The Over-Sized Ego Returns

Disclaimer: I do not own the wonderful words of J.K.Rowling

A/N: Oh my gosh. I must be dreaming... 17 reviews for one chapter!? I have never, ever, EVER gotten that wonderful of a response before, and you really don't know how much it means to me. I thank you endlessly, you're all so grand! And... even though every ounce of common sense is telling me not to go further than a ficlet- I'm going to anyway : ) Ah, sleep is for suckers, right? It still won't be that long, but it won't be incredibly short either. Alright, alright, on with the story....

"He swerves to the right, dodging a bludger, and diving toward the snitch! Not to be distracted, of course, Weasley blocks yet another goal, in fact... simultaneous with Potter's catch of the snitch!"

At these words the majority of the stadium erupted into cheers, as students began pouring onto the field. The team in scarlet lowered their brooms, each donning grins of achievement. Harry reached the ground first, with Ron following right behind. They were soon engulfed by the cheering crowd, an occasional pump of the fist rising above their heads.

The mass of cheering students moved almost as one, as they marched across the field and toward Hogwarts in triumph. Hermione watched from the nearly empty stadium, listening to the happy shouts of the students. Gathering her things, she skipped across the benches, until she finally met the ground.

Up ahead she could see Ron celebrating with a smug grin. His expression disturbed her a little- it had changed so much since the first game he had won, when it was filled with pure joy. His confident stride toward the school was that of someone who had just conquered Mount Everest, and he swung an arm around some Ravenclaw, who was apparently praising him with compliments.

Enough was enough.

Sure she was happy for him. But, things had gotten way out of hand. She was surprised in herself, actually, that she could have let this tirade of arrogance go on for so long. Yes, it was certainly time for her to speak up, and speak up she would... tonight.



Hermione stepped into the extremely noisy common room, where remnants of that night's victory party still lingered. She spotted Ron sitting on the couch along with a large number of sixth and seventh years. Apparently this party was for all houses (excluding Slytherin, of course) because there were several people she did not recognize. She had been planning to confront Ron after the party, when the number of occupants had dwindled down, but it had been going on for several hours and the party remained in full-swing. Deciding she would never be able to catch Ron with out a gaggle of followers, she took a deep breath and stepped up to him. All she had to do was ask him to step outside for a private chat, and that would prove to be very easy.

Ron proved her wrong.

"What?" he asked distractedly, laughing at a joke some Ravenclaw had apparently just made.

"I was saying," Hermione was growing a bit impatient at having to repeat herself, "that we need to talk."

Ron pulled his eyes away from the group he was casually chatting with. "Er.. we're talking right now, aren't we?"

"No," Hermione amended, ignoring his less than friendly response, "I mean, er- alone."

Ron leaned back onto the couch, and gave her a disinterested frown. "I'm a bit busy at the moment, actually." Several surrounding people snickered at the surprised look on Hermione's face.

An enraged wave of emotion washed through her; she was shocked as it was easily identified as anger, instead of the hurt she would have expected.

"Ronald Weasley," she demanded fiercely, hovering over him. "What is wrong with you?!"

"What's wrong with me?" he asked coolly, raising a brow at the fuming girl. "I'm not the one going red in the face and sputtering like mad."

"You're such, you're such a-" she began hotly, frustration muddling her words, "a pretentious idiot who cares about nothing and no one but himself!"

"Okay then, Hermione," he said, giving a haughty sigh. "Now, just because you jealous, you don't have to-"

"I am not jealous!" Hermione shouted, amazed at his incredible insolence. "I'm just fed up with the amount of arrogance that has recently filled your bombastic head!"

Without waiting for a response she fled from the common room, her head spinning. She knew Ron had gotten bad, but this was outrageous.



Hermione sat in the library, trying hard to concentrate on her Potions Essay. Sighing wearily at the hopeless attempt, she set the book down and stared out at the darkening sky. The act of going to the library, she had to admit, was to more than anything avoid Ron. The incident in the common room had rather shaken her- before she'd been sure all he needed was a good lecture. Now however, the chance of that wasn't very promising.

Glancing over at her book, she reluctantly picked it up again and skimmed through the passages, accepting anything that would possibly divert her thoughts.

"Hermione?" The voice startled her, causing her to drop the book and several parchments in surprise. She turned quickly around to see who had called her, and saw Harry's tentative face.

She gave a slight smile in greeting, as she bent down to pick up the fallen objects. He walked over and knelt down, helping her gather the papers.

"Thanks," she said, accepting the parchments from Harry, and setting them on the table.

Harry nodded, and he took a seat beside her. "So, um- you alright?"

Hermione gave a slight nod and looked back down at the table. "I'm fine."

"Listen," said Harry, "I'm really sorry. I think I've been acting a bit.. different, too."

Hermione shook her head. "That's alright. You haven't been that bad."

Harry rested his arm on the table and frowned. "He just- he's not used to all the glory, you know? After a while, he'll... settle.."

"After awhile?" she repeated, almost laughing. "It's practically been a year, Harry. How much longer does he need?"

"Yeah, you're right," he agreed, nodding slowly. "I'll talk to him, alright?"

Hermione gave a weak smile in response. "Thanks."



"Hey Harry," Ron grinned, as Harry walked into their dormitory. "Where've you been? You missed a smashing party."

Harry walked across the room, and nodded absently. "I went to the library."

"The library?" Ron snorted. "What on earth did you go there for?"

"Hermione."

Ron's grin immediately disappeared. "What? Why?"

"Well she seemed really upset, Ron," Harry started, walking across his room. "And I sort of think she's right-"

"You think she's right?" Ron repeated, giving an astonished bark of laughter. "What do you mean, she's right?"

"About what she said before, in the common room."

"When she said we were arrogant?" He asked, giving a slight grin. "Eh, don't worry about it Harry. You're not arrogant. She was always one to babble endlessly about nonsense, wasn't she?"

Harry frowned. As much as he agreed he had gotten carried away with conceit, he didn't recall Hermione yelling at him for being arrogant. Wasn't Ron affected at all?

"Ron-"

"Listen Harry," Ron said, lazily leaning back against his pillow. "Don't worry about her. We've got loads of other friends now, and we haven't had to hear one of her dragging lectures for ages. Bit of a relief, actually." Ron smiled at this and reached out to draw his bed-hangings. "Night Harry."

Harry stared at his friend's curtain shielded bed in astonishment.

He really had changed.

A/N: Okay, I know, I know, Ron's still a complete git. Unfortunately, he will be for the majority of the story. But without a gittish Ron, there wouldn't be a fic afterall, eh? Don't worry, he'll come around... eventually ; )

btw.. Hermione didn't attack him hard enough this chap, I know, but don't worry.. she surely will strike again... and I promise it'll be better.

Thanks (again) for the reviews... I'd love for you to keep 'em coming!