"Ron, I'm sorry. How was I to know the bludger had come out of its box? I could barely hear myself think with the wind howling like that." Harry stepped in front of Ron, who had been avoiding him since that day.

That day, when they realized that she liked Harry, not Ron. Harry Potter, the famous wizard who had fended off Voldemort as a baby. Of course she would like Harry. Not Ron. The kid with the flaming red hair and hand-me-down robes. Of course it was Harry.

Why hadn't he realized it before? Ron stared at his feet, at the shoes with holes near the toes. He grimmaced. Why did his life have to be like this? He asked himself.

"Look," Harry whispered uncomfortably. "I didn't know that she liked me. I didn't know..." his voice trailed off as Hermione came around the corner and spotted them.

"Harry! Ron! I've been looking for you everywhere," Hermione said, breathless. She glanced at Harry, standing in front of Ron, who was staring at the ground, his hair falling over his eyes.

"What's wrong?" She took a tentative step toward them, as Ron turned and ran toward the Gryffindor common room.

"What was that?" She asked Harry.

"Nothing. It was nothing," he said, sighing, as he stared at the common room door closing behind his friend.

He stared out at the lake, his red hair rippling in the warm breeze. A tentacle emerged from the water, then sped right back in.

He was sitting under a huge oak tree, his back towards the castle. It was peaceful here. He didn't have to see anyone he didn't want to see. He didn't have to hear anyone he didn't want to hear. He didn't have to see Harry or Hermione. He could just relax and do some thinking.

Why wasn't the bludger strapped into the box, like it was supposed to be? The only explanation he could think of was that Harry had unstrapped it, hoping that something would knock the top off.

"But Harry wouldn't do that. He said he doesn't like her. He said he likes someone else. But he won't say who. He says that she knows he doesn't like her." he thought aloud.

He stood up, facing the castle. There was only one thing he could do. He would listen to Harry. Would forgive him. Would see what the future brought him. Anything would be better than how he was feeling right now.

With one last look towards the lake he turned around and jogged back towards the castle steps.

Chapter Two. End.