Making My Move
By BluJae
Disclaimer: I disclaim everything. Don't sue.
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Chapter 3: Stalling
Remembering that Ron and Harry were at practice, I headed towards the direction of the entrance hall so I could get to the Quidditch pitch. However, with each step I took, my pace got slower—I was stalling for more time. Frankly, I did not know what I'd say to Ron once I've found him. I didn't even know if he's heard of that stupid theory yet. But if his roommates knew, then it was most likely that he did too.
But how will I approach him? Appear nonchalant—that I just happen to be passing by the Quidditch pitch on the way to the…to the what exactly? The library? I voiced in my head said jokingly.
I stopped when I reached the top of the marble staircase. It was the last set of stairs I'd have to descend before I'd reach the main doors and head off to the pitch. But I didn't want to face Ron unprepared—not knowing what I'd say or do. Starting to loss hope, I leaned back against the stone wall between two small paintings.
I stayed there for quite some time, refusing to leave until I thought of a good way to go about things. After minutes of thinking, debating with myself, getting frustrated, and then starting all over again, I heard a commotion coming from the floor below and looked down the marble stairs. The Gryffindor Quidditch team was headed up in my direction, all of the members looking refreshed and clean from the showers they must have taken.
They were too busy talking with one another that they didn't notice me, so I remained where I was at the top of the staircase just staring at them. There was Fred holding Angelina's hand as he and George laughed at something I couldn't hear. There were Katie, Alicia, and Angelina speaking to one another in soft voices and with smiles on their faces. There was Harry—
Wait a minute. Why is he alone? I
thought. Harry was walking a few steps behind the others with no one at his
side. Where had Ron gone?
I was suddenly worried. When the group nearly reached the landing, they finally looked up and noticed me. The older Gryffindors greeted me with nods, smiles, hellos, or some combination of the three as they passed me by. I greeted them back with a forced smile. As soon as Harry reached the landing, I force my face not to look so worried and spoke as calmly as I could.
"Where's Ron?" I noticed Harry wasn't meeting my eyes. Now I knew something was wrong.
"Oh. He's…he's somewhere."
"Harry just tell—
"Hermione," he said, cutting me off. "He just needs some time to himself. Just let him be for a while." I couldn't help but feel hurt at his words. Had Ron told him that he didn't want to see me?
"Did I do something to upset him?" I asked worriedly.
"What? No! It's not you, Hermione. He just…he doesn't want to see anyone." I noticed that there was sadness in his voice. I finally caught his eye and immediately knew something bad happened.
"Did something happen between you two?"
"Uh…yeah…. We sort of...got in an argument."
"Oh, not again! How bad was it? This better not be a repeat of last year because, frankly—
"Hermione! No, look, don't worry. He's just a little upset. I doubt it'll last long. But let's just leave him alone for now. He'll be okay…I think."
"You think?! Harry, we have to—
"There are some things you don't understand, Hermione. There are some things neither of us can help him with."
"Is this about that stupid point-system theory that's been spreading around?" I said, sounding harsher than I intended to. Harry looked surprised.
"How-how did you- You're a girl; you're not suppose to know about that!"
"I think you need to yell it louder, Harry. I don't think they heard you in the Great Hall loud enough that last time," I retorted sarcastically. "So, it is about that then?"
He was silent for a few seconds staring at the stone floor. Then he slowly nodded. Suddenly, anger coursed through my body.
"I knew it! I just knew he'd believe that stupid…ugh!" I started pacing at this point. Poor Harry just stood there in silence looking slightly fearful. Some part of my mind told me to calm down for Harry's sake, but I didn't listen. "So I guess he's somewhere mopping? Feeling sorry for himself? I still can't believe he doesn't get it. He knows I like him. I mean, you know I like him, right? Every person in this entire school knows I like him. Why does he still question that? Why doesn't that git of a best friend we have doesn't just come out and say he likes me and get it over with so we can both be happy—
"Because he was scared of rejection." That wasn't Harry's voice. That was Ron's. I stopped pacing and stared wide-eyed at Harry. He was looking down the stairs and I began to hear slow footsteps ascending them. Harry then turned to me smiling.
"I…uh…have some homework to do. I'll see you later." With that, he walked towards me and gave me a quick kiss on the cheek before heading in the direction of our common room. I could still hear the footsteps coming up the stairs, but I was too scared to look down them. Instead, I moved back against the wall. I wanted to yell to Harry. Tell him to come back. To be my protective big brother and save me from Ron. But a greater part of me wanted to stay there. To wait 'til Ron reached the landing. To finally get everything out in the open.
"Hi," Ron said. I didn't want to look up yet. And I didn't need to. I could feel him. He was about a two meters away from me, but his presence surrounded me. The world suddenly disappeared and all I could sense was Ron.
"I…uh…I guess we have a lot to talk about," he said. I forced myself to look up. As soon as I saw him, I was very glad I did. There he stood, clean and fresh, looking very shy and timid. How could I have been scared of him? There was nothing scary about him at all. On the contrary, he looked adorable. I gave him a small smile.
"Yeah. Yeah, we do."
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A/N Thanks again for the reviews, suggestions, and comments. More feedback would be wonderful. Please review.
