Chapter 11: A Defense Against the Dark Arts Surprise
Note: Chapter is done. Just a reminder, I don't own any of these people, places, and things. Don't sue, I have no money.
"Ron, you have to hold it by the bottom," Hermione was lecturing Ron as he tried to pull the ugly brown and green looking root out of the pot. She had hers out already, and had received 10 points for Gryffindor from Professor Spout.
"Harry, not so hard!" She squealed as dirt flicked up on her robes from Harry's pot. Harry just aimed dirt at Ron, so his robe got covered with dirt.
"Hey now," Ron tried to do the same, but ended up dropping the root and it exploded into a white gas that started to float throughout the green house.
"Mr. Weasley!" Professor Spout took a quick intake of breath, and ran to open the window.
"Don't breathe in too much of this now, it will give you a case of the giggles-" But she was interrupted by the hysterical laughs of Harry and Ron, as they both fell down to their knees, tears of laughter streaming down their faces. Hermione had acted quick and covered up her nose, and she just stared down at them, horrified.
"Ron," Harry choked out, almost inaudible through his laughing.
"What did you do?"
"I don't know!" Ron laughed back, falling onto his back.
"Get up, it's stronger down there," Hermione tried to yank Ron up without uncovering her nose. Ron was too heavy for her, however, and he continued to roll around on the ground with Harry, even when most of the white gas had blown out the windows. Professor Spout rushed over and looked at the two of them with annoyance. She flicked her wand once, and the laughter died down. Ron suddenly realized he was on the ground, his lungs in a lot of pain. He stood quickly and blushed from all the amused stares the Gryffindor's were giving him, and all the sneers the Slytherin's were shooting his way. Harry had the same look on his face that Ron felt inside as he tried to keep a grin off his face.
"Watch it next time boys, you can not afford to be so inept when we are dealing with these type of roots!" Professor Sprout declared, hurrying back over to open the windows just a bit wider.
"Unbelievable, I have never laughed like that in my life," Harry whispered to Ron.
"At least she didn't take any points away!"
"Me neither! Now there's this aching in my chest," he groaned, looking at Hermione.
"My head also. My back from when I fell over…My lungs are pretty beat up too…"
"Don't expect any sympathy from me," Hermione turned her shoulder on the both of them and continued to uproot the plants.
"Oh come on, aren't you the least bit amused?" Ron tried to wrap his arms around her waist, but she shrugged them off.
"I'm not. Really." She stalked off to the back of the green house to get a potion for the dirt without another word.
"Bloody hell," Ron felt like kicking something. "She always gets like this when I try to have a little bit of fun!"
"And I thought you had lightened her up," Harry pondered.
"So did I!"
"Sorry mate," Harry carefully covered the roots in dirt. "Don't ask me about women, I am clueless in that area!"
"I thought I did, but they are too unpredictable. You should never declare yourself an expert of the female species."
Harry snorted, but then turned serious.
"Can I ask you something?" He fiddled with his glasses.
"Go for it."
"Personal?"
"Uh, sure," Ron raised an eyebrow at Harry.
"You don't have to answer if you don't want to. But have you and Hermione…Been…Uh…Together? I'm not trying to butt in or anything, just curious." Ron felt himself blushing all over again.
"Er…Yeah…We have," He said slowly, wishing he didn't blush so easily.
"Bloody hell!" Harry's face lit up. "Well? How was it?"
Ron thought about it for a moment.
"Fast. Both times," He admitted. "I guess that was my fault. The first, uh, time I was a little…Er…Too excited, and it was over before it even started. The second time we got interrupted so nothing really, uh, happened," he looked up and expected Harry to be frowning or grossed out or whatever, but he had a grin on his face.
"Just twice?"
"Hermione doesn't seem to be in a hurry to do it again. I know I am, I keep dreaming about it over and over, you wouldn't believe some of these dreams I am having-"
"Okay Ron, I hear you," Harry held up a hand.
"Right. Besides, it's the waking up part that really makes me feel special. Knowing that special person is there laying next to you…" He looked at Harry and thought he looked a little sad.
"I'll shut up now," Ron quickly got involved with carrying a pot to a different table.
"It's fine, really. I just wonder if I'll ever get to do the…Snogging and shagging like you guys do," his tone was quiet.
"Ah Harry, of course you will. And we don't shag that much, and there's just the occasional heavy snogging sessions."
"Yeah, maybe I will actually," his face perked up and he started whistling again. Ron was tempted to bring up Ginny at that very moment, but then decided it would just be better to wait for lunch when Hermione can confront Ginny. That is, if Hermione was still going to do that for him. He looked over at her; she was carefully pouring a beaker of liquid into another smaller beaker. He watched as her shoulder blades moved slightly as she moved her arms, and he looked at the adorable, concentrated spread on her face.
"Ronald Weasley, hello!" Harry was flicking at Ron's ear, trying to get his attention.
"What? Oh. Ow!" He swatted Harry's hand away from his ear.
"Class is over, mate. Time for lunch."
"Over? Then why is Hermione still-" He stopped when he realized that Hermione wasn't even there anymore.
"Did she leave without us?" Ron asked.
"I'm right here you idiot," Hermione called from the door of the greenhouses, rolling her eyes in that sexy way. Ron grinned and ran over to her, and she finally let him hug her.
"Scourgify!" She said loudly, flicking her wand at Ron. A blue light came out, and spread over Ron's body.
"You smelt like that stuff," Hermione informed him as he stared at his clean hands, which she grabbed and inspected, running her own soft hands along his skin.
"Oh? And you didn't like that smell?" Ron tried to sound smooth again, and it actually came out sounding that way.
"Not as much as I like this smell," Hermione leaned in and smelt Ron's neck. He could smell her lilac and vanilla scent as her hair tickled his face.
"You smell amazing," he murmured, suddenly wishing they were alone.
"Come on you guys, don't ruin my appetite now!" Harry pushed passed the two of them and headed back to the castle.
"We were supposed to be having something good for lunch, too! Now it will just all go to waste, someone else will have to eat it for me," he was still muttering as he walked away, but yet he was smiling.
Ron suddenly realized that his wish came and true and there was no one left in the greenhouses, just the two of them standing very close together at the doorway. He was about to suggest to Hermione that they hurry to lunch, both because he was getting way too excited and also because he wanted to get Hermione with Ginny, when she suddenly grabbed him around the waist and nearly toppled him to the ground.
"Whoa, Hermione!" Was all he could say before her lips where on his. He guessed that smell was working like a charm.
They headed back to the castle a short time after, both grinning widely at each other. The Great Hall was buzzing with hungry students, and Harry and Ginny were both sitting in their normal places, very close together. They both looked up as Ron and Hermione joined them on the other side of the bench, still smiling. Ginny just rolled her eyes, and Harry kept winking at Ron, which he tried to ignore. They ate a little in silence, all looking up at each other occasionally. Ron seemed to notice that Ginny had moved away from Harry, just a tiny bit. He cleared his throat, and kicked Hermione lightly on the foot. She let out an angry squeak.
"What?" She hissed. "Oh. OH. Right." She cleared her throat and set down her pumpkin juice.
"Ginny, will you take a walk with me?" Hermione tried to sound as casual as possible. Ginny looked at her suspiciously, but stood up.
"Okay…"
"We'll be back then," Hermione hurried off without even waiting for Ginny, who had to run to catch her.
"What do they want to talk about?" Harry asked curiously.
"Beats me," Ron shrugged his shoulders casually.
"So what were you two up to? Wait, do I want to know?"
"We were just…Snogging a bit in the greenhouses," Ron admitted, grinning like a lunatic.
"Do you always grin like that after a good snog?"
"Yes."
"But that's it?"
"Yes," Ron replied again. "There is nothing like snogging."
"Nothing at all, eh?" Harry started smirking at him.
"Well okay, but it qualifies right up there then!" Ron laughed onto his ham sandwich, unbelievably happy at the moment. He couldn't even remember being this happy. Ah, the things that Hermione did to him. Then he saw Cho heading their way…
"Here she comes, mate." Ron thought he saw Harry's face go a little cold when he felt her presence standing behind him, and he set his glass down with a loud clank.
"Harry?" She asked quietly. Harry plastered a (fake) grin on his face, and slowly turned to face her.
"Cho, are you ready for our walk?" His voice was almost too syrupy, and Ron tried not to laugh. She looked a little surprised that he was actually going to go along.
"I am if you are," she smiled a bit and Ron realized just how pretty she really was. Not nearly close to Hermione, but definitely someone he thought Harry would go for. Harry waved his hand at Ron, and they walked off together, standing quite a few inches apart. Harry had his hands shoved in his robes, and Cho kept hers wrapped tightly crossed.
Ron suddenly realized he was sitting there all alone, and looked around him. The twins were just farther down the table. Seamus and Dean where way at the other end of the table by themselves. He pulled out his schedule and stared at it. Next was Double Defense Against the Dark Arts, the class he was anxious to go to. Then to round out the day, Divination, and he let out a loud curse depicting how he felt about that class.
Ginny and Hermione returned to the table, and Ginny huffed down across from him, looking slightly annoyed and red in the face. Hermione took her place back next to Ron, looking slightly flushed.
"Ron, if you wanted information about my relationship with Harry, or lack there of, you should have just asked me instead of sending poor Hermione here to interrogate me," Ginny lectured, her cheeks turning even pinker.
"You actually think you would have told me?" Ron smirked at his sister. "Gimme a break."
"Yes, if you would have just asked me nicely about it. Where is Harry anyway?"
"Went for a walk. With Cho." Ron watched and he knew that he would see that jealousy flash in his sisters eyes. It was gone quickly after it started.
"They are probably…Just walking, you know," Ron said, watching the annoyance and jealously fluttered in Ginny's eyes again.
"Unless Harry brings her up to the room, then the are-"
"Ron, shut it," Hermione snapped. Ginny actually looked slightly sad at the thought of Harry and Cho alone on his bed.
"I'm sorry, Gin, I was just-"
"I fancy him, OKAY?" Ginny's voice suddenly got loud again, and she looked like she might cry. "I fancy him," She repeated quieter. "I've liked him since my first year here. I could never bring myself to tell anyone, especially not you. The crush…It just never went away, even though I told people that it did. Never went away…" She looked embarrassed that she had burst that out to them like that.
"I'm not that little girl that kept putting her arm in the butter dish anymore! And we've been talking, you know? Just spending some time together, talking about all the little things. And this doesn't help me one bit to figure out if what I am feeling is shared by him," Ginny was still talking quiet. "So I never brought it up." For some reason it made Ron's heart clench to see her so sad, but he brightened up at the idea that both Ginny and Harry could finally be happy….With each other.
"And Ron, I don't want you to hold me back, to tell me no. It's not just some silly crush, and I know that Harry's your best mate and all, so shouldn't that help you know that he's going to be treating me right?" Ginny asked hopefully, and as if she was already with Harry.
"Ginny, I think it's a brilliant idea!" Ron grinned and Hermione nodded.
"You do?"
"Yeah, I do. You guys both need someone in your lives right now, and I know it must be hard for both of you to feel like you, uh, fit in instead of being the end to the triangle, or the third wheel with Hermione and me."
"Yeah, now we can all be a square!" Hermione said happily, and the three of them laughed.
"But trust me, I do not want all the details! My mate and my sister snogging…" He let out a shiver
"Okay," she laughed.
"And I like the sound of that square thing," she got up and hurried over to give Ron a hug. She shoved her face on his shoulder, and he thought he felt tears on her cheeks.
"Are you crying?" He asked gently.
"It's just…Ever since Tom Riddle…And everything last year, I find myself a little reluctant when good things start to happen to me," she sniffled.
"What happened down there? And with him?" Ron looked into her eyes, wishing he knew the truth of the events that occurred during the time Tom had basically possessed her. Ginny never told anyone except for the doctor she had after it was all over. Even Mr. and Mrs. Weasley didn't fully know the truth of what happened to their daughter.
"I still can't talk about it again, Ron, I'm just not ready," another tear slid down her cheek and she clung to her brother tightly.
"Shh, it's okay. You can wait until you're ready, and when you are, I will be right here for you. Hermione too." Ron looked down at Hermione, who also had tears in her eyes. She was looking at Ron with such love and admiration with how he was treating Ginny. Ron actually couldn't really think of another time when Ginny was this emotionally charged around him, and guilt twisted in his stomach. He should have been there for her. She had said that he was her favourite brother, so maybe he should start acting like he deserved the title. He hugged her tightly once more until her sniffles has subsided, and she left his grasp, looking up in his eyes. She had the same love twinkling that Hermione did, and Ron suddenly felt that his life was perfect right at that moment. She let out a little sheepish grin, and returned to the bench. Ron sat back down, trying to take hold of his own anger towards Voldemort as well. Hermione immediately wrapped her arms around him. Ron's stomach growled, and that broke the tension. They all broke into giggles.
"You already had one sandwich, how many does it take to shut that up?" Hermione teased, placing another sandwich on Ron's plate.
"We'll just have to wait and find out," he grinned, taking a huge bite. The girls both rolled their eyes. Ginny's eyes seemed on the alert for Harry's return.
"Are you going to tell him?" Asked Hermione.
"Better, I am going to show him," Ginny replied, scanning the crowded room.
"What does that mean?" Ron asked, slightly confused.
"Just wait."
Ron shrugged and continued shoving food in his mouth, not paying attention to the bread crumbs that trickled down his chin and onto his robe. What seemed like hours passed and the three of them didn't talk. Hermione was resting her head on Ron's arm as he yet continued to eat, while Ginny was sitting up straight and constantly turning around and around. Something popped into Ron's head and he leaned closer to Hermione to whisper it to her.
"Seamus," he said out of the crook of his mouth.
"Deal with him later," Hermione whispered back. "Besides, look at her. She isn't even thinking of Seamus!"
"Just what Harry needs, another reason for Seamus to dislike him," Ron sighed. The anxious look on Ginny's face made up for it though.
"It wouldn't be his fault!"
"Nothing ever is, love."
At last, Harry came strolling down the hall, alone. He looked…Tired, but at least there was no hint of anger on his face, maybe just some relief. Cho was no where to be found, and Ron realized that some of Cho's Ravenclaw friends had dashed out of the Hall the moment they saw Harry. His face broke into a huge grin when he saw Ginny, and Ron's heart leapt. Ginny was up on her feet, running over to Harry as fast as she could, looking her stubborn way…But yet, there was a slight hint of nervousness there.
"About time," she said impatiently, tapping her foot on the ground.
"Sorry, Cho went into full hysterics on me, I didn't bloody know what to do! And I had this vision as we walked around the ca-"
"Shut up Harry," came a voice from Ginny that sounded different. More mature.
"What?" Harry's eyes widened at her.
"S-Shut up and kiss me," she said almost in one breath.
"What?" Harry repeated, his eyes even wider. Ron felt that his eyes were probably just as large, and he felt like he wasn't really watching his sister.
"Do it, dammit!" And with that, Ginny had put her palm on the back on Harry's head and yanked him to her, kissing his lips immediately. Harry just stood stock-still for what seemed like an eternity, probably still in shock. Ginny was trying to get him into it by running a hand along his neck, not caring about the curious eyes that had all turned to stare. Finally Harry came to life, and much to Ron's relief he placed his own hand in Ginny's hair, and kissed her back. Hermione sighed happily next to him, he looked again to see tears in her eyes. He took this as the perfect moment to lean in and kiss her, and she let him.
"I love you, Ron Weasley," She whispered as they lined up their noses. "Growling stomach and all."
"Not as much as I love you, Hermione Granger. Even with…." At that moment he couldn't think of one negative thing about Hermione that he wanted to change. "There is just no other like you." She blushed and kissed him again. Harry and Ginny were still going at in in the middle of the walk way, ignoring the first years who looked shocked, the second years that looked somewhat confused, the third years that looked at them knowingly, the fourth years that looked at the longingly, and the fifth, sixth, and seventh years all looking somewhat proud at them. The teachers, on the other hand, did not look so thrilled.
"Mr. Potter! Ms. Weasley! There will be no more of this…Public display of affection!" McGonagall came over and stared right at them, her brow knitted tightly.
"The bell will be ringing shortly, so finish it up!" She continued to watch them, so Harry and Ginny had no choice but to move their faces apart. They still held each others hands, though. They both had sincere longing looks on their faces, and looked ready to go at it again before McGonagall started moving in closer.
"All right," Harry snapped at McGonagall. "We are done."
"For now," Ginny trailed off as McGonagall turned and left them alone. The first bell rang, and Ron groaned. This was such a brilliant moment, he hated for it to end. Harry and Ginny were going to be separated, with Harry off to Double Defense Against the Dark Arts with Ron and Hermione, and Ginny had her first Divination class of the year.
"We'll talk later, dinner, Common Room, soon," Harry was saying in between kisses with Ginny.
"Yes, okay, can't wait." Ginny giggled and gave him one last kiss before hurrying off to the North Tower. All Ron and Hermione could do was watch with grins on their faces. Harry was staring after Ginny with the most dopey grin anyone had ever seen form at his lips. He didn't say anything the whole way to DAtDA, he seemed to be walking on air. Ron decided not to tease him about it, and was perfectly content strolling along, holding on to Hermione's hand.
Inside the classroom, it seemed that all the girls were gathered in the front row seats, giggling to each other. Ron suddenly got a sick feeling that perhaps Lockhart was back…But he couldn't be, he was still at St. Mungo's….And there were no pictures of himself plastered on the walls. Who could it be then? They took their normal seats in the back, and Harry almost fell off the seat cushion. He steadied himself, finally able to get words out of his mouth.
"Never knew that she still felt that way. I've felt it for awhile now, I'll admit. But she's had it since…Forever!" He sounded astonished.
"It's about bloody time then," Ron replied, hoping to sound like Harry had when he was talking about him and Hermione. Harry took the hint and hit Ron's arm with the pillow.
"Sorry to change the mood, but what happened with Cho?" Hermione asked cautiously.
"I was right. Today's main topic was, you guessed it, Cedric. Before we even started, I told her I wasn't going to have all the answers she was looking for right now, but yet that's all she asked about! She was getting pissed that I'm not ready yet, and asked if he mentioned her before she died, I said no. She asked if he was happy, and I said yes, considering he had just won the trophy. But then I just couldn't take the fucking questions anymore, and that desperate look she had in her eyes. I started having these awful flashbacks, you know, of Cedric…And…Uh, all that. She said she'd go get Madam Pomfrey, but I told her I just needed something to eat…Then I said goodbye, and just sorta left her there." Harry told them, sighing at that last part.
"I don't know if she sees some kind of romance there, but I sure don't. At least not anymore. She'd never let me off the hook."
"If you do need to talk about it," Hermione started, "You know where to find both of us. I really do wish you would take that into consideration."
"Thanks, and I know. There's just so much pressure to talk about it, it seems to be pushing me farther away. It was hard enough to go through it with Dumbledore, I don't know if I could really explain it all to you guys. Then there is Cho demanding answers, and a lot of Hufflepuffs that still want to know what happened in detail…"
"Scar head, looks like you found your love with the weasel girl!" Draco Malfoy yelled from the other side of the room. "What a show you put on, it was pretty damn hot if I do say so myself!"
"Maybe I have," Harry replied simply, not taking offense to the comment but rather enjoyment.
"She has filled out rather nicely, those br-"
"Shut up already!" Ron burst in angrily.
"You still love her if Tom Riddle decides to fuck with her some more?" Draco continued on. "I heard they had quite a good time together…Too bad she's not as innocent as you may like to think!" Harry and Ron were both about to give a nasty reply back when a loud voice interrupted.
"That's enough, Malfoy!" Said the tall red-head with the pony tail, and diamond stud in his ear. Ron's mouth dropped open.
"Bill?!" He gasped, staring at his oldest brother (Who had gotten all the good genes in the Weasley family). Bill grinned at him, and all the girls in the first seats sighed. He came over to where they were sitting, and Ron was still open-mouthed.
"Hey Ron. Hermione, Harry," he greeted them all. Hermione just nodded at him, looking surprised, and Harry was still sending glares to where the Slytherin's were sitting.
"Are you just visiting or something?" Ron asked slowly, staring at his brothers dragon-hide black boots.
"Nope, little brother. I am going to be teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts this year! But only this year. Dumbledore gave me a job when they couldn't find a replacement as the time dwindled down, and I agreed to it."
"And you never said anything," Ron suddenly felt angry.
"Just found out myself a week ago," Bill replied simply. "I would have informed you otherwise."
"Come off it, you really think you can teach this class?"
"Dumbledore called upon me, didn't he?"
"Yes, but…I just don't like this!" Ron slumped back in his seat, his arms folded.
"If you're worried about me being some sort of spy for Mum or something, don't get all worked up. I promise, Mum's not going to know what's going on here, except for the basics that she needs. I am not going to rat about you. Or Ginny, or Fred or George. Well, the twins might need a little bit more supervision but that is a different story. Can you believe them two?"
"Fine then," Ron groaned. "Let's see what you've got, Bill." Bill started to walk back to the front of the room, but turned back to face his brother.
"Ron, in this class, it's Professor Weasley. Try to remember that." He winked and the diamond in his ear glistened.
"Professor Weasley," Ron muttered, watching as the girls continued to drool as Bill flashed them a smile.
"Give him a chance Ron, he may surprise you," Hermione replied, still looking mildly surprised. "It could be much worse. Lockhart, for example. That's what I was thinking when I walked in and saw Lavender and Parvati drooling in the front row! And Umbridge is gone, thank heavens."
"What do you mean "much worse," I know you were totally infatuated with him!"
"Oh, come off it already!"
"But yeah, I thought that too at first," Ron said. "We'll just have to see, then." Bill was jotting something on the board, and he thought he saw Lavender checking out his brothers' back side.
"You're not going crazy for him, are you?" Ron asked Hermione.
"Oh please," she laughed. "I've got the better Weasley if you ask me." Ron blushed and kissed her hand.
"Me too," Harry got smiley again. "I've got my Weasley."
"As long as you don't start going crazy over Bill then," Ron said to Harry and he let out a snort.
"I'll try my hardest! But that diamond in his ear, and the way he walks in those boots-" He laughed when Ron poked his arm with his wand.
"Attention, class!" Bill called over the noisy voices, and the room when silent. Ron was impressed with the authority his brothers voice held.
"Welcome to your first day of Defense Against the Dark Arts! I am Professor Weasley, and I'll be teaching you everything you need to know this year, starting out with some basic reviews from your previous years in this class." Lavender let out a loud giggle.
"Why'd they let that weasel in," Ron heard Malfoy mutter.
"What was that Mr. Malfoy?" Bill turned his attention to the Slytherin side of the room, and most of them stopped snickering and looked at him.
"Nothing, Professor Weasley," Draco smirked.
"That's what I like to hear. Better pay attention in this class, Malfoy. You are going to need it when you get out in the real world." His note was calm, and Ron felt himself laugh. Maybe Bill wouldn't do so bad at this job…But the idea of having three of his five brothers at school with him, and one of them being the teacher, was a little crazy.
"I want you all to pair up. Or get in a group of three, if necessary," Bill looked over at Ron, Hermione, and Harry. "Let's see what you remember about the Blocking Curse!"
"It looks like he knows what he is doing," Hermione commented.
"I'd say so," said Harry.
"I guess," Ron admitted. "At least he knows how to shut Malfoy up." Ron looked and saw Lavender and Parvati arguing about something, both seemed to be trying to get Bill's attention. When he finally got over to them, they both started talking at one time, and Bill had to raise his hand.
"One at a time, please. Lavender, why don't you go first?" Lavender beamed at him, and Parvati shot her a dirty look. Ron stopped paying attention after that.
"Crazy girls, they are," he nodded his head at them.
"Come on Ron, try to block my spell," Hermione was about to flick her wand at him.
"Hold it!" He panicked.
"Practice on Harry first, I'm a bit rusty at this."
"Fine then, Harry block it." She flicked her wand at him, and a green light appeared. Harry looked at it determinedly, and the green light bounced away from him and upwards.
"Excellent!" Hermione cheered. "Ron, ready?"
"I guess," he shrugged and got his wand ready. The same light came from Hermione's wand, but instead of Ron blocking it and it bouncing upwards, it hit Ron and sent him flying to the floor.
"You are supposed to block it Ron, not intercept it!" Bill had run over and helped his brother up.
"I know that," Ron snapped, straightening himself up. Hermione and Harry were snickering at him as he took his seat.
"Oh shut it," he groaned as his shoulder throbbed. Hermione tried again , and this time managed to bounce it off him, but it almost hit her as it reflected back. They practiced this some more, and that was all that Bill wanted them to do for today, even with the longer class period. And even though everyone was still a bit out of form at it, they all weren't just working on the Blocking Curse, some where messing around with other curses.
"Mr. Goyle, we are NOT doing the Cruciatus curse in here!" Bill started yelling frantically as Goyle aimed his wand at Crabbe. He looked annoyed, but put his wand back down.
"Pot Head, block this!" Draco suddenly yelled, standing up and waving his wand at Harry before anyone really knew what was going on. A burst of red sparks flew out, and Harry blocked them just in time before they hit them in the chest. They bounced back towards Draco, but Bill got his wand ready in time and stopped the sparks from moving any farther back by yelling "FINITE!"
"WHAT did I just say, Malfoy?!" Bill demanded in one of the angriest voices Ron had ever heard from him.
"Detention, tonight," he wrote a note down on a piece of parchment.
"I already have detention tonight with McGonagall," Draco replied smugly.
"Okay, detention tomorrow night, in here," Bill replied simply, crossing out what he had wrote and writing something new.
"What if I forget?" Draco sneered. Bill looked up at him.
"I'll help you remember then." Bill casually waved his wand at Draco, and Ron heard him shout out in anger. From where he was sitting he could see the blue letters on Draco's hand, that started to go up his arm: "I have detention tomorrow night with Professor Weasley." Draco started scrubbing at his skin, but the words didn't go away.
"They won't go away until after the detention is served," Bill said. "See you in here tomorrow night." The bell rang, and Draco leapt up and ran out of the room, deliberately bumping into Bill as he left. Ron, Hermione, and Harry were all laughing as Bill winked at them before they left.
"That was great,' Ron said. "Bill is going to be one bloody hell of a teacher if he keeps giving Malfoy detentions like that! Good block, Harry."
"Close one," Hermione agreed.
"I saw it coming a mile away," Harry grinned. The grin left his face when he saw Malfoy, Crabbe, Goyle, Millicent Bulstrode, and a few other Slytherin's surrounding a small and frightened looking girl with big round eyes.
"Come on Loony, what are you afraid of?" Jeered Draco. Ron noticed that he was holding two wands in his hand, and he presumed that one of them had been the girls.
"Are you afraid to go for your wand, Loony Laura?" Taunted Pansy Parkinson. She grabbed the bag that Laura was holding, and dumped it's contents all over the floor, sending the rest of the Slytherin's into mocking laughs.
"You are making a mess on the floor," Draco said coolly, still waving both of the wands around her head. "Clean it up, or you get a detention!" She silently got to her knees to pick up a book that was at her feet, but Goyle gave it a hard kick and it rolled down the hall. She looked on the brink of tears now, and she just continued grabbing what she could and shoving it in her bag.
"While you are down there Loony, maybe you could help me out a bit, if you know what I mean," Draco said, motioning towards his bottom half. Pansy and Millicent shrieked with laughter, and the girls' eyes widened in terror.
"That is enough!" Hermione suddenly burst, striding over in front of the girl.
"Come to join Loony have you Mudblood? Get down there then, you don't deserve to be standing in my presence." He gave Hermione a shove, and she stumbled down and landed on her backside next to the girl. Harry and Ron both came at Draco quickly, and it was unclear who actually knocked him over, but they were both down there with him, cursing and hitting him over the head.
"Get off him you pair," Hermione declared, regaining her footing. She yelled EXPELLIARMUS and Ron and Harry were thrown with their wands off Draco, and they both got to their feet. Draco took his time getting up, brushing off his robes.
"Let us at him, Hermione!" Ron looked ready to charge at him again, but Harry grabbed his arm, having seemed to finally calm down.
"I should give the lot of you detentions!" Malfoy yelled, pointing at his chest.
"And Hermione and I will just give them back to your arse!" Ron yelled louder, pointing at his own chest. Draco was shaking his head.
"It was foolish of Dumbledore to make you a Prefect again, Weasel. Does he actually think you have half the wits to live up to the job? I can understand the Mudblood, maybe, but when it comes down to it, you are just a nothing that's going nowhere," Draco insulted, his gray eyes cold and deep. "Don't expect to be made Head Boy next year. Better start preparing for that life." Ron felt himself blushing.
"And of course Potter wasn't going to get the duty. He's too busy trying to save this world from danger and having wild and crazy dreams to bother. I bet you would be afraid to walk these corridors alone, wouldn't you Potty?" Draco insulted again. Harry didn't look bothered by it.
"I think it would be best if you just got the bugger out of here, Malfoy. You have no idea what I am capable of, and I'm not afraid to use it on a prat like you," He said in a low, threatening voice.
"Ohh, what are you going to do? Give me nightmares? Aren't you too busy battling those yourself? Or are you going to turn me into something unnatural?" Draco said in mock fear.
"What's going on here?" Came Bill's voice from behind, and they all looked at him. He looked in a hurry to get somewhere, but he stopped abruptly and looked concerned when he saw the lot of them gathered in the middle of the hall, the girl still on the floor, now crying. Ron couldn't help but feel relieved to see his brother standing there. Draco looked at his "posse", and they all began to clear off, but not before Draco could give one last kick to one of the girls books, throwing the wand back at her, and gave a rude hand gesture to Bill.
"Hey!" Bill called after him, but he was already gone.
"You guys okay?"
"Yeah, we've got it from here," Hermione said in a low voice, reaching down and handing the girl one of her books. Bill gave them all one last glance over, and then continued on his way.
"I hate that stupid fucker," Harry was saying as he started kicking the wall.
"Bloody maniac!" Ron clenched his fists.
"Language, you guys," Hermione warned quietly.
"I cannot believe he pushed you over like that, Hermione," Ron hurried over and started inspecting his girlfriends' arms and shoulders for any injuries.
"I'm fine," she sniffled.
"How about you, Laura?" She asked the crying girl who hadn't said a thing. She used a Summoning Charm to retrieve her two books that got kicked away, and helped Laura to pack her bag.
"I-I guess," she said in a small voice. Her long dirty-blond hair was in a tangle, and her pale eyebrows were scrunched on her forehead. She stood quickly, and started to fiddle with her robes.
"If that git gives you any more problems, see me. I have a hell of a lot of things I would like to shove up his-"
"Ron!" Hermione interrupted.
"Well, you get my point."
"Thanks," said Laura, giving them all a quick glimpse. She stared longer at Harry, and almost seemed to be in a dreamy trance with his face.
"I-I'll just be going now," she hoisted her bag over her shoulders and took off in a run before anyone could reply.
"Do you know her?" Harry asked as they started up the stairs.
"That's Laura Lovegood, Luna's sister. She's a Ravenclaw in first year," replied Hermione. "I don't really know her that well though, but she seems all right. Certainly not deserving of what they were calling her!"
"Loony Laura," Ron mumbled. "Just like they used to call Luna. Is she loony too?"
"I wouldn't say she's loony," said Hermione lightly. "She's just a little different. Her father is an editor at The Quibbler as you know, and whenever I see Luna she's writing in it…Writing up side down."
"That is…Different," Harry said. "Why was she staring at me like that?"
"Because you're the famous Harry Potter of course," said Ron darkly. "Everyone wants a glimpse at that scar!"
The three of them stood by a window for the short break between classes, suddenly silent. They were going to be split up for the next class, with Harry and Ron headed towards Divination, and Hermione had her Arithmancy class.
"Is was Draco said true?" Ron suddenly asked quietly.
"About what?" Asked Hermione.
"About me not deserving to be a Prefect, that I'm just a…Nothing," his voice trailed off.
"Oh, come off it Ron!" Hermione said angrily, grasping Ron's hand. "Don't listen to him."
"It's just as rubbish as what he said about me being afraid to walk along these corridors alone," Harry shrugged. "Don't even think on it." Somehow their replies didn't make Ron feel any better, and he suddenly let Hermione's hand go.
"Yeah," he muttered. "We should go then, don't want to be late to Divination." He walked off, and Harry and Hermione stared after him.
"Late for Divination? I can't think of anything better!" Harry said, bemused.
"Ron, come back and talk to me before you leave," Hermione pleaded, but Ron had already disappeared.
"Harry, go convince him that what Draco said isn't true," Hermione gave Harry a nudge. "I hate to think that Ron still feels bad about it."
"I'll try," Harry replied. They said their goodbyes until dinner and parted ways. Harry walked alone to the North Tower, and climbed slowly up to the trap door. Ron was slumped over in the corner, his face resting on his hand and his eyes hidden behind his shaggy hair. Not very many people had arrived yet, and Trelawney was no where in sight. Probably off predicting his next encounter with death, Harry thought bitterly as he took a seat next to Ron. What would it be this time-Choking? Drowning? Troll attack?
"Hey," Harry said.
"Hey," Ron muttered back.
"Ron, don't tell me you are taking what Draco said to heart…That wanker doesn't even have a heart!"
"Maybe," Ron sighed. "You have to admit, it's true."
"It's not. Think about it, Dumbledore made you a Prefect again for a reason. He wouldn't have done it if what Draco said is true."
"Then why aren't you one? You have more wits than I do!"
"You know why," Harry said quietly. "The people around here don't want someone like me patrolling around the school, they all fear that I bring Voldemort wherever I go."
"That's a load of shite," Ron said forcefully.
"Exactly. So is what Draco said, mate. Really." Harry lightly hit Ron in the head with a pink cushion that smelt like Trelawney's perfume.
"Gah, that smells like her! Get it away!" Ron gagged, but his mood was brighter. Harry threw it across the room and they both laughed. More students began to crowd the room, and Ron could see a few of the girls sitting in the front, looking excited. This was obviously their favorite class. How that was possible, who really knew. Trelawney entered not long after, looking her usual self. Ron wondered if those spectacles on her eyes were even bigger than last years. And if her hair was possibly higher and wider. Harry was looking at her with annoyance.
"Welcome my students," Trelawney droned.
"I am glad to see you all alive and well here today!" She looked right at Harry. She went on to mumble about how important this class was, and how the O.W.L. results were a bit disappointing to her this year. Ron had already blocked her voice out, and he was thinking of snogging with Hermione. Of course that was the first thing that popped into his mind at a time like this. By the looks on Harry's face, he may have well been thinking the same thing about Ginny. She talked the entire hour and a half it seemed, and Ron felt himself drifting off when Harry hit him on the arm.
"Let's get the bugger out of here," He whispered, staring at Trelawney closely. "I think she's going to come over and tell me I'm going to die soon or whatever."
"I'm right behind you," Ron tried not to gag as her the perfume smell lodged itself deeper in his nostrils.
"Mr. Potter, please give me a minute!" Trelawney was yelling right as Harry disappeared down the door. He acted like he couldn't hear her, and hurried away from the North Tower.
"Dumb bat," he sighed.
"Beware, Potter! Death is neeeeeeear!" Ron did a rather good impersonation of her, and they both fell into fits of laughter.
"What's this, Weasley, I think you are going to suffer a long, slow death with Potter! My pooooooooor dears!" Harry impersonated back and it made them laugh harder and caused a group of students to look at them oddly.
"Let's go eat, then. Before death catches us both up the arse."
Note: Big change! I changed the year level of everyone! Instead of year 5, this is now year 6. I went back and edited all the previous chapters to fit...See the note in Chapter 1 for further information!