Fred ignored George's teasing as he watched Hermione from across the street. "Mate, you are hopeless." Fred shrugged and kept his gaze on the girl. "Seriously, we need to meet the girls."
"She's drinking alone, George."
George cuffed him harshly on his head. "First the fire bolt and now that psychotic cat of hers has eaten Ron's rat. How can you expect them to be all chummy? Even Angelina's a bit miffed about the fire bolt situation."
"She was, yeah." Fred turned from the window and faced his brother. "Where did you hear that, though?"
"Ange told me." George shrugged it off but it put a worm in Fred's ear. "What? Not willing to share friends anymore, Gred?"
Fred shook his head with a laugh and, having decided on a plan of action, lead the way to Honeyduke's where the girls were waiting. Alicia enthusiastic hugged his twin while Fred threw his arm carelessly over Angelina's shoulder. It was a good day, with winter finally breaking and seeming like spring might be able to have its go, the weather was fairer than normal.
"We'll meet you at the castle." George's brow furrowed and he mouthed his curiosity before he let Alicia drag him away. "We'll be up in a tick."
Angelina was all smiles until the other two finally got a good way up the bridge. "Right. So."
Fred nodded. "So." He laughed at his own hesitance. "What are we doing?"
She snorted and shook her head. "I don't know. I'm 15. How am I supposed to understand anything. I'm just trying to pass my O.W.L.s. I think things have gotten too intense?"
Fred thought back to his less than stellar out bursts over the last year. "Right. Suppose that's a good way to put it."
"Then there's Hermione."
He released a harsh guffaw. "What about her?"
"Fred, we've dated for the better part of two years. Rather loosely, sure, but that's still a long time to even casually date someone. Been friends since first. That's a lot of years of getting to know you." Angelina sighed. "You fancy her. Or could."
"She's 13."
"That's why I said "could," and don't be so defensive." Still she changed gears. "Maybe we take a step back, yeah? I still fancy you, so we just keep things casual. Focus on school and quidditch."
"I'll leave the school bit to you."
He winked and she chuckled, before shoving him toward the bridge. "Right, cause you don't care about academics at all? She's noticed how smart you are. Frustrates her to know end. She can't wrap her head around it."
"Has she now?"
Angelina rolled her eyes and lightly nudged him as they walked. "Thanks for understanding. You always seem to know what I'm feeling."
"That's how George and I are so good at pranks and jokes. You have to be able to read people." He swept his arm wide and waggled his eyes brows comically. "Gotta be able to read a room, yeah? Know instinctively if turning someone into a canary would be comical or in bad taste."
"Diabolical."
They made they're way up to the castle and Fred felt relieved. Harry and Hermione were making they're way to the great hall for dinner. Angelina nudged him and snickered when he darted his gaze from the young witch.
"Could happen." It was his turn to snort. "On a serious note, you should watch out for her at least. She's a bit diabolical herself."
Fred had considered that very thing on several occasions. His observations had been few and far between over the last year and a half, but he was fairly certain she'd managed one or two illegal escapades with his brother and the Potter boy. George was very adamant it had been a polyjuice potion that had put her in the hospital wing the prior year.
He found himself stalking her through the stacks, polyjuice inquiry burning on his tongue. "Granger." She jumped, nearly dropping the books in her arms. "Why do you need so many books. It's only third year."
She blinked up at him, purple shadows under her eyes. "Blimey, what on earth is wrong with you. Has that Malfoy brat been causing you grief?"
She rolled her eyes and shoved passed him to begin browsing another section. "When isn't he? The prat. Some legacy." She grumbled under breathe, using phrases he knew weren't common in the wizarding community. "I can handle it, though. Just like I'm handling everything else. Just like I always handle everything, ruddy else."
His brow lowered in concern as she leaned against a table to catch her breathe. He moved forward and encouraged her to put the books down. She protested, weakly, but gave in a moment later.
"What's really going, Hermione?"
Her eyes teared up, and he was concerned she was going to start crying in earnest. She gave a mighty sniffle, blinked and somehow managed to banish her watery eyes away. She gave her nose a quick swipe and began arranging her books in an order only she knew.
"I'm fine, Fred, thank you."
"I'm not buying it. Something is going on with you." He sat down beside her. "Could it have something to do with what's going on between Ron and you. Or, could it be the fact that there are two of you running around Hogwarts these days?"
A book slipped form her fingers and landed with an ominous thud on the table. She narrowed her gaze at him, hair beginning to crackle. With a quick visual sweep of the area, she shoved him against the stacks.
His shock at the force behind the tiny girl's actions didn't deter her from getting in his personal space. "You listen here, you great git. I don't have time for your foolishness and I don't have time to muck about with blackmail." She poked him viciously in the chest. "With that said, I'm going to be perfectly clear, stop stalking me. Yes, I have a Time Turner. Yes, I am exhausted from taking such a large course load but that is none of you ruddy business. I have been flitting about this school avoiding myself, Ronald, Harry, Ginny, and, oddly enough, you.
"I've been accused of being against my own mates and quidditch team. My cat is being accused of eating one of my best mate's horrendously fat and old rat. I'm the only who seems to give a damn about Hagrid's predicament with poor Buckbeak." She took in an aggravated breath so severe her nostrils flared. "Lastly, and I can't believe it's last on my list of asinine conundrums this term, there's the matter of Harry's borderline suicidal attitude towards Sirius Black! Oh, and of course Sirius Bloody Black."
Her chest was heaving and Fred felt his neck flush as he took in her wild eyes, crackling hair and determined shoulders. "Now, what you do with this information, I don't give a damn. I should, but clearly I don't have enough room to. That's all there is for it."
He wasn't sure what came over him. One moment he was ghastly terrified of her, the next his stomach was churning and he simply wanted to kiss her. With enough forethought to know that would be catastrophic, he settled on embracing her.
She squeaked as he pulled her into his arms and gathered her close. For a moment she didn't know what to do with herself until finally her flailing hands settled on his back. She shuddered a bit as his grip on her tightened before finally relaxing into him.
He rested his cheek on her hair, taking the opportunity to inhale her lavender and vanilla scent. "You are far too keen on over exerting yourself, Granger." She mumbled what he guessed was an affirmative into his robes. "Now, listen very carefully, don't give another thought Ron or that damn rat. I personally couldn't stand the thing. Also, maybe don't give Ron much consideration either, yeah?"
She attempted to pull away but he didn't let her. "I'm going to be frank with you, since you've done me the curtesy. I don't fancy you, but I think once you've grown up a bit, I could. Ange would kick me if I didn't." He did loosened his grip, finally, and she stared up at him with a furrowed brow. "Oh, don't be so daft. You're too clever for that. Now get to your research and don't pay us Weasley's another thought. Get some sleep, too."
With that, he left her to her books. He had forgotten to ask about the polyjuice, but stuffed into a mental pocket to be revisited later. She had been through enough stress already and there was still a hefty bit of second term to get through.
As he reached the common room, the full weight of what he'd said in the library hit him in the chest. Bewildered at his actions, he sought out his twin. When their eyes locked, George knew, as he always did, that Fred had stepped in it.
A/N: Well, I am sorry to say it's been a while since I've even cracked open the folder with these drafts in it. I toyed around with the idea of doing more involving second year, but nothing worked. So here is a bit of third year fo your troubles. I hope it's enjoyable. Reviews give me warm fuzzies. Much love from this cheeseball writer.