The First Prophet Article

And the article continues

Ginny and the Twins were not to be disappointed this night.

Ron approached Viktor and Hermione like an emotional whirlwind. Viktor had seen Ron coming, and had chivalrously stepped between Ron and Hermione upon noticing the rage on Ron's face. That was probably the worst thing Viktor could have done given Ron's mood, as Ron cursed loudly upon seeing it, drawing the eyes of a bystander or two with his rude epithet.

"Oh what now, for heaven's sake," mumbled Hermione.

Ron looked barely able to constrain himself as his pale countenance moved through various shades of red and purple. "Enjoying yourself?!" asked Ron in a voice dripping with sarcasm as he shook with emotion.

"Ve Ver," said Viktor simply, looking at Ron down his nose despite the fact that Ron topped Viktor by a couple of inches.

"Oh I bet you were trying to, weren't you? You Bulgarian bastard!" said Ron threateningly, balling his hands into fists.

"Ron, have you gone mental?" said Hermione furiously as she came around in front of Viktor to place herself between the two young men. "What is the matter with you?"

As Viktor overcame his shock at the unwarranted insult, he began to return Ron's threatening posture. "I vill not be insulted by you, Veasley!" growled Viktor.

"Oi! And what are you going to do about it, Sally!" growled Ron. Now, several dancers had turned to view the proceedings with interest.

"Ron!" said Hermione aghast. She appeared absolutely dumbstruck by Ron's behavior.

Once his brain had translated the likely meaning of the last insult, Viktor tried to push past her to get at Ron. "Viktor!" exclaimed Hermione as she was jostled by the two.

"This boy is not vorthy, Hermowninny," said Viktor with aristocratic disdain, suddenly assuming a relaxed pose, but staring daggers at Ron.

Ron barked a sarcastic laugh. "Will you think I'm worthy when I put my boot in your arse?!"

That was too much for Hermione. "That's enough, Ronald!" she yelled before Viktor really understood what Ron had said. She put her hand on Ron's chest and began pushing him backwards. "Viktor, I'm sorry about this. May we finish our dance later?"

"Of course," said Viktor with a stately nod of his head. His face still appeared puzzled as if he was trying to figure out what an "arse" was.

Hermione turned to Ron and looked ready to escort him off the dance floor. A small crowd had now started to linger in their vicinity. Ron knocked away Hermione's restraining hand.

"I'm not going anywhere with the likes of you!" he growled in a strangled voice.

Hermione's face looked hurt and furious at the same time. "What the hell has gotten into you, Ronald Weasley?!"

Ron screwed his face up for a moment, and then in a quavering voice he said, "Have a good laugh with your boyfriend, did you?! Did you compare notes on how pathetic I am?!"

"What?" said Hermione, looking truly bewildered.

"I heard you talking about me!" said Ron. His voice became more strained as he attempted to speak in a high pitch in a poor imitation of Hermione and raised his hands in a prissy way. "'Little Ronniekins wears his heart on his sleeve. He's such an annoying little prat.'"

Hermione raised her hand to her chest in disbelief, appearing the picture of affronted innocence. "Ron, I would never say something like that about you. Never!"

Ron's face darkened as he plucked the Bug from Hermione's shoulder and held it up under her nose accusingly. "I heard you, Hermione. This is like an Extendable Ear and I heard everything you said!"

"Wha...you heard...you were spying on me!" exclaimed Hermione indignantly.

"A good thing I was, too!" said Ron triumphantly.

"This is a new low, Ronald, even for you." Hermione's voice was heavy with angry disappointment. The crowd that was gathering murmured disapproval. Viktor snorted in derision.

"I didn't know the Twins had put it on you. I just overheard them listening to you," Ron began, seeming slightly abashed, but he quickly regained his accusing tone. "And that's beside the point! Why were you talking about me behind my back?!" Some members of the crowd now mumbled questioningly, looking at Hermione with disapproval.

"I wasn't! You obviously jumped to conclusions, as you always do!" shouted Hermione. The crowd was beginning to look like they were watching a tennis match, their heads swiveling in unison from one to the other as the argument continued.

"How could you?" accused Ron, not wanting to give away his momentary advantage. "All summer you hang all over me, and then as soon as Vicky shows up, you run off and throw yourself at him!"

"I was hardly..." Hermione began, looking absolutely horrified at what Ron was saying to her. She didn't finish what she was going to say because Ron made one of the more ill-advised comments of his young life.

"Bloody slut!" growled Ron under his breath. He said it in a voice loud enough to carry and a collective hiss went up from the onlookers.

Hermione's full-armed slap struck Ron heavily across the face. He staggered to the side under the impact, a large red handprint appearing on his cheek. His hand shot to the spot and he remained half bent where he had stumbled. He appeared to be in complete disbelief about what had just happened.

Hermione's eyes had grown round and wild with anger and other emotions. "How...how...could you? How...dare you..." she sputtered.

Hermione took a deep breath as Ron stood there, still stunned from Hermione's slap. Suddenly, shaking like a leaf, Hermione literally burst into tears. She let out a sob as she pushed past Ron and through the circle of watchers. The crowd, in turn, looked at Ron like he was something someone would scrape off of their shoe.

Ron stayed half-bent over as he looked up at Viktor in consternation. He had the Bug clutched in one hand and his cheek in the other. "I...I...didn't mean to say that..." stammered Ron.

"Veasley," exhaled Viktor, his disdainful look replaced with one of sorrow and sympathy, "you are a fool." With that, he turned on his heel and walked away.

After a moment more of stunned silence, Ron straightened and pushed desperately through the crowd after Hermione in the opposite direction.

To be concluded