Author's Note: The first and hopefully last R/Hr-angst fic I ever write. Written to punish myself for an essay terribly done. Very nearly failed, and pulled down my entire English grade. Warning: Contains loads of OOC-ness. Not for the faint-hearted.
Deception
By like a falling star
*in Ron's POV*
I snatch up my wand, my coat and my pouch of coins in a flurry of activity.
Her head pops out of the kitchen. Her brown hair is plastered to her face, and I can see beads of sweat glistening on her forehead. I see her smile turn to a frown as she realizes that I'm leaving. "Where are you going? I'm cooking dinner for us."
"Out." I reply shortly. I'm lying through my teeth.
"But it's our anniversary!"
I barely hear her protest before I disapparate, leaving no trace.
*
The war has changed us so much.
I barely know who I am anymore.
*
She's in there.
I can feel it.
I approach the room cautiously, and peer in to see her sitting on the floor, her back propped up against the bed, her face a blank emotionless.
It breaks my heart to see her like this. I sit down next to her. "What happened?"
"We broke up."
I pause for a moment. It hurts me to see her so upset over someone else, but still I feel a surge of joy at her words. "What happened?"
She looks up at me, her brown eyes searching – for something, I don't know what exactly, but searching – and she averts her eyes. "I- I told him we weren't suited for each other."
I nod. There really isn't anything to say, when all I want to do is take her into my arms and kiss her and tell her that everything's going to be just fine.
"He didn't believe me. So I told him the truth."
"What is the truth?"
"That I'd never loved him to begin with. That- that I'm in love with someone else."
Her words hit me like a ton of bricks. Again, I have nothing to say.
So instead, I grab her. And then I kiss her.
And everything is all right again.
*
After a while, she pulls away. She avoids my gaze. "Ron… this isn't right. We shouldn't… You're married."
"I don't love her. You know I don't." I say desperately. "I've always loved you."
Her face breaks into a smile, and I can't help thinking that she's the most beautiful, amazing woman I've ever met. "Then tell her. She deserves to know. Don't deceive her like this."
Because she asked, I will do it. "All right, then. I'll tell her."
*
"Where have you been?" Lavender demands as I apparate back into our house.
"I was… getting a little something… for you."
Her pout is immediately replaced by a smile and, for a fleeting moment, I feel a hint of remorse. But there's no stopping me now.
"Close your eyes." I say. My voice is hoarse. I don't feel anything, don't think about anything, except that after I take care of this little problem, I'm free to be with Hermione. Nothing else matters. "I've got a surprise for you."
"Ooh! A surprise!" Lavender squeals, her eyes sparkling. She looks absurdly like a little girl.
"Close your eyes," I repeat. Deaths don't scare me anymore. I've seen too much of that in the war to let it get to me.
Her eyes obediently flutter shut.
My fingers close around my wand. "Avada-"
Lavender gasps loudly, her eyes springing open, her face etched with utter terror. It is, however, too late.
"-Kedavra." I smile grimly as her body falls limply to the ground. "Goodbye, Lavender."
*
