Chapter Nine
*
*
The three of them stood there in silence.
It was down to Ginny. Who would she vote for? Would she go for Ron, her brother, or Harry, her, well....
Ginny looked frantically between the two of them. The boys just stared at her.
"Well?" questioned Ron.
Ginny's gaze swept across the room, looking for an alternative. She looked incredibly uncomfortable. "Er,...."
Ron gave her an expectant look. Harry stood there, stock-still, absolutely terrified. Surely she would pick family over him?
Ginny looked at her brother almost apologetically and blurted out, "Harry."
Ron was shocked by this statement. He had lost the captain's position by one vote, which had been his sister's. And what was worse, she had picked his best friend instead....
Trying to recover quickly, Ron looked up at the ceiling and said, "Fine. Congratulations, Harry."
Harry looked at his friend, not knowing what to do. He could tell Ron was not happy.
"No, Ron, see, you can be captain, really, I--"
Ronald cut him off with, "Don't try to be all NOBLE, then. You won, get over it."
And with that, Ron trumped up the stairs, his ears burning red from behind.
*
"What was that all about?" Harry demanded.
Ginny turned to him, looking completely bewildered.
"I would have thought you'd want me to vote for you, Harry--"
Harry gave her a look of contempt. She got very red in the face and started to stutter.
"WHY did you do that?!" he asked, raging with fury.
Ginny rolled her eyes and replied, "It's not like I chose you because of, well, you know,....I just really think you're better at Quidditch is all."
This answer wasn't satisfying enough for him, though.
"Yeah? Well, now Ron's mad at me on top of everything else, and you don't even--"
At this point, Ginny was about to burst.
"DON'T YOU TALK TO ME LIKE IT'S MY FAULT!" she screamed.
"WELL IT IS!!" Harry shot back.
At this point, they had about the entire common room staring at them.
"WELL HARRY, YOU CAN GO TO HELL FOR ALL I CARE!"
Harry calmed down immediately and looked at the girl. But she had had enough. Ginny followed in her brother's footsteps and ran up to her dormitory.
Well, now he'd blown it. Both of the Weasleys were angry with him, and it was only about 6:30. He hadn't meant to get mad at Ginny like that....But it had just come out.
Harry glanced around the room, trying to see if Hermione was anywhere nearby. But then he realized that she had already retired for the night. Not wanting to show his face anywhere near either dorm, he decided to take a walk.
Harry threw open the portrait hole, much to the fat lady's surprise. She was caught entirely off-guard, and he heard shouts of 'A little violent, aren't we?' all the way down the corridor.
Harry started to pick up his pace once he had reached the end of the hallway, and was almost at a sprint when he reached the front doors.
He raced down the lawn, which was slightly damp now that night was falling.
Harry got to Hagrid's hut in mere minutes, and was standing by the door, preparing to knock when it burst open.
Standing there in shock was the largest person Harry knew.
"Arry? Wha are ye doin' 'ere this late at nigh'?"
He took a deep breath and stormed into his hut.
Harry sat down in one of the large-scale dining chairs and looked up at his friend.
Hagrid just stared at him, bewildered.
Finally, he decided to be welcoming and offered to make some tea and scones.
Harry accepted dismally, and it wasn't until he had been sitting in Hagrid's home for almost fifteen minutes that he started telling his story.
Hagrid listened to the whole thing, showing no emotion whatsoever.
"And then I just ran outta there," he finished.
A look of understanding was on his giant friend's face.
"Well, 'Arry, I dunno wha' ter tell ye."
He glared at Hagrid and nearly shouted, "WELL THEN WHAT AM I DOING HERE?"
Hagrid frowned and said solemnly, "Couldn't tell ye tha'."
Harry was furious. Why was he acting like this? He took a calming breath and looked quietly at Hagrid.
"I just dunno what to do," he said.
Hagrid was drinking out of some type of flask. Harry stared intently at the container.
The giant seemed to get the message. He offered some to Harry, who downed it in one go.
"Righ' then, we'll be needin' more o' that," he said, surprised.
As Hagrid made himself busy, Harry started to stammer on about his predicament. Hagrid went about refilling his canteen while Harry said, "I just ruined it all, Hagrid, mate. She's sure to hate me now."
But he didn't seem to be listening to the sixth year. Harry was starting to feel the effects of his drink.
"Hagrid! Are you even paying attention to what I'm saying?"
"Er, yeah, 'Arry. Go on."
Before Hagrid could protest, Harry took his new drink as well. He felt the fiery liquid going down his throat, and shook his head after he'd finished.
"There any more o' this stuff, 'Agrid?" he managed to spit out.
The adult looked worried, and said slowly, "No, 'Arry, you've 'ad enough o' that now."
Harry blew up at his friend.
"I'LL BLOODY TELL YOU WHEN I'VE HAD ENOUGH!"
Hagrid shrugged and let him finish off the rest of his supply, which was a surprising amount.
By the time Harry had gone through it all, he couldn't even see straight.
"Arry, mate, it's really time ye were getting' back to the school, ye've gotta be back afore nine, remember?"
Harry scowled and stood up.
"Well thanks for all YOUR help, 'Agrid," he said, stumbling towards the door.
"Ere, 'Arry, lemme help ye back,...."
But it was too late; Harry had already left.
*
*
*
Harry would never know how he found his way to the Gryffindor corridor. He was absolutely gone, and it was a miracle he could even stand.
He was trying to get down the hall, making quite a ruckus knocking over statues and pieces of armor, when he saw a picture swing from the wall in front of him.
'Interesting,' he thought.
"HARRY?" a voice whispered urgently. Someone had just emerged from behind that portrait of a very fat woman. Incredible.
"Ron? Is that you, mate?" he asked in wavering tones.
"Er, no," said the boy uncertainly, "I'm Dean, remember? Dean Thomas?"
Harry frowned at the tall boy and said plainly, "Where is she."
He didn't phrase it as a question, he just stated it.
Dean looked around uncomfortably, and said, "Who, Harry?"
Harry threw off Dean's advancement towards him as he tried to stop him from falling into the large portrait on the wall.
"Her," he replied while rolling his head, "Ginny."
Dean tried to talk Harry down by saying, "She's just inside, man, just c'mon in and I'll bring you to her...."
'NO!" Harry yelled. "You bring HER HERE."
Harry tried to sit defiantly on the bench by the wall, but he only succeeded in rolling off of the armrest.
He looked around for Dean, but couldn't see him.
Suddenly, the picture opened again. Out came three figures, two of which had flaming heads.
"Quick," Harry slurred, "Their hair's on fire, get some wat--"
But he just fell to the floor, only to be caught by Hermione.
"Hermy?" he asked, dazed.
"Yes," she replied exasperatedly, "It's me."
"Where Gin?" he asked.
"I dunno mate, but it looks like you've had your fair share of it," said the taller of the two flaming heads.
"Ron," scolded Hermy, "Just help me out. You too, Ginny."
"GINNY!" gasped Harry.
He lunged forward to the shortest person there, landing on top of her.
"OUCH, Harry, GET OFF ME!"
Harry rolled his eyes involuntarily and said, "Gin, why do we fight?"
"I do not know, Harry, but if you do not get off of me soon I might sustain permanent injuries," she said in a patient voice.
"We shouldn't fight," he continued, "I don't like it."
"Yes, well me neither, but HERMIONE HELP ME!"
The other two people came and pulled Harry off of her, and held him upright.
"GEROFF!" he grumbled, shaking them away, "I only wanna talk to her."
He tried to point in Ginny's general direction, but he only managed to lift his arm before half-collapsing again.
"HARRY!" they all shouted.
The three of them helped the drunken Harry stand, but he would only accept help from the younger Weasley.
So, Ginny shouldered most of the weight, and Hermione and Ron walked to the side, making sure Harry stayed upright.
They finally crawled through the portrait hole, up the stairs, and into his dorm.
They threw him on the bed and started drilling him.
"Harry," began Hermione, "where on EARTH did you find so much ALCOHOL!"
Harry looked at her defiantly and said, "Agrid."
Ginny looked at her brother and said sadly, "I should've known."
"Well, what're we gonna do NOW?" bellowed Ron.
"I guess we'll just have to keep him up here, you know,...."
"I can't look after him MYSELF!" said Ron.
"Well, I don't know what to tell you, but--"
"HOLD IT!" screamed Ginny.
Harry really wished she wouldn't scream. It really hurt his head.
"We'll all just stay here and watch him. We'll sleep in shifts."
Hermione looked at the younger girl and agreed.
Ron was the only one who was taken aback, but he agreed to have the two girls sleep in the room with them in the end.
"What about pajamas?" asked Hermione.
"What about them?" the Weasleys replied.
"Well, he can't just sleep in his day clothes."
All three of them looked at each other, and suddenly Ron shouted, "ABC OUT!"
"Ron, you're such a child--" Ginny started, but was cut off by Hermione's addition to the game as she yelled it.
"Oh, honestly, both of you," she said irritably.
Ginny turned and looked down on a now sound asleep Harry.
She reached down and took off his sweater and shirt, and was met with his deliciously toned upper body. She mentally slapped herself. After all, they were in a fight.
She the proceeded to undo his belt, feeling increasingly more uncomfortable. Ginny then unzipped and slid off his pants, revealing his dark navy boxers.
'Whoa.'
Hermione sensed her stalling and came over to help her, but seeing as his socks were the last thing to take off they were done relatively quickly. They decided to let him sleep in his undergarments, feeling they would be over-invasive by re-dressing him.
After Harry was safely under his covers, Ron conjured two cots and sleeping bags for the girls. Hermione let Ginny have the prettier pink one, and took the blue for herself.
*
*
Ginny lay awake, staring at the ceiling. Her thoughts drifted from Harry, to Harry, to, well, Harry....
Just then she head him stirring. She sat up to see what was going on, only to see him sitting against the wall, clutching his stomach.
"Harry?" she whispered.
His head turned towards her slowly, and then he gave her a forced smile.
"I'm never drinking that much again. I feel like shit."
"Oh, Harry," she said, sighing, "Come here."
When his attempt at moving failed, she crawled up and sat next to him, patting him on the back.
"You gonna be okay?" she asked.
Harry closed his eyes, and said painfully, "I think I'm gonna be sick."
Ginny, thinking quickly, transfigured a nearby water glass into a large bucket. She then handed it to Harry, who kept it at his opposite side.
"Gin, I'm sorry."
She looked up at him, tears in her eyes.
"Me, too."
He let out a long sigh and closed his eyes again.
Ginny made to snuggle up next to him, but he pulled her in extremely close.
"Thank you," he said, with breath that reeked of bourbon.
"No problem," she replied sweetly.
"Ginny, there's something I need to tell you."
She looked at his dark green eyes, which were surprisingly clear.
"Yes?" she whispered carefully, not wanting to break eye contact. If it was possible, he looked even better without his glasses.
"Ginny I--"
"Yes?"
"I--"
Ginny looked at him intently, seeing something bad was about to happen.
Suddenly, he lunged forward and retched into the provided bucket.
Disappointed, Ginny patted his back and looked to get Hermione.
But she wasn't on her cot.
In fact, Ginny didn't see her anywhere on the floor.
Her eyes swept the surroundings, finally resting on a mass of brown hair.
Not surprisingly, it was nesting next to a small crop of bright red hair.
'Well, it's about time,' thought Ginny.
Hermione and Ron were sharing a bed, but there was definitely a little movement coming from under the covers.
Disgusted, Ginny got up and closed the drapes slowly, closing her brother and her friend in the confines of his sleeping space.
Ginny went back to sit by Harry, who was nearly asleep.
"C'mere," he said groggily.
She went over to sit by him, and he wrapped his arms around her torso.
And that is how they fell asleep, Harry and Ginny sharing a bed, and Ron and Hermione sharing one.
It was such a peaceful slumber; no one expected the turmoil of the morning.
*
*
The three of them stood there in silence.
It was down to Ginny. Who would she vote for? Would she go for Ron, her brother, or Harry, her, well....
Ginny looked frantically between the two of them. The boys just stared at her.
"Well?" questioned Ron.
Ginny's gaze swept across the room, looking for an alternative. She looked incredibly uncomfortable. "Er,...."
Ron gave her an expectant look. Harry stood there, stock-still, absolutely terrified. Surely she would pick family over him?
Ginny looked at her brother almost apologetically and blurted out, "Harry."
Ron was shocked by this statement. He had lost the captain's position by one vote, which had been his sister's. And what was worse, she had picked his best friend instead....
Trying to recover quickly, Ron looked up at the ceiling and said, "Fine. Congratulations, Harry."
Harry looked at his friend, not knowing what to do. He could tell Ron was not happy.
"No, Ron, see, you can be captain, really, I--"
Ronald cut him off with, "Don't try to be all NOBLE, then. You won, get over it."
And with that, Ron trumped up the stairs, his ears burning red from behind.
*
"What was that all about?" Harry demanded.
Ginny turned to him, looking completely bewildered.
"I would have thought you'd want me to vote for you, Harry--"
Harry gave her a look of contempt. She got very red in the face and started to stutter.
"WHY did you do that?!" he asked, raging with fury.
Ginny rolled her eyes and replied, "It's not like I chose you because of, well, you know,....I just really think you're better at Quidditch is all."
This answer wasn't satisfying enough for him, though.
"Yeah? Well, now Ron's mad at me on top of everything else, and you don't even--"
At this point, Ginny was about to burst.
"DON'T YOU TALK TO ME LIKE IT'S MY FAULT!" she screamed.
"WELL IT IS!!" Harry shot back.
At this point, they had about the entire common room staring at them.
"WELL HARRY, YOU CAN GO TO HELL FOR ALL I CARE!"
Harry calmed down immediately and looked at the girl. But she had had enough. Ginny followed in her brother's footsteps and ran up to her dormitory.
Well, now he'd blown it. Both of the Weasleys were angry with him, and it was only about 6:30. He hadn't meant to get mad at Ginny like that....But it had just come out.
Harry glanced around the room, trying to see if Hermione was anywhere nearby. But then he realized that she had already retired for the night. Not wanting to show his face anywhere near either dorm, he decided to take a walk.
Harry threw open the portrait hole, much to the fat lady's surprise. She was caught entirely off-guard, and he heard shouts of 'A little violent, aren't we?' all the way down the corridor.
Harry started to pick up his pace once he had reached the end of the hallway, and was almost at a sprint when he reached the front doors.
He raced down the lawn, which was slightly damp now that night was falling.
Harry got to Hagrid's hut in mere minutes, and was standing by the door, preparing to knock when it burst open.
Standing there in shock was the largest person Harry knew.
"Arry? Wha are ye doin' 'ere this late at nigh'?"
He took a deep breath and stormed into his hut.
Harry sat down in one of the large-scale dining chairs and looked up at his friend.
Hagrid just stared at him, bewildered.
Finally, he decided to be welcoming and offered to make some tea and scones.
Harry accepted dismally, and it wasn't until he had been sitting in Hagrid's home for almost fifteen minutes that he started telling his story.
Hagrid listened to the whole thing, showing no emotion whatsoever.
"And then I just ran outta there," he finished.
A look of understanding was on his giant friend's face.
"Well, 'Arry, I dunno wha' ter tell ye."
He glared at Hagrid and nearly shouted, "WELL THEN WHAT AM I DOING HERE?"
Hagrid frowned and said solemnly, "Couldn't tell ye tha'."
Harry was furious. Why was he acting like this? He took a calming breath and looked quietly at Hagrid.
"I just dunno what to do," he said.
Hagrid was drinking out of some type of flask. Harry stared intently at the container.
The giant seemed to get the message. He offered some to Harry, who downed it in one go.
"Righ' then, we'll be needin' more o' that," he said, surprised.
As Hagrid made himself busy, Harry started to stammer on about his predicament. Hagrid went about refilling his canteen while Harry said, "I just ruined it all, Hagrid, mate. She's sure to hate me now."
But he didn't seem to be listening to the sixth year. Harry was starting to feel the effects of his drink.
"Hagrid! Are you even paying attention to what I'm saying?"
"Er, yeah, 'Arry. Go on."
Before Hagrid could protest, Harry took his new drink as well. He felt the fiery liquid going down his throat, and shook his head after he'd finished.
"There any more o' this stuff, 'Agrid?" he managed to spit out.
The adult looked worried, and said slowly, "No, 'Arry, you've 'ad enough o' that now."
Harry blew up at his friend.
"I'LL BLOODY TELL YOU WHEN I'VE HAD ENOUGH!"
Hagrid shrugged and let him finish off the rest of his supply, which was a surprising amount.
By the time Harry had gone through it all, he couldn't even see straight.
"Arry, mate, it's really time ye were getting' back to the school, ye've gotta be back afore nine, remember?"
Harry scowled and stood up.
"Well thanks for all YOUR help, 'Agrid," he said, stumbling towards the door.
"Ere, 'Arry, lemme help ye back,...."
But it was too late; Harry had already left.
*
*
*
Harry would never know how he found his way to the Gryffindor corridor. He was absolutely gone, and it was a miracle he could even stand.
He was trying to get down the hall, making quite a ruckus knocking over statues and pieces of armor, when he saw a picture swing from the wall in front of him.
'Interesting,' he thought.
"HARRY?" a voice whispered urgently. Someone had just emerged from behind that portrait of a very fat woman. Incredible.
"Ron? Is that you, mate?" he asked in wavering tones.
"Er, no," said the boy uncertainly, "I'm Dean, remember? Dean Thomas?"
Harry frowned at the tall boy and said plainly, "Where is she."
He didn't phrase it as a question, he just stated it.
Dean looked around uncomfortably, and said, "Who, Harry?"
Harry threw off Dean's advancement towards him as he tried to stop him from falling into the large portrait on the wall.
"Her," he replied while rolling his head, "Ginny."
Dean tried to talk Harry down by saying, "She's just inside, man, just c'mon in and I'll bring you to her...."
'NO!" Harry yelled. "You bring HER HERE."
Harry tried to sit defiantly on the bench by the wall, but he only succeeded in rolling off of the armrest.
He looked around for Dean, but couldn't see him.
Suddenly, the picture opened again. Out came three figures, two of which had flaming heads.
"Quick," Harry slurred, "Their hair's on fire, get some wat--"
But he just fell to the floor, only to be caught by Hermione.
"Hermy?" he asked, dazed.
"Yes," she replied exasperatedly, "It's me."
"Where Gin?" he asked.
"I dunno mate, but it looks like you've had your fair share of it," said the taller of the two flaming heads.
"Ron," scolded Hermy, "Just help me out. You too, Ginny."
"GINNY!" gasped Harry.
He lunged forward to the shortest person there, landing on top of her.
"OUCH, Harry, GET OFF ME!"
Harry rolled his eyes involuntarily and said, "Gin, why do we fight?"
"I do not know, Harry, but if you do not get off of me soon I might sustain permanent injuries," she said in a patient voice.
"We shouldn't fight," he continued, "I don't like it."
"Yes, well me neither, but HERMIONE HELP ME!"
The other two people came and pulled Harry off of her, and held him upright.
"GEROFF!" he grumbled, shaking them away, "I only wanna talk to her."
He tried to point in Ginny's general direction, but he only managed to lift his arm before half-collapsing again.
"HARRY!" they all shouted.
The three of them helped the drunken Harry stand, but he would only accept help from the younger Weasley.
So, Ginny shouldered most of the weight, and Hermione and Ron walked to the side, making sure Harry stayed upright.
They finally crawled through the portrait hole, up the stairs, and into his dorm.
They threw him on the bed and started drilling him.
"Harry," began Hermione, "where on EARTH did you find so much ALCOHOL!"
Harry looked at her defiantly and said, "Agrid."
Ginny looked at her brother and said sadly, "I should've known."
"Well, what're we gonna do NOW?" bellowed Ron.
"I guess we'll just have to keep him up here, you know,...."
"I can't look after him MYSELF!" said Ron.
"Well, I don't know what to tell you, but--"
"HOLD IT!" screamed Ginny.
Harry really wished she wouldn't scream. It really hurt his head.
"We'll all just stay here and watch him. We'll sleep in shifts."
Hermione looked at the younger girl and agreed.
Ron was the only one who was taken aback, but he agreed to have the two girls sleep in the room with them in the end.
"What about pajamas?" asked Hermione.
"What about them?" the Weasleys replied.
"Well, he can't just sleep in his day clothes."
All three of them looked at each other, and suddenly Ron shouted, "ABC OUT!"
"Ron, you're such a child--" Ginny started, but was cut off by Hermione's addition to the game as she yelled it.
"Oh, honestly, both of you," she said irritably.
Ginny turned and looked down on a now sound asleep Harry.
She reached down and took off his sweater and shirt, and was met with his deliciously toned upper body. She mentally slapped herself. After all, they were in a fight.
She the proceeded to undo his belt, feeling increasingly more uncomfortable. Ginny then unzipped and slid off his pants, revealing his dark navy boxers.
'Whoa.'
Hermione sensed her stalling and came over to help her, but seeing as his socks were the last thing to take off they were done relatively quickly. They decided to let him sleep in his undergarments, feeling they would be over-invasive by re-dressing him.
After Harry was safely under his covers, Ron conjured two cots and sleeping bags for the girls. Hermione let Ginny have the prettier pink one, and took the blue for herself.
*
*
Ginny lay awake, staring at the ceiling. Her thoughts drifted from Harry, to Harry, to, well, Harry....
Just then she head him stirring. She sat up to see what was going on, only to see him sitting against the wall, clutching his stomach.
"Harry?" she whispered.
His head turned towards her slowly, and then he gave her a forced smile.
"I'm never drinking that much again. I feel like shit."
"Oh, Harry," she said, sighing, "Come here."
When his attempt at moving failed, she crawled up and sat next to him, patting him on the back.
"You gonna be okay?" she asked.
Harry closed his eyes, and said painfully, "I think I'm gonna be sick."
Ginny, thinking quickly, transfigured a nearby water glass into a large bucket. She then handed it to Harry, who kept it at his opposite side.
"Gin, I'm sorry."
She looked up at him, tears in her eyes.
"Me, too."
He let out a long sigh and closed his eyes again.
Ginny made to snuggle up next to him, but he pulled her in extremely close.
"Thank you," he said, with breath that reeked of bourbon.
"No problem," she replied sweetly.
"Ginny, there's something I need to tell you."
She looked at his dark green eyes, which were surprisingly clear.
"Yes?" she whispered carefully, not wanting to break eye contact. If it was possible, he looked even better without his glasses.
"Ginny I--"
"Yes?"
"I--"
Ginny looked at him intently, seeing something bad was about to happen.
Suddenly, he lunged forward and retched into the provided bucket.
Disappointed, Ginny patted his back and looked to get Hermione.
But she wasn't on her cot.
In fact, Ginny didn't see her anywhere on the floor.
Her eyes swept the surroundings, finally resting on a mass of brown hair.
Not surprisingly, it was nesting next to a small crop of bright red hair.
'Well, it's about time,' thought Ginny.
Hermione and Ron were sharing a bed, but there was definitely a little movement coming from under the covers.
Disgusted, Ginny got up and closed the drapes slowly, closing her brother and her friend in the confines of his sleeping space.
Ginny went back to sit by Harry, who was nearly asleep.
"C'mere," he said groggily.
She went over to sit by him, and he wrapped his arms around her torso.
And that is how they fell asleep, Harry and Ginny sharing a bed, and Ron and Hermione sharing one.
It was such a peaceful slumber; no one expected the turmoil of the morning.