You look quite dashing with those Antlers

by ViridianGreengrass

Lavender stands there for a moment, seems to want to say something, but doesn't know how – Ron smiles at her uncertainly. His relationship with her, if you want to call it that, was years ago, when they were just 16. Since then, Ron had had little or nothing to do with her. Then came the war. Then the war was over. Then Ron and Hermione became a couple. Now Hermione is gone.

Note: This story was written for "The Potter Complex: Season 1 - Round 2".

The Challenge was to write a Song-Fic. We had three lyrics to choose from, I went with "The Void" from Muse.

Relationships: Ron/Lavender, Past Ron/Hermione

Triggerwarnings: Major Character Death: Hermione Granger died in the past, Grief/Mourning

Additional Tags: Harry Potter Epilogue What Epilogue / EWE, Post-Hogwarts, POV Ron Weasley, Ron Wesley-centric, Lavender Brown Lives, Fred Weasley Lives, Emotional Hurt/Comfort, Fluff and Humor, Falling in Love, Denial of Feelings, Slow Romance, Hopeful Ending

---

They'll say, no one can see us

That we're estranged and all alone

They believe nothing can reach us

And pull us out of the boundless gloom

When Ron Weasley opens his eyes, his hand wanders over the bed next to him, as it does every morning. And like every morning, he wonders why this side is empty.

Then the memories slowly come back as he lies there quietly, closes his eyes again and sees her face very clearly in his mind. He remembers her smell, how her skin felt against his, how she smiled, cried and laughed.

It's important that Ron remembers all of this every morning. It's important that he remembers Hermione as she was – as he loved her.

It's true that it hurts, but it's important to him.

After a while, Ron gets up and his thoughts wander to his commitments and all the things he has to take care of today. He goes to the bathroom, changes his clothes, makes himself breakfast and goes to the fireplace. He takes a look in the bowl and realises that he needs to buy some new Floo powder.

He conjures a fire, throws some powder into it and after the flames have turned emerald green, he steps into the fireplace.

'Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes!'

---

'I know it's not your favourite job –'

'It's all right, George, really.'

'– but Eddie's ill and Elli – No clue where she's today.'

Ron sighs and stands behind the till. 'Why don't you just fire her?'

George sighs. 'You know why …'

'You're not a charity,' grumbles Ron.

'Anyway, we don't have a cashier, so … You can finish early to make up for it,' says George conciliatory, pats Ron on the shoulder and hurries back upstairs.

Something had exploded on the upper floor, Fred's shouting indicates that the explosion was not intended. The smell of singed hair slowly spreads through the shop.

Lost in thought, Ron serves the customers, he should urgently clean the flat, but he's not good at household charms. He still has to go shopping, he can't eat pizza again … Ron is glad that the till shouts at him when he miscounts the change. Some days he just can't concentrate and the constant hustle and bustle in the shop has never been much help.

'Hi Ron.'

Ron is so introverted that he greets customers without taking a closer look at them. He looks up from the packet of Nosebleed Nougat and gazes into two familiar, light blue eyes that he hasn't seen for many years.

'Lavender …?'

She smiles sheepishly at him. 'Yes, exactly.' Lavender looks at the Nosebleed Nougat. 'For my niece …'

Ron blinks and clears his throat. 'I – I see … We haven't seen each other for ages. H-how are you?'

'I'm fine. Life does its thing,' she says, shrugging uncertainly.

Ron takes her money and says, 'So you're helping your niece sneak out of classes?'

Lavender grins mischievously. 'Wanna become her favourite aunt, y'know.'

Ron laughs softly. 'I see, I see.'

The Nougat is sold often enough, thank goodness, and he knows the price by heart; he gives Lavender her change himself without being shouted at by the till.

'So you work here now? Weren't you an Auror?' Lavender asks as she packs the Nougat into her bag.

Ron nods as he serves the next customer. 'Yeah, but the Auror office was too stressful for me. And far too much paperwork.' Ron sighs. 'I didn't really know what to do after that, so Fred and George offered me to work in their shop.'

'So … you're a cashier now?'

Ron shakes his head. 'No, only doin' that now 'cause we're short of staff. I'm actually experimenting with the two crackpots, inventing new products with them, testing the stuff – things like that.' Ron's face lights up. 'It's really fun! If I'd known that before, I'd've joined Fred and George ages ago!'

Lavender smiles warmly. 'That sounds like a great job.'

'THREE KNUTS, NOT TWO, YOU IDIOT BOY!'

Lavender jumps back, startled, and Ron groans in annoyance.

'The till is really handy, but it's been set far too loud for months and Fred's too lazy to modify his spell.'

'Oh, wow … wild. Well, you'd better give the girl her three Knuts,' says Lavender, recovering from the shock and laughing softly.

She stands there for a moment, seems to want to say something, but doesn't know how – Ron smiles at her uncertainly. His relationship with her, if you want to call it that, was years ago, when they were just 16. Since then, Ron had had little or nothing to do with Lavender. Then came the war. Then the war was over. Then Ron and Hermione became a couple.

Now Hermione is gone.

'I, erm...' Lavender begins, fiddling with her bag. Ron looks at her questioningly, three Galleons in his hand and an impatient boy in front of him who wants to buy Canary Cream.

'I just wanted to say – my sincere condolences, Ron,' Lavender finally says, looking at him sadly. It seems she wants to squeeze his shoulder, and Ron has to admit that he would have liked that.

He nods with tight lips. 'Thanks.'

'See you soon?'

'When you need more Nosebleed Nougat, I guess.'

---

They'll say the sun is dying

And the fragile can't be saved

And the cold, it will devour us

And we won't rise up and slay giants

'So, you wanna see Ron?'

'Yes. Yes, well – is he here?'

Fred shrugs. 'Sure, he is. But he,' Fred grins slyly, 'might look a bit horny right now … I'll get him for you.'

Lavender looks after the twin in astonishment as he climbs the stairs two steps at a time towards the flat. He pushes open the living room door, whistling cheerfully.

'Brown wants to see you, Ronnie.'

Ron is sitting cross-legged on the carpeted floor, his wand in one hand, the other scratching an imposing set of antlers that has grown out of his head.

'Lavender?'

'That's the one. I've already told her that you look … exciting,' Fred says, chuckling.

Ron groans and feels his antlers. 'Oh no, not now! How embarrassing! Help me get rid of that quickly!'

'But you look so dashing with it …'

'Fred!'

Fred raises his hands, laughing. 'All right, all right, but there is only so much I can do. If Lavender doesn't appreciate you wearing a crown, then she doesn't deserve my stag of a brother.'

Ron stands up in frustration. 'But I don't wanna go down to the shop like this! I look like an idiot!'

Fred makes a meaningful face.

Ron snaps at him: 'Don't you dare! Don't even think about saying anything! Help me already!'

'What d'you think George and I've been trying to do for days? You've got antlers now – very pretty ones, in fact. You're lucky we don't force you to work at the till. I really wanted to, but George had to take pity on you.'

Ron grinds his teeth, then trudges down the stairs past his sniggering older brother, gets stuck cursing and finally makes it down to the shop.

When Lavender takes a look at him, her eyes widen. 'Oh, wow …'

Ron looks embarrassed. 'I told you, we're experimenting a lot. The antlers are intentional, but we can't get rid of them at the moment.'

Lavender continues to scrutinise the sweeping antlers.

'They're … impressive,' she finally says, making a face as if she has to stifle a laugh.

Ron feels the blush creep into his face and shakes his head, his antlers knocking some packaging off the shelf. 'Oh, crap! You can't feel with 'em, and they're really heavy.

'Er, you wanted to see me?' he says, quickly changing the subject.

She tears her eyes away from Ron's latest acquisition with great difficulty and looks at him with a smile. 'I was hoping you could show me your shop and your products.'

Ron frowns. 'Oh, sure. Though Fred's probably better at that than I am.'

'Maybe, but I'd rather you do it.'

'Okay, why not.'

Ron doesn't quite understand why Lavender rejects Fred's expertise and favours his, but he has to admit that it flatters him and he's keen to do his best.

Ron's antlers are a real eye-catcher as he goes through all the products with Lavender and explains what they do and how much they cost. He is constantly gawped and marvelled at. Lavender listens attentively, asks curious questions and then decides in favour of one of the newer novelty items. Meanwhile, a customer wants to know from Ron whether there is already a product for these antlers. Ron replies in a bad mood that, as the customer can clearly see, it is still in the test phase.

'Can I touch them?'

'Eh?' Ron looks at Lavender, puzzled. Touch them?

Her cheeks colour slightly pink. 'Your antlers …'

Ron takes a moment, then he can follow her thoughts. 'Oh. Yeah, sure. They feel unspectacular. It was quite pleasant when they were covered in velvet.'

'Velvet?' Lavender carefully stretches out her hand and touches the horns with one finger.

'Yes. It forms at the beginning when the antlers grow, is a kind of skin, comes off later. Feels a bit fluffy.' Ron adds in his thoughts that Hermione could certainly have explained it much better than him. She would have went so long into details until everyone stopped listening. Everyone but him. She used to bother him with her lectures sometimes. Now he would give everything to hear her talk one more time.

Lavender just nods and feels the prongs. Finally, she withdraws her hand with a smile.

'You know, Ron, I was wondering if we could meet. Maybe in a café or something?'

Ron looks at her in surprise. Going out? Does Lavender really want to go out with him? Why? Ron isn't good at dating, and a pair of horns would hardly help him. He's been wondering all along why Lavender would rather have him show her the products when he's only partly inventing them and constantly sweeping boxes off shelves with his antlers. He assumed that she just wanted to have a little chat with him for old times' sake, or to be nice to him after all what had happened.

But a date? He can't go out. He can't go on a date. Not yet. Now is not a good time. Maybe the good time would never come, Ron hadn't thought about that. Not that he intended to think about it.

'I – well – it's just that we have a lot to do,' Ron finally says haltingly, pointing vaguely at his antlers. 'And I don't really want to go anywhere with these …'

Lavender looks at him disappointedly. 'Oh, I … I understand. Well, then – good luck with your … your experiments. Hopefully I'll see you soon …'

Ron nods hastily, accompanies Lavender to the till, where Eddie is standing in one of his favourite snazzy Muggle suits, explaining to a girl that she's a few Knuts short and can't buy her item.

Ron presses the product into the girl's hand. 'It's all right, take it, the few Knuts don't matter today.'

The girl beams happily at Ron. 'Thank you, Mr Weasley!' Squealing with delight, she hurries out of the shop.

'Ron, now the till goes nuts!' whines Eddie as it screams at him.

'I'll tell Fred, maybe he'll finally do something about this spell,' says Ron, casting annoyed Silencio.

Lavender looks at Ron with a warm smile. 'That was very kind of you.'

Ron waves it off. 'I know what it's like when you've got no money.'

'Well, then … Goodbye, Ron,' Lavender says quietly and walks out of the shop, dejected.

'Nice lady,' Eddie says, sorting through the change.

Ron nods and scratches his antlers. 'Ol' school mate.'

'Gryffindor?'

'Yeah, we've been in the same year, too. Anyway, I'm upstairs trying to get rid of the antlers.'

Ron pushes his way through the crowded shop, has to explain a few more times that there isn't yet a product that lets antlers grow and, annoyed, advises against the 'Anteoculatia' spell, explaining it's a curse and no fun.

Once upstairs, he returns to the living room, where George is brainstorming with a book about the antler spell, Fred has gone to the shop, he didn't feel like reading. George looks up as Ron comes in, sees the antlers, grins like a Cheshire Cat, then notices Ron's crestfallen expression.

'Ronnie, you good? Or just annoyed because of your crown?'

Ron snorts and goes to the fridge in the kitchen to get himself a butterbeer. 'None of your business.'

George gives his brother a hard look. 'What did Lav-Lav want from you?'

'To show her our stuff and all that, that's it.'

'That's it?' George pricks up his ears.

Ron avoids his eyes and takes a swig from the bottle.

'Maybe she wanted to go out with me, too.'

George smiles broadly again. 'Great!'

Ron lowers the bottle and looks at his brother contritely, instantly regretting he told George about it. 'No, not great.'

George throws the book on the couch and walks over to Ron. 'Oh, come on! Weren't you a couple once?'

'We were 16 then, that doesn't count.'

'And now you're 26, time for a fresh start,' George decides with a nod, opens the fridge and takes another butterbeer.

Ron scowls at him. 'I don't want a fresh start.'

'But you need a fresh start.'

'You don't know what I need,' Ron decides coldly, turning away and making his way to the fireplace, where George will hopefully not follow him. At least Ron intends to temporarily disconnect his fireplace from the network if his brother won't be shaken off.

'Ron. Come on. It's been two years now.'

'So what if it's been twenty years! Stop bugging me! Work on this stupid spell,' Ron pointed angrily at his antlers, 'and mind your own business!'

Arriving at the fireplace, he conjures up flames, throws some powder into it and steps into the fire.

'Ron …' George looks after him sadly. 'I don't believe for a second that Hermione would've wanted this for you.'

Ron says his address, the emerald flames engulf him and he disappears in a whirl of sparks and ash.

He steps out of the flames at home, gets stuck cursing with his antlers on the mantelpiece and then drags himself to his couch. He has taken the butterbeer with him, luckily they now have swing-top bottles. He continues to drink, bent over with grief, wishing it was something strong like whiskey or rum.

'I don't believe for a second that Hermione would have wanted this for you.'

It doesn't matter what she would've wanted, Ron thinks, staring dejectedly in front of him. He wanted to live his life with her, he wanted to have children with her, he wanted to grow old with her, he had teased her that he absolutely had to die before her because he couldn't bear it the other way round.

Now she had died before him.

And he can't bear it.

Ron is tempted to get out the photo album and look at pictures of her. It usually gives him comfort, but today he has the feeling that it could only make things worse.

Something deep inside him, a small part, wanted to say Yes to Lavender. There was this one tiny little moment when Ron had wished he could be with someone again, be loved again. A deeply buried part of him wants that so much, but it doesn't feel right. He just can't do it yet, and certainly not with Lavender – Hermione couldn't stand her. Ron feels miserable and guilty at the thought of being happy with someone else, of leaving Hermione behind and bringing someone new into his life.

He just can't – it's a mystery to him how others can.

'Ronnie.'

Ron groans in exasperation and glances over at the fireplace, from which his twin brothers are just stumbling out, coughing and full of ash. He should have disconnected the fireplace, he should have known that his annoying brothers would be, well, annoying.

'Are you listening to the dark voices in your head again?' asks Fred, raising an eyebrow.

George sits down next to Ron on the couch. 'I know you don't want to see anyone right now, so just look away. But Fred and I have decided –'

'– this just can't go on.'

'Exactly. And let's be honest, Ronnie. There aren't many who'd ask you for a date while antlers adorn your pretty ickle head,' says George, grinning mischievously and flicking a prongs.

Ron doesn't look at either of them, sitting hunched over on the couch and scowling. 'Hermione was the only one who really understood me! We were made for each other, y'know.'

George moves closer and squeezes Ron's shoulder. 'I'm pretty sure Lavender will do a great job too – if you give her a chance.'

Ron shakes his head silently, his horns swinging back and forth impressively.

Fred stands next to Ron. 'Move over.'

'Get lost!'

'And stop shaking your head like that, you'll poke one of our eyes out!'

'Get the hell out of here, it's my decision, not yours!' Ron grumbles, but slides to the side anyway so that Fred plops down on the couch next to his brother.

'So Ron,' George starts again, 'tell us why you're not having tea with Lavender.'

'No.'

The twins lean back and wait, Ron looks into the burning fireplace in a huff, the fire has turned orange again.

The minutes tick by, Ron shuffles uncomfortably in his seat, the twins lounge around relaxed and wait.

'I'm only going to disappoint her anyway,' Ron finally says and sighs.

'What a load of bollocks,' says Fred, 'that's what we thought when we let you help us, and you really surprised us and didn't disappoint a bit!'

'Fred …', mumbles George, but still has to grin.

Ron stands up and rolls his shoulders. 'Okay, that's enough. Enough talk! You two done? I don't want you holding my hand, nor do I want you muddling in my life! I'm doing fine, get out,' the last sentence sounds neither emphatic nor angry, but simply tired.

Fred gets calmly to his feet, walks to the fireplace and looks into the bowl. 'Well, no Floo poweder, we'll have to apparate.'

'Ronnie,' George says as he joins Fred, 'at least give her a chance. A real chance. And one more thing –'

'What?' snaps Ron.

'Your shift isn't over yet.'

---

It takes a leap of faith

To awake from these delusions

You are the coder and avatar

A star

'Hi, Ron.'

Ron turns round in surprise, a box falls out of his hand and drops to the floor.

Lavender had appeared in the shop, dressed in a light, pale pink dress in which she looks so much better than Ron would like to admit. She bends down to pick up the box, which she then hands to Ron. 'Did I make you jump?'

Ron takes it and shakes his head. 'No, no. It's all right. How, er … how can I help you?' he asks, hastily putting the goods away so that he can turn away from her.

The shop had only just opened, and it had been two weeks since Lavender and Ron's last meet-up. Ron didn't expect to see her here again. He didn't know whether he should think that was a good or a bad thing. On the one hand, he was relieved that she was't coming back, but on the other, he was sad.

Now that she is standing in front of him and doesn't seem angry, Ron realises that he is genuinely happy to see Lavender again, but at the same time he feels terribly uncomfortable and would like to be swallowed by the earth.

'Still advertising your latest WIP?' she asks, looking at Ron's antlers with a broad grin.

Ron smiled sheepishly. 'Yeah, in a way. George's doing his best, Fred thinks it's funny. H-how're you doing? What do you actually do? I mean, professionally.'

'Oh right, I didn't tell you last time. I write for the Daily Prophet. Articles and stuff,' Lavender says, tilting her head slightly.

'At least give her a chance – a real chance.'

Well, what if Lavender doesn't want another chance? Ron stands there looking stupid and doesn't really know what to do, so he continues to put away the goods in order to look less stupid. Hermione had always said, 'At least do something, Ron! Don't just stand around!'

'Yeah, I haven't read the Daily Prophet for a while, to be honest,' says Ron sheepishly, because he doesn't know what else to say, and without realising it, puts the goods away incorrectly. Without warning, the boxes shoot out back at him.

'Oh, I hate Fred's charm!'

'What was that?' asks Lavender, puzzled.

'Fred charmed the shelves so that if you mess up sorting the stuff in, the boxes come back towards you. It's quite funny when it happens to customers,' Ron admits with a grin and rubs his big nose, which is now red and swollen.

'Oh, I see. Useful charm, a bit over the top, isn't it?' Lavender smiles.

Ron shrugs. 'He always has to overdo it and George says that's Fred's and he won't touch it. Lazy excuse, old slacker.

'Well – how can we help you today, Lavender?' asks Ron, now paying more attention to where he's putting the goods away.

Lavender fiddles with her handbag. 'Well, I thought – I was hoping that maybe you got rid of your antlers because you didn't want to go out with them last time. But from the looks of it …'

Ron is completely surprised that Lavender has obviously not given up on the idea of asking him out. He pulled out of the affair rather lamely last time and probably wouldn't have made the most exhilarating impression even without horns.

'Er, yes...' he mumbles and thoughtlessly pushes a box onto the shelf.

It flies straight into his face.

'Ouch, damn it! I really hate this charm!

'Erm, you know – because the antlers are gonna take a while – maybe we can still try the coffee, tea – whatever you fancy,' he says, clearly feeling the blush rising in his face.

Lavender looks surprised, but also delighted at Ron's change of mood and blushes too. 'Really? I mean, that's great! Is there anywhere you particularly like to go?'

'Not really. But for now, maybe it should be somewhere where I have plenty of space.' Ron points to his antlers with a wry grin.

Lavender nods with a laugh. 'I'll find something. You know, Ron …'

'Hm?'

'You look quite dashing with those antlers.'

---

They'll say, no one will find us

That we're estranged and all alone

They believe nothing can reach us

And pull us out of the boundless gloom

Ron paces up and down his living room, ruffling his hair. He's having a conversation with himself.

'You can't go out with her!'

'I can't cancel now, in thirty minutes I'm supposed to meet her!'

'What would Hermione say?'

'George claims she'd be happy for me now …'

'Fred said she'd also kick your arse though.'

'Well, it's Fred saying that …'

'You're not ready yet.'

'What if I'm never ready?'

'You better don't give it a try, you're making an idiot of yourself with those antlers!'

'I think I'm already an idiot – antlers or not.'

'You haven't earned any of that!'

'Maybe.'

Ron has stopped, brushing his robe for the hundredth time. At least it's not maroon this time and he doesn't have to cut off any silly frills.

The fireplace hisses, emerald-green flames shoot up, Fred and George come stumbling into the living room.

'Ronnie!'

'We thought we'd come round.'

'For moral support.'

Ron eyes his brothers suspiciously. 'You're here because you don't want me to back down!'

The twins look at each other briefly. 'Right,' they say at the same time.

George goes to Ron and puts an arm round his shoulder. 'We'll walk you to the café, what do you say?'

'I say you git just soiled my robe!' growls Ron, pushing George's arm aside exasperated.

'Oh, my bad,' he mumbles, draws his wand and lets the ashes disappear.

'Okay, Ronnie. How out of practice are you? Want some tips?' Fred asks, winking at Ron with a giggle.

'No thanks, certainly not from you. I'll find the way on my own. I won't back out!'

Fred and George are beaming. 'Good, good, very good indeed.'

George walks over to Ron again. 'Got a little surprise for you.' He reaches out and drops something small into Ron's palm.

'What's that?'

'One drop Antler-free, just for you.'

Ron looks at the little gummy Horntail George has given him.

'Thanks.' He pockets the little dragon, takes a deep breath and turns to the fireplace.

'Ready, Ronnie?' asks Fred.

'No.'

George looks at his little brother curiously. 'Don't you want to get rid of your antlers?'

Ron smiles nervously. 'Oh, it's fine. At least for today. Lav thinks they're pretty.'

'I see.'

'Good luck, brother.'

'Yeah, good luck!'

'Shut up already!' Ron mutters with a grin, takes some floo powder and throws it into the flames. It tingles as he steps into the fire, but this time it has nothing to do with the emerald flames that seem to consume him.

They'll say, no one will find us

That we're estranged and all alone

They believe nothing can reach us

And pull us out of the boundless gloom

They're wrong

They're wrong

Babe, they're wrong

They're wrong

They're wrong