On The Pitch: A Fremione AU

Chapter 4: The Triwizard Tournament

September 30, 1994

The students all sat expectantly in the Great Hall. It was rare the entire school ever gathered there outside of the normal feasts of the year.

Hermione was not particularly pleased at all. She already hated having classes with Moody; he made her blood boil. During his first class, he demonstrated the three Unforgivable Curses on a poor spider in front of everyone; Hermione hated that. She hated how poor Neville and Harry had been singled out. She hated how insensitive and apathetic the crazed man was. She hated him.

If that's how Dumbledore's first surprise of the year was (a disaster), then she already knew that she would most likely hate the next one just as much, if not, even more.

Anxiously, Hermione fidgeted with her charm bracelet. She looked at the gold, dainty chain-link bracelet that graced her left wrist. Attached to the bracelet were three charms (as in meaning a small ornament- not a magical spell). The first charm was a simple quill. The second was a cat that resembled Crookshanks. The third and final charm was her favourite, though; it was a circular charm engraved with a small note that, when tapped with a wand, would appear in the air in front of her so that she could read it:

  'There is nothing I would not do for those who are really my friends. I have no notion of loving people by halves, it is not my nature.' - Jane Austen

Hermione smiled. Fred had given her the bracelet for her birthday and she had worn it everyday since. Fred had no idea who Jane Austen was. She would've been just some muggle author to him, yet he still got her that charm. Hermione had only mentioned Austen to Fred a couple of times in passing. How had he known she was one of her favourite writers? Smiling, Hermione thought back to her birthday:

***

September 14, 1994, 11:30 pm

"Mione?"

Fred Weasley walked down the boys dormitory steps to find Hermione Granger sitting on the scarlet velvet loveseat. She sat by the fire sipping tea and reading a book on laws and regulations on house-elf justice. Scattered about were several pieces of parchment with notes scribbled all over. How long had she been sitting there?

"Fred? What are you doing? It's nearly midnight."

"Late night studying on your birthday, Granger?" he asked, ignoring her question.

"Not studying per se.. I'm actually researching the laws on house-elf enslavement."

Fred grinned at the younger witch. It was her birthday and she was spending the last hours of it reading on how she can help house-elves. She really did have a heart of gold.

"Well, I know how important that is, so I'll only take up a little of your time. Here, take this," Fred handed her a small box wrapped in deep crimson paper.

Hermione took the package, sending him a look of curiosity. Fred had already given her a present a breakfast along with everyone else. What was this then? Surely he wouldn't prank her on her birthday.. right?

"The Sugar Quills from earlier were just half of your gift. I wanted this one to be more.. private," the red-headed boy assured, as if he could read the young girl's thoughts.

Hermione blushed a little at his words. He sat and watched intensely as she opened his gift. She felt herself blush even more with his eyes set upon her. Underneath the wrapping paper she found a small velvet box. When she saw what was inside she began to beam.