Rain,
Baggage, and Lies
I run down the
mildly crowded street, inwardly cursing my cowardice. I can't believe I'm such a chicken.
I hear footsteps behind me, but I think nothing of
it—there are people walking around everywhere. It's Hogsmeade weekend, the village is twice as crowded as usual.
"Ginny!"
I stumble slightly on a loose cobblestone. He's actually talking to me! He knows I exist! There is justice in this world!
I stumble to a stop—dropping my Zonko's bag in the
process—and spin around. My hair gets
into my eyes and I brush it away impatiently.
Harry's running up the street towards me, his hair
sticking up in every direction exactly like it always has. His glasses are hanging crooked from his
nose, and his left shoelace is untied.
He's wonderful, isn't he?
"Hi, Harry," I say as Harry gets within ten feet. I pick up my fallen bag and give him a
questioning look. "What did you need?"
"Er, well," stutters Harry, shifting his weight from
one foot to the other. "Are you okay?"
he asks finally. "You ran out of the
tavern like there were dragons on your heels- you didn't even finish your
butter beer."
Explanations begin chasing each other through my
brain, each more unlikely than the next. I cast my mind around and it lands on a not-so-crazy-sounding excuse.
"A few other students were making some less than
polite remarks, and I didn't want to stay in there anymore," I said with
confidence I didn't feel. "Stupid
Slytherins…" I mumble, almost as an afterthought.
Concern flashes through his gorgeous emerald
eyes. "They weren't talking about you,
were they?"
"No," I say quickly. "But still, I wasn't enjoying myself that much."
"Oh."
There is an uncomfortable silence that seemed to
stretch on to infinity, but actually only lasts for about fifteen seconds.
Harry opens his mouth to say something, but with an
almighty crack of thunder the heavens open up and dispense their payload. Icy cold rain pummels the entire
countryside, us included, and soaks my bags.
Harry snaps his mouth shut and sighs. Then, not bothering to say anything, he
grabs my wrist and drags me down the street, bags and all.
He had a nice grip, I note absently.
A moment later we're inside the post office, dripping
all over the floor. Hundreds of pairs
of fowl eyes glare at us. No pun
intended.
"Well, that was an adventure," I say, trying to dispel
some of the mild tension in the air. "Let's not ever do it again."
A small smile starts at the corners of Harry's mouth
and spreads into an all-out evil grin. I see the thoughts behind his emerald eyes and groan inwardly.
"No way-"
Too late. He's
already grabbed my wrist again.
I should have brought some dry clothes….
