Falling
The Gryffindor common room was bustling with students finishing their homework and chatting in scattered groups. Ron was tucked away in a corner with Ginny, going over some notes and trying not to think too much about the day she’d spent with Hermes. She felt nervous, yet excited, though she tried her best to act normally. Every now and then, her eyes drifted toward the group of fourth-year boys where Hermes sat, apparently focused on his book.
Suddenly, Seamus and Dean exchanged a knowing look and nodded. Dean got up and snuck behind Hermes, grabbing him by the arms in one swift motion.
“What on earth are you doing? Let me go!” Hermes exclaimed, clearly taken aback.
Harry and Seamus quickly joined in, hoisting him by the armpits and dragging him toward the boys’ dormitory. Hermes began to loudly protest, squirming as his friends hauled him up the stairs, watched by an amused audience.
“Let me go, you bunch of idiots! Have you all gone mad?” he shouted.
Laughter rippled through the common room, and a few students exchanged curious glances. The Weasley twins, who had been watching from across the room, got up, sharing mischievous smiles.
“Time to activate our spying plan, don’t you think, George?” Fred said, pulling something out of his bag.
“Absolutely, brother. We can’t miss this,” George replied with a grin.
They both pulled out something, and after giving Ron a wink, they slipped behind the boys toward the dormitory.
Ron looked at Ginny, clearly intrigued.
“What do you think they’re up to now, those lunatics?”
“Looks like they’re planning to teach Hermes a lesson… or maybe just annoy him a bit. You know what they’re like,” Ginny replied, smiling.
Hermes was practically thrown onto his bed, still struggling to free himself, but his friends surrounded him before he could get up.
“What is wrong with you lot? Why on earth did you drag me up here?” Hermes demanded, glaring at them with irritation.
Harry crossed his arms, gave him a light punch on the shoulder, and grinned.
“We brought you here because you’re a complete idiot, Hermes.”
Hermes opened his mouth to protest, but before he could say anything, Dean called out from across the room.
“The Weasley girl’s been flirting with you all day, and you haven’t even noticed! It’s obvious to everyone!”
Hermes frowned, visibly uncomfortable.
“What are you talking about? Ron wasn’t flirting with me. She was just… being nice!”
Harry and Seamus burst into laughter. Harry, thoroughly enjoying himself, began mimicking Ron’s movements, batting his eyelashes exaggeratedly.
“Hermes, could you help me with this potion? I just don’t understand a thing!” he said in a mockingly high-pitched voice, trying to sound as feminine as possible.
Hermes made a disgusted face.
“Harry, stop that! You’re making me want to vomit.”
Harry laughed, ignoring his discomfort, and sat down on Hermes’s bed.
“Come on, Hermes, Ron’s no helpless girl who needs help with every potion. Don’t you get it? She was looking for an excuse to be close to you.”
Neville, who had been watching from his bed with an amused smile, decided to join in.
“Mate, I saw the two of you in the library. Believe me, I felt like I was interrupting something. Ron was very focused on you.”
Hermes looked up at the ceiling, sighing, but he couldn’t hide the faint blush on his cheeks.
“You’re all seeing things that aren’t there. Ron wasn’t flirting with me.”
Seamus raised an eyebrow, pretending to recall something.
“Are you sure? Because between the touches and the looks, it seemed like she wanted to snog you.”
Hermes looked away, uncomfortable, and began rummaging in his wardrobe to distract himself. Dean and Harry exchanged grins, thoroughly enjoying their friend’s reaction.
“Hermes, mate… I don’t know how you’ve done it, but you’ve managed to win over a Weasley. And everyone knows they’re experts in the art of flirting,” Dean said, leaning against Hermes’s bed frame.
Harry nodded, amused.
“Except Percy, of course. He’s the only Weasley without that talent,” he laughed, remembering how the older Weasley was so serious.
Hermes rolled his eyes.
“Enough, seriously. Ron isn’t flirting with me. You’re all just imagining things.”
Seamus shrugged.
“All you need to do is give her a little compliment, and I guarantee she’ll kiss you in a second.”
Harry shook his head, smiling slyly.
“No, Ron isn’t like that. Sure, she gets nervous, but she wouldn’t cave in so easily. I think she’s waiting for you to make the first move, Hermes.”
Hermes fell silent, processing what Harry had said. His mind wandered back to the day’s moments: the touches in Transfiguration, the smiles, the whispering in the library. Everything seemed to fit, but… could it be? Did Ron really feel something for him?
Seamus, trying to be helpful, decided to offer some advice.
“Look, Hermes, if you’re truly interested in Ron, just be yourself. But, you know, a bit more… charming. Maybe a romantic gesture would surprise her.”
Hermes, still doubtful, ran a hand through his hair.
“Romantic? I’m not romantic. I’ve never done anything like that.”
Harry leaned in towards him.
“You’ve got to start somewhere. A simple ‘I like you’ could work wonders. Besides, it would stop you from being a ‘complete idiot,’ as Dean put it.”
Feeling the pressure, Hermes crossed his arms.
“I don’t know, guys. I don’t want to ruin our friendship. What if Ron doesn’t feel the same?”
Neville stepped in, sharing his perspective.
“Sometimes you have to take a risk. Sometimes friendship transforms into something more if both people are on the same page. Sometimes you just need to take that first step.”
Unbeknownst to them, Fred and George, who had been eavesdropping from the door with their Extendable Ears, exchanged a knowing look.
“This is even better than I thought. Did you know our dear friend Granger was this clueless?” Fred whispered to George.
“I think it’s time to go down and tell Ron her plan is working perfectly,” George replied, chuckling quietly.
Fred and George quickly hurried down the stairs to the common room, where Ron and Ginny were still seated, watching them curiously. The twins approached with conspiratorial smiles.
“What were you lot plotting up there?” Ron asked, crossing her arms.
“Oh, nothing. We were just… gathering information,” Fred said with an innocent expression.
“But you should know, dear sister, that your little flirting plan has left our dear Granger utterly bewildered,” added George with a sly grin.
“Really? Is he that oblivious?” Ginny asked, laughing.
“More oblivious than we expected. The lads are trying to help him see the obvious, but it doesn’t seem to be sinking in,” Fred said, a mischievous sparkle in his eyes.
Ron sighed, though amused.
“Well, it’s Hermes. Sometimes you’d have to hit him over the head for him to get it.”
“Maybe he just needs a little push… or something that’ll take his breath away,” Fred suggested, winking at Ginny.
She grinned, looking at Ron.
“Yeah, Ron, I think it’s time to give him a clearer sign. Something he can’t ignore.”
Ron took a deep breath, feeling a mix of nerves and excitement. She knew taking a chance with Hermes meant a lot to her, but she also knew she couldn’t wait any longer. Their friendship had changed, and she was ready to face whatever happened, even if it meant making the first move.
“You’re right. It’s time.”
Still sitting on his bed, Hermes stared at the ceiling as his friends continued joking, giving him advice, and nudging him to do something about it.
“Come on, mate, you can’t just sit here thinking about Ron. You’ve got to act,” Seamus said, clapping him on the shoulder.
“Yes, how about a deal?” Dean proposed. “If you don’t do anything by the end of the week, you’ll have to stop reading potion books and switch to romance novels!”
Hermes frowned, though he couldn’t help but smirk at the ridiculous idea.
“Romance novels? Those are for girls!”
Harry leaned in, clearly enjoying the conversation.
“So, don’t you want to know how Ron feels? You might be missing out on something interesting.”
“Oh, shut up!” Hermes said, though the laughter in his voice gave him away. “You’re all insufferable.”
The boys kept laughing and teasing him about “winning the heart of the Weasley girl.” The idea lingered in Hermes’s mind, fueling his doubts and nerves. Deep down, he knew there was something special with Ron, but the fear of ruining their friendship kept him in limbo.
“Listen,” Neville chimed in seriously, “if you really like Ron, just be honest. That’s what counts. Honesty is always the best approach.”
Hermes nodded slowly, taking in his words. He could feel that what his friends were saying was true, but opening up had never been easy for him. He wasn’t used to exposing his emotions, especially when it involved someone as special as Ron.
“What if she rejects me?” he asked, almost in a whisper, feeling vulnerable.
Harry patted him on the back.
"Don’t worry about it. Sometimes, what feels like a risk can turn out to be the best decision you ever make."
Hermes glanced out of the window, watching as the moon cast its glow over the courtyard below. Was it worth risking their friendship for the chance of something more? His mind whirled, wrestling with the uncertainty of what might happen if he decided to take that step.
Suddenly, memories of moments shared with Ron came flooding back—her laughter, their bickering, the way she could always lift his spirits on his worst days. The thought of losing that felt unbearable, yet staying silent while his feelings grew was even more painful.
"Alright," he said at last, his voice steady. "I’ll talk to Ron."
The boys erupted into cheers, clapping and shouting encouragement. A surge of determination filled him, though with it came a new wave of anxiety. The moment of truth was drawing close.
"But I’m not doing any of that romantic novel rubbish, alright?" he clarified, folding his arms defiantly.
"Fair enough, but we’ll be here with more advice," said Dean, grinning.
Hermes just sighed, wondering if he was truly ready for the challenge that lay ahead.