Chapter 10 – Surprise Visit
Hermione was sat in her favourite chair in the common room working on her charms homework, relishing the peace and quiet as Harry and Ron were at Quidditch practice. She refused point blank to go down and watch them due to the horrifically cold weather conditions outside.
The Gryffindor common room was relatively quiet considering it was a Friday afternoon and classes had finished for the weekend. Most of the boys were down the Quidditch fields, Ginny of course was there too as she was the Gryffindor chaser. Hermione's fellow dorm mates; Lavender, Fay and Parvati were probably there too, so they could giggle and gossip about the boys, Lavender attempting to shout words of encouragement to Ron (and distracting him more in the process).
A small laugh escaped Hermione's mouth at the thought of Lavender who hadn't the faintest clue about Quidditch attempting to show interest in the game just because of Ron who she was now dating. Hermione wasn't at all jealous of Ron and Lavender's relationship; she had no reason to be. After all she had an amazing boyfriend in the form of Fred Weasley. Yes she loved Ron but in a brotherly way. she fancied him once but it was just a silly school girl crush and it disappeared as soon as it arrived.
Hermione was glad that Fred and George were no longer went to Hogwarts as they'd have a gaggle of giggling groupies following them around like little lapdogs and she couldn't have girls looking at Fred, her Fred. She had decided to forgive Fred but there was still a small doubt in the back of her mind that kept telling her that Fred had cheated on her and that he was being unfaithful behind her back with some pretty blonde haired witch. She shook her head to rid herself of those thoughts as she got back to concentrating on her homework which wasn't due for another week but typical of Hermione she wanted it done as soon as possible.
The portrait hole swung open but Hermione chose to ignore it, it was probably another student entering or leaving like they had been all afternoon. Plus if it was any of her friends she'd probably hear them before she'd see them. The intruder quietly walked pasted the gawping students over to Hermione who appeared to be sat in her very own world unaware of what all was happening around her, her hand scribbling at 90mph on the piece of parchment. Fred Weasley stopped behind where she was sat, placing his hands over her eyes.
"Oi! Get off! Who are you?" Hermione shouted making two first year girls jump.
She attempted to prise the hands from her yes but it was no use, the person was much stronger than she was.
"Guess who Hermione?" Fred chirped, removing his hands from her eyes.
Hermione leapt off the chair, causing her Charms book to fall to the floor with an almighty thud.
"Fred!" She shrieked, pouncing on Fred to give him a hug, not even caring about the other students who were staring at the couple.
"What are you doing here?" Hermione wondered. "And how?"
"For the brightest witch of her age, you're really not the sharpest tool in the shed Mione." Fred laughed which earned him a playful slap on the arm from Hermione.
"Well lets just say I asked Dumbledore if I could come and visit you the odd weekend so we're not always meeting during your Hogsmede visits and he agreed." Fred explained.
Hermione's eyes lit up.
"Dumbledore?" Hermione shrieked in an excited tone.
"Yep it was all down to Dumbledore." Fred grinned.
"So shall we go something a little more private to talk?"
"Yes that would be brilliant. I've got so much to tell you and I want you to tell me what all you've been up too." Hermione answered, chucking her belongings into her bag.
"Room of requirement?" Fred suggested.
Hermione nodded her head and slipped her hand into Fred's as they made their way out of the common room. On their way out they were met by a chorus of "Hey Freds." From the other students.
"Do you miss it at all?" Hermione wondered.
"The school? A little bit I guess. I don't miss the homework or the boring classes but I miss all my mates, the Quidditch and the banter we used to have in the common room but most of all I miss seeing you every day." Fred answered gripping Hermione's hand tighter.
Hermione and Fred decided to go to the room of requirement to spend some time alone. The room was a much smaller and a cosier version of the Gryffindor common room.
"I couldn't think of what I wanted so I thought of the common room." Fred spoke as the couple entered.
"It's lovely Fred, honestly." Hermione replied shuffling over to the comfortable looking sofa with Fred following her.
Fred pulled two bottles of butterbeer, two chocolate frogs and to Hermione's surprise some muggle strawberry sweets.
"I love those sweets, Dad used to buy me them as a treat on a Saturday, the only time I was allowed something sugary." Hermione chirped.
"So Hermione what have you been up too then? What all has been going on here?" Fred asked turning towards her.
"Well Dumbledore has set Harry some sort of a mission, don't know what all it is but he's been visiting Dumbledore every week for some sort of lessons, I'm assuming it's to do with you-know-who. I have a bad feeling about it actually." Hermione answered with a small sigh.
"As well as that he's worried about Draco for some strange reason, he seems different, not himself at all."
"Why is he worried about that git?" Fred wondered.
"I have no idea but this is Harry we're talking about plus he is under the impression that Draco is now a death eater." Hermione said.
Fred let out some sort of a scoff.
"Well he does appear to be that type of person and his Father is definitely one." He said.
"But surely he wouldn't make Draco one too?" Hermione wondered.
"Who knows? Would you really know when you-know-who is involved? He'd make anyone part of his gang." Fred answered. "Has anything else been happening?"
"Not really. A few students have been taken out of the school by their parents which is quite scary, mine have threatened to remove me but I told them that I don't want too." Hermione replied. "Oh and Ron and Lavender are totally loved up, they are constantly glued to each other. What about you Fred? How is the shop going?"
"It's going really well considering what all is happening at the moment. We have got a plan of action though if we need to shut up shop and flee." Fred answered then proceeded to tell Hermione all about their plan involving Sirius.
Hermione surprisingly thought their idea was great.
"I think Sirius will really enjoy helping us out. It keep him from being bored useless." Fred spoke.
Fred then told Hermione about Sirius plans to become a free man.
"I don't think it's a good idea, I mean there's 101 one things that could go wrong. What if he is found guilty and sent to the dementors?" Hermione gasped.
"That was one of my worries too. Maybe he should wait until all this war calms down though that could take years." Fred answered.
"He's safe at the moment though. I know he's cooked up in that house 24/7 and it can't be too good for him but it'll be worth it in the end." Hermione spoke with an air of uncertainty in her voice.
"That's partly why me and George have asked him to help us, it'll give him something to do when the Order aren't around." Fred spoke.
"What's happening with the Order now? Have you and George been to the meetings?" Hermione wondered.
"No we haven't had the chance unfortunately due to the shop and Mum has never been too keen on us being part of it all but we're 18 now and old enough to make our own decisions." Fred replied.
"She means well Fred but I've a feeling we're all going to have to fight if it comes down to a war, all of us who are of age anyway. I think Harry has to be the one to end you-know-who, neither can live while the other survives. It's scary Fred and I don't think I'm ready for it all to kick off and neither is Harry." Hermione sighed.
"Harry is a lot stronger than people give him credit for, plus he's been through more in his 16 years than people go through in their lifetimes." Fred answered.
"Yes but this is him fighting you-know-who, one of them has to kill the other one and I'm worried Harry won't be as lucky this time around, he says himself that the other times were just sheer luck." Hermione spoke.
Fred wrapped a supportive arm around Hermione's shoulder as tears began to cascade down her pale cheeks. Fred had never seen her so broken before, so fragile and it broke his heart. All he could do was comfort her, even he couldn't tell her that everything would be alright because he wasn't sure of that himself. All he wanted was for everything to go back to normal, Voldemort to be defeated and all his friends and family to come out of the war alive.