Drive Me Crazy - Chapter 3
Disclaimer : Again, I own nothing, nada, zip. Except for the story line. That is mine. And I wasn't kidding about the reviews ! I need them ! All those who did review, thank you very much !
Chapter 3 -
' Never know what to expect
Never know what you'll do next
One day you treat me badly
Then turn around and you love me madly
Ever since I met you darlin'
I tripped and I'm still fallin'
You've got me spinnin' round and round and round '
" CROOKSHANKS, GIVE ME THAT, " Ron bellowed at Hermoine's ornery cat.
The cat sat perched on the common room table, the letter dangling out of its crushed in mouth. It was as if he were teasing Ron with it, daring him to get what he wanted so badly. Almost like a game, but not. Crookshanks wasn't one to play games. Not with him. Ron knew in the bottom of his heart that this cat was trying to drive him mad.
Ron moved towards the ginger cat, but Crookshanks edged backwards. Every time he advanced, the cat would slink back a little, biting down harder on the envelope. Ron decided that he was using the wrong approach.
" Crookshanks, " he said, using a sweet and sickly sugary tone, " Come here to Uncle Ron, you little demon. Yes, that's right, you infernal beast. I just want to pat you. There, there. Aren't you an ugly little one ? Yes, you are ! "
He scratched the cat's head and listened to the devil spawn begin to purr. Ron tried to ignore how soft Crookshanks fur was and how the little beast was nudging his head up into his hand. In a way, the damn cat was cute. Well, thought Ron, he's so ugly he's cute.
" You're still a little turd, " he mumbled, still scratching.
Casually, he reached with his other hand while Crookshanks' eyes were still closed and snatched the letter out of his mouth. Quickly, he stuffed it into his pocket and moved away as if Crookshanks were a nuclear missle. The cats's eyes snapped open and he glared at Ron.
" Stupid cat, " Ron muttered, chuckling and turning his back to him.
It was as far as he got before an orange blur flew over him and landed on his shoulder. The devil incarnate was attacking him.
" Damnit, " Ron yelled dancing around and trying to extract Crookshanks from his arm, " GET OFF OF ME ! "
Hermoine stood in the porthole entrance watching the fray, torn between amusement and horror. She hated watching Ron so angry, especially since it looked like he was going to tear her cat apart and vice versa. Yet at the same time, she rather enjoyed the theatrical dance number the two seemed to be involved with. In another time and place, she thought, this would be funny. She just didn't understand why the two couldn't get along. Sooner or later, as always, she would have to stop the fight.
" RON, " Hermoine yelled as she watched him yank Crookshanks from his arm and toss him onto the couch, " What are you doing to him ? "
" What am I doing to him , " he asked, nearly out of breath, his voice hoarse from yelling, " Have you looked at my arm ? That evil creature just bloody attacked me ! "
The scratches on Ron's arm were not lost to her. However, she could also see Crookshanks out of the corner of her eye on the couch. He was curled up into a ball and shaking. Casting a withering glance to Ron, she went over to her cat and patted him using a soothing voice, until he stretched out and relaxed. Ron watched her calm the cat incredulously, the look of shock still on his face when she turned to him.
" What did you do to make him angry ? "
" Nothing ! I was getting something back from him that he'd stolen. Infernal cat ! Why do you always take his side ? "
" Because you're bigger than him and should know better ! "
" He still attacked me. He started it, " Ron huffed.
" If he'd stolen something from you, why didn't you ask me to fetch it for you ? "
Ron forced his eyes not to widen, " Er, because you weren't in here, " he said weakly.
" Fine then. Let's see your arm. "
He held it out, a pouty expression creasing his features. Hermoine bit back a giggle and moved over to him. Like a mother caring for a toddler, she inspected his scratched arm. His body was radiating heat, and she could feel it pulsating, like waves crashing over the ocean. Her stomach clenched from being so close to him, and she fought the urge to look up into his eyes. Her fingers tingled as she grazed them across his skin, checking for damage. His breathing had become more ragged, she could feel it on the top of her head and knew he was staring down at her, and not his arm. When he cleared his throat, she jumped back from him, pulling her reasoning around her like armor.
Hermoine narrowed her eyes in contemplation, " Crookshanks stole something of yours ? "
Ron knew that tone. It was her ' I - know - more - then - you - think - I - know ' tone. He decided to act oblivious, " He did. "
" I see. And you were simply getting it back ? "
Why could she make him feel like he had his hand caught in the cookie jar with just one look ? He patted his pocket, " I was. Everything's fine now. "
" That's funny, " she said after a moment of scrutiny.
" Funny ? "
" Yes. Something of mine was stolen about two hours ago when I was in the library. "
" Really, " he asked, feigning innocence and reminding himself to swallow his heart back down to his chest.
" You haven't seen an envelope with my name on it, have you ? "
" No, " he lied, " not at all. "
" Just checking, " she said in that tone again.
" Well, it's about time for dinner, " he said heading toward the porthole, changing subjects at the speed of light, " Are you coming ? "
Hermoine squinted her eyes as he turned away, still contemplating, " I'll be along. "
Stay tuned for Chapter 4..............
Disclaimer : Again, I own nothing, nada, zip. Except for the story line. That is mine. And I wasn't kidding about the reviews ! I need them ! All those who did review, thank you very much !
Chapter 3 -
' Never know what to expect
Never know what you'll do next
One day you treat me badly
Then turn around and you love me madly
Ever since I met you darlin'
I tripped and I'm still fallin'
You've got me spinnin' round and round and round '
" CROOKSHANKS, GIVE ME THAT, " Ron bellowed at Hermoine's ornery cat.
The cat sat perched on the common room table, the letter dangling out of its crushed in mouth. It was as if he were teasing Ron with it, daring him to get what he wanted so badly. Almost like a game, but not. Crookshanks wasn't one to play games. Not with him. Ron knew in the bottom of his heart that this cat was trying to drive him mad.
Ron moved towards the ginger cat, but Crookshanks edged backwards. Every time he advanced, the cat would slink back a little, biting down harder on the envelope. Ron decided that he was using the wrong approach.
" Crookshanks, " he said, using a sweet and sickly sugary tone, " Come here to Uncle Ron, you little demon. Yes, that's right, you infernal beast. I just want to pat you. There, there. Aren't you an ugly little one ? Yes, you are ! "
He scratched the cat's head and listened to the devil spawn begin to purr. Ron tried to ignore how soft Crookshanks fur was and how the little beast was nudging his head up into his hand. In a way, the damn cat was cute. Well, thought Ron, he's so ugly he's cute.
" You're still a little turd, " he mumbled, still scratching.
Casually, he reached with his other hand while Crookshanks' eyes were still closed and snatched the letter out of his mouth. Quickly, he stuffed it into his pocket and moved away as if Crookshanks were a nuclear missle. The cats's eyes snapped open and he glared at Ron.
" Stupid cat, " Ron muttered, chuckling and turning his back to him.
It was as far as he got before an orange blur flew over him and landed on his shoulder. The devil incarnate was attacking him.
" Damnit, " Ron yelled dancing around and trying to extract Crookshanks from his arm, " GET OFF OF ME ! "
Hermoine stood in the porthole entrance watching the fray, torn between amusement and horror. She hated watching Ron so angry, especially since it looked like he was going to tear her cat apart and vice versa. Yet at the same time, she rather enjoyed the theatrical dance number the two seemed to be involved with. In another time and place, she thought, this would be funny. She just didn't understand why the two couldn't get along. Sooner or later, as always, she would have to stop the fight.
" RON, " Hermoine yelled as she watched him yank Crookshanks from his arm and toss him onto the couch, " What are you doing to him ? "
" What am I doing to him , " he asked, nearly out of breath, his voice hoarse from yelling, " Have you looked at my arm ? That evil creature just bloody attacked me ! "
The scratches on Ron's arm were not lost to her. However, she could also see Crookshanks out of the corner of her eye on the couch. He was curled up into a ball and shaking. Casting a withering glance to Ron, she went over to her cat and patted him using a soothing voice, until he stretched out and relaxed. Ron watched her calm the cat incredulously, the look of shock still on his face when she turned to him.
" What did you do to make him angry ? "
" Nothing ! I was getting something back from him that he'd stolen. Infernal cat ! Why do you always take his side ? "
" Because you're bigger than him and should know better ! "
" He still attacked me. He started it, " Ron huffed.
" If he'd stolen something from you, why didn't you ask me to fetch it for you ? "
Ron forced his eyes not to widen, " Er, because you weren't in here, " he said weakly.
" Fine then. Let's see your arm. "
He held it out, a pouty expression creasing his features. Hermoine bit back a giggle and moved over to him. Like a mother caring for a toddler, she inspected his scratched arm. His body was radiating heat, and she could feel it pulsating, like waves crashing over the ocean. Her stomach clenched from being so close to him, and she fought the urge to look up into his eyes. Her fingers tingled as she grazed them across his skin, checking for damage. His breathing had become more ragged, she could feel it on the top of her head and knew he was staring down at her, and not his arm. When he cleared his throat, she jumped back from him, pulling her reasoning around her like armor.
Hermoine narrowed her eyes in contemplation, " Crookshanks stole something of yours ? "
Ron knew that tone. It was her ' I - know - more - then - you - think - I - know ' tone. He decided to act oblivious, " He did. "
" I see. And you were simply getting it back ? "
Why could she make him feel like he had his hand caught in the cookie jar with just one look ? He patted his pocket, " I was. Everything's fine now. "
" That's funny, " she said after a moment of scrutiny.
" Funny ? "
" Yes. Something of mine was stolen about two hours ago when I was in the library. "
" Really, " he asked, feigning innocence and reminding himself to swallow his heart back down to his chest.
" You haven't seen an envelope with my name on it, have you ? "
" No, " he lied, " not at all. "
" Just checking, " she said in that tone again.
" Well, it's about time for dinner, " he said heading toward the porthole, changing subjects at the speed of light, " Are you coming ? "
Hermoine squinted her eyes as he turned away, still contemplating, " I'll be along. "
Stay tuned for Chapter 4..............