Chapter 3: Perks
Ginny stared at Harry, refusing to believe it was him on that broom. She flushed red at the cheeks when he alighted the broom to land right in front of her. 'That's...brilliant.' Ginny thought, still gawking wide-eyed. 'And that broom suits Harry too, it matches his hair. Did he really flew on that thing? Gosh."
"You're good..." Ginny sighed aloud.
Harry was caught off guard by that statement and blushed. "Well, thanks," Harry replied, a hand scratching the back of his hair, ruffling it even more.
"Yeah, you're bloody good," Ron gave Harry a thumbs-up. "As expected from Hogwart's youngest seeker!"
"You're not all that bad either, Ron," Hermione commented and leaned in to give him a kiss on the cheek. "Reward for impressing me."
"Gosh 'Mione, not here," Ron hushed while his cheeks grew an intense red. The others laughed at Ron's embarassment.
Harry caught Ginny's eye and mouthed 'do I get one too?' while she mouthed back 'dream on' and started to give a soft chuckle. Harry bowed his head in mock disappointment and gave a fake audible sigh. Giggling even more, Ginny relented and kissed Harry on his cheek.
The four of them went back into the building. As they went down the stairs, Hermione and Ginny heard the same group of cackly girls speaking as they went past.
"-and they were so GREAT at flying. He looked so tasty!" A fit of giggles was shared. "I can't believe how delicious they looked, I nearly-"
The girls exchanged a look of disgust this time until they realised the boys were gone. Ginny turned around to find Harry and her brother speaking to a house elf, who seemed to be holding the two broomsticks the boys were riding a while ago. Walking over to Harry, Ginny heard Harry mention about the price of the Shadow.
"Well, we're extending an offer to you two fine lads for attracting so many customers for us," the house elf grinned. "I, Ollie, am entrusted by Master to sell these at 295 galleons and 14 sickles each. However, Harry Potter sir, I like you very much and, therefore, I will sell it to you at 95 galleons and a knut."
"85 and a knut," Harry replied.
"Sold!" Ollie shook Harry's hand firmly. "Now will you please follow me? We have to get to my office for some procedures."
The group walked into a rather small-sized hut at the end of the hallway. As they entered through the little door, however, they found that the little hut was not little at all. The room they were in consisted of a pool table, a large oak desk, several couches and some more space in between. Clearly, the room had been magically expanded or they had shrunk. Ollimer seated the two boys while he proceeded to browse through the cabinets beside the desk for paperwork of sorts.
"We need to find those darn- oh, I apologise for my impoliteness ladies," Ollie snapped his fingers to conjure up a coffee table at the couch and a pot of camomile and gave a wide smile. "There, finally found it." Ollie trotted back towards the desk and placed two forms in front of Harry and Ron. "All you have to do," he snapped his fingers again to conjure up two quills, "Is to sign right there above the line."
"Oh I love you so much Harry! I could snog you!" Ron exclaimed as he smooched the broom through the paper wrappings.
Harry pretended to vomit at his words and said, "No thanks, Weasley. Besides, you'll need that broom when you're going to be in the team this year."
Ron gave his widest grin at that. Meanwhile, the girls walked in front of the smittened boys who were busy admiring their new broom.
Ginny noticed the book Hermione had bought and asked how much it cost. Hermione replied, "Oh, I didn't pay. The cashier was too busy oogling at Harry and Ron and told me to take the book and not bother her."
Ginny laughed. "Really? I took the clothes out for free too, all the cashiers were fawning over those two and they told me to 'run along'," Ginny snorted. "Perks of having them go with us for shopping, huh?" Both girls grinned.
Harry glanced at Ginny's back and a hand glided up towards his cheek, touching the spot Ginny had kissed him.
"Hey, mate," said Ron, waving his hand in front of Harry's face. "You okay?"
Harry flushed and muttered gently, "Yeah."
"Pete's slug?" Ron asked. "Muggles eat that?"
"No, idiot. It's P-I-Z-Z-A," Hermione berated Ron, spelling each letter with her finger. "It's Italian. And don't worry, you'll love it. It's in your favourite category of foods; junk."
"Do you want regular or large, 'Mione?" Harry called out from the kitchen as he dialled the number for Rocky's Pizza. Ginny leaned over Harry's shoulder in intent to see how the telephone worked or what a pamphlet was.
"Three large ones. I expect Ronster here to be in an extremely large appetite once he sees those pizzas, or what's on them," snorted Hermione. Ron was still scratching his head, trying to figure out what Harry and Hermione were talking about. Harry sniggered at that thought. Nobody could fathom the depth of Ron's gut when it came to supper, though three large pizzas could really be too much for the four of them.
Harry plopped down beside Ron and Hermione after ordering, watching another of their epic wizard's chess battles. Ginny settled beside Harry, resting her head on his shoulder, and said, "They're at it again? 'Mione's really getting better at this, isn't she?"
"Well, you can't expect 'Mione to keep losing at something right? It's just," Harry pondered for a moment, "So not Hermione." Ginny and Harry laughed. "Thought she currently needs a bit of help from that book she got," Harry said pointedly towards the book Hermione grasped: The Wizard Book of Wizard's Chess.
Hermione prodded the book as Ron made a move with his pawn. She flashed a grin and made her own move. "What, you can't expect me to not do anything. And you expect me to lose to Ron over something?" Hermione watched Ron as he flinched from the last move she made and grinned again.
"It really isn't fair!" Ron whined. "You have- have professional help!"
"Are you trying to say you can't win a book?" Hermione smirk.
"Of course I can win a book!" Ron said as he moved his knight.
Hermione jabbed at the book again. However, she frowned this time. "The book's taking an awful long time for a move. Oh- Rook to E5," Hermione said.
They rallied for quite a while, the book taking longer and longer to process a move. Hermione could sense that a loss was immenent. 'Damn, I must do something, I-' She stared blankly at Ron and gave a sly smile.
Ron raised an eyebrow and raised his hand to make a move but his hand got caught in Hermione's. "I wouldn't do that if I were you," Hermione said in a seductive manner.
"What do you mean?" Ron gulped and proceeded to move his knight. Hermione shrugged. She poked the book again and it responded fairly quickly. After making her move, she slid her foot over Ron's leg and heard Ron gasp.
Ginny saw Hermione teasing Ron and gave her a wink. Ron began to make mistakes and lost many pieces. With the book's help, Hermione forced Ron into a troublesome pit and would have got Ron into a checkmate the next move. Ron broke a sweat, desperately thinking of a way to win, and then he felt Hermione's foot advancing ever so closely up his thigh. He stifled a moan. "What's wrong, Ron? It's your turn," Hermione spoke in a low, sultry tone.
"Is there something wrong with your throat?" Harry asked, oblivious to Hermione's ploy.
"Nothing's wrong," Hermione smiled politely.
Ron glared at Hermione while she gave an innocent face and edged up his thigh. Ron failed to let out a soft sigh. "Ding dong!"
"I'll get it," Harry said as he got up, pulling Ginny with him.
The door opened to a rather petite blonde girl and she pulled out three huge boxes from a bright red bag. "Three large pizzas, that'll be-" Harry took out his wallet and picked at some notes. He glanced up to find out why the girl stopped abruptly; she was looking at him, dazed.
"How much is it?"
"Are you Harry Potter?" The delivery girl blurted out suddenly.
"Huh? Me? Oh, yeah, that's me."
"Oh my god, oh my god, oh my god..." the blonde girl fiddled around her pockets and took out a pen and paper. "Can I have your autograph? Please?"
Harry signed for the girl, as she explained she was a squib and learnt all about him from books, and she gave the pizzas to him to show her gratitude. Harry scratched the back of his head in confusion and turned to Ginny. "Why haven't I read about me in a book before?" Harry implored, only to find Ginny blushing deeply.
Ginny twiddled her finger and spoke softly, "Well, if you want, I can lend you books about you." Harry laughed and brought the pizzas to Ron and Hermione.