I want to thank you all for reviewing. I never got so many reviews for one chapter, even if most of them were about the ribs xD I hope you like the new chapter, I'm nervous about it. It was one of the few things I planned from the beginning. And please, if you don't like it then of course you can review, but do it in a nice, non-bitchy way please. I'm not the most self-confident writer, as you all should know by now, and its hard enough already for me to write it won't get easier when I get mean reviews all the time...
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WHAT IF
Chapter 20 - Mister Lover Lover
"Hagrid, you don't understand how this woman is. You saw her yesterday night! You have to be careful," Hermione tried to reason with Hagrid for the thousandth time this morning. She sat with him in his hut and tried to convince Hagrid to follow the classes of Professor Grubby-Plank. Her lessons at least were safe, followed the Ministry's approved plan and, most importantly, gave Umbridge no reason to sack Hagrid. But Hagrid wouldn't listen.
"Don' worry, Hermione. I've go' the perfect lesson planned. The studen's will love it." He grinned while he rubbed something dark green on his fresh wounds. Hermione was torn between asking why he was wounded again and between not wanting to know. Whatever Hagrid had hidden in the forbidden forest was surely not approved by the Ministry.
In the last weeks, Umbridge had visited all classes and Professor Trewlaney was already on probation. Hermione feared the worst for Hagrid. He was a half-giant, he was loyal to Dumbledore and therefore everything Umbridge detested. It was like he had a giant target on his back and Umbridge just needed to aim for the final shot. Hermione really feared the worst. Yesterday evening, when Hermione, Ron and Harry had visited Hagrid, they had witnessed how harsh the woman could be if she wanted to.
"Hagrid," she tried again but he shook his head.
"Don' worry," he smiled again and Hermione let out a deep sigh. For now, she would give up but she was sure that her help would be needed soon enough. She bid Hagrid goodbye and made her way back to the castle. It was the middle of November and already freezing cold. The castle grounds were swallowed by snow and Hermione needed to melt her way through.
When she finally reached the castle she saw Lee, Fred and George in the snow with some other seventh year students. Hermione knew some of them by names like Roger Davis and Patricia Stimpson, others she had only seen during meals or in between classes. They were all laughing loudly about some jokes from Fred who lazily charmed the snow to build statues.
Hermione's heart picked up the beat when she saw Fred. She was still wondering what had possessed her to be so bold with him. The memory alone made her blush and her fingers tingle. With a grin she witnessed how George bewitched some snowballs to fly up to the Gryffindor Tower to hit Ron in the face, who was complaining about the volume of the seventh years.
But then Hermione's almost choked on her laugh when she was how Fred leaned down to whisper something into Patricia Stimpson's ear while he pushed her hair aside. It was a very intimate gesture and Patricia blushed and giggled instantly. The familiar feeling of jealousy spread through her chest and with a frown Hermione entered the castle.
Fred was a mystery to her. It was like he had never had a relationship with Angelina. While Angelina visibly suffered from the break-up, Fred seemed to be in his best mood. If Hermione hadn't witnessed one or two small moments where his façade had slipped, then she would have believed that Fred was an utter and complete arse without feelings. But he wasn't, she knew him too well, he just behaved really strange.
Hermione ignored Ron's cries for help - she had told him he had to do his homework alone this year - when she entered the common room and went straight to Ginny's dorm room. The redhead was lounging on her bed, reading a magazine and eating some of Mrs Weasley's home-made Christmas cookies.
"I need your help," Hermione announced and flopped down on the bed beside Ginny. She helped herself to a cookie and then choose her words carefully.
"There's something I need to tell you but you have to promise you won't laugh, okay?" Ginny nodded with gleaming eyes, clearly interested in the news. "During the third task of the Triwizard Tournament George and Lee emptied a few buckets of water over Fred… And I helped him with getting dry and clean. And I think I saw something, well, his soul mark and…" By now Hermione's cheeks were burning.
"IthinkFredandIaresoulmates," she quickly pressed out before she lost the courage. The words came out slurred but Ginny still seemed to understand. The redhead looked stunned for a moment.
"But I'm not completely sure," Hermione added quickly. "That's why I need your help. I need to see the mark again to be sure."
"So, we're partners in crime again?" Ginny replied with an easy smile and Hermione loved her for it. Ginny didn't ask why Hermione wanted to know or told her how unlikely it was for Fred and her to be soulmates. Ginny just accepted that Hermione needed help and therefore provided it.
"Oh, Ginny, you're my eternal accomplice," Hermione winked. And then, with cookies and tea, they started to plan a scheme how to get Fred Weasley out of his shirt.
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Even though Hermione was worried about Hagrid, he still proved to be a ray of hope after the horrible weekend and the Quidditch ban. Fred, George and Lee roared with delight when they saw Hagrid during breakfast and made a big fuss off welcoming him back. They almost stormed the teachers' table and got a few glares from Umbridge and McGonagall. Their head of House still seemed a bit cross with them for getting banned from Quidditch. She was probably afraid of giving the Cup back to Professor Snape.
But their small happiness was destroyed when Umbridge inspected Hagrid's lessons and it ended as Hermione had expected it. With the Slytherins laughing and Umbridge grinning way too satisfied. Hagrid was completely embarrassed and mortified by the way Umbridge had treated him but he still didn't seem to comprehend that her behaviour was a strategy. But at least he started to listen to Hermione after he had gotten his letter and was on probation. Together they worked on Hagrid's classes and Hermione was able to talk him out of presenting more dangerous beasts.
But it was hard for Hermione to help Hagrid and keep up with all her other responsibilities and projects. The professors gave them more and more homework and the prefects had to do more shifts than ever. They had to help with the Christmas decorations and needed to look after the younger students and keep them silent and occupied, now that it was too cold to go outside. Hermione had almost no time to knit new hats for the elves, which deeply worried her.
But Hermione tried to use the little time she had. As she was levitating Christmas decorations on the floor in front of the Gryffindor common room, she thought about the things she had discussed with Ginny. They had had multiple ideas how they could get Fred to strip his shirt off and one idea was crazier than the other. The afternoon had been full of fits of laughter but in the end, they had no real plan.
Of course, there was the possibility to just get Fred wet again and hope he would strip. Ginny had suggested that Hermione could borrow Harry's cloak and sneak into the bathroom to see Fred shower. Hermione had quickly dismissed both ideas. The first was too unreliable and the second was out of the question.
I could prank him with vanishing his clothes, Hermione mused as she put the finishing touches with the tinsel when she heard low laughter and stampeding footsteps. Curiously she rounded the corner just in time to see Fred and George vanishing behind a picture. A second later Filch, completely out of breath and with a bright magenta and orange coloured face, rounded the same corner and yelled angrily at Hermione.
"Where are they? Those demonic twins?"
"I'm sorry Mr Filch, I didn't see anyone," Hermione replied with as much innocence in her voice as possible. For a moment Filch looked at her warily but then decided to believe her.
"Oh, I will find them. Come, my sweet, let's search," Filch whispered to Mrs Norris, Hermione completely forgotten again. Hermione waited several seconds before she slowly went towards the picture were Fred and George had vanished. It was a picture of a very thin, noble-looking witch who eyed Hermione from above.
"What can I do for you?"
"I saw two boys vanish here, is there a room behind your picture?"
"Maybe, maybe not. I fear you will need a password to get inside." The witch answered with an arrogant smile.
"Oh… well, I don't know it. Would you open for a prefect?" Hermione showed her badge but the witch shook her head. "Then maybe a little help? A tip?" Again the witch shook her head a no. Hermione cursed internally. She really was curious now. And she wanted to get inside. So she started to randomly guess.
"Quidditch. Bludger. Pranks. Canary Creams. Fever Fudge. Nosebleed Nougat. Fainting Fancies. Weasleys' Wizards Wheezes. Mischief Managed." But the witch didn't even flinch and after ten minutes of no luck with guessing the password Hermione finally gave up. She had to try another time or maybe she could follow the twins one day. She added the hidden room to her constant list of mysteries around Fred she had to solve.
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"I swear, we weren't so cheeky their age," Ron complained about two second-years, who had talked back when Hermione and Ron had sent them to their common room due to the curfew coming up soon.
"No, we were just smuggling a baby dragon through the whole castle after curfew and brewed an illegal potion," Hermione grinned.
"Maybe, but we weren't cheeky about it. You know, it still amazes me that Dumbledore made us prefects," Ron laughed. "Okay, you were the obvious decision," he added quickly, "but still, we got in so much trouble in the last years…"
"Yeah," Hermione smiled at the memories. They made their way through the floors they were assigned to patrol while peacefully talking about lessons, the upcoming O.W.L.s and ranting about Umbridge. It had been a while since Hermione and Ron had been this normal and friendly towards each other. Ever since third year and their big fight about Scrabbers and the firebolt, there had always been a fight or banter between them. In fourth year first when Ron had been angry at Harry and then because of her brief romance with Viktor. And since the beginning of the new school year they had already had their fair share of snapping at each other because of their prefect duties - or more precisely Ron's neglect of them when it came to his brothers - and Harry, whenever he was moody again.
Suddenly they heard a familiar whispering and shuffling and Hermione and Ron both rolled their eyes at each other. The sounds came from an unused classroom.
"You go," Ron sighed. "I already had two of those this week." Hermione groaned. She whipped out her wand and - with making as much noise as possible - she cast the Alohomora charm. Hopefully, the noise would make it possible for whoever was active inside there to cloth themselves a bit.
Hermione hated running in on couples during her rounds. It seemed like everywhere in the castle was a good place to hook up. Bathrooms, broom sheds, classrooms, even empty floors, she had run into couples everywhere. Ron and she had therefore developed a strategy. Whenever they thought they heard a couple in action they made as much noise as possible the give them a chance to run or at least get decent.
Very slowly Hermione opened the door and stepped in while Ron stayed behind. That was part of their Anti-Umbridge-Strategy. Since Ron and Hermione had discovered Harry's wounds after his detentions, they tried to keep students away from the horrible toad. So, one of them always played the look-out to warn them when Umbridge was near.
As soon as Hermione had opened the door fully, she froze. In the middle of the room, in front of a desk, stood Fred and tried to bottom-up his shirt. On the desk was a seventh year Ravenclaw girl with a massive blush on her face while she pushed her skirt down quickly.
"Hermione, good evening," Fred greeted her smoothly with a lopsided smile. "I would say it's a pleasure but I'm afraid you interrupted the real plea-" The girl swatted Fred on the arm - hard, as it seemed from the way he flinched - and jumped off the table. With a shy smile, she nodded at Hermione and then left to hurry off to her dorm room.
Hermione was still struggling with finding her voice again when Ron came in, groaning loudly when he saw his older brother.
"Bloody hell! Again? That's the third time this week, Fred." Ron shook his head, his ears slightly red, but Fred only grinned.
"What can I say? The ladies all want a piece now that I'm free and willing again," he winked.
"You caught him two times already?" Hermione suddenly asked when Ron's words sunk in. Her blood was boiling with anger. Why she wasn't sure. She was angry because she was jealous, that was clear. But she was also disappointed. And maybe a bit angry on behalf of Angelina, who certainly seemed to be the only one who suffered from the break-up.
"Yeah, he's all over the castle with his conquests," Ron muttered. "Never caught him with Angelina, but now…"
"Ten points from Gryffindor," Hermione stated flatly.
"WHAT?" Both Fred and Ron stared at Hermione in disbelief.
"Hermione, you can't dock points from our own house. Do you want Slytherin to win the cup?" Ron roared.
"Fred's out after curfew and you admitted you already caught him two times this week. And I guess you didn't punish him then, did you?" Ron's ears turned an even deeper shade of red.
"Thought so. Ten points are an absolutely fair punishment. You can deal with the rest, Ron," Hermione glared and with clenched fists, she hurried off to her dorm room.
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"You know, it seems like we don't need to make some big, elaborate plan anymore," Ginny whispered as she glared at Fred a few days later during dinner. "It seems like all it needs these days to get Fred out of his clothes is a skirt and the promise to take it off."
Hermione and Ginny had chosen a place far away from Harry, Ron and the twins in order to share the latest gossip. Hermione was still furious with Fred - no matter if she had the right to be or not - and he too was miffed about the points she had taken. Ginny was, like Hermione, not impressed with her older brother's newest antics.
Without Hermione's knowledge - which didn't say much because she was totally uninformed about the school gossip anyway - Fred had become some kind of playboy since his break-up from Angelina. Ginny had admitted that she had rumours since a while but hadn't believed them, mainly because she didn't want to. But now Ginny had reached out to her main gossip sources, like Lavender, Parvati and Romilda Vane, and they had a good picture of what Fred was up to. And with whom.
"Romilda says he's flirting with almost all girls from the sixth and seventh year. She actually complained that he never hooks up with fifth years or below. I don't know how far he's going with his conquests, and frankly, I don't want to know, but I still think it's strange." Ginny poked her noodles. "Before he got together with Angelina Fred was also a bit of a player, flirty, but he never had affairs or at least no one knew. Now it's like he wants the whole school to know."
"You're talking about Fred?" Alicia asked as she sat down. Hermione hadn't seen her coming but the blonde girl had a furious expression on her face. "Some girl from Hufflepuff was boasting about how good he's in the sack today in the girls' bathroom. Right in front of Angelina! Even provoked her with asking for Ange's opinion. I'm so close to hexing the living hell out of Fred."
"Where is Angelina?" Hermione asked as she looked around.
"Said she wasn't hungry," Alicia started to aggressively cut her boiled potatoes. "The bloody git, I'm going to kill him." Alicia glared at Fred, who was now flirting with another girl and Ginny let out an annoyed huff. George meanwhile was pranking Ron with some canary creams.
"I don't get how he does it," Ginny murmured. "By now the whole school knows he's only sleeping around, why would anyone want to hook up with him?"
"To blow off some steam I guess," a voice behind them suggested and all three of them jumped slightly. With a slight grin, Lee Jordan sat down, beside Alicia. "It's the last year for most of them and they're stressed because of the N.E.W.T.s, maybe Fred offers some relaxation." Alicia narrowed her eyes at Lee.
"That doesn't explain why Fred behaves like a heartless git. Do you have any idea what Angelina has to endure?" Alicia's expression was warning enough for Lee not to defend Fred so he just lifted his hands in surrender.
"Hey, I have nothing to do with this, I just came to ask if I could borrow your notes from the last charms class." Lee tried a smile but it faltered when Alicia still glared at him like she wanted to kill him. Hermione and Ginny both giggled at the display. Alicia was normally a pretty relaxed young woman but today she proofed that she could be quite terrifying if she wanted to.
"My best friend is probably crying her eyes out right now because of that stupid ginger git, no offence Ginny-"
"- none taken-"
"- and you want to borrow my notes? Probably want to share with Fred and George? In your dreams, Jordan." Alicia raised her voice slightly.
"Right, got the point, Spinnet. But has it ever crossed your mind that Angelina is not the only one who's hurt?" Lee sounded cold now and Hermione suddenly had the urge to leave the table. This conversation turned into a nasty fight, which Hermione didn't want to witness necessarily.
"He's certainly not acting like it. Flirting around and shagging girls like he wants to break some record. Seems more like she never meant something to him anyway."
"That's rubbish and you know it!" Lee almost shouted and for a moment he and Alicia just glared at each other. Both boiling with anger.
"Is that why Fred is behaving that way?" Hermione interrupted their fight. "Because Angelina hurt him?"
"And now he's getting back at her?" Ginny asked. Hermione and Ginny both looked expectantly at Lee, as did Alicia.
"Even if something like that is the reason, I can't believe Fred would be that petty. Right, Lee?" Alicia stated when Lee didn't answer to Ginny's and Hermione's question. He stayed silent but started to play with an unused fork, so Alicia just continued to talk.
"And I can't believe Angelina would actually hurt him. She was really, really in love with him. Maybe she still is. Oh, would you please say something, Lee?" She snatched the fork from his hands. For a moment Lee was silent, then he just shrugged.
"You know, I don't really know anything. George knows, of course, but he says Fred doesn't want to talk about it. I just know that Fred is hurt, no matter how hard he tries to hide it. And I know that George isn't quite fond of this new playboy Fred either, so it's only a matter of time till he knocks some sense into Fred. This-" he waved towards Fred, who was still involved with the Ravenclaw girl, "should end soon."
"Well, for now, I'll try to believe the best of Fred. But maybe I will still hex his balls off," Alicia stated and a small grin tucked on Lee's lips.
"Please do," Ginny grinned. "No matter why he's behaving like this, I don't like it. Everywhere I go I have to listen to girls swooning about him, a bloody nightmare."
"Yeah, but tell me beforehand. We could sell tickets," Lee joked. "So, what about these notes now, can I have them?"
"Get out of my sight before I hex you," Alicia threatened. Lee stuck out his tongue at her but fled when she waved her wand.
The three of them watched Lee strut away to George while Fred walked off with the girl. They all groaned but for very different reasons. Alicia because she was frustrated and angry with both Fred and Angelina. Ginny because she really didn't want to know more about her brothers love lives than necessary. And Hermione because every new girl was another nail of jealousy hammered into her heart. She really was sick of being miserable because of Fred Weasley and the renewed hope of the last few weeks made it all just worse.
She needed to know if he really was her soulmate or not. It would make things so much easier if she knew. If Fred wasn't her soulmate it surely wouldn't hurt as much anymore. She would be able to let go of him. Hermione felt her anger flare. Damn Fred and Angelina for their break-up. She had been on such a good way with healing her heart and everything and then he went and broke up with his alleged soulmate. And now he behaved like an idiot. Damn him.
Hours later Hermione stormed into the Gryffindor common room, terribly pissed off and ready to blow something into pieces. Or better someone. Like Fred Weasley, who was running after her with an angry scowl on his face.
"I can't believe you docked points off again!" He almost shouted.
"And I can't believe you got caught after curfew with a different girl again!" Hermione countered. There were only a few people left, among them Ginny and George.
"Oh, is this about the girl? Are you jealous, Granger? Did you like what you felt that night," Fred started to smirk mockingly. Then he leaned down and loudly stage whispered. "As I said, you just have to ask." Hermione felt a rush of heat cursing through her body. Partly because of the suggestive tone in Fred's voice, partly because she was embarrassed, but mostly because of anger. He had fought with her on the whole way back to the common room and now Hermione just saw red.
"Like I would ask you, Weasley. What was the word you used to describe him during dinner, Ginny?"
"Man whore!" Ginny provided with small laughter in her voice. Both she and George were watching the fight with big interest and wide eyes.
"Oh yes, man whore. Sorry, but I'm more of a quality before quantity type of girl."
"Oh, don't worry, love. I've got plenty of quality. Want me to show you?"
"Can't be much of a show when none of your girls come back for seconds. Thanks, but no thanks." Hermione smirked. Fred just stared at her open-mouthed.
"If I catch you after curfew one more time I will give you detention. And close your mouth, it doesn't look very attractive." Hermione added, not without some triumph in her voice. She walked off to the stairs but then she changed her mind last minute. Determined Hermione turned around and locked eyes with Fred.
"Fred, I don't know what happened between Angelina and you but if she ever meant anything to you, then you have to stop this. I don't know why you're behaving that way and I'm not sure if you know it yourself. But it certainly isn't the best way to deal with a break-up." Fred still stared at Hermione silently, now seemingly holding back a comment. So she decided to leave him alone for now.
Ginny followed Hermione, who slumped down on her bed tiredly. It felt like all she did these days was studying and fighting with Fred, and sometimes with George, about his pranks, products and love affairs. She repeatedly caught the twins while selling their stuff, and even if Hermione didn't like it herself she had to intervene. Umbridge was getting harsher and harsher with her punishments against Weasley products. Or she caught Fred with a girl in compromising positions.
But today had been different. Today Hermione had been caught off guard. Ron and she had divided to cover more ground since two other prefects were in the infirmary with a cold.
Hermione hadn't heard them beforehand and so, when she walked by the normally empty classroom, she got a full sight of Fred kissing some girl. Both were partly undressed. The girl in only her skirt and bra, Fred shirtless and his pants already opened. But that hadn't been the worst thing. The worst was that Hermione could get a very good sight of his naked stomach. And his soul mark. Completely identical to her own. When reality finally got her, she had started to scream at them. And that's how Hermione and Fred had started the fight that ended in the common room minutes ago.
"I saw the mark," Hermione whispered as her eyes filled with tears. She felt overwhelmed. And she was tired of fighting. Fighting with Fred. Fighting her own feelings.
"And now you're crying because he's not your soulmate and you wanted him too, or are you sad because he is and my dear brother is behaving like a prat?" Ginny asked while she handed Hermione a handkerchief.
"The second," Hermione sniffled. Ginny's eyes widened but she said nothing. Perhaps she instinctively knew that Hermione needed a minute. They sat in silence, the curtains of Hermione's bed pulled tightly and a silencing charm set in place.
"I'm in love with him," Hermione finally broke the silence. "Since the beginning of the fourth year, maybe longer than that." The confession hung heavy between them and Hermione saw how Ginny bit her lip.
"Sorry for not telling you sooner."
"It's... okay, I wish you had said something but I know you. You do things at your own pace. Is Fred the reason you broke up with Viktor?"
"Partly," Hermione nodded. They spent the next hour by discussing how Hermione had realised her feelings for Fred, how she had started to like Viktor Krum and how painful it had been to see Fred dating Angelina.
"Will you tell him? He's single again, maybe-"
"And he's behaving like he wants to stay single for awhile." Hermione huffed. "And just because we're soulmates and I have feelings for him doesn't mean he feels the same for me, right? I mean, he dated Angelina, now he's shagging half the female school population. I don't see how this will end well if I tell him we're soulmates. He will probably laugh at me."
"Fred would never do that. Mum drilled into us that soulmates are sacred," Ginny started to softly caress Hermione's hair, braiding it into a tight plait.
"Maybe, I need to think about it," Hermione yawned. Ginny hummed approvingly and together they drifted off to sleep.
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Please don't hate Fred (and me) for this chapter. Everything will be cleared up soon, I promise! And thanks to Moonfairy13 who helped me immensely with the plot of this chapter (and the story in general) and is a fab writing buddy. She kicked my insecure ass just hard enough to finally publish this chapter.