Author Notes: I own nothing of the Harry Potter universe except the plot of this story
Well, this is my second time writing. Please be a little kind. Constructive reviews, both positive and negative, are appreciated and looked forward to. Thank you for your time.
It was one of those unusual days that Ron Weasley got up before either of his two best friends. Harry had been snoring loudly when he woke up (Neville's snores were much louder, making it hard to hear) and judging by the fact that no Hermione was present in the Common Room downstairs, hunched down in a table with half a dozen books scattered all over it, Ron figured out she was still asleep. Having nothing else to do, Ron decided to go down for a walk around the Great Lake. He wasn't a great admirer of nature but it was certainly better than sulking down in a chair in the Common Room.
Down into the ground, Ron saw a distant figure sitting down on the bank of the Lake. It was hard to recognize the person, but there was no mistaking the long strand of blazing red hair draped over the person's shoulders. What the hell was Ginny doing down here?
"Ginny?" Ron asked somewhat fearfully after approaching his sister. She had been unaware of his presence, that was sure, as his words made her jump about and turn to him with widened eyes.
"Ron! You shouldn't scare people like that!" She exclaimed indignantly. In any other situation, Ron would've retaliated. But he really did not wish to upset Ginny any more than she was now. It did not demand an expert to observe that she had been quite morose after the Yule Ball last night, and streaks of tears were running down her pale face.
"Sorry." He mumbled as he made himself sit down on the ground beside her. He usually did not bother with Ginny, but right now, he somehow felt that Ginny needed him.
They sat together, each deep immersed in their thoughts. It was no coincidence that they knew what the other was mulling over - they were feeling the exact same thing: hurt.
"Harry's so stupid, isn't he?" Ginny finally said, not looking at him but staring straight at the lake in front of them.
Ron really didn't want to talk about things like that. So, he tactfully asked, "Did you enjoy yesterday evening? With Neville?"
Ginny just gaped at him with hollow eyes before he saw her expression change. In an instant, tears erupted from her eyes and started rolling down her cheeks.
"Why did I say yes to Neville?" She said, angry at herself but pounding her petite hands on Ron's shoulders. That most certainly hurt a lot, Ron remarked to himself.
"Because you wanted to go with him, I think." Ron said lamely, feeling like an absolute idiot. He did not like to see Ginny crying, but he couldn't help it. Only Ginny could help herself.
"You wanted to go with Harry, didn't you?" He asked her in a uncharacteristic soft voice. She nodded fervently. Ron liked that gesture. It spoke of the baby sister he still saw in her.
"But you can hardly blame Harry." Ron said, feeling an urge to defend his best friend. And not only that, Harry was completely oblivious to Ginny's feelings for him.
"I know." Ginny mumbled. "But it doesn't make me feel any better."
Ron had absolutely no idea how to reply to that, so he chose to keep dumb. But then, he hated seeing her crying. And he hated himself for not trying to comfort her, even though he had no idea how to do so.
"Do you think Harry will ever notice me, Ron?" She turned to him. Ron suddenly found it very convenient to look down at his feet lying on the lush green grass by the blue water.
"He already knows that you exist, you know." Ron said, trying to be funny. Fred and George always resorted to jokes for dealing with everything. Surely he too could do that?
Ginny glared at him. "You know perfectly well that I didn't mean that."
Ron stood up, his fists clenched. It seemed he could no longer restrain himself from admonishing Ginny for her outright stupidity.
"You know, all of it is your fault." He said, pointing his index finger at her. Ginny visibly recoiled, and the fight died away from her eyes. That was strange coming from someone as dominating as her. Just the sight of Ginny cowering back in fear melted his heart, and Ron sat down beside her again.
Seeing Ginny shooting wary glances his way time to time, Ron finally said kindly, "I really think you should talk to Hermione about… your feelings. She is much better in these things that me."
"I have already told her." Ginny said. A deafening silence fell upon the place.
"When?" Ron stuttered as soon as he could find he could speak. That was some news.
Ginny looked away from him before answering. "During the summer holidays."
"Well, what did she say?"
"None of your concern!" Ginny snapped. "You will just laugh at me."
"No, I won't." Ron said patiently. "Tell me. I won't tell anyone."
Ginny continued glaring at her brother, clearly debating with herself, before finally giving in to Ron's demands. "She told me to try and be a friend to Harry and not be so nervous in his presence."
Ron laughed. "And you seem to be doing a great job following her advice. I have never heard you finish a sentence while talking to Harr.." His voice trailed off under the glare Ginny sent his way. Then, he recalled the promise he just made to her, but it was too late.
"See!" She cried out, undoubtedly on the verge of tears. "I knew you would laugh at me. No one cares for me."
"Now look here, Ginny." Ron started in an attempt to control the situation. "I am sorry."
Ginny simply huffed before turning back to stare at the lake. A few minutes of silence followed.
"You shouldn't have treated Hermione that way." She said. Ron immediately knew that now, it was his turn to be on the receiving end. But he had no idea of how to change the topic of their discussion.
"I know." He groaned. "Last night in bed and even now, I feel terrible for doing so."
"What wrong did she do?" Ginny pressed on. Both of them knew the answer: she didn't do anything, it was Ron who had been acting like a jealous git.
"She went to that stupid ball with Viktor Krum! That bloody Durmstrang! Harry's rival."
"I thought you admired Krum."
There, that shut Ron up as Ginny pressed on, albeit with a smirk on her face. "You like Hermione, don't you?"
"I… you know."
"Yes!" Ginny clapped her hands, beaming. It was funny how quickly moods can change. "I knew it! I just knew it!"
"Now now Ginny" Ron tried mitigating his embarrassment. His face had already turned ripe red. "I don't want to talk about it."
"Why not?" She asked slyly. "I would heartily enjoy talking about it."
"But why?" Ron moaned weakly. Immediately, the grin fell from her face, and she lifted her hand to gently place it on her brother's shoulder.
"Because I want to help you." She said seriously.
"And what makes you think I need your help?" Ron protested.
"Because I know what it feels like, you know."
Another silence ensued during which both looked at one another.
"We are so much alike, aren't we?" Ginny said lamely. "Both of us like some person but lack the guts to admit it. We are cowards."
"No." Ron whispered. He knew that the only reason Ginny heard it was that the air around them was absolutely quite. "We just need to learn how to be friends. Then, from there, we will see where it goes."
Ginny frowned. "What is that supposed to mean?"
Ron smiled at his sister. "It means that the best we can do now is to be friends with Harry and Hermione. If we are meant to be together, we will. If not… wecan still be friends with them, in the least."
Ginny pondered over his words for a while before looking up at him with an incredulous look. "That sounds like something Hermione would say."
"I am quite wise, you know."
"Don't make me laugh."
"You moron!"
"I know I am. And so are you!"
Both looked at each other, each threatening to break into hysterics. And next moment, Ron and Ginny found themselves rolling around in the grass, roaring out in laughter.
"I think we should head back." Ron said once their laughter had died down. Ginny was still giggling. "It's time for breakfast."
"Yeah." Ginny said decisively, getting up on her feet. She held out a hand to him, which Ron accepted gratefully. With some effort, Ginny pulled Ron onto his feet. Then, Ron put an arm around Ginny's shoulder as the two marched towards the castle, much happier than they had been when they had exited the castle.
The fog around them was clearing out. The jubilant Sun was shining brightly in the blue expanse overhead. They could hear the whistle of the breeze in their ears. The place was truly beautiful.
"Ron?" Ginny whispered as they neared the gate. "Thank you."
Ron raised an eyebrow. "For what?"
"For being my brother."
That earned her a soft smile from Ron.
As they entered the castle, they broke apart. After entering the Great Hall, Ginny was about to walk off to join some of her friends at the far end of the table when she felt a strong grip around her wrist. She looked up to see Ron's face.
"Thank you, Ginny." He said, grinning from ear to ear.
Ginny frowned. "For what?"
"For being my sister."
Ginny smiled back at him before walking off to her friends.
This story will be exteneded to a three-shot.
I hope you liked it. Please express your opinion, whatever it is, as a review. It means a lot to me.
Thank you.