Ira Potestas

Ira Potestas

By Dove Whiteblade

"Lylia! You look beautiful!" Aniana cried. They were preparing for the dance, which was in fifteen minutes. Aniana had managed to coax Ginny and Lilya together, and they met in the girls washroom to get ready for the ball. To Aniana's surprise, the excitement over the dance stopped their arguing, and they seemed to get along pretty well. Lilya was wearing a pure black dress with a slit down the side. Her hair was left long, and cascaded down her shoulders, and she wore shimmering silver stilettos. Over her eyes she had painted light blue, and dark mascara covered her lashes.

"Thank you Anna. When are you going to change?" Asked Lilya

"I'm just going to finish helping Ginny with her hair," said Aniana. Ginny was wearing a dark red dress, with no straps, that fell right down to the floor. She was curling her hair and tying it back, so it fell down her back, and Aniana was curling the strands around her wand, muttering the charm, and letting them loose, so that they were in gentle curls. It was a procedure she had found in Magical Cosmetics for Teens. Meanwhile, Ginny was applying makeup (Light cherry lipstick and eyeliner). "Well, hurry up." Lilya said, putting in earrings now. Aniana and Ginny finished up.

"Oh, Gin, you forgot your necklace," said Lilya. Ginny looked surprised that Lilya was being so nice to her. She smiled

"Thanks, Lily," she fitted her delicate silver chain around her neck. The pendant was a pearl set in silver. It completed the outfit.

"Lovely," said Lilya. Aniana was pleased that they were getting along so well.

"Anna, you aren't even dressed! Hurry up!" Ginny said, noticing Aniana.

"Oh, right." Aniana stepped into a stall with her dress. While she changed, Ginny picked out some jewelry to go with the dress for her.

"Who are you going to the dance with, Lilya?" Asked Ginny

"Draco Malfoy." Ginny raised her eyebrows. She thought that Lilya deserved better, but kept her mouth shut.

"What about you?"

"Seamus Finnigan."

"Seamus? I thought you were going with Terry Boot," said Aniana from inside the stall. "Terry was only making a bet of me. I heard him talking to his friends."

"Asshole. What did you do?"

"What do you think I did? I caused him severe pain."

"Atta girl."

"What a jerk," said Lilya. Her indignation on Ginny's behalf made Aniana smile. Maybe they were finally going to be friends. Aniana finished dressing and came out. Ginny drew in her breath.

"Anna!" she breathed. Aniana smiled

"That good, huh?"

"It looks great, Aniana," smiled Lilya

"Thanks guys." They added the finishing touches to their outfits, and together walked out to the ball.

*******************

"When do you think she'll get here?" Ron asked anxiously. He was wringing his hands nervously as he sat in the Great Hall, which was slowly filling up with people. He was wearing his dress robes, which Hermione had helped him transfigure into a much more tasteful outfit. It was a dark green, with a new tie at the waist. He actually looked quite good. He had really made an effort for her. He was sitting at a table with Harry, Seamus, and Hermione. She and Harry had very firmly decided that they didn't want a complicated romance this year. They had gone to the dance together, as friends.

"Will you relax, Ron?" Seamus said. "She is not going to hitch a ride to Africa the minute you have your back turned." Ron frowned at Seamus.

"I know, I know."

"You are tense, Ron. What are you worried about? Aniana's crazy about you," said Hermione.

"How do you know?"

"You can tell. The way she looks at you, the way she holds your hand when you're walking down the hallway. The snog sessions when you're supposed to be in class are a bit of a giveaway, too."

"We only did that once!" Ron said. Then Harry and Seamus started to laugh.

"I mean, what are you talking about? We never skipped class for that!" Now they all started laughing. Even Ron.

Malfoy swooped down on them. "Well, well, well. Where are your dates, Gryffindors? Haven't deserted you, have they? Can't say I blame them."

"Where is your date, Malfoy? Didn't you pay her enough?" Said Ron. Draco turned red.

"Shut your mouth, Weasley. At least my date isn't acting on pity." Ron stood up abruptly.

"Rather that than whatever trollop you've picked out of the trash, Slytherin."

"Take that back," said Malfoy, pulling out his wand, "or you'll regret it, Weasley."

"Boys! Stop arguing or it's ten points from both Slytherin and Gryffindor," said Professor McGonagall. They sank down into their seats. Ron kept glaring at Malfoy.

"Hey, Ron, relax. That Malfoy scum isn't worth bothering with," whispered Harry.

"If he says one word about Aniana," said Ron. "I'll kill him myself."

"That isn't what I consider relaxing," said Seamus. He glanced over at Malfoy, who was staring at the doors, with a stunned expression on his face. He looked too. He stared. In walked Ginny and Lilya. They were talking happily. Their dresses glistened with elegance. Seamus rose, as if in a trance, and walked over to Ginny, who smiled and rushed over to him.

"You look.." Seamus seemed at a loss for words. "Beautiful." She smiled and blushed. "Thank you." He offered her his arm, which she took.

"Shall we dance, Mi'lady?" he asked.

"I'd love to." Malfoy ran over to Lilya, and picked her up by her waist, and spun her around. She laughed and they walked over to the Slytherin table. Ron chewed his nail. What if Aniana had second thoughts? What if she hadn't really liked him in the first place, and had just been depressed when she kissed him first? What if... Aniana walked through the doors to the Great Hall.

Ron gaped. She was wearing a deep purple dress, with a silver belt around the middle. The straps went around the outside of her shoulders, leaving her neck and tops of shoulders bare. She wore a white, misty jewel on a black velvet necklace. Around her shoulders she had a see through blue shawl, pinned at the front with a silver brooch. Her hair was tied up, high on her head, with a few curls falling down to frame her face. Aniana looked around the crowded hall for Ron. She was a little worried. What if he didn't actually like her at all? What if he cancelled? What if- "Aniana," Ron came up behind her and whispered in her ear. "Wow. You look stunning." Aniana turned around, and was surprised to see how good he looked in his dress robes.

"Thank you."

"Will you dance with me?" He asked right off.

"I'd love to." They shyly took each other's hands and Ron led Aniana to the dance floor. It was the most natural thing in the world. They smoothly swirled across the dance floor, seeing nothing but each other, feeling nothing but their heartbeat and their connected hands. Eventually they tired, and went to the Gryffindor table. Their cheeks were flushed, and Aniana had to re-pin up her hair, as it had begun to fall down. Lavender and Parvati giggled non-stop, but Ron and Aniana didn't even notice anymore. Ron took Aniana's hand across the table, and they fell into deep conversation about nothing at all. Over at the Slytherin table, Draco and Lilya were sitting side by side. Lilya had her head on Draco's shoulder.

"I wonder what harlot Weasley's got to go with him." said Draco.

"My best friend, that's who." Lilya said sharply.

"Oh, Drew. That figures."

Lilya sat up. "I have had enough of this....this competition between you, Potter and Weasley. Why do you do it?"

Draco looked startled. "I just... it's always been that way. Ever since first year. My father's always comparing me to them. I have to keep it up. I can't let it seem that they're better than me..."

"Who cares? They're not, and you know it."

"Potter refused my friendship on the train, the very first time I met him," wheedled Draco. "And that's why you spend all your time bickering? Grow up. I don't know this Ron very well, but I do know that Aniana thinks he is a decent guy." Draco snorted in disgust. " Why else would she spend so much time with him? He isn't particularly handsome or rich or anything. And anyway, even if he was, Anna isn't the sort of person to go in for that sort of thing."

"Oh, I don't know. I can't believe you still trust Anna after she told the whole Gryffindor table about us."

"She didn't mean to. She apologized. I still haven't forgiven you for what you did to her for it. Did you know, Draco, that when she let it slip that we were dating, she was defending you to the Gryffindor table?"

"What?" Draco said.

"She was telling them that she thought you were alright, and they were telling her what a jerk they think you are. Also, the whole conversation began when she said you sounded nice." Draco went, if possible, even paler.

"I didn't know."

"I said that I would speak to you again on the condition that you would apologise to Aniana and Ron, and you still haven't done it."

"But... Ron," protested Draco feebly.

"That was the agreement. Go," Lilya said, looking over to the Gryffindor table. "Uh, on second thoughts, maybe you had better do it later." Draco followed her gaze and almost burst out laughing. Ron and Aniana were snogging quietly, amidst gales of giggles from Parvati and Lavender.

"What a loser," said Draco automatically. He quailed under Lilya's gaze. "I mean, um, we'd better not disturb them."

"There you go again! You automatically put them down."

"Well, I am sick of them. They always got everything I worked for without lifting a finger."

"That's not true. I wouldn't do this to Harry, would I?" said Lilya, as she gently lifted her face and kissed Draco, silencing any more conversation. Many of the rest of the couples followed suit. The Wyrd Sisters band began playing a gentle, romantic melody. The sweet bliss of the room spread, and they were filled with warmth.

Snape cleared his throat loudly.

The couples broke apart.

"Bloody bastard." muttered Ron. He tenderly reached forward and brushed a stray strand of hair out of Anna's face. She smiled.

"Don't worry about it."

A house elf tugged at Anna shawl urgently. "Please, Miss. Professor Dumbledore gives me this note, Miss." she said.

"Thank you. Well done," said Aniana to the house elf, with a small smile at the elf's delighted expression. She shrugged at Ron. "It seems to make them happy."

"You should talk to Hermione." The note was neatly printed in gold ink.

Miss Drew, You have a visitor. You should see her right away, as soon as the festivities finish. She has traveled a long way. Prof. Dumbledore.

"What does it say?" asked Ron.

"It says I have a visitor." Said Aniana. "I wonder who?" She looked over to the staff table, but Dumbledore wasn't there. Scanning the room, Aniana saw him over by the doors talking to... "Monique!" she screeched, and ran over, tripping a little on her high heels.

"Aniana! Comment ca vas?" The girl's voice was sweet and melodious as she spoke in fluent French.

"Tres Bien, tres bien! Et tu?" Aniana answered, to Ron's surprise in capable french as well.

Monique shrugged. "Pas mal. Comme ci comme ca." Aniana hit her shoulder playfully. "Pas mal, hein? N'est pas formidable?"

"Oui, formidable. Magnifique! J'adore ca."

"Bien." Monique was a sharp faced girl with dark, coppery hair and honey brown eyes. She was slightly bony, but had a kind face. She and Aniana talked excitedly in French for a while. "Aniana?" Ron asked, coming up behind her. "What's going on?"

"Not sure," said Aniana. She turned to Monique "Qu'est ce tu faite en England? Tu habites dans Canada."

"C'est un visite surprise, aujourd'hui."

"Its a surprise visit," Aniana translated. "Monique is my cousin from Canada. She lives in Quebec, so she speaks mostly French."

"I didn't know you spoke French."

"Canada is bilingual. Most people there speak both English and French." She turned again to Monique. "Il mon bien garcon amis." Monique smiled.

"Il? Il s'appell Ron?"

"Oui." Monique turned to Ron, and offered her hand, which Ron shook. "Bonjour. Je m'appelle..."

"Monique? Il n'est pas parle francais," reminded Aniana. Monique looked puzzled.

"Il n'est pas parle francais? Pourquois?"

"England est n'est pas billangue." Monique looked incredulous.

"What are you saying?" asked Ron.

"Oh, she doesn't speak English very well. She was surprised that you don't speak French. Most people at home speak French at least a little. Ron, this is Monique Drew. Monique, Il s'appelle Ron Weasley."

"Hello."

"Bonjour." Monique said, hesitated, then tried a few halting words of English. "I am happy to meet toi, oui?"

"You too. So you come from Canada?"

"Monique smiled apologetically. "I don't understand toi."

"Yes, she comes from Canada," said Aniana.

Ron smiled at her. "I hope you like Hogwarts."

"Il espere tu aimes Hogwarts," Aniana translated for Monique.

"Merci Beaucoup," smiled Monique

"She says 'Thank you.'" Aniana said. "Ron, Would you mind if we went up to the girls' dormitory for a while? We have a lot to catch up on." Ron looked at her happy face and couldn't say no.

"Of course. See you." Aniana glowed with happiness. She threw her arms around him and kissed him goodbye before running off with Monique, giggling and chattering in French. Ron sighed, and sat down at the Gryffindor table. He moodily sipped at his pumpkin juice. Harry threw himself into the seat beside him, laughing.

"Hey Ron," he said, slapping him jovially on the back. "Having a good time?"

"Well I was, until Anna's French friend came. My evening consisted of one dance and a couple of kisses." He mumbled, taking a sip of his pumpkin juice.

"Oh yeah, Monique. I met her. She seemed nice. What are you getting all worked up about?"

"Oh, nothing. I just wish we could have spent a little more time together at the dance, that's all."

"Don't worry about it. She hasn't seen this girl in almost a year. They just need to talk for a while. Its not the end of the world. And anyway, Aniana's nuts for you."

"So everyone keeps saying. Thanks, though," Ron said. He sat quietly for a while, brooding over the night. Harry went off to hang around with Seamus and Hermione. Ron decided to leave the dance early.

******************

"Watch it, girl. You don't want to get hurt," sneered Jonathon Fox, a Slytherin sixth year. He held Aniana tightly by the arm, and Monique, terrified, backed away, into a wall. They were in an empty stairwell. Fox had come up behind them, and made some remarks about Monique in passing, which she had not been able to understand. Aniana, however, had flared up in anger, slapping him, not overly powerfully, across the face. He had grabbed her arm in fury.

"Hurt? From you? I wouldn't think so. You haven't the strength to swat a fly."

"Please, Aniana, please, garcon. Stop, arret," squeaked Monique nervously.

"Il y a rien, Monique. N'a peur pas," Aniana said over her shoulder.

"Tu ne faites pas fauchee, Anna. Arret!" Said Monique

"Shut up, you two. All I'm asking for now is an apology, girl, and I'll let you off." "Apologise? I'm surprised you can pronounce a big word like that. Now, can you spell it?" Aniana said mockingly. She wrenched her arm from his grasp and shoved him backwards. "You'd better head back to the dance. Your date is probably wondering when you're going to pay her."

"How much are you getting paid for Weasley? Oh, wait, you must be acting on pity, he hasn't got two pennies to rub together." Aniana pursed her lips angrily.

"You can shut your mouth about Ron. He's ten times the man you are, if you can qualify as a man."

"If being a poor, pathetic loser like Weasley qualifies me as a man, I'm glad to say I'm not one," sneered Fox.

"No, you're just a stuck up brainless git."

"That's funny, because it seems that if you piss me off anymore, you could be eating your next meal through a straw."

"Yeah, I'm really scared of you. Look at me, I'm shaking in my boots," said Aniana sarcastically. Fox shoved her up against the wall painfully and held her there. Monique shrieked. Aniana winced in pain. Suddenly, someone yanked Fox off of her and he slammed into the wall opposite.

It was Ron. He stood in front of Aniana, his hands balled up into fists. "Get away from her you BASTARD," he yelled. Fox staggered up, sizing up his attacker. Ron was tall, but thin, not suited for fighting. Fox was half a head taller, and tough and burly. "Get away from her," Ron said again. Fox laughed.

"You're trying to protect her? Hah." He sneered. "Get out of the way and save your own skin." Ron lunged forward, and landed a good blow to his stomach. Fox gasped, and Ron twisted his arm behind his back and shoved him down. Fox managed to get to his feet, and grabbed Ron by the collar with one hand, hitting him across the face with the other. Ron stumbled back, and Fox threw him onto the floor, and his head hit the tile with a sickening crack. Fox laughed. Aniana threw herself against him, using all her body weight. He hit the wall heavily, and Aniana kicked him in the stomach with her knee, sending him sprawling, and she just managed to shove him out the door, slamming it behind him. Aniana fell to her knees beside Ron, who had not risen from the fight.

"You bloody fool," she muttered. "Can't you see I can fight my own battles? I don't need you to protect me. I can take care of myself. God, Ron, I'm not going to let you do my fighting for me!" Ron looked startled and hurt. He had come to help her. Why was she angry? "Look, Ron, I can handle myself," she said, gently this time. "I could have gotten myself out of it, just like it was me who got myself into it. Thank you for coming to help me, though." Ron was confused.

"But you just said you would have been fine on your own."

"You didn't know that. You thought he was going to hurt me. Thank you for coming "To my rescue" she grimaced slightly at the words. "Come on. Hospital wing." She helped him to his feet, and supported him all the way up to see Madame Pomfrey. Afterwards she apologized for being harsh to him. She herself suffered little more than a bruise or two, but Ron was bleeding from a cut just below his eye, and had a blackened bruise on his cheek and a huge bump on his head. Monique kept stammering her thanks in French, and Aniana grew tired of translating them for Ron. Madame Pomfrey wanted to keep Ron there a little longer to check that the bump on his head hadn't given him a concussion. She shooed Aniana back to her dormitory, so she blew a kiss at Ron and left. When she arrived in the girls dormitory, Ginny was there.

"Hi Ginny," said Aniana wearily.

"Salut Ginny," said Monique, who had met Ginny earlier.

"Hey Anna, Salut Monique," said Ginny. "Someone said something happened to Ron. Is he ok?"

"Ron?" said Monique, who heard the name and figured out what Ginny meant. "Ron est not well, malade, sick. Grande garcon hurt him much."

"Who hurt Ron? What?" "Grande Garcon!" said Monique, gesturing with her hands to show "Large"

" Jonathon Fox stopped us, I got a little bit angry and Ron tried to protect me when I 'offended' Fox and he shoved me a little. It's okay." Aniana said hastily, as Ginny tried to get up to see "I took Ron to the hospital wing, he's fine."

"Nous avons penibles," moaned Monique "Fox est malade aussi. Nous avons peur Fox. Nous avons dans penibles avec les proffeseurs" (We're awful. Fox is hurt too, we hurt him. We are in deep trouble with the teachers.)

"Don't worry, Monique. Fox won't rat on us, he'd be too ashamed that we beat him," Aniana said in French, and then translated for Ginny. Some of the house elves had set up a small but comfortable cot for Monique, and she settled down comfortably for the night. Aniana was about to do the same, when she noticed that she had three quarters of an hour left before she had to go to bed. She decided to go find Lilya and chat for a while. Bidding Ginny and Monique goodnight, she left the common room to go find Lilya. She was at the Slytherin common room, about to go in for the night.

"Lily! Wait up," she called, and Lilya turned.

"Oh, Hi Anna. There are some stories flying around that I wanted to talk to you about."

"I can see where this is going. Yes I hit Fox. Ron and I gave him a good sound beating, and he deserved it. He insulted Monique, hurt Ron and shoved me around." Lilya laughed "Trouble does seem to follow you around, doesn't it."

"Hey, it wasn't my fault."

"And I bet you were doing everything in your power to stop confrontation, right?" Lilya laughed.

"Not exactly. That jerk deserved a good hard arse-kicking in my humble opinion." "There's nothing humble about your opinion."

Aniana laughed too. "That's the truth. So what are you getting Draco for Christmas?"

"I haven't thought about it."

"Well you have a little over a month to think about it, so don't get stressed out."

"I never get stressed out. I get attractively concerned."

"So you say."

"Well how did the dance go for you then?"

"Not bad. I wish I could have spent a little more time with Ron, though."

"There's always the astronomy tower...."

"Not another word, Black."

"Okay, okay." The two girls sat down and chatted on about the sort of things best friends chat about. They were so absorbed in their talk that they didn't notice Monique slip across the adjoining corridor and up the stairs to the infirmary.

***********************

Ron sat quietly in the hospital wing. Madame Pomfrey had gone off to get some potion or another. He gently felt his tender bruise and winced in pain. At least Anna was alright. He had been so insanely angry when he had seen Fox shove her, he hadn't even thought straight. So, he thought, this must be what Aniana goes through when she falls into fury. The door creaked open slowly.

Ron turned to see Monique creep in. "Bonjour," he said, and Monique giggled. His accent was terrible.

"I think you mean 'Bonjour,'" she said, with correct accent. "You need some French lessons."

Ron raised his eyebrows. "I thought you could only speak a little English?"

"Oui, I speaks but a petite anglais," grinned Monique "Come on, Ron. I speak it pretty well, and I can understand everything you are saying." Ron was understandably confused

"Well, why have you been telling everyone that you don't speak English that well?"

"Well, its always good to keep these things hidden until you can use them."

"And you can use them now?" Ron asked. Monique acted as though she hadn't heard. "You were very -oh, what is the word- impressive against Fox today" she sat down beside him. He didn't like the way she was looking at him.

"I wasn't really. He would have beaten me apart if Aniana didn't step in. Where did that girl learn to fight?"

"Anger," said Monique simply. Ron understood.

"Anyway, I probably shouldn't have. Aniana can take care of herself and I think I made her feel, I don't know, useless."

"Yes, well Aniana has a few issues with strength. She's terrified of her own weaknesses."

"Don't," said Ron. "Just don't"

"It's the truth. I, however," she edged closer to Ron, "don't mind being taken care of. Especially by someone like you."

"What do you mean?" asked Ron

"This," said Monique, "is what I mean." and she kissed him.

Ron was too stunned to react. He pulled away and turned from her. Aniana stood in the doorway. "Anna," gasped Ron "I.." Aniana took a step backwards, staring at the scene before her. Then she turned and silently left the room.

"Wait..."

"Let her go, Ron. She'll get over it."

"Get away from me." Ron pushed her away with a look of hatred.

"Don't be so childish. She's more of a burden than anything else, Ron. I've known her a lot longer than you, and you don't want to get mixed up with her. You should be thanking me."

"Thanking you? I don't want anything to do with you." He turned to go after Aniana. "She won't listen to you. She won't forget easily. Do you really think she's going to feel like talking to you now, after she has just seen you kissing her own cousin?"

"Shut up!" He turned to chase after Aniana.

**************************

Aniana lay on her back on her bed. Not a single tear fell from her eyes. She would not let it. She had come up to the hospital wing thinking to see how Ron was feeling and had seen him kissing Monique. Aniana was able to deal with all kinds of pain. Not this. Not the aching, empty betrayal that she was feeling. She remembered when she was twelve the advice her mother had given her. "Never love anything that can be lost." Now she blamed herself for the moment she had let her guard down, and Ron had become so important to her.

"I thought you'd be here," said Monique. She walked in and sat down on the bed beside Aniana.

"So you can speak English," said Aniana tonelessly, without looking at her.

"Yes."

"Bitch."

"The bitch, to be precise, who just had her tongue down your boyfriend's throat."

"Shut up!"

"Oh, relax. It's not as if he means anything to you anyway."

Aniana sat up. She was breathing heavily. "What did you say?"

"I said, Ron doesn't matter to you."

"Watch your tongue or I'll cut it off."

"Oh, come on. He's certainly not the first. Remember Robert? Julian? You don't expect me to believe that he's any different, do you?"

"I've never had good luck with men. But Ron..."

"Ron is no different from any of your past flings. You never cared for any of your past boyfriends. They were just a little fun to you. You told me, remember? Those people meant nothing to you."

"That's a lie."

"Really? Do you remember Alex? What about David?"

"Shut up"

"Alan, Michael, Scott, Dustin-"

"SHUT YOUR FUCKING MOUTH!!"

"You didn't care about any of them and you certainly don't care about Ron. Why do you keep up this damn charade?"

"I don't have to justify myself to you. Especially not after what you did."

"Oh, I'm sorry, I thought you were already finished with him, like you finished all the others. You're good at attracting men, but not good at keeping them."

"The others were different."

"That's what you always say about them."

"Ron is.."

"Special? You always say that too."

"My relationship with Ron or reasons for it don't concern you," said Aniana coldly. "Alright. Just tell me when you're done with him." Aniana felt a searing heat just behind her eyes. She gasped at the familiar pain of fury. She clenched her teeth with the effort to fight it down.

"Go," she gasped, and shut her eyes tightly against the pain. Monique backed away, then turned and fled the room, leaving Aniana writhing on the bed in effort to fight the tides of rage against her.

"Miss Drew?" Dumbledore entered. The band on his wrist was glowing neon red. "Calm down."

"I... can't," growled Aniana, looking up at Dumbledore with scarlet eyes.

"Stupefy!" said Dumbledore, pointing his wand at her. She collapsed onto the bed. Carefully, Dumbledore approached, and gently pulled open one of her eyes. All the red colouring was draining from them, the way water drains down a plug, leaving only the black. He lay her down carefully on the bed, and covered her with the quilt. Then he walked sadly out of the room.

**********************

Ron crept up the stairs to the girls' dormitory. He didn't want to go inside, but he needed to talk to Aniana. He thought he might call from the stairs.

"You didn't care about them and you certainly don't care about Ron." Ron froze as he heard Monique's voice, shrill with anger, shouting. He listened for a moment. "Why do you keep up this charade?"

"I don't have to justify myself to you. Especially not after what you did." Ron heard Aniana's voice arguing back.

"Oh, I'm sorry," Monique said sarcastically. "I thought you were finished with him, just like you finished with all the others. You're good at attracting men, but not good at keeping them." What was that supposed to mean? Is she suggesting that-

"The others were different."

"That's what you always say about them."

"Ron is..."

"Special? You always say that too."

"My relationship with Ron or reasons for it don't concern you," sneered Aniana. Ron couldn't believe what he was hearing. She was practically admitting to Monique's accusations. "Alright. Just let me know when you're done with him." Done with me? Is that what they think? Ron felt strangely numb. None of what they had had meant anything to her? He silently turned and walked down to the common room. Shortly after Monique rushed down and out of the Gryffindor common room. A few moments later, Ron vaguely wondered what Proffessor Dumbledore was doing there, but he went up to the dormitories and came down shortly after. Ron drifted along through the rest of the evening feeling lost and detached. He couldn't get Monique's voice out of his head. Aniana wasn't going to feel like talking, after what had happened, and Ron didn't know if anything he could do would put the relationship back together.