Grow As We Go

Knight in Shining Armour

The morning of the big quidditch match, while everyone excitedly discussed the possibilities of the game, Acacia had her mind on something else. She didn't remember falling asleep last night, and she wasn't sure how she had ended up on top of Ron. She knew they were close but it was different than with Theo and Blaise. If it were Theo, he would've carried her up to bed or woken her up while Blaise would've left her alone on the couch. But that's another difference to add to her ever long list of what set Ron apart from her friends.

She was nudged from her thoughts by Ginny who sat next to her at the Gryffindor table at breakfast. The toast in her hand fell from surprise as she turned to her friend.

"So we've got to talk about two things," Ginny told her. "One, how you and my brother for all cozy in the couch last night and two, why your scaly friends are staring you down."

Acacia turned her attention toward the farthest table to see Blaise and Isadora staring at her coldly. She sighed and turned back to the youngest Weasley, not giving the reaction her friends may have wanted.

"They're still mad at me. Normally, the hood a good grudge until one of us breaks, normally me." She answered. "And we're not going to talk about this morning. It never happened."

"If you say so." Ginny giggled and the two got back to their breakfast and rejoined the surrounding.

Unbeknownst to the two friends, Ron was listening in to their conversation from a few seats down. He had remembered falling asleep and woke up alone. He had panicked for a moment when Fred and George woke him up with some Exploding Snaps, concerned that he and Acacia were found out. Part of him was relieved that she wasn't there, but the other part of him disagreed. He had grown a lot closer to the girl that he was willing to admit, recognizing teenage hormones probably played a part but also his heart. The little puff had climbed in and begun to make a home in the space between his ribs, and he didn't mind if it stayed there.

Classes passed by in a blur. The excitement of the upcoming game got professors in a good mood, most of them letting out early and forgoing homework. The Slytherin's were in a different sort of excitement as most of them bore 'Weasley Is Our King' pins and smiled at each other a little too friendly. Acacia stuck by her Gryffindor friends and Luna most of the day, sporting the red scrunchie and some red and gold face paint. Ginny had offered her to wear one of her spare jerseys but she decided to stick with her uniform until supper.

The two met up outside the common room before heading inside for Acacia to change. Ginny was a reserve for the team so even though there was a slim chance she would play, just being on the team was enough. Ginny riffled through her trunk and pulled out a short sleeve jersey in the Gryffindor colours with a 2 emblazed on the front. Acacia took it and threw it on for supper but made a mental note to go toss a long sleeve sweater underneath for the cold weather outside.

Supper had been pushed up as normal to accommodate the game later so the two quickly left to join their friends at the Great Hall. Though the table was crowded, they slipped in between Seamus and Neville.

"Nice jersey there Hufflepuff." Seamus complimented the girl next to him. "Yer supporting our boy Ron?"

"I'm supporting everyone." Acacia replied, ignoring the Ron comment.

"But yer wearing his number." Seamus told her and a furious blush swept up her neck as she turned to Ginny.

"You did this on purpose didn't you!" She whispered angrily at the girl.

"You're welcome." Ginny winked and grabbed the salt from the table.

Acacia tried her best to hide the number in the middle of her chest for the rest of supper. She kept one arm folded in front of her chest while she ate and avoided answering any questions as to why she was wearing his number. Supper was filling and joyous as many students passed, giving encouragement to the different players scattered around the table.