Muggle Camp

[Veritaserum]

So hello. I'm Veritaserum and this is my first fic. It's post-OotP and happens in the summer. A two week camp in which the sixth-years have to survive as muggles. R/Hr with lots of fluff, fights, snogs and snags. Have fun.


Plz review here, I love reviews cos I can see if I'm doin a fair enough job and not just writing drivel :drool: you can be as evil as you like :evil:
http://www.cosforums.com/showthread.php?t=18633


Ahem so here goes...Muggle Camp (or Two Weeks Too Long)



Chapter 1 - Waiting for Nasty Surprises

Ron stood on the freezing platform at Kings Cross shivering away. Where were Harry and Hermione? Watching the mist in front of his eyes as he breathed in and out he looked around. Parvarti and Lavender had been the first to arrive after Ron. He could see them swapping holiday gossip. Then there was Seamus and Dean who were chatting animatedly to a forlorn looking Neville. That was everyone Gryffindor, so where were Harry and Hermione?

There were other sixth years there as well of course; they mainly kept to themselves though. He could see the bunched little groups in their muggle scarfs and gloves. Ron watched as one of the Ravenclaw girls whipped out her wand to perform that tricky little spell Hermione always used to dry herself off, in a vain attempt to warm up. He had not seen Harry or Hermione since the start of the school holidays - four weeks ago. They had written of course but it wasn't the same. Harry had written to tell him he was going to come with Hermione - the Grangers were going to pick him up from the Dursley's to take him to King's Cross, which was lucky because he couldn't imagine the Dursley's being too happy about dropping Harry here at two in the morning. And God it was cold.

It had all begun as a part of a bizarre weather change, apparently all the muggles had noticed it too because it had been on their news. Or so Hermione had told him anyway. The weather had just gradually got colder and colder until it was like winter. Wondering whether it might have anything to do with Voldemort’s current activities he decided to share his suspicions with Fred and George. He had hoped he might wheedle some answers out of them as they were a part of the Order. Halfway through his discussion he was nearly decapitated when Errol flew into the side of his head. Thinking it would be the usual book list and back to school rubbish he opened the letter absentmindedly but was surprised to see a considerably longer letter which he read aloud.

Dear Mr Weasley,
I am writing to inform you of this year's muggle camp...

'Muggle Camp? What's Muggle Camp?' asked Ron puzzled

'Ah, Muggle Camp. You're in for it little bro,'' replied Fred genially

'Yep,' began George 'Muggle Camp is nicknamed the Camp of Hell!'

'Erm, ok...'Ron continued on with his letter.

Muggle Camp is held annually for sixth year students in an attempt to assist young wizards and witches if they ever find themselves in a position where they cannot use magic. Usually this camp is held during the Easter holiday break but considering the current circumstances, the staff has decided to alter the proceedings.

Due to the unwarranted return of You-Know-Who to power, we have decided to make use of muggle camp in more than one way and make it a combined 'Defence Camp' in which you will learn the basic defensive skills needed in combat if you ever find yourself in such a situation.

For convenience this will also coincide with your End of OWL Ball which is held at Hogwarts. This is a ball held each year to celebrate the completion of your OWL examinations, the results of which you will receive during muggle camp. You are permitted to invite a student from another year if you wish, although they are to meet you at Hogwarts on August 31st and will therefore be required to stay at Hogwarts until the start of school term on September1st. You are therefore required to bring the following items:

Wand
Dress Robes

NO other magical items are permitted and all students will be checked for their possession. If any student if found to have magical items of any description they will be confiscated. You may bring personal effects but they cannot be magical.

Attendance at Muggle Camp is compulsory and non-attendance is punishable by expulsion. Be sure to meet outside Kings Cross Station on the 18th August at 2 am. Your school trunk should be put on the Hogwarts Express on the 1st September as usual.

Yours Sincerely,

Professor M. McGonagall

'Wow!' exclaimed George. 'That's gunna be murder that is! Oh you're in for it. You can't use any magic AT ALL, and they make you live like a muggle.'

'Yeh,' continued Fred. 'And if you get caught using magic, they make you do muggle chores. You know, like washing dishes and cleaning floors.'

'But you know what muggle camp is really about don't you?'

'No...what?' asked Ron looking apprehensive.

'They call it RC'

‘RC?'

'Yeh,' replied Fred, obviously savouring the tension. 'You know, Romance Camp.' Ron snorted, 'Romance Camp? Are you serious?'

'Very little bro', said Fred seriously

'Yeh they call it that because it's the time when all the young budding couples finally decide to, you know, become proper open couples.' George shot a sideways look at Fred. 'And you know what? This year it's going to be ten times worse, because you have the OWL ball following!

'So?' asked Ron, feeling very confused.

'So! People will be trying to find partners the whole time mwahahahahaha!'

And so Fred and George had been taunting him ever since his arrival at Kings Cross on that freezing night, waiting to be told what was going on, waiting for Harry and Hermione, and dwelling on what Fred and George had said. Was it true? I mean, Ron thought to himself, how would people know about this? Surely they were pulling his leg? He took another look around and spotted something he hadn't noticed before. People were giving each other sideways glances and not just people, but girls and lads! No, he was imagining it. Or was he? For Ron knew who he wanted to go to the OWL ball with. He had known for a long time, though to admit it would surely be a disaster.

Ron was distracted from his train of thought by the sudden arrival of a car. The headlights were blurring his vision and illuminating the rising smog. Surely this had to be the Grangers. If it wasn’t, Ron decided to himself, he’d have to light himself on fire as a distraction from the cold.

Ron could only see the black outline of people emerge from the car. Judging from the size and shape of the one getting out of the back seat on the right hand side, Harry and Hermione had arrived. ‘About time,’ he mumbled to himself. ‘About bloody time! How long does it take?’ he shouted.

‘What, to get from Surrey to London? About an hour,’ retorted Harry

‘Yeh, well leave earl…Oh hello Mr and Mrs Granger!’ Ron could just see the outline of Mr and Mrs Granger as they helped Hermione – was that Hermione? – to get her bags out the car. He had thought that the other person was Hermione but from her shadow, he had misgivings. There wasn’t the reflection of her bushy hair. She was curvier and looked a bit thinner, yet fuller. Her posture was different; she stood upright with her shoulders back and she looked taller. Headlights, Ron thought, must make people’s shadows looked different. A bit of muggle magic.

She stepped forward into the pale moonlight and what he saw made Ron jump and gasp. Hermione had changed…a lot. She was so different! She had grown up and she…was…well…there was no way to describe it. Whatever it was, Ron decided, he didn’t like it one bit. ‘What? What’s the matter? Do I have something on my face?’ Hermione asked puzzled. Ron just realised he had his mouth hanging open and closed it quickly. ‘No...no...’ Ron just gaped. ‘Hermione, you’re well, you’re so tall!’

‘Oh no, don’t worry, they’re just my shoes.’ She lifted up her pant leg to reveal high heeled shoes. Hermione? Wear high-heeled shoes? No. Ron shook his head, there was something weird going on here. Come to think of it, everything about Hermione was different; her clothes were expensive muggle brands. She had a short top on that exposed her midriff and she had metal ring through her stomach! But there was something else that he couldn’t quite put his finger on…

‘Ron! Hello! Earth to Ronald Weasley!’ Hermione was looking at Ron with an amused expression on her face. She fluttered her eyelids dramatically and then Ron picked it – she was wearing makeup!

‘Oi, Ron, help me with my bags, call yourself a gentlemen!’ She gasped dramatically again. This time she gave her hair a little flick to reveal extravagant earrings.

Ron picked up the bags – more than one? – and walked over onto the frosted pavement. He could hear the clacking of Hermione’s heels as she followed him over. ‘Look, just stand still will you! That clacking noise is driving me nuts!’ said Ron irritably. What was going on? He was getting angry. He didn’t like it when he couldn’t understand something.

‘Oh, nice to see you too! Why I bother, I don’t know…I’m going to say goodbye to mum and dad,’ and she ran back off towards the car.
‘So…’ Ron heard Harry voice over his shoulder as he dumped Hermione’s bags on the pavement. ‘What the hell was…that?’ Ron demanded.

‘Don’t ask me! I just went along with it. Looks like Hermione has some kind of a Barbie complex!’

‘Barbie?’

‘Don’t worry. Sh! She’s coming back.’ Hermione was walking over with all the grace and poise of a movie star.

‘What is with this?’ Ron spat at Hermione.

‘What?’ said Hermione taken aback.

‘All…this!’ he gestured violently with his hands at Hermione’s clothes and figure.

‘What…you mean my new look?’ she asked looking slightly offended

‘New look?’ He couldn’t understand what she was talking about. New look! She’s practically changed everything about her. ‘New look?’ He was nearly shaking. He didn’t understand why felt so angry, ‘you look like some kind of…scarlet woman!’ Hermione looked as if someone had slapped her across the face.

‘What are you talking about? I’ve just decided to take a little more pride in my appearance!’ She was looking so upset it looked as if she were about to burst into tears. ‘It’s not that different!’

Ron shot a sideways glance at Harry who was staring around at the other sixth years. They too were all looking at Hermione. Parvarti and Lavendar glared at her as if she had just grown an extra head. Most of the other boys had their mouths open. Hermione seemed to have noticed as she suddenly moved to zip up the jacket she was wearing.

Ron put on a satisfied smile. He knew he had won the argument and liked it too. Serve her right for doing something so outrageous. Seeing Hermione lose an argument was one of his best forms of entertainment.

‘You’re just jealous Ronald Weasley! You’re just jealous because I am gorgeous and you’re not,’ hissed Hermione. It was Ron’s turn to look as if he had just been slapped in the face.

‘IF IT MEANS I HAVE TO STICK METAL RINGS THROUGH MY STOMACH TO LOOK DIFFERENT, THEN I THINK I’LL PASS!’

A resounding silence filled the street broken only by the rushing wind and the buzzing of the flickering street lamps. Ron thought he could almost hear the static that he felt running through his hair.

‘Thankyou Mr Weasley, for kindly getting the attention of the class.’ Professor McGonagall’s stern voice filled the street breaking the awkward silence. ‘Weasley and Granger, you both have detention. Please see me afterwards. To everyone else, welcome to Muggle Camp!’



This used to be two chapters long but I condensed into one (for all those who were wondering!)

[Veritaserum]

Can someone delete this for me cos I don't know how *shrugs embaressingly*

[Veritaserum]

Next chapter - have fun...


Chapter 2 – The Experiment

Dear Mr Potter,
I am writing to inform you of this year's muggle camp...

Harry stared down at his letter. The number of times he had read it and he was still going. He sighed and folded it up. Placing it in the top pocket of his shirt, he got up and walked to the window. The Granger’s were late but it didn’t matter, it was nice enough for them to pick him up in the first place – Surrey meant they had to go backwards before they got to London where the Granger’s lived, but Hermione had explained to him that it was no problem. He could have travelled on the Knight Bus but the Granger’s had insisted that they did not want him travelling alone at two o’clock in the morning.

Anyway, he wasn’t too happy with the wizarding world at the moment. He was furious in fact. Cornelius Fudge and all of his office, it was their fault that the wizarding world was in all this mess. Not only that, but he had had to sit here and stew for a whole month on Sirius’s death. He shook his head as he felt hot tears prick the corners of his eyes, no he wasn’t going to cry, he had cried enough. It was time for him to let go and to get even, to get even with Voldemort for all of the pain he had caused him. He had not forgotten the prophecy – the prospect of either being murdered or a murderer was not a pleasant. How many people knew about the prophecy? How many people knew that the fate of the wizarding world lay in his hands?

Harry sighed a deeply. He had thought all of these things through a million times already over the past four weeks. Oh well, he would think about it when the time came. Right now he was looking forward to two weeks spent with Ron and Hermione. Two weeks in a camp where you had to live like muggles, this was going to be a laugh. Harry s******ed at the thought of Malfoy trying to light a camp fire with Crabbe and Goyle blundering around trying to put up a tent. And what was all this about defence camp? He had thought it was a good idea, but how many people would be willing to learn? Certainly not Malfoy and the other Slytherins! At least many of the DA members would be attending and Ron and Hermione would look forward to it. Of course he would have to tell them about the prophecy and everything else that Dumbledore had told him two months ago, but that, he thought, could wait.

He was distracted by the sound of a horn beeping outside the window. He had been so deep in his own thoughts he hadn’t even noticed the bright headlights of the car as it pulled up. Slowly, he walked over and picked up his school trunk and his camp bag. The Granger’s had offered to drop Harry’s trunk off at the Hogwarts Express when they took Hermione’s.

Opening the front door of number four, he dragged his case down the front path then ran back to pick up his back. Hearing Hermione’s footsteps behind him, he turned expecting her ambush and did not have to wait long for the attack of the bushy hair. He smiled as she pulled away, ‘Hey Hermione!’

‘Oh Harry I’m so happy to see you! But I need to ask you a favour, can I borrow you’re house?’ She said this all very fast.

‘My house? What do you want to borrow my house for? We’re late already!’ He looked puzzlingly at her.

‘I’ll explain in a minute, get in the car, I’ll lock up for you.’ Harry just stared at her disbelievingly as she ran, bushy hair flying, back into the house. Picking up his bag again he walked over the car. ‘Hello Mr and Mrs Granger!’

‘Oh hello Harry I don’t think we’ve been introduced properly, I’m Bob and this is Mary,’ replied Hermione’s Dad as he helped to lift Harry’s trunk into the boot of the Car.

‘Nice to meet you Harry,’ called Mary out of the open car window as Harry hoisted his pack into the boot of the car.

‘Nice to meet you to Mary and er…Bob!’ Harry turned to see Hermione shutting the front door. She ran barefoot to the car shouting ‘right, let’s go everyone!’ Harry had just realised why Hermione had needed to use his house. It was to change.

‘Hermione…what are you…your clothes! What the…?’

‘Just get in the car and I’ll explain.’ She said hurriedly hopping in the back seat.

Harry jumped in after her and closed the door as the car sped off down Privet drive. Harry turned his head to look at Hermione again. She was wearing a low cut top that showed her midriff and she had a belly-button ring – just like the one Dudley’s girlfriend wore! There was something odd going on here. Harry saw her take out a pair of high heeled shoes from the bag she had carried into number four. Hermione, wear high-heeled shoes? ‘OK, OK, that’s enough what in the world is going on? Hermione Granger does NOT wear belly-tops and high heeled shoes. I demand an explanation right now, and what in your right mind made you pierce your belly button?’ Harry was feeling very confused.

‘Just a minute Harry, I’m trying to figure out how the hell you put these stupid things on,’ Hermione replied coolly attempting in vain to put one of her high-heeled shoes on the wrong foot

‘Nah-uh I want to know right now!’

‘Hermione dear, watch your language please. Now we have at least an hour until we reach King’s Cross, please put Harry out of his misery and tell him what’s going on. And by the way dear, that’s the wrong foot.’ Mary Granger gave a little laugh which she quickly turned into a cough, ‘my daughter isn’t very skilled when it comes to er…girly things.’ Harry laughed but quickly desisted when Hermione shot him a sharp look.

‘All right,’ she said defeatedly, ‘I’m trying to impress Ron.’ Harry looked at her with a disgusted look on his face. ‘You’re joking!’

‘Yeh I am,’ said Hermione who had burst out laughing at the look on his face, ‘No this is all part of an experiment.’

‘An experiment? But we haven’t even started school yet, how can you have started an experiment already?’ Harry looked at her exasperatedly. ‘Oh, this hasn’t got anything to do with spew has it?’

‘Shutup will you and let me explain. It’s not spew it’s S.P.E.W. and no it’s nothing to do with that.’ She took a deep calming breath and continued as this was costing her great energy. ‘It is an experiment I am conducting for my mum,’ she shot an accusatory look at her mum and continued. ‘As you know mum is a dentist, but lately she has got it into her head that being a dentist is not for her and it is time for a career change.’ She shook her head as if this was a ridiculous idea and carried on. ‘So she is doing some kind of social science course, you know it had to do with society and people. Anyway, as a part of her course, she is doing a research assignment about people’s appearences. She wanted to conduct an experiment to see if people’s attitudes towards a person would change if their looks changed. So guess who turned out to be the guinea pig?’ Before Harry could answer she plummeted on. ‘Me, that’s who! Mum thinks I am the ideal candidate. In her words I can go from plain-Jane to gorgeous-goddess with some slight changes to my appearance. And it’s my job to record how people’s attitude’s towards me change.’ She paused to take a breath.

‘Slight changes?’ Harry snorted.

‘Yeh that’s what I said; I mean me, Hermione Granger wear makeup and high-heeled shoes – it’s ridiculous! Anyway, it might be interesting to see what happened as a result of this. It’s all in the name of muggle science after all! Oh and plus, they’re gunna give me a load of galleons…’

‘But Hermione, you pierced you’ve pierced you’re belly-button and you’re so…so…’ he could feel the heat rising on his face, ‘big!’

‘Hey!’ She sounded outraged.

‘Well they’re a bit hard to miss!’ Harry could feel the heat rising in his face once more.

‘Okay, okay, they’re false. Mum insisted they were an integral part of the experiment – all against my better judgement.’ Hermione looked angry again, ‘oh and the ring’s a fake.’ She pulled it out with ease and twisted it between her fingers before putting it back. ‘It works with magnets.’

‘You better get a move on dear; it might take you a while to get those shoes on.’ Harry s******ed again and Hermione clipped him around the head.

He continued to watch with increasing interest as Hermione remodelled herself. She applied makeup on her own, which she explained was a skill she had attained with intense training from her mother. Harry asked her why she hadn’t just got changed at their house.

‘Do you not understand how uncomfortable it is to be dressed like this’ Her mum tutted in the background and Harry could just see her roll her eyes. ‘Oh and don’t tell Ron,’ she added hastily, causing her to slip with a liquid pen she was using for her eyes and drawing a big line across her temple. Harry burst into fits of laughter; it was great seeing Hermione make mistakes, as awful as it was to admit it. She growled angrily and seized a tissue her mother had automatically held out. When Harry had recovered he continued, ‘So, why can’t I tell Ron?’

‘Because!’ Hermione sounded exasperated, ‘I want to see how Ron reacts – as part of the experiment!’

‘Oh,’ said Harry sounding apprehensive. How would Ron react, he didn’t have a clue but he didn’t think it would be good. ‘I don’t think that’s a good idea Hermione, he may go all weird.’

‘Don’t be silly!’ She sounded exasperated again and was applying liberal amounts of styling potion to her hair. ‘I mean it took him four years to figure out I was a girl, he probably won’t even notice!’

*

They arrived at Kings Cross cutting it very finely. Hermione turned to Harry. ‘Now remember Harry, don’t tell Ron. Oh - and another thing. When I get out and show myself, I need you to take a look around and see other people’s reactions, ok?’

‘Ok,’ Harry replied looking apprehensive. This experiment was going to have interesting results - Mrs Granger had certainly chosen the perfect test subject; Hermione looked very different indeed.

Harry stepped out of the car and immediately saw Ron standing directly ahead, shivering. Come to think of it, it was freezing. Why, in the middle of summer?

‘About bloody time! How long does it take?’ He heard Ron shout at him from in front of the car.

‘What, to get from Surrey to London, about an hour,’ he retorted with a laugh.

‘Yeh well leave earl…oh hello Mr and Mrs Granger!’ Harry went round the back of the car to drag his trunk out of the back of the car while Ron talked to Hermione. He looked round – all of the sixth year Gryffindors were here. He suspected most of the other sixth years were as well. He picked up his trunk and dragged it over to the pavement.

‘So...’ Harry began, thinking of asking how he was but he was cut off.

‘What the hell was…that?’ Ron gestured to Hermione. Harry was taken aback by Ron’s tone. He should have expected this. He had however, promised Hermione he would play along.

‘Don’t ask me, I just went along with it. Looks like Hermione has some kind of a Barbie complex!’

‘Barbie?’

‘Don’t worry, shh, she’s coming back’ Harry could see Hermione walking with all the grace and poise of a movie star. He was very impressed at how well she was acting out her role. Harry walked back to the road and looked around. He could see Ron and Hermione having a heated conversation but decided to let them continue. If it was a reaction Hermione wanted, then it was a reaction she was going to get.

He started at the other sixth years who had apparently noticed Hermione’s new look. Most of the males were looking at Hermione as if she were a completely different person. They had their mouths open and might have been drooling if they had forgotten where they were. Maybe this wasn’t as stupid a project as he had first thought. Harry had never thought that Hermione was an ugly girl, so why was everyone else so surprised? He looked at the girls. Parvarti and Lavender had looks to kill. He smiled to himself as he watched them swapping terse whispers.

‘IF IT MEANS I HAVE TO STICK METAL RINGS THROUGH MY STOMACH TO LOOK DIFFERENT THEN I THINK I’LL PASS!’ Harry spun around to see Ron and Hermione seething with anger. Hermione’s hair had kinked in places and Ron looked fit to burst.

‘Thankyou Mr Weasley, for kindly getting the attention of the class.’ Harry spun round as Professor McGonagall’s stern voice filled the street breaking the awkward silence. ‘Weasley and Granger, you both have detention, please see me afterwards. To everyone else, welcome to Muggle Camp!’

Harry stood rooted to the spot. This was going to be an interesting couple as weeks.


Ha! See Hermione hasn't changed! Had you there for a second didn't didn't I - admit it. Oh well...you'll just have to wait to hear about muggle camp!

[Veritaserum]

OK, not as long and interesting as the first two chapters, but still! Stuff that had to be said, enjoy anyways!



Chapter 3 – Strictly Ballroom

Harry watched as the people who had stopped to listen to Ron and Hermione’s bickering turned toward Professor McGonagall s******ing. It was hard to tell who was redder, Ron or Hermione. Hermione gave a great ‘hmph!’ then walked over and sat down on her bag. Ron followed suit. Harry turned back to Professor McGonagall who gave the assembled crowd a sharp look.

‘This,’ McGonagall continued silencing the s******ing crowd, ‘I assure you, will be a challenge. Well, for the most of you at least.’ She surveyed the crowd, her eyes landing on the muggleborn and half-blood children. ‘Even so, for those of you who live in muggle environments or who have done muggle studies, this will still be a valuable and well…interesting experience.’ She paused. She had an odd look in her eye that Harry couldn’t figure out.

Professor McGonagall cleared her throat. ‘There will be other teachers who will be meeting us at our destination.’ Where was their destination, Harry wondered to himself?

‘What is our destination Professor?’ Anthony Goldstein had voiced the question that Harry had been thinking, and from the eager looks on the other student’s faces, they had been wondering the same thing.

‘That, Mr Goldstein, is for me to know, and for you to find out.’ Harry thought she was acting very oddly indeed.

‘Now, in order for us to all get there, I have ordered a coach,’ she proclaimed to the confused crowd.’ A coach is a form of muggle transport which resembles the knight bus. That is, with the exception that it is not purple and is only single decker.

‘Before it arrives however, we need to get some things sorted out.’ She pulled out her want and picked up a small chest that had been placed beside her on the pavement. It was rectangular, very deep and very ornate. It had many tiny jewelled shapes on it.

‘Accio Wands!’ Professor McGonagall shouted causing wands to shoot at her from all directions. Harry felt his own wand shoot from the waistband of his jeans and automatically tried to catch it. He watched as it zoomed over the heads of Hannah Abbot and Justin Finch-Fletchley and landed smoothly in the rectangular box, which McGonagall was moving to aim at the oncoming attack of the wands. This wasn’t fair! He wanted his wand back now. He felt as though someone had cut off one of his limbs. His wand was like his best friend.

He wasn’t the only one, by the looks of it that missed their wand. Judging from the outcry of angry voices all around him, they felt the same way as Harry. Figuring it was pointless trying to argue, he walked over to Ron who was still in a towering temper and looked as though he was about to bust into tears. His footsteps seemed to bring Ron out of his stupor. He lifted his head to look at Harry. He was about to say something when Professor McGonagall spoke again.

‘Silence! This is a necessary precaution I must take in order to ensure that you do not use magic. Please talk quietly amongst yourselves until the coach arrives. The next person I hear raise their voice will not only get detention but will have a silencing charm placed on them. Remember, we are in a muggle inhabited area. Does anyone have any questions?’

‘Yeh,’ Malfoy had just spoke up from the crowd. Harry gave him a scathing look. ‘What is going on? I mean, we get told to meet here at two o’clock in the morning at King’s Cross Station. Why did we have to meet here in unearthly hours? Why not Diagon Alley at midday? It’s ridiculous!’ Crabbe and Goyle snickered annoyingly at his side.

‘Because Mr Malfoy!’ she looked venomous – obviously early hours didn’t agree with her. ‘Our destination prescribes that we be there at 6am sharp By going in a muggle way, this was the only hour to leave in order to get there on time. King’s Cross is a general area that everyone knows. Now,’ she looked very irritable, ‘if there are no more questions…’ she gave them a look that suggested that the next person to ask a question would be committed to a life-time of slavery.

Harry turned and looked at Ron. He was still seething. ‘I can’t see why you’re so angry. I mean it’s still Hermione, she just looks a bit different that’s all.’ Harry personally thought that Ron was over-reacting. Yes, he had been surprised and confused when he saw Hermione, but there was no reason to get so angry!

‘You can’t see! Harry, she has stuck metal through her skin!’ Ron paused to take a breath, ‘and anyway, that’s not Hermione. I want my Hermione back.’ He looked very forlorn now and Harry wondered what he had meant by ‘my Hermione’. Then Ron’s head shot up and he covered his mouth as if he had let slip something he shouldn’t have.

‘What s’matter Ron?’ Harry asked looking confused.

‘Nothing, I just…’ Ron started but was interrupted.

‘Mr Weasley, Miss Granger, over here now please.’ Professor McGonagall had just closed the rectangular box. She had obviously been counting the number of wands to see that it matched the number of students there. Harry watched as Ron got up, now looking furious again.

His mind wondered back to the camp. Without his wand he felt very unsafe, especially with Voldemort back. Maybe this camp wasn’t such a good idea. I mean, Harry thought, would Voldemort know about this? Surely Malfoy’s father would know, what if he had told Voldemort. He might come after Harry again. No, he was giving himself too much credit. He wasn’t the most important thing to Voldemort at the moment and there was no way Mr Malfoy could tell Voldemort. He was locked up in Azkaban. Ha! Serve him right.

He was distracted by blaring headlights coming along the road. They belonged to a coach; like one he used to go on when he went on school trips back in his primary school days. It progressed down the road and came to a gradual stop with a squeal of breaks in front of them. An outlet of air and the door of the coach swung open revealing a tall, plump, balding man.

‘’Allo, ‘allo. My, naym es William Turner ma’am.’ He held out his hand to Professor McGonagall to shake. ‘But yow can call me Billy!’ He smiled widely, but seeing as his hand was not accepted, he used it to hitch up his pants which were sliding down his fat rear inconspicuously.

‘Thankyou Mr Turner,’ McGonagall smiled a thin-lipped smile and continued, ‘where shall the children place their luggage?’

‘Is just dawn ‘ere my fine laydey.’ Billy answered still smiling.

‘Thankyou, er, Billy. Right, bags where Mr Turner said please!’

‘Please ma’am, cawll me Billy! When yowl all ready yow can get on the coach!

Harry walked over to Ron who was piling his bag into the luggage compartment of the coach. Stepping up onto it, he saw the seats were in row of three. Walking four rows in, he took the middle seat and Ron took the window. A minute later, Hermione took the aisle seat making him feel very uncomfortable. This was not going to be a pleasant trip.

When all the students had filed onto the coach, Professor McGonagall addressed them again.

‘Silence!’ The coach had started moving again. McGonagall turned to the bus driver who had just started to speak again. ‘Sow, was you’re favourite filum? Miyne as to be tha classic, yow remember it? Stricly Ballroom. Wha’ a classic!’ McGonagall whipped out her wand, muttered something under her breath and turned around to face the class again. Harry noticed a curtain of pink had appeared in the aisle in front of the driver’s cab

‘Right,’ Professor McGonagall paused to take a breath. ‘I have placed a charm in the form of that pink curtain that will act as a sound barrier so that no sound can pass between here and there. I suggest that you all get some sleep before we arrive. It is going to be a long day.’

‘Can we put a video on Professor?’ Harry turned to see Justin Finch-Fletchley indicating the video and TV suspended from the roof of the bus.

‘If you insist, this is a muggle camp after all. You have to figure out how to work it though.’ Professor McGonagall sat down and disappeared from view. Harry watched as Justin passed his seat to reach the video player.

‘What’s he talking about? A video? What’s a video?’ Harry had almost forgotten Ron and Hermione were there. He was at least glad that something had distracted him from his disagreement with Hermione. Hermione made a loud tutting sound on Harry’s other side which he ignored.

‘It’s a form of entertainment that muggles have. It’s like moving pictures that tell a story. Watch and see.’ Intrigued, Ron turned to watch Justin with Harry.

‘What’ve they got Justin?’ Harry asked.

‘Just the one video. It’s called ‘Strictly Ballroom’. Shall I put it on?’

‘Sounds a bit girly if you ask me!’ retorted Ernie Macmillan.

‘Just whack it on mate.’ Dean Thomas called out from the back of the bus.

‘Oh, this will be interesting.’ Harry turned to see Hermione s******ing.

‘What’s so funny?’ asked Harry confused.

‘Nothing, nothing. Just…enjoy the movie.’ Harry watched as she settled back in her seat and closed her eyes, a wide smile on her face.’

Hm, Harry thought, maybe I will. He settled himself back into his seat, watching amusedly as Ron jumped up and down eagerly in the next seat like an excited little kid.


Stay tuned for the next chapter :tu: Where is Muggle Camp? Wass it all about? Stay tuned for the next exciting installment of......Muggle Camp!!! (Man, even I'm kinda getting sick of that name! Oh well)

[Veritaserum]

Yay!!! Next chapter! Okay, this one is good, I have to say hehehe!



Chapter 4 – Happily Every After

‘Woah! This is a major chick flick.’ Ron turned to see Dean looking horrified with a disgusted look on his face.

‘I agree mate, switch it off.’ commented Harry. There was an outcry of protest from a few of the girls on the coach and Neville.

‘What, no way! This is excellent! What do you call it again, tevelision?’ Neville asked for what must have been the fiftieth time.

‘No Neville,’ Ron groaned. Even he had picked up the name of it by now, ‘it’s called television, or TV.’ Ron looked past Harry and Hermione to give Neville a scathing look. He was sitting opposite still looking amazed at the TV. Seamus and Dean who were sitting next to Neville were still looking disgusted.

‘But Neville, it’s a film about dancing. Dancing and well…girly things. Eugh!’ Dean looked even more disgusted if it were possible – the main characters had just proclaimed their undying love to each other.

‘Neville, you’re so soppy! I mean look! I can see those tears waiting to spill out.’ Ron s******ed appreciatively. Seamus was right; Neville was on the verge of tears.

Ron had liked the film and didn’t want it to be turned off – although he wouldn’t admit that in a thousand, nay a million years. He was sure that the other guys liked it; they were just trying to distract themselves from crying too. He had been distracted by the moving pictures on the screen for a while, but then it all came back to him. How could she? How could she just go and change everything that was so fantastic about her; her bushy hair and intelligent appearance. The things that made her so different from all the other girls he knew. She didn’t care about her appearance the way other girls did. She was just so…Hermione.

‘I’m goin’ the loo.’ Ron stood up and pushed his way past Harry and Hermione, avoiding her eyes. He strode up the aisle of the coach absentmindedly still thinking. Next minute his leg connected with another and he went flying into the door of the loo amid gales of Slytherin laughter.

‘Enjoy your trip Weasley?’ Malfoy was looking at him with an innocent smile on his face that made Ron want to murder him. ‘Better watch those lanky legs Weasel King.’ Ignore him. ‘You know these pants that my father bought for me? I hope you haven’t put a hole in them. I doubt you would be able to replace them, I mean they’re probably worth more than your whole family put together.’ Ron jumped up fists clenched. Not today. He was not in the mood. ‘I suppose Granger might be able to fix them, now that she’s finally figured out that they exist. You know, she might think she looks better when she dresses like a tart, but she still smells, looks, feels and,’ Malfoy put out his tongue and licked the air, ‘tastes like a filthy mudblood to me.’ Ron had had enough, he pulled back his fist and was about to plant it into Malfoy’s pale pointed malicious face when…

‘Weasley, is there a problem here?’ McGonagall was standing behind him looking very stern.

‘Yeh, he tripped me over Professor!’ Ron couldn’t remember feeling so furious.

‘I’m so sorry Professor, it was a total accident! Here,’ Malfoy stood up and held out his hand for Ron to take, ‘let us shake hands on it.’ Ron gripped his hand – how could he not with McGonagall standing there?

‘Well, watch where you put your legs in future Mr Malfoy,’ she said before she turned to go back down the front of the coach. Ron went to wrench his hand out of Malfoy’s grip but Malfoy gripped it tighter and pulled him closer so that his ear was mere inches away from Malfoy’s mouth.

‘Your girlfriend better watch her back Weasley.’ Malfoy was whispering so quietly that Ron could barely hear. ‘Granger is mine, do you hear me? You stay away from her, you understand? I plan to taste and feel mudblood Weasley, and Granger is top of my list. She’ll be so worn out when I’ve finished with her, there’ll be none left even for you.’ Ron pulled back his head and butted Malfoy with all his might. A clash of heads. A scream.

Then black.

*

‘I’m goin’ to the loo’

Hermione averted her eyes as Ron squeezed past her. How he could be such an insufferable person at times she did not know.

‘Honestly!’ she said as soon as she was sure Ron was out of earshot. ‘I can’t believe him, I just can’t! Scarlet woman indeed!’ She was furious; she couldn’t believe he had called her that.

‘Yeh well, he’s just upset.’ Harry piped up next to her. They were suddenly interrupted by gales of laughter coming from the back end of the coach.

‘Oh take his side then go on! He wasn’t upset, he was just jealous.’ She suddenly had a brainwave. ‘Don’t tell him Harry, I mean it don’t tell him!

‘Don’t tell him what?’ said Harry looking confused.

‘Don’t tell him it’s an experiment. I mean it Harry! If you do, I’ll never talk to you again!’

‘Oh no! What terrible punishment! I don’t know what I’d do with myself if you never spoke to me again. Maybe I might actually make it through the day as a sane person.’ he said with a rapturous look on his face. Hermione laughed in spite of herself.

‘Don’t be sarcastic. Anyway, I just can’t understand him sometimes. How can you get so angry over something so little?’

‘I dunno. He said something to do with wanting his Hermione back or something.’

‘His…what?’ She felt her heart stop.

‘Oh I don’t know I was talking to him and he said that you weren’t Hermione and that he wanted ‘my Hermione’ back or something, I dunno.’ He said with a shake of his head. The Slytherins were laughing again. Hermione felt her heart swell. How could she have been so blind?

‘I wonder what’s going on back there.’ Harry asked getting up and peering over the top of the seat. Hermione peered around the side of the seat to see Ron standing in front of Malfoy’s seat looking livid with his fists clenched. Oh no.

‘Harry no!’ Harry had just got up to go and help Ron but Hermione pushed him back down.

‘Why not!’ said Harry angrily

‘That’s why!’ she said pointing at Professor McGonagall who had just got up and was walking down the back of the coach. Hermione watched as Ron pulled his fist back but quickly retracted it as he heard Professor McGonagall.

‘What’s she saying? I can’t hear’ said Harry’s worried voice. They saw Malfoy stand up and hold out his hand to Ron.

‘He’s not shaking hands with Ron?’ said Hermione.

‘He is!’ said Harry. They watched as Professor McGonagall turned around to walk back to the front of the coach. Ron had gone to wrench his hand away but Malfoy had pulled him closer.

‘I knew there was something fishy going on with that handshake. Professor, look at Malfoy!’ Hermione said to Professor McGonagall as she came closer to the front of the coach. She spun round in time to see him hissing in Ron’s ear. She was about to walk back down to the end of the coach when Hermione saw Ron pull his head back and head butt Malfoy with all his might. She jumped up and screamed running down the back of the coach, pushing aside anyone who was unfortunate enough to get in her way including Professor McGonagall.

She had seen blood – lots of it.

What had he said to make him do such a stupid thing? It must have been something truly awful. She took in the sight that lay before her; Malfoy was lying sprawled across his chair with a glazed look in his eye. Blood was gushing from a massive cut on his forehead. He wasn’t moving. She pushed Pansy Parkinson aside to reveal Ron lying flat on his back, arms and legs spread-eagled with blood running down his face like grotesque tears. His eyes were closed and he was unconscious. She dropped to her knees at the side of him and shook him roughly by his shoulders.

‘Ron! RON! Are you alright Ron? Oh Ron, please wake up! Ron!’ She had started to cry. Tears were pouring down her face.

‘Miss Granger! When you have quite finished making a scene!’ Professor McGonagall was obviously trying to gain some control on the situation. ‘Everyone back to their seats, including you Miss Parkinson! And you Miss Granger!’

Hermione ignored her. Ron’s eyes where twitching. She leant down and whispered in his ear.

‘Ron, please wake up! I didn’t mean to be angry with you…

*

So this was what it felt like to be dead. No it couldn’t be. He was in way too much pain. He tried to open his eyes but decided he didn’t want to. His head swam and his eyes filled with tears.

‘Ron, please wake up! I didn’t mean to be angry with you…’ It was Hermione’s voice. Oh and how he loved it. It was just the voice he wanted to hear at the moment.

‘I really didn’t mean to say you weren’t gorgeous. In fact I think you’re beautiful’ It was so distant. Maybe it was a dream. He heard her hesitate. ‘I know I’ll never tell you in real life, but I love you Ron.’ Now he knew he was dreaming. He didn’t want to wake up; it was such a fantastic dream.

‘Mr Weasley, are you awake?’ Then he remembered. Malfoy. McGonagall. The coach. Strictly Ballroom.

Oh-oh.

He snapped his eyes open. Hermione was kneeling over him looking terrified. McGonagall was towering over him looking furious and worried at the same time. He was beside himself; it had been such a fantastic dream. He let out a moan of pain which caused Hermione to jump.

‘Ron are you alright!?’ she squealed

‘For the last time Miss Granger, resume your seat or you will lose your prefect badge!’ Ron watched as a blurry Hermione got up reluctantly and followed Harry to her seat. ‘Mr Weasley, are you awake?’

‘Did they live happily ever after?’ he mumbled stupidly. The pain.

‘Mr Weasley, how dare you!’ She looked relieved but he could see the anger growing stronger.

‘I…was…provoked!’ Ron managed to spit out through a mouth full of blood.

‘I do not doubt that Mr Weasley, but fighting will not be tolerated. You are on probation. If I see any and I mean any fighting from you again whatsoever, you will lose your prefect badge. Do you understand?’

‘Yes Professor Mablonable’ Ron managed again. He saw her take out her wand, mumble some words lazily and Ron felt the pain recede from his head. He vision became clear. He was lying on the floor of the coach and many angry faces looked down at him.

‘That goes for you as well Mr Malfoy. Do you understand?’ Ron got up, embarrassed and walked down the front of the coach brushing himself off. He pushed past Hermione and Harry and slumped down in his seat unable to look them in the eye.

‘Are you okay Ron?’ Hermione asked. He looked up at her, she was teary eyed. Her makeup had smudged making her look as if she had just got out of bed. Her hair was bushy again. She looked so beautiful.

‘Fine,’ Ron mumbled. He looked away again.

‘Then what,’ started Harry, ‘was that all about?’

Ron hesitated. Should he tell them what Malfoy had said – what he had threatened to do?

‘He was saying stuff about Hermione. About her being a…a…’ he scrunched up his face in disgust, ‘a filthy mudblood and stuff.’

‘Oh Ron! How could you!’ Hermione no longer looked teary eyed, she looked angry. ‘You know what Ron, you are an idiot. You couldn’t just ignore it could you? No, you had to nearly kill him instead. Honestly I just don’t believe you sometimes! I sometimes wonder why I even consider myself acquainted with you!’

Why could he never ever do anything right in her eyes? He leant his head against the side of the coach, and fell asleep.


Next Chapter: Where are they going? What are they doing?

[Veritaserum]

Okay so I wrote this chapter like three days ago, but I had to check some canon. Then I only went and saved over it by accident :banghead: which was REALLY annoying. But I wrote it now and I think it's better anyway. Here goes murder by numbers!



Chapter 5 – Murder by Numbers

‘Oh aren’t they cute!’

He woke up with a jolt.

‘The perfect couple…’

He had been having a very odd dream.

‘…You mean trio!’

People were laughing.

He opened his eyes and realized with a shock that he had been sleeping on somebody’s shoulder! He blinked the sleep out of his eyes, turned his head and let out a sigh of relief that it was not Hermione’s shoulder. Ron probably wouldn’t notice anyway he had slept on his shoulder anyway. By the looks of it he had been asleep since before he had dozed off.

Yawning, he went to stretch his arms but found he couldn’t; Hermione was asleep on his shoulder. He smiled and laughed quietly.

‘Enjoying that Harry?’

‘Yeh, looks fun. Can we join you?’

The smile vanished from his face and he sat up immediately nearly throwing Hermione over her seat and into the aisle of the coach.

‘Harry what s’matter?’ She said worriedly trying in vain to shake off her sleepy demeanor. Harry looked up to see Dean, Seamus and Neville bent over in silent laugher with Parvarti and Lavender standing next to them, smirking.

‘Oh God,’ Harry moaned sleepily. ‘You guys suck!’

He rubbed his head and stretched. Hermione did the same and frowned at the gathering masses.

‘What did you do that for?’ she moaned.

‘The bus arrived ten minutes ago. Professor McGonagall told us to wake you up, but we just couldn’t do it!’ said Seamus, who was nearly in a state of collapse from laughing so much.

‘You all just looked so cute asleep together,’ Parvarti simpered.

‘So we did the only thing one can do in this kind of situation…’ said Neville through badly stifled giggles.

‘And what,’ Hermione started her anger slowly rising, ‘would that be?’

‘Make fun at your expense of course!’ Dean piped up to renewed laughter.

‘Alright, alright! Get lost and let me wake up,’ Harry moaned again still feeling tired.

Harry put his hand on Ron’s shoulder and attempted to wake him. ‘Ron! Oi! Ron!’ He rustled and moaned.

‘Mm…I love you too.’ He pursed his lips and kissed the window of the coach.

The laughter came in gales.

‘Oh…my…God!’ choked Seamus through bucketfuls of laughter. ‘This stuff is priceless!’

Harry started laughing as Ron realised what was going on. He straightened up and immediately went scarlet.

‘So tell us Ron,’ Lavender started seriously, ‘who do you love?’ Her eyes were widening with genuine curiosity. Ron was so red that Harry wouldn’t have been surprised if he’s of died of embarrassment on the spot.

‘It was just that stupid movie in my head. It was nothing,’ he gave a fleeting glance in Hermione’s direction and Harry could tell that he wasn’t telling the truth.

Harry turned to share a laugh with Hermione but stopped suddenly at the look on her face. She was also very red and was sitting there with her mouth open.

‘What’s the matter Hermione?’ asked Harry looking worried.

‘I…I…’ She seemed beyond words.

‘Sorry to break up the party,’ came Professor McGonagall’s stern voice, ‘but I did ask
you ten minutes ago to exit the coach.’ Professor McGonagall had come on to the coach.

‘Oh but Professor, free comedy!’ Seamus indicated the trio who were now fully awake. The Gryffindors started laughing again.

‘Come on, out!’

Harry watched as Dean, Seamus, Neville, Lavender and Parvarti traipsed down the aisle of the coach. He got up to follow but was obstructed. ‘Come on Hermione!’ She was just sitting there looking very alarmed. ‘Hello? Hermione!’

‘Miss Granger! You are already in trouble as it is. I would not make it worse if I were you.’ Professor McGonagall gave them one look of annoyance and exited the coach.

‘Hermione are you alright?’ She stood up. Looking across Harry she stared at Ron looking horrified. Then she turned and ran off the coach.

Harry turned to give Ron a confused look.

‘What was that all about?’ he asked.

‘I don’t know,’ Ron replied shaking his head. ‘Women!’

They got up and exited the coach. It was still dark outside, although the first rays of the sun were starting to puncture darkness. It was deathly cold. He looked around. He was standing in front of a small square building which was flanked by two longer ones. They looked very depressing and their sides were flanked with many windows. In front of him and to the left of the buildings was what looked like a large square of bitumen surrounded by a two metre fence. What that was for he did not know.

He looked down at his watch – it was five in the morning. He stretched his arms and yawned widely hitting someone in the face. ‘Oh! Sorry Ernie! Didn’t see you there.’

‘No problem. It is early after all,’ said Ernie looking just as tired as he was.

‘I wonder where we are,’ said Harry inquisitively.

‘There was a big sign above the gates as we came in but it was too dark to read it. It looks like some kind of army base doesn’t it? There were men at the gates holding those big metal wands that kill people – what do you call them? We learned about it in muggle studies…’

‘Guns,’ said Harry knowlegebly.

‘Settle down!’ shouted Professor McGonagall over the chatty crowd. ‘I want you to all go and stand over there in three lines one behind the other.’ She had indicated the big bitumen square. ‘Go on…Now! Harry shrugged in Ernie’s direction and followed Ron onto the square.

‘What does she think we are?’ said Ron in an undertone. ‘Soldiers?’

Harry lined up next to Neville in the second row and Ron stood beside him. He shot a worried glance at Hermione who was standing at the front in between Susan Bones and Padma Patil and looked oddly tense – as though she were thinking about something very important.

‘Now, I’m sure you are all wondering where we are and what is going on.’ There was a murmur of agreement. ‘I shall explain. Every year we change the location of Muggle Camp not only to make it different, but also so as not to ruin the surprise if you have older brothers or sisters in the school. This year, we have decided that Muggle Camp will take place here,’ she paused as if for effect, ‘at RAF base Verington.’

An RAF base! They were going to have to act like soldiers! This was going from bad to worse.

‘You are to pose as new recruits of the Liver Military School who are here to learn the ways of the forces. You will be taught drill and expect to use it around the base. For those of you who do not know, drill is a disciplined form of movement used by all of the muggle armed forces. Most importantly, you are now and will be for the rest of our camp, in the presence of muggles. Therefore, you must act like muggles from this point onwards. If I catch any of you taking about, using or doing anything in relation to magic, you will be punished. You are no longer to refer to this as Muggle Camp, but as Recruitment Camp or RC for short.’ Harry heard Ron choke beside him.

‘Are you okay? Harry asked quietly.

‘Yeh…yeh. Just thinking of something Fred and George said to me.’

‘…and so now I would like you to split up into two groups. Can I please have the girls on my left and the boys on my right?’ Harry shrugged at Ron and moved over to her right.

‘There is one last thing that I think is important for you to know. The main aim of Muggle Camp is not to learn about muggles and muggle ways. I must tell you that it has, in fact got an ulterior motive. The main aim of it is to promote teamwork and to bring you closer together. In these times of trouble, one must find their friends and stick by them. I quote a great man in saying ‘we are as strong united as we are weak divided’

‘Therefore, for the remainder of RC there will be no school houses. As of this moment, Slytherin, Gryffindor, Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw cease to exist. This is only temporary so don’t worry,’ she said hurriedly as a response the disbelieving looks on everyone’s face. ‘They will return as normal when the school term commences. As such I have chosen a male and female prefect from our normal group of prefects. These are Hermione Granger and Draco Malfoy. I expect you to carry out your roles responsibly. Harry smiled at Hermione whose chest had swelled with pride.

‘What! As if! Malfoy as male prefect! Is she mad?’ Ron looked livid.

‘And now,’ she bent down and picked up two containers which were sitting on top of a clipboard on the ground next to her. ‘I have here two containers with slips of parchment inside. Each piece of parchment has a number of it. I would like you to take one and return to your place in line. Do you understand?’ There was a murmur of agreement. Harry got in line behind Neville.

‘I wonder what this is all about,’ he said to Ron. Ron shrugged in answer and mimicked Harry by pulling a number out of the container. Harry unfolded it. It had a red number nine written on it. ‘I’ve got an eight. What’ve you got?’ he asked Ron.

‘Seven. How about you Neville?’

‘A five. Hm…I wonder what they’re for.’

When everyone had taken a number, they came together again in their lines and waited for McGonagall to tell them what was going on.

‘This is the number of the room you will be staying in.’ Ah, so this was what it was thought Harry relieved. He had thought it might be something more sinister.

‘However,’ she continued, ‘there are not enough rooms for each person to have one to themselves. Therefore, to make it fair, I have put two of each number in this container. The person who has the same number as you do will be the one who you will be sharing a room with for the next two weeks.’ Harry sighed unhappily as he realised that he would not be sharing a room with Ron. Ron seemed to be thinking the same thing judging by the look on his face.

‘The small building that divides the two long buildings over there is the toilet and shower block. Behind that you will find another small building which you may use as your common room. The long building on the left is the girls’ dormitory and the one on the right is the boys’. The boys are not allowed in the girl’s dormitory and vice versa. Fraternisation will NOT be tolerated. If you do not know what that means then look it up.

‘As I call out your number, could you please step forward with your hand raised so I can write your names down. When I have done so, you may pick up your bags and take them to your room. It is now quarter past five. You will return here at five minutes to six to meet Corporal Ebbs. I suggest you use your time wisely. Can the girls who have the number ones please step forward?’

Two Ravenclaw girls that Harry had not spoken to before stepped forward with their hands raised.

‘Thank you Miss Turpin and Miss Brocklehurst. The number twos please.’

Harry watched as Pansy Parkinson and Millicent Bullstrode stepped forward. Lucky for Hermione.

‘Number threes please.’

Another couple of girls that Harry had never spoken to stepped forward.

‘Megan Jones and Su Li,’ she mumbled to herself. ‘Number fours.’

More Slytherin girls. At least Hermione wouldn’t have to stay with them.

‘Tracey Davis, Daphne Greengrass…’ she murmered again, her tongue between her teeth, ‘right, number fives.’

More girls Harry had not spoken to. He made a mental not to at least say hello to them during RC.

‘Sally-Anne Perks, Morag MacDougal. Number sixes?’

Another two girls, one Harry recognised as Blaise Zanbini – one of Pansy Parkinson’s gang of Slytherin girls.

‘…Moon. Number sevens?

Susan Bones and Padma Patil walked forward.

‘Number eights please…Alright, who are the real number eights.’

Lavander, Parvarti and Hannah Abbot had all stepped forward. Lavender put her hand down and stepped back.

‘So that leaves you Miss Brown and Hermione Granger.’ She scribbled on her clipboard. ‘Right, can I have the boys step forward please? Number ones…’

A Hufflepuff boy stepped forward.

‘Congratulations Mr Hopkins! Room number one only contains one bed. You have a room to yourself. Number twos.’

Harry saw Crabbe and Goyle walk forward. At least they were out of the way – he couldn’t imagine having to share a room with one of them.

‘Number threes?’

Terry Boot walked forward with Theodore Nott who looked sour.

‘…Nott. Okay number fours please.’

‘That’s me! See you later Harry,’ said Ernie before he stepped forward.

‘Mr Goldstein and Mr Macmillan,’ she scribbled for a minute on her clipboard. ‘Right, number fives.’

‘Michael Corner and…’

‘Neville! That’s you,’ Harry whispered and Neville jumped and hurried forward.

‘Mr Longbottom, do pay attention! Number sixes.’

Dean and Seamus looked triumphant as they walked forward. Talk about luck of the Irish. There was only Ron, Justin, Malfoy and himself left. Hold on…

‘Number sev…’ but she was interrupted by Hermione who had come running form the direction of the girls dorms.

‘Erm Professor,’ she started, ‘there’s a problem in the girls’ dormitory.’

‘Okay Miss Granger, I will sort it out in a minute. Number sevens please.’ If he wasn’t with Ron…

Ron walked forward.

And he wasn’t with Justin…

Justin walked forward.

‘Ah…’ Oh no…

‘And so we are left with Mr Potter and Mr Malfoy. My, my…This should be interesting…’


And so the suspence grows! Or not...

Special thanks to the Lexicon where I checked out whether I got all the sixth year's names'. Review! Review! Review! :tu:

[Veritaserum]

Ok big apologies for not updating in AGES. First week back at uni and it's been really hectic. Nice long chapter going out to all you beautiful people and remember to review! I'll love you forever!


Chapter 6 – Head over Heels

Standing at the door, he took a look around. It was very small. Straight ahead and against the left wall was a big wardrobe. Against the wall in line with the door was a chest of drawers and next to that, a desk. He walked past the first bed, slumped down on the second that was against the far wall and put his head in his hands. Using the heels he dug them into his eyes and released causing little stars to pop up.

What an awful day it had been; Hermione was angry at him, Malfoy had threatened to do something to her, Harry had to share a room with him and he’d nearly killed himself in the process. Poor Harry, this was going to be an awful two weeks for him. Oh well, he only had to sleep in there with him, it couldn’t be that bad…could it?

As for Hermione – she may be the love of his life but God how he hated her sometimes! She was the cause and the solution of all his problems. It was so unfair. And what did Malfoy know? What had he meant by his threat? ‘Granger is all mine’ – what was that supposed to mean? He was so confused. How many people knew how he felt about Hermione? To his knowledge it was just him. Hermione didn’t like him, she couldn’t. Why should she? He was just Ron, tall gangly and unco-ordinated Ron. Even she had said when they were rowing that he was just plain Ron. They were just friends, that was all it was ever going to be and he wasn’t going to be the one to mess it up for them. Although he couldn’t believe she had changed her appearance, he was just going to have to accept that it was Hermione’s choice. She didn’t belong to him, she was her own person, but he missed her anyway. Well, it was her fault that she was angry with him, not his. He had done nothing wrong. He had been the one to do right as far as he new! He had told her that she looked like an idiot, which was true and he had protected her. Stupid woman…

‘Bit small in here innit?’ Justin had just entered the room and was looking at the room with his nose wrinkled. ‘I’d rather be at home – I have a huge room with a widescreen plasma TV with surround sound and a PS2.’

He didn’t know what a PS2 was but he didn’t really care either.

‘Poor Harry eh? Having to share a room with Malfoy and all. They don’t like each other very much do they?’

‘No. No they don’t’ said Ron

‘You alright? You seem a bit dazed.’

‘Yeah I’m fine. Probably just recovering from the head injury. Argh…I hate that *******!’

‘Who? Malfoy?’

‘*******…’ he repeated under his breath. ‘How DARE he insult her like that. I tell you what, if he does anything to her at all I won’t just nut him, I’ll bloody kill him!’

‘Alright mate! Breathe!’ said Justin looking a bit frightened and the look of utmost hatred on Ron’s face. ‘Who’s this? Hermione? Don’t worry mate she’s only got eyes for you, she won’t go near Malfoy with a ten foot pole.’

Ron’s head snapped up.

‘What are you talking about?’ said Ron, his heart beating at a million miles an hour.

‘Oh come off it Weasley! You can’t deny that you love her to pieces. It is so obvious! You couldn’t make it more obvious if you tried!’

‘Don’t be daft! I don’t know what you’re talking about,’ he snorted in answer but could feel his face going as red as his hair.

‘Uhu…’ said Justin with his eyebrows raised. ‘Well, just remember, this time when you ask her to the OWL ball, make sure it’s not,’ he cleared his throat and put on a mock Hermione voice, ‘as a last resort!’ He clasped his hands together and fluttered his eyelashes at Ron.

‘WHAT? How do you…what do you…’ he was lost for words. He cleared his throat and put up a calm demeanor. ‘How do you know about that?’

‘I’m sorry I have no idea what you’re talking about…’ said Justin innocently though it looked as if he was trying to hold back from laughing.

‘You know what I’m talking about! The row me and Hermione had…after the Yule Ball!’ Justin looked at him in mock confusion. Ron lowered his voice dangerously, ‘The one you just quoted to me!’

‘Oh that one!’ Sorry you guys just argue so much, we just can’t keep up!’

‘Who’s we?’ said Ron looking very afraid now.

‘Do you not realize how many people know that you like Hermione?’

‘What are we talking about in here my friends?’ Dean and Seamus had just walked in.

‘Ron and Hermione!’

‘Ah…our favourite topic of conversation!’ said Seamus genially.

‘So,’ said Dean smirking, ‘have you got him to admit to it yet?’

‘Nah…he’s stubborn. I was just trying to explain how many people know.’

‘What? You mean, take everybody in the school and subtract Ron and Hermione?’

They all burst out laughing.

‘Look,’ said Ron, ‘I have NO idea what you’re going on about, but I don’t like Hermione – she’s my friend! You sound like a bunch of girls!’

‘Nah mate! We make it masculine, we have odds on!’ said Seamus.

‘Yeh! We have ten-to-one you’ll tell her before we the end of seventh year, five-to-one you won’t and twenty-to-one you tell her before the OWL ball. Most of us have backed against you. We don’t think you have the gall – sorry!’ said Dean.

‘You’re not serious?’ said Ron looking as if he had just swallowed a Filibuster Firework.

‘Sure am mate. I can pull out the books if you want!’ said Dean.

‘You’re weirdos – all of you!’ he started to leave the room.

‘Don’t worry! Some people have faith in you! Harry thinks you’re going to tell her before the OWL ball.’

He spun round.

‘Harry knows as well!’ said Ron furiously.

‘Harry knows…Harry knows! You mean it’s true! You’re admitting to it?’ said Justin with wide eyes.

‘ARRRGGHHHH! LEAVE ME ALONE!’ and he stormed out of the room.

He was so pre-occupied with his thoughts that he walked straight into something hard fell back on the floor. Looking up, he saw Harry looking concerned.

‘Are you two alright?’

*

Harry stood there with his mouth open. Two weeks with Malfoy. It was like his worst nightmare come true.

‘No way Professor. I am not sharing a room with him!’ From the sounds of it, Malfoy wasn’t much happier than he was with the arrangements.

‘No, no I think this will be good for you two. See if you can actually stay in each other’s company for two seconds without beating each other up. Hermione looked at him mournfully.

‘Right off you go you two. Come on Miss Granger, let us see what this problem is.’

Harry and Malfoy just stood there with looks of complete disbelief on their faces. Then Malfoy turned around and strode off towards the bags. Harry followed resignedly. Picking up his bag, he traipsed off towards the boy’s dorms. How unfair could life get? Putting him in a room with Draco Malfoy! You couldn’t get worse luck than that, and he had been looking forward to this! Pah!

He reached number seven and walked in after Malfoy, pulling the door shut behind them. It seemed Malfoy had taken the bed closest to the door so he walked over and placed his bag on the other one. He started to unpack furiously. Neither of them said a word to each other. Harry pulled out his clothes and underwear and threw them on the bed in a rage. Why was he the one who always got the short straw? He pulled out his dress robes. Of course, he wouldn’t have wished it on anyone else, but why did it have to be him? He pulled out his invisibility cloak…

‘I knew it!’ said Malfoy maliciously.

‘Knew what?’ Harry replied acidly.

‘That’s an invisibility cloak!’

****.

‘So?’

‘I knew you had one. Remember the mud Potter?’

‘Oh yeh! That was hilarious!’ said Harry fondly.

‘And it’s going to be a riot when I rat you in to McGonagall.’

‘You wouldn’t!’

‘Of course I would! If you haven’t noticed, I don’t like you very much Potter.’

‘Go ahead then…’ Harry had just spotted something poking out of Malfoy’s suitcase.

‘Don’t worry, I will. In fact, I think I might do it right now!’

‘Fine, but you might want to rat yourself in too Draco Dearest’ Harry smirked

‘What are you talking about Potter?’ spat Malfoy.

‘Well, I don’t think McGonagall will be too pleased about this…’ he reached over and snatched something out of Malfoy’s suit case.

Malfoy stopped dead.

‘Give me that back Potter.’

‘Erm…no! I don’t think I will,’ said Harry. He couldn’t believe it. How old was Malfoy and he still kept a stuffed toy. ‘So what’s his name? Snuffles...Mr Schnoogly-Bear?

‘Alright listen to me!’ said Malfoy dangerously. ‘I don’t like you, and you don’t like me.’

‘Too right!’

‘So let me lay some ground rules. You don’t touch my stuff, and I don’t touch yours. We don’t talk to each other. You stay out of my way and I’ll stay out of yours. Get it?’

‘I think so,’ said Harry coolly.

‘You give me my…well you give it back and I’ll give you your cloak back.’

‘Sounds good to me.’

‘As long as you don’t use the cloak.’

‘Fine.’

‘Fine.’ Malfoy was being very civil. I bit too civil…

He walked over to Malfoy, handed him back his teddy nbear and went to grab the cloak when Malfoy snatched it away.

‘Bad luck Potter. You’re just as gullible as your parents were when they thought they were going to stay alive…’

In one swift movement, Harry put his hand around Malfoy’s neck, lifted him and pinned him to the door.

‘Give me the cloak,’ Harry said calmly.

‘You’re forgetting Potter,’ choked Malfoy. ‘I’m a prefect.’

‘You’re forgetting Malfoy, that I don’t care and that if you do anything to me I’ll tell everyone about Mr Shnoogly-Bear.’ Malfoy seemed to have thought of this.

‘You listen to me Malfoy. Anymore cracks about me or my family, or my friends and their families and you will pay. You seem to forget…there are four Slytherin boys here and eleven non-Slytherins, all of whom hate you nearly as much as I do. I’d watch it if I were you, I’m the one calling the shots around here. Now give me the cloak.’ He let go of Malfoy who shoved the cloak into Harry’s chest. That seemed to have scared him sufficiently Harry thought happily. With that, he put the cloak back in his bag and walked out into the hall.

He saw Ron marching out of his room looking livid and walking toward the doorway of the dorms. If he didn’t look up soon, he was going to walk straight into Hermione who was running his way. Wait a minute, what was Hermione doing in here?

Smack!

Harry flinched as he watched them hit each other and fall on the floor. That must have hurt. He ran over to survey the damage.

‘Are you two alright?’

*

Hermione smiled to herself. This was going to be fantastic. She walked as fast as she could, wanting to tell Harry and Ron the good news. She broke into a run and slammed into something that caused her to fly backwards onto the floor.

‘Are you two alright?’

‘Fine,’ mumbled Ron.

‘Watch where you’re going will you?’ moaned Hermione.

Dean, Seamus and Justin had rushed out to survey the commotion.

‘Oh look,’ said Seamus in undertone. ‘They’re head over heels for each other!’

Hermione pretended not to hear.

‘Well be a gentleman and help her up then Ronald!’ said Dean s******ing again.

She saw him shoot Dean a look of pure loathing. He hitched himself up and put out a hand to Hermione who accepted it gratefully.

‘Thank you,’ she said formally.

‘No problem,’ said Ron blushing. ‘Shouldn’t wear those stupid shoes should you?’

‘Yeh well…you should watch where you’re going shouldn’t you!’ she said getting angry.

‘You crashed into me too!’ said Ron the pink receding out of his face to be replaced by a red hue. ‘Maybe if you didn’t wear your hair all over you’re face you could see where you were going!’

‘DON’T YOU START AGAIN! I’M NOT THE ONE WITH THE BIG FEET!’

‘I’M NOT THE WANNABE TART!’

‘DON’T YOU DARE CALL ME A TART! THERE’S NO NEED TO CALL ME NAMES JUST BECAUSE YOU’RE JELOUS!

‘JELOUS? JELOUS? WHY WOULD I BE JELOUS?’

‘JUST BECAUSE OTHER BOYS NOTICE ME RON…’ she paused breathing heavily as she realised that nearly every single boy had come out of their room to watch the show.

‘Oh don’t mind us’ said Dean who burst out laughing. Seamus started clapping loudly and everyone else followed suit. Between the whoops and catcalls Hermione felt as thought she wanted the ground to open up and swallow her. Ron looked the same way although she refused to look at him. Argh! He was so impossible!

‘Alright that’s enough!’ Professor McGonagall had just walked through the door of the boy’s dorm followed by Lavender, Parvati, Susan Bones, Hannah Abbot and Padma Patil who were all hauling their bags along after them. The boys tried to sneak back into their rooms unnoticed, but it was no use.

‘Can I have all the boys standing either side of their bedroom door?’ Hermione walked down the hall towards Professor McGonagall blessing the interruption on her embarrassing predicament.

‘We have a small problem concerning the girls’ dormitory. Due to the ratio of boys to girls, there is not enough space to put all of the girls in one dormitory. Therefore and most unfortunately,’ she took a deep breath and continued, ‘I have had to put some of the girls in this dormitory.’ Hermione knew she was not happy about this but the boys looked delighted at the prospect. ‘HOWEVER, boys are not allowed in girls rooms and vice versa. Girls,’ she turned towards the other girls, ‘you will take the last three rooms at the far end. I expect you to act in a mature manner,’ Lavender and Parvati giggled causing Professor McGonagall to frown. ‘And remember!’ she said loudly now addressing everybody, ‘fraternisation will NOT be tolerated.’ She turned and exited the dorm.

The girls started to walk down the hall of the dorm. Hermione could feel the eyes of all the boy’s on her; it felt like she was walking the mile. Dean broke the silence.

‘Could someone PLEASE tell me what fraternisation is?’

Seamus grabbed Lavender by the waist and dipped her.

‘This!’ he proclaimed and snogged her on the spot. Squealing loudly she pushed him away and slapped him across the face to reknewed applause. With a loud ‘hmph!’ she marched off towards the dorm trying to look scandalized.

Of course, Hermione could see the smile she was trying to hide, and followed with as much dignity as she could muster.


Haha! Can you handle it..it's just so hot! Hm...anyway...next update soon don't worry. I have heaps to make up for this week although I have to work in the hospital as well so I'll try my best.

Kisses and cheers.

[Veritaserum]

More big apologies about the wait, only the first half of chapter seven I'm afraid. I am soooooo busy!



Chapter 7 – Teamwork and Discipline and Drill…Oh My! (Part 1)

‘Want a hand?’ Harry asked genuinely.

‘Oh yes. Thanks a lot,’ said Hermione. She had a lot of bags and they were heavy – all part of operation change-Hermione-beyond-recognition which was turning out to be more trouble than it was worth.

‘They’re just out here,’ she said as she walked down the corridor of the dorm.

‘Are you alright?’ said Harry looking concerned.

‘Yeh, just a little flustered. Oh I swear one day…he’s just so impossible!’ she was so angry. She had a right to be, he was just such an impossible person to work with.

‘Sometimes I wish I’d never become friends with him, you know that?’

‘Oh come off it! You don’t really mean that do you?’

‘Oh of course not…but really!’

‘So are you going to tell him about the experiment?’

‘No,’ she said defiantly, ‘no, make him suffer!’

‘That’s not very fair!’

‘Neither is he. I can play by his rules if he so wishes.’

She bent down to pick up one of her bags and waited for Harry to pick up the other two. She walked down the end of the corridor, passing Ron on the way and completely ignoring him. She opened the door and dumped her bag on the bed closest to her. She sat down hard, put her head in her hands, and sighed. It was hopeless – hopeless and impossible.

‘Er…Hermione?’

She looked up to see Harry standing in the doorway looking awkward. She knew what she wanted at the moment and she was going to get it.

‘Thanks very much Harry. You’re a true friend.’

She dropped the bag at her feet, flung her arms around Harry, and hugged him hard.

*


‘It’s so bloody cold!’ moaned Ron who was shivering freely, his teeth chattering.

‘Yeah, I noticed,’ replied Harry blandly. They were standing outside again on the freezing bitumen. He looked down at his watch – it was six am.

‘GOOD MORNING CADETS!’

Harry jumped and so did many of the others. In front of them stood a tall, stocky woman with long red-violet hair which she wore up in a tight bun. She had a pretty face and couldn’t be much older than they were. He took in her clothing quickly – a typical army looking one with a green jumper, maroon beret, and severe-looking black boots. She had a mixed accent that he couldn’t pick.

‘My name…’ she paused and took in the group of sixth years before her, ‘is Corporal Ebbs and I will be your cadet training instructor for the next week. When you are not with Miss McGonagall, you will be working with me doing basic drill, teamwork exercises, basic weaponry training and you may even have the chance to look at some of the aircraft on base. We shall see…’ she smiled at the group, most of who looked confused at what she had said.

‘As a senior non-commissioned officer, you will treat me with the respect I deserve. There will be no need to salute me, but you must respect the chain-of-command which we hold here on Base. If you treat me with the respect I deserve, then I will do the same unto you. I can be your friend or foe…the choice is yours.’

She was pacing up and down in front of them, but suddenly stopped in the middle of the group.

‘DO YOU UNDERSTAND?’ she screamed at them.

There was a murmur of yes from the group which was immediately met with a reprimand.

‘As a group of cadets you must work as a team. If I ask you a question you must answer as a team. Yes CPL Ebbs or No CPL Ebbs will suffice. So…do you understand?’

‘Yes CPL Ebbs,’ Harry murmured with the rest of the group. He really wasn’t in the mood for this. It was like being back in defense against the dark arts with Professor Umbridge.

‘DO YOU NOT HAVE BALLS? I ASKED IF YOU UNDERSTOOD!’

‘Yes CPL Ebbs!’ Harry shouted. This was quite fun - venting the anger and all.

‘LOUDER! DO YOU UNDERSTAND?’

‘YES CPL EBBS!’ Harry roared with enthusiasm. He liked her already – she was his kind of person.



Next part coming soon I promise!

[Veritaserum]

Sorry this chapter is coming in little bites. Am so busy!

Chapter 7 – Teamwork and Discipline and Drill…Oh My! (Part 2)



‘YES CPL EBBS!’ Harry roared with enthusiasm. He liked her already – she was his kind of person.

‘That’s better!’ she said smiling at them all. ‘Now before anything else we need to get you kitted out to look like proper cadets.’

Kitted out? Was she going to make them wear uniforms?

‘In order to do this I must take you to ‘The Shed’. The Shed is a building on the far end of the base, close to the airfield that contains all of our uniform stocks. There you will be issued uniform and boots to equip you for the rest of your stay. You will be issued two sets of work uniform, one set of bivouac uniform and one set of dress uniform. Does anyone have any questions?’

‘Yeah! Why do we have to wear stupid looking uniforms when we have other clothes with us?’ Ron said loudly. Harry saw that he was still in a bad mood and the prospect of being dolled up to look like a soldier obviously didn’t enthuse him.

‘Ron!’ said Hermione sharply.

‘Shut up you!’ he hissed back

‘Don’t you tell me to shut up Weasley!’ she said across Harry.

‘I’ll do what I want thank you very much!’

‘Well guess what Ron, I’m a prefect and therefore…

‘Ahem…’ Harry looked up surprised. He had been so caught up in what he though must have been the millionth argument they had had since they arrived, that he totally forgot where they were. They obviously had as well.

‘I think…’ she said delightedly, ‘we have our first test subjects!’

Test subjects?

‘And you two are?’

‘Ron Weasley and…,’ said Ron dryly.

‘Hermione Ganger!’ she interrupted huffily.

‘Well Weasley and Granger please come here to the front of the flight. Oh and for reference, a group of people in the air force is called a flight.’

They stepped forward sheepishly, glaring at each other manically.

‘Cadets Weasley and Granger are to be the subjects of a new teamwork experiment I have been willing to try for some time. As you two are, well, less than friendly to each other, I think it is about time you learned to get on together.’

‘I think that that is an excellent idea CPL,’ said a cold voice behind them. Harry turned so quickly that he cricked his neck painfully. Snape was standing behind them, next to a blonde woman he had never seen before. He was looking malevolent as ever with a satisfied smile on his face; his arms where folded and he was tapping his foot on the bitumen. ‘Weasley and Granger are impossible together, being the complete opposite of each other. Although you know what they say about opposites attracting…let’s just hope that Potter doesn’t get too jealous.’ The Slytherins laughed appreciatively.

‘Thank you Mr Snape. As time is getting on we will have to wait for me to explain my experiment.’ She looked sadly at them as if she was missing out on something entertaining. ‘I am now going to separate you into two different groups or ‘flights’. You will stay in these for the remainder of the camp. They will be called Alpha Flight and Delta Flight. May I please have the cadets whose last names span from A – J on my left and the rest of you on my right?’

Harry shuffled to the right with Ron, praising God that at least he was with Ron in these flight things.

‘Oh no you don’t!’ she shouted. Harry turned to see Ebbs pointing at Hermione who looked utterly bewildered. ‘No you need to be in the same flight as Weasel over here for our…er…experiment. Let me see…you can swap with…this man here.’ Harry laughed in relief as she pointed at Malfoy. Maybe this wasn’t going to be that bad after all.

‘So A-K’s you are flight Alpha and will be working with CPL Field who is standing behind us and I will be working with you guys.’ Harry smiled as she turned to them. ‘We are going to be Delta flight.’

‘Why not Bravo CPL,’ asked Hermione.

‘Because I like Delta better,’ she said smilingly.

Try and put up a bit more tomorrow!

[Veritaserum]

*Hiding the shame of not posting in so long* I swear I am really sorry! I am so unbelievably busy!


Chapter 7 – Teamwork and Discipline and Drill…Oh My! (Part 3)


‘Because I like Delta better,’ she said smilingly.

Harry watched her carefully. She had a very intoxicating smile that reached her eyes. ‘As an answer to your earlier question Weasel, the reason that we in the forces wear uniform is to form the basis of teamwork and discipline,’ said CPL Ebbs.

Ron rolled his eyes. ‘If I hear the words teamwork and discipline one more time I swear…’

‘But Weasel, teamwork and discipline are some of the most important things in life. I’m sure if you think hard enough you can think of a situation where you have had to work with other people to get the best result.’

Ron snorted loudly, but earned a reproachful glare from Hermione’s direction. ‘How can you say that!’ she said huffily. ‘What about the Philosopher’s Stone…or the Chamber of Secrets…OR, what about the Triwizard Tornament? God you can be so dim sometimes,’ she said exasperately and then clapped her hand over her mouth as she realised what she had said. ‘Just assignments we did at school CPL Ebbs’ she said hastily.

Ron just rolled his eyes again.

‘As I was saying,’ she continued with a curious look in Hermione’s direction, ‘the reason we have uniforms is to create unity within the ranks. They also have their practical uses such as being hardwearing and also for camouflage. They are designed for the jobs we do here.

‘Therefore, we need to get you all some uniforms.’ She looked very excited at the prospect.

Harry tuned out and looked at the sky. It was a cloudy grey – the kind you get on a very miserable day. He could hear the birds singing in the trees. He hadn’t noticed them before but now that he did they were intensely annoying. He tried to focus on the conversation at hand.

‘…need to march over to the shed. Now if you all focus your attention on myself and CPL Field, we are going to give you a quick demonstration of marching so you can learn how to do it yourself.’

She turned around and walked over to CPL Field where she whispered something in her ear. She gave a little giggle and they both shot a sideways look at Harry. At Harry? No it must have been at the flight. Harry was imagining things. Wishful thinking, he thought with a grin.

‘What you smiling at?’ said Ron huffily.

‘Oh…nothing…’ he replied, ‘…just think thinking about something.’

At that moment she turned with CPL Field, who addressed the group; ‘CPL Ebbs and I are going to now give you a demonstration of marching.’ She had a ringing voice – the kind that caught your attention immediately.

She turned to her colleague. ‘Ready?’ he heard her ask.

‘Sure,’ replied CPL Ebbs enthusiastically.

‘FLIGHT!’ she roared. ‘QUICK MARCH!’

Immediately, CPL Field started to march. Nearly everyone laughed and Ron even started a rendition of ‘We’re in the army now’.

‘This is ridiculous! I’m not going to be made to look like a prat! I refuse!’

‘All this teamwork and discipline and drill; it’s a load of bollucks!’ Harry heard Seamus shout in a carrying voice.

‘Bollucks is it Mr…?’ shouted CPL Ebbs in a loud menacing voice that was very different from the light and amused tone that she had used before.

‘Finnigan. Seamus Finnigan…’ he said in an uncanny impression of James Bond (Harry remember him saying his mum was a fan). He raised his eyebrows a few times and twirled his hands dramatically to renewed laughter.

‘Finnigan,’ she said in a cool calm voice. ‘Bollocks. Okay I can deal with that. Please raise your hand if you think we should hang Mr Finnigan from the flag pole over there by his bollucks?’ Everyone burst out laughing and the Slytherins jumped up and down with their hands in the air gleefully.

‘No, I agree with the majority – that would be too much effort on my part. Do you think we are fools Finnigan, because if you do, I find that incredibly insulting.’ She put out her finger and beckoned him seductively. ‘Come out here to the front of the flight if you think you’re so smart.’ Seamus, who looked a bit red, walked out to the front of the flight trying to look cool.

‘No Finnigan, we are not fools and therefore if you cannot recognise a fool then I am going to have to teach you what one is – for the benefit of your own education of course.’ She fished in her pocket for something and in finding it, pulled it out and kept it concealed in her hand. ‘Now Finnigan, close your eyes please.’

He kept them open defiantly.

‘If you do not close your eyes then I will really hang you from the flag pole by your bollucks. Now close them!’ she said menacingly.

He closed his eyes. She opened her hand to reveal what looked like a marker of some sort. She took off the lid and proceeded to write something on his forehead. Seamus stood defiantly still, obviously trying to look as if he could take anything she threw at him. She finished and recapped the pen, replacing it into one of her many pockets. Taking him by the shoulders she spun him around revealing writing on his forehead that spelled out a word in big black letters…

BOLLUCKS.

‘Now that Finnigan, really is bollucks.’

Harry nearly stopped breathing. Everyone was rolling around on the floor (Dean, Ron, and Neville literally) from laughter. Harry managed to turn to Hermione who was standing looking stony faced and disgusted beside him. ‘Oh come on Hermione! That was funny!’

‘Assault! That’s bloody assault that is!’ Seamus shouted indignantly when he had realized what she had done to him.

‘I know,’ she said looking forlorn, ‘but what are you going to do about it?’ she said turning to her friend who had burst out laughing..

‘No it wasn’t,’ Hermione started in response to Harry’s comment, ‘it was *******ization.’

‘Watch your language Hermione!’ said Ron in mock seriousness, grabbing Harry’s outstretched hand to hoist himself off the floor

‘OH FOR GOD’S SAKE RON, JUST PISS OFF!’ she screamed at him

‘My, my Miss Granger, you certainly are good at gaining the attention of the class.’ Professor McGonagall was marching over to them looking thin-lipped and irritable. ‘I will speak with you and Ron again afterwards. Mr Finnigan, what is that on your forehead?’

‘Oh that was me Miss McGonagall. I was just teaching a lesson in respect and discipline,’ said CPL Ebbs in a firm voice.

‘Very well,’ said Professor McGonagall still looking thin-lipped, ‘continue. I was just here to observe and to offer a hand if you need one.’

‘Thank you very much Miss McGonagall.’ She turned to the sixth years.

‘Shall we turn you into soldiers then?’

‘YES CPL EBBS!’ they roared enthusiastically.

‘Much better!’ she said with a satisfied smile.



I'll try and write another chapter by Friday but no promises!

Rate and Review Rate and Review Rate and Review!

Oh and HUGE Kudos go out to those who have rated and reviewed!

[Veritaserum]

I am so sorry that this has taken so long, it is a bad time of the year for me. I have 2 exams and a million assignmentsd due. But, due to popular demand I have had to cancel my life to write another chappie of muggle camp. Again, sorry it has taken so long. I would have written more but I have an essay due this afternoon and I haven't stated, see how much I love my fans (er...no...)

Chapter 8 - Markie and Biftas (Part 1)


Ron couldn’t help but let a gasp escape his already out-of –breath mouth. It was massive. High and long, the shed loomed just ahead of him, a huge corrugated iron structure. You could have stored 10 fully loaded passenger planes in there.

‘FLIGHT! RIGHT WHEEL!’ came a distant voice. He automatically snapped his head round to the right and started to wheel there, following the rest of the flight. CPL Ebbs had taught them all the basics of marching; starting, stopping, changing direction, (or ‘wheeling’ as she called it), and halting.

‘FLIGHT! HALT!’ roared CPL Ebbs. Check, in! Ron thought to himself as he tried to halt in time with the rest of Delta flight but failed miserably. My feet are just too big for this he thought to himself. Even Hermione thinks I am uncoordinated he thought with a pang. Why did he always have to annoy Hermione so much? Women!

‘Welcome to the shed!’ said CPL Ebbs, bringing Ron back to Earth. ‘Please give me the absolute pleasure of dressing you in something…er…’ she said a disapproving look at Hermione, who scowled, ‘er…decent!’ Ron laughed quietly but Hermione with her cat-like ears heard and look scandalous. He mentally scolded himself for being such a prat.

‘If you could please form a queue in front of the door you will be fitted and dressed. I look forward to seeing you,’ she said in a mysterious voice, ‘on the other side…’ She opened hers eyes widely and gave them a curious little smile. Then she spun around and walked through the door she had just indicated.

‘Wow! This place is massive!’ said Harry in awe as soon as she left.

‘Yeh!’ Ron replied in equal awe. ‘What d’you think they keep in there?’

‘Dunno but it has to be good!’ said Harry. ‘Come on let’s check it out.’

‘You coming Hermione?’ Ron asked, but Hermione was already at the door. He shrugged at Harry and they both went to be transformed into mini-soldiers.


*

Hermione was so furious at Ron. He could be such a prick sometimes! Ok, maybe she had over-reacted a little bit - A lot! she thought irritably to herself – but that was no reason for him to be so **** sexy! I meant annoying! she reminded herself angrily. She stopped as she realised she was first to reach the small metal door installed in the huge monstrosity that was the shed.

‘Come in!’ called a voice from inside. Shrugging, she stepped inside to see a kind of reception desk.

‘Shut the door behind you please,’ said the man behind the desk whose back was turned. She shut the door and turned back to have a closer look. The floor was a dingy and the sad grey of concrete. The corrugated iron walls were nearly entirely covered with posters of half-naked woman and planes, and she could see a fat, baldy man in uniform, smoking a cigarette in the doorway that was opposite to the one she had just come in.

‘Hi!’ said the man behind the desk and Hermione choked.

‘Er…hi!’ she managed through heavy breathing. Behind the desk stood a boy of about seventeen or eighteen; he was tall, with peroxide blonde hair that he had gelled to make it look like he had just gotten off a surf board. His uniform clung tightly to his body showing off his strong chest and burly muscles. Hermione slapped herself mentally.

‘Nice to see such a beautiful girl enter my quarters,’ he said suavely and Hermione’s heart melted on the spot. She blushed crimson.

‘Yeh…thanks…’ she breathed. She couldn’t understand how anyone could be so hot!

‘So I guess you’ll be wanting a uniform.’ His voice was melodious and sweet.

‘Erm..yeh,’ she said, feeling stupider by the minute.

‘Just wait here a second and I’ll see what I can do.’ He gave a roguish wink and walked through a faded curtain at the back of the reception desk.

Hermione got her breath back and turned her attention to the man in the doorway.

‘‘iya queen. Fancy a bifta?’

‘Er..what?’ said Hermione repulsively.

‘A bifta love!’ he replied, waving his half-finished cigarette in her direction.

‘Erm…no thanks,’ she replied, wrinkling her nose in disgust.

‘I saw you just then givin’ our Markie the eye. You stay away from im’ you ‘ear? You’re too good for im’! A pretty lass like such as yerself. Mark my words there’ll be hell to pay if you go near him. ‘E just latches onto the next bird ‘e sees. Trust me when I say this and you’ll be alright, k queen?’

‘Erm…yeh…’ said Hermione, not understanding a single word he had just said.

‘Here we are love,’ came a voice from behind the faded curtain. Next minute he emerged as gorgeous as ever with a shopping trolley full of clothes and other items, at his side. ‘Now the changing rooms are on your left as you go out of that door,’ he pointed at the door the fat man was sitting in, ‘and you can change into your gear there. If you could just open the door and shout the next person through, that would be great.’ He smiled cutely at her. ‘It was nice to meet you miss…

‘Granger!’ she said quickly. ‘Er…Hermione Granger.’

‘Well Mya I hope we have the pleasure of meeting again. I’m Mark but people call me Markie.’ He extended his hand for her to shake. She took it and he pulled her towards him, kissing her hand and then pulling her closer still, both cheeks. She blushed furiously.

‘You too,’ she said weakly and walked to the door she had come in.

After telling the next person they could enter, she took hold of the shopping trolley and walked towards the door opposite, bypassing the smoking man. Before she knew it, he had grabbed her and was whispering in her ear.

‘I’ve warned yer love. Stay away from our Markie, e’ll break yer ‘art.’ He let go of her and tapped his nose knowingly. Horrified she walked towards the changing room to transform herself into a soldier.

*

Ron looked in the stained and scratched mirror at himself. He had to admit, brown wasn’t his favourite colour, but the uniform sure did suit his frame. He smiled and looked at the diagram on the wall of the guy’s change room, checking he matched the picture; brown calf length lace-up boots, camouflage pants, green belt, camouflage shirt and beret. As soon as he was sure everything was correct he stepped outside and caught site of Hermione and smiled happily. This was how he liked her; her hair was tied up in a tight bun and her beret was balanced on top of her head. Her make-up had been removed, (the sign in the girls change room must have said it was forbidden), and she was looking unexplainably happy. Hm, I wonder why…
‘Hey Hermione’ he said sheepishly, knowing how angry she would be with him.

‘Hm…’ she said, smiling serenely.

‘Erm…well…’ said Ron, put off by her lack of reaction. ‘I’m really sorry! I didn’t mean to offend you before.’

‘What? Oh that’s ok…it doesn’t matter now,’ she said, sounding more like Luna Lovegood than herself.

‘Are you ok Hermione?’ he asked in concern.

‘Oh yes!’ she said vehemently.

‘Ok…Well I’m just going to stand on my head while pigs fly between my legs.’

‘Hm? Sure, what ever you say!’ and she continued to smile serenely.


Yay well, the next bit will be up tonight, I promise! And if I lie, you can take a pound of flesh! Remember to rate and review!

[Veritaserum]

Part 2 up dudes!!! Hope this makes u all happy lol. Actually it makes me happy, I love writing my fic, it's so much fun!! Anywayz no promises when I'll put the next but up so I'll have to see....hm...

Chapter 8 - Markie and Biftas (Part 2)

‘Hm? Sure, what ever you say!’ and she continued to smile serenely.

Ron frowned concernedly. ‘Are you sure you’re alright Hermione?’

‘Yes yes!’ she said suddenly as if snapping out of a trance. ‘Yes sorry. I was just thinking about something.’

‘Oh, ok, if you say so,’ said Ron, still looking concerned. He shrugged and turned away to look at Harry who had just emerged from the changing rooms looking awkward.

‘Woo woooo!’ Ron shouted at him with a laugh and Harry laughed in return.

‘Don’t I look handsome,’ replied Harry in a girls voice, batting his eyelashes and twirling on the spot.

‘Of course you do mate!’ said Seamus behind him. ‘You’re pushing my buttons anyway.’

Ron laughed along with Harry and Hermione. ‘Yeh, and Hermione that’s better so much better!’

‘What is?’ asked Hermione as she stopped laughing.

‘Well the way you’re dressed now! You looked like such a slapper before!’

Ron realised what he said about a second before Hermione slapped him.

‘YOU!’ she said looking furious. ‘YOU…’ she looked as though she was about to burst. ‘IF YOU TALK TO ME AGAIN EVEN ONCE MORE THIS WEEK I WILL LITERALLY RIP OFF YOUR FACE AND FEED IT TO ONE OF THE MILITARY POLICE DOGS!’ and with that, she marched off.

Lavender Brown and Parvarti Patil walked over and stuck their noses up at Ron angrily.

‘You are,’ started Lavendar, ‘the most tactless person I have ever had the displeasure of meeting.’

‘Yeh!’ reinforced Parvati, and they walked over to where Hermione was standing to comfort her.

Ron stood there looking horrified. How could he have been so tactless?

‘Seriously Ron, if you carry on like this I don’t think your ever gunna get her to love you.mate’

‘**** off Seamus!’ he said angrily and started to walk off towards the change room

‘Excuse me Mr Weasley, did I just hear you correctly?’ said a voice from behind him.

Holy. ****.

He froze. That was a voice he knew well, and it was the one person he didn’t want most to hear him swearing so violently at someone. He spun around to catch the disappointed expression of Professor Dumbledore.

‘Yes sir,’ he said with his head bowed.

Ron looked up surprised when he heard Dumbledore laughing. ‘You know Mr Weasley,’ he started, looking amused, ‘I know it is inevitable that a person vents their anger every once in a while, but,’ he lowered his voice, ‘try not to do it so publicly.’

‘Yes Professor.’

‘Now go and join your group, they are waiting for you.’

It was true that everyone was staring at him; some in pity, some in anger and some in delight at him being caught swearing. He could still see Hermione slumped against her trolley with her head in her hands. She was shuddering slight. Surely she wasn’t crying…

‘Yes sir.’

‘That’s a good boy. Go and join them then, I’m sure they’ll want to know how much trouble you got in.’ He gave Ron a small wink and walked over to the shed.

Ron walked back to Seamus and help out his hand. ‘Sorry mate.’

‘No problemo,’ said Seamus, shaking Ron’s outstretched hand, ‘I was bang out of order.’

‘Nah I was. I am so pathetic.’ He slumped down and leaned his trolley with his head in his hands.

‘You’re not pathetic Ron. You’re just **** when it comes to birds…sorry!’ said Seamus from above his head. Too right he was. Especially Hermione.

‘What did Dumbledore say?’ he heard Harry ask from somewhere above him.

‘Huh?’ he replied, lifting his head. ‘Oh, just the **** he usually spouts. Sorry I’m not in a very good mood at the moment.’

‘We figured,’ said Harry with a smile.

‘Can I have your attention please?’ Ron looked up to see that weirdo guy that worked in the reception of the shed walk up and stand in front of the group.

‘Can I please have Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger come forward?’ Ron sighed. Hermione. She was the main source of his ever worsening fall into depression. He wanted his mum.


More to come in a million years time hehehe.

[Veritaserum]

Last part of this chapter guys!



Chapter 8 - Markie and Biftas (Part 3)


‘Can I please have Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger come forward?’ Ron sighed. Hermione. She was the main source of his ever worsening fall into depression. He wanted his mum.

*

Hermione looked up as she heard that familiar beautiful voice calling her name.

‘Hermione, I think that guy from the shed is calling you,’ she heard Parvati say to her soothingly. They could be quite nice when they wanted to be.

‘Yes, okay.’ She wiped her eyes on her shirt and accepted Lavendar and Parvati’s offered hands, which pulled her up gracefully. She smiled at them and started off towards Markie who was standing near Harry, Seamus and Ron, who was sitting slumped against his trolley. She could hear Lavendar and Parvati in the background, (‘Oh my God! He is so hot’ and ‘Oh I know!’)

It was starting to warm up a bit now but it was still chilly. She shivered.

‘Cold?’ asked Markie concernedly.

‘Er…yeh, a little,’ she said uncomfortably. She just couldn’t talk to him - she was not worthy!

‘I can see that.’ He smiled at her beautifully. ‘Here, have this,’ he said pulling off his jacket and handing it too her.

‘Oh no, really! That’s ok,’ she said stunned.

‘No, please take it. You need it more than I do.’ He put his arms over her head and spread the jacket open behind her to slip her hands into.

‘Thanks,’ she said as she slipped her arms in, so close to his chest. He pulled the jacket round to her front to straighten it, brushed his hands across her chest as he did, and let go. She shivered again, but this time not out of coldness.

‘No problem,’ he said smiling again. The jacket was way too big for her, but she didn’t mind. It smelled of spicy pepper, smoke and citrus. ‘Ah and you must be Draco.’

‘Yeh, Malfoy,’ he added with a sneer.

‘Right er…Malfoy,’ Markie said with an eyebrow raised. Hermione sniggered appreciatively.

‘Think my name is funny do you muggle?’ said Malfoy, who was grinding his teeth.

‘Er…yeh why?’ said Markie coolly.

‘Because…’ Hermione watched as Malfoy reached into his pocket and realised his wand wasn’t there.

‘Because what?’ said Markie.

‘Nothing,’ Malfoy replied furiously and Hermione sniggered again.

‘Good, and if you’re gunna call me a name, muggle a pretty **** one if you ask me. Find something more useful like little shite,’ he said poking Malfoy aggressively. ‘Anyway as I was about to say before I was rudely interrupted,’ he shot a scathing look at Malfoy who looked as though he was about to explode, ‘was that as leaders of your group, you get to wear these.’

Hermione’s smile widened. He was holding out some rank slides with two chevrons on them. She was going to be a CPL just like Ebbs.

‘I’m glad you like them Mya. Run along Drunko!’

Malfoy shot one more furious look at Markie, snatched the slides, and then stormed off towards Crabbe and Goyle. ‘Man what an ***!’ said Markie’

‘Yeh I know.’ They stared at each other for a second.

‘Well I better…get back,’ said Hermione awkwardly.

‘Actually I was wondering if I could ask you something Mya.’ Hermione’s heart stopped. ‘Well you’re not supposed to know but after you graduate next week, you are going to have a graduation party to celebrate and well…I was wondering if I could have the pleasure of accompanying you.’

Hermione couldn’t breathe.

‘Well?’

She couldn’t say anything either.

‘Oh ok. That’s fine if you have someone else in mind…’ Markie said looking rejected.

‘Yes!’ she blurted out finally finding her tongue.

‘Great. I’ll see you around then Mya.’ He leaned down and kissed her cheek softly. Then he strode off towards the shed.

She turned around. Everyone was looking her, but she didn’t care.


Review review review! (Seen as we don't rate any more!)

[Veritaserum]

Hello my fine fictastical friends!!! I love this chapter, don't know why and I know my head is very inflated already, but this is a GOOOOOOD chapter. But very pointless and **** really. Anyway, thankyou all for reading my fic (Can't say that enough) and enjoy this very long chapter to make up for the chapters I won't be writing during my exams (I'll try don't worry!).
______________________________________________________

Chapter 9 – Hats, Hats Everywhere but Not a Place to Put Them

‘Right then, this is the mess.’

They were stood outside an oblong shaped building that was white and decaying. The dirty white paintwork was peeling off the walls to reveal wooden planks that looked mouldy and eaten. The path they had just marched up lay between the building and the road, of which every now and again a truck or car would drive down. They had even seen a tank at one point. They were right now crammed under a tiny square pergola that was slung from the doorway of the mess and over two rusty poles. And it was absolutely freezing.

‘Shall we get you inside then?’ said CPL Ebbs who was looking pretty cold herself, although she was trying hard not to show it.

Harry stepped inside alongside Ron and smiled as a burst of hot air greeted him on entry. The building may have looked crummy from the outside but it wasn’t so bad inside. The wooden walls were lined with pictures of men in uniforms, planes, and hats. Hats? So many hats Harry had never seen! There were hundreds of them lining the walls, floors and the numerous hooks positioned everywhere around the room.

‘What’s with all the hats’ he said, facing Ron who shrugged his shoulders in reply.

‘Maybe they run out of storage space in the shed,’ said Ron.

‘I doubt that would ever happen,’ replied Harry. He watched as Ron’s eyes flicked to Hermione who was now walking through the door with a very chatty Lavendar, Padma and Parvati.

‘Who does he think he is anyway? Making a spectacle in the middle of everyone like that,’ said Ron sulkily. Harry didn’t reply – this was a very touchy subject and he was sure that whatever he said would be the wrong thing.

‘OK, this is the mess. This is where you will be eating all your daily meals which include breakfast, lunch and dinner.’ CPL Ebbs had just walked in behind them and was standing in the doorway they had just come in. ‘Now, the door to my left is the gents toilets and to my right is the ladies. The door just in front of me,’ she pointed to a set of double doors that had opaque glass in them and were currently shut, ‘is the entrance to the mess. So if you want, you can use the toilets to freshen up for breakfast and then if you please, can you line up from the doors to the mess and around the room. You can leave your hats where you can find a space.’

‘Why do we have to take our hats off?’ asked Justin Finch-Fletchley.

‘Because it is rude to wear hats indoors. From now on when you enter a building, you must remove your hats. Enjoy your breakfast.’ And with that she walked out of the door.

‘Fantastic I’m starving!’ said Neville loudly to which he got many fervent nods and agreements.
‘Yes well, that doesn’t surprise me Longbottom. Judging from your stature I couldn’t even imagine you ever refusing food,’ came a drawling voice from the corner of the room.

‘I’d watch it if I were you Malfoy. You’re kind of outnumbered for enemies here if you haven’t noticed which wouldn’t surprise me taking into account the fact that you don’t have enough brains to fill an eggcup,’ said Seamus hotly. Crabbe and Goyle cracked their knuckles menacingly behind Malfoy. He glared at Seamus, and then retreated to the toilets.

‘Slimy git,’ said Dean.

‘I know. Come on I’m starving,’ said Seamus.

‘Oh me too!’ said Neville.

‘I thought we’d already had this conversation,’ said Justin.

‘Just checking you heard me!’ said Neville who was laughing.

After freshening up, the boys looked for somewhere to stash their hats.

‘Where are we supposed to put them? There’s not bloody space!’ said Ron.

‘Dunno, but we have to put them somewhere,’ said Seamus.

‘Oh really? Thanks for telling me ‘cos I wouldn’t have known that,’ said Dean sarcastically, who received a clock round the head with Seamus’s beret.

‘I’ve got an idea,’ said Harry who walked over to a large grandfather clock standing at the opposite side of the room.

‘Brilliant!’ said Seamus.

‘You really are a bloody genius you know,’ said Ron impressed.

‘I know,’ said Harry genially.

After stashing their hats in the grandfather clock, they lined up for breakfast.

‘Mmmmm I can smell eggs and bacon,’ said Neville euphorically.

‘Me too,’ said Ernie Macmillan with the same dreamy expression.

‘Do you reckon we can go in?’ said Justin tentatively.

‘S’pose so,’ said Dean who was at the front of the queue. He pushed the door open, then froze, and closed it again.

‘What?’ said Harry.

‘Look,’ said Dean, ‘just look!’

Harry walked over and opened the door tentatively and gasped. There were literally hundreds of men and woman seated at long rectangular tables on either side of the door. He could hear Ron, Seamus, Neville, Justin and Ernie gasp as well.

‘We can’t just walk in there!’ said Dean with wide eyes.

‘If my stomach’s got anything to do with it we can!’ said Neville who barged through the door. Harry followed tentatively. But Neville held back.

‘Er Harry…what are we supposed to do?’ said Neville nervously. He looked around. Nearly everyone the room was staring and pointing or else whispering to their neighbour. The room was huge. They were standing in a wide aisle in between rows of tables. To his right, and in the centre of the room, was what looked like a salad and dessert bar. Straight ahead was a wide column in front of which was a table piled with plates and cutlery. Behind this was the canteen – a counter behind which there were 5 dinner ladies standing with ladles in their hands. It looked very much like his primary school did. He shivered unpleasantly at the thought.

‘Follow me Neville and do what I do. Try to make it look…natural,’ said Harry to Neville who was looking apprehensive.

‘Ok,’ he said and Harry walked over to column and picked up a plate and a knife, fork and spoon. The hall was still oddly quiet although he could still hear the fervent whispers coming from the surrounding tables. He looked at his plate determinedly, and saw it had the crest of the RAF on it. Neville behind him copied his every move. He stepped around the column to the canteen and surveyed the meals that lay before him. There was bacon, eggs, sausages, beans, black pudding, hash browns, and other things you could imagine in an English breakfast.

‘What would you like dear?’ asked the lady behind the misted glass warmer.

‘Er, everything I suppose!’ said Harry. Come to think of it, he was feeling rather hungry.

‘Sorry dear, you can only have one piece of meat.’ One piece of meat! He was going to starve!

‘Ok, I’ll have bacon, eggs, hash browns, black pudding and er…some chips,’ he said seeing the chips at the last minute. She slopped it on his plate and he continued down the line, helping himself to whatever else he saw. Now was the next problem – where to sit. Looking around, there were a block of tables to his left that were unused. Walking over, he saw a little sign on the table.

RESERVED FOR RC CADETS

At least he was right about that. He put his plate down and was closely followed by Neville, Ron, Dean, Seamus, Ernie and Justin.

‘One piece of meat! I’m going to starve!’ said Neville morosely. They all groaned in agreement.

‘Where do you get drinks and stuff?’ said Seamus who was massaging his stomach and looking longingly at his food.

‘Over there,’ said Harry, spotting a coffee machine and bottles of juice and cordial.

‘Great, I need a cup of coffee before I fall asleep on the spot,’ said Ron, who practically ran over to the machine. Harry followed him and had to laugh at the look on Ron’s face, who was nearly crying with exasperation as he realised he had no idea how to use the coffee machine.

‘Haaaaaaaary help me!’ he said moaningly. Harry laughed again and examined the machine. It served coffee, hot water and hot chocolate.

‘You take milk and two sugars don’t you?’

‘One sugar.’ Harry raised an eyebrow at him. ‘I’m cutting down OK?’ said Ron in annoyance.

‘Ok so look, you get your cup.’ He grabbed one of the nearby teacups. ‘Put it under the nozzle.’ He placed it on the grate. ‘And press the button of whatever you want. Oh and you add your own milk and sugar.’ He pointed to the coffee button but Ron didn’t move.

‘Go on then!’ Harry said to him. Ron pressed the button and immediately, coffee came out of the nozzle and into the cup. Ron nearly died of shock.

‘That’s bloody fantastic that is!’ he said in delight picking up a sachet of sugar and pouring coffee into the now steaming cup.

‘Wow!’ said Neville in amazement – Harry realised they had all been watching his demonstration in interest.

‘You guys are weird,’ said Justin, ‘it’s just a coffee machine.’

‘I agree,’ said Dean rolling his eyes. ‘I’m getting some toast,’ and he walked over to the toaster next to the coffee machine.

‘What’s that?’ asked Neville with interest.

‘It’s a toaster Neville,’ said Justin with suppressed sarcasm.

‘So…what? It makes toast?’ Neville asked tentatively.

‘Yes Neville, it makes toast,’ said Justin exasperatedly. Dean adapted the pose of a model selling some amazing new contraption as he explained to Neville and Ron how to use the toaster. Both were wide eyed when he finished.

‘Wow muggles are brilliant!’ said Ron. ‘No wonder dad likes them so much.’

‘Don’t know about you, but I’m off to eat my breakfast before it gets cold,’ said Seamus, who walked over to the table, carrying with him a stack of toast and a cup of hot chocolate.

Harry poured himself some orange juice and helped Ron play with the toaster before he sat back down at the table between him and Neville.

‘So what do you think of it so far?’ asked Neville through a mouthful of beans.

‘What?’ asked Seamus, who was busy slicing through a sausage.

‘This camp thingo?’ said Neville, who was now eating a piece of bacon with no remorse.

‘Yeh it’s alright,’ contributed Dean.

‘Don’t know why we have to wear these stupid uniforms though,’ said Justin in disgust, who was blowing on his hot drink.

‘I like them,’ said Ron vacantly.

‘You would!’ said Dean through his half eaten hash brown.

‘Har-di-har,’ said Ron making a face at Dean.

‘We all know why you like them Ron,’ said Seamus trying not to snigger.

Oh no, not again, thought Harry with warning bells ringing in his ears.

*

Ron was in his own little world. He had been distracted by the muggle machines for a minute, but his mind had strayed back to Hermione almost immediately.

‘Don’t know why we have to wear these stupid uniforms though,’ he heard Justin say.

‘I like them,’ he replied, thinking of Hermione and how good she looked now she wasn’t dressed like she had just crawled out of a brothel.

‘You would!’ said Dean with a laugh

‘Har-di-har,’ he replied, having no idea what he was talking about and not really caring.

‘We all know why you like them Ron,’ said Seamus and Ron turned his head quickly to face him.

‘Oh yeh, and why is that?’ asked Ron who was dreading the answer in case it had anything to do with Hermione. He really wasn’t in the mood.

‘Because you like woman in uniform,’ said Seamus with a wink, who then went into raucous peals of laughter followed by the rest of the table.

‘Whatever,’ said Ron sulkily playing with a solitary bean on his plate with a fork. At least he didn’t say anything about Hermione.

‘I can think of one woman in particular,’ said Neville in an offhand voice.

‘Who would that be Neville?’ said Dean with mock interest.

‘I’m not at liberty to dispose of that information,’ said Neville with a smirk.

‘Now you wouldn’t be talking about a certain girl who goes by the name of Granger would you Neville?’ Ron groaned loudly. He knew it was coming.

‘I don’t know what you’re talking about,’ said Ron, trying to sound disinterested but failing miserably.

‘Oh come off it Ron, you couldn’t be more obvious if you tried,’ said Justin.

‘Am I missing something here? Since when did we decide to bring Ron to his senses?’ said Harry to Ron’s surprise.

‘Oh I think it was just a silent agreement,’ said Dean.

‘So are you going to ask her to the ball Ron?’ said Harry with increased interest.

‘NO! I don’t know what your talking about so just back off!’ said Ron. He wished that they would shut up.

‘I’m talking about you and Hermione being infatuated with each other but just being to bloody stupid to do anything about it,’ said Harry impatiently. It sounded like he’d wanted to say this for a long time.

‘Harry! You’re supposed to be on my side! I mean I would’ve expec-‘ but he suddenly choked. Hermione was walking across the hall, hand-in-hand with the blonde from the shed.

*

‘Hey Mya, nice to see ya,’ came a voice from over her shoulder. Markie was standing behind her smiling.

‘Hey Markie,’ she said with a whimper.

‘I just can’t seem to get away from you can I,’ he said smiling. ‘Listen, me and some of the guys are having breakfast over there in the corner.’ He pointed a table in the corner full of equally handsome males around the same age as Markie. ‘We were just wondering if you, and your friends, would like to join us for breakfast.’

Hermione couldn’t resist.

‘Sure, but I’m nearly finished,’ she said, smiling sweetly.

‘No matter,’ he said shaking his head. ‘I just want the pleasure of your company.’ He was so nice!

She turned to address the rest of thew girls on her table. ‘Do you want to come over and have breakfast with…’

‘Definitely,’ said Parvati fervently.

‘Let’s go,’ said Lavendar looking dreamy.

She stood up. Markie took her hand and led her over to the table followed by Parvati, Lavander, Padma, Hannah Abbott and Susan Bones who all looked as if Christmas had come early. She let herself be led over to the table where Markie’s friends were seated and then had a vision of Ron. She shook it out of her head.

‘Right this is Benjamin, but we call him Benji for short, Ashley, or Ash, Tom, Sean and Josh.’ They all said ‘Hi!’ in turn and nodded.

‘Please be seated!’ said Markie, pulling out a chair for Hermione to sit in. She had never felt so special.

*

Harry followed Ron’s line of shocked site and wished he hadn’t. Hermione was walking hand-in-hand with the guy from the shed. Poor Ron, this must be so hard for him.

‘Don’t worry about it Ron,’ said Harry comfortably.

‘Worry about what? I’m not worried about anything,’ he said vacantly and then went back to staring at his beans.

‘Anyway…back to the topic at hand,’ said Seamus annoyingly.

‘Remind me again,’ said Ron cooly.

‘Ron and Hermione sitting in a tree K-I-S-S-I-N-G. First comes love, then comes marriage, then comes Ron with the baby’s c-’

But Seamus had to stop singing, for Ron had just flicked a spoonful of beans in his face. The table nearly died with laughter and even Ron joined in on it. Harry though he heard warning bells again. Surely Seamus wouldn’t let that go easily.

Sure enough, Seamus picked up the yolk of his egg on his spoon and flung it at Ron, who ducked. It continued to fly - right into the back of Malfoy’s head staining his platinum hair, orange.

He stood up and seemed to be almost boiling with anger.

‘Who,’ he managed to whisper through gritted teeth, ‘did that?

‘Er, it were me! Why? What you gunna do about it?’ said Seamus with a smirk.

Malfoy turned around, picked up his cup, and flung it at Seamus full of juice, who ducked. The cup continued to fly and hit one of the RAF airmen in the head.

What happened next, Harry didn’t remember, but it caused a full-scale food fight.

Pulling Ron and Neville with him, he ducked under the table narrowly missing a blob of mashed potato flying his way.

‘Look what you did!’ said Harry to Ron, who was bent over in laughter.

‘Hey I didn’t do anything!’ said Ron who stood up again and started venting his anger on a couple of women from the RAF side of the room, who seemed to be enjoying this as much as they were.

Just then, Ron dodged away.

‘Where are you going?’ he asked him.

‘Nowhere, I’ll be back in a minute.’

And he disappeared.

*

Ron had a plan that he needed to execute. He had his tactics and he was going to follow them. He dodged from table to table until he reached the one with the bottles of juice on. He picked up 2 and dodged from table to table until he reached the back of the room where Hermione was sitting with her lover boy. They were knelt behind the table and were pelting things at whoever they could reach.

Ron placed the bottles on the empty table behind them and watched them closely. They were laughing and joking with each other, now smearing food into each other’s uniforms. It was making Ron sick. Suddenly, he froze.

He never realised how much it would hurt to see Hermione being kissed by someone other than him.

___________________________________________________

Poor Ron!! I feel so sorry for him in that last part. Don't you worry though - good things come to those who wait!

[Veritaserum]

Well hello dudes and dudettes (well mainly dudettes cos I've noticed it's mainly chicks around the same age as me who read this!)

In celebration of the finishing of my first exam (which I think I passed yay!) I am about to post the first part of the next chappie. Now I considered as this is gunna be a much longer fic than I first anticipated, I'm gunna compress some of the shorted 2000ish word chapters to make longer ones so that's why it looks a bit different.

Anywayz...I didn't know about the beginning of this chappie but my bro (who I FINALLY got to read my fic) says it's really good so yeh...if it's a load of cra, blame him.

But otherwise, I like this chappie...enjoy!!!
______________________________________

Chapter 10 – Digging Up Old Graves - Part 1


I can’t imagine that there’s anything better than a food fight, thought Hermione to herself as she picked up a string of black pudding and pegged it at a skinny looking woman who was trying to protect herself from the imminent future vision of stains on her uniform.

‘Good shot babe,’ said Markie, who picked up a handful of mashed potato from the metal dish he had managed to flog from the canteen and chucked it at Malfoy who was frantically throwing stuff wherever it would go.

‘Thanks! You’re not so bad yours-’ she started before she was hit full in the face by flying blob mushie-peas.

‘Oh here, let me help you,’ he said. Before she knew it, Markie had smushed a handful of mashed potato in her face. She coughed and spluttered in shock.

‘MARKIE!’ she exclaimed in surprise.

‘Ooops! Sorry, it was an accident…I slipped!’ he replied with a smirk on his face.

‘Yeh well,’ she said bending over the table on the pretext of wiping her face with the tablecloth, ‘so was this!’ and she turned round and gave Markie a face full in return. She bent over in raucous giggles.

And so the war began. She and Markie proceeded to coat themselves in mashed potato. Who knew a person could have so much fun? Markie was obviously made for her. She was so lucky! She would never have this much fun with Ron!

Suddenly she slipped. Moving quick as lightening, Markie caught her in his arms. For a moment, she stared into his eyes.

They were dull and lifeless.

Before she knew it, he had his lips around hers and she was sucked into a toxic kiss.

She didn’t want this.

She pulled away startled.

Markie looked back at her with a hurt look in his eyes. ‘But I thought…’

‘WELL YOU THOUGHT WRONG DIDN’T YOU!’

*

How could she? How dare she! Ron stood up and slipped over again in a pile of scattered mashed potato. Recovering himself, he stood up just in time to see Hermione push him away.

How dare he take advantage of her! He was going to pay for his little moment of glory.

Ron jumped over the table just in time to hear Markie talking.

‘But I thought…’ he said looking hurt.

‘WELL YOU THOUGHT WRONG DIDN’T YOU!’ Ron blurted out loudly and swung his right hand up so it hit Markie square in the face. As a result, Markie dropped Hermione in surprise, who slipped over in the mashed potato and fell flat on her backside with a bang.

‘Are you alright Hermione?’ Ron asked and offered Hermione a hand.

She accepted it gratefully and pulled herself up. ‘Yeh, I…but…’ But she couldn’t say anything more, because at that moment, Markie had spun Ron around and punched him in the face.

Ron staggered backwards. ‘Who d’you think you are yer little shite?’ he asked looking furious.

‘Ron Weasley, and if you touch Hermione again then you will have me to answer to,’ said Ron, his voice trembling in fury.

‘Oh I’m so scared,’ said Markie, mock trembling. ‘Anyway, Hermione is with me so why shouldn’t I touch her?’ he asked, looking as if he was trying hard to restrain himself. By now everyone in the mess was staring at them – the food-fight had been put on a temporary standby.

‘Don’t be stupid, she wouldn’t look twice at a great prat like you!’ Ron snorted.

‘Wouldn’t she?’ said Markie with a smirk to match Ron’s. Ron faltered.

‘Of course you wouldn’t…would you Hermione?’ he said turning to face Hermione.

‘Well…’ she started awkwardly. ‘We are sort of going to the dance next week,’ she said very fast, blushing crimson.

Ron felt as though she had hit him in the stomach with something very hard.

‘Why? Jealous?’ asked Markie with a superior smile.

‘Of…of course not...’ he said distractedly. She had chosen someone else…someone other than him.

‘Ron I…’ Hermione started sadly.

‘Of course not!’ he interrupted loudly. ‘We’re just friends. Sorry I bothered you Hermione. Carry on!’ he said with a bite in his voice, he shot a look full of malice at Hermione. Then he walked off across the mess and out of the double doors.

‘Don’t cry little man!’ he heard Markie say as he left, to raucous laughter from the resident diners.


*

Harry ducked and ran to the end of the table in the direction Ron had gone. He wasn’t sure what he had gone to do, but he was sure it wasn’t something rational. He had been gone a fair five minutes now. He raised his head tentatively to see if there was any flying food coming his way and nearly fell over again as he saw Ron throw a punch at the guy from the shed.

What was going on? Harry couldn’t hear anything but the next minute he saw the other guy throw a punch back at Ron. Well that just wasn’t on, Harry thought to himself. He got up and started to walk over to the other side of the room, pushing people out of the way as he went. No one threw a punch at his best friend and got away with it. But just as he got half way, Ron walked out of the mess to raucous laughter.

What the hell was going on here?

Harry turned and followed Ron out of the doors. He looked around but couldn’t see him anywhere. Poking his head out of the doorway, he could see Ron, slumped against the wall of the mess with his head in his hands, shivering in the freezing weather, covered in mashed potato.

‘Ron?’ he said tentatively.

‘Go away Harry,’ came a muffled voice.

‘Are you alright mate?’ asked Harry.

‘I’m fine,’ came a defiant voice.

‘No you’re not,’ said Harry.

‘Yes I am!’ said Ron angrily.

‘Do you know how I know you’re not?’ said Harry smilingly.

Silence.

Harry continued, ‘because I can’t even remember the amount of times when people have asked me if I was feeling alright and I said I was fine when I was one-hundred percent absolutely not fine. I’m pretty knowledgeable in this area.’ He sat down next to Ron and pulled his knees up to his chest to keep out some of the cold.

They sat in silence for a couple of minutes. Then Ron said, ‘she’s seeing someone else.’

Harry knew what he was talking about instantaneously. ‘Who? The ditzy man from the shed?’

Ron lifted his head. ‘Markie!’ he said sarcastically, moving his head to the sound of the name and pulling a disgusted face. Ron eyes were watering and he was obviously holding back the tears. He really must care about Hermione a lot. I mean, thought Harry, I do as well, but he must really REALLY care about her.

‘He kissed her Harry,’ Ron continued sadly, ‘right in front of me.’

‘You really like her don’t you?’ said Harry, thinking he may finally get a confession out of him.

‘Of course I do!’ he said, throwing his hands into the air in dismay. ‘I like her so much! In fact…I think I, well…’ he gulped and reverted back to staring at his knees.

‘Really?’ said Harry, knowing exactly what he was going to say. ‘Wow…’ he trailed off.

They sat there in silence a few minutes more.

‘Harry…have you ever…you know…’ Ron took a jagged breath. ‘Cried?’

‘Well,’ said Harry awkwardly, ‘well, I don’t want you to think I’m a poof or anything but…when Sirius died…’ Harry went quiet. He hadn’t discussed Sirius’s death with anybody yet.

‘Did you love him Harry?’ said Ron tentatively.

‘Yes,’ said Harry sadly. ‘I mean, when he died, it was like someone had punched a big hole in my heart. And I also knew it was all my fault! I mean if I’d of just listened to Hermione, or used the mirrors…’ Harry felt tears prick the corners of his eyes and he wiped them away quickly before Ron could see.

‘I can see how your mind could dwell on these things,’ said Ron with a weak smile. Harry smiled back. ‘But you know Harry; there are so many ‘what ifs’ in Sirius’s death. What if Sirius had stayed at home? What if you had not gone to the Department of Mysteries? What if your mum hadn’t sacrificed herself for you and you hadn’t connected yourself to you-know-who and had all these weird visions? Can you see how silly it is for you to blame yourself?’ asked Ron.

‘Yeh, I suppose if you put it that way,’ said Harry, feeling a bit better.

‘See?’ said Ron, smiling at him. ‘What if you had decided to be friends with Malfoy on the train on the way to Hogwarts in first year instead of me?’ said Ron with his eyebrows raised.

‘Then I would have had to deal with all your prissy little love life problems!’ said Harry, laughing.

Ron gasped and pushed Harry playfully. ‘You think my problems are hard to deal with? Have you tried having a friend who has battled with the most evil wizard of all time,’ he counted on his fingers ‘four times, lives with evil muggles, has had all his relatives brutally murdered, and has love life problems of his own with the one and only Cho Chang!’ Harry laughed and pushed Ron back. He was so lucky to have Ron as a friend.

‘I’m so lucky to have you as a friend you know,’ said Harry averting his eyes and sounding awkward.

‘And don’t you forget it!’ said Ron, pulling Harry into a manly hug before he could push him away.

‘Gerrof me you!’ said Harry who was smirking widely. ‘Hey! You’re supposed to say ‘so are you Harry’!’

‘Yeh well, I mean you have to include Hermione in this equation,’ said Ron who blushed scarlet.

‘Hey!’ said Harry punching Ron in the arm hard.

‘Owee!’ said Ron who punched him back.

‘Anyway she isn’t your friend…she’s your girlfriend!’ said Harry teasingly.

Ron groaned. ‘No she’s not.’

‘Not yet anyway!’ said Harry.

‘Not ever,’ said Ron dejectedly.

‘Oh don’t be ridiculous Ron. She likes you just as much as you like her,’ said Harry

‘Yeh right,’ Ron trailed off, sounding even more dejected than before. ‘Anyway, we better get back in before we’re missed.’

Harry snorted doubtfully. ‘Who is going to miss us?’

‘I might,’ said a voice from above them.

CPL Ebbs was standing in front of them, looking stern.

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I will have more up when I have finished my other (AND LAST!) exam on Tuesday. Don't be sad...it's not that far away!!! And then after that day....REGULAR FIC UPDATES!!! It's so exciting isn't it :evil:

[Veritaserum]

Hello again dudes and dudettes! Nice day for an update (it's like 30 degrees here in sunny old oz). If you were interested to know which you probably aren't...I'VE FINISHED UNI FOR THE YEAR AND HAVE 3 MONTHS OFF YAY! Ok so now that's over and done with there'll be pretty much regular updates from now on oh and I have to write a plot line for this becuase at the moment I don't see it going anywhere. Alrighy then enjoy!
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Chapter 10 - Digging Up Old Graves (Part 2)

*

‘That was really mean you know!’ Hermione said hotly as soon as Ron had left the room. Out of the corner of her eye she could see Harry running out after him.

‘So?’ Markie snorted contemptuously.

‘So! Ron is my best friend!’ she said, getting angrier by the second but keeping her voice to a low hiss. Everyone who had been watching the fight was now trying to work out how to get out off getting in trouble for the food fight.

‘Mione love,’ he said in an annoyingly patronising voice. ‘What kind of best friend beats up your boyfriend because HE is not happy about them having a friendly kiss? He sounds like a bit of a prat to me Mione.’ Hermione watched as he proceeded to flick bits of mashed potato off his uniform.

‘Well he’s not!’ said Hermione. She was starting to get angry now.

‘Well if you like him so much then maybe you should go to the party with him!’ said Markie sulkily. ‘Obviously you don’t like me at all!’

‘Markie it’s not like that...’

‘Sure it isn’t. It’s ok Mione. Go on, go to the party with him, nobody cares about me!’ said Markie who looked close to tears.

‘Oh don’t be so stupid! I want to go with you, it’s just…’

‘It’s just what? I mean you pulled away from me when I tried to kiss you! You obviously don’t like me at all!’ said Markie.

‘Well…it’s just. I’ve never been kissed by someone before and it caught me kind of off-guard,’ said Hermione who was blushing.

‘I’m not going to hurt you Mione,’ he said softly, brushing her face with his hand. ‘It’s just…I’ve never met anyone as beautiful as you in my life. And now I’ve spoken to you a bit, I can see just how perfect you are.’

Hermione was captured. She closed her eyes as Markie pulled her closer towards him and kissed her gently.

As she was pulled deeper into the kiss, Hermione felt as if the world had fallen beneath her feet. She was alone, with nobody to save her this time.

*

‘CPL Ebbs!’ said Ron, who jumped up so quick that he sent some mashed potato flying which landed with a splosh on her face. Ron looked at Harry for a moment with a terrified expression.

‘That Weasel…’ she said, taking a tissue from her pocket and wiping the mashed potato off her face, ‘was wet…’

Harry and Ron watched bewildered as CPL Ebbs went into a fit of giggles.

‘Are…are you alright CPL Ebbs?’ said Harry worriedly.

‘Please call me Lyra. Well don’t when we’re around other people but you can now. And you are?’

‘Harry,’ he started ‘and this is Ron.’

‘Charmed,’ she said and shook their hands in a business type fashion. ‘And what are you doing out here, covered in mash potato and other edible foodstuffs?’

‘We were just…just…’ Harry looked at Ron in dismay.

‘Just escaping from the immaturity of some of our fellow students!’ said Ron with a sudden brainwave.

‘Oh yes,’ Lyra said suspiciously. ‘And what would this be?’

‘A huge food fight inside the mess miss!’ said Ron in a scolding voice. ‘Naturally, we walked straight out when it started but were unfortunate enough to be caught in the cross fire,’ he went on in a disapproving voice. Harry had to internally kick himself to stop him from busting into very violent laughter.

‘Hmm, I’m sure you did,’ said Lyra who was smiling. ‘I don’t believe a single word of it, but I’ve taken a liking to you two so I’ll ignore the fact that you two were involved in a bloody and brutal food fight.’ She tapped her nose knowingly and sighed. ‘Oh well! Time to turn into big bad wolf…’

With that she strode towards the entrance of the mess.

‘You jammy bugger!’ said Harry in amusement. ‘You started the bloody food fight!’

‘Ah,’ Ron sighed dramatically. ‘It’s all in the Weasley genes.’

‘Weasley genes my ars-’ but he was cut off by a tremendous roar from inside the mess.

‘Hasn’t she half got a pair of lungs on her!’ said Ron impressed.

‘Come on lets go take a look,’ said Harry, and he walked towards the entrance of the mess.

‘…BACK RIGHT NOW TO GET WASHED AND DRESSED. I HAVE NEVER SEEN SUCH MISCONDUCT IN MY LIFE! NOW GET OUTSIDE BEFORE I GET ALL YOUR MOTHERS IN HERE TO ISSUE YOU ENEMAS!’

‘What’s an enema?’ he asked Ron.

‘No idea but it sounds nasty,’ said Ron who shivered unpleasantly.

They stepped back as the rest of the Hogwarts sixth years marched out of the mess looking angry or excited. As Hermione walked out, Harry saw Ron busy himself with the hem of his shirt, which was coming undone. Harry noticed she was wiping her mouth with her sleeve and looking deeply unhappy about something.

‘LINE UP NOW!’ Lyra said to the assembled students, who complied unhappily. ‘Except for you two; you can march next to me,’ and she smirked at them knowingly.

‘Now take note,’ she started in a low deadly voice. ‘I would just like to make a point of these two students. These two students were mature enough to walk out of the food fight in there and wait outside quietly for assistance to come. Hence they should be congratulated on their maturity. Well Done boys!’

They smiled at her and tried desperately to ignore the disgusted looks coming from Seamus, Dean, Neville, Justin and Ernie.

‘Brace yourselves. FLIGHT QUICK MARCH!’

Harry and Ron marched behind, trying not to laugh as half a squashed sausage dangled from the seat of Parvati’s pants.

*

‘I thought we were going to the Dorms,’ Harry hissed to Ron as they stopped in front of another large square shed. Ron shrugged silently and Harry kicked his feet on the concrete in an attempt to get warm. He saw that Ron’s eyes were fixated upon Hermione who was shivering slightly.

‘Harry and Ron, over here,’ said Lyra who ran over and opened a door to the great corrugated iron building – it seemed it was the favourite construction material around here.

Harry and Ron followed her through the door which she waited to close after them. It seemed they were standing in a small fire department. There were three fire engines to his left lined one next to the other which looked old and rusted. To his right, there was a flight of metal steps that led to a platform directly above them.

‘Just up here,’ she said. She was looking very evil, as if she had some very nasty plan up her sleeve.

‘Er Lyra…what are we doing?’ said Harry uncertainly as his feet clanged loudly on the metal steps.

‘You’ll see,’ she said as they followed her up them and onto the platform.

‘Harry, what is this place?’ said Ron in an undertone. He was looking at the fire engines in amazement.

‘It looks like a fire station. Muggles have a service that you can ring if there is a fire so they can come and put it out for you with water and stuff.’ Lyra was bent down fiddling with a huge water spout that pointed directly at the metal wall.

‘Oh, I see. Like firemen? Yeh, we have them too, only they use their wands instead of water.’

‘Right boys!’ she said excitedly, standing up suddenly. ‘We’re about to make everyone very clean!’ She flicked a latch somewhere and the metal in front of the hose slid back making a window in the side of building.

‘Ok Harry. If you could just stand in front of the hose here…’ she gripped his shoulders and manoeuvred him into position.

Harry moved around with her behind the hose. It was truly huge; about a foot in diameter, with a large handle that looked rusty and unused. From his position behind the hose he could see the class standing there in three neat lines, shivering and muttering to each other, just below him.

‘This right here is a hose. We used to use it for training and demonstrations but it hasn’t been used for quite a while. We are going to use it now to clean out men.’ Lyra smiled mischievously. ‘Just take aim and pull back the handle below. I’ll help you to hold on to the hose. It’s very heavy.’ She set her feet behind Harry and put her arms around him and the hose, to place her hands on his to steady him. Harry shivered.

‘There is no way this is going to reach them down there!’ said Ron in disbelief.

‘You just watch; it is incredibly powerful.’ Lyra set herself in position. ‘Right then … 3 … 2 … 1!’

Harry pulled back the handle.

For a second nothing happened. Then gradually, he felt and heard the great rumble of water and then next second it came gushing out and hit the pack of students in front with a great smash. Girls screamed, boys laughed and all fell as they stumbled from the pressure of the gigantic hose.

‘HARRY!’ he heard Seamus scream from below. ‘You b-’ he started to say before Harry aimed the jet his way to give him a face-full of water.

‘Here chuck this down to them,’ Lyra said to Ron, who took a bottle of bubble bath from here and chucked it down to Dean who caught it. Dean snapped the top open and squirted it at the screaming girls, all of which were slipping and sliding across the concrete floor.

‘I think I’m going to go join them,’ said Ron. Harry spun around to see that his eyes were focused upon something in the distance. ‘They look like they’re having loads of fun. Bye!’

‘Oi Ron!’ Harry yelled after him, but he was already running down the stairs and towards the crowd of people. Harry turned the hose and directed it at Ron, who was thrown forward into Hermione, causing her to splutter loudly in indignation.

*
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More up soon. I'm still dealing with a bit of poo and then all will be fantestical.

[Veritaserum]

Ok so ahem...hi. There is no way I can excuse myself from such a heinous act as not updating in...what has it been now.....um...2MONTHS!?!?!!? Ok so I deserved to be shot, drowned, burned to death, drawn and quartered etc etc. So yeh I'm just going to tell you that I just plain forgot about it cos I got **** and all this **** happened which I know is NO excuse. If it had not been for Tim the Wiz sending me a pm which alerted me in my mailbox it still would be forgotton. I have probably lost many of my readers but still, here is a bit more which I swear I will start writing again. Welll...here goes...

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Chapter 11 – Making of Beds

After marching back to the barracks the cadets were allowed a short shower and given the opportunity to get changed into their working dress. This proved to be difficult as there were only six showers between all of them and therefore it took just over an hour. In this time Ron had some time to reflect on the morning that had passed. As he lay on his bed staring at the ceiling, his train of thought was interrupted by a booming voice that reflecting against all walls of the dormitory.

‘OUTSIDE…NOW!’

Ron jumped off his bed and walked forlornly down the corridor.

‘Come on Ronald, put some effort into it,’ said Seamus who had run up behind him and nudged him in the ribs.

‘Yeh yeh,’ he mumbled as they pushed through the double doors into the blinding sunlight of the blistering cold outside.

‘I think we need to have a man-to-man talk later on Mr Weasley,’ said Seamus with an air of importance.

Ron snorted contemptuously.

‘I’ll take that as a yes then. I’ll put you in my diary for seven o’clock shall I?’

‘You’re not serious are you…?’ Ron started before he was again interrupted by the same booming voice.

‘LINE UP! NOW!’

‘Alright, alright! Calm down woman,’ Ron mumbled under his breath as he made his way towards Harry who was talking to Hermione. Ron noticed she was looking quite as forlorn as he was. He groaned at the sight of her and decided to stand with Dean and Seamus instead.

As he placed himself at the front of the flight, he noticed that there was a bed, quite like the ones in the dormitories, standing in front of him. The bed was so perfectly made that you could have dropped a penny on it and it would have bounced back up.

‘Now that I have your attention I can introduce myself properly. My name is CPL Field and I will be instructing you for the next couple of hours. I would like to warn you from the start that I am NOT,’ she shouted awakening everyone out of their stupor, ‘as lenient as CPL Ebbs and I do NOT take any ****. If any of you step out of line you will be disciplined. Do you understand?’

‘Yes CPL Field,’ Ron chorused with the rest of the group in a bored, uninterested voice.

‘Good. Now if you would like to gather round the bed in front of you in an ORDERLY fashion.’

Being in the front there was no need for Ron to move so he stood still while people pushed passed him to form a semi-circle around the bed. Quite suddenly he found himself falling face forward on the ground, which he hit with a thud. Turning around in anger he saw Malfoy looking down on him with a sneer on his face.

‘Twice in one day Weasel! You ought to be more careful, although I understand that it could be hard to be even slightly co-ordinated with feet like that.’

Ron stood up, his face burning from ear-to-ear.

‘What’s going on over her?’ said CPL Field .

‘Nothing CPL, Weasley just tripped over…again. I was just helping him up!’ said Malfoy in mock innocence while Ron was shaking in fury.

‘How very kind-spirited of you,’ said CPL Field sarcastically. ‘If we could get back to the bed now…’

‘Of course CPL,’ he replied. ‘She’s mine Weasley,’ he hissed as he walked past Ron who was still shaking in fury.

What was he talking about? Was it Hermione? Could it be that Malfoy actually liked Hermione! No, that was a ridiculous notion!

‘OK, listen up! I’m going to teach you all how to make beds…’

*

One hour, a ruler and two sore hands later, Ron stood in front of his perfectly made bed with pride.

‘Ha! Stick that one in your pipe and smoke it CPL Cow!’ he pronounced to the room and to Justin, who was having trouble making his own bed.

‘Alright then Captain clean give me a hand then,’ Justin replied grumpily.

‘Sure thing matey!’

Ten minutes later the bed was just like Ron’s own.

‘I think you have a knack for this Weasley,’ grinned Justin.

‘Yeh maybe I do.’ Ron grinned to himself. This was something that he was really good at. Just like Harry was good at quidditch, Ron could do this Army stuff!

*

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Ok so it's a bit **** but it wqill get better. Stay tuned for another exciting episode of....MUGGLE CAMP!