Chapter 14 – Don't Cry Pretty Girl
Ron listened as McGonnagal explained their individual patrol routes and to his dissapointment he would be patrolling by himself. Unluckily Ron had also been one of the few stationed to patrol Hogwarts grounds, in particular the area near the entrance of the Great Hall. This meant that he would be able to see all the fun that the other students would be having but not join them. Instead he had to wander the grounds on what was turning out to be an incredibly cold and windy night.
"See you in the common room," Harry said waving at Ron as he followed Remus down corridors that led to the upper levels of Hogwarts.
"See ya," Ron sighed before walking down to where he was stationed.
Ron shoulders sagged as he leaned against one of the columns in the Courtyard that led to the Great Hall.
"I feel like a bloody doorman or something," Ron grumbled watching the students laughing and talking as they arrived.
Ron nodded when he saw Tonks pass him and enter the school. Ron stepped out of the shadows and began to patrol the grounds.
"Never thought I'd actually wish to be studying with Hermione," Ron said aloud before pulling his cloak around him tightly to fend off the cold.
"Okay Granger, get a grip," Hermione told herself forcefully walking down the stairs that led to the Great Hall.
She made it hallway down the steps before the sight of a boy in dress robes sent her flying back up them again. She hid in the shadows and heard the lively music beginning to play inside the Great Hall.
"Why am I so nervous?" Hermione wondered aloud, "I've seen Ron everyday for the past few months."
'Yes, but not as a girl,' the little irritating voice inside her answered.
"Damn this rational mind," Hermione cursed twisting her fingers nervously.
Hermione took a deep breath and made her way down the stairs. No one seemed to notice her as the entrance of the Great Hall was crowded with students meeting partners and girls giggling amongst themselves.
'I can't do this,' Hermione realized before running out the doors, she ran past the courtyard full of students and across the bridge that led to the forbidden forest before finally resting on the stairs.
Hermione took a moment to catch her breath. She felt like she was going to be sick.
"What are you doing here?"
Hermione completely lost it.
It was that voice. His voice.
"Well hello handsome, I've been looking for you."
Hermione felt the blood drain from her body.
"Uh…"
"I'm Lavender by the way, Lavender Brown."
Hermione quickly ran into the shadows of a nearby tree.
Ron was standing his wand lit and staring down at Lavender Brown, they were standing a short distance away and Ron had his back towards her. Hermione felt the bile rise in her throat when Lavender reached her long red-drenched fingernails over and slowly slid them down Ron's arm.
"I've heard a lot about you," Lavender continued smiling up at Ron.
Hermione thought that Lavender looked rather like a lioness about to sink her teeth into her innocent victims flesh.
"Really?" Ron replied in a rather bored tone.
'That's my Ron. Now just tell her to shove off!'
Lavender leaned over and whispered in Ron's ear. To Hermione shock she heard Ron laugh.
'No. No! Don't laugh! Tell her to get her fat arse back inside the bloody Great Hall!'
In her frustrated inner rantings Hermione's missed what Ron had said in reply. What she did see was Lavender let her head fall back and laugh loudly providing Ron with an ample view of her chest.
Hermione saw Ron fidget nervously and her fingernails dug into the tree that she was hiding behind.
"...about little old me? I'm flattered," Lavender said between giggles while touching Ron on the arm.
"Well its true," Ron replied.
Hermione couldn't take much more of this. She wanted to march up to Lavender and punch her and watch in glee as Lavender's feet went up into the air.
Instead Hermione turned and stormed off towards the Lake.
Ron leaned against a nearby tree, his ears and eyes roaming the grounds. At the sound of approaching footsteps Ron moved further into the trees. His brow furrowed in annoyance when he saw a girl with bouncy blond hair walking around in circles near where he was hiding.
Ron sighed in annoyance.
Ron stepped out of the shadows and walked over to the girl.
"What are you doing here?" Ron questioned not even attempting to hide his annoyance.
The girl started before spinning around to look at him, her face lit up instantly.
"Well hello handsome, I've been looking for you."
Ron's eyes widened in shock.
"Uh…"
"I'm Lavender by the way, Lavender Brown," The girl said taking a step towards him and Ron cringed from the invasion of his personal space.
'Hang on,' something went off in his mind, 'Lavender Brown? Why does that name sound familiar?'
"I've heard a lot about you," Lavender continued smiling up at Ron.
"Really?" Ron replied absentmindedly letting his eyes roam around the grounds in search of trouble.
"Of course, you're the best friend of The Boy Who Lived," Lavender whispered as though this fact were a secret.
Ron resisted the urge to roll his eyes and laughed instead.
'Here we go, another obsessed fan of Harry's. This night cannot get any worse.'
And then it hit him. This was the Lavender Brown the gossip queen who had spread rumors about Ginny all over the school and whom had caused his little sister to cry herself to sleep. Ron smiled viciously down at the girl.
"I've heard about you too."
To his annoyance and shock instead of recoiling from his vicious tone the girl simply laughed.
"About little old me? I'm flattered," Lavender said between giggles while touching Ron on the arm.
"Well, its true," Ron replied feeling himself shake from anger.
The irritating girl continued smiling up at him.
'Yeah I have, so just bugger off before I do something you'll regret.'
Just as these words were forming on his tongue he heard a rustling sound in the bushes near them and he spun around instantly pointing his lit wand into the shadows of the trees.
"Look I'm busy right now – "
"Could you show me back to school?" Lavender drawled leaning over and taking his arm.
"What?" Ron said in alarm when she began dragging him towards the school.
'She's stronger than she looks,' Ron realized when he tried to rip his arm away from her vice-like grip.
"Look just go straight along here and you'll reach the Great Hall," before she could stop him Ron took several steps back, "I told you I'm busy."
Ron saw her face contort in anger and he cringed.
'Okay, mental note, girls look scary when they are angry.'
Lavender turned on her heel whipping her hair around to smack into Ron's face, suffocating Ron with her heavy perfume before storming off.
Ron watched in relief as he saw her disappear towards the school. He turned around and searched the trees near him before going in search of whatever or whoever had made that noise.
He tapped his watch to alert Harry of his location before running towards where he suspected the culprit had disappeared to. He had taken a few steps into the trees when something stopped him. Ron spun around in confusion uncertain of what it was. He finally stopped searching the emptiness around him when he realised what it was. There was a scent that lingered in the air, it wasn't the the strong perfume from Lavender but it was fresh and comforting.
Ron closed his eyes and breathed deeply.
"It smells like home," Ron whispered into the night, finally realising what the smell was.
Home. Where he could be himself, where he didn't have to shoulder the weight of the worlds problems on his shoulders.
A splashing sound drew him back to reality and Ron pushed the memories of home to the back of his mind and made his way towards the lake.
Hermione hated herself.
She grabbed a rock and threw it with all her might at the lake. Feeling slightly better she picked up another and threw it even further, she picked up another, and another. She continued in this fashion for some minutes before the tears streaming down her face prevented her from seeing the rocks in front of her and she collapsed in a mess on the ground.
"I'm so stupid," Hermione sobbed rubbing at her face, "Why would he care about me?"
Hermione rested her head on her hands and sobbed uncontrollably.
"I lov –"
"Don't move!"
Hermione started and spun around. A bright light shone in her face and Hermione was momentarily blinded.
Harry tapped his watch in irritation before continuing down the hall with Remus.
"You must be dissapointed about missing the ball," Remus finally said as they walked up another staircase.
"Oh yeah, nothing like having a hall full of girls gawk at you and all the guys glare at you," Harry said sarcastically.
Remus chuckled.
"James would have loved the attention."
"Yeah well - I'm not my dad," Harry said bitterly turning his head slightly so Remus couldn't see the anger on his face.
"I never said you were."
They lapsed into another period of silence before Remus spoke again.
"But you are your mother and father's son Harry, never doubt that. I'm sure that they are very - "
"What? Proud of me?" Harry said suddenly as he clenched his fists tightly, "My goal for the year is to hunt down and kill the man who murdered them - oh yeah, I'm sure they're looking down at me with smiles on their faces. I might as well just kill you while I'm at it."
Remus started at this and looked at Harry in concern.
"Sorry," Harry apologised after another awkward silence.
"No I am, I shouldn't have..." Remus trailed off when two figures approached them.
It was only when they walked into the light of the moonlight that Harry recognised one of them.
"Tonks?" Harry said in surprise when the Auror let her hood drop back to reveal her heart shaped face and long blond hair with streaks of pink throughout.
"Wotcher," she replied with a smile her eyes fixed on Remus.
Harry noticed the looks that passed between them.
"Is something wrong?" Harry questioned curiously.
"No, just thought you could do with a bit of company."
Harry eyes widened when he heard the other person's voice.
"Ginny?" Harry gaped staring at Ron's little sister, "What are you doing here?"
Ginny shrugged her shoulders before smiling at him.
A/N: A chapter just in time for Valentines Day and I also wrote a poem for you all:
His hair is as red as the raging fire.
His eyes are as blue as the roaring sea.
The one who loves Her-my-own-nee.
But, oh, he's the only one for me.
As sweet and funny as Ginny's Valentine I hope :) Next update soon. Please read and review/comment.
Oh I've also been asked a few times when I will continue 'Everything Changes'. Well as anyone who has read it will understand after writing every chapter I was too emotionally exhausted to continue writing at the rate that I've been writing this fic. That was also the reason why I started writing 'Lonely Heart' in the first place, as a light counter-part to 'Everything Changes'. Once I finish this fic I'll continue with 'Everything Changes' so don't fret I love that story:)