Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes and Whatnot

Harry had been giving us recaps of his lessons with Dumbledore, which seemed to be all about learning of Voldemort’s past. I actually found it disturbingly fascinating. Knowing what he was like as a student, as a young boy, knowing what his parents were like, it was all very interesting. I felt like it was easier to not be afraid of him if you knew him this well, it would be easier to find out his weaknesses.

As we entered Herbology, Harry changed the subject to Slughorn’s parties.

“Slughorn’s going to have a Christmas party, Harry, and there’s no way you’ll be able to wriggle out of this one because he actually asked me to check your free evenings, so he could be sure to have it on a night you can come.”

Harry groaned.

“He’s a bit of a stalker if you ask me,” I said.

Ron asked angrily, “And this is another party just for Slughorn’s favorites, is it?”

“Just for the Slug Club, yes,” said Hermione.

I snorted. It was still funny, no matter how many times you hear it. Ron didn’t seem to find it as funny though, if anything, it made him angrier.

“Look, I didn’t make up the name ‘Slug Club’ – “said Hermione.

“’Slug Club,’” sneered Ron. “It’s pathetic. Well, I hope you enjoy your party. Why don’t you try hooking up with McLaggen, then Slughorn can make you King and Queen Slug – “

“We’re allowed to bring guests,” said Hermione, suddenly blushing, “and I was going to ask you to come, but if you think it’s that stupid then I won’t bother!”

I attempted to shrink away from their conversation so as to not interfere and Harry was noisily trying to open some pod from the plant in front of us, most likely wanting to drown them out.

“You were going to ask me?” asked Ron, in a completely different tone.

“Yes,” said Hermione, still angry. “But obviously if you’d rather I hooked up with McLaggen…”

There was a pause.

“No, I wouldn’t” said Ron quietly.

At that moment, Harry accidentally shattered the bowl his pod was in, which seemed to awaken Ron and Hermione to our presence. They quickly turned away from each other and Hermione busied herself with instructions in her book while Ron looked sheepish, yet pleased with himself.

Over the next few days, Ron and Hermione didn’t act any different, they may have been a little politer to each other, but that was really it. If it were any two other people, I might have been teasing them and whatnot, but knowing Ron and Hermione…that would only make them take longer, so I refrained.

One morning, however, after we hadn’t seen Ron and Harry due to a late Quidditch practice the night before, Ron was acting incredibly moody. To everyone in general, but mostly to Ginny, Dean, and a very hurt Hermione. We didn’t know what was up with him, and Harry didn’t seem too keen on talking about it. When I asked Ginny, she said he’d had a rough practice and then stumbled upon her and Dean snogging which made him upset. None of this informed us of why he was being so rude to Hermione, though.

I got a nice break from the drama Ron was causing when I received a letter from my parents about coming home for a few days at the beginning of Christmas break before I went to the Burrow. From what they said, although I’m sure they wouldn’t want to reveal much in a letter that anyone could intercept, they seemed to still be doing okay for the most part.

At dinner that same night, I was waiting for Hermione to come down and reading the Daily Prophet. Suddenly, there was a person sitting next to me. I looked over to see a boy in Ravenclaw robes that I didn’t really know.

“Hi,” he smiled, charmingly.

“Can I help you?” I asked.

“I’m Jason”

“Uh – hi Jason, I’m – “

“Caroline, yeah I know who you are”

“Ooookay”

“I’m one of Cormac’s friends”

“McLaggen?”

“Yeah, I’ve heard you’re one of Slughorn’s favorites, Cormac said you’re always a laugh at the parties”

“Uh – thank you?”

“Funny, gorgeous, and modest…how is it we’ve never met?”

“I couldn’t tell you”

“Cormac’s been telling me about that Christmas party Slughorn’s having. You planning on going?”

“Yes, I believe I am”

“Do you have an escort?”

“Escort? Well…I guess you could call him that”

“Oh,” his expression seemed to fall, “your boyfriend perhaps?”

I laughed, “Oh, no, he’s not my boyfriend, my boyfriend left last year”

“Graduated?”

“Well…not really”

This information seemed to make him feel self-important, and he asked condescendingly, “Dropped out? So what’s he doing now? Looking for work?”

“He has a job”

“And what does he do?”

“He’s a co-owner of Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes,” I watched his expression closely.

His smug, self-righteousness left almost immediately to be replaced with surprise. He looked almost sorry he asked.

“Oh, I see”

“I’m guessing you’ve been there?” I asked.

“Yeah – uh, I’ve been there, quite a few times actually. The shop is brilliant.”

“Don’t worry, Jason, you’re not going to get banned from the store or anything for asking me out.”

He laughed a little nervously, “Yeah, thanks. So which one?”

“Which one what?”

“Which twin are you dating?”

“George, but why do you care so much?”

“I like to know who my competition is,” he smirked, some of his arrogance coming back.

“Oh, you thought you were in the game?” I smirked back.

His smirk faded but he didn’t seem too hurt as he chuckled a bit and said, “Well, I should probably go back to my table where no one can one-up me quite as bad. Maybe I’ll see you later Caroline.”

“Sure, see ya,” I returned to my paper.

“What was that all about?” Hermione asked as she sat down across from me.

“He asked me out” I said, not looking up.

There was a long pause. I looked up to see her staring at me with her mouth hanging open.

“What? Is it really that crazy for a guy to be attracted to me?” I asked, pretending to be offended.

“Oh, please, there are lots of guys who want to ask you out, I was just surprised because last year it seemed like everyone knew you and George were inseparable. And they could pretty much guarantee getting pranked if they hit on you. So who is he anyways?”

“Uh, apparently he’s friends with Cormac McLaggen? Name’s Jason” I shrugged.

“Really? And he asked you out, just like that?”

“He asked if I had a date to Slughorn’s Christmas party, and then assumed I was going with my boyfriend since I already had an escort.”

“But your boyfriend’s not here anymore”

“That’s what I told him”

“And what did he say?”

“He asked if he had graduated and when I said no, he got this smug look like he figured I was dating some bum and would jump at the chance to date him instead. Then he asked if my boyfriend was looking for work, and I said, No, he has a job – co-owner of Weasleys’ Wizard Wheezes.”

She laughed, “I bet he was surprised when he found out”

“He looked almost scared, like he thought Fred and George would come after him or
something”

“Well…”

“They wouldn’t”

She had a skeptical expression.

“Er - maybe I just won’t tell them”

She laughed, “Probably a good idea”

Later that week was the first Quidditch match, Gryffindor vs. Slytherin. Hermione had gotten tired of Ron’s behavior, and frankly I couldn’t blame her, so we didn’t go down to breakfast with them. We did stop to say hi on our way down the table, though.

“How are you both feeling?” Hermione asked.

“Fine,” said Harry, then tipped something small over a cup before handing it to Ron, “There you go, Ron. Drink up.”

My eyes went wide.

“Don’t drink that Ron!” Hermione cried.

“Why not?” asked Ron.

“You just put something in that drink,” Hermione stared at Harry.

“Excuse me?” he said.

“You heard me. I saw you. You just tipped something into Ron’s drink. You’ve got the bottle in your hand right now!”

“I don’t know what you’re talking about”

“Ron, I warn you, don’t drink it!”

“Stop bossing me around, Hermione” he said before gulping it down.

She leaned across to whisper something to Harry, then whipped back around and stormed off.

“Er – good luck then chaps!” I said cheerily before running after her.

I caught up with Hermione quickly and we walked to the pitch to find seats. She was still fuming and muttering things to herself. We found some seats next to Luna.

“Hey Luna!” I said.

“Hello, Caroline, Hermione,” she nodded to us.

“I see you brought out the hat again, it’s awesome as ever,” I grinned.

She smiled vaguely and I looked at her roaring, lion head hat. I honestly wished I had one as well.

“You saw it didn’t you?” Hermione suddenly asked.

“Huh?” I turned back around. “Saw what?”

“Harry! Putting something in Ron’s drink!” she whispered forcefully.

“Yeah, I did, but you know how they are about their Quidditch,” I said.

“But it’s illegal!”

“Maybe it wasn’t the luck potion, but something for…nerves?” I said, unconvincingly.

“He should be expelled for that, I have half a mind to turn him in”

“Can you really prove it though?”

“Well, you could prove that Ron took it, but I guess you couldn’t prove that Harry gave it to him”

“Let’s just see what happens, maybe he won’t actually be lucky?” I said, once again not even convincing myself.

The game started shortly after, and it was exciting enough, but not half as entertaining without Fred and George showing off. Plus the new commentator was a wanker, Lee Jordan had been so much better. Ginny was doing brilliantly, though, and fortunately, or perhaps unfortunately, Ron was as well. He had saved every penalty so far. Gryffindor was doing great, and it seemed that Slytherin was hardly even trying. Two of their original players were out sick, one of them Malfoy, and they hadn’t made a goal yet.

The game was still going in favor of Gryffindor and Hermione seemed to get more upset with every goal Ron saved. Finally, Harry caught the snitch and our side of the stadium erupted into cheers and applause. Hermione and I waded through the crowds, hearing shouts about a party in the common room, and we made our way to the locker room. Harry and Ron were the last ones in there.

“I want a word with you, Harry.” Hermione said. “You shouldn’t have done it. You heard
Slughorn, it’s illegal.”

“What are you going to do, turn us in?” demanded Ron.

“What are you two talking about?” asked Harry, with his back turned.

“You know perfectly well what we’re talking about!” said Hermione, shrilly. “You spiked Ron’s juice with lucky potion at breakfast! Felix Felicis!”

“No, I didn’t” Harry finally turned around, grinning for some odd reason.

“Yes, you did, Harry, and that’s why everything went right, there were Slytherin player’s missing and Ron saved everything!”

“I didn’t put it in!” Harry’s grin widened and he pulled out the little bottle.

I laughed, “Nice one, so Ron saved everything because he felt lucky!”

“Yeah, I wanted him to think I’d done it, so I faked it when I knew you were looking,” Harry explained. “You did it all yourself” he added to Ron.

“There really wasn’t anything in my pumpkin juice?” Ron looked astounded. “But the weather’s good…and Vaisey couldn’t play…I honestly haven’t been given lucky potion?”

Harry shook his head.

Ron gaped at him for a moment, then rounded on Hermione, imitating her voice, “You added Felix Felicis to Ron’s juice this morning, that’s why he saved everything! See! I can save goals without help, Hermione!”

“I never said you couldn’t – Ron, you thought you’d been given it too!”

But Ron had already pushed past her into the corridor.

“Er,” Harry tried to break the silence. “Shall…shall we go up to the party, then?”

“You go!” Hermione seemed to be blinking back tears. “I’m sick of Ron at the moment, I don’t know what I’m supposed to have done…”

She stormed out next, and Harry and I stared at the door.

“That didn’t work out like you’d hoped, did it?” I asked.

“No, not at all”

“I better go after her,” I sighed. “Congratulations by the way.”

Then, I left as well, in search of Hermione. When I reached the common room, however, the first thing I noticed past the throng of people in the middle, was Ron and Lavender Brown snogging in the corner. In full view of the entire room.

“Bullocks” I muttered.

If Hermione had come in here, she’d have seen it as well. I walked around, trying to spot her. Then, I saw a bushy head stalking out of the room. I rushed after her. She went into an unlocked classroom and sat on the teacher’s desk.

“Hermione?”

She didn’t respond.

I went over and sat next to her. She began conjuring birds out of thin air, a spell she’d perfected in the first lesson.

“Hermione, talk to me, please. It helps sometimes to talk about it.”

Harry came in the next moment.

“Oh, hello, Harry,” Hermione said in a brittle voice.

I smiled at him meekly, and he didn’t seem to know what to say.

“Ron seems to be enjoying the celebrations” Hermione finally said after a pause.

“Er…does he?” said Harry.

“Don’t pretend you didn’t see him,” said Hermione. “He wasn’t exactly hiding it, was - ?”

The door opened again, this time to reveal Ron laughing and pulling Lavender by the hand.

“Oh,” he said, stopping at the sight of us.

“Oops!” Lavender giggled and went back into the corridor.

There was a silence until Ron said awkwardly, “Hi Harry! Wondered where you’d got to!”

Hermione slid off the desk, her birds following her and said quietly, “You shouldn’t leave Lavender waiting outside. She’ll wonder where you’ve gone.”

She walked past him, but turned at the door and shrieked, “Oppugno!”

Her flock of birds dive-bombed Ron and began pecking at every bit of skin they could get at.
He yelped and covered his head with his arms.

“Gerremoffme!” he yelled.

Hermione wrenched the door open and disappeared through it, but not before I heard a slight sob. I jumped off the desk and stalked up to Ron who had managed to get rid of the birds.

“You’re an utter wanker”

“What?” his tone was defensive. “What did I do?”

I glared at him. Then I whipped back around and left.