A/N: Thanks, again, to iLoveRomance2o11 for reviewing. I'm just glad that someone's enjoying it! :)
I'm sort of unofficially dedicating this to you. More appropriately, I'm posting a second one today because of your kind reviews. I hope you enjoy it.
I admit to borrowing a few phrases from the Goblet of Fire book, but for the most part, it's all me.
Once again, I remind you that suggestions and requests are welcomed.
Was it you who caught me staring?
Fred and George Weasley were in trouble again. "Mr Weasley, and, er… Mr Weasley, if you would please so kind as to pay attention," Professor McGonagall barked at them, "I have an announcement." "Just for us? Minnie, that's so kind," George replied cheekily. She pursed her lips but otherwise ignored him. "The Yule Ball is approaching- as you might already know- and I expect you all to behave," She looked at Fred and George firmly. "I think Minnie is referring to us, brother mine," Fred said loudly, earning another look of disapproval from Professor McGonagall, and a chuckle from the other students. "It is a traditional part of the Triwizard Tournament, and an opportunity for us to socialize with our foreign guests." She went on to describe the specifics, and again expressed her wish that no one, especially not a Gryffindor, embarrass the school in any way. George, who, like his twin, was not listening any longer, whispered to Fred, "This is your chance, Gred!" "Er… for what?" Fred muttered, and George watched, feeling sort of smug, as realization dawned on his twin's face. "Hermione, mate," Fred whacked his twin with his Transfiguration book, but George was laughing too hard to care.
"I don't know how you convinced me to do this," Fred complained, a week later. He and George were waiting outside Professor Binns' class, which Hermione happened to be in. The bell rang, drowning out whatever George was going to say and causing Fred's stomach to do a weird sort of flip. Students flooded out of the room, George reached out and snagged Hermione's arm, and before he knew it, George had disappeared with a saucy wink and a hurried excuse, and he was alone with Hermione. "What do you want, Frederick?" She sounded vaguely annoyed, "I agreed to help Harry practice his summoning charms, and I still have to revise my essay." "Er… I was wondering if you wanted to go to the Yule Ball with me?" Her face turned red. "I-I'm sorry Fred, but… I've already agreed to go with someone else." "Oh." He could have kicked himself. "Who?" He asked, dully. "Er… Viktor Krum?" Are you asking me or telling me, Granger?" He joked, "Lucky bloke, Krum." Hermione blushed attractively, making Fred's stomach twist again. "Well, erm… I've got to go. Georgie'll be waiting for me." He turned away, the tips of his ears warm. "Fred?" She asked softly. "Yeah?' He turned around quickly. "I really am sorry." "That's okay, 'Mione," He heard himself saying, before walking away sadly.
Fred ended up asking Angelina Johnson to the dance instead, because he knew she had been holding out for him to ask her. He supposed she looked pretty, but not nearly as pretty as Hermione. When she walked down the stairs, his breath had all whooshed out of him in one burst, and his heart had started thudding painfully in his chest. Seeing her walk away with Krum made him want to punch the Bulgarian. George walked by and clapped him on the back, bringing him back to his date. "Let's dance, Fred," she begged him, and he obliged, deciding to have fun despite himself. Several dances later, he and Angelina were laughing and he had to admit he was having a lot more fun then he thought he would. Eventually, Angelina begged to be allowed to sit, and he reflexively looked around for Hermione. With a jolt, he watched her as she shouted at Ron (the git. If he hurt her…) and then ran to the stairs, sitting alone and looking as though she was crying. He rushed over to her, without a thought for his 'date'. "'Mione? What's wrong?" He sat beside her, surprised when she turned to him and buried her face in his shoulder, sobbing. "R-Ron… h-he accused me of fr-fraternizing with the enemy…" she choked out. "I-I only went with Krum because he asked… He was s-so nice to me in the li-library and he's really quite k-kind…" "Don't listen to my git of a brother, 'Mione," Fred told her, deciding that Ron would be their unsuspecting guinea pig for a few weeks, until he'd apologized to Hermione. "He's only jealous that he didn't get to go with such a beautiful witch and Krum did." Fred didn't add that he was jealous, too. "Want to dance?" He stood, offering his hand to her. She took it and he helped her up, leading her gleefully onto the dance floor. Eventually, she was laughing harder then Angelina had been, and with far less effort on his part.
Or was it me who caught you?
A presence over Hermione's shoulder startled her from her studying in the library. She whipped around, fighting the urge to pull her wand out of her pocket. "Oh, er… Hello," She said, to the man standing behind her, trying to sound pleasant. "Hello," He replied, in a heavy Bulgarian accent. "I am Viktor Krum." "I know," she replied, "Er… I saw you at the Quidditch world cup." "Und vhat did you tink?" He asked her, sounding genuinely curious. "I think it was brilliant. That, er… Wonky Feint thing was brilliant!" Krum chuckled. "Vell, I am glad that you tink so." She smiled at him and then, belatedly, realized she hadn't told him her name. "I'm Hermione," She said, holding her hand out to him. He raised it to his lips, and said, "A plessure, Hermy-own-ninny. Vould you do me the plessure of attending the Yule Ball vith me?" "Oh… er.. Sure!" She beamed. "I haff been coming here for a vhile… trying to, vhat is it, pluck up the courage? To ask you, and I am glad that you haff agreed, Hermy-own-ninny." He said, and left. The usual twittering group of girls that followed him around had gathered into a large group by the entrance, and shot murderous glances at her when she left the library.
"Why don't you go and find Vicky, he'll be wondering where you are," said Ron. "Don't call him Vicky!" Hermione shouted, close to tears. She ran away, making it all the way to the stairs before bursting into tears. "'Mione? What's wrong?" Fred's voice, surprisingly close to her, asked. She heard him sit, and before she knew what she was doing, she had thrown her arms around him and was crying into his shoulder. "R-Ron… h-he accused me of fr-fraternizing with the enemy…" she choked out, feeling sort of foolish for revealing this to Fred. "I-I only went with Krum because he asked… He was s-so nice to me in the li-library and he's really quite k-kind…" She was babbling. Fred's hands tightened around her waist gently, and she suddenly felt very safe. "Don't worry about my git of a brother, 'Mione," he told her, and she looked up at him through her tears, "He's only jealous that he didn't get to go with such a beautiful witch and Krum did." His fingers tightened slightly before relaxing. He stood and offered his hand to her. "Want to dance?" She surprised herself by reaching out to him, and allowing herself to be led onto the dance floor. Fred danced so outlandishly that she couldn't help but laugh, and soon all thoughts of her argument with Ron had been brushed aside.