"Now, explain yourselves," McGonagall says as she plops silently in the Headmistress seat. She soon became the Headmistress of Hogwarts after the war.
Harry and I exchange nervous glances before saying, "Well, you see, Ron attacked us to put it simply. As you can see from our bruises, we took most of the beating, and Ron," I waved a hand at Ron who was sprawled out on the floor in front of McGonagall's desk, "had to be stopped so I stunned him. It was the only way at the time."
The sight of Harry and Seamus dragging an unconscious Ron across the school was a sight to be seen, especially if you add bruises and blood into the mix. Our little gang earned some curios glances from frightened first and second years.
McGonagall cocked an eyebrow before saying, "And you couldn't stop him three against one?"
This time Seamus pitched in, "Well, Ron cast a mighty annoying shield charm which split the room in half. Hermione was trapped on the side with him and the rest of us were stuck on the other side, which is not much help to her," he nodded my way.
McGonagall gave a sigh of relief before saying, "I see your actions under those circumstances to be reasonable at the time, Ms. Granger, so there will be no consequences." She gave a small smile, "And as for those bruises, Mr. Finnegan, Ms. Granger, stand up please," we complied and with a wave of her wand our bruises and cuts healed. I gave a mumble of thanks before she says, "Ms. Granger you may leave. I just need to ask Harry and Seamus a few questions and I'm sure Ms. Weasley would like to know what will happen with her brother."
"Of course," I say with a small smile before I head for the door.
I started walking, not caring where my feet take me. But that 'somewhere' has to be outside because I feel too trapped inside the castle. I walked around the lake, I strolled over to Hagrid's hut and paid a visit, then I went over to the Quidditch field, and I finally ended up at the Forbidden Forest, where I was only a day before.
Though the day before I felt completely different when I came here, today I feel like a new person. I'm getting a new start. I smile, stretch, and look around. This place looks so much more inviting, more enjoyable, and more beautiful during the day. I try to find the same tree Seamus and I sat at yesterday night. I couldn't find the tree so I sat next to a tree almost right on the lake.
There was a slight cool breeze that was so calming. I sat back and close my eyes, feeling the warmth of the sun, gentle on my skin. There was a pair of footsteps approaching and I slightly open only one eye, not wanting to leave this calm moment.
Seamus was approaching, hands in pockets, and when he sees me he smiles and says, "You always seem to end up here when something goes down. At least now you seem in a better mood," he sits down beside me, making himself comfortable against the tree.
"So…what happened to Ron?" I ask curiously.
"McGonagall offered him, after he woke up of course, to either help repair parts of Hogsmede and Hogwarts or have detention with Professor Slughorn for the rest of the year and a month into summer break."
"So what did he chose?"
"Neither."
"What?" I ask, obviously confused.
"He bailed. He ran off home to mommy after she contacted him on the Floo network. Though I don't think he'll go unpunished, in fact, I bet she's going to give him hell for this. And since the N.E.W.T.s are all over, there's really no reason for him to stay," Seamus shrugged and then he says, "But that doesn't matter anymore. He's out of our hair," he gave a broad smile in relief.
"Well what are we going to do now?" I ask.
"Hmm… how about we go play some Quidditch!" he says in a sarcastic tone.
"NO! No Quidditch! It's such an annoying, impractical, and time-consuming game. And your obsessed with it in a very unhealthy way!" I say playfully but truthfully, laughing so much my sides hurt.
"Hermione! I'm hurt by that!" he says dramatically with a hand over his heart. Then we burst out laughing once more.
After our laughter dies down, we sit in silence. I think about how Ron ran off and how Ginny must be taking it, but I don't think we need Ron anymore, we just need ourselves. We always will have each other and I'm grateful for that.
"Let's go find Harry and Ginny. I think they're at the Quidditch field," says Seamus encouragingly.
"Oh no!" I say even though I comply and stand up.
We walk toward the Quidditch field in search of Harry and Ginny. My thought kept drifting though. I guess since the war ended Ron just thought that he could let go, do whatever he wanted, not care what how he hurt other people because he was free of the pressure, the constant hiding, the secrecy, and he just wanted to do something careless for once. And now he's paying the price. Now he's not the same. He's not the man I fell in love with in the war. He's not the boy I befriended all those years ago. The threat of Voldemort made him wear a mask over his true self, now the mask is gone, the threat is gone, and his true self finally has revealed itself.
The sun sets slowly over the lake as Seamus and I walk toward the Quidditch field. At that moment I realize something. I never fell in love with Ron or was his friend. I fell in love with the mask, not the man.
Done! I hoped you have enjoyed! Read and Review please! If you have any requests or suggestions of stories that you might want me to write, feel free on asking. Thanks to the people who put me on their story alert and reviewed! I really appreciate it. Also, as a side note, this is about two months after the war.
