A/N: Oh my goooood!!!! You guys are great! I can't believe I got so many reviews! You guys rock, so…have some e-ice cream! You can actually make your own at cybercones.com, so go fill yourselves with virtual goo!!! You are ace!

And now on to the chapter, enjoy!!!

Lots of love, Xodox

P.S. It's my 13th birthday on the 26th! I'll be a true teenager at last!

Chapter 6: Scutterin' Sticks!

"Your wand?!?"

Ron instantly flushed and racked his brains for an excuse.

"Erm…I meant it's a type of stick and its Latin name is…Miggius, erm, Walloper. Yeah, but everyone calls it a wand for short…"

 "Oh? How come I've never seen it before or in any books?"

"Erm…it's extremely rare and…it's only seen every few hundred years and…only in the right conditions. Not many people have ever heard of it."

"But you have?"

"Yes. And I have to go and…show it to Neville now! Yes, I'll show it to Neville. I'll see you later!" And with that he scurried away with the stick, leaving Hermione sat by the rabbits and completely confused by the whole conversation.

~**~

Ron actually had no intention whatsoever of showing Neville, or anyone else for that matter.

Ron sighed with relief as he ducked in an alley, where the palace bins were kept, and took his wand out of his pocket. Twiddling with it, he thought about the story he had just told Hermione.

"Miggius Walloper? What was I thinking?"

"What have you got there, Ron?"

Ron jumped and looked as Harry stood in front of him, lugging two large sacks of rubbish behind him.

"Harry! Thank God it's only you!"

"Why?"


"I need to talk to you, is there anywhere we won't be seen?"

"Well, I don't get off until half four. Even then I've got some cookery books to study.  Is it urgent?"

"Relatively."

"Erm…ok. Meet me in the pantry at ten 'o clock. It's usually deserted, unless someone is in detention. Even then they shouldn't be there past half nine."

"Ok, I'll meet you at ten."

"What's so urgent anyway?"

"I'll explain tonight, I promise."

Harry nodded and went back into the kitchen, leaving Ron looking around and being generally odd.

~**~

After Ron had run away, Hermione walked, or rather stomped back to the palace, slightly annoyed.

"I can't believe him!!!! That git not only told me a completely bogus story about a stick but he ran off! The nerve!"

Her lady-in-waiting watched as Hermione paced the room.

"Who was he?"

"His name was Ron, he works in the kitchens, unless Snape has thrown him out permanently."

"Ron?"

"Yes."

"Not my brother, Ron. Big blue eyes, red hair, about six foot four?"

"Oh Ginny, I'm sorry! Me calling him a git when he's your brother!"

"Oh don't apologise, just because he's my brother doesn't stop him being a retard."

"Yes…well. I'm very annoyed with him. He was really lovely until he found that stick, what is it with boys and sticks? Are they compelled to like ridiculous things like sticks and…Quidditch?"

"I like Quidditch." Ginny said with a frown.

"Oh Ginny, I am sorry, I'm just quite wound up about all this."

Ginny shook her head but then smiled devilishly, her eyes sparkling.

"So he really got to you then?"

"Yes."

"You had a nice time with him?"

"Yes, a really nice time."

"And you were upset when he left?"

"Ye…NO GINNY!" Hermione suddenly realised where the conversation was going.

"What? What did I say?"

"I do NOT like your brother!"

"Who said anything about liking him?" Her voice was sugary with feigned innocence.

"Well I don't!!!"

"Never said you did, my lady."

Ginny grinned and started to make a fuming Hermione's bed.