A/N - I'm surprised I was able to finish this chapter fast enough. But I hope you enjoy it as well...that is, if you enjoyed the others.
Chapter Three: Train Ride and Surprises
Ginny stepped through onto the platform and met with the usual hustle and bustle on the other side; a crowd of many young wizards and witches running and rushing around, saying their 'hellos' or this or that, along with the various kinds of animals screeching in their cages for attention.
All of this was enough to give any person who was not used to the noise by now, a severe headache.
The three began to make their way to the train and were in search of a comfortable compartment. On the way Ginny passed or spotted a few familiar faces, but was searching for one in particular.
"Hey, did you hear from Hermione?" Harry read her mind.
They were settling into the only free compartment which wasn't the most pleasant of all. Ginny had just stationed herself in front of the window to keep an eye out when she heard Harry's voice.
She looked up. "Actually I didn't, come to think about it. You?"
Harry shook his head in silent reply to the young girl. "But I'm sure we'll see her soon enough."
No sooner had the words left his mouth, than the compartment door slammed open. Harry and Ginny were completely taken off guard, jumping at least a foot into the air from the sudden interruption.
"I can't believe you!" Ron bellowed angrily as he stormed into the compartment, an exasperated looking Hermione immediately trailing along behind him.
"I told you before Ron, it was nothing! We were just discussing some school matters!" she defended herself.
Ginny noticed that Hermione looked as though she was about to cry. She quickly got up from her seat near the window and sprang to her friend's side.
"What's going on?" she than asked, looking back and forth between the two.
"Yeah right! I saw you!" Ron ignored the question, pointing an accusing finger in Hermione's direction.
"What happened?" Harry brought himself to stand in front of his friend, face to face.
"She was flirting with Malfoy just now!" he cried.
Harry whipped around to stare at Hermione, a confused expression planted on his face.
"Oh for goodness sake, I was not!" she answered Harry's unasked question. "I said we were just discussing some school issues."
"With Malfoy? What for?" Ginny couldn't hold herself back from asking the obvious.
"Well…because…" she trailed off, keeping her eyes glued to her feet.
"See that proves it! She's avoiding the question." Ron said matter-of-factly.
Hermione's head shot up to meet his gaze. "That's not true! There is a valid reason for my not doing so."
"Than what is it?" Ron retorted stubbornly.
"Well, it's uh- um, because…." She frantically tired to think of an explanation.
"Hermione, what's going on?" Ginny firmly asked her friend. She wanted to end this silly argument here and now.
Hermione looked away and a slight blush crept its way to her cheeks. "Well, I had wanted to keep it a surprise but, seeing as how I can't now," she glared in Ron's direction, "I guess I have no choice. I'm to be head girl this year." She said slowly, blushing instantly a little more, if possible.
The sudden air changed for all of them as Hermione gave them the good news.
"Oh, Hermione that's so great!" Ginny beamed. She flung herself onto the older girl for a big hug. "You know what this means don't you?" she leaned back, elbowing Hermione with raised eyebrows. "Free late night trips to the kitchen! Woo!"
Hermione tsked, "No." she chuckled.
Ginny was really disappointed with the girl's answer, since food was all she could think about at the moment. She pouted a little, looked up at Hermione and they both burst out in laughter.
"Wait, wait! Than what of Malfoy?" Ron spat into the conversation.
"Oh uh…he's head boy." She chuckled still more, as if it was nothing. She caught his displeased look and cleared her throat, "He's head boy." She said a little more clearly nodding her head.
"Head boy!" two voices shouted in outrage. This caught Harry's attention as well.
"Why in the bloody hell is he head boy!" Harry shouted.
"Don't they know what kind of a git that...git is?" Ron asked through gritted teeth, so angry not able to think of anything worse to refer to the Slytherin.
"Yes but there is nothing we can really do. No use loosing your head over it." Ginny tried to calm them down. "Besides, who cares about him, we should all be happy for Hermione."
The two boys looked over at each other and sighed, taking a seat for the first time.
"I guess you're right." Ron said defeated. "But I swear if he thinks he can use his position against us Gryffindor, he's got another thing coming."
Harry on the other hand, turned to look at Hermione. "Congratulations 'Mione. I'm really happy for you." He said with a warm smile.
"Thank you Harry It's nice to know somebody is." She threw a quick glarein the other boy's direction.
He caught it too. "Yeah yeah, I'm really happy for you." He said all too insincerely.
With a frustrated sigh, Hermione rolled her eyes and sat back and took up a conversation with Harry.
A while later the whistle signaling their departure was heard, and with a jolt of the train they were headed for Hogwarts.
Ginny slowly sank into her seat by the window. She closed her eyes at the relaxation the smooth train ride brought. It alway seemedput her to sleep. Her mind started to wonder for a moment, making its way to her dream just that morning.
So strange.
Ginny wasn't the dreaming type; never had too many of them. But she just couldn't get this one out of her mind.
She was lost in her thoughts when she suddenly began to hear that nagging voice inside her head. What could I- her eyes widened as realization settled in.
"My wand!" she jumped out of her seat.
"Huh?" Ron looked over at her.
"My wand, I forgot my wand! I knew I was missing something this morning but of all things my wand!" she began to pace nervously back and forth in the small space, consistently bighting her nails.
She threw her hands up and took a seat back down. She held her head in her hands and rocked back and forth. "How could I forget!" she groaned out.
"Now don't worry, when we get to Hogwarts just owl your mother. Besides, school doesn't start until Monday." Hermione piped up hurriedly.
"Are you kidding me?" Ginny looked incredulous at Hermione. "That's the last thing I want to do; unless I'm trying to get a howler my first day back." she finished a little more panicky, as though that thought had just dawned on her.
"Ha ha." Ron teased from his seat.
"Oh grow up!" she snapped, looking as though she was about to pounce on him.
"Well, I can ask Dumbledore if I can go to Diagon Alley early this month. Being head girl I have extra privileges. And once I explain the situation I'm sure he'll be kind enough to let us go before term begins." She relayed the option.
Ginny thought about it for a moment, one though in particular kept crossing her mind. With what money? But realizing the tight situation she was in, felt she had no other choice. Maybe somehow she'll be able to afford it by...whenever.
"Of course that would work. You'll tell him as soon as possible?"
Hermione nodded happily.
"Oh thank you Hermione." Ginny was so grateful for her quick thinking.
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The rest of the train ride went by fairly quickly. Ginny was just relieved it was over. She had grown so tired of Ron's grumpy attitude; just because he's jealous. she thought.
The four began to haul their things out of the compartment and make their way to the carriages that would escort them to Hogwarts.
Ginny got down, more than happy to stretch her legs a bit. "Finally!" she voiced.
Harry and Ron were absorbed in conversation ahead of the girls; leaving Ginny and Hermione to walk side by side.
"You know why he was so angry right?" Ginny got to the point. She stared straight ahead, purposely letting her eyes fall on Ron.
"Who?" Hermione gazed at her friend, looking confused.
She smirked a little. She wasn't too sure if Hermione honestly didn't know who, or she was just playing stupid.
"I think you know." She answered back, her eyes meeting with Hermione's.
The latter looked away, thinking for a moment, than it dawned on her. "Ron?"
"Of course Ron!" she threw her hands up. "You do know why though, don't you?" Ginny raised her eyes brows, a teasing smile making its way onto her features.
Hermione's eyes widened. "You know, I was thinking the same thing."
"You were?" Ginny was slightly taken aback. She wasn't sure to label this as being vain or just plain observant on the older girl's part.
"Yes. He's trying to make me look bad so I loose my Head Girl position." She nodded sure of herself.
Ginny slammed her hand against her forehead. "Oh God! Hermione," she grabbed the girl's elbow and brought her to a stop, "for being so smart you sure are dense sometimes. Did you ever think that maybe my brother has a thing for you?"
Hermione blushed than immediately made the same face expression Ron did; that of pure disgust. "Of course not!" she quickly excused.
"That's not what I get from it." She glanced over in Ron's direction. "You could tell that he was completely jealous over Malfoy." She crossed her arms.
"Ah…well I…" she stuttered. "Gin, I seriously think that you-"
"Oy 'arry!" They were interrupted by a familiar voice bellowing from behind them.
The four turned around and were greeted by none other than Hagrid. He stood there with a huge grin on his face which was barely visible underneath his beard, while his hand was waving furiously at them. A few feet down below him were gathered the many first years on their way for the traditional lake ride to the castle.
Hagrid bent down. "Zee kidz." He pointed a finger in their direction. "Tha there iz 'arry Potter."
The young faces turned around and stared in amazement, many 'oohs' and 'awws' coming forth from their mouths as they gawked.
"I really wish Hagrid wouldn't do that." Harry muttered through a smile.
Ginny couldn't help but laugh. "Well Harry, after all, you are quite the celebrity."
"Oh shut up." He turned his back on her, moving on.
They eventually made it to the carriages and loaded their things and settled in. Ginny, for one thing or another, felt rather nervous about it all; making the ride to the castle feel as though it was much shorter than what it was in reality. The carriage came to a sudden halt issuing the signal for all the students to exit off into the castle.
Ginny stopped at the entrance of the great oak doors and sighed a little despite herself. Back again. she thought as she entered in.
A/N - I wasn't sure how to write Hagrid's part so I just wrote that. But you guys, I've been thinking andmaybe it's time to throw in the towel. I don't think I should continue. Maybe writing just isn't my thing. I'll stick to reading or drawing...something I'm fairly good at.
R&R still anyway. Please?