Chapter 2: Lavender to Ron: Chain of Fools

A/N: Anyway, Im not actually a Lavender fan, but I HAD to use this song, and she fit it best! I know this isn't the way it happens in the book, but it's how I imagine it anyway.

Oh, and bold words inside the bold parentheses are the real lyrics: I will tweak some words to fit the story.

Right, and the Disclaimer: Nothing belongs to me, despite my obvious royalty.

POV of Lavender Brown:

It started out as a beautiful morning. I woke to the chatter of early morning birds and excited teenage girls. It's Saturday! No classes, just hanging out with friends, and cuddling with certain adorable red-haired boyfriends! And homework, if you were that type of person, not to mention any names—ahem!Hermione Granger.

Growling mentally, I tried to clear the image of that frizzball know-it-all. "Today" I thought to myself, "I won't let her get to me. I will rise above it, and focus all my attention on making Won-Won happy."

"Lavender! What are you doing, scowling at your slippers?" laughed my best friend, Parvati. "Get dressed, so we can get down to breakfast!"

I smiled, and threw my slipper at her as I climbed down from the bed. Unpleasant thoughts of Hermione were soon forgotten as I let myself get caught up in the latest Hogwarts gossip.

"Did you hear about Neville and that Luna girl, from Ravenclaw, hooking up?" Parvati asked.

"No! Loony Luna?" I said, not even bothering to whisper. Neville turned to glare at me. "Ha! They can go on Biting Corn-Berries expeditions together!"

Parvati laughed appreciatively, and I looked around the Gryffindor table, searching for one shining head to rise above the rest.

"If you're looking for Ron, he's over there, on the end." My heart leapt at the mention of Ron's name. I whipped around to my left to see Seamus pointing farther down the table to where Ron was talking animatedly with a shorter boy and bushy-haired girl. Heart and face fell instantly to see him sitting with her. They were obviously some sort of intense conversation, but what about I couldn't tell. I continued to stare, noting the excited flush in his cheeks, the shine in his eyes. "Damn. Why is he never this fascinated when we're talking together?"

Then, with nods all around, Ron and Hermione got up from the table, leaving Harry to finish eating. I watched morosely as they ambled towards the doors.

"Lav? You okay" asked Seamus.

"Sure." I replied automatically, my eyes still following their path. I couldn't take this any longer; I just had to know—once and for all.

"I-gotta-go-now-can't-talk-see-ya-bye!" I called over my shoulder as I ran out after the pair. Parvati's and Seamus's calls got lost in the breakfast chatter, and I made my way out of the Great Hall, into the hallway outside.

Looking on right, left, and up, I spotted them walking towards the stairs—still talking, but quietly now. Heart fluttering in my throat, I followed them up the stairs, taking my time to make sure there was a safe distance between us. I paused to try to hear their conversation, but it didn't help any. They reached the landing, turned a corner, and I sprinted to catch up.

What I saw when I came around the corner had me stunned. Pure and simple: stunned. Here was what I was looking for, but I still was unprepared. Ron, my boyfriend, my "Won-Won", lay in the embrace of Hermione Granger. I was losing control; I could feel it rushing out of me on wings of jealousy and disbelief. It took every bit of strength I had to hold onto what will-power was still left. Clutching the molding on the wall beside me, I watched them walk out of sight, hand in hand. This time, I did not follow. I'd finally seen enough.

I couldn't believe this was happening. Ron didn't love me. He probably never had. And the worst, most painful thing of all, was that I still had the urge to hug him, to be comforted by him. I wasn't ready to let go just yet...

Chain, chain, chain
(Chain, chain, chain)
Chain, chain, chain
(Chain, chain, chain)
Chain, chain, chain
(Chain...chain...chain..)
(Chain of fools)

For five long months (long years)
I thought you were my man
But I found out, I'm just a link in your chain
Oh, you got me where you want me
I ain't nothin but your fool
Ya treated me mean
Oh you treated me cruel

Chain, chain, chain
(Chain, chain, chain
Chain of fools)

Every chain, has got a weak link
I might be weak child, but I'll give you strength
Oh, babe
(Woo, woo, woo, woo)
You told me to leave you alone
(Ooo, ooo, ooo, ooo)
My father said 'Come on home'
(Ooo, ooo, ooo, ooo)
My doctor said 'Take it easy'
(Ooo, ooo, ooo, ooo)
Oh but your lovin is just too strong
(Ooo, ooo, ooo, ooo)
I'm added to your
Chain, chain, chain
(Chain, chain, chain)
Chain, chain, chain
(Chain chain, chain)
Chain, chain, chain
(Chain...chain...chain...)
Chain of fools

Oh, one of these mornings
The chain is gonna break
But up until the day
I'm gonna take all I can take, oh babe

Chain, chain, chain
(Chain, chain, chain)
Chain, chain, chain
(Chain, chain, chain)
Chain, chain, chain
(Chain...chain...chain...)
(Chain of fools)

Oh!
(Chain, chain, chain, chain, chain, chain, chain)
(Chain, chain, chain)
Oh-oh!
(Chain, chain, chain, -ain, ain, ain, ain)
Your chain of fools
FADES-
Oooooooooooooooooh...

Tears gushed down my face, and I just knew I was going to have to redo my make-up. Bloody boyfriends and their bloody affairs.