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Thanks for your cooperation! ^_~
~~ The Author
Chapter 4.1 The Yule Ball and Christmas Break: Part 1
The Hogwarts librarian, Madame Pince, was a thin, easily annoyed woman who looked like a vulture. She looked slightly surprised as he wandered over to the desk.
"Um . . .do you have any books on auras?" he asked. Madam Pince raised an eyebrow at him.
"Our only book was checked out a couple weeks ago by a student." she informed him snootily.
"By who?" Mondo asked.
"Ms. Hermione Granger." Madam Pince replied. She looked at him down her long hooked nose. Mondo stared.
"Um . . .alright. Thank you." he said, then turned and strolled to other parts of the library. He finally spotted Hermione searching through the shelves of books that were marked with stuff about werewolves. "Um, excuse me . . ." Mondo ventured, and the girl visibly jumped. She stared at him, her brow furrowed.
"Um . . . do I know you?" she asked cautiously.
"I'm Mondo Sullivan. Tsunami's partner." he clarified, and understanding dawned on Hermione's face.
"What can I do for you?" she asked.
"Well, I was told you have a certain book. I was wondering if I could borrow it." Hermione's brow furrowed again.
"Why do you want it?" she questioned, giving him a strange look.
"Um . . . we have a class assignment about auras." he lied quickly. Hermione's eyes widened, and she paled. "So . . .do you have that book?" Hermione opened her mouth, and what came out wasn't what he was expecting.
"Tsunami!" Hermione said loudly. Mondo turned, spotting Tsunami behind him. She had just turned to look at Hermione quizzically. "How convenient! I was just looking for you!" She brushed past Mondo and over to Tsunami, interlocking elbows with the older girl. Tsunami looked at her strangely, as if seeming to sense something no one else could see. Hermione smiled a smile that Mondo could tell was totally fake and said: "I left the book in my dorm! I'll get it to you later, okay?" she asked. Mondo could only frown quizzically and nod. Hermione turned on her heal, and practically dragged Tsunami out of the library.
--- ~* ~*
"What was that all about?" Tsunami asked as they stepped out of the library.
"He asked me for my book on auras." Hermione stated. Tsunami raised an eyebrow.
"So?" she asked. "He knows already." Hermione looked puzzled.
"He does?" she asked. Tsunami nodded.
"Ya." She related the tale of last night to Hermione. She saw Hermione's lip twitch slightly and her eyes widen when she got to the part of not seeing his aura.
"Really?" Hermione asked when she was done. "Here." Hermione pressed a piece of paper into Tsunami's hand. "Don't show Mondo this. I'm gonna go give him the book. I suggest you go to the Great Hall. Fred, George and Lee are waiting for you. And don't worry, I won't tell." Tsunami stared after her confused as Hermione entered the library, wondering about the last comment. She unfolded the paper, reading it. It was a page of a book about aurasees. She read through it quickly, finally coming along the last line. Tsunami turned pale as she stared at the words. She quickly stuffed the paper in her pocket, then turned and ran to the Great Hall.
--- ~* ~*
"What's the matter?" Lee asked, pausing for a second in the middle of shoveling food into his mouth to glance at her. "You look like you swallowed one of Snape's potions." She indeed looked like she would toss last night's dinner any minute, which people usually looked when they tried one of Snape's potions.
"Uh . . .I just don't feel to great . . .that's all." Tsunami said, sitting down next to him across from the twins. It wasn't exactly a lie . . . she didn't really feel well at all, but she knew she wasn't sick. Fred's brow creased.
"Maybe you should go to Infirmary . . ." he said. Tsunami nodded, putting her head on her arms and closing her eyes.
"I'll go after breakfast," she said.
--- ~* ~*
"Are you sure you'll be alright Tsunami?" George asked, as they turned to part ways with her. Tsunami waved a hand at him, still looking a little pale.
"I can make it to the Infirmary on my own George. Thanks though." Tsunami told him.
"Well, alright. If you're sure." Fred said, then he, George and Lee turned down the Charms corridor, and Tsunami turned and started to walk down to Infirmary. Tsunami sighed, running her hands though her hair. It was times like these when she just hated being an aurasee. She looked over her shoulder to make sure the twins and Lee weren't looking, then turned down an empty corridor. At a painting of a man in a vulture hat that looked strangely like Snape (the portrait was just added last year, the year after Nevelle's adventure with the Boggart), she held up her wand and muttered, "Stupidus Snapeus." Tsunami eyed the picture as the portrait swung open to reveal a secret passage.
'Kind of fitting if you think about it . . .' she thought.
Tsunami clambered in then began to run down the long corridor. She jumped when the portrait slammed shut with a bang, throwing the corridor into darkness. Tsunami held out her wand and muttered, "Lumos." A light immidiately came out of the tip of her wand.
"Just where do you think you're going?" a voice asked indignantly. Tsunami jumped, then spun around to find a smaller version of Fred and George Weasley with straight hair glaring at her warningly.
"Oh! Ron!" Tsunami exclaimed. "I . . .uh . . ." she struggled. To her surprise, Ron suddenly grinned.
"Without me, that is." he added. He ran to catch up with her. Tsunami smiled.
"You scared the heck outta me. Don't do it again." Tsunami told him. "Where's Harry and Hermione?"
"Oh, they're in Defense Against the Dark Arts. Hermione'll probably have my head when she sees me." He imitated Hermione's stern, McGonagall- like voice. "'Where have you been?! You've been out with a girl again, haven't you? Who was it this time? It was probably that Paravati Patil. She's been talking about how you meet her in the hall every night. Ron, did you not listen to Lockhart's instruction's at all? We're not supposed to cheat on each other! Honestly! I don't understand you at all Ron Weasley!'" Ron finished, running his hand through his orange-red hair, which looked a tad greenish from the light of Tsunami's wand. Tsunami raised an eyebrow at him.
"You know Ron, did it occur to you that if you were a little more faithful, she wouldn't gripe on you as much?" Tsunami asked, suddenly stopping and looking around for something.
"No. Then she'd just find something more to gripe on me about." Ron said, putting his hands behind his head and watching her curiously. "Watch' ya looking for?" he asked.
"A switch." Tsunami answered. "Aha! Here it is!" Tsunami flipped the switch, and one of the grate doors opened. "Alright. Through here." Tsunami entered first, and Ron followed. There was only enough room for them to walk single file. "Anyway," Tsunami continued. "I think that she might be going to the Yule ball before break with Justin Finch-Fletchley from Hufflepuff." Tsunami felt more than saw Ron stiffen. Of course, it was a lie. She just had a hunch . . .
"Why do you say that?" Ron asked. It sounded as though he was gritting his teeth. Tsunami grinned widely, knowing he couldn't see.
"Well, I just talked to her a while ago, and she was giggling like mad. I could bairly get the story out of her." Tsunami told him, shrugging her shoulders. By now, anger was practically radiating off of Ron in waves so strong they nearly knocked her over.
"Really now?" Ron said coolly. "That's very nice. I hope she has a good time." Tsunami's eyebrow twitched, and she stopped. Okay, she didn't like that. One minute, she had him right where she wanted, the next, the stupid git was acting as though she didn't care. "What's wrong?" Ron asked smoothly. "Cat got your tongue?" Tsunami spun around to face him. Like on Malfoy, she was only tall enough to look him in the eye.
"Did you know that she got a letter from Krum yesterday?" she asked. It was another lie . . .but as long as it worked. Ron's eyes shot straight to his hairline and his face got as red as his hair.
"WHAT?!" he roared. Tsunami grinned.
"Hah!" she exclaimed. "I knew that was the problem!" Ron glared at her in the pale light of the wand.
"What's the problem?" he snarled. "There is no problem . . . he's just a git and he's using her."
"For what Ron?" Tsunami taunted. "The Triwizard Tournament is over." Tsunami had learned all about Ron, Hermione, Viktor Krum, and the Triwizard Tournament after grilling Hermione after overhearing a fight between Ron and Hermione about it. Ron's glare intensified.
"How do you know about that?" he asked. Tsunami shrugged.
"A little bird told me." she said. "Now, back to the subject at hand. What could he be using her for?" Tsunami continued. "The Tournament is long over!" Ron looked flabbergasted.
"W-w-well . . .he could be using her . . . for . . .for . . ." Ron racked his brain for a suitable answer. "For homework!" he finally spat out. "That's it! For homework!"
"Nothing you haven't done, I'm sure." Tsunami said, sending his argument right back at him. Ron just glared at her, looking a tad bit shell- shocked, and tried to find an argument. "Face it Ron." Tsunami said, after a silence. "You just hate it when you can't measure up to the people Hermione is going out with." Ron turned even redder.
"She is not going out with Krum!" he shouted so loud it echoed. Tsunami was not phased.
"Why are you so sure?" she asked, poking a finger in his chest. "Huh, Ron Weasley?" Tsunami glared at him. "How- can- you- be- sure?" She punctuated each word with a poke in the chest. "You never seem to take any interest in her! I've seen it! You only seem to pay attention to her suggestions when they benefit you in the least, not if they're to help someone else. You're supposed to be one of her closest friends, Ron. And you aren't being that, and you should be. You should know that I lied about Justin." Ron blinked at her. "Hell, you should at least even know I lied about Krum!" Ron looked enraged.
"You were just lying?!" he yelled. Tsunami looked at him like he was being ridiculous.
"No shit Sherlock. You were to wrapped in your own jealousy to notice that I was biting my lip to keep from laughing." Tsunami told him.
"I am not jealous!" Ron shouted, glaring at her. He turned around and began to stomp back the way he came.
"Sure!" Tsunami called after him. "Keep telling yourself that! Maybe in time, you'll believe it!" That said, she turned and strode toward Hogsmeade. Ron had to refrain from banging his head on the stone wall next to him.
'I am not jealous!' he thought furiously. 'I am not jealous! I'm not, I'm not, I'm not!' And after repeating that over a hundred times, then climbing back through the portrait and into the hall, he realized something amazing. He was jealous.
--- ~* ~*
The weeks pasted quickly, and soon the week of the Yule ball was upon them.
"I have a special assignment for you!" Lockhart announced one day in class. The 5th year class stopped its usual chatter to turn and look at the teacher. Lockhart, seemingly happy that everyone was listening for once, announced, "This assignment is incredibly special, in the fact that you will learn to attend a formal ball with your partner." The class immediately lost interest. They could see where this was going. Lockhart looked defeated. "Please listen?" he asked timidly.
Hermione, who felt sorry for him, pointed her wand to her throat and uttered "Sonorus." She stood up. "Please be quiet." Though this was said in a seemingly normal tone, her voice amplified over the classroom. The room fell silent, staring at her. Hermione pointed the wand to her throat again. "Quietus." she whispered, and her voice was instantly reduced to normal. "I believe Professor Lockhart has something to say." she said, and sat down again between Ron and Harry, who was sitting next to Ginny (she had been moved up just for the class because Harry was her partner), and they were all staring at her as though she'd grown horns.
"Yes, thank you Miss Granger." Lockhart said, looking slightly embarrassed. "As I was saying, in this assignment, you will be learning to attend a formal ball with your partner, this formal ball being the Yule Ball." About one third of the class looked happy, one third looked horrified, and the other third looked like they couldn't care less, Ron included, though his lips twitched upwards from time to time. Hermione looked slightly hopeful until she saw the look on Ron's face, and then she seemed to instantly deflate. Both Harry and Ginny saw this, and decided it was a good idea to glare at Ron and see if he got the hint. Of course, being Ron, he had no idea why in all the hells they were glaring at him, so after sending them many questioning looks, he looked over at Hermione, who looked saddened. By now, it looked like Lockhart's proposal made it so that she would have to go with Ron instead of who she wanted to go with, which, of course, infuriated poor, stupid, confused Ron. He turned away from her angrily, and propped his chin on his hand, glaring at the wall. Since they were sitting in the front row, it looked, only to the teacher, as though Ron were glaring at Lockhart, and the poor professor was almost shaking in his boots, trying to figure out what in god's name he'd done.
Harry inwardly groaned and slapped the heel of his palm to his forehead. 'Stupid git.' he thought. 'Doesn't know how to deal with girls at all.' Ginny giggled at the look on Harry's face, and he looked up at her, confused. Ginny got out a small piece of parchment, along with something Hermione had given her from the muggle world called a "pien" or something like that. She scribbled down:
'What a fine mess, eh?'
The corners of Harry's mouth lifted. He took the pen from her and wrote back:
'No kidding. Looks to me as though Ron thinks Hermione's upset about going with him, Hermione thinks Ron's upset about going with her, and poor Lockhart thinks Ron's mad at him for some reason.'
Ginny covered her mouth to stop herself from laughing out loud. She took the pen back from him, but as she did, their hands brushed, sending an electric chill up both their arms. Ginny jerked away as if she'd been burnt. "Uh . . .we'd better put it away before we're caught." Ginny whispered, her face the color of her hair. She snatched up the parchment and stuffed it in her bag along with the pen. Harry nodded and the slightest tinge of red appeared on his cheeks as well.
None of them had noticed, but apparently class was over because everyone was packing up their bags and beginning to file out. Soon, they were the only ones left. Lockhart walked tentatively up to them.
"Um . . .e-excuse me?" he stuttered. Ron turned and raised an eyebrow at him. You would've thought you had just electrocuted Lockhart with a cattle prod the way he jumped.
"Yes? What is it?" Ron asked.
"Um . . .class is over . . .if you don't mind . . .I need to close up the class room." Lockhart squeaked, looking as though Ron was going to turn him into a pumpkin at any minute. Ron shrugged, and the four stood up.
"Alright then." he said. Hermione still looked a tad downcast. Harry noticed this, and, very frustrated with his efforts not working, grabbed Ron by the arm and dragged him was ahead of the two girls. Hermione looked at them curiously, though Ginny seemed to be biting her lip to keep from laughing.
"What was that about?" Hermione wondered out loud.
"Oh, Harry's just going to give Ron hell." Ginny said easily, and Hermione raised an eyebrow at her.
--- ~* ~*
"You are such a git, you know that?" Harry asked furiously, after dragging Ron into an empty classroom. Ron looked confused.
"What did I do?" he asked innocently. Harry sighed.
"Do I have to spell everything out?! Poor 'Mione. She was so looking forward to the Yule ball . . .until you came along and ruined it for her!" Harry shouted, rounding on him.
"I ruined it?! Lockhart ruined it! He's the one who made the stupid assignment!" Ron spat back. "She probably wanted to go with another person anyway . . .she's annoyed with me again."
"Ron, you stupid git." Harry sighed. "You were the first and only person on her list . . .that is, until she saw that you didn't want to go with her. That's why Gin and I were glaring at you, you dolt."
"She looked sad! Probably because she was stuck with me instead of someone else!" Ron griped, running a hand through his hair and musing it. Harry rolled his eyes.
"Sure." he countered. "That's why she looked incredibly hopeful until she saw the look on your face." Ron looked confused.
"The look on my face?" he asked.
"Yes! It's called a facial expression!" Harry's voice dripped with sarcasm. Ron blinked.
"Oh . . ." he blankly. Harry groaned and slapped a hand to his forehead.
"Apparently, I've stumbled upon a hopeless case." he sighed. Ron raised an eyebrow.
"But I never saw you do that!" he insisted.
"Saw me do what?" Harry asked.
"Stumble!" Harry stared at Ron, giving him a look that plainly told him the thought he was an idiot, sighed and sat down on one of the desks.
"Ron, sometimes I worry about your sanity," he said. Ron laughed.
"Don't worry Harry. The feeling's mutual." he said, clapping his friend on the back.
"Now . . ." said Harry. "Back on subject . . ." Ron sighed, slumping down in a chair across from his best friend.
"I don't know what to do Harry." Ron said. "Are you sure she was looking hopeful? My guess is, she wanted to go with you." Ron leaned back slightly in the chair, not looking at Harry. Harry sat blinking at him, then burst into laughter. Ron turned to look at him quizzically.
"Me?" Harry choked out, after catching his breath. "Why in God's name would you think it was me?"
"Well," Ron started, "For one thing, last year when we got off last years train, she kissed you on the cheek." Harry raised an eyebrow.
"Yes, and that was probably only because she kissed you on the lips when you were sleeping and she thought no one was watching." Harry said smugly, and Ron's eyes widened to the size of dinner plates.
"She did what?!" he squeaked, his voice going about five octaves higher than normal. Harry grinned.
"Yes. She later found out I'd seen, so, just to prove to me it was nothing, she just kissed me on the cheek later . . .of course, if it had really been nothing, she would've kissed me as she'd kissed you." Harry said, watching his friend's face redden. Ron, quite frankly, looked as though he was about to blow up.
"No she would not have." he spat angrily. Harry smirked, fully enjoying himself.
"You're absolutely right." Harry agreed, and Ron's tomato face returned to normal. "That's because it didn't mean the same thing." Ron's face went back to being as red as a cherry, and Harry guessed that this time, it wasn't because he was angry. "Ah, poor Ron. You're jealous, aren't you?" Ron shot from his chair, eyes ablaze, and steam would've come from his ears like you see in cartoons, if that was physically possible.
"Damn! Tsunami said the same thing to me a couple weeks ago! I am not jealous!" Ron shouted. "I am never jealous! Expecially of her." He spat the word "her" like a swearword. "I do not like Hermione that way! I don't now," Harry was obviously trying to give him some sort of signal, something about sliding one's finger across their neck. Ron ignored it. "I didn't then, and I won't ever!" A shocked silence followed this announcement, broken only three seconds later by a small sob. Ron spun around, a sense of foreboding filling him. Hermione had been standing in the doorway through his whole tirade, and she was staring at him in a way that made him feel like the worst person in the world.
"Hermione, I-" he started, reaching out a hand to her. But she'd turned away with a sob, running away from the classroom, away from HIM, and down the hall. Ron slowly lowered his hand. His heart went with it.
"Oh, very smooth Ron, very-"
"SHUT-UP!" Ron shouted, and Harry fell silent. "Shut up, Harry. I don't want to hear it." Then he strode out of the classroom, leaving Harry there alone.
--- ~* ~*
'Stupid!' Ron mentally scolded himself for the hundredth time. 'Stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid!' He'd been searching and looking around for Hermione for almost half an hour now, with no hope of finding her. Finally, he sat down on one of the stone benches in the hall and put his head in his hands.
"Ron? Are you alright?" a familiar, brotherly voice asked. Ron looked up. Fred and George were looking down on him with concern.
"No." Ron responded. "May as well stick a pin on me that label's me as the biggest idiot in the world." Fred and George sat down next to him.
"Is it Hermione?" George asked. Ron ran his hands through his hair.
"Why can everybody figure these things out?" Ron sighed. Fred and George smiled.
"Just a little obvious, little brother. Now, what did you do this time?" Fred asked. Ron sighed, running his hands through his straight red hair again and told them about Lockhart's class and afterward. Fred and George just stared when he was done.
"Wow. You're so screwed." Fred said slowly.
"I think you said the same thing to me a little while ago." The twins and Ron looked up. Tsunami was looking quizzically at them, not able to look down at them because of her short stature. "Alright. What did you do?" Tsunami asked Ron accusingly. Ron glared at her.
"None of your business." he said back. Tsunami raised an eyebrow.
"That bad, huh?" she asked. Ron's glare intensified.
"Yes. That bad." he growled.
"And I take it I won't get the story out of you?" Tsunami questioned.
"No." Tsunami shrugged at his ice-cold reply.
"Fine then. I'll go and find Hermione and ask her." Tsunami said. Ron still glared at her. "No, I'm not going to scold you about this." Ron's glare disappeared. "That's better." Tsunami sat down between Fred and George. "So . . .someone wanna fill me in?"
--- ~* ~*
"Wow. You are so screwed." Ron rolled his eyes.
"That has already been pointed out to me, thanks Tsunami." Ron said.
"Funny you can't find her." Tsunami said, a puzzled look on her face. Suddenly, something seemed to occur to Ron.
"Tsunami . . .if you were mad at someone, and you couldn't go to Hogsmeade, where would you go?" he asked.
"Uh . . .my room probably. Why?" she asked. Ron jumped up.
"Gotta go! Bye!" With that, he sped of in the direction of his room.
"That was odd." George said. "I wonder what that was all about." Fred and Tsunami nodded consent.
--- ~* ~*
Ron kept running until he reached the portrait, then gasped, "Teminoculous!" and hurried on into the hall as the portrait swung open. At the door to his room, he shoved the key in the lock and opened the door, running into the room, grasping the stitch in his chest. About two seconds later, he stood upright again.
"Hermione?" he called. "Hermione? Are you here?" There was no answer.
'Well, couldn't blame her for not answering if she was here.' he thought, grimacing.
"Hermione!" he called again. There was still no answer. Ron crossed the small living room to Hermione's bedroom, and knocked on the closed door. Again, no answer. So he knocked again. The reply was the same as before . . .there was none. "Hermione, if you don't answer me . . .I'm coming in." Ron said. As was expected, there was no reply. So Ron twisted the handle of door, but no matter how hard he shoved, the door wouldn't come open. Ron stepped back, shouting, "Alohomora!" There was a soft click, and the door swung open. Ron stepped into the room, looking around. As usual, there was book after book piled atop her desk, which was covered in parchment.
It was quite surprising, but Hermione, for once, was not sitting at that desk working, as she usually did when she was feeling bad. Instead, a lump of covers on her bed indicated she was still lying there. Ron softly crept over to the bed and lifted the covers off what he thought to be her face and his jaw dropped open.
She just looked . . . stunning . . . and beautiful . . .and well, sexy! Hermione was lying on her back, her mass of silky brown hair spread around her like a halo. Her lashes rested gently against her cheeks, and her cherry-colored lips were a little glossy and slightly parted.
Ron shakily reached out a hand and ran it down her cheek. "Hermione . . ." he started, not sure what to say.
'Well, better to get it all out.' he thought. 'She can't hear me anyway.'
"Hermione . . ." he started again. "Hermione, I'm so sorry. I never meant it to happen this way." Ron swallowed. "Hermione . . .I'm sorry when I get angry about Krum . . . I just get so jealous. I know I can't measure up to him, and I'm just so afraid of losing you. God Hermione . . . there is nothing between Patil and me . . .I swear to god there isn't. She's just a friend. She's asked me out a couple days ago Hermione . . .and I refused. Do you know why?" Ron let out a small sob. "Because I'm in love with you . . .and I guess I'm just too much of a coward to admit it. I guess that's why I got so defensive when Harry called me on it.
I don't know if I could ever make it up to you, Hermione . . .or if I should even try. I was so happy when Lockhart assigned us that project . . . I know it didn't look like it. But this way, I could go with you . . .and I wouldn't have to deal with Patil bugging me to go with her. But now Hermione . . . I'm scared for the time when you wake up. I know you're going to hate me, and you probably won't talk to me. Of course, it's my bloody fault. It always is. When the troll trapped you in the bathroom, that was my fault, because I'd been mean earlier. And then when we had the fight about Scabbers, that was my fault too for getting so angry. Even now . . . it's my fault all over again for this mess." Ron gave a small sob again and wiped his eyes. "I don't know how to explain it to you. Hermione, I'm sorry." Ron bent down and softly brushed his lips against hers. "I just hope someday you can forgive me." Then he turned and walked silently back out of the room, closing the door softly as he went.
--- ~* ~*
Hermione bolted upright the moment she heard the door click closed. She lifted a hand to her face and tentatively brushed a hand over her lips. She was still debating whether or not it'd been a dream. She jumped out of bed and rushed to her bedroom door. She opened it only to see the door close with a soft click behind Ron. Hermione stared after him, standing in the doorway to her room.
--- ~* ~*
Ron's hand hovered on the doorknob. Something was telling him to go back inside. Finally, after what seemed like forever, he turned and walked away.
--- ~* ~*
Hermione slipped into her jeans, shirt and robe and left the room, taking a key and her moneybag. She walked right to the door across from her own and knocked. It was answered with a "Coming" from a male voice inside. Finally, Harry appeared, opening the door with surprise.
"Hermione?" he asked. "What's up?"
"Hi Harry." Hermione said. "Is Ginny there?" Harry shrugged, still looking puzzled.
"Uh . . . sure." Harry turned and called over his shoulder. "Gin! It's for you!" Ginny was at his side almost immediately.
"Hi Hermione." Ginny greeted. "What is it?"
"Harry, can I borrow Ginny for a while?" Hermione dragged Ginny out of the room without waiting for Harry's answer.
"Uh . . .okay . . ." Harry said, watching them disappear around the corner. Then he shrugged and closed the door.
--- ~* ~*
"What's this about?" Ginny asked.
"Do you know any girl who knows the way to Hogsmeade?" Hermione asked. Ginny stared at her.
"Are you saying that perfect, rule-abiding Hermione Granger wants to sneak out of the castle?" Ginny asked in surprise. Hermione rolled her eyes, smiling at the joke.
"Yes Ginny. Perfect Hermione Granger." Hermione retorted. "Now . . .back to my original question . . ." Ginny scratched her head thoughtfully.
"Well . . .let's see . . .the twins and Lee know the way out . . .but they're boys. Do you think Tsunami does?" Ginny asked. Hermione shrugged.
"Only one way to find out. Come on." Hermione said. Then the two set off for Tsunami's room.
--- ~* ~*
Tsunami looked up from her homework to a knock on her door. Pushing back her chair and calling "coming", she stood and walked over to the door. When she opened it, it was not either of the twins or Lee, as she had expected. Instead, she found Hermione and Ginny standing there, both in their robes. Ginny looked positively puzzled and Hermione looked like she'd had one sleepless night too many.
"Hey guys." she greeted. "What's up?"
"Tsunami, do you know the way to Hogsmeade from the castle?" Hermione asked. Tsunami's brow creased.
"Of course I know them . . .why?" she said.
"I need to go down there . . .will you take me?" Hermione asked. Tsunami stared at her as if she'd just grown cat ears and a tail.
"You . . .want to go to Hogsmeade . . .?" she said slowly. Hermione rolled her eyes in exasperation.
"Why does everyone think that's such a big feat?" Hermione sighed. "Grab your coat . . .let's go." Tsunami shrugged, now as puzzled as Ginny, and went to go get her coat. She left a note for Mondo on the refrigerator, then grabbed her moneybag and came back out.
"Alright, ready?" Tsunami asked. The two other girls nodded, and off they went, following Tsunami.
--- ~* ~*
Tsunami lifted her wand to the portrait. "Stupidus Snapeus." she muttered, and the portrait swung open. Behind her, Hermione giggled.
"I like that." she said. Tsunami smiled as she climbed in.
"I always thought it was kind of fitting." Tsunami admitted, helping the two younger girls in. "Ready?" Tsunami asked. Hermione and Ginny nodded, and they set off. Suddenly, the portrait slammed shut behind them, making them all jump and throwing the hallway into darkness. "Hold on a minute . . ." Tsunami said. She pulled her wand out of her robes and held it up. "Lanos." Suddenly, a thousand torches suddenly lit up along the way to the hall. Hermione and Ginny stared. "George set them up last week." Tsunami explained. "I'm surprised the spell to light them works . . .usually it sends me flying into a wall."
"Where to next?" Ginny asked, as they continued along the corridor.
"Well," Tsunami explained. "There's a little lever we'll look for at the dead end, and that will open up one of the grates, and we crawl through there into a hall. It's narrow, so we'll have to walk single-file. And basically we just continue along the hall until we reach a door, and that door enters to the back room of the Three Broomsticks."
Hermione and Ginny nodded.
--- ~* ~*
After what seemed like hours of walking, they finally reached the Three Broomsticks. Tsunami pushed the door open and walked out.
"Are you sure that's alright?" Hermione asked softly. Tsunami shrugged.
"Sure. Madame Rosmerta knows us. She's seen us come in this way over millions of times." Tsunami said. Hermione and Ginny looked at each other and shrugged then followed Tsunami out into the crowded area. They took a seat at a table in the back, and Tsunami signaled to Madame Rosmerta for the regular drinks. Madame Rosmerta smiled at them, then turned back to the drinks.
"So . . ." Ginny said. "Do you want to tell us what this is all about." Madame Rosmerta set three steaming butterbeers in front of them. Hermione took a sip, and smiled at the warmth.
"Sure." Hermione told them both about Ron and about their fight and about when he came into her room. Afterwards, the two girls just stared at her. Then Tsunami's face split into a grin.
"Hot damn." she said, looking like the Cheshire Cat. "I think the kid's fallen for you." Hermione blushed scarlet. Ginny sighed.
"That's so romantic . . ." she said in a dreamy voice. Tsunami laughed.
"Boy Hermione . . . I think you've caught him hook, line and sinker." Tsunami told her, pointing to Hermione with her index finger. "And look at that! You didn't even have to try!" Tsunami huge grinned turned into an easy smile. "I envy you for that." Hermione raised an eyebrow.
"Things not going so great with Mondo?" she asked. Tsunami sighed, as Ginny look puzzled.
Seeing the look on Ginny's face, Tsunami told her, "I can't see his aura." Ginny's lips twitched a couple of times, and then she burst into full-fledged giggles. Tsunami rolled her eyes. When Ginny had finally caught her breath, Tsunami glared at her once, then continued with what she was going to say.
"Anyway," she started. "I don't know you guys. It just doesn't seem right. We're totally opposites, Sullivan and I." Hermione raised an eyebrow.
"How so?" she asked. Tsunami sighed again.
"I don't know . . . he's not really my type." Tsunami said. Ginny cocked her head to the side.
"Who is then?" she asked.
"Fred or George? Or maybe Lee?" Hermione said, grinning at Tsunami. But Tsunami ignored the teasing in Hermione's voice, and answered in all seriousness.
"Naw." she said. "They're more like older brothers." Tsunami imitated Lee's deep voice. "'You are not allowed to go to the Yule Ball with anyone Fred, George or I have not grilled first to see that he's safe.'" Hermione giggled.
"Welcome to MY world." Ginny sighed. "Except for the fact that I've got three real brothers doing the same thing all the time." Tsunami and Hermione laughed.
"Poor Ginny." joked Hermione. "So put upon." Ginny grinned.
"Tell me about it." she sighed. Tsunami blinked.
"That reminds me." she said, and Hermione and Ginny looked at her curiously. "How goes it with Harry, Ginny?" Ginny turned as red as her hair.
"I-I don't . . . w-where did y-you get the i-idea-." Ginny sputtered.
"I'm looking at it." Tsunami said, interrupting her. "Hermione, do you second my vote?" she asked, grinning. Hermione smiled.
"Oh ya . . . I'd say she's got a crush on Harry." Hermione giggled.
"Yup . . .she's fallen for him."
"Hard."
"No doubt about it."
"Alright!" Ginny burst out. "I do have a crush on him. Satisfied?"
"Yup." Hermione and Tsunami agreed at the same time. Ginny rolled her eyes.
"Anyway . . .it has no relavance because he only sees me as a little sister." Ginny said, putting her chin in her hands. Tsunami raised an eyebrow.
"Good god Hermione. She's blind." Tsunami said, and Hermione stifled a laugh.
"I guess we'll just have to get her glasses." Hermione replied cheerily. Ginny glared at them.
"Ya, ya. Ha, ha you two." Ginny sighed. "It's true though . . . you can't deny it."
"Well . . .actually, he'd like to think that." Hermione started. "You see, his main dilemma is that you're the little sister of his best friend."
"And in the mind of a typical male, that's some sort of crime." Tsunami finished.
"He also knows that if Ron finds out, he'll set the Curse of the Bogies on him, and then he'll lock him in a closet with a dementor." Hermione shrugged. "I mean, come on. You know how protective Ron is." Ginny sighed, and put her head on her arms.
"Do I ever." she responded. Tsunami continued where Hermione had left off.
"See? That's his problem. He's not allowed to do any flirting with you, for fear of Ron. Now, as I see it, if there was some way for him to flirt with you while Ron's distracted . . ." Tsunami trailed off, sending Hermione a sideways glance.
"Oh no . . .don't even think it." Hermione warned. Tsunami grinned evilly.
"What?" Ginny asked innocently. "I don't get it."
--- ~* ~*
The girls were giggling and laughing as they neared Honeydukes, the only sweet shop in Hogsmeade. They were about to enter, when a voice stopped them.
"Tsunami Nudelman!" Tsunami stopped her hand on the door, still holding it open. Hermione and Ginny peaked out. Striding towards them at an alarming rate was Mondo, and he looked furious. Tsunami raised an eyebrow.
"Well," she said, as he came up to her. "Fancy meeting you here!"
"What do you think you were doing?" Mondo spat. Tsunami glared at him.
"Hanging out with my friends. Is there something wrong with that?" she challenged.
"There is when nobody knew where you were and we were all looking for you everywhere!" Mondo shouted.
"I left you a note on the refrigerator, dipwad!" Tsunami yelled back. "Or have you forgotten how to read?"
"I saw no note there!" Mondo shot back.
"Well, I wrote one and stuck it on the refrigerator, just like we agreed." Tsunami said.
"I saw one there, but it was one of your old ones!" Mondo told her. Tsunami rolled her eyes.
"By God, you're dense. I always throw away the old ones when I get back." Tsunami said. Mondo stared at her, blinking.
"Uh . . .oops." Mondo said. Tsunami sighed in exasperation.
"Ya. Oops." she told him. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have the rest of the day off with my girlfriends." Tsunami gave him a sarcastic wave. "Bye, bye." Then she turned and pushed Hermione and Ginny into the store, closing the door behind her. This left Mondo standing out in the snow, freezing to death and feeling very stupid. He stared after her for a minute, before turning and going back the way he came.
--- ~* ~*
"Ugh! He gets on my nerves!" Tsunami growled, throwing things into the store basket. "Who does he think he is anyway?"
"Um . . .a boy who was worried about you?" Hermione ventured. Tsunami snorted.
"Worried? As if." she said. Hermione raised and eyebrow and looked at Ginny.
"You know what Tsunami?" Ginny asked. Tsunami sighed.
"What Ginny?" she asked.
"I think you're pleased he was worried." Tsunami stared at them, looking slightly guilty, a slight blush staining her cheeks.
"I-I have no clue what you're talking about." she said indignantly, accidentally grabbing some Cockroach Clusters without noticing.
"Uh . . .Tsunami." Hermione said.
"Ya?" Tsunami asked.
"I didn't know you liked cockroaches dipped in chocolate." Hermione told her. Tsunami made a face at the container she held in her hand, and then shoved it back onto the shelf. Hermione and Ginny giggled.
"Tsunami . . .face it." Ginny said. "You like the guy." Tsunami looked disgruntled.
"Well . . .maybe a little bit . . ." she admitted, and Hermione and Ginny grinned. "But only as a friend!" Tsunami quickly added. "He's egotistical . . . he always has a flock of girls on his tail-"
"Ah . . .the old jealousy factor." Hermione said wisely. Tsunami's face turned the color of a tomato.
"I am not jealous," she spat through gritted teeth. Ginny raised an eyebrow.
"Come on Tsunami." she said. "We're honest with you . . .why can't you be honest with us?" Tsunami sighed, turning to face them.
"I guess you're right." She sighed. "Okay . . .so I'm jealous-" Hermione and Ginny grinned. "Of you and Hermione because you've both got boys going after you. Neither of them are egotistical . . .in fact, Harry is far from it. Ron is very honest, and he gets jealous easily, which can be used to your advantage. Furthermore-"
"Tsunami." Hermione interrupted. "That's not what we meant and you know it."
"I know that . . .but that doesn't mean I can't avoid the subject for as long as possible." Tsunami said, striding up to the counter and depositing her items there.
"You're going to have to face facts sooner or later." Ginny told her.
"And what facts would those be?" Tsunami asked tiredly.
"Well, the fact that you guys are destined to be together." Hermione told her. Tsunami sighed again and took her bag from the storeowner.
"Destined to be together . . .sounds like a romance novel or a fanfic." Tsunami said. "And I don't like it one bit."
--- ~* ~*
Hermione opened the door to her room, and stepped in. She set the bag of sweets from Honeydukes on the counter, then took off her coat, hanging it up. "Ron?" she called. "You here?"
"Uh . . ." Ron sounded puzzled. "I'm in my bedroom Hermione."
"Okay. I brought some sweets back from Honeydukes if you want some." Hermione told him, as though nothing had happened. Ron opened his bedroom door.
"What's with you Hermione?" he asked, cautiously walking over to her and treating her as though she were a bomb that could go off any minute. "Aren't you mad at me?" Hermione smiled.
"Of course not Ron. Why would I be mad at you?" Hermione asked. Ron looked at her as if she'd lost her mind.
"Y-you mean you don't remember?" he asked in confusion. Hermione almost laughed at the look on his face.
"Of course I remember." Hermione said cheerily. "But of course, it's my fault." Ron looked at her as if she'd suddenly sprouted ears and a tail. "I was silly to think that you would like me that way." Hermione shrugged, still smiling cheerily. "I'm just going to write to Viktor about accepting his offer." Ron's ears turned bright red.
"An offer of what?" he asked through gritted teeth.
"Oh, he asked me out a couple days ago, did you know?" Hermione said, shrugging her shoulders, as if it was nothing. Ron grabbed her shoulders, turning her towards him.
"You will not accept his offer." he ground out. Hermione almost smiled at his order. Things were going exactly to plan.
"Oh really?" Hermione asked, shrugging her shoulders and still not looking at him. "Since when do you care?"
"Hermione, look at me." Ron told her.
"No." Hermione said breezily. "I don't have to do what you say Ron. If I want to see Victor, then I can." Ron stared at her in defeat, before releasing her and stepping away.
"Oh." he said in a defeated kind of voice that made Hermione want to go over and hold him and tell him that everything would be alright.
'Okay Hermione . . .stay on track . . . there's always time for that later.' she reminded herself. '. . . I hope.'
"Well . . . I guess that's it then . . . good night." Ron said, turning and heading towards his bedroom.
'What?!' Hermione thought. Okay, so none of them hadn't counted on him acting this way . . . 'Stupid idiot!' Hermione fumed.
"That's it?" Hermione yelled. Ron stopped and turned toward her puzzled.
"Ya . . .that's basically it." Ron said puzzled. "You're right Hermione . . . if that's what you really want, then I guess I can't stop you." Hermione stared at him.
"You stupid git." she said. Ron blinked.
"Uh . . ." he said.
"Come here." Hermione said, indicating the spot in front of her. Ron stared at her as if she'd just said that she hated studying and she wanted to get the worst grade in the class on a test. "I said come here!" Hermione said, her bossy side showing again.
"A-alright." Ron said, walking over and standing in front of Hermione.
"Good. Now close your eyes." Hermione told him. Ron looked at her quizzically.
"Um . . .okay." Ron said, his ears starting to turn red. Hermione rolled her eyes as Ron closed his.
"You have a sick mind, you know that?" she told him. Ron turned even redder. He felt Hermione put her hands on his shoulders and sort of balance her weight. "Alright, open them." Ron opened his eyes, only to find her face about an inch away from his.
'Close enough to kiss.' was the first thing that came to his mind. 'Shit.'
"Remember this?" Hermione breathed. "Although, if I recall correctly, we weren't standing up at the time." Ron could only stare, holding his breath and waiting. "Of course, at the time, if Tsunami hadn't interrupted, I would've done this . . ." And to his shock and surprise (and delight for that matter), she slowly drew his head down to her level and brushed her lips against his. Hermione let his head go and stepped back slightly, her cheeks the color of his hair. Ron stood shell-shocked for all of two seconds before striding over to her and hauling her against him. Hermione wrapped her arms around his waist, smiling against his neck.
"You will not accept Krum's offer." Ron ground out. Hermione pulled back to look at him smugly.
"Oh really Ronald Weasley?" she asked. "And why is that?"
"Because I don't like sharing." Ron ground out. Hermione threw back her head and laughed.
--- ~* ~*
Tsunami stopped in the middle of her essay about grindylows and frowned. Mondo, who was working across from her, didn't notice. Tsunami's frown turned into a smile almost a second later, and she leaned back in her chair, folding her arms under her chest.
"Well I'll be damned." she said out loud. Mondo looked up, puzzled.
"What?" he asked. Tsunami's grin widened.
"Oh, it's nothing Sullivan. My intuition's just telling me something." she said. Mondo raised an eyebrow at her.
"So . . .what's it saying?" he asked. Tsunami's grin died a bit to a crafty lift of her lip.
"That's for me to know . . ." Tsunami sat back up in her chair and picked up her quill again. "and you to find out."
**************************** Preview of the next part of the chapter:
And here she was now, walking slowly back to her room, so lost in thought that she didn't have time to see it coming. Ginny's arms were suddenly pinned behind her and a rough male voice that Ginny recognized with disgust said: "My, miss Ginny, don't you look pretty . . .good enough to eat if I do say so myself . . ."
Thanks for your cooperation! ^_~
~~ The Author
Chapter 4.1 The Yule Ball and Christmas Break: Part 1
The Hogwarts librarian, Madame Pince, was a thin, easily annoyed woman who looked like a vulture. She looked slightly surprised as he wandered over to the desk.
"Um . . .do you have any books on auras?" he asked. Madam Pince raised an eyebrow at him.
"Our only book was checked out a couple weeks ago by a student." she informed him snootily.
"By who?" Mondo asked.
"Ms. Hermione Granger." Madam Pince replied. She looked at him down her long hooked nose. Mondo stared.
"Um . . .alright. Thank you." he said, then turned and strolled to other parts of the library. He finally spotted Hermione searching through the shelves of books that were marked with stuff about werewolves. "Um, excuse me . . ." Mondo ventured, and the girl visibly jumped. She stared at him, her brow furrowed.
"Um . . . do I know you?" she asked cautiously.
"I'm Mondo Sullivan. Tsunami's partner." he clarified, and understanding dawned on Hermione's face.
"What can I do for you?" she asked.
"Well, I was told you have a certain book. I was wondering if I could borrow it." Hermione's brow furrowed again.
"Why do you want it?" she questioned, giving him a strange look.
"Um . . . we have a class assignment about auras." he lied quickly. Hermione's eyes widened, and she paled. "So . . .do you have that book?" Hermione opened her mouth, and what came out wasn't what he was expecting.
"Tsunami!" Hermione said loudly. Mondo turned, spotting Tsunami behind him. She had just turned to look at Hermione quizzically. "How convenient! I was just looking for you!" She brushed past Mondo and over to Tsunami, interlocking elbows with the older girl. Tsunami looked at her strangely, as if seeming to sense something no one else could see. Hermione smiled a smile that Mondo could tell was totally fake and said: "I left the book in my dorm! I'll get it to you later, okay?" she asked. Mondo could only frown quizzically and nod. Hermione turned on her heal, and practically dragged Tsunami out of the library.
--- ~* ~*
"What was that all about?" Tsunami asked as they stepped out of the library.
"He asked me for my book on auras." Hermione stated. Tsunami raised an eyebrow.
"So?" she asked. "He knows already." Hermione looked puzzled.
"He does?" she asked. Tsunami nodded.
"Ya." She related the tale of last night to Hermione. She saw Hermione's lip twitch slightly and her eyes widen when she got to the part of not seeing his aura.
"Really?" Hermione asked when she was done. "Here." Hermione pressed a piece of paper into Tsunami's hand. "Don't show Mondo this. I'm gonna go give him the book. I suggest you go to the Great Hall. Fred, George and Lee are waiting for you. And don't worry, I won't tell." Tsunami stared after her confused as Hermione entered the library, wondering about the last comment. She unfolded the paper, reading it. It was a page of a book about aurasees. She read through it quickly, finally coming along the last line. Tsunami turned pale as she stared at the words. She quickly stuffed the paper in her pocket, then turned and ran to the Great Hall.
--- ~* ~*
"What's the matter?" Lee asked, pausing for a second in the middle of shoveling food into his mouth to glance at her. "You look like you swallowed one of Snape's potions." She indeed looked like she would toss last night's dinner any minute, which people usually looked when they tried one of Snape's potions.
"Uh . . .I just don't feel to great . . .that's all." Tsunami said, sitting down next to him across from the twins. It wasn't exactly a lie . . . she didn't really feel well at all, but she knew she wasn't sick. Fred's brow creased.
"Maybe you should go to Infirmary . . ." he said. Tsunami nodded, putting her head on her arms and closing her eyes.
"I'll go after breakfast," she said.
--- ~* ~*
"Are you sure you'll be alright Tsunami?" George asked, as they turned to part ways with her. Tsunami waved a hand at him, still looking a little pale.
"I can make it to the Infirmary on my own George. Thanks though." Tsunami told him.
"Well, alright. If you're sure." Fred said, then he, George and Lee turned down the Charms corridor, and Tsunami turned and started to walk down to Infirmary. Tsunami sighed, running her hands though her hair. It was times like these when she just hated being an aurasee. She looked over her shoulder to make sure the twins and Lee weren't looking, then turned down an empty corridor. At a painting of a man in a vulture hat that looked strangely like Snape (the portrait was just added last year, the year after Nevelle's adventure with the Boggart), she held up her wand and muttered, "Stupidus Snapeus." Tsunami eyed the picture as the portrait swung open to reveal a secret passage.
'Kind of fitting if you think about it . . .' she thought.
Tsunami clambered in then began to run down the long corridor. She jumped when the portrait slammed shut with a bang, throwing the corridor into darkness. Tsunami held out her wand and muttered, "Lumos." A light immidiately came out of the tip of her wand.
"Just where do you think you're going?" a voice asked indignantly. Tsunami jumped, then spun around to find a smaller version of Fred and George Weasley with straight hair glaring at her warningly.
"Oh! Ron!" Tsunami exclaimed. "I . . .uh . . ." she struggled. To her surprise, Ron suddenly grinned.
"Without me, that is." he added. He ran to catch up with her. Tsunami smiled.
"You scared the heck outta me. Don't do it again." Tsunami told him. "Where's Harry and Hermione?"
"Oh, they're in Defense Against the Dark Arts. Hermione'll probably have my head when she sees me." He imitated Hermione's stern, McGonagall- like voice. "'Where have you been?! You've been out with a girl again, haven't you? Who was it this time? It was probably that Paravati Patil. She's been talking about how you meet her in the hall every night. Ron, did you not listen to Lockhart's instruction's at all? We're not supposed to cheat on each other! Honestly! I don't understand you at all Ron Weasley!'" Ron finished, running his hand through his orange-red hair, which looked a tad greenish from the light of Tsunami's wand. Tsunami raised an eyebrow at him.
"You know Ron, did it occur to you that if you were a little more faithful, she wouldn't gripe on you as much?" Tsunami asked, suddenly stopping and looking around for something.
"No. Then she'd just find something more to gripe on me about." Ron said, putting his hands behind his head and watching her curiously. "Watch' ya looking for?" he asked.
"A switch." Tsunami answered. "Aha! Here it is!" Tsunami flipped the switch, and one of the grate doors opened. "Alright. Through here." Tsunami entered first, and Ron followed. There was only enough room for them to walk single file. "Anyway," Tsunami continued. "I think that she might be going to the Yule ball before break with Justin Finch-Fletchley from Hufflepuff." Tsunami felt more than saw Ron stiffen. Of course, it was a lie. She just had a hunch . . .
"Why do you say that?" Ron asked. It sounded as though he was gritting his teeth. Tsunami grinned widely, knowing he couldn't see.
"Well, I just talked to her a while ago, and she was giggling like mad. I could bairly get the story out of her." Tsunami told him, shrugging her shoulders. By now, anger was practically radiating off of Ron in waves so strong they nearly knocked her over.
"Really now?" Ron said coolly. "That's very nice. I hope she has a good time." Tsunami's eyebrow twitched, and she stopped. Okay, she didn't like that. One minute, she had him right where she wanted, the next, the stupid git was acting as though she didn't care. "What's wrong?" Ron asked smoothly. "Cat got your tongue?" Tsunami spun around to face him. Like on Malfoy, she was only tall enough to look him in the eye.
"Did you know that she got a letter from Krum yesterday?" she asked. It was another lie . . .but as long as it worked. Ron's eyes shot straight to his hairline and his face got as red as his hair.
"WHAT?!" he roared. Tsunami grinned.
"Hah!" she exclaimed. "I knew that was the problem!" Ron glared at her in the pale light of the wand.
"What's the problem?" he snarled. "There is no problem . . . he's just a git and he's using her."
"For what Ron?" Tsunami taunted. "The Triwizard Tournament is over." Tsunami had learned all about Ron, Hermione, Viktor Krum, and the Triwizard Tournament after grilling Hermione after overhearing a fight between Ron and Hermione about it. Ron's glare intensified.
"How do you know about that?" he asked. Tsunami shrugged.
"A little bird told me." she said. "Now, back to the subject at hand. What could he be using her for?" Tsunami continued. "The Tournament is long over!" Ron looked flabbergasted.
"W-w-well . . .he could be using her . . . for . . .for . . ." Ron racked his brain for a suitable answer. "For homework!" he finally spat out. "That's it! For homework!"
"Nothing you haven't done, I'm sure." Tsunami said, sending his argument right back at him. Ron just glared at her, looking a tad bit shell- shocked, and tried to find an argument. "Face it Ron." Tsunami said, after a silence. "You just hate it when you can't measure up to the people Hermione is going out with." Ron turned even redder.
"She is not going out with Krum!" he shouted so loud it echoed. Tsunami was not phased.
"Why are you so sure?" she asked, poking a finger in his chest. "Huh, Ron Weasley?" Tsunami glared at him. "How- can- you- be- sure?" She punctuated each word with a poke in the chest. "You never seem to take any interest in her! I've seen it! You only seem to pay attention to her suggestions when they benefit you in the least, not if they're to help someone else. You're supposed to be one of her closest friends, Ron. And you aren't being that, and you should be. You should know that I lied about Justin." Ron blinked at her. "Hell, you should at least even know I lied about Krum!" Ron looked enraged.
"You were just lying?!" he yelled. Tsunami looked at him like he was being ridiculous.
"No shit Sherlock. You were to wrapped in your own jealousy to notice that I was biting my lip to keep from laughing." Tsunami told him.
"I am not jealous!" Ron shouted, glaring at her. He turned around and began to stomp back the way he came.
"Sure!" Tsunami called after him. "Keep telling yourself that! Maybe in time, you'll believe it!" That said, she turned and strode toward Hogsmeade. Ron had to refrain from banging his head on the stone wall next to him.
'I am not jealous!' he thought furiously. 'I am not jealous! I'm not, I'm not, I'm not!' And after repeating that over a hundred times, then climbing back through the portrait and into the hall, he realized something amazing. He was jealous.
--- ~* ~*
The weeks pasted quickly, and soon the week of the Yule ball was upon them.
"I have a special assignment for you!" Lockhart announced one day in class. The 5th year class stopped its usual chatter to turn and look at the teacher. Lockhart, seemingly happy that everyone was listening for once, announced, "This assignment is incredibly special, in the fact that you will learn to attend a formal ball with your partner." The class immediately lost interest. They could see where this was going. Lockhart looked defeated. "Please listen?" he asked timidly.
Hermione, who felt sorry for him, pointed her wand to her throat and uttered "Sonorus." She stood up. "Please be quiet." Though this was said in a seemingly normal tone, her voice amplified over the classroom. The room fell silent, staring at her. Hermione pointed the wand to her throat again. "Quietus." she whispered, and her voice was instantly reduced to normal. "I believe Professor Lockhart has something to say." she said, and sat down again between Ron and Harry, who was sitting next to Ginny (she had been moved up just for the class because Harry was her partner), and they were all staring at her as though she'd grown horns.
"Yes, thank you Miss Granger." Lockhart said, looking slightly embarrassed. "As I was saying, in this assignment, you will be learning to attend a formal ball with your partner, this formal ball being the Yule Ball." About one third of the class looked happy, one third looked horrified, and the other third looked like they couldn't care less, Ron included, though his lips twitched upwards from time to time. Hermione looked slightly hopeful until she saw the look on Ron's face, and then she seemed to instantly deflate. Both Harry and Ginny saw this, and decided it was a good idea to glare at Ron and see if he got the hint. Of course, being Ron, he had no idea why in all the hells they were glaring at him, so after sending them many questioning looks, he looked over at Hermione, who looked saddened. By now, it looked like Lockhart's proposal made it so that she would have to go with Ron instead of who she wanted to go with, which, of course, infuriated poor, stupid, confused Ron. He turned away from her angrily, and propped his chin on his hand, glaring at the wall. Since they were sitting in the front row, it looked, only to the teacher, as though Ron were glaring at Lockhart, and the poor professor was almost shaking in his boots, trying to figure out what in god's name he'd done.
Harry inwardly groaned and slapped the heel of his palm to his forehead. 'Stupid git.' he thought. 'Doesn't know how to deal with girls at all.' Ginny giggled at the look on Harry's face, and he looked up at her, confused. Ginny got out a small piece of parchment, along with something Hermione had given her from the muggle world called a "pien" or something like that. She scribbled down:
'What a fine mess, eh?'
The corners of Harry's mouth lifted. He took the pen from her and wrote back:
'No kidding. Looks to me as though Ron thinks Hermione's upset about going with him, Hermione thinks Ron's upset about going with her, and poor Lockhart thinks Ron's mad at him for some reason.'
Ginny covered her mouth to stop herself from laughing out loud. She took the pen back from him, but as she did, their hands brushed, sending an electric chill up both their arms. Ginny jerked away as if she'd been burnt. "Uh . . .we'd better put it away before we're caught." Ginny whispered, her face the color of her hair. She snatched up the parchment and stuffed it in her bag along with the pen. Harry nodded and the slightest tinge of red appeared on his cheeks as well.
None of them had noticed, but apparently class was over because everyone was packing up their bags and beginning to file out. Soon, they were the only ones left. Lockhart walked tentatively up to them.
"Um . . .e-excuse me?" he stuttered. Ron turned and raised an eyebrow at him. You would've thought you had just electrocuted Lockhart with a cattle prod the way he jumped.
"Yes? What is it?" Ron asked.
"Um . . .class is over . . .if you don't mind . . .I need to close up the class room." Lockhart squeaked, looking as though Ron was going to turn him into a pumpkin at any minute. Ron shrugged, and the four stood up.
"Alright then." he said. Hermione still looked a tad downcast. Harry noticed this, and, very frustrated with his efforts not working, grabbed Ron by the arm and dragged him was ahead of the two girls. Hermione looked at them curiously, though Ginny seemed to be biting her lip to keep from laughing.
"What was that about?" Hermione wondered out loud.
"Oh, Harry's just going to give Ron hell." Ginny said easily, and Hermione raised an eyebrow at her.
--- ~* ~*
"You are such a git, you know that?" Harry asked furiously, after dragging Ron into an empty classroom. Ron looked confused.
"What did I do?" he asked innocently. Harry sighed.
"Do I have to spell everything out?! Poor 'Mione. She was so looking forward to the Yule ball . . .until you came along and ruined it for her!" Harry shouted, rounding on him.
"I ruined it?! Lockhart ruined it! He's the one who made the stupid assignment!" Ron spat back. "She probably wanted to go with another person anyway . . .she's annoyed with me again."
"Ron, you stupid git." Harry sighed. "You were the first and only person on her list . . .that is, until she saw that you didn't want to go with her. That's why Gin and I were glaring at you, you dolt."
"She looked sad! Probably because she was stuck with me instead of someone else!" Ron griped, running a hand through his hair and musing it. Harry rolled his eyes.
"Sure." he countered. "That's why she looked incredibly hopeful until she saw the look on your face." Ron looked confused.
"The look on my face?" he asked.
"Yes! It's called a facial expression!" Harry's voice dripped with sarcasm. Ron blinked.
"Oh . . ." he blankly. Harry groaned and slapped a hand to his forehead.
"Apparently, I've stumbled upon a hopeless case." he sighed. Ron raised an eyebrow.
"But I never saw you do that!" he insisted.
"Saw me do what?" Harry asked.
"Stumble!" Harry stared at Ron, giving him a look that plainly told him the thought he was an idiot, sighed and sat down on one of the desks.
"Ron, sometimes I worry about your sanity," he said. Ron laughed.
"Don't worry Harry. The feeling's mutual." he said, clapping his friend on the back.
"Now . . ." said Harry. "Back on subject . . ." Ron sighed, slumping down in a chair across from his best friend.
"I don't know what to do Harry." Ron said. "Are you sure she was looking hopeful? My guess is, she wanted to go with you." Ron leaned back slightly in the chair, not looking at Harry. Harry sat blinking at him, then burst into laughter. Ron turned to look at him quizzically.
"Me?" Harry choked out, after catching his breath. "Why in God's name would you think it was me?"
"Well," Ron started, "For one thing, last year when we got off last years train, she kissed you on the cheek." Harry raised an eyebrow.
"Yes, and that was probably only because she kissed you on the lips when you were sleeping and she thought no one was watching." Harry said smugly, and Ron's eyes widened to the size of dinner plates.
"She did what?!" he squeaked, his voice going about five octaves higher than normal. Harry grinned.
"Yes. She later found out I'd seen, so, just to prove to me it was nothing, she just kissed me on the cheek later . . .of course, if it had really been nothing, she would've kissed me as she'd kissed you." Harry said, watching his friend's face redden. Ron, quite frankly, looked as though he was about to blow up.
"No she would not have." he spat angrily. Harry smirked, fully enjoying himself.
"You're absolutely right." Harry agreed, and Ron's tomato face returned to normal. "That's because it didn't mean the same thing." Ron's face went back to being as red as a cherry, and Harry guessed that this time, it wasn't because he was angry. "Ah, poor Ron. You're jealous, aren't you?" Ron shot from his chair, eyes ablaze, and steam would've come from his ears like you see in cartoons, if that was physically possible.
"Damn! Tsunami said the same thing to me a couple weeks ago! I am not jealous!" Ron shouted. "I am never jealous! Expecially of her." He spat the word "her" like a swearword. "I do not like Hermione that way! I don't now," Harry was obviously trying to give him some sort of signal, something about sliding one's finger across their neck. Ron ignored it. "I didn't then, and I won't ever!" A shocked silence followed this announcement, broken only three seconds later by a small sob. Ron spun around, a sense of foreboding filling him. Hermione had been standing in the doorway through his whole tirade, and she was staring at him in a way that made him feel like the worst person in the world.
"Hermione, I-" he started, reaching out a hand to her. But she'd turned away with a sob, running away from the classroom, away from HIM, and down the hall. Ron slowly lowered his hand. His heart went with it.
"Oh, very smooth Ron, very-"
"SHUT-UP!" Ron shouted, and Harry fell silent. "Shut up, Harry. I don't want to hear it." Then he strode out of the classroom, leaving Harry there alone.
--- ~* ~*
'Stupid!' Ron mentally scolded himself for the hundredth time. 'Stupid, stupid, stupid, stupid!' He'd been searching and looking around for Hermione for almost half an hour now, with no hope of finding her. Finally, he sat down on one of the stone benches in the hall and put his head in his hands.
"Ron? Are you alright?" a familiar, brotherly voice asked. Ron looked up. Fred and George were looking down on him with concern.
"No." Ron responded. "May as well stick a pin on me that label's me as the biggest idiot in the world." Fred and George sat down next to him.
"Is it Hermione?" George asked. Ron ran his hands through his hair.
"Why can everybody figure these things out?" Ron sighed. Fred and George smiled.
"Just a little obvious, little brother. Now, what did you do this time?" Fred asked. Ron sighed, running his hands through his straight red hair again and told them about Lockhart's class and afterward. Fred and George just stared when he was done.
"Wow. You're so screwed." Fred said slowly.
"I think you said the same thing to me a little while ago." The twins and Ron looked up. Tsunami was looking quizzically at them, not able to look down at them because of her short stature. "Alright. What did you do?" Tsunami asked Ron accusingly. Ron glared at her.
"None of your business." he said back. Tsunami raised an eyebrow.
"That bad, huh?" she asked. Ron's glare intensified.
"Yes. That bad." he growled.
"And I take it I won't get the story out of you?" Tsunami questioned.
"No." Tsunami shrugged at his ice-cold reply.
"Fine then. I'll go and find Hermione and ask her." Tsunami said. Ron still glared at her. "No, I'm not going to scold you about this." Ron's glare disappeared. "That's better." Tsunami sat down between Fred and George. "So . . .someone wanna fill me in?"
--- ~* ~*
"Wow. You are so screwed." Ron rolled his eyes.
"That has already been pointed out to me, thanks Tsunami." Ron said.
"Funny you can't find her." Tsunami said, a puzzled look on her face. Suddenly, something seemed to occur to Ron.
"Tsunami . . .if you were mad at someone, and you couldn't go to Hogsmeade, where would you go?" he asked.
"Uh . . .my room probably. Why?" she asked. Ron jumped up.
"Gotta go! Bye!" With that, he sped of in the direction of his room.
"That was odd." George said. "I wonder what that was all about." Fred and Tsunami nodded consent.
--- ~* ~*
Ron kept running until he reached the portrait, then gasped, "Teminoculous!" and hurried on into the hall as the portrait swung open. At the door to his room, he shoved the key in the lock and opened the door, running into the room, grasping the stitch in his chest. About two seconds later, he stood upright again.
"Hermione?" he called. "Hermione? Are you here?" There was no answer.
'Well, couldn't blame her for not answering if she was here.' he thought, grimacing.
"Hermione!" he called again. There was still no answer. Ron crossed the small living room to Hermione's bedroom, and knocked on the closed door. Again, no answer. So he knocked again. The reply was the same as before . . .there was none. "Hermione, if you don't answer me . . .I'm coming in." Ron said. As was expected, there was no reply. So Ron twisted the handle of door, but no matter how hard he shoved, the door wouldn't come open. Ron stepped back, shouting, "Alohomora!" There was a soft click, and the door swung open. Ron stepped into the room, looking around. As usual, there was book after book piled atop her desk, which was covered in parchment.
It was quite surprising, but Hermione, for once, was not sitting at that desk working, as she usually did when she was feeling bad. Instead, a lump of covers on her bed indicated she was still lying there. Ron softly crept over to the bed and lifted the covers off what he thought to be her face and his jaw dropped open.
She just looked . . . stunning . . . and beautiful . . .and well, sexy! Hermione was lying on her back, her mass of silky brown hair spread around her like a halo. Her lashes rested gently against her cheeks, and her cherry-colored lips were a little glossy and slightly parted.
Ron shakily reached out a hand and ran it down her cheek. "Hermione . . ." he started, not sure what to say.
'Well, better to get it all out.' he thought. 'She can't hear me anyway.'
"Hermione . . ." he started again. "Hermione, I'm so sorry. I never meant it to happen this way." Ron swallowed. "Hermione . . .I'm sorry when I get angry about Krum . . . I just get so jealous. I know I can't measure up to him, and I'm just so afraid of losing you. God Hermione . . . there is nothing between Patil and me . . .I swear to god there isn't. She's just a friend. She's asked me out a couple days ago Hermione . . .and I refused. Do you know why?" Ron let out a small sob. "Because I'm in love with you . . .and I guess I'm just too much of a coward to admit it. I guess that's why I got so defensive when Harry called me on it.
I don't know if I could ever make it up to you, Hermione . . .or if I should even try. I was so happy when Lockhart assigned us that project . . . I know it didn't look like it. But this way, I could go with you . . .and I wouldn't have to deal with Patil bugging me to go with her. But now Hermione . . . I'm scared for the time when you wake up. I know you're going to hate me, and you probably won't talk to me. Of course, it's my bloody fault. It always is. When the troll trapped you in the bathroom, that was my fault, because I'd been mean earlier. And then when we had the fight about Scabbers, that was my fault too for getting so angry. Even now . . . it's my fault all over again for this mess." Ron gave a small sob again and wiped his eyes. "I don't know how to explain it to you. Hermione, I'm sorry." Ron bent down and softly brushed his lips against hers. "I just hope someday you can forgive me." Then he turned and walked silently back out of the room, closing the door softly as he went.
--- ~* ~*
Hermione bolted upright the moment she heard the door click closed. She lifted a hand to her face and tentatively brushed a hand over her lips. She was still debating whether or not it'd been a dream. She jumped out of bed and rushed to her bedroom door. She opened it only to see the door close with a soft click behind Ron. Hermione stared after him, standing in the doorway to her room.
--- ~* ~*
Ron's hand hovered on the doorknob. Something was telling him to go back inside. Finally, after what seemed like forever, he turned and walked away.
--- ~* ~*
Hermione slipped into her jeans, shirt and robe and left the room, taking a key and her moneybag. She walked right to the door across from her own and knocked. It was answered with a "Coming" from a male voice inside. Finally, Harry appeared, opening the door with surprise.
"Hermione?" he asked. "What's up?"
"Hi Harry." Hermione said. "Is Ginny there?" Harry shrugged, still looking puzzled.
"Uh . . . sure." Harry turned and called over his shoulder. "Gin! It's for you!" Ginny was at his side almost immediately.
"Hi Hermione." Ginny greeted. "What is it?"
"Harry, can I borrow Ginny for a while?" Hermione dragged Ginny out of the room without waiting for Harry's answer.
"Uh . . .okay . . ." Harry said, watching them disappear around the corner. Then he shrugged and closed the door.
--- ~* ~*
"What's this about?" Ginny asked.
"Do you know any girl who knows the way to Hogsmeade?" Hermione asked. Ginny stared at her.
"Are you saying that perfect, rule-abiding Hermione Granger wants to sneak out of the castle?" Ginny asked in surprise. Hermione rolled her eyes, smiling at the joke.
"Yes Ginny. Perfect Hermione Granger." Hermione retorted. "Now . . .back to my original question . . ." Ginny scratched her head thoughtfully.
"Well . . .let's see . . .the twins and Lee know the way out . . .but they're boys. Do you think Tsunami does?" Ginny asked. Hermione shrugged.
"Only one way to find out. Come on." Hermione said. Then the two set off for Tsunami's room.
--- ~* ~*
Tsunami looked up from her homework to a knock on her door. Pushing back her chair and calling "coming", she stood and walked over to the door. When she opened it, it was not either of the twins or Lee, as she had expected. Instead, she found Hermione and Ginny standing there, both in their robes. Ginny looked positively puzzled and Hermione looked like she'd had one sleepless night too many.
"Hey guys." she greeted. "What's up?"
"Tsunami, do you know the way to Hogsmeade from the castle?" Hermione asked. Tsunami's brow creased.
"Of course I know them . . .why?" she said.
"I need to go down there . . .will you take me?" Hermione asked. Tsunami stared at her as if she'd just grown cat ears and a tail.
"You . . .want to go to Hogsmeade . . .?" she said slowly. Hermione rolled her eyes in exasperation.
"Why does everyone think that's such a big feat?" Hermione sighed. "Grab your coat . . .let's go." Tsunami shrugged, now as puzzled as Ginny, and went to go get her coat. She left a note for Mondo on the refrigerator, then grabbed her moneybag and came back out.
"Alright, ready?" Tsunami asked. The two other girls nodded, and off they went, following Tsunami.
--- ~* ~*
Tsunami lifted her wand to the portrait. "Stupidus Snapeus." she muttered, and the portrait swung open. Behind her, Hermione giggled.
"I like that." she said. Tsunami smiled as she climbed in.
"I always thought it was kind of fitting." Tsunami admitted, helping the two younger girls in. "Ready?" Tsunami asked. Hermione and Ginny nodded, and they set off. Suddenly, the portrait slammed shut behind them, making them all jump and throwing the hallway into darkness. "Hold on a minute . . ." Tsunami said. She pulled her wand out of her robes and held it up. "Lanos." Suddenly, a thousand torches suddenly lit up along the way to the hall. Hermione and Ginny stared. "George set them up last week." Tsunami explained. "I'm surprised the spell to light them works . . .usually it sends me flying into a wall."
"Where to next?" Ginny asked, as they continued along the corridor.
"Well," Tsunami explained. "There's a little lever we'll look for at the dead end, and that will open up one of the grates, and we crawl through there into a hall. It's narrow, so we'll have to walk single-file. And basically we just continue along the hall until we reach a door, and that door enters to the back room of the Three Broomsticks."
Hermione and Ginny nodded.
--- ~* ~*
After what seemed like hours of walking, they finally reached the Three Broomsticks. Tsunami pushed the door open and walked out.
"Are you sure that's alright?" Hermione asked softly. Tsunami shrugged.
"Sure. Madame Rosmerta knows us. She's seen us come in this way over millions of times." Tsunami said. Hermione and Ginny looked at each other and shrugged then followed Tsunami out into the crowded area. They took a seat at a table in the back, and Tsunami signaled to Madame Rosmerta for the regular drinks. Madame Rosmerta smiled at them, then turned back to the drinks.
"So . . ." Ginny said. "Do you want to tell us what this is all about." Madame Rosmerta set three steaming butterbeers in front of them. Hermione took a sip, and smiled at the warmth.
"Sure." Hermione told them both about Ron and about their fight and about when he came into her room. Afterwards, the two girls just stared at her. Then Tsunami's face split into a grin.
"Hot damn." she said, looking like the Cheshire Cat. "I think the kid's fallen for you." Hermione blushed scarlet. Ginny sighed.
"That's so romantic . . ." she said in a dreamy voice. Tsunami laughed.
"Boy Hermione . . . I think you've caught him hook, line and sinker." Tsunami told her, pointing to Hermione with her index finger. "And look at that! You didn't even have to try!" Tsunami huge grinned turned into an easy smile. "I envy you for that." Hermione raised an eyebrow.
"Things not going so great with Mondo?" she asked. Tsunami sighed, as Ginny look puzzled.
Seeing the look on Ginny's face, Tsunami told her, "I can't see his aura." Ginny's lips twitched a couple of times, and then she burst into full-fledged giggles. Tsunami rolled her eyes. When Ginny had finally caught her breath, Tsunami glared at her once, then continued with what she was going to say.
"Anyway," she started. "I don't know you guys. It just doesn't seem right. We're totally opposites, Sullivan and I." Hermione raised an eyebrow.
"How so?" she asked. Tsunami sighed again.
"I don't know . . . he's not really my type." Tsunami said. Ginny cocked her head to the side.
"Who is then?" she asked.
"Fred or George? Or maybe Lee?" Hermione said, grinning at Tsunami. But Tsunami ignored the teasing in Hermione's voice, and answered in all seriousness.
"Naw." she said. "They're more like older brothers." Tsunami imitated Lee's deep voice. "'You are not allowed to go to the Yule Ball with anyone Fred, George or I have not grilled first to see that he's safe.'" Hermione giggled.
"Welcome to MY world." Ginny sighed. "Except for the fact that I've got three real brothers doing the same thing all the time." Tsunami and Hermione laughed.
"Poor Ginny." joked Hermione. "So put upon." Ginny grinned.
"Tell me about it." she sighed. Tsunami blinked.
"That reminds me." she said, and Hermione and Ginny looked at her curiously. "How goes it with Harry, Ginny?" Ginny turned as red as her hair.
"I-I don't . . . w-where did y-you get the i-idea-." Ginny sputtered.
"I'm looking at it." Tsunami said, interrupting her. "Hermione, do you second my vote?" she asked, grinning. Hermione smiled.
"Oh ya . . . I'd say she's got a crush on Harry." Hermione giggled.
"Yup . . .she's fallen for him."
"Hard."
"No doubt about it."
"Alright!" Ginny burst out. "I do have a crush on him. Satisfied?"
"Yup." Hermione and Tsunami agreed at the same time. Ginny rolled her eyes.
"Anyway . . .it has no relavance because he only sees me as a little sister." Ginny said, putting her chin in her hands. Tsunami raised an eyebrow.
"Good god Hermione. She's blind." Tsunami said, and Hermione stifled a laugh.
"I guess we'll just have to get her glasses." Hermione replied cheerily. Ginny glared at them.
"Ya, ya. Ha, ha you two." Ginny sighed. "It's true though . . . you can't deny it."
"Well . . .actually, he'd like to think that." Hermione started. "You see, his main dilemma is that you're the little sister of his best friend."
"And in the mind of a typical male, that's some sort of crime." Tsunami finished.
"He also knows that if Ron finds out, he'll set the Curse of the Bogies on him, and then he'll lock him in a closet with a dementor." Hermione shrugged. "I mean, come on. You know how protective Ron is." Ginny sighed, and put her head on her arms.
"Do I ever." she responded. Tsunami continued where Hermione had left off.
"See? That's his problem. He's not allowed to do any flirting with you, for fear of Ron. Now, as I see it, if there was some way for him to flirt with you while Ron's distracted . . ." Tsunami trailed off, sending Hermione a sideways glance.
"Oh no . . .don't even think it." Hermione warned. Tsunami grinned evilly.
"What?" Ginny asked innocently. "I don't get it."
--- ~* ~*
The girls were giggling and laughing as they neared Honeydukes, the only sweet shop in Hogsmeade. They were about to enter, when a voice stopped them.
"Tsunami Nudelman!" Tsunami stopped her hand on the door, still holding it open. Hermione and Ginny peaked out. Striding towards them at an alarming rate was Mondo, and he looked furious. Tsunami raised an eyebrow.
"Well," she said, as he came up to her. "Fancy meeting you here!"
"What do you think you were doing?" Mondo spat. Tsunami glared at him.
"Hanging out with my friends. Is there something wrong with that?" she challenged.
"There is when nobody knew where you were and we were all looking for you everywhere!" Mondo shouted.
"I left you a note on the refrigerator, dipwad!" Tsunami yelled back. "Or have you forgotten how to read?"
"I saw no note there!" Mondo shot back.
"Well, I wrote one and stuck it on the refrigerator, just like we agreed." Tsunami said.
"I saw one there, but it was one of your old ones!" Mondo told her. Tsunami rolled her eyes.
"By God, you're dense. I always throw away the old ones when I get back." Tsunami said. Mondo stared at her, blinking.
"Uh . . .oops." Mondo said. Tsunami sighed in exasperation.
"Ya. Oops." she told him. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have the rest of the day off with my girlfriends." Tsunami gave him a sarcastic wave. "Bye, bye." Then she turned and pushed Hermione and Ginny into the store, closing the door behind her. This left Mondo standing out in the snow, freezing to death and feeling very stupid. He stared after her for a minute, before turning and going back the way he came.
--- ~* ~*
"Ugh! He gets on my nerves!" Tsunami growled, throwing things into the store basket. "Who does he think he is anyway?"
"Um . . .a boy who was worried about you?" Hermione ventured. Tsunami snorted.
"Worried? As if." she said. Hermione raised and eyebrow and looked at Ginny.
"You know what Tsunami?" Ginny asked. Tsunami sighed.
"What Ginny?" she asked.
"I think you're pleased he was worried." Tsunami stared at them, looking slightly guilty, a slight blush staining her cheeks.
"I-I have no clue what you're talking about." she said indignantly, accidentally grabbing some Cockroach Clusters without noticing.
"Uh . . .Tsunami." Hermione said.
"Ya?" Tsunami asked.
"I didn't know you liked cockroaches dipped in chocolate." Hermione told her. Tsunami made a face at the container she held in her hand, and then shoved it back onto the shelf. Hermione and Ginny giggled.
"Tsunami . . .face it." Ginny said. "You like the guy." Tsunami looked disgruntled.
"Well . . .maybe a little bit . . ." she admitted, and Hermione and Ginny grinned. "But only as a friend!" Tsunami quickly added. "He's egotistical . . . he always has a flock of girls on his tail-"
"Ah . . .the old jealousy factor." Hermione said wisely. Tsunami's face turned the color of a tomato.
"I am not jealous," she spat through gritted teeth. Ginny raised an eyebrow.
"Come on Tsunami." she said. "We're honest with you . . .why can't you be honest with us?" Tsunami sighed, turning to face them.
"I guess you're right." She sighed. "Okay . . .so I'm jealous-" Hermione and Ginny grinned. "Of you and Hermione because you've both got boys going after you. Neither of them are egotistical . . .in fact, Harry is far from it. Ron is very honest, and he gets jealous easily, which can be used to your advantage. Furthermore-"
"Tsunami." Hermione interrupted. "That's not what we meant and you know it."
"I know that . . .but that doesn't mean I can't avoid the subject for as long as possible." Tsunami said, striding up to the counter and depositing her items there.
"You're going to have to face facts sooner or later." Ginny told her.
"And what facts would those be?" Tsunami asked tiredly.
"Well, the fact that you guys are destined to be together." Hermione told her. Tsunami sighed again and took her bag from the storeowner.
"Destined to be together . . .sounds like a romance novel or a fanfic." Tsunami said. "And I don't like it one bit."
--- ~* ~*
Hermione opened the door to her room, and stepped in. She set the bag of sweets from Honeydukes on the counter, then took off her coat, hanging it up. "Ron?" she called. "You here?"
"Uh . . ." Ron sounded puzzled. "I'm in my bedroom Hermione."
"Okay. I brought some sweets back from Honeydukes if you want some." Hermione told him, as though nothing had happened. Ron opened his bedroom door.
"What's with you Hermione?" he asked, cautiously walking over to her and treating her as though she were a bomb that could go off any minute. "Aren't you mad at me?" Hermione smiled.
"Of course not Ron. Why would I be mad at you?" Hermione asked. Ron looked at her as if she'd lost her mind.
"Y-you mean you don't remember?" he asked in confusion. Hermione almost laughed at the look on his face.
"Of course I remember." Hermione said cheerily. "But of course, it's my fault." Ron looked at her as if she'd suddenly sprouted ears and a tail. "I was silly to think that you would like me that way." Hermione shrugged, still smiling cheerily. "I'm just going to write to Viktor about accepting his offer." Ron's ears turned bright red.
"An offer of what?" he asked through gritted teeth.
"Oh, he asked me out a couple days ago, did you know?" Hermione said, shrugging her shoulders, as if it was nothing. Ron grabbed her shoulders, turning her towards him.
"You will not accept his offer." he ground out. Hermione almost smiled at his order. Things were going exactly to plan.
"Oh really?" Hermione asked, shrugging her shoulders and still not looking at him. "Since when do you care?"
"Hermione, look at me." Ron told her.
"No." Hermione said breezily. "I don't have to do what you say Ron. If I want to see Victor, then I can." Ron stared at her in defeat, before releasing her and stepping away.
"Oh." he said in a defeated kind of voice that made Hermione want to go over and hold him and tell him that everything would be alright.
'Okay Hermione . . .stay on track . . . there's always time for that later.' she reminded herself. '. . . I hope.'
"Well . . . I guess that's it then . . . good night." Ron said, turning and heading towards his bedroom.
'What?!' Hermione thought. Okay, so none of them hadn't counted on him acting this way . . . 'Stupid idiot!' Hermione fumed.
"That's it?" Hermione yelled. Ron stopped and turned toward her puzzled.
"Ya . . .that's basically it." Ron said puzzled. "You're right Hermione . . . if that's what you really want, then I guess I can't stop you." Hermione stared at him.
"You stupid git." she said. Ron blinked.
"Uh . . ." he said.
"Come here." Hermione said, indicating the spot in front of her. Ron stared at her as if she'd just said that she hated studying and she wanted to get the worst grade in the class on a test. "I said come here!" Hermione said, her bossy side showing again.
"A-alright." Ron said, walking over and standing in front of Hermione.
"Good. Now close your eyes." Hermione told him. Ron looked at her quizzically.
"Um . . .okay." Ron said, his ears starting to turn red. Hermione rolled her eyes as Ron closed his.
"You have a sick mind, you know that?" she told him. Ron turned even redder. He felt Hermione put her hands on his shoulders and sort of balance her weight. "Alright, open them." Ron opened his eyes, only to find her face about an inch away from his.
'Close enough to kiss.' was the first thing that came to his mind. 'Shit.'
"Remember this?" Hermione breathed. "Although, if I recall correctly, we weren't standing up at the time." Ron could only stare, holding his breath and waiting. "Of course, at the time, if Tsunami hadn't interrupted, I would've done this . . ." And to his shock and surprise (and delight for that matter), she slowly drew his head down to her level and brushed her lips against his. Hermione let his head go and stepped back slightly, her cheeks the color of his hair. Ron stood shell-shocked for all of two seconds before striding over to her and hauling her against him. Hermione wrapped her arms around his waist, smiling against his neck.
"You will not accept Krum's offer." Ron ground out. Hermione pulled back to look at him smugly.
"Oh really Ronald Weasley?" she asked. "And why is that?"
"Because I don't like sharing." Ron ground out. Hermione threw back her head and laughed.
--- ~* ~*
Tsunami stopped in the middle of her essay about grindylows and frowned. Mondo, who was working across from her, didn't notice. Tsunami's frown turned into a smile almost a second later, and she leaned back in her chair, folding her arms under her chest.
"Well I'll be damned." she said out loud. Mondo looked up, puzzled.
"What?" he asked. Tsunami's grin widened.
"Oh, it's nothing Sullivan. My intuition's just telling me something." she said. Mondo raised an eyebrow at her.
"So . . .what's it saying?" he asked. Tsunami's grin died a bit to a crafty lift of her lip.
"That's for me to know . . ." Tsunami sat back up in her chair and picked up her quill again. "and you to find out."
**************************** Preview of the next part of the chapter:
And here she was now, walking slowly back to her room, so lost in thought that she didn't have time to see it coming. Ginny's arms were suddenly pinned behind her and a rough male voice that Ginny recognized with disgust said: "My, miss Ginny, don't you look pretty . . .good enough to eat if I do say so myself . . ."
