A/N: this is a really short first chapter, but what the hey. i felt that it was a good spot to end. this is my first harry potter fanfic, so let me know what you think!

stella-was-here

Ron rounded the corner, checking over his shoulder to make sure that no one was behind him. He was being paranoid. He shook his head, chuckling a little to himself. He pushed a curtain out of the way to enter a secret passageway and promptly crashed into someone.

"Hey!" a girl's voice yelled.

They did a sort of complicated dance in an attempt to keep balance but failed miserably.

"Sorry!" he muttered, trying to pull his hand out from under her. Her spine was crushing his fingers.

"Could you get off me, please?" she asked after a minute of silence.

"My hand's stuck."

"I know, I can feel it."

"You have a really bony spine."

"Umm... thanks?"

He rolled off of her. She lifted a shoulder blade and he moved his hand. They laid there next to each other for a few minutes, their heavy breathing the only noise.

"Ow," she huffed, half laughing and half panting.

They both burst out laughing.

She rolled onto her side and stuck out her hand.

"I'm Oriana Harper."

He took her hand. "I'm Ron, Ron Weasley."

"The Ron Weasley?" she asked. "Harry Potter's best friend?"

"Yeah, that's me. Harry Potter's best friend," he said rudely. He stood up.

"Hey, I meant no offense. I've just always heard your name next to Harry's."

He put his hand out to help her up. She looked at him with an odd expression.

"I'm guessing life's not that great in Griffyndor right now."

He sighed and sat back down next to her.

"Where've you been?" Hermione asked.

Ron didn't answer until he had shut the portrait hole and sat down in one of the over-stuffed armchairs around the fire. Hermione.

"No where."

"Why do you have your broom?" she asked.

"I went out to get some fresh air," he lied.

"That's a lot of fresh air. You've been gone for hours. Harry's already back from his detention. You need to go and talk to him and find out what's wrong. I think Umbridge is up to something more horrid than Harry's letting on."

Ron stood and headed for the spiral staircase.

When he got up to the common room though, Harry was already asleep. He put his broom away and slipped silently into his pajamas and laid down on his bed. He sighed.

"What's up with you, Ron?" Neville asked.

"Nothing."

"Why'd you sigh then?"

Ron paused. Harry was probably feigning sleep and it'd be easier if he found out this way.

"I met this girl. More like knocked her over. But still."

"Ah."

Harry rolled over 'in his sleep.' Ron grinned.

"Night, Neville."

"Night, Ron."