Astronomy Tower
(Fred's Pov)
"It attacked him?" I laugh, as Ron and Harry are telling me about Draco getting attacked by a hippogriff. We're in the Great Hall having lunch and I grab for a sugar quill from the center of the table.
"Draco being Draco, Hagrid better not get fired for this," Harry said, frustrated.
"He probably wet himself, he barely got a scratch. He's a star for the dramatics," Ron joked.
"Where's Granger?" I ask curious, noticing she still hasn't come down.
"Not sure but she's been off since COMC, not sure why," Harry said, picking up a piece of bread.
"What do you mean off?" I asked.
"Well, first off, she's been extremely quiet and we all know that abnormal," Ron suggested. I get up from the table.
"I'm going to head off, you two lovebirds stay out of trouble," I yawn, stretching my legs.
"I don't go looking for trouble, trouble usually finds me," Harry scuffed, picking up a Daily Prophet.
I walk to the courtyard and see Hermione sitting by a fountain. She looked lost in thought. I walk over to her and sit down.
"Sickle for your thoughts?" I smile, hugging her from behind.
"Hi," she says laughing, hugging me back. She opens her book.
"The lads told me about Draco, such a tragedy for Buckbeak."
"He's not all bad," she said softly, grazing the spine of her book.
"Buckbeak?" I laugh.
"What's up Fred?" She asks, closing her book.
"Just wanted to see if you still wanted to go to the astronomy tower tonight? I ask.
"Of course," she smiles. I release a sigh of relief.
"Great, how's 8?" I ask eagerly.
"Perfect," she says opening her book back up.
"Cheers," I smile getting up from the fountain.
I walk to Gryffindors common room and run into George.
"What happened to you?" I laugh, looking at my brother's violet taffy, colored face.
"Well, remember our Taffy Bombs? Turns out we need to tweak them a bit. Instead of just my face," he laughs pulling up his shirt to show off his grape colored body.
"Blimey, you've never looked better."
"Yeah, I just got back from the hospital wing. Thee wonderful Madame Poppy says to stop experimenting on myself so, I say we go back to testing out on first years?"
"Excellent," I laugh.
"I saw Draco there, I think that bird gave him a score. That feathery chicken is my new hero," he laughs.
"Was he having a fit?" I laugh, sitting down on a chair.
"Actually, he was until Hermione showed up. That seemed to change his tune a bit," George says, sitting across from me.
"Granger?" I question.
"Do we know another Hermione?" He says, grinning at me.
"What?" I ask sheepishly.
"What's up with you and Granger?" He questioned.
"Nothing," I fibbed.
"Fred," he says, eyeing me intensely.
"Fine. I don't know what's up with her and I. I'm meeting her at the astronomy tower later." I said, dejected.
"Don't sound so happy about it," he snarked, taking a drink of pumpkin juice.
"I'm just feeling a bit uneasy, I've been hearing about and seeing her around Malfoy a lot today," I said honestly.
George spits out some of the juice. "Bloody hell. You're worried about that blonde bogey?" He starts laughing.
"You're right, it's probably just my imagination," I confess.
"Most definitely your imagination," he laughs again. I stand up from the chair and start to walk towards my room. "I've never seen you like this," he said surprised.
"Like what?" I question.
"Unconfident," he said bluntly.
"Yeah, guess I am off my game huh?" I agreed, walking up the stairwell.
7:50
I race to the Astronomy tower, I took a nap and time got lost. I reach the stairway to the tower and stop. I catch my breath and start to head up. I get to the top and see Hermione sitting on the stoned edge. She holding a necklace or something, the moonlight was bouncing off it and her face. I start to walk over and she jumps.
"Merlin sake! You scared me," she said, holding her chest stuffing her necklace in her shirt. "I figured you would be late."
"No faith in me?"I say smiling. I go and sit next to her leaning my back against the stoned window opening.
"Tons," she jokes, leaning her back against the other side of the window opening. I dangle my feet off the edge and look at the moon.
"How was your day?" I ask.
"Eventful," she responded dangling her feet next to me.
"How so?" I ask.
"Truthfully?" She asks.
"Always," I say.
"I don't know," she starts, being hesitate.
"Come on Granger," I persisted.
"Have you ever liked someone, you never thought, in this lifetime, you would or they would return the affection?" She asks, turning her face to me.
"Yes, actually," I answered honestly.
"Do you go for it?" She asked, eyes sparkling from the moonlight.
"I mean, it could be something wonderful," I smile, looking back at her.
"Or something tragic," she responds, looking down. I grab her hand.
"Hermione, if they do anything to risk losing you, that's the real tragedy."
"Who knew you were such a sap," she says laughing, pushing my shoulder.
"Careful now, don't want to put me in the hospital wing," I joke.
"Yeah, you don't want to end up like your purple brother," she smiles.
"Speaking of, he said you were talking to Malfoy? That has to be a delusion right?" I laugh.
"No delusion," she admits.
"Since when are you two friends?" I question.
"I'm not sure we are, it's recent, I don't really know," she says, looking down at her hands.
"Wait, is that who you like?" I asked, heart sinking to my toes.
"I don't know," she says shamefully.
"It is, isn't it?"
"Yeah," she admits, looking up at me. I stare back at her, not sure what to say.
"Don't look at me with that face," she pleads, looking away.
"It's the only one I have," I say, jumping off the stoned opening.
"Am I mental?" She laughs softly.
"Truthfully? Yes, he's literally the worst Hermione, what are you thinking?" I say angrily.
"Excuse me? Why are you sounding so upset?" She snaps, getting off the ledge.
"It's DRACO MALFOY, need I say more?"
"Maybe he's changed?" She defends.
"He called you a MUDBLOOD Hermione, he makes fun of your best mates, TERRORIZING them daily. What is wrong with you?" I lash out.
"I know Fred, I'm not saying I understand any of this. I despised Malfoy and it's confusing for me as much as it is for you. He's had a hard life with his dad and he admits to being unbearable. His family won't let up about Harry so it just led to his resenting him. He said he would stop messing with Harry and Ron and he regrets the dirty blood comment. I don't know I'm just feeling a bit empathic, I suppose," she shrugs.
"And what? You believe that? You're actually falling for all of this? I thought you were the smartest witch of your days? It's not empathic, it's idiotic." I say harshly.
"Really Fred? You really haven't said ANYTHING that you wish you could take back?" She yelled.
"Are you under some sort of spell? You can't be this daft?"
"You know, I would expect this out of Ron but, I honestly thought I could be honest with you," she says furiously.
"Why is that Hermione?" I snap.
"I don't know I always felt that we had this unique and understanding connection, but I guess I was wrong," she walks past me and runs down the stairway.
"FUCK," I yell, punching the stone wall. My skin ripped on my knuckles and blood started to push though the opened skin. I lean against the wall and slide down to the floor. Great Fred, ruin any chance you may have had.
Idiot.
