It had been two months since Christmas and two months since Hermione and Fred had had their enormous argument and it was safe to say that the two of them had put whatever they had together aside thanks to their ongoing feud. Instead, Hermione had spent an increasing amount of time with Viktor and on the eve of the second Triwizard Task she found out that she was being taken as a personal belonging to be hidden at the bottom of the Lake, a concept that scared her a little.

"Do not worry," Professor Dumbledore told her, Ron, Cho Chang and Fleur Delacour's little sister, "You will all be perfectly safe whilst underwater, no harm will come to you." HE took her aside and then asked her if she was comfortable being placed into the task, given that she was still recovering from her attack. She assured him that she was and with that they had been sent unconscious for the task to be allowed to take place.

The next thing that Hermione realised was oxygen hitting her lungs and crowds screaming with joy as Viktor had saved her from the depths of the lake. She was freezing cold and as soon as they were out of the water he disappeared into the crowds of Durmstrang students who were congratulating him. Hermione was enveloped by her fellow Gryffindors, namely Ginny and George, whilst Fred hung around a little awkwardly behind them.

"Get her another towel!" Ginny shouted at Fred who rushed off and returned with a pepper up potion from Madame Pomfrey too.

"She says this'll warm you up better," he smiled weakly at her.

"Thanks." She drank the potion quickly and instantly felt better.

There was an uncomfortable silence between them and as Cedric and Cho Chang arrived at the surface she found herself being pushed to the back of the Hogwarts crowd.

"Can we talk?" Fred asked her after a few more minutes.

"Not here, it wouldn't look good just after I was Viktor's prize. Back in the common room?"

"Yeah, I'll meet you there."

She nodded and waited for Harry to emerge from the water. When he did it was just as the clock sounded the end of task to everyone. She pushed through the crowd to find both Harry and Ron being swamped in towels. She pulled them both to her into a massive hug and told them how glad she was that that was all over. They were handed more towels and Hermione began wrapping them both in the towels, trying to stimulate some sort of warmth for them.

She sat with the boys until they were told that they had to report to the Hospital Wing to be checked over. They made their way back across the grounds and into the castle and as they were placed in beds side by side Hermione took it upon her to ask for their advice.

"Fred and I are talking again." She told them, not really sure how else to launch into the topic.

"What did he do? I'll smack him again if he does anything to hurt you again!" Ron told her fiercely.

After their fight on Christmas day, Fred had received a horrible black eye from Ron for "treating his best friend like every other girl he had a fling with" and "abusing her trust". She couldn't believe that Ron had defended her that well and wasn't angry at the prospect of his big brother getting together with her. Well, technically, he was pissed off about the second part but only because he'd hurt Hermione. Partially because of Ron's actions and partially because of her own she had been far too mortified to even bring up the subject of their possible relationship with Fred and instead had decided to let the whole situation settle itself.

"He hasn't done anything Ronald. Not yet anyway. We're finally going to have that talk that we should have had months ago." She sighed at the prospect. "I don't even know what I'm hoping it's going to achieve."

"It'll be alright Mione. You've got us to beat him up if he messes you around again." Harry laughed.

"Yeah!" Ron piped in, "It doesn't even matter that he's my brother, I've got loads of those!" he laughed and Hermione found herself laughing with her best friends for the first time in a long time and already she felt better about whatever outcome came from her chat with Fred.

"What should I do?" she asked.

"Blokes are pretty simple Mione, you've got to be straight to the point otherwise we just won't get it." Ron started to tell her.

"In other words, tell him exactly what you think you should have told him months ago."

"Are you sure it will work?"

"If it doesn't then he's more of a moron than I thought he was." Ron laughed.

They were allowed to leave the Hospital Wing an hour or so later and when they arrived back in the Gryffindor common room they arrived to a roar of cheers and applause, not just for Harry but for Hermione and Ron too for being part of the task. Within the next hour the Gryffindor party was in full swing and Hermione had spotted Fred and George in a corner of the room, looking very proud of themselves.

"What have you two been up to?"

"Absolutely nothing Granger!" Fred started.

"We are insulted that you would think that we would be up to something."

She raised her eyebrows at them.

"We added a little firewhiskey to the punch…." They hung their heads a little.

"George go and check that there aren't any wasted first years." She didn't have to tell him twice.

George zipped off and left Fred and Hermione alone once again.

"So…how have you been?" Fred asked her.

She smirked at him, "you mean aside from being at the bottom of the Black Lake for hours earlier?"

"I'm glad you're ok. When I saw Krum pull you out of the water all I wanted to do was to pick you up and hold onto you. It brought back horrible memories. I just wanted you to be safe."

"I was never in danger, Dumbledore assured me of that."

"I'm glad. The idea of anything that horrible ever happening to you again terrifies the shit out of me Mione," he laughed a little nervously. "Look. I'm sorry about how I acted at Christmas. I was being a git and to be honest I just didn't want to admit to myself how much you meant to me."

"I'm sorry about how I reacted, I shouldn't have screamed at you in front of everyone, I'm quite embarrassed about that actually."

"Hermione can we give this another shot? I don't know what exactly this is but I know that it's not really something that I want to let go of again…" he trailed off and waited for her response.

"I'd like that." She smiled at him and pulled him into a hug. "Thank you Fred, for absolutely everything."

"I wouldn't have done any of it any differently, you've been one of us since day one Mione." He grinned at her.

From their small corner of the common room they were out of the focus of most of the party, all but Harry, Ron, George and Ginny who were watching the new couple from the other side of the common room.

"At least you won't have to punch him again!" Harry laughed as he slapped Ron on the back.

"Thank Merlin for that, I don't think mum was too pleased when she found out that I'd done it."

"Don't worry little brother, I'll keep my dear twin in line." George laughed before racing through the crowd to pick Hermione up and spin her around in congratulations.

If there was one way that Hermione could have described her evening she was sure that she would have probably picked "near perfection", they were all so happy and it was something she wished she could hold onto.

"Harry, you just need to remember to have your wits about you. You have to react quickly and know that this is the ultimate test of your ability. Focus on whatever is in front of you and it isn't about the most complex magic, it's testing practical ability as well as your common sense. You can do this." Hermione told Harry as they escorted him down to the stadium for the final task.

Harry was increasingly nervous as they made their way through the grounds. The task wasn't for another couple of hours but she and Ron had agreed to accompany Harry to the champion's tent early so that he could prepare and be with them.

Upon their arrival they found Dumbledore chatting with Cedric Diggory and his father, Fleur Delcaour, her little sister and Madame Maxime were obviously discussing tactics in fast French and Viktor Krum was pacing alone in the corner. Dumbledore finished his conversation with Cedric and made his way over to Harry.

"Harry, how are you feeling?"

"Nervous." He replied honestly.

"I suspected as much. I expect Miss Granger has been helping you to prepare?"

"Yes Professor. She's been a huge help to me."

"I do not doubt that. Harry, you must remember that this is a test of all of your abilities, not just the use of your magic. Stay strong and level headed throughout and I do not doubt that you will be on the path for success. If you would excuse me however, I must see to the final preparations, good luck Harry."

"Thank you Professor," Harry called after Dumbledore as he left.

Hermione could see Viktor approaching out of the corner of her eye and she braced herself for the encounter. The last time she had seen him had been shortly after the second task, where she had explained to him that she simply couldn't be more than a good friend to him and he had taken it rather well, even offering to help her study should she need it.

"Hermowninny, it is so good to see you again. How are you?"

"I'm quite well thank you Viktor, how are you feeling?"

"Confident. This is about magical ability, I fail to see where I would have any problems."

"That's good to hear. Good luck Viktor."

"Thank you, I shall see you after the task has taken place." He gave her a small bow and glanced in Harry's direction before retreating back to his corner.

"We should really head back out to the stands mate; I said that I would meet Dad and Bill around about now."

Harry looked a little sad at the prospect of his best friends leaving him but he understood that they would have to leave at some point.

"Good luck Harry, we're all behind you." Hermione told him as she gave him a kiss on the cheek and pulled Ron and him into a large hug.

As they made their way back to the stands Hermione and Ron were far too nervous for Harry to be chatty. It wasn't until they reached the stands that they were in the mood for conversation again. They found Mr Weasley, Bill, Fred, George and Ginny near the front and beside Amos Diggory, who was chattering away about how proud he was of his son. She slipped in between the Twins and Fred grinned at her when she took his hand.

"How is he?" Fred asked.

"Really nervous."

"I don't blame him-"

"-poor bloke's about to go and face merlin knows what in there!" George finished.

Hermione didn't reply, instead she was watching as the champions made their way to the front of the maze. The entire Hogwarts population was now gathered on the stands and cheering like crazy at the sight of Cedric Diggory and Harry Potter standing side by side, in deep conversation together. Shortly afterwards Dumbledore told them the premise for the final task and explained the rules that the contestants had to adhere to, as well as safety precautions. Before they knew it, the champions were lined up at their entrances to the maze, Harry was giving them a small wave and a desperate smile before the first cannon sounded and he had to disappear into the maze.

Hermione could barely contain her nerves or the thudding of her heart in her chest as the rest of the champions made their way into the maze and the crowd were left wondering just what on earth their peers were about to face.

"He's going to be alright isn't he?" Ron asked from the other side of George.

"I hope so." Hermione replied quietly and looked out at the vast maze in front of them.