"But, Madam Pomfrey, what would you do without me showing up unconscious? I'm beginning to think it's like our own little tradition!" I said, trying to make light of the situation. As Dumbledore would say, I was 'turning on the light.'
"How are you feeling?" Hermione asked as she ran up to me in the hall later that day.
I shrugged. "Much better."
She gave me a side look. "No proclomations of death and destruction?"
"Nope. I haven't made it to Divination class yet." I joked.
"That's not funny." She frowned.
"Do you really think somebody is going to die in the tournament?"
"Maybe. I can't really tell. I'm not a seer; I just had this really awful feeling."
"Let's go find Harry. He might need some uplifting." She said, running off.
"I just hope nobody's dies going to die." I murmured before following after her.
Hphphphphphphp
When we found Harry in the common room, there was yelling accompanying him.
"What's going on in here?" I yelled over them.
Harry and Ron stopped- only for a moment- and looked over at us.
"I was only saying that Harry was being selfish for not telling me how to put my name in!"
"But how would he tell you if he didn't know?" I said.
Hermione shot me a warning and fearful look, but I didn't catch it.
Ron glared at me. "Not you, two!" He yelled. "If he didn't put his name in, then who did?"
I shrugged. "Someone who wants him dead? It's not anything new. The past three years he's had someone trying to kill him!" I stopped and thought. "Actually I don't think anyone tried to kill you last year. Do you think Peter had little homicidal-mouse dreams?"
"This isn't funny Rita! If harry were my friend he would have helped me!"
"I am your friend! I didn't put my name in!"
"And if he did," I started, shooting a warning glare at Harry, "then it's a good thing he didn't tell you. We don't need anyone dying."
"You're just as bad as he is!" Ron yelled. "You butt out of this, Rita!" The portrait door opened again, and the twins and Lee walked in.
"What's going on?" Lee asked.
"Rita and Harry-" Ron started but I started yelling over him.
"Ron's being a prick again! Harry didn't put his bloody name in the goblet, you git!"
"How would you know?" Ron yelled. "Were you glued to his side?"
"No, but weren't you?! How could he have snuck away to have enough time to hoodwink the damn goblet?" I yelled back.
"Rita's right, Ron-" Hermione tried.
"You all just don't want me to ever have any fame!"
"How could Harry have tricked the goblet when he can barely do anything but Expelliarmus?!" I yelled.
"Blimey you guys. Stop yelling." George said, trying to step between us.
"Not until they admit that Harry put his name in!" Ron said.
"Why does it matter, you little sh-!"
"Fred!" Ron nearly shrieked. His face was as red as the couches. "Fred, are you going to let her talk to me like that?"
Fred laughed. "Sorry, Ron, but I think you're on your own."
"Yeah. Rita's scary." George and Lee said simoltaniously.
I rolled my eyes but didn't turn around. Ron's face was too funny: his skin was flaming red, probably hot to the touch as well as splotchy. He made a weird almost choking noise before yelling frustratedly.
"Fine! If you all want to be like that, then fine!" He yelled, storming off.
It was silent for a few moments, and I shrugged.
"Oh well. So Harry, how's the practice going?"
Adadadadadadad
I woke up the next morning to a pillow in the face.
"Ow, what the bloody hell?" I rolled over groggily and glared up at Hermione. The light behind her cast an odd shadow over her, throwing her features into shadow and creating a halo around her form.
"Some angel I got." I muttered sleepily as I got up and dodged her second pillow attack.
"What was that?" She asked.
"Nothing, Mum."
"Mhm. Get ready." She said.
"Why?" I groaned. "It's Saturday."
"Yes, and we're going dress shopping."
"Why are we going dress shopping?" I asked slowly. She huffed and tossed the pillow onto her bed.
"For the ball."
I groaned. "Oh no."
Walking out of the dress shop and into the bright light was like coming up from being under water to find that the air was even better and sweeter than you remembered.
The sun was blazing with afternoon heat as people walked by on the streets. It reflected off the shop windows and I had to squint to see Hermione next to me.
"So. I have a date to the ball. What about you?" I asked her as we ambled aimlessly.
She shrugged jerkily, and her cheeks and ears tinged pink. I smiled at her.
"Oh, revenged is sweet." I laughed as she shot me a sideways half-glare. "Who is it? I told you when I fancied someone."
"That was different..." she mumbled.
"How?"
"I guessed first. And he likes you back."
I looked at her silently as we continued walking.
"... Is it Harry?" I asked.
Her face grew even more red as she spluttered helplessly. "What? No! He's like- he's like my brother!"
"Okay, Okay. I believe you. He's like my brother too. Are they in our year?"
She bit her lip and nodded.
"Gryffindor?"
Clenching her eyes shut on the next blink, she shrugged.
"I'm just going to take that as a yes. Ooo! Let's go to the Leaky Cauldron. I'm starved."
Hermione groaned as I steered her towards the building.
"You're just like Ron-"
"It's Ron!"
"What?" She asked, frowning. She looked around in confusion as if she expected to see him running up.
"You fancy Ron!" I whisper-hissed at her, grabbing her elbow and pulling her through the door and to an empty table towards the back.
We sat down across from each other; me watching her intently and her fidgeting as she looked around.
"Hermione." I groaned. "Please tell me!"
She puffed her cheeks out as she held her breath, thinking.
"Fine!" She burst. "Yes! It's Ron."
I looked at her blankly before squealing.
"Ok I don't like the Orange One much at the moment, but oh that's just too adorable!"
"Sh! Rita, please! Someone might hear!"
"No one is listening to us, 'Mione. No one really likes us either so-"
"That's not true. People like you now. They think you're cool, or something. Like Harry, but not 'prohpetized savior.'"
I scoffed. "Lies. People still jump away from me in the hallways- Actually, I like that. I need my personal space."
"Rita!" I groaned and looked for who had called my name, seeing the twins.
"Oh it's just you twerps."
"Gee, see how she practically bleeds with her love for you, brother." George said, scooting in next to Hermione while I slid over to give Fred room to sit down.
"'Sall right. I probably did something to deserve it." He said, nudging my side.
I pretended to sniffle and wipe away a tear. "You're right- you forgot our one week anniversary yesterday."
He put a hand to his forehead. "Oh Heavens beseech me! However shall I regain your favor? Will I ever be in your graces again?" He said dramatically.
George heaved and poked Hermione's arm.
"Let's go get butterbeers; I can't take their cute little couple flirting." He said, sliding out of the booth with Hermione close behind.
I watched them leave, waving at their retreating backs.
"We weren't flirting." I said.
"Pfft, no. Totally not."
I looked over at Fred, who was grinning deviously. I broke out into a small fit of giggles.
"We should make a game plan for when they come back." I said.
"Whoever makes them puke first wins."
"What will I win?" I asked.
He raised an eyebrow at me.
"Cocky, are we?"
I grinned. "No. Only being realistic, Freddy."
He laughed. "Hm. What should the prize be?"
"The loser has to carry the winners books and things to and from every class." I said.
He laughed and held out his hand.
I grinned at him before spitting in my palm and holding it out. He crinkled his nose (in a horribly adorable way) but shook my hand anyways.
Hermione and George were on their way back over, and I grinned wider.
"Good luck." I said.
"You'll need it." Fred replied easily.
They sat down again across from us, pushing over two butterbeers.
Fred grinned discreetly over at me.
"Oh we don't need two. We can share."
Damn him. I hate sharing drinks.
"Yeah, you guys didn't have to buy two. That's wasteful." I tsked anyways. I'm not going down that easily. Books are heavy.
George and Hermione shared a look. "They're up to something." George said.
"Perhaps we shouldn't have left them alone." Hermione replied.
I grabbed the mug of butterbeer and went to take a drink but Fred stole it from me and took a drink.
"What the hell?" I said.
"Just making sure it wasn't poisoned." I rolled my eyes and grabbed the mug back, taking a difficult drink.
Oh he is so getting in trouble for this.
George curled his lip in border-line disgust. "Oh Merlin, you two. Don't be like that."
"Don't be like what? We're just having fun." I said, letting me head fall on Fred's shoulder. He tensed for a moment before relaxing again.
"You should leave your hair down more." He said, reaching over and tugging out my clip. "Don't you guys think it looks better down?"
"Don't start this, Fred Weasley." George warned. Hermione hummed and took a drink of her butterbeer.
I could tell that Hermione didn't care either way. She was probably finding this hilarious, really.
"My hands are cold give me yours." I said, grabbing Fred's hands and making sure that they were above the table so George could see.
"Not as cold as my heart is when I'm away from you." He said smoothly as he reached for the drink again. I pulled my head away from his shoulder, shooting him a quick glare.
George pretended to throw up, putting his finger in his mouth and making pukey sounds.
He took a drink and set the mug back down on the table.
He had a little mustache of whip cream on his face and I grinned.
You're going down.
I leaned over and swiped the whipped cream off his face and liked it off my finger. He looked at me in surprise as Hermione choked on her butterbeer.
George threw up.