What If I Stayed?

~Chapter three~

Ron's POV

Over the next few days I couldn't stop thinking about Lavender. She was just so... different. School-girl Lavender was giggly and dramatic, while adult Lavender was insightful and modest.
I woke up on Saturday dreading the hours to come. Saturdays were the worst. On good days Hermione and I would say maybe two full sentences to each other, on bad days we would argue about stupid stuff like politics and how I don't comb my hair.
Today, Hermione was already up. I sleepily stumbled into the kitchen to meet the smell of muffins baking in the oven.
"So you're actually awake," Hermione commented disdainfully.
"Wuh?"
She frowned at me. "It's almost noon. I thought you might never wake up."
"How is that a problem? You don't like it when I'm awake either."
"Ugh!" Hermione sighed, and turned back to her baking.
There was a fresh batch of muffins on the counter. I reached for one, but before my fingers touched the top, Hermione slapped my hand back.
"Hey!"
"These are for Ginny's bake sale, you nitwit. I told you last night!"
"Can't I have one?" I whined.
"Ask your potbelly," Hermione snapped.
Hurt, I pouted over to the couch and turned on the tv. I flipped to the quidditch station, a channel only accessible by magic, and started watching the game. Hermione glared at me, but I ignored her.
After three hours, I got hungry.
"Hey Hermione can you make me a sandwich?"
There was no reply, so I looked up. I realized that Hermione must have already gone out to the bake sale.
Sighing, I dragged myself off the couch and into the kitchen. While I was trying to remember where we kept the Nutella, an owl soared through the open window and landed on my head.
I recognized it as the owl Lavender had used to to send me her first letter.
Eagerly, I opened the letter.
Ron-
I wanted to enjoy this lovely day by going to the park, and I was wondering if you wanted to accompany me. I get lonely on my walks sometimes because my cats don't like being on leashes.
-Sincerely, Lavender
Normally, I don't like going on walks, or going outside in general, but Lavender made it sound so appealing. I accepted her invitation, and soon I found myself outside, standing in a public park.
I felt a tap on my shoulder. I turned around, and there she was.

Lavender's POV

I smiled at Ron.
"Long time no see," I said.
"Uh, right back at you," Ron replied.
I pointed to the playground. "Wanna go over there?"
Ron shrugged. "Ok."
We headed over. "I always like to watch the kids play."
Ron squinted at me uncertainly. "Um, what?"
"No, not in a weird way! I just don't have any kids if my own to watch, so I come here."
"Oh. So you want kids," Ron said.
"Absolutely. What about you?"
"Well, I mean, Hermione and I have talked about it, but she says kids are too messy."
Hermione. There she was again, in our conversations. It was like Ron couldn't have any of his own opinions, out of fear of being punished by her or something.
"Well, what about you? I mean, just you?"
Ron shrugged. "I don't really know."
I decided to drop the subject.
"So, do you have any hobbies?" I asked.
"I like to watch quidditch. Er, what about you?"
"Well, I like to knit, and craft, and of course I like to play the ukulele," I said. I'm always one for expressing my hobbies.
"I didn't know you played ukulele," Ron said.
"I mean, I didn't really pick it up until after Hogwarts."
Ron smiled sheepishly at me. "I think that's really cool, though. You'll have to play me some songs sometime."
I grinned back at him. "It's a deal."

A/N: wow yee boys we're actually staying with this one. Just in case you're wondering, the next few chapters of I Wish That Boy Was Mine are scheduled to come out sometime in the following week. Also thanks for all the support on that book and this one. It really means beans to us