Daft
After getting a couple hours of sleep, Hermione hurried to get dressed for the day and hurried down the stairs to the common room.
"Ready for breakfast Gin?" Neville asked on his way to the portrait hole.
"Wait!" Hermione called.
Ginny and Neville turned to see Hermione hurrying toward them.
"Mind if I join you?"
Ginny gave Hermione a large smile and linked her arm in hers. Neville held out his arm, and Hermione took it.
"Glad you're back." He told her as they descended the stairs to the Great Hall.
"Yea, well… I got sick of eating cold food." Hermione mentioned, making them laugh.
When they got to the table, everyone seemed to be buzzing around them. The three of them sat across from Poppy and Romilda, who were talking excitedly in hushed tones.
Hermione cocked an eyebrow at the two girls. Poppy looked up and smiled brightly at Hermione.
"Hello! Nice to see you down for breakfast!" Poppy mentioned.
Hermione smiled back at the witch before looking around to see everyone with their heads together. "Er… Poppy? What is all this about?" Hermione asked her, nodding toward the rest of the table.
"Haven't you heard? There's to be a ball!" Poppy said, excitedly.
"A ball? Why?" Neville asked.
"To celebrate the winning of the Battle of Hogwarts!" Romilda answered.
Hermione frowned. Yes, Harry did defeat Voldemort, but they had not won, yet. There were still hundreds of death eaters on the run and there were still disappearances and deaths of not only magics, but muggles as well. They won one battle. The Aurors were still battling every day. Harry was still battling for their freedom and their lives every day. Still, it did seem to lift the students spirits and maybe that was just what they needed. The ball couldn't hurt any.
She turned her head toward the rest of the table to listen to the happy humming of the students. It warmed her heart. This was the Hogwarts she missed. Everyone was so full of life and buzzing about. It's a welcome change to her previous routine where she hid up in their dorm.
Hermione watched as a raven haired boy and his blond friend played exploding snap. She knew that it wouldn't be long before it exploded; she could tell by the way the cards were twitching.
*BOOM*
Ron sat rubbing his eyebrows that were singed from the game.
"Nice look, Ron… go well with your dress robes, that will." Fred told him as they sat down with the trio.
Hermione couldn't help but smirk at his comment, poor Ronald was going to look dreadful in those robes.
She tried to hurry and put a book in front of her face, but George and Fred caught her smile before she could hide.
"Hermione." The twins drawled together.
She rolled her eyes behind her book. She really hated when they caught her enjoying anything that they said or did. It just fueled them and made it harder for her try and put them in their place.
"Ron, can we borrow Pigwidgeon?" George asked.
She could hear Ron's knuckles cracking. She knew it was a nervous habit of his when the twins were around.
"No, he's off delivering a letter," said Ron. "Why?"
Hermione set her book down and cocked an eyebrow at the twins. What were they up to now?
"Because George wants to invite him to the ball." Fred said sarcastically.
Fred's eyes darted to Hermione and she knew he was seeing if she found the two of them funny again. She scowled at Fred. Unaffected by her scowl, he gave her a wink, causing her cheeks to burn red against her will.
"Because we want to send a letter, you stupid great prat." said George.
Hermione's eyes darted to George as they widened.
"Who d'you two keep writing to, eh?" said Ron.
Hermione nodded, wanting to know herself.
"Nose out, Ron, or I'll burn that for you too." said Fred, waving his wand threateningly.
Hermione grabbed his hand and pushed it down. His eyes darted towards hers for a second before settling back to Ron's.
"So…you lot got dates for the ball yet?" Fred asked him.
"Nope." said Ron.
Hermione picked up her book to try to get some reading in. She didn't find the need to tell any of the boys who she was going with.
"Well, you'd better hurry up, mate, or all the good ones will be gone." said Fred.
"Who're you going with then?" said Ron.
"Angelina." Hermione heard Fred. Hermione's brow furrowed. She thought George liked Angelina. Why would Fred do that?
She looked up from her book as she heard Ron ask, "You've already asked her?"
"Good point." She watched as he cupped his hands around his mouth and yelled, "Oi! Angelina!"
Hermione looked over to George and saw that his brow was furrowed. She felt terrible for George suddenly.
Hermione heard Angelina answer "What?" and she turned her head to watch her.
"Want to come to the ball with me?"
Hermione watched as Angelina looked Fred up and down a few times before agreeing.
"There you go, piece of cake."
Hermione's head flew back to Fred and gave him a scathing look.
He winked at Hermione as he stood up and stretched, yawning as he told George to come along to use a school owl.
Hermione's face was flushed from anger, her jaw set. She knew they were doing something that was probably illegal and she was angry with Fred for stepping on George's toes.
Fred leaned down toward the ear furthest from the boys. "What's wrong, Granger? Jealous I didn't ask you?"
She growled at him, her teeth clenched. "I would never go with someone as daft as you."
"Daft? What is that supposed to mean?" He asked her, his eyebrow raised.
"Why don't you ask George?" She told him and turned back to Ron and Harry, effectively smacking him in the face with her bushy hair.
She smiled, looking down at her plate. She had almost forgot how infuriating he could be. Everything had ended up turning out alright in the end. Hermione later caught George and Angelina snogging in a dark corner after the ball.
"I'm looking forward to watching the boys sweat trying to find a date…" Ginny mentioned as she watched a couple of fourth year Gryffindor boys eyeing a couple of sixth year Ravenclaw girls.
She leaned toward them. "Not a chance lads!"
Hermione laughed and smacked her arm. "I wonder if we'll be able to bring guests."
Ginny tutted. "Of course we will! They aren't going to deny the chosen one if he wants to come!"
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Maybe not Harry, but what am I to do?"
Ginny laughed. "Maybe you can just be his second date."
"Or maybe… I'll just take Harry since we're two thirds of the trio and you can take your pygmy puff."
Ginny hissed. "I'm sure McGonagall will allow Fred to come. She allows him to call doesn't she?"
Hermione nodded, hopeful.
A flood of owls flew in overhead to bring everyone the morning post.
Pig flew down and dropped in front of Hermione and Ginny, dropping the Daily Prophet that was in his mouth into Ginny's plate before chowing down on some of her toast.
Hermione took a swig of her juice when Pig squawked at her, holding out his leg.
"Sorry Pigwidgeon, I didn't see it." She untied the parchment from his leg. Hooting, he headed out the window and for the owlery.
Mione,
I'll call you tonight at 10:00 pm.
Love,
Your Person
and Your Person's (whatever the hell that means…) better looking brother
and Harry (Please tell Ginny to come.)
Hermione laughed and handed the note to Ginny.
XxXxXx
That evening, Hermione and Neville sat on the Gryffindor couch peer editing each others Herbology essays. Ginny was sitting at the table making a flyer for quiddich tryouts. Since there were no quiddich teams last year, she needed positions for every player.
"Hey, beautiful." Hermione turned to the fireplace as a third year girl giggled. "Not you! What are you? Twelve? Get out of here!" Fred yelled.
The girl backed up, scowling.
"Frederick Weasley! Be nice!" Hermione chastised.
"Yea, Fred… it isn't the girl's fault… no one can resist the Weasley twins!"
Hermione rolled her eyes. "So where is Charlie?"
The three boys furrowed their brows in confusion.
"Charlie?" Harry asked.
"Yes. Charlie. I got a note signed from Fred and his better looking brother… but I don't see him."
George gasped in mock horror while Harry and Fred laughed.
"You cheeky witch! I oughta…" He said, holding up a fist by his face.
"You ought to what, George? What are you going to do? Come through the fireplace and hex me?"
He growled. "If I could, I would."
Hermione rolled her eyes.
Ginny came over to the fireplace. "Harry… we learned something interesting today… I wanted to ask you…"
"No way, Gin! I'm asking Harry!" Hermione yelled and dove towards the hearth. Ginny hurried over and pushed Hermione backward.
"Harry… I would disappear mate before this gets ugly…" Neville mentioned.
"Hush Nev! Harry I-" Ginny started, but Hermione pushed her to the side once she sat back up.
"No! Harry! Go with me!"
"No! I'm your girlfriend!"
"I'm your sister!"
"I'm your other half!"
"I'm your better third!"
"Better third of what exactly?" Ginny asked.
"The golden trio of course!" Hermione answered.
"How do you figure that?"
Hermione held out the pendant on her necklace. "See! I'm on top!"
"But…"
They boys watched the girls, their eyes looking like Ping-Pong balls as they shifted from one to another.
"Go with you where?" Harry asked before Ginny could continue.
"To the ball!" Ginny answered.
"The ball?" Harry asked. "What ball?"
"There is going to be a celebration ball for the Battle of Hogwarts. We need dates." Ginny told Harry.
"And why is Hermione asking Harry?" Fred asked.
"I am asking Harry because we both thought that they couldn't deny him access to the ball because he's Harry. I don't know if the Headmistress would allow you to come since you aren't a student. Neville and Luna are going together and I'm not about to ask anyone else!" Hermione answered.
"Why can't I go?" George asked, dramatically pouting.
"If outsiders are allowed, maybe Romilda or Poppy would take you. Although… they do remember you and that might scare them off…" Hermione mentioned. "And… I am not sure how Angelina would like the idea of that."
George laughed. "I was actually joking, but that might not be a bad idea… and if they do remember us, I am sure they couldn't turn me down. I mean, I am now a saint after all…"
"So, Gin…" Harry cut in. "How is the quiddich team doing?"
"Psst. Hermione!" Fred whispered and waved Hermione over to him so that he could have a separate conversation with her.
She sat close to the corner and smiled at him. "I've missed you." She said quietly.
He nodded. "Me too. I got your crumpled up Arithmancy notes this morning."
Hermione laughed lightly. "Thought you were getting homework?"
He smiled. "At first, until I saw an interesting note on the back."
"Did it scare you off?"
"Not a chance."
She looked at him for a moment. "I just needed to tell you."
"Why? I mean, I'm not complaining or anything…"
She shrugged. "I just needed to."
"Why were you in the Great Hall last night?"
Hermione's eyes widened. "How? How did you… Oh! It was that ridiculous map, wasn't it?"
He nodded. "Harry noticed and let me know. I'm worried."
Hermione chewed her lip.
"I take it I should be then?" Fred asked.
Hermione's eyes filled with tears.
"Hermione… what happened?"
She swallowed back the lump in her throat. "I just needed to be close to him. There's a spot on the floor… a dark red spot." She watched Fred wince. "I thought if I could touch it that I would be able to feel like he was there… I laid there for a long time, but felt nothing but cold floor. I know it's his blood and that his DNA is there... but his soul… it's gone. Instead of relief, I just found more grief… but then I turned on my back to try to catch my breath." Her shoulders relaxed as she let out a sigh and suddenly smiled, catching Fred off guard.
"What happened Mione…"
She looked back up at him. "I looked up and saw the night sky on the ceiling and it reminded me of us down on the dock. I realized that I needed to quit being scared of his memory and enjoy the present. I needed you to know that you are my person. You're not even here and you helped me through last night."
She took a deep breath and realized everyone was staring at her.
"Well… this is embarrassing…" She mentioned.
Ginny crawled over, putting her arm around Hermione's waist. Neville slid off the couch and into the floor to hug her from behind. Ginny burst into tears, startling everyone. Hermione held her close and let her cry out the hurt while Neville rubbed Ginny's back.
"I just miss him so much!" Ginny sobbed.
"I know." Hermione soothed.
"Ginny, I wish I was there." Harry mentioned.
Hermione looked over at the men in the fireplace and found them all frowning as they watched Ginny. The twins both had tears in their eyes.
"It's so hard trying not to think about him constantly while I'm here! Almost everything reminds me of him! And the parts of the castle that don't remind me of him, remind me of Harry and then my heart still aches." Ginny cried, sniffling against Hermione's shoulder.
"Ginny… I'm sorry." Hermione told her, her own tears falling.
Harry looked completely defeated and helpless. "Ginny… I don't know what to do. I'm sorry I'm not there!" He told her again.
"I know. It's not your fault." Ginny mentioned as she lifted her head and wiped her tears.
"Better?" Hermione asked. Ginny nodded. "Good. Sometimes you just have to cry it out."
"Can we push our beds together tonight?" Ginny asked, smiling.
Hermione laughed. "Sure."
"Do you do this often? Does Hermione do this with other girls? This might be worth seeing if so…" George said.
Fred smacked George upside the head. "Don't think of her like that! She's mine!"
"Those legs though!" He said, pointing to Hermione's bare legs.
"Stop it!" Harry complained, covering his ears.
Fred covered George's eyes with his hand. "I guess I have to extend keeping your mitts off to keeping your eyes off too!"
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Oh, please. He's only saying that to get a rise."
George smiled. "It's my favorite pastime."
"Good! He deserves it." Hermione mentioned.
"What?! What'd I do?" Fred asked.
"Earlier today I was thinking about when you had asked Angelina to the ball… poor George was heartbroken…"
George snorted.
"Oh yes… I remember… and you called me daft." Fred mentioned.
Hermione smiled, nodding. "Well… you were…"
"Leave it to Granger to want to punish me four years later!" Fred rolled his eyes, smiling.
"Don't be too hard on him Herms… you know I ended up with Angie that night." George said, winking at Hermione. Hermione flushed.
"How does Hermione know?" Fred asked, his head turning to George.
"George!" Hermione warned, blushing profusely.
"She and Krum saw us."
Fred's mouth dropped open.
"He was just making me feel better about my fight with your brother!" Hermione said, trying to explain.
"That he did…" George snorted.
"Argh! It wasn't like that! We mostly talked!"
"…and snogged." George added.
"My innocent Hermione?" Fred asked, pretending to be hurt.
"Oh, now that's just ridiculous. You sound like Ronald now."
Hermione saw George look past her.
"We have a visitor…" George mentioned.
Hermione turned to find Nick Roberts, the head boy, staring.
"Sorry to interrupt, but I need to steal Hermione for a mo'." Nick mentioned.
Hermione nodded and stood up, following him to the opposite side of the common room.
George smiled. "Does someone have a crush on our little bookworm?" He asked, purposely getting Fred riled up.
Ginny laughed. "The head boy and the bookworm. Isn't it sweet?"
"No!" Fred yelled, causing Hermione to turn toward the group for a second before turning back to the boy.
The others talked while Fred watched Hermione. He watched as she nodded a few times, giving the head boy a brilliant smile before hurrying back over and dropping back into her spot on the rug.
She was a bit breathless from being excited. "So, Nick just told me that Headmistress McGonagall wanted us to know that the ball isn't only for students, but for members of the Order as well. She also wanted to know if Harry and I would be the guests of honor… but I don't know how I'd feel about that. I told Nick that Harry and I would talk."
The twins whooped.
"Guess we better find dates…" Fred mentioned, tapping his chin. "Now who would be a fit bird to ask…"
"Fred!" Hermione yelled, laughing.
"Well… I've been told that some girls don't like to go to the ball with daft blokes like me…" Fred mentioned.
"Hmm… you might be right. Perhaps the next time I owl Viktor I'll ask if he'd like to go again… after all, we didn't get very far in our walk that night. Maybe we'd get farther this time." Hermione said, cheekily.
"My feisty little Herms has now graduated to cheeky!" George said, proudly beaming.
Fred sat there, his jaw practically on the floor.
"Although… I guess it would save Viktor the hassle from coming all the way over from Bulgaria if someone else asked me…" Hermione's eyes roamed, waiting. When there was no answer she added, "a certain red-headed someone."
"I'm sorry, Mione… I'm too daft to understand what you mean by that." Fred answered.
Hermione tried her best not to smirk, but it came anyway.
"Fred… if you don't go to this ball with me I will hex off your bullocks!" Hermione told him, waving her wand.
He gulped dramatically. "Well… if you're forcing me to then I guess I have no choice. Guess you're forcing me on a walk afterward too then? Down a dark corridor?" He winked.
She eyed him. "We'll see. I don't feel like being groped by the octopus twins."