Ashley GRANGER AND HERMIONE Ketchum:
CHAPTER 8:
ITS NICE TO BE REUNITED:
Ashley dreamed that she was out in the garden with Harry. They were kissing. She was wearing a bluish green sundress and he was wearing khakis with a red and black button down shirt. Her hair was beautifully curled and gracefully flowing in the wind.
Suddenly, mid-kiss, Harry became Gordo. Ashley stopped kissing Gordo and looked at him. She rested her forehead against his and whispered "I love you, Gordo."
Gordo smiled warmly and said "I lo-."
Ashley woke up with a start. She sat up and looked around. The sun was rising. Gordo, who was to her right, was facing her. Ashley settled close to him and watched his face as he slept.
"I wonder what that dream meant? It was very strange," she thought and sighed. Her breath hit Gordo in the face and he stirred. She quickly pretended to sleep. She felt him put his arm around her and pull her closer to him. She smiled mentally and fell back to sleep.
******
When Ashley woke up next, she was being gently moved by Gordo.
Ashley opened her eyes to see Gordo moving her aside so he could get up. He smiled down at her. She lifted the corners of her mouth in a lazy smile.
"Good morning sweetie." He whispered leaning down to kiss her cheek. She smiled up at him saying, "Good morning honey. Had a good sleep last night?" He smiled as he stretched. Ashley tried not to watch his 6 packs and his fabulous butts, but she couldn't help but watch him.
"Bitch." Her mind smacked her.
"Yeah." He yawned. She sat up and leant towards the pillows.
"Good." She said smiling.
"Do you wanna come back here tonight?" he asked as he put on his jeans. Ashley snickered before answering.
"We better not."
"Yeah." Gordo agreed. "Can we go for a ride on yours—er.. Malfoy's broomstick?" he asked. "We can then swim in the lake. You know," he added quickly. "Instead of—" Ashley completed the sentence for him.
"Coming here. Yeah." She said seriously.
"Yeah. Otherwise your so-called jealous boyfriend might kill us." he mocked.
"Oh..ha..ha..ha.."
******
Harry and others were already at the breakfast table when Ashley and Gordo arrived.
"Good morning people." Ashley greeted groggily as she sat down at the table beside Gordo opposite Lizzie and Harry. "Bad night last night." She said leaning to pour some juice in her goblet.
"Oh, what was it like?" Harry smirked. Ashley gave him a 'Bastard-I'm-gonna-bloody-kick-your-ass-if-you-don't-gobble-up-the-breakfast-quietly-' look which shut him up.
"Yeah. What was it like? Wild, sensual or Oooh la la night?" Ron asked.
"Nothing. Just shut up and eat, you maggot." Ashley snapped as he guffawed.
I think that guy needs a kick on his bottom. He is not funny. Last night was fun, but it was quite tiring too. And he thinks its was sexy? Bastard. She thought grabbing an apple and cutting it into slices over her cereal. Then there was a hooting sound and all the owls swooped in.
"Mails arrived." Ginny said as they looked up as mail and packages were being dropped. Ashley didn't expect anything so she just kept on eating, as others opened up their mails. She caught Gordo's eye and smirked. He smirked back.
"Ok, guys. I and Gordo have decided to fly and complete our dare beside the lake by swimming in the lake." Ashley said all of a sudden in one breath. Harry looked up from his letter and stared. Lizzie spat her juice across the table, spraying Ron with it. Miranda and Kate stared open-mouthed at her and Gordo. While, Ethan smacked Gordo on his back. Larry kept on eating his breakfast as if nothing had happened.
"What?" Ashley asked thickly.
"Listen, I and Gordo are really gonna go swimming." Ashley said finally no one spoke. "And besides, I and Gordo had a good time last night." She smirked at the look at everyone's face. Lizzie recovered first, but her eyes were narrowed in thought.
"I think... never mind," she said as she looked at others. Harry sighed.
"Then, I think we should leave now," Gordo said getting to his feet. "So that we can be back soon." He added to the look on everybody's face.
After breakfast Ashley and Gordo went upstairs to change into bathing suits. When they finished they went to outside and stopped at the broom shed on their way to the lake. As they made their way to the lake, Ashley found herself studying Gordo. They were navy blue with white trim and drawstrings. The strings were tied tightly, but the shorts still hung at his hips. He was also wearing an old black T-shirt. It was tight on him and faded in places. The weather around the lake was soothing. The sunlight was dazzling on the smooth surface of the lake. Ashley heaved a sigh as they landed on the bank of the lake.
"Should we swim?" Ashley asked taking off her shorts and tank top, exposing a green and blue halter top bikini.
"Not before I give a beautiful lady before me a great warm-up." He teased. She smirked at him.
"Catch me if you can lover boy!" she said, running at the end of the dock and slipped out of her sandals to jump in the water. Gordo stopped at the end of the dock to take off his t-shirt. He slipped out of his boots and jumped in after her. Just as Ashley was about to dunk Gordo, she felt something against her leg.
"Gordo, do you think, are there any living things in the lake?" she asked.
"Probably," he shrugged. "Why?"
"I just felt something on my leg," Ashley explained.
"Maybe it was your bathing suit," Gordo suggested.
"No, it was low on my leg," she replied. They looked down at the water. Ashley gasped and felt for her bathing suit. They were still in place.
"You scared me," she said to Gordo. He laughed, she tried to dunk him again but he swam out to where there was a low fog. Ashley followed him.
Ashley swam into the fog and was shocked at how thick it was. "Gordo?" she said.
She felt something sliding up her leg. Panicking she screamed and pulled away. It followed her and continued up her leg. She screamed again and started to kick at the object. Then there were two, they held her waist. She put her hands in the water to hit whatever it was.
"Gordo! Help!" she screamed.
She heard something surface behind her. Whatever was holding her leg let go. She slowly turned around. She saw Gordo's head just above the surface.
"It was you!?" she yelled at him.
"Yeah," he laughed, proud of his joke.
"You scared me so bad. I thought it was... I thought I was going to die," she said not laughing.
"I wouldn't let you die. At least not here in this backyard," he grinned and stood on an underwater rock.
"Well, thanks," she said and grinned, starting to relax now. She stood next to him on the rock. "How did you hold your breath that long?"
"Not easily. I guess I have big lungs," he chuckled.
"I only went in a little bit," she said.
"We drifted," he explained.
"Oh," she said looking around. All she saw was water, fog, and Gordo.
"Drift a little this way," he smiled. She moved closer. "Much better," he said.
Ashley pretended to slip on the rock and fell into Gordo.
"Whoops," she blushed as she stood back up, her face two inches from his.
"Whoops," he repeated, quietly. He cupped her face in his hands and kissed her lightly. He pulled away and looked at her, waiting for a response.
Ashley bit her lip and tried not to frown. She moved closer, so that they were touching. Ashley kissed him and he kissed her back with a bit more force.
After swimming for what seemed like an hour, Ashley and Gordo walked to shore and they sat on the towels they had brought. A plate piled high with sandwiches appeared before them. A comfortable silence followed as they ate up the sandwiches.
"What a start!" Ashley exclaimed after sometime. Gordo looked at her and nodded. He smiled as he remembered the night. He looked at Ashley who was watching him closely.
"What happened?" he said ruffling her hair.
"Nothing." Ashley said smiling. She looked up at the blue sky. She might be the mischievous as she was back at Hogwarts, but she couldn't hide her love for the blue sky.
'Wow,' she said softly.
'Beautiful isn't it,' Harry said, tucking a few stray strands of hair behind her ears. She met his gaze.
'You truly are,' she whispered, before meeting his lips. She slipped a hand round his neck and pulled him closer to her. Their bodies were pressed against each other, passion flowing through them. Gordo pulled away slowly.
"Ashley," he said. Ashley hummed to tell she was listening. "I wanna make love to you." He said gently running his finger thru her hair. "Again,"
Ashley nodded.
"Me too." She whispered and she leaned into him, draping her arms around his neck and pushing her fingers into his hair. She opened her mouth and flicked her tongue against his, and Gordo took her signal, deepening their kiss. She was weighting him down, and so he went, leaning with her until they sank into the loose pile of leaves with a rustle-crunch.
Gordo leaned forward, moving slowly, slowly. Ashley let him, taking a breath to ready herself. He drew himself up to her, their breath mingling as she closed her eyes in anticipation of him. Gordo let his eyes trail over her features once quickly, before closing his own eyes and putting his mouth against hers. Her lips were warm, but sweet with something else too. He pulled back, opening his eyes to see her face again, to see if she would dispute his brazen move. She still had her eyes closed though, and when he hesitated she leaned towards him, her mouth open slightly and very inviting. Gordo kissed her again, and this time he put a hand to the back of her head, holding her to him as though he were afraid she would reconsider this silent commitment they were making.
Gordo moved the hand he'd put in her hair down, sliding it down her satin cheek, then over her shoulder, down the length of her bare arm, finally bringing it to a rest at the concave dip of her waist. He pulled her body to his slightly, and she came, breaking their kiss to shift her body closer to him. She glanced up into his eyes, and the eye contact sent another bolt of lightning through him. He loved her so much, it ached. She inspired emotions and feelings in him he'd never felt in his whole life. She'd made him crazy these last few days, with just the little ways she moved or spoke to him. He wanted to tell her he loved everything about her. Her strength, her courage, her kindness, her brilliant mind, her lion heart, and to all that she believed in.
"Ashley," he breathed into her ear.
"Gordo..."
He slid the hand he had at her waist around to the small of her back and felt warm skin there. Emboldened, he ran his fingers up into the back of her swimsuit, letting his hand trace the long, sleek lines of her body. Beneath his touch her shape changed, and she arched herself towards him. Every sound that escaped her, every movement, every look or touch from her, it pierced Gordo with a desire and need for her that began to reach a fever pitch. He did whatever he could to keep educing those noises of pleasure and delight from her, hoping that he was having even half of the effect on her that she was having on him.
"So, you wanna go back to the castle?' he asked. A small smile crept upon her face and she nodded again. He watched her as she picked up the broomstick and they flew back to the room.
"Gordo…" she murmured again as he lay with her on the bed.
"Mmm-hmmm."
"Gordo!"
"Do you want anything?"
"I want you."
Gordo sighed, overcome by the waves of desire that were washing over him. He traced the features of Ashley's face slowly, lazily. She smiled when his touch reached her lips, and then she kissed his fingertips sweetly. He shivered.
"I want you too." He murmured and she kissed him, so tenderly that Gordo felt his eyes stinging behind his closed eyelids. Both wrapped in each other's comfort, and warming arms they spent the day like that, kissing and touching softly, and Gordo wondered more than once if he'd fallen asleep over the homework and had merely dreamt the events of the past few hours. But Ashley's warm curves, her butterfly touch and her whispered endearments always brought him back, told him he was not dreaming.
The sunlight found his window eventually and splashed across their faces, painting her skin a surreal, silvery hue. They fell in and out of sleep, dreaming and only believing themselves to be dreaming sometimes, until the rose-colored glimmer of dusk told them the day had gone.
*******
Ashley woke up to find herself on Gordo. Gordo was smoothing side with a feather-light caress…
"You are prefect," he marvelled, "Completely flawless." he stroked one shoulder and cupped her breast, "How can you manage to be so slender, yet to have such lovely curves, both at the same time?"
Her body stirred for him. She elbowed herself up stared at him.
"Oh, Stop it!" she cupped his face, "You are a marvellous thing too, you drove me completely out of my mind!"
She moved herself near him and brushed her lips to his. The next second she left him and sat up on the bed. Gordo chuckled and sat up near her, flopping into her lap, lightly stroking her cheek.
"Do you really wanna go out of this room?" he asked. She shook her head saying, "I don't think so, Gordo" she replied.
"Well if that's the matter," he paused at looked at Ashley, who was gaping at him, he smiled,
"Why don't we have a repeat performance of the last night," he said. Ashley smiled mischievously.
"Why not?" she replied and he pulled her over him, she felt drunk with delight at the pleasure they found in each other, and moved gracefully against him until he took her hips and, lifting her over him, joined her body to his once more. Then there was only the delicate, climbing sensation of pleasure that she was getting to know so well, and she knew that she would never tire of. They were lost in each other again, reaching out for limits of each other's passion until, shuddering with delight; they collapsed together.
"Bad." Ashley gasped as she lay near Gordo. Gordo lifted his eyebrow.
"Bad?" Gordo lifted himself on the elbow.
"Too bad." Ashley said turning sideways to face him.
"Huh?" Gordo stared at her dumbfounded. Ashley smirked.
"I'm tired." Ashley sighed. Gordo smirked as she stood up and begin searching for her clothes that she had thrown down.
"Aren't you gonna come down?" she asked as she pulled up her tank top over her head.
"Yeah." He said as she put her sandals.
"Come on. Hurry up." She said as he got up. She watched as he put on his clothes.
"Lets go." And they set off towards the Gryffindor common room.
"It was a good day Ashley, wasn't it?" Gordo asked as they walked towards the Common room. Ashley said nothing. She just kept walking, tongue tied. Gordo suddenly stopped.
"Ashley…"
Ashley turned back and looked at him in surprise.
"What's wrong?" She asked
Gordo looked at her and blinked.
"Aahhh--nothing, come on--" he said and started walking again.
Ashley hesitated.
"I must know why Gordo, I must," she said firmly
"Nothin' special, I thought we would walk hand in hand to the common room--" He smiled. Ashley let out a squeak of laughter and walked towards him, taking his hands into hers.
"Is this ok now, honey?" she asked him giggling the un-Ashleyish way.
Gordo smiled and put his arm around her waist.
"Yep, perfectly okay." he replied as they walked back to the common room.
"Hey Gordo! Hey Ashley!" called a familiar voice, Ashley turned to find Neville scrambling towards them.
"Oh! Hi, Neville," Ashley said brightly.
"Hi!" he said panting. "Where were you?" he asked raising his eyebrow and scanning them as though they were criminals sneaking out after committing a crime.
"Nowhere. Just a bit of broomstick riding, Neville." Ashley said. "Believe me." She added to the unbelieving look Neville gave her.
"Are you sure?" he asked unconvinced. Ashley nodded. Neville looked at Gordo, who had been staring at Ashley as if he had just noticed she had been there. She nudged him in his ribs.
"Wha--? Oh, yes-yes-indeed-we-had-been-for-a-broomstick-ride." He said.
"See?" Ashley said. Neville nodded.
"I think you are correct." He said. "I better go." And he walked away. Ashley heaved a sigh of relief. Gordo sighed.
"Hot Chips!" Ashley said firmly, as they reached the Fat Lady. The portrait swung open to admit them to the common room. It was quite full and warm.
"You know it was fun being with you, Gordo." Ashley said, casually spreading her feet, picking up the Evening Prophet from the table, opening it and stretching on the armchair near the fire.
"My pleasure, my lady." Gordo said smiling.
"Oh really!" Lizzie had just come and was standing behind them, staring angrily at Ashley.
"I don't even know what are you angry about!" Gordo snapped. Ashley was so amazed, so grateful, she looked up from her Evening Prophet.
"Lizzie, I—I think—" Ashley said feebly.
"Shut up!" Lizzie interrupted.
"You shut up!" Gordo snapped.
"WHAT DID YOU JUST SAY?" Lizzie screeched loudly.
"I ASKED YOU TO SHUT YOUR DAMN MOUTH!!" Gordo shouted even loudly, oblivious to the fact that the whole common room had held their breaths. "YOU'RE DISGUSTING!"
"WHAT DO YOU MEAN?"
"YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN? YOU ARE JEALOUS.. JUST BECAUSE I AND ASHLEY ARE GOOD FRIENDS!"
"YOU ARE CALLING ME JEALOUS JUST BECAUSE I CANT SEE YOU WITH SOMEONE?"
Ashley stared: Gordo and Lizzie, who never fought over her, were now sitting with their arms folded, glaring in opposite directions. Ashley looked apologetically at Gordo, and snatched up a book at random and hid behind it.
And Lizzie stood up and stomped back near Harry, who was thoroughly absorbed in Quidditch Times.
"I don't believe this" she told him. "They have just spent one—in fact two days together and god knows why Gordo's behaving so stupidly." Harry didn't answer. He pretended to be immersed into the book. Determined to be friends with all three, Lizzie, Gordo and Ashley, Harry decided to keep his mouth shut.
"He's completely blown off, behaving immaturely and so childish that—"
Harry turned the page of The Rise and Fall of the Dark Arts , aware of the fact that Lizzie was watching him. Lizzie's voice trailed away in mutters, barely audible over the mutters rising every now and then in the common room, though Harry thought he caught words like "She's jinxed him" "A prat like him" again.
"Do you think the stories we heard are true?" she asked turning to Harry. Harry didn't answer. He was busy staring into her eyes.
"Harry?" she tried. Harry jumped as though someone had drenched him with a bucket full of ice-cold water.
"Wha--? Oh, nothing." He gasped. Lizzie burst out laughing as he stared stupidly a her.
Harry had Herbology first thing in the morning. He was happy that Ashley had her hand in his and they were walking through the vegetable patch towards the greenhouses with their fingers entwined.
"Wow, I'm so proud that you're back together." Ron said as they took their places around one of gnarled Snarlgluff stumps that formed a part of their project that day and started pulling on their protective gloves. "I hope you are all over what happened between you and Gordo for the past three to four days." He added to Ashley.
"Yeah.. actually... no." Ashley admitted slowly, putting on protective goggles.
"What?" Ron said, his eyes widening under the goggles. "What do you mean by that?"
"I don't care what she means as long as she is with me." Harry said thickly through his gum shield.
"Quiet please!" said Professor Sprout briskly, bustling over and looking strict. "You are lagging behind, everybody has started and look Neville's already through with the first part."
They all turned and saw that really Neville had finished with the part, looking anxiously at the green pulsating object about the size of a grapefruit.
"Ok, professor, we are starting now!" said Ron, adding quickly to Harry, "Should have used Muffliato, Harry!"
"Please!" said Ashley wearily. She gave them an apprehensive look; they all took deep breath and then dived into work.
It sprang to life at once; long, prickly, bramble-like vines flew out of the top and whipped menacingly through the air. One tangle oneself in Ashley's hair and Harry thrashed it back with a pair of secateurs; Ron managed to tie up a couple of vines into a knot; a hole opened in the middle of all the tentacle-like branches. Harry plunged his hand bravely into the hole and tentacles snapped close like a trap around his elbows. Ashley and Ron yanked and tugged open the branches as Harry pulled out his hand holding a pod similar to Neville. At once, the prickly vines shot back inside and the gnarled stump sat there looking like an innocent dead lump of wood.
"Seriously, I thought that thing nearly had you." Ashley said pushing her goggles up her forehead and wiping her sweat with a sigh of relief.
"Pass me a bowl." Harry said holding the pulsating pod at a arm's length. Ashley handed over a bowl and he dropped it into it with a look of loathing.
"Don't be easily upset, wring it out, they are best when they are fresh!" Professor Sprout called out.
"Anyways," said Ashley as if they had not been interrupted by the attack of the stump. "Gordo and I were just completing our dare. We were not really looking forward for having sex."
Harry groaned. Ron, meanwhile, who was attempting to burst the pod in the bowl by putting both hands on it, standing up and squashing it as hard as possible, said angrily, "Yeah, but you did enjoy the experience, didn't ya?"
The pod flew out from Ron's fingers and hit the greenhouse glass, rebounding onto the back of Lizzie's head and then towards Neville's forehead. Harry went to retrieve the pod; when he got back, Ashley was saying, "Look, Gordo loves Lizzie McGuire and not me."
"Yeah," Ron sneered. "As if you are very faithful to Harry."
"Listen, you very faithful doggy of Luna," said Ashley, who for some reason had turned red. "Don't you dare question my faithfulness to Harry." She said shaking with anger.
Harry wished Ashley and Ron would have stopped fighting. Unnoticed by them, he started pounding the pod in the most noisiest ways, by pounding it with a trowel. Unfortunately, he could hear every word of their conversation.
"I think I touched a nerve." Ron said with a sneer. Harry sighed sadly. He hadn't expected Ashley and Ron to jump to worst conclusions like that. Harry missed the pod, hit the bowl and it crushed.
"Reparo." Harry whispered quickly poking the pieces with his wand. The bowl repaired itself instantly. But the smash, however had brought Ashley and Ron to know of Harry's existence. Ron looked pleased with himself; Ashley huffed angrily.
"Harry, you are supposed to prick it." She said taking the bowl and the pod from his hands. Harry was glad that she wasn't screaming on him. Harry handed over the bowl and he and Ron jumped once more, for the stump. The rest of the lesson went on, luckily for Harry, without the further mention of Ashley and Gordo.
****************
"You have what?" Harry said choking over a piece of kipper at dinner that night. Ashley had declared that she had applied for the post of Quidditch commentator.
"A Quidditch commentator, you?" Ron sneered.
"Why?" Ashley snapped. "I've talked to McGonagall and she has told me what to do and how to do. Ok?"
"Wow! I didn't know you were so interested in Quidditch." Harry said picking up a piece of beef from Ashley's plate.
"Hey! That's my piece." Ashley said trying to snatch it from his hand. Harry snickered as he jerked it out of her reach and put one side of it into his mouth and beckoned her to the other side which was hanging from his mouth. Ron looked away in disgust as Ashley leaned forward to catch the other end with her mouth. The rest of the dinner passed with Harry and Ashley snogging each other.
Breakfast was the usual tense affair next morning. The Slytherins booed and hissed as Harry, Ashley and Ron entered the Great hall. The Gryffindor table, a solid mass of red and gold cheered as they entered. Harry grinned and waved; Ron grimaced weakly and shook his head.
"Cheer up, Ron!" called Lizzie. "You aren't that bad player."
Ron chose to ignore her.
"Tea?" Ashley asked him. "Coffee? Pumpkin juice? Toast?"
"Pumpkin juice." Ron said miserably shovelling scrambled eggs into his mouth. A few minutes later, Ginny paused on her way up the table.
"How are you feeling?" she asked timidly.
"Fine." Ashley said distractedly giving Ron a goblet of pumpkin juice. "Drink it up Ron, the match is gonna start in few minutes."
"Ok." Ginny sighed. "See you guys at the changing room." She said walking away.
"Nearly time." Harry said casually.
The frosty grass crunched underfoot as they made their way towards the stadium. Ginny and Demelza were already wearing their Quidditch robes and waiting in the changing room.
"The weather's good." Ginny said, ignoring Ron. "And with Ashley's commentary," and she broke off sniggering. Harry gave her a uncomfortable smile.
"I didn't know how come she become so interested in Quidditch." Ginny said.
"Yeah," Ron said becoming a little animated. "She claims she was a commentator when she was her school. She also told me that she had forgotten her new teacher's name was Mrs. Cooper and had called her , because that name was close to copper." At this, everyone had a hearty laugh.
They walked out on to the pitch to noisy roars and boos. Amidst all the yelling and clapping, Harry could hear the roar of Luna Lovegood's familiar lion-topped hat. Harry stepped up Madam Hooch, the referee, who was ready to release the balls from the crate.
"Captains, shake hands." She said, and Harry had his hand crushed by the Slytherin's new Captain, Daniel Cooper.
"Mount your brooms.."
Madam Hooch placed the whistle and blew. The balls were released and fourteen players shot upwards.
"Well, that's the Bell girl with a quaffle, she's ducked Warrington, she's passed it to Ginny from Gryffindor- wow! Weasley's caught it with difficulty- there she's passed it to.. oh! She's been hit by a Bludger by asshole Crabbe—"
"KETCHUM!" yelled Professor McGonagall.
"Sorry Professor, now that's Daniel with the quaffle and—nice Bludger hit Coote. Now he's dropped the quaffle and Demelza Robins has it and GRYFFINDOR SCORES! Now, the quaffle again with Robins, she reverse passes it to Katie Bell and Bell's away--"
Ashley's commentary rang throughout the stadium and Harry listened closely. Ron was trying to save the goals. The Slytherins were singing their favourite Weasley is our king.
Weasley is our king,
Weasley cannot save a thing,
He cannot a block a ring,
That's why all Slytherins sing,
"—and she's passed it to Weasley and Aaaahhh... fuuf! She's just avoided the Bludger. That was close, Weasley. Now, come on Gin, you can do it! She shoots and oh!—"
Bletchley, the Slytherin keeper had saved the goal. He threw the quaffle to Warrington who sped between Katie and Ginny, the singing became louder and louder.
WEASLEY IS OUR KING!
"—ok, now that's where Ronald's going to have show his real talent—come on Ron!"
But, the scream of delight came form the Slytherin end. Ron had missed the goal.
"And Slytherin score!" Ashley bellowed as the crowd below cheered and booed. "That makes ten-nil to Slytherin- hard luck, Ron."
The Slytherins sang even louder:
WEASLEY WAS BORN IN A BIN,
HE CANNOT SAVE A SINGLE RING,
THAT'S WHY WE ALL SING,
"—and Gryffindor back in position. Bell in possession of the quaffle and she's zoomed towards the pitch, Bletchley right ahead and—" Ashley was bellowing thru the megaphone. She was finding it difficult to make herself heard above the deafening singing.
HE CANNOT SAVE A THING,
HE MAKES SURE WE WIN,
"Harry, what in the heaven's name are trying to do?" Ginny bellowedzooming near him to keep up with Katie. "You are wasting your time."
Harry realised that he had been stationary in midair for a solid two minutes watching the game forgetting that he was supposed to search the snitch; horrified he dived downwards and circled the pitch, trying to catch sight of the snitch; trying to ignore the song now booming through the stadium. There was no sign of the snitch anywhere.; Malfoy was circling the pitch too.
"—that's Pucey with the quaffle—" Ashley screamed. "—who has passed it to aaahhh... he's hit by the Bludger—nice one, Coote! Now, Robins has the quaffle and she's zooming towards the pitch and she's passed it to Bell-er-she's dropped it and that's Daniel with the quaffle and he's off to the pitch. Gryffindor block 'em!"
WEASELY WILL MAKE SURE WE WIN,
WEASLEY IS OUR KING,
Harry did not have time to look at the proceedings of that end. He dodged the Bludger that came rocketing towards him. He turned around to search for the snitch, which had disappeared. Harry scowled. He craned his neck to see whether Malfoy had seen the snitch, but he too, seemed to have lost his chance of finding it!
"—Katie has the quaffle and she's speeding towards the goalposts and she has passed it to Ginny and she's zooming now. There's Daniel from the other side... oh! He's trying to block her and GRYFFINDOR SCORES! Well done, Ginny and how Daniel has the quaffle. Harry potter is still in search of the snitch and so is Malfoy--"
WEASELY CANNOT SAVE A THING,
HE WAS BORN IN A BIN,
HE ALWAYS LETS THE QUAFFLE IN,
THAT'S WHY WE SLYTHERINS SING,
WEASELY IS OUR KING!
At last, Harry had seen what he was supposed to do. The small fluttering golden snitch was speeding along high above them. Harry accelerated; the wind howling in his ears drowning Ashley's commentary. Malfoy too, seemed to have seen the snitch. Feet from the ground, Harry stretched his right hand form the broom towards the snitch to his right; Malfoy just to his right.
"Oi, Malfoy! Ashley's mine!" Harry yelled, wondering what made him say that, but Malfoy doubled up, he fumbled the snitch, let it slip thru his fingers and shot past it; Harry dived swiping for the tiny, fluttering ball and caught it as the Gryffindor spectators screamed drowning the whistle that signaled the end of the game. Harry saw Ashley running towards him and before he could do anything, he and Ashley were flat on the ground and were kissing as if glued to each other. The atmosphere in the changing room was jubilant.
"Party up! Dean's said its gonna be in the common room! Hurry up! Ginny! Harry! Ron, C'mon!" Katie yelled joyfully. Harry and Ron were the last ones to leave the room when Ashley and Luna entered the room giggling madly.
"Harry," Ashley said looking serious. "Can we talk?"
"Yes?" Harry said frowning as Ashley collapsed into the bench covering her face with her hands. Ashley nodded letting out a dry sob. Harry sat beside her and put his arms around her waist to pull her near him. Ashley looked up with tears in her blue eyes.
"Harry," she choked. "Its good news."
"So why are you crying?" Harry asked cocking an eyebrow.
"Its not for you, silly."
"Then for whom is it?" Harry asked impatient. Ashley bit her lip.
"I.."
"Yes?" Harry pressed on eagerly.
"Your team has been selected for the final match against the Hufflepuff." Ashley suddenly smiling. Harry opened his mouth and then closed throwing his hands down in exasperation as Ashley burst out laughing.
"That's not the good news for me?" he asked angrily. As Luna, Ashley and Ron fell down the floor laughing hard.
"It is," Ron said sitting up. "But, not for you." And he again fell to the floor laughing.
"You people." Harry said glowered as Ashley sat up, snorting. "You scared me."
"That was really a good one, Ashley!" Ron said. Ashley stood up leaning on to Luna, who was still laughing.
"Come on Harry, it was just a joke." Ashley said putting her arm around his waist. Harry shook it away angrily.
"A joke? A joke? You know what you have a sick sense of humor." He said angrily.
"Listen, I'm sorry. I didn't know that I would hurt you or anger you or anything—" Ashley said angry tears rolling down her cheeks. Harry burst out laughing. Ashley stared.
"You think only you can act, eh?"
"Bastard." Ashley snapped now half-laughing and sobbing as Harry pulled her near him as she rested herself on his chest.
"I'm sorry, Harry." She said as she rested her forehead against his as Ron and Luna cheered.
"It's ok, just as long as we forget about this." Harry whispered smiling. Ron and Luna smiled at each other.
"Come on guys, everyone are waiting for you." Ron said.
"Yeah! Come on, Harry. They'll be worried."
Harry stood up and offered his arm to her. She took it gladly and they made their way back to the common room. The entire time they walked in silence, with Harry with his hand around Ashley's waist and Ashley with her head on Harry's shoulder, followed by Ron and Luna. It seemed like they had been walking for hours when they reached the portrait hole. Harry dropped her arm and looked up to say the password when he saw it. The green leaves and ripe red berries. He couldn't help but laugh a little.
Ashley looked at him puzzled, "What's so funny?"
He looked at her then pointed upward towards the top of the Fat Lady's frame. "It's a mistletoe," he said , taking a step towards her.
"Yeah. It is," she laughed, taking a step closer to him also.
They looked at each other and just stared. Harry wrapped his arms around her small frame and pulled her closer. She naturally placed her arms on his shoulders and stood on her tiptoes. They got closer and closer and closer until…
"What the hell? Can't you just wait until you get in?" Ron and Luna had nearly walked into them.
"Mistletoe." Ashley said, pointing to the top of the frame.
"Oh yes." Ron said comprehension drawing on his face. "Well, hurry up! I need a chance too." He added with a mischievous gleam in his eyes.
"Shut it, Ron," Luna, Ashley and Harry said at the exact same time. Ashley then turned to Harry again and captured his lips into a heartwarming, passionate kiss. He was taken aback but got the feel of it. They deepened the kiss, ignoring the fact that the portrait hole had just opened revealing them to the whole room. Ashley and Harry never wanted to stop kissing; they both felt right and at peace. Ashley's stomach was full of butterflies and did somersaults, her knees felt like jell-o, and every inch of her body was warm and vibrating with excitement. They finally broke apart, and all they could do was laugh.
"Well that was a good one!" Harry commented laughing.
"I thought it was the same." Ashley said trying to say that without changing her expression but was finding it difficult to say it without smiling naughtily.
"Why you!" Harry leaped on her to catch hold of her. But Ashley being quicker, slipped thru his hands like a piece of butter and ran away giggling as Harry chased her into the common room laughing, followed by……. Eh?
Ron and Luna? They were snogging under the mistletoe!!!!
R&R!