Once again I get to explain what took me so long to update! Well for the past week and a half (almost 2 weeks now), I had a nasty case of the flu and I was just too tired to write. But I'm back with what's hopefully a long enough update for all of you! Anyway, I hope you like it and as always, let me know what you think!
And… check out my HP site. I put my fics there too (ones no one else has read):
http://s3.invisionfree.com/MichieFiles Thanks! You guys are simply the best!
Hermione reached up and moved some hair out of Harry's face, getting a better glimpse of those striking eyes of his.
"So what do we do about Peter?" Harry asked, pointing his head in the direction of Peter's limp body sprawled on the floor next to the bed.
Hermione couldn't help but laugh and feel vengeful all at the same time. "Oh I don't know. Any word from Ron yet?"
Harry rolled his eyes helplessly. "I thought the point was to get out of here before he and Josie come breaking down our doors. Why do you ask?"
"Well it's Josie we need. She can help make up my mind about what to do about Peter." she sighed and lifted up to kiss Harry on the forehead.
Harry looked at her skeptically. "What are you up to?"
Hermione shrugged playfully and rolled Harry away from her so she could sit up. "You know, I better get dressed before our two buddies show up. This would look really bad if they saw me only in a robe."
Harry rolled on his side and propped himself up on his elbow. He watched her get off the bed and take a few steps before turning back around.
"Do you mind?" she teased.
"Not at all."
Hermione sighed and picked out her clothes for the day then locked herself in the bathroom for some privacy.
While sitting, waiting for Hermione, Harry looked down at Peter, still flat on his stomach and completely unconscious. An evil glint sparked in Harry's eye and he put his foot down underneath Peter and flipped him over roughly.
Harry almost choked on the air he was taking in at the site of him. Quickly, Harry put his hand to his mouth and glanced at the bathroom door, as if to be smiling at Hermione, herself.
Peter's forehead was all bruised up, with a cut from the ashtray to match. He looked plain awful, but nothing a nice swim couldn't fix. Harry stopped and smirked before glancing at the bathroom door thoughtfully for a few moments. He managed to shake out all his thoughts and looked at Peter some more. The sudden urge to stomp his face in came over him, but with the fact this was Hermione's room and he didn't want to make a mess, he held himself back.
The thought of what Cho might say to this, put Harry into another fit of happy giggles.
Just then, the bathroom door flew open, revealing a refreshed and well-dressed Hermione. This morning she opted for yet another sun dress, however, this time it was more casual instead of something to wear at the beach. It was pastel green all over and spaghetti-strap. Where the straps connected were small embroidered purple flowers, enhancing the look of the bunching around her top. Her hair was also pulled up off her neck loosely--with a couple ringlets hanging down the sides of her face.
Harry jumped up and smiled at the sight of her. Tuning into his thoughts, Hermione spun around, showing off playfully. Harry locked eyes with her for a few long moments, but the two of them snapped out of it when they heard a groan come from Peter. He was slowing coming back to reality.
Hermione sighed and looked down at Peter. Two seconds later, Ron and Josie appeared in the doorway. It didn't take very much time before Ron was doubled over trying to contain his laughter at the sight of Peter groaning on the floor.
"What happened here?" Josie mused, still observing the semi-unconscious form on the floor.
Harry tried to act serious in this situation but he was failing miserably. "Hermione threw and ash-tray at him." as soon as he finished his sentence, he had to sit himself on the bed to calm down.
Josie's eyes widened, as did Ron's. "She what?!" they both said in disbelief.
Hermione smiled at them and walked over to where the ash-tray rolled across the floor, and picked it up. "Peter came in here causing trouble and when he didn't stop, my reflexes got the best of me and I threw this at him." she held out the thick chunk of marble to Ron.
"Mione, that really had to hurt!" he said proudly.
Hermione and Josie giggled a bit before Hermione took back the ash-tray. "Well I would have aimed lower but I didn't feel like getting locked up in Azkaban for doing permanent bodily damage to someone's important...um...parts."
Harry, Ron and Josie all burst into laughter. Their musings stopped abruptly as Peter began to move around. He sat up slowly and put his hand to his forehead. Immediately he took his hand away to look at the blood that had rubbed off onto his hand. His expression turned to pain, then anger when he somewhat remembered what had happened.
Hemrione cringed when Peter stared up at her. Not in fear but in sheer anger for the stupid git. She stretched out her arm and pointed at the door. "Out," she said sharply.
Peter glared at her, still somewhat unable to fully function. Harry and Ron looked at each other, nodding to a silent agreement and rushed up in front of Peter. He slowly stood up, pressing his hand to his forehead and staggering helplessly. Apparently he wasn't moving fast enough for Hermione's liking, judging by the way her arms were folded impatiently. Harry and Ron took each of his arms and carried him quickly out of the room.
The door slammed shut as they came back in, but Hermione was moving swiftly in their direction. The both of them moved out of the way to allow her to fling open the door again.
Peter was still standing outside, having met up with Cho immediately. She was babying his forehead and trying to be gentle.
Hermione felt like up-chucking at that very moment. Ron, Harry and Josie stood back and watched her.
Hermione clenched her fists and walked toward Peter.
"What do you want?" he sneered.
Hermione saw some immature Draco Malfoy in him just now. "This is for insulting me," SLAP! "This is for insulting Harry," SLAP! "And this is just because I feel like it!
Peter's eyes grew wide as Hermione pushed her hands into his chest. He slammed up against the guard rail of the ship and reached out for Cho. Hermione pushed again, sending Peter overboard, followed by the clingy Cho. SPLASH!
Hermione looked over the edge in triumph, seeing the difficult time they were having battling the waves back to shore. Harry and Ron soon joined her, admiring the amount of courage she had to have mustered up to push her ex-boyfriend over the guardrail of a massive cruise ship.
"Look at them go! By the time dinner rolls around, they should be stepping out of the water."
Harry and Hermione looked at Ron and began laughing heartily at what he had said. He was right though. Cruise ships very often have to dock far enough away from shore as to not get stuck from lack of water and space. Honolulu and just about everywhere else in Hawaii was well known for waves. These ones weren't particularly big in the morning, and that was true now. They were just annoying. Cho and Peter swam as hard as they could, but not gaining much in their efforts.
Josie came up and tapped Hermione's arm. Her attention was drawn to the captain walking down the stairs and heading their way. Hermione grabbed Harry's arm and soon all four of them were off to go eat their breakfast.
The choices of the morning down on the main deck were: bagels, toast, eggs & bacon, donuts, muffins, and of course-hash browns.
The four pals wandered along the tables of food for the continental breakfast, picking out various things to eat that would hopefully hold them over until lunch.
Harry lifted a blueberry muffing from a plate and leaned over into Hermione. "Sorry breakfast got botched up." He whispered.
Hermione smiled to herself a bit before answering. "You shouldn't be sorry. I'm the one that should be sorry. If I hadn't made such a fuss over Peter, we would be alone right now."
Harry shook his head as they moved down the table toward the beverages. "Don't blame yourself. Really, it's a good thing you got to him first. I would have ended up messing up his pretty-boy face at the sight of him."
Hermione giggled and reached for a cup of orange juice. "I'm really sorry all that happened just a little while ago."
Harry shook his head some more. "Look, we both knew very well that Peter was going to have to be dealt with sooner or later. I'm just glad he didn't do anything to you."
Hemrione stopped and stared at him for a moment before turning around to go to their table.
"Great. Just great." Harry scoffed. "Now I've gone and made her mad." He sighed and grabbed his glass of fruit juice and went to sit across from Hermione at their table. Ron and Josie weren't done yet so this was the perfect time to talk.
Hermione was staring down at her plate, shaking some salt and pepper over her eggs without blinking. "Harry, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to come off the way I did. It's just that-"
"He has a problem with us." Harry finished, awaiting her reaction as he stared.
A faint sigh escaped her mouth before she finally looked up at him. Her fork found its place flat on her plate as she let go of it. "He will always have a problem with us. But that's not the point. He's just so-"
"Selfish? Demanding? Pig-headed? Egotistical? Controlling-"
"Okay, Harry stop. Just stop before you get me carried away on this subject too." She was finally smiling.
Harry mentally picked up his jaw and closed his mouth before he got even more into it than he already was. "Sorry."
"You forget that I actually dated him. I was probably everything you just listed at one point or another." Hermione looked dumbfounded at seeing Harry laughing at her. "It's not funny, Harry! How can you laugh at me like that," she defended with a smile.
Harry stopped and tried to hold it in. "Sorry Noni. No actually, you were quite demanding when you were with Peter."
Her jaw dropped, as if she expected him to say something else. "I-I was," she questioned faintly.
"Yes you were. But not to worry, you weren't doing anything to make me or Ron mad. It's just that anytime the three of us would go do something, you had to be in charge, which was fine. Usually you made all the decisions anyway, but it was more prominent."
Hermione slouched in her chair and looked up apologetically. "I'm sorry. I had no idea."
Harry just smiled sweetly and tapped her foot with his to reassure her. Not long after, Ron and Josie showed up.
"So what are you two talking about?" Ron asked, sliding into the booth seat next to Hermione.
"Oh nothing. Just talking about the incident today with Peter," Hermione answered.
The next few minutes passed in almost total silence. Both Ron and Harry picked up on Hermione's timidity, knowing that right now wasn't exactly the best time to ask what happened with Peter.
"Impossible!" Ron hissed as they all got up from the table. Everyone looked at him, then saw what he was seeing.
Cho and Peter were already back on the ship, and soaking wet. The crawled over the guard rail and toppled onto the deck. Someone must have seen them in the water and brought them back onboard. One of the ship's staff members was tying one of the emergency escape rafts back in its proper place, with a stern attitude.
Hermione, Ron, Harry and Josie looked on from their position and tried not to laugh, but the situation was too big to hold it in.
Seeing Cho and Peter carrying their shoes in their arms, with their clothes sticking to them like glue, was priceless. Cho's Hair was stuck to her face and jutted out in all sorts of directions. Her long flowing black hair was messy for once in her life, while Peter's was just soaked to the roots. Both of them were clearly pissed off at the situation, but didn't say a word to anyone as they made their way back to their room to dry off, since they apparently didn't have their wands on them.
"Do you think we should tell Cho she has a crab stuck in her hair?" Hermione asked with a huge grin. The look on Harry's face told her no one should say anything.
"No! I'd rather listen to her scream when she realizes it's there." Harry pointed out amusingly.
All four of them burst into uncontrollable laughter and turned down the opposite direction to leave the ship.
The day grew on yet again with tours all over the famous island. Hikes up massive waterfalls were the highlight of the day for most, while many others played in the clear water of the ocean.
Slowly, the sun made its decent from the sky, making it quite a site on the water with its many colors spreading out over the crystal waves. Harry and Hermione stood at the water's edge, barefoot, admiring the picturesque sight before their very eyes. The water rhythmically came up to just above their ankles and receded, leaving their toes and heels buried a bit in the white satin sand.
"Harry, can I ask you something," Hermione started.
Harry came up behind her and wrapped his strong arms around her waist, resting his chin on her shoulder. "Sure, ask away."
Hermione smiled at his caress and leaned back into him fully as he brought his head up. "I was just wondering. Did Cho talk to you this morning? I mean about the same time Peter was talking to me?"
Harry took in a deep breath. "No. I haven't talked to her at all on this trip. And if by chance I did, you would know about it because we both know it wouldn't be something I'd actually enjoy."
A small giggle escaped Hermione's gentle throat. Knowing Peter was lying comforted her to a huge degree.
"Why do you ask," he questioned.
The cool night breeze clung to their skin, giving them all goose-bumps. "While I was yelling at Peter, he kept saying Cho was in talking to you at that same moment. I just wondered was all."
Harry nodded and put his chin on top of her head as they watched the last of the sun's rays suck away from the world above them. "Is there something you need to get out in the open? Because if you do, I'll be the good listener and let you vent it all out. I don't know all that happened in your room, but if it resulted into you throwing pieces of furniture at him, it had to be something big."
Hermione smiled and turned around in his arms, looking into his shadowed face. The breeze crawled coolly through the strands of his hair, taking away Hermione's habit of brushing it out of his face. "You're right. I need to talk. Come with me and I'll tell you everything." She took his hand and the two of them walked up the sandy beach into the area where the luau would be starting soon.
On the opposite side of the beach park, Josie had a very pissed off Ron staring her down, in the now dim light. "Ron come on, it's not that big of a deal! Why can't you just get over it?" she put her hands on her hips, trying to bring to light, his over reaction.
Ron slowly made his way to stand just inches from her face. "You told me you didn't know Draco Malfoy. And now I find out that-that-ah! I can't believe we're even having this conversation! I'm going to go walk this off before the party starts. I'll see you later." He turned away from a disappointed Josie and began to walk glumly down the beach, letting the water run over his bare feet.
Josie stood vulnerable, out in the open, just watching him disappear down the sandy beach. There was no longer any light left lingering on them, so Ron was quickly out of anyone's line of sight. She kicked up a bit of sand with her toes, and felt something strange jump out of the sand and into clear view. She reached down and picked up what looked like a diamond ring and stuffed it carelessly in her pocket after deciding it had to be fake. Slowly and disappointed, she turned away from the tossing waves and made her way into a now-formed tent that had been set up for the party.
Hermione seemed to be weeping on Harry's shoulder in the distance. Coming to the conclusion that they needed their privacy, she walked right past them without acknowledging their presence. Not long after, someone grabbed her arm and slowly turned her around.
"What's wrong," Hermione asked in a sincere, concerned, tone.
Josie faked a smile and tried to be strong while tears threatened to rain tenderly from her eyes. "I think Ron hates me now."
Hermione gave her a soothing, sympathetic look, and brought her to sit down on a bench by the gentle pull of her hand. "What did Ronald do," she asked seriously.
Josie looked up at her pleadingly, silently begging Hermione not to make her tell her what Ron now knows.
After staying behind on Hermione's orders, Harry finally made his way over to the two girls. He sat hesitantly beside Hermione, seeing the odd look on her face. Josie seemed apologetic as she looked Harry in the eyes. For a few fleeting moments, Harry couldn't think of anything that could be going on, but then he remembered how he saw Ron storming off a little while ago. The look on Josie's face said enough.
"Harry, Ron found out that Josie knows Malfoy."
"So," he said bluntly.
Hermione gave him a scolding look.
"I also told him how I knew him and he freaked out," Josie said in a near whisper.
Harry's chest tightened a bit. "I know Ron's a hot head but he'll come around-eventually," he answered back. "But whatever you told him, I could probably guess what it is without thinking twice."
Josie tilted her head forward in a secretive manner and looked at them. "Will you two swear to me that you won't go telling anyone else? I know we really don't know each other all that well, but-I like Ron-a lot, and I want to deal with him on my own, you know, to explain things a little better."
Harry and Hermione gave her a trusting smile, reassuring her they would keep their word. But no where in her mini-speech did she say they couldn't talk about it between just the two of them.
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Ok so now you get to tell me what you thought of what I just wrote for you! Hehehe well it's up to you really but I would really appreciate your feedback. I'll try to have another update ready to go very soon. At least a lot sooner than how long it took for this update!