A/N: Okay, I just want to thank you all for reviewing even though I didn't ask for any this time! You all rock!
Chapter 17 – The Duel
Hermione was sleeping peacefully until a sudden burst of light awoke her. "Huh?" She muttered, rubbing her eyes so that they would adjust to the light.
"Morning, sunshine!" She heard a familiar voice call. She looked over. There sitting on one of her chairs was a red haired boy with many freckles.
"Ron!" She cried, jumping out of bed and running over to hug her friend.
"Don't forget me." Harry added from the corner. She hugged him too.
"What are you two doing here?" She asked.
"We came to get you. We still need to go get our shit for school." Replied Harry.
"Oh… okay! Yeah, I haven't gotten mine yet either. Lets go!"
"Uh… 'Mione?" Harry began.
"Yeah?"
"You might want to change." She looked down. She was still in her pajamas.
"Heh heh… right. You two can go downstairs while I get ready.
"Okay." They both replied in unison, filing out of her room.
Hermione slipped on some jeans and a shirt and ran down the stairs to join them. In seconds, they had apparated to Diagon Alley.
"Aw man, It's absolutely packed." Ron sighed.
"Well that's what you get for waiting until the last minute to get your supplies!" Hermione scolded.
"Yeah you don't have yours yet either."
"Well I was gone for 2 months!"
"Whatever. Where do you want to go first?" He asked happily.
"Well we know Hermione is going to say Flourish and Blotts." Harry said with a chuckle.
"I was not!" She added in her defense even though she was about to suggest the exact place.
"Well I'll suggest it then. We have a whole load of books on our supply lists." Harry said, heading off in the direction of the bookstore.
Upon entering the bookstore they found that it was no less crowded than the streets. The pushed themselves through the gigantic lines and towards the bookshelves. Finally, after quite a while spent looking for books, they entered the checkout line.
"This is ridiculous!" Hermione began. "We have been in this line for like… 15 minutes! And it hasn't moved an inch!"
"Yeah I know…" Ron agreed, wiping his brow. "It's so Closter phobic that I'm beginning to sweat."
"Well well well," They heard a voice say from behind them. "Look who we have here! It's the golden trio, Potty, the Weasel, and the mudblood."
"Malfoy." Harry remarked, narrowing his eyes. "What do you want?"
"I have just as much a right as you to come into a public bookstore." He began. Crabbe and Goil were placed beside him and they grunted approval after every one of his snide comments.
"Actually, I think that you will find that the owners of the bookstore would much rather not have you here. They are afraid your stink will scare away all the other costumers."
Draco's smirk fell. "Careful Potter," He spat. "Someday those comments are going to come back and bite you on the ass."
"Oh no!" Harry cried, pretending to bite his nails. "Malfoy, you've frightened me!"
Draco handed his books quite roughly to Crabbe and balled his fists. "Do you want to take this outside?" He asked.
"Oh come ON!" Hermione rolled her eyes. "You two are practically children!"
Harry ignored her comment. "It's your funeral." He replied, heading towards the door. Draco followed.
Once outside Malfoy drew his wand and before Harry had a chance to draw his shouted out "Incendio fire!" and immediately a beam of lightning shot out of the end of his wand hitting Harry on the shoulder and causing him to stumble backwards. Several people had stopped to see what the two boys were doing.
When he regained his stance he chuckled. "That's so like you Malfoy. Get in a cheap shot before I can even draw my wand. Furnunculus!" He yelled. By now a crowd had gathered, gasping at every move.
"AHH!" Malfoy cried in pain as several boils erupted on his arms. "Wingardium Leviosa!" He cried, pointing his wand at a stone which began to fly towards Harry at top speed.
"Protego!" He yelled, and the rock fell to the ground as if bouncing off a shield. Harry laughed. "You think you are so clever."
Draco's eyes narrowed. "Tarantallegra!" he shouted. Harry's feet began to tap on the ground. He looked down at them wide-eyed as they began to dance involuntarily. The dancing became more and more frenzied and Draco burst into a fit of laughter.
"You think this is really funny eh?" Harry shouted, panting as his feet carried him round and round, skipping hopping and turning. "Well let's see how funny you think THIS is! Rictusempra!"
Draco doubled over laughing. It had been a tickling spell. He gripped his sides and tears of laughter ran down his cheeks. Falling to the ground he shook, gasping for air between laughs.
All of a sudden Hermione ran into the middle of them. "STOP!" She called, although in the states they were in neither of them were able to throw any more curses at each other. "YOU TWO ARE ACTING LIKE CHILDREN! COMPLEATE CHILDREN!" She yelled, her face red and trembling in anger. "I AM EMBARASSED TO HAVE ANYTHING TO DO WITH YOU! YOU LOOK COMPLETELY COMICAL! FINITE!" She yelled at each of them. Harry's dancing ceased and he sat down panting from the exercise. Draco's laughter finally died.
At seeing Hermione still enraged Harry walked over and placed a hand on her shoulder. "Mione…" He began, trying to calm her.
She pushed his hand off. "DO…NOT…TOUCH ME!"
Ron also joined them in the middle of the crowd. "Okay, okay! Nothing to see here people…" He yelled out, trying to get everyone to leave, but it was no luck. They all peered at the five teenagers eagerly, waiting for them to do something else. Ron sighed in an annoyed tone. "SHOO! DON'T YOU HAVE ANYTHING BETTER TO DO?" Several of the people frowned and left, and slowly the crowd began to dissipate. Finally, as they were alone Ron turned to Hermione. "Okay Hermione… Calm down. Take a few deep breaths."
"Yeah… I don't think it's healthy to be that red in the face." Draco added.
"YOU," Harry spat. "Are NOT helping the situation."
"Just leave Malfoy." Hermione said breathlessly. "You two are clearly not going to resolve anything and if you start doing that again, I might just kill the both of you."
"Whatever." Malfoy said, getting up from the ground and brushing some of the dirt off of himself. "Crabbe, Goile… Come on." He said, leading them away.
"I'm Sorry…" Harry said quietly.
"It's okay Harry. I shouldn't have gone off on you like that." She said, hugging him. Then she slapped him in the head. "BUT IF YOU EVER DO THAT AGAIN…"
"I won't!" Harry uttered quickly. He clearly didn't want to get whapped in the head again.
"Okay. Good." She said, slowly becoming calm. "Let's go. We don't have much time before I am supposed to be home and NOW thanks to you two we have to wait in that DAMN line at Flourish and Blotts again." She said, starting off in the direction of the bookstore. Harry and Ron exchanged looks. "Well come on then!" She added. They shrugged and followed.
A/N: Hope you enjoyed the little exchange between Draco and Harry. At least 3 reviews before I update again. THANKS! Also, I didn't make up the spells, they are from the book! If you are having trouble remembering them, go ahead and ask and I'll put up a translation at the end of this chapter, or at the beginning of the next.