Mrs. Weasley was heading up to Ron's room to wake him up. She held her wand
ready, in case a pitcher of water was in demand. When Mrs. Weasley opened Ron's
door, she was shocked to see Ron, fully dressed, coming his bright red hair.
"Ron - you're awake!" She glanced at her watch, "At 7:00 am. I'm
impressed." He grinned, and said, "Good morning," and headed down
the stairs. Upon entering the kitchen, Ron opened the refrigerator and grabbed
an apple and a pear, and started chomping happily.
Arthur Weasley stuck his head in the doorway, and asked, "Does everyone
have everything?" The two students who were still at Hogwarts, Ron and
Ginny nodded, and kissed their mother good-bye and followed their father to his
new car. They hopped in and drove to King's Cross Station to get on Platform 9
3/4 to board the Hogwarts Express, a scarlet steam engine that would take
Hogwarts students to the hidden school.
"Come Ginny, we'll miss the train." Ron bumped through the crowded
station, finally coming to the barrier between platforms nine and ten. He leaned
causally on the barrier, and disappeared. Ron reappeared on the other side of
the barrier, in front of the deep red train. As a station attendant came up to
retrieve their trunks, Ron and Ginny went off in search of friends.
"Ron, darling, how are you?" Parvati Patil called to Ron, as he
searched for Hermione. "Fine, Parvati. And you?" Ron wasn't really
paying attention to her, and she could sense it. "Ron, darling, quit
searching for that brain. I'm right here." It seemed that a
lot of girls were finally paying attention to him, but he didn't want it
anymore. All he wanted was to find Hermione. "Parvati, I must find
Ginny," He quickly made up a story to get away from her. "I must give
her something before she gets on the train and I can't get a hold of her."
He rushed off before she could stop him.
Of course Ron wasn't really looking for Ginny, but he did see her, and
continued walking, in search of Hermione. He never saw her, and didn't even see
her cat, Crookshanks, who usually goes walking around in search for mice. Ron
was starting to get worried, and continued looking until the steam whistle blew
signaling take-off in five minutes. Ron took one last look around and jumped
aboard the Hogwarts bound train.
~*~
When Ron got off the train at Hogwarts, he was too worried to go watch the
Sorting Ceremony. Instead, he went straight to Professor Dumbledore's office.
From past years, he knew the concealed entrance (a Gargoyle statue) and the
password, which changed every year (it was always a type of candy). Since Ron
knew candy only too well, he started rattling the names off on his fingers. When
he got to Acid Pops, the gargoyle sprang to life, revealing a doorknob, which
Ron pulled. He went in to find Professor Dumbledore still in his office, where
Ron hoped he would be.
Professor Dumbledore was concentrating very hard on a piece of parchment on
his desk so much that Ron's company went unnoticed to the aging man. "Er,
Professor..." Instantly alert, Professor Albus Dumbledore stood, greeted
Ron, and invited him to take a seat. "What brings you into my office, Mr.
Weasley?" Professor Dumbledore was the oldest and wisest of all professors
at Hogwarts, yet everyone felt extremely comfortable around him. "Hermione
wasn't on the train, nor is she anywhere at Hogwarts. Do you know where she
is?" Dumbledore, frowned sadly, knowing how much Ron was hurt. "I do
indeed, Mr. Weasley, know where Ms. Granger is."
"Well where is she?" Ron burst out, immediately apologetic
afterwards. "Calm down, Mr. Weasley. She has been - well perhaps you should
read this." He handed Ron the parchment he was studying before. Ron read:
Dear Professor
Dumbledore,
I am sorry, but I cannot come to Hogwarts this year. I have other obligations
in the Muggle world.
Please continue school without me, and I will return next year (possibly) to
finish schooling.
Sincerely,
Hermione M. Granger
"Professor, that's her writing, but that's not what she would do."
He nodded, "Mr. Weasley, it seems as if she was under a spell when writing
this. And I think that I know who put her under this spell, and why."
Dumbledore turned his attention to a dark figure, standing in the shadows.
"Come, and sit down, Minerva." Ron recognized Minerva McGonagall, the
Transfiguration teacher, and head of Gryffindor. "Hello Mr. Weasley."
Ron nodded hello. "Er, Albus, how are we going to continue the ceremony if
half of the students are brain-dead?" Ron furrowed his brow in confusion,
"Pardon? Did you say the students are brain-dead?" Professor
McGonagall nodded solemnly.
"Mr. Weasley," Ron glanced up as Professor Dumbledore addressed
him. "You, Ginny, and two people of your choice may accompany Professor
Trout in finding Hermione. I require that your choice of companions be sixth or
seventh years, and in good physical condition." Ron nodded and turned to
leave, but Dumbledore called out to him before he exited. "Oh and Mr.
Weasley, you must pack things for a week - clothes only - and be ready by
tomorrow morning." He nodded again and left.
~*~
Ron thought over what Professor Dumbledore had said, and felt confused. Why
Ginny? he thought. She wasn't in great physical shape. Well she was
strong enough, but why not a man? His thoughts turned to the two other
people that could go with them. He instantly knew that Ginny would want Neville,
and that would leave Ron to decide on the last person. Hmmm, he racked
his brain for the best candidate. Not a girl because they'll only get in the
way, but not Harry. Hmmm. Before he found someone to choose, he bumped into
someone. "Oh sorry, Ginny." He almost kept walking, but stopped.
"Ginny! You've got to pack for one week, only clothes, and go to
Dumbledore's office. Tell Neville, too." She started to ask why, but he
rushed off again. "What's with him?" She mumbled.
Ginny managed to find Neville and notify him about the sudden departure, and
headed for Professor Dumbledore's office. Since she didn't know the new
password, nor the old one, she knocked loudly on the gargoyle's head. "Come
in Ginny. Neville's already here." She pushed the door open after the
gargoyle hopped up revealing the brass knob. "What's this all about?"
Ginny asked as she sat in a plush armchair.
While Dumbledore explained to Ginny and Neville, Ron was packing and still
couldn't come up with the person. Someone who wouldn't get in the way, he
thought. Suddenly a light bulb went off in his head, Dean Thomas! He
finished packing and ran off in search of Dean. No such luck. After searching
the Great Hall, Gryffindor common room, and the kitchen, Ron went to
Dumbledore's office.
Before he could say "Acid Pops", the gargoyle jumped up and for the
first time, he spoke. "Sir Weasley, Dumbledore expects you. You never need
the password again. You can get in alone without the password for I shall know
you," He croaked. "W-well thanks," Ron stammered as he opened the
door.
"Mr. Weasley, Dean Thomas is one of the brain-dead students." Dumbledore
had known who he had chosen! Ron thought. "You three," He now
addressed the whole group, "are going out to rescue five fellow students,
Hermione Granger, Draco Malfoy, Vincent Crabbe, Padma Patil, and Harry
Potter." Come to think of it, Ron thought, I haven't seen Harry
around. Neville broke the eerie silence, "Professor, why are we
going?" Dumbledore smiled, and silence filled the room until he spoke.
"Because you know all of the prisoners, and have one very special
quality." Ron started to interrupt, but Dumbledore held up his hand.
"Mr. Weasley, you alone have courage. Ms. Weasley, you alone have
intelligence and logic. Mr. Longbottom, you alone have wisdom and strength.
Alone each of you couldn't defeat the monster behind these kidnaps, but
together...." He trailed off into silence, and each sat even ore confused
than before. He continued, "Together you could defeat anyone, including
Lord Voldemort," They flinched at the name. "Professor, do you think
we'll have to defeat him? Is he behind this?" Neville asked anxiously. He
shook his head grimly. "I only wish. He is much easier to destroy than
whoever is behind this. You three can do it, and with the help of Professor
Trout, you will do it. Now get some rest. Ron, Neville, you may sleep in the
Prefects Dormitory in Harry and Draco's beds. And Ms. Weasley, you may sleep in
the Head Girl Dormitory, in Hermione's bed. Get some rest." And with a wave
of his hand, they were dismissed to a sleepless night of tossing and turning in
very comfortable beds.
