I was sitting in Potions with Hermione one day, like I usually did. I wasn’t that good at Potions, but Hermione was, so she helped me in the class. Snape was droning on as usual, and no one but the Slytherins and Hermione were paying attention. I was doodling in my notebook, and as far as I could tell, Harry was nodding off and Ron was already asleep. The only fun part of Potions was when we actually got to make them; it was like what Muggles would call Chemistry. So Hermione had gone off to get the supplies, and I was setting up my cauldron. Bored, I sent a note over to Harry, saying “Potions class is about to become more interesting.” He looked at me, wondering what I meant.
“Watch me wake up Ron.” I mouthed over to him. He grinned, and then I pretended to drop something so that I would have an excuse to go near his desk.
“What are you going to do this time?”
“What, does someone who works with Fred and George reveal her secrets?”
“Whatever you say. It’s not an explosion this time, is it?”
“Nope. Just watch and learn.”
For some reason, ever since 1st year, I only had to say a new spell out loud a few times, and then I could say it in my head without someone knowing what I was going to cast. This always amazed the teachers, and made Hermione a bit envious, it took her until 4th year to be able to do it.
So I stood behind Ron, aimed my wand down his shirt, and silently said “Aguamenti!”
A huge gush of water burst from the tip of my wand and went straight down his shirt.
“AUGH!! What the BLOODY HELL?”
Harry was rolling around on the floor laughing, Hermione was back at our table barely able to keep a straight face, and the rest of the class was roaring with laughter. Even Snape managed a chuckle. I ran back to my table and sat there like nothing had happened.
“Harry! Did you do it?”
“No, Ron, I value my life far too much.” said Harry, sitting back down.
“Hermione?”
”Think about it, Ron. Why would I ever misbehave like that?”
“Terri!” That was my nickname.
“Yeppers?”
“You did it, didn’t you?”
“I plead the 5th.”
“Ah, that’s the American expression for ‘I did it, but I’m not telling you that I was the one responsible’, isn’t it?”
“That would be correct, Ron.”
Then he completely lost it.
“WHY DO YOU HAVE TO DO THIS ALL THE TIME? I’M SICK OF ALL OF YOUR PRANKS! THEY’RE NOT FUNNY! “
“Look, Ron, if they offend you so much, then I’m-“
“NO! NO MORE APOLOGIES! I’M SICK OF IT! I HATE YOU! YOU KNOW, I’M ACTUALLY HAPPY THAT YOUR PARENTS DISOWNED YOU!”
“Ron” Harry said, “that’s not fair; leave her parents out of it.” By now, the whole class was staring wide-eyed at our little scene.
“HARRY, I DON’T CARE!! SHE DESERVED IT! I WISH SHE WAS DEAD; IF A DEATH EATER KILLED HER RIGHT NOW, I WOULD SHAKE HIS HAND!”
“Ron, stop it!” said Hermione. But I put a hand to her mouth and signaled that I could take care of this myself.
“Ron, you are the world’s biggest prat and git. That was completely unfair; I have every right to hex you right now, but you know what? I won’t. Because I actually feel sorry for you. Who wouldn’t feel sorry for someone who was too blind to care about his FORMER friend? If you ever bring up my parents, or ever say anything of the sort to me again, I will hex you into oblivion, you back-stabber!’ With those words, I ran out of the dungeons, tears flying from my face. I heard what sounded like Hermione running after me, but I didn’t stop until I reached the common room. I proceeded to curl up in a ball on the floor and sob.
“Terri, you know Ron can’t have meant that.”
“No, his tone of voice means that he did. You want to know why my parents disowned me?”
“Actually, yes; I’ve always wanted to know, but didn’t want to ask you.”
Just then, Ginny, Fred, George, and Harry came running into the common room.
“Terri”, said Fred and George “sorry about our brother. Would you like us to hex him for you?”
I gave them a weak smile, and shook my head.
“I appreciate the thought, but enough damage has been done.”
Then Ginny said “Terri, Ron is a git. He always takes things too seriously. Are you ok?” I nodded.
Then Harry said “Hey, I’ll talk to Ron for you, is that all right?”
“Yeah, I guess it wouldn’t hurt. Hey, I was just about to tell Herms here my life story. Anyone care for a listen?”
All heads nodded. And so, I sighed and settled in for something that I’d never told anybody but Ron; and then, only a little.
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