A/N: Firstly sorry that I didn't post anything yesterday. I ended up going out so I was getting ready and stuff (it's an all day job for us girls).
Secondly, thank you still and again for the follows etc...
Thirdly, enjoy!
Chapter 4 – Supper
"Hello Hermione." A familiar voice said from behind her, "You're looking lovely tonight."
Before turning around, she fixed a smile on her face and slowly turned in her chair so she was facing her greeter. "Hey Ron. You're looking rather smart yourself. New dress robes?" Everyone round the table had gone silent as they watched the exchange.
"Yes actually. Thank you for noticing. I take it that this is my seat?" He said pointing to the empty chair next to her. Hermione dropped her eyes from his before looking at Ginny with desperation.
"Yes, but they've already served and because you weren't here for the first course they won't send up a second course to that place." Ginny quickly helped, "But I'm not very hungry so you can sit in my place next to Harry." And she rushed round from her place to sit next to Hermione before Ron could reject.
"Umm, alright then." A confused Rom made his way over to his new seat, not a moment later his plate was filled with a roasted chicken, all the trimmings and lashings of gravy. "This is bloody brilliant." He said immediately scoffing into his meal. Hermione, Ginny and Harry shared a look and smiled, he was still their Ron.
Draco was observing the exchanged over on the other side of the room. He quietly sat and sipped his drink, taking no notice of the goings on around his own table. Conversation would occasionally turn to him but he would ignore it, consumed in his own world, and soon the talk would move on. He noticed how Weasley was not sitting with Hermione and the way Ginny had quickly hurried to her side. They were no longer together, that much was evident, but were they on speaking terms? By the looks of it they had exchanged a few cordial words and engaged only in small talk. This would help a lot.
Blaise sat on the opposite side of their table watching Draco. Eyes of thunder. He sat speculating and plotting. He needed a plan with which he would get Hermione but he also needed a way to get Draco to stop pursuing her, for a he knew only too well Draco liked the hunt and much like an animal, he refused to stop until he had his prize. Blaise's' stare had not gone unnoticed and many around the table could sense the hostility pulsing from one of the old friends. Draco sat choosing to ignore the boring eyes of his comrade yet did not disregard it as he knew full well why Blaise was doing it.
"Professor McGonagall, Ma'am." Wheezed Hagrid as he jogged his way over to the head table. "I was just wond'ring 'bout the seat'n arrangements."
McGonagall looked up from her meal and peered at Hagrid through her oval spectacles, "Oh yes, Hagrid, and what may be your query?"
"Well you see Professor, Hermione and Ron are-" he began.
"-Are perfectly alright as they are." She interrupted. Slowly she raised her arm to point to the table furthest away from them. The table was seated, not in the original seating arrangements admittedly but chairs had been moved and they were sitting more in a group now than around the table. Whilst Hermione and Ron weren't engaging in open conversation with each other, they still participated in the group discussions. Unsurprising really, due to their shy and sometimes gauche natures.
"Oh. Well now. It's just that I thought." Then he shook his head. "Oh ne'er mind. They're sor'ed."
"Ah Hagrid." McGonagall said, "Your kindness and your desire to help people will get you places. Trust me Hagrid, it has not gone unnoticed."
"Erm, righ' thanks Professor. I'll just be-. I'll just be go-. Yeah." And with that, a rather confused yet flattered Hagrid, made his way back to the seat on the far end of the table next to Professor Sprout. Professor McGonagall smiled.
*Clink* *Clink* *Clink*
"May I have your attention please?" The headmistress began as she tapped her glass with her spoon, "The dancing will begin momentarily. Please be upstanding to allow the tables to leave and the chairs to make their way to the edges of the room."
Lots of chatter and giggling swept through the hall as everyone stood up and was rather amused at the wording used by the old woman. Surely the tables would simply vanish not 'leave' as she put it. But alas, they were wrong. As soon as everyone was standing up, Professor McGonagall waved her wand twice and all the tables made their way to the great doors at the end of the hall leaving the room, walking clumsily on their legs and the chairs hobbled to the edges and set themselves down. Everyone watched in amazement before staring back to McGonagall. "Shall we?" she smiled and the music began.
A/N: A bit short I'll give you that. I think I prefer writing slightly smaller chapters because I feel like I can get more suspense in there? I dunno.
Did you enjoy it? Any thoughts? Any surprises? Anything you hope will happen?
And seriously thank you thank you thank you for all the support I have received so far! Also, if you want, have a go at reading my other story, it's not very long but I'm sure you'll enjoy it if you enjoy this.
love han xxxxxxx
