In primary school Harry had been a pretty okay goalkeeper. Hermione got eight out of ten shots past him. The two shots she didn't get past him were the first two 'warm-up shots' she took. He stared at her, "I have never once thought you were athletic."
Hermione walked over to him and leaned in to whisper into his ear, "How do you think I got so flexible then love?" The glassy eyes and automatic grin had Hermione laughing as she pulled away from him. Harry blinked and then gave a pout at her teasing him.
The couple helped the Creevey boys and Justin and Dean explain how to play to the clueless purebloods. Harry was amazed at how complicated they made such a simple game. The most complicated aspect of football was the offside rule and yet the purebloods had so many questions it was surreal. These same purebloods could probably recite all 700 quidditch fouls and found the game of quidditch easy to grasp.
Late that afternoon they walked back into the school to clean up before dinner and Harry asked Hermione, "What's your dad's team?"
"Arsenal. He was born and raised in London."
"And your mum?"
"She's a diehard Manchester United fan. Though just to rankle my dad she'll cheer for Spurs when they play Arsenal."
Harry laughed. The more he learned about the Grangers the more he liked them. "What about you?"
Hermione licked her lips, "Well I grew up in Manchester so I'd have to give the nod to Manchester United. We would attend games, my mum and me. I do miss being able to attend the games."
Harry nodded in understanding. "Next year during Christmas we should be able to leave Hogwarts. We could go to a game then. I've never had a team to cheer for; the Dursleys never watched sports other than Match of the Day. Only because Uncle Vernon needed to be able to talk about the games at work the next day."
"I like that idea love. We'll have so much fun. And I won't pressure you to be a fan. You get to choose your club on your own." Harry leaned in to kiss her but she pulled back, "So long as it's not Manchester City or Chelsea."
"I promise," he said, grinning before he pulled her against him and kissed her, "our room?"
"Our room," she agreed and the pair headed up to the seventh floor of the castle.
Arthur Weasley sat in Minerva's office, "Arthur I understand why you want him to stay in school but Ron isn't doing well. He never studies, his homework is no better than before, and when pushed he tells his teachers that there's no point when he's going to be a quidditch star. The lad wasn't even on the team."
Arthur sighed, "How is his behavior?"
"Not improving," Minerva responded. "The boy has twice made passes at Miss Granger and when rebuffed he gets mad. I worry what a temper like that could mean for anyone in the future who refuses his advances. He gets violent when he gets angry."
"If Ron doesn't manage to stay in school then…well then there's no hope for him Minerva. Ron had two friends raised in the muggle world and never once tried to learn about it. He often mocked Hermione for it according to my other children."
The older woman gazed at him, "Arthur the boy is a threat to the learning of others and he even interfered with the second task, preventing Mr. Malfoy from being able to participate fully. If not for our house elves Mr. Malfoy might have lost his magic. That's a serious concern. Whether the attack was intentional or not Ronald tried to hide his actions and that could have been disastrous for the Malfoys."
Arthur paled at the implications. Causing someone to lose their magic could lead to legal battles. They could have lost the Burrow if Malfoy pushed for it. Minerva continued, "Lucius Malfoy has declined to press charges. But surely, Arthur, you understand our dilemma?"
"The reimbursement is contingent on him finishing this year and doing well on his exams," Arthur sighed, "I don't want to see my son's entire time at Hogwarts as a failure. As a waste of money. Money we could have used for our family."
"I understand how hard it is for you but Ronald is squandering every chance presented to him and his pureblood supremacy he's been spouting is only making matters worse. Especially when coupled with his belligerant attitude." Arthur rubbed his face with his hands at the decision he had to make.
Hermione lay in their bed and watched Harry exit the bathroom with a towel around his waist, "So Mr. Potter, what do you have in mind for tonight?"
"Dinner with my sexy girlfriend and then I thought we could snuggle in the common room and just relax."
"That does sound lovely," she smiled. Harry grinned and moved to his trunk to find some clothes. "Mum is looking forward to France. She's also excited to meet Fleur."
"Viktor is invited too," Harry said. Hermione grinned. Their friends were becoming very close. Especially since the second task. "I'm becoming less worried about your parents' reactions but at the same time…" Harry struggled for the words for a moment before confessing, "I know that I'll be really worried as soon as we get on the train back to London."
Hermione sat upright, "About that, Harry. I've written to mum and explained that we're going to be leaving from London anyway and they could spend a day or so in an actual magical home before we go to France. It saves on gas and anything extra we need we'll be closer to than in Streford."
Harry gazed at Hermione, "So you suggested we stay…"
"At Grimmauld Place with Sirius and Remus."
Harry beamed at her before pulling on his shirt and the lightweight hoody he'd picked out himself, "That's brilliant Hermione. Sirius and Remus know and can run interference for us with your parents!"
"When it comes to you I'm always a little extra motivated," she pulled him to her and kissed him. "Shall we go see the others now Harry?"
"We could stop for a snog along the way if my lady permits it," he said, helping her upright.
"She could be convinced of that I suppose."
They were walking toward Gryffindor Tower when they saw a crowd of students downstairs. "What's all that about?" Hermione asked.
"Dunno, let's go look," they found a staircase and made their way downstairs to see what the commotion was.
Ronald Weasley found himself the center of attention yet again for a negative reason. He walked forward with his trunk and his father walking next to him. Almost the entire school was watching him leave. He saw a familiar brunette girl and dark-haired boy and his temper flared. "This is all your fault you fame hungry bastard!"
Harry glanced at Hermione, "Is he looking into a mirror or accusing me of being just like him?"
"I think the latter," she said.
Harry rolled his eyes and looked at another student, "What's going on?"
"Weasley is being kicked out of Hogwarts."
Ginny watched her brother hand his wand over to the headmistress after the direct order from their father. Her mind drifted to their father calling them up to the headmistress' office to discuss what was happening.
-Flashback-
Arthur Weasley had a grave look on his face as he addressed his other three children, "After careful consideration and the perusal of Ron's grades and behavior here at Hogwarts I've decided it will be best to remove Ron from the school."
"Is he going to study at home?" Ginny asked. According to Hermione purebloods were afforded that option if they didn't attend Hogwarts.
"No. Ron isn't even studying here. The agreement we made was that he'd return to Hogwarts after spending some time at home to return to the first year. His grades had to improve. They've not improved at all despite the easier courseload that he's been given. And then there's his behavior in and out of class. That is just outrageous."
"But doesn't that mean that his wand will be snapped?"
"Yes it does," Arthur nodded. "Ron seems to think that he can just do whatever he wants because he's a pureblood. That things will just happen to him because of that alone and he doesn't have to work to get to what he wants to get to."
The three looked at each other. They'd never heard of a Weasley having their wand snapped. Ron would live in magical society but be unable to ever use magic. And only they seemed to realize that; Ron certainly didn't.
-End Flashback-
Ginny watched her brother hand over his wand to the headmistress who shook her head and spoke, "Mr. Weasley you were handed chance after chance at this school. You squandered each one. In accordance with magical law your wand is hereby confiscated and snapped. You are no longer permitted a wand."
Ron Weasley watched as his wand, his very own wand and not a hand-me-down, was snapped in half right in front of his eyes. Suddenly it occurred to him what had happened. "But…but. No! I don't want to go!"
"That is no longer your decision," McGonagall said. "You are hereby expelled from Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. Mr. Arthur Weasley, you may take him home now. I will be sending the report to the Ministry."
"Yes Headmistress," Arthur nodded. He looked at his other children, "Your mother and I are proud of you three. Keep up the good work." Ginny and the twins nodded.
Ron's head was down as he slowly walked out of Hogwarts for good. Arthur had no words for his son. He knew Molly wouldn't either. She'd told Arthur they needed to keep a firm hand with Ron. It was the only way to keep him in line. Pureblood supremacy had killed Molly's brothers and she wasn't going to let her son spout the stupidity.
There was a somber mood to everyone at dinner. Ron wasn't exactly anyone's friend anymore but to see a student have their wand snapped and be kicked out of Hogwarts was startling. All except for one Tri-Wizard Champion. Draco Malfoy. He was strutting around the castle like he'd personally kicked Ron Weasley out.
Harry felt conflicted. Ron was particularly annoying and vindictive ever since they arrived at Hogwarts for the year; he went out of his way to insult and belittle Harry and Hermione. Still, Harry felt bad for the other Weasleys; for Ginny, Fred and George, and of course the two Weasley parents. He liked them.
"You were right," Hermione said, sitting down next to Harry in the common room, "you said Ron would dig his heels in and not even try to change. That he wouldn't realize it until it was too late and still blame someone else. He did all of that."
"Guess I knew Ron better than he ever knew either of us," Harry pulled her into his lap, "I mean, he thought that you wouldn't date me just to spare his feelings. He thought that I would let him have you just to make him feel better about himself. That you would just do his homework for him. That I would just hand over my Firebolt. That we'd just let him back into the fold after he treated us like he did."
"Ginny said that he was really upset at the second task when he realized Fleur wasn't showing any skin." Harry muttered something that Hermione thought was 'pig' but she wasn't certain. She snuggled into him, "I love you."
He smiled, "You always know how to make me feel better."
"Actually I have two ways," she corrected, "Option one is telling you I love you and option two is showing you I love you."
"I like them both pretty equally," Harry said.
She smiled and kissed him, "That's why you're so wonderful Harry Potter."
"Because most guys would like one over the other?"
"Among other things," she pecked him on the cheek, "we have a test to study for."
"Yes dear," he let her get up and stood, following her out of the common room and heading back up to their room.
Draco had been overjoyed that Ron Weasley was kicked out of school. That had changed by the next morning. With Weasley gone he had no one to make fun of and rile up anymore. Granger and Potter were too strong and dangerous. He decided to focus on the last task. He had to prove his superiority over the blood-traitors and creatures. Though he didn't have a clue what the last task was. They were supposed to find out soon.
Cedric, Viktor, and Fleur were not looking forward to the final task. Especially not when they came upon the obviously growing hedges that would create a maze that Ludo Bagman was standing near. A maze could hide an untold number of dangers, some more violent and dangerous than others. When they walked away from the quidditch pitch after Ludo's explanation of the last task Fleur spoke, "Perhaps we should all work together. I do not weesh to begin my summer dead. 'Ermione would not be pleased."
"Agreed," Viktor nodded. "I cannot play quidditch professionally if I'm dead."
"So we should all help each other? Hagrid is supplying magical creatures…that doesn't bode well. I mean, they stuck us with dragons," Cedric frowned at the memory.
"Yes we do. We are almost all equal in scores except for Draco. We will enter together and have a three-way victory," Viktor said. Fleur smiled at her boyfriend and nodded in agreement.
"Plus Malfoy is an idiot and this could be his chance to try and hurt us," Cedric added.
"Even idiots get lucky," Fleur said.
P.S. Arthur doesn't get a say in Ron's expulsion. He's trying to save face with his children, to soften the blow. Minerva made the decision because of his behavior, attitude, and previous agreements regarding Ron's education. Ron had to improve his schoolwork and he didn't. He had to behave himself and again he didn't. And his quick temper nearly saw Draco Malfoy becoming a squib (even if we all dislike him) which I can imagine would be a pretty serious crime in a pureblood-controlled ministry.