Chapter 4:
Crookshanks
Disclaimer: I own nothing you recognize.
It took Ron a week to recover after his disastrous attempt at asking Hermione to the ball. By the next Saturday, Harry had convinced Ron that it was time to try again. They were up in the boy's dormitory discussing Plan: Crookshanks one last time before going through with it.
"Alright Ron, remember, all you have to do is write out a note to Hermione asking her to go to the ball with you and then tie it around Crookshanks' neck. We should be able to get Crookshanks to go to Hermione straight away, so she'll read the note and agree to go to the ball with you."
"I'm still a little iffy on the last part of the plan, but we'll see how everything works out." Ron walked over to his bag and pulled out a quill and parchment. He went to the table beside his bed and wrote out a quick note.
Hermione,
I would greatly appreciate your company at the Yule Ball. Would you like to allow me the pleasure of being your date? Please note that our friendship comes above all else, no matter what happens. I hope you are well.
Sincerely,
Ron
"How does this sound?" Ron handed the note over to Harry and carefully watched his face as he read it.
"Sounds a bit formal to me, but I suppose it will do. She may appreciate it more because you took the time to make it sound fancy and, you know, find her cat and strap it around his neck."
"Very funny Harry." They walked out of the dormitory and down the stairs into the Common Room.
"Help me find Crookshanks," Ron said as he started to search for the ginger cat, "Do you happen to know where Hermione is, by the way?" Ron asked over his shoulder as he looked under one of the couches near the fire.
"She should be here in about ten minutes," Ginny said as she came up behind her brother and playfully pushed him over.
"Not cool Ginny," he said as he pulled himself up and dusted his too-short robes off.
"Found him!" Harry called from behind a table. He lunged to catch the cat but Crookshanks shot forward and Harry landed on his face. Ron chased Crookshanks but fell over his large feet and had to grab onto the nearest chair to stop himself from falling.
"Boys." Ginny shook her head as she easily picked the ginger ball of fur up. Harry and Ron both murmured excuses under their breath as they dusted themselves off, but Ginny just smirked at them.
"No excuses" she said as she scratched Crookshanks behind his ears.
"Give me the cat," Ron said and took Crookshanks from Ginny. He tied the note around his neck and then put Crookshanks back on the ground.
"Alright, now all we have to do is wait for Hermione to find Crookshanks and read it."
"If I'm correct, Hermione should be coming up the hallway outside," Harry said as he stuffed a piece of old parchment into his robes. Ron smoothed back his hair and straightened his robes. Ginny and Harry caught each other's eye and snickered at him.
"Alright you two, back to your knitting, nothing to see here. Hermione will be walking through the door any second and I don't need her to find you two laughing at me." Ginny and Harry glanced at each other and burst out laughing once more, but respected Ron's wishes and sat down at one of the tables and started a game of exploding snap. Ron walked over to an empty chair beside the fire and sat down. He was barely comfortable when Hermione came walking through the portrait hole. She spotted him and called a greeting. He waved at her and she came over to sit next to him.
"Hello Ron. I've just finished making pamphlets. I think I'll leave them around the Common Room tomorrow, see if anyone wants to join." At that precise moment, Crookshanks jumped up onto Hermione's lap. Ron stiffened-- there was no note tied around his neck.
"Hello my baby," Hermione said, "What's all this paper in your mouth and in your fur? I hope you didn't eat anything important. Well no use trying to figure it out, I'm exhausted. Good Night Ron."
"'Night," Ron muttered, silently throwing every curse word he knew at the ginger cat Hermione carried in her arms. Ron stood up and walked hurriedly over to Harry and Ginny.
"Well?" Harry asked, looking up from his game.
"The bloody cat ate the note!" Ron had to keep himself from yelling to be sure Hermione didn't hear him.
"Well then, we need to go with your next plan. That's my favorite anyway. You should've done it first, would've had this over with by now." Harry reassured Ron before turning back to his game. Ron gave him an exasperated look before retiring to his room, thinking up ways to murder Crookshanks as he went.
A/N: I hope you all enjoyed this Chapter and Deathly Hallows if you've finished/are reading it! It was by far my favorite. I won't say anything more because I refuse to ruin it for any of my fellow fans. Thanks for reading!
