The Cowardly Lion

The Magic Art of the Great Humbug

Ah, the start-of-term feast. It almost makes me forget we start classes tomorrow. As is custom, the Sorting took forever. But, with my usual gusto, the moment Dumbledore said, "Tuck in!" I did so. I remembered how people (or should I say ghosts?) were a little offended the last time I ate this voraciously in front of them, so I eased off. I was in very good spirits, nonetheless for all of that. I took out a bit of parchment after I had eaten, and started drawing cartoons. I showed them to Harry and Hermione, our new Head Girl. (Her badge matched with my Head Boy one very nicely.) Harry told me he honestly didn't care, since he defeated Voldemort, he said his dad would've been proud of him, even without the badge. Besides, Harry's too busy breaking rules to carry out any extra duties. Anyway, I was drawing cartoons, and a few of them weren't to Hermione's taste. (I had drawn one of Kreacher being throttled by Sirius's mum.) But when I handed Hermione the one I did showing Umbridge and Lockhart in St. Mungo's going on about autographs and centaurs, she twitched a bit, then a few moments later emitted a silvery laugh. It was great since McGonagall snapped her head to see who was laughing while Dumbledore gave the notices, and this awe-struck look came over her when she saw whom it was. I almost cried as I was trying to suppress my laughter without much success.

~*~

Harry looked at us in awe for a moment. I think he found it remarkable for us to be getting along. But he soon joined in our mirth once he saw Ron's doodling. It was brilliant; I've never felt so reckless. A minute later I felt remorseful, seeing as the new Head Boy and Girl weren't exactly giving off a good first impression. I think Harry noticed too because he said, "If you two don't watch your step, I'll put you in detention!" in his best Percy imitation, which I am sorry to say, was dismal. Ron was...incredible. He was confident and in control, smiling and really quite good-looking...I couldn't help laughing. It was one of the happiest nights I'd spent in a long while. Even on the night Harry once more, (and for the last time) survived an encounter with Voldemort, I wasn't this happy. But then, that night, Ron was just recovering in St. Mungo's. I think perhaps I should own up to the fact that Ron does have an affect on my happiness. But, of course, I'd never say that to his face.

~*~

She looked the rosiest I'd seen her in months. She was smiling brilliantly and her curls bounced when she'd animatedly start talking again. This was some NEW Hermione I was seeing. I can tell you, I didn't mind it ONE BIT. To see a girl that incredible loving life was...enchanting, no other word for it. When the school was dismissed, Harry and Ginny started off without us. I was walking beside Hermione, basking in her smiles, and offered her my arm. It might sound corny, but it was fitting to me. I mean, we WERE the school's 'Royalty' now, why shouldn't we act like it?

~*~

I felt like a princess, taking the gallant arm Ron offered. I will swear to you, I have never in the Course of My Life felt this reckless/alive/happy. I certainly hope, however, that recklessness and happiness are not always coupled like they are tonight. I was glad I had his arm to lean on though. The other students seemed to writhe and swim before me, I barely noticed their faces, I was in such a haze. Ron bid me goodnight with a bow in the common room. I played along.

~*~

"Goodnight, good Sir," she curtseyed. I smiled at her in simple admiration and left, sleeping that night the best I'd slept since before Fred cursed my teddy bear.

~*~

Potions was first thing the next morning. I didn't mind it, as I had just awaken from the most beautiful dreams I've ever had, to see the most breath-taking golden sunrise spilling in the window. I pulled on my robes, breathed deeply and went down to the common room. At least, that's where I was intending to go, had I not fallen flat on the stairs. I picked up whatever I had slipped on, huffily.

~*~

"VIRGINIA MOLLY WEASLEY!" was the first thing I heard that morning. It was Hermione of course.

"YOU CAN'T GO ABOUT LEAVING YOUR BOOKS ON STAIRWELLS!"

"Oh good, you found it 'Mione! I've been wondering where the ol' Wizard of Oz got to! My research for Muggle Studies is due pretty soon."

I laughed and tried to get back to some really fantastic dream I was having, but without success. I shrugged, and got up like the rest of Gryffindor Tower.

~*~

I was still sore at breakfast. Ron and Harry made their usual huff over the new schedules. I just smiled weakly and ate my porridge. The next time I looked up, Ron was already looking at me.

~*~

"Ron?" she inquired. I shook myself out of my reverie. Why was I staring at her? I thought about it a minute. Because she was perfect, I couldn't get enough. I think she might have understood because she just smiled and poked at her porridge. I remembered my dreams then, and smiled as I picked at my breakfast too. I walked with her down to the dungeons. That was the happiest I've ever walked into a class, which promised Snape and the Slytherins.

~*~

"Choose a partner, and begin work," Snape spat. Neville shuddered and grabbed on to Harry before you could say 'Extendable Ears,' so Ron and I paired up. Ron immediately proceeded to ruin the potion, so I made him sit down and take notes on what we were supposed to be doing, when a tiny note caught my eye near the cauldron's flames. I discreetly picked it up and opened it, to see a picture of Snape with a cauldron upset on his head, the contents of the cauldron dripping down his hooked nose and greasy hair...

~*~

She snorted at it, like she was trying not to laugh, but couldn't help it. She made to throw it in the flames, as we smirked at each other. A few minutes later, Hermione finished off the potion and we turned it in. We were laughing quietly about my cartoons quietly before it was time to go, when Snape said: "Twelve inches on the properties of hellebore, to be handed in Monday next. And will Mr. Weasley and Miss Granger please report to my office at five o'clock this evening to receive their detentions."

~*~

I could have disappeared into the floor I was so ashamed! The new Head Boy and Girl, serving detention on the first day back at school! My jaw dropped when he said it, I couldn't believe it. Once we got into the safety of the corridor, I snapped.

"Ron!"

"What? He probably gave us detention because we were laughing! You threw the drawing into the fire!"

"Um..." I realized my mistake, "I actually don't think I did..."

"What!? I saw you!"

'Yeah, and I was looking at you, Ron, admiring your gorgeous smile, curse it...' But, as you know, I'd never say that to him. So, I just grimaced guiltily as we walked to Charms. Even though I didn't throw it away, he should never have drawn the thing in the first place! I think we were both a little mad at each other, and when we sat down to lunch, not looking at each other and impatiently finishing our food, Harry seemed a little downcast. I suppose he liked the way we weren't bickering last night and this morning. I sighed and my anger was gone, although I still thought Ron was a humbug of a prat to even draw the thing...

~*~

Well, I was a little perturbed about the whole thing, but I wasn't too worried. I mean, just because we got detention doesn't mean Dumbledore's going to strip us of our badges. Personally, I think it's high time the Head Boy and Girl weren't a couple of pompous gits. So, at five o'clock we walked back down to Snape's office. Hermione wasn't talking much. It was a painful, strained silence in the lower corridors. I wanted her to say something, I mean this was just as much her fault as it was mine! Strangely enough, this was one of the worst nights of my life, compared with the giddiness of last night. The pickled rats' brains didn't help much either. Snape left for awhile and I kind of thought I should just get this over with...

~*~

"Hey Hermione? I know I shouldn't have drawn that picture, and I'm really sorry I got you in trouble. I know you kind of wanted to make a good impression as Head Girl and everything. Maybe I should go turn in my badge tonight..."

"No! Ron don't!" I protested.

"Well, why not? I'm a screw-up at this Head Boy stuff. Harry should've gotten it..."

"Oh Ron...Dumbledore gave it to you. He knows Harry's gotten all the glory all these years. You deserve that badge just as much, if not more than Harry does, and I'm sure Harry would agree. And thank you for the apology. I should probably make one too, huh?" I said as I smiled a bit sheepishly.

He shrugged. "No, it's my fault Hermione. You shouldn't be here. I mean, I forced you into your first detention as Head Girl! How can I ever make amends for that?"

"Well..." I smiled, noting the sarcasm in his voice, "If I had to have detention some time this year, I'm glad I've got it with you..."

~*~

My heart swelled.

"You mean that?" I asked when I already knew the answer.

"Of course, Ron."

We were quiet again from then on, but it wasn't uneasy, it was nice. We looked up at each other and smiled from time to time. After that, it was probably the nicest detention I've ever had. And, for the record, risking that drawing in Snape's class was worth it, worth all this to see her smiling and laughing with me. And even though I never asked for it, I was kind of glad to have this badge for once.