Disclaimer: Though I am a delinquent writer, I have returned and still do not own Harry Potter.
SYLVESTER!
"Hermione, this sucks."
"Like it's my fault. Am I the one who comes up with the ridiculous schemes?"
"Well, you helped."
"Don't blame me."
"I'm not."
"…"
"Well, I needed something to complain about."
"…"
"Stop that, Hermione."
"It makes me feel better."
"And it's annoying me, so there."
"And that's a pointless argument, if I ever heard one."
0o0o0o00o0o0o00o
"Hermione, this sucks."
"…"
"Hermione."
"…"
"HERMIONE."
"…"
"You're doing this on purpose, aren't you?"
"Don't worry, Hermione, it's okay. It's just a little nuisance at the back of your head. Maybe if you close your eyes, she'll go away."
Ginny started to laugh. Hermione grinned.
"So what happens now?"
"You're the smart one, Hermione. You decide."
"Don't look at me. The genius is off duty for now."
Ginny looked at her blankly.
"Okay, you're useless. Here's what's what, Ginny: point one, Sylvester is stuck in this book. Point two, we're stuck in this room. Point three—OH MY GOD, THERE ARE SPIDERS ON MY ROBE!"
Ginny brushed them off. "Happy?" Suddenly, a pile of gold coins fell out of her sleeve. "What the… well, I don't know how those got there. What was point three?"
"I forgot."
"Fine genius you are." She pulled out the page and set it down (right next to the spiders as it happens). Tears stung her eyes. She angrily brushed them away. Suddenly, there was a flash of light.
"SYLVESTER!"
Sylvester was standing there, now in his normal clothes, looking scared, but relieved to see Ginny.
"How did you—what did, why—"
"I don't know. There was this funny light and then I was here."
Hermione smiled.
"What's there to be happy about? We're still stuck!" asked Ginny.
"The spiders are gone."
"How…?
"You put the page next to them. My assumption is that something has to be returned to the book and something has to leave—that's how the spell works. It's a fair exchange. That's why you've got all that gold."
"They seem to be real Galleons. Cool! But Malfoy said the spell stopped working after one time."
"That should tell you how feeble Malfoy's knowledge of spells is." She checked her watch. "It's midnight. Weird things happen at midnight."
"All right then."
They sat in silence for a few minutes.
Suddenly, a high-pitched, happy voice jolted them out of their thoughts.
"Oh, to be in the company of two fair lasses at this dark time just brings the joy into me heart."
Ginny scowled at Sylvester.
"Oh great. You brought a leprechaun with you."
