It might've been the goal of the Triwizard Tournament to improve magical relationships but whoever thought it would be a good idea to ad a ball with teenage hormones was sorely mistaken if he thought this was the way to achieve that goal.

For Harry the ball wasn't as bad as he had anticipated. Ginny turned out to be excellent company. She was much more relaxed around him than she used to be and it showed. They had spend all of dinner talking about quidditch and the burrow and Harry found that time flew by. Before he knew it the tables were put aside and it was time for them to open the ball. He wasn't the best of dancers of course. Being more occupied focusing so he wouldn't step on her toes. But she made him feel at ease and if she was judging his skills than it wasn't showing. Perhaps balls weren't as bad as he thought they would be.

Hermione was having the time of her life with Fred. During dinner they had been talking about their future plans and he hadn't laughed when she told him of her ambitions in the ministry. Something he probably would've done if she were Percy.

"Well of course but Percy wants to work for the ministry because he's an ambitious git. You want to work for the ministry to make a difference. There's a huge difference there. Look at my dad. He works for the ministry on something he is passionate about and that makes all the difference. I would never mock my dad for that. In fact I respect him too much for it."

She herself had been quite impressed with his plans to open a joke shop once they graduate. Even more so that they already had a financial plan drafted up. But Fred didn't just want to talk tonight, he wanted to show her a good time. So finally he got up and stretched his arm out towards her.

"Come on Granger, show me you got some moves."

He was a good dancer and a good leader, swinging her across the dance floor. As he watched her laugh and enjoy herself he had to restrain himself not to grab her and kiss her. The shock of that realization hit him hard. He wanted to take Granger and snog all the sense out of her. And right at that moment the music changed and a slow started. Just his luck.

They stopped and stared awkwardly at each other. She didn't show any sign of wanting to leave the dancefloor and so he pulled her closer to him and looked at her as they slowly moved across the dancefloor. Hermione felt dizzy as she saw how Fred looked at her with so much admiration and even… tenderness? Surely Fred Weasley didn't feel anything about her in that way?

As the dance continued she felt more and more confused and by the end of it she took a step back.

"I… I need some fresh air." She said and took off without saying another word. Fred close behind her.

While they were dancing Ron had been sitting down at a table by himself drinking too much of the spiked punch. He was fuming as he watched his brother's greasy hands all over Hermione and she seemed to like it. Same went for Harry. Who was also slowdancing with Ginny. They were keeping a distance between them and his hands were where they should be if you asked anyone else but that's not how Ron saw it. Since when did that git like dancing anyway? It was just an excuse to get his hands on his sister.

When by the end of it he saw how Hermione seemed to be upset over something and in a hurry to leave the room with Fred in pursuit he got up and followed them, stopping Fred in his tracks.

"I think you should leave her alone. I knew you would upset her."

Fred looked at Ron "What are you on about Ron? Let me go."

"No, she's clearly upset. I bet you called her something. That's why you asked her didn't you? Too mock her?"

George who was still dancing with Angelina noticed his brothers and shook his head.

"Angelina darling, while I love dancing with you, I'm afraid my brothers are about to make fools out of themselves." He let go of her and walked towards his two brothers who were both known for being hot tempered but couldn't prevent that Ron suddenly decided to punch Fred to the ground. He could however restrain Ron from dealing a second blow.

"Calm down little brother because otherwise it'll be my fist that you'll feel." He looked down at his twin who was clutching his jaw "You okay there Freddy?"

"Yeah, you know the idiot can't throw a punch."

This only got Ron more furious and George could barely contain his brother when Hermione decided to intervene.

"Ronald Weasley! What are you doing?"

"Protecting you of course." Ron said as George let him go and decided to help Fred back op again.

"I don't need your protection, especially not from Fred who has been a perfect gentleman all night."

Ron shook his head "Hermione, I'm just looking out as a friend. I know you're desperate and…"

"What's that suppose to mean?"

"Well, nobody was asking you and so when Fred asked you you said yes, but you're just a joke to him."

Now George was having all the trouble in the world to restrain Fred. Where was wonderboy when you needed him? Lost in his sister's eyes of course.

"Oh I see! The only possible reason someone would ask me is as a joke right?"

"Well yeah." Ron answered as if it were the most logical thing in the world. Hermione was on the verge of tears.

"Ron… you ruined everything." And with that she was off, crying. Fred in pursuit again.

George stared at Ron who had turned bright red "You know… I've always been convinced that our mother dropped you a few too many times."

Hermione was halfway up the stairs when Fred finally intercepted her. She was in tears and so Fred pulled her close to him.

"Don't pay any attention to what that git is saying. You're anything but a joke, especially to me."

The significance of his words were lost to Hermione as she was still too upset about what just happened. She just kept on crying.

"I'm sorry I'm ruining the evening."

"Well you're not. Ron attempted to ruin yours, but luckily there's still time to turn things around."

He grabbed her hand and made him follow her to the left corridor of the seventh floor, making her stand in front of a blank wall. After closing his eyes and mumbling a few words a door started to appear.

"Is this… is this the room of requirement?" Hermione asked in awe. "I thought it was just a myth!"

"Is that what it's called? George and I accidentally came across it when we were looking for a hiding place from Filch."

He gave her a grin and offered her his arm, glad to see a smile on her tearful face.

"Care to continue this night?" Hermione nodded and followed him inside. The room was an exact copy of the great hall with all the decorations and music. The only thing missing were foods and drinks.

"Five principal exceptions to…" "… Gamp's law of elemental transfiguration." Hermione finished for him as she took in the room. Of course she knew that.

"Care to dance?" Fred asked as he took her into his arms.

"Fred, you don't have to do this." Hermione said as they moved together to the rhythm of the music.

"I don't have to do what?"

"Cheering me up. I'm used to Ron putting his foot in his mouth by now."

Fred grinned "Who says I'm attempting to do that? Perhaps I need cheering up. After all my date with a gorgeous and funny witch was interrupted by my little git of a brother who decided to punch me."

Hermione eyes darted to his cheek but it seemed to be fine "Like I said, he can't throw a punch. Not like you and that Malfoy at least. That was a proper bruise!"

He was rewarded with a laugh from her and Fred decided that he could no longer say no to her. He leaned down and hesitated, to see if she would pull back. Hermione saw him come closer and knew what he attempted to do. It was mad! Fred Weasley was attempting to kiss her! And yet she couldn't help but close the gap between them.

It was mad and it was right! That's how it felt and her mind was doing overtime trying to ad some logic to something that wasn't logical at all. When they finally broke apart she looked up at him.

"That was… unexpected."

"Believe me… it was just as unexpected for me." Fred replied, his thumb moving away some of her hair that was covering her face in an attempt to escape. "I just know that I couldn't resist any longer. Despite what Ron said this isn't a joke to me Hermione. Things like these never are. I'd like to see where this might go."

Hermione nodded "I'm going to need some time though. I need time to make sense out of this. I don't want to ruin anything."

"Well, contrary to belief I have plenty of patience."

"Kissing might help though… to make sense out of it."

It took another two hours before Fred finally made it back to the dorm room where his brother was still waiting. He only had to take one look at Fred's face to know what had happened.

"You git! You've been snogging with Granger haven't you?"

Fred nodded, dropping down on his bed with a wide grin. Not even bothering to take of his dress robes.

"Ron is so going to kill you!"

Fred looked up at George "For what? He was mad because he thought I was messing with her. Now he's going to be mad for actually being sincere?"

"Oh come on, you can't be that ignorant. The fool is jealous and doesn't even realize it. You must be blind not to see he has a thing for her."

"He's jealous because he's possessive not because he's in love with her. He didn't ask her to the ball and didn't believe anyone else did either. When it turned out someone did he believed it was a joke. That's not having a thing for someone. Let him be jealous for all I care. It's time he grew up."

And with that Fred switched off the lights and turned to his side.

"Well I'm happy for you." Was the last he heard before falling asleep with a grin on his face.


Hope you liked it, let me know what you think in the comments.