Continued From Previous Chapter
George laughed at the blushing girl on top of him, "Knew you couldn't resist the Weasley charm, but if you wanted me so bad all you had to do was ask, Granger."
Hermione blushed and tried to stand up. Fred walked swiftly over to her, ears red, and heaved her up. She looked at him and tried to smile a bit, "Thank you."
He nodded curtly and sat down on a seat, looking out the window. Hermione looked at George, who was getting up, and nodded lightly towards his brother. George followed her direction and then shrugged. George, Hermione, and the nervous looking Ginny sat down as well. No one talked, no one smiled, no one laughed.
During the Arrival of Ron's Howler
Fred leaned over to Hermione, who looked confused,"Don't tell me you've never seen a Howler before, Granger."
Hermione shrugged stiffly, "As a matter of fact, I haven't."
"Why so cold?"
"Shouldn't I be asking you that?"
"Excuse me?" Fred asked, blinking.
She turned to him, "No, excuse me. You've been acting like a git since the train ride here. So tell me, what did I do this time?"
He looked down, "You didn't do anything."
"Then why won't you look me in the eye." He looked at her and she continued, "Listen, I know I'm bossy and a know-it-all but I don't deserve to have you play with my feelings. Either we're friends, or we're not. Choose one and stick by it."
"Of course we're friends."
"Then start acting like it." She saw his sad face and sighed, "I'm sorry, it's just Harry and Ron and all this I'm a bit...stressed."
He suddenly looked up, any hint of a frown was gone,"Then as your friend it's my job to fix that."
Hermione threw him a quick smile before turning back to Ron and Harry, who had just finished their verbal beating from Mrs. Weasley, who was becomming even scarier in the mind of Hermione. Fred turned back to George, Lee, and Oliver, who were laughing about the Howler.
And it was as if their conversation never happened.
Quidditch Practice
"What do you say about a bet, Fred old chap?"
Fred turned to his mirror image, "What are you going on about?"
George grinned, despite being tired, "I bet you can't beat me in a race."
"And the wager?"
George's eyes flicked to the bushy-haired Gryffindor, who was sitting in the stands talking to Ron, "If I win, I get to take Granger out. If you win, you do."
Fred glanced at Hermione, "What a stupid bet."
"You in?"
"Oh hell yes, I'm definitely in."
George smirked then called over to Harry, "Hey Potter!" Harry turned, "You up for a race?" Harry smiled and nodded.
Fred grabbed George's arm, "You're placing Harry in this bet?"
George rolled his eyes, "You're such a girl, it's to reduce suspicion of course."
"Oh."
George chuckled, "Love is taking your prankster training right out of you."
"I'm not in love!" George raised his eye brows, "I'm doing this to save Granger from the likes of you. It's what friends do."
"Riiiight."
Fred sighed, "Alright let's get this over with then."
Harry had finally made his way over and the three mounted, and took off. Harry had the advantage with his Nimbus TwoThousand, but the real race was between Fred and George. However, the winner would never be found out. As the three rounded the last corner, the Slytherins arrived on the pitch.
Moments Later
"Nobody asked you, you filthy little mudblood."
A wave of yelling arose from the Gryffindors.
"How rude!"
"You little-"
Something in Fred snapped and he lunged at the little Malfoy. George followed his suit and the only thing standing in their was was Flint jumping in front of the new Seeker.
"You'll pay for that one, Malfoy!"
Fred turned in time to see his younger brother hit with his own spell. Before he could help Ron, Hermione and Harry were carrying Ron, who was puking slugs, off in the direction of Hagrid's hut.
George was fighting to get past Flint when Fred pulled him off, "It's alright! Stop it!"
George looked at him and nodded, but continued to glare daggers at the little Malfoy. Walking back to the common roon, a thought went through Fred's mind, "She didn't even look upset."
Later that night, Fred came down the common room, set on a trip to the kitchens. He saw Hermione sitting on the couch, her back to him and he wandered towards her. As he did he saw her head droop and wondered what she was so intent on reading even though her body desperately wanted sleep. He came over to her and gently plucked the book from her hands. Her head jumped back up and she stared at him, "Oh! Fred, hi." She rubbed her eyes, "What time is it?"
"It's late, you should..."
She looked up at the sound of his voice trailing off and realized he was reading the cover of her book. She tried to take it from him, "Fred, can I just have my book back-"
"Why are you reading this garbage?" He asked coldly.
She looked down at her hands, "Just thought it's something I should know about since-"
He suddenly threw the book onto the group and turned back to her, reciting the title, "The Inferiority of Mudbloods? Where did you even find this...filth."
"Library," Hermione answered, picking at her sleeve.
"Why would you read this?"
Hermione suddenly burst, she jumped up and stared at the tall boy in front of her, "So when Malfoy calls me it again, and he will, I know what it means so I don't stand there like an idiot, not understanding why he looks so smug and proud and why my friends are attacking him and-"
She stopped only because Fred had grabbed her into a hug. She was confused until she felt a tear slide down her cheek. She paused for a second before wrapping her arms around him.
"I'm sorry."
Hermione looked up at him, "For what?"
"For what he called you."
"How is that your fault at all?"
Fred shrugged, "I'm still sorry."
She pulled away from him slowly and smiled a bit, "It's not your fault. But thanks." She looked at the book on the ground and grimaced, "I don't even want to touch it."
Fred walked closer to the book and then smiled, "I have an idea."
Five Minutes Later
"Oh Fred, I don't know."
"Come on Granger, you know you want to."
"But-"
"Just do it!"
Hermione looked at the book she was levitating, "Fine." She pushed her wand forward and watched the book sail into the flames.
Fred came up beside her, smiling. "Good job, Granger. How's it feel to break the rules?"
"Terrible! Madam Pince will be furious! I'll never be allowed into the library again!"
Fred laughed and slung an arm around her, "I'll take care of it."
The Next Day - In The Library
"Madam Pince?"
The old librarian looked up and her mouth dropped open. Not only was a Weasley in her librarian, but one of the twins! And he was with the young girl who seemed to always be in her library. To top it all off, he had an arm wrapped around her shoulders! She cleared her throat and whispered, "Yes?"
Fred smiled charmingly, "Hermione has something to say."
Madam Pince moved her eyes to Hermione, keeping one eye on the Weasley, she had, of course, heard stories. "Well?"
The girl spoke softly, "Well, you know how I checked out The Inferiority of Mudbloods?"
The librarian nodded, "Yes...and..."
Hermione burst, "Well I was reading it in the common room and I got up and I tripped, I'm very clumsy like that, and the book flew out of my hands and into the fireplace and I couldn't save it and I'm really really sorry!"
It took a second but Madam Pince finally spoke, "Is this the truth?"
Hermione's face answered for her, but before anyone else could speak, Fred jumped in, "No. She's lying. But I made her. I was fooling around and the book fell into the fireplace, Hermione nearly jumped into the the flames to retrieve it! If you should punish anyone, please punish me."
Madam Pince though hard, "Well, the was very old, and valuable. And your actions were foolish." Hermione looked about ready to cry, "But it was hardly read...and it was and accident, correct?" The two nodded, "Oh, just...don't let it happen again. Now run off, but shh!"
The two nodded quickly before practically running out of the library. Madam Pince waiting until they were gone before removing The Inferiority Of Mudbloods from the long list of books. She wrinkled her nose before muttering, "Good riddance."
Outside The Library
"We could have DIED!"
Fred laughed loudly and twirled her around, "But we didn't!"
She looked up at him, "Why did you cover for me? She could have killed you!"
Fred shrugged, "Because it's what friends do."
Hermione smiled shyly and the two kept walking, arriving in the main entrance. Hermione sighed, "Why didn't she even give us detentions?"
Fred shrugged, "Maybe she was happy it was destroyed."
Hermione snorted, "Yeah right. That woman lives off of books. She loves them more than I do."
Fred gasped, "What? Is that even possible?"
Hermione punched his arm, "Oh shut it."
He rubbed the spot where she hit him, "Ouch! Maybe I shouldn't have taught you how to fight."
"You mean made George teach me how to fight."
"Well-"
She shrugged, "Doesn't matter, I'm glad you did, seems like George was the better choice. He's got it all doesn't he? Looks, humor, and he can fight? What a guy."
Fred narrowed his eyes, "Fancy my twin, eh?"
She shrugged, "Who wouldn't?" She smiled coyly and Fred finally understood her teasing.
"Oh yeah, well then let's fight!"
She backed up slowly, placing her hands in front of her, "Fred, no...don't!"
He charged at her, lifting her over his shoulder, "Who's the better fighter now?"
Hermione punched his back, "Put me down this instant!"
Her ignored her, choosing instead to run outside and plop her down onto by grass by the lake. He straddled her and lifted her arms above her head, "Who's the better fighter now?"
She smirked, "George?"
He put her small wrists into his one hand and held them down, "Try again."
Hermione pretended to think, "Lockhart!"
Fred poised his hand above her stomach, "Wrong again."
She "thought" again then her eyes widened and she smiled, "Oh, I know! Neville!"
"That does it!" He then proceeded to tickle her mercilessly.
"Stop! -gasp- Stop please!"
He smirked, "Who's the best?"
"-Gasp- You! You're the best!"
Breaking into their fun, a voice drawled from the side, "What do we have here?"
Fred stopped tickling her and turned around. His eyes narrowed and he felt an odd growl in his throat, "Malfoy."
Hermione caught her breath but couldn't see the newcommer, Fred's form blocked her sight, "Malfoy?" She felt herself be heaved up from the ground. Before she could get a good retort in, Fred placed her behind himself.
Malfoy smirked, "So Weasley, your family wasn't traitorous enough, now you're shagging the mudblood?"
Forgetting reason, Fred grabbed Malfoy's lapels, "you piece of-"
Hermione jumped forward and grabbed Fred's arm, which was about to strike Malfoy, "Fred, no!"
Fred glanced down at her, then at the scared boy he held. Finally he threw the snake to the ground, "Get out here."
Malfoy promptly ran off.
The two stood side by side and watched the boy run. Hermione suddenly looked up at Fred and asked, "So when you first saw Malfoy..."
"Yeah?"
"Did you growl?"
Fred blushed to his toes.
