The Magic of a Book

Chapter 4

"Er, Ginny, could I talk to you in my dormitory for a minute?" Hermione asked offhandly, shutting her book.

"What, something you can't discuss in front of us?" Ron asked, sounding puzzled.

"Girls sometimes like their privacy, Ronald," Ginny bit out scathingly.

"Hey! Seriously, Hermione, what's up?" Ron persisted.

Hermione tutted irritably, "I have cramp, so shut up Ron." Ron went bright red, looking highly uncomfortable. Ginny sniggered.

"Come on," said Ginny, dropping her bag down and leading the way up to the sixth year's girls' dormitories. Hermione followed her in and shut the door, dropping down on her bed.

"What's up?" asked Ginny, dropping down onto the bed next to Hermione. Hermione let out a groan and flopped back onto the bed, her hair flying everywhere.

"Oh, this sounds good!" said Ginny eagerly, straightening up.

"I have a problem. Well, three to be precise." Ginny arched an eyebrow, seemingly unimpressed.

"No shit. Explain; it has to be a boy."

Hermione sighed, "Actually, it's two boys."

"Hermione, honestly! You're such a scarlet woman!" Ginny sounded both amazed and highly delighted at the same time.

"Not like that," Hermione rolled her eyes, "it's about a book."

Ginny seemed to deflate, "Isn't it always a book?"

"No!" Hermione was indignant, "you see, Blaise Zabini stole my book," Hermione began.

"Really?"

"Well, no, Hermione amended," I reserved one at the shop and he took the last copy."

"So, actually he didn't steal your book?" Ginny sounded amused, "so, why don't you go back and reserve one from the next order they get?"

"Because, I disagree with that on principal! Zabini, he, he, tricked me into not getting it. He ran off with it!" Hermione was getting fired up.

"Okay, I get it, but, who's the second boy?" Ginny sounded like she was trying to steer the conversation away from Hermione's anger.

"Draco Malfoy."

"Where does he come into all of this? Please don't tell me you fancy him, I may just have to kill you."

"I, er- broke his nose and made him get me Zabini's timetable."

Ginny gaped at Hermione in silence for a few seconds, then, "Did he cry?"

"What?"

"When you broke his nose," Ginny clarified.

"Oh, no, but he swore at me lot and stormed off looking all annoyed." Hermione replied.

"Shame, would have liked to see him bawl like a girl, anyway, you blackmailed him into giving you Zabini's timetable so you can get your revenge."

"Yes, only now I'm going to owe Malfoy as well!" Hermione was starting to get distressed again.

"Well, technically you're even-"

"This is Draco Malfoy we're talking about, he'll find every opportunity to throw this back in my face!"

"True, but what we need to figure out is how to get revenge on Zabini."

"And get my book back," Hermione reminded her.

Ginny rolled her eyes, "yes, the book as well."

"Well, I have plan. I think." Hermione said, sitting up.

"Do tell, I hope this is good, he's a Slytherin, this may be difficult."

"Well," Hermione pulled Blaise's timetable out of her bag, "it seems Zabini and I have a free period before lunch on Monday's."

"No can do," Ginny replied, "double charms."

"Er," Hermione scanned the timetable," Tuesday lesson after lunch?"

"Bingo! I'm free then, so, what we doing?"

"Well, we have a big transfiguration project, which everyone's worried over; so I'm guessing Zabini will be in the library." Hermione began.

Ginny, however looked doubtful, "You can't guarantee he'll be there, Hermione."

Hermione paused to think, Ginny was right. She really couldn't ask another favour of Malfoy, she had nothing to barter with and there were no other Slytherins she could talk too.

"We'll just have to take a chance," Hermione decided, "and if he isn't there, then we can do it after dinner, the amount of work we have piling he'll have to be there at some point." There was no other way.

Ginny seemed satisfied with that, "But what are we actually going to do once we find him?"

"Well, I haven't the exact logistics of that worked out; but basically, you distract him and I take his book."

"Distract him? That's s overdone, jeez Hermione, you're slipping." Ginny was unimpressed.

"Well, can you think of a better plan, I mean they always say the most simple is the most effective," Hermione reasoned.

"Well, OK. But how shall I distract him?"

"Er,"

"I know! I can use my," Ginny put on a sultry voice, "womanly charm."

"Ginevra!"

"You got a better plan?" Ginny shot back.

Hermione sighed, "Fine, what's it going to be? Curling your hair, make up-"

"No cloak and the top two buttons of my blouse undone," Ginny finished cheekily.

Hermione huffed, "Really Ginny, he'll help you with a, er, "charms question," if you ask nicely."

"No he won't."

"Well, no, he wont," Hermione amended, "but, really, I think you're going to extremes here."

"Well I don't. Besides, he is rather good looking," Ginny smiled happily.

"Ginny!"

"What, jealous?"

"No! I just, er-" Hermione amended quickly.

"Oh my God, you fancy him, don't you?" Ginny seemed beside herself.

"I don't!"

"Then why are you getting all worked up about me having a go for him?"

"I, just, I," Hermione took a deep breath, "I feel something, okay?"

"Oooh, what sort of something we talking about here? Burning passion in oyur every limb-"

"Ginny! No, I just," Hermione blushed, "he has nice eyes. But he still stole my book."

"And it is for the moment the book we must focus on," Ginny replied, being the voice of reason.

"Yes," Hermione agreed, "it is, good Ginny. Right, you work in the library near the back, wonder around looking lost, ask Blaise for help and drag him over to you table, meanwhile I, working in the library also, snag the book and run off. Got it?"

"Sounds good."

"Lovely, we meet in the library Tuesday right after lunch."

"See you there," Ginny replied, gathering her bag and walking out.

Hermione sighed and paced her room; it would be a miracle if they would pull it off.