"Hermione?"
The silence that followed was scary, for lack of a better word.
Fred swallowed and then tried again, knocking this time, "Would you please come out and talk about this?"
He heard a sniffle and his heart clenched. He contemplated breaking down the door and gathering the girl in his arms. It hadn't been his fault. He had been ambushed. How could he have possibly known that-? He had rushed after her the minute their eyes had met.
Hearing the sound of a door opening, he quickly into the adjoining bathroom stall, and slammed the door shut. Resting his brow against the wall, he groaned when he realized just what he had done. Locked himself up in a girl's bathroom stall.
A pair of feet walked past his stall and he heard a girl giggling, "I can't believe it worked."
Fred recognized that voice and he clenched his fist in fury. This was all her fault! When he got his hands on her, he was going to . . . The voice that followed shocked him to the core. His twin's girlfriend. She sounded doubtful and a little disapproving, "That wasn't very nice, you know. Besides, I doubt she believed it. She knows how much he cares for her."
The malicious voice was sneering now, "She was crying, Katie. The little bookworm was crying. And she deserved it. I made it quite clear that I wanted Fred and he wanted me. She was just too stupid to see. Panting after him like a bitch in heat. You should have seen the way she looked when she saw him all over me."
Katie sounded upset now, "Fred has fancied Hermione for two years now, Angelina. He wanted to go out with her. You knew that. How could you do this to him? You're supposed to be his friend."
There was a second of silence and something clattered on the marble sink, and Angelina spoke dismissively, "He doesn't know what he wants. He just wants her because he probably think's she's and easy lay."
"You know that's not true! Fred really likes Hermione."
"What are you so upset about, Katie? It's not like he's your boyfriend."
Katie growled, "No, but he's my boyfriend's twin brother. I'm not going to hurt George like this! You - "
There was a resounding click and the stall next to his opened. There was a soft gasp, probably from Katie, and a snort from Angelina, "Oh, look, Katie. The little bookworm was eavesdropping."
Fred's face started to resemble his bright red hair as he grew furious. He was about to barge out of his hiding hole. when a soft but slightly hoarse voice spoke up and made him pause, "Is it true, Katie?"
Katie seemed cautious as she asked slowly, "Is what true?"
"Has Fred really fancied me since third year?"
Before Katie could confirm or deny, Angelina sneered, "Oh, get over yourself, Hermione. Or did you forget just who he was snogging a few minutes ago? Besides, just what do you think he would possibly see in you. You're so boring."
Hermione didn't respond to that. All she said was, "Katie?"
Katie sounded uncomfortable, before admitting, "George told me."
"And you believe him?"
Fred nearly smiled at how calm and logical she was starting to sound. He loved that about Hermione. When things were falling apart she would pick them up piece by piece and fit them together until it made sense.
"He's never lied to me before."
"I see."
He heard a snort, "Don't fool yourself, Hermione. I've known Fred much longer than you have and believe me when I say, boring girls like yourself have no chance with him. So stop dreaming and go back to that library of yours. No wonder everyone calls you a prissy stuck-up. Have you even been kissed before?"
