This chapter is a little longer, but I'm not sure if this will be a regular thing... I don't know.
I have started another chapter, and I will now post updates in my bio so if I'm having a writers block you will now know :3
Enjoy! ~BH
December 1994 (Hermione is 15, Fred 16(17 in April))
FRED POV
It was the Yule Ball. The hall was set up beautifully, I had a beautiful partner also known as Angelina, everyone was happy.
But I didn't feel truly happy.
Ever since that day Hermione was stuck in the bathroom in her first year, I have hardly had the chance to speak to her. She had been so much happier since that day because she finally had friends her own age. She didn't need me anymore. I missed her.
Not just because it had been beautiful watching her grow and flourish not just in her abilities but in her appearance and personality too. Not just because of all the memories we had together, especially as young children. Just because, I didn't realise how much I cared.
I've never been that heartfelt about a girl, and only recently about Hermione. Before, it was just a sisterly affection, which had to be dealt with from a distance.
Then she came over for her first summer at The Burrow.
The Quidditch World Cup went horribly wrong, but it was great to be in her presence, and I realised how great it was having her around. Of course, she was oblivious to all this, as was George. Besides, Ron had complete puppy dog eyes around her when she wasn't looking, so I backed off. She was happy.
I knew it was Hermione with Viktor Krum as soon as they passed me. The champions all had to start the dancing with their partners. Fleur floated in first with Roger Davies, who looked completely star struck by Fleur's effortless elegance the whole time. Then Cedric, looking a little nervous but determined, and alongside him who I believed to be Harry's crush Cho Chang, who also looked a little overwhelmed by the attention but looked happier than I had ever seen her. We over heard Harry ask her out, but I didn't want to plague him about it, he had worse problems. Last was Harry himself, looking like he would rather eat a dungbomb and his face was slowly turning the same colour as one. Eagerly smiling and waving at the crowd was a pretty Gryffindor known as Parvati Patil, who had a thin arm looped through Harry's. She must have thought she was on a catwalk, and looked proud to be on the arm of 'Famous Harry Potter' but I'm not complaining. I like confidence. And it would be a good story to tell your grandkids.
Before Harry, however, were Krum and Hermione. Krum looked as if he ate the dungbomb Harry would have eaten in exchange for having to dance, his usual grumpy expression etched onto his rugged face. Despite this, he occasionally glanced in quiet delight to the girl of his arm, as if he was the luckiest man in the room. Gliding gracefully next to him, was indeed, Hermione.
The thing that shocked everyone was the fact that she looked so different. Her hair was piled delicately on top of her small head, soft brown curls cascading down one shoulder. Her dress was a soft periwinkle blue which floated around her like she was a princess. She had always looked beautiful to me. Everyone was shocked it was her; they couldn't pick up on the same twinkle of her eyes, or the typical shy smile that I knew from the very first day we met when I was 10 years old. I thought about how exasperated she was when she complained of the girls in her dorm giggling about the same man she was dancing with later on. Well, she knew who he was now that's for sure. Everyone thought she was unrecognisable, but I could see the Hermione behind the makeup and the sparkles.
I crossed the room to get drinks for myself and Angelina. We were good friends and team mates, but nothing more. She looked very gorgeous in a dress of deep purple that complimented her skin and hair nicely. I saw Hermione, looking radiant as Viktor spun her effortlessly. Harry and Ron were lounging on one of the many love seats dotted around, fed up of dancing. Parvati and Padma were long gone, now with some Durmstrang boys.
I reached the bar and ordered two butterbeers, and waited, still pondering, lost in my own thoughts.
It was midnight. The ball was over. It was fun, George and I spiked a record breaking 46 drinks, leaving many people with various coloured hair and noses for a while until it wore off. Most people were in such a jubilant mood they didn't care, which was just the attitude George and I liked. Even Fleur sported her then orange hair while it lasted, for Roger still couldn't keep his eyes off her. It was amusing, but I couldn't put my heart into it, and only tittered when Percy managed to get magenta hair for the second time.
I headed to the marble staircase alone. George had picked up a girl from Beaubatons and had gone to say 'goodnight'. I figured he would be a while, and I didn't want to hear about how great a kisser the girl was, or how hot she looked. I took my time climbing the grand staircase before starting to ascend the many flights of stairs to my common room. Then I heard sobbing.
I backtracked and looked to my right to see a girl with her now unravelled hair hanging across her tearstained face. It was Hermione. In no time at all I was near her, armed with some terrible yet perfect humour.
"You look happy." I commented, taking in her rumpled figure.
"Your brother. Is awful." Hermione replied, punctuating every word as if she was stabbing me with a rusty knife. I was simultaneously surprised and unsurprised that she got straight to the point. I was secretly pleased that she was immediately open with me.
"Apparently, I am indeed a girl!" She laughed sarcastically. "Who'd have known? Of course, Ron was so convinced that poor Hermione Granger wouldn't have a date because she's ugly and a complete bookworm, and couldn't comprehend that Harry and himself weren't the only people I talked to!" She didn't flinch as I sat beside her and wiped away her tears. "Am I not allowed to be happy?" She asked to no one in particular, before settling her hair on my shoulder.
I sat there, my hands in my lap, unsure what to say, for the first time in my life.
"Of course you're allowed to be happy. In fact, you SHOULD be happy." I replied slowly, finding it difficult to resist making a joke out of the situation. She sighed in response.
"There are going to be people who will want what you have. Looks, intelligence, a handsome childhood friend." The corners of her mouth turned upwards slightly.
"I will always be here for you. No matter what." I continued. I didn't need to say any more. All she needed was some reassurance, and friendship. My brother had his chance to give her some respect. I stood back, knowing he wanted her. If she was going to treat her like this, however, they were better off as friends at most.
This time, it was my turn.