Spring Break in SoCal Chapter 5!~*ยค



Ginny skipped ahead of the other three and began to wildly twirl in circles, swinging her carry-on bags around in the air. "We're going to San Diego! Woooooooooo!" she yelled happily, attracting the curious stares of the other passengers awaiting the flight. Ron's cheeks flushed as red as his hair. He dashed up to where Ginny was now dancing and caught her in mid- swing. "Shut-UP!" he hissed, and held her forearm in a death-grip until Harry and Hermione had caught up. He then released her now throbbing arm and sat down next to her in the blue chairs that were arranged near the flight gate. Now embarrassed of her previous actions, Ginny peered around Ron to where Harry was seated. He was chuckling to himself and shaking his head. Ginny sucked in about a gallon of air, her eyes as round as saucers. She leaned back in her seat and stared at the carpet in embarrassment. 'These are those actions you do that get you into well, emotional trouble,' thought Ginny. 'Wait, is that even a term? I think so, I mean if emotional- no it isn't, for heaven's sake...but if-' Ginny was snapped out of her confused thoughts by Hermione's honey-colored voice. "Ginny, the plane is boarding now. Let's go." she said, swinging her bags over her shoulder and in turn swinging her brown wavy hair. Harry stood up as well, but waited for Ginny to catch up and pop up beside him before he began to walk with the rest of the group. Ginny looked up at him. 'Oh man, he's good looking. And to think it was MY shoulder he chose to cry on...I must be pretty special,' Ginny looked at the ground in front of her and watched foot upon foot of patterned blue carpet pass under her trendy-shoed feet. A little smirk found its way onto her face. Right now, she felt pretty good.

"And what are YOU smiling about?"

Ginny glanced up to see Harry gazing at her with his shapely green eyes that usually sparkle. But following suit of the past few months, his eyes were sad and dull. Right now he was smiling with his mouth, no matter fake of a smile it may be.

"I'm excited. I've never been out of England before." A huge smile graced her freckled face.

Harry continued to gaze at her, slightly amused. 'She really grew up, didn't she? I mean, if she wasn't Ron's sister, I'd- well, best not to think of it. Why is she still smiling?'

"You're spunky."

The smile snapped off her face. She cocked her head, trying to process what he had just said.

"How random was THAT? You're so weird!" Ginny laughed.

They both continued to laugh until Hermione, who had been walking next to Ron a few feet ahead of them, stopped and turned around.

"What's so funny?" She asked. Even though she really didn't know what was funny, a smile had planted its seed onto her face and began to grow.

Ginny flashed Hermione one of her trademark smiles and answered, "He called me spunky."

"Spunky? Where did you get THAT from?" Hermione smiled at Harry in an attempt to look attractive.

Harry (jokingly) slowly nodded his head and answered, "She's acting really spunky. She is definitely a spunky girl."

Hermione grinned and shook her head. "You're so CUTE!" she said, smiling. As soon as Harry caught up to where she was standing, she wrapped him in a bear hug. She squeezed him as tight as she could, and as she let go she said, "We could never get along without you."

By now everyone was in a dead stop in the middle of the hallway. Ron had separated himself about 5 or 10 feet ahead of the other three. He sighed in frustration. "Never said that to ME..." he mumbled to himself. He had begun to get the idea that Hermione had a crush on Harry. 'Why not', he thought. 'Every bloody girl in the school likes Harry. Oh, he's SO depressed. Oh, POOR thing, he is just so handsome and charming', Ron thought sarcastically. He sighed again. He knew he shouldn't be thinking these things about his best friend, but...how could he help it? Ron rubbed his brow, then continued to walk towards the open door leading into the plane.

Hermione stepped back, and continued to stare into Harry's eyes. Then he did something very unexpected.

Instead of smiling and blushing, or returning the compliment, he simply did one thing: He reached an arm out, and started to tickle her stomach.

Hermione squealed, attracting Ron's attention. Then she flopped onto the carpet as Harry continued to tickle her. Harry laughed. There they were, in the middle of boarding an airplane to Southern California, and Harry was knelt down besides a convulsing Hermione, tickling her hypersensitive stomach.

Ginny laughed and joined in the tickling.

Ron growled and walked stubbornly back to where Harry, Ginny, and Hermione were "playing"

Hermione managed to squeak out, "I can't breathe!"

Harry immediately stopped and looked at Hermione with an apologetic look on his face.

"Ha ha!" Hermione shouted. She sprung up and wrestled a surprised Harry onto the carpet. Then she started to tickle him just as he had tickled her. Harry laughed until tears came out of his eyes. But unfortunately for Hermione, Harry was about ten times stronger than she was. He lifted her up as if he was bench-pressing something, and then threw her off of him. He popped up, and giggled wildly. She hopped up as well and they started to chase each other up and down the hallway. After a few minutes of hyper chasing, Hermione was tired, and fell against Harry's hard chest.

"My legs hurt from running." She huffed against his chest, which is about how tall she stood compared to him.

Harry wrapped his arms around the tired Hermione and answered, "My stomach hurts from laughing."

"Excellent." said Hermione jokingly.

Harry started to laugh, then abruptly stopped. "Oow, my stomach! Stop making me laugh!"

Hermione chuckled, then closed her eyes. 'This is definitely where I belong', she thought. 'Right here with my face snuggled against Mr. Washboard Abs. Oo, he's really warm. He's like a human heater. I wonder what he talked to Ginny about. Well, lets use that brain of yours:

1. When he left, he seemed really hurt.

2. When he returned, his eyes were kind of red.

3. I already know about his depression.

Do you think he cried? Oh my gosh, 'Mione! He hasn't cried since...he was a baby, probably. He didn't even cry when he broke his arm. Wow, and he might have actually cried to Ginny. I must interrogate her. But she likes him too, doesn't she? So this is like a competition for Harry. But she doesn't know I like him...maybe she WILL tell me what happened. Then I can use my knowledge to edge ever closer...And I will earn his love. Ha ha! Long live Hermione Potter!'

A gentle hand rubbing her back woke her out of her thoughts. She looked up to see two brilliant green eyes gazing down at her.

"Hey, don't fall asleep on me!" Harry smiled, then continued. "Let's go get our seats."

Hermione tried to stand under her own power, but lost her balance and almost fell backwards. She caught herself and walked next to Harry through the doors of the plane that would open up a whole new world to the four young witches and wizards.