Chapter 15: Another Surprise
After the "informative" lunch, the Gryffindors proceeded all up to the Common Room. It was partly filled. Some were outside in the brisk weather. No fourth years were in sight, however.
Ron crossed the room, slumped in a chair, and sighed, "Ah!"
"You're comfortable," Ginny observed.
"Shut it." Ron mumbled, eyes closed. "I'm getting into my peaceful place."
Harry laughed at sat on a couch. Hermione also seated herself.
"Well, that homework's not going to do itself," Haley told Madison.
"Bet you know a spell to make it do itself." grumbled Madison. They argued all the way up the stairs.
"So," said Neville when the voices disappeared, "Wanna play chess, Ron?"
"Sure!" he said, bounding up at once.
Neville was already setting up the chessboard.
"Okay, you go first." Neville placed the last of his pawns on the board.
Ten minutes later, they were still playing. Hermione and Harry had grown bored of watching and were talking about their trip.
"Knight to E5." Ron said.
"Queen to E5." said Neville, "Check."
"King to g."
"Queen to E6. Check."
"King to H7."
"Queen to H6. Check."
"King to G8!" Ron cried.
Two minutes later--
"Checkmate!"
"NO FAIR! YOU CHEATED!" yelled Ron.
Neville opened his mouth to protest,.
"He won fair and square Ron." said Hermione, fairly.
"But-"
"Just give him his wizard card. You have nine hundred anyway." Harry muttered, nodding in Neville's direction.
He was dancing back and forth, "I won. I won!" he said in a sing-song voice.
"Fine." grumbled Ron, reaching into his pocket and throwing Bathilda Bagshot at Neville.
"Ow! Paper cut!" Neville burst out. His voice was added with Madison's, who came speeding down the stairs a second later. She bounced back and forth, clutching her hand and whining, "Ow, ow, ow!"
"Well, maybe if you did your homework instead of charming them into flying airplanes, that would never have happened!" Haley said, coming down the stairs.
Madison glared at her, "Hermione, will you help me?"
Hermione rolled her eyes and did the counter curse at the airplanes that had come shooting down after the two.
"At least someone is generous!" Madison said, staring pointedly at Haley.
"It's already four!" Harry suddenly burst out.
"I'm going to unpack." said Hermione.
The others were gone in a flash as they sped up to their dorms as well.
---
"Hurry up!"
"I'm going as fast as I can!"
"Go faster then! The announcement, remember?"
"'Course I remember. How could I forget with you jumping around like a jackrabbit the whole time?"
Ron rolled his eyes.
"Fine, let's go." said Harry.
Ron ran down the stairs, nearly knocking down Hermione.
"Ron! Watch where you're going!"
"Sorry, sorry, sorry!" said Ron, looking anxious.
"It's alright." Hermione replied, smiling.
"'Hurry up!'" mimicked Harry.
Ron stuck out his tongue.
"Oh, very mature." said Haley, trailed by Madison.
Soon everyone was crowded around the common room. The sixth years hurried off to the Great Hall. They had barely seated themselves when Ginny ran up to them.
"You wouldn't believe how cramped the stairs were!" she said, tossing her hair out of her face.
Harry smiled and looked up at Dumbledore along with everyone else. The whole Great Hall had never been so quiet.
Suddenly, Dumbledore stood up and spread his arms wide to them all, "I welcome you to the feast. Why don't I announce the event after we are all fed and watered?"
The students all groaned loudly and gave him bewildered looks as food appeared on the golden plates.
"How can he do this to us?" burst out Ron as Dumbledore sat down and began to chew pork chops, "Does he realize he's practically killing us already?"
"That's Dumbledore for you." said Neville, shrugging and taking a bite of mash potatoes he had already loaded onto his plate before Ron could get them.
But Ron hardly ate the whole meal, as did many others. Everyone was impatient to find out what this announcement was.
"Please don't let there be desserts. PLEASE!" Ron prayed.
Surprisingly, desserts did not show up, as he had wished. Before anyone knew it, Dumbledore had stood up again, and the Hall was quiet once more.
"And now, time for the announcement, but first-" he raised a finger. The Hall groaned once more and shouted in protest; Dumbledore continued with a smile, "have any of you realized that the fourth years did not go on vacation?"
Everyone looked at each other in confusion. What in the world did the fourth years have to do with the announcement?
"Because," continued Dumbledore, "While you all have been on vacation, the fourth years have been preparing for a dance for fifth through seventh years."
There was a deaf silence where it seemed no one had heard what Dumbledore had said. Then, piercing cheers rang throughout the chamber.
"I knew it!" said Lavender, grinning. Parvati whispered something to her, and they began whispering back and forth.
"A…A what?" said Ron faintly.
"A dance." Harry said, as if it was as obvious as the weather outside.
Ron turned green.
"The dance will be held this Saturday." declared Dumbledore, "I advise you all look for your dates." he smiled then sat down, signalling the end of the speech.
Benches scraped as students got up to leave through the great doors.
"Well," said Ginny, "This will be fun."
"What's he doing? Springing up a vacation and a dance?" said Harry.
"Be happy we're getting something this cool without homework." Dean advised, rushing past. Seamus ran to catch up with him.
"A dance? A dance! What about school, and - and learning? Is this going to be all one big party?" Haley demanded.
"Chill down!" said Madison, "The problem with you is you worry too much. You should be happy, like Dean said."
"'You should be happy like Dean said'" mimicked Haley, "What are you? President of his fan club?"
"Shut up, okay? Shut up. Just trying to make you feel better, but nooooo." she muttered, brushing past the trio and Ginny.
Haley crossed her arms and grumbled as well.
"Er.. Anyway." said Harry. "Should be fun."
"What about you, Ron?" said Hermione.
"Huh?" said Ron.
"Er, do you think it'll be fun?"
"Just peachy," Ron said in a high, squeaky voice, still green.
"Ron, what's up?" said Hermione.
But they had reached the portrait hole and he hoisted himself up through it before he could answer.
"What's up with him?" Hermione asked Harry.
"Dunno." shrugged Harry, avoiding her eyes.
"Harry-"
"Sorry, Hermione." he said, giving a large fake yawn, "Er, tired from all the excitement. See you in the morning!"
He gave her and Ginny quick hugs and was up to the boys staircase quick as lightning.
"What's up with them?" asked Hermione, agitated from the lack of an answer.
Ginny shrugged, "Sorry, Herms. Gotta go."
She darted up the stairs leaving Hermione alone, staring blankly at her retreating form.
"Oh, don't mind me." she muttered, crossing the room and flopping down into a chair, "I'll just sit here." She picked up a book and began to read. It was not long before she fell asleep.
-- In the Boys' dorm…
"I don't know what to do." said Ron, changing into his pajamas.
"Ask her, mate."
"I can't do that! Remember fourth year?" he gasped.
"All too well." muttered Harry.
"What?" Ron said sharply.
"Nothing." Harry lied quickly.
"Yeah, well, anyway. I mean, I want to ask her, and you know I do, but what if she remembers last year? What if-"
Harry paid no mind to Ron's ramble as his thoughts drifted towards another red-haired person.
"I mean, I never really thought of it. Her actually saying yes and all. I mean, I've thought of us getting together, but I don't imagine it'd every happen. I guess I'll just have to see. But what if I screw up? What if she gets mad? What if she says no? What if-- Harry?" Ron asked. "Harry!"
He thrust his curtains open, only to see that Harry's were closed, and slight snores were drifting from them.
"Thanks mate." Ron said sourly, yanking the hangings closed.
(A/N: Okay, kinda short. But at least I got more done. I've been busy with school and History Fair and junk so I haven't been writing. I've got to go to school in like 2 minutes so, see you later. Hope all my fans didn't desert me! L Review and see you soon!)