Fic: Nine Notes Later, Part Three
The Key:
Text like this is Ron.
Text like this is Harry.
Text like this is Hermione.
Text like this is Lavender.
Wednesday
DEFENSE AGAINST THE DARK ARTS
won-won, will you take a walk around the lake w/ me after lunch? haha, i can think of some fun things we can do…
Uh, sorry Lavender, I’m trying to concentrate on Snape’s lecture. Can we talk about this some other time?
that’s not fare! you and harry pass notes all the time, and with hermione too. why wont u pass notes with your own g/f?
That’s besides the point. I’m a prefect. I have to set a good example.
that’s ur excuse 4 everything lately!! if i want a snog in the common room, you tell me that u’ve re-thought your behavior and that we should do it in private and not where the first yrs can see, but then we’re never alone! what’s wrong with you ron?? u’re acting all funny!
We’ll talk later, Lavender. Later. I promise.
--
(STILL DADA)
HARRY!!
Do you want detention again, you idiot? Put the quill down!
I AM SO SCREWED! LAVENDER KNOWS SOMETHING’S UP! LOOK AT THESE NOTES SHE PASSED ME!
She really needs to work on her grammar issues, doesn’t she?
Yeah, well, that aside-DID YOU MISS THE PART WHERE I AM SCREWED? NOW I HAVE TO TALK TO HER! AND CHUCK HER!
Ron, you knew this day would come.
AHHHHHH!
Why are you freaking out so much about this? I thought you wanted to get rid of Lavender.
I do, I do. It’s just…Harry, you KNOW how I am with confrontations! I can’t do it! I’m absolute bloody RUBBISH at it. I’ll make a mess of it and hurt Lavender and even though she’s a grammatically challenged twit with a one-track mind and gives me stupid necklaces for Christmas, I don’t want to make her cry!
That seems inevitable. I hate to say it, but it does.
You know, times like this I wish you were a girl or something.
…WHAT?!
Well, it’s just that…how to put this politely?...you’re an insensitive git. Girls are understanding and comforting and all that.
What the-how can you even SAY that?! YOU’RE the one who’s boorish and immature! YOU’RE the one who ruins the chance you might have with the girl you like by shunning her and going out with a freaking sycophant! YOU’RE the one who has the emotional range of a teaspoon! NOT ME!
Well, you could, I dunno HUMOR me a bit. And oi, where’d you learn all those big words?
Yeah, well, when YOU were snogging Lav-Lav, I was hanging out with Hermione. And oh, boy, did we have us some fun…
…Harry…
What?
…YOU FANCY HERMIONE?! YOU-YOU-I’LL KILL YOU! I’LL BLOODY EFFING-
Ron, before you work yourself up anymore than necessary, no, I do NOT fancy her! That’s almost (but not quite) as gross as insinuating I fancy Malfoy. She’s like my sister, ok? And for the love of Christ, would you quit it with this obsessive worrying over my love life? What I meant when I said we had fun was that we STUDIED! It was sarcasm! Merlin, you’re so bloody sensitive, I could just…just…slap you!
Ugh.
Harry, I’m sorry. My imagination gets the best of me sometimes.
Really? I hadn’t noticed.
Oh, stop being a prat. I said I was sorry!
All right, all right. So, back to the main point: how are you going to chuck Lavender?
AGH!! WHY DID YOU HAVE TO REMIIIIIND MEEEE?!
There IS always that thing I suggested…you know, with Hermione…and the broom cupboard…
No. I won’t do that to her. She’d hate me and…Harry, I’ve already ruined too much with her. I can’t hurt her like that.
Wow. You really do fancy her. Ron, that’s good. That’s great. I’m really happy for you.
The thing is, Harry, that I’m not sure I fancy her.
What? Of course you do! I see how you moon over her; I’m not blind.
No, no. It’s just that I think I might…
Might what?
Um…bloody hell, here comes Snape! Quick, put the quills away-
POTIONS
Liar!
I’m sure I have no idea what you’re talking about, Harry.
You lied! Snape was nowhere near us! What were you going to say, Roonil?
Nothing.
Were too.
Were not.
Were TOO.
Were NOT.
Were not.
Were too.
Ha, you admit it yourself!
That was a sneaky trick! Look Harry, just leave it alone, ok? I dunno if you’ve noticed, but I don’t want to talk about it.
Ron, come on. We tell each other everything, remember? You’re my best mate.
Yeah, this from the bloke who won’t tell ME who he fancies. That’s rich, that is.
Uh…that’s…different.
No, it really isn’t. And you know it.
It’s just that you won’t like…erm…who I fancy.
‘Course I will. She must be great if YOU chose her.
Ron, I can’t tell you.
Well fine then. I can’t tell you what I was going to say.
If I guess, will you tell me?
No.
Yes, you will. You can’t keep a secret for the life of you.
I can too!
No, you really can’t. The entire school knew exactly how you felt about Hermione. That’s why everyone was so shocked when you snogged Lavender in the common room.
Oh. I thought it was just a coincidence everyone kept coming up and verifying that Lavender didn’t feed me a love potion.
Trust me, it wasn’t.
Well, whatever. Are you going to guess, then?
Do you love Hermione?
…What?
Do we have to go through the whole contrived thing again? It’s a simple question, Ron. Do you or do you not love her?
Um…
Your ears are red! HAH! I knew it!!
Love is an awfully strong word, Harry.
Admit it! You LOOOOOVE Hermione, don’t you?
Sod off, will you?
You do. Hahahahaha, Ron loves Hermione, Ron loves Hermione!
You prat, stop it! I…I…
You’re certainly not denying it.
Yeah, but…erm…
JUST ADMIT IT! You know you want to.
Oh all right. FINE. Yes, I love Hermione. And I hate it.
Why? I’m almost positive she returns the sentiments, if that bird attack was anything to go by.
That’s just it, though! We argue all the time. She’s so bloody smart and perfect and beautiful and just…just…blimey, I can’t even put it into words. All I know is that I hardly deserve her, and I’m the dumbest bloke in the world for hurting her like I did.
So you hate loving her because you think she’s…I dunno, better than you?
Yeah. Yeah, that sounds about right.
You’re far too hard on yourself, you know. There’s a reason you’re Hermione’s and my best friend.
What, I’m good for a laugh and my mum knits a damn good sweater?
You left out that you’re brave and loyal and a good friend, and how you do nice stuff all the time, like letting me stay at your house or teaching me about Wizarding stuff. You left out that you were the first friend I ever had and you’re a prefect and you kick everyone’s arse at chess. It’s not like Hermione has no reason to love you.
Well, thanks mate. That’s sporting of you to say.
I mean it!
Really?
Really.
…
Um, Harry, just so we’re clear-
Oh, for the love of Merlin, you are IMPOSSIBLE. I do not fancy you! Would you bloody stop it with this?!
Well, it’s just that you were getting awfully sentimental…
I left out the part that you’re a temperamental, over-sensitive thickheaded git when you want to be. Which is most of the time. There, do you feel better now?
Prat.
Git.
Boy Who Lived to Be a Pain in the Rear.
Spattergroit-Face.
Ok, Potter, that’s it. How could you sink so low?
You’re one to talk. You compare me to Malfoy on an almost regular basis!
And with good reason. Just look at the Slytherin you’ve become! Turning my freckles against me…
That’s it. I give up on you!
--
(STILL POTIONS)
Harry, I’m sorry.
Yeah, me too. Do you want the notes on Slughorn’s lecture?
Yeah. And can I borrow the Prince’s book with you?
Sure.
Listen, about Hermione. What should I do?
Ron, it couldn’t be simpler. Break-up with Lavender. Then ask Hermione out.
It’s that easy?
‘Course it is.
All right then.
So.
Who do you fancy?
I’m not telling you!!
Harry, I told you I loved Hermione.
I annoyed you into admitting it.
Same difference. Tell me who you fancy.
No.
Tell me!
NO!
Is it Pavarti?
Uh, no.
Well, you DID ask her to the Ball…
That was two years ago, and as a last resort!
Ok…um, let’s see…
It’s not Luna, is it?
You’ve got to be joking me.
Well, you asked her to Slughorn’s party!
AS FRIENDS.
Ok, ok. Hm…let’s see. Do I know her?
Why do you care?
Same reason you care that I fancy Hermione.
Ugh. Fine. Yeah, you know her.
Well, this narrows things down! Erm…is it Cho, still?
Yeah right.
Eloise Midgen?
No, no, NO.
Susan Bones?
Nope.
Hannah Abbot.
Didn’t you hear? She and Ernie are going out.
Right. Um…Merlin, I dunno.
You know more girls than that!
I guess, but they’re the only ones who spring to mind.
So are we done with this obsession with who I fancy?
For the time being.
Great. Now I can finish my potion.
Oh, hell! I haven’t even started!
We only have three minutes left.
THREE?! AGH!
Aw, cheer up, Roonil. Slughorn might give you half a point for getting out your cauldron.
I hate you, Potter.
Right back at you, Wazlib.
TRANSFIGURATION
Harry, you and Ron were being awfully secretive about your notes the past two classes. Why did you elbow me out of the way when I tried to peek in on them?
It’s private, Hermione. Bloke stuff.
That’s the excuse for everything lately! You and Ron are my two best friends and it’s rude of you to exclude me just because I’m a girl. I tell you two everything!
Everything?
Well, almost everything.
See? You keep your girly stuff private and we keep our bloke stuff private.
I hate it when you’re right like this.
…
Harry. I have to ask you. Do you think Ron REALLY wants to chuck Lavender?
Believe me, I’m positive.
But how can you be sure?
I just am, all right? It was…uh, something he said to me.
When did he say it to you?
Just now. And honestly, Hermione, don’t be thick. You’d have to be blind to not know that Ron can’t stand Lavender.
Did he write it to you? In the notes? Can I read them, Harry, please?
No. We’re supposed to be concentrating on McGonagall’s lecture!
You’re one to talk, Harry Potter. All you DO in class lately is note-pass; at least I did the homework last night.
Rub it in, Hermione.
Harry…
What is it now?
Do you think after Ron chucks Lavender, he’ll…er…ask someone else out?
Well I should hope so. He’s only head-over-heels in love with-
Um.
Never mind.
WHO? WHO IS HE IN LOVE WITH, HARRY?
I didn’t mean it! I…I didn’t-
Harry James Potter, you tell me right this instant or…or I’ll tell Ron about Ginny!
Yeah, I’ve been meaning to ask you. How do you KNOW about that anyways?!
It’s quite obvious, Harry. I expect Ginny is the only one not yet aware of your sentiments.
And that kind of presents a problem.
Indeed.
Nice distraction tactic, by the way.
Leave it, Hermione.
I mean it, Harry! I’ll tell him!
Why are girls so ruthless?! I mean, that’s…that’s blackmail!
I prefer to think of it as incentive, actually. Now tell me who Ron fancies or I’ll be forced to take drastic action.
It’s not Pavarti, right?
Oh, don’t be stupid.
You did NOT just call me stupid.
Look, Hermione, I’m not the one you should be talking to here. If you want to know who Ron fancies so much, why don’t YOU ask him?
Because I sincerely doubt he’d tell me after the way I reacted to his girlfriend LAST time. The birds were…er…a bit much.
Right.
It’s just that I was so surprised, you see. And Lavender…she’s a real…well, you know…when she wants to be. And she’s shallow and selfish and-
I get it, Hermione.
All right, Harry, come on now. Show me those notes. I am three seconds away from telling-
Ok, ok, you win already! I’ll show you the blinking notes!!
…He is going to kill me.
Of course he’s not. Don’t be silly.
Oh, I wouldn’t bet on that. Ugh. Fine. I’ll show you…later. Tomorrow, ok?
Do you promise?
Of course I promise. I haven’t got a choice, have I?
Come on, McGonagall’s headed our way, we better-
-
Part One| Part Two| Part Four