“Ow!” cried Ginny. Her voice carried across the common room. “You’re doing it too hard.”
“Sorry,” muttered a male voice Ron thought was familiar, but couldn’t quite make out. Then the voice spoke louder. “It’s gotten all tangled, I can’t get it out.” It was Harry.
Intrigued, Ron looked at the shocked expression on Hermione’s face. They crawled towards the high-backed chair that faced the corner.
“AH!” Ginny yelled. There was a commotion behind the chair. “That’s it, Harry. I’m just going to have to do it myself. Until you’ve learned to do it properly, there’s no point in letting you have control.”
Ginny began to grunt. A glance at Hermione revealed her face was crimson. Ron felt a mixture of shame and revulsion in the pit of his stomach.
“There,” Ginny proclaimed. “See? That’s how you’re supposed to do it.”
Ron gathered his courage and jumped around the chair. “WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO MY SISTER?”
Rage died on his lips, however, when he saw them fully clothed, with Ginny holding a fine-bristle brush in one hand and a mirror in the other. Harry’s mouth was open as he stood behind her.
“What d’ya mean?” Harry asked, nonplussed. “I was trying to brush Ginny’s hair.”
Ron’s mouthed soundlessly for a moment before Hermione broke into a fit of giggles beside him, her cheeks pink with glee.
“I...” he muttered.
Ginny cocked her head, waving the brush threateningly in his direction “Better keep your abnormally large nose out of my business and your mind out of the gutter.”
“But...”
Harry seemed confused at first. Then realization dawned and his face flamed scarlet. “You... you thought...”
Hermione fell over, clutching her side. Ginny joined in, her ire temporarily sated. Even Ron had to chuckle.
Harry straightened. “Listen, Ron. The next time you hear me and Ginny... brushing her hair, try to remember who I’m doing this with?” He leaned in and whispered, “She’d kill me.”
Ron’s mouth snapped shut and he crossed his arms. “That... is exactly what I‘m afraid of,” he replied. "And my nose is not large!"