Magic and Misperceptions
Chapter 10: After the Ball
(A short chapter to wrap things up before Part 2--Rosings)
By:AddisonJ
Beta: DeeMichelle
Disclaimer: The following story is based on situations and characters owned by J.K. Rowling, Jane Austen, and their publishers.
(Author note: sorry for the delay between chapters. Beta has had Real Life issues and I've been working on National Novel Writing Month. Thanks for sticking with this story.)
****
After the last guests left the ball, Ron stretched out his legs on the chaise, watching the house-elves clean up the rented assembly halls. Life was good. He had a beautiful woman whom he was in love with, and he wanted to spend the rest of his life with her. He was here with his best friend and his sister, and had just hosted the best party ever. All his friends from Hogwarts, the Ministry, and Quidditch teams had attended. Best of all, he did not have to do any of the cleanup spells himself, the house-elves were part of the rental agreement. He just had to sit back and keep drinking water to avoid a future hangover. Life was good.
For Harry Potter, life was not good. He was in a foul mood. His head throbbed; he felt the after affects of not only too many Firewhiskies, but too much time avoiding flirty witches in spandex dress robes. And his best friend was lounging about with a smile like a Cheshire cat which only made him angrier. He was in a rotten mood.
Ginny sulked. She knew she looked amazing, but Harry never seemed to notice anymore. At least Harry didn't show a preference for any witches there (except maybe that Frenchie girl, but they seemed to have a row on the dance floor). Still, she worried about her brother as well. Luna Lovegood was a sweet girl, but entirely unsuited for her brother. He deserved a better match. Their family was now in the same league as the Blacks and the Malfoys. Now was the time for an advantageous match, not to the loony daughter of a reactionary tabloid editor; a witch who did not return his feelings. She loved her brother and would do anything for him. Anything.
***
"Touring with the Chudley Cannons?!"
Hermione was shocked. Yet Luna was there, holding the evidence. An owl arrived that afternoon from Ginny Weasley with the news. The unbelievable, impossible news that Ron was leaving immediately to tour with the Chudley Cannons.
"That's impossible! It makes no sense! Wouldn't he have said something last night? Wouldn't he have told you himself? No, something else must be going on. Maybe he's under a spell or she's under a spell? I mean, they have obligations at the Ministry! I should owl someone…"
Luna smiled weakly and raised a hand in protest. "No, Hermione. Just don't. This is hard enough as it is. Knowing that I requested a full public investigation because my supposed boyfriend skips out without me? That's just rather pathetic, isn't it?"
"I have some connections. I could ask quietly-"
"No! Think no more about it! I just appreciate Ginny sending this note. I would have been so worried if I hadn't heard anything at all."
"But it would have been better if Ron wrote to you himself. Or, better yet, actually came to the Floo to tell you in person."
"Hermione! You're being too rude! I won't stand for that."
"But Luna," Hermione began, but then stopped. She had never seen her friend so obstinate. It was obvious that she was not going to budge on this issue, no matter how much it hurt her. Caring for and defending Ron Weasley was much too important. Not that Ron Weasley was worth the defence. If Hermione had her way… and Hermione proceeded to think about all sorts of hexes she could send to Ron. Could she do any without Luna guessing? No, she shouldn't even think it. Oh, but it was so tempting! There was a new spell from Bulgaria that Viktor had told her about. Possibly the English Aurors had not learned of it yet … Calm down, Granger, she thought to herself. This is not your battle.
***
The weeks went by and still no contact from Ron. At the Ministry, Hermione learned that Ginny was correct; Ron had taken a leave of absence to travel with the Chudley Cannons. Indefinitely. Not only that, but Potter was gone as well. He was granted a leave of absence also, something about family business, which made no sense at all since it was well-known that he was an orphan with only some dreadful Muggle relatives whom he hadn't seen since seventh year. Even Ginny was gone. She joined an all-female Quidditch team and went on tour. It was all so odd. Even the Gryffindors commented on it when they met for their regular drink night at Seamus'.
"It's just so bizarre, having them show up after years, then just disappear like that," Padma said between sips of white wine.
"This isn't their usual behaviour?" Hermione asked, interested in the perspective of someone who wasn't one of her housemates.
"Oh no," Neville added. "It's very strange; and for all three to leave like that, and in all different directions. Have you talked to Bill and Fleur? Did they say anything?"
"Just the standard story. Ron and Ginny got these great opportunities to play Quidditch professionally. They wouldn't say anything at all about Harry. Seems to be a big secret there."
"Well, that man deserves his secrets. Deserves everything he's entitled to and more. He saved us," Seamus said, while Hermione noticed Cormac hide his grimace behind his pint glass.
"But wouldn't he let his friends know what was happening? I mean, what if he's in danger, or needs help?" Hermione asked.
"I'm sure the Weasleys know; they're just protecting him. He's practically family. And they stick close together, they defend their own. If you were trying to find out what happened to Harry, you'd never learn from them. You could even try to get George drunk or seduce Charlie, or bribe Percy even, but they'd never tell," Dean said.
"Not that I'm desperate to know," Hermione mumbled, trying to feign indifference.
"How's Luna?" Padma asked quietly, but the men noticed and stopped their own conversations to listen.
"As well as can be expected," Hermione replied, anxious not have the extent of her friend's distress public knowledge.
"Parvati mentioned it to me as well. I should stop by and visit. Too bad she couldn't come out tonight."
"No, she wanted to have a quiet night. Busy week at work. Whirling Turleys were loose in her office, she said. Made it hard for her to concentrate."
"Blimey, they're nesting in my office then!" Ernie exclaimed. They laughed.
Padma exchanged a worried look with Hermione and she nodded. They could talk more later.
***
"Granger! A word!" Scamander beckoned. Hermione stopped immediately and stepped into his office.
"I think we've got something you'd be interested in. There's a town in Cornwall that is supposedly quietly creating laws to help werewolves."
"Really? What caused it? How is it going? What do the townspeople think?" In her excitement, Hermione could barely get all her questions out at once.
"Yes, Granger, I know you're interested and I have no answers. What would you say to going there yourself? It'll take several weeks, but I think you could use a break. You've been working longer hours than Shacklebolt himself."
Hermione felt guilty about the time she had been spending at the Ministry. Honestly, it was to avoid going home. Luna had insisted that she was fine, and Hermione respected her wishes, but she hid her heartbreak so well, that Hermione's own heart broke a little. She threw herself into her work instead, an easy solution for a workaholic.
"Yes, well, I think it's a splendid plan. I could learn the motivation behind it, the townspeople's reaction, and can it be replicated in the rest of Britain."
"Excellent. When can you leave?"
So, Hermione Granger found herself packing for a three week trip to Cornwall, to the small wizarding village of Appley-on-the-Green, the only town developing laws to help werewolves, regardless of official ministry policies. Part of her was excited, the other part guilty for leaving her best girlfriend, still in obvious distress.
"Are you quite sure you'll be all right without me for a few weeks?" Hermione asked her best friend and housemate. Luna smiled and patted her arm.
"Of course. The Wilipops are no longer affecting me. I think the Jelywobblies have come to rid me of them, and they're quite good at affecting one's psyche towards positive thoughts. You should take some with you."
"No, I think they'd rather stay with you. I'll be around werewolves, it may scare them away."
"Oh no. Shall I see if a couple would mind going in your suitcase?"
"If they don't mind. I mean, they are wild and all. Don't want to domesticate them."
Luna smiled. "Of course not, they'll run away when they feel it's time to move on. They are their own masters."
Hermione paused, letting the words sink in, and then she wrapped Luna in a warm hug. "What smart creatures they are! We should be like them sometimes, being their own master. But sometimes they need to stay and commit."
"Hermione! Please do not draw an analogy between Ronald and me and some Jelywobblies!"
"Fine then! I'll just say it! I hate Ron Weasley for leaving you, and I hate Harry Potter and Ginny Weasley as well for letting him leave you, then leaving themselves! I'm sure they just wanted to break you up! Horrible, dreadful people."
"Surely you don't mean that!"
"Yes I do! I'm sure you love him,"-Luna blushed-"but he's not treating you well at all. Have you heard from him at all? No. Those are not the actions of a man in love."
"Hermione, I know you mean well, but don't you think I know him better than you?"
Luna's words were harsh in their simplicity and Hermione's reply was equally harsh.
"Yes, you think you know him," Hermione answered equally directly, "and I think I know him as well. Well, I thought I knew him. All I know is that he left without a word and my best friend is upset. That's what I know."
Luna smiled sadly and shook her head. "Hermione, you need those Jelywobblies more than me. I'll try to coax some to follow you."
"I'm afraid the Wilipops are more my type of company now."
Luna gasped, "Oh no! You don't want to even suggest Wilipops follow you, because they will! They're dreadful that way, almost like parasites. They take all the good humour and only let you see the bad. Oh dear! I'll see what I can do!" Luna then raced around Hermione's trunk, waving her arms in a shooing motion. "Go away! You're not wanted! Good thoughts only!"
"Luna! Not to worry! I'm going to a village that helps werewolves! That thought alone makes me happy! I shall be focusing on work, not personal problems. Don't worry!"
"Well, if you say so," Luna replied doubtfully, waving her arms lackadaisically.
Hermione wrapped her friend in a big hug. "I'm sure of it! I feel more positive already. Now, I want to make sure the Jelywobblies are taking care of you! Are they still here? I still think you may need them more than me."
"Oh yes, I feel them now. I think they were just hiding a bit. They tend to be shy."
"Oh, I do wish they would stay with you now. Can we order them to do as we please? No, they're wild, aren't they? Well, I must rush but may the Jelywobblies stay with you, my dear Luna, and owl me frequently. I want to know how you are."
"Of course, my dear Hermione."
The friends hugged, then Hermione went to hug her other housemates as well. Lavender and Parvati were lounging on the sofa, reading the latest edition of Witch Weekly.
"Ginny Weasley has another report from the Holyhead Harpies world tour. She said their captain, Gwenog Jones, is working on some new recruits from the Highlands who are to be quite impressive this week against the Flanders team," Lavender spoke.
"I think her write-ups of the culture of the wizarding world while on tour are fascinating. How else would we know that purple is the in colour this season in Amsterdam? It goes so well with all that orange they love. Or that nettle tea is making a comeback?" Parvati added.
Hearing the name of Ron's sister made both Hermione and Luna wince slightly, but they recovered quickly.
"Well, I'm off, ladies. Hugs. I shall be back in three weeks. Maybe I can tell you all about the culture of a remote village in Cornwall," said Hermione.
"Oh, do! I want to know if fringes are coming back! Ginny thinks so but I disagree. I look dreadful in a fringe!" Parvati said.
"Have you thought that perhaps you should decide for yourself what looks good on you versus what someone just writes about in a magazine?" asked Hermione.
"Silly girl! And to think you're half French!" Lavender teased.
Goodbye hugs were exchanged. "Oh! I forgot to post this letter to Viktor. Can you send it for me? I'm running late."
"Of course, Hermione," Lavender responded, exchanging looks with Parvati. "Did you want to send a note to Harry Potter as well? Or maybe Ernie Macmillan or Cormac McLaggen?"
"I dare say we should add Draco Malfoy to that list as well," Parvati added with a sly smile.
Hermione groaned. "Oh for heaven's sake! I told everyone who needed to be told that I'd be gone! Viktor is touring right now, too, and he's harder to reach. Argh!" Hermione wanted to pull her hair in frustration but didn't want the two young witches to realise how their teasing affected her. "Goodbye, goodbye, goodbye!" she said, then Apparated with her trunk.
"She'll miss us," Parvati spoke to the empty spot where her friend once stood.
"I'm afraid some Wilipops followed her," Luna said ominously.
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Next: Roslyn, or, Appley-on-the-Green. And introducing Colonel Fitzwilliam!
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