A:N: Hey, guys. I'm super sorry that I didn't update immediately, but I need some time to think about this chapter. I feel like I left you off with an awkward moment, and I wasn't quite sure how I should portray Hermione's reaction. So, this chapter might be a little off, just to warn you, but after the awkward stage, everything will be fine. Thanks.
The pitch was silent, and Hermione stood there looking furious, Cormac defensive, and everyone else held emotions of concern, as the two stood there.
Pansy had left in a hurry after Ron, and the silence was unbearable.
"Hermione," Cormac began, looking at her hopefully.
"Just don't talk to me." She said pushing him off to the side, as she made her way down the golden dance floor to the exit.
She apparated, and felt that familiar instant darkness, her body twisting, her mind blank. She never found herself so reluctant to get back to the burrow, for the possibility that that's where Ron had gone was likely.
The lights had been turned on, and the house was warm, when she felt her feet thud to the ground, the impact threatened to snap her heals in the landing. She teetered back for a few moments before regaining her balance, and furiously made her way up the stairs.
She didn't expect Ron to reveal himself, because she was sure that he knew it was she who had burst into the house.
As she swung the door to Ginny's room open, she almost stumbled into a pile of clothing, blocking the door from opening completely.
"Bloody," she began cursing under her angry breath, before kicking her shoes off. They skidded across the floor with a clatter, and she made her way to her bed, where her pajamas were folded, and settled beneath her pillow. She hastily replaced her dress, which slowly regained it's length and blue color, with something more suitable for sleeping.
She tore hairpins out of her curls, letting them fall freely everywhere, and with a sigh of resentment, she remained sitting there.
She wasn't sad, she was more angry. She wasn't sure how to balance it out between Cormac and Ron. Which one did worse in her mind?
The Weasley's arrived shortly, and Hermione could hear collective whispers, and awkward conversations below, as Percy, George, Bill, Fleur, and Harry said their goodbyes, probably heading towards their own flats.
She could still hear whispers, as the three remaining Weasley's spoke silently, when finally Ginny arrived upstairs.
Hermione could tell that Ginny was surprised to see Hermione wasn't drowning in her own tears by now. She hadn't moved from that one spot on the edge of her bed yet. She just absentmindedly picked at a string on the sleeve of her sweater.
Hermione looked up at Ginny, and sent her a feeble smile.
"Are you alright?" Ginny asked carefully, as she approached Hermione, in her radiant white dress.
"I'm fine," Hermione said paying her gaze to the floor, "A little confused, actually." She stood up, and began to pace the room. "I guess I'm angry because Ron pulls me into something, then insists that I get out, and I'm angry that Cormac kissed me." She gazed at the bright moon outside, then returned her attention to Ginny. "I feel like I reconciled with him a bit, though. He sort of said he was sorry, but all the same, the kiss just wasn't necessary." Hermione said
"I understand," Ginny said, "I don't expect you want to continue the bet, am I right?" Ginny asked, twiddling with a strand of red hair.
"Of course," Hermione said surprisingly loud, while Ginny stood there, taken aback. "You don't really think that I'd let this mess up get in the way of us winning, do you?"
"Well, I would have thought that maybe, you would want to end it, because I do." Ginny paused, examining the floor. "But if you want to continue, then I suppose I have to as well." Ginny smiled,
"I hope you wouldn't leave me." She said, "I do think I'll talk to Ron tomorrow, though, about this whole ordeal. Maybe explain to him that if it wasn't for his bet, I probably would have taken him to the banquet myself."
"Well, anyways," Ginny said, solemnly, "It's 11:30, I suppose that we should be off to bed, then, yes?"
"Yes,"
-The Next Morning-
The next morning was full of strain, as Harry came tottering in the burrow, while Ron, and Hermione sat together on the couch, and it didn't appear that they were sharing a particularly cheery conversation, because Hermione looked at him sternly, and he held his gaze at the floor.
George, who looked quite ready for work, sat beside Ginny showing her the shop's latest product, but Ginny, whom had never been much of a morning person, yawned, unimpressed.
Mr. Weasley, was already, seated at the breakfast table, reading The Daily Prophet, a cup of pumpkin juice sitting on the table in front of him.
Mrs. Weasley, of course was bustling about the kitchen, humming a song, as she cooked.
Harry made his way to Ron, and Hermione, who quickly turned away from each other, looking unsatisfied.
"I suppose you two have made up, then?" Harry asked, taking a seat across from the two.
"I suppose," Hermione said bitterly, arms folded, "I was just clearing a few ground rules up." Hermione said, as she stood up. She shot one last glare at Ron, and some kind of pitiful smile to Harry, and she went to sit next to Ginny and George.
"Bloody hell," Ron muttered, scratching the back of his neck.
"So, erm... Is the bet still on?" Harry asked,
"Well, I expected that Hermione would want to call it off, but she seemed pretty consistent." Ron leaned over towards Harry, "I don't think she even cried," He whispered, with a worried look on his face.
"I suppose she's more angry, then sad." Harry said, gazing towards Hermione, who laughed with Ginny, at George, who seemed pretty entertaining at the moment.
"Yeah, I guess..." Ron sighed, "Well it's Saturday, a good day to play the field." Ron suggested, to Harry, who still seemed to focus most of his attention towards Ginny, and Hermione. "Harry!"
"What? Oh, yeah, I guess." He turned back to Ron.
"I suppose after breakfast we can go to Diagon Alley, go to a cafe, find someone."
"Yeah," Harry said unfocused.
Breakfast came and went that morning, and Ginny and Hermione scurried out of the house, leaving Mr. Weasley to leave for work through the Floo Network, Mrs. Weasley to do the dishes, and Harry, Ron, and George, to sit beside each other at the table.
"Where are those to off to, do you reckon?" Ron asked, as he craned his neck over the table, to see Hermione and Ginny, as they stepped through the outskirts of the Burrow's property.
"I reckon they're gonna get a head start," Harry said, following Ron's gaze.
"You two are pretty smart," George said, with a wink.
"What, did they mention anything to you?" Ron asked,
"Of course, but I promised that I wouldn't tell you."
"Come on, George!" Ron jeered, "Please, just tell us were they're going." Ron said hopefully.
"Oh, little brother," George leaned back in his chair.
"George, who's side are you on, exactly?" Harry asked, cocking his head to the side.
"They already have my word. You don't think I would spy for you, or something, if that's what you're thinking..."
"George," Ron began edgily,
"Okay, If I risk my life to Hermione's logic, and Ginny's hexing skills, than what's in it for me?" George asked, leaning forward, looking very business man-ish.
"It depends on what you want." Ron said, arms folded.
"I want to be apart of the bet."
"What?" Ron, and Harry asked in unison, staring at George.
"You're already with Angelina, you're just gonna throw that away?" Ron asked, slightly devastated.
"Well, she and I are taking a break... We had a little disagreement." He said, quietly.
"If you want a chance with her, that going out and getting involved with this, isn't going to help you." Ron protested,
"She'll get jealous, and come running back to me, and even if she doesn't, maybe I'll find someone else."
"Is this the only thing you want, Isn't there something else?" Ron asked, reluctantly.
"Either that, or you work in my shop on all your weekends off, no pay." George said with a smirk, "What do you really want?"
"Fine, you can be apart of the bet, but you have to tell Ginny, and Hermione about it." Ron said, with a growl. "Alright, where are Ginny, and Hermione?" Ron asked,
"You see, that's the thing, Ron. I haven't got the slightest clue." George said with a simper expression, and with that, he got up and left.
"I seriously thought.." Ron trailed off,
"Yeah, me too..."
-Later On-
Harry couldn't help but feel a little stressed about where Ginny, and Hermione had gone. He wasn't quite sure if George would be able to get away with his little trick, either, and he hoped he wouldn't.
Adding George to the equation would only make matters worse.
He and Ron, after being forced to help Mrs. Weasley to do the dishes, eventually escaped to Diagon Alley.
The cobblestone streets were slippery due to late spring rain. Customers, shuffled around, pressing through the crowds to reach their destinations.
Collective chimes of bells were heard through out the place, as customers swung doors open, and laughter was loud.
Harry was intent on stumbling upon a quaint cafe, and finding a pretty girl to take out. He scoped the center, craning his neck over the crowds to see if he might see someone of his interest. It seemed Ron was doing the same thing, but was much more successful, because of his height.
Harry once again wished he turned out a little taller like his father.
The crowds showed no sign of thinning, and laughter only got louder as noon approached.
"Where do you suppose we should go first?" Ron asked, hands shoveled deep into his pockets.
"Dunno," Harry continued to grow from his tippy-toes, but the crowds seemed to be particularly lanky today. "I reckon we should split up." Harry said, looking up towards Ron.
"Yeah?" Ron asked, "I reckon we should too."
Ron had split from Harry to a small cafe, at the corner of the street. Despite the fact that he'd eaten just hours before, he felt hunger tug at his bottomless stomach, as he made his way to the door.
A little jingle of silvery bells, rang, as he entered.
A variety of different witches and wizards filled the little place, and it sort of reminded his of Honey dukes in Hogsmeade. He had a sudden urge to visit the sweet shoppe, but resisted, as he seated himself on a cotton blue table.
A waitress, with blonde hair, stepped up to Ron several minutes later. She smacked he gum in a "Pansy Parkinson-ish" sort of way, and supported all her weight on one foot.
"What can I get for you, sir?" She asked, annoyed, her notepad, and quick-quotes-quill trailing behind her.
"Erm, I'll just have a biscuit.. Erm, and some tea, I suppose." Ron said, looking up at her expectantly.
"Alright." she said, the quick-quotes-quill violently scribbling, as she trotted away.
It had never really occurred to Ron, until now, that he really wasn't much of a lady's man. Talking big always seemed to land him in a mess of pride like this. It seemed as if there was no possible way to date 25 girls very quickly.
The waitress had come back moments later, with a china tray floating behind her. The fragile thing came hovering towards Ron, followed by the waitress's wand, and the tray plopped on his table, sending the biscuit and tea a few inches in the air. The tea sloshed over the sides threatening to spill, but the waves of brown liquid managed to calm down.
"Thanks," Ron muttered, obscured in his own thoughts.
His biscuit was gone, before anything else could happen, but his tea had remained half full. He'd never really cared much for tea, but it had seemed that he'd completely forgotten that.
Customers came and left the cafe, and Ron found that the irritable waitress would shoot an expectant glare at Ron every few moments. It seemed that he'd been remaining in his spot much longer than for her liking.
Feeling hopeless, Ron was about to give up, and move on. He sat up, holding the china tray in his hands, and carefully dumped his tea in the rubbish bin, which also seemed to bug the waitress, and set the tray on top of a precarious stack of them.
He at least felt contempt that he'd had a biscuit, but all the same, his job was not done. He tried to convince himself, to find Harry, and go home, and that he was already ahead of everyone else in the bet, but something stopped him, as he pushed the door open, the waitress's gaze was suddenly align with his, and he recognized that she wasn't just a waitress, but also Eloise Midgen.
His eyes widened in something that he could almost call fear. Having always made fun of her at Hogwarts, about her acne, he wondered if she had some kind of school girl grudge.
She shook her gaze away from Ron, and her nostrils flared in animosity, and before Ron could even protest to himself, his long legs were striding straight towards her.
Eloise awkwardly turned away from Ron, fidgeting with the hem of her apron, trying to remain anonymous.
He stood before her, examining her with a inquisitive expression. She then, quite loudly and obnoxiously, she cleared her throat, uncomfortably shifting were she stood.
"Can I help you?" She asked, her muscles set tightly, fists clenching.
"You're, Eloise, aren't you?" Ron asked, still full of surprise to see her. She clenched her jaw, sizing Ron with her green eyes, then catching an uncomfortable deathly gaze on his eyes.
"Y-" She again cleared her throat, "Yes, that would be me." She bit her lip, "You're Ron, then, aren't you?" She said, pasting an evilly sweet smile on her face.
"I reckon," he replied nodding his head.
"I expect that you've come back to taunt me about my off center nose, then?" She smirked, but at the same time, her eyes remained vile.
"Still holding me against that, eh?" He asked, scratching the back of his head.
"Well, you did sort of scar me in our fourth year." She said wincing.
"May I remind you that that was about four years ago?" He sneered,
"No matter, how long ago, or how minor it was, you're still a bloody prat." She hissed.
Ron began to think, and he tried his best to swat away the thoughts, that he yearned to rid of, but they continued to hover in his mind. Take her out. If you take her out, then you'll be ahead, you'll win. Take her out, take her out. You have nothing to lose, just take her out once, and you never have to speak to her again. Ron gulped, and fidgeted, along with biting his lip, and a bead of sweat from his hairline.
"Well," Ron began, with cold sarcasm, "So you aren't reckless for the rest of your life, I'm sorry." He turned his nose up, and tapped his foot impatiently.
"Excuse me, but I never said that I was reckless." She sniggered, ignoring customers and their orders.
"Well, you don't seem altogether to me." Ron said, no, no, no! If you're rude, then she'll refuse to go on a date. Ron thought, "I mean, then why are you still angry?" Her eyes widened, and she stood there, heads below Ron, confused, and sorry for bringing the incident up.
"Maybe, I would have-" She sighed, "Oh, never mind." She then whipped around, and began to scrub the tables.
Ron had no plans of leaving.
"How can I make it up to you, if it's just that afflicting?" Ron inquired, slightly distracted.
"Well, I suppose you could leave me to do my job, and badger someone else." She said, now feverishly scrubbing the counters.
"You know you could just use magic to do that." Ron said, her mouth widened, and she just seemed to continued her anger.
"Look, I think it's time you leave, I have a job to do, if you haven't noticed." She hissed, pulling her wand from her apron, and continued cleaning the tables through magic.
"What if I took you out tonight?" Ron asked, completely out of the blue. He had to say he hadn't even expected to ask so soon, and the words were slightly painful.
Eloise's wand clattered to the floor, and open mouthed, she stared up at Ron.
"Sorry," she asked, "but did you just ask me out?" She sounded completely outraged, and Ron knew she'd object. It was silent for moment, and she continued, to gaze into Ron's impatient expression, with complete bewilderment.
She suddenly began to smooth her hair, and straiten her apron, Gingerly tucking an angry curl behind her ear, she immediately became flustered, and looked up at Ron lovingly, whom just about barfed.
"Really," she asked, with some kind of flirtatious smile, that didn't seem to please Ron much.
"Really," he groaned reluctantly, as more blush flooded Eloise's face.
-Meanwhile-
Harry, had been hit with the idea like a ton of bricks. Take Luna. The words were loud and clear in his mind, that he wouldn't be surprised if he was toppled over by the impact of the sudden realization.
He now tripped around Diagon Alley, in search for the small shop that she worked in. Harry had vividly remembered hearing Ginny and Hermione reading over a letter from Luna, included with a full explanation of what she'd been doing for the past month, apart from everyone.
Harry knew that Luna wouldn't deny going out for tea, with him, and he was simply positive that she'd never assume that he was trying to "Make a Move" In fact, Harry wouldn't be surprised, if somehow Luna had sensed that Harry was using her. The thought of 'using' Luna, did make his stomach lurch slightly, and he felt compelled with insensitivity by thinking she didn't have feelings.
Though, he honestly couldn't imagine Luna being angry with him, still guilt lingered in the pit of his stomach, as he approached a curious shop.
The sign read "Lovegood Essences." Harry couldn't help but assume that this was the place, as he examined the front.
It was nearly impossible to see inside, for sparkling shawls of silk, had been draped over the glass from the inside, leaving only a small chink of dim light from inside.
He quickly stepped to the door, opening it a small bit, poking his head inside.
All he could see from that point was puffs of purple mist rise from the back of the shop. Racks, and shelves filled the threshold. Upon the shelves was a collection of bottles, filled with curious liquids, and small viles housed tiny lifeless objects.
The left side of the room was completely obscured by pristine issues of the Quibbler, pages silently wafting up, as a small draft came from the back and, lifted them.
Harry stepped inside, and above was a low ceiling of draped silk, and tulle. Often, strings of peculiar beads hung from above, blocking Harry's passage.
Puffs of purple smoke continued to rise in the back. Harry craned his neck around the shelves, to see the source of the mysterious gas.
"Hello?" Harry called, and there was a sudden 'thud'. The purple mist was no longer, and a figure dressed in turquoise robes, came dawdling from behind the shelves.
"Harry!" Xenophilius Lovegood practically toppled towards a startled Harry, and grasped his hand to shake it violently. "It has been a long time, my boy!" He exclaimed, "Welcome, welcome," he said, ushering Harry further inside the threshold.
"Care for some essence of Gurdyroot?" He asked, looking at Harry expectantly, "I've just been warming some water, there's plenty-"
"No.. thank you, sir... I actually meant to come see Luna?" Harry said, urgently.
"Luna? Luna, yes of course, let me fetch her for you." Looking slightly disappointed, Xeno, stumbled behind emerald green curtains. "Luna, darling, Harry Potter has come to see you!"
"Really," Luna asked, as the two blondes came out through the curtain. "Harry," she greeted, almost as if she'd completely expected him.
"Luna, it's good to see you!" Harry said, sort of throwing himself into an awkward hug, but quickly decided that a handshake would be more appropriate.
"What's brought you here, Harry?" Luna asked, lighthearted.
"Well, I was thinking that I hadn't spoken to you for such a long time that we could catch up, Erm, get some dinner tonight," He said it quickly, and fast, as Luna and Her father exchanged worried expressions. "Your father could come as well, if he prefers." Harry quickly interjected.
"Harry, have you been feeling yourself?" Luna asked, wearing a happy poker face.
"Of course, Harry!" Mr. Lovegood, suddenly shouted, clapping his hands together, My Luna, and I would be delighted to join you for dinner!"
"Yes, Harry!" Luna said with glee, "We'd be simply delighted!"
"Yes, delighted!" Xeno added, It was silent, and Harry smiled.
"So where are we going?"
A:N: I hope this is a acceptable length for you guys. So sorry for the wait, but I was lost, and I had no idea what to do next. So I wung it ;) ha ha. Anyways, HUGE SHOUT OUT TO PEARL AND YASMINE, MY BESTIES! Love you guys, hope you enjoyed, and please review, this chapter was a major effort, and It'll be longer next time. M'bye. 3
