AN: Ok, so I kinda went back and forth on this because there really is a lot that can be written about these two during the last couple of years. So I decided this whole, long, drawn out chapter is going to be just for (Hermione's) fourth year, and if the others end up being long they'll get their own chapters too. So it's going to be a long chapter of short little moments...
OOh! And a huge thank you for the lovely reviews and faves! You guys are incredibly awesome for sticking it out with me! If you guys have any ideas or suggestions, message me! I'll totally dedicate a chapter to you!
And once again, not the owner of anything Harry Potter related except this fanfic! Anything that looks familiar is probably a quote from the book! Thanks for reading!
"Really Fred, you and George ought to be more careful. What if you had seriously hurt him?"
"Aw come on Hermione, you know as well as I do that the great bullying git deserved it! Think of everything he's done to poor Harry!"
Hermione pursed her lips, but Fred could've sworn he saw, for the briefest of seconds, the hint of a smirk before it became smothered under her disapproving glare. He knew she wasn't as averse to rule breaking as he and George had originally thought, especially after last year when she dropped Divination and made it quite clear what she thought of Professor Trelawney afterwards.
"Yes, well, you still ought to be more careful. You did at least test it first, right?"
Fred smirk was the only answer she got before she shook her head and made her way up the stairs after Harry and his brother.
The next morning, Fred and George trudged downstairs before dawn in order to get some breakfast before the group left for the 422nd Quidditch World Cup. While the two stuffed their mouths full of food between yawns and occasional comments about Apparating, Hermione and Ginny finally made their way down the stairs. Both looked as if they had had no sleep whatsoever and were extremely pale and drowsy-looking.
Something about Hermione had caught Fred's eye, but he couldn't quite put his finger on it. She appeared to be the same Hermione, and yet oddly different somehow.
After shaking his head a bit, Fred pinned down his thoughts to his sleep deprived state and finished his breakfast so he could rush upstairs and change clothes before the group headed off for the Portkey on Stoatshead Hill.
Fred also blamed his sleep deprived state for lack of choosing a better hiding place for the Ton-Tongue Toffees than pockets, the linings of jackets, and the cuffs on his jeans.
Fred honestly thought it had just been the Ireland fans cheering and celebrating. Needless to say, he was extremely surprised and worried when his father came through the tent shouting for everyone to get dressed and go outside.
Chaos seemed to have come over the campsite. People were scrambling from tents half dressed and panicked. Immediately, Fred grabbed hold of George, who repeated the motion with an equal - if not greater - look of worry on his face. They both caught glimpses of the people in dark cloaks and Death Eater masks storming through the camps and levitating the bodies of several people above them. Before their father had even finished giving them strict orders to head for the woods and watch over Ginny, the twins had grabbed the hands of the dumbstruck Ginny and pulled her towards the woods with Harry, Ron, and Hermione following close behind.
Somehow the twins and Ginny had lost sight of their three companions in the woods. Fred sent a silent prayer that they were alright; he could hardly imagine how guilty he would feel if something happened while they were split up.
"It is my very great pleasure to inform you that the Triwizard Tournament will be taking place at Hogwarts this year."
Fred couldn't help it. His excitement got the better of him as he screamed out, "You're JOKING!"
Everyone, including little-miss-know-it-all Hermione Granger, burst into laughter at his outburst. As he watched her laugh, Fred decided it had definitely been worth it and vowed to make Hermione laugh again as many times as he could this year.
Dumbledore continued to inform the school about the upcoming event that would be taking place, earning many whispered remarks about fame and glory. Fred had just finished telling everyone sitting near him that he was entering when Dumbledore told them of the age restriction.
Fred and George glared furiously up the long table to where Dumbledore stood, along with several other classmates who were not quite seventeen and would not be able to enter due to a few months gap in age. They silently vowed to each other that they would find some way around the restriction, nothing would stop them from their chance at a thousand Galleons and the fame that came with being a Triwizard champion.
The twins followed Harry, Ron, and Hermione out of the Great Hall debating on the mysterious "impartial judge" and the possible methods of preventing underaged students from entering.
"Well, George and I are entering. I'm sure we can figure some way around the rule, right George?"
"Certainly, Fred. It wouldn't be the first time."
"But you can't! People have died in these tournaments. It's not safe. There's a reason for the age requirement," exclaimed Hermione, who was looking increasingly more worried after hearing the twins plotting various ways to get around Dumbledore.
Fred smirked and threw an arm around Hermione's shoulders.
"Don't worry Hermione. I promise if I get in, I'll only do slightly dangerous and reckless things. Feel better?"
Hermione shook her head, sighed, and left the group when they reached the common room.
She wasn't quite sure when she had begun to care for Fred so much, but she would certainly be keeping an eye out on the red-haired prankster and his twin.
"It's S.P.E.W. Ronald, not spew."
Fred, George, and Lee took their place at the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall in the middle of yet another of Granger's numerous arguments with Ron. The twins glanced at each other and chuckled before sitting down and making a start on their breakfast.
"You do realize that your sheets are changed, fires lit, classrooms cleaned, and your food is cooked by house-elves? House-elves who are unpaid?"
Ron rolled his eyes at her before turning back to his bacon. Fred, however, leaned closer to Hermione.
"Listen, have you ever been to the kitchens, Hermione?"
"Of course not. Students aren't - "
"Allowed? Well, Georgie and I have been down their loads of times. They're happy, Hermione. They think they've got the best job in the world, and you going around with your S.P.E.W. badges is likely to make them upset."
"Oh rubbish!"
"Fine, how about I take you down there myself some night. Then you can see just how they feel about their slavery."
Hermione thought over Fred's offer for a few minutes before nodding her head and dropping the matter of S.P.E.W. for the rest of the meal, to which everyone was entirely grateful.
"Hermione, your box of S.P.E.W. badges is going to give us away. We are trying to be sneaky you know."
Fred and Hermione were out in the hallways way past curfew, and Hermione's box of badges rattled and echoed through the silent halls. Each step was followed by another clanking noise from Hermione's box and Fred, though not as averse to detention and trouble as Hermione was, didn't see the point of being caught before they had reached their destination.
Unfortunately for Fred, Hermione had flat out refused to leave the badges back in the common room, saying something about house-elves needing to know they had supporters or something of the sort.
Hermione shook her head and cast a silent spell over the small box in her hand. In answer to Fred's silent question she shook the box to show him she had silenced the box. Fred breathed a sigh of relief, grateful that they now had a chance to make it past Snape without being caught.
They made their way down the six flights of stairs and towards the entrance hall without any close calls. Fred made sure to check every turn before motioning her to follow him. Hermione was tempted to point out that he resembled an undercover policemen she had seen in a movie with her parents, but decided against it since she knew he wouldn't understand and stifled her chuckles. This was, after all, a stealth mission. At least, according to Fred it was.
They finally reached a long stone corridor that was lit with torches and decorated with various pictures mainly consisting of various foods. Fred waited until she was behind him before pointing out one of the paintings. This one portrayed a large silver fruit bowl filled with pears, apples, oranges, and something neither of them had a name for. Fred reached forward and tickled the giant green pear, which promptly started giggling and squirming before suddenly turning into a green door handle. Fred seized it and pulled the door open, motioning for Hermione to enter first before closing the door solidly behind them.
Fred Weasley didn't see what all the fuss was about. The girls from Beauxbatons were certainly pretty, but he hardly thought they were the most beautiful beings he had ever seen. Most of the Hall seemed to be in awe of the girls, some were staring blankly at them as they passed and others fighting for any of their attention. Just down the table he noticed Hermione chiding Harry and Ron for something he was positively sure related to the Beauxbatons girls. When she turned away from them he made sure to catch her eye, shrugging and winking at her until she turned slightly pink and turned away.
Interesting.
Fred made a mental note of the occurrence and turned to face Dumbledore, who had just stood up to announce just how to enter into the Triwizard Tournament. At the end of his speech, Fred turned to George, eyes shining with thoughts on how to pass the Age Line drawn around the Goblet of Fire.
"An Age Line! That should be fooled by a simple Aging Potion, shouldn't it, Georgie?"
"Too right, Fred."
"I don't think anyone under seventeen will stand a chance," replied Hermione rather curtly. "Dumbledore won't be fooled by something as simple as an Aging Potion."
"We'll just see about that, won't we, Granger?" Fred asked with a smirk and a wink.
That Saturday morning, Fred, George, and Lee poured their Aging Potion into three vials and promptly swallowed their portions. The three boys could hardly contain their excitement at the prospect of entering the Tournament. They raced down the stairs to the entrance hall where the Goblet of Fire stood, surrounded by people of all ages who were watching expectantly as some made their way forward to enter their names. Fred saw Harry, Ron, and Hermione off to the side and motioned to George and Lee to follow as he made his way over to them.
"We've just taken it."
"What?" asked Ron, with his typical perplexed look.
"The Aging Potion, Ronald. Don't you remember they were talking about it last night," asked Hermione before turning towards Fred with a serious face. "I'm not sure it's going to work. Dumbledore would have thought of this."
But Fred and George were already standing, clutching their pieces of parchment with their names written on them. Lee watched on nervously as the other two walked to the edge of the line before taking a deep breath and stepping over it. Nothing seemed to happen and Fred and George gave out yells of triumph at their apparent success.
Neither seemed to notice the sizzling sound that began just before both twins were hurled outside of the circle, landing ten feet away and suddenly sprouting long, white beards that rivaled even Dumbledore's.
After everyone had had a good laugh, Dumbledore ushered the two upstairs to the Hospital Wing. Lee followed behind, grateful he hadn't tried to cross the line and howling with laughter at his two best mates.
Later on in the day, Fred received a surprising visit from Hermione.
"Hermione, please don't tell me you're going to say 'I told you so.' I think the beard did a pretty good job of that," Fred chuckled.
Hermione chucked as well before answering, "Oh no, I've come to give you your assignments from Professor McGonagall. She wanted me to tell you that your beard will not excuse you from homework."
"Leave it to you to bring homework to a guy in the Hospital Wing," Fred said, shaking his head and holding back his laughter.
"Well, maybe if you had listened you wouldn't be in the Hospital Wing."
"You know, Granger, that sounded a lot like an 'I told you so,'" Fred said cheekily.
Hermione shrugged and grinned before waving her goodbye to both him and George.
"Why's Granger visiting you in the Hospital Wing, Freddie?"
"Just dropping off our homework is all."
"Ahh. And do you usually blush while on the topic of homework?" George asked before laughing hysterically.
"You need three hours to get ready for the ball?" Ron asked after Hermione, paying for his loss of concentration when George's snowball hit him squarely on the side of his head.
"Who're you going with?" he yelled after Hermione, who waved him off and disappeared up the steps and into the castle.
"Why aren't you going with Granger? I thought for sure you would've asked her," Fred asked, his normally cheery face taking on a frown.
"Well I did. She told me she was already going with someone. She won't say who though."
"It didn't help that he asked at the last minute," Ginny chimed in. "Besides, she doesn't want you to make fun of her."
"Wait - you know who it is?"
Ginny turned a slight pinkish and muttered something about helping Hermione with her hair before running off.
"Girls," Ron muttered, shaking his head.
"For your information, Ronald, he hasn't asked me a single thing about Harry, nor the egg for that matter. How could you say something like that - about me?"
"Well you're the one fraternizing with the enemy!"
"THE ENEMY?" Hermione screeched. "This whole tournament is about getting to know foreign wizards and making friends with them!"
Hermione stormed off across the dance floor, disappearing into the crowd. Fred watched to see if Ron would go after her, but when he made no move to get up he decided to follow her instead.
Hermione left the Great Hall and had made her way to one of the courtyards. She sat in a stone bench that was partially hidden in shadow and seemed to be crying quietly. Fred gave her a moment before walking towards her, trying to figure out how to handle the situation of a sobbing Hermione Granger.
Fred opted to sit beside her and put an arm around her to gently pull her towards him. She wrapped her arms around his middle before tucking her face into his chest to hide her tear-stained face. They sat that way for a few minutes before Hermione looked up at him.
"Fred?" she croaked. "You must think I'm awfully silly, dressed this way and going with Viktor. Ron- "
"Is a great git. He shouldn't have said those things to you. And if anything, I think you are just the opposite of silly."
Hermione sniffed and gave a choked laugh.
"Fred Weasley, when did you get to be so sweet?"
"I dunno. But I wouldn't tell George that if I were you. He takes pride in calling himself the sweeter and nicer of the two of us," Fred winked.
"Um, Hermione?"
"Yes, Fred?"
"Why exactly did you go with Viktor. Do you- "
Hermione laughed softly, "I said yes because he asked me. Ron asked only as a last resort. I wouldn't have said yes to him anyway."
"Oh? Someone else caught your eye, Granger?"
A small smile crept onto her face and she looked up at Fred, he could tell she had been blushing.
"Granger," he whispered, "I'm about to kiss you."
Her eyes widened before she smiled again and leaned forward slightly.
And that was how George found them, thirty minutes later, snogging each other senseless.
The rest of the year passed by in a blur of kissing, worrying about Harry, holding hands between classes, dodging danger, laughter, helping Harry figure out the mystery of the golden egg and the riddle, pranking the unsuspecting Slytherins, and even detention for Fred and Hermione. The resident know-it-all was seen alongside Fred and George almost as often as she was with Harry and Ron. Fred and George were shocked by Hermione's support and countless contributions to their joke shop creations and Lee Jordan often told Fred she was the best thing that had ever happened to their little group.
Ron was not at all pleased with Hermione and Fred's relationship, resulting in several weeks of terse and awkward silence between them. Harry had finally ended the silent war between Ron and Hermione by reasoning with Hermione and telling Ron he was just being an arse.
As the train pulled into Kings Cross, Hermione and Fred smiled sadly at one another. They got off the train and gave their tearful goodbyes to each other and promised to write, if not visit, sometime later during the summer. Just as the Weasley family was leaving, Harry caught Fred and George's attention and motioned them towards him. He gave Fred and George the prize money from the Triwizard Tournament and told them to keep it secret from Mrs. Weasley, not wishing to incur her wrath if she ever found out about his contribution. After Harry told them he wouldn't take it back and would hex them if they didn't take it, the twins thanked him and rushed off behind the other Weasleys before they were left behind.
"Do you think Hermione will owl you more ideas for the shop," George asked.
AN: Sorry if the end is a bit rushed. I was trying to update again and realized I was running out of time before work (new job! yay!)! So...I hope you enjoyed it! (It was very long wasn't it? Much longer than the other chapters!) Reviews are love!