Chapter 3: The Private Quarters

Disclaimer: Everything belongs to Jo.

A/N: Chapter 3 up (finally)! I hope this chappie satisfies everyone's needs – it's rather a nice chapter, seeing as I wrote it on a beach in Southern France…

Can I just point out that this story was started before HBP came out, and a few of the essential characters, ie: Dumbledore, are in my story. So this fic is pre-HBP and our favourite headmaster is still (thankfully!) alive. I guess you could say that the whole story is AU now… but fantasy is so much nicer than reality anyway!

As always, R & R!

A couple of days after the 'pairings' announcement, the whole school, whether sixth/seventh year or not knew (and had giggled at) the Maybe-Baby partners. Harry, being the 'wonder-figure' that he was, attracted a lot of attention and comments, and, as she was his partner, so did Ginny. The Slytherins, in particular, had great fun in taunting the two in the corridors, about trivial and childish things such as Harry and Ginny being 'an item', and how they would be too busy making out to look after their baby.

However, that was the least of Harry's problems. Ron and Hermione, who had been paired with Luna Lovegood and Draco Malfoy respectively, were not only receiving the same plaguing comments in the corridors as Harry, but they had to 'mentally prepare' themselves for spending two weeks stuck in a room with their partner. Ron was especially worried – no doubt concerned that, after two weeks alone with Luna he would end up wearing radishes on different parts of his anatomy and gabbling about Horned Snozzlewangers etc. he was uncharacteristically quiet in the days leading up to the scheme, and would draw into himself for hours at a time, becoming a total recluse, and slinking off and not talking to anyone.

Hermione was taking the other track, and was ranting to anyone who would listen (mostly Harry) about what an arrogant berk Malfoy was and how it was going to be so difficult to stop herself hitting him. Harry was looking forward to the seemingly distant time when the scheme would be over and everything would be back to normal. Little did he know that his wish of normality would never be granted…

Breakfast in the Great Hall was a subdued affair for most. Many sixth and seventh years were thinking of their next session and the following two weeks. Lessons would be suspended and the seniors would be spending two weeks with their partner and the 'baby'. But before the 'couples' got their electronically controlled youngster, they were to spend three days in the company of their partner, with no contact with anyone else for these three days. Harry was strangely excited about the prospect of spending three days completely alone with Ginny, with no interruptions from anywhere…

Minutes later, the class was gathered around a flustered Professor McGonagall and a smiling Dumbledore, as well as a number of eager-looking house elves (Hermione's face, if possible, fell even more upon seeing the elves – she was still fanatic about SPEW). "As I call your name, a house elf will show you to your private quarters." said McGonagall. The class looked at each other, puzzled. Quarters? Everyone was expecting just a room with a couple of beds and bath facilities, but 'quarters' suggested lots of rooms…

"Have fun, and remember that once you enter your room, the door will lock behind you and will re-open three days from now. Food will be sent up." said Dumbledore, with a wink and a knowing twinkle in his eye.

"Oh, no…" Harry heard Ron mutter.

Hermione and Malfoy were called first. Harry gave her a reassuring nod, and, with a fleeting glance at Ron, sighed and followed a squat house elf out of the room. Ron and Luna were up next. He had his teeth ad fists tightly clenched and his face was ghostly white. "Good luck mate – you'll be fine… Luna's not all that bad." muttered Harry. Ron attempted a grin and was ushered out of the room, Luna drifting behind, radish earrings swinging madly and a dreamy expression on her face. Harry chuckled at the situation, as, after a few more names were called, McGonagall announced his and Ginny's names. He watched Ginny as she hugged and said goodbye to her sixth year friends and bounded over to Harry, her fire red hair bouncing behind her. It looked so nice, and soft, and Harry longed to run his fingers through it… "Stop it!" he told himself firmly. "She's Ron's sister for God's sake!" And he grinned at both Ginny and the teachers, as a small, thin, frail-looking house elf took hold of his hand and pulled him through the door.

Harry entered a wide passageway, with warm stone walls and furnished with mahogany wood and velvet. The extravagance of the room was amazing, and Harry was vividly reminded of the décor in a stately home such as Buckingham Palace. They followed the house elf through a series of doors and other passageways, each as lavishly furnished as the previous, until they came to a stop outside some large, regal double doors. "Your room, Sir and Miss," squeaked the elf. "Enjoy!" And with that, he vanished.

"Well," said Harry, turning around to Ginny, whose mouth was open wide in awe. "Shall we go in?" Ginny nodded, so Harry turned the large brass key in the lock. With each room, as soon as the inhabitants stepped in, the room would morph to meet their individual needs. As Harry and Ginny entered their home for the next two weeks, the room changed before their very eyes. The walls were now a deep red colour, edged with gold. Gryffindor colours, thought Harry. There was a large double bed in the centre of the room, and various cabinets, wardrobes, bookshelves and tables scattered around the room and a couch in the corner. The room also had a top-of-the range entertainment system, including a magic-powered TV, PS2 and stereo system. There was another door directly opposite where Harry was standing (in the doorway, still) – this presumably led to the bathroom.

"Is this it?" exclaimed Ginny.

"Well, there's the bathroom through that door…" reasoned Harry.

"There's only one bed! One bathroom! Are all the rooms like this?" she cried, indignantly.

"Er… well, Dobby told me that the rooms change to suit our individual needs as a 'couple'" explained Harry.

"Well, we'll just have to make the best of it, won't we? It's only two weeks, and the room might change when we have our baby, mightn't it?" she said briskly, striding over to the sofa and examining the remote control to the plasma TV. "Now, how does this work?"

A/N: Was that OK? It was a quick update, as I have had a lot of school work in the summer holidays to do – mainly an ICT assignment that bores me to tears! Big thanks to the reviewers for Chapter 2:

littlecreek86: Yeah, I had a lot of fun thinking up pairings! And you are right – RW and LL should be very entertaining – let's hope I can write them OK! Glad you liked C2, and I will try to keep the fic up!

supafly09: Glad you liked it – Crabbe and Goyle should provide some humour in later chapters! Chapter 3 for you! )

Bloodless Ace: Thanks for the review – please continue reading and leaving your much valued comments.

And also 'Hello' to smile 13a...

Special thanks to littlecreek86 andsupafly09, who were the only two to review both chapters! Thanks guys, you're great! Please read and review Chapter 3!

Until the next chapter,

Alex