Harry Potter and the Aliens

Part 16

The rest of the week passed without incident, and on Saturday, Emiko watched Kisshu and Hermione head out. It didn't escape her notice that Ron had been giving Kisshu the evil eye all week, and Emiko and Kisshu had talked over this already. Emiko was going to Hogsmeade as well, since Yuki was curious and didn't know anything about wizarding money. Emiko had agreed to try to keep an eye on Ron, and she and Kisshu had mentioned this to Harry as well. He also had noticed that Ron was getting jealous of Kisshu, and had agreed to try to keep Ron away from Kisshu and Hermione.

~XXXX~

Kisshu had asked Hermione where she wanted to go, admitting that he didn't know anything about Hogsmeade. Hermione suggested The Three Broomsticks, so they went there first, ignoring the odd looks people were giving Kisshu, who was wearing jeans and a T-shirt.

"What would you like?" Hermione asked Kisshu.

Kisshu looked at the choices, and said, "I don't know what any of this is… what are you getting?"

"I usually get butterbeer when I come here; it's a drink that tastes like butterscotch, just a little less sickly sweet," Hermione explained.

"Is it alcoholic?" Kisshu asked.

"There might be a little in it, but you'd have to drink an awful lot to get drunk off of it," Hermione replied.

"Alright, I'll try it," Kisshu said. "Sorry I don't have any money."

"That's fine; my parents gave me some spending money," Hermione said with a smile. "Besides, you don't have a Gringotts account, so you wouldn't be able to get Wizarding money anyways."

"How come your parents have one, if they're not magical?" Kisshu asked as they sat down at a table.

"It's in my name; they just put money into it, and the goblins can change it from Muggle money to Wizarding money," Hermione explained.

"Oh…." Kisshu said, as Madam Rosmerta came over. "What can I get you two?" she asked.

"Two butterbeers, please," Hermione said.

"Coming right up," Madam Rosmerta said, and went to get those.

Hermione sighed when she was gone, and Kisshu asked, "Something wrong?"

"I noticed that Ron's been glaring at you all week," Hermione said. "I really wish he'd stop; you're much nicer than he is."

"Did you ever have feelings for him?" Kisshu asked, curious.

"I thought I did at one point, but the incident before the Yule Ball made me realize that it wasn't practical," Hermione said. "I don't see any use in pining over someone who's too ignorant to notice one of his best friends is a girl until he's desperate for a date. And Ron has serious jealousy issues. He always has. Look at what happened the night Harry's name came out of the Goblet of Fire; if Yuki hadn't been there, I'm fairly certain that would have put a major wedge between Harry and Ron, simply because Ron's jealousy issues would override whatever common sense he may have. I'm glad Yuki was there, because Harry needs all the support he can get to pull through this."

They paused to thank Madam Rosmerta as she handed them drinks, and then Kisshu said, "No offense, but I don't think you two would have made it as a couple even without Ron's jealousy issues."

"Why do you say that?" Hermione asked, curious.

"You're a prodigy, and he can barely pass his classes; I don't think a relationship between you and someone who can't keep up with your intelligence would work too well," Kisshu said. "From what you've told me, and what I've seen, you seem to be the type of girl who doesn't just want a boyfriend for the sake of having one. I think it would be extremely hard for you to stay with someone who doesn't understand half of what you're saying. Ron doesn't strike me as the type to actually do schoolwork."

Hermione smiled a bit and said, "You're right. It's nice to know you think I'm a prodigy, though. What were you like in school?"

"I was like Fred and George," Kisshu said. "I had the intelligence, but chose to use it pranking people rather than on schoolwork. My teachers were all REALLY boring, and I swear they used robotic voices on purpose. It's amazing to me that most kids didn't get held back; I wasn't the only one who couldn't keep my eyes open. My principal claimed I was giving her gray hair every time I got sent to the office- but I didn't understand why she thought that; her hair was gray when I started school."

Hermione giggled. Since Emiko had pointed out that her rule-following nature could possibly turn her into a zombie, Hermione had been trying to loosen up, and found that life was a lot more fun that way.

Elsewhere in Hogsmeade, with Emiko and Yuki: Emiko had explained Wizarding money to Yuki, and they were about to go into a bookstore when Emiko spotted Harry and a very grouchy-looking Ron. "Aunt Yuki, can I go say hi to Harry and Ron?" she asked. "You can handle the bookstore, right?"

"Sure," Yuki said. "Call me if Ron does anything to Kisshu- I don't want them fighting."

"Okay," Emiko said, and ran off. She found Harry and Ron arguing about something, and went over as Harry said, "Ron, Hermione's smart. I highly doubt she would have agreed to go out with Kisshu if she didn't genuinely like him. Can you just let it go? You'll just make her unhappy if you go barging in there, and Kisshu will probably turn you into something if you make her unhappy."

"I just don't trust him," Ron grumbled.

"Why?" Emiko asked, causing both boys to jump. "Oniichan can't lie to save his life, and despite what you may think, he'd never treat Hermione badly or cheat on her. Cyniclons don't even have a concept of cheating; it wasn't until Oniichan first came to Earth that he heard about it. You don't have anything to worry about- except the fact that Hermione is now a lot less likely to fall in love with YOU."

"Why are you here anyway?" Ron groused.

"Aunt Yuki needed help with the money system," Emiko said, shrugging. "She also said she doesn't want you and Oniichan fighting. I'd take that advice to heart if I were you; she and your mom are two of a kind. You're lucky Aunt Yuki doesn't chew people out in public."

Ron winced at that, and said grouchily, "I guess you're right…."

Back with Kisshu and Hermione: Kisshu was telling Hermione stories about some of the pranks he pulled on his teachers, and she was laughing. "You seriously gave your teacher horns?" she giggled.

"Yup," Kisshu said. He smiled and said, "You know, when we first met you were far more rule-abiding than you are now; what changed?"

"Emiko's comment about me turning into a zombie if I kept it up," Hermione said. "And once I started thinking about it, life is a lot more fun if you loosen up."

"Any interest in pranking Koumori-san?" Kisshu asked.

"I'm not so sure about pranking a teacher…." Hermione said. "Especially with his reputation."

"What about turning his hair hot pink and seeing how long it takes him to notice?" Kisshu suggested. "And if I do it, he probably won't notice for a while unless someone tells him."

"I have to admit that would be kind of amusing…." Hermione said.

"Let's go then!" Kisshu said happily. Hermione giggled at his enthusiasm and followed him out after paying for their drinks.

They went back to Hogwarts, and Hermione asked, "So how do you want to do this?"

Kisshu concentrated briefly, then said, "He's in the dungeons. Too bad I still can't make myself invisible for more than five minutes….."

"I might have a solution to that; Harry has an invisibility cloak that I'm sure you could borrow," Hermione said. "It's probably in his dorm; should we go see?"

"Sure," Kisshu said. He followed her to Gryffindor Tower, and they went to the dorm room Harry shared. Hermione went to Harry's trunk, and dug around a bit before pulling out a silvery colored cloak. "Let's go," she said. She got up and put the cloak over herself and Kisshu, and then Kisshu teleported them to just outside the Potions room. They quietly snuck in, and saw Snape at a desk, writing something in red ink. Kisshu quietly snapped his fingers, and Snape's hair turned hot pink.

Hermione tried not to giggle, and Kisshu noticed she was having trouble, so he took her hand and pulled her out the door. From there, he teleported back to Gryffindor Tower, and they landed in the common room. Hermione took the cloak off, and then collapsed in a chair, laughing. Kisshu joined in, and soon they were both laughing too hard to speak.

~XXXX~

Harry and Ron came into the common room about an hour later to find Kisshu and Hermione on one of the couches, apparently asleep. Harry noticed his invisibility cloak next to Hermione, and shared a glance with Ron. "What do you think they were doing with the cloak?" Ron asked.

"Beats me, but I think I'll take it upstairs," Harry said, picking it up from where it had fallen. He went up to the dorms, and put the cloak in his trunk. Suddenly he heard Ron laughing hysterically, and ran downstairs. Hermione and Kisshu were awake and giggling, and Harry asked, "What's so funny?"

"We turned Koumori-san's hair hot pink," Kisshu said, snickering. "I wonder how long it'll take him to notice…."

Harry started laughing. "Let's see if it's still pink, it's almost dinnertime," he snickered.

The others nodded, and they went down to the Great Hall. Snape was coming in at the same time, and sure enough, his hair was still pink. It was all the group could do to keep from laughing, but they managed to get to the Gryffindor Table without bursting out laughing. Then they turned to watch as Snape went to his spot at the Head Table. Several teachers were barely managing to contain their amusement, and the students who had seen Snape were either laughing or looking horrified.

Snape looked at the snickering teachers, and demanded, "What is so amusing?"

"Severus, did you by any chance have some kind of potions mishap?" Minerva asked in a strangled voice.

"No," Snape said. "Why?"

"Your hair is hot pink," Barty commented dryly. "Quite an interesting look on you, by the way."

"WHAT!?" Snape shrieked.

This, naturally, got everyone laughing. Yuki and Emiko were back, and through her laughter, Emiko asked, "Oniichan, did you have anything to do with this?"

"What would give you that idea?" Kisshu asked innocently.

"I know you've been plotting against Koumori-san for a while now," Emiko giggled. She looked up at the Head Table, and saw Minerva attempting to change Snape's hair back to black- and failing miserably. After a few more tries, she gave it up and said something that none of the students could hear; everyone was laughing too hard. Snape stormed over to the Gryffindor Table, and snarled, "When I find out which miscreant from this table turned my hair pink, that person will rue the day they decided to mess with me."

"You can't guess which one of us did it?" Kisshu asked, snickering.

"Normally I would say the Terror Twins, but considering the spell wouldn't come off at all, I'm guessing you're the culprit," Snape growled.

"Ah well, it was fun while it lasted," Kisshu said, and snapped his fingers. Snape's hair turned back to black, and he glowered at Kisshu evilly before sweeping off.

"I'm surprised he didn't try to murder you, Kisshu," Fred commented. "After all, he can't take points off Gryffindor when you prank him, since you're not a student here, and he can't give you detention either."

"Maybe he's plotting revenge," Emiko suggested.

"Guess I'll just have to keep on my toes," Kisshu said cheerfully.

"That was so funny!" Hermione said, still giggling a bit. The majority of the table looked at her like she had two heads. "What?" she asked.

"You're acting different," George commented.

"Where do you think Kisshu got the invisibility cloak from?" Hermione asked.

"You mean…." Fred started.

"Hermione Granger…." George continued.

"Helped play a prank?" they finished together.

"Emiko's the one who said I should loosen up; I just took her advice," Hermione said, shrugging.

"YAY! Another convert!" Emiko said happily.

Kisshu smirked and ruffled her hair. "I guess I did a good job training you," he said happily.

"You sure did," Emiko replied cheerfully.

I think that unless someone has another idea for what should happen next, I will skip to the third task next chapter. Let me know if you have requests for something in between, though. Please review on your way out!