Nadine Longbottom - Harry Potter Fanfiction

12. Hermione Quits.

On Saturday morning, Nadine was sitting with Ron and Neville eating breakfast. Hermione had stopped talking to her too and Nadine felt terrible about it but Hermione wasn't letting her complete a single word and was neglecting all of Nadine's attempt to talk to her. As Harry joined them, Hermione began looking suspiciously at him. Nadine hugged a sad looking Neville, who was banned from going to Hogsmeade and joined the other students. As everyone went towards the front doors of the castle, Harry walked towards in the inner side of the castle just to put a show for Hermione.

"'Bye!" Harry called to Ron. "See you when you get back!"

Ron grinned and Nadine winked.

As they entered Hogsmeade with the other students, Ron and Nadine waited for Harry for a long time but no one called or signalled them. So Ron suggested that they go to Zonkos and come back later.

So the duo went to Zonkos made some purchases and went back to Honeydukes. After waiting there for five minutes, someone poked them on their backs.

"It's me" they heard Harry's voice.

"What took you so long?" Nadine asked.

"Snape was hanging around" Harry said from under the cloak.

"Where are you?" Ron kept muttering out of the corner of his mouth. "Are you still there? This feels weird. . . ."

They visited Zonko's, which was so packed with students, that Nadine worried they might loose Harry in the crowd. There were jokes and tricks to fulfill even Fred's and George's wildest dreams; Harry was whispering to Ron and Nadine, and passed money to them from his cloak. They left Zonko's with their money bags considerably lighter than they had been on entering, but their pockets bulging with Dungbombs, Hiccup Sweets, Frog Spawn Soap, and a Nose-Biting Teacup apiece.

The day was bright and breezy so Ron suggested that they look for something to do outdoors. And here they were, standing near The Shrieking Shack, leaning on its fence. It looked creepy every bit.

"Fred and George tried to, creep in, you know, but all entrances were sealed." Ron told them.

There were footsteps coming towards them; moments later Malfoy appeared along with his cronies Crabbe and Goyle.

".... should have an owl from Father any time now. He had to go to the hearing to tell them about my arm . . . about how I couldn't use it for three months. . . ."

Crabbe and Goyle sniggered.

"I really wish I could hear that great hairy moron trying to defend himself . . . 'There's no 'arm in 'im, 'onest —' . . . that hippogriff's as good as dead —"

Malfoy suddenly caught sight of Ron and Nadine. His pale face split in a malevolent grin. Malfoy looked behind them at the crumbling Shrieking Shack.

"You two blood traitors, dreaming about your future house? Might as well get married you two, it would be a perfect match. Also, Would love to have your own bedroom, won't you Weasley? I heard your family all sleep in one room - is that true?"

Nadine felt her temper flare but she had to control Ron from leaping on Malfoy. Nadine stood in front of Ron and put her hands on his shoulder slightly pushing him back "He's doing it deliberately, he wants you to pick a fight, don't give him the satisfaction" Nadine tried to reason with Ron.

"Leave him to me," they heard Harry hissing near their ears.

"We were just discussing your friend Hagrid," Malfoy said to Ron. "Just trying to imagine what he's saying to the Committee for the Disposal of Dangerous Creatures. D'you think he'll cry when they cut off his hippogriff's —"