A/N: I apologize for the long wait for this chapter. School just started and I was sick, so there wasn't much time to work on the chapters. Thanks so much for the reviews, though! They are what got me back here writing (when I'm supposed to be in bed…)
Disclaimer: I do not own any of these characters. They belong to J.K. Rowling.
Rating: T – Just in case.
Chapter Eleven
"Here we are!" The proclamation rang throughout the woods. Fred's arms were fanned out like an eagle's.
Hermione walked into the clearing with Ron in tow. The sight was breathtaking.
The grass was glistening with undisturbed dew, and was as green as the leaves on the trees above. The trees themselves were tall and full of perfectly rounded leaves. The foliage created a semicircle around the little clearing. Two small camouflage green tents sat beside each other with a couple long logs placed in front of them. In front of the logs, was a large circle of stones with kindling placed in the center.
"This is incredible!" shrieked Hermione, doing a little jump on the spot. "Amazing!"
Ron laughed and drew up beside her with a smirk. "Hermione, I think you need to get your nose of those books more often."
Hermione playfully punched her companion on the arm before marching over to Ginny. "This is great," she breathed. "Thanks for bringing me along."
Ginny nodded. "Of course!" At that she skipped over to the closest tent and stuck her head inside. She immediately retreated, tossing her entire body backwards and sitting on the log. She turned to glare at the boys, and everyone burst out laughing.
"Inky Insight!" chortled the twins, slapping another high five. George stuck his want out and cried, "Accio Inky Insight!" At that a small object flew out of the tent and into his hand. It looked like a normal inkpot, but on closer inspection had a miniature cannonball protruding from its side.
"Brilliant!" snorted Ron, slapping his knee.
Ginny's ears turned pink. Her cheeks may have too, but it was impossible to tell, for she had black ink splattered all over her face and the top of her blouse. "Funny for you!" she spat, leaping to her feet. She took intimidating steps towards Fred and George. "Ink stains, you idiots!"
Fred nodded. "It sure does. And that's your favorite shirt too!"
Ginny looked down, horrified. "This is not my favorite shirt!" she snapped, looking back at the twins. "But when mom finds out that you stained one of my shirts, she'll have you for dinner!"
Hermione giggled.
George put his arm around Ginny's shoulders, which only infuriated her more. "Ginny, we would never do anything like that to our darling little sister."
"No," agreed George, putting his arm around Ginny's shoulders as well.
"But you just did," growled Ginny before pulling away from her brothers and cautiously making her way into the other tent.
As soon as she was out inside, the group of friends burst out laughing. Hermione grinned at Ron, who winked in return.
"No worries, mate," whispered Fred, nudging Hermione's side. "It's disappearing ink."
That statement only made the group laugh harder.
The moon had risen high in the sky when George finished telling his scary story about the Trolls and Giants joining forces. Hermione and Ginny sat on one bench, Fred and Ron sat on another and George sat on the bench facing them.
Ginny yawned and stretched. Once she'd discovered that the ink disappeared she'd come back outside and listened to George's stories, though she seemed a little solemn after the incident.
"I've got a scary story," announced Fred, switching places with his brother.
"All right. Let's hear it," replied Ron eagerly.
Ginny stretched again and got to her feet. "Well, I'm going to bed now."
"Me too," agreed George, retreating into his own tent.
A chorus of 'Goodnight's followed them as she entered their tents.
"Anyways," continued Fred, rubbing his hands together eagerly. "Time for my story. Are you sure you'll be all right, Hermione?"
Hermione nodded forcefully.
"Ron?"
Ron nodded as well, putting both hands on either side of him as if to brace himself.
Fred nodded and began.
"Once upon a time…""That's not a very frightening beginning," retorted Hermione.
Fred shot her a look and continued.
"Once upon a time, there was a witch. She aced all of her O.W.L.S., and she tutored most all of the other students in her spare time. She was a genius, and she knew it… Kind of like our Hermione here."
Hermione forced a smile.
"Then one day she was waiting to tutor a new student. He came in and the two hit it off right away. During the next couple sessions the two gave mushy eyes at each other. Then one day, he did it. He leaned in for the kiss. She closed her eyes, and felt a piercing pain in her throat. Her eyes flew open, and she was face to face with a Werewolf!"
A horrible growling sounded beside Hermione, and a large furry animal leapt out of the shadows. Hermione screamed and leapt comically into Ron's lap.
Ron just sat there and Fred picked up the fuzzy brown blanket and George leapt from the shadows, growling and barking like a madman. The two twins preformed their signature move and slapped each other high fives. Laughing, they then disappeared into their tent.
Hermione laughed nervously to herself. "I just made a total fool of myself."
"At least you're a fool without ink all over your face," chortled Ron, making no move to remove Hermione from his lap.
Hermione smiled and looked up at Ron. "Well the ink would've disappeared sooner or later anyways."
Ron shook his head and smiled at Hermione. "But it would have made it harder."
"Would've made what harder?" prompted Hermione, looking into Ron's eyes.
"Looking at you."
Hermione gave a half smile. "Oh."
"But it would have made it even harder to do this…"
A/N: Ahhhhhh!!! Tell me how it is going! Review, review review! I hope to be getting the next chapter up a lot sooner than this one took me to get up. Sorry about that!