Author's Note: I'm posting a lot sooner than I thought I'd be, probably because I wrote the new chapter of my Mediator fic in one day. So here's the first in a volley of updates which should be coming as I progress through book four.
Tina and Ron got out of the carriage and walked through Hogsmeade village to Zonko's. It was quite cold so they both put on their cloaks and Tina decided to wear her gloves.
Zonko's was packed, as always and the two of them made their way to the back where the greatest novelties were. Ron mostly liked to look at these things, as he couldn't afford many of them, and Tina was searching for a well-priced gift she could send her eight-year old brother for Christmas.
"How about this?" she said, holding Invisible chalk up to Ron's face. "He can draw on something like a chair and whoever sits on it will have chalk on their butt!"
Ron snorted, giving his approval, but giving it a little more thought Tina decided that her jeans would be safer if she bought something else.
In their search for a gift that was more family-friendly they ran into Fred and George. It was never abnormal to run into the Weasley twins in a joke shop, especially Zonko's, but what was abnormal was that they didn't seem to be looking for anything to buy. Indeed, they were talking to the manager in hushed voices and had what looked like a small pastry box. Tina and Ron hid behind a shelf to hear what they were saying:
"You've got to take it! We need the money since he won't pay us!"
"I understand your dilemma Mr. Weasley, but I can only accept items that were developed by the Zonko brothers! They're out of the country right now and may not be back until next October. I can, however arrange an interview then."
"It's no good; we need the money much sooner than that. If the stupid git just payed up…"
"Relax, Fred. Now come on, sir, surely you haven't seen anything this ingenious before have you? No one will be able to tell it's not a Zonko product. Maybe not even Messrs. Zonko, eh? They probably don't remember every single thing they've developed, anyway so why not put these on a shelf and tell them they invented them ages ago?"
"I think not Mr. Weasley." said the manager in a steely voice. "Good day to you both." And then he walked off, leaving the twins at the counter. Tina pushed Ron towards the end of the shelf and then they both came around it so it wouldn't look like they had been eavesdropping.
"Hey Fred! Hey George!" Tina called. "What're you buying?"
"Nothing." Fred answered in a would-be friendly voice. "Were you listening to us?"
"What? Oh, no, of course not." Tina replied. "We just….saw you here and I was wondering if you could help me find a Christmas present for my brother. Something he'll like that can't endanger me?"
At this the twins relaxed considerably, and spent the next half an hour showing Tina and Ron things that Tina could send her brother. In the end it was Lee Jordan who arrived and helped Tina find the last box of exploding pencils. Despite the fact that most wizards used quills, these seemed to be quite a success with the Muggle-born crowd. Tina bought a pack of them and then she, Ron and the twins left for the Three Broomsticks.
"Um…Ron, while we're there, do you want to talk to Hermione and Har--"
"No." said Ron firmly. "Don't even say his name."
The pub was packed even more than usual because so many villagers were asking students about the tournament. The twins, Lee, Ron and Tina all found a table towards the back of the shop and sat down after ordering five butterbeers. (Fred tried to ask for some of Ogden's Old Firewhiskey, but Madam Rosmerta hit him upside the head) Tina looked around and saw Hermione taking a seat at a table and muttering to herself. But Tina knew better than that.
"I'll be right back, guys," she said, and got up from the table. After what seemed like quite a while (the pub was so packed she could barely walk) she reached the table where Hermione was sitting, read her S.P.E.W. notebook.
"Hi," said Tina brightly.
"Hello," said Hermione cheerfully. "Sit down." She gestured at the empty seat to her right. Tina sat down willingly, and then leaned over towards the unoccupied chair beside her.
"Hey, Harry," she whispered.
"Hi," Harry's voice came from thin air but Tina could almost see him sitting there without his cloak. "How did you know I was here?"
"Oh, please, like you'd ever miss coming to Hogsmeade just because of a few badges and Ron acting like prat." She retorted. "Of course, it sounds a lot worse when you lump it together like that. Anyway, is that why you wore the cloak? To avoid everyone teasing you?"
"Yeah," Harry sighed. "I'll be glad when this is over."
"So will we," said Hermione. She and Tina exchanged glances.
"What?"
"Oh, come on Harry, we're sick of having to baby-sit you boys!" said Tina in exasperation. "You and Ron have such stupid pride. He won't admit he's wrong and you won't admit that you miss him and go set him straight! What do you like not being friends?"
"No, of course I hate it," said Harry in indignation. "Besides, he won't listen to me."
"Well he won't listen to us, either. He probably knows that we think you're right and that's just making him more inclined to act stubborn." Hermione looked ready to cry. "You two not being friends is really horrible to watch, Harry. I really hope this all just…goes away." She sniffed and Tina patted her on the arm.
"Well, I just came to say hi," said Tina glancing over at the Lee and the Weasleys. "I should probably get back to the others. Ron'll be wondering what I'm doing. He's not stupid you know," she added as a noise came from Harry. "He'd be able to figure out that you're here." Then she left for her own table, where the drinks had arrived.
"What were you talking about?" Ron asked.
"Baby-sitting," said Tina, and he asked no further questions.
"So," said Lee conversationally. "Who do you think is going to win the First Task? Better yet, who do you think will live through the First Task?"
Tina glared at him.
"I think everyone'll do fine in the First Task." She said staring Lee in the face. "No matter what the odds are against them."
"Bet they'll be right scared when it comes time for it," said George.
"Yeah, well at least three of them actually volunteered for the danger." Tina was raising her eyebrows at Ron now. His expression changed from mild interest at the conversation to anger.
"Well, it's easy to see whose side you're on," he said acidly. "But what proof have you got, eh?"
"His word." Said Tina quietly. "And if you knew him at all, that'd be enough for you."
The twins and Lee were staring at the two of them now, completely bewildered.
"Er…let's talk about something else, shall we?" suggested Fred. "What's your favorite Quidditch team Tina?"
Tina was still piercing Ron with her stare but turned towards Fred. "The Fitchburg Finches," she replied.
"A true American," muttered George, and she punched him in the arm. At this Ron couldn't help chuckling, and Harry and the tournament were not mentioned again during their time in Hogsmeade.
After an hour (and several butterbeers, which resulted in the twins becoming rather tipsy) the five of them put on their cloaks and walked back up to the carriages, laughing and chatting about anything, from Hagrid and Madam Maxime to whether or not Crabbe and Goyle actually knew how to speak. It was when they climbed into the carriages that Ron voiced something which appeared to have been bothering him for a large part of the evening.
"You really think he didn't enter?" he asked Tina suddenly. If she was startled, she didn't show it.
"Yes, I do." She answered. Ron lapsed into a thoughtful silence and the carriages set off for the castle.
A/N I'm trying to do scenes with Tina and particular characters, as was recommended to me by Anandini77 in her review.
!!!! Now, I've got a little favor to ask of all of you. I realize many of you (glances at the marauders) want to see specific characters or scenes in my story and that's great. So, send me your requests or ideas and I'll put them in. I have scenes I want to do, but I know that there are many that more of you may like to see. But, you're going to have to specify a little, so I know which scene you want and how you want me to tweak it. If the scenes are in year four or five, I'll put them in as I go through those years, and if they're earlier, I'll write them once I finish with mine. But please, don't hesitate to request anything! I'm looking forward to it!
Tekvah Ariel- Glad you liked it. Actually, chapter five wasn't the visit in which Harry turned up in his cloak. He does that like the second time or something. It is a little weird of Ron and Hermione to agree on something like that, but because it has to do with their futures, it affects them a little. And don't we all live life just for the weirdness?
Kandie-Spirit-Dragon- Glad you like it!
Padfoot, Prongs and Moony- I'm on your favorite stories page! Yay! I'm so glad you like this, and I was a little worried about whether or not I was keeping it all in character. I'm really sorry I couldn't do the whole Shrieking Shack thing, but since it's mostly Lupin explaining there wasn't much room for Tina. I love Sirius too (giggles, thinking of O.W.L. year) and I will try to do scenes with him in them! But still, requests! I know you guys have some…
InnocentAngel14- Of course I remember you, you're my fellow desi-pop-lover! Someone copied your story?! No way! That's low. I looked for the story, and the author dadivaunv, but I couldn't find either. Have you read the rest of my story? If you haven't, go do that right now! And make sure you review!
Funness- My story can get taken down because I make the Author's Note a chapter? Wow, that's weird. Anyway I'm glad you like it and Ron and Hermione do most definitely rock. The muse keeps eluding you? Interesting, I'll have to keep an eye out in case I see it...
Anandini77- Oh dear, I'm blushing. All the praise for Tina! Imagine how I would be if you said all that stuff in real life! You have loads of questions. Tina and Parvati sort of have a love-hate relationship, which I based on me and this girl named Joselyn Evans from our elementary school. Tina and Parvati get along great when it comes to some things, but in other cases they annoy the heck out of each other. From the sound of it, I think I'll be getting loads of requests from you. The Yule Ball Saga, as I call it, is going to start in the next chapter. I decided I'm going to write the Yule Ball chapter, editing out chunks of it and working Tina in the way I did in the first chapter of this story. Just for you, this chapter was Tina/Ron moments, and I gotta say I liked writing it a lot. Indian guys at Hogwarts? I don't know, but if they're anything like the Indian guys in my school, Tina is definitely going to turn down their invitations to the ball.
R&R: Review and Request! (haha)