Runaway Fox
Chapter Five: Fox Trot
Disclaimer: Ahem. I don't own Harry Potter. J.K. Rowling does. I own the new story and characters. Mine.
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"WHAT THE HELL?!" roared Ron after reading the article in the Witch Weekly. He turned around to see Simon trying to get out of the room before Ron could do anything to him. "Where did you get this?" he demanded.
"At Diagon Alley. It just hit the newsstands. I picked it up when I heard someone say your name. So, I read it. I don't know what happened. Do you want me to take care of it?" asked Simon.
"No. I think I'll take care of this myself. I want you to make some arrangements with the hotel. We're extending our stay in London," said Ron as he ripped the magazine and promptly set it on fire with his wand until it was vaporized to ash.
"Um…I also get more copies of that magazine," said Simon as he left to do what Ron ordered him to do. He knew that he'd be pissed off having his privacy violated like that. Simon however thought it was funny when he first read it.
Ron fell back into the large sofa. He kicked of his shoes and took off his jacket. He had to think of what he was going to do. He knew that his mother had a subscription to the magazine along with almost everyone else. His family was bound to know by now. He closed his eyes. He felt tired. Very tired. His mind drifted off to a memory.
"Ron? Are you alright?" she asked. Her hair was long and jet black. The wind fluttered around her. She tucked a lock that had escaped behind her ear.
"No. I'm just resting my eyes," answered Ron.
"You're a strange one, Ronald Weasley. Do you remember who I am?" she asked.
"Um…sorry. I don't remember, but you're in my magic classes," said Ron
"Yes. My name is Miranda Hoshi. I sit behind you and your friend, Simon Scott," she said with a smile. Ron had been sitting outside in the sunlight. Actually, he was thinking of home. He only left home six months ago and was homesick for England.
"Hello. You can call me Ron," said Ron as he held out his hand.
"Then, you can call me Mari. What are you doing?"
"Thinking of home."
"Are you an exchange student?"
"No. I moved here permanently. I left home."
"I see. It must be hard starting over like that."
"It's not so bad. It makes you feel free. Weightless."
"Somehow, I don't believe you," said Mari as she sat next to Ron. He finally had a chance to really look at her. She was in a word beautiful. Her hair was up to her waist. Her eyes were almond shaped and black. So, black that they seemed almost endless when he looked into them. She gave him a kind smile. He couldn't help it but smile back.
"Ron?" called Simon. Ron jerked awake from his very short nap. "Oh, I'm sorry. Just go back to sleep. The hotel is cool with you staying longer. I also set up an appointment with the editor of that magazine. Just get some sleep." Simon was a little worried about Ron. He's thinking of her again. It's a good thing I stopped him. He'll probably start thinking of him also, thought Simon. He gave further orders that no one was to disturb Ron for the rest of the day.
~*~
Hermione was determine to find out where Ron was staying. She figured out that he'd be staying at a Muggle hotel. The question was which one. Ron didn't make it easy for anyone to find him. She also suspected that Ron knew about the article, but she didn't know how he would take it. Hermione was also a little bitter. The last time Rita Skeeter messed with her, she made her look as Ron put it like a "scarlet lady." How come Skeeter always made Ron and Harry look good? She had the article in front of her. She had read it over and over again. And stared at the picture.
"He does look cute," she whispered despite herself. "What am I saying? This is Ron!" she exclaimed. Crookshanks looked at her as if she had gone insane. She shook her hair at herself. She was now acting like Ron. Someone whose head would be turned because of a pretty face. Besides, this was Ron. Hermione did see it herself. Ron was turning heads. He was turning her head. What did this all mean?
She remembered the last time she really had a serious conversation with Ron. It was after Harry got picked for the Chudley Cannons and when Hermione said she was going to be an Auror.
"Don't get me wrong, Hermione. I'm happy for both of you," sighed Ron. He didn't look the least bit happy for them. He looked sorry for himself.
"Well, there's still other options out there. You can join me with the Aurors," said Hermione.
"I don't think so. Besides, they're looking for people with Muggle blood, and I don't have any. I supposed I could work in the Ministry like my father and Percy. Charlie could always use some help with the dragons. Fred and George are opening more stores. Bill also said that he would help me out if I wanted to work for Gringotts," said Ron as if he were reading off a list in his head.
"What do you want to do other than play Quidditch, Ron?" asked Hermione.
"I don't know. All I know is…if I want to ever make. If I want chance at all, I have to get out of here," said Ron.
"What?"
"Don't you get it, Hermione! I might as well be vapor. No one will care if I do anything meaningful here!"
"That's not true. It doesn't matter. Everyone loves you for who you are, Ron. It's only you."
"You're right. It's only me. And I am not happy here. Everyone ignores me. It doesn't matter if I think I'm doing well in Hogwarts. Or if I think I'm an okay keeper on the team. No one will care because there are other people who've already done it. There's Bill. He was Head Boy. There was Charlie. He was the captain and keeper for the team. Percy. He was a Perfect and a Head Boy. Fred and George. They're joke business is taking off, making Mum eat her words. And then there's Harry. Harry Potter. I might as well be invisible when Harry's around. And then there's you," finished off Ron.
"What about me?" asked Hermione.
"You don't understand. You're smarter than me, even without all the books and studying. You don't know what it's like to have your best friends always better than you. I need to get out of here," said Ron, his voice twisting with frustration.
"Ron, don't say that. You can stay here. It doesn't matter if you aren't as good as your brothers or Harry. You're better than you give yourself credit for, Ron. I think you're better than me. Besides, I can help you. Don't go," pleaded Hermione.
Ron looked at her for a moment. His eyes were blank as if nothing she had just said registered with him. It was graduation night at Hogwarts. Everyone was talking about what they'd do after school. Ron found himself not doing anything since the Cannons turned him down. Harry and Ron had a big fight, and they stopped talking to each other. Hermione knew that Ron felt jealous. And that he was pissed. It wasn't that he got turned down from the Chudley Cannons, but it was the fact that Harry wasn't into them as much as Ron was.
"I just need to think things over, Hermione. Just leave me alone," said Ron.
"You're not leaving are you?" she asked one last time to be sure. Her eyes lingering on his back as the moonlight washed his shoulders.
"No. Not now," said Ron softly. Hermione smiled in relief.
Hermione was wrong about Ron not leaving. Ron didn't speak to Harry anymore. Not for the two weeks before he left. He just up and left without more than a note saying that he decided to go to America and take his chances there. Mrs. Weasley almost fainted when she realized that he left. Hermione figured out that Ron did a little research before leaving. He must have looked up the hybrid schools and where to find them. He must have applied for the school. She thought about how much it must have cost to go to the school. Ron must have paid for it by playing Quidditch for the New York Astrolights. He did this all without any help from anyone. She also thought about why he never told anyone. It had to do with him saying that nothing he would do would impress anyone, so he kept his success to himself. Harry felt awful for allowing himself to be so immature when Ron was being immature. He kept saying that he should have turned down the chance to be in the Cannons and that he should have talked to Ron, if he had known that Ron would have walked out of all their lives.
She pulled her knees to her chest and tucked her hands underneath her knees. She looked at the picture of Ron. If only Ron knew how much he was missed. Hermione missed Ron. What if he didn't feel the same way?
~*~
The editor of Witch Weekly was pacing up and down his tiny office. Ronald Weasley was coming and by the sounds of his top employee, he didn't sound like he was at all flattered by the article that Rita Skeeter wrote about him. The American over the phone said something about getting a lawyer. The editor knew that there were a lot of lawsuits in America, but to be warn to get a lawyer. He was anxiously waiting. Mr. Weasley was fifteen minutes late. It didn't matter. As far as the editor was concerned, Ronald Weasley could come in any damn time he wanted.
"Mr. Weasley is here to see you," said the secretary as she knocked on his door. He gulped. What was he supposed to say to the richest man in wizarding England? The door opened. Ron Wealsey walked in wearing an expensive looking set of robes followed by a blonde man who had a brief case with him.
"Hello Mr. Laughton," said Ron smoothly.
"Hello Mr. Weasley. Would you like to take a seat?" asked the editor.
"No. I don't need a seat because this won't take that long. By the way, this is my second-in-command, Mr. Simon Scott. Tell me right now what is to prevent me from buying this magazine and firing you and Ms. Skeeter. I can make your life very difficult, Mr. Laughton. I can make it so you can't find a job anywhere in the United Kingdom," said Ron.
"Um…m-my deepest apologies, Mr. Weasley," stammered Mr. Laughton. Ron looked at him evenly. He didn't look red or anything. No, he was red yesterday from embarrassment. Now, he had time to calm down. Ron learned something: in order for one to win argument, one must keep a cool head. It was something he wished he had learned when he was in Hogwarts.
"Let me tell you what I think you should do. Would that be helpful?" asked Ron. Mr. Laughton nodded. "First of all, any future articles about me that comes to your desk never makes it into the magazine. Second, give Ms. Skeeter a six month suspension or I'll tell the Ministry personally that she's an unregistered Animagus," said Ron in a soft tone.
"You know about that?" asked Mr. Laughton unsteadily.
"Yes, I know a lot of things, Mr. Laughton. Do we have a deal?" asked Ron. Mr. Laughton nodded. "Very well. Good day to you, Mr. Laughton." Ron and Simon left the office. They continued walking silently back to the limo.
"That last part was a bluff, wasn't Ron?" asked Simon when they were inside.
"What part?" asked Ron.
"That part about reporting Skeeter to the Ministry. First of all, you wouldn't want to expose yourself that easily, and second, you pointing the finger at her like that would be hypocritical of you," said Simon with a smirk.
"I have no idea what you're talking about," said Ron with a laugh.
Both of them burst out laughing in the limo, so much so that the driver had to call back to see how they were.
~*~
Hermione took a few hours, but she found out that the hotel Ron was staying at was the one that was right near that café she had met him. That's why he probably stopped to talk to me. He didn't think he could get passed me without me seeing him. I wonder if he's gone back to the U.S. yet. Well, there's only one way to tell, she mused. She got into her car and went to the hotel. She went to the front desk and asked the manager. The manager said that he wasn't allowed to disclose any information about any of the guests staying in the hotel. Hermione suspected that Ron was the richest man staying at the hotel, and well, silence was golden.
She decided to stake herself out at the outdoor café again and wait. She used a spell to increase her vision, so that she could see anything that stopped in front of the hotel. Sure enough, fifteen minutes later, a limo pulled up and the man at the front opened the door. A tall blonde man came out first, followed by a tall red headed man. Hermione stood up and dropped some money on the table to pay for the coffee that she was having. She ran up to the hotel. Ron was already inside.
"Miss! Stop!" shouted the front desk manager she had spoken to earlier.
"I need to see, Mr. Weasley. I just saw him walk in," said Hermione. "Call his room up for me. Please. Tell him that Hermione Granger is here to see him." The front desk manager looked at her. There weren't a lot of calls for Mr. Weasley, but still he ordered them to screen all calls and visitors.
"Excuse me, I'll handle this," said an American accented voice from behind Hermione. She turned around to see a very handsome, platinum haired, and blue eyed man. He looked to be around the same height as Ron. Maybe, an inch or two shorter.
"Hello, my name is—" said Hermione.
"I know. I heard your name, Ms. Granger. My name is Simon Scott. Please walk with me," he said to her. Was it her imagination or was he trying to hide a dislike of her? She followed him to the bar and restaurant that was inside the hotel. The hotel that Ron was staying in had to be one of the most expensive hotels in the city of London, including all wizards' hotels. They sat down at the restaurant.
"I am Ron's best friend and second-in-command of Warp Speed Tech. I am also his lawyer and business manager," said Simon. Simon had a degree in corporate law. That was the reason why he didn't chose to place Quidditch professionally; he needed to focus on his studies, so he just kept on taking loans while he was in school. Ron had an easier time getting high grades than Simon did.
Hermione tried to keep calm when Simon said that he was Ron's best friend. Why she was also Ron's best friend. Along with Harry. It was the three Musketeers back in Hogwarts. She already knew that she didn't like Simon that much. "I know Ron. I've known him since Hogwarts."
"Well, that was what? Five years ago. You haven't seen him for that time. I know that for a fact," said Simon smugly.
Hermione narrowed her cinnamon brown eyes at him. Simon thought that she was very pretty. Downright gorgeous, but he wasn't going to cave to one of the people who had given Ron any trouble. "That's not true. I meet with him the day before yesterday at the café across the street," gritted Hermione through her teeth.
Simon was surprised because Ron hadn't mentioned it at all, but he decided not to display it. "What about it? You probably read that article about Ron in the magazine. That's why you're here isn't it? Ron's got money and power. Or is it something else?" he said in a condescending tone.
Hermione turned red at his comments. "It's not that! You can't decided who Ron gets to see or not! It's up to him!" she shouted.
"She's right, Simon," said a voice from behind him. Hermione smiled when she saw Ron. He didn't look like he was smiling. His face looked solemn. "You can have the rest of the day off, Simon. I won't be needing you."
"Very well, but if you need me…" started Simon.
"I'll call. Thank you, Simon," said Ron as he walked out of the restaurant.
Hermione looked at Ron again as if she was meeting him for the first time. She forgot about Simon the moment she saw him. He looked different. He looked like he had matured over the last five years. His eyes held untold wisdom.
"Ron…" started Hermione.
"Do you want to go for a walk?" he asked. He was dressed in a suit without his tie on. He looked tired as if he were under some kind of stress. Hermione nodded and he offered her his arm. She took his arm reluctantly as they walked outside into London.
~*~
They walked together in virtual silence. Hermione didn't know when she felt this safe. Maybe, it was before Ron left. She wanted to ask about what happened with the article, but he was quiet. The Ron she used know would have had a ton of stories to tell about being a Quidditch player and a maker of broomsticks. But not this Ron, he kept to himself. And if she wasn't mistaken, there was a shadow of pain in his eyes sometimes. Or perhaps, it was the moonlight.
"Why didn't you say anything about all this?" asked Hermione.
"Why? I don't know. I've been used to keeping things quiet. I didn't tell anyone I was playing Quidditch because I was afraid someone would try to drag me back here and stifle me again. It's how I'm used to dealing with things," his voice was hiding something else. Something painful.
"I want to know what you've been doing for the last five years. Tell me everything," said Hermione with a smile. She didn't know why she didn't want to slap him anymore, she didn't want to.
"There's too much to say. I don't even know anyone anymore from what you've said about my parents, siblings, and Harry. I don't even know you anymore, Hermione," Ron said softly.
"And I don't know you, Ron," said Hermione. "Or at least, what you are now. I want to start over. Let's start over from the beginning. Hello my name is Hermione Granger," she said as she held out her hand to Ron.
"My name is Ron Weasley. It's a pleasure to meet you," whispered Ron as he took her hand and shook hands with her.
AN: Who is the mysterious Mari? What does she have to do with the story? Ron in the books has always appeared to be rather insecure in himself and abilities, and I hope I projected just that. Please don't hate Simon. His role in Ron's life is more important than what I've shown yet.
