Lavender thought she knew what she was doing. It had all started so well. Ron had fallen for her. All it had taken was a look. One look perfectly timed when he needed it most. She had needed to finally win, finally beat that Granger girl. And she had won, for a little. It would have been fine if she had left it at just that. Just a little friendly teasing, dating, snogging. She probably shouldn't have been so over protective, so forward. But she thought that since she had won that time, she would win every time, at everything. Pride was her downfall. As it is everyone's.
She remembered the first time she got Ron to herself. It was in the common room, in front of everybody. Sure, she had flirted with him before, oh so many times. She did first on a dare from Padma. She hadn't enjoyed it. She had always thought Ron too silly and dumb. But after sometime, Lavender realized that she really did like him. Not just because it made Hermione so obviously uncomfortable. Lavender decided to get him to look at her, really look at her. She followed him around, made jokes, waited on him, and snogged him. She gave Ron silly nicknames and she was happy. So happy. Lavender was so sure that he really loved her, so prideful of her work that she stopped giving him a love potion. Then it all fell apart. Within days he was back with Potter and Granger. And Lavender wassure her heart and pride would never heal.
Time heals all.
In Lavenders seventh year the war broke out. She had forgotten about Ron now. He was just a friend, no more. She had other thing to worry about. The D.A. tried to keep Hogwarts safe for the students. One night Neville asked for a volunteer. Lavender volunteered. She didn't ask what the task was; she was so sure she would accomplish it. Her pride led her to volunteer. The task seemed so simple, release a first year from detention with the Carrows. Though detention wasn't the word for it, torture was better. She almost completed it. She had gotten the boy out, easily enough. But she got caught going back to the Room of Requirement. She couldn't escape. Her pride told her that this was impossible, that she couldn't have been caught. The punishment given told a different story. She thought she would never live it down.
You'll have another chance.
It was almost the end of her seventh year when Harry, Ron and Hermione arrived, bringing the fight to Hogwarts. Here was Lavenders chance to redeem herself in her own eyes. Heal her broken pride and spirits. She was doing fine for most of the fight. She was more cautious then usual, not taking to many chances. It paid off. She was doing well in her fight, winning. When she defeated her attacker she gave herself a moment to celebrate. She let her guard down to soon. The werewolf attacked her. She never saw it coming. She was saved by someone, she never knew who. She would heal, they said. Lavender knew they were lying. She would never be the beauty she once was, and her pride would never heal.
Time heals all.
It was years later now, as Lavender walked down the aisle. She had healed, though she thought she wouldn't. She was not the same as she once was, more quiet, careful. Yet on this one day, she could not help but want to burst with pride, as she married Dean Thomas at last.