"I'll see you tomorrow for what I hope is your last detention Mr Weasley," McGonagall said, peering sternly at him as he packed up.
Flushing a furious red, Ron nodded and bade his headmistress goodnight. He knew he was on thin ice. His mother was furious at him for getting two week's worth of evening detentions – which were seriously getting in the way of his Quidditch practice – and Ginny was fuming with him for how he had been treating Hermione.
Speaking – or rather thinking – of Hermione led his thoughts back to Draco. Why that git had been so readily welcomed back was still a mystery to him. Ron's throat still hurt from where Draco had practically lodged his wand in it; and when Ron had tried to complain to Remus about this, Remus had lightly scoffed and suggested that perhaps Ron should watch his attitude towards Hermione if he wanted to avoid further confrontation with Draco.
Rather than take Remus' advice, however, Ron had decided to track Draco down and finish this. He knew where Draco's bedroom was and it wasn't long after his detention was over that Ron was outside the portrait entrance yelling for Draco to come out.
When Draco finally stepped outside Ron was surprised at the usually neat boy's appearance; his shirt was wrinkled and his hair looked similarly rumpled. "What do you want Weasel?" Draco snapped when Ron didn't say anything "I'm actually kind of busy here."
Ron was about to snap 'busy with what?' back at Draco when a voice came from the other side of the portrait, "Draco, where are you?"
Hermione? Ron flinched. He knew Draco and Hermione had gone to Hogsmeade together a few times but Ron had thought that had been a plan of Remus' to get Hermione out of the castle.
"Well Weasel? I'm waiting with bated breath; please do put my out of my misery."
Ron shrugged, "nothing. I'll just let you get back to your slut."
Draco's eyes gleamed with deadly intent. "What did you just say?" He demanded.
"I said I'll leave you to your little slut."
Ron was, in hindsight, expecting Draco to punch him – he just wasn't expecting it to be so quick. Or accurate. Ron fell backwards onto the cold, solid floor feeling thoroughly winded.
"Don't ever talk about her like that again. In fact, don't ever talk about her full stop. Don't even think about her and definitely don't talk to her again. You are nothing. You don't deserve her; you never did."
"Neither do you!" Ron bellowed back as he struggled to his feet.
"Frankly neither of you do given your current behaviour."
Both boys stopped glowering at each other and jumped at Hermione's sudden appearance.
"Ronald, I'm disgusted with you and Draco, I expected better from you."
Both boys withered under Hermione's fierce glare.
"But Hermione did you hear…"
Hermione silenced Draco with a look. "I heard him Draco" she said sadly, "but that doesn't give you the right to say what you did either. It certainly doesn't make you any better," she said sternly, "even if you were defending me," she finishes, her tone softening.
Draco shifted uncomfortably. Ron snorted, "you've really done it now Hermione," he says, "I though McCormack was bad but this is certainly a new low."
For the second time that evening Ron was on the receiving end of a punch. This time, however, Hermione was the one delivering it. Draco tried not to laugh as Ron looked up in amazement at Hermione. "I think you should leave now" she told him, turning on her heel and climbing through the portrait hole before Ron could see her cry.