Disclaimer: I don't own any of J.K Rowling's stuff
Dedication: To my friends who annoyed me until I agreed to do this. Where would I be without you? I love you all!
Just to let everybody know...I HAVE MASSIVE WRITER'S BLOCK AND PROGRESS IS SLOW SO BARE WITH ME AND CUT ME SOME SLACK WITH MY OTHER STORIES...thanks
Tying up the wrong strings
Chapter 4
Harry, Hermione and Ron were sitting at the Gryffindor table eating sausages, bacon and eggs. Hermione took polite mouthfuls while Ron who was sitting next to her munched down platefuls of everything. Much to Hermione's disgust, next to Ron sat a very annoyed, attention seeking Leah. Harry took glances at where Ginny was sitting. She sat with her friends every couple of days because she thought they didn't always like her being with Harry, Ron and Hermione. Hermione took these chances to have a conversation with Harry knowing that as much as Ginny liked being watched by him, it can get annoying after a while.
"Harry, did you know there was a new teacher for Muggle Studies?"
"Why do you still do Muggle Studies, you are muggle born?"
"How many times do I have to tell you that the magical perspectives of what muggles do and the way they live is very different?"
"Fair point, continue. So which one is she?"
Hermione pointed out a teacher sitting up the front. She was tall and wore dark green robes that flowed to the floor. Her skin was flawless and pale and was framed by strands of hair that fell down her face. She was young but not that young. Harry guessed about mid thirties going on the late forties. She had a dazzling smile and wore glasses that made her blue eyes look larger. She looked ok and not that strict, but you can't judge upon first impressions.
Ron looked to the front and blurted out something that was inaudible. His mouth was full of sausage.
"Ron, chew. You know move your mouth up and down in motion. Then swallow, and then speak." Harry wore a smug expression. Ron stuck his tongue out at Harry then cleared his throat.
"I just said...who is that?"
"You could at least listen when you are stuffing your face and not participating in the conversation."
"I was listening; you just didn't say her name."
"I am pretty sure I did."
"Hermione I think I would know. I was listening to your every word."
"Ron's right Hermione, you didn't say."
"Oh sorry. Well, her name is Professor Julia Jiggleypot she also teaches other classes of transfiguration."
"What do you mean? Is McGonagall leaving?"
"Don't be so thick Ron; McGonagall can't be everywhere at once. They get another less experienced teacher to take the younger classes."
"Then why didn't we have someone other than McGonagall in first year?"
"Don't you think now with this war and Umbridge, things are a little bit more difficult?"
"Ahh." Finally Ron understood and continued eating.
"She looks alright, I suppose. What do you think Hermione, Ron?"
"What are you talking about Harry? You know as well as I do she is going to be the strictest teacher in the history of teachers."
"Honestly Ron she doesn't look that bad. You will only have her now and then."
Leah tried getting attention from the boys by leaning over them to grab the salt and asking them to pass the sausages. She still wasn't getting paid any attention from Ron or Harry so she got up and stormed off. Nearly Headless Nick popped up next to Ron and made Ron jump out of his seat. He fell backwards and Harry burst out with laughter. Hermione giggled and Nick chuckled. Nick engaged in harmless conversation with the trio and they ended up laughing and chatting all through the meal. After they had finished they said their good byes to Nick and walked outside to enjoy the snow and maybe get a snowball fight in. As much as Hermione disapproved of them, she still loved them.
After Leah had left the great hall she paced around the entrance hall. She was thinking of a plan to get to Ron and to annoy Hermione. She had an epiphany. Hermione would be the key to Ron. If she got Ron so annoyed at Hermione that he didn't want to be around her and stop talking to her then everything would be ok. The first part of her plan would be giving Ron something to get angry about.
As she thought this, Lavender and Parvati walked out of the great hall. They would be the best way of spreading news and rumors. Leah ran over to them ready to hatch her plan.
"Hey Lavender, Parvati, I have some big news."
They stopped in their tracks and turned. Nothing could stop them like a bit of juicy gossip.
"Spill."
"Well last night Hermione and Ron were in the common room and Hermione couldn't help it so she asked him out." they gasped.
"Anyway, she spilt all her feeling out and you two know how she feels about Ron. So she's sitting there waiting for his answer and then he does it. He rejects her."
"WHAT?!" Lavender and Parvati were both not expecting this to happen and they looked shocked and appalled.
"That's right. So Hermione goes and punches Ron, right in the face. I know how weird, Gryffindor keeper getting his nose broken by a goody-two-shoes-know-it-all-nerd."
"Wait she broke it!?"
"Yup. Well that was a lovely chat girls. Talk to you later."
Leah stuck out her chest and flicked her hair and walked away with a smirk on her face. She knew that in a matter of hours the whole school will know of the little scandal she had made up. In the mean time she had to go find Neville for the second part of her plan, after all she only had less than an hour.
As the trio trudged through the snow they just saw many first years playing. Finally they found Seamus and Catherine with Luna. As they approached Harry aimed a snowball at Seamus's head and was right on target. For the next half an hour Hermione, Ron and harry teamed up to beat Seamus, Catherine and Luna at a snowball fight. When every one was drawing short, sharp breaths they had a rest. In the distance Dean was running as fast as he could towards the group.
Harry got up to great his friend, but found that Dean was in a rush.
"Harry, hear this."
"What?"
"Hermione asked Ron out, he said no and then Hermione punched him." Dean got his message out talking so fast if he were any quicker they wouldn't have understood him.
Everybody was silent and all heads turned toward hermione and Ron. Hermione looked stunned and Ron was bright red with anger.
"What a loud of bullshit."
"Ronald, don't swear."
"You heard it Hermione and you know none of it is true."
"Actually part of it is true." Everyone was wide eyed and astonished.
"You wouldn't."
"Wouldn't what Hermione?" Dean had got too eager. Hermione stood up from where she sat and looked around at everyone.
"I punched Ron's nose and broke it. That part is the absolute truth." Everybody was astounded that some of the rumor was true. They didn't actually expect Hermione to be able to break someone's nose. She walked away proudly. When she was gone Ron was the only one in the spotlight. He got up and started running and screaming in the direction that hermione just went. All the people that just witnessed that were gob smacked.
"HERMIONE YOU GET BACK HERE RIGHT NOW! I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU DID THAT! YOU NEED TO STOP BEING A SMART ASS AND ACCUSING PEOPLE AND TELLING PEOPLE OFF!"
Hermione turned and glared at Ron.
"What are you talking about?"
Ron had wanted to talk about this all morning but just needed something to set him off. The nose issue was just the thing.
"An example was this morning with Fred and George. They didn't need to be told off."
"I'm sorry if you couldn't see that what they were doing was wrong."
"Hermione it wasn't wrong, exactly."
"What would you call it then Ron?"
"I don't know but you can stop yelling at me."
"You yelled first." Even though it was Hermione, at times like these she wasn't very good at comebacks.
"I was suggesting something."
"Still yelling."
"Fine then, yelling while suggesting."
"Go give your suggestions somewhere else, they're not needed here."
"What are you implying Hermione."
"I'M SICK OF FIGHTING RON, HERE'S A SUGGESTION WHY DON'T YOU STOP GETTING ON MY EVERY NERVE."
After that argument Hermione stalked off.
Neville walked past and waved at Ron.
"Hey Ron how are you?"
"I'm alright."
"Was that Hermione walking off?"
"Yup, that was her."
"Had another row?"
"Yup. I don't know what I am doing wrong."
"Well I'm not very good at any of this stuff but…maybe she's just stressed."
"Yeah, maybe. Was there something you wanted to ask me?"
"Oh yeah it was really important to…something Leah asked me…"
"I haven't got all day Neville."
"I'm sorry Ron, it's just in the back of my mind, but I can't remember it."
"Think hard Neville."
"Oh I remember now…!"
"What is it?"
"OH MY GOSH, YOU'LL NEVER GUESS WHAT HAPPENED!"
