Foreign Exchange

Chapter 10

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"What are you doing?" asked Ron, peering over Vince's shoulder. "I'm doing plans for Quodpot practice tomorrow. I'd appreciate it if you didn't read over my shoulder," Vince answered, taking a drag off of a joint he made with parchment paper. They were sitting in the bedroom. Hermione had her nose in a book, helping Ron with his homework. "Are you sure that's a good idea?" she asked, peering over her book. "I'm not trying to get fucked up," he said as he erased a plan he decided against. "It helps me to focus. I may get a little silly, but I'm not going to be falling all over myself." He held out the joint to Ron. He took it and had a little bit for himself. When Ron finished he passed it back to Vince. "Thanks," Vince muttered, still engrossed in the plans. He looked at Hermione who was pointing out Ron's mistakes on his homework. He smiled as he saw the look of admiration in Ron's eyes. He knew that look. Ron was not focusing on his homework. He was focusing on Hermione.

"I'll be right back," said Ron as he ran out of the room. "I wrote a letter to mum the other day and I just remembered I didn't send it." It was just Vince and Hermione. "You know he digs you," said Vince after a few minutes, still focusing on his plans. Hermione looked up from her book. "What?" she asked. "I said-" He was cut off. "I know what you said. What makes you say that?" Vince looked up from his work, snickering. "I've seen the way he looks at you. Especially when you help him with homework. He's smitten." Hermione blushed. "He's just grateful for the help." Vince rolled his eyes. "Whatever. All I'm saying is as a guy, I can see the signals of affection. I know because I was the same way with Luna." Hermione paused for a moment, as if collecting her thoughts. "Would he like it if I tried that?" she asked, pointing at the rolled joint in his hand. "Personally, I don't think he would think any different of you if you did. It's not like you'd become a pothead." Hermione looked curious. "Why do you say that?" she asked. "Because you're smart. You've got a good head on your shoulders, Hermione," he answered. "Thank you, Vince," she said, smiling.

Ron came back into the room about ten minutes later, slightly out of breath. He was followed by Harry who was holding up a piece of paper. "Check this out," he said, handing the paper to Hermione. The paper said the first Hogsmeade trip was on Sunday, October fifth. The day after their first game. It also said that there was going to be a new business in Hogsmeade: a movie theater. Vince seriously perked up at this news. He grabbed the paper and read it. It said that this theater would feature both Muggle and wizard films. "It will be open by the time we have the first trip up there," said Harry.

"Awesome! There's a bunch of movies I'm looking forward to," said Vince. "One of my favorite directors has a film coming out. Kevin Smith's 'Zack and Miri Make a Porno.'" There was a look of confusion exchanged through the others. "Oh my god, you've never seen 'Clerks,' 'Mallrats,' 'Dogma?'" They shook their heads. Ron broke the awkward silence. "Personally, I'm looking forward to the adaptation of 'The Fountain of Fair Fortune.'" It was Vince's turn to stare blankly. "I have no idea what you just said." Harry and Hermione were just as clueless. "It's a fairy tale, how can you not have heard of it?" Ron asked, exasperatedly. "Harry and I were raised by Muggles. We had different stories." Vince nodded. "We also have different stories in America."

Vince looked at the joint he was holding in his right hand. "This is almost out," he said, holding it out for someone. "Anyone want the last hit?" Ron made to grab it, but someone piped up. "I'll give it a try." Everyone in the room turned to the source of the voice: Hermione. "Are you sure?" asked Harry. Hermione considered this for a moment before responding. "Yes, I do," she said, firmly. Vince looked at the others and shrugged. He passed the remainder of the joint to Hermione, who took it looking rather curiously at it. "Like this?" she asked holding it to her mouth and inhaling. "Try not to drool so much on the end," said Vince.

She inhaled and held the smoke in her lungs. She held it in for about twenty seconds before coughing it out. Vince and Ron glanced at each other excitedly. When Hermione had finished coughing she was looking at the others. Apparently, something was supposed to happen, but she didn't feel any different. "Well?" asked Ron. "Well what?" replied Hermione. "Don't you feel anything?" asked Harry. Hermione shrugged. "No I don't." Ron looked a little bummed. "You don't feel anything at all?" Hermione shook her head. "I don't feel absolutely- WOAH." Everyone's eyebrows rose. "Hermione, you just made a very uncharacteristic noise," said Harry.

She took another puff, as it was still lit. She held the smoke and exhaled it again. "Wow," she said, a little breathlessly. "How have I never tried this before?" she asked, wobbling slightly. Harry took the initiative and made to take the joint away from her, but she moved her arm away from him. "Just one more puff," she said, quickly. Vince leaned over to Ron. "Good thing she doesn't have an addictive personality." Ron stifled a laugh. Harry grabbed it and flicked it out of the window. Hermione looked slightly crestfallen. "Do you have any more?" she asked Vince. "No, I don't," he responded. "I have to get in touch with Amber." Hermione wasn't paying attention. She was preoccupied with looking at her hands. "My hands are HUGE!" she exclaimed. "Hello hands."

"How are the plans coming?" asked Harry, ignoring Hermione. "Awesome. I think this will be a pretty good plan," Vince answered. "My word, is it hot in here. Did the temperature jump up twenty degrees?" asked Hermione, fanning herself. "Anyway," continued Vince. "We should be a pretty solid team, if I say so myself." They looked over at Hermione, who had taken off her shirt. She was in a lacey white bra and she was beginning to undo her jeans. "Part of me wants to see how far this goes. The other part wants to stop her," said Ron, trying not to giggle. Harry flashed him a look. "Listen to the 'stop her' part," he said. Ron moved Hermione's hands away from her pants and looked back at Vince. "Does this happen to everyone their first time?" he asked. Vince shrugged. "Some people are more susceptible to it. Plus this is really good shit. Amber's got excellent connections." Harry shook his head, hand over his mouth. "I'm just glad her homework is done." Hermione then passed out, mumbling something about "damn kittens."

"Come on," said Ron. "Let's get her downstairs." His watch read 11:30. "We can't get her into her room," said Harry. "The staircase won't let us." Ron grabbed an extra blanket from his trunk. "We'll prop her in a chair with this blanket and let her sleep it off." Together, the three of them led Hermione downstairs. She giggled occasionally, but remained silent for the most part. When they got down to the Common Room the few people awake stared. "What happened to her?" asked Lavender Brown. Think fast. "She fell asleep studying with me," answered Vince as he set her down in a chair with the blanket. "I think she fried her brain." Hermione shot up and blurted, "Pineapples!" She fell back asleep. Lavender raised an eyebrow. "Well good night!" said Vince. He ran upstairs, followed closely by Ron and Harry, leaving Lavender thoroughly confused.

Vincent woke up the next morning, feeling psyched about practice later that day. He started to get dressed when he remembered what happened last night. He ran downstairs as soon as he was finished getting dressed and was relieved to see that Hermione was still asleep in the comfy chair. He walked over to her and tapped her on the forehead. She snorted loudly and blinked her eyes blearily. "What happened last night?" she asked, her voice groggy. "You got really stoned last night and passed out in our room. The three of us helped bring you downstairs and let you sleep it off." Hermione rubbed her eyes and tried to open them fully. "I was really silly last night, wasn't I?" she asked. "I seem to recall focusing much attention on my hands." Vince nodded. "Don't let it get you down, though," he assured her. "That was some potent stuff. Some people handle their first time better than others. The first time I ever smoked, I carried out a lengthy conversation with my little sister's ballet slipper."

Hermione laughed and Vince felt better making her smile. "Do you think I should stop?" she asked him after a few moments. "I think you should do what you think is best. If you want to stop, go ahead. If you want to regulate how much you do next time, go ahead. It's nobody's decision but yours." She smiled. "Thanks Chris. You're so comforting to talk to." Harry and Ron came downstairs and walked over to Hermione. "Hello hands," said Ron with a slight smile breaking on his face. Hermione rolled her eyes and got up off the chair. Still wiping her eyes, Hermione stood up and wobbled slightly. "I still feel the effects of it," she said as she yawned. "Yeah, it'll do that," replied Vince. Harry tapped Vince on the shoulder. "Come on," he said. "We'd better eat before practice at eleven." Vince nodded and followed out of the portrait hole. Ron stayed behind for a moment.

"I still can't believe you actually did it," he said to Hermione. She blushed slightly. "I thought you would like it if I did it. I didn't want you to think I was a big know-it-all goody two-shoes." Ron chuckled. "How did it feel?" he asked. Hermione sighed as she stretched. "It was wonderful. I've never felt like that before. I don't want to become addicted to it, but I don't think I want to stop altogether either. I still want my education to come first." Ron smiled and put his hand on her shoulder. "I wouldn't have it any other way." He gave her a hug and climbed out of the portrait hole to join the rest of the team for breakfast, eagerly anticipating Quodpot practice.