Disclaimer: sadly, the characters used in this fanfic are not mine…but if they were, then hey…that would be great!
Author's note: hello. Thanks so much for those who took the time and read the first chapter of my very first fic. I appreciate your kind comments SO MUCH! Well then, here's the second chapter of curiosity. You might not like it – I wouldn't know that until you guys review (ahem!) – but I feel this chapter is an important one because it is the basis for the next few chapters…hopefully it's alright. Alrighty…I'll stop yapping now. Enjoy!
Chapter Two: A Close Call
Hermione entered Professor Binns' class and took her usual seat next to Harry, who to her annoyance, was already showing early signs of nodding off. Ron, on the other hand, seemed far from nodding off; he was too busy eating the last piece of toast he had nicked before running after Harry not long ago.
Fifteen minutes into the class, Professor Binns continued to drone on about the various involvements of trolls and goblins in the wizarding world. And as always, almost all of his students have fallen asleep. Only four people were actively scribbling down the information – one of whom was Ron, his forehead scrunched up in complete concentration. Hermione was about to congratulate him for finally doing something responsible when she noticed Ron slipping the parchment to a half awake Harry.
I'd rather be in divination than this class. Atleast in Trelawney's we only predict our deaths. This guy is an actual cause of it.
Ron shot Hermione a crooked grin, which Hermione received with a roll of her eyes and a characteristic "hmph!" of annoyance.
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"Another round then, Harry?"
"I suppose. Nothing better to do around here anyway."
Classes for the day had just ended half an hour ago and the two boys were ten minutes into their second match – Ron having won the first match in five minutes – when they were interrupted by a frustrated scream.
"I can't believe this!"
Hermione barged into the common room – her face contorted into a mixture of anger, frustration, and annoyance. She looked around the room, ignoring the fearful glances she received from the first years, and stomped her way towards Harry and Ron.
"What's up, Hermione?" asked Harry, his eyebrows scrunched up in concentration, trying to best the destruction Ron's pieces have done to his.
"I've just been to Professor Binns' classroom looking for my History of Magic book, but I couldn't find it. I've looked everywhere – even the library!" she exclaimed with a pout. "I really wanted to get a head start on that essay about the Troll and Goblin Act of 1688."
Ron shot Hermione an incredulous look (Harry was still agonizing over his next move). "That essay isn't due until next week! Can't you put it off until Friday or something? I'm sure by then you book will have turn up."
"Yes but I really want to finish by tonight. I want to get some reading in for arithman—oh here Harry!"
Hermione shoved Harry off his seat and ordered one of his knights to brutally behead Ron's bishop. She rolled her eyes at Harry, flashed a triumphant grin at Ron, and said the one word Harry had never uttered throughout the whole match (or any match, come to think of it): "check!"
"Hey, thanks Hermione!" exclaimed Harry, giving his pieces – who were cheering and applauding Hermione's move – an I-was-about-to-do-that look.
"Oi! No helping!" said Ron, quickly ordering his queen to take the knight's place. The three watched (Ron with a smug look on his face) as the queen gracefully glided towards the knight, pulled him off his horse, and punched him across the fave.
Satisfied, Ron looked up at Harry – who was obviously disappointed at the abrupt end to his (well, Hermione's) triumphant move – then reverted his eyes back on the girl in front of him.
"But really though, Hermione, you need to lighten up! You're a prefect; you don't need to prove to us that you're smart – everybody knows that already! There's this concept called procrastination: you should really try it sometime!"
"I'm not trying to prove anything! And no, Ron. I will not procrastinate like you two. I don't fancy the idea of scribbling in random things just to meet the two feet minimum, unlike some people I know," she snapped, glaring at her friends. "But I suppose it wouldn't hurt to start the essay tomorrow, seeing as I'm awfully close to beating you."
The two boys watched as Harry's bishop pounced on one of Ron's pawns and smashed it to bits. "I believe that's another check, Mr. Weasley," Hermione smugly said with a big, toothy smile.
"Ha! What now, Ron?!" Harry asked with a bigger smile than the prefect.
"Shut up, Harry!" Ron retorted. "I thought I said 'no helping'? Besides, I reckon that essay's a tad bit difficult, so why don't you start on it? Here you go then." He handed Hermione his History of Magic book. "Get to writing."
"Finally! Took you long enough to do that. Thanks, Ron!" And with that, Hermione got up and left the two boys (much to Harry and his pieces' disappointment).
"Got her out of the way," said Ron with a roll of his eyes. "Well then, that was a close call, eh? Let's just get this over with." He ordered his queen to take the place of Harry's bishop.
"Check!"
"Damn…"
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I know what you guys are saying: gosh, this chapter sucked. That's alright. I know it did. But as I said before, this is an important chapter because it will set the scene for the upcoming chapter, An Interesting Conversation, which marks the beginning of what this whole story is really about. I've already written chapters 3 and 4; and chapter 5 is on the works right now. I must say, chapter 4 is pretty good…so if you guys want to read that chapter, please review…I will post the third chapter once I get Atleast five reviews for this chapter. I would really appreciate any comments…well, thanks for taking the time and reading this little story of mine.
Btw…those who want to give me ideas or anything and want my email addy, please let me know through your reviews. Thanks!
~~:azaleafaye:~~