Hiya! Part eleven, and a reappearance of a favourite character! Intrigued? So you should be!
The triple date was rescheduled for the Friday night, as of Harry, Ginny and Ron having Quidditch on Saturday, and Hermione having the whole weekend off work. October was soon to be drawing to a close, and the students were all making their plans for Halloween. But Hagrid was doing the job of growing pumpkins, like he had been doing so well for years.
"Hagrid, are you there?" called Hermione. Harry and herself had decided to go down to Hagrid's hut on the Sunday afternoon, but Ron had seemed unwilling to go with them. He was planning on going down to the lake with Draco.
"Yeah, cum on in! Ya 'aven't bin ta see me yet you two! Where's'at Ron t'day, eh?" asked Hagrid in his booming voice that they loved. They went in to his hut, and sat down.
"Ron's down the lake with Malfoy." said Harry, and looked away. It was evident that the whole Ron situation was bothering him. But Hermione didn't pick up on the hint.
"Yeah, he's been acting dead strange. Going off with Malfoy, slitting his wrists,"
"He didn't slit his wrists!" yelled Harry. "I don't know where you got that from!"
"You told me! Why do you act like you didn't? What's wrong?"
"Erm, Hermione? I don't think Ron ud do summit like that. No'ffence."
"Fine. I was imagining it. Don't believe me."
"OK, well, how are you Hagrid?" said Harry nervously. Hermione was acting strange, he would never have said that to her. Of course Ron hadn't slit his wrists!
"Oh, I'm fine. Gettin' the pumpkins ready, as normal. Me and Marie are going to spend Halloween together, if Dumbledore'll let me 'ave time off. What'cha doin'? Goin' out? Sum gud events on in 'Ogsmeade!"
"Haven't really thought about it, too busy sorting out this weekend! How is Madame Maxime?"
"Yeh, sorry, forgot ya only know 'er as Madame! I've bin away so long..."
"Yes, but we'd love to get to know her better, if you are going to be together for a long time!" said Hermione.
"And a sure 'ope we do!" said Hagrid happily.
"Where's Fang?" asked Harry, not wanting to see him, just making sure he wasn't planning on jumping out from somewhere and biting him!
"O, Charlie's got 'im! He's grown attached to 'im as he looked after 'im for so long!"
Feeling relieved, Harry slowly put his feet back on the floor.
*******************************************************
"Ron, Harry? It's 'the Immortal Souls' on at Diagon's end this Friday. And I don't know about you but I can't stand that guy. I'm sure he has something against Squibs, and, well, I do have a soft spot for them. I'm sure he's involved with the Dark Arts." said Neville. Ron laughed.
"Don't be stupid! Keith Floggem isn't in with Voldemort!" he replied, and Neville flinched. Ron tried to bite his tongue off, with rage. He shouldn't say his masters name in public!
"How would you know?" asked Harry. Ron panicked. What could he say? Then he realised Harry was joking, and forced a smile.
"You looked like you thought I would actually accuse you of being involved with Voldemort! You idiot!" Harry laughed, and Ron joined in. But it wasn't convincing, especially to Hermione, who had only heard the second half of the conversation. She smiled nervously, and sat down.
"Umm, no offence Hermione, but we're planning our night out, and it is supposed to be a surprise..." started Neville, and Hermione, getting the hint, set off for the library, her second home. As she exited the portrait hole, Neville retrieved his copy of the Daily Prophet, and searched for the guide to events and gigs. Flicking past a picture of Rita Skeeter, Harry's least favourite journalist, who was tucking her hair behind her ear, he found it.
"Harry, the Vampyres are coming to Hogsmeade! An open-aired gig! We have to go! Outside the Three Broomsticks they're setting up a stage," he said, reading on, "and entry is free! Perfect!!"
"It does sound good, but the idea was we'd get away from Hogwarts, and all of the top two years will be there! Can we go for a meal after?" offered Harry.
"Yeah, how about the restaurant near Durvish and Banges?" Neville replied and Harry nodded. Ron though looked unsure.
"How much will it cost?" he asked quietly. As much as he tried to hide it, the Weasleys were a little hard up on money, and a meal didn't often come cheap!
"Don't worry, we'll help you out, I don't mind." Harry replied, and, much as Ron disliked using Harry's money, he knew he didn't have much choice.
*******************************************************
Harry and Hermione walked hand in hand to Care of Magical Creatures, after spending their lunchtime at the side of the lake. As they approached the edge of the Forbidden Forest, where there lesson was taking place today, a tower of flame emerged from the trees. It was a dragon, a dragon with a familiar face.
"Now, this particular species of dragon is very rare." Charlie said, with Hagrid holding it tightly, and looking at it with puppy-dog eyes, as if it were a sweet baby, not a full-grown fire-breathing fiend! "Does anyone know what the name of this breed is?" Charlie asked, and looked over at his brother, who was talking to Malfoy with an unfamiliar gleam in his eye.
"Ron? Any idea?"
"Eh? I dunno! Don't ask me!"
"Well I did ask you, and I asked you because you're not paying attention!" Charlie said angrily. His brother was acting strange. Ron just glared at him, and carried on his conversation.
"You might be interested to know that this is a Norwegian Ridgeback, which goes by the name of Norbert." Charlie said, trying not to laugh at his brothers reaction, Eye's on stalks, Ron was speechless. And so were Harry and Hermione. Norbert, the same Norbert as in their first year, was back. And Hagrid was enjoying every minute of it.
*******************************************************
So? Review!