It was all so sudden.

The apprehension, the awkwardness - all so sudden.

And suddenly, I did not have the strength to meet his gaze. I tried – not once, but twice – but I could not bring myself to do it.

“Y-yes Ron?” I said, my tones low, my eyes on my feet.

Ron took another sudden, step towards me; he was much too close now.

- Then there was the sound of footsteps, and both of us instantly jumped apart.

Harry appeared on the scene; his eyes travelled over Ron, over me, standing by Ron’s side, now quite a good distance away from him, and abrupt suspicion seemed to rise in his eyes. For a moment, I felt as if he was going to say something, something unpleasant – maybe even hit Ron – and my heart skipped a beat.

Then Harry’s face relaxed, and his hands fell limply by his sides. “No one here yet?” he asked casually, walking up to us and peering around.

The moment of fear passed as suddenly as it had arrived. “No,” I said, letting out the fright and breath that I had been holding in, and hoping against the best of hope that my voice did not come out shaky or nervous.

With quick steps I turned towards the middle of the greenhouse, where several new potted plants stood, inspecting them as was my custom – or pretending to. Harry followed, and so did Ron.

Moments later, the greenhouse had begun to fill.