Chapter 6
"Weas – Ron!"
Ron, Harry and Hermione were all trooping up the stairs when someone called out to Ron. They all knew who that voice belonged to, but they had never once heard that voice call him by his first name. Or, maybe it was just someone who sounded a lot like him? No...that's not possible, his nasty little voice was one of a kind. But, it couldn't be...
"MALFOY?"
Draco Malfoy only smirked, and walked up the stairs to the halfway point, where they were currently standing. Once he reached them, he only continued to smirk, but instead of making a snide remark about the state of Ron's robes, he casually extended his arm.
"What? What do you want from me?"
Malfoy sighed dramatically, and rolled his eyes.
"I've come to make a truce, Ron-ald," he began, putting emphasis on the way he said his name. "As I'm dating your sister, she has asked of me to come to somewhat good terms with you, so that is what I'm doing." It was as though he was explaining why 2 2 = 4 to a dimwitted three year old. Ron looked at him with revulsion written on his face at the mere mention of Malfoy dating Ginny.
"Ugh...please don't remind me."
"Ha! Ha! Not enjoying it, are you? Well, you better get used to this, I'm planning to make this a long term thing."
"WHAT!" Ron flung himself forward and grabbed Malfoy by the neck with both his hands, sending his books flying. Harry and Hermione instinctively grabbed his shoulders and pried him off Malfoy. "I'LL KILL YOU!" he yelled, flapping his now free-of-Malfoy's-neck hands around in the air.
"Ron! Calm – down!" Harry grunted, noticing that Malfoy has smirking and looking very smug.
"Honestly, Ron-ald, I'm trying to be your friend," he said, now absently picking at a stray string hanging from his sleeve.
"If – (ugh) – you're trying to be my friend (grunt) you'll (Harry, let go!) stop – dating – my – sister!"
"My dear boy, that won't happen anytime soon, as I care deeply about her, and I have shown her that I do." His smirk became wider. "Are you...trying to tell me something, Malfoy?"
"Maybe..."
"WHAT DID YOU DO TO GINNY?!"
"Shown her how much I care."
"ARE YOU SHAGGING HER?"
Ah, Ron had hit the right spot. Malfoy grinned mischievously (which was slightly eerie as none of them had ever seen Malfoy grin before). Ron's face turned purple, and he sputtered,
"NEVERMIND! NEVERMIND! DON'T ANSWER THAT!"
Calmly, Malfoy presented Ron with his outstretched hand once again, and said,
"Fine, truce?"
"Fine...just as long as you keep your hands to yourself and off my sister."
"I'll try." Ron shook his hand reluctantly and Malfoy glided down the stairs again, but before reaching the bottom, he yelled, "Good luck with Loony! Ha! Ha!"
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
By the time February had rolled around, everyone in the school had found out that Ron Weasley, best friend of the Boy Who Lived, and brother to the only Gryffindor that Malfoy would date, was dating Loony Lovegood. It had been what – two months since their first kiss, and already, Dean Thomas and Seamus Finnigan were making fun of him, asking him if the engagement was to be announced any time soon. Too many times, Ron had exploded at the rumors and constant teasing, but noticed that Luna seemed unaffected, even when the mean girls asked her, "Why would he date you?" so he decided to ask her about this. Her reply?
"Ronald, its no use getting mad at every single person who makes fun of you. Besides, they're just showing you how insecure they are. Just brush them off, Ronald, as long as we know what's right, that's all that matters."
- - - - - - - - - - - -
February 14th seemed to creep up on Ron, and before he knew it, he was heading out the great front doors hand-in-hand with Luna, while she carried an enormous picnic basket in the other. A week ago, Luna had asked Ron to spend Valentine's Day with her looking for Silver Winged Betorkles near the Lake, as they liked still waters and shrubs. He didn't know what Silver Winged Betorkles were, or why he had agreed, but he couldn't have been happier to spend time with his special someone.
As they neared the Lake, Luna began to skip in excitement.
"Oh, Ronald! This is so exciting! Suppose we do find a Silver Winged Betorkle! Wouldn't that be fabulous?" She could hardly contain her excitement. Ron squeezed her hand, and smiled.
"Yeah, it would."
Finding a nice spot under a huge tree, Luna dropped off the enormous picnic basket, attaching a note to the handle, which read, "Ron and Luna's lunch. Please do not steal" and grabbed Ron's hand again, running to the nearest bush.
"Now Ronald," she started, squatting down and poking her head into the bush. "Remember that the Betorkle is very shy, so you mustn't upset it. Also, if you see a flash of silver, run after it as fast as you can. They're actually pretty speedy." The upper half of her body was now completely buried into the bush, and her voice was muffled. "Come help, Ronald!" Ron, fearing that there might be spiders hiding amongst the bushes, gingerly parted its branches and stuck his head in like Luna had done.
"How, exactly, do we go about looking for them?" he asked, suddenly aware of how strange this scene would look from outside spectators.
"They make nests of the foot of bushes. We're trying to find the nest, to see if they're in there. The nests look like little gopher holes, so you want to be careful not to get your hand stuck in one."
"Ah, OK."
They searched bush after bush, and they could not find a single Betorkle nest, and Ron's grumbling stomach caused him to ask Luna if they could go have lunch.
"Oh, of course Ronald, I'm so sorry!"
Sitting down underneath the shade of the tree, Ron leaned against the trunk, one arm wrapped around Luna's waist as she opened the picnic basket and handed him a giant sandwich.
"Turkey! My favoritist sandwich!" he exclaimed, kissing her on the cheek.
"There's no such word as favoritist, Ronald."
"There is now" he implied, taking a huge bite out of the sandwich, when he noticed a flash of silver beside his ear. He heard Luna gasp. "Ronald! You've attracted a Silver Winged Betorkle!"
And so he had. As he focused his attention on the flash of silver that was buzzing near his ear, he realized he had never seen such a strange creature. It looked to be something like a Dalmatian puppy, spotted with silver, with silver wings, which reminded him briefly of Buckbeak. It looked longingly at Ron's sandwich, before whimpering.
"Ronald! This is excellent! He wants part of your sandwich! It's a peace offering!" Luna's eyes were wider than usual, and she stretched out a hand to try to pet it. The Betorkle just flew back an inch, continuing to stare at Ron's sandwich, whimpering.
"But – but – this is my sandwich!" He tightened his grip around the sandwich protectively.
"Don't be silly Ronald, I've packed you three more! Now hurry, give the Betorkle a piece before it flies away!"
Hearing that he still had three more turkey sandwiches, he (rather reluctantly) ripped off a piece of turkey sandwich, and held it in his palm for the Betorkle to claim it. It flew right into his hand, and devoured his sandwich, and flew away. Ron thought Luna would be disappointed that it didn't stay longer, but on the contrary, she was smiling widely.
"This is so exciting! He's gone to get others!"
She was right, the next minute, the same Betorkle came back, followed by a flock of other Betorkles, and they all sat themselves on Ron's body.
"Hey! Hey! Get off! No! That's my sandwich!" The Betorkles had begun to nibble at his sandwich, and he was about to protest to Luna when he saw how happy she was, so he decided to pass the sandwich on to her, so that she could get a chance to pet one. She squealed in excitement, having ten Silver Winged Betorkles on her, and squealed even louder when the smallest (possibly the youngest) Betorkle nestled itself on the crook of her neck, licking her ear.
The sandwich was gone, and all but the smallest Betorkle had flown away. Luna took the remaining Betorkle and held it in her hands, admiring it from every angle. She looked up at Ron.
"Oh Ronald! This has been the best Valentine's Day! Thank you!" Ron found himself lost, and no longer fuming about the lost turkey sandwich, when Luna kissed him, and Ron pulled her – and the Betorkle, closer to him.
Author's note: Seeing that I don't have a copy of the Fantastic Beasts book, I have no idea what the Silver Winged Betorkle really looks like. So my apologies for getting it wrong!
"Weas – Ron!"
Ron, Harry and Hermione were all trooping up the stairs when someone called out to Ron. They all knew who that voice belonged to, but they had never once heard that voice call him by his first name. Or, maybe it was just someone who sounded a lot like him? No...that's not possible, his nasty little voice was one of a kind. But, it couldn't be...
"MALFOY?"
Draco Malfoy only smirked, and walked up the stairs to the halfway point, where they were currently standing. Once he reached them, he only continued to smirk, but instead of making a snide remark about the state of Ron's robes, he casually extended his arm.
"What? What do you want from me?"
Malfoy sighed dramatically, and rolled his eyes.
"I've come to make a truce, Ron-ald," he began, putting emphasis on the way he said his name. "As I'm dating your sister, she has asked of me to come to somewhat good terms with you, so that is what I'm doing." It was as though he was explaining why 2 2 = 4 to a dimwitted three year old. Ron looked at him with revulsion written on his face at the mere mention of Malfoy dating Ginny.
"Ugh...please don't remind me."
"Ha! Ha! Not enjoying it, are you? Well, you better get used to this, I'm planning to make this a long term thing."
"WHAT!" Ron flung himself forward and grabbed Malfoy by the neck with both his hands, sending his books flying. Harry and Hermione instinctively grabbed his shoulders and pried him off Malfoy. "I'LL KILL YOU!" he yelled, flapping his now free-of-Malfoy's-neck hands around in the air.
"Ron! Calm – down!" Harry grunted, noticing that Malfoy has smirking and looking very smug.
"Honestly, Ron-ald, I'm trying to be your friend," he said, now absently picking at a stray string hanging from his sleeve.
"If – (ugh) – you're trying to be my friend (grunt) you'll (Harry, let go!) stop – dating – my – sister!"
"My dear boy, that won't happen anytime soon, as I care deeply about her, and I have shown her that I do." His smirk became wider. "Are you...trying to tell me something, Malfoy?"
"Maybe..."
"WHAT DID YOU DO TO GINNY?!"
"Shown her how much I care."
"ARE YOU SHAGGING HER?"
Ah, Ron had hit the right spot. Malfoy grinned mischievously (which was slightly eerie as none of them had ever seen Malfoy grin before). Ron's face turned purple, and he sputtered,
"NEVERMIND! NEVERMIND! DON'T ANSWER THAT!"
Calmly, Malfoy presented Ron with his outstretched hand once again, and said,
"Fine, truce?"
"Fine...just as long as you keep your hands to yourself and off my sister."
"I'll try." Ron shook his hand reluctantly and Malfoy glided down the stairs again, but before reaching the bottom, he yelled, "Good luck with Loony! Ha! Ha!"
- - - - - - - - - - - - -
By the time February had rolled around, everyone in the school had found out that Ron Weasley, best friend of the Boy Who Lived, and brother to the only Gryffindor that Malfoy would date, was dating Loony Lovegood. It had been what – two months since their first kiss, and already, Dean Thomas and Seamus Finnigan were making fun of him, asking him if the engagement was to be announced any time soon. Too many times, Ron had exploded at the rumors and constant teasing, but noticed that Luna seemed unaffected, even when the mean girls asked her, "Why would he date you?" so he decided to ask her about this. Her reply?
"Ronald, its no use getting mad at every single person who makes fun of you. Besides, they're just showing you how insecure they are. Just brush them off, Ronald, as long as we know what's right, that's all that matters."
- - - - - - - - - - - -
February 14th seemed to creep up on Ron, and before he knew it, he was heading out the great front doors hand-in-hand with Luna, while she carried an enormous picnic basket in the other. A week ago, Luna had asked Ron to spend Valentine's Day with her looking for Silver Winged Betorkles near the Lake, as they liked still waters and shrubs. He didn't know what Silver Winged Betorkles were, or why he had agreed, but he couldn't have been happier to spend time with his special someone.
As they neared the Lake, Luna began to skip in excitement.
"Oh, Ronald! This is so exciting! Suppose we do find a Silver Winged Betorkle! Wouldn't that be fabulous?" She could hardly contain her excitement. Ron squeezed her hand, and smiled.
"Yeah, it would."
Finding a nice spot under a huge tree, Luna dropped off the enormous picnic basket, attaching a note to the handle, which read, "Ron and Luna's lunch. Please do not steal" and grabbed Ron's hand again, running to the nearest bush.
"Now Ronald," she started, squatting down and poking her head into the bush. "Remember that the Betorkle is very shy, so you mustn't upset it. Also, if you see a flash of silver, run after it as fast as you can. They're actually pretty speedy." The upper half of her body was now completely buried into the bush, and her voice was muffled. "Come help, Ronald!" Ron, fearing that there might be spiders hiding amongst the bushes, gingerly parted its branches and stuck his head in like Luna had done.
"How, exactly, do we go about looking for them?" he asked, suddenly aware of how strange this scene would look from outside spectators.
"They make nests of the foot of bushes. We're trying to find the nest, to see if they're in there. The nests look like little gopher holes, so you want to be careful not to get your hand stuck in one."
"Ah, OK."
They searched bush after bush, and they could not find a single Betorkle nest, and Ron's grumbling stomach caused him to ask Luna if they could go have lunch.
"Oh, of course Ronald, I'm so sorry!"
Sitting down underneath the shade of the tree, Ron leaned against the trunk, one arm wrapped around Luna's waist as she opened the picnic basket and handed him a giant sandwich.
"Turkey! My favoritist sandwich!" he exclaimed, kissing her on the cheek.
"There's no such word as favoritist, Ronald."
"There is now" he implied, taking a huge bite out of the sandwich, when he noticed a flash of silver beside his ear. He heard Luna gasp. "Ronald! You've attracted a Silver Winged Betorkle!"
And so he had. As he focused his attention on the flash of silver that was buzzing near his ear, he realized he had never seen such a strange creature. It looked to be something like a Dalmatian puppy, spotted with silver, with silver wings, which reminded him briefly of Buckbeak. It looked longingly at Ron's sandwich, before whimpering.
"Ronald! This is excellent! He wants part of your sandwich! It's a peace offering!" Luna's eyes were wider than usual, and she stretched out a hand to try to pet it. The Betorkle just flew back an inch, continuing to stare at Ron's sandwich, whimpering.
"But – but – this is my sandwich!" He tightened his grip around the sandwich protectively.
"Don't be silly Ronald, I've packed you three more! Now hurry, give the Betorkle a piece before it flies away!"
Hearing that he still had three more turkey sandwiches, he (rather reluctantly) ripped off a piece of turkey sandwich, and held it in his palm for the Betorkle to claim it. It flew right into his hand, and devoured his sandwich, and flew away. Ron thought Luna would be disappointed that it didn't stay longer, but on the contrary, she was smiling widely.
"This is so exciting! He's gone to get others!"
She was right, the next minute, the same Betorkle came back, followed by a flock of other Betorkles, and they all sat themselves on Ron's body.
"Hey! Hey! Get off! No! That's my sandwich!" The Betorkles had begun to nibble at his sandwich, and he was about to protest to Luna when he saw how happy she was, so he decided to pass the sandwich on to her, so that she could get a chance to pet one. She squealed in excitement, having ten Silver Winged Betorkles on her, and squealed even louder when the smallest (possibly the youngest) Betorkle nestled itself on the crook of her neck, licking her ear.
The sandwich was gone, and all but the smallest Betorkle had flown away. Luna took the remaining Betorkle and held it in her hands, admiring it from every angle. She looked up at Ron.
"Oh Ronald! This has been the best Valentine's Day! Thank you!" Ron found himself lost, and no longer fuming about the lost turkey sandwich, when Luna kissed him, and Ron pulled her – and the Betorkle, closer to him.
Author's note: Seeing that I don't have a copy of the Fantastic Beasts book, I have no idea what the Silver Winged Betorkle really looks like. So my apologies for getting it wrong!