Of Darkness Part 2: Tonsil Hockey
Ron placed a hand on Hermione's back as she stepped towards him. "Hermione, is everything ok?" he whispered into her ear.
"Yeah, fine," she said very quickly.
"So this is the Burrow!" Persephone was exclaiming, "How charming! Isn't it marvelous." She saw Hermione now. "Harry, I've met you, but who is this?"
Harry blushed as she touched his arm, "Persi, this is Hermione, our friend."
"Pleased to meet you," said Hermione.
"As you should be," Persephone smiled slyly. "So what are you two boys doing?"
"Actually," Ron said, sounding annoyed, "We were just going up to my room so we could chat with Hermi, come on guys. Catch you later Perse." With that, he grabbed Harry's hand and was forced to half-drag him up the stairs.
Ron's room was the same. A messy clutter of all the things he had acquired over the years. Hermione plopped right into his bed. "I wish I could sleep in here," she murmured to no one in particular.
"Yeah," said Ron sarcastically, "I'm sure my mom would go for that one!" But he smiled at her, as one would smile at a younger sister.
"Yeah, you're right, I just wouldn't be able to contain myself being in the same room with two sexy boys. Good thing there wouldn't be such guys in the room I suppose." She smiled, pleased with herself, but Harry and Ron responded by hitting her with pillows. The fight lasted for quite sometime, past the point of the pillows bursting, until Mr. Weasley was forced to come up the stairs to quiet them down, Persephone was resting.
"Stupid Persephone," muttered Ron quietly as his father was leaving.
"Why don't you like her?" asked Hermione as she returned to her spot on the bed.
"She's so annoying. So polite and everything. But the second my parents' backs are turned she's a witch."
"Well technically…" Hermione started to say, but Ron cut her off.
"You know what I mean." He wasn't in the mood to be teased. "Didn't you think she was horrible, Harry?" The same red color of Ron's hair was reflected in Harry's blushing cheeks.
"She was…all right…I guess…" he stammered. Hermione smiled knowingly.
"Harry's got a crush…Harry's got a crush…" she sang, swaying back and forth. Ron looked at Harry, completely disgusted. Harry was very interested in his shoes and refused to look up.
"Harry! She's my cousin!" Ron was outraged.
"I know that, of course I don't like her. I mean, like that."
"Sure?"
"Sure." Hermione smiled watching the exchange. She knew that Harry was lying, and that Ron knew that as well, but would prefer to be lied to rather than believe that his best friend had a thing for his cousin, whom he hated.
"So Mione," said Ron, rapidly changing the subject, "How was your holiday?"
"All right I suppose. Until I got home." She paused for a moment, debating whether or not to tell her two best friends about her dream, then decided against it, it seemed rather insignificant. "I had a horrible row with my mother, was forced to apologize, then left claiming that Charlie was getting married rather suddenly. They'll be angry for a little while, but by the time I've come home next year, they'll have forgotten about it, then we'll go through the whole thing all over again." Hermione hadn't realized how upset she was over the whole thing, until she finally caught her breath. "Sorry to dump the whole thing on you like that."
"Don't worry about it," said Harry, glad the topic of conversation was off him and Persephone. There was a quiet knock on the door.
"What?" Ron yelled in response. Persephone's strawberry blond head peaked in.
"Hello, Ron. I was just wondering if I could join you."
"Where's Ginny? You're going to be in her year you know."
"I'm aware, but I am a year older, and would prefer to be with people my own age. Is this seat taken?" she asked, referring to the shaky looking chair next to Harry. Blushing, and avoiding Ron's eyes, he shook his head. "Thanks dear," she said, placing a hand on his knee as she sat. Ron walked over to the bed, 'accidentally' hitting Persephone's arm as he walked by, knocking it off Harry's knee. She glared angrily at his back, then placed her hand back in its original location.
Hermione, sensing that Ron would go back to take Persephone's hand off Harry's knee, decided to intercede by asking some stupid question. A lame attempt at a conversation.
"So, Persephone…"
"Just call me Persi," she interrupted.
"That'll be confusing," Hermione laughed lamely, then realizing no one else found it amusing, continued, "Anyway, Persi, um, so you've never done magic?"
"I've done some. Aunt Molly used to send me books in secret, so I've had some studying. That's how I'm able to start as a fifth year rather than a first year. I'm so intrigued by it, I've read all about Hogwarts and everything in Hogwarts, A History." Now Hermione was truly interested.
"Really? What did you think of it?"
"I loved it! My copy's been almost worn out."
"I know what you mean, I had to buy a new copy last year."
"Well Hermione, you've found a friend, haven't you?" Ron muttered sarcastically.
"Ron, just because you…"
"Hermione, wanna come out here for a second?" Ron muttered, gesturing towards the door.
"Fine with me," she said glaring.
"Please excuse us, Persephone," he stressed her name.
"No problem, Ronald, I'll just try and keep Harry here busy." Harry's cheeks flared at the mention of his name, and Hermione had to practically drag Ron out into the hall.
"Why I outta…"
"Forget it Ron." She stole his full attention once they were alone. "And don't take it out on me because you hate her."
"I don't hate her."
"Yeah, you do."
"No I don't, I hate that fact that she likes Harry."
"Ok, so you hate that as well, but you hate her too."
"No, I don't!"
"Yes, you do…"
"Fine. I do. Happy?"
"Just try and be nice, ok?" Ron glared at his bedroom door. "Ron. She's just trying to adjust ok?"
"I'll try. But I just get this weird vibe…"
"Oh, and that means so much," said Hermione, ever realistic, as she opened up the bedroom door. She stood in the doorway, jaw dropped to the floor. Ron was trying to peer over her shoulder. When he finally had a glimpse, the sight in front of him made his face quickly flush from its normal pale color, to red, then to a crimson purple.
"WHAT…THE…HELL?!?!"
When Persephone finally removed her tongue from Harry's mouth, she stood up, wiped her lips and smoothed her hair down.
"Oops. I thought you would've taken longer. Sorry, and Hermione dear, why don't you work with him on his kissing? He's a little sloppy. It's quite annoying." And with her final comments, she breezed right past Hermione and Ron, who were rooted in the doorframe.
Harry's face was red, dark enough to match Ron's. "I…I…" was all the sounds he could emit.
"What was that?" asked Hermione, a very confused look on her face.
"I…I…I…" Harry was just shaking his head. "I dunno," he said, finally. "She just sat in silence for like, two seconds, then BOOM, she was on top of me. I had no idea," he turned to Ron, who was still a dark purple color, "No idea she was going to do that. I don't know if I wanted her to do that," he said, eyes wide, "But I think I kinda liked it." A small smile was creeping on his lips.
"You, what?"
"I dunno. But anyway, what were we talking about?"
Hermione sensed that Ron was about to pounce, but she gave him a look. He pleaded to her with puppy dog eyes, but she shook her head. Reluctantly, he sat on the bed. The three friends began talking again. At first it was slightly tense, but then the conversation relaxed, and it was as if nothing had happened. Hermione prayed that it wouldn't happen again. They talked about everything and anything, but the topic of conversation was adverted from Persephone's name.
By the time that Mrs. Weasley called them for lunch, they were almost hoarse from all their talking, but completely satisfied with each other's company. The table outside was adorned with all sorts of different foods, and Hermione heard her stomach rumble at the sight of it. Everyone sat down and immediately dug in. Hermione, Ron, and Harry were slightly isolated at one end of the table, so there was no need for anyone to make conversation with them. At one point through the meal, Hermione's throat begged for some water. There was a large crystal jug of some ice cold water at the other end of the table. Everyone towards that end was deep in a conversation, so she finally decided to get up and retrieve the water for herself. In doing so, Mr. Weasley asked her a question about the argument he was having with Percy concerning the London Underground. Hermione, answering Mr. Weasley's question, wasn't paying attention and knocked over the ice-cold water, straight into the dry lap of George Weasley.
"Oh! George! I'm sorry!" Hermione gasped, reaching for some dry napkins.
"Hey, don't worry about it Mione." The sound of her name made her blush, remembering the events that had past earlier in the school year. But Hermione had promised herself that she would not make a big deal out of any of that sort of thing.
"Here, I'm just gonna go dry off."
"I suppose I should fill the water jug." The two inadvertently walked off together towards the Burrow's kitchen. George began to dab at his lap using a towel, while Hermione filled the jug. She kept sneaking glances over at him, as he wiped down the giant wet spot.
"I'm really, really sorry about that," she said quietly. George looked up at her, surprised.
"Don't worry," he said, smiling his reassuring smile. "So, Hermione, what do you think of Persephone?"
"Oh, she's all right, I suppose. She's very…uh, what's the word? I dunno, different? That's not really right…" Hermione scourged her brain for the right word, and George chuckled, just because she was in such deep thought.
"You're so cute, Hermione," he placed a hand on her elbow, and involuntarily, she jerked it away.
"Oh, um, sorry," she said turning bright red. George's face had lost its smile, and he was looking down at his shoes.
"No, it's ok. I know what you mean. Let's just go out and finish lunch." He reached out, as if to guide her along, but dropped his hand by his arm instead. The pair walked awkwardly along, aware of each other's exact body movements and positioning. The rest of the family was finishing up as they walked out, and Persephone gave Hermione an encouraging look as she walked by her.
"Someone seems to be getting some," Persephone whispered, and Hermione turned bright red, but kept walking along. She sank into her seat, and immediately stood again.
"I need to go for a walk," she said, completely offhand, and not really to anyone in particular. Ron stood half way, before he noticed the expression on her face and realized she needed to be completely alone. Hermione walked away from the family and headed off, towards the front of the house. She positioned herself comfortably on the front steps, sighed deeply, and dissolved into sobs. She sat for fifteen minutes, absorbed in her thoughts, and drowned in her tears. Rather suddenly, she stopped and dried off her face by wiping all the tears on the front of her shirt. She stood and walked into the kitchen.
"Dear, you look a fright!" whispered the disgraced mirror, and Hermione couldn't help but to laugh. "Honey, you need a brush or something!" Hermione, chuckling, patted down her hair to appease the mirror.
"It's good to hear you laughing, sweetheart. How are you?" Mrs. Weasley's arms were full of dirty dishes.
"Oh! Let me help you!" Hermione rushed over to her.
"Of course not! What's the point?" She waved her wand, and the dishes were cleaning themselves in the sink.
"Well isn't that convenient?" Hermione said, smiling.
"Magic's handy in that way." Mrs. Weasley put her hand on Hermione's shoulder and led her over towards the tattered couch. They sat down, and Mrs. Weasley continued, "How have things been, sweetie?"
"All right, I suppose. Normal."
"Even after…"
"Yeah. My parents and I didn't really talk about it or anything." Hermione didn't dare to mention the fact that her mother had prohibited her from speaking to any of the Weasleys again. It would just upset Mrs. Weasley, which was pointless, because Hermione wasn't planning on abiding to her parents new rule anyway.
"You know, I really should send them a letter and apologize," Molly said, off hand.
"Don't be silly, Mrs. Weasley. First of all, you had nothing to do with it and realistically neither did George. So there, it's settled. No one will do a thing. All right?" Mrs. Weasley smiled, but turned her head to the kitchen, were there was a loud clamoring.
Persephone walked from the kitchen, covered in suds, with a broken dish in her hand. "I was only trying to help," she said, innocently.
"Oh dear! You didn't cut yourself did you?" And in her normal, motherly fashion, Mrs. Weasley rushed Persephone into the kitchen to make sure she was all right. Hermione smiled, and felt her seat cave in slightly as another redhead plopped down next to her.
"Always bustling, isn't it? But that's the way she loves it," Bill smiled at his mother's back.
"She really does, doesn't she?" There was more caving in in the couch.
"Hermione, where did you sneak off to? I need to show you something!" Ginny grabbed her hand and proceeded to drag her away from the couch.
"Talk to you later, apparently!" Hermione laughed to Bill.
"Good luck! You'll need it!" He stood up and walked out the back door.
As they reached the door to Ginny's room, Hermione tried to pull her hand away. "Gin, you're hurting me." Ginny just ignored her, until Hermione had entered the room and the door was closed. "What is it Ginny?"
"Hermione, my goodness. Look at this." Ginny reached into a drawer and pulled out her Sneakascope, which was going haywire.
"What's wrong with it?"
"I dunno, it's been doing this ever since Persephone came. I don't like her Hermione, and this just adds to my suspicions."
"Maybe it's broken."
"No. It's brand new, I've saved up for this forever. It's a reliable one. Aurors use this brand." Hermione continued to examine the Sneakascope, while trying to restrain it. It was continually trying to jump from the palms of her hands. Giving up, she placed it back in the drawer.
"I have no idea. Maybe ask Bill about it later, I'm sure he knows. Now, what do you say we go for a swim? I'm sure Harry and Ron wouldn't mind if we went, and if they do, they can just stay and play Quidditch, or whatever the bloody hell those boys enjoy doing. They change their minds every other week!"
"I heard that!" said Harry, accusingly.
"Well, isn't it true?"
"So?" Harry smirked.
"Well, I'm off to swim, what are you going to do?"
"Probably some stupid boy thing."
"Either that, or play tonsil hockey with Persi."
"What?" interrupted a surprised Ginny. "Please, God, be talking about my brother."
"Wouldn't that be a heck of a lot disturbing?" said Hermione, fully aware of Harry's red cheeks.
"Ew! Harry!"
Hermione walked past Harry, who elbowed her in the side on her way out. "You're a creep, Granger."
"Isn't it great?"
A/N: Well, there you have it. A bunch of sweet nothings. Yeah, that's basically what this chapters full of. Oh, and the Of Darkness part of the title is yet to come. But don't worry, it will. This is in the mystery section cause there is gonna be some mystery, but that is still to come. Sorry if this was really dumb, I'm just trying to get them to school, but they're all very resistant. Ok, I'm a dork. I've finished with this very pointless and stupid author's note, and I'm off to post. Cross you're fingers that it'll work. Love you all!
Jen ^..^
Ps. Do y'all know what that is? (in reference to the little thingy beside my name)
PPS. Persephone's nicknames are:
Persi: Pronounced like Percy
Perse: Pronounced like Purse