Chapter 8:

The next day was the day the Professor woke me up and dragged me to get ready for the Cup and when I realized what she meant I sprang up and put on the best clothes I had. Going to see Hermione after months of not seeing her was a big deal. When I was ready we side-long apparated to the cup grounds.

I held my stomach as I leaned over and groaned.

"God…apparating sucks…"

"No just side-long apparation." I heard her chuckle and I groaned again.

When I finally felt okay to move on I started to look around and it honestly was a mad house; so many fans in one place, and wizards and witches at that. This magic thing was still something I was new to and very well not used to seeing tents with pictures that came alive and fireworks swirling in the air. It's only natural to be in awe. I was so lost in thought that I didn't hear the "watch out" thrown my way till the last minute. I turned around and a quaffle was coming right for my face.

"SMACK." I closed my eyes as the quaffle hit me full on in the face and bounced off into the person's hand that was on a broom I fell right on my back.

"Owwwwwwwwww."

"BLIMEY ARE YOU OKAY!"

"Ron you nitwit! I said not to throw the damn quaffle!" a girl said.

I held my face in agony as McGonagall cleared her throat.

"HOLY CRAP IT'S THE PROFESSOR!" Ron said.

"That I am…Mr. Weasely…and I see you've just hit Ms. Knight in the face just now…"

"who…oh blood hell…you don't mean…"

"Yes Mr. Weasley the one in the same…"

I groaned and glared up at all the red heads and a black haired bloke that were all holding brooms as I picked myself up off the ground.

"I'm right over here you know…you don't have to talk to me like I'm some kind of…" I didn't get to finish as I realized I had just gotten smacked in the face by none other than Ron and Harry who were Hermione's friends.

"Oh my god Hermiones going to kill me!" The boy named Ron began pulling at his hair and looking around.

"It'd be your own fault…" A red haired girl said.

I looked at all of them like a deer in headlights.

I began rubbing my nose where I had gotten hit and sighed.

"RON! HARRY! GINNY! I TOLD YOU NOT TO GO PLAYING QUIDDICH WITH PEOPLE AROUND…here I come to find that you all did something didn't you…you know I don't like flying so why do something I can't be a part of…sheesh you three."

My back stiffened as I realized who it was behind me.

I kept holding my face as she got closer feeling a little blood trickle down from my nose.

"Oh gosh what'd you do hit a poor girl in the face with the quaffle…."

I felt her hand touch my arm and then silence.

Everyone stood around staring at me waiting for me to look at her Hermione so when my eyes finally meet hers I put down my hand and grimace at her, wiggle my fingers, and tried to smile. The look on her face is priceless. It was between a look of shock/happiness and complete fury.

Out of the corner of my eye I saw Ron trying to slowly inch a way but then Hermione was too quick and had the back of his shirt while still looking at me.

"RONALD BILLIUS WEASLEY….please tell me….you…DID NOT JUST HIT MY FRIEND IN THE FACE WITH A QUAFFLE!" She turned her head so fast to look at him I think he might have pissed himself

"Well…I mean…I didn't intentionally…hit your friend in the face with a quaffle…she just…happened to have been there just as the quaffle went flying at her…." He's voice got so small under Hermione's death glare that I didn't think he'd survive this.

I've never seen Hermione so angry before but I put a hand on her arm and she looked at me.

"Erm…it's okay…really…it was an accident I was lost in thought they did try to warn me…."

Hermione's eyes softened but then she whipped back into the direction of Ron who flinched.

"I'm not finished with you yet Ronald Weasley." She hissed at him.

He gulped and ran off leaving Harry, Ginny and Hermione behind.

I felt a gentle hand on my shoulder. I looked up and there was the Professor.

"Ms. Knight. I'll be staying at the tent over there with the Scottish colors. When you're ready just come find me. I figured you would want to spend some time with Ms. Granger so I'll leave you to it."

I blushed and nodded and the older woman smiled as she left.

I looked back at Hermione and gave her a beautiful smile and then pulled her into a hug which she recuperated. I felt her giggle into my shoulder as she wrapped her arms around me and I heard a cough and a clearing of throat come from the general direction of Hermione's friends.

"Er…Hermione…me and Ginny…um…are gunna go see what we can find for the Cup tonight we'll see you later!"

They both ran off and Hermione starred after them in a quizzical look. I shrugged but felt a blush coming up my neck at what that must have looked like to them.

Oh great now I'm getting paranoid that everyone thinks I like Hermione….

I thought about it for a bit longer but then I felt something warm touch my hand. I look down and it's Hermione's hand taking mine. I blushed lightly and looked up at her eyes asking her a question. She just smiled and shrugged and tugged my arm.

I moved closer and then she pulled a handkerchief out of her pocket and began to dab the blood away from my nose. I winced and she frowned as she furrowed her eyebrows.

"I can't believe you got hurt again…especially when I wasn't there…"

I smiled and laughed.

"That's the only time I get hurt apparently."

I saw her small grin and she playfully swatted my arm.

When she was satisfied that there wasn't any more blood, she did a quick scourgify charm on her handkerchief and it was good as new.

I grinned at that and she raised an eyebrow at me asking me to try and say something.

"I see you've been studying."

She hummed in approval and I laughed heartily.

I felt her arms go around me and she laid her head on my shoulder as she pulled me as close as she could.

"Gaile…I've missed you so much…I didn't hear from you for a month and some and I was so worried. I can't believe you left me like that…"

She squeezed me harder and I felt my heart squeeze painfully.

"Sorry…Hermione…I just…didn't want it to be harder for you…"

I rubbed her back and held her and apologized some more and then I slowly let go and took her hand.

"Come on Hermione…" I gave her a small smile with so much emotion she looked at my eyes and waited. "We're supposed to have fun…would you like to show me around?"

She grinned and nodded. "Yes…I would like that…"

"Good…I've missed you just as much as you did Mio…"

She wrapped an arm around mine and dragged me along talking excitingly about the history of the World Cup. Call me a dopey sap but I loved every minute of it. She was so alive and happy and I was glad I had so much time with her.

We went around to all the vendors and she made me try a bunch of weird wizard sweets and food. We were sitting along a wall looking out at everyone on the grounds and I couldn't help but smile at the thought that this felt like a date. I looked at Hermione and what I saw blew me away. She was so beautiful, Relaxed with an arm out to support her as she watched everyone. She swung her legs as she took a bite from the chocolate covered strawberries on her stick. It was enchanted so every time you ate one it would be replaced but only till you at about 10 of them; I was chewing on a pineapple one. I smiled and she caught my eye. I jumped a little in surprise and she smiled.

"Would you like some?" She moved her stick close to my face and I blushed in embarrassment from being caught staring.

"Uh sure…"

I tried to take it but she pulled away and I looked at her.

"Just take a bite."

My eyes grew and I clamped my mouth shut and nodded as I gulped. I opened my mouth while tucking a stray hair behind me ear and took a bite closing my eyes. I chewed with my eyes still closed and then I leaned back up and opened my eyes and smiled at her.

Her face was a little red but she hid it well behind her smile. I put mine towards her and she did the same and I felt my ears go pink. It really was something to witness and I knew she knew how I was feeling because she gave me a sly grin and went back to eating her strawberries. We said nothing after that but I was smiling bigger then I already was.

Later that day she brought me back to where she was staying to show me around inside the tent, I can't believe how lucky me and her are to be able to have this world not just the muggle one. She pulled me along by the hand and felt her entangle them more as we walked inside and looked around.

I smiled at everyone that was there and nodded my head.

"Hello there Abigaile I've heard so much about you." A older red headed man came over to shake my hand and I couldn't help but smile at the way he used my full name. I could guess who this was.

"Hello Mr. Weasley how are you?"

"I'm good how are you liking the Cup grounds? I hear you're a muggle born like Hermione here."

I gulped and looked at him and smiled. "Yes of course sir."

I knew it was a complete lie but I haven't told a soul about me yet. I'd rather not do that.

I looked at Hermione and she gave me a reassuring smile.

"Mr. Weasley, Gaile isn't all that informed on the uses of muggle things so please keep your curiosity to a minimum?"

Mr. Weasley laughed heartedly and nodded.

"Yes of course Hermione I'll leave my questions up to you then."

I saw Hermione try to hide her grimace and I chuckled.

I heard running as 3 people came barreling into the tent.

"Dad! Dad! Have you seen Hermione? we need to-" the person that was talking stopped talking when he saw us.

"Oh there she is."

I was met with two boys that were tall and lengthy and looked completely identical the third was none other than Ron Weasely.

The twins came up to me and shook both of my hands at the same time and began talking.

"Hello my name is Fred-"

"And I'm George-"

"Pleasure to make your acquaintance-"

"We've heard so much about you."

I was being shaken so much I was starting to get dizzy but then they both let go of me at the same time.

"If ever you need something-"

"We're the ones for the job-"

"For the right price of course."

I smiled and laughed at how they finished each other's sentences and nodded.

"Yes of course."

Hermione gave me an apologetic look and smiled sheepishly. I smiled back and gave her a wink and went back to listening to the twins rambling on about their latest projects.

Soon Harry and Ginny came back and the 3 teens left to go talk in the other room. I furrowed my eyebrows as Ginny came up next to me.

"You never know what those three are always talking about…it's like their up to something doesn't it?"

I just shrug and look at her.

"They deserve some time together. They all are best friends."

Ginny smiled and watched me and shook her head.

"I don't know. Hermione and Ron have been getting a little close lately you never know. I just hope Harry will look at me as more than his best friend's younger sister."

I felt a stab go through my heart but I smiled anyway and nodded.

"Yeah…you never know."

I turned away from her to go outside but then I heard my name being called. Hermione had just come out of the room they were talking in and rushed to my side holding onto my arm.

"Where are you going Gaile?"

I stopped and looked at the door and then at her and sheepishly smiled.

"Um…I think I might go check in with the Professor…See what she's up to and all that…it is getting pretty late…"

I saw Hermione physically droop.

"Oh…I see…"

She let go of my arm and I watched her shoulders take a dive and I sighed.

I stepped back into her space and she tore her eyes from her shoes to look up at my face.

"I'll be back tomorrow. I wouldn't want to miss taking my only best friend to our first world cup right?"

She grinned broadly and next thing I knew she was hugging the breath from my lungs.

I gave a soft but strained chuckle and hugged her back and then I left the tent walking towards my own.

I gave a small glance back at the Weasley tent and sighed.

This is going to be a long year…