Sparks 5
Title: Sparks 5
Author: enchanted_jae
Characters: Ron, Greg, Neville, Pansy, Hermione, Blaise, McGonagall
Rating: PG
Warning(s): Suggestion
Word count: 1610
Disclaimer: Characters are the property of JK Rowling, et al. This drabble/fic was written for fun, not for profit.
Author's note: Written as a birthday gift for vengence_on_ice, who asked for an update to "Sparks" with the prompt word slimy.
Summary: The members of Dumbledore House go out questing.
Ron was none too pleased to have been assigned to partner with his roommate on this investigation. He would have preferred to go out with Hermione and Harry, just like old times. Or, at least with Hermione. That way, he could have gotten in some snogs as they searched the castle. Instead, he was stuck with his hulking roommate, who wasn't much of a conversationalist. Greg hardly spoke at all, whether they were in the Common Room or in their own dorm room. Ron liked to talk, and he found it a bit exasperating that he got only monosyllabic replies from his assigned roommate.
The fact that Greg followed him around like a guard dog was also unnerving. Ron most definitely did not need protection! If anything, he needed protection from Greg's lurking presence. When he had complained to Hermione about it, she had scolded him by saying, "Greg feels a sense of obligation to you because you saved his life. If it makes him happy to follow you around and feel useful, then you'll simply have to endure it." Ron reckoned he deserved a medal for enduring Greg's near-constant surveillance.
Ron led them along the corridors of the fourth floor, searching for one portrait in particular. It depicted several young girls sitting at the edge of a quiet pond, and he thought that perhaps they, more than anyone, would know of any mermaid sightings. Reaching the portrait in question, Ron cleared his throat and said, "Good evening, ladies."
The girls in the frame giggled and waved at them.
"I, that is we were wondering if you might help us with something," Ron began.
"And what would two such strong boys as yourselves need help with?" one girl asked with a coy flutter of lashes.
Ron's face warmed, and he turned to see Greg shifting uneasily from foot to foot. "We, ah, we wanted to know if you've seen a mermaid."
"A mermaid? In this small pond?!" scoffed one of the other girls. "Get on with you!"
"Th-thank you for your time," Ron mumbled, backing away from the laughing trio. He hurried down the corridor, his faithful companion lumbering along behind him. Why hadn't Greg come to his rescue back there? Ron could have used the assistance when faced with giggling, flirting girls. They reminded him uncomfortably of Lavender Brown.
As they walked, Ron questioned a few more portraits, getting a variety of replies. Some were apologetic, others uncaring, and still others were downright cranky at having been disturbed. The only common theme to their responses was that none had seen the mermaid or knew of her whereabouts.
After an hour of fruitless investigating, Ron began leading the way back to Dumbledore House. Along the way, he tried to engage Greg in conversation. He cleared his throat. "I, er, I'm sorry that we weren't able to rescue Crabbe from the Room of Requirement."
Greg shrugged his massive shoulders. "Vince was a moron."
Ron was taken aback by that pronouncement, but as he tried desperately to come up with something to say in response, Greg spoke again.
"That's what Draco says, anyway."
Ron supposed Draco would have said such a thing. After all, Crabbe had nearly gotten all of them killed.
Surprisingly, Greg volunteered another tidbit. "Of course, Draco is a moron, too."
A chuckle escaped Ron. He'd always been of that opinion about Draco. Still, he was curious as to why Greg would think such a thing. "What makes you say that?" he asked.
Greg's shoulders twitched in another shrug. "Because Draco fancies Harry, but he won't do anything about it."
~*~
Neville admired the way the moonlight glinted off of Pansy's dark hair. They were on their way to the greenhouses. Neville didn't know what he expected to learn there, but it was where he was most comfortable, and the students of Dumbledore House had agreed to search the entire castle if need be. Pansy seemed more subdued than usual, and Neville felt a pang of sympathy for her. He remembered her as being vivacious and outspoken, and part of him longed to see her smiling and laughing again.
They entered the first greenhouse, glowing wandtips lighting the way. Neville didn't know of any portraits in here, except for a couple in the small supply room where Professor Sprout kept an untidy desk and plenty of parchment and quills for jotting quick, observational notes. With any luck, she would be in her office, and they could ask her if she knew anything of the mermaid. Neville didn't see light from beneath the closed door, but he knocked in any case. "Professor Sprout?" There was no answer.
Sighing in disappointment, Neville turned to Pansy, nearly bumping into her. He hadn't realized how closely she was standing to him. The delicate scent of flowers teased his nose, and Neville knew it wasn't from any of the myriad plants surrounding them. Instead, it was Pansy's unique, feminine scent, and Neville's breath quickened as sparks of awareness danced along his skin. Stepping away from her hastily, he said, "We'll have to come back some other time to speak to Professor Sprout. Come on, there's still time to search part of the castle before we need to get back to the Common Room."
Pansy obediently fell in behind Neville, following him from the greenhouse and trusting him to lead the way in the near-darkness. As she walked, she stepped in something slimy and her foot slipped. With a small shriek, Pansy flailed and fell backwards.
Neville whipped around at her scream and caught Pansy before she could fall. "Are you okay?" he asked, arms still wrapped securely around her lissome body.
"I-I..." Pansy stammered as awareness of their proximity caught her breath. "Yes," she murmured, eyelashes fluttering down as her eyes closed and she unconsciously leaned closer.
Neville's heart accelerated rapidly, and he closed the distance between them slowly. The loud cry of a night bird startled him, and he straightened abruptly, making sure to steady Pansy on her feet before allowing his arms to fall away from her. "We-we should get back," he mumbled, glad the darkness hid the fierce blush on his face.
~*~
"Where shall we begin, O Queen of Questing?"
Hermione gritted her teeth, torn between amusement and irritation at Blaise's quip. "I thought we could go speak to the Headmistress," she replied. "If anyone would know what is going on within the castle, surely Professor McGonagall would."
"An excellent suggestion," Blaise declared. "Shall we?" He extended his arm in a chivalrous manner.
"Thank you, Blaise, but I can walk on my own," Hermione told him tartly. He merely shrugged and flashed her a grin. The trip to McGonagall's office was accomplished with only minimal conversation between them. Once they reached the gargoyle that guarded the staircase leading to the Headmistress' office, Hermione stepped up and said, "Highland heather."
The gargoyle turned with a creak, and they proceeded up the steps. Hermione knocked politely and waited for permission to enter. When it was granted, she stepped inside and asked, "Professor, may we have a word with you?"
McGonagall set down the quill she'd been writing with and folded her hands atop the large desk. "Miss Granger, Mr Zabini," she greeted. "Do come in and have a seat."
Blaise strode forward and gallantly pulled a chair out for Hermione before taking a seat himself. He looked about the office curiously, having never been in there.
Hermione folded her own hands primly in her lap and began. "Professor, we were wondering if you knew of the whereabouts of the mermaid."
"Mermaid?"
"The one from the Prefects' bath," Hermione clarified. "She's missing."
"Oh dear," McGonagall replied. "This is the first I've heard of it."
"We only learned of it last night," Hermione informed her. "Ginny and Luna were making their rounds as Prefects, and they discovered the mermaid was not in her customary place."
"While her absence is most curious, I am not certain it's something we need be concerned with," McGonagall said. "I could ask some of the professors, but I'm afraid I don't have the time to devote to a thorough investigation."
"That's understandable, Professor," Hermione responded. "However, with your permission, Dumbledore House would like to research the matter."
"Yes, of course," McGonagall told her. "By all means, you may look into it, as long as it doesn't interfere with your classes or your studies."
"It won't," Blaise promised. "Hermione will see to that."
Hermione's cheeks warmed, but she held her tongue.
"That's settled, then," the Headmistress said.
They thanked her and took their leave. As the gargoyle rumbled back into position behind them, Hermione turned to Blaise and said, "I do intend to make sure none of us sacrifices our studies on this quest. This is our final year at Hogwarts, and we all need to do well."
Blaise held up his hands in surrender. "I wasn't teasing you, Hermione," he insisted. "In fact, I adore girls with brains in their heads."
As Hermione tried to come up with a response that would both reinforce her current relationship status with Ron as well as be tactful to her current investigative partner, Blaise deflated her argument.
"Hermione," he purred, "would you be so kind as to put in a good word for me with Ginevra?"
~tbc~
Sparks 6
Author: enchanted_jae
Characters: Ron, Greg, Neville, Pansy, Hermione, Blaise, McGonagall
Rating: PG
Warning(s): Suggestion
Word count: 1610
Disclaimer: Characters are the property of JK Rowling, et al. This drabble/fic was written for fun, not for profit.
Author's note: Written as a birthday gift for vengence_on_ice, who asked for an update to "Sparks" with the prompt word slimy.
Summary: The members of Dumbledore House go out questing.
Ron was none too pleased to have been assigned to partner with his roommate on this investigation. He would have preferred to go out with Hermione and Harry, just like old times. Or, at least with Hermione. That way, he could have gotten in some snogs as they searched the castle. Instead, he was stuck with his hulking roommate, who wasn't much of a conversationalist. Greg hardly spoke at all, whether they were in the Common Room or in their own dorm room. Ron liked to talk, and he found it a bit exasperating that he got only monosyllabic replies from his assigned roommate.
The fact that Greg followed him around like a guard dog was also unnerving. Ron most definitely did not need protection! If anything, he needed protection from Greg's lurking presence. When he had complained to Hermione about it, she had scolded him by saying, "Greg feels a sense of obligation to you because you saved his life. If it makes him happy to follow you around and feel useful, then you'll simply have to endure it." Ron reckoned he deserved a medal for enduring Greg's near-constant surveillance.
Ron led them along the corridors of the fourth floor, searching for one portrait in particular. It depicted several young girls sitting at the edge of a quiet pond, and he thought that perhaps they, more than anyone, would know of any mermaid sightings. Reaching the portrait in question, Ron cleared his throat and said, "Good evening, ladies."
The girls in the frame giggled and waved at them.
"I, that is we were wondering if you might help us with something," Ron began.
"And what would two such strong boys as yourselves need help with?" one girl asked with a coy flutter of lashes.
Ron's face warmed, and he turned to see Greg shifting uneasily from foot to foot. "We, ah, we wanted to know if you've seen a mermaid."
"A mermaid? In this small pond?!" scoffed one of the other girls. "Get on with you!"
"Th-thank you for your time," Ron mumbled, backing away from the laughing trio. He hurried down the corridor, his faithful companion lumbering along behind him. Why hadn't Greg come to his rescue back there? Ron could have used the assistance when faced with giggling, flirting girls. They reminded him uncomfortably of Lavender Brown.
As they walked, Ron questioned a few more portraits, getting a variety of replies. Some were apologetic, others uncaring, and still others were downright cranky at having been disturbed. The only common theme to their responses was that none had seen the mermaid or knew of her whereabouts.
After an hour of fruitless investigating, Ron began leading the way back to Dumbledore House. Along the way, he tried to engage Greg in conversation. He cleared his throat. "I, er, I'm sorry that we weren't able to rescue Crabbe from the Room of Requirement."
Greg shrugged his massive shoulders. "Vince was a moron."
Ron was taken aback by that pronouncement, but as he tried desperately to come up with something to say in response, Greg spoke again.
"That's what Draco says, anyway."
Ron supposed Draco would have said such a thing. After all, Crabbe had nearly gotten all of them killed.
Surprisingly, Greg volunteered another tidbit. "Of course, Draco is a moron, too."
A chuckle escaped Ron. He'd always been of that opinion about Draco. Still, he was curious as to why Greg would think such a thing. "What makes you say that?" he asked.
Greg's shoulders twitched in another shrug. "Because Draco fancies Harry, but he won't do anything about it."
~*~
Neville admired the way the moonlight glinted off of Pansy's dark hair. They were on their way to the greenhouses. Neville didn't know what he expected to learn there, but it was where he was most comfortable, and the students of Dumbledore House had agreed to search the entire castle if need be. Pansy seemed more subdued than usual, and Neville felt a pang of sympathy for her. He remembered her as being vivacious and outspoken, and part of him longed to see her smiling and laughing again.
They entered the first greenhouse, glowing wandtips lighting the way. Neville didn't know of any portraits in here, except for a couple in the small supply room where Professor Sprout kept an untidy desk and plenty of parchment and quills for jotting quick, observational notes. With any luck, she would be in her office, and they could ask her if she knew anything of the mermaid. Neville didn't see light from beneath the closed door, but he knocked in any case. "Professor Sprout?" There was no answer.
Sighing in disappointment, Neville turned to Pansy, nearly bumping into her. He hadn't realized how closely she was standing to him. The delicate scent of flowers teased his nose, and Neville knew it wasn't from any of the myriad plants surrounding them. Instead, it was Pansy's unique, feminine scent, and Neville's breath quickened as sparks of awareness danced along his skin. Stepping away from her hastily, he said, "We'll have to come back some other time to speak to Professor Sprout. Come on, there's still time to search part of the castle before we need to get back to the Common Room."
Pansy obediently fell in behind Neville, following him from the greenhouse and trusting him to lead the way in the near-darkness. As she walked, she stepped in something slimy and her foot slipped. With a small shriek, Pansy flailed and fell backwards.
Neville whipped around at her scream and caught Pansy before she could fall. "Are you okay?" he asked, arms still wrapped securely around her lissome body.
"I-I..." Pansy stammered as awareness of their proximity caught her breath. "Yes," she murmured, eyelashes fluttering down as her eyes closed and she unconsciously leaned closer.
Neville's heart accelerated rapidly, and he closed the distance between them slowly. The loud cry of a night bird startled him, and he straightened abruptly, making sure to steady Pansy on her feet before allowing his arms to fall away from her. "We-we should get back," he mumbled, glad the darkness hid the fierce blush on his face.
~*~
"Where shall we begin, O Queen of Questing?"
Hermione gritted her teeth, torn between amusement and irritation at Blaise's quip. "I thought we could go speak to the Headmistress," she replied. "If anyone would know what is going on within the castle, surely Professor McGonagall would."
"An excellent suggestion," Blaise declared. "Shall we?" He extended his arm in a chivalrous manner.
"Thank you, Blaise, but I can walk on my own," Hermione told him tartly. He merely shrugged and flashed her a grin. The trip to McGonagall's office was accomplished with only minimal conversation between them. Once they reached the gargoyle that guarded the staircase leading to the Headmistress' office, Hermione stepped up and said, "Highland heather."
The gargoyle turned with a creak, and they proceeded up the steps. Hermione knocked politely and waited for permission to enter. When it was granted, she stepped inside and asked, "Professor, may we have a word with you?"
McGonagall set down the quill she'd been writing with and folded her hands atop the large desk. "Miss Granger, Mr Zabini," she greeted. "Do come in and have a seat."
Blaise strode forward and gallantly pulled a chair out for Hermione before taking a seat himself. He looked about the office curiously, having never been in there.
Hermione folded her own hands primly in her lap and began. "Professor, we were wondering if you knew of the whereabouts of the mermaid."
"Mermaid?"
"The one from the Prefects' bath," Hermione clarified. "She's missing."
"Oh dear," McGonagall replied. "This is the first I've heard of it."
"We only learned of it last night," Hermione informed her. "Ginny and Luna were making their rounds as Prefects, and they discovered the mermaid was not in her customary place."
"While her absence is most curious, I am not certain it's something we need be concerned with," McGonagall said. "I could ask some of the professors, but I'm afraid I don't have the time to devote to a thorough investigation."
"That's understandable, Professor," Hermione responded. "However, with your permission, Dumbledore House would like to research the matter."
"Yes, of course," McGonagall told her. "By all means, you may look into it, as long as it doesn't interfere with your classes or your studies."
"It won't," Blaise promised. "Hermione will see to that."
Hermione's cheeks warmed, but she held her tongue.
"That's settled, then," the Headmistress said.
They thanked her and took their leave. As the gargoyle rumbled back into position behind them, Hermione turned to Blaise and said, "I do intend to make sure none of us sacrifices our studies on this quest. This is our final year at Hogwarts, and we all need to do well."
Blaise held up his hands in surrender. "I wasn't teasing you, Hermione," he insisted. "In fact, I adore girls with brains in their heads."
As Hermione tried to come up with a response that would both reinforce her current relationship status with Ron as well as be tactful to her current investigative partner, Blaise deflated her argument.
"Hermione," he purred, "would you be so kind as to put in a good word for me with Ginevra?"
~tbc~
Sparks 6