I don't own Harry Potter. Our Lovely Queen Jk Rowling owns the wizarding world. J
Fourth year so far was okay, I guess. I mean, I'm terrified because Harry has been entered in the Tri-wizard tournament. People have DIED in the tournament! Plus, he is only 14 while the other three are 17! It is ridiculous that Dumbledore is actually allowing Harry to compete! On top of that drama, Ronald is being stupid, as usual, and blames Harry for being chosen—even though he didn't enter himself—and therefore refuses to talk to him. I understand that Ron is jealous and wishes he could get some fame, but honestly, he needs to grow up and realize that his best friend did not enter himself.
Anyways, I digress off of my little tangent there. Today is a Hogsmead visit, and I'm not sure that I am going to go. I mean, why would I want to go by myself, since Harry is being moody about having to be in this tournament, which I totally understand, I'm terrified as well, I can't even begin to fathom how he must feel right now, but he shouldn't shut me out. It's like he hasn't noticed how smart I am, I am pretty damn sure I could help him out with some ideas for the first task (even if we don't know what the task is yet). And I'm not going with Ronald. I don't think I could stand to listen to him going on and on about how unfair it is that Harry gets to compete. I'm pretty sure I would end up snapping at him, and then he would be pissed at both of us, which wouldn't be a good thing.
Once again, I digress. I'm sitting in the common room reading through the rules for the Tri-Wizard tournament to see if I can find any loop holes that will allow Harry to not have to compete. Honestly, I cant find a thing! Even if—heaven forbid—he loses a limb during one of the tasks, he is still expected to compete in the next task! This is so absurd!
"Earth to Granger….. Any one there? Hello? Granger? OI! Hermione!" I finally snapped out of my own thoughts and saw Fred standing in front of me.
"Oh, Hello Fred. Sorry about that. I'm just so stressed."
"I noticed. This is why you are going to put down whatever it is your reading right now, and you're coming to Hogsmead with me." Fred grinned cheekily at me.
"No Fred, I can—" I started to protest, but was cut off by Fred pulling the rules out of my hands and then pulling me up marching me towards the portrait hole. "I guess I have no choice then, eh? Do I at least get to grab my cloak?"
"Nope! I've already got it for you. Let's go! We're going to have fun! We're going to get lots and lots of sweets, were going to drink lots and lots of Butterbeer, and if we can manage it were going to drink some Firewhiskey! And we're going to Zonko's and you're getting a pranking lesson from one of the greatest pranksters in the history of Hogwarts!" Fred spoke so quickly I only caught like half of what he said.
"Okay, I only caught about half of that. And no, I am NOT drinking any firewiskey, and if you do, I may have to tell your mum. Oh, and I didn't know Sirius and Remus were going to be there!" I teased
"You wouldn't dare, Granger. And ha-ha very funny. I was talking about me!" Fred pouted
"I have to tease you. It's so easy! You're so, oh what's the word?" I stopped walking and pretended to think, tapping my index finger against my chin. "Oh, I know… Gullible!"
"I am not gullible! If anything, you're gullible, Granger! Now come on, we don't want to be late getting there. We want to have enough time to look around and be awesome." Fred smiled at me, and I'm not going to lie, I melted inside a little. His smile is so incredible.
We spent the rest of the walk there just talking about random things. Surprisingly we talked about homework a bit. Fred is actually quite smart especially in Charms, Potions, and Defense. We had an actual intelligent conversation, I was very surprised, I thought he was just a goofball who didn't take his studies seriously. But he does, because he needs those subjects to help develop things for his pranks. He had to use charms and potions to make those ton-tongue toffees that they slipped Dudley when they picked up Harry for the Quidditch cup. Needless to say, I was pleasantly surprised.
As we entered the small village the first place we went to was The Three Broomsticks to get some Butterbeer and to warm up after the walk.
"So, Rosemerta, can I get a Firewhiskey?" Fred attempted to ask flirtily of the barkeep.
"Fred Weasley! You are not 17! Your mum would kill me if I let you have firewiskey. So, no. How about I give you and Miss. Granger two Butterbeers? On the house because you make me laugh" Rosemerta answered between laughs.
"Darn. Okay. Thanks doll." Fred threw a wink at her as she handed us our drinks.
We sat down and started talking again. Fred decided now was the time to plan out how our trip was going to go.
"So, first were here and were drinking our Butterbeer. Next, we are going to Honeydukes, and I am going to buy you some sweets, and you're going to buy me some. It will be a complete surprise what were getting for each other. Next, we will go to the bookstore, because I'm pretty sure you practically live there when you come here, and you can get a fill of all the new book smells, and I can look at the prank books. Then, we shall be going to Zonko's where I will stock up on my prank supplies, and I will be getting you a prankster starter kit. We will end our day by stopping at the Hogs Head to see if we can get some firewhiskey there. Don't look at me like that, Granger. You know you want to try it."
"It sounds like you've had this planned out for a while. It sounds good to me, but we will see about that firewiskey, I'm not sure it's a good idea to drink that then go back to school! What if we get caught! We could be expelled, or get a detention!"
"Everything will be fine Hermione, I promise."
He stared at me with his gorgeous chocolate brown eyes. How could I resist those eyes? I couldn't and I couldn't form a coherent reply, so I just nodded.
We left The Three Broomsticks and headed to Honeydukes, where I bought Fred some of their best chocolate, Bernie Botts every flavor beans, a blood flavored lollipop, a couple sugar quills, and some of those candies that when you eat them, you make certain animal sounds. Fred bought me pretty much the same stuff, just instead of the blood flavored lollipop he got me a garlic flavored one, and he didn't get me the animal candies.
"Come on, you should try one!" Fred pouted at me as he held out the animal sound candies.
"Fine. Give me one that will make me sound like a cat." I relented. He handed me one, and to be sure, I looked at the box and made sure he didn't hand me an embarrassing one. I stuck it in my mouth and then;
"Mrow? Meow? Purrrrrrrrrr." I had said, 'you suck! But that's okay, I think I like you anyways.' I blushed furiously after I said that, so I hid behind my hair.
"Awe, what a cute kitty." Fred smirked as he patted my head.
"Hey, now! Don't make me find Crookshanks and sick him on you." I retorted.
"Fine Granger, you win." He smiled.
Next, we walked to the bookstore where I fell in love with a couple books, and I fell even more in love with the smells of each book. I ended up buying three new novels, while Fred bought himself a new prank book. After we went to Zonkos where I got a whole bunch of new prank stuff that Fred insisted I need. I doubt I will ever use it, but who knows, maybe I'll feel like a prank someday, maybe a prank on Fred. Hmm. That would be interesting.
So, we were finally heading back to Hogwarts, but of course, Fred couldn't just forget about the idea of getting some firewhiskey so we stopped at the Hogs Head. Fred walked up to the barkeep, and asked if we could get some firewhiskey. He said yes.
"Come on, Granger, Live a little! One shot isn't going to kill you! I swear." Fred gave me a puppy dog pout. All I could think about was how my mum and dad always told me not to give in to peer-pressure, but honestly, I wanted to try it. I wanted to rebel a little. I wanted to metaphorically let my hair down. It's not like one drink would turn me into some crazy person who wanted to drink all the time.
"Fine. Get me a damn shot. I need to distress any ways." I smile as Fred hands me the shot. 'Well, here goes nothing I guess.' I think as I take a deep breath, and take the shot. My first thoughts; my throat is on FIRE! And so is my stomach! No wonder this is called FIREwhiskey. It hurts! But then the pain dulls, and it doesn't hurt. It warms me from the inside and it makes me feel good. Hmm. Maybe this stuff isn't so bad. Maybe I should make Harry and Ron drink some of this and make them hug and make up.
"So, Granger, what do you think? It's good, isn't it?" Fred is looking at me with his ever present smirk. I swear, that is his trademark look.
"Stop smirking at me. And it wasn't too bad. I actually kind of liked it." I told him. I then looked to the bar keep and asked, "Could I get another shot, please?"
He handed me another shot, and I downed it just like the first. "Alright, Fred, we should probably head back. You've had four shots already, I think you're good." I told him as I began to drag him out of the bar.
We stumbled our way back up to the school. We kept slipping and stopping to laugh at the most random things. I decided then that firewhiskey was a great way to distress once in a while. I would have to go to Hogsmeade with Fred more often.
We finally got back up to the castle, and made it past Filch without giving away how drunk Fred was, or how tipsy I felt. After we got a safe distance away from him, we started laughing, and Fred started imitating him, making me laugh even more. We finally calmed down enough to get to Gryffindor tower.
"Thank you, Fred. Today was the best day I have had in quite a while. You are a great friend." I smiled at him and then I gave him a hug and kissed his cheek.
"It was my pleasure, Hermione. You deserve to have some fun once in a while. You stress yourself out too much. I'm going to go find George and share my bounty with him. I will see you later, alright?"
"Yeah, I'll see you later Fred." I gave him another hug and a smile as I walked up to my dormitory. I spent the night thinking about a certain Fred Fabian Weasley, and how incredible he actually is.
So! This is my longest chapter yet! I hope you guys enjoy it! Like I've said, Hermione definitely is not fully in character. shes a bit more easy going, and a lot less goody-good. She is still a know it all, and loves her books, and studying, but shes more free spirited.
Also, I kind of have everything planned out for each chapter. And, I have the ending all written out, its wonderful. I was thinking that I'm just going to have this story go until the end of Hermione's seventh year, and then have a sequel for their lives after Voldykinds is dead and gone. But I don't quite know yet. anyways, once again, I hope you all enjoy!
Much love,
.Love. 3