The Final Countdown

The Final Countdown

by Silvestria

The Design

In the Great Hall on the eve of the New Year, Harry and Ron were staring hopelessly at Hermione, and Ginny was opening her post. It included one letter written in green ink in a hand she didn't quite recognize. Trembling, she opened it. It read,

Dearest Ginny,

You may disaprove of me, you may hate me, but give me a chance at least. If you honour the love of a good man, meet me outside the prefect's bathroom, tonight, at nine o'clock.

Dearest Virginia, I await you impatiently,

X

Ginny looked up, her eyes round. She knew who she wished it was from, but she doubted it actually was from him. No-one knew of her secret crush on Draco Malfoy and she couldn't believe he might like her back. She did just glance over at the Slytherin table for one second, and her heart was in her mouth when she saw Draco staring at her with a kind of hungry look. Their eyes met- cold grey and warm brown, then she was forced to look away, her cheeks burning.

"I'll be there," she whispered folding up the precious letter.

~~*~~

Draco Malfoy opened the letter impatiently. Who on earth would send him a note written in red ink? That was the Gryffindor colour, and didn't Draco hate the Gryffindors!

He glanced at it, and his eyes became round as saucers when he saw what was written. Someone had sent him a love letter!

My darling Draco,

Your eyes are slices of ice. Your brain is as calculating as a fox's. But let your heart be warm to my love. Dear Draco, if you ever thaught well of anyone, think well of me when I ask you to meet me at nine this evening outside the prefect's bathroom. All hangs on your coming.

Your ever loving, ever doting,

?

Draco stared at it impatiently. He had no time for such nonsense. He wasn't going to go and meet some love-sick Gryffindor on New Year's Eve, when he could be partying with the other Slytherins.

He looked across at the Gryffindor table, wondering idly who could have sent such a thing.

His eyes met those of Ginny Weasley. Her hair was blown out behind her in a long golden-red glow in the candlelight. Her cheeks were slightly flushed. She was pretty, he thought, for a Gryffindor... He could imagine running his hands through that lovely mane...

She lowered her eyes, her cheeks pinker than ever. Draco snapped out of his reverie and was worried about his thoughts. He couldn't be falling for Ginny Weasley could he...?

Perhaps he'd go and have a look at nine that night. Just for the fun of it...

~~*~~

At that very moment, the large wooden doors of the Great Hall burst open and in came Sirius Black and Remus Lupin riding on Buckbeak. Some of the girls screamed. Harry, on the other hand, jumped up and rushed towards them crying, "Sirius! You're free!"

Hermione turned angrily to Ron, "Ron, you don't have to grab my hand! I'm not frightened of Buckbeak! I have ridden him you know! With Harry..." Her voice trailed off as she watched that young man talk to his Godfather. She gazed at him, starry eyed.

Ron chose this inopportune moment to confess his secret love for her.

"Hermione... Hermione... er... I don't know how to begin..."

"Well then, don't!" she snapped impatiently.

"Oh Hermione, but you don't understand!" he cried wringing his hands.

"I understand enough! You are my friend aren't you? And I think that-"

"Oh Hermione! More than just a friend! I do so hope that... that... you might consent to become... my girlfriend!"

She stared at him in horror, "Ron! Don't be idiotic! I don't like you!" And with that she uncharacteriscally left the room in floods of tears.

Harry immediately followed her out of the room. Sirius raised his eyebrows at Remus and jerked his head at the door, "Moony- do something about them." And Remus nodded slowly and left to do just that.

Meanwhile, Buckbeak had returned to the faithful Hagrid. Sirius joined the 'happy couple'.

"Oh Sirius!" wailed Hagrid, "'Ow can I ever thank you for bringing my baby back!" and he wept precosciously.

Sirius felt very embarrassed, "Oh, it's nothing. Really nothing. And Hagrid, you can keep him."

Hagrid stopped crying in shock, "I can keep him? Really? And what about Fudge? Isn't poor Beaky wanted for murder?"

Sirius grinned, "Not anymore. Fudge has apologised and says he would never dream of killing Buckbeak."

"Dreamin's not the question 'ere!"

"Well," replied Sirius with a laugh, "I don't think he'd kill him in his waking moments either."

"Good. Oh, Beaky, at last you're free!" And thus wailing, Hagrid flung himself on the animal's neck and both had to be led from the room by Professor McGonagall to the sounds of sniggering from the Slytherin table.

~~*~~

Remus wandered lazily through the halls of Hogwarts pondering on how he should help the course of nature (and whether it would be morally right) by pushing Harry and Hermione to admit their love.

At that moment, he felt someone bump into him- Dennis Creevey.

"Why, hello Dennis! Sorry for bumping into you!"

"All right, Professor Lupin!" squeaked Dennis apologetically, bending to pick the large, pink box that he had dropped.

"What's that?" asked Remus curiously.

"Oh that! It's this New Year charity draw thing me and Colin are doing for the RSPM," said the fourth year eagerly, happy that his teacher showed an interest.

"What's the RSPM?"

"It's a muggle charity- 'Royal Society for the Protection of Milkmen'. My dad's a milkman, you know. We don't have many entries, actually," he added regretfully.

"Here, I'll enter. How much is it?"

Dennis' face lighted up, "You will? Oh good! It's one sickle."

Remus produced the coin and asked what he had to do.

"Well," stammered Dennis, "I'm not sure if it's all that suitable for you, Professor. It's quite simple- you write your name and your girlfriend's name on a piece of paper in secret, and you put it in this box and Colin will draw one at random and the couple picked have a lovely candlelit dinner with me and Colin as waiters this evening."

A smile decked Remus' face, "This is just what I needed! Do you have quill and parchment?"

Dennis provided these neccessary items and Remus wrote two names on the parchment, folded it in half and slipped it into the box. "Here's another sickle for your help, Dennis," and he went away whistling to where he'd arranged to meet Sirius.

Dennis stared at Professor Lupin and then at his two sickles, and then grabbed the box and careered off down the corridor shouting, "Colin! Colin! Guess what?"

~~*~~

Sirius was tapping his foot impatiently when Remus eventually found him.

"Well, how's the dare going?" Remus panted.

Sirius grinned, "Wonderfully. I sent them both anonymous notes arranging them to meet each other tonight."

"Where? I wanna spy!"

"Remus! Outside the prefect's bathroom, if you must know."

"Not very romantic, is it, eh Sirius?"

"It'll do," he replied grimly.

"And, Sirius," continued Remus, "I've entered Hermione and Harry in a romantic dinner draw. There aren't many entries, so they have quite a chance."

Sirius' face lit up with wicked amusement, "There's an even bigger chance if we...help the draw along, isn't there?" He tapped his wand pocket and winked, "It's just like being Marauders again, isn't it?"