Chapter Nineteen
Of Acceptance, Arguements, and Cinnamon
"Well, well, well, Puffy's engaged," Sirius teased Ron the next morning. "I'm impressed."
"Shut up, Padfoot," Ron said, blushing. Sirius laughed. Obviously, while he had thought Ron was homesick, he had just been fretting over popping the question. Not that Sirius could blame him.
"Harmy and Ronnie, Getting hitched up," Sirius sang to the tune of the childhood 'K-i-s-s-i-n-g' song. "Maybe Harmony will get knocked--"
"That's quite enough out of you, Sirius," Harmony interrupted. Ron snickered. She smiled at him, rolling her eyes.
"You two go on down to breakfast, there's some great cinnamon stuff," She said.
"Aren't you coming?" Ron asked, looking crestfallen.
"I already ate, Puff," She replied apologetically. "I promised Dad I'd go talk to him and make the last arrangements for going to Hogwarts." She explained.
"Oh," Ron replied, a funny feeling in his stomach. He had half forgotten that she would be going to Hogwarts without him.
"Go on then, Gem, don't let us keep you waiting," Sirius said, ushering the Princess along. She blew Ron a kiss before skipping off. Ron and Sirius rolled their eyes and continued their journey down to breakfast. Sirius was still singing under his breath.
"Harmy and Ronnie, sittin on a T-Rex..." He muttered. Ron rolled his eyes.
"So," Sirius said, deciding not push his luck any further. "How'd you work up the courage?"
"Huh?" Ron said, distracted by the overwhelming smell of cinnamon. Sirius rolled his eyes.
"The QUESTION, Puffball, the QUESTION!" Sirius replied, rolling his eyes.
"What, aren't you and Crystal engaged?" Ron asked teasingly, helping himself to the cinnamon pancakes. Sirius looked a bit edgy.
"Well, I guess we are technically, but..."
"But what?" Ron asked curiously.
"Well, we agreed not to get married until my name was cleared." Sirius explained. "As I'm stuck here until someone catches Pettigrew, who everyone thinks is dead, you remember, that's kinda not gonna happen."
"You don't want to get married?"
"It's not that I don't want to, it's just..." Sirius sighed uneasily. "I don't know. I just don't want to put Crystal in that situation."
"Using her as an excuse, eh?" Ron teased. "Speaking of which, where is she?"
"She went back to the castle," Sirius replied, rolling his eyes. "Honestly, Puffy, she's a professor."
"Don't remind me," Ron replied. "I don't even want to think about professors."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Mindy was trying to survive her second staff meeting without falling asleep again. Flitwick and Sprout were bickering about the punishment of some 3rd year Hufflepuff that put the house in last place for the house cup, and bumped Ravenclaw up. McGonagall and Vector (who had been appointed Head of Slytherin House upon Severus' death) were rolling their eyes, and Dumbledore seemed to find it all very amusing. Everyone else was simply bored.
"Ahem," Dumbledore said, regaining the attention of his professors. "There is a young lady from France who wishes to transfer here to Hogwarts."
This stopped all the bickering. Mindy sat up straighter. This was the part of the meeting she had been waiting for. The 'student from France' was Harmony, although what alias she would be coming under, Mindy didn't have a clue.
"A transfer student?" McGonagall echoed. "We haven't accepted a transfer student in nearly fifty years."
"She went to a small private school in Nice," Dumbledore explained. "She was raised by her father, who recently died of natural causes. Without her father the private school was too expensive, even though there are only a few months left. So she has written and requested to finish the end of the here."
"What year?" Flitwick (who was still rather miffed with Sprout) asked.
"Seventh," Dumbledore replied.
"So she would only be here for a few months total?" McGonagall asked suspiciously. She was obviously not in favor of a transfer student.
"Yes. Her name is Brooke Silinster," He explained. Hm, Mindy thought, Not bad.
"Why shouldn't she come?" Mindy asked casually.
"Why not? There are plenty of reasons why not!" Crystal snapped. Mindy felt her temper flare. Why was Crystal, who knew perfectly well what was going on, objecting. She turned to snap, but saw Crystal wink at her. Mindy tried not to laugh at herself; Crystal was just keeping up the charade that she and Mindy still despised each other.
"There are plenty of reasons WHY!" Mindy objected, standing up heatedly.
"Such as?" Crystal challenged.
"Ladies, ladies," Dumbledore interrupted, his eyes twinkling as Mindy stuttered, trying to answer Crystal's challenge. "Both arguements have a fair number of support, which are already known to all here. Please spare us the agony of ANOTHER spat." Mindy stared at him, trying to look angry but laughing inside. Was it possible that she and Crystal had fooled Bumblesnore?
"Now, I would like to have a staff vote on this. Simply hands up for yes, down for no. The decision will be final, and I want no bickering afterward, understood?" He said, looking pointedly at Mindy, Crystal, Flitwick and Sprout.
"All for yay?" He asked, and watched as hands were lifted. Mindy looked eagerly down the table. Crystal had taken the chance of raising her hand, which McGonagall seemed to find odd...of course, she had just been arguing against it. It was a good thing she did, because with Crystal's vote the staff was split exactly down the center.
"A tie," Dumbledore sighed after two careful counts. "I suppose I will have to break it." After giving each member of the staff a hard look, as if challenging their decision, he lifted his own hand. Mindy sighed in relief.
"I will write Miss Silinster and make the arrangements," He said, ignoring a scowl from McGonagall. "You will know when I have more details. Now, about this year's OWLs..."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"I'VE BEEN ACCEPTED!!!!!"
"Ow," Sirius muttered, putting a hand to his ear. He and Ron had been playing a peiceful game of after-breakfast chess when Harmony came running into the room screaming.
"What?" Ron asked, confused.
"I've been officially accepted!" Harmony squealed.
"What are you talking about?" Ron demanded in frustration.
"Hogwarts, duh!" She replied rolling her eyes. Then let out a squeal. "I'm so happy!" She twirled around and pecked Ron with a kiss.
"Like, oh my god!" Sirius mocked, sounding like a teenage girl.
"Oh, shut up Padfoot!" Harmony said, sticking her tongue out. "Let me have my fun."
Ron stared at the chessboard, a funny feeling in his stomach. Did he want Harmony to go to Hogwarts? No, of course not. Ron wasn't even that sure HE wanted to return to the human world. Here, he had everything he had ever wanted and more. There he was invisible. Why was Harmony getting all giddy over leaving for two months? They were ENGAGED for Heaven's sakes! Ron started to second guess proposing marriage.
"Ron...Ron...Hello?!" Harmony said, waving her hand around in front of the chessboard. Ron stood and stalked out of the room.
"What's wrong with him?" Harmony frowned, looking after him.
"Like I know," Sirius rolled his eyes. Teenagers, honestly.
"I'd better go find out," She sighed, trotting after Ron, her acceptance letter still in her hand.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
It did not take long for the final arrangements to be made for Harmony's Hogwarts debut. She had smoothed things over with Ron...so she thought. Ron was brewing a lot of things inside, but he smothered them and pretended they weren't there. Always a mistake, but Ron just refused to learn.
Why? That was the unanswered question. Why did she have to leave? Was she going for him? She had come up with the idea when he was feeling homesick. From what Ron could decipher, she was going through this for the sake of tradition. According to Sprite law, to be accepted into society you had to go through 'testing'. They seemed to believe that to be accepted into human society one would have to go through much the same thing. So it was accepted thoughout the city that Harmony's time at Hogwarts would serve as her testing.
Either those people had no idea of the terrors of the Testing, or they way overestimated the dangers of Hogwarts.
She shouldn't go. She didn't have to go! Maybe the 'Testing' was just an excuse...Ron pondered for a moment. Harmony always spoke wistfully of the castle. Perhaps she wanted to go so badly that she decided to use Ron's occasional homesickness as her reasoning. Why did she want to leave him here?
These thoughts were constantly haunting Ron, spinning through his mind as Harmony eagerly discussed plans for Hogwarts. He scowled, and avoided her giddy, happy attitude.
Meanwhile, Harmony was confused. Why was Ron acting like this? She tried to reach out to him, but he seemed to be, out of nowhere, giving her the cold shoulder. She could feel the frustration building up inside of her. She would be leaving Marigold in a few days, why didn't he want to spend time with her?
What, did Ron think she WANTED to go to Hogwarts? Hell no! She put on an optimistic, smiling face, trying to look forward to it. But she was going for him! For heaven's sake, he missed them! Whether he was willing to admit it or not, he missed Hogwarts, and Harry Potter, and that Hermione girl, and that huge family of his. She was going so HE could go back!
With this 'testing' she would be representing the whole kingdom! Why couldn't Ron understand that she was trying to help not only themselves, but the human-sprite relationship as a whole! The sprites would accept the humans with Harmony's return, and (so she hoped) the humans would accept the sprites. This wasn't all about herself and Ron!
Both Harmony and Ron's charades of smiling faces were becoming thin as the last night before Harmony's return to Hogwarts. They wanted desperately to bridge the gap that had been slowly widening between them over the last two weeks.
That night, Harmony was in her bedroom, packing her final belongings slowly. She couldn't believe she was leaving Marigold for two months. She had hardly ever been away from home for more than two days! While some hidden recess of her mind was excited, the rest of her was drowning in fear and doubt. Not only about the trip, but about Ron. This seperation would certainly do nothing to help their relationship. She mused with a smile whether or not abscence really DID make the heart grow fonder.
"Hey," Harmony jumped a foot in the air, even though Ron's voice was soft. He walked in slowly.
"You scared me," Harmony said, clutching her heart.
"Sorry," He replied. Ron strode across the room, and her eyes were locked on his every move. He leaned his tall frame against the mantle over her fireplace. Harmony shivered, she could only see his silouhette against the flames and it made him look even taller than normal and more than a bit intimidating.
There was an awkward silence. Harmony placed something in her bag then turned to Ron. He had a scowl on the half of his face she could see in the flickering firelight. She cringed, realizing how terrible this was. Never before had she wanted to talk to Ron and not been able to find the words. As a matter of fact Ron was the only person she had ever been able to ALWAYS talk to.
"Why are you leaving?" He muttered suddenly.
"What?"
"You heard me. Why?"
"Ron, I don't think I understand--"
"Don't play dumb with me!" He spat turning to face her. Harmony nearly shrank away. She could only see half of his face in the flickering firelight.
"I'm not playing dumb with anyone." She insisted.
"Then why are you leaving?"
"Because...because...what, do you expect me to NOT go?!" She shouted, hardly able to believe what she was hearing. How could he not know her reasons for going to Hogwarts?
"Well, I think that would be the wise decision," He said queitly.
"To be a coward?" She demanded feircly. "To suddenly back out at the last moment?"
"It would be better than going!"
"Why? Are you scared of the big bad castle?"
"I never said that, Harmony, don't put words in my mouth!"
"Then why not go? Harry Potter, is it him you fear?"
"Why do you think I am afraid?"
"Why are you trying to make me stay?"
"Why are you shouting?"
"I AM NOT SHOUTING!" Harmony screamed. Ron rolled his eyes, but she refused to be wavered. "I am not shouting," She said again, more quietly this time. "And I am going to Hogwarts."
"I still don't understand why," He scoffed. "I don't want to return."
"Well, this isn't all about you!" Harmony said furiously, feeling her cheeks redden with frustration and building anger.
"Really?"
"Don't get so cocky Ron! If I go, maybe I can fix the whole sprite/human relationship as a whole. This isn't just about you and me!"
"There you go again, trying to save the world. You sound like Harry."
"Don't be so damn self-centered!" She screamed.
"Why in the hell not?"
"Because...because you're an egocentric jerk, that's why!" Harmony screamed, feeling sobs in her throat. Who was this man, with wild eyes and such a disregard for everything but himself? Not Ron, not her sweet Ron. This could not be the man she was going to marry...could it?
"So what if I am?" He roared. "I've got to look out for myself, and what I think is right!"
"STOP YELLING AT ME!!"
"Who's yelling?!"
"Damn it, Ron!" Harmony screamed. Her voice was raw and she could feel the tears starting to stream down her cheeks. She tore the beautiful ring off her left hand and lobbed it at him with all her strength through her tears.
"Go to hell, Ron Weasley!" She yelled. He ducked and the wall hit the wall behind him, bounced off and went rolling to the floor. Ron stared at it. The ring. The ring he had bought with the money he had slaved for, saved, and scrapped. The pretty diamond engagement ring was now lying at his feet.
His gaze turned back to Harmony, who stared at him defiantly, fighting the urge to cringe. His eyes were colder than Siberian wind, the iced blue broken by a fiery red lock hanging in his vision.
"Very well then, Your Majesty." He spat, his words bound with white flames of rage yet dripping black icy depths of hate. She watched him, her cheeks stained with tears, as he turned and stalked from her room. It wasn't until then that she fell to the floor and started feeling around desperately for her ring. When she found it, she held it to her heart and sobbed.
The princess cried herself to sleep on the cold stone floor clutching desperately to the symbol of her happiness lost.
Of Acceptance, Arguements, and Cinnamon
"Well, well, well, Puffy's engaged," Sirius teased Ron the next morning. "I'm impressed."
"Shut up, Padfoot," Ron said, blushing. Sirius laughed. Obviously, while he had thought Ron was homesick, he had just been fretting over popping the question. Not that Sirius could blame him.
"Harmy and Ronnie, Getting hitched up," Sirius sang to the tune of the childhood 'K-i-s-s-i-n-g' song. "Maybe Harmony will get knocked--"
"That's quite enough out of you, Sirius," Harmony interrupted. Ron snickered. She smiled at him, rolling her eyes.
"You two go on down to breakfast, there's some great cinnamon stuff," She said.
"Aren't you coming?" Ron asked, looking crestfallen.
"I already ate, Puff," She replied apologetically. "I promised Dad I'd go talk to him and make the last arrangements for going to Hogwarts." She explained.
"Oh," Ron replied, a funny feeling in his stomach. He had half forgotten that she would be going to Hogwarts without him.
"Go on then, Gem, don't let us keep you waiting," Sirius said, ushering the Princess along. She blew Ron a kiss before skipping off. Ron and Sirius rolled their eyes and continued their journey down to breakfast. Sirius was still singing under his breath.
"Harmy and Ronnie, sittin on a T-Rex..." He muttered. Ron rolled his eyes.
"So," Sirius said, deciding not push his luck any further. "How'd you work up the courage?"
"Huh?" Ron said, distracted by the overwhelming smell of cinnamon. Sirius rolled his eyes.
"The QUESTION, Puffball, the QUESTION!" Sirius replied, rolling his eyes.
"What, aren't you and Crystal engaged?" Ron asked teasingly, helping himself to the cinnamon pancakes. Sirius looked a bit edgy.
"Well, I guess we are technically, but..."
"But what?" Ron asked curiously.
"Well, we agreed not to get married until my name was cleared." Sirius explained. "As I'm stuck here until someone catches Pettigrew, who everyone thinks is dead, you remember, that's kinda not gonna happen."
"You don't want to get married?"
"It's not that I don't want to, it's just..." Sirius sighed uneasily. "I don't know. I just don't want to put Crystal in that situation."
"Using her as an excuse, eh?" Ron teased. "Speaking of which, where is she?"
"She went back to the castle," Sirius replied, rolling his eyes. "Honestly, Puffy, she's a professor."
"Don't remind me," Ron replied. "I don't even want to think about professors."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Mindy was trying to survive her second staff meeting without falling asleep again. Flitwick and Sprout were bickering about the punishment of some 3rd year Hufflepuff that put the house in last place for the house cup, and bumped Ravenclaw up. McGonagall and Vector (who had been appointed Head of Slytherin House upon Severus' death) were rolling their eyes, and Dumbledore seemed to find it all very amusing. Everyone else was simply bored.
"Ahem," Dumbledore said, regaining the attention of his professors. "There is a young lady from France who wishes to transfer here to Hogwarts."
This stopped all the bickering. Mindy sat up straighter. This was the part of the meeting she had been waiting for. The 'student from France' was Harmony, although what alias she would be coming under, Mindy didn't have a clue.
"A transfer student?" McGonagall echoed. "We haven't accepted a transfer student in nearly fifty years."
"She went to a small private school in Nice," Dumbledore explained. "She was raised by her father, who recently died of natural causes. Without her father the private school was too expensive, even though there are only a few months left. So she has written and requested to finish the end of the here."
"What year?" Flitwick (who was still rather miffed with Sprout) asked.
"Seventh," Dumbledore replied.
"So she would only be here for a few months total?" McGonagall asked suspiciously. She was obviously not in favor of a transfer student.
"Yes. Her name is Brooke Silinster," He explained. Hm, Mindy thought, Not bad.
"Why shouldn't she come?" Mindy asked casually.
"Why not? There are plenty of reasons why not!" Crystal snapped. Mindy felt her temper flare. Why was Crystal, who knew perfectly well what was going on, objecting. She turned to snap, but saw Crystal wink at her. Mindy tried not to laugh at herself; Crystal was just keeping up the charade that she and Mindy still despised each other.
"There are plenty of reasons WHY!" Mindy objected, standing up heatedly.
"Such as?" Crystal challenged.
"Ladies, ladies," Dumbledore interrupted, his eyes twinkling as Mindy stuttered, trying to answer Crystal's challenge. "Both arguements have a fair number of support, which are already known to all here. Please spare us the agony of ANOTHER spat." Mindy stared at him, trying to look angry but laughing inside. Was it possible that she and Crystal had fooled Bumblesnore?
"Now, I would like to have a staff vote on this. Simply hands up for yes, down for no. The decision will be final, and I want no bickering afterward, understood?" He said, looking pointedly at Mindy, Crystal, Flitwick and Sprout.
"All for yay?" He asked, and watched as hands were lifted. Mindy looked eagerly down the table. Crystal had taken the chance of raising her hand, which McGonagall seemed to find odd...of course, she had just been arguing against it. It was a good thing she did, because with Crystal's vote the staff was split exactly down the center.
"A tie," Dumbledore sighed after two careful counts. "I suppose I will have to break it." After giving each member of the staff a hard look, as if challenging their decision, he lifted his own hand. Mindy sighed in relief.
"I will write Miss Silinster and make the arrangements," He said, ignoring a scowl from McGonagall. "You will know when I have more details. Now, about this year's OWLs..."
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
"I'VE BEEN ACCEPTED!!!!!"
"Ow," Sirius muttered, putting a hand to his ear. He and Ron had been playing a peiceful game of after-breakfast chess when Harmony came running into the room screaming.
"What?" Ron asked, confused.
"I've been officially accepted!" Harmony squealed.
"What are you talking about?" Ron demanded in frustration.
"Hogwarts, duh!" She replied rolling her eyes. Then let out a squeal. "I'm so happy!" She twirled around and pecked Ron with a kiss.
"Like, oh my god!" Sirius mocked, sounding like a teenage girl.
"Oh, shut up Padfoot!" Harmony said, sticking her tongue out. "Let me have my fun."
Ron stared at the chessboard, a funny feeling in his stomach. Did he want Harmony to go to Hogwarts? No, of course not. Ron wasn't even that sure HE wanted to return to the human world. Here, he had everything he had ever wanted and more. There he was invisible. Why was Harmony getting all giddy over leaving for two months? They were ENGAGED for Heaven's sakes! Ron started to second guess proposing marriage.
"Ron...Ron...Hello?!" Harmony said, waving her hand around in front of the chessboard. Ron stood and stalked out of the room.
"What's wrong with him?" Harmony frowned, looking after him.
"Like I know," Sirius rolled his eyes. Teenagers, honestly.
"I'd better go find out," She sighed, trotting after Ron, her acceptance letter still in her hand.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
It did not take long for the final arrangements to be made for Harmony's Hogwarts debut. She had smoothed things over with Ron...so she thought. Ron was brewing a lot of things inside, but he smothered them and pretended they weren't there. Always a mistake, but Ron just refused to learn.
Why? That was the unanswered question. Why did she have to leave? Was she going for him? She had come up with the idea when he was feeling homesick. From what Ron could decipher, she was going through this for the sake of tradition. According to Sprite law, to be accepted into society you had to go through 'testing'. They seemed to believe that to be accepted into human society one would have to go through much the same thing. So it was accepted thoughout the city that Harmony's time at Hogwarts would serve as her testing.
Either those people had no idea of the terrors of the Testing, or they way overestimated the dangers of Hogwarts.
She shouldn't go. She didn't have to go! Maybe the 'Testing' was just an excuse...Ron pondered for a moment. Harmony always spoke wistfully of the castle. Perhaps she wanted to go so badly that she decided to use Ron's occasional homesickness as her reasoning. Why did she want to leave him here?
These thoughts were constantly haunting Ron, spinning through his mind as Harmony eagerly discussed plans for Hogwarts. He scowled, and avoided her giddy, happy attitude.
Meanwhile, Harmony was confused. Why was Ron acting like this? She tried to reach out to him, but he seemed to be, out of nowhere, giving her the cold shoulder. She could feel the frustration building up inside of her. She would be leaving Marigold in a few days, why didn't he want to spend time with her?
What, did Ron think she WANTED to go to Hogwarts? Hell no! She put on an optimistic, smiling face, trying to look forward to it. But she was going for him! For heaven's sake, he missed them! Whether he was willing to admit it or not, he missed Hogwarts, and Harry Potter, and that Hermione girl, and that huge family of his. She was going so HE could go back!
With this 'testing' she would be representing the whole kingdom! Why couldn't Ron understand that she was trying to help not only themselves, but the human-sprite relationship as a whole! The sprites would accept the humans with Harmony's return, and (so she hoped) the humans would accept the sprites. This wasn't all about herself and Ron!
Both Harmony and Ron's charades of smiling faces were becoming thin as the last night before Harmony's return to Hogwarts. They wanted desperately to bridge the gap that had been slowly widening between them over the last two weeks.
That night, Harmony was in her bedroom, packing her final belongings slowly. She couldn't believe she was leaving Marigold for two months. She had hardly ever been away from home for more than two days! While some hidden recess of her mind was excited, the rest of her was drowning in fear and doubt. Not only about the trip, but about Ron. This seperation would certainly do nothing to help their relationship. She mused with a smile whether or not abscence really DID make the heart grow fonder.
"Hey," Harmony jumped a foot in the air, even though Ron's voice was soft. He walked in slowly.
"You scared me," Harmony said, clutching her heart.
"Sorry," He replied. Ron strode across the room, and her eyes were locked on his every move. He leaned his tall frame against the mantle over her fireplace. Harmony shivered, she could only see his silouhette against the flames and it made him look even taller than normal and more than a bit intimidating.
There was an awkward silence. Harmony placed something in her bag then turned to Ron. He had a scowl on the half of his face she could see in the flickering firelight. She cringed, realizing how terrible this was. Never before had she wanted to talk to Ron and not been able to find the words. As a matter of fact Ron was the only person she had ever been able to ALWAYS talk to.
"Why are you leaving?" He muttered suddenly.
"What?"
"You heard me. Why?"
"Ron, I don't think I understand--"
"Don't play dumb with me!" He spat turning to face her. Harmony nearly shrank away. She could only see half of his face in the flickering firelight.
"I'm not playing dumb with anyone." She insisted.
"Then why are you leaving?"
"Because...because...what, do you expect me to NOT go?!" She shouted, hardly able to believe what she was hearing. How could he not know her reasons for going to Hogwarts?
"Well, I think that would be the wise decision," He said queitly.
"To be a coward?" She demanded feircly. "To suddenly back out at the last moment?"
"It would be better than going!"
"Why? Are you scared of the big bad castle?"
"I never said that, Harmony, don't put words in my mouth!"
"Then why not go? Harry Potter, is it him you fear?"
"Why do you think I am afraid?"
"Why are you trying to make me stay?"
"Why are you shouting?"
"I AM NOT SHOUTING!" Harmony screamed. Ron rolled his eyes, but she refused to be wavered. "I am not shouting," She said again, more quietly this time. "And I am going to Hogwarts."
"I still don't understand why," He scoffed. "I don't want to return."
"Well, this isn't all about you!" Harmony said furiously, feeling her cheeks redden with frustration and building anger.
"Really?"
"Don't get so cocky Ron! If I go, maybe I can fix the whole sprite/human relationship as a whole. This isn't just about you and me!"
"There you go again, trying to save the world. You sound like Harry."
"Don't be so damn self-centered!" She screamed.
"Why in the hell not?"
"Because...because you're an egocentric jerk, that's why!" Harmony screamed, feeling sobs in her throat. Who was this man, with wild eyes and such a disregard for everything but himself? Not Ron, not her sweet Ron. This could not be the man she was going to marry...could it?
"So what if I am?" He roared. "I've got to look out for myself, and what I think is right!"
"STOP YELLING AT ME!!"
"Who's yelling?!"
"Damn it, Ron!" Harmony screamed. Her voice was raw and she could feel the tears starting to stream down her cheeks. She tore the beautiful ring off her left hand and lobbed it at him with all her strength through her tears.
"Go to hell, Ron Weasley!" She yelled. He ducked and the wall hit the wall behind him, bounced off and went rolling to the floor. Ron stared at it. The ring. The ring he had bought with the money he had slaved for, saved, and scrapped. The pretty diamond engagement ring was now lying at his feet.
His gaze turned back to Harmony, who stared at him defiantly, fighting the urge to cringe. His eyes were colder than Siberian wind, the iced blue broken by a fiery red lock hanging in his vision.
"Very well then, Your Majesty." He spat, his words bound with white flames of rage yet dripping black icy depths of hate. She watched him, her cheeks stained with tears, as he turned and stalked from her room. It wasn't until then that she fell to the floor and started feeling around desperately for her ring. When she found it, she held it to her heart and sobbed.
The princess cried herself to sleep on the cold stone floor clutching desperately to the symbol of her happiness lost.