Chapter 1-The Ghost of Christmas Past

A/N: For those of you who take the time to actually read this chapter, thanks so much, I love you all and I'll read/review all your stories. OK, so Ron & Dumbledore go back in time. Hope ya like!

"What the-WHERE ARE WE?" Ron screamed to Dumbledore, trying to be heard over all the snow. However, the man said nothing and just walked inside. Ron followed him, and instantly knew where they were.

"It's Christmas of my first year!" and he felt himself smile. He saw young Harry scramble to open all of his presents. Remembering how excited his friend was to actually get presents, he felt his smile get wider.

Then he realized something. "But, professor, Hermione didn't stay at Hogwarts this year. I definitely remember that."

The old man just looked grim and said, "Wait, you'll see."

Ron watched his young self and Harry race down to the Great Hall, but instead of following, the two men stayed in his dormitory. "Professor, what are we-?" Dumbledore pointed to a scrap of paper that had just fallen out of the pocket of Ron's old coat. Ron walked over to it, and, after realizing he couldn't pick it up, crouched down and read it.

It was in Hermione's neat handwriting. It read:

Ron, I would just like to again thank you for saving me from that troll. I do realize that it was your fault in the first place, but thank you nonetheless. I like really appreciate that. Love Sincerely, Hermione.

Ron was in shock. Hermione must have slipped this into his pocket, expecting him to find it! He never did though, because he was an idiot. He wanted to run to the Great Hall, grab his young self, bring him up here, and force him to read this note.

"I'm afraid you can't do that," said Dumbledore, as if he had read the boy's mind. Ron was so overcome with emotion he couldn't respond. To most people, this was a juvenile note, but to him, it showed that Hermione had feeling for him (okay, tolerated him) even at the age of 11.

"We must go now," Dumbledore said, suddenly. Grabbing Ron's hand, he jumped out of the window.

Ron found himself in the midst of a party. I don't even remember this, he thought. He saw Harry, Hermione, even that git Cormac McLaggen, but himself nowhere. Then it dawned on him…

"This is Slughorn's party isn't it?" Dumbledore nodded slowly, and lead the boy over to where Harry and Hermione were talking.

"Serves you right for asking him," he heard Harry say.

"Well I thought he would annoy Ron the most-" The conversation continued, but Ron heard nothing. He remembered this year vividly. How he had become jealous of Hermione and started going out with Lavender, how Hermione became distant--. She was jealous of him? He never would have guessed. He only knew theyhad an unspoken war going on until he went and got poisoned…SHE was jealous of HIM?

"Time for the next scene!" Dumbledore's calm but stern voice pulled Ron out of his trance. Again, they jumped out of a window.

"Oh, I get it, you choose him." He heard himself say, his every word dripping with anger and jealousy. He knew what this was, and he refused to watch it, absolutely refused.

"DUMBLEDORE! NO! DON'T MAKE ME WATCH THIS!" This was when he decided to be an idiot. To walk out on his two best friends just because one was helping the other thwart the darkest wizard ever to walk the earth. He regretted it still to this day, but yet, he knew why he did it. It absolutely killed him that the girl he loved (at the time, mind you) would stay with his other friend, who he sometimes saw as competition.

"It's okay, it's over, I just had to let you see how completely stupid that idea was. It's time to move on."

Now they were in the Great Hall. Everyone was shooting curses at everyone. It was the Final Battle. They all felt an inch from death, as if they would never survive. It was after he had left and come back, and Hermione had finally forgiven him. He saw the two of this run towards Harry with basilisk fangs and he knew what was going to happen when he heard "house elves," for the image of what happened next was imprinted on his mind forever.

He heard the basilisk fangs fall the floor and saw Hermione running at his 17-year-old self. She kissed him, and even from just watching it, Ron remembered exactly what he had felt. As if he never wanted it to end, and as if he did not deserve the pure joy he was feeling, both at the same time. He heard Harry yell, "OI! THERE'S A WAR GOING ON!" and started to chuckle. At the time, he did not hear what Harry had said, as he was too much in shock of the moment's events.

He felt Dumbledore grip his hand, and also felt the urge to pull away. He had an idea of where they were going next.

And here they were. The worst moment of his life.

Everyone was at one of those annual Harry/Ginny Christmas parties. It was only 2 years after the final battle. Ron looked around and saw that he had not arrived yet. It was completely packed, and everyone he knew was there. Dumbledore started to walk through the crowd.

"NO! Dumbledore, if you are headed towards Harry and Hermione, I refuse to follow you."

"I'm sorry, Ron, but you must. It's for your own good." Dumbledore was one of those people who could get you to do anything, so Ron followed, registering that he wouldn't have if it was anyone but him.

"Do you guys know where Ron is?" called Ginny to the two.

"He just called me to tell me he got hung up at training and he'll be here soon," replied Hermione. Harry turned to her.

Ron was dreading this more than anything he had ever dreaded in his whole life.

"Before he comes, can I talk to you in private, Hermione?" Harry asked. Ron hated reliving this, it made him want to commit murder.

"Sure, but good luck finding a private place here." God, she was so fucking oblivious!

"How about the bathroom?"

"Okay."

This made him think she wasn't oblivious, just cheating on him. She seemed to be completely up with going with Harry into the bathroom.

Ron and Dumbledore followed them, despite Ron protesting that he really didn't want to see his ex and best friend getting it on in the bathroom.

"Okay, Hermione I have huge news."

"Really? What is it?" Ron heard himself enter the house.

"We have elected you the leader of the Magical Law Enforcement Department!" So this is why she cheated on him? Because of some stupid ministry office.

"NO WAY! Oh my gosh Harry, I'm so happy!" and she gave him a peck on the cheek.

Ron's younger self opened the door, starting cursing them off, and stormed out, without hearing an explanation.

Meanwhile, his present self was dying inside. That was all it was? A peck on the cheek? He broke up with the love of his life over THAT? He wanted to kill himself. Literally. He couldn't deal with this.

"TAKE ME BACK, YOU BASTARD!" he screamed at Dumbledore, who, surprisingly, consented. He couldn't deal with this pain, it was tearing him apart, he wanted to kill someone, something, anything!

He heard the clock strike and found himself back in his bed.

A/N: Thank you to those who read it! I hope you liked it! Read the next chapter, it'll be posted really soon. (A few hours, probably.)