Runaway Fox
Chapter Nine: Reflections of the Past
Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter and all the characters from the book. No, those belong to J.K. Rowling. I do own this story and the new characters.
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"I murdered two people," whispered Ron while holding Hermione's hand. She looked at him with shock written on her face. He dropped her hand. She didn't pull away from him. However, she still had that look of shock on her face. "You say you could love me no matter what I did. Can you still?" he challenged her.
"What do you mean you murdered two people?" whispered Hermione. She didn't understand. He had a cold, hard look on his face.
"You don't want to believe I would be capable of it? You're wrong. I killed two of my closest friends, Hermione," he said strongly with conviction.
Hermione looked at him and saw how serious he was. She knew that he wasn't lying. "How? When?" she asked frantically. Ron looked at her coldly again.
"It doesn't matter. I don't have to tell you every detail of my life," he responded severely with a tinge of pain in his voice that Hermione couldn't miss.
She took a hold of his hand again. She wanted nothing more but to comfort him and tell him that she loved him. Ron wasn't responding at all. He quickly snatched his hand back. "I can't go back home. Not ever. Not after what I've done. I don't deserve to come back," said Ron.
"They miss you. You don't have to tell anyone else. I'll keep it a secret. I don't think they'll even care if you just come home for five minutes," pleaded Hermione. Hermione probably should have been embarrassed with herself. She had thrown away any pride she had earlier. She never thought that she'd have to plead with anyone much less a man. Much less Ron. She could feel him slipping through her fingers again.
Ron looked as if he was going to say more, but his cell phone had rang. He picked up and saw that it was from Simon. He answered it, "Hello Simon?" Hermione felt angry at Simon again. Was it her imagination or did he know just when to interrupt people? "Yes, thank you, Simon. There's no need to send a car here. I'll just apparate back to the hotel. See you," said Ron as he hung up.
"You have to go?" she asked.
"Something's come up. I first have to go to New York than to San Francisco," he answered. "Goodbye, Hermione."
"Wait…Ron. Don't go," pleaded Hermione as she reached out for his jacket sleeve and grabbed on tightly. Ron took a hold of her wrist firmly and pulled her off. Without another word, he left her again.
~*~
Mrs. Weasley was happy to hear news about Ron, but concerned about what Simon had said about him fighting his demons. What awful thing happened in America that made him so distant from the rest of the family? Her regret was that she didn't notice that he was going to leave.
Harry was so angry that he had to go out and fly his broomstick for a while. Ginny tried to stop him, but couldn't. The rest of the Weasley brothers talked amongst themselves until Mr. Weasley came home. Ginny waited anxiously for Harry to come back, but made sure that their daughter went down for her nap.
"So, this Simon Scott, did he seem trustworthy?" asked Mr. Weasley.
"Yes, but I think he came on his own without Ron knowing. He had to leave because he said that there was business that Ron had to take care of back in America. He knew Ron in school. He said that they were best friends," said Mrs. Weasley. Ginny thought that it was a good thing that Harry wasn't back yet. She never thought that Harry could be so possessive over Ron being his best friend, but he was. Over the last five years, even without Ron being around or contacting any of them, Harry still said that Ron was his best friend. Ron's support was something that Harry missed. He didn't even realized how important Ron was to him until he was gone. If Harry knew better, he would have gladly given his position on the Chudley Cannons to Ron. He would have done almost anything to keep him in England. The Triwizard Tournament was right the thing that he would miss the most would be Ron. Harry knew he'd never lose his wife or child, but he knew that he had a risk of losing his best friend.
All Harry had of his best friend was the broomstick that he gave him. He smiled to himself as he looked at broomstick. Ron was an excellent broomstick maker. Harry felt jealous of Simon. How dare Simon declare Ron his best friend when Harry was his best friend?
~*~
Ron got back to the hotel looking more tired than usually. Simon looked at him with concern. "Are you okay, man?" asked Simon.
"I'm fine. Let's get off this rock, shall we?" said Ron with a sense of finality. Simon eyed him suspiciously, but still nodded. He knew better than to question Ron in the current state he was in, but he couldn't stop himself, "What happened with Hermione?"
"She loves me," answered Ron simply with a sound of wistfulness in his voice.
Simon said nothing more because he knew whatever he said wasn't going to make a difference. He felt immediately sorry for Hermione, not so much for Ron. He loves her back. God, you're a fool, Ron. A frightened fool. You're only hurting yourself and her more by doing this. You've got to let go of what happened before. It's not your fault. It was never your fault, thought Simon without saying his thoughts out loud. Ron put on his sunglasses the moment he got outside and went to the limo. Simon sighed. He was going to have to smooth things over with Hermione on Ron's behalf. Or tell his mother about it. Mrs. Scott was practically a second mother to Ron, and Simon knew that she would be worried about him. He decided to tell his mother about it as soon as they got back to California.
~*~
Hermione walked until she go to the park and collapsed onto a bench. She had no idea how she got there. She still couldn't believe what Ron had said. Surely, the Ron she knew wasn't capable of murder. Perhaps, it was a mistake. Why was he walking free if he did commit two murders? She couldn't understand it. She loved him. She still did. She always did. Hermione never felt so alone in her life. She knew that she must have looked awful. There came the sound of footsteps walking towards her. She looked up to see a man with black hair and dark eyes. His eyes were serious, but held some comfort in them. "Hello Hermione. I didn't expect to see you here," he said.
"I'm even more surprised to see you, Sirius," said Hermione with a tiny smile on her face.
"Are you all right?" asked Sirius as he took a seat next to her on the bench. "You're looking lonely." Sirius was one of those people that anyone could trust because he was loyal. He was also Harry's godfather, but he extended his advice to Hermione as well. He and Ron were a lot a like. He was also an Animagus like Ron. A black dog. Both of them were canines.
"No, did you hear about Ron?" asked Hermione. A smile spread across his face. He used to look really tired and starved, but he was pardon for his accused crimes a long time with the help of Professor Dumbldore and Mr. Weasley.
"Yes. I read the article. It's nice to hear that he's doing so well," said Sirius. "Did you see him?"
"Yes," answered Hermione as her throat constricted. Sirius noticed hand placed a calming hand on hers. "He's changed so much."
"Has he been home to see his family?" asked Sirius.
Hermione shook her head. "No. He hasn't been over to see Harry either. And he won't. He's already left for America."
Sirius shook his head. He always thought that Ron was special even if he didn't think he was. Sirius thought that he reminded him of himself when he was Ron's age. Sirius felt a little jealous of James because he had Lily and Harry. James was also Head Boy. "Is there anything wrong with him?" asked Sirius.
"I can't say," answered Hermione. She wasn't going to answer that question even though Ron made no indication of making her promise him she wouldn't, she still kept it quiet. Sirius sensed that she was hiding something, but he understood her perfectly.
After a while, Sirius suggested that they go back to the Burrow and tell Harry about what happened. Hermione seemed reluctant, but she came along anyway. There was nothing more she could do. She felt like her heart had been ripped out of her chest.
~*~
Professor Dumbledore smiled at the article he had about Ron on his desk. Most people didn't know that Dumbledore called Ron into his office after the Quidditch try outs didn't go to Ron's favor. He took out his pensiveve.
"Why did you call me in here, Professor Dumbledore?" asked a very nervous eighteen year old, Ron. It was the first time he had ever been called to Dumbledore's office without being with Harry and Hermione. Harry and Ron had a bad fight in the corridor. They had hexed each other and now weren't speaking to each other. Harry was sent back to class after a visit to the infirmary, but Dumbledore summoned Ron to his office.
"I wanted to talk about you, Ron," said Professor Dumbledore.
"I'm sorry about the fight in the corridor, Professor Dumbledore," said Ron quickly. The last thing he wanted was to be expelled just two weeks short of his graduation. He also wondered why Dumbledore didn't have Harry up in the office with him. He was also in the fight with Ron. Of course, he won't expel Harry. He's Harry. Who am I? A nobody, thought Ron.
"That's not why I called you here. Ron, have you thought of going to a university?" asked Dumbledore.
"A university? There aren't any universities for wizards, Professor Dumbledore," answered Ron nervously.
"There are. They're called hybrid schools, Ron. They're schools that are combined especially with Muggles. The classes give degrees in Muggle specialties. Along with some harder, more challenging classes in magic. Harder classes than the ones here, Ron. I think you would do well," said Professor Dumbledore.
"Really? But, where are these schools?" asked Ron.
"The best hybrid schools are in America. You've gone past the deadlines for most of the hybrid schools, but I think I can arrange for you to go to Ellsinore University. It is one of the best schools in the world, Ron," said Professor Dumbledore. Ron looked at him with a surprised look. Most people never said he was good at academics. And here the Head Master of Hogwarts was telling him that he was good enough to go to a school far away.
"I—I don't know, Professor Dumbledore," said Ron cautiously.
"I'm not suggesting this so that you can runaway from your problems, Ron. No, I'm suggesting this because I think you can succeed. You have so much potential. It would be ashamed to waste it," said Professor Dumbledore. Ron thought that he should be telling this to Hermione. She was going to be the top of the class hands down. "Some times, one must take a journey to find out who they really are, Ron," he added.
"Thank you, Professor Dumbledore. I'll think about it," said Ron thoughtfully. Dumbledore dismissed him after that, but not without giving him the information on Ellsinore.
Professor Dumbledore pulled away from his pensiveve. Sometimes, he took special interests in certain students. He remembered that Ron came back to him on graduation night and made the arrangements to go to Ellsinore. He didn't tell his family that he was even going. Ron didn't tell Harry and Hermione. Professor Dumbeldore contacted the chancellor of Ellsinore, Professor Patricia Chan.
A few months later, she reported that Ron was having some trouble adjusting and as a result was acting out. He had gotten into an accident with his broomstick and another student, Simon Scott. She had owled Dumbledore for advice and he owled her back saying that she put him on the Quidditch team there. After that there were no more problems with Ron until three years ago just three weeks after winning the Quidditch World Cup.
Professor Chan contacted him using the fireplace and talked with him through the fire. She told him that Ron had met with some kind of horrible incident and that he had to be in the hospital for weeks. It wasn't magically inflicted. He was shot in the liver by another Ellsinore student. Professor Dumbledore thought of telling the Weasleys, but when Ron regained consciousness he requested that his family not be contacted. Dumbledore and Chan agreed to it because he was an adult and it was his business if he wanted to contact his family.
Dumbledore was never thought that anything that bad would happen to Ron. He may have been the best wizard of the age and the world, but he couldn't see the future. He only had excellent foresight. He took a special interest in Ron because of what happened to Ron. There was no denying that without Ron there would have been no way that Harry couldn't have defeated Voldemort. Ron was Harry's support. Dumbledore knew that Harry needed Ron more than Ron needed him.
He also knew that Ron would come home eventually. That was a certainty.
~*~
The Weasleys were surprised to see Sirius Black and Hermione come to Burrow. Hermione looked like something awful happened to her. She was still thinking about what Ron had said. And Percy wasn't going to show any mercy with her.
"Did you see Ron?" said Percy impatiently. The others were staring at her. She nodded, but said nothing. Harry came back from flying his broomstick and walked passed Percy to guide Hermione to the sofa. "He went back to America. He just left as soon as his friend called him," said Hermione in a shaky voice.
"Simon?" asked Harry, masking the anger in his voice. Sirius looked at Harry. He was surprised. It sounded like he was jealous of this Simon. Hermione nodded. She knew that Harry was mad at Simon. She would have been too, but Ron trusted him. That was enough for Hermione not to hate Simon. She couldn't hate anyone that Ron trusted. Harry sat next to her on the sofa, holding her steady. "What happened?" asked Harry as gently as possible.
"Ron said that he had to go back to work," said Hermione vaguely.
"Did he say when he'd be coming back to England?" asked Mrs. Weasley hopefully.
"Ron didn't say. I don't think he's coming back," answered Hermione. Because I drove him away. What if I had said how I felt five years ago? Would that have made him stay? No, I have to stop thinking like this. This is selfish. Ron wasn't being selfish. He was trying to protect me by pushing me away, that sudden thought made her realize what Ron was doing. He was protecting her because he thought that she needed it. "He's so stupid," she mumbled out loud as she shook her head.
"We know," said Harry softly with a smile on his face as he rubbed Hermione's shoulders.
~*~
Simon left Ron alone for a while. Ron stumbled into the back room to get some sleep. The private jet had a bedroom in it with a private washroom. Ron kicked off his shoes and tore off his socks. He stripped off his black leather jacket and tossed it aside. He laid back in bed thinking about what Hermione said to him. She loves me. I can't believe that she loves me. I've waited nearly half my life for her to love me back. I've waited nearly half my life just to be noticed by her. But, it doesn't matter now. She can't get hurt by me. I can't do that to her, he thought to himself as he ran his finger along his ear cuff.
"Marcus," he whispered out loud. Marcus was the one who convinced him to get the ear cuff. Ron thought of Marcus as the younger brother he never had. He reminded him of Ginny. Marcus worshipped Ron as an older brother. What happened between Ron, Marcus, and Mari made no sense to Ron at all. Ron lifted his shirt up a little bit at the side to feel the scar there. It was three years old. Ron wondered if Harry's scar still hurt him even though Voldemort was gone. Ron knew that any pain he felt from his own scar was just in his mind. That still didn't stop Ron from feeling any phantom pain.
He closed his eyes and tried to sleep, but he couldn't. He tossed and turned. And thought back to what had happened.
Ron woke up at a Muggle hospital in San Francisco. He remembered what had happened to him. He felt the needles coming out of his arms. He couldn't identify the machines around him. He knew almost nothing about Muggle medicine. All he knew was that there was something cold and sterile about everything.
"Ron?" called a woman's voice softly and delicately. Ron knew it had to be Jordan Scott, Simon's mother. He didn't turn to face her. He felt her soft, delicate hand come up to his forehead and gently brushed his hair. It was a touching maternal gesture that Ron needed after what had happened.
"It's all my fault," whispered Ron helplessly. He couldn't bring himself to face Mrs. Scott.
"No, it's not your fault. It's not," said Mrs. Scott in a firm voice. Ron saw that his middle was bandaged up and that there was a dull ache from his abdomen. The pain there earlier felt like it was on fire; it was a stabbing sensation. He never thought that Muggles could hurt each other like that, but after feeling it first hand, now he knew better. Mrs. Scott sat by him without leaving his side to tell Simon, Jennifer, and Becky that Ron had woken up. She instinctively knew that Ron needed her by his side for now.
"They're dead because of me," sobbed Ron as tears came down his cheeks. He refused to turn and face her. She rubbed his back as he cried.
Ron woke up from his nap when Simon knocked on the door. He sat up. "We're about to land. You have to get back to your seat," said Simon. Ron stood up and put his socks and shoes on. He walked back to his seat and waited for the plane to land. Simon decided to call his mother as soon as they got back to the offices in New York.
AN: The wonderful Mrs. Jordan Scott also belongs to me. She a lot like Mrs. Weasley. And I have a feeling you're going to like her a lot. Has anyone tried to figure out what happened to Ron yet? Also, I thought that it was important to see how Ron got the idea to go to the hybrid university. That and I really like Dumbledore. ^_^
