Ron Weasley Paladin
"A man travels the world over in search of what he needs and returns home to find it."
George Moore
Ron Weasley stepped off the triple-decker purple bus feeling a bit sick and quite a bit exhausted, a bit sick because the Knights bus travels at insane speeds and a bit tired due to the international travel even a portkey can't travel faster than time, he looked about an almost immediately spotted his prize the burrow stood where it always had and looked as ramshackle as when he left but now he felt no embarrassment or shame at the state of the place he was simply happy to be home. He ran as fast as his legs could carry him up to the front door of the house and tried to get in but oddly enough the door was locked.
He made his way around the back of his house and tried the rear entrance to no avail it too was locked in fact it looked as he peered through the window as though the burrow was abandoned, he was still caught up in his own thoughts when he heard a voice.
"Get your hands up put em on your ruddy head and don't move till I ask you to." The voice said in a very rough sounding manner.
He didn't know who this was but they were making a mistake he could feel the wand tip digging ever so slightly into his back which meant that they were close enough to hit, he spun quickly feeling a spell brush past his exposed back, his left hand caught a hold of the wand hand of his unseen assailant and his right came crashing over in a stunning hook catching his attacker firmly across the jaw and he went slack in Ron's grip as he was looking down to see whom or what had attacked him he realized his own mistake in assuming whoever it was, was alone he had just enough time to think 'bugger' before a light washed over him and he knew no more.
He awoke slowly his head ached a bit, he could hear voices talking softly off to his right he cracked his eyes just a bit to see if he could recognize where he was then he heard someone say.
"Honestly Molly we had no idea he had come back," it sounded a bit like Lupin. "plus look at him he doesn't look quite like the Ron who left either we thought it was just a poor attempt at a Glamour charm by some deatheater if we had known it was really Ron we wouldn't have attacked him."
Ron groaned a bit hoping he hadn't exposed himself to much to his former professor and also that it hadn't been him he had hit.
"Ron are you awake dear?" Molly Weasley sounded a bit strained.
"Eurgh what the hell happened?" he inquired
"Don't swear Ronald." Molly said as she swept in and wrapped Ron in her traditional family hug. "Are you okay?" she asked when she finally released him from her arms.
"Yes mum and I missed you to." Ron said producing a smile "Uh who did I hit?"
Sirius who had just walked into the room barked out a laugh "Let's just say you should avoid Mad-Eye for a bit, it isn't everyday a fifteen year old boy puts one of the best Aurors in England on his backside, with a muggle punch no less."
Ron blushed deeply as the other occupants of the room also gave an appreciative laugh, just then another figure entered the room and Ron snapped his attention over to the man and said "Hello Headmaster."
Albus Dumbledore scanned the scene in front of him with a soft smile and a twinkle in his eye "Welcome home Mister Weasley." He said "Though I expect it isn't quite the homecoming you were expecting, and I know it is not the situation Alastor would have liked to have found himself in." this caused Sirius to start laughing again even his mum and lupin managed a chuckle at the old Aurors expense.
Ron scratched his head self consciously and smiled back at the headmaster "Is he ok?"
"A broken jaw but do not fret Ronald, Poppy had him all fixed in a few moments." Albus said "Now I believe that since you are rested and refreshed from your trip I shall take you to Hogwarts if this is okay with you and your mother, you should get there just in time for the feast I believe."
Ron looked at his mum and leaned in for another hug this took her completely by surprise but she was smiling hugely as she gave Ron another crushing hug. "Tell Dad that I missed him I don't know if we will be home for Christmas or not but I hope to see him then." Ron said.
"Don't worry Ronnie your father just had to pop back to work they have been keeping him very busy, your trunk and broom and Pig are all already at Hogwarts we sent them on the train in September, we love you and we have missed you so very much, please be good at school and study hard O.W.L.s are very important to your future you know." Molly lectured.
Ron grabbed his ruck off the floor and threw it onto his back and looked at the Headmaster. "Ready when you are Sir."
"Well then Ronald let us make haste and return you where you belong." He held out an old boot and Ron put a finger on it and felt the familiar tug behind the navel and the world spun away. He came crashing down in the Headmasters office.
Ron stood up quickly brushing his robes off grinning a bit at his horrible landing and took a moment to look about it was the first time he had been in the Headmasters office and he was surprised by what he saw, the portraits of past headmasters gazed down at him some waving some trying to act like they were asleep but listening nevertheless, a small chirrup caught Ron's attention and he saw another first for him Fawkes a Phoenix sat looking resplendent on his perch in the corner the boy's eyes seemed drawn to that bird till Dumbledore cleared his throat breaking the spell over Ron.
"Mister Weasley please proceeded to the Gryffindor common room I will have Professor McGonagall retrieve your brothers and sister as well as Mr. Potter and Ms. Granger I would think you would prefer this method of reunion rather than the great hall." Dumbledore held up a hand forestalling Ron's question "I will have dobby bring some food up for you and your gathering don't worry Ronald. The password is patefacio commodo" Dumbledore smiled when he had finished speaking
'Yes sir I will and no I won't worry." He grinned and made his way down the spiral stairs and began his trek to his common room. He walked slowly reveling in the fact of being back and happier than he had been in a long while leaving had been an adventure, but coming home was far more wondrous than he ever thought it would be now he understood what Harry saw when he looked at the castle.
The common room was deserted when he walked in so he took the time to walk his haversack upstairs and lay it on his bed, when he walked back down the stairs there was still nobody there so he sat down by the fireplace and relaxed and waited, he was a bit nervous to tell the truth he wasn't sure what Harry's reaction would be he had already resolved himself on Hermione's behalf and he was about to do something that would get the mickey taken out of him on a regular basis for the rest of the year unless he missed his guess.
'I just had to get brave even knowing Fred and George will be here honestly' Ron thought with a brief sigh 'but at least they can't say I am not brave in that regard anymore' he finished his thoughts with a short smile that was interrupted by the common room door starting to open.
'Well here goes nothing." Ron whispered.
A/N: sorry cliffhangers.
