Ron sat back on a boulder in his sister's courtyard basking in the sunlight that he hardly knew was there. Instead he drank his firewiskey and mulled over why his sister was taking the death of their family members so hard. "It's unhealthy." He muttered to himself as he tried unsuccessfully to push himself off of the large rock.
"Ronald Weasley!"
Ron groaned. Ever since he had come to stay with his sister, Lavender had always been on his heels. And with the hangover he was starting to develop, he really didn't need her in his face at the moment.
"Geeze, Ron." Lavender said exasperated. "You were out all night again, weren't you? You know, Ginny told me that she hates you breaking her curfew."
Ron rolled his eyes. "I'm a grown man now. You can tell her that she's not Mum."
"Maybe," She sniffed. "But can't you just commit to at least some reasonable behavior? Maybe put on some nicer robes every once in a while?"
"Can't you just commit..." He mimicked. "If my robes are good enough to drink in, they are good enough for me."
"It'll be the death of you yet. Ginny spoke of this as well, and the fact that she's sick an tired of you trying to marry her off to Harry."
Ron made a face as he wondered why she always acted as his sister's messenger, but then her words finally hit him. "Harry?" He said, trying to look convincing. "He's the best wizard for her."
Lavender wasn't buying it. Instead she crossed her arms in front of her and demanded, "How so?"
"He's rich for one thing."
"Maybe," Lavender agreed, but with an afterthought she continued. "When he's not squandering it all. If you ask me, he's a fool."
Ron felt the heat rush to his face. "Bloody hell, Shame on you for shpeaking ill of him. He defeated Vodermort for cryin' out loud!"
"Oh yes, forgive me. He's the great destroyer, the boy who lived," She said sarcastically at his slurred comment. "But deep down he was also a coward, If it weren't for you and Hermione he would be dead now. I'm not the only one who thinks this, you know."
At her statement, Ron gapped at her as he did an incredible impersonation of a drunk fish. "There's others? Who're they? Pain will be inflichted!" He yelled.
Lavender rolled her eyes discusted. "They also say that you and he get drunk together every night."
"Sure, we raise our glasses in Ginny's name, and we will continue to do so as long as we possibly can. You should try it sometime, it might loosen you up a bit."
Lavender was about to bite back a retort when she heard a twig break behind her. Turning she saw Harry standing not three feet from her.
"Hey Ron!" He said.
"Harry!" Ron replied with a robust laugh.
"Lavender." Harry said as he suggestively wagged his eyebrows.
"Harry." She ground out through clenched teeth and started to walk away. "I better be going."
"Where are you going?" Ron whined.
"Are you too good to hang around us?" Harry said. "You act as if you have been dealt two fools."
"Maybe, but thank Merlin it's not you in my hand." Lavender replied.
"Maybe it should be you in my hand." Harry replied back, obviously not getting the insult.
Ron let out a laugh.
Lavender bristled, "I can tell you what you can do with your hand." She said with venom before stalking off.
"You never were good with the ladies. Always good on the eyes, but then you open your trap." Ron said in-between breaths. "And, your wit is lacking."
"Yeah, too bad too. It's as dull as everyone else's." Harry said vacantly. "Perhaps it's because I eat a lot of meat."
"Oh, yeah. That's it." Ron added sarcastically with a roll of his eyes and leaned back on his rock again..
Harry let out a nervous laugh. "I'm going to go back home tomorrow."
"What? Why?"
"Ginny doesn't want me. She will never see me as anything more than another brother. Draco is even trying for her hand."
"I wouldn't worry about Draco. She told me that if she were going to marry, she wouldn't marry anyone richer or smarter than herself." Ron said, suddenly sober at the thought of his friend leaving. "Looks like there's still hope for you."
"Fine," Harry said. "I'll stay for one more month."