"Second Choice" by Quidditch, Anyone?
Ronnie
Ron hadn't talked to much of anyone over the past couple of days. Hermione, for obvious reasons; Fred and George because they were still on about him not having a partner; Ginny, who had quite suddenly become very quiet and secretive, as if Ron trying to pry a bunch of extra-personal information from her; lastly, Harry, because Ron was still angry about him suggesting that he was a wimp for not asking Hermione out, and being jealous. As if Ron even wanted to go with her in the first place! And being jealous? Where did Harry get all this nonsense?
So as a result of having no one but Neville to talk to, and since every other boy was still frantically searching for a date, Ron sulked as he ate breakfast this morning and spoke in nothing more than groans.
Harry sat across from Ron. "Pass the butter, mate?"
"Get it yourself, mate," Ron snapped.
Harry rolled his eyes. Whenever Ron was upset with Hermione, there was absolutely nothing that could be done to make him less angry.
Harry's long robe sleeves blocked Ron's view for a second as he reached for the butter himself. When he could see again, Ron noticed Hermione come into breakfast with a slight grin on her face. He hadn't seen her all day yesterday... which bugged him.
"Good morning, Harry," Hermione said politely. Strangely enough, she was looking (and speaking more directly) at Ron.
"How nice of you to include me in your conversation, Hermione," Ron said sarcastically.
"Did you hear something, Harry?" she said lightly.
"No, Hermione, I didn't hear anything." Harry was getting just a touch fed up with all this rubbish.
"So you're siding with her again, are you?" Ron raged.
"NO!!! I WAS INTERJECTING SARCASM!" Harry squeezed his fist- the one that also happened to be holding his toast.
"Fine then! I guess I just have no friends in this bloody-"
"Hi!" said a cheery voice. Ron turned around to see Ernie Macmillan. That was strange, thinking that he couldn't remember when he last spoke to him.
"Hi!"
Ron turned back to see Hermione smiling broadly up at Ernie. His temper began to rise...
"I was just wondering if you'd like to join me in the library after breakfast? I found this great new spell on levitation I think you would like to see," he said, as if he were Hermione's best friend. Who, Ron thought instantly, was him.
"Sure! I'll meet you there as soon as I've finished."
"Okay, well, see you then!"
"Bye!"
Hermione watched as her new 'friend' retreated. Ron, however, was more interested in her.
"What's all this about Ernie Macmillan?!?!" Ron shouted as once.
"That's no business of yours!"
"Of course it is!"
Hermione looked as if she was bursting to tell anyway. "Well, if you must know, he's talking me to the Winter Ball!"
Silence fell over the three, yet there was an odd sort of ringing in Ron's ears. He seemed too lost for words.
Seeing the horrified look on Ron's face, Hermione slid her chair back and followed Ernie's path out the door.
With her gone, Ron suddenly regained the ability to talk.
"Harry, can you believe her? Just comes right out and tells us she's got herself a brand-spanking new boyfriend? I thought Vikky might have been enough, but nooo... now she wants Ernie..."
Odd how you can find yourself talking to someone you hated a few seconds ago, but only when you find there's no one else to complain to, Harry thought.
·~··~··~·
"Look at them, sitting there so close together. This is disgusting! People are trying to study here, you know, and I don't think they would appreciate it if this lovely little couple started snogging here in the library, would you?" Ron whispered angrily.
"No, but I also don't think they would appreciate their friends spying on them from behind bookshelves, either," Harry said in response. He rolled his eyes and began to get up and leave.
"No!" Ron hissed as he pulled back Harry's collar. "You can't let them know we're here!"
"Ron, this is so stupid!" he hissed back. "This is Hermione. What do you really think she's going to do?"
"I know what these couples do, Harry. All these stupid romance novels and such my mum and sister leave around... it's disgusting!"
Harry sat with his arms crossed and looking not at Hermione, but Ron. What an idiot.
Suddenly he was poked in the back by something small and skinny, and turned around to see something else small and skinny. His eyes lit up. "Er, I'll be right back Ron," he said in a hurry to leave. Ron, however, was more interested in how Hermione just leaned over Ernie to get another book. How dare she?
"I think that one's three rows over, Ernie," Hermione said as she started to get up. Now was Ron's chance. He grabbed the closest book that was to him and got up to 'accidentally' run into her.
"Oops! Sorry! Didn't see you there," Ron said as he bumped into her. He couldn't quite hear what she said in response; something containing 'I'll bet the' and 'you didn't'.
"What are you doing here? Spying?"
"Spying? What do I care what you and lover boy do doing your snog-er, study sessions," Ron said innocently.
Hermione picked up the books she and he dropped. "So I suppose you were just here to check out the latest copy of Witch Wear: Girls' Guide to Modern Fashion?" She handed the copy back to him.
Ron took it back and reddened.
"If I were you, Ron, I'd keep my overlarge nose out of other peoples' business!" she said and pushed her was passed him.
Fine... he didn't need her. He could take any girl he wanted to this bloody ball anyway! She could go with Wormy Macmuffin... who cared, really?
Oh, who was he kidding? HE cared.
If you see any of these wonderful reviewers roaming the streets anywhere, make sure to give them a great big kiss on the cheek from me:
AngelwingS
Madison
Nessie
look-at-this15
Jelly muncher
jaffacake (P.S.: I checked out 'Feeling Sorry for Celia'- can't wait to start it!)
Tikal
HermioneM
funny stuff
On a more recent note, I've come to the conclusion that I am 100% out of ideas of one of my other stories, 'The Bet Made in Heaven'. I thought I'd just write a chapter or two of something else until inspiration struck me again, but I've ended up with 3 more fics! In a word, HEEELP!!! The suggestion bin is empty and in dire need of refilling.