Chapter 35 – Trouble

Molly returned to the burrow to find Ron fast asleep on the sofa and Harry sitting on one of the armchairs reading a Quidditch book. He had somehow tuned the old radio in to a muggle radio station which was playing in the background.

"How is he?" Molly asked Harry.
"He's been very quiet all day, sleeping on and off." Harry answered. "How's the others?"
"They're all fine as far as I can see." Molly replied. "Hermione seemed a bit quiet though."
"I should really go and see Hermione and Ginny. They'll think I don't care." Harry said.
"They know you care about them, Harry dear." Molly said. "We can take you around tomorrow to Shell Cottage when I go with Ron to St Mungos."
"I'd like that a lot." Harry replied.
"Would you like something to eat or drink?" Molly asked Harry.
"No I'm alright thank you. I'm not long after something to eat." Harry replied.

Molly left the living room and entered the kitchen, setting the cupcake down on the bench. Moments later Ron woke up from his nap and entered the kitchen to get a glass of water.

"Hello Ron, dear. How are you feeling?" Molly asked her youngest son.
"I'm not too bad Mum. Harry and I flew about outside for a bit then I fell asleep." Ron answered. "Where did you disappear too?"
"I went to visit the others at the shop. Someone sent Fred a cupcake that we think has been laced with something." Molly answered.
"Who would do something like that?" Ron questioned.
"No idea. I have to wait until your Father comes home to check it to see what it's been laced with." Molly replied. "Who would have it in for Fred?"
"No idea." Ron lied, knowing who exactly it was who sent the cupcake.
"Just don't let anyone eat the cupcake!" Molly warned.
"Don't worry Mum. I won't." Ron replied, acting all innocent.

Molly went about her buisness, cleaning up the kitchen and sorting out the washing while she waited on McGonagall to arrive. Ron and Harry went back outside again to continue playing Quidditch. Well it was more of Harry throwing a tattered old quaffle to Ron who was minding the single hoop. This was Harry's way of keeping Ron's mind off everything in the hope that it would make him feel better. Harry knew from personal experience that flying around the quidditch pitch at Hogwarts made him feel ten times better when he felt like crap. It helped him to let off some steam and clear his head at the same time.

"Mum seen the others today." Ron informed Harry.
"Yeah she said to me while you were sleeping." Harry answered. "Do you miss Hermione?"
"I do actually." Ron admitted. "She'll never forgive me."
"I think she will eventually but it won't be for a long time." Harry replied.
"I don't think I deserve her forgiveness." Ron said. "She's better off without me any way."
"What makes you think that?" Harry asked.
"I was never going to be good enough for Hermione and I never deserved someone as good as her." Ron replied.
"I'm going to be honest with you here mate, because you deserve the truth but you have treated Hermione like dirt in the past and she never deserved any of that and she certainly didn't deserve the abuse you gave her." Harry stated. "You also didn't have to listen to her cry herself to sleep every night when you left us as she cried after you."
"I've been a bloody idiot." Ron stated.
"I guess you could say that." Harry agreed. "It's going to take her a long time to get over what you did to her!"
"Maybe I just hand myself in to the Ministry and be done with it." Ron stated, fishing for sympathy which he knew he'd get from Harry.
"Don't be daft. You can't hand yourself into the Ministry. They'll send you to Azkaban." Harry snapped.

Ron was a really good actor who was enjoying every second of getting sympathy from Harry. There was a massive pop in the garden which alerted the two boys of someone's arrival. They hopped off their brooms and raced to the path that led to the front door to see McGonagall walking towards them.

"Good afternoon Mr Weasley and Mr Potter. It's good to see you both." McGonagall spoke. "I hope you're both well."
"It's good to see you again Professor." Harry replied, shaking McGonagall's hand.
"Mum's in the kitchen, go on in to her." Ron said. "I could do with a drink."

Ron led Harry and McGonagall into the house and straight to the kitchen where Molly was folding up some freshly washed clothes.

"McGonagall's here Mum." Ron stated.
"Oh hello there Minerva." Molly chirped. "Take a seat and I'll make us some tea."

Ron quickly grabbed himself and Harry some drinks and some snacks then took them into the living room where Harry had flopped onto his favourite armchair.

"Thanks mate." Harry said, accepting the drink.
"Mum brought this back for you." Ron said, handing Harry a cupcake.
"Cheers. That was nice of her." Harry replied smiling.
"I wonder what McGonagall is here for?" Ron wondered.
"To talk us into going back to Hogwarts probably." Harry replied.
"I'm not going back!" Ron stated.
"I want to go back but I don't want too." Harry said.

Ron took a sip of his water and watched as Harry did the same. Harry then took a bite of his cupcake, savouring the flavour.

"This tastes good." Harry commented in between bites.

However after the third bite, Harry's face paled, the cupcake fell to the floor and Harry collapsed on the chair, his hands dangling over the sides as his eyes rolled back in his head. Ron took one look at Harry and legged it up to his room feeling proud of himself.

"The boys are just in...AHHHHHH!" Molly screamed, seeing Harry slumped on the chair.
"What has happened?" McGonagall questioned.
"We need to get him to St Mungos and quick!" Molly shrieked, panic setting in.

McGonagall carefully lifted Harry outside the burrow to outside the protective wards with Molly's help.

"I need to go get Ron!" Molly stated. "He can't be left on his own at the moment. You take Harry on ahead."

McGonagall did as she was asked and apparated on the spot, taking Harry straight to St Mungos.

Note: Let me make one thing clear about this chapter: Ron was NOT showing remorse for what he did to Hermione. He was just doing it to gain some sort of sympathy from Harry.

Also please remember Ron has admitted to being jealous of Harry which urged Ron to give him the poisious cupcake.