Chapter 98
Entering the Great Hall for lunch, Hermione's anger returned upon seeing Ron sitting with Ginny, Dean and Seamus, and she headed over to him, smacking him on the head.
"Ow!" Ron cried as he grabbed his head where she'd struck him, causing Ginny and the others nearby to blink at her in surprise. "What the bloody hell was that for?" Ron asked, glaring at her.
"You know perfectly well what that was for, Ronald Weasley!" Hermione said angrily, matching his glare and hit him on the head again three more times in rapid succession. "Harry's right," she said. "You are a right foul git!"
"Hermione, what are you talking about?" Ginny asked. "What's my idiot brother done this time?"
"Charlie!" Hermione said loudly, in explanation, her voice carrying down to where Lee and the twins were sitting, stopping their conversation, and they saw Hermione smack Ron in the head, noticing Ron's pale face.
"What are you talking about? What about him?" Ginny asked again, her brow wrinkling in confusion as she looked between her now pale brother and Hermione.
"Didn't he tell you?" Hermione asked, nodding toward Ron with her chin. She glanced at Ginny and looked down toward the twins, all of which had wondering faces. "He's here," Hermione said, keeping her voice just loud enough that Ginny heard.
Ginny looked between Hermione and Ron again, then looked at Hermione and shook her head. Looking back at Ron, she reached out and smacked him in the arm. "Why didn't you tell me, my brother's here, you git?" she asked.
"Hermione," Ron called angrily.
"I'll leave you to explain that one, Ronald," Hermione retorted, and headed down the table to sit with Lee and the twins.
"Dang, Hermione," Lee said. "Remind me never to make you mad."
"What was that about?" the twins asked. "What about Charlie?"
Hermione sighed, sitting down before she looked at them.
"Did you know that he's here?" she asked.
Fred and George looked at each other and then down the table to Ron who was now arguing with Ginny and then back at her, shaking their heads.
"Why would he be here?" Lee asked.
"Yeah," George said.
"He's usually in Romania taking care of -" Fred continued.
"Dragons," Hermione replied quietly, cutting him off and looking at them. "They're the first task."
"Damn," Lee murmured sitting back.
Hermione nodded.
"Ron knew," she said. "Harry said that when he went to visit Hagrid, Hagrid told him that Ron had seen them, and that Charlie had helped bring them over."
"Wow," George said.
Hermione nodded again.
"That little git lied to me, and had me lie to Harry, too," she said quietly, and took a sip of her pumpkin juice.
"What do you mean?" Fred asked.
"Well, I was with him and Ginny at Hogsmeade this weekend, and he told Ginny and I that Seamus had told him that Dean was told by Parvati that Hagrid was looking for Harry," Hermione said.
"He didn't," Lee said, stunned.
"Yeah," Hermione replied. "Ginny and I hadn't been there, we'd gone to the loo after ordering drinks. He told us that when we came back, then he pulled me aside on the way back to school away from Ginny so she wouldn't hear, and held my friendship with her over my head again if I didn't do what he wanted."
"What a wanker," Lee said.
"Do you think they know he included them in his lie?" the twins asked.
"I don't know," Hermione replied as she began filling her plate.
"We don't blame you for hitting him," the twins said. "Might do it a bit ourselves after Ginny's done with him."
Hermione turned and looked down the table to see Ginny hitting him in the arm with a book. She glanced at Dean and Seamus to find them glaring at the boy who was trying to fend off his sister. Apparently, they found out that Ron had included them in his tale. Hermione snorted, brightening a bit. Served him right, she thought, finally tucking into her lunch.
"How are you feeling," Hermione asked Harry the next morning on the way to breakfast.
"Better, thanks," Harry replied. "Did something happen yesterday? Earlier Ron was in the dorm but it was weird. Now it seems he's had a falling out with Dean and Seamus, too. When he was in the dorm this morning, no one was talking."
"Yes," Hermione said. "I found out Ginny and the twins didn't know about Charlie, and they found out that he'd included them in his lie."
"Ouch," Harry replied and then shrugged with a sigh. "Well, I can't say he didn't deserve it."
They parted ways at the stairs to the dungeons and Harry headed off to the kitchens while Hermione continued on to breakfast. She had to laugh and shake her head in dismay when she saw Ron was sitting by himself at the end of the Gryffindor table. Apparently last night word had spread about what had happened, though thankfully without the rumour of dragons, and now he was getting his just deserts. As she moved down toward the twins she noticed out of the corner of her eye that he noticed her entrance, but she kept walking, not making eye contact with him.
"Morning, Hermione," Lee greeted her with a smile.
"Morning," the twins said, both leaning forward with their chins in their hands, wearing twin smirks.
"Good morning," Hermione said, then looked at them more closely. "What?"
"Did you notice when you came in?" George asked and inclined his head to where his brother sat, looking morose.
"Yeah," Hermione said. "I noticed. What are you all smiles about though?"
"Just waiting for the mail to come in," Fred said with a smirk.
"Yep," George said.
Hermione looked at them in confusion.
"Are you expecting something?" she asked.
"Oh, yeah," Fred said with a grin.
It wasn't long before the owls flew in to deliver the mail for the day and a letter was dropped in Hermione's lap, she looked up from her plate of bacon and eggs to see Red flutter down onto the table.
"Hi there, Red," she said to the owl, realising the letter was from Hick and Juni. "Are you going to wait? Want some bacon?"
The owl bobbed its head and hooted, and she gave it some of her bacon and was about to open the letter when there was a tap on her shoulder. Looking up she saw Fred and George point down the table.
"It's here," they said gleefully. "You may want to watch this first."
Hermione lowered the letter and leaned forward, looking down to the table to see Ron looking pale as a bright red envelope began to smoke in front of him as he stared at it. Then, there was a loud boom that echoed around the Great Hall as if a cannon going off at close range and everyone clapped their hands over their ears as the piercing shriek of a banshee filled the hall, causing everyone to wince.
"Ronald Weasley!" Mrs. Weasley's voice echoed shrilly through the hall. "How dare you behave in such a wretched, disgusting manner! You were brought up better than that! I am absolutely disgusted! We had to hear from Percy, Fred, George and Ginny what's been going on - to think you would treat your best friends so abhorrently is appalling! You'll be lucky if they ever forgive you! If you don't straighten up, we'll bring you straight home, tournament or not!" The letter roared like a lion right in his face instead of the raspberry from the previous years, before with another banshee wail and boom it was gone and the Great Hall was silent. After a moment, Professor Dumbledore stood and cleared his throat, drawing everyone's attention.
"Now," he began steadily. "You know why we do not advise you to ignore Howlers, Mr Weasley."
"Wow," Lee said, lowering his hands from his ears and shaking his head. "Never thought he'd ignore it."
"What did you tell them?" Hermione asked, looking at the twins.
"We told her that Ron has been a jealous prat since Harry's name was drawn from the Goblet of Fire and he's been holding your friendship with Ginny over your head trying to make you decide who you want to be friends with, using it as blackmail," George said.
"And we explained no one knows how Harry's name got drawn to begin with, that Ginny had warned Ron that he didn't control who she was friends with, and that he lied to you both and got you to in turn, lie to Harry," Fred finished.
"Then they got me and Perc to write letters confirming it, so mom and dad wouldn't think they were joking," Ginny said. "Hi Lee."
"Hey Gin," Lee replied, moving over and letting her sit down.
"Percy's wasn't much help though, all he did was talk about the first fight," George said. "Yeah, but it could have had more weight," Fred admitted. "He did make Prefect."
"How did he know about the first fight?" Hermione asked.
"Dean and Seamus," Ginny said. "They were talking about it the next day and didn't realise Percy was in the common room and heard them talking. Oh, you got a letter?"
Hermione nodded.
"Is it from Ollie?" George asked.
"No, it's from his parents," Hermione replied.
"So you wrote them about the article?" Fred asked.
"Yes," Hermione answered distractedly as she picked up the envelope and opened it.
23 November 1994
Hello Hermione dear,
We want to thank you for your letter and apologise for not getting back to you sooner. Life on a horse farm, as you know. Plus, we were able to secure another Akhal-Teke to breed with Quicksilver when she's old enough. Hick and I were preparing a stall for him in the stallion barn when your letter arrived, so we didn't get a chance to read it till last night.
The new stallion is currently a three-year-old that I plan to show until Quicksilver is old enough, and she will be his first ever stud, that means he's never been bred before, but he has good conformation and good bloodlines, so I can either show or race him. His name is Golden Dawn and he arrives tomorrow, which is why we have been so busy.
Don't worry about the article, dear. I've shown Hick all kinds of stories from the Muggle world — that is to say where magic wasn't involved without their knowledge — that weren't true, so he's seen similarly written stories in the Prophet and can pick them out. Besides, you'd already told us that you and Harry were merely friends, and we knew that wouldn't change over the course of a summer if it hadn't happened already, though we appreciate your openness with us, we expect you would have some relationships in school that might develop beyond friendship.
Anyway, if you like, we can send you pictures of Dawn when he gets here. Better get going now, still have a lot to do, and you know how I am with the horses. Talk to you later dear.
Juni
PS. Oh, let Harry know that we'd come to the tournament if we could, but we're not certain that it would be possible since Oliver's no longer there. We wish him the best of luck and hope he stays safe.
"So," Ginny asked. "What did they say?"
"They said that I shouldn't worry about it and that they have a new horse coming tomorrow. That's why I hadn't heard from them sooner," Hermione answered, and felt some of the tension leave her body.
Taking out a parchment, and her quill and ink, Hermione tuned out their conversation and began the return letter that Red was waiting for.
23 November 1994
Dear Hick and Juni,
It is such a relief. This year has already been crazy with everyone high-strung over the tournament. Ron and Harry had a falling out when Ron got jealous over Harry's name being drawn from the Goblet, even though Harry told him several times that he didn't put his name in, but now due to the magical contract, Harry has no choice but to compete.
Malfoy, one of the Slytherin students, made pins that everyone is now wearing that change from Support Cedric Diggory — The REAL Hogwarts Champion to Potter Stinks. Because of the received attention from the pins as well as from the article, Harry has been more or less in hiding except for classes. He's staying after our Charms class today, and I'm helping him with summoning spells so that he can use it in the first task. I'll let Harry know that you send your support, I'm sure he'll appreciate it.
Oh, you might want to have Red's hearing checked out. Ron received a Howler this morning, and it was really loud. Louder than the last one he got that he opened, because this time he ignored it. It startled all the owls at breakfast. I hope he'll be okay.
Hermione
Folding the letter, she gave Red another piece of bacon and held out the letter to him that he took in his talons after lifting from the table and flew off.
"Well," Hermione said, gathering her books as she realised it was nearly time for class. "I'll see you all later, okay?"
"Sure," Lee said.
"See ya," the twins called.
"Bye Hermione," Ginny called and waved.
"What was that all about?" Harry asked, meeting up with Hermione on the way to Charms.
"What?" Hermione asked, not certain what he could be talking about.
"It sounded like Hogwarts was under attack, like there was an explosion, and then this shriek, but everything else was muffled," Harry answered. "Then there was a roaring wail and another explosion. I swear the room shook in the kitchen."
"Oh," Hermione said with a laugh. "Ron got a Howler from home. Professor Dumbledore explained that's why no one ignores Howlers."
Harry smiled and shook his head, taking his seat for class.
"Ah, Mr Potter," Professor Flitwick said when he noticed the boy had stayed after class. "Don't you have somewhere to be?"
"Oh, um," Hermione interrupted. "I'm sorry, Professor, I hope you don't mind if Harry stays to practise with me. I asked him for his help."
"Oh!" Professor Flitwick said. "I didn't realise. No, not at all. No trouble at all, Ms Granger, just make sure the classroom is put back in order like I instructed."
"No problem, Professor," Hermione said.
"Thank you Professor," Harry said gratefully.
"Not at all, Mr Potter," Professor Flitwick said with a smile. "I like seeing students take an interest in bettering themselves. Well, I'll leave you to it!"
"Bye, Professor," Hermione called as the small wizard left.
"Now what?" Harry asked, turning to her when the door had closed and saw her going to the window.
"Now," Hermione said, struggling with the latch for a moment before pushing the window open. "You get to summon your broom. You put it where I told you to, right?"
"In the dorm under my bed," Harry said. "And I left the window open, like you told me."
"Good," Hermione replied.
"But Hermione," Harry protested. "Someone could have closed it."
"True, but that's what reparo is for," Hermione said. "All we want is that your broom isn't locked up with the others right now, as Madam Hooch locks the broom cupboard when there's no practice. You'll have to do that during the tournament, too."
"Yeah, but," Harry began with uncertainty. "How do we know if I'm any good at this, I mean, shouldn't we be starting with pillows or something?"
"Harry, you told me that after you were chosen the night of the drawing of the names that they told you the first task was to take place on November 24th, didn't you?" Hermione asked.
"Yes," Harry confirmed this with a nod.
"Then you only have a day to learn it, do you really want to start with pillows?" Hermione asked, rolling her eyes.
Harry sighed.
"No, I - I guess not," he said.
"Look, Harry," Hermione said. "I'm sorry, I didn't mean to snap at you, and I know you're under a lot of pressure about this, and really stressed out, but we've only got today between classes, tonight and tomorrow we don't know how much time you'll have."
"I know," Harry said and sighed again, leaning against the desks. "Okay," he said after a moment and stood up. "Let's get started. Broom summoning, it is."