A/N: Sorry it's been so long. I just moved away to college, so things are going to be a lot more hectic. I'm really not sure how often I'll get to update. But I'm going to try to do it once a week.
ONLY HOPE by Lina Shay
Chapter Eight: Ever Vexed One
Hope was vigorously shaken awake. It was before the sun had come up and Hope really didn't wish to be awaken. She saw the face of Ron above her, so she sat up.
"What's wrong, Ron?" she asked, rubbing her eyes.
"Couldn't let us have a little fun, could you?" Ron demanded. "It wasn't like we were hurting them. We just wanted to scare them."
"What are you talking about?" Hope said in confusion, reaching for Harry's glasses.
"The prank, stupid!" Dean called form across the room. "We know you told McGonagal of our plan."
"Now we all got detention," Seamus grumbled.
"I thought you were my friend, Harry!" Ron exclaimed.
"Honestly, Ron," Hope began desperately. "You know me. Would I fink on you?"
"I hardly know," Ron threw up his hands and sat on his bed. "You've been acting so different lately."
"I had a rough Summer," Hope muttered in defense.
"So I know," Ron shrugged. "But if you didn't tell, who did?"
"I have no idea," Hope insisted. "I've been here sleeping the whole time."
"We'll ask Neville when he gets back from the loo," Dean said.
"He wasn't here," Hope informed.
The three boys looked at her in confusion.
"What do you mean he wasn't here?" Ron asked her.
"Just that," Hope told them. "His bed's been empty. I figured he changed his mind and went with you."
"Neville must have peached on us," Ron said to Dean.
"That little pratt!" Dean shouted.
"Sorry, Harry," Ron said quietly to Hope. "We shouldn't have blame you like that, but you know how it is."
"I completely understand," Hope told him with a smile.
The two looked at each other for a while. Ron suddenly jumped in start, then got into bed. Hope lied down and still watched his ginger hair sticking out of his covers. Oh, how she loved him.
"Mr. Potter!" Snape shouted when he saw that Hope's cauldron was bubbling over. "You're doing it all wrong. You're almost as bad as Longbottom."
"I'll help you, Harry," Hermione whispered.
"Why's he keep yelling at me like that?" Hope asked, trying to hold back the urge to cry.
"Don't worry about it, Harry," Ron said, putting a hand on her shoulder. "Snape's got a personality disorder called git-ism."
"Yes, but why does he pick on me?" Hope muttered, watching the austere wizard strut around and ridicule everyone's potions.
"Unsolved mystery," Hermione announced. "The deal with your father has much to do with it, though."
Hope didn't want to sound stupid by asking what the deal with her father was. She was curious, but it was best not to know perhaps. This thing was clear though, Snape would hate her, Harry or Hope.
After class, the three walked out into the corridor. The little, blonde Luna Lovegood instantly came bouncing up. Ron grabbed onto Hope's arm, which gave her tingles.
"Do something, Harry," Ron hissed in her ear.
"Do it yourself," Hermione challenged.
"Please," Ron pleaded.
"All right," Hope muttered. "I guess I'll distract her or something."
"Thank you," Ron said as he ran off down the hall.
"Coward," Hermione thought aloud as she headed off toward Gryffindor Tower.
"Hullo, Harry," Luna said quietly once she reached him.
"Good morning, Luna," Hope greeted, taking her arm and leading her in the opposite direction that Ron went. "I've so wanted to talk to you today."
"You have?" she asked in surprise.
"Indeed," Hope went on, her mind racing. "It's about...the Quibbler. Um, I...wanted to read it."
"You did, honestly?" Luna's face brightened up.
"Yes," Hope insisted. "It's all that been on my mind."
"How wonderful!" Luna exclaimed, reaching into her book bag and pulled out a copy of the Quibbler. "This month's feature article is about the minister's secret plot to steal all the world's spaghetti."
"Fascinating," Hope commented, confused. "Why would he want spaghetti?"
"That would be ruining the ending, now, wouldn't it?" Luna giggled, handing the Quibbler to her.
Hope took the magazine from her. She hadn't actually wanted to read it. She skimmed over the article, which was just a loud of rubbish. The spaghetti was going to be used to fuel a new invention that controls the minds of goblins.
"Very interesting," Hope muttered, handing the magazine back to Luna. "Oh, dear! It seems I've lost Ron for you. Don't know where he could be."
"But, Harry," Luna began, "I didn't come to see Ronald."
"You didn't?" Hope asked.
"I came to you," Luna blushed.
Hope gasped. Not another one. First Ginny and now Luna. Were these girls mad? Didn't some instinct deep down tell them that this was not a boy they would like? Hope wasn't a boy at all.
"We could discuss the Quibbler in greater depth this weekend," Luna muttered shyly.
"Luna, listen a second-" Hope began.
She, then, remembered that this little girl just had a broken heart from Ron. She didn't want to break Luna's heart again. Besides, it was just rebound and couldn't last too long. What was the harm in a little meeting?
"All right," Hope conceded. "Where do you want to meet? Here?"
"Why not the Three Broomsticks," Luna shrugged.
"Where's that?" Hope queried.
"Hogsmeade," Luna giggled.
"Great gads!" Hope smacked her hand to her forehead.
"What's the matter?" Luna asked in concern. "Don't you like the Three Broomsticks? We could meet somewhere else."
"No, the Three Broomsticks is fine, but-" Hope began.
"Great!" Luna exclaimed. "See you this weekend then."
With that, she skipped off down the hall. Hope felt terrible. She was supposed to meet Ginny in Hogsmeade. Now she not only had two girls after her but she had a date with each on the same day. This was a disaster.
A/N: Those of you who have read Twelfth Night will notice that I split Olivia up into three different characters. It worked better for me that way.
