Thanks to 93 Diagon Alley For her brilliance (and for writing her own awesome George/Hermione story!) and for beta reading this for me.
Chapter Fifty-four: In which rumors are spread and practices are had.
"Rough game Quidditch."- Fred
"What did you say, Harry?" Hermione asked her dark haired friend, looking up from her book in surprise.
"Dobby just gave me an idea for where we can have the meetings."
"Where?" she exclaimed excitedly, picking Crookshanks up from the cushion beside her and setting him in her lap so Harry could have his seat.
"The Room of Re-What's wrong, Ron?" Hermione was wondering the same thing. Her red-headed mate was crossing the common room towards them. He was pale, and his face was twisted in a horrible mix of anger, shock, and disgust.
"I have just heard the worst rumor in my life. From Pansy Parkinson, no less," he said, sinking onto the table in front of them. Hermione and Harry shared a quick glance before looking back at Ron.
"Yes?" she prodded.
"I'm not sure I should tell you," he said, shaking his head as though he was clearing water out of it.
"What do you mean by that?" she asked, feeling absurdly insulted.
"Well, it's about Fred and Georg-Oh bugger it all. She said they were going at it, and that you watched."
"Going-bloody hell!"
The number of times Harry and Ron had heard Hermione curse could be counted on one hand, so they were both shocked to hear her bellow the words out so that the entirety of the Common Room could hear it. Heads whipped up from books everywhere, and quite a few mouths dropped open.
"Who the hell started that rumor?" Harry hadn't seen her this angry since Skeeter, and he was fairly sure that would be where it had come from.
"How should we know? I don't even want to think about it!"
Their conversation was getting loud, but neither of the two friends seemed to notice that the rest of the Gryffindors were listening in.
"I don't care what you want to think about, Ronald! That's my boyfriend and best mate! We can't let people think they're doing that!"
"Hermione," Harry said weakly, glancing around the overcrowded room. realization was beginning to dawn on a few faces. This wasn't really a conversation one wanted yelled across a room, especially with other younger and older ages there…
A burst of laughter came from the open portrait hole, and three figures came through. Lee was first, laughing at something, and Fred and George came in behind them. They had their arms thrown over each others shoulders, leaning into each other as they tried not to fall from the force of their laughs.
It got eerily quiet in the common room surprisingly fast.
-o-O-o-
"So, ah, yeah. I guess we can split into pairs and practice the spell now." Harry finished his rather awkward speech and the rest of the newly named 'DA' stood. Fred, George, and Hermione were standing awkwardly in one corner. Lee had already sauntered off to Alicia, leaving them a partner short.
Ever since that horrid rumor had started, people had been looking at the three of them oddly. Hermione was certain they knew none of it was actually real, but she couldn't help but think it was going to spread anyway.
They were being stared at again, and neither of the twins really seemed to notice or care.
"George, partner with Angelina," Hermione hissed through her teeth, grabbing Fred's hand.
"What? Why?" he asked, glancing at the pretty chaser a bit warily.
"She needs a partner, and its either her or Smith."
"Oi, Angelina!" George called, instantly heading over to her.
"Does it bother you?" Fred barely asked the words, somehow managing to make his lips stay completely still as he spoke.
"The ludicrous rumor they have spread around?" she asked back, raising her wand in disinterest. She could do a disarming spell rather well, and she really didn't even want to try and hex Fred. What if she hurt him on accident?
"Yeah," he answered, expertly disarming her before handing her wand back to her.
"Yes, it does bother me. The whole thing bothers me. I could kill Skeeter for doing that to you and George." She disarmed him, beaming at the approving smile he gave.
"You shouldn't let it bother you. It's not the first time Forge and Gred have had people thinking we do that. We slept in the same bed for our first week here; that freaked people out."
"Why? You come from a really large family, obviously you two would end up rooming together because you're twins. That shouldn't have surprised anyone," she said logically. She had found it sweet when she was younger and they would sneak over for a sleep over. They always slept close to each other. She realized they just had a hard time being apart. After all, they had grown up in the same bed; one didn't just up and sleep alone overnight.
"Most people didn't think that far. They just saw two 'teenage' boys sleeping together."
"You were eleven."
"Yeah, didn't seem to matter."
"That is utter rubbish."
"Can't say I disagree. That's how we broke the sleeping close thing though."
"How are you two coming along over here?" Harry asked, coming up behind the couple and smiling at them. Hermione blushed as she realized they hadn't been disarming at all.
"Quite well," she said, offering him an apologetic smile. Fred let out an unsuspecting laugh which cause both Harry and Hermione to turn around and see what he was laughing at. George and Angelina weren't practicing disarming on each other like they were supposed to. They were disarming Zacharias Smith, and he had no idea who was doing it. They were breaking into nearly silent gales of laughter, though, and others were beginning to notice. George was clutching his side in an attempt to keep from laughing out loud, and Angelina had a hand pressed firmly against her mouth.
A loud laugh broke from the other side of the room, and all the heads whipped around to see Anthony Goldstein letting out loud guffaws as he realized how his partner was being disarmed. Zacharias' head whipped around and he saw the silently laughing couple. His cheeks turned a furious red, and laughter exploded all around the room as George and Angelina finally broke down.
It was at least ten minutes before everyone settled down enough to actually practice again.
-o-O-o-
"She's a horrible cow, that's what she is!" Hermione declared hotly to Neville as the duo walked down the hallway with Ron and Harry. "How dare she deduct points because Lavender asked if we could practice the proper wand movements!"
The boys all quickly agreed, not willing to test Hermione when she was in a mood. They'd all learned first year that an angry Hermione was an extremely dangerous Hermione.
Besides, who would disagree with the fact that Umbridge was a horrible cow? The only group that even tolerated her was the Slytherins, and that was just because she consistently fed them points. They hadn't been the head house for years before her year arrived for nothing.
"We should have another meeting tomorrow," Ron said, looking at Harry eagerly. "We can use those new Galleons and every-"
"Cow alert!" Neville hissed, poking Ron in the back to shut him up. His mouth snapped shut right as Umbridge turned the corner.
"What are you four doing?" she asked in a falsely pleasant voice.
"We're just heading down to the Quidditch Pitch," Hermione replied quickly, putting on her most pleasant façade. She was the best actor in the group - namely because she'd been trained by Fred and George.
"Yes, Harry has a match," Neville added.
"And the rest of you?" she asked, that annoyingly girlish quality still in her voice.
"Are going to watch the game," Ron said, obviously trying not to sound like he thought she was being rather slow.
"It's a bit early, isn't it?"
"No ma'am, not really. We want to get good seats," Hermione answered, still forcing herself to smile pleasantly.
"Very well then," she said, her smile drooping slightly. The students all bid her goodbye and walked slowly back down the hall, making it a point not to be disruptive. When they were far away from her earshot Hermione turned towards Harry.
"Make sure that you all squash Slytherin today, please."
"Yeah, I can't bear it if they win on top of everything else," Neville added.
"We'll jump off the Astronomy tower," Ron vowed solemnly. Harry cracked a grin at that and nodded his head.
"Yeah, we will. I'm pretty sure Fred and George have healed from the boil problem, so they should be good." Hermione smiled at that; she'd found it quite hard not to burst out laughing when the twins had told her about their product malfunction. It hadn't been terribly hard for her to tell them how to fix it, but she still relished the memory.
"I also gave Fred a pep talk," Hermione mused with a wink. "George is too scared of Angelina to fail, and he wants to show off to show Katie what she's missing. Stupid git." She muttered the last part out, her eyes narrowing in dislike.
"Hello," said a vague and dreamy voice from behind them. Hermione looked up to see Luna Lovegood walking up next to them. She must have come for the match as well. Neville instantly brightened when she walked over, the frown lines that had been marring his normally cheerful face all but disappearing.
Hermione decided that it was probably because of the life-size lion's head hat that she had perched precariously on her head.
"I'm supporting Gryffindor," she said, pointing unnecessarily at her hat. "Look what it does…"
She reached up and tapped the hat with her wand. It opened its mouth wide and gave an extremely realistic roar that made all four of them jump in surprise.
"It's good, isn't it?" she said happily. "I wanted to have it chewing up a serpent to represent Slytherin, you know, but there wasn't time."
"That's brilliant, I'd have loved to see the snake," Neville said wistfully, beaming at her. Hermione's eyebrows shot up in surprise, but she managed to mask it.
"We've got to go now, we'll see you guys after the match," Harry said, grabbing Ron's arm. He was starting to look pale again.
"Alright, good luck, Harry, Ron. You'll both do brilliantly!"
They hurried off, leaving Neville, Luna, and Hermione to go to the pitch alone. They could hear people singing the nearer they got to the stands, and when they actually reached it, she could make out the words and her heart sunk to her stomach.
Weasley cannot save a thing,
He cannot block a single ring,
That's why Slytherins all sing:
Weasley is our King.
Weasley was born in a bin
He always lets the Quaffle in
That's why Slytherins all sing:
Weasley is our King.
"No!" she cried out, racing up the steps to see who all was singing it. Nearly the entire green half of the pitch was singing the horrid song, and they were all flashing vile badges shaped like crowns with the words 'Weasley is our King' on them.
"Those foul, bloody, no good-" the next words Neville uttered made her pale and instantly berate him. Secretly, though, she quite agreed with his sentiment.
"Mount your brooms…" Madam Hooch placed her whistle in her mouth and blew.
The balls were released, and the fourteen players shot upwards. Ron shot towards the goals, Harry straight up into the air, and Fred and George straight for the bludgers.
"And it's Spinnet" Lee began – "Spinnet with the Quaffle, what a player that girl is, I've been saying it for years, and she's a fine kisser too -"
"JORDAN!" Professor McGonagall yelled in warning.
"- just a fun fact, Professor, adds a bit of interest - and she's ducked Warrington, she's passed Montague, she's — ouch — been hit from behind by a Bludger from Crabbe… Montague catches the Quaffle, Montague heading back up the pitch and - nice Bludger there from George Weasley, that's a Bludger to the head for Montague, he drops the Quaffle, caught by Katie Bell, Katie Bell of Gryffindor reverse-passes to Alicia Spinnet and Spinnet's away -"
Lee Jordan's commentary rang through the stadium. The singing was getting louder and louder.
"- dodges Warrington, avoids a Bludger - close call, Alicia - and the crowd are loving this, just listen to them, what's that they're singing?"
"Weasley cannot save a thing, He cannot block a single ring, That's why Slytherins all sing: Weasley is our King. Weasley was born in a bin, He always lets the Quaffle in, Weasley will make sure we win, Weasley is our King. "
Lee's face turned from interest to utter horror, before rage replaced it. He pulled the mic back to his mouth and began to call the game at the top of his voice, trying to drown out the horrid song that was making Hermione feel sick.
"—and Alicia passes back to Angelina! Come on now, Angelina — looks like she's got just the Keeper to beat! - SHE SHOOTS - SHE - aaaah…"
Bletchley, the Slytherin Keeper, had saved the goal. A yell of anguish rose up from the Gryffindor side of the pitch as he threw the Quaffle to the keeper Warrington who sped off towards Ron with it. He swerved between Alicia and Katie, and the song grew even louder..
"Weasley is our King, Weasley is our King, He always lets the Quaffle in Weasley is our King."
"- and it's Warrington with the Quaffle, Warrington heading for goal, he's out of Bludger range with just the Keeper ahead -"
A great swell of song rose from the Slytherin stands below: "Weasley cannot save a thing, He cannot block a single ring…"
"- so it's the first test for new Gryffindor Keeper Ron Weasley, brother of Beaters Fred and George, and a promising new talent on the team -come on, Ron!"
Hermione could have kissed him for how much he was trying to encourage Ron, but it was for naught. Ron dove wildly, his arms wide, and the Quaffle soared between his arms straight through the center hoop. A scream of delight rose among the Slytherins, and the song got louder still.
"Slytherin score!" came Lee's voice amid the cheering and booing from the crowds below, "so that's ten-nil to Slytherin - bad luck, Ron."
"WEASLEY WAS BORN IN A BIN, HE ALWAYS LETS THE QUAFFLE IN…"
"- and Gryffindor back in possession and it's Katie Bell tanking up the pitch -" Lee yelled out valiantly, though the singing was now so deafening that he could hardly make himself heard above it.
"WEASLEY WILL MAKE SURE WE WIN, WEASLEY IS OUR KING…"
Harry suddenly shot off, searching for the snitch again as the stands grew deafening. The Gryffindors were trying to cheer on their team, but they couldn't be heard.
"—and it's Warrington again," bellowed Lee, "who passes to Pucey, Pucey's off past Spinnet, come on now, Angelina, you can take him - turns out you can't - but nice Bludger from Fred Weasley, I mean, George Weasley, oh, who cares, one of them, anyway,"
It was Fred, obviously. George was trying to bat the other bludger at Montague.
" and Warrington drops the Quaffle and Katie Bell — er - drops it, too - so that's Montague with the Quaffle, Slytherin Captain Montague takes the Quaffle and he's off up the pitch, come on now, Gryffindor, block him!"
"- and Pucey's dodged Alicia again and he's heading straight for goal, stop it, Ron!"
Hermione shut her eyes tightly, unable to bare watching Ron fail again. Sure enough, a moment later there was a terrible groan from the Gryffindor end, coupled with fresh screams and applause from the Slytherins. She opened her eyes again to see Pansy Parkinson right at the front of the stands, her back to the pitch as she conducted the Slytherin supporters who were roaring:
"THAT'S WHY SLYTHERINS ALL SING: WEASLEY IS OUR KING."
Hermione decided she was going to find Fred and George's stash of test prank products and show her a thing or two.
"- and Katie Bell of Gryffindor dodges Pucey, ducks Montague, nice swerve, Katie, and she throws to Johnson, Angelina Johnson takes the Quaffle, she's past Warrington, she's heading for goal, come on now, Angelina - GRYFFINDOR SCORE! It's forty-ten, forty-ten to Slytherin and Pucey has the Quaffle"
Luna's hat was roaring, and the Gryffindor's were screaming them selves hoarse. They were only thirty points down now!
"— Pucey throws to Warrington, Warrington to Montague, Montague back to Pucey -Johnson intervenes, Johnson takes the Quaffle, Johnson to Bell, this looks good - I mean bad - Bell's hit by a Bludger from Goyle of Slytherin and it's Pucey in possession"
"WEASLEY WAS BORN IN A BIN, HE ALWAYS LETS THE QUAFFLE IN"
"WEASLEY WILL MAKE SURE WE WIN"
Harry dove.
In a matter of seconds, Malfoy was streaking out of the sky on his left. They soared after something, a red and gold blur streaking beside a green and silver blur…
They swerved to the left together, still neck-and-neck. Hermione was standing on the fence, clutching it desperately as though her life depended on it. He had to catch the snitch!
Their arms extended and they both made grasping motions. A breathless moment later and Harry pulled his broom upwards his hand raised above his head.
"WE WON!" Hermione bellowed out, jumping off the stands and making to turn back to Neville.
WHAM.
A Bludger hit Harry squarely in the small of the back and he flew forwards off his broom.
"HARRY!" Her voice was harsh, unnatural, and beyond worried as she yelled the name out. He was only a few feet from the ground, but he wasn't moving
A/N: I hope you all enjoy this chapter, don't forget to leave me a review, you're really making my day ;)
