A/N: Hey there avid readers! Hehe…all right. Finals are OVER! And I finally have time to write! Yay for all of you that read this, right? Okay, Let me just get on with the story. Sorry this chapter took so long…I've just been loaded down with schoolwork and haven't had much time to write, unfortunately. But thanks for sticking with slow, old me.
Chapter 8: Who Cares what Cowards think Anyway?
It had been couple hours since Hermione had seen Cho and Malfoy, at the breakfast table, and, frankly, she didn't exactly mind. Harry and she had been hiding out in the corner of the common room, quietly proposing and discussing their ideas. A lot of them had to do with snow since there was such an abundance of it outside the castle.
" I really don't want to do that Harry…" Hermione trailed off, tilting her head back and squeezing her eyes shut.
"Why not??" Harry asked, disappointed that his "best" idea was turned down flat.
"Because, Harry, if we were to do that, we would have to find a way to get them into the Forbidden Forest, let alone, we have to go in and set it up! No! I refuse to go that forest. The last time I was in there, it was not pleasant! Plus, Professor Dumbledore told us in our first year that we weren't aloud to go in and I haven't, with the exception of that detention!" Hermione said, breathing in at last, just to sigh again.
Harry looked dejectedly about the common room as if trying to find another idea that would suddenly come to him when he looked at a certain place. He leaned against the table and rubbed his eyes, before looking again at Hermione. She was chewing on her lip, deep in thought. He smiled unknowingly, glad to be sitting here with Hermione instead of Cho. Suddenly, Hermione shot up, straightening in her chair with a triumphant look, startling Harry, whose elbows slipped and his upper half fell to the table. She disregarded this and set her hands on his shoulders, pulling him back up to face her, bouncing in her seat out of excitement. Harry now looked at her like she was crazy!
"Spit it out Hermione! What is it?" Harry asked, his eyes opened widely with shock.
" Okay, this may not work but it's worth a try…" Hermione said, her eyes lit up.
Then she turned around in her chair, her eyes searching around the common room for the familiar red hair. She spotted him, playing chess with Seamus, who, by the look on his face, was losing badly. Then, without warning, Hermione stood and crossed the room, towards the two boys.
"Ron! I need your help with something." Hermione said quickly, looking at him then at the board, studying the chess pieces.
"Alright, just a moment. I've almost got him" Ron mumbled under his breath, not bothering to look up at Hermione's already annoyed face.
" But I need you now, Ron…" Hermione whined, putting out her upper lip in mock naivete as she drew out her last word.
Ron finally moved one of his pieces and sat back, putting his arms behind his head and smirking slightly.
"Check." was all he said.
Seamus groaned and rolled out of his chair, letting his head loll in defeat.
"That's the last time I play with you Weasley!" Seamus declared. " I know you just play with me for the ego-boost and we both know that I would never win in a thousand years! I give up!"
With that, Seamus stumbled off to join Dean over by the fire. It was then that Ron looked up at Hermione. By then, Hermione had looked over her shoulder and smiled at Harry, who was watching expectantly. She then turned to Ron with a more devious face set.
"Harry and I need your help, Ron." Hermione started." Now, I can't say anything now, but if you would come with me, over to Harry, I'll let you in on our little plan."
Ron glanced curiously at Harry, who shrugged, then he looked back at Hermione, who was still smiling, with her eyebrows raised ever so slightly.
"Well?" Hermione said, running her tongue over her lips.
Ron laughed and turned in his chair so that his body was facing Hermione completely now.
"I'm guessing this has to do with a certain gray-haired boy. Would my divination skills be finally working?" Ron asked, knowing full well how Hermione was going to answer, but asking anyway. " No, no. No need to tell me. Can't risk this getting out into the open. You know, the walls have ears and such."
Hermione rolled her eyes and laughed at her best friend. The two then walked back to an anxious Harry, as Hermione started to divulge the much welcome information. Pulling the boys closer to her she started to tell them, in a voice only audible to them.
"The only way the hit them hard is to use misdirection. You know what I mean? We have to do something that makes them think something that couldn't be farther from the truth. And while they are looking left, we are going right. Understand so far?" Hermione looked at their faces, as the realization dawned on their faces.
Okay, I know this chapter is the shortest yet. And I'm completely sorry for that. As said above, finals and new classes have come over and taken up my time. Next chapter, I promise will be longer than this. Plus, I didn't want to give too much away too soon. Can any of you guess what's going to happen next? Enjoy! Until next time!