I'm having a really good time writing this story, so I am starting on chapter 3 right now! I have got the story back on track I think, so it wont be any more A/U than any other fan fic.

Chapter 3: Picture's of Perfect Memories Scattered All Around the Floor


When Hermione awoke the next morning, she was surprised to find herself in the boys dormitory. She looked around frantically, trying to recall how she had gotten there. When she sat up she realized she was in Harry's bed, but that he wasn't with her. And then the night before came flooding back, along with her tears. Hermione tried to stifle her sniffles, but Harry had become a light sleeper as of late, and awoke soon after she.

"Oh, Harry, I was just, um." She tried to wipe her tears away quickly, but he clearly noticed.

"It's okay Hermione." He said with a weak smile that barely ghosted his face.

"I'm sorry I took your bed, I don't remember coming up here at all." She tried to tangent.

"Hermione it's fine! I brought you up here, you fell asleep on the couch down stairs." Her statement seemed to bring him back from his sympathetic gentleness. "Besides with you in my bed I finally got to try out that cushioning charm you're always talking about." He smiled.

"Oh Harry you slept on the floor?" She suddenly felt guilty. Until he smirked that is.

"Not me, Ron. We got here before him and when he tried to get on his bed I shifted him over until he fell on the cushioned floor, didn't even stir." He laughed. Hermione smiled, but couldn't bring herself to laugh.

"Better wake him up." She pulled focus to Ron.

"Hermione, wait." Harry hesitated, biting his thumb nail. "I think." He took a deep breath. "I think we should have a talk." He said uncomfortable.

"About what?" Hermione kept a blank face. Harry turned red.

"About...What happened." He spluttered.

"Harry, I really don't think that's necessary. It was just Pansy being Pansy." She attempted another smile, though it came out looking cracked and fake.

"Hermione-"

"Really Harry, it's okay. Let's just be the bigger people, and let it go. Besides, we have way more important things to think about right now. I mean, the second task is only two months away, and we haven't found a way to even listen to the hint!" She insisted. Harry grasped her face firmly between his hands, stopping her rambling.

"Hermione," He said seriously. "Nothing is more important than you and Ron." He finished. Hermione tore her head away, trying to qualm her tears.

"Let's wake Ron up." She mumbled. Harry let out a defeated sigh.

"Alright." He conceded.


After waking Ron up, Hermione went to her dormitory to change into her uniform, while the boys waited in the common room.

"Oi!"

"Where's Hermione." Two tall matching red heads stood in front of the couch with crossed arms, and protective glares.

"What's it to you?" Ron asked with a suspicious glare.

"She's up in her dorm getting ready for breakfast." Harry answered. The twins narrowed their eyes further.

"You two, ready before her? Give me a break." Fred scoffed. Harry turned scarlet, and began scratching his head nervously.

"Well, she stayed in our dorm last night, so she-"

"She stayed in your dorm?" George fumed.

"Hey!" Ron yelled, standing to his and Harry's defense. "She's our friend, she can stay in our dorm if she wants!" Ron yelled.

"First of all, if a prefect heard you say that you'd hear otherwise." George started.

"Second, I recall her going up to her dorm when we took her to the common room." Fred finished.

"Well she was already there when I got there!" Ron yelled. All three heads of red hair snapped in Harry's direction.

"Er. Well, she was on th-the couch when I came up, um, book in her h-hand a-and all that." He mumbled, nervously pushing his glasses up his nose.

"Oh." The twins said together.

"Well that makes sense then." Fred said with a nod.

"Yeah, we were afraid something else had happened, or that she wasn't coming at all." George added.

"That would be a shame." Fred gasped in mock concern.

"After all." George said with a smirk. "We wouldn't want her to miss the surprise." He said with glee.

"What surprise?" Ron asked slowly, his eyes narrowed slightly.

"Oh don't you know?" Fred asked.

"It's truly a great surprise." George continued.

"One that makes elephants fly!" Fred yelled jovially.

"And pug faces cry!" George added quickly.

"With ferrets a bouncing." Fred spoke mysteriously.

"And Slytherins flouncing." George said dreamily.

"Oh what a great surprise!" They finished together.

"You two are so odd." Hermione's voice rang out from behind them. They turned around sharply, standing tall and straight, instead of the crooked goofy stances they had before. "Still." She said on a giggle. "You do have an excellent sales pitch."

"Oh fair maiden," Fred began with a bow.

"Such compliments from your soft lips are wasted upon such unworthy creatures." George said, kneeling before her, and taking one of her hands in his own.

"Such as ourselves." Fred said with a dramatic covering of his eyes with an arm.

"As a way of thanks, please allow us to escort you to breakfast." George mock begged.

"Nay! We must carry her!" Fred exclaimed exuberantly. Hermione turned scarlet.

"Leave her alone." Harry growled protectively.

"Oh but Champion of ours, we have a special throne!" George insisted.

"As if we would have prepared anything less for our most wonderful Gryffindor Princess." Fred scoffed, as if Harry's doubt was insulting.

"You're serious?" Ron asked skeptically.

"Of course." They chimed as one. Both whipped out their wands like pistols in an old western film. Harry and Ron took a few steps back as the twins started casting spells left and right. Finally they finished with a flourish, and there, in the middle of the room, was a gold throne.

It was beautiful, and Hermione couldn't take her eyes off it. It looked heavy and expensive, with intricate carvings all over it. It was obviously meant to be carried, as it had four long, gold poles protruding from the base. The square base was at least two feet high, and maybe six feet in diameter. It had a small set of steps carved in, leading to a veiled off area. The curtains were thin, but clearly not meant to be looked into too much for they were tightly woven and crimson. They hung from a pyramid top connected to four more poles. One twin waved his wand and the curtains opened revealing a space big enough for three; there was obviously an extension charm on the place. Inside were pillows, and shag rugs, scattered all over, and a pretty Persian lamp in one corner on a small night stand. There were a few blankets, but Hermione noticed they looked thin, and realized they were probably mostly for show, though she had to admit it looked festive.

"Come princess, let us escort you into your throne room." Fred said with an out stretched hand and a small bow. Hermione looked at the hand, and for a second she really wanted to take it in her own. The tiniest shuffle of noise made her snap up to look at the common room. All eyes were on her, just like before... Her cheeks went bright red in a matter of seconds.

"I-I'm not." She said.

"What?" Fred and George asked curiously.

"A slut. I'm not." She said, her watery eyes hardening slightly.

"We never-" Fred was cut off.

"We just wanted to-" George interrupted. Hermione didn't stay long enough to hear what they said. Instead, she ran out the portrait hole. The twins let out a unified sigh of defeat.

"Mum would be so mad at you two right now." Ron commented off-hand-ishly.

"We weren't trying to make her sad." Fred growled.

"Then why was it built for three?" Harry asked with a victorious raise of his eyebrow.

"That was so she could have you two there if she wanted." George bit out, his face turning red. Harry had the decency to look ashamed, but Ron just looked more suspicious.

"And why would you two do that?" He asked.

"Duh." Fred scoffed.

"Because she would want you to be there when she faced the Slytherins." George answered.

"That's all very considerate." Ginny observed from behind, making the twins jump.

"Well, we want her to feel safe." Fred said. He couldn't understand why everyone was asking so many questions.

"We feel upset about what happened last night." George said seriously. "It wasn't right."

"I don't even know why we're having this conversation." Fred growled, frustration evident in his stance. George placed a soothing hand on his shoulder, and Fred immediately relaxed, letting out a defeated sigh and leaning into George.

"Maybe we should go apologize." George said reluctantly.

"How about you guys go down to breakfast?" Ginny said kindly. "I'll go talk to Hermione. She's just sensitive right now. I'm sure you'll be forgiven by lunch." She smiled.

"Thanks Gin." They chimed, smiles blooming on their identical faces. Ginny rolled her eyes fondly, before waving good bye, and leaving to find Hermione.


Ginny found Hermione curled up under the sink in the fourth floor girls loo, her eyes running, and her nose sniffling. Not bothering with questions, Ginny crawled under with her and draped an arm around the older girl. After a few minutes of Hermione's continued crying, Ginny finally spoke up.

"Come now Hermione." Ginny pleaded softly. "They were only trying to cheer you up."

"Well they did a right fowl job." Hermione sniffed. "Why would they think that a giant throne for three was a good idea? After everything that happened last night? Why would they draw attention to me like that?" Hermione felt genuinely hurt by the twins display. She knew they were one for jokes, but after last night...they had been so nice, and she thought they'd been serious about comforting her. Apparently she thought wrong. They would always choose a joke and a laugh over her humility.

"They just wanted to entertain you." Ginny soothed. "And they claim the space was for Harry and Ron if you wanted them with you." She said with a giggle. Hermione hadn't thought of that.

"Well, that was sweet of them to consider." She admitted, her mood lightening, if only slightly.

"See? Come on, let's go to breakfast, I'm sure no one will be left." Ginny said encouragingly.

"Yeah. Yeah, let's go." Hermione said determinedly, a smile faintly creeping up her face. They crawled out from under the sinks, and Ginny helped Hermione look more presentable.


Ginny had been mistaken. Everyone was in the hall, though no one was eating. They were all too busy staring.

In the center of the Great Hall, Draco Malfoy was getting the living shite beat out of him by a red faced Weasley.

"Don't. You. Ever. Talk. Like. That. About. Her." Ron enforced each word with a blow to Draco's whimpering form.

"Ron!" Hermione shrieked. All eyes turned toward her, but she was too furious to notice. "What in Merlin's name are you doing?" She asked shrilly. "And for Godric's sake, where are the teachers?" She looked about curiously.

"Don't interfere Hermione, he really deserved it this time." Ron growled, his eyes locked on Draco like a bird on prey.

"I highly doubt-" Hermione began, exasperation clear in her tone.

"No, this time he went too far Hermione." Harry said solemnly from behind her. Hermione scoffed disbelievingly.

"Far enough for teachers to condone this?" She asked sarcastically.

"Well...Um..." Neville spoke timidly from Harry's other side. "That's not exactly what happened." He said solemnly.

"Yeah." Dean piped up. "It wasn't like they really had time to focus on Ron."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Ginny asked her boyfriend, dread filling her voice.

"Well, they were all too busy with Fred and George." Seamus said with a shrug.

"Not to mention the shorter one!" Someone piped up from the Hufflepuff table.

"Charlie's involved in this?" Ginny asked in utter disbelief.

"Alright, someone needs to explain everything right now!" Hermione said firmly, her volume silencing the room.


"You don't think she was too mad, do you?" George asked Harry nervously, concern written all over his face.

"Nah, Hermione's never been one to hold a grudge over something silly like a prank." Harry said, waving the question off.

"It wasn't a prank." Fred ground out through clenched teeth. He huffed forward, causing George to have to speed up to him, leaving the younger boys a few paces back.

"What do you think that's all about?" Ron asked Harry, who could only shrug in response. Both sets of boys walked in a tense silence, no one breaking the ice, no one wanting to make the tension worse.

When they walked into the Great Hall eyes snapped to them like strong magnets. The murmurs weren't quiet, and they made Fred growl. "Shut it!" He barked, but the murmurs only grew quieter.

The boys sat down roughly, pulling piles of food onto their plates. Even the action of eating looked enraged on Fred. George tried to sooth him as discretely as possible, but he knew Fred wouldn't feel completely okay until Hermione was there smiling at him, at them.

"Get lost Malfoy." Ron growled, causing Fred and George to snap there heads around.

"Oh piss off Weasley, I just came to talk to the twat twins." Malfoy sneered in response.

"What do you want?" George asked with narrowed eyes.

"Slytherin scum." Fred contributed.

"I just wanted to know how your little mudblood is doing. After last night and all, I'm not surprised she hasn't shown her ghastly face. Still, it would be a shame if no one was keeping an eye on her."

"What's that supposed to mean?" Fred hissed.

"What it means, you utter idiot, is that after last night, I don't think anyone will hesitate to act on instinct." He smirked. George stood abruptly, fists clenched tightly.

"Is that a threat, Malfoy?" He growled.

"Times are changing Weasel, Dark forces are about." Draco said cryptically. "Mudblood scum aren't going to last."

"If you lay one finger-" Fred ground out, standing as well.

"Mudbloods aren't supposed to be our equals. By next year, I bet she'll be dead." Fred saw red in that instant, and when later asked what he did to Malfoy, he wouldn't be able to properly say.

The twins were on him in an instant, their beater bodies playing tug-of-war with his slim seaker limbs. Charlie came running of course, and tried to pull them off, but they were beyond reason, all they could hear was violence, the urge to defend through punishment deafening them to anything but the crunch of bone and cartilage.

"What's going on?" Charlie demanded, turning his attention to Harry and Ron.

"We don't know, he said he just wanted to talk to them." Harry said seriously.

"I'll kill you!" Fred bellowed as he lay another blow to Malfoy's body.

"Fred! George!" Charlie barked, but to no avail. "God damn it what did he say?" That snapped them out of it, and there eyes were dark as they looked at Charlie.

"What did the little fuck head say Fred?" George asked sarcastically.

"Only that Hermione would be dead next year." Fred growled, breaking one of Draco's fingers in his fist.

"I'll bury you!" Ron bellowed, trying to scramble over the table to join the fight. Harry looked calculative, but he didn't try to stop any thing.

"What?" Charlie hissed, and it was colder than anything any of the Weasleys had ever heard. He shoved both the twins aside, and picked Malfoy up by his scruff. "What did you start?" He hissed in his ear.

"I didn't start...Dark forces." Malfoy choked out.

"Mr. Weasley! Put that student down immediately!" Professor McGonagall shrieked as she swiftly descended upon the scene. As she approached, a few more Slytherins crowded around Malfoy, most of them older.

"Dark forces?" Charlie hissed ignoring her.

"Mudbloods are as good as dead." Charlie couldn't control himself, he threw the boy to the wolves. Fred and George were unmaintainable, thrashing, and beating, and with Charlie to beat up the older students, there was no stopping them.

"Incarcerous!" McGonagall boomed, but it wasn't enough to hold the dragon tamer. "Stupify!" Behind her more teachers had gathered, and Flitwick had his wand poised. The stunner managed to hold Charlie, but it was obvious he was trying to fight it by the fire in his eyes, and it was questioned whether or not it would last.

"Quick, take him to the hospital wing, sedate him by all means!" She shouted orders, and two teachers took him, both with wands out just in case.

The twins were wild with rage, and when the older Slytherins moved onto them, they barely took notice. It wasn't until a 7th year said something that their attention drifted. "Pansy must have been right about her, she must be phenomenal!" He said to his friend. The twins snapped up from their current victim, rage burning in their eyes. They slammed fists with momentum, beating in stomachs with flailing swings.

"Don't just stand there! Get them under control!" McGonagall yelled.

While it was rare for wizards of their age to have uncontrolled magic, it wasn't impossible. Considering they were still students, their magic wasn't completely settled, and in that instant it was all over them. Stunners bounced off them, and incarcerous wasn't any better.

"Detain them physically then, damn it!" The older witch demanded. Hagrid came through in that instant, scooping a struggling twin into his arms. The other got in a few more blows, before three teachers restrained him together.

"You're dead! All of you!" One twin yelled as he was carted off.

"Slytherins are going to pay!" The other yelled.

"We'll destroy you!" They yelled together, their struggle never ceasing.

"Professors, please follow me, I believe we have much to discuss." McGonagall said gloomily, exhaustion clear on her brow.


"Ron get off of him!" Hermione shrieked when the story was finished. Sensing her desperation, Dean and Harry pulled Ron away from Draco's badly beaten body.

"Malfoy?" Hermione whispered. "Are you okay."

"Og couse I'm no' you upid mubud!" He managed, spitting out a tooth and some blood when he finished. She took out her wand and began to heal what she could.

"It was a warning, wasn't it?" She whispered. He locked eyes with her, and gave a faint nod, before he seemed to faint from the pain of being broken and healed so quickly.

"You." Hermione said forcefully to a Slytherin who was standing near by. "Take him to the hospital wing, I'm surprised at you cowards for not doing something sooner." She scolded.

"Hermione!" Ron exclaimed looking surprised, but pissed.

"Shut up Ron." She said giving him her best death look. He quieted down, but he looked grumpy. "What are you all staring at? Go back to your meal you useless, nosy vultures!" She nearly screamed at the rest of the hall. They all promptly looked away, looking thoroughly abashed, but it didn't stop the whispers.

Hermione let out a deep sigh as she tried to focus on her meal, but she no longer had an appetite.

"Come on 'Mione, forget about it, you've got to eat something." Ginny said with a nudge. Her voice said casual, but her eyes screamed worry.

"I'm sorry, I just don't feel hungry any more." She said simply before promptly leaving the table, and the Hall. Once Hermione was gone, Ginny kicked Ron under the table.

"This is all your fault." She hissed.

"My fault?" He looked thoroughly surprised. "How is this my fault? Malfoy's the one who-"

"If you had just asked her to the Yule Ball, none of this would have happened." Ginny said angrily, before storming off. Ron just sat there spluttering.

"It's okay Ron, she's just using you as an outlet." Harry said comfortingly.

"Women! You're all barking mad, you know that?" Ron said, shaking his head in confusion as he left the Great Hall, Harry on his heals. "I'll never understand them Harry, never." He said hopelessly as they walked out.

"I know Ron, I know." Harry said soothingly. Ron groaned in frustration.


Hermione decided she should probably check on the Twins, but on the way to the Hospital Wing, she felt her anger rise anew, and decided to skip it and lecture them later, opting to go to the library instead.

As she walked into the wall to wall cavern of learning, she felt instantly at ease, as she always did when she escaped to the library. It was as if nothing existed except her secluded corner and the vast selection of different kinds of books.

She didn't feel like studying today, it wasn't the time, so instead she pulled out a romance story from the section she rarely tinkered in.

She had barely finished the first few chapters when someone tapped her on the shoulder. She turned around swiftly, standing with furious speed, nearly tripping in her haste.

"Voah, Voah, no need to paneeK, I deed not mean to scare you." Krum said with his hands up in a defensive pose. Hermione relaxed slightly, putting her wand away, but she remained stiff, still feeling uncomfortable in his presence.

"It's alright." She mumbled. "I'm sorry for over reacting."

"I understand, you had a rough night, and from what I saw, a diffeecult morning." He said with a sympathetic gaze. Hermione sighed and looked at her feet.

"Everything is so complicated." She mumbled to her shoes.

"It's all going to vork out." Krum said while putting a comforting arm on her shoulder.

"Thank you so much Victor, you're too kind." She smiled softly at him. Then Victor did something unexpected. Hermione pulled away before his lips could reach their intended destination, leaving the Bulgarian kissing air.

"I'm really not comfortable with kissing right now, Victor." Hermione said carefully.

"Why not?" he asked in confusion. This same confusion was on Hermione's face, but her's was laced with shock and minor disgust.

"Because!" she yelled. She couldn't properly explain to him in sentences exactly why she simply didn't feel like kissing right after a traumatic event. She took a deep breath before speaking again. "I think I'm gonna go to the hospital wing, I'm not feeling well." she excused herself and quickly left the library. She felt her anger rise as she made her way towards the infirmary.

It wasn't until she arrived that she remembered why she had gone to the library.

"Hermione!" The Twins yelled simultaneously. Hermione looked at them with the look of an angry teacher.

"We're so glad you came to see us!" Fred yelled jovially.

"We're so glad you're okay." George said with a smile.

"I didn't come to see you." Hermione humphed. "I wasn't feeling well." She mumbled glaring at the ground with her arms crossed. The smiles dropped from the Twins' faces, and were quickly replaced by crestfallen looks, but they didn't speak. Hermione knew their silence was her cue to continue explaining her behavior. "I can't explain how angry I am at you both." She took a deep breath. "I walked into the Great Hall this morning ready to forgive you, but what I saw, it made me sick." She didn't look at them as she spoke, but they couldn't take their eyes off of her. "No teachers, no one helping, just Ron pounding on an already hurt boy."

"But he-"

"I know what he said!" Hermione raised her voice along with her head. "What he said gave you no right to do what you did!" When she locked eyes with each twin, they could see tears welling in her eyes.

"Hermione, he threatened you! I wasn't going to stand around and let him think he could do something to you!" Fred yelled, trying to stand up, but failing. "Damn these restraints!" He roared.

"Fred, calm down." George whispered. Fred snapped his face towards his brother.

"Calm down? Like hell I'll-" But the look on George's face shut him up.

"We're sorry." George said while looking Hermione in the eye. "Please, don't cry." He looked back at Fred, who looked sadder than before. "We just wanted to protect you."

"Well next time." She paused turning away from the two boys who hung on her every word. "Don't." She finished as she walked out of the infirmary. Hermione ran as fast as she could, but she couldn't out run the yells for her to return, nor could she out run her tears as they came streaming down her face. Everything was wrong! Nothing was how it was supposed to be! Nothing had changed, nothing was perfect.


4532! I think that many words deserves a review or two! Please give feedback! Thanks!