When lunch came they sat themselves down across from Fred and George who were smirking evilly about something.
"I'm starved!" exclaimed Ron helping himself to some Yorkshire pudding. As harry reached over to get some himself he saw George slip a dark pink something in Rons drink out of the corner of his eye. Ron reached for his pumpkin juice. Hermione had noticed it too.
"Ron I don't think you should..." but it was to late. As he took a large gulp a dreamy expression came over his face. He was staring avidly across the room at something. The closest Harry had ever seen to this look was when Ron looked at Fleur Delacour. He knew she definetly couldnt be here but he looked up almost expecting to see a cascade of silvery hair. There was no Fleur only unfortunate Eloise Midgeon with a particularly bad case of acne and her unkempt hair falling out of its tie.
"Ron!", exclaimed Hermione misreading the expression, "Shes not that bad! You shouldn't judge people by thier exterior! And even if she was the most awful person on earth its still rude to stare!" she reached to the other side of Harry and jabbed Ron in the ribs with her wand.
"Whazzat?" he said dreamily, "your completely right Hermione."
This wasn't what Hermione had been expecting. She looked at Harry bewildered who shrugged just as confused.
Through the rest of Lunch Ron acted, to put it moderatly, strangely. He kept on finding excuses to walk past a Eloise Midgeons table. What's more he would do wierd things whenever he passed her. On his 5th trip for another jug of pumpkin juice from the other tables (they were practically swimming in it by now), he stoped dramatically in front of Eloise and picked a fight with a burly passing 7th year for stepping on his foot, shouting out random insults and challenges sounding much like the esteemed Sir Cadogan. Eloise looked alarmed, so did the 7th year after being called a scoundrel son of a turnip.
Hermione buried her face in her hands.
"What does he think he's doing?"
Harry was staring at Ron with his mouth open.
"That's the best insult he think of? 'scoundrel son of a turnip'?"
"I think we have more pressing issues then his insulting ability Harry! Like the fact he's about to get turned into a dungbeetle by a very angry 7th year! What has gotten into him!?" for Ron and the 7th year where now siding around each other eyes narrowed wands out. Fred and George snickered. Hermione turned sharply and bore down on them her eyes narrowing dangerously. Sensing danger George thought it best just confess while talking very fast.
"He's under the influence," said George hastily.
"Of a love potion. We are testing out the dosage for an new sweet 'affection confection' to befuddle your friends and confuse your enemies! I reckon we put a bit too much in his drink Don't you George?"
"Looks like it. And looks like the unfortunate object of his affection is none other then Eloise Midgeon. Well don't worry it should wear off in at least a few hours. Or was it a few days?"
"Cant really remember. Well I think we've had enough of this delicious meal," said Fred sensing danger pulsating from Hermiones direction. "toodles!" and he and George hurried away stopping briefly to gaze happily at Ron who the 7th year now had in a headlock.
"The nerve of those two!" Hermione proclaimed gazing pityingly at Ron.
"So thet's Ron flirting?" Harry asked in disbelief. "Well we can't sit here watching his public humiliation. We have to get him out of here!" Harry said firmly getting up and starting toward the struggle which had drawn every eye in the breakfast hall including Professor Snapes.
"Quick before Snape gets there first and takes away points."
Harry and Hermione with some difficulty pried Ron away from the fight both dragging him away by an arm while he struggled still shaking his fist and shooting hopeful glances in Eloises direction.
"I'm starved!" exclaimed Ron helping himself to some Yorkshire pudding. As harry reached over to get some himself he saw George slip a dark pink something in Rons drink out of the corner of his eye. Ron reached for his pumpkin juice. Hermione had noticed it too.
"Ron I don't think you should..." but it was to late. As he took a large gulp a dreamy expression came over his face. He was staring avidly across the room at something. The closest Harry had ever seen to this look was when Ron looked at Fleur Delacour. He knew she definetly couldnt be here but he looked up almost expecting to see a cascade of silvery hair. There was no Fleur only unfortunate Eloise Midgeon with a particularly bad case of acne and her unkempt hair falling out of its tie.
"Ron!", exclaimed Hermione misreading the expression, "Shes not that bad! You shouldn't judge people by thier exterior! And even if she was the most awful person on earth its still rude to stare!" she reached to the other side of Harry and jabbed Ron in the ribs with her wand.
"Whazzat?" he said dreamily, "your completely right Hermione."
This wasn't what Hermione had been expecting. She looked at Harry bewildered who shrugged just as confused.
Through the rest of Lunch Ron acted, to put it moderatly, strangely. He kept on finding excuses to walk past a Eloise Midgeons table. What's more he would do wierd things whenever he passed her. On his 5th trip for another jug of pumpkin juice from the other tables (they were practically swimming in it by now), he stoped dramatically in front of Eloise and picked a fight with a burly passing 7th year for stepping on his foot, shouting out random insults and challenges sounding much like the esteemed Sir Cadogan. Eloise looked alarmed, so did the 7th year after being called a scoundrel son of a turnip.
Hermione buried her face in her hands.
"What does he think he's doing?"
Harry was staring at Ron with his mouth open.
"That's the best insult he think of? 'scoundrel son of a turnip'?"
"I think we have more pressing issues then his insulting ability Harry! Like the fact he's about to get turned into a dungbeetle by a very angry 7th year! What has gotten into him!?" for Ron and the 7th year where now siding around each other eyes narrowed wands out. Fred and George snickered. Hermione turned sharply and bore down on them her eyes narrowing dangerously. Sensing danger George thought it best just confess while talking very fast.
"He's under the influence," said George hastily.
"Of a love potion. We are testing out the dosage for an new sweet 'affection confection' to befuddle your friends and confuse your enemies! I reckon we put a bit too much in his drink Don't you George?"
"Looks like it. And looks like the unfortunate object of his affection is none other then Eloise Midgeon. Well don't worry it should wear off in at least a few hours. Or was it a few days?"
"Cant really remember. Well I think we've had enough of this delicious meal," said Fred sensing danger pulsating from Hermiones direction. "toodles!" and he and George hurried away stopping briefly to gaze happily at Ron who the 7th year now had in a headlock.
"The nerve of those two!" Hermione proclaimed gazing pityingly at Ron.
"So thet's Ron flirting?" Harry asked in disbelief. "Well we can't sit here watching his public humiliation. We have to get him out of here!" Harry said firmly getting up and starting toward the struggle which had drawn every eye in the breakfast hall including Professor Snapes.
"Quick before Snape gets there first and takes away points."
Harry and Hermione with some difficulty pried Ron away from the fight both dragging him away by an arm while he struggled still shaking his fist and shooting hopeful glances in Eloises direction.