Author's notes: HPB is disregarded if you didn't realize it. Sorry if the chapter's not exciting, but well, we can't win them all!
Chapter 3: The Library
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The Great Hall was crowded with hungry students and staff members all eager to enjoy breakfast. Ginny hated the incessant chatting and loud laughs.
"Hello, Ginny! Isn't such a wonderful, lovely morning? The birds are chirping, the owls are delivering post, and Wrackspurts are infesting the library," Luna informed her best friend in a singsong voice as she plopped down on the bench. Ginny mumbled under her breath and groaned.
"Luna, dear? Shut your gob."
"What's got your knickers in a twist? Did you already visit the library? Those Wrackspurts attacked you, didn't they?" Luna gasped. It would be horrible if her best friend was attacked by such beasts.
Ginny smiled slightly at her friends antics. Luna could cheer anyone up, even if she didn't mean to. She suppressed a yawn and rubbed the sleep out of her eyes. "No, Luna. I was studying last night for Potions, and I fell asleep on the couch. No one woke me up, and so I spent the night on a bloody uncomfortable couch."
"Oh, poor you. Sleeping on a couch in front of a roaring fire," the Ravenclaw commented airily.
"Once again, I beg of you, shut up."
Luna giggled at her friend's behavior. "Your wish is my command, your Highness." She stood up and bent over in a mock bow before quickly sitting back down. She piled food onto her plate, and because she was such a wonderful friend, began preparing Ginny a plate also.
Ginny graciously accepted the plate overloaded with pancakes and eggs. "Thanks, hun. I'm too tired to eat though." She set the plate down on the right of her. Her back ached and she never noticed before, but the bench wasn't the best place to sit for relaxation. Her head fell towards the table and gave a resounding thump. "Ow. That hurt."
Gryffindors and students seated around the duo laughed.
"Oh, great. Now I'm a laughing stock. How wonderful," Ginny said sarcastically.
"Sugar-Foot, you were already a laughing stock."
Ginny pretended to glare at the accusing witch.
"Don't you think this dare is expired already? We've been calling each other pet names and what-not for a week now. Hell, Luna, you've even called me Sweetie-Puss." the redhead paused for emphasize before continuing, "In front of Ron! He fainted and we had to take him to the Hospital Wing!"
Last Friday was the official Girl's Night. At the beginning of every school year, Ginny and Luna would cause mayhem in Hogwarts by running amuck. It was a tradition since 4th year, when the two friends met. This year, the two witches opted to dash in and out the corridors, daring their fellow students. Ginny had been dared greet every occupant of Hogwarts with a pet-name. She had skipped through the Gryffindor common room, classifying each house member as either 'darling', 'sweet-thang', or 'snookums.' Since then, Luna and Ginny had been calling each other by odd nicknames.
On Monday, Luna had met up with Ginny who was with the Dream Team in the library. She had approached her best friend and had exclaimed that she had missed her 'Sweetie-Puss.' Ron had started to splutter about his little sister's sexual preference and turned a lovely shade of purple, before fainting. That boy had such a weak heart! Poor Luna had to explain to Ron the next day that she was joking.
Luna gazed at her friend in disbelief. "Of course not, you silly nargle. Dares are forever, until you complete the task. Have you been up to any Slytherins lately and called them Honey-bun or even Sweetie-Serpent?" She looked at Ginny expectedly. "Well, have you?"
Ginny bit her lip. "Well, no. But that's different, Lu. They're Slytherins. Do you think they'd appreciate me calling them some ghastly term?"
Luna smiled knowingly. "You're afraid, aren't you? Where's your Gryffindor courage? You haven't completed the dare."
Ginny was shocked. "NO! I'm not afraid. Honestly, where'd you get such a ridiculous idea?" Ginny Weasley was not a coward. She lived for dares and challenges. She just hadn't had the opportunity to meet a Slytherin, that's all.
"Really? Okay, then." Luna said, a wicked gleam in her eye. "To redeem yourself, you must befriend a Slytherin, while calling him or her as many names as possible. Do you think you can do it?"
"Of course I can. Have you ever known me to wimp out? Give me your best shot, Pookiedums," Ginny replied. Hopefully, Luna wouldn't make her call Snape 'Sexy Sev' or something equally atrocious. Oh, the possibilities. She was faintly regretting boasting to Luna about her Gryffindor audacity.
Luna was scanning the Slytherin table. There were 1st years huddled on one side of the table. The 2nd, 3rd, and 4th years were squashed in the middle of the benches. The 5th and 6th years were flirting with the 7th years. And then she landed on him. He would be perfect!
"Zabini."
Ginny blinked. "Pardon me? Who?" She craned her neck to view the Slytherin table to look for this supposed Zabini.
"You know, that 7th year who hangs out with Malfoy? He's on the right of Malfoy right now. Black hair, nice eyes, the only Slytherin smiling. Ring any bells?" Ginny saw him. He was talking to Malfoy while his friend looked annoyed. She looked away before she was caught staring at the Slytherin. Merlin knows the rumors would fly if she was caught ogling him.
She scowled at the blond. "I see him. No need to go into details of what he's wearing." She reached for the pumpkin juice. All this talk was making her thirsty.
Luna grinned. "That's wonderful then. Now that you know what he looks like, you can talk to him. So go!" She nudged Ginny.
The redhead started to choke on her drink. Talk? To him? Now? Her friend was crazy if she thought that she would waltz up to the Slytherin table while everyone was eating breakfast. She wanted no spectators- or at least not this many. Everyone was at breakfast! Ron, Hermione, and Harry were sitting further down the table from her! She could envision the events that would follow if she obeyed Luna's orders: Her brother would march up to Zabini, accuse him of poisoning her with a love potion, and then attempt to hex him.
Luna brutally thumped her on her back as she continued to play out the events in her mind. She grimaced at her vivid image of an irate Ron.
"Absolutely not! Can you imagine the havoc that would cause? I can, and it's not a pretty sight," Ginny exclaimed once she could speak again. She had discarded her pumpkin juice and instead attacked her pancakes. For some inexpicable reason, she was feeling less tired now, and her appetite was beginning to pick up.
"Why not? It's perfect. He's eating, and eating makes people happy," Luna commented innocently.
Ginny gazed skeptically at her friend. "Just because he's happy doesn't mean that others will be also."
Luna considered Ginny's comment. Alright. So a Gryffindor approaching a Slytherin during breakfast was a horrendous idea. But still. "How about today in the library? I think he's there on weekends. You can talk to him then while I warn others of the pesky Wrackspurts."
Ginny sighed. "Fine. I'll do it then." She grumbled to herself about troublesome Ravenclaws and stupid dares. How had she got into such a mess? It was a regular morning and now- now, she had to be sickeningly sweet to a Slytherin. Someone she didn't know at all! Why did she have to go through with the dare anyway? It was a week ago!
The two best friends ate in relative peace- Ginny planning possible ways of handling the Slytherin and creating pet-names, and Luna wondering about how she could capture a Wrackspurt.
Luna had already eaten all her food and was waiting for Ginny. Ginny finished her plate and stood up. She cast one last look towards the Slytherin table before her and Luna exited the Great Hall.
"Bring it on."
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Blaise was aggravating Draco to no end. He wanted to know who Draco had gotten, but his friend had just replied with a 'Tell you later.' He had subtly hinted about his witch hoping that Draco would budge, but he hadn't.
Draco glanced at the departing witches. "Blaise, why were those girls staring at you?" He had been observing his damn target for the bloody competition and had noticed that both witches were gawking at his best mate.
Blaise shrugged and smirked smugly. "It's because of my rugged good-looks, and striking features."
Draco snorted. "You didn't even know that they were looking at you." If his bint was lusting after his best mate, then this game of 'Cat and Mouse' was harder than he expected. It was one thing for him having to pursue her, but for her to want Blaise; he might not have a chance with her.
"I did too notice."
"Blaise, you sound like a 1st year." Frankly, Draco didn't care that his mate sounded like an eleven year-old, as long as he stopped badgering. Draco wanted to eat breakfast in peace!
"Whatever, mate. Now, are you going to tell me?" Damn.
"Zabini, have patience. You haven't given me the name of yours," Draco commented slyly. Hopefully, that would keep Blaise off his back.
"If I do, will you tell me yours?" Or not.
The exasperated blond ran a hand through his hair. Somewhere further down the table, he heard several breathy sighs. He was that gorgeous.
He faced his friend who was finishing his goblet of pumpkin juice. "If I tell you, you might ruin my plans. So, no. I'll tell you later- in private." He wasn't nervous about Blaise screwing up, actually. He just wanted more time to plan his strategy. How was he supposed to approach her, anyway? She was always surrounded by classmates, and if not, her wench of a best friend. He had scrutinized her during breakfast, wondering what made her tick. He had analyzed her- physically and mentally- and he came to one conclusion: she had nice tits.
He was male, after all.
Blaise smirked. "Fine, mate. Have it your way. I think I know who she is anyway. You kept staring at the Gryffindor table." He sniggered slightly at his friend's raised eyebrow. "You're not as smooth as you like to think."
"Really? Who is she then?" He was placed in Slytherin for a reason, and was as smooth as they came. He was sly, cunning, and devious.
"Is it Granger? She is a Mudblood, and won't go near you," Blaise enquired. It must be her. She despised Draco for all the years he tormented her.
If Draco was not a Malfoy, he would have lost control of his emotions and started to wildly laugh. But he was, and so he chuckled at his friend's pathetic attempt at assuming who the mystery witch was. "Hell no. Do you think I would lower myself to such filth, even to win this competition?"
Blaise cursed. "Damn. I thought that I had figured it out." He stood up and motioned to Draco that it was time to leave. The two Slytherins left and headed towards the library, both hoping to bump into their witches.
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"You got who?" Ron exclaimed as he stopped pacing in front of Harry. He had screamed the last part, but since no one else was in the dorm, it didn't really matter.
Harry was sprawled across his bed facing the ceiling. "Don't make me repeat her name. It's bad enough that she's a Slytherin, but now, I have to come into contact with her." Harry glanced at his parchment dejectedly. Of all the witches this school housed, he got her. He was definitely going to lose this competition- and to Malfoy! He could already imagine the smirk of the blond's face. He crumpled the scrap of parchment and shoved it into the pocket of his jeans.
Ron attempted to cheer up his best mate by being more understanding. "Look, mate. You're bloody Harry Potter. You can get any girl, even if she is in Slytherin." It didn't work.
Harry countered Ron's remark. "I have no experience with girls. Do you remember Cho and how that turned out? Let's hope this one doesn't start bawling her eyes out." He closed his eyes. "I don't even know how to come up to her."
Ron brightened up as if a light bulb had gone off. "The library, Harry! You could meet her at the library. Everyone's always at the library."
The emerald-eyed wizard replied, "No, Hermione's the one always at the library. I don't think I've ever seen her there."
Ron grinned. "That's because you don't go to the library that often. I went last week with Hermione, and she was there with Tracey Davis." He stood in front of Harry, and pulled him off the bed. "Let's go now. I think Hermione once said, 'The early bird catches the worm,' so c'mon."
Harry reluctantly got off the bed and smoothed down his hair before Ron commented. "Don't touch your hair. Ginny told me that girls love the messy look. I told her that she's crazy, but she is a girl, so she knows how they think."
Harry groaned at being reminded oh his current situation and covered his face with his hands. "Why couldn't I have gotten Ginny?" He didn't realize what he said until Ron whacked him upside the head.
"Go near Gin with plans to shag her and I will hex you- best friend or not.," Ron growled.
Harry rubbed the spot that Ron had smacked. "Duly noted." He opened the door that led to the common room and strolled out, Ron following him.
The redhead nodded. "Good. Now let's go find Daphne Greengrass!"
And off they went to the library, where many other students were already there. The library was becoming such a popular place to hang out. Who knew that so many people loved reading?
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I hope you guys like it. If this chapter seemed random, it's not. It'll make sense later. Promise.
If my characters seem OOC, sorry! It's needed to fit the plotline. And sorry, for the wait, but I had testing.
Leave a review, even if it's short, like 'awesome' or 'sucks'. Let's just hope it's not the latter.