Disclaimer: None of this chapter is mine; you hear me? NONE! The characters, plots, and everything else recognizable probably belongs to JK Rowling, I didn't even write the thing, my friend did. (Well, at least this chapter.)

Chapter 6

When Becca walked over to the table where Ali and Ron were playing chess, she saw that Ali still looked rather embarrassed from her encounter with Fred. Becca sat down, "Hey, Ron. Hey, Ali."

Ali looked up at Becca then back down at the chessboard, "I'm so embarrassed..." she said.

Becca couldn't help but chuckle a little, "It's okay. I was talking to Fred before I came over here; he feels kinda bad about it all."

Ali looked up, "He feels bad? Man, you should've heard the way I blew him off when I realized he was hitting on me. I feel horri—"

There was a swoosh of fiery red and a dull thud. Ali and Becca both started and looked around: Ron had fallen out of his chair and he had taken the chessboard with him.

"He did what?!" Ron sputtered, sitting up as several chess pieces clattered around him and rolled of in many directions. Becca laughed and helped him up but Ali looked like she didn't quite know what to do or say. Ron clutched the end of the table and his knuckles turned white, "That was what your conversation with him was about?!" Ron demanded, "He was hitting on you?!"

Ali appeared surprised by Ron's reaction, "Well yeah, Ron. Why does that bother you so much?" Ali asked. Ron's ear went bright red; Becca knew that Ron had had a crush on Ali ever since they had met—and probably was working on getting up the courage to ask her out—but it was clear that the thought of competition had never entered his mind. There was a silence and Becca realized that Ron didn't want to answer the question so she decided to bail him out.

"So..." she began, "What say we join Harry on his hike?"

No answer.

She pressed on, "If we go now we might be able to catch up to him..."

No answer.

Becca frowned, "Oh come on, people, throw me a bone here!"

Ali and Ron slowly nodded and made their way outside. "Just let me get something first," Ron said as they passed the Lion Cabin.

As soon as he had closed the door behind him Becca turned to Ali and said, "Ali! You, me, talk, now—"

But Ali was already way ahead of the game, "George asked you out!"

Becca smiled, "The Freakish-Best-Friend-Mind-Reading-Powers strike again," she said proudly.

Ali beamed with happiness for her friend, "Well?" she prompted, "What did you say?"

Still grinning, Becca shrugged, "I said I'd think about it..."

Ali raised an eyebrow, "You know you're gonna say yes!"

"I know—"

"So why did you say you'd think about it, you wack-job?!"

Becca laughed, "I have no idea! I'll go talk to him before lunch."

Ali sighed, "You lucky nutter, you. Really lucky; he's cute."

Becca rolled her eyes, "Helloooo? He has got a twin you know. A twin, by the way, that was hitting on you just twenty minutes ago!"

Ali sighed again, "I know...but I totally blew that one."

"No you didn't," Becca replied, "Fred thinks that he's the one who blew it. He told me right after you ran off."

Becca could tell that Ali was processing this information deeply, "So...that means I still have a chance?"

Becca smiled. Suddenly, the cabin door opened and out came Ron. "Let's go," he said.

They hiked up the well-worn dirt path alongside the tree line and talked about whatever came to mind. Eventually, they came to a small brook that gradually widened into a stream. Finally they came to the top of the path and saw Harry and Hermione sitting on the grass beside a small lake.

"Hey campers," Becca said as she plopped down beside Harry. Ali sat down next to Becca and Ron on the other side of Harry.

"Hey," Ali said, looking at Hermione, "I thought you were going to go read or something..."

Hermione tossed her hair, "I was."

Harry smiled broadly, "I bothered her about coming along until she cracked."

Hermione glared at him, "You threw my book onto the roof, Harry."

Harry smiled at her serenely, "Just where it belongs..."

An hour or so later, after hearing Ron's stomach audibly growl, Ali asked what time it what but since no one had a watch, it could have been any time. Ali looked around for any other people from camp that might've come up the trail too. On her second scan of the tree line she noticed a group of four younger kids dancing around in the trees.

"Hey!" she called, "Hey! Do you have the time?"

The kids didn't appear to have heard, so Ron picked up a rock and chucked it at them with a mighty force. The rock hit a tree trunk right next to one of the kid's ear and made an echoing crack. The kids stopped dancing abruptly and looked around confusedly. Then they turned and ran off down the trail without a word.

Hermione stared at Ron, "Oh look," she said dryly, one eyebrow raised, "You've gone and scared them off."

Becca hit Ron's arm and said, "Yeah, what's with you and throwing rocks, huh?"

Ron looked confused and sputtered, "I didn't mean—what—why—I—no—"

Ali grinned, "It'll be lunch soon. It's a long hike down but we should be able to get back to the camp in time."

On the way down to the Mess Hall, the group talked about the kids they saw earlier. "What was with them?" Ali asked, "They were dancing around like idiots. And there wasn't even music..."

Becca laughed, "Ali, how many times have you danced without music? Every week?"

Hermione looked pensive, "There's something strange going on around here..."

Ron waved his hand, "Stop being so weird Hermione. There's food to be eaten!"

A few minutes after they sat down and began eating, Becca saw George and Fred walk through the door with a black boy she didn't know. She got up.

"Be back in a sec, guys," she said to her friends.

George noticed her approaching and smiled. "Hey," he said.

"Hey," Becca replied, returning his smile, "Can I talk to you for a minute?"

George nodded to Fred and the other boy, who walked toward to food counter, and followed Becca outside. As soon as they were alone, George asked, "Er, have you thought about it?"

Becca smiled, "Yes."

"And...?" George prodded.

"I've decided," Becca said, "that you're hair is awesome."

George looked confused, "Er, thanks...so that means...?"

Becca loved messing with people and she had the feeling that George was not normally this serious, which made her enjoy it even more.

Becca's smile widened, "It means yes."

A wave of something swept over George's face, "Great..."

As she waved to George and went back to her table, Ali stood up.

"Did you...?" she asked.

"Yeah," Becca replied, taking a bite out of her sandwich.

Becca could tell that Ali was thinking about something important, "I should go apologize to Fred..." Ali said, walking off.

Becca smiled and sighed, "They grow up so quickly..."

RoseW.G.'s PS: Review please! Please, please, please? Sorry that I couldn't post it any sooner, my computer was virus-ed. 