Hogwarts High
By Siriusly Amused
Author's Note: Someone pointed out that our beloved Mr. Krum spells his name with a k instead of a c. My bad. But then I got to thinking, most American Victors spell their names with the c, so it's okay, right?
Disclaimer: I own the GoF DVD! But I do not own the HP universe…The Libertinesor their lyrics…Bill Clinton…
Chapter Five
The Boring Yet Necessary Chapter
µ Have we enough to keep it together…Or do we just keep on pretending µ
···Harry···
"Potter! Yoo-hoo, Potter! Wake up, damn you!"
I opened one eye lazily to see Draco standing over my bed, clad in the light blue dress shirt of our school uniform and a pair of boxers.
"You can't borrow my pants," I told him groggily before rolling over.
"What the hell? I don't want to borrow your pants!"
I rolled back over and propped myself up on my elbows, glaring at Draco angrily. "Then what do you want?" I asked him.
"I wanted to warn you against eating stroganoff as a midnight snack, and to remind you to pack some extra clothes in your school bag." Draco turned and made to leave.
"Wait! What?" I asked, feeling confused. Giving up on sleep completely, I threw my blanket aside and sat on the edge of my bed, rubbing the sleep from my eyes.
Draco turned back around and launched into an explanation as I rummaged my floor for a clean uniform.
"You see, I was hungry last night, so I thought I'd heat up some of that leftover stroganoff. So I did. And I ate it. And it was yummy. Then I went to bed and had this really weird dream where killer robots were taking over the town and Bill Clinton was fighting them off with a broom, and he was all like, 'RUN, DRACO! SAVE YOURSELF!'" Draco threw his arms out dramatically. I looked at him oddly, but he ignored me and continued:
"So then I woke up and I felt kind of funny--probably from eating stroganoff so late--so I took a shower. It was in the shower that I had a stroke of utter brilliance!"
I looked up from smelling a pair of socks that I had just found on the floor. "Which was?" I asked.
"We should join the soccer team!"
"Ugh! Soccer?"
Draco and I both jumped and gave very unmanly squeals as Jaclyn entered my room. She was dressed in her uniform, and had a look of disgust on her face and a box of powered donuts in her arms.
"Our school's soccer team is so lame! Wouldn't you guys rather play football or something cool?" she asked as Draco and I quickly searched my floor for pants. I glared at Draco as he put a pair of my pants on, but I didn't say anything; all I wanted was to find a pair of pants and clothe myself.
"Wrestling and swimming are also respectable sports," Jaclyn continued, opening the box of powered donuts and helping herself to one as I pulled on a pair of pants and found a nearby shirt to put on as well.
"Harry and I are soccer players," Draco stated matter-of-factly.
Jaclyn sighed, rolled her eyes, and mentioned 'losers' under her breath.
"What was that?"
"Donut?" she asked brightly, holding out the box to us. Draco and I eyed her suspiciously, but helped ourselves to some donuts nonetheless.
"Just you wait, Jaclyn!" Draco threatened through a mouthful of powdered sugar. "Harry and I will turn our school's soccer team into champions!" This promise would have been much more impressive if Draco didn't have powdered sugar on his nose.
···Tonks···
I expected to be uncomfortable sitting with my former teachers in the teacher's lounge at my old high school. I thought that they might censor themselves around me, as if an imaginary brick wall stood between us; however, I was greatly mistaken.
On my first day of eating lunch in the teacher's lounge, McGonagall told Snape to 'scoot his tush' down so that I could sit. They then went into long complaints about their students, which helped me feel more at ease. Four days later, Fred (or George) Weasley entered the teacher's lounge, much to everyone's surprise. George (or Fred) went into a speech about the mating habits of weasels. For nearly five minutes, the twin delivered his speech while the other teachers and I stared at him completely perplexed, and Dumbledore nodded interestedly and exclaimed 'You don't say!' at intervals. After he finished his speech, whichever twin he was gave a bow, stole a plate of cookies that was sitting on a nearby table, and left.
"Didn't we graduate him?" Snape asked, his lip curling with annoyance.
"No, no. He quit, remember?" McGonagall corrected.
"Quit?" I asked, looking at the teachers around me in confusion.
McGonagall and Dumbledore quickly launched into a colorful story about how the twins had dramatically thrown their diplomas at Dumbledore's feet and 'quit' high school. While my coworkers told the story, my attention was drawn to the courtyard outside the window where Fred and George tackled Ron to the ground and started wrestling. A small smile crossed my face as I watched the brothers play. My smile was short-lived, however, as I was filled with an immense loneliness. My family, Remus, and friends were all over an hour's drive away, leaving the Weasley family as my only acquaintances.
I sighed miserably and resolved to call Molly that evening.
"MISS TONKS!"
"Yes? Sorry." Snape was glaring at me. He pointed to my tater tots.
"Are you going to eat those?"
I smiled and pushed my tray to him. "Knock yourself out, Snape."
···Ginny···
"Not finished with that yet, Ginny?" Parvati asked me at our normal lunch table under the oak tree in the courtyard. Parvati, Seamus, and Noelle were all happily eating their mozzarella dunkers while I was working on some Driver's Ed homework. I was stuck on question number 47: If a deer is 50 ft ahead of you and you're going 55 mph with a wind resistance of 20 mph, how long until you hit the deer?
Keeping my head down, I waved Parvati off and scribbled out my latest miscalculation. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a red headed male place his tray down and sit beside me. Thinking it was just Ron, I started my deer calculations over. Then another red headed male sat on the other side of me.
"What the…?" I asked, raising my head to find myself sandwiched between Fred and George. "What are you two doing here?"
George dunked one of his dunkers into his tomato sauce and mentioned something about being in the neighborhood.
I was going to press them further when a very grass-stained Ron sat down next to Fred.
"What are Fred and George doing here, Ron?" I asked him, pointing at our twin brothers.
"Making my life hell, apparently," Ron replied glumly, picking a blade of grass out of his hair. "I was on my way to get food when they tackled me, wrestled me, then forced me to buy them lunch. Now I don't have enough money for my own lunch!"
"Here, man, you can have my tater tots," Seamus offered, pushing his tray closer to Ron. Ron thanked him and started eating the tater tots as George grabbed my Driver's Ed homework and scribbled 'No one would do math in their head before hitting a deer' as my answer.
"Really, what are you two doing…"
"WON-WON!"
"…here?"
Lavender squeezed herself in between Fred and Ron. Fred eyed her curiously as she grabbed a hold of Ron's hand.
"What time are you picking me up tonight, Won-Won?" Lavender asked, resting her chin on Ron's shoulder.
"Um…" Ron stammered, blushing furiously as Fred and George waggled their eyebrows at him and Seamus glared at him.
"You're taking my ex-girlfriend to the beach bonfire tonight?" Seamus asked.
"Yeah," Ron replied, wincing as if he expected Seamus to punch him. Seamus didn't punch Ron, but he did take his tater tots back. Lavender gave her ex-boyfriend a vindictive look.
"Pick me up at eight, Won-Won," she stated before getting up from the table and leaving in a huff.
"That's my cue to follow her," Parvati stated, rising from the table as well.
"So you're Won-Won now?" Fred asked Ron.
"Shut up."
"Tell me, Won-Won, when did you and Lav-Lav become an item?"
"I said shut up, Fred!"
"Does Mom know?"
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU TWO DOING HERE ANYWAY?"
Fred smirked at Ron.
"Business, bro." And before Ron could ask what business, Fred taped a flyer to Ron's forehead.
"What the…?" Ron pulled the flyer off of his forehead and read it aloud to the table.
"Weasels: The Store Slash Café Slash Hang-out Type Place Thinger." Ron raised a questioning eyebrow at the twins before continuing. "Grand opening on September 26th at 6 PM. Free food and drink. Half off of all merchandise. Live music by The Weird Sisters."
"Wow," Seamus stated, impressed.
"Do us a favor, Won-Won, and pass these out," George ordered, placing a pile of flyers on the table.
"Don't call me Won-Won!"
The twins ignored Ron and rose from the table.
"We've got legal papers to sign. We'll see you guys later."
After the twins had disappeared, Noelle reached for one of the flyers and read it. "Do you think this place will do well?" she asked us curiously.
"Who cares?" Ron stated. "Just as long as Fred and George give me a job there. Seamus, can I have your tater tots?"
"NO!"
···Hermione···
Victor was in the student lounge, playing pinball by himself. It was Friday afternoon and my parents were due to pick me up in twenty minutes to take me home for the weekend and I wanted to say goodbye to Victor before I left. His eyes left the pinball machine and found mine. He smiled and offered a slight wave as I made my way over to him.
"Going home for the weekend?" he asked casually, returning his attention back to his pinball game.
"Yeah," I replied. "You?"
He shook his head. "Staying here. We've got a lot of soccer practices this weekend. Our first game is Saturday night." He suddenly turned to face me. "Will you come watch? It's a home game."
I had actually planned to read a fascinating book about some unknown moss growing on a rock in South America Saturday night, but Victor was looking at me with wide, hopeful eyes; I couldn't say no.
"Of course I'll come, Victor," I stated, smiling and placing a hand on his arm.
He graced me with an adorable smile and I felt a strange lurch in my stomach.
···Draco···
Potter and I were immediately and enthusiastically accepted into the soccer team. Our coaches, Bert and Ernie (yes, that's their real names), have a genuine love of the sport; the problem that the team always had was that the players didn't take the game seriously. Seeing as no one actually expected them to win any games, they saw it as just some after school activity to put on their future college applications.
Potter and I, fantastic soccer players that we are, change all that. When our teammates saw how good we were, their competitive 'I'm better than you are' personalities kicked in and they started to attempt to play. This new fervor in the team pleased our coaches so much that they gave Potter and I Popsicles after practice.
We were eating these Popsicles and walking to our car when Jaclyn caught up with us.
"Okay," she stated grumpily, clutching her books to her chest. "You guys are good; but I still think you should pick a more socially acceptable sport."
"Why do you care what sport we play?" Potter asked, glaring over his shoulder at the blonde girl following us.
"Because I hang out with you guys and what sport you guys play determines how our classmates perceive me!"
Potter and I exchanged looks, rolled our eyes and got into our car.
"I don't believe it," I said irritably as we drove out of the school's parking lot, leaving Jaclyn in a cloud of dust. "We've found the female version of me!"
···Ron···
I rang the doorbell to Lavender's house and was greeted by her father. The man in question was wearing a shirt that said, I have a gun, a shovel, and several acres of land. I wondered how Seamus had the courage to date this girl for over a year.
"WON-WON!" Lavender, clad in a bikini top and shorts, pushed her father aside and hugged me.
"Hey, Lav," I squeaked. Lavender took a step back; she was smiling widely at me. I attempted to use my voice once again. "You, uh, do know that we're not actually allowed to swim tonight?" I asked her, eyeing her top nervously.
"I know," Lavender said brightly, linking her arm with mine and waving her father off as we walked over to Old Betsy. "But it just wouldn't be the same to be on the beach without a swimsuit. Besides," she stopped and wrapped her arms around my waist, "don't you like it?" I gazed over her head to see her father glaring at me as if he was contemplating castration; and despite what I had told Bill several months earlier, I rather liked my boys.
"I've made a huge mistake."
"What?" Lavender suddenly broke apart from me, eyeing me suspiciously.
"Listen, Lav…" I started as solemnly as I could. Her father smiled in a proud manner and went inside the house.
"Are you breaking up with me!" Lavender screeched. She seemed to be on the verge of either spontaneous combustion or tears.
"I didn't really realize we were going out!"
Lavender's face contorted horribly.
"You…you were leading me on?" She definitely seemed to be on the verge of tears.
"I…was…I didn't say that!"
Tears were streaming down her cheeks as she shook her head in disbelief. Giving me a glance of betrayal, she turned on her heels and ran back into her house, leaving me to feel like shit on her driveway.
···Ginny···
Ron was being a big baby.
He had arrived at the beach BBQ bonfire Lavender-less; their virtually nonexistent relationship cut short due to Ron being intimidated by Lavender's father. Single and depressed once again, Ron threw himself down upon the sand and laid their, sulking, as our classmates stepped, sashayed, and staggered over him.
I was about to go over and yell at him for bringing the entire party down when I noticed Noelle approaching him. She observed him for a minute; then, with a bravery I didn't know she possessed, sat on his stomach. Ron's arms, legs, and head shot up into the air and his eyes bulged as he emitted an 'oomph!' at the unexpected exertion.
After the shock wore off, the two started talking. Ron continued to look grumpy, but Noelle had a look of intense dedication on her face. After a few minutes, Noelle stood and held out her hand to Ron. Ron, surprisingly accepted, and Noelle helped him up and led him over to the fire where Dumbledore was leading a group of kids in our school dance.
···
From: Your other best friend
Sent: September 6th, 8:01 AM
To: He who lives with Draco
Subject: Krum
Harry,
I had Victor sign a napkin for you. I mailed it this morning. Cherish it.
Love,
Hermione
P.S. Have you heard from Ron lately?
·
From: Draco sings in the shower…badly
Sent: September 8th, 4:15 PM
To: You're a doll, Mione
Subject: It came!
I now have Victor Krum's autograph! Yes! Anywho, we all know how lazy Ron is. I bet his inbox has over 100 unread messages. Why do you ask?
Harry
·
From: Chemistry is so interesting
Sent: September 8th, 6:42 PM
To: How do you like your chem class?
Subject: Ron
Harry
I admitted to Ron that I liked another boy (oddly enough, I no longer like him, he's a cocky little bastard…yes, I swore), and he hasn't e-mailed me back since.
Hermione
·
From: My shampoo was lighter
Sent: September 8th, 7:30 PM
To: You there, with the particularly shiny hair
Subject: My shampoo
Potter,
Did you use my shampoo?
Draco
·
From: Draco's accusing me of using his shampoo
Sent: September 8th, 7:43 PM
To: She who loves the evil chem class
Subject: Ron
From what I hear, he's running around with Lavender these days. Not entirely certain how that happened, but hey, she has a nice rack so good for him.
Harry
·
From: Shocked
Sent: September 8th, 8:25 PM
To: Harry
Subject: Ron
LAVENDER BROWN?
·
From: Like I would want to smell like you
Sent: September 8th, 8:35 PM
To: You across the hall
Subject: Your shampoo
Malfoy,
No.
Harry
·
From: He who is tired of Draco
Sent: September 8th, 8:37 PM
To: My other friend
Subject: Ron
Yes.
Harry
···
End Author's Note. I don't really like this chapter, but it's necessary. Thank you all once again for your patience. There's going to be a surprise (more than one, probably) in the next chapter.