On The Pitch: A Fremione AU

Chapter 11: Granger and the Hungarian Horntail

November 24, 1994

The day had come. The day that Hermione Granger would fight a dragon.

It is needless to say that Hermione Granger was not at all happy. She had spent the whole morning irritable and on edge. Anyone that came near her left the interaction completely pale faced and wide eyed. This especially included Lavender Brown and Parvati Patil.

Lavender and Parvati spent a good bit of their time in the common room warning others to avoid Hermione, that is unless they wanted a new hair color and good yelling. Still, as time ticked by, there was a particularly concerned group of Gryffindors debating whether or not they really would mind a new hairdo.

"That's it!" Fred Weasley stood up assertively. "I'm going up there."

"Fred maybe give it a couple more minutes," Ginny spoke.

"Yea, Harry and I once tried to talk to Hermione while she was like this and she made my ears turn blue for five hours. Poor Harry had green hands for the whole day," Ron shivered at the thought.

"I don't care. The task is set for two hours from now and Merlin only knows what will happen if she doesn't show up."

"But the stairs-"

Neville, Ron, and Harry all became speechless as they watched Fred march all the way up the girls' dormitory stairs without it transforming. Right then they decided that there was no point in trying to stop him now.

***

"Mione?" Fred peaked into her dormitory. He knew it would be empty as everyone had cleared steer of Hermione and the girls' dorms the entire morning.

Inside he saw her frantically reorganizing her bookshelves and closet while muttering to herself. It was safe to say she looked bloody insane.

"Why do I even have this shirt? I never wear it! And this book! Could I have picked a less credible author?? Whoever published this must have never read a page in their life!"

Fred tried to take a step closer when she quickly turned to look dead at him.

"What do you want Fred?" Her voice was cold and her eyes glared icy daggers into him.

"Mione you need to come down. It's nearly time-"

"For what Fred? For me to fucking die by dragon fire? Merlin forbid a witch to want to spend a little time to herself before she go off and die!"

Fred flinched a bit. He wasn't a fool; he knew Hermione to swear occasionally but never directed towards him.

"You aren't going to die," Fred spoke quietly.

Hermione only grew angrier at his words though.

"And how could you possibly know that Fred? You can't guarantee that at all! Have you ever fought off a bloody dragon all alone Fred? No. No you haven't. You can't say that to me! You can't promise I'll be fine!" She spat her words as tears pricked at her eyes. Her whole body trembled from all the emotion coursing through her veins.

Fred hated seeing her like this. All he ever wanted for Hermione was for her to laugh and smile.

Before she could resist Fred pulled the young witch into a tight hug. He once again rubbed her back. As she began to cry quietly, he spoke.

"You're right. I've never fought a dragon or faced death the way you have so many times. Even worse, I was never really there for you before."

He tilted her face up and looked into her teary brown eyes.