Split Second

Chapter 3

    By the time Harry, Ron, and Hermione all made it to Hogsmeade, the party was in full swing. It had taken Harry more than a few tries to make it, and Ron had even had to go back to him to help. Mastered floo power, my foot, thought Harry, irritated. He didn’t think he’d EVER get the hang of it, and neither did his head, which he had landed on in different destinations more than a few times. Neither did Ron, who was more than amused at Harry’s unsuccessful efforts and didn’t even try to hide it. Hermione had made it first, and was outside sipping a butterbeer patiently when they arrived.

    “What happened?” she asked. “Floo powder’s usually so much quicker, and I even had to stop because Lavender got a cramp!”

    “Well, Harry had some technical difficulties....” Ron trailed off and didn’t get any further because Harry gave him a look that could kill. That, and he doubled over laughing.

    They walked around outside in the misty evening, grabbing some candy, some butterbeer for Ron and Harry, eventually finding some chairs, and sat and talked about their lives, past and future.

    Eventually, music, mostly muggle (much to Malfoy‘s annoyance), started up, and people began dancing. During the beginning of a song entitled “The Electric Slide,” Lavender came up and snatched Hermione‘s arm.

    “Come on, ‘Mione! Let me teach you this! I learned it not too long ago from this thing the muggles call music videos! Anyhow, it’s bloody neat! Come on!” Hermione didn’t even have a chance to resist, Lavender already had her out in the middle of the street, where she was beginning to assist in teaching people the Electric Slide. Hermione looked completely perplexed, and horrified at the fact that she was perplexed.

    “HAHA HERMIONE!!!” Ron guffawed. “FINALLY SOMETHING YOU CAN’T LEARN FROM A BOOK!” Daggers shot from Hermione’s eyes and a look of ‘I’m going to learn this just to shove it in your face, Ron Weasley’ came across her features as she delicately began to follow the complicated moves Lavender was doing. That was such typical Romione (the nickname Harry had secretly given them due to their un-admitted love for one another) behavior. They constantly fought and egged each other on, but always in fun. Well, mostly.

    Ron was more than enjoying himself at Hermione‘s irritation. However, his focus, sadly for him, wasn’t much longer to last on Hermione. Draco Malfoy, obviously on a dare due to the laughs of his friends and his aggravated look, sauntered slowly to the center in order to learn the Electric Slide as well.

    “Ron....” Harry started warningly, knowing his friend all too well.

    “HEY MALFOY!!!!” Ron bellowed, almost louder than the music, ignoring Harry. Malfoy grew stiff but didn’t turn. “IT’S THE ELECTRIC SLIDE! BE CAREFUL, YOU MIGHT FALL DOWN AGAIN!!!!” This caused an uproar of laughter once again from the other attendants as well as Ron. Even Hermione forgot her current dance lesson and collapsed in giggles.

    “THAT’S IT!” Screamed Malfoy, turning, silencing some people. “YOU WANT IT ON, IT IS ON, WEASLEY!!!” He began to stalk angrily towards Ron, who had tensed, gripping his wand. However, Malfoy, who lived by “act now, think later” had neglected to realize that popping up from the ground was a tree root. Needless to say, for the second time that day, Malfoy tripped and fell.

    This occurrence was all too much for Ron to handle. He grasped Harry, nearly dying of oxygen loss due to insane laughter. “Oh my GOD!” Ron hooted. Harry himself had to hold on to the table to keep from falling. They both, as well as almost everyone else including the Slytherins, were laughing way too hard.

    Malfoy rose and dusted off his robes, flashing a very forced grin to everyone in an attempt to keep cool. “I just thought an encore of this morning would benefit everyone’s humor.”

    “OH RIGHT, MALFOY!” Screamed Ron, heaving. “YOU’RE JUST A BLOODY KLUTZ!” Draco stalked into a store angrily, followed by Crabbe and Goyle. With that, everyone laughed and went back to the party.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~

    A few hours later, Harry and Ron hadn’t seen much of Hermione. They had spent their time learning another muggle dance called “The Macarena,” taught, oddly enough, by Crabbe, and they were surprised when Hermione hadn’t been involved in it. They also had broomstick drag races, most of which Harry had won, easily.

    “I wonder where Hermione is,” said Ron casually as they retreated back to their table.

    “I don’t really know,” replied Harry. “Maybe she went back?”

    At that moment, Parvati came racing up to Ron, tossing him keys, which he narrowly caught. “Your dad couldn’t stay but told me to tell you he left the muggle car behind the big barn back there (she pointed). He said he’d be back for it in a few hours and to be careful!” With that, she tore off to the dancing area where Crabbe was going through the Macarena moves once more. Harry looked next to him and saw Neville and Dean drinking butterbeer and talking.

    “Should we wait for ‘Mione before we.........” Ron trailed off looking suddenly stunned.

    Harry knew what he was going to ask and answered anyway. “Probably, we ought to. I know she wanted to try driving.” He noticed Ron staring at the dance area. “Ron?” He didn’t answer, so Harry followed his gaze over to the dance area, where he thought he’d see Hermione, and instead....

    He saw Ginny Weasley.