Chapter 2 – Into Action

He could barely see through the red and gold dancing past his eyes, robes and ribbons and large banners as cheers and music reverberating throughout his entire body. The Common Room was filled with tumbles of people, falling over each other and embracing, laughing and shouting. Ron felt himself be peeled from Harry by the ever changing crowd of cheering Gryffindors. They'd won! The match was now a blur in his head, limbs flying and the world spinning as he swerved and fought to knock the Quaffle away. A frustrated growl from a Slytherin chaser whipped past as cheers and chants rang out, flags and banners and flashing lights bombarding his senses. He hadn't even known the score until he'd descended and everyone had been shouting it through the blare of klaxons. The celebration hadn't let up once from the stands to the Gryffindor Tower and he was still a bit lost in it all. All he knew was that they'd won-Suddenly lips were on his, a warm body pressing against his chest as the uproar exploded once again around them. Body responding instantly, arms encircling the intense warmth and lips pressing back his brain slowly caught up and he only properly remembered the deal when he stepped back and saw a blonde biting her lip and staring back at him. Numerous people were staring and talking at him and each other but for a moment he was snagged on that uncertainty in those eyes. Recovering he grinned and eyes flickering she released him so he could turn be bombarded by everything again.

Seamus was the first one to pat him on the back and make an inappropriate comment loudly and slightly drunkenly in his ear and others joined in, laughing and joking and nudging each other with shoulders and elbows. Harry's face popped up with a cautious expression, though his words were encouraging if surprised, his eyes weren't sure. Ron tried his best to ignore this reaction, nodding at the hand on his shoulder and drawing up another smile as Seamus threw an arm around him and steered him to the drinks table. The high was incredible and he was half-shaking as he accepted the Butterbeer. Twisting around, half-listening to the Irish lad's commentary he searched for her but didn't see any bushy brown in the crowd. Suddenly his lips felt cold and clammy. The kiss had been invigorating and heated but it…Smiling weakly at words he didn't register from what maybe was Seamus, he kept on searching, stomach plummeting as he realised. It hadn't been her. It should have been her.

…

"Hey," Lavender turned around, looking shy but mouth lifting upwards. She was pleased that he'd sought her out, even though they'd agreed to meet on the corridor below the Gryffindor Common Room to swap notes and check progress, she hadn't been sure whether he would have thought to come there after the end of the celebrations. Everyone else was probably in bed or close to it, but he'd come to see her. No, don't think like that, remember the deal. Clenching her fists whilst keeping her face relaxed, she stood up from where she'd been perching on a window ledge and took a few steps to mirror his.

Seeing those lips, Ron fought the urge to touch his fingers to his own in remembrance and gulped. After he'd given up looking for Hermione he'd felt a bit sheepish at his earlier thoughts. He hated being dramatic and feeling, well, he didn't know… Guilty perhaps? After all, it wasn't Lavender he wanted to kiss and the fact that he didn't know Hermione's reaction, or if she had even seen. Gods, he suddenly hoped that she hadn't seen. Oh, what was the point of having a fake girlfriend to make Hermione notice him if he didn't want her to see? No, no why would she care? Hermione wasn't much of a party person, she had probably just gone away to study. Yeah, yeah he should stop worrying until he got his head sorted. Blinking, he realised that neither of them had spoken in a while, he scratched the back of his head and began awkwardly.

"So…What happens now?" Looking up at him cautiously she couldn't help but recall how his body had felt pressed up against hers, the roughness of his jumper under her fingers and the softness of his lips. Despite everything she wondered how he felt about it, whether he'd shared the rush, had he tingled the same as she had? She half-sighed as she shrugged and said.

"We wait."

"We wait?" She nodded, a ghost of a smile creeping onto her lips.

"We wait." Ron nodded, the candle-light lighting up the different shades of red in his hair causing Lavender to step closer and reach out to him. Playing with the zipper of his jumper almost flirtatiously she stared down at it, her smile deeper as she said slowly. "See how things go." The blonde looked up, studying her fake boyfriend's eyes for his reaction. There she almost died at the self-conscious and goofy expression, eyes twinkling despite his slight discomfort. Without warning, the blonde rose onto her tiptoes and covered his mouth with hers tenderly. Taken back, he didn't pull away or deepen the kiss and neither moved for quite a while until finally she stepped down, averting her gaze, suddenly shy. She shrugged as he looked on with a bemused expression, saying quietly. "I don't think we really got it right in there." Still a confused by her move, he felt a little reassured by her explanation and comfortable enough in her presence to be honest, the red-head lifted her chin so she could see his widening grin; speaking just as softly as she had done.

"Whatever you say." Giggling breathily as she felt the tension dissipate from her shoulders as they slowly walked back to the Common Room, not daring to discuss everyone's reactions or anything at all, their fake-relationship not really one where they talked but when Ron heard a noise from up the stairs he took her hand and they walked closer together. When they reached the top of the stairs the Portrait was still and there wasn't a sign of anyone around but Lavender suppressed a smile as she focused on the feel of Ron's hand remaining firmly in hers. Saying the password he looked to her and nodded, a little smile on his face as he nodded for her to go first. Flashing him a glamorous smile she pulled forward and they finally let go as they went in and to bed.