Ron
Hermione was really starting to get on his nerves. She acted like he was some kind of person she didn't want to hang around. She treated him like he was some lost straggler always wanting her attention.
Well, he angrily thought to himself as he headed up the stairs, alone, to the Gryffindor Tower, I'm not. And if she's going to treat me that way…I just won't even look at her again. I don't need help on the homework. I just need to pay more attention, take more notes and…he stopped on the top stair, I need Hermione, he desperately thought, resuming his brisk walk to the tower.
He could hear her voice echoing through the corridors below him, then that Brad's laughter following.
I wonder where Harry's at? he asked himself.
Near the end of the feast, when Dumbledore had given his speech, Harry had disappeared. Dumbledore mentioned a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher, but wouldn't say who. He only said to not be afraid; that this person was not who he seemed to be.
Likely story, Ron thought, stopping in front of the portrait.
"Password?" she bordly asked.
"Uh…" Ron stuttered, not remembering the password. Someone had told him, but he was too busy watching Hermione bat lashes with Brad, "Let me in I'm a Gryffindor?" he asked.
The fat lady smirked at him; "I can't let you in…" she began.
"Oh shut up," he muttered, turning away.
She stopped abruptly, "Pardon me?"
Ron groaned, "Never mind, okay?" he irritably asked.
She looked appalled, "If you wish…"
Not long after her snores filled the corridor.
"Oh," came a disgusted voice, "It's only Ronald," Hermione told Brad.
Ron stared at her, "Only Ronald?" he repeated, "What, am I, a doorstop or something?" he asked, noticing that they were standing very close.
She continued talking to Smith as if he hadn't even spoken. Smith actually turned his head and looked at him, then shrugged.
"Inter hostis," she said to the Fat Lady.
"Proceed," she said in an all-important voice.
Ron trailed in after them. He wanted to ask Hermione if she knew where Harry was at, but he lost his nerve when she turned to Brad and looked at him as if he were the last person on earth.
"You know, I've been wanting to try those chocolates for the longest time," she said, sitting in an armchair by the fire.
Brad hesitated before sitting next to her.
"Hey!" Ron stormed, "That's my spot!"
"Ron, we don't have specific spots. So what, he wants to sit there. Go away," she said, not even looking at him.
Ron gaped at her, "Since when have you acted like this, Hermione?" he yelled.
"Since forever," she mindlessly said.
"You have never acted like this even on your bad days, Hermione!" he argued.
"Well, I'm acting like it now," she said, giving a short, sarcastic laugh, then gave him an icy glare, "So get…over…it!"
All Ron could do was stand there as she happily turned to Brad, "So, where were we?"
"Uh…"Brad started, obviously uncomfortable, "Chocolates," Ron heard him remind her as he stormed up to the bedroom.
I'd rather have to deal with Malfoy than her at the moment, Ron thought, lying on his bed.
Soon Ron had fallen into a deep sleep, dreaming only of Hermione.
The next Day Ron awoke with a start, looking around the tower. A familiar lump was in the bed next to him, softly snoring.
"Harry?" Ron whispered.
The snoring stopped, "Huh?" he tiredly asked.
"Where'd you go last night?" Ron asked.
"Oh," he said, sitting up and yawning. His hair was more messed up than usual, "Jus talking to Dubbledor," he muttered.
A few minutes later they were both dressed and waiting in the common room for Hermione.
"Let's just go," Ron muttered to Harry.
"No, let's wait," Harry said, looking for Hermione in the crowd of girls coming down the girls dormitory staircase.
Hermione made her way to them through the crowd, "Well, ready?" she asked, looking at Harry.
That's right, Ron angrily thought, Just keep avoiding me!
She didn't look at nor say anything to Ron all the way down to the Great Hall. She and Harry had a dandy conversation about which classes they had that year while Ron hung back with Brad, glaring at him.
"Hey!" Ron exclaimed as they walked through the Great Hall doors.
"What is it this time?" Hermione irritably asked.
He didn't care that she was being rude now, "Where's Dumbledore?" he asked.
Hermione and Harry stopped and looked up at the teachers table; a vacant space next to McGonagall.
"I don't know," Harry said.
Just at that moment someone rested a hand on Ron's shoulder, startling him.
"Mr. Weasley, Miss Granger, please follow me," he said, "Mr. Potter and Mr. Smith can wait for you in the Great Hall," he finished.
Great, Ron panicked, We're in trouble this time.
They walked through a series of corridors in silence until they reached the defense against the dark arts classroom. This room, as far as Ron knew, had been occupied by five different teachers. In his first year Professor Quirrel had taught here, only bringing Voldemort and a strong smell of garlic with him. In the second year it had been taken by an air-headed fraud named Professor Lockheart. Ron had gotten rid of him in a sense; Lockheart had tried to rid him and Harry of their memories with Ron's broken wand and the spell had backfired leaving no one but himself without a memory. Their Third year defense against the dark arts had been taught by werewolf Professor Lupin. Lupin was the one professor, at this point, that Ron had actually liked. Lupin and Harry had bonded very well since Lupin and Harry's father, James had been close friends when they themselves had gone to Hogwarts. In the fourth year, someone impersonating Mad-eye Moody had taught this class. Ron hadn't ever heard the whole entire story behind it, but the real Mad-eye had been stuffed into a trunk. The real Moody was in the Order and working against You-Know-Who. Finally last year was the worst year of all. None other than Professor Umbridge had taught DATDA. She made hell for everybody, except the caretaker Filch, but in the end she was driven out of the castle by Peeves the school Poltergeist.
"What I'm about to show both of you something that is to not leave this spot here," Dumbledore explained.
"What?" Ron asked, ignoring the impatient huffs from Hermione.
"I warn you, Mr. Weasley, do not tell anyone what I'm about to show you," he said, looking over his half-moon spectacles.
Ron nodded, "Yes sir."
Dumbledore opened the door and they walked in.
Ron's jaw dropped, "Blimey!"
