For the Romantically Romantic Daily Writing Challenge on the Ministry of Magic Discord.
H.M.S. Strawberry Tart
— Ron and Lavender —
When Lavender detangles her tongue from Ron's, she's beaming from ear to ear. She rests her hands on his face, his cheeks burning her fingertips. And with the entire common room staring at them, eyes wide and mouths agape, he wraps his arms around her waist and pulls her in. The cheers around them seem to dull as he moves his lips frantically—hungrily, Lavender thinks, maybe desperately—against hers.
After that, Lavender becomes his shadow. When she slips into the space next his at breakfast, his hand falls easily to her thigh. When he walks through the halls, she occupies the space under his arm. And when the sun sets, he pulls her into hidden alcoves. He grins against her lips when she hooks her legs around his hips. His hands skate over her robes and hers, steady and sure, slip under his shirt to brush against bare skin.
"So, are you dating now?" Parvati whispers one night. "Like, has he actually said the words?"
Lavender pauses. When she says that they don't really talk about that stuff—that they don't really talk at all—Parvati giggles. After a beat, Lavender joins in. But as their laughter fades into night, Lavender finds herself going back to the question. Are they dating? Has he said the words? She rolls the words around her tongue. Boyfriend. Girlfriend. I'm Ron Weasley's girlfriend. Ron Weasley's my boyfriend. They feel so natural—they slip out so effortlessly—that she thinks they must be true.
She tries them out loud with him. Jokingly, of course. Just to test the waters. She forces a shiver and then, when he wraps his scarf around her neck, she teasingly asks if this makes her his girlfriend. There's a beat of silence before he responds.
"Girlfriend." Somehow, the word sounds heavy when he says it. He blinks at her. "Yeah. Of course. You're my girlfriend."
"Well, obviously," Lavender says it as if she'd always known it to be true. As if there was never any other option. She pretends not to notice the way his eyes goes wide or face pales. Bursting with newfound confidence, she continues, "I wouldn't let someone who wasn't my boyfriend drag me into dusty old storage cupboards, you know? Speaking of...I'll see you after lunch, right?"
"Yeah."
"Great. How about the fourth floor?" Lavender looks up at him. "Our spot?"
"Yeah."
"Yeah?" All of a sudden, Lavender remembers why they don't spend much time talking. But still, he's said the words she needed to hear. Isn't that enough for one day? She forces a smile and presses a kiss to his cheek. "I'll see you there."