Disclaimer:

Ron: "Hermione, does Mists own anything?"

Hermione: "No. Now let her continue with the story."

Ron whining: "But I keep getting depressed and hurt…"

Hermione slyly: "… Would you like me to kiss it and make it better?"

Ron: "…" "Yes, please!"

Mists: ^_^ "On with the fic!"

-Wounded Prey-

Seeing the five men, Ron immediately turned tail and ran. But a Leg-Locker curse brought that attempt to an abrupt end. His wand was knocked from his hand by the impact. The bald wizard quickly ran up and retrieved it.

"Well, well, well…" said the toothless one with scraggly hair. "What 'ave we here?"

He kicked Ron in the side to make him roll over. The slimy one with dragon tattoos released the curse and hoisted him up by the shirt.

"Look," said Ron as he took in the appearance of his assailants. They clearly weren't Death Eaters judging by their attire. "If it's money you want, I haven't got a Sickle. Search me, I have nothing of value."

The lot of them chuckled as the tattooed one firmly held Ron's hands behind his back. The bald one played with Ron's wand, using it to dig out his fingernails.

"Oh trust me, lovely. Yah worth a lot more than a bit o'pocket change," said Toothless, giving him a gummy smile as he tapped Ron on the cheek. The others laughed uproariously.

"What-"

"So what's yah name, boyo?" he asked, his breath smelling like the underside of a troll.

"Godric! It's called soap and water, tossers. It's not hard, use it!" thought Ron in disgust.

Suddenly, Ron knew exactly what this gang was after. They were a group of bounty hunters. Most likely rounding up Muggle-borns and other wizards hiding from the Ministry. Ron thought fast, who was someone he knew that was on the dark side, but wasn't well known.

The memory of Harry saying Stan was there the night Mad-Eye died, flashed through his mind.

"Hope this works," thought Ron as he coolly said, "Stan Shunpike."

Toothless' grin fell from his face.

"Please, let them be as dim as they look…"

"Check the list Max," he growled. "I've got a feelin' I've heard that name before."

After a few tense moments, Max called out, "No, he ain't on here."

"Now wait just a sec," grumbled the short one. "I've heard o' Stan. He's helping the Eaters. And I'm pretty sure he ain't no ginger."

"Damn straight I'm helping them," said Ron as confidently as he could. "If you take me in, trust me, you lot will be in a world of trouble."

Toothless rounded on his shrimpy teammate, "Hang on a mo, Shunpike? Yeah… I think I do recall seeing the bloke once…"

"That's it. I'm done for, I'll never get a chance to see my family or Hermione and Harry again," thought Ron as he prepared for the worse.

"And I do seem to 'member him havin' red hair…," pondered Toothless as the short man stomped up to him.

"You're daft, you are," he yelled in Toothless' face. "That bloke had brown hair, 'sides there's no way Stan's as tall as this one."

"Yah think, everyone's tall, Roger," replied Toothless. "If that is Stan and he's telling the truth. Bringin' him in, will land us in deep shit!"

"You going off 'bout me height again, Gummy?" the other bellowed, clearly itching for a fight.

"Watch it runt, or I'll leave yah in a deep hole somewhere!"

As the argument heated up, the others watched in amusement.

The bald one made a bet that Roger would knock the other bloke out cold. Ron could feel his captor's grip become lax.

They were distracted. And Ron wasn't giving up without a fight.

This was his chance and he took it. He elbowed the one holding him with all his strength. Even got the tosser square in the stomach. The man released Ron as he bent over in pain. Ron snatched the wand from his hand. Silently, he sent a disarming spell at baldy. The others were slow to react. Ron's wand went flying through the air.

The second he caught it, Ron let out a parting Reducto! for good measure.

He spun on his heels with a smirk.

Crack!

He Disapparated.

Exhausted, Ron collapsed to the ground. He was now miles away from the gang. Pain shot through the fingertips of his right hand. Numbly, Ron watched the blood flow.

"Damn it, Splinched myself again," he thought vaguely.

His vision became blurry as his emotions finally caught up with him. He let out the cry of a wounded animal. He didn't care who heard. He cried not from the pain in his hand, but the one in his heart.

Ron had done the one thing he swore never to do again; abandon his friends.

…Like he had in Fourth Year.

He sat frozen in shock.

"Uh… Hermione. Why is there a dragon in the stadium?" whispered Ron as his blood ran cold.

"Because Ronald, that's what I've been trying to tell you all week; Harry has to fight a dragon!"

"Wicked!" said the twins as they started calling for more bets.

Ron started shaking. The tournament was no test of strength, no game. His best mate, a fourth year student, had to face a full grown dragon…alone.

When Harry had to face the dragon, he had been livid.

"FRED! LET ME GO!" Ron yelled at the top of his lungs as he fought Fred, George, Neville, Ginny, and Hermione to let him jump into the stadium. He had to help Harry.

"Ron! It's a test. Dumbledore won't let-" said Fred as Ron fought harder.

"I DON'T CARE! HE'S GOING TO DIE! HE'S GOING TO DIE THINKING I HATE HIM! I'M GOING TO KILL CHARLIE! HOW DARE HE KEEP THIS FROM ME! NEXT TIME I SEE HIM, HE'S GETTING SUCH A KICK TO THE NADS! NEVILLE! LET ME GO OR I SWEAR I'LL LIGHT YOUR BED ON FIRE!" he roared in fury.

By the time he and Hermione made it to the tent, Ron was emotionally drained. He had been so glad to see Harry's pissed mug. It was then that he swore that he'd never doubt his friends again.

Now… In one distraught, selfish action, he had destroyed the most precious thing in his life; his friendship with Harry and Hermione. There was no way for him to make amends for what he had done.

But Ron was never one to give up without trying.

He used a Compass spell to distinguished which way was north. If he remembered correctly, there was a riverbed right next to where they had been camped. He used a Water Detection charm to lead him back to the river. Once found, he followed it through miles of terrain back to their campsite.

It had taken hours.

Carefully, Ron covered his tracks, knowing that gangs of bounty hunters were now on the prowl.

Finally, Ron reached the campsite.

But no one was there. They had gone.

He was gutted.

Finding them again would be impossible.

There was nowhere to go now. He could just imagine the reaction he'd get showing up at home… telling his family what he had done. Mum and Dad would most likely disown him… He shivered in thought at what Ginny and the twins would do.

No, going home was out of the question.

"Should just lie here and let the vultures take me," thought Ron bitterly as a tear slid down his cheek.

Where could he go…

It was then that he remembered something Bill had said to him,

"This is my and Fleur's new home, Ron. It's called Shell Cottage. If you and the others ever need a safe place to stay on your journey, come here, okay?"

Bill… yeah, Bill wouldn't turn him away…at least he hoped not. He could go there…and then what? Hide like a coward?

Ron shook with fury. He clenched his hand into a fist causing his wound to bleed again.

"No," he thought with determination. "I'll gear up and start searching for them again. It may not be much, but at least it's something I can do. I have to try."

With a sad sigh, he took one last forlorn glance at the empty campsite… and Disapparated.

Author's Notes: Oh Ron! Hehehee… had to add in that bit about fourth year huh? Always thought that'd be Ron's reaction. It makes it even more ironic thinking of when Ron takes the mickey out of Harry for taking the mermaid song seriously. And yeah, that event will also be mentioned. What can I say? I love references. They add depth.

Anyway, next chapter I'm using a bit more of my creative leeway…

How you may ask? Well Ron is going to be having a very special dream as he falls asleep listening to the radio on Christmas Eve…

Next Time: "Light in the Dark"

"Please, whatever power's out there… take me to them."

Heheee…

Remember, please read and review!