Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any of the characters from it. Harry Potter is the property of J. K. Rowling.
Joys of Manual Labor
Chapter Three
Ginny's three lunch companions were gaping at her. Seeing Professor Snape and Lucius Malfoy gaping almost made Ginny laugh. 'Maybe I should really throw them for a loop.' With that thought it mind Ginny pulled the cord out of the music device and quickly flipped through the songs. 'Which one? Ooh, yes. This one.' Having found a good song Ginny turned the volume up a little and pressed play.
Noise came out of the contraption making Lucius and Severus jump.
Lucius scowled. "What is that?"
"It's Rock and Roll. Specifically, 'Immigrant Song'."
Lucius looked slightly disturbed, while Severus looked intrigued.
Hermione looked delighted. "You enjoy Led Zeppelin? What other Muggle bands do you like? Please tell me that you have stopped thinking the Weird Sisters are amazing."
Ginny snickered a little. "After listening to Muggle bands, I have to admit that the Weird Sisters do not compare. As for other bands I like..." Ginny trailed off as she fiddled with the device some more. The sounds coming from the device stopped and Ginny pocketed it along with the cord. "How about you and I work together this afternoon and we can listen to some of my play-lists."
"Before I agree answer one question." Hermione said.
"Okay...?"
Both girls had forgotten about the men opposite them.
"Do you have Guns N' Roses?"
Ginny smiled. "Of course, I do."
"Wonderful. We are absolutely working together this afternoon."
Lunch passed quickly after that and before Lucius or Severus knew what was happening the two young women were leaving. Lucius turned to Severus when the two young women were gone. "Muggles consider screaming music?"
Severus chuckled. "That was more vocalizing than screaming. However, there are songs of which screaming is a part."
Lucius just gave Severus a hard look.
"Not to your liking Lucius?" Severus asked with a smirk as he stood.
"It seems to me that, what did Miss Weasley call it, rock and roll, is an acquired taste." Lucius responded also rising. He and Severus made their way from the Great Hall towards the area they had been working that morning.
Severus raised an eyebrow. "We need to listen to my collection of records in the near future. You, my friend, need to broaden your horizons. It could be considered a part of your penance."
Lucius glowered. "I am not subjecting myself to that noise again Severus."
"I wouldn't be so certain if I was you."
They reached the spot they had been previous, and Severus started working. Lucius gave Severus a slightly confused look as he began to remove his shirt. "Why?" He asked simply as he shucked it and began working himself.
Severus snorted. "Don't think I didn't notice your interest in Hermione Granger. You were staring at here during the entirety of lunch. Thus, you should have taken note of her excitement over Miss Weasley's music player. She likes that type of music. Very much so if her reaction is anything to go by. I guarantee you that she will be getting her own music player in the near future and using it very often. I'm interested to see what bands, other than Led Zeppelin and Guns & Roses, she listens to."
'I hate to admit that I did not think of that.' Lucius thought to himself, nearly missing Severus' last sentence. "You're clearly interested in her as well."
"Do not be ridiculous, Lucius. She was my student."
"What does that have to do with anything? Both of us know that you are not going to start teaching again. So, even if she goes back to school, she won't be your student."
Severus stopped working and looked at Lucius, who was already looking at him. "Why do you want me to admit a supposed interest in Miss Granger, when you clearly harbor an interest yourself?" Severus did not enjoy talking about his feeling, even with his closet friend. And he certainly did not like the idea of being Lucius' rival in trying to win the affections of a woman.
"Why should my having an interest in Hermione have an adverse effect on you having an interest in her? I have no objections to sharing. It wouldn't take much for both of us to seduce her. Her blush when she came to find us early would seem to indicate an attraction to us on her part. Even if, at the moment, it is only physical.
Hermione and Ginny made their way toward the astronomy tower. Their task was to find and gather all the astronomy equipment and take it to Professor Sinistra's office. Thankfully the tower hadn't been severely damaged in the battle, but like most of the castle it needed repairs and possibly some upgrades.
"Now, do you want just Guns N' Roses? Or do you want a variety of bands to work to?" Ginny asked as she pulled out her music player.
"Hmmm. A variety. Just please make sure that Gun N' Roses is part of that variety."
"No, problem. But why them specifically?" Ginny glanced and Hermione and caught a slight blush on her cheeks. Ginny grinned. "You have a celebrity-crush on one of the members, don't you?"
Hermione simply nodded.
Ginny cackled. "Which one?"
"I'm not saying. You'll just make tease me."
"And if you don't tell me, I'll keep asking you."
Hermione huffed. "If I promise to tell you later, will you promise to drop it?"
"So long as you keep your part of the promise in a timely manner."
Hermione nodded and so Ginny turned on the music.
After a few hours they had found all the equipment and were getting ready to take to Professor Sinistra's office. During that time, they listened to Guns N' Roses, Led Zeppelin, Journey, Boston, David Bowie, Def Leopard, Aerosmith, and several others.
Hermione looked at Ginny smiling. "I don't know who your cousin is, but I think I love them."
Ginny laughed. "I'll be sure to tell them that."
"Actually, could you ask them where I could buy a music player like that? I would love to have one."
"Sure."
The girls levitated the equipment and went to Professor Sinistra's office. The door was open, so they let themselves in and set the equipment where they had been instructed to. They then went in search of Professor McGonagall. Not certain what their next task was.
They found her in the Great Hall talking to Ron and Harry.
"Ah, Miss Granger, Miss Weasley, all finished with the astronomy equipment I see." Minerva smiled at them.
"Yes, Ma'am. We were wondering what your next instructions were." Hermione replied, when she and Ginny were closer.