Break it Up (Ron Weasley)

11. Liquid Luck

"What exactly is the plan with this?" I asked holding up the vile and lying down across Ron's bed. He had told me that our meeting today was "very important" and "could not be missed" regarding the liquid luck.

He snatched it out of my hands. "Be careful with it."

I rolled my eyes. "Just tell me already!"

Ron sat down next to me. "Okay, our plan is going perfectly, but I think we need more," he thought aloud. "We need to involve their relationship more."

I didn't quite get what he was hinting at. "What do you mean?"

A mischievous glint passed through his eyes. "I mean we have to break them up." I watched as he sat up straight and leaned closer to me. "We have to get in between them. Somehow."

"I still don't follow," I said, trying to figure out what he was saying. "How?"

He pulled the vile out. "That's where this comes in. We can plant the ideas in their heads. You know, ask them how it's going, mention how our relationship is a little rocky," he said while gesturing between the two of us and widening his eyes. "We'll try and figure out if there's any weak spots we can work with."

"Oh, I get it," I said. "I'll talk with Cedric and you'll talk with Hermione."

"Actually," Ron said, "I think I should talk to Cedric and you talk to Hermione."

Now I sat up. "What? Why?" Hermione and I had always been friendly with one another, sure, but gossiping about our relationships? I don't think we were quite there yet.

"Because! Girl talk, and stuff," Ron said, trailing off and scratching the back of his neck uncomfortably. "Plus, I just feel like Cedric and I will understand each other more, like you and Hermione will."

I bit my lip. "Okay, and if we do this, I still don't get how the liquid luck factors in."

Ron scoffed. "We'll both drink some before we talk to them. It'll help us get exactly the information we need."

"This plan is insane," I said. Then I turned to face Ron. "But I feel like it could work."

"It will work," he said, standing up. "Let's go."

I stood up behind him. "Right now?"

Ron rolled his eyes. "No better time than the present, right?"

He unscrewed the vile and looked in with one eye, measuring how much we were given.

"I'll drink half and you can have the rest," he said, leaning his head back and pouring the liquid down his throat. He made a face afterwards. "It's not particularly tasty."

He reached out to hand me the vile and I took it from him. I, too, examined what was inside before tilting my own head back to consume what was left. The liquid was cold and bitter, and like Ron had said, it was not something I was going to be craving afterwards.

I handed back the vile. "So," he said, shrugging his shoulders and raising his eyebrows. "Feel any different?"

I shrugged. "No. Not yet, at least."

"Where is Cedric usually on a Friday night?" Ron asked. He was speaking a little faster than usual.

"Probably the Hufflepuff common room," I remarked. "What about Hermione?" I noticed my own speech was getting quicker as well.