Story: Moira
Chapter Eighteen: Experimenting Dishes

The day of the second task was weeks away and the tension was building up among the competing schools. As promised to Hermione, Ginny told Alarie about the second task. Although suspicious at the start, Alarie believed her and even thanked her.

It was a Sunday afternoon so Neville and Luna was picnicking on the Hogwarts grounds. Draco and Astoria were in the Slytherin common room, probably snogging each other's faces off. Harry and Ginny were in the library doing Merlin knows what leaving only Ron and Hermione alone at the Gryffindor common room.

"This room is much warmer than ours at Durmstrang," Ron complimented, looking around. They were sitting in front of the fireplace. Hermione smiled at him then went back to her book Defense Against the Darkest Arts. Her eyes were glancing through the pages but her brain wasn't processing the information. Ron seemed to prove a great distraction to her.

"Your house is?" Hermione asked suddenly.

"Basilisk. Known for cunning, I know but blimey, I wanted to be with Harry!"

"Harry's godfather is your father, right?" Hermione asked. She looked up to see Ron nod. "Then, Harry's parents were close to your dad. Don't they know about your. . . well, mum?"

A look of apprehension dawned on his freckled face. "They might have but they are not here."

"They left Harry? Why? Where are they?" she probed.

"They died. Dad said that they were infected by some muggle disease. Master saved Harry from the disease when he was a baby so he partially raised Harry. Unfortunately, Master couldn't save his parents," Ron answered, looking down. Hermione took his nearest hand in hers and gave it a reassuring squeeze.

"I'm sorry, Ron. I probed too far."

Ron smiled weakly at her before looking around as if searching for something.

"What are you looking for?" Hermione asked.

"Just a sandwich," Ron answered, causing Hermione to chuckle lightly. Ron grinned in response. "Y'know Hermione, I really did enjoy going to the ball with you."

"I did too, Ron."

"So. . . can you become a new dish for me to experiment on?"

"What?"

"Look, there's this new dish Uncle Regulus makes and you don't know how it tastes," Ron explained carefully. Hermione nodded looking confused. "So you take a spoon and gulp it down. If it tastes good, it becomes your favourite or else you throw it away. Am I right?"

"Yes."

"There you go, that's what I want," Ron said, looking triumphant for explaining an otherwise unexplainable thing.

"Excuse me?" Hermione asked, looking utterly confused. Ron frowned.

"I was asking along the lines of 'will you go out with me?' in a different manner, Hermione."

"Oh!" Hermione gasped.

"I mean. . . if the case becomes like the food you don't like, no hard feelings, gurl."

"Oh! Oh no. I mean yes. Yes, Ron. I'll go out with you and ah – try you as the dish," Hermione answered with a blush. Ron grinned widely and wrapped an arm around her shoulder.

"That's ruddy brilliant! Whatcha say for the next Bogusmeade trip?"

"Bogu – oh! It's Hogsmeade," Hermione corrected. Ron shrugged. "Yeah, it sounds nice to me."

"That's great then."

"While we are at this topic," Hermione pressed on. Ron nodded. "Have you tried other dishes before?"

Ron laughed. "Yes I did but I couldn't help but ditch them. They only dated me for my looks and wealth and y'know, because I'm the all-powerful Harry's best friend slash pseudo brother. So I was meant to throw the wasted ones away."

"Oh."

"What's your story then?" Ron asked. Hermione sat up a bit uncomfortably.

"I went out with the Gryffindor Keeper, Cormac McLaggen but he made me feel a bit. . . "

"Exposed?"

"Yes."

"You're better off without that bloke."

Hermione smiled. There had been a hint of jealousy in his tone. "So how about Draco and Harry?"

"What about them? Oh. Dishes?" Ron asked, looking funnily at her. She nodded with a small grin. "Draco was like dad. Always having one day stands. Don't worry, Astoria is safe," he reassured when her eyes widened. "As for Harry, nah. He's always been the reserved bloke. Sort of surprising seeing him go crup eyed around Ginny Weasley. "

Hermione giggled at the new phase. "Sort of surprising for me too. Ginny has always been outgoing and all but after her failed relationship with Michael Corner, a Ravenclaw in my year, she stopped dating. She'd wink at the boys who would drool behind her but never had she ever dated after Corner."

"So, you reckon they're dating. Harry and Ginny I mean," Ron asked. Hermione half shrugged half winced.

"Dating would be a strong term for their relationship I guess. Hasn't Harry filled you in?"

"He never talks about his personal life let alone his love life," Ron said noncommittally.

A companiable silence continued and a slight snore was heard. Hermione looked to her side to find Ron asleep, his mouth gaping open and his head hanging over the sofa. She giggled lightly and went back to her book. However, she couldn't concentrate much and unbeknownst to her, fell asleep with his arm still around her shoulder.

_____________

Meanwhile, the afternoon was tiring a couple out rather than making them feel cozy.

A chill breeze blew through the open window of the Durmstrang dormitory as piles of books stacked up threatened the occupants of the desk of falling any moment. "Brr. . . Can you close that window, Mister?" Ginny asked. Harry flicked his wand and the window shut itself. Because of this moment, the stack of books finally fell down. Ginny caught few and Harry a couple. The rest fell to the ground with a mighty thud.

"Seriously hell!" Harry swore as he caught a book before it hit Ginny's head. Unfortunately, another fell on his head. "Ow!"

Ginny chuckled lightly and he glared at her in annoyance. "You're really funny when you are yourself, Harry."

"Please," Harry retorted, banishing the books away. "Why on Merlin's pants do we need so many books?!"

Ginny got up from the highly crammed study and slumped down on Harry's bed with a thoughtful look. "I have no idea." Checking her watch, she got up. "I need to get going. Master will be waiting. Perhaps he has some information?"

"Right," said Harry, standing up from his spot and moving closer to her. She raised her eyebrows at the sudden closeness.

"What?"

"I can't help but wish you'd do the –" he made a heart shape using his fingers. "when you leave me for a while."

Ginny rolled her eyes although a blush creeped to her cheeks. "You wish for too much, Mister."

Harry grinned then took her hand and placed a small kiss on her palm before she left with a pink tinged faced.

Harry looked on dreamily. "This girl is the death of me."

________________

When Ginny entered the Headmaster's office, she was in for a fact ride. Her master, the usually cheerful and bubbly man, now looked gravely serious. With a deep tone, he spoke to her. "Ginny. I have found something of great value."

Never had Ginny expected such a fact.

Ending with a cliffhanger. I want the story to turn more serious (not Sirius, no) and this is it!

Any thoughts about this chapter? Comment them down!

Thank you for reading!

Miyoko x