A retelling of - BuckNC - classic tale …Dragon Heart …as redone by Billybob

Chapter # 52 of 70

Edited and tweaked by Eckles71

Entitled: Mum at the back door

Words in this chapter: 10,421

Billybob note – it is time again to sing the praises of my Editor and co-conspirator in this rewrite; Eckles71 He has taken my; 'illiterate ramblings' and made this chapter a far more enjoyable read. He has tweaked my tweaks and I for one am beyond grateful. So-there!

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With the door firmly closed behind them, the youngest Weasley addressed her two troublesome brothers. "You both owe Hermione big time for this. She just saved your arses from a major whopping."

"C'mon, Gin, it's Ron. He was just doing a bit of posturing. Y'know, flexing his muscles to let us know he wasn't happy. Sure, the knife thing kinda caught me and Forge by surprise, but he never really would have laid a finger on us."

The Weasley female folded her arms in front of her. "Oh Really? Maybe the pair of you should ask Harry whether or not Ron is the 'pacifist' you both are deluding yourself into believing. Because Harry is his best friend, but that little fact didn't stop Ron for planting him on his arse. With the promise of *more* arse-planting and worse if he … what would you say is the best word to describe the conditions of his threat, Sweetie?"

Harry was looking quite cowed; the last thing he wanted was to be reminded of that incident, especially in front of the Twin's. But he knew his girlfriend was trying to make an important point to her brother's and he knew that if he wasn't upfront that they would probably dismiss her warnings. "That if I ever disappointed or betray him … or our friendship again … he said he would be done with me for good. And I … I believe him."

"See? So if he's prepared to wash his hands of Harry … the guy who has been his best mate since he started at Hogwarts. The same guy who had saved his life and our dad's might I add. The same bloke, who ventured down into the Chamber, fought and defeated a Basilisk in order to rescue his baby-sister. If Ron was willing to clean his clock and then tell him he would turn his back on him if he ever tried to screw him over again. Then take our word for it, if he said he would have put you idiots in St. Mungo's for a month and tear this place down brick-by-brightly-colored-brick. Then he would have. Hermione just threw herself on a grenade for you prats."

Fred shrugged his shoulders. "I don't know, Gin-Gin, I think she 'jumped' more then she 'threw'. I'm pretty much dread thinking about what those two might be doing in there on our desk's if I'm completely honest with you … ow-ow-ow-OW*"

Faster than a Slytherin taking advantage of a Hufflepuff, Ginny Weasley, stretched out and took Fred's ear in her hand and began pinching it for all it was worth. "Listen to me you Git. Regardless of what may or may not be happening behind that door at the moment, you tease or make any jokes about it to anyone … and I *mean* anyone … Hell, if you two even speak about it aloud to even yourselves, I will Bat-Bogey you into oblivion. And I will comeback every day and hex you again and again until the end of time. I swear to you both I will. I have waited two-years for those two to get their act together and I will not have its 'life' put in jeopardy because you two want to get a quick and cheap laugh at their expense and embarrassment. Do I make myself crystal clear?"

Wishing to be released from the 'pinch-of-death' Fred nodded frantically as his identical-brother offered his assurance that he too would abide to be forever-silenced on this matter.

Confident that her point had been made, Ginny, released the elder brother from her clutches. "It seems we have now reached an Accord on *that* issue. Now onto the other Hippogriff in the room, I suggest a sixty/forty split of the profits from your graphic novel, with Ron getting the sixty."

The identical brother's looked at each other in amazement, then in union to their little sister. "That's highway robbery. Okay, maybe … *maybe* … he deserves to get a share of the profit's. But ten-percent, Gin-Gin. We're the ones who've done all the work."

Ginny folded her arms again, something that was proving to be a 'tell' for her and something that was not boding well for the twins. "Actually, now that I think on it. Those letter's you are basing your cartoons around...*"

"*GRAPHIC NOVEL!"

"* Whatever … those letters were addressed to me, weren't they? They're *my* property. Ron was the author, but *I* was the intended recipient. The fact that *I* chose to share the content's with other's at Hogwarts it doesn't change the fact that his words were intended for me … and of course Harry … and no one else. I think, according to your portrait, that I've also got a stake-share in this 'success' of yours. Don't you?"

"Gin, c'mon, be reasonable."

"Reasonable?! What you two did was unforgivable. You made your little brother a laughing stock for every Witch and Wizard in England."

"Five minutes ago you were laughing about it in front of the shop. So don't you get all High-and-Mighty, Missy." Fred said with some venom in his voice.

"You're right. I'm a hypocrite. I enjoy pranking Ron just as much as you two do. And I did find it amusing, right up until the point I realized just how upsetting it would be for Ron. And after that - I thought what you two did went beyond mean and hurtful. Usually pranking Ron is a private thing with no more than a few outside the family in on the joke. But this time you two went public, Your humiliation of him is now all-but nation wide. The laughing stock of the entire Wizarding world makes this prank one of the most despicable things you have ever done to him, and considering that very long-list of despicable things, that's saying a lot. And I'll be damned, especially after my own role of embarrassing him in front of the school with my weekly readings, that I'll let him be embarrassed further by you two moron's in front of all the Witches and Wizard's of Great Briton."

"You embarrassed him in front of all of Hogwarts, how is what we did any different?" one of the twins asked

Gently, Harry came up behind his lady-love and carefully placed his hands around her waist. "Face it guys, what Ginny read in the Great Hall was a mixture of heroics and humor - what you did was pretty much plagiarism, and only of the humiliating parts of his letters. You can lose everything if Ron chooses to sue. Personally, I would offer him the 60/40 deal. Keep my mouth shut, and pray that he doesn't want to take you to Court."

"He wouldn't do that to us."

"Six months ago I probably would have said, 'No, he wouldn't'. But now …. ?"

Ginny seeing the genuine worry starting to take form on her brother's faces now decided to go in for the 'kill'. "Would you prefer to spend a month in hospital? Because the new-Ron's is exactly the bloke to put you there …given half the chance." Ginny purred out in delight at the rare opportunity to put the 'fear of loads of pain' into the twins.

George looked to his brother. "Y'know, Fred, sixty-forty split really isn't all that bad. I mean, we're making more on this venture then we really know what to do with. And that's a better distribution-rate then Ron taking everything. I mean, you saw how pissed he was three-minutes ago. If he wanted to shut our little publication down … he probably could, and then where would we be?"

"Yeah, but sixty-percent of the profit's, Fred? I feel as though I should reject it just on principle."

"Principle? George, we both knew going in on this that we we're taking a big risk. That portrait of ours did warn us time-and-time again, just like he said. We ignored him because we didn't think Ron would actually have the bottle to do anything. Looks like we've been proven wrong on that today and we're just going to have to wear it. I mean, would you rather it is a hundred-percent … plus everything we got?"

"Of course not. But Fred this has been our biggest earner all year. Plus we got all that merchandise lined up to be released next month. The Board Game, the Plush-Toys … the Coloring Books. This is a Gold Mine. And now all we get out of that is 40-percent?"

"Forty, if we're lucky."

Harry and Ginny just stood there stunned; it was Ginny who came to her senses first. "Board Games … Coloring Books … are you KIDDING ME?!"

George just shrugged his shoulders at his sister's outrage. "It was the obvious next step. The Novel … well, we can't get them printed fast enough before we're sending them out the door. We're even getting them translated into French, Italian, Spanish, Russian, Bulgarian, Romanian and Japanese. By this time next year, if our projections are accurate, 'Dragonheart' will be known in every Magical Community around the World. And then … Feature Film's … we've already got our eye on a young Muggle. Rupert something-or-other. Bit of an indie-actor, nothing really mainstream. 'Driving Lessons', 'Cherry bomb', 'Wild Target', 'Into the White'. Solid actor and pretty much a spitting image of Ronnie-kins. We're still working our way up to that though; it's all in the development stage right now. We have even contacted that cinema-actress friend of Ronnie's - Emma, to see if she could get the ball rolling. She simply loved the Graphic Novel - a huge fan. Its our people calling their people right now, that kinda stuff. But as you can see, we've got legitimate plans. This is not an in-out deal for us."

Harry was working hard to hold Ginny back, and if he was completely honest with himself he was actually wondering why he should even bother. If Ron went spare on a simple comic of his adventures in Romania, having a feature film made glorifying his 'Mr. Bean-esk' exploits would be that last straw. Then it hit him; hit him like a Mountain Troll with a shiny new club. The Twin's *hadn't* been telling the entirety of Ron's adventures, only the demoralizing bits. He firmly encircled his arms around a furious Ginny and squeezed her in order to get her attention and to encourage her to calm down.

With a steady and firm voice, the Boy-Who-Lived, addressed the enturprentures and future Movie Mongol's. "He's never going to go for it. You both know he won't. As soon as you mention Plush Toy to him, he'll hex you both to Kingdom-Come. But perhaps - me and Ginny could convince him."

"WHAT? Not on your life, Potter." Ginny yelled out.

"He'll be more likely to accept from us, a proposal that the twins could never sell - we could convince him to go along with this." Harry continued, doing his best to ignore a squirming Ginny who was now out for *his* blood as much as she was out for the twin's. "But before we even agree to try you two will have to make some adjustments."

Cautiously, George asked. "What kind of adjustments, and to where?"

"Too everything. Tell the entire truth. C'mon guys, Ron wasn't just some bumbling idiot getting his arse singed by Dragon's. He also got neck-deep in a Dragon Civil War and personally saw to it that the 'good-guys' won. He fought Death Eater's over there more times than we can count. Played in a Championship Quidditch Game between Romania and Bulgaria and kept the Bulgarian professionals scoreless. He stared down Voldermort ...dammit Got tortured, escaped and freed member's of the Order who were about to be killed. All that plus a pretty damn compelling back-story of a broken heart. Now I don't know what kind of movie you were planning on making, but if I was going to pay to see anything, I would much rather see *that* then some Rupert 'something-or-other' tripping over his shoe laces and getting his bot-bot burned by some over-sized lizard.

"What I'm saying is don't make Ron a joke, make him what he is: A Hero. Seriously, Fred … George … if you're going to tell his story, then tell it accurately. If you tell the truth and give Ron a small bit of 'creative-control' you could actually win out here. Making more money than you ever dreamed possible. You can even sweeten the pot by contributing 5-10 percent to Charlie's Dragon Reserve. The goal should be to make Ron a partner, not an adversary."

By this stage, Ginny, had stopped struggling and was now looking up at her man with both pride and awe. Even if Ron rejected the whole thing, she knew that the mere fact that Harry had tried to solicit for it on his behalf … well … it would go a long way in repairing and re-strengthening their friendship.

"Y'know, George, Harry might be on to something. There hasn't been a bonified Wizarding Hero since Lockhart, and he ended up being a fraud and a phony. Maybe it's time 'The People' got the real-deal?"

"One final point," Harry said softly in way of warning. "I bet you two have been as stunned as Ginny and me at the way Hermione has been behaving today. If she has finally decided to claim Ron romantically, you two would be wise to include her in any of your merchandising schemes - and I mean before you approach Ron. Hermione has more 'positive influence' on Ron than even Ginny and I do."

Fred nodded, but it was clear his attention was presently somewhere else. Most notably upon the clock on the far wall. "Speaking of sexual influence - should we be leaving them alone back there?" He asked in a puzzled and concerned tone. "Dumbledore flooed us a little while ago, before you four showed up. Telling us that he's sending a bunch of 'Order' members to, 'escort' the four of you back to school post-haste, - - told us to tell you-lot, that 'Leaver's Ball' dress hunting can wait for another day. That was all of 15-minutes ago … maybe we should … y'know, knock on the door and give those two a head's up? Otherwise they might*"

"*WHAT RUBBISH, we're here now, the dress shop isn't twenty yards away, an hour more or less and we'll be done", Ginny retorted forgetting her earlier anger at the Twins and now focusing on a new outrage.

"We *are* already aware of that, Gin-Gin. We are members of the Diagon Ally Shop Guild; we know where our neighbors are located." a knowing Fred smirked before becoming serious again. "Dumbledore just wanted to warn you-lot that you're all in grave danger, but then again when are you guys never in grave danger? He says that Harry's old friend Tommie Riddelkins will stop at nothing to keep those bank records private.

"Ronniekins is already 'in deep' due for mucking-up his plans for his wantabe's at Hogwarts and now the British Kindred. The bounty on our little brother's head has doubled in just the last week. The difference in the dead or alive price on Harry and Ronnie is only a few bob now. The only difference is that You-Know-Who wants Harry alive, where as with our dear little brother, old Snake-Face is more than happy to pay for a corpse. That's why Dumbledore gave orders for several members of the Order to meet you here and provide security."

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"Ah there you are," announced Bill as he entered the front door of the shop followed by a frustrated Percy. "Ginny where is Ron and Hermione - - we have to get you out of here now. - - -Oi – hold on …what this then? Harry is that lipstick on your face - - is that my little sister's pink lipstick …ON YOUR FACE?" he now bellowed.

Bill stopped in his tracks as he openly stared at a very pleased-looking Ginny who didn't look the least bit ashamed about snogging her boyfriend and a suddenly embarrassed looking – brightly blushing – Harry, who was vigorously rubbing his mouth and face with the sleeve of his Dragon-hide jacket.

"Ron, where in ruddy-Hell are you? I thought you said you wouldhandle this!" Bill shouted as he heard a door open as Ron and Hermione hand-in-hand exited the office and entered the front of the shop as Bill turned to scowl at him instead of the guilty party.

"I … ahh…," Ron looked over at his little sister who seemed to be almost pleading with him to stand up for her. "I am handling this, Harry is Ginny's boyfriend and I'm keeping an eye on both of them so mind your own business, William," Ron trumpeted a dangerous edge clear in his voice.

Bill and even a quiet Percy looked at one another. Both doing their best to disguise the fact that they were feeling more than a little bit intimidated by the youngest male Weasley at that moment. Before either one could reply they were interrupted by a timely knock on the back door.

'Knock. Knock'.

"Who would want to come in through the back?" asked Harry as he pulled out his wand and pointed it toward the door.

Ron regaining his sense about him immediately followed suit, as did the rest of them. Percy who wasn't a bit pleased at being here was the first to offer his idea at whom it was. "Any self-respecting wizard that doesn't want to be caught seen at this silly little store would be my guess."

"We heard that!" George yelled from two feet away.

"And you're lucky we allow you to step-foot in it!" voiced Fred in the same heated tone reminding everyone that Percy still had to make amends for his past.

Knock. Knock.

"Psst, open up. I know you're in there," voiced a soft, but oddly familiar voice.

Ron seemed to be the only one with the courage to speak up. "Who is it? What's your name?"

The voice he heard next was unmistakable. "Ronald Bilius Weasley, if you don't open this door this second …before I'm seen and publicly humiliated, I swear I'll have you cleaning the floors at the Burrow for a month with your new clean-sweep broomstick."

As if someone had lit a fire under his backside, Ron leaped toward the back door and wisely opened it to reveal a rather plump woman with a shawl over her head to protect her identity. Even odder was the fact his own stomach rejoiced in relief at the first sight of his mother and the large picnic basket she carried. Ron was also greatly relieved to hear, from somewhere behind him, the unmistakable sound of a Dragon hide jacket-zipper being pulled all the way up to the collar.

Knowing that Hermione was more modestly attired - Ron watched as his Mum stepped around him and inside the shop. Molly then quickly shut the door behind her before taking the shawl off, breathing a sigh of relief at not being caught entering the back of this particular store. This was all short lived nonetheless as she immediately took on the motherly duties of scowling at her children.

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Mrs. Weasley POV:

After slamming the door shut, she made small praise to Merlin for not being caught entering the place that she swore a two-years earlier would close down in bankruptcy in less than a month. To her utter disbelief she found herself standing in the very back of her sons' successful shop.

Thank Merlin; Augusta Longbottom didn't see me enter. I swear I never hear the end of it.

As she looked around to see the shocked stares of a gulping Bill, a surprised Percy, a fidgeting Ginny with her hair all ruffled, a gaping Harry who was wearing traces of some odd looking smeared pink lipstick on his cheeks. Over on the right she beheld a strangely embarrassed looking Hermione - gently yanking on the back of Ron's shirt to make him step back to where he could stand beside her. Their hands instinctively intertwining and a breathless Ron whose mouth was opened in a perfect O making him unable to speak.

For a brief moment, Mrs. Weasley smiled, when she saw Ron and Hermione standing 'couple close'. 'That boy took my advice after all, - well-and-good - it's about time he settled down" she thought to herself before the frown returned to her faceas she realized a lesser woman would've completely disobeyed Albus Dumbledore's order to report to the Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes store for a top secret mission.

However, when Albus told her that Ron, Harry, would all be there carrying out a top secret mission for the Order of the Phoenix …instead of being safely away at school where they belonged, she immediately rushed to Diagon Alley and stepped foot inside a store that she had till that day refused to step inside of.

She was somewhat surprised to find Ginny and Hermione out of school as well, but assumed that the failure to mention the presence of the two female members of the Gryffindor four Musketeers had merely been and oversight and not a deliberate act of omission. The only thing that concerned her after making sure everybody was alive and safe, was to decide which one of her elder sons would be 'getting an ear full' - first.

"William Weasley! - Percy Weasley! What are my children still doing here …in this, this-"

"- - George! - George! I found the source of all the yelling that's interrupting our well-respected and lawful business!" Fred boasted towards the front of the store as he walked in looking as if he won the lottery.

His twin brother, George, entered the back room as well and his face wore the same Merlin-awful grin as Fred's. "You don't say, Fred. Why bless my soul. Fred, look it's our own beloved mother."

"Knock it off you two," voiced a disapproving Hermione with her hands now on hips as she frowned at the two of them. "Show your mother some respect. Can't you both see how uncomfortable she is at being here?"

'Thank you, I swear to Merlin if Ron lets her get away I'm going to hex him for a week', Mrs. Weasley thought as she smiled at Hermione.

Fred and George crackled with laughter at Hermione's suggestion and pressed on. "Didn't she say or was it swore-"

"Swore to Merlin himself, I believe Fredrick."

"Yes, she swore that she would never-"

'Oh dear here it comes', Mrs. Weasley frowned.

"—ever step foot-"

'Twins, why did I have to give birth to twins?' She thought to her-self shaking her head in regret.

"- - in our business."

'It's all Arthur's fault. I knew we should've been more-strict with them when they were younger'. Mrs. Weasley tilted her head up and defiantly looked back at her twin sons before glancing around the room.

"I see your office is just as filthy as your bedroom."

Happily, she noticed the comment took a bit of the cockiness out of her once grinning boys. She even noticed the open pantry doors next to the small kitchen that was filled with nothing but cobwebs.

"Businessmen, humph. I see now why you survived for this long. You've been living off my table for the last two years! This place is filthy, nothing but filth!"

Percy smugly chuckled in agreement while the twins frowned in anger and started defending themselves.

"We were going to clean up-"

"— It's just - - we've been really-really busy."

Mrs. Weasley was on the offensive and was determined not to let up as she walked over to the kitchen to see a sink full of dirty dishes. "An outright lie if I ever heard one." She waved her wand and magically started cleaning the sink full of dishes.

"It is not a lie!" roared George.

Mrs. Weasley was horrified but secretly delighted to find what she saw next. In the icebox she found a carton of greenish blue moldy Chinese food that looked like it hadn't been touched in months. "Merlin!" shrieked Mrs. Weasley sticking her nose away from the carton. "This is disgusting!"

"Mum's spot-on …about that," grumbled Ron at the livid look of Fred and George shot at him.

"We were going to pitch that, we just-" One of her sons lied as she knew they had an inability to toss out garbage or pick up their own clothes without being told to do so numerous times.

"Percy, Bill, I'm going to need you to go over to the market around the corner and pick up some cleaning supplies," Mrs. Weasley commanded.

"We're going to need some money," Percy reminded her even though she had a good suspicion that Percy had more than enough on-him to pay for it.

"Check these businessmen's cash register and only by the grace of Merlin if we're all lucky, will they have a Knut or two for you to use," She boasted while doubtfully looking at a now disgruntled Fred and an equally disgruntled George. "And take a couple for yourself, for the inconvenience of making the trip."

"Oi. That's not right."

"Neither is letting your home-slash-establishment become a Garbage Dump. But you've let that happen, haven't you. And if it takes you losing a few coins from your daily profit's to learn the importance of keeping a clean home, and then consider it a lesson well learned."

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What's for Lunch?

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Harry's POV:

Harry watched Mrs. Weasley use her wand to clean months' worth of dirt and grime off of the small cooker in the corner, before pulling out a kettle from the picnic basket and starting a pot of tea. Amazed at how easy she was making it all seem and dismayed at why the Twin's hadn't even bothered to do as much on their own.

He happily sat on the couch smiling in delight as Mrs. Weasley transformed the tiny pantry into something clean enough to serve the large crock of Irish potato soup and freshly made sandwiches which had been all she could prepare before rushing over to Diagon alley.

The truth of the matter was - and Albus understood this fetish of Molly's all too well - that there was simply no way that Molly Weasley was going to take her children anywhere before she had a chance to feed them. With that in mind she had brought enough food to feed herself and the rest of the Weasley brood that had gathered at the Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes at midday on a Saturday afternoon.

As Harry watched Ron argue with his mother over letting Hermione cook, an openly jealous Harry Potter realized that Ron would never fully appreciate how lucky he really was.

"I think, Hermione, has the potential to become an excellent cook-"

"Thank you, Mrs. Weasley... I mean, Molly."

"Mum, she… its only soup and sandwiches you don't need Hermione's help."

Harry was a bit confused as to why Ron was arguing with his Mum and Hermione, even though he was sure Ron was going to lose. While Bill and Percy on the other hand had managed to separate a defiant Ginny from him - they were trying their best to have a brother-sister discussion on the birds and the bees.

"I am old enough to make my own decisions!" Ginny shouted her anger red-hot

"Gin, we are not saying that you can't- It's just that, officially, you're not yet of 'Age'. In a few months*"

"*Ten year's." Percy hastily corrected his brother.

"Yeah … right … Ten Years … you will be mature enough to make mature decisions."

"Bill's right. We're just saying that maybe you need to be concentrating on school work instead of - you know …boys."

"Shut it, Percy. I never said anything against you when you 'went batty' over High Maintenance Penelope Clearwater at Hogwarts - and as for you, Bill, I wouldn't even be talking what with you and Fleur did in the Burrow's work-shed during Christmas-"

"We're a married couple!"

"Before you two were even married you were constantly running to the back of Mum's garden. Bloody-hell, I could hear the moaning through my window."

Harry smiled to himself, as he realized that Bill and Percy were also going to be in the loss column for the day. All the while, Hermione started busying herself to help Mrs. Weasley cook and completely ignored Ron in the process.

"I swear to Merlin, I have nightmares even now of 'Fleur' giggling and moaning with that fake little-" Ginny described to an angry Bill with a look of horror spreading over her face.

"Ginny!" Bill roared for her to stop in defense of his wife.

'Ron's a lucky bloke. I've grew up without a real loving family and he has no idea what it's like to be complete ignored and not loved', Harry reflected on his horrible childhood of living with the Dursleys.

"Hermione - - please?"

A now frustrated Hermione scowled at Ron before telling him off. "Ron, that's enough. I'm cooking for you again and that's final. I am not now …nor have I ever been a sadist, - what happened the night you came back was due to three months of pent-up frustration and worry, it was a 'once in a lifetime' occurrence, that will never to be repeated. Now go over there and set the table with clean dishes and silverware."

Ron offered the Love-of-his-life an annoyed look to being chastised in front of his mother. "You're right, 'Mione. I guess I'm just irritable because I'm thirsty. I mean I did have a Butterbeer earlier in the day; unfortunately I didn't get a chance to drink it. Hmm … I wonder what happened to it?"

"Fine. A *TWICE* in a life time occurrence."

"Hermione a sadist, - what utter rubbish? Now you heard her, young man, get busy with setting our places." Mrs. Weasley commanded, as she waved her wand and transfigured a workbench into a huge dining room table. "As for you two," she looked pointedly at Bill and Percy, "Leave Ginny alone.

"Ginny, come over here and help me in the pantry." Ginny gave a small snarl to a defeated Bill and Percy before walking over to Mrs. Weasley and Hermione. "William, contact Albus and tell him that our return to Hogwarts will be …delayed."

"But-" whimpered Ron in one last desperate attempt.

However, Hermione gave the last word on the subject as she pointed at the dishes and silverware on top of the table.

"Ron …set-out the dishes and cutlery."

Harry couldn't help but snicker at the sight of a tight-lipped and frowning Ron beaten into submission by two witches - - remembering all too well his commanding presence while confronting the vampires. A jealous animal in Harry's chest growled a-little in anger at the memory of playing Ron's sidekick twice during the previous couple of days. He still wasn't comfortable with the 'role reversal' even if Ron carried off being the leader so well. That's when Harry remembered the Pub incident that very morning and Ron taking charge yet again. He wasn't sure if it was jealousy … or … envy. He would never begrudge Ron a chance to shine, but it was the fact that he took command so... effortlessly. Madeye and Remus actually had sought Ron's contributions the other day. It was also quite jarring to know that Voldermort had judged Ron so much of a threat that he had a 'Kill-on-Sight' Bounty on his head whilst he just had a 'Capture' one on his.

Still, it was a major comfort for Harry to see Ron and Bill, meekly doing what their mother and Hermione ordered them to do. Weasley's strong willed women kept their men on a short leash and looking over at Ginny, Harry had a sudden epiphany: - Strong-will applied to Ginny too and that realization made him laugh. Unfortunately, his chuckling managed to catch Ron's attention as he snapped his head over toward him.

"Oi, what are you laughing at Potter? Get over here and help."

Harry watched as Ginny turned her head at him and gives him a commanding scowl - and he started laughing again as he got-up and walked over to a frustrated Ron. 'Loving family', thought a smiling Harry as he grabbed a stack of clean plates to use for Lunch.

However, he wasn't sure if the notion of a loving family was going to hold up after hearing a voice from the front of the store.

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Mr. Weasley's POV:

Admittedly, he never liked working on a Saturday away from his family, but for the rarest of occasion his work today was his family. He grinned a little at how proud he was to have such a brave extended family. It was times like this that he often remembered his Hogwarts days of being excluded from joining Professor Horace Slughorn's suppers. To think that blowhard Slughorn never thought I would amount to much - HA!

He glanced around the alley to make sure no one was following him and even managed to pass the boy's shop a few times to throw off anyone that might be watching. To the casual eye he was picking up weekly supplies on Diagon Alley for his family. His last stop at the WWW would be thought of more as a brief family visit after he had finished his shopping. No one would even suspect that his visit to the Weasley's Wizarding Wheezes was in fact, connected to a top-secret mission for the Order of the Phoenix.

I can't believe that Bill and Percy managed to get their hands on Antonin Dolohov's vault records, Mr. Weasley reflected to himself as he tipped his hat at some elderly witches passing by. They respectfully nodded back to him and he continued on his way to the Owlery to buy some Owl treats for Errol, his retired family owl.

Now if we can only crack the Goblin battle code and prove it was being used for as the main marshaling account for those pure-blood families' contributions in supporting He-who-must-not-be-named operations here in the United Kingdom. Then I could have the Ministry freeze if not outright confiscate, all of the assets of those pure-blood bigots, then the war would end abruptly Mr. Weasley said to himself as he visualized the financial demise of the hated Malfoy's considering their downfall to be a major victory in the war.

After purchasing Owl treats, a small assortments of sugar mice, and a new ball of magical yarn for his wife he made his way back to WWW. He took one last look at the store's front windows' reflection in order to make sure no one was following behind him. When he was sure the coast was clear, he entered the store and immediately noticed the blazing display stand of his sons' new comic book, Misadventures of Dragonheart.

"Hello Boys, this is so good. I actually saw a whole bunch of kids up and down Diagon Alley reading intently Ron's Graphic Novel."

O

Harry's POV:

Harry never got the opportunity to talk to Ron before a proud Mr. Weasley confidently walked into the back room. He stopped dead in his tracks at the surprising sight of his scowling wife.

"Arthur Weasley, we will talk about your twin sons blatant bit of illegal plagiarism later, in private. That you apparently knew in advance, that they were going to do this - without gaining Ronald's permission before-hand or at the very least sharing any of the profits with him - is in my view …beyond contempt."

Arthur Weasley deflated under the glare of his wife. "Molly-Luv, how did you find out about it? "The Misadventures of Dragonheart," a Graphic Novel it hasn't been in print very long.

"I was visiting Great Aunt Muriel Prewett the other day and one of her nephews was visiting as well, he had a copy. It was a very enlightening novel indeed, full of details that you somehow left out, of your longwinded explanation of Ronald's …so-called - perfectly safe - employment at the dragon preserve. Safe was he? On page 83 he was gobbled up and spat out by a Dragon, Arthur. Your youngest son was nearly eaten. And you didn't think that fact was worth mentioning to me. His mother!?"

Arthur offered a wry smile in defense.

"That, plus the fact that Fred and George are not hesitating to take advantage of the situation by depriving him of his rightful share of the proceeds was just an obvious assumption on my part. What kind of father, Arthur, would knowingly allow two of his son's too cheat another?

"I guess this is just more proof that I've been telling you for fifteen years, you let those two get away with near-murder. You always have. 'Oh so he's a little bit scared of Spider's now. Not a big deal, Molly, he'll grow out of it?' That prank was 16-years ago Arthur and Ronnie still trembles something horrid whenever he sees a spider's web. And let's not forget that Unbreakable Oath business …*"

"*I dealt quite firmly with that, Molly."

"Yes, you did. But it should never have even reached such a stage. Neither of them had any appreciation for the magic they were using. They were curious, they thought they could do it, so what did they do? They were going to test their skills on their five-year old, completely innocent, little brother. They were mid-binding when you discovered them, Arthur. If you had walked into your Study just 15-seconds later, it would have been too late. Fifteen-seconds, Arthur! That's how long it would have taken for them to kill our child. Fifteen!

"They said they were sorry, like they always do, but they never learned. There were never any lasting consequences to their thousands of varying actions. What I'm saying Arthur is that where the twin's were concerned, because they made you chuckle with their antics, you allowed them to do the most shameful and most callous things to poor Ronald. Shrugging it all off like it was never mind, or 'Boys-will-be-boys'. When does it stop, Arthur? When do they stop being 'Boy's in your eyes and start acting like 'Men'? Tell me, tell me please. Because I am personally living for that day when I can stop apologizing to people on their behalf."

Arthur looked around the room … the silent room … the Twin's looking down to the floor shamefully, especially as their mother had bought up two of their greatest regrets in the 'Life-of-Ron'. All the other eyes of the room had a sad glaze in them. Like what Molly had said was what they were all thinking, or at least had thought at one point in their lives. That he favored Fred and George more then he could, and had, ever favored Ron. But the eyes that broke his heart the most were the eyes of his youngest son. Eyes that told Arthur that he had long ago, silently, accepted all that his mother had just imparted as the truth.

Nervously, Arthur cleared his throat. "Molly, they 'assured me' that they were setting aside the lion's share of the profits to give to Ron upon his return. It was to be his 'grub stake' like in the American Muggle Wild West. Seed money set aside in a special Gringotts account they had set-up for him …to access after graduation. So that Ron wouldn't be forced to take the first job that came along to support his new bride - like I had to do …right out of Hogwarts." Arthur explained sincerely, with a blushing apologetic look toward Hermione, who 'blushed right back' at him and nodded - knowing full well that she was most likely the bride in question.

However, when Arthur looked toward his twin sons for confirmation of this …their deeply embarrassed facial expressions, with eyes again directing themselves to their feet, told everyone one in the room that not a single Knut worth of profit had been diverted as the pair had earlier promised him.

Never had Arthur Weasley felt so betrayed by his own flesh and blood. With a soft, but trembling voice to reveal his fury, the patriarch forced out an order to the twin's, one that would to be denied at their peril.

"Boy's I want to see the bank book records of Ron's share of the profits, and I mean right now!" Both boys refused to look their father in the eye or answer his request, which spoke volumes. His wife was correct; he had given the Twin's far too much faith. Faith that they would do the honorable and decent thing by their sibling. He had allowed himself to be deceived by their promises. How many other times, he wondered, had this devilish duo looked him in the face and lied to his heart? He dared not even consider that question now, as he felt that if he offered it more thought then to think it then the answer would tear his heart in two.

Seeing this, her heart breaking at the devastated expression on Mr. Weasley's face, the Head Girl spoke up. "Ron, right after lunch," Hermione said interjecting into the conversation casually from her seat at the table. "I think you need to find yourself a vicious …take-no-prisoners …cut-throat, barrister. With a-bit of luck, you'll own this pathetic joke shop within a fortnight."

"No-way, do you know how hard we worked to get this shop?" Fred exclaimed horrified. "Look, Ron, it's an oversight. That's all. We've got plans. Big Plan's. Ask Harry … and Ginny. We've been so involved with getting this side-venture up and running that we've neglected a few things. That's all we've done. We've been keeping track of all incoming profit … George … help me out here!"

"Fred's right, Ron. Oversight. It happens. But we're taking things in a new direction. Less slap-stick, no more 'cheap laughs'. You'd be proud of what we plan to do, Ron. I swear we'll make it up to you. Every rotten thing we've done to you over the years, we'll make it up to you. But we can't do that if you take everything that we have. Please, Ron."

"Oh, this is sweet," Percy exclaimed in pure delight. "To think …at long last …the twin tormentors of my youth, the source of countless pranks when I was Head Boy will be brought to ruin by being caught …red-handed …stealing from their youngest brother."

Ron rose from his seat, his appetite gone and just stood by the door, a grim and determined look on his face, 'wondering how' Dumbledore would arrange for the twins to escape justice in the same manner that he had done for Snape. A glance at the portrait confirmed this fear as the headmaster expression in the painting was one of deep concern.

A moment later Dumbledore spoke up – "Now I think more on this Graphic Novel business – I believe that seeking a litigated solution to this problem through the courts - right from the off – before attempting any-kind of peaceful negotiations - would be a foolish course of action, rash and impulsive. The negative effect of the removal of this joke-shop from the market-place on the unsteady morale of the nation …during these dark times would be …"

"- - detrimental to the - 'greater good' …eh professor?" Ron snarled …interrupting the headmaster in a totally degusted tone. "Why aren't I surprised to hear that dribble come out of you?"

The image rose from its painted seat. "Mr. Weasley, I appreciate the emotions that is presently welling up within you, but that does not mean you can speak to me with such impudence."

"You do realize that you're just a mashing of magical oil based paint's, right? You're not the *REAL* Albus Dumbledore."

"That maybe true, in the physical sense, but I still possess his intellect, his sensitivities. I have a sense of 'self' and 'worth'. I may not have blood running through my veins, or oxygen in my lungs. But I am as good of a substitute for the real thing than anyone else presently in this room. And as Albus's proxy I command you to drop, forthwith …any plan you may be contemplating in regards to seeking a legal remedy to your brother's alleged plagiarism." The fake-Dumbledore said showing a rare display of anger.

"Equal Justice under the law during your watch …Headmaster, appears to be as likely as it would be if Voldemort was running things," Ron retorted, unimpressed.

"RONALD BILIUS WEASLEY, I DEMAND THAT YOU APPOLIGISE AT ONCE!" a shocked and horrified Molly screamed at her son, as everyone else in the room stood by - utterly gob-smacked at Ron's statement. The headmaster too was stunned for an instant and then became thoughtful. Regaining control of himself and with a heartfelt sigh of regret he said softly

"Ronald …my-boy, have I single-handedly ruined for 'all time', your faith in the British Justice system.

"Yes Sir …pretty-much." Ron said shaking his head sadly in regret. "Or perhaps I'm jumping to a conclusion …maybe it's just justice for your gullible pawns that is so easily disposed of. Two sets of rules …one for the Slytherin's, Death Eaters and the Malfoy's of the world …and one for me. Y'know, there's only so many times you can kick a dog before it decides enough is enough and bites back.

"I'm tired of always being kicked, 'Headmaster'. Kicked by my best friend who lied to me for months. Kicked by my own family who dismiss me, try and cheat me, or who put their friendships before blood.

"Kicked for being thought of as 'expendable' by the Order. Sending me out on Mission's that I didn't understand, forcing me to kill or risk being killed and then being told because of a technicality I couldn't even receive any 'Rewards'. I've been kicked in one form or another for so long and so hard that I've lost track who it is that's 'kicking-me-now'. After a while you lose track of the 'faces' and can only identify with the pain. When does it end? If I can't trust my friend's, my family. The Organization that swears it's trying to 'help' me. Who do I trust? You want the answer to this riddle? You end up trusting no one and only trusting yourself."

Silence met Ron's ears as he paused. Waiting … daring … hoping … someone to challenge what he had just said as 'wrong'. But all he got was the deafening sound of silence.

"I've always been just a pawn on your Voldemort Chessboard …haven't I - SIR? A convenient doormat to be walked over without a second thought - - by you, The Minister - my brothers, my sister - my best mates …even the girl I fancy …everybody. I'm just the means to your ends – aren't I?" Ron said …his eyes began to water, he open his mouth to speak again but nothing came out …a moment later with a – pop - , he was gone.

"When I get my hands on that boy …" Molly began before turning to Dumbledore's portrait - "I'm so sorry Albus; he had no right to …"

"You forget yourself, Molly. Ronald was right; I'm not the real Albus. But right now I feel the real Albus's shame." Dumbledore image said interrupting …"Your son had every right to be angry and hurt. From his point of view; there is no justice for him in England. Each time he came to me with the Law firmly on his side …each time; for the 'greater good' …I had to deny him justice. Each time, I forced myself to turn my eyes elsewhere and not permit myself to see my very own hypocrisy."

"That may be all well and true Albus, but there was no cause for him to be so disrespectful to you." Molly said apologetically

"I disagree, Molly," the headmaster portrait replied with a dejected sigh. "In hindsight I can understand fully his disillusionment with me; I've just been rather rudely knocked off of the high pedestal that so many people seem to put me on, and frankly I find the experience somewhat refreshing.

"Your son is the first person in a long time that I can speak to that won't reply to me with an attitude of semi-worship. Now I understand why Harry considers Ron such a close friend. Ron doesn't see Harry or I …as anything other than a regular … blokes".

Harry heard all of this, saying nothing, but nodding his head in agreement at the Headmasters insight. Suddenly his jealousy over being supplanted as leader on a few outings with Ron seemed so petty in comparison to distrust that had slowly been cultivating in his best friend's heart all these years without him knowing it.

"I think it's good for all of you to have me exposed as being just as fallible in judgment … just as likely to make a mistake …as any other normal human being. Ronald does that, you should too".

"I need to go to him," Hermione said abruptly getting up from the table only to pause with uncertainty half way to the door, "but I don't know where he went."

"I am sure he didn't go far Ms. Granger," Dumbledore said with a tiny twinkle in his eyes and a small but noticeable smile. "The most important people in his world are where you are right now, your safety and Harry's, has been his number one priority for years now - and I can't see him deserting his post just because of my verbal blunder."

"But where is he?"

"Unless I am greatly mistaken I believe he can be seen by peeking out the back door of this joke shop," Dumbledore said with a sad chuckle. "Nicolas is too good a teacher in the art of being a bodyguard for Ronald not to have taken-up a defensive position somewhere in Diagon Alley, somewhere he would have a clear field of fire at the only two entrance points into this pranksters' paradise."

"He's not out there professor," Bill said peeking out the door.

"Let me" Hermione said with a snort, "you don't know what to look for and I do" she said pushing Bill out of her way.

There were numerous people walking back and forth in Diagon Alley at lunchtime and after scanning them for a moment or two she switched her attention to those places where someone could watch the building that she was in without being conspicuous. When this search also turned up empty …she was about to give up …when she noticed, sitting on a window ledge of the display window of 'Black Knight Chess ltd.' a tiny Wizarding chess shop just across the lane from its far more famous neighbor the joke shop.

On this insignificant and often overlooked window ledge sat a small- tan -house-cat, with piercing blue eyes that seemed to be carefully scanning the crowd as it passed by. It was the exact same tan color as several of the oversized semi-magical cats that had guarded her Head Suite door for the last week or so. This was her man, protecting her again, and as much as she didn't need it …she couldn't resist the urge to smile warmly at the thought of the love behind such devotion.

"Can you see him Hermione?" Harry asked in a concerned tone.

"Yes Harry I can, he's not far away, just as the Headmaster said."

"I'll get him," Arthur said in grim tone of voice "I need to apologize for not looking out for him properly concerning this Graphic novel business."

"Arthur, you stay where you are! Let Hermione do that, she is his-girlfriend now …aren't you dear?" Molly said, obvious concern for her son lacing each word. Hermione said nothing in response …however she did smile and blushed bright red at the 'title' of girlfriend, before slipping out the back door. "For right now Arthur, you're under-foot … take your seat at the head of the table," Mrs. Weasley growled, as she pointed her wand at Mr. Weasley and then at the head of the table.

Mr. Weasley was never a man of fear or panic as long as Harry had known him, but from the quickness at which Mr. Weasley swooped down into his seat at the head of the table it was clear he wasn't a stupid man either.

"It... the soup smells delicious, Molly. It is a shame to waste such a fine luncheon," offered Mr. Weasley in a pleading fashion to his wife. She scoffed at him before turning around to finish cooking the soup. He could see many cold and lonely nights in the near future ….

O

Hermione walked across the narrow lane that constituted Diagon Alley as casually as she could under the circumstances, once again with conflicting emotions raging inside of her. First was a feeling of intense anger at Ron for the gross disrespect he had shown the Headmaster, which was somewhat tempered by Dumbledore's surprising confession that it was more than justified. Hermione like everyone else in the room had regarded the Headmaster as infallible for the longest time it had proven a shock to her system to have suddenly her new - boyfriend? - expose the truth about the old wizard.

The second emotion was harder to pin down, for in standing up to one of the most powerful wizards in the United Kingdom, Hermione found herself more than merely admiring Ron's sense of fair play. His apparently futile quest for justice when dealing with wrong-doers, combined with his secret diplomacy on her behave - with the House-elves of Hogwarts revealed once again to the Head Girl …once again, Ron's inner nobility.

"Of all the blokes attending Hogwarts why was it …that only Ronald Bilius Weasley can make me furious enough to Hex him - while at the same time make me love him even more?" Hermione said to herself as she spun around and with forced casualness that she didn't really-feel - - and lean against the building right next to the window still where a now unusually nervous cat lay.

"I need you to come back inside Ronald," Hermione half whispered to the cat next to her.

"You shouldn't be out here …Mione, it's not safe for you" The cat replied in an even softer whisper.

"You can talk?" a gob-smacked Hermione declared louder than she intended.

"Yes Luv, it goes hand-in-hand with what I am, but please keep your voice down, people will think you're daft …for speaking to a cat." Ron whispered back looking around franticly in fear he had been overheard.

The absurdity of the situation caught Hermione's funny bone and she briefly laughed out loud at the entire concept of having a two way conversation with a house cat.

"Come back inside …please. After lunch, Ginny and I are going Leavers Ball gown shopping and I want your approval of what I pick out," Hermione said glance down the Alleyway to see if anyone was close enough to overhear them, but when she turn back the cat was gone and Ron was in its place leaning casually against the building …just as she was.

"Merlin that was fast," Hermione exclaimed stunned.

"You'll find – when you've read into that book on Shape-Shifters a-bit more …that creatures like me …take a fraction of the time that an Animagus like Professor McGonagall does to become a cat. The Shape-Shifter transformation in the abruptness of the change, even beats out a Metamorphmagus like Tonks …I mean Mrs. Lupin of course."

"You're not a creature Ronald," Hermione said with a growl of anger. "I really wish you would stop putting yourself down all the time."

"Sorry Luv," Ron said in a sad tone, "but according to the Ministry, things like me …and I'm not trying to start some silly row with you, - are regarded as just that: A Thing. It's the legally correct term for me now. Anyroad …what I have become, are defined under Wizarding Law - as only half-human …semi-magical creatures. So …I am what I am, with no put-down implied or intended."

"That's utter rubbish; creatures don't have any rights under our law."

"Exactly, so please Luv, guard my secret carefully …or I'll literally end up in a cage. Oh, by the way – don't tell Albus anything that you find out about me, I don't trust him half as much as I did before I left for Romania. "

"Honestly Ronald, don't be ridiculous, there isn't a court in England that would …" Hermione began only to have her voice fade into horrified silence as her mind finally caught up to her own words. Now she knew why Ron was so upset a moment earlier and why he had argued with Dumbledore over there being 'no justice' for him. As a Shape-Shifter … as a 'Thing'… he had even less legal rights than a House-Elf did.

Ron returned a sad smile to his new girlfriend, her sorrow-filled eyes betraying that she now finally understood his predicament. Even though morally and ethically he was in the 'Right' where it came to what the Twin's had done to him. But legally? Legally, he couldn't do a damn thing about it.

"You see? For 'My Kind' there is no Justice to be had in the United Kingdom. The same chief of the Wizengamot that won't let me sue Fred and George , denied Sirius a fair trial and let him 'rot in prison' for twelve years – and found excuses not to press charges of 'attempted murder' against your former boyfriend - - Merlin's Beard, Hermione, I doubt that I would even be allowed to get married to the witch I fancy - - someday." Ron replied bitterly, verbalizing the conclusion Hermione had reached when her voice faded away.

"Ron you have to leave England, right away" she said now genuinely worried for him.

"Sorry, I can't do that," Ron said standing up and straightening his shoulders. "My best mate needs me to stick around for a-bit. He needs my help with a real nutter, that's been giving him all kinds of trouble for years. Besides, there is this English-witch that I fancy like mad, - and if she'll have me, I have long-term plans for us."

"Teaching my red bushy haired nippers how to play wizard chess and Quidditch?" Hermione asked with a happy little smile as she regarded her semi-official boyfriend with bedroom eyes. Ron then began to lean over to kiss Hermione again and just before their lips met - - - .

"YOU TWO GET IN HERE NOW, YOUR SOUP IS GETTING COLD" Molly Weasley shouted across Diagon Alley preventing Ron and Hermione from kissing.

"Your Mothers timing is a bit off" Hermione said in a clearly frustrated tone, as she pulled back from the 'almost' snog.

"I bet she thinks her timing to be flawless right now," Ron growled in a forced whisper as he waved in acknowledgement of his smiling broadly mother's - message.

"In-laws" Hermione growled in response unaware of the Freudian slip that she had just made to a suddenly very hopeful Ron, realizing her mistake and not in the mode to explain it - Hermione took Ron's hand and half lead - half dragged, him back toward the joke shop.

O

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End Tran – for now