I feel bad, this chapter is just a bunch of mish-mosh. Oh well, this is where the plot thickens… mwahahaha. No, I lied. I'll just save it for another day (: Anywho, enjoy and remember the read, rate, review. Ah, you guys know the drill.
Hermione lay on the Quidditch pitch as she stared into the midnight sky. The stars were so bright and clear against the navy blue sky; it would have been the perfect night for an Astronomy lesson. She had been so much more observant to the tinier things in life lately, with lack of something better to. She could barely see five feet in front of her, just like any other night. She knew perfectly well that she shouldn't be out here, but her reputation was ruined. If she got caught, how could a detention compare to the atrocities she had to endure every day.
Every morning she woke up a half an hour before her room mates so she wouldn't have to face them, or their vile rumors. She was the first one out of classes once they were over and always arrived when the class started, right on the dot. Her prefect duties weren't a big deal; no one wanted to do rounds with her, so she endured them alone.
She didn't go to meals anymore. After having a long chat with Dobby, he said he would love nothing more than to cook one of Harry Potter's friend's food if she didn't want to go to the Great Hall. She ate and studied in the Room of Requirement, and between that and her classes, it really took up most of her day.
At 2 o'clock, Hermione returned to the Gryffindor common room. That was plenty of time for people to go to sleep, and she really didn't need that much. As long as she had a foundation of 5 hours, she could manage.
She stepped through the portrait hole to find Ginny Weasley anxiously awaiting her return.
"Hermione! Oh, I haven't seen you in eons! I miss you so much; you're never around to talk to me anymore. You've been so…" She continued babbling on, almost sobbing. Ginny was the only person in the whole school who didn't think that she was a whore, she completely understood. She was almost, not quite though, in the same predicament with Harry.
Although Hermione wasn't one to share her feelings aloud, she knew that she needed someone to confide in. Ginny was her only option, nay her best option. She could always talk to her parents. She giggled inside at the very thought.
Hermione explained to Ginny every single detail of where she was all the time, how she was feeling, and how she was confused about her feelings for Fred. She only left out one detail; where she was at night.
"Er… Hermione?" Ginny questioned hesitantly and gently. "Where do you go… at night?" Truthfully, Ginny didn't really care all that much about where she was, as long as Hermione wanted to be there. Fred needed to talk to her, bad and she knew that it was the only time Hermione would be free without the objection of eating, homework, or studying.
Hermione knew she wouldn't be able to hide it from Ginny even if she tried, so she whispered defeated, "The Quidditch field."
Ginny knew she shouldn't, but she couldn't help it, she roared with laughter. "You… the Quidditch field… good one!" She gasped between breaths. Alright, so Hermione wasn't the best at Quidditch. That doesn't mean she could just lie under the stars.
"It's the one place that no one would ever expect; where no one would ever look. You're right, you know. I don't belong there, on the field. But the sky speaks to me in an odd way; it gives me light when I need it the most. I guess, that's all I really need, a little bit of light." Hermione sighed a wished Ginny a good night, and with that tiptoed to her room, being careful not to wake the others in her dormitory.
Ginny watched with a smirk; this whole mess would be sorted out in the end. But as for now, Hermione was hurt and she needed to do something to make one of her best friends feel better. That's exactly how she felt this morning, but now she had a plan.
"Fred! Fred, you can come out now." Ginny whispered playfully, giggling at her brother who was sitting atop the stairs. "Did you hear what she said? About the Quidditch pitch?" She questioned with great curiosity. She was a girl, after all, it wouldn't be a bother to her at all to repeat Hermione's preaching.
"Of course I heard! What am I, deaf? So the Quidditch field, eh? Well, at least that's one thing the bird enjoys besides countless hours in the library." Fred sniggered, but it was only a joking manner. He needed to lighten the tone somehow. He obviously had some sort of hearing deficiencies because he'd have mentioned some of the things Hermione had said about him.
"You obviously have never tried to seduce a girl like Hermione. Your only used to hitting on bimbos, let alone someone as intelligent and courageous as her. Oh, don't give me that pout Fred! You know it as well as I do! Alright, this is how it's going to go…" She explained the plan, which Fred titled "Mission Impossible." Ginny could only reply by muttering, "Well, let's try not to start off with too much enthusiasm, shall we?"
These days had not been as nearly painful for Fred as it was for Hermione. Fred was known to be a ladies' man; not a player, but someone who got around. He never really had a girlfriend, to be honest. He went on dates, snogged a bird, and never gave her a second look. If she wasn't interested, after the second try he was always done. But with Hermione it was different. He had harbour… wait for it… feelings for the girl.
Bloody hell, if you had told him at around this time two years ago that this would happen, he wouldn't believe an inkling of it. He shrugged it off, people change and feelings change.
He needed to begin faze one of his plan; getting her friends back (and hoping that they would mention that he was the one who did it). Ginny had given him several options which involved actually talking to them. He wanted to do something witty and creative, but Ginny had strictly said no, it would most likely end in making the predicament worse.
He thought the best way to get around to them, especially Ron, was to begin with Harry. So, as he walked through the halls of the school in his muddy Quidditch uniform, he told George to scurry on with the rest of the team as he held Harry back.
"Listen Harry," Fred began, but Harry had already reacted.
"Have you hurt her Fred?" Harry mused, getting more infuriated by the second. "We may not be on speaking terms, but I swear to Merlin that if you did-"
"No! No, Harry you're going to listen to me. I need to clean up this mess I made. You see…" And so he went on, leaving out the parts of his actual feelings for her. Harry had tried interrupting at several points, but there was no stopping Fred. He had to do this for his damsel in distress.
"I… er… wow. I, I have to apologize to her. And to you too, oh man I'm so sorry, mate. I should have known that most rumors aren't true, having so many spread about me." A look shot across Harry's face, he truly was sorry. Having endured rumors the whole year and especially in second year when people thought he was the "Heir of Slytherin," he should have know. Oh man, he was really going to beat himself up about this one.
"I need you to do one thing for me though, Harry." Fred stated, it wasn't a question it was a must. "I would like, ah who am I kidding. I need you to help me clear this situation up with Ron."
Harry wasn't surprised, but he had expected Fred to tell him that he needed help winning Hermione, but whatever floated his boat was good enough. With that said, they walked up in to the dormitory, muddy and all, and approached now.
"Oh, so now you're siding with him too? You know what, both of you sod off." He said, obviously being ticked off. Couldn't anything go his way? Just one thing, it was all he asked for.
"No." Harry stated firmly, "We need to talk to you now."
"Well maybe I don't want…" Ron began, but then was brutally interrupted by Fred.
"Let the man talk!" He bellowed. He was getting Ron to listen and apologize, and he wouldn't give up until his prat of a brother heard what really happened and apologized to his girl- whoah, my girl? Merlin's Beard! What in the world was up with him?
And so Harry divulged into the story, which actually became a nuisance to Fred after hearing it so many times, each being slightly different. Oh, except for the one he heard from Lavender and Parvarti, which involved the two of them getting drunk in the common room and shagging. This brought him to faze two of his brilliant scheme.
"Thank you for being so understanding Ron, it must be hard on you to realize that you could be wRONg when you jump to conclusions." Always the joking one, that Fred. He thanked the boys for their time and sprinted to the girl's dormitories.
What were their names again? Oh, that's right, "Lavender! Parvarti!" He shouted, anxiously awaiting the girls to emerge from their room.
"Erm… Fred, is it? Hermione isn't here…" Parvarti stumbled over her words as she spoke quietly.
"Yes, yes I know, I was just wondering if you could do me a favor." Damn, he was asking for those quite a lot lately.
"Why would we give you a favor?" Lavender snapped, she was obviously the meaner of the two.
"Hermione needs you to tell the truth you see; you have it all wrong…" And perhaps for the hundredth time, he divulged into the story of what really happened.
"Alright, you told the truth. Big deal, we still aren't helping you. What's in it for us?" Lavender questioned, she wasn't about to do something that might ruin her reputation; after all, she would be deemed a liar for preaching the wrong information.
"Listen," Fred snarled harshly, "I know people who can find out your darkest secrets so fast it will make your hair curl. You will tell everyone you lied and clear Hermione's name. After you're done, you will apologize to her; understand?" He hated being serious; being funny was so much more amusing. But, he did have to do this, for Hermione and himself. This really was his entire fault anyway.
"I… I… sure." Stumbled Parvarti and Lavender nodded her head stiffly in agreement. She was only scared that her feelings for Ron would get out; she knew that Fred being older and popular would have his connections.
"I know how fast you too can get around, mind you. I'm expecting this cleared up by lunch tomorrow. Goodnight, ladies." He acknowledged them as they scurried back up the stairs. He had to ponder for a moment, should he talk to Hermione (the third and final stage of his plan) after this was cleared up? Or before, either way could go well, or terribly, he assumed. He went to his own room and went to ask George.
"Ah, so he finally comes out of his shell. Have you found your testosterone yet, or are you still trying to "fix what you started" Lee sniggered. Fred really hadn't been around much these past few days, he was always working on his plan; usually with Ginny.
"Give him a break, you prat. So, what is it that brings you around to this neck of the woods, good old brother of mine?" George snickered.
"I've told you about my plan George, oh and you too Lee. I just need some help on that last part. When do I talk to her?" Fred asked in a bashful way. He hated asking his twin for advice; it was pretty much like asking himself. That's why he was glad that Lee was there as well.
"Humph. I would say after Harry and Ron talk to her; whenever that may be. If they mention you, she'll be grateful, and then you might get a good snog out of it." George winked and laughed, which he did oh so often.
"Well in case you've forgotten, I've been trying to convince people that we aren't going out… even though I would like that." Fred sighed, even though he had feelings for Hermione, they wouldn't be able to be together. How would people react after this whole scheme went over? He pushed off the thought, he would think about it the next day. He was glad that there was always Quidditch that could take his mind off of things.
Fred awoke with a start after a poor night's sleep. Thoughts of Hermione had erupted his mind, and that didn't give him much time to sleep. As he glanced at his dorm-mates; he realized how early it was, and decided to head down to the Quidditch field to take his mind off of everything.
He grabbed his robes and his broom and darted down the halls quietly, careful not to wake anyone sleeping nearby (especially the portraits in the halls; they were always cranky when he and George woke them up during their late night adventures). He arrived on the field and found something that he was dreading, but longing at the same time.
Hermione had gone through her now normal routine, but was so overtired that she fell asleep as she was looking at the stars. Fred noticed this and walked over towards her, wondering if he should wake her up. He'd caught glances of her in the corridors these past few days, and she'd looked worn out. But now, she looked so peaceful. He assumed she'd really needed her sleep.
Fred checked the time, and there was still an hour until anyone normal would be awake, an hour and a half until Quidditch, and almost three hours until breakfast. Although he knew it might stir up rumors, he took Hermione up against his chest, and slowly headed back to the common room. He could leave her on the couch; people wouldn't be surprised if she had fallen asleep studying.
Hermione's eyes fluttered open. She was about to stretch when she'd realized that she had familiar arms wrapped around her as he paced down the corridors. She liked the feeling too much to let Fred know that she was indeed awake, so she stayed in her position, closed her eyes, and enjoyed the moment.
But, where had she fallen asleep? Oh no, the whole Quidditch team must've seen me on the pitch, she thought. And what if people saw Fred carrying her? She could not handle anymore humiliation, it was too tiring. And in fact, she was so tired that she didn't care, and let herself drift off in her crush's arms. Not giving a damn what others would think.
Awww well isn't that sweet? Stay tuned, I'll be posting another chapter tomorrow. It's a bit too early in the story for what I'm planning, but it will be interesting, I guarantee it. Expect this fanfic to be about 20-30 chapters long; I have a lot planned for it.