Eep! This morning I came downstairs, turned on the computer, saw reviews, squeaked, and then proceeded to grin madly at my family and call my little brother "hun" (needless to say, he was quite wary of this, considering I'm his older sister, the one who occasionally chases him around the house yelling death threats before locking him in a room =D). Obviously, your reviews made my day! Thaaaaankkkksss so much!
Nightwing 509, Alexandrea, Tru Lys, WhyDoYouCare36, Zeo and the Harvest Sprites, Mep, Crookshankx, Brown Pryde, The Ink of Life, possom2009, WeasleyWeasle, The Vampire Story Hunter, Ze-Cookie, teknocat, DanielLover4Lyfe and craftygurl- YOU GUYS ROCK! Thanks for reviewing!
Ronnies Gurl- blush Ack, you flatter me far too much. I'm so glad you liked it, and whew, thank god you liked the closet scene. I was being terribly unoriginal that day and thought that I'd just throw that in. Well thanks for reviewing!
JamieBell- I'm so glad you thought the last chapter was funny =D! Well, this chapter doesn't have nearly as much humor (sadly, I know), but there's more description. And well, I hope you like it! Good stuff, and thanks for taking the time to read and review my story!
A Harry and Ginny Dreamer- Harry and Ginny are going to kiss... HAH I'M NOT TELLING. Sticks out tongue childishly. Well thanks for reviewing, and no I'm not going to tell you because alas, I myself do not know. And no, I don't watch any British shows, I am rather TV deprived. You have no idea.
Leoking- Glad you liked the last chapter! This one isn't funny, but hey, it has its own merits. Hmph. I'm going to have one heck of a time guessing where you're from (my favorite North European living in South-Western Europe, sheesh! That's a mouthful). Alas, I did not pay enough attention in geography during middle school, or World History class for that matter. So I'm going to blindly guess at countries each time- hoping that they are in Northern Europe and I don't sound like a complete idiot by guessing something like "Uh, Spain?" and have you reply "Why no, that's South Western Europe, you brainless little nitwit!" (Not that you'd say that, but I'm sure you'd think it! By the way, is that where you are now? That's the furthest South-Western European country I could think of- but once again, geography is not my strong point) Hm... my guess for today shall be Germany! Is that far North enough? My best friend's cousin from Germany came over to visit last month, and it was good fun. She came to school with us and we went shopping together. Granted, she had some pretty strange things on the shopping list that her whole family had given her (lingerie and steak sauce?) but it was awesome nevertheless. This isn't such a random guess though, I must admit. Don't think I didn't notice that "autsch" thing! So did I guess right? Crosses fingers! Haha... Well thank you so much for all your support! One of your two favorite stories? Gasp, I'm honored. Yay, another Catholic, how fun! Okay, so I'll stop my long long rant and give you time to read this chapter.
Kingmaker- Pshaw, California rocks (Granted, I've never been to Virginia, but hey, I've got to be at least a bit defensive of my home state)! Mmhmm, well one advantage to my cousin moving to Virginia is that I'll have to go visit sometime (yay for vacations!). Ah, being sunburnt so that you have red rings around your eyes =(. That's unfortunate- I hope that never happens to me! 'Course, I wear contacts, so if I get sunburnt on my face, it'll be completely red, but still. Hehe, thank you, I'm honored that I'm not considered a rabid fangirl. I've always found self-insertations rather strange; the product of people who are far too obsessed (I'm obsessed with writing, but not the characters- there's a difference) and so in love with a certain character that they create a hot and torrid (imaginary though it may be) romance with said fictional character. No offense to those people or anything of course- I myself was hopelessly in love with Tuxedo Mask (from Sailor Moon, yes, it's terribly embarrassing) at the age of seven. Anyway, hopefully you'll like this chapter, and thank you for all the time you took to read and review my story!
Elanor- Gasp a reviewer from England! This is incredibly exciting! Anyway, I'm so flattered that you love my story- and thanks for the lesson in English slang and whatnot. It's absolutely fascinating! Well anyway, here's the next chapter, hope you like it!
Lightprincess- Oh dear, I know what you mean about being shy around boys! Well, except the ones that I regard purely as buddies. But still... ack, even writing that part made me admire Ginny's bravery, lol. I'm such a dork I know.
So everyone, without much further ado, here is the next chapter for you to read. Not so much humor, or fluff, but hey, there'll be more of that to come.
The next morning, Hermione and Ron both came downstairs muttering something about strange dreams and began eating breakfast.
Exchanging secretive glances, the twins, Ginny, and Harry all turned to grin at each other.
Trying to appease their younger sister, the twins were exceedingly pleasant towards Harry throughout breakfast, from time to time smiling guiltily at Ginny.
"Ginny?" Ginny looked up at Hermione.
"Hmm?" "Why were you and Harry-"
She was cut off by Harry's frantic waving as he mouthed "NO!" while motioning at the twins.
Looking confused, she shut her mouth, giving Harry a questioning look as he sighed in relief.
"Yeah?"
She shook her head at Ginny. "No never mind." Sitting at the table, she picked idly at her oatmeal, yawning. "Harry, I told you about my dream, right?"
He chuckled nervously in reply, running a hand through his hair as he blushed slightly, "Yeah. Absolutely hilarious Hermione," he coughed. "Imagine- you professing your love to me."
The twins choked into their oatmeal, and Ginny coughed.
Ron simply turned very red, muttering something under his breath as he gave Hermione a confused look.
"What about your dream, Ron?" Fred prodded, grinning. "Weren't you talking about something this morning?"
Ron shook his head, turning even redder. "Err... It was nothing," he replied, looking away from Harry.
Ginny burst into giggles, remembering Ron's ardent professions of love from the night before.
Hermione and Ron stared at her questioningly.
"Err..." she blushed, quickly pointing at the twins. "They were making faces at me," she accused, shrugging at the twins once Hermione and Ron had turned away.
"Hey," Hermione started. "Ron and I are going to go to the library today, alright? I have to tutor Ron."
Ron groaned slightly and was promptly elbowed by Hermione.
"So," she finished chirpily, smirking at Ginny and Harry. "You'll just have to find something to do together."
"Okay," Ginny replied, trying not to smile as she winked at Harry. Their plans were going perfectly.
Ron got up, and Hermione quickly followed. After dumping their bowls into the sink, they both went upstairs, each into their respective rooms. Hermione came out with her signature book bag, while Ron came out, looking rather embarrassed, with a wrapped parcel in hand.
Harry nudged Ginny, nodding towards the package. She smiled back excitedly as she recognized the parcel as the same size as the book that they had bought for Ron to give to Hermione.
"Well," Hermione announced purposefully. "We're off. See you tonight!"
Outside, Ron looked at Hermione hopefully. "We're not really going to the library, are we?"
She glared at him. "Of course we are!"
"We're spending a whole day there?" he gulped, looking horrified.
She ignored him, and he followed her reluctantly as she walked down the street. "Hey Hermione? How do you know where the library is?"
She rolled her eyes in reply. "I looked it up."
They continued down the street, finally turning into a smaller, seemingly residential road. Hermione continued, walking towards one of the houses. Finally, upon reaching the house, she walked around the back and into the backyard, walking into their shed.
Though she'd gotten used to magic by now, she still found herself gasping in awe as the interior of the shed transformed before her eyes into a staggering twenty story building made entirely of glass. From below, she could see witches and wizards as they walked around on the other floors, browsing through the thousands of bookshelves. At one end of the first floor, people passed their books through a slot in a wall after touching it with their wand. The wall immediately conjured up the identity of the witch or wizard and checked out the books in their name. People traveled from floor to floor through boxes, rather like a cross between elevators and floo powder. They entered the boxes, said the name of the floor they wished to be on, and CRACK, they were there.
Hermione stared, her mouth open in shock. "Wow..."
Ron shrugged his shoulders in reply. "Yeah, Mum used to take us here when we were younger."
Hermione nodded in reply, still staring at everything.
She gasped as a head suddenly popped out in front of them, zooming towards her. "Hello and welcome! How can I help you?" the head, which was that of a smiling old woman, asked.
Hermione gaped.
Ron approached the head. "We'll just be looking around, thanks."
The head smiled cheerily, and then zoomed off to another group of people.
"That," Ron explained on seeing Hermione's shocked expression. "Provides information. You know, if you're looking for specific books or something."
Hermione smiled weakly. "Back home, we just have computers and librarians to do that."
Ron stared at her, looking baffled. "Why would you ever have real people doing that? That's just so inefficient."
She opened her mouth to retort, but simply shut her mouth again, rolling her eyes. "So," she stood, looking around nervously. "I don't know how anything here works. Where can we find a desk or something to work at?"
Ron grinned, guiding her to a box. "Okay!" he exclaimed enthusiastically. "Now you stand in there and shout 'study floor', okay? Go ahead!"
They both entered the box and simultaneously shouted, "Study floor!"
A gust of air whooshed past them, and with a loud BANG, they were suddenly at another floor. Hermione stepped out cautiously, a little frightened by the dizzying effect that a glass floor had.
"Come on!"
Ron held out his hand to her questioningly as she gulped, a panicked expression on her face as she gazed downwards.
"You won't fall," he sighed in exasperation.
Tentatively, she stepped towards him a bit shakily as she whispered, "Ron, what floor are we on?"
"The sixteenth," he replied nonchalantly.
She squeaked in terror, and then bravely took another two steps, grabbing his hand quickly.
Patiently, he guided her to one of the hundreds of tables on that floor, and only when she was sitting down on a chair (and grabbing at the edge of the table) did she look around in wonder.
Her eyes widened as the traveled over the expansive floor with hundreds of large tables everywhere. Here and there were scattered witches and wizards, either deep in concentration as they pored over books and documents, or sitting about and idly chatting.
Ron looked at her expectantly. "You okay?"
She nodded, mouth slightly parted in shock.
"Never knew you were afraid of heights," he remarked, laughing lightly.
She giggled, a bit embarrassed. "Well, neither did I," she blushed. "But it's just very disconcerting when you look down and it feels like there's nothing there." She took a quick peek downwards, shuddering as she saw the 16 levels separating her from the first floor.
"Oh yeah," Ron scratched his head, blushing a bit as she turned to him. "Here," he slid the wrapped parcel that he had been carrying across the table.
She opened the package slowly, blushing as she saw what it was. "Thanks Ron!" she exclaimed. "But," she giggled a bit. "I didn't know you read this kind of stuff." She motioned towards the romantic bestseller sitting before her.
Ron reddened, stuttering out, "Err... no, I didn't read it!"
She smirked in reply, flipping through the book casually.
"Anyway," Ron began abruptly, desperate to change the subject (and protect his masculine image), "What shall we do about Harry and Ginny?"
She tugged at the rolls of parchment in her book bag, placing them neatly on the table. "You pick," she motioned over the dozens of plans.
They pored over the plans for some time, but after half an hour, they had gotten nowhere. Hermione sighed in frustration. "There's so many plans, but none of them look like they'll really work!"
Ron agreed. "You know," he suggested. "I think they're well on their way to realizing their feelings for each other. They just need to continue spending time together."
She began rolling up the parchment again, tossing it haphazardly into her bag. "You're right, Ron."
"So," he asked hopefully. "Want to leave now?"
To his surprise, Hermione agreed immediately, though more so because of her fear of heights than because she was actually tired of the library. On the way out, she did indeed gaze upwards longingly at the millions of books, but she made no move to explore the other floors.
Once outside, Ron checked his watch and grinned at her. "We've got a good five hours before we should head back," he commented. "What do you want to do?"
Hermione smirked at him. "We could go to the bookstore," she suggested, watching his reaction.
"Err..." he shrugged helplessly. "I suppose," he agreed reluctantly. "We could. If you want to that is."
She pretended to look delighted. "Oh yes Ron!" she squealed exaggeratedly to his dismay. "We'll spend the next five hours there!"
He smiled weakly. "That... sounds great."
She chuckled, smiling fondly at him. "That's sweet of you Ron, but I wouldn't torture you that much. Thanks for agreeing to it anyway."
They walked down the street aimlessly, stopping for a moment by the park from the day before to watch some children play a game of quidditch.
"Ooh!" Hermione squealed, charmed as a little boy no older than three whizzed by them on a toy broom. "They're so small!"
"Yeah," Ron nodded.
"Oh I suddenly remembered!" Hermione exclaimed out of nowhere as they continued strolling along. "Guess what happened last night?"
Ron looked at her quizzically. "What?"
"Harry woke me up quite late at night carrying Ginny in. Apparently she had fallen asleep in his room or something like that, and he brought her back."
Ron gaped. "What?"
She nodded in satisfaction. "I know! Isn't that wonderful?" she rolled her eyes. "Now we just have to get them to admit they fancy each other."
Ron snorted. "That'll be the difficult part."
"I know!" she sighed, but still looked hopeful. "I think they'll do it soon enough though..."
"Yeah," he nodded, looking thoughtful. "I wonder what they're doing now?"
Meanwhile, Harry and Ginny were having another planning meeting in Ginny's room.
Ginny giggled. "Isn't it terribly ironic how they're getting 'alone' time for the sake of us having 'alone' time?"
Harry nodded hopefully. "Well since they've agreed not to argue anymore, they're probably getting along well."
"Yes," Ginny mused. "And Ron was carrying that book this morning, so he's probably already given it to her."
"Right. That's good then. She's probably very pleased with him at the moment."
"Mmhmm!" Ginny nodded enthusiastically.
A thoughtful silence ensued as the both sat, pondering over the situation of their friends.
"Oh Harry?"
"Yeah?" he looked up.
Ginny blushed slightly. "Thanks, you know, for bringing me upstairs last night," she said quickly. "And sorry for everything- you know, the twins and all."
He chuckled nervously, glancing at the door. "No problem. And the twins seemed," he paused. "Nice today... A bit suspiciously so," he glanced at the door again. "But I think they'll be alright as long as, you know, they don't find you on top of me, or vice versa, anytime soon."
She blushed in reply, giggling. "Oh god," she covered her face. "That was humiliating, to say the least."
"I know," he nodded. "Of all the times they had to barge in."
They went over plans some more, but to no avail. In fact, the most they were able to come up with was a ridiculous plan (Harry's idea) in which they would push Hermione off of a tall building and Ron would see this and zoom in on his broomstick and save her. Needless to say, they soon decided that the plan wasn't quite realistic.
"I'm bored," she said suddenly, throwing down her notebook. "There's nothing to plan with Ron and Hermione."
He nodded in assent. "They'll figure it out on their own sometime or another."
"So swimming then?" she asked expectantly.
"Sure thing." He left the room to change, and she did likewise.
He waited at the bottom of the stairs for her, but to his misfortune, Fred and George came over to chat with him.
"So what are you two doing?" Fred asked, glancing at Harry's attire.
"Swimming," he replied nervously, inching away from the twins.
Suddenly, Ginny came bounding down the stairs, clad in her swimsuit, a pair of shorts, a ridiculous pair of purple sunglasses and a wide smile.
Harry grinned.
The twins gasped.
"You cover yourself up right now, young lady!" George reprimanded.
She glanced down at her one-piece, her shorts, and her flip-flops with a baffled look.
"Going swimming with a boy like that!" Fred chastised, running over, grabbing her towel from her and draping it over her.
She stared at him. "What are you doing?!"
"And you!" George ran over to Harry, grabbing him by the shoulders and turning him around. "Don't you dare look at her in that way!" he shook a finger at Harry threateningly. "I saw that... that hungry look in your eyes!"
Harry gulped, quickly shutting his eyes. "Err..."
"You've got to be kidding me!" Ginny exploded, rolling her eyes in frustration. "You guys," She pointed at the twins, "Are doing it again! You're going into protective older brother mode again!"
"But Gin!" Fred protested.
"What?!" She exclaimed. "What do you expect me to wear to go swimming? Honestly!"
"Well you know Gin," George suggested tentatively. "I hear the retro look is very in style. Maybe you could wear one of those bathing suits, you know, with the skirt and the collar."
"I'm sure you'd look just as adorable!" Fred assured her. "And you'd be modestly dressed as well!"
She rolled her eyes, ran over to grab Harry's hand, and stomped out of the house, muttering, "Ugh!" under her breath.
Fred and George looked at each other for a moment, and then ran of the house after her, shouting, "Wait Ginny! You forgot to change!"