IMAGINES AND PREFERENCES

Ron Weasley-requested by @JulzLovDraco4Eva

Third year at Hogwarts was proving to be just as crazy as the first two. You, Ron, Harry, and Hermione were thicker than thieves, always finding yourselves tangled up in some sort of magical mess. You, however, harbored a secret,a growing affection for Ron. His fiery red hair, his infectious laugh, his unwavering loyalty,they all made your heart flutter in a way it never had before.
The Whomping Willow incident left a bitter taste in your mouth. You weren't there to shield Ron from its flailing branches, the image of him wincing in pain forever imprinted in your mind. The guilt gnawed at you during the daring Time-Turner mission to save Sirius and Buckbeak. All you could think about was Ron, his usual carefree spirit replaced by a vulnerability that tightened your chest with worry.
Relief washed over you when you returned to the present and saw Ron, albeit with a bandaged leg propped up on his hospital bed. But his usual teasing about being your "damsel in distress" sent a spark flying.
"Honestly, Ron," you blurted out, cheeks burning hotter than a dragon's breath, "I'm always worried because I..." You hesitated, your heart hammering against your ribs. Then, plunging forward with the recklessness that often landed you in trouble, you blurted, "Because I fancy you! Is that so hard to understand?"
The room went silent. Harry and Hermione exchanged surprised looks, their eyebrows shooting up in unison. Ron's cheeks flushed a deeper red than his hair, mirroring the cherry red of your robes.
"You fancy me?" he stammered, a goofy grin replacing his usual smirk. It was a goofy grin that, for some inexplicable reason, made your insides do somersaults.
"Well, duh," you said, rolling your eyes in an attempt to mask the fluttering in your stomach. Though a smile, wide and genuine, tugged at your lips, betraying your efforts. "Why else would I be so worried about you all the time?"
Ron rubbed the back of his neck, a sheepish look replacing his grin. The gesture was endearingly familiar, a reminder of the countless times you'd seen him do the same thing after a particularly close call with a troll or a rogue Bludger. "Truth is," he mumbled, his voice barely above a whisper, "I like you too. But I didn't want anyone thinking I needed a girl to look after me."
You snorted, the sound echoing through the quiet room. "Well, you don't," you said, squeezing his good hand gently. "But it's nice to know you have someone who cares, don't you?"
Ron's grip tightened on your hand, sending a warmth shooting up your arm. "More than you know, Y/n. More than you know."
A relieved laugh bubbled up from your chest, light and airy. The air crackled with a newfound understanding, a current that danced between you. Maybe you didn't need a Time-Turner to change your future after all. With Ron by your side, you were ready to face any adventure, hand-in-hand. You knew, with a certainty that rivaled any incantation, that together you could face anything the wizarding world threw your way.