Eavesdropper
“I don't care.” Ron stopped walking when he heard Harry's angry voice from further down the hallway. “I don't care what anyone thinks.”
Ron heard a low murmur responding to Harry but couldn't make out anything.
“Stop calling yourself that, you are the most beautiful, brave, sincere, loyal person. I know, no one, no matter how physically pretty they may be, can hold a candle to your blaze.”
Slowly Ron crept towards the voices trying to keep silent.
“This is my choice and no one, not even you can change my mind. I chose you and if you can't accept that then that is on you and I will not feel bad about that decision.”
The voices sounded like they were just around the corner. After a peek Ron could see that the voices were coming from the insides of an unused classroom.
“Then I think you need to spend some time and think about what you want, because I already have made my decision, I want you.”
Wanting to hear more, and not be seen, Ron slid behind a knight statue with a large shield.
“I will wait for you.”....” I don't care what you say I love you, you idiot even if I have to wait twenty years to prove it, you know I am older than I look,...there was a long pause.... “ Time turner or didn't Dumbledore tell you about as well…This pause was so long that Ron thought that they might have left, Ron was just starting to think of heading back to the commons when..… alright I will see you later.”
Hearing footsteps Ron squashed himself even further behind the statue, while still being able to see the corridor. Ron watched as Harry walked past, the moonlight reflecting off the tears on his cheeks. Ron waited long enough to finish all the cookies he got from the house elf's just to be on the safe side before heading back to the common room after all he didn't want to get caught.
“Hey Ginny,” Ron grinned while bouncing into the common rooms.
“Hey Ron, did you get me my toffee?”
“Yes I got it.” Ron threw a less than half empty box at her, before flopping himself on the couch across from her. “Hey, I heard you talking.” Ron said loudly around his mouth full of cake, crumbs falling out. “Just now.”
“What?” Ginny asked her mouth full of toffee.
“You and Harry just now. That’s a really good strategy you're doing, it will make Harry desperate for you but don’t string him along too long or he might just give up, After all he's not a true Gryffindor.” Ron took another bite of his cake,
“Ron, what are you talking about?”
“You and Harry, I heard you guys just now talking in the empty classroom by the knight with the huge shield on the fourth floor.”
“Harry and me?”
“Yeah. He sounded really choked up when you refused him,'' Ron swallowed. “Like I said, don't wait too long, he might give up or someone might swoop in and snatch him up, to heal his broken heart.” Ron swooned dramatically.
“Ron, I have been here all night. I got homework due tomorrow.”
Ron froze a look of shock and then pure anger. Realizing what Ron was saying Ginny went red with anger her eyes scanning the common room looking for Harry. “Are you saying that Harry was alone with someone? And they are playing hard to get with my Harry?”
“I thought you were watching him,” growled Ron, also red faced.
“I told you this morning I couldn't. I had three essays due tomorrow and I had to get them done. You said that you would keep him busy with chest and quidditch tonight.”
“You asked me to get you stuff for a midnight snack for you and Harry.”
“You didn't think to ask Hermione to watch him?”
“He was sitting right across the room from you Ginny. I thought you would keep an eye on him.”
“Where is he now?”
“How should I know? He ran off crying. I figured that he was coming back here and pout.”
“You really are an idiot. Whenever Harry gets upset he wanders the school that's why he's always getting detention with Snape.”
“Crap!” Ron ran towards the entrance tripping as he ran with Ginny right behind him.
“And tell me, where are you two off to in such a rush this late at night?” Said a cool voice, the moment that Ron had stepped off that last step of Gryffindor tower.
“Snape!” Ron recoiled, bumping into Ginny behind him.
“Professor!”
“Detention for the both of you for being out of your common rooms past curfew and twenty points each for disrespect.”
“But sir, we were looking for Harry.”
“Potter? I see. Well then I guess I will just have to give him a detention as well. Now return to your dorms.”
“Yes sir.” Slowly and with several glances behind them Ron and Ginny returned to the dorms.
Snape stood there at the bottom of the steps watching as the two redheads headed back up. “Five points for dawdling.'' Severus called after them after the third time Ginny had looked back at him; they raced the rest of the way to the portal. After hearing them enter the dorm he cast a quick spell sealing the portal shut until dawn. Severus then melted back into the shadows to wait for another Gryffindor wandering the halls to return to the dorm, but this one he needed to make sure that he was alright.
Severus stood in the shadows until the light of dawn started to slip in through the windows before he finally gave up and went back to his room, never seeing the invisible young man who had stood across from him watching him, red shot eyes and dried tears still staining his face.