"The Incentive" by Quidditch, Anyone?
Secrets in the Wrong Hands
There's no sadder sight than an innocent, adorable, "What-did-I-do?" Ron. He very nervously picked up a few articles of heavy snow-wear and tried to think of the best thing he could do and place to be. Unfortunate thing was that there was no location in the school where Hermione was guaranteed not to be. She probably visited every square foot of the castle in search of stray books or whatever know-it-alls like her were constantly looking for.
So where was Ron to go?
"Uurgh," a low moan came from inside the bathroom. Terry, watery-eyed and slightly staggering, came out. To say the least, he was acting a bit dramatic given that he was merely yelled at.
"Whassat?" he mumbled when he saw Ron. Then he nearly burst into tears again. "Oh, not you."
Ron scowled. "What do you want, Terry?"
"Better question," he shot back. "What 'choo do to make her go all crazy like that?"
"I didn't do anything," Ron replied. "The problem was you."
Terry rolled his eyes and pushed back a few stray hairs. "Hardly."
Ron was too apprehensive to start a fight of any sort right now, so he let it be and started to leave, until he heard a call: "Hope you and your new girlfriend are happy together!"
The usual monotone response to this was, at every other situation, automatic. But this time Ron didn't really see the point. This jerk was nothing to Hermione and nothing to him, so what did it matter what he thought, really?
Ron spun around on a heel and gave a broad grin. "Thanks!" Then he dashed off before possibly getting hit with stray scoffs or tubes of hair gel.
·~··~··~·
Harry was covered from head to toe in schoolwork in front of the scorching flames. Too much so to see Hermione come in with a very frustrated look on her face.
"Gurrgh!" She sat at the empty chair. Harry looked up at her sudden grunt of anger. He, being Harry, became instantly concerned and forgot his piles of work.
"Hermione, what's wrong?"
"Nothing!" she snapped.
Harry looked taken aback. "Just trying to help! But apparently you don't want any." He picked up his quill again and returned to his essay.
Hermione crossed her arms and continuously tapped her foot. (which by Harry's point of view was getting very annoying, very fast) She kept looking pointedly at Harry, but then looking away like nothing had happened. It was so obvious she wanted to tell him something.
Catching on, Harry said cleverly, "If you're not going to tell me, then can you get another seat? You're blocking my light. Thanks." Hermione tried to yell at him several times, but she was stuck.
"Go on," he pretended to coax.
"Well," she started quickly, then hesitated. "Well, it's just..."
"Yeees?"
"It's nothing, Harry. Don't bother."
He rolled his eyes and attempted work again.
"Well, o-okay!"
Harry smiled as she went into the scenario, but to no surprise his grin didn't last long.
"And now Ron thinks I hate him and I feel awful, Harry! Just awful!"
"Then go apologize. Tell him you didn't mean it."
"No, I-I don't think I should..." she uncomfortably twisted tiny sections of hair. "I just don't think he'd believe me."
Harry shrugged. "Worth a shot."
There was a moment of just crackly fire noises. "Okay, what do I say?"
"Just that you were really mad at Terry and he caught you off guard," Harry soothed. "That's all."
"Really think he'll forgive me?"
"Promise."
A few more seconds passed. "All right. I'll go find Ron. And Harry?"
"Mmm hmm?" He had returned to his homework.
"Thanks."
Harry smiled. "No problem. But you know what I'd really like?"
"Anything."
"Where's your essay? I know you finished a week ago and I still have two pages and need about a million more facts for this thing."
"Harry, how can you ever expect to learn responsibility and about the Wizard's Council of 1827 if you never do any work on your own?" she said motherly.
"And this is the thanks I get for my advise?"
"Guess so. Thanks!" she called while running out of the Common Room.
After the portrait of the Fat Lady swung back into place, Hermione had unearthed a fresh new problem- where in the wizard was Ron? She immediately checked the girls' room where he was last, then the Great Hall, Owlery, library... all completely devoid of her friend. She thought of just going back to Gryffindor Tower and waiting for him there, when she thought she sensed someone following her. She turned suspiciously to find-
"You again!" she roared across the hall. "Get out of my sight!"
Terry already had his wand out just in case he had to block any unwanted curses. She snorted like a rhinoceros as he smiled.
"Wait till you hear this!" he smirked.
"Take one step near me, and I swear I'll-"
"It's about Ron!"
She stopped abruptly. Terry grinned even more evilly and approached very smugly. He leaned over, cupped his hand around her ear, and whispered the poison that could kill Ron's very carefully constructed disguise. That is, if she believed him.
All right, I had this bad day at school already when I came home. Then I start homework and read these comments on a paper I wrote for a class. They weren't too bad, but I can tell he really didn't like the way I put things. So what do I do instead of do a much better second copy? Being the 'odd' and ironic person that I am, I go to the computer and, oh my God- write stories! Better yet, when I checked my mail I found that I had gotten nine reviews last night, which made me all smile happy yack yack for the first time today. Reviewers are the best people in the world, you know. And it's almost Christmas and the fifth book is coming, so cheer up! (notice I sometimes talk to myself in second person... how weird of you, QA...)