Decisions

Chapter 3 - Best Friend's Approval Pt. 2

Fast forward to after 3rd period

     So the four of them eventually met up to walk to Hagrid's for study hall. Hermione, Harry, and Ron were giving Raven the silent treatment ever since she announced that she's going with Malfoy to the Yule Ball. Raven then walked ahead of the three to meet up with Draco. Once Draco realized Raven was right next to him, he wrapped his arm around her neck and pulled her closer to him.

     "You alright?" Draco asks Raven who has a blank face. "Um, yeah I'll just tell you later, alright?" Raven responds. "Ray, seriously, what's wrong?" Draco says with a concerned look on his face as he looks back at the other three. "Draco, I'll tell you after classes." "Okay, fine. I'll talk to you later." Draco says while looking back at her and then the other three and eventually walking away from her.

     All four of them eventually arrive at Hagrids.

    "Hello everyone! I'll be outside real quick to check the harvest. You four go sit yourselves down. Go on." Hagrid says as he quickly goes outside. They go and sit inside and silence erupts quickly as the other three are still shunning Raven. After ten minutes of loud silence, Raven finally speaks up. "Are you guys seriously shunning me? After a date that'll last for about 2 hours? You guys are ridiculous." "Ridiculous?! You're one to talk about being ridiculous when YOU decided that it'll be okay to go with Draco!" Ron responds angrily. "Honestly Raven, it's sad that you went for Malfoy," Hermione says joining into the conversation. "Hermione how could you even agree with Ron on this. It's immature of all of you to be mad at me for a small date." Raven says irritatedly. Raven then gets up from her chair and storms out of Hagrid's hut.

     "Guys, I kind of agree with Raven. It's ridiculous of us to just give her the silent treatment over a temporary date she's going to be on." Harry speaks up. "I think we should just suck it up and just leave her be. It's only for one night anyway. What could go wrong?"

     Ten minutes later, Hagrid then walks back to the hut. "Why did Raven storm out of here? Did you three say something?" Hagrid said in a concerned tone. The three look at each other and start to explain the conflict between Raven.

     "Okay, you guys have to understand that she isn't going to be doing anything serious," Hagrid says. "I TOLD YOU!" Harry shouted with pride while pointing his finger up. "But I do understand why you guys are mad because, y'know, it's Draco," Hagrid also says, directing his attention to Hermione and Ron. "I TOLD YOU!" Hermione and Ron said mockingly to Harry. Harry rolled his eyes. "Now, I don't fancy that Malfoy boy but just let her enjoy this one night. Remember, it's only for one night. It's not like they'll get married the next day," Hagrid says in a jokingly but reassuring tone. "Alright, I guess," Hermione says as she sighs. "Ron?" "Sure," Ron says while shrugging. "Alrighty then. You three shall get to class. 15 minutes!" Hagrid says as he pushes them urgently out the door.

     It's after school and Raven hears a knock at her door. "Hey Ray.." Draco says hesitantly as he slowly walks into the dorm room. "You alright?" "Uh yeah sure," Raven says in a drained voice. Then Draco walks over to her bed and sits down. "So what happened with you and your friends?" "Well I told them about you being my date to the ball and they're currently shunning me," Raven replies. Draco's face turned from a concerned expression to a mad one. "What?! Why?" "Because of what you did. You know, the bullying...," "But I thought we were okay with each other?! You know what, let's go and talk with them shall we?" Draco says as he pushes himself off the bed and rushes to the door. "Draco no. Stop. Don't say anything, it's going to make this situation even worse," Raven says as she sighs and gets up to pulls Draco away from the door and sits him back on her bed. "Please just promise me that you WON'T say anything to them?" Raven asks. "Whatever. But if something happens, just let me know." Draco says reassuringly. 

     It's the next morning and Raven and Draco decide to walk to the Great Hall for breakfast together. "Are you sure you don't want me to talk to them?" Draco asks. "Yes Draco, now go on," Raven says while rolling her eyes and entering the Great Hall. 

     She walks over to her usual seat, next to her "friends". She sits down next to Harry (while Ron and Hermione are across from them) hesitantly, not knowing if they would tell her to move somewhere else or just give her the silent treatment like yesterday. A quiet but loud silence erupts around them until one of them finally speaks. "Hey Ray, we just wanted to apologize for being immature and keeping quiet from you," Hermione says sincerely. "Yeah Raven, we were just being petty about the whole Yule Ball date. Well I wasn't but-" Hermione throws a crumpled up napkin at Harry mid-sentence. "Anyway, we just wanted someone we trust to go with you. But if that's your decision, to go with Draco, then we're glad and excited for you" Hermione continues on. "Isn't that right guys?" Ron stays silent while keeping a straight face, staring at his food, refusing to make eye contact with Raven. Hermione then shoves his shoulder. "Uh yeah, sure whatever," Ron says as he gives a quick glance with a small smirk at Raven. "Well guys, I'm sorry for not addressing that sooner. I was kind of worried about this happening once I told you guys," Raven says to the three. "Well now that this conflict is over, we NEED to talk about our outfits!" Hermione says, ready to gossip with her best friend as always. 

     Raven was glad that she can finally talk to her friends. But Ron seemed to be quieter than before. Was he still mad about the Yule Ball? She knows he isn't "buddy-buddy" with Draco but, why is he so mad over Raven's 2-hour date for a little dance?