Harry let out a quiet sigh as Ron strode off with far more confidence than either of them thought he should have.
"Should we stop him?" Harry asked.
Victor shook his head. "No."
"Why not?"
"Experience is a better teacher than advice."
With nothing else to do, Harry and Victor followed several paces behind.
Ron continued after Fleur and the Beauxbatons girls as they walked through the castle corridors before turning into one of the open grassy courtyards between the castle wings.
The broad stretch of lawn was bordered by ancient stone archways and covered walkways, with only a handful of students passing through at that hour.
Fleur and her friends slowed their pace, continuing their conversation as they crossed the courtyard.
Victor stopped beneath one of the stone arches and folded his arms. "This is going to be wonderful."
Harry glanced at him. "You sound awfully certain."
"I am."
"How?"
"Because Ron has mistaken basic politeness for interest."
Harry couldn't really argue with that.
Taking one last deep breath, Ron marched across the grass toward Fleur. She noticed him approaching and politely excused herself from her friends before turning to face him.
"Yes?"
The confidence Ron had built up vanished instantly. His ears turned scarlet. "I... er... well..." He swallowed hard before finally forcing the words out.
"Would you... would you go to the Yule Ball with me?"
Fleur blinked in surprise. After a brief pause, she smiled apologetically. "I am sorry, but I cannot. I have already accepted someone else's invitation."
For a moment, Ron simply stood there in stunned silence. "Oh..." He managed a weak nod. "Right... thanks."
Without another word, he turned away and walked back across the courtyard with slow, unsteady steps, looking as though every bit of confidence had been stripped away by a single sentence.
Victor watched him approach without the slightest surprise. "I did tell you this was the most likely outcome."
Before Ron could respond, his legs suddenly gave out. He dropped to his knees on the grass with a dull thud, staring blankly at the ground as though his soul had left his body.
"Ron!" Harry exclaimed, rushing over at once.
Ron didn't answer. Harry grabbed him under one arm and tried to pull him back to his feet, but Ron offered no help whatsoever, remaining limp as though he'd forgotten how to stand.
"Victor, a little help here," Harry said with a strained sigh.
Victor walked over, took hold of Ron's other shoulder, and helped support his weight.
As the two of them began carrying Ron back toward the castle, Victor glanced sideways at him.
"This is why I told you not to get carried away. You saw one wink, convinced yourself it was meant for you, and ignored every warning."
Ron let out a long, miserable groan. "...Please stop talking."
"I can. But that won't make the rejection disappear."
Harry shook his head with a helpless smile. "Victor... maybe save the lecture until after he recovers."
Fleur's voice suddenly called out from behind them. "Excuse me... could I speak with you for a moment?"
Harry instinctively looked around. Victor didn't even bother turning his head. "Ignore it, Harry. She isn't talking to us."
A moment later, Fleur spoke again, amusement creeping into her voice. "No. I am speaking to you. The one with the ash-blond hair who always looks as though the world has disappointed him."
Harry stopped walking. Beside him, Ron slowly lifted his head, his defeated expression vanishing for a moment as he stared at Victor with complete disbelief. "...You're kidding me."
Victor clicked his tongue in annoyance before releasing Ron's shoulder. "I'll be back."
He turned around and walked over to Fleur, who had stepped a little away from the Beauxbatons students. "What do you want?"
Victor asked bluntly.
Fleur didn't seem offended. She glanced around at the students crossing the courtyard. "Could we speak somewhere a little more private?"
Victor followed her gaze before giving a small nod. "Fine."
They moved toward one of the quieter stone corridors overlooking the courtyard, far enough from the passing students that their conversation couldn't be overheard.
Harry watched them leave. Ron, who had only just recovered enough to stand, looked at Victor as though he had been personally betrayed.
"...She rejected me..." He pointed weakly at Victor. "...and then she asked him to talk alone."
Harry scratched his head. "I don't get it either."
The two of them exchanged a look before quietly sneaking after them, stopping behind one of the large stone pillars at the corner of the corridor.
From there they could see Victor and Fleur talking, but couldn't make out what was being said.
"I wonder what they're talking about," Harry whispered.
Ron narrowed his eyes. "I don't know... but it definitely feels like something's going on between them."
"Oh? Something going on?"
A familiar voice came from directly behind them.
Harry and Ron both froze. Slowly turning around, Harry found Hermione standing there with her arms folded.
Her gaze wasn't on Harry or Ron — it was fixed entirely on Victor and Fleur. Hermione's lips pressed into a thin line as she watched Fleur smiling while speaking to Victor.
An emotion she couldn't quite identify stirred inside her chest, making her oddly uncomfortable.
*****
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