Chapter 4

Ron padded tiredly into the Common room the next morning to find Hermione stood lingering by Harry's shoulder, she was stood behind the couch were Harry sat in front of her. She had been almost draped over him looking down. Ron felt his ears burn.

"Hi Ron, just nosying at our timetable", she inclined her head to Harry's lap.

"'If she doesn't already have that thing memorised off by heart already, I'll snog that bloody toad of Neville's", Ron thought scornfully. He had spent all night being miserable along with Harry what with their homework pile, while Hermione delighted in it. So, he barely had any time to be a teenager and mope, that was until he got into bed and Ginny's face flashed into his mind for a single second as he became anxious after seeing the fear in her eyes that evening at dinner. But then that memory prompted the image of Harry also. And while he was at it, that caused Hermione to jump into the forefront of his mine. The tangent leading all the way to yet another thought that made him feel miserable and left him sleepless. That was when he couldn't help but petulantly notice that every meal since they had returned, Harry and Hermione sat next to each other at dinner, on the opposite side of the table.

This caused him no end to the evening headaches that he supposed would become common place at this rate. Almost instantly he got down to stripping every mental image and demonising the pair of them. Only to feel guilty and start defending them and turning his frustrations on himself for being so hard on his friends because of his own insecurities.

"Double potions with the Slytherin's after lunch today isn't it?", Ron said casually.

"And History of Magic this morning then you're with Trelawney while I have Ancient Ruins", Hermione chimed.

'Off by heart', he noted internally. He started to walk off and the other two hoisted their bags and followed on.

"Slytherin's!" Harry whined in earnest, "why is it always Snape and the Slytherins and never just the one poison on its own, instead of the full cocktail".

"Because the universe hates your mate", Ron laughed as they climbed out of the portrait. Ron, in that same space in the back of his mind, relished the frustration in Harry's voice as being 'almost', deserved. Then, as quickly as that thought had entered his mind it was replaced with guilt for even beginning to feel enjoyment for any grief his best mate might be going through.

"Guys", Ron stopped and turned quickly to face them both, "listen I…", he paused not sure what he wanted to say. "I'm sorry… er…. I think".

Harry gave him an odd look and Ron felt his face burn, "for what mate", Harry's look of worry put him firmly in his place, guilty for ever doubting their friendship.

"I don't know", Ron shrugged, "I guess I keep feeling like I'm being a prat, constantly being miserable with you both and you don't really deserve it".

Harry smiled and stepped forward, landing a hand on Ron's shoulder, "mate don't be daft…".

But Hermione made a face and marched in front of them, she had the same slightly patronising look on her face she'd shown a good few times most of the previous day. "Well honestly Ron, it's been noticeable but at least you're recognising it".

Harry spoke up first, "Woh, Hermione, that's not really fair", Harry could see where this was heading and on seeing the look of shock on Ron's face, it was going there fast.

"Oh Harry come on, he just admitted it", she managed to keep a very expressionless face, usually a sign she was speaking factually in her mind. "Ron has been… a little difficult", she nodded to Ron as if to encourage him to agree with her, "I think we've all felt the tension and I'm simply saying it's admirable that he's growing up enough to admit when he's been wrong".

'Well shi…', Harry's internal monologue had kept up with the scene and now already skipped forward to the full scale meltdown that always came when Ron and Hermione had one of their fall outs.

Harry tried to cut Ron off, but he managed to find his voice, "Sorry", Ron's face was now a similar shade to his hair. "Difficult...Growing up!".

"Yes Ronald", Hermione raised her voice to match his and made sure to speak as slow and deliberately as she might to a child. "But, its, ok! No need to apologise twice".

Ron spluttered, he turned , rounding on her as she had to him. The pair now fully facing off. The effect was slightly ruined by Ron for Hermione's part as he towered her but still she stood her ground. The fog that stormed his brain swirled as he looked for the words to rally back at her.

There was however, a small swirl in the haze that gave birth to a single fleeting moment of clarity which was a first for him in a time of high emotion. In that instant he decided, quite out of nowhere that… he just wasn't going to deal with her. Something this simple yet brilliant had never come to him before and he didn't yet know if it was winning or running away, but he didn't care. The child in him said, 'she's not Ginny or Percy, she can't tell on me… and mum's not here… ha!', the child laughed, 'she can't even stop me…'

As usual with Ron though he reverted to type and the naughty child vanished and the moody teen returned, not letting him first leave without leaving a well-placed swear word hanging in the air. He didn't swear at her, he never would, just let it out loud to emphasis his mood. This was one of their well-matched spats that they always had, It didn't change anything between them, she was still his same Hermione. His same Hermione that pressed his buttons and made him so angry he could explode, just as how he felt in that moment.

He passed through a door with a bang as he shouldered his way through. He had no idea where this moment of clarity had come from or why he was, 'just going with it', but he did all the same. He left the two of them, exiting through the portrait, and as he did he felt somehow this was the best course of action. Now more than ever, it began to feel like an instant win. It did absolutely nothing for his mood, and he carried on in a huff regardless. But it just gave him this slight understanding that maybe he should 'just go with' his instincts more often.

Harry, who was the expert on how these things went down between them, was more stunned that Ron had simply walked off and wasn't at all sure if this was a good thing, but it helped. He was also torn as in all honesty he couldn't help but be on Ron's side in this situation. Ron had been more than a little moody but God's had Harry led the front on being a moody teen. This wasn't that big of a deal. "Hermione", he warned, "that was a bit out of order".

"He's been spoiling for a fight since we got here", she crossed her arms, "I don't think I was out of order". She looked around then lowered her voice to a hiss, "and I'd appreciate the backing of my boyfriend", she finished by glaring at him.

Harry looked around as well, it had become second nature by now, the two looked like a pair of owls every time they were alone. "He's your best friend too Hermione", He leaned forward and took her hand in his, "that hasn't changed, it's us that have, and he knows it. The longer we drag this out the worse it's going to be".

Hermione bit her lip, she never liked losing an argument to Ron, they had so many she almost cherished them and respected his not being afraid to not back down against her. But as Harry bored into her, she thought of Ron and Harry and how her love for them both hadn't really changed just because her love of one, had.

Pansy finished her letter with a fearful look in her eye as she proofread it, "what in the gods am I thinking", she groaned. She wished Tracey had stayed to help her write it. The idea that she was going to be open and personal with someone was strange enough without it being a stranger.

The two had fallen asleep on her window bay. Pansy had only been vaguely aware that Tracey had gone some time just before she fully woke up. She had no idea how long they were up in the early hours but knew she would pay for it today. She was already getting dressed and thinking about crawling into bed tonight.

She had a bitterness that bubbled just a little when she now realised that Tracey had been completely honest with her, they weren't friends. She had learnt she really liked the girl's honesty, even to the point of hurting someone's feelings. Pansy, still being Pansy, wondered if she liked that about her, just because she could hurt someone's feelings.

She shook her head, too tired to bother musing over such things. Too tired to dwell on the night before. Too tired to be really that bothered by the letter she was too terrified to send, just too tired to fret to the point of not sending it. Without another thought she sealed it and threw it over her shoulder onto the bed, knowing it would vanish.

She picked up her bag and left for breakfast in the great hall.

Ron padded his way down the grand staircase, when it decided to play ball and take him the direction he wanted. His footsteps, like little claps of thunder as he strode along. His size and posture alone made people move out of the way without a word. His face was a picture of anger and he muttered to himself along the way.

He was vaguely self-aware enough to point out to himself that he would have loved to go to breakfast one day soon, in a good mood for a change, he might even get to enjoy his food. Then his stomach growled, and he remembered who he was and how he didn't have to be in a good mood to enjoy food. In His mind a plate of sausages could give him a lot more satisfaction than Hermione could.

He turned into the main hall from the staircase and carried on in full momentum towards the entrance to the great hall when he came within an inch of someone and had to stop before knocking them over.

Pansy almost leapt back a pace as the boy nearly took her clean out. Flustered she huffed loudly, looking up at him, she realised it was Weasley. Pansy's chest burned with the quick blast of adrenaline brought on by the shock of nearly being walked through. Her brain loaded up the first barrage of insults waiting to be fired when she saw the searing anger on his face. The visual of this towering boy, broad, dark faced and seething with rage cancelled out whatever thoughts of berating him she had and forced her to take a step back in fear.

Ron growled slightly at the idiot in his way, until he noticed who the, 'idiot', was. He quickly thought of a great number of words and insults for Parkinson when she took a step away from him and he saw her eyes had widened. The sight made him blink at her and his face relaxed into a dopey sort of bewildered amusement. He couldn't remember the last time he had seen her, he hadn't noticed crossing her path. But now having nearly collided, the two of them so close, he couldn't remember her ever being so small.

"I…", he erred distantly, still staring into her eyes. On autopilot he took the step forward towards her that she had taken back, "sorry".

Pansy didn't move and now she blinked up at him somewhat confused by his loss of temper and the fact that 'Weasley' was apologising to, her!

"Ok", she managed softly, not being able to converse at that moment.

A moment passed between the pair as they stared at each other dumbfounded when the sound of steps echoed around the vast room and reached their ears. They both looked to their right to see the two figures entering the main hall as the sound of footsteps stopped.

Harry and Hermione entered and paused when they saw Ron and Pansy stood together, the scene was unexpected and confusing to their eyes, it made them both frown in confusion.

Ron, seeing Harry and Hermione, and mostly because of Hermione, scowled in anger.

Pansy seeing Weasley scowling at Potter and Granger couldn't stop her head tilt in wonder as she noticed his face grow angry again. Strangely it seemed this time the anger was clearly not for her but for his best friends.

Ron looked back at Pansy and again they stared for a moment, "sorry", he managed, again.

"Ok", she managed, again.

They both turned away from Harry and Hermione and both continued in unison in the direction of the great hall as they had both clearly been in the process of doing. A few seconds later Ron and Pansy both stopped and turned to eye each other over the oddness of them both now walking in stereo together. Somehow silently agreeing to just complete the task and get inside they stepped off again, only parting once inside. Ron moved left for the Gryffindor table, Pansy right for the Slytherin's.

Pansy reached the closest end of the Slytherin table, walking very slowly she made the decision to go back to her solitary spot close to the professor's table. She was vaguely aware of her slow pace, but she couldn't stop looking over at Weasley who had already got halfway down the Gryffindor table. She noticed he was repeatedly looking over his shoulder at her too.

Pansy continued to walk along the table and saw Potter and Granger enter, they made for where Weasley was sat and she tried to continue to follow the scene when Pansy was grabbed by her wrist from behind. She looked around in surprise and realised she was a quarter way along the table then looked down and saw it was Tracey.

"No", Tracey said simply as she pulled Pansy down into a space to her right that she'd reserved for her. "You're with me today", she quietly informed her.

Pansy was brought out of the Gryffindor drama by the surprise of being handled into sitting with the girl. "I…", she chanced another glance at Weasley before giving up on it all for this yet newer still twist to her day, "thought we weren't friends", Pansy sat and turned to her, giving her full attention.

"Were not", Tracey said nonchalantly with a shrug of her shoulders, then leaned into the girl as she grabbed the jug of orange juice, "were becoming, there's a difference", she whispered.

Pansy's face reddened and a little something in her chest burned. She glanced around the table as she gathered up something to eat. She noticed the 'Group', headed up by Draco, noticing her sit with Tracey and the look of confused interest and then found, oddly, she didn't care much. She turned back to Tracey who was animatedly sat talking to two girls from the year above and one from below. Pansy knew that Tracey kept her circle of friends which didn't include any of their year. She was pulled into awkwardness when Tracey introduced them to her with little to no fuss or concern. It was odd to be introduced to people she already knew but odder still realising she only knew them as they shared the same house. In reality they were complete strangers to her. Pansy nodded to all as Tracey went.

The two older girls were Liza Wren, a shorter girl like Pansy with sleek black hair, but unlike Pansy was proportionally curvy. Liza had an almost green pearlescent sheen to her skin that was radiant and striking. And Harrier Light, a tall, toned girl with long blonde hair who she already knew as she had popularity with the Slytherin boys who tried to chase her. Pansy knew her in named reputation as they were both pureblood, as well as from when they were very little at social affairs. The House of Light was one of the wealthiest Pureblood Families outside the Sacred Twenty-Eight. The younger of the group was a brown skinned girl with wavy black hair and piercing green eyes, Pansy again knew her to look at her but could never have told anyone her name was Farah Redmond-Reed.

Pansy felt extremely introverted during the introductions. It didn't help that she felt each one of them, Tracey included, were uniquely pretty. It made her a little self-conscious. More than that though, she felt vulnerable with the surprise of it all. She knew that given the chance she would never be so bold, and that realisation made her see how sheltered and protected she had been in her group. That a simple 'hello' to some new people could be so impactive. She was also very self-aware of her cruel and nasty reputation that she had cultivated over four years and paranoia crept its ugly head as she presumed, they already had a horrid opinion of her.

But very quickly, and completely to her surprise, she realised that she trusted Tracey. Whether or not that was the wisest choice, she'd have to see, but her gut was pulling her to the girl and for now, she was going with it.

Tracey pulled away from the others and pushed her head casually into Pansy's, "how did the letter go", she whispered.

The memory of the letter floated back up from under all the other morning's drama where it was buried. Pansy's eyes widened as a flood of owls began to swoop in from above.

Ron sat with his plate of scrambled eggs and sausages. His mind had started wandering since he walked into the hall in stereo with Parkinson. As angry as he'd been he couldn't help but have the little interaction play over in his head. He started to look around to see where she was when he saw Harry and Hermione sitting down next to him. He scowled, rolling his eyes as Harry sat down to his left and he saw Hermione sat on Harry's other side to be away from him. He didn't have it in him to be bothered were either of them chose to sit right now, it was only relevant to him as he was still furious with her, and he didn't want to be around her. He gave a half dark chuckle when he saw Harry try to give him a look, it was the kind he often gave when they both fought. He could be on either side but did his best to stay impartial, his only eye on getting whatever the argument was about to blow over.

Ron's aggressive grip on his fork loosened again as his mind wandered back to a few seconds before they sat down. He looked over his shoulder, completely missing Hermione trying to catch his eye from behind Harry. She was hoping to wave him an, 'I'm sorry', but pulled a face when he blanked her. Ron searched the gang of 'morons', Malfoy instantly being spottable but couldn't see her. A second later he spotted her some distance from them, sat with that small pretty group he usually couldn't help but notice. He thought she looked up to where he was and span back around. For a second time he missed Hermione's feeble wave, she thumped the table in frustration, cursing him for being oblivious and Harry for being so persuasive.

There was a swoosh of activity above and Ron looked up and then down as his Pen-Pal letter arrived in front of his plate. The activity in the hall heightened as Ron noticed it had during every owl post since the letters began, it was clearly getting popular. He opened it with an expectancy to think up another witty and maybe deliciously cruel insult. The anticipation being, in his mind, that this was going to lead to a battle of wits in a war he hadn't started. That was the idea at least. What he found instead was an unexpected excess of writing and absentmindedly spilt tea down his front as he started to read.

"As much as I'd truly like to school you with a clever response, I'm trying this 'being nice' thing. So I'll restart by saying…Hi,

I can honestly say I've almost nothing in mind to say to you so what you do eventually get from me is going to be written on a whim and with an expectation that you'll likely think I'm a nutter. Really, if I were you, I'd think nutter too.

So, I'm single and I've been in love with someone the past few years who defiantly knows I exists but might as well of acted like I didn't…."

Hermione was now leaning over from where she sat on the other side of Harry, "psst…Ron, Ron… I'd just said sorry…didn't you hear me".

Ron raised a hand dismissively and didn't look away from the letter. Absentminded he said, "yeah Hermione, Pumpkin juice is fine…", he then slid his half drank mug of tea towards her, "thanks…".

Hermione blinked at him stupidly then her head snapped from Ron to Harry and back again, "Ron did you hear me…. Is he taking the pi…".

"And this isn't me trying to baggage dump on you or an attempt at sympathy, just pointing out what's become a pretty big catalyst for change in my life now…. well my life as of last night really." Ron found he was instantly captivated by the letter and continued to miss Hermione waving and now Harry who was struggling to hold back laughter as well as holding back Hermione herself.

"Teenage heart break's nothing new in this school so it doesn't make anything I've said special, but the fact that I'm throwing it out here's a big deal for me. I'm trying something new and that includes a bit of change in how I treat people, I guess this is me bartering for a bit of a response and engagement. So now, on second thought I'll leave it at that considering I'd 'really' be thinking, 'nutter', if it were me".

Ron finally looked up at Harry and Hermione, a perplexed smile on his face, "nutter!".

"What did he call me?", Hermione hissed.

Ron was already looking back at the bottom of the note, it was signed, "Your massive Hunt….Sea". He looked back up at Harry, "Sea?".

"Sea?", Harry repeated.

"You're the biggest C here!", Hermione said exasperated.

Ron looked at her for a second until the Knut dropped and he burst out laughing at the connotation. Hermione too softened into laughter, she slid her hands over her mouth not believing what she'd said. Harry took a few moments longer before it hit him.