Subtle (not really)
Ron returned to her dormitory after a fun sleepover in her sister Ginny’s room. As she opened the door, she saw Lavender and Parvati already awake, both perched on their beds and getting ready in front of little enchanted mirrors. The moment they spotted her, both girls looked over with curious smiles.
“Good morning, Ron! Well, you look livelier than usual. What have you been up to?” Parvati asked, a mischievous gleam in her eye.
Ron sat on her bed and, unable to contain a smile, decided to let them in on her plan.
“Girls, I need your help. I want… well, you know, to make someone realise I exist.”
Lavender and Parvati exchanged an excited glance before replying almost in unison:
“Hermes Granger!”
Ron gave a nervous laugh, feeling warmth rush to her cheeks.
“Yes… well, maybe. It’s just that, you know, he’s so clever but sometimes he seems a bit… oblivious.”
Parvati laughed. “More than oblivious—I’d say he’s a lost cause. But don’t worry, Ron, we’ll help you make him notice.”
“Exactly,” Lavender added. “Let’s start with the basics: a good beauty routine. Are you up for trusting us?”
Ron hesitated for a second, then nodded with determination.
“Let’s do it! But nothing too over-the-top. I still want to be… well, me.”
The girls exchanged a knowing smile.
Lavender and Parvati woke Ron early, and with a basket full of beauty and skincare products, the three of them headed to the communal bathrooms, making sure they had the place to themselves so Ron could get ready in peace.
Ron washed her hair with a cinnamon-scented shampoo and a vanilla soap Lavender had brought. As she did, she thought to herself:
“I feel like I smell like a cinnamon roll…” and her stomach gave a soft rumble. “Great, now I’m hungry.”
Once she was ready, Parvati gathered Ron’s hair into a loose braid that left a few strands framing her face, and Lavender applied a soft gloss to her lips.
“There you go. You’re ready. You look amazing, Ron, but you’re still you,” Lavender said proudly.
Ron smiled, grateful, and the three of them headed off to the Great Hall together.
As they entered the Great Hall, the girls exchanged approving glances. Ron tried to disguise her nervousness as she ate breakfast, waiting for the Gryffindor boys to arrive.
Ten minutes later, Harry and Hermes’s dorm mates walked in laughing. It was then that someone from the Ravenclaw table called out.
“Weasley!”
Four red-haired heads turned in unison, prompting a chorus of laughter. A boy from Beauxbatons raised his hand and pointed towards Ron.
“No, the tall girl.”
Ron raised an eyebrow, surprised. The Beauxbatons boy approached and handed her a white envelope.
“Read it when you’re alone, yes?” he said in a thick French accent before retreating.
Still in shock, Ron noticed out of the corner of her eye that Hermes was watching her, frowning.
“Hermes…? Everything alright?” she asked with a smile.
He ignored the envelope, feigning indifference.
“Yes, yes. Nothing’s wrong,” he replied, sitting beside her without looking at the letter in her hand.
Ron set it aside casually and continued her breakfast.
In Transfiguration, Ron leaned towards Hermes, looking for an excuse to accidentally brush his hand as she asked for help. Each touch seemed to make him tenser, and though he tried to play it off, Ron noticed.
“Hermes, could you explain this to me again? Sometimes I don’t quite follow McGonagall.”
Hermes cleared his throat, his cheeks pink.
“Of course, of course… this is easy, look…”
In Charms, she “accidentally” dropped her quill. Hermes quickly picked it up, and when their fingers brushed, she noticed him blush.
“Thanks, Hermes. You’re quite the gentleman.”
“It’s… it’s nothing,” he stammered, clearly uncomfortable yet not displeased.
The last class was Potions, where Ron put on her “damsel in distress” face.
“Hermes, if you don’t help me, Snape will definitely tell me off… again.”
He sighed but smiled.
“Alright, Ron. Just stir it counter-clockwise.”
Ron smiled, satisfied. Hermes didn’t seem to understand her flirting, but she knew he liked helping her.
At the end of the day, Hermes suggested they stop by the library to pick up a few books. Ron agreed, and as they reached the Charms section, she took the opportunity to get a little closer than usual, reaching for a book on the top shelf and brushing his shoulder in the process.
“Here’s your book, Hermes,” she whispered in his ear.
He turned quickly, his face completely flushed.
“Th-thank you, Ron.”
Ron smiled, pleased. She handed him the book he’d asked for and left the library with him trailing behind, still baffled.
That night in the common room, Harry observed Hermes throwing furtive glances at Ron, clearly lost in thought. He decided to approach and gave him a pat on the shoulder.
“Hey, Hermes, how was your day?”
Hermes shrugged, not taking his eyes off Ron.
“Normal, I suppose.”
Harry raised an eyebrow.
“Do you think it’s normal that Ron spent the whole day… you know, being so attentive with you?”
Hermes blushed, feigning indifference.
“She was probably just in a good mood.”
Harry grinned.
“Right, sure. I’ll just say that sometimes, fortune favours the bold.”
Hermes looked at him, thoughtful. As Harry walked away, he glanced over at Ron from his seat, recalling each gesture from the day.
Across the room, Ron exchanged a knowing look with Lavender and Parvati, who smiled and gave her an approving nod. Ron tried not to blush but couldn’t help smiling.
“You’re on the right track, Ron,” Lavender whispered. “Just give it time.”
Parvati nodded.
“Hermes is finally starting to see the obvious… at last.”
Ron chuckled softly. It had been an interesting day, and for the first time, she felt she’d managed to unsettle Hermes just a bit.
As the evening wore on, Ron and Hermes, though separated by the common room, shared the same thrill and uncertainty, each aware that something was shifting between them.