There were no classes to day because they were still testing and a lot of teachers were helping out with reviews. "So what do you guys want to do today?" Ron was first to break the silence. "Well I was going to go down to the lake" Harry imposed. "OK. Can we come?" Leslie asked. "No. Only Hermione can. I gotta ask her something." Harry said firmly. "OK, what time Harry?" Questioned Hermione eagerly. "Uh. About noon." Suggested Harry. "Oh! I just remembered. Leslie, were going to Hogsmeade!" Ron reminded Leslie. "Oh, yes! What time is it?" Leslie told Ron to check his watch. "It's about 11:30." Harry and Hermione left to the lake before Ron could even look up. "Ron we better get going. We leave for Hogsmeade in thirty minutes, we have to change and put our Quidditch things away." Ron and Leslie flew to the castle and walked up to the Fat Lady and Leslie shouted "The new passwords: Mayo-Famaya!" The two put there stuff away and Leslie met Ron at the gate where Filch and Professor McGonagall.
Leslie gave Filch hers and Ron gave Professor McGonagall his, and they were just walking out of Hogwarts property when Professor McGonagall called Leslie back. "Ms. McConnor!" she started. "Where are you going?" asked Ron. "Meet me at Fred and George's shop in about 20 minutes." Leslie ran back to the castle. "Okay!" Yelled Ron into the wind. "Yes, Professor?" Wondered Leslie. "Ms. McConnor. Your mother has gotten severely ill and has been moved to St. Mungo's. If anything is to happen you will move into the Weasley's house." The Professor stated with a quiver in her voice. "Molly Weasley has been notified and will welcome you with open arms." She continued.
Leslie was still in shock about her father dieing how could she take it that her mother would too? "OK. Thanks for informing me." Leslie spoke up just realizing her Professor was still there. Leslie walked away and started crying quietly. She walked into Hogsmeade and made her way over to Fred and George's joke shop with silent tears running down her face. She saw Ron over by Fred and George's shop so she hid behind a store wall.
"Oy, Ron! Where's Leslie?" Fred asked running out of his joke shop. "I dunno. McGonagall wanted to talk to her and she said shed be here in 20 minutes and it's been about…" Ron checked his wrist watch. "Oh, it's been about 30 minutes." After Ron finished his sentence Leslie tried to sneak in Weasley's Wizard Wheezes Joke shop.
"Leslie! What's the matter?" Ron ran over to Leslie who was still crying. "Uh, McGonagall said that my mum has been relocated to St. Mungos." Leslie revealed between sobs. "Oh, whoa." Ron was at lost for words. Ron pulled her into a deep hug and they walked into the snowy village, they walked to the edge of the woods and they just started talking. They really didn't know what they were talking about. Ron just kept bringing up subjects to keep Leslie's mind off her mum. Then there was an awkward silence.
"Ron! Leslie!" Came a voice from far off. It sounded again. A third time. That time there was a boy and a girl voice. "Harry? Hermione?" Ron yelled. Leslie was still whimpering a little bit. Harry and Hermione came from behind a tree. Hermione ran over to Leslie "Harry asked me to be his girlfriend!" She whispered excitedly. "Brilliant." Leslie was trying to hold back the tears. "What's the matter Leslie?" Hermione asked but Leslie ran away from the forest and into Fred and Georges shop.
"Oy, Leslie, mum sent an owl, said you are staying with her at the Burrow." Fred started. "Yeah, were really sorry about what happened. You can go up to our flat if you want. We will call you down in about a half hour." George finished. Leslie sniffed and kissed the twins on the cheek which they knew meant thank you.
Five or ten minutes later Ron showed up looking for Leslie. "Gred, Forge!-" Ron called them the wrong name but George cut him off. "You sound like mum!" "Sorry. George, Fred! Have you seen Leslie?" shouted Ron. "No need to shout little brother!" Fred called. "We haven't seen her, haven't we Fred?" George asked. "No we haven't." Ron heard a faint whimper at the top to the shop. Fred looked a bit suspicious.
"You always gave things away!" George rounded on Fred as Ron ran to the top of the shop. Fred ran to the back of the shop. "I guess our next class is here! Ha! Four galleons a kid." Fred called as he made is way to the back room.
There was a long line of 4th and 3rd years waiting to pay for their wizarding pranks. Every once and awhile George would give out tips like, 'If you use this on the third floor at seven p.m. it will go faster' or 'Filch really hates these, he's a good target.' Ron came down to the floor of the shop and walked out with Leslie. "Bye." Waved George. The next student came up and George whispered: "Put this in Ron's soup at lunch! He will be sneezing for an hour." George sniggered. Ron and Leslie walked into the Three Broomsticks. "You sit here and I will be right back." Ron walked up to the counter and got two butterbeers.
Leslie looked in the bag of things Fred and George gave her. Ron came back and they started drinking. "Hey, what's in there?" Ron tried to start a conversation. "Oh, just some jokes and candy" Leslie was skimming through the bag. "Oh, uh, don't eat those, they taste like, uh, dead cockroaches, see the name." Ron informed Leslie. She picked the cockroach clusters up and threw them in a nearby trash can.
"Want a cherry bomb?" Leslie asked sounding depressed. "There not really bombs, they just have an explosion of cherry flavor in your mouth. Best thing Fred and George came up with." Leslie and Ron both ate a couple. When they were done, they walked back to the castle.
They waited for Hermione and Harry, they arrived within five minutes. The four walked up to the castle, the warm Hogwarts entrance embraced them with heat. The four went up a few sets of stairs and walked into the Gryffindor common room. Harry took his glasses off and changed into his pajamas as the other three did the same and snuck into bed.
In the morning Harry looked like he hadn't gotten any sleep the whole night. Harry was at the last step when he heard somebody crashing down the stairs. "Whoa!" Harry slipped out of the way in the knick of time; Ron came down the stairs on his stomach. "Ow, ow, ow!" Ron had broken his nose.
"Next time don't belly slide down the stairs." Hermione giggled. "I wasn't trying to, ow!" Ron corrected. Hermione and Harry walked him to Madam Pomfreys to get Ron's nose fixed. When Harry and Hermione left; Ron looked over to his right. "Neville?" Ron asked when he saw a familiar limp figure to the right of him. The limp figure turned over. "Hey." He spoke weakly. "What happened?" "Hush!" Madam Pomfrey was prodding and poking at Ron's nose. There was occasionally a 'ouch' or yelp of pain. "All better" She lifted her wand. "So, how'd this happen?" Ron wondered. "Herbology. Stupid Mandrakes! They always get me." Explained Neville.
Ron stood up, his nose was extremely red. He sat on the chair next to Neville. "Hey! Ron!" Harry rushed into the room. "Our first Quidditch match is tomorrow! Were playing Hufflepuff." Harry announced as he ran into the room. Harry looked bright and cheery. Hermione and Leslie walked into over to Ron's chair.
"Hey Ron, we just walked. Here, I brought you some Chocolate Frogs." Hermione handed Ron a box of candy. "Thanks." Ron took the box, opened it and offered some frogs. Hermione and Leslie took one but Harry had already left. "Brilliant! I've finally found Agrippa!" Ron was astounded. "But Im still missing Ptolemy" Then his expression went all gloomy again.
Leslie opened her Chocolate frog and took the card out, gave it a quick look then handed it to Ron. "What? You're giving me Ptolemy? But- don't you collect?" Ron was breathless. "Oh, him? I've already got him. The one im missing is Dumbledore. I gave him to all my friends because there were millions if him. But now since you know- he, uh, well… he's just really rare right now." Ron could tell that Leslie really wanted to skip the Dumbledore subject.
Leslie all the sudden got quiet and was staring at her feet. She wiggled one as if to see it still worked. Ron looked down at his black robes. He noticed his Gryffindor patch. "I've got to have pride, I must be brave." Ron thought to himself. Hermione had finally opened her frog. "Hey! I've got Dumbledore!" Hermione declared proudly. "Here, Leslie. You can have it. You deserve it." Hermione knew she had done the right thing. Ron gave her a pat on the back. "I will leave you two alone." Hermione handed the card to Leslie and walked away.