A/N: this'll probably just be a one-chapter short songfic… I've never really written drama or sad stuff before, I really hope it's good, and not too out of character… please review! And flame me, too, if you hate it… I need the criticism. Okay, here we go. Song credits go to Good Charlotte.
Emotionless
Ron Weasley sat at his desk in his bedroom, sucking on a quill as he thought about what to write to his father. It was summer, the summer after his seventh year at Hogwarts. It should have been a great summer. Ron had friends, even a girlfriend. But everything was all different.
Hey Dad, I'm writing to you
Not to tell you that I still hate you
Just to ask you how you feel
And how we fell apart, how this fell apart
At the end of Ron's sixth year at Hogwarts, Mr. Arthur Weasley had unexpectedly packed up and left the people he loved and loved him, his family and wife. Some people said he'd cracked by being pulled in too many directions trying to make everything work for his family. No one knew of his whereabouts, word at the Ministry was that he'd given up magic and become a Muggle so that he wouldn't be found as easily. Ron sighed and let go of all his emotions into the letter he was writing…
Are you happy out there in this great wide world?
Do you think about your sons?
Do you miss your little girl
?It was heartrending for Ron to hear the sobs of his sister and mother after Mr. Weasley had left without even a note. All the boys had come home, even Charlie from Romania, Bill from Egypt, and Percy almost quit his job as Minister of Magic. However, Percy was now supporting his family, along with the older Weasley boys.
When you lay your head down, how do you sleep at night?
Do you even wonder if we're alright?
We're alright, we're alright
The Weasley family was still surviving. They had their friends; they still had food on the table every night, although nothing was the same anymore. The house seemed emptier with so many people gone, Percy, Bill, Charlie, Fred, and George all had jobs and their own houses now, and Percy and Charlie were married.
It's been a long hard road without you by my side
Why weren't you there all the nights that we cried?
You broke my mother's heart, you broke your children for life
It's not okay, but we're alright
I remember the days you were a hero in my eyes
But those are just a long lost memory of mine
I spent so many years learning how to survive
Now I'm writing to you just to let you know I'm still alive
Ron had been the oldest male left in the house when his dad left, although Fred and George still came to visit all the time, even though they lived on the top floor of their joke shop. Ron learned how to cook, clean, and do everything around the house with Ginny. Mrs. Weasley had wanted to go out and get a job, but her sons and daughter wouldn't let her. It was terrible to hear her crying alone at night.
Those days I spent so cold, so hungry
Were full of hate, I was so angry
The scars run deep inside this tattooed body
There's things I'll take to my grave
But I'm okay, I'm okay
…Ron paused in his writing to run a callused finger over the tattoo he had on his right forearm. His mother had disapproved, but it was a tattoo he, Harry, and Hermione had gotten together several weeks after Ron's father had left. It was a lion with the word 'survivor' above it. Ron had been so angry, so rebellious after his father left… but he had to change, had to calm for his mother and sister.
It's been a long hard road without you by my side
Why weren't you there all the nights that we cried?
You broke my mother's heart you broke your children for life
It's not okay, but we're all right
I remember the days you were a hero in my eyes
But those are just a long lost memory of mine
Now I'm writing just to let you know I'm still alive
It was hard for Ron to go through his last year of Hogwarts without a real father figure. He was rebellious and broke a lot of rules, but Albus Dumbledore had been a big help to get Ron to calm down so he could support his sister Ginny.
And sometimes I'll forgive, yeah and this time I'll admit
That I miss you, said I miss you
It's been a long hard road without you by my side
Why weren't you there all the nights that we cried?
You broke my mother's heart you broke your children for life
It's not okay, but we're alright
I remember the days you were a hero in my eyes
But those are just a long lost memory of mine
Now I'm writing just to let you know I'm still alive
Ron was embarrassed as a tear ran down his cheek and dripped onto the still wet ink. He knew that he missed his father, and remembered the days when his dad would tinker with all the Muggle things he had, and show Ron what exactly he was doing with everything. Ron sighed and picked up his quill for the last time, squeezing his eyes shut to stop the tears and he dunked his quill in the inkwell.
And sometimes I forgive, yeah this time I'll admit
That I miss you, I miss you… hey Dad
Ron rolled up the parchment and tied it to the leg of his owl Pigwidgeon, confident that the little owl would be able to find his father. He watched Pig fly out the window, then whipped around as he heard his sister and quickly wiped his eyes and hoped they weren't too red.
"What are you doing, big brother?"
Big brother. Even though they weren't that far apart in age, Ron liked being his sister's protector.
"Nothing, Gin. Nothing."