Another Ruddy Ball

Punishments

~*~*~*~

He didn't have a specific place to go, he just ran blindly, taking random twists and turns as sobs tore out of him. Of all the things to say to her, why did I show her my insecurities? Bloody hell, now it's going to look like I'm some jealous prat who only thinks about himself... I am the world's biggest git! Not hearing the sounds of footsteps coming rapidly down the hallway, Ron turned a corner and slammed hard into someone. The force of the impact knocked both parties down, as well as knocked the wind out of Ron's lungs for a good minute.

When his vision cleared, Ron sat up and shook his head, trying to get his breath back. Not looking to see who had been so unceremoniously thrown to the ground, Ron started to stand up on shaky knees, when he heard Malfoy's voice.

"Weasel! I might have known it was you stomping about like a great elephant!" Malfoy hissed icily. He stood up and brushed himself off, continuing furiously, "How dare you knock me over, you great oaf!"

"Oh, boo bloody fucking hoo for you, Malfoy!" Ron snapped, holding himself upright as his breathing steadied.

"What's wrong with you? Ghastly Granger give you a rotten shag?" Malfoy smirked, folding his arms and shaking his head. "I don't know, I'd want to kill myself if that mudblood touched me."

"You know what, Malfoy? I don't give a rat's arse what you want or think, so just go find someone else to bother," Ron said with a shake of his head. He turned around and started to walk back the other way, but stopped when he didn't recognize where he was.

Malfoy gave a low, malicious laugh and said in a superior tone, "Ickle Weasel's lost his way and doesn't know how to find it. Good job, you stupid lunk."

"Honestly, Ferret, why don't you go screw that ugly pig you call a girlfriend, and leave me alone!" Ron snarled, turning on Malfoy and clenching his fists.

"What, when I have an opportunity like this? Surely you jest." Malfoy laughed smugly, then frowned and stepped towards Ron a bit. His face brightened and he laughed again and said, "I don't believe it! Of all people I expected to see crying, I never expected you, Weasel! Oh this is too good. Wait till everyone hears this!"

With that, he turned and walked down the hall, calling out behind him, "Have fun in detention, Weasel. You've gotten rather boring for my taste."

"Why do you even care, Malfoy? I'd say you're jealous! You don't have any human emotions!" Ron shouted down the hall, then turned and strode angrily down the hall, trying to find his way back to more familiar terrain. Finally, after about fifteen minutes of searching, he found the hall to the kitchens. He smiled to himself and made his way back to Gryffindor Tower. He almost made it to the common room when Filch stepped out in front of him, with a grotesque grin plastered on his face.

"Oh dear, a student out of bed.. And a prefect no less! This must be my lucky day." Filch grabbed Ron's arm and hissed in his face, "You're going straight to McGonagall's office, yes you are, and then it's cleaning the dungeons for you, boy! Now get moving!"

Filch shoved Ron roughly forward and started towards McGonagall's office. Ron groaned, knowing he would receive a very nasty detention. He discreetly checked his watch, then almost shouted at what time it was. One twenty seven in the bloody morning! I'm in for it now.. Ron hung his head as Filch stopped and pounded on McGonagall's door.

After a couple minutes, she opened the door, looking extremely unhappy and snapped, "What do you want, Argus?" Then she saw Ron.

"What are you doing out of bed?!" she shrieked as she pulled him into her office. "Sit down, Weasley!"

Ron sat, too scared to look up at her as she sat down across from him. Oh man, she's going to take away my prefect badge...

"Argus you may go. I will inform you when I have given him his punishment," she said icily. Oh no... here it comes.. "Mr. Weasley, I would have expected more out of you. Now, WHY were you out of bed?"

"Because I fell down the stairs and Hermione helped me to the hospital wing.." he said in a small voice.

"I don't see Hermione here, now, do I? What did you do after that?"

Ron gulped and stuttered, "W-we had a fight and... well, I k-kind of.. ran away.."

"And where did you go, that you were gone until one thirty in the morning?"

"Just.. around."

"I see. You didn't get in any more fights?"

"Well.."

"Yes?"

Ron was silent for a long moment, and peeked up at her. She gave him a kind but stern look.

He sighed and whispered, "Malfoy and I ran into each other."

"Pardon me?"

"Malfoy and I," he said louder, "we ran into each other."

"And did you exchange words?"

"You might say that," he muttered.

"Mr. Weasley, speak up."

"Yes, we did."

"Well, in that case, give me a moment." She took out a quill and a piece of parchment and started writing quickly. After a minute, she looked up and said, "I would like you to give this to Professor Snape when you go to Potions tomorrow. As for you-"

"What's on the paper?" Ron asked curiously.

"None of your business. Now, you will serve detention tomorrow night and the night after with Filch. Detention should last no more than four hours, so you will still be able to get supper.. I will notify him of this tomorrow."

"Yes, Professor," Ron mumbled sulkily, starting to stand.

"And Mr. Weasley."

"Yes?"

"Ten points will be taken from Gryffindor for your lack of judgement. Should this happen again, I will seriously consider taking away your prefects badge. Now, go to bed."

"Yes, Professor." Ron took the parchment and left, pausing a moment at the door to say in a quiet, carrying voice, "I'm sorry Professor. I.. don't know why I did that, I just.. I don't know."

With that, he ducked quickly out of the office and made his way quickly to the common room. Had he stayed even a few seconds longer, he would have seen a fond smile cross McGonagall's usually stern face. Regardless, he entered the common room and saw Hermione leaning against the wall of the girls' dorm stairs. She looked to be asleep.

Sighing, he walked over and kneeled down, taking one of her hands in his and whispering softly, "I don't understand you Hermione. You insult me, and then you turn around and act like nothing happened. You boss me around, then you get all concerned. Hell, I bet even you don't understand it."

He paused for a moment, tears once again gathering in his eyes as he continued in a strained voice, "I don't know how to say what I want to say, Hermione. There are so many things I wish I could tell you. But every time I try, you just give me that look and I say the total opposite of what I want to say. See, what happened tonight... You.. I didn't mean to yell at you. But everything I said was true. That's how I feel, for the most part, and I wish you'd just stop getting on my case about everything and let me be me. You don't know what it's like to be completely overshadowed by everyone, including your two best friends." Sigh. "I don't deserve a friend like you."

Swallowing hard, he let go of her hand and picked her up gently, carrying her over to one of the couches. He laid her down gently and covered her up with a quilt before leaning over to kiss her gently on the cheek. As he pulled away, a single tear dropped down to land where his lips had been seconds before.

"Sleep well, Hermione."

Ron wiped his cheek and walked dejectedly up the stairs to collapse on his bed. So, what did I just do? Say goodbye to her? Was that telling her we can't be friends anymore? At that thought, the tears started to fall again, and he sobbed quietly into his pillow. I can't just let her go! I can't, she must know that I care about her! Hermione, you can't hate me, I'm a great stupid prat, but I've never actually meant to hurt you.. This can't be happening.. The thoughts swirled in his head until he fell asleep from sheer exhaustion.