Games are Afoot Chapter 3
Predictable
Ron decided to ignore Charlie's comments for now, as he was down to about one minute to find his spot to hide. What Charlie said had bothered him more than he cared to admit, but there would be time to dwell on it later. He hated looking stupid in front of his brothers and being found before he could even find a place to hide would not bode well on the teasing front.
His mind ran through the possible options. His room. The broom cupboard. The pantry. Ah, just about his favorite place in the whole house. He was hungry too so this would definitely kill the proverbial two birds with one stone. He flew down the stairs as fast as he could without making undo noise; adeptly leapt the third squeaky step; and slid into the pantry.
Herminone walked over to Ginny. "His hiding spot will be obvious don't you think?"
"Oh yes, it is about as simple-minded as Fred's" Ginny countered.
The two girls looked at each other and began laughing. "Find the food and you'll find Ron." They said in unison.
"Come on ladies, that' our bit—you can't go around saying things together—" George began.
"It's sort of our trademark." Finished Fred.
"Well, they are right--" Bill commented grinning
"Even if they steal your thunder a bit." Added Charlie.
"Deal with it!" Bill and Charlie said together as the girls began laughing.
"Gits!" The twins responded with dour looks on their faces.
"I guess it's time" Hermione interrupted.
"Who wants to open the pantry door?" Asked Ginny.
"I think Hermione should." Suggested Charlie.
"All right then. Let's go." Hermione said as she led the way.
Ron silently tried to calm his breathing so as not to alert anyone to his presence. By breathing through his nose he could smell the wonderful aroma of the food surrounding him. He quite literally felt like heaven had to include fully stocked pantries. Ron was so busy perusing his selections that he failed to notice no sound on or up the stairs. He was just about to pop one his mum's famous chocolate biscuits into his mouth when the door opened with all six of the others chuckling at him.
"You are so predictable Ronald!" Hermione quipped as Bill and Charlie laughed out loud.
"I wuf ungre." Ron replied shrugging his shoulders as he shoved the entire biscuit in his mouth.
"Ron, that's a ghastly site," Ginny grimaced with disgust, "Please! Please for the love of Merlin close your mouth when you chew!"
This created another round of laughter at Ron's expense but he merely shoved in another biscuit and pushed his way out of the pantry.
"I'll be it since we all got here at once kiddies." Bill announced slightly condescendingly, but with good humor. The rest of the group trudged quickly back to the lounge. Bill waited for the click of the door and slid stealthily back into the pantry sighing as he took a bite of a chocolate biscuit. "Ron may be predictable but he definitely had the right idea!" Bill thought as he took another bite.
"So George, where do you suppose the great curse breaker will hide?"
"Don't know just yet Fred, he's a slippery one he is."
Ginny and Ron nodded in agreement. Charlie looked deep in thought but the direction of his gaze was toward Hermione who was looking at all of them with confusion in her lovely brown eyes.
"So why such solemn faces?" Hermione asked. "He can't be that hard to find can he?"
"Bill is the king of hide and seek Hermione," Ron replied reverently. "No one has found him within the time limit for the last twelve years."
"Seriously. No one?" Hermione questioned with doubt in her eyes. She
looked at each one in turn. The twins were silent for once deep in thought, Ron and Ginny just looked back at her and shrugged. Charlie stared right back at her and quirked his eyebrow.
"What are you thinking Granger? You have a wickedly determined gleam to your eyes." Charlie challenged.
"Do I?" She replied distractedly raising her eyes to look at Charlie.
"Oh yeah you do!" Ron chuckled. Hermione turned to Ron and then glanced around the room finally coming out of her thoughts.
Suddenly she realized all eyes were on her and she blushed furiously. The entire group shared a laugh at her expense as she stared fixedly at the floor.
"Come on Granger!" The twins coaxed teasingly. "What's going on in that brilliant mind of yours?"
"Just trying to figure out where he could go that would be 'unplottable' by all his siblings for the last twelve years." She murmured deep in thought again.
This brought on another round of laughter that helped the red leave Hermione's face.
"Time!" Yelled Ron as he ran out of the lounge and up the stairs towards Bill's room. The twins bolted immediately following and Ginny wasn't far behind.
"You have an idea don't you Granger" Charlie chuckled as Hermione's already bright eyes lit up even more brightly.
"Oh definitely, care to prove my theory with me?" She winked at Charlie and headed for the door.
"What theory would that be?" Charlie answered amusedly. He was surprised at the bold wink and he was very curious about where she was headed. She stopped suddenly and he almost ran into her as she turned to face him again.
"If you wanted to not be found where would the most obvious place to hide be?" She challenged. Charlie only stared blankly at her and shrugged.
"Come on Charlie! Think. Where's the last place you would look Charlie?" Hermione hinted coyly.
Charlie thought hard for a moment
She started to walk out of the lounge with Charlie close on her heels. "The obvious place to hide," she said walking back through the kitchen, "would be the last place hidden" she said as she dramatically yanked open the pantry door to a stunned Bill with a mouth full of biscuit.
Charlie was impressed. Bill was stunned. Hermione was smirking.
"I can't believe no one worked this out for the last twelve years!" Hermione whispered conspiratorially.
"Neither can I." Charlie muttered sheepishly.
Bill finished chewing and offered them each a biscuit. They all chuckled quietly while they waited munching on the delicious food. Truth be told, Bill was stunned. None of his siblings had ever figured this out yet here comes Hermione and suddenly the jig was up—in less than two minutes. Hermione felt Bill watching her.
"What?" She asked curiously.
"You would be a great curse breaker. You really know how to think on your feet!" Hermione blushed and looked at the floor.
"Oh." She whispered surprised at the compliment. She totally missed the eye conversation the boys had over her head.
They waited quietly as they could hear the bangs and thumps of the others running all over the house.
"Oi Ron! Where's Granger?" either Fred or George yelled.
"Where's Charlie?" Ginny asked.
"You don't think—naw no one ever finds Bill." One of the twins muttered passing close to the pantry.
"Time's up! Everyone back to the lounge." Ron yelled followed by thundering footsteps as the others raced back to the lounge.
"Looks like we're on." Charlie said nearly silently with his eyes twinkling. "Ladies first." He added gently pressing his hand against Hermione's lower back and opening the door. Hermione led Charlie and Bill to the lounge. As she walked in she was stunned by the open mouth gapes of the other four and stopped. Unfortunately, she stopped and caused Bill and Charlie to collide with her knocking her off balance. Ron caught her around her slim waist and helped her regain her balance. His face turned red and he let go quickly as the others moved the rest of the way in the lounge. He was rewarded with a smile from Hermione who mouthed, "Thank you."
"A new era has begun at the Burrow." Bill declared formally trying desperately to keep his face straight.
"Hear! Hear!" Charlie seconded also trying to keep his face solemn.
"I declare game, set and match to Hermione Granger, most brilliant witch of her age." Bill said as he bowed to her regally. Hermione could feel her face turn red and she really wasn't feeling very smart at the moment because she didn't have any idea what they were playing at. She looked to Ron with question in her eyes, but he merely shrugged. She looked back to Bill briefly until Charlie started to speak.
"In her first go round, Hermione got Bill."
Ginny, the twins, Ron and Charlie all broke into applause recognizing the significance of the moment. Everyone laughed including Hermione.
"It's not that big of a deal is it?" She said chuckling.
"Oh it's bigger than big, Hermione. Bill has used his status of King for years. It's about time some one brought him down a peg or two!" Ginny assured her.
"So what's my prize?" Hermione countered with a gleam in her eye.
"Prize?" Ron muttered. "What do you mean prize?"
"If, in fact, I have achieved a great feat—as you have all assured me that I have done the impossible—doesn't that usually result in some sort of reward? I mean if I have figuratively slain the dragon (Charlie snorted and was rewarded with a sly look from Hermione) then I think that I deserve a prize."
"Oh hear! Hear!" Charlie said again not able to with hold in his barking laugh. The others joined him.
"Fred! George! What say you? What should the reward be for such a noble deed?" Bill questioned the twins.
Fred and George consulted each other quietly for a few moments. "We feel that such a noble deed deserves a truly grand reward." Fred began.
"Most assuredly," George concurred.
"So we propose—"started Fred.
"That we will NOT—"added George
"Prank Hermione for 24 hours." They concluded also bowing towards Hermione with a flourish.
"Ahem." George said in a stage whisper toward Hermione, "the reward does not carry over so be careful whom you sit by." The room erupted in laughter again.
"Oh that is a grand gesture!" Bill exclaimed. "What else shall our conqueror be bestowed with? Ginny? Ron? Charlie?"
"Oh I think she should be allowed a scepter. Perhaps we should reinstate her wand?" Ginny suggested.
"Bravo, Gin!" Smiled Fred.
"Um, I, well, what do ya want Hermione?" Ron stuttered.
Hermione thought for a moment and then said, "I think you should come up with the next game, Ronald."
He looked stunned and then nodded. "Can we at least have lunch first? I'm starving!" Everyone laughed as Ron turned red and muttered, "Well I am."
"When are you not? I've seen you eat at school—" Ginny started
"Right foul thing to watch too" added Fred.
Bill and Charlie had been talking quietly and Bill left and returned with Hermione's wand. "Here you are my lady," he said presenting it to her. Charlie waved his wand and conjured a chair that looked suspiciously like a throne.
"I think that this chair would be fitting for you for today." Charlie gallantly offered her his hand and escorted her to her chair. Ron scowled.
"Show off." He muttered under his breath.
"What was that Ron?" Fred said drawing all eyes to Ron.
"Nothin'" Ron replied.
"Oi, Bill…that just leaves you mate. What will you reward Hermione with?" George called out.
"I need a little time, but I assure you it will be fitting for the deed."