A/N- I'm so lazy, I'm so lazy, I'm so lazy. And I'm so sorry! I know I shouldn't have taken this long and I apologize. I had writers block for a while.
~Recap
"All right, let's go," he said, and we made our way towards Potions.
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-The Next Morning
"Oh I can't wait until tomorrow night!" Ginny shrieked.
"Me neither, we get to show off our dresses! The guys will be stunned at how pretty we can get!" I said to Ginny.
"Yeah, especially your man Mione! That dress looks killer on you," Ginny said earnestly.
"You shouldn't be talking! Your dress is perfect in every way," I told her.
"Thanks for trying to make me feel good Hermione, but I know your dress is nicer, and looks great on you! Don't you dare deny it," she said, smiling slyly.
"Well," I started, but was interrupted.
"See? I told you! You can not deny it no matter what you do!" Ginny exclaimed.
I just blushed, because I knew she was right. That dress was perfect for me. Draco would be amazed, just like Ginny said. "I guess your right. Let's go to breakfast now, I'm starved."
"Me too. Wait for me while I change into my robes, OK?" Ginny asked. walking towards her dorm.
"All right, I'll be down here," I told her. Ginny and I had become a lot closer when I was upset with Draco. I didn't have anyone besides Harry and Ron to talk to, and they only talked about Quidditch. It was OK for a while, then it got extremely boring. So, I started hanging out with Ginny and her crew. They welcomed me with open arms, and the rest is history. Now we gossip all the time, and have fun talking about guys.
"Ready?" Ginny asked, coming down the stairs.
"I've been ready, lets go," I said.
When we entered the Great Hall, it was obvious the teachers had stayed up late last night. Everything was polished, the walls were clean, with no remains of food on them, and the floor shone very brightly. That would all change after the three meals today, and tomorrow.
"Hey Gin, Hermione," Harry said, as Ginny sat down next to him.
"Hey guys, have you seen Draco?" I asked. "He's not here yet."
"Maybe he over slept," Ron suggested.
"Probably, it wouldn't be unlike him," I said, giggling. He probably did oversleep, actually. We kind-of had a late night snog session up in the Astronomy Tower. I didn't get to my dorm until 12:30. I was tired too.
"No, it wouldn't," Ginny said, catching my eye, and winking. Ginny had a late night last night too. We both arrived at the Fat Lady at the same time. She and Harry had been down in a deserted classroom in the Charms corridor. Ron was the only one in the Gryffindor Tower for a while.
"I have an announcement," Ron suddenly said.
"What?" Harry, Ginny and I all asked at the same time.
"I have a date for the dance," he said proudly, his face shining.
"Who?" I asked, pretty much knowing the answer already though.
"Padma Patil," he answered simply.
"Who could've seen that one coming?" Harry joked.
Ron just grinned sarcastically. "I think we might actually get together tomorrow night!" he said seriously, as the rest of us laughed.
"It would about time!" I said. "You've liked each other since fourth year! If you finally get together, nobody would be surprised."
"She's right, Ron," Draco said, sitting down next to me.
"Hey! You're finally up. Did you oversleep?" I asked him.
"Yeah. There's a surprise," he said, raising his eyebrows and smiling at me.
Harry rolled his eyes, as did Ron, and I blushed pink. "I wouldn't be talking Harry!" I said, and he shot me a you-better-shut-up look. "Right?"
"Right," he mumbled, and everybody sniggered loudly. "Well!" he said brightly. "I think we better get to class, shall we?"
"Yeah, probably," Ron said. "Divination," he said gloomily.
"Arithmacy!" I said happily.
"Herbology." Draco said, with no emotion at all. "Herbology with the Ravenclaw's. Hey Weasley, want me to send Padma your love?"
"Shut up, ferret," Ron retorted, but didn't mean it in a stingy way.
"Hey! That hurt. Imagine being bounced around on your arse for a minute over and over again. I couldn't sit for the rest of the day! I had to ice my arse, and my head. Boy, did I have a headache that day," he finished, with us laughing at him. "I'm serious!"
"I know you are, but it's hysterical. You've got to admit it," Harry said.
"Well, I guess it's a bit funny thinking about it now. But it wasn't funny then!" Draco said pouting. He was trying to get sympathy from us, but it wasn't working.
"It was to us! Draco Malfoy, the amazing bouncing ferret," Ron said, reflecting back to one of his best fourth year days ever.
"Let's go. I'm tired of hearing all this," Draco said.
"Yeah, we're going to be late if we don't leave anyway. We'll spare Draco the humiliation, and go to class," Ginny said, while everybody had risen from their seats, and started towards their first class of the day.
-Up in the Divination Room
*Harry's POV*
"Woah! Who stuck the club up Trelawny's arse?" Ron asked me. Trelawny was in a really bad mood, and had just snapped at Ron because he didn't remember anything about palm readings, and enchanted cards. (A/N- Tarot cards!)
"I don't know, but I wouldn't be thanking them right now," I replied.
"Precisely Miss Brown. Enchanted cards can show you at most, a year into your future. Take one point to Gryffindor. Every hand should have been up on that question. It was easy. Hears another easy question. Who can read the cards?" Trelawny barked. Two hands shot up into the air, and Trelawny fumed. "Yes, Miss Patil?" she asked, trying not to lose her temper.
"Anybody can read enchanted cards, but you can only read your own. You can't look into anybody else's future, only your own. If you try to look at another person's card while it's being read, you won't see anything but a white screen," Parvati finished with a smug look on her face.
"Exactly. One point to Gryffindor. I can not believe that you didn't remember that. There's one more important thing to remember about enchanted cards. Does anybody besides Miss Patil, and Miss Brown know what that is?" Trelawny asked, looking like she would murder anyone who didn't know the answer. A girl named Sally Anne Perks raised her hand.
"Um...you need to...er..." she started, but was interrupted by Trelawny.
"Well?" she snarled. "Do you know the answer or not?"
"Yes, I know the answer," she responded shyly, and quietly.
"Well, what is it? Spit it out girl," she snarled.
"You need to ask a question in order for the card to show you anything. The card answers your question as long as it has something to do with your past, present or 365 days into your future," she finished, looking up at Trelawny, bottom lip trembling.
"Correct. It took you too long to answer, so no points to Gryffindor," Trelawny said.
"Are you kidding?" Ron bursted out. "You asked the question, and she was the only one who knew the answer! Give her some credit for that!"
"Twenty points from Gryffindor Weasley, and don't ever back talk me again," Trelawny said. "We won't be working with Enchanted Cards for a few more classes, but we'll be working on Crystal Balls."
"What is her problem?" Ron whispered to me.
"I don't know. It's like she's having an affair with Snape or something. She's acting like a female version of him," I said.
"I know," Ron said, trying to avoid Lavender and Parvati's piercing stares.
"They're glaring daggers at you Ron," I informed him.
"Thank you Captain Obvious! They're mad because I lost the two points they got. Oh, God forbid two points! Now we're going to lose the House Cup," he said sarcastically.
"Ron," I said warningly. "You've heard what Malfoy's been saying, haven't you?"
"No! I have better things to do then listen to him blab at meals," Ron said.
"Like gaze at Padma, right?" I added.
Ron blushed, and then said, "I guess I have heard some things Malfoy's said. Something about Trelawny being really...well...exceedingly nice."
"Exactly. Something's up with her. She's been really harsh on the Gryffindors, even with Lavender and Parvati! On the other hand, Slytherin is suddenly her new favorite house. Over 50 points per class! We're lucky if we get one. She used to be fair, as far as we're concerned. Now, I have no idea what's gotten into her," I finished, as she looked over my way.
"Mr. Potter, is something you need to tell Mr. Weasley more important than passing my class?" she asked with a slight sneer.
"No, Professor. Sorry I was talking," I said, plastering a fake smile on my face.
"You were disrupting my class. 10 points from Gryffindor, and be grateful it isn't more," she snapped.
I just nodded my head, and turned to Ron, who shrugged. "Ain't nothing we can do about it," he whispered in my direction. "Don't push it. Leave her alone. She's an overgrown insect in specks anyway. Do not let her get to you, it's not worth it," he completed, looking at me expectantly.
"OK," I said, though he didn't need to worry. Ron was the one who tended to overreact, not me. Hermione and Draco did, too. I handled situations such as this one better than any of the other three. "Just 25 more minutes," I said, glancing at the clock.
=========
"I can't see anything!" Ron said, staring in disbelief at his crystal ball.
"I think I can in mine, there's two figures, a boy and a girl. I can't make out who they are though," I said, and shrugged again.
"Oh wait. Hey! I see a boy and girl in mine too! What do yours look like?" he asked.
"Well, the boy is taller than the girl. The girl has really thick, bushy hair. At least I think she does. They're both shadows," I said.
"Mine too!" he said, then pondered something. "Harry! This is a long stretch, but do you think we're seeing Mione and Draco? Hermione, obviously, has very thick, bushy hair, and Draco's taller than her!" he polished, looking proud of himself.
"It's a very educated guess. I wouldn't be surprised if it was them. But, why would they be in our crystal ball? Unless something really big, and significant is going to happen. Maybe we better keep an eye on them, you think?" I asked Ron.
He started to reply, but was interrupted by Prof. Trelawny. "Class is over! You are dismissed. I want you research crystal ball seeing, and then write a two page report on it, while preparing for seeing next class."
"Two pages? I hope I still have the paper we did two years ago on crystal balls," Ron said, disturbed by the amount of homework.
"Take your own advice, Ron, and don't complain. It's not worth it. You can't exactly change it now," I told him.
"You're right. I won't stay on the subject anymore. If we aren't talking about school, what do you talk about?" he asked.
At once, we both said, "Quidditch!" We sat down at the table in the Great Hall, and launched into a Quidditch discussion.
"OK, our last match is against Ravenclaw, and if we lose to them, they'll win the Quidditch Cup," I told him. Slytherin didn't have a chance. We killed them last match. It was thanks to Malfoy though. He 'accidentally' crashed right as we were head-to-head trying to get to the Snitch. He has the newest model of brooms too. The Heat 3000. It outstrips my Lightning Flash by a considerable amount. Anyway, we were down by 30 points, and I got the Snitch because of Malfoy 'crashing' into the stands. For our game against Ravenclaw, I could only catch the Snitch if we were 40 points up. The chasers, Colin Creevy, Laura Wood, (Oliver's younger sister) and Andrew Johnson (Angelina's brother) were the best we've had since the three girls. Cecilia Murphy was a beater, as was Finn Jordan. (Both 4th years, and Finn was Lee's younger brother.) Ron was the Keeper, and I was the Seeker. We were the best team, especially since we had siblings of two of the best players I had every played with.
"Yeah, do you reckon we should start scheduling more practices?" Ron asked me. I was the captain, and I had appointed Ron my assistant.
"Probably. I mean, this is an important match. We lose this match, and we lose the Cup," I said.
"How about, say, 4 nights a week until two weeks before the match? Then we can have them 5 or 6 nights a week?" Ron determined.
"Sounds good. I'll tell the rest of the team, and then we'll schedule some practices tonight. Does that sound good?" I asked him.
"Great, and while we're at it," he started but was yet again, interrupted. This time by Hermione and Draco.
"You guys discussing Quidditch tactics?" Draco asked, looking interested.
"Yea, thanks to you Malfoy," I said, winking.
"Forget it. I want to see Gryffindor win, seeing as I substantially am one myself. It wouldn't seem right for Slytherin to win because I caught the Snitch. Betray my own house? Me? Never. You're looking at a true Gryffindor right here," he said, beaming as Hermione squeezed his hand.
"Too bad the Sorting Hat put you in Slytherin though, isn't it Malfoy?" Ron said, with orange juice running down his chin.
"Pity you can't keep orange juice in your mouth," Draco said, but in a jokingly way.
Ron smirked, but quickly wiped up the juice from his front. "Nice one Draco."
"You know it!" he said.
"So are you guys excited about the dance?" Hermione asked, looking very happy while talking about it.
"You mean I have to go to that thing?" I whined.
"You better Harry Potter, or else," Ginny raised her eyebrows.
"Ginny! When did you get here?" I asked.
"Obviously right on time. What was that you were saying about not going to the dance?" She asked, though she knew I had been kidding. We talked about the dance already. Ginny just wanted to make a scene.
"N-nothing," I stammered fakely.
Everybody but Hermione bought it. "You don't expect me to believe that, do you?' she said, emphasizing the word 'that'.
"What are you talking about Mione? That was a genuine conflict between me and Ginny," I said, trying not to smile.
"I see that smile. Come on Ron, Draco. Don't tell me you buy this crap?" she said, but was smiling herself.
"You mean, it wasn't genuine?" Ron asked, looking bewildered.
"Course not! We never fight," Ginny told her brother.
"Yeah!" I said, grabbing Ginny, and embracing her in a hug. "We never fight!"
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Like I believe that! Please. Everyone fights. But let's not get into this. On a more happy note, I aced my Arthimacy test!" Hermione said, but to no one's surprise.
"Congratulations," Draco said, and gave her a peck on the cheek.
She beamed, and then looked at her watch. "Merlin's beard! Class begins in 5 minutes! We have to go!" she said, grabbing her bag, and motioning us to hurry up. We grabbed our stuff as quickly as possible, and ran to class.
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A/N- I am a truly horrible person. Apologies are coming by the hundreds from me. Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry!!!
You guys deserve all those! I just get distracted, and I was away for a week while I was working on this. It would have been done last week, had I not gone on vay-cay! I feel horrible, and I probably lost a lot of readers, and I really regret taking this long.
Thanks (for your patience)
Oh no! I just found out that ff.net won't let me update for another week or two! No no no! Let it be known, I had this chapter ready July 2, 2002. OK? I swear to God. Now for the thank you's-
damsalndistess-asif- Thank you! I think the story's coming along OK too. Fluff can bore me too, but then again, I write it! What a hypocrite I am...
SnickleFritz- Thank you! There's not much Draco in this chapter. *Sticks out bottom lip, and pouts* Don't worry though, he's in so much of the dance! At least I think he is, I haven't written it yet...
Cyropi- I think I deserve a very insane alligator to go in my ear! I took too long, and I feel horrible. Maybe you can end up in my story...hmmm....I need your name though. Maybe I'll just call you Cyropi. You can be at the dance, and step on Pansy's toes! OK, it's not the same as strangling her, but I need her! For now, that is *evil grin* I don't deserve to put an enraged hippo in your nose, but I'll do it if you don't update! (Then again, who am I to be talking?)
~Recap
"All right, let's go," he said, and we made our way towards Potions.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-The Next Morning
"Oh I can't wait until tomorrow night!" Ginny shrieked.
"Me neither, we get to show off our dresses! The guys will be stunned at how pretty we can get!" I said to Ginny.
"Yeah, especially your man Mione! That dress looks killer on you," Ginny said earnestly.
"You shouldn't be talking! Your dress is perfect in every way," I told her.
"Thanks for trying to make me feel good Hermione, but I know your dress is nicer, and looks great on you! Don't you dare deny it," she said, smiling slyly.
"Well," I started, but was interrupted.
"See? I told you! You can not deny it no matter what you do!" Ginny exclaimed.
I just blushed, because I knew she was right. That dress was perfect for me. Draco would be amazed, just like Ginny said. "I guess your right. Let's go to breakfast now, I'm starved."
"Me too. Wait for me while I change into my robes, OK?" Ginny asked. walking towards her dorm.
"All right, I'll be down here," I told her. Ginny and I had become a lot closer when I was upset with Draco. I didn't have anyone besides Harry and Ron to talk to, and they only talked about Quidditch. It was OK for a while, then it got extremely boring. So, I started hanging out with Ginny and her crew. They welcomed me with open arms, and the rest is history. Now we gossip all the time, and have fun talking about guys.
"Ready?" Ginny asked, coming down the stairs.
"I've been ready, lets go," I said.
When we entered the Great Hall, it was obvious the teachers had stayed up late last night. Everything was polished, the walls were clean, with no remains of food on them, and the floor shone very brightly. That would all change after the three meals today, and tomorrow.
"Hey Gin, Hermione," Harry said, as Ginny sat down next to him.
"Hey guys, have you seen Draco?" I asked. "He's not here yet."
"Maybe he over slept," Ron suggested.
"Probably, it wouldn't be unlike him," I said, giggling. He probably did oversleep, actually. We kind-of had a late night snog session up in the Astronomy Tower. I didn't get to my dorm until 12:30. I was tired too.
"No, it wouldn't," Ginny said, catching my eye, and winking. Ginny had a late night last night too. We both arrived at the Fat Lady at the same time. She and Harry had been down in a deserted classroom in the Charms corridor. Ron was the only one in the Gryffindor Tower for a while.
"I have an announcement," Ron suddenly said.
"What?" Harry, Ginny and I all asked at the same time.
"I have a date for the dance," he said proudly, his face shining.
"Who?" I asked, pretty much knowing the answer already though.
"Padma Patil," he answered simply.
"Who could've seen that one coming?" Harry joked.
Ron just grinned sarcastically. "I think we might actually get together tomorrow night!" he said seriously, as the rest of us laughed.
"It would about time!" I said. "You've liked each other since fourth year! If you finally get together, nobody would be surprised."
"She's right, Ron," Draco said, sitting down next to me.
"Hey! You're finally up. Did you oversleep?" I asked him.
"Yeah. There's a surprise," he said, raising his eyebrows and smiling at me.
Harry rolled his eyes, as did Ron, and I blushed pink. "I wouldn't be talking Harry!" I said, and he shot me a you-better-shut-up look. "Right?"
"Right," he mumbled, and everybody sniggered loudly. "Well!" he said brightly. "I think we better get to class, shall we?"
"Yeah, probably," Ron said. "Divination," he said gloomily.
"Arithmacy!" I said happily.
"Herbology." Draco said, with no emotion at all. "Herbology with the Ravenclaw's. Hey Weasley, want me to send Padma your love?"
"Shut up, ferret," Ron retorted, but didn't mean it in a stingy way.
"Hey! That hurt. Imagine being bounced around on your arse for a minute over and over again. I couldn't sit for the rest of the day! I had to ice my arse, and my head. Boy, did I have a headache that day," he finished, with us laughing at him. "I'm serious!"
"I know you are, but it's hysterical. You've got to admit it," Harry said.
"Well, I guess it's a bit funny thinking about it now. But it wasn't funny then!" Draco said pouting. He was trying to get sympathy from us, but it wasn't working.
"It was to us! Draco Malfoy, the amazing bouncing ferret," Ron said, reflecting back to one of his best fourth year days ever.
"Let's go. I'm tired of hearing all this," Draco said.
"Yeah, we're going to be late if we don't leave anyway. We'll spare Draco the humiliation, and go to class," Ginny said, while everybody had risen from their seats, and started towards their first class of the day.
-Up in the Divination Room
*Harry's POV*
"Woah! Who stuck the club up Trelawny's arse?" Ron asked me. Trelawny was in a really bad mood, and had just snapped at Ron because he didn't remember anything about palm readings, and enchanted cards. (A/N- Tarot cards!)
"I don't know, but I wouldn't be thanking them right now," I replied.
"Precisely Miss Brown. Enchanted cards can show you at most, a year into your future. Take one point to Gryffindor. Every hand should have been up on that question. It was easy. Hears another easy question. Who can read the cards?" Trelawny barked. Two hands shot up into the air, and Trelawny fumed. "Yes, Miss Patil?" she asked, trying not to lose her temper.
"Anybody can read enchanted cards, but you can only read your own. You can't look into anybody else's future, only your own. If you try to look at another person's card while it's being read, you won't see anything but a white screen," Parvati finished with a smug look on her face.
"Exactly. One point to Gryffindor. I can not believe that you didn't remember that. There's one more important thing to remember about enchanted cards. Does anybody besides Miss Patil, and Miss Brown know what that is?" Trelawny asked, looking like she would murder anyone who didn't know the answer. A girl named Sally Anne Perks raised her hand.
"Um...you need to...er..." she started, but was interrupted by Trelawny.
"Well?" she snarled. "Do you know the answer or not?"
"Yes, I know the answer," she responded shyly, and quietly.
"Well, what is it? Spit it out girl," she snarled.
"You need to ask a question in order for the card to show you anything. The card answers your question as long as it has something to do with your past, present or 365 days into your future," she finished, looking up at Trelawny, bottom lip trembling.
"Correct. It took you too long to answer, so no points to Gryffindor," Trelawny said.
"Are you kidding?" Ron bursted out. "You asked the question, and she was the only one who knew the answer! Give her some credit for that!"
"Twenty points from Gryffindor Weasley, and don't ever back talk me again," Trelawny said. "We won't be working with Enchanted Cards for a few more classes, but we'll be working on Crystal Balls."
"What is her problem?" Ron whispered to me.
"I don't know. It's like she's having an affair with Snape or something. She's acting like a female version of him," I said.
"I know," Ron said, trying to avoid Lavender and Parvati's piercing stares.
"They're glaring daggers at you Ron," I informed him.
"Thank you Captain Obvious! They're mad because I lost the two points they got. Oh, God forbid two points! Now we're going to lose the House Cup," he said sarcastically.
"Ron," I said warningly. "You've heard what Malfoy's been saying, haven't you?"
"No! I have better things to do then listen to him blab at meals," Ron said.
"Like gaze at Padma, right?" I added.
Ron blushed, and then said, "I guess I have heard some things Malfoy's said. Something about Trelawny being really...well...exceedingly nice."
"Exactly. Something's up with her. She's been really harsh on the Gryffindors, even with Lavender and Parvati! On the other hand, Slytherin is suddenly her new favorite house. Over 50 points per class! We're lucky if we get one. She used to be fair, as far as we're concerned. Now, I have no idea what's gotten into her," I finished, as she looked over my way.
"Mr. Potter, is something you need to tell Mr. Weasley more important than passing my class?" she asked with a slight sneer.
"No, Professor. Sorry I was talking," I said, plastering a fake smile on my face.
"You were disrupting my class. 10 points from Gryffindor, and be grateful it isn't more," she snapped.
I just nodded my head, and turned to Ron, who shrugged. "Ain't nothing we can do about it," he whispered in my direction. "Don't push it. Leave her alone. She's an overgrown insect in specks anyway. Do not let her get to you, it's not worth it," he completed, looking at me expectantly.
"OK," I said, though he didn't need to worry. Ron was the one who tended to overreact, not me. Hermione and Draco did, too. I handled situations such as this one better than any of the other three. "Just 25 more minutes," I said, glancing at the clock.
=========
"I can't see anything!" Ron said, staring in disbelief at his crystal ball.
"I think I can in mine, there's two figures, a boy and a girl. I can't make out who they are though," I said, and shrugged again.
"Oh wait. Hey! I see a boy and girl in mine too! What do yours look like?" he asked.
"Well, the boy is taller than the girl. The girl has really thick, bushy hair. At least I think she does. They're both shadows," I said.
"Mine too!" he said, then pondered something. "Harry! This is a long stretch, but do you think we're seeing Mione and Draco? Hermione, obviously, has very thick, bushy hair, and Draco's taller than her!" he polished, looking proud of himself.
"It's a very educated guess. I wouldn't be surprised if it was them. But, why would they be in our crystal ball? Unless something really big, and significant is going to happen. Maybe we better keep an eye on them, you think?" I asked Ron.
He started to reply, but was interrupted by Prof. Trelawny. "Class is over! You are dismissed. I want you research crystal ball seeing, and then write a two page report on it, while preparing for seeing next class."
"Two pages? I hope I still have the paper we did two years ago on crystal balls," Ron said, disturbed by the amount of homework.
"Take your own advice, Ron, and don't complain. It's not worth it. You can't exactly change it now," I told him.
"You're right. I won't stay on the subject anymore. If we aren't talking about school, what do you talk about?" he asked.
At once, we both said, "Quidditch!" We sat down at the table in the Great Hall, and launched into a Quidditch discussion.
"OK, our last match is against Ravenclaw, and if we lose to them, they'll win the Quidditch Cup," I told him. Slytherin didn't have a chance. We killed them last match. It was thanks to Malfoy though. He 'accidentally' crashed right as we were head-to-head trying to get to the Snitch. He has the newest model of brooms too. The Heat 3000. It outstrips my Lightning Flash by a considerable amount. Anyway, we were down by 30 points, and I got the Snitch because of Malfoy 'crashing' into the stands. For our game against Ravenclaw, I could only catch the Snitch if we were 40 points up. The chasers, Colin Creevy, Laura Wood, (Oliver's younger sister) and Andrew Johnson (Angelina's brother) were the best we've had since the three girls. Cecilia Murphy was a beater, as was Finn Jordan. (Both 4th years, and Finn was Lee's younger brother.) Ron was the Keeper, and I was the Seeker. We were the best team, especially since we had siblings of two of the best players I had every played with.
"Yeah, do you reckon we should start scheduling more practices?" Ron asked me. I was the captain, and I had appointed Ron my assistant.
"Probably. I mean, this is an important match. We lose this match, and we lose the Cup," I said.
"How about, say, 4 nights a week until two weeks before the match? Then we can have them 5 or 6 nights a week?" Ron determined.
"Sounds good. I'll tell the rest of the team, and then we'll schedule some practices tonight. Does that sound good?" I asked him.
"Great, and while we're at it," he started but was yet again, interrupted. This time by Hermione and Draco.
"You guys discussing Quidditch tactics?" Draco asked, looking interested.
"Yea, thanks to you Malfoy," I said, winking.
"Forget it. I want to see Gryffindor win, seeing as I substantially am one myself. It wouldn't seem right for Slytherin to win because I caught the Snitch. Betray my own house? Me? Never. You're looking at a true Gryffindor right here," he said, beaming as Hermione squeezed his hand.
"Too bad the Sorting Hat put you in Slytherin though, isn't it Malfoy?" Ron said, with orange juice running down his chin.
"Pity you can't keep orange juice in your mouth," Draco said, but in a jokingly way.
Ron smirked, but quickly wiped up the juice from his front. "Nice one Draco."
"You know it!" he said.
"So are you guys excited about the dance?" Hermione asked, looking very happy while talking about it.
"You mean I have to go to that thing?" I whined.
"You better Harry Potter, or else," Ginny raised her eyebrows.
"Ginny! When did you get here?" I asked.
"Obviously right on time. What was that you were saying about not going to the dance?" She asked, though she knew I had been kidding. We talked about the dance already. Ginny just wanted to make a scene.
"N-nothing," I stammered fakely.
Everybody but Hermione bought it. "You don't expect me to believe that, do you?' she said, emphasizing the word 'that'.
"What are you talking about Mione? That was a genuine conflict between me and Ginny," I said, trying not to smile.
"I see that smile. Come on Ron, Draco. Don't tell me you buy this crap?" she said, but was smiling herself.
"You mean, it wasn't genuine?" Ron asked, looking bewildered.
"Course not! We never fight," Ginny told her brother.
"Yeah!" I said, grabbing Ginny, and embracing her in a hug. "We never fight!"
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Like I believe that! Please. Everyone fights. But let's not get into this. On a more happy note, I aced my Arthimacy test!" Hermione said, but to no one's surprise.
"Congratulations," Draco said, and gave her a peck on the cheek.
She beamed, and then looked at her watch. "Merlin's beard! Class begins in 5 minutes! We have to go!" she said, grabbing her bag, and motioning us to hurry up. We grabbed our stuff as quickly as possible, and ran to class.
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A/N- I am a truly horrible person. Apologies are coming by the hundreds from me. Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry, Sorry!!!
You guys deserve all those! I just get distracted, and I was away for a week while I was working on this. It would have been done last week, had I not gone on vay-cay! I feel horrible, and I probably lost a lot of readers, and I really regret taking this long.
Thanks (for your patience)
Oh no! I just found out that ff.net won't let me update for another week or two! No no no! Let it be known, I had this chapter ready July 2, 2002. OK? I swear to God. Now for the thank you's-
damsalndistess-asif- Thank you! I think the story's coming along OK too. Fluff can bore me too, but then again, I write it! What a hypocrite I am...
SnickleFritz- Thank you! There's not much Draco in this chapter. *Sticks out bottom lip, and pouts* Don't worry though, he's in so much of the dance! At least I think he is, I haven't written it yet...
Cyropi- I think I deserve a very insane alligator to go in my ear! I took too long, and I feel horrible. Maybe you can end up in my story...hmmm....I need your name though. Maybe I'll just call you Cyropi. You can be at the dance, and step on Pansy's toes! OK, it's not the same as strangling her, but I need her! For now, that is *evil grin* I don't deserve to put an enraged hippo in your nose, but I'll do it if you don't update! (Then again, who am I to be talking?)