For Emily. Totally fail, but not nearly as bad as expected. Enjoy ~

Hermione watches him from a distance; she always has. He's not hard to keep an eye on. After all, he does tend to make a lot of noise. She supposes it's the raucous laughter that brings him to her attention. Maybe it's the flash of red and the knowing inside that he really is unattainable.

There are times when he sees her looking, and a flash of uncertainty gleams in his eyes when he realizes what she's doing - analyzing his every move. But because he's Fred Weasley, he shrugs it off without a second thought. Because why would Hermione Granger, of all people, be staring at him?

The way she sees it, he's perfectly content with his life. A star beater, he is. And well on the way to owning a fantastic line of products with his best friend - his twin. But what if he does? Succeed, that is. It's not like he'd care what she thinks anyway. After all, she hasn't been the most supportive person when it comes to their products, has she?

At the moment he's losing a game of chess to his little brother. Hermione can't help but smile as the two exchange light insults - his a lot funnier than Ron's. She peers over her book, trying to seem interested in the game while getting a better look at the expression on his face.

He's hard to figure out. He smiles, laughs and jokes all the time. But no one can really be that happy, can they?

"You alright there, Granger?"

It takes her awhile to comprehend the fact that he is actually speaking to her, Hermione Granger, and in quiet voice she replies, "Fine, thanks."

It's painfully obvious that he doesn't believe her, but instead of pushing her (or maybe he just doesn't care?) he turns back to the game and loudly declares, "Check!" before having his Queen smashed into smithereens and the smirk on his face wiped off.

"Losing, Weasley?" Hermione mocks from her seat, her book now lying on the coffee table. It's a bold move, bolder than the few others she's made in the past. But for now it seems friendly. And she wouldn't mind being friends with him.

He feigns a cringe in reply, not showing any surprise at her sudden interest. "Course not."

Giggle. Hermione Granger giggles. She doesn't laugh, chortle or chuckle. She does the one thing that she hasn't done since she was seven and still playing with dolls; she giggles. And everyone stares.

"Uh. Checkmate," Ron says slowly, his eyes still bulging in Hermione's direction. "I'll just go... find Harry."

"And do your homework," Hermione calls after him as he bolts towards the door. At this, a sigh of relief fills the common room. She hasn't been drugged or brainwashed, after all. She's still Miss Perfect.

Fred looks up at her, just a bit confused. "Suppose I did lose after all, huh?"

"Suppose."

It's probably the longest conversation they've had together, unless you count the threats of telling their mother about certain experiments, of course. And Hermione feels a little bit accomplished, to be honest. Because a little conversation is better than none at all. And a little conversation could lead to friendship. And everyone knows there's a fine line between friendship and love.