How Not to Woo a Witch
Title: How Not to Woo a Witch.
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Ron/Hermione
Genre: Angst
Word Count: 500
Summary: Valentine's Day is nearly ruined by Ron's jealousy.
Written for pigwithhair for Checkmated's Third Annual Ron/Hermione Valentine's Day Secret Gift Fic Exchange.
*~*
High Street was quiet and relatively empty when Ron Apparated into Hogsmeade. The students hadn't begun to make their way into the village yet. Ron was excited about spending the entire day with Hermione, as he hadn't seen her since Christmas. They had planned to meet at the Three Broomsticks, but Ron started walking toward the school, hoping to get a few extra moments with her. By the time Ron reached the edge of the village, he began to see students walking toward town.
George had warned him that girls had expectations about Valentine's Day. Out of nerves, Ron had consulted his copy of Twelve Fail-Safe Ways to Charm Witches, hoping for useful information about Valentine's Day. It suggested roses. So Ron clutched a bouquet he'd got from a shop in Ottery St. Catchpole. Luckily, they'd survived Apparation.
Ron finally spotted Hermione and broke into a run. But he stopped and felt his insides run cold when he noticed that she was walking with another bloke. She and the git were so engrossed in their conversation that Hermione jumped when Ron appeared in front of them.
"Ron," she said. "I thought we were meeting..."
"I got here a bit early," he said, glaring at the boy. "Thought I'd come to meet you."
Hermione evidently got past her shock and narrowed her eyes at him. "You remember Jimmy Peakes. I've been tutoring him in Arithmancy."
"Peakes," Ron said in acknowledgement, without looking at him.
"I'll, er, see you later," Peakes said to Hermione. "It was nice seeing you, Ron."
Ron didn't answer. He could vaguely recall a mention of jealousy in his book. It was a tactic to be used with extreme caution. While some witches responded to jealous acts, others were turned off by it. Thinking of the Yule Ball, Ron knew which kind of witch Hermione was, yet he couldn't help but feel hurt thinking of Hermione talking so intently with Peakes.
"I don't believe you," she said. "Did you have to be so rude?"
"Well, I wasn't expecting to see my girlfriend walking to Hogsmeade with another bloke on Valentine's Day."
"I wasn't walking to Hogsmeade with him. I was on my way here when he stopped me to ask me about his Arithmancy essay." Her face flushed in anger. "You know I'm here to meet you. You're acting ridiculous."
Ron had no response. His anger quickly began to slip away, leaving him feeling ashamed and foolish.
"I'm sorry," he said. "I suppose I'm a bit mental when it comes to you. I can't stop myself from acting an arse."
Hermione sighed. "Yes, well. You were an arse. But I suppose can be a bit mental when it comes to you, too."
Ron gave her a tentative smile, which she returned. He knew he was forgiven.
He held out the roses. "These are for you."
"They're lovely, Ron."
Ron stepped forward and took her into his arms. He'd been dreaming of this moment for weeks.
"Happy Valentine's Day."
Rating: PG-13
Pairing: Ron/Hermione
Genre: Angst
Word Count: 500
Summary: Valentine's Day is nearly ruined by Ron's jealousy.
Written for pigwithhair for Checkmated's Third Annual Ron/Hermione Valentine's Day Secret Gift Fic Exchange.
*~*
High Street was quiet and relatively empty when Ron Apparated into Hogsmeade. The students hadn't begun to make their way into the village yet. Ron was excited about spending the entire day with Hermione, as he hadn't seen her since Christmas. They had planned to meet at the Three Broomsticks, but Ron started walking toward the school, hoping to get a few extra moments with her. By the time Ron reached the edge of the village, he began to see students walking toward town.
George had warned him that girls had expectations about Valentine's Day. Out of nerves, Ron had consulted his copy of Twelve Fail-Safe Ways to Charm Witches, hoping for useful information about Valentine's Day. It suggested roses. So Ron clutched a bouquet he'd got from a shop in Ottery St. Catchpole. Luckily, they'd survived Apparation.
Ron finally spotted Hermione and broke into a run. But he stopped and felt his insides run cold when he noticed that she was walking with another bloke. She and the git were so engrossed in their conversation that Hermione jumped when Ron appeared in front of them.
"Ron," she said. "I thought we were meeting..."
"I got here a bit early," he said, glaring at the boy. "Thought I'd come to meet you."
Hermione evidently got past her shock and narrowed her eyes at him. "You remember Jimmy Peakes. I've been tutoring him in Arithmancy."
"Peakes," Ron said in acknowledgement, without looking at him.
"I'll, er, see you later," Peakes said to Hermione. "It was nice seeing you, Ron."
Ron didn't answer. He could vaguely recall a mention of jealousy in his book. It was a tactic to be used with extreme caution. While some witches responded to jealous acts, others were turned off by it. Thinking of the Yule Ball, Ron knew which kind of witch Hermione was, yet he couldn't help but feel hurt thinking of Hermione talking so intently with Peakes.
"I don't believe you," she said. "Did you have to be so rude?"
"Well, I wasn't expecting to see my girlfriend walking to Hogsmeade with another bloke on Valentine's Day."
"I wasn't walking to Hogsmeade with him. I was on my way here when he stopped me to ask me about his Arithmancy essay." Her face flushed in anger. "You know I'm here to meet you. You're acting ridiculous."
Ron had no response. His anger quickly began to slip away, leaving him feeling ashamed and foolish.
"I'm sorry," he said. "I suppose I'm a bit mental when it comes to you. I can't stop myself from acting an arse."
Hermione sighed. "Yes, well. You were an arse. But I suppose can be a bit mental when it comes to you, too."
Ron gave her a tentative smile, which she returned. He knew he was forgiven.
He held out the roses. "These are for you."
"They're lovely, Ron."
Ron stepped forward and took her into his arms. He'd been dreaming of this moment for weeks.
"Happy Valentine's Day."