DISCLAIMER: I own none of these characters. I don't own anything related to Harry Potter. My version of Half-Blood Prince in Ron's point of view, with a few twists and turns.
A Dietary Need
Part Twelve: The Honorary Weasley
'Harry …'
'No.'
Harry's voice cut through Ron's word like a knife, but the harsh tone used did not deter him from the task at hand. He knelt down beside Harry, blinking away a slither of a tear as he glanced at the body of Dumbledore. Feeling Harry tremble beside him he tried to slide an arm round his shoulders but Harry shrugged away. He sighed and tried again.
'Harry, you can't stay out here.'
'Yes, I can.'
He heard soft steps patting towards them in the grass, which was wet and springy. Ginny was approaching the pair; Ron vaguely remembered she had been called off to the hospital wing, for what reason he did not know.
'Ron, Harry,' Ginny said, placing a hand on each other their shoulders. 'We need to go to the hospital wing; you can't stay out here all night.'
Her voice was soft and yet persuasive and Ron felt himself rising to his feet, though his mind protested, demanding that he stay with Harry, he had heard a hint of terror in his sister's voice. A hint that was only reserved for when she really needed it; after all, his sister didn't get scared, not his sister.
'Harry, come on …' Ginny's tone was demanding and with the help of both of them Harry slowly rose to his feet.
'I don't need to go to the hospital wing, I'm not hurt.'
You are, Ron thought blearily. You are hurt, if not psychically, emotionally.
Ginny ended up leading both of them towards the wing, Harry because he could not focus intently on anything and Ron because he was too intently focused on Harry to care about what he walked into. It seemed to Ron that all that matter right now was caring for Harry, and being there for him, what ever it took.
As he watched Harry's dazed and tear stained face he decided something. He knew Harry had to defeat You-Know-Who but he didn't necessarily have to face the task alone. While they walked Ron decided that he would help Harry, no matter the consequences and that even if their romantic relationship faltered and failed, he would still stay there for his friend. He promised himself. The fierce loyalty he had always felt towards Harry could never be shaken; it was as if the bonds between them had only tightened when they became romantically involved. And Ron was content to let them grow tighter until they became psychically painful to sever.
Increasing his pace and slipping of Ginny's tight guidance, he side stepped in front of them and fell into pace beside Harry, who still bore an uncertain expression. His shoulders where slumped and he looked as if he was still falling into the pit of despair. Ron chanced a smile, and to his surprise Harry smiled back.
Fumbling for his hand, Ron found it and nearly drew back. Harry's hand was deathly cold, but Harry seemed to find the warmth of Ron's hand comforting, and laced his fingers through his.
'Ginny …' Harry croaked. His voice sounded raw and taut. 'Who else has died?'
'No one, apart from a Death Eater,' she said, pride adamant in her as if it was she who had killed the follower herself.
'But …' Harry stammered, his brows furrowing. 'Malfoy said he stepped over a body -'
'He stepped over Bill.'
'You said no one was killed!' Ron cried out in alarm, heart hammering painfully.
'He's all right, he's alive,' Ginny said finishing.
Ron peered around at her and squinted, there was something in her voice. That terror he had heard at the foot of the Astronomy Tower was back again, and strong. His sister didn't get scared.
'You're sure?' he asked.
'I'm sure,' she replied. 'But -'
Of course, Ron thought dryly. The dreaded 'but.'
'- he's in a bit of a mess, Greyback attacked him …' her voice faltered, bottom lip trembling. 'Madam Pomfrey says he won't look the same anymore … we don't really know what's going to happen to him, I mean Greyback wasn't transformed at the time.'
'Neville,' Harry said, his voice sounding stronger. Ron brightened, Harry's voice was starting to sound familiar again, and he could almost recognize the tone that made it so Harry.
'It's all right,' Ron said. He knew what had happened to Neville, somehow he knew. 'He's fine.'
'Yeah,' Ginny confirmed. 'He's in the hospital wing now; Madam Pomfrey is fairly certain he'll make a full recovery.'
They had reached the wing, pushing open the doors Ron saw Neville lying asleep in a bed near the door. His skin was paler than usual and blood was sticking his hair to his forehead, otherwise he looked fine. At the fair end of the ward he saw a group of people, Hermione, Luna, Lupin and Tonks were all gathered around a thin bed. All their eyes flicked towards the door as they heard it opening. Hermione ran forward and hugged Harry and Ron each in turn, smiling like the world had just awarded her top marks in simply living. Ron watched as Lupin moved forward and noted the anxiety splayed across his face.
'Are you all right, Harry?' he asked.
'I'm fine … how's Bill?'
Ron nearly screamed out in indignation, if he had waltzed in his head dangling from his neck they'd have hardly batted an eyelash in his direction. He sighed and hurried quickly over to stand beside Tonks, he was used to being ignored and he could take more.
When Ron reached the bed and stared down at his brother he understood why no one had answered Harry's question. Ginny had been completely correct, Bill was a right mess. Deep scars had ruined his features, his face had been so badly slashed and ripped he almost looked hideous. Ron bit back the urge to fling himself over his brother and cry, but then he remembered with great upheaval that Bill was not dead, merely wounded. A strange smell reached his noise and it stung his nostrils. Madam Pomfrey had pushed herself past Tonks and was now applying a strong-smelling paste to Bill's wounds.
'Can't you fix them with a charm or something?' Harry asked, coming to stand beside Hermione and opposite Harry at the bed.
Ginny and Ron looked towards the matron hopefully.
'No charm will work, I'm sorry,' Madam Pomfrey said, sighing so heavily that her whole body sagged. 'I've tried everything, but there is no cure for bites such as these.' She waved a hand at the rips on Bill's face and staggered away, obviously disappointed there was nothing she could do. Ron knew she wasn't used to failure and felt a stab of sympathy. Failure was something he was used to and almost good at.
'But he wasn't bitten at full moon,' said Ron, stating the obvious. Ron found he was staring down at his brother's face, like he hoped to fix it just by gazing intently. 'So surely Bill won't be a -?' He looked at Lupin for an answer.
'No,' the werewolf said confidently. 'I do not think that Bill will be a true wolf. But that does not mean he won't have some wolfish characteristics. Those are cursed wounds.'
'Dumbledore should know something that will work,' Hermione said hurriedly, her voice was far too hopefully. Ron shook his head.
'Dumbledore's dead,' Ginny said. Ron nodded.
'No!' Lupin cried. His eyes flickered wildly between Ron, Harry and Ginny though he was hoping for them to change their minds, but none of them did, and Lupin collapsed into the chair beside Bill's bed, his face in his hands.
As Harry looked away from Lupin, Ron caught his eye. They shared a smile silence, which ended in Harry smiling and Tonks speaking.
'How did he die?' she asked, voice small. 'How did it happen?'
'Snape killed him,' said Harry. Ron took a step back from the bed in shock. Surely not? That couldn't be true, sure he'd always had his doubts about Snape, but he had thought that Dumbledore completely trusted the – by now he must be – ex-professor.
'I was there,' Harry continued. 'I saw it. We had arrived back at the Tower because that's where the Mark was, and Dumbledore was ill … he was weak. But I think he must have realized it was a trap before I even heard footsteps. He immobilized me, so I wouldn't do anything, and I was under the Invisibility Cloak – and then Malfoy came through and disarmed Dumbledore -'
Hermione gasped, clasping her hands over her mouth and fell back against the empty bed behind them, and Ron moaned slightly, remembering the memory of Dumbledore's cold body lying for all to see at the foot of the tower. Luna's bottom lip shook, but her eyes were eager for more information.
'- more Death Eaters came – and then Snape – and Snape did, he did it. He killed him, with Avada Kedavra.' Harry stopped, and blinked back an oncoming flood of tears.
The matron burst into tears and was shushed by Ginny, rather rudely. 'Shh! Listen!' she commanded.
Somewhere out of the dark night, a phoenix was signing. It was singing a tragic tune, its voice wavering, yet soaring. Ron had to fight back yet another swarm of tears, this time they threatened to spill from his eyes in a flood. But he held them back; all he did was sniff and strain his ears for more of the beautiful tune.
How long they all stood and listening, he did not know. But the lament seemed to ease their pain; like the tune was the sounding of their mourning and wherever Dumbledore was he would hear it and smile, knowing he would be sorely missed. It felt like a long time later when the doors opened with a heavy thud emitting Professor McGonagall. Like them all she held marks of a battle, grazes on her face and her robes where ripped.
'Molly and Arthur are on their way,' she said. The spell of the music suddenly snapped and it roused them all into a state of awareness, they instantly all turned to look at Bill, as if that was where their eyes should be. 'Harry, what happened? According to Hagrid you were with Professor Dumbledore when it happened. He says Professor Snape was involved in some way -'
'Snape killed him, Snape killed Dumbledore,' Harry said sharply.
She stared at him, disbelief apparent. Her eyes seemed to roll out of focus and she swayed disturbingly. Madam Pomfrey had recovered enough and had conjured a chair for the Professor to sink into.
'Snape,' repeated Professor McGonagall. Her voice was faint, fainter than the whisper of wind in trees. 'I always trusted … but we all thought … you must be mistaken … surely it can not be true … Snape … I can't believe it …'
'Snape was an accomplished Occlumens,' Lupin said throatily. Hearing him speak again gave Ron a little hope and he stood straighter.
'But Dumbledore swore Snape was with us!' Tonks whispered, not in shock but in forever rising fury.
'He hinted he had an iron-clad reason for trusting Snape,' muttered Professor McGonagall who was dabbing at the corners of her eyes with her tartan hander kerchief. 'With Snape's history people were of course bound to wonder … But Dumbledore told me personally that Snape was genuine and … not a threat … would never hear a word against him!'
Ron fell into a trance as they began speaking about matters involving Snape, Dumbledore and Harry's parents. He didn't want to hear this right now, it was a little more then he had been prepared for as he woke up this morning. It certainly wasn't on his to-do list. None of the events that had happened today had been on his list and hopefully never would be. Writing Deal with mob of angry and violent Death Eaters was something that should never be written on paper, ever.
He only roused from his day dream as his parents burst into the ward; Fleur was behind them her face terrified. Ron found with a start, that he didn't see her and swoon any longer. He'd known that since the end of fourth year but it was good news to him. He glanced over at Harry with a satisfied smile on his face and then looked towards his parents.
'Bill …' Mrs Weasley was stuttering as Professor McGonagall led her and Mr Weasley over to the bed.
Ron, Lupin and Tonks stepped back so that the newcomers could take their places. Harry and Ginny seemed glued to the bedstead.
'Bill,' Mrs Weasley whispered again as her and her husband approached. When she leaned down over the bed she let out a cry of shock and stepped back, head in her hands. 'Bill,' she sobbed.
But all Mr Weasley did on the sight of his mangled son was draw in a huge breath and look towards Fleur, seeing if she could need comfort. She, however, did not. Fleur stared down at her fiancé with an expression of frozen shock, as she leaned in closer her silver cascade of hair blocked the view of her face and what expression it held.
'You said Greyback bit him?' his father asked, and Ron tuned out, not needing or wanting to hear this conversation again. Tonks who looked ready to speak to Lupin was stopped when he hurried forward to give his opinion to the Weasley's. Ron looked up as she cleared her throat and gave him a wry smile.
'In the midst of this all,' she said waving her hand around at the scene before them, 'it's nice to know you'll always have people who love you.'
Ron groaned and leant back on the bed beside Bill's, shaking his head. 'Who told you?' he asked. Of course someone had told her about him and Harry, why else would she begin a conversation like that?
'Oh,' she chuckled. Ron noticed her hair was tinged pink at the ends. 'Fred and George, who else?'
'Yeah,' Ron agreed. 'Merlin! I told them not to tell anyone!'
'The whole of Hogwarts knew, Ron. It wouldn't be long before someone outside of the school found it.'
'I suppose …'
'I was just talking to Remus about it -'
'So now Lupin knows too,' Ron said sarcastically. 'That's bloody fantastic.'
Tonks smiled, it lit up her face. Ron was glad to see it; it had been a smile none of them involved with the Order had seen for a very long time. 'Fred and George made us promise not to tell your parents, said something about you'd be disowned for something,' she said.
'Yeah, well, they're probably right. Mum would kill me, I dunno about Dad though …'
'I really don't think Arthur would mind, you'd still be his son no matter what your decisions.'
'I guess, but my mum -'
'Molly … I don't know,' Tonks said fairly, then she grinned once more. 'I say tell them Ron, tell them.'
'I'll have to one day,' Ron replied with a sigh.
Ron had often wondered what his parent's reaction would be. He'd always known that his father would understand, he was a kind man, little fazed him. At least Ron hoped he would understand. His mother was a different story. Hot blooded and fiery tempered, she had given Ron his quick temper and ability to hold a grudge for extended periods of time. He worried about who she would take the information that Ron was currently romantically involved with the honorary Weasley, Harry Potter. Cringing as he knew that Fred and George were right, she'd probably want to disown him, he glanced across to his mother. Tears were streaming down her face as she dabbed her son's face with the ointment. On the other hand, perhaps she'd accept it.
The talk between him and Tonks had halted some time ago so they started to listen into the conversation going on around them. Luckily a new one had just been struck up so they could follow along easily.
'Of course,' his mother was saying, 'it doesn't really matter how he looks … it's not r – really important … but he was a very handsome boy, always very handsome … and,' she said, the tears returning, 'he was going to be married!'
Automatically Ron's eyes switched to Fleur, she always had something to say about what ever his mother said or did, and since this particular topic involved her Ron suspected she be jumping in right away.
'And what do you mean by zat?' Fleur asked, swishing her blonde hair behind her shoulder as she glared across the bed at his mum. 'What do you mean, 'e was going to be married?'
Molly looked startled, and she looked up at Fleur, her tear stained face glowing in the light of the candles. 'Well – only – that - '
'You theenk Bill will not weesh to marry me now?' Fleur asked her voice not as near pretty as her face. 'You theenk, because of these wounds, he will not love me?'
'No, I didn't -'
'Because 'e will!' she cried. She had drawn herself up to her full height and standing was over Molly, glaring. 'It would take more zan this for Bill to stop loving me!'
'Yes, yes, I'm sure,' said Molly sounding quite flustered, 'but I thought perhaps – given how he is – how is face -'
Fleur made a noise of indignation and widened her eyes, thrusting her hands against her hips. 'You thought I would not weesh to marry him? Or per'aps you 'oped?' she said enraged. 'What do I care how 'e looks? I am good enough looking for the both of us, I theenk! All these scars show is zat my husband is brave! I shall do zat!' she said, reaching across Bill to grab the bottle of ointment out of Molly's hands.
Ron's eyes turned to his mother, as did everyone else's. Ron was waiting for the inevitable explosions of words and anger … it was bound to come. With his mother, it always came. He had even shut his eyes so not to see the two equally stubborn witches bellowing at each other, the noise was enough.
But the explosion never came; he cautiously opened his eyes to see if one of them had cast a hex at the other.
That hadn't happened, so he opened both eyes. His mother was watching Fleur as she mopped Bill's face. After a while she said something. 'Our Great Aunt Muriel has a very beautiful tiara –goblin-made – which I am sure I could persuade her to part with for the wedding. She is very fond of Bill and it would look lovely in your hair.'
'Thank-you.' Fleur responded stiffly. 'Zat will be charming.'
Ron must have missed something while he blinked, but somehow Molly had moved around the bed and was hugging and crying in Fleur's arms. And Fleur was hugging and crying in his mothers arms. He blinked and rubbed his eyes, making sure that it was not an illusion. No, it was happening. He glanced around the others, they all bore looks of surprise. He caught Harry's eye, and grinned. Harry, to his intense joy, grinned back and stuck his tongue out.
'You see!' Tonks then said from beside Ron in a tense voice. Ron looked at her startled and found she was glaring intensely at Lupin, who was backing away from her sheepishly. 'She still wants to marry him, even though he's been bitten! She doesn't care!'
'It's different,' said Lupin, lowering his head and trying to hide under his neatly cut fringe. 'Bill will never be a full werewolf; he'll never put her in danger. The cases are completely -'
'I don't care, I don't care!' Tonks had stepped forward and roughly seized Lupin by the front of his old robes and was shaking him. 'I've told you a million time …'
It suddenly clicked. 'Harry!' Ron said excitedly. 'Tonks was never in love with Sirius! She was in love with Lupin!' Once he had said these words he hastily clamped his hands over his mouth, blushing furiously as everyone turned around to face him and stare.
'Sorry,' he mumbled. 'I didn't mean to say it out loud.'
Lupin who had stared at Ron for a number of seconds recovered from his outburst quickly and tried to ease himself from Tonks' grip. But she would not let go. So he relented and began to speak. 'And I've told you a million times!' his voice grew in volume. 'I am too old for you, too poor for you … too dangerous.' His voice had lowered to its usual tone.
'You're being ridiculous, Remus,' Molly said, patting Fleur on the back.
'I am not being ridiculous,' he said steadily, as though he was composing himself. 'Tonks deserves someone young and whole.'
'She wants you,' Arthur had spoken up after minutes of remaining silent. His words filled Ron with a sense of hope, that maybe his parent's would accept this. 'And,' he gestured at the body of his son, 'after all, Remus, those young and whole do not always stay it.'
'This is … most definitely not the moment to discuss it,' Lupin said, avoiding everyone's eyes and he looked around. 'Dumbledore has been killed …'
'The old headmaster would have been happier than anybody to think that there was just a little more love in the world,' Professor McGonagall said curtly.
Silence reigned supreme again as Tonks eased her hold on Remus' shirt and Ron debated with himself.
Tell them now, tell them now!
No! Too many people are around.
Don't be a bloody fool. Half of them already know. If you don't tell them now, you'll keep putting it off.
No, not now, I'll tell them later at home where they can disown me in private.
TELL THEM!
The persistent voice in his mind won and he decided that there was indeed no better time then the present.
'Mum, Dad,' he said softly, not only gaining the attention of them but also the attention of all those gathered around the bed. 'Could I – uh, we – talk to you privately?'
'Whose we?' his father asked.
'Harry and me.'
'Of course dear, of course!' Molly said, letting go of Fleur and bustling Ron and Harry off to a more private corner of the hospital.
The curious eyes of Lupin, Tonks, Hermione, Ginny, Fleur, Neville, Professor McGonagall, and Luna all watched them go. Only seven out of the eight knew but as they walked away, Ron looked over his shoulder as they walked towards the corner that was empty of patients he could see Fleur's eyes widened and her frantic nod as the others filled them in.
Ron sat down onto the bed and Harry next to him. Nerves again flooded Ron, apprehensive nerves this time. What if his parent's could not accept him? Was this even the appropriate time? Professor McGonagall's comment about Dumbledore had spurred him forward.
He glanced over at Harry who was sitting beside him; he was a cool as a cucumber. Ron envied him for this; he had the ability to make himself look completely relaxed in a number of situations.
'What is it, Ron?' Arthur asked, looking between him and Harry.
Ron didn't answer and began to twiddle his thumbs looking down at them.
Harry groaned at Ron who now seemed unable to begin what he had started. 'Uh -,' Harry said. 'Ron and I, we -' he fumbled across his words and Ron saved him finishing it for him.
'We aren't really just friends anymore.'
Molly had taken a sharp intake of breathe as she stared at Ron and the honorary Weasley. 'This isn't funny, boy's,' she said, crossing her arms and glaring at them.
Arthur touched her wrist, his eyes thoughtful. 'Molly,' he said. 'I don't think they are joking.'
Please review! Only takes about thirty seconds maybe even less! And I'd love to know what you think.
