Ron had backed out of the door and vanished into the garden before Harry could even see his reaction. Sure enough, Viktor Krum stood looking strangely out of place in the Weasley's comfy kitchen, wrapped in fur and smiling awkwardly. Hermione was almost bouncing in excitement, and turned to Harry expectantly. Following her silent orders, Harry stepped forward and held up his hand in a small wave. This seemed a little inadequate for Hermione's liking and she tilted her head forcefully in Viktor's direction, loudly saying,"Isn't it's great he's here, Harry?"
"Yeah...why are you here exactly Krum?" Harry spoke a little more harshly than he'd intended, but he was feeling quite indignant on Ron's behalf. This resulted in confused looks from everyone present, so he quickly modified his accusatory tone, "I mean- erm, it's been a long time since I've seen you... great suprise!" He glanced at Hermione for approval of this amendment, and she nodded curtly in satisfaction.
Krum removed his large fur coat and handed it to a waiting Mrs. Weasley, who Harry detected was still fairly annoyed at Viktor's impromptu arrival. Even though her face was now covered in a mass of fur her body was rigid and discontent mutterings were emmiting from it's hefty material.
Harry was therefore quite positive her temper was not soothed when her lack of vision sent Mrs.Weasley flying over an unsuspecting Crookshanks, who sprang onto the table in panic and sent Wedding cake mixture splattering in every direction.
Krum, wiping various smears of egg and butter from his face, moved forward and addressed Harry directly, ignoring completely Mrs.Weasley's crumpled mass on the floor- where she now looked like a hairy swamp monster. "I hav beenvriting with Fleur since the last time ve met. Ve are goodfriends." Seeming to think this was explaination enough after Harry's odd greeting, Krum turned immediately to Hermione, his face breaking into a genuine smile.
"Hermininny, I hav travelled by many of the apparations. Shall ve valk around the garden?"
It was several minutes after they'd left before Mrs.Weasley managed to free herself from the giant coat, her hair sprouting wildly in all different directions.
"Humph!"was the only comment she could make for quite some time.
As dusk fell, Ron still hadn't appeared, so Harry began to conduct a search around the dimly lit garden. The strange man was still battling with the ribbons, which could now only manage "Where's my goat?" before they collapsed in a heap on the floor. Harry approached the exasperated man with caution, observing flecks of brightpurple amongst his curling grey hair.
"Sorry to bother you, but you wouldn't have seen Ron around by any chance?"
The man peered at Harry through his square spectacles- "Good grief, which one's he again? It's terrible, can't even remember how old he is, and I've been their neighbour for twenty years! There's just so darned many of them, you know?" he chuckled somewhat at his own observation before looking thoughtful.
"He's not one of the twins-" Harry interjected, hoping this would help. The man chuckled again, and bent down to Harry.
"I may not be too good at 'membering them all, but no one forgets Fred and George... for some reason." He winked and contemplated once more, "Ron...youngest lad, is he? Out here earlier de-gnoming?"
"That's him!" Harry said eagerly, "Do you know where he went?"
The man's brow creased "Came out here on his own just a while ago, ridding the place of the gnomes good and proper! There's no chance we'll be seeing them for awhile- there's an actual dint in the blossom tree where he smashed their heads repeatedly. Now I'm no fan of the creatures, but you couldn't help feel sorry for them, he looked ready to destroy anything that came within a metre! Hey-"His eyes widened and floated to Harry's scar,"aren't you Harry Potter?"
Harry could do nothing but smile uncomfortably in response, and hastily said "Thanks!" before darting to look behind the kitten, just incase.
It was only when Harry stumbled into their room did he finally see Ron, facing the wall with his shoulders sagging. Coughing to make his presence known, Harry sat carefully on his own bed. Ron jumped slightly and turned. "Ah, hey Harry mate!"
Even a Pygmy Puff who had never encountered a lie before could've told that Ron's voice was anything but normal. Harry thought he may as well cut to the point, then on second thoughts his awareness that Ron looked ready to jump out the window made him decide to take a more subtle route.
"Didn't see you at dinner- your mum made some great pork chops!"
"Yeah?" Ron said half-heartedly, "She's brilliant at making them. That and apple pie."
"Yes. Apple Pie..."Harry could see that, riveting as Pork chops were as a means of conversation, they weren't getting very far. Finally, preparing to grab Ron to stop any actions involving the open window Harry quickly said, "So-Hermione."
Ron made a face of mock curiousity and then recognition. "Ah! That. About before, Harry-you should really just forget anything I may have said, I'm pretty sure that Fred and George put a few drops of something in my drink today and-
Harry's raised eyebrow silenced him. Suddenly the door creaked open and Mrs.Weasley strode in, holding various blankets within her grip. She carefully placed them on the floor, before beckoning to someone outside. "I know it's on the floor, Viktor, but it should be comfortable enough- limited space I'm afraid, but you know Harry well ofcourse so-" Ron, who had a clear view of the door, looked as though his eyes had swelled to twice their size as he clenched his fists tightly.
"Vhy thank you, Mrs.Veasy" Krum said politely, and edged into the room, looking remarkably unimpressed by the various waving 'Chudley Cannon' posters lining Ron's wall.
As Mrs.Weasley closed the door, she seemed to suck out every friendly emotion with her. To Harry's suprise, the second thatKrum laid his eyes on Ron his expression changed to exactly the same frown, exactly the same gritted teeth, and Harry was certain he could feel the heat radiating from Ron's bright red ears.
"Ah. You vere the boy that begged for my signature, yes?" Krum's voice was uncharacteristically snide, and Harry wasnonplussed as to why, until- "Hermininny talks of you much."
Ron, who's face had transgressed through various stages of purple as Viktor talked, spoke through such clenched teeth Harry marvelled at the fact they hadn't shattered due to the pressure. "Really? I must have lost the signature. It was only a scrappy piece of parchment anyway, nothing worth thinking about." Harry didn't dare to point out thata remarkably similar piece of parchment was in shreds directly under Ron's feet, looking like it had been stamped on repeatedly.
They both stood silently, and Harry felt the mere whispering of Hermione's name would cause The Burrow to implode, unable to stand the compressed jealousy that was fizzing like electricity between the two.
Harry quietly slipped into bed, resigned to the fact he'd have to keep his eyes open all night, for he worried that if he didn't, either one could be transfigured into a strange form of chicken by morning.
Is this still short? I know not! Can I just say a huge thanks for all the reviews, I'm sitting here smiling ridiculously considering it's 4.23am (I'm an insomniac apparently...either that or I've drank too much coffee!) - so thanks sooooo much to everyone. I've taken your points into account aswell- just to say, I don't know if it happens with yours but whenever I save it some of the words suddenly stick together (like magic!... ok, forgive me, the hour is late.) . ..just incase you werewondering why I can't use the space bar properly (mind you, with all the diabolical spelling mistakes I've made I wouldn't blame you for a presumption I couldn't use the keyboard!) But aye. Spelling- gah!
I know I'm not really focusing on the proper plot (e.g a certain matter of Horcruxes) but I swear if I tried suddenly the Burrow would sprout wings and Percy would be Voldemort's personal shoe cleaner and other such bizzare happenings, so I guess it's best if I stay away from that for now...
(p.s the expressions'Holy moly' and 'Evil Fiend' are amongst the best in existence, and I'm so glad there are folk who saythem too! Huzzah!) -yet again, 4.30am...my apologies.