Chapter Three: Mr Weasley: Father and Diplomat

Mrs Weasley simply stood there stunned into silence until, 'Arthur!' she shouted before leaving Ron's room with Ginny in tow.

She arrived in the kitchen before she called her husband's name again, 'Arthur!'

'Yes, dear?' he said as he appeared from the pantry.

'Your son is out of control!' his wife screeched.

'Which one, I have several,' he replied calmly.

'Ronald.'

'What happened?' he asked.

Mrs Weasley told her husband what had just happened in Ron's room between herself, Ginny and Ron.

'… How dare he speak to me to about how I treat our children! I've always treated them equally! I'm going over to the Grangers to bring him home!' she ranted.

'NO!'

'What?'

'I said no, Molly.'

'Why should he be allowed to get away with this?'

'Because he is right,' said Arthur.

'Oh, really?' said Molly.

'Yes. You've always been softer on Ginny than the boys. You do have your favourites.' He then turned to Ginny and said, 'Go to your room and stay there.' Ginny did as she was told as Arthur turned back to Molly.

'Tell me, why did Ron not have his own wand until last summer? It is because you spoiled Percy instead, you bought him new robes and an owl! As great as becoming a Prefect might be, our youngest son having his own wand is far more important. A new wand costs seven Galleons, new robes and an Owl together costs three times that amount. All the other kids got their own wands before they started Hogwarts, why was Ron different? Ollivander always says "The wand chooses the Wizard", and "You won't get the same results using another's wand". Ron is the only one of the children who had to wait two years to get his own wand and one of those years he had a broken one.'

'That was his fault it broke!'

'Perhaps, then again it was an old wand. As for going over to the Granger's, forget it. If you go over there and embarrass him in front of Hermione and her parents, you will lose him – maybe forever!'

'That girl has already taken him away from me!'

'Don't be ridiculous, Molly.'

'Ridiculous? That-that scarlet woman – girl has already turned him against me!'

'Molly, I think you should be bloody grateful Ron isn't here to hear you speak of Hermione like that!'

'Of course, trust you to stand up for the muggle-born you find interesting …'

'No, it's not because she's muggle-born! She's helping our son! She's giving him more self-confidence, self-esteem and helping him to grow as a person – as a man. He loves her and she loves him too. He's not a child, Molly, not since the three of them went down that trapdoor. Did you know Ron came in second overall in his year group last term?'

'Yes, I was shocked to tell you the truth.'

'I wasn't. Ever since Ron and Hermione started courting he has been working harder than ever. His hard work is paying off. Tell me, did you praise Ron on his marks last term?'

'No, I –'

'What?'

'I've been busy! Besides he's fourteen, he's too young to be in love, too young for love!'

'That's crap and you know it, Molly. We knew it at fourteen.'

At this Molly burst into tears. Arthur then helped her up to their bedroom and laid her down and said, 'Rest, dear, just rest. I'll take care of everything.' He gave her a kiss on the forehead and left the room to speak to Ginny and then Ron. He reached Ginny's door and knocked on the frame and peered in to see her sitting on her bed.

'Ginny, have you been teasing Ron for the last three weeks?'

'Yes, but only a little,' she said half truthfully.

'Please don't lie to me, Ginny. Anyway, you'll be doing Ron's chores as well as your own for the next three weeks, you'll apologise to Ron and Hermione when they come back on Sunday night. If you don't, you'll be confined to your room for Harry's birthday party next Sunday and you won't be going to the Quidditch World Cup, do you understand?'

'Yes, Dad, I understand.'

'Good because if you carry on you will be in deep, deep trouble.' Arthur then left his daughter's bedroom to Floo over to the Granger's.

As he arrived, he was greeted by Hermione's father.

'Morning, Arthur! Fancy a cuppa?'

'Please, Richard, I could murder a cup of tea.'

'Come on through to the kitchen.'

Richard Granger lead Arthur into the kitchen where Helen; Richard's wife was still reading the newspaper, and hearing their footsteps, she looked up and smiled. Richard made the tea and passed the cup to Arthur who said, 'Thanks. Did Ron arrive okay?'

'Yes, but he was very upset, Hermione calmed him down, though,' said Richard.

'If you've come to take to him home, you'll have one hell of a fight on your hands from Hermione,' said Helen.

'As a matter of fact, I haven't. I just need to know that he's okay,' replied Arthur.

'Well, he is up in Hermione's room if you want to see him,' said Helen.

'What are they doing?' said Richard.

'They are asleep in each other's arms on her bed – it's quite sweet, really,' said Helen.

Arthur finished the tea, before being led upstairs by Helen. Helen knocked and poked her head around the door. 'Hermione, Ron? You have a visitor.'

Ron and Hermione opened their eyes to see Arthur standing there.

'Okay, Mum, come in, Mr Weasley,' said Hermione sitting up. Arthur walked in and Helen left them to talk.

'Are you all right, Ron?' said Arthur.

'Yeah, thanks to Hermione, thanks, Dad. Is Mum upset with me?' he replied.

'No, not really, Ron. Hermione, could you give us a few moments?' said Arthur.

'Only if you're not going to take him home,' said Hermione.

'I'm not, I promise.'

'All right then,' said Hermione before she gave Ron a kiss and leaving them alone. Arthur then told Ron what happened after he left and Ron apologised to his father.

His father, however, waved away Ron's apology and said, 'Ron, we'll talk tomorrow night, there's something I have to tell you and it's very important, so behave yourself and have a good time with Hermione and her parents.' He ruffled his son's hair and left the room before saying goodbye to the Grangers before Flooing back to the Burrow.