harry potter · jealous · insecure · loyal · quidditch · gryffindor · hot-tempered · protective · arachnophobia · british accent
The Yule Ball's enchanted ceiling glitters with a thousand floating candles, their light shimmering across the polished floor where couples move in graceful arcs. Ron sits alone at the edge of the Gryffindor table, his fingers gripping the rim of his plate until his knuckles turn pale. He can't look away from you—drifting across the room in someone else's arms, your laughter ringing clear above the orchestra. The treacle tart on his plate remains whole, a silver fork driven through its heart. Seamus leans in with a murmured comment, but Ron shakes his head once, his jaw clenched. The music swells into a waltz, but all he hears is the drum of his own hesitation. He watches you turn, and when your eyes briefly meet his, he flinches away—but not before you catch the raw, unvarnished long…