Ch 11 The Woes of Ron Weasley
Now that work on Harry's birthday gift was done, Molly, Ginny, Ron, Bill, and Charlie had a lot more spare time. Harry and Hermione spent a lot of time with them at either the Weasleys or at Harry's new house, in addition to their training with Saldar and Harry's lessons with Dumbledore. The twins were still busy with their joke shop, but made time each evening for Quidditch games at Harry's place. None of them became as competitive as those on Harry's birthday. And there seemed to be an unspoken agreement that even the twins followed to not even joke about the minor spat between Harry and Hermione.
Several days after the birthday party, their letters arrived from Hogwarts while they were having lunch at the Weasleys. The envelopes for Hermione, Ron, and Ginny were fairly thick, but Harry's was rather thin. Ginny nearly dropped her letter in shock when she found a prefect's badge inside. She excitedly ran off to find her mother to tell her the great news. Enthusiastic as ever, Hermione seemed honestly surprised when she received a head girl's badge. She quickly began browsing her course list and required books.
"Honestly Hermione, who did you think they were going to pick?" grumbled Ron.
In return, Ron was dumbfounded when he found, in addition to a prefect badge, a letter from Professor McGonagall asking him to be the captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team. He ripped it out of the envelope and began doing a little victory dance around the table.
"Aren't you going to look at your list of classes and books?" asked Hermione.
"Who cares? I'm the Quidditch captain! I'm the Quidditch captain!"
"Well, you'll have to invite Katie to our matches. I'm sure she'll be very proud of you."
Ron stopped dancing and looked at Harry oddly. "Probably not, mate. We broke up a couple of weeks ago."
"You what?" asked a shocked Hermione, as she and Harry swapped incredulous glances. "I'm sorry, I didn't know."
"I thought things were going fairly well between you two."
"Nah, not really. It turns out she wasn't really my type." Looking at their concerned looks, Ron continued, "Really, I'm fine. It's for the best. But I can't believe McGonagall didn't ask you to be the captain, Harry."
Uncomfortable, Harry quickly shifted his glance towards Hermione.
"She asked you first, didn't she Harry?" asked Ron in a voice that trembled slightly. When Harry didn't reply immediately, Ron snapped, "I should have known. I'm always second choice, always in the shadow of the great Harry Potter!"
"It's not like that, Ron!" exclaimed Harry. "I didn't really want to be captain. I knew you did and that I wouldn't have the ti…"
"Oh, of course not. You have enough titles and awards, don't you? What's one more? Ehh, I don't want to be Quidditch captain, maybe Ron would like it-why don't you toss him a bone, Professor McGonagall. That'll make him happy. Well, I don't want it like that!"
"It wasn't like that at all, Ron! You want to know why I turned it down? I'll tell you. First, I won't have the time to dedicate to planning the strategies and practices and all that. Second, I'm no good at devising Quidditch tactics-I'm a seeker. I'm on the team, but I don't play with the team. Don't you get it? For six years, I've basically played Quidditch by myself. Sure I run interference on a few plays now and then, but the only strategy I had to know was to make sure my team wasn't down more than 140 points when I caught the snitch. You've lived and breathed Quidditch your entire life. If your face were any redder, you'd be a Chudley Cannon. I told McGonagall that you'd make the best captain for the team, you know the game better, you're better at strategy, and you'll have the time to dedicate to the team. I just catch the snitch. That's what I do best. Now if you don't believe that, then fine, tell McGonagall to find another captain." Harry then got up and stormed out of the Weasley's kitchen.
Ron looked at Hermione. "Well, go on then. Take his side. You always do."
"Ronald Weasley! When are you going to grow up? I thought you had put aside all of this petty jealousy after the Triwizard Tournament."
"Yeah, rub it in Hermione."
"Let me finish. Do you know why Harry is coming back this year?"
"Of course. So he can graduate."
"Don't be so thick. Harry took down Voldemort. Do you seriously think there is anything left for him to learn in one of our DADA or Charms classes? Harry could take the NEWTs tomorrow and ace the exams without even studying. He's already read all of the course books we use at Hogwarts. And that's not counting the other books and scrolls he's studied from the restricted section in the school library, the archives at the Ministry of Magic, and other private collections."
"How could he have done all that? Why would he come back then?"
"Harry just wants to have a normal school year. As normal as he is ever likely to get. He'll be doing independent coursework with some of the Professors at Hogwarts and Dumbledore is trying to get permission from the Ministry to allow Harry to do some of his Auror training while he's at school. He wants to try and enjoy one year at Hogwarts without having to worry about Voldemort. But most of all, he wants to spend time with me and you, playing Quidditch, going to Hogsmeade, dancing at a ball, playing pranks on the Slytherins-all of the really fun stuff he hasn't been able to fully enjoy over the last six years."
"I-I didn't know that," gasped Ron in a quiet voice. "Wait, did you say Harry wants to dance at a ball?"
Hermione smiled. "He will if he knows what's good for him. Now let me finish. Dumbledore even offered him a position teaching dueling and running the DA as an official club of the school."
"Well, that figures."
"Knock it off, Ron. Harry turned him down."
"Why?"
"Harry just wanted to be treated like the other students. He didn't want any special perks or privileges. And he didn't want to give any grounds for Snape to get him kicked off the Quidditch team."
"Huh?"
"Harry wanted to make sure that he maintained his student status. If he taught in an official capacity where he was paid, he was afraid he might not be able to play on the Gryffindor Quidditch team. And Harry is very determined to beat Snape and the Slytherins again this year."
"I am such a git."
"Well, at least you can admit it. Now go and find Harry and talk to him."
Hermione watched from the kitchen window as Ron chased Harry on his broom for a while. Ron finally caught him and they talked for a few minutes. She then smiled as they chased a snitch for a little while, glad for the temporary peace at least. But the unsettling thought that Ron had changed, or had not changed, continued to plague her as she watched. Ever since they had left Hogwarts, something between the three felt different.
"Have you noticed any difference between the three of us, Harry."
"Yeah, you're much prettier than either me or Ron."
"I'm being serious, Harry. Have you noticed anything different about Ron?"
"Nah. I think you're worrying too much. He's the same old Ron."
"You don't think, that maybe, uhh, one of those Yonnua got to him" suggested Hermione hesitantly.
"WHAT?! No way! It's just Ron! Stop overreacting and relax, Hermione. Blimey!"
"Harry, it's just that I worry about…"
In a little calmer tone, Harry replied. "I know, I know. Look, if it will make you feel any better, I'll check him out later with infrared vision."
"But what if the Death Eaters gave them a way to block that?"
"Samuel didn't say anything about that."
"I know, but Samuel doesn't know everything. He didn't even get to finish interrogating Schraeder. There could be…"
"Stop it, Hermione. You can't keep worrying about every little thing. You'll drive yourself crazy. Try and relax. Everything will be fine."
Hermione didn't feel very comforted. Even if Ron had not been replaced by a Yonnua and was just the same old Ron he'd always been, there was something slightly disturbing about that as well.
-----
Later that afternoon, Harry, Ron, and Hermione stopped by to visit Fred and George at their joke shop. Harry and the twins became so engrossed in discussing various jokes and future projects that they completely lost track of time. Hermione and Ron Apparated to the Burrow to bring back some dinner. When only Hermione returned with her arms full of food, Harry asked where Ron was.
"Where do you think? He said the food might get cold bringing it back."
"What? That wouldn't happen."
"Yeah, I told him. I think he was afraid he wouldn't get his fair share of dinner." Harry and the twins laughed as they started in on the hot meat sandwiches.
Finishing their meal, they decided a quick trip to the Three Broomsticks would be an excellent way to finish off their day. As they walked down the street, something made the hairs on the back of Harry's neck stand up. He quickly glanced around, trying to discover what had unsettled him.
"What is it, Harry?"
"I don't know. I feel like we're being watched. Have you noticed anything?"
"No," replied Hermione.
"Harry, you're being paranoid," started George.
"Relax. You need to loosen up," added Fred.
"We can help with that," concluded George. And taking Harry by the arms, they dragged him along the street towards the inn.
As Fred moved to open the door, they noticed a witch with short hair reach for the handle at the same time.
"Katie!" exclaimed George.
"How are you doing? Why haven't you been by the Burrow lately?" asked Fred.
Perplexed, Hermione stared at the twins and then began trying to hush them.
"I'm sure little Ronniekins has been missing you to death," teased George.
"You wouldn't be out sneaking around with somebody else, now would you? Not while you and our dear little brother are…" laughed Fred.
Katie raised her tear filled face and snapped bitterly. "No! He didn't tell you, did he? That conceited little prat! It was Ron that was cheating on me-with Cho Chang."
"What?!?!" exploded Harry while Hermione's mouth dropped in surprise.
"Oh yes. And when I confronted him about it, he just laughed."
"I'm-we're so sorry, Katie. We didn't know," apologized Fred.
"That little two-timing jerk! Don't worry, Katie. We'll straighten out Ron," promised George.
"We'll make him sorry he ever hurt you," growled Fred.
"No, please don't do anything on my account. It's not worth it. I'm not worth it." Katie's shoulders hunched as she began to cry again.
Hermione stepped up and wrapped an arm around her shoulder. "Nonsense, Katie. It will be OK. Why don't we go somewhere and we can talk a bit." She moved towards the Three Broomsticks.
Katie shook her head. "I-I really don't feel like being around a lot of people right now. But thanks for offering. I'll just…"
"That's fine, Katie. We could go somewhere else and talk, just you and me, if you'd like."
With tears streaming down her face, Katie nodded and whispered thank you.
"Harry, why don't you take the twins inside and help them cool off a bit before you head home. I'm afraid they might kill Ron on sight right now. I'll meet you all at the Burrow later."
Harry nodded his head, and led the fuming twins inside as Katie and Hermione walked off down the street. Nobody felt like drinking anything. Harry just sat in astonishment at Ron's cruel behavior while the twins planned increasingly inventive and elaborate methods of punishment.
After about ten minutes, he roared, "That's enough!" causing several of the other patrons to glance over at their table. In a slightly calmer tone of voice, Harry continued, "Getting back at Ron might make you feel better, but it's not going to make Katie feel any better or do Ron any good."
"Who said we wanted to help him, Harry?" countered Fred.
"Nobody should treat a girl like that. They were teammates, Harry. They're both Gryffindors! He had no right to do that to her, or to anyone!" argued George.
"I agree. I'm not defending him. But dipping him in gravy and sealing him in a cave with one of Charlie's dragons is not going to help the situation. There must be something else to do. Now look. Maybe if we all get together to talk…"
"Right, Harry! I'll bring the Beater bats," added George helpfully.
"And I'll bring some Bludgers," chimed in Fred.
Exasperated, Harry suggested, "And I suppose I should bring the Veritaserum potion and maybe some of Filch's chains from the dungeon?"
"Excellent, Harry!"
"That's the spirit, old chap!"
"But the emphasis should be on more pain."
"Owww! What are you doing?!?! Stop!! NOOO! HARRY!"
Harry stood so fast his chair flew backwards. "Hermione!!!" he screamed. "Where are you? What's wrong?" Frightened at the lack of response, Harry sprinted towards the front door while everyone in the tavern looked on in shock. Fred and George jumped to their feet and rushed to catch Harry as he burst through the front door.
"Harry!"
"What's the matter!?!?"
"Something's happened to Hermione and Katie. Split up now and look for them. If you see anything, send up some sparks in the air with your wand. Go now!" commanded Harry.
Without another word, the three sprinted apart in different directions, searching furiously.
Harry shielded his eyes against the setting sun as he searched the skyline for a burst of sparks he kept examining every possible hiding place he could imagine as he raced down street after street, finding nothing. As the minutes passed, Harry's mood grew steadily darker, as did the sky with gathering thunderclouds.
"Stop and think for a minute. There's got to be a more effective way to search." he berated himself. Then he noticed the gathering clouds and the rapidly cooling temperature. He tried to slow his breathing as he thought desperately, "Control. I have to maintain control. Now calm down and think. Think!"
"Idiot!" he screamed at himself with a sudden flash of insight. He cloaked himself and leaped into the air as he turned into his dragonform. Soaring over the streets of Hogsmeade, he quickly spotted both of the Weasley twins searching in two different alleys.
"Hermione! Where are you?" he kept calling out, waiting in vain for an answer. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught a flash of movement at the edge of the village, near the forest. He teleported there instantly and tried to make sense of the scene he saw before him.
He saw Hermione's still form laying on the ground. Near her body were two people engaged in some sort of wrestling match. As Harry knelt beside Hermione's body while keeping his wand and eyes focused on the two figures struggling with each other, he observed a third figure emerging from the woods at a sprint. Finding a feeble pulse with a shaking finger, Harry breathed a sigh of relief and returned all of his attention to the other three figures as the rising winds calmed down and the temperature stopped dropping.
Harry recognized the two figures locked in a life and death struggle-Katie and Aardus. With one hand locked on Katie's wrist, Aardus was trying to prevent her from stabbing him with a dagger. Katie's other hand was latched on to the back of Aardus's neck, and Aardus's other hand was on her throat, trying to choke her. Circling the pair warily was Samuel, who looked anxiously at the pair.
"Let her go before anyone else gets hurt! You're not going to get away," warned Samuel, raising his wand and moved closer.
As Harry stepped steadily closer, Aardus glanced at him. "Neither of us is what we seem, Potter," he growled.
Harry replied coldly, "I know what you are, Aardus. You're a cold-blooded murderer. You're a monster. You killed those five thieves in Athens, didn't you?"
Harry thought he saw an expression of pain flicker across the face of Aardus, but there was no other visible response.
"That's what I thought," replied Harry as he coolly aimed his wand. When Katie managed to force Aardus to his knees, Harry stared in surprise. He studied the two closely for another moment as Katie pushed the dagger closer to Aardus's chest while Aardus tightened his grip on her throat. With a slight nod to Samuel, they cast their spells simultaneously.
-->