Chapter 3.

Ron sat down in one of the plush over-sized stuff chairs in front of the desk. He set the paper work on his lap and started shifting through the pages.

Name. Ronald Weasley. Easy enough. Date of Birth. Gender. Address. The first page was full of simple basic questions which he got through without any problems. He flipped to the second page.

What brings you to Passages?

Ron stopped. He couldn't breathe. His head started to feel dizzy. This was a mistake. He couldn't do this. He needed to get out now. He dropped the clip board onto the desk, picked up his rucsack, and walked towards the door. Just as he reached for the handle, the door opened.

"Hello Ronald."

Ron stopped in his tracks. The doctor looked him up and down. He noticed the unfinished paperwork on his desk and the anxiousness in Ron's eyes.

"I'm Dr. Christian Phillips." He stuck his hand out to Ron.

For a moment, Ron just stared at Dr. Phillips' hand. He was trying to remember what he was supposed to do. His mind was still fuzzy. He couldn't think. After what felt like forever, Ron stuck his hand out to shake Dr. Phillips' hand.

"Well, why don't we have a seat."

With Dr. Phillips still blocking the doorway, Ron had no other option then to turn around and sit back down in the seat he had just vacated. With a thud, he dropped his bag back to the floor.

Dr. Phillips walked around to the other side of the desk and sat down in his chair. He picked up Ron's unfinished paperwork.

"Well, let's see."

As Dr. Phillips began to read through Ron's paperwork, Ron began to fidget. He started to study Dr. Phillips as a way of distraction. He was an older gentleman. Maybe not quite as old as his father; but still at least in his late forties. He looked about 5'10" with thinning brown hair and hints of grey on the sides. He also looked as though he made an effort to keep fit. He didn't look overweight. He had a five o'clock shadow though it couldn't possibly be later than 10:30 in the morning. He also had very dark eyes that stood out, almost oddly, against his pale skin.

Ron watched as Dr. Phillips's eyes ran back and forth over the paperwork he had just filled out.

"Well Ronald…"

"Ron." Ron interrupted.

"Ron. I see you got through the first page just fine. Since the second page is blank, I can only assume I walked in just as you were about to begin. So, let's start there, shall we."

Dr. Phillips had a very low, soothing voice, though it sounded commanding at the same time without making Ron feel as if it were an order. More of a question.

"I…um…actually…um…" Ron was fidgeting again. His hands wouldn't keep still and he was staring at this feet.

"Ron."

Ron looked up.

"You don't have to say anything you aren't ready to say."

Ron was starting to sweat. He could feel beads of sweat forming on his forehead and rolling down the back of his neck. His foot bounced up and down of its own accord. He raked a hand through his long fiery red hair. Then, he reached down to scratch his beard. Why had he let that grow out? It was itchy and hot.

"How about we do this." Ron immediately stopped fidgeting. Dr. Phillips voice reminded him he was not alone.

"Let's take you through your…"

"Idon'twanttobehere." Ron blurted the words out. He didn't wait for the doctor to finish speaking. He stood, grabbed his rucksack from the floor, and turned to leave.

"Why not?"

Ron stopped and turned back around to look at the doctor.

"Why not?", Ron repeated.

"Yes, Ron. Why not?"

Dr. Phillips stood up from his chair and came around to the front of his desk. He leaned back against it, sitting on the edge and casually crossed one foot over the other.

"If you don't want to be here, I won't make you stay. I have no authority to make you stay. But, I would like to know why you don't want to be here."

Ron stood still. He wasn't sure what to say. His hands were shaking. Merlin…when was the last time I had a drink…or a fix. He couldn't think. This was too much pressure. He needed a drink. He needed to forget; to go back into that hole where everything was black and the days would just pass by in a blur.

"When was the last time you had a drink Ron?"

He looked up at the doctor. Was he a Legilimens? Or did muggles have people that could read minds?

"Your hands are shaking uncontrollably," the doctor began to speak again. "You have not been able to stand still for more than a few seconds. You've switched your bag back and forth between each shoulder several times. And you're drenched in sweat even though it is a cool 68 degrees here in my office."

Rod didn't know what to say. He was staring at the doctor, mouth agape. He picked up on all that in the few minutes Ron had been in his office? As an Auror, Ron was impressed.

"I can see you are impressed." Dr. Phillips chuckled. "I am a doctor. I'm supposed to see these things. Plus, this is a rehabilitation center for addicts. The alcohol was just a guess since it is the most common."

Ron still didn't know what to say. So, he thought…honesty.

"This morning…8 am. After I left the Min…the airport, I went straight to the nearest pub."

It had technically been 4pm his time. The portkey took him from the Ministry in London straight to the Ministry in California. He was still on London time. It wasn't his fault California was eight hours behind.

The small dingy pub just outside the California Ministry, The Iron Man, was just what Ron was looking for. Harry had kept an eye on him all day since he was the only one that knew Ron was leaving; he just didn't know to where. So, he hadn't let Ron have a drink all day.

Ron consumed an entire bottle of firewhiskey in less than half an hour alone at that pub. Ron had consumed so much liquor, his body was almost immune. Which is why he was still sober; and in desperate need of more.

"Well, I guess that answers why you came here in the first place. But now you want to leave."

"Yes."

"Why?"

"I don't want to be here. I've changed my mind."

"When?"

"When what?"

"When did you change your mind?"

Ron wasn't sure what to say. When did he change his mind?

"Obviously at some point you thought you should be here." The doctor kept a steady gaze on him. "You are a self check-in, correct?"

"Yes."

"So, you came here of your own free will."

"Yes."

"And now you have changed your mind."

"Yes."

"Why?"

This doctor was going to drive Ron mental. Couldn't he see his questions were starting to irritate him? Ron couldn't think with the doctor talking so quickly. It felt like he was talking in circles.

"I don't know." Ron didn't have an answer.

"Okay. Can I ask you one more question before you leave?"

Ron though about it. "Only one more?"

"Yes."

"Okay."

"When you thought you needed to be here, what was your reason?"

Ron was quiet. He wasn't quite sure he could answer that question.

"I mean, before you changed your mind. When you first thought…'I should go. I should be there. ' What was your reason for coming here?"

Ron stood thinking.

What was the reason again? What did I say to Harry when I told him I was going to go away for a little while?

Ron closed his eyes. The fog slowly started to life from his head. He could see it almost completely clear now. There it is. Tiny. Fair skin. Red bushy hair. Bright blue eyes. And a smile only for him.

"Rose."