"Hey Fred, what'd you do with the exploding flowers?" George Weasley asked his twin.
"Uh…I think they're next to the Smelly Sparklers."
"Ah ha…found them!"
The Weasley's booth lived up to its owners' reputation as it carried everything you could use to play a prank on someone. There was a lull in their visitors right now so the twins were restocking their inventory for the next rush of customers.
"This was a great idea!" Fred said with a wide grin, "We're gonna make a killing today."
"Some things never change." The twins' heads snapped around at the voice interrupting them.
"Well, I'll be bowlegged spider…Harry!" George said happily.
Harry approached the booth with Hermione beside him. The two Weasleys looked her up and down with their jaws hung open.
"Wow Harry…who's the cutie?" Fred asked.
"Ask her yourself," he answered. Hermione took off her sunglasses, and the two, young men gaped at her.
"Hermione?" they both gasped.
"In the flesh. How've you two been?"
"Just great. We just about finished making all our stuff for our joke shop. George and I thought it'd be cool if we tried some of our stuff out here to see if it would sell."
"What were the results?" Harry asked. The two twins' smiles were completely smug.
"Astounding. We've already sold close to half our stuff, and it's not even lunch time yet," George said wryly.
"How did you convince your father to let you come here?" Hermione said with a slight grin. The twins groaned at the same time.
"We didn't tell him, but he found out anyway. When that happened, the only way he let us come is if we agreed to a certain condition…"
"And that being?"
"…Ron had to come with to 'keep an eye on us'." Harry and Hermione looked at each other with bright smiles.
"Are you guys serious?" Harry said excitedly, "Ron's here too!"
"Yeah, we got him a job at one of the other booths so he stays out of our hair for most of the day," Fred said proudly. Hermione could tell he was hiding something.
"Hold on a minute, you two, there's something wrong with this picture. What exactly is Ron's job?" she asked coolly.
"Well…they didn't have many openings left by the time our dad found out so we just had to make due," George said defensively.
"Meaning?" Hermione prodded. The twins wrapped their arms around each other's shoulders.
"We got him a job at the Dunk Tank!"
"The what?" Harry gawked.
"The Dunk Tank. It's where someone sits on a platform while people throw a ball at a target. If they hit the target, that person is dropped into a tank of water," George explained.
"How could you?" Hermione gasped, trying hard not to laugh, "He's your brother!"
"Exactly. It's our job to torture him!" Fred said proudly.
Harry looked at his girlfriend while trying to keep a straight face himself. Her lips were quivering, and finally, they both started laughing. It was just too funny. They could just imagine Ron sitting there with a nervous expression on his face, hoping that everyone would miss the target. They laughed so hard their sides began to hurt, and Fred and George began laughing right along with them.
"Oh, this I have to see!" Harry quipped as he clutched his sides. "Where's the booth at anyway?"
"Sadly, it's on the other side of the grounds so we can't dunk him," Fred groaned.
Hermione grinned widely, and Harry caught on to what she was thinking.
"You can't, but we can!" she giggled.
The twins grinned evilly and showed Hermione where the Dunk Tank was on the map.
"Well Hermione…shall we go pay him a visit?" Harry asked with a crooked smile.
"Absolutely." She took his hand and prepared to leave.
They both said goodbye to the Weasley twins and headed in the opposite direction, heading straight towards the area the guys had shown.
"Hey Herm?"
"Yes?"
"How 'bout I flip you to see who gets to dunk him first?" Harry laughed. She nudged him in the ribs.
"Oh hush you, let's just find the place."
It took about twenty minutes, but Harry finally picked out the sign over the crowd. Since he was about a head taller than Hermione, it was easier for him to see.
"There it is," he said pointing to an open area ahead on the left.
A large, round, transparent tank was set up, and a tiny seat was suspended above it. There was a plastic shield in front of the seat to make sure that nobody decided to pelt the occupant instead of the target. Next to it was a vertical sheet of yellow plastic with a large red button in the center of it. It was only about five inches in diameter so it wasn't that easy to hit.
"Would you look at that?" Harry laughed.
He pointed to the person trying to sit down on the precarious perch, and Hermione started giggling. She'd know that head of red hair anywhere! Sure enough, it was Ron. His hair was about half-dry so it looked like he hadn't been dunked for a while.
Harry noticed that the line wasn't very long. Since it was just about lunchtime, most people had headed towards the food court located in the rear of the carnival grounds. He and Hermione showed their hands to the owner so they didn't have to pay any extra admission and went to stand in line. They kept their heads down so Ron didn't see them.
More than ten people went through, but not one of them could hit the target. One shot came within a half an inch, but Ron remained in place.
"Ha…ha…ha…you throw like a girl!" he laughed at the guy who'd just missed three straight times.
"He's gonna get it!" a female voice said just ahead of Harry.
"Wait a minute…" Hermione gasped, "…I know that voice." She stepped in front of Harry and poked the girl on the shoulder. She immediately turned around.
"Lavender!" Hermione said happily, "What are you doing here?" She gave her roommate a hug.
"Hermione, it's great to see you, and I see you brought Harry too," she answered with a smiled.
"When Ron told me about coming here, I just couldn't resist. Carnivals are so much and besides…" her smile turned into a sly grin, "…I get to dunk my boyfriend!"
"He looks pretty dry though," Harry interjected.
"He won't be for long," Lavender teased.
"So how did Ron react when he found out what his job was?" Hermione chuckled.
"He was ready to kill his brothers, but after chasing them around for half an hour, he gave in and came down here. I also told him that I'd come with him to cheer him up; Ron's not to big on being embarrassed - as I'm sure you know quite well."
"True, but that just makes it all the more fun," Harry said with a wide grin. Lavender grinned right back at him.
"Why do you think that I'm standing in line?"
After about another five minutes, the trio finally made it to the head of the line. Ron was still high and dry, and he had quite a smug look on his face.
"What a bunch of wimps? My little sister could throw better than you!"
"Why don't we ask her later on?" a familiar voice countered. His eyes shot open when he saw who was standing in front of the target.
"Lavender! What are you doing? You promised you wouldn't dunk me!" She merely tossed one of the balls up and down in her hand.
"I merely promised I wouldn't be the first one to dunk you. That's already been done so you're all mine, Weasley!" she said with an evil smile curling on her lips.
"So long, buddy, I wish you well!" Harry laughed as he popped up behind her. Ron's eyes nearly exploded out their sockets.
"Harry! What are you doing here?"
"I'm with her!" he answered, and Hermione appeared by his side. Ron almost wet his pants. They were all here!
"Herm, you're here too. How did you find me?"
"Your brothers told us about your 'job', Ron, and we just had to come see you," Harry laughed. His friend growled angrily; his siblings were going to pay for this.
"All right, miss, it's your turn," the attendant told Lavender.
She stood behind a line about ten feet from the target, and the attendant handed her three baseballs. Ron was sitting on his hands, and he gulped as she threw the first ball.
It was a miss, and he breathed a sigh of relief. However, Harry could have sworn that she'd hit the red button. Lavender threw her second ball, and it nicked the target, but Ron still did not drop. She was just about to throw her last one when Harry stopped her.
"Hold it a second, Lavender!"
"What is it?" she inquired. Harry smiled evilly and locked eyes with Ron; he knew what was going on.
"Just a second…" Harry muttered something under his breath. "Now, do it."
Lavender took aim and tossed the ball. It hit dead center, and Ron dropped like a rock. Water splashed out of the tank as the angry, young man sprung to the surface. He saw his girlfriend laughing hysterically, and his two, best friends grinning at him widely.
"That'll teach him to cheat," Harry laughed.
"What do you mean?" Hermione asked.
"Herm, Ron's not stupid. Some people were hitting the target, but he never fell. Ron put a levitation spell on the platform so he wouldn't fall."
Lavender immediately spun around.
"He did what!" she growled, "I'm gonna kill him!"
"Don't worry, Lavender, I think he's learned his lesson. I dispersed his spell so it won't work anymore. From now on, he'll just have to play the odds."
"Still, that is rather unfair," Lavender groaned, "I could've dunked him three times."
"Why don't you let us take over? Hermione?" His girlfriend grinned widely and stepped up to the line.
Hermione took her turn, but she only hit the target once, however Ron still got drenched once again. Now, it was Harry's turn.
"Potter, you get me wet, and I'll kill you!" he growled.
"Yeah right, Ron, you and what army."
Harry threw his first ball and sent Ron into the tank. The young man groaned and climbed back onto the platform. The next ball came and down he went again. Ron was getting irritated, but Harry just ignored him.
Off to the side, Lavender stood with a wide smile on her face as she talked to Hermione.
"Do you think Harry's spanking him a little too harshly?" Hermione asked.
"Not at all, Ron would do the same thing if their roles were reversed, and he knows it. Besides, his shift only lasts for another hour or so, and then he can dry off. After that, the rest of the day is ours. I thought we'd go see that new Medieval Tournament they advertised; it sounds like fun."
"Yeah, Harry and I were thinking of doing the same thing."
"Well then…shall we double date?" Lavender teased.
"Sure…as long as the boys behave themselves," Hermione laughed.
"I think we can handle them. Ron may have a temper, but he's a big puppy dog underneath."
"Harry's different though cause he always acts sweet and gentle, but he can be as wild as anybody. I know that for a fact," she said with a wicked smile.
Lavender gawked at her friend.
"Why Hermione? Did you two do something that I should know about?"
Her roommate let her eyes move up and down Harry's body, and she licked her lips.
"You better take it easy, girl, you look ready to eat him alive!" Lavender chuckled.
"Nah, I'll be okay. We had a morning romp in the shower anyway," she said calmly.
"Hermione!" Lavender gasped, "I've never heard you talk like that."
"I can't help it if I want him," she sighed and winked at her friend.
"Jeez, I'd never think you two were doing anything other than snogging. I mean, Ron and I have come close a couple of times, but we stopped before it got heated."
"I have a feeling that Ron's taking your relationship very seriously, Lavender. He cares about you a great deal. Who knows, he may even be in love with you? All I know is that Harry and I…we just knew that we wanted each other. There wasn't any doubt in either of our minds."
"Yeah, I guess when you love Harry Potter, it's all or nothing," Lavender stated.
"It's not just that. I love Harry just for being him - not because he's famous. He once told me that I was only girl who cared about 'him' and not his reputation. That's why he felt so close to me. It was one of the reasons we fell in love."
"You two are lucky, Herm, you're both with your soul mate, and that's something that most people will never experience."
The two girls smiled at one another and watched as Harry sunk Ron for a third time then headed over to meet them.
"What have two been up to?"
"Just girl talk," Lavender answered. Harry instinctively slid his arm around Hermione's waist, and she leaned against him.
"I'm hungry," Hermione groaned and gazed up into her lover's face.
"Then let's grab some lunch. Do you wanna come Lavender?" Harry asked.
"Nah, don't worry about me. I'll stay here and keep an eye on Ron. How about we meet you guys in the main square later this afternoon?"
"Sure, then we can have some time together before the tournament starts," Hermione stated.
"All right, see you two this afternoon," Lavender waved and headed back towards Ron.
"Harry?" Hermione cooed softly.
"Yes sweetheart?" His eyes locked with hers, and the world fell away.
"I love you."
"And I you, my dear Hermione," and he bent down towards her. His kiss was long and sweet, and she leaned on him for support.
After a few tender moments, Harry unwound his arms and led her back towards the central arena so they could get something to eat.