Ch 21 End of Vacation
Harry was laying on his bed, resting after a light workout with Hermione and Saldar watching the sun slowly rise higher over the horizon. The sun had never looked so beautiful as it did now that he was a free man once again. Ron's bed was empty, and Harry was simply enjoying being alone for a few minutes. He heard the door swing open slowly and turned his head and smiled at the brown haired beauty who stepped into the room.
"I hope you're decent, lazy boy."
"I am-I'm just enjoying the peacefulness of this morning. I was afraid I'd never see the world outside of my cell in Azkaban again." Harry shuddered. "I don't know how Sirius and Hagrid survived it."
Hermione sat by his side and put her arm around him as he sat up. Together, they simply watched the world outside the window.
Hermione chuckled when she heard Harry's stomach grumble. "Well, should we see if Molly saved us any breakfast?"
"After you."
They had descended halfway down the staircase when they heard the loud voices of Ron, Fred, and George arguing angrily.
"I've told you both now, it's none of your bloody business!"
"We've seen the bloody picture, Ron! It's in all the papers today! You've made it our bloody business!" shouted Fred.
"And Katie told us she broke up with you because you were cheating on her, with Cho Chang!" snarled George.
"And the real Katie, the one I went out with, was already dead! The Katie that told you that was the one that killed her! Do you really think she'd be telling the truth?!?! How thick can you be?!?"
"Just answer the question Ron! How long have you been secretly seeing Cho Chang?!? Did you break up with Katie first, or is that why you broke up?!?!"
"Fine! You wanna know?! You really wanna know all the juicy details! Fine! I bumped into Cho a couple of times at Diagon Alley while Katie and I were still going out. We weren't doing so well and Cho was a very good listener. Katie thought I was cheating and I laughed at her when I tried to explain, and well, we broke up. After Katie, or whatever that thing that we thought was Katie got killed, and while Hermione was in her coma, I went to talk to Cho again. She seemed to care and understand what I was going through. She lost someone pretty close to her as well. Mum and Dad tried to talk to me, but they were the only ones, and it wasn't the same as talking to Cho. You guys acted like it was all my fault that she got killed, and everyone else was so concerned about Hermione and then Harry. It didn't seem like I was much help, nobody seemed to miss me, so I started spending more time with Cho. Now is that enough information for the two of you? Because if it's not, you can both sod off right now!"
Tears running down her face, Hermione gasped, "Oh, Ron, we didn't mean to ignore you. I didn't mean to push you aside and…"
Ron whirled to see both Harry and Hermione standing on the stairs above him. He looked startled at first, then his anger returned.
"I guess now I'm supposed to ask for permission to date your old flames, huh Harry?"
Harry's face was still pale from the vague reference to Cedric's death but he quickly snapped back, "Don't be an idiot Ron. I don't care if you date Cho, you can date whoever you want…"
"Thanks a lot, Harry. I guess I'm good enough for all of your rejects, huh? You better watch out, Hermione. Now that he's defeated You-Know-Who and uncovered the assassin of Minister Fudge, he'll be more famous than ever. Every witch in the world will be after him. You better be careful or he'll toss you aside just like Cho and you'll be stuck with some second rate wizard like me."
"RONALD WEASLEY!!! If you think for one minute that I…" Hermione's furious voice paused as Harry grabbed her arm tightly. Turning, she saw his green eyes blazing with barely controlled anger.
"Ron, I'm sure you're just upset and blowing off steam so I'm going to give you a chance to apologize to Hermione," spoke Harry forcefully, in a very controlled but chilling tone.
The twins had other ideas, as both had cocked their fists to punch Ron for his outburst before he had a chance to reply. Seeing their arms move, Ron glanced at Fred and then with a loud crack, disappeared.
Stunned, Fred and George looked at each other with their fists still clenched and held behind their ears.
"Put your fists down, you idiots!" cracked the voice of Ginny from the open doorway of the kitchen. Molly, standing beside her, was already turning away from the awful scene in the living room. Everyone there could tell by the way her shoulders were heaving as she slowly walked away that she was sobbing.
--
Sitting in the kitchen, Harry had managed to control his rage after Ron had left and Hermione had calmed down as well. Both sat and chewed on their toast mechanically as they sat at the kitchen table trying to swallow their breakfast and digest the latest turn of events involving Ron. Hermione had been the first to see the photos and articles which had likely sparked the tremendous row in the living room between the brothers.
Several of the papers had published a photo of Ron kissing Cho at the Ministry following Harry's acquittal. It wasn't on the front page, that was dominated by reports of the trial itself. But photos were all over the pages of what would be considered the society/gossip section of the paper. And all of the headlines ran some variation of Former Flame and Best Friend of Harry Potter Discover Love Amidst Shared Tragedy-Both Lost Former Loves in Attacks Aimed at Boy-Who-Lived. Many of the articles then added additional lurid details, including what Harry and Hermione hoped were only invented quotations such as "I still can't understand how Harry could save everyone else, but not my precious Cedric," or "I can't believe how he continues to take all the credit-he had a lot of help bringing down You-Know-Who. There were a lot of us who trained every bit as hard, and took just as many risks as he did. I don't see him taking the responsibility for those who fell fighting beside him or protecting him."
Harry and Hermione finished eating in silence. Harry then walked back up to the room he shared with Ron, and with his wand waving rapidly, quickly packed his trunk with all of his things.
"What do you think you're doing, Harry?" asked Hermione.
"I'm leaving. I'm going to my new place. It's been a rough couple of weeks for everyone here. And I think with everything going on here with you and me, Ron just felt left out. I'm going to leave to give him some space. Maybe that will help."
"Well, let me come with you then."
Harry hugged her and then kissed her lightly on the forehead. "I don't think that would be such a good idea." Smiling, he added, "Especially considering the argument we got into the last time we were alone there."
Trying not to smile, Hermione punched him lightly in the chest. "Fine, I guess I'll hang out with Ginny and try to do some damage control. Do you need any help taking your stuff over?"
He shook his head no and with a flick of his wand, shrunk his trunks and bags. "But I wouldn't mind some company." Harry stuffed his now tiny luggage into a pocket and then double checked the room to make sure he had left nothing behind. Then the two of them walked downstairs and told Ginny they would be back in an hour. They then Apparated to the Weasley's joke shop, walked up to Harry's home, dropped off his stuff and visited with Dobby for a while. Dobby was very excited to learn that Harry would be staying with him for nearly a week before classes began. They finally returned to the Burrow, just as Molly was setting out sandwiches for lunch. They were not surprised to discover that Ron had not yet returned. Lunch was a quiet affair and then Harry announced that he wanted to go to St. Mungo's to check in on Madame Bones. Hermione volunteered to go with him of course, but Harry was surprised when asked to go as well.
Molly seemed to be feeling better and they felt slightly guilty about leaving her, but Charlie and Bill were still around. When they were finished eating, they gathered around the fireplace and each threw in a pinch of powder and said clearly, "St. Mungo's."
--
Harry was about to get up off his hands and knees when Hermione tripped over the top of him and then Ginny stepped on his fingers and sprawled on top of him and Hermione.
"Harry, how can you be such a good seeker and such a klutz at the same time?" growled Ginny as she tried to disentangle herself from the other two.
"Honestly, that is the last time I ever follow you into a fireplace," complained Hermione.
Several of the nurses, physicians, and conscious patients looked on in amusement as the three sooty teenagers slowly untangled themselves and slowly rose to their feet. Harry straightened his glasses and mumbled apologies to both girls. As he brushed his hair trying to get some of the ash and dust out, he could hear several murmurs.
"Come on, let's go find Madame Bones' room before the blasted paparazzi hear that I'm here. I can't believe I didn't put on some sort of disguise before I came. What was I thinking?"
Hermione led them to a stern looking nurse seated behind a large, white desk.
She looked down imperiously at the three from a very high stool. "How may I help you?" she asked in a tone that seemed like she was actually giving an order.
"We're here to see Madame Bones. She was brought in yesterday from the trial."
"And you three would be…"
"I'm Hermione Granger, this is Ginny Weasley, and this is…"
But the nurse's eyes had already flicked to Harry's scar and her face paled considerably.
"Blimey, I'm not here to finish her off. I just wanted to make sure she was doing OK and…and to apologize for stunning her," snorted Harry.
"Room 415, on…on the fourth floor," stammered the nervous witch.
"Thank you," replied Harry. The three quickly found a lift and took it to the fourth floor.
"411…413…ahh, here we go. 415," announced Harry. "Hey! Where did Ginny go?" He and Hermione both stopped and looked around, but Ginny was nowhere to be found. "Maybe she went for a snack or something-I'm sure she'll turn up later." Harry reached to grab the doorknob when he felt his hand suddenly grasped at the wrist.
"What the…" burst out Harry as he instinctively reached out and placed his left hand on top of the hand holding his wrist, trapping it there. He then raised his right elbow, pushed it forward several inches, and then began pressing downwards, looking for the other man's forearm. He found it and quickly began applying pressure downward. Within a moment, he heard the invisible wizard begin to moan in pain as his wrist began to bend very painfully at a very awkward angle, caught in Harry's strong grasp and now being bent by Harry's forearm.
He then heard the first syllable of a spell being muttered to his left. Forcing the wrist down very painfully, he felt the man's hold on his wrist loosen and he slipped his hand free to grab the man's elbow. With a quick spin, he flung the invisible man into his partner as the man finished his spell. With a flick of his wrist, his wand appeared in his hand as Hermione shouted Finite Incantatum in the direction of the two colliding bodies.
Two angry, disheveled mages looked up into two wands aimed right at their faces.
"Who are you and what are you doing hiding outside of Madame Bones' room? Answer me!" commanded Harry, pointing his wand threateningly. Everyone in the hallway had stopped to stare at the commotion.
Looking at the Auror insignia on the shoulders of their robes, Hermione whispered quietly, "Harry, they were probably guarding her room. They're wearing Auror's robes."
"Yeah, I saw that. But anyone can put an Auror insignia on their robe."
One of the men just sat and stared at Harry in complete shock. The other began cracking a grin as he raised his hands. "Well, I don't feel nearly as stupid now as I did a minute ago." His eyes glanced at Harry's scar. "You must be Harry Potter. And you must be Hermione Granger. She's right by the way, we're here to guard Madame Bones. I'm Spliney. And this here is Wallace. Nice to meet you both."
Harry thought he heard someone laughing inside the room. "Oh, just let them in. I told you two it was ridiculous to be hiding outside my room."
Spliney rose and opened the door for the two of them. Wallace just sat there and kept rubbing his sore wrist.
"Sorry about that," mumbled Harry as he walked through the door.
Madame Bones was leaning back on a bed, still chuckling as Harry and Hermione walked through the door.
"Come to finish me off, eh Harry?"
Harry blushed a bright red and found himself suddenly tongue tied. That seemed to make Madame Bones laugh even harder.
Finally regaining his composure and ignoring Hermione's grin, Harry managed to spit out, "Uhh, about yesterday. I'm terribly sorry I hit you with that Stunner. I reckon it was a pretty nasty shot, and I hope you're doing, well that you're feeling, uh, that you're OK."
"Oh, all these quacks say I'll be fine. But they insisted on keeping me overnight, instead of letting me go home to my nice, comfortable bed. I hate hospitals."
Harry grinned and replied, "I know exactly what you mean."
Madame Bones smiled back. "Yes, Albus and I have had a few talks about you and some of your friends'…uhh…exploits. I imagine you have developed quite a distaste for the infirmary at Hogwarts." She chuckled again.
Harry looked around the room and suddenly realized he hadn't brought anything when he saw several of the cards and bouquets of flowers. He placed his hands behind his back, pulled out a thread from a fraying hem, and quickly transformed it into a single, pink flower. He then bowed to Madame Bones in what he hoped was a nice gesture and handed her the rose, to her immense delight.
"Why, Mr. Potter, if I were thirty-excuse me-ten years younger, I might think you were trying to work up your courage to ask me out." Harry turned bright red as Madame Bones laughed merrily and Hermione did her best to control a sudden fit of the giggles. Madame Bones graciously accepted the flower and placed it into an empty vase on a shelf near her bed.
"I suppose I should apologize, Mr. Potter. I really did not mean to embarrass you so." She then winked at Hermione, who began laughing even harder behind the hand clamped tightly over her mouth.
"Yes, err, well, umm," stammered Harry.
"Was there anything else you wanted to talk about, beyond my health and offering your apologies?" In a more serious tone, she added, "Which, I might add, was completely unnecessary. It is I who should thank you Mr. Potter, for saving my life."
"You're very welcome. I hope you're feeling better." Harry then turned to leave.
"Oh, there's one other thing I think I should thank you for, Mr. Potter." Madame Bones looked at both Harry and Hermione. "I want to thank you for bringing to the attention of the Wizengamot in a very direct and public way the need to address certain inadequacies within our justice system. I would be very pleased to visit with the both of you at some time in the future to discuss various ways in which we might uhh, improve upon our current system."
Harry looked shocked for a moment. "Oh, I'm sure there's not much we, or at least I could contribute. Hermione, perhaps, but I don't think I…"
"Oh, I am very certain Miss Granger could provide some very refreshing and useful observations and suggestions. But Mr. Potter, you have much more practical first hand experience unfortunately, of the way our justice system works, or fails to work. Despite your doubts, I believe additional discussions with the two of you could be very useful to me as I try to solve some of the problems that have been brought to my attention. If you don't mind, of course."
Harry glanced at Hermione's face, which looked very excited, and turned and smiled at Madame Bones. "I should warn you that Hermione will have lots of observations and suggestions to share with you."
Hermione shot him a withering glance and added, "It would be our pleasure to help in any way we can, Madame Bones."
They chatted for a few more minutes and then Harry and Hermione left Madame Bones to finish packing her things to go home. Out in the hall, they still saw no sign of Ginny, so they said goodbye to the two guards and went back to the lift. When they got off the lift, they quickly spotted Ginny sitting in a couch by the fireplace through which they had arrived. When she looked up at them, she had a very odd look on her face, which she quickly hid.
"What happened to you? Where did you go? Did you get lost?"
"No, no. I bumped into someone I thought I knew from school."
"Oh, yeah? Who?"
"Oh, you probably wouldn't know her, she's from Hufflepuff. How was Madame Bones doing?"
Hermione grinned. "You'll never believe what she said to Harry." Harry rolled his eyes and quickly walked away from the two chattering girls towards the fireplace.
--
Earlier, Ginny had let Harry and Hermione walk ahead of her as she looked for the special ward where Neville's parents stayed. For some reason, she had felt the need to visit his parents when Harry had mentioned making a visit to St. Mungo's. She knew that Neville came to visit fairly often with his grandmother during the summer, but she wasn't sure if she really hoped to run into him.
Checking one of the charts on the wall, Ginny easily found the pair of beds where the Longbottoms were sitting, propped up by several pillows. Even knowing beforehand that they would not recognize her did not lessen the lump she felt grow in her throat as she saw their vacant eyes and the slack skin hanging from their white, thin faces. She quietly sat on a stool between the two of them and gazed at them sadly, wondering again what had prompted her to come and visit them in the first place.
Several minutes later, she began whispering softly, as if confiding an important secret to the resting pair. "I'm Ginny Weasley, a very good friend of your son Neville. I don't know if you can understand what I'm saying, or even if you can hear me, but I thought you would like to know a few things about your son. Some things that he probably hasn't told you when he's come to visit."
Ginny paused a moment in thought and then continued. "You would be very proud of him. He's stood up to Voldemort's Death Eaters in three of the last most important battles. He helped save Harry Potter's life a year and a half ago in the battle at the Ministry. He helped protect Harry until other members of the Order could arrive and capture the Death Eaters. Then Neville stood with other sixth and seventh year students to fight off an Army of Death Eaters and Dementors to save the other students at Hogwarts several months ago when Voldemort sent his army to attack it. And he came to fight with Harry against Voldemort himself and his entire army when Voldemort was finally defeated for good. He's got a couple of nasty scars he'll probably always carry, but he survived. And he's a hero. A hero! Your little Neville is a hero from the Second War against Voldemort. Though he's really not so little anymore. You would be so proud of him. I'm proud of him. I wish you could see him. I wish you could see him like I see him. He's a very courageous, a very kind, a very good young man."
Tears running down her eyes, Ginny looked deeply at the expressionless faces and bowed her head. She then rested one of her hands lightly on each of the beds, and sobbed silently, bitter at the injustice and the senselessness of war, crying the tears that she suspected neither Neville nor his parents could. Once she had regained her composure, she rose slowly and turned to leave. Had she paused to look back, she might have noticed a single tear rolling down the cheek of Neville's mother.
As Ginny walked slowly back to the entrance, she heard another voice full of anguish. She didn't mean to eavesdrop, but she couldn't help but stop and listen to the raw pain in the voice.
"I am sooo sorry this happened to you mother. I can't believe I was so blind, so stupid. I can't believe that I ever thought Father and the rest of his friends were right. Look what they've done to you. Look!
I thought they had finally gotten what was coming to them. I was so happy and angry at the same time. Happy because they all got exactly what they deserved. But angry because I wasn't the one to kill him. But you know what Mum? I've just been given another shot. Once again, Father has managed to find a way to escape. Just like always.
But I swear I'll make it up to you. I'll find him and I'll have vengeance. I'll make him pay for everything he's done to us. I'll find him and I'll kill him myself! For both of us! I swear it! I give my oath as a Malfoy that I won't rest until Father is dead."
Clasping her hand to her mouth, Ginny realized who she had heard and began walking quickly to the doors. She bumped into a table, sending several glass flasks crashing to the floor.
"Who's there?" rang out an angry voice. Ginny turned again to flee and had run three steps before a powerful hand reached out and grabbed her arm, turning her around to face the thin, white face of Draco Malfoy, livid with rage. His wand was out and only inches from her face.
"What are you doing here, Weasley? What did you hear?" Looking at her face, Ginny noticed some of the anger drain away to be replaced by puzzlement at the odd look on Ginny's face.
"I didn't mean to eavesdrop, Malfoy. I didn't realize anyone else was here." Draco's face became a stony mask, Ginny could not tell what he was thinking or feeling, if anything. "I don't think I've ever thanked you for saving Harry and Hermione. Thank you. And I want you to know, that I am sorry for what happened to your mother."
Shock and puzzlement again crossed Draco's face, to be replaced quickly with a flash of anger. "It wasn't your fault, it was that stupid idiot of a father who brought this about. Him and Voldemort. I don't see why you're apologizing." Then his voice took a much sharper tone as he realized what she had really meant. "I don't need your pity, Weasley. Now go away. And if you mention any of this to anyone, I'll…"
Straightening to her full height, which still put her a good half foot shorter than Malfoy, Ginny stepped right back in front of him. She looked icily up into his eyes, ignoring the wand he still held pointed at her. "Don't you dare threaten me, Malfoy, or the next hex I put on you will last a week."
Malfoy's jaw clenched in anger, and he almost involuntarily backed up a step, but he refused to budge an inch as Ginny continued.
"You're not the only one who has suffered at the hands of Voldemort and his Death Eaters. You're not the only one with old grudges to settle. I would love to have a nice little chat with your father at the end of my wand some day about a certain book he slipped in my cauldron at a bookstore several years ago. But you don't see me running around like a madman swearing oaths of vengeance. If that's the way you want to handle it, fine! Go and get yourself killed, nobody's stopping you!
But there are other ways of dealing with your anger and grief. You could talk to Dumbledore, or Snape. I know Harry would be willing to listen, if you wanted to talk to him. But if you want to do all this on your own, that's your choice. I'm not going to try and stop you." Ginny turned on her heel and strode away angrily, leaving a speechless Draco Malfoy just staring at her.
Ginny paused at the doorway and turned for a moment to say one last thing. "I wouldn't have told anyone about this anyways. Whatever you say to your mum in private should stay that way, unless you want to share it with someone. But you do what you have to do, Draco." And then she was gone with the door closing softly behind her, leaving Malfoy alone in the growing afternoon shadows from the shuttered windows.
--
That evening, Harry and Hermione were enjoying a wonderful feast that Dobby had prepared for them. Harry insisted that Dobby join them, much to Dobby's surprise and embarrassment. Halfway through the meal, Harry felt an annoying tingling sensation that set his nerves on edge.
"What was that?"
"What?" asked Hermione.
"It felt like I just got an electric shock."
Hermione's eyes widened. "It's probably one of the silent alarms we've set on the house. It means there is an intruder." Both drew their wands and rose from the table in one fluid motion. Senses alert, they silently crept through the house, when Harry paused, hearing the sound of a door opening downstairs in the cellar. They waited patiently in the room into which the door to the basement would open, extinguishing the lights to give them an added advantage over the intruder. The door opened slightly and a tall, lanky form stepped through cautiously and a bit awkwardly.
"Har-"
"Stupefy!" shouted Hermione.
"No!" shouted Harry as Ron's body flew backwards down the stairs, thumping hard on about every other step. Harry quickly raced down the stairs with Hermione following closely behind. Reaching the bottom, Harry rolled him over gently, trying to assess how badly he was hurt.
Ron opened one eye, and saw Harry, and then Hermione. "I guess you're still pretty upset then. Right, can't say that I blame…" His eye rolled back into his head and his head lolled to one side as he lost consciousness.
"Oh Ron, I am so sorry!" exclaimed Hermione. Looking at Harry, she explained, "I didn't recognize him."
Harry just shook his head. "Why didn't he just use the front door? He knew how to get here. It looks like he came through the tunnel guarded by the Whomping Willow. That's probably how he got the broken arm. What an id…"
"Actually, Harry the wards are back in place. We set them to restore themselves after everyone went to Molly's for the birthday party. The only reason I could see the house instead of the Shrieking Shack was because I came with you. Right now, you and I are the only ones who could find this place from outside, except for the tunnel."
"Oh. Well, let's get him back upstairs and I'll make a portkey to take us all back to the Burrow. Mobilocorpus." Hermione led the way upstairs with Ron floating behind her, and Harry following, guiding Ron carefully. They returned to the kitchen where Harry grabbed a salt shaker and muttered Portus. He then rested the salt shaker on Ron's arm, and both he and Hermione touched the shaker with their fingers. Harry said, "Burrow," and felt that familiar gut-wrenching sensation and then all three of them were in the Weasley's living room.
Nobody was there, so Hermione called out to Molly. She came through the kitchen door, wiping her eyes quickly, her face sad and full of concern. "What happened to Ron?" she shrieked as she quickly ran to his side.
"Well," began Harry awkwardly, "we think he came to my house to apologize. He came through the passage guarded by the Whomping Willow and…"
"That's what happened to him? Oh look at him, his arm looks broke and…"
"Uhh, yeah. About that. Well, we thought it was an intruder and uhh…" Harry glanced quickly at Hermione, "and he got hit with a Stunner-we didn't realize it was Ron at first-and he fell down the stairs as well."
"Well, I'm sure it's nothing we can't fix. Can you take him up to his bed? Hermione, can you help me gather a few things from the kitchen?" Harry floated Ron up to his bedroom and was joined a few minutes later by Molly and Hermione. He watched as Molly quickly reset Ron's left arm and began treating his different bruises and bumps. She then gave him a sleeping draught that would help him sleep peacefully through the rest of the night.
Harry borrowed some Chudley Cannon pajamas from Ron and crashed on the other bed, still worried about Ron. Ron was still sleeping the next morning when Harry woke up and headed downstairs. Molly was already fixing breakfast. Hermione and Ginny were chatting while the twins were muttering darkly at the far end of the table. A few minutes later the loud thumping footfalls of Ron could be heard on the stairs and the twins got up quickly and went outside. Molly followed their departure with a sad glance, but said nothing. Ron pushed through the door and was half in his seat before he realized that everyone was looking at him. With a shock, he realized that Hermione and Harry were both there as well, watching him quietly. His face coloured a deep, bright red and he jumped back from the table. He stopped at the door and turned as if to say something, but changed his mind and quickly headed outside.
Harry rose quietly and followed him out.
"Harry!"
"I'm just going to talk to him. It might be easier if it's just the two of us."
"OK, but watch out for the twins. They still look pretty upset."
Ron was halfway across the back yard before Harry could catch up to him. "Ron! Ron, we need to talk."
Ron stopped and Harry could see his shoulders tense and his fists clench. Harry wasn't entirely sure Ron wasn't just going to try and hit him. Instead, he heard a low voice full of painful emotion.
"I…I don't even know where to begin Harry. I know I've said a lot of stupid things over the years, but yesterday was by far the worst. I wish I could say that I didn't mean any of those things I said yesterday, but there are times when…when I do wish I was you, that everybody saw me as a hero, that everybody adored me, that I was as powerful and famous as you, that someone as special as Hermione would love me…"
Furious, Harry grated his teeth. "Do you have any idea what you're wishing for Ron? Do you? I would give up all that hero-worshipping nonsense in a heartbeat to be with my parents and Sirius again, if only for a day. Do you have any idea what it's like being the hero of the world-that is if you manage to save the day. And if you don't, then the whole world turns on you in the blink of an eye! So you want the fame and power of the Boy-Who-Lived, do you? Well, you can have all of the crushing expectations, the immense burdens, and the horrible pain of loss that goes with it, mate. Be careful what you wish for-I only pray you never go through half of what I have. Blimey, Ron, how can I make you understand?" As his thoughts whirled, Harry kept quiet, afraid that at the moment, anything he said might only make the situation even more tense.
Ron continued, "I know it's stupid and selfish of me, and I know that you've suffered a lot of pain and anguish because of your fame and power, but still…I just don't know what to say, Harry. I wish I could take back everything I said yesterday and make it right. I wish that I never felt jealous of you and Hermione but there are times…And I completely understand if you never want to speak to me again. Hell, if I was in your place, I wouldn't even be listening to me ramble on here, I would have hexed myself a long time ago." Ron's shoulders sagged and his head dropped to his chest. "All I can say Harry is that I'm sorry. I am soo sorry about yesterday and I swear that I'll never…"
"It's OK, Ron. Let's just forget about it." As Ron turned around, Harry asked, "Uhh, you're not crying are you?"
Ron's face blushed red and then he asked Harry, "And what's wrong with your eyes, you get some dust in them or something?"
"No," insisted Harry looking up into the bright morning sky. "I, uhh, I think it might be a few raindrops that just started to fall."
Ron looked up and agreed quickly. "Raindrops, yeah, me too." Then Ron gave him a huge, rib-cracking hug.
Harry managed to gasp out, "OK, Ron, that's enough. I said we were fine."
"Right, right," replied Ron and stepped back quickly. "Mates, then?"
"Of course," smiled Harry, "I'll need some help with setting up some of the twins' pranks this year at school and I need to stay on good terms with the Gryffindor Quidditch captain if I want to play this year."
Ron chuckled and then his face went slightly white. "Do you reckon Hermione will hex me again if I try apologizing to her again?"
Harry's grin grew. "Maybe. I'll open the door first for you. Just in case." Harry chuckled as he noticed that his offer didn't seem to calm down Ron very much. They returned to the house and the girls inside quickly went back to eating, pretending they hadn't been watching through the windows and listening to Hermione's running commentary. Ron's apology was fairly good compared to his normal ones and Hermione didn't make him suffer too long before forgiving him. She then told him she was sorry for hexing him and gave him a huge hug before Harry joined in. Molly started crying and the rest of breakfast was much happier. After breakfast, the three of them found the twins and helped Ron iron out his differences with Fred and George. They still seemed upset, and Ron figured he would be the special target of their joking wrath for at least the next week. He was right.
--
Next Chapter: A New School Year
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