A/N: Hello, FF world! First of all thank you for checking out my story. I'm kind of stressing about posting it. First, because English is not my native language and a bit worried how it all turned out. Second, because it's the first thing I am putting out. I had written few things for school, but it was nowhere near something like this.

So, here it is.

P.S. I know I am not following canon strictly. I hope you don't mind that.

Chapter 1

Hallway of the Auror's Department was packed with people that day. Color pattern thatdominated was red and yellow, closely followed by some yellow and blue. Black and yellow stood in groops and in the deepest corners, almost shyly, stood some green.

It was July 15th, the day Department held a meeting and tests for new applicants. The date was chosen carefully. Given the fact that the school year at Hogwarts ended in June, Ministry thought it wise to give graduates some time to rest before putting them through very tortorous process of becoming an Auror. This tradition was broken only few times. The last time was in the year of the Battle, four years ago. Aurors were seriously lacking people and they decided to extend some offers for joining. Death Eaters that escaped had to be captured and there was no time to loose on training. They needed well-trained witches and wizards with experience in battle and Harry Potter, Ron Weasly and Neville Longbottom were deemed fit even though they were barely seventeen. So they were few of the handpicked ones and definitely the youngest to join the Order. They were the best of friends.

He sat in his office with his back turned to the table looking at the window. It was easy to mistake his state for deep thinking. The truth was - his mind was blank. He was just desperately trying to ignore the soft murmur coming from the hallways even through the thick doors. Seconds later, there was a knock on them.

"Come in!" he yelled.

"Uh..." came inarticulate sound behind his back but he quickly turned to look at the imposter. "Ron, we're about to begin, so..."

"I'm coming" Ron replied.

"OK, see you then..." said Neville awkwardly and closed the door behind him.

Ron pushed himself up from the chair and as he was ready to leave the office he caught a glimpse of himself in the glass of a cabinet. Piercing blue eyes that somewhere along the way became cold and narrow stared back at him. Dark clothes underneath the brown trench coat accentuated paleness of his skin that couldn't be mended even by the summer sun. His hair was still flaming red. That was probably the only thing that stayed the same. It was cut short now, thought, exposing every part of his face and neck... And the scar. Long, hand-carved like line begain right beside his right ear and wend down across his neck finally disappearing beneath his clothes.

He wasn't seventeen anymore. And he was no one's friend.

People still knew him by his name. They still called him Ronald Weasly. For all he knew, that man was dead. He just shared some resemblance with his ghost.

Without any movement on his face he put his wand in an inside pocket and left the office.

Once in the hallway he stared at the river of people that stood between him and his goal - heavy double wooden doors with iron hinges. He made the first step exiting the shadows and moved forward. With each step he made, they parted and let him pass. It appeared they all stopped doing what ever they were doing and had their eyes glue to his face now. Some of them whispered, but he didn't pay any attention to what they were saying. He stopped doing that a long time ago. One more step and he saw two familiar face that apparently waited for him.

"Hey, mate!" Harry greeted him.

Ron just nodded shortly.

"Did you see how many applicants we have this year?" Neville said and glanced at Harry oddly.

He turned his head and looked over his shoulder.

"Some people never learn" he said coldly. "We starting soon?"

"Yes, Elders are already inside" Harry replied.

Elders were simply the most experienced members of the Order accompanied by Professor McGonagall, post War headmistress of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and the Minister of Magic. Professor McGonagall was there to vouch for academics and talent of the applicants. Minister of Magic, of course, was there to express his gratitude for their decision to devote their academics and talent to a cause of keeping their world safe. Elders that actually belonged to the Order were the part of the intelligence squad when things were regular and chiefs in command when they weren't. Harry, Ron and Neville were neither... They were there as an ecouragement. Familiar faces that those who get accepted will come to hate once the training begins.

Ron pushed the door open and entered without knocking. This didn't come as surprise to any of those already seated at the big table. Minister Kingsley nodded in his direction.

"Let them in" he said after a short exchange with the rest.

As Ron walked towards his seat at the table, he desperately tried to ignore Professor McGonagall's eyes filled with concern and... pitty.

Soon, the room was filled with young people staring at faces of each and every one of these heroes as if they are going to get an instant answer about how bright their future will become. And each of those faces was supposed to give some sort of speech.

Voices got to his ears but he couldn't care less to make out the words. He knew the welcoming speech by hear and it made him sick. Professor McGonagall talked about how proud she was of them, Minister thanked them for deciding to take such a big step in helping keep safety of their world a priority and then Proudfoot, Head of the Order stood up and Ron felt bile rising up to his throat.

"... As you all know we will have to send some of home today. Don't be discouraged, be thankful instead. Be grateful that we want the best for you. That we want the best for this world. Therefore, we must build a chain of the strongest links. Chain that we will use to secure the door and keep out any threat that may come our way..."

Blah! Blah! Blah!

Same words every year. As Proudfoot finished his inspirational speech Ron looked at those young faces and how they were all in awe, listening, drowning in every word. By their looks he could tell that they already pictured themselves propped on flying brooms, soaring across the sky and taking down some vicious monster. Children...

He wasn't sure what angered him more; the fact that they were so ignorrant and believed in fairytales of greatness or that some of them knew and still decided to come. It was a good thing for the Order that he had no say in deciding who gets accepted and who goes home weeping. If he had, he would send them all home.

Head of the Order then went and presented every one of them. They all had warm words of welcome or at least a smile. But, not him. Once his name was said he barely ackowledged it. He just lifted his finger to avoid being mistaken for someone else.

He hated these meetings. They were boring to say the least and he absolutely abhored their purpose. Finally, they read the list of tests and order in which they will be taken. First on the list was The Pensive where the applicants will have to offer their memories for examination in order to be determined if they were mentally stable. According to the Order it was one of the key virtues an Auror must posses. And then he watched their young faces turn pale in horror, red in embarrasment and green with nausea. He couldn't help but snort. If they only knew.

Soon, the meeting was over and he exhaled in relief... Something, he quickly realized was a premature reaction once Professor McGonagall started walking towards him.

"Mr. Weasley" she greeted him.

"Professor" he replied standing up.

"I must say I'm a little disappointed that we only get to see each other in these welcoming meetings" she said sternly. "If I'm not mistaken you've been invited to every single event at Hogwarts. Yet, you never show".

"Yes, and thank you, but... I've been busy-"

"Yes, I've heard, Mr. Weasley" she interrupted him. "Quite an Auoror you became".

Ron said nothing.

"How's your family?"

He felt a surge of panic upon hearing this question. He could say anything; he could say that they were doing great and that his mother was experiencing some back pain or that his father was burried in work on Muggle Studies... Something regular, mundane. But, he didn't. Because he simply didn't know.

He stopped going home a year after the Battle. The last time he saw them all was at one year mark of Fred's death. Now, he saw Ginny occasionaly when she came to see Harry. They were really serious. He heard something about a wedding next year. He also saw his father several times when they bumped into each other in the Ministry. Last time they spoke Arthur told him how heartbroken his mother was over his behavior and he decided to avoid any contact after that.

"Mr. Weasly?" McGonagall put a stop to his wandering thoughts.

"I'm sorry, Professor. I must go".

And he left without a second glance. Professor McGonagall watched him leave and let out a heavy sigh. "Poor boy" she mouthed barely above a whisper.

Ron almost ran out in the hallway breathing heavily. He instantly stooped and tried to regain posture when he saw Harry a little further showing what seemed to be the last group of applicants directions.

"Ron!" Harry called and Ron's plan to go unnoticed fell through.

"Yeah?" he said as he came closer.

"Loads of people applied this year. Would you mind helping with coordiantion? Neville and I are busting our asses..."

Ron was already thinking of a good excuse to refuse Harry's plea when their attention was caught by a voice behind their backs.

"I'm sorry to bother you" blond boy holding a girl's hand began with more courage he acutally had. "My name is William Murphy. This is Anna. Anna Ellis. We saw you and we just couldn't miss the opportunity to speak to you."

"Hi. I'm Harry Potter. Nice to meet you" Harry extended his hand immediately followed by a friendly smile. "You two applied this year?"

"Yes" William continued now visibly shaken. "We applied together and we hope we will both pass. It's our dream".

Ron had his eyes fixed on their interwined fingers.

"And you're Ronald Weasley, sir" the boy went on hoping for at least an eye contact with another hero. "Is it true that you took down a warewolf barehanded?"

Ron didn't reply. Situation was quickly becoming severly awkward and Harry decided to jump in.

"Yes, it's true. He's got scars to prove it" he attempted a joke.

"Bloody brilliant!" Ron spat.

"E-excuse me..." the boy muttered and Harry shot him a glance.

"Go home!" he said looking at them intently.

"Sorry, sir... I don't think I under-"

"Ron" Harry said in a warning tone.

"Go home. If you care about each other - do it!"

They were staring at him eyes wide open. Harry once again tried to stop him, but he already continued.

"Or if you don't... Then, don't do this... This... hand-holding thing" he motioned towards their palms with disgust. "Don't bond! Don't depend on each other! One day the other one might not be around and you'll be bloody screwed".

"Do yourselves a favor. Go home!" he finished, turned and hurried down the hall.

William and Ann looked as his waving robe got further and further away with their mouth and eyes open trying to realize what just happened. Harry, on the other hand, bowed his head slightly knowing full well the answer to that question.

"He lost someone important, didn't he?" Ann dared to speak in a weak voice. Her eyes were starting to get watery.

Harry nodded.

"Yeah, he did" he said as the door slammed hard and the sound echoed against the walls. "Himself".

There...

I have next few chapters drafted, so tell me if I should continue this story.

In case you think I should I'll do my best to be as fast as updates as I can. Once a week is the best I can do for now, though.

Thanks for reading :)