Well, well, well, what have we here Mr. Longbottom? Another failed attempt at rudimentary potions? smirked Snape, as he glanced down at Neville's now smoldering cauldron, which had been reduced to a pile of blackened pewter, or at least what was left of it. I see you've returned from Summer break with out the basic knowledge of Potion preparation. Need I remind you that you do have to pass my class to receive your Wizarding license, Snape commented condescendingly.
Weasley! Spat Snape, jostling Ron from his thoughts, Why did you fail to inform Mr. Longbottom to add the powered wolfs fang to the concoction, after the previous ingredients turned black? Do you enjoy seeing Mr. Longbottom fail, or do you get some pleasure from my class room reeking from the smell of liquefied pewter? Answer me! Bellowed Snape.
I… I guess I just forgot to remind him, Ron muttered not daring to look Snape in the eyes.
I see, well then, I guess I accidentally misplaced 12 of Gryffindor's points, Snape replied with a smirk upon his face, daring Ron or anyone else for that matter to question his decree. Ignoring Neville's sniveling remarks about how this was his 3rd cauldron this year alone, and how his Gran. was going to kill him. Snape slowly turned his greasy head in the direction of Malfoy's cauldron and swiftly awarded 15 points to the Slytherins for no apparent reason; but to spite the Gryffindors.
Turning his back to Snape's praise, Ron returned to the mental dissection of the last week of summer in his mind, something he had been working on since that day three weeks ago. He had see it all, and yet he couldn't figure out a logical explanation to what he had seen. Why had Hermione been in Diagon Ally with Krum, and why had she kissed him? Nothing was adding up, Ron remembered Hermione telling him and Harry that she was over Krum; that he was an egotistical jerk, that didn't want a relationship, just the perks that went with it. Yet there she had stood, dressed in green, her arms wrapped around his neck, her tawny hair flying in every which direction, standing outside of Flourish and Blotts, her new books laying at her feet.
But more importantly Ron thought to himself, "Why am I so distressed about this?" He had been asking himself the same question over and over again, repressing the truth, he always managed to pin it on Krum's personality, and his ability to get any girl he could ever want…
Ron….?
Ron… ? A voice next to him swiftly dragged him back to reality, it was Harry, " It's time to leave, I've called you twice and you've just sat there" he said with a concerned look on his face
Oh, sorry, Ron quickly said, eager to leave the dungeon, I was thinking about…..
There she was standing at the staircase waiting on him with Harry, her supple arms wrapped around her books, her wand stuck back in her bushy, bushy hair, looking at him, with her beautiful eyes.
Ron, are you coming? Or do you like the smell of this moldy room? She teased him.
Naw, he likes the smell of the smoldering pewter, Harry said jokingly. Gathering his book and collapsible cauldron Ron headed towards the door.
So what were you thinking about? Hermione asked with a sideways look at him
Oh...the impending doom Neville must feel every time he walks into this room, Ron quickly lied.