House: Gryffindor
Year: Head
Category: Standard
Prompt: Rocking Out to Oldies
Word Count: 1023
A Cunning Twist
Harry looked up from his book (a rather interesting detective novel he was halfway through and only a quarter of the way solved) when Hermione came rushing in the door in a manner that more resembled Ron than herself, panting excitedly.
"Afternoon, Hermione," he greeted, straightening from his prone position on the couch. "You look like you've just had a breakthrough."
Hermione turned towards him, eyes glittering. "Oh, I have," she agreed, grinning. "A fantastic breakthrough! Something I've been working on for months!"
Unfortunately, when referring to Hermione Granger, the phrase "working on for months" actually did very little to narrow the subject in question down. It didn't help that Harry (and Ron) typically tuned out when Hermione started detailing whatever new project she was starting on.
"Erm, something with House Elf Rights?" Harry guessed, playing it safe.
Hermione huffed at that. "No, that's still going as slowly as ever. Something a bit less important, actually."
Harry racked his brain for anything Hermione would classify as "less important" and came up blank. Anything she was working on would be considered at least of equal status. "No idea. What is it, then?"
Hermione's expression shifted to something mischievous as she brandished the plastic bag in her hand. "I have finally figured out a way to safely introduce Ron to modern Muggle music!"
And, well, that sort of twisted Harry's mind around, because that was not at all what he'd been expecting.
That's not to say it was entirely unexpected. Hermione had made it a recent life goal to teach Ron about the Muggle World. Harry helped out where he could, but his own fairly lacking experiences when it came to the wider world meant that half the time, it was his first time trying things out as well. (That didn't mean that Harry wasn't infinitely better at blending in in the Muggle World than Ron was, because Harry had been raised there and at least knew better than to try hexing a car because the horn surprised him.)
Ron wasn't great at picking things up, but he no longer referred to their telephone as a "fellytone", he hadn't tried to talk to the television in weeks, and Hermione had finally trained him to stop putting explodable things in the microwave.
On the other hand, Ron no longer referred to their telephone as a "fellytone", he hadn't tried to talk to the television in weeks, and Hermione had finally trained him to stop putting explodable things in the microwave. Those had been some of Harry's favorite sources of amusement.
But Muggle music…
The Wizarding World was, like in a wide number of areas since the Information Age had kicked off, several decades musically behind the Muggle one. Their popular, cutting edge bands played music in styles similar to what Muggles played in the forties, and the majority of magicals listened to music more reminiscent of the twenties.
Ron, like most magicals, had no idea what he was listening to when confronted with modern Muggle music.
"Didn't your last attempt make Ron splinch himself when he tried apparating away?" Harry asked dryly.
"Well, yes," Hermione admitted, cheeks pink. "I probably could have introduced him to something a little less volatile than heavy metal, but that was what was on the radio…"
Harry blinked, having never gotten the full story. "That explains so much."
"But this time," Hermione continued, "I have an actual plan!"
"I am apprehensive," Harry decided, setting his book down to steeple his fingers. "Yet intrigued."
Hermione pulled a CD from inside the plastic bag she was carrying. "Oldies. We start him with Elvis, move on to the Beatles, and then we can try some classic rock."
"So introduce him to the evolution of music?" Harry mused. "That could work."
"It means we really have to get into the old music, though," Hermione warned. "Prepare to seriously rock out."
"I can rock out to Elvis," Harry told her. "That will not be a problem. Are we actually going to explain what we're doing to him?"
"No, that will ruin the whole thing," Hermione answered, shaking her head. "You know how Ron feels about learning."
"So we trick him into learning," Harry realized. "Devious. I like it."
"It's either that, or we start training him to like Muggle music through Pavlovian response."
"Admittedly not the best solution," Harry agreed. "He still starts scratching himself whenever he smells fish."
"That was a misguided attempt," Hermione admitted. "Which is why I'm dropping the idea of Pavlov for this. But if he wanders in on us rocking out to Elvis…"
"...We might finally get him interested enough to learn how to use the CD player," Harry finished. "Which is a good idea, seeing as how last time he set it on fire. Which was both impressive and terrifying."
"Mostly terrifying," Hermione decided, before shaking her head. "Regardless. Ron is going to be back soon. Will you help?"
Harry glanced back at his book for a long moment before deciding that no, baffling his friend was definitely a better use of his time. "Yeah, okay, I'm in."
0o0
Ron walked into the house to find Hermione twisting back and forth as she lowered to the ground and then rose back up. Harry was laughing loudly as he attempted the same action and proceeded to fall backwards, still laughing.
"I'm scared to ask," he declared, stepping into the room.
"Ron!" Hermione exclaimed. "Come join us! I'm trying to teach Harry to do the Twist!"
"And she's failing at it too," Harry added with a grin.
"You two look ridiculous," Ron decided.
"That's the point!" Hermione laughed.
"Really?" Ron asked dubiously.
"Eh. Probably," Harry agreed.
"It's fun either way," Hermione pointed out, holding a hand out. "Come on, Ron, it's easy and fun!"
"Think you can do better than me?" Harry challenged from where he was still on the ground.
Ron snorted. "Come on, Harry, I think anyone could do better than that."
Hermione's grin widened and she cranked up the volume of the music. As Ron began to join them, Harry shot her a wink.
Part one of their mission? Accomplished.