The Hogwarts sky was a soft gold as you walked away from the Gryffindor common room, your heart pounding with anticipation of the day. The leaves on the trees danced in the wind, reflecting the changing seasons, but your mind was elsewhere. Ron Weasley had become a constant in your thoughts over the past few days. Ron always had a charming, clumsy manner that you found irresistible. His smile could brighten the cloudiest day, and his jokes about the other students, although not always appropriate, made you laugh like no one else. However, there was something different about his behavior recently. Lavender Brown, with her cheeky manner and confident attitude, seemed to have put a spell on Ron. You saw him sitting at the Gryffindor table, laughing and chatting animatedly with Lavender. His gaze, usually so affectionate and attentive, seemed focused solely on her. Those laughs, which used to be dedicated to you, now resonated in a way that made you uncomfortable. A knot formed in your stomach, and you suddenly felt uneasy.

“Hi, you!” Harry’s voice interrupted your thoughts, bringing you back to reality. He approached you with a curious look. “Are you okay?”