Disclaimer: Harry Potter and Company belongs to J.K. Rowling. I am just borrowing them and allowing my imagination to run free.
CHAPTER III
"Ginny, how long are you planning on staying inside your room?" Ron asked, knocking on her bedroom door impatiently.
"Just give me a second, Ron and I'll be right there," she called from her bedroom, where she was hurriedly brushing her silky red hair.
Ron rolled his eyes at the prospect of Ginny being out in just a second and walked down the stairs.
"Is Ginny planning on joining us tonight?" Harry questioned, straightening the emerald robes he wore for special occasions, such as Quidditch ceremonies or simple party functions.
Ron nodded. "She'll be joining us as soon as she's certain that the length of her hair is equal. Honestly, she's constantly dealing with her appearance. Who gives a rip if she's looking nice? After all, we're the ones being auctioned off, not her."
"I heard that, Ronald," a voice spoke up from behind him. Harry grinned as a very speechless Ron turned to face his sister. Apparently, the fact that she had heard what he had said had stunned him. But, it wasn't her presence in the room that left Harry, himself, shocked. It was the way she looked.
Ginny was wearing a silk sleeveless gray dress with her hair pulled into a bun, while a few wisps of long hair fell around her face. Harry was absolutely amazed at how a little bit of time into making yourself look good would make him feel weak at the knees. He must have been looking at her for quite sometime for Bill inquired, "Harry, I don't mean to sound rude or anything, but why are you looking at my sister like that?"
"Huh," Harry replied stupidly, reluctantly lifting his eyes off a smirking Ginny and a puzzled Ron.
Bill grinned and repeated his question, causing Harry to turn a slight red. "What do you mean, why am I looking at Ginny like that? I'm looking at her the same way I've looked at her for the past twelve years."
Ginny rolled her eyes, while Ron teased, "Yeah, with your eyes popping out and your mouth hanging open."
"Hey," Ginny remarked, punching her brother lightly. "Don't make me have to remind you that you do the same thing."
"Oh yeah," Ron replied. "And pray do tell, when do I do that?"
"Don't tell me you've forgotten?" Ginny said in a shocked voice.
"Ginny, do enlighten us," Harry joined in, obviously ganging up against Ron.
"Well, I really shouldn't say this," Ginny answered, twirling her hair in her fingers. "But, whenever a certain brown-haired witch is over, Ron-"
"Ginny, don't you dare say another word," Ron interrupted sharply, his face turning the color of his hair. She smiled sweetly at him. "I won't if you leave Harry alone." Ron grumbled under his breath as he reluctantly gave in. Just then, there was a knock at the door.
"Bet you five Knuts, that's her at the door," Ginny predicted, her brown eyes sparkling. Ron scowled at her, but nonetheless went to open the door. Harry waited eagerly to see if Ginny's remark would be true. Sure enough, Hermione Granger was standing at the door, causing Ron to stumble back and stare at her incredulously. "Have mercy," he choked, clutching onto the door for support.
Hermione stepped inside and Harry suddenly realized why Ron had every right to be in a daze, for Hermione definitely was not looking like her own self. Her short brown hair was brushed carefully and tied up with a green barrette. And instead of wearing her usual black robes, she was wearing a knee-high dress with black knitted stockings and high-heeled shoes.
She seemed to be in a daze herself for she was eyeing Ron with such intense looks. "Ron, you look incredible," she finally managed to stammer. Suddenly, realizing that he wasn't the only one in the room, she turned to the other two eligible bachelors. "All three of you, you look terrific," she acknowledged happily. The three men looked at each other and said in unison, "Nay."
"No, honestly," she answered, smiling broadly. "We're going to make a fortune selling you three handsome fellows."
"Well, Hermione, you don't look so bad yourself," Bill commented, causing Ron to scowl at the fact that his brother was noticing her. Hermione blushed slightly and stole a glance at Ron, who grinned back at her. "He's right, Herms. You look fantastic."
"Thanks," she mumbled.
"Well, now that we've already wasted so much time here, I think it's best that we apparate quickly," Ginny instructed.
"As you say, Ms. Weasley," Harry replied, saluting her. She stuck her tongue out at him and together, the five of them apparated to the Leaky Cauldron.
A few minutes later, Ron found himself amongst many different bachelors, waiting eagerly for the charity auction to begin. Once they'd arrived, Hermione had left them to go join the organizing committee, while Ginny went off in search for some other witches to converse with. Thus, that left Ron, Harry and Bill to do as they pleased. They had simply been wandering around, while girls kept shooting glances at them and secretly biding for the best-looking man. They would occasionally take drinks from the waitresses, when they bumped into a plump young man, who quite oddly resembled,
"Neville, is that you?" Harry questioned, approaching the nervous looking man.
"Harry," he stammered slowly. "What are you doing here?"
"We could ask you the same thing," Ron replied.
"Well, Hermione came to my office, I work for the department of Care of Magical Herbs, and she told me about this bachelor's auction. I wasn't quite happy about doing it, but she talked me into it," he answered, while taking another appetizer of the tray.
"She didn't by any chance win you over with her really really speech?" Ron inquired, dreading the answer.
Neville's eyes widened in amazement. "How did you know that?" he asked gleefully.
"Lucky guess," he mumbled, while Harry stifled a chuckle.
"Well, I'm totally regretting this," Neville went on, brushing off the crumbs. "I feel as though I'm back in school again. Nobody wants me. I don't stand a chance," he moaned.
"I know what you mean. I feel as though we're a bunch of tomatoes lined up for health inspection," Ron commented, his eyes darting around the room, when he felt someone touch his shoulder; it was Hermione.
"Having fun?" she queried, her face radiating happiness at the publicity of the occasion.
"Yea, having the time of our lives," Ron replied sarcastically, causing her to give him a disapproving look. Just then, a blond girl wearing a tight blue dress approached him and offered him a glass of champagne.
"Hi, I'm Crystal," she stated, offering him her hand. "Are you one of our bachelors?"
"Why, yes," Ron reaffirmed her, pointing to his nametag, which read 12. "Tomato number 12, actually. Are you one of the people to bid for bachelors?"
"Why do you think I'd be asking?" she replied, seductively leaning closer to him.
"Well, it's certainly for a good cause," he replied, completely ignoring the fact that Hermione was watching their exchange of words. Hermione, however, thought this was enough, so she clapped him on the shoulder and informed Crystal, "He's a real true humanitarian." Saying so, she went back to dealing with her much more important responsibilities. After all, the auction was starting any minute.
~*~*~*~*~
"Sold for 14 Galleons to the lady wearing a white skirt," Bob, the auctioneer announced, while the ecstatic lady came to take her winning man.
"Well, isn't it great that Clint found a date on his first day of patrol," Bob joked, eagerly waiting for the audience's response. Everyone looked at each other in horror, while Bob continued, "Just kidding, folks. And now I give you, Mr. Bill Weasley."
Bill nervously got up, while the bidding started to take place. Finally, he was auctioned off to, "…sold to the lady with a bird on her hat," Bob shouted through the microphone. Bill grabbed a red rose off the table and headed over to where the old lady was sitting.
"So, I guess I'm your date," he stated politely.
"Oh no. You're a little birthday gift for my granddaughter. Oh Heather," the woman remarked, while a young brunette, wearing a skimpy red dress got up and laced her arm in his. "Oh, he's wonderful. Thanks Grandma."
Bill grinned at the woman with the bird on her hat. "Yea, thanks Grandma."
Next up was Neville. Apparently, the highest he got to was 7 Galleons to the same lady. He reluctantly approached her and offered her the yellow rose. "So do you have another gorgeous granddaughter, who'd be my date?" he asked hopefully.
"Oh no, handsome. You're for me," she remarked, her wrinkled face lighting up. "We're going to dance all night long."
"I can't wait," Neville muttered, as he went off to get another drink to clear his mind.
"And now, ladies, I give to you, Mr. Harry Potter," Bob announced, while all the ladies clapped uproariously at the presence of the famous Quidditch player being auctioned off. Harry secretly was hoping that Ginny would bid for him. Through a close tight match between the fiery redhead and a raven-haired witch, Ginny finally succeeded in winning him for seventeen Galleons. Harry grinned to himself, while he went towards her and offered her the pink rose. "Why Ms. Weasley, I wasn't expecting you to bid for me."
She smiled at him. "I wasn't either but I couldn't imagine you spending a romantic night with that-" she paused as she chose for the right word. "Well, you know what I mean." Harry smiled as he took a seat next to her. He couldn't see what would happen with the next bachelor; the bachelor who he happened to be none other than Ronald Weasley.
***
CHAPTER III
"Ginny, how long are you planning on staying inside your room?" Ron asked, knocking on her bedroom door impatiently.
"Just give me a second, Ron and I'll be right there," she called from her bedroom, where she was hurriedly brushing her silky red hair.
Ron rolled his eyes at the prospect of Ginny being out in just a second and walked down the stairs.
"Is Ginny planning on joining us tonight?" Harry questioned, straightening the emerald robes he wore for special occasions, such as Quidditch ceremonies or simple party functions.
Ron nodded. "She'll be joining us as soon as she's certain that the length of her hair is equal. Honestly, she's constantly dealing with her appearance. Who gives a rip if she's looking nice? After all, we're the ones being auctioned off, not her."
"I heard that, Ronald," a voice spoke up from behind him. Harry grinned as a very speechless Ron turned to face his sister. Apparently, the fact that she had heard what he had said had stunned him. But, it wasn't her presence in the room that left Harry, himself, shocked. It was the way she looked.
Ginny was wearing a silk sleeveless gray dress with her hair pulled into a bun, while a few wisps of long hair fell around her face. Harry was absolutely amazed at how a little bit of time into making yourself look good would make him feel weak at the knees. He must have been looking at her for quite sometime for Bill inquired, "Harry, I don't mean to sound rude or anything, but why are you looking at my sister like that?"
"Huh," Harry replied stupidly, reluctantly lifting his eyes off a smirking Ginny and a puzzled Ron.
Bill grinned and repeated his question, causing Harry to turn a slight red. "What do you mean, why am I looking at Ginny like that? I'm looking at her the same way I've looked at her for the past twelve years."
Ginny rolled her eyes, while Ron teased, "Yeah, with your eyes popping out and your mouth hanging open."
"Hey," Ginny remarked, punching her brother lightly. "Don't make me have to remind you that you do the same thing."
"Oh yeah," Ron replied. "And pray do tell, when do I do that?"
"Don't tell me you've forgotten?" Ginny said in a shocked voice.
"Ginny, do enlighten us," Harry joined in, obviously ganging up against Ron.
"Well, I really shouldn't say this," Ginny answered, twirling her hair in her fingers. "But, whenever a certain brown-haired witch is over, Ron-"
"Ginny, don't you dare say another word," Ron interrupted sharply, his face turning the color of his hair. She smiled sweetly at him. "I won't if you leave Harry alone." Ron grumbled under his breath as he reluctantly gave in. Just then, there was a knock at the door.
"Bet you five Knuts, that's her at the door," Ginny predicted, her brown eyes sparkling. Ron scowled at her, but nonetheless went to open the door. Harry waited eagerly to see if Ginny's remark would be true. Sure enough, Hermione Granger was standing at the door, causing Ron to stumble back and stare at her incredulously. "Have mercy," he choked, clutching onto the door for support.
Hermione stepped inside and Harry suddenly realized why Ron had every right to be in a daze, for Hermione definitely was not looking like her own self. Her short brown hair was brushed carefully and tied up with a green barrette. And instead of wearing her usual black robes, she was wearing a knee-high dress with black knitted stockings and high-heeled shoes.
She seemed to be in a daze herself for she was eyeing Ron with such intense looks. "Ron, you look incredible," she finally managed to stammer. Suddenly, realizing that he wasn't the only one in the room, she turned to the other two eligible bachelors. "All three of you, you look terrific," she acknowledged happily. The three men looked at each other and said in unison, "Nay."
"No, honestly," she answered, smiling broadly. "We're going to make a fortune selling you three handsome fellows."
"Well, Hermione, you don't look so bad yourself," Bill commented, causing Ron to scowl at the fact that his brother was noticing her. Hermione blushed slightly and stole a glance at Ron, who grinned back at her. "He's right, Herms. You look fantastic."
"Thanks," she mumbled.
"Well, now that we've already wasted so much time here, I think it's best that we apparate quickly," Ginny instructed.
"As you say, Ms. Weasley," Harry replied, saluting her. She stuck her tongue out at him and together, the five of them apparated to the Leaky Cauldron.
A few minutes later, Ron found himself amongst many different bachelors, waiting eagerly for the charity auction to begin. Once they'd arrived, Hermione had left them to go join the organizing committee, while Ginny went off in search for some other witches to converse with. Thus, that left Ron, Harry and Bill to do as they pleased. They had simply been wandering around, while girls kept shooting glances at them and secretly biding for the best-looking man. They would occasionally take drinks from the waitresses, when they bumped into a plump young man, who quite oddly resembled,
"Neville, is that you?" Harry questioned, approaching the nervous looking man.
"Harry," he stammered slowly. "What are you doing here?"
"We could ask you the same thing," Ron replied.
"Well, Hermione came to my office, I work for the department of Care of Magical Herbs, and she told me about this bachelor's auction. I wasn't quite happy about doing it, but she talked me into it," he answered, while taking another appetizer of the tray.
"She didn't by any chance win you over with her really really speech?" Ron inquired, dreading the answer.
Neville's eyes widened in amazement. "How did you know that?" he asked gleefully.
"Lucky guess," he mumbled, while Harry stifled a chuckle.
"Well, I'm totally regretting this," Neville went on, brushing off the crumbs. "I feel as though I'm back in school again. Nobody wants me. I don't stand a chance," he moaned.
"I know what you mean. I feel as though we're a bunch of tomatoes lined up for health inspection," Ron commented, his eyes darting around the room, when he felt someone touch his shoulder; it was Hermione.
"Having fun?" she queried, her face radiating happiness at the publicity of the occasion.
"Yea, having the time of our lives," Ron replied sarcastically, causing her to give him a disapproving look. Just then, a blond girl wearing a tight blue dress approached him and offered him a glass of champagne.
"Hi, I'm Crystal," she stated, offering him her hand. "Are you one of our bachelors?"
"Why, yes," Ron reaffirmed her, pointing to his nametag, which read 12. "Tomato number 12, actually. Are you one of the people to bid for bachelors?"
"Why do you think I'd be asking?" she replied, seductively leaning closer to him.
"Well, it's certainly for a good cause," he replied, completely ignoring the fact that Hermione was watching their exchange of words. Hermione, however, thought this was enough, so she clapped him on the shoulder and informed Crystal, "He's a real true humanitarian." Saying so, she went back to dealing with her much more important responsibilities. After all, the auction was starting any minute.
~*~*~*~*~
"Sold for 14 Galleons to the lady wearing a white skirt," Bob, the auctioneer announced, while the ecstatic lady came to take her winning man.
"Well, isn't it great that Clint found a date on his first day of patrol," Bob joked, eagerly waiting for the audience's response. Everyone looked at each other in horror, while Bob continued, "Just kidding, folks. And now I give you, Mr. Bill Weasley."
Bill nervously got up, while the bidding started to take place. Finally, he was auctioned off to, "…sold to the lady with a bird on her hat," Bob shouted through the microphone. Bill grabbed a red rose off the table and headed over to where the old lady was sitting.
"So, I guess I'm your date," he stated politely.
"Oh no. You're a little birthday gift for my granddaughter. Oh Heather," the woman remarked, while a young brunette, wearing a skimpy red dress got up and laced her arm in his. "Oh, he's wonderful. Thanks Grandma."
Bill grinned at the woman with the bird on her hat. "Yea, thanks Grandma."
Next up was Neville. Apparently, the highest he got to was 7 Galleons to the same lady. He reluctantly approached her and offered her the yellow rose. "So do you have another gorgeous granddaughter, who'd be my date?" he asked hopefully.
"Oh no, handsome. You're for me," she remarked, her wrinkled face lighting up. "We're going to dance all night long."
"I can't wait," Neville muttered, as he went off to get another drink to clear his mind.
"And now, ladies, I give to you, Mr. Harry Potter," Bob announced, while all the ladies clapped uproariously at the presence of the famous Quidditch player being auctioned off. Harry secretly was hoping that Ginny would bid for him. Through a close tight match between the fiery redhead and a raven-haired witch, Ginny finally succeeded in winning him for seventeen Galleons. Harry grinned to himself, while he went towards her and offered her the pink rose. "Why Ms. Weasley, I wasn't expecting you to bid for me."
She smiled at him. "I wasn't either but I couldn't imagine you spending a romantic night with that-" she paused as she chose for the right word. "Well, you know what I mean." Harry smiled as he took a seat next to her. He couldn't see what would happen with the next bachelor; the bachelor who he happened to be none other than Ronald Weasley.
***