Quidditch League | Season 9 | Holyhead Harpies | Round Five | Chaser One

Word Count: 1008

A/N: I was suffering from major writer's block this round, so much so that looking at my incomplete story made me physically sick. So, to help, I changed it to Comic Sans font and what d'ya know? Writer's block gone!

Prompt: Laziness

Additional Prompts: Casual; dangle; pocket watch

Ron was known for possessing many unlikable traits, laziness among them. It was well known that he hated anything that required large amounts of work. And yet he was always forced into dangerous quests and disagreeable situations by Harry and Hermione. The latter was the most uptight of the trio, always nagging them to finish their homework on time and receive good grades in classes. So it was a surprise when he walked into the Gryffindor Common Room, expecting to flop down in his favorite armchair, and instead nearly squashing Hermione beneath him.

"Er, sorry," he muttered, confused as to why she was lounging about. It was very unlike her.

Hermione sighed without looking up at him, and then asked, "Could you hand me a scone?"

"A scone?" Ron looked at her and then at the plate of scones, resting only a few inches from her fingertips. "They're right there."

"Yes… but it's too far for me to reach without moving my hand. Please, Ron?"

Ron obliged, plucking a lemon pastry from the silver platter and tossing it to her with a "Heads up!" She made no effort to catch it, though, and the scone hit the ground and bounced a few times before settling on its side.

"Ugh," she mumbled under her breath. Then, to him, "Another one?"

Great, thought Ron, she's not even forming complete sentences anymore. Instead of complying, he took the seat beside her. "Mione, what's up? Shouldn't you be doing your homework or something?"

Hermione yawned in a casual manner. "I got time." She took out a pocket watch and began to dangle it between two of her fingers. "See? What time does it say?"

Ron stared at her in disbelief. "You're too lazy to even check the watch?" Hermione didn't respond. "Bloody hell, Hermione, what's up?"

"Nothing, nothing." Hermione waved the thought away with the same hand that held the watch, sending it flying across the room. "Oops." Hermione let her hand drop back onto the armrest.

Ron got up to retrieve the watch. His eyes rested on it for a few moments, watching the minute hand move in a full rotation. He then handed it back to Hermione.

"All right, what is going on? This isn't like you."

"Aw, I'm just trying to chillax," protested Hermione.

"Chillax? Bloody hell, this is worse than I thought."

Ron sat down again and took her hand. "Mione, whatever it is, you can tell me."

"It's nothing," Hermione snorted. "But I finally see why you like being lazy all the time."

Ron blanched. "I'm not lazy!" he said. "I'm just… just… I like relaxing, okay?"

"That's called being lazy."

"Is not."

"Is too."

"Is not."

"Is not."

"Is t – Hermione! I am not lazy! You're the one who can't even be bothered to sit up!"

Hermione leaned back even further in her seat. "It's called reclining, Ronald Weasley," she said, a smug expression on her face. Ron's eyes darted from her slouched position to the floor and back again, praying this was all a dream. It must be, he thought, for this was as unlike-Hermione as Hermione could get.

Is it possible to completely change your personality?

Hermione twirled a lock of chestnut hair around her finger absentmindedly. Ron watched her for a few seconds.

"What is up with you today? Did someone hex you or something?"

Hermione giggled. "Don't be daft. I've finally found myself, 's all."

This is too weird.

Ron was at a complete loss. The entire situation made no absolutely no sense to him. Hadn't he just been reminiscing on how Hermione was always the one on track? The one who forced him and Harry to submit their essays weeks before they were due? It was nearly the end of the trio's fourth year at Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry, and Hermione was constantly reminding them to study like crazy for the OWLs next year. It was bad enough Harry was always getting himself into trouble, but now this? Hermione wasn't lazy. Lazy most likely wasn't even a word Hermione considered to be in her dictionary, let alone something she would ever be.

"Look, I don't know what crazy thing happened to you that's making you act this way, but it's getting on my nerves. You're always telling Harry and me to be less lazy; well, take your own advice! Get off your ass and go back to being the Hermione Granger I know. The one who'll do my homework before I even have to ask. The one who forgives me even when I've done something totally idiotic. The Hermione that puts up with Harry Potter and all his bloody adventures, with bloody He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named and his bloody Death Eaters, not to mention bloody Bellatrix Lestrange and her psycho deal."

Hermione leaped to her feet so quickly Ron flinched in surprise.

"That's it!" she screeched, overpowering his anger. "I am done with this! I've tried every technique in the book to get you to stop being lazy. I guess even giving you a taste of your own medicine won't work. So fine, be that way! Go back to lounging around so long you flunk class. See if I care."

She turned her back to him. Ron looked at her for a long time, realizing everything made sense when put the way she'd put it. Of course she hadn't suddenly changed her ways. She was teaching him a lesson. And he'd failed to realize it the entire time.

"Mione, I'm sorry. I didn't realize… I think what you did was really smart."

Hermione glanced over her shoulder and then, slowly, turned to face him.

"How smart?" she asked with a small smile.

Ron grinned. "The smartest and most clever thing anyone has ever done to get me to behave. Even Mum hasn't thought of that one."

Hermione laughed, and then said, "So you'll try to be better? Less lazy?"

Ron nodded. "I will, I promise."

Hermione gave him a small kiss on the cheek.

"C'mon, Ronald. We'd better get to class."