The library at Hogwarts is usually a truly magical place, bursting to the brim with ancient magical knowledge and the beautiful smell of old books, an endless winding labyrinth of enormous bookshelves and stacks of manuscripts. The quiet that engulfs the library is usually only broken by the soft rustling of pages or gentle footsteps against the hardwood floor, creating the most beautiful ambient environment for studying or doing homework.

That is, when that beautiful quiet isn't being constantly broken by the irritatingly bubbly giggling of the groups of girls that continually follow Victor Krum about the library.

Marjorie clenches her jaw and tries very hard to block them out, to just concentrate. She's tucked into a very comfortable nook between two bookshelves, and it should be the perfect space for her to work on her dream journal, but she just keeps getting knocked out of focus. At the very least, she's not alone in her annoyance; Hermione Granger sits at a desk across the way surrounded by books, and every so often she glares irritably at the girls who move in threes and fours through the aisles.

After yet another lingering laugh interrupts her concentration yet again, Marjorie shuts her dream journal with a sigh. It's looking increasingly unlikely that she'll be getting any more work today, so she decides to give up on her work and join Hermione.

Hermione is still scowling in the direction of the muffled whispers when Marjorie sits down opposite her, although as soon as her head whips around to face her, her expression clears. "Oh, Marjorie. How are you?"

Marjorie smiles at her, a little shy despite herself. "I'm good, thank you. Having trouble getting work done, too?"

"Yes." Hermione shoots a downright filthy look down one of the aisles, then sighs as she turns back to Marjorie. "It's Victor. The reason that those girls are here every day, that is. It's because Victor comes here."

It takes Marjorie an embarrassingly long moment to realise that by Victor, Hermione means Victor Krum. "Oh." She glances around, and manages to catch a glimpse of dark, short-cropped hair at the end of the aisle of books. "And... is he here for you?"

A rosy blush appears high on Hermione's cheeks as she feigns interest in one of her nearby books. "I- well, I don't know about that-" She clears her throat as she realises that the book she was pretending to be interested in was upside down, and hurriedly rights it. "I think he's studying for the upcoming task, actually. Which is why I'm here, too -- to help Harry, of course."

"Ah, of course." Marjorie chews at her lip thoughtfully; the second task was only a week away, and Harry had already had a stressful month. Neville had been absolutely irate about the nasty articles published by Rita Skeeter in the Daily Prophet, and had taken to complaining insistently about them every chance he got. "How is he feeling about it?"

"Well, you know," Hermione fiddles with one of the large tomes she has open on the desk, "I think he's deciphered the clue from the Golden Egg, but figuring out a strategy is definitely a challenge."

Marjorie hums. "I don't think I'd be any help, but if there's anything I can do please let me know."

Hermione smiles warmly at her, but then seems to get distracted by something over her shoulder. Marjorie turns to see Victor Krum hovering behind her, his dark eyes fixed on Hermione. "Victor," Hermione says, a shy smile playing around her lips, "Er- this is Marjorie."

"Hello." Marjorie says, unable to meet his gaze. She may not be a big fan of Quidditch, but Krum is a world-renowned player and far more intense than she would have expected.  She doesn't know how Hermione is able to withstand his stare without crumbling, but she looks completely composed (if still a little pink).

Krum gives her a little bow, and though he only takes his eyes off of Hermione for a moment to do so it still makes Marjorie blush violently. "Pleasure to meet you," He says; his voice is deep and rumbly and heavily accented, and Marjorie shoots a wide-eyed glance to Hermione before looking back at him. "You are friend of Hermione?"

"Yes, Marjorie is my friend." Hermione answers for her, and Marjorie is so surprised that all she can do is blink at her. She hadn't realised that they were close enough to be considered friends, though Hermione's words leave a pleasant sort of glow in her chest.

"I'll, er- I'll just leave you two to it, then." Marjorie excuses herself a little awkwardly, though she sends a beaming smile at Hermione before she goes. In a new and greatly improved mood, she practically bounces her way out of the library; not only was Hermione completely unembarrassed to identify her as a friend in front of a world-famous celebrity, but said celebrity was also perfectly courteous to her even though he had absolutely no need to be.

With a silly little dreamy smile on her face, Marjorie floats her way down the candlelit corridors. It's late enough that Madame Pince was due to be ushering students out of the library anyway, so Marjorie isn't missing much by leaving the library before she intended to. She can't wait to tell Neville about meeting Krum -- neither of them are particularly big fans of Quidditch, but there's something exciting about being acknowledged by someone as well known and respected as Krum.

She passes Nearly Headless Nick with a polite "Hello!" as she drifts unhurriedly down the corridors, and his head wobbles dangerously as he bows back to her. The castle is quiet at this hour of the evening, with mostly everyone having retired already to their respective common rooms.

"Evening, Longbottom!"

Marjorie startles a little at the sudden call, but when she turns to see Lee Jordan sauntering along behind her she breaks into an airy smile. "Oh, hello! How are you?"

Lee seems a bit surprised at her enthusiastic greeting, but he grins as he takes a closer look at her. "Damn, you look happy. Where've you been all evening?" His grin turns distinctly cheeky, "Or should I be asking who you spent the evening with?"

His tone seems quite pointed, but Marjorie isn't quite sure what exactly he means by it. "I've just been in the library. I met Victor Krum there!"

Lee's eyes flare wide and his mouth drops a little. "Krum?"

"Yes! He was very friendly." Marjorie can't keep the smile off her face, still buzzing off her little interactions in the library. "Very intense, though."

Lee looks as though he can't quite believe what he's hearing, staring at her as though his eyes are about to fall out of his head. "So you're telling me that the reason you're so relaxed is because you were, uh... chatting with Victor Krum in one of the dark recesses of the library?"

"Well, I mean, there really wasn't all that much chatting going on." Marjorie says, a little puzzled but still smiling all the same.

Lee makes an odd sort of choking sound before clearing his throat hastily."Longbottom, I can honestly say that I did not think you had it in you."

"What do you mean?" Marjorie asks with a nervous laugh, fiddling with her plaited hair. She has a feeling that she's missing something in their conversation, but she hasn't a notion what that could be.

"Well, it's just-" It's not often that Lee Jordan stumbles for words, so it's surprising to see him do so now, "I don't think I've ever seen you so relaxed before. And... well, the last person I expected to be the cause of that would be Krum. Er- no offence."

Marjorie just smiles at him, bewildered but trying not to show it. "Oh, none taken!" She says as they begin to climb the stairs to Gryffindor Tower. "I was surprised myself, really! But he was quite a gentleman."

 "Right! Blimey, well... er, fair play, I suppose!" He still looks a little confounded, but he nudges her encouragingly with an elbow. "I just- well, I thought he had a thing for Hermione Granger."

"Oh, well I think he does," Marjorie nods as they approach the Fat Lady, "That's the only reason he came over, I think."

"Acid pops." Lee says to the Fat Lady, who swings open to allow them entrance with a lazy yawn. He gestures for Marjorie to go first, and then follows her into the common room. "You, er- you don't mind if I tell Fred and George, do you? If you want to keep it private that's totally fine too, I get that it's personal-"

"Oh, of course you can." Marjorie smiles, a little confused about Lee's behaviour -- she doesn't think she had said anything particularly personal at all. "Well, I'm going to try and get some work done."

"Right, right," Lee gives her a little wave before making a beeline straight for the twins, who have their heads together over a piece of parchment by the window.

Marjorie settles down by the fire and pulls out her dream journal again. It's delightfully warm in the common room, to the point that it's difficult to get any work done -- the comforting heat and flickering light from the fire is enough to make her sleepy within moments, and the quiet murmur of conversation from the other occupants relaxing around the room is just loud enough to make concentrating a bit of a chore.

A yelp of "Krum? You've got to be fucking joking-" breaks the tranquil atmosphere of the common room, and Marjorie glances around curiously to see the twins looking distinctly horrified as Lee hushes them. He must be telling them that Marjorie had been chatting with Victor Krum in the library, but she can't work out the reason behind the strength of their reaction. She doesn't have to wonder for too long; after another few moments of hushed conversation with Lee, the twins stand and begin to make their way over to where she sits by the fire. She ducks her head quickly and tries to pretend to be absorbed in her work, not wanting to be caught out watching them.

"Marjorie Longbottom," Fred says in a voice full of cheer that sounds slightly forced, "How are you, love?"

Marjorie closes her journal and peers up at him, trying not to appear flustered -- being called 'love' by Fred Weasley while he looks at her with his deep brown eyes and his hair gilded by the firelight is enough to turn her knees watery, and she's impossibly grateful that she's already sitting down. "Um, I'm fine, thank you! How are you?"

"Peachy," Fred says quickly, and then promptly steamrolls ahead, "So, what's this I hear about you and Krum, then?"

"Bit of tact wouldn't go astray, Freddie." George says in a would-be casual voice as he sits next to Marjorie, giving her a little smile that just toes the line of a smirk.

Marjorie looks between the two of them, and the feeling of missing an important element of the conversation comes back in full force. "Erm, I assume Lee already told you?"

"He did, yeah." Fred frowns, "But we thought he was joking."

"It does sound a little crazy." George adds with a quiet chuckle, leaning forward and keeping his voice low.

Marjorie's brow dips into a frown. "Why would it be crazy," She asks slowly, "For someone to want to talk with me? Or is it because it was Victor Krum?"

George's expression changes all of a sudden, as though realising that they were treading on thin ice. "No, no," He says swiftly, "That's not what we meant at all, Marjie!"

But Fred is still frowning. "'Talking'? Is that what we're calling it now?"

"Well-" Marjorie is beginning to get overwhelmed, and looks back and forth between the twins rapidly, "Well, I suppose there wasn't all that much talking involved, really-"

Fred sits down on the arm of the chair, frowning deeply, and leans forward to force Marjorie to make eye contact. "Tell me he didn't- I mean, Marjie... Did he take advantage of you?"

Marjorie's mouth drops open. For a long moment, she stares at him in silent horror. "Excuse me?"

George's eyes are darting rapidly between Marjorie and his brother, looking though he's watching a slow-motion train wreck that he has no way of stopping. "Well," He says hastily, apparently trying to do damage control, "We're just worried that you might have felt- well, pressured, I suppose-"

"He's rich and famous," Fred adds, apparently having caught on to George's attempt to rescue the situation, "There's like, a power imbalance and all-"

"What are you talking about?" Marjorie asks, her stomach beginning to sink rapidly. They surely can't mean what it sounds like they mean.

Fred runs a hand through his hair, clearly frustrated. His jaw is clenched, and a muscle pulses in his cheek -- George appears slightly calmer, though his fingers are clenching and unclenching where he's crossed his arms over his chest. "Look, did you or did you not shag Victor Krum in the library?"

Marjorie inhales so sharply that it hurts her chest, her mouth dropping open in mute shock. Where had they gotten that idea from? Merlin, was that the impression she had been giving off? She's torn between horror and humiliation as she desperately thinks back over both her conversation with the twins and her conversation with Lee; she knew she had been missing something, but she hadn't ever thought that she was giving off this kind of an impression!

When she doesn't answer immediately, George hurriedly pipes up. "We're not judging- or, or shaming or anything!"

"I'm sure the bastard is very persuasive." Fred nods, his expression dark.

This is so embarrassing that Marjorie wishes for nothing more than to disappear on the spot. She's practically wheezing from panic. "Oh my- no, he is not- I mean, I absolutely didn't-"

"We don't want you to be upset or embarrassed, love." Fred reaches out and takes a hold of Marjorie's hand so that he can squeeze it reassuringly, "We just wanted to make sure that he didn't, well... hurt you, I suppose, and that you didn't feel as though you couldn't say no."

Marjorie is quite sure that her face is beet-red, from the combination of both the mortification of the situation and the fact that Fred Weasley is actually holding her hand. "He- He didn't touch me!"

George's shoulders slump forward with relief, and Fred exhales as he squeezes her hand. "Oh, thank Merlin." George starts to chuckle, but Marjorie isn't quite ready to laugh at the misunderstanding just yet.

"Merlin's beard, why would you think that?"

"You looked very damn happy over here, and Lee said that when he asked you why, you said that you'd been with Krum in the library-"

"He said hello to me!" It was a simple mistake, Marjorie knows that, but she can't help but feel embarrassed and a little offended, which makes her tone sharper than it ever would be ordinarily, "Can I not be happy without having shagged somebody-?"

"Of course you can!" Fred says hurriedly, glancing over his shoulder quickly to make sure nobody is listening -- other than Lee Jordan, who's peering with wide-eyed curiosity in their direction, no one has so much as glanced their way. "Blimey, of course you can! We were just concerned, that's all, cause we're friends-"

"How could you even have thought that he'd want to?" Marjorie asks in a hissing whisper, tears of humiliation beginning to prick at her eyes.

"What's that supposed to mean?" Fred straightens up, his shoulders set back as though preparing for a fight. "Why wouldn't he want to shag you?"

Marjorie moves to tug her hand back out of his grip, but he won't let go. "Will you just- Oh, for heavens' sake! You know perfectly well why!"

"No, I don't." Fred says stubbornly, his chin jutting out as he clenches his jaw again.

George rubs at his face tiredly, before leaning over and dropping his arm around Marjorie's shoulders. "Marjie, darling, I think we need to do some work on your self-esteem."

Marjorie wiggles out from their grip and turns to look at them head on. "Maybe- maybe you need to start working on not jumping to conclusions!"

The twins blink at her, and she can understand why; she was so quiet that they hadn't even taken note of her existence until a few months ago, so her raising her voice at them in a common room full of people starting to take notice of their little chat is extremely unusual for her. However, the weight of those curious stares is enough to deflate the small amount of indignant confidence she had managed to work up.

"I'm going to bed." She blurts, and darts for the dormitories before the twins have the chance to collect themselves enough to stop her.

A/N

As always, thank you so much to everyone who has voted/commented on this story! It's so lovely and encouraging to hear from everyone who's enjoying it so far.