Chapter 13
The night of the Triwizard's Ball, George is feeling sick. He and Fred get ready for the dance together, but unlike his excited twin, he is dreading the whole night. First, he is going with the wrong girl. This one just would not stop asking him, while the one he wanted had been warned off by her claiming him. "His" girl was attending with a mystery date. No one knows who Hermione's date is, Ron has gone as far as to say that she doesn't have one and was just trying to push off the sympathy.
Everyone is milling around outside the hall, George is sticking close to Fred, mostly because he doesn't see Hermione. Alicia is muckled onto his arm and truthfully, squeezing too tight.
He sees Harry and his date, Parvarti look up the stairs. Following their eyes, he sees Hermione descendthem like an angel out of the heavens. Her periwinkle gown only hints at the outline of her form, but it is enough to send George's hands sweating.
He clamps onto Fred's sleeve and shakes it. His twin turns and pats his hand. "Poor man. You told me that the "date" was thinking that her acceptance to the dance was also as a girlfriend. I can see the reason how. Hermione's date is Krum." Fred whispers to him so the girls don't hear them. George looks over again and sees Krum step up to help her off the riser. He tucks her hand into his elbow and smiles at her predatorily.
"Oh Fred, it should have been me escorting her." He cries quietly. His twin nods sympathically. "Brother mine, it should be, but you could not cough them up and ask her. Rumor is that he had to ask her a bunch of times. It wasn't until it was confirmed of you and Leesh that she agreed." Fred tells him.
This makes George feel even worse. "She was waiting for me to ask her, wasn't she?" Fred looks at him like the answer was obvious. George sighs and escorts Alicia into the decorated Great Hall.
Hermione slowly walks down the stairs and peaks around the corner. 'Damn, he is waiting by the stairs. Well might as well get the night started, so I can get it over with.' She walks the rest of the way down and waves to the astonished Harry.
'Yes Harry, I'm a girl and clean up quite a damn sight better than most of our female classmates.' Hermione thinks as she watches Viktor walk up to her.
Viktor seemed pleased when he caught sight of Hermione. Isabelle can see why, from her father's POV she was beautiful and poised. Hermione knew that the tall seeker was envisioning her as his little wife.
Viktor walks up and helps her down. "You look lovely tonight, Hermionny." She smiles when he gets closer to her name than he ever has.
"Thank you, Viktor. You look dashing in your dress uniform." She returns the complement, conversationally. Earlier in the week, on one of their walks, she asked his permission to have a dance with one of her housemates beyond Harry. That was non-negotiable, he could tell by her stern face.
Viktor tucks her arm in his and when it is time, he happily leads her into the Hall.
For all of his bulk, Hermione must admit that the man can dance. He kindly steps back when Harry asks her to dance, after being urged by Parvarti. The tiny Indian girl gladly accepts a dance from Viktor. Harry steps on Hermione's feet more than a few times, but they both enjoy the dance.
In actuality, she is enjoying her time. Viktor is considerate and kind. They have fun dancing with her group of friends, switching out partners so the sitting girls had a chance to dance too. For all the fun, it lacks something for Hermione. If it had been George's arms around her as they dance, it would be perfect for her.
She gets her wish when the next slow song starts, Hermione sees George stand from the table he sat at most of the night and slowly walk over to them. George lightly taps Viktor's shoulder.
"Excuse me, mate. May I please have a turn with Hermione?" He politely requests. Viktor steps back. "Of course, Hermionny already warned me that I was to step aside for Harry and another. I was thinking that a younger boy was going to be the one to ask." Viktor holds out his hand to shake with George. "Viktor Krum."
George shakes with him. "George Weasley." The Bulgarian steps away to get some punch, while he and Hermione dance. George wraps her gently in his arms and leads her around the floor.
"Are you enjoying the Ball, 'Mione?" He asks quietly against her neck.
"As much as I can. A bit more at the moment." She says lightly.
"I am sorry about Alicia, but I am not hers. She can't have a claim on me when my heart has belonged elsewhere for years now. The next time they do a dance, will you go with me?" George pulls back to watch her reaction.
Hermione looks into his eyes and smiles. "I would love to. I am holding you to that. So, back at you. Are you enjoying the Ball, Mr. George Fabian Weasley?" She smirks at her using his full name.
"At this moment, I'm having the best night of my life. When this song ends, it will go back to me sitting at our table as Leesh huffs about me dancing with every girl but her. I danced twice with her and my feet can't take anymore of her heels. She just "had" to wear spiked stilettos." He winces comically, making Hermione laugh gaily.
"I was treated to that with Harry, bless him for trying."
The song ends and George bows to her, kissing her hand. "Until next time, Miss Granger." He says, hands her back to Viktor and walks back to his table. Fred and Angie are sitting out the faster song. "You are in for it when Leesh gets back. The fact that you actually cut in." Angie teases him.
"I told her that I was planning to dance with my female friends. I cut in to dance with Susan also." He points out.
"Yeah, but that was after Fred asked Leesh to dance. This time, you left your date, who desperatelywants to be with you, to dance with another girl." Angie counters.
"That is the problem, Angelina. I have told Alicia many times now that I don't want to be her boyfriend and that we were coming here as friends and don't think I don't know where the idea came from.
You focus on your boyfriend and relationship and stay the hell out of mine."
He sees Alicia walking back towards the table. Time to lay it on the line once and for all. "I told the girl that I am interested in that I am not Alicia's. That she could not claim me when my heart was already taken."
Alicia sits down next to George with a plop. She really isn't listening. George is like a broken record, but she knew her claim would stand until he announced it to the House or took another. What she didn't know was that Parvarti was within hearing distance and Lavender was being beckoned over.
George had spied the Gryffindor gossip and waved her over. "Lavender, what do I have to do to get Alicia's "claim" over me lifted? We never have dated, we are only here together tonight as friends, no matter what she says, and most importantly I have been in love with another for four years now." He tells her in plain English.
Lavender is shocked. That was big news. From the way Spinnet was talking, they were as serious as Fred and Angelina. Her eyes get big. "UmGeorge, how Miss Spinnet has gone on, you two are just waiting to announce that it will be a double wedding. Are you sure this isn't just a joke or a spat?" She asks, wanting it to be.
"No, it's not. I can vouch for that." Fred cuts in, gaining a glare from both Angie and Alicia. "George has loved another girl in our house for years now. They exchanged letters during the summer and he is like a sad puppy when she isn't around for more than a day." George looks over at him in gratitude.
"Well, I guess all that is left is a public declaration in front of the House or majority of the House." Lavender says glumly. She hates to see a good couple break apart, even if they were never apparentlytogether.
"Done. I am tired of my girl not coming around because of this foolish "claim" on me by someone I'm not even attracted to. I asked my girl to the next dance already, I can't wait." Lavender is curiousabout the girl's identity. So is Alicia. She hopes it's someone she can warn off easily.
The pow-wow gets broken up by Ron's berating Hermione for her choice in date. She ends up sending both him and Harry to bed.
"What did I do?" Harry whines and hugs her as Viktor storms up, demanding to know why she is crying. Fred and George stand and walk over. "Hermione is upset because our younger brother fancies himself a crush on her and doesn't understand that he is far too late to gain any affection in that way from her." Fred tells the seeker.
"Ain't that the truth." Harry laughs. He turns to Viktor. "When he isn't begging her to do his homework for him, he is almost more insultive to her than Malfoy and hecalls her a Mudblood and says that she should die." He explains as he shushes Hermione and sets her down in a chair.
Most of the house is still up when the twins, their dates, Harry and Hermione get back to the Common Room.
"No time like the present." George cheers. He clears his throat. "May I please have everyone's attention?" He gets up on a foot stool.
"For weeks, if not months now, my fellows you have been believing a lie. Miss Alicia Spinnet has no claim whatsoever on me. We have never been on a date, kissed or anything but been in the same classes and on the team. I am not planning to ask her anything of the relationship sort. I have never been and am not attracted to her as anything but a friend and teammate. I do not care what she has claimed, I am not now, have ever been or will ever be Alicia Spinnet's. So Mote it Be." George holds up his wand, which lights up with his oath. Then he casts a lifting spell on a firstie.
Everyone is blown away by this development. "Then why did you two go to the Ball together?" Ron asks, still disgruntledfrom the fight with Hermione.
"We went as friends only and that is because I didn't have the balls to ask the girl I love, plus Fred asked me to do him a favor, which I owed him from this past summer. Angie was after him to find a date for Leesh."
"Who's the other girl?" Alicia asks, snidely. She was steamed off that he only went as a favor to his twin.
George glares at her. "When I decide to ask her out, you'll all know. Until that time, I'm keeping that between me, Harry and Fred. And Angie, Freddy swore an unbreakable not to tell anyone, even you, so if you love him as much as you claim to, don't ask."
Everyone knows that getting Harry to part with a secret is next to impossible.
George gets down and breathes deep, feeling free again. He looks over at a crying Hermione. Her tears are falling steadily, but silently. She wipes them away, before anyone else sees and wishes everyone a goodnight.
Hermione could not believe that he did that with Alicia standing right there, but she guesses that was the point after all. She takes off her gown, make up and takes down her hair.
During their last dance, after the blow up, Viktor asks if she would be his girlfriend. Hermione smiled but let him down easily. She told him about being in love with someone else, but neither admitting it yet. Seeing how passionate she is about it, Viktor wishes her luck. "He is one lucky man to have gained your love. He had better wise up soon and scoop you up. You are too good to be single for long. I might check in and if he hasn't stepped up, I'll ask again. Just remember, my offer of being mine stands." They part ways as pen pals and good friends.
Hermione's heart has lightened and she dreams of George Weasley all night.
In the morning, Hermione hums as she walks down the aisle between the house tables to sit between Fred and Harry. They are all ready for the trip home for the Holidays.
Fred and George are aware that Harry plans to spend the Hols with Hermione's family. This has not been shared with either the Headmaster or their mother. Molly plans to pry Harry from Hermione's very grasp if she has to. They are very embarrassed by the howler that she sent to her after the first event.
The Daily Prophet caught a photo of each guy Hermione danced with. The headline blares "Poor Potter!" Both the twins and Harry actively try to keep it from her, but Ron, being the git that he is, laughs and shows Harry, though actually rubbing her face in it.
'So much for a good day.' Hermione thinks and freezes the howler that is presently winging towards her from Molly, via Errol. She is careful not to get the owl. The poor thing doesn't need any more trouble than it already has.
"Scarlet,
What in the name of Merlin are you thinking? You know that Harry is meant for Ginny. That poor date of yours. You used him very poorly. Why would you dance with my poor Georgie? He has a grand girl in Alicia. So if you have any decency left in you, leave your claws out of him.
I am sorely disappointed in you, girl. Ron wrote that you refused his generous offer to attend the dance because some mysterious date. Why would you not want to attend with your own boyfriend?
I don't want to ever see you at the Burrow again. Ginny doesn't need your sour influence. She doesn't need you stealing her Harry either.
Molly Weasley"
Hermione shakes her head, folds up the letter and gathers her stuff. She refuses to let the whole school and guests see her fall apart. She walks calmly out of the Hall with her head held high.
The boys scramble to get their things and go after her. They find Hermione walking down to the train station. She is crying and softly singing
"...So this is Christmas.. and what have you done?..."
Harry seems to recognize the song after a bit and starts singing with her. He motions for George to hold her as he starts singing the backup. George stops Hermione and folds her in his arms. Hermione almost disappears as he molds himself around her.
Wrapped his arms, Hermione starts releasing the pain of her possible mother in law hating her. It kills him that his mother is being so cruel to his girl. George lets her bawl, soaking his shirt. Fred grabs her stuff and helps the porter load their belongings. George picks Hermione up and carries her into the compartment that Fred and Harry choose. Fred locks the compartment and places a silence ward up, so no one can overhear what is said.
Hermione sniffles and looks up, while drying her eyes. "What about Angie?" She asks Fred.
The red headed man shakes his head at her caring heart. No wonder George loves her so much. "Don't worry 'Mione. I told her that I would be dealing with a twin emergency. I didn't lie, Forge is worried about you. Now, let's see that howler. By the way, how did you shut down the self-destruct and voice?"
"Just froze the letter, so it could not burn and silent muffelato spell." Fred and George can do wandless magic, but not wandless, silent magic. Plus, Hermione is only a fourth year. George looks to Harry, who is looking worried as he reads the letter from his mother.
"Guys, I am not with your sister. I don't plan to be either. Ron does have a odd crush on Hermione, that's why he was such a dick last night. Apparently, Molly thinks that you and Alicia are all cozied up like she wanted. I think I am going to write to both Arthur and Sirius." He gets out his writing supplies.
George reads the letter to his father over Harry's shoulder.