Ron Weasley Paladin
"It is not death or pain that is to be dreaded, but the fear of pain or death. "
Epictetus
The Christmas holidays had flown by silence was the by word of it, Sirius and Harry had tried to buoy the flagging spirits of the Weasley Clan but had failed miserably, not in small part to the fact that they themselves were suffering through it almost as much as the blood members of the family, the trip back to Hogwarts was also taken mostly in silence Ginny had a minor breakdown on the train which was finally suppressed by Harry taking her to a different car to be alone with her , Ron had stared listlessly out the window watching the scenery go by and no cajoling by Hermione or Neville had roused him from his stupor.
The welcoming feast was a somber occasion for the four Weasleys even the Twins were subdued sitting as close as they could to their little sister and brother in case of familial comfort if nothing else, dessert had just appeared on the table without much notice from the four redheads when a drawling voice cut across their somber silence.
"Well if it isn't weasel, mudblood, and potty." Malfoy said
'Leave it Malfoy." Harry said quietly
"Piss off potty, what's wrong did your dog die?" Malfoy sneered down "Oh wait no there she is right beside you." He finished indicating Ginny
Harry jumped up but was restrained by Ginny grabbing the back of his robes he looked down into her eyes which were puffy and downcast silently pleading for him not to rise to Malfoy.
"Perhaps you should take your trash somewhere else Malfoy." Hermione growled out.
He leered at the young witch and leaned down as he whispered "Don't worry mudblood you will soon be keeping that blood traitor company in the dirt." He laughed as he finished.
Ron flew over the table to those watching it was as though he apparated across he caught Malfoy with a right cross that staggered him but Ron didn't stop he tackled him to the floor and started dropping trip hammer right hands on the Slytherin prince, the odd part people said later was that he never made a noise while he was doing it, Crabbe tried to intervene and caught an elbow in the groin from the furious red head and had his nose broken on the way down by a terrific follow up head butt. Goyle kicked out savagely at the boy atop the prince and caught him solidly in the ribs which gave a satisfying crack Ron bounced up and with a snap kick Goyle was bent double and going down with Ron all over him throwing so many punches and elbows he seemed to be a blur of motion.
The Gryffindor table was a buzz of activity Lee Jordan had a hand on both of the Weasley Twins hauling back on them to keep them from getting to involved, Ginny and Harry were a confused bundle it was hard to tell who was holding whom back, Hermione meanwhile had her wand drawn and pointed at half of Slytherin who had saw what happened and were trying to close in to overwhelm Ron who was too distracted by what he was doing to even notice the gathering storm around him.
Suddenly Umbridge burst through the throng and grabbed Ron by the back of his robes and attempted to haul him bodily up out of the scrum and the crowd was rewarded by seeing Ron spin around and drop the "professor" by sinking an elbow into her mouth which exploded in a mass of teeth and blood, Malfoy was barley awake and was attempting to crawl away when Ron landed on his back and grabbed a handful of his hair and started slamming his head against the flagstones of the great hall he only managed three when he was hauled up by the back of his robes by Hagrid and held at arm's length while he tried to hit whatever it was that was keeping him from the situation at hand.
"Geroff me you fucking bastards I'll fucking kill you Malfoy, you never talk about my Dad again you ever mention anything about him to me and see what happens to you." Ron screamed trying his hardest to try to get back to Malfoy.
"Calm down Weasley." Hagrid roared struggling to maintain his hold on the fired up boy.
A sudden explosion brought silence to the Great Hall as the magnified voice of Dumbledore spread across the great Hall.
"SILENCE! All prefects will return their fellow students to their houses, Professor Snape please take Messers Malfoy Crabbe and Goyle to the hospital wing, Minerva bring Mister Weasley to my office at once, and would somebody kindly get Delores to the Hospital as well." He finished with a wave of his wand.
Ron hung limply from Hagrid's large hand still seething.
"'Kay Ron m gonna letcha down now, don try ta do nythin else ok?" Hagrid spoke like he was talking to one of his more dangerous creatures
Ron jerked his head to signal that he understood and was promptly sat down on his feet where he stood fuming and shaking as the adrenaline started wearing off.
"Come along Mister Weasley." McGonagall said placing her hand between his shoulders.
Ron walked in silence to meet his fate head held high and a small smirk plastered on his face he felt better than he had in days no matter his fate, expulsion, detention, jail he didn't care at this point he had finally silenced that irritating ponce hopefully once and for all, he could still see the look of shock that crossed Malfoy's face when he had him pinned to the ground at his mercy.
He flopped down in a chair across from the Headmasters desk taking the time to sit up straight trying to maintain that sense of fearlessness that had kept his spirit high on his trek up from the great hall, Dumbledore peered down his nose at the boy in front of him any trace of twinkle gone from his eyes.
"Mister Weasley that was the single most outrageous display of violence I have ever seen in my many years at Hogwarts." Dumbledore said quietly
Ron nodded and casually pulled the prefect badge he had on and flung it upon Dumbledore's desk with a flick of his wrist.
"Mister Weasley you will show respect to the headmaster." McGonagall reprimanded
Dumbledore regarded the prefect badge and carefully looked up at Ron seeing the rebellion evident in his face.
"I won't say I am sorry Professor, cause I'm not that little twit had it coming." Ron said a mulish look upon his face.
"Mister Weasley you nearly killed hm." Dumbledore stated.
Ron quickly covered up the look of shock on his face and nodded "If he mentions my father again in that tone of voice again he may damn well not survive it."
Dumbledore steepled his fingers in front of his face looking across at the boy in front of him with an undecipherable set to his face.
"Mister Weasley I must impress upon you the seriousness of the situation at hand, you nearly killed one student, seriously injured one other, and assaulted a professor, any two of these warrant immediate expulsion but together they warrant me contacting the Aurors and having you arrested." Dumbledore looked grave at this announcement. "but taking into account the fact of your recent loss, plus the sterling service you have given to the school over the years I am going not going to do this but you will be on probation, you will also be in detention every night for the next three months and I am taking two hundred points away from Gryffindor."
Ron mumbled something that caused McGonagall to gasp and reach over and tweak his ear.
"What was that you said Mister Weasley?" Dumbledore inquired
Looking defiantly in Dumbledore's eyes he said"Two hundred points well spent."
The door burst open admitting an irate looking Severus Snape.
"Headmaster I must urge you to expel Weasley this instant." He barked out.
"Severus the matter has already been settled we were in fact just finishing up, Mister Weasley will not be expelled but he is being punished." Dumbledore spoke calmly to the enraged man.
"Headmaster the injuries to Mister Malfoy and Goyle were extensive he actually managed to fracture most of the bones in Malfoy's face and Goyle had to have his nose reattached, not to mention professor Umbridge lost most of her front teeth and had to have her memory modified." He said all of this loudly and quickly
Dumbledore sighed and rubbed his eyes tiredly, McGonagall gasped at the list of injuries, Ron snorted.
"Mister Weasley I suggest you watch yourself, I am still a professor here." Snape sneered down at him
"And I suggest you beware Snape, and tell your house the same, they taunt me about my father again and more of your little snakes are going to end up in the same situation Malfoy and Goyle are in." Ron smirked up at the enraged man
"Mister Weasley return to your common room at once, Professor McGonagall will contact you about your detentions." Dumbledore ordered.
Ron stood never taking his eyes off the Slytherin head of house as he made his way out of the office and down the stairs, when he reached the bottom he looked about left and right to make sure there was nobody visible and then promptly collapsed against the wall burying his face in his hands shaking like a leaf in the wind 'bloody hell where the fuck did that come from?' he thought to himself, he felt incredibly brave but at the same time he felt as foolish as it was possible for him to feel at the moment 'did I just throw my prefect badge on his desk and basically threaten Snape and the whole of Slytherin?' he goggled at his own actions as though they had been done by someone other than him.
He stood up a moment later and made his way back to the portrait of the fat lady realizing he didn't know the password to his own common room he knocked hoping someone was still awake to answer him. The door popped open and as he stuck his head through the entrance he was nearly blown back into the hallway by the cheering that was going on for him for his actions.
"Bout bloody time someone showed that git." Seamus roared.
"Ron you kicked his ass." Dean shouted.
He smiled self consciously and looked around the common room till he saw the five people he was looking for they all stared back at him expectantly, he indicated the dorm room with his eyes they nodded and got up quickly to follow him, and once everyone was in they sealed the door and put up a silencing charm.
"Merlin Ron what the hell was that?" Fred stated eyes wide.
"Indeed it appears our ickle Ronniekins isn't so ickle anymore." George followed.
Ron stared at his feet and snorted at what passed as praise from his two older brothers.
"You ok mate?"Harry asked.
"Yeah m' fine "Ron whispered.
He looked up and saw Hermione staring at him with something resembling fear.
"I'm sorry Hermione I didn't mean to hurt you all but I won't stand for it not anymore he teases me about my family one more time and I can't say I won't do the same thing again." He tried to continue but was cut off by Hermione throwing her arms around his neck and burying her face in his chest.
"Ron I thought they were going to expel you and I would never see you again." Hermione moaned into his robes.
Suddenly he felt a hard punch in his shoulder and he looked down to see Ginny fuming up at him "Git why do you always scare the crap out of her so much. And besides you didn't even let me get one shot in."
Ron smiled wryly "Sorry Gin-gin it just kinda happened."
"So what is the damage?" Fred asked.
"Thumb screws?" George continued
"Whipping?"Fred countered
"Taking tea with Umbridge?" George finished
The other four occupants of the room rolled their eyes, secretly happy seeing the way the twins were back to joking around a bit.
Ron groaned "Worse, Three months of detention I lost my prefect badge, and two hundred points from Gryffindor."
"Holy" Fred started
"Shit" George finished.
Hermione's hands flew to her mouth a shocked expression taking over her face "Y-yo-you lost your prefect badge?"
Ron nodded miserably "My own fault really."
"How's that?" Harry asked.
He sighed and dropped his head into his hands mumbling something out.
"What was that?"Ginny asked looking perplexed.
"I said I took my badge off and threw it on his desk."Ron said not looking up.
"George I think, and this is difficult to admit mind you."Fred started wiping away imaginary tears from his eyes.
"Indeed it is for me as well." George sighed looking awe struck.
"What are you two gits on about?" Ron asked looking confused.
"We are so proud to call you our brother."Fred and George said smiling proudly at their younger brother and then dropped down into mocking bows.
Ginny hopped up and joined the twins in the mocking praise of Ron while Harry and Hermione rolled their eyes smiling at the twins and Ginny's antics and at the blush that was running rampant over Ron's face at the moment.
Going to class the next day was an operation in patients for Ron everywhere he went he was getting congratulations from most of the student body while the Slytherins spent most of the day glaring daggers at the boy and his companions, it didn't help matters that George and Fred had started marching in front of them in a repeat of second year only this time they were announcing "Make way for the King of Gryffindor."
"Seriously Ron is our brother and we are proud to say it." Fred said
"Indeed he is mind his trail you gits learn something from his genius." George finished
Malfoy and Goyle were absent from class all day long though Crabbe made an appearance limping and looking lost without the other two thirds of his brain.
Potions was a test of whatever patients Ron had left Snape was vindictive and took every opportunity to openly scorn Ron even deigning to banish his potion halfway through the class claiming that it was pointless for him to continue brewing it as he had already messed it up beyond fixing.
Ron started packing his things up and stood to walk out of the class.
"Where do you think you are going Weasley?" Snape growled
"Anywhere but here sir" He said managing somehow to make the word sir seem like more of a curse than a compliment.
"Mister Weasley you will sit back down in your seat and you will leave when the rest of the class does or you will be out of this class." Snape sneered
"Well professor perhaps I will just study this independently and sit the OWL without your help." Ron said bitingly
"Get out of this class Weasley and do not darken its door again." Snape practically screamed.
Ron retreated ignoring the shocked looks of both Harry and Hermione knowing full well he would have some explanations to give at the end of class.
"What were you thinking Ron?" Hermione said beside herself with worry
"Mate you just managed to piss off every Slytherin in Hogwarts."Harry laughed out.
"Yeah because they weren't after seeing Malfoy get his ass beaten last night."Ron quipped.
"Good point." Harry conceded.
"Don't swear Ron, you really have to start thinking a bit more."Hermione added.
"Sorry, but truthfully I already know this stuff remember the flash learning." Ron whispered to his friends.
"Once again good point." Harry acquiesced.
"So let's head up to dinner now don't worry Hermione I got this it can't be too bad from here on out right? Mind you I still have three months detention, and we aren't going to win the house cup this year as though that actually matters anymore." Ron said grimacing.
"So who's up first for detention I saw Professor McGonagall talking to you earlier." Harry questioned.
Ron sighed "Not too bad Hagrid is my first month of detention."
"Well all in all that isn't too bad considering who it could be."Hermione said in her best lecture voice.
"Don't worry it is second month is Snape."Ron said stopping to bang his head against the wall at the agony of having to spend a month in the presence of the potions master.
His friends winced and sadly shook their heads at Ron.
"Got yourself into that one didn't you." Harry said smiling slightly.
"Thanks so much for the support Harry." Ron shot back.
"He is right, Ron you have to be more careful you are going to end up getting expelled if you don't quit acting so unapologetic about what happened." Hermione said.
"I know, I know but I can't say it won't happen again if they have a go at my dad it might happen again." Ron said looking grim.
Dinner was going along swimmingly Ron's appetite had returned with a vengeance, he was eating his way through a baked chicken when a feathered cannonball slammed into his plate splattering mashed potatoes and peas all over him, he sat his chicken down with a sigh.
"Hello Errol."He said by way of conversation with the bird who hooted feebly in reply.
He looked and sure enough attached to the Owls foot was a red envelope that was starting to smolder ominously, he picked it up deciding to get it over with quickly rather than waiting for it to just explode, and he pulled the ribbon off of it and opened the flap.
"RONALD BILLUS WEASLEY WHAT WERE YOU THINKING YOU NEARLY KILLED A STUDENT HOW DARE YOU DO SOMETHING SO DISGRACEFUL YOU JUST WAIT TILL I GET YOU HOME YOU ARE GROUNDED I HAVE NEVER IN MY LIFE BEEN SO HUMILIATED ONE OF MY CHILDREN ASSAULTING ANOTHER STUDENT IN SUCH A MANNER YOUR FATHER WOULD BE SO EMBARRESSED BY YOUR BEHAVIOR NOT TO MENTION THE FACT THAT POOR HERMIONE MUST BE MORTIFIED BY WHAT YOU HAVE DONE, IF EVEN THINK OF STEPPING EVEN ONE MORE TOE OUT OF LINE THEY WON'T GET A CHANCE TO EXPEL YOU I WILL COME UP TO THE SCHOOL AND GET YOU MYSELF AND PULL YOU OUT!" The howler screamed at him. Before exploding in a dazzling display of fireworks.
Ron lowered his head into his arms suddenly feeling not so hungry at all he felt several supportive pats on his back and a muttered "you were still brilliant." By someone.
"Well at least that is all over with then." He mumbled.