All in all, it was one of the best summers I've had in a long time.
As soon as we had entered the dining hall, I could practically feel the energy in the air. The teachers were excited about something, but what I couldn't tell. I mean, it was pouring buckets outside.
I could also practically feel my stomach eating away at itself out of hunger. I had been too busy planning pranks with Fred and George to notice when the trolley went by to get food, and now I was paying the price.
"Look, here they come!" George whispered when the double doors opened, and new
students started pouring in.
"The new test subjects!" Fred added, and then grinned apologetically after I popped him on the back of the head.
This group of first years looked especially naive. "I think it will be quite easy to pull one over on them." I whispered to the two boys, who were seated on either side of me. Fred grinned and leaned on closer so I could hear him over the clapping. Some kid had just gotten sorted into Gryffindor.
"That's the spirit!" His breath blew some loose strands of hair around the nape of my neck, and I blushed. Turning away, I started clapping along with the others as the sorting continued.
"Hermione. I think I fancy someone." I said suddenly as we unpacked our clothes later that night. Lavender and Padma were busy giggling and gossiping about all the cute Durmstrang boys who would be here soon.
Dumbledore had announced that we would be holding the first Triwizard Tournament in years within the next few months. I s'pose that answers the question of why they were all so excited.
Hermione had stopped putting away her things in the desk next to her bed. She wasn't even making a sound, other than breathing. I had stopped tidying my stuff now as well, but didn't turn around to face her. She had chosen the bed closest to the wall that connected to the door, and I chose the one next to it. We had been standing with our backs facing each other while we u packed- her humming under her breath and I internally arguing with myself.
Not that anyone but I knew that.
"Are you serious?!" She whisper-yelled. I gulped.
"Yes...?"
She was silent for another few minutes, and I started to regret telling her. What was she thinking right now?
And then she squealed very loudly and jumped onto my bed, whirling around to face me. Her face was lit up with the largest smile I had seen in a while.
Now I really regretted telling her.
"Oh my Merlin! I can't believe it! You actually like someone? You, like like someone?"
"Hermione, shh!" I whispered. "Before The whole dorm finds out!"
"Oh my God! You do like someone! I can't believe it! For a while there I thought you would never ever fancy someone, and I would have to set you up on blind dates!" She said hurriedly. I frowned.
"Yeah, well, don't get your hopes up. You may just yet have to set me up on blind dates. With actual guys who are blind."
"Don't say that." Now it was her turn to frown. "You're amazing! Don't down-talk yourself. Now, are you going to tell me who it is or not!"
"Er-"
She cut me off. "No, wait. I want to figure it out. How about this: I get one guess a day until I guess right, and when I do you have to answer truthfully." She said. I thought about it for a moment.
"Fine. But no hints." I told her. She nodded enthusiastically and jumped off my bed.
"Deal!"
Little did I know I was going to regret this decision profusely.
The next morning, I was sitting at the table with Fred and George, silently eating my breakfast while I read over some of our prank ideas, when Hermione came running over and plopped down next to me. I looked up at her, surprised at her energy.
She was grinning at me weirdly, and I frowned. "What?"
"Is it Neville?" She asked. I blushed and my eyes widened. So that's what this was all about. I shook my head, ignoring the pieces of hair that came loose from my bun.
"Is what Neville?" Fred and George asked.
I blushed harder and turned back to my list. "Nothing." I muttered as Hermione proclaimed,
"Rita has a crush!" I gasped and whacked her, hard enough to make her exclaim in shock and scoot further away from me.
"Really?" George asked, grinning evilly at me.
I glared back at him.
"Who?" Fred asked, frowning in confusion. I blushed again and grabbed my time table from my bag, standing up. I left them seated at the table, grumbling as I walked away.
The next day started out the same as the day before. I woke up, brushed my hair and pinned it into an awful bun, got dressed, and went downstairs to breakfast with my school bag slung over my shoulder. But from there the similarities ended.
When I arrived in the Great Hall, Fred, George, and Hermione were seated together, whispering covertly.
I approached them slowly, a frown forming on my face. "Guys...?" They all sprang apart, looking at me with grins.
"I was getting ideas from the twins on who you might fancy. I informed them of our deal." I groaned and sat down next to her.
"Great. As if they don't already tease me enough. So," I sighed, "who's your guess for today?"
"Lee." I choked on my tea that I had just taken a sip from.
"Seriously?" I turned to the twins. "Was that your guess?" They nodded.
"Sure was." George said.
"Are we right?" Fred asked. I sighed.
"No."
"Awe come on Rita! Why can't you just tell us? We're your friends. That's what friends do." George said. Fred hummed in agreement and nodded his head.
"Secrets don't make friends, Rita." He added.
I rolled my eyes and muttered that I wasn't tying to make friends.
"Good thing too, because it wouldn't work. Not with how grumpy you look." Someone said as they came and sat down next to me. I turned and smiled.
"Harry! Oh thank Merlin, save me from these lunatics. Oh, hello Ron." I said as I noticed the tall ginger boy. He waved back as he already had started to stuff his face full of food.
"'These lunatics'?" Harry asked. "You mean the twins?" He asked. I nodded.
"And Hermione too." I said. Harry raised his eyebrows.
"Why is that?"
"Does it matter? I'm just happy you two showed up and I don't have to bare the burden alone." I said. Hermione poked me in the ribs.
"Can I use up my guess for tomorrow today?" She whispered.
"What guess?" Harry asked.
"Nothing!" I said, not wanting everyone to know. "And no, 'Mione. You can't." She 'hmph'ed and said fine.
The rest of the week went entirely the same. I would go down to breakfast and sit with Hermione and the twins, they would make their incorrect guess, and then Harry and Ron would arrive and we would act as if everything was normal. If you were wondering who their next three guesses were, it went in this order: Harry, Ron, and then Seamus.
On Saturday Hermione and I were sitting in the library when Feed and George came marching over to our table.
"What's up?" I asked, looking up from my astronomy homework.
They simultaneously crossed their arms and said,
"Alright, Rita. Enough is enough."
I raised an eyebrow and looked over at Hermione, but she just shrugged.
"Enough of what?" I said, turning back to the twins.
"Your stupid deal. We're going to guess as many times as we want or until we get it right." Fred said, causing me to frown.
"No."
"No?" George asked, seemingly shocked. Had they really thought me so soft as to give in?
"I said no. That's my business, and I don't have to share it with either of you. Neither of you are my father, and therefore have no say in the matter." I said firmly.
"'Either of us'? Does that mean you'll tell Hermione?" Fred asked. I stood up, harshly knocking my chair backwards. Grabbing up my books I said,
"Yes. And as a matter of fact, I think I'll go talk to her and tell her all about it right now, and she's not going to utter a single word to either of you meddling fools." I said, putting my homework in my bag. "Come on, 'Mione." She hurriedly jumped up and grabbed her books as well, following after me as I stormed from the library.
"Rita, I'm sorry. I didn't realize that we were making you so angry. If I had known you would get upset, I wouldn't have told them-"
I whispered quickly what I had been wanting to say since the first night back, causing her to choke and break off.
"W-what?!" She exclaimed. I nodded.
"Actually- scratch that. I thought I fancied him. Now I know I fancy him." I said.
"Hu. I can't believe it..." She said quietly, almost dazed. "You have a crush on a Weasley. I can't believe I never thought about that one."
"To be honest, I am too."
Bonus! A Fred point of view!
"A Weasley?" George whispered indignantly.
"Is that what she said?" I whisperrd back as we tried to get closer without giving ourselves away.
Yes, George and I had shamelessly secretly followed the girls to find out who Rita's crush was.
"I did not see that coming." George uttered.
"Nor did I. Which one of us do you think it is?" I said.
"Hm. Well, I'm pretty sure she's not queer, so that kicks out Ginny at least. And Mum and Dad are much too old, so they are out as well." George said.
"Not Ron because she has standards and already said it wasn't him. Not Percy because he's a prat."
"Probably not Charlie because she hardly knows him, and she didn't seem that interested."
"Has she met Bill yet?" I asked.
"I don't think so."
"So who's left?" We thought for a moment before turning to each other, eyes wide.
"It's one of us!"
Ahhh I just love the twins and their skills of deduction. *giggle.* Which twin do you think she likes? (This is obvious.)
Which twin do you think they are going to decide is the one she likes? (Not so obvious.)
What do you think they will do about it? (No seriously. I could use some ideas.)