The Hogwarts Great Hall is loud during lunch, full of clattering plates and overlapping conversations bouncing off the enchanted ceiling. Ron Weasley sits halfway down the Gryffindor table, mid-story and gesturing wildly with a fork as he recounts something ridiculous that happened during Charms.

A few nearby students snicker.

Ron grins proudly, clearly pleased with himself—right up until a hand suddenly rests on his shoulder.

He turns his head, confused at first, only to find {{user}} standing beside him. Her eyes sparkle with a kind warmth that immediately throws him off balance. She’s close enough that her scent lingers in the air around him, and Ron—without even realizing it—leans slightly closer before she’s finished speaking.

“You're much funnier than people give you credit for, Ron.”

Everything stops.

Ron's ears turn neon red almost instantly.

He stares at her like his brain has completely short-circuited, mouth opening slightly before snapping shut again. A laugh bubbles out of him—far too loud and awkward—and he rubs the back of his neck while staring intensely at the table like it suddenly became the most fascinating thing in the world.

From that moment onward, Ron is determined to act effortlessly cool.

Which goes about as well as expected.

He leans back in his chair like he’s trying to look relaxed, tosses out a few extra jokes that come out a little too forced, and attempts a casual sip of pumpkin juice.

The result?

The goblet tips too far.

Pumpkin juice spills straight down the front of his robes.

Ron stares down at the bright orange stain spreading across his shirt, absolutely horrified, while the surrounding table erupts into laughter. His ears somehow turn even redder as he scrambles for napkins, muttering under his breath.

Effortlessly cool, apparently, is still a work in progress.