Disclaimer: I don't own (sadly) the Harry Potter series, characters, etc. Although if I was older and thought of this idea before JKRowling I would have...
Summary: There's a masquerade ball and Ginny and Draco fall in love. They have to meet in secret, hiding their identities, afraid of the consequences if they show their true faces.
Chapter II C.A.R.E. & O.C.O.
Ron woke up. He checked the clock. "3 o'clock...A.M. Good, I can read in peace and quiet," he said, and quietly walked up the stairs to the boys dormitories.
Rummaging through his trunk, he finally found what he was looking for. A Teen Fiction Romance Comedy Novel, "My Cupid's Cuter Than Yours." He bought three or four to give to Ginny for Christmas, but hey, Christmas was at least 3 months away. Might as well read them and see why all the girls are raving about them. It might help him get a date for this ball thing too.
"...so, Professor Dumbledore, instead of just supporting House Elves, we can support all under appreciated and abused creatures. Except, I don't know what I would call the organization..."Hermione trailed off.
"Hmm...so this time it's an organization instead of a club. Very wise and sophisticated. You are quite the cosmopolitan businessperson the Muggles need," Dumbledore said, stroking his chin in deep thought.
"Why thank you Professor. Now, a name..."
"How about S.U.A.C.S.?"
"Whaaaa?"
"Support Under appreciated and Abused Creatures Society?"
"No...it's very clever Professor, but SUACS is worse than SPEW..."
"I see...C.A.R.E. & O.C.O.?
"What does that stand for?"
"Care for All Ruined Elves and Other Creatures Organization," Dumbledore said, pausing between words, trying to remember what each word stood for.
"That's wonderful Headmaster! You truly are a miracle worker! That's why you're head. You care about these kind of things and you take charge and you help the cause! Thank you so much! I'm going to start working on some promotional things..."Hermione said, and left to start her new project.
On her way back, Hermione was muttering to herself all the things she could do to start off C.A.R.E. & O.C.O. when she stumbled over a thick paper rectangle.
"...And I could possibly make banners...OOMPH! Hey, what's this?" she said, picking up the thing.
"'Romance in Rome, Pain in Paris.' Sounds interesting,"
A few minutes later, she arrived at the Gryffindor Portrait Hole. "Password, Hermione?" the Fat Lady said.
"Double S," Hermione wearily answered.
The portrait swung open.
"Who made up that password?"
"I believe it was Fred and George."
"I'm quite frightened to ask what it stands for."
"'Slytherins Suck' I think...somewhat like that..."
"Figures. Oh, by the way, would you be able to help me advertise my new organization? Oh no, don't worry," she rushed as the Fat Lady wrinkled her nose, "it's not something outrageously silly like SPEW. It's much more complex, it's a real organization, not like the silly club I had. In fact, Dumbledore is standing behind me all the way. So whaddaya say?"
"I'd love to, but now is not the time to discuss matters such as these. It's about 4 in the morning. Good thing you don't have classes tomorrow. Or would it be today? No matter. In you go, pumpkin."
"Thanks, but actually I have potions before we go to Hogsmeade..."
Hermione took two steps into the common room and stopped dead in her tracks at what she saw.
Ron was cuddled up in the armchair closest to the fireplace, and reading a book. A book with a big heart on the cover.
"Ron? Are you reading what I think you're reading?" Hermione whispered.
"Hermione! It's not what you think! I got some of these books for Ginny for Christmas, I was bored, I'm reading them for the heck of it! I'm not gay, you know..." he rushed.
"Ron! I know you're not gay. You're the one who let me read your diary..."
"JOURNAL!"
"Whatever. You let me read it and you put 'I love so-and-so...' some girl's name for sure."
There was a moment of silence.
"Don't mention this to the guys. They'd humiliate me to death," Ron said feebly.
"Of course not. What are friends for? Hopefully your vocabulary is advanced enough for such a word. Of course, we could always look in the library..."
All of a sudden, Harry tossed and turned in his sleep, mumbling, "NO! Not the library! Never!" and dozed back asleep.
After a few seconds Hermione and Ron started cracking up.
"I didn't know he hated the library that much!" Hermione said, choking with tears of laughter on her face.
"Neither did I, mate! Oh, look, it's 5 o' clock. Better get ready for Quidditch practice..."
"This early?"
"No, but I might want to practice by myself for a while. Before the game on Sunday..."
"Right! I'll be upstairs, looking for..."
"Lemme guess. Hm...a mask to wear to the ball?"
"NO! But good idea. I was...nevermind! You'll see soon!" she said, and bounded upstairs with, Ron just realized, a book and a box. Wonder what they're for?
Hermione flung her things next to her bed and plopped into it. How am I possibly going to catch up on my sleep? I need sleep, but I'm so excited about C.A.R.E. & O.C.O. and the masquerade. How can I possibly... she dozed off...
Ginny looks up from her book. She was reading in bed. "So she's finally back. Wonder what she's been doing all night," she whispers to herself. Shrugging, she returns back to her book, 'Tammy Gets Kissed.'
"Hermione! Come on! You are such a lazy sleepy blob! It's already 9:00 and breakfast is going to be over at 9:30 and I'm sooooo not waiting till 9:29 for you to wake up. So wake up NOW!" Angelina said, yanking Hermione's blanket off the bed.
"Wouldn't it be easier..." Ginny started.
"Hermione! Hermione! Hermione!"
"I have a solution..."
"Wake up you Bi-atch!"
"WAIT!" Ginny hollered. Angelina stopped shaking Hermione and looked at Ginny.
"Why don't give her an awakening potion?" Ginny said sarcastically.
"Gee, why didn't I think of that?" Angelina said, rolling her eyes. "It's not like it'll work."
"Give it a try. It's not like she's going to drop dead if we give it to her."
"Ginny's right Angie, just try the damn thing and stop bickering. You could drive anyone up the Astrology Tower, for Matt's sake," Alicia said.
"Matt's sake? Since when have we replaced Pete and God with Matt?" Parvati said, making a face.
"Whoops, my bad. It's not like I did it on purpose. I guess we've...I've been a little over obsessed about this masquerade-Matt thing..."
"Whatever. Ginny, grab me the awakening."
A few seconds after Angelina gave Hermione the potion, what do you know? Hermione woke up.
Ginny stuck her tongue out at Angelina. "See, I told you so. God I'm sooooo underappreciated..."
Don't blame me for all the small chapters, I'm a newbie, so I really don't understand some of the internet chat / fanfic lingo so plz help me out! Please review!
