Broken {Ron Weasley}

2. Humiliation

The train arrived at Hogwarts, students all bustling about to go and find their dorms. Although I love Lavender, this year, I was thrilled to have my own room.

I quickly settled in and set up my things, eager to get down to the Great Hall and follow the usual first day of school rituals.

I entered the hall and took my seat at the Gryffindor table, ready to listen to whatever Dumbledore had to announce. Lavender followed behind and excitedly sat down next to me.

The others students filed in as well and took their seats, including Ron, Harry, and Hermione a few spots down from us.

Just as Dumbledore opened his mouth to speak, Filch flung open the door and stormed angrily down the aisle to the Gryffindor table, mail in hand.

He came closer and closer to where we sat, and I was getting a little nervous the mail was for me. Luckily, he slammed it down in front of Ron, and everyone around him quickly realized it was a howler.

Choruses of "ooh"s and "aw"s rang out as the student body laughed at Ron's bright red face.

"Well, go ahead, Mr. Weasley," Dumbledore declared, gesturing to Ron. "Open it."

Ron winced and slowly began to tear the envelope while everyone leaned forward in their seats, eager to hear what the letter had to say.

"Ronald Weasley!" the letter roared with Molly's voice. "If you don't agree to spend time with y/n like we'd discussed, then you better expect one hell of an ass kicking when the both of you come home for Christmas, do you hear me?"

Ron gulped as the letter shouted in his face, and everyone erupted into laughter. I sunk down in my seat a bit at the mention of my name, but Lavender was intrigued.

"You're spending Christmas with Ron?" she cried, grabbing ahold of my shoulders and shaking me vigorously.

"Unfortunately," I replied flatly, my lack of enthusiasm evident.

"What do you mean unfortunately?" Lavender snapped, like it was the most bizarre thing she'd ever heard. "You're so lucky!"

"Lucky?" I repeated, pulling my head back. "Why?"

"Are you kidding?" Lavender asked, her eyes fixating past me and on to Ron, who sheepishly sunk into his seat now as well once the howler had finished its scolding. "He's hot."

I turned back to look at him. Lavender did have a point, he wasn't awful to look at.

"I guess," I shrugged, turning back to face her.

"I'm so jealous your moms are friends," she scoffed, excitedly leaning forward. "Merlin," she said suddenly, her eyes widening. "He's coming over."

Ron trudged over to the end of the table we sat at, his head hung low and his cheeks flushed pink. "Hey," he began. "So, I guess we have to be friends now, or whatever."

"Yeah," I nodded awkwardly while I noticed Lavender grinning stupidly next to me.

"Should we do something after school?" he muttered, barely audible.

"Sure," I accepted, unsure of how else to respond after the howler.

"Great," he answered unenthusiastically, pursing his lips and turning on his heels to go sit back down.

"Oh my god," Lavender exclaimed as if she'd been holding her breath the whole time Ron was present. "Words can't express how jealous I am of you."

I laughed softly and shook my head.

"Wait," she said, getting a mysterious glint in her eye. "You have to talk to him about me."

"What?" I cried. "No way. It's already going to be awkward enough."