rightioooo,, Chapter Nine is here!!

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Chapter Nine – Afternoon off!

For the first time in what seemed like weeks, Indie was breathing in the fresh air of London, as the group of teenagers wandered through Regent’s Park. Almost all of the kids of Grimmauld place had come along. The three youngest Stewarts were there, Harry, Hermione and the four youngest Weasleys.
There was incoherent chatter, and giant fairy floss being passed amongst the group, as they all searched for a table.
“There’s one!” Bella cried, as they quickly made their way over and surrounded the small, wooden table. There was barely enough room for all of them, so some ended up on the table itself, rather than the seats.
“I’m so glad we didn’t have to clean all afternoon,” Ron said, taking a sip of his Coke along with the murmurs of agreement.
“We can just use the excuse that we have to pack for school,” Fred said.
George nodded, before adding, “Yeh, we go back the day after next.”
There were a few moans of annoyance, but Hermione looked quite pleased.
“Aren’t you excited to go back?” Hermione asked her excitement easy to read.
Anton snorted, along with a few other disapproving laughs.
“Who would want to go back,” he said, “we have OWLs this semester.”
Another few groans followed.
“Oi!” Fred called, “You can’t complain, we have NEWTs!”
“Well, that’s not our problem,” Bella scoffed, stealing a handful of fairy floss from Indie.
“You won’t be saying that when you have to do your NEWTs little sister!” Melanie exclaimed, “You just wait!”
Laughter followed the small discussion of school, before they totally changed the subject.
“I hope we don’t need to clean tomorrow,” Ron whined, Ginny agreeing with him.
The house was nearly cleaned now, just a couple more rooms to do. Much to the delights of many at the park table, they were off to Hogwarts, so they didn’t need to clean.
“We shouldn’t do,” Indie said, “we would need to pack.”
“Yeh, because our stuff isn’t already packed enough as it is,” Anton sighed.
Most of them had had their bags packed for weeks, since they had been living at Grimmauld Place.
“I thought we were going to Diagon Alley tomorrow…” Bella put in, obviously a little confused.
Hermione shook her head.
“Yes, of course we are,” Hermione cried, “what do you think we were going to go to school with; short robes and no books?”
“Yeh, Bella!”
“Shut up Anton,” Bella muttered, rolling her eyes. Indie looked to Hermione, who wasn’t looking at Bella at that moment. She appeared to be looking dreamily at one of the people in the group, but Indie was distracted by Harry nudging her on her left.
“You’re spilling your drink,” he said, pushing the cup upright so it wasn’t landing on Ron’s tatty old shoes.
Gasping, Indie flung it back towards her, causing droplets to spray all over her and Harry.
“Oops…” she murmured, pulling out a tissue from her pocket to give to Harry.
He took it, smiling and laughing quietly.
“What?” Indie demanded, as she also wiped the soft drink from her t-shirt.
Harry, still laughing, looked up.
“Oh, nothing,” he said, “I just always wondered what it would be like to have a lemonade shower.”
Both Indie and Harry laughed together, before an awkward silence.
It seemed that every eye was on the two soda-stained friends. Some were looking on in confusion; others had a glint in their eye. There was one, who looked almost like she could murder someone, her cheeks matching the color of her hair.
After people got over the drink spillage, Melanie realised it was actually beginning to get dark.
“Hey guys,” she said, “we might want to think about heading back. The sun’s starting to set.”
There was loud groaning from stretching and jumbled chatter as the group of eleven stood and began to head back toward 12 Grimmauld Place.
Indie walked further to the back of the group, with Fred, George and Paul leading them back. In front of Indie was a stomping Ginny, and an arguing Hermione and Anton. They must have been discussing something to do with Diagon Alley, for Indie heard mention of Florean Fortescue’s Ice Cream Parlour.
Behind Indie and Harry (who always conveniently ended up next to her for some reason), was Ron and Bella, whom Indie was trying desperately to overhear.
However, she only got a few words and phrases out.
“I love…sunsets are beautiful…you too?”
That was about all she could gather, because of the spontaneous break into song at the front of the group.
Harry laughed again, a little louder this time, before he leant down to talk into Indie’s ear.

“What we get up to on an afternoon off!”