The Great Hall was unusually quiet on the first day of final examinations. Many students were silently practicing spells under the table. Many of the students in Umbridge's class hadn't bothered to practice for their exams, relying on their knowledge from D.A. meetings and the textbook. Ron had barely been able to get through the first ten pages without nodding off.
"It's rubbish," He said, biting off a piece of toast viciously. "How does she expect us to do well on an exam that she hasn't prepared us for?" He glared at his piece of bread, slathered more jam on the surface, and took another particularly fierce bite.
"You'll do fine, Ron," Harry reassured him for the umpteenth time. "You've been doing really well in the – in class," Harry hastily amended as he saw Umbridge sidle dangerously close to our table. He was sure the Umbridge knew about the D.A., but knew she couldn't act without any solid proof. Ron shrugged nervously, finally setting down his piece of toast.
"Our match against Ravenclaw and finals in the same week? Who's the genius behind that?" Ron muttered darkly. He suddenly straightened up as he saw the familiar bush of brown hair bobbing towards him and Harry. "Hermione, listen, I'm really sorry –"
"Forget it, Ron. I overreacted," Hermione replied, taking her usual place beside him. She smiled at him. Ron's face broke into a wide grin and he finished off his breakfast with an extra amount of vigor.
"What happened?" Harry asked warily, looking between Ron and Hermione.
"It's nothing, just a misunderstanding," Hermione replied, waving of his question. Harry's eyebrows rose in surprise. Apparently his best friends had matured overnight. "Ron, you need to tell Fred and George to be more careful," Hermione said in a low voice. "They're being really careless about roaming around in the castle."
"What and have them take the mickey out on me? I'll pass, thanks."
Hermione looked miffed. "What if something happens to them?"
"Fred and George can take care of themselves. I'm sure they'll be fine," Ron countered reasonably. "By the by, how do you keep bumping into them? I haven't seen either of them and they're my brothers." Hermione shrugged, taking a bite out of an apple.
"I was studying where they come up with a lot of their products yesterday. I ran into Fred and George there," Hermione explained.
"How is that going?" Harry asked, leaning over to speak to Hermione.
"Good, I suppose. I didn't really ask them about it," She admitted.
Ron eyes narrowed. "What did you talk about, then?" Harry aimed a kick at Ron under the table, but clipped Seamus across from him instead. This earned Harry a dirty look and he quickly apologized.
Hermione blushed. "Nothing, just exams."
"Hmmm." Ron did not look convinced. "I just wasn't under the impression that you were friends."
"I wasn't either, at first," Hermione replied. "They're your brothers, Ron. I don't see why it bothers you so much. I've spent plenty of time with them around the Burrow." Ron mumbled something incoherently and dropped the subject. Harry rolled his eyes. He suspected he knew the reason behind Ron's disgruntlement.
"What exam do you have first, 'Mione?" Harry asked, trying to steer the conversation into safer waters.
"Runes," Hermione responded grimly. "I'm going to fail, I just know it."
"Oh, come off it. You'll be top of the class like last year," Ron reassured her, breaking his sullen mood. Harry nodded vigorously in agreement.
"Thanks," Hermione beamed at them. "I hope you're right. Runes are tricky…" Hermione's voice petered out. She seemed to be lost in thought, no doubt doing some last minute translations in her mind.
"Ron and I have Charms, we can go together," Harry offered. Hermione nodded absently. Glancing at the clock, Hermione jumped.
"We only have five minutes to get to class!" She exclaimed, popping a small muffin in her mouth and slinging her bag over her shoulder.
"Hermione, you need to relax," Ron drawled, lightly resting his arm around her shoulders. "We have time, it's just one stairway away from here."
"The changing stairway?"
Ron's face fell slightly. "Damn."
Harry chuckled, slinging his own bag over his shoulders. "Well, come on then." Ron groaned, wearily slinging his own book bag over his shoulders. The three of them trudged towards their examinations.
oOoOoOo
"That was worse than Ginny's Bat-Bogey Hex," Ron exclaimed, slamming his bag on the deserted common room's coffee table. "I never though Flitwick would be the teacher that enjoyed torturing students."
"It wasn't that bad," Harry said to Hermione.
"It was!" Ron insisted. "No wonder Seamus is sneaking in some Firewhisky tonight."
"He's doing what?"
"I won't drink any, Hermione, I promise."
"You'd better not. If you think today was bad, tomorrow will be worse if you drink any of that stuff tonight."
"Speaking from experience, are we?" Harry asked, smirking at Hermione's mortified expression.
"Of course not!" She replied indignantly. "It's common knowledge. Besides, if you get drunk off of Firewhisky, there is no way I'm helping you study for the Potions exam tomorrow."
"I only heard 'Hermione' and 'Firewhisky'," Came a familiar voice. The three of them turned and found Fred leaning against the wall. "If you're going to pick up a drinking habit, Hermione, fifth year exams are the time to do it," He added, grinning broadly.
"Yes, I, Hermione Jean Granger, have decided to blow off studying for finals and go out drinking the night before the exam," Hermione replied sarcastically. "I am the master of good life decisions."
"Ah, the annual smuggling of the Firewhisky. Started by George and yours truly."
Ron's mouth fell open. "You started that?"
"Of course," Fred replied smugly, plopping himself in an armchair and stretching his long legs out on the coffee table. Ron looked impressed in spite of himself.
"It's good to see you, Fred," Harry chimed in. "Hermione tells us that the two of you have been crossing paths lately."
"It's true," Fred replied, his eyes flickered from Hermione to Ron. The two of them seemed to have patched things up. His advice seemed to have paid off. "I hear that there's a Quidditch match coming?" He asked.
"Against Ravenclaw," Ron elaborated. His face paled slightly. "I had forgotten about it."
"Ron, you're a good Keeper. You just need some…confidence," Harry said tactfully. That last thing he wanted was for Ron to lose his nerve before the match. Fred nodded sagely. The three of them started to talk strategy, leaving Hermione to flip open her Potions textbook and study quietly. Fred found himself looking at her once in a while, her bushy hair obscuring her face. Her small hands turned the pages quickly and her nose was close to pages that he was surprised that she didn't dive into the textbook headfirst. It seemed that she genuinely was interested in the subject matter – he couldn't picture a Hermione Granger that detested any subject. It was no surprise that she was top of her class. Suddenly impatient with her hair in front face, Hermione twisted a piece of it back with a clip. Fred felt his stomach jump into his throat as her face was revealed. She really was beautiful.
"...even Corner's not stupid enough to fall for that, right Fred?" Ron's voice dragged him back into the conversation.
"W-what?" Fred asked, distracted.
"Weren't you listening?" Ron asked, slightly irritated.
"It's ok, Ron. Corner wouldn't fall for that, you're right," Harry said hastily, catching Fred's eye. Fred shot him a grateful look.
"Michael Corner's not stupid, he's in Ravenclaw," Hermione said quietly, still immersed in her textbook.
"True," Ron said hesitantly. "Still, he dated my sister. I'm allowed to think of him as a git."
"You realize that Ginny's dated half of her year?" Fred asked, raising his brow sardonically.
Ron made an unpleasant face. "I'd rather keep talking about the match than Ginny's love life."
"Fair enough," Fred conceded. They resumed their previous conversation with gusto. Fred's gaze flickered back to Hermione a last time and found her staring back. She turned a faint pink and quickly turned back to her Potions textbook.