Oh, Ronald.... [ickleronikins & aweasley_twin]

[most_amazing]

Hermione had this all planned out in her head. She would just walk into the common room, and Harry should still be up - likely worrying over his task. She would tell Harry about Fred, and he would take it well, she hoped. Then together they would tell Ron. Or, maybe Harry would just go upstairs and tell Ron for her. It was a really awful row they'd

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[ickleronikins]

Ronald was still sulking, thank-you-very-much. The night hadn't really gotten any better, and Harry had gone off to bed. But Ronald was on the sofa in the common room, still stewing over the ball. It wasn't that he'd really wanted to go with Hermione; not like that. He'd just assumed that since they were friends and (so he'd assumed) equally date-less that they'd go together. The fact that she'd had the gall to actually get asked out by someone, and not just anyone, like Neville or Seamus, but Viktor Krum just made it so much worse. He'd somehow thought they were equal in terms of being social misfits; he apparently guessed wrong.

His mouth opened, and he was about to say something when he turned at the call of his name, recognizing her voice, and was about to say something, largely in line with their row from earlier. But then he saw Fred, his brother at her side, their hands linked in a way that seemed to suggest they hadn't just bumped into one another in the hall. The way she declared that they needed to talk just

[most_amazing]

She took in a deep breath. There were lots of ways this could go - most of them bad, but still. And truly, just the sight of him there with his arms crossed made her just as cross - perhaps even moreso - than she was before. Honestly, he had the audacity to make her cry after the Yule Ball, for what? For sport, maybe? She felt her grip on Fred's hand tighten

[ickleronikins]

"Oh, right, just a friend," he quipped, his tone vaguely mocking as his shoulders pulled up, tensed as he scowled. Somehow, that was just worse. He wasn't exactly sure what part of it -- that Victor wanted her and she wasn't interested, or that she was hanging onto his older brother. He had to swallow as she started to talk about not wanting him to find out in the great hall, and he knew what was coming, but Merlin, it didn't make it any easier. Because then she said it, and he blinked, found it hard to speak for a moment.

"Don't see why you wanted to tell me. It's not like I care who you're snogging," he says with a shrug that jostles his violently red hair. He's lying of course, through his teeth, and it's as obvious as anything that he does care. Not because he's in love with her or any of that rubbish gossip that goes around. But somehow, it just makes him feel more alone. Harry's Harry, celebrity now more than ever with the Triwizard Cup, and Hermione and even Neville have someone. And then there's Ron, Harry's awkward best

[aweasley_twin]

Fred rolled his eyes. Somehow he knew Ron was going to behave like this. "This more than just snogging," Fred informed his little brother. "As if Hermione would enter into a relationship like that? Don't be daft. I care about her. She cares about me."

Fred's tone was harsh but he actually felt really guilty. Ron looked fairly defeated. The kid was being a prat these days but he was still his little brother and they had always been close. He felt like a terrible older brother. Hermione might not want Ron romantically but Fred still felt like he was stealing his Ron's girlfriend.

He tightened his grip on Hermione's delicate hand. "It was important for Hermione to tell you because she cares about you. You are her best friend. So, just be happy for her, please? She deserves that." He paused and softened his tone, "Don't say anything you are going to regret, ok?"