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Disclaimer: I am not JKR. I don't own her characters. I do own mine. =)
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"Girls!!! Time for breakfast!" Mrs. Weasley called up the stairs. Three girls shook themselves out of their dreams and slowly pulled themselves out of bed.
"It's too EARLY to get up…" Kalea whined.
"Oh come on, it's 10:30! You Americans are SO lazy…" Hermione grinned and locked herself in the bathroom before Kalea could catch her. She sat back down on the bed, looked at Ginny and laughed.
"Well, it seems like she's finally loosening up... When you told me she was quiet, I had no idea you meant half-dead! Anyone who's read that monster more than once needs to get a life!" Kalea pointed at Hermione's well-worn copy of Hogwarts, A History which sat neatly on her trunk.
"She wasn't half-dead! She was just…overly reserved." Ginny smiled. "Anyway, now that you're here, I have a feeling that's all gonna change. She might resist our evilness at first, but if last night's prank is any indication, she won't last long!"
"Yeah…and sooner or later, she's gonna realize she has to be a little more aggressive to win the attentions of a certain red-headed hottie."
"What??"
"Hello, I'm not stupid. I noticed the way she kept glaring at me last night in the living room…It's obvious she likes Ron. I don't know about this Krum fellow, but he's obviously not held her fancy. I don't blame her though, Ron's changed a lot from when I last saw him. As soon as he opened the door, I decided to claim him for myself, but…" Kalea laughed, "After seeing Hermione's adoring and protective glances in his direction and the glares she shot in mine…I'm afraid of what would happen to me if I tried to go after him."
"Yeah…after seeing her wickedness at work last night, we should all be careful to stay on her good side. I pity Malfoy now that the true evil of Hermione has been unleashed…" Ginny's eyes went misty as she imagined the trouble that would ensue between the two.
"Hey, speaking of last night…the guys should be waking up any time now. I can't wait until they try to get out of bed…." The two girls erupted into laughter.
***** Fred and George's Room *****
Sunlight was pouring in the window of the twins' messy room. Their walls were charred from various explosions, and bits of wood and other…*miscellaneous* things lay strewn around the floor. Fred awoke first, hearing the sound of running water beneath him, vaguely aware of a fresh, salty smell. He sat up, rubbing his eyes.
"BLOODY HELL!!"
George stirred in his bed on the other side of the room, drooling on his pillow. "Fred," he mumbled, "Shut up…I'm almost…" He fell asleep again.
"George!! I don't believe it! Wake up you arse, and look at our room!" Fred bellowed. George finally rolled over, falling off his bed.
"What the—?!!?" He cried, as a sheet of icy water swept over him. He sat up and looked anxiously around at what used to be his room.
"Kalea…definitely Kalea." Fred muttered, a look of adoration and amusement shining from his eyes.
The room had been transformed into an ocean. The beds and the dresser stood out of the water like islands, and storm clouds brewed just under their ceiling. Someone even placed a lighthouse on their bed-side table. Tiny boats floated back and forth on the raging sea, capsizing from time to time. Suddenly George howled and jumped out of the water back on to his bed.
"What, what happened??" Fred asked, laughing.
"They put mini SHARKS in there!! One bit me!! Look, there it is!" George pointed at what used to be the floor and looked down at his leg, which was now bleeding.
"Brilliant…" Fred smiled.
"Yah, maybe, but how are we gonna get out of here, then? I suppose we can run to the door? You can go first, then, since I'm the one that discovered the sharks." George scowled, amused, yet indignant that they'd been out-pranked.
"Right, then, here I go…" Fred hopped into the water and ran as fast as he could to the door. He grabbed the handle and twisted it—but it wouldn't open. After swearing to himself, Fred ran back across the room to his dresser and grabbed his wand.
"Fred…" George started, but was cut short by a howl of pain. Fred hopped back on his bed, bleeding in not one, but two places.
"Why didn't you tell me there were more than one??? And that they were following me?" Fred demanded, as he sat back on the bed.
"I tried to…"
The twins sat in silence for a few minutes when, quite chillingly, a burst of lightening came from the clouds at their ceiling and it began to rain.
*****
Hermione finally emerged from the shower, completely refreshed. Last night was the best!, she giggled to herself. I can't believe we actually pranked them!! Looking at herself in the mirror, she sighed. No wonder it took forever for Ron to realize I'm a girl…I don't exactly fit the *every guy's dream* description. Suddenly, there was a sharp rap on the door. "Hermione?? Are you done in there?? Beauty sleep might be enough for some, but as for us…we desperately need showers!" Ginny's voice rang through the door.
"Yeah, sure, hold on!" Hermione wrapped the towel around herself and stepped into the room. Ginny stepped past her, and closed the door to the bathroom, grateful Harry hadn't stopped by to say good morning yet. She would DIE if he saw her all gross and morning-ish, in her dragon-fly PJs. She sighed as she stepped into the shower and turned on the warm water.
She smiled as the thought again about Harry. It seemed he was always on her mind. When they'd arrived at the Dursley's to pick him up, she'd been nervous and excited…. but nothing could have prepared her for what she saw. The door flew open, and Harry stepped out, dragging his trunk behind him. He'd grown at least four inches, and had somehow gotten rid of his glasses. He must have been working hard during the holiday because he was very tan, and his sinewy muscles were very noticeable through his white t-shirt. And how long had his butt been like that?! Her breath caught in her throat as she stood, and she nervously adjusted her top and patted down her hair.
"Ginny!" He stepped to her and wrapped his powerful, sexy arms around her, embracing her in an affectionate hug. "I missed you so much, how are you?" He looked in her eyes. She took in the fresh, enticing scent of his cologne and answered slowly, "Fine, I've been great." Especially now that you're here, Harry, she wanted to add, but knew she couldn't. "And you?" she asked, instead.
"Just great…better now that I'm going to the Burrow!" He released her and turned to his trunk. Hedwig sat regally in her cage, hooting softly.
"I'll get Hedwig, Dad's got the car open for your trunk." She smiled as she picked up the cage and sat back inside the car, happier than she had been since school let out.
*****
"So, what do you want to do today?" Kalea asked her new friend. Right before Ginny claimed the shower, the two had been discussing what to do about a certain brown-eyed bookworm and her redheaded affections…and now, Kalea had come up with a plan.
"Oh, I don't know. I'll probably read for a bit." Hermione sighed as she began dressing.
"READ?" Kalea sounded scandalized. "You most certainly will not read while I'm around, young lady!" She stood up on the bed and assumed the strictest pose she could think of and pointed her finger at Hermione. "This is summer vacation and you WILL enjoy it by SOCIALIZING…not reading !! From what Ginny and Ron have told me, you're already prepared to take this year's end of term finals, so there's no point in studying anymore until school starts."
Hermione laughed, unsure what to think or do. Now I HAVE to read some time today…just to spite her!, she thought. "What do you suggest we do, then?" She questioned, smiling innocently up at Kalea.
"Well…I was thinking we hang out at the lake for a while, work on our tans, check out the guys…you know, that sort of thing." Kalea grinned slyly.
Her friend rolled her eyes. "A modest one-piece doesn't do much for tanning, now does it?" She pulled out her deep blue, racing-style one piece and laid it on the bed in front of her friend. She burst into laughter as Kalea's eyes grew wide and her mouth dropped in shock.
"You…you don't have a bikini?!" She asked slowly, then threw herself down on the bed, dramatically *sobbing*, "The SHAME, the SHAME!"
"Nope. Sorry. Any other ideas for the day's activities?" She replied smugly, certain she'd saved herself.
"Oh, no you don't!! You may not own a bikini, but I have seven and I brought them ALL with me!! I'm sure we could get one to fit."
*****
Three hours later, the five friends sat outside by the lake, talking and listening to music on Kalea's Muggle CD player. She claimed she couldn't live without it and insisted on introducing her friends to one of her favorite bands, Linkin Park.
"Have Fred and George come out of their room yet?" Kalea asked, after slipping in the band's newest cd and plopping down on the blanket between Harry and Ron.
"I wonder what they're doing…" Ginny added, hiding a grin. The boys looked at each other and then at the three girls who were looking at them innocently.
"Ginny…" Harry began, "Tell me what you did…" He looked helplessly at Ron when she became very interested in her nails. Ron turned on Hermione.
"Come on, Herm…what's up?"
"Nothing much, but I swear if you EVER call me *Herm* again, you'll find out for yourself…," she replied sweetly. Ron, unsure how to respond, looked back at Harry. Suddenly, he realized Kalea had been quiet for the past minute…too quiet. He looked around and saw her approaching his best mate, but before he could warn Harry, she'd dumped an entire glass of ice water on his head.
"You did NOT just do that, Mitchell!! You'll pay!" He jumped up, laughing, and began to chase after her. She was a surprisingly fast runner, he noticed, as she ducked behind a bush. Fortunately, so was he, he grinned, as he caught up to her and threw her over his shoulder.
"Harry!!!" She screamed. "Put me down!!"
"I don't think so," he laughed. "You brought this upon yourself!" Finally, he reached the waters edge and, with a strong, yet gentle toss, threw her in. Happy with his triumph, he turned back to look at the rest of the group. Hermione was laying on her stomach, presumably tanning her back… but he could see the book she had hidden under a towel. It was probably Hogwarts, A History again. He grinned…no matter how much is going on, some things never change. Suddenly, Harry's leg fell out from under him and he toppled into the water. Coming up from his fall, he looked up to see his newfound friend sitting on the water's edge, triumphant.
"Gotcha…" She smiled coyly, and turned her head up towards the group on the blanket. "Come on in, you guys, the water's great!" She turned back around and waded deeper into the lake and began swimming around, not noticing the look Ginny was giving her.
Ron stood up and took off his shirt, revealing his breathtakingly ripped upper body. "Come on Herm…IONE," he quickly added, smiling. She sat for a minute, too self-conscious to stand up. Why did Kalea make her wear this stupid thing, anyway? It was so… bikini-ish! She just knew as soon as she stepped in the water, some part of the silvery blue material would come undone and there she'd be, exposed in front of her best friends and her cru…Ron… not her Ron, but just Ron… Her face flushed as she realized he was still looking at her, waiting for a response. Finally, she stood up slowly and carefully, making sure everything was still in place. Noticing her reluctance, Ron laughed, "What's the matter? Can't handle the water? Or can't handle being with such a stud like me in the water?"
She eyed him icily. "What makes you think you're a stud?" Then she looked down at herself in disdain and added, "At least you look better than I do out here." He laughed, surprised at this response. Not knowing exactly what to say yet, he ignored it, pretended to be offended and replied, "But I am a stud! *sniff sniff* Mama told me so…" Hermione laughed and walked passed him towards Kalea and Harry who were apparently having a dunking contest. Suddenly she felt a rush behind her and heard a whisper in her ear. "Ah, but you do look amazing…" Thinking she'd imagined it, she looked around, only to see Ron wink at her and continue running down towards the water where he proceeded to cannonball on top of Harry.
Ginny continued to sit on the towel alone, watching her friends in the water. Ron had crashed on top of Harry, causing both to go underwater, and the girls stood, the water up to their waists, talking and laughing. She sighed and looked at Kalea. How could she have done that? It was hard enough for her to get Harry to fall in love with her without her American friend coming along and flirting uncontrollably with him. What had that whole water scene been about? Sure, they needed to break the moment before they gave away their prank war, but coming on to Harry like that was a little much.
A voice ripped her from her thoughts. "You gonna come in, Gin?" Kalea waved from Harry's shoulders. Hermione beamed from Ron's shoulders and added, "The water's great!!"
"Nah, not right now. Thanks anyway." Ginny forced a grin and turned away from the lake. The girls' shrill shrieks and laughs as they 'chicken fought' pierced through her mind like knives into her heart. Finally, not able to stand it any longer, Ginny got up and left.
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A/N: Hope you liked this chapter!! I'm trying to update as often as possible since I doubt I'll be able to update much during the week. You guys know how school is…ANYWAY, please R/R if you want more chapters! ;-)
Ice Princess 12: This and the next chapter were written just for you, hehe! I hope you like them…
Write-on3108: Thanks for being my only updated-version reviewer!! You get a cookie! =)
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