Chapter Twenty-One
Hermione POV
Some time had passed between the Katie Bell incident and now. As her group of friends walked to Herbology class, Harry was informing them on everything that Dumbledore was teaching him about during the private lessons that were keeping him from Slughorn's parties. Hermione was amazed at how wise Dumbledore was. She exclaimed "I think it's fascinating. It makes sense, don't you think?"
Harry nodded in agreement with the girl. "Anyways, how was Slughorn's latest party?"
"Actually… it was fun! He introduced us to some new and exciting foods and a player from the Holyhead Harpies, I don't know if you know of Gwenog Jones—"
"Wait a minute!" Ron stopped her from putting on her protective goggles to stare into her eyes. "I know you don't know Quidditch so I'm making sure you know for sure. The Captain of the Holyhead Harpies. The one and only Gwenog Jones?" His blue eyes looked like they were going to pop out of his head.
"That's the one!" Hermione said before ripping the large goggles out of his hands to put on her face.
Professor Sprout impatiently snapped at the talking Gryffindors. "Quiet back there, class has begun!" She gave them directions to untangle the branches of the pulsating pods to squeeze them out when they are fresh into a bowl.
Once they began to work on the task, Hermione continued. "Anyway, Slughorn's going to have a Christmas Party, Harry, and there's no way you'll be able to wiggle out of this one because he actually asked me to check your free evenings, so he could be sure you would be able to go."
Her friend groaned and threw his head back dramatically. Ron groaned as well. "This is only for Slughorn's favorites I'm assuming?"
Hermione shrugged sheepishly since she knew that Ron was jealous and wished he was able to attend one of these parties. "Just for the Slug Club, yes. Sorry."
The red headed teenager began to grumble under his breath about his friends abandoning him for a dumb Christmas party. After Herbology class, the two boys went to Quidditch practice which left Hermione on her own again. Hermione was cold and wanted to warm up in front of a nice fire. The Gryffindor common room would have to do for studying. She curled her legs up into her body on one of the comfortable sofa's that were in the Gryffindor common room and pulled out a fresh piece of parchment to write a letter to George before doing her homework that was piling up on the coffee table in front of her.
My dearest George,
I was so thankful to be able to see you at Hogsmeade. I cannot believe what still happened. It really is a dangerous time at Hogwarts… So many students are being pulled from school and going back home by their parents. Thankfully my parents have no idea what is going on in the Wizarding world. I'm surprised your mother is allowing Ron and Ginny to continue classes… I'm thankful she is. I would miss them terribly. It wouldn't be Hogwarts without a Weasley here!
How is your family doing back home? I hope everyone is staying safe and healthy. My thoughts are always with you. I hope to see you soon! Tell them all I say hello.
I wish again I could write more but my N.E.W.T. classes are all giving us so much homework that I seem to be swamped every moment of the day! I don't know how Ron and Harry are juggling classes and Quidditch. Then again, they don't have the same expectations that I do with academics (or someone to copy answers from).
Anyways, I hope you are doing well. I love you so much and miss you more and more with every passing day. I cannot wait to see you again.
XOXO
Your Hermione
George POV
After the last customer had purchased a Skiving Snackbox and left, George and Fred began to put the protective charms on the shop. Looking out at the once lively Diagon Alley made him shudder thinking of what the world was coming to. All of the shops were boarded up or had broken windows at the store front. It seemed like the joke shop was the only remaining shop. Soon, the twins knew they would have to close up and resort to only doing mail orders if things continued to worsen.
They apparated to the Burrow as soon as the last spell was cast, and they knew the shop would remain safe throughout the dark night. Once they made it to safety, their mother cheered and gave them both a huge hug. She hated that they were continuing to be open. They resorted to taking down the posters that openly mocked Voldemort which made her ease up slightly.
"We are having roast beef and carrots for dinner. I hope you are hungry." She smiled and rubbed her hands on the faded orange apron that clung to her front.
"Sounds great, mum!" Fred beamed and kissed her cheek quickly before bounding into the door to sit at the crowded, wooden dining table.
"You're doing great, mum." George smiled down at her and gave her a quick hug before following his twins move and sitting next to him.
Tonks and Lupin were at the dining table next to their father. Bill and Fleur were carrying the food over to the large wooden table with tense faces. "We need to figure out who is to go to the Quidditch match and watch over Harry. We have three to worry about that will be in the air playing and of course Hermione in the stands." Lupin said with a tense face that made him look like he was much older than he actually was.
"I can go. It will look as if Fleur and I were visiting Ron and Ginny to watch them compete." Bill offered as he passed around the bowl of steaming carrots.
"It would make sense for me to keep in touch with Harry as well because we competed together." Fleur piped up with her improved English. "I have kept in contact with Krum. It wouldn't alarm any followers."
"I'd like to go." George added.
Tonks shook her head. "I don't think anyone who went to Hogsmeade should go to the match. We don't want to create a pattern."
He was about to argue when Lupin nodded in agreement with Tonks. "We know you want to watch over Hermione, George. She will be watched just as carefully as the others. You have to trust the other Order members."
Fear filled his chest in allowing others to protect his Hermione. What would happen if there was action in the air? It would allow her to be an open target when the other two get distracted. He didn't like it. George bit his lip until he tasted blood to stop him from lashing out and telling them what he truly thought… no one could protect Hermione as well as he could.
His father spoke up from the head of the table. "Dumbledore, Snape, and McGonnagal will also be there of course watching. She will be safe, son."
George had to work on slowing his breathing down. He hadn't realized it, but he was gripping the wooden table and his knuckles were turning white from the force. Fred squeezed his shoulder in a comforting manner. He nodded. He knew that the best thing to do was leave it to the older Order members to decide the plans. As long as he would be able to continue to see her on Hogsmeade trips, that would matter the most.
It would be okay.
He had to keep repeating that lie to himself. Maybe he would believe it if he said it enough times in his head. It would be okay…
Hermione POV
The morning before the first Quidditch match was always filled with nerves and excitement from the entire school. Ron looked like he was going to be ill. "How are you both feeling?" Hermione asked her friends who sat across from her at the Gryffindor table.
"Fine." Harry said as he concentrated on dumping something into a glass of pumpkin juice. Her dark-haired friend smirked and handed the glass over to Ron. "Drink up, Ron."
Hermione put her hand on top of the glass. "Don't drink that!"
"Are you mental?" Ron asked her with his eyebrows close to his hairline.
"You just put something into his drink." She narrowed her brown eyes and stared daggers into Harry's green eyes that were wide with fake innocence. "Didn't you?"
"I don't know what you're talking about, Hermione." Harry blushed and put the vile that he earned in Potions back into his pocket quickly, but not quick enough to go unnoticed.
Hermione turned her attention to her red-head friend and pleaded with him. "Ron, I warn you, don't drink it! It's against the rules to use that for Sporting events at Hogwarts—"
Before Hermione could even finish her sentence, Ron was downing the pumpkin juice in three long gulps. She closed her eyes in frustration and got up from the breakfast table. "I can't believe you. A prefect taking Felix Felicis for a Quidditch math." She stormed to the pitch to go and find a seat near another Gryffindor.
When she got there, she saw Neville, Luna, Seamus, and Dean all sitting down wearing scarlet and gold. Luna Lovegood was wearing a large lion hat that made her look even more odd than usual, but it was rather fitting for her to show support in such a grand way. "Great day for Quidditch, Hermione!" Dean smiled at her kindly. "How was Ron and Harry feeling?"
She huffed as she sank onto the wooden bench next to them. Hermione shook her head and muttered darkly, "Much better now."
The others seemed confused why she was feeling frustrated that her friends were doing okay before the match. She couldn't just say, Ron feels much better because he took an illegal potion that would get him expelled. Hermione just ignored their confused look and the group looked back to the pitch since the match was about to begin.
Once the teams entered the pitch, there were loud cheers from all of the houses in the stands, making the pitch sound like it was an amphitheater. Madam Hooch was the referee for this match. She made the captains shake hands and Hermione saw Harry shake the Slytherin Captains hand. Once the whistle sounded, all of the players kicked off the grassy pitch and soared high into the sky to begin the game.
Zacharias Smith took over Lee Jordan's commentary and it was clear that he did not like Harry and Ron as he talked about how Ron didn't perform very well last year. As if to prove the announcer wrong, Ron stopped the first Quaffle from going through the large hoops which made the people supporting Gryffindor in the stands go wild. Hermione couldn't help herself from jumping up and clapping for her friend.
Gryffindor was leading sixty points to zero when Zacharias shouted, "It seems as if Harper from Slytherin has seen the snitch!"
Harry's head whipped around on his broom and he went accelerating towards the other seeker. Hermione could tell that when the two players got close enough Harry had shouted something to Harper that made him fumble the snitch and Harry made a swipe for it, catching the golden Snitch into his hand like he has in so many matches before.
"What's Ginny doing?" Neville pointed out as everyone else was distracted at Harry catching the snitch.
The youngest Weasley was going full speed straight to the announcer's box and slammed into it making Zacharias Smith fall over. The red-head girl laughed as Smith got up and looked dazed. "Best not to mess with the Weasleys'" Dean laughed and shook his head at his wild and mischievous girlfriend.
Later on, in the Gryffindor common room, everyone was celebrating the big win. Hermione felt torn. She was happy for her friends but still incredibly disappointed in Harry and Ron. When she saw Harry standing in a corner by himself, drinking a butterbeer, she took the opportunity to approach him. "You shouldn't have done that this morning, Harry. You heard Slughorn. It's illegal and you still decided to—"
"I didn't." He smiled as he stared at Ron standing on a coffee table while everyone chanted Weasley is our King.
"What?" Hermione raised her eyebrows. "Harry you don't think I'm that dumb, do you? I saw you dump the potion into Ron's drink."
Harry dug into his pocket and pulled out a full vile. "I didn't though."
"It was all in his head…" Hermione shook her head and smiled. "Well… I'm glad you didn't actually do it. I was worried you had a serious lack in judgement."
The crowd roared to life as Lavender Brown jumped up on the wooden coffee table and began to snog Ron in front of the packed common room. Hermione rolled her eyes at her enthusiastic friend. Hopefully she didn't look like that when her and George snogged. "Look at him, the filthy hypocrite." Ginny walked up to the two with her Pygmy Puff on her shoulder. "He really complains all the time about public displays of affection but when it's him… it's fine." She rolled her eyes before turning to Harry and smiling. "Great game, Harry. You're a great captain so far. Keep it up." She tapped his arm with her tanned hand before walking away.
Hermione smiled at the dazed look Harry had when she touched him. "Ginny?"
"What about her?" Harry asked as he peeled his green eyes away from the youngest Weasley.
She chuckled. "I think I'm not the only one who has a thing for red-heads is all." Hermione wiggled her eyebrow as Harry opened his mouth to argue her before closing it and smiling slightly.