"Obliviate!"

Ron dropped to the ground as the explosion began, jets of light shooting out from every direction of the ruined wand. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw the figure of Harry disappearing around the corner, but all his sight was quickly obscured as the ceiling began to crack. Triggered by the explosion, tons of rock crumbled down, falling between Harry and Ron.

Light was still emitting from the remains of the wand. Ron covered his head with his hands, praying.

I can't lose my memory, not now. After what happened to Ginny, it would destroy my parents. Please . . .

When the light died, he realized he could still think. He still knew who he was, where he was, why he was there . . . He let out a groan.

"Ginny," he whispered.

Looking ahead, he saw rock. A whole barrier, keeping him from his little sister. And not just her - his heart sank -

"Ron!" Harry's voice. "Are you okay? Ron!"

Before he could answer, a new voice broke in. Gilderoy Lockhart's. Ron turned to the fraud - the fool - the person who had almost destroyed his life - about to scream and curse him out, but he was stopped by the pleasantly bewildered look on Lockhart's face.

"Hello," he said. "Who are you?"

The charm had obviously backfired. "I'm here!" he called. "I'm okay - this git's not, though - he got blasted by the wand - "

His anger not quite abated, he strode over to Lockhart and kicked him as hard as he could in the shin. Lockhart replied with an "ow" but Ron paid no attention. "What now?" he said, glaring at the rock. "We can't get through - it'll take ages - "

"Wait there," said Harry. What was Ron hearing? "Wait with Lockhart. I'll go on." No! He couldn't do that! "If I'm not back in an hour . . ."

His voice died. Ron paused. He couldn't exactly do anything to dissuade Harry at this point, but he promised himself he wouldn't leave in an hour. He'd wait as long as it took.

"I'll try and shift some of this rock then," he said, his whole body shaking. He clutched at the stones to keep himself up. He couldn't lose Ginny and Harry - no. He wouldn't even entertain that possibility. "So you can - can get back through." His voice broke as he gazed at the very solid rocks before him for a moment. "And, Harry . . ." His voice trailed off this time. How did he say it? How could he tell Harry - what do you say to a friend when you might never see them again? No, he told himself sternly, he'll come back. He has to.

"See you in a bit," came Harry's voice. He didn't even sound scared. How could he be so brave?

"Good luck," Ron whispered, but there was no answer. Harry was gone.

...

Ron Weasley had never been so scared in his life.

His best friend in the world was off fighting a basilisk to save his, Ron's, baby sister. As if it wasn't had enough that his other best friend was lying in a hospital bed, Petrified. And - something occurred to him - he had no idea how to get out of this sewer hole. He scowled at the rock, wondering if he'd ever see any of them again. He was completely alone.

Well, not completely.

"Who am I?" asked a voice behind him.

Overcome with anger, Ron whirled and grabbed the moron by the collar.

"You," he spit, "are nothing. Do you hear me? And now, you are going to sit down, shut up, and not move a muscle. Do you understand me?"

Still looking puzzled, Lockhart walked a little way away, sat down on the ground, and started humming a strange, obnoxious little tune. Ron sighed and turned his attention to the huge pile of rock before him.

...

A long time passed, and Ron had finally made a gap through which a relatively thin person could squeeze if they really wanted to. Feeling proud of his handiwork, he was catching his breath when he heard running footsteps. And his name.

"Ron!" yelled Harry's voice, and Ron redoubled his efforts on the rock. "Ginny's okay! I've got her!"

"Yes!" Ron couldn't help shouting as his sister came into view. He reached out and pulled her through the gap. "Ginny! You're alive! I don't believe it!" His joy evaporated a bit, though, when he saw that she was crying, shaking with suppressed sobs, tears streaming down her face.

Then he had no room for anything but surprise as, instead of Harry, a giant, glowing red bird flew through the hole. "What happened?" he asked. "Where did that bird come from?"

"He's Dumbledore's," replied Harry, pushing through as well. Ron's best friend was covered in blood and holding a bloodstained, ruby-encrusted sword.

What on earth had happened? "How come you've got a sword?" asked Ron, completely in shock.

"I'll explain when we get out of here," said Harry evasively.

"But - "

"Later," said Harry firmly. Ron felt a slight twinge of annoyance, but it was quickly smothered. He had his sister back! And for that, he didn't care about anything else.