Author's Note:

A quick content warning for this chapter, it includes domestic abuse and dubious consent.

"But I thought you were going to spend time with me this afternoon," Lavender whined as Ron looked around his dorm, stuffing books and parchment into his bag.

"Well, Hermione needs to go to the library, and asked if I'd come with her," the ginger responded dismissively. Hermione had been skittish since her encounter with McLaggen and was scared to be anywhere alone except her dorm, where males weren't allowed.

"So? That doesn't mean you have to go. You hate the library," she pleaded. "We could go down to the lake. To that place where no one would be able to see us…. We could have some fun. Much more fun that in the library."

"Lav, I don't have time for this. Hermione is waiting for me," Ron said trying to brush past her to the door.

"So, you like her more than me. Is that it?" the witch rounded on him blocking his way.

"For fuck's sake! Do we have to go through this every bloody day?" Ron shot back.

"But Won-won," the witch started. Whatever she was to say next was lost when the back of Ron's hand struck her, whipping her head to the side.

The wizard fisted the blond's hair at the nape of her neck and forced her to look up at him. "Why do you always do this, Lav?" he seethed giving her a little shake. "Why do you insist on making me correct you? I've told you time and again that Hermione is just my friend. That I love you, but you keep pushing me away."

Tears welled in Lavender's eyes as she whispered a litany of I'm-sorries. Ron rested his forehead against hers and continued softly. "Then you call me won-won. I've asked you not to call me that. I've explained that it makes me uncomfortable, and it makes me look weak in front of others. Every time you use it, it makes me wonder if you even respect me," he said then whispered, "It makes me wonder if you actually love me."

The witch shook her head as best she could. "No, Ron, No. I do love you. I'm sorry. I don't mean to make you feel like that. I'm so sorry. I do respect you. Please, Ron, please believe me. I'm so sorry. I do love you," she pleaded.

The wizard closed his eyes. "How can I believe that with the way you treat me?" he asked.

"Let me prove it to you," she said in a rush. "I'll do anything, Ron. Anything. I love you."

He relaxed his fist and let loose of her hair. Lavender threw her arms around the man's neck. "I can show you. I can show you," she whispered as she clung to him. Ron pried her arms off of him. He brought up a hand to cup the woman's swollen cheek. Despite the pain, she leaned into his touch. He brought his hand down and pressed down lightly on her shoulder.

The young woman dropped to her knees immediately. She knew what he wanted from her. She understood her place. As she unbuckled his belt, she reminded herself that Ron would be an important person one day, and she'd be by his side. She just needed to stop getting in his way. He needed to make friends, connections. She should be making him look better, not weak. She just kept forgetting.

Thankfully this was one task that she could manage. She'd show him that she loved him. That she was committed to their shared future. Just as she wrapped her lips around his member, Ron said, "Be quick, Lav. Hermione's waiting for me."

That hurt, but she knew it was a test. So she didn't react, only commenced sucking him off. Although, try as she might, she couldn't manage to stop her tears from falling.

*R*R*R*R*R*R*R*R*R*R*R*

Ron skipped down the stairs and met Hermione by the portrait hole, ushering her out with a hand at the small of her back.

"Thank you for doing this, Ron," the witch said as they made their way through the halls. "I hope I'm not causing trouble with Lavender. I really don't want you to fight because of me. I-I would go on my own, but…." She trailed off not daring to say more.

"Hey," the young man said, as he threw an arm over her shoulders. "You don't have to apologize for needing your friends, Mione," he assured her. "What happens between Lav and me is our business. You let me worry about that."

"I know you care about her. I don't want to get in the way due to a mess that I got myself into. I should never have asked him to the Christmas party," she admitted.

Ron had to agree with her on that one, but he kept his opinions to himself. "One invite doesn't give him permission to touch you, Mione. As for Lav, well, I don't know. I like her. Really I do, but….. She's not The One. You know?"

Hermione nodded.

"I just worry that, I'll never be with anyone better. That she's the best I'm ever going to get, so I had better hold on to her. That the one I really care for will never care back. Blimey, I already know that she's far too smart to want to be with someone like me," the wizard confessed sending the witch a look of longing.

Hermione blushed and looked away. "I don't know, Ronald. I think any witch would be lucky to have you," she replied nervously.

The young man stopped in his tracks and turned to face the woman. "Are you..are you saying what I think you're saying," he asked with a hopeful smile.

Hermione's cheeks reddened further. "I, well, I…" she started before being beset by nerves. Instead she asked, "Are you saying what I think you're saying?"

Ron cracked a wide smile. "I like you, Hermione. More than Lavender, more than anyone. I was mad not to notice you sooner, and it took way too long for me to get my head out my arse," he said with a cheeky grin and the witch giggled. "But by the time I did, there was Lavender, and I was so inconsiderate. I thought you'd never actually want me again, if you ever did," he confessed.

For the second time that night, Ron had a woman launch herself into his arms. "I did, I mean, I do," Hermione said as she wrapped her arms around him. She leaned in for a kiss, and the wizard backed away.

"Not yet. I don't want to cheat on Lavender," he said then quickly added when he saw her face fall. "Let me end things with her first. I respect both of you too much to do otherwise."

"Of course, Ronald. Doing anything else would be inappropriate," she said with a shy smile as she pulled away.

"Just a few days," he promised, draping his arm around her once more.

"Just a few days," the witch repeated and leaned into him.

Ron looked down at Hermione with an affectionate smile. Merlin, women are easy, he thought as he steered her towards the library.

*R*R*R*R*R*R*R*R*R*R*R*

"I can't believe you told that daft bint that you'd take her to Madam Puddyfoot's on Saturday," Draco laughed from where he lounged. Now that the cabinet had been repaired, it was no longer necessary to meet in the Room of Lost Things. Finally, they could indulge in comfort and a touch of luxury. He sat askew on a wing back chair, his legs hanging over the arm, nursing a glass of firewhiskey.

"Lav, loves that shit," Ron replied, studying the chess board before him. "I even told her I'd wear that horrible necklace she got me for Christmas."

"I know she gives good head, but, mate, she can't be that good," the Slytherin commented.

Instead of acknowledging the comment, Ron said, "I talked to Hermione last night."

Draco rolled his eyes, "So?"

"So, we are going to start dating," he replied.

"Really?" Draco said incredulously.

"Really," he echoed.

"So, that's how you're getting out of your date? You're going to dump Lavender?" the blond laughed.

"No, I'm not dumping her, and I'm not going on the date," Ron said with a smirk.

"How's that?" Draco asked, getting bored with this line of questioning.

"Well, I don't expect the school to be open for much longer," the ginger confessed.

"What?" The other man sat up instantly, planting his feet firmly on the floor. "What have you heard?"

"Harry's got a lesson with Dumbledor on Thursday. They'll be leaving the castle…

"Leaving it vulnerable," Draco interrupted.

Ron smiled, "Leaving it vulnerable. They'll be coming back alone. Harry is supposed to meet him in the Astronomy tower after supper. I expect that's where they'll be after there little trip is done."

"Fuck," the blond breathed. They were only days from their glory. They'd be the wizards to bring down the great and powerful Albus Bloody Dumbledor. "So, Thursday?" he asked.

The other wizard nodded a look of eager excitement on his face. "We strike on Thursday."