Ack! Okay, here's the next chapter. Sorry it's such a shorty, but I've only just remembered that I've got a three-pager due tomorrow. Heh. Well, no time like the present, I suppose…I'll address the comments and questions y'all made later, though I really, really wanted to do it now. Oh, well. Next time, I guess…but they're really, really, really good comments and questions…ACK! Okay, I'll stop now. And thanks mucho for all the reviews! Forty-Two! Hoo-yah! ~8]
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Disclaimers: ……Oh, if you haven't figured it out by now, then forget it…sigh seeanypreviouschapter…
Chapter 12: The Return
The rest of the afternoon's classes were rather uneventful for Ron and Hermione. As Binns bored them to tears about some Inquisition or another, Ron took the time to think where in Hogwarts Malfoy could possibly be. He had initialed possible locations on his parchment, so only he would know where he was talking about. Ron dare not write them out, in case someone where to find his notes and accuse him of having done something to Draco. Not that Snape hasn't already pegged you as the prime suspect, he thought bitterly.
Next to him, Hermione was even beginning to daydream a bit, her thoughts drifting back to the Library. She was so anxious to find out where her missing book was that she glanced impatiently at the wizard clock every five minutes or so. Right now she could really care less about whatever Binns was droning on about, reflected by the brief notes she had taken. She was surprised that there was so little on fetches, whatever they were. She couldn't help but feel that she was terribly close in finding out why Harry had been attacked, so much so she was almost afraid of finding out.
When Ron had returned from the Infirmary, he had told her all about Harry's dream and Sirius' gift. Hermione was more desperate than ever to tell Dumbledore or McGonagall about what had really happened, but she knew she'd be betraying Harry's trust. She couldn't help but feeling the slightest bit more relaxed, however, knowing that Sirius was, in a way, there to protect Harry. Hermione hoped that Harry would never have to use that wand, though, for as long as he lived.
So many students had drifted off at the end of Binns' class that only a few were even aware when class had ended. After assigning their homework, Binns had simply shook his head sadly and drifted through the back wall of his classroom to exit.
* * * * * *
Draco wasn't sure how long he had been walking down the same hallway, since he had no way to gauge time. He wasn't quite sure anymore about a lot of things, like whether it was night or day, or if he'd ever see the sunlight again. After some time he collapsed to his knees, sitting back on his heels.
He knew Potter was responsible for this, though he didn't know why, really. Had Weasley put him up to this? Not likely, he mused. Harry had enough reasons to pay him back for all the torment he had inflicted on the boy over the past five years. This was definitely a solo venture, though Draco doubted Potter was smart enough to keep his mouth shut about the whole thing. He knew if he were ever to pull something like this, Crabbe and Goyle would be the first to know. But, though it was in Draco's inherent nature to brag, he knew honestly that Potter could keep quiet about the whole affair until the day he died.
Refusing to accept death as a possible outcome, Draco picked himself back up and continued down the hallway, his feet dragging against the stone at every step.
* * * * * *
Ron and Hermione ate rather quickly at Dinner, not because they were starving, but the sooner they finished eating, the sooner they could get back to what they each had been planning all afternoon. Hermione was more anxious than ever to get back to her research, though she'd stop by and visit Harry before doing so. Shoveling mashed potatoes into his mouth, Ron was eager for his brothers to return, wanting to try out his theories about the map as soon as possible. Much to his surprise, Hermione finished eating first. She beamed excitedly as she pushed her chair into the table.
"Good luck, Ron. I'll see you later?"
Ron nodded, his mouth full of food. "Ahruhren." He raised a finger up for Hermione to wait a moment, and swallowed his potatoes. "I mean, alright, then." He smiled, watching her leave. Ron then noticed that Hermione had stopped, waved to someone he couldn't see, and turned and pointed in his direction. He raised himself tall, straining for a look, but didn't have to wait long for his visitors.
Ron nearly bolted from his seat at the Banquet Table when he saw his brothers finally enter, empty handed. He supposed they had left their bags of galleons under their beds or someplace, not wishing to cart around all that money to Dinner. But, if they were even the slightest bit happy, they sure weren't showing it.
Pulling out the empty chairs opposite Ron, Fred and George sank into them warily. Ron passed glances between them anxiously. "So….how'd it go?"
"You tell 'em," Fred said as he nudged George, refusing to look up from his plate.
George jabbed Fred back with his elbow. "No, you. I don't want to tell him."
"What? You think I do? You tell him. You're the older one," Fred replied sullenly.
George looked up slowly at his brother. "Me? I thought you were. Mum always said--"
Ron sighed loudly, tired of his eyes having to dart from one brother to the other. "What happened?"
They both looked up at Ron, then each other. George shrugged. "Oh, I'll tell him. It really doesn't matter, anyway." Ignoring Ron as he rolled his eyes, he recounted their story. "Well, we got to Hogsmeade, no problem. That…man was waiting for us in The Leaky Cauldron, even bought us a round of butterbeer. We told him about our product again, and even gave him some free samples. After that, he said he'd love to re-offer us his earlier deal," a pause, "of five galleons each."
"So?" asked Ron. "Did you take it?"
"Oh, we took it, alright," Fred said sarcastically, "took it right up the arse. He was a real nutter, that one. When we asked to get half the money upfront, until we could complete the order, the stupid bastard just laughed at us. 'Money?' he says, 'What in the name of the Gods are you talking about, boys?' Then, he laughs even louder! 'Oh, you thought I said galleons, as in the money! Well, I haven't got any of that. What I do have, though, are Galleons, by which I mean ships!'"
"What?!"
"Yep, loony wanker was a retired fisherman who had inherited all this money and shite some years ago, so he blew the lot at once making bloody ships!" Fred said angrily, waving his hands about.
"Oh," Ron responded downtroddenly, unsure what to say next. "Well…wouldn't you have wanted some ships? You could've sold them to Durmstrang, or something…"
"What?" George exclaimed. "Ron, what in the bloody hell are we gonna do with a ruddy flotilla of fucking ships? Try explaining that one to Mum and Dad…"
"Well," Ron replied, "sorry you guys got screwed over like that."
Fred shrugged. "Well, it wasn't a total loss. We told him when he got some money then maybe he'd like to try some of our other stuff, of which we gave him plenty of free samples." Ron's face spread into a lopsided grin. "What'd you give him?"
George then began to smile, as well. "You see, everybody's eaten Chocolate Frogs, but how many lucky Wizards and Witches have tried a taste of our home-baked Flatulence Frogs--" Ron held up a hand, glancing warily at his filled plate. "Wait. I don't even want to know."
Chuckling, the twins turned to their brother. "So, what's been going on with you all day? Anything new come up with Harry?" Ron filled them in on the details before he got to the Map.
Fred laughed incredulously. "You're kidding me, right? The Map isn't to be used for such nefarious purposes, Ron. Only sneaking out, and the like." George nodded at his brother. "He's right. Why in the hell would you want to find that git anyway, after all that shite he's put you guys through?"
Ron shrugged. "I dunno. I think we're the only ones who knows where he's at. I mean, wouldn't Dumbledore have done something about it if he knew?"
Fred sighed. "I suppose you're right. He is human, after all--well, at least I think he's human, anyway."
"We'll meet up tomorrow night, it's a Saturday," George explained, "and bring Hermione and Harry, if he'll be able to escape Pomfrey's clutches by then, that is. Binns' classroom'll be empty, so we'll meet there…after Dinner?"
Ron and Fred nodded. George then passed Ron the Map under the table, smiling secretively. His brothers then grabbed a plate each and began to fork food onto them as Ron placed the Map inside his robe. He'd plan out their route tonight.
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Heh. Sorry if the title seemed a bit misleading, but I really couldn't come up with a better one. And it does feature the return of someone, no? Si. Okey then, here's this installment's "Bold and the Beautiful" list…Yay!!!
Rolllllll Calllllll: Lady Foxfire! Raven! Allocin! Loopy! Lily Malfoy! Taracollowen! Iris (gooooood guesses!)! Zahrah Thomson-Radcliffe! Guess! Beccy! Amerkat! Mouse! Lili! Lady of Arundel! ArchArtist/Writer (Blessed Be, sista)! Breea! Lassy D! AAAANNNNNDDDDD Kim!!! Yay!!!! ~8]