Runaway Fox

Chapter Twenty: Fox Hunt

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter and the other people from the books.  Those belong to J.K. Rowling.  I own the story and the new characters.

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            Ron never thought he'd ever lose control like that again.  He had apparated out as soon as he was out of sight and paced back and forth thinking about what he had just done to his parents.  What was wrong with him?  He really didn't mean what he had said.  Maybe, they'd leave and never come back like he said.  Did he really want that?  He really wasn't sure. 

            "I thought I'd find you here," said a patient voice behind him.  Ron was standing on the edge of the property just before the fence.  He usually ended up there or at the parking lot where he was shot, or at the cemetery.  Jordan Scott had caught up with him.  He felt even more ashamed of himself at that point.  He didn't want to turn around and face Mrs. Scott. 

            "I…oh God what have I done?" said Ron out loud.  He was doing it again.  He thought he had outgrown such behavior, but he was doing it again.  He was not thinking of his actions before doing them and hurting the people around.  This was the reason why they had to stay away from him. 

            "You said what you've been meaning to tell them for the past five years, Ron.  You can't bottle up things inside.  It's not good for you.  You're naturally an emotional person, to hide your emotions is dangerous.  And what just happened is why you shouldn't bottle up and hide your feelings," said Mrs. Scott with nothing but compassion in her blue eyes. 

            Ron sank down to the ground and sat down.  He buried his face in his hands.  "I don't know why I just went off like that.  Oh, God.  Now, I can see the look on my mum's face," he muttered to himself.  "I'm so stupid."

            "I don't disagree with you on that," said Mrs. Scott.  She didn't sound disappointed or stern.  No, the compassion was still there.  "I think it's best to apologize for what you said to them and explain yourself as much as you feel necessary.  Ron, you know you can't hide what happened to you forever.  They are your family.  They love you very much and they want to know about you.  Who are you afraid of getting hurt them or yourself?"

            "I don't know…I'm not sure.  Look at what happened.  I hurt them before.  I did.  I did it just now.  Everything that I've ever had that had any meaning in my life I've either hurt, thrown away, or killed off," he said. 

            "You are still living in that moment," said Mrs. Scott sadly.

            "Marcus and I were so much alike, Mrs. Scott.  I saw myself in him.  I kept thinking how much I was like that.  And I did have someone like Mari when I was growing up.  But, only when I went to Hogwarts," said Ron softly.

            "Hermione.  I thought she was sort like Mari, except more assertive.  You and Marcus had your differences, too.  He would have never been able to take the risk and leave home like you did.  And he had more problems than you did.  Your parents would move heaven and earth for you if it would make you happy at this point, but you're not saying what's wrong with you," said Mrs. Scott.

            "They wouldn't do that for me.  They've got six other perfectly fine children.  And they've got Harry," said Ron shaking his head.

            "Harry is not your replacement.  You are irreplaceable, Ron.  You don't have to be perfect.  They are bounded to love you no matter what," said Mrs. Scott.

            "How do you know that?" challenged Ron.

            "I've been spending my time trying to see it through your parents' eyes the moment I met you, Ron.  I feel the same way they do.  I love you very much, but you're being impossible and unreasonable," said Mrs. Scott.

            Ron was taken back by her comment.  Who was he afraid of being hurt?  "One day, if you push everyone far enough, you will be alone, Ron.  Is that what you really want?" she added as she lightly touched his shoulder.  She left him alone with his thoughts after that.  Ron decided that he wanted to go out for a run.  The sun was setting as he changed into his Animagus form and took off running into the distance. 

~*~

            "He really needs some kind of angry management, Mrs. Weasley.  I mean, he tends to lose it a little bit at a time.  I had to fix Malfoy's hand after what he did to him," said Simon as a way of apologizing for Ron's behavior. 

            "What about Malfoy's hand?" asked Harry.

            "Um…it happened in Diagon Alley during our visit to England.  Malfoy said a couple things, and Ron was willing to let it slide and leave, but Malfoy decided to attack instead.  Ron disarmed and grabbed Malfoy's fist just before it could land on him.  He crushed Malfoy's hand until I heard the sound of cracking bone.  I had to be the to fix it and to alter his memory of the events," said Simon. He winced when he recalled what happened Malfoy's hand.  Not that he cared, it looked like it hurt a lot.

            "Wow…you mean he just held him like that," said Fred.

            "Yeah, he brought him to his knees," admitted Simon.  His mother came walking outside.  She was bringing out some food for the table.  "I think we should all sit down and have some dinner.  I think it's also time to tell you a few things about Ron ourselves," announced Mrs. Scott.

            "Mom…don't do that," said Simon in surprise.  "I promised Ron I wouldn't be saying anything."

            "So did I," said Harry.  Mrs. Scott gave them both a power glare.  They looked away from her quickly.

            "I made no such promises to him.  It's time.  Mrs. Weasley, from one mother to another, I think you deserve to know what happened to your son," said Mrs. Scott.  Mrs. Weasley nodded because she saw that she had found an ally in all this.  Harry and Simon were looking at each other, not knowing what to do.  "Let's all have a seat," said Mrs. Scott.

            "Yes, let's all sit down.  Harry.  Simon," said Mrs. Weasley.  Harry took a seat between Ginny and Hermione.  Simon sat next to Hermione, but seat next to him was empty.  It was supposed to be Ron's seat.  Simon looked out to the distance.  He knew that Ron had to be out there.  Hermione was the only other person at the table who knew about Ron's fox form.  She looked at the distance that he was staring at. 

            "First of all, Ron was shot just three weeks after winning the World Quidditch Cup.  One of his friends, Marcus Hoshi, shot him.  The things that lead up to that moment were long before Ron ever came to America.  Marcus' father wasn't a kind man.  He was cold-hearted and cruel.  His wife had died and he took it out on his children.  Especially his son.  Marcus' older sister, Miranda, or Mari, was a wonderful young woman.  I've never known anyone like her.  She lived her life to the fullest with what little time she had here.  She took care of her brother and protected him from their father.  She was attending Ellsinore with Simon and Ron," said Mrs. Weasley. 

            Simon was unnaturally quiet at the mention of Mari.  He thought about how much he had wasted.  How he would have done almost anything to protect her.  He protected Ron because he loved Mari very much and she gave her life for him.  "She was a chaser on the Ellsinore Quidditch team.  And the first friend that Ron made when he came here.  Simon and Ron weren't always getting along," said Mrs. Scott ruefully.

            "We hated each other," said Simon.  "We were in direct competition with each other until Mari blew us both out of the water.  Damn Ron for breaking the curves in the Muggle classes we were taking," he added. 

            "Marcus was afraid, Molly.  May I call you, Molly?" asked Mrs. Scott.

            "Only if I can call you Jordan," agreed Mrs. Weasley.  Mrs. Scott nodded in agreement. 

            "I would also like to be called Arthur.  People have been calling me Minister so often I am starting to forget my first name," said Mr. Weasley with a smile. 

            "What was Marcus afraid of, Mrs. Scott?" asked Percy.

            "He was afraid of his sister abandoning him and leaving him at his father's mercy.  Mr. Hoshi was never the type to believe in dreams.  Marcus was a dreamer.  Just like Mari.  They got that from their mother.  Mari was getting a degree in Biology and Transfiguration, but it never happened.  She was really going to be a photographer when school was finished.  Mr. Hoshi didn't want her to be one, he even went as far as opening her dark room and exposing all her negatives to light, ruining the whole thing.  There was one thing…Mari was very special.  She had the ability to see the best in people despite all the awful things in people she saw right in her own father.  She fell in love with Ron," said Mrs. Scott.

            Hermione looked down at her food.  Of course, she would love Ron.  "She died for him, didn't she?" she whispered, realizing that instance the sacrifice that Mari had given.  She loved him enough to die for him.

            "Yes," whispered Harry.  He felt himself go pale at the memory of the Pensieve.  "I went through Ron's things at his house," he said quietly.

            "What did you see?" asked Bill.

            "I saw his Pensieve," replied Harry.

            "Ron has a Pensieve?" asked Charlie.  Harry nodded.  His hands were clutched into fists on the picnic table.  Ginny placed her hand on his to calm him back down.  "I saw it happen.  It was right at the surface.  Mari apparated right in front of Ron as Marcus pulled the trigger.  Ron tried to stop him by talking to him, but he couldn't Marcus shot him," he whispered. 

            "I found him because he called me before his meeting with Marcus and told me to come and pick him up later on to go and do something afterwards," he said in a far off voice.  His eyes held unspoken horror.

            "Where was he shot exactly?" asked Mr. Weasley.

            "In his abdomen.  The bullet ripped into his flesh and ended in his liver.  He lost so much blood.  The wound looked like a gapping hole in his body," said Mrs. Scott. 

            "I've never seen so much blood in my life," whispered Simon as he looked down at his hands. He remembered scrubbing his hands to get Ron and Mari's blood off.  It felt like it took hours, not minutes.

            "What about Marcus?" asked George harshly.  No one was going to get away with hurting his baby brother.

            "He shot himself in the head after he shot Ron.  Ron pleaded for him not to," said Mrs. Scott.

            "I never knew that," said Simon. 

            "He wasn't the same after that," said Jenny finally.  She was sitting next to Charlie.  They had taken quite a liking to each other.  She always wanted to meet him after reading his book about dragons.  She was always hoping that Ron would introduce them.

            "Yeah, he kind of walked around like he was a zombie at first.  You know like his soul was sucked out of him.  It looked like a Dementor had kissed him.  He was numb," said Becky with a shudder. 

            "Mom had to give him her blood to keep him alive in the first place," said Jenny.  Mrs. Weasley looked at Mrs. Scott who didn't look like she had done any thing extraordinary.  All she did was save her son's life. 

            "Thank you," whispered Mr. Weasley as he looked at Mrs. Scott.

            She gave them a serene smile.  "He's practically a member of my family.  I couldn't let him die if there was anything I could to stop it, I would.  Besides, he's been a good influence on my son.  Questionable at times, but good nonetheless," she said as she looked at her son.  She also saved Ron for her son. 

            "We had him with us because we were all worried.  Oh, by the way…Mom, I have an announcement to make, if it's okay.  Or I should wait for Ron to come back, he did help me after all," said Becky.

            "What does Ron have to do with it?" asked Mrs. Weasley.

            "Well…I got accepted into the New York City Dance Academy.  I won't be going to Ellsinore," said Becky nervously.  She really didn't want to go, and she took one look at her older brother.  Simon was paying for her education in Los Angeles and he was going to help get her into Ellsinore. 

            "And Ron was helping you?" asked Simon with a raised eyebrow.

            Becky gulped, "I told him that I wanted to go to the Dance Academy instead and he said that if he could help he would.  He said he understood how much it meant for me to make a break on my own, but he also warned me that it could be hard.  The day of the auditions I chickened out…Ron made me promise him before that I wouldn't give up.  It was just an hour before the auditions, but Ron got me there on time.  He stayed until the auditions were over and we had dinner in New York.  He told me even if I didn't make, at least I tried, and he was proud of me for doing just that.  We made a deal not to say anything until the results came in.  He deserves the credit for getting me into the academy."

            Everyone looked surprised and happy.  Ron did for Becky what he always wanted from his parents.  Support and the belief that he could do anything.  The Weasleys were practically people, and Mrs. Weasley at first didn't support Fred and George's dreams of a chain of joke shops.  She didn't know what dreams Ron really had.  She always thought that he had Quidditch on the brain.  "I am so happy for you," said Mrs. Scott who was getting over the initial shock of her daughter not attending Ellsinore like herself, her ex-husband, and her older children.  Becky blushed at that point.  "Ron's like that another older brother.  Not that he's better than you, Simon.  I just didn't want to disappoint you by not going to Ellsinore.  I wanted to see if I could get in and I did."

            Simon sighed.  "Well…as long as your happy, then I'm happy," he said as he stood up.

            "Where are you going?" asked Mrs. Scott.

            "To look for Ron.  He's been out there long enough.  I'm going to track him down.  I'll get him back here if I have to drag him back by his red hide.  And it's getting dark.  Not that he doesn't have any night vision, he still shouldn't be out there," said Simon. 

            "Be careful," said Hermione softly.  Simon nodded, he knew that the people in the area put traps out for the wild animals. 

            "'By his red hide'?" said Mr. Weasley with a raised eyebrow, but Simon was already long gone.  Hermione knew that he had changed into his Animagus form of a coyote when he left. 

            "Was he talking about Ron's hair?" asked Charlie out loud.

            "We're never sure.  Ron and Simon have some secrets between best friends.  And there are times when it's best not to ask," said Mrs. Scott.

            "Simon said that you sent a Howler after that incident in Ellsinore," said Mrs. Weasley.  She knew that they had to have some of the same parenting techniques.

            "Which one?  There are several.  I also had to send at least one or two to Ron myself," said Mrs. Scott with an exasperated tone.  "There were several instances where the staff and faculty thought Ron had masterminded, but they couldn't prove it.  There is a prank war that happens every year as a tradition.  Someone played a combination of Muggle and wizard pranks on the fraternity and sorority houses.  It became a chain reaction and the houses blamed each other instead of an outside source.  Ron never said he did anything wrong, but everyone knows he started it.  It's just semi-dangerous to be on campus during rush week at Ellsinore."

            Fred and George started laughing.  "Oh, we've actually influenced him," said Fred wiping away a fake tear.

            "I couldn't be prouder of him," said George.

            "I always said that you two weren't a good influence on him," muttered Mrs. Weasley.

            "Ron at one point was threatened with expulsion from the university.  Chancellor Chan came up with the most interesting punishment.  Ron said that she told him he had too much excess energy and his brain wasn't getting enough of a challenge from the classes, so he was put on the Quidditch team.  He said he didn't want to play, but he didn't want to get kicked out of the university, so he agreed to play for the school.  He complained that it was going to cut into his time," said Mrs. Scott with much amusement. 

            "Eventually one of the scouts from the Astrolights recruited him to be the new Seeker on the team because he's a great flyer.  He didn't know that it was so hard to be a Seeker here," said Jenny with a laugh.

            "What do you mean hard?" asked Harry.

            "We take our Quidditch very seriously.  For every practice, the Seeker on a professional Quidditch team is required to catch five snitches per practice.  All the snitches are traveling at different velocities, and the Seeker can't stop until all the snitches are caught," said Becky.

            Charlie, Fred, George, and Harry blinked in surprise.  "Whoa.  I've never heard of anything so crazy in my life.  Five snitches!  You are Americans really take your Quidditch seriously," said Charlie. 

            "It must be exhausting," said Harry.

            "Five snitches!" commented Fred.

            "Is that for every practice?" asked George.

            The Scotts nodded as if they had asked something unusually.  "Ron didn't want to play Quidditch anymore after the shooting.  He had to go through physical therapy.  The Astrolights owners didn't care if he was hurt.  They only wanted him to play Quidditch. Ron lost so much weight after that.  He lost twenty pounds in four weeks along with a great amount of his muscle mass.  He wasn't sleeping or eating.  In fact, any letters that came from other teams hoping to snag him if he didn't want to continue for the Astrolights, he threw away.  His grades took a big hit.  He was second in his class before Mari died, she was first.  When she died, he was put at the top of the class, but he let his grades drop.  By the end, my son was at the top. Simon fought with the board of regents to get Ron at the top, but Ron stopped him," said Mrs. Scott.

            "Simon was willing to give up his spot at the top for Ron?" asked Hermione in amazement.

            "Simon felt bad because it wasn't right.  It should have been either Ron or Mari.  They were running neck and neck with each other," explained Jenny. 

            "He had the most N.E.W.T.s coming into Ellsinore.  I think it was like twenty or something like that," said Becky.

            Hermione paled over.  That was higher than hers.  Everyone else's jaws dropped in surprise.  "Uh-oh…you guys didn't know that either?" said Becky in a small voice.

            "Why didn't he say anything?" asked Mrs. Weasley out loud.  He had beaten out all his siblings and it was a record for Hogwarts.  It was a near perfect score for the N.E.W.T.s. 

            "Gosh, he doesn't say anything.  Good or bad about himself," said Bill in amazement. 

            "He sounds like the candidate for head boy of Ellsinore," said Fred with a sigh.  It was one thing to be beaten by his older brothers, but by his younger, baby brother?

            "What's a head boy?" asked Jenny. Charlie went on to explain what that was.  Mrs. Scott and Mrs. Weasley were sharing recipes while Becky told everyone about how Ron was making broomsticks and racing them.  Ron preferred racing the broomsticks these days and still did most of the testing himself.  He had the belief if he wouldn't get on his on creations, who would?

            They all stopped talking when a fox and a coyote came walking onto the grounds.  Mrs. Scott said, "Oh, no.  A coyote." 

            "It's alright, Mrs. Scott.  Welcome back Ron.  Simon," said Hermione with a smile.  The coyote transformed into Simon, while the fox transformed back to Ron.  He seemed tired, but much more calmer than he was before. 

            Everyone, except Hermione, had his or her mouths agape in surprise.  Two Animagi walked in.  "We're late because we went around tripping some of the traps the Muggles put up," explained Simon. 

            "The fox.  The logo on all the broomsticks and the company.  You're the fox," said Harry in shock. 

            "So I am," said Ron with a shrug.  "He is a Transfiguration major after all," said Simon with a smile.

            "You do make a very handsome fox," complimented Mrs. Weasley softly.  Ron looked away from her. 

            "You must be hungry.  Come and take my seat," said Mrs. Scott getting up to take the seat next to her son.  The seat she occupied was next to Mrs. Weasley.  Ron took the seat, but didn't look at his mother.  He expected her to be mad at him, but she didn't seem mad at all.  She seemed sad, so he didn't want to look at her.

            "Um…you should have written home and said you needed us," said Mr. Weasley.  Ron looked at his father.

            "About what?" asked Ron.

            "About what happened with your friends.  I would have taken time off from the Ministry like I did for this visit," said Mr. Weasley.  Ron had his hand on the table.  His bangs shaded his eyes, and his mother placed her hand on top of his.  He pulled his hand away from her slowly this time. 

            "It wasn't your fault," said Harry.  He knew what Ron was thinking at that moment. 

            "I know that here," said Ron as he pointed to his head.  "But, I'm not so sure I know it here," he said as he placed his hand over his heart.  "And here is where it counts because it's where it hurts."

            "You don't know what it was like to be in the darkness for eleven hours.  It was cold.  And quiet except for some of the voices I could hear.  It was lonely," said Ron softly.  He didn't realize that he was shaking slightly because his mother placed her hand on his shoulders to steady him.  Bill placed one of his hands on Ron's other shoulder.  "I don't remember what it was like to be dead for two minutes.  I should have died with them that night," he whispered. 

            Everyone was quiet.  And for once, Fred and George had nothing to say to make the situation not so serious.  They didn't realize how close they came to losing their younger brother.  "You're gong to be fine.  I'll make sure of that.  You are my baby brother after all," said Percy.  He looked a little pale himself.

            "Hey…I thought he was also my baby brother, too," said Charlie.

            "That's right," said Bill as he gave Percy a mock glare. 

            "Yeah, he's our brother, too," said Fred defensively. 

            "Don't go acting like he isn't ours, too," said George.  Ron smiled at their comments.  He knew that Simon and Harry were also fighting for him. 

            "Well, I'm just glad there's only one of me," said Ginny with a smile.  Becky decided to pass the acceptance letter to Ron.  Everyone smiled and passed it along.  Bill handed it to Ron.  He read it, "Congratulations, Becky," said Ron with a smile. 

            "I couldn't be prouder of you," said Mrs. Weasley as she kissed her son on the cheek at that moment.  He finally looked at her.  "I should have told you sooner.  We didn't mean to push so hard.  We did and it pushed you away."

            "You should have at least told us what was bothering you instead of leaving home the way you did," said Mr. Weasley.

            "I was afraid you'd stop me.  Dumbledore gave me the opportunity to go to Ellsinore and I wanted to take the chance without telling anyone.  I wanted to see if I could do it on my own," said Ron. 

            "Professor Dumbledore recommended that you go to Ellsinore?  He didn't say anything about that," said Mr. Weasley in surprise. 

            "Yes, I think that's how I didn't get expelled because the Chancellor said she found me intriguing because Professor Dumbledore was so interested in me going to Ellsinore.   It was lonely around here for the first couple of months.  Mari…was the first friend I made here," he whispered the last part. 

            Bill decided to change the subject, "What does that symbol on your earring mean?" he asked.

            "It means 'kitsune."  It's fox in Japanese.  Marcus convinced me to get it.  I wear it because I want to remember what he was really like, not the way he was the night he killed himself," answered Ron.  "I forgave him…I hope he heard me."  He swallowed. 

            Mrs. Weasley now knew for sure not to ask that he take it off unless he wanted to.  "I don't wear to meetings at work.  Or at work.  I've had a hard enough time convincing people that I'm old enough to be the boss," he said with smile. 

            "At least, you do that much," said Mrs. Weasley as she looked at Bill who looked away from her. 

            "Here, eat something," said Mr. Weasley as he passed a plate over to Ron.  He didn't eat at first.  He just watched everyone else, but Mrs. Weasley was more than concerned, but she didn't know what to do exactly.  She couldn't force him to eat if he didn't want to.  "We should talk more in private, Ron," said Mr. Weasley.

            "Fine.  I don't' think I can sleep anyway.  I don't want to sleep," said Ron as he finally took a bite of his food. 

            The dinner ended.  Mr. and Mrs. Weasley stayed with Ron to talk outside on their own.  Charlie and Jenny took a walk outside.  Hermione and Becky were helping Mrs. Scott with the dishes while Simon showed Bill, Fred, George, Harry, and Ginny some of the photos he had and told them some of the things Ron was doing in school.  There was a scrapbook that Mrs. Scott had complied while Ron was playing Quidditch which they all read with interest. 

            Ron spent some much needed time with his parents.  For once, he really did have their undivided attention.  Mr. Weasley asked questions about the Muggle classes he had to take to get things started.  Mrs. Weasley wanted to know if he was comfortable at his house and was pleased to know that house elves were in his house because that meant he was being taking cared of in the physical sense.  Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were surprised to know how much Ron was holding back.  How much he held back for the past five year and even more than that.

            "I'm sorry about what I said earlier.  I was upset…I should have thought about it first," said Ron as he looked at his mother.

            "It's all right.  I understand.  You don't have to explain yourself.  Love doesn't require it.  Thank you for apologizing, but you don't have to.  I should really apologize for being so hard on you," said Mrs. Weasley.

            "We're just happy you're here with us.  Let's try to move forward," said Mr. Weasley.

            "You don't have to apologize.  Without you pushing me.  I couldn't push myself hard enough when I got here.  If I failed here it would be my fault.  You did help get me here," said Ron.

            "I wish we could have seen your graduation.  You're the first one in our family to go all the way to a hybrid school.  You're part of a new brand of wizards.  The kind that learn from the whole world, not just the wizards' world, but the Muggle one as well.  You represent what I've been hoping for the future of Muggle-wizard relations," said Mr. Weasley proudly.  Ron smiled at his father. 

            Mrs. Weasley made the odd request of seeing the scar on his abdomen.  Ron sighed, but complied.  Mr. Weasley winced in pain when he saw it.  Mrs. Weasley pressed her fingertips against the edges of the scar and blinked back tears of pain.  The reality of almost losing their son was almost too much.  What would have happened if they did lose him?  At that point, she held him tightly out of fear of losing him again.  Molly was so grateful to Jordan at that point.  Ron let himself be held by his mother.  It was almost as good as when he was smaller.  Mr. Weasley squeezed his shoulder.  Mrs. Weasley kissed him on his cheeks.  She remembered when they were baby soft like marshmallows.  And when he didn't have much hair, which she pushed away to look at his eyes. 

            Neither of his parents liked the fact that his eyes had some emptiness in them.  It was going to take more time before Ron was fully healed.  He had already demonstrated more courage than he thought he had.  His parents couldn't do more than just be there with him.  Mr. Weasley was happy that he was alive.  Mrs. Weasley wanted to stay with her son for the time being.  They continued to stay together for the night. 

            Hermione for her part was waiting for Ron to come back.  She knew that Ron must have loved Mari.  She thought to herself would she be willing to sacrifice her life for him.  The answer was yes.  She had to talk to him again.  He already knew that she loved him, but she still didn't know what he felt about her. 

            Ron for his part didn't tell his parents what he felt about Hermione.  Although, Mr. and Mrs. Weasley knew.  Everyone knew, but Hermione.  He had to tell her soon.

AN: What can I say?  I'm a romantic at heart, I suppose.  And not everything is fixed for Ron yet, but it's mending.  My favorite song is "First Love" by Utada Hikaru.  And I also like her other song, "Final Distance."  I must go for now.  ~rin-chan.