A/N: Thanks again guys! More great reviews!
hplover15: I am planning on continuing the story. I'm having a lot of fun with it!
Nativewildmage: Oh don't worry. Draco's going to get it. Never underestimate the power of a good bludger!...wow...That sounds like "A Fresh Attempt"…Oh well!
Thanks again everybody!
undomiel8 (Hermione to those at Walden Books!)
Chapter 10: Phoenixes, Ferrets, and More than Friends
The next morning dawned and Hermione felt as though she was in a dream. She couldn't believe what had happened between Ron and herself…But then again…
In a better mood than she had been all term that far, she pulled on a pair of jeans and a sweater, pointed her wand to tame her hair and left for the common room. Ron was waiting for her. "Where's Harry and Ginny?"
Ron grinned. "Not quite sure…Although I did hear him mutter something about the 'library'". Hermione rolled her eyes. "Let's go you goof ball."
As they crawled through the portrait hole, Ron took Hermione's hand. She smiled. "So where are we going?"
Ron put his finger to his lips. "You'll see." Hermione smiled. Ah, the wonder of surprises.
It was another twenty minutes before Hermione had even the slightest idea of where they were going. Ron had led her around the lake and past the dock where the boats landed. Hermione gasped as she saw Buckbeak standing before her ready to fly. Ron slid his arms around her waist. "You want to go for a ride?" Hermione looked up and smiled. "You know it!" They walked over and Ron bowed low to the hippogriff. Buckbeak bent his scaly knees and Ron helped Hermione onto his back. He climbed on in front of her and she held on tightly to his waist. Ron held onto Buckbeak, clicked his tongue and they were off.
The pair had not gone far however when Hermione grasped her wrist. She looked down to see the skin around her phoenix charm turning bright red. Ron looked back and as soon as he saw that Hermione was in pain, he turned Buckbeak around and they landed back down on the edge of the lake closest to Hagrid's hut. Pulling Hermione off of the hippogriff, he asked quietly as he held her, "What happened?" Hermione couldn't speak so she just held out her arm. Ron took a quick look at the charm and tied to pull it off but it wouldn't come free. Hermione gasped. "There's a permanent sticking charm on it! It won't come off!" Ron cursed quietly and picked her up. Running as fast as he could, he made his way to the headmaster's office.
…………….
Harry and Ginny had in fact gone to the library. But and hour of helping your boyfriend begin to study for his N.E.W.T.s could make anyone cranky. Ginny finally took the book from Harry's hand ("Dark Creatures and Dark Wizards- A Study of the Use of Magical Creatures in the Dark Arts") and closed it. Harry started to protest but Ginny silenced him. "Harry, you've been studying all morning. Let's go somewhere." Harry nodded, a place already in mind. Slinging his bag over his shoulder and taking Ginny's hand, they made their way from the library.
Ginny had no idea where they were going, but she trusted Harry. It wasn't until hey passed a familiar tapestry that Ginny figured it out. "The Room of Requirement?" Harry gave a mischievous grin and walked past the wall three times while thinking hard. Finally a door appeared and the two slipped inside. Ginny gasped. The room was an exact replica of the Gryffindor common room…With the exception that there was no one there. Harry and Ginny threw their bags down and looked around. There were two large chairs, a roaring fire, a large couch, and bewitched windows to give the impression that it was night time. Ginny walked over and sat on the couch and Harry joined her. It was only a moment though until Ginny began to cry. Harry, having been in this same situation two years ago in this very room with Cho pulled Ginny close. "What's wrong?"
Ginny sniffed. "It's too perfect! Everything is. My brother approves, he and Hermione cant follow us because they're who knows where. Nobody can barge in here…And you! You're too perfect! You're the only guy I've ever really wanted and now that I have you, I'm afraid I'll wake up tomorrow and it will all have been a dream!"
Harry stroked her hair and whispered softly to her. "Calm down...Everything's going to be fine. I'm not a dream, I promise. I'm real. This is all real. I won't leave you."
Ginny looked up and Harry leaned in to kiss her. Ginny returned the kiss. After a few minutes though, Ginny pulled away. Harry looked to her. "What's wrong?" Ginny pointed to the door. "Someone's trying to get in."
Harry stood up and walked quietly to the door. Turning the door knob quietly, he quickly pulled the door open and Malfoy fell into the room. Pulling himself up, he glared at Harry. "What were you two doing in here?" He looked to the couch and saw Ginny sitting there, her hair a bit rumpled. He laughed. "Oh isn't this a story. I can see it in Witch Weekly already. 'Harry Potter loses his-'" But before he could finish his sentence, Harry had whipped out his wand and shouted, "Ferretious!" A flash of light and a crack left Malfoy lying on the ground in the form of a white ferret. Ginny roared with laughter and Harry leaned down. The ferret tried to bite him as he picked it up, but Harry held it an arms length away. "I don't think so. I wonder hoe long this spell takes to ware off?" Flipping through a book that had just landed on her lap, Ginny read, "Ferretious: A spell that will turn any human into a ferret. While the spell is not very dangerous, it takes a full twenty four hours to ware off. The transformed wizard, witch, or muggle must wait out these twenty four hours in a cage unless they would like to be eaten by large predators such as hippogriffs."
Harry laughed. A cage had just appeared by the door. "Have fun Malfoy. Good thing Buckbeak's not around huh?" Placing his arm around Ginny's waist, they left the Room of Requirement.
A/N: I had to bring back Malfoy the amazing bouncing ferret. Hope you liked! More to come soon I promise!
