Love Hurts

Chapter 2: The way to make someone love you is to go out with someone else.

Ron Weasley lay on a bed in Luna's house and thought about Hermione Granger. He had been in love with her for six years (since they met on the Hogwarts Express) but had been too shy to tell her.

In the past year he dated Lavender Brown but never really loved her. He only wanted to make Hermione jealous and was disappointed when she turned around and dated Cormac Mc Laggen the week afterwards. Luckily for him, that relationship didn't last long.

"Ron," came a lofty voice from across the room, "would you like to look at my Butterbeer cork collection?"

"Sure," said a rather red Ron, flattered that he was the only one to have been asked.

"Come on," said an over enthusiastic Luna, dressed in a long bright yellow top and polka dot shorts, leading him down a wide hallway.

They stopped half-way down the stairs and looked up at a large window-ledge covered in bottles full of small corks.

"Um, they're nice Luna," commentated Ron kindly, thinking she was mad to have such a strange interest.

Luna reached into another jar and took out two necklaces of dyed orange and lime green corks. She put one around Ron's neck, one around her own, and then smiled shyly--she felt a bit self-conscious being so direct.

Suddenly, Ron's brain kicked into gear and he realized Luna had a crush on him. She was nice, but a bit weird, and definitely not Hermione. Then he remembered how jealous Hermione had been when he went out with Lavender--maybe if he appeared even more in love with Luna, she might fall in love with him!

But, said a voice in his head, what about Luna? Wouldn't she be heartbroken when she found out he didn't love her?

Then Ron remembered his rather strange cousin Tony--a perfect match for Luna really. Luna could date him and then he could approach Hermione. But in order for his plan to work he'd have to seem more in love with Luna. And deep down, he never thought it possible that Hermione would fall in love with him too.

"Luna, come here," whispered Ron, leading the confused girl up the metal, spiral stairs and down the corridor. He stopped right outside the open door to Hermione's bedroom, where she was reading a massive study book (During the holiday! thought Ron.) and continued loudly.

"Luna Lovegood, will you be my girlfriend?" he practically shouted, bending down on one knee, in full view of Hermione.

"Ok Ron," replied a blushing Luna, "there's a plant museum I'd like to go to--will you come with me tomorrow? As a date?"

"That sounds great Luna," exclaimed Ron, linking hands with his new-faux-girlfriend.

Suddenly, a crying figure burst down the hallway in the direction of the bathroom and Hermione's brown, curly hair swayed around her pale face.

"I hate you Ronald Bilius Weasley!" she screeched.

Ron secretly smiled to himself. The plan was working already.