A Siren's Song

Chapter 21

Friday December 7th ~ Lunch

The two weeks since the First Task had gone quickly and without incident. Well mostly without incident. Professor Snape seemed to be on the war path, when it came to potions class and essays. Since today was the start of the Chess Competitions classes were a bit shorter. However that didn't stop them from assigning a bunch of homework to be done over the weekend. Actually that was mostly Professor Snape really. All the other Professors were going easy on everyone, as most students were able to finish in class.

Ron and Harry sat at the Gryffindor table in the Great Hall. They seemed to be sighing every few minutes.

"Something wrong boys?" Hermione asked as she sat down in between Fred and George.

"Homework," Ron said taking a bit of his food before sighing.

"Oh?" Hermione asking in a caring way, "have you a lot?"

"Tons," Ron said heaving a sigh, "I imagine you don't, with you being smartest girl of your age and all that rot."

"Actually," Hermione said with an air of annoyance, "most students were able to finish in class. Professor Snape is the only one who handed out extra work today."

"She doesn't have to be all smug about it," Ron leaned over and whispered to Harry.

"Actually I think she does mate," Harry whispered back, "I've finished mine as well, except for Snape's."

"Professor Harry," Hermione corrected yet again for the one millionth time. "So Ron, are you ready for the Competition, it starts right after lunch?"

"Of course he's ready," George said, "Chess is the only thing he could ever beat Dad and Charley at, Bill too if I remember correctly."

"Yup, no ones come close to beating me yet," Ron said, "I imagine that Hermione could come close if she bothered to learn how to play."

"Dad tried to teach me once," Hermione said, "I like regular chess, it's just the wizards Chess I don't like. All that violence."

"Your an old softy," Fred said nudging her with his shoulder.

"That didn't stop you from punching Draco in the nose last year," Harry said with a big grin.

"That was priceless," Ron said, "I'm pretty sure she broke it too."

"It did feel pretty good," Hermione said, "but he was being cruel, and I just couldn't take it."

"We'd hate to ever get on your bad side love," George said.

"See that you don't," she said sternly, before smiling at the two of them. Lunch continued on with friendly banter, until Dumbledore arrived and asked everyone to leave the Great Hall, for a moment.

Upon entering again, the Great Hall was set up with 50 individual tables. All the tables looked identical to the others. They all had a Chessboard and pieces, a timer, and of course chairs, how else are they to sit down.

Everyone was awed and amazed, at how quickly the room was changed, they'd only stepped away for a moment of two.

Soon after Dumbledore stepped forward and began to speak, "Welcome to the very first and hopefully not the last Hogwarts Wizarding Chess Games. Now everyone who isn't planning to compete if you could step to the side and find a seat among the bleachers. Now, those of you who are going to compete, I need you to line up, single file if you please, no pushing now. You are going to pick a number out of this here hat.

This number is very important, it tells you which table you are at. It's where you will find your first opponent."

Hermione sat with Ginny and Neville on the bleachers, none of them could play Chess very well. Sure Hermione could, but she didn't like the appalling violence of the Wizarding Chess set; but she could beat her father on occasion. I guess he's really not my father any more is he? She asked herself, how had life get so turned around? She had no idea what her father Remus Lupin liked to do when he wasn't working. Perhaps she should schedule a game of twenty question so she could learn more about him?

"What are you thinking about?" Ginny asked her, "You seem so far away."

"I was thinking about my father, and the fact that he's not really my father any more. And then there is the man who is my father, I don't know anything about him other than what I learned from my Mother's letters," Hermione said.

"So that's where you went," Ginny said, "You should ask him next time you see him. Or perhaps you could ask him a question in your next letter. It may be a while before you see him again, and as you're keeping it a secret from everyone. You may not get to be alone with him the next time you see him. So a letter would be the better way to go I think."

"Everyone will know after we get out for the summer though," Hermione said, "I'll be living with him where ever it is he's staying."

"You don't know where he's staying?" Ginny asked.

"Where ever Uncle is staying," Hermione said, she didn't want to say her uncle's name in case someone was listening to their conversation.

"Where is your Uncle staying?" Ginny asked.

"I'm not sure where he's staying," Hermione said, "I think Dad said something about his Mother's old house."

"What are you guys talking about?" Harry asked sitting down on the other side of Hermione as she was sitting next to Ginny and Ginny was sitting next to Neville.

"My Father," Hermione said turning to look at him, "Do you ever wish you could ask someone what your Mother was like?"

"All the time," Harry said, "but all the people I know that can tell me, can only tell me what she was like in school. Since my Dad is gone too I can't exactly ask him."

"I'm sure Remus could tell you, or even Uncle," Hermione said, still trying not to mention Sirius's name out loud.

"I'm sure I could," Harry said, "I have a feeling though that it brings up a lot of sadness for them to talk about them."

"I hadn't thought of that," Hermione said, "We were just talking about how I don't know anything about what my Father likes to do in his free time, and how I should ask him. I don't know if he likes to play Chess or fly on a broom, or read even."

Harry leaned over and gave her a brotherly hug, "there's plenty of time," Harry whispered, "try not to worry over it, OK?"

"OK," she said smiling at him.

"Now, lets watch Ron wipe the floor with all his opponents shall we?"

"Yes, lets," Hermione said.

A few moments later, Fred, George, along with some other older boys entered the room and secured the seats behind them on the bleachers.

"Whats this?" George said, "You making eyes at another boy Hermione?"

Hermione laughed turning to see George, "Harry was just giving me a big brother hug," she said with a smile.

"Just making sure," George said, "though you do realize that he is younger than you?"

"Saying it was a little brother hug wouldn't have sounded as nice," Ginny said making her presence known to the rest of them."

"Though a hug from a little sister, is just as nice," Fred said wrapping his arms around his sister's neck, "don't be letting any boys give you hugs little sis."

"Yes sir," she said in mock seriousness.

It was finally time for dinner as the competitions had ended for the day. Ron had won all three of his matches; though it wasn't surprising to those who knew him well, it was surprising for those who didn't.

"Wow, them Weasley's have a kid that's good at nearly everything," One boy said, "Why I bet that there'll be a Weasley in every profession, we won't be able to get away from them."

"And what exactly is that supposed to mean?" Ginny asked angrily.

"Nothing," another boy said, "He just means that you and your siblings are all good at something different. It'll be nearly impossible to enter a profession without running into one of you."

Ginny let the boy go after hearing that, however she distinctly heard one of the boys mutter, "Nice save." While the other muttered, "Thanks," under his breath.

"Ginny," a voice said from behind her.

Turning around she saw Neville leaning against the wall looking at her nervously. "Something wrong Neville?" she asked.

"I was wondering... I know it was just announced tonight... you don't have to go with me if you don't want to." he said rambling, "Will you go to the Ball with me?"

"Why wouldn't I want to go with you?" she asked curiously, "Of course I want to go with you."

"I understand..." he said starting to walk away. He was so sure that she would say no that he hadn't heard her say yes.

"Where are you going?" Ginny asked, putting her hand on his shoulder to stop him, "I agreed to go with you to the dance. Doesn't that warrant a kiss of some sort?"

Neville blushed crimson, before lifting her hand from his shoulder and kissing her knuckles. Ginny blushed and hid her bright smile behind her other hand, as he kept a hold of her hand for a bit longer.

When several students tumbled around the corner, Neville and Ginny jumped apart quickly. Ginny backed up a few spaces and stood against the wall. Neville stood where he was acting as though he was meeting up with his friend.

"And what are the two of you up to, hmm?" ask a boy who sounded suspiciously like one of the Weasley twins.

"Standing in the corridor all alone," the other said.

"Neville was just asking me to the Yule Ball," Ginny said smugly, "don't tell me you boys haven't found a date yet? Though I imagine it would be hard for Hermione to go with all of you at the same time."

"We haven't discussed it," Fred said, "It wouldn't be very nice to press on her to chose who she would want to go with most. She should probably go with Viktor, she still has one year left with us and Diggery."

"Perhaps you should all sit down and discuss it with her," Ginny said, "Hermione won't take it very well if she thinks your deciding for her. She might even choose not to go with any of you just so she's not hurting anyone's feelings."

"But the Champions all have to open the dance with a waltz," George said, "it would be better if Diggery or Krum had an easy time of it. Fred and I don't necessarily have to have a date."

"There's still time to talk about it," Ginny said, "where were you guys going in such a hurry anyways? And where is Lee I thought he was like your shadow or an extra appendage or something?"

"Detention," they said together.

"What did he do to get detention?" Ginny asked.

They muttered something about losing a bet and setting off a dung bomb in the Dungeons. "What was the bet?" she asked.

"About who would come out first in the Tournament yesterday," Fred said.

"Oh," Ginny said, "That's what you get for gambling."

Ginny and Neville headed back to the common room where everyone was wishing Ron the best of luck on the second part of the Chess Tournament.

"Who do you think it was that gave Dumbledore the idea?" Harry asked.

"McGonagall perhaps," Dean suggested. It was odd, who would suggest such as idea? Wasn't there enough excitement with the Triwizard Tournament?

Ron really wanted to thank who ever it was that suggested the Chess match. It made him feel more, well just more... He felt like he was suddenly being recognized for himself rather than just being friends with Harry Potter: the Hero, and Hermione Granger, the brain who's plans got them out of trouble and kept them alive. Suddenly he was more than just a strategist. No, he was a Chess Champion. Sure there wouldn't be as much glory; but there would be some. And if Ron won, it would be a great achievement.

Meanwhile, the Slytherin trio were in the Slytherin common room, with some others from their house. There were some older Slytherin's who were still in the Chess Championship.

"How far do you think Weasley will get?" Blaise asked.

"Pretty far a reckon," Theo said remembering the rumors that he'd heard about him winning some giant Chess match first year.

"You think the rumors are true?" Blaise asked.

"Depends on which rumor," Draco said.

"The one where The three Gryffindor's face down You-Know-Who in first year," Blaise said.

"No," Draco said, "But I reckon he couldn't have gotten through all the traps without the others."

when the other looked at him with a questioning gaze he continued on. "My Godfather, was grousing to father about a first year, figuring out his riddle."

"Who solved the riddle?" Crabbe and Goyle asked, stepping into the conversation.

"Granger solved the riddle," Draco said.

"What riddle did she solve?" Theo asked.

"I don't know," Draco said, "but I do know that I she hadn't solved it, potter wouldn't have faced You-Know-Who."

At the end of the day, only a few students were still awake. Most were snug in their beds, dreaming about Winnings a Chess trophy.

Hermione was laying on the love seat her head in George's lap, her feet resting on Fred's legs. Neville sat in the chair next to the twins, Ron took over the other sofa his head resting on Lavender's lap. Harry laid on the floor in between, his head resting in his hands.

They were all looking intently at Ginny, who was reading aloud from 'Alice in Wonderland Through the Looking Glass'. The second book in a series of two. She sat in the chair across from Neville. She was about half way through the second chapter when professor McGonagall entered the common room.

Ginny paused, "is something wrong Professor?" she asked suddenly.

"No," she answered, "I was surprised that it as so quiet so I came to check. What book are you reading them?"

"Alice In Wonderland, Through The Looking Glass." Ginny said.

"That was one of my favorites" Professor McGonagall said, "Well carry on. Try not to stay up to late."

"We won't," they Chorused.

When Ginny reached to the end of the 4th chapter they all stretched and yawned before deciding that it was time for bed.

Hermione kissed the twins goodnight before she and Ginny and Lavender climbed the stairs to bed.

When the three reached the top Lavender announced, "We should begin and end every week like this."

Ginny smiled, patted the older girl on the shoulder and went to her dorm.

"Good Night, Lavender," Hermione said climbing into bed.

"Good Night Hermione," Lavender replied, and they both dropped into the realm of dreams.

McGonagall and Dumbledore were having a 'meeting' in his office.

"and what are the Gryffindor's up to tonight? It's oddly quiet," Dumbledore asked.

"The majority were asleep and in bed," she said, "However, miss Weasley was reading to Miss Granger, Mr. Potter, Mr. Longbottom, Miss Brown, and her brothers, all three."

"What was she reading?" He asked curiously, a twinkle shown in his eye.

"'Alice In Wonderland Through the Looking Glass'."

"Ah," Dumbledore sighed, "What a lovely nonsensical book to read aloud. Why I can almost imagine our dear Potions Professor Snape as Absolem."

Minerva stifled a laugh, "Perhaps it'll be her next big prank."

"Minnie," Dumbledore said with a twinkle in his eye. She had but a moment to respond before he pulled her from where she was standing and into his lap.

Down in the Dungeons, Severus's nose started to itch, causing him to sneeze. "Odd," he said aloud to himself. He never take the superstition about itchy noses when someone was talking about you. So it didn't occur to him that perhaps that the Headmaster and McGonagall were talking and laughing about him.

A/N: I know it's a bit shorter that usual, but I thought I best to end the chapter here. Next chapter will cover the second day of the Chess Championship's and possibly the Yule Ball and diner. I will try to have it up sooner than I did this chapter. I've been busy, and I haven't been in the mood to write anything. I need to start working on my second book. It's not just my publisher bugging me anymore... haha well I'm not sure where to even begin with it, so... I've been putting off even thinking about it.

I'll try not to make you wait so long for another chapter. I am VERY SORRY! Please don't hurt me!