Into a new world
Disclaimer: None of the characters you recognise or that are from the Harry Potter world are mine. All belong to the fantastic JK Rowling. The bits highlighted are taken from Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire.
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Chapter 17: Idiots and First Dates
27th September 1994
It turned out that the next Hogsmeade weekend was in November so instead, Hermione and George decided to take a picnic down to the lake the first weekend of October.
The weekend before that, however, was filled with more and more homework. Remus has given them work on the unforgiveable curse. Although they were forbidden from practicing them at all, they needed to know the theory (according to him anyway).
Ron was complaining as usual about this phenomenon, "And how are we supposed to read up on resisting the Imperious Curse with everything else we've got to do?"
All the fourth years had noticed a definite increase in the amount of work they were required to do this term. Professor McGonagall explained why, when the class gave a particularly large groan at the amount of Transfiguration homework she had set.
"You are now entering a most important phase of your magical education!" She told them, her glinting dangerously behind her square spectacles. "Your Ordinary Wizarding Levels are drawing close –"
"We don't take O.W.L.s 'til fifth year," Dean Thomas interrupted indignantly.
"Maybe not, Thomas, but believe me you need all the preparation you can get! Miss Granger and Mr Black remain the only two people in this class who has managed to turn a hedgehog into a satisfactory pincushion. I will remind you that your pincushion, Thomas, still curls up in fright if anyone approaches it with a pin!'
Hermione, who had appeared rather pink, seemed to be trying not to look too pleased with herself. Draco on the other hand, looked like he didn't care at all at the compliment, although Harry could tell he was sitting a little bit straighter.
Professor Vector was also pilling on the work. Harry had weirdly taken to Arithmancy pretty well, and Hermione (since finding out about him being from another reality) had been giving him the foundation work of the subject from third year, whenever they found the time.
Apparently, Professor Trelawney was very happy with Ron's Divination homework (although he made it all up), and he was very amused until he was told to do it again for next month. Meanwhile Professor Binns, the ghost who taught History of Magic, had them writing weekly essays on the goblin Rebellions of the 18th Century. Professor Potter was getting them to research antidotes. Harry was motivated to take it seriously, mainly because it was the first work his mother would be able to see of his and he wanted to make her proud of him. If anyone asked him though, he would shrug and say he didn't want the embarrassment of failing his mothers classes. Although he knew they wouldn't, apparently the Harry they were used to was actually good at potions (probably because he didn't have the bitter Severus Snape wanting him to fail).
Professor Flitwick had asked them to read three extra books in preparation for their lesson on Summoning Charms. Even Hagrid was adding to their workload. The Blast-ended Skrewts were growing at a remarkable pace, given that nobody had yet discovered what they ate. Hagrid was delighted and as part of their project suggested they come down to his hut on alternate evenings to observe the Skrewts and make notes of the extraordinary behaviour.
Seamus flat out refused, and Hagrid had responded he would do what he was told or he would allow Professor McGonagall to use him as practice on the transfigurations. Harry knew the threat was empty but enjoyed the look on Seamus' face, nonetheless.
1st October 1994
Hermione was more nervous than she had ever been for picnic. Granted this was her first date, but she didn't want to mess it up. Also. Ron was not talking to her, apparently annoyed he had been out moved by his older brother. However, Hermione didn't feel that much sympathy for him, he had 3 whole years to ask her out.
Hermione walked down to the common room and saw him leaning causally against the wall near the portrait, with one foot resting on it. He stood up properly when he saw her. They hadn't really spoken to each other over the past few weeks.
"Hey Hermione," He said pushing himself off of the wall. "You ready?"
Hermione just nodded and tried to ignore Megan, and Lyas watching them while trying to look inconspicuous. It wasn't working.
"Let's just get away from the spies." He said again offering her his arm. Once they left the common room, they were silent for a few minutes.
"So did you get through them three books Flitwick set you?"
"How did you,"
"One, he sets that homework every year, its more of a experiment to see who actually manages it. Two, you've been carrying them around for days."
"You noticed?" She asked shyly.
He looked at her with a bewildered expression, "Of course I noticed. I do pay attention."
"To what I read?" She didn't mean to question him like that, it was just so strange for her, that he would notice.
He raised an eyebrow at her, "It's one of my favourite pass times. You always do pick interesting reads."
"Like Flitwick's books on summoning charms?"
"Well, I must admit that isn't my favourite of your choices, but if it's your choice it must be worth the read."
"You never read it?"
"I read 1 and a half of it, and Freddie read the other 1 and half."
Hermione looked impressed, "That's pretty smart."
"I'm glad you think so Mia."
Hermione looked at him strangely, "Mia?"
George shrugged, "I don't like Mione, and Hermione is too long. If you don't like it, I can"
Hermione interrupted him, "No, I like it, I just wasn't expecting it that's all."
George grinned, "Wonderful." He leaned closer to her, "because I had no idea how to finish that sentence."
Hermione laughed, "Well it's a good job I interrupted you then."
By that point they reached the lake and George pulled something out of his pocket and enlargened it. It was a basket with a cover lid over it.
"Lets' hope Harry didn't lie when he told me all your favourite foods, I must say you have excellent taste."
Hermione again was baffled.
"You seem very surprised at me today?" He posed it as a question while pulling random treats out of the basket.
"I just wasn't expecting you to notice all these things. Your absolutely nothing like Ron."
George grinned, "You expected I was?"
"No, you are nothing like him really, but you're his brother, and"
"I may be his brother," George interrupted, "but he got all of my mum's hot-headedness and none of my dad's" he paused for a second, "observance skills shall we say." He handed her a tuna mayonnaise sandwich which she took gratefully. "Did you ever have any feelings for him?" Hermione though that was a very strange question for their first date but answered honestly.
She nodded, "I did, for a long time. I was waiting for him to make a move, but it's been 3 years and I know it will never happen now. Since summer, I slowly got over him and now," she shrugged, "I love him as my best friend but nothing more. I only mentioned him, because I kinda thought the way he handles everything with me is," she struggled to find the right word.
"Normal?" George supplied.
Hermione nodded, taking a bite of her sandwich she chewed slowly, once she swallowed she added, "I just started believing that I'd get no better than that."
"I can tell you that my baby brother is stupid Mia. He didn't know what was in front of him, or if he did he did nothing about it. I won't make the same mistakes he made."
They moved onto safer topics, discussing, school, art, Hermione's family and George's studies. They found that conversation flowed easily and before they knew it 3 hours had passed.
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23rd October 1994
Harry, Hermione, Ron and Neville made their way to the great hall after lessons on Friday, they found themselves unable to move forward due to the amount of people in the entrance hall. They were all milling around a large sign which had been erected at the foot of the marble staircase. Harry noticed Draco slightly in front of them with Theodore Nott and Blaise Zabini. Ron the tallest of the four, stood on tiptoes to see over the heads in front of them and read the sign aloud to the other three.
"TRIWIZARD TOURNAMENT
The delegations from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang will be arriving at 6 o'clock on Friday the 30th October. Lessons will end half an hour early – "
"That means we will miss some of potions," Hermione interjected sadly, "I love that class." Harry had to agree. Now his mother was teaching the class he found he enjoyed it much more.
Ron continued, "Students will return their bags and books to their dormitories and assemble in front of the castle to greet our guests before the Welcoming Feast."
"Only a week away!" said Ernie Macmillan of Hufflepuff, emerging from the crowd," he opened his mouth to say more but Fred Weasley shouted across the hall, "Hey Ly, seen this?" Lyas Black then emerged out of the crowd grinning.
"Finally, I can't wait to put my name forward."
George Weasley also came out of the crowd and stood pretty close to Hermione, "Well you can take my place mate."
Ron noticed George taking Hermione's hand discretely and his face went red and he stormed off towards the Gryffindor Common Room.
"What's wrong with him?" Harry said obliviously waching Hermione's face go white and grip onto George's hand tighter.
"I'll tell you later," Neville whispered to him. "Do you want to go to our idiot of a friend or shall I?"
Draco then appeared, causing Harry to be suspicious of people's timing, "I'll speak to him." He gave Hermione a hug on the way through whispering something into her ear that only she could hear.
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Draco was questioning all his life choices that caused him to be in the situation he was in currently. He was making his way to the Gryffindor common room to speak to an idiot than in his world he hated, but for some reason he liked in this world. He also found himself whispering to Hermione, that Ron was being an idiot and to ignore the jealous boy.
Draco sighed as he walked up and up the magical staircase until he reached the fat lady.
"Password?" She said automatically.
"I don't have it," Draco started.
"No password, no entry." She sang.
Draco took a deep breath and prayed to whatever God was watching him for patience. "I know, I don't want entry, I just need you to get a message to someone,"
"I'm not a messenger for your unimportant messages!" She snapped.
Thankfully Megan came out of the portrait at that moment, "What's all the noise about? I'm trying to finish my potions homework before my mum kills me for getting a troll on this essay!"
The Fat Lady was about to speak again but Draco interjected before she had the chance, "Meg can you get Ron?"
Megan looked surprised and clearly hadn't seen him, "Ah Draco, I didn't see you there. Yeah, give me a sec."
It took about five minutes, but an angry Ron finally came out of the portrait. "What Draco?" He snapped.
"We need to talk somewhere private, before you piss all of your friends and family off." Ron looked about to argue, but Draco put a hand up, "I don't want to hear it Ron, not right now. I've had a long day and would rather not spend the night arguing with you."
Ron looked at him for a moment before woodenly nodding, "Fine."
Draco started walking towards the room of requirement, having been told about it in his first year by his father, well his biological one, and been shown it by some older Slytherins.
Once they got to the blank space of wall, Draco started pacing, after the third time, Ron said, "What are you," but couldn't finish the sentence as a door appeared in the wall.
"This is the room of requirement," Draco pushed the door open and found a small room with two chairs and a settee arranged around a large fireplace. "Take a seat." Ron sat on one chair and Draco took the settee. "What is your problem?"
"George stole Hermione," Ron started.
"Woah, stop there. Stealing requires you owning something, and it being your property, considering Hermione is neither he didn't steal anything."
"He knew I liked her and did it anyway!" Ron continued undeterred.
"You had 3 years to ask her out Ron, and you didn't. George had the guts to do something you never had the guts to do, and now you are taking your anger out on them." Draco stayed calm even when Ron turned purple.
"How dare you!"
Draco waved his hand unconcerned, "Grow up Ron. You are acting like a baby right now. If you truly loved her you'd let her go."
"I can't do that! She was supposed to be mine, that's what I was promised!"
Draco was minute by minute becoming more and more confused. "That makes no sense! Another person can't promise you a person."
"You don't understand," Ron defended.
"Well explain then Ron, before I do actually punch you." Ron looked shocked, "I am not the boy you grew up with and I don't have the time, inclination or patience to indulge you, spit it out."
"I can't," Ron visibly deflated. "If I do, I'll never see him." Ron shook his head before Draco could interrupt, "Who it is doesn't matter Draco, let it go."
Ron walked straight out of the room of requirement and Draco didn't try and stop him.
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Authors Note: I originally intended to upload this chapter months ago but the copy I was working on got lost, then found, then lost again and my laptop broke … again. Long story short, it took much longer to get this out there than I wanted it to, but here it is. Thanks for all the support, and please review, it helps me know what I need to do better in my writing.
