Ron's POV.
A Tricky Little Charm – TPS, Ch11
"I'm going to find Snape and try to get my book back."
Ron looked up at Harry in surprise. No, he wasn't joking. Blimey.
"Rather you than me," he said, at the exact same moment as Hermione. He glanced at her and then looked back at Harry, who waved his hand dismissively and left the common room.
As soon as the portrait closed behind him, Ron jumped up and gestured across the room to Dean and Seamus.
"Quick, we'd better finish it now," he called over to them.
Hermione stood up, looking confused. "Finish what?" She asked as Dean and Seamus came over.
Ron grinned. "We decided to make a banner for Harry, to hang on the stands at the match tomorrow," he told her. It had been Dean's idea, and he and Seamus had quickly agreed. They'd spent half an hour that morning while Harry was at practice arguing over what it should say, and then another half an hour making it. It wasn't finished.
Dean pulled the sheet they were using out of his bag and spread it on the table. Ron quickly shoved aside his and Hermione's books, earning himself a frown from Hermione.
The banner read 'Potter for President'. Dean had luckily had paint with him, since it turned out he was the arty type, and they'd filled in the words that morning. Underneath it, Dean had sketched on a Gryffindor lion. It was half painted.
"That's an amazing lion," Hermione said, voicing Ron's opinion. "Who drew that?"
"I did," said Dean, looking a bit embarrassed.
Hermione smiled. "Well, it's really, really good," she said.
"Thanks," said Dean. He pulled the paint and some brushes out of his bag. "How much time do we have?"
Ron shook his head as he grabbed a brush. "Not long," he said. "Harry just went to get something from Snape so to the dungeons and back."
They started filling in the rest of the lion. "Can I help?" Asked Hermione.
Ron shook his head. "No, it's okay," he said.
"I've only got three brushes anyway," added Dean.
"I read about a charm that can spread paint over an area instantly," said Hermione.
Ron looked up at her. "Do you know it?"
Hermione looked sheepish. "Er, no," she said. "I'm just saying I read about it."
Ron rolled his eyes and went back to the painting. They really didn't have enough time for Hermione to tell them about things she'd read. It would take years.
"People use it for decorating," Hermione said after a few moments' silence.
Ron ignored her. He was painting the lion's tail, and it was tricky.
"I also read about a spell that can –"
Ron looked up at her, exasperated. "Hermione, shush! I'm trying to paint and if you stand there and tell me all the things you're read you'll never stop."
Hermione glared at him for a second and then picked up what she had been reading and went back to it, her expression stony. Ron realised it was his Charms homework she was reading and considered that maybe he shouldn't have lost his temper.
He went back to the banner and concentrated on painting, and a minute later it was done. He, Dean and Seamus stood back to admire their work. Dean waved his wand over the sheet and the paint dried instantly.
"It's really… plain," said Dean, sounding disappointed.
Seamus shook his head. "It's good, Dean," he said. "Especially the lion. It's really good."
Ron nodded, but he kind of agreed with Dean. It was plain – just the red writing on the white sheet. It was quite boring.
Hermione put Ron's work to one side and surveyed the banner. Then, before any of them could stop her she raised her wand over the sheet and muttered something. Suddenly the paint on the banner started to flash different colours – red to yellow to blue to green to purple to pink to mauve to navy to…
Ron blinked and looked back at Hermione, who was looking very pleased with herself.
"Wow!" Dean exclaimed. "That looks so cool!"
"How did you do that?" Seamus said, grinning from ear to ear.
Ron grinned to. "Read about it, did you?" He asked.
Hermione laughed and nodded. "Well, it looks really good," said Ron, looking back at the sheet.
"We'd better hide it before Harry comes back," said Seamus. He and Dean bundled it up and hurried up the staircase to the dormitory. Ron and Hermione re-arranged their textbooks so that Harry wouldn't know anything was amiss and sat back down.
"Do you think that charm would work on Scabbers' fur?" Ron asked Hermione.
She grinned. "I don't know," she said. "Anyway, you already have a spell for that. 'Sunshine, daisies, butter mellow -'"
"Alright, alright…"
" 'Turn this stupid, fat rat yellow'." Hermione laughed.
"How do you remember that?" Ron asked her incredulously.
Hermione shrugged. "Well, it was pretty stupid, it just stuck with me," she said wickedly.
Ron shook his head but before he could reply Harry appeared next to them. "Did you get it?" Ron asked, before seeing the look on Harry's face. He looked like he'd seen a… well, something really scary.
"What's the matter?"
Ref: Philosopher's Stone, ch 11, p134.
