AUTHOR'S NOTE: I think people might notice a few inconsistencies with this chapter in comparison to the real books. For one, Alicia is still the captain of the quidditch team, even though I believe she should have graduated. We'll just go with it, mmkay? Also, Ron is still nervous about playing quidditch, despite having played before. The setting for this story is 6th year, and while he did play 5th year, he's still nervous. Good. Glad we got that settled. :-P Now, the story.
When Monday rolled around, things had returned to relative normalcy. But still, the weekend's events replayed in Ron's mind over and over. *Did she notice how I was acting? Did I look like a git? Do I even have a chance at pushing things farther than friends?* By Friday, Alicia pointed out that perhaps Ron was spending a bit too much time daydreaming—or perhaps it would be more appropriate to say that a bludger brought this fact to Ron's attention.
"RON!" Alicia bellowed, as he was nearly unseated by the wild black ball. "We have a match TOMORROW! Get your head out of the clouds! That bludger could have been a quaffle, which could easily have meant ten points for Slytherin, now GET WITH IT!"
Ron shook himself. Alicia was right. The match against Slytherin could not be taken lightly—he had to focus. In the back of his mind he saw the stands crawling with people, and one particular face in the crowd stayed with him as he dodged the next four bludgers to come his way.
The ceiling of the great hall still glowed with a mimic sunrise when Ron and Harry sat down to breakfast. Harry, fully accustomed to pre-game jitters, shoveled some eggs onto his plate, while Ron stared at his own nervously.
"Eat up, Ron, you'll need the energy," Harry said, motioning at the table of food. After a few minutes, Alicia approached the two, just as Ron was beginning to dissect a muffin.
"We're going to head down to the pitch now. Be down in ten minutes," she instructed as she swept by them. Following just behind her was Padma Patil. Harry gave Ron an anxious look.
"Hi Harry," Padma said somewhat shyly. "Good luck at the game today."
"Oh," Harry stuttered, caught a little off guard. "Thanks, Padma."
"Would, um… would you mind if I walked down to the quidditch pitch with you?"
Harry smiled as he hopped out of his seat. "Sure!" However, he hesitated as Ron remained in his seat.
Ron looked up. "Go on, Harry. I'll see you in ten."
"Thanks, Ron. And try to finish—well—doing whatever it is you're doing to that muffin." Ron watched him exit with Padma, slightly envious.
"Seriously Ron, you can't digest a muffin with your hands."
"Hermione!" Ron shrieked at the sound of her voice. She was sitting right across from him. "What are you doing here?"
"Eating breakfast. Though the same cannot be said for you, I see." She gave a coy smile that made Ron blush. "You look nervous. Let me walk you down to the quidditch pitch."
"Ahhh…" Ron's mouth failed him. "Thatidbegreat!" he finally slurred. She waited patiently for some of the muffin to actually reach his mouth before they left the Great Hall and moseyed to the pitch, talking casually until they reached their destination.
"Well, I'm going to head to the stands. I want to have a good seat," Hermione smiled again. Ron returned the smile, as his mind hissed at him, *Say something!* But before he could he felt her arms wrapped tightly around him. "Good luck, Ron," she said softly, "I know you'll do great." The next thing Ron knew, her bushy brown hair was headed in the direction opposite him as she ran towards the stands.
"Ready, Ron?" Alicia asked a few minutes later as they stood under the bleachers, prepared to enter the pitch.
"Oh yes," Ron grinned. As the team members kicked off their brooms in various directions, Ron rushed towards the goalpost on his end of the field. He flew through the air on his broomstick, and still grinning himself, thought for a moment that he wouldn't really need his broomstick to fly today.