HP= Harry Potter YGO = Yu Gi Oh ET= E.T. JR =JOLLIE_RANCHER SS = Severus Snape MV =Mysterious Voice JW= Joey Wheeler RW =Ron Weasly YB =Yami Bakura HG = Hermione Granger

JR: Hello all! Faith_Kitty is being lazy and is sleeping instead of helping with the authors notes so it's just me for now unless she drags her lazy posterior out of bed some time soon.

HG: That's not a very nice thing to say about your friend.

RW: Yeah, and what are we, chopped liver.

SS: Oohh! Interesting mental image. *Piece of liver with Ron's head on it being chopped up by a large knife.*

JR: You think that's interesting, you should see my mental image when someone mentions ground beef. *thought bubble appears: Large cartoon cow gets hit with large mallet with spikes and ground into the ground.*

YB: You have a sick and twisted mind. Marry Me!?!

ET: Wow, where did that come from!

YGO: Not sure, but interesting twist.

YB: Shut up you dumb heads I'm trying to get an answer.

JR: Let me think..... NO!

YB: But but why?

JR: First of all you can't insult and second of all you kinda creep me out.

YB: Stupid dumb girl I don't need you anyways. *Goes and sulks in a corner*

SS: Pathetic, sniveling, worthless prat.

ET: Oh, be nice he just misses his hikari, poor thing.

YB: *From corner* Do not stupid!

YGO: Leave him be he'll snap out of it sooner or later and start trying to take over the world again if you give him time.

HP: I don't get it why is everyone so bent on taking over the world and why do their plans always seem to involve killing me?!?!

JR: Well you'll all just have to read on to find out!

JW: Why dose it always have to involve reading? Reading makes my head hurt.

MV: Every kind of mental activity makes your head hurt Joey. Jollie_Rancher, just do the disclaimer and leave everyone alone please.

JR: If you want it done do it yourself.

MV: Fine! Faith_Kitty and Jollie_Rancher don't own any thing in this fic. Not any of the previous parts and not any of the future parts.

Into The Mists
By: Faith_Kitty and Jollie_Rancher

Chapter Fourteen: The Britt Bug

Harry was staring out of the window as Ron fidgeted restlessly on his bed. Each lost in his own train of thought neither knowing how closely related they were to the other's.

"Harry, what do you think the girls are doing?" Ron finally asked.

"Whatever girls normally do when their alone I suppose. Maybe they're talking about guy problems, how best to do their hair, or how to keep their nails from breaking." Harry replied rather glumly.

"Oh, I suppose you're right." Ron said and returned to his fidgeting. "Hay, Harry? Do you suppose thy might be talking about us?"

"I suppose it's possible..." Harry said trailing off into his own thoughts. "Really Ron, how would I know what they're talking about?" Harry spat seeming agitated.

"What's eatin' you?" Ron asked grabbing a sugar quill and looking offended. "It's my sister isn't it?" Harry began to absently nod then stopped and scowled at Ron. "It's not like I'm mad I think it's kinda cool. And you are way better than some of the guys she's dated."

"It's not your approval I'm worried about." He said turning back to the window.

"So ask her then." Ron said trying to be helpful. "I mean at least you'll know. What's the worst that could happen?"

"You mean besides her saying no and my heart shattering into a million pieces and me keeling over dead right there on the spot?" Harry countered. As he finished his dramatic overstatement Dean Thomas entered the room with a broad grin that faded as he heard Harry's last few words.

"I do say Harry, old chap, If your feeling under the weather you should go see Madam Pomphrey." Said the young man before them, his smile slowly returning. Both Harry and Ron looked up in shock. Harry's face immediately took on a scowl, Dean Thomas was the last person in the world he wanted to see right now and his stupid smile was driving Harry crazy.

"I'm feeling fine Dean." Harry said through clenched teeth.

"Oh dear, does this have anything to do with the girls being in Hogsmeade with Estel?" He asked not waiting for an answer. "Don't worry girls will say many things to each other behind our backs but never to our faces. They just like to vent they don't mean half of it. So cheer up chaps its not the end of the world." Ron was staring at him open mouthed and Harry continued to scowl.

"You have IT, don't you?" Ron asked pointing an accusing finger at Dean. Harry looked at Ron in confusion then understanding dawned in his eyes. It had to be. Over the past few weeks different people would begin speaking with a strange mannerism and giving unusually good advice. Collin while under the influence of this strange phenomenon had managed to condole Moaning Myrtle after a frightened first year had screamed and sent her into hysterics.

Ron pressed. "You have the Britt Bug."

"Um, oh, uh, why would you think something like that old chap? Well I best leave...I've taken up to much of you time as it is. So, Cheerio then lads." Dean, or rather Ryou, spun around and basically ran from the room.

"That was weird." Ron said returning to his sugar quill.

"Definitely." Harry agreed then thought for a moment. "Okay Ron, I'll make a deal with you. I'll ask Ginny but on one condition."

"What's that?" Ron asked warily.

"You have to ask Hermione."

"Hermione! Harry what makes you think I like her. And even if I do, which I'm not saying mind you, what even makes you think she'll say yes?" Ron's voice rose in panic.

"Come on Ron, the whole school knows you like her. And she will definitely say yes, I over heard Parvati and Lavender talking about it the other day." The exasperation was evident in his voice. "So is it a deal?" Harry extended his hand to Ron who hesitated.

"It's a deal." He finally said taking Harry's hand. "But you have to ask first."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Men are so STUPID!" The red-head grumbled to the two girls sharing the room with her.

"Can't argue that." Hermione said, not looking up from painting her toes.
"I'm afraid that even after, and perhaps especially after, several hundred years of research, I have come to the conclusion that testosterone has negative effects on the human brain." Estel said removing a bright green sucker from her mouth. Then, rolling on her stomach she looked over at her two students. Ginny flipped her hair for the zillionth time that night. "Hey, Ginny, you want me to show you something really cool you can do with your hair to impress Harry?"

"Sure." she said smiling. Ginny walked over to where Estel sat on the bed. Folding her legs in front of her she settled down to her professor's feet. Grabbing a fistful of Ginny's firey mane, she began braiding.

"So, which guy is so stupid right now?"

"Harry! I've have tried everything I can think of to get him to ask me out and he still won't."

"What all have you tried?" Hermione asked.

"EVERYTHING! I've fallen into his arms on 'accident,' I've asked for help in herbology."

"How did that go?" Her teacher asked her.

"He told me to go ask Neville." she replied glumly.

"Idiot." Someone muttered.

"What about helping you with DADA?" Hermione asked brightly. "He can't deny he's the best at that."

"Wanna bet. He sent me to Ron." she dead-panned. Suddenly Estel shrieked.

"What is it?" the other two cried.

"Ginny, I broke my nail in your hair! What were you using for hair spray yesterday?!?"

"I wasn't!" she grumbled.

"Here, let me" Hermione said coming over "Chitinous Viscous." Estel's nail was suddenly back to it's previous perfect shape. "I picked it up in my fourth year from Parvati. But don't tell that twit I actually learned something from her, I'll never live it down. I wanted to make Ron jealous at the Yule Ball."

"You know, I would love to have your kind of magic." Estel siad wistfully.

"You mean that you don't?" Ginny asked.

"No, you can't have regular magic and shadow magic. Shadow magic is the opposite of regular magic. But, I almost wish I could have your kind. I mean, since I love Yu Gi, I need Shadow Magic, 'cause your kind can't really defend against Shadow Magic, but all you can do with Shadow Magic is fight. I mean I can't use it for my hair, or my nails, or anything."

"Well, think how I feel." Hermione whined. "I love a complete klutz. No offense Ginny, but even you have to admit Ron is a bit of an idiot. No amount of magic can make a klutz graceful."

"Yeah, well Harry keeps rushing to get himself killed. At least Ron will only risk his neck if Harry does." Ginny groused.

"That's not saying much. Harry has a hero complex." Estel pointed out. "And you want to see hero complex look at my Yu Gi. He thinks that if he trips on his shoelaces the world will fall apart."

"Well, Ron doesn't have a hero complex, his is more like a sidekick- who-wants-to-be-the-hero complex." Hermione admitted.

"This is depressing. Hey! I just remembered I brought some muggle chocolate! You two want some?" Estel said brightly.

"I hope Ron never finds out you do stuff the muggle way. He's worse than Dad!" Ginny giggled, sighing dramatically. When Hermione looked over and saw the comic look on her face she started laughing, almost spewing the butterbeer she had just sipped from. This sent Estel into giggle fits.

"Oh," Ginny gasped, "I can't breathe!"

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

A few weeks later on a Saturday morning Ginny entered the Great Hall to find it in a state of total chaos. It had been like this every day since Ron and Harry had dueled for Malfoy's soul. From every direction came shouts of, "You have the Britt Bug!" And, "What? I don't have the Britt Bug you do!" And "Imposter, you're not Kasandra, you're the Britt Bug!" Each of which was followed by a denial of some sort. Harry, Ginny, and Ron ate very little. They were playing Slytherin today and all three were bundles of nerves. Angelina, the team captain, on the other hand was inhaling a large portion of eggs.

"Angelina!" Ginny gasped. "What are you doing? You're going to make yourself sick!"

"Oh, so sorry mates. It's a habit I picked up from hanging around Joey and Tristan so much. With them if you don't eat fast you don't eat at all." Angelina replied with a large smile on her face. This was not like her at all. Normally before a match she had one piece of toast, a glass of orange juice and she never smiled. And noone had any idea who Joey and Tristan were.

"Who?" They all asked in confused unison.

"Oh, just some chaps from back home." She replied. Recognition dawned in the eyes of every one.

"She has the Britt Bug." Ron said despairingly voicing the thoughts and fears of the rest of the group.

"Me? Oh, uh, well I believe I'm supposed to participate in some sort of sporting contest to day so, um, cheerio then."

"Why did you have to get the Britt Bug today of all days Angelina?" Alicia asked.

"What? I don't have the Britt Bug. Are you feeling alright Alicia?" Angelina asked dumbfounded. They each breathed a sigh of relief.

"But you did have it." Ron insisted.

"Enough of this Britt Bug talk. Lets just focus on the fact that Dumbledore got Harry's ban lifted in time for the game against Slytherin." She said putting an end to the discussion.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Hermione watched from the stands as the game got under way. It was vicious from the moment the two teams stepped on to the field glaring daggers at each other. The score stayed close and neither team seemed to be able to get a definite upper hand. Ginny scored three goals in as many minuets and Ron made several spectacular saves but it wasn't enough. It quickly became clear that the out come of the game was in the hands of the two seekers, Harry Potter and Draco Malfoy. Harry had the superior broom but Draco was not above dirty, underhanded tactics. Both eyed each other with wariness, disgust, and open hatred.

Harry saw a glint of gold to his left. Turning his broom slightly he dove for the golden snitch. Behind him he could hear Malfoy doing the same. Then, just as he reached out his hand to grasp the tiny treasure, he heard behind him, "Avada Cadavera!" He froze momentarily in mid air and his blood ran cold like ice in his veins. From the corner of his eye he saw a green flash. It was over in an instant.

JR: A cliffy. MUWAHAHAHAHAHAH!!!!

ME: Don't you love that last little touch at the end? BTW so sorry we haven't done this in a while.

HG: I can't take the suspense! Is Harry going to die!

HP: You can't stand it? My life is the one hanging in jeopardy!

YB: You stupid heads! I'm the one finally doing something in this dumb story. I like it!

SS: Yeah, you're stinking it up with your foul insults if you can call them that.

YB: Who asked you? Ya stupid dumb duh head!

ME: Look! He said something besides stupid head! (Promptly faints)

JR: Congrats! You added the word duh to your repertoire.

JW: Huh? Whats that?

YGO: It means he knows a new word.

JW: Oh, Thanks Yug. My head was startin' ta hurt for a minute there.

RW: And you guys say I'm bad. *Glares at Harry and Hermione.*

JW: What's that supposed ta mean, huh?!?!? ARGH!

HG: Ron I apologize profusely for all the times I accused you of being the dumbest guy on earth I was wrong and I see that now.

YGO: Haha! You know Hermione, I never believed in evolution, but then a few years ago I met Joey. That pretty much convinced me.

JW: I don't get it. We never talked about evolution.

YGO: Don't worry about it Joey. You'll get it one day.

JW: Oh, okay Yug.

MV: Ask for reviews already and get Faith_Kitty to a doctor.

JR: You don't think she has a concussion do you?

MV: Do I look like a doctor to you?

YGO: I think she may have had a heart attack when Yami Bakura came up with something besides "stupid dumb stupid head."

JR: In response to your question Mysterious Voice, yes you do look like a doctor.

MV: How can you say that? You can't even see me?!?!?!

JR: Well my imagined version of you looks like a doctor. *Thought bubble: Dark shadow with a stethoscope.*

ET: Uh, I hate to interrupt, but reviews then doctor.

MV: Yeah, what she said.

JR: Oh, yeah. R&R you know the drill. *Turns and starts trying to lift Faith_Kitty* Someone help I have no upper body strength and she's heavy!

ME: *miraculously okay for two seconds* I'm not that heavy. *passes out again.*