Well, this story seems to be going down well and because of that I'm well chuffed :D Just a minor point for this one though, I don't know the colour of Lavender's hair, I literally mention it in passing in this chapter but there are conflicting opinions on the net and none of the sites I've been searching seem to have a definite answer. For some reason I've always had her down as dark-haired but there seems to be thinking that she's blond. If I had the patience I would read all six books to find the one line that probably tells all, but at the minuteI don't. If I'm wrong in my 'dark-haired witch' theory then let me know and I'll change it!
Oh! And after my disasterous attempt at correcting Harry's grammar in Falling Star I hope I got it right with Ronthis time. I'm pretty sure I have, it makes sense to me anyway! Anyway I'll shut up, think I've rambled on for long enough!
Please, please, please, please, pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeease tell me what you think :D
Step ;)
Chapter 6
Hermione and Ron stood in front of the door to the Defence Against the Dark Arts Room. Hermione stared at it and went to push it open, but she stopped when her hand was half way towards the door.
'Why have you stopped?' Ron asked, confused.
'I'm just not sure that I want to go in there. I don't think I can handle the sneers and comments from everyone.'
'But no one knows yet.'
'What if Snape's told the class?'
'Oh, right. He might not have though.'
'Maybe, but I really don't want to find out.'
'Come on Hermione, where's your Gryffindor courage?'
'I left it upstairs.'
Ron chuckled, 'No you haven't, come on, it'll be all right.'
He knocked on the door and pushed it open, and the two of them walked into the classroom.
'Sorry we're late Professor, we were-' Ron started.
'I know where you were Weasley; now sit down before I take points off you for interrupting my lesson more than necessary,' Snape snarled.
Ron and Hermione quickly found their seats. Ron was slightly saddened when Hermione took the place she had been sitting in recently, away from Ron and Harry. He thought things had been getting back to normal between them. Then again, he thought, trying to reason with himself, maybe she'd only been talking to him because of their 'situation'.
'WEASLEY!' Snape shouted.
Ron jumped in his seat. He looked at Snape and saw he was very annoyed.
'Have you decided not to partake in this morning's lesson Weasley?'
'No…sir.'
'Then why haven't you got your books out and started listening to what I've been saying? You have already missed twenty minutes of the lesson so I should have every single ounce of your attention, however, you seem to be daydreaming. Ten points from Gryffindor.'
Ron's jaw dropped as did Harry's.
'But sir-'
'Don't make it twenty Weasley.'
Ron stopped protesting and rummaged in his bag taking his books, ink and quill out. The scowl on his face didn't disappear as he focused his attention on Snape.
The rest of the lesson went without incident and Harry, Ron and Hermione left the classroom together.
Their next lesson was Charms and again the lesson went without incident, unless you count Neville sending Terry Boot into the bookcase by accident. It would have been quite an impressive piece of magic had he known how he had achieved it, apparently Wingardium Leviosa had been the last spell on his mind.
They all trooped down to the Great Hall for lunch at twelve o'clock. Ron was about to tuck into his carefully chosen food when Lavender sat down next to her with her usual greeting.
'Hi Lavender,' he said in a forced cheery tone.
'I didn't get chance to talk to you this morning. What was that thing with McGonagal about? Why do you need an extra study area?' the dark haired witch replied.
'Er…yeah, Lavender, I need to tell you something, but not in here,' Ron said quietly.
'Why not here?' she asked, far too loud for Ron's liking.
'Because McGonagal asked me to tell as few people as possible.'
Hermione's eyes appeared over the book she had hidden behind while she was eating her lunch, and were silently reminding Ron he was lying through his teeth.
'Oh, well when will you tell me?'
'After I've eaten some lunch, we'll go to the common room and I'll tell you there.'
'Oh, ok then. Do you mind if I go and talk to Parvati then, we have gossip to discuss!'
'No, go for it.'
Ron was taken aback by Lavender attaching herself to his face. Hermione knew what was going on even though she refused to take her eyes off her book, the sound effects told her far more than she wanted to know.
When Lavender had left, Ron looked at Hermione, or rather the book that was hiding her from view.
'Er…Hermione, is that all right with you?' he asked quietly.
Without changing her gaze she answered him, 'It's fine.'
'Thanks,' he replied, quieter than he asked the question.
When Hermione had finished eating her lunch she put her book in her bag. Ron looked at her questioningly.
'Are you done?' he asked.
'Yes.'
'Right, well, I'll go get Lavender. Er…do you want to wait and walk behind us?'
Hermione glared at him.'
'Why?' she snapped.
'Well…I…I just thought the longer we could go without her knowing the better, and I really don't want her making a scene in here. Do you?'
Hermione sighed, 'No, I don't. Just don't walk too fast or close any doors, I really don't want to see the hospital wing again today.'
'Don't worry I won't,' he said with a smile. She was surprised to find herself smiling back at him.
Ron got up and walked over to Lavender. Hermione watched as they left the Great Hall and then got up and followed them out. She kept a safe distance as they walked through the school but walked a little faster as they reached the Fat Lady. Luckily a group of fourth year Gryffindors were between her and Ron so there was a lot of people going in to the common room, making it easier for Hermione to hide herself in a corner without Lavender noticing.
She hastily pulled her book out of her bag and hid herself behind it, not really wanting to watch the spectacle that she thought was about to erupt.
Lavender had sat herself on the sofa wanting Ron to sit next to her, but instead he pulled one of the armchairs nearer to the three-seater and sat himself down in it.
'Right, well…I have a feeling you won't like this, but there's nothing that can be done so we'll both just have to try and get on with things,' he gabbled quickly.
Lavender frowned and tears formed in her eyes. Ron looked shocked when he noticed her eyes had become very wet.
'What are you getting upset for? I haven't said anything yet!' he asked with his usual tact.
Hermione couldn't help but snigger into her book.
'You aren't g…g…going to b…break up with me are y…you?' Lavender asked, her lip wobbling alarmingly.
Ron laughed out loud with relief, and stopped immediately after he saw the look on Lavender's face.
'No I'm not, so you can stop crying…please.'
Lavender wiped her eyes.
'Well w…what is it then?'
'You know yesterday when I came back from Potions and I told you Harry's potion had exploded all over me?'
'Yes,' Lavender replied quietly.
'Well when it did, Hermione and me swallowed some.'
Hermione was itching to correct Ron's grammar just to annoy him, but she stayed where she was.
'Was that why you collapsed yesterday? Was it the potion that made you ill?'
'Yes it was, but that isn't the end of it, 'cause the reason me and Hermione fainted was because we left each other's company.'
Lavender looked confused but Ron didn't really want her to say anything until he had told her everything so he pressed on.
'The thing is, if one of us leaves a room and the other one doesn't follow then the both of us will collapse.'
He was about to continue but Lavender beat him to it.
'But she isn't here now and you're fine.'
Ron didn't say anything but nodded towards Hermione in the corner, who was still hiding behind her book.
Lavender glared at Hermione, or rather the book she was reading. As she was staring at her a thought flashed through her mind. She whipped her head back round to Ron.
'What about at night, when you go to bed?' she asked, a bit louder than Ron would have liked.
'Well that's what that thing with McGonagal was about this morning, she was showing us to the room we'll be sleeping in.'
'TOGETHER?'
'Keep your voice down!' he exclaimed. 'It's not like we can do anything about it! We didn't ask for this, it was an accident! I don't even want to be in her company but I don't have a choice do I?'
He had shouted this last sentence and had attracted a few glances for the few people who were scattered around the room.
Hermione's stomach had squirmed when she heard Ron shout the last part of his speech out and to her horror she felt tears burn in the corner of her eyes.
Don't you dare cry Hermione, don't you dare! She thought desperately. She managed to keep the tears in check but she couldn't help but look over the top of her book at Ron. She regretted it instantly as he looked straight at her, and she knew her eyes would give her current mood away. She hurriedly hid behind her book again wishing she could just leave the room. She knew at some point she would want to walk away from Ron but she didn't think it would happen just yet. For a second she thought about just risking it and running out the room, but her common sense overtook her and she stayed exactly where she sat, smouldering inside.
Ron's conscience was waging a war with his mind inside his head.
What did you say that for? You don't mean that!'
I know, but I had to say something, Lavender was about to get hysterical!
So you'd rather keep her happy over Hermione, your best friend
She hasn't exactly been a best friend recently though, has she?
That's not just her, that's because of you as well. If you hadn't-
'So what does this mean then? What about us? How long do you have to stay with her?' Lavender demanded, bringing Ron from his thoughts.
'Slughorn reckons it could be about two weeks,' Ron replied quietly.
Lavender's eyes widened. 'TWO WEEKS!' she screeched. A few people looked round at Ron and he turned red.
'Keep your voice down! And please don't go on about it, I told you there's nothing I can do. It's just something we have to put up with!'
'Well I'm not happy about it!' Lavender said forcefully, 'but if there's really nothing you can do-'
'I've told you, there isn't. Anyway, I've got to go, we've got to get to lessons-'
'You don't have a lesson now.'
Ron stood up and Lavender followed.
'I know I don't, but Hermione does, so I have to go with her.'
Lavender scowled.
'I'll see you later,' Ron said quietly. He pushed passed Lavender as she tried to draw him into a goodbye hug. He walked up to Hermione.
'Are you ready to go?' he said in a rather annoyed tone.
Hermione slammed her book shut and shoved it in her bag. She got up and left the common room without a backward glance at Ron. She presumed he had followed her seeing as though she hadn't fallen unconscious, and refused to speak to him as they made their way to the fifth floor to the Arithmancy classroom, not that Ron made any attempt to make conversation with her.
When they arrived at the room Hermione started talking with her classmates, blatantly ignoring Ron, not that he really cared, the less attention he attracted, the better.
During the lesson Ron sat in the empty back row and pretended to be working on the essay Snape had set them in the previous lesson. His thought were far from Defence Against the Dark Arts, however, as his eyes refuse to leave the large amount of bushy brown hair that happened to be sat two rows directly in front of him.
He was annoyed with himself and he was annoyed at Lavender. He hadn't meant what he said about not wanting to spend time with Hermione. He did, of course he did, they'd been best friends for a long time, and, as much as he hated to admit it, he missed her when they were apart for more than a day or so.
But that was beside the point, he had only said those things to get Lavender off his back, he just didn't mean to say them that loud, and the last person he wanted to hear them was Hermione. But unfortunately she had, he had seen that in her eyes. He hated to think that he had made her upset, especially as she looked as if she was about to cry.
Out of anger and frustration he pushed his quill through his parchment and made a small hole. He stared at the paper and made a decision. He would apologise to Hermione, it was the only way he would make himself feel better, and he had to admit, it would be a lonely two weeks if they weren't on speaking terms.
