What If I Stayed?

~Chapter Two~

Ron's POV

As Hermione and I ate dinner that evening, my mind began to wander. I began thinking about what it would be like if I weren't with Hermione. I could finally start working at the joke shop with George. Hermione thought it was dumb that I wanted to do that. I could also drink as many firewiskeys as I wanted and never have to clean up the bottles. And don't even get me started about how I would never have to worry about doing laundry ever again.
"Ron!"
I looked up
"What?"
"I asked you how work is going."
"Um. I don't know. Fine, I guess."
Hermione scowled. "What kind of answer is that?"
"What do you expect? I file papers all day, it's a blast. You're the secretary for the Minister of Magic, you do all the fun stuff."
"This is because of Percy being the Minister, isn't it? You do this all the time!"
"Do what? I couldn't care less what my stupid brother does."
With this, I chucked a potato slice at Hermione and stormed away.

Lavender's POV

I sat at the fireplace, reading the latest People magazine.
"Omg! Willow, did you know Brad and Angelina are breaking up again?"
Willow gave me a disdainful look before she resumed licking herself.
I sighed. How long would this loneliness go on?
Suddenly, I heard a tap on my window. There, shivering in the rain, was an owl, carrying a letter that was most likely addressed to me.
Opening the window, I wrapped the owl in a towel and offered him a mouse that Miffy had conveniently just brought to my feet.
I turned my attention to the letter.
Dear Lavender,
Since we saw each other, I haven't been able to stop thinking about you. I mean, like, not in a weird way, but I guess like, 'lol it's been a while since I saw her last' kind of way. Well, what I'm trying to say is we should catch up. I can tell you about my glamorous job as a broom license filer, and you can tell me about your cats and stuff. So I hope you say yes. Yeah. Ok see you
                                         -Ron
I giggled. He had such a way with words.
Immediately, I said yes. I couldn't wait.

Ron's POV

I nervously waited for Lavender at the little cafe that sat within the Ministry of Magic. Was she going to think I'm weird? Would she scoff at my unpopular opinions about lettuce?
Then I saw her. It was as if someone had made the world go slow motion. Wavy, brown-blonde hair bounced around her pale face, which was smiling dreamily at either me or the large picture of a mocha latte behind me.
"Hey," she said.
"Hot. I mean hey! Hi. Hello."
Lavender sat down across from me.
"So."
"So," I replied.
"How are you?"
"Great, now that you're here."
She frowned in confusion.
"Because I'm exited to catch up! Because we're friends! Friends." I coughed.
She giggled. "Well, I'm glad to see you too, Ron."
We ordered our coffees and I got us a large chocolate cupcake to share. I wanted it to seem like I wasn't drowning in debt.
"So tell me about your classy job of filing broom licenses," Lavender said at last.
"Oh, it's a hoot. I look at the name of the license-ee, and put it in alphabetical order with the rest of the papers. And I've done the same thing every day. For five years."
She looked at me sympathetically.
"That's rough."
"Yeah," I said. I glanced around, and leaned in close to her. "Do you know what I really want to do?" I whispered.
"Tell me," she whispered back.
"I want to work with my brother at his joke shop. You know, Weasley's Wizard Wheezes."
"Wow, Ron, that sounds really cool! Why don't you do that?" Lavender exclaimed.
I sighed. "Hermione thinks it's a stupid idea."
Lavender suddenly looked downcast.
"Oh."
We sat in silence for a while.
"Well, I don't think it's a stupid idea."
I looked at her. "You don't?"
"No!" said Lavender. "And if you want to do that, I think you should, no matter what anyone says."
Well, that just warmed the cockles of my heart. Or it made me really happy.
"Thanks," I said.
She smiled.
We finished our drinks, and began to part ways. Lavender turned to me.
"I had a really good time. I hope we can meet again soon."
With this, she kissed me on the cheek, and went towards a kiosk selling cat keychains.
I stood frozen to the floor.
What a woman.