Over the following few weeks, Hermione was teased so much about Krum she nearly hid in the bathroom, though she didn't for fear of being attacked by a troll again.
Lavender Brown was going a little over board one day, after the bat's little article in Witch Weekly, and Hermione left the Common Room with her head held high, though as the portrait swung shut, she dissolved into tears and ran.
"Oi!" Someone called after her. She pulled her wand and locked the door of the random classroom she'd wandered into.
"Oh, 'Mione," Hermione hurriedly wiped the tear from her eyes and turned away from Fred, who must have come down the staircase. Already she was starting to think of this little room as 'their spot,' and was going there without thinking about it. She sobbed openly as he pulled her into his chest.
"Did you- did you see what- what that old- the old bat-" Hermione hiccuped, "And S-S-Snape-"
"Anyone who knows you knows it isn't true," Fred assured her, "Everyone knows Harry has eyes for Cho, and even from the stands I could tell you were trying to avoid talking to Krum. They're just jealous."
"Of me?!" Hermione scoffed, "Fred look at me-"
"I am," Fred said softly, wiping away her tears.
"I get because of the Yule Ball- but- I'm not-" Hermione sniffed, "I'm not- not pretty Fred-"
"How can you say that?" Fred asked, "Hermione, you're beautiful, dress or no-"
"Don't you think- that- you're biased?" Hermione hiccupped again. "You just- no one else-"
"I'd ask the entire school if you want me to," Fred whispered, stroking her hair gently.
"Fred, don't," Hermione pulled away from him, wrapping her arms around her chest, "You shouldn't- I don't want-"
"'Mione, what are you trying to say?"
"I'm saying that if that insect of a woman were to find out about us, I'd-" She took a deep breath, "I don't think that-"
"If she finds out about us," Fred said, happy to be using the term us, "Everyone would simply laugh it off. Don't worry, Hermione."
"What d'you mean they'd laugh it off?" Hermione asked, frowning.
"You're on your way to becoming Head Girl," Fred said, grinning, "And I'm on the verge of being expelled for mass confusion and mischief with malicious intent."
"You're joking."
"Only partially," Fred winked. He brushed her hair out of her face. "The other part is entirely-"
Then Hermione gasped, remembering something urgent all of a sudden, "Sirius!"
"What? I mean- yeah-" Fred frowned.
"I... Um, I mean seriously, thanks," Hermione stood on her tip toes and kissed Fred on the cheek. She turned slightly, but Fred brought her back for a real kiss. She closed her eyes and sighed deeply before pulling away. Then she unlocked the door with a wave of her wand and ran back to the Common Room. She ignored Lavender Brown completely, nearly tackling Harry as he came down the staircase. She laughed somewhat anxiously before passing him, "I've just got to..."
"What's her problem?" George asked.
"No clue," Harry shrugged as Fred came in through the portrait. He was grinning from ear to ear. Harry wasn't sure what all the twins knew, but he asked them quietly anyway, "Is there anyway for that Skeeter woman to have heard what Hermione was telling Krum from far away?"
The twins shrugged, but it was in that moment that Extendable Ears were invented.
.o0O0o.
I decided to double up because the last chapter was short even for me.
