George had gone to get us all some butterbeer. Angelina and Alicia were sitting with me at one of the many tables. I hadn't danced yet. The champions were meant to go on first. Harry was late so they still hadn't come out. I couldn't see Hermione anywhere. My heart contracted at the thought that she wasn't actually here. That she didn't have a date she just said it to get Ron off her back. Yeah, that's what happened. She wasn't off making out with her date, she wasn't crying in the bathroom because her date was horrible. She just wasn't here.

My hope vanished when the second champion came out. It was Krum, Viktor Krum, The Bulgarian Seeker a student at Durmstrang, the school notorious for producing dark wizards. Rumour has it they taught unforgivable curses. Beside him was a witch, a Hogwarts witch. Dressed in a periwinkle dress, it flowed out while still extenuating the fact that she had curves. Her hair was sleek and tied into a bun with a few loose curls to frame her beautiful face. At that moment I almost screamed. I knew that would draw attention so I just whimpered under my breath. It was Hermione. She was attending the ball with Viktor Krum, an international Quidditch champion one of four champions in The Triwizard Tournament. This night couldn't get any worse.

Angelina didn't see my face; I rearranged it to look like I hadn't noticed. I could hear Alicia saying to my date how amazing Hermione looked. I couldn't agree more. She was gliding around the dance floor while he was stomping across it. I couldn't keep my eyes off of her. Angelina turned and looked at me. Luckily I snapped out of it before she noticed.

"Hey, do you wanna dance?" she said expectantly

"With you? Why, of course m'lady!" I turned on the charm, knowing I had been a lousy date. She smiled and I took her hand and lead her to the dance floor.

We waltzed and I held her close, I did so because I didn't want it to seem like I was using her. In truth I didn't think that I was, but I didn't like her in the way I think she liked me. She had her head on my chest; I looked up to see Krum was whispering in Hermione's ear. She smiled, but didn't blush. Interesting. I saw Angelina look up out of the bottom of my eye. She was about to kiss me I purposefully stepped away; I pretended that I hadn't noticed

"Hey, I promised I'd save Hermione a dance. But I'll be back." It was an empty gesture, but I knew it had worked when she smile. I kissed her swiftly on the cheek and walked to Hermione.

"Hermy-own-ninny" Krum drawled as I stepped up behind him

He was about to snog her. I'm the type of guy who can tell these sorts of thing. I tapped him on the shoulder. And he turned around with a vaguely annoyed look on his face.

"Who are you?" He said with a look of pure contempt on his face

"I, good sir, am Her-My-On-Ee's next dance partner" I said, exaggerating the correct pronunciation of her name.

She stepped out from behind Krum and smiled thankfully at me.

"Now if you'd excuse us." I said, taking Hermione's' hand in mine and towing her to the center of the dance floor.

"Thank you," she said when I pulled her into my chest.

It felt nice then I expected it to, with her in my arms. She was warm and soft.

"For what?" I asked, though I felt like I knew the answer

"For saving me from Viktor. He was about to kiss me." She spoke into my chest, it was muffled but I could understand.

I rested my chin on the crown of her head. I chuckled.

"You may not know this Hermione; but I'll always be there to save you. From anything and anyone at anytime." I said in my serious tone.

She looked up and I looked down into her eyes. They were the prettiest brown that I had ever seen. The feeling that rose within me as I looked into he eyes was one of extreme power. I felt the need to kiss her. I couldn't though; it would hurt too many people.

"Fred, I never knew you cared." she whispered, it was almost less than a breath

I leaned down and whispered in her ear "Of course I care."

She returned her head to my chest, and when the music stopped, Krum returned and asked Hermione to dance. She brushed him off, saying she needed to study then went over to talk to Harry. I went back to Angelina and said that I was going to go back to the common room now, and to enjoy the rest of her night. She said that she had a nice time. I knew she didn't mean it. I turned and headed for the common room.

I found her on the stairs. She had her head on her knees and she was trembling. I hastened to get to her.