Chapter Two - Swimming

Harry smiled gleefully at his very heavy uncle and said in an arrogant tone, "Hey, Uncle Vernon. Great day we're having, ay?"

Uncle Vernon's widened at the sight of his freakish nephew. "What -- What are you doing here?!" he asked angrily, pointing one of his sausage-like fingers at him.

Tonks plopped herself onto a rather large couch and felt herself engulf into the comfort. She was sinking into the sofa, her eyes widening. "It's eating me!" she exclaimed, struggling to stand up. Apparently, the family really broke in the couch. "Help!"

Hermione laughed and walked over to Tonks, hefting the poor girl up. "You alright?"

"Well, I best be going," Tonks said dismissively, heading for the door.

Aunt Petunia beat her to it and blocked her way. "You -- You don't expect us to let these -- these monstrosities stay at our home, do you!?" she asked shrilly.

Tonks tilted her head in concentration and replied, "Yes." She hastily pushed Aunt Petunia out of the way, walking out the door and heading for the car that Mr. Weasley was staying in.

Aunt Petunia closed the door shut and stared at the ten students in her living room and said in a faint voice, "Vernon, get their things." After her last statement, she fell to the floor, her head hitting the ground in a thump.

Uncle Vernon and Dudley were soon by her side, placing a large sweater underneath her head. They were too busy fawning over her to notice that the students were now following Harry to their rooms.

Ginny pushed through Ron and Hermione, who were talking vigorously about house elves without hair, and beside Harry. "Harry, will we be having our own rooms?" she asked, her eyes wide in curiosity.

Harry shook his head. "Nope. All the rooms are assigned as I've heard. It's two of the same gender in each room. I reckon you, Luna and Hermione will be staying together since there's an odd number of girls. I'll probably bunk with Terry and Ron. Malfoy and Zabini will get their own room, too."

Ginny nodded and looked around in awe. "This is bloody great, Harry. I wish they could extend my house," she said fascinated.

Harry leaned in and whispered in her ear, "If I ever find out the spell they used, you'll be the first I'll call."

Ginny giggled lightly and continued to follow him up a black marble staircase and into a large lavish living room, doors surrounding it. Each door had either two or three names engraved in it, to show which room each guest will be staying in. Harry dumped his trunk on the marble ground and took in the room. It was beautiful. It was pure black and white, even the furniture, flowers, table, everything.

Hermione nudged Ron in the ribs and pointed to Luna's trunk. "It's the brightest thing in the room," she said quietly.

Draco snorted. "Not if you count Weasley's hair," he sneered.

Hermione shot him a hard glare and looked back at Harry, who was staring at all of them. "Alright," he started, "everyone can just go and find their rooms. But, before you do, I just want to tell you a few things. My aunt, uncle and cousin hate everything to do with magic. And when I say everything, I mean everything. I doubt they'll be coming up here to do anything to us, so I suggest you don't tell them that we don't have our wands. That's the only way we can threaten them into doing anything we want them to do." Ron and Terry grinned. "Well, you guys can go now."

Ginny bit her lip and hauled around her trunk, looking for a door with her name on it. She finally spotted it and gasped at what she saw.

Ginevra Weasley

Susan Boones

Hannah Abbot

She spun around incredulously and looked at Hermione and Luna. "We're not in the same room!" she screamed loudly, gaining everyone's attention. "What the bloody hell is that?"

Hermione looked at her door and gasped too, just realizing that Ginny's name wasn't on it. "What the …"

Luna looked apologetic. "Oh, Gin-girl," she whispered. "maybe they've made a mistake. We could always call up Dumbledore."

"We can't," interrupted Harry. "We're not allowed to contact anyone in the wizarding world, unless they're here in the muggle world."

Ginny sighed and looked at her two roommates. "It's not that I don't like you guys. It's just … I was hoping to bunk with my best friends, you know?"

Hannah smiled knowingly. "It's okay, Gin. We understand." She motioned to the door. "Shall we go in?"

Susan stepped forward and grasped the handle. She swung the door open and sauntered inside, Ginny and Hannah trailing behind her.

The room was a very nice and cozy bedroom. It had three full-sized beds on each of the four sides, equipped with its own nightstand, bed trunk and covers. Ginny's bed was lined with white and pink and a touch of lavender. Susan's bed was gold and red, the Gryffindor colors. Hannah's, on the other hand, was a light blue and a light yellow. Their colors combined together and made the room look absolutely homey.

Ginny walked over to her bed and dumped her trunk onto it, causing the poor bag to bounce up and done continuously. She looked around her area of the room and smiled contentedly, loving the colors that they chose for her.

"Hey, Gin, are you planning to do any studying this summer?" asked a very ambitious Hannah Abbot. She was wearing a plain jumper with a pair of faded jeans.

Ginny laughed. "Are you kidding me? I'm going to go absolutely barmy if I turn into another Hermione," she answered.

Hannah and Susan giggled. "So, any new boys?" asked Susan, sitting on the bed and yawning. Her dark red hair matched with her blue t-shirt and dark blue skirt.

Ginny sighed. "Um … no."

"Aww, that's too bad. Susan here has got herself a charming young bloke," teased Hannah, earning a glare from Susan.

Ginny spun around, her eyes wide. "Who?"

Susan opened her mouth to answer, but before she could, the door burst open and revealed three half naked boys. "They've charmed the house so we've got a pool!" exclaimed Ron, jumping up and down like a maniac. He had on orange swim trunks, reminding Ginny of Luna's bag.

Harry smiled evilly. "You should of seen the look of Dudley's face when he accidentally fell into it! It was priceless! Deserves a prize, it does!" He was clad in dark purple trunks, with snitches plastered all over them.

Terry grinned madly. "Any of you lovely ladies ready to join us?" he asked in his smooth tone. He was sporting black swim trunks, making him look even more bad then he was.

All three girls rolled their eyes and shooed the boys of their room. "Let's go swimming!" said a very happy Ginny.

Ginny walked down the marble staircase, Hannah and Susan right behind her, and through the kitchen. They didn't even bother to say hello to Aunt Petunia or Uncle Vernon, for the two were two busy doing something else or at least trying to look like they were doing something else. Ginny stepped onto the patio and immediately ran towards the pool. Lifting up her feet in midair and feeling herself fall into the surface of the water, she squealed crazily.

Hannah and Susan were laughing behind her, just walking up towards the boys. Terry, at the moment, was sun bathing. He had some sort of foil contraption laying on his neck. Harry and Ron were trying to kill a slug with a magnifying glass. They cackled like evil villains when they found the slug shrinking into the concrete ground.

Ginny resurfaced and looked to her left, finding Hermione and Luna giggling with lemonade in their hands. Hoisting herself out of the pool, she walked over to them, with her one piece black bathing suit. "Hey, guys!" she said happily.

Hermione beamed. "Hey, Gin! Luna and I were just talking about --"

"-- How rare red Augureys are and why they look so much like birds," finished Luna, a nervous laugh now following her sentence.

Ginny looked at them skeptically, but shrugged it off and sat down. "What are you guys doing?" she asked sweetly, looking over at the book that Hermione was holding. "A romance novel? What's that?"

"Well, it's a muggle text. It's basically about love and a whirlwind of twists and turns. The plot is always original … It's great!" answered Hermione, flipping the page and lying back into her sun chair.

Ginny sighed and tucked a wet piece of hair behind her right ear. "So, Luna, what are you doing?"

Luna let out a breath and shrugged. "Nothing, really. I was planning on swimming but decided against it. I heard that dogs hide out in the pool and then attack when you least expect it. I find it strange. How on earth can you not spot a live muggle dog in a pool?"

Ginny smiled. "Right, Luna," she said in a sarcastic voice. "Dogs are just … great."

Luna giggled.

"Hey, Ginger!" yelled a deep and hoarse voice.

Ginny looked straight ahead and found a thin Dudley Dursley running her way. He had a dozen red roses in his arms, a huge grin plastered on his face. "Ginger! Ginger!"

He finally reached her and shoved the roses into her hands. "These are for you," he said in a happy tone, a true smile on his face.

Ginny looked up at him then realized that he kind of look like Neville. He had chubby cheeks and a nice smile. He also acted clumsy and shy. "Thank you," Ginny said softly.

Dudley took a seat next to her and wrapped his arm around her shoulders. "Planning to swim today?" he asked kindly.

Ginny laughed. "I think I've already swam," she said jokingly.

Dudley looked at her soaked body and laughed too. "Little wet there?"

Ginny gazed down at the roses and sighed. "These are beautiful. Dudley, is it?"

"Yes."

"I love them. Roses are my favorite kind of flower, next to gardenias of course," Ginny said dreamily.

"That's nice, Ginger."

Ginny looked up at him. "My name's Ginny," said in a matter-of-fact tone.

Dudley leaned in on her ear and whispered, "I know. I like Ginger better."

Ginny snickered and opened her mouth to say something, but a cruel and mocking voice interrupted their lovely conversation. "Where'd you get the flowers, Dursley? Have your mummy pick them out for you?"

Dudley looked away, red with embarrassment.

Luna spoke up first. "Do you always have to come at the most nicest times? Bloody hell, Malfoy, you're almost like your father. Didn't he die because he accidentally stumbled upon the Dark Lord's secret meeting?" she asked nastily, raising an eyebrow.

Draco clenched his teeth. "That's right. He died after your mother was sent to St. Mungo's. Lovegood's are known to be crazy, are they not?"

Luna narrowed her eyes and stood up, facing Draco. "How dare you speak about my mother like that. She was a good woman. She didn't deserve what was given to her. You speak as if you're on the Dark Side." Luna pursed her lips. "Remember, Malfoy, the Light Side is the side that is protecting you. Don't forget that!" She shoved past him and ran back into the house, her hands wiping away tears.

Ginny and Hermione looked at each other, both sympathetic towards their best friend. Ginny placed the flowers on the nearest glass table and stood up. "Mione, Dudley, you guys want to go inside?" she asked, ignoring the two Slytherins in front of her.

Dudley nodded and held out his hand to help Hermione up. Hermione threw him a grateful smile and hoisted her body upwards.

Harry's voice stopped them. "Is Dudley actually helping someone!?" he yelled from the other side of the pool. "That's the first I've ever seen him be nice!"

Dudley scowled. "Leave me alone, Harry!" he bellowed.

Blaise snorted. "You and Potter hate each other?" he asked.

Dudley looked at Blaise. "We've hated each other for years. I don't think anything can change that," he replied, still holding on to Hermione's hand.

Ginny grew impatient and shoved threw both Slytherins, leaving Dudley and Hermione behind. Hermione watched as her best friend left wet footprints on the ground.

Hermione looked at Dudley and said, "I never thought you could be so kind. I think Harry was a bit wrong about you."

Dudley gave her a lopsided smile. "I guess. It's just, I was born to hate him. His parents hated mine and well … you know."

"No one asked for your life story," snapped Draco, thoroughly annoyed that Ginny had left him.

Hermione glared at him. "Do you have to start with everybody? Merlin, Malfoy, you're a bloody wanker! Dudley has done nothing to you!"

"He's done a bloody lot if you ask me," retorted Draco.

"No one cares if you're jealous or not. It's over, Malfoy. You blew it. Don't go blowing it again!" she hissed, dragging Dudley by the arm and away from them.

Hermione stalked out of the there, ignoring Dudley's cries of pain. She was about to walk by the kitchen, when Aunt Petunia stopped short in front of her. "How dare you!?" the thin woman yelled. "Unhand my son!"

Hermione rolled her eyes and dropped her hand, placing them now on her hips. "Better?" she asked sarcastically, very irritated at the moment.

Dudley sighed. "Mum! Stop it! She was just walking with me!" he protested.

Aunt Petunia's face turned soft. "Oh, Diddykins, what did this freak do to you? Did she put some sort of curse on you, love? You can tell mummy."

Dudley's face grew hot. "I'm not a child, Mum!" he bellowed.

Hermione jerked back, stunned by his sudden scream. She thought Dudley would simply shrug it off or listen to his mother, but apparently, he wanted to take initiative.

"Bloody hell!"

Aunt Petunia gasped.

Obviously, Hermione assumed, that his was the first time that Dudley has ever really cursed before.

"Stop treating me as if I'm four! I can take care of myself!" He grabbed Hermione by the hand and began walking away from his mother. "Let's go, Hermione!"

Hermione looked back and smirked at Aunt Petunia, the woman's face extremely surprised and shocked. She thought it was quite fun being bad.

Ginny strode into Luna and Hermione's room, finding her blonde friend's face stuffed in a pillow. "Bloody pillock! Always thinks he's right!" she screeched, bashing the poor mattress.

Ginny grimaced. "Lu - Luna?" she asked in a timid tone. "Are you okay?"

Luna sniffled and lifted her head, so Ginny could now see her tear streaked face. "How could you be in love with such a bastard?! How?!"

Ginny heaved a sigh and sat down on the bed. "I've already told you, Luna."

"Tell me again!"

Ginny looked at her best friend, her eyes now glossy. "Love knows no boundaries, Luna. I can't help but love him. He's the one that holds my purity, my heart, my smile. I can't fathom the idea of life without him. He's my rock. He keeps my sturdy. Things may have happened and relationships may have faded, but it still doesn't change how I feel about him."

"I say you choose Dudley over him. At least the bloke is nicer," Luna said bitterly.

"I love him. I can't - nor will I - ever change that," Ginny finished, pride in her voice.

Luna looked at her, sympathy now replacing the anger in her eyes. "Ginny, if you say you love him, then why did you break it off?"

"You know why. You know what he did with her."

"More like what he had to do with her."

"I hate her. I hate how she thinks she can manipulate him to be something he doesn't want to ever be. I hate how she has connections between her father and his. I can't help but think that he actually obliged to do that with her - especially since we were together."

"Talk to him, Gin," Luna said in a soft tone, "talk to him and see."

"I thought you hated him."

"I do, Gin. I do," Luna whispered, "but, I love you more."