Dirty Work

The next morning after breakfast, Mrs. Weasley asked to speak to Ron and Ginny alone. Harry and Hermione walked out into the garden. Mrs. Weasley had asked the four of them to tackle cleaning the old stone out building where they kept the broomsticks.

"It's good we're coming out first actually, without Ron," Harry said. "That building's full of spiders."

Hermione shook her head. "I've never seen anyone with such a pathological problem with spiders."

"It wasn't so bad before Aragog," Harry opened the door to the old building.

Hermione nodded. "I have to say, not that being petrified was a picnic, but I'm glad I missed that little adventure."

Harry grinned. "It was sort of horrible."

They both said, "Only Hagrid," at the same time and laughed.

They took turns casting cleaning charms on the old storage shed. A few minutes later, Harry ventured in. "Looks like the spiders are all gone, but what a load of junk in here. There's hardly room to turn around."

"And Mum wants it all out. Aren't we lucky?" Ron stuck his head inside the doorframe with Ginny right behind him.

"Everything alright?" Hermione asked.

Ginny snorted. "Apparently, Mum thinks you and Harry are unaware that we aren't rich."

Ron rolled his eyes. "She wanted us to know that since Dad got a promotion and we're the last two in school, we're getting new school robes this year."

"She wants us finished with this by noon, because we're going to Diagon Alley," Ginny added.

"Good," Hermione said. "I could use new robes myself."

Harry nodded. "Me too. I think I've gotten taller."

Ginny patted his arm. "Sure you have, luv, sure you have."

Hermione, Ron and Ginny all laughed.

Harry cleared his throat. "Let's get this lot sorted, shall we?"

It was a combination of magic and hard labor that finally got all the junk in the broom shed sorted. Things that were obviously good and meant to be kept went back in the shed. Things that were obviously trash were piled up for Hermione to make disappear. Things that were good, but they weren't sure were to be kept, were left for Mrs. Weasley to go through. They all trudged back up to the house around eleven, hot and dirty.

They drew lots and Hermione got to shower first. The others cast cleaning charms and waited their turns.

"Oh," Harry said to Ron. "Almost forgot. McGonagall sent an owl Saturday. We can take our apparition tests next Friday in Hogsmeade."

Ron winced. "Then we really need to practice."

"I thought we'd do that when we got back today," Harry said. "As well as bone up on our defensive magic, charms and hexes, DADA stuff."

Ron nodded. "Good idea."

"It has been awhile." Ginny said.

Harry agreed.

Hermione called down the steps. "I'm out."

Harry, Ginny, and Ron did paper, scissors, rock for the next shower. Ginny won.

Now that they were alone in the kitchen, Ron felt compelled to bring up the Horcruxes.

"Harry," he said tentatively, "about shopping today. I don't want Mum spending all that money on school things for me if I won't be attending. It doesn't seem fair."

Harry looked at him.

"Not really fair for Hermione's parents either, you know."

"Is that what you two did at the Grangers?" Harry asked. "Plan ways to talk me into going back to school when you weren't shagging?"

Ron felt sudden anger boil up inside him. "No, Harry, believe it or not, you hardly came up at all, oh, except when we had to explain to them that there was a war on and we were involved."

"You don't have to be," Harry said sharply.

"Oh, yeah, how do you reckon that?" Ron barked.

Harry turned away from him.

"Do you even have a plan, Harry? Because Hermione–"

"If Hermione doesn't want to go, she doesn't have to. She can go back to school. I know she doesn't want to help me."

Without thinking, Ron grabbed Harry by the shirt. "She went home to see her parents one last time, because she's so committed to you, she's ready to die to see this through, so don't you dare–"

Harry blanched. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry, Ron. Really, I didn't mean that."

Ron let him go. "How are we supposed to find these things without the library at Hogwarts? Where are we supposed to live while we're looking? What are we supposed to do for money?"

Harry dropped his head in hands. "I don't want to go back."

"What if we win?" Ron asked.

"What?" Harry looked up.

"What if we win? I want to take my N.E.W.T. levels. If we win this war, I want to be able to get a decent job. I want to be able to offer Hermione something."

Harry gave a weak laugh. "How can you even think about the future?"

Ron straightened his shoulders. "Because I expect to have one. I can't fight if I don't."

Harry stared at him, his mouth open.

Ron folded his arms across his chest. "What?"

Harry closed his mouth and put a hand on Ron's shoulder. "You're a good man, Ron Weasley. A damn sight better man than I am."

"Don't be daft," Ron said. Harry grinned crookedly, but his eyes were serious.

"I'm out," Ginny yelled down the stairs.

"Flip a coin?" Ron asked.

"No," Harry shook his head. "You go ahead."