Ronald stared at his homework. Snape was a git. Three foot on antidotes? He could fit everything into one line: Use some damn Beozar.
Maybe if he wrote really, really big ...
The door to the girls' flew open and he stared at Hermione. She - for some reason - had her hair sleek and shiny and was holding herself in a very - there was no other word for it - hot style. But that didn't stop him from asking the usual question that she must hear 50 times a day.
'Help me, please?'
Hermione stared down on him, then slammed a book on the desk.
'One Hundred and fifty-seven antidotes. Think that will do?'
'You are ruddy brilliant ...'
Hermione smiled and managed to sit comfortable on the armchair he was sitting on. It was very large. The fire crackled as Neville's snores could be heard. Ron suddenly felt very hot, and his heart seemed to be drowning ... no, it was a nice kind of drowning ... wait ...
'What?' he said to himself.
'What?' Hermione mimicked.
'Oh - nothing.'
Ron wanted to smack himself for being an idiot. He could have sworn he heard a Fred-and-George-like laugh ... or was he imagining it? Hermione moved closer to him, and her arm brushed against his.
'So ... how are you handling the break-up with Lavender?' she asked.
'Depends ... how is she handling it?'
'Well, she was upset for a while ... but then I saw her snogging someone from Hufflepuff.'
'Oh.' Ron did not feel upset. He was more offended. He expected Lavender to still be crying over him - as soon as he'd thought it he felt sick with himself. Hermione seemed unnaturally close now, and he went back to the book on the table in front of him. But he found it hard to read, because Hermione's torso was brushing on his arm now. Was she leaning over to check his work?
'You've spelled "antidote" wrong. And beozar. And your name. And "but".'
'What?' Ron said disbelievingly, and looked over his work. 'Ugh! Fred and George! Do you have a spare quill on you?'
Hermione shook her head.
'Well, I'll get ready for a month's worth of detention.'
He slouched back on his armchair and looked at Hermione. Her face was beautiful in the dim light ... and she was staring at him with that strange adoring look in his eyes ... it was so dark ... no one could see ...
'You know, you could pay back Lavender if you want, Ron ...'
And as Hermione leaned closer to him, so her could see her eyes full of that loving look, his brain felt as if it would ooze out of his ears ...