Chapter Five
A/N: I know, I know, I know, it's been ages since I updated the last time.
My excuses are the same as usual; writer's block and loads of schoolwork.
I'm a Pre-International Baccalaureate student now, and it's really hard
work. My history book weighs 2.9 kg (I think it's about 6 lbs)! You should
still now that I'm really, really trying to update more often.
Thanks to my reviewers:
karen- I'll try to! =0)
Queen of Fluff- Oh, I'm really glad you liked the pictures!
Loverina former Juvenus- Yes, I know I haven't updated for ages, but you're one of my most faithful readers despite that. Thanks for that! ;0) At least try to invent a spell for me, will you? LOL Hey, why did you change your name?
IndyFan14- Thank you for that sweet review, dear e-mail pal of mine! I'm glad you liked it. =0)
Mandy- Thanks a lot! Good, you're making improvements. No curse words this time. =0Þ
Blue Eyed Angel- Thanks!
Also thanks to Bri who reviewed in my guestbook!
Hermione glanced at Oliver in the Great Hall and wished that she hadn't. He hardly touched his food and just stared at Cho. Come on, Herm, she thought, just forget him as anything else than a friend. Remember your promise. She shook her head to be able to think clearly. Okay, she thought, I haven't told him about Megan's tip yet, so I'd better talk to him about it after dinner.
"May I have your attention please?" Dumbledore asked. "I have a few things to announce."
I wonder what that can be? Hermione thought.
"This Friday some Muggle friends of Miss Hermione Granger's will come and visit her," started Dumbledore.
Ron and Harry stopped talking to Seamus and Dean and turned to Hermione in surprise.
"Your friends are going to come and visit you?" Ron asked.
"Shh," a first year who sat nearby, said irritably at him, "Dumbledore is speaking."
"I'll explain later," Hermione mouthed.
Ron nodded.
"I expect that all of you will do your best to make them feel welcome, and not treat them badly just because they're Muggles," Dumbledore continued, and looked strictly at the Slytherin table. "They will stay here till Wednesday and I thought we'd throw a ball on Tuesday evening in honor of them. That was all I had to say, so you can finish your dinner now. Thank you for paying attention."
The Great Hall was filled with an exiting murmur.
"Why haven't you said anything about this before?" Ron asked her.
"I'm sorry but I forgot," Hermione replied. "They asked me today and I've been running there and back to the common room and Dumbledore's office, to tell him all the information about the visit he needed."
"It's cool," said Harry, "we're not mad at you."
"Good," said Hermione and smiled slightly.
"Is it the ones you hung out with during the summer, that are coming?" Harry asked. "What were their names again, Theresa, Linda and Melissa?"
"Yes, it's Theresa, Linda and MEGAN who are coming," she replied. "They're going to stay in the Gryffindor guest dorm. By the way, Ron, your Dad is going to bring them here via a portkey."
"He is?" Ron said.
"Yes, he is," she said, "Dumbledore thought that he was the best adapted for it, since he's so interested in Muggles."
She glanced at her watch.
"Oh, is it already that much?" she said. "I have to run now, loads of things to do. See you!"
On her way to her dormitory she took up her cell phone from her pocket, and wrote to Megan to tell her that it would be a ball in their honor. If I hadn't told them, they'd probably kill me for not having anything appropriate to wear, she thought. Almost immediately after sending the text message away, she received an answer.
Herm! How wonderful with a ball!!! And I thought I wouldn't need to do any more shopping for the stay! /Meg
Hermione opened the door to her dormitory and saw Parvati and Lavender have an exciting discussion about the ball. As soon as they noticed her presence in the room, they ran to her and threw their arms around her.
"Herm!" Parvati shouted. "You're the best! How did you get Dumbledore to throw a ball?"
Before Hermione had gotten a chance to answer, that she hadn't had an idea about the ball before Dumbledore had announced it, Parvati and Lavender had released their grip around her, grabbed each other's hands and started jumping up and down.
"Who cares how she did it?" Lavender said happily while she jumped. "We're going to have a ball, and that's the only thing that matters!!!"
Suddenly they stopped jumping and sat down on Lavender's bed.
"Come here and sit with us," Lavender said to Hermione.
Hermione joined them, and thought that if they'd be like this energetic before the exams, they'd do very well.
"We will find dress robes in Hogsmeade on Saturday, won't we?" Parvati asked Lavender anxiously.
"I'm sure we will," said Lavender encouragingly and turned to Hermione. "Do you have a dress robe?"
"Yes, or actually, it's a Muggle ball gown," said Hermione. "I brought one just in case there would be a ball."
"That's so typical of you!" said Parvati. "You always think of things in advance. I wish I could be like that. Then I wouldn't need to worry about not finding a dress robe. Can you show it to us?"
"Sure," Hermione replied.
She went to her closet and carefully took the dress out. It was an old- fashioned white dress, made of muslin fabric, with green flowers on it. She held it up in front of her and caressed the straps and the neckline of lace.
"I'm going to wear a hoop skirt under," she said as she turned around to Parvati and Lavender.
Both of them gasped as they opened their eyes wide.
"Hermione," Lavender said, "it's lovely!" "Where did you buy it?"
"On the Internet," Hermione answered. "It's a replica of a dress from the movie 'Gone With The Wind'. I also bought the hoop skirt online."
"Oh, its so beautiful," said Parvati. "Can you put it on?"
"Yeah," agreed Lavender. "Put it on so we can see how wonderful you look in it."
"Okay then," said Hermione.
She went back to her closet to get her hoop skirt, and then changed.
"Oh," said Lavender, "it fits you perfectly!"
Hermione looked at herself in the mirror and she had to admit that it did. They heard a knock on the door and after Lavender had shouted "Come in!" Harry entered the room.
"Hel...," he began but stopped speaking when he saw Hermione.
"Wow, Hermione," he said when he could talk again. "You look stunning in that dress! Anyway, I just came to tell you that Oliver is looking for you."
"Oh, no!" Hermione exclaimed. "NOW I remember what I had to do. Thanks for telling me Harry!"
She rushed away and had gotten to the common room when she heard Parvarti shout: "Hey, Hermione aren't you going to change before you leave?"
"Of course," she said as she went back, "how silly of me to just rush away." She quickly changed and for the second time she rushed away.
"Oliver!" she said when she climbed out of the portrait. "I'm truly sorry, I'd planned to talk to you after the dinner, but I forgot."
"No, it's okay," Oliver said and smiled friendly. "We actually didn't have an appointment; I just wanted to talk to you."
He glanced at the Fat Lady who was looking curiously at them.
"Hmm," he said. "I forgot the book you were going to borrow from me. Let's go and get it, shall we?"
Hermione got the hint and nodded. She followed him out of earshot for the Fat Lady.
"How about going to the Quidditch pitch and talk?" he asked.
Once again Hermione nodded, and before she knew it they had come to the pitch. Oliver looked around and sighed.
"Gosh," he said warmly, "I love this place." "I think it's my favorite place on earth."
Hermione smiled. A week ago she wouldn't have understood how he could think that, but now she did.
Oliver turned to Hermione again.
"When I was here as student, I always used to go here and think when I had problems," he said.
"I understand what you mean," Hermione said, "it's so peaceful here, which makes you able to think through things properly."
She closed her eyes and breathed in the fresh air. I'm doing quite well, she commended herself. I am NOT in love with Oliver Wood, I just like him as a friend, she repeated in her head to convince herself.
"Hermione! Hermione! Hello! Earth to Hermione!" she heard a voice call out.
She opened her eyes.
"Oh," she said and looked at Oliver. "Sorry, I was just thinking."
"Uh, have you thought about what I should do to get to know Cho?" he asked her awkwardly.
"Yes," she said, "I have." "Umm, maybe you can bump into her and say 'What a coincidence!' or something, and then offer to buy her a butterbeer as excuse?"
"Er, don't get me wrong now," he said tensely. "I don't think that's such a good idea. You see, that's how I met her. I bumped into her after our Quidditch practice the other day."
"Oh, okay," she said. "No, you're right. You should absolutely not bump into her again; it would be pathetic and she would just penetrate. Uh, that was really the only thing I had in mind, but don't worry, I'll think of something else."
She forced herself to smile slightly and Oliver returned her smile.
"Thanks Hermione!" he said gratefully. "You're the best friend one can have, and I really mean it!"
Did you hear that? Hermione thought. Friend. Friend, friend, friend. You're nothing else than a friend to him and will never be.
A/N: So this was it for this time. Please review and tell me what you thought about it, will you? A girl buried under a pile of schoolwork would truly appreciate it. =0) I was just wondering, out of sheer curiosity, how do you guys imagine Cho to look like? I imagine her hair to be about the same length as mine (past the shoulders), but I've seen fanarts where people have drawn her with a chin length bob.
Thanks to my reviewers:
karen- I'll try to! =0)
Queen of Fluff- Oh, I'm really glad you liked the pictures!
Loverina former Juvenus- Yes, I know I haven't updated for ages, but you're one of my most faithful readers despite that. Thanks for that! ;0) At least try to invent a spell for me, will you? LOL Hey, why did you change your name?
IndyFan14- Thank you for that sweet review, dear e-mail pal of mine! I'm glad you liked it. =0)
Mandy- Thanks a lot! Good, you're making improvements. No curse words this time. =0Þ
Blue Eyed Angel- Thanks!
Also thanks to Bri who reviewed in my guestbook!
Hermione glanced at Oliver in the Great Hall and wished that she hadn't. He hardly touched his food and just stared at Cho. Come on, Herm, she thought, just forget him as anything else than a friend. Remember your promise. She shook her head to be able to think clearly. Okay, she thought, I haven't told him about Megan's tip yet, so I'd better talk to him about it after dinner.
"May I have your attention please?" Dumbledore asked. "I have a few things to announce."
I wonder what that can be? Hermione thought.
"This Friday some Muggle friends of Miss Hermione Granger's will come and visit her," started Dumbledore.
Ron and Harry stopped talking to Seamus and Dean and turned to Hermione in surprise.
"Your friends are going to come and visit you?" Ron asked.
"Shh," a first year who sat nearby, said irritably at him, "Dumbledore is speaking."
"I'll explain later," Hermione mouthed.
Ron nodded.
"I expect that all of you will do your best to make them feel welcome, and not treat them badly just because they're Muggles," Dumbledore continued, and looked strictly at the Slytherin table. "They will stay here till Wednesday and I thought we'd throw a ball on Tuesday evening in honor of them. That was all I had to say, so you can finish your dinner now. Thank you for paying attention."
The Great Hall was filled with an exiting murmur.
"Why haven't you said anything about this before?" Ron asked her.
"I'm sorry but I forgot," Hermione replied. "They asked me today and I've been running there and back to the common room and Dumbledore's office, to tell him all the information about the visit he needed."
"It's cool," said Harry, "we're not mad at you."
"Good," said Hermione and smiled slightly.
"Is it the ones you hung out with during the summer, that are coming?" Harry asked. "What were their names again, Theresa, Linda and Melissa?"
"Yes, it's Theresa, Linda and MEGAN who are coming," she replied. "They're going to stay in the Gryffindor guest dorm. By the way, Ron, your Dad is going to bring them here via a portkey."
"He is?" Ron said.
"Yes, he is," she said, "Dumbledore thought that he was the best adapted for it, since he's so interested in Muggles."
She glanced at her watch.
"Oh, is it already that much?" she said. "I have to run now, loads of things to do. See you!"
On her way to her dormitory she took up her cell phone from her pocket, and wrote to Megan to tell her that it would be a ball in their honor. If I hadn't told them, they'd probably kill me for not having anything appropriate to wear, she thought. Almost immediately after sending the text message away, she received an answer.
Herm! How wonderful with a ball!!! And I thought I wouldn't need to do any more shopping for the stay! /Meg
Hermione opened the door to her dormitory and saw Parvati and Lavender have an exciting discussion about the ball. As soon as they noticed her presence in the room, they ran to her and threw their arms around her.
"Herm!" Parvati shouted. "You're the best! How did you get Dumbledore to throw a ball?"
Before Hermione had gotten a chance to answer, that she hadn't had an idea about the ball before Dumbledore had announced it, Parvati and Lavender had released their grip around her, grabbed each other's hands and started jumping up and down.
"Who cares how she did it?" Lavender said happily while she jumped. "We're going to have a ball, and that's the only thing that matters!!!"
Suddenly they stopped jumping and sat down on Lavender's bed.
"Come here and sit with us," Lavender said to Hermione.
Hermione joined them, and thought that if they'd be like this energetic before the exams, they'd do very well.
"We will find dress robes in Hogsmeade on Saturday, won't we?" Parvati asked Lavender anxiously.
"I'm sure we will," said Lavender encouragingly and turned to Hermione. "Do you have a dress robe?"
"Yes, or actually, it's a Muggle ball gown," said Hermione. "I brought one just in case there would be a ball."
"That's so typical of you!" said Parvati. "You always think of things in advance. I wish I could be like that. Then I wouldn't need to worry about not finding a dress robe. Can you show it to us?"
"Sure," Hermione replied.
She went to her closet and carefully took the dress out. It was an old- fashioned white dress, made of muslin fabric, with green flowers on it. She held it up in front of her and caressed the straps and the neckline of lace.
"I'm going to wear a hoop skirt under," she said as she turned around to Parvati and Lavender.
Both of them gasped as they opened their eyes wide.
"Hermione," Lavender said, "it's lovely!" "Where did you buy it?"
"On the Internet," Hermione answered. "It's a replica of a dress from the movie 'Gone With The Wind'. I also bought the hoop skirt online."
"Oh, its so beautiful," said Parvati. "Can you put it on?"
"Yeah," agreed Lavender. "Put it on so we can see how wonderful you look in it."
"Okay then," said Hermione.
She went back to her closet to get her hoop skirt, and then changed.
"Oh," said Lavender, "it fits you perfectly!"
Hermione looked at herself in the mirror and she had to admit that it did. They heard a knock on the door and after Lavender had shouted "Come in!" Harry entered the room.
"Hel...," he began but stopped speaking when he saw Hermione.
"Wow, Hermione," he said when he could talk again. "You look stunning in that dress! Anyway, I just came to tell you that Oliver is looking for you."
"Oh, no!" Hermione exclaimed. "NOW I remember what I had to do. Thanks for telling me Harry!"
She rushed away and had gotten to the common room when she heard Parvarti shout: "Hey, Hermione aren't you going to change before you leave?"
"Of course," she said as she went back, "how silly of me to just rush away." She quickly changed and for the second time she rushed away.
"Oliver!" she said when she climbed out of the portrait. "I'm truly sorry, I'd planned to talk to you after the dinner, but I forgot."
"No, it's okay," Oliver said and smiled friendly. "We actually didn't have an appointment; I just wanted to talk to you."
He glanced at the Fat Lady who was looking curiously at them.
"Hmm," he said. "I forgot the book you were going to borrow from me. Let's go and get it, shall we?"
Hermione got the hint and nodded. She followed him out of earshot for the Fat Lady.
"How about going to the Quidditch pitch and talk?" he asked.
Once again Hermione nodded, and before she knew it they had come to the pitch. Oliver looked around and sighed.
"Gosh," he said warmly, "I love this place." "I think it's my favorite place on earth."
Hermione smiled. A week ago she wouldn't have understood how he could think that, but now she did.
Oliver turned to Hermione again.
"When I was here as student, I always used to go here and think when I had problems," he said.
"I understand what you mean," Hermione said, "it's so peaceful here, which makes you able to think through things properly."
She closed her eyes and breathed in the fresh air. I'm doing quite well, she commended herself. I am NOT in love with Oliver Wood, I just like him as a friend, she repeated in her head to convince herself.
"Hermione! Hermione! Hello! Earth to Hermione!" she heard a voice call out.
She opened her eyes.
"Oh," she said and looked at Oliver. "Sorry, I was just thinking."
"Uh, have you thought about what I should do to get to know Cho?" he asked her awkwardly.
"Yes," she said, "I have." "Umm, maybe you can bump into her and say 'What a coincidence!' or something, and then offer to buy her a butterbeer as excuse?"
"Er, don't get me wrong now," he said tensely. "I don't think that's such a good idea. You see, that's how I met her. I bumped into her after our Quidditch practice the other day."
"Oh, okay," she said. "No, you're right. You should absolutely not bump into her again; it would be pathetic and she would just penetrate. Uh, that was really the only thing I had in mind, but don't worry, I'll think of something else."
She forced herself to smile slightly and Oliver returned her smile.
"Thanks Hermione!" he said gratefully. "You're the best friend one can have, and I really mean it!"
Did you hear that? Hermione thought. Friend. Friend, friend, friend. You're nothing else than a friend to him and will never be.
A/N: So this was it for this time. Please review and tell me what you thought about it, will you? A girl buried under a pile of schoolwork would truly appreciate it. =0) I was just wondering, out of sheer curiosity, how do you guys imagine Cho to look like? I imagine her hair to be about the same length as mine (past the shoulders), but I've seen fanarts where people have drawn her with a chin length bob.