Unexpected | Ron Weasley

Building Up the Confidence

Ever since she talked to Ron that evening, Bryony had felt a giant sense of relief. One of the things she hated most in her life, was people being upset at her. She had learned to cope with her parent's disappointment, but with Ron, it was different, but she didn't know why.

Now she could at least smile at him in the hallway or in class, and that was enough for her.

But ever since that night, a seed of curiosity was planted in her mind about the Room of Requirement, and she so badly wanted to go back... but wouldn't dare enter while there was a club meeting going on. And it didn't take long for this curiosity to take over her dreams. And that's when she decided to do something about it. Tomorrow she would ask.

~~~

After carefully calculating when she could approach Ron in the hallways, she decided it was best to approach him after DADA. Harry was often the first one to leave the class, whether he leaves on time or early, leaving Ron and Hermione behind.

Umbridge had just concluded her lesson for the day, thankfully, leaving the students to pack up. Bryony shoved her things in her bookbag and turned around to see that Harry had already left, not that she blamed him. Umbridge sucked.

And as luck would have it, Hermione was out the door too, trying to catch up to Harry, leaving a certain Weasley all alone.

Bryony slowly picked up her things and started walking over to the boy, weaving between other students as they made their way towards the door.

"Hey" she squeaked, not even sure if she got his attention.

It may have taken a second, but Ron soon looked up from his bag and greeted with her with a large, slightly lopsided smile.

"Oh, hey Bryony, er--, how are you?"

"I'm good thanks. And you?" she asked.

"Better now.... I mean, now that this bloody class is over for the week" he replied, not even caring if Umbridge overheard him.

"Yeah... uh, me too... Listen, I have kinda a weird question... I was kinda wondering if your um... club... um was using that room tomorrow? ... Not that I want to join the club or anything... but yeah..." she asked, stumbling slightly over her words. She was in slight shock that she was actually doing this.

Bryony you sound like an absolute idiot

"Oh... um I don't think so... It should be free I guess" Ron replied. She couldn't tell if he was slightly disappointed that she didn't want to join the club. As much as she wanted to spend more time with Ron, she couldn't go through that humiliation again.

"Great... thanks!" Bryony said. She turned around leaving the boy behind her and took not even three steps before she had no idea how to make the room appear, or even how to get inside. Before she went any further she realized she had to turn around.

"Um... one more thing," she said, "how do you get in?"

The same goofy grin appeared on Ron's face, Bryony on the other hand was beet red from embarrassment.

"Meet me by the tapestry tomorrow night at 8:30" he replied with a chuckle, "now come on, let's head to lunch, I'm starving".

~~~

Her heart was racing as she left her common room and made her way to meet Ron by the tapestry. Sure, she was over a half an hour early, but she couldn't help it, she could always hide in the bathroom and wait.

Her entire way there, she couldn't help but wonder what would happen if he didn't show up, if he forgot or something, would she just pretend it didn't happen? I guess so

She made it to the tapestry with plenty of time to spare, but after waiting in the bathroom for 20 minutes, she peeked her head out of the bathroom door to try to see if Ron had shown up. Even from the distance, she could make out an orange blur.

Good thing the Weasleys are gingers

After a few deep breaths, Bryony exited the restroom and made her way towards the boy, and when the two made eye contact, she couldn't help but smile.

"Hey" she said, as she made her way closer to the boy.

"Hey yourself" he replied with a grin, "you ready?"

"Ready."

"Basically, Hermione says you need to walk past the door area 3 times thinking of what you need, then the door will appear. Simple as that" he stated.

"Ok..." Bryony said hesitantly. She paced back and forth in front of the door thinking of some place she could go to get away...

After the third time, a silhouette of a door was becoming etched into the wall, and within seconds, Bryony and Ron were standing in front of the Room of Requirement.

Man I love magic.

"And people can't get in... right?" she asked.

"No, Pansy won't find you in here" he replied with a chuckle, "Maybe I could, but certainly not her".

She looked over at the boy with a smile. "Thanks for this" she said.

"I mean I owe you one, but go ahead, see what paradise looks like" he replied.

Bryony opened the door and was immediately in awe. It was similar but also different from before. Half of the area looked the same, like it was for practicing spells, and the other half resembled her corner of the library. The ceilings even looked high enough that she could practice flying if she wanted to. But the very best part was way in the back, a small table piled high with different sweets from the kitchen and from Honeydukes, all for her.

I'm never leaving this place