Chapter 15: Ron's Worst Birthday
Disappearances have really become a common occurrence as of now, signifying that the dark lord is getting much more aggressive and the Death Eaters are starting to create more chaos. The months have gone by as it was right now the month of February and not much change was shown in the weather or even anything at all. Of course everybody in their Sixth Year is learning how to apparate, but even then it was difficult to learn to the point where nonverbal spells look like child's play. Right now Naruto and the other boys are trying to calm a rather angry Ron, as the Hogsmeade trip was canceled. "It was on my birthday!" he said. "I was looking forward to that!"
"Well there is nothing we can do about it, given the circumstances that happened with Katie," Naruto said, pointing out how Katie Bell was still hospitalized ever since the incident regarding the cursed necklace. "But now all I've got to look forward to is stupid Apparition!" said Ron grumpily. "Big birthday treat . . ."
Some time had passed as it is now the first day of March or in which case, Ron's birthday. "Happy Birthday Ron!" Naruto and Harry said, wishing the redhead a nice birthday. Harry throws a birthday package to Ron's bed at the small pile of presents meant for the redhead. Ron thanks the two, before the three boys leave the dorm for some breakfast. They find Hermione waiting for them, as they greet her, to which she did the same. As the four were walking to the Great Hall, Naruto had been taking a look into the Marauder's Map as he was looking for Malfoy and what he was doing. He kept looking at the map, as the others were conversing about stuff. So far he can't find the blond ferret, which indicates he isn't at the castle but that raised some questions. Soon the blond decided to postpone the search for the ferret, as he decided to converse with the others. "So did you find Malfoy?" Harry asked, as the others looked at Naruto. Naruto sighed, "Sorry but I couldn't find him even with the map," he said. Harry groaned in frustration, "Damn it, looks like we're still in square one."
"Honestly I think you two should take a break. You shouldn't be obsessing too much on finding him," Hermione stated, looking rather worried for the two. Both Naruto and Harry looked at each other and sighed, figuring their friend is right as this is starting to get rather challenging. Soon they left the Great Hall and went to class. While in class, both Harry and Naruto were thinking about where Malfoy was to the point where they weren't even paying attention to the lessons being taught at class.
Gryffindor Dorm-Night Time
Harry enters the dorm, as he sees Naruto on his bed still awake, while Ron sits in his PJ's upon the window sill, a heart-shaped box by his side. "It's beautiful, isn't it? The moon," Ron said, still looking at the moon. Harry raised an eyebrow, as he turned to Naruto who shrugged. "Divine. Had ourselves a little late-night snack, did we?" Harry stated. "Yeah it was on the pile of gifts, I'd figure to try one," Ron said, pointing at the pile of presents. "Or twenty," Harry snarked. "I can't stop thinking about her, Harry," Ron said dreamily, as Naruto rolled his eyes, figuring he's talking about Lavender, the girl who seems to be rather clingy. "Really? Honestly, I reckoned she was starting to annoy you," Harry mentioned, thinking the same as Naruto. "She could never annoy me. I think... I think I love her," Ron stated, rather excitedly. "That's great…Ron," Naruto stated, despite the fact that Ron seemed rather creeped out by Lavender.
"Do you think she knows I exist?" Ron asked the two, as they raised an eyebrow. "Bloody well hope so. She's been snogging you for three months," Harry pointed out. "Snogging? Who're you talking about?" Ron said, as both Naruto and Harry looked surprised, but also raised an eyebrow. "Who're you talking about?" Harry asked. "Romilda, of course. Romilda Vane," Ron said, with full confidence. It was silent for a few seconds as both Naruto and Harry tried not to laugh, until they laughed like hyenas. "Ok now that was a good one Ron," Naruto said, as both him and Harry kept laughing at their friend. Ron got angry and threw a heart shaped box at them, though Naruto managed to dodge, but it did hit Harry on the head. "WHAT THE HELL WAS THAT FOR?!" Harry comically yelled at Ron angrily, holding the bump on his head.
"It's no joke! I'm in love with her!" Ron clapped back, as Naruto was calming him down. "Alright, alright, we get it, you like this girl, don't need to go all psycho on us," Naruto stated. "Besides, have you ever actually met her?!" Harry stated, as Ron stopped to think about it. "No. Can you introduce me?" he asked with a lot of hope, as Harry's eye twitched, while Naruto sweatdropped. Harry took a look at the chocolate box and mentally read the note, as it was actually meant for Harry. He looked at Naruto, who seemed to know what was up and silently nodded. "Ron, these chocolates, they're - C'mon. I'm going to introduce you to Romilda Vane," Harry lied, as Ron looked pretty giddy. Naruto stood there and shook his head, 'Oh Ron is going to be in for a rude awakening.' The blond followed the two, as he saw them at the common room as they were about to leave. Lavender was waiting beside the portrait hole, a complication Harry had not foreseen. "Hey Ron, happy birthday, I've got you a-"
"Leave me alone," said Ron impatiently. "Harry's going to introduce me to Romilda Vane." Now Lavender was shocked and offended by what she heard from her lover, as Harry quickly apologized before leading Ron to Slughorn's office. Naruto walks down to see Hermione there waiting for him, as her face seems to be curious. "What was all that about? With Harry and Ron," she asked, as Naruto sighed. "It's best I explain everything," he said and so he did, which in the end Hermione laughed like a hyena. "Ron really is in for a rude awakening, but when Daphne is going to find out that Romilda sent those chocolates to Harry, I pray that something bad won't happen to Romilda, as you really don't want to deal with an angry Daphne," she stated, still snickering at that thought, as Naruto sweatdropped. 'Damn girls could really be scary at times,' he thought.
With Harry
Harry was at Professor Slughorn's office explaining to him about Ron's condition. Slughorn frowned of course, but figured to let the two in. While Slughorn was mixing the potion for Ron's condition, Harry was talking with Slughorn about their previous conversation they had the other day. "I'm sorry, sir. About the other day. Our... misunderstanding," Harry said, as Slughorn eyes Harry briefly, and looks away. "Yes, well, water under the bridge as they say, correct?" Slughorn said, waving it off. "I mean, I'm sure you're tired of it, after all these years. The questions. About... Voldemort," Harry mentioned. Slughorn stopped merely for a moment as he looked at Harry with a rather serious look. "I'll ask you not to use that name," he stated, as Harry wanted to ask more, but from the look the professor was giving him, he dared not ask any more questions. Soon he is done mixing the potion, as he hands Ron the drink, "Alright, m'boy! Bottoms up!" Ron looked inquisitive and asked Slughorn what it was, to which he replied with it being a tonic for the nerves.
Ron drinks up and soon he is back to normal, as his grin dropped. "What the hell happened to me?" he asked. Harry explains to him that it was a love potion, which Slughorn elaborated by saying that it was a rather strong one. After that was all over, Slughorn made a drink consisting of butterbeer, wine, and some oak-matured mead. He pours the drink into a glass, as he hands Ron the drink. As Ron sips, Slughorn fills a pair for him and Harry. "There we are, Potter. To life!" Slughorn stated excitedly. Very poor choice of words, as Ron's glass hits the floor and he crumples to his knees, then tumbles full out on the rug, spasms horribly, foam oozing over his lips. Harry rushes to him, checking up on the redhead. "Ron! Ron! Professor, help him!" Harry yelled, as Slughorn doesn't understand what went wrong.
Slughorn shuffles haplessly through his bag, mumbling at a loss. Harry turns back to Ron as his skin was turning blue. "He's choking!" Harry cried out. Harry glances about, then leaps up, and frantically begins to strip the walls of its potion stores, looking for something, anything. A box tumbles, something spills: a scattering of stones, no bigger than a robin's egg, shriveled and dry. Snatching one, he wrenches open Ron's jaw and thrusts it deep into his throat(that's what he said). Instantly Ron stops moving, paralyzed. The room is suddenly silent. He's not breathing. Harry places both hands behind Ron's head and gives it a shake. "Breathe! C'mon, Ron, don't be a prat. Breathe! BREATHE!" Harry cried out. Harry shakes him again and again... then stops. Ron's head rolls limply from his fingers. Slughorn looked on, mouth agape as there was a chilling silence. Suddenly Ron spoon coughs, as if he had risen to land after almost drowning in a lake. Harry watches this in shock, as Ron looks at him. "These girls are gonna kill me, Harry," he quipped. Harry sighed a breath of relief, as his friend was alive and well.