"No, not really," he answered uncomfortably.
"Well are you Neville's friend then?"
"Not really," he was now actually squirming.
"Hermione's?"
"No."
"Luna's?"
"No."
"Ginny's"
The name was like a sledgehammer to Ron's heart as the tears were once again running down his cheeks, "No."
Joanne had that child's sixth sense where she knew there was more to the story and just stared at Ron, waiting on the next instalment.
Ron was like a moth to a flame and couldn't not give an answer to this child, "Ginny used to be my sister."
"What happened to your mum and dad?" Joanne asked, assuming he'd been orphaned.
"They're in jail for trying to swap Ginny for a house."
The look of revulsion on Joanne's face was another severe blow, how could this young orphan instinctively know this was wrong but he had actually gone along with it.
"Who do you live with now?"
"I lived with my betrothed but I haven't been treating her very well and she may be breaking up with me."
Joanne's next question was asked with that touch of exasperation that only a five-year-old can get away with, "do you have ANY friends?"
Ron couldn't answer other than to shake his head, tears streaming unashamedly down his cheeks at just how much of an arsehole he had become.
"I'll be your friend, if you want?" Ron looked mesmerised at Joanne who then went on to explain. "Miss Jillian always says that friends are our most treasured possessions and you can never have enough of them, didn't you know this?"
Ron could only shake his head in wonder at this child who had a better understanding of life than he did, he answered, "yes, I'd like that," and Joanne hugged him.
"You can take me back now, we've been out here ages."
No sooner had they landed than Joanne was introducing her best friend Kathleen and Ron was straight back up in the air getting twenty questions again.
The morning flew in and soon they were heading up the steps towards the institute, Neville and Harry both had younger kids on their shoulders while Joanne and Kathleen each had a hold of Ron's hands as they led him towards lunch.
Ron couldn't fail to notice the height of the cliffs as he had to climb up the stairs and understood there was a chance he could be coming back down at a slightly faster pace but he'd take that risk if it meant getting to talk to Millie. Hermione's mum had calmly stood there last night, firing whatever it was she held at a screaming Voldemort and it was easy to see where Hermione's nature came from, Ron was well aware they weren't joking that her parents might throw him off the cliff.
...
Millie was having a day like no other, she'd been astonished at the magical shopping section of Naples and the welcome they received wherever the group went but moving into the muggle area was a revelation. She now understood Joan's comment about the underwear shop but there was just so much choice it was hard to decide, it was only when she thought of Ron's reaction to her wearing these things that her mood dipped. She just didn't know how she was going to deal with that so put it at the back of her mind again so as not to spoil the girls fun.
They were having lunch at their usual spot when Ginny suggested trying the salon opposite, Millie looked at her strangely until she explained that's where she had her hair done and they were very good. She reluctantly agreed and was accompanied by Ginny and Luna as Joan's prediction came true and she went off with her mum to buy some things for the kids.
It was a different Millicent Bulstrode who looked back at Millie from the mirror and it was quite a shock, the girls in the salon had pulled off a miracle as far as she was concerned. Her hair was cut to frame her face and now had subtle golden highlights through the brown, an eyebrow wax and facial had been followed with the application of makeup, Millie was so pleased with the results she almost spoiled it by crying.
Joan hugged her on sight as they headed into a sports shop for training clothes where Millie's new look and athletic body drew quite a bit of attention from the male assistants, it was a happy group of girls who ended up back at the institute in time to get ready for dinner.
Millie and Joan walked on to the terrace at dinnertime and were immediately accosted by Roger Davies, "Miss Bulstrode, would you do me the honour of joining me for dinner?"
Before she could answer a nervous voice beside her chipped in, "actually Roger, I was hoping she was going to join me, would you do me the honour Millie?"
She turned and there was Ron holding out a red rose for her with pleading in his eyes, she took the rose and just nodded.
Ron then knelt down and offered Joan a yellow rose, "could I borrow your aunty Millicent for a little while please?"
Joan stared straight into his eyes, "you make her cry again and my dad will throw you off the cliff."
"If I make her cry I'll jump of the cliff myself."
Joan accepted this and the rose as she walked over to her parents, leaving them alone, though Roger was not amused as Ron took Millie's hand and led her over to a table for two that had just appeared.
"What are you doing here Ron?"
....
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