Okay, something that endlessly amused me as I read back through this fic. Everything from chapter 8 onward has taken place during the same weekend. Chapter 8 was Friday. Chapter 21 is Monday. That's kinda scary…
The Moonlight Glares
Liza Lew
Disclaimer: I don't own any of JK Rowling's wonderful world or characters. I own my own characters and the plot only.
Chapter 21
This time she didn't break off the kiss. In fact, it went on a very long time. And there were more after that. By the time they finished, it was quite a time later. As she backed away, she heard the door unlock. They could leave the cottage and finally go to the picnic. Not that she'd be able to concentrate on it.
"We've got to go, they'll be looking for us." Draco said.
Hermione shook her head and nervously made her way to the mirror.. "Not yet," she said quietly.
Draco sighed and took her hand, "Yes yet," he said, leading her to the door.
"Wait," said Hermione, and she scurried back over to the mirror. She definitely could use some cleaning up. Her hair was a mess, and her make-up needed re-applying. After fiddling with her locks for a moment, she pulled out her wand, muttered "Scourify!" and tentatively followed Draco out the door into the field.
Twenty minutes later the couple arrived at the creek at the end of the field. Over near the woods about ten pureblood families were having lunch. A small brown head bobbed up, and suddenly Anna shot off the ground and bounded over to her sister.
"Hermione!" she yelled, running pretty darn fast towards Hermione. Hermione winced before the impact and found her sister had enveloped her in a hug.
"Hi Anna," said Hermione as the girl backed up a bit.
"Well, come on! You're really late!" Anna said, dragging Hermione across to a picnic blanket. Out of the corner of her eye, Hermione saw Draco go off and greet some other people.
"Hermione," said Elizabeth, and Hermione looked up, "Your grandmother, over on the other blanket, wanted to talk to you and your cousin at the same time. Why don't you go over there now."
Hermione nodded and walked over to the quilt that her grandmother's chair sat promptly on, and Chels was sitting on.
"Oh Hermione, there you are," said Lady Danforth, "I was just talking to Miss Chels Arina here about your coming out balls. I understand you're throwing yours in conjunction with Miss Weasleys' on the thirty-first, correct?"
"I believe so, yes," said Hermione, seating herself across from Chels.
"Well," said Lady Danforth, "Considering you have already found a beau, and have established yourself as first couple in society, I would like Chels Arina to have your date for her coming out, and you may have the later date of August twenty-first." Lady Danforth sniffled.
Hermione looked down at her hands. She knew the earlier slots in Society were greatly sought after, and her mother had pulled a lot of strings to get there, but what was she going to do, say no to Lady Danforth? "Of course," said Hermione tentatively, "That is if my mother and Lady Copalia are alright with the switch."
"Oh of course they are!" said Lady Danforth, "Now girls, what colors are you planning for your themes? I heard the younger Chang girl this year is coming out in mostly orange if you can believe it!"
"Interesting," said Chels, "But then again Orange has been one of the hottest colors this year. Miss Bulstrode and Miss Parkinson have been wearing different shades of it every day. Not to mention Miss Grenier, who wears something orange every day."
"Still," said Lady Danforth, "It really can be an atrocious color in the wrong shade. Don't you agree, Hermione?"
"Oh, yes," said Hermione politely, not quite believing she was having this conversation again, "In something bright and neon. However, sometimes a pumpkin touch or a dark auburn is pretty. But not excessively."
"I quite agree," said Lady Danforth, "Now my dear Chels Arina, which colors have you been looking at for your coming out?"
"Well, my mother was thinking greens and blues, they give it more of a relaxed feeling."
"I hope I'm not interrupting, ladies," a voice came from behind Chels. Jean was standing there, and took a seat between Chels and Hermione. Hermione kept her face calm.
"No, of course not," said Lady Danforth smiling, "Just the usual discussion of the season's fashions and colors of late."
"Well," said Jean, inching closer to Chels, "I've found that one of the colors that withstands the time seems to be purple. I've found, sadly, it shows up in few social seasons, however."
Hermione let the conversation go on for awhile barely paying attention. Eventually she excused herself and went over to where Harry, Ginny and Ron were. There were a couple other people with them, among them Neville. They all seemed to be in a giant discussion of quidditch.
"I have to say that Bulgaria has taken quite a fall now that Krum's left," said one boy with black hair.
"Take a fall? They've landed straight on their faces! They've won a single game this season!" responded a boy with blond hair.
"Australia is doing pretty well now, however," a girl said, "Considering their re-vamped team. Especially that new seeker, Handel."
"Of course," said Ginny, "But are there any good seekers out there now?"
"Not really," said the black-haired boy, "Since Krum left… I mean, there are some decent ones, but not any better than you see on the school teams. I mean, I could beat Handel hands down."
"You're seeker?" Ginny asked.
"Yeah, I'm on the Beauxacadémie-magie team."
"Really? Which one?" asked Hermione, "I've heard there are three."
"Oh," said the boy, "The top one. Mella house."
"Yeah," said the blond boy, "We always beat the other two houses, Errete and Centh. And, of course we beat the girls' teams from Beauxbatons when the end of year tournament is held." He gave his friend a high-five.
"Really?" said Ginny, "I think we need to organize some inter-school sport this year. I find it tiresome to beat the Slytherin team over and over back at Hogwarts, don't you Harry? Ron?"
Ginny had a glint in her eye. And everyone from Hogwarts knew what that meant. Ginerva Weasley was angry about something, and about to fix it. She gave Harry a puppy dog pout. "Harry, please? You're our captain this year, I want a chance to play against these boys."
"Wait wait wait," said the black haired boy, "YOU play quidditch?" he burst out laughing, "If you want to get your butt kicked so bad, why don't we have a Hogwarts-Beauxbatons match this evening? Right here on this field!"
"Yeah," said the blond boy, "But you better be ready to lose, because I don't let any quaffles in."
"Really," said Ginny, "Then I'll just have to change that for you. Besides, it's you who will be losing, because my brother doesn't let anything in at all!"
Ron's cheeks went red. Harry put a hand on Ginny's shoulder, "Ginny I think that's enough. We know you're an amazing chaser, you don't need to prove it to them." Ron nodded vigorously.
"What's the matter, Potter?" the black haired boy said, "Afraid your wimpy seeker can't beat me to the snitch?"
"On the other hand," said Harry slowly, turning around to face the boy, "Some friendly competition would be nice. What did you say your name was? I like to know the seeker I'm up against."
The boy's eyes went wide, "Wait, you're seeker?" he burst out laughing, "Alright, know that it will be Thomas Jonathan Smith that beats you tonight. You have until seven to get your team together. Game starts at eight. Be here." He stuck out his hand.
"You've got a deal," said Harry, shaking TJ's hand.
"Harry why did you do that!" Hermione yelled at her friend back in the mansion, "You know you can't get an entire team together by seven tonight! You'll disgrace Hogwarts! You've got a keeper, a seeker, one chaser, me and Neville! What were you thinking!"
Harry rolled his eyes, "Wait and see."
The fire behind Harry blazed green and Ginny stepped out, grinning. "Welcome back the two star beaters, my friends," she said, holding her arms pointing at the fire, where two identical red heads stepped out.
"Heya Harry," said Fred.
"Heard you needed a quidditch team," said George.
Hermione crossed her arms and stood there fuming, "Alright," she said, "You have two beaters. What about two more chasers?"
The fire blazed again and Ron stepped out, followed by none other than Katie Bell and Alicia Spinnet.
"Heard you needed some help," said Alicia, grinning from ear to ear.
Hermione shook her head as the others grabbed their brooms and went out to practice.
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Okay, ch21 is up! HA! I hope you all enjoyed it! I am currently REALLY REALLY busy, but I will try to edit, write more and post asap.
Thanks again to my bazillion amazing reviewers, I got a LOT of good comments last time. And, thanks to my beta, Flo, for nagging me to keep writing this story.
Now, a question: What do you think (or know, if you managed to find this obscure piece of knowledge) wizards have instead of dentists?