Disclaimer: I do wish I owned Harry Potter and its characters. Just think about it… If I did, it would have been Harry and Hermione from the very stinkin' beginning! After all, JK and I just don't agree on the shipping. But we shall wait… for the 7th book…
Author's Notes: I could totally swear that I promised to myself that I'd update every week. But apparently, I didn't. Oh well! It doesn't matter. As long as I updated after all… Oh, and merry Christmas everyone!
Shout – outs!!! You get the picture… Thank you to all my reviewers!!!
SwishAndFlick31: Ooh… Cool! Thank you for the idea! I think I'll consider that into the later chapters… and thanks for reviewing, too! Belated Merry Christmas!
alayneni: Whoops… sorry! Only starting to read Book Six. Bought it only yesterday but I decided to stop for today to write and update this Fanfic… thanks for the suggestions and the corrections! Happy Holidays!
Monica Woodfairy: Yeah, and hope you'll like the next chapters as well! Have yourself a Merry 'lil Christmas (like what the song said…)!
KHKairiNamineFanatic: Meanie! I didn't force yah! Anyways, I do know some people meanier than you… :P (You should know…) Thank you for reviewing and tell Chuzzie to have a Merry Christmas indulging himself on Lamb-Flavored Dog Food! (Not like I'll buy him some – I'm saving up for Book 7)
Okay, so after all the notes, disclaimers and shout-outs… the MAIN thing…. The story! Please keep the reviews coming and don't be shy to suggest anything… I'd be more than happy to know that my readers are being involved in this story! Anyways, hope you guys all enjoy and again… Happy Holidays!
Without further ado… Chapter 2!
Chapter 2: Help Is On The Way!
The Hogwarts Express has just arrived at Hogwarts and Hermione left because Professor McGonagall wanted to have a few words with her and the Head Boy from Hufflepuff, George Clark. Therefore, Ron, Lavender and Harry mingled with the busy crowd. Even if he knew where Hermione went, Harry still looked for her between hundreds of heads. Lavender noticed this.
"She's not here. She's with Professor McGonagall." Lavender told Harry.
Harry pretended to look skeptical. "Who are you talking about?"
"Hermione. You're looking for her, right?" Lavender pointed out.
"What? Who said I was? I can't find her anywhere, anyways." Harry said in a less lively tone.
Ron heard the conversation and butted in. "So you were looking for her, weren't you, Harry?"
"Of course he was. 'I can't find her anywhere'. You won't say that if you're not looking for her to begin with." Lavender told Ron, hoping Harry heard. He did, but he just ignored this and they proceeded to the Great Hall.
The sorting of the First Years was about to end. Hermione was grinning from ear to ear as she was watching them go to their houses.
"Sarah Lee!" Professor McGonagall called out.
A shy, timid girl went up to the stool and sat down. Professor McGonagall put the hat on her.
"Hufflepuff!" The Sorting Hat announced.
The Hufflepuff table was clapping and cheering for Sarah. The next boy was named Andrew and he was sorted to Ravenclaw. He ran all the way to his seat beside his supposedly big brother. Lavender found all of these amusing.
"Isn't that so sweet?" Lavender gushed as Andrew hugged a taller man who looked like him. "Not all brothers and sisters are like that."
Fred Weasley heard and pointed out, "Oh, but Ron and I are, aren't we, Ronnie?"
"Oh, just shut up George."
"He's not George, I am! Honestly Ron, you've been our brother from the minute you were born. And you can't even tell us apart?" George said jokingly.
Ron just rolled his eyes. "Whatever."
Professor Dumbledore stood up and delivered his usual beginning of the year speech. "Welcome to another year at Hogwarts. I hope that you will enjoy your stay here…" and so on so forth. Lavender wasn't listening but was thinking of how to tell Seamus and Ginny, and so was Ron. Only after awhile that Dumbledore announced dinner did Lavender stop thinking and helped herself to mashed potatoes.
"Hey, Ron, were you watching them since the speech?" Lavender reminded Ron every now and then to watch closely and vigilantly.
Ron shook his head. "Whoops… no."
"You didn't…" Lavender raised an eyebrow. Then she suddenly shouted and everyone was surprised. "You didn't?!"
"Well, you didn't too."
Lavender rolled her eyes. "Oh, for god's sake, Ron! Do I have to watch them before you even do?"
Ron shook his head. "No! But-"
"Never mind." Lavender snapped. "Anyways, nothing happened. At least I don't think so." And the dinner continued quietly after that.
After that, when everyone was heading back to their own common rooms, Lavender and Ron lost track of the two. They were looking for Ginny and Seamus instead. They found the two and spoke with them in the corner of the common room.
"Guys, Lavender and I have thought of a good idea. But…" Ron looked around him, and a lot of people were around. "We will tell both of you later. Meet us here later at 12:00 midnight."
Seamus nodded eagerly and went back to the Boy's Dormitories. Ginny, however, inquired early. "Ron, tell me, what is it?"
"Oh, you'd love it. A little present for our lovebirds."
"Lovebirds?" Ginny raised an eyebrow. Ron's face trailed off to the other side of the common room, where Harry and Hermione were talking.
Ginny smiled widely. "Great! Can't wait for this! You better be awake at 12 or else." Then she ran off to the Girls' dormitories. Ron and Lavender did a high-five.
"Working out well, right, Ron?" Lavender said happily.
Ron nodded. "Of course, why wouldn't it?"
Everyone at the Gryffindor Common Room were busy fixing their things and all, and it looked as if everyone was too tired after a busy day that everyone fell asleep by 10 p.m. Well, at least not Lavender, Seamus, and Ginny. Ron nearly fell asleep but he was afraid that this time, Lavender would barge in on him so he crept down the stairs at around 11:55 p.m.
When Ron arrived at the bottom of the stairs, he saw Lavender and Ginny sitting in the couch. Ron sat on the other and asked, "Where's Seamus?"
"Trying to see if Hermione and Harry are safely tucked in their beds, fast asleep." Ginny said in an excited tone. "Why isn't he back yet?"
They all sat in silence when at 12 midnight, Seamus was back. "Okay, they're asleep. I'm sure."
Lavender jumped and sat up. "Great! Now, okay. How do we go about with this?"
"Simple," Seamus said in a know-it-all tone, which sent up chills through Ron's spine because it reminded him of Hermione. "We need to think of ways on how they'd actually be in the same places, at the same time, coincidentally. At least they have to think that it is."
"But isn't that too boring?" Ginny asked. "That's what happens to most matchmaking things. We should actually do something more innovative or whatever."
Lavender raised an eyebrow at Ginny's statement. "And like… how?"
"Well… maybe we could actually let them worry about the other, or… or…" Ginny seemed to be out of ideas.
Ron lighted up. "I know! We can make mushy moments between them."
Seamus just gave him a skeptical look.
"We don't seem to have any ideas at all." Lavender said in an annoyed tone – annoyed at herself for not having any ideas, that is.
Ginny gave it a good thought and finally said, "Why don't we just watch how things happen and let's do what we need to at the spur of the moment. I mean, when we think we can actually do something. But for now, we should lay the foundation of our… uh, society."
"Great!" Lavender said. "So, who's for leader?"
"What?" Ron said in disbelief.
Lavender glared at Ron. "Obviously. We have to have a leader, another person who monitors their activities, someone who makes sure everything is in order, and someone else who makes sure we leave no traces and all. So who's leader?"
No one talked. Then, Seamus said, "Might as well be you, Lav."
"Why me?"
Before Seamus can answer, Ron chipped in. "You had the idea. This was all your idea, Lavender."
"I thought it was yours…?" Lavender said with a skeptical look on her face.
Ron thought about it and said, "Well, maybe it was me, but I'll go for the person who monitors activities. After all, I'm always with them. At least, almost."
Lavender and the rest nodded. "Wow Ron, I never knew you were so reasonable!" Ginny laughed. This got Lavender and Seamus laughing.
"Anyways, as for the person who gets to prepare the setting, props, whatever, everything… can that be me?" Ginny asked.
"Sure!" Lavender agreed. "And obviously, Seamus gets to clear up things, make sure they find no trace of the society whatsoever."
Ron suddenly laughed. "Yeah, you better be careful, Seamus, or Harry will beat me out of my wits!" And everyone laughed.
Suddenly they heard someone say the password 'Phoenix Tears' and all of them freaked out. "Off to the boys' staircases, everyone!" Ron said in a hushed whisper. The four of them got to their feet and dashed to the staircases.
A sleepy Hermione made her way in the Common Room. For a moment there she thought she heard people laughing. On second thought, maybe she was just too sleepy. So, she looked around the common room just one last time then she went into her room.
As Hermione made her way up the stairs, Ginny, who got the best view of her, told Seamus, "I thought you said she was safe and fast asleep in her bed?"
Seamus just had an embarrassed look on his face. "Whoops… I thought I saw Hermione sleeping, but now that I think of it, I think that was a second year…"
The next day, Ron dragged himself out of bed at around 7 in the morning. Last night, after Hermione went in her room, he sent off everyone to sleep. Everyone included a furious Lavender (at Seamus), a whining Ginny (since she said that they didn't achieve anything at all), and a silent Seamus making faces behind Lavender's back every now and then. He realized that the Common Room was silent. Maybe no one was waking up yet. Or maybe he was late for breakfast.
Ron saw Hermione go out of her room so he greeted her.
"Hi, Hermione." Ron said, trying to stop his laughter.
Unfortunately, Hermione noticed this and asked Ron, "What's so funny?"
Ron didn't answer her but just burst out laughing. Hermione seemed slightly annoyed by his answer, and then Harry went in the Common Room. He probably had a little walk out there in the lake. Hermione's face lighted up at the sight of Harry and Ron noticed this. Brilliant, thought Ron.
"Oh, there you are, Harry! Hermione and I have been waiting for you!" Ron said happily.
Hermione gave him a stern look that reminded him of Professor McGonagall. "I was?"
"Yeah! No, I mean, I wanted to tell you guys something. You know the little orchard just close to Hagrid's Hut? There's been some… interesting things in there. You guys might want to check it out." Ron said cunningly. Not cunning in a bad way, though.
"Which is…?" Harry asked.
Ron sighed sadly. "Sorry, can't tell you. And I can't go with you because I wanted to discuss something with Ginny about Lavender and Parvati. See you."
Seamus was there all along listening at the side of the Common Room. He whispered to Ron as he was on his way to the Portrait Hole, "Liar, liar, pants on fire!"
Ron glared at Seamus and whispered a hushed "Shh!", then pretended like he was cutting his neck. "Or you'll be in Sir Nicholas' league!"
Seamus followed him out of the Common Room and into the Great Hall for breakfast, leaving Harry and Hermione alone.
"'Morning, Hermione. Had breakfast yet?" Harry asked, smiling.
Hermione shook her head. "Say, Harry, don't you think Ron's been acting a bit odd these days? Also Seamus, Lavender, and Ginny. Don't you think they're up to something?"
Harry had a grin plastered to his lips. "Whatever that is, it doesn't sound good to me. Then again, they'd be afraid of Head Girl taking out points from Gryffindor, hm?" By this time they sat down by the window.
Hermione just chuckled. "It's tiring, you know. Fun, yes, but tiring."
"Are you alright?" Harry said suddenly in concern. He placed his hand over Hermione's forehead. "I think you're sick, Hermione."
Hermione placed her own hand over her forehead. "Really? And I'm starting to look pale too?"
"Classes just started, but you do look pale. I think you need to see Madam Pomfrey. Come on." Harry stood up and took her hand to lead her to the Hospital Wing.
Hermione shook her head again. "No, Harry, seriously, I'm fine. Anyways, you want to check out what Ron's been saying this afternoon? Maybe at twilight?"
She got an 'okay' for an answer. Both of them just smiled and sat quietly until Harry invited Hermione to have breakfast. She jumped out from her seat and both of them went to the Great Hall together.
"The answer is yes!" Lavender said, running to the place where Ginny, Seamus and Ron sat together.
Ron and Seamus gave her a skeptical look. "Huh?"
"Parvati said she'd join the club! Well, if it's alright with you guys." Lavender said, calming down a bit.
"Great!" Ginny said happily. Ron gave Ginny a look but she returned Ron's annoying gesture by raising an eyebrow on him.
Lavender left and was pulling Parvati out of the blue. "Sure…" Seamus said in a pissed tone. "We'll end up discussing boys (he said 'boys' in a gay tone) and makeup!"
"Yeah, and we'll end up giving Harry a makeover to sweep Hermione off her feet!" Ron said dreamily.
Ginny and Seamus looked at each other with that curious look. "Uh, Ron… What do you mean? That didn't actually sound correct..." Seamus said uncertainly.
Ron sighed. He knew exactly what they were thinking. "Sweep her off her feet? I meant fainting! And no, I don't fancy Harry. Who would?"
"I thought Hermione would?" Parvati and Lavender has arrived. "What was that all about?"
"Well… I just gathered everyone around because I have a great plan! This morning, I told Harry and Hermione to go to that little orchard that Professor Sprout fancies… but I told a lie." Ron said quietly.
Ginny just shook her head.
Ron glared at his sister. "I told them that there was something interesting there in that orchard, but I didn't tell them what it was. I mean, it was for me to know and for them to find out. Actually, there's nothing in there but clovers. And mind you, three-leaved clovers."
"Would've been okay if they were four-leaved clovers, though." Lavender said sadly.
Parvati was pondering for about 3 seconds when she said, "But if it is an orchard, then it's impossible for it not to have four-leaved clovers, right? And we can actually make it interesting."
Everyone (in the club) looked at her. "How?" Seamus asked.
Parvati took a deep breath. "Well…"
Author's Note: Haha! Done! I just thought a little cliffhanger would be neat, so, there you go! What is Parvati thinking of? What if Harry and Hermione barge into them? What will happen when they go? And what if someone wants to get in the way? (Dun dun dun duuuuuuuuuunnnn……….)
By the way, people, if you have any ideas on how the team can matchmake our lovebirds, go and suggest now! Lavender, Ron, Seamus, Ginny and Parvati will be very pleased if you do. Who knows, they might actually do it!
For now, though, you can go and click the 'go' button beside the pulldown box whose default is 'Submit Review'! Get what I mean? GO NOW AND REVIEW! ) Whee! Maybe I can even manage to update before January 2007! Advanced Happy New Year to everyone!