Hello and welcome to the fifth chapter of I Give Up, the new story by the infamous Perkey Terkey. Thank you for reading this so far I will now hand you over to her.

"Thank you, thank you all. It is so wonderful to be here. It is a break as am such a celebrated actress/singer and have such an exiting life. I would just like to say most of the things in this fic belong to JK Rowling as she stole them from me (jokes) and the only person I own is Franklin and I don't really want him. Enjoy"

Chapters 5

Ron walked into the three broomsticks with Lavender on his arm, she was beaming in all directions, he sighed as he walked past a table with a brown haired girl kissing a tanned boy with black hair. Lavender steered him towards a table that, to his dismay, was next to Hermione and Franklin's. He went to get them a couple of butter beers to get away from that girl, who only this morning had been so cruel to him. Although unfortunately he found as he returned to find Lavender and Hermione in deep discussion, and Franklin trying in vain to redirect Hermione's attention back at himself. Ron found himself cursing the day he'd ever met Hermione Granger as he sat back on his stool not taking in there conversation, until Franklin spoke it being the first time Ron had heard him talk he listened closely.

"Hermione what quidditch team do you support I've just realised I don't know. It's funny what you can forget to ask whilst doing other things." He laughed heartily, and Hermione and lavender joined in Ron, however, just scowled at this blatant attention-seeking question.

"Well to be honest, being muggleborn, I never really got into the sport. Until Ginny made me anyway."

"And you," he asked Ron "it's Ron right, Hermione never mentioned your name." Ron looked quickly to Hermione, who despite her obvious blush, glared at him defiantly. Ron felt his heart and his sole melt under the chocolate brown of her eyes. Regaining himself he looked again at Franklin who was still looking at him expectantly.

"The Cannons." Answered Ron shortly.

"Oh I know your sort, the fans till we die, loyal to the team, even if they are the cannons" he snorted into his butter beer then unable to control himself, though he didn't try, broke into laughter joined by Lavender, but Hermione just remained silent unnaturally interested in the table.

" Ok," said Ron losing his rag completely " what's your sort I'll support whoever is on top of the league, I suppose you're a tornadoes fan." Franklin had stopped laughing now and was now looking Ron up and down sizing him up for a fight. Ron didn't care he was ready.

" We're leaving Hermione" Franklin told Hermione, not taking his eyes from Ron, and when she did not move he added "now!" Ron didn't care if Hermione never spoke to him again he wasn't going to let Smith talk to her like that.

" I cant believe your giving her orders what's she look like a dog?" Ron said fiercely at the older boy. Hermione looked as if she had half a mind to agree with him but as Franklin went to jump on Ron she instead grabbed his arm and pulled him from the pub. Leaving Ron both angry and disheartened, it seemed like all Hermione did was walk away from him. As he went to exit the pub he felt an angry snarl behind him turning briefly to see what could make such a disgusting noise he found his, extremely miffed date. He gulped, he knew what girls got like when they felt neglected, so avoiding a scene to the best of his abilities he gave an apologetic guilty smile and offered her his arm, which she took without hesitation. He turned to her "would you want to go back to Hogwarts, I mean we've had a nice day?" She agreed with him this only aggravated him further, she would not think for herself and it was the thing that he missed most about Hermione. He knew then that he would have to have a discussion with his sister, she was on his side and would know how he could force Hermione to be his friend again, and it would be perfect.

He was right; Franklin had talked to her like an intellectual insignificant, as though he were smarter. But even if that were true even if Ron had stuck up for her it didn't matter because she didn't need him too do that for her she could do that for herself she didn't need Ron Weasley for anything she didn't need him to fight her battles and she didn't need him to love her! "Why you didn't let me bash that guys face in I don't know, if I'd had my way he would have seen the cold hard floor!" came Franklin's voice bringing her out of her stupor, she turned to face him,

"He didn't say anything to you! You started it by making fun of the cannons!" she didn't know exactly why she was defending Ron but she had felt anger run through her along with the thought Ron would have you any day! But her anger suddenly turned to fear as Franklin grabbed her wrist forcing her to look at him.

"What's your problem, I'm your boyfriend you should be on my side, understand" there was every hint at a threat at those words, " and you will be from now on if you know what's good for you, and Weasley is going to get what's coming to him as well!"

"Don't you ever speak to me again." Hermione turned on her heel ripping her wrist from his grip and ran full pelt up to the castle not once looking back.

Ron found his sister curled in the library her nose in a book though her eyes weren't moving and she looked as if she was missing something, and Ron being the caring brother he was picked up on these things. "Gin you look kind of… are you alright?" but as Ginny noticed him her mannerisms changed completely, she looked nothing but her usual bubbly self.

"I'm fine. What's with you?" noticing her brothers slumped appearance.

"Err…I need your help, you see I've just seen Hermione and Fran…" but he was cut of by a sharp look from Ginny.

"Ron! Listen has it maybe penetrated your thick skull that she doesn't want to know you, and that maybe she really likes Franklin and prefers his company to yours and I cant think why he's only better looking and older and smarter and a better keeper so I really cant think why she'd rather go out with him than you." Ginny took a softer tone to finish " maybe it's better, if not for you but, for her that you just leave her and let it go." Ron stood gaping at his sister for several seconds then swallowed looked straight into her eyes and said in his smallest voice

"Your right Gin." Turning, on his heel he left the library leaving his sister with thoughts of deepest remorse.

Hermione turned the corner and collapsed through the threshold and fell down crying. She was alone now, she had no Ron and no Franklin even if he was a lousy boyfriend, he had really made her feel special. Something no one, including Ron, had ever done. She would miss how he, the famous quidditch seventh year had chosen her bookwormish Hermione Granger she felt her barricade of anger at Franklin crack slightly. Had she reacted too strongly, maybe Franklin hadn't acted that bad, he'd never been like that before perhaps she'd imagined the threatening sound of his voice. After all, she was one to talk, about being angry with Ron wasn't she? It wasn't as though there arguments weren't frequent enough. Maybe she had been to swift. Maybe…

Just as the last uncertainties crossed her mind she heard someone burst through the doors "Hermione!" the person said her name with such urgency that it made her feel needed and that was it at that moment she would give that person her whole her everything. As her tear stained face rose from her knees she saw a tall male figure with tall features approach her with caution. It was Franklin. " Hermione I don't know what came over me, it was just Weasley, he ticked me off and you seemed to be really upset with him and…" he sighed in a defeated manor " You are my everything and I would do anything for you." Her barrier collapsed as she flew towards him, she knew it was all she had ever wanted to hear even if it wasn't from Ron's mouth. Hermione raised her head from Franklin's embrace and as she his triumphant smile disappeared instantly and he looked at her with complete attentiveness, making her feel special.

" Why didn't you like Ron?" she enquired

" He just seemed like a bit of an idiot." Franklin replied absently, but when Hermione raised an eyebrow he finished " Ok, I didn't like him because you didn't like him."

" That's stupid." She said not buying it in the slightest.

" Well there is the fact where facing each other next weekend at that quidditch match."

" O quidditch why aren't I surprised. But of course we will beat you next Saturday so don't cry when I score against you repetitively."

"You wont get the chance Granger," he said playfully, pulling her face upwards."Because you'll be to busy staring at a dashing keeper." Hermione felt her heart stop, even though she knew he was referring to himself, she had instantly thought of Ron. But she could think no more as Franklin brought her into an earth-shattering kiss. She didn't even notice the highly freckled boy gazing down at them from the top balcony.