Games Are Afoot Chapter 12
Bonded
Disclaimer: The Characters are not mine they belong to the fabulous JKR, but I am enjoying the hours of entertainment I get playing with them.
Ginny was thinking hard. Her brow was creased in concentration. She was trying to decide which book she wanted to share. She had always had a philosophy that it was great to go for shock value, and with two of her brothers here, well, this opportunity just didn't present itself everyday.
"One of the books I have read more than ten times is 101 Ways to Hex the Incorrigible Wizard." She announced.
"Excuse me?" Charlie asked. "I thought that book was one, out of print, and two, out of the Burrow after Fred and George pulled that stunt on Percy."
As they stretched their fingers Ginny smiled like a cat who had trapped a mouse. "Honestly, the pedestal you boys put mum on. Do you honestly think with six boys around the house she would let that treasure escape!"
Hermione began to laugh. It was deep from her gut and she couldn't help it because of the looks on Ron and Charlie's faces. Ginny joined her as the males in the room sat stunned trying to decide if she was serious or joking.
"She changed the cover, duh! It's still on the bookshelf. Why is it that the youngest always has to teach her elders?" Ginny teased.
Charlie tried to shake off his surprise by conjuring Ron a chair across the table from him. He loved his brother, but he had a streak of impudence, so Ron's chair was a hardwood, straight back, no armed seat.
"Thanks Mate," Ron said as he rolled his eyes. "Way to go for the comfort."
Hermione tossed him a throw pillow from her bed to sit on. "Here you go, wouldn't want you to damage anything important." Charlie chuckled at her sense of humor.
"Thanks Hermione, you're all heart." Ron replied sarcastically. "So, is it my question then?"
"Might as well, Ginny went last and now you are sitting next to her." Hermione said.
"'Kay, what would be good," he wondered aloud as they placed their fingers on the quill. "I got it. What is one of your least favorite things to do?"
"Well, I guess I would have to say flying." Hermione answered mirthlessly.
"Flying!" Charlie exclaimed. "I thought they were kidding earlier during the Quidditch conversation. You really don't like to fly?"
"She really doesn't mate. Harry and me have tried to figure out how someone could not like to fly, but we just can't. She's mental."
Charlie gave Ron a dirty look for his last comment.
"I don't think it's all that strange." Ginny spoke defensively of Hermione, "She didn't grow up with brooms to fly on, did she. They were always sort of stationary and sweepy. We have been flying since we could walk."
"Thanks Gin, you're a pal." Hermione said giving Ginny a grateful smile.
"Well have you been, flying I mean, since first year?" Charlie inquired.
"Only once, and it wasn't on a broom." She responded looking towards the ceiling.
Charlie finally caught on. "Oh, Buckbeak." She nodded.
"Well, has anyone offered to teach you? Since Madame Hooch I mean."
"Of course we offered, what kind of friends do you think we are!" Ron answered hotly.
Hermione just shrugged and Charlie wisely dropped the subject, for now.
"I guess," Charlie began returning to the game, "That I hate degnoming the garden."
The entire group laughed.
"I find myself easily distracted out there and instead of chasing them away I always end up toying with them and making them mad. They are right funny little buggers when you get 'em riled up." Charlie chuckled.
"I hate not being able to use magic outside of school." Ginny blurted out. "I mean I get used to doing it whenever I want for ten months, and then to come home and sit on my wand when it's my night for dishes, ugh, you guys get done in two minutes and I have to slave away like a house elf."
"I can't use magic either, Gin. We are in the same boat." Ron comforted.
"I hate having to take potions. Dealing with Snape causes nightmares on a regular basis. I mean it would be an all right class if he wasn't in there doing all he could to promote house un-unity. But as if having lessons with the Slytherins wasn't enough…" Ron shuddered.
The quill released their fingers. Hermione began rubbing her hand.
"Something wrong?" Charlie inquired.
"I think I just have a cramp from holding my hand in one position for so long." She answered.
"Let me see it." Charlie demanded holding his hand out for hers. She placed her hand into Charlie's and instantly noticed again how warm it was.
"Your hands are always very warm." She commented.
"Always? You have touched his hand enough to know it's always warm?" Ron asked suspiciously with a possessive look in his eye.
"Twice. Right now, and when we apparated you dolt!" Hermione nearly shouted at him. "Why must you always make everything seem so seedy!" She grabbed her hand back and blushed furiously.
Charlie glared at Ron and retrieved Hermione's hand. He pressed on the joint just below her finger and it gave a startling little pop. Instantly the pain eased. "There you go, Hermione, please forgive my brothers lack of manners."
"Thank you Charlie that feels much better." Hermione replied opening and closing the now painless hand.
"Enough of the sibling rivalry, Hermione, it is your turn to ask a brilliant question." Ginny announced. The fingers returned to the quill.
"I want to know what one of your favorite things to do is." She said simply. She looked ahead at Ginny, but really was looking out the corner of her eye at Charlie.
"I guess it's my turn to answer first," He said drawing everyone's attention to him. "I know with all my quidditch prowess, everyone would expect me to say flying, but since that is such an obvious answer I think that I will have to say…watching baby dragons hatch."
"Oh, that is fun!" Hermione squealed.
"You've seen one?" Charlie asked with surprise.
"Yeah, we were at Hagrid's when Norbert was born." Ron muttered. "He kept referring to himself as mummy and gave it a bleedin teddy bear!"
"I wish I could have seen that." Ginny sighed wistfully.
"Aye, it is a sight to behold," said Charlie dreamily.
"Which is your favorite breed, Charlie?" Hermione asked him.
"They each have unique things about them, but I would have to say my favorite is the Chinese Fireball. They are full of life and fun. They are downright playful at times, if you don't mind the occasional flame thrown your way."
"Sounds fascinating." Hermione responded.
"Sounds fascinating." Ron mimicked.
Ginny interrupted before a row began, "One of my favorite things is the bat bogey hex! I am just waiting for a Slytherin to give me an opportunity…."
Everyone laughed at the look of hopefulness on her face.
"One of my favorite things to do is eat." Ron stated matter-of-factly.
"We know, we've seen you, it's ghastly." Ginny said with a shudder of distaste. This brought on another round of laughter including Ron.
"What about you Hermione. It's your turn. What is one of your favorites?" Charlie asked curiously.
"Well, everyone will assume I am going to say studying," she paused and looked as Ginny and Ron nodded vigorously, "but, as much as I like to learn and I do, one of my favorite things to do is to star-gaze. I love astronomy class on the tower on a clear night. It makes you feel like anything is possible in a world so big. The sky at night is so incredible."
"Yeah, and you have time to look because your star chart was done the first week." Ron muttered miserably.
Hermione laughed. "Some nights I lay by the lake and watch the sky. I don't really know how to explain how it makes me feel, but it's all good."
Ginny was nodding her head. "It makes me feel small and huge all at the same time to be a part of something that grand."
"The nights in Romania are like that too. There are not many lights at the reserve so the stars in the sky light up everything. I think the word majestic does it for me." Charlie added.
"Majestic. That is a good word." Hermione said thoughtfully.
The quill had released their fingers and suddenly Mrs. Black's portrait began shrieking. Charlie jumped to his feet, wand drawn. "Wait here!" He ordered with authority. He let himself out the door silently and pulled it shut behind him. Ron and Hermione joined Ginny on her bed so they would be facing the door.
After what seemed like hours, there was a knock at the door and Charlie's voice called out, "It's just me," as he entered the room to find them standing with wands drawn.
He could see the worry on their faces. "It's ok. Tonks and Remus have returned. Dad and Mum will be here shortly and we are going to have supper. Sorry, but I guess the game is over for now. Thank you ladies for a lovely afternoon." He grabbed the quill to return it to Sirius.
"Thanks Charlie!" Ginny yelled after him.
"Thanks Charlie!" Hermione added to which he raised his hand over his shoulder as he left the room. Hermione's gaze followed him out the door. She walked over and sat in the chair Charlie had vacated which to her delight was still warm. Ron sat across from her studying her quizzically.
Ginny was trying to move Ron out of the way to return the table to its rightful place. "Ron, move and help." Ginny ordered. Ron leapt to his feet and knocked the chair out of the way as he helped Ginny replace the table.
He pulled the chair back to where it was and sat again followed by Ginny plopping back down on her bed. Hermione seemed a million miles away.
"That was so much fun!" Ginny sighed. "Charlie always makes things fun."
"Yeah, so much fun." Muttered Ron grumpily.
"What's got your wand in a knot, Ronald?" Hermione asked sharply her steely eyes boring into Ron's.
"I don't know, maybe because you guys left me alone to come play up here. Maybe because you didn't ask me to explain any of my answers because Charlie's were 'oh so fascinating.' Maybe because…."
"You're jealous!" Shrieked Ginny with a stunned expression. She clasped her hand to her mouth at her revelation. "The question is…what are you jealous of?"
"I. AM. NOT. JEALOUS." Ron hissed at his sister. His neck and face exploded into a deep red color. "I am dead bored in this dark magic palace and you all left me in the lounge alone…with spiders!"
Hermione and Ginny tried not to laugh. They really did. But, they couldn't help it. Their laughter did nothing to improve Ron's mood as he sulked.
"Come on, Ron," Ginny gently prodded, "We won't laugh anymore. And we promise, we won't leave you alone with anymore spiders." She solemnly vowed.
"Oh Ron, you're the one who stayed in the lounge. I left you in the kitchen ready to stuff your face and you took your own sweet time coming up here. So don't you dare accuse us of leaving you in the lurch." Hermione was getting into good form. She was tired of Ron's pettiness. "We are ALL stuck in here. The rest of us are trying to make the best of it."
"I can see. You are getting quite chummy with Charlie. All holed up in the room just the three of you. Private party was it?" Ron said folding his arms across his chest and glaring at the two girls.
"You prat! We were in here chatting and Charlie came to US to play with him." Ginny spouted hotly.
"Why you two? Why wouldn't he come find me?"
"Well, maybe because you were too busy having a snack and embarrassing others." Ginny retorted crossing her arms as well.
"Embarassing? Embarassing who?" Ron shot back.
"Hermione for one. Yourself for two. And me just because we're related." Ginny offered sarcastically.
"How….what…HEY!" Ron yelled.
"Better watch out, you might blow a brain cell with arguments like that." Ginny retorted.
Hermione began to say something, but Ron's face stopped her before a sound came out.
"And just how am I supposed to have embarrassed Hermione?" Demanded Ron.
"You just say things at the wrong time. You don't think when you speak. You don't consider anyone else's feelings. You do it all the time."
"When, when exactly is all the time?"
"How about the yule ball? How about just about every meal?"
Unbeknownst to the group, two slippery little strings had slithered their way into the room. Across the hall gales of laughter pealed merrily. The trio causing the amusement remained blissfully unaware.
Charlie came skipping down the stairs whistling when suddenly he stopped. He could see two almost invisible strings connecting the twin's room to the girls. He moved towards the twins room and threw the door open. George and Fred were collapsed in a heap grasping their sides.
"Want to let me in on what's so funny?" Charlie asked.
"Just—just—just—listen." Gasped George as he broke into another peal of laughter.
Charlie held the bud that George handed him and put it near his ear. He yanked it away as the amplified voice of Ron came through. He was yelling at someone. Probably Ginny. Now Charlie could understand what they thought was so funny. It was hysterical to hear their baby sister totally pick him apart. Charlie guffawed as he heard Hermione enter the fray.
"You are an imbecile! How can you say such a thing? I do NOT flirt."
"Oh yes you do! Viktor's gone to get drinks! Isn't he the most wonderful thing to walk the face of the earth? Oh I better go write Viktor another letter. It's only been a day…"
"So you are still stuck on last year are you? Well, obviously you need me to reassure you again. Viktor is my friend. That is all. We went to the dance. We studied. He competed. He went home—to Bulgaria. We write. That's it. Deal with it already!" Hermione hissed venomously.
"Then what's with all the that's just fascinating Charlie? Majestic is it Charlie? I just love to look at the stars." Ron simpered.
"If you two are going to keep this up, I would rather help mum in the kitchen!" Ginny said as she quickly escaped the firing line.
She noticed the extendable ears and veered her course to the room across the hall. She opened the door to find three of her brothers in hysterics and trying to get her to come in and shut the door. Fred motioned for her to join him and listen with him. She smiled and moved next to him.
"You guys are horrible!" Ginny whispered loudly. "I love you!" They all three smiled appreciatively as more yelling was heard.
"Charlie is just being nice. I had to come here instead of seeing my parents whom I have not seen since last summer. Our safety is at stake and you are giving me a hard time because I was TALKING to Charlie?!" Hermione ranted. "Did you just conveniently forget Ginny was here too? Is it so inconceivable to you that SOMEONE might find my conversation interesting? Did it ever occur to you that I might have some interest outside of studying and you and Harry?" She paused to catch her breath.
"Mione, why didn't you just talk to me? I am one of your best friends. You should have come to me."
"I tried Ron. You just don't listen sometimes. And as long as we are all cooped up together, if I want to play a game with Charlie, or talk to Ginny, or pull a prank with Fred, well, then, I'll do it. I am my own person. I don't have to answer to you."
"I never said you did." A more humble Ron said. "You can do whatever you want. Can we please stop fighting now?"
"Yes, I am done arguing. How do you think Harry is holding up?" Hermione offered to facilitate the peace.
"I think he is probably miserable and alone. I think Dumbledore is wrong to not let us tell him anything. Did you see the letter I got earlier. It was three lines long. He is not doing well." Ron said with worry creasing his brow.
"Well, at least the order is keeping an eye on him even if he doesn't know it." Hermione said.
"Doesn't do him a lot of good if he doesn't know it now does it? It's not like Dudley Dimwit is going to suddenly be nice. Cedric died right in front of him and then they send him to that god awful place to stew in his thoughts. Odds are they don't say more than three words a day to him."
"Is it really that bad?" Hermione worried aloud.
"I am sure it's probably a lot worse. I hope they let him come here soon." Ron said sullenly. He was really worried about Harry. His nightmares had set new records for being bad before they left to come home for the summer and Ron didn't think a stay at the Dursley's was likely to improve that situation.
"Dinner's ready!" Mrs. Weasley's voice carried up the stairs.
"Well, I guess we had better head down then." Ron said as he stood.
"Ron," Hermione said standing and placing her hand on his forearm. "I know it's hard for Harry, but we'll be here for him when he gets here. That's all we can do for him."
"I know Mione," Ron said putting his hand over hers. "I just hope it's enough."