Back to Reality

Chapter 4

The actors decided that it was a great idea to treat the wizards to McDonalds. Fred, George, and Daniel were having a french fry fight with Ron, Harry, Ginny, and Rupert. Neville, Bonnie, and Emma were watching and laughing hysterically. Bonnie and Draco were sitting by themselves, not doing anything. James and Oliver were seeing who could stuff the most French fries up their noses. Hermione and Tom were sitting alone, deep in conversation.

"So, you're an only child?" Tom asked.

"Yup. What about you?"

"I have three older brothers."

"What kind of sports do you like?" Hermione asked.

"Fishing, swimming, basketball, football, tennis, cricket, and some others that I can't remember now."

"Wow, that's a lot," Hermione replied, amazed. "I'd never have time to do all that stuff."

Tom changed the subject. "So, do you like Quidditch?"

"Well, it's fun to watch, but I don't really like to play. I was never very good at flying. I'm more of the academic type."

"So I've heard," Tom said, and they both laughed. Hermione changed the subject again.

"You're so different from Malfoy. I expected you to be just like him."

Tom blushed. "Jason Isaacs, he plays my dad, thought the same thing when he first met me. I get that a lot. But truthfully, I don't really like him very much."

"Then why do you play him?" Hermione asked.

"Actually, I tried out for the part of Harry, but Dan got it and they gave my the part of Malfoy."

Just then, Fred, George, and Daniel came over to their table.

"We're leaving now," George said.

"Why?" Tom asked.

"Because the manager will kill us if we don't," Daniel replied.

It was then that Hermione and tom noticed all the French fries that littered the restaurant. Tom laughed, but Hermione looked horrified. "What did you do?" she gasped.

"They started it," Fred answered, pointing to Harry, Ron, Rupert, and Ginny.

As they walked out of McDonalds, Hermione whispered to Fred and George, "You shouldn't act like that in front of the Muggles."

"We told you," George said. "They started it."

"And did you try to stop it?" Hermione snapped.

"You just don't want us to make you look bad in front of Tom," Fred teased.

"That's not true," she snapped, turning red.

"Sure Hermione, whatever you say," George replied, and they both hurried to catch up with Daniel.

* * *

Harry, Ron, and Emma walked well ahead of the others, deep in conversation.

"...and I have two cats, Domino and Bubbles," Emma told them.

"I could never get a cat, Dudley would kill it. Anyway, I'm happy with Hedwig," Harry told her.

"Pig's already more than I can handle. Anyway, after being around Hermione's cat, I don't think I want one," Ron said.

"So Ron," Emma said, "is Hermione your girlfriend?'

Harry laughed, but Ron didn't find it very funny.

"No," he said indignantly, "I'm only friends with her because Harry suggested we save her from the troll."

"Sure," she teased, and walked off to talk to Rupert.

As soon as Emma was out of earshot, Ron turned to Harry.

"Hey Harry," Ron said, with a hint of annoyance in his voice. "Why don't you get lost so I can be alone with Emma?"

Harry was outraged. "Why don't you get lost so I can be alone with her?"

"Look Potter," Ron hissed, "you always get all the glory, all the girls, everything. I never get anything. If you were really my friend you'd back off and let me have her."

Harry looked 'Ron right in the eyes (which was hard to do since Ron was a whole head taller than he was). "Oh, please," he snapped, "you're just jealous because you're not the center of attention 24/7! You're jealous because the whole world doesn't revolve around Ron the Weasel!"

Ron turned bright red. "You know what, Potter," he snapped back, "for four years I've put up with being known as Harry Potter's friend, but not anymore. You're on your own!"

And with that, Ron stormed off to join Fred, George, and Daniel. Neither was aware that Draco had heard every word.

* * *

The actors and the wizards walked back to the Harry Potter set. Draco looked around, disgusted. Being around Potty, Weasel, the Mudblood, and all the Muggles was making him sick.

They arrived back at the set, and the group split up. Draco watched Ron follow Emma into her trailer. Funny how the Muggle world breaks up friendships, he chuckled to himself as he watched Harry slam his fist into a port-a-potty outside Emma's trailer.

"What's wrong Potter," he yelled, "lose your friend?"

"Sod off, Malfoy!" Harry yelled back.

Draco turned and walked away. As Harry watched him leave, he began to wonder. Is Malfoy right? Have I lost my friend? Is Emma worth losing Ron over?

Harry needed to get away from everyone, so he set off alone, to where, he didn't know.