Can't Jinx Love
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter… though I wish I could have so I'd make Fremione happen XD I'll just make it happen here :P lol
A/N: Surprise, surprise… Another late update… T^T I'm sorry and thank you for your patience. So here it is, chapter 4… I hope you enjoy it! :D Please leave me or PM me your comments, suggestions & other forms of feedback to help improve the story. :) Thank you so much you guys! I don't have much free time these days since I'm doing my thesis and I'm going to start my OJT soon so I hope you can understand my super super super delayed updates… Anyways! Thank you so much for your patience and support! I love you guys! 3 Enjoy~~~~ ;)
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Chapter 4: Something's Not Right
Classes began without further ado. Everything seemed to be going just fine; the only interesting part of it was their school was far more crowded than the years before. The school bussed with excitement over the Triwizard tournament. Students of 17-years of age and older were dropping their names into the goblet one after another. Hermione, on the other hand, couldn't have cared less for the tournament. 'It's far too dangerous to be reopened, especially to students,' she thought, finding the whole competition trivial, interesting and atrocious all at once. Their new professor, Professor Moody, was another force of worries in her mind. He had this air about him, an air of danger. The first time she laid eyes on him, suspicions stirred within him. He was a mysterious character, and not in the good way.
Sighing, she walked off from advanced charms and into the library, craving for another book on advanced incantations or a history book. One of the two would be relaxing for her. For the past couple of days she hadn't seen Fred around as much as she used to. She hated to admit it, but she wanted to see him. 'Just to ensure he and George aren't doing anything stupid,' she told herself. It was one of the few chants she repeated over and over again in her mind to justify her thoughts of the Weasley boy. Fetching the thick book on incantations, she checked it out and weaved her way through the corridors to meet with her best friends.
"Hi Hermione," Harry greeted sweetly when they met on their way to the social hotspot of the moment, goblet of fire.
"Hi," she smiled. Ron and Harry were busy talking about the amazing opportunity this Triwizard tournament would be. Although, out of the two of them, Harry seemed the least interested in it, he still managed to show enough interest to keep Ron happy. As usual, Ron never gave Hermione the kind of attention she wished he would. "And hello to you too, Ronald," sneering lethally at the boy. He always managed to ruffle her feathers.
"Oh, yeah, hi 'Mione," was all he replied.
'That was rather rude.' She frowned at how bad his manners seemed to get as the years went by. Out of all the boys, he was second to Slytherin boys in terms of ungentlemanly behaviour. Infuriated by the Weasley she strutted passed them and seated herself on the bench nearest the goblet. The Goblet of Fire was a spectacle to see. Burning beautifully blue in the already dimly lit room, casted graceful dancing shadows on the walls, whilst the blue almost white flame licked at the laughter filled air as students gathered around the intricately decorated goblet and dais. Tall senior students, both men and women, from the three schools joyously and proudly tossed their small pieces of parchment into the fire, silently hoping to be called for the sake of glory. 'Fame and glory,' Hermione snorted as she rolled her eyes at the excited teens.
A glowing ring of blue floated gently in the excited atmosphere. Everyone knew it was a simple aging enchantment that would keep out the unwanted age groups. Hermione also knew that is was one not to be taken lightly. Suddenly the room was buzzing with activity. Looking up from her book she watched as a pair of red-head Weasley twins jogged into the room, smiling in self-satisfaction, the air of victory – one they had yet to achieve – about them.
Announcing to the room of witches and wizards, they would enter the tournament through an aging potion. They held up their aging potions in satisfaction as they held up their little vials containing their mischievous concoction. 'Absolute dimwits,' she scoffed silently as her eyes followed their every move. She honestly couldn't believe how utterly ridiculous Fred could be… but she couldn't help finding it just a tad bit charming… only a tad… 'it's not like it means anything,' she corrected herself, defensive even to herself.
"It's not going to work," Hermione called out in her sing-song voice. Immediately their attention shifted to her. The mirth in Fred's eyes was incredibly enveloping. It was as if he was spreading his joy to her simply through a simple glance. Her body shivered as tingles travelled through her.
"Oh? And why's that, kitten?" Fred's rich voice sweet to hear; so taken by the mere sound of his voice, the voice absent to her ears for the past couple of days, made her almost forget to reply. Her slow reaction caused a self-satisfied smirk to form.
'Cocky brat,' she inwardly growled. "You see this," she directed their attention to the soft glowing blue enchantment encircling the Goblet, "it's an age ring."
"So?" Fred challenged.
Huffing from his annoyance, her eyes never left Fred's, "So, a genius like Dumbledore couldn't possibly be fooled by something by a dodge as pathetically dimwitted as an Aging Potion."
Finally, George's voice broke their gaze, "But that's why it's so brilliant."
"Because it's pathetically dimwitted," Fred concluded.
She watched the two tricksters step up onto her bench beside her, shaking their vials up so the concoction was mixed right. "Ready, Fred?"
"Ready, George?"
"Bottoms up," they announced as they gulped down the vials' contents without hesitation.
As swiftly as they downed their potion, they leapt into the Goblet's area, easily passing through the age ring. The room erupted in proud cheers for the boys seemed to have bested Dumbledore. 'What?' shocked by what she saw, 'It worked? How is that possible?' Hermione never counted on the boys actually succeeding. Something wasn't right. They couldn't have out-witted the great Alfred Dumbledore. The boys, unfazed by the age ring, tossed in the parchment pieces and turned to congratulate one another. That was when it happened.
The fire within the goblet raged. Tongues of flames spread about the room, licking at the air as if in search for the misfits. Fred and George were hit square in the chest, easily being blown to the opposite side of the room. Hermione stood in alarm, eyes trained on Fred as he flew across the room and landed with a loud "thud". Panic formed within her, an urge to run to his aid. However, the twins sat up in an attempt at recovering for the force of the push. Hermione watched, just as the boys and everyone else in the room was, as the twins hair grew longer and faded to porcelain white. Their faces grew hair and soon clean white beards decorated their once handsome looks. Laughter once again echoed in the hall along with cheers and chants of "fight, fight, fight" as the two began to attack each other. Rolling against the floor in an attempt at beating the other, though they were evenly matched. Sighing, Hermione returned to her seat on the bench, opened her book and shook her head at their failed trick. 'I told them, but did they listen? No! This is what they get from trying to out-do Dumbledore. I knew he could never be beat by a couple of students.'
Suddenly, the door to the hall was noisily swung open. Proud footsteps entered the ear of everyone in the hall. Silence quickly fell over the fall, even causing the aged twins to cease their brawl, as all eyes came to watch in interest as the prideful Durmstrang men approach the Goblet. Of the three Durmstrang men, the dashing Viktor Krum walked ahead of his head master and classmate. He was solely focused on entering the tournament, eyes aimed at the goblet, paying no mind to the silent stares of the students within the hall. Hermione's stopped breathing as she took in the man. The sheer determination in his eyes attracted Hermione, had her full attention. She watched as the handsome Durmstrang easily placed his parchment into the flames, a will of steel demanding his entrance into the tournament silently through his deep gaze into the flame. Almost as if sensing her gaze, his wilful eyes turned to hers. A moment passed between them, his brief smirk at her encouraged a small smile to flash across her features. They broke away from each other almost as fast as it happened. Hermione glanced down at her open book, listening to the retreating steps of the Bulgarian. She took deep, steady breaths as she tried to erase the small blush that no doubt coloured her cheeks.
"Hermione," a tensed voice called to her.
Looking up, she was faced with a very agitated grandpa Fred Weasely.
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The blast knocked the wind right out of Fred. His mind hazily acknowledging his short trip through the air and hard fall on the other side of the room. His body ached from the impact, but even more strange than that, he felt an odd sluggishness come over him. Sitting up to hopefully alleviate this strange feeling he looked over to George whilst the room began to echo with the laughter of the Hogwarts students. It was a nightmare. He was watching himself – through his twin – grow white hair! The physical toll of a few decades washed over the twins. "You said!" they accused each other. Anger, humiliation and panic over the loss of their good looks got the better of Fred. He pounced upon his brother, the urge to beat him up overriding his rationality. The crowds cheered, spurring on the fight between the twins, adding to the anger between the two. Fred knew Hermione saw him… that made the humiliation worse for him. For a moment, he hated his other half. That was until the loud creak of the hall's doors resonated throughout the room.
The room fell to silence, all noises hushed by the common intrigue filling each student. Fred and George ceased their scuffle and watched as Viktor Krum and his two Durmstrang companions approached the Goblet. Viktor reached out, dropping his name into the flame. Fred watched as the flame all but snatched the parchment from the Durmstrang's hand, the latter's eyes filled with determination. Fred boiled in anger, feeling threatened as he watched those said eyes turn to Hermione. Fred knew that look, it was a look he constantly flashed at girls everywhere, it was a look drenched in boyish charm. Smugly he told himself, 'Better luck next time, lad. Kitten won't fall for that.' Hermione's response proved him wrong. She all but smiled briefly at the Durmstrang, but she might as well be wearing a sign that says 'charmed by the new guy'. Red hot jealousy pulsed throughout the white-haired Weasley.
"Did you see that?" George whispered over as Krum left the room. Fred's scowl deepened as if George had just literally rubbed salt in an opened wound. "Alright, alright, don't glare me to death."
Wordlessly, Fred stood and marched over to the witch. "He's a wolf, Hermione."
"W-what?" she looked gobsmacked.
"Viktor. Krum."
"Fred, what I think and who I like is of no concern of yours," she sighed as if exhausted by his mere presence.
Frowning further, "I'm just saying this for your own safety… You should keep your distance from that one… I don't trust him."
"Does it look like I care, Fred," she returned his frown. "You know what, just leave me be. Oh, and go to the med wing for your… problem," gesturing to his obvious physical change. Without minding him any further, Hermione scuttled off, obviously going to the library. Fred knew how calming that old place was to her. Most likely she wanted another thick book for her nose to bury itself in along with all her worries.
"Come on, let's fix our age," George pulled his grumpy twin towards the med wing.
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The week passed quite quickly for Hermione, she avoided talking to Fred since what happened. She felt… odd. She hadn't expected him to be quite concerned by what transpired between the handsome Viktor Krum and her. It was even a surprise he had seemed to give her attention, flattering as it was, Hermione didn't feel as attracted to him as she thought she would. For Fred's part, she found it surprising how upset he seemed about Viktor's interest, especially since it didn't seem to have bothered Ron at all… well, knowing Ron's obliviousness, it would've been a miracle if he had. Her mind returned to Fred, images of a white-haired Fred Weasley telling her to keep her distance from Viktor boggled her mind. 'It was almost as if he was… jealous…' the thought had crossed her mind, and since that time, that thought managed to pop up every now and then initiating her curiosity. 'Fred? Jealous? No way…' Hermione rationalized that he must have simply thought of her well-being and acted as an overprotective brother. Her mind still scattered about thinking whether or not he could have possibly been jealous. She would never say it aloud, but a part of Hermione actually wanted him to have been jealous, even just a little. Feeling conflicted by all her ridiculous thoughts, Hermione trudged her way to the grand hall for supper. Tonight was the night for picking the triwizard champions. The whole school was exuding excitement, all except for the bored looking Gryffindor who had a rational mind to think about the cost and benefits of such a tournament.
Dinner was hardly better than her trip to the hall. It was filled with the loud chattering of students from three different schools all tremendously exhilarated for the announcement of champions. Absentmindedly, Hermione downed her beef stew quietly. The conversations around her grew louder and louder, the older guys boasted about how they would be the ones to be chosen while the younger ones chatted about what the tournament would be like. Some of them had actually researched about its history, something Hermione was happy about. 'At least some students are actually doing good things for themselves,' she shook her head as she turned her attention to the overly excited girls near her.
These were gossiping older girls and, of all the thing, they were chattering loudly about a very attractive Durmstrang athlete.
"I swear!" one squealed, "He's looking right at me!"
Looking to where their eyes were, Hermione's chestnut coloured orbs fell upon the Bulgarian heartthrob who was looking... straight. at. her.
Quickly turning away mildly shocked but mostly mortified that he'd seen her, she grasped Ginny's arm, effectively surprising the red-head. "Hermione! You scared me. Don't just yank my arm all willy-nilly out of nowhere!" she chided.
"Sorry…" Hermione added sheepishly.
"'Ello dear sister," a jolly voice chirped out. "Hermione," it greeted as the boy it belonged to seated himself between Ginny and Harry, eliciting a frown from the Weasley girl.
"Ah! Good evening kitten. Mind if I join?" a cheeky boy seated himself, forcefully, beside Hermione.
"Hi George," the said witch greeted the first boy. "Why ask when you're still going to do it, Fred," she sighed in mild irritation. 'The boy has no care in this world, does he? Well, except for a joke every now and then…' "Why are you even here?"
"To eat of course," Fred answered looking at her obtusely.
"No, I meant, why are you evening here, beside me?"
"Just to annoy the hell out of you," he winked.
Although it increased her already prickly mood, she couldn't help but admit to herself that it was rather cute. 'Stop, Hermione,' she scolded herself.
"And to keep a certain someone away," he frowned ever so slightly, deftly shooting a glare at the Bulgarian.
Blinking blankly at the twin, "You're… jealous?"
"J-Jealous?!" Fred looked flabbergasted. "Absolutely not."
"Wow… thanks…" looking madder than before and wounded, Hermione stared daggers openly at him.
"No… I didn't mean you're not attractive, I just meant that I'm not jealous, I'm simply protective," he clarified bashfully.
Easing her features, she smiled lightly, 'So I'm attractive to him?' she inwardly giggled. 'He can be adorable sometimes… it's refreshing,' she sighed. "Right…" sarcasm practically emanating in every letter.
"Yes, because-"
"He can't be trusted, blah blah blah," she finished. "You know I can handle myself. I don't need your protection."
"Doesn't matter if you need it or want it, you're getting my protection."
Rolling her eyes, she threw a "whatever" at him and listened in to what was about to be said. Professor Dumbledore stepped up to the podium, immediately silencing the room and wordlessly commanding everyone's attention. 'Guess it's time…'
"Over the week, I do hope that our guests have found our school to be comfortable and that our students – from all three schools – have begun to feel more at ease with each other. I hope you will all use this opportunity to make new friends and learn things from each other. Now, for the moment you've all been waiting for: the champion selection."
Soft whispers of excitement and anticipation sounded around the hall as Professor Dumbledore dimmed the flames that hung around the room. The flames quivered and shrunk smaller as Dumbledore's aged hand forced them to hush giving the room the right atmosphere for the selection. Hermione watched Dumbledore intently, as he made his way to the goblet. His arm outstretched towards the gleaming blue flame as it thrashed about. Touching the goblet with his two hands, he closed his eyes, quietly willing something – though nothing Hermione knew of – to happen. He stepped back, one arm still outstretched and stared into the flame. Suddenly the flame shrunk into a pinkish red ball and spat out a charred parchment, surprising the audience. Lightning fast, Dumbledore's hand shot out and snatched the crisp paper from the air. Turning it over to inspect it he announced, "The Durmstrang Champion is… Viktor Krum!"
The said boy smiled widely, triumph upon his face as his classmates cried out cheers of encouragement. Hermione smiled, she was happy he was selected although part of her already had an inkling that he'd be chosen. 'I mean, he's athletic and seems pretty capable of actually winning the tournament. It's not really a surprise he was chosen.' She overheard murmurings… upset murmurings as Viktor walked down from his seat to the stand before all three schools. She looked toward her seatmate and no surprises there, Fred was murmuring bitterly about him being a 'prat' and 'show off'. Shaking her head at his childishness she returned to the rest of the selection.
The flame, again, gathered into a ball and shot out another burnt parchment. Dumbledore easily caught it. Turning to the ladies of Beauxbatons, "The champion for Beauxbatons is… Fleur Delacour."
Smiling in relief and extreme happiness, the said girl received a wondrous applause from her school – and many many boys. Proudly making her way to Dumbledore, she shook hands with him and quietly joined Viktor. As the female champion approached Viktor, Fred whispered to Hermione, "Had a feeling she'd get picked. She's more than just a beauty, she's a top Beauxbatons witch. She's so pretty."
Hermione didn't know why, but his seemingly innocent comment rubbed her the wrong way. 'I'm a top witch at Hogwarts and I'm not so bad looking… I think…' A spite of jealousy gripped Hermione. Her attention was on Fleur. The witch was a tall, supermodel figured blonde beauty. She radiated grace and wit. Jealousy tightened against Hermione. "She's out of your league," she snapped lethally.
"Easy there, tiger. I was just saying…" smirking cunningly, "Why? Are you Jealous, kitten?"
"You wish," she hissed. Hermione returned to the goblet as the final parchment emerged from the flame. 'Hogwarts champion is…'
"The Hogwarts champion…" Dumbledore bellowed, "Cedric Diggory!" The room erupted in cheers as the Hufflepuff smiled bashfully and went to join his fellow champions. Hermione smiled, after meeting him Hermione knew that in this tournament, Hogwarts would have a fighting chance.
Dumbledore was visibly ecstatic with the outcome, "Excellent! We now have our three champions." His expression quickly altered into one of complete seriousness, as if to instil into everyone in the room, especially the champions, the extreme seriousness of the tournament. "But in the end, only one will go down in history. Only one will hoist this chalice of champions… this vessel of victory, the Triwizard Cup!" he proclaimed as the said chalice of delicate glass and steel was revealed to the schools. The room became overcome by applause until the flame in the goblet raved. The blue flame swivelled as arms of fire swirled around it. The flame brightening and twisting wildly about. Confusion appeared on the faces of all in the room. Concern and alarm though contorted Dumbledore's features. Hermione watched as the flame shook and burst into a shade of pinkish red. Holding her breath, she watched the flame gather and burst brightly into the air, simultaneously producing a parchment and pushing it high into the air. As the flame died down and calmed itself, Hermione kept her attention on the small paper that gently fluttered down from the ceiling as if it were a feather floating to the floor.
Catching it in one hand, Dumbledore inspected it. "Harry Potter," he whispered. Glancing in urgency around the room, "Harry Potter?" He sought out the boy. "Harry Potter!" Harry shrunk back down into his seat as if he could hide from this situation. Hermione was at Harry's side in seconds.
She nudged him to go to Dumbledore, but the boy would not move. "Go on, Harry," she whispered, urging him to meet their headmaster. He wouldn't budge, still visibly shocked with what was going on. Hermione felt all eyes turn their way. "Harry, for goodness sake," Hermione practically forced him to stand and shoved him into the aisle. Hermione looked to Ron to see if he had any idea how Harry's name could have gotten into the goblet, but she was met with envious angry eyes. 'Ron?' Although completely perplexed by Ron's behaviour, she didn't have the time nor luxury of worrying about him when Harry was just admitted into the deadly tournament. Fear and anxiety possessed her body as she stared at Harry slowly make his way to Dumbledore. She must have looked panicked because the next thing she knew, someone had an arm around her and had guided her to sit down on a nearby bench. Without acknowledging who was holding her in an attempt to comfort and calm her, rested against them. She no longer was able to register the shouts of anger or the scowls or the concerned expressions of the professors. All she could do was stay trapped in her mind while watching as Harry – along with the other three Champions – disappeared into their briefing area. The students were swiftly dismissed without any further information and were told to go directly to their dorms. As the students shuffled out Hermione stayed within her soother's arms.
Looking up, she came face-to-face with Fred Weasley. He was the one who came to her aid. For a moment, she could only stare at him in wonder as he brushed her arms to calm her. That was until her mind came crashing back to reality. "This isn't right…" she whispered.
Ron scoffed and angrily hissed, "He's the chosen one, so of course he's got to have all the glory."
"Ronald!" Hermione angrily stood, hands fisted at her side. She was totally appalled by the gall of the boy.
"He gets everything," he spat. "He always gets everything," he stormed away.
"Ronald! Ron!"
"Calm down, Hermione," a soothing voice rumbled as a large hand gently grabbed her shoulder and turned her to face them. Cupping her face in his two hands, Fred said softly, "Calm down… Everything will be fine, kitten."
"Something just isn't right," she argued. "There's no way Harry would do this… He's not prepared for it… He could be killed!"
"I know, I know, but the professors will do something, don't panic."
Trying her best to listen to him, she allowed Fred to escort her back to the Gryffindor dorms. Lost in her train of thought, she never noticed the Weasley's concerned eyes on her. 'First the Quidditch Cup and now this… Something foul is at play…' For some reason the image of their new professor, Moody, came to mind. 'He has something to do with this… I just know it…'
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A/N: I know, it's shorter than the others… I'm sorry about that… I'm just applying for my OJT so I'm really busy with requirements and stuff… I'll try my best to update again soon… For the time being, I hope you liked this chapter and please review to help me make this better. :) I love you guys! 3 Thank you! Your patience is a blessing I am forever thankful for :D
***Just a reminder, I do not own HP, I simply got some of the lines from the movie (which I've seen 50 times already) lol I wish I was as awesome as J. K. Rowling but I'm far far far from that level of talent. I'm still in my learning phase. :P hahaha
PEACE OUT!