Title: An Inevitable Fate
Chapter Eleven: Happy Birthday
Author: KissThis
--
Rating: R - if not now, then later. Just shut up and read it.
Pairing: Umm...duh?
Setting: 6th year in Hogwarts.
--
Disclaimer: Well...after I wished for Draco, and Orlando Bloom, and a cookie I didn't have any more wishes to wish for the rights to own Harry Potter. Damn genie -- I should've wished for more wishes...
--
A/N: Hermione's birthday! Yay for her! I worked pretty damn hard on this chapter so you damn well better like it!
--
Special Thanks: Thanks a bunch to RememberingME! She helped me brainstorm a bunch of plot points for the story and deserves an honorable mention. *coughcough*readherstories*coughcough*
--
"HAPPY BIRTHDAY!"
Hermione's eyelids fluttered open and her eyes settled sleepily on the faces of her friends. Groaning slightly she contemplated the possible consequences of ignoring her friends and going back to sleep. True, she might get a few more hours of sleep, but more than likely her boisterous friends would not be deterred. There would be bouncing, and tickling, and she'd probably be pushed forcefully out of bed and end up on the cold floor. With a sigh and a rub of her eyes Hermione sat up beneath the layers of her sheets. Making out with her carpet was not high on her list of things to do that day.
"Morning," She mumbled with a yawn.
They echoed with more enthusiastic greetings than she had given while she blinked her eyes rapidly to clear the sleep from them. Ginny clambered onto the bed next to Hermione and yanked the blankets off. Hermione pouted as her warm comforter slid over the side of her bed and pooled into a gold colored heap on the floor.
"Giiiiiinny!" She whined.
"Get up already, Hermione. We have so much planned for today." The redhead insisted.
Hermione reluctantly slid out of her queen-sized bed. The nightgown she was wearing fell back into place around her. The lilac-colored material reached her knees and sashayed back and forth as she walked to the bathroom.
"I'm flattered that you guys remembered my birthday, and all. And the fact that you have things planned is great, but..."
Their faces fell simultaneously, "But?" Ron asked weakly.
"But it's Sunday!" She exclaimed; earning chuckles of amusement from her relieved friends. "Couldn't you at least have let me sleep late?"
"It's already eight o'clock!" Harry pointed out. He gestured to her bedside clock, which had just flashed to 8:11.
"Oh already," She replied sarcastically. "Thanks for taking my beauty sleep into mind." Grabbing her bathrobe off the back of a chair she disappeared into the bathroom.
She reappeared less than twenty minutes later pulling the hem of her tank top down over her stomach. Her hair was still wet, but she had pulled it back into two french braids that trailed down past her shoulders. She smiled softly and gave a little twirl to show off her outfit.
"Fab skirt, 'Mione." Harry complimented.
Hermione flushed slightly and her eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Thank you Chanel & Gucci." She drawled out in a tone laced with sarcasm.
Harry flushed.
Hermione had to admit the skirt did look pretty good on her. The denim skirt fell to her knees and tapered to a point in the front and back. Slits ran up both sides and were laced loosely together by thin, brown leather ties.
"Though creepishly feminine Harry's comment was he had a point. That skirt looks hot on you." Ginny said.
"Thanks guys. My aunt owled it to me last week; said she got it for me when she went to Paris for a business trip." She ran her hands down the front smoothing out invisible wrinkles. While she was compulsively fixing her appearance she tugged absently on her blank tank top. The 'Foxy' decal, written in silver over a heart, stretched slightly out of proportion and then resettled itself back into its normal shape.
"How did you guys get into my room anyway? They have passwords for a reason."
It was Draco who rose his hand with a smirk, "Yeah that would be me. I let the little Gryffindors in. So sorry, but I couldn't miss the look on your face when they interrupted your "beauty-sleep". Quite priceless, actually."
Hermoine glared at him, "That's the last time I give you my password. You're not s'pose to use your knowledge for evil." Her reprimand was followed by a sharp whack of her wand against his skull, which made the Gryffindors wince in sympathy.
Rubbing his aching head ruefully he grinned cheekily down at Hermione, "I'd say I'm sorry, but you know I wouldn't mean it."
Hermione laughed and her eyes shimmered in delight, "You're probably right and I'll let your indiscretion slide. This time. But you're on probation, mister!"
"I'll keep that in mind." Leaning down to face level he winked at her.
Keeping her face schooled in an expression of mild interest she ignored his flirtatious gesture and simply walked past him. Snagging her best friend on the way she flung her arm over Ginny's shoulder and walked with her out of the room. "So Gin, what birthday festivities have you cooked up this year?"
"Ok, we've been out for breakfast, and then we went shopping. Now where to for lunch?"
Juggling her shopping bags just outside Madam Malkin's, Hermione was attempting to fish out her wand in order to shrink her purchases.
"We're having lunch out on the lake," Draco told her while Harry, stepped up to help Hermione shrink her bags. "It was Harry's idea." He said with a frown growing on his face as he watched the pair.
Hermione brushed her braids over her shoulder. Turning back to Harry as he stowed her now-shrunken bags into her purse she grinned up at him. "Boat?"
"Uh huh."
"Tubes?" She asked hopefully.
Harry made a shocked face, "Of course! What do you take me for? A Neanderthal?" He mocked. "It would be a sin if we didn't tube."
"I LOVE YOU!" Hermione squealed in delight and leapt at him. They were both laughing hysterically as Harry spun her around a few times before setting her back on the ground. Ron, Ginny, and Draco shared a confused look having all grown up in the wizarding world. Unsure of what they had gotten themselves into they allowed Hermione and Harry to drag them to Hogsmeade's marina.
"Which one is it, harry?" Hermione asked scanning the rows of boats anchored along the dock. Harry fumbled in the pocket of his jeans and pulled out a crumpled piece of parchment. He smoothed it out slightly and held it up so he could read the small printed.
"We have The Elexus rented for the afternoon."
"Oh, I see it!" Ginny cried. She was pointing off at something in the distance and jumping around excitedly as if she were standing barefoot on scalding hot sand. "There it is -- at the end!"
When she finally stopped bouncing around long enough for the rest of them to spy exactly where she was pointing.
"Let's hurry and change -- I can't wait to see it up close!" Hermione insisted. Together she and Ginny raced back to the boat shack dragging the boys behind them.
--
"Hermione, are you wearing that green bikini you picked up this morning?"
"Ron!?" Ginny exclaimed in disbelief. She gave his arm a good smack while the trio of boys chuckled at the younger woman. Hermione's own laughter could be heard as well from within the changing stall.
"It's ok Ginny. Leave him alone," Hermione laughed. "If he's beaten up we'll never win the Quidditch Cup."
Ginny, being one of the Chasers on said team, grudgingly stepped away from her older brother with a glare, but not before she gave his shoulder one last punch. They all fell silent until the rustling of Hermione's clothes as she changed became annoyingly loud.
"So are you?"
"HARRY!?"
Everyone, but Ginny -- who was so disbelievingly shocked to do much of anything -- erupted into roaring laughter. Hermione's head appeared over the top of her stall door as she held herself up with her arms folded over the top.
"Ginny! Breathe. It's a perfectly normal question and I'm sure Ron and Harry didn't mean for it to sound anything more than a friendly inquiry. Right guys?" She quirked an eyebrow and smirked at the pink faces of her two friends.
"And no, I'm wearing the green one."
They moaned.
"Actually, I think you'd look better in green than purple." Draco mused.
Hermione snorted, "You like anything that's in your House colors."
Draco shrugged minutely, "True story."
"But you're not really wearing your swimsuit," Ron argued. At Hermione's puzzled look he pointed to her bare shoulders -- evidence that in fact she was not physically wearing the green, halter swimsuit. Hermione glanced down at where Ron was pointing reflexively and looked back up at them with a grin.
"Oh, quite right, though you shouldn't let your eyes drift down that way, Ron."
Ron just laughed, "Why not? I've seen you a lot more naked than that."
Hermione flushed dark red and dropped back down to the floor, her bare feet hardly making a sound as they impacted with the carpet.
"Thanks for reminding me of that awful moment in my life." She replied. Her clipped and sarcastic tone was slightly muffled through the wooden door.
Ron's face fell realizing his error and he sunk lower in his seat as three pairs of annoyed and angry eyes bore into him.
"Nice going, Ron." Harry muttered before turning to watch the water lapping against the docks.
"Do you ever use that pathetic excuse of a brain, Weasley?" Draco growled. He too turned away, but his gaze went to scanning the large building in which they waited.
"He may have put it in more colorful terms, but Draco's right, Ron. You can be such an insensitive prick, sometimes." Ginny sighed and started to study her nails without sparing her brother a second glance.
Ron knew that he had to rectify the damage he had caused. He stood up and ran a nervous hand through his gelled hair turning his perfect creation into a tousled mess. He walked over to Hermione's stall and raised a hand to knock just as the door opened. She was wearing her dark green tankini that was held up by a single strap that went around her neck making the plunging neckline revealing yet tasteful. Tied around her waist was a black sarong that came down to her ankles, but parted nicely up to mid-thigh when she walked.
One look at his expression and disheveled hair that she knew was the result of a nervous tendency to run his hands through it, and Hermione's heart instantly melted. Holding up a hand Ron's apology died on his lips.
"It's alright, Ron. I forgive you."
His face broke into such a look of relief that Hermione's smiled widened automatically. Standing on her tiptoes she kissed his cheek. "Let's head to the boat."
The others fell in behind them as she continued out the door talking with Ron.
"You sure it's ok -- 'Cause I didn't mean to--"
"It's okay, Ron, really. But you can join Draco on probation." Her nose wrinkled and she crossed her arms over her chest. "It was just a weird experience is all -- it was like...like having a brother see you naked."
Ron's mouth dropped open.
"I mean creepy central."
"Ouch." Ginny whispered to Harry and Draco.
Hermione, blissfully unaware, went on, "I mean I'm just glad it'll never happen again."
Draco's eyes went wide as saucers before he began to chuckle under his breath. Ron's mouth kept opening and closing like a fish out of water.
"Ooh, right in the kisser." Ginny hissed wincing at Hermione's blunt and oblivious comment. Harry turned slowly to face her.
"You like commentating on everything she says, don't you?"
Ginny grinned and brushed the rust colored hair from her eyes. "Only the good stuff. And besides I'm her only girl best friend -- it's my job."
Harry chuckled, "I do feel bad for Ron though." He said, "Brother?! That's pretty harsh."
Ron was now dragging his feet leaving Hermione all alone and leading the way. Draco made an indifferent noise and as a thought came to him suddenly turned to Harry.
"You know...you're right. Rotten luck for Weasley -- you should cheer him up. I'll keep the lady company." Quickening his pace, with a smirk at Harry's dropped jaw, Draco caught up to Hermione.
Draco and Hermione, chatting in-depth about the upcoming Halloween Ball, were the first to reach the end of the dock.
"The Elexus is huge!" She exclaimed.
Harry had come up behind her while she was speaking and now flung an arm over her shoulder. "Being me does have its perks." Hermione laughed and he picked her up easily and dramatically carried her onto the boat. A less than thrilled Draco followed after.
--
"What do you mean I'm supposed to ride that thing?!"
"Come on, Draco."
Draco held up his hands, "Ok, let me get this straight. You want me to lay on this plastic tube while being dragged behind a SPEEDboat?"
Hermione nodded, "Yes that's right."
Ginny took a step away from the tube.
"You guys are such babies!"
After they had transported the boat to the lake outside Hogwarts -- for more space -- they had eaten lunch and now Harry and Hermione were trying to convince their friends that tubing was fun...not a deathtrap.
Ron tentatively prodded the yellow tube resting on the back of the boat. "Is this some secret plan to kill me, 'Mione? I said I said I was sorry!"
"I'm not trying to kill you. It's really fun."
Silence.
Letting out a groan of frustration she threw her hands up in the air, "Fine! I'll go first. And when I don't die you'll all see how silly you're being."
Taking her wide brimmed hat off her head and setting it down on the boat seat she began untying her sarong. It was now that the rest of them realized that she had undone her braids up to the base of her neck and fastened the tails into a single ponytail. Hermione finally got her sarong off and she stowed both it and her hat in one of the seat compartments.
"I'll drive, 'Mione." Harry volunteered. "Seeing as how I'm the only one who knows how."
Hermione smiled gratefully up at him as he helped her push the tube off the back and into the water.
"I'll get you a lifejacket." Hermione's hand on his arm stopped him.
"It's ok. I'll just alter a floating charm." Harry nodded and headed to the front of the boat.
Ginny was still staring at the tube that was floating placidly behind the stopped boat. Hermione had finished her charm and was checking the rope that connected the tube to the boat when Ginny's head tilted to the side and she said:
"It looks like a loaf of bread."
Hermione turned to her and gave her a disbelieving look of shock.
"Yeah! A bread-loaf of death!" Ron shouted.
Harry revved the engine, "Hermione! Let's go."
"I'm going," She called back and jumped into the lake. Seconds later her head popped back above the surface as her floating charm kicked in. With powerful strokes Hermione's arms cut easily through the water as she swam out to the tube. Climbing on quickly she lay flat on her stomach and grabbed a hold of the handles.
"Harry!" She yelled, "I'll go one round and then we can switch it up. This tube'll hold two."
"Alright -- here we go!"
"Do your worst!"
They watched for a while as Hermione's tube slid slowly back and forth across the wake and just when they had started believing that tubing wasn't really Hermione's subtle way of killing them off Harry turned the boat hard right. Hermione was ripped from her comfortable position in the wake's center and whipped around in the opposite direction of the turning boat. The churning waves and the roar of the boat's motor drowned out her high-pitched squeals of delight.
Ginny leapt up from her seat and staggered uncertainly up to the driver's seat. Actually, she just bounced herself back and forth against the walls like a pinball machine hoping that, when combined with the rocking of the boat, it would propel her forward rather than backwards and, conversely, not make her vomit at the same time.
"HARRY!" She exclaimed grabbing his shoulder. The result of her shouting was not an appreciated one. Her hand instantly went to her stomach. Harry swerved sharply back to the left and Ginny swore she could feel her internal organs banging together.
"Harry!" She tried again, this time with a little less energy. "What are you trying to do? You're gonna kill her!"
Harry laughed and looked up at her from his seat, "Don't be such a worry-wart, Gin. This is fun."
Ginny clenched her fists and rested them angrily on her hips. "Ok, number one -- don't call me that. Number two, last time I checked Hermione didn't have 'near-death-experiences' filed under fun." She leaned in closely and her voice dropped, "And third, it's not just Hermione at risk," She hissed. "She's the --"
"Gryffindor Prefect?" Harry interjected cheekily.
He turned the wheel back to the right suddenly, earning some gasps from Ron and Draco as Hermione bounced up and down, and held it there pulling her around in a donut.
"She's the Champion." Ginny finished deliberately.
"Really? You know I think I missed the memo..." He replied sarcastically glancing over his shoulder to check on Hermione.
"Harry. Can't you ever be serious?"
He turned back to her.
"I don't care if she's some Sovereign of Light -- I don't care if she's the bloody queen of England!" He told her stubbornly. "She's still Hermione. And it's still her birthday."
Ginny was silent. Her hands slowly unclenched as her protective anger left her and one moved up to tuck a lock of hair behind her ear.
"Can't she just be a girl for one day? Just be Hermione?"
When Ginny finally looked up and met Harry's eyes she smiled faintly and nodded.
Harry turned back to focus on driving. Letting up on the gas he slowly ease the boat to the left. Hermione, surprised at the sudden lack of speed, sat up slightly and stared at the boat. Once Harry had let the boat drift far enough he slammed on the gas and yanked a screaming Hermione through her own waves.
Too startled to focus properly Hermione only lasted twenty seconds before she was flung off the tube and into the cold water. Her head popped instantly back above the churning waves and she watched as Harry turned the boat around to come pick her up.
--
The rest of the afternoon was spent tubing and water skiing across Hogwart's lake. Several students and staff members stopped to watch as they passed by. They certainly had something to stare at as the entire group attempted to fit on the tube as the boat was magically piloted -- needless to say, it was a hilarious sight that didn't last long. Ron tried to tube standing up while holding onto the rope used for water skiing. He lasted longer than expected, but the enormity of the tube made it difficult to maneuver and it was soon flipped over when it skidded out of the wake. Another time, when Draco was trying to balance Hermione sitting on his shoulders and water-ski at the same time, Lavender and Parvati had been on their way to Hogsmeade when they stopped to watch their friends antics. The two girls catcalled so loudly that they caught Hermione and Draco off guard and sent them tumbling into the water.
When the sun began to set their hunger kicked in and they decided to head in. Harry finished returning the boat and met them outside the rental shack. When they had gotten out of the boat Ginny had taken Hermione's sarong and it was now tied around her waist. Hermione now wore the white dress shirt Ginny had come in. As Hermione walked she swung her purse back and forth and chewed on the hem of her sleeve.
"I'm starving...what are we doing now?" She asked. She looked up and scanned the dark clouds above. Lifting a hand she brushed back the loose strands of hair from her face.
"Back to the castle. There's gonna be a party for you in Gryffindor Tower," Ginny said. The redhead looked back over her shoulder at Hermione, "It is gonna rock!"
"Presents?" Hermione asked hopefully.
"Yeah! Now let's go -- they can't start the party without the birthday girl!"
Hermione laughed as Ron grabbed her hand and pulled her along behind him as the entire group broke into a run.
Read and Review! Much more birthday fun coming up in the next chapter! Hopefully I'll be able to get it done and posted before I get called into work!
Much love!
KissThis