It was a bright and sunny Saturday. A slight breeze was floating its way across the grounds, and it served to cool off the students milling about the Quidditch pitch. There was an undercurrent of excitement and tension as the Gryffindor Quidditch tryouts were about to begin.
One individual in particular was feeling the strain, but for an altogether different reason. For the past week, Ron Weasley had been attempting to talk to Hermione Granger, but had been met with silent resistance.
In the evening following their kiss, Ron had anxiously awaited Hermione's return. Half-heartedly engaged in a game of chess with his latest challenger, Dean, Ron had snapped to attention when Hermione suddenly appeared.
Ron's happiness quickly turned to confusion as Hermione walked straight past as if she hadn't noticed him there at all. Ron grew more worried when he saw the puffiness in her face and red-rimmed eyes indicative of crying.
Resolving to get to the bottom of things, Ron had excused himself from the game and run up after Hermione.
After he inquired as to why she looked so upset, Ron had been stunned by the look of absolute anger on her face. She had witheringly replied "I'm not talking to you, Ron," then strode stiffly into her dormitory room. Ron followed her up to the door, thoroughly confused and now a bit upset himself. Before he could reply, however, Hermione had slammed the door in his face.
Flabbergasted and annoyed, Ron had screamed back, "Fine! Whatever! Girls are so damned batty!" then brushed past Parvati and Lavender and they approached, ignoring their looks of astonishment.
Since then, Ron and Hermione had been giving each other the silent treatment. When Harry had asked Ron what was going on, Ron shook his head and refused to discuss it. Their behavior, in Harry's opinion, was a near perfect replica of their third year battle.
The difference this time was that Harry now had someone else to help keep him occupied and entertained, so he wasn't so stressed out about the situation. Having heard about their passionate kiss (along with the rest of Hogwarts), Harry figured they'd work it out and be back to snogging in no time.
To make matters worse, Headmaster Dumbledore had announced that an Autumn Ball would be held on Halloween night. Upon hearing the news, the four of them had all blushed and avoided each other's gaze, much to the amusement of the rest of Gryffindor, who now all had running bets on whether the two almost couples would make it to the Ball, and the times and locations the invitations would occur at.
The worst thing was, Ron had no bloody idea why they were fighting in the first place. He'd tried asking Ginny, but she succinctly told him if he wanted information, he'd better be talking to Hermione.
Lightly pushing his broom handle from side to side in his hands, Ron pondered what he could have possibly done to mess up.
"Hey." Ron looked up, and smiled slightly at Harry, then looked back down at his feet.
"Still thinking bout Hermione?" Harry inquired.
"Yeah," was Ron's short reply.
"Well think fast, because she's heading this way."
Following the direction of Harry's gaze, Ron observed Hermione and Ginny making their way towards them. Harry and Ron both shifted over to give them room.
Ginny smiled encouragingly at Ron. "You nervous?"
Ron gave it thought. "A bit, but that's mostly just not wanting to embarrass myself."
"Don't worry, you're a Weasley. Quidditch is in our blood! You're going to be great."
Ron reached over and ruffled her hair affectionately. "Thanks, squirt." Ginny stuck her tongue out in retaliation.
Silence reigned as everyone waited for Hermione to speak. She had been staring out at the pitch during Ron and Ginny's conversation. When she looked up, her gaze locked with Ron's.
In that moment, Ron wanted nothing more to apologize whatever it was he'd done, just so those eyes of hers would look upon his with affection. Hermione looked as if she'd like to reconcile as well, and she opened her mouth to speak. Before she could, though, she was interrupted.
"Morning all." Draco Malfoy stood, surprisingly without the company of his guards.
"What are you doing here, Draco? This is a Gryffindor tryout!" Harry's voice rang with authority, perhaps due to his recent election as Captain.
"Relax, scarhead. I'm not here to spy on your little session." Draco turned towards Hermione.
"May I speak with you a moment? In private?"
Hermione looked startled, and Ron interjected quickly, "No, you can't, now go fuck off like a good boy."
Before Draco could respond, Hermione stood and hissed back, "I can speak for myself, thank you!"
Ron watched helplessly as Hermione consented to Malfoy' request, and she and Draco walked about thirty feet away near a cluster of trees.
He strained to hear their conversation, but all the activity around was concealing their words.
"Calm down, Ron," Ginny gently cautioned. "Don't worry about Hermione. Concentrate on your tryout."
"How can I concentrate when that prick is doing and saying God knows what to her?"
"Hermione is well able to take care of herself, and you have nothing to fear as far as Malfoy's concerned. She's still very much enamored with you. Though I certainly can't imagine why. I thought she was smart!"
Ron took Ginny's affectionate barb in stride, focusing on one particular part.
"She's still…I mean, she still wants…..us?" Ginny glanced over to make sure Hermione was still far off, then nodded quickly.
"C'mon Gin, tell me what's going on. I don't even know what I've messed up on!"
"Think very hard Ron. Think about anything you're read recently, specifically put to parchment." Ginny strongly emphasized that last word.
It took him a bit, but Ron got the hint.
"Bugger." Ron rubbed his face tiredly, then muttered, "She knows, eh?"
Ginny nodded.
"Well, now, that makes sense. Privacy, and all that."
"Yes, and I for one can't believe you did that!"
"It wasn't on purp-" Ron cut off as Hermione returned, her face flushed slightly.
Everyone looked at her, waiting for the reason Draco wanted to speak to her.
Fed up with their stares, Hermione snapped, "He asked me to the dance, alright?"
Ron's jaw dropped. He saw the same expression mirrored on Harry's face. Ginny, on the other hand, did not appear very surprised.
Hermione continued, "He apologized for his past behavior, and said he'd really like to get to know me better."
Ron's tone cut in harshly. "And what did you say?"
Hermione continued on as if Ron hadn't spoken.
"I think Draco is actually realizing that his family is on the wrong side. He truly seems to be making an effort to be nicer, and I think his invitation was sincere."
"And what did you say?"
"It was really quite brave of him to come here, surrounded by all of Gryffindor. Perhaps we've misjudged him. He could actually be a decent sort of fellow, underneath all the nasty remarks."
"And. What. Did. You. Say?!" Ron practically yelled, drawing the attention of several other Gryffindors.
Hermione went silent. Harry and Ginny both looked at them worriedly. Ron stared at Hermione, inwardly pleading for her to speak. When she did not, Ron knew the answer.
Just then, Ron's name was called by Angelina to try out. He looked at Hermione a minute more, then abruptly grabbed his broom and stormed down the risers and onto the pitch.
Damn her, he thought to himself as he shot off towards the goals. Damn her and the way she makes me feel. Fine then, Malfoy can have her. They deserve each other. They'll go and have a grand time. She might as well switch houses while she's at it. Manipulative, deceitful scarlet woman, she is. She'll fit right in.
Ron's fury swelled inside him, fueling his body with an angry, vicious sort of energy.
Hermione was gone. He'd had his chance, and he'd royally pissed it away. And now she was dating the person he loathed more than anyone on Earth, save Voldemort.
He might not get the girl, Ron thought grimly to himself as he assumed his position and prepared for Katie's first attempt. He might not be rich like Malfoy, or a hero like Harry. However, he absolutely refused to fail again. He was going to prove something to everyone, and most importantly himself.
He was damn well going to be Gryffindor Keeper.
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Sorry so short! More hopefully in the next three days, by Wednesday at the latest. I also have to finish the last chapter of Lunch Break, and that's first, so we'll see how it goes. I have to tell you guys, don't hate Hermione! All will be explained next chapter.
To give you a bit of a clue, next chapter's title will be called "Making Up," and the last will be "The Ball." There will be a fluffy epilogue to follow and then this baby is all done!