Harry Potter Oneshots

12: Jealousy

It took a moment for the anger to hit. For one glorious minute–sixty beatific seconds–Ron did not remember why he and Harry had not spent last evening discussing the goblet's choices for champions or comparing how each contender would fare in the first task. Why the night had been instead spent behind the safety of his bed hangings and why it had taken him far longer to fall asleep with the flame of anger burning in his chest.

It was the same reason that he couldn't sleep now. His usual belief was that no one should have to wake up this early on a Sunday morning, yet he decided to make an exception for the day given that the alternate option was to wait until his usual time which would mean seeing and inevitably talking to Harry, which he was steadfastly determined to not do. Not until he could work through the jumble of emotions roaring through his head. He dressed quietly and gave a quiet noise of surprise when he saw movement across the dorm. Seamus was stretching his arms high above his head before groggily getting to his feet too.

Ron smiled hesitantly at him, an idea forming at the forefront of his sleep-clouded mind and he quickly ducked out of the dorm and headed into the common room. The Gryffindor Common Room itself was as empty as ever on a Sunday morning, especially considering it was the day after Halloween. Ron himself was as surprised as anyone to find himself up and awake before eight am on such a day. Yet while he waited for Seamus and Dean–if Seamus was awake, then Dean would surely be coming too–his thoughts unerringly strayed to the topic he did not want to consider. The topic being, of course, why he was set on encroaching on the other duo of his dorm when he was so used to being with Harry.

Harry.

The boy who lived.

Not that Ron had ever thought of him that way. Even when they had first sat together on the train all those years ago. Sure, he was curious and excited to meet someone so famous. But at the time, he was even more worried about being friendless and there sat someone with the same worries and with questions that he could even answer. At the time, the friendship had seemed so obvious. It never would have occurred that it would mean dealing with all of this. If he had had the foresight to predict that, then he might just have chosen another compartment.

Instead, he had found himself friends with an attention-seeking, ignorant, oblivious celebrity as a best friend.

Though as soon as he thought that, guilt rose up like bile and a second voice echoed in the back of his head. No, that's not–

How could he have been so stupid to let himself be duped into thinking that he and Harry would find a way to enter together. That Ron would have an equal chance at fame as he did. That they would be okay following the rules and sitting this one out.

You know he didn't ent–

"Hi Ron," Seamus said blearily as he thumped down the steps.

"Hey!" Ron replied, far too cheerfully as he jumped up from the armchair. "Mind if I join you for breakfast?"

Dean cocked his head and frowned. "You're not waiting for Harry?"

Ron tried to keep the smile plastered onto his face. "No. No I'm not."

Dean and Seamus shared a quick glance before they both shrugged.

"Sure," Seamus answered, bewilderment still coloring his expression. "Is Harry eating later or something?"

Now it was Ron's turn to shrug. "Who knows and who cares. Let's go."

Ron could practically hear their silent conversation going on behind his back, though thankfully, neither said anything as they followed him out of the portrait hole. And thankfully, they filled the space with relentless chatter, expertly ignoring the obvious drama going on with Ron, and by the time they reached the Great Hall, Ron was even content enough to participate in the conversation himself.