Disclaimer: I do not own any characters that you feel you already know. I do, however, still own Carmen and Natalie.
*** Thanks to Slapmesilly and Archchancellor for reviewing. It means a lot to me and I'm really glad you like my story!
Chapter 5: Incoherent Hysteria
Hermione blew a long breath through her mouth. "What?" she finally asked, quietly.
Ron was blushing so fiercely that Harry felt sorry for him. Watching him, Harry had the distinct feeling that his friend was wishing he could do like the Wicked Witch of the West and melt right into the floor, that is, if he knew who the Wicked Witch of the West was. "N-nothing," he stammered.
She raised an eyebrow to him, telling him that she obviously didn't believe him.
Ron frantically backpedaled. "Well, I didn't mean it like that," he said in quite an exasperated tone, as if Hermione should have known he didn't mean it like that. The thing was, Harry wasn't so sure Ron didn't mean it like that. Oh, he wouldn't say anything about, at least not now, but he would silently wonder.
"No, I meant that you explain things so much better than the books!" Ron exclaimed and Harry had to agree; Hermione did make more sense then that gibberish they called a textbook.
Hermione sighed and a flicker of disappointment passed through here eyes, but it was so quickly gone that Harry was sure he had imagined it.
She tapped her cheek and then brightened considerably. "Well, anyhow, have a goodnight Ron, Harry; I've got to be getting to the library!" she chirped. It was so predictably Hermione that both boys chuckled and it seemed that their latest argument was over.
Then she proceeded to sling her bag, the size of a duffle bag, over her shoulder and she disappeared through the portrait hole. Ron slumped into the stuffed chair. "That girl is insane," he said finally. Harry silently agreed.
He thought maybe Ron wouldn't rant on and on about this. He was wrong; quite wrong in fact.
"I mean, doesn't she know we have lives outside of school? Doesn't she have a life outside of school?" Ron asked curiously.
"Well, she did date Viktor," Harry put in helpfully. He only wanted to get a reaction out of Ron.
Ron didn't disappoint.
"Yeah, and that great big ugly git probably just wanted to use her! He's four years older, Harry! At least she wasn't stupid and didn't go to Bulgaria," Ron said quite decidedly, crossing his arms over his chest and slumping even further into the chair.
Harry dropped into the sofa. He had heard this speech repeatedly. He knew where it was going. He could almost recite it word for word…First Ron would say 'I mean, what would she want with a big nosed Bulgarian? Isn't there someone a little closer to Hogwarts that she could date?' and then he would rant and rave that whoever she chose to date better have his approval, and Harry's, of course.
"I mean, what would she want with a dumb, big nosed Bulgarian? He couldn't even pronounce her name right, Harry! Isn't there some English speaking boy a littler closer to home that could at least pronounce her name right, Harry?"
Harry nodded. It was pointless to try to get a word in edgewise at this moment.
"And I swear, if she starts dating someone that I don't like, and you too of course Harry, she'll just have to break up with him. And anyways, we aren't called the trio for no reason, we are a trio! Her dating someone would make that a bloody mess, is all!" Ron exclaimed.
Harry nodded silently although he didn't agree; he just didn't want to get in another fight with Ron. He distinctly remembered how lonely he had felt when they hadn't been speaking last year. He didn't want to have to go through that again.
"Well then mate, if we can't have Quidditch what should we do then?" Ron asked.
"Chess?" Harry proposed.
Ron shook his head. "No, we just played that before double Potions," Ron answered.
If Ron didn't want to play chess that was fine with Harry, who had lost in a tournament they'd agreed upon earlier. Ron had won all five games. Yes, Harry was quite happy to not play chess tonight, although Harry suspected Ron didn't want to play because in that last game they'd played Harry had been so close to winning…so close.
"Exploding snap?" Harry asked.
Ron shook his head. He was in a lazy mood; he didn't really feel like getting into some huge game right at the moment.
Harry thought for a second before spying George offering seventh-year Katie Bell one of his and Fred's latest inventions. Katie was giggling and squealing and shaking her head violently.
"No, no George!" she pleaded as he forced the pinkish orange candy through her teeth.
Katie screamed and spit the thing out. "What is that bloody thing?" she asked, wiping pink ooze from around her lips.
"Bloody Bursts!" George exclaimed happily.
Katie continued wiping away at her mouth. "Ugh! You guys need to sell a tongue scraper with that stuff! It tastes like real blood!"
Angelina and Alicia Spinnet rolled their eyes.
Katie looked up at George and smiled, her teeth were stained red. "That's sick. I don't think you guys are going to sell very many of these," she said honestly. "They're disgusting!"
"That's the point Katie!" George exclaimed happily.
Katie rolled her eyes. "Whatever. I'm going to go burn my tongue. That was the most disgusting thing I have ever faced!"
The remaining four seventh years' laughter followed Katie up. George spied Harry and Ron observing them. "You want to try little brother?" George offered with a wicked grin.
Ron rolled his eyes. "That's almost as disgusting as vomit flavored jelly beans," Ron retaliated.
George's hand shot to his heart. "Touché!"
"Whatever," Ron muttered. "You guys are gross."
As they teased each other, sometimes friendly jokes and other times not so friendly jokes, Katie Bell screamed from somewhere up the girls' dormitory stairwell. Angelina and Alicia, followed by the twins shot to their feet and ran up the stairs to the seventh girls' room. They were screaming her name all the way along.
It was instinct for Harry and Ron, who ran out of the portrait hole and ran down the corridor as fast as they could, skidding to a halt when they saw the missing Carmen Lowery leaning against the wall, her hair damp and plastered to her forehead, muttering incoherently to no one in sight.
"Um, Carmen?" Harry asked.
Carmen stared at them blankly. "Did you see them too? Did you?" The words tumbled from her lips and Ron and Harry looked to one another and then back to the nutty girl. "Did you see them?"
Ron grabbed Carmen's arm. "Come on Carmen, I think you ought to see Madam Pomfrey-
"And why would I go see that old windbag?" she asked, obviously offended with Ron's offer. "She'll just lock me up in St. Mungos!" Carmen started crying hysterically then. It was a shrill sound, nothing like yesterday's shriek fest during dinner.
"Have you seen Natalie?" Harry asked.
"Who's Natalie?" Carmen asked, finally calming down long enough to cock her head in Harry's direction.
"Your friend," Ron said.
She shook her head sadly and wiped a tear away from her cheek. "Don't you boys know I don't have any friends…I am friendless. No friends," she muttered so happily that it was eerie.
Harry and Ron looked at each other once and decided to go for it. They ran, they ran as hard as they could down the hall to where they knew the teachers' lounge was, leaving Carmen behind muttering still.
So, what do you think? I hope you like this so far. I write a lot, but I've got to admit never have I had to write a fantasy-type story so this is a little different. So, is it holding your interest? Do you understand most things (others will be explained after I figure it out for myself)? Do you want me to change anything? Feedback people, is great! Thanks for reading!
