Chapter 3

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Right o, here's chapter 3. Review when done, please!

(Ron's pov – The next day)

I woke up in the morning and I forgot why my head felt so bad. Then I remembered. I groaned loudly, which earned me a few thrown pillows from my other dorm members.

So she said that I never change. What the hell was that supposed to mean? How the hell do I show her that I like her, and that I want to change for her?

Oh, great. Listen to me. I sound like one of those muggle 'Love CDs' my dad has.

Oh my God, I take it back.

I did not just say the 'L' word. I didn't. You never heard (A/N – read?) it from me. No siree, I do not have anything to do with love. Just... a lot of liking. A lot.

I groaned again, but quieter, so I wouldn't be attacked by pillows again. Why couldn't I just have asked her before stupid George got in the way? I know he's doing this to annoy me. Just because I said I didn't like her.

That's it. I need to tell someone before I burst.

"Harry?" I whispered loudly across the room, throwing the pillows onto Harry's bed.

"What now, Ron? It's 6 o' clock!"

"I need to talk," I said, stuffing the whispering. It's a nice day; everyone should be up anyway.

I dragged Harry downstairs (after we had both got changed).

"Wait," said Harry, just as I had opened my mouth.

"Now what?" I said grumpily. I wanted to get this over with.

"I think I know what you're going to say," Harry said with a smirk. Oh no, I really hope he doesn't... "So I'm going to write what I think it is down, and if I'm right I get your... hmm... last chocolate frog!"

Aw, man. I love chocolate frogs. But he can't possibly know what I'm about to say...

"You have yourself a very weird deal," I said, and he scribbled down a few words.

"Anyway," I said. "Well, you know how George and Hermione are going to the ball together," Harry nods, smiling again. How annoying is that? "Well, the reason I really don't like her going out with him isn't just 'cause he's me brother, but because I... I like Hermione. A lot."

"Ha!" Harry yelled. What? He couldn't have possibly written that down, could he? But even as I snatched the piece of paper and read 'You like Hermione', I still couldn't believe that he knew.

"How – how long have you known?" I asked Harry nervously.

"Since you've hated Krum," Harry said, openly laughing now. I felt very, very sick.

"Does –" I began, but Harry cut across me.

"Everyone know?" Harry asked, and I nodded. "Yep."

I could feel my face whitened – not the greatest look with flaming ginger hair.

"Except Hermione," Harry amended, and I could feel my cheeks go back to their normal blotchy-peach colour. Except when I'm around Hermione. Then they go blotchy-red.

"Harry... I have another problem," I said, and I told Harry all about my fight with Hermione.

"You're screwed," Harry said. Hopefully joking, but I didn't know then, did I?

"So what do I do?"

"Give her time, mate," Harry said. Like I hadn't thought of that already. "And just invite someone else to the ball," he paused, as he saw my face droop. "Not to make her jealous, just to have some fun!"

I shot Harry a look, but he must have misinterpreted it, because he laughed again.

"Well, put it this way, mate," Harry said, "she doesn't think you're mature enough. So just show her you are by taking someone else." He paused. Then he looked at me, waiting for an answer.

Then suddenly, it clicked in my head. And it was, at that point, I knew exactly who I was going to ask. It was perfect! It would show her that I have bloody changed, and that I can care! Fantastic!

Harry waved a hand in front of my face energetically. "Are you OK, mate?" he asked, but I had already straitened my hair in the mirror (or however strait you can get it, mind you), and I ran out of the portrait hole to the great hall. I grinned when I saw her eating breakfast alone. I strolled up to her table, and asked her to the ball, just like that.

And she said yes!

Well, there's a slightly shorter chapter 3! I liked this chapter, and if you can guess who the girl is who Ron asked to the ball, you get a thousand gold stars and a chapter dedication! Wahoo!

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