Break it Up (Ron Weasley)

23. Fake Break Up

Once we arrived back at school, I immediately took off and headed for my room. I couldn't wait to finally be alone.

But someone grabbed my hand. I turned around to see Ron, his face concerned.

"We need to talk," he said sternly.

I didn't respond. I just crossed my arms and waited for him to start speaking.

"I think we should stop with the plan," he confessed.

I threw my arms up in the air. "Oh no! I'm so upset! We're breaking up!" I mocked a little too loudly. People began to turn their heads to look at us.

"Y/n, be quiet," Ron said leaning towards me in a hushed voice.

But I was just getting started. "Oh, I'm sorry. Did you not want anyone to hear about your plan to get in a fake relationship with me to break up Cedric and Hermione?" I yelled even louder.

The room fell silent. Everyone was looking at us. Including Hermione and Cedric, who appeared to have been studying together. Perfect.

Ron didn't reply. His face just turned red. Hermione and Cedric slowly approached us.

"What are you talking about?" Hermione asked. You could hear the hurt in her voice.

Ron said nothing. He just looked shamefully down at his shoes.

Cedric turned to me. "What are you talking about?" he snapped.

For some reason, I didn't even care anymore. I didn't care about what anyone thought about me. I didn't care if I had hurt anyone, including my best friend. I guess I had finally adopted Ron's essence of not giving a fuck.

"Ron and I developed a plan to start a fake relationship in order to break you guys up," I admitted.

Their faces twisted into confusion and hurt. "How would that break us up?" Hermione asked quietly. The crowd was gathering around us.

"Seeing you and Cedric together made both Ron and I jealous," I explained. "We thought the two of you seeing us would have the same effect."

Both of them could do nothing but look back and forth between me and Ron.

"So now you know," I said, dropping my hands against my sides before storming out of the room.

I felt numb on my way back to my own room. There were no tears. No lump in my throat. Just plain anger.

I was angry at Ron for what he did last night. I was angry at him for getting me involved in the stupid plan to begin with. I was angry at myself for agreeing.

But most of all, I was angry at myself for loving Ron. How could I have let myself do that when the whole time I knew he was chasing after someone else? I couldn't help but cringe at my stupidity and foolishness.

I laid back on my bed and closed my eyes. I didn't even bother getting ready. I just needed the day to end as quickly as possible.

As my eyes shut, I couldn't help but replay the look on Cedric and Hermione's faces. They both looked so hurt by our actions. We had caused that.

The guilt twanged in my chest. I was never good with any type of conflict, and I had basically just caused all of it in the middle of the Gryffindor common room.

I kept tossing and turning. I felt sick to my stomach. Guilt was most definitely not a good look on me.

After many unpleasant hours passed of unsuccessfully trying to fall asleep, I decided to get up and walk around. It was so late, I'm sure no one would be up.

I was wrong.

As I made my way to the Great Hall, a familiar voice called out my name. I turned to see blonde hair and and icy cold stare.

"I heard about you and Weaselby. I knew it wasn't true," Draco snorted, walking over to me with his head held high.

"Whatever, Draco. You telling me 'I told you so' is the last thing I need right now," I retorted, pushing past him.

"And all to break up Granger and Diggory. I thought Hufflepuffs were supposed to be all nice and sweet," he shot while smirking.

I rolled my eyes and didn't say anything.

"All because you like Diggory, huh?" he jeered, getting closer to my face.

"I don't," I shot back.

"Then why'd you do it?"

"Because. I did like Cedric. But now," I sighed and looked away from Draco's face.

"Now you actually like Weaselby?" he snorted.

I didn't meet his eyes. I couldn't.

Why was I even telling Draco this? Why couldn't I just have pretended to still like Cedric?

He just laughed. "So you got in a fake relationship with him? That's rather stupid if you ask me," he shot, laughing more.

I didn't know how to respond. I kept staring at the ground. I had run out of my energy to yell at people today. Instead I pushed past him and began to quicken my pace.

"Wait!" he called from behind me. I stopped and furiously hit my hands against my sides. "What are you going to do now?" he asked.

"I don't know," I spat.

"If you want, I'll fake date you to make him jealous," Draco teased.

"Good one," I answered unamused.

He just laughed to himself and sauntered off.

Yes, what a great way to get my mind of things. Talk to Draco about my feelings.

As I began to walk away, I heard my name called from behind me once more. I was starting to get fed up.

"What!" I exclaimed, turning around to see who was calling me this time. It was Ginny.

"Sorry," she said, running over to catch up with me. "I take it you couldn't sleep?"

I shook my head and she sighed loudly.

"I saw what happened," she said.

"Ginny, I'm sorry for lying to you," I apologized, not even knowing where to begin.

"You didn't really lie. You do actually love him," she stated.

I looked down at my feet.

"And I do really think he loves you too."

"Then why did he stop in the middle of kissing me and call it a mistake!" I exclaimed.

Ginny looked taken aback. "He what?"

I explained all of the previous nights events to her as she just listened in shock.

"Of course he would do that. He's an idiot," she scoffed after I finished the story.

"Yeah, he is. But I also think he made it very clear that he's not in love with me," I replied. "He may not be able to take a hint, but I sure can."

"He's just bad at dealing with emotions," Ginny said, trying to prove her point. "I think he really does love you."

I needed to stop getting my hopes up time after time. I couldn't let myself believe it. I looked over at Ginny who seemed so hopeful for the two of us and cracked a small smile.

We arrived at the Hufflepuff rooms and Ginny stood there for a second. "Trust me, y/n, don't count my brother out yet," she advised, and I waved goodbye.

I slipped back into my room and sighed deeply. I climbed back into bed and closed my eyes, drifting off into a restless and uneven sleep.