A/N: Thanks for all the reviews. I was a bit worried about how the fic would be received here but I'm glad that a lot of you like it. Once again, thanks very much to Michelle for beta-ing my writing. Anyway, here's the second part. I hope you enjoy it just as much as the first chapter.
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or any of JKR's wonderful creations. I am simply borrowing a few ingredients and mixing them up for a new kind of spirit, hopefully done in good taste. Cheers!
If You Believe - The Music
"YOU WHAT?"
Harry muttered under his breath. Ron didn't have to react like that. It's bad enough that the situation is embarrassing. Ron needn't make it worse by making a scene in public over it.
Ron got up, leaned forward and placed his hands on the table and gave Harry a hard stare. "Have you gone bloody mad? How the hell did Hermione manage to convince you to do that?"
"Quiet down, will you? I don't need the whole place listening to our conversation!" Harry hissed his displeasure. He'd hit Ron on his head right now if he could. Several wizards and witches were making curious glances toward their table because of his outburst. It's bad enough that it was hard for him to go out in public without someone recognizing him. Harry didn't need the extra attention.
"Excuse me, sirs." Their waiter was back. "Your drinks...Hibiscus ice tea," he set a tall glass in front of Harry, "and Dirty Martini for you, sir," the waiter set the other drink in front of Ron. "Are you ready to order?"
Ron calmed a bit and sat down. He, however, shook his head in disbelief. Harry didn't miss it. "Yeah. I'll have Sirloin Steak with potatoes and corn on the cob on the side, please."
His red-haired best friend ended up ordering the same entrée. After the waiter left, Harry leaned forward on the table. "Listen, Ron. Don't make it sound like I went ahead with this willingly."
Ron grabbed his martini and took a huge gulp. After taking a deep breath, he turned to Harry. "Fine. I get that. But Harry, this is my sister's bachelorette party! I…I can't imagine you doing something like that for her. It's…It's just so wrong!" he winced. "I don't even want to begin imagining a scene like that. That would be traumatizing."
Harry growled. "Hey, Hermione made me an offer I couldn't refuse. And I just wanted to get her off my back already. A measly two hours. Besides, I have no intentions of letting Ginny know that I'd be the one doing it!" He drank some of his tea. "Don't you dare tell Malfoy about this! He'll have my arse if he knew I'd be taking most of it off for his future wife!"
"You must be bloody mad if you think I'd go tell Malfoy, much less Ginny, that you'd be doing this. Malfoy would have both of our arses. Yours because you're stripping for Ginny, and mine because you're my best friend."
Harry leaned back on his chair and looked around. Several people stole glances every now and then at their direction and were probably trying their best to eavesdrop on the conversation. He'd hex them all now for being gossipers if he could. Then again, he was Harry Potter. He ought to be used to all the hoopla that came with his repute.
"Look here, mate," Ron said in a hushed voice, "I have no intentions of telling anybody else about this because you're my best friend and frankly, I don't want every tabloid reporter knocking on my door for an inside scoop. So you don't have to worry about any leaks coming from my end."
Harry clenched his fists. Tabloid reporters. He'd never live it down definitely if they caught wind of this…this…venture. "Thanks. I know I can trust you on that."
No words were spoken for several minutes. Soon, their waiter reappeared with the food their ordered and professionally set it in front of both young men. "Is there anything else I can provide for the sirs?"
"No, thanks. That will be all for now," Harry replied casually. And the waiter left.
Both Ron and Harry started on their entrees without waiting another moment. Harry thought it was eerily awkward that they ate in silence. The beef was quite good, he'll admit, but he can't seem to bring himself to discuss that with Ron. He guessed Ron's still pretty hung on his revelation regarding Ginny's bachelorette party.
"You know," Ron suddenly spoke up, "I guess this means you won't be able to join us for Malfoy's bachelor party."
The green-eyed young man froze. "It's…It's not on the same night, is it?"
Ron looked at him thoughtfully. "Actually, it is. What will you tell Malfoy? If I recall right, we were both invited. I heard Dean was in charge of getting a stripper. You don't suppose…Hermione?"
Harry almost choked on a piece of steak. He hurried grabbed his tea and drank several gulps. After setting the glass down, he stuttered, "She…she…she wouldn't! Not Hermione! And besides, I know she'd be at Ginny's party. She's the one who'll be picking me up."
Ron snorted. "I thought so. I'm not too sure how I'd feel if she um…started taking it off…you know…"
"I'm not sure I like the sound of it either…," Harry's voice trailed off. "Speaking of which, did Hermione ask you to do it? I mean…to strip dance for this thing…She mentioned something about Seamus too and-"
"You must really be crazy if you think that for a minute I'd consider doing that for my sister. That would just be so wrong, Harry." Ron ate another bite of his steak. "I love my sister to death, but I don't love her that much. And Seamus? That's a funny one."
"Have you ever done anything like it before? I mean…dancing…and stuff." Harry pushed his plate away from him.
"Er…strip dancing? Once. I was bloody drinking spirits like there was no tomorrow one time at a party. Seamus was with me. He showed me photos of myself trying to congregate the ladies with my body. That was an awful sight," Ron winced at the memory. "Thankfully, we were somewhere in America at that time, for a match. Apparently, I was so out of it that no one could really recognize it was me. And then there was..."
Harry gazed off to his right while Ron continued on about his drunken escapades. He's heard it all before. He had no interest in hearing about it once again. It's one of the things that Harry disliked about Ron, which were very few. Ron always wanted to try to impress someone else with his tales of adventure and danger. Harry, for his part, was likelier to keep mum about the stories of his life. He believed that the things he's done, his supposed heroics, were merely end results of the need to survive Voldermort.
"...There was also the time when I was in Germany when we had a keg drinking contest," Ron rapped on, "I was with Juli-"
"Ron, Ron! I've heard it all before. You won against Julius by half a keg but spent the rest of the weekend pretty much wasted, I know. I've heard it all before," Harry interrupted with exasperation. "Look, just...just...help me out here. I don't even know the first thing about...about...er...that S word," he worriedly looked around him.
"Oh, right, right. I guess I'll help you out. But I'm only doing this for Ginny. I want her to have a good...er...show. No funny business, Harry." He narrowed his eyes on the raven-haired boy. "I really don't want Draco after my arse. Well, not to mention that Mum would kill me if she found out that I didn't dissuade you from this."
Harry reddened. He damned Hermione silently. Who knew she could twist his arm like that? Those cards are worth it, those cards are worth it, he chanted that reminder in his mind. He also knew that Hermione wouldn't ask him to do it unless she was extremely desperate. Right?
Their waiter came back for their plates. "Do the gentlemen want any dessert?" Both Ron and Harry declined. After paying for their meal, Ron agreed to go back with Harry to his place to see what kind of clothing he'll be able to wear for Ginny's party.
"Well," Ron crossed his arms across his chest, "let's see what you've got then."
Harry gave him a confused look. "Just what exactly should I show you?"
"Let's talk about top clothing for starters…The tops…the ones that get removed first…," Ron said without blinking an eye. "You know, a suit…a tie…blazer…shirt…that kind of thing."
"Er...I've got some...Actually, I own a tuxedo. How's that?" Harry scratched the back of his neck.
"Alright. Get it out and put it on. Let's see if that'll work," told Ron. He left his best friend's bedroom and waited for him in the living room. "While you're at it, moist your hair up a bit. I want to see if that slick look will work for ya," he added.
"Right, right," Harry muttered faintly.
Ron headed for Harry's stereo system and started looking through Harry's CD collection. Frowning and shaken his head, he stepped back and muttered a summoning charm. Seconds later, there was a CD in his hand. He opened the CD player and placed the CD on the tray just as Harry stepped out of his bedroom.
"Alright, I'm set. Tell me what you think." Harry stood up straight and presented himself before Ron. "Verdict?"
Ron narrowed his eyes. "Not bad, Potter. It suits you well." A black, peak double breasted coat, black pants, white mandarin collared shirt, a dark vest. "Looks like you got the outside part down, mate."
"Outside? What do you mean?" Harry's right eye brow rose. "And what are you doing there by my stereo?"
A devilish grin fashioned Ron's lips. "Elementary, my dear friend. For you to strip dance you would need suitable music. And I have the perfect song for you."
"Song? What song?" A wave of panic and mistrust overcame Harry. This is Ron. If he wasn't worried earlier about asking his friend for help, his attitude was surely changing now.
Ron turned around and pressed the Play button. "It was a Muggle song that Julius had me listen to while we were on an away game. I think it would be perfect for you. Those crazy Muggles! This song is bloody fantastic."
The music that started to play made Harry shiver and cringe all over.
'No, no, no, no, no, please no!' he chanted to himself. 'There is no way in Hades that I will dance to this song!'
I'm too sexy for my love too sexy for my love
Love's going to leave me
I'm too sexy for my shirt too sexy for my shirt
So sexy it hurts…
Harry knew this Muggle song all too well. Dudley danced horridly enough to it with just his knickers on when he thought nobody would see, Harry unpleasantly recalled during the summer of twelfth year. The sight had traumatized him.
It was Right Said Fred.
The song was called I'm Too Sexy.
'Oh Merlin, what have I gotten myself into?'
- To Be Continued
A/N to Signed Reviewers (first time I'm doing this and only time): Essense of Angels - Ginny's bachelorette party. Sakura1287 - Thanks! I'm glad that you found it that hilarious. VanillaPuF - Who was it that said expect the unexpected? RonRoxLover - Thanks. MaidenMasherV - I'm still debating on the props. John - Thanks. Jhonny - Embarassed is an understatement. Sarmi - I've got more diet coke here; I hope that pc is okay. Muirnin - A lot of people thought it was something like Just One Night and thanks for the suggestions; I'll keep it in mind. Katakali - Dialogue was fun to write. Jradcliffe - They're coming, they're coming! The real HOPE - More is on the way. Hermionepotter24 - Glad to know you liked the surprise. WonkyKris - I hope you keep thinking that it's great as I put more parts up. Chaosblades - Not quite like JON. KypDurron - No more the Boy who lived. Tristen - Thanks! Loudmeggaphone - Thank you, thank you, thank you! Fiona - It's kinky in its own way. DanaKM - Coming, coming! Sakuno - Thanks! Mary_sintome - Your laughter is a great compliment. Ren - Nope, she isn't to both questions. Very harmless favor indeed!. Kryptonite - A lot of folks were fooled and I take that as a compliment. Surprise is a great element.