Chapter 25
Vacation is Soon Over
Next day, after Hermione had fed her charge, that is...the trio decided to go visit Hagrid.
"Now, Mariah, you watch that weasel---" Ron threatened.
"Ferret, Ron! How many times must I tell you?" Hermione complained.
"All right, ferret then---and make sure he stays right were he is," Ron finished, glowering at Malfoy.
"Not to worry, Ron," Mariah had her eyes on Malfoy. "In fact, I do hope he tries...because I'd just love nothing better than to parade his sorry butt down to Aunt Min."
As Mr. Filch was on the prowl---along with Mrs. Norris, his shabby cat--- about the grounds, looking for trespassers, the three of them wouldn't of been able to visit their friend Hagrid if they hadn't been Animagi. But, with that avenue available to them, they decided to chance it.
Harry led the way across the castle grounds to Hagrid's folksy hut on the fringe of the forest. At the tall door to Hagrid's hut, they changed themselves back to their human forms again, and knocked upon the wooden door. Hagrid opened the door, and beamed at them all.
"Well, it´s about ruddy time you three showed yerselves," Hagrid pretended to growl. "I'd thought yeh might o' forgotten where it is I lived, so I had."
"Sorry 'bout that, Hagrid. I'm afraid we've been way too busy," Hermione answered truthfully, looking somewhat abashed.
"Ah, don' fret yerself, Hermione," Hagrid said genially, waving one of his ham-sized hands to usher them inside. "Come on, then! In yeh come..."
Once inside, Harry, Ron, and Hermione took seats about the big wooden table, while Hagrid layed out some hot mulled cider and a plate of his treacle fudge. As they ate (and Harry noticed with great happiness that he could while eating Hagrid's fudge), they talked to Hagrid about everything they had done (with the exception of the part concerning Malfoy's imprisonment). Hagrid smiled broadly, his dark eyes glittering happily, and congratulated Ron and Hermione when they informed him that they were now a couple.
The topic of conversation then changed to tthat of the uppcomming Quidditch match between Gryffindor and Slytherin, that would take place late this Spring. Hagrid refilled their cups with the last of the cider, when they were all startled by a sharp crack upon the window.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione looked quickly to the window, as Hagrid got up and opened it. They all gasped in surprise as a very large and majestic bald eagle flew inside to perch upon the back of one of Hagrid's enormous kitchen chairs.
"Hagrid? What's---" Harry began, but Hagrid cut him off. He quickly rousted the three of them to their feet and toward the door.
"Right then. It´s gettin' late, you three. Best yeh get yerselves back to the castle, sharpish now." Hagrid told the trio as he opened the door and almost threw them out in his obvious haste. "Thanks fer visitin' me agin, but it's probably best if yeh leave, er, now."
Once outside Hagrid's hut, Ron groused, "What's gotten into Hagrid, eh? You'd almost think we---"
"Shh, Ron!" Hermione hissed to him. "Listen," she commanded him and Harry.
The trio then gazed in surprise at one another as they heard none other than Professor Dumbledore´s voice speak, "Hagrid, I have some rather surprising news," he said, just a hint of amusement in his voice. "It appears that our Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley as well as Ms. Granger have been holding Mr. Malfoy captive within the Gryffindor common room."
"Blimey!" Hagrid said loudly, then colored. "Sorry, sir."
"No need to apologize, Hagrid. I fear I am as surprised as you are. Apparently, this has been going on---right under our noses---the entire duration of Christmas vacation." The three of them looked at each other, gulped, then ran like mad back up to the castle.
Out of breath when the finally reached the Gryffindor tower, Ron asked, "Oy! Wonder if Dumbledore knew why we had Malfoy up here, and decided to let him stay? Do you think?"
Harry shrugged, and Hermione tutted, giving Ron a look.
Arriving back at the common room, Hermione strode up to where Malfoy still sat. "Good day, all. So...Malfoy, how has your day been?"
she asked sweetly.
"Just how do you think it's been? I have been tied up in this bloody chair all morning, Granger," he answerd sourly. "And if that's not bad enough...while I've been trussed up like some chicken, those two have continued to play song after song from these wretched Hogwarts Sisters! And, sang along---rather badly, mind you---with them too," he informed them all, glaring angrily at Amelia and Mariah, who smiled then stuck their tongues out at him. When he scowled, they broke into a fit of giggles.
"Ooh! I swear," Malfoy growled. "Tell you what, Potter...if you promise to never let those two guard me again, I promise to be on my best behavior for the rest of the blinkng holiday."
Mariah, not remotely interested in Malfoy's continued grousing, felt moved by the latest song playing, and began to sing along:
There you see her,
Sitting there across the edge.
She don't got a lot to say,
But there is something about her.
And you don't know why,
But you are dying to try,
You wanna Kiss the girl!
Malfoy closed his eyes, gritting his teeth. "Not again," he groaned.
Amelia started in, singing the next verse:
Yes, you want her.
Look at her, you know you do.
Possible she wants you too,
But there is one way of asking her.
It don't take a word,
Not a single word,
Just go on and kiss the girl!
Malfoy hung his head in dismal certainty, as both Amelia and Mariah started the refrain:
Sha la la la la la!
My, oh my!
Look like the boy too shy,
He ain't gonna kiss the girl!
Sha la la la la la!
Ain't that sad,
Ain't it a shame, too bad,
You're gonna miss the girl!
Hermione then started singing, because this was one of her favorite songs, to which Malfoy moaned, "Please! Let it stop! Please, let it end!"
Hermione sang:
Now's your moment,
Floating in a blue lagoon.
Boy, you better do it soon,
No time will be better,
She don't say a word,
And she won't say a word,
Until you kiss the girl!
The three girls---Malfoy was pleading, nearly crying now---ended the last refrain as a trio:
Sha la la la la la!
Don't be scared,
You've got the mood prepared,
Go on and kiss the girl!
Sha la la la la la!
Don't stop now,
Don't try to hide it how,
You wanna kiss the girl!
Sha la la la la la!
Float along,
And listen to the song,
The song say, kiss the girl!
Sha la la la la!
The music play,
Do what the music say,
You gotta kiss the girl!
"Now, now, you've only four more days, Malfoy," Harry soothed, grinning evilly.
"Thank goodness," Malfoy sighed.
Ron then tapped Harry on the shoulder. "What?" Harry asked. Ron pointed to the window. There, sitting upon the ledge outside the window was that same huge, bald eagle. Oddly enough, the majestic bird had the look of someone on the verge of a good bout of laughter---if eagles could laugh, that is.
"Right. No doubt about it, mate. Looks like Dumbledore's an Animagi too," Ron declared, shaking his head in a mixture of awe and anxiety.
Vacation is Soon Over
Next day, after Hermione had fed her charge, that is...the trio decided to go visit Hagrid.
"Now, Mariah, you watch that weasel---" Ron threatened.
"Ferret, Ron! How many times must I tell you?" Hermione complained.
"All right, ferret then---and make sure he stays right were he is," Ron finished, glowering at Malfoy.
"Not to worry, Ron," Mariah had her eyes on Malfoy. "In fact, I do hope he tries...because I'd just love nothing better than to parade his sorry butt down to Aunt Min."
As Mr. Filch was on the prowl---along with Mrs. Norris, his shabby cat--- about the grounds, looking for trespassers, the three of them wouldn't of been able to visit their friend Hagrid if they hadn't been Animagi. But, with that avenue available to them, they decided to chance it.
Harry led the way across the castle grounds to Hagrid's folksy hut on the fringe of the forest. At the tall door to Hagrid's hut, they changed themselves back to their human forms again, and knocked upon the wooden door. Hagrid opened the door, and beamed at them all.
"Well, it´s about ruddy time you three showed yerselves," Hagrid pretended to growl. "I'd thought yeh might o' forgotten where it is I lived, so I had."
"Sorry 'bout that, Hagrid. I'm afraid we've been way too busy," Hermione answered truthfully, looking somewhat abashed.
"Ah, don' fret yerself, Hermione," Hagrid said genially, waving one of his ham-sized hands to usher them inside. "Come on, then! In yeh come..."
Once inside, Harry, Ron, and Hermione took seats about the big wooden table, while Hagrid layed out some hot mulled cider and a plate of his treacle fudge. As they ate (and Harry noticed with great happiness that he could while eating Hagrid's fudge), they talked to Hagrid about everything they had done (with the exception of the part concerning Malfoy's imprisonment). Hagrid smiled broadly, his dark eyes glittering happily, and congratulated Ron and Hermione when they informed him that they were now a couple.
The topic of conversation then changed to tthat of the uppcomming Quidditch match between Gryffindor and Slytherin, that would take place late this Spring. Hagrid refilled their cups with the last of the cider, when they were all startled by a sharp crack upon the window.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione looked quickly to the window, as Hagrid got up and opened it. They all gasped in surprise as a very large and majestic bald eagle flew inside to perch upon the back of one of Hagrid's enormous kitchen chairs.
"Hagrid? What's---" Harry began, but Hagrid cut him off. He quickly rousted the three of them to their feet and toward the door.
"Right then. It´s gettin' late, you three. Best yeh get yerselves back to the castle, sharpish now." Hagrid told the trio as he opened the door and almost threw them out in his obvious haste. "Thanks fer visitin' me agin, but it's probably best if yeh leave, er, now."
Once outside Hagrid's hut, Ron groused, "What's gotten into Hagrid, eh? You'd almost think we---"
"Shh, Ron!" Hermione hissed to him. "Listen," she commanded him and Harry.
The trio then gazed in surprise at one another as they heard none other than Professor Dumbledore´s voice speak, "Hagrid, I have some rather surprising news," he said, just a hint of amusement in his voice. "It appears that our Mr. Potter, Mr. Weasley as well as Ms. Granger have been holding Mr. Malfoy captive within the Gryffindor common room."
"Blimey!" Hagrid said loudly, then colored. "Sorry, sir."
"No need to apologize, Hagrid. I fear I am as surprised as you are. Apparently, this has been going on---right under our noses---the entire duration of Christmas vacation." The three of them looked at each other, gulped, then ran like mad back up to the castle.
Out of breath when the finally reached the Gryffindor tower, Ron asked, "Oy! Wonder if Dumbledore knew why we had Malfoy up here, and decided to let him stay? Do you think?"
Harry shrugged, and Hermione tutted, giving Ron a look.
Arriving back at the common room, Hermione strode up to where Malfoy still sat. "Good day, all. So...Malfoy, how has your day been?"
she asked sweetly.
"Just how do you think it's been? I have been tied up in this bloody chair all morning, Granger," he answerd sourly. "And if that's not bad enough...while I've been trussed up like some chicken, those two have continued to play song after song from these wretched Hogwarts Sisters! And, sang along---rather badly, mind you---with them too," he informed them all, glaring angrily at Amelia and Mariah, who smiled then stuck their tongues out at him. When he scowled, they broke into a fit of giggles.
"Ooh! I swear," Malfoy growled. "Tell you what, Potter...if you promise to never let those two guard me again, I promise to be on my best behavior for the rest of the blinkng holiday."
Mariah, not remotely interested in Malfoy's continued grousing, felt moved by the latest song playing, and began to sing along:
There you see her,
Sitting there across the edge.
She don't got a lot to say,
But there is something about her.
And you don't know why,
But you are dying to try,
You wanna Kiss the girl!
Malfoy closed his eyes, gritting his teeth. "Not again," he groaned.
Amelia started in, singing the next verse:
Yes, you want her.
Look at her, you know you do.
Possible she wants you too,
But there is one way of asking her.
It don't take a word,
Not a single word,
Just go on and kiss the girl!
Malfoy hung his head in dismal certainty, as both Amelia and Mariah started the refrain:
Sha la la la la la!
My, oh my!
Look like the boy too shy,
He ain't gonna kiss the girl!
Sha la la la la la!
Ain't that sad,
Ain't it a shame, too bad,
You're gonna miss the girl!
Hermione then started singing, because this was one of her favorite songs, to which Malfoy moaned, "Please! Let it stop! Please, let it end!"
Hermione sang:
Now's your moment,
Floating in a blue lagoon.
Boy, you better do it soon,
No time will be better,
She don't say a word,
And she won't say a word,
Until you kiss the girl!
The three girls---Malfoy was pleading, nearly crying now---ended the last refrain as a trio:
Sha la la la la la!
Don't be scared,
You've got the mood prepared,
Go on and kiss the girl!
Sha la la la la la!
Don't stop now,
Don't try to hide it how,
You wanna kiss the girl!
Sha la la la la la!
Float along,
And listen to the song,
The song say, kiss the girl!
Sha la la la la!
The music play,
Do what the music say,
You gotta kiss the girl!
"Now, now, you've only four more days, Malfoy," Harry soothed, grinning evilly.
"Thank goodness," Malfoy sighed.
Ron then tapped Harry on the shoulder. "What?" Harry asked. Ron pointed to the window. There, sitting upon the ledge outside the window was that same huge, bald eagle. Oddly enough, the majestic bird had the look of someone on the verge of a good bout of laughter---if eagles could laugh, that is.
"Right. No doubt about it, mate. Looks like Dumbledore's an Animagi too," Ron declared, shaking his head in a mixture of awe and anxiety.