The Point of No Return

Ron sat , numbly , staring at the ceiling. He could hear the indistinct
whispers of those surrounding him. The chains on the chair snaked their
way around his hands , pinning him to the chair . He gave no struggle ; He
was too worn out to care by now . He sighed tiredly , and glanced around
the room. Sirius and Remus sat in identical states of shock , their eyes wide
and disbelieving . Hermione sat in the front row , her eyes blank . However,
they held such sorrow and hate ... which was directed at him. Ron . The
man she loved. Well , used to . Dumbledore wasn't present . He had died in
the fight . They had all died . All. Neither was Hagrid . Or Mad - Eye Moody .
Or Harry . No , Harry wasn't there . Of course he wasn't. If Harry was there,
Ron wouldn't be . No. It was all because of Harry he was here . How people
had found out , Ron didn't know. He was certain that only he , Harry , and
the Death Eaters knew. And Harry was dead. So it must have been one of
the Death Eaters. One of those , who I considered my friends , he thought
bitterly . Then again , Harry had always considered him a friend ; Look
where that had gotten him. Dead .
A man stood up , on the other side of the dungeon , and silence generally
fell over the crowd , as the man began to speak .
"Ronald Weasley , you have been brought before the court today under the
charges of association to murder . You led Harry Potter , now deceased ,
into the trap of the Dark Lord . What do you plead ?"
Ron didn't say anything .
"Am I right then , in suggesting a sentence in Azkaban for no less than a
life time ?"
The crowd roared their approval . The Dementors entered , and Ron stood
up . He gave no resistance . He didn't care anymore . He was too weary.
And as he was led out of the dungeon , a woman's blurry eyes followed him
out the door . Ron , her husband ... was gone forever .