Interlude the Third
Ron groaned as his eyes fluttered open, his freckles standing out starkly against his pale face. Cassidy, kneeling beside him, let out a shaky breath she didn't realize she'd been holding.
"Finally," she muttered, her voice soft but tinged with relief. "You had me thinking I'd have to drag you out of here myself."
"What happened?" Ron asked, wincing as he tried to sit up. His voice was hoarse, and his hand instinctively went to his side. "Did we win?"
Cassidy smirked, brushing a strand of hair out of her face. "Harry's in there now, finishing the job. Hermione's off summoning Dumbledore with an owl, so it's just you and me here."
"Oh..." Ron blinked, the memories returning in fragments. "Right. The queen." He glanced at the shattered chess pieces around them, his expression tightening. "I told him to leave me, didn't I?"
"You did," Cassidy said, her voice unusually gentle. "And it was stupid and reckless. But..." She hesitated, a small smile tugging at her lips. "It was also the bravest thing I've ever seen."
Ron's ears turned pink, and he quickly looked away, focusing on a particularly large chunk of the smashed knight. "Yeah, well," he muttered, "I had to. For Harry."
"For Harry," Cassidy agreed, but her gaze lingered on him for a moment longer than necessary. "Still, next time, try not to scare me half to death, alright?"
Ron let out a weak chuckle, though his blush deepened. "Didn't know you cared so much."
Cassidy rolled her eyes, but there was no denying the warmth in her tone. "Shut up, Weasley."
They fell into a brief silence, the distant hum of magic from the other room a faint reminder of what was still at stake. Ron broke the quiet first.
"Do you think Harry's gonna be alright?" he asked, his voice quieter now.
Cassidy glanced at the doorway, her chest tightening. "I think he's going to be fine," she said firmly. "He's got that stubborn Potter thing going for him."
Ron huffed a laugh, his shoulders relaxing slightly. "Yeah, that sounds like him."
He tried to push himself up, but his arms wobbled beneath him. Cassidy immediately leaned forward, steadying him with both hands.
"Easy there, Weasley," she said, her teasing tone returning. "Don't add a concussion to the list."
Ron froze for a moment, noticing how close her face was to his, before quickly looking away. "Thanks," he mumbled, his ears now unmistakably red.
Cassidy's fingers lingered on his arm for half a second before she pulled back. "Don't mention it." She rose to her feet and offered him her hand. "C'mon, let's get you up. Can't have you lying around while Harry saves the day."
"Wouldn't dream of it," Ron quipped, taking her hand. For a moment, as their fingers intertwined, something unspoken passed between them. But then it was gone, as fleeting as a breath.