Girlhood and boyhood
In the girls’ dormitory
Ron sat on Ginny’s bed, the two of them surrounded by cushions and Quidditch magazines scattered everywhere. The night was calm, and from the window, they could see the moon illuminating the grounds of Hogwarts. They chatted about a bit of everything—complaining about their brothers, the latest Potions homework, and how their mother insisted on sending them slightly oversized jumpers.
Ginny was flipping through a witch fashion magazine while listening to Ron, though her gaze would occasionally settle on her sister with a curious glint. Finally, she put down the magazine and leaned towards her with a knowing smile.
“So… Hermes, eh?” Ginny teased.
Ron let out a laugh, amused but slightly nervous.
“Yeah… he’s a cute guy, but sometimes he drives me mad. How can someone so smart be so… thick?” she muttered, sounding both frustrated and resigned.
Ginny chuckled and took the Quidditch magazine from Ron’s hands as she tried to distract herself.
“Well, if it makes you feel better, all the witnesses of his public displays of affection believe that Hermes has finally cottoned on.”
Ron flopped back against a pillow, frowning with a blend of frustration and resignation.
“Yeah… now he just needs to realise how I feel,” she said, with a sigh.
Ginny nodded, amused, and for a moment they both fell silent, each lost in their own thoughts. After a few seconds, Ginny leaned closer to Ron, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
“So, Ronnie… have you got a plan? Because if you want him to know, you’re going to have to do something about it,” she suggested, lowering her voice as if sharing a secret.
Ron looked at her, uncertain.
“And what do you suggest? I’m not… I don’t know how to flirt. I’m the one throwing pillows at his head, Ginny, not the one smiling and gazing at him,” she replied, both amused and sceptical.
Ginny laughed.
“Oh, I know, trust me. But maybe we could try something subtler… simple flirtation, nothing too obvious. You could start by smiling at him more or finding excuses to be around him.”
“Smile at him more?” Ron asked, wrinkling her nose. “Ginny, I’m his friend, not some lovestruck owl.”
Ginny grew a bit more serious.
“Well, what if you tried something different? You have to show him you’re more than ‘one of the lads.’”
At that moment, Sophie, one of Ginny’s roommates, joined the conversation. She had been listening with a grin while braiding her hair.
“Sorry, are we talking about winning over a boy?” Sophie asked excitedly. “Because if we are, I think I can help.”
Ginny and Ron exchanged an amused glance before looking at Sophie, who sat on the bed, eager to join the conversation.
“My older sister had to win over her husband when they were at Hogwarts. He was just like your friend Hermes—clever, oblivious, and completely blind to signals,” she explained with a smile.
“And what did she do?” Ron asked, intrigued.
“She started leaving him hints. Little things, like casually touching his arm, laughing at his jokes even if they weren’t funny, and telling him she trusted him… you know, things that made him feel special,” Sophie replied.
Ginny looked at Ron with an encouraging smile.
“See? Nothing too complicated. You just need to show him that… he matters to you.”
Ron sighed, nodding.
“Well, I’ve nothing to lose by trying, right?”
The three of them laughed, and the conversation continued as Ginny and Sophie came up with subtle “flirting” ideas for Ron to try. Between laughter and teasing, Ron began to feel a little more confident and, for the first time, considered the idea of taking that first step.
In the boys’ dormitory
Meanwhile, in the boys’ dormitory, the atmosphere was quite different. The conversation revolved around far less subtle topics. Harry and Hermes’s dorm mates were sitting between the beds, sharing Honeydukes sweets and talking about the girls at Hogwarts (and Beauxbatons).
“So, what do you lot think of that Weasley girl? She’s… been looking quite lovely lately,” commented Dean with a cheeky grin.
The boys laughed, and Harry glanced at Hermes with a knowing smile. Hermes, who had been quietly listening, frowned, visibly uncomfortable, but said nothing.
“Ron’s always been pretty, really. She just hadn’t realised it either,” Harry said, nodding.
Hermes looked up, paying more attention to the conversation, and Harry noticed his interest.
“Well, if she’d realised sooner, I probably would’ve asked her to the ball. Though, to be fair, you’re a lucky one, mate,” Seamus teased, giving him a wry smile.
“I’d remind you I went as a friend, Seamus. Don’t look at me like that,” Harry replied, laughing.
“But you have to admit, Harry, that Ron looked stunning. Probably the most beautiful girl there… after Fleur Delacour, of course,” Neville said, glancing sideways at Hermes.
Hermes felt a surge of irritation and clenched his fists, trying to hide his discomfort.
“Yeah, Ron did look amazing. She’s got something special… those freckles, the red hair… and those long legs,” Dean added, playing along.
Harry noticed Hermes becoming visibly uncomfortable and, smiling, decided to step in.
“I’ll remind you, Dean, that Ronnie has five older brothers, and the worst of them are still here at Hogwarts,” Harry said in a serious tone.
The boys paled instantly, realising that the Weasleys didn’t take lightly to comments about their sister. Dean coughed, trying to cover up his nerves.
“All right, all right, we don’t want any trouble… but let’s admit it, there’s something special about Ron,” Seamus conceded.
The boys turned their attention to Hermes, who was blushing and biting his lip. Dean raised an eyebrow, amused.
“What do you think, Hermes? You’ve been her close friend for years; you must have something interesting to say,” he prodded.
Hermes tried to avoid their gaze, but all of them were waiting for his answer.
“Well… yeah, I suppose she’s quite lovely. She’s got those freckles that make her look innocent… even though she’s not,” he finally replied, nervously.
The boys burst into laughter, and Seamus tossed a Honeydukes sweet at Hermes, which he caught on the fly.
“What do you mean, not innocent, Granger?” Seamus asked, amused.
“Come on, you lot haven’t been her close friends for four years. You haven’t seen the real Veronica Weasley… right, Harry?” Hermes said with a small smile.
Harry nodded, enjoying the moment.
“I suppose having Fred and George as brothers does ‘teach’ you certain things.”
“Well, that explains a lot. Maybe that’s why she’s got that mischievous look… she’s a Weasley through and through!” Neville laughed.
Hermes tried to stay calm but couldn’t help blushing, recalling times when Ron had shown her more daring side.
Hermes sighed, looking up at the ceiling as though seeking courage from the wooden beams of the Gryffindor tower.
“All right, I admit it. Ron’s special. But I don’t know… I’ve never thought of her that way. Not until now, at least.”
“‘Unique,’ eh? That sounds like something someone with deeper feelings would say,” Seamus teased.
Dean and the others exchanged satisfied grins. Seizing on his nervousness, they kept provoking him, enjoying seeing him cornered.
“Come on, Granger, how much longer are you going to play blind? Half the common room has seen that Ron no longer treats you like just a friend,” Seamus said, nudging him.
Harry smiled, pleased to see Hermes finally beginning to admit what he felt. With a final smile and sigh, Hermes promised himself that he’d find the courage to talk to Ron… sooner or later.
Back in the girls’ dormitory, Ron and Ginny were preparing to sleep after spending a good while coming up with subtle ways to flirt with Hermes. They laughed softly, sharing secrets and a sisterly bond.
“You know, I think Hermes is closer to realising how you feel than you imagine,” Ginny said with a mischievous smile as she settled under the covers.
Ron sighed, lying back on the bed and staring up at the ceiling thoughtfully.
“Do you think so? I don’t know; sometimes it feels like we’re on the verge of something… and other times it feels like we’re miles apart. It’s like I care too much about what he thinks, and… that scares me,” she admitted softly.
Ginny looked at her understandingly. She had seen her sister face many challenges, from Quidditch matches to spell duels, but she had never seen her so vulnerable as when she spoke about Hermes.
“Ron, you’re much stronger than you think. And if Hermes isn’t smart enough to see that, then he doesn’t deserve you. But if you really feel something for him… don’t be afraid to show it. Sometimes, being brave isn’t about facing a dragon; it’s about admitting how we feel,” Ginny encouraged her with a warm smile.
Ron smiled, feeling a bit more confident after hearing her sister’s words. Maybe, just maybe, she could find a way for Hermes to see how she felt without losing the essence of who she was.
“Thanks, Ginny. I don’t know what I’d do without you,” Ron whispered gratefully, as sleep finally took over.
The moon continued to illuminate the Hogwarts grounds, and somewhere in the Gryffindor tower, Hermes, lying in his own bed, was also staring at the ceiling, thinking about Ron and how special she was to him. Perhaps he didn't have all the answers yet, but deep down, he knew he was willing to find them.