The days that followed the second task were strange for Hermione and Fred. Amid finding balance and working on their relationship, George had made it his own personal mission to spread the word around Hogwarts of the official couple. By the end of that Monday following the weekend, all three schools occupying the area were busy chattering on about the pair, as well as all the hearts Hermione had 'broken' along the way. While the latter of that gossip was reserved for people who didn't have a clue about her and the other boys' friendships, it spread all the same.
It was hard at first, as it was one of the main reasons Hermione wanted to keep the predicament she was in a secret. However as the days continued on into weeks, the talk died down into nothingness and school had once again returned to normal. It was now a fairly bright Friday and Hermione sat in the Great Hall with her friends having lunch. Hermione listened intently to her friends, trying to pick up on the story they were sharing. It was one of the harder parts of adding Fred onto the balance beam of her life- losing the time she could spend with Ron and Harry. The boys were talking about Harry- who had bumped into Cho Chang a few days prior after she and Cedric Diggory had a fight. Hermione knew that Harry liked Cho, but had no idea that it was anything more than a small crush. So when Harry mentioned that it may be the end of their relationship, she was startled to see the glimmer of eagerness in his eye.
The conversation drew on between the two, Hermione adding nothing to their already trivial discussion, when she felt a tap on her shoulder. Looking up, the terribly familiar face of Fred Weasely smiled at her sweetly.
"Could I steal her for a moment, boys?" he asked the two.
"Sure but it'll cost you," Harry retorted, resulting in Hermione slapping his shoulder and scowling at him in disapproval. "What?" he asked in response. The two shared a minor bicker over nothing before Ron interfered, telling Fred to take her before she ripped Harry's head off. All sharing a chuckle over this before Hermione finally farewelled them, going on to follow her boyfriend out the hall.
"Something wrong?" Hermione asked once they were out of earshot. There was only one reason that Fred ever pulled Hermione out of a conversation, and it always had to do with the minor investigation they were doing on Karkaroff and the mystery man. After hearing the conversation a few weeks prior, the two decided to try and get more information before going to Dumbledore. While they were sure he would try to understand if they went now, they knew that accusing a headmaster was enough of a scandal- let alone the fact they had no evidence at all. Since then they had overheard the mystery man once more while he grumbled nearby Snapes office.
"Not really, but I overheard something strange in class," Fred responded. The two walked over to the same steps Hermione had found her friends at the Yule ball, and took a seat next to each other. Once settled, the boy continued, "We were learning about the Imperius Curse and Moody mumbled something interesting. He explained that in some people, you can't even tell they're under it- and the person will have no idea they were cursed afterwards. It made me think of what we heard that day we were in the bathroom-"
"You reckon Karkaroff is controlling Krum?" Hermione asked, pondering over the words he'd just said.
"It'd make sense- why he's always around you asking questions- maybe he's trying to get intel," Fred replied with conviction. Hermione felt hurt by his accusation, as well as slightly offended.
"We don't even talk about anything intel worthy, Fred," she replied sassily. "I think that you could be right, but whatever Viktor may be controlled for probably doesn't have anything to do with me."
"Keep telling yourself that."
Hermione was taken aback, now fully offended. Since that day a few weeks ago, Fred's dislike towards Krum was only growing larger. For the most part Hermione ignored it, however it was getting harder. Hermione could barely have a conversation with Viktor without Fred approaching her later and asking what they were talking about. It was annoying, yes, but Hermione figured that was the downside of a romantic relationship.
"Whatever's going on here is probably not good," Hermione continued, brushing Freds comment aside completely. "Theres an unrecognisable man somewhere in Hogwarts who is probably a threat in some way or the other and it's more likely than not that Karkaroff is involved, but regardless- we need to learn more. I made a list of every potion I could find that included fluxweed and knotgrass. Polyjuice is one of them, but there are far more dangerous potions and my bet is that this man is trying to make it."
"Or he could be using polyjuice to disguise himself," Fred replied, picking at his nails casually.
"I considered that, but even if he was using polyjuice potion to disguise himself, Hogwarts is too small a school for anyone to get away with what would have to be a full year of pretending to be someone else. Everyone knows each other too well. It's possible, but I'm going to investigate the other potions before I get back to polyjuice."
"You have a point, but remember that theres a full grade of first years- as disturbing as it'd be to think a grown man is imposing as a child, I'm not going to put that suspicion aside."
Hermione looked up at Fred and smiled, appreciating his determination to figure out what in the world was going on. She brushed his hair away for a moment and pecked his cheek. "Let's hope you're wrong," she said. The large bell went off, indicating the end of their lunch, and the two waited at the hall entrance for their own groups of friends- waving at each other as they walked in different directions.
The three now had charms classes, which was one of the few they all shared. Hermione walked in the middle of the two as they finished off whatever they were talking about- quidditch from the sound of it.
"So what were you and Fred talking about?" Ron asked. It was strange, since the boys never really pried too far into Hermiones own relationship, but she soon observed a flower the boy was holding in his hand and had to wonder if Luna had mentioned anything. Hermione didn't know what it was about Luna, but she had a way of speaking that always managed to make people question the things around them. She once made a joke to Ron and Harry that the reason Ron liked being around Luna so much was because it was the only time he could have more than a single thought in a minute. Needless to say only two of the three laughed at that.
As Harry, Ron, and Hermione continued down towards Flitwicks' classroom, she took a moment to decide whether or not to tell them, eventually choosing the former. Frankly the only reason she hadn't opened up about the discovery was simply because they all seemed so busy with their own lives.
The group slowed down their pace to extend the conversation as Hermione began. She told the full story about Moaning Myrtles bathroom and the two men- and then said one sounded like Karkaroff, eventually continuing to explain her thoughts on it all, carefully choosing to exclude the accusation about Viktor.
"Why in the bloody hell have you been keeping that from us?" Ron was astounded at the fact that this had all happened near two weeks ago with no mention to him or Harry.
"Really I just never got the chance to bring it up," Hermione replied. The three were now at their destination and were forced to put the conversation on hold for their class. They sat in a row at the front of the classroom, the two piping in questions whenever Flitwick turned his back on the class, Hermione ignoring them as she silently stowed the thoughts away until later. After a short while of the boys trying to pry information from their friend, they eventually gave up and let it go- deciding to reignite the conversation the second the class was over.
As they came to the conclusion of their lecture, Flitwick finally dismissed the class- Ron and Harry wasting no time in rushing out.
"So what does Snape have to do with this?" Ron asked as they now walked from Charms to Potions.
"Well whoever that man was, he was trying to steal ingredients. I made a list of everything it could be- Fred thinks its polyjuice but I reckon otherwise," Hermione responded, flicking through to hand him the list of potions she had written up.
"Wait a second- this explains it!" Harry announced, halting in the middle of the busy halls. The two stopped ahead of him and turned, the boy looking at the ground in thought. "After the second task, Snape accused me of stealing gillyweed from his office."
"Yeah but you got it from Neville," Ron replied curiously.
"Well yes, but after that I asked Neville where he got it from and he said he got it in the mail from no sender." The two continued walking, Harry now at the centre as he hypothesised. "What if whoever sent it to Neville was the same person who's stealing from Snape?"
"That could make sense, but from the impression I got this mystery man doesn't seem like the type to gift plants to random students," Hermione said, quietening her voice as they began to approach the classroom.
"Maybe not, but it doesn't seem like a coincidence that a random gift Neville received was exactly what I needed in the second task- and not only that but it was something that was stolen from Snape."
"You're right about that," Ron whispered as they stopped outside the potions room door. "But maybe we shouldn't talk about things being stolen from Snape just right now."
The conversation once again died, this time completely as they shuffled into potions class and took to stand around an empty work table. The entire class had arrived a full five minutes before Snape did, the man storming through the doors in frustration as he led to the front and began writing frantically on the board. The class remained completely silent for the entire period while he angrily wrote down the chapters they had to study. Once he was done with that, the professor sat at his table and began ruffling through parchments and notes. Harry, Ron and Hermione all shared the same look of curiosity amongst one another as they tried their best to observe the man without being caught.
"So do we have any idea what in the world that was about?" Ron asked once they'd made a fair distance from the classroom. They were preparing to split up now, but before then wanted to talk as much as they could on the strange man, Snape and Karkaroff.
"No clue, but I bet it's got to do with whatever else has been going on," Harry replied.
"I agree. I need to go to class now, but I'll meet you at the hall," Hermione waved, turning a corner and pacing up to Dean, who was reading at his own notes and slowly walking down the hall. She eventually caught up and the two began a small conversation about class and not much else. They saw enough of each other daily to know that it wasn't necessary to speak all the time. As the two walked on, a familiar figure walking from the other direction, reading a book intently. Hermione told Dean she'd catch up, and stopped in her tracks to meet him.
"Hi, Viktor," she began, waving in front of his face to pull him out of a daze.
"Oh… Hi," he replied, closing the book and tucking it under his arm carefully. "Are you going to a class now?"
"Yeah, arithmancy. What are you doing around this part of the school?" she asked. A part of her thought about what Fred said, but the other was simply just curious about her friend.
"I had to go to Lady Pomphery. Had a small injury practicing quidditch," he replied, raising his free hand to show it bandaged up. Hermione observed it and took his word, the two then diving into a small chat about the injury details and his quidditch practice before Hermione finally realised she needed to rush over to her class- that she was most definitely late for.
"I need to go now, Viktor, but I'll see you around?" she said, a new sense of urgency taking over.
"Wait! What are you doing tomorrow? Would you like to have lunch?" he asked as he watched her rush away.
"Sounds perfect!" she smiled as she began to jog away, waving at him sweetly as she turned the corner. Hermione picked up her speed and entered the classroom just on time, walking over quickly to Dean and taking a seat. The two didn't speak as Hermione began to catch her breath, grateful to see that Professor Vector was yet to even arrive. Once her lungs finally began to settle, Hermione set up her table mindlessly as she brought out her text books and parchment.
"So you and Fred broken up or something?" Dean asked curiously, clearly referencing her talk with Viktor.
"I can have guy friends too, you know?" Hermione retorted. "Fred and I are still together."
"No need to get snappy, just curious," Dean settled, turning to his own text book as the professor emerged through the entrance and to the front.
Hermione sat for a moment, thinking about Viktor, and realised only then that she had agreed to go to lunch with him. Her mind panicked for a split second as she wondered if she was busy, but then settled once figuring that she had her Saturday completely free anyways. Frankly the only reason Hermione felt bad at all was because she knew Fred would get mad at her- but there were far more important things happening that current second, and Hermione stopped herself from thinking about how angry he may or may not get.
The answer was: very angry.
Classes had come and gone and Hermione was once again back in the great hall with her friends, as well as Fred and George. Finding out George was also in the loop of the Snapes thief scandal had only dug the knife deeper into Rons heart, but he soon got over it and the five continued on discussing their own wild theories and plans on how to deal with the matter. Hermione had almost completely forgotten about telling Fred of Viktors invitation until the twins brought up their own theory that the Durmstrang boy was being manipulated. As the conversation continued into that direction, Hermione began to build up the courage to pull Fred aside.
"Hey, Fred?" she asked quietly, snapping him away from the talk going on. He turned to her and let out a hm for her to go on. "I just thought I'd let you know that, Viktor and I are going to get lunch tomorrow."
Hermione watched as her boyfriend only stared into her eyes, and then went back to the conversation as if she hadn't said anything. Silently hoping that meant the A-Ok, Hermione joined in and the group talked on until they eventually dispersed from the hall.
Shuffling out in no real order, the couple trailed on behind. Fred seemed to be walking especially slow, as if intentionally making a distance between them and the rest. Once they were finally though the large doors, the group was a fair bit ahead of them and paying no mind and Hermione felt as Fred slipped his hand into hers tenderly, picking up the pace to a now normal one.
"So lunch?" he started as he brushed his thumb over her hand. "Why are you getting lunch with him?"
"Well he asked, and I didn't think too into it… so what?" Hermione asked back. She wanted to raise it, but she knew how sensitive Fred could get over Viktor and decided to keep it down.
"What do you mean so what? He's obviously a spy for Karkaroff!" Fred replied, now starting to fume as they walked along. Hermione slipped her hand out of Freds and crossed her arms in closed frustration.
"What could he possibly get out of me?! And anyways, if he was a spy- which he isn't- wouldn't you want me to hang out with him?" she retorted angrily.
"What if he hurts you?!" Fred snapped back, ignoring her question completely.
"He has no reason to- and if you actually bothered to talk to him instead of hanging around him to get your little intel, then you'd know he's harmless!"
"Whats that supposed to mean?" he sneered. Both their faces were now red and angry.
"Don't think I haven't seen you chummy up to him on the grounds. I'm not stupid, Fred!" she snapped back. It was as true as anything- and while Hermione couldn't prove it, she knew from the way Fred smiled at Viktor in the halls that their was maliciousness behind his intentions.
While Fred claimed he wasn't one for jealousy, it had become abundantly clear to Hermione that it was just's Freds nature to be jealous. It wasn't just Viktor- Hermione often felt Fred's judgment when she would sit on the arm of Ron's chair in the common room, or when she would lean back to back on Harry. Every time, she could feel the burning stares of her boyfriend. He never was one to say anything, but he didn't have to. Hermione liked Fred a lot, and as much as she hated this side to him, she had long since decided to accept him for who he was and make it work. Currently, it was a situation that was easier said than done. The two were now facing each other, red cheeked and frowning as they stood outside the painting of Gryffindoor house. Students were approaching, and the two needed to either settle the dispute or let it go- eventually going for the latter when a small group of second years shuffled up the stairs to where they stood.
When Fred, Hermione and the rest of the students shuffled in, the two instantly switched their attitudes up- Fred propping himself between George and Lee, while Hermione went over to stand by Harry and Ron, who were busy playing chess.
"What took you so long?" Harry asked, looking up as he waited for Ron to make a move.
"Just felt like strolling," Hermione lied with a soft smile, dragging a seat over to watch her friends play. As boring as wizards chess could get, Hermione was in no mood to be anywhere else than with her friends. She basked in the warmth of their company and paid no mind to her worries, knowing full well by tomorrow it would all be forgotten.
x
Yeah, I know Fred is a jerk in this chapter and it might seem a bit unexpected- but trust me.
This has been a real slow burner, but lemme just say this is about the halfway mark. I'm tempted to make the chapters go by faster, but idk its just so therapeutic to write like this (AND YEA IM FULLY AWARE OF HOW MANY COMMAS I AM USING)
Anyways I never mentioned this in the start of this fic but,, original story, characters and universe belong to the original author, Nicki Minaj 33