LEAST LOVED

Disclaimer: I own nothing about Harry Potter and the cover image.

Author's Note/s shall be arranged at every end of the chapters. Thanks!

Previously:

Finally deciding his route, he went out of the room around midnight. He visited the kitchen and prepared his own food. After the war, he's trained himself on such chores especially when he had to live alone after he left the Burrow. Remembering that day again, he held the side of his face where Molly slapped him for 'besmirching' Fred's death.

"Maybe I should have just died, too. Just maybe you'd remember me like Fred!"

For now, he'll stay. But he'll not live the same pain and future.

Chapter 7: Awakening

Ron found himself with everyone at the kitchen by the morning. He was silently eating his meal while considering his plans for the year. He'd really never thought of it seriously before. All he did was irresponsibly live with those memories without doing anything. But since he's planning of doing some things differently this time he needed to finally use his brain.

The other inhabitants in the kitchen all watched him apprehensively and more so when Mrs. Weasley arrived.

"Ronald, where have you been all this time?!" she shrilled half angry, half teary eyed. She was both surprised finding him there and confused why she just screamed at him. She finally remembered they've been searching for him all through yesterday.

"I was with Buckbeak," he said and then looked up, schooling his face with an ashamed expression. "I was running away from all the cleaning," he finished apologetically.

Mrs. Weasley was stumped first. She was at odds whether to lecture her son for cutting chores or ask where he actually ate his meals since yesterday. Then she seemed to remember something and quickly opened her mouth. "I'm s-sorry Ron, I just thought it was Harry, that the badge was his—" she started to explain.

"Mum, let's just forget it," he said trying to be nonchalantly. In everyone's eyes though, he seemed to be playing tough. So Mrs. Weasley seemed not ready to drop the subject. When he saw this he spoke again with a pair of pitiful puppy-eyes. "Please, mum?"

It was a short exchange but it settled the issue between the mother and son. On the background, Ron heard the people in the room sighed in relief but noticed the twin's looks of dissatisfaction, almost suspicious with this ending. He didn't care though and won't tire himself explaining.

"Congratulations, Ronnie," said Molly lovingly. "I knew you'd be a good prefect."

"Thanks, mum," he smiled back at his mother. He liked these occasions. At the same time, he was already so used to these scenes, her mother showing affection at one time then in the next, she no longer remembered him. He tried not to falter anymore.

"You've got to have a reward for this! How about a nice new set of dress robes?" she asked.

"We've already bought him that," said Fred as he still watched Ron closely.

"Or a new cauldron, how about a new rat—or just a new pet?" said Molly after thinking it through.

"Mum, I'm fine. See this?" he held out his wand. "I got advanced on my reward. Thanks for this new wand, mum. It was perfect."

"Oh, Ronnie!" finally, he was hugged by his mother. He can't really remember the last time she hugged him, both in this lifetime and the previous. She was simply too busy.

"Alright, take your seats everyone. Breakfast coming in a minute," she announced joyfully.

The day rolled like usual, cleaning and playing around. Ron mingled as normal but no one really realized the changes in him. Even the twins dismissed their suspicion soon enough. On the other hand, his bright bestfriend and future lover, Hermione, was busy helping Harry with his unmade revisions because he was so busy moping in Privet Drive instead of doing them. He even had the time playing in that park before he was attacked by the dementors.

Most of the time, Ron was left to himself. He's fine with this for it gave him time researching and time to plan out. He was not just the best chess player for nothing. He was good with planning and thinking out of the box; in fact, he used to give impressions to Hermione back in their hunt for horcruxes. But mostly he'd rather watch her. He just loved how she looked when one moment she's concentrating then the next she was happily bouncing and telling them what to do then. But he also admitted that he's simply lazy at heart.

He reminisced his exchange with Hermione back in their OWL. She adamantly decided not to help them with their revisions but when it was all too much for him she's voluntarily helped out.

"Okay, write that down and then copy out this conclusion that I've written for you," she told him while handing him both his own work and hers.

"Hermione, you are honestly the most wonderful person I've ever met. And if I'm ever rude to you again—"

"—I'll know you're back to normal," she finished and turned but not before a very cute smile's revealed on her lips.

He somehow missed his Hermione. What could she be doing now? Was she still drowning in knee-deep with all the paper works and meetings?

He sighed. For now, he needed to focus on his plans. He didn't know how he came back or will he ever return; all he knew, he was given another chance. And if the Hermione here decided against having him again then he has no thoughts of forcing her. All he wished was for her happiness.

Days passed and Ron was much busier than his first summer at fifteen year-old. Since he needed a more solid foundation, he started re-reading their books for quick recaps. He didn't actually hate reading; he read Quidditch Through the Ages and Flying with the Cannons for nth times; made fun of the contents of their Divination books; he also read the Quibbler once in a while; and even started reading those muggle fairy tales since Hermione mentioned them back in Lovegood's crooked house. He really thought 'cinderella' was some kind of disease. Anyway, it wasn't much he confessed. Remembering though in their third year when he 'borrowed' Hermione's Numerology and Gramatica without asking her and can't help admitting he had enjoyed it. But when she found out, he was too ashamed to tell the truth and instead told her that he used it for some 'bedtime reading'. She hit him on his head there. And now, he has started his personal revisions.

Finally, he reached the section which he needed the most at the moment. Of course, his Hermione already knew of this even before they reached their final year. He can't believe—well, he knew she's the smartest—his Hermione did a highly advanced NEWT spell nonchalantly while at the Burrow before Bill's and Fleur's wedding. Many working witches and wizards can't even perform it. She was really… wonderful.

He sighed again and again for Hermione kept popping in his mind. He can't focus with his works but he's being motivated by simply thinking of her. Was he this complicated before?

For now, he has works to do, he reminded himself. Each day, he stealthily slipped around Grimmauld Place, sneaking things that were about to be tossed out especially the books after the Black's library was demolished, vials of potions and various ingredients from the Black's secret dungeon, and of course the artifacts and many others they're throwing haphazardly. He can't imagine how much Mandungus earned from selling all this before. Of course, he didn't forget to visit the dingy cupboard and replaced that thing before chucking the original to now a knapsack instead of a beaded bag. He can't believe they didn't consider doing this back then instead of wearing the damn thing.

Ron felt energized, as if he's doing great things for once in his two lives. Gone was the Ron who idly sat and waited for orders; gone was the Ron who'd rather sulked and bitter out life; gone was the Ron who's ever dependent of appreciation first.

He'll live his life. This time, properly.

It was a chaotic morning in Grimmauld Place on the day they're off to Hogwarts Express. Everyone's looking for everything on the very last moment. Then coming to the train's platform, they even had bodyguards. It was disconcerting, though no longer affecting Ron. It was even more chaotic when Sirius selfishly followed their entourage in his animagus form. He can't blame the man, the house arrest was really maddening. A quick farewell was made because the train was about to leave the platform when they arrived there.

Ron and Hermione left Harry with Ginny when the Hogwarts Express finally left the platform. Hermione explained Harry that prefects needed to visit the prefects' compartment first thing they arrived in the express. Harry tried not to be ticked-off on this but it wasn't hidden completely and they all saw it. Ron knew Harry never liked being isolated or left out like this. He even started realizing that this bestfriend of his even more hated being outshone by him, his sidekick. He can't forget his expression that day he received the prefect's badge, he did notice it the first time in his original time but didn't take it to heart. Back then, he was just as surprised as everyone and was so excited that even a dementor can't take that happiness away. Figuratively.

Although he didn't do it this time around, he can still recalled telling his Harry back then that he actually didn't want the prefect position. But that's not true. However, since he somehow understood his best friend's feelings, he thought he should say that at least. And then he saw his relief as if he thought that even he (Ron) himself knew he's not supposed to be the prefect, but the Harry-Boy-Who-Lived-Potter should be! Ron felt betrayed. But maybe, he was just mistaken. Yeah, right. Looking at this Harry now he can almost see his thoughts.

Lately, Harry would rather stay away from Ron and when they're together he barely talked to him. He'd rather listen to Hermione's speech of Galpalott's Third Law in Antidote-making and made it seem more endearing to his ears than talking to him. Nevertheless, Ron enjoyed the lecture which he remembered explained by Professor Slughorn in their third year. He understood the concept; instead of foraging all the ingredients that will counteract every ingredient of the poison, a particular single ingredient was all that's needed which when added to the antidote being concocted will transform the whole solution almost alchemically and make an entire new antidote. This was also the reason why a bezoar was the best antidote for most of poison since it has the same element from that of a sugar that's used by muggles.

Anyway, back to Harry, he also kept helping out in the cleaning or talking to Sirius than involving with Ron. Ron was used to this treatment but it still hurt him especially now it's coming from his very bestfriend for many years already. Now he understood Harry's feelings back in their fourth year. It's just that he can't believe his bestfriend didn't understand him when he had known what he saw in the Mirror of Erised. It's his heart's most desired, recognition; that's why he desired those positions—Head Boy, Quidditch Captain, winner of the House Cup, etc. And that prefect badge was his first step. But no, the Boy-Who-Lived never cared what his bestfriend felt, never tried to understand others since he thought the world was spinning around him and no one else's important but him.

Ron suddenly realized he had really overlooked many things back when he's younger. It was like having a veil lifted from his eyes and for the first time in his life he's seeing things properly.

Ron and Hermione arrived in the prefects' compartment and he had to stop the depressing thoughts. Entering the compartment they found Hufflepuff's new prefects, Ernie Macmillan and Hannah Abbott, already sitting inside. Before they made comfortable on their seats though, the Ravenclaw's arrived, Anthony Goldstein and Padma Patil. Soon came the Slytherin's, Draco Malfoy and Pansy Parkinson, followed by the Head Boy and Head Girl. The two Heads gave them their own copies of the prefect's handbook and patrol schedules and then told them the practical aspects of being a prefect. Ron actually never read the said handbook and neither attended to his responsibilities. He felt contradicted on doing them this time since he really has lots to do.

Exiting from the compartment after the long rant of their Head Boy and Head Girl, Hermione immediately launched nagging him. She told him again and again to take his job seriously and be a model student especially for the younger years.

Ron honestly loved this side of Hermione and probably the main reason he fell for her in the first place. But returning to this past made him realize that his feelings for her came from his need of attention, care and praise, all given to him by Hermione albeit most of the time was a bit too loud. She would also be mothering Harry but not as harsh as she did with him which made the younger him thought he was liked more than his male bestfriend. But now, what he saw was she just thought him more stupid than Harry thus more attention was needed.

His Hermione never explicitly admitted that she had liked Harry more than as a friend. But she was so obvious especially on their fourth year. Of course, there were also the earlier years. But Ron never believed what he saw, too blinded with his anger and jealousy with the Triwizard Championship and too immature, complacently believing that everything was alright.

But Hermione began changing when Harry started pursuing Cho Chang in their fifth year and more so when Harry arose his attention with Ginny soon after. She even focused in writing to Vikky-Beaky Krum that year instead and was more easily irritated than normal. He thought she's just too pre-occupied with the OWLs but recalling now seemed to show him the other side of the story. Then by sixth year, she must have realized her feelings with him when Lavender stole her remaining boy-bestfriend. Ron depressingly debated these ideas inside his head.

Ron knew all along that he preferred his Mione's attention than the devotion given to him by the snogging-addict, Lavender Brown. He liked the feeling of being admired by a beautiful and sassy girl but he knew deep inside him that his best friend's years of care were still way better. It actually felt home. But if Hermione really decided not to like him this time, can he truly cope up?

AN: First, I thank you guys again for the reviews and suggestions. I'd love to make them happen and I'm really considering them but I need more convincing—yes, for example, the pairing of Ron and Hermione. Why do you believe that Hermione is the best pair for Ron? Or maybe about the very progress of this fanfic; why would you rather Ron continue to the light path instead of simply opening a war path? Since I'm not a Ron's fan I see differently from you and I'd admit I'm a bit biased.

Also, I'm sorry if my chapters are wee bit short since this was originally a simple side fanfic of mine. But considering your pleas, I'll try to lengthen them. Actually, I revised this chapter many times, aside from increasing the word count I also left an option for the HermioneXRon pairing! Honestly, I have shut that pairing as early in this chapter but changed that for you. So please be a very good endorser of the HrGXRW cp!

[notsing], I'm really looking forward to your standpoint with HrGXRW pairing. Sent you a pm!

[babydoll9498], thanks so much for those ideas and I'm sorry I couldn't do that on this chapter. Maybe on a similar situation in the future? The circumstances are still too early to have some closure in relation to Ron's heartaches. The time is not yet ripe, I'd say. But I like the hyper-focus idea… only I need to search to understand this. XD

For now, I thank everyone who clicked on follow, favorite and more so with those who took some of their time to leave these wonderful reviews! You're my angelic muse!