Chapter 3: Meetings and Revealings
Skidding on the marbled hallway, Harry and Hermione sped down the corridor, knocking a few students here and there as they went and hoping they wouldn't "run" into anybody else they knew. That would've have been a fat chance of that happening though because since they were breaking the speed barrier, you would've just seen a blurred flash.
They stopped in front of the stone gargoyle, panting with their tongues out and holding their sides. While Hermione sank to the floor, Harry faced the gargoyle then mentally slapped himself, hard. All their energy was wasted in running and they DIDN'T KNOW THE BLOODY PASSWORD! Harry groaned loudly.
"What is it, Harry?" Hermione said somewhere below. All Harry can do was glare at the wall with his fist balled up.
"I--don't--know--the--*bleep! I love that sound!*--PASSWORD!" he practically screamed the last word and started pacing and ranting/releasing all his frustration. And no, its not because Hermione is PMSing. Uh ... if that would have an effect to Harry ... would it? OK my brain hurts. If Hermione wasn't so tired, she would've slapped Harry upside in the head then give a sermon about swearing ... and her reputation. Bless her, she is tired. Hermione dully watched Harry with her hand supporting her head, her eyes following him like watching a game of tennis.
Both didn't even have the faintest idea that Dumbledore had just stepped out of the spiraling staircase and was watching interestedly at "Mr. Granger's" rage about passwords, crazy headmasters, and his current character. When Harry stop to draw in breath, it was then that Dumbledore spoke calmly.
"Fascinating Mr. Potter. But please, do keep it down. I believe Professor McGonagall is having her class and she might be willingly to put you into detention for such imprecate." Hermione jumped at the voice and joined Harry in staring at the headmaster. The ancient wizard smiled. "Come with me you two," he said. Hermione glared icily at Harry for swearing using her own "virgin" lips.
"How dare Harry curse like that! He is going to ruin MY reputation! Oh wait, I can exact revenge! I know what his "cute" boxers look like!" she thought angrily (and possibly evilly) as they followed Dumbledore to his office.
"Please take a seat," Dumbledore gestured to the two seats in front of his desk as he sat down in his own chair. Harry and Hermione slowly sat down. Hermione crossed her legs again, which resulted in Harry emitting a loud snigger that he tried to turn into a cough. She glared at him once more and put down her leg.
"Professor," Harry said in Hermione's voice, beginning even before Dumbledore opened his mouth. "How did you know that I'm ... Harry?" he said curiously, with amazement in his voice. Dumbledore put the tips of his fingers together.
"Believe me Harry, Miss Granger here would never swear like that," he said casually. Hermione flushed pink for some reason and Harry was the color of Ron's hair, grinning meekly. "Now," Dumbledore began. "How did you get into each other's bodies?" They shot a glance at each other.
"Does this man know everything?"
"Well, it started with the potion you assigned me, professor," Harry said. They both recounted their story, being extremely cautious of what they were saying, for maybe just one word might lead them to their ... ah, unfortunate experience. But as they told their tale, a twinkle in Dumbledore's eyes declared to them that he knew what really happened. When they finished, the shimmer was still in his eyes. They gulped; drops of sweat formed behind their heads. They couldn't control their crimson faces. Dumbledore just smiled, somewhat amused.
"So ... isn't there a spell or potion that could reverse us?" Hermione pleadingly asked even before Dumbledore could ask them. He nodded.
"Yes, there is. But since this is a complex piece of magic, it might take a week to complete its ritual," he said.
"A WEEK?" squawked Harry and Hermione.
"But professor--"
"A WEEK?"
"can't there be a faster--"
"A WEEK?"
"--way of reversing--"
"A WEEK?"
"SHUT UP, HARRY! WE'RE NOT DEAF!"
"OK."
"--us?"
Dumbledore shook his head gravely. "I'm afraid not, Miss Granger. It is the only way," he said. Harry and Hermione sighed in defeat. The ancient wizard observed them for long minutes. "I will summon you two when the ritual is completed," he said, dismissing them. The two nodded mutely and stood up to leave after saying their thank yous and goodbyes.
"Oh and Harry," Dumbledore called out. Harry turned to face a "rather huge" smiling headmaster. "Mouthwash would be more effective than mint sweets," he stated casually. Harry turned deep red.
"This man is FREAKY!"
"Hermione," Dumbledore called. Hermione turned around. "Please ask Mister Potter where did he get those boxer shorts. I would like a pair of them myself," he remarked amusedly. Hermione smirked and nodded pointedly at Harry who, if possible, turned redder.
"Is the point of this situation my boxers?"
"Professor Dumbledore, what is the password?" Harry suddenly asked, unable to contain himself any longer.
"Password. The password is password. I believe that I already named all kinds of sweets that I used after all my years of being a headmaster. I couldn't think of anything else," Dumbledore said simply.
"I did mention that this man is freaky, right?"
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They left the office and just kept silent, only talking when anyone greeted them along the hallways. Though they ran into one person whom they just can't avoid.
"Hi guys!"
Ron bounded over to them. They exchanged looks though they were thinking of the same thing.
"Should we tell him?"
"Hey! Why did you miss all the classes? It's not like you two to skive off," the red head chimed. Harry and Hermione both nodded at each other and grabbed each of Ron's arms.
"We need to talk," Hermione said firmly. She and Harry dragged a very confused Ron to an empty classroom and then dropped him on the floor.
"Ow! Alright what is it?" he asked, standing up. Hermione took a deep steadying breath.
"Um, Ron, listen and listen good. It's about me and Harry," she said slowly. Ron blinked.
"Y-you two? No way ..." he stuttered. Again, Hermione and Harry exchanged glances, this time of surprise.
"How did he know?"
Ron had a mixture of shock and happiness on his face, something that really surprised them. "You guys are an item?" Ron divulged with glee.
"And about time too!" he happily said, grinning like mad while putting his arms around the two, completely unaware that Harry and Hermione just looked at him as though they were ready to kill. "So, tell me. Where did you guys snog? Is that why you skived off classes?" he said. Finally, they could take no more of his stupidity.
"NO WE ARE NOT AN ITEM!" they bellowed at the same time. Ron cowered in fear and looked at them back and forth.
"Your not?" he said incredulously. "But then ... what did you want to tell me?" Hermione sighed,
"Ron just listen. You might not be able to believe us,” she said. Ron looked at them suspiciously.
"We ... um ... me and Harry, we ..." she began awkwardly. Harry sighed exasperatedly.
"We switched bodies," he said simply. Hermione and Harry waited for Ron's reaction, which was an eyebrow raised. Then Ron broke into laughter.
"HAHAHA! Very funny guys!" he hooted. "HAHAHA! Good one! No, really what?" They just stared at him until Hermione shouted over his loud laugh.
"Yes Ron, we accidentally switched bodies. I'm in Harry's body and vice versa!" Ron stopped howling and stared at the two.
"Okaaaay. Since you guys are my best friends and I'll try to believe you, why don't you prove it," he said, crossing his arms. While Hermione tried to think of something, Harry already had an evil grin.
"Hmm, how about this for evidence. I know for a fact that you sneaked in the girl's dorm to get the book back from Hermione. You peeked in her drawer and when you came back, you said that you saw her ... ahem, 'undergarments' and this *coughcough* "folded-white-pad-like thingy!" he said casually. Hermione dropped her mouth in shock and glared at Ron, who paled visibly.
"YOU WHAT?" screeched Hermione.
"Aaand," Harry continued, ignoring Ron's desperate mutterings about shutting up. "You do have that picture under your bed of a very ‘stripped’ Christina Aguilera."
"WHERE DID YOU GET THAT?" Hermione shrieked.
"And also, you ha--mmf!" Harry was cut off by a very red-faced Ron, who covered Harry's mouth with his free hand; his other hand was balled tightly into a fist.
"Alright, alright! Enough! I'm convinced," he snapped. Then the present situation was clear to him. It dawned upon him that his best friends were in a major problem. He slowly lowered his hand and stared devastatingly at the two. "H-how?" he said weakly.
Hermione immediately retold the story just as they had told Dumbledore, leaving out the sufferings they went through.
"OK. Did you go to Dumbledore?" Ron asked when they finished.
"Yeah, but he said it'll take a week to complete some ... ritual to change us back," Harry said wearily.
"Oh," was all Ron could say. "Wish I could help."
A long moment of silence passed. It stretched for minutes until Hermione broke it.
"What time is it?" she asked. Harry turned his head.
"If you've noticed Hermione, I happen to be wearing a watch," he said. "Or, so I used to," he added. Hermione looked at her own wrist, no watch. Then she realized what Harry was talking about.
"Oh!" she said, taking a glance at his timepiece. It read 5:00. "Oh no!" she gasped.
"What?" Harry and Ron said urgently.
"I have a date with Draco tonight! I have to--NO, You HAVE to--" she pointed at a stunned Harry,"--get ready!" she said, panicking. It seemed that Ron and Harry had both identical expressions, pure horror.
"NO WAY! UH-UH! I AM NOT GOING ON A DATE WITH MALFOY!" Harry roared. "You have to! It's his birthday today and you'll have to keep that date!" Hermione snapped back. "NO WAY! I'D RATHER DANCE THE TANGO NAKED WITH SNAPE!" (Ron winced, both of the name and the mental image) Harry snapped, looking aghast,
"B-b-but ... what if he tried to ... to ..." his words faltered. The memory of his snogging Malfoy was still fresh in his mind. Though it was clear to Hermione what he meant.
"Suffer then! I don't want him to think that I don't like him!" She snarled, placing her hands on her hips, which looked odd from Ron's point of view.
"Um, excuse me guys, but ... what the hell are you talking about?" Ron said meekly.
"Well, I have a date with Draco tonight and HARRY doesn't want to cooperate!" Hermione huffed. Ron placed the same look on Harry as soon he heard it.
"Oh no, Hermione! Don't you know that your using Harry as a human sacrifice!" he whined. Hermione rolled her eyes.
"It's just one dumb date! Besides, I'll be there under Harry's invisibility cloak to help," she said. "Please?" Harry looked into her pleading eyes. He is her best friend and this time, he felt that he needed to pay her back after all the assignments she’d done for him. "Please?" Hermione begged. Harry took a deep breath, signing his own death slip. Sucker ...
"Fine ..."
~*~*~*~*~*~