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Ron sighed for the third time in ten minutes. They were going to be late to Charms, thanks to Harry.
"Can't you hurry up at all," he said, exasperated.
"Just one more minute Ron," Harry was saying. Harry was waiting for Cho Chang to pass by him. She turned a corner and appeared before them. Harry walked up to her, sneaked a kiss on her cheek, and wrapped his arm around her shoulders.
"Oh, stop it, we're going to be late," she said, playfully pushing him away. Cho continued down the hallway, Harry at her heels.
"Oi," Ron said quietly, sighing a fourth time. He stood where he was, looking at the two. Harry had everything; it just wasn't fair. Sure, Ron had Hermione -she was great- but Cho was only the hottest girl in the school. Not to mention that Harry was the new Quiddich captain after Katie Bell had left (earning the team a smashing win over Slytherin last year). Life wasn't fair.
"Are you coming in with us, Ron?" Harry ask, turning back to look at him. They were at the door now and about to enter the classroom.
"Sure..." Ron replied, but Harry missed his sarcastic
tone.
--{=}>->->
Harry was worried about Ron's behavior lately. All during Charms, Ron had pretty much ignored Harry and hadn't laughed at all when Harry charmed his fruit to dance on the table (they were supposed to make the apples peel and cut themselves into slices). Ron and Hermione were still on good terms, he thought to himself, so that couldn't have been it. Was he not feeling well? He looked just fine at lunch...
"Ron, are you feeling ok?" He asked later in the common room. Ron was drawing something on a sheet of parchment, balancing it on his knee. He quickly covered it up when Harry spoke.
"Yes. Fine." Ron said curtly, his eyes slowly narrowing.
"Oookay..." Harry left Ron and went back to his transfiguration
homework.
--{=}>->->
Ron was still doodling on his "Harry's-multiple-and-quite-greusom-deaths" parchment when Hermione came up to him.
"Hey, Ron!" She looked excited about something. She walked/ran over to where he was perched on the edge of the common room table.
"Why are you so excited," he asked.
"Haven't you heard,"
"Heard what?"
"That there is going to be a student swap program next semester," she said, rolling her eyes.
"Oh."
"Do you think I should go?"
"No! You can't go! Please, I would miss you too much..."
"Oh, Ron, it'd only be for three weeks..."
"A lot can happen in three weeks." he said cynically, glancing at his drawing, remembering how Harry had angered him (*unintentionally, though Ron didn't see it that way*) that morning. A slightly demented grin played on his otherwise handsome freckled face.
"Like what?" She asked, confused by his cynical tone and strange expression.
"Hmm? Oh, nothing." he said, snapping back from his vision of Harry being eaten by a dragon. Hermione gave him a look of concern.
"Ron, are you feeling alright today? Harry was saying..."
"Oh?! Yes, what was Harry saying?" he said, suddenly angered.
"Uh...nothing Ron..."
"Nothing my foot. What... did... he... SAY?!" he said, his voice rising with every word.
"He was just concerned, Ron, like I am. I..."
"HE is concerned about ME? The great Harry Potter is concerned about his petty little 'friend'?" Ron was indignant. "What is his problem, anyways? Ever since they made him Prefect, he's been a snotty little...."
WHAP! Hermione had slapped him right across the face.
"He has done NOTHING of the sort! You, of all people, should..." But she
was unable to finish, as Ron had already dashed up the boy's staircase,
parchment in hand.
--{=}>->->
Ron flung himself onto his bed, trying to choke back tears. They weren't so much as from the pain, as they were for the sense of betrayal. Why did she have to defend Harry? Couldn't she see how Harry had been bragging about everything? How he had rubbed all his accomplishments in Ron's face?
"Ron?" a tentative voice called. He quickly wiped his tears on his pillow. He turned to see Hermione. He was somehow angered with her, blaming her for Harry's God-like properties and nack for perfection.
"Go away. You're not wanted here."
"I'm sorry Ron. I know Harry is always at the center of attention, but that isn't always a good thing you know..." Ron just "humph"-ed and turned away, hoping she wouldn't notice his red and puffy eyes.
Hermione continued. "You know Harry doesn't do it on purpose. He hates it when people ask for his autograph and when they stare at him like they do..." But Ron wasn't listening. He was now remembering how many times he had be late, just so Harry could sign photographs of himself.
"Ron. Listen to me. I know what your feeling. I feel it too, every time I see his name in an article, in a book, or on one of those trophies..." She then spaced out for a minute or so, lost in her own thoughts. But Ron was now in control of himself and realized his selfishness. He looked at her, across form him on his bed. She snapped back to reality, gazing into Ron's eyes (as he was to hers). A mutual understanding of long suffering was made and sympathized with.
"I'm sorry, Hermione. I didn't mean to yell at you like that. He just gets me so worked up..." He pulled her into a tight embrace.
"I know, Ron, I know..." They fell asleep in each
other's arms.
--{=}>->->
Ron awoke to a familiar, gleefully taunting voice.
"Have a nice rest? Or were you two up all night?" Harry teased. Ron and Hermione were still in each others arms.
"Why would you care? Because you can't get any?" Ron shot back, irritated at having being woken up, and especially since it was by him. An angry glint crossed Harry's eye, but he was interrupted by Hermione's waking. She looked wildly around her, confused at waking up in Ron's arms and in the boy's dormitory.
"Don't worry, 'Mione. Nothing happened." Ron began saying, smoothing back her frizzled hair from her face, his anger forgotten. She pushed away from him.
"Like anything would, Ron," she said reprovingly, standing up and stretching. She finally noticed Harry.
"Oh. Morning Harry..."
"Hello, Hermione. You look wonderful this morning..." he started saying. Of course this wasn't true, as her hair was in a tangle and she was still bleary eyed from sleep, but Ron didn't care. He jumped across the bed and straight at Harry, who didn't know what hit him. Ron had acquired quite some muscle from working out all summer (and man, did his stomach show it..... *ahem* where were we now?) and his punch right at Harry's forhead had knocked him out cold. Ron was delighted at having released all his anger this way. He could get to like it...
"No," he chided himself out loud. He had just knocked out his best friend. That is a very bad thing to do, especialy if you enjoyed it. Hermione just started at Ron for a full minute.
"Uh.... shold we just leave him there?" she finally said.
"I guess so. He doesn't have class until 10:00 on Tuesdays...." And
with that they left Harry --back eyed and possible concussion 'n all.
-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-==-=-=-
Hehe that shirt part wasn't real :o) it was metiphorical (I bet I spelled that wrong...). It was supposed to mean finally admitting he was jealous or something.... I wish he would take off his shirt though... ;) there's always next chapter....
PLEASE REVIEW!!! Flames are ok, too if you tell me how I can fix it...