AN: Thanks to: hermione2, zoreo09, AnimeQueen48, PhoenixWings13, PsychoHaired, SailorLeia, hmmart, Oasis Blackmore,
CassieLupin, Jess, trishna87, zxxbsmsgirl3148, Broken Rain, Emma-Lynn and just another Harry Potter fan for reviewing!
I'd like to thank trishna87 for pointing out what everyone else failed to mention. I didn't notice the typing mistake and I shall correct it as soon as possible. I realize that I have made many typos, which is why I have now employed a beta! My best friend, Liss (XxHellzAngelxX) has offered to do it. I knew she'd offer seen as she takes so much joy in pointing out my errors... glares Anyway, on with the story!
"So... tell us about this medicine, Ronald!" Mr Granger exclaimed, giving Ron a look that clearly said that he didn't believe a word of it. Ron gulped, trying desperately to think of some kind of an explanation. He didn't know a thing about medicine and Mr Granger obviously knew it.
"W-w-what do you mean?" Ron stammered, squirming slightly under the man's gaze.
"Well, what chemicals does it include? What scientific value does it have? I may only be a dentist, but both Violet and I have degrees in Medicines and Chemistry," Mr Granger replied, his voice oddly calm.
Ron looked over his
shoulder, in hope that one of the twins would have finished the tasks
assigned to them and be able to produce help. No such luck. Fred was
yet to reappear from upstairs and George seemed to be having problems
extinguishing the fire which had now engulfed the oven, whilst trying
to save the roast turkey.
"Err..." he began, unable to
think of anything else to say. Luckily, however, rescue came in the
form of a bushy-haired brunette.
"The medicine is a
type of steroid. It's usually used during chemotherapy, the treatment
for cancer, and it is also a substance used in a painkiller for
arthritis. Ginny's condition is rare and therefore she is the first
to receive this sort of treatment, so I suppose you could say she's a
guinea pig!" Hermione finished, giving her father an angelic
look.
"Yeah...what she said!" Ron said quickly, nodding
his head vigorously. Hermione was actually quite skilled at producing
lies, and if only she'd use her talent a bit more often then perhaps
it would come in useful... but a glance at Hermione's face told him
to forget all plans of using her lying skills ever again. Not that he
would survive to ever get the chance, for he was surely going to be
murdered during the night by at least one of the Grangers.
"Umm...yes," Mr Granger replied, giving Ron a look and making another attempt to help Mrs Granger over the threshold and into the house.
"STOP!" Ron bellowed, squeezing past Mrs Granger and leaning against the doorway again.
"What is it now?" Mrs Granger snapped impatiently, exchanging dark looks with her husband and clutching her purse closer to her chest. Ron's mind was going into overdrive... half of the time it was switched off and to suddenly have to be thinking more in a day than he had in a whole year was really affecting him. Mum was going to kill him, kill him then bring him back to life and kill him again just to make sure she caused him that extra bit of pain. Ron shuddered at the thought and looked up into Mr Granger's cold eyes and gave a weak smile.
"Erm, Mr Granger, I hear you're interested in craftsmanship?" Ron half-said, half-suggested hopefully. The look of anger on the man's face disappeared and was replaced with one of pure shock and surprise.
"Why, yes, I do, I mean, it's an excellent pastime and a chance to let the mind fly free, I think," Mr Granger stuttered in reply. For the first time since the Grangers' arrival, Ron thanked his lucky stars that Hermione and her father were so alike.
"Well, my dad is a huge fan of Mug--of normal pastimes!" Ron said enthusiastically, mentally thanking his father for the first time for having this hobby, to be able to say something positive in this tricky situation. Grabbing Hermione by the hand and leading her over towards the front yard, he gestured for her parents to follow. Hermione obviously hadn't forgiven him and was reluctant to being 'man-handled', as she called it.
"You'll pay for this,
Ron!" she hissed in his ear when they were out of earshot of her
mother and father. "Something's happening inside that house and
you are trying to stall us, to give your brothers time to fix the
problem! Well, let me tell you that I am no longer making pathetic
excuses to help you!"
"Now, Hermione!" Ron gasped
in mock horror. "Are you seriously saying that I am only here as
a distraction?"
"Yes, I am." Hermione yanked her
hand from his grasp and spun around to face him, blocking his path
and forcing him to stop. Unable to take the pressure, he sighed and
threw up his hands in defeat.
"OK, maybe I am making a distraction..." Ron said, slightly guiltily, " but you most certainly aren't going to find out what is wrong in that house, not now and not ever!" he finished smugly. Hermione glared at him, before turning on her heel and continuing to walk.
"Stand by for fireworks..."
AN: Sorry it's short and extremely, well, rubbish... but I have major writers block and I'm very tired! I promise that during the next chapter, they WILL get inside the house and something about the boa constrictor will appear!
P.S: MY COMP SHUT DOWN AT THE START OF THE HOLS AND ITS ONLY JUST BEEN FIXED! THAT'S WHY I'M SO LATE IN UPDATING!
Please R&R!
(Beta disagrees that it is rubbish. Not now she's edited it, anyway…)