Disclaimer: I do not own any of the characters, events and/or places that are recognized as being written and created by J.K. Rowling. J.K. Rowling owns all the characters and places from the Harry Potter books including the ones used in this story.
A/N: So...this is the last chapter. There's a longer author's note at the bottom, if anyone is interested to know why I ended it here. Anyways, THANK YOU to everyone who has reviewed or read! Especially: Le Grimoire, penguininpink, aelwyn, CharmedLeoLvr, Uturnwow, PorphyrophobicGrape, YamiClara, thehpgang ( I did ponder the use of aging potion, but changed my mind), i-luv-legolas-greenleaf (thanks for the 10 :D ), Samara-Morgan-101, Linz005, Rane2920072
Sorry it took me soooo long to update, too. School. Blah. ENJOY :D
Ginny padded her lower back, as she ran through the front hall and into the kitchen. Once inside, she glared at Hermione, who was standing directly behind her, still panting from the sprint.
"Did you have to push me?" Ginny shouted, putting more pressure on the part of her back that Hermione attacked.
"You had this look on your face," Hermione responded. "Like you were going to latch yourself to Sirius' face, and we had somewhere to be." Hermione pointed behind Ginny, to where Tonks was sitting, perched up on the kitchen counter.
Tonks kicked her legs back and forth, her eyes squeezed shut. Her fingers gently rocked back and forth against her lips.
"Tonks?" Ginny approached.
"Remus kissed me," Tonks gurgled.
"Yeah, and he seemed really happy about it," Hermione whispered, sarcastically.
"You're a genius, Tonks," Ginny shouted. Tonks eyes sprang open. "I will for now on, follow only the ways of Nymphadora Tonks!"
"I am a genius," Tonks squeaked. "I mean, I don't want to gloat, but…it's pretty obvious."
Ginny nodded, bouncing up and down in place. Hermione looked from Tonks to Ginny. "It wasn't that genius, you know," Hermione said, moving to sit at the kitchen table, in a proper chair, and not on a counter or the floor like a manner-less vagabond. "I could have come up with it."
"But, you didn't," Ginny and Tonks said in unison. Ginny continued to bounce in place, sitting cross legged in the middle of the room.
"Just wait, Hermione," Tonks spoke up. "When you get that Time Turner again-"
"I'm not-"
"And you go back to when Remus was your age-"
"I wasn't planning-"
"And you stalk him down, and impress him with your brain, and then he kisses you; you'll come back to the present time and say "Gee, Tonks, your plan was genius."
Hermione took in a deep gasp of oxygen, releasing it harshly out through her nose. "First of all, that sentence had far too many 'ands' in it. Second, I would never utter the word 'Gee'. Also, if I impressed him with my brain, then I obviously didn't use your plan."
"Ah," Ginny exclaimed. "But, you do admit that you would go back in time and make-out with your former Professor, if given the chance!"
Hermione sighed, dropping her head onto the table.
Tonks slid off the counter, and onto the floor; more because of clumsiness than anything. "Let's get back to me snogging Remus."
"Great plan," Ginny whispered again, in pure awe.
Tonks laughed. "Why do you think it was a great plan? Besides the fact that it just is."
Ginny beamed and straightened her back, pushing the tip of her nose into the air. "I, Ginevra Weasley, have won the bet." She pointed her finger in between her and Hermione. "And it is all thanks to your plan!"
"You mean….Sirius is in love with you?" Tonks voice cracked. She suddenly envisioned Mrs. Weasley blaming her for everything, and smacking her across the back of the skull with a rolling pin.
"Well, he got all nervous when I was acting aloof, and he…he asked me out. Mission accomplished."
"Where is he…uh, taking you?" Tonks asked, choking on her own words. She liked her skull, she liked it very much; it didn't deserve to be abused by a raving red headed lunatic mother.
"No where," Hermione screamed. "He can't leave the house! And you know what? I technically dropped out of this stupid bet, so you won by default."
"I still won," Ginny said.
"He's too old for you," Hermione shouted, cupping her hands around her mouth for extra emphasis.
"Mum and Dad won't like that," Ginny said, tapping her pointer to her chin.
"They'll get over it…like how my mum will get over the fact that I'm dating a werewolf."
"You're not…argh!" Hermione jumped to her feet and dragged her fingers through her curls. She suddenly felt like she was on another planet, surrounded by insufferable mental patients. She decided right there that she wasn't going to bother anymore. She was going to return to her books, return to her homework, and pretend like none of this ever occurred. I never liked Sirius Black, she repeated in her head. I don't like Remus Lupin, and I like Ronald…don't like! Don't like!
The kitchen door swung open with a shudder, making all three girls jump.
Ginny squealed, but bit her lip before it got to loud. "Hello, Sirius," she said, trying desperately to make her voice sound low and inviting.
Sirius nodded at her. Ginny felt her tongue go dry, her heart plummet to her stomach, and her hands start to shake all at the same moment.
Coming up slowly behind Sirius was Remus, staring at the floor and mumbling to himself.
Tonks sprang to her feet, slipping but gripping the sink for support. She leaned to the side, and started dragging her left foot up and down her right calf. "Wotcher, Remus," she said, in her best 'I'm a seductress' voice.
Hermione and Ginny saw Sirius glare at Remus. Remus rolled his eyes, and nodded at Tonks. His eyes flicked to Hermione, and he shook his head.
"Is everything all right, Remus?" Tonks prodded, dropping her fake voice for one of concern.
Sirius elbowed Remus in the arm. Narrowing his eyes into two deadly slits at Sirius, Remus shrugged his shoulders. "I'm fine, thanks," he said, in an almost whisper.
"Um…" Tonks said, as she and Ginny shared a quick funny look.
"Thank you for your interest ladies, adieu," Sirius announced; he saluted, winked, grabbed Remus's arm and escaped into the dining room.
"What was that?" Hermione asked.
Ginny stood. She brushed her hands together, wiping off the dirt they collected from the floor. "I have no clue," she said.
"We can help you there."
All three girls' heads turned to the kitchen door. Fred and George stood there, each leaning causally on part of the door frame.
"…continue," Tonks barked, waving her hand in an impatient circle.
"Sirius and,"
"The Professor," George picked up from his brother. "Have had enough childish games, and have resorted to aloofly acknowledging your existences."
"What?" Tonks and Ginny bellowed in identical shocked tones.
Fred and George nodded, trying to hide the wickedness in their eyes.
"Are you happy?" Hermione spoke up; she glared at Tonks and Ginny from across the room. "You did this. You drove them to ignore us, with your tricks and plans and over eagerness. Now, we're being treated exactly how we should be treated; and frankly I don't mind."
"That's because you're mentally forty-four," Fred commented.
"And you're just mental," Hermione retorted. "Stop talking to Ron." Fred and George shrugged and winked at her for a reason Hermione defiantly couldn't place, before leaving the room.
Hermione turned to look back at Tonks and Ginny, but to her impeccable bad luck, the two had just bounced at full speed into the dining room. She quickly got up to follow them; more curious, then anything.
"Sirius," Tonks called from her place directly in front of him.
Sirius looked up at her, raising his eyebrows.
"Is everything fine?"
"Yes," he said in a toneless voice. He returned his gaze back to the papers spread out before him. Hermione snuck in between Tonks and Ginny to sit down in one of the chairs across from Sirius.
"What's your favorite food?" Tonks asked him. Sirius shrugged one shoulder. "Remus…? Favorite food?" Remus tried to get Sirius' attention by drumming his fingers on the table near his ear. He sighed, and allowed his eyes to meet Tonks. "I like to stay away from meat…when it's not that time…you know."
Sirius' head snapped up. "Aloof," he said in an almost whisper. Tonks and Ginny grinned and left the room.
"Great," Sirius huffed. "Now, they've won…or maybe, they're scared. Either way, there will be retaliation."
Remus picked up a quill and began to cross things off the paper in front of him. "Sirius," he sighed, not even briefly pausing in his work. "This is getting ridiculous."
"Yeah," Hermione spoke up. Both men jumped at the sound of her voice. "Everyone is acting like they're thirteen! Well, I guess Ginny's just acting her age…but still. Tonks! Tonks is shuffling around here like a nutter, completely forgetting the reason for why she is here…like everyone else is I might add. You have to agree with me." She held her hand out, indicating she wanted a response from Sirius.
"Hmm," he said, nodding slightly, but refusing to look at her. All in all, he was acting aloof and Hermione cursed the existence of that word. A loud crash came from the corner of the room, and a streak of giant ears caught Sirius' attention. He muttered something that sounded like 'mental-little-snot nosed-house elf' and left the table.
"It's all the cleaning chemicals," Remus said suddenly, his eyes hiding behind his bangs, but his wide smile lighting up his face. "That's what I've decided anyways. Cleaning chemicals, mixed with the unsettling feeling of what's happening out side these walls. That's what's making everyone act quite out of character."
Hermione melted. She felt her cheeks strain as they were pushed towards her ears by the biggest smile she has ever experienced. "I'll leave you to your work," she said. Remus smiled, happy in the state of not having to entertain his slightly maddened best friend for once.
Hermione choose to completely ignore Sirius currant behavior towards Kreacher, as she practically skipped her way out of the dining room.
Her face itched. She could feel the layers of hardening make-up that Tonks spread over her cheekbones. All she wanted at the moment was to wash her face, grab her book, and wait to get a response from Harry about his birthday presents.
"Hermione?" Hermione froze, mere seconds from opening the door to the bathroom, and glanced over her shoulder. Ron stood behind her, rocking back and forth from one foot to the other.
"Yes," she drawled.
"I, uh, I just wanted to, uh…want to play chess or something?"
"Sure," Hermione chirped. "I just want-"
"Wait," Ron blurted out, holding his hand up. "You're talking to me?"
Hermione raised an eyebrow, and gave him a hard stare. "Of course," she said.
"So," Ron continued. "You're not trying to lure me into your trap so that I may do your bidding?"
Hermione snorted, and almost choked on her own saliva. She couldn't help the vibrating, body shaking laughter that had burst from her lips. "Why…would…you possibly…think…that?" she said, in between gasps of oxygen.
Ron mumbled something that, to Hermione, sounded curiously like 'Fred and George' before furrowing his forehead. "I'll be downstairs if you want to play," he said, not meeting Hermione's eyes.
Hermione moved quickly into the bathroom, to spare Ron more of her boisterous laughter. "Sirius must think…and Remus, too," she whispered to her reflection, referring to the obvious fact that Sirius believes that the girls have ulterior motives besides waving off boredom. "This might be fun," she said; "or a total disaster."
"We're going to need some sort of large knife," Ginny said, as she slouched over a thick book on the kitchen counter. "It's says right here…we recommend to use chop sticks. It must be a misprint. I reckon they mean chopped sticks…I'll go find some from out side." Ginny shrugged, and reread the recipe, as her feet began to step away from the counter.
"Ginny," Tonks shouted from her place behind the towering stack of pans she was carrying. The force of her voice, coupled with an untied shoe lace, was enough to cause the whole pile to crash, with extreme noise, to the floor. "Argh," Tonks sighed. "Listen forget the recommendations and start getting the ingredients ready."
Ginny's wide eyes settled on the mess around Tonks feet, and then widened even more when Tonks tried to step around the pots, and instead stuck her foot directly into one. She slid across the floor, smacked into the refrigerator and sank to the floor. "I don't know if this is as good of an idea as previously assumed," Ginny said.
Tonks quickly returned to a standing position and made her way, with as much dignity as she had left, back to the counter where Ginny was. "This," she started, jabbing her finger at the large cook book; "is the only good idea we have to get Sirius and Remus to stop acting aloof to us."
"You know, I don't think I care anymore."
"Ginny! Don't utter such nonsense to me! Where's the cooking oil?"
Ginny moved to fetch Tonks the cooking oil. The two decided that they would make an overly complicated dinner for the residents of Grimmauld Place, mostly for Sirius and Remus.
Ginny was bored. Nothing kept her attention for more than a minute. She wished that she could go back to the days when she lusted over Sirius in pure perfected secret. That was fun. That kept her always one step out of boredom's grasp. Now everything was everywhere and not even Ginny's thoughts were safe from her mouth blabbing them.
So that left her and Tonks attempting to cook a meal to impress two men that they really had no business impressing in the first place.
"Cooking oil," Ginny announced, placing the bottle in front of Tonks' face. "Are you sure that a stir fry is an easy thing to do? I kind of think we should avoid anything that requires an open flame."
Tonks brushed her off. She began to charm a couple of knifes, making them chop and dice the arrangement of vegetables and meat, she had spread out on the counter.
"I thought we weren't going to use magic?" Ginny asked.
"You want to lose a finger?" Tonks countered, surveying her hand.
Ginny and Tonks perched themselves on two stools while the charmed utensils worked on their meals. The kitchen slowly became laid with a heavy whitish air. Tonks shrugged Ginny's worries off, and continued to explain the benefits of being a Metamorphmagus.
The smell hit Ginny's nose first. She didn't want to turn around, but it was like someone grabbed her face and forced her to. What she saw sent her almost toppling off her chair.
"…Tonks…" Tonks turned to see what Ginny was pointing at.
Flames. Bright auburn and reaching their strangling fingers towards the ceiling. The charmed utensils were surrounding the fire, as if they too were starring at it in a mix of awe and horrification.
Tonks shook her head, and went into heroine mode. She grabbed her wand, shouted, and a blast of water shot from the tip and into the center of the fire. The flames wavered, died, grew and finally resided to ashes and tiny sparks.
Ginny moved closer to the stove and peered into the two woks that were now crispy and steaming. "Do you think it's still edible?"
"Ugh…ACK!" Hermione's head and chest came crashing onto the dining room table. The fork still clenched in her right hand, displayed the cause of her sudden sickness; a charred piece of some kind of unidentifiable meat.
"You," Mrs. Weasley began, pointing deadly fingers at Ginny and Tonks; "are never again allowed in my kitchen."
"Your kitchen?" Sirius asked, pursing his lips at Mrs. Weasley.
"ANY kitchen," she snapped.
"Grug," Remus mumbled, as he too flopped head first onto the table. His arms wrapped around his torso. Hermione wiped a hand across her forehead, gathering more beads of sweat than should ever be allowed.
"Moony?" Sirius asked, prodding Remus's arm.
"Argle," Remus grumbled.
"Did you poison Remus?" Sirius scowled at Tonks.
"No," she shouted back.
"Hermione," Mrs. Weasley called, walking over to the young girl. "You're all pale, dear. Are you going to be sick?" Hermione either jerked forward or nodded; no one could tell.
"Why are they the only one's who got sick?" Ginny asked, eyeing the bit of chicken on her fork.
"Because they're delicate," Sirius snapped, as he tried to grab Remus's face.
"I en deli cate," Remus managed, swatting Sirius' hands away. He got up and left the table, following Mrs. Weasley and Hermione into the kitchen.
"Great dinner, girls," Sirius dead panned, pushing his plate away.
"You think mum will make us sandwiches?" Ron asked, also giving up on the half burned, half cooked stir fry.
"I think," Tonks started, rising from her chair. "That tomorrow is August 1st. And it's a Monday. And I'm going to throw myself into my work; because, well Mad Eye has been getting suspicious, but also because, although I like hanging out with you Ginny-" Tonks stopped to smile wide at Ginny, "-I think I may need to get a life."
"I second the motion," Sirius shouted, as he lay across the table, digging through a basket of fruit in the middle.
"Tonks, want to go get some real dinner?" Charlie asked, from the other end of the table.
"Sure!"
Ginny woke up the next morning to the beautiful sounds of Hermione retching in the corner.
"Are you still sick?" she questioned drowsily.
Hermione murmured a yes and threw herself back onto her bed. "Which one of you actually did the cooking?"
"Neither," Ginny responded, sitting up in her bed. "That's probably why there's a problem." Hermione groaned and smothered her face into her mattress. "I'll go get you, uh, something soothing to drink," Ginny said, ripping her covers off, and bounding towards the door. She grabbed the knob just as it began to turn on its own. Ginny backed up, allowing room for the door to open. Mrs. Weasley stepped in looking rather agitated, and carrying a tray of food.
"Sorry, Ginny," she started, shuffling over to Hermione's bed. "There is an Order meeting going on, and all who are not involved are to stay out of the way. Therefore, I am restricting you all to your bedrooms. I will have no more extendable ears or sneaking around."
"Mum," Ginny whined.
"Don't mum me! You've caused enough trouble." Mrs. Weasley sat on the edge of Hermione's bed, and handed her a glass of something fizzy. "Poor Professor Lupin is still sick, too."
Hermione drank the contents of the glass, glaring menacingly over the rim at Ginny.
"Well, you can let me go downstairs, and apologize to him?" Ginny asked in what she thought was a slick move.
Mrs. Weasley's answer was a smart smirk, and a slam of their bedroom door.
Ginny flopped back onto her bed, burying her face into her mattress. "This is going to get old fast," she said, raising her head up slightly so that her voice wouldn't be muffled.
"Eh," Hermione replied. "What else is there to do? I think I'd kind of enjoy a day in bed."
"What do you want to talk about?"
Hermione rolled her eyes to the ceiling, focusing in on a small spider scurrying across the tiles. "Not what you want to talk about."
"Sirius?"
"Yes."
"Eh," Ginny said, flipping over so that her head and shoulders were hanging off the side of her bed. "I think he's lost his appeal."
"Did you see the face he made when he thought Remus was poisoned?"
"Precious."
"Mmmhmm."
"Too gorgeous." Ginny paused. "I can't wait to have a boyfriend at school this year."
Hermione coughed out a repressed laugh. "And who's going to be your boyfriend?"
"Haven't decided yet." Ginny sat up; on the outside her face was nonchalant, but on the inside, she was listing her options.
"You can't act normal in front of a boy," Hermione said, smiling toothily at a now very angry looking red head. "I've seen you around Sirius, after all."
"You're one to talk," Ginny retorted.
"I don't pretend to be calm around guys I fancy. I'm only pointing to the obvious."
Ginny sighed. She sprang off her bed, and stood in front of the mirror next to her dresser. "It's different with Sirius; there's almost no chance of a relationship-"
"Almost…?"
"…it's fun to be foolish in front of him. I think he likes it."
Hermione rolled her eyes, and sank into her pillows. She wasn't buying the, 'I don't care how I appear to Sirius Black' lie Ginny was spinning. "I'll bet you another 500 pretend Galleons that you can't go one day without making a fool out of yourself in front of Sirius. And shall I add that my careen towards gambling has been entirely your doing?"
"I've never been prouder," Ginny exclaimed. She sat on the edge of Hermione's bed. A mischievous glint appeared in her eyes, much to Hermione's dislike. "I'll bet you…oh forget the stupid pretend money. I'll just bet…that I can make a better fool out of myself in front of Sirius than you can."
Rubbing her ears, Hermione closed her eyes. "So, you're suggesting that…for the sake of competition…that you can embarrass yourself in front of Sirius, better than I can?"
Ginny nodded; her loose hair flying in front of her face.
"This is a new low," Hermione whispered. "I could be stripped of any strand of intelligence I still have for just agreeing to this."
"Beginning on the release from this prison," Ginny said, casting her eyes around their dull bedroom. "Shake on it." Hermione grabbed Ginny's outstretched hand; and the new bet was formed.
It was morning the next day, August 2nd, when Ginny and Hermione were finally allowed to exit their bedroom. The faded wallpaper of the outside hall never looked more beautiful.
Ginny showered and dressed. She skipped excitedly down the stairs, where Hermione was waiting for her, standing stiffly against the banister.
What? Ginny mouthed; disturbing the less than polite painting hidden behind closed drapes next to her, was not what one of her morning goals.
Hermione leaned close to Ginny. "Sirius is brooding," she whispered, it sounding more like a breath than words.
Ginny raised her eyebrows and pointed to the kitchen. In there?, she mouthed. Hermione shook her head. She began mouthing some overly complicated sentence, in fast motion.
"You really think I understood any of that?" Ginny said. Both girls glanced at the large curtain next to them, fear blazing in their eyes. Ginny looked back at Hermione, who jerked her head to the side; silently telling Ginny to follow her into the kitchen.
"Snape," Hermione began, once they were in the kitchen; in a normal voice. "Snape said something to Sirius at the meeting, and Sirius tried to hex him. Dumbledore stopped him and, well, scolded him, I suppose. Snape, of course, reveled in the fact that Sirius got yelled at. Now, Sirius is angry at the world, and has locked himself in his room." Hermione ended her speech by gesturing to the ceiling, and trying to casually refill her lungs with air.
"What about the new bet?" Ginny whined, in exasperation.
"What bet?"
Ginny and Hermione snapped to attention, slowly turning and leaning to make innocent eye contact with Mrs. Weasley.
"What bet?" she repeated, with more impatience.
"Morning, mum," Ginny sang, a phony smile plastered over her face. "Hermione and I were just betting on…who could, uh, eat the biggest breakfast! Yep; I am so hungry." Ginny turned to nod at Hermione, who immediately began moving her head in unison.
Mrs. Weasley narrowed her eyes. She jabbed her finger at Ginny's face. "I'll be watching you today," she warned.
"GINEVRA WEASLEY, GET AWAY FROM THAT DOOR!"
Ginny practically flew away from Sirius' bedroom door and into a spare room.
"Mum?" she called from inside the room, in her best innocent voice. "Is there something you need?" Ginny heard her mother mumble from the bottom of the staircase.
"How did she know you were there?" Hermione asked, as she opened the door that Ginny was currently huddled behind.
"I have a feeling that upon birth she had the doctor insert some kind of tracking device into my belly button, and I probably show up as a little blip on a map etched into her palm, allowing her to know my whereabouts at every second of the day!"
Hermione nodded. It did seem plausible.
"Come on," Ginny whispered, slipping out of the spare room. She motioned for Hermione to follow her back over to Sirius' door. When they got there, Ginny placed her ear by the keyhole. "He's sleeping…or exercising."
"In other words, all you can hear is breathing?" Ginny nodded. "You should be an Auror." Hermione yawned and sank to the floor. It was after dinner, and she could all ready feel the pull of sleep. All day she's had to put up with Ginny's scheming, coming up with ways to extract Sirius from his room. She hadn't attempted anything, until now; when the boredom once again became too much.
Ginny fell to her knees. She leaned back, and stuck her hands into her pocket. "What are you doing?" Hermione asked, not really wanting to know. Ginny beamed, and slowly pulled out a long, thin wire. Attached to the end of the wire, was a small round mirror. "Oh…no," Hermione said, shocked that Ginny was going to result to spying.
Ginny nodded. She began feeding the mirror and the wire underneath Sirius's door. When it was in far enough, she laid down, flattening the side of her face into the floor. "I can just make out…a light, or a candle," she said, squinting one eye. Hermione took this moment to sneak back into the spare room. "Now I can only see…uh, well, nothing, it's all dark. Wait," Ginny turned her head a little. "I can see some sort of material…like the fabric of cloak. Maybe if I…" Ginny twirled the wire slightly. Hermione stifled her laughter, as she watched Sirius' bedroom door open, unbeknownst to the red head spy lying sprawled on the floorboards. "Yes! I can see an eye, and black hair. Wow, this mirror must go all the way into the middle of his room! I wonder what he's doing."
"Trying to leave his bedroom."
Ginny's head snapped up, meeting directly with Sirius' smiling grey eyes. "Urf," she squeaked. Sirius laughed, stepped over the shocked and frozen young girl, and strode down the stairs.
Hermione came rolling out of the spare room, laughing like a maniac. "Urf?" she squealed. "URF?" Ginny turned around, sending Hermione a death glare. "Well," Hermione said, wiping her eyes. "I guess you won the 'embarrass yourself' bet too."
"Lucky me," Ginny murmured, mortified beyond comprehension.
The two girls stood up, and slowly made their way downstairs. Hermione was still shaking with joy, while Ginny felt like her life was over; how could she ever face Sirius again?
They walked into the sitting room. Ginny did an immediate 180, and tried to walk back out, but Hermione stopped her.
Sitting on one of the couches, was Sirius; still smirking, his dark hair hanging silkily over the left side of his face.
Hermione stopped Ginny from leaving, and pushed her to the opposite couch, where Remus sat. He had the faint look of recent amusement on his face. Hermione flopped down across from Ginny and next to Sirius.
"All right?" Remus asked, glancing at Hermione. Hermione smiled brightly, nodding.
"All right?" Sirius asked, staring at Ginny.
Ginny gulped.
"I think I'm going to have to tell your mum that you were spying on me," Sirius spoke up. Remus and Hermione seemed to both be stifling chuckles.
"I…I…" Ginny tried; she really didn't know what to say. "I was bored."
"That doesn't give you the right to spy on me."
"Are you yelling at me?" Ginny asked, on the verge of panic.
"No. I'm just saying that…well, I could have been naked."
"But you weren't?" Ginny pointed out. "Listen-"
"No, you listen-"
"Both of you listen," Remus interrupted. "Padfoot, two seconds ago you were telling me how you thought it was…cute, that Ginny was spying on you; and-"
"I did not say that," Sirius shouted, blushing slightly. "We just all need to stay away from each other, I think."
"And how are we supposed to do that? When we're all stuck in the same house?" Hermione asked.
"We can leave," Ginny said, looking at Hermione.
"And what is that supposed to mean?" Sirius' voice started to adopt a slight edge.
"Hey, that's not our fault," Hermione said, softly. "I think you need to calm down a little."
"Sirius, Hermione is right-"
"Of course you think she's right, Moony."
"What does that mean?" Remus asked; though by his blush, it was obvious that he knew.
"OK. Everyone just needs to keep to themselves. I think-"
"Oh, no one cares what you think," Ginny spoke up. "You're the one that started this whole thing!"
"What?"
Ginny nodded. "If you didn't-" Ginny paused and took one look at Sirius. She didn't want to come right out and say that if Hermione never flirted with Sirius, and made her jealous, none of the betting would have started. "It just is," she finished.
"Wow, good explanation," Hermione dead panned.
"We're all just bored," Sirius shouted. "That's it! Bored and, and,"
"There's nothing to do," Ginny picked up.
"I have things to do," Remus said, evicting a nod of agreement from Hermione.
"Oh shut up, Remus," Sirius spat.
And so began the great argument. Sirius and Ginny shouted about being bored, and stuck in this house, and feeling useless. While Remus and Hermione gently explained that there were many things to do, and that Sirius and Ginny, respectively, just didn't want to do them.
Sirius was on his feet. During a pillow throwing scuffle, Hermione and Ginny switched places, so that Hermione was now sitting next to a relaxed, vaguely interested Remus.
"Well, if you didn't suggest charades," Ginny shouted, pointing at Hermione; the fight now changing directions completely.
"There was nothing else to do!"
"There's never anything to do," Ginny and Sirius shouted in complete unison.
"Excuse me." All four heads snapped to the door. Mr. Weasley was standing there, a piece of parchment clenched in his hands. "Harry has been attacked by Dementors." He swallowed the forming lump in his throat, and offered the note in his shaking hand.
Sirius sank to his seat, and Remus sprang for the parchment. Ginny and Hermione shared a confused, scared look.
And suddenly, there was plenty to do.
fine
A/N #2: I decided to end the fic here because now Harry comes, and if you want to know what happens...read OotP. I know I could have kept going and did the story from Ginny's or Hermione's POV, but there is so much going on, that there wouldn't be time for nonsense games and all that fun stuff. Even though this has been silly and very out of character in places, I wanted it to be somewhat related to the canon. What I will be doing is picking this up with one shots. Thanks again!