Disclaimer: As always, we do not own any of these characters. They belong to J.K. Rowling.
Author's Note: Sorry about the long hiatus between chapters. Forever LaDonna's computer bit the dust and Medievalwoman is in the middle of moving from the West Coast back home to the East. Hopefully, however, the last few chapters will be posted this week before HBP. Please drop a line and review!
"Neville, now you know that I love you."
His only response was to sigh. Usually, when Alaire started a sentence with those words, something bad was about to happen.
"Just promise not to get mad or jealous."
"Why?"
"Well, you know that the guys have been watching our yoga class for most of the year?"
"Yeah."
"Hmmm. It's time that they paid for their free entertainment. Don't join them on the steps tomorrow. Promise."
"Alaire, what are you guys up to?"
Neville watched as Alaire simply smiled, stood up, and wandered over to Hermione who was sitting in a cozy chair reading.
"So, are you ready for tomorrow's yoga class?"
To Neville's amazement, Hermione gave Alaire a brilliant smile. "Yeah, it's going to be great. I've heard so much about couple's yoga."
"Yeah, I'm looking forward to it, too. Have you decided what pose you want to try?" Alaire stretched her arms upward. "I think I want to see if we can do the Partner's Padahastasana Ginny usually partners me but to do true couple's yoga, we should be about the same size. Want to see how we size up? I know I'm taller than Ginny."
"Sure." Hermione stood up and placed her back against Alaire's. By now, Ron had looked up to see his girlfriend standing back to back with Alaire. He watched as they grasped hands then stepped apart.
"I believe we have bend over at this point," Hermione instructed.
This got the attention of Seamus who poked Dean who nudged Harry. Soon the girls had the interest of most of the male Gryffindor population who watched as the girls balanced precariously on their toes as leaned away from each other. Suddenly, they broke off from one another. Hermione fell into the arms of Dean while Alaire landed in Ron's lap.
"Oops! Sorry, Ron," Alaire apologized as she extricated herself from his grip.
She turned to Hermione who was carefully removing Dean's hands from her waist. "I guess we'll just have to practice some more on Saturday morning, eh?"
"Yeah. It'll be easier then because we'll be dressed for it. It's hard to do anything in these skirts. Don't you agree, Ginny?"
Ginny could only nod not trusting herself to speak without breaking down with laughter.
"OK. Well, I'd better get to bed then. I'm finished with my homework." Hermione leaned down and kissed Ron on the cheek. "I'll see you for breakfast." Ron nodded then watched as she walked away.
Alaire stretched and yawned. "I think I'll join her. I'm beat. Too much homework for my own good." She went to gather her things from beside Neville. "Remember, don't touch the stairs," she whispered as she kissed him near his ear. "Night."
Neville had a sudden urge to warn his roommates but stifled it as he watched Seamus eye Alaire as she went up the steps to her room. He had been ogling his girlfriend for months now. It was time for them to get their just desserts.
The next morning Alaire joined Neville at breakfast wearing her usual yoga pants and jacket. OK, so far so good.
Ginny sat down. She was dressed normally as well. Two good. That could only mean . . . Neville dropped his spoon as Hermione walked in. She was wearing skintight stretchy shorts, a tight tank top, and a jacket that she had left unzipped. Somewhere in the back of his brain, Neville heard a plate drop and someone curse. Damn. He never knew Hermione had legs like that!
"Ahem. Earth calling Neville. Come in, Neville!" He turned to see Alaire giving him an odd smile.
"If you could only see yourself right now," she giggled. "Actually, you can. Look at Dean." Neville glanced over to see his buddy of seven years with his mouth hanging open and a spoon dripping porridge frozen in front of bowl. Neville quickly closed his mouth and his eyes.
"Ready for couple's yoga, Ginny?" Hermione asked as she sat down and deftly buttered a piece of toast.
"Yeah. I'm gonna work with Marison from Hufflepuff. We're about the same height and build."
"I think Alaire and I are going to be together today." She looked up at Alaire innocently.
"Yeah. I think we would be good together," Alaire said in agreement.
"I wish you had worn your shorts though, Alaire. Its important that you have skin-on-skin contact so that you know exactly what your partner is doing."
Crash! Bang! Five plates hit the floor at exactly the same time. Alaire quickly hid her face by pretending to drop her fork. When she sat back up, Hermione was calmly spooning scrambled eggs onto her plate.
She risked a glance around the table. Most of the Grffindor boys were busy staring at their plates. She patted Neville on the leg as she stood up.
"You know, Hermione, you're right. Luckily, I have on my shorts under my pants. I'll just strip once we get to the yoga room. Ready, Ginny? We need to get all the mats and such set up."
Ginny stood and slowly drank her pumpkin juice. "Now, I'm ready. See you in a few, Hermione."
An hour later, the steps across the hall from the yoga room were full. Ron was squeezed against the wall by Seamus. Dean was trying to peer around Colin Creevey's head but had to keep pushing Harry out of the way. Neville was torn between going to see the action and staying out of the way by going to his study which was his usual Saturday morning habit. In the end, curiosity got the better of him. But instead of sitting down with the rest of the guys, he leaned against the wall in the hallway. He could barely see into the yoga room but he heeded Alaire's advice and refused a seat with a better view.
Soon he heard a slow chanting music fill the hall punctuated by the ooh's and ah's of the audience. He bent down and saw Ginny Weasley doing a backbend over another girl's body. Then he saw Alaire wearing almost nothing bending forward from the waist as she held a scantily clad Hermione's hands. He had to join in the collective groan from the boys around him. Soon, he had forgotten Alaire's warning and was fighting with Dennis Creevey for a better view.
It was over all too soon. Thirty minutes later, the door to the room swung open. The boys began to scramble to make their getaway but quickly found they couldn't move.
"What the? Bloody Hell! They've put a sticking charm on the stairs!" Ron bellowed.
"What! Oh, no! Someone do a counter curse, quick!" squeaked Colin. "Come on, Harry! Do some super magic!"
"I'm trying! My hands are stuck to the stairs!"
Neville turned to see a livid Hermione staring him down. She was now dressed in a tracksuit, the yoga outfit unfortunately covered up.
"I do believe, boys, that you are stuck." Ginny Weasley gave them a sweet grin. "And, if my new charm works, it should be quite awhile until it wears off."
"Wears off? What's going on, Weasley?" Seamus asked. "Just do the counter-charm."
"I can't."
"What?"
"It doesn't work that way. You see, I recently learned how to modulate a curse or charm according to how a person reacts to it."
"You see, Ronald," Hermione unzipped her jacket to reveal the low-cut top she had worn to the class. "The more AROUSED you are, the more you are stuck to the stairs."
Ron narrowed his eyes. "Ginny, you promised me that you would NEVER do that to me again." Ron looked like he was going to cry. "I have Quidditch practice this afternoon."
"Hmmm. Too bad." Hermione leaned down and gave him a lingering kiss. "I'm sure you'll make it in time."
"What's wrong, boys? Got caught spying?" Alaire added with a smirk. "A little voyeurism can go a long, long way." She caught sight of Neville who had ducked down behind Harry. "Ah, Neville. You too, eh? I'm just not enough for you. Too bad."
The girls began to walk away ignoring the pleas of the boys. Soon the hall was silent except for the occasional grunt from someone trying to free himself.
"OK, the only way we are going to get out of here is to think of something else!" Dean said with an authoritative voice.
"Oh, yeah! That's easy for you to say," Ron whimpered.
"We just have to think of things that are unsexy," Neville suggested.
"Such as?"
"Snape in a bikini?" Harry ventured.
"Aaarrggh!" The boys screamed.
"Filch in leather."
"Nooo! Ugh!"
They began to get creative and soon they were laughing so hard that they didn't even notice that the spell had been broken.
"Hey! Hey! I'm free!" Ron jumped up and grabbed Harry. He gave a pull and soon the two were in a heap on the floor. Soon, all of the boys were free.
"I swear I will never spy on the girls again," Dean said with a sigh.
"I think I have a better oath," Harry suggested. "Never, EVER piss off Ginny, Hermione, and Alaire."
"Hear! Hear!" The boys chorused as they made their way to lunch. Several people wondered why they ate standing up.