Disclaimer: I own neither Veronica Mars nor Harry Potter.
Hermione and Krum were kissing in the shadows right by Remus' little house. It was a weekend and Hermione often spent those with lonely Remus in a little room he had set up for her during the summer. Viktor and Hermione had just returned from what was becoming a weekly date for the two.
"Okay. I'm uh, I'm really leaving now," Krum murmured against her lips before pulling away gently.
"Okay," she agreed leaning up to plant a kiss on his lips again.
"Seriously," Krum said.
"See you," Hermione whispered again between kisses, smiling now.
"Okay. Good night, all right, no more," he pecked her lips once more before stepping back, "You know, uh, if we were the type of people who attended school functions, this would probably be the time that I'd ask you to the Fall Ball"
Hermione smiled and let herself into the house.
Hermione was still smiling broadly when she turned inside the room and spotted Remus sitting on the shabby couch with a copy of the latest evening edition of the Daily Prophet opened in his hands. His eyes were glued to one spot of the paper not moving.
"So, what did you think of him?" Hermione asked seeing past this.
Remus looked up with a surprised look, "Oh, hey, you're home early"
"Oh hey, did you run a background check? Or did you get fingerprints?" Hermione asked bluntly.
"Sorry, honey, what?" Remus asked playing dumb lowing his paper to look at her.
Hermione crossed her arms, "You know you're not fooling me"
"Okay," Remus paused, "Hermione, I have no idea what you're talking about"
Hermione shot him a look of disbelief and moved to enter her room.
Remus spoke causing her to pause in the doorway, "Oh, hey, I forgot to tell you. If he's gonna be kissing my daughter on my porch for eight and a half minutes, I'll need to meet him. Sweet dreams, honey"
Hermione froze stock still as his words hit her affecting her immensely. He considered her his daughter and that fact alone brought a slight tearing to her eyes. She quickly sobered up to talk facing the back of his slightly balding head.
"Is that really necessary?"
Remus smiled, "He's taking up a lot of daddy-daughter time. I hardly get to see you"
Hermione's voice softened, "I see you constantly"
"Oh sure. You see me but we don't do anything"
Hermione rolled her eyes and shut the door behind her as she entered her room. Once inside her broad smile returned and she jumped back onto her bed enjoying the moment.
"You bought your dress robes without me?"
Hermione turned to face Ginny a set of long light pink dress robes in her hands.
"What?" Hermione asked.
"Why do you insist on suppressing your hotness? The world is ready for you Hermione Granger! You don't have to blend in," Ginny claimed.
"I'm not trying to blend in," Hermione countered.
Ginny bushed past Hermione and reached into the closet, "I mean, wha-, none of this reflects your personality at all. I'm-, "she wretched out a piece of yellow cloth, "why, why do you even have this? You are not a yellow cotton dress!"
"What am I?" Hermione asked weakly.
"You're like-you're," Ginny reached again and gasped pulling out a piece of red fabric, "you're red satin!"
Ginny pushed Hermione so she was facing a mirror and pressed the piece of fabric to Hermione's chest, "You are strapless red satin! Look at this!"
Hermione sighed, "But there's no time for red satin, Ginny, the dance is tomorrow"
"Oh, god, you, wait a minute," Ginny laughed, "You know that we're not really going to the dance, right?"
"Wait, what are you talking about?" Hermione asked suspicious.
"The dance is just a lame excuse for new dress robes and a carriage party. Draco has got all the refreshments taken care of so it's going to be amazing," gushed Ginny.
"No, I can't do that," Hermione reminded firmly, "You know Remus, he will find out and I'll get crushed"
Ginny dismissed this with a wave of her hand, "You'll get grounded"
"Yeah, severely"
"Oh, whoop-de-frigging-doo, Hermione, I mean, grounding lasts what, a week? You are gonna remember this funwehave for the rest of your life. Trust me," and with that Ginny smiled and leaped backwards into Hermione's bed landing and bouncing gracefully.
Harry was sitting on the floor in Hogwarts main office sorting through various files when he twisted around to see a girl with a long honey blond plait down her back trying to lift a large stack of files.
Harry the natural gentlemen jumped up from his spot and rushed over, "Let me help you with that"
"You have to let me do something, Harry," Susan complained before loosing her balance.
Just before Harry reached her the files slid from her hands and crashed on the floor.
"That was the pile you just got finished alphabetizing, wasn't it?" Susan asked cringing.
"Actually, it was two piles," Harry tried to smile.
"Who could be a bigger spaz, honestly?"
"Yes, you could have knocked over three piles," Harry said still trying to make her calm down.
"I'm so sorry. You would have been out of here two hours ago if it wasn't for me," she fussed.
"Really not a problem," Harry assured her.
"Okay, you can stop being nice. I know I ruined your whole night"
"Susan! Trust me. You have it"
Susan began to tear up and moves forward hugging Harry tightly.
"I think I did something really stupid"
Harry grinned ear to ear before Susan let go of Harry's neck and stood back to explain.
"You see, I got this owl..."
Hermione stood in what was becoming her second office the girls bathroom. Susan Bones stood before her with Harry and she listened closely as the girl retold her story.
"This guy Karl is super-rich. A trust fund kid. And I guess he has a gambling problem and he got into trouble so he sent an owl to a friend asking for help, and…"
There was suddenly a loud bang on the door Harry rushed toward it and pushed some girls back out the door, "Sorry, Overflowing toilets. Use another bathroom"
Harry muttered a quick spell on the door and returned to Susan who was handing a copy of the letter to Hermione.
"Well, okay, first of all, a trust fund kid doesn't send their mail through the public owling service and certainly not with a Pensieve games stamp. That's pure nerd"
Hermione read the letter absently, "Hey mate, I know we've not been in contact for a while but I'm hoping you could help"
"He was offering over 200 interest. And I only had to loan him the money for two weeks. Until his 21st birthday when he gets his trust fund," Susan defended.
"So you owled and told him you'd front the cash?"
"Yeah, and everything would've been fine if he would've paid me two weeks ago, like he said," Susan whimpered.
Hermione struggled to find words that didn't involve calling Susan an idiot.
"Everything is gonna be fine, okay Susan," Harry winked at her, "We'll get him"
Hermione lifted her eyebrows at him, "Will we now?"
Harry grinned and rolled his eyes to indicate that he wanted to impress Susan. Hermione sigh and took her quill out to write out a letter.
In less then a minute it was done and she read it aloud in a mocking bouncy voice, "Hi Karl, it's Amber. Um I got an Owl from you, I guess by mistake but I think I can help you. Wrie me back"
Hermione shoved the letter into her bag just as the bell rang.
"And I'm late for Arithmancy, again," Hermione closed her eyes for a moment before turning to Susan again, "Ten percent of whatever I recover"
Susan nodded bemused as Hermione walked past the two and left the bathroom nodding to Harry who mouthed "Thank you". Once she was gone Harry pointed to where Hermione had left and said to Susan, "Did I tell you?"
Susan just smiled nervously.
Hermione settled into her desk in Newspaper class not paying much attention as Professor Dent rattled off the morning announcments.
"…last day to buy Ball tickets. No tickets for the Ball will be sold after that time"
Draco came walking in and set down his bag on a desk across the room.
"Kicking off the Ball festivities, will be the dedication of the Ginny Weasley Memorial Fountain"
Hermione and Draco both looked up at that. Hermione searched the room for Ron only to find him missing either having skipped or simply was conveniently late.
"The Weasley family would like to invite all students to attend the tribute and celebrate the memory of one of Hogwarts' most beloved students," Dent continued.
Hermione lookrf back to Draco who looked up as well noticing her but they both looked away quickly.
Hermione was walking down the corridor quietly thinking to herself when Krumsided up beside her full of joy.
"You and me, Thursday night, I'm thinking Broom racing. It's what all the kids are doing," he caught her skeptical look, "But you don't fly"
Hermione grimaced as they turned the corner, "Remus wants to meet you"
"I thought Remus was just your boss?"
"Well he's more of a father figure these days," Hermione explained.
"I see," Krum pondered for a moment before smiling, "That's cool"
They had finally arrived at Hermione's charm class and slowed to a stop to the side of the door.
"I'll pick you up at the door. I mean I can't do the wave and go but that's no problem"
Hermione tensed, "My dad's a little intense"
Viktor didn't seem fazed by her terminology
"Don't worry. I give good parent," he assured leaning down to kiss her.
"And just so I can make the appropriate arrangements. The Ball is a go, right?"
'This should make me happy'
Hermione smiled trying to mask her uncertainty, "Yeah, yeah, it'll be fun"
Krumsmiledand turned to leave once he was out of sight Hermione's smile dropped.
'The big dance being a staple of every girl's fantasy'
'I've already lived the dream. Everything else seems like a cheap reminder'
Hermione and Ron stood in the foyer of the new Weasleymansion. Hermione was dressed in her long pink dress robes her hair pulled away from her face allowing the long curls to tumble down her back gently. Ron stood beside Draco both in new dark black dress robes Ron's with blue highlights and Draco's with green.
Mr. Weasleystood to the side with a camera he ordered off the families new Enter-Net while Mrs. Weasley paced nervously and called, "Ginny" for the millionth time that night.
"Ginny!"
Hermione grinned and pulled out her camcorder from her small beaded bag and pushed it toward Draco and Ron who were now posing in their fancy new robes.
"Ginny! Dear! Everyone is waiting!" Molly yelled up the stairs again.
Ron broke off from messing with the other two and moved closer to the stairs leaving Hermione and Draco to continue to fool around.
"What the hell is she doing? How long does it take to put on a dress?"
Molly turned and patted her son's hand, "Honey, you know your sister. It's not an entrance if she's on time"
Ronald huffed and groaned turning back to join Hermione and Draco who was laughing and now dodging the camcorder.
"Maybe you should go and help her," Ron suggested to Hermione.
Hermione spotted Ginny making her entrance over Ron's shoulder and stifled a laugh, "Ah-umm, I think she's got it covered"
Ginny entered the room off the stair case in a fabulous gold sequined backless set of dress robes. She twirled toward them in a mock Hollywood way. The front of her dress was low cut and draped, the halter was held together at the breast by a thin chain. The dress was split high up on each side exposing plenty of leg. Both Arthur and Molly's jaws drop as Draco grinned and moved forward to greet her.
"I believe Keanu Reeves said it best, when he said, Whoa!"
Ginny laughed and offered her cheek which Draco kissed.
"All right, let's, ah," Draco took her hand and he spun her to him, "let's make with the pictures before the, um glitter rubs off"
The two danced their was over to Hermione and Ron who were laughing, Hermione quickly offered the camcorder to Arthur, "Could you… Mr Wea-"
Mr. Weasley reached forward with a smile, "Oh yes, of course"
The four friends positioned themselves, the boys behind their respective girlfriends. Arthur stood with Molly pointing the camcorder toward them and handed the camera to Molly.
Molly raised her nose and spoke without feeling, "You all look very nice," she pointed indication to Ginny's exposed cleavage, "Ginny, could you…"
Ginny suppressed a grin and adjusted the drape to expose more of her "gifts" Ron rolled his eyes amused as Hermione laughed out loud unable to contain herself.
Ginny turned to her displeased mother, "Hey, I'm only young once. How many bra-less years do I have left?"
Molly shook her head but raised the camera anyway and they all started to pose in different angles. Sweet at first but increasingly silly as they went along. Soon they were openly laughing in every photo. Then Ron spotted the carriage pull up through one of the new floor length windows.
"All right. Let's go"
"Be careful," Molly warned.
"Be safe out there," Arthur handed the camcorder back to Hermione.
They all laughed as they skipped toward the fancy carriage.
Harry popped up behind Hermione speaking in a very happy tone, "Ladies and gentlemen, Hermione Granger," Hermione smiled at his cheerfulness, "I've talked to that girl more today than I have in the past three months combined!"
Hermione smiled broadly her blues wiped away, "Her pain is your pleasure?"
"Hey, hey, I'm the cavalry. I get to save the day," Hermione sent him a look, "We are going to save the day? Right?"
There was a nearby taping on the window and Hermione rushed forward to grab the owl. Her brown eyes quickly tore through it. She then quickly pulled out another piece of paper to respond and spoke as she wrote in the 'Amber' voice.
"Of course I can meet you today what time?" Harry crossed his fingers becoming increasingly excited as he listened.
Draco spotted Ron walking slower then usual around the bend of the corridor and sped up to meet him.
"What are you doing?" he asked in a neutral tone.
"Ah. My mother thought it would be nice to have a video tribute of Ginny for the dedication ceremony," He pulled out some tapes and other various things from his bag.
"What, she wanted you to do it?"
"No, my dad did," he explained, "He wanted someone who knew her"
Draco paused, "Do you want me to do it, mate? You know I'm awesome at this stuff," he caught Ron's reluctant look, "Come on, let me do it. I wanna do it"
Ron finally nodded and handed him the stuff, "Thanks mate"
Hermione stood at one of the new parks in HogsmeadeVillageon a bench. She had dug through her closet for the dumbest outfit she owned. Entirely pink and she had done up her hair in a band. She tugged down her short tight skirt the epitome of an air head. Off on the side hiding in one of the nearby alley ways was Harry Potter and Susan Bones.
They waited and then with a pop a man appeared carrying a backpack he spotted Hermione waiting and quickly strode forward.
"Is that him?' Harry asked quietly.
"I don't think so," Susan squinted.
"Amber?" he asks when he was close enough to Hermione.
"Karl?"
"That's me!"
Hermione stood to greet him.
"You must think I'm the biggest loser," they shook hands, "sending my friends letters, begging for money. I really don't know when this became my life," Karl gave cheesy smile.
"Well, gambling is an addiction," Hermione simpered.
"You know? It is, Amber," he nodded, "Thank you for understanding. You're saving my life. Literally"
Karl dropped his backpack and sat on the bench, Hermione followed suit. Hermione's eyes flickered toward Harry.
"That's not him. But I think Karl had on the same outfit. He even had the same ugly backpack," Susan whispered.
"Stay right here," Harry ordered.
"Be careful, Harry!"
Harry beamed at her and moved closer to the Apparition point.
"Just so that we're clear, the deal is I give you 3,000 this week and you give me 6,000 next week?" Hermione asked.
"On my 21st birthday. That's the day my trust fund is unlocked," Karl confirmed.
Hermione grabbed her beaded bag and pulled out a check book, "So who do I make the check out to?"
Karl stopped, "I'm sorry. Didn't I tell you that it had to be in cash?"
"Did you?" Hermione played dumb.
"Remember?" Karl reminded, "I can't deposit anything at the bank because all my accounts are frozen… until my birthday"
"Okay, I'll-...," she simpered, "Should we meet back here tomorrow?"
"Tomorrow. Same time?" He smiled.
Hermione nodded, "Perfect"
Karl reached down to pick up his book pack when Hermione spoke again, "Karl? I can trust you, right?"
Karl smiled broadly reminding her freakishly of Lockhart, "You can trust me, Amber," he raised his hand, "Hand to God"
Hermione smiled as Karl got up and walked away. As soon as he reached the apparition point Harry walked by smoothly and tacked a tracking device onto his bag. Hermione dropped her 'Amber look' when he spun and gave him a hard look.
Hermione apparated behind Karl and watched him from the safety of a dark alley as he entered what looked like a wizarding acting studio. Hermione waited for him to enter and then approached it to find it was a community theatre. There was a small, glass-fronted display on the front with moving pictures of five actors including 'Karl'.
'And where do conmen go when they're done conning for the day?'
'To a funky Bohemian theatre for an avant-garde staging of a Beckett play, naturally'
Hermione tried to open the display but found it was locked so with a quick check of her surroundings pulled out her wand and mutters a low, "Alohomora!" The window door swung opened and Hermione reached in ignoring the protests of the pictures and un-tacked the picture of Jimmy Hamm. She quickly flipped it over and read some of the credits.
Handwritten at the top of the list of roles was "Duped! Role of Karl - Recurring"
"You've gotta be kidding me"
Hermione waited outside if the theatre long past dusk and finally Karl, or as we know Jimmy, emerged from the theatre. He was speaking with a few fans then spotted Hermione.
When he reached her she held his picture out in front of her smugly.
"What are you doing here?" he asked.
"I'm a huge Beckett fan," Hermione sneered as Jimmy looked back at the theatre, "Hand to God!"
Hermione mimicked the raised right hand that Jimmy had used as Karl.
"Wait a minute. This is part of the show, right? No, you're not gonna get me like that," Jimmy looked around, "Grant! Liam! You guys can come out, I'm ain't buying it"
Hermione looked around.
"So… is this a part of the same episode or am I getting paid again?" Jimmy asked Hermione.
"What are you talking about?" Hermione dropped her humor.
"Duped!" he shouted.
Hermione looked back at the credits on the back of Jimmy's photo, "What, you're telling me that "Duped!" is a show?"
"Oh, I thought you were part of this. Yeah, it's like one of those muggle reality shows where people get duped into doing stupid things like giving some stranger their car or a bunch of money," Jimmy elaborated.
"There were no cameras!" Hermione yelled.
"You're not supposed to see them, that's the whole point," Jimmy paused, "Right?"
"There is no show, Jimmy!"
"Wh-wh-what are you talking about there's no show. I auditioned, I got cast!" Jimmy protested.
"It's a scam!," Hermione shook her head furiously, "My friend, Susan was duped about two weeks ago out of 6,000 galleons by some other trust fund Karl"
"N-no, no," Jimmy shook his head confused.
"How did you find out about this?" Hermione demanded.
Jimmy groped for words, "There was an ad in the Daily Prophet. Open call but, you know, I'm between agents right now," Hermione rolled her eyes, "They just called me today to tell me I got the job!"
"Do you still have their mailing location?"
"Now wait," Jimmy pointed his figure, "You're telling me there's no show? For real? This isn't a dupe?"
Hermione shook her head sarcastically and Jimmy dug through his bag and handed Hermione his letter from 'Grant and Liam'.
"There it is"
Hermione and Harry were walking to breakfast the next morning as Hermione explained what had happened.
"A public owling box that doesn't accept incoming owls. Shocker. From a place called Virtual Wizard. I guess it's a café but I'll check it out"
Harry shook his head, "No, it's not a café, it's a wizarding gaming club. It's like a bunch of muggleborn computer nerds developed a wizarding form of video games. Only girls they see in there are japanimated. So, you're not going to really blend"
Hermione smirked, "So I won't blend"
Virtual Wizard was a small little building behind the Hog's head. Each window seemed to have a blanket over it so to keep out light and as Hermione righted herself to enter she wondered if she was going to be completely blind. This mission required Hermione to dress up quiet literally in a school girl outfit which Harry assured her was from a Japanese cartoon called Inuyasha. She had a wig that was solid black and straight as could be. As she brushed back the beaded doorway she took in the large room. Every so often there was a huge hologram-like big screen that was filled with graphics for a video game. Before each screen were couches that looked every bit as comfy as their occupant's faces suggested.
Upon entering the large crowds of boys who had been previously glued to the screens turned to see her walk in. Hermione did her best to ignore this fact and approached the counter swapping her id for a headset.
Hermione then spotted two guys sitting on the couch closest to her. She swept up to them and plonked herself down between them. The guy on her left was a heavy set wizard who looked like he was just out of Hogwarts perhaps for a year or two the other looked about her age and was much more nervous at her arrival.
"I have one word. Ownage," said the guy from the left.
Hermione looked to the guy on the right who just looked further more uncomfortable. Ignoring this Hermione continued to observe the game.
"And, I just fried you again," the same guy taunted.
Hermione turned and smiled at the lanky boy, "Could you watch my stuff?"
He blushed and shrugged, "Sure"
Hermione pulled out a piece of paper from her bag and got up from the couch. As she approached the middle of the room she saw the sign up system. She first studied the list of people playing and compared it to the letter.
'Grrrantula, a gamer. Grant. A coincidence, I think not'
Hermione sighed and logged on under the name GameGirl. The screen accepted her character and she returned to her seat. The boy to her right offered her a piece of candy and Hermione took it the sweet before starting to play.
'Now lets see if I can't get Grrrantula's attention'
Hermione fired at various character until she found Grrrantula. Behind her a boy named Grant looked around the room at being hit.
"Stop killing your own team, " the boy to her left grunted.
Hermione turned to glare at him and kept shooting at Grrrantula.
Grant from across the room yelled, "Hey, cut the crap!"
Hermione turned upon hearing but couldn't see him.
'Come on, loser. Show yourself'
"Hey! I'm on your team, lamer!" the boy yelled again.
Hermione still couldn't see him.
Hermione turned to the guy who offered her candy, "Wow! I'm really bad at this," he shrugged in response.
She kept shooting at Grrrantula and finally got him.
Hermione jumped to her feet, "Ownage!"
Grant shot up as well and glared at her, "Hey, it's not ownage, I'm on your team!"
Hermione paused getting a good look at Grant and sat back down with a satisfied smile. About five minutes later Hermione went back up to the counter and handed her ear piece to the man.
"Devlin," Hermione told him as he searched through the id box for her name unable to find it.
"What was the first name?" the guy asked.
Hermione sighed and grabbed the box, "Here, it'll be faster"
She rummaged through as the guy was distracted by another customer. She quickly found her id and Grant's, tucking Grants under hers she took them both.
'Grrrant's ID indicated he was living in Lannigan Hall at Cliodna University. A post Hogwarts University known for its liberal arts, its picturesque campus and its parties'
'Luckily one of those such parties was tonight'
Hermione had her hair plaited around her head in an almost The Sound of Music way. She grabbed a pair of glasses off her desk in her room at Remus' and exchanged them with Harry's.
"It's not going to work. You can't take the cool out of me," he posed, "Look, pocket protector and I'm still full of pimp juice!"
Hermione snorted and tapped Harry's scar to disguise him, "Shouldn't you be a little more somber for your poor scammed girlfriend?"
"Now you know she's not my girlfriend so why are you even trying to play it like that?" Harry asked serious.
"Like what?"
"Like you wanna have this whole conversation about whether I like her or whatever," Hermione unsatisfied changed the glasses again to a set of thick rimmed ones, "Like we just got out of cheerleading practice. Guys don't do that."
"Okay," Hermione agreed moving toward her mirror to touch up on her own disguise.
"If a bloke likes someone, he just likes her. He doesn't need to have," his fingers moved to air quote, "a five hour talk about it"
"So you like her, but we're just not having a talk about it?" Hermione smiled looking at him over her reflected shoulder.
Harry nodded, "Yes"
Hermione smiled, "Do you like her a lot?"
Harry laughed, "Yes, I like her a lot. Yes, I go two floors out of my way between classes so I can see her. Yes. I volunteered to reorganise an entire filing system of student record crap, just so I can be in the same room with her. You happy?"
Hermione grinned triumphantly grabbing her bag, "I still think you're a bad ass"
"And I am. And nobody's gonna buy me as a nerd," he tapped his pocket protector.
"You've already been bought. I called the resident adviser and I told him you were a prospective freshman," Hermione explained.
"And they believed you because?"
"Because I do a surprisingly convincing admissions assistant," Hermione stuffed a few more things into her beaded bag, "But, tonight, you lucky boy, I'm all nerd hag"
"Okay, let's get this party started," he rubbed his hands together leaving the room, "because I am hungry for some gratitude"
Hermione began to follow Harry but turned back to grab her wand last minute. As she picked it up from the table she saw a picture of Ginny hidden by some other pictures, she picked it up to reveal that it included Draco, Ron and herself from that night at the Weasley before the Carriage party. The four in the picture laughed and switched poses.
On one side of the stretch carriagesatHermione and Draco and along the sidebesideHermione sat Ron and on Ron's other side sat Ginny with a half empty glass of firewhisky. The sunroof was open exposing the stars to young students.
"Okay, it's my turn?" Ginny asked turning, "Draco"
"Truth," Draco nodded.
Ginny thought on it for a moment, "What did you think of Hermione the first time you saw her?"
Draco flushed with more color then anyone had ever seen him with and mumbled embarrassed, "I don't know, I thought she was hot"
Hermione gaspbeside him, "I was 11 when we started Hogwarts!"
"Oh, and, like you weren't working it in your skirt and your knee socks!" Draco defended.
"That was," Hermione punched his arm, "my school uniform!"
"So, whatever! It totally worked!" down the side of the Ccarriage Ginny and Ron were both laughing themselves as red as their hair.
"Okay, Ginny," Draco began turning attention back to Ginny.
"Dare," answered Ginny challenging.
Ron snorted and sipped his own drink, "Shocker"
"Okay, kiss someone in this limo"
Ron snorted again, "Come on, mate"
Ginny took a swing of her drink and handed it to Ron as she climbed down the carriage toward them. Hermione shook her head and focused her attention on her camcorder. Draco meanwhile readied himself for a kiss. Ginny leaned down close to him as Hermione put a hand over her eyes so not to look. Then at the last minute Ginny swung over and kissed Hermione. Draco screamed in delight and clapped his hands as Hermione pushed Ginny away laughing breathlessly.
"Oh no!" Ron groaned.
"A little girl on girl action!" Draco cheered.
"Oh, no! Mate! That's my sister and my girlfriend," Ron shook his head grabbing another bottle.
"Yeah, dude, like that one's not in the rotation," Draco adjusted his suit jacket.
Ron reacted by shaking the bottle of champagne and spraying Draco. Ginny screamed and scrunched up close to Hermione to avoid the spray.
Draco was livid, "Dude, this is my dad's tux"
Ron fakes seriousness, "Didn't know mate," then he shook the bottle harder and sprayed him some more, "Here!"
Draco lunged for Duncan as the carriage stopped right by the lake. The door sprung open at the force of the two men. They stumbled apart lit up by the bright full moon. The chase continued across the lake's beach. Ron ripped off his jacket as Draco came barreling toward him and tackled him. Hermione and Ginny laughed and stayed in the carriage enjoying the show.
"Our boyfriends are all class," Hermione claimed as Ginny patted her hand regaining her breath.
"Oh yeah"
"Tick-tock! Very cute girl in need of our help right now!" Harry yelled back into the room.
Hermione shook herself and dropped the photo before following Harry to the party.
When they arrived they found people in various "Around the world" costumes. The resident adviser (or RA) lead Hermione and Harry through the opened dorm rooms wearing a sombrero and a coconut bra.
"Yeah so, we're pretty chill around here. I mean there's rules and stuff but it's mostly, like, don't light stuff on fire, don't get caught with drugs, you know?"
Harry nodded, "Cool"
Hermione spotted the guy from Virtual Wizard, "Hey, I think I know that guy"
"Grant. Yeah, he's pretty famous around here. He's like a genius or something. Him and that bouncer looking dude over there," he pointed to the same heavy set guy that had been sitting beside Hermione, "They call them the Silicon Mafia. Basically, around here, these guys are legend"
Soon Hermione and Harry soon found themselves talking to two other students.
"This guy. Got caught looking at Grant's laptop screen-," he was cut off by the girl beside them.
"The next day he was put on academic probation..."
"…because his GPA dropped from a 3.8 to a 1.5," the guy cut in, "Overnight on the University system"
"And they have a security system…," the girl added, "…like with a Fiendfyre"
The students laughed and took a swing of their drinks.
"I think they're building robots or something," The guy added.
"I felt the wall in the dorm next to theirs and it was way hot," she looked to Hermione and Harry, "Do you know how many grill lights they probably have in there?"
"The walls are so hot, it's because they have a million super computers"
"That they bought with their weed money," the girl snorted and they walked off.
Hermione realized that it was getting late and they needed to set the plan into action soon so she headed off toward the RA's office when she found the guy in the coconut bra sitting.
"Um, it is okay for people to be shooting Weasleys' Wild-Fire Whiz-Bangs down the stairways?"
"Oohh, man," he stood warily, "You know?"
The man grabbed something out of his desk's drawer and shut it taking off not noticing how Hermione had put her bag into the drawer blocking it from closing fully. Once he was gone Hermione searched through his drawer for the right set of keys.
After a long walk down the hall Hermione found the door in question and stuck the picture of Jimmy in a nearby notice board.
When Hermione finally opened the door she noticed that upon her entry that there was a muggle alarm keypad on the wall. The room was much to dark for her to see well but she could hear it beeping. Unable to stop it she gave up and rushed into the room.
"What the hell are you doing?"
Hermione turned to see the large guy from Virtual Wizard that had be quite rude glaring down at her. He quickly grabbed her arm and pushed her back out into the hall where Grant decided to show up.
Hermione thinking fast decided to play drunk, "They told me this was Sri Lanka. I wanted a coconut toddy"
"What the hell's going on, Liam?" Grant demanded.
"We had an intruder," Liam explained.
"How did you open the door?" Grant interrogated turning his attention to Hermione.
Hermione shrugged and answered in a cheerful voice, "I don't know, I just opened it"
"That's impossible, it's always locked," Hermione just shrugged.
Liam having spotted Jimmy's picture held it out to Grant, "Grant"
'And the real way the Silicon Mafia finances their empire comes clear'
Hermione saw Harry enter the hallway and groaned sliding along the wall toward him.
"Hey!" Harry greeted.
Hermione groaned and shifted her weight to Harry, "I don't feel so good, Papa bear"
Harry staggered swinging her arm over his shoulder as they left. Once the door swung shut behind them Hermione dropped the act and straightened her shirt.
"Papa bear?"
"Never happened"
"They've gotta be hiding something big in that dorm room to have that much security. I mean, an muggle alarm? What's wrong with a deadbolt?" Hermione said to Harry as they entered the Great Hall int the next morning.
Harry fell back when he saw Susan at the Hufflepuff table chatting with some friends.
"Wow! You've got it bad," Hermione commented as she rounded back around to him.
"Nothing bad about this my friend," Harry continued to gaze at Susan before walking over. Hermione stopped and watched the two more a moment before grabbing a biscuit and heading back out the large hall doors.
As Hermione headed toward the Library she passed the Newspaper room to see it completely empty except for Draco who was sitting at one of Hogwart's new magic friendly computers hard at work on Ginny's tribute video. Hermione paused recognizing Ginny's voice and entered the room watching the screen from behind Draco's back.
Hermione ignored the short glance Draco made back at her. Her eyes fixed to the screen as a younger Ginny's maybe three road around on a beaten up old children's broom.
"What part of my ignoring you makes you think you're welcome?"
Hermione ignored his rudeness, "What are you doing?"
Draco paused in his notes, "Assembling the world's most boring memorial video"
He snorted and picked up some of the videos, "Ballet, Choir recital, Debutante crap, Quidditch," He sighed heavily, "Memories both misty and water-coloured"
Draco made to set the videos back down but jerked his wrist flinging them down instead. Hermione was still watching the clips now of Ginny's about six all dressed up in costume jewelry.
"It's Ginny as a long-distance ad," Hermione smiled.
"Well, it isn't really about Ginny, is it," Draco was watching the videos too, "God, this would piss her off"
"Come on, Hermione, it's your turn. Do not lame out," Ginny taunted as they walked around the lake the ends of their robes getting dirty.
They were all carrying glasses of champagne except Ron who had a bottle and Draco who now had Hermione's camcorder.
"Okay, okay, okay, okay, okay. I've never…," Hermione paused thinking as Draco turned and walked backwards to film it, "…gone skinny dipping"
The three others snort and drank, "What!" Ron laughed as he raised the bottle to his lips.
"That is just unacceptable. We're gonna have to do something about that, Hermione Granger," Ginny declared.
"Oh, oh okay, " Draco raised the hand holding the camcorder to record the reactions, "I've never taken matters into my own hand in the boys' locker room after watching the Girl's keeper tryouts"
Hermione and Ron both froze at this and the party stopped. Hermione gasp as Ron just stared at Draco, "You are so dead"
Draco and Ginny both laughed Hermione stood still open-mouthed.
"How pervy, Ron! I am a little impressed though," Ginny shouted.
"You must drink, comrade," Draco reminded.
Ron sighed heavily and raised the bottle, again Ginny and Draco fell into a fit of giggles. Hermione put a hand on his arm, "Wait! Please tell me that was before we started dating"
Draco laughed harder.
"Of course," Hermione sighed in relief, "I've never, um, I've-I've never seen my parents my parents having sex"
Ginny held back a laugh and swigged the rest of her drink, now Hermione laughed.
Ron stopped dead still, "No way"
Draco laughed and Ginny nodded explaining, "Yeah"
"No way," Ron shook his head mortified.
"I went into their room…"
"No…"
"… to borrow Mom's black skirt"
"…shhh"
"I want you to, shut up…," he moved forward to put a hand over he mouth but Ginny danced away grinning at her brother's discomfort.
"Mum was on top of Dad…," Ginny began to play it out.
Ron covered his eyes, "Oh Merlin, I don't want to see this"
"… Hold on a second something…," Hermione was a laughing mess now, "She was like this, watch…"
Hermione pointed to Draco that he should film this, "Oh why" Ron groaned.
"…she was like this...," Ginny spotted Ron peeking out through his fingers.
Ginny mimicked her mother in a passionless drawl, "Oh, oh," she raised her hand to stifle a yawn, "oh"
"Ginny, that is so wrong"
"I promise, but I think Dad probably thought so too," things settled down after that and Ginny chipped in again, "I've got one. I, um, I have never not had sex"
"Ooh," Draco mocked.
"Huh?"
Hermione paused confused, "Wait, what does that even mean?"
Draco trained the camcorder on Hermione and Ron, "That means, drink if you are a virgin"
Hermione stood still and toasted before she drunk, Draco laughed manically as Ron shook his head.
"What the hell," Ron raised his bottle to Hermione and drunk as well, his sister and Draco laughed.
"Whoa, Ronald! I'm shocked!" Ginny teased.
Hermione smiled and kissed him, "You are so cool"
"Oh, so cool, mate…," Draco added siding up to Ron with Ginny under his arm.
The group had a big hug as Hermione and Ron continued to kiss, Draco filmed throughout.
"I love you, I love you, I…," Draco mocked in a breaking voice.
They broke off kissing and laughed.
"Oh yeah…," Ginny laughed.
"Yeah," Draco stretched his arm up to capture them all.
"…you're my girlfriend," Ron breathed in Hermione ear.
"I don't think this really constitutes quality time," Remus complained ad they walked along the Cliodna campus.
"I've never loved you more," Hermione smiled.
Remus sighed and put on his old Ministry cloak.
"It's a good cause. These guys ripped off a friend at school," Hermione paused and added, "And there's a World's Greatest Dad trophy in your future"
Remus snorted and was soon was outside Liam and Grant's dorm.
"We were flying over with the heat seeking charms. Came across some high intensity discharge lamps. Looks like someones cultivating a little Mary J, " Remus lied easily as the RA lead him to the room.
Remus banged on the door which Liam answered as Remus flashed his badge.
"Mind if I come in?" Remus didn't wait for a response but marched past to see Grant get up from his desk.
"What's going on?" he demanded.
"What's your name, son?"
"Grant," Remus waited for more, "Winters"
Remus turned and looked around, "Any drugs on the premises, Mr. Winters?"
"Caffeine," he answered.
Remus sighed heavily and stared at him.
"No sir"
"You sure about that?" Remus asked grabbing a chair and checking the top of a bookshelf, "Any plants, seeds, any cannabis seedlings of any kind?"
"No," Liam denied firmly.
Remus sighed and stuck one of the new string-less Extendable Ears on the shelf.
"Look, we don't have any drugs, okay?"
Liam cut in, "And don't you need like a warrant or something?"
Remus climbed down, "What do I need a warrant for? There's nothing here"
Hermione sat somewhere on campus, pressed to her own ear was the other half of the ear she had Remus bug the two boys with.
"Why did you let him in?"
"You're the one who let him in. And why wasn't the alarm on? It supposed to be on even when we're here," Grant's voice scorned.
"I'm heading to the snack bar"
"Set the alarm," Grant's voice ordered.
Hermione heard the tone as the alarm was set and pulled out her long forgotten muggle cell phone from the depth of her beaded bag. It took her a while but she duplicated the sound and wrote down 0227. Suddenly an owl swooped down to her and she noticed how dark it had gotten.
Hermione puzzled read the letter and quickly stood, "Oh Merlin"
Krum sat bolt upright across from Remus who was seated comfortably in his battered arm chair.
"So. Hermione tells me, um…," Remus chuckled, "Well actually she hasn't told me anything about you"
"Well, I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing," Viktor shot Remus a charming smile.
"Neither do I," Remus stared for a moment then laughed and watched as Viktor followed
Viktor pushed further, "Well, if you have any questions or, you know, you want a list of references or anything…"
"So you're going to the Ball?"
"Oh yes, sir, if that's okay with you"
"Of course," Remus pressed, "And after the Ball?"
"Why-I think that, uh, Hermione said that she had to be right home after, so…" Viktor covered.
"Yeah, good. And you're gonna stay for the whole thing, I mean, you're not gonna leave early to go to a party or a hotel and still make it back by curfew?"
"No, you-ah, I mean…," Viktor paused and got his barrings, "The whole point of going to the dance," he laughed, "is to go to the dance"
"Good, "Remus nodded, "So you won't mind then that I cancelled your reservation at the Hog's Head Inn?"
The smile dropped form Viktor's face, stunned. Remus smiled threateningly steel in his eyes and they turned as Hermione arrived.
"I'm here, I'm here. So. Who's ready for broom racing?" Hermione asked cheerfully.
Remus and Viktor looked at each other, Remus grabbed Viktor's shoulder and patted him. Viktor who was clearly uncomfortable gulped loudly as Hermione's smile fell catching on.
"Listen to this 'Hi, Grant Winters, this is admission. Are you free Thursday night? We'd like for you to show around a potential freshmen. He he asked for you and your crew specifically. '
Hermione looked appalled, "Crew?"
Remus gave her the 'I'm cool' gesture and continued in his letter.
'We're providing three tickets to Virtual Wizard to a private screening of a new game, maybe you've heard of it. It's the Fight in the Goblin Rebellion! online game.'
Hermione smiled, "Yes, that will do just fine"
"You know when you have that look you remind me of Doctor Evil right?"
Hermione rolled her eyes at him and sent off the letter.
"How's it going?" Hermione entered the newspaper room again to find Draco still working on the memorial video.
"It's very 'Wonder Years'," he mocked coldly, "Molly will love it"
Hermione sighed and pulled something out of her beaded bag.
"So…," Hermione settled into the seat beside Draco, "I was going through some of my stuff and I found this"
She placed the small cassette labeled "Fun with Ginny" on the table before Draco
"What is it?" Draco asked picking it up.
"It's not a violin recital," Hermione smiled fondly at it.
Draco studied it and then looked back at Hermione, there was a moment of mutual understanding. Then Draco dropped his head, "I've got a lot of work to do"
"Yeah. No, me too," Hermione nodded and left
"Mate, we're gonna see the new Fight in the Goblin Rebellion! online game, we're finally gonna see it!" Grant shook his friend with uncontainable excitement.
"Did you see the video posters with their rag doll effects!"
Grant turned to notice Harry handing a letter to his owl.
"What are you doing?"
Harry grinned geekishly, "Just telling my girlfriend how psyched I am!"
'In the past 24 hours of surveillance, this is what I've learned. The so-called Silicon Mafia has developed a game that'll make "Fight in the Goblin Rebellion!" look like "pac man". They've raised their start-up capital by swindling needy and greedy University and Hogwarts students using a variation of the Nigerian scam. With no investors, they stand to make millions. Unless, somehow, someone trips them up along the way'
Hermione walked into Grant and Liam's room swiftly and pushed in the code quickly shutting up the alarm. Hermione moved over to the computers to find all four locked up in cages. Hermione sighed and cast a quick severing charm on each lock. Next Hermione moved to open each computer and take out the special memory chips which held all the scam funded work on the game. Once that was done Hermione straightened and taped a letter to Grant's computer screen and headed for the door.
She stopped remembering the Extendable Ear and tracked back to get it. It was then she noticed the wires that ran along the wall. Following she found they lead the the boys closet and straight into an unseverable safe which from the heat coming off of it must have contain another computer.
"Wow," Hermione studied the chain, "I really hate these guys"
Hermione grabbed a can of soda from the boys small fridge and sat Indian style in front of the safe and pondered her situtation.
"What the hell?"
Meanwhile Harry and the two great scammers had arrived at the fake location to find it empty.
"Wow. I can't believe there's no party," Harry played, "I feel so duped"
Suddenly Grant and Liam's started turning red and shaking. Both of them grabbed at their wands in their pockets.
"Bloody hell!" Grant exclaimed.
Liam's eyes went big, "It's the alarm on the backup drives"
They both looked at each and then ignoring Harry apparated back to their rooms.
"I set the room alarm"
"Then why didn't it go off?" Grant drilled, "You can't get to the backups without getting into the room"
"Oh, the backups are fine. Nobody's getting into that safe"
As they arrived Liam rushed into the room and found the computers broken open.
"What the hell?"
"Oh Merlin"
"The backup drives," Liam remembered and opened the closet and then the safe to find it is flooded with soda.
Grant and Liam shared a look as Grant moved to read the letter, "Hey buddy, I was hoping you could… help me. I'm coming into my trust fund next week and if you give me 7,600 tomorrow night, I'll give you your hard drives back"
Hermione smirked as the two showed up at the Karl meeting spot and headed toward her, Harry, and Susan.
"Hello boys, let me guess what you're thinking," Hermione mocked enjoying herself, "Paybacks are a bitch"
Liam handed Hermione the money as Grant grunted, "Yeah, something like that"
Hermione quickly counted the money before handing it to Harry.
"It's all there," Grant defended.
"Like we trust you," Susan glared.
"Yeah, I think that's all of it," Harry confirmed double checking after Hermione.
"Our commissions included?" Harry nodded
Hermione turned back to Grant and Liam and smiled, "Ownage"
"Can we have our backup drives now?" Grant asked crossing his arms.
"You need to lay off the caffeine, Grrrant," Hermione drug out the r in his name mocking, "Cause you're downright testy. Your backups are in the garbage can, next to the bench"
Susan jumped in, "Yeah, you might have to dig a little. There's an anti accio charm on it"
Hermione, Harry, and Susan headed toward the apparition point as the two fiends headed toward the trash.
"This just doesn't seem fair," Susan said, "I keep thinking about all the people who were scammed and how they don't have kickass friends"
"Did you know there's a whole anti-fraud agency in the Ministry? I guess it's a big deal. And I was shocked to see how interested they were in the information I had on Liam and Grant," Hermione added slyly.
Harry grinned widely, "Game over"
Hermione continued to walk but Susan and Harry stopped to give her the money. Harry turned to wave good bye to Hermione but was stopped short as Susan kissed him. Hermione looked back and smiled at the scene of them kissing while Liam and Grant still dug through the trash.
"I got one, I got one!" Liam shouted.
Grant scrambled over, "You got one?"
Hermione was almost at the apparition point when she spotted a flyer for Ginny's memorial which was tomorrow night.
By the time the Carriage pulled up to the Weasley houseit was well past daylight. Remus was there his carriage parked off the the side. He, Arthur, and Molly all stood out front angry looks marring their faces.
Inside the carriage Ginny sat with Draco's head in her lap pour out the last bit of booze into his mouth which he choked on and sent the both of them into a laughing fit. On the other side of the carriage Ron sat with Hermione asleep cradled in his lap. Ron looked out the window as they approached and spotted the three angry parents.
"Bloody hell. They called the Aurors"
Hermione woke up and looked out the window as Arthur and Remus approached the carriage, "They called Remus"
Ginny moved up beside the too and looked out the window as well, "This is like," she continued with conviction, "the best ball ever!"
Draco laughed still buzzed as the carriage pulled to the stop. Ron got out first and helped a stumbling Ginny as she saw her parents. Ginny beamed at them approaching Remus.
"What seems to be the problem, officer?"
"Ginny," Molly signaled for her to come with her index finger. Ron and Hermione looked on exchanging a look.
"Are you drunk?" Molly whispered tightly
"Not so much anymore," Ginny laughed as Hermione met Remus looking sheepishly.
Molly was furious, "You are absolutely unbelievable. Why do you insist on humiliating me?"
"Um, two kids, both out all night," Ginny looked toward Ron, "and one getting screamed at?"
"Cause I know you, Ginny," Molly drilled, "Any trouble this family has ever had, you've been at the root of it"
"Mum!" Ron cut in, "It's my fault, it was my idea"
"You listen, both of you," Arthur ordered, "Inside the house. Come on"
Ginny threw her father a defiant looked and walked back over the carriage where Draco was stumbling against. He rose as she reached him and she grabbed his head kissing him hard. Draco glanced over at the Weasley asMolly spun around and headed back into the house. Arthur waited for her to finish sighing and then headed into the house with Ginny after.
"Sorry, Remus," Hermione muttered.
"We'll talk at the house," he turned and called back to Arthur, "Thanks for the coffee"
Arthur half turned and nodded while Ron turned and gave Hermione a smile and a wave. Hermione smiled back as Remus helped Logan into their carriage. Arthur spotted Ron and pulled him into the house.
When Hermione arrived at the ceremony the schools choir was almost done singing their version of "Wind Beneath My Wings". A number of the students had gathered all holding little candles soon after she arrived someone came up and handed her one. On a small raised section in the court yard all the Weasley's sat. Fred and George sat looking sadder then Hermione could ever remember. Bill sat with Fluer who had a small bump on her stomach. Charlie who had come all the way from Romania sat by Percy both staring past the crowd blankly. Then between Arthur and Molly sat Ron looking pale and hunched over.
Behind them was a large picture of Lily flying on her broom fully dressed in her Gryffindor Quidditch robesand to the side of that was a screen with the caption "Ginny Weasley, Forever remembered". Harry had said he'd come maybe a bit later and stay out of sight he knew his appearance was likely to cause a fuss. Hermione moved around the crowd and took some pictures for the newspaper. She turned up and noticed Draco was looking at her from across the middle of the covered new fountain.
Molly stood and spoke into her wand, "Thank you to the Hogwarts Choir. I know if Ginny were here, she would have been moved by that rendition. Ginny really loved this place," Draco looked back at his feet, "So it's only fitting that as long as this fountain remains a part of Ginny will always be here. And you, her peers will always be reminded what a generous, kind sweet girl she was and how she embodied," Hermione spotted Viktor and they smiled at one another, "Gryffindor courage and the house motto, Courage, Loyalty, and Honor"
Molly looked back at Ron who rose unsteadily with everyone else and pointed his wand at the velvet curtain shielding the fountain from everyone, "Accio" the cover flew from the fountain to his hands and immediately water began to bubble from it. The statue wasn't of Ginny but her patronus a large fluffy fox. Its tail swished around it's self obscuring it's eyes just barely. The water poured out from the very tip of the foxes tail which was pointed directly upward. Everyone awed as the fountain was lit brightly for all to see.
Draco pointed his wand toward the screen and at once the night was filled with the sounds of soft music as the video started. A series of pictures flashed across the screen of Ginny from her first steps to her first boom ride with her dad. Molly seemed to swell with joy at this representation of her only daughter. Ron however looked close to puking, he swallowed hard. Then there was a clip of Ginny singing along with Celestina Warbeck funnily dressed in an over sized Weasley jumper. Hermione felt a smile curl her lips across from her Draco shuffled and looked down.
There was some more recent footage Ginny was running around the back yard of the rich Weasley house and straight into the camera smiling brightly. Arthur and Ron began to crack and Hermione noticed the twins leaning on each other. Bill was already tearing up lightly. Suddenly the soft music gave way to a loud Weird sisters song. Arthur turned sharply toward Molly whose smile froze on her face. Draco looked impishly toward the two. Suddenly the clip was of the night of the Carriage party Ginny held the camera close to her face.
"Hello Europe! You wanted Ginny, " she smiled, "You got her"
Hermione's eyes began to water, "Now sit back and enjoy the ride"
The video cut again to Hermione and Ginny both dancing wildly in the back seat of the carriage. The crowd laughed loudly including Draco. Ginny then popped a bottle of fire whisky loudly and sprayed it all around the carriage squealing and pouring some in every ones glass. Neither Ron nor Hermione couldn't suppress a grin at this true Ginny behavior. Then the video cut to Ginny sticking her butt out the window of the carriage a lot of people hooted and Hermione laughed out loud. Then Draco and Ginny were crossing their arms to drink out of there glasses. It cut back to Ginny and Hermione dancing on the back seat. Then a shot of Ginny taking a large swig out of bottle of Single Malt Whisky. The twins laughed out loud and cheered("We taught her right!"). Molly now looked deeply embarrassed.
Then there was a series of stills of Ginny's leaning down to kiss Draco. The crowded roared and Draco blushed while Molly was beginnning to look like she was going to explode. Finally there was a mix of two shots one of Ginny's running toward the camera down the beach of the lake a bottle in one hand and a glass in the other. The other shot was of her leaning outside of the sunroof of the carriage. Bill and Charlie were laughing freely now and Ron was even smiling with Fred's arm slung over his shoulder.
The video ended with a shot of Ginny her fiery hair flying behind her as she looked down at the camera and addressed them, "You love me don't you?"
Arthur started to sob and Charlie rushed up to comfort him. The crowd cheered loudly as the screen froze with Ginny's wide smile. Draco looked over at Hermione and smiled back at him.
In the crowd behind Hermione was Dean Thomas and Terry Boot. Terry spoke shaking Dean's shoulder, "Hey, Dean, let's hit it," Dean didn't response, "Weevil!"
Dean turned and looked up at Terry his face wet, "Yeah, yeah," he wiped his face, "Let's ride man, Let's go, the night's young"
Hermione, Viktor, Harry, and Susan all sat in the back of a carriage heading for the Ball. Harry put his arm around Susan and she smiled sweetly at him. On the other side of the Hermione sat with Viktor in a strapless red dress. Hermione smiled and then spotted the lake out the window.
"Do you mind if we make a stop?" Hermione around at the others, "There's something I need to do"
"Well, I don't think that's a good idea," Krum looked nervous, "we should probably go right to the ball, right. I told your dad…"
Hermione smiled shaking her head at him and took off her heels. The carriage stopped and Hermione jumped out the door then at last minute turned to look back at Viktor who was moving to join her, "You have to stay here"
Krum fell back into his seat confused. Hermione smiled and headed toward the lake. Harry scooted over to look out the window with Viktor. Viktor shot Harry a questioning look but Harry held up a hand, "Don't ask me, mate. I stopped trying to figure her out day one"
Hermione paused right before the water and reached back to unzip her dress. She rushed into the water and then did a standing dive coming back up and smoothing her hair down. She turned and looked back toward the shore and laughed.
1. I'm picking this story back up I've recently deleted two of my others and I've decided since I'm gonna be so bored this summer to write more.
2. A special thanks to Allen Pitt who gave the name of "Fight the Goblin Rebellion!"
3. I made up Ginny's patronus the HP lexicon says nothing about it. In the movie it was a horse but I didn't like that and the Ginny I write a fox fits much better.
4. I'm gonna have to do season 2 if you guys want to know who really raped Hermione... so comment . lol
E