a/n: so...you're here to read chapter two, huh? *breaks into hysteric sobs* thank you! oh, and not only are flames welcome, they are expected. still in ron's POV.
disclaimer: to my complete disliking, i will never own anything you recognize *sigh* why couldn't i have been the brilliant one?! anyway, it wouldn't be worth suing me, as i'm worth, uh...*digs into her pockets* about two dollars and sixty-nine cents.
After several minutes of searching, I ran into my twin brothers. "Hey, what'd you do to Maggs?" George questioned.
I lifted an eyebrow curiously, "How do you know her?"
"That's beside the point, what'd you do to her?" Fred entered the conversation.
"It was Hermione..."
"Oh. Well then... I suppose she has her reasons." George pointed out.
"What d'you mean?! She was harsh and cruel, and you think that it's ok?!" I added, but came to regret it feeling my ears flush to a nice color of crimson.
"You know, Fred," George looked at his brother, "If I didn't know any better, I'd think that our little Ron has developed a crush."
"Have not!" I countered.
Fred wiped away a (fake) tear. "Isn't that so cute? He's all grown up, and everything, with this first crush of his!"
I muttered something inaudibly under my breath.
George embraced his twin in a hug. "I never thought this day would come! I'm so proud!" The two broke out in hysteric fit of fake sobs.
"C'mon guys, what d'you mean she has her reasons?!" I tried to change the subject.
"First off, she beat her marks in Potions, Charms and Divination." George informed.
"Well, how do you know her so well?"
"She's gotten us out of trouble with Snape. And helped us a lot with our merchandise." said George.
"Well... Hermione was still really rude." I pointed out.
"Well, its --"Fred started, but was interrupted with George's elbow to his stomach.
"She told us not to tell." George admonished.
"C'mon, you can tell me!" I tried to persuade.
"Sorry, Ronniekins, but not this time." and the twins left me with that.
Eventually I found Maggie sitting in the steps of the Owlery, with bloodshot eyes, and a fluttering black dot, floating closely above her head. Walking over to where she was sitting, I asked. "Who's this?" Referring to the owl.
"Athena." The small owl landed on my shoulder and nipped at my ear. "She came named." Maggie added.
I got Pig out of his cage and set him free to fly. "This is Pig. Short for Pidwedgeon, my sister named him."
The two owls had much in common, small, highly excited, and rambunctious.
I broke the silence, "Listen, Maggie... I'm sorry about Hermione. She didn't mean to be so... rude."
She sincerely smiled. "It's not your fault."
"Don't let her get to you."
"I'm not."
I rolled my eyes, "Yes, you are."
She avoided eye contact, "Am not..."
"Well, either way... We should get to class."
That next morning.
I traveled to breakfast with Maggie and soon Hermione and Harry joined. Almost immediately the insults came rolling back (You should really work on your posture, very disrespectful. And I can't believe your grammar! Seriously, it's very rude).
This time Maggie didn't bother with goodbye's, but just left. I glared at Hermione. "I just finished apologizing to her! And you ruined it all!"
"Really, I don't understand why she left, I was just improv--"
"Hermione, you don't understand. Just because she beat your marks doesn't mean you've gotta be such an idiot to her!" I barked.
"How'd you hear about that?!"
"George and Fred."
"You're obviously not understanding!"
"Yeah, obviously." I tore off in Maggie's direction only to find her in Myrtle's bathroom sobbing.
As she looked up into the reflection of a mirror she wiped away a tear. "Ron, what are you doing here?"
"Looking for you."
"Its a girls bathroom."
"Yeah, I know..." I paused awkwardly. "But I've gotta talk to you."
"Oh? About what?"
"Don't let Hermione get to you. Please. Just, stick around and you'll see, she'll change her mind and leave you alone."
"Its not worth it. I'd only ruin everything."
"Come now. Of course you wouldn't! Please, just try..." Feeling completely hopeless, I couldn't see how one girl could let such insults bother her to this extent. Obviously, she was an only child. Her low-self esteem seemed to bother me. How could she think that she'd ruin everything?!
"You don't understand," she gave a weak smirk. "The infamous trio would only be broken. It'd never work, I really don't know why I ev--"
"Oh come off it! Just stop!" I yelled, but hadn't realized how loud and forceful I had actually sounded. "Please... Just ignore her? Please?" I started, lowering my voice. "Who says there isn't room for another?"
Months passed and Christmas began to approach. Maggie decided to stick around to spite Hermione's insults and criticism, and her doubt that things would actually work out.
Spirits were high during the holiday season, and Harry, Maggie and I were the first to sign the list that permitted us to stay home. Apparently Hermione's grandmother had taken ill, so she had to visit her during the holidays.
Everyone was in Professor's McGonagall's class when she announced, "Class, now as you all remember, for the holiday season, we will be celebrating in form of dance. The Yule Ball."
Harry and I shared the same expressions of terror. The Professor went into further detail and we left the class with our heads held low. I sighed and proclaimed, "I hate this dance stuff..."
"I agree." Harry added a sigh, "Why couldn't they have forgotten?"
"Well," I gave a smirk, "I'm going to get this over with now... Maggie?"
"Hmm?" she said looking up from the floor. What was it with her and staring at the floor? Never really watched where she was going. I smiled at the thought, after all, that was how we met.
"Will you go with me?"
She smiled. "Of course."
Later that week.
I had searched high and low for Maggie, there was something I needed to ask her, and she was no where to be found. As a last resort, I checked Hagrid's.
"Err... Sorry, Ron. Yeh jus' missed her."
"Oh..." disappointment lingered in my voice that I couldn't hide. "Ok... Well, thanks anyway." I had turned around and taken several steps towards the castle when,
"Ron?"
"Yes?" I said turning around.
"Yeh really ought to do somethin' 'bout Hermione... Sometimes Maggie'll come here, almos' in tears..."
I eyed him awkwardly, I thought it didn't get to her... I thought she was over it! "Yeah, I'll do that." I turned around again.
"And Ron?" Hagrid paused. "Err... I shouldn' be tellin' yeh this... But I think she likes yeh... A lot."
With a sudden boost of confidence, I nodded and was off. Running back towards the Gryffindor common room, I muttered the password and quickly walked through the portrait hole. Scanning the room, I noticed my brothers sitting behind Hermione who was too focused on her homework to notice they were changing her hair different shades of pink, and Parvati and Lavender giggling in a corner. Spotting several other familiar faces, my eyes stopped. Smiling, I saw her with her oval-rimmed glasses pushed closely to her face with her nose buried in a book.
As I sat next to her, Maggie's attention left the book. She flashed her infamous smile.
"Hey... There's um... Something I've gotta ask you."
"Yes, Ron?" she said with an expression of confusion to match the tone of her voice.
"Listen, even if you don't like me the way I like you... I just need you to know that... I... Um..." I could feel my cheeks immediately blush to a dark red.
"What is it Ron?" Obviously she wasn't getting it.
"I fancy you." I quickly spat out. "Now, I know what you're going to say, and I know I shouldn't of sai--"
She smirked at my bluntness and quickly gave a peck on the cheek. "G'night Ron."
I sat there for several minutes, dumbstruck. My ears slowly morphing to the color of my hair, with a grin that danced across my lips.
Trip to Hogsmeade. Weekend of Yule Ball.
Harry, Hermione and I could be seen sharing a conversation drinking butterbeer.
"So," Harry began. "What's up with you and Maggie?"
Immediately my blush was eminent to spite the freckles. "What do you mean?" I said, trying to sound innocent, but failing miserably.
"Unfortunately," Hermione took a sip of her butterbeer, "Harry's right. There's more between you two than you show."
"Oh? Like what?" I said unsteadily.
"Holding hands in the hall." Hermione pointed out.
"Oh, yeah." Harry rolled his eyes. "Like that's a big deal."
"Kissing in the common room." Hermione continued.
"So what? It was only on the cheek, it was just as a friend!" I tried to cover up.
Luckily, George and Fred (a/n: have you ever seen it as "George and Fred"? Isn't it always "Fred and George"?!) and Maggie came into the store, each with three large bags of Zonko's merchandise, causing the conversation to desist.
After plenty more butterbeer's, the group decided it be best to head back.
a/n: not much for an ending... but what can i say? the yule ball will be in the next chapter. and yes, i do realize hermione is a tad out of character... but after all, this is MY fanfic! i'll try to keep everyone as close to character as possible... anywho, thanks for reading ^^