the only exception | ron weasley

xi. dance practice

"S-She's in Ravenclaw and she's just...so sweet. I'm convinced she's a Hufflepuff--she's just so kind and considerate. And she's so honest, too!"

"That's adorable, Diggory. You should ask her, definitely."

"I-I know but I'm worried about you. I don't want you going alone," Cedric said with a sigh. She raised an eyebrow at that, surprised to hear him admit such a thing.

"Worried about me? What on earth for? And why?" she sputtered, letting him spin her.

"Well, you're my friend, Lorrie. I would like all the best for you. I don't know whether to wait for someone to ask you before asking Cho or..."

"I'll probably go with Draco," she giggled. "Ask Cho out--you're clearly smitten with her and I would like to see you happy." And she meant it.

"Draco? What about Ron or Harry? Or literally anyone else?" he rushed out, looking at her with wide eyes.

"I grew up with him. He's my friend. And Ron and Harry...Harry seems to like this Ravenclaw girl and Ron might ask Hermione out. And literally anyone else is not possible because there's no way I'm asking a stranger to go to the Ball with me."

Cedric sighed but accepted her response.

***

"Lorraine," Draco greeted with a wide grin as Lorraine finished dance practice. Cedric, who was beside her, scoffed and walked off to give the two privacy.

"Ignore him," she snickered, linking her arm with his and letting him lead her to their potions class together. "He always gets his knickers in a twist at the mention of you."

He rolled his eyes, "Everyone seems to."

"Probably because you're an ass."

"Oh, and I wonder why."

"Your father?"

"No, everyone here is a miserable sod, that's why."

Lorraine sighed deeply and shook her head disapprovingly. "Probably because you make them miserable," she muttered, giving him a sweet grin when he asked what she said.

"You're ridiculous," Draco scoffed, only for a grin to grace his face. "Any idea who you're hoping asks you to the Ball?"

"Oh, well, I don't know. Who I want...? Someone I know preferably."

"Give me a list, Winters."

"Uhm...Ron, probably. Or you, but I need to get close to Ron for my job, you know? So, I'm a bit unsure."

He seemed to visibly deflate at her answer. While he knew the reason why she was in Hogwarts in the first place, he didn't think she was planning to get that close to the Weasley. He thought she'd let loose for the Ball, not continue her work.

Of course, he was just making himself feel worse about a single night that he could still spend with her. He supposed that he just wanted the honour of being her date--to be special enough to her that she wanted to give him the title. But, of course, when you're a death eater you need to put your work before personal interest.

"Weasley? Why not Potter? As much as I hate to ask," Draco exclaimed.

"I like him better," Lorraine responded nonchalantly. "That and he's a blabber mouth on most occasions. He really is a sweetheart though. He's a boy, of course, so he's full of that lovely boyish charm that I so despise, but he's just...innocent, I suppose. Sweet and innocent. You should've seen him when he got an old dress robe from his mother! It was hilarious," she rambled, laughing at the thought of the boy's face when Hermione told him what they were.

"What, is this your way of telling me that you like him?"

She scrunched her face up and looked at him, completely baffled at his words. "Draco, when did I ever say that? First Cedric and now Ron? What on earth gives you these ideas?"

"Don't think I didn't pick up that you say Ron instead of Weasley," he grumbled, unlinking his arm and settling on crossing his arms against his chest instead. The sight elicited a scoff from Lorraine.

"I'll have you know that your petulant attitude won't get you anywhere with me," she snapped. "I might be work-driven but I know when to have fun, you...you child! I was willing to go to the Ball with you over Ron if you had offered and gotten over your stupid prejudices! A-And now you're pestering me about my own personal affairs, like my affection for others?!"

"Lorraine?" Ron called, walking over to the two with furrowed eyebrows and eyes full of concern. "Is everything okay?"

"Everything's just fine, Weasley. You can piss off now," Draco snapped. Lorraine let out a frustrated groan.

"Piss off yourself, Malfoy! J-Just go! Who I like is my own business, so if you're going to be a nosy asshole, you can piss off!" she cried out, grabbing Ron's hand before storming off. She was practically marinating in anger, completely unaware of the blushing mess beside her that was staring at their intertwined hands.

"How much of that did you catch?" she said through gritted teeth, plonking herself down on a seat in the courtyard with her hand still unknowingly holding his.

"S-Something about prejudices and-and affection...I-I don't even remember," Ron sputtered, too shocked to even move his hand out of her own. At the sound of his stuttering, she looked at him and calmed herself. It was then she noticed his hand in hers. She chuckled at that and let go, bringing the limb down onto her lap.

"You're quite adorable if I do say so myself, Ron," she mused, patting the space beside her. "A girl holds your hand and you're a complete mess, huh?"

"I-I...they-" he stuttered, completely at a loss for words as he sat down before his legs gave out.

"Don't hold your hand much? I figured as much." Ron scoffed loudly in response.

"Oh, sod off, Lorraine."

The two took one look at each other before they erupted into chuckles and laughs.