A change
Ron woke up at dawn and, recalling Lavender and Parvati’s advice, decided to take her time getting ready. She untied her long hair, which reached her waist, and brushed it until it fell in soft waves over her shoulders. Then, with some effort, she used a spell to shorten her uniform skirt to just above the knee, completing the outfit with white knee-high socks that, although they usually made her feel cold, matched well with the ensemble. Finally, she applied a touch of gloss, and just before leaving, straightened her posture. “You’ll look more confident and avoid back problems in a few years,” Lavender had advised. Ron took the advice seriously, making an effort to keep her back straight, feeling noticeably more confident.
As she headed down to the common room, she found Harry and Hermes waiting for her. Both looked at her in silence for a moment, their eyes reflecting surprise. Although Ron felt a slight nervousness, she maintained her new posture and shrugged, trying to act casual.
Harry was the first to speak, with a smile that attempted to hide his surprise.
"Uh… Ron, you look… different."
Hermes observed her closely, assessing each detail of the change, and then, as if he didn’t know how to react, said:
"You… you look good with the… uh…" Hermes gestured toward her lips and smiled nervously.
Ron gave a faint smile, trying to stay calm.
"I just wanted to try something new, you know."
However, before they could say anything else, Ginny appeared in the common room and, upon seeing her, was completely stunned. The younger Weasley looked her up and down, wide-eyed, then ran over to hug her with a big smile.
"Oh, Ronnie! Mum is going to be so happy!" she exclaimed, giving her a tight squeeze and a knowing wink. Ron couldn’t help but smile back, feeling excited by her sister’s support.
"Ronnie?" Hermes asked Harry quietly, confused.
"Only Mrs. Weasley calls her that, sometimes," Harry said, looking equally confused. "How did you not notice? Ginny calls her that all the time."
"Really?" Hermes blushed.
On the way to the Great Hall, Ron noticed more looks than usual. Apparently, the knee-high socks and shortened skirt were drawing more attention than she anticipated. It seemed obvious, though; she was one of the few students who usually wore her skirt below the knee. Although the nervous tingle was there, she also felt an unexpected satisfaction. When she arrived at breakfast and sat next to the twins, they quickly noticed the changes.
"Well, well…" Fred began, raising his eyebrows with a mischievous smile. "Who is this young lady, and what has she done with our sister?"
"And with her hair down!" added George, feigning shock. "I thought you only wore it down when you were sleeping."
Ron rolled her eyes, used to their teasing, and replied dismissively:
"I just wanted a change, alright?" But she couldn’t hide a small smile at her brothers’ comments.
As the day went on, Ron noticed her classmates glancing her way more frequently. Parvati and Lavender smiled at her from across the classroom during Defense Against the Dark Arts, approving of her new style, which made Ron feel even more encouraged to continue with the changes.
During Charms, Hermes leaned over to her, surprising her as he usually didn’t get distracted during class. He whispered in a low tone:
"Ron, why all of this? You don’t have to change for… others to accept you."
Ron blinked, surprised by the question, and felt slightly trapped. She wanted others to see her as she really was, as a girl, not just “one of the guys.” After thinking for a moment, she replied:
"I’m not doing it for others. It’s just that… I’ve never given myself the chance to try it. I want to see how it feels to look different, you know?"
Hermes looked at her for a moment with the analytical expression he always had when trying to read beyond the words. Finally, he nodded, and a small smile appeared on his face.
"Then… it’s fine to try new things. Just… remember that you don’t need to be different to be… amazing." Hermes seemed to have changed his mind about what to say at the last moment, blushing slightly.
With that response, the conversation ended, and although Hermes’ question gave her something to think about, Ron felt a new confidence blooming inside her.
That night, back in the dormitory, Parvati and Lavender were waiting for her with smiles. Lavender greeted her with a light clap and eyes sparkling with excitement.
"It was perfect, Ron! Everyone noticed!" she exclaimed.
Ron collapsed onto her bed, letting out a light laugh and feeling happier than she had in a long time.
"It wasn’t so bad, was it?" she said, laughing.
Parvati, approaching with a small bag of cosmetics, smiled at her conspiratorially.
"This is just the beginning, Ron. Tomorrow, we can try something new. We’re going to help you look amazing."
Ron smiled, surprised and grateful for her friends’ warmth.
"Well, as long as it’s nothing too over-the-top…"
"Nothing you don’t want, we promise," Lavender replied with a wink. "But tomorrow, we can work on your hair and maybe add a bit more gloss. You’ll love it."
The three girls stayed up late, laughing and making plans for the next day. For the first time, Ron felt like she had found a space where she could express herself differently, and as the night wore on, a small spark of excitement and pride grew inside her.