Chapter Four: Too Many Weasleys
"Do it again."
Ron swatted absently at whatever it was that kept poking him in the ribs. A
burst of laughter followed his action and he flopped over in his chair. What was it about
sleeping people that made those who were awake want to torture them? He was poked
again and this time he was quick enough to catch whoever it was, and at the smack of his
hand against flesh, laughter broke out anew.
"Ickle Ron..."
"...you have died after playing your first and only Quidditch match."
"Awake and haunt the Quidditch field."
"Awake!"
The twins continued to chant "awake" at him and Ron could tell by the gusts of
wind being sent in his direction that they were raising their arms above their heads as they
chanted. He might as well play along. Slowly opening his eyes, Ron blinked and looked
around as if he did not recognize any of the faces surrounded him. As he had suspected,
Fred and George were prostrate on the floor, their faces mirrors of wonder at his "awakening."
Charlie stood beside them, his hand over his eyes. Ginny was seated in the chair across from
Ron, her expression a mixture of relief and amusement as she looked from the kneeling twins
to the newly-awakened Ron. Harry, standing directly behind the twins, looked as if he wanted
to give both of them a hearty blow upon the head, but he grinned when Ron's gaze swept past
him. Hermione, her face still incredibly pale, was standing behind Ginny's chair, her hands
gripping the top. Winking at her, Ron struggled to keep a straight face as he slowly rose to his
feet, ignoring the stiffness of his limbs. Fred and George "ahh-ed" in unision and Ron pointed
a finger at the two of them and said,
"Why have you awakened me?"
"He lives."
"He speaks," the twins answered in reverent tones, sharing a look of amazement
before starting to bow down to Ron again.
Ron's shoulders shook slightly but he somehow managed not to laugh as he
continued,
"Do my bidding or I will haunt you instead of the Hufflepuff team who caused my
death."
"What is thy bidding, master?" The twins asked in unision, grinning from ear to ear
as they bowed a second time.
"Fetch me food from the kitchens, real food. I seem to have slept through dinner
and I cannot haunt the Hufflepuffs on a an empty stomach."
"At once."
As one the twins rose and retreated towards the portrait hall, bowing repeatedly at
Ron all the way. Watching until they disappeared, Ron lasted a second longer before he
collapsed in his chair with laughter.
Removing his hand from his eyes, Charlie lasted no longer than his little brother and
was soon laughing as heartily as he. Harry and Ginny followed in rapid succession until
Hermione was the only one not overcome by amusement. Recovering before the rest of them,
Ron wiped at his eyes and caught Hermione's gaze. Staring at him, she did not smile or even
blink, her complexion as pale as it had been when he last saw her on the Quidditch field. He
had worried her...and she was still worried. Mouthing the words, "I'm fine," Ron simply smiled
at her, experimentally moving all of his limbs despite their stiffness. Relief flooded her face and
her grip on the chair lessened as she smiled back at him. Someone should have told her he
wasn't worth worrying about...she might have sprouted a white hair.
"So, you decided not to die on us...what a pity," Charlie said slyly, a gleam in his
eye that sent an alarm bell pealing in Ron's head.
"Why don't you go get yourself burned?" Ron retorted, determinedly not looking
at Hermione as Charlie began to grin.
"Already have," his brother replied, stepping forward and beginning to unroll his
sleeve.
"Charlie, don't show it again!" Ginny cried, clamping her hands over her eyes.
"But, Ginny..."
"No! It's bad enough Ron got smashed into two times without you waving your
arm around like it's some sort of trophy!" Ginny retorted, glaring fiercely at her brothers.
Ron and Charlie shared a look before Ron stiffly got to his feet and the two of them
moved a few feet away from the others, their backs to them as Charlie began to unroll his sleeve.
"Cut and burned?" Ron murmured, studying the cut along his brother's arm with an
accustomed eye. Charlie nodded.
"Mum fainted when she saw it. Wants me to get out."
"You can't."
"I know."
The two brother looked at each other grimly, their conversation conducted in
whispers, and Charlie started to roll up his sleeve again but Ron stopped him, seizing a hold of
his arm and saying loudly,
"Let me have a closer look. Oooh, I think I can see your bone."
"Ron!" Ginny shrieked yet again. Ron simply continued his study of Charlie's arm.
"She's going to kill you," Charlie muttered between his teeth.
"Oooh! I think it might be bleeding...why...Char...your blood's...turned green!"
Ron continued, staring down at his brother's arm in horror.
"Charlie!"
"Now you've done it," Charlie muttered as Ginny catapulted to her feet and rushed
over to them, yanking Charlie's arm towards her.
Staring down at it, she realized almost instantly that it looked the same, if not better,
than it had this morning and she dropped Charlie's arm to glare at a furiously grinning Ron.
"Prepare to die," was all she said, lunging for Ron, who took off at a run, his stiff
limbs forgotten.
Taking the chair Ginny had vacated, Charlie shook his head as his siblings continued
to race around the common room and said,
"Please tell my favorite little brother that I need to talk to him when he's done
being an idiot."
Electing himself the bearer of this news when Ron was either caught or permanently
safe from Ginny, Harry saluted Charlie smartly and went off to find a safe place to try and
flag down Ron. Looking down at his arm, Charlie noticed that a portion of it was bleeding
again and quickly re-rolled his sleeve. It would not soak through--the charm that had been
placed on it immediately after he was cut would not allow it to bleed for more than five
seconds. He would have bled to death otherwise. Not even Ron suspected that. Looking up,
Charlie caught Hermione's concerned stare--she had been hovering uncertainly behind his chair
for the past minute--and smiled just as his little brother had.
"I'm fine, too, Hermione. You needn't worry about us Weasleys. There's too many
of us...you'd go mad if you did."
"But it was bleeding again."
"Dragon wounds often bleed. Any cut this recent would open up again after being
yanked around as much as it has been today."
"But..." Hermione began.
Raising his brows warningly, Charlie simply looked at her and Hermione heaved
a sigh and looked away. Repressing the urge to chuckle, Charlie fidgeted with his sleeve and
watched her as she started to scowl. She certain was a stubborn little thing...it was unfortunate
that there weren't more girls like her...or even wizards. If ever there were an argument for the
teaching of Muggle-born wizards, this girl was it...even when she was sulking because he had
refused to listen to her. He was not Ron...he preferred not to argue over something that neither
of them would change their minds about.
Picking up her textbook, Hermione hovered uncertainly in front of Charlie a second
time, her eyes on his wounded arm as she opened her mouth to speak. Flashing her a smile,
Charlie nearly laughted as her face contorted with frustration and she stormed off to the other
side of the Common Room, muttere something like, "just like him," as she went. Hair the only
thing that was the worse for wear after his tussle with Ginny, Ron passed Hermione on his
way to talk to Charlie, his attempt to talk to her only earning him a frosty look. Bewildered,
Ron flopped down in the chair across from his brother and asked,
"What set her off?"
"I believe it was an overdose of Weasley charm," Charlie replied with a wry grin,
wincing slightly as another pain shot through his arm.
Glancing to where Hermione now sat with Harry and Ginny, Ron shrugged and
turned in time to catch the grimace on his brother's face. Meeting his gaze, Charlie forced a
smile and said,
"Bled again."
Ron's eyes widened and he looked at the arm in question as he murmured,
"No joke? Char..."
"I'm fine. I wouldn't have come if I wasn't," Charlie retorted, taking a deep breath
as the last of the pain ebbed away.
Ron looked at him skeptically.
"Hermione saw?"
Charlie scowled.
"Yes. I managed to get her to drop the subject but I don't think she believes me.
She worries too much, your 'Mione."
"She is not my 'Mione," Ron muttered, his ears turning bright red.
Charlie simply looked at him and chuckled.
Scowling down at the floor, Ron briefly met his brother's gaze, all jesting about
Hermione aside and asked,
"What are you doing here really?"
"I came to watch you play Quidditch."
"No, you didn't," Ron replied, folding his arms and attempting to stare Charlie down.
Charlie's brows raised and he leaned back more comfortably in his chair as he asked,
"Why else would I come?"
"To check up on me?" Ron suggested, unable to keep from laughing at Charlie's
skeptical expression.
"Nope."
"Okay, I'll give. Why?" Ron asked after a moment's thought, throwing up his hands
in surrender. Smiling, Charlie checked to see that no one was within earshot and leaned towards
Ron as he said softly,
"Durmstrang."
Ron's brows raised.
Reading the same sentence for the third time, Hermione slammed her book shut in
surrender. Looking up from his game of chess with Ginny, Harry threw her a smile and went
back to being soundly beaten. There seemed to be some unwritten law that he couldn't beat
a Weasley at chess. Unable to resist the temptation, Hermione looked over at Ron and Charlie,
their red heads still bent towards each other. What were they talking about? It seemed so odd
to see Ron in conversation with someone other than Harry or herself...what were they saying?!
She looked at them again and flushed when she found both of them were looking at her.
Staring down at her lap, Hermione waited a few minutes before looking up at the two brothers
again. Leaning back in their chairs, they were smiling lazily--and in the same way...it was creepy.
It didn't really matter what they were talking about...she hadn't seen Ron looking less strained
in weeks, even when he was in the company of Harry and herself. Charlie was good for him...
somebody had to be. It certainly wasn't her...and why that was so disappointing, Hermione
didn't dare examine. Most likely it was the same reason why she she hadn't been able to breathe
while Ron was hanging upside down on his broom, and to face that reason required a courage
that she didn't have the strength to muster.
Luckly, the twins had reappeared, their arms laden with food, and Ron was busy
shouting at everyone to come and eat his food with him. She had never thought before today
that she would prefer the company of the Weasleys to her own thoughts, but she did. Anything
was better than remembering Ron hanging from that broom...or wondering what exactly he and
Charlie had been discussing so quietly...
"Hermione!" Ron was waving frantically at her, the piece of cake in his hand falling
into Ginny's lap. Shrieking, his sister promply launched another attack on him and Hermione
slowly walked over to the mini-feast before the fire. Ginny was certainly marked to suffer under
Ron today...at this rate, it would be a miracle if he survived the night.
A.U: This story is running away with me...it was only supposed to go to 4 and now it looks like
it's going to be 5. ARGH!!! Why, oh why, did I have to like Ron Weasley so much???
"Do it again."
Ron swatted absently at whatever it was that kept poking him in the ribs. A
burst of laughter followed his action and he flopped over in his chair. What was it about
sleeping people that made those who were awake want to torture them? He was poked
again and this time he was quick enough to catch whoever it was, and at the smack of his
hand against flesh, laughter broke out anew.
"Ickle Ron..."
"...you have died after playing your first and only Quidditch match."
"Awake and haunt the Quidditch field."
"Awake!"
The twins continued to chant "awake" at him and Ron could tell by the gusts of
wind being sent in his direction that they were raising their arms above their heads as they
chanted. He might as well play along. Slowly opening his eyes, Ron blinked and looked
around as if he did not recognize any of the faces surrounded him. As he had suspected,
Fred and George were prostrate on the floor, their faces mirrors of wonder at his "awakening."
Charlie stood beside them, his hand over his eyes. Ginny was seated in the chair across from
Ron, her expression a mixture of relief and amusement as she looked from the kneeling twins
to the newly-awakened Ron. Harry, standing directly behind the twins, looked as if he wanted
to give both of them a hearty blow upon the head, but he grinned when Ron's gaze swept past
him. Hermione, her face still incredibly pale, was standing behind Ginny's chair, her hands
gripping the top. Winking at her, Ron struggled to keep a straight face as he slowly rose to his
feet, ignoring the stiffness of his limbs. Fred and George "ahh-ed" in unision and Ron pointed
a finger at the two of them and said,
"Why have you awakened me?"
"He lives."
"He speaks," the twins answered in reverent tones, sharing a look of amazement
before starting to bow down to Ron again.
Ron's shoulders shook slightly but he somehow managed not to laugh as he
continued,
"Do my bidding or I will haunt you instead of the Hufflepuff team who caused my
death."
"What is thy bidding, master?" The twins asked in unision, grinning from ear to ear
as they bowed a second time.
"Fetch me food from the kitchens, real food. I seem to have slept through dinner
and I cannot haunt the Hufflepuffs on a an empty stomach."
"At once."
As one the twins rose and retreated towards the portrait hall, bowing repeatedly at
Ron all the way. Watching until they disappeared, Ron lasted a second longer before he
collapsed in his chair with laughter.
Removing his hand from his eyes, Charlie lasted no longer than his little brother and
was soon laughing as heartily as he. Harry and Ginny followed in rapid succession until
Hermione was the only one not overcome by amusement. Recovering before the rest of them,
Ron wiped at his eyes and caught Hermione's gaze. Staring at him, she did not smile or even
blink, her complexion as pale as it had been when he last saw her on the Quidditch field. He
had worried her...and she was still worried. Mouthing the words, "I'm fine," Ron simply smiled
at her, experimentally moving all of his limbs despite their stiffness. Relief flooded her face and
her grip on the chair lessened as she smiled back at him. Someone should have told her he
wasn't worth worrying about...she might have sprouted a white hair.
"So, you decided not to die on us...what a pity," Charlie said slyly, a gleam in his
eye that sent an alarm bell pealing in Ron's head.
"Why don't you go get yourself burned?" Ron retorted, determinedly not looking
at Hermione as Charlie began to grin.
"Already have," his brother replied, stepping forward and beginning to unroll his
sleeve.
"Charlie, don't show it again!" Ginny cried, clamping her hands over her eyes.
"But, Ginny..."
"No! It's bad enough Ron got smashed into two times without you waving your
arm around like it's some sort of trophy!" Ginny retorted, glaring fiercely at her brothers.
Ron and Charlie shared a look before Ron stiffly got to his feet and the two of them
moved a few feet away from the others, their backs to them as Charlie began to unroll his sleeve.
"Cut and burned?" Ron murmured, studying the cut along his brother's arm with an
accustomed eye. Charlie nodded.
"Mum fainted when she saw it. Wants me to get out."
"You can't."
"I know."
The two brother looked at each other grimly, their conversation conducted in
whispers, and Charlie started to roll up his sleeve again but Ron stopped him, seizing a hold of
his arm and saying loudly,
"Let me have a closer look. Oooh, I think I can see your bone."
"Ron!" Ginny shrieked yet again. Ron simply continued his study of Charlie's arm.
"She's going to kill you," Charlie muttered between his teeth.
"Oooh! I think it might be bleeding...why...Char...your blood's...turned green!"
Ron continued, staring down at his brother's arm in horror.
"Charlie!"
"Now you've done it," Charlie muttered as Ginny catapulted to her feet and rushed
over to them, yanking Charlie's arm towards her.
Staring down at it, she realized almost instantly that it looked the same, if not better,
than it had this morning and she dropped Charlie's arm to glare at a furiously grinning Ron.
"Prepare to die," was all she said, lunging for Ron, who took off at a run, his stiff
limbs forgotten.
Taking the chair Ginny had vacated, Charlie shook his head as his siblings continued
to race around the common room and said,
"Please tell my favorite little brother that I need to talk to him when he's done
being an idiot."
Electing himself the bearer of this news when Ron was either caught or permanently
safe from Ginny, Harry saluted Charlie smartly and went off to find a safe place to try and
flag down Ron. Looking down at his arm, Charlie noticed that a portion of it was bleeding
again and quickly re-rolled his sleeve. It would not soak through--the charm that had been
placed on it immediately after he was cut would not allow it to bleed for more than five
seconds. He would have bled to death otherwise. Not even Ron suspected that. Looking up,
Charlie caught Hermione's concerned stare--she had been hovering uncertainly behind his chair
for the past minute--and smiled just as his little brother had.
"I'm fine, too, Hermione. You needn't worry about us Weasleys. There's too many
of us...you'd go mad if you did."
"But it was bleeding again."
"Dragon wounds often bleed. Any cut this recent would open up again after being
yanked around as much as it has been today."
"But..." Hermione began.
Raising his brows warningly, Charlie simply looked at her and Hermione heaved
a sigh and looked away. Repressing the urge to chuckle, Charlie fidgeted with his sleeve and
watched her as she started to scowl. She certain was a stubborn little thing...it was unfortunate
that there weren't more girls like her...or even wizards. If ever there were an argument for the
teaching of Muggle-born wizards, this girl was it...even when she was sulking because he had
refused to listen to her. He was not Ron...he preferred not to argue over something that neither
of them would change their minds about.
Picking up her textbook, Hermione hovered uncertainly in front of Charlie a second
time, her eyes on his wounded arm as she opened her mouth to speak. Flashing her a smile,
Charlie nearly laughted as her face contorted with frustration and she stormed off to the other
side of the Common Room, muttere something like, "just like him," as she went. Hair the only
thing that was the worse for wear after his tussle with Ginny, Ron passed Hermione on his
way to talk to Charlie, his attempt to talk to her only earning him a frosty look. Bewildered,
Ron flopped down in the chair across from his brother and asked,
"What set her off?"
"I believe it was an overdose of Weasley charm," Charlie replied with a wry grin,
wincing slightly as another pain shot through his arm.
Glancing to where Hermione now sat with Harry and Ginny, Ron shrugged and
turned in time to catch the grimace on his brother's face. Meeting his gaze, Charlie forced a
smile and said,
"Bled again."
Ron's eyes widened and he looked at the arm in question as he murmured,
"No joke? Char..."
"I'm fine. I wouldn't have come if I wasn't," Charlie retorted, taking a deep breath
as the last of the pain ebbed away.
Ron looked at him skeptically.
"Hermione saw?"
Charlie scowled.
"Yes. I managed to get her to drop the subject but I don't think she believes me.
She worries too much, your 'Mione."
"She is not my 'Mione," Ron muttered, his ears turning bright red.
Charlie simply looked at him and chuckled.
Scowling down at the floor, Ron briefly met his brother's gaze, all jesting about
Hermione aside and asked,
"What are you doing here really?"
"I came to watch you play Quidditch."
"No, you didn't," Ron replied, folding his arms and attempting to stare Charlie down.
Charlie's brows raised and he leaned back more comfortably in his chair as he asked,
"Why else would I come?"
"To check up on me?" Ron suggested, unable to keep from laughing at Charlie's
skeptical expression.
"Nope."
"Okay, I'll give. Why?" Ron asked after a moment's thought, throwing up his hands
in surrender. Smiling, Charlie checked to see that no one was within earshot and leaned towards
Ron as he said softly,
"Durmstrang."
Ron's brows raised.
Reading the same sentence for the third time, Hermione slammed her book shut in
surrender. Looking up from his game of chess with Ginny, Harry threw her a smile and went
back to being soundly beaten. There seemed to be some unwritten law that he couldn't beat
a Weasley at chess. Unable to resist the temptation, Hermione looked over at Ron and Charlie,
their red heads still bent towards each other. What were they talking about? It seemed so odd
to see Ron in conversation with someone other than Harry or herself...what were they saying?!
She looked at them again and flushed when she found both of them were looking at her.
Staring down at her lap, Hermione waited a few minutes before looking up at the two brothers
again. Leaning back in their chairs, they were smiling lazily--and in the same way...it was creepy.
It didn't really matter what they were talking about...she hadn't seen Ron looking less strained
in weeks, even when he was in the company of Harry and herself. Charlie was good for him...
somebody had to be. It certainly wasn't her...and why that was so disappointing, Hermione
didn't dare examine. Most likely it was the same reason why she she hadn't been able to breathe
while Ron was hanging upside down on his broom, and to face that reason required a courage
that she didn't have the strength to muster.
Luckly, the twins had reappeared, their arms laden with food, and Ron was busy
shouting at everyone to come and eat his food with him. She had never thought before today
that she would prefer the company of the Weasleys to her own thoughts, but she did. Anything
was better than remembering Ron hanging from that broom...or wondering what exactly he and
Charlie had been discussing so quietly...
"Hermione!" Ron was waving frantically at her, the piece of cake in his hand falling
into Ginny's lap. Shrieking, his sister promply launched another attack on him and Hermione
slowly walked over to the mini-feast before the fire. Ginny was certainly marked to suffer under
Ron today...at this rate, it would be a miracle if he survived the night.
A.U: This story is running away with me...it was only supposed to go to 4 and now it looks like
it's going to be 5. ARGH!!! Why, oh why, did I have to like Ron Weasley so much???