AN: I can't believe the reviews I've got. You guys make my day.
I am so so sooooooooooo sorry about the wait but the last week has just
been really full.
Disclaimer: The Earth is flat, grass is purple and I own HP. What a great parallel universe that would be.
Chapter 4- I Am So Fired
This was it. The carriage had pulled up in front of the castle and luckily all the doormen were busy. Hermione was still in too much shock to explain how the horses had been guided without a driver. Inside she could hear music playing and people laughing as she gathered her thoughts and tried to bring back her wits. Ready or not she headed towards the entrance, walking quickly when she thought she felt a couple of raindrops land on the back of her neck.
The temperature outside was freezing so it was a relief to get into the castle, which she had always seen from a far but never entered. The stone hallway was still mingling with latecomers so it took sometime for her to reach the great hall. But finally she stepped through the welcoming wooden doors and entered the throng of things.
The king had obviously wished to offer his son as much choice as possible as the hall was full of people. There were so many dancing partners that had Hermione not looked so wonderful she would have been crushed, but still in a daze she didn't notice the path opening in front of her. She'd never been to this kind of thing before and had no idea of what to say or how to act. For the first time in her life she felt relief at the sight of the Malfoys. Pansy was dancing with a man Hermione recognised as owning a large tailoring firm but as she glanced at Lucius this didn't explain the wide grin and evil sparkle in his eyes. Hermione looked around the hall searching for the cause of his pleasure, what she saw surprised her. There, in the middle of the dance floor stood Lavender and a tall, thin, slightly duck footed eighteen year old. Evaluating his regale clothing, Malfoy's stare and the amount of space around the couple Hermione could only guess that this was Prince Krum. They seemed to be enjoying light conversation and very little dancing was taking place to the waltzing music, which was being played by an orchestra at the front of the hall. Hermione didn't have a choice; Lavender was the only person she could talk to at this ball and she couldn't see anyone else she knew. She knew she couldn't stay where she was looking like an idiot all night. Hermione would just have to introduce herself. Walking towards the smiling couple she forced down her doubts, she'd ask Lavender's advice then leave them to it; she honestly didn't want to disturb them. Finally Hermione reached the pair.
"Excuse me," she said tentatively and as politely as possible.
Lavender and the Prince stared at her and an odd look passed across Krum's face. "Who are you?" Lavender asked defensively and somewhat protectively.
"Don't you recognise me? I'm your sister," Lavender's eyes widened in disbelief and then with joy.
"You made it!" she squealed in delight, "How did you get here?" Hermione didn't really want to answer, magic was prejudiced against as something evil and mischievous at this point in time of the country's history. However before she had had chance to think up an excuse she was interrupted.
"Care to introduce us Lavender?" the pretty girl looked back at the prince confused at the odd tone in his voice.
"Of course," Lavender said, "Your Highness this is my sister."
"A pleasure to meet you," he said lifting her left hand to his lips and staring into her eyes. Glancing back into his Hermione got lost in their depths and the two of them just stood, gazing at each other for what seemed like forever and a day. In the world that was now far away Hermione thought she heard Lavender mutter something about being thirsty, and with a hurt look in her eyes, leave the new couple.
"You are so beautiful," Krum breathed. Caught off guard Hermione could only mutter a polite thanks. "No, do not call me prince," he said, "a beauty like you should not stand on ceremony. Call me Victor."
Hermione smiled warmly. Whether it was the new experience of the ball or Victor's unwavering devotion to her Hermione bathed in the joy of the night. They laughed and talked together but for most of the night just stood staring into each other's faces. She wasn't one to believe in love at first sight but here she was drowning in it. Ignoring everyone else and the little voice at the back of her head that said something wasn't right Hermione danced the night away.
In the four corners of the room stood four very different people. In the left hand crevice surrounded by servants sat the king. After watching the couple for half an hour he was already organising the wedding plans.
Stalking the right hand corner stood Malfoy who glared at the strange, stunning woman not realising who she was.
Lavender leaned on the wall of the top left joint slowly drinking a very strong cocktail, salty tears shining in her eyes and a hurt expression on her face.
Finally in the top right meeting of walls seethed a red haired figure that was slowly going crimson with rage. Ron had managed to get in tonight with the sole intention of making sure Hermione enjoyed herself and maybe wind her up a little; he had no idea of Malfoy's earlier broken agreement that was meant to stop her from coming. He'd recognised Hermione as soon as she'd arrived. How could he not? Now he was staring at her but unlike Krum's drowning he was boiling. A thousand thoughts were running through his head. How could she do this to him? It wasn't fair!
No.
He didn't mean that it wasn't fair because he didn't think of her like that. Then there must be another reason for him wanting to punch the Prince's lights out. Lavender! That was it. Krum had hurt Lavender- the only one of that horrible family to be nice to Hermione and he'd upset her. Yes, that was the reason. It had nothing to do with the way they were standing so close together. Nothing at all to do with Hermione laughing at one of His jokes and not Ron's. Nothing at all. But saying this mantra over and over again in his mind wasn't helping in the slightest.
Up on the roof watching through a window sat two very worried people.
"Erm, Harry who did you give the love potion to?" asked Ginny carefully resting on her haunches.
"Hermione and Krum like you said."
"Right, okay. And how much did you give them?"
"A bottle each like you said," said Harry slightly confused.
"Yep I thought so." She suddenly turned and slapped him round the back of the head. "YOU IDIOT!"
"Hey! What did I do?"
"I said half a bottle each."
"Then why did you give me two bottles?"
"In case something went wrong!"
"Oh."
"Yes oh. In fact, oh, is the understatement of the year!" she screamed at him.
"Ginny look I'm sorry okay. I thought it was a bit excessive but I'm new at this. Obviously I got it wrong."
"Obviously," she breathed deeply a couple of times and calmed down slightly. "Harry I'm sorry I shouldn't have yelled like that. I should have been clearer, you're right you're new at this. Merlin. It's just that this is really, really not good."
"What's wrong with the extra potion?"
"It was only supposed to be a little bit. That's all that was need." She whispered in horror, "Just enough to make Krum forget about any other girl for just one night and for Hermione to have more fun."
"So what's happened now?"
"They've fallen in love. Full on, heart engulfing, love at first sight."
"Okay, so what's the antidote?"
"There isn't one."
"What!" Harry exclaimed.
"Not for that much of the potion."
"Merlin we're fired."
"Yep."
"Ginny is there anything we can do? It can't be too late."
"It's out of our hands, it's up to them now."
"What do you mean?"
"Love like this... I suppose it's more like lust. It's an addiction and like all addictions you have to realise that there's a problem before you can get better. Basically they have to realise that they're not right for each other."
Harry and Ginny sat in quiet contemplation for several minutes with a sick feeling in their stomachs. Finally Harry spoke after staring into the hall below, "Well at least part of the plan worked."
Ginny looked to where he was pointing and smiled lightly. "Yes Ron is going a bit red isn't he."
"Is it treason if you hit a prince?"
"Yep, why?" she asked but then answered her own question when she looked below. "Damn. You better get down there and distract him before he does something stupid," she said transfiguring Harry back into a mouse and lowering him into the mess of the night. "I am so fired."
AN: By the way does anyone know why I have 18 reviews in my yahoo account but only 15 showing up on fanfiction even after the whole 24 hour thing?
Disclaimer: The Earth is flat, grass is purple and I own HP. What a great parallel universe that would be.
Chapter 4- I Am So Fired
This was it. The carriage had pulled up in front of the castle and luckily all the doormen were busy. Hermione was still in too much shock to explain how the horses had been guided without a driver. Inside she could hear music playing and people laughing as she gathered her thoughts and tried to bring back her wits. Ready or not she headed towards the entrance, walking quickly when she thought she felt a couple of raindrops land on the back of her neck.
The temperature outside was freezing so it was a relief to get into the castle, which she had always seen from a far but never entered. The stone hallway was still mingling with latecomers so it took sometime for her to reach the great hall. But finally she stepped through the welcoming wooden doors and entered the throng of things.
The king had obviously wished to offer his son as much choice as possible as the hall was full of people. There were so many dancing partners that had Hermione not looked so wonderful she would have been crushed, but still in a daze she didn't notice the path opening in front of her. She'd never been to this kind of thing before and had no idea of what to say or how to act. For the first time in her life she felt relief at the sight of the Malfoys. Pansy was dancing with a man Hermione recognised as owning a large tailoring firm but as she glanced at Lucius this didn't explain the wide grin and evil sparkle in his eyes. Hermione looked around the hall searching for the cause of his pleasure, what she saw surprised her. There, in the middle of the dance floor stood Lavender and a tall, thin, slightly duck footed eighteen year old. Evaluating his regale clothing, Malfoy's stare and the amount of space around the couple Hermione could only guess that this was Prince Krum. They seemed to be enjoying light conversation and very little dancing was taking place to the waltzing music, which was being played by an orchestra at the front of the hall. Hermione didn't have a choice; Lavender was the only person she could talk to at this ball and she couldn't see anyone else she knew. She knew she couldn't stay where she was looking like an idiot all night. Hermione would just have to introduce herself. Walking towards the smiling couple she forced down her doubts, she'd ask Lavender's advice then leave them to it; she honestly didn't want to disturb them. Finally Hermione reached the pair.
"Excuse me," she said tentatively and as politely as possible.
Lavender and the Prince stared at her and an odd look passed across Krum's face. "Who are you?" Lavender asked defensively and somewhat protectively.
"Don't you recognise me? I'm your sister," Lavender's eyes widened in disbelief and then with joy.
"You made it!" she squealed in delight, "How did you get here?" Hermione didn't really want to answer, magic was prejudiced against as something evil and mischievous at this point in time of the country's history. However before she had had chance to think up an excuse she was interrupted.
"Care to introduce us Lavender?" the pretty girl looked back at the prince confused at the odd tone in his voice.
"Of course," Lavender said, "Your Highness this is my sister."
"A pleasure to meet you," he said lifting her left hand to his lips and staring into her eyes. Glancing back into his Hermione got lost in their depths and the two of them just stood, gazing at each other for what seemed like forever and a day. In the world that was now far away Hermione thought she heard Lavender mutter something about being thirsty, and with a hurt look in her eyes, leave the new couple.
"You are so beautiful," Krum breathed. Caught off guard Hermione could only mutter a polite thanks. "No, do not call me prince," he said, "a beauty like you should not stand on ceremony. Call me Victor."
Hermione smiled warmly. Whether it was the new experience of the ball or Victor's unwavering devotion to her Hermione bathed in the joy of the night. They laughed and talked together but for most of the night just stood staring into each other's faces. She wasn't one to believe in love at first sight but here she was drowning in it. Ignoring everyone else and the little voice at the back of her head that said something wasn't right Hermione danced the night away.
In the four corners of the room stood four very different people. In the left hand crevice surrounded by servants sat the king. After watching the couple for half an hour he was already organising the wedding plans.
Stalking the right hand corner stood Malfoy who glared at the strange, stunning woman not realising who she was.
Lavender leaned on the wall of the top left joint slowly drinking a very strong cocktail, salty tears shining in her eyes and a hurt expression on her face.
Finally in the top right meeting of walls seethed a red haired figure that was slowly going crimson with rage. Ron had managed to get in tonight with the sole intention of making sure Hermione enjoyed herself and maybe wind her up a little; he had no idea of Malfoy's earlier broken agreement that was meant to stop her from coming. He'd recognised Hermione as soon as she'd arrived. How could he not? Now he was staring at her but unlike Krum's drowning he was boiling. A thousand thoughts were running through his head. How could she do this to him? It wasn't fair!
No.
He didn't mean that it wasn't fair because he didn't think of her like that. Then there must be another reason for him wanting to punch the Prince's lights out. Lavender! That was it. Krum had hurt Lavender- the only one of that horrible family to be nice to Hermione and he'd upset her. Yes, that was the reason. It had nothing to do with the way they were standing so close together. Nothing at all to do with Hermione laughing at one of His jokes and not Ron's. Nothing at all. But saying this mantra over and over again in his mind wasn't helping in the slightest.
Up on the roof watching through a window sat two very worried people.
"Erm, Harry who did you give the love potion to?" asked Ginny carefully resting on her haunches.
"Hermione and Krum like you said."
"Right, okay. And how much did you give them?"
"A bottle each like you said," said Harry slightly confused.
"Yep I thought so." She suddenly turned and slapped him round the back of the head. "YOU IDIOT!"
"Hey! What did I do?"
"I said half a bottle each."
"Then why did you give me two bottles?"
"In case something went wrong!"
"Oh."
"Yes oh. In fact, oh, is the understatement of the year!" she screamed at him.
"Ginny look I'm sorry okay. I thought it was a bit excessive but I'm new at this. Obviously I got it wrong."
"Obviously," she breathed deeply a couple of times and calmed down slightly. "Harry I'm sorry I shouldn't have yelled like that. I should have been clearer, you're right you're new at this. Merlin. It's just that this is really, really not good."
"What's wrong with the extra potion?"
"It was only supposed to be a little bit. That's all that was need." She whispered in horror, "Just enough to make Krum forget about any other girl for just one night and for Hermione to have more fun."
"So what's happened now?"
"They've fallen in love. Full on, heart engulfing, love at first sight."
"Okay, so what's the antidote?"
"There isn't one."
"What!" Harry exclaimed.
"Not for that much of the potion."
"Merlin we're fired."
"Yep."
"Ginny is there anything we can do? It can't be too late."
"It's out of our hands, it's up to them now."
"What do you mean?"
"Love like this... I suppose it's more like lust. It's an addiction and like all addictions you have to realise that there's a problem before you can get better. Basically they have to realise that they're not right for each other."
Harry and Ginny sat in quiet contemplation for several minutes with a sick feeling in their stomachs. Finally Harry spoke after staring into the hall below, "Well at least part of the plan worked."
Ginny looked to where he was pointing and smiled lightly. "Yes Ron is going a bit red isn't he."
"Is it treason if you hit a prince?"
"Yep, why?" she asked but then answered her own question when she looked below. "Damn. You better get down there and distract him before he does something stupid," she said transfiguring Harry back into a mouse and lowering him into the mess of the night. "I am so fired."
AN: By the way does anyone know why I have 18 reviews in my yahoo account but only 15 showing up on fanfiction even after the whole 24 hour thing?