The Quidditch World Cup

Harry had bought Ron and Hermione Omnioculars (after slight protest from Ron, Harry said that those were his Christmas present for about ten years, which made Ron feel better) and Hermione bought programmes as souvenirs for the Cup. Bill, Charlie, and Ginny were sporting green rosettes, and Mr. Weasleys was carrying an Irish flag. Fred and George had not gotten any souvenirs as they had given Bagman all their gold.

Hermione, who had bought a set of eight programmes, went over to Fred and George and handed them each one with a small smile. George grinned and side-hugged her while Fred looked at her as though she was the best person on the face of the earth.

"Thanks, 'Mione," he grinned, giving her a full-on hug. He pulled away quickly so as to not draw suspicion, but continued to smile at her as she stood in front of them.

"No problem," she looked down and tucked a bit of hair behind her ear. "I thought that since you two don't have any souvenirs, you could at least use a programme. I figured they'd be useful, and now you can look up names and facts and-" she stopped when she saw them smiling at her. "What?"

"Oh, nothing. You're just the nicest person ever," George smirked at her.

"Yeah, and we wish we were as good of friends to you as you are to us," Fred flipped through the pages of his programme.

Hermione blushed. "You two are good friends, even if we don't hang out. My being friends with Ron and Ginny practically makes me a part of your family," she laughed lightly.

And then a deep, booming gong sounded somewhere beyond the woods, and at once, green and red lanterns blazed into life in the trees, lighting a path to the field.

"It's time!" said Mr. Weasley, looking as excited as any of them. "Come on, let's go!"

As the rest of the group started walking along the lantern-adorned path, Hermione handing out programmes to Bill, Charlie, and Ginny, (Percy had his own 'official Ministry-provided programme, but thank you') Fred and George stayed a few paces behind. George leaned over to reach his brother's ear.

"Yeah, if only she was really part of the Weasley family," he whispered slyly.

"Oh, bugger off."

"Never."

Clutching their purchases, Mr. Weasley in the lead, they all hurried into the wood, following the lantern-lit trail. They could hear the sounds of thousands of people moving around them, shouts of laughter, snatches of singing. The atmosphere of feverish excitement was highly infectious; Harry couldn't stop grinning, and Hermione felt really happy, for some reason she couldn't explain. They walked through the wood for twenty minutes, talking and joking loudly, until at last they emerged on the other side and found themselves in the shadow of a gigantic stadium. Though Hermione could only see a fraction of the immense gold walls surrounding the field, she could tell that ten cathedrals would fit comfortably inside it.

"Seats a hundred thousand," said Mr. Weasley, spotting the awestruck looks on Harry's and Hermione's faces. "Ministry task force of five hundred have been working on it all year. Muggle Repelling Charms on every inch of it. Every time Muggles have got anywhere near here all year, they've suddenly remembered urgent appointments and had to dash away again...bless them," he added fondly, leading the way toward the nearest entrance, which was already surrounded by a swarm of shouting witches and wizards.

"Prime seats!" said the Ministry witch at the entrance when she checked their tickets. "Top Box! Straight upstairs, Arthur, and as high as you can go."

Mr. Weasley's party climbed and climbed, and at last they reached the top of the staircase and found themselves in a small box, set at the highest point of the stadium and situated exactly halfway between the golden goal posts. About twenty purple-and-gilt chairs stood in two rows here, and Hermione, filing into the front seats with the Weasleys, looked down upon a scene the likes of which she could never have imagined.

A giant blackboard opposite them had gold writing dashing across it as though an invisible giant's hand were scrawling upon the blackboard and then wiping it off again; watching it, Hermione saw that it was flashing advertisements across the field.

Hermione tore her eyes away from the field and the blackboard when she heard Harry speak.

"Dobby?" he said incredulously.

It turns out that the creature that Harry saw was not Dobby, but another house-elf named Winky.

Hermione didn't get to hear any more of the conversation because Ginny, who was sitting next to her, turned to her.

"Alright," she said.

"What?" Hermione asked, confused.

"Are you going to tell me who the bloke is? Or do I have to hex it out of you?" Ginny practically yelled.

"Ginny!" Hermione exclaimed, "I thought you would be content with the information I have you!"

Ginny rolled her eyes, "I was, but now I want to know: who is it?"

Hermione pursed her lips. Did she really want to tell Ginny? She could trust her, yes, but if Hermione told her, then Ginny would want her to act on her feelings, and Hermione didn't think she was ready to do that quite yet.

She thought for a moment. What would the Weasley twins do?

It hit her.

They'd want to get something out of it, too...

She'd make a deal with Ginny.

"Alright, Ginny," said Hermione slowly. "Let's make a deal. I'll tell you who it is...if you tell Harry you've fancied him since his first year. Can you do that?"

Ginny's eyes widened, and Hermione felt very pleased with herself.

Ginny spoke after a few minutes, "Fine."

Hermione was shocked. "What?!"

"I said fine. If that's the only way I'll get you to tell me, then so be it," she leaned across Hermione to Harry, who'd finished talking to Winky by now.

"Harry?"

"Hmm?"

"I just wanted to let you know, I've fancied you since I met you at King's Cross station when you and Ron were crossing the platform to get on the train your first year," she paused, then continued, "and Hermione wouldn't tell me who she fancies unless I told you that."

Harry looked taken aback by this confession, but his expression quickly changed to curiosity when Ginny had mentioned Hermione, and forgot all about the aforementioned statement.

"'Mione, you fancy someone? And you didn't tell me?" He looked slightly hurt at first, but then it changed to a look Hermione didn't recognise. "It's not Ron, is it?"

"No! Goodness no!" Hermione looked almost appalled. "I mean, it's not that I don't like Ron-he's one of my best friends, after all-but I don't fancy him. And, I didn't want to tell anyone, because...because I was hoping that it'd pass."

Harry smiled at her, "Well, that's great Hermione! But, are you going to tell us who it is?"

"Ugh!" Hermione groaned. "Why does everyone want to know? It's not that big of a deal!"

The twins, who had been sitting behind her, had heard her and leaned over her shoulders to learn what was the cause of the former exclamation.

"What's not a big deal, dearest Hermione?" asked Fred.

"Has Harry here been boasting about his repeated defeats of a certain Dark Lord?" George chimed in. Hermione dropped her head into her hands.

"No; these two keep pestering me to tell them who I 'fancy', to use Ginny's word."

"Well, you do," Ginny shrugged.

Fred felt something tighten in his chest. It was almost like his heart had been dropped from a sixty-story building. Hermione fancied someone? Who was it? It most certainly wasn't him-he knew that. She wouldn't fall for someone like him; he was a prankster, known for causing mischief. She was the smartest person he knew, and she didn't approve of their pranks. He had to keep his demeanour, of course, but it hurt.

"Oh?" said George. "Pray tell, Miss Granger: who is the lucky bloke?"

"Is it our dear ickle-Ronniekins?" Fred asked.

"No!"

Harry thought for a moment. "It's not Cedric, is it? I saw you two earlier, and he was smiling at you as we were walking to the portkey. I didn't know you knew him."

Fred's smiled had flickered just slightly, so no one noticed.

Except George.

Hermione frantically shook her head, "No, it's not Cedric; I've only just met him this morning! I couldn't possibly fancy someone I've only known for a few hours."

That relieved Fred. At least it wasn't pretty-boy Diggory; he didn't know if he could stand seeing Hermione with him. At least it wasn't Cedric.

"Well then, who is it?!" Ginny's face was red with impatience. " Hermione, please, please tell me."

Hermione shook her head.

"Fine," said Ginny, crossing her arms and getting the signature Weasley smirk on her lips. "Then I'll just tell everyone I see that it's Neville Longbottom, even if it's not true."

Her eyes gleamed with malice as she saw Hermione's eyes widen and her cheeks grow a magnificent shade of red.

"Is it Neville?" asked Harry.

"No," said Hermione forcefully, "Ginny's just being mean."

By this time, Ireland had already scored thirty points with the Quaffle, but the five of them were too engrossed in the topic of Hermione's love-life to look at the game for long (which is quite a shock, really).

"Fine," whined Hermione when she saw that Ginny wasn't going to relent. "I'll tell you, but I don't want anyone else to know; at least, not right now."

She leaned hesitantly towards Ginny, who was practically bouncing with anticipation, and whispered it carefully into her ear.

As she pulled away, Hermione could see the surprise and realisation forming on Ginny's face as she took in the name that Hermione had told her.

"No!" she whispered, shocked, but happy.

"Yes," Hermione nodded. "And yes, I'm serious," she added, because Ginny's mouth was opening once more.

Ginny's mouth closed, and she squealed happily before turning her attention to the game.

"What was that about?" asked Harry confusedly.

But Hermione and Ginny remained silent, and turned their eyes back to the game, as did the rest of them.

"I can't believe that Krum got the Snitch-but Ireland won!" Ron said, bewildered, as Ireland was presented with the World Cup. "I mean, I don't think anyone except Fred and George had called that!"

Hermione turned to the mentioned pair, who were looking very impressed with their correct wager. "Now don't go gambling all the time-this was a very special bet. Not every bet turns out in your favour, you know," she warned.

Fred looked at her, a wide grin still on his face, "We know, Hermione, don't worry. This is the first and probably the last time we've bet," he turned to George. "I'm still shocked that we were right!"

"I'm glad, otherwise we'd have lost everything!" George said as he scouted out Ludo Bagman to claim their winnings.

He didn't have to look long, however, because Mr. Bagman was waking towards them with a awestruck look covering his face.

"They'll be talking about this one for year," he said hoarsely, "a really unexpected twist, that...shame it couldn't have lasted longer...Ah yes...yes, I owe you...how much?"

For Fred and George had just scrambled over the backs of their seats and were standing in front of Ludo Bagman with broad grind on their faces, their hands outstretched.

Sorry for the late update, loves, but I had a very, very busy day, so I didn't have much one to write until now, but here you go! I didn't include much of the actual match, because I figured if you wanted to read about it, you can read that chapter in the book.

I know this one's a little short, but again, not much time to write!

Lots of love,

B