A/N: It seems to me that I have gotten a little lost on my way back to FanFiction. So here is me trying to fix that. Also, I have been rereading the previous chapters and I feel like Hermione has lost a bit of her spunk...I cannot have that. What do you think?

Bird Songs

Chapter Seven: A New Leaf

Hermione sat alone in the very far corner of the library. Heavy, dusty volumes surrounded her littering the table with parchments and quills. Hermione rested her head on her arms on the table in front of her. She took a deep breath, inhaling the musky smell of the books and ink around her. It was very chilly in the library, but she did not mind for once. It was late and she had already finished her homework hours ago. Now she was just thinking.

Behind her, Hermione could hear quiet footsteps. She lifted her head to see Ginny slip into the seat next to her.

"It is pretty late you know." Ginny said quietly. "Like the library is closed kind of late. And it is Friday night."

Hermione just shrugged. "I noticed that when everyone left. What are you doing down here? I'm surprised you aren't with Draco."

Ginny shook her head. "Draco is waiting outside for me. I wanted to check on you. You've locked yourself in here for quite a while. Where is Fred?"

"I do not know. He keeps making an excuse about a 'thing'. It never has a name but I'm sure it goes by Jesse."

"Who is Jesse?" Ginny lifted an eyebrow, "Not that slut Ravenclaw? Are you really worried about Fred cheating on you? I know Fred has a history of fooling around with a lot of girls but he's never been a cheater."

"I know that. I just—" Hermione sighed. "I don't know Ginny. I am being jealous. I am not a jealous person." Hermione stood up and flicked her wand at the books on the table. They closed and hopped up, zooming to the correct shelves. The parchments fluttered together and straightened out into a pile before sliding into her bookbag.

"You've always been a jealous person with Fred, you just never let yourself admit it." Ginny shook her head. "Hermione, I'm saying this as your friend, do not let your jealousy ruin the relationship. As for me I've done that all on my own." Ginny stood up and walked to the library doors, Hermione hurrying behind her. The doors swung open to reveal Fred leaning against the stone wall. "Oh, I lied too." Ginny gave Hermione a half smile, "We can talk when you get back."

Fred pushed himself off the wall and stepped up to Hermione. Hermione watched Ginny faded into the darkness down the hall. She was heading in the direction of the Tower.

"Hermione, is everything okay? I feel like you've been avoiding me...again." Fred said quietly. Hermione looked up at him expecting to see a smile on his face. There was not one to be found. Hermione sighed. It was time to fess up and Ginny was right she would ruin it like this.

"I suppose I feel a little jealous." Hermione said as the two stared walking down the hall much slower than Ginny had. Fred had his hands stuffed in his jeans pockets.

"Jealous? Of what?" Fred look genuinely surprised.

"Well, that Jesse girl first off. She has been trying to get your attention since that day on the train. Then she did manage to get your attention. And I—I don't know. It is silly, but it bothers me."

Fred nodded. "I see your point. I have no interest in Jesse, at all. She keeps asking for my help with things and I keep turning her down. I know she does not need the help, honestly who would ask me for help with school work? Really?" Fred chuckled.

"You did have sex with her not that long ago." Hermione pointed out. "And don't talk like you are stupid. You are incredibly intelligent."

"I know, and I was not really interested in her then either. I know that sounds bad. But honestly Hermione, I haven't really been interested in anyone until you. I mean, yes I have had girlfriends before. But you mean a lot to me. I know it hasn't been long and I'm not saying I'm in love with you. I am saying I'm happy and I hope you are too." Fred finally took a breath. He stopped walking when Hermione was silent. "I'm guessing your silence means you aren't happy."

"What?" Hermione shook her head. "Of course I am, if I did not care, I wouldn't be jealous!" Fred could not mask the relief on his face.

The pair continued walking in silence for a bit before Hermione finally asked, "What is this 'thing' you have been doing for so long? The one you won't tell me about?"

Fred sighed, "I guess it is time to show you. I wanted to wait until everything was perfect but I don't want you questioning my morals." Hermione scowled at him and he winked. Oh good, things were okay again. Hermione reached out a hand to Fred who took it without a thought.

"Show me." Hermione smiled. Fred grinned and tugged her along the halls. Turning this way and then that way until Hermione was sure she was lost and maybe Fred was too. Right after thinking this though, Fred stopped and opened the door to his left. "Close your eyes." He ordered. Hermione looked at him suspiciously for a moment before closing her eyes. She felt him tug her forward and she stepped through the doorway.

The entire atmosphere seemed to shift. Suddenly a hundred noises filled her eyes. Squeaks, trills, pops, and whistles sounded all around her. It was brighter in here, even with her eyes closed she could tell. Warmer too. She opened her mouth to say something when Fred's voice cut her off.

"Open your eyes."

Hermione opened her eyes and gasped. All around her were cauldrons and beakers filled with amazingly colored potions. Small devices chirped at her from every which way. Boxes upon boxes lined the walls all with the label WWW. Hermione looked amazed at all of the things around her, half of which she could not even describe.

"Fred, what is this? This is amazing." Hermione looked at him and for the first time he looked embarrassed. He shuffled his feet and shrugged.

"George and I have been working on this for a while now. We want to open our own joke shop someday soon." Fred shrugged. "It isn't a big deal. We have just been throwing ideas around and improving on them."

Hermione wandered around the room carefully inspecting potion after potion and prank treat after prank treat awestruck. "Do these really make you sprout canary feathers?" Hermione laughed as Fred jumped to explain every device to her. He was very proud of himself and George clearly. "Who else knows about this?"

Fred looked at her, "Well, me, George of course, you. That's it."

Hermione looked shocked at him, "Is this what you two were doing holed up in your room all summer?"

Fred smiled slyly, "Perhaps. We also have a plot in Diagon Alley picked out for our shop. I need to find a living especially since I am graduating this year. I mean, I am an amazing jokester, what could I possibly be better at than having a joke shop?"

Hermione looked around the room once again and nodded, "I think you will be just fine after you graduate Fred." She smiled. "Honestly, these inventions are incredible."

Fred grinned his lopsided grin at Hermione before stepping closer and grabbing her by the hips. He gently tugged her closer to him. She smiled resting her hands on his arms. "Can the smartest witch of this age stand to date a mere jokester like me?" Hermione smirked and rubbed herself against him. Fred heaved a deep breath and yanked Hermione even closer to him, if that was possible, crashing his lips against hers. The two stumbled backwards a few steps before Hermione felt the back of her knees hit something soft and suddenly she was falling onto something soft and silky. A bed? "The Room of Requirement? Really now?"

Fred smirked at her as he stood near the edge of the bed looking down at his brunette sprawled across the silk, dark blue comforter. He could help the words that came out of his mouth as he told her how beautiful she was. "I would really like to fuck that smirk right off of your face." Fred laughed as Hermione sat up smirking at him.

Hermione paused and looked thoughtful for a moment before looking straight at Fred. "I suppose you could try, but I just don't think you are up for the challenge." The smirk spread across her face as Fred lunged onto the bed to grab her. Hermione let out a shriek and tried to squirm away. However, it did not take long for her laughs to turn to moans.

A/N: So I know that was short, but I am trying to get back into the swing. I also fixed most of the grammar errors or confusions in the past chapters. Feel free to go back and reread, or don't! But reviews are welcome!
xoxox