Youve Got the Emotional Range of a Teaspoon

Milliseconds!
Thats all it took. Milliseconds for her whole world had come crashing down around her like
a pile of books falling off a shelf. One kiss! The one that she thought would have been hers
and only hers. How could he forget everything that they had been through together? Hadnt
she saved his life on numerous occasions? Did that count for nothing? She was the brains
in the trio, although he had teased her countless times about her love and thirst for
knowledge. Professor Snape had called her an insufferable know-it-all and hadnt he agreed
with him? She gazed out of the classroom window with watery eyes watching the snow
fluttering down in drifts and drabs, hitting the window pane as it had done on the night of the
Yule Ball.
Hes using you.
The accusation hurt her. How could he suggest such a thing? Okay, Victor might be a
contender in the Triwizard Tournament but her allegiance was and would always be to
Harry. He was her friend and she wanted to see him to win. Not someone Ron was clearly
jealous of. The whole idea of the tournament was to make friends.
How dare you! Besides, I can take care of myself.
Doubt it. Hes way too old.
What? What? Thats what you think?
Yeah thats what I think.
You know the solution then dont you?
She had spent the past few weeks waiting for him to pluck up the courage and ask her to the
ball. She had been expecting him too but he had lost his chance and Victor had gotten there
first. That one afternoon when his fan club had interrupted her studying in the library! She
knew that her next retort would cause a sting.
Go on.
Next time theres a ball, pluck up the courage and ask me before somebody else does, and
not as a last resort!
Well... well... thats just completely off the point. Harry.
There, she thought. Thats stumped you Ronald Weasley! Now you know how it feels. At that
moment, Harry entered the entrance hall through the open double doors looking worried.
Where have you been? she asked, coldly. Never mind. Off to bed both of you!

They get scary when they get older.

Ron, youve spoilt everything!
She slumped onto the nearest step. Took off her shoe and began to cry. Why did he affect her
in this way?
A strong gust of wind had whistled through the empty classroom. She pushed a fallen strand
of hair out of her eyes. She had cried herself to sleep that night. Parvati and Lavender had
tried to comfort her. Ensuring her that Ron was stupid and wouldnt know a good thing if a
bludgers bat hit him in the face with it. Ron. Ron. Ronald. Why does the heart always want
what it can never have? She wished she could shut out the feelings.
Im sure Harrys kissing is more than satisfactory. Cho spends half her time crying these
days, she said, as though this settled the matter.
Think a bit of snogging would cheer her up, chuckled Ron.
Why were boys so inconsiderate when it came to feelings? She thought. Maybe she should
write a manual. Rons Guide to Dealing with Girls!
Dont you understand how she must be feeling? Well, obviously shes feeling sad about
Cedric and therefore confused about liking Harry, and guilty about kissing him. Conflicted
because Umbridge is threatening to sack her mum from her job at the ministry, frightened to
fail her OWLs because shes so busy worrying about everything else.
She took a deep breath. She had rushed the last few sentences, one of the habits when you
could retain a lot of information.
One person couldnt feel all that, theyd explode.
Just because youve got the emotional range of a teaspoon!
She could feel tears beginning to form at the corners of her eye. The kiss! It was playing over
and over in her mind. She had to do something to get rid of it. Ron and Lavender. Her friend
and classmate. She wanted to hurt them. Both of them. Him. Her. Him especially. She looked
into her repertoire of spells and knew the curse that she would use. She felt a pulse surge
through her wand and watched as gold sparks flew from the tip. Wands always felt the
wizards emotions.

Beautiful day, she said, looking at the cloudless sky. She, Ron and Harry were marching
across the courtyard to visit Hagrid. They were going to find out the verdict of Buckbeaks
hearing.
Gorgeous, Ron mocked. Unless of course youre being ripped to pieces.
Not that rat again! She thought. Ron had always had a vendetta against Crookshanks from
the moment she walked out the shop cradling him in her arms.
Ripped to pieces? cut in Harry. What are you talking about?
Ronald has lost his rat.
I havent lost anything. Your cat killed him!
Rubbish.
She could feel fresh hot tears threatening to erupt. She wouldnt let him see her cry. That
would make her look weak. She would wait till later. Alone and away from him.
Harry, youve seen the way that blood thirsty beast of hers is always lurking about and
Scabbers is gone.
Well maybe you should learn to take better care of your pets! she retorted, as Crookshanks
jumped up onto the wall.
Your cat killed him!
Did not!
Did.
Didnt.
The sound of the classroom door creaking opening made the hairs on the back of her neck
stand on end. She was ready to hurt him. The unspoken words of a spell already formed on
her parched lips. She would enjoy watching him writhe in pain and it would be blissful.
However, it wasnt Ron stood in the doorway. The wand slackened in her grip. Harry! she
called out, surprised. I thought you were at the party.