Chapter2:

Explanations of the Confusing Kind

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"Do I have to?"

"Yes, Neville, you do."

"But…you want me to attack you?"

"Yes, Neville, I do."

"Why?"

"…to test my reaction time of course!"

"Oh…I still don't understand."

"Well, I do. And that's enough."

"Okay. But, why is Ginny here?"

"…I don't know Neville. I don't know."

Hoping against hope that Ginny was there only for a quick chat, Hermione turned and led Ginny out of Neville's hearing range. Making sure she looked upbeat and not obsessive, Hermione opened her mouth to speak- and was silenced by Ginny speaking first.

Damn rotten luck.

"Well, well, Hermione. Now what have you been up to lately? Zoning out in classes, procrastinating on homework, periodically whispering 'sneaky, sneaky Slytherin' during the day…Me thinks you have an unhealthy obsession with a certain somebody."

"Who? Me?" Putting on her best innocent look, Hermione searched frantically for anything to throw Ginny off the scent of her 'love life' non-existent as it was.

"Yes, Hermione. You."

"Well…I" 'Pause for effect, old girl, and for the love of Merlin! Stop twitching!'

"I simply am looking out for the betterment of our school, dearest Ginny."

"And that means having Neville attack you under the pretense of testing reaction time? Hermione…something is going on with you, and I would just love to know what it is. So, 'fess up!"

'Argh. Foiled again.' Deciding that "'fessing up" would be much more profitable than being hit with a nefarious Bat Bogey hex, Hermione sighed and gave up.

"All right, all right! I'll tell…but Ginny I swear by all that is wonderful and studious in the world, I will torture you beyond human limit if you at all leak this out."

Ginny rolled her eyes and performed the customary witch scout vow, complete with the three-fingered salute at the end. Hermione growled lowly and contemplated the consequences of the earlier mentioned torture.

"Ginny, please be serious." Naturally she cleared her throat while closing her eyes and holding a fist to her mouth. This pose was supposed to create the illusion of authority and general 'know-how', but sadly this position did not mix well with the slightly crazed gleam previously in Hermione's eyes.

"As I was saying, today in Arithmancy I discovered that I could not focus in the class. I was, naturally, quite disturbed by this, and brought it upon myself to find the cause behind this irregularity. Well…I found it. The cause, that is."

"And…it would be what?"

"Blaise Zabini."

"…Really now."

"Of course! For some odd reason I have chosen to be preoccupied by him. It's really quite natural when you think about it. I mean we know nearly nothing about him, and so it is quite logical that I should want to…"

"Fancy him?"

"NO!" '…just a bit.' "Simply…investigate him."

"But, how does that tie in with Neville attacking you?"

'Right. Good show, almost have her convinced.'

"Well, I have to attract his attention somehow. And, what better way to see if he is a 'true' Slytherin, than by seeing whether or not he saves a Gryffindor girl?"

"I suppose."

"Don't worry Ginny. My plan is foolproof." 'Almost foolproof, anyway.'