Disclaimer--Nothing here belongs to me. Most of this scene is from PoA and belongs to JKR, who is a MUCH more accomplished writer than me. They're for the love of the craft and intended only as flattery.
Author's Notes-- "Also, I will like to thank and aknowledge your reviewers, I love to read their comments, and following them and your feedback is part of the joy of this great story ... Thanks everyone..." Bee11. I couldn't have said it better myself...you all add so much to this story. Thanks!
Strawberries and Blueberries--Sounds like you've discovered your own chorus! *winks* Hope this satisfies them, as I'd hate to get on their bad side... ;-D
Bee11--I understand how distracting those little details can be. *grins* Ginny overheard Harry telling Ron and Hermione he saw the Grim the night he left the Dursleys in Chapter 13--hope that helps! It was really sweet of you to think of the other reviewers...I agree they add a lot to the story. *hugs*
Adrienne--"Your addiction to writing is good for my addiction to reading" I love that! Thanks! *hugs* I'm so glad you think I've managed to make Bill as cool as he's rumored to be *winks* I definitely enjoy his company. *grins* He and Fleur do seem like a bit of a surprising match, but maybe JK will explain it later on...I hadn't really thought of it, but you're right...Ginny is becoming quite a central figure in Gryffindor...*grins* Guess you just can't fight fate, even if you're the one writing it. *winks* I think that calls for a celebration...*hugs*
EEDOE--I think that fight looked pretty horrific no matter where you were standing! (Excellent timing with the background music, too. *winks*) I agree...the adult Hermione will probably always use work as a way to escape feelings she doesn't know how to resolve...hopefully Ginny will be there to force a little relaxation on her once in a while. (And Mr. Longbottom flying for the Quidditch Match--great timing! *laughs*) I can't imagine why you would hear Lupin's comment ending that way *looks innocent* I'm so glad you loved the wording about the wind--you should have seen the smirk on my face when I wrote it! *laughs* I agree...what will Quidditch be without Lee? *pouts and sighs* Interesting point about James...perhaps he played both Quidditch positions, the way Ginny plays Seeker but wants to play Chaser...as for Head Boy, the best BS answer I can develop is that it's an academic honor not necessarily related to being Prefect? I agree it seems rather random, but it is her world, and I'm willing to believe she knows what she's doing with such contradictory information. *crosses fingers and grins* You probably have a point about Ginny, but she IS still recovering from Tom's subtle undermining of her worth, and I remember being pretty insecure (I was about to say at that age, but the truth is, I still am...*grins wryly*) Still, I'll tell her what you said. *winks* Until next time! *hugs* (Thanks again for reviews on both chapters! *hugs*)
Bill--No problem...It's pure luck I haven't double-posted the same chapter yet...I keep getting an error message in the middle of posting! Besides, I'd rather have triple reviews than none. *winks* (Thanks for reviewing both chapters. *hugs*) The twins' strentghs do lie in other directions...though I wonder if they don't enjoy the havoc their attempts at communication occassionally produce? *winks* I don't think Harry really wanted to be in the middle of that fight...and if he were older and more experienced than 13, he probably would have kept his mouth shut, but...Ron is the first close friend he's ever had, and after all the years he spent being shunned because of Dudley, I can't blame him for letting his need to please Ron overpower his common sense. And I don't think he's old enough to realize something so petty could permenantly damage their friendship. He probably thinks it's only a temporary snag. I just wish it wasn't so hard on Hermione. *sighs* Lee as a salesman. *giggles* Yup...frog brains, a witch's worst cleaning nightmare. *nods gravely* As for the Slytherins...I would have expected them to be a bit more cunning, but...maybe none of them really understood what a dementor does to someone who's suffered and thought they could disappear without anyone realizing they weren't the real thing? *shakes head* Anyway...back to someone with a bit more sense. *hugs*
************
The party that followed was one of the best advertisements of the twins' skills Ginny had seen. The only thing wrong with it was Hermione's refusal to join in, but, knowing how much it would hurt her to try to have fun as if everything were okay between her, Harry and Ron, Ginny didn't press the issue. So Hermione studied-or tried-while everyone was talking at once, not that anyone could hear a word they were saying over the music that somehow filled the Common Room. To Ginny's gratification, Ron somehow convinced Neville to stagger around the room with him, doing impressions of Malfoy and the other Slytherins being charged down by Harry's Patronus.
"I wish I could have seen that," Harry said, and Ginny jumped to find him so close beside her, accidentally knocking her butterbeer into Colin's lap with her elbow.
"I...uh, you ...Oh, sorry Colin..." cheeks burning, Ginny hastily righted her butterbeer and using a charm they had recently learned to dry him off.
"Sure," Colin retorted, poking her the fluffy tip of a sugarquill.
Ginny squeaked, pulling away and jabbing back with a sugarquill of her own in a vain attempt to buy enough time to think of something halfway intelligent to say to Harry while she had the chance.
Colin squirmed out of reach, brushing his quill across Tempest's nose in the process, eliciting a shriek. Tempest poked him with her sugarquill, making him lurch forward in surprise and poke Ginny again, who lunged across him and poked Tempest, producing a sound somewhere between a giggle and a shriek. Already laughing, Tempest poked Colin. When Ginny had time-let alone breath or any idea what to say-to look in Harry's direction again, he'd already wandered off. She felt a sharp twinge of disappointment, but Colin and Tempest attacked from either side, and she embraced the distraction.
After they called truce, Fred and George demonstrated the fact they were "happy enough to walk on air" with the judicious use of Fizzing Whizbees, and before they knew it, Fred, George, Katie, Angelina, Alicia, and even Oliver Wood were dancing four feet off the floor. Ginny held her breath, watching as Harry ducked underneath them to approach Hermione.
Seeing Harry look over his shoulder at Ron, Ginny looked too, and wished she hadn't. Ron was glowering at Harry in a way that made it all-too-obvious he wasn't ready to make up with Hermione...and he wasn't very pleased with Harry for considering it.
To make matters worse, Hermione chose that moment to shrill, "I can't, Harry!" as if to emphasize the defection. Ginny winced. "Besides," Hermione added bitterly, "He doesn't want me to join in."
It was true...Hermione had only said it because the knowledge was like a thorn in her side she had to keep worrying until it finally dislodged. Ginny knew that...unfortunately, she also knew Ron would probably take it as a challenge.
Sure enough, Ron tossed his next words into the room like a gauntlet. "If Scabbers hadn't just been eaten, he could have had some of those Fudge Flies. He used to really like them--"
Unsurprisingly, Hermione burst into tears. Harry started toward her as if to offer reassurance, but she pushed past him and ran up the stairs.
"Uh...I'll see you later guys," Ginny muttered to Colin and Tempest. "I'm going to see if she's okay."
They nodded, already distracted by Lee in the corner. Ginny sighed, wishing she could stay and see what he was up to, but unable to leave Hermione feeling unwanted and alone in her room.
She stalked up to Ron long enough to look him in the eye for several long, hard seconds, then climbed the stairs with pointed deliberation.
"Ron's a prat," she said without preamble as she stepped into the third year girls' dormitory. "He's upset, so he's letting off steam by trying to upset you."
"Obviously," Hermione retorted dryly, the word heavily muffled by the pillow she'd buried her face in.
"Why give him the satisfaction?" Ginny asked calmly.
"He...I suppose...he does have a...point," Hermione sniffled. "Crookshanks...it's not his fault, but he...I'd apologize, only I don't think it would make a difference...Ron's always says I'm a bossy know-it-all...I think...I think he hates me..."
Ginny rolled her eyes at the ceiling, grateful Hermione couldn't see her. "Don't be ridiculous," she said crisply, "Of course Ron doesn't hate you."
"How...how do you know?" Hermione asked, curiosity taking the edge off her misery.
"Because," Ginny laughed in spite of herself, "he talks about you constantly."
"Ron...Ron talks about me?" Hermione repeated, turning her face toward Ginny.
Ginny reached out, brushing tangling strands of brown hair off Hermione's damp, flushed cheek, and nodded. "He's always telling me I sound like Hermione, or not to study too much because I'm not Hermione, or he should go write Hermione and tell her when to meet us in Diagon Alley...he doesn't even mention Harry that much."
Hermione had pushed herself up on one elbow and was watching Ginny with a painfully expansive hope in her eyes. Ginny recognized that expression all too well...it looked like the feeling she got every time Harry said something to her in passing. "Really?"
Ginny nodded. "Scabbers...that rat meant a lot to Ron-why is a mystery I'll never understand-but so do you. Eventually he's going to accept Scabbers is gone...and start to notice how much he misses you."
"At least Harry isn't mad at me anymore," Hermione said wistfully. "I wish I hadn't been so short with him..."
"Consider it payback for being such a git about the Firebolt," Ginny advised.
Hermione grinned, the expression only a little bit tentative.
"Look, Hermione," Ginny said, "I know you're taking a lot of classes and all, but having a nervous breakdown won't help...I want you to promise me you're not going to study-here or downstairs-anymore tonight."
Hermione stared as if Ginny had suddenly started speaking Mermish. Ginny put her hands on her hips and stared back in a classic look she'd borrowed from Mum.
Hermione gave one weak, distracted chuckle, and nodded. "Okay..." she agreed, shaking her head, "you're right...I need some sleep."
Ginny gave her a quick, reassuring hug, and left her to it.
Author's Notes-- "Also, I will like to thank and aknowledge your reviewers, I love to read their comments, and following them and your feedback is part of the joy of this great story ... Thanks everyone..." Bee11. I couldn't have said it better myself...you all add so much to this story. Thanks!
Strawberries and Blueberries--Sounds like you've discovered your own chorus! *winks* Hope this satisfies them, as I'd hate to get on their bad side... ;-D
Bee11--I understand how distracting those little details can be. *grins* Ginny overheard Harry telling Ron and Hermione he saw the Grim the night he left the Dursleys in Chapter 13--hope that helps! It was really sweet of you to think of the other reviewers...I agree they add a lot to the story. *hugs*
Adrienne--"Your addiction to writing is good for my addiction to reading" I love that! Thanks! *hugs* I'm so glad you think I've managed to make Bill as cool as he's rumored to be *winks* I definitely enjoy his company. *grins* He and Fleur do seem like a bit of a surprising match, but maybe JK will explain it later on...I hadn't really thought of it, but you're right...Ginny is becoming quite a central figure in Gryffindor...*grins* Guess you just can't fight fate, even if you're the one writing it. *winks* I think that calls for a celebration...*hugs*
EEDOE--I think that fight looked pretty horrific no matter where you were standing! (Excellent timing with the background music, too. *winks*) I agree...the adult Hermione will probably always use work as a way to escape feelings she doesn't know how to resolve...hopefully Ginny will be there to force a little relaxation on her once in a while. (And Mr. Longbottom flying for the Quidditch Match--great timing! *laughs*) I can't imagine why you would hear Lupin's comment ending that way *looks innocent* I'm so glad you loved the wording about the wind--you should have seen the smirk on my face when I wrote it! *laughs* I agree...what will Quidditch be without Lee? *pouts and sighs* Interesting point about James...perhaps he played both Quidditch positions, the way Ginny plays Seeker but wants to play Chaser...as for Head Boy, the best BS answer I can develop is that it's an academic honor not necessarily related to being Prefect? I agree it seems rather random, but it is her world, and I'm willing to believe she knows what she's doing with such contradictory information. *crosses fingers and grins* You probably have a point about Ginny, but she IS still recovering from Tom's subtle undermining of her worth, and I remember being pretty insecure (I was about to say at that age, but the truth is, I still am...*grins wryly*) Still, I'll tell her what you said. *winks* Until next time! *hugs* (Thanks again for reviews on both chapters! *hugs*)
Bill--No problem...It's pure luck I haven't double-posted the same chapter yet...I keep getting an error message in the middle of posting! Besides, I'd rather have triple reviews than none. *winks* (Thanks for reviewing both chapters. *hugs*) The twins' strentghs do lie in other directions...though I wonder if they don't enjoy the havoc their attempts at communication occassionally produce? *winks* I don't think Harry really wanted to be in the middle of that fight...and if he were older and more experienced than 13, he probably would have kept his mouth shut, but...Ron is the first close friend he's ever had, and after all the years he spent being shunned because of Dudley, I can't blame him for letting his need to please Ron overpower his common sense. And I don't think he's old enough to realize something so petty could permenantly damage their friendship. He probably thinks it's only a temporary snag. I just wish it wasn't so hard on Hermione. *sighs* Lee as a salesman. *giggles* Yup...frog brains, a witch's worst cleaning nightmare. *nods gravely* As for the Slytherins...I would have expected them to be a bit more cunning, but...maybe none of them really understood what a dementor does to someone who's suffered and thought they could disappear without anyone realizing they weren't the real thing? *shakes head* Anyway...back to someone with a bit more sense. *hugs*
************
The party that followed was one of the best advertisements of the twins' skills Ginny had seen. The only thing wrong with it was Hermione's refusal to join in, but, knowing how much it would hurt her to try to have fun as if everything were okay between her, Harry and Ron, Ginny didn't press the issue. So Hermione studied-or tried-while everyone was talking at once, not that anyone could hear a word they were saying over the music that somehow filled the Common Room. To Ginny's gratification, Ron somehow convinced Neville to stagger around the room with him, doing impressions of Malfoy and the other Slytherins being charged down by Harry's Patronus.
"I wish I could have seen that," Harry said, and Ginny jumped to find him so close beside her, accidentally knocking her butterbeer into Colin's lap with her elbow.
"I...uh, you ...Oh, sorry Colin..." cheeks burning, Ginny hastily righted her butterbeer and using a charm they had recently learned to dry him off.
"Sure," Colin retorted, poking her the fluffy tip of a sugarquill.
Ginny squeaked, pulling away and jabbing back with a sugarquill of her own in a vain attempt to buy enough time to think of something halfway intelligent to say to Harry while she had the chance.
Colin squirmed out of reach, brushing his quill across Tempest's nose in the process, eliciting a shriek. Tempest poked him with her sugarquill, making him lurch forward in surprise and poke Ginny again, who lunged across him and poked Tempest, producing a sound somewhere between a giggle and a shriek. Already laughing, Tempest poked Colin. When Ginny had time-let alone breath or any idea what to say-to look in Harry's direction again, he'd already wandered off. She felt a sharp twinge of disappointment, but Colin and Tempest attacked from either side, and she embraced the distraction.
After they called truce, Fred and George demonstrated the fact they were "happy enough to walk on air" with the judicious use of Fizzing Whizbees, and before they knew it, Fred, George, Katie, Angelina, Alicia, and even Oliver Wood were dancing four feet off the floor. Ginny held her breath, watching as Harry ducked underneath them to approach Hermione.
Seeing Harry look over his shoulder at Ron, Ginny looked too, and wished she hadn't. Ron was glowering at Harry in a way that made it all-too-obvious he wasn't ready to make up with Hermione...and he wasn't very pleased with Harry for considering it.
To make matters worse, Hermione chose that moment to shrill, "I can't, Harry!" as if to emphasize the defection. Ginny winced. "Besides," Hermione added bitterly, "He doesn't want me to join in."
It was true...Hermione had only said it because the knowledge was like a thorn in her side she had to keep worrying until it finally dislodged. Ginny knew that...unfortunately, she also knew Ron would probably take it as a challenge.
Sure enough, Ron tossed his next words into the room like a gauntlet. "If Scabbers hadn't just been eaten, he could have had some of those Fudge Flies. He used to really like them--"
Unsurprisingly, Hermione burst into tears. Harry started toward her as if to offer reassurance, but she pushed past him and ran up the stairs.
"Uh...I'll see you later guys," Ginny muttered to Colin and Tempest. "I'm going to see if she's okay."
They nodded, already distracted by Lee in the corner. Ginny sighed, wishing she could stay and see what he was up to, but unable to leave Hermione feeling unwanted and alone in her room.
She stalked up to Ron long enough to look him in the eye for several long, hard seconds, then climbed the stairs with pointed deliberation.
"Ron's a prat," she said without preamble as she stepped into the third year girls' dormitory. "He's upset, so he's letting off steam by trying to upset you."
"Obviously," Hermione retorted dryly, the word heavily muffled by the pillow she'd buried her face in.
"Why give him the satisfaction?" Ginny asked calmly.
"He...I suppose...he does have a...point," Hermione sniffled. "Crookshanks...it's not his fault, but he...I'd apologize, only I don't think it would make a difference...Ron's always says I'm a bossy know-it-all...I think...I think he hates me..."
Ginny rolled her eyes at the ceiling, grateful Hermione couldn't see her. "Don't be ridiculous," she said crisply, "Of course Ron doesn't hate you."
"How...how do you know?" Hermione asked, curiosity taking the edge off her misery.
"Because," Ginny laughed in spite of herself, "he talks about you constantly."
"Ron...Ron talks about me?" Hermione repeated, turning her face toward Ginny.
Ginny reached out, brushing tangling strands of brown hair off Hermione's damp, flushed cheek, and nodded. "He's always telling me I sound like Hermione, or not to study too much because I'm not Hermione, or he should go write Hermione and tell her when to meet us in Diagon Alley...he doesn't even mention Harry that much."
Hermione had pushed herself up on one elbow and was watching Ginny with a painfully expansive hope in her eyes. Ginny recognized that expression all too well...it looked like the feeling she got every time Harry said something to her in passing. "Really?"
Ginny nodded. "Scabbers...that rat meant a lot to Ron-why is a mystery I'll never understand-but so do you. Eventually he's going to accept Scabbers is gone...and start to notice how much he misses you."
"At least Harry isn't mad at me anymore," Hermione said wistfully. "I wish I hadn't been so short with him..."
"Consider it payback for being such a git about the Firebolt," Ginny advised.
Hermione grinned, the expression only a little bit tentative.
"Look, Hermione," Ginny said, "I know you're taking a lot of classes and all, but having a nervous breakdown won't help...I want you to promise me you're not going to study-here or downstairs-anymore tonight."
Hermione stared as if Ginny had suddenly started speaking Mermish. Ginny put her hands on her hips and stared back in a classic look she'd borrowed from Mum.
Hermione gave one weak, distracted chuckle, and nodded. "Okay..." she agreed, shaking her head, "you're right...I need some sleep."
Ginny gave her a quick, reassuring hug, and left her to it.