"I know that although you have been desperately trying to admit your mistakes and have been trying to stay away from me, I must first thank you for your respect for me. But you also have to understand that your concession will only make me feel more guilty... "
"Believe me, I will not discriminate against your orientation... But not discriminating does not mean that I can accept it. Troye, stop apologizing, and stop thinking that your ideas are wrong. Because I I feel that true love should not be distinguished by gender.”
Ron was across a small round table, with one hand on the table and the other firmly holding Troyer's hand across from him.
He could feel the delicate touch of the other person's skin, just like when he held this little hand and slid onto the dance floor that night, and it was no different from the beauty in his memory.
But it's a man - Ron sighed quietly in his heart again.
He brushed aside the inexplicable regret that came from nowhere, shook his head, and then stared at Troyer, whose face was already red to his ears, and said:
"Listen! We just... each other met the wrong person."
Troyer didn't make any response. He just let Ron hold his hand, and all his thoughts were scalded by the temperature of his cheeks.
But for some reason, every word Ron said echoed in his blank mind, making it engraved in his heart unconsciously.
Like boys or something... isn't this really a huge mistake? Is this really... okay
Troyer, who has been immersed in loneliness and low self-esteem since childhood, felt the beauty of having his ideas recognized for the first time.
Yes, even his parents and two brothers, who are relatives, have always only tried to change him. Only Mr. Weasley, whom he admired, actually confirmed an idea that even he himself found very shameful. This really made him touch the edge of self-confidence for the first time.
However, is Mr. Weasley really unable to accept himself? Although I had figured this out a long time ago, when this moment actually arrived, I still couldn't bear the pain from my heart!
Troyer's right hand, which was not grasped by Ron, unconsciously clenched the clothes around his heart.
But at this moment, Ron's voice hit him head-on with a wave of heat, finally causing his brain to completely stop working.
"I'm sorry, we can be best friends from now on."
In an instant, Troyer only felt that his entire upper body was wrapped in a hot body temperature. In the tight feeling that was unclear whether it was happiness or pain, a touch of warmth stayed on his forehead for a moment.
It probably only takes a few seconds from start to finish, right? But Troyer felt that it was as mellow and long as centuries.
And when this almost incredible warmth finally left his body, it was replaced by another unparalleled sense of loss.
"… I have to go."
Ron stood opposite the small round table with a blank expression for a moment, and soon he could no longer hold on, turned around and hurried away in the direction of the trap door.
Troyer, who was left in place, seemed to be dumbfounded. He held the table with both hands and froze there. He didn't even land on his tiptoes when he was hugged just now.
Everyone in the Starry Sky Cafe was stunned. A little wizard who was pouring milk didn't even notice that the cup was full, and let the overflowing milk gradually flow all over the floor.
To be honest, even Maka was a little dumbfounded at the moment, and before she knew it, goosebumps had appeared on her arms.
"Oh... this is really," Hermione suddenly shuddered, "it's really terrible! I thought Ron finally decided to accept him!"
"What's wrong with that?" Luna tilted her head after hearing this.
Seeing what she said, Maka quickly reached out and patted her shoulder, and said seriously: "For some things, we still have to have a certain degree of awe."
After saying that, he glanced towards the trap door and then stood up.
"I'm going to see Ron. You guys... uh, help take care of that Troyer! If necessary, you can go find his two brothers."
"Okay!" "Yeah."
Unlike Luna who looked very interested, Hermione first looked at the back of Maka as she left, and then walked towards the corner with some hesitation.
…
Maybe it was because he slowed down as soon as he left the astronomy classroom. Ron hadn't gone too far when Maka spotted him on the stone steps behind the astronomy tower.
Hearing the crunch of snow coming from the left, Ron turned his face slightly. But when he found out it was Maka, he immediately stood up from the edge of the stone steps as if he was electrocuted, turned around and wanted to walk away.
"Wait a moment!"
Maka's words were still very effective. When Ron heard this, he immediately stopped hesitantly. But he didn't turn around, but just stood in the snow without saying a word.
"Ron, I have to say that you have done a very good job." Maka said behind him, "I believe that everyone can feel the kindness from your difficulties - you just don't want to let a pure The young man is just going to bear all the pain alone."
After hearing Maka admit what she did, Ron finally turned around. He looked at Maka from a distance, as if he still wanted to be sure and asked:
"What I did... was it really the right thing to do?"
"Of course," Maka nodded, "your hugs and kisses not only released the depression in his heart, but also made many people present realize that love may not have boundaries. And what is even more gratifying for us is that, Troyer should start to get more confident starting tomorrow — which is obviously a good start for him."
Ron listened blankly, and at the end, he suddenly let out a breath.
"If that's the case, that would be great... ugh..."
Before he finished speaking, he suddenly leaned over and vomited.
But since he hasn't eaten anything this morning and has always had a loss of appetite recently, he can only retching in waves now.
To be honest, this matter has accumulated too much pressure in his heart recently. Now that he relaxes, the exhaustion of his body and mind makes him almost exhausted.
Of course, maybe the kiss on the forehead just given to Troyer was too painful, so he couldn't bear it anymore
When Ron's desire to vomit gradually subsided, Maka, who had already sat down on the stone steps, immediately waved to him.
"It's better to come and sit for a while! Rest for a while, and then go have something to eat..."
Ron then shuffled to Maka's side, and sat back on the edge of the stone steps weakly. Then he raised his hand and waved it.
"It's better to forget about eating - I can't eat."
"Then drink some energy tonic! I guess you didn't eat much last night."
Maka casually took out a potion bottle and placed it on the stone steps between the two of them. He sat with Ron for a short while, seeing that the other person was probably fine, and then stood up again.
"I'll go back and have a look. You drink it, and then go back to the dormitory and take a nap! Remember, you didn't do anything wrong, but you did a good job. When you wake up, put this matter aside. … I go first."
Ron didn't respond at first, but after Maka left, he nodded heavily.
"Thanks."
…
For Ron, this was definitely an unforgettable day.
Although Maka wanted him to sleep and put things behind him, it was obviously very difficult to do so. But as long as he has that heart, as time washes away, sooner or later this matter will become a vague imprint of life.
As for Troyer... Even though he is still mixed with sadness, pain and warmth in his heart, the contradictory feelings make him unable to control himself.
But in the future, maybe he will thank Ron for his amazing move today, right
"Hey, is your name Troyer? Don't worry, there are many outstanding boys in Hogwarts! Look, that big brother over there is very handsome. Do you want to go and have a chat with him-"
"Luna! Stop!"
Seeing that Luna started to encourage Troyer without paying attention, Hermione hurriedly pulled him away, and for a moment she didn't know what to say.
As for the "big brother" who was pointed out by Luna, he stood up with a look of horror on his face, and then ran away in a panic towards the stairs leading to the top platform of the tower.
Facing these two seniors with different personalities, Troyer was also shocked. In the past, with his extremely introverted temperament, he would have huddled under the table and crouched with his head in his hands.
However, because he had just experienced such an exciting "big scene", Troyer's ability to bear it suddenly became much stronger.
"I... I know you, Miss Hermione Granger, and Miss Luna Lovegood?"
"Oh, yes." Hermione nodded, "Troy, how do you feel? Do you need me to help you call your brothers?"
"No... no, I just want..." He paused, and then said slowly, "I just want to ask you to convey a message to Mr. Weasley for me - please tell him that I will bless him to find a true A girl who likes him.”
"Why don't you tell yourself?" Hermione asked doubtfully, "Didn't he say that he hopes to be 'best friends' with you?"
After Troyer heard this, he just shook his head slightly.
"Maybe... I can do it in the future!"
When Maka returned to this place full of starlight, he pushed open the trap door and walked up, just passing by Troyer.
"Is he okay too?" Maka came to Hermione and Luna and asked in a low voice.
Up to this moment, more than ten minutes have actually passed, but the atmosphere here still seems a bit awkward.
After that, even though Professor Sinistra continued to chat with everyone, it was not until the guests changed several groups in twos and threes that he finally got rid of the weird atmosphere.
But at that time, Maka had already taken Hermione and Luna elsewhere.