Chapter seventeen

Harry and Ginny were holding hands as they stepped into the Burrow. What shocked Harry was Mrs Weasley hugged him, like normal, but she began to cry, which wasn't normal. Harry held her tighter but he did look at Mr Weasley in confusion. It was Charlie that answered.

'I explained about Snape, the prophecy, the Dursley's, and all the other shit you went through, with no help from Dumbledore or McGonagall.'

'If we knew even one of these things Harry, there is no way we would have supported Albus. We are so sorry Harry, so very sorry. We know you can't forgive us, and you don't trust us, we understand. All we can do is make it up to you, but also show you that we will do everything we can to earn your trust.'

Harry sighed but he continued to hold his future mother-in-law, 'It might take a while, I've trusted so many and been betrayed.'

'We understand,' Arthur said but he got up and slowly pulled his wife out of Harry's arms, 'Sit and enjoy a nice cup of tea. Molly has made all your favourites, it's her way of saying sorry.'

Harry did one thing that no one expected, he kissed Molly on the cheek before sitting next to his girlfriend. Molly instantly wiped her eyes, then with a big grin, went back to cooking.

'So are they upstairs?' Harry asked.

'I figured Ginny would have told you.'

'Told me what?'

'Hermione and Ron kept arguing after Madam Bones and the minister did the statement on WWN. Dad told Hermione to leave, she wasn't welcome here anymore. Ron went off, said if Hermione had to leave then he was leaving, dad told him to leave, he did.' Charlie explained.

'Why? I mean they kept doing wrong by me and expected me to just forgive them. They argued nonstop, and even tried to stop me and Ginny being together. They went on about how they should be involved, yet all they did was argue with me, or hide information from me. To them, I wasn't allowed to have a life that they weren't a part of, or have a say on.'

'We don't know their reasons Harry, apart from the obvious. Ron just can't get over his jealously and Hermione can't believe you would know more than her or Albus,' Arthur sighed, 'I believe Albus has been using them to spy on you so he would know everything you were up to, or saying. He must have used some argument to make them agree with him and go against their friendship with you. Maybe one day I will get the truth out of Ron, but right now there would be no use when he's so angry that he lost his chance to be recognised.'

'That's half his trouble Mr Weasley. Ron told me when we first met that even if he did good at something, his brothers had all done it first so it won't matter. He went on about how Bill was head boy, but popular, liked and then successful as a curse breaker. Then Charlie, makes the quidditch team, ends up captain, took Gryffindor to winning the cup, then has a great job working with dragons. He didn't say much about Percy, except perfect prefect poncy Percy. He then went on about the twins, how they were funny, they came up with great pranks, how everyone liked them, and now are successful with the shop. Ginny is the only girl, and the first girl in seven generations so he knew she would get more attention than him. He feels sorry for himself, but he also isn't doing anything to make something of himself. He just keeps blaming everyone else when something doesn't go his way. I was the biggest one to blame though. The boy who lived and all he will be seen is my sidekick, someone that just hangs around famous people in the hope they would be recognised.'

'It's one reason Harry never fought about the prefect position. Going on the rules, prefects have to have good marks, and hardly any detentions. We went over the marks and detentions for the boys in Gryffindor. Harry was first in marks, he did have a lot of detentions but that was mainly Snape. Neville had the next best marks and hardly any detentions. Dean was next with just a couple more detentions than Neville and that's in the previous four years. Seamus next but he had a lot of detentions. Ron had the worst marks and more detentions than anyone in Gryffindor, except the twins. If anyone should have received the prefect badge, it should have been Harry, if not him then either Neville or Dean. But add the fact that Harry saved my life, saved Hermione's life, saved the school from being closed, and won the triwizard tournament. Harry should have been given the badge,' Ginny said.

'I wasn't really fussed, but Ron should not have been prefect, and all he did was abuse the position and skive off his responsibilities. To be honest, Ron would not have passed his first or second year tests if it wasn't for me and Hermione. He just didn't want to do any work and always waited until the last minute to do any homework. I found out that he copied a lot of my work to add to the tiny bit he did. I found a spell that stopped anyone from reading my writing, I would take it off just before handing it in. Even though all that is bad enough, I'm sorry, but Ron feels that he should get things handed to him because he's a pureblood. I overheard him going on about it once. He wasn't talking to anyone, just going off like he does. I think Dumbledore used Ron's jealously to spy on me, but also to stop me learning properly.'

'What do you mean learning properly?' Arthur asked.

'I'm not sure why, but Ron would always make it difficult to do homework. He also played on our friendship. See, I never had any friends before, so I sort of let Ron talk me into skiving off my work just so I wouldn't lose my first friend. It wasn't until third year that I realised I was ruining my own future by allowing Ron to talk me out of doing my work. I began to make the excuse by saying I was going to bed early. I would do my work behind my curtains on my bed, otherwise Ron just kept talking while I was trying to concentrate. I also think Hermione was doing the same. She would talk or huff, make all these noises while I was trying to work. If she was trying to study she went off at everyone for making any noise. When I was finished my work, she would snatch my work out of my hand and began writing remarks about what was wrong. I used to change my work when she did that. One time I decided to try something. I did my work, like always, then Hermione wrote down what I did wrong or needed to change. I said I would do it in the morning, and I did, but what she didn't know was I handed in my original work. She only saw the copy with the changes. I got better marks than what I was getting doing it Hermione's way. It's like she was deliberately sabotaging my education. I just don't get why. Even if she was spying for the old man, why would she try to ruin my schoolwork?'

'It sounds to me like Ron and Hermione were trying to stop you learning properly, or at least not do your best work. Like I said Harry, I will speak with Ron one day, but not until he's had some time to calm down. It may cause some problems at Hogwarts so it might be best to stay away from them.'

'I'm not returning to Hogwarts. I'm going to hire tutors, which has already been worked out.'

'I am as well. Harry spoke with Madam Bones, she's getting us tutors, but also for Susan and Neville. McGonagall won't do anything about the bullying, she will keep Ron as prefect, same as Hermione. If we're there they will make it difficult for me and Harry. Susan wants to be an auror, she's not even up to a fifth year, and what she does know is thanks to Harry. Neville has never had any support or help from the teachers, especially bullying. Ron even bully's Neville. Luna might be joining us, we're not sure yet. It will save you money as well. Harry already has the books I need, he'll be just getting the seventh year texts. No new robes need to be bought as we'll be using Grimmauld place to have our lessons in. Harry already has Dobby working on cleaning the place up so it's suitable to use. Harry has already taught me more than what I would learn at Hogwarts. And even though I want to play quidditch, I found I like history, but not with Binns teaching.'

'I wanted to learn more history of the wizarding world so I began to buy a lot of books. Ginny would be so engrossed in reading that she wouldn't hear me when I called her. It is a fascinating subject when Binns isn't putting you to sleep. There is only a few decent teachers and classes at Hogwarts. Transfiguration is taught properly but McGonagall is so cold. Charms is great, and we liked Flitwick, Sprout, Sinistra, and Slughorn. I like Hagrid, but he should never been allowed to teach. And let's not talk about how bad defence was. I'm still considering an auror, that won't happen without private tutoring in things like potions.'

'Do you know who is going to be your tutors?' Arthur asked as he looked between his daughter and her boyfriend.

'I'm going to be one. I can take them through charms, care of magical creatures and astronomy, my three best class. Connie Hammer, an auror has agreed to take some time off and tutor them. She can take them through defence, potions, and transfigurations. If they want to learn arithmancy or ancient runes, she can get them started on those subjects. We all agreed that history would be fine learning from books. Harry and Ginny just need to get a wide range of titles.' Charlie said.

'I found out that ancient runes can be used by aurors sometimes, if they need to break through wards or if an item is cursed. See, I had no idea what classes to take at the end of my second year as I had no idea about subjects that would be needed for the different professions. I didn't even know there were such things as aurors or warders who use runes. Ron and Percy told me to take divination, and Ron said care of magical creatures would be a good class to have. That was before we knew Hagrid was going to be the new teacher. As I said before, I didn't want to lose Ron as a friend, so I signed up for what he did. Then in our fifth year we get careers advice. It was then that I found out that I should have taken arithmancy and ancient runes. I never heard of either until Hermione mentioned them.'

'Divination would only be good for someone who has the ability. It can't be taught so there's no use having it as an elective. It would be best to have the students tested, and if they have any type of seer ability, then they can take her class. Tell me how you and Ron passed your divination test at the end of that year, since neither of you have the ability?' Arthur asked.

Harry knew he would tell the man, but he could also tell that the elder Weasley's were disappointed in their youngest son. They also knew something was going on with Ron and were determined to find out exactly what that was.