Hermione's heart couldn't have felt anymore heavy. She sat as she watched Harry shakily rise from the table- his face pale and empty. She knew wholeheartedly that he had not put his name in that goblet, but in the sense also knew that nobody would believe him, and for that she felt terrible. She wished she could walk up with him holding him up, she wished she could scream at Fred for being such an idiot, but all Hermione could do was sit and watch. Harry stood at the end, making constant eye contact with Ron and Hermione, a panic clearly in his eyes.
"What just happened," Ron asked worriedly.
"I think someone wants Harry to die, honestly," Hermione replied.
The two continued to observe the ceremony before eventually being disbanded by Dumbledore, who rushed the champions out of the hall elsewhere. Realising that they wouldn't be reunited with their friend just yet, Ron and Hermione took the lead towards the common room, listening to their peers discuss the situation.
"Why would Weasely get chosen? He's not even worthy," one voice said, another followed. "Harry Potters a bloody cheat. Can't get away from the spotlight for one minute,"
Fed up, Hermione grabbed Rons hand and the two rushed ahead. "Theres no reason for us to listen to those terrible people talk about Harry and Fred," Hermione said as they entered the common room. They were of the very few first to enter, everyone else students not too concerned about the scandal. "Clearly the goblets been charmed by someone- but Harry wouldn't do that."
"I can't believe Fred got picked. I mean really, is he the best Hogwarts has to offer?" Ron said, disturbingly calm.
Hermione whacked her friends arm. "How could you say that, he's your brother. And Freds plenty worthy," she retorted with a blush, before calming down a bit more. "Are you okay though?… It'd be a bit weird to see your brother and best friend get picked in the same competition."
"I'm actually fine, unlike you. Would've thought you'd seen a ghost when Fred got chosen, I was afraid you'd die when they called Harrys name," Ron stated, taking a seat on an armchair. Hermione's blush instantly returned and the young girl lowered her head to hide it.
"I was just shocked, is that a crime? Anyways, we need to talk to Dumbledore, this is obviously some ploy and his life is probably in danger… again," Hermione said, looking at Ron to get up.
"Dumbledore isn't dumb, he must know that. Frankly I think the bigger concern is what everyone else thinks. I mean what kind of death would it be if nobody's cheering for you," Ron replied in the same cool tone that irked Hermione endlessly. She rushed to her friend and began thwarting a scroll onto his shoulder. She knew it didn't hurt him, but it let Hermione get steam out which was the point.
"Out best friend may die and you're worried about bloody public image?! Ronald, I swear you're a nightmare," Hermione sat on the arm of his chair and crossed her arms in annoyance, now thinking quietly about what he'd said. "But I suppose you're right… He needs as many people as possible on his side if he's going to get through this."
Ron rolled his eyes but she couldn't see, instead she sat by him pondering the options for how to help Harry. It was a funny thought to Hermione. Usually her and Ron would be wandering though locked doors and dark forests in the aid of their friend, but for the first time in their lives all they needed to do was make sure he wasn't completely hated by their peers. Incidentally, they had now began to shuffle in through the doors with the same discussion as before. Many had smiles, but some confused. Seamus, Dean, and Neville rushed to the chair Ron and Hermione sat at.
"Can't believe you two just let Harry do that," Seamus started in frustration. "But just as well, I mean you'll get some of that glory for yourselves."
Hermione rolled her eyes at her friend before opening her mouth, only to be cut off by Ron. "Sod off, Seamus. You really think Harry would put his name in that thing?"
"So what if I do," Seamus sneered, before having his arm pulled back by his boyfriend.
"You've only known the bloke for four years, it's obviously been staged by some other death eater. I mean really have you ever met someone with as bad luck," Ron replied, before awkwardly looking at Neville, who did in fact have just as much bad luck.
"And besides, as if he could actually pull it off. The goblet isn't just charmed, its also supervised by the ministry and Dumbledore," Hermione added. Seamus suddenly began to loosen up. He looked between the two thoughtfully as he thought through what they'd just said, though it was Dean that eventually spoke.
"You guys really have a point. I mean I can think of a lot of people that would want that attention, but Harry isn't necessarily one of them… As much as he seems like it. But still, you're not going to convince the whole school," the boy said as his partner nodded.
"On the bright side," Neville chirped. "Griffindoor has two champions… And that's pretty great."
"Yeah Nevilles right. Mrs. Weaselys gonna be awfully proud, isn't she?" Dean continued as Ron and Hermione looked at him and then each other before managing to burst into laughter.
"Fred will be a dead man before the first trial even begins!" Ron laughed as he and Hermione wondered how anyone would break the news to his dear mother that not only was her son going into a potentially lethal tournament, but her practically adopted son too.
The conversation lightened up after this as the five talked about the tournament. The more of which they did so, the more at ease Hermione felt about Fred and Harry. It wasn't before long that the boys in question walked through the door together, to which the entire room went silent. Unsurprisingly, everyone went to Fred to cheer him on and celebrate, some patting Harry on the back but for the most part ignoring him completely. He eventually found his way to the other five, who didn't get up on their account. Hermione leaped from the arm of Rons chair and into the arms of Harry, hugging him tightly.
"What did they say?! It has to be an accident, right?" she asked worriedly, as she went to sit back down.
"Yeah the ministry and Dumbledore all thought I'd done it… Don't blame them, really. They'll try and investigate but as far as the tournaments concerned I'm in," he stated to the entire group.
"That can't be right!" the boys looked at Hermione, only to realise it was Ginny from across the room that had exclaimed the remark. "Are they really making you stay in?!"
By this point the young witch had stormed up to the group with a bright red face and a scowl. "It'll be fine, Ginny," Harry responded, looking worriedly at the girl.
"It wont be fine!" she shouted back, startling everyone doing so. "I'll have a word with Dumbledore, they shouldn't be allowed to let this go through!"
"Now imagine what mums going to say," Ron whispered to Hermione, the two laughing quietly before Ginny shot them a look to shut up.
"Honestly Ginny, I've got this… I think. I really don't know, but I'll be fine," Harry said nervously. The group all looked at each other before looking back at the young champion.
"I didn't fully believe you guys before," Seamus started. "But you're bloody right. Harry is far too stupid to do this."
"Hey!" he replied, before shooting a look at his two best friends.
"You need to stop hanging out with Ginny, you're picking up her looks," Ron replied with wide eyes at the similarity of the two. Hermione shoved her hand in front of his face to shut him up before continuing.
"And we didn't say Harry was stupid, Seamus. We said he isn't capable of putting his name in the goblet," she said.
"Hey!" Harry repeated, now at his friends, before two tall figures dropped their arms around him.
"How you going, buddy?" Fred asked, a wide grin on his face.
"I was sad to hear about you being called on, but at least you're making Freddy here look good, aye," George added cheekily to which Harry rolled his eyes.
"What do you guys want?" Harry asked, moving out of their hold to now face them.
"I thought that since we're basically opponents now, I'd like to let you know that I'm very sad about us being mortal enemies," Fred said.
"We're not mortal enemies," Harry replied tiredly, before Fred put an index finger over his lips.
"But we are, Harry. It'll be sad and difficult, but for my own sake I'll have to announce this is the end of our dear romance," Fred said, dramatically draping his hand over his forehead. Harry rolled his eyes again.
"Seriously, whats up?" Harry asked now with a smile.
"Well actually, I'd like to speak to Granger if thats fine," he finally admitted, Hermione's cheeks feeling hot.
"Why would you need to ask Harry?" she asked from her seat.
"War etiquette, Granger." Fred took a step forward and gave her his hand, pulling her up and draping his arm over her shoulder more platonically than Hermione silently wished.
"Weird," Harry mumbled as the two walked away.
"Whats wrong?" Hermione asked him, her face painfully blushed.
"I need help from you, if you're up for it," he said in a far more mellow and quiet tone than before. "But if you don't want to that's fine. Its just- you're far better at magic than me or any of my friends and I really want to do good in the competition." Hermione was somewhat taken aback, Fred didn't sound like his usual self- what he was asking was unlike him at all, and Hermione felt like this could be a joke of some sort.
"Are you being serious?" She asked a bit more loudly.
"Shut up, Hermione, I don't want anyone to hear," he said, his face slightly red. "I'm good at potions and charms, but there are of stuff that I'll need to know for the tournament and I'm hoping you could… tutor me."
"I see," Hermione replied, thinking about it. She wasn't sure if this would be a betrayal to Harry, she wasn't even sure if she could help him. Hermione was knowledgeable but the tournament wasn't the same as an exam.
"You don't have to answer me right now. But I already know the first challenge… Kinda. We have to fight dragons," he replied.
Hermione turned to face him, the twos faces closer than they'd ever been, and faces hotter than they'd ever been too. They both took a step back as Hermione continued, ignoring the incident completely. "I… I'll help you. Meet me tomorrow at the hall during lunch- we'll go to the library together."
And with that, Hermione walked away. She didn't really want to say what she'd said, she wanted to know more. But the incident was far too awkward for her liking, and so Hermione was gone, leaving the blushed redhead standing alone in shock.