Chapter 6
A/N: Nine reviews in one day! I'm in a state of euphoria! It's like coffee for my brain! THANK YOU!!! If hugging were more hygienic these days and I knew you guys in person, I'd hug you. So think of this message as an e-hug or whatever.
A/N 2: My story sort of jumps forward a bit at this point, hope you don't mind that I don't write everything that goes on in the month Hermione has to write that letter. It would all be fluff and Hermione thinking about Harry anyway (I personally think fluff is a tad on the boring side). I'll just sort of do a little explaining when I get around to it. Once again, thank you to those reviewers. You're all awesome!
A/N 3: I'm attempting to make this chapter longer, if it isn't long, well... blah. At least this way I can update faster =)
Yep, I'm done my useless chatter now... read on folks!
Once again, Hermione, Ginny and Ron decided to meet up to discuss the plan. Hermione sat at her desk with Ginny and Ron at her side, finally taking a stab at that letter she started a few weeks ago. Harry was once again outside, flying around on his broom, coming up with new plays for the Gryffindor Quidditch team, as he was now captain. All three were happy for him; now they were just plain appreciative that it occupied so much of his time and effort. He was so busy that he didn't even take in that they were all acting a little strange around him lately.
"Hermione, have you even thought about this letter since we suggested it?" Ginny asked, since Hermione unusually was at a loss for words to write down. "I've thought about it vaguely, I came up with a beginning, but it's so..." Hermione paused; thinking of a word to describe her letter, "...typical," Hermione scrunched up her nose, thinking about her unimaginative letter, "I want it to make me sound more mature. Less infatuated third year, more sophisticated seventh year. Do you understand where I'm coming from?" Ginny nodded. She, too, strived to make her letters sound classier than they really were. "Well, why don't you begin with what you came up with so far?" Ron asked. Hermione nodded and said, "Okay, try not to laugh. Here goes, 'Dear Harry, I know writing anonymous love letters is so third year, but I just had to tell you that my feelings for you run deep inside of me and pump through my veins. Harry, I know this is so cliché-' and that's all I have," Ron guffawed, "That's not what guys wanna hear, Hermione, it's all too sappy. I've known Harry since I was eleven, and he doesn't seem to be the sentimental romantic type. His idea of a great date is dragging a poor girl to an action flick in a theatre full of guys!"
"I would go anywhere, as long as it was with Harry. Action flick, motocross racing championships, dirt bike racing, some farm where I had to clean out the horse stables, anywhere. It's just that I'm with Harry that counts. I know you mean well Ron, but I don't want this letter to sound too clear- cut. I want Harry to think that I really like him, and I don't think that writing a letter that simply says 'I like you Harry, marry me and have my children,' will withstand a chance," Ron snickered at the memory of the third year that ran up to Harry saying those exact things at breakfast just three weeks ago. "I agree with you, Hermione. Ron, it has to sound like it comes from the heart. Would you keep a letter that basically said 'I like you'? I wouldn't be surprised if you chucked it into the fire up in the common room! And wasn't it you who told 'Mione to never deny what you feel?" Ron thought about this, and after a moment, he spoke up, "Yeah, I guess I would toss it. I would probably think of it as a joke if it were that plain and boring," "You see, Ron? Hermione would be crushed if Harry threw out the letter that she worked so hard on. This is why is has to be elaborate and so sincere," Hermione nodded. She would be in great despair if he pitched it into the fire, just seconds after reading it. "Personally, Hermione, I think that you should use the letter you started. It's quite good. It's not too childish sounding. With our help, it will be excellent. It'll knock the socks of him, surely,"
The three shared ideas. Ron had attempted to look at it from a girl's point of view, and make an effort to come up with some good ideas as well. Hermione wanted to include the smartest thing Ron ever said to her in the letter and Ron certainly felt honoured that his words were going to be mentioned. He had commenced a jig and danced around in circles in glee. "Ron, stop it. You look like a chicken that has had its head cut off." Ginny said in distaste. Ron shrugged and continued dancing, this time in one spot. Looking less like a chicken, indeed, but still like a lunatic. Ginny shook her head and continued to bounce ideas off Hermione. She was determined to make this work out for her good friends. She knew that one day Harry and Hermione would be together and would rather it happened sooner than later. "Hey, Hermione, what if you wrote a poem? That would certainly show effort, I'm sure Harry would value it," Ron abruptly stopped his dancing and quoted part of a poem sent from Ginny herself to Harry on Valentine's Day, back when he was in second year, "'His eyes are as green as a fresh pickled toad, his hair as dark as a blackboard...'"
Hermione stifled a giggle at the recollection as Ginny, embarrassed and blushing furiously, for what seemed to be the fifth time since Hermione spilled out her guts about Harry, walloped Ron at the back of his head, "It was DOBBY who wrote that, I swear!" Hermione giggled as Ron, rubbing the back of his head, retorted, "Sure, Gin. If Dobby wrote it, why didn't you check it before you handed it over to Harry? Save yourself the embarrassment." Ron smiled at his sister, who was now shaking her head. "Argh! No poetry then, Hermione," Ginny said, trying to recollect herself and stop the blush that invaded her cheeks. "Oh good, I'm absolutely dreadful at poetry, and I don't want to ask Dobby to write it for me. We all know what comes of that, " Hermione said, teasingly, "And besides, I don't want Dobby or any house-elf to do more work than he or she has to, if you remember SPEW," Ginny huffed and hastily said, "Look, let's just return to the matter at hand here,"
"Someone's being an elf driver!" Ron piped up, but he immediately started acting serious as he saw the look that crossed his now very angry sister's face. Afraid of being slapped, or worse, punched, he quickly took his seat again. He did not want to have to come up with a lie to cover up the fact that his little sister had given him a black eye. Nor did he want to borrow any makeup from some girls to conceal it.
About an hour later, it was time for dinner and the three left Hermione's room. They walked to the Great Hall, not discussing the plan in fear that another student would overhear. There was a flurry of students up ahead by the entrance to the Great Hall, eager to get in and have dinner. As they approached, Hermione overheard a young first year girl talking to one of her friends, "Guess what I overheard Dumbledore saying to McGonagall?"
"What?" responded her friend, "In three weeks, there's going to be a ball! I hope they allow the entire school to go," the girl said wistfully. At this, Hermione's head whipped around to face Ginny's. "I have to go with Harry to that ball," Ginny nodded, "There better be a ball. I hope this isn't just some rumour,"
Finally, Hermione got through the mob of students and sat down beside Harry at the Gryffindor table. As soon as every student was seated, Dumbledore got up from his chair and clapped his hands. "I have an announcement to make! I'm sure all third years and up will be tremendously happy that we will be having a ball in three weeks time," there was some muttering from the first and second years, and Dumbledore continued, "It will hopefully unite the houses as one, as we come to face that the war is going on against Lord Voldemort," to Hermione's surprise, no one flinched at the name, "I only ask of you to have fun and enjoy the moment, as we are all aware that there will be many more dark times ahead for all of the world, Muggle, Witch, or Wizard," and with that, Dumbledore winked and said, "Tuck in," and the golden plates were magically filled with food. There was a sudden uproar from the older students as they discussed what dressrobes they would wear (from the girls) and who they would ask to the ball(from the boys). Harry, however, remained silent as he ate. Hermione noticed this, and she spoke, "What's wrong Harry? You're unusually quiet," Harry chewed carefully and said, "I wish I wasn't the one who would have to kill Voldemort. Here I am, waiting for him to get me. All those times that I faced him and won were just luck. What if I'm not so lucky this time? What if I fail? The world would cease to exist as we know it and it would be my entire fault! Innocent lives are being balanced on my shoulders and I don't think I'll be able to carry them,"
"Harry, you can do this. I know it will be just you and Voldemort in the end, but we will all help you get there and defeat Voldemort once and for all. We'll get you trained up and ready for battle. You know Dumbledore will not allow you to duel against Voldemort without learning useful spells first, and you must admit, you know plenty of good spells now. I'm sure that you will win, Harry. You've got it in you to win. You have potential, and most of all, you have strength and courage, Harry. You've got your mother's blood flowing in you, and she will protect you whenever you need it, as will Dumbledore, the Order, and your friends, Ron, Ginny and I," Hermione smiled at Harry and he smiled back. He hugged her, and said, "Thanks, Hermione, I really appreciate what you said to me, you're a true friend," Hermione swooned and she suddenly felt very giddy as Harry let her go.
A/N: Oh yeah, as for the little stereotyping thing I had in there, about how guys always watch action movies, that does not reflect how I actually feel. I LOVE action flicks, without them, life would just be boring! And as for the stuff that Hermione lists afterwards, (motocross racing, etc.), I ALWAYS wanted to do those things. Well maybe not cleaning out a horse stable, but who would want to do that? Anyhoo, woo! I think this is a longer chapter! -pats herself on back-. I enjoyed writing that one, and as always, review! --azias
A/N: Nine reviews in one day! I'm in a state of euphoria! It's like coffee for my brain! THANK YOU!!! If hugging were more hygienic these days and I knew you guys in person, I'd hug you. So think of this message as an e-hug or whatever.
A/N 2: My story sort of jumps forward a bit at this point, hope you don't mind that I don't write everything that goes on in the month Hermione has to write that letter. It would all be fluff and Hermione thinking about Harry anyway (I personally think fluff is a tad on the boring side). I'll just sort of do a little explaining when I get around to it. Once again, thank you to those reviewers. You're all awesome!
A/N 3: I'm attempting to make this chapter longer, if it isn't long, well... blah. At least this way I can update faster =)
Yep, I'm done my useless chatter now... read on folks!
Once again, Hermione, Ginny and Ron decided to meet up to discuss the plan. Hermione sat at her desk with Ginny and Ron at her side, finally taking a stab at that letter she started a few weeks ago. Harry was once again outside, flying around on his broom, coming up with new plays for the Gryffindor Quidditch team, as he was now captain. All three were happy for him; now they were just plain appreciative that it occupied so much of his time and effort. He was so busy that he didn't even take in that they were all acting a little strange around him lately.
"Hermione, have you even thought about this letter since we suggested it?" Ginny asked, since Hermione unusually was at a loss for words to write down. "I've thought about it vaguely, I came up with a beginning, but it's so..." Hermione paused; thinking of a word to describe her letter, "...typical," Hermione scrunched up her nose, thinking about her unimaginative letter, "I want it to make me sound more mature. Less infatuated third year, more sophisticated seventh year. Do you understand where I'm coming from?" Ginny nodded. She, too, strived to make her letters sound classier than they really were. "Well, why don't you begin with what you came up with so far?" Ron asked. Hermione nodded and said, "Okay, try not to laugh. Here goes, 'Dear Harry, I know writing anonymous love letters is so third year, but I just had to tell you that my feelings for you run deep inside of me and pump through my veins. Harry, I know this is so cliché-' and that's all I have," Ron guffawed, "That's not what guys wanna hear, Hermione, it's all too sappy. I've known Harry since I was eleven, and he doesn't seem to be the sentimental romantic type. His idea of a great date is dragging a poor girl to an action flick in a theatre full of guys!"
"I would go anywhere, as long as it was with Harry. Action flick, motocross racing championships, dirt bike racing, some farm where I had to clean out the horse stables, anywhere. It's just that I'm with Harry that counts. I know you mean well Ron, but I don't want this letter to sound too clear- cut. I want Harry to think that I really like him, and I don't think that writing a letter that simply says 'I like you Harry, marry me and have my children,' will withstand a chance," Ron snickered at the memory of the third year that ran up to Harry saying those exact things at breakfast just three weeks ago. "I agree with you, Hermione. Ron, it has to sound like it comes from the heart. Would you keep a letter that basically said 'I like you'? I wouldn't be surprised if you chucked it into the fire up in the common room! And wasn't it you who told 'Mione to never deny what you feel?" Ron thought about this, and after a moment, he spoke up, "Yeah, I guess I would toss it. I would probably think of it as a joke if it were that plain and boring," "You see, Ron? Hermione would be crushed if Harry threw out the letter that she worked so hard on. This is why is has to be elaborate and so sincere," Hermione nodded. She would be in great despair if he pitched it into the fire, just seconds after reading it. "Personally, Hermione, I think that you should use the letter you started. It's quite good. It's not too childish sounding. With our help, it will be excellent. It'll knock the socks of him, surely,"
The three shared ideas. Ron had attempted to look at it from a girl's point of view, and make an effort to come up with some good ideas as well. Hermione wanted to include the smartest thing Ron ever said to her in the letter and Ron certainly felt honoured that his words were going to be mentioned. He had commenced a jig and danced around in circles in glee. "Ron, stop it. You look like a chicken that has had its head cut off." Ginny said in distaste. Ron shrugged and continued dancing, this time in one spot. Looking less like a chicken, indeed, but still like a lunatic. Ginny shook her head and continued to bounce ideas off Hermione. She was determined to make this work out for her good friends. She knew that one day Harry and Hermione would be together and would rather it happened sooner than later. "Hey, Hermione, what if you wrote a poem? That would certainly show effort, I'm sure Harry would value it," Ron abruptly stopped his dancing and quoted part of a poem sent from Ginny herself to Harry on Valentine's Day, back when he was in second year, "'His eyes are as green as a fresh pickled toad, his hair as dark as a blackboard...'"
Hermione stifled a giggle at the recollection as Ginny, embarrassed and blushing furiously, for what seemed to be the fifth time since Hermione spilled out her guts about Harry, walloped Ron at the back of his head, "It was DOBBY who wrote that, I swear!" Hermione giggled as Ron, rubbing the back of his head, retorted, "Sure, Gin. If Dobby wrote it, why didn't you check it before you handed it over to Harry? Save yourself the embarrassment." Ron smiled at his sister, who was now shaking her head. "Argh! No poetry then, Hermione," Ginny said, trying to recollect herself and stop the blush that invaded her cheeks. "Oh good, I'm absolutely dreadful at poetry, and I don't want to ask Dobby to write it for me. We all know what comes of that, " Hermione said, teasingly, "And besides, I don't want Dobby or any house-elf to do more work than he or she has to, if you remember SPEW," Ginny huffed and hastily said, "Look, let's just return to the matter at hand here,"
"Someone's being an elf driver!" Ron piped up, but he immediately started acting serious as he saw the look that crossed his now very angry sister's face. Afraid of being slapped, or worse, punched, he quickly took his seat again. He did not want to have to come up with a lie to cover up the fact that his little sister had given him a black eye. Nor did he want to borrow any makeup from some girls to conceal it.
About an hour later, it was time for dinner and the three left Hermione's room. They walked to the Great Hall, not discussing the plan in fear that another student would overhear. There was a flurry of students up ahead by the entrance to the Great Hall, eager to get in and have dinner. As they approached, Hermione overheard a young first year girl talking to one of her friends, "Guess what I overheard Dumbledore saying to McGonagall?"
"What?" responded her friend, "In three weeks, there's going to be a ball! I hope they allow the entire school to go," the girl said wistfully. At this, Hermione's head whipped around to face Ginny's. "I have to go with Harry to that ball," Ginny nodded, "There better be a ball. I hope this isn't just some rumour,"
Finally, Hermione got through the mob of students and sat down beside Harry at the Gryffindor table. As soon as every student was seated, Dumbledore got up from his chair and clapped his hands. "I have an announcement to make! I'm sure all third years and up will be tremendously happy that we will be having a ball in three weeks time," there was some muttering from the first and second years, and Dumbledore continued, "It will hopefully unite the houses as one, as we come to face that the war is going on against Lord Voldemort," to Hermione's surprise, no one flinched at the name, "I only ask of you to have fun and enjoy the moment, as we are all aware that there will be many more dark times ahead for all of the world, Muggle, Witch, or Wizard," and with that, Dumbledore winked and said, "Tuck in," and the golden plates were magically filled with food. There was a sudden uproar from the older students as they discussed what dressrobes they would wear (from the girls) and who they would ask to the ball(from the boys). Harry, however, remained silent as he ate. Hermione noticed this, and she spoke, "What's wrong Harry? You're unusually quiet," Harry chewed carefully and said, "I wish I wasn't the one who would have to kill Voldemort. Here I am, waiting for him to get me. All those times that I faced him and won were just luck. What if I'm not so lucky this time? What if I fail? The world would cease to exist as we know it and it would be my entire fault! Innocent lives are being balanced on my shoulders and I don't think I'll be able to carry them,"
"Harry, you can do this. I know it will be just you and Voldemort in the end, but we will all help you get there and defeat Voldemort once and for all. We'll get you trained up and ready for battle. You know Dumbledore will not allow you to duel against Voldemort without learning useful spells first, and you must admit, you know plenty of good spells now. I'm sure that you will win, Harry. You've got it in you to win. You have potential, and most of all, you have strength and courage, Harry. You've got your mother's blood flowing in you, and she will protect you whenever you need it, as will Dumbledore, the Order, and your friends, Ron, Ginny and I," Hermione smiled at Harry and he smiled back. He hugged her, and said, "Thanks, Hermione, I really appreciate what you said to me, you're a true friend," Hermione swooned and she suddenly felt very giddy as Harry let her go.
A/N: Oh yeah, as for the little stereotyping thing I had in there, about how guys always watch action movies, that does not reflect how I actually feel. I LOVE action flicks, without them, life would just be boring! And as for the stuff that Hermione lists afterwards, (motocross racing, etc.), I ALWAYS wanted to do those things. Well maybe not cleaning out a horse stable, but who would want to do that? Anyhoo, woo! I think this is a longer chapter! -pats herself on back-. I enjoyed writing that one, and as always, review! --azias