Authors Note: I do not own HP. Wish I had the money though.
Prologue
Something was different. They were still together, but she felt so far away. Ron sat in the common room waiting for Hermione to come in from class. He had to talk to her. The final battle was drawing close and he knew he needed to have a clear head, but this-whatever it was- was distracting him from his preparations.
Hours passed as he reviewed his charts and diagrams of the castle. He realized as his stomach growled that it was time for dinner. He looked around the common room to find it empty. Hermione, Harry and Ginny had never come back after classes. Surely they would not have gone to dinner without him. He put away his work and headed toward the Great Hall. Halfway down the table he saw them- all three of them. Harry in the middle. The girls on each side. He sat across from them at the table and observed their interaction. Yes, something was different.
"Hey mate, where have you been?" Harry asked after several minutes.
"In the common room waiting for you guys to get back. I've been there for several hours reviewing our plans for the battle."
"Sorry Ron" Hermione said. "We all ran into each other after class and decided to go outside to enjoy the day."
"And none of you thought that I might want to join you? Gee, thanks for the consideration. I thought we were supposed to meet to get ourselves organized."
Harry looked at Ron for a minute. "You're right. We need to focus better. We're sorry Ron. We just wanted a break."
Ron stared back at Harry. "I understand needing a break. I've been bent over staring at charts and documents and diagrams for hours-alone. I could have used a break myself."
Ron filled his plate and began to eat. They sat in silence for several minutes. Ron noticed glances between Harry and Ginny, then Harry and Hermione, then Hermione and Ginny. He sat up and looked at them, about to ask what was going on, but thought better of it. Instead he started eating again.
"What Ron? What did you want to say?" snapped Ginny.
"Nothing Ginny. What is there to say?"
"Well you obviously have something you want to tell us. So go ahead. Get it out. Poor Ron. Left out again. Isn't that what you wanted to say?" Ginny spat.
"Ginny!! What is wrong with you?" Harry stared at her in surprise. "Ron has a point. We left him out. We all have to be in this battle, but he was the only one trying to prepare. We slacked off. HE should be mad at US."
Hermione looked at Ron and then Harry. "Actually Harry, I have to agree with Ginny. I'm sorry Ron, but I don't see anything wrong with the three of us taking a break. I'm sorry we didn't get you, but it's stupid for you to feel like we did it on purpose."
Ron just stared at the three of them. "Hermione, in case you weren't present for the first part of this conversation, you should know that I was not the one to start this. Ginny was…"
"Ron, you need to.." Ginny started.
"Ginny, for once in your life just SHUT UP. I am speaking and I WILL, for once, get the chance to finish what I've started before you or Hermione tell me I'm a stupid idiot and how useless I am. I have been trying to figure out a way to keep us all alive-ALL of us, but all you care about-all either of you care about" he said, pointing at Ginny and Hermione "is being right. Well, I have had all I am going to take. I'm sorry, Harry, that you are stuck in the middle of this, but I can't keep this up. I'll continue to finish the plans. I'll work with Neville, Seamus, Justin and Ernie to make sure everything's covered and give the Order my reports. You three enjoy the sunshine."
Ron got up from the table and stormed out of the Great Hall, leaving his three friends gaping at him, as well as the entire student body staring. To hell with them, Ron thought. I am NOT going to talk to Hermione. I DO NOT care what she thinks. I am NOT going to be their whipping boy any more. Ron returned to the common room, grabbed his charts, and headed out to find a quiet place to work.
Yes, something was definitely different.