Grow As We Go

No Speaking Before 10 AM

Acacia woke up to her alarm on her first night of duty, drawing open the curtains around her bed reluctantly. The constant warm light of Hufflepuff house, flooding the enclosed space. Last week had been a long one between Hagrid being absent from his position and the horrible new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor. The brunette had scarcely missed detention with the pink gnome on the first day because she read too far ahead.

So she learned to do as she was told and keep her head down. That morning, Umbridge had been named High Inquisitor which left the girl confused as to what was to come. So she slowly changed back into her robes, attaching her pin and left to meet her partner outside the Great Hall.

"Started to think you weren't coming." Ron joked and rocked back on his heels, hands stuffed into his pockets.

"I may be late, but I always show up." She pointedly replied and pulled out her duty slip from her pocket. "We have patrol over the dungeons and lower classroom area. Let's get going shall we?"

The two made their way down to the basement and took their turn checking alcoves, bathrooms and classes. They made pleasant small talk but Acacia was too tired to pay him much attention. The hallways were obviously boring with Umbridge's new reign so they agreed to pop into an alcove to relax.

"So, how are your classes going so far?" He asked her, leaning against the stone wall and turning to face her.

"Pretty good other than Hagrid not having returned and, the little gnome." She replied with a smirk. "What about you? I heard from Ernie that Harry's had quite a few detentions already."

"Oh yeah, quite awful actually," Ron replied. "He had to miss tryouts but he didn't have much to worry about. Being captain and all. Isn't your sister the new Hufflepuff captain as well?"

"Yes but don't bother," Acacia replied with a sigh, used to boys trying to hit on her sisters. "She does not play for your team?"

"Well of course she doesn't, she plays for Huffle-." Ron started with a laugh but paused as he realized what she meant. A harsh blush rivalling the colour of his hair swept across his cheeks as his hand went to scratch at the base of his neck. "I wasn't trying to hit on her. I was just trying to make a connection. Hermione told me making connections would make the patrols easier to get through."

"You need her to give you socialization tips?" She asked but immediately wished to take back her words. She was still in defensive mode after thinking he was hitting on her sisters. Many conversations Acacia had with people other than her trio of friends and Neville Longbottom centred around her sister's availability. "Sorry, you're right, connections are good. How many siblings do you have?"

"I've got 5 older brothers and Ginny who's younger than me. Mum didn't want to stop trying until she had a girl." Ron smiled as he talked happily. "Bill's the oldest, then Charlie, Percy and Fred and George, who you've met. What about you?"

"Well, I come from a big family too but nothing compared to you guys." Acacia laughed. She worried after her incident with Ron just before school things would be awkward. "I'm the youngest of 5 with two brothers and two sisters. Aspen, Oakley, Hazel and Juniper and me. Mum has a thing for trees and odd numbers. So Juniper is to thank for my existence because if it weren't for her being a twin, it would've stopped at Hazel."

"The tree names are cool. Makes you unique." Ron complimented her but the girl just shook her head.

"Being unique would mean I was the only one. Things stop being like that when you're the fifth tree." She joked and Ron laughed, but it seemed more obligatory than true.

"You're very hard on yourself." He noted. "You need to relax, I'm just trying to be your friend here."

"I appreciate the offer but I've got good friends and they're enough for me. I'm just trying to get through this year." She smirked but the look on Ron's face seemed hurt. Acacia sighed and shook her head. Being only friends with Slytherin classmates and being an introvert herself meant she didn't like a large social circle and befriending Ron meant expanding hers tenfold. "Sorry, that was rude. What I mean is as much as I appreciate your offer, I'm just not as friendly as you. Friends to me are people I could trust with my life."