— The Scholar And Her Knight

RWatHT - Chapter 19: Preparing for Battle

Just a mere three days after the random medical examination, Ron felt himself becoming less anxious. It was the first day of June, and even though Ron was still preparing for his O.W.L.s, the Tournament, and making sure to keep his prefect duties up to the standard, his friends seemed to lighten the weight on his shoulders. As he ate breakfast alongside Harry, and Ginny the founders stood up to give the Great Hall an announcement.

“Everyone,” Hufflepuff said excitedly. “We have an announcement to make. One we are sure you will like.”

“Some of them,” Slytherin mumbled so only Gryffindor heard, the red-headed wizard stifled a small laugh.

“In anticipation of the Tournament we have prepared the Hogwarts Ball for all of you!” Hufflepuff announced. “A special opportunity for all of the houses to socialise and connect further, and for your Champions to enjoy a moment of rest as the Tournament quickly approaches every day. Students from all houses Year 4 and forth, will be able to attend. As well, any Year 3 students who are personally invited by a student attending the ball.”

The hall was mixed with different reactions. Some fourth years who had been unable to go to the Yule Ball looked excited, like Colin Creevey who jumped in his seat looking around perhaps for a possible date. Others looked simply happy for the opportunity, Cedric was smiling at Tamsin Applebee who seemed to blush. Others looked worried, perhaps for what they were going to wear, who they were going to take, or how they were going to look by the time of the event. Neville was one of them as he looked desperately at Ginny, his date for the Yule Ball last year, who instead chatted with Katie Bell excitedly.

“The Ball shall take place the 14th of June,” Ravenclaw announced. “Five days before the Hogwarts Tournament, so be prepared. Champions should also be aware they are to entertain their fellow students and the faculty members with a show of their magic.”

Ron, and Daphne groaned, Cedric looked thoughtful, and Luna looked excited. 

“You are more than allowed to owl your families for your dress robes, or in the case that you have not bought them Lady Hufflepuff and myself will attend to your needs.” Slytherin explained. “However, remember we are teachers. Not your personal tailors.”

“Good luck to you all,” Gryffindor called. “More than anything, the gentlemen.”

He and Slytherin proceeded to laugh, with Ravenclaw admonishing her husband.

Ron had already decided on going back to his dorm to take a well deserved nap with some dreamless potion, but as he finished his breakfast and walked back to his dorm, his mind was plagued by insecurity. 

‘A ball,’ Ron thought desperately. ‘Why did it have to be a ball? Why couldn’t it be another demonstration match? I could handle one of those. Asking out a girl? No way, that is out of the question. Maybe Harry could ask someone for me again? Oh that’s pathetic, Weasley’

His mind raced with memories from last year. His fight with Hermione, and the subsequent awkwardness after the event. He thanked Merlin for the fact that his girl best friend was in the library at the time of the announcement. 

‘I mean,’ his mind continued. ‘She did tell me that I should invite her the next time there was a ball.’

‘Don’t be an idiot,’ another voice told him. ‘Why in the bloody hell would she want to go with you?’

Maybe, he was getting his hopes up. He sighed as he arrived at the Gryffindor Common Room, he picked up a nearby magazine and began reading it out of boredom. He absentmindedly flipped each page, as he felt himself being watched. He turned his head curiously around the Gryffindor Common Room, for some reason feeling as if the person staring at him had just vanished. He went back to the magazine, before leaving it aside, missing as a blonde head of hair rushed back up the stairs to the girl’s dorm.

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Comment on fanfics

A few days back on AO3 I found an unfinished, two chapter spideypool fanfic that was cute and had lots of potential and was also last updated two years ago. Two whole years! And it had only three comments, all of which on chapter one, none on chapter two. I enjoyed the fanfic, despite it being far, FAR from being finished and the chance of it ever updating again anytime soon was just about zero. So you know what I did?

I wrote a damn comment. On chapter two.

And I made sure that fucker was long and had a small theory of where I think the author would take the fanfic in the future. I let the person behind the fic know that I friggin LOVED the two chapters I got to read! That I would LOVE to see more! That I’d jump out of my skin in happiness and virtually hug them half to death if I saw that they updated it.

Let me remind you this fic wasn’t updated in two YEARS! I was the first to comment on it in a year. And the first to comment on chapter two! And you know what happened today?

I got a reply.

From the author of the fanfic. And the author said how I gave them life for a project they had loved (still did) and that they were now working on a third chapter. After two YEARS of not updating. Of not writing. And it makes me so friggin happy seeing what I did. What I caused.

With a single. Damn. Comment.

All that it took for me was to think a bit about what I wanted to tell the author and the comment it. All it took was one comment. And suddenly this person was inspired to continue a fanfic they had abandoned for TWO YEARS!!

I couldn’t be happier. I couldn’t be more proud.

Comment on people’s fanfics. No matter how few chapters there are. No matter how many years have passed since their last update. Comment. You like a fanfic? Comment on it. It’s that easy.

This... Just this!

I always felt like out of the Golden Trio, only Harry and Ron's friendship was the most balanced. On the other hand, in Harry and Hermione's friendship, Harry doesn't do much for Hermione as much as Hermione does for him. For Romione, It's Ron who always puts the most effort in the relationship with Hermione while she hardly reciprocates equally back. Please send to vivithefolle and I really am a fan of her Ron analyses.

yes, I completely agree with you!

@vivithefolle hi, someone wanted you to see this :)

AO3 Account Help

I’ve been trying to get an AO3 account for the past 7 months to no avail. Can someone help me? Is there something I’m missing?

reception at the Ministry of Magic

RWaHT - Chapter 11: Beating Flaming Hearts

“H-Helena?” Gryffindor breathed out, and Ron felt suddenly uncomfortable being in the same room as the two. The Grey Lady seemed like she had been the one to stare at a ghost, but Ron saw as her eyes suddenly filled with silver tears and she floated away. Gryffindor seemed rooted to his spot as if he had been petrified in his place, but something seemed to shake him off from his daze.

“Helena, wait!” Gryffindor said as he reached out to the Grey Lady, but it was too late by the time he had taken his first step she had rounded the corner and passed through the ceiling above.

Ron’s master had a face of pure rejection and grief, Gryffindor sank down to his knees as his head bowed down in defeat. Ron looked around checking for anyone that could be nearby, seeing no one he walked to Gryffindor’s side. Gryffindor looked heartbroken, he wore a similar expression to the one Ron had sometimes spotted on Sirius’ expression whenever his time at Azkaban was mentioned, or Harry’s parents.

Gryffindor was tall, taller even than Ron’s father who was the tallest adult, besides Hagrid, he’d ever met. His large body made it hard for Ron to find a way to sit down without looking like a midget. Still he stayed by his side as he stared down at the floor like a defeated man. He turned his head and looked at Ron giving the young Weasley a strained smile he ruffled Ron with his large hand and looked at him amusedly.

“You need a haircut, ginger cub,” he said. He stood up to his full height, cleaned invisible dust off Ron’s shoulders and cleared his throat. “Well, I think I’ll go to sleep tonight. Make sure you rest, Ron. Good night.”

“Master Gryffindor?” but Gryffindor was already walking away, a somber aura surrounding him as he walked the halls of Hogwarts alone. Ron looked at the retreating figure of his mentor and tried to follow him, but as soon as he took a step in his trail Gryffindor’s voice boomed across the hallway.

“Go back to your dorm and forget about it, Ronald,” it was intimidating, like a lion who could talk instead of roar, but Ron only looked at his mentor as he walked away. Ron debated going back to the Common Room as Gryffindor suggested, but instead he followed his mentor as he roamed the halls of Hogwarts. The cold night offered no warmth for Ron, yet he didn’t mind it. Gryffindor had comforted him when he had made a fool of himself in his first Quidditch Match, trying to help him was the least he could do.

He followed him to the training room where Ron could see that Gryffindor had sat down on a chair with his head in his hands. The older wizard seemed exhausted, like someone who’d just gone through a war, and Ron wouldn’t be surprised if he had. Gryffindor lifted his head, and Ron froze in his spot, the older wizard sighed and conjured a second chair giving Ron the hint to sit down.

Gryffindor had taken off his gloves and rolled up the sleeves of his top leaving his numerous scars out in the open. It was haunting the amount he had, some were so disturbingly complex that they almost looked like tattoos, and Ron wondered to himself what kind of magic could do that.

“Magic that can kill you,” Gryffindor almost growled, his voice seemed raspy as if he had just let out a scream and had lost his voice. The two stayed silent, Ron trying his best to keep his mind blank so that Gryffindor couldn’t read it.

“Master?” Gryffindor hummed, signaling Ron to ask the question he knew the young boy had.

“Are you alright?”

——————————————————————————————————

Gryffindor clearly hadn’t expected that, but he still managed to hide his surprise. What was he supposed to say? Yes, I’m alright young Ronald, I’ve only seen the ghost of my daughter for the first time because believe it or not I’m actually the most cowardly man you have ever met. He rubbed his eyes trying very hard to extinguish the tears before they even threatened to escape his eyes. Gryffindor shook his head.

Ron only nodded and stayed silent. Something gnawed at his mind, and Gryffindor must have underestimated his mind skills, because even though he knew Ron wanted to desperately ask something he wouldn’t reveal what it was, no matter what.

Gryffindor didn’t know how long the two had stayed like that. Almost frozen in time as his thoughts dwelled on Helena. She hadn’t changed, not one bit. A mirror of his mother in every single way from her black eyes to her sleek black hair and pale skin. He couldn’t have been more proud when he was born, because even when she looked almost nothing like him except for her freckles she was everything he could ever hope for in a daughter.

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Hermione at the Yule Ball

You’ll never be what is in your h e a r t. 

peace. (post-war)