A/N

A/N

Ron was struggling to concentrate in lessons, Harry would go to engage him and Ron would be in a different world just to come back with a glum look on his face. After lesson ended Ron followed his feet and ended up in the grounds with Harry behind him silently.

The sun was shining but the air was cool as they walked softly across the grass. Ron suddenly stopped walking and Harry carried on for a second then realised and looked at Ron in a confused way. To Harry's surprise Ron edged up to him and kissed him passionately.

"I'm sorry…" Ron said afterwards. Harry stared at him waiting for him to elaborate. "For being like this." Ron said rolling his eyes at himself with a shrug.

"Stop apologizing…" Harry said taking him into a hug. "Now you know Ginny's fine, you can relax and be yourself again…" Harry said smiling sweetly at Ron who nodded silently. "It's dinnertime now." Harry said taking Ron's hand and walking him back up to the castle, but letting go of his hand as they reached the door.

Opening the door let out the chattering noise of all the students as they walked into the great hall for dinner. They joined the masses and entered the hall and found a gap on the Gryffindor table. After a minute or so Hermione turned up and sat opposite the boys.

"Have a nice walk?" She asked in her usual happy tone and Ron nodded slightly not looking up at her.

The hall was interrupted by flocks of owls flying towards the students, dropping packages and letters onto the tables for them to open. To Ron's surprise a letter dropped in front of him along with a copy of the daily prophet that Harry had already opened for him. Ron looked at the writing on the front of the envelope and Harry glanced over and saw Ron's expression.

"Come on," Harry said realizing who the letter was from and he grabbed Ron's arm and pulled him out of the hall, he was still staring at the letter blankly when they reached the empty darkened castle grounds.

"It's from him, Harry." Ron said quietly and Harry nodded at him.

"You don't have to open it…" He suggested but then Ron started slowly tearing the envelope open. Ron pulled out a piece of paper with his dad's handwriting on and stared at it for a second before reading. Harry read over his shoulder.

It's your fault for telling Harry.

It was only one sentence, but that was enough to send Ron back into the state he was before Harry arrived for school. Harry held him close as Ron stood wide eyes staring into nothingness, just thinking about the sentence.

"He's going to hurt mum, I know it…" Ron said in almost a whisper.

"You don't know that, it could just be a threat." Harry said letting go of Ron and looking him in the eyes.

"Well I can't just sit here and let him get to her!" Ron said with emotions rising in his voice. The boys were interrupted by pounding footsteps coming towards them and a massive dark figure they knew as Hagrid. Ron wiped his eyes quickly before Hagrid reached them.

"What you doin' out here?" Hagrid asked loudly and Harry motioned him to be quiet. "Ron?" He asked looking at his expression. Ron passed the note to Hagrid, the paper was hardly the size of his hand and he squinted at the writing.

"What's this mean?"

"He…" Ron tried to speak but his voice cracked.

"He hit Ron, now he is going to hurt Mrs. Weasley," Harry said and saw Hagrid's expression change.

"Not Arthur? That's not like him." Hagrid said shaking his head so his beard shook a second after he had stopped. Harry just stood there nodding and let Hagrid come to terms with what he has heard.

"Well this is serious, we have to tell Dumbledore." Hagrid said with seriousness in his voice Harry had never heard from him before. "Come on." He said and stormed off towards the castle; Harry took Ron's hand and walked behind Hagrid trying to keep up with his massive strides. They followed Hagrid all the way to Dumbledore's office; Hagrid said the password and the stairs took them to the door where Hagrid just opened without knocking.

"Sorry professor, but this is serious." Hagrid said with an apologetic tone and Dumbledore stood up behind his desk. Hagrid passed him the letter and Ron stood there nervously. Dumbledore looked down through his glasses at the sentence then looked to Ron.

"Well I think we should make a visit home, don't you?" Dumbledore said in his quiet, calm tone.

How Dumbledore knew what was happening, Ron didn't know. But he was glad he didn't have to explain. Maybe it was the change in his behavior; Dumbledore probably noticed how different he was.

Dumbledore nodded to Hagrid who nodded back and left the room. Dumbledore walked over to the fireplace and picked up a container of floo powder.

"Who wants to go first?" He said with a slight smile, but nobody stepped forward. "Ok." Dumbledore chuckled and took a handful of it for himself and stepped into the big empty fireplace. "The Burrow!" Dumbledore said with a clear, loud voice and threw the powder on the floor then green flames erupted around him and he was gone.

"Go on, Ron…" Harry said giving Ron a handful of powder, he stepped into the fireplace and said the burrow and he was gone just the same. And then Harry followed.

Harry stepped out of the fireplace at Ron's house and looked around, Dumbledore was looking through the window in to the garden and Ron was standing next the fireplace probably where he stepped out so he wasn't in the way of Harry. They looked around but it seemed nobody was home at the moment. Dumbledore must had came to this conclusion as well as he had made himself at home at the kitchen table. Even though the house was still the burrow, a place where Harry loved full of people like family, it seemed different somehow, it seemed darkened and colder then usual. Harry pushed on Ron's shoulder slightly to get him to move and join Dumbledore. They sat in silence for a few minutes and then, as expected, Dumbledore broke it by asking Ron what has been happening.

"He began to drink… More and more each day." Ron started with but cut off and Dumbledore nodded and waited for him politely. "It started with him just shouting, and making me get him things. Then one day I refused and he hit me." Dumbledore nodded with no look of surprise, it was as if he knew that that is what Ron was going to say. "I guess he liked it, because he didn't stop." Ron said with his sadness turning to anger, Harry took his hand and stroked it lightly, not caring that Dumbledore was watching.

"And what happened the day you came to school?" Dumbledore asked still looking calm but interested.

"He started to attack Ron and I saw." Harry said before Ron could say anything. Ron looked guilty as Dumbledore examined him. "I was so angry I cast the spell at him." Harry said without letting his voice show how scared he was to admit it. Dumbledore just blinked and nodded then took a deep breath.

"Well, let's hope somebody gets home soon."