A/N-This was originally an entry for a contest, but I have made it my own.
This is only the first chapter, more are soon to come. Read on, and have a
nice day.
The Swimming Lessons
As I walked down to breakfast one morning in early June of my fifth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, I noticed a sign near the humongous doorway of the Great Hall with several people clustered around it. I walked closer than what I was and peered over their heads to read it. As I did so, I thought to myself: Why is everyone so bloody short? The sign read:
Attention, Fourth years and above:
Swimming Classes are now mandatory for all students fourth year and older. They will start this Friday, June fifth. The list below is a schedule of times. Check it to see when and what day you should meet down by the lake.
Gryffindor: 6th and 7th years-Saturdays, 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM
4th and 5th years- Fridays, 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM
Slytherin: 6th and 7th years-Saturdays, 12:30 to 1: 30 PM
4th and 5th years-Fridays, 2:00 to 3:00 PM
Hufflepuff: 6th and 7th years-Mondays, 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM
4th and 5th years-Tuesdays, 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM
Ravenclaw: 6th and 7th years-Fridays, 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM
4th and 5th years-Tuesdays, 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM
Please note: You must bring a towel and a muggle swimming suit. Your instructor is Professor Dumbledore.
I thought: Bloody hell, we're not with Malfoy and his goons for once! I can't believe it!
Just then, Harry came up behind me and tapped me on the shoulder. I turned to face him. "What is it, I can't see over you, mate," he said.
"Swimming lessons," I mumbled unhappily.
"Sounds like great fun. I s'pose we're with Slytherin, too, hmmm?"
"Nope. We're with the fourth year Gryffin--hold up. Oh. No. We're with Ginny!"
"Why does that make a difference?"
"I'll give you three reasons, you pick your favorite. Number one: Colin Creevey. Need I say more? Number two: She'll be annoying you all the time because she's got that thing for you. And Number three: I don't bloody well want to make a prat of myself in front of my bloody sister!"
"Don't swear, Ron," came a voice from behind me. I would have bet my life that it was Hermione. Had she heard what I had said? If she had, I needed to be prepared for her to bite off my head and chew it slowly savoring the taste then lick her fingers when she was done. "And what's this about Ginny?"
Thank god, she hadn't heard me. "She's going to be--" I stopped suddenly as I turned to face Hermione. I had just realized something that I didn't want to realize. From that point on, all I could do was stare at Hermione disbelievingly.
"What? Ron, why are you staring at me like that? Stop, it's making me feel odd," Hermione said after a bit of me staring.
After a few moments, I stopped, but I couldn't get the thought out of my head. What in the world was I going to do? This was a real problem. You see, what had occured to me was that swimming, and swimming lessons, they involved wearing bathing suits. Which, for one, meant we had to change in a locker room together. But that wasn't really my point. What I had realized was this: Hermione was a girl. She was one of my best friends, but still, a girl. And she would be in a bathing suit. What was I going to do?
"What was that all about?" Harry whispered to me as we were walking into the Great Hall a few minutes later. "You looked like you were going into a trance or something."
Should I have told him? Probably not. But, being the idiotic prat that I was, I did. "Oh, well...I had just realized something. You know how we're having those lessons? Well, H--I mean, the girls are going to be in them too. In bathing suits. And they're going to see us in bathing suits too! This is going to create some major problems, I can just see it."
"What do you mean, you can see it? I will be seeing it. Just try to restrain yourself from killing her, okay, Ron? I say, she's our best friend, and very useful with the whole homework thing, so you know, if she's dead, we might be expelled."
"What are you on about?" I asked as I neared the Gryffindor table. Suddenly comprehension dawned on me as I looked to Hermione, and I stopped dead in my tracks.
"Come on, Ron." Harry sat down on one side of Hermione.
"You mean Hermione? Why would I kill her?"
"Oh, never mind, you're not understanding my point. C'mon, sit down, let's eat."
And so I sat down on the other side of Hermione and began talking with Fred and George, who were sitting across the table from us, as I ate.
*****
"Hey, Ron?" Harry asked me later back in our dormitory. "Do you have a bathing suit?"
"Yeah, Mum got us them a few years ago when we went to the coast. I've brought mine with this year since I made prefect. I didn't want to be swimming around in that bath without anything on, y'know?" I responded, rummaging through my trunk to find it.
"Oh. Wish I did," Harry replied, falling back on his bed and staring at his bedhangings.
"You haven't got one?" I said, looking surprised. "I always thought that the Dursleys were pretty rich..don't they go on vacations and things? Y'know, to Majorca and Hawaii and Jamaica and such?"
"Well, they go to those places, but I've never been. They always leave me at home with Mrs. Figg. And besides, even if they ever had taken me with, they wouldn't have let me go swimming, nor would they have bought me a suit," said Harry, frowning as he watched me pull out my suit.
"Well, if it helps any, mine's not much..since we don't have a lot of money, Mum bought them secondhand," I said, frowning at the maroon trunks.
"But you still have them. What am I going to do? The lessons start tomorrow, and I haven't any trunks," said Harry, trying to smile. "Maybe I could skinnydip..."
I grinned. "Well, Ginny would appreciate it, but I dunno about the rest of us. Perhaps you could wear your boxers.."
"Maybe I will," he said, now rummaging through his trunk for some, then finally finding a pair that were huge and orange.
"Well, maybe not. I'll ask Gred and Forge if they have an extra pair. Be right back," I said, walking out of our dormitory and down to the common room, where I saw the twins in a corner. "Hey! Gred, Forge! C'mere." They looked up and I walked over. "Harry needs you. He doesn't have a pair of trunks for those swimming lesson things. Do either of you have an extra pair?"
"No, sor--" Fred started to say, but then George elbowed him in the ribs.
"Remember plan Percy?"
"Oh! Right. Yeah, Ronnie, we actually do have a pair. Hope Harry doesn't mind if they're Percy's," Fred said, grinning. "I'll go get them. George, don't you let him see what we've been doing."
I was curious, but I didn't even try to look, because George looked as much like a bulldog as I'd ever seen him. "How'd you get a pair of trunks off Percy?"
"Stole them when he was going to go out swimming with Penelope early last summer. We thought we'd bring them so he couldn't find them and take them back."
I didn't want to say anything, but this was sounding like it could go in a direction I didn't want it to go.
"Yes, Prefect Percy...such a suck-up, he went and told Mum. But wait, Ronniekins...you're a prefect, aren't you? Yes, yes you are."
I didn't want to nod, in fear that I would be teased for the rest of my life, just like Perce had been.
"And you haven't mentioned anything yet. Imagine that," said George, smiling slowly.
Fred suddenly came back and handed me Percy's trunks. When I examined them closer, I noticed they were patterned with small red and pink hearts. I nearly laughed out loud. "Poor Harry," I commented.
"Isn't he though? Well, Percy will be glad to know that someone besides him and Penelope got some use out of them," Fred said, grinning.
"Well, I'd better be getting these to Harry," I said, turning and walking away, holding the trunks far away from me. I was nearly to the boys staircase when I walked into Hermione. "Oh, sorry," I muttered, not looking up.
"What are those?" she asked, trying not to giggle.
"Oh, Hermione..they're Percy's swimming trunks," I muttered, still looking at the floor.
"Don't tell me you have to.."
"No. I've got my own. It's poor old Harry that has to wear these. I wish him the best of luck, personally," I grinned, finally looking up at her.
"Yes..well, they're not so bad..they could be worse," she muttered, sizing them up.
"I'm glad I've already got some, even if they are maroon.."
"I have, too. Well, not trunks, but a suit, nonetheless."
"I'm glad they're not trunks. We don't, any of us, want to see you in trunks," I said, grinning once more.
"Oh?"
My face burned cherry red. "Well..umm...what I meant was..Well, I'm sure we all wouldn't mind so much, but...y'know?"
"Mmmhmmm. Save it," Hermione said, putting her hands on her hips.
I gulped. Why did I always have to be such a dumbass? "Look, Hermione..All I meant was..err...you know, maybe I'll go give these to Harry now."
"You do that. Don't come back, I don't want to hear it."
I flushed and turned to the stairs, running back into the boy's dorm. "Here, mate," I muttered, and threw myself on my bed after I threw the trunks in Harry's general direction.
"Hey!" came a shout from over near the window. I sat up and looked. "Oh, Neville, sorry. Those are for Harry."
Harry held out his hand and plucked the trunks off Neville's head. "Hearts? I didn't know the twins were so into Valentine's Day."
"They're not. They nicked them off Perce. Evidently Penelope liked them," I said, getting a cocky grin.
"Did she now?"
"Guess so."
"What are you two on about? Penelope Clearwater? Wasn't she the Head Girl a few years ago? Or is that my memory going off on me again..." Neville asked, looking confused.
"Nope, Nev, you're right. She was Head Girl. And she is now my brother Percy's fiancee'."
"Oh. That makes more sense, then..I think.."
"Don't worry about it. The point is, Harry is going to have to wear these or else go bloody stark raving mad, and be naked. And personally, I would prefer these. Though perhaps Ginny mightn't..." I grinned once more, and ducked as a pillow flew at me. "What, she would. Dunno of anybody else except, oh, y'know...the entire female population of Hogwarts..."
"Shuddup," Harry said. "Wait though, the entire female population? Even Hermione?"
"Well..er..dunno about her...you'd have to ask her," I said, gulping. What if Hermione did want to see Harry in his nuddy-pants?
"Not me, mate. You, now that's another story..."
"Aw, shove off. Hermione are friends, nothing more, and nothing less."
"Sure, mate. Tell you what, I bet even Neville knows. Hey, Nev?"
"What, Harry?"
"Do you think Hermione would mind seeing Ron in his nuddy-pants, or the other way around?" Harry was grinning but trying to suppress it, and in doing so was turning quite red.
"Not in the least, everyone knows they're nutters for each other, although they themselves don't," Neville smirked at me.
"Neville, are you sure you're all right? You seem odd.."
"What? I'm fine.." Neville said, and started feeling his forehead.
"Come to think of it, you haven't knocked over a single cauldron since last year," I said, rubbing my chin thoughtfully.
"Well..I..maybe I've outgrown my clumsiness!" Neville said hopefully.
"Just as long as you're you and not one of You Know Who's supporters, I'm happy," I said, smiling, but I could tell the smile didn't reach my eyes, because Neville just looked away. "Well..I think I'll go and..go and take a bath," I said, standing.
"Catch you later, Ron," Harry said, laying back on his bed.
"See you, Ron," Neville said quietly.
I walked down into the common room and noted that Hermione had gone. Then I went down to the prefect's bathroom and said the password, which was Kinnikinnick. I then walked quietly in, and saw that no one was in the pool. I quickly stripped and dived in. The water was just perfect, as usual, and there were a few stray bubbles floating about. I turned on my favorite pipe, the one with the huge foamballs that could support you, and then turned it off when there were enough for me to lay on. This I did, lazing out, though I wasn't really that tired.
Suddenly, I felt something bump underneath me. It did it again, and then a head popped up through the foam near my head. I quickly put a towel over me so that no one could see anything.
"Who is that?" came a voice.
"Ron Weasley!" I called.
"Oh, no," said the voice.
"Who is that?" I said aloud.
"Oh..er..just.."
"Wait, is that you, Hermione?" I looked over at the face, and sure enough, it was. "Mione, what are you..."
"Taking a bath, what are you..?"
"The same thing," I answered sullenly, trying not to look at her face, or anywhere else for that matter. I could feel my face starting to burn.
"Well, would you mind getting me out? I'm stuck," Hermione said, suddenly sounding like her normal bossy self.
"And how do you want me to do that?" I asked quickly.
"I don't know...find a way," she answered.
"Can't you just pull yourself out?" I asked exasperatedly.
"No, I already said I'm stuck, won't you please just help me for once instead of making rude jokes?"
"I resent that," I said, trying to sound huffy. "Maybe I won't help you after all. You'll be stuck in there for all eternity."
"How rude," Hermione said. "I need to get out. Besides, Ron, you have noticed.." she coughed, "that we're both...well.." she was bright red. She cleared her throat suggestively, and then trailed off with "not really..umm...wearing...clothing?"
"No, I hadn't," I said, laughing, but then rueing it a moment later because I turned crimson, and recieved a death glare from Hermione.
"Don't you ever stop?" she asked, still glaring.
"Oh, fine, I'll shut up."
"For the first time in your life."
"I resent that too. I might not ever get you out of there if you're that mean to me," I said, pretending to be wounded.
"Just making up for all that you do to torture me," she chirped cheerily.
"I do not torture you."
"You do too. Every other moment, it's 'Oh, Hermione, shut up,' or 'Hermione, you are too much of a bookworm,' or 'Hermione, the know-it- all.'"
"How come you've never said anything before?" I could tell that wasn't what she had been expecting. She looked genuinely surprised.
"I just didn't..I mean...I didn't think you would care that you were hurting me," she said softly, staring at me.
"Of course I care, Hermione, if you think I don't..well, that's just dragonshit. Why else would I be your best friend?"
"Watch your mouth," she whispered. "I don't know why you're my best friend, but I don't deserve it."
"Of course you do. Are you daft? You're Hermione Granger, the cleverest witch in her year. You're so smart, I'll never measure up. The better question is: Why am I your best friend?"
"What a question. You're so brave, you'd sacrifice yourself without batting an eye. And you're smart too. You just don't think you are. You're so friendly, you're kind, you're compassionate, you're handsome, you're everything!!"
"Hold up. Did you just say what I thought you just said?" I asked uncertainly.
"Of course I did. And I meant it, too."
"Hermione...if you're going to..." I sighed. "Look, we've been dancing around each other for a year now, right?"
She looked away.
"It's true and you know it. Ever since you started huffing about with Vicky."
"Don't call him Vicky."
"What is your problem, anyway? Do you care more for-for him than you do your own best friends?"
"How can you say that? I just called you handsome, and kind and caring, and this is what you repay me with?"
"I'm sorry, Hermione, I-I guess I forgot," I mumbled, not looking at her face.
"Look, just get me out of here, ok?" She tried to squiggle herself out, but it didn't work.
"Here," I said. "Hold your breath, I'm gonna push you under."
I heard her breathe in sharply, so I put both hands on her very soft hair and pushed as hard as I could.
Her head popped out of the water near my feet. "Oh, Ron..thank god. I didn't like being in those bubbles.." Suddenly she seemed to remember that we had been fighting not a moment ago. "Well, I'm going to go back to Gryffindor...catch you later, I guess.." Then she grabbed her wand from the side of the bath and called out, "Accio Bathing Suit!" Her bathing suit flew to her and she pulled it on underneath the water. When she finally stood up again, she swam over to the edge of the bath and pulled herself up and out. Then she grabbed her towel and walked out of the room.
I shook my head, realizing I had been staring. Had she noticed? Probably not. I would worry more about it after my bath...
A/N-It wasn't that bad, was it? Really tell the truth. I appreciate feedback, so...er...bring it on. ;-)
The Swimming Lessons
As I walked down to breakfast one morning in early June of my fifth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, I noticed a sign near the humongous doorway of the Great Hall with several people clustered around it. I walked closer than what I was and peered over their heads to read it. As I did so, I thought to myself: Why is everyone so bloody short? The sign read:
Attention, Fourth years and above:
Swimming Classes are now mandatory for all students fourth year and older. They will start this Friday, June fifth. The list below is a schedule of times. Check it to see when and what day you should meet down by the lake.
Gryffindor: 6th and 7th years-Saturdays, 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM
4th and 5th years- Fridays, 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM
Slytherin: 6th and 7th years-Saturdays, 12:30 to 1: 30 PM
4th and 5th years-Fridays, 2:00 to 3:00 PM
Hufflepuff: 6th and 7th years-Mondays, 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM
4th and 5th years-Tuesdays, 12:30 PM to 1:30 PM
Ravenclaw: 6th and 7th years-Fridays, 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM
4th and 5th years-Tuesdays, 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM
Please note: You must bring a towel and a muggle swimming suit. Your instructor is Professor Dumbledore.
I thought: Bloody hell, we're not with Malfoy and his goons for once! I can't believe it!
Just then, Harry came up behind me and tapped me on the shoulder. I turned to face him. "What is it, I can't see over you, mate," he said.
"Swimming lessons," I mumbled unhappily.
"Sounds like great fun. I s'pose we're with Slytherin, too, hmmm?"
"Nope. We're with the fourth year Gryffin--hold up. Oh. No. We're with Ginny!"
"Why does that make a difference?"
"I'll give you three reasons, you pick your favorite. Number one: Colin Creevey. Need I say more? Number two: She'll be annoying you all the time because she's got that thing for you. And Number three: I don't bloody well want to make a prat of myself in front of my bloody sister!"
"Don't swear, Ron," came a voice from behind me. I would have bet my life that it was Hermione. Had she heard what I had said? If she had, I needed to be prepared for her to bite off my head and chew it slowly savoring the taste then lick her fingers when she was done. "And what's this about Ginny?"
Thank god, she hadn't heard me. "She's going to be--" I stopped suddenly as I turned to face Hermione. I had just realized something that I didn't want to realize. From that point on, all I could do was stare at Hermione disbelievingly.
"What? Ron, why are you staring at me like that? Stop, it's making me feel odd," Hermione said after a bit of me staring.
After a few moments, I stopped, but I couldn't get the thought out of my head. What in the world was I going to do? This was a real problem. You see, what had occured to me was that swimming, and swimming lessons, they involved wearing bathing suits. Which, for one, meant we had to change in a locker room together. But that wasn't really my point. What I had realized was this: Hermione was a girl. She was one of my best friends, but still, a girl. And she would be in a bathing suit. What was I going to do?
"What was that all about?" Harry whispered to me as we were walking into the Great Hall a few minutes later. "You looked like you were going into a trance or something."
Should I have told him? Probably not. But, being the idiotic prat that I was, I did. "Oh, well...I had just realized something. You know how we're having those lessons? Well, H--I mean, the girls are going to be in them too. In bathing suits. And they're going to see us in bathing suits too! This is going to create some major problems, I can just see it."
"What do you mean, you can see it? I will be seeing it. Just try to restrain yourself from killing her, okay, Ron? I say, she's our best friend, and very useful with the whole homework thing, so you know, if she's dead, we might be expelled."
"What are you on about?" I asked as I neared the Gryffindor table. Suddenly comprehension dawned on me as I looked to Hermione, and I stopped dead in my tracks.
"Come on, Ron." Harry sat down on one side of Hermione.
"You mean Hermione? Why would I kill her?"
"Oh, never mind, you're not understanding my point. C'mon, sit down, let's eat."
And so I sat down on the other side of Hermione and began talking with Fred and George, who were sitting across the table from us, as I ate.
*****
"Hey, Ron?" Harry asked me later back in our dormitory. "Do you have a bathing suit?"
"Yeah, Mum got us them a few years ago when we went to the coast. I've brought mine with this year since I made prefect. I didn't want to be swimming around in that bath without anything on, y'know?" I responded, rummaging through my trunk to find it.
"Oh. Wish I did," Harry replied, falling back on his bed and staring at his bedhangings.
"You haven't got one?" I said, looking surprised. "I always thought that the Dursleys were pretty rich..don't they go on vacations and things? Y'know, to Majorca and Hawaii and Jamaica and such?"
"Well, they go to those places, but I've never been. They always leave me at home with Mrs. Figg. And besides, even if they ever had taken me with, they wouldn't have let me go swimming, nor would they have bought me a suit," said Harry, frowning as he watched me pull out my suit.
"Well, if it helps any, mine's not much..since we don't have a lot of money, Mum bought them secondhand," I said, frowning at the maroon trunks.
"But you still have them. What am I going to do? The lessons start tomorrow, and I haven't any trunks," said Harry, trying to smile. "Maybe I could skinnydip..."
I grinned. "Well, Ginny would appreciate it, but I dunno about the rest of us. Perhaps you could wear your boxers.."
"Maybe I will," he said, now rummaging through his trunk for some, then finally finding a pair that were huge and orange.
"Well, maybe not. I'll ask Gred and Forge if they have an extra pair. Be right back," I said, walking out of our dormitory and down to the common room, where I saw the twins in a corner. "Hey! Gred, Forge! C'mere." They looked up and I walked over. "Harry needs you. He doesn't have a pair of trunks for those swimming lesson things. Do either of you have an extra pair?"
"No, sor--" Fred started to say, but then George elbowed him in the ribs.
"Remember plan Percy?"
"Oh! Right. Yeah, Ronnie, we actually do have a pair. Hope Harry doesn't mind if they're Percy's," Fred said, grinning. "I'll go get them. George, don't you let him see what we've been doing."
I was curious, but I didn't even try to look, because George looked as much like a bulldog as I'd ever seen him. "How'd you get a pair of trunks off Percy?"
"Stole them when he was going to go out swimming with Penelope early last summer. We thought we'd bring them so he couldn't find them and take them back."
I didn't want to say anything, but this was sounding like it could go in a direction I didn't want it to go.
"Yes, Prefect Percy...such a suck-up, he went and told Mum. But wait, Ronniekins...you're a prefect, aren't you? Yes, yes you are."
I didn't want to nod, in fear that I would be teased for the rest of my life, just like Perce had been.
"And you haven't mentioned anything yet. Imagine that," said George, smiling slowly.
Fred suddenly came back and handed me Percy's trunks. When I examined them closer, I noticed they were patterned with small red and pink hearts. I nearly laughed out loud. "Poor Harry," I commented.
"Isn't he though? Well, Percy will be glad to know that someone besides him and Penelope got some use out of them," Fred said, grinning.
"Well, I'd better be getting these to Harry," I said, turning and walking away, holding the trunks far away from me. I was nearly to the boys staircase when I walked into Hermione. "Oh, sorry," I muttered, not looking up.
"What are those?" she asked, trying not to giggle.
"Oh, Hermione..they're Percy's swimming trunks," I muttered, still looking at the floor.
"Don't tell me you have to.."
"No. I've got my own. It's poor old Harry that has to wear these. I wish him the best of luck, personally," I grinned, finally looking up at her.
"Yes..well, they're not so bad..they could be worse," she muttered, sizing them up.
"I'm glad I've already got some, even if they are maroon.."
"I have, too. Well, not trunks, but a suit, nonetheless."
"I'm glad they're not trunks. We don't, any of us, want to see you in trunks," I said, grinning once more.
"Oh?"
My face burned cherry red. "Well..umm...what I meant was..Well, I'm sure we all wouldn't mind so much, but...y'know?"
"Mmmhmmm. Save it," Hermione said, putting her hands on her hips.
I gulped. Why did I always have to be such a dumbass? "Look, Hermione..All I meant was..err...you know, maybe I'll go give these to Harry now."
"You do that. Don't come back, I don't want to hear it."
I flushed and turned to the stairs, running back into the boy's dorm. "Here, mate," I muttered, and threw myself on my bed after I threw the trunks in Harry's general direction.
"Hey!" came a shout from over near the window. I sat up and looked. "Oh, Neville, sorry. Those are for Harry."
Harry held out his hand and plucked the trunks off Neville's head. "Hearts? I didn't know the twins were so into Valentine's Day."
"They're not. They nicked them off Perce. Evidently Penelope liked them," I said, getting a cocky grin.
"Did she now?"
"Guess so."
"What are you two on about? Penelope Clearwater? Wasn't she the Head Girl a few years ago? Or is that my memory going off on me again..." Neville asked, looking confused.
"Nope, Nev, you're right. She was Head Girl. And she is now my brother Percy's fiancee'."
"Oh. That makes more sense, then..I think.."
"Don't worry about it. The point is, Harry is going to have to wear these or else go bloody stark raving mad, and be naked. And personally, I would prefer these. Though perhaps Ginny mightn't..." I grinned once more, and ducked as a pillow flew at me. "What, she would. Dunno of anybody else except, oh, y'know...the entire female population of Hogwarts..."
"Shuddup," Harry said. "Wait though, the entire female population? Even Hermione?"
"Well..er..dunno about her...you'd have to ask her," I said, gulping. What if Hermione did want to see Harry in his nuddy-pants?
"Not me, mate. You, now that's another story..."
"Aw, shove off. Hermione are friends, nothing more, and nothing less."
"Sure, mate. Tell you what, I bet even Neville knows. Hey, Nev?"
"What, Harry?"
"Do you think Hermione would mind seeing Ron in his nuddy-pants, or the other way around?" Harry was grinning but trying to suppress it, and in doing so was turning quite red.
"Not in the least, everyone knows they're nutters for each other, although they themselves don't," Neville smirked at me.
"Neville, are you sure you're all right? You seem odd.."
"What? I'm fine.." Neville said, and started feeling his forehead.
"Come to think of it, you haven't knocked over a single cauldron since last year," I said, rubbing my chin thoughtfully.
"Well..I..maybe I've outgrown my clumsiness!" Neville said hopefully.
"Just as long as you're you and not one of You Know Who's supporters, I'm happy," I said, smiling, but I could tell the smile didn't reach my eyes, because Neville just looked away. "Well..I think I'll go and..go and take a bath," I said, standing.
"Catch you later, Ron," Harry said, laying back on his bed.
"See you, Ron," Neville said quietly.
I walked down into the common room and noted that Hermione had gone. Then I went down to the prefect's bathroom and said the password, which was Kinnikinnick. I then walked quietly in, and saw that no one was in the pool. I quickly stripped and dived in. The water was just perfect, as usual, and there were a few stray bubbles floating about. I turned on my favorite pipe, the one with the huge foamballs that could support you, and then turned it off when there were enough for me to lay on. This I did, lazing out, though I wasn't really that tired.
Suddenly, I felt something bump underneath me. It did it again, and then a head popped up through the foam near my head. I quickly put a towel over me so that no one could see anything.
"Who is that?" came a voice.
"Ron Weasley!" I called.
"Oh, no," said the voice.
"Who is that?" I said aloud.
"Oh..er..just.."
"Wait, is that you, Hermione?" I looked over at the face, and sure enough, it was. "Mione, what are you..."
"Taking a bath, what are you..?"
"The same thing," I answered sullenly, trying not to look at her face, or anywhere else for that matter. I could feel my face starting to burn.
"Well, would you mind getting me out? I'm stuck," Hermione said, suddenly sounding like her normal bossy self.
"And how do you want me to do that?" I asked quickly.
"I don't know...find a way," she answered.
"Can't you just pull yourself out?" I asked exasperatedly.
"No, I already said I'm stuck, won't you please just help me for once instead of making rude jokes?"
"I resent that," I said, trying to sound huffy. "Maybe I won't help you after all. You'll be stuck in there for all eternity."
"How rude," Hermione said. "I need to get out. Besides, Ron, you have noticed.." she coughed, "that we're both...well.." she was bright red. She cleared her throat suggestively, and then trailed off with "not really..umm...wearing...clothing?"
"No, I hadn't," I said, laughing, but then rueing it a moment later because I turned crimson, and recieved a death glare from Hermione.
"Don't you ever stop?" she asked, still glaring.
"Oh, fine, I'll shut up."
"For the first time in your life."
"I resent that too. I might not ever get you out of there if you're that mean to me," I said, pretending to be wounded.
"Just making up for all that you do to torture me," she chirped cheerily.
"I do not torture you."
"You do too. Every other moment, it's 'Oh, Hermione, shut up,' or 'Hermione, you are too much of a bookworm,' or 'Hermione, the know-it- all.'"
"How come you've never said anything before?" I could tell that wasn't what she had been expecting. She looked genuinely surprised.
"I just didn't..I mean...I didn't think you would care that you were hurting me," she said softly, staring at me.
"Of course I care, Hermione, if you think I don't..well, that's just dragonshit. Why else would I be your best friend?"
"Watch your mouth," she whispered. "I don't know why you're my best friend, but I don't deserve it."
"Of course you do. Are you daft? You're Hermione Granger, the cleverest witch in her year. You're so smart, I'll never measure up. The better question is: Why am I your best friend?"
"What a question. You're so brave, you'd sacrifice yourself without batting an eye. And you're smart too. You just don't think you are. You're so friendly, you're kind, you're compassionate, you're handsome, you're everything!!"
"Hold up. Did you just say what I thought you just said?" I asked uncertainly.
"Of course I did. And I meant it, too."
"Hermione...if you're going to..." I sighed. "Look, we've been dancing around each other for a year now, right?"
She looked away.
"It's true and you know it. Ever since you started huffing about with Vicky."
"Don't call him Vicky."
"What is your problem, anyway? Do you care more for-for him than you do your own best friends?"
"How can you say that? I just called you handsome, and kind and caring, and this is what you repay me with?"
"I'm sorry, Hermione, I-I guess I forgot," I mumbled, not looking at her face.
"Look, just get me out of here, ok?" She tried to squiggle herself out, but it didn't work.
"Here," I said. "Hold your breath, I'm gonna push you under."
I heard her breathe in sharply, so I put both hands on her very soft hair and pushed as hard as I could.
Her head popped out of the water near my feet. "Oh, Ron..thank god. I didn't like being in those bubbles.." Suddenly she seemed to remember that we had been fighting not a moment ago. "Well, I'm going to go back to Gryffindor...catch you later, I guess.." Then she grabbed her wand from the side of the bath and called out, "Accio Bathing Suit!" Her bathing suit flew to her and she pulled it on underneath the water. When she finally stood up again, she swam over to the edge of the bath and pulled herself up and out. Then she grabbed her towel and walked out of the room.
I shook my head, realizing I had been staring. Had she noticed? Probably not. I would worry more about it after my bath...
A/N-It wasn't that bad, was it? Really tell the truth. I appreciate feedback, so...er...bring it on. ;-)