Try, Try Again

Ron woke up early Sunday morning. He'd hardly slept knowing Hermione would return in a few hours. He wanted to see her before anyone else had the chance to ask her.

It didn't take long for him to get ready. After he'd finished, he found Neville awake in their room.

"What are you doing?"

"Exercising."

Ron watched him for a few moments. "What for?"

"To stay in shape for the tournament."

Ron made a sour face. It was always about the tournament with Neville. Not just Neville, but everyone. All anyone cared about was the tournament and the champions in the tournament. No one cared about school anymore. What was the point of getting good marks if it didn't matter to anyone?

He stepped around Neville and stormed off downstairs. Hermione always cared. She was the only one that cared how he did until he started taking Muggle Studies. Now he could talk to his dad about his job. Just like Hermione had said.

Ron took out some work to do while he waited in the common room. He figured it'd look good if Hermione found him doing classwork.

After 30 minutes, the only sound he'd heard was Neville jumping around in the stairwell.

"How much longer?" Ron muttered.

He glanced at the girls' dorms. Where were they? Could he go up and check? Something about it felt wrong, but he recalled the girls being allowed in their rooms (according to Charlie, that was a gift that shouldn't be squandered).

Ron checked the clock again. Curfew ended in 10 minutes, and there was still no sign of Hermione or Rose. Had Rose forgotten? They'd hardly seen her all week. What if she had forgotten?

"You're up early."

Ron turned and saw Harry at the foot of their stairwell.

"Just… thought I'd get some work done," Ron said.

"You're lying."

"Am not!"

"Your voice sort of cracks when you lie," Harry said. "Ginny's does too."

"Does not!"

"Fine."

Harry sat down next to him on the couch.

"I always liked weekend mornings," Harry said. "No one else around."

"Rose was supposed to be here with Hermione."

Ron crammed his work in his pack as hard as he could. The thought of shoving Rose inside with it and closing his pack crossed his mind.

"Right, she comes back today."

Harry smiled, in direct opposition to Ron's mood.

"It'll be nice to see her again."

Ron glared at him.

"What's that mean?"

"It means I miss my friend." He frowned. "What's wrong with you today?"

"I'm fine," Ron said through gritted teeth.

He and Harry sat without making eye contact for the next few minutes. Harry kept his gaze fixated on the clock. The moment it struck the end of curfew, he stood up.

"I'm going to get breakfast. You coming?"

"No."

Harry muttered something he couldn't make out.

"What?"

"Nothing. Just thinking aloud."

Harry left the common room. Being a Sunday, that left Ron alone until the rest of the students woke up. Fortunately for him, the first student down was Sally-Anne.

"Good morning, Ron. I trust you slept well?"

"Fine."

Sally-Anne's smile vanished. "Is something the matter?"

"Where's Rose?"

"Oh. I see." Sally-Anne took a seat beside him where Harry had sat not 15 minutes ago. "She hasn't arrived yet?"

"She said she'd get Hermione this morning!"

Ron glared at the fireplace. When he turned back to Sally-Anne, she was tapping her ear.

"I'm sure it's fine," she said softly. "There's no need to be so angry."

"Doesn't Rose realize other people want to see Hermione too?"

"I'm… sure she does, but you know Rose is busy with the tasks. She's got more to do than to cater to our whims, Ron."

"She promised!"

"And I'm sure Hermione is just as anxious to get back as you are to see her."

"Everyone else is more important," Ron muttered.

"What was that, Ronald?"

"Never mind," he said. He got up from the couch. "It doesn't matter."

"Where are you going?"

"None of your business!"

Ron stormed out of the common room. He didn't care if Hermione came back. It wasn't like she was going to say "yes" even he did ask her.

Neville paced around his room for a time. Rose's deadline was almost up, and he was no closer to finding a date for the ball. Why did he have to be required to have one? Why did Rose have to be going with someone else? Most importantly, who was it?

He happened to glance at the clock and saw that he could leave Gryffindor Tower. Neville grabbed his pack and made his way downstairs.

He found one person in the common room. That was the upside of being an early riser: no one was up that early on a Sunday.

"Good morning, Neville." Sally-Anne was just as cheerful as she was any other time of the day. "Did you sleep well?"

"I'm fine, but I think something's bothering Ron."

"I know, he was just here."

Neville nodded. Some small part of him wanted to check on his friend, but the rest of him was too busy worrying about the ball.

"Everything alright?"

Neville looked around the common room, then tapped his ear.

"Not really," he said resignedly. "I've got to have a date to the ball, but… It's not fair."

"Tell me about it," she muttered.

Neville knew he didn't hear that right. How could Sally-Anne not have a date to the ball either? She was Sally-Anne! She had to be the most popular girl in Hogwarts.

"What?" he asked.

"Nothing. Isn't there someone you want to go with? I'm sure any girl in school would be happy to have you as a date."

Neville shook his head. "I already asked… well…"

"Rose?"

Neville felt a pang of embarrassment. His face grew hot.

"Erm…"

"It's alright. I know you like her, despite her… quirks."

"I guess I do, but… she's going with someone else."

"What?" Sally-Anne's sudden tone shift caught him off guard. "She's going with someone? Who?"

"I don't know. I wish I did, but… it doesn't matter."

Sally-Anne smiled at him.

"Like I told Harry: Just because she's going with someone else, doesn't mean she can't also like you."

"I guess, but… now I've got to have a date. I can't just go alone."

"It's alright, just ask someone."

An idea struck him, and he acted on it.

"Sally-Anne, would–"

"As flattered as I am that you'd ask me out of desperation, why not someone you'd like to go with instead? What about Sophie?"

"Sophie's nice, but… I don't know, she's just…"

"Not Rose?"

Neville found himself at a loss for words.

"If you like Rose's… personality, if you can call it that, why not Ginny? She still hasn't got a date, considering she scares off half the boys that would ask her, and the other half can't get past her brothers. Besides, I think you'd like her if you ever thought of girls apart from Rose."

"I don't just think about her!" Neville protested.

"I'm only saying, it might not be a good idea to pine away for her," Sally-Anne said.

"Thanks, Sally-Anne."

"It's what I'm here for."

Neville turned to leave, then turned back to Sally-Anne. "What about you? Have you got someone?"

"That's a long story. The short version is not exactly."

He had heard her right. How was that possible?

"That's—"

Before he could get to the bottom of it, two more students arrived.

"Sorry we're late," Hermione said. "Dad wanted to go over the rules one more time."

"Weren't you supposed to be here an hour ago?" Neville asked.

Hermione glared at Rose. "Yes. I believe we were."

"It's possible that I lost track of time," Rose said simply. "I don't know why you're complaining! It's not like anyone's awake yet!"

"Ron's gone," Sally-Anne said, "and if I know Harry, he left half an hour ago."

"Ron's awake already?" Hermione asked. She glanced at the clock. "Really? He always slept in over the summer."

"Never mind that," Sally-Anne said. "Why don't we all go and get some breakfast?"

Ron sat with Harry at the Gryffindor table. They were the only two Gryffindors down early. Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw were well represented, and even a few Slytherins were awake. Apparently, Gryffindor was the only house that believed in sleeping in over the weekend.

"Do the other houses just hate sleep?" Ron asked.

"Maybe they just want to eat breakfast," Harry replied. "We probably all wake up early because we're afraid of being attacked at any moment."

Ron tried to think of something else to do. If Hermione wasn't going to show up, then he needed to find something else. What was there?

"I hate that they cancelled Quidditch," he said. "I mean, you've got the whole teaching thing, but—"

"There's not a lot of flying involved," Harry said. "Not nearly as much as Quidditch anyway."

"This was gonna be my year, too!"

Harry grinned at him.

"Gonna replace Wood?"

"Thinking about it," Ron replied noncommittally.

"Make sure you practice. Gryffindor only accepts the best."

Ron scowled at him. He was good enough to be on the team! Harry wasn't one to talk; he'd been accepted during their first year. He'd never even heard of Quidditch!

A distraction came in the form of more students entering the Great Hall. When Ron looked up, he saw his friends.

Most importantly, he saw Hermione.

His heart sped up. His mind went blank. Ron tried desperately to think of what he was going to say, but he got nothing.

He watched Sally-Anne and Neville walk over to them and sit down. Hermione took a detour to the Hufflepuff table.

I should've known.

"Don't worry," Sally-Anne muttered, "he's already got a date."

Ron stared at Hermione as she smiled and laughed with Cedric. A vortex of emotions swirled inside his head. He wanted her to sit with them, to leave Cedric alone. What was so special about Cedric, anyway?

He's the star of the Hufflepuff Quidditch team, he's in first place in the tournament…

His internal voice was right. He didn't compare to Cedric, Neville, even Harry.

It doesn't matter.

"Here she comes," Sally-Anne whispered.

Ron looked up and saw Hermione heading back to their table. He looked away when she sat down.

"Hello, Ron. You're up early."

Ron shrugged.

"Quiet again?" she asked. "You hardly talked last time I was here."

"Did I?"

"Yeah. It was a little worrying, actually. Everything alright?"

You called me Mudblood!

Ron froze again. If he opened his mouth, he'd screw it all up. Just like last time.

"Fine," he scoffed.

Hermione turned her attention to Sally-Anne. The two talked about this or that for a time. Every so often, Sally-Anne would direct a question at Ron. When she did, he'd nod or mumble some response.

When the mail came, an owl dropped a letter in front of Sally-Anne. It drew her attention, so Hermione turned hers to Neville.

Of course, Ron thought. Everyone's obsessed with Neville the Champion.

"Everything alright?" Harry asked Sally-Anne.

Ron glanced at her. She frowned at her letter.

"Fine," she said. She tucked the letter into her pack. "It's nothing to trouble any of you with."

Ron returned to his breakfast. He'd be just as good as Neville in the tournament. He was sure of it. Why did everyone think Neville was so special?

I'm just as good as he is, Ron thought. And I'm going to prove it.

After breakfast, Sally-Anne wandered the corridors deep in thought. She didn't need a date for the ball, but she still felt bad about sitting on potential matches for Harry. Alex's letter that morning had only made things worse.

Dear Sally-Anne,

I'm disappointed in you. You've got three options, and you chose the worst of the three. If Harry's looking for a date, suggest he ask you. It can just be as friends if you're still nervous about telling him. Otherwise, point him in the direction of someone he'll enjoy going with.

Instead of owning up to your feelings, you took the coward's way out and keep deflecting people from him. You think the Sorting Hat sorts you at random? You're a Gryffindor! I know you can be brave, and this is embarrassing. You knew Cho was taken when you told him about her. That's what I can't believe. You sabotaged your own friend. I've seen a lot of sides of you, but selfish was never one of them.

Own up to your feelings, or accept an offer from someone that won't keep passing you by for another girl. It's your choice, Princess. Either way, please tell me how it goes.

Lots of Love,

Alex

Sally-Anne read it over again. She hated herself, but didn't know what else to do.

She looked up when she heard voices ahead of her, but noticed another person in the corridor with her. As quietly as she could, Sally-Anne crept up behind her and gently tapped her shoulder.

Ellie turned around and her eyes went wide.

"It's okay," Sally-Anne signed. "I won't give you away."

Ellie glared at her.

"I can hear just fine."

"So can Max and Hannah, so if I speak, they'll know you're here." Sally-Anne nodded towards the empty corridor. "Want to talk about it?"

"No."

"There's a boy I like that doesn't realize I exist half the time either."

"Max knows I exist!"

Even though Ellie didn't speak, Sally-Anne knew she would be screaming at her if she could.

"The boy I like knows I exist too, but he's not going to ask me to the ball either." She nodded towards the corridor again. "Please?"

Ellie folded her arms and followed Sally-Anne.

"Thank you," Sally-Anne whispered. "I'm sorry about Max, but these things happen. There are other boys."

"No, there aren't. Other boys look at me like idiots. They can't understand me."

"Of course."

"Besides, I hate dancing. It's like holding hands or hugging; I just feel suffocated."

Sally-Anne nodded. "Of course, you can't sign when you're dancing."

"Obviously."

The answer occurred to Sally-Anne at that moment. The answer to her problem, Ellie's problem, and Harry's problem. A pain materialized inside her chest. A year ago, she'd have started crying.

It's for the best.

"I… I know a boy who doesn't have a date, and, most importantly, can read lips."

Ellie froze. The angry expression on her face vanished.

"Really?"

"I can't make any promises, but I'm sure he'd be happy to go with you."

"Really?"

"Really."

Ellie jumped up and down. She reminded Sally-Anne of Ginny when she was excited.

"Thank you! Sally-Anne, you're the best!"

"I… I try."

Sally-Anne started the long walk to Gryffindor Tower. She hoped she'd find Harry there. She didn't know if she'd keep her resolve long enough if he wasn't.

After dinner, Ron snuck out of the castle. He took off across the grounds, keeping close to the Forbidden Forest so he wouldn't attract attention. The sun was down, so no one would see him unless they were looking for him. A few minutes later, he arrived at the arena in which the first task had been held.

He ran around the outside, ignoring the burning in his lungs. After the second time around, he confirmed that there were no entrances to the arena.

"It could be open above," he muttered. He looked up, but couldn't see much in the dark. He risked getting caught if he used his wand to see, so he decided against it.

Don't know how I'm going to see when I get in, but I'll worry about that after I've got in.

Ron looked around, hoping for something helpful. He didn't expect Rose would've left a sign saying "This way to get in", pointing to a staircase, but he hoped.

Maybe I can propel myself over the top.

Ron fired a Scattering Hex at the ground. His hex flung him into the air. He tried to spin in midair, but couldn't get himself around in time.

CRACK!

He slammed into the side of the arena. His body bounced off, then he landed in a heap on the ground.

"Ow," he groaned. "That didn't work."

Ron picked himself up, then assessed the situation again.

It's harder than I thought to turn in midair.

He looked up and down the arena again. It was pointless; he couldn't climb over, and he didn't want to risk injuring himself too badly before he got in.

"One more time," he said. "I'll try once more, then try something else."

Once again, Ron threw a Scattering Hex at the ground. This time, he was able to turn around in time and fire another one before he hit the wall. The second one sent him flying away from the arena, but still higher in the air. Ron twisted in midair again and fired another Scattering Hex. This one flung him back towards the arena, and gave him just enough time to grab the ledge.

His hand slipped the moment he caught hold of it. Ron threw another Scattering Hex beneath his feet. He soared through the air, sailing over the wall.

I did it! He was so excited that he nearly whooped for joy. I can't believe it!

As the top of the arena came into view, he realized that Rose had sealed it off. Worse yet, he was about to crash into it.

Crab apples!

Ron braced himself to land on it, but instead of landing, he fell straight through it.

"What?" He twisted and looked back up. "It wasn't real?"

He looked back down and saw faint outlines of the arena below him.

"Arresto Momentum!"

He landed gently on the seats around the arena. He stood up and used his wand for some light.

"Alright, then," he said, feeling rather pleased with himself. "That wasn't so bad."

Ron looked out into the arena. A lonely orb sat in the middle of the Triwizard Tournament emblem. Apart from the lack of people, it looked just like it had nearly a month ago.

"Right." He hopped over the edge again, then threw another spell to slow his descent. He stood up, then took aim at the orb.

"Depulso!"

Nothing happened.

"I suppose that would've been too easy."

Ron took a deep breath, then ran at the orb.

The moment he touched the emblem, the field came to life. Just as it had before, cracks bled out from the orb, but he didn't stop running. Boulders rose into the air and swirled around the orb.

Ron clung to one of the boulders, then lept to another one.

"This isn't so—"

A rock flew at him faster than he could see. It slammed into his head and sent him crashing into another boulder.

Ron scrambled to his feet. A lightning bolt lit up the night as it lanced towards him. Ron dove out of the way, but more flying debris knocked him out of the way with ease.

He struggled to climb to his feet. He looked around, but he had to squint to see in the dark. A light shone from below him. What was it? He couldn't keep his head straight. Something warm ran down his arm. Had it always done that?

"Where's…" he started. "I'm missing… something." He stood up, although something told him it was a bad idea. "What—"

Another rock nailed him. He flew at another boulder. He bounced off it, then sank to the ground. Another boulder knocked him onto another, then another. He felt himself falling.

"I'll just… scatter hex…"

He felt around for his wand. Then he realized what the light below him was.

A rock flew into him and sent him flying out of the storm. It hurled him straight into the wall.

"Ron!"

He heard someone calling his name from miles away. The light from his wand grew faint.

"Ron!"

"Wake up!" Hermione wiped away tears. "Wake up!"

She caught the light from Ron's wand moving. Above it, she could faintly make out the shape of Rose retrieving the orb to reset the task.

"It's alright, Ron," she sobbed. "It's over. You're alright."

Something warm and sticky spilled over her hands. The smell of iron filled her nostrils.

"He's bleeding!" She held him tighter. "We've got to help him!"

"I've got him," Rose said.

Ron's wand scampered up Rose's leg and settled on her shoulder.

"You've done enough!" Hermione shouted. "I swear to God, Rose, if he dies, I'll never forgive you!"

"I can heal him!"

"Bring us to Madame Pomfrey!"

"We'll—"

"I don't care! Just do it!"

Six seconds later, the light from the Hospital Wing nearly blinded her. Hermione switched off her night vision and ran over to one of the beds.

"What's going on?!" Madame Pomfrey shrieked. "What happened to him?!"

"He snuck inside the first task!" Hermione sobbed. "Please, you've got to help him!"

Pomfrey spared only a second to shout at one of the portraits.

"Dumbledore! McGonagall! Now!"

As the subject of the portrait ran out of his portrait, Madame Pomfrey ran over to Ron.

Hermione sat on the bed next to Ron as Pomfrey worked on him. She held her legs tightly to her chest as she rocked gently on the bed.

"No," she whimpered. "No."

"What was he doing in there? How did he get in?"

Hermione glared at Rose.

"He must've gone over the top," Rose said. "It was the only way in."

"Why didn't you seal it off?!" Hermione screamed.

"I didn't have time!" Rose shot back. "I've got other things to do! I tossed an illusion on it so people wouldn't bother!"

There it was. Just like that morning, Rose decided that her problems were more important than anyone else's. Now, that arrogance might've killed Ron.

"My parents were right about you," Hermione said darkly.

She reached into her hair and unfastened her hair clip. It made her dizzy, but she didn't care. Because of Rose, she might've lost one of her best friends. Even if it meant not being as clever as she wanted to be, she was ready to sever ties.

"Brain."

For the first time, Hermione saw Rose sad, and she didn't care. Not just that; Rose deserved it.

"Do you even care?" Hermione asked. "Ron's dying! But you don't care do you? He's only ever been 'Cohort' to you!"

Hermione flung the hair clip at Rose. It bounced off her and clattered to the ground.

"Just—"

"Why doesn't everyone calm down?"

Hermione turned her attention to Professor Dumbledore as he entered the Hospital Wing. She turned her attention back to Ron a second later.

He lay still on the bed. Madame Pomfrey had cleaned up most of the blood. Hermione strained her eyes looking for any sign of movement.

"What happened?" Professor Dumbledore asked Rose.

"I… He got into the first task."

"I thought I told you to seal it."

"I haven't got time to sit there and cover the—"

"Seal it." Professor Dumbledore's voice took on a menacing tone. "Now."

Rose picked up the hair clip, placed it on the bed next to Hermione, then vanished.

"Poppy, how—"

"What is it that needed my immediate attention?!" Professor McGonagall exclaimed.

Hermione tuned them out as Professor Dumbledore informed her about what happened to Ron.

"Ms. Granger, are you alright?" she asked.

"No," she said. More tears fell down her face. She sniffled, then Professor Dumbledore handed her a handkerchief.

"I'm sure Ms. Peta-Lorrum didn't mean for him to be hurt," he said calmly.

"No, she didn't mean it." Hermione blew her nose. "She just didn't care."

Hermione curled up again after Professor Dumbledore banished the handkerchief. She watched Madame Pomfrey work on Ron. She hadn't stopped, which probably meant he was still alive.

"Poppy, how is he?" Dumbledore asked.

"Alive," she replied. "Fortunately, Ms. Granger got him to me in time. He's got a severe concussion, but I've stopped most of the bleeding."

"Is he stable?" McGonagall asked.

Madame Pomfrey didn't answer. Hermione's heart stopped. Was the worst not over?

"Now he is."

Hermione let out a small laugh that sounded more to her like a whimper.

"Ms. Granger, are you hurt?" McGonagall asked.

Hermione shook her head. "Rose… she said someone had triggered the task. We hadn't seen Ron since dinner, and it's not like him to wander off like that." She let out an involuntary sob. "I just knew it was him."

Professor Dumbledore conjured her another handkerchief, which she gladly accepted.

"I believe some of your anger may be justified, but I don't believe all of it is," Professor Dumbledore said. "Is there something else on your mind?"

A little mudblood girl trying to be a hero.

Hermione held her legs tighter to her chest. She could already hear the screams. The same screams that haunted every dream she'd had for the past four months.

"I just don't want to lose anyone. I… I nearly lost him last year." She blew her nose. "Twice."

"He'll be alright," Madame Pomfrey said. "He just needs time to heal. He'll be back to telling me how to do my job in no time."

"See?" Professor Dumbledore sounded almost delighted. "Nothing to worry about." He picked up the hair clip. "I believe you dropped this."

Hermione took the hair clip from him, but didn't put it on.

"I think we can handle things from here," Dumbledore said to McGonagall. "I'll make sure your students are alright."

McGonagall took one last look at Hermione and Ron before leaving the Hospital Wing.

"Madame Pomfrey?"

"Yes, Ms. Granger?"

"Is it alright if I stay here tonight?"

"That depends. Are you going to tell me how to do my job?"

"Of course not."

"Good. Then you're quite welcome to stay here."

Hermione nodded. She tried to smile, but it only made the tears worse.

"Will you be alright if I leave?" Dumbledore asked.

Hermione glanced at him, then looked back at Ron. He seemed peaceful, as if he were just asleep.

"I'll be alright once he wakes up."

"I see. If you need anything, let Dripty know."

Hermione nodded again. She felt her shoulder for her pack, and realized she'd forgotten it.

"I could use my pack. I didn't have time to grab it."

"I'll see to it that he brings it."

Hermione smiled at him as he left. After he did, she returned to watching Ron. She didn't move from her spot until long after Madame Pomfrey put out the lights in the Hospital Wing.

Pain. That was the first thing Ron noticed. Everything hurt.

He groaned and tried to get up. Where was he? It was dark. Was he still in the first task?

"Ron!"

Something moved in the dark and grabbed him. He tried to fight it, but his body hurt too much.

"Stop squirming!" a familiar voice said. "It's just me, you moron!"

It couldn't be.

"Hermione?"

"Who else would it be?"

Anyone else.

"Where are we?"

He tried to see in the dark again, but he could only make out faint shapes. Something about it seemed familiar.

"The Hospital Wing."

Hermione sat down beside him.

"Did I do it?" he asked. "Did I beat the task?"

Something hard hit his leg. Ron let out an involuntary yelp of pain.

"Sorry!" Hermione gasped. "I'm so sorry!"

"Why does everything hurt so much?" he asked.

Hermione hit his leg again.

"Ow!"

"Good. I meant it that time."

"Did I make it or not?"

"You nearly died, Ronald Weasley. Do you know how scared I was?!"

Ron stopped for a moment. She was worried about him? What for? No one cared about him. The only attention anyone paid him was to remind him that everyone else was better than he was.

"You… you were worried?"

"Of course I was!" He heard her tears in her voice. "Just like I was scared I was going to lose you last year!"

Ron knew he'd heard that wrong. He hadn't done anything right last year.

"Huh?"

"What do you mean 'huh'?"

"When… when?"

She hit him again.

"When you were going to fall, you gau halak! I thought you were going to die!"

"But… but I'd made you cry. Every time I open my stupid mouth. Didn't you say that?"

She hit him one more time.

"Stop hitting me!"

"Stop being stupid!"

"I'm not being stupid!"

"Of course you are! You're always stupid!" She hit him again. "But you always make up for it. Eventually." She placed her hand on his leg. "And you're always there when I need you. So don't you ever scare me like that again."

Ron couldn't believe it. She still cared. Even after he'd hurt her, even after he'd failed to save her at the World Cup or against the boggart, she still cared.

"Hermione?"

"Ronald?"

"Will… will you go to the ball with me?"

Ron couldn't believe the words had made it out of his mouth. He immediately wanted to pull them back and take it away. He wished he hadn't asked. She was going to say no.

"I'd love to, but on one condition."

"What?"

"Promise me you'll never try that task again."

Ron hesitated. He wanted to prove himself. He knew he was just as good as Neville and Cedric. If he couldn't even beat the first task, how was he supposed to impress her?

You already did.

"I promise."

In that moment, beaten and bloody as he was, Ron was on top of the world.