Hermione's spirits were much higher since the events of the first task. Her and Fred were friends again- going as far as studying together with Harry to figure out the use of the golden egg they'd retrieved. They had tried to make it a habit out of it, but not long after the agreement a story hit the Daily Prophet, holding scrutiny against Fred and Harry for forming an alliance, stating that they weren't 'upholding the dignified history of the tournament'. While they didn't care very much, they also came to the agreement that group studies shouldn't happen outside the common room- and irregularly at that.

Hermione enjoyed the studying though. It was difficult and tedious, but that was exactly why it was so enjoyable to Hermione. Since dropping many of the classes she'd taken the previous year, she felt as though what she was learning wasn't enough anyways- so of course she jumped to every opportunity to help the two.

Her, Harry and Ron were currently sat together inside the library studying. Since Harry wasn't sitting exams, he mainly sat there examining the egg, careful not to open it in the library. Ron and Harry were discussing charms as well as the egg when a paper plane landed right in front of Hermione. Looking around to see who sent it with no luck, she opened the letter to herself, hiding the contents from her friends who payed no attention anyways.

Hermione Granger,

I gladly invite you to an interesting assembly

involving topics you may find both

interesting as well as useful in the coming days.

Meet me where you once expressed

that you'd lost a memory of me.

Tomorrows earliest 12.

You know who I am.

Hermione did know who it was, however didn't understand the need for cryptic's and the weird formal tone. Regardless, she folded the note into her pocket and continued on as if nothing had happened. Fred wasn't one for secrecy, which meant that this was either an elaborate joke or a very serious matter, so either way Hermione felt reluctant to entertain it publicly.

The day went on, studies ceased and they went about to the common room to play games and entertain themselves until dinner. Hermione pushed the letter into the back of her mind, not bringing it up to Fred when they'd passed ways, him acting the same in return. Eventually dinner came about and they had more time to kill for a Sunday. Harry and Ron managed this time playing chess while Hermione read a book while sitting in one of the couches with Lavender Brown, who surprisingly didn't try to smalltalk with Hermione. Time went on and one by one everyone seemed to be heading to bed. The convenience of being still very early in the year was that not as many students cared to stay up and study. And on a Sunday as quiet as this one, everyone was in bed by eleven.

Hermione understood by the letter that tomorrows earliest 12 was in an hour, and that Fred would be in the kitchen where they spoke. However considering the entire common room was empty aside from her and Katie Bell, she figured she would just see him when he showed up from wherever he was. Within minutes, Katie had made her way upstairs with a curt 'goodnight' and was out of sight. Like many times in her life, Hermione was alone in the Gryffindoor common room with her thoughts and her studies. It was almost exactly 12 when her eye caught sight of movement. She looked at the stairs towards the boys dorms but didn't see anyone and pinning it to being tired, she continued to read. A small sound of movement in front of her snapped her back, but again she found nothing in front of her to blame it on. The girl stood up and walked to the source to see if it was maybe someones pet that had escaped with no luck.

"Boo!" a voice said from behind her, making Hermione turn in shock and fall back down before being caught by an invisible source. The weight of her fall had dragged what she realised was the invisibility cloak off of Fred Weasely, exposing him to her completely. Pushing her back on her feet, he gathered the cloak and held it in his hand with the golden egg. She whacked his arm lightly in return, a light blush petruding on her face.

"What's going on, Fred?" she asked him, looking at the items in his hand and then back at him.

"I think I've figured the egg out and thought you'd want to come see. I'm assuming you're well acquainted with this old thing," he said with a smile, indicating the invisibility cloak in his hand. "Harry said I could borrow it as long as I told him what I find out for myself. Fair enough deal, wouldn't you say?"

"And so what do you think it is?" Hermione asked, grabbing the egg out of his hand and looking at it.

"You'll just have to trust me, but I swear it's bloody wicked," he said, walking towards the exit and flailing the cloak for the two of them. Hermione joined him and allowed him to drape the large cloth over them both before walking out the dorm room and away. Hermione was somewhat accustomed to being close to Fred. It wasn't completely foreign but it was still quite strange, especially trying to walk in sync. It wasn't like with Ron and Harry, because Fred was much taller and had to crouch so that the cloak could cover them both to their feet.

"Where are we going?" Hermione asked as he led them through some of the less occupied halls where some teachers offices stood as well as doors Hermione had never questioned.

"Just trust me, okay. It's going to be fun."

The young witch, scarred from the twins, didn't like what could possibly be Fred's idea of fun. They continued to walk up various stairs until they reached what must have either been the fifth or sixth floor, Hermione not sure from both the cloak and Freds erratic jogging. Finally, they came to a stop at a grand door that Hermione hadn't seen in person, but recognised faintly from Hogwarts: A History. "Pine Fresh" Fred whispered, instantly unlocking the doors. Hermione followed the boy into the room, soon left in awe at the sight. An enormous bathtub- nearly pool like- stretched in front of them. At the end of it were various different taps, as well as other bathing items. "Prefects bathroom," Fred said. "Well prefects plus me and George, since we are Hogwarts royalty."

Hermione rolled her eyes at his clear lie and took off the cloak, distancing herself from him. Fred closed the door behind them and walked towards the taps to turn them on. "So what are we doing here?"

"Having a swim, of course," Fred replied, taking off his shirt and pants, walking towards the steps nearly full tub- Hermione also walking up to the edge, noting to herself that they must be charmed to fill up faster than physically possible. She looked from the water to Fred, who was now only in a pair of boxers- a blush instantly forming on her face.

"If this is your sick attempt at upsetting me, it's working," Hermione said, holding a hand to her eyes to shelter them. "Besides, I didn't bring bathers."

"Thats fine by me, 'Mione. I'm not one to judge," Fred said. She could hear him enter the water and swim towards where she was standing at the edge. Hermione looked at the boy who was smiling brightly from below her. "I promise I won't look, but the water is lovely."

Hermione considered it for a second, but politely declined. Instead, she brought him the egg and took off her shoes to dunk her feet in the water. The warmth tempting her just as much as the boy in front of her.

"It's only a suspicion, but I had the egg in the shower with me and I could have sworn it whispered. I figured a bath could help me figure it out,"

"So if you've got it under control, why am I here?" Hermione asked, splashing her feet.

"Because I like spending time with you, Granger. I thought that was obvious by now," her face went bright, as did his- Hermione breaking eye contact quickly. "How about this… I'm not going to put this egg underwater until you join me."

"Well what if I don't?" Hermione retorted with a smile, knowing he wouldn't rest until she was in the water.

"Well then I'll have to go blind into the second task," he replied smiling as well. "Or I could just splash water on you now and get all your clothes soaked."

Hermione giggled and stood up in defeat, laughing as she did so. "Fine, but you have to turn around until I'm in the water. And if it's cold I'm getting out."

Fred smiled at this and turned away, respecting her wishes. He gazed at the large stained glass window of a mermaid as he waited for Hermione to join him. Eventually, he picked up the sound of her walking down the steps into the water and going towards him. "Can I look now?"

"Yes, Fred, you can turn around," she said with a laugh. Hermione's face was bright red as she stood apart from Fred, unsure of how to go about the situation. Fred smiled at her and walked closer, passing her to grab the egg.

"You ready?" he asked, Hermione nodded, and the two dove down underwater following the egg. The song it sang to them was as beautiful as it was mysterious- though she had a clear suspicion of what it could mean, she continued to listen, turning from it to Fred who watched it in awe before finally rising to air. "Well that was…"

"Beautiful," Hermione finished, holding the egg and taking it back to the baths side. "So they're going to take something important to you for the second task, I'm assuming. And you'll have to retrieve it."

"Seems so," Fred replied, looking at the egg curiously. "It'll likely be underwater, too."

"You're right. And it also said that you'll only have an hour to complete it," Hermione continued. "I doubt protecting whatever it is you'll miss will work, since that could be anything. So your best bet is to work on transfiguration or a charm to help you breathe water."

"I can think of something I'd sorely miss," Fred said, looking at Hermione, receiving an eye roll in return.

"You're unbearable, Fred," Hermione said in response to his joking flirtations, wishing it didn't make her blush.

"I dunno why you think I'm joking when I say nice things about you, Granger," he said, taking a step in the water towards her. "You know I mean it when I say them, right?"

"You're funny-" before Hermione could continue what she was saying, she felt the hands of the boy in front of her grab her bare waist and pull her closer, their noses nearly as Fred leaned down to face her.

"You're clueless, Hermione," he said softly, a light smile spreading on his lips. "For a witch as smart as you I thought you'd of figured it out by now… I really, really fancy you. I like being around you and talking to you and about you. Do you understand?"

"Oh…" was all Hermione managed to say. Their closeness, Fred's words, his hands around her. She had denied herself dreaming about this for so long that the relief and excitement of it being a reality was bouncing through her mind.

"And you like me too, right?" Fred asked in return, a cloud of doubt appearing over his face at the idea of his move being very incorrect.

"I do," she said. "But… That can't mean anything, you know."

Hermione broke away from his hold and took a step back from him, looking the boy up and down in a deep admiration as well as disappointment.

"I like you and you like me, so whats the issue?" Fred asked, wanting to take a step closer but stopping himself.

"There's a lot of issues. Theres the tournament and the press, theres Harry and Ron, theres the rest of your family. I don't want to pursue something at the risk of all the other things that have made my life so full, you know?" she said, hoping deeply she was making sense.

"I don't think us pursuing anything is a risk to anything else," Fred said, knowing his words were untrue.

"You won't be saying that when the press finds out I'm a mudblood. You know that they won't let that slide by and it could affect your dads work too, and then not to mention I'm your junior. Liking you is a dream that can't really become a reality, I'm sorry." Hermione began to walk towards the steps, trying not to cry at what she'd just said, only to feel a hand grab hers.

"Just shut up, Hermione," Fred said, pulling her back towards him. "Don't call yourself that ever again. You're the most talented witch I have ever met in my entire life. You're twice as smart as anyone in my year, and four times as brave. I can accept you rejecting me, but I'm not going to let you leave until you apologise to yourself."

Hermione could see the pain and hurt in Freds eyes, just as he saw it in hers and finally, to cut through the silence, Hermione hugged him. It wasn't a warm hug- they had both been standing in the bath and their upper bodies were cold and wet, but she hugged him anyways and he hugged her back. For the two of them, it was all they really needed from each other.

"I'm sorry," Hermione whispered to herself, holding Fred tightly.

"If I ever hear you talk about yourself like that you'll wish you were a muggle- because I will make your life hell with charms and pranks until you realise how much of a brilliant witch you are... You know, because you'll deflect them." Fred replied, resting his face into Hermione's hair and kissing her forehead.

"That's quite a stupid plan," Hermione said with a laugh, taking a step out of their embrace.

"I'm quite a stupid boy," Fred replied, now looking at Hermione with his hand over a cheek. "A stupid boy that will one day have you. But until then, Hermione Granger, would you like to be my friend?"

"Even when you're romantic, you are unbearable," Hermione said now back to her full self.

The two eventually got out of the pool. Using the 'drying room', a room full of large pipes that burst warm air into the centre to dry people off, they got redressed and ready to leave. At the door before Fred once again stopped in his tracks to look at Hermione.

"I think you're the prettiest friend I've ever had," he said cooly, Hermione rolling her eyes in her usual manner.

"I can't stand you, Fred," she replied, draping the invisibility cloak over the two of them to track back to the Gryffindoor quarters.