'What were you doing up there with her?'
Lavenders eyes blazed with fury as she glared at Ron and Hermione, her hands balled into tight fists. Ron felt the heat starting to creep up to his ears, tiny beads of sweat forming on his forehead. "Ronald Weasley, you can't expect this to slide by. I mean, after neglecting to tell me when you got out of the hospital wing, and NEVER wearing the necklace I bought you for Christmas! I've been making excuses for this little 'relationship' you've got going on with her, but this is the last straw! I see the way you look at her!" Lavender's eyes had filled with tears, her voice having risen up to almost hysterical levels. Ron could feel Hermione tensing up next to him, her normally confident figure shrinking at the accusing words being flung at Ron and her. "Do you have anything to say for yourself?"
Ron stared blankly back at her. His mind was racing a hundred miles a minute, barely able to comprehend how quickly this conversation had come about. He opened his mouth to say something, but shut it quickly. Was this the opportunity he had been waiting for?
"Well? Do you?" Lavender's eyes now pled at Ron, wanting him come and deny her accusations. Ron drew his chin up, and, looking Lavender straight in the eyes, replied.
"No."
"Fine. We're through." She turned on her heel and ran up to her dormitory, her sobs echoing back down the passageway. Parvati Patil, who had been standing close to where Lavender had had her outburst, shot Ron a hateful look, and ran quickly up the stairs after Lavender.
The common room erupted in determined chatter. Ron let out a deep sigh, and turned to look at Hermione, who looked a little shell-shocked.
"Are you ok?" he asked Hermione.
"Yeah, I'm fine, but, uh, why are you smiling?" A wide grin had spread across Ron's face since Lavender had sprinted up the stairs, "Aren't you upset that it's over? That was a pretty tough breakup."
"Are you kidding me? I couldn't be more relieved that it's over! I've wanted to be shot of her since day one."
"Really?" Hermione's eyebrows shot up in a look of surprise.
"Of course! I just didn't have the guts to break up with her myself!"
Hermione laughed. "Well, I'm glad you could use me as an excuse to get out of it. She really seemed to think that you were cheating on her, didn't she?"
"Haha, yeah, she obviously can't see the difference between friendship, and uh…" Ron's voice drifted off, leaving the sentence hanging. He so desperately wanted to tell Hermione how right Lavender had been with her accusations, but…
"Ron! Tough break, man." Seamus appeared next to the pair, giving Ron a sympathetic smile and pat on the back.
"Yeah, uh, thanks Seamus. Listen, Hermione, I've got to go do this, uh, thing, so I'll see you later."
Ron gave her an awkward smile, and, in a few strides, was through the portrait hole. Hermione gave a deep sigh, and, farewelling Seamus, sunk into one of the armchairs next to the fire. She wanted to cry, a sob lodged in her throat. There was so much unsaid between her and Ron – when would it ever be explored?
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