"Ron, you're drunk!" Hermione exclaimed exasperatedly, trying to drag him off the bar stool."We really should be going."
Ron determinedly held on to the bar, and somehow managed to resist her attempt at pulling him away, despite his drunken state.
"Why do you wannago Heeermione?" he slurred, tumbling over himself as he struggled to enunciate. Hermione sighed.
"Please Ron, you can't do this to yourself," she pleaded, still tugging on his arm. She wished she wouldn't have to see her friend reduced to this. A drunkard and a gambler. He had been this way for the past month, ever since "Lav-Lav" had left him for some idiot on the Harpies' team.
She had insisted against coming to out with Ron but Harry that thought it would be good for "The Trio" to spend some time together. Unfortunately, some last minute Auror business had meant Harry couldn't come along. So it was just the two of them, and of course Ron had dragged her to a bar and gotten himself drunk. And aside from the fact that Ron was at the point where he was probably not even aware of his surroundings anymore, Hermione was uncomfortable that some of the other people in the bar were "admiring her" from afar. As a result, she was extremely eager to leave.
"Lavlav?" Ron called out suddenly, staring straight at Hermione. She frowned, quickly realising that he thought her to be his ex-girlfriend.
"No, I'm not Lavender, Ron. I'm Hermione. Come on. Let's go home, okay?" she said, hoping she would get through to him.
"Iloveyou," Ron blabbered at her, as she struggled and finally succeeded in getting him to his feet.
"All right, Ron. Let's just walk carefully out of this bar..." she told him, helping him lean against her.
"Nononono I'm fine. I'm puffectly fine. Say, Lavvy?" he asked, then stopped abruptly, looking around his jacket for something. Immediately realising what it was, since she had seen him carry it with him everywhere lately, Hermione paled. This was not a scene she wanted here, in a public bar, in front of all these people.
"Please, let's just leave now. We can do this later," she begged, pushing him along, but he stood surprisingly firm. Finally having found what he was looking for, he took the little box out of his jacket and fumbled with the latch. Hermione was looking visibly uncomfortable now. She contemplated simply running away and leaving him behind for a moment, but she could not, in good conscience do that. So she stood there awkwardly as Ron tunred the now-open box towards her, revealing a beatiful ring engraved with small purple stones.
"Lav, you know how muush I loove you and-" "Ron please, stop this! I'm not her!" "honeymuffin, would you wear thish ring for me?"
Hermione knew it had been coming, but she stood gobsmacked as her best friend held out the ring to her, his half-lidded eyes expectant.
"I'm sorry, Ron. I'm not her," she repeated, softly, noticing the entire bar had gone oddly quiet.
Ron was now staring at her furiously! "I knew it!" he exclaimed, closing the ring box with a loud snap. "You're...you're cheating on me with that Shpringfield bloke! You neever loved meee!"
With that, he dissolved into tears, breaking down completely as she knelt down next to him, trying to comfort him.
"She never loved me..." he was whispering over and over again. Hermione felt helpless.
"Ron, I..." she began, but trailed off when he turned his red, tear-stained face. It was almost pitiful.
"Let's go home," he finally whispered.
"Okay."
Notes; For Katz! My cupcake! *hugs* (You know why it's for you ;) )
For the British Literature Challenge at The Golden Snitch: Prompts: Purple, A character refusing a marriage proposal, gambler, Hermione Granger.
And for the Ollivander's Wand Shop Challenge: Prompt: Write about a Gryffindor.
Also for the Dialogue Wheel Challenge at HPFC. Prompt: Would you wear this ring for me?
Words: 600 (by GDocs)
A/N: I can't write drunk Ron...
