Disclaimer: These characters aren't mine.. yada yada yada. I'm not affiliated or associated with anyone who has written or published the Harry Potter series. Obviously.
Chapter Two - Almost Normal
"May I have your attention?" A polite woman began over the plane's intercom system. "Will all passengers please fasten your seatbelts as we prepare to land shortly."
Hermoine's brows furrowed as the intercom clicked off and her eyes fluttered up. In a drowsy haze, she looked up and almost jumped out her skin at the sight of the red hair dangling above her. Instantly, she sat up and was at a rare loss of words. She was sitting straighter than most normal people would in normal circumstances. But this was not normal circimstances as far as she was concerned. Ohmygod, he must think I've finally gone over the bin, she thought before taking a quick glance at his face. He didn't wear an annoyed or embarrassed expression as she figured he would be. Instead - she couldn't quite put her finger on it -, he almost looked... pleased?
"I-I'm sorry.. Honestly, I had no idea...," she started but trailed off when she saw Ron's lips form into a smirk. "What?"
"Nothing," he said after a moment of tense silence. Before he could say another word, he felt Harry poke him lightly in the side to get his attention.
"Didn't you hear me?" he asked with a puzzled expression. "It's time to get off."
Harry didn't bother to notice his two best friends as they scurried about in an odd manner to get their bags together. He didn't realize what was up with them. His thoughts and nerves had got the best of him during the plane trip that he didn't find it strange that Hermoine had used Ron's shoulder as her personal pillow. Ginny, however, obviously seemed to notice at some point what was going on because she had a sly smile plastered on her face as she followed the trio off the plane.
"Where are we?" Ginny asked her dad as they exited the taxi they had taken from the airport and were quickly greeted by a blast of sticky, hot air and a certain fragrance to the atmosphere that reminded her of the ocean. "You never told us which part of the states we were headed to."
"Oh, that's right, I didn't," Mr. Weasley replied as he took in his surroundings. The houses were not the same as they were back in London or the Burrow. There were spaces between the homes and most of the houses didn't resemble one another. "We're in Louisiana. Although I'm not too fond of the weather," he said making a show of wiping the trinkling drops of sweat from his forehead, "I've heard it gets pretty rowdy during Mardi Gras."
The group gave a collective "ohhh.." but none seemed to have any objections though they weren't jumping for joy either.
"Where are we staying?" Hermoine asked as they walked towards a small motel's shaded entrance. "Surely you don't think we will be staying here the whole year?" Her finger pointed eagerly at the motel lobby. Well, it wasn't so much of a lobby as it was two chairs, a snack and coke machine, and a check-in counter.
"No, no, of course not. You lot will be staying here for a week before school begins. After that, you will be moved into a small apartment near the school you will be attending. Despite the fact that I will not be there all the time, we will be keeping an eye on all of you and trust me when I say that nothing will get past us." His tone changed from calm to an eerie threat and all four of them got the jest of what he was saying.
"As you know, no magic outside of Hogwarts which means that your wand will only be taken out if needed and you will not being them to school with you under any circumstances. Are we understood?" They nodded and Harry made an unaudible profanity under his breath. "Good. Now then, I suggest you lot check in. Don't hesitate to explore the area although I advise you all not to stay out too long after the sun goes down. Merlin knows what kind of people lurk in the shadows."
With that, he walked off and disappeared as he rounded the corner of the block. Looking at one another, they made no conversation as they headed inside the motel to check into their new lives.
"Honestly, these people do not know how to keep a clean room," Hermoine cried as she held a drinking glass in her hand as an example. "I mean, look at these glasses! They're filthy!"
"I don't see any dirt," Harry said as he inspected it with little interest.
"Are you blind? Just look at it!" She shoved the glass outward hoping the others would come in for a closer view.
"Hermoine, it's a spot," Ron objected, pointing to the speck of dirt on the edge of the rim.
"A spot? A SPOT! It doesn't matter if it's a spot or a mountain of mud! They obviously are blind and don't even care about the people who have to stay here."
Ron simply rolled his eyes while Ginny surpressed a small giggle as Hermoine used the edge of her shirt to furiously rub away the small mark on the glass. Harry sighed and kicked his suitcase underneath the bed, not bothering to unpack. Why bother? They were only staying for a week. Unlike the rest, I think I'll save my energy for when we really move. He sank back into the double bed we would be sharing with Ron and clasped his hand under his head staring at the poorly painted ceiling. Thoughts racing through his mind but nothing sticking in particular. He had been lying in that same spot for 15 minutes before he was brought out of his trance when the bed shifted. Harry glanced over to where he felt someone sit down and saw it was Ginny.
"Something interesting up there I should know about?" she asked with a small smile upon her lips.
He didn't move any part of his body but his head as he turned towards her. "No, sorry. Just paint, er, I think," he said referring to the brown stains in the corner from water damage from the room above them. Wow, we're really in utopia now.
Ron and Hermoine now sat together on the end of her bed; Ron with the remote in hand. Even though the tv only got 6 channels, he still sat there in amazement clicking the buttons - making the channels change, increasing and decreasing the volume, adding closed caption.
"Honestly, Ron, could you keep it on one channel for a change?"
"But what if there's a better play on another one of those things? Then I'll have completely missed it!" he said as he continued to browse through the channels with delight.
Rolling her eyes, she pulled herself off the bed walking to the door and opened it. She was hit with a blast of hot air that almost seemed wanted in contrast to the cold atmosphere of their room. Straight ahead, she noticed a gate surrounding something that looked like a pool. She never had the chance to ever swim in one but she had read about them in books. Her once irritated mood turned to a cheerful one as she turned to face her friends.
"Hey, do you all see that?" she asked, pointing to the pool. "I think it's as good as time as any to go swimming. Beats sitting around here all day while Ron attempts to short out the electricity with the television."
"Oh, that's a great idea! I knew I packed my bathing suit for a reason." Ginny gleefully made her way to her suitcase and took out a few items before heading to the bathroom. Harry simply shrugged and Ron was too into what he was doing to even bother to pay attention to Hermoine.
Hermoine rolled her eyes at the boys' lack of enthusiasm and followed Ginny into the bathroom with her bathing suit already in hand. They came out 15 minutes later covering themselves with a modest shirt and a pair of shorts over their swim suits and each had a white towel in hand via the motel's bathroom. Neither of the boys bothered to look up as Hermoine spoke. "We'll be out by the pool if you two decide to join us."
Walking outside, their flip flops helped them avoid the heat of the concrete ground from burning their feet. It was indeed a hot day - almost 100F - so they figured the pool would give them a chance to have some fun while staying cool all the same. Opening the wrought iron gate, they strolled into the confinements and set their things down on the two nearest beach chairs before shedding their top layer of clothing. Ginny wore a light green two piece that brought out the redness of her straight locks that were now pulled up into a ponytail. It had white swirls for patterns on the material that matched her white flip flops. Hermoine was wearing a rather bland two piece in comparison to Ginny's - it was red with the top tying around her neck like a halter - but still just as sexy.
"I wonder if Harry and Ron will be joining us anytime soon," Ginny said to Hermoine as they both sat down at the edge of the pool and let their feet dangle in the cool water as they talked.
"I don't know. Ron seemed unnaturally entertained by the telly and Harry.. well, you know how he is."
"Yeah, I guess you're right." Ginny sighed. Although Hermoine was really good company to talk to, she had too much energy stored up that just sitting there was getting to be a bore.
"Harry.. I'm bored," Ron practically moaned as he flipped the television off. "I think the girls had the right idea about the dool-"
"Pool," Harry corrected.
"Yeah, that. Maybe we should get out.. you know, before your staring puts a hole in the ceiling."
Harry just shrugged and got ready. As soon as they were finished, they walked out with towels in hand. As they reached the gate, they realized Hermoine and Ginny were sitting with their backs to them. Ron took in the sight of Hermoine's bare back. He neer noticed the curve of her waist or how mature her body was until now. He was openly gapping at her until Harry elbowed him in the ribs before whispering. "They're sitting ducks. Wanna have some fun, mate?"
Ron regained his composure, smirked, and nodded. As quietly as possible, they crept up behind Ginny and Hermoine leaning in to push them in. The girls - having already heard them coming - waited till the last possible minute and moved to the side while using both hands to push them in. Harry and Ron landed in the pool with a splash. Ginny erupted into a fit of giggles while Hermoine just sat there grinning with satisfaction.
"We may not have our magic, but we're not deaf," Hermoine stated, quite pleased with herself as she watched Ron come up to the surface. He swept back his red hair and moved closer to Hermoine by the edge and rested his arms against the side. Staring up, he gave her one of his loopsided grins. Her heart practically melted at the sight of him. The water glistened over his freckled skin perfectly and the way his muscles... Oh get a grip, Hermoine. It's Ron even if you've never been more turned on than now. It's still Ron.
"Yeah, well, you just made a big mistake," she heard him say, pulling her out of her train of thoughts.
"And what would that be, Ron?"
"You're too close to the edge..."
He shot his arms out, grabbing Hermoine's legs, and quickly dragged her into the pool causing her to let out a yelp of surprise before she went under with a splash. Coming back up, she felt his arms around her waist and as much as she would have liked to stay that way for a few minutes, she couldn't. Ron was only playing with her - as a friend. Why bother? Instead, she struggled out of his arms much to his dismay.
"Ron!"
"What?"
"Ugh, nevermind," she said as she smoothed her thick brown hair out of her face. "You are impossible."
"You know, I like you better when you're wet," he said with a playful grin. "You don't put up a very big fight." He winked and she could do nothing but be left speechless from his comment.
"That is it! You're going to get it!" Hermoine pounced like a cat and pushed him underwater - impressively dunking him before being pulled down herself. Both coming up for air, she had little time to react before he placed both hands on either sides of her waist and managed to throw her a few inches across the water. Hermoine let out a scream - half surprised, half pleasantly satisfied - and pushed her thick brown hair out of her face. Laughing, she lunged forward after Ron. "Ron, get back here!"
Please review and tell me what you think. Although it's mostly Ron/Hermoine, there will be some Harry/Ginny interaction as well for any of those who like them as well - like me.