Year 4 Part 2
The second tournament came and Fred was sitting in the stalls with George. He looked around for Hermione but couldn't see her or Ron. They must be giving words of encouragement to Harry, Fred thought and settled down to watch the event. They all watched as the contestants lunged into the water and once the four teenagers had disappeared under the surface Dumbledore turned to the crowd and explained to them what the contestants had to do.
"The contestants have to receive something from the bottom of the lake which is the most precious to them" Dumbledore explained, "They have to face the many dangers of the depths in order to save the person closest to them, who have been put into the care of the mermaids" Much whispering occurred when Dumbledore mentioned the last bit. Fred and George looked at each other, panic in their eyes. Ginny, who standing just below them, looked up at them with the same look on her face.
"Closest person?" Fred asked.
"That's has to be Ron or Hermione" George said, worry in his tone. They both pushed their way out of the stalls, closely followed by Ginny. They ran up to Dumbledore, who looked at them calmly as they draw closer.
"Is Ron down there?" George asked, slight anger on his face. Dumbledore slowly nodded.
"Yes, but I can assure you that Mr Weasley is in safe hands, as is Miss Granger, Miss Chang and-"
"Hermione is down there as well?" Fred asked, even more panic over taking him. He felt slightly sick with worry, "Harry has two people to save?" Dumbledore shook his head.
"No, Miss Granger is Mr Krum's to save" he told Fred. Anger flashed through Fred's body.
"Krum's!" he asked. George and Ginny looked from Dumbledore to Fred.
"It can't be safe down there, there are all sorts in the lake" George said, "Why couldn't have been objects such as brooms or Fleur's make up kit?"
"Doesn't seem like a lot of motivation to me" Dumbledore replied, "Would you throw yourself into the lake for your broomstick?" George shook his head, but Fred exploded again.
"That's not the point!" he said loudly, not quite yelling, "You've put people who didn't even want to take part in this competition's life in danger!" Dumbledore raised his hand to silence Fred. Fred suddenly became aware of everyone staring at them. As there was nothing to watch yet, they were putting on quite a show.
"They are all in good hands, no harm will come of them" Dumbledore promised. All three of the Weasleys still didn't look impressed and Ginny looked like she was close to tears from worry. Fred could also see that Percy, who was watching them, looked worried.
"You can wait near the bank if you want" Dumbledore offered, as George wrapped an arm around Ginny's shoulders. They all nodded and walked over to the bank, staring at the water. Fred paced the water side, worried not just for Hermione but his brother Ron and Harry as well.
Hermione and Krum were the first ones to emerge. Krum looked very scary as he came out of the water with his head in the shape of a shark's. The crowd roared as Fred rushed to Hermione and helped her out of the water. She smiled at him as Fred hugged her.
"I was so worried" Fred told her. Hermione broke away as Madam Pomfrey put a towel round her shoulders.
"Why? Dumbledore had everything under control" Hermione told him.
"Anything could have happened" Fred told her. Hermione smiled at him and than turned to thank Krum. She hugged him loosely and congratulated him on his first place. Fred watched. He didn't feel jealous per say, but he was questioning in his head why Hermione was picked as Krum's most precious person. Fred knew that Hermione loved him, but if Krum felt love towards Hermione, Fred wasn't much competition. Krum was an international Quidditch star with the muscles of a God. He was smart and very charming and made a lot of money. Fred was an average looking guy, from a poor background who was an extreme trouble marker and had achieved only three OWLs last year. So Krum had little competition. This made Fred feel really worried.
However, theses worries were swept away as Hermione turned and smiled at Fred. It was such a warm and happy smile, meant for only Fred. Fred's whole body felt warm and he smiled back. They lost their selves in each other's eyes for a moment and everything around them seemed to slow down and become silent. The moment was disrupted however as Harry, Ron and a small blonde girl leapt out of the water. Ginny, George and Percy ran to them, closely followed by Fleur who embraced the terrified little girl tightly.
Ron and Harry was pulled ashore and embraced by everyone. Ron looked surprised by everyone's worried looks.
"But Dumbledore had everything under control" Ron laughed as he hugged Ginny.
"That's what I told them" Hermione also smiled, looking back at Fred, who was patting Harry on the back in congratulations. Fred winked at her.
"We didn't want you lot getting eaten by the giant squid"
"Yeah, wouldn't have been good for the poor creature's digestive system" George added.
Fred watched as Hermione paced the width of the small 'secret' square room. He was sitting on the bean bags, listening to Hermione rant about Rita's article which had accused her of dating both Harry and Krum.
"I'm not even dating Krum! We just went to the Yule Ball together!" she said very loudly, throwing her arms in the air, "And Harry! Well, that's just stupid!" Fred had never seen Hermione this angry. It was kind of funny but Fred held back the laugh so not to piss off the poor girl anymore.
"That article was just so ridiculous, it was completely filled with lies, how can she call herself a journalist?" Hermione's voice started to rise to nearly a shout. On the floor was a pile of screwed up paper of the hate mail she had already received. Some of the letters were really nasty. Hermione kicked the pile, sending paper sliding across the floor.
"These people don't know me!" She yelled, her face red and her eyes shiny "They have no…no righ-" she try to say before boasting into tears. Fred stood up and enveloped Hermione into a hug. She put her head against Fred's chest and cried. She tried to stop, wiping her eyes continuously. She was so angry that these people had got her this upset. Fred caught Hermione's hand as she tried to wipe her eyes dry and brought it to his lips, kiss her soft skin. Hermione looked up into his blue eyes and a smile suddenly came to her face and she laughed, a hiccup escaping.
"What's so funny?" Fred asked.
"Well, everyone is talking about who I'm dating but no one really knows" Hermione smiled, "No one could possibly guess that the one I'm sneaking out of the common room to kiss and the one I think about every night is actually Fred Weasley" Fred smiled, kissing Hermione on the lips, lingering at her parted ones for a second longer.
"Every night?" he whispered on her lips. A blush made its way to Hermione's cheeks.
"When I don't have to worry about school work" Hermione told him, leaning against him and resting her head against his chest. Fred kissed her hair and held her hands in his.
"Just forget about these dicks, they're idiots and that Rita woman is a bitch!" Hermione nodded in agreement, sighing softly.
"You can't let these pricks get to you, you're stronger then that"
"You're right" Hermione breathed and Fred hugged her even tighter, wishing he could make Hermione become one with him. Or that her sadness and anger would rub onto him and he would carry it instead. However, that did not happen.
Fred felt ready to kill someone after he watched pus pour onto Hermione's hands a couple of days later. The sender had been another deranged fan of Krum or Harry who thought that Hermione had wronged them. Tears rushed to Hermione's eyes as her hands swelled up and pain filled her. She had thrown down the envelope and rushed out of the Great Hall. Fred had followed her and found her in their secret room.
"Hermione, you need to go to the Hospital Wing" Fred told her, wrapping an arm round her shoulders. Hermione was crying and just nodded, letting Fred lead her back down the stairs to the Hospital Wing. Madam Pomfery was kind, healing Hermione's hands quickly and letting Hermione and Fred stay sitting on a bed until Hermione calmed down.
"I'm scared to open my mail" Hermione finally said, rubbing her hands which were back to their normal size but still a bit red.
"Do you want me to do it?" Fred asked, rubbing Hermione's shoulder as they sat side by side in the quiet room.
"You would do that for me?" Hermione asked.
"I would do anything for you" Fred smiled, leaning his head against Hermione's.
"Would you beat up Rita Skeeter for me?" Hermione asked.
"It's the first item on my to-do list" Fred told her. Hermione giggled, tracing the freckles on Fred's hand.
"Thanks"
As the year progressed, Fred and Hermione became closer and closer. They walked around the grounds together, hand-in-hand when they thought no one was watching, and they talked for hours in Fred's hidden room. Sometimes they talked for so long that they would draft off to sleep together and spend all night in there. Hermione would always wake in a panic, rushing around collecting her things and saying how she couldn't believe they fall asleep in there again! Fred would simply pull her into a hug and she would melt against him.
The year was drawing to a close and Fred noticed that Hermione was becoming quieter and quieter.
"You don't have to go home, you know" Fred told her. Hermione turned to him. They were in the library. It was just the two of them and they had chosen a table near a window. Fred had been researching colour changing spells and potions, when he had looked up to see Hermione staring out of the window. She had looked very lost.
"You can come stay with us" Fred told her, leaning over and taking Hermione's hand. He stroked the back of her hand with his thumb.
"Don't be silly" Hermione smiled. It was her sad smile that Fred had managed not to see in a couple of weeks. He didn't like its presences now.
"I need to go see if they're ok" Hermione told him.
"They're not your responsibility" Fred replied. Hermione shook her head and looked down at her lap.
"They are" She whispered, "It's my fault they're the way they are" Fred squeezed her hand tightly.
"It's not your fault!" he told her firmly.
"I have to go see them" Hermione told him, looking up into Fred's eyes. She looked determined. Fred brought her hand up to his mouth and kissed it gently. He sighed sadly and looked back at her.
"I don't want you to get hurt again"
"You can't always protect me" Hermione told him.
"But I want to" Fred said, determinism in his eyes as well. Hermione smiled at him; again sadly. Fred was beginning to think that Hermione didn't realise he could tell the difference between her real smile and the one she faked.
"How about I spend half the holidays at mine and half at yours?" she asked. Fred still wasn't happy with this but at least he got to make sure Hermione was safe for four weeks.
"I can Apparate now, so I can come and get you at any point, just send me an owl and I'll be there" Fred told her. Hermione nodded, clutching Fred's hand tightly. They kissed over the table and than Hermione got back to her book. Fred pretended to get back to his, but instead he watched Hermione. She still had that lost look on her face. Fred signed again. He wished he could help her.
They meet just before the Train arrived at Kings Cross and shared a passionate and longing kiss in the corridor. They broke away and looked at each other. Hermione looked close to tears. Fred touched her cheek, cupping her face in his hands.
"Write to me everyday" Fred told her. Hermione nodded.
"Of course" she whispered. Fred wiped a stray tear away and kissed her again.
"I love you" he whispered on her lips.
Well, it's 5:45 in the morning and I've nearly finished my shift at work. My hands are a bit shaky from being so tired so if there are spelling errors and stuff I'm sorry. This is the last one of Year 4 and I hope you enjoy. Please review.