Summary: Ron doesn't know what to do after the battle of Hogwarts. It's been three months and with the help of his brother he finds a new perspective. Ron-centric, family story.
Author's note: This is my first ever Harry Potter fanfic. I can't actually believe that. Even on my old account I've never published anything related to Harry Potter. Obviously, I own nothing.
Have fun. R&R
…HP…
Lost and found.
Ron ran a hand through his red hair. He had just said goodbye to Harry who had left for an appointment at the Ministry. He had thought about going with him, but he needed some time alone. He needed time to think first. If he had gone with Harry today, he would have said "yes". Ron stepped into the kitchen, regretting it instantly.
Percy crossed his arms in front of his chest, as soon as he saw his little brother. "Am I right, Ron?"
"Normally you tell yourself that you're right." Ron shrugged. He hoped that Percy would realize that he wasn't in the mood to talk.
Their mother stood at the stove, looking a bit flustered. "Percy, darling, maybe we should eat first."
"Why?" Percy laid a hand on Ron's shoulder. Ron raised an eyebrow, looking around. Molly seemed to avoid eye-contact with him, immediately looking into the stew again. Percy's eyes were on their mother. He seemed happy and determined.
Ron's eyes met George's, who seemed to wait for something. Ron was the one breaking eye-contact with him. They weren't really on talking-terms at the moment. Ron didn't even know what they were fighting about. It all had started when he had gotten the invitation. George was mad at him for some reason. The battle of Hogwarts had taken place three months ago and George had been living at the Burrow ever since. Ron didn't really know how to deal with an angry George at the moment. He was treading on eggshells around his brother.
"Obviously, you are going to take the offer, right?" Percy snagged his arm around Ron's shoulders and squeezed "You surely want to become an Auror! Mom told me the good news."
"Did she?" Ron's jaw tightened, his eyes on their mother. Molly seemed to hypnotize the pot now. Ron had told her not to tell another person. Especially not Bill or Percy. Ron had enough of people telling him what to do and how to feel after he and Harry had gotten the offer to become Aurors. While Harry tried to convince him to take it, his parents made him the center of attention, being proud beyond belief. It was funny. He had always wished for this kind of attention and now it was just plain annoying. Hermione was happy for him, but he could tell that she wasn't super thrilled about the news.
"Congrats, Ronald. That is truly amazing." Percy sat back down at the table and smiled proudly.
"Yeah." Ron nodded without showing any emotions. "Thanks."
"We should celebrate", the eldest brother in the room suggested. "We are going to invite Charlie and Bill for the weekend. Harry should be here anyway. I am sure Ginny and Hermione can come home for that as well. You should tell them."
"They know it already." Ron wished that Percy would stop talking. "I've gotten the invitation two weeks ago."
"Oh. Why haven't you told me?" The wizard's voice sounded surprised.
"I am not sure if I want to take it." Ron almost exploded, still standing. Molly finally turned around, dropping her spoon into the pot. Percy looked stunned. George looked up again, seeming curious.
"Ronald", Molly started. "Would you-"
"I asked you not to tell him." The youngest Weasley accused his mother. "I don't need another person telling me what to do." Gosh, he was frustrated.
"Is that a joke?", Percy asked. "Don't be ridiculous. You didn't finish Hogwarts. What else would you want to do?"
Ron rubbed a hand over his face. "I don't know yet. Hermione and I wanted to go to Australia next summer. I can't do that when I'm in training."
"So what?" Percy raised both eyebrows. "That decision should be a no-brainer."
"Well, it's not." Ron snarled. "I want to go with her. It was important to both of us and-"
"If she is the right one, she should understand that-"
"It has nothing to do with her not understanding." Ron got angrier by the minute. "It's me who wants to be with her! And honestly I don't know if I want to be an Auror right now."
"Boys. Let's talk about it after lunch." Molly busied herself with setting the table.
"Mom, say something. He is being unreasonable. " Percy pointed at Ron.
"Oh shut up, Percy." Ron let out an exaggerated breath, intending on leaving this situation and by doing so the Burrow – maybe even the country.
"Are you really being serious." Percy stood again. "What do you think will happen? Do you think wizards will just greet you with open arms, wherever you apply for a job?"
"I don't even know right now if I want to work in the wizarding world. Maybe I want to have a normal muggle job first." He blushed slightly. He wanted to get to know the muggle world better. He wanted to have some experiences before he would leave with Hermione.
"A muggle job? Are you joking me? This is a one-time chance for you. You don't really have anything to offer besides your relationship with Harry. You don't have any experiences and you didn't finish school. You've been an average student and- " Percy shut up mid-sentence, when suddenly George started talking.
"Shut it, Percy." The wizard had not talked much over the last couple of months and when he did, everyone listened. "I think after defeating Death Eaters, destroying Horcruxes and therefore helping to kill Voldemort, Ron has more to offer than – let's say – an insufferable suck-up."
"Boys!" Molly raised her voice.
"I'm out of here." Ron turned around and left the kitchen, without waiting for a reply. He climbed the stairs to his room, shutting the door behind him. He had thought about it a lot. As an Auror he would finally leave his brothers' shadows. He would finally leave Harry's shadow.
"He is an arse." George's voice stated from the door. Ron hadn't even realized that his brother had entered the room. He had not expected George to follow him and now he stood there, like they were okay.
Ron looked at his older brother, not knowing what to tell him, so he just nodded.
"Who would you call the bigger arse – Percy or me?" George quipped, but sounded tired. He walked over to the bed and sat down on the edge; his eyes were focused on Ron.
The younger brother remained standing in the middle of the room. He didn't know what to say or do. His brother was suffering enough. He didn't want to engage in an argument. Ron just shrugged. He thought about disapparating, but he was sure he would splinch. He couldn't think straight.
"Are you still talking to me?" George raised an eyebrow.
"You haven't been talking to me for two weeks." Ron huffed a laugh. "I am a bit confused to say the least." He sat down beside his brother. The first months after the battle, Ron and George had spent a lot of time together and the last two weeks had been annoying for several reasons, one of which had been the terrible mood between them two.
"Yeah okay, I can see that." George scooted back and leaned against the wall, his eyes closed for a moment.
"Are you going to tell me why you're so angry?" Ron kept an eye on the older one.
"I don't really want you to become an Auror." The answer didn't hold anger or frustration. "Maybe I should have talked to you about it, instead of giving you the cold shoulder. I just thought you were super excited about the offer."
"I don't know how to feel about it", Ron admitted. "Why do you not like the idea?"
"Ron", George started and sounded exhausted. "I think you have to make this decision without people trying to convince you. And I want you to take the job if you really want to."
Ron ran a hand over his face. His family was annoying him. Right about now Hermione, Harry and George were the only people whose opinions were of interest to him and neither Hermione, nor George apparently wanted to give input.
"It's just dangerous", the other wizard whispered, obviously sensing that the younger Weasley wanted an answer. "I've lost one brother. Bill and Charlie have dangerous jobs. I really don't want to lose my little brother as well."
"Nothing will-"
"Don't." George lifted a hand. "Don't make promises you can't keep." He waited for a second, giving Ron the chance to object. Ron didn't. "… and if you really don't want to become an Auror, you could always come to our- the shop. I wanted to reopen it soon anyway; better sooner than later."
Ron opened his mouth, unsure how to respond to that. He was taken aback by the offer. "I-", he started, but fell silent again immediately.
"It was just an idea." George sounded almost disappointed. After a short pause, he continued, sounding a bit more enraged. "What do you want? You said you'd want to have a muggle job first and that's as close as it gets." The older man stood up. "You know, forget it."
"What the-" Ron reached out and caught his brother's arm. "I just think that Fred wouldn't have liked me to interfere with the job." It was pretty much the first time Ron had said his dead brother's name in the longest time.
"It was his idea." George sat down again, scrutinizing Ron's reaction. "Back when I lost my ear, we talked about what to do with the shop in case something would happen to one of us." He shrugged. "We've decided we would want to work with you."
"Me? But- why? I- Ginny", Ron spluttered.
George smirked. "Use your words."
"Why me? Ginny is more into pranks and jokes than I am." Ron tilted his head.
"You're the one we spent the most time with and I feel like you've-" George didn't seem to know how to continue. His one ear turned red. "We decided that you would fit."
Ron looked up. He had not expected that. "Huh", he commented, a smile on his lips. "… but I still want to go to Australia."
"Yeah", George nodded. "Lee would help out then. I asked him a couple of days ago. He said that I should talk to you first. I mean…" He paused. "…you could go to Australia and after that you still could become an Auror. By that time, we should be able to hire some staff, but over the next couple of months, I…."
"Yes", Ron interrupted his big brother. "I would like to join you." The youngest Weasley son started grinning. For the first time in weeks, he felt like he had a plan.
"Really?" The older wizard seemed taken aback. "Don't you want to think about it first?"
"No." The answer came quickly. "I like that." He smiled at his brother. "You are the bigger arse", he informed him, insulting him for the first time in an eternity. "You could have spared us two weeks of fighting and frustration."
George mirrored his smile, patting his shoulder before he gave Ron a one-armed hug. "Sorry Ronniekins, it was necessary. We were spending too much time together. People already had suspected that we would get along. We can't have that."
"Sure", Ron commented, rolling his eyes.
"C'mon", George stood up and pulled the younger wizard with him. "Let's tell mom and Percy."
"You just want to see Percy's disappointment." Ron joked, but followed the other man. He couldn't stop smiling and George seemed happy about the outcome as well. Ron had the feeling that they weren't the only ones who would be happy about the decision. He couldn't wait to tell Hermione that he had found a solution to their problem.
…HP…
Thanks for reading!