Chapter 25 – Static

"What's her name again?" Lavender said as they waved goodbye to Allan.

"Hermione, Hermione Granger." Ron replied leading the way out of Hogsmeade.

"And you really like her, huh?"

"Yeah, I think I do," he replied face going red.

Ron looked over at her and saw her deep in thought.

"Could I ask," Ron paused wondering if he was about to cross a boundary that guys were not allowed to cross.

"What?" Lavender questioned a smile on her face, she clearly enjoyed their new open relationship.

"Well," Ron stretched out the word and gave her a curious glance, "What happened to your hair?"

Lavender smile disappeared.

'Okay, note to self, don't question girls about their appearance.'

"I…"

Ron looked over at Lavender when she spoke up again.

"Someone played a prank on me," she finished a strange expression on her face, "It was Peeves who actually threw the cake on my head but everyone knows that someone told him to do it…"

"Wait, what does cake have to do with your hair?" Ron questioned trying to grasp how a girls mind works.

"It's a long story," Lavender replied before sighing, "Anyway, I didn't have my wand on me at the time, so I had to cut out the pieces of cake that were stuck in my hair. After that, no matter what I do, my hair has remained in this frizzy mess."

He heard a note of anger in her voice but when he looked at her face she looked so vulnerable and sad that he felt a wave of pity for her.

"Frizzy hair's not so bad," he said wistfully picturing Hermione in front of him.

He heard Lavender laughing beside him.

"Uh-huh," she said a smile on her face and a knowing look.

He blushed before quickly continuing.

"Why don't you fix it now that you have your wand back?"

Lavender shrugged.

"I don't know how," she mumbled and he saw her blush, "I usually had friends – well not really friends, girls I knew to do my hair for me. I can't really do things on my own."

"That's rubbish," he replied instantly, "remember no more negative comments about yourself."

Lavender peeked up at him.

"Thanks," she said softly, then after a moment, "Hermione's a very lucky girl."

Ron felt his face heat up.

"Thanks again for this," he said in response shoving his hands in his pockets.

Lavender shrugged and simply watched his face.

"Do you think…" Lavender stopped suddenly.

Ron turned around to look at her. She stood staring up at him thoughtfully.

"Do you think, a guy like you would ever like someone like me?" she questioned in a soft voice.

Ron could hear the fear in her voice and he realised for the second time that day just how fragile she was despite her tough exterior. He wondered if all girls were this way.

"Maybe," he replied, "Someone like Allan definitely would."

Lavender sighed before looking up at him again.

"I have to do something," she said.

Ron opened his mouth to question her but not before she leaned up and kissed him.

Ron was shocked. He stood there completely frozen, not sure what he was supposed to do or how he was supposed to react.

The next moment Lavender pulled away not looking at him.

"I'm sorry," he replied not sure if that was the right thing to say but he couldn't think of what else to say.

She shook her head at him.

"No, I should apolgise. It was stupid…but I just had to know," she looked up at him, "Just had to know if something was there."

"Maybe in another lifetime," Ron replied with a gentle smile.

"I feel so stupid," she laughed though Ron could tell she was hurt.

He looked down at her and noticed her tangled hair.

"Repairo," he whispered pointing his wand at her hair.

Her eyes lit up when she realised what he had done. She ran her fingers through her long hair.

"Thank you," she looked up at him and he could see tears in her eyes.

"Now," she linked arms with him before they headed back to Hogwarts, "Let's go over how you're going to tell Hermione you like her."

Lavender suddenly gasped and moved away from him.

"What's that?" she stared at him coat pocket.

"What?...oh," Ron reached into his pocket and showed her Scabbers, "My pet rat, he's been a bit skitterish lately, so thought it best if he came with me."

Lavender made a face at the rat and Ron laughed.

"Yeah, Hermione made the exact same face when she first saw Scabbers."

"Scabbers?" Lavender looked up at him strangely, "Lovely name."

"Isn't though," he replied.

They looked at each other for a moment before they both burst into laughter.

Ron returned Scabbers to his pocket and they continued on their way.

Ginny trudged along the path back to Hogwarts.

She felt so confused.

Harry had such horrible things to her today and she was angry but a part of her was relieved as well.

She replayed the memories in her mind over and over before coming to a realization. If Harry only saw her as a little sister that he had to look than maybe it was time. It was finally time for her to move on. She would be the first to admit that that task would be hard to accomplish but it was much better than pining after someone who would clearly never feel the same way about you as you did about them. It was horrible really and she almost felt as though she had lost a part of herself in the process. She didn't like the feeling of losing who she was over some guy.

'Some guy,' Ginny sighed, 'But he's not just some guy, is he?'

Ginny kicked some pebbles on the ground and pulled her cloak tighter around her body.

A small part of her felt dead inside and she still felt the nagging feeling in the back of her mind to not give up. Ginny sighed. She knew that voice well, it was hope, and hope had been her friend over the last few years.

She tried to imagine herself on dates and kissing other boys but the image always morphed back into Harry. It disturbed her and gave her a sudden jolt.

Was she really this obsessed with him? She always thought she had a school girl crush on him and nothing more but as she stood staring up at the ominious and darkening clouds above her she felt the reality of her situation sink in.

She felt stupid.

She wanted to cry, scream, to do anything really rather than just stand here while all her past actions were laid bare in front of her.

She saw images of her following Ron and Harry around the Burrow and watching as Harry played Quiddicth. She felt her eyes begin to sting.

She was stupid. She was practically stalking Harry. That wasn't love, it was obsession and it was a fantasy. It was unfair of her to expect Harry to meet those expectations.

Her thoughts returned to events of that day. He had been concerned for her well being and she had to admit she was touched – grateful really.

Her head bowed low she walked toward the entrance to Hogwarts.

Maybe that's how it all began, she had just been grateful to Harry for saving her life that time in the Chamber of Secrets. She had mistaken gratitude for love.

Another sigh escaped her and she saw the condensation rise to the air. She furrowed her brow and pulled her cloak tighter around her.

'Getting cold,' she mused before rushing back to Hogwarts.

Her heart stopped when she heard a heart piercing scream.

She was running before she knew it.

Her eyes widened when she saw Lavender pointing her wand uselessly at the whomping willow.

"RON!"

Ginny looked towards the schools to see Harry and John running toward Lavender as well.

It had all happened so quickly.

One moment they were laughing and walking back to school when Ron suddenly pushed her to the ground.

She felt the pain shot through her side and she would have screamed had she not seen the large creature leap over her body before lunging at Ron.

She screamed when she saw the creature, what looked like a large dog, attack Ron.

"Get out of here!" Ron screamed at her as he tried to fight the creature off, "Get Remus!"

She saw Ron pull his wand out and aim it at the creature. He was jostled about and being dragged backwards. Ron grunted and cried in pain.

Her heart raced and she hastily pulled out her wand with trembling fingers. She crawled towards the creature and Ron. As though sensing her movements the creature turned back and growled at her.

Lavender froze in her spot as she made eye contact with the creature, it looked like it was about to lunge at her.

Ron saw too. He leaned back and punched the creature in the nose, dropping his wand in the process. It yelped before turning its attention back on Ron and biting down hard on his leg.

Ron cried out in pain and that was the last she saw of him before he disappeared beneath womping Willow.

"RON!"

Lavender spun around and saw some Harry Potter and another boy run towards her.

"What happened?!" Harry questioned her quickly.

"I don't know, it just attacked us," Lavender replied doing her best not to just start crying.

It was all her fault. If she had been quicker or smarter, she was a witch after all and she just lay there on the ground and watched that thing drag him away. Even to the last minute he fought to save her.

She cried in pain when someone touched her side and she realised that she must have broken a rib in her fall.

Her eyes widened. The girl leaning over her had flaming red hair – the same girl who had returned her wand.

It all finally clicked in her mind.

"You're Ginny," she said in ragged breaths.

The girl ignored her and turned back to Harry and his friend.

"She needs to get back to Hogwarts," Ginny said looking at Harry and Hermione.

Hermione saw Harry walk forwards and she quickly grabbed his arm.

"Don't be stupid," she said instantly, "You know what this tree can do."

"Ron…"

Hermione turned and realised that Lavender was lying on the ground her hand on her chest. She was clearly in pain but she had a determined look on her face.

"Ron said something about getting Remus," Lavender finished quickly taking a deep breath.

"Right," Harry said suddenly, "Hermione you get Remus, Ginny you get Lavender up to Hogwarts."

"And what about you!" Ginny stood up from the ground and glared at him.

"I'm going to –"

"Run off and get yourself killed that's what you're doing," Ginny cut him off, "If you go, I go."

When Harry opened his mouth as thought to argue, Ginny looked at him in determination.

"He's my brother."

Harry nodded before turning to look at her.

"You'll have to –"

"Don't even think about it," she said quickly, "Just send a message to Remus, you were telling me the other day how you could contact him in times of crisis."

A war was clearly going on inside Harry's mind before he gritted his teeth.

"Fine."

He pulled out his wand and sent a shimmering image off into the distance.

He turned to look at Lavender, who to everyone's surprise was now standing on her feet.

"Let's go," she said walking towards the tree and Hermione noticed her limping slightly.

"Wait," she pulled the girl back, "That tree could rip you apart."

"I saw that dog do something before," Lavender replied.

Lavender leaned down with evident pain to pick up a long stick.

"Here," Harry said taking it off her, "Tell me what to do."

"I'm not too sure, I just saw it poke at a knot in the tree."

Harry looked skeptical but began poking the tree.

Hermione noticed Lavender lean down and pick up something else from the ground. It was Ron's wand. Lavender noticed her staring at her.

"He dropped it," she said before pocketing it.

'Focus,' she told herself before her emotions got the better of her.

"Got it!" Harry screamed.

Hermione turned back to see the tree still and soflty swaying in the breeze.

"Quickly," Harry said pulling Lavender forward.

Hermione bit down any jealousy she felt towards Lavender and quickly followed Ginny as they slipped under the Whomping Willow. The most important thing now was to save Ron.

For what felt like the hundredth time that day she prayed to Merlin that Ron was safe.

Lavender bit down on her lip to stop the cry of pain escaping.

Ron had saved her life in more ways that one and she wasn't going to let some stupid dog ruin the best thing thats ever happened in her life.

She felt someone hand brush against hers and she looked back, careful not to hit her head on the low ceiling of the path they were following.

The boy looked up at her an annoyed expression on his face before he pushed past her and moved ahead of the group.

"I think I heard something," the boy whispered back to them causing them all to stop.

A scream echoed around them and they all simultaneously picked up speed and followed Ron's voice.

They suddenly found themselves in what looked like a run-down old house that looked like it would collapse with a slight gust of wind, in fact Lavender was certain she felt it sway just now. To the side of them was a winding and unstable looking stairwell.

Lavender and the boy were the first on the steps, they looked at each other briefly before they both ran up the stairs.

'Please be okay,' she prayed internally just as they reached a landing.

The door was ajar and the boy pushed it open and cried in delight.

"Ron!" both she and the boy beside her cried out at the sight of him bleeding on the floor.

Lavender ran up to him and was about to knell down beside him when she felt herself pushed aside. The boy that had been with her repeated Ron's name softly, anguish in his voice.

He knelt beside Ron looking at him in concern, the next moment he was hugging Ron. Lavender heard him sigh in relief.

"Hermione? What are you doing here?" Ron replied in panic, his eyes stared behind them.

Lavender screamed when someone suddenly grabbed her arm.

Harry was there the next moment and pushed whoever it was away and they backed away into the corner was in.

"Leave them alone!" Ginny screamed running over from the stairs and onto the landing.

The man's face suddenly lost all colour, making him look, if possible, even palier.

Harry quickly grabbed Ginny's arm and pulled her close to him.

"Lily? James?" The man said in a hoarse voice his eyes red as though he were in pain.

AN: Sorry about the long absence. I hope this has made you all less upset with me. I mainly updated because you all seemed concerned about my health, I had a few pm's asking me if everything was alright. I swear, the HP fandom has to be the sweetest bunch of people on earth :)