Happy New Year!
2020 has been a difficult year for everyone, but let's all hang in there! Here's to a hopefully better 2021 for us all.
Many thanks to my beta, A.C. nelli, for their continued dedication to TBA. This chapter wouldn't have made it to the end of 2020 if not for them. Major kudos!
Also, thank you very much to all my anonymous reviewers. Since I don't have the means to reply to you personally, please accept my public appreciation for your time here. Tracey, thank you for reviewing most of the chapters in one go. Getting positive feedback really helps build the confidence that I'm doing something right, but don't hesitate to send criticism I can work on.
Speaking of criticism, there's an extra note at the end for an anonymous reviewer (Guest). I am addressing the post because they raised good points and I have no way to reply personally. If any other readers have the same concerns as them, feel free to read and decide for yourself if I make sense.
Chapter 12: Erised Straeh Ruoy
"Based on insurmountable evidence, we hereby pronounce defendant Peter Thaddeus Pettigrew guilty for twelve counts of manslaughter of the twelve muggles of 1991, and an accomplice to the murders of Lord James Fleamont Potter and Lily Potter nee Evans of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Potter." Minister Cornelius Fudge read out the verdict in a grave tone. "We also pronounce Sirius Orion Black of the Most Ancient and Noble House of Black as not guilty and cleared of all his previous charges effective immediately."
Furious whispering erupted around Ron, including those from his family who were audibly relieved for the rightful verdict and that the trial was finally over. His father clapped him proudly on the back ("Excellent work, son!") and his mother hurried over to engulf him in a bone-crushing hug. Charlie let out a hearty laugh over Ron's flustered expression in Molly's arms while Bill smoothed the youngest Weasley's head affectionately.
"As such," Amelia Bones said over the growing noise. "Mr. Pettigrew is to serve fifteen sentences of life imprisonment in Azkaban with no parole. For Mr. Black, reparation for years of unjust imprisonment and other damages will be up for further discussion, with a minimum of 1,000 galleons per year of imprisonment, amounting to a total of 10,000 galleons—"
From the corner of his eye, Ron saw Dumbledore shaking hands with Sirius, who appeared younger than Ron ever remembered him looking, owing to the light that made the man's grey eyes glow with new life. Remus too was beaming when he shook hands and talked further with the Headmaster while Sirius' attention went to Andromeda and Tonks.
All of it made Ron smile proudly to himself. This whole mess stressed the hell out of him, but causing such a positive change was definitely worth it. It might cause a huge difference in the flow of events, maybe it will make things even more difficult for him, but if it would mean that three people would live happier lives before Voldemort comes back, then Ron was willing to take the risk.
I just hope Sirius will be able to convince Dumbledore that they can keep Harry safe without the blood wards. And if protecting the Dursleys should be an issue, we can just lock them away with a Fidelus somewhere or whatever the Order did with them the last time. I don't know. I don't really want to think too much about these freaks.
"—other terms and conditions regarding Mr. Black's remuneration shall be discussed by the defendant and the Department of Magical Enforcement after this trial. We wish to thank our Esteemed Lords and Ladies of the Court for taking part in this trial and for their services in deciding the verdict and—"
Laughter.
The shrill, hysterical, bone-chilling kind that made the entire courtroom freeze. Peter Pettigrew, who had been quiet up to this point, had suddenly thrown his head back and laughed so loudly it was grating to listen to. Everyone else around him stared at each other in confusion although a few pulled their wands out, ready in case the hysterics gave way…
"THIS IS ALL YOUR FAULT!"
What? Ron's eyes widened when Pettigrew sharply jolted forward from where he stood with the Aurors. The two burly men in grey robes managed to hold the smaller man back, but to Ron's shock, it appeared that they were struggling, straining to prevent the suddenly seemingly rabid Pettigrew, bucking and twisting frantically at his bonds, raving like a famished, enraged beast.
"TEN YEARS!" Peter spat viciously. "TEN FUCKING YEARS IN YOUR MISERABLE SHACK AND NO ONE EVER KNEW! I WOULD HAVE STAYED OUT OF THE WAY, WOULD HAVE GOTTEN AWAY! BUT YOU! YOU NOSEY PRICK! YOU RUINED EVERYTHING"
Ron growled at the venom in the man's eyes and voice, his body taut and alert for the possibility of a fight. Was that supposed to scare me? Idiot piece of shite, you are the last thing I'll be afraid of!
He tightened his grip on his wand, blood pounding in his ears. Come at me, you pathetic excuse for a wizard, and I swear to Merlin I'll rip you a new—!
Suddenly, a pair of arms lurched him back—when did he step forward?— and his vision was blocked by three robed backs.
"YOU USED TO BE A DUMB, LITTLE TAGALONG THAT NO ONE GIVES A FLYING SHITE ABOUT! BUT THEN YOU BECAME LIKE THEM! SO SMART, SO POPULAR, SO FUCKING PERFECT!" He heard scuffling and shouts from Bones to "drag the bloody prisoner to the back room already!", but Pettigrew's voice rang over them all. "BUT I'LL MAKE YOU PAY, YOU MEDDLING BRAT! JUST YOU FUCKING WAIT! YOU'LL SCREAM AND BEG FOR DEATH WHILE I MAKE ANOTHER LONGBOTTOM OUT OF YOU!"
There were audibly sharp intakes of breath, a shocked cry from his mother and a furious roar.
"WHY YOU SICK MOTHERFUCKER—!"
"Charlie!" It took all of Arthur and Bill's combined effort to restrain Charlie, who looked ready to burn Pettigrew's face off. Good thing one of the Aurors finally remembered that he could stun the Animagus before the dragon tamer could do it. Ron didn't want his brother getting in trouble because of that bastard.
Yet the screams went on, raving and ringing in his head, even after Molly put her shaking hands over his ears.
"—PAY! I'LL MAKE YOU PAY! MARK MY WORDS, WEASLEY! I WILL GET OUT! AND YOU! I WILL MAKE YOU WISH THAT YOU WERE NEVER BORN!"
"Ronnie?"
Ron barely suppressed a cry when he heard someone call from the Common Room couch. He internally cursed himself for being so out of it he hadn't noticed he wasn't as alone as he thought.
"Ginny? What are you doing up so early? Can't sleep?" He knew it wasn't even five in the morning yet (his alarm charm hadn't gone off) and since they all turned in pretty late last night, he assumed his family would still be asleep by now.
The younger redhead, looking rather adorable in her faded pink sleeping gown adorned with red and rosy hearts, blushed with a scratch to her eyes. "No, not really. It's a bit silly, but," she shrugged. "It's my first time here at Hogwarts. I know I'll be coming here too next year, but…"
Ron smiled. "I get it, Gin. The first night at Hogwarts is always amazing. But wait till your first night as a first year. Not a lot of experiences can top that!"
Ginny pouted. "You still won't tell me how you got sorted."
"And ruin the fun? Nah, can't do that to you, Gin." He smirked. "Besides, what's there to worry about? You're gonna make Gryffindor, for sure!"
The girl rolled her eyes. "Says the one who kept whining about it to Fred and George last year."
"Oi, I do not whine!" Ron puffed his chest.
"Do too!"
"Do not!"
"The twins thought so!"
"Bah, they think I whine all the time!"
"Because you do?"
Ron mock glared. "That's it! Just so you know, you asked for this!"
"…Oh no."
"THE TICKLE MONSTER ATTACK!"
"NOOOOO!" Ginny squealed and laughed as Ron went all out on the poking and tickling, chortling as he did so. It felt so long since he was able to have fun with his sister like this, and it was a welcome relief after the stressful months he had.
Especially after his recent nightmare.
"You're doing it again."
"Huh?" Ron blinked when Ginny called out to him with a frown.
"Like you've seen another gnome coming in from the fence after clearing the garden. But…angrier. A lot angrier."
The time traveller sighed lowly. He hadn't meant for anyone to notice it. How long had his sister been watching him? "Sorry, Ginny. Didn't mean to worry you."
"Of course I'm worried, Ron. We all are," said Ginny. "You've been out of sorts since you came back from the trial. Even Dad and Bill looked pissed! I never thought I'd see them THAT angry!"
It was a huge shock to Percy, Fred, George and Ginny to see their parents, Bill, Charlie and Ron looking far from happy at their victory over the trial. Molly, pale and shaking, had kept such a strong grip on Ron's shoulders that the boy was worried his arms would fall off at any given moment. Charlie, on the other hand, had a deep scowl etched on his face, his ears bright red and his tightly clenched fists near bone white. Arthur and Bill may have looked all right, but any Weasley could tell by their rigid postures, their strained gestures and the frigid storms rumbling in their eyes that they too were as enraged as Charlie obviously had been.
The remaining Weasley children were naturally quick to ask for more information, being already antsy over the fact that they weren't allowed to attend the trial because they were minors. Molly had given them a very watered-down version of the trial's events: the Professors and Ron telling their accounts, the Court asking follow-up questions, the obvious guilty verdict and Sirius' name being cleared.
Which was fine and good, but didn't really explain what provoked such rage from most of the Weasleys who attended the trial, much to Ron's other siblings' chagrin. But even Arthur had put his foot down that that was that, and Bill and Charlie weren't forthcoming either.
I'm actually surprised it took Ginny this long to ask me about it. Ron thought. I'm even more surprised that she's the first to do it. I was expecting Percy to crack earlier since he was more involved.
Then again, the way Bill and Charlie had all but hogged Ron's time yesterday could be another reason. Bloody hell, he had expected a bit of coddling from Bill (who had always been a bit of a mother hen, to be honest), but Charlie? Seriously, the way his second oldest brother behaved yesterday, one would have thought Pettigrew would shoot out of a rat hole any second to take Ron away with him to Azkaban.
The only reason he hadn't displayed his exasperation outright was that he was more afraid of Charlie's legendary temper blowing up on him. And between that and a Hungarian Horntail guarding its egg, he'd choose the latter in a heartbeat.
But back to the matter at hand: what should he tell Ginny? And, by extension, the twins and Percy? He honestly didn't know why his parents and oldest brothers didn't tell them of Pettigrew's meltdown at the trial. Ron honestly found it to be unnecessary drama, the last-ditch effort to be considered a threat by a doomed coward. But he really didn't see the point of lying to his other siblings about it either.
Why not a half-truth?
"It was because of Pettigrew." Ron finally answered. "The trial went pretty well, even though some of the Lords were being ar—err, difficult. But then, after the verdict, the rat suddenly had this epic breakdown. Downright horrible sight, Ginny. Would have made anyone pissed, really."
Ginny's nose wrinkled. "Because he was scared that he was going to Azkaban?"
"Yeah, something like that."
"But that still doesn't explain why it made Mum, Dad, Bill and Charlie so—" Suddenly, Ginny's expression turned hard. "He didn't threaten you, did he?"
Shite. On second thought, maybe this was why he shouldn't have said anything, after all. "Err, not really—"
"Ron…"
"Why does it matter?" The boy exhaled in irritation. "Pettigrew's going to Azkaban for life, without parole! So, what if he blames me for that and made a few threats here and there? It's not as if he's going to break out of there, is he?! Empty threats, Ginny! That's all they are! So, can everyone please just stop acting as if he's going to pop out of a rat hole and blow my head off?!"
The younger Weasley's eyes were wide before they narrowed again in bright anger. "Don't talk like that, Ron!"
Ron groaned tiredly. "My point is that even if Pettigrew can become a threat somehow—which he won't be—he's already locked away in the most secure prison in Wizarding Britain. And no one's escaped Azkaban, ever." Except Sirius, but that's a different story. He took a breath. "He's not going to get me, Ginny."
"...How do you know that?" The way his little sister's voice suddenly sounded so small made his heart stop. "What if he does get out? What if he comes after you? I don't know if he's strong, but he is still an adult wizard and you're, we're still underage. I...I don't want you to get hurt by that man, Ronnie."
Oh, Ginny. Ron couldn't help but pull his sister into a hug. Years of seeing his sister grow into a fierce, headstrong spitfire of a witch made it easy for him to forget that under all that, the sweet, big-hearted little girl he grew up with still remained. And while Ginny was brave even at this age, she was still, in fact, a child.
It was selfish of him, but he found himself learning to cherish these moments when she was still looking to him for reassurance. Because he knew—it had already happened before—that it won't last forever.
"I'll be fine," Ron said confidently with a smile. "Maybe I'm not of age yet, but I'm learning a lot of magic. And until I graduate, I'll be spending most of my days in Hogwarts, with all the cool teachers who can beat Pettigrew all the way to Pluto! But best of all," He squeezed her shoulder. "I've got my kick-arse family to watch my back. That rat won't have anything on my little spitfire once she starts learning magic!"
The way Ginny could switch from downright sad to fired up was both fascinating and scary to Ron, if he was honest. "Right. Don't you worry, Ronnie! Once I get to Hogwarts next year, I'll learn so many new spells and hexes no one's going to dare mess with you!"
"That's the spirit!" Although you're not the one who needs to protect me. Silly little spitfire, it should be the other way around. "And if someone tries to mess with you, just let your big brother at 'em. I ought to show them no one gets away with bullying my little spitfire!"
"If I have to." Ginny rolled her eyes fondly with a smile, making Ron breathe a sigh of relief before he remembered. "Seriously, Gin, you don't have to worry about me anymore. Especially not about Pettigrew trying to come after me, all right? You're going to Hogwarts in a few months and you need to focus on all the fun you'll be having and the homework you'll be getting when that comes. Got it?"
Another eye roll, this time with a sigh. "Yes, mum."
"And no telling Percy or the twins, OK?" Ron said quickly before Ginny could voice a protest. "Come on, Ginny, we agreed it's not a big deal! I just want to forget about that whole nonsense, focus on what's left of the holidays."
Ginny swallowed under Ron's pleading blue eyes. "You know, it's illegal to use the puppy dog eyes on younger siblings…"
"As long as it works, I don't care."
"...Oh, all right, fine. It's not like Bill and Charlie are going to say anything about it anyway. But you will owe me for this, Ronnie."
The boy shrugged easily. "Sure. What do I owe you, then?"
Ginny blinked in surprise, probably not expecting Ron so quickly agreeing with her. "Err, I don't know. A favour, I guess—?"
GROWL!
Both siblings stared dumbly at each other before laughing again over their stomachs groaning at almost the same time.
"Would you look at that? All this talking made me as hungry as you are," said Ginny with a wry grin. "Too bad it's still too early for breakfast."
That's true. Breakfast doesn't get served until at least six, and that's more than an hour away... It took a few seconds before a bolt of inspiration kicked in.
The eighteen-turned-eleven-year-old grinned widely. "Say, Ginny, instead of a favour, why don't I let you in on a little secret?"
Though there weren't a lot who stayed over at Gryffindor Tower for Christmas, the Weasley family's presence made it so lively and homely that it hardly felt empty at all. Since they only had a few days left together for the holidays, the Weasley children made the most out of it by taking over Hogwarts by storm and dragging Harry along for the fun.
Arthur would ask about Muggles and their strange contraptions—including that mystical wonder known as the rubber duck—while Molly fussed over his appearance or his appetite ("Don't be shy, dear. You need to eat more!"). Bill and Charlie, who were just as interested in the Boy-Who-Lived as he was in them, regaled Harry with tales of their exploits in Egypt and Romania. The twins and Ron would often drag Harry into various games, from Exploding Snap matches in the Common Room to impromptu snowball fights with the other Weasley siblings. Even Percy joined in on a few of them, pelting Fred and George with charmed snowballs that relentlessly chased them wherever they went. Ginny was a downright stuttering, butterfingered mess when Harry was around, something Fred and George were quick to poke fun at every possible opportunity. Ron let them at it only because he knew the days of Ginny not being able to fight back were numbered.
Besides, Ron had his own fun showing Harry and his family who the real king was at Wizarding Chess. Although he had to admit, that match against his father was the most challenging he had in a while now (second to that game with It). Ron felt that he only won by the skin of his teeth, but Arthur had been immensely proud of the skilled gameplay and promised Ron a rematch back at the Burrow.
The youngest Weasley boy's face lit up so brightly at his father's words that it could outshine any Christmas light.
Harry too looked like he was having the time of his life with the Weasleys, so much that he most likely forgot to research about Flamel (although Ron wasn't really inclined to remind him. It's Christmas, for Merlin's sake!). From the hilarious snowball fights to lazy evenings downing hot chocolate and toasting whatever they could over the fireplace, Ron was happy to see Harry turning in for the night with a huge smile on his face every time.
It made the coming Christmas morning all the more memorable.
"Presents!" Harry gasped in disbelief over the pile of colorfully wrapped packages at the foot of his bed. "I've got presents!"
Ron shrugged with a smirk. "What were you expecting? Turnips? Now get to it, Potter! I see something that suspiciously looks like a pack of Every Flavored Beans and I want in on it!"
Harry eyed him balefully. "But you're already having your share!"
The redhead waved his hand before shoving it into the open bag of candied beans. "No, these are my beans, not yours. So hop to it!"
Ron had already gotten around unwrapping most of his presents by the time Harry woke up, having chosen to forego his morning run in favour of spending Christmas morning with his family, which had actually been a surprising haul. He got the same as in his old life: a box of Every Flavored Beans from Hermione, the traditional Weasley sweater and a box of fudge from his mother, a new snowy white quill and some ink from his father, some Exploding Snap card packs from the twins, and a homework planner from Percy.
What caught him off guard were the additional gifts: a fancy looking leather pouch from Bill, a large box of Chocolate Frogs from Charlie, a brown leather satchel from Neville, and the biggest surprises of all: a wand holster, made from what looked to be Hebridean Black leather, a Gryffindor-colored scarf, as well as a silver chain bracelet, running through charms that seemed to resemble some sort of fruit.
Ron had been so shocked over the gift that it took him half a minute to finally take hold of them. What the hell? Who on earth would send me something like this? And… He blinked at the bracelet. There's something...oddly familiar about this bracelet…
Something at the corner of Ron's eye then caught his attention: a folded parchment with two distinct handwritings, the first being tidier and cursive:
Dear Ronald,
Blessed be.
We apologize for not being around to see you off this school year, but rest assured that you are always in our thoughts here in Londonderry. Wishing you a happy Christmas and a fruitful New Year ahead, and looking forward to seeing you this summer.
Our well wishes,
Xenophilius and Pandora Lovegood
PS: Congratulations on making it to Gryffindor! Keep on making us proud, Ronald.
And the second, still cursive but with bigger lettering and distinctly childlike scrawl:
Dearest Brother Ron,
Hello from Londonderry!
I hope this letter finds you well. I'm sorry for not having written to you sooner. Mum and Dad are doing much better now, although we have yet to find the nargles. But don't worry, I'm sure we'll find them in no time. Hopefully, once Mum is well rested enough, we'll be able to come back home soon. Ireland is lovely, but I miss Ottery St. Catchpole very much.
Happy Christmas to you and your family. Don't let the Wrackspurts bite, and give Ginny a big hug from me please.
Lots of love,
Luna
PS: Do you like the bracelet? I made it myself. The Dirigible plums will help you with your studies because Daddy always said that it makes one wiser.
You're plenty smart on your own, I know. But we can all use a bit more. :)
...Godric's pants, no bloody way. Ron's gaze went from the letter to the gifts then back again. The Lovegoods gave me these. But why? I don't remember being friends with Luna before fifth year, and even then, we haven't been close enough for her to call me… He read the letter again. Brother Ron? That's...new. Not that I don't like it, but it still doesn't answer my question. And who is Pandora? Another pause then a shake of his head. No, that can't be Luna's mum. She's dead, isn't she? From messing up a spell, if I remember it right. Or did that also—?
And, as if on cue, his Deluminator warmed once again, but at least Ron had enough awareness—or maybe it was him getting used to the thing's sudden episodes—to make him mentally groan. Not this again—
The sound of magic vibrating in his ears; of choking and flailing; of a little girl crying.
"Mummy! Mummy! MUMMY!"
A circle of rocks, glowing with strange letters. The vibrations, louder, the closer they are.
"Lu...ack...Lu…"
FLASH!
"Help, Ginny!" A boy's voice pierced through the choking and the wailing. "Go get help! The Floo!"
A harsh tug on the rocks, small and jagged but oddly heavy…
"Budge, you stupid piece of rock! Budge!"
Crying. Choking. Crying. Choking—
"MOVE!"
FLASH! BOOM!
A crack. A hiss. A scream.
And a loud, desperate gasp of air.
"MUMMY!"
...Bloody hell! Needless to say, Ron was shaken by the vision that left him with more questions than answers, but he did manage to pull himself together just in time to act nonchalant while munching on jelly beans by the time Harry woke up. And because Harry was so distracted by the idea of having real Christmas presents, he wasn't able to notice Ron dropping his laidback act for a more pensive look behind his pack of beans.
One thing that I did get from that vision is that Luna's mum is most likely alive and that Ginny had been around at the time with Luna. But how did it happen? What even went wrong? And who saved her? Ron frowned in irritation. Bloody vision not giving me enough information. The least it could have done is show me who Ginny was with. Maybe I could ask her before she leaves for the Burrow. Got to pass Luna's regards to her anyways.
And speaking of the wand holster, since Charlie is around, I reckon now's a good time as any to—
"—do you think this is?"
Ron's attention returned to Harry in time for the other boy to raise a familiar shimmering cloak.
Oh, it's just the Invisibility Cloak. Ron blinked in the middle of opening his mouth to say just that when he remembered. Wait, back up!
Cue the surprised Ronald Weasley face. "Blimey, is that what I think it is?"
"What is it?"
"I'll tell you what that is! It's a bloody invisibility cloak! Merlin, I'd give anything for one of those! Anything!"
…This "acting stupid shocked over everything" act is starting to get really old really fast, for Merlin's sake!
The Great Hall was decorated with shimmering silver snowflakes and falling stars with holly and mistletoes tied to a good number of the pillars while the tables were spread with white napkins and tablecloths embroidered with green sprigs and red ribbons. The entire Weasley family and Harry, proudly dressed in their lovingly knitted Weasley sweaters, came to partake in the fancy Christmas feast laden with hundreds of turkeys with rich gravy, boiled and mashed potatoes, rows of grilled ribs, braised and crisp vegetables, trifles, treacle tarts, flaming Christmas pudding and all the wizarding crackers one can pop.
Other than sorely wishing he too could have some of that free-flowing butterbeer and fire whiskey like the adults instead of pumpkin juice, Ron had no qualms with the way festivities turned out. It had been good fun stuffing himself with all the food to match one of the turkeys on the table then joining his siblings in pulling on all the crackers he could get his hands on. He managed to get a dark grey hood that eerily reminded him of Death, some packs of Chocolate Frogs, glow-in-the-dark fake wands, cartwheeling gummy worms and a couple of party horns that seemed to have a sonorous charm permanently cast on them. Fred was quick to take them to pester the hell out of Percy while George charmed the Prefect's badge to grow legs and run off the table. But just when the twins were at the height of their laughter, Charlie transfigured their hairs into curly, ribboned pigtails that made Ron, Harry and Ginny shed tears in hysterical laughter.
Up at the staff table, Arthur, who had obviously had a bit too much fire whiskey, kissed Molly on the cheek before presenting her with a flowery top hat which she allowed him to put on her head, giggling like a teenager all the while. Dumbledore had just put on the bonnet he had gotten from Flitwick and was merrily laughing at the exchange between a drunk Hagrid and a flustered McGonagall. Meanwhile, at the edge of the table, Snape and Pince exchanged a quiet toast, and Durand was sipping champagne while talking to a Professor Ron never met before: tall, burly and dark-skinned with dreadlocks nearly reaching his shoulder. Ron hadn't seen Hui anywhere, so he assumed the lecturer went home for the holidays. He did mention having a wife, didn't he?
It was a bit of a bummer for Ron that he couldn't find the time to pull Charlie or Ginny aside like he wanted to, but since it was Christmas, he thought that maybe he'll just leave that matter for tomorrow. Bill and Charlie did say that they were staying until the end of Boxing Day so hopefully, Ron will have plenty of time left to talk to his brother.
Good thing too, because a few things came up that required Ron's attention at the moment. Right after lunch, Harry and Ron returned to their dorms intending to change into outdoor winter wear for another snowball fight with the twins, when they saw a parcel and a letter on Harry's bed. Harry looked equally confused and curious while opening his letter, but Ron already knew who sent it the minute he saw the way Harry's name was written on the envelope.
The time traveller was hard-pressed to hide his grin. "So who's it from, Harry?"
Harry blinked once, twice before meeting Ron's eyes with an openly floored look. "I—It's from him. Mr. Black. It's from Mr. Black!"
He eagerly showed Ron the parchment as both sat down on Harry's bed to read.
Dear Harry,
I suppose you have already heard the news, but I wanted to properly introduce myself to you. I am Sirius Black, an old friend of your parents, who was wrongfully accused of their murders. I've just been recently released by both the Ministry and St. Mungo's, and it's only now that I found the time to owl you.
I'm sorry it took me this long to finally reach out and I'm sorry for all those years I missed. I could blame it all on Pettigrew, but the truth is, I'm also partly at fault for what happened. I won't blame you for thinking the same, but I hope you'll give me a chance to explain everything to you. There's just so much I want to tell you, and so much I want to hear from you too. If you're anything like your parents, as I'm sure you are, you've definitely had your own share of adventures. I can't wait to hear all about them when I see you again.
I know it's short notice, but I was hoping I could meet you after Christmas at Hogwarts. I'm free from the 26th onwards. Owl me when is the best time. You can bring anyone with you if you want.
Happy holidays, pup. Looking forward to hearing from you soon.
Your godfather,
Sirius
"Godfather…" Harry's Lumos green eyes were back. "I...I really have a godfather."
Ron gave his best mate a few seconds of wonder before clapping him heartily on the back. "See, mate, what did I tell you? So, how does it feel to know you have a godfather?"
"...I'm not dreaming, am I? This isn't because I've had too much cake from last night, is it?"
Ron was, naturally, happy to help reassure his best friend.
"...Ouch! Ron! What was that for?!"
"Well, what do you know? Looks like you're not dreaming after all." Ron nodded sagely. "You're welcome, by the way."
"You didn't have to pinch me that hard!" Harry scowled at him while rubbing at the sore spot in his arm.
"Anyway, back to this, so when are you planning on meeting him?"
"Oh, err," Harry bit his lip. "Is it too soon if I say within the week? Maybe let the holidays pass first—"
Ron rolled his eyes. "Harry, he just said he's free starting tomorrow. If you really want to see him then, just tell him so. From what I just read, he's just as excited to meet you too."
Harry was silent for a full minute before nodding. "Right. Tomorrow. I'll tell him we can meet tomorrow...I need my quill!"
Ron watched in amusement as Harry fumbled around for a quill and parchment, too excited to pen his reply to sit still and write it properly. Oh, he definitely missed seeing this side of Harry, the eager, beaming ball of sunshine that became less apparent the older they grew, mostly because the world just loved to fuck the Boy-Who-Lived over so much.
"Ron?"
The eighteen-turned-eleven-year-old turned to Harry, who was looking at him oddly. "Yeah, mate?"
"...Thanks."
Ron tapped his chin. "No problem, mate. But what for?"
Harry ducked his head, scratching the back of it awkwardly. "For this. If it weren't for you, maybe no one would have ever found out about Pettigrew, and Mr. Black might not have had his name cleared. But he's free now, and I have a godfather, and it's thanks to you."
It was Ron's turn to turn away, his ears turning bright red. "You're giving me too much credit, Harry. But for what it's worth, I'm happy for you. Mr. Black sounds like a good bloke."
"Yeah, he does…" Harry frowned. "But I wonder what he meant that he was also at fault for what happened with my parents?"
"I guess you'll just have to wait until tomorrow to find out."
"Err, that's actually something else I wanted to talk to you about…"
And that's how I ended up agreeing to go meet Sirius and possibly Remus with Harry tomorrow. Ron thought with a sigh, his arms over his head, staring at the ceiling of his four-poster bed. Since his alarm charm hadn't gone off yet, Ron assumed that it was almost or a little past midnight. And because he couldn't sleep, the gangly boy decided to go over his plans tomorrow in an effort to pass the time.
He honestly thought that it would be better if he weren't in the meeting, but Harry insisted that Sirius would want to meet the student who helped clear his name who was actually Harry's best mate. The magic of a small world and all that.
Ron finally relented because Harry was so set on the idea, which the rest of Weasleys also thought was well and good when the two boys told them about it. Molly had offered to accompany Harry as well, which he politely declined, although he did say that if things went well, he would like to introduce the Weasleys to Sirius. The twins were especially keen on the idea, finding the "former Azkaban inmate" image of the man to be intriguing.
What I'd give to see the reaction of the twins when they find out that Sirius is Padfoot. Won't that be something? Ron snorted to himself. Anyway, what else do I have for tomorrow? Go with Harry to meet Sirius, ask Ginny about the Lovegoods, ask Charlie about my wand, review my homework for next year, maybe a few games of—
SNAP!
Ron nearly jumped off his bed when his curtains were quickly parted, revealing his white-faced but smiling best mate.
"Harry?" Ron began groggily. "What's going—? OI!"
With a whispered "no time to explain, you have to see this," over his shoulder, Harry dragged Ron from the bed so quickly that the redhead barely had time to grab his outer robe.
"Harry! Wait, Harry!" Ron squawked in confusion when the other boy draped a cloak over both of them. The invisibility cloak?! "Harry, mind explaining why we're rushing around, under the invisibility cloak far past curfew?!"
"Sorry, Ron, but I just...I had to get you to see." Harry said breathlessly while looking frantically around in his hurry. "I thought that maybe I could get to show you tomorrow, but we're meeting Mr. Black, and I already met your family…"
"What's that got to do with—?"
"Keep it down! We're almost there."
Almost where? Ron asked in his head but he didn't dare voice it out loud. Not when Harry was gripping his arm so tight it was starting to hurt. Not when the look in Harry's eyes was a worrying mix of excitement, disbelief and desperation.
It was...he had seen that look on his best mate before. Where had he seen it? When?
It felt like hours since they got down from the Gryffindor Tower, and since Ron didn't have time to put on his slippers, his feet were freezing against the stone-cold floors of the castle. But again, Ron didn't voice a complaint, because he was trying to remember just what Harry's strange behaviour was all about.
Judging by how Harry's looking around like he's searching and watching out for Filch, it's obvious he doesn't really remember the way to...wherever he wanted to go. And if it's something that he had to wake me up for—not that I was asleep to begin with—must be something really important. But what could it be? Come on, Ron, think. The time traveller's brows furrowed. Christmas. What else important happened back then during the first life? We found out that Flamel was involved with the stone, but didn't know who he was. Hermione went home for Christmas. Harry got the cloak. We still didn't find out anything about Flamel after the holidays. What else am I missing? Why can't I remember? Come on, stupid brain. Help me remember. My best friend is acting weird and it's your job to—
A familiar warmth came from his pocket, next to his wand, and for the first time, Ron welcomed the vision.
"You could have woken me up!"
"You can go tonight. I'm going back. Want to show you…"
"Are you all right? You look...odd."
FLASH!
The cold stone was hurting his feet. "—and I'm freezing, Harry! Let's just forget it and go back before—"
"NO! We can't. It's here. I know it's here somewhere!"
FLASH!
A huge golden mirror, lined with runes and a single sentence in English lettering.
"Look! Look at all of them! There are loads!"
"...No, I'm alone, but I'm different! I look older and—and I'm Head Boy!"
FLASH!
The sight of a despondent Harry sending a chill through his chest.
"I know what you're thinking, Harry. Don't go back tonight. That mirror is bad news. "
"...All right, all right. You're really starting to sound like Hermione."
"I'm serious, Harry! Don't go."
"We're here!"
Ron was startled out of his vision just in time to see it: the tall gold leafed mirror, its entire frame and glass faded by age, but the words etched on the old gold.
Erised stra ehru oyt ube cafru oyt on wohsi
The Mirror of Erised. The same chill that entered Ron's chest in his vision returned with a vengeance. Shite. We shouldn't be anywhere near this thing. I need to get Harry out of here!
"Harry, we're not supposed to—"
"I know, I know. But look, Ron, there! See?" Harry tugged at Ron's sleeve, eagerly pointing. "Right over there! There's my family! My mum and dad! My grandparents, even! And..and..!"
"I don't see anything." Ron snapped, taking Harry by the arm. "Come on, Harry. Filch will skin us alive if he finds us!"
"You're just not standing close enough!" The next thing Ron knew, Harry had pushed him forward, bracing him so he was dead center at the mirror.
The Ron in the past had seen himself, alone, with a Head Boy badge and the Quidditch Cup, the best among his siblings, only because that Ron had been a selfish and shallow-minded boy who didn't know any better.
But the Ron now, what he saw drove him to his knees.
He was no longer alone, nor did he have the badge or the cup. Instead, he was surrounded by his family and friends. But not the ones with him for the past week, the ones who he laughed and played games with. The ones who thought he was this brilliant prodigy, who made his parents proud. The one who wasn't really him.
No, the ones in the mirror were the faces of the ones he had to leave behind, their faces older and battered by the war, Bill, with his scars and George, with only one ear. Harry and Hermione stood on either side of him, radiant and awe-inspiring despite the dirt and blood marring their bodies.
And him, Ron, tall, gangly and dirty, his matted hair sticking up like windswept fire, his exposed arms lined with the brain scars and peck marks.
It's them. It's me… Ron let out a choked noise from his spot on the ground, reaching out to the mirror. His hand brushed the glass the same way his older counterpart's hand did. Harry. Hermione. Mum. Dad…
A wave of grief and pain surged through him at the sight of them, the older version of his loved ones. The last few months, he could barely remember how they looked in the future, could barely make out the faces of his best friends or remember the taste of Hermione's lips. He hadn't thought of it at the time—perhaps he didn't really want to—but facing the mirror now, reflecting his deepest, darkest desire, the truth slapped him hard in the face.
I want to go home.
What was he doing here? Why was he even here? In this time, in this world, where no one knew who he really was? Where no one could understand the pain, the loss and the grief he had to go through to get here? Why couldn't he have gone back to the past in his world? Make things right with the people who knew him?
I want to go home.
Why can't he go back there, to them, to the ones who knew all his flaws, mistakes and weaknesses, and still let him stand by them?
Why can't I go back home? Ron wanted to cry out, both of his hands now on the mirror. Mum and Dad. His siblings. His friends. Harry. Hermione. Why were they all smiling at him when he was all the way over here and not with—?
"RON!"
He felt himself being lurched back, nearly falling flat on his face if not for the hands on his shoulders.
Wait, hands? Who—? The time traveller looked up to see the frantic face of… "H—Harry?"
The younger Harry made a shushing noise as he threw the cloak over both of them. "Someone's coming." The pair then waited under the cloak with bated breath as Mrs. Norris came walking in, turning her head once, twice, then looking over the spot where Harry and Ron were huddled under the cloak.
There was no sound, no movement outside the cloak for what felt like an eternity, before the old cat finally turned and left, and it was only moments later, when it looked like she wasn't coming back, that Harry pulled Ron to his feet.
"I don't know if invisibility cloaks work on cats, but I bet she heard us," said Harry. "We better go before she comes back with Filch."
Ron took a second to look back to the older Harry in the mirror, who inclined his head with a smile…
"Ron, come on!"
"...Sorry. Let's go."
The morning of the 26th, Ron was at the owlery. He didn't know how long he stayed there, looking over the snow blanketed grounds of the Forbidden Forest. It wasn't until Harry came in that he remembered he should have cared about the time.
"Shite, mate, is it time to go already?" Harry was due to meet Sirius after lunch today since the latter was supposed to go to some therapy all morning. Sirius said that he could reschedule it but Harry hastily insisted that the time was fine.
The other boy shook his head. "No, not yet. But it's almost lunchtime, though."
"Oh. Thanks."
"...Not coming down to eat?"
"Maybe later."
Harry frowned. "You're thinking about it, aren't you? The mirror?"
"...Aren't you?"
There was a beat before Harry took a seat across him. "I am, but I'm more worried about you."
Ron stared at him questioningly. Harry went on. "I told you I saw my family in the mirror, right? I...I met your family and they're amazing. So, when I saw them, I thought, I wanted you to see them. I didn't think it would turn out that way."
"It's not your fault, Harry."
"You didn't see how you were last night," continued Harry. "You looked like someone punched you in the gut. Whatever it was that you saw in the mirror, it was hurting you, and I barely snapped you out of it. And now you're still looking out of it all morning."
The older boy ran a hand through his hair, sighing deeply. "Sorry, Harry."
"...What did you see?"
Ron hesitated. On the one hand, he cannot explain the full situation to Harry, who already had enough on his plate without adding the complications of a time traveller's woes into it. He did not even know how to begin explaining if he could. But on the other hand, this was Harry, his best mate, who had always been honest to him and supported him no matter how much of a fool he ended up making himself into.
Before he could think about it some more, though, his mouth ran first. "I saw my family too."
It was obviously an answer Harry was not expecting. "Your family? But then why did you…?"
He didn't know what came over him at that moment. Maybe it was the sudden feeling of loneliness over the irony that, despite being surrounded by family and friends, deep down, he felt alone in this world. No one to tell his secrets to, or to turn to for help or guidance. He even had to bury his feelings because even if he tried to deal with them, he felt that he would end up drowning instead. And he had been fine for a while, but then that mirror had to show up.
And now his mouth was like a faucet with a loosened tap. "You're right, they're amazing, and I love them to death, Harry. I really do. But...it's hard, you know, when you're the sixth in your family, and it's like everyone's got something cool about them that makes them stand out. Bill's the charming Head Boy, Charlie's the cool dragon tamer and Quidditch captain, Percy's the smart Prefect who will make it big in the Ministry, the twins are the funny guys who can think outside the box, and Ginny's the loveable girl who Mum always wanted. And then there's me.
"I thought I was past this. I thought I was OK with not being seen, with being invisible. But then I saw them...I saw...what could have been: my family, really seeing me, knowing who I really am, saying it's OK to be me, that they lo..." Ron bit his lip. "I guess, I haven't really let go, huh? I'm, after all this time, I'm still that selfish little tosser…"
"You're not." Ron looked up at Harry sharply, who mussed up his hair in agitation. "Ron, you're...you're the furthest thing from selfish I know. You made friends with me, helped Neville and never gave up on Hermione even when she was being horrid to you. Or are you telling me that you only wanted to be my friend because I'm the Boy-Who-Lived?"
"What? No! That's—"
"You think wanting your family's attention is selfish? Then I think I've been selfish too, at some point." Harry chuckled bitterly. "I've always known that the Dursleys hate me. Would have gotten rid of me already if they could. But for a long time, I...I hoped. I wished that, maybe, someday...I don't need all those presents or the nice clothes or the food. Just to know what it's like...to be part of those family photos I always see in the living room, or at the picture books at school…"
The eighteen-turned-eleven-year old's eyes darkened mournfully. "Harry…"
"But then Hagrid came, and suddenly the world is bigger than Privet Drive for me! I have Hogwarts and the Wizarding World, and you're the first friend my age I've made here. You have no idea how long I've always wanted one, since Dudley made sure I won't be getting any."
Ron couldn't help his smirk. "Want me to march right at the Dursleys and turn your cousin into a pig for you once we're of age?"
"That would be wicked, won't it?" Harry laughed along with Ron before sobering into a slight smile. "I...I don't understand why you'd think that, but you're my best mate now, Ron. You'll never be invisible again. Not to me."
Harry's green eyes shone with such determination that for a second, Ron saw his old best friend in them. It made his heart clench with a painful kind of fondness, but also made him feel like a bit of weight was lifted from his shoulders. "...Thanks, Harry."
"Great." The dark-haired boy clapped on Ron's shoulder. "How about we join the others downstairs for lunch? I'm famished."
"Oi, that's my line, mate!" The red-haired wizard shook his head with a laugh as he set his feet back on the ground. "Hey, Harry?"
"What?"
"...Promise me you won't go back to the mirror again."
"...Ron…"
"I'm serious, Harry. That mirror, it's bad news. I think it makes you see things you really want, but you can never have. And...it's not good, for either of us. Your family is…"
"They're gone, I know—"
"Doesn't stop you from wanting them back, does it? I expect you won't, but you've got family here too," countered Ron. "You have us, the Weasleys, and Sirius, Mr. Black, I mean. We're real." Not illusions trapped in the other side of the mirror that will never be there for you the way we will be. "And we're not going to let some mirror or anything else take you without a fight. You're my best friend, Harry, and friends got each other's backs through the thick and thin and the bullshite in between. If I'm not invisible anymore, that means you're not alone either. So, I swear to Merlin, if you somehow get it into your head to do some noble arse stupidity, I'll either drag you kicking and screaming back home or dive right into it even if you don't want me to. You got that?"
An unreadable look crossed Harry's eyes before they softened. "All right, I promise not to if you won't either."
"Deal." The two boys shook on it before leaving the Owlery for the Great Hall, taking the scenic route past the greenhouses, which struck Ron as odd.
"Err, Harry, why didn't we stay in the castle to get to the Great Hall? Not that I don't appreciate the exercise, but aren't we in a bit of hurry?"
"No, we're not. It's just a little before half past eleven when I found you in the Owlery." Harry smiled. "Besides, you're not as invisible as you think you are."
"What's that supposed to—?"
"There you are!"
Ron's eyes widened when he saw Percy marching from the courtyard, the rest of his siblings following quickly behind. "Perce? Everyone? What's wrong?"
"What's wrong, he asks—" snorted Fred.
"As if he's not the one who went up and vanished after breakfast." George scoffed, ruffling Ron's hair.
"We went around the castle looking for you, but we couldn't find you anywhere." Ginny said with a slight pout. "We looked in the Tower, the classrooms, the pitch, and even in the library!"
Fred shuddered. "I don't think I'll be able to get over that for a while."
"Please," Percy rolled his eyes. "You didn't even get past the doorway, Fred."
"Where the bloody hell did you go anyway, you little rascal?" Charlie glowered, looking more angry than just worried. "It's a good thing we ran into Harry and he said he'd go get you, or we might have ended up combing the whole castle for you!"
Ron's ears reddened in guilt. "Sorry, Charlie, just went to the Owlery, needed a little time alone."
Charlie frowned even more at that answer, but before he could say anything, Bill's hand was on his shoulder.
"No harm done, Ron." Bill said after giving Charlie a firm glance. "Must be overwhelmed by how hectic the past few days have been, huh?"
At Ron's nod, grateful for his oldest brother's perpetual understanding, Bill smiled kindly. "It's all right, but remember letting at least someone know where you are."
"By someone, he meant one of us." Percy gestured at the other Weasley siblings.
"Wouldn't want you to disappear on us now, would we?" Bill finished with a gentle hand on Ron's head.
He knew it was meant to be a quip to lighten the mood, but it made Ron's eyes burn all over again and his robe's inner pocket warm.
I want to go home. Why can't I go back home?
"You'll never be invisible again. Not to me."
I want to go home.
"You're not as invisible as you think you are."
I want to...
"...I won't, Bill." Ron whispered. "I promise."
Back again, Ronald? Ron laughed quietly to himself, standing in front of the Mirror of Erised a couple of hours before dawn. Back again even after you and Harry promised each other not to come? Hypocrite of the highest order right there.
At first, he told himself that he was just making sure that Harry hadn't gone back to the mirror after all (never mind that he could have achieved the same by just checking Harry's bed). But when he saw it again, he was seized by a sudden need to see them again, one last time.
His parents. His siblings. His best friend. His first love.
It was just as hard as it had been before: seeing the faces and the tender smiles of the family he left behind in the first life, their eyes reflecting the longing in his own. No wonder the Mirror of Erised was such a dangerous object. Ron could see why wizards would choose to waste away in front of it, clinging onto the illusion of happiness rather than to face the reality where it may never be.
"I miss you," said Ron, taking in the sight of each of his loved ones' faces. "Every day I'm here, even when I don't want to, I always think of you, I always see you. And it hurts, because I know that I can never have you back. Hermione made me see it. Even if I have you all around me, it's...they'll never be you."
It said so before, this is not the world I left behind. The longer I stay here, the more I finally get it. My friends are different. My family is different. He stared at the older Ron's hand in the mirror, resting against his own. I'm different. Is that...bad?
He thought of his friends, of how Neville became part of his circle of close friends earlier, of how Hermione came to see him as an intellectual equal, of how he and Harry had somehow found a way to be even closer kindred spirits.
He thought of his family, of how proud his parents were of him now, of how Bill and Charlie were not so out of his reach like he previously thought, of how much he underestimated how good a brother Percy was, of how the twins were starting to actually respect him, and of how much of the time he wasted with Ginny he was getting back.
"You're not as invisible as you think you are."
And this...this is my world now…
With that, a heavy weight was lifted from his shoulders as he finally understood. What he wanted the most, was not to be with the ones at the other side of the mirror after all…
"I miss you, but I'm here now. This is where I belong. And while they aren't exactly the same as you, they are you. And I don't want to lose anyone again just because I can't accept that they're who they are. It's not fair, right? I mean, I'm a worthless bloke, but you still... " Ron took a deep breath and closed his eyes. "That's why this is the last time. This will be goodbye."
Goodbye to what could have been but will never be. Goodbye to the old life he had to leave behind.
Goodbye to a love that could have been so much more…
"I'm not as strong as you, Harry, or as smart as you, Hermione, but I'll try...I'll give it all I've got..." He rested his head against the glass with a sharp exhale. This time, I won't let anyone die, not without a fight. No matter what it takes. Even if it means that no one will ever be able to understand me. Even if no one will believe me or the truth.
Even if it's just this Ron—this smart, cool, fake Ron they think they know—at least...
"I love you. All of you. So fucking much." He grit his teeth. "Goodbye."
He didn't know how long he stood there, head bowed against the mirror, gathering his nerve, praying for the courage to look at the Mirror of Erised's sweet poisonous dream and walk away.
But when he looked up, he saw something different.
He saw his family, Harry and Hermione, but younger, their images sharper and clearer than the ones who lived through the war. He saw Neville, Cedric, Sue and a number of other familiar faces standing in front of him, all smiling at him with such fond empathy that it made his limbs weak.
"It's OK, Ron." The Harry in the mirror—who looked so much like the Harry who comforted him at the Owlery this morning—said kindly. "It's OK. You did a good job, mate."
"It must have been so hard," said the mirror Hermione. "That you had to do everything on your own. But we don't care how many lives you've had to live through. You've always been our Ron, and that's all that matters."
"We're proud of you, Ronnie." A tearful mirror Molly said with a big smile. "I'm sorry we never said it enough but it's true. Your father and I, all of us, you've always made us so proud. If I could choose in the next life, I would want to be your mother again."
Mirror Arthur nodded with a squeeze to his wife's shoulder. "Never forget, no matter who you think you are or what you have to do. We love you, Ronald Bilius Weasley."
"You are loved. Always have been. Always will be."
Ron's knees buckled in front of the mirror for the second time in this life, the tears he had been trying to suppress making their way out as the bloody thing turned his heart inside out again.
Fucking mirror. Just when I thought I was going to be all right! Just had to hit me where it hurts all over again!
"Ron?"
The poor boy let out a cry of fright when a hand gently squeezed his shoulder. Good thing he stopped himself from drawing his wand out when he saw who it was. "P—Professor Dumbledore?"
Albus Dumbledore smiled gently. "And here I thought Harry was the only one who will come back. It appears one should never be so quick to assume anything. Constant vigilance, as my old friend loved to say."
"How—how long have you been here?" Ron wiped his eyes hastily, the grief in his heart being steadily replaced by dread. He can't have heard me, can he? Shite, I made sure I was alone before I went up to the mirror! When did he come in?
"Not too long ago," was the cryptic answer that just made the time traveller's insides queasy. "I apologize for intruding in such a personal moment, but as your Professor, it is my duty to safeguard my students from any danger, within and without Hogwarts' walls." Dumbledore ran a hand on the mirror's golden frame. "This is one of the most subtle yet most potent of its kind."
"What is it?"
"The Mirror of Erised. It reflects the deepest, most profound desires of the one gazing upon it. However, it is only an illusion, but oh what a beautiful illusion it is!" Dumbledore sighed. "Nobody knows who made it or why. What is certain is that it has claimed many lives, for it is true that for many, no matter how wealthy or powerful they are, they will forever desire for something they can never have. Harry, for one, an orphan all his life, saw his family."
How did he—? Now I'm really nervous! "Have you been watching us?"
"I do not need a cloak to become invisible." Dumbledore smiled too innocently for Ron's liking.
"I...Professor, about that...I can explain..."
"There is nothing wrong with wanting to be loved, Ron."
The boy stiffened.
"Desires of all kinds have come to life in this mirror—power, wealth, glory, fame, even immortality—drawing out the true heart beneath the person who looks upon it. Love is a powerful force, magic beyond any explanation, but it is in each person, whether that force can be their salvation or their destruction, pure or twisted. The Ron I saw before, the want for love in your eyes, that is one of the purest things I have ever seen in my life. And I have lived past a hundred years."
Dumbledore adjusted his spectacles. "I will not pry on how you have come to believe that you have so little. It is not my place to judge such things. But I will say this: there are two kinds of people in this world that I feel most sorry for. Those who could never know love; and those longing for love, not knowing that they already are loved."
"I...I know my family loves me."
The wizened wizard's smile was almost sad. "Do you, truly?"
Ron said nothing.
"The mirror will be moved to its new home within the day, and I will ask you to not go looking for it, never. A dream, no matter how wonderful it is, is just that, a dream. You have too much ahead of you to lose yourself to an illusion."
The redhead stood up. "Professor Dumbledore?"
"Yes?"
"Harry came back, didn't he?"
"A bit past midnight, if I recall correctly. The fascinating thing is," Dumbledore's eyes twinkled. "He came to do the exact same thing you did: to say goodbye to the family he'll never have, for the family that he already has."
Ron blinked owlishly. "Really?"
"You and your friends make for an interesting group: the Boy-Who-Lived, the brightest witch for her age, the diamond in the rough, and the force that binds them together. But what an enigmatic force you are. You are a very clever child, yet wise, so wise beyond your age. As if you are far older than what you really are."
Ron did his best to school his expression into honest confusion. "I'm sorry?"
"Ah, but we all have our secrets, do we not? Even well-meaning children such as yourself?" said Dumbledore. "I personally enjoy puzzles. Whenever I have the time, I love solving them while having tea. Did you know that muggles invented such interesting games? Why, for all my years and experience, I have still to put together that pure white puzzle Charity gave me two Christmases ago! A jigsaw puzzle, she said it was. But please don't tell her I have not finished it yet. A Headmaster has a reputation to keep.
"But it might need to stay unfinished for a while longer," Dumbledore eyed Ron appraisingly behind his half-moon spectacles, "since I have a far more interesting one to solve, I see."
Ron coughed uncomfortably. "Don't know why you'd think that, Professor. I mean...I'm not that binding force thing or anything special. I'm just...Ron."
The Headmaster chuckled. "That, my dear boy, is why you are all the more interesting."
Hah, that's a wrap. 😊
That was an eventful chapter, don't you think? And with this, we're halfway past first year. Hurray! If you've read other Ron-centric fics, some events and characterizations are references to them. Wonder if you guys can find them all. (Choices and Fate are already pretty much given. Anything else? Haha!)
UP NEXT: The Holidays may be over, but the adventure is just getting started. Bullies, Quidditch, secret meetings, and red herrings, oh my! But wait, what's this about noble houses?
And as promised, my lengthy reply to Guest:
Dear Guest,
First off, thank you for your polite words. As I have said time and again, TBA is not for everyone, even if you are a Ron lover. So if I lost you, then that's fine. But if you're still here, it's your turn to hear me out.
Perhaps Ron's change to a studious student is too sudden, but then again what he experienced is also out of the ordinary, even by wizarding standards. Change is not an easy process, but trauma and motivation can make people react in unexpected ways. If you had a way to save a loved one, wouldn't you do everything for them? If you were Ron, known for his loyalty and devotion to his loved ones, would you really half-ass your second chance, knowing that lives are at stake? I think my story so far is an answer enough to what I think about that.
Besides, it's not as if he loves studying all of a sudden. He is doing it out of necessity (both for his mission and to deal with PTSD), but with the nice side effect of him slowly coming to enjoy learning new things and the benefits they bring.
Second point: the Pettigrew problem. I don't understand what you mean by Pettigrew being a scapegoat (the one who takes the blame for something). If by that, you mean Voldemort's lapdog in ensuring his resurrection, does it really have to be Pettigrew? Or how do you know that it won't be him in the first place? You're not taking into account that there are other ways to get to a destination. That includes preparing Harry for his eventual role in Voldemort's end. Another thing, Pettigrew's reveal and capture, down to Sirius' name being cleared WILL have consequences. It looks "hunky dory" only because the long term effects haven't caught up with Ron yet. Don't let early successes lull you into thinking that it will be smooth sailing all throughout. It's too early for you to say that.
Third, again, how sure are you that dementors won't be a thing to worry about later on? And is learning the Patronus charm the only way for Harry to bond with Remus? Is there only one way to skin a cat? I find that you're too fixated on what happened in canon to consider other possibilities. I said this before, I don't want to rehash what happened in the books. If I did that, you're better off rereading the HP series.
As for Harry's guardianship, is Dumbledore really the one who gets the final say about this? Because I'm pretty sure that that's not how the law works, and Dumbledore is only a Supreme Mugwump, not Supreme Dictator. But I will admit that the old man will try to pull what strings he can if he has to. Then again, who said that Sirius will get custody of Harry so easily in the first place?
And how does saving Sirius take away from Harry's journey, even? You lost me on this one, to be honest.
I agree, the string of conveniences leading to Pettigrew's reveal is a little too suspicious. And if you reached chapter 14, you would have read on how Haywood picked up on that. And since you are limited to Ron's POV most of the time, how sure are you that someone else doesn't think that something is amiss about that already?
Next point, I understand that Dumbledore's manipulations are a necessary evil to prepare Harry in the future. But you forget that Ron, because of his bias, does not fully understand this yet. His choices and changes are actually driven by his feelings and his still rather black-and-white views on Dumbledore's actions, and in a way, it makes him miss the board for the pieces (ironically enough). So me taking away what you think Harry needs to become a proper Chosen One? That's one of the consequences of Ron's actions driven by his simplistic ideals and yes, Harry as a character will be affected by it. That's why time travel is a very dangerous business.
The reason I switched the roles around was because of the addition of Neville as well as the changes in Ron since the Ron who went back in time is a more confident and mature one. It's a natural reaction for Harry to unconsciously follow Ron's lead for now, but that won't be that way forever. Just like Neville did not remain the clumsy, bumbling boy he was in first year. Because, you know, character development exists.
And Ron getting the saving people thing like Harry's? He went back in time for that very purpose. Kind of hard not to develop some sort of hero complex when that happens, don't you think?
I know that there are a number of things that Harry needs to do (but I do think that really just boils down to getting rid of the Horcruxes, including the one inside him; and passing on the protection of love to everyone). However, this is ultimately Ron's story. He may not be the Chosen One but he is the major protagonist and he will be a key player in the future. Because the war isn't just about Harry and Voldemort.
Lastly, I'm sure I always write eighteen-turned-eleven-year-old whenever I use that term. But I'll go back and recheck, as most of the chapters are unbeta-ed. I apologize for the bad reading experience that caused and I will strive to do better in the future.
If after all those explanations you still don't agree with me, I can't do anything about that. Part of the storytelling experience is trusting that the writer knows what they are doing with their work. If you really can't agree with the direction I am taking the characters, I regret that TBA will not be for you. It's sad that I will lose an insightful reader but it can't be helped. Thank you for the time you did spend with TBA and giving it a chance.
Happy New Year!
Chuchi
PS: If you're going to critique someone's work, the least you could do is to leave a name to call you by. :)
