School Camp – fire-and-ice89
A/N: Hey everyone! Long time no see, I'm afraid. I was having a bit of a…breather, shall we call it. More info at the end of the chapter.
Well, there was lots of speculation over what was put in her backpack. Most of you said rocks or bricks or something along the lines of that…I don't think it was too much of a mystery. It's not the main focus of this chapter, don't worry!
Replies to reviews:
TriGemini: You are SO good at picking up on subtle little hints…things that I'm not even trying to write! I was considering putting some romantic tension between Fiona and Draco, just to make Hermione a tad jealous…and you picked up on it right away! I love the way you analyze the underlying hints in my writing!
Dmwme09: "What are you smoking?" Yes, an interesting line, I only learnt it once I came here, to Canada. I don't think I ever heard an Australian say it, which was why it was such a novelty and I felt like putting it in my fic!
Tylerjay: cool, thanks for reviewing again! Your second guess was that Malfoy stashed all his gear in Hermione's bag, which would have been funny, but I think he'd be a little worried about what would happen to it once she found it!
Stephanie-Felton: hahaha, crystal ball gazing…
Mocha Dragon: I think that Harry and Allie's developing romance will be one of the main parts of the plot, after Hermione and Draco of course ;). The thing is, sometimes Hermione's relationship with Draco can be so sour…sweet and sour, I know, but sometimes the sour parts just get too much for me to handle, and when that happens, I can just switch over to Allie and Harry and have some cute-ness for a while!
dmhg: I'm glad you weren't offended! Thanks for asking, no I wasn't sick, but I was just really overloaded with school work and feeling really stressed out. It happens to everyone!
Mystical Purple: I can see why you would have misunderstood some of the things I wrote. If you come back and check this, here are the explanations.: yes, there are about 120 kids. Yes, there are three activity groups. But there are 40 kids in each activity group, not 6. The CABIN groups have 6 people in each of them. You also asked why the camp wasn't in the summer, where it would make more sense. Do I really need to answer that! It's called school camp for a reason. I don't know about you, but there's no way I'd give up my summer to go on some boot camp! As for who will be teaching the classes while Snape, McGonagall, and Trelawney are running around wild: I'm sure that Hogwarts, like every other school, will have substitute teachers that can stand in for them for a week. Hopefully I cleared up everything for you.
40/16: Wow, I used to love the Parent Trap, but I'd completely forgotten about it until you mentioned it! I'm trying really hard to remember what happened in it, but I can't…I know that the two girls were having a prank war, but I don't remember what they did…I hope I don't look like I'm copying it, if some of my pranks are the same! Maybe they sort of stuck in my memory and they're starting to come out now…
mysticalpurple: hahaha, thanks for coming and reviewing. I explained the numbers in my answer to your impersonator's review (lol). Sorry, I didn't realize it was confusing. Also, I realize that I could lower the rating for what I've written so far (minus the swearing), but I'm a bit worried about the ending that I have planned. But thanks for commenting and offering suggestions, I appreciate it!
Thanks to everyone else who reviewed, and I'm sorry I didn't get around and reply to you all, but I'm tired and I just want to post this chapter.
Last Time:
"Is everyone ready?" Joyce called out, making the rounds. Most of the students nodded very unenthusiastically.
Harry glanced over at Malfoy quickly. He looked smug…like he was gloating, almost. Somehow, Harry didn't think that Malfoy was just an avid hiker.
Something was up.
Chapter Eight – The Mountain Hike
It was a hot day.
The sun was beating down on the large group scattered along the dusty brown track that winded slowly to the top. The side of the mountain was covered in fur trees, so it was not overly exposed, but the rays of light that filtered through the trees had already managed to burn Neville to a crisp, nonetheless.
They had already passed by the lake. To the sweaty, parched students, it looked like the most inviting sight in the world. But Joyce had hurried them all past, with the promise of a swim on the way back down.
"The view from the top is worth the walk," she kept repeating, urging the students on.
"Who cares about the bloody view," Malfoy had muttered to Blaise, who nodded in agreement, but they were forced to move anyway.
Joyce was at the head of the group, accompanied by Professer McGonagall, and Professer Trewlawney. She was pointing out various wildlife and plant species to the two professors.
Bringing up the rear was Greg, belting out walking tunes, and Professor Snape, looking like he'd rather be anywhere than where he was at that moment.
Hermione was walking with Harry and Ron, near the front. Every now and then she stopped, and shifted her pack.
"My shoulders are aching," she moaned eventually.
Harry had a moment of realization. "Hermione, take your pack off." He said suddenly. Hermione gave him a strange look, but obliged. Immediately Harry zipped it open and pulled aside her togs and towel.
"Ah hah." He said grimly.
"What?" Hermione asked frantically. "What's in there?"
"I don't suppose you packed these?" Harry asked her, pulling out a few handfuls of pebbles. Hermione gasped.
"I knew something was wrong. It was so heavy…it was Malfoy."
"Of course it was." Ron said, eyeing the rocks over Harry's shoulder. "It doesn't take a genius. He was furious about the detergent thing…it got around camp and now everyone's ridiculing him."
"Lucky we found them now," Harry said gently. He pulled the rest out and threw them over the side of the track.
Hermione rubbed her sore shoulders in fury. "He could have hurt me!" She cried in indignation. "He's probably already done some damage."
"It was wrong," Harry agreed calmly. "But there's nothing you can do. Don't let him see that it bothered you. That's what he wants."
Hermione gave a long sigh. "I just wish I could enjoy camp, without having to watch my back all the time." She picked up her pack, now considerably lighter, and swung it back onto her back. "But you're right, Harry," she said as the three continued down the track. "I can't let him know that it's bothering me…"
Up at the head of the group, Joyce had stopped. She seemed to be showing people something.
When Harry, Ron and Hermione reached the top, she motioned them over, and pointed down at a little plant on the side of the track. Harry and Ron looked blankly at it, then back up at Joyce, but Hermione recognized it right away.
"This little fellow here is called a Stinging Nettle," Joyce informed them. "Be very careful not to touch it at all, because it will hurt."
Harry and Ron bent down to closely examine the plant. It was green, with small heart shaped leaves that were spiked on the edges.
"It doesn't look that dangerous," Ron remarked. Joyce shook her head.
"It's not dangerous, exactly. It will just give you a nasty sting and a bumpy rash, that's all."
Joyce, the professors and the small clump of students moved on, leaving Harry and Ron to examine the plant. As soon as the group was out of sight, Hermione bent down beside the two boys.
She deftly pulled out a handkerchief and wrapped it around her hand. Quickly, looking around to make sure no one was watching, she uprooted the small plant and folded the corners of the handkerchief in. Then she took off her backpack and slipped it into the outside pocket.
When she looked up, Harry and Ron were staring at her in astonishment.
"What, you think I can let Malfoy get away with that rock prank?" She asked light heartedly. Ron snickered as he realized the general idea of what she was going to do with the plant.
"Hermione," Harry said uneasily, "I never thought I'd give you your own advice, but don't you think this is going too far? You should be the bigger person, and stop it here."
Hermione didn't want to listen. "Look, Harry, if he was doing this to you, you wouldn't be as calm. Please, just let me do this."
Harry hesitated, then shrugged. "I guess it's not for me to get involved in."
Hermione was very subdued as the trio began walking again. Harry almost hoped that she'd decided to give up her plan. But little did he know of the thoughts floating through her mind…
The trouble with Malfoy, Hermione thought to herself wryly, was that he wasn't very imaginative. The rocks-in-bag trick was very old, which was why Harry figured it out so quickly. She herself was very embarrassed that she hadn't realized earlier.
The plan forming in her mind was so unexpected. He would never see it coming.
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"It's beautiful," sighed Lavender.
"It's gorgeous," exclaimed Parvati.
"It's alright, I s'pose," muttered Ron gruffly.
The students were standing on the summit of the mountain. It had been a long walk – longer than Joyce had let on – but in the end it was definitely worth it. The view was spectacular.
Malfoy, Blaise, Crabbe and Goyle struggled up over the rock ledge.
"I'm hot," Goyle complained.
"I'm hungry," Crabbe moaned.
"Shut up, you two," Malfoy snapped.
Joyce threw him a look of surprise. "No, it's quite reasonable to feel hot and hungry," she assured the general body of students. Malfoy and his friends had been among the last to arrive. "It was a long walk, and you all did very well. You have about half an hour to eat your lunch now."
"Up here?" Padma asked eagerly, and Joyce nodded.
The group of girls went over and chose a rocky slab to sit on. Hermione, after a moment's hesitation, went and joined them. Out of her pack she pulled her wrapped bread roll, and took a bite.
"So, how did you ladies find the hike?"
Hermione knew without turning around that Malfoy was speaking. She looked sharply at Fiona, who had already opened her mouth for a come-back, but closed it sheepishly under Hermione's stare.
"We were just fine," Hermione replied sweetly. "We seemed to find it a lot easier than you, at any rate."
Padma and Parvati giggled.
Malfoy ignored the comment. He was on a mission. "So, you don't feel at all…sore, or aching…especially your shoulders. They must really be hurting now, hey Granger?"
Hermione knew what was going on, but by this stage the other girls were very confused.
"Not at all," she replied, just as sweetly as before. "In fact, I could do another ten of those hikes."
For good measure, she stood up and lifted her backpack with one hand, to let Malfoy know that there were obviously no rocks in there.
"I think I'll go and see how Harry and Ron are doing," she said briefly to the other girls before walking off, reveling in the furious look on Malfoy's face.
Harry, Ron and Neville were gathered on the edge of the steepest rock section. Neville was looking rather white, and seemed relieved to see Hermione. He stood up as soon as she came over.
"Hi, Hermione!" he said eagerly. She threw him a brief smile, then frowned in the direction of Harry and Ron.
"You guys should come away from the edge," she said. The words sounded bossy, even to her own ears.
"Yes, mother," Ron replied, rolling his eyes at Harry. Neither of the two boys moved an inch.
"You want to come away from the edge with me?" Neville asked Hermione nervously. "I don't like heights."
"Okay," Hermione said, smiling kindly at him. The two sat down on a patch of grass a few metres away from Harry and Ron. Hermione took out her breadroll again to eat, but Neville just sat and picked at the short blades of grass.
Hermione watched him idly. "Aren't you going to eat?"
"Not hungry." Neville said simply. "Hey, want to see something cool?"
Hermione raised an eyebrow. "Okay."
Neville's fingers combed the grass with expertise, until they came across a blade longer than the rest. He pulled it gently at the base. When it came out, he placed it carefully between his two thumbs, and raised it to his mouth.
Hermione's mouth opened in amazement at the noise the little piece of grass made. It was shrill and loud.
He stopped and grinned at her reaction.
"That's kind of like those things that you can get at Hogsmeade, you know, the ones that make different noises when you put them in your mouth. But you didn't use magic for that, did you?" Hermione asked him.
"Nope," Neville said proudly. "You know…wizards like to think they have astounding imaginations. But they don't, not really. It's muggles who have the best imaginations, because they have to get by without magic. In fact, almost all wizarding things are based in one way or another on a muggle invention."
It was the longest speech Hermione had ever heard him give. "I'm impressed," she said, smiling.
"Really?" Neville asked, beaming.
Now, Hermione wasn't thick, and she definitely wasn't clueless. But just that afternoon, perhaps because of the long hike, the brush with Malfoy, the recent discovery of the grass blade whistle, or a combination of all three, she somehow missed the way that Neville's eyes shone with a special light when he beheld her, and spoke to her.
She also missed a certain encounter between Harry and Allie.
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Harry was sick of waiting. It seemed that when it came to romance, it was all he ever did. His sharp eyes watched Allie as she moved away from her group of friends, steadily drifting over to the edge at the other side of the summit.
She was alone. Now was his chance, and he was going to seize it.
He stood up suddenly and walked over to her, without any explanation to Ron. She was sitting down on the rock, gazing out over the treetops. She almost looked like a queen, elevated on her throne. Harry swallowed, then climbed the rock to join her.
"Allie," he said, then promptly lost his nerve.
"Harry," she acknowledged, looking faintly flushed. From the hike or from him? Harry couldn't tell.
A long, awkward silence ensued, during which neither person had a clue as to what to say.
"Uh," Harry started, then stopped again.
Allie decided to take the initiative.
"Hey, us girls were just talking about tonight," she said quickly, "and we thought maybe we'd sneak over to your cabin. You know, we'd bring our lollies and combine them with yours, and have a little midnight feast, kinda thing…" she trailed off, watching to see Harry's reaction.
"That sounds…that sounds like fun," he said cautiously. Suddenly, a cold wind picked up, and Harry threw all his caution over the edge of the cliff, to be carried far away with the breeze.
"You know what would make it even more fun?" He asked Allie with a small smile.
Sensing that the mood had changed, Allie raised an eyebrow curiously. "What?" She asked, almost teasingly.
"Spin the bottle," he answered promptly. Allie burst into laughter and slapped his shoulder playfully.
"Oh. My. God. You're such a typical guy." She said, but she was laughing still.
With all the tension between them evaporated into the fresh mountain air, Harry stood, then reached back down to help Allie up, and the two of them walked down the rock face together.
A/N: Obviously, Allie's friends couldn't say much to change her mind. She's attracted to Harry whether she wants to be or not! So don't you guys worry about that.
Now, I have something important to say: I know that when the sixth book comes out, there will be a TON of new fanfictions being produced, and I'm pretty sure that some of the old ones will be pushed aside. So this is what I'm wondering: will you guys (my reviewers) hang around for this story? Do you think it would be worth it, even if it becomes outdated? (eg. A character dies in the sixth book, and I've placed them somewhere in my story).
If not, I was thinking that I might take a break from this story, and maybe come back to it a little while later when the initial fuss over the sixth book has died down. I haven't been updating regularly anyway, and I'm sorry about that. But anyway, please just tell me what you think in your review.
Thanks guys!