Chapter Text
Frustrated Hermione hurled the book across the oaken table. She could feel Madam Pince jolting somewhere as the book smacked down hard on the surface of the wood. If anyone could sense the manhandling of non-feeling items such as books it would the Hogwarts librarian. A small voice inside Hermione whispered out a cosmic apology to both the book and the guardian of the books but she could not bring herself to be truly sorry about it ´- she was just too annoyed to truly care. The annoyance had been building for a long time and she needed to take it out on someone or something, even if it happened to be one of Madam Pince’s beloved books.
‘Yeez. Granger what did that book ever do to you?’
His voice had appeared so suddenly behind her that Hermione jumped in her chair. Her heart was beating loudly in her ears and throat as the red head sat down beside her at the table. She looked up and met his brown eyes still trying to suppress the yelp of surprise that had nearly escaped her mouth moments before. Eyes sparkling with mischief as always he waited for her to answer or possibly hex him. ‘Hi Fred,’ she said “Are you lost? This is the library you know.’
‘Oh burn. It’s not like the library has a Weasley-repelling charm on it,’ He answered not looking at all hurt by her sarcastic remark.
‘It sure seems like Ronald thinks so’, she remarked curtly. At the mentioning of his younger brother Ron, Hermione could see the twin’s expression change and it was like watching someone connect the final pieces of a puzzle. Bullocks. He probably already knew why she had taken her anger out on that poor book. He was nothing if not perceptive that boy.
‘Touché,’ he grinned. But Hermione failed to return his smile. ‘Soo what has he done this time?’ Fred sighed.
‘Who?’ Hermione said feigning ignorance.
‘Please Hermione. Even though it must be hard to believe that someone who looks as ravishing as I do could have brains as wells that is the case. We both know who I’m talking about,’ He shot up his eyebrows as he tilted his face towards her giving her a knowing look, ‘No one ever calls him Ronald except when he’s done something really stupid which of course isn’t the most unusual of things for dear Ronnikins to do, however my impeccable senses tell me that he really stepped in it this time,’ He said eying the book Hermione had hurled across the table as he walked up, ‘So I ask you again Granger was has he done this time? Did he get into another why do you have to hang out with my dashing older brother-tirade again?’
Now it was her turn to sigh but seeing no other way Hermione started, ‘Not quite. It isn’t so much was he has done but more like what he hasn’t done really. Both him and Harry actually. I know we’ve been having some issues lately but I still thought …’ She said finally meeting Fred’s eyes.
‘Oh,’ He said the word shaping his mouth as understanding lit his eyes, “Neither of them has asked you. Have they? To the Yule Ball I mean.’
She shook her head but didn’t say anything. She didn’t know what to say. Talking to anyone let one the brother of one of her best friends made Hermione feel like a small child ratting out someone who had not really done anything wrong except perhaps not notice her.
‘I can see why you’re angry with them but I don’t actually think it’s anything you have to take personally Hermione. You know Ron. He is just totally clueless when it comes to girls. And a lot of other things for that matter. But really Hermione he wouldn’t know what a girl wanted even if it was written on her forehead. I’m thinking he might actually still not be entirely sure even if she told him herself. Would probably think it was a trick or something. And Harry he is just way to stressed with being Harry to think clearly about anything right now. And most of the time really. But it’s a wonder he manages to tie his shoes in the currents state he’s in.’ Fred said smiling at her.
Hermione laughed while nodding her head so her hair bumped along, ‘You’re probably right. Not the most perceptive ones those two.’
As Fred laughed his eyes lit up. They really were a very nice shade of brown. Sort of like the hot chocolate her mother used to make her whenever it rained outside. They would curl up together on the couch complete covered in blankets sipping the hot drink and waiting for it to stop raining.
‘’Mione you there?’ Fred asked looking puzzled at her vacant facial expression.
She shook her head trying to untangle herself from thoughts of brown eyes and hot chocolate. ‘Sorry I just got lost in a thought. I have a charms essay do tomorrow.’
‘Sure,’ Fred said not sounding convinced at all by her explanation, ‘I just asked, all joking aside you know, if you really want my baby brother to take you to the dance? ‘Cause I could give him a nudge in the right direction you know.’
‘Seeing as he is Ron, I think it would have to be more of a push.’ Hermione said and they both started laughing. Just in that moment Madam Pince whirled around the corner with her most librarian-look on her face. Both Fred and Hermione seized to laugh instantly.
‘Mr Weasley why am I not surprised to find you at the center of this roaring party in the midst of our most sacred study hall,’ She said between her teeth as she looked at Fred with a look bordering on repulsion on her face, ‘Miss Granger however, I had expected more from’. Hermione looked down at the table in shame. ‘Out! Both of you and I don’t want to see either of you in my library for the next week.’ She hissed again. Hermione scrambled her things together and nearly ran out of the room under the burning eyes of its keeper.
Out in the corridor Hermione stopped to breathe but only managed one breath before she locked eyes with Fred and they both crunched over with laughter. ‘This is the day which will forever be remembered as the day Hermione Jean Granger was kicked out of the library for being too noisy. Songs will be sung of this incident but generation to come will never believe it to be true.’ Fred said in a dramatic voice resembling very much that of the somewhat pompous Gryffindor house ghost Sir Nicholas.
Hermione shoved him but couldn’t stop laughing as she said, ‘I never would have gotten Madam Pince that angry if it hadn’t been for you Weasley.’ She started walking down the corridor in a tempo that matched her fast beating heart, ‘I told you that you and your family have been sent here to complicate everything for me.’ Hermione said just as Fred caught up with her.
‘And how dull your life would be without us.’ He winked as he handed her the book, she had thrown across the table back in the library. In the confusion she must have forgot to bring it along and Hermione quickly slid the black leather book it into her already heavy bag. The strap cut further into her shoulder and she hissed quietly at the pain.
‘Let me get that.’ Fred said and before she could say anything against it, he had snatched her bag off her shoulder and slung it across his own. ‘Wow. You do bring a lot of books with you at all times eh?’ He said as they continued to walk side by side.
‘You don’t have to do that you know.’ Hermione said and looked up at him, ‘I am quite capable of lifting my own books.’
He ignored her annoyed tone and waved her words away, ‘I know, but that’s what friends are for Granger and besides I did just get you kicked out of your most favorite place on earth. Speaking of the library do you also go there when something is bothering you?’.
Hermione was about to make a sarcastic remark, but when she looked at the taller Gryffindor’s face she saw only curiosity. And mischief. But the day that was missing from the face of Fred Weasley would be the day something was very wrong indeed. She thought about it for a moment, ‘I guess so. I just never thought of it before I suppose.’
‘Makes sense though. Doesn’t it? I bet not a lot of people don’t have the courage to interrupt Hermione Jean Granger while she studies’ Fred laughed at his own joke and winked down at her. Something he seemed to be doing an awful lot this afternoon. Hermione noticed that he had used her middle name again – even though they had been spending more time together lately she hadn’t thought he actually knew what her middle name was. She cast the thought away.
Hermione arched her eyebrows. ‘You did.’
‘Indeed. But today I am like the reincarnation of Godric himself. Showing immense bravery in terminating your studies and thereafter conducting an act of pure chivalry by saving a damsel in distress from the weight of her heavy satchel,’ he said arching his back, pushing out his chest to seem even more important. As he did the fabric of his shirt tightened across his muscular chest reveling one of the only perks of playing quidditch in Hermione’s opinion.
Hermione shook that thought of Fred’s muscles out of her head and instead rolled her eyes at him, ‘Oh my! Wonder what Sir Weasley will do next.’ Fred laughed.
They walked for a few moments in silence before Fred suddenly said, ‘So are we?’
‘Are we what?’ Hermione asked wondering if she had spaced out again as the muggles said.
‘Are we friends?’ Fred asked looking suddenly very serious.
‘Of course we are Fred. Why wouldn’t we be? We’ve been spending a lot more time together this year haven’t we?’ Hermione answered wondering where this was coming from all of a sudden.
‘Well I suppose so,’ he paused, “It’s just… you’re Ronnikin’s friend and I’m one of his older brothers…’ He trailed off making a movement with his hands as if that explained the rest of what he had been about to say.
‘I don’t see why that should stop the two of us from being friends as well if we want to,’ Hermione said as they made yet another turn down the corridor. Beside her, she heard Fred letting out a big breath. Had he been holding it in?
‘I do Hermione. I do want to be your friend. And I don’t want to see you sad or frustrated about anything. So… do you want me to say something to that thickheaded brother of mine?’ He smiled at her.
Hermione sighed and shook her head. ‘No don’t say anything. He really ought to be able to figure things like these out by himself by now.’ Fred nodded but didn’t say anything because he felt her need to say something more. ‘I suppose I’ll just go alone. I can’t be the only who hasn’t got a date.’
‘I don’t think you’ll have to go alone if you don’t want to.’ Fred said teasingly.
‘What do you mean?’ Hermione said suddenly slightly alarmed images of all the annoying boys in her year shooting through her head, ‘Do you know something?’.
‘I was just thinking about how I’m pretty sure I saw Viktor Krum duck behind a bookshelf, again, when I sat down at your table,’ he continued sounding both amused and slightly annoyed, ‘He looked like he had been standing there watching you for a while. It would seem that he’s still working up his courage to speak to you’.
‘I knew he was still there!’ Hermione exclaimed drawing the attention of a group of students who had just stepped outside their classroom. ‘He’s been doing that for weeks now but whenever I try to tell someone they just laugh at me. I think your charming brother even said something like: but why would someone like Viktor Krum stand around and look at you all afternoon.’
‘Well that does sound like Ronnyboy. Eloquent to a default that one. But about Krum, why don’t you just confront him. You know ask him why he’s been staring. It has to be annoying,’ Fred asked.
‘It is. It really is. But I just have no idea what to say to him and to be honest I’m a bit scared he might actually ask me to go to the Yule Ball with him.’ She looked at Fred from the corner of her eye.
‘And that would be so horrible because…’
‘Well because I hate not knowing what to say. Awkward silence is just one of the most horrible things in my opinion. And I can only imagine that an entire evening with someone like Viktor Krum would indeed consist very much of silence on his part and senseless ramble on mine. I mean what we talk about? The only thing he’s interested in is probably quidditch.’
‘So what you’re saying is that you want to go with someone you know. Someone like a friend?’ Fred asked.
‘Yes. That would just be so much more fun wouldn’t it?’ She said looking up at him as they walked on, ‘Just talking, dancing, and really enjoying the whole thing instead of spending the entire night thinking about what to say.’
Fred cleared his throat, ‘Then as your friend I would like to ask if you will accompany me to the Yule Ball.’
Hermione stopped walking and a first-year student walked straight into her. She tumbled forward but Fred caught her by the arm and straightened her up. ‘You… You’re… You’re asking me to go with you?’ She creaked.
‘Yup.’
‘To the ball?’
‘Yup.’
‘As your date?’.
‘Yup. Would you like it in formal writing or is a verbal agreement official enough for you?’ His eyes twinkled down at her.
‘You’re really serious? This is not some sort of prank you and George cooked up because you thought it would be funny to… to…’ She trailed off.
‘To set you up to be let down,’ He said looking down at her with a serious expression on his face, ‘No. Haven’t you learned that that isn’t how Fun with Fred works. I would never do something like that to someone. Especially not to you,’ Fred looked at her intensely, ‘Will you Hermione Jean Granger accompany me to Yule Ball?’ He asked, a smile creeping into his face making him look like himself once more.
Without thinking Hermione could fell herself beginning to slowly nod her head, ‘Yes Fred, I will.’ A light feeling swept through her body as she said the words aloud and when Fred’s smile grew even wider, she couldn’t help but smile herself.
‘Then it’s a deal, Granger,’ He handed her back bag and grinned down at her.
Hermione suddenly realized they were standing in front of the staircase leading to the Gryffindor tower.
‘You coming up?’ She asked nodding towards the steps not knowing what else to say.
‘Nah I’m actually headed out to play some quidditch.’ He said.
Hermione looked at his clothes. ‘Don’t you have to change for that first?’.
‘Told George to bring all my things to locker room for me,’ he said.
‘Oh,’ Hermione hesitated, ‘So you too are all right then?’.
‘Yeah,’ Fred answered, ‘All good.’ His lively mood began to make much more sense to her. ‘See you around ‘Mione.’ He said before beginning to walk away.
Hermione smiled and turned around to walk up the stairs when something suddenly occurred to her.
‘Fred, why were you in the library? You didn’t bring any things with you to study.’ She called after him.
‘No I didn’t.’ He called winking at her over his shoulder as he walked away from her.
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‘Gred.’
‘Forge.’ His brother hurled his quidditch uniform at him but Fred caught it easily and grinned at his brother. It had been a while since he had been in his uniform and he hoped it fit even though he hadn’t worn it since the season last year. Seeing as there was no official matches this year because of the Triwizard tournament the four teams had taken it upon themselves to organize a few friendly matches to keep their game up. Today Gryffindor was playing Hufflepuff.
‘You seem awfully cheery for someone who is about to go play in a storm like that. What have you been up to?’ His twin asked him as he leaned against one of the lockers waiting for him to get ready for the game.
‘Nothing much. Simply acquiring a date for the Yule Ball.’ He said as he took off his shirt. He got it over his head just in time to see the look on his brother’s face. It was a priceless face; it was a mixture of curiosity probably brought on by the fact that Fred had managed to get a date for the ball.
‘Really? Who is the unlucky girl?’ George teased.
‘Hermione Granger.’
‘What?’ George spurted in unison with another boy who had just entered the locker room.
Fred turned around to see Harry walking into the locker room his broom in hand. He looked completely thrown off. Fred felt a beat of nervousness pass through his body. Perhaps he hadn’t actually thought this through. ‘Yeah. I asked Hermione if she wanted to go with me and she said yes. So yeah. That’s that.’ He said trailing off.
‘Why didn’t I think of asking her?’ Harry said loudly as he threw himself onto one of the benches resting his head in his cupped hands, ‘She’s been right there almost every time I’ve complained about not having a date. How could I be so stupid? I’m not only the youngest competitor ever in the Triwizard Tournament. I’m also going to be the first ever competent to not have a date.’ He groaned the last part as he ran his fingers through his tangled mob of dark hair that never seemed to stay freshly cut for very long.
‘Cheer up mate. There’s still time. You’ll find some girl to go with you,’ George said and gave him and encouraging slap on the back before he continued, ‘I think it’s Ron we should all be worried about to be honest. He hasn’t got the whole competitor thing going for him like you do.’
Harry’s head shot up and he looked at Fred, ‘Ron is going to kill you.’
‘Oh is he now?’ Fred asked putting his most innocent look, which he had been told on more than one occasion did not look at all innocent, ‘And what would he do that for?’.
Harry threw out his arms, ‘Because you asked Hermione.’ He said as if that answered all questions.
‘If he had wanted to take her himself, he should have asked by now. The ball is after all only one week away and as you said she’s been there all along right beside you as you two morons complained about there being no girls to ask.’ Fred said straightening up after tying his shoes.
‘Still,’ George said, ‘He’s going to be pissed.’
‘Then he might actually do something for a change.’ Fred said and picked up his broom starting to walk out of the locker room. He could feel his brother’s eyes on him the entire way onto the field. He sighed. He really hadn’t thought this all the way through but he was just so sick of seeing Ron always doing nothing. He needed to step up and start making some decisions about his life. That’s why he had asked Hermione to be his date, to provoke some sort of reaction from his younger brother. A warm feeling spread through his body at the thought of his date to the ball. She was just a friend though and he had only asked her to wake up Ronnyboy. Hadn’t he?
‘Can I ask you something, Harry? Why didn’t you invite Hermione? She is one of your best friends and you’re together every day’, George said.
‘I honestly didn’t think that far’, Harry answered. ‘Why didn’t she just ask me though?’, he muttered to himself.
‘She probably wanted someone to ask her’, George said, ‘You know like they always do in those muggle movies she was telling us about’.
‘Maybe’, Harry said meekly running his fingers through his messed-up hair. ‘Since when are Hermione and Fred even friends?’.
‘I don’t know really’, George shrugged, ‘I guess it just sort of happened’.
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‘You forget the password or something Hermione?’ A cheery voice said behind her and she gave a jump. Hermione didn’t even remember walking up the stairs and stopping in front of the picture of the Fat Lady but here she found herself standing opened mouthed and utterly confused.
‘You look like Peeves just jumped out of your teacup. Is everything all right?’ The red hared girl standing beside her asked with a look on her face showing both concern and amusement.
‘I guess I got lost in thought,’ Hermione said sounding unsure. She noticed Ginny looking her up and down as if to see if she had somehow gotten herself injured or something like that without noticing.
‘Come on,’ Ginny said as she took her arm and lead her into the common room. Hermione could have sworn she heard the Fat Lady mumbling something about empty headed teenagers but let the thought go. Ginny let her through the space and gently pushed her down onto one of the chairs at the only empty table left in the packed common room.
‘Now tell me what’s wrong,’ the younger girl demanded as she ran her fingers through her long fiery red hair to get a tangle out. Hermione took on of the books and put in on the table in front of her as she always did when she sat down at a table. Ginny placed her hand on top of it. ‘Don’t you think you can just start to study you’re not getting out of telling what had you all blank-faced back there.’ Hermione looked up at her. ‘Spill it, Granger,’ Ginny said sounding a lot like her older brothers in that moment.
She took a deep breath, ‘All right,’ she hesitated for a moment, ‘Someone asked me to the yule ball today.’ She finally said.
‘Well that’s great Hermione,’ Ginny said sounding genuinely happy for her, ‘But why would that make you stand there looking like you saw a ghost. Where you asked by someone you didn’t like? Because if that’s the case you could have just said no right?’.
‘It was Fred.’
‘Fred who?’ Ginny said looking confused.
‘Uhm your brother. Fred. He asked me to be his date for the dance.’ Hermione studied Ginny’s face to see how she would react to the news. A couple of moments passed.
‘I did not see that one coming,’ Her younger friend looked at Hermione, ‘Have you to been sneaking around without any of us knowing about?’ She teased.
‘No! It’s not like that,’ Hermione sputtered as Ginny laughed, ‘We just met in the library and got to talking about it and he asked me. That’s it.’ Ginny lifted her eyebrows as if saying; are you trying to convince yourself or me. Hermione could feel heat rising in her cheeks. “He said that he would like to take me as friend because we’ve been spending more time together and such,’ She continued not really sure of who she was trying to convince. He hadn’t brought anything with him to the library so why had he even come there.
‘All right’, Ginny answered smiling at her, ‘You won’t hear anything about it from me. I was just surprised that it was Fred who asked you. I guess I just assumed that Ron would be the one to take you that’s all.’
‘Me too. He’s one of my best friends but he has had a million chances to ask me without ever getting around to it.’ She said meekly.
‘And Fred is a good-looking guy,’ Ginny said and winked at her making Hermione blush. She tried to come up with a snarky remark but gave up.
‘And he is really fun to be around,’ she said biting her lip, ‘I’m actually really glad he asked me.’ The two girls smiled at each other. Hermione’s smile froze on her lips, ‘But Ron is going to be so angry with me isn’t he? Oh, I’m a horrible friend, aren’t I?’ She groaned as she placed her head on top of the open book.
‘You’re not a horrible friend Hermione, but if you don’t mind me saying you do seem pretty conflicted about this whole situation.’ The red headed girl said as she looked at her friend with worry in her face.
‘Really what gave it away?’ Hermione said her sarcastic remark mumbled into the pages of her book.
‘What I mean is do you regret saying yes to being Fred’s date?’ Ginny asked.
Hermione lifted her head and met Ginny’s curios stare, ‘Yes. No. I don’t know,’ She said, ‘It’s not that I don’t want to go with him. I want to. A night with him couldn’t be anything other than fun, right? But I just feel really bad for Ron for some reason and I really dread having to tell him about it.’ She said.
‘Well at least you don’t have to worry about that anymore. Do you Hermione?’ An angry voice said from the other end of the common room.
Hermione jolted upright and saw Ron stepping in through the wall where the Fat Lady had opened up. Bullocks. He had heard what she had said and the anger was written all over his face. His ears had gone the dangerous shade of red they always became whenever he was angry. ‘Ron I’m sorry I didn’t know that…’
‘That was I was standing here. I kind of figured. Or where you going to say that you didn’t know I would mind you going to the ball with my older brother because yeah I actually do mind that Hermione.’ Ron was nearly shouting now and everyone in the common room were looking at them like they were some kind of muggle soap opera on the telly.
‘Well if the idea of anyone else taking me to the ball bothers you so much why didn’t you ask me yourself?’, Hermione hissed feeling the tears welling up in her eyes she blinked hard to keep them from spilling. Ron whose face was now nearly the same color as his hair glared at her, and Hermione could tell that he was trying hard to come up with something clever to say. ‘That’s what I thought,’ she said. In one quick movement she gathered her things and bolted towards the stairs leading to the girl’s dormitory.
‘Nice job, Ron.’ Where the last words she heard before she smacked the door closed behind her.