Will you go to the ball with me?
It was a quiet night in the Gryffindor common room, with most students busy with their own activities. Ron was comfortably sprawled on the couch, stretching her legs and tapping her fingers on the armrest, while Harry, sitting beside her, finished writing a letter to Sirius. When he finally set the quill aside, Harry looked at Ron with a mix of amusement and exasperation.
"Well, Ron," he said, breaking the silence, "it seems like we’re some of the few left in the castle without a date for the ball."
Ron let out a light laugh, shrugging.
"Probably along with Hermes," she said, amused.
At that moment, the common room door opened, and Hermes walked in, his arms loaded with books that he dropped loudly on the table. He looked pleased with himself, with a small self-satisfied smile as he stretched.
"I already have a date," he said, trying to sound casual, though his voice held a hint of pride he couldn’t hide.
Ron’s smile froze for a moment, and an unexpected pang shot through her chest. Hermes, her longtime friend, already had a date? Ron tried to stay calm, but felt a slight discomfort she couldn’t quite understand.
"Really?" Harry asked, raising his eyebrows, surprised. "Can we know who the lucky girl is?"
Ron looked at Hermes, trying to mask her confusion.
"So?" she said, forcing a carefree smile and tone.
Hermes made a dismissive gesture with his hand, trying to maintain an air of mystery.
"It’s a surprise," he replied, as if it were obvious.
Ron couldn’t help a sudden reaction of discomfort. Without thinking much, she scooted closer to Harry and gave him a playful nudge.
"Look, Harry, I’m a girl, and you’re a boy. So… what do you say?" she said, her tone clearly teasing.
Harry caught on immediately and, with a teasing smile, played along.
"Veronica Rosemary Weasley, would you like to go to the ball with me? As friends, of course."
Ron sighed in relief, smiling warmly.
"Thank you, Harry James Potter, I feel like a weight has been lifted off my shoulders," she replied, letting herself sink back onto the couch.
Hermes, who had been watching the scene with growing irritation, finally burst out.
"What?! You’re supposed to go with someone you actually like, or who likes you back. This isn’t… a Christmas exchange," he said, clearly frustrated.
Ron made a face at Hermes’s comment.
"Oh, come on, Hermes. I love Harry…" Ron paused, feeling a slight hesitation before continuing, "Like I love you. You’re my best friends, that’s all."
Hermes narrowed his eyes, uncomfortable and searching for words.
"But…" he began, struggling to express his frustration.
Harry jumped in, casting Hermes a mischievous look.
"Hermes, are you really that interested in the person you’re going with?" he asked, not hiding his amused smile.
Hermes looked uncomfortable and ran a hand through his messy hair.
"Well… not exactly. But she’s cute," he said, trying to sound nonchalant.
"Then don’t worry!" Ron said, bursting into laughter. "I’m cute too, right, Harry? And that doesn’t mean you have to like me."
Harry nodded playfully, throwing an arm around her shoulders and giving her a light squeeze.
"Very true. I don’t know how this ball would go without the ‘lovely’ Veronica Weasley by my side," Harry said with a teasing grin.
Ron smiled and gave him a light punch on the chest.
"Idiot," she muttered, with a smile.
The scene turned into an exchange of glances and smiles, with Harry playfully tapping her cheek. They were both clearly comfortable, laughing at the absurdity of the situation, not truly romantic but with a playful tension between them. It was a game they both understood.
Hermes, on the other hand, watched the interaction with a mix of confusion and annoyance, unsure how to interpret what he was seeing.
"I think… you two are being ridiculous," he finally blurted, picking up his books brusquely. "Whatever. It’s just that I thought, since it’s a ball, you’d want to go with someone special. But sure… do whatever you want."
Before Ron could reply, Hermes turned and headed toward the boys' dormitory, leaving an air of awkwardness behind.
"What’s his problem?" Ron asked, clearly annoyed.
Harry sighed, lowering his voice as he looked at her with some seriousness.
"I’m not defending him, but I think he was hoping you’d invite him."
Ron let out an incredulous laugh.
"Me? Please. If he wanted to ask me, he should’ve done it right away. He knows perfectly well how hard it’s been to find a date. But of course, I guess it’s too much to expect from someone who sometimes forgets I’m a girl. He knows I’m a girl! How is it supposed to make me feel when he says he sometimes forgets…?"
Ron crossed her arms, looking toward the fire. Noticing her frustration, Harry placed a supportive hand on her shoulder and gave it a reassuring squeeze.
"Don’t worry, Ronnie. He’s being stupid," he said softly.
Ron blinked, surprised by the nickname, which until now had been exclusively used by her family. She looked at him for a moment, then finally smiled.
"You’re right." She laughed a bit, feeling somewhat relieved. "Thanks, Harry."
As the two stayed in the common room, Ron couldn’t help but keep thinking about Hermes, his annoyed and disappointed expression lingering in her mind. She knew something had changed in their relationship, but she didn’t want to think about what it meant.