Ron Weasley was rude, ill-manner, and hot tempered. He was judgmental, crude, and lazy. And on top of that, he was a Gryffindor. But somewhere along the line...Hermione had found those little sweet traits of his that made her tick.
It didn't matter that he had wolfed down almost all of her toffee that she bought, because the guilty face he gave her as he offered her his last jelly slug made up for it. It didn't matter that when she had her eyes closed while playing the 'Guess the Bean Game' he'd knowingly give her the most disgusting flavors, because the way he gently put the bean in her hand and watching him laugh at the horrified faces she made as she ate the bean made up for it. And it didn't matter that sometimes they didn't get along, or bickered aimlessly, or sometimes even loathed each other, because the sweet things Ronald Weasley said to her made up for that. And that was another reason she didn't like him. He made her vulnerable.
As they walked back from the Shrieking Shack, they were both grinning ear to ear, their arms swinging awkwardly besides each other.
"Well well well," Malfoy sneered, and Ron groaned. "Who would've guessed that Ron Weasley finally got a girlfriend?"
"She's not my girlfriend, Malfoy." Ron said through gritted teeth.
"You're right. Stupid of me really, to think you could snag a girl." Malfoy laughed. "Even by lowering your standards to the lowest possible, like her, you can't even get the girl. Pity, really."
Ron turned so red he thought he might explode. How dare he say he couldn't get a girl? And how dare he say he was lowering his standards by hanging with Hermione? And how dare he say that Hermione was low standards!
Ron was trying to think of a clever comeback to keep himself from attacking Malfoy, but it was Hermione who answered.
"You know, Malfoy, we don't have to be dating to be snogging." She said proudly. "Just because you are shocked that Ron is getting more action than you don't mean you have to take it out on either of us." Malfoy's jaw dropped. So did Ron's. "C'mon, Ron." She said smugly, grabbing him by his collar, and pulling him behind Dervish and Banges, out of view of Malfoy.
"Hermione!" Ron exclaimed, fixing his collar once she had let go of him. "What the bloody hell was that?!"
"I just made you a stud." She giggled.
"That was bad ass, that is." Ron said, impressed. "So you have led Malfoy to believe that we were snogging by the Shrieking Shack..."
"And that we're snogging now." She added.
"But we're not." He said.
"Glad you figured that one out." Hermione rolled her eyes.
"So...isn't he going to figure that one out?" Ron asked.
"Well only if you tell him!" Hermione said.
"So...you want me to tell people we snogged?" Ron asked. He was utterly confused. Did Hermione want to actually snog? Or did she just want to use him to get a rebel reputation? And how did he feel about this, anyway? Did he care if she used him? Did he want untrue rumors to spread about him? Or did he want to seal the deal and make those lies a truth?
Ew. Gross. He had to stop right there. Snogging Hermione Granger? Why was he even considering it?! And why was he letting Hermione spread rumors that they snogged?
"No! Of course not!" She scoffed. "I just wanted Malfoy off your back for a little bit."
Wait...Hermione didn't even consider snogging him?! Or, at least, fake snogging him. Hermione sensed Ron was insulted.
"I mean...it has nothing to do with you, Ron. I'm sure you'd be a lovely kisser." The words left her mouth before she realized what she was saying. She blushed, and Ron's ears turned red. "Not that I'll ever need to know..."
"Right." Ron nodded.
"Oh, this is getting uncomfortable! Ron, I made up that lie because I was sick of watching Malfoy walk all over you! And now he's taking it out on me, I didn't even do anything! We can tell him we were kidding next time we see him." She said, setting things straight, and adding, "Also, we should mention it to anyone else he told, because I suspect he's telling a lot of people. It was stupid of me, really, to make up that lie. I guess I wasn't thinking straight! What's gotten into me?!"
"Probably hanging too much around me is making you stupider." Ron laughed. "Sorry for making this awkward about this situation. I just wasn't expecting that...lying, for one thing, and about us snogging! Very unlike you!"
Hermione blushed. "Silly of me, really..."
"No, it was cool. Pretty bad ass, I'll say." Ron grinned. "And you saved me from having to hex Malfoy myself."
"Yes, well, this way I kept you both from detention."
"I'm sorry Malfoy is no picking on you now. It's all because of me. I should've stuck up for you." He apologized.
"But you already did! Remember, when he dropped all my books?"
"Bloody hell, I forgot about that! See, it's been plenty of occasions. It needs to stop. So I guess the best way would be for you to stop hanging out with me." Ron said seriously.
Hermione stopped walking and turned to him. "If becoming Malfoys enemy is the cost of our friendship, then suit me up for battle...because I'm ready to fight." She smiled, and Ron grinned.