Hogsmade day
It was Hogsmeade day, one of the few times Hogwarts students could enjoy a (legal and parent-approved) escape to the charming village. Ron had been eagerly awaiting this moment, not only for the sweets and Zonko's jokes but because she had an important mission: to refresh her wardrobe a bit. She would never replace her mother’s sweaters, of course, but she knew a few pairs of trousers, blouses, and maybe a skirt wouldn’t hurt. She remembered that the clothing in Hogsmeade was not as costly as in Diagon Alley, so she was determined.
For the occasion, she selected her outfit with a bit of care. She wore the classic Weasley jumper, knitted by Molly, with a large "R" on the chest and, after a brief internal debate, decided to wear the skirt her mother had bought her in an attempt to see her in something more feminine. She completed the look with knee socks and two braids, feeling oddly satisfied with the result.
As she made her way down to the common room, she found Harry and Hermes already waiting for her. Seeing her, Harry raised his eyebrows with an approving smile.
"Hi, guys!" she greeted cheerfully.
Hermes looked more nervous than usual, while Harry held back a teasing grin as he watched him.
"Hi, Ron. You look… different. Good, I mean," said Hermes, somewhat distracted as he tried not to stare too directly at her.
"Really?" Ron struck a small, exaggerated pose. "Maybe I should start wearing this more often."
"Oh, you definitely should!" Harry joked, giving her a light shove on the shoulder. "Look at how you’ve got Hermes all flustered."
Hermes cleared his throat, trying not to appear affected.
"I’m not flustered… just… wasn’t expecting to see you in a skirt today, that’s all."
Ron laughed, amused. "Oh, relax, mate."
Hermes rolled his eyes, though a slight smile touched his lips.
Ron chuckled and shrugged. "Right, let’s go before it gets too late."
The boys nodded and started walking towards the castle exit together, quickly noting the cooler weather. Along the way, a few classmates stopped to chat briefly, including two third-year Hufflepuff girls who gave Ron a sweet compliment. When they reached the village entrance, Ron stepped ahead of them and turned around.
"So, shall we start with sweets, or do you fancy coming along while I shop for clothes?" she asked, knowing it might not be the most appealing option for them.
"We’ll come along," Harry said without hesitation, while Hermes nodded, a bit quieter.
They headed to a small shop called Tavs, whose window displayed simple but well-made clothes. Hermes, almost involuntarily, held the door open for Ron. She looked at him with a raised eyebrow and an amused smile.
"Well, aren’t you a gentleman. A true Gryffindor."
Harry chuckled from behind. "Hermes, by the end of the day, you’ll be carrying Ron’s bags."
"I don’t have that much to buy," said Ron, her voice calm.
After choosing a few items, Ron showed the boys a short grey skirt and a longer one.
"What do you think?" she asked.
Harry gave it some thought. "Well, I’d say the longer one’s more ‘classic Weasley.’ But the short one’s got style."
"I agree," added Hermes, trying to appear nonchalant as he scratched his neck. "But if you go for the short one, Fred and George will probably tease you."
"They can say whatever they like." Ron shrugged, looking at her choice with a defiant expression. "If they don’t like it, they can take it up with Mum."
They continued browsing for clothes, even picking a few things for themselves, with Ron sometimes helping to reach items, given she was taller than the two. Eventually, she found some hair accessories in a vibrant red and an autumnal orange jumper, a bit oversized but bound to fit better by next year.
As she browsed, she noticed Hermes glancing her way from time to time. Harry, entertained with other things in the shop, seemed like an older brother, smiling now and then as he watched Ron pick out clothes. Hermes, on the other hand, appeared a bit more restless.
Once Ron paid for her items, she showed the boys her small shopping bag, grinning triumphantly.
"Well, mission accomplished. I’ve got a little left over," Ron flashed her purse and then grinned mischievously. "Now, off to Honeydukes!" she exclaimed with enthusiasm.
After leaving the shop with her purchases, the trio headed to Honeydukes, where Ron quickly filled a bag with her favourite sweets.
"Ron, how do you fit all that in your pockets?" asked Hermes, watching the sheer amount of sweets she was piling up.
"Practice, dear Hermes. And besides, I’m a Weasley twin’s sister; half of this is… training."
Harry and Hermes laughed, and Harry grabbed a few chocolate frogs for himself.
While waiting their turn to pay, Hermes pointed at a box of Every-Flavour Beans and raised an eyebrow.
"Who dares to try five flavours in a row?"
Ron smirked, accepting the challenge.
"I’ll do it… and if I survive, Hermes, you’ll come with me to Zonko’s afterward."
"Deal," Hermes replied, amused.
Upon tasting the beans, Ron quickly shifted from laughter to horror as she encountered a vomit-flavoured one. The boys chuckled while Ron grimaced and tried to finish the bean.
"Ugh, by Merlin… this is awful!" she groaned, as Harry offered her a chocolate frog to help get rid of the taste.
With bags full of chocolate frogs, Every-Flavour Beans, and other treats, they finally made their way to the Three Broomsticks. As they waited for their butterbeers, the conversation flowed naturally, filled with jokes and stories about school.
When they decided to head back to the castle, Ron took Harry and Hermes by the arms, linking her own with theirs. Harry smiled conspiratorially, and Hermes seemed to grow a little flustered once again.
"Don’t mind, do you?" Ron asked, pretending not to notice their reactions.
"Not at all, Ron," replied Harry, giving her a small smile. "In fact, I think it’s a great time to say you’ve got two first-rate escorts."
Hermes, looking ahead, nodded. "Always."
"I think five brothers is quite enough." The trio laughed as Harry rested his head on Ron’s shoulder.
Ron squeezed their arms, smiling to herself as she thought that, although she felt different and sometimes complicated, being with her two best friends was the most special thing in her life. Ron felt a slight warmth in her cheeks, especially upon seeing Hermes smile at her with a mix of shyness and tenderness.
For the first time, she felt they were seeing her as something more than “one of the guys.” And although it felt a bit strange, it also made her feel special.