"I know you don't really like me and you think I'm an idiot, but I would really like if if you could at least pretend to respect me in class."
"I do respect you." She said. He looked skeptic. "You think I don't know that you should've won the competition? I only won because you tripped a surprise booby trap. And I could only protect myself from the fire because I once happened on some whispering peppermint. And I know the garden mainly provided us with the same ingredients but it did also give us access to ingredients we've worked with in the past. It wasn't even a level playing field. So I won by chance and it should have been you. And I get that. You're more experienced and older and I do respect that."
"I-what?" He looked confused.
"And I get the revenge thing. I get that you want to get justice for your family. I respect that too. And you know what you're doing in class. So in a professional and sometimes personal capacity, I do respect you."
"So you don't think I'm an idiot?"
"I definitely think you're an idiot. Just an idiot that I can respect. I also respect that you're here to fight. I just think you're doing it wrong. You're willing to die to defeat him. That's how we unnecessarily lose good people. Because they have no will to live. They're willing to be martyrs and there are already way too many deaths for the cause."
"So, what do you suppose I should do?"
"Honour your family. But don't go into this willing to die. Fight to live. I'm not saying to be ready to betray everyone. Just have something to look forward to."
"A better world isn't enough?"
"No one's that altruistic. You need something personal."
"What do you look forward to?"
"Magical farm." She said with a small smile. "Is that all? I'll try to tone down my Alexness, as Hermione calls it. I'm just going through some personal stuff and I cope by being rude."
"I hope things get better." He said. "I also heard you're making felix felicis."
"I'm attempting it."
"I wish you the best of luck. And you won the competition fair and square. You adapted to your surroundings. I rushed in headlong and didn't take into account any surprise traps. You didn't win by default. Trophy's yours." He said earnestly. She smiled.
A few hours after the first quidditch match of the season, Alex heard someone approaching her and the unicorns, crying. She looked up in concern and saw Hermione appear amongst the trees.
"Hermione!" She shot up, worriedly. Hermione tried to quickly wipe away tears. "Hey, what's the matter? What did Ron do?"
"You were right." Hermione said. "About Ron. About me."
"What did my brother do?"
"Nothing he wasn't entitled to. Except... I don't know." Alex pulled Hermione down to sit beside her and put an arm around her shoulder. "I blame you. You and Cedric made it look so easy. You liked him, he liked you, you had cute dates in Hogsmeade and the forest and the vanishing room. You made it look easy."
"Are you forgetting the beginning? I didn't know he liked me. He didn't know I liked him. Then I went away to another country- another continent. And then I came back and it wasn't until a year later that he asked me out."
"Cedric was perfect." Hermione said.
"Then my grandfather ordered his death."
"Then that happened." Hermione agreed. "He was snogging Lavender. Just there. For everyone to see. And I know, technically, I'm just a friend and it shouldn't bother me but it bothers me and I was practicing my spell work and conjuring birds and he came in and she was giggling and then he acted like everything was normal and then I was going to leave but I saw her and I got angry and I sent the birds after him."
"Hermione. My dear, dear friend. I love you for that." She said and burst out laughing.
"Alex!"
"Okay, I'm sorry. I'm sorry." She composed herself. "Ron's slow. He's never had a girlfriend or any romantic encounters. So feelings are new to him. Remember the Yule ball? It took him up until, like, the week before to figure you were a girl who could go out with boys instead of just his friend. And with that realisation came feelings. Feelings he doesn't quite understand. Like when he got upset you were with Viktor. That had nothing to do with Viktor being the enemy. He's still jealous over him."
"No, he's not."
"Yes, he is. Trust me. Why do you think he brings him up all the time? Ever since Krum made his debut in the quidditch leagues, Ron's been obsessed. But Krum went out with you. Ron didn't like that, but he didn't understand why. So he's making excuses."
"So what am I supposed to do?"
"How much does your friendship mean to you? He'll eventually get there. I don't understand you two, and honestly, I think you could do a lot better than my brother."
"Alex!"
"I'm kidding. Just as long as he doesn't get it into his head that he's got more of a claim to you than me, because you were my friend first."
"Alex!" This time Hermione giggled and Alex felt her job was mostly done.
"Alright, I'll stop messing about." She smiled. "I think you should wait. Not for him. Ron's only just discovering girls. So just, live your life. If you want to date someone, go for it. If you want to do some experimenting of your own, then you can do that too. Ron will always be there. You guys fight, but you always make up. He'll figure it out. If he does and you've moved on, then I'll help him move on too. And if you don't, then you'll be there and it could be something cool."
"Thanks."
"And, you know. If you wanna do some exploring, you can go out with someone too. There are plenty of boys in school."
"Well, I do have a vacancy for Slughorn's Christmas party. Who are you taking?"
"Me, myself and I."
"You have to bring someone. It's like a requirement."
"No thanks. I am fine being single."
"I don't doubt it. Doesn't change the fact that you have to bring a date. It can just be a friend, you know."
"Meh, Blaise is already going and I love Draco, but I'm not inviting him with me."
"Ew!" Hermione cringed, covering her ears.
"The same way you love Harry."
"But why Malfoy?"
"Why Potter?"
"Harry is actually a good person."
"Harry is an arse, who always assumes the worst."
"That's true." Hermione agreed. "But he's nowhere near as bad as Malfoy."
"I don't know. They're both a little prejudiced."
"Harry's not-"
"About Slytherins and anyone he decides he doesn't like."
"Okay, fine. You have a point. But don't change the subject. You have to have a date for the party."
"I don't have to."
After Hermione left, Alex snuck out to the quidditch field and saw Draco flying in low circles.
"So, you missed a pretty good match. Ron played great, but now he's kind of acting like an arse. Not to me, but just in general, and Slytherin lost. Badly.""I heard." He said.
"You better be playing when Hufflepuff is. I want to beat you again."
"You're not even playing this year. What are you doing here?"
"Thought I might find you out here." She said. "Come on, d'you wanna talk?"
"No, not really."
"Alright."
"Wish you'd let me kick Potter's arse on the train." He said.
"If it makes you feel any better, I punched him and broke his nose. There was a lot of blood." Draco perked up.
"Really?"
"Don't tell anyone. The last thing I need are rumours."
"Isn't he your friend?"
"You get that I have to say yes to that, right?" Draco nodded. "He's my friend."
"Right." She nudged him slightly and he smiled. "Well, thanks. For telling me anyway."
A/N- Oop I thought I posted this chapter earlier today. Oopsy. Hope you enjoy.
Favourite line is "What do you look forward to?"
"Magical farm."