Unfortunately, Umbridge was not unemployed after the incident. As it turned out, in the half minute in which Dumbledore was given to find another teacher, none came forward. News of the 'break-down' had travelled startlingly fast. Naturally, the Ministry immediately reinstated Umbridge.
Umbridge was in a foul mood the next day. She didn't even say good afternoon to them.
Fred and George broke out the Exploding Snap deck very early on. Of course, this almost landed them in detention, but Umbridge had grown wary of them very quickly. Still, Fred spent Quidditch practices angry.
He aimed a bludger at the space between Alicia and Katie.
Smack.
He sent the other one after Harry.
Smack.
He tried not to make Ron feel like rubbish.
Smack.
He pretended not to watch Ron.
Smack.
He watched Ron nearly save three goals.
Smack.
Ron was playing like rubbish.
Smack.
Fred told him as much.
Smack.
George sent him a warning stare.
Smack.
Fred sent him a bludger.
Smack.
He wished Hermione could play chaser.
Smack.
He realized she'd never played Quidditch before.
Smack.
He remembered that she was terrified of heights and flying.
Smack.
He remembered that it wasn't the height but the potential fall that scared her.
Smack.
He remembered how Hermione had said that Umbridge had very nearly called her a Mudblood.
Smack.
Smack.
Smack.
He very narrowly dodged a bludger.
Smack.
The words were no longer fading on his hand.
Smack.
He wasn't doing anything useful.
Smack.
He wanted to see Hermione.
Smack.
He stopped a bludger hitting Harry.
Smack.
He remembered something McLaggen had said about Hermione that morning.
Smack.
Smack.
He thanked the stars he'd dared McLaggen to eat a pound of doxy eggs.
Smack.
He wished they'd killed him instead.
Smack.
Angelina blew the whistle. He caught the bludger out of the air and flew down to the field, struggling to keep it from one-inch-punching him every second or two.
"George, I need a word."
He set off to the castle alone, dazed. Since when had Quiddich been... boring? He scolded himself for the very thought.
"Hey, Fred," he blinked and slowed, allowing for Alicia and Katie to catch up with him.
"Hey," he said with a sigh.
"You're out of it," Katie remarked. Fred shrugged. "Well, don't let Angelina see you like this."
"Why not?" Fred asked with a frown.
"She'll take you and George's heads off," Alicia said with an out of place flirtatious giggle.
"Does it really show?" Fred asked, trying half heartedly for a grin. Katie gave the password for the portrait when they reached it. Fred held it for the two. "Ladies first."
"It really does show," Katie grinned.
"See you, Fred," Alicia smiled and headed up to her dormitory.
"You've got a witch up there, don't you?" Katie asked slowly.
"Why are you girls so bloody good at sniffing each other out?" Fred scowled and went over to sit by the fire place. Hermione must've been in the library. His scowl deepened. The portrait hole opened and Fred sunk down in his seat, feeling guilty. Harry was consoling Ron. Nerves, he said. How on earth had Ron ended up with nerves issues? He was a bloody Weasley; he'd been playing Quidditch since he could ride a toy broom and throw apples at the same time. Fred and George seemed like the most confident people in the world. He considered giving Ron their secret. Act confident until people believe you are, then cry yourself to sleep from relief once you're alone. Well, half of that was true. But if they could figure it out, that meant Ron could too, theoretically. Fred watched him climb up to his dormitory with his shoulders slumped.
Not long after, Hermione came into the Common Room. Fred was immediately beside her, taking her book bag and chucking it under a table. He took her by the elbow and pulled her out of the Common Room. She pulled up the tapestry and he opened the door to their room.
"What is it?" Hermione asked softly, touching his arm. Fred closed his eyes. Her hands were cold.
"Nothing," Fred muttered. "I'm being stupid."
He ran a hand through his hair twice and rubbed at his face. She took his hand and pulled him toward her. He stared at her a moment before she put his hand on her waist. And they were dancing. Fred smiled at her.
"You know, you're not the only one allowed to cheer people up," Hermione kissed his cheek and he spun her slowly. "Now, what happened?"
"Ron's not so good as a Keeper, Harry and Angelina think it's nerves," Fred said. Hermione didn't look surprised, she simply nodded. He wondered if Ron had told her, but he doubted Ron would admit it to her. Harry was more likely to have told her. "And I don't know if something is wrong with me... but it feels like I'm just being mean to him all the time, and I don't even know why anymore, but I am. I keep taking the mickey out of him, but I'm pretty sure he's running out of mickey to take... I don't know, I'm being stupid-"
"If you won't let me call myself stupid, you aren't allowed either," Hermione said, slowing to a stop.
"It feels like I never see you anymore, but I see you all the time," Fred mumbled. "You study way too much."
"I came back as soon as I saw you'd left the pitch," Hermione said, giving him a small smile, "I just didn't realize you'd left the pitch for a little while."
"Is this the first time you've been late for anything?" Fred grinned, "I'm honored."
"Shut up," Hermione laughed.
"Hm, what do you propose I do then?" Fred asked, tightening his arm around her and pulling her closer.
"You could always kiss me," Hermione suggested.
"That is a good-" Hermione rolled her eyes and kissed him, "Hey, let me monologue-"
"You wouldn't let me-"
"Not a chan-"
"You have a problem-"
.o0O0o.
If any of you have any problem remembering this: every day you make someone else's, just by being you. You always manage to make mine. 3
Electrocorrosive: Originally I was going to have them do that later, but I think they needed their pranks to be more than just distractions so the D.A. could get around. I never realized how much I relied on O.C.s until I realized that there's over a hundred unnamed Hogwarts students waiting to stumble upon Fremione in the wild. :)
MademoiselleLottchen: I try to keep it close to the books so that it does feel authentic, it's nice to hear that it's working. I also have some frustration about finding good Fremione fics, and that is the precise reason why I started writing this in the first place.
animelover5107: I'm starting to get uncomfortable with the number of people asking me to kill Ron because *Spoiler Alert* that was never my plan.
Fandomqueen104: I'M SORRY, I TRY, I SWEAR (copiously). I FOUND THE BRIGHTEST WITCH OF HER AGE, SHE'S HERE ON YOUR REQUEST. I'm happy to make anyone smile, much less make their day good. I have an awesome English teacher at the moment, but I can definitely relate to having an obnoxious teacher.
