What a Jumble!
Chapter 10
Hermione had really enjoyed that afternoon, pretending to be Ginny. She had never spent so much time with girls of her age, just running, playing and telling each other stories of their platonic loves (In her case, inventing them).
During their conversations there were some times when she had to stop and think What would Ginny say?
Like when they asked her what was her favorite thing to do when she was in her house. She didn't have to think twice... being with her parents in the living room, opening books at random and making funny stories with the first words of the page of course. But she highly doubted that was what they expected her to say.
Nonetheless, she had a really good time acting like she thought Ginny would. And, when nobody was watching, making funny faces and laughing at her reflection in the lake.
When they got tired, they returned to the castle with their arms entwined.
"I think I'll go to the loo." said Ginny when they reached the big oak doors.
"Alright." they said heading to the girl's bathroom.
Ginny looked at them.
"Wouldn't you rather to wait for me in the Great Hall?" she asked puzzled. Being with Harry and Ron for the last two years, she wasn't used to be accompanied to the bathroom.
"If you want." they said confused, releasing her arm, but Hermione could detect some fear in their eyes.
"What is it?" she asked.
"Nothing" they answered, a little too fast.
"Really?"
"Well," said one of them "That's how it all started, remember?"
"What are you talking about?" asked Ginny confused.
They looked at each other.
"At the beginning of the year we got along very well," another girl went on "And then... I don't know... you didn't want us around anymore. We couldn't go with you, and you wouldn't join us," The girl glanced at the others, who slowly nodded. "I don't want you to leave again."
Hermione then realized how hard this year had been for Ginny. Avoiding her friends, so they didn't ask her difficult questions such as Where were you? or Are you okay?
"I won't," she said seriously "That's over now." She entwined her arms with them again and smiled "It's just... well, with so many brothers, it just seems strange that some one wants to go to the bathroom with me."
The other girls laughed, with some relief Hermione thought later, and then headed to the girl's bathroom.
When they turned the corner, however, they stumbled with Draco Malfoy who was escorted, as usually by Crabbe and Goyle.
"Watch it Weasley!" He said, looking contemptuously at her. And then he smiled "Trying to forget, aren't you? I bet you still have nightmares about what happened," he sneered walking past her.
Hermione felt the blood boiling in her veins, did Malfoy actually hassle Ginny when no one was around? She would definitely tell professor McGonagall... or perhaps she would only have to tell Fred and George.
"How's your father, Malfoy? I heard he was kicked out the School Board"
Ginny's friends tensed when Draco stopped his march and faced Ginny. He couldn't allow a Weasley to speak to him like that, specially not in front of his cronies.
"Finally found your courage, eh, Weasley?"
"Keep talking, Malfoy and you'll find something more." said a voice behind them.
Everyone turned to see Dean Thomas who was scowling at Malfoy, with Seamus just beside him. He had never confronted him so directly, but he had suffered, along with all his fellow Gryffindors when they told them Ron's little sister was dead. And now, watching Malfoy intimidating her... he wanted to punch him in the face.
Draco looked at him and snorted in contempt.
"You're so not worth my time, Weasley." he said, and then he turned and walked through the door that led to the dungeons.
"He is a real dunce," said Dean, getting closer to Ginny "Don't listen to him."
"Thank you." smiled Ginny.
"Your welcome." answered Dean, realizing this was the very first time he talked to her.
Seamus pulled Dean of the layer. "C'mon, I'm hungry!"
"Okay, okay," he said "See you around!" he waved a goodbye to Ginny.
Harry, Ron and Hermione were completely exhausted. They had spent the whole day looking all around the castle for Peeves, but they found not even a trace of him. Fred and George told them were to go, from the Astronomy tower to the Dungeons over and over again, but they found nothing.
Finally, they decided to stop the pursuit and to go to the Great Hall for dinner.
"I am sooooo hungry!" complained Ron shuffling.
"Me too." said Hermione who was leaning on Harry's arm.
"Why are you smiling, then?" reproached Ron
Hermione shrugged.
Actually Ginny had really enjoyed that day, she had been all around the castle and no one had stopped her to ask her silly things. Even when they saw Malfoy in the dungeons he hadn't said anything directly to her. He had just muttered aloud These Weasleys are everywhere! And even if she felt like hitting him, it was a great improvement for her.
The best part was being with Harry. She was almost dreading the moment she'd get her body back.
When they arrived to the Great Hall it was already full of people. Fred, George and Lee Jordan were sitting in the middle of the Gryffindor table, so they sat in front of them.
"You were supposed to be in the north Tower." said Ron angrily.
"We got hungry," replied Fred "Just like you."
Ron growled.
"We've done nothing but walk the castle a hundred times since the bloody morning. "
"Oh, please... there's no need to exaggerate." said George.
"Let's just eat" said Harry watching his friend's face. He didn't want to be in the middle of a fight.
They all start eating the delicious dishes for dinner.
...
Ron was the first to notice a slight tremor in his digestive tract. He thought he would have to ask Madame Pomfrey for her sourness potion, again, but when the tremor spread throughout his body, making his teeth chatter he turned to Harry and Hermione for help. But when he saw their faces and the way they clung to the edge of the table he knew they were going through the same.
He suddenly realized he had experienced that same shivering not so long ago. His suspicions were confirmed when he looked up and saw Peeves, nervously rubbing his hands and who had a smile of great expectation.
I hope you liked it! Thank you very much to all of you who have reviewed, favourited, followed or read this story!
Next chapter will be ready until the next saturday I'm afraid... but the school's almost over, so I'll have more time to write... XD