¤*~ Chapter 7~*¤
The last chapter wasn't very exciting, eh? Well this one's gonna be action-packed!
Three hours had passed since anyone had spoken. It was well into the night. Ron was sleeping, Hermione was reading "Hogwarts: A History", and Ginny had coerced Harry into reading her magazine with her in the empty seat behind Ron.
"So, tell me again…why do you want me to read "Teen Witch" with you?" asked Harry as he picked up the magazine.
"Because I want a male opinion on some of the new fashions." answered Ginny as she took it from his hands and flipped several pages. "What do you think of this collar? Isn't it tacky?" She held the magazine under his face.
"Er…I don't know. Maybe." Harry turned a page. "What is THAT?" He looked revolted.
"What? Let me see." Ginny glanced at a picture of a spiked metal tube with several buttons and handles attached to the sides. "Oh, that's just shinefiller."
"What's shinefiller?"
Ginny laughed. "That's funny. Like anybody WOULDN'T know what shinefiller is." She stopped laughing when she saw the blank look on Harry's face. "Oh…you really don't know, do you?"
"No…"
"When a witch's face is shiny, she uses shine filler to suck up all the oil and re-powder her face."
"Oh…do you use it?"
"Sometimes. If I need it."
"It looks like a medieval torture device."
Ginny laughed. She turned the page to be greeted by a picture of a shirtless young man. "What a nugget!" she exclaimed, snatching the magazine away from Harry and closely examining the picture. Harry shifted uncomfortably. Girls "checking out" guys didn't exactly put him at ease.
"Nugget?"
"When I call a guy a nugget it means I think he's really handsome."
"Am I a nugget?" Harry asked with a boyish grin.
Ginny blushed. "Yes. You are."
Harry smiled. "Well, then you're a nugget-ina."
Ginny giggled, and blushed even more. "You think I'm pretty?"
"I think you're gorgeous."
Ginny began to giggle insanely. "Don't say that, it embarrasses me!"
"Why does that embarrass you?"
"Because…I don't know. No one's ever told me that before – well, except for my mother."
"Then I'll say it again. You're GORGEOUS, Ginny. GORGEOUS."
By this time they were both smiling at each other and laughing. "And you, Harry, are handsome and charming." Ginny rested her head on Harry's shoulder.
Suddenly Harry's mood grew serious. "About earlier…you won't tell anybody that you saw me crying, right?"
Ginny looked into his eyes. "No, I won't. I promise. Harry, can I ask you a question?"
"Of course, Nugget-ina."
"Why were you crying?"
"I… I guess I've been kind of down lately."
"Why?"
"I feel like I was the one who caused Cedric's death. If I hadn't gotten him involved, he might still be alive."
"Harry, you didn't intentionally cause his death. You had no idea the cup was a portkey…Harry, no matter what you say you'll never convince me that you're a killer. Never. Ron, Hermione and I love you, and you should love yourself, too."
"I guess so." Harry faked a smile.
Ginny smiled hopefully. "Do you really think so?"
The jovial expression on Harry's face immediately faded. "Honestly…not really."
"Why don't you just want to talk about it? I'm sure I could help you."
"For the last time, I don't want to 'talk about it', and I don't need any help. Leave me alone about that stupid…incident."
"You don't have to snap at me."
"Sometimes I do. Certain people don't listen when I tell them to stop bothering me about that."
"I WAS listening, Harry. I just don't want to let up about what I think is right."
"Well it's NOT right. I don't-want-to-talk-about-it!"
"You're so frustrating! What's wrong with you? You mope around all day feeling sorry for yourself, but when someone tries to cheer you up you yell at them!"
"I don't mope around feeling sorry for myself! And I don't need 'cheering up'! People think, 'Oh, he's SO sad, oh, poor thing'- I hate it when people feel sorry for me!
"They have no choice when you say things like, 'Woe is me, I feel guilty for causing some kid to die, I'm Harry Potter and you should pity me!"
"When have I ever said that?"
"You don't need to, people can just tell."
"Why are you freaking out at me?"
"I am not 'freaking out'!"
"You're yelling at me about not wanting help! Even if I did later on, I wouldn't go to some raving mad-woman who screams at me like my Aunt Petunia!"
"Well then I'm not going to try anymore. You're hopeless!" Ginny crossed her arms and faced the
opposite direction. Exasperated, Harry sighed and leaned his head against the window.
"Harry! Read this page! It's so exciting!" Hermione tapped Harry incessantly on the shoulder while keeping her eyes glued to the book. She was oblivious to the heated situation going on behind her.
Because Hermione was now sitting next to Ron, Harry leaned over the back of the seat in front of him to view the thick, ragged book.
"Yes, Hermione?" quested Harry, slightly annoyed.
"Read this!"
Harry sighed and read the page. It was about the Elfin Wars of 312. "Okay."
"Well?"
"It was…nice."
"You never take interest in anything worthwhile," huffed Hermione indignantly.
"So I guess studying wars that happened 700 years ago – not to mention that it was between ELVES – is worthwhile?"
"Yes."
Harry rolled his eyes. "If you say so, 'Mione." He sat back down in his chair.
Hermione wiggled around in her seat and leaned over the back of her chair to observe Ginny and Harry, who had mumbled apologies and resumed reading the magazine. Ginny looked up. "What?"
"I'm just watching you."
"Why?"
"Ron's asleep…and I've read this book 27 times. I have nothing better to do."
"Do you want to read "Teen Witch" with us?"
"Sure…but there is no more room back there."
"Just sit on top of me." interjected Harry.
"All right," responded Hermione coolly. 'Oo! Yes! I get to sit on his lap!' thought Hermione giddily. She carefully removed Ron's foot from her leg, and tiptoed out of her seat. She stepped over Ginny's legs and lightly sat on Harry's lap.
"Harry, would you ever wear this?" asked Ginny as she turned the page and saw a handsome young wizard wearing an emerald cloak.
"Let me see." Harry had to wrap his arms around Hermione to hold the magazine. Hermione blushed, but nobody noticed. "Maybe. How do you think I'd look in it?"
"Wonderful. It'd match your eyes," commented Hermione. She turned her head to face him. "You look different."
"Do I?"
"Yes, you look…happier. Your eyes are sparkling again."
"Thanks to Nuggetina for yelling some sense into me." Harry smiled at Ginny.
Ginny smiled back, and winked. Harry laughed.
"Who's Nuggetina?" asked Hermione curiously.
"Ginny." responded Harry.
"Why do you call her Nuggetina?"
"A nugget is somebody who's really good looking. I told Harry he was a nugget, and he told me I was a nugget-ina – which is a female nugget. So now he calls me Nuggetina." answered Ginny.
"I see." answered Hermione with a polite smile. 'Oh no!' inwardly panicked Hermione. 'He thinks she's pretty? That's the first step of a crush!' Hermione quickly moved along the conversation.
"I've had so many nicknames like that in my life."
"Me too! Hermione, what were your nicknames?" asked Ginny.
"Let's see…Mione, Hermy, Spermy – that one was from my best friend Angela- Schmione, Hermi-honey, and Peablossom – my dad calls me that one." They all laughed.
"I had terrible nicknames from my brothers. They called me Runt, Butt- face, and Thing. My parents gave me names like Buttercup and Beauty. My friends just called me Ginny and Gin." answered Ginny with a laugh. "Harry, did you ever have any nicknames?"
"It depends what you mean by nicknames."
"I mean…what did people address you by if they didn't use your name?"
"Are you sure you want to know?" responded Harry darkly.
"I guess so."
"The Dursleys called me Freak, Little Bastard, S.O.B. – only they didn't use the acronym – and at school the kids called me Nerd, Ugly, Weirdo, Four-eyes, and Mop-head." Harry looked up to notice Ginny and Hermione staring at him sadly. "Sorry…you wanted to know." There was no expression of misery on Harry's face. It was an expression of complete normalcy, which made Hermione and Ginny somewhat uncomfortable.
"Don't be sorry, it's just that…" Ginny trailed off awkwardly.
Harry sighed, irritated. "Why does everybody want to know about my childhood? All it does is kill the conversation and make everybody uncomfortable!" He rested his head on Hermione's shoulder and fiddled with a ring on her finger.
"Tell us all about it now so we never have to ask about it again." proposed Ginny.
"No way."
"Why not?" pleaded Ginny.
"You don't want to know. No matter how much you protest, deep down you don't want to know."
"Why do you say that?"
"After you hear it, you're going to wish I never told you."
"Enough with the cryptic threats, Harry. Just tell us." interjected Hermione. Ginny chuckled.
"No. And that's final." stated Harry stubbornly.
"You really annoy me, Harry. I'm going to sleep." snapped Hermione as she stood up and plunked down next to an unconscious and slightly drooling Ron.
Ginny and Harry exchanged glances in silence. Ginny slid "Teen Witch" under her seat and left to retrieve her bags from the overhead compartment of her previous seat. Harry stood up and stretched, then trudged over to Ron and Hermione's seat. Evidently, Hermione had pulled on a pair of yellow duck- patterned pajama pants. She glared up at Harry menacingly as he struggled to maintain his balance while reaching over Hermione and Ron in an effort to pull his bag out of the overhead compartment. His sleeve rolled up while he was yanking out the bag, revealing a gruesome, jagged scar.
"That's quite a lovely scar you've got, Harry." sardonically remarked Hermione.
"Thanks." snapped Harry sarcastically. He succeeded in removing his bag and was about to return to his seat when Hermione grabbed his arm.
"What is it from?" She asked, closely examining the thick purple scar.
"Voldemort." Harry jerked his arm out of Hermione's grasp. "Don't touch it. It hurts."
Hermione flinched at the sound of his name. "Still? It's been almost a year. That's interesting." She grabbed his forearm again and forcefully poked the scar. "Does that hurt?"
"Ow!" shrieked Harry. He tightly clasped his other hand across his left forearm. "Of course it does! I just told you! God, I thought you were smart."
Hermione had to bite her lip to restrain herself from arguing. She watched as he returned to his seat and worriedly inspected his arm. He wiped off a bit of blood onto his jeans, then pulled a pair of plaid pajama pants out of his bag. He looked up to see Hermione staring at him through the crack between the seats.
"What?"
"I AM smart."
Harry rolled his eyes and pulled a small red notebook and a pencil out of his bag. He glanced up again at Hermione.
"Why are you still looking at me?"
"Why are you being so cross with me?"
"You can be very irritating." Harry opened up the book and began to write.
Hermione ignored his last comment. "What are you writing?"
"Thoughts and feelings about the day's events."
"You mean you have a diary?" Hermione grinned.
Harry blushed. "No…I have a journal."
"More like you have a diary, right?" Hermione giggled.
"No. It's a journal," firmly stated Harry.
"Because a diary would be girly."
"Exactly."
"Can I read it?"
"No."
"Why not?" whined Hermione.
"Because it's private. I'm going to go brush my teeth – don't you dare read it." With that, Harry stood up and left Hermione alone with the 'journal'.
As soon as Harry was out of sight, Hermione leapt out of her seat and ripped open the journal. She skimmed through the day's entry. 'Bor-ing. It's nothing but a summary…I wonder what he wrote previously,' thought Hermione mischievously. She flipped back several pages to a place near the beginning, and began to read:
September 23, 2001
Well, I just got back from Quidditch practice. Practice is way too early in the morning – I mean, who in their right mind would schedule practice for before sunrise? I'm so tired…I barely got 4 hours of sleep last night because I had to finish that stupid essay for Prof. Binns. Anyway…last night I had the worst dream. I think it was about the Triwizard Tournament…I was back at Godric's Hollow, but this time Uncle Vernon was there and he was torturing me (ack!) along with some Death Eaters. Then Mom and Dad appeared, but instead of encouraging me they started yelling at me and egging on Uncle Vernon and the Death Eaters. That was basically the worst part of the dream, because before that Ginny and I got married. That was good, I guess. Oh well…stupid dreams don't mean anything. In other subjects…Ron really likes Hermione. I mean – it's almost an obsession now. The other day she got her hair cut and after she left Ron swept up the snippings. When we got back he spell-o-taped them onto the wall next to his bed. It's starting to freak me out. Either he needs to get over her, or she needs to return his feelings. Or at least that's my opinion…I'm so incredibly exhausted, but I can't go back to sleep. Right now I'm in the common room on that red couch in front of the fireplace. No one else should be awake for about an hour. I'm hungry, bored, and tired. Maybe I'll head down to the kitchen and see if I can get something to eat. Somebody's coming – I'll pretend I'm sleeping.
Hermione remembered how one morning she had woken up early to finish her report on the Urkish raiders of 743. She remembered seeing Harry asleep on the couch. 'Little faker,' thought Hermione as she turned back more pages until she reached the third page of the book.
July 6, 2001
I'm worn out. Today I weeded the garden, cleaned out the attic, tidied Dudley's room, washed the cars, mopped the kitchen floor, and unclogged the toilet 4 times. I hate summer. I hope I get a letter soon…I have no idea what's going on with my friends or the wizarding world. Hermione hardly ever writes me, but Ron usually writes weekly.
The Top 10 Best Things in the World –
10. banana bread
9. my strawberries in the garden…well at least when the birds don't
pick at them
8. spiders
7. sleeping
6. butterbeer
5. jello
4. dogs
3. friends
2. Quidditch
and the no. 1 best thing in the world is…1. girls
If you can't tell, I'm fairly bored. I think I'll go to sleep (no. 7).
Hermione chuckled. 'What a cutie,' she thought as she continued to skim the pages. She was curious to find evidence of Harry's growing admiration for either herself or Ginny. "Which one?" she muttered to herself as she read the entry for December 9th.
"Which one what?" questioned a high–pitched voice from somewhere behind Hermione. Hermione whirled around to meet the curious gaze of Ginny's grayish blue eyes. She was wearing girly pink pajama pants spotted with little red hearts.
"Nothing." answered Hermione as she quickly slammed the book shut.
Ginny grabbed the book and tried to pull it out of Hermione's grasp, but Hermione's hands were tightly gripping the red journal. Ginny placed two feet on the seat and began to pull back with all her might. Hermione kept her ground, but was teetering dangerously on the side of her seat.
"What's…wrong…with…you…why…can't…I…see…the...stupid…book…" angrily huffed Ginny as she leaned almost completely backwards across the aisle. She yanked the book in a burst of energy, and Hermione gave in a little.
"You…moron…it's…MINE!" growled Hermione in a similar manner. She pulled the red journal as hard as she could, and Ginny gave in just a bit.
Unbeknownst to the two battling young women, the owner of the journal was standing right behind them, furiously surveying the entire scene.
"WHAT ON EARTH ARE YOU TWO DOING?" Sparks seemed to fly out of his dark-rimmed emerald eyes.
In shock, Ginny and Hermione immediately let go of the book. Ginny toppled backward into the aisle, and Hermione tumbled to the floor. Harry snatched the book off the plush blue carpet.
"Harry, I-" began Hermione, but was cut off.
"Didn't I tell you not to read it?" growled Harry. Hermione had never seen him mad before.
"Well…yes." answered Hermione guiltily. She picked herself up off the ground and dusted off her clothes.
"Then why did you?" angrily questioned Harry.
"Because…I was curious. I wanted to see what was in there."
"That doesn't give you a right to invade my privacy. If I tell you not to read it, then DON'T." sternly commanded Harry, his voice growing louder.
"…Sorry."
"Just- go back to your seat."
As per usual, Hermione ignored his request and decided to argue. "I wouldn't have read it if you had just told me more about your childhood like I asked."
"Is THAT what this is about? My childhood? Okay then, Hermione. I'll tell you. At school kids teased me and beat me up. At home I was yelled at and ordered around. Then I went to Hogwarts and met you. How's that, Hermione?"
"I don't know…" stated Hermione.
"YOU DON'T KNOW? What else do you want? A 400 page autobiography?"
"No…just more details." she stated.
"I've had enough of this shit. I'm going to sleep." With that, Harry left the two shamefaced young women and settled himself into the seat behind Ron. He pulled a blanket over himself. "Good night, 'N'."
Ginny blushed at the attention. "Good night, Harry."
Hermione was shocked. "Why did you yell at me and not her?" She demanded indignantly.
Harry pulled the blanket off his face to answer her. "She didn't even know what it was. She was just curious."
"Gratuitous favoritism, Harry. That's exactly what you're exemplifying. "
"Could you repeat that in English?" joked Ginny, who was trying to ease the tension between Hermione and Harry.
"Shut up, Virginia. I'm not talking to you." snapped Hermione. Ginny stepped back.
"Don't tell her to shut up, Hermione." growled Harry, shooting Hermione a glare that could crush steel.
"I can tell her whatever I want to." snarled Hermione.
"Go away. Nobody likes you." drawled a groggy male voice from behind the seat. Apparently Ron was awake. Ginny giggled, and Harry suppressed a laugh.
Hermione huffed and stomped back to her seat, but not before pitching Ginny a reproachful glare. Ginny rolled her eyes and sat down next to Harry. She pulled half of Harry's blanket over herself and settled back in the plush seat.
"Good night, Harry."
"Sweet dreams, 'N'."
The last chapter wasn't very exciting, eh? Well this one's gonna be action-packed!
Three hours had passed since anyone had spoken. It was well into the night. Ron was sleeping, Hermione was reading "Hogwarts: A History", and Ginny had coerced Harry into reading her magazine with her in the empty seat behind Ron.
"So, tell me again…why do you want me to read "Teen Witch" with you?" asked Harry as he picked up the magazine.
"Because I want a male opinion on some of the new fashions." answered Ginny as she took it from his hands and flipped several pages. "What do you think of this collar? Isn't it tacky?" She held the magazine under his face.
"Er…I don't know. Maybe." Harry turned a page. "What is THAT?" He looked revolted.
"What? Let me see." Ginny glanced at a picture of a spiked metal tube with several buttons and handles attached to the sides. "Oh, that's just shinefiller."
"What's shinefiller?"
Ginny laughed. "That's funny. Like anybody WOULDN'T know what shinefiller is." She stopped laughing when she saw the blank look on Harry's face. "Oh…you really don't know, do you?"
"No…"
"When a witch's face is shiny, she uses shine filler to suck up all the oil and re-powder her face."
"Oh…do you use it?"
"Sometimes. If I need it."
"It looks like a medieval torture device."
Ginny laughed. She turned the page to be greeted by a picture of a shirtless young man. "What a nugget!" she exclaimed, snatching the magazine away from Harry and closely examining the picture. Harry shifted uncomfortably. Girls "checking out" guys didn't exactly put him at ease.
"Nugget?"
"When I call a guy a nugget it means I think he's really handsome."
"Am I a nugget?" Harry asked with a boyish grin.
Ginny blushed. "Yes. You are."
Harry smiled. "Well, then you're a nugget-ina."
Ginny giggled, and blushed even more. "You think I'm pretty?"
"I think you're gorgeous."
Ginny began to giggle insanely. "Don't say that, it embarrasses me!"
"Why does that embarrass you?"
"Because…I don't know. No one's ever told me that before – well, except for my mother."
"Then I'll say it again. You're GORGEOUS, Ginny. GORGEOUS."
By this time they were both smiling at each other and laughing. "And you, Harry, are handsome and charming." Ginny rested her head on Harry's shoulder.
Suddenly Harry's mood grew serious. "About earlier…you won't tell anybody that you saw me crying, right?"
Ginny looked into his eyes. "No, I won't. I promise. Harry, can I ask you a question?"
"Of course, Nugget-ina."
"Why were you crying?"
"I… I guess I've been kind of down lately."
"Why?"
"I feel like I was the one who caused Cedric's death. If I hadn't gotten him involved, he might still be alive."
"Harry, you didn't intentionally cause his death. You had no idea the cup was a portkey…Harry, no matter what you say you'll never convince me that you're a killer. Never. Ron, Hermione and I love you, and you should love yourself, too."
"I guess so." Harry faked a smile.
Ginny smiled hopefully. "Do you really think so?"
The jovial expression on Harry's face immediately faded. "Honestly…not really."
"Why don't you just want to talk about it? I'm sure I could help you."
"For the last time, I don't want to 'talk about it', and I don't need any help. Leave me alone about that stupid…incident."
"You don't have to snap at me."
"Sometimes I do. Certain people don't listen when I tell them to stop bothering me about that."
"I WAS listening, Harry. I just don't want to let up about what I think is right."
"Well it's NOT right. I don't-want-to-talk-about-it!"
"You're so frustrating! What's wrong with you? You mope around all day feeling sorry for yourself, but when someone tries to cheer you up you yell at them!"
"I don't mope around feeling sorry for myself! And I don't need 'cheering up'! People think, 'Oh, he's SO sad, oh, poor thing'- I hate it when people feel sorry for me!
"They have no choice when you say things like, 'Woe is me, I feel guilty for causing some kid to die, I'm Harry Potter and you should pity me!"
"When have I ever said that?"
"You don't need to, people can just tell."
"Why are you freaking out at me?"
"I am not 'freaking out'!"
"You're yelling at me about not wanting help! Even if I did later on, I wouldn't go to some raving mad-woman who screams at me like my Aunt Petunia!"
"Well then I'm not going to try anymore. You're hopeless!" Ginny crossed her arms and faced the
opposite direction. Exasperated, Harry sighed and leaned his head against the window.
"Harry! Read this page! It's so exciting!" Hermione tapped Harry incessantly on the shoulder while keeping her eyes glued to the book. She was oblivious to the heated situation going on behind her.
Because Hermione was now sitting next to Ron, Harry leaned over the back of the seat in front of him to view the thick, ragged book.
"Yes, Hermione?" quested Harry, slightly annoyed.
"Read this!"
Harry sighed and read the page. It was about the Elfin Wars of 312. "Okay."
"Well?"
"It was…nice."
"You never take interest in anything worthwhile," huffed Hermione indignantly.
"So I guess studying wars that happened 700 years ago – not to mention that it was between ELVES – is worthwhile?"
"Yes."
Harry rolled his eyes. "If you say so, 'Mione." He sat back down in his chair.
Hermione wiggled around in her seat and leaned over the back of her chair to observe Ginny and Harry, who had mumbled apologies and resumed reading the magazine. Ginny looked up. "What?"
"I'm just watching you."
"Why?"
"Ron's asleep…and I've read this book 27 times. I have nothing better to do."
"Do you want to read "Teen Witch" with us?"
"Sure…but there is no more room back there."
"Just sit on top of me." interjected Harry.
"All right," responded Hermione coolly. 'Oo! Yes! I get to sit on his lap!' thought Hermione giddily. She carefully removed Ron's foot from her leg, and tiptoed out of her seat. She stepped over Ginny's legs and lightly sat on Harry's lap.
"Harry, would you ever wear this?" asked Ginny as she turned the page and saw a handsome young wizard wearing an emerald cloak.
"Let me see." Harry had to wrap his arms around Hermione to hold the magazine. Hermione blushed, but nobody noticed. "Maybe. How do you think I'd look in it?"
"Wonderful. It'd match your eyes," commented Hermione. She turned her head to face him. "You look different."
"Do I?"
"Yes, you look…happier. Your eyes are sparkling again."
"Thanks to Nuggetina for yelling some sense into me." Harry smiled at Ginny.
Ginny smiled back, and winked. Harry laughed.
"Who's Nuggetina?" asked Hermione curiously.
"Ginny." responded Harry.
"Why do you call her Nuggetina?"
"A nugget is somebody who's really good looking. I told Harry he was a nugget, and he told me I was a nugget-ina – which is a female nugget. So now he calls me Nuggetina." answered Ginny.
"I see." answered Hermione with a polite smile. 'Oh no!' inwardly panicked Hermione. 'He thinks she's pretty? That's the first step of a crush!' Hermione quickly moved along the conversation.
"I've had so many nicknames like that in my life."
"Me too! Hermione, what were your nicknames?" asked Ginny.
"Let's see…Mione, Hermy, Spermy – that one was from my best friend Angela- Schmione, Hermi-honey, and Peablossom – my dad calls me that one." They all laughed.
"I had terrible nicknames from my brothers. They called me Runt, Butt- face, and Thing. My parents gave me names like Buttercup and Beauty. My friends just called me Ginny and Gin." answered Ginny with a laugh. "Harry, did you ever have any nicknames?"
"It depends what you mean by nicknames."
"I mean…what did people address you by if they didn't use your name?"
"Are you sure you want to know?" responded Harry darkly.
"I guess so."
"The Dursleys called me Freak, Little Bastard, S.O.B. – only they didn't use the acronym – and at school the kids called me Nerd, Ugly, Weirdo, Four-eyes, and Mop-head." Harry looked up to notice Ginny and Hermione staring at him sadly. "Sorry…you wanted to know." There was no expression of misery on Harry's face. It was an expression of complete normalcy, which made Hermione and Ginny somewhat uncomfortable.
"Don't be sorry, it's just that…" Ginny trailed off awkwardly.
Harry sighed, irritated. "Why does everybody want to know about my childhood? All it does is kill the conversation and make everybody uncomfortable!" He rested his head on Hermione's shoulder and fiddled with a ring on her finger.
"Tell us all about it now so we never have to ask about it again." proposed Ginny.
"No way."
"Why not?" pleaded Ginny.
"You don't want to know. No matter how much you protest, deep down you don't want to know."
"Why do you say that?"
"After you hear it, you're going to wish I never told you."
"Enough with the cryptic threats, Harry. Just tell us." interjected Hermione. Ginny chuckled.
"No. And that's final." stated Harry stubbornly.
"You really annoy me, Harry. I'm going to sleep." snapped Hermione as she stood up and plunked down next to an unconscious and slightly drooling Ron.
Ginny and Harry exchanged glances in silence. Ginny slid "Teen Witch" under her seat and left to retrieve her bags from the overhead compartment of her previous seat. Harry stood up and stretched, then trudged over to Ron and Hermione's seat. Evidently, Hermione had pulled on a pair of yellow duck- patterned pajama pants. She glared up at Harry menacingly as he struggled to maintain his balance while reaching over Hermione and Ron in an effort to pull his bag out of the overhead compartment. His sleeve rolled up while he was yanking out the bag, revealing a gruesome, jagged scar.
"That's quite a lovely scar you've got, Harry." sardonically remarked Hermione.
"Thanks." snapped Harry sarcastically. He succeeded in removing his bag and was about to return to his seat when Hermione grabbed his arm.
"What is it from?" She asked, closely examining the thick purple scar.
"Voldemort." Harry jerked his arm out of Hermione's grasp. "Don't touch it. It hurts."
Hermione flinched at the sound of his name. "Still? It's been almost a year. That's interesting." She grabbed his forearm again and forcefully poked the scar. "Does that hurt?"
"Ow!" shrieked Harry. He tightly clasped his other hand across his left forearm. "Of course it does! I just told you! God, I thought you were smart."
Hermione had to bite her lip to restrain herself from arguing. She watched as he returned to his seat and worriedly inspected his arm. He wiped off a bit of blood onto his jeans, then pulled a pair of plaid pajama pants out of his bag. He looked up to see Hermione staring at him through the crack between the seats.
"What?"
"I AM smart."
Harry rolled his eyes and pulled a small red notebook and a pencil out of his bag. He glanced up again at Hermione.
"Why are you still looking at me?"
"Why are you being so cross with me?"
"You can be very irritating." Harry opened up the book and began to write.
Hermione ignored his last comment. "What are you writing?"
"Thoughts and feelings about the day's events."
"You mean you have a diary?" Hermione grinned.
Harry blushed. "No…I have a journal."
"More like you have a diary, right?" Hermione giggled.
"No. It's a journal," firmly stated Harry.
"Because a diary would be girly."
"Exactly."
"Can I read it?"
"No."
"Why not?" whined Hermione.
"Because it's private. I'm going to go brush my teeth – don't you dare read it." With that, Harry stood up and left Hermione alone with the 'journal'.
As soon as Harry was out of sight, Hermione leapt out of her seat and ripped open the journal. She skimmed through the day's entry. 'Bor-ing. It's nothing but a summary…I wonder what he wrote previously,' thought Hermione mischievously. She flipped back several pages to a place near the beginning, and began to read:
September 23, 2001
Well, I just got back from Quidditch practice. Practice is way too early in the morning – I mean, who in their right mind would schedule practice for before sunrise? I'm so tired…I barely got 4 hours of sleep last night because I had to finish that stupid essay for Prof. Binns. Anyway…last night I had the worst dream. I think it was about the Triwizard Tournament…I was back at Godric's Hollow, but this time Uncle Vernon was there and he was torturing me (ack!) along with some Death Eaters. Then Mom and Dad appeared, but instead of encouraging me they started yelling at me and egging on Uncle Vernon and the Death Eaters. That was basically the worst part of the dream, because before that Ginny and I got married. That was good, I guess. Oh well…stupid dreams don't mean anything. In other subjects…Ron really likes Hermione. I mean – it's almost an obsession now. The other day she got her hair cut and after she left Ron swept up the snippings. When we got back he spell-o-taped them onto the wall next to his bed. It's starting to freak me out. Either he needs to get over her, or she needs to return his feelings. Or at least that's my opinion…I'm so incredibly exhausted, but I can't go back to sleep. Right now I'm in the common room on that red couch in front of the fireplace. No one else should be awake for about an hour. I'm hungry, bored, and tired. Maybe I'll head down to the kitchen and see if I can get something to eat. Somebody's coming – I'll pretend I'm sleeping.
Hermione remembered how one morning she had woken up early to finish her report on the Urkish raiders of 743. She remembered seeing Harry asleep on the couch. 'Little faker,' thought Hermione as she turned back more pages until she reached the third page of the book.
July 6, 2001
I'm worn out. Today I weeded the garden, cleaned out the attic, tidied Dudley's room, washed the cars, mopped the kitchen floor, and unclogged the toilet 4 times. I hate summer. I hope I get a letter soon…I have no idea what's going on with my friends or the wizarding world. Hermione hardly ever writes me, but Ron usually writes weekly.
The Top 10 Best Things in the World –
10. banana bread
9. my strawberries in the garden…well at least when the birds don't
pick at them
8. spiders
7. sleeping
6. butterbeer
5. jello
4. dogs
3. friends
2. Quidditch
and the no. 1 best thing in the world is…1. girls
If you can't tell, I'm fairly bored. I think I'll go to sleep (no. 7).
Hermione chuckled. 'What a cutie,' she thought as she continued to skim the pages. She was curious to find evidence of Harry's growing admiration for either herself or Ginny. "Which one?" she muttered to herself as she read the entry for December 9th.
"Which one what?" questioned a high–pitched voice from somewhere behind Hermione. Hermione whirled around to meet the curious gaze of Ginny's grayish blue eyes. She was wearing girly pink pajama pants spotted with little red hearts.
"Nothing." answered Hermione as she quickly slammed the book shut.
Ginny grabbed the book and tried to pull it out of Hermione's grasp, but Hermione's hands were tightly gripping the red journal. Ginny placed two feet on the seat and began to pull back with all her might. Hermione kept her ground, but was teetering dangerously on the side of her seat.
"What's…wrong…with…you…why…can't…I…see…the...stupid…book…" angrily huffed Ginny as she leaned almost completely backwards across the aisle. She yanked the book in a burst of energy, and Hermione gave in a little.
"You…moron…it's…MINE!" growled Hermione in a similar manner. She pulled the red journal as hard as she could, and Ginny gave in just a bit.
Unbeknownst to the two battling young women, the owner of the journal was standing right behind them, furiously surveying the entire scene.
"WHAT ON EARTH ARE YOU TWO DOING?" Sparks seemed to fly out of his dark-rimmed emerald eyes.
In shock, Ginny and Hermione immediately let go of the book. Ginny toppled backward into the aisle, and Hermione tumbled to the floor. Harry snatched the book off the plush blue carpet.
"Harry, I-" began Hermione, but was cut off.
"Didn't I tell you not to read it?" growled Harry. Hermione had never seen him mad before.
"Well…yes." answered Hermione guiltily. She picked herself up off the ground and dusted off her clothes.
"Then why did you?" angrily questioned Harry.
"Because…I was curious. I wanted to see what was in there."
"That doesn't give you a right to invade my privacy. If I tell you not to read it, then DON'T." sternly commanded Harry, his voice growing louder.
"…Sorry."
"Just- go back to your seat."
As per usual, Hermione ignored his request and decided to argue. "I wouldn't have read it if you had just told me more about your childhood like I asked."
"Is THAT what this is about? My childhood? Okay then, Hermione. I'll tell you. At school kids teased me and beat me up. At home I was yelled at and ordered around. Then I went to Hogwarts and met you. How's that, Hermione?"
"I don't know…" stated Hermione.
"YOU DON'T KNOW? What else do you want? A 400 page autobiography?"
"No…just more details." she stated.
"I've had enough of this shit. I'm going to sleep." With that, Harry left the two shamefaced young women and settled himself into the seat behind Ron. He pulled a blanket over himself. "Good night, 'N'."
Ginny blushed at the attention. "Good night, Harry."
Hermione was shocked. "Why did you yell at me and not her?" She demanded indignantly.
Harry pulled the blanket off his face to answer her. "She didn't even know what it was. She was just curious."
"Gratuitous favoritism, Harry. That's exactly what you're exemplifying. "
"Could you repeat that in English?" joked Ginny, who was trying to ease the tension between Hermione and Harry.
"Shut up, Virginia. I'm not talking to you." snapped Hermione. Ginny stepped back.
"Don't tell her to shut up, Hermione." growled Harry, shooting Hermione a glare that could crush steel.
"I can tell her whatever I want to." snarled Hermione.
"Go away. Nobody likes you." drawled a groggy male voice from behind the seat. Apparently Ron was awake. Ginny giggled, and Harry suppressed a laugh.
Hermione huffed and stomped back to her seat, but not before pitching Ginny a reproachful glare. Ginny rolled her eyes and sat down next to Harry. She pulled half of Harry's blanket over herself and settled back in the plush seat.
"Good night, Harry."
"Sweet dreams, 'N'."
