Unexpected Thoughts

Chapter 2

Boy, this was awkward.

Ron had long since given up talking to Hermione, seeing as she was busy wondering why the heck Harry was acting so oddly, and was now waiting eagerly for the lunch cart to come by. Harry, of course, was busy thinking and staring out the window, and Hermione had stopped trying to him because he wouldn't even respond unless she snapped her fingers in his face.

Hermione looked at her watch and groaned. They had only been on the train for a half hour. She would have to do something or she might just explode from the tension.

'I know!' she thought. 'I'll try and see if I can raise one eyebrow but not the other!' (a/n: 1)

After about ten minutes she succeeded, and gave a little squeal of excitement, temporarily breaking both Harry and Ron from their trances. Ron was staring at her with curiosity, and Harry asked, "What's all the excitement about, Hermione?"

Hermione blushed, her cheeks crimson. "No, nothing, it's just... Look what I can do!" she cried, raising one eyebrow.

Ron's mouth opened. "WOW. That is incredibly cool!" Harry looked at her and grinned. "Man, Hermione," he said, "Have I really been that inattentive?"

Hermione stared at him for a second. Man, he was perceptive. "Yes, in fact, you have," she said, trying to sound annoyed. "You've been staring out that window for the last 45 minutes thinking about who knows what? And you," she said, turning to Ron, "...well... you not talking is my fault. Never mind."

Just then, the lunch cart came by. Ron's face filled with joy and he jumped up, hugging the woman pushing the cart. "Ah, Ron, my best customer!" she said. Harry reached into his pocket. "I've got this one, guys. Order away." Hermione got two pumpkin pasties, and Harry got a bag of Bertie Bott's and a couple of Chocolate Frogs. Ron, however, rattled off a list five miles long; the woman pushing the cart was having a very difficult time keeping up. Eventually, Harry smacked Ron up the side of the head. "RON. Cut it out, or you're going to empty my bank account at Gringott's."

Ron grinned, but the tips of his ears turned red at the mention of Harry's money. Then the woman handed Ron the huge stack of food he had ordered, and then gave Harry and Hermione their foods. Harry paid up, and they turned to sit back down. Ron had already set up camp on one side of the compartment, his food scattered around him. Hermione and Harry both laughed and then sat down on the other side of the compartment. Hermione ate her pasties and then she and Harry started eating the Bertie Bott's.

Ron laughed when Harry made a face at the first one he ate. "Bad choice, mate," he said. Harry started coughing, his eyes watering.

"Pepper?"

"Yeah."

Hermione looked through the bag and then carefully selected a purplish-brown one. "I'm hoping that this one is going to be grape..." she said, and then popped it into her mouth. She chewed a few times, and then her face contorted into a very strange look.

"What is it, Hermione? What flavor?" Harry asked, trying not to laugh at Hermione's face but failing.

"It's... oh, ew, ew, ew," she said, spitting it out into a napkin and then taking a very large swig of pumpkin juice. "I think it was swamp or bog or something."

Harry burst into laughter, but Ron just raised his eyebrows. "Sounds like Bertie's been creating some new flavors," he said, unable to keep the joy from his face.

«.:.:.:.»

The tension broken, the three of them spent the remainder of the train ride chatting and having fun with the Bertie Bott's. They hardly realized that it was getting dark until Malfoy popped in, flashing his prefect badge, saying, "As I am a prefect, just like you two" he said, emphasizing the word 'prefect' and looking at Harry (2) and Hermione with disdain, "I felt it was my need to remind everyone, even a weasel, a mudblood, and Potty here, that we are to be arriving in about ten minutes." His monologue ended, Malfoy walked away very Snape-like, with his cloaks swishing.

Ron groaned. "And here I thought I was going to enjoy Hogwarts this year," he said.

«.:.:.:.»

Author Notes

1: Admit it; you've all been at least this bored. No? Well, I have. I spent about an hour in religion class trying to see if I could wiggle my ears. I couldn't.

2: Okay, I know, Ron's supposed to be a prefect. But he's not in this story. Dumbledore gave Harry Ron's prefect badge. And Ron didn't mind one bit. He didn't want to be like Percy anyways. DON'T ASK QUESTIONS.

«.:.:.:.»

Alrighty. Fun! Second chapter! Whee! Anyways. Review. And... I feel that I should do shout-outs to my very cool reviewers. All 3 of them! I WANT MORE THIS CHAPTER. More, more, more.

Year1989rocks: Thanks so much for the review. .

Tamar-shaki: Is this soon enough for youm'dear?

Seachel: Oh, well, I've had comments on their OOCness before, and I felt that to avoid flamers I should probably say something. Just in case. And continue I will!

And... I feel that cookies are in order for you all! :3 Um... Keep reading, keep reviewing.

-Sara