Prompt – Youre overdue on this book and I want it so I'm tracking you down!
"Excuse me, are you Hermione Granger?"
Both Hermione and her friend Harry lifted their heads from over their books, looking at the petite red head who had spoken. Her attention was on Hermione, so she didn't notice Harry blush at her presence.
"Yes," replied Hermione, politely, " how may I help you."
" I've just been to the library, looking for a book. When I couldn't find it, I asked at the desk and they told me you're overdue on this book. I want it, so I've tracked you down."
Harry frowned at this; Hermione NEVER had overdue library books.
"Oh dear," sighed Hermione, looking uncommonly put out. "I don't know how this could happen. What was the title, er..."
"I'm Ginny, and the book is 'Quidditch Through the Ages', the latest fantasy book from the author JK Rowling," said Ginny. " I want to use it for my English Lit class."
" Oh yes, that one," nodded Hermione. " I'm pretty sure I loaned it to Harry."
And with that, both their gazes swung to Harry.
"Er, are you sure?" he asked his friend.
"Most definitely. I remember you seemed keen on the idea of playing a game like football but on broomsticks," assured Hermione. "Then I told you about some of the ridiculous rules and the scoring system. I mean, really, one hundred fifty points for catching a small golden ball?"
It did sound familiar to Harry but he was sure she hadn't actually given him the book, and he said as much to both the females, only to see Ginny's face fall.
"Go home and have a good look through that mess you call a dorm," laughed Hermione.
"Listen to your girlfriend, Harry," suggested Ginny, smiling. She liked these two, even if they had been no help at all so far.
"Girlfriend!" they both gasped in horror.
"She's like my know-it-all sister," quipped Harry.
"And he's like my annoying little brother," smirked Hermione.
"Oh, good to know," muttered Ginny, causing Hermione to raise her eyebrows at her. Her freckled face flushed.
"Harry, why don't you get Ginny's phone number and you can ring her when you find the book, and make a time to give it to her," suggested Hermione. " I'll let the librarian, Irma, know."
" Okay, thanks, I'd really appreciate it," sighed Ginny. She reached over and grabbed one of Harry's pens, then his arm, and quickly wrote her number on it. "Hope I hear from you soon, my paper is due next week."
"You will," said Hermione.
" Okay then, thanks again," said Ginny, " bye." Her gaze lingered on Harry before she walked away.
Harry sighed happily; it was the closest he had gotten to his crush of a few weeks, and he stared at her phone number, remembering the tingle as she grabbed his arm.
"God, you're really crazy about her, aren't you," teased Hermione, nudging him.
" She's even prettier close up," sighed Harry, adding her name on his arm above her number. Then his heart sank. "But she's going to hate me when I don't have her book. Why did you say I had it, anyway?"
Hermione grinned, and reached down for her book bag, pulling out the very book Ginny was just looking for. She handed it to Harry, who looked through it curiously.
" You're welcome," she said sarcastically.
" I don't get it, why didn't you just give it to her?" he asked.
" Because I've watched you pining over her for two months now, and not do anything about it. Now, thanks to me, you have her phone number, and a chance to get together with her to give her the book, say, over a cup of coffee, or maybe even dinner," suggested Hermione, with a wink.
Harry stared at his friend. "You are amazing, Hermione, thanks. But how did you know she'd want this exact book?"
" I heard her talking with her friend, Luna, about it a week or so ago. You know I volunteer at the library, so when I saw it had come in, and Ginny had put a request in on it, well, I just loaned it out to myself ahead of her," grinned Hermione. " The rest is up to you."
" Oh god, what will we talk about?" asked Harry, looking anxious.
Hermione shook her head in amusement. "Want some advice?"
"Yes please," he said eagerly.
"Read the damn book, Harry."