Discussions of Bravery
After everyone had settled into the chairs that Arthur conjured, Kingsley began to speak. "Ron, when the Order received your defense plans for Hogwarts, we were impressed to say the least. We just had no idea at the time how good they really were. Your plan on the fifth floor corridor alone saved dozens of lives. We don't need to go into detail now, but when you are feeling better I would be happy to show you our wrap up discussions from the ministry and the order." Ron nodded in response. "Well, your plan of the arc attack in the hallways was amazing. Our forces and the DA were able to stay completely out of the line of sight but were still able to take out the deatheaters as they came into the area. I am not going to ask nor do I want to know how you learned where all of those hiding places were Ron" Kingsley said with a grin.
" And I don't think I particularly want to tell you how anyway" Ron answered with a smile glancing at his mothers face. He gave her his best innocent face and turned back to Kingsley. "What were our losses? Who didn't make it?"
"Well Ron, our losses were surprisingly small. Ernie McMillan, Hannah Abbot and Colin Creevey from the DA were killed. Aurors Smyth, Collins, Bradley and Howell were also lost. Several citizens of Hogsmeade were killed before the battle even began, but most of them came to the school and fought for us. But Ron, you have to know that you did save hundreds of lives. Your skills at strategy and your leadership made all of the difference for us" Kingsley told him.
Ron was saddened by the thought of his friends and the others not making it through the battle. He wanted to make sure that their families knew how hard they had fought. "Kingsley, if I write to the families of the students and aurors, will you make sure that they get them?"
"Of course Ron."
"Thanks. Now- how many slimy greasy gits did we take down?" Ron asked with a smile.
Kingsley grinned at him. "Oh-well. Let's just say that if they want to have a deatheater reunion, they can hold it in the storage shed." Ron laughed. " Most of the main players were killed or captured. Molly did a rather nice job on Lestrange. Bill took care of Malfoy. Fred and George there made sure Crabbe and Goyle won't be going anywhere any time soon. Only a couple that escaped have not been captured, but we're still working on it. Now Charlie- I want to hear your story."
Charlie looked at Ron and began to speak. "I was fighting one of the deatheaters in the hallway outside of the charms classroom- I'm not sure which one. He had thrown a hex at me, but I stepped to the side and it hit the wall. The whole thing started to collapse. I yelled for you Ron-and the next thing I know my little brother has me thrown over his shoulder running away from the danger while I watch the wall fall on 2 deatheaters. You put me down in the hall and told me to watch my sorry butt, then took off to find Harry. I would have been crushed, Ron, if it wasn't for you."
"Wow" Ron said in an awed voice. "I remember the wall falling down but I don't remember carrying you out. I'm just glad I was there Charlie." The brothers stared at each other, not having to say a word to convey their feelings. "So, how did Harry off old Voldie anyway?"
"Well Ron" Kingsley's deep voice started "we were kinda hoping you could tell us. The only two people in the room when it happened were you and Harry. He says he doesn't remember anything about it so unless you can remember, the story is lost."
"I wish I could help you Kingsley. Maybe after some of this therapy it will come back to me."
"Well, we can all hope for that, but to be honest as long as he's gone I don't care if he limbo-ed himself to death." Kingsley's eyes grew serious. "Ron, I just want to let you know that we are all in debt to you. There is going to be a ceremony in 3 months to celebrate the fall of old Voldie as you so eloquently put it. Work on getting well and do your therapy. When you are back to your full strength, come see me. I want to offer you a position with the new Ministry. We need people like you to rebuild our world. Now I'm off-lots to do. See you soon."
Ron shook Kingsley's hand. "It would be an honor to work with you, sir. I'll let you know as soon as I am able to get back to full strength." Kingsley shook his hand, followed by the other Weasley men, then gave Ginny and Molly a small hug before he left.
Ron sat quietly in his bed. I'm a hero he thought, not a sidekick, not a failure, but a true hero. People are looking up to me. Wow. Ron looked around the room at his family. They had made it through. Nothing could be better, could it?
"Ginny" Ron said as he held his sister's hand "I think you can let Harry and Hermione know now."
Ginny gave Ron a small smile, glanced at her mother, who nodded, and left the room. She walked down the hall to the last room on the right and opened the door. Harry was in his bed and Hermione was sitting in a chair in the corner of the room. Harry looked up at her and smiled.
"Hey Gin. I wondered where you'd gone" Harry said.
"Well, I have news. Good news. No-great news. Ron woke up. He's talking and there doesn't seem to be a lot of brain damage. He can't remember anything past the wall falling on Charlie."
"I want to go see him" Harry said.
Hermione looked at Harry with an incredulous look. "The healer said you can not get out of bed Harry. Ginny can give Ron your message."
"Right Harry. I'll let him know you'll be there to visit as soon as you can get out of bed. He really wants to know what happened with the two of you in that room when Voldemort was killed. Maybe the two of you can figure it out together."
"You're right. Just tell him I'm glad he's okay." Ginny leaned down and gave Harry a small kiss, turned and gave Hermione a wave and walked toward the door. Just as she started to leave, Harry said "Hey Ginny-tell him I want to remember too." Ginny smiled at him, nodded her head and left the room.
Neither of them noticed the look of fright in Hermione's eyes.
