The winter break was over, and everyone had returned to Hogwarts. Ron spent all of his time with Lavender, and Hermione spent her time trying to avoid the happy couple, not that it was working. It seemed Ron was attempting to rub his relationship in her face, going so far as frequenting the library, choosing an empty aisle next to her usual study spot as their snogging hide out. It was the third time this week that her homework was interrupted by the sounds of Lavenders obnoxious giggling and Ron's hushed voice.

Hermione sighed before standing up and slamming her books shut. She had had enough of Ronalds childish games. She held her head high, and walked primly out of the library. Hermione was not about to let Ron know he was getting to her. She knew that was his reason for his incredibly public displays of affection, and there was no way she would let him see how much it upset her. She walked briskly to the Gryffindor common room and waited impatiently for the Fat Lady to swing open. The last thing she expected when she walked through the portrait hole was a screaming match. Standing in the middle of the common room was George and Katie, the latter of which was currently throwing jinxes and hexes at her boyfriend. George was blocking most of them, but had already managed to get hit with Anteoculatia and a stinging hex, growing huge antlers on a face that was rapidly swelling into large blisters.

"How dare you George Fabian Weasley! I thought I could trust you!" Katie screeched.

Hermione sat down next to Fred and Harry. "What's going on?" She murmured.

Fred shook his head. "It was her- ahh time of the month- and the git thought it would be funny to offer her some Bruise Removal Paste-which we haven't properly tested yet-when she griped about falling off her broom at practice. It sorta turned that part of her arm a nasty green color and won't wash off. Shes a tad sensitive about it."

Hermione had never really had a problem with Katie, but she couldn't help but laugh at the girl. She could see the green skin from where she was sitting, and it looked as if it were getting worse instead of fading. Harry and Fred both looked at her strangely as she tried to conceal her giggles, but they weren't stopping. "I can't breathe!" She gasped between giggles. "It-looks-like-scales-!" Her laughter started all over again, and she was bent over in her seat with her hand covering her mouth.

"This is the second time I've seen her actually enjoy our pranks instead of scolding us." Fred grinned, "What do ya think changed mate?"

Harry smiled and patted his friend on the shoulder. "Everyone needs a good laugh once in awhile, don't they Mione?"

By now other people were joining Hermione in her laughter, and it was fueling Katies anger.

"Melofors!" She yelled, causing the laughter to erupt into a roar as George stumbled around with a pumpkin as a head. Katie turned around and stomped up the staircase to her room. George's muffled voice was barely legible over the rest of the Gryffindors. His friends stood around him, practicing spells to remove the pumpkin from his head. "Umbwum ill fow ah fwit if swe fwins ow!" George said.

"Any idea what he said?" Harry asked bemused.

Fred sighed, and reached over and slammed his fist into the back of the pumpkin, splitting it straight in two. "Whaddya say Georgie?"

George glared up at his twin, rubbing the back of his head. "That hurt, you prat! I said Umbridge will throw a fit if she finds out. Not that it matters now." He grumbled, picking pumpkin guts out of his. "That birds lost her mind!"

"Umbridge? What has she done now?" Hermione asked, worried that she missed something.

George shook his head, seeds flying from his hair and shoulders. "Katie! I told her the green really brought out her eyes, and she went mental! My ear still hurts from that stinging hex she got me with."

Hermione's smile dropped as she realized the ear he was rubbing was the one he would soon lose. She looked away from him just in time to see Ron and Lavender walk in. Hermione sighed and sank down into the sofa next to Fred. "Is it so wrong to hate her for stealing my future husband?" She pouted.

Fred laughed quietly, "Future husband, love? Well you sure have all your ducks in a row, now don't you?" He patted her knee. "Don't be so sure about that tosser, you can do so much better."

Hermione had paled when she realized what she had said. I'm so lucky he didn't think anything of it. But would it really be so bad to tell someone? YES! Anyone in their right mind would think i'm a complete nutter!

She wasn't sure what to think of his compliment, so she ignored it. "He's been throwing it in my face since New Years. Everywhere I go, they follow soon after. I can't stand it."

Fred grinned down at her. "He's trying to make you jealous! Care to give the prat a taste of his own medicine?" Hermione looked confused until he wrapped his arm around his shoulder and pulled her closer to him. He leaned down and spoke quietly into her ear. "Look at his face, it's almost as red as his hair!" Hermione giggled and leaned farther into Fred, enjoying the way he smelled, the way his muscled chest felt, and the steady beat of his heart near her ear. For a moment she forgot about Ron, and was lost in Fred's confident smile. Then Lavender decided to squeeze in next to her.

"Can we help you, Lav Lav?" Fred sneered at the girl.

"Oh no, I just love this sofa. Its a shame theres not enough room for my Ronniekins too." She pouted.

"Oh there was plenty of room until you sat down." Hermione grumbled causing Fred to throw his head back laughing.

Lavender either hadn't heard her, or chose to ignore the biting comment. She grabbed the container of bruise remover from George, "Ohhh, what's this? You know I have a face cream at home that looks just like this!"

George grinned wickedly. "Oh really? Well its your lucky day. I was planning on hiding this from Ginny, but you can have it Lav Lav. It will really help those crows feet." He patted her hand with false sympathy before she shrieked and ran upstairs to look in a mirror.

Ron huffed and ran after her. The next day Lavenders face was the same sickly green color as Katie's arm, and it was one of the most peaceful days Hermione had had since she had landed herself in the past.


Hope you guys like it! This chapter was rather light and funny, I think. But only because the next one should be kinda the opposite...