This chapter wasn't going to happen. But it did! And there's probably going to be a third, if people like this one. We'll see. Oh, and this takes place on the day when Harry had his date with Cho Chang in Order of the Phoenix.

"I hate Umbridge," Fred said passionately.

"Fred!" Hermione said reproachfully.

"What?" Fred said. "You hate her just as much as I do!"

"Well, yes," Hermione agreed in a low voice, "but I wouldn't go around proclaiming it to the world. You never know who could be listening." She glanced furtively around the Three Broomsticks, where the two of them were sitting.

"What's the worst she could do to me? Expel me?" Fred smirked and took a sip of his butterbeer. "George and I feel like we've gotten all the education we need. Plus I finally got a date with you, so I'm set."

"Oh, is that all I am?" Hermione said icily, glaring at him. "Another item on your to-do list? Maybe I was wrong about you."

"No! That came out wrong, I swear!" Fred said, mentally cursing himself.

"Really? Because it sure sounded like you meant what you said!"

"Come on, Hermione, can you really take what I say seriously?"

"But that's just it!" Hermione exploded. "If you're always joking around, how am I supposed to be able to tell when you're not? How do I know that you're not just doing this for a laugh? That you wouldn't break up with me someday and say, 'Wow, I can't believe that idiot Hermione Granger actually thought I cared about her'?"

"Hermione!" Fred exclaimed. "For one thing, I do not think you are an idiot. For another thing, believe it or not, I can be serious when I want to. And I would never, ever hurt a girl like that intentionally, especially one I like as much as you."

Hermione looked at Fred. The sincerity in his eyes told her that he was speaking the truth. Okay. She'd give him one more chance. "Anyway, I think Umbridge could do a lot worse to you than expel you," she said, resuming their conversation as if they hadn't just been arguing. "Hogwarts isn't what it used to be."

"I guess you're right. As usual," Fred said, relieved that she didn't seem angry anymore. He'd seen her bicker with Ron in the past and feared that their disagreement would've turned out the same. "But that's why we're doing all this stuff with the D.A., isn't it? Which was a brilliant idea, by the way."

"Thanks," Hermione said, her cheeks turning slightly pink. "Harry's a great teacher."

Fred nodded absentmindedly, taking another drink from his nearly empty glass. "So, do you want to walk around at all?"

"I shouldn't," Hermione said. "I'm, um, meeting Harry here in a little while with a couple other people."

Fred raised his eyebrows at her vague response. "Is that my signal to leave you alone?"

"No, no, you can stay if you want, I just thought –"

"I'm only teasing you. It's fine, really," Fred interrupted. "Besides, I promised George and Lee I'd meet up with them at Zonko's."

"All right then," Hermione said. "See you later."

Fred drained the last bit of his butterbeer before standing up and dropping a few coins on the table. "Bye, Hermione," he said, giving her a smile and a wave as he walked out the door.


Later that day in the Great Hall, Hermione listened patiently as Harry described his disastrous date with Cho Chang, which had ended with Cho becoming upset when Harry had wanted to go meet Hermione.

"She wanted to make you jealous," Hermione explained once he had finished. "I guess she doesn't know about me and Fred yet."

"So is it official then?" Harry asked curiously, his troubles temporarily forgotten. "You're dating Fred Weasley?"

"Yes. No. I don't know," Hermione sighed. "He acts so much differently around me than he does around other people nowadays. It's really strange."

"Don't tell me you miss the old Fred," Harry said teasingly. "I thought his pranks and troublemaking got on your nerves."

"I don't know," Hermione repeated, burying her face in her hands. "I'm still trying to process everything." After a few moments, she lifted her head to look at Harry. "What does Ron think about all this?"

"That's a good question," Harry replied. "He doesn't really talk about it. I'm not sure whether I should take that as a good sign or a bad one."

Hermione got quiet for a while. "What do you think about all this?" she asked at last.

Harry looked uncomfortable. "Me? I don't think I'm very good with relationships, I mean, I couldn't even figure out what was going on with Cho today…" Hermione remained silent, clearly determined to get an answer from Harry. "Okay," Harry relented. "I'll admit that it would be odd for you to date Fred, and you certainly seem like an unlikely couple, but if he's happy and you're happy then I don't have a problem with it."

Hermione nodded in agreement. "The thing is, I don't know if I have time for dating. I've got enough on my mind right now dealing with Umbridge, going to D.A. meetings, and studying for O.W.L.s."

"This coming from the girl who took every class Hogwarts has to offer in our third year?" Harry laughed.

Hermione giggled. "That was different! I had a Time Turner then! Not to mention our Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher wasn't trying to take control of the entire school. Honestly, I'm going to kill that toad one of these days…"

"What's this I hear?" Fred asked in mock surprise, sliding into a seat next to Hermione. "You shouldn't talk about Umbridge like that, Hermione. You never know who could be listening."

"Watch it, Weasley," Hermione said warningly. "I am a prefect, you know."

"Forming an illegal club, talking ill of a teacher, and now abusing your power as a prefect?" Fred shook his head. "I think you and Ron have had a bad influence on her, Harry."

"I beg to differ!" Harry said indignantly. "I believe our influence has been highly beneficial! In fact, if I didn't know any better, I'd say Hermione was doing all this to impress you."

"Oh, I see! That's very clever of her, but I must say she was doing just fine before all this."

"Excuse me, I'm right here!" Hermione put in, scowling. "I can hear everything you're saying!" Her annoyed expression, however, only made Fred and Harry burst out laughing, and despite her best efforts to maintain it, she couldn't help joining in.