Chapter eight

At breakfast the next morning Hermione and Crys sat discussing P.A.W.S. as Harry talked to Ron about Qudditch. Ron didn't hear a word. He was watching Crys. She never once looked his way. Maybe he had just been a one night thing for her. Maybe he was just the boy of the night. He started to think their snogfest had just been out on a whim. His mouth turned into a frown and he stopped eating his food, just pushing it around on his fork.

"Ron," Harry said, "Ron, why are you frowning? The Cannons winning is a good thing remember? What's wrong, mate?"

"Nothing. Cannons good. You're right. Go on." Ron said emotionlessly.

"Something did happen between you two last night." Ron snapped back to attention.

"No, no... it was nothing, we were just studying and we fell asleep. That's it. Nothing more. Studying."

"Ah," Harry could see Ron's eyes clouding up again, "What did you study?"

"Hexes." He was fully tuned out again, not even thinking about the words rolling off his lips.

"Hexes are good."

"Yeah."

"Anything else good?"

"Crys."

"How good."

"Real good."

"But how is she good?"

"Tastes good."

"And how did you figure that out?" Ron snapped back, his ears were yet again bright red.

"She told me." he responded stupidly.

"She told you she tasted good?" Harry raised an eyebrow.

"No," he gave in, "I figured it out for myself."

"Good boy." was all Harry said before starting up on the Cannons again.

"What!" Ron said to him loudly.

"Well he is the best seeker they've seen in years..." he repeated

"No not that!" Ron smiled at his friend, "The good boy part."

"Oh I was just commenting on how you're not all shelled up anymore."

"Shelled up?"

"Well yeah," Harry said laughing, "You were kind of shy around girls before, now you're not so you're not all shelled up anymore."

Ron shook his head as they stood up and set off for Defense Against the Dark Arts.

Professor Neslon didn't ask Ron or Crys anything about hexes. She didn't test Ron. She didn't even acknowledge them outside of the lesson. When the class anded and the bell rang she still hadn't said a word.

"That was odd." Ron said to Crys.

"Yeah it was." she agreed, "Maybe she just forgot about it."

"Maybe." Ron said he leaned into Harry and Hermione and said, "You guys goon, I'll meet you there in a few minutes." They both nodded. Hermione had a smug look on her face like she had figured it all out first. The look fell when Harry told her that Ron had already admitted it to him.

"So," Ron said and Crys looked away from Harry's grin and Hermione's dropped jaw.

"So," she repeated.

"I was wondering..." Ron stared again. He didn't finish.

"Oh, really! So was I!" Crys said to him excitedly.

"Really?" Ron's eyes lit up.

"No. I have no idea what you're trying to say I just thought I'd say something to break the awkward silence."

"Oh," Ron sighed loudly, "Well I was wondering if you would go to the ball with me."

"The ball?"

"Yeah remember? It's in two weeks."

"I know when the ball is."

"So will you go with me?"

"With you?"

"Yes."

"Why are you asking me?"

"Because I like you." That statement surprised both of them.

"You do?"

"Y-yeah."

"When did that happen?"

"What snogging for an hour didn't tell you that?"

"It was forty minutes."

"Wow. Um...sure, sure I'll go with you."

"Great."

"Great."

"See you later."

"Yeah." Crys mumbled, What have you gotten yourself into now?