Chapter 25 – A Wee Problem or Two

When Mrs. Weasley came down to begin fixing breakfast the next morning, she saw Harry coming in from the chicken coop with the egg basket.

"You're up early" she commented.

"I had a really nice sleep but just woke up a while ago", Harry said as he sat at the table watching her. "I thought I'd save Ginny a few steps this morning and go collect the eggs myself."

Harry pulled out the instruction manual for his trunk and started reading it again. Mrs. Weasley started looking through the pantry. "You didn't stay up too late last night figuring out that trunk did you? I tried staying up with you and Arthur but found myself sleepy and just went to bed." She didn't tell Harry that his song had worked its magic on her in making her drowsy also.

"No, Ma'am. We worked it out between us about a half hour after your retired. I changed the opening to something a little simpler and then went right to bed. I'm just trying to memorize the other features and instructions now."

Both people turned as they heard footsteps coming down the stairs. "Good morning everyone." Mr. Weasley went over and gave his wife a kiss before he sat down and started talking to Harry. Harry was in the middle of describing how he found out he could change the trunk's appearance when he stopped in mid-sentence. He apologized to Mr. Weasley but then raised his voice a little.

"I'm not exactly sure what's going on but the girls would like to see you upstairs, Mrs. Weasley. They're giggling a lot, but they said it was kind of important."

Mrs. Weasley rolled her eyes a bit but asked Harry if he could watch the toast for a bit while she went and sorted the problem out. Harry watched her head up the stairs and started making toast for everyone. It wasn't two minutes later that Hermione and Ginny came down the stairs. Ginny went over to hug her father and Hermione came over to say good morning to Harry. A few seconds later the girls reversed their positions and greeted the other person.

Both girls walked over to sit by Harry. "That was a great song last night, Harry. We slept wonderfully, thanks. How about you?"

"I stayed up with Mr. Weasley for about 45 minutes and then went up to bed myself. No nightmares for a change."

"Then you're all set for breakfast then?" asked Hermione. "Hungry?"

"Yes. I'm looking forward to some of Mrs. Weasley omelets' and jellies on toast."

"Are you thirsty Harry?" Ginny asked.

"No more than normal," a suddenly suspicious Harry replied.

"That's too bad Harry", a voice from the stairs responded. Harry looked over at the staircase to see a platter being floated down the stairs by Mrs. Weasley. "We seem to have plenty to drink this morning!"

Harry watched as Mrs. Weasley floated the tray over to the table and set it down right in front of Harry. He was amazed to see it was filled with about four dozen little glass bottles - all about three inches high and filled with something white! Harry looked around in confusion. "What?"

Both girls looked at each other before they decided who was to speak. Ginny leaned over and wrapped her arms around Harry's neck. "Did you or did you not sing something very late last night about the milkman being on his way? Those were all over my room this morning when we woke up."

Harry looked at the smiling faces of the three females in the room and realized what happened. He blushed but he was also laughing at the same time! Hermione came over and asked Harry if he planned on doing his regular shopping this way when he out by himself. Even Mr. Weasley was chuckling at Harry's miscue.

"You can't normally create food or drink out of thin air, Harry. It's just not possible. You didn't by chance have that goblin staff with you last night?"

Harry nodded his head. He looked up at the ceiling for some help. "Does anybody care that the mistakes seem to be getting smaller?" Harry held up one of the tiny bottles of milk between his thumb and forefinger. "Mrs. Weasley?"

"Yes Harry?"

"Would you mind terribly if I just had a REALLY big bowl of cereal this morning?"

Ginny and Hermione just about fell off their chairs laughing at this last statement. They both came over and told Harry they would help clean up his mistakes. Harry laughed as he saw the smiling faces of his friends.

Harry settled in to his breakfast as normal conversations resumed around the table. He thought he hadn't touched the bond magic last night at all. He wondered if the goblin magic in the staff was doing more than the little light casting he had done. Harry was starting to wonder about the interaction between the three forms of magic that he was currently dealing with. Maybe another discussion with Dumbledore to sort things out was needed.

Mr. Weasley saw the thoughtful look on Harry's face and asked him if there was anything the matter. Harry shook his head to say no but changed his mind. He said he had been having a debate with himself for most of the holidays but hadn't come to any solution yet. Hermione and Ginny looked at him strangely; he usually ask them first about any problems he had.

"I'm not even sure I should bring it up for discussion with you and Mrs. Weasley." That got everyone's attention as they all stared at Harry.

"Ok, it's about Ron. He's eventually going to see me open the other side of the trunk no matter how discreet I may be. And then he's going to be upset I didn't trust him enough to let him know about it. That's going to lead him to suspecting that there's other things I haven't told him. It probably won't matter to him if anything is new or not. The situation with Ginny and Hermione and the whole bond magic will be just more fuel for his fire. He has no idea that I'm very connected to Ginny. It's not that I don't trust him but…"

"Harry is worried about his reaction and if he'll blab about everything in his anger if he doesn't outright try to beat Harry up." Harry looked at Ginny as she spoke and then nodded.

"I think Harry has reached the point where he thinks he might have to decide how much of a good friend Ron is." Hermione spoke up to both Ginny's parents. "And how much he can trust him."

"I'm kind of stuck here and either decision seems to be both very right AND very wrong. I like Ron. I really do! I'm going crazy the longer I think about it."

Mrs. Weasley smiled. "Ron does seem to have that effect on people sometimes. What do you think he knows?"

"That's part of the problem. I'm not sure what he knows and what he doesn't know."

"Then that seems to be a probable place to start, Harry. Find out what he thinks about various things and then you can have a better basis for a decision."

Harry scratched his head. "But how do I start a conversation like that? Hey Ron, you know your sister? We've been talking to each other from the Burrow to Hogwarts without using an owl or the floo system. It's a life bond sort of trick. That will go over well."

Ginny giggled and Harry thought maybe he ought to let her bring up things with her brother. Maybe that would be a little better way. This was so confusing.

"If you're really sure you want to do this", Mr. Weasley said, "I can go back with you to Hogwarts and we can all sit down together."

"Thanks Mr. Weasley. I really appreciate the offer. I don't want to be the cause of any more problems within your family. Ginny, Hermione - what do you think about all this?"

Ginny frowned. "I love my brother but I'm not sure he's ready to handle all this. But again, the longer we wait the worse he's going to react to everything. That I'm pretty sure about."

Hermione was looking at Harry when she spoke. "Maybe if you start slowly and just go for a little thing first and then build up to the whole situation it won't be such a terrible shock for him."

"That sounds a little more likely to work. Good idea Hermione. We'll try that and see how it goes. Have you two settled on a decision about using my trunk?"

"Not really Harry", Hermione said. "By all rights, it's just yours, no matter what you feel about sharing."

"Ok, but what I'm going to do is give each of you half the new password. That way you can get into it together if there's an emergency. Would you agree to that?"

When both girls nodded, Harry slipped off his seat to go whisper in Ginny's ear first and then Hermione's. He figured that the weirdness of the parts (Greasy-haired git, loves flobberworm cookies) would keep his trunk safe from any normal prying.

Eventually all the distractions were put away and everyone finished their breakfast. There really weren't a lot of the little milk bottles left over by the time everyone used some of it their tea and just as drinks. Mrs. Weasley said that she would take the rest of the milk over to the Lovegoods.

Harry had a little help repacking his trunk. Both the girls wanted to help him out and Harry had to stop them once to tell them that he wanted two of the found items transferred over to the regular side; the letter for Dumbledore and the Sneakascope. He certainly didn't want to leave his family ring or the photo album laying out for anyone to look at!

Harry reluctantly gave the course notebooks to Ginny for safekeeping. He hated to part from them but realized that Ginny would take good care of them. Remus Lupin had told Harry that Lily was especially proficient in Charms and Potions and Harry was hoping for more help in those two classes.

After Harry had packed up everything he was taking back to Hogwarts, the girls went back upstairs to get Hermione ready to go. Harry offered to help pack up her clothes for her but was stopped by Mrs. Weasley clearing her throat. Harry just waved his hands as the girls went up the stairs.

Eventually everyone was all set to return to Hogwarts. Mrs. Weasley offered to help with the discussion with Ron but Mr. Weasley thought having both his parents there might make him nervous. Harry and Hermione received hugs from Mrs. Weasley before they left. Harry tried to figure out the start of the conversation with his buddy Ron.

xxxx xxxx

Hermione and Ginny flooed together to the medical wing. They were followed by Mr. Weasley and Harry. Harry managed to hold on tight to Mr. Weasley so he didn't fall out of the floo like he usually did. Both girls clapped at seeing Harry arrive safely for a change.

Madame Pomfrey had left a note on her door that she would be out for the afternoon but would be back before supper. That provided the answer to the question of where Harry and the others could talk to Ron in private.

Mr. Weasley expanded Hermione's carpetbag and the girls headed out to Gryffindor tower to fetch Ron. Harry expanded his trunk and left it on one of the beds. He thought the magical trunk might be one of the starting points for the things he wanted his friend to know about. Mr. Weasley had agreed with Harry that both Ginny and Hermione ought to be there for the discussion but to be careful about antagonizing Ron. Ron seemed to be extra resentful of any girls, especially his sister, paying any attention to Harry.

It was a good twenty-five minutes before Ron and the two girls came back through the infirmary doors. Everyone was talking normally but Harry could hear a little bit of a strain in Hermione's voice as she tried talking to Ginny's brother. Ron hurried over to greet his dad and everyone settled on a bed and a couple of chairs. Mr. Weasley made a pass with his wand and told everyone that he had set up a privacy ward.

"So what's the problem?" Ron asked. "Ginny asked that you and Harry wanted to talk to me but that the twins could wait until later to come down. There's nothing wrong with Mum or Bill is there?"

"No, Ron, nothing wrong with anybody. Harry wanted to tell you a few things and thought I might be of some help to him. But first, I have something for you."

Mr. Weasley reached into his pants pocket and pulled out a small pouch and handed it to Ron. Ron seemed a little surprised at the weight but opened it up. He took a look inside and then started grinning. "What's this for?"

"That is your 'official' wages for that week you spent helping Charlie out in Romania. Eleven galleons, four sickles, three knuts. Charlie apologized for it taking so long but he said it was about time you learned about the speed of paperwork."

Ron took some money out of the pouch and handed the rest back to his dad. He then did something surprising. He tried giving the money to Harry and Ginny. "That's for all the loans and favors you two have done for me. Hermione, how much do I owe you for the searches you helped out with when Scabbers went missing?"

Hermione said 'Nothing' and that she didn't want any reward for helping him out. Harry and Ginny also refused to take Ron's money either. Ron reluctantly handed almost all the money back to his father. "I was going to ask the twins to get stuff from Hogsmeade but I wasn't too sure I could trust them to give me back any change. Dad, could you manage to get me some things if you get the chance? Ginny might bring them from home if I don't annoy her too much."

"Of course, Ron", Mr. Weasley answered. "Just let me know what you need."

Ron nodded and then turned his attention to Harry. "So what's going on then mate? And why are Ginny and Hermione here?"

Harry looked around at the two girls and Mr. Weasley. Where to start all this? It was Hermione that spoke up first. "We weren't sure if you would talk to Harry without getting mad at him. Harry asked the three of us to help him. Do you mind that Ginny and I are here for Harry?"

"I'm just wondering why Harry thinks he needs help. I've tried to understand most of the problems he has."

Ron was little surprised when Ginny raised her hand for attention. When Mr. Weasley didn't nod at her, Ron understood that Ginny was instead waiting for him to give her permission to speak. Ron did ask what Ginny had to say.

"You've spoken some horrible things to Harry and had some really bad reactions to things that were either about him or happened to him. In spite of all those things you've said and done, Harry wants you to know some things without worrying about how you'll react."

"I haven't been overreacting to anything."

"Didn't you almost threaten to beat Harry up when you found out that he was going to spend the holidays with me and Hermione?"

"Not really", Ron replied. "He's supposed to be my best friend, not running away to spend time with you two. Sorry Hermione, nothing personal."

Harry could feel that both Hermione and Ginny were both beginning to lose their patience. Mr. Weasley picked that moment to step in. "Ronald, you can't just be jealous that Harry has other friends that he likes. He's saved both your sister's and Hermione's life twice. That forms a special type of friendship between the three of them. Harry has gone out of his way not to act close to either girl as a way of protecting them from being targets by the Malfoy boy or others. The holidays away were just a chance for them to have some real time together."

"So why haven't you or Mum just forbidden Harry or Ginny from hanging out together? I can understand that Harry is a target; just the way that lot of Slytherins look at him sometimes is enough to give me the shakes."

"While you were off helping Charlie, your mother and I had a good long talk to Harry and your sister. Especially after he saved her life! There seems to be some sort of special friendship and connection between the two of them and in spite of their age, we think they are very good for each other. I think they just want to see where their friendship will go. They've agreed to a specific set of rules on how they behave to each other so nothing inappropriate happens. Harry can defend your sister, Ron."

"But that's my job, as well as the rest of us boys. You and Mum especially have been telling us that since the day she was born."

Harry broke into the conversation then. "Ginny doesn't need anybody's help in defending herself, even from you or me." Harry received a nice warm feeling from Ginny for that statement.

"I don't think so, she's only ten." Harry noticed that Hermione had a firm hold of Ginny's hand and wondered how far Ron was from being shown exactly how Ginny could take care of herself. Harry caught Ginny as she suddenly launched herself from her chair. 'Not now, Ginny; you can get him later!'

Harry spoke around the struggling redhead. "Ron, I happened to know for a fact that Ginny can take of herself, I watched her make Malfoy scream as he ran away from her just before the holidays!"

Ron smiled at that and then got confused. "She really did that?" When Hermione joined Harry in nodding, Ron looked over at his sister. "I'm going to have to get used to this Ginny."

Mr. Weasley put an arm around Ron on the bed where they were both sitting. "Your mother and I don't have any objections if Harry and Ginny want to hang out together. They seem to be good for each other. And your sister and Hermione are the best of friends. You are going to have to accept this situation or deal with the consequences. Ginny will either be very mad at you or not want to have anything to do with you at all."

Ron had a very confused look on his face. "I just don't understand this. When did things change so much?"

Hermione then took her turn at trying to explain things to Ron. "That's why Harry wanted to try and talk to you. To tell you some of the things that have happened to him and the other changes that have happened. He doesn't want to lose you as a friend or Ginny to lose her brother."

"And YOU are telling me this because…"

"Because it's obviously important that both of them want you to continue to be a part of their lives. That makes it important enough for me. I just want them to be happy."

Ginny came over and sat next to her brother. "Ron you will always be my bestest brother; neither Hermione nor Harry want to replace you or get between you and me; they wouldn't do that. But you've got to them a chance too. I'm really close to Hermione; she's better than a sister to me. Are you going to stay mad at Harry for all those things he has no control over?"

"Just a little. I guess I'm a little discouraged that you don't need me any more in the ways I thought you did."

"Ron, I will always need you to be a part of my life. You may be an idiot sometimes but you're my idiot brother and I love you. Just don't make me say that very often."

Ron grinned and then sadly stopped smiling. "If I tell you all something, could you promise me that it won't go out of this room?"

Everyone nodded and Hermione made to get up to excuse herself. Ron then surprisingly asked her to stay. "I may need all the brains I can lean on to solve this problem, if you don't mind." Harry knew the Hermione was astonished by the compliment.

Keeping his eyes closed, Ron stated a seemingly awkward dilemma. "I'm not sure exactly where I fit in or what I'm supposed to be doing. I'm not like Bill or Charlie or the twins; I'm happy I'm not like Percy, mind you, but I'm just so confused by things now. I'm pretty sure I'm not as smart as Hermione or Harry over there. I even get a little worried sometimes that I might not end with a girl - ever. I just don't seem to have whatever that knack is for talking to them."

Mr. Weasley reached over to put an arm around Ron. "Of course you don't Ron. I didn't either when I was your own age. Nobody gets born with all their talents. Or knowledge. You have to work on it and sometimes you have to work at it very hard. And sometimes you'll fail. Then you dust yourself off and try again."

"Ron", Ginny spoke up again, "one of the first things Harry ever told me was that I was the first girl he had ever talked to."

Ron's jaw dropped. "But you're…

"Still the same old me over here Ron. I had to learn that just as much as I've had to learn magic. I still stammer and don't know what to say to them some of the time. Both Ginny and Hermione have been very patient with me."

"So what? I'll never be Harry Potter!"

Harry and Hermione both turned angry looks on Ron then. Ginny was the one to speak what they were thinking. "Nobody wants you to be Harry-bloody-Potter! You're just supposed to be the best Ron Weasley in the world."

Ron started laughing then. "That may be a long process since I'm not sure what it is I'm supposed to be good at."

"I think you're selling yourself short on the brains category", Harry said. "You're great at chess and did that great talk on talent night on Quidditch." Ron smiled at that statement from Harry.

Ginny leaned over then to give Ron a hug. "You do realize we all are supposed to be helping each other out in growing up? It's called friendship. And family. We try and talk to each other and work problems out. That's part of what Hermione, Harry and I have been doing. Supporting each other - in class and out."

Ron turned back to his dad. "What do you think of all they've said?"

"Your mum and I will always love you; no matter where you end up in life. Part of growing up is making decisions about who you are and what you stand for. It's a responsibility to yourself more than anything else. Harry, Ginny and Hermione seemed to have stumbled on that fact early. Does that make sense to you Ron?"

"I think so. But no more pranks?"

"WRONG!", came from Ginny. "Who said you can't have fun during all this? No fun would mean we would all turn into … Percy!"

"EEEWWW!" came from every throat except Mr. Weasley who just chuckled a little. Ron looked at the three friendly faces and thought he might be catching on to something. "Can you give me a couple of minutes alone to process all this?"

"Of course Ron." "Yes."

Ron stood up and went to the other end of the infirmary and looked out the window there. Mr. Weasley turned and looked back at the threesome. Ginny and Hermione were in a hurried discussion about something and Harry was just taking a worried look at Ron. "Sorry Harry you didn't get to tell Ron some of the things you wanted to tell him."

"That's ok, Mr. Weasley, I think this is just another part that needed to get talked about anyway. He's going to have to trust us and he can't do that if he gets mad about every little thing that happens to Ginny. Or me. I'm not sure when we'll get to the bond magic; I may have to ask Dumbledore to help us explain that to Ron. You helped a little with that 'special connection' phrase."

It was about ten minutes later when a relaxed Ron came back and sat down by his father. "Ok, Harry", he said.

"Ok, what?" asked Harry.

"Ok. I'm ready to listen to the things you really wanted to talk to me about. We got diverted by the talk of Ginny and you. We're definitely going to talk some more about that. But that's not why you wanted to talk to me. I'll try not to get mad about things if you realize I need answers."

"That seems really fair Ron. There are a few things I can't tell you yet; not because I don't want to but I made some promises to Dumbledore."

"That's ok. We've already kept some secrets. I understand."

"Let's start with the easy stuff then; let me tell you about my trunk!"

For the next half hour Harry told Ron the story of how he had found his trunk in his vault and what he had found out about it. Ginny and Mr. Weasley also contributed to the story when they related what happened the first time he had tried getting into it. Ron laughed at the Howler but seemed a little intimidated by the mention of the Marauders. "Your father really was one of them?" he asked Harry. When Harry nodded, all Ron said was "Cool!"

Harry got down to the part of Hermione figuring out the password. (Ron actually gave Hermione some praise for helping Harry!) Harry opened up the trunk and showed Ron the things he had found. Ron was impressed by most of the things but Harry didn't mention his mother's notebooks. That was something for another day.

Harry let Ginny model the cloak he received for Christmas and Ron's mouth dropped open in amazement. "That's incredible Harry. Can I borrow it sometime?"

"Only if you bring me, us, back some food too", Harry said laughing.

Ginny reached out and tickled Ron from beneath the cloak and he spun around trying to catch her. She poked him in the back as she took off the cloak. Everyone was laughing as the twins walked into the room.

Harry asked Ron, Ginny and Hermione to follow him to the other end of the infirmary. As the twins started talking to their Dad, Harry went through the whole story of the first staff he originally stumbled into and that it was really a lost goblin staff of power. Ron whistled a few times as Harry described the meeting at Gringotts with the goblin wizard and what had happened to him that day. He didn't seem jealous about Harry having something he didn't. Ginny piped in and told Ron that since the Deatheaters might still be after him, Harry needed all the advantages he could get.

'Don't remind him I'm a target Ginny!'

'He's got to start thinking about your welfare too. It's only right!'

Ron looked at the girls after Ginny made that statement. "You're allowing them to be around you? That's dangerous! Do Mum and Dad know?"

Ron was surprised to find a fierce looking Ginny suddenly sitting on his knee. "Yes they do! And Harry's not allowing anything. He's tried getting rid of us but Hermione and I have made a choice. And nobody is changing our minds - got that brother?"

Ron looked over at a slightly embarrassed Harry. He chuckled to Ginny's surprise. "They've got you right where they want you Harry. Need any help?"

"Don't say anything you'll regret Ron. I saw that bat-bogey hex that Malfoy got. Both these girls are scary in their own right!" Ginny slapped her brother on the arm and Hermione did the same to Harry. All four of the kids then went back and joined the rest of the Weasleys.