Chapter Three
By Liz and Rita
During the next few days, classes went by rather quickly, considering it was the beginning of a new week. Although the classes Ginny had with Dean were awkward and the lunches she had with Seamus were tense, which usually resulted in seeing who could eat their food the fastest (and hopefully choke), she was having a good day. It might have been the fact that she was free of her loser-boyfriend's grasp or that her hair seemed to flip in the perfect angle, but she had a notion on what it was from. Over the past few days, she and 'QuidditchBoy6' had been talking quite a lot - about anything and everything. It made her feel good to know there was someone she could trust. Unfortunately, someone else on the internet seemed to be vying for her attention as well, and she didn't feel as appreciated.
QuidditchDragon seemed to be stalking her in the chat rooms, instant-messaging her as soon as she signed on and e-mailing her when she wasn't. She didn't know who he/she was, and every time she asked they simply shrugged her off. But one thing she did know was that she had to find out.
Ginny had made herself quite comfortable in the common room where she was thinking of ways she could unmask her cyber-stalker when her thoughts were interrupted by his brothers best friends.
"Come on, Herms...I just need a bit of help finishing up this essay - I'm two inches short!" Harry whined at his ex-girlfriend.
"No, Harry. I'm not helping you." Hermione replied stiffly.
"We were best friends before we dated - do we have to stop just because we aren't?" Harry asked.
"You're only asking that because you want me to finish your essay for you." Hermione snapped.
"No - I really do miss being you friend." Harry pouted.
Hermione suddenly looked rather uncomfortable and her eyes darted around the room before landing on Ginny.
"Ginny! I do believe it's time for me to tutor you in potions like I promised I would."
"You didn't pr-" Ginny began but stopped when Hermione sent her a death glare, "Er...I mean...yeah...I'll just get my...book and meet you in the library."
Harry looked from Hermione to Ginny, then crossed his arms and looked back at Hermione. "Why are you doing this?" he said quietly when Ginny went upstairs to get her book. "Just because -"
"Just because you didn't trust me with our best friend, had a house elf spy on me, and cheated on me?"
"Cheated on you? Refresh my memory - when did I cheat on you!"
Hermione scoffed. "You and Ginny seemed pretty friendly when I came in the room, and then when I came in you ignored me!"
"So you broke up with me because I didn't say 'hi' fast enough? Or because I was hanging out with one of my friends? Or maybe I'm not allowed to argue over quidditch teams?"
"You were flirting with a girl who has had a crush on you since before she met you!" Hermione hissed, her cheeks flushed.
"I see. I think it's rather funny that you are telling me off for not trusting you when you obviously did not trust me, Hermione!"
"I did trust you! But you didn't trust me first!"
Harry laughed darkly. "So now we're arguing over who stopped trusting each other first! You know what, Hermione? I'm done," he said, walking away.
"DONE WITH WHAT? I ALREADY BROKE UP WITH YOU!"
"I'm done with hoping we can be together again...or at least be friends." Harry replied without turning around. Before Hermione could blink he was gone.
"Hermione...?" Ginny asked, "Where'd Harry go?"
"I don't know - why don't you find him so you can go snog him?"
"What?" Ginny said, looking hurt. "I - but -"
Hermione sighed and pushed past Ginny gently, closing the door to her dorm room with a quiet, "just leave me alone."
Chasergrl5 Has Signed On
QuidditchBoy6: Hey, how you doin?
Chasergrl5: I think one of my friends it mad at me, you?
QuidditchBoy6: Not doing to well myself..
Chasergrl5: penny for your thoughts?
QuidditchBoy6: My ex-girlfriend and I got in a huge row and now we're not speaking... I can't tell if I'm happy that we've broken up or not.. I mean, I like one of my other friends, but I still want to be friends with my ex...
Chasergrl5: ...That sounds... familiar
QuidditchBoy6: Familiar?
Chasergrl5: Yeah...
Chasergrl5: Okay, I'm going to say a name, and...if it makes no sense, just ignore me, okay?
QuidditchBoy6: okay...
Chasergrl5: ...Harry?
QuidditchBoy6: Wait a minute... how do you know my name...?
Chasergrl5: ...It's Ginny...
QuidditchBoy6:...Merlin
QuidditchBoy6 has signed off
"Oh real mature, Harry." Ginny murmured to herself before signing off as well.
Hermione looked around at the computers before logging in and filling out the long and boring registration sheet. She ended up deciding on '166Gryffgirl' and signed on to the chat
166Gryffgirl has entered the chat room
LoonyRave6: Hi gryff
QuidditchDragon: hm, another one enters the chat...
LostToad: Another what?
MovinPhotoFan: Don't bother asking him anything, toad, he's no fun at all - just likes to confuse the lot of us
166Gryffgirl: Hi Rave, how're you?
LoonyRave6: Well, the biscuits in the great hall looked good today...
166GryffGirl: Aren't you going to answer my question, Rave?
LoonyRave6: I just did...
Keeper67 has entered the chat
LoonyRave6: Hello Keeper
166Gryffgirl: Hello keeper
Keeper67: Er...hi.
MovinPhotoFan: asl everyone? well without the L
Keeper67: aswhat?
MovinPhotoFan: Age/Sex/Location...but since we all go to Hogwarts...location isn't needed is it? I'm 15/male
QuidditchDragon: Why do you need to kno anyones age? So you can see which girls in here are close enough to your age that you can shg and not feel guilty or be convicted of rpe afterwards?
MovinPhotoFan: We're online - how'd I go about doin all that?
QuidditchDragon: Seduce them...lure them to a secret chamber of yours...
MovinPhotoFan: Given it a lot of thought, haven't you? Should people be afraid?
Keeper67: ok right anyway... 16/m
LoonyRave6: 16/f
166Gryffgirl: 16/f
MovinPhotoFan: 15/m
LostToad: 16/m
QuidditchDragon: Okay movinphoto, get out
MovinPhotoFan: what? why?
QuidditchDragon: Clearly this chat is only for those 16 years of age, and you're not quite there yet.
MovinPhotoFan has been booted by QuidditchDragon
166Gryffgirl: Well that was rude!
LoonyRave6: I didn't know we could boot people
166Gryffgirl: Only prefects can..which means Dragon is a prefect who is abusing the power
QuidditchDragon: Gonna tell on me, Gryff, darling?
166Gryffgirl: Not unless you get on my bad side.
QuidditchDragon: Oh? And how can I get there?
Keeper67 By acting like the jacks$ you are
Keeper67 has been warned by QuidditchDragon
166Gryffgirl: That's it.
QuidditchDragon has been booted by 166Gryffgirl
QuidditchDragon has returned
QuidditchDragon: This isn't over, Gryff.
Private message from QuidditchDragon to 166Gryffgirl:
QuidditchDragon: Or should I say 166mudblood?
QuidditchDragon has left the chat
Hermione's breath caught in her throat, she had a bad feeling about this dragon guy...who ever he was, he was creepy.
Keeper67: Gryff? You there? You ok?
166Gryffgirl: oh, yeah, sry about that.
LoonyRave6: I'm glad that dragon left. I bet he was a whizzler - you know, mean spirited creatures who possess muggle items? You can read about them in the Quibbler. LostToad, where are you? Accept my private chat invite, please.
LostToad: Oh...right.
LoonyRave6 has left the chat
LostToad has left the chat
Keeper67: Well they're off to snog im guessing
166Gryffgirl: Do you think so? Gross...
Keeper67: Guess we're the only ones left in here, eh?
166Gryffgirl: Yeah, I suppose we are...
Keeper67 has sent 166Gryffgirl a friend request
Keeper67: Be my friend:-)
166Gryffgirl has accepted Keeper67's friend request
166Gryffgirl: I'd be honored. Oh! It's almost dinner time! I still have next weeks charms homework to do, chat with ya later okay?
Keeper67: Kbye
166Gryffgirl has left the chat
Hermione sighed, she wanted to talk to someone about QuidditchDragon...and for some reason she wanted to talk to keeper again.
Harry walked into the common room, thoroughly confused with himself. Why did he sign off when he saw it was Ginny? Because I said 'I think I like my other friend.' What if she knows its her? Is there something wrong with that? He rubbed his temples as he walked past the chairs and couches and started up the stairs...
"Hi, Quidditchboy."
Harry's eyes widened and he turned around to see Ginny, laying on the couch.
"Erm, Hello, Ginny." Harry said quickly.
"What? Disappointed that it's been me you've been chatting to the past few days?"
"Er - no. Just..."
"Just?"
"Harry?" A voice asked from somewhere out of his line of vision, Harry froze, "Hermione?"
"Harry..." Hermione said, biting her lip, "I'm sorry, Harry, I didn't mean to get you angry, I'll help you with your homework now, If you'd like."
Harry sighed, not sure if he was thankful of the interruption. "Er, well -"
"'Bye, guys," Ginny sighed, getting up and walking towards the portrait hole.
"Where are you going?" Harry asked.
"To see a hufflepuff about a broom." Ginny replied swiftly, disappearing through the portrait hole.
"Harry..." Hermione said, a bossy tone creeping into her voice, "Do you forgive me?"
Harry scratched the back of his head, wanting to follow after Ginny. "Er, yeah, Hermione, of course."
Hermione smiled. "Good. Do you need help?"
"Er, yes - but it can wait, okay? I'll be right back."
"Where are you going now?" Hermione sighed. "Honestly, Harry, I come to say I'm sorry, then you run off..."
Harry ran down the hall after Ginny, stopping when he heard her voice around the corner.
"Oh, hi Cormac, how're you?"
"Good, good, you know...usual stuff."
"Yes, do you need anything? I'm on my way to meet someone." Ginny replied.
"Uh...not that I want to hold you up or anything...but I...eh...heard you were single and wanted to know if you wanted to go to Hogsmeade with me this weekend."
"Oh...I don't know Cormac..."
"Think about it okay?" As soon as he finished speaking he walked around the corner, passed Harry, and disappeared down another corridor.
Harry walked down the hall towards Ginny but still five steps behind, then realized that if she happened to turn around, he'd be considered 'spying' again...
"Hey, Ginny?"
Ginny spun around, sending a trail of red swishing behind her head. "Oh, hi."
"Uhh..." All of a sudden, Harry was rather unsure of what to say, "How are you?"
"As fine as I was two minutes ago when I was in the common room with you..." she said slowly.
Harry didn't know how to take this, and found his tongue unsure of words also.
"So I see you talk better online then, eh?" When he didn't answer she continued with, "Then I'll meet you online at 8. Later, Harry."
Harry took a deep breath and watched her walk down the hall, then said more to himself, "Bye, Gin."
Chasergrl5 has signed on
Chasergrl5: Harry?
QuidditchBoy6: Hey...
Chasergrl5: So... hi.
QuidditchBoy6: ...Hi.
Chasergrl5: Okay... er... yeah. so
Private Message from QuidditchDragon: Hello, darling, how ever are you doing? Is potty brainwashing you?
QuidditchBoy6: Er...Gin...you wanna go out to Hogsmeade this weekend?
Reply To QuidditchDragon: Leave me the hell alone
Private Message from QuidditchDragon: Touchy aren't we
QuidditchBoy6: Gin?
Reply to QuidditchDragon: Just go away, okay?
Private Message from QuidditchDragon: Oh look, she's a poet
QuidditchBoy6: gin...?
Reply to QuidditchDragon: Go away!
Private message from QuidditchDragon: No, I don't think I will. Besides, who's going to stop me?
Chasergrl5: Harry...
Private message from QuidditchDragon: Don't even think of telling Potty.
Reply to QuidditchDragon: Or what?
Private message from QuidditchDragon: Why don't you test me and try out?
QuidditchBoy6: Yes gin?
Chasergrl5: never mind..
Chasergrl5: Yes, I'll go to Hogsmeade with you.
Private message from QuidditchDragon: Oh, Good! See you then!
QuidditchDragon has signed off
QuidditchBoy6: Is something wrong?
Chasergrl5: Um, maybe -
QuidditchDragon has signed on
Private message from QuidditchDragon: Don't think about it Weaselette
Chasergrl5: never mind
QuidditchBoy6: Are you sure?
Ginny was nervous, scared, and confused. All feelings of happiness from Harry's invitation were now switched with horror.
Chasergrl5: Yes Harry
Private message from Chasergrl5 to QuidditchBoy6: Someone's watching us
Private message from QuidditchDragon: I can see you, you know
Ginny's breath caught in her throat.
Private message from QuidditchBoy6: What?
Reply to QuidditchBoy6: Someone is watching us! QuidditchDragon - he can read what we're -
Suddenly, the lights in the library, where she was seated, turned off, along with the electricity. She took a deep breath and grabbed her wand, whispering, "Lumos." The light flickered out from the wand, showing a shadowy face in front of her.
TBC
(aka to be continued - I just always wanted to put that at the end of a chappie)
Author's Note:
You may want to know the Hogwarts Online 2.0 won...or would have had I been able to add the . in 2.0, however when I tried...it ended up as Hogwarts Online 20, I can't help but wonder why a period can't be used in a title...however, I shall be perfectly calm and level headed about this sudden turn of events, and not grow angry or resentful which would end with me throwing a horrifying tantrum.
Love Rita