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Shout-Outs: (to those who reviewed, even though the chapter was not finished)
Dolphingirl79: You'll get the results here, I believe… So glad you read and thanks so much!
sarah-mason19: I love your reviews—they make me feel so peppy! I did double voices with Ginny, so I thought it only fair that we take a close peek at Harry's internal struggles. Thanks for reviewing my songfics, does this mean you're LDS too? I love Saturday's Warrior; it's so corny it's hilarious! As for italics and bold (I love this question 'cause it was a nightmare for me to find out), all I do is write my document exactly how I want it, and then I save it as a web page (click the little drop box at the bottom), and voilá! Thanks again for reviewing!
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moonlightandroses: That's such a gorgeous penname! And since you asked so sweetly, I shall update! Continue below…
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Serpentspawn: I liked that dream part myself… Thanks for reviewing!
Thimbles
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Harry walked dazedly up the stairs back to his dormitory. What happens if this doesn't work? Let's see, Ron and Hermione will ignore each other forever, not to mention Ginny will probably never forgive you…
"I will succeed," Harry muttered to himself, wiping his clammy palms on his pajama bottoms. He didn't want to think of what would happen if it didn't work. He trudged determinedly over to Ron's bed and yanked back the maroon hangings. The rings in the curtains made a large clacking sound. "Shut up!"
Ron was sleeping peacefully, despite the large scowl that was present on his face, his red hair flopping against his freckled forehead. Wow, he's even angry when he sleeps…Harry reached out and grasped his shoulder, attempting to shake him awake. Ron mumbled and turned over, smacking Harry in the face with his flailing arm.
"Ow!" Harry yelled, and tugged Ron out of bed so hard, he tumbled on to the floor cracking his head on the floorboard. Ron leaped up, his fists beating the air. He hollered in pain. The other occupants of the room were so well-used to Ron's unnecessary shouting that they didn't even stir a toe.
"Oy, who did that?" Ron bellowed, turning on Harry. "Oh, it's you—What do you want?" Harry rubbed his nose that he could tell was going to be bruised.
"I think you put my nose out of business," Harry said in a muffled voice. "I just wanted to tell you that we've got a Hogsmeade trip scheduled for today, and since you and Hermione are sort of on a 'break', I figured we could make a Guys Only day of it. What do you say?" Please, please don't let him figure out this is all a trick…Make him think I'm serious…
"Are you serious?" Ron asked skeptically. "Wouldn't you rather go with Ginny?" Of course I would, you dumb nut…But she already got me roped into this INSTEAD!
"She's going to take Hermione out, so it's just you and me," Harry said, hoping against hope. He saw Ron's shoulder's slump almost imperceptibly. Does this mean he's sorry?
"Fine, we'll go after breakfast," Ron agreed finally. "They got pancakes and sausage this morning!"
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
"We'll meet up with you by Honeydukes in three hours!" Ginny hissed to Harry before she was lost in the crowd that was rushing to the village. Harry turned to see Ron walking stiffly, his arms crossed across his chest.
"Hey mate! Bloody brilliant today," Harry attempted conversation. Ron just looked at him.
"What makes you all chipper today?" Ron asked grumpily. Merlin, no wonder Hermione has no patience with you…To each his (or her) own, I suppose…
"No girls, no nagging," Harry said happily. "Three Broomsticks up ahead and butterbeer." If he doesn't buy that, then I don't know what will…
"I'll hand that much to you," Ron said, grudgingly. "In fact, that does sound good. Last one there is one of Hagrid's flobberworms!" Harry lost. Ron, with his long, lanky legs, beat him by several strides. Panting, they entered the large cheery room, with its large bar, and the smell of fresh bread and warm butterbeer. Harry ordered two mugs and carefully hefted them over to the table where Ron sat moping.
"Here you are," Harry said, sitting down. "How's life?" Ron grunted incoherently. Yep, he loves her but he won't admit it…
"Stupid bloody Bulgarian," Ron muttered angrily. "Why won't he just leave her alone?" Merlin, grant me courage…
"Er—Ron? Have you ever thought that maybe Hermione wrote back to tell him no?" Harry asked. Ron lifted his head and snorted, before gulping a huge amount of butterbeer down.
"So why didn't she tell me?" he asked loudly. You really are thick…
"Because she knew you'd react this way?" Harry said helpfully.
"I would not!" Ron shouted, earning a few curious gazes. "What makes her think I'd react?!!"
"Keep it down, you git!" Harry ordered. "Why don't you just apologize?"
"And get my head ripped off?" Ron asked indignantly. "No thanks." Okay, let's try a new angle…This one obviously is not working at all…
"What would you do to me if I hurt Ginny?" Harry asked. This had better work…
"First, I'd rip your head off, then I'd dump you in the lake," Ron said relishing these words. "Then I'd pull you out, and leave you to Fred and George, after that Bill and Charlie would have a go at you, and probably Percy too… Of course, Mum and Dad would want turns too. Why?" Harry gulped. I solemnly swear that I will not hurt Ginny…
"It just occurred to me that Hermione is one of my very best friends. I happen to care about her very much, so much that I consider her to be like a sister to me," Harry said, letting Ron ponder these words.
"Yeah, so?" Ron said sullenly. Oh, good…Maybe this means he's breaking…
"So, I don't like seeing her hurt, or crying, or not eating," Harry said, watching Ron's face. It fell a little. "So if you don't get your act together and apologize, I'm just going to have to do everything you just told me—to you!" Harry swallowed a mouthful of butterbeer and waited for Ron to say something. There was stony silence. Then Ron let out a loud breath.
"All right, I'll tell her I'm sorry, but only if she does too," Ron said, running his hand through his hair.
"Well, I reckon that's better than nothing," Harry agreed. "Let's go to Zonko's and then Honeydukes." Ron nodded and Harry flipped a coin and they emerged into the cool October air.
Zonko's was packed with students loading up on new torments with which to plague Filch. Happy shouts and exclamations filled the warm shop. Ron and Harry each got a large bag of dungbombs, a dispenser of disposable mud puddles, and cans that would spray countless numbers of questionable odors (all you had to do was tell it what to spray… "Eau de Skunk"). Ron seemed to be largely cheered up by the fact that they had all of these pranks to use. After paying for their orders, with their moneybags considerably lighter, they headed down the cobbled road towards the delectable scents that heralded the Kingdom of Sweets, Honeydukes.
Harry breathed in the wonderful smell of rich chocolate, sugar quills, Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans, and Drooble's Best Blowing Gum. This was the life, gold and candy, and what more could you want? Ron was examining the new trays of Acid Pops, with the chocolate center ("How many licks does it take to get to the center of the Acid Pop?") and debating whether he should buy any. Harry bought a bar of Honeydukes best chocolate, a box of sugar quills, and a huge bag of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans, and at the last minute, bought a strawberry flavored Acid Pop. Ron duplicated his purchase, except for the fact that he also bought a big bag of the new Every Color Chews ("Transform your skin to match your outfit!").
"I don't need skin to match my eyes, thanks very much," Harry said, thinking of Malfoy's taunts. No siree…
They headed out of the doors and Harry spotted Ginny across the street talking to Hermione. Her hair was blowing gently in the breeze and he caught his breath. Whoa, there…It is just hair, you know…Excuse me? That is Ginny's hair, mate…Good point…
"Come on Ron," Harry urged. Ron had fallen back when he saw Hermione outside. "Do you want her to be mad at you forever?" Ron gritted his teeth and followed Harry across the road. The two girls were giggling madly when the boys arrived.
"Oh, he was gorgeous," said Ginny dreamily. Say what? Why I ought to…Slow down, let us remember what happened to Ron when he spoke too soon…Oh, right…
"I agree," Hermione said loudly, tossing her brown curls when she spotted Ron. "I wouldn't mind a thimble from Jeremy Sumpter, that's for sure." They both fell into peals of laughter. Ron's face was turning red. Shut up, Ron…Don't say anything!
"Who the bloody hell is Jeremy Sumpter?" Ron asked angrily. Ginny glanced at him and smiled.
"Really cute guy we just saw," Ginny grinned. Hermione turned to hide her smile. What is going on?
"What does she want from him?" Ron sputtered. He didn't notice Hermione's shoulders shaking with mirth.
"Just a kiss, Ron, no need to get upset," soothed Ginny, winking at Harry.
"Where is he? I'll kill him," Ron shouted, his ears turning red.
"Ron calm down," Harry finally spoke up. Can't get a word in edgewise with these two around…
"He actually lives in America," Ginny informed him. This seemed to enrage Ron even more.
"I knew she'd fall for a foreigner!" Ron cried. Hermione turned around at this.
"Don't be ridiculous, Ron!" she scolded. "That's not how it is!" Uhhhh-Ohhhh…
"Well, then, how is it?" he asked. Hermione thought for a second.
"You see—Actually, he and I--" Hermione began. Ron held up his hand.
"Don't waste your breath, I know what you think," he said angrily.
"If you would shut your mouth for once, I could tell you!" Hermione lost her temper and shouted at him. Ron opened his mouth and closed it, and then turned his back.
"Fine!" Hermione shot at his spine. "'Bye Harry, Ginny, I'll see you later." She stormed off towards the castle.
"Goodbye!" Ron yelled at her retreating back. "Good riddance." He turned to see Ginny's and Harry's shocked faces. He shrugged and the scowl was back on his face.
"She just has a thing for foreigners, doesn't she?" and without another word, he headed off into the village in the opposite direction.
"I figure this calls for Plan B," Harry said stunned. "He was all ready to apologize too." Ginny turned to him and threw her arms around his neck. Interesting turn of events…Can't complain, though…Nope…
"Aw, cheer up, Harry," Ginny said, sending him an endearing smile. There she goes again…I won't stop her…"How about you give me a thimble?"
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A/N- Sorry guys, I lied, this particular vignette will be in three parts instead of two. Check for the next one pretty soon. I'll explain the Jeremy Sumpter part next time.
Please review and tell me what you think. You have no idea how much I crave feedback…
I love you all,
Margaret