "And right on top of our desk, too! Now I'm going to have to buy a new one."

Hermione laughed behind her hand, envisioning the pout George now sported on his face.

"Sorry, Georgie!" Fred yelled back, a broad smile spread across his face. "What are you even doing here? Didn't you go home?"

"I forgot something, figured you two would've at least had the decency to take this upstairs! Even though I have to go obliviate myself now, I'm just glad you both finally figured your shite out!"

Fred turned back to Hermione, the smile still turning his lips, "I am, too."

The words were said quietly, only meant for her to hear. She stood, and he pulled her in for a chaste kiss, making her laugh as he suggested another round against their filing cabinet.

A/N: Thank you so much for reading, I hope you enjoyed this little misadventure! If you liked it, I highly recommend you check out the rest of the fest. There are some seriously talented writers and amazing stories!

Thank you again to my betas for being amazing!