.

‘... This is what you want, then?’ a whispered voice asked.

‘I ordered it from you, didn’t I? Already paid for it, too. Now, hand it over!’ Ron demanded, his hand settling on his wand.

‘All right, all right. I’ve got it. Don’t get your knickers in a twist, mate.’ He withdrew a small box wrapped in unadorned brown paper and handed it to Ron, who yanked it roughly from his hands. ‘So, who’s it for?’

‘None of your business. Don’t you have somewhere else to be?’ Ron began to walk away, leaving the man standing in the empty corridor.

***

Ron laid his invisible trap outside Hermione’s door. Now, all she would have to do is step out, and he would have her in a cage. Once captured, he hoped she would think about why they should be together.

He pondered rescuing her, thus appearing to be her hero instead of her captor. Someone’s fingers rapped on his shoulder which made him jump.

‘Weasley, why are you standing in front of Professor Granger’s door?’

‘Er... Professor Snape. I was waiting for her.’ His eyes darted to the floor and then to the professor, who was scowling and had his arms crossed.

‘Wrong answer, idiot. I witnessed you setting that trap, hoping she’d return to your arms after you so heroically rescued her. Would you like to tell her or should I?’

‘I-I could, sir,’ Ron said, his eye twitching.

Severus once more tapped Ron on his shoulder, releasing a wave of magic. Ron stumbled and fell into the trap he had set, and Severus laughed.

Leaning into the bars on the now visible cage, he spat, ‘Don’t fuck with what’s mine, weasel. You’re lucky I’m feeling considerate at the moment; otherwise you’d be... incapacitated.’

A/N: Thanks to debjunk for the following prompt: Ron tries to pull a prank on Hermione, but Severus finds out and intervenes. Also, thanks to the lovely peppermint for the quick beta work.