School: Durmstrang, Year 1

Main Prompt: (character) Lavender Brown

Additional Prompts: (word) Revenge

Theme: Durmstrang: Hogsmeade Station- look at beginnings and goodbyes in the wizarding world

Special Rule: Incorporate the colour red and the meaning behind it in your story: Passion

Wordcount:

Note: LavenderLivesAU!

Lavender Brown waited in the busy diner to place her order. It had taken her a few minutes to muster enough courage to enter the place. She had been placed in Gryffindor, and at the critical moment, her red and gold personality had abandoned her.

Finally reaching the counter, she ordered a sandwich and soda before finding a seat. Staring around the diner, she anticipated the moment when her lunch partner would arrive. They hadn't spoken since they had been in school, and the last they saw each other, she had been attacked by Greyback the werewolf. They had seen each other from across the courtyard, and that had been enough to distract her from her opponent. Greyback seized his chance and pounced. Luckily for her, she had gotten pretty good during her time with Dumbledore's Army, both in its first iteration and during the reign of the Carrows. With a well aimed Stupefy, she had gotten him off her and ran away to face a less savage Death Eater.

It had been quite a surprise, therefore, to answer her phone (which she barely knew how to use) and hear him on the other end, asking her to lunch. It had been many years since they'd dated, and often in their separation, she'd plotted her revenge for his treatment of her.

However, all she felt for him was warmth as she accepted her invitation. She had learnt that revenge was never a helpful response. During the war, her older brother, Phillip, had joined the Order of the Phoenix at Dumbledore's request. Lavender had begged him to stay safe and not join, but he couldn't just sit and do nothing. The same traits that had been such a source of pride at their Sorting, had been what got him killed. She had wanted revenge on the wizard who had done it, but it had proven impossible to find out who the murderer was. She had learnt to live with the uncertainty.

Lost in her thoughts, she didn't notice when a waitress brought her order to the table. The only thing that brought her out of her mind was a deep cough from behind her and someone saying, "Hello, Lavender."

Looking up, Lavender saw Ron Weasley standing there. "Hi, Ron," she said, jumping but allowing a happy smile to cross her face. In spite of her nerves, she was genuinely glad to see him. She held no romantic feelings for him anymore (dating him had cured her of that after she became aware of so many of his terrible habits). "How have you been?"

Ron sat down, slipping the receipt from his own order into his pocket. "All right, Auror Office keeps Harry and me pretty busy." As they talked, she felt herself relax, the prior negative anticipation fading.

"I can imagine," Lavender laughed. "So many escaped Death Eaters left to find. It's good they have so many good witches and wizards working in the department."

Ron laughed uncomfortably in reply, running his hands through his passionate red hair. That had always been the thing that she loved most about Ron. It made her think that he was interesting- she always wanted red hair instead of her boring mousy brown. "Yeah, I guess it is."

They were silent for a few moments, and it seemed to Lavender as though he wanted to say something. Finally, she leaned toward him and said, "Ron, just say whatever it is you need to say. It's obvious there's something on your mind."

Ron swallowed, clearly taken aback by her ability to read him so easily. Taking a moment to collect his thoughts, he said, "Lavender, I… I just wanted to apologise for how things were between us when we were dating." Now that he had said that, he seemed to relax ever so slightly. Lavender noticed it in his posture and the grip of his hands on his glass.

Lavender sighed as she replied, "Ron, there's really nothing to apologise for. We just weren't compatible in the end, there's nothing wrong with that."

Ron groaned and looked away from her as he said, "But I was horrible to you! When I realised I didn't want to be with you, I just ignored you and broke up with little explanation! I can imagine you've wanted revenge all these years."

Lavender was shocked at his passionate outburst. "Ron!" She exclaimed. Her tone made him look up at her. "I forgive you, all right? Everyone could tell you were in love with Hermione. I was denying it the whole time we were together, but in the end I couldn't ignore it. You say you ignored me, but I tried to ignore you as well."

Ron flinched at her words but seemed calmer. "And revenge?"

"Revenge isn't in my nature, Ron Weasley," she chuckled. "If it were, you'd know by now."

Ron also let out a relieved laugh and a breathless, "Oh, good," before taking a drink of his water.

Lavender raised her eyebrows teasingly and said, "So, is Hermione the one? I heard you guys were engaged, but I don't trust the Daily Prophet anymore."

"Good move," Ron said, turning even more red than he naturally was. "But this time it's right. We got engaged two weeks ago."

Lavender was surprised by the happiness she felt at the news. Though she had long decided that revenge wasn't for her, old habits had died hard, and some of the old plots had come to mind when she read the news in the paper. More than one had involved attacking the woman whom he truly loved.

"Shaking away that errant thought, Lavender focused back on Ron. Even the passing mention of Hermione caused a glint of his inner passion to shine through the eyes of the redhead. Hermione would be able to handle that raging passion without snuffing it out far better than she could.

"'That's wonderful, Ron! You two really are perfect for each other.'". "That's wonderful! You know, I think you two are perfect together."

"You do?"

"Of course, she brings out your more sensible side, and you make her come out of her head once in a while." Lavender hadn't known Ron very well before they started dating, but she'd known Hermione. She always had a book or some essay she had to finish spread out on her bed and almost always rejected the other's attempts to hang out. In the years after their school days, the girls of her dorm would still get together, and still Hermione joined them only rarely.

Ron seemed to have little more to say and remained in his seat for a few moments. Finally, he said, " You know, maybe this can be a fresh start for us. We can try just being friends."

Lavender smiled at the prospect. "I would love that."