***
PART I
I am riding in the van, getting ready to embark
on a new year at Hogwarts. This will be my sixth; it seems like not
long ago it was my first. So much has happened since then though. So
much has happened in the last year; things that I would have been crazy
to predict before last year. If someone where to walk up to me on the
street, and tell me all that was going to happen, I would've defined
them as mentally ill, even though now that I think about it; the things
that happened last year were a long time in the running.
I glance over at my little sister, sitting in
his lap. I was very protective of my sister at first, but I came around.
I just had to realize she isn't a little girl anymore…and I guess if
she had to find a boyfriend, she couldn't find any better than him. Seeing them sit there like that reminds me of her. I haven't seen her in about a week, when we went to
Diagon Alley. My thoughts suddenly lingered to her, and I can't wait
to see her! I can't believe she was right before my eyes all that
time, and I never noticed her.
I remember last year. What a crazy year of mixed emotions
that was! Would you like to hear my story about my fifth year? It's
packed full of romance, and even some comedy. I know, I like action
better too, but come on, give my story a shot. You may like it.
Despite the fact that You-Know-Who was alive, life
was pretty much great, or so I thought… I had just learned that my long
time crush, Fleur Delacour was returning to Hogwarts for student teaching.
I was actually excited to go back to Hogwarts! Hey, if you have seen
Fleur Delacour you would know where I was coming from, she's like an
angel without wings…or so I thought. Oh, if only I wasn't so naïve,
I would've realized nothing could stay so simple.
It all started when my best friend started falling
in love with my sister…
Wait back that up a bit. I know what you're thinking,
'Harry and Ginny? You have got to be out of your rocker.' But it's true;
I didn't even believe it at first. Maybe you would rather I back it
up to where Ginny started to hang out with us more often?
It was the first night back at Hogwarts. We were sitting
in the common room, when Ginny confessed to us how scared she is now
that You-Know-Who is back. If only she knew that wouldn't be the worse
of our troubles.Anyway, being the supportive brother I can be…Hey, I
can be supportive sometimes! I reassured her that Harry, Hermione and
I would watch over her so she'd feel safe. That was the initial reason
we started hanging around her.
During the first couple weeks, everything was normal.
I was working up the courage to say that two-letter word to Fleur…you
know…hi, and I was actually enjoying getting to know my little sister
a little better. Hermione seemed to take to Ginny rather fast, and Ginny
would stay up for hours talking to Harry in the common room about God-knows-what!
Then one night, I went down to dinner with Hermione, while Harry was
at Quidditch, and Ginny was in the library. She told me something that
forever changed my world.
She said she was in love with Harry Potter.
It started out innocently as we sat in our usual spots
at the dinner table. I was talking to Hermione about some new movement
spew was going to make, and she was lecturing, "It's S.P.E.W. Ron, not
spew."Well, as she droned on my eyes kind of"accidently" lingered on
Fluer on the other side of the room. Hermione must have noticed this,
because before long, her hand was waving out in front of my face.
"Ron, will you put your eyes in for a second. Honestly,
some things are more important."
"Yea, too bad spew isn't one of them," I countered.
I immediately knew that was a mistake.
"Well I'm sorry you feel Miss Priss over there is
more important to you than your friends," she spouted in anger.
"You don't understand anyway Hermione."
"What?What exactly don't I understand," this time
she seemed to have lost her anger, and she was pleading with her eyes.
I didn't know how to explain. This was Hermione, my
best friend since our first year. I'm not good at expressing my feelings,
or any mushy goo like that, but the look she gave me somehow got me
to spill.
"Well, er, you don't understand what it's like for
me. I…I know Fleur will never like me, and it's hard."
"Are you blind Ron," she sputtered. "Of course I know
what it's like."
"You do," I felt releaved to say the least. At least
I wasn't the only one with all these awkward feelings.
"I er, don't know how to tell you, but I've had feelings
for Harry for quite some time, and he doesn't seemed to return them."
"What?"That was probably the last thing I expected
to come out of her mouth.
"I er, I…think I'm in love with him."
She looked up at me expecting compassion, or understanding,
but that defiantly wasn't what she got. 'How could she,' I thought.
My two best friends just couldn't fall in love; it'd ruin everything.I
looked down at her, and said, "Why do you have to ruin everything. You
just want to get together with Harry so you can leave me out.Well, you
know what Hermione Granger, you don't have to go through such drastic
changes to get rid of me, I never what to see your face again!"
I felt a hard sting at my cheek as she slapped it,
and she ran off crying. A group of students passing by and witnessed
the scene were staring directly at me.
"What, don't you have anything better to do than stare?"
I shouted at them.
I needed time to think, and sort my feelings out.'Why
was I mad at her?Am I just being plain selfish?I mean, I just didn't
want to be the one on the outside again.' I realized I had just let
one of my best friends down at a time she needed me the most.'Some friend
I am,' I thought.I started towards Gryffindor, getting ready to swallow
my pride, and do the unthinkable-apologize to her.
I got ready to go up into the girls dorm when I got
into the common room, when suddenly someone grabbed me by the arm.
"Ron, I need to talk to you," I turned to find Harry,
looking nervous. "I er, don't know how to say this, but I think I should
tell you. It may concern you."
"Listen Harry, could you hurry up? Hermione is upset
with me."
"I am so confused.I don't know how it started happening."
"What started happening," Harry was confusing me along
with himself.
"I…I mean, I don't even know how to tell her. I er,
er…"
"Harry, just spit it out. You're starting to scare
me!"
"I am starting to get feelings for, er…" 'Oh no,'
I thought. 'he has feelings for Hermione, now I'll really be on the
outside.This has to be the worse thing that could ever happen to me.'
Boy was I ever wrong, nothing could ever prepare me for what he said.
"I am getting feelings for…"
