"There's something in the water
I do not feel safe
It always feels like torture
To be this close
I wish that I was stronger
I'd separate the waves
Not just let the water
Take me away"
-The Water
Chapter 19: Caught in the Crossfire
Disclaimer: Plot-Mine, Potter-Not mine.
"Yeah, what a coincidence," Ginny told him sarcastically after regaining her composure.
Invisible, Hermione carefully moved a bit closer to better hear the two's conversation as the older boy drew nearer to her friend.
"No need to be nasty," he told the red-head, finally standing face-to-face with her. "I just have a simple favor to ask of you."
"That much was clear from your poorly written note," Ginny stated, crossing her arms in annoyance.
He sighed, "I wrote that in a hurry. It was just before curfew on our first night back and I didn't want to be late coming back from the owlery."
"Please," she scoffed, "Your hand-writing is just naturally atrocious."
"Could you at least try to be civil?" the blonde snapped. "I know your brother and I weren't the best of friends, but that's no reason to-"
Ginny's crossed arms fell quickly to her sides and her hands balled up into tight, angry fists. She took a step closer to him, despite her friend's whispered protests, "Don't drag Ron into this," she spat furiously, "You have no right."
He took a step in the opposite direction, yet defended himself, "Just as you haven't the right to treat me poorly based on my past relationship with another person," he informed her, kindly refraining from mentioning her brother's name again. Still, he kept his overly styled head of hair high, refusing to back down.
"You really aren't in any position to be making demands seeing as you're the one who needs a favor doing," the Gryffindor told him, relaxing slightly at Hermione's unseen hand being soothingly placed upon her shoulder.
"Right, well," he cleared his throat, stifling a rude retort as her words held true, "I guess I'll get straight to the point then."
"That would be lovely," Ginny said in a snarky tone. The brunette had to refrain from laughing as it would've probably frightened the boy who had no idea she was even there.
Preventing himself from uttering a rude comment again, he finally came out with it, "You're still pretty close mates with Potter, right?"
She merely nodded, not seeing the point.
"And you're definitely going to try out for the team this year?" he asked.
Again, she nodded her head, but this time it was with a look of sheer confusion across her face.
"So, you're probably locked in already, am I right?"
"No," Ginny replied, slightly peeved, "Being friends with the captain doesn't seal the deal. He can't make those types of exceptions under any circumstances. Harry takes quidditch seriously."
"I'm sure he does," the taller teen agreed, "I still bet that you'll more than qualify for a spot in his eyes, though."
"What's that supposed to mean?" she asked somewhat harshly. Even Hermione was becoming frustrated.
"Nothing," he smirked. "You two just seem awfully close lately."
Hermione felt her face grow hot.
"We've hardly talked within these past four days," Ginny informed him.
"Yes, well I'm sure you had plenty of time to do so while he was staying at your place all summer," he winked at her, knowingly.
The other girl was really tensing up now.
"How did you-" Ginny went to ask.
"Potter's there every summer from what I've heard," the older Gryffindor let her know, "It's never been some big secret."
"Well, if that were true, then why would you assume Harry and I decided to suddenly couple up? If he's there all the time, what would make things so different now?"
"I just assumed, what with the big brother being out of the way-"
Ginny drew her wand, "Listen," she hissed, "You best not speak of my brother like that again if you want all parts of your body to remain intact," she warned.
His eyes widened.
At that, the invisible Hermione made her way to stand between them in order to prevent the fight she knew her friend was more than willing to start.
"Go," Ginny ordered, for if he didn't comply she would surely use her wand against him soon.
Backing away, he still tried, "So I take it you won't be talking Potter into promising a place for me on the team?"
Oh, that was it.
Right as the angry red-head raised her wand, the frightened blonde quickly took his leave, getting out of the way from whatever spell was soon to be shot his way.
It all happened so fast, that while Ginny's target may have safely dodged the bullet, her friend wasn't so lucky.
Still standing right in front of the other girl, Hermione took Ginny's bat-bogey hex with full force, knocking her to the ground and causing the invisibility cloak to come off.
Fortunately, the Gryffindor who previously ran off did not see this display.
"Ginny!" her friend shrieked loudly as disgusting balls of snot with wings began attacking her.
Shocked, she shouted, "Finite incantatem!" abruptly stopping the spell.
"Mione, I am so sorry," Ginny apologized with a guilty expression, a smile tugging at the corner of her lips, nevertheless. While she didn't mean for this to happen, the outcome was still hilarious. The sight of the distressed brunette all covered with bogeys was enough to make anybody laugh.
Noticing the amused expression on the younger girl's face, Hermione just scorgified herself clean and didn't respond.
"Oh, c'mon," Ginny pleaded, "Don't be upset."
"You could've handled that situation a bit more maturely," the prefect said with a stern look.
"I tried!" she protested, "He was just being such a git, though. I couldn't help myself."
Understanding, as she had also been there throughout their conversation, Hermione advised, "Yes, well, if you plan on attacking Cormac again, try for some better aim next time, at least," she half-smiled. Deep down, she wanted her friend to seek vengeance on McLaggen. She would do it herself if it wasn't for her status as a prefect.
"Oh, I'll be dead on," Ginny reassured her, "But I think I'll try a few of Fred and George's new products out on him instead," she smirked, "They've been looking for a new test subject anyhow."
Hermione shook her head, but still managed a laugh, "Just keep me out of it."
"You don't want to see McLaggen be completely humiliated?" she pried.
"Of course I do," Hermione said, reflecting back on the comments he had made about her two friends, "I can't be associated with what you are about to do, though. I may have to report it."
"Right," Ginny went along with it, "Can't let miss authority find out or else I'll be trapped in detention until I graduate."
Both girls laughed at that, "Let's head back inside before it gets dark out, shall we?" Hermione suggested.
"Good idea," she agreed, "I still need to feed Arnold before bed."
"You know Harry still hasn't managed to control Lyra? The pygmy puff sings nearly every waking moment as if she has endless energy."
Ginny smiled in amusement, "Yeah, I think that's why the twins gave her to me for free," she informed her friend, "I didn't understand why they seemed so desperate to get rid of Lyra until the night before I gave her to Harry when I had to keep her in my room."
"I remember that night," Hermione reminisced, "I thought that was Arnold."
"No, if my pet were anything like Lyra is I'd have been tempted to strangle it," she laughed.
"Yet you still gave her to Harry," the brunette looked over at her disapprovingly as they made their way towards the entrance hall.
"Hey," Ginny defended, "It's still the thought that counts, right?" she said playfully.
"You're awful," Hermione giggled, but then said, "Honestly, I just think Lyra needs some proper training. That's all it really takes with most animals. Patience and love," she concluded.
"Why don't you get a pygmy puff, then?" Ginny challenged, "Prove Harry wrong?"
"That's actually not a bad idea," she mused.
"Well, I'll place an order for you tomorrow and then we'll see if you're still saying that a week or two from now," the red-head grinned at the thought.
"Oh, you're on," Hermione said.
Both girls caught up in their conversation as they finally made it into the castle, neither was aware of the grey eyes watching their every move.
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