1992

Gryffindor vs Slytherin

Fred gripped his broom tightly with one hand and the club in his other. The wind rushed through his hair and he eyed George who was hovering on the other side of the pitch. The rest of the Gryffindor team were scattered throughout the sky. There was a cheer from the Slytherin stands as their team flew out. But Fred was aware how muted it was compared to when the Gryffindors had made their entrance. He smiled to himself. Every single game that rush of excitement and adrenaline felt like it did on his first game. Just without the nerves added in. He and George had done their traditional double spin round one of the towers before flying past the crowd and Fred was consciously aware of how much he'd been looking for Hermione's face. Even now when he was high up in the sky, he still searched for it. Without realising it, they'd grown closer over the past few months. Helped by the fact he and George had shared a compartment with her on the way to Hogwarts. Fred smiled at the memory. Whilst he seriously admired Ron and Harry's guts to take the families flying car, he was admittedly thankful they had. That train journey had meant he was now starting to see Hermione Granger in a whole new light. Several green and silver blurs zoomed through the sky, bringing him back to the present, and Fred tightened his grip on the club as Draco hovered beside him. The temptation to throw his bat at the little brat's head was already overwhelming. Draco raised an eyebrow.

"Something the matter Weasley?"

Fred gritted his teeth. "Listen closely you little git. If you think I've forgotten what you called Hermione, then you're mistaken. You try anything and I will make sure a bludger hits you in the head."

"Temper temper," Draco smiled, "Shouldn't be surprised you care that much about her. You Weasley's always did associate with people like that."

Before Fred could reply, there was a shout from down below. Madam Hooch and already let the bludgers and snitch free and she held the Quaffle up with her hand.

"Now, I want a nice, clean game. All of you."

Fred eyed Draco. No one would notice if he hit a bludger his way. It was his job after all. And he doubted anyone would really mind. A shrill whistle pierced the air and Fred dived as a bludger shot towards Katie who had the Quaffle locked under her arm. A quick swing sent it flying off in the other direction, allowing Katie a clear path to the goal. Fred grinned at the cheers and he allowed his broom to come to a halt. He could see George on the other side of the pitch. His twin looped round a Slytherin player before whacking a bludger towards them. Fred allowed his eyes to fall on the stands below. A flash of red hair caught his attention and he saw Ron cheering wildly. But Fred wasn't bothered about his younger brother. He only cared about the beaming girl with bushy brown hair standing next to him.

"Fred duck!"

Fred pressed his face to his broom as George gave the bludger a firm whack. It spun off briefly before somehow switching paths and moving back towards Harry.

"Um…are they meant to do that?" George asked. Fred shook his head.

"That bludger hasn't left him alone." He glanced up to see Oliver flying towards them.

"Have you noticed-"

"That one of the bludgers is attracted to Harry? Yes." Fred answered. "Look, me and George can keep it away, but it means you guys will have to just avoid the other one as best you can okay?"

Oliver nodded and Fred watched him fly back up to the goal posts. George eyed him carefully.

"So, what's the plan?"

Fred shrugged. "I guess just stay close to Harry and try not to mistake the snitch for a bludger."

"And not get hit in the process? Sounds like a good plan."

With a smile, Fred flattened his body to his broom and shot towards Harry. Gorge not far behind him. The younger boy ducked as the bludger zoomed over his head before spinning round and heading straight for him. Sitting as upright as he could, Fred gave the bludger a huge whack that sent it spinning off to the other side of the pitch. He pushed Harry upright as he and George settled either side of him.

"Mind if we join you?"

"Don't really want you getting clobbered mate," George added. "Would ruin the day really."

Fred went to say something else when he saw it again. One hand shoved Harry's head down and the other hit the bludger away. He locked eyes with George, and they nodded.

This was going to be a long game.

Fred gave Harry a quick wave before him, George, Ron and Hermione left the hospital wing. He knew he shouldn't, but he couldn't help feeling guilty Harry was even in there. Despite Harry's insistence he tackle the rogue bludger by himself, Fred hadn't exactly felt easy about it. He'd been hit by plenty of bludgers to know the damage they could do. So, letting a twelve-year-old face one that was clearly tampered with, hadn't been an easy thing to do.

"Hey," Hermione smiled weakly at him, "it's not your fault you know. Harry being in there."

Fred shrugged. "I just…it's mine and George's job to get hit by those things. Not his."

"Yeah but you two didn't tamper with that bludger. Or lose all the bones in his arm."

Fred nodded. Although he wasn't going to tell Hermione, Lockhart's attempt at fixing Harry's broken arm had given him an idea to run past George and Lee later on. Hermione watched him carefully.

"Are you okay? Did the bludger…. did it hit you guys at all or…?"

"There were a few close calls." Fred admitted. "But like I said, it's mine and George's job. We're used to it."

Hermione's' face clouded over. "I know but…well…. you could have been seriously hurt trying to protect Harry."

"Says the girl who took on a three-headed dog, Devils snare and a giant lethal chess set!"

Hermione ducked her head, "True. But…. well you know what I mean."

Fred grinned, "Yeah I do. And thanks for being concerned. To be honest, every time I hit the bludger, I kept aiming for Malfoy."

Her cheeks flushed slightly, and Fred couldn't help but smile. Hermione bit her lip.

"You didn't have to do that. I've not exactly forgotten what he called me but-"

"Hey," Fred turned and stared at her. Before he could think it though, he reached out and took her hand.

"He wasn't getting away with calling you that. Not if I had anything to say about it."

"Well thanks. Again."

Fred winked at her. "Anytime Hermione. Anytime."

Gryffindor vs Hufflepuff

"You can't cancel Quidditch!"

Fred felt his stomach dropping as Professor McGonagall carried on talking. In truth he hadn't really heard anything beyond the words "this match is cancelled." He had known things were becoming more dangerous with the attacks on muggle-borns. But he hadn't imagined it would lead to this. As Wood began leading the others away, he was aware of McGonagall pulling Harry over to one side. His stomach began doing somersaults. There was only one reason McGonagall would need to speak to Harry at a time like this. And since only two of Harry's friends were Muggleborns, a horrible feeling began to sit in his stomach.

"Hey, come on."

Fred glanced at his brother before turning back to watch Harry being escorted off.

"Did…did you see Hermione at all earlier?"

George narrowed his eyes and shook his head. "Don't think so. Saw Ron and the others heading off to the game so I assumed she would be with them. Why?"

"I just…" Fred turned and began following the others back to the changing rooms.

"I just have a bad feeling that's all."

Later that evening, when Harry and Ron returned to the common room, Fred couldn't help but listen in to what they were saying to the others in their year. Gasps flew round the room and as the news finally reached his own ears, Fred had to fight the urge to be sick. George placed a steadying hand on his back.

"Fred?"

"She's…. she's just…. I mean she's not dead right? Just…. that."

He couldn't even say the word. George nodded.

"She's not dead. Apparently, she had a mirror on her or something. Must have saved her life."

Fred nodded silently. There was a deathly hush in the common room. Whilst Hermione wasn't exactly the most popular of Gryffindors, it was still difficult news to take in. Fred watched Harry and Ron carefully. In all his years of knowing Ron, he'd never seen him this scared before. Harry looked in a similar state and most of the other students seemed unsure of what to do or say. With a determined nod, he got to his feet and headed towards the door.

"Fred? Where are you going?"

Ignoring his twins calls, Fred slipped through the portrait and began running in the direction of the hospital wing.

He came to a breathless halt just outside the doors. Professor McGonagall eyed him up and down.

"What are you doing out of the common room Mr Weasley?"

"I just…" Fred forced himself to get air back into his lungs. "I just want to visit Hermione."

The older woman raised an eyebrow. "I wasn't aware you were so close. In any case you should be back in the common room at this hour."

"Professor please!" Fred hadn't meant to shout. He shook his head.

"Please just…. just five minutes. Five minutes and then I'll go. Please?"

Professor McGonagall eyed him carefully over the rim of her glasses. With a brief smile she stood back and gently pushed the door open. Fred beamed at her.

"Thank you."

He wasted no time in rushing in. The beds on both sides were full of students. All frozen stiff. At their stillness, Fred had to remind himself that they were still alive. His eyes flicked from left to right until his feet stopped in their tracks.

"Oh Hermione."

She lay on the bed, bushy hair spread out on the pillow. One arm was raised, clutching the mirror. Fred sat down on the bed beside her and, after a brief hesitation, reached out and touched her other hand. He flinched at how cold her skin was.

"Harry and Ron will sort this out," he whispered, "They'll get to the bottom of this and then you'll be okay."

He stared at her. "You have to be okay Hermione. I-"

"Fred?"

With a small cry, Fred spun round to see George staring at him.

"What…. what are you doing here?"

"You ran off. What else was I supposed to do? I waited until McGonagall had left and then snuck in."

George moved so he was now standing beside the bed. Fred dropped his hand and let it lie weakly beside Hermione. George glanced at Hermione before back to Fred.

"What are you doing here anyway?"

"I don't know," Fred didn't take his eyes off Hermione.

"I don't know okay. I just…I had to see her."

"Anyone would think you liked her," George said with a small grin. Fred gave another shrug and his twin's grip on his shoulder tightened.

"Do you? Like her I mean?"

Fred turned away from Hermione. "I don't know. I mean I…well I think about her a lot. And right now, I want nothing more than to see her back to…. well back to normal."

"Come on," George pulled him to his feet. "Let's get back."

"She will be okay though?"

George paused before giving a less than convincing nod.

"She'll be fine Freddie. She's Hermione Granger, isn't she?"

Fred gave a mute nod. But looking back, when he saw Hermione running towards Harry and Ron at the end of the year, he realised he didn't care that Quidditch had been cancelled. He was just glad she was okay.

AN: Second chapter for you all. Had my first week working from home and despite all the technical qlitches it went okay. Lockdown is admittedly starting to get to me a little bit. Thankfully I have these two love-birds to help distract me. Let me know what you thought. Also started doing some WolfStar fics so if you're interested them check them out xx