Break it Up (Ron Weasley)

2. Defense Against the Dark Arts

As I made my way to Defense Against the Dark Arts, an ever-changing class, I heard my name from behind me in the halls.

"Y/n!" I turned around. It was Cedric.

As he ran to catch up with me, my stomach fluttered.

"Ced! Where were you in potions?" I asked. If he had shown up, then I wouldn't be stuck next to Ron and his attitude for the rest of the year.

I turned to look at him and noticed his hair was messier than usual and he was out of breath. His cheeks flushed red from breathing heavily as his eyes scanned the paper in his hands.

"Sorry, my schedule was messed up. I'm not in potions anymore. I have first period free," he said, looking up at me. The same fluttering feeling came over me when our eyes met.

I rolled my eyes. "Ugh. I was looking forward to it. I saved you a seat and everything."

He laughed, and I smiled at him. He was really cute when he laughed. "Sorry! Who'd you end up sitting next to?"

I rolled my eyes again. "Ron. He and Harry showed up late, and Harry sat next to Hermione. I was one desk over from them, so Hermione told Ron to sit next to me after he made a whole big stink about it."

Cedric laughed again. "Oh Weasley. I can see him doing that. He's so over dramatic."

"Yeah. At least we have Defense Against the Dark Arts together," I remarked, looking over his shoulder at the schedule in his hands. "Let's sit together."

Cedric eyed me and said, "Are you sure you wouldn't rather sit next to Ron? I'm sure we can arrange-"

"Ha ha. Funny," I cut him off.

Suddenly, my eyes lit up. "Ced! Tomorrow's your birthday!" I exclaimed, playfully punching his shoulder. "You excited?"

He looked down and laughed. "Oh yeah. Thrilled. And I totally have no idea what you're planning," he joked. Every year on Cedric's birthday, I throw a surprise party for him in his room.

Now, I know you're thinking, it's not a surprise party if I do it every year. But it's a tradition that dates back all the way to when we were first years. I had just found out that it was his birthday on the actual day, and I had wanted to do something special for him. So, naturally, I hid in his room and jumped out to yell "Surprise!" once he walked in.

Every year since then, I've had a little more time to prepare my event. I usually set up balloons and streamers and lots of other decorations. It's a whole ordeal.

But I love doing it. And I love how he pretends to be surprised every year even though he is well aware that it's going to happen. He's just great like that.

"Well. This should be interesting," he said once we arrived at Snape's classroom, looking into the room. He turned to look at me. "Ready?"

I nodded and followed him through the door way.

Inside, I saw Hermione at the front once again, but this time, Ron was next to her. At least he won't have anything to make a big deal of.

Cedric walked over to the desk behind Hermione and Ron's. I'm not sure if it was to punish me or not. "Granger!" He exclaimed, greeting Hermione.

Hermione and Ron turned around. "Hey Cedric!" she responded. She then turned to look at me. "Hey y/n." I smiled in response.

Ron didn't say anything. He just looked at the both of us with an undeniable look of disgust on his face.

Lovely.

Hermione continued to try and make conversation. "Ready for this?" she asked, regarding Snape teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts.

"Ready as I'll ever be," Cedric replied, breathing out as he spoke.

Just as the last word left Cedric's mouth, Snape began class. "Attention!"

*

After the lesson, I gathered my stuff and stood next to our desk to wait for Cedric. He was talking with Hermione. Again.

But before I could say anything, he and Hermione continued their conversation and walked out together.

Wow. That's twice today I've been ignored while waiting to walk with someone, I thought. It was getting annoying.

Ron stood at the desk in front of me, also watching Cedric and Hermione. He shook his head. "Kind of annoying how they're all 'buddy buddy' all of a sudden," he shot.

I looked around. No one else was really near us.

When I looked back at Ron, I realized he was talking to me. "Oh, yeah," I agreed, nodding my head.

"I mean," he started, walking up next to me. "One second they're just acquaintances who have never spoken. Then, the summer happens, and now they're best friends." I nodded along.

I guess I had noticed that Cedric and Hermione had gotten closer since last year. But it seemed to be bothering Ron a lot more than it was bothering me.

"Yeah, it is weird," I said as we stepped out of the room. "I wonder what happened this summer."

Ron shook his head. "I have no bloody idea."

What was more weird was Ron acting like we were friends. Sure, we've gone to the same school for six years now, but this is by far the most he's ever spoken to me.

We walked together in silence for a little after that. It was getting awkward. Ron was muttering to himself the whole time, so I'm not sure he noticed I was still next to him.

I tried to break the tension. "So, uh, what class do you have next?"

My words took him by surprise. He definitely did not realize I was still there.

"Oh. I don't know," he huffed, speeding up and pushing through the crowd, soon disappearing.

I rolled my eyes. Why was he being so weird today?

We've always kind of just acknowledged the others' existence, and now, he's been disgusted by me, ignored me, and ranted to me, all in one day.

What was going on?