Harry was initially surprised he wasn't prefect. That was initial though. Now he got the hang of the reason. Ron would be a better prefect. He was better than Ron at Quidditch and Ron was better than him at chess. Both were technically sports. One was athletic and the other one was strategic.

Merlin! If that were the case, oh yes, chess is indeed strategic. That meant Ron had wisdom. He finally got it, why Ron was chosen. Strategic people would make for good prefects. Harry was better in spurts, Ron was more consistent. Every second it made more sense, why Ron was prefect. He would be better at the 'prefection' business (if that were a term). Wasn't Ron the one who saved their arse in the whole devil's snare ordeal when Hermione promptly forgot she was magic? Of course Ron would be able to hold his own during any fishy business. More so than Hermione who wasn't very improvisational and Harry, who was distracted. With his recent corrupt thoughts, he wouldn't make the best prefect.

Then of course, Harry's 'thinkiness' (he was pretty sure that wasn't a word either) kicked in. If he, Harry, the mostly okay with confidence bloke was insecure, how would Ron be feeling about it. Surely he'd been used to Fred and George picking on him for the last, what, 15 years of his life. Harry figured with the whole Hermione not being able to believe it, it wouldn't have sat right with his mate. He was instantly worried.

Ron was many things in Harry's opinion. Caring. Kind. Down-to-earth and somewhat insecure. On his not so good days (see: when his name was in the Goblet of Fire) he let his strategic and logical side lose control and let his emotions take over. Harry had also figured that Ron was inclined to impress Hermione. Way too much at certain points. It was rather annoying. He suddenly started hoping they wouldn't do anything dodgy during prefect rounds. That is, if Ron, just gave up the position out of Ron-ness and nothing else. Oh no. If Ron weren't prefect who would it be from gryffindor? Seamus? The one who set everything on fire or Dean? The one who sneaked in Firewhiskey when everyone was asleep? Neville? Who else could even be the prefect apart from Ron. If Ron gave up the post, gryffindor would be fucked. Royally fucked.

"How you doing mate?" Harry asked Ron as they were heading for bed.

"All cool…" he muttered uncertainly.

"You sure?"

"I mean, i guess"

"Ron, when I feel like I'm hearing ellipses while someone's talking, i take it to mean that they aren't sure?"

"What are ya playing at here, mate?"

"Nothing. Look, buddy, you need to understand that you deserve to be the prefect."

"Okay?"

"Again with the whole—"

Ron looked at him quizically.

"Look, you deserve that role. You'd be much better than I. Can you imagine me being prefect? Or anyone else from Gryffindor for that matter?"

"So what? They chose me from a process of elimination? How is that any good? Or better?"

Aha he was finally opening up.

"No, look, what is something you're good at?"

"Uh...eating food?"

"That is what is wrong with you Ron, there's something more important than that."

"Um, chess?"

"Yes! Chess! You think everybody is good at chess? You think even Hermione is?"

"No. I mean i respect my 'Mione but no, she is more or less, uh, I'll just say not very good at it."

"What do you need for chess? You need logic and you have that so just stop doubting myself."

"Here's an idea, Harry, let me tell you something. I'll stop doubting myself when others stop being so bloody surprised that I somehow became prefect. Even hearing my name and prefect in the same sentence feels surreal. Because everybody's all 'oh! Alleluia Ron became a prefect. It's an effing miracle!'. I get that Fred and George do it because it's their thing but even Hermione? Mate i didn't want to tell you this but that surprised element in her voice hurt."

"Yeah I figured. Even I'm kind of mad, honestly. It must've been dreadful."

"Yeah and you gotta stop with the whole 'you're amazing' thing for a while. At least not with that much intensity. It almost sounds like you fancy me when you talk in that tone."

"I don't" Harry laughed. "Honestly did you slip in some firewhiskey in your water or something?" He said while turning slightly pink.

Both of them laughed.

Harry liked being friends with Ron.


A little while later

Harry came out of the room to fetch himself a glass of water. That whole talk really had parched his throat. Somehow Hermione was also fetching herself water at the same time. And, of course, she wanted to exchange pleasantries.

He was honestly slightly mad at her. She of all smart people in the world should've known better about her own best friend. Or at least the guy she looked like she fancied.

"Hey Harry, how's it going?"

"Well."

"And how's Ron?"

"The opposite of well"

"What? What's that mean?"

"That means unwell"

"Why?"

"Honestly, Hermione? You call yourself smart? You do know about his self esteem issues?"

"Oh yes."

"So you do realize that when he becomes prefect, you're supposed to go 'congratulations' not 'wait that can't be true…'"

She turned red.

"He's really sad about that, yeah. What'd you think?"

"Merlin, what should i do? Am i really that daft?"

"Hermione, you're not daft, you just are weird sometimes. And i don't know what you should do. Why don't you figure that out on your own time?"

With that, Harry walked off.