Disclaimer: I don't own the characters you recognize….blah blah blah…..
Chapter 4- Picnic Meals
The morning of the first Quidditch game for the year had arrived. Harry had been running grueling practices the entire week prior to this day, but that didn't keep Dennis sleeping in that Saturday morning. He had realized that DJ never showed up to any of the meals, and decided to at least find out where she was during these times. Dennis went to wait at the end of the hallway that DJ had mysteriously disappeared in the first day they had met.
Just as he made his stake out, DJ appeared from what seemed like no where, her book bag hanging on her shoulder. "Good morning," Dennis said, pleased with himself for being so clever, even if he might regret not getting a couple more hours in later.
DJ was surprised that someone was there, and stopped in shock before relaxing, seeing who it was. "Good morning," she said simply, and kept walking in her usual fashion. Dennis followed in his usual fashion.
"Where are you going?" he asked.
"To get breakfast."
"The Great Hall is that way though," he said, pointing over his shoulder and to the left.
"I know," DJ said, still not stopping. They got to a small hall with pictures all around it. DJ walked up to one with a bowl of fruit and tickled the pear that was between an apple and plumb.
The pear squirmed, then the portrait swung open. Many house elves appeared in front of Dennis and DJ, ready with some things already in a basket. "Here you go, miss," one small house elf said, handing her the basket.
DJ smiled for the first time in front of Dennis and accepted the basket. "Thank you Freck," she said. "Did you want any food?" she asked Dennis turning to him. He was still trying to figure out why they were down here instead of at their house tables.
"Uh, sure," Dennis said. "Some bacon, toast, and a blueberry muffin, if that's all right," he said, and another basket was full by the time he finish making this order. He accepted it, said his thanks, and followed DJ again until they were on Hogwarts grass. DJ found a spot, put her other things down, and removed the blanket from her bag. Dennis put his basket down and helped spread the small blanket, obviously used for one person. When DJ spread her things out she sat toward one edge while Dennis took the other.
Dennis noticed that her food was very proportionate to what a normal person would eat, while he sat with at least a pound of bacon, three muffins and five slices of toast. "They're very giving aren't they?" he said, wondering who on earth would eat that much.
"It took me the better part of a year to get them to figure out how much to put in my basket," she said, pulling out the plate that had been wrapped carefully with some type of covering that DJ removed with a flick of her wand.
"Why do you eat out here?" Dennis asked.
DJ shrugged. "It's nice out here. I don't think you should ever miss a nice day," she said then took a bite of her hash browns. "I don't like how people always have to make conversation in the Great Hall, even though they don't know you. It seems kind of stupid, doesn't it?"
"I guess," Dennis said, wondering if that was a hint for him to stop talking.
Neither of them talked for quite some time, just ate what they had on their plates, and looked around. Dennis had noticed how chilly it was this morning and was grateful that he remembered his jacket. She didn't seem bothered by the temperature, though. "Where do you eat when the weather is bad?" he finally asked, breaking the silence.
"In the kitchens," she said. "The house elves are kind and don't try to drag information out of me."
"Yeah, I'm starting to tell you don't like that," Dennis said smiling. He saw the corners of DJ's mouth threaten to do the same, but they replaced themselves quickly.
"Just starting to notice?" she asked, then took a bite of an English muffin.
"Sorry, I'm just a really curious person."
"Curiosity killed the cat," DJ pointed out.
"But satisfaction brought him back," Dennis retorted. "It was really funny when Colin first started here. I would write him three page owls asking about all the different things he told me. He'd answer them, of course, and exaggerate the facts into some big long story. He was petrified or something in his first year, and I didn't hear from him in two or three months. I was so upset, but by the time Colin came home for the summer I had stored up a hundred new questions to ask him.
"Colin was enthralled with it though. He used to enjoy talking to me and doing things together, but now he has Julia, and I'm completely pushed out of the picture."
"I doubt that's entirely true," DJ said, her brows had been furrowing in concentration of the topic. "Just because he's a bit distant doesn't mean he doesn't care about you. Blood is thicker than water, you know."
"Colin hasn't been acting like that lately, though."
"Just give him some time. Who knows if that relationship really works anyway?"
"I'll agree with you on that. Julia can be so…"
"Fake?"
"Yeah," Dennis said, thankful for the word.
"I could tell by the way she acted last Sunday," DJ said. "I read somewhere once that when men get angry they show it, and when women get angry they smile. I don't find that true with many girls, but it sure did with her."
"That was great the way you insulted her," Dennis said. "I don't think Julia's ever had anyone put her down like that."
"I don't like people who act like they're your best friends when you've only known them for five minutes."
"Who do you hang out with?"
DJ shrugged again, avoiding the question. Dennis decided to respect her privacy with it, and not ask. "Are you coming to the game today?"
"I don't know," DJ said. "I might come and take some pictures."
"Great, so you mean I actually have to do well," Dennis said. DJ actually smiled for a bit this time.
"Either way it's caught on camera I suppose, but I won't force you one way or the other."
"I'll play good, or our captain will probably execute me," Dennis said. He liked that DJ was finally smiling a bit at his comments, and even if he was pushing the cheesy humor, it was apparently working.
As if on cue for the conversation a white owl swooped down and gave Dennis a small bit of parchment.
Where on earth are you? Get to the locker rooms now!
Harry
"Oh no, what time is it?"
"9:15," DJ answered.
"I have to go," Dennis said. "I was supposed to be there thirty minutes ago!" He started to pick up his basket to take it back to the kitchens.
"Just go," DJ said. "I'll take care of this."
"Thanks," Dennis said, and ran off to get his gear.
The game had only lasted for forty or so minutes, and that was with a time out for an injured player. A Ravenclaw chaser's broom had been knocked by a bludger aimed by none other than Dennis Creevey himself. Harry forgave Dennis for being late after such a good game. They had won 190-40. Dennis was walking on air after the game, and it was only made better when he saw DJ waiting for him on the pitch when he was finished in the locker room. "Good game," she said, the smile from this morning no longer there. Dennis hoped to change that.
"Thanks," Dennis said. "Did you get any good pictures?"
"I got a few," DJ said.
"Any of the amazingness that stands before you?" Dennis asked melodramatically, lowering his voice and flexing his muscles.
DJ cracked a small grin. "Just a few."
"Good, now should we go get lunch?"
"What?"
"Well, can't I eat outside with you again? I don't want to miss out on this lovely day," Dennis said.
"I suppose if you want to," she said following with her usual habit of shrugging in response.
"I'd love to," Dennis said. This win had put him on air. Colin had done all right, but he had been the star of the debut players.
"Dennis," Harry called from the locker area just as he was about to leave with DJ.
"Yeah," Dennis responded.
"We're going to celebrate, are you coming?" Harry asked.
"I'll join you in a bit," he said, leaving as Ginny went up to Harry and distracted him anyway.
"You don't have to come eat with me," DJ said.
"Are you like completely apposed to having a friend or something?"
"No, it's just that," DJ stopped and thought of how to explain this without actually explaining. "I don't get along with most people. In fact, you're the first one I've gotten along with since I came here."
"Really? Why's that?"
"No reason," DJ lied. Dennis was figuring out that when she answered in that matter, though, it was just better to leave it. They went to the kitchens for the second time that day and DJ helped Dennis get a regular amount of food this time. Nothing much occurred that afternoon. They had their lunch, returned the baskets and DJ had gone back to the grounds to take pictures. Dennis followed and ended up being in more of the pictures she was taking.
"Why do you take so many?" Dennis asked. Colin had been a hopeless shutter bug, but he was never this bad.
"I sell them to magazines for some money," she said, taking another shot of Hagrid's hut.
"What magazines?"
"All sorts, wizarding and muggle ones. Nature magazines really like them, so I stick to that, but the Quibbler is having a competition where I can get 2,000 Galleons and my own gallery."
"Wow, that would be cool," Dennis said. Sitting casually against a large pumpkin in Hagrid's garden. DJ took this as a photo op and started flashing away. When she had filled her forth roll of film for the day, she put the camera away.
Just about this same time, Colin and Julia approached Dennis and DJ. "Hey," Colin said. "Where have you been? Everyone's been asking," he told Dennis.
"I've been hanging out here. DJ's been taking pictures," Dennis said.
"Right, you're the photographer," Colin said. "I don't think we've really been introduced properly. I'm Dennis's brother Colin, and this is my girlfriend Julia."
Julia gave a curt smile. She still had a bitter taste in her mouth concerning the prior meeting with DJ. "What's going on now?" Dennis asked.
"Ron just got back with butterbeers, but we wanted to see where you were," Colin said.
Julia, fingers entangled with Colin's, moved a bit closer into him. "I'm cold, Colin," she complained.
"Here," Colin said, taking off his jacket and putting it on Julia's shoulders. Dennis had a feeling that Julia had left her jacket on purpose just for this reason, but didn't say anything about it. "Why don't I take a picture of you two?" Colin suggested when Julia seemed comfortable enough.
"No," DJ answered in a panic.
"Okay," Colin said. "I won't then."
"I better go in," DJ said. "See you later Dennis." With that she went back toward the castle.
"What is with her?" Julia asked snidely.
"I'm not sure," Dennis said, even more curious now than he was before.
A/N: Another ending, another show….I mean chapter….sorry, I had a Kiss me Kate moment. Am I intriguing anyone out there? Please respond if I am.
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