Chapter 12: A Walk Along The Beach
"Ginny! You honestly don't need to do this!"
"Of course I need to," Ginny replied, dismissing the subject, "Now, hold still!"
Hermione rolled her eyes, but straightened up. Ginny was designing her hair for the party. It seemed rather pointless to Hermione, but Ginny thought that it was important to snatch Ron from Cerena. Well, okay it was important to stop Cerena and her evil, stupid little-
"You're thinking about it again." said Haley knowing, looking at Hermione. She smiled.
"Yeah, it's kind of hard not to…"
"Ah, don't worry about it. If he doesn't snap out of it, we'll take care of him." said Madison.
Hermione laughed.
"Ah, ah, ah! Stay still!" said Ginny, "besides, I'm almost done anyway."
"You look great, Hermione!" said Luna brightly, as, twenty minutes later, Hermione stepped out of the bathroom.
"Only because Ginny helped," Hermione said blushing, "Do you really think all this make up is necessary?"
"Oh, that's not a lot!" said Ginny. "All you've got is a bit of eyeliner and eye shadow. And mascara… And a teensy weensy bitty bit of blush."
"Four things more than I normally wear." muttered Hermione.
"But you look great with make up! And besides, it's very light and doesn't take the attention away from your pretty eyes." complimented Haley.
"What are you wearing?" said Madison.
"I almost forgot!" cried Ginny. "C'mon. You'll have to get something from me."
"Ginny, I highly doubt that we can share the same clothes."
"Then…"
"Then you'll just have to borrow something form me?" said Haley, "I've got a few nice pieces you could wear."
"Are you sure?" said Hermione.
"C'mon, you guys are practically twins." pointed out Madison.
"You could be…" said Luna thoughtfully from behind the Quibbler.
"If you say so." said Hermione.
Haley sped over to her suitcase and began to pile out possible outfits.
---
By eight o'clock that evening, the beach was transformed. In the middle there was a huge stage where bands would perform. Torches lit the way, casting shadows upon everything else. However, there were multiple stars shining out in the navy sky.
Five teenage girls stood on the outer edges of the stage.
"This looks great!" said Madison, heading off toward the crowd.
"Now, to find Ron." said Ginny as Luna disappeared as well.
"Do you want me to help you?" said Haley.
"Yeah, that'd be good." said Hermione.
"Check the crowd, we'll circle the stage and the refreshment table. Meet us there in five minutes." said Ginny, already steering Hermione in the opposite direction. Haley set off into the crowd.
"He's coming isn't he?" said Hermione.
"Oh, that's ridiculous! Of course he's going to be here! Why wouldn't he?"
"I don't know. Do you think this is a good idea? What if your plan fails? What if-"
"Hermione, chill!" Ginny said. "Look, how're we going to find him if we keep talking and aren't actually looking?"
Hermione sighed.
---
Haley pushed her way through the crowd.
"Excuse me?" she said.
Professor McGonagall turned to her.
"Oh! Hi, Professor. Have you seen Ron?"
"Mr. Weasley? No, I'm afraid not. Oh look, here come the Beaxbatons--" and she drifted away.
"Ugh!" Haley continued through the crowd until she finally reached the edge where the drinks and food were. Hermione and Ginny stood there expectantly.
"Any luck?" said Ginny.
"No."
"Where is he?" said Hermione.
"Don't worry, we'll find him." Ginny said, consolingly.
"Hey guys!" said Neville, "What's up?" he poured himself a glass of punch.
"We've been looking for Ron. Did he come out with you?"
"Um…yes." said Neville, looking away.
"Do you know where he is?"
Neville nodded.
"Where?"
"Um…Ooh, look! Cookies!"
"Neville?"
"Yes?" he responded in a high voice.
"Where's Ron?"
"Alright." he turned to them, face full of regret, "He went off to find the Beaxbatons."
Ginny sighed, "Then we'll just have to--Hermione?" she looked around, "Hermione!" She yelled and sped off.
"Thanks, Neville." Haley squeaked before dashing off after the other two.
"Hermione, just wait, will you?" Ginny panted, grabbing onto Hermione's arm.
"We've got to get to him." Hermione said.
"I know, but you could wait a second, couldn't you?" Haley gasped, clutching her side.
"Fine, I waited, let's go." Said Hermione, speeding off again.
Ginny rolled her eyes as she and Haley trailed the bushy haired girl.
---
They finally neared the edge of the beach when they ran into Ron. Literally.
"Ouch!"
"Hermione?"
"Ron?"
"Hey, are you okay?"
"Yeah, fine. Help me up, would you?"
"Listen, there's something I need to tell you." Hermione said, once she had gotten to her feet.
"Can this wait, Hermione? I've got to talk to Cerena. She asked to meet here in five minutes."
"Oh, sure. You'll meet her, alright." Ginny muttered.
"What?" said Ron.
"You aren't seriously going to forget what happened last night, are you?" Haley said, venomously.
"You didn't even believe me?" Hermione cried.
"Shh." whispered Ginny hurriedly, "Look!"
The other three stopped talking and looked toward the water. Two figures were there, sitting next to each other, talking. Ginny pulled the others over to a tree and they looked out from behind it. One of the two had leaned into the other and were inches from each other.
"Ron! Wait!" Hermione gasped. But Ron sped off towards them.
Ginny rolled her eyes, "That idiot! Come on!"
The girls hurried after him. As he got closer, the others heard him yell.
"Cerena?"
Cerena leapt to her feet. "Ron! Ron, it's not what it looks like!"
"Yeah, right!" Ron spat.
"No, seriously. Ron, he- he made me do it!"
"Surprised, Weasleby?" Draco sneered.
"Malfoy." Muttered Ron.
"Ron. Don't." urged Hermione, holding onto his arm.
"Get off of him!" Cerena shrieked.
"Make me!" yelled Hermione.
Cerena whipped out a wand. Ron did the same.
"Come on guys. Just…let's go." Haley said quickly.
"What the--"
"Harry?" said Ginny, spinning around. "What are you doing here?"
"I heard Ron yelling. I thought he needed me to squish a spider again." Harry said, "What's going on?"
"Isn't it obvious, Potter?" mocked Draco.
"Ron, let's go." Harry said, reaching out to touch Ron.
"No, let me deal with this." he replied, shrugging away Harry's arm.
"Don't do anything stupid." Haley claimed.
"Ron, we've got to get to McGonagall." Hermione insisted.
"This'll only result in trouble." said Ginny.
"Exactly." said a voice behind them.
"Professor!" said Ginny.
"I'll handle it from here, thank you." said McGonagall, stepping between the cluster.
"Come on, Ron!" said Hermione.
Ron looked down at her, then back to Cerena.
---
"Ron, that really was rude." Hermione said, desperately.
"So." Ron said, shrugging. "She deserved more than that."
"Yeah, I bet," said Ginny, "She really deserved more than being spat at."
"Shut up, Gin." Muttered Ron.
Harry rolled his eyes. "Well, that was…interesting. Thanks, Neville."
"No, problem." Neville coloured, "I was wondering what was going on. And I guess I figured it out right. Alerted McGonagall immediately."
"Good thing, too." said Haley. "I'm off to find Madison. See you."
She disappeared into the crowd of people, now listening to a band called The Blair. Suddenly Professor McGonagall popped up next to them.
"This is a party, you know." she smiled, then disappeared into the crowd. They stared after her.
"Well, what are you waiting for?" said Ginny. "God, you guys look like fish out of water. Come on, let's go!"
---
An hour or so passed just as another song by The Blair started. It was one of the slower ones.
"Erm…Ginny, do you…do you want to dance?" said Harry.
"I'd love to, Harry!" Ginny smiled and they disappeared into the throng of people, leaving Hermione, Haley, Ron, and Neville alone.
"So…" said Neville.
'Hey guys!" said Luna, gliding over to them, Madison in tow.
"Help Me." mouthed Madison.
Haley laughed, "Hey, Mad. Want to go look for Dean and Seamus."
"Er…sure." Madison said.
They departed, chatting hurriedly.
"Hi, Luna." said Ron.
"Oh, hello." Luna said, rather airily. "Neville." she said suddenly, causing him to nearly fall over, "Would you like to dance?"
"Me? Um…okay."
"Have fun!" Ron called after them. He sighed, "Ah, poor Neville."
"Ron, that wasn't nice." said Hermione, smiling.
"I haven't been really nice around you lately, have I?" said Ron suddenly.
"Ron-"
"No, Hermione. I shouldn't have acted like that. I don't know why I did. I just-"
"Ron, really, it's okay…"
"No it's not, Hermione. I completely ignored you the whole trip. And we're leaving tomorrow! I should have used my time relaxing with you."
"And Harry." Hermione added.
"Huh? Oh. Oh, right." Ron said, looking at the ground. "But instead she got in the way."
They stayed silent for a while, until Ron laughed.
"And I said that I didn't care about the Beaxbatons."
"They easily distract people, don't they?"
"Yeah." Ron smiled sadly, "Hey." he said suddenly. Hermione looked up at him. "You look great in yellow. It makes you look brighter."
Hermione blushed. Ron did too, after realising what he had just said.
"I like this song. Mum listens to the WWN constantly. Do you… do you think maybe…"
"Yes?"
"Um.."
"Just ask her already!" Harry yelled as he and Ginny passed. Ron and Hermione both turned pink.
"Do you want to dance?" Ron said quickly.
"I'd love to."
Ron grinned and, taking her hand, stepped onto the dance floor.
(A/N: I'm so sorry it took so long. I've been planning other fan fictions, reading to get more ideas, I just got invited to people's houses one after the other… Forgive me by Reviewing? It's been a whole two weeks! I really hope this was long enough to make up for some of my absence. WWN is the Wizarding Wireless Network, for those of you who didn't know and were confused. The scene with Draco, Cerena, Ron etc. was not the easiest thing for me to write. I wanted to get it as close as I pictured it. Hope this chapter didn't fail you. I've got to go to a piano lesson soon, but until then I'll be writing the other chapter. You should expect it to be up by the end of the week. Again, I apologize for how much you guys have had to wait. I wouldn't be surprised if you stopped looking into it for the chapters! Anyway, this is taking up time to write the next chapter. See all you fans soon! Toodles!)