(I hope you enjoyed the last chapter. I think this one is so much better though! XD ENJOY!)
Chapter 2 – A Dip in the Lake
As the carriages stopped outside the oak front doors, Harry, Ron, and Hermione emerged from one of the many thestral drawn carriages. Harry took a deep breath, he was finally home. "It's weird." He said.
"What's weird?" Ron asked.
"We only have two more years here." Harry half smiled, not quite knowing if that was a good or bad thing.
"Just think, that gives us two whole years to break more rules." Ron smirked, "Come on, the feast will be starting soon and I'm starving."
"I don't know how you could be, you practically ate everything off the candy trolley." Hermione said, then her expression turned serious. "And we won't be breaking rules this year. We are prefects you know, we have to set an example for the younger prefects and students. We have to be role models."
"I can't let Harry get in trouble all by himself," he smiled at Harry, "besides he's Harry Potter, he could get his head stuck in a fish bowl everyday and people would still look up to him." Harry laughed.
"It's true you know. I think even some Slytherins admire you." They looked behind them to find Ginny grinning.
She walked up to Harry and she linked her arm with his. He looked down in surprise as she did this, then smiled. She really has changed over these last couple of years. He thought to himself, as he took in the deep red of her hair and the bright glint in her eyes.
They walked into the Great Hall and she pulled her arm from his and linked it with Hermione's as Harry and Ron walked on one side of the table and the girls on the other. Harry kept his eyes fixed on her and she glanced at him and he smiled. She winked and sat down across from him and Hermione across from Ron. They kept eye contact until Dumbledore began his speech. Ron looked at them again as Dumbledore began.
"Welcome to what should be another exciting year at Hogwarts. Congratulations to all the first years, I hope you will find you new house to you liking. Be warned though we have many rules here, the full list can be found on Mr. Filch's door. Of course the Forbidden Forest is out of bounds to all and Hogsmeade is open to everyone third year and above. I'm sure interesting things will abound this year," he looked directly at Ron, Hermione, and Harry, "so let us begin with a fabulous feast!" As the food appeared on the table, Ron, Harry and Hermione exchanged glances and began to eat.
The first week of classes passed without much excitement. Harry and Ron had so much homework they spent their Friday night working on it. Hermione of course had finished and helped when they asked. Since it was the year before they took their NEWTs they assumed almost every weekend would be like this.
"You know, if you guys did your homework when I did, you guys could be enjoying yourselves right now."
"Hermione don't start nagging us, at least we're doing it now instead of Sunday." Ron said as he wrote on his Transfiguration assignment.
"I'm just saying, we should set up a study schedule." She shrugged her shoulders.
The boys looked at each other, rolled their eyes and Harry sighed.
"Ok Hermione, draw up a schedule." Her expression was ecstatic.
"But it can't interfere with quidditch," Ron said quickly.
"Fine," she said, "but seeing as tryouts aren't until next week, that won't matter." She reached into her back pocket and pulled out a sheet of paper. "I just so happen to have one for the upcoming week." She smiled.
Ron and Harry shook their heads; they should've known it was a trap. "Let us see it Hermione." Harry said with somewhat of a chuckle behind his voice.
She passed it over and the boys looked at it. Ron looked at the schedule disbelievingly. "Maybe my eyes are playing tricks…we have nothing to do tomorrow."
Hermione looked at him. "We all need a day to relax…no?" She grinned.
They looked at Hermione, "Thanks." They said in unison.
Harry looked back down at the list, but Ron continued to look at her. She always found a way to surprise him. She looked at him until Crookshanks jumped into her lap and she began to pet him.
"Hermione, it says here we have to finish Transfiguration and Potions tonight." He dotted his Transfiguration homework. "I'm done then," he smiled and stood up.
"Hey where do you think you're going?" Ron said, "I still have six inches left. He has to stay until I finish, right Hermione?"
She laughed, "No, that's not a rule. You can go Harry. I'll stay and help you with yours Ron."
"I'm going to go down to the kitchens for a snack, you guys want anything?"
"Yeah, some cauldron cakes. If you get to leave, you at least need to bring back food." Ron said.
"Ron! Harry, it's one in the morning." Hermione said in disbelief. "You'll get into trouble.
"So I'll get my dad's cloak and the map." He shrugged, "I'll be careful."
He went upstairs and came back down a few minutes later. "See you guys in a few." He stepped through the portrait hole swishing the cloak around him as he went.
As soon as the portrait swung closed she smacked Ron on the leg. "Ron!"
"Ow, what!" He said looking up from his homework.
"Why didn't you back me up?"
"Hermione we aren't exactly the two best people when it comes to following the rules. Who are we to tell him what to do?"
"Exactly, don't you find something wrong with what you just said. We're prefects! We're supposed to follow the rules and tell people what to do, that's our job."
"Yes and we aren't on duty right now, so it doesn't matter. Harry's always careful."
"That's not the point Ron. We need to start acting like prefects."
"Why? We do when we're supposed to. We don't have to be perfect just because we're prefects."
"But people expect us to be."
"Who? Yourself?"
"I…I didn't say that." She said looking down.
"Listen, your not perfect Hermione, you do have flaws." She looked up at him and he looked back down at his parchment. "Not being perfect is what makes you great."
Hermione blinked. She wasn't quite sure if she had heard him right. She stayed silent and watched as he wrote a few more lines on his work. She cleared her throat, "Um…do you need help?"
"Yeah, just with this last part. Come here." He moved a book from beside him, never taking his eyes off his paper.
Hermione slowly crossed over to him and sat down. She leaned towards him so she could read his paper. "This all sounds pretty good actually, Ron."
He leaned back, "You sound so surprised."
"No I mean, I think you don't need my help with this assignment. You only have half an inch left."
He looked down at her and smiled. He watched as her head moved slightly back and forth as she read. "Thanks." He sat there watching her until she was done.
"Well all I can say is great. I think you'll get a pretty good grade." She looked back at him and saw the same intent gaze she had seen on the train.
The portrait swung open and Hermione looked towards it. She could feel Ron's gaze on her until the portrait closed again.
Harry tossed Cauldron Cakes to both Ron and Hermione. Harry took off the cloak. "I thought you would want some too Hermione." He smiled.
She somewhat glared at him. "Thank you, but you still shouldn't have gone."
"Leave the guy alone." Ron said as he took a bite.
"Thanks Ron. So did you finish?"
Ron bent over his paper and wrote, "THE END" in large letters. "Now I am." He grinned.
"Well it was a good grade till that." She sighed, "All right you two, I'm going to bed."
"Okay," They said together.
"We should go too since tomorrow is our day off, we'll have to make the most of it." Harry grinned. Ron got up and followed Harry to their dormitory as Hermione went to hers.
Harry awoke with the sun peeking through his four-poster. He slowly sat up and rubbed his eyes. He reached through the hangings and patted around on his side table for his glasses. He slipped them on and opened his hangings to find Ron's still closed, which of course didn't surprise him. He walked out of the dormitory and went down to the common room. He found Hermione already dressed and sitting on the couch reading a book.
"Hey Hermione. When did you get up?"
"Hey. Um…I guess around eight." She said, barely glancing away from the page.
"Well what time is it now?"
"About nine-thirty."
"Did you already eat?"
"No I was waiting for you two. Is Ron up yet?"
"No, do you want me to wake him?" Harry asked.
"Yeah, would you? I'm getting kind of hungry."
"Okay," he started back toward the staircase then stopped, "Oh, Ron and I thought we could all go swimming today, is that alright?"
She glanced hesitantly over her book at him, "Oh…um sure…why not?"
"Good, I'll go up and change then and we can all go eat."
"Alright, I guess I'll go change then too. I'm sure I'll be ready before you can even get him up." Hermione smiled as she headed off to her dormitory.
Harry entered his room to an unusual sight. Ron was already awake with his legs swung over the side of his bed.
"Hey, I was just coming up to wake you."
"Yeah well, I didn't sleep so well."
Harry crossed the room and rummaged through his trunk. "Why not?"
"I…I don't know." He knew, he just couldn't voice it aloud to Harry. "What are you looking for?"
"My swimming trunks. We're going swimming remember?"
"Oh yeah…Hermione going?" He asked somewhat anxiously.
"Yeah she's changing right now. Get dressed and we'll go eat breakfast." Harry pulled out deep forest green swimming trunks. He changed into them as Ron groped around for his. Harry pulled a white t-shirt over him as Ron finally found his.
Ron pulled out maroon trunks. Harry smiled as he spotted a little R at the bottom of one of the legs. "Your mom make those?" Harry asked.
"No, she just needed to tell whose was whose…" He slipped them and a white t-shirt on as well over his head.
They walked down stairs too find Hermione waiting by the portrait in the exact outfit she had on before, jeans and a shirt.
"Did you change?" Harry asked, as he looked her up and down.
"Of course I did, but do you expect me to walk through a drafty castle in just a bathing suit?"
Ron grinned.
"What?" Hermione asked.
"Oh…um nothing." Ron said with the same grin.
They walked out and down to the Great Hall.
"Harry!" Harry turned from his breakfast of eggs, jam and toast to the sound of his name. He saw Ginny waving him over towards the door.
"I'll be right back." Harry said and got up and walked over to her.
"He sure has been spending a lot of time with her lately. Do you think something's up?" Ron inquired to Hermione.
"It doesn't matter if there was, it's none of our business." Hermione exclaimed as she took a bite from a muffin.
"None of our business! She is my sister and your friend you know, or have you forgotten?"
"No, but she's old enough to make her own decisions without her year older brother bothering her."
"Hey Ginny, what's up?"
"Nothing much, I just wanted to talk to you."
"Oh, about what?"
"Not now, later…meet me in the quidditch locker rooms around noon, okay?"
"Sure…should I be frightened?" He grinned.
"I don't know…decide when you get there." She winked and Harry watched as she headed up the grand staircase.
Harry, Ron, and Hermione headed down the sloping green hill towards the lake. The sun was glaring and it shone in their eyes. It was already quite warm for ten in the morning.
"So what did Ginny have to say?" Ron questioned Harry.
"Nothing really, she wants me to meet her around noon."
"What for?" Ron asked again.
"I don't know, she didn't say. Don't worry, Ron it's not like she'll attack me…relax."
Hermione cleared her throat, "It's rather hot today, isn't it?" She said trying to change the subject.
Ron looked at her, "Um…yeah, yeah it is. It's pretty lucky we picked today to go swimming."
"I'll say it's beautiful." Hermione exclaimed as they stopped near the lake.
The sun made the water glisten as if thousands of diamonds lay in its depths. Trees shadowed parts of the bank with their evergreen foliage. They walked over to the nearest one and stood under its shade.
"Well…what are we waiting for?" Harry asked.
"I think I'm going to sit here awhile. Enjoy the scenery for a minute." Hermione said while sitting down, her back against the tree.
"Suit yourself." Harry said. He pulled his shirt over his head and discarded it by her. He waded into the water slowly allowing his body to adjust to the difference. He dove after he was half way in and emerged with his hair sopping. He ran his hands through it and slicked it back, revealing his scar.
"You really should come in you two, it feels great." Harry said with a smile as he dove back under.
Ron looked down at Hermione with the same grin Harry just had. "You know you should come in. I mean that's the whole reason we came out her so we could all have fun."
"I'll go in later. I want my breakfast to settle." She pulled out a book from her bag.
"So that's what you call settling."
"Go on." She grinned, "I'll go later." She opened to the middle of the book.
"Okay." She looked up to see him turn around. "Here I come Harry." He pulled his shirt up and over his head. She tilted her head and looked at his bare back. She was right in her assumption that quidditch had made him more fit. His shoulders were broad and his arms flexed with the smallest of motions. She watched as he took off and dove into the water, her eyes never leaving him.
Almost an hour later the boys tried to get Hermione to join them, but it was no use.
"Listen you two, I just don't feel like it right now, that's all. I'm quite content just sitting here and reading my book." In reality a single page hadn't been turned the entire time. She had been busy watching the other two splashing about. She couldn't seem to take her eyes off of Ron. While peering over the top of her book she couldn't help but think how different he had been since the train ride. Not only his body, but also his personality. He seemed…dare she think it, sweet to her, instead of his usual sarcastic self. Perhaps…
"I think it's about time I go and meet Ginny." Harry said awhile later, "I think I'm already late." He swam to shore and stretched.
"Aw come on, she can wait." Ron yelled to him.
"That would be rude, don't you dare Harry." Hermione said while looking up at him.
"I know it would, that's why I'm going." He walked off in the direction of the quidditch stadium.
Harry had been gone no more then five minutes when Ron got bored swimming by himself. He swam in to shore and walked over to Hermione, "You'll get my book wet." She peered over her it and looked him up and down. His swimming trunks clung to his legs and beads of water dripped down. His hair was sticking up in every direction, him having shaken the water from it as he came out of the lake. She looked at his chest and stomach. Wow! Was the only thing her mind could come up with. She tried with all her might to keep in a sigh.
He got down on his knees in front of her, "Don't worry I won't." He took the book leaving wet thumbprints on the pages and he closed it, laying it beside her. He smiled, "Come on, let's swim."
"Ron, I already told you I don't want to."
"Are you scared to swim with me?" He said grinning.
"No…no I just d-don't." She stammered.
"You can…swim right?" He asked disbelievingly.
"What?"
"You can tell me you know, I won't tell."
She sighed, "I can…just not that well."
"Come on then, there's no better time to learn. No one around to watch, just you and me." He said smiling, he held out his hands for her to help her up.
"Ron, really I don't want to."
"I'll help you. Nothing will happen." He urged.
A few moments passed, "Promise?"
"I promise." He said as she took her by the wrists and they both stood up.
"Turn around." She said as she spun her finger in a circle.
"Why?"
"Well I don't want you to watch me." She said shyly.
He turned around with a grin. "I'm going to see the end result anyhow."
She quietly removed her shirt and discarded it with the others and she noticed Harry's was still there. "Looks like Harry forgot his shirt." Hermione said while taking off her jeans. "Perhaps I should take it to him."
"No you're not getting out of it that easily. He has shirts in his locker."
"Fine…okay, I'm ready." She said.
Ron turned around and all he could do was stand there.
Harry entered the changing room and saw Ginny sitting on a bench. "Hey Ginny…so what's this all about?"
Ginny looked up and was about to speak when she stopped. Her eyebrow arched and a grin spread across her face.
"What?" He asked.
"Um…" she pointed at him. "Shirt." She looked him up and down and smiled wider. She had never realized how fit Harry was. His clothes definitely hid his true physique. His legs and arms were toned and she could clearly see his abdominal muscles. I guess that's what seekers are made of.
Harry looked down at himself; he hadn't realized he had left his shirt behind.
"Oh uh," he laughed nervously. "Sorry I…sorry." He walked over to his locker and pulled out a red shirt.
"Don't be sorry. I don't care." She said as she watched him pull the shirt over his head. He cleared his throat.
"Oh anyways the main reason I asked you to come was well…to tell you something kind of important…at least to me."
He looked somewhat worried.
Hermione looked very uncomfortable with Ron's speechlessness. "What?" She asked barely above a whisper.
Ron blinked, "Oh um sorry, you look…brilliant." There were many words Ron wanted to use, but brilliant was the only one he was capable of saying. Truth was he had never seen her look more amazing. She wore a dazzling blue one-piece that hugged her in the right places, in his opinion. Her legs were long and graceful looking and he could barely take his eyes off of the them. She had…"grown" a bit, which he had never noticed under her sweaters or cloaks. He averted his eyes so as not to seem rude. She had pulled her hair up into a ponytail.
Hermione turned a bit red at his gaze. "T-thanks." She said shyly.
Ron shook his head and gave her a grin. He took her hand and led her toward the water. "Come on."
"What is it, are you in trouble?" Harry asked taking a step forward.
"Oh, nothing like that," he looked relieved, "I just…I don't know if I can try out for the team now."
"What? Why not? Ron said you were great."
"Well it's just…with being a prefect and OWLs coming up…I don't know if I can do it all."
"Oh come on. You must be joking."
"No I'm serious!" Ginny said somewhat angrily, but looking sad at the same time.
"I don't mean to make you mad it's just…you've always been so confident in the things you do, especially as of late."
"I know and that's why I came to you."
"Why me?"
"Because I trust you."
Harry grinned and sat down beside her, "Thanks…don't worry we'll think of something."
"Ron slow down, it's cold you know." Hermione said with the water up to her knees while Ron was already neck deep.
"It's better if you just do it real fast. It's not as bad if you just get it over with."
She walked forward as if she hadn't heard him, flinching ever once and a while when the water splashed further up her body. She stopped when the water was at her chest. "Okay."
"Okay what?" Ron asked perplexed.
"I'm in, are you happy?"
"You're not in, your hair isn't even wet." He took a few smooth strokes until he was next to her. "You need to go deeper."
"No no, that's okay."
"Hermione, how are we to swim if you don't go out further?"
"Ron." She closed her eyes, "I can't."
He sighed, "Are you going to tell me why not? I already told you, you could trust me."
"I can't swim…at all okay! Are you happy! My parents never taught me."
"Why would that make me happy?" He looked hurt.
"Because you finally know something I can't do." She said as a small tear rolled down her face. "Now I'm sure you'll tell everyone and gloat." She looked down.
"Hey, I already told you I wouldn't tell anyone. I want to help, it's the least I could do." He smiled. He reached his hand up uncertainly and hesitated. He took a deep breath, "Hermione…look at me." She slowly lifted her head and he wiped away a stray tear. "You don't have to be perfect you know. No one but yourself expects you to be. I actually like imperfect people, myself being one." A big smile spread across his face and he looked proud. Hermione laughed, "I want to teach you." She looked apprehensive, "Don't worry I won't let anything happen." He waded in front of her and got close enough to feel her toes brush against his. They smiled at one another.
"I've got it! I don't believe it wasn't the first thing we thought of." Harry said after a while of silence and he stood up.
"Well…are you going to share that pearl of wisdom with me or are you going to keep it to yourself?"
"Hermione of course! She just started a study schedule for me and Ron and since she somehow always finishes her homework within an hour of receiving it," he rolled his eyes, "I'm sure she'd help you. Especially since she already knows what your learning like the back of her hand. Plus she already agreed to revolve studying around quidditch."
Ginny stood and just looked at him.
"It was just a suggestion." Harry said after a few moments of silence.
"We are idiots. That should have been the first thing I did. At least you thought of it."
He smiled, "I do what I can."
"Well you'll have to do more, Mr. Potter." Professor McGonagall appeared through the doorway of the changing rooms. "I thought I'd find you here. Hello Miss. Weasley."
"I um…uh I just need to…" He took her arms and wrapped them around his neck.
She looked at him, "What are you doing?"
"Just hold on tight okay." He kept a steady gaze with her and started to walked slowly backward into the water and she tightened her hold. "Breathe." He said in a strained voice.
"Right," she took a deep breath.
"No me." He said tapping her arm.
"Oh right! Sorry." She loosened her grip. He reached a spot where he could barely stand on the tip of his toes.
"Okay when I say, hold your breath and were going to go under."
"Why, you haven't taught me anything yet." She said in a frightened tone.
"Don't worry, we're going under so the water won't seem as cold to you. Alright ready?" She moved closer to his body, her chest was pressed against his and she tightened her hold even more. She closed her eyes and he took the opportunity to watch her. This was certainly the closest they had ever been. He could feel her light breathing and her quickening heartbeat. He loved this feeling of her against him and he smiled. He put his hands on her waist. She opened her eyes and let out a small breath she hadn't realized she had been holding.
"Alright, take a breath." He felt her deep inhale and she closed her eyes again. He brought his legs slightly up and they submerged into the water. He looked at her beneath the water and saw her eyes tightly shut. A few seconds later they came up.
"See that wasn't so bad." Ron said his hands still on her waist.
She let out a sigh, "I…I-I guess not." She tried to smile but failed.
Ron realized where his hands were and took them away, thinking that was the reason she looked so uncomfortable.
She gasped and took one arm away from his neck and grabbed his arm, "What are you doing? Hold on." She pulled his hand to her waist and he quickly put the other one back. "Okay okay, sorry." She put her arm back around his neck. "Just…" She breathed, "don't let go of me until I say."
"Are you sure you want to continue?"
"Yes, I want to learn how." She said determinedly.
"Okay." He smiled at her and slowly moved his thumbs up and down against her stomach.
Both Harry and Ginny jumped at the sudden appearance of Professor McGonagall.
"Oh hello Professor." Ginny said.
"Yes yes. I don't have much time before I have to be in the Great Hall for lunch, so I'll just say it quickly." Professor McGonagall turned her gaze to Harry. "Professor Dumbledore and I feel that you should be the new quidditch captain for gryffindor. Do you accept?"
Harry just sat there a moment in silence.
"Potter?"
"Harry." Ginny nudged him in the ribs and he blinked.
"Oh yes! Yes I accept! Thank you Professor!"
"No need to thank me, just remember try outs are next Saturday, you must pick the new players and practice dates and practice in general is your responsibility." She paused…you could tell she had said this speech many times. "Yes I think that's it. Now I must go, excuse me and congratulations." She strode out with a hurried looked but had a faint smile Ginny and Harry saw.
"Congratulations Harry!" Ginny said and wrapped her arms around him in a big hug. He slowly did the same, but said nothing. His mind was spinning with everything he had just been told, the sensation of Ginny's head against his shoulder again and her body so close to his.
"Alright were going deeper alright?"
"But you can barely touch the bottom here. Are you sure you can swim with me too?" She asked worriedly.
"I'll manage." He grinned at her. "I'll have to let go though until we get out there."
She said nothing and he let go. He began to backstroke so that she stayed above the water. He reached a spot where he thought they were probably around thirty feet deep and he stopped. He held onto her again but kept his legs moving to keep them afloat.
"Where did you learn to swim?" Hermione asked.
"Oh well we have a pond close by our house and when I was about five or six Fred and George thought it was about time I learned. Said, "There's no better time then the present," and then continued to push me in.
"That's horrible. What happened?"
"I died…I'm actually a ghost." She shook her head at him and rolled her eyes. "Just joking," he laughed, "there was only one thing for me to do. I kicked like crazy and managed to stay afloat. Which is what I'm going to teach you now. Except on your back."
"Okay."
"Alright." He took his hands off of her waist and pulled her arms from around his neck. She held onto his hand so tight they turned red. "Hey, just relax. Now you have to let go so I can get you into the right position."
"But I'll sink." She said crushing his fingers.
"Don't worry." He gave her that steady gaze and she let go. He quickly went under and placed one arm under the crook of her knee and the other he wrapped under her arms as if he was carrying her someplace. He lifted her so that her head was safely above water.
Her fear disappeared the moment his hand had brushed against her legs. She felt safe and protected in his arms. It felt natural to her. Little did she know Ron was feeling the same. He felt good to be the one she trusted and having her in his arms felt perfect.
"Okay," he moved a hand to the small of her back and the other in between her shoulder blades. "Relax and your body will naturally float." He said his hands slowly slipping away from her body. In fact the moment he touched her lower back he felt her muscles loosen. Soon he only had a finger touching her in each place, "See you're doing great."
"Yeah?…just don't let go." Her eyes were closed against the glare of the sun. Her arms were out along the water, her fingers slightly wiggling in the water. He moved his fingers away.
"So you feeling good?" He asked with a grin.
"Yeah why?"
"Cause you doing great."
"Only cause you're holding me up."
"No I'm not."
"What!" Her eyes flew open and was immediately blinded by the sun. "I'm doing this on my own?" She became perfectly still.
"Yeah. See I told you it wouldn't be hard."
"Wow." She said breathlessly.
"Hey do you know what time it is?" Ron asked as his stomach growled.
"No I left my watch over by our things."
"Oh never mind then."
There was silence for a moment then, "You could go and see if you want." She said.
"I can't leave you out here by yourself. What if something happened?"
"If I stay still like this, I'll be fine…now go."
"No I don't feel comfortable leaving you alone, you don't know how to swim yet."
"I don't need to swim as long as I stay afloat. I'll be fine, please go. I think I've got the hang of it." She said confidently as she started to wiggle her fingers again.
"If…if you sure."
"I am."
"Okay, I'll back before you know it okay?" He sank slowly into the water with a big breath so as not to disturb the water. He swam below until he needed air and he looked back and saw she was okay. He went back down until he finally felt the sand between his toes. He hadn't realized quite how far they had gone out until he saw how far Hermione was away from him. He stood up and walked through the rest of the water and over to the tree. He rummaged through her cloths for a few seconds and found only their wands. He looked around the tree and saw nothing either.
"Hermione? I can't find it." He yelled still looking around for her watch.
There was no answer, "Hermione?" He yelled again and looked back. He couldn't see her anywhere on the surface. He could only see a slight ripple in the water.
"Hermione!" He yelled as loud as he could.
Ginny finally let go of Harry after a few moments of silence. "Oh Harry, I'm so happy for you, I knew you'd get it." Still he said nothing. "Are you okay?" She laughed and pushed his shoulder. He blinked a few times.
"Um…sorry I just…I can't believe it. Thanks."
"So…are you happy about this or not?" She asked as he still looked somewhat dazed.
"Yeah, I'm just thinking of all the things I have to do is all."
"Oh, well I will always help out if you need it."
He smiled, "Thanks."
"Well come on, lets go find Ron and Hermione. They will be thrilled." She took his hand and dragged him out of the stadium. "I assume they'll still be at the lake."
He raced from the tree to the lake and ran into the water and dove in. He swam as fast as his arms could go. One stroke strong and faster then the one before it. He finally reached the spot he thought they had been. He dove beneath the surface, but saw nothing, just blackness. He came back up for air and swam a few more strokes and dove again. He saw something blurry about fifteen feet below him. He swam for what he hoped was Hermione. As he came closer he could make out hair moving slowly in the water. A few more strokes and he could make out her face. Her eyes were closed and her mouth open.
He quickly wrapped his arms around her middle and shot up to the surface as fast as he could. His head broke the surface of the water and he took a great breath.
"Hermione!" He shook her face wit his hand, but no response came.
He quickly swam for shore. Hermione tucked close to his body. He dragged her up on the bank and leaned his ear toward her mouth. Not a breath escaped her. He quickly tilted her head and placed his mouth to hers. He breathed into her and he leaned back. He placed his hands over her heart and pushed four times. Nothing happened. He hurriedly tried to breathe life into her again. He repeated the pushing but still no signs of life.
"Hermione!" Ron turned and looked; Ginny and Harry were sprinting toward him. Ginny skidded on her knees near her leaving big dents in the ground behind her. Her hands on the ground, she said, "What happened?" Harry fell beside her a scared and worried expression on their faces.
"Never mind!" He bent down again and breathed. "Come on Hermione." He tried again but nothing happened. A tear rolled down his face and landed on her cheek. A great sputter emerged from her mouth and water poured out from the sides. She coughed until she turned red. But Ron was so happy he leaned and picked her up slightly from the ground and hugged her. Her head fell on his shoulder as she continued to cough.
He leaned back, "Are you alright?" She nodded weakly.
"Come on." He scooped her up in his arms as he did in the water and walked toward the castle. "Let's get you to the hospital wing. One of you grab our things."
Ginny quickly grabbed their belongings and rushed toward them. Harry stood beside his friends, Ginny beside him. Hermione looked at Ron and he smiled at her, she tried to smile back but all she could do was close her eyes.
(Please review, whether good or bad.)