The Blood of Ronald Weasley
HEY YOU, READER! READ THIS IF YOU KNOW WHAT'S GOOD FOR YOU!! Completely ignore the first sentence of the last chapter!! It was wrong because the boys went to get the fluxweed Sunday night, so the next day would be Monday, which was when they got the owls from Fred, George and Percy. FYI: They got the summons Friday morning, the meeting was Friday night, Ginny and Hermione's conversation was Saturday morning and Ginny and Harry got the boomslang skin etc Sat. night +Ron and Hermione saw moaning Myrtle Sat. night while Harry and Ginny were off with Snape. Plus Snape's date was Saturday night obviously…Thanks for letting me clarify, sorry about the mix up.
CHAPTER TEN: THE DETENTION
Monday's classes passed with no unusual circumstances, unless you count the fact that Snape was more pleasant that usual.
Harry, Ron, and Neville were uncharacteristically quiet in Transfiguration. When they walked in laughing, McGonagall gave them a don't-play-games-with-me-today-if-you-know-what's-good-for-you look. They immediately went quiet and stayed that way for the remainder of the class, sitting in the very back and, for once, taking notes to rival Hermione's.
Since it was a pleasant day, Hermione once again brought her homework out to the Quiddich pitch to watch the team practice.
Ron flew around the green, doing loop-d'-loops and rolls to show off in front of Hermione. She laughed from her place in the stands and waved. He waved back, but not at the right moment, for he was in the middle of a roll and nearly fell off his broom.
"Hey, Ron, stop being a prat and get yourself to the goals! The Chasers are going to try and score off you," Harry yelled.
"All right, Harry! But I didn't hear anyone yelling at you while you were fooling around with Ginny!" Right after the words left his mouth, he turned the color of the famous Weasley hair. "THAT'S NOT WHAT I MEANT!" He amended as he took his place at the goal posts.
Hermione had to laugh. Ron was very uneasy about his sister being involved with his best friend. Oh, well, she thought. He'll just have to get used to it. Ginny isn't a baby and it'll just take time for him to realize that.
She flew through her Charms homework and moved on to Arithmancy. This was a little trickier, but nothing she couldn't handle.
She looked up once in a while to watch the team play. Ginny was quite the Chaser, weaving in and out of the other players and scoring more than the rest. Colin Creevey was quite the flier as well. He wasn't as steady as Ron, Harry, or Ginny, but he got the job done.
Hermione sighed. She really enjoyed going to all the Quiddich matches and watching Gryffindor practice. She secretly wished she could play, but she was afraid of heights. It was something she never publicized, she just let everyone think she didn't like the game or she was too busy with being Head Girl or with her studies to find time to practice. She wasn't even sure Ron or Harry knew the truth…
Well, it isn't important, she mused. Hardly the end of the world, Quiddich is.
At about quarter to seven, Harry called practice to a halt and Hermione waited patiently for them to come out of the locker rooms.
"Ready to head back up, honey—uh, Hermione?" Ron asked when he came out of the locker rooms. His ears turned red because he never called her honey, sweetie, pumpkin, baby, love or anything like that in public. But Hermione found that she wouldn't mind if he did.
"Yes, Ronniekins," she whispered the second word in his ear as they walked hand in hand back to the castle.
He blushed and moved his hand to curl around her waist, and she did the same.
"We heard that, Hermione!" Ginny yelled. She and Harry were walking hand in hand not five steps behind them.
"She got keen hearing, this one does," Harry added.
"That's why she was such a tattletale when she was a kid. Always, Mum, Fred and George blew up the shed, Ron was playing on Charlie's broom, Bill was kissing in the parlor last night…all in that little whiny voice little sisters are famous for," Ron teased.
"I was a tattletale? What about Percy? He whined more than I did when we were little," Ginny said in her defense.
"Yeah, I suppose." Harry and Ginny had caught up to Ron and Hermione. Ron looked at his sister, and it seemed that he was really seeing her for the first time.
It was a little odd to admit, but she was quite pretty. She had, for the most part, lost all of her annoying-little-sister qualities and become a compassionate young woman. That scared him a little. They had always been rather close, and it was strange, her having friends to talk to rather than coming to him with problems like she had done in the past. And now she had Harry. And Harry had told him that he loved her last night…
Next, he took a long look at his best friend. A year ago, he was skinny and drawn from the strain of fighting Voldemort, but now he was healthy looking and strong. He was still a little on the skinny side, but that helped him with his position as Seeker, and Ron wasn't going to have him gain weight and mess up their chances at the Cup.
By the time they got all the way up to Gryffindor Tower, Ron had managed to feel a little more comfortable with Ginny and Harry's relationship, but it still put him on edge a little.
They sat talking in the Common room until ten minutes to eight. Ron and Harry looked for Neville, but they didn't see him.
"Dunno where he is, mate. Best get down to McGonagall before we're late," Ron said, heading for the portrait hole.
"Yeah. See you later, Hermione! Bye, Ginny!" Harry said.
"Have fun!" Ginny teased.
"I'm certain I will, but later on," Harry replied.
Ron shot a fierce look at Harry over his shoulder as they started making their way to the transfiguration classroom. "You know Harry, I was starting to get used to the idea of you and Ginny and then you go saying things like that. Kinda puts me off a bit." Ron said slowly.
Harry's cheeks colored a bit, but he didn't say anything for awhile. He just walked next to Ron, hands in his pockets, looking at the floor.
"Say, something, Harry," Ron urged.
"What do you want me to say?"
"What do you mean, what do I want you to say? Say what you think."
"Well, you and Hermione flirt in public all the time, and no one says anything about it. But when I want to flirt with my girlfriend—"
"Ginny."
Harry glared at him. "Yes, Ginny. My girlfriend. When I want to flirt with her or kiss her, like all guys do with their girlfriends, you're always there ruining the moment. I'm sorry I sound so crass, but that's the way it is. And I'm not sure you do it just because she's your sister. Maybe you do it because she'd dating me?"
"That's not true, Harry. I just…it'll take time for me to get used to the idea. I mean, Ginny's the baby of the family. Ever year, mum tells me to watch out for Ginny. And then you and she make it hard for me because you insist on being so luvy-duvy all the time—"
"Hard for you? What about her? Don't you think it's hard for her to be in the middle of this? Her brother versus her boyfriend? That's a hard choice, Ron. You need to talk to her about it. I think she's upset over it," Harry said.
"Upset? Why should she be upset? I'm only trying to protect her," Ron replied.
"From what? Me?"
"No, that's not what I meant."
"Then what did you mean?"
"I just don't want her to grow up so fast! It means that she has her own life, her own job and everything and she…she won't need me anymore." Ron looked at his feet.
"You're her brother, of course she'll always need you," Harry said.
The conversation came to a halt because they found themselves outside of the classroom.
Harry opened the door and they stepped inside. Harry checked his watch and saw that they were just on time. As soon as they took their seats, Neville stumbled in.
"Hey, where were you, Neville?" Harry asked.
"Library."
"Studying an awful lot lately, don't you think?" Ron asked.
Neville blushed. "N.E.W.T's this year, you know."
The door opened again and Harry sat up a little straighter, expecting professor McGonagall, but instead, Draco Malfoy sauntered in with his usual swagger.
"Well, well, well, what have we here? Potty, the Weasel, and Longbottom."
"And Malfoy, the amazing bouncing ferret," Ron said in an undertone.
Draco glared at him. "How's the Mudblood, Weasley?"
Ron's hands became fists and Harry had to be quick to grab the back of Ron's robes before he threw himself on Malfoy.
When he pushed Ron back into his chair and took a seat in his own, McGonagall did walk in.
"Boys. I'm glad to see you were all punctual. Now, these desks have become rather filthy and I expect them all to be clean when I return in an hour and a half. No magic. Sponges, rags and soap are in that basin, and you may conjure as much water as you need. If when I return the desks are clean and the room is in order, you may go. If not, I'll have another project for you to complete. Understood, gentleman?"
"Yes, Professor," they chorused.
"Good. I'll see you in an hour and a half." And with that, she swept out of the classroom with a swish of her robes.
"Not too bad," Ron said. "Troublesome, but not so bad."
Harry nodded and conjured water in the basin. He added a little soap and set to work on the first desk, while Ron and Neville did the same.
"Wanna grab a rag, Malfoy?" Ron spat, for Draco was just leaning on the door, smirking a little.
"Have you heard of the new order?" he drawled.
Ron, Harry, and Neville's heads snapped up, but their expressions remained neutral.
"Maybe," Harry ventured.
Malfoy sneered. "Who are you trying to kid, Potter? It isn't in the paper because the bumbling Ministry's trying to keep it quiet, and your fathers don't send you news like that from home."
Harry felt a slab of pain and imagined Neville felt the same.
"Is there a point, Draco?" Ron asked nastily.
Malfoy raised an eyebrow. "I was just curious if you nancy boys knew about the student recruits."
"Why, are you one of them?" Ron sneered.
"Trying to become the next Voldemort?" Harry asked.
"Or trying to instate your father as one?" Neville was surprised at his own daring, but was thankful no one commented.
"Ha, that's a laugh. Father was a fair puppet to the dark lord, but he could never take on his position. Too blind, too stupid. He isn't brave, just hungry for power. But he isn't behind this new order business. He isn't brave enough to go out on his own without someone more powerful covering his tracks. And why would he let Hufflepuffs, Ravenclaws, or Gryffindors in if he was?" Draco hissed.
Harry was surprised at Malfoy's outburst. He never realized that Draco didn't get along with his father, or thought of him as stupid. He was also surprised to hear that Lucious Malfoy wasn't one of the people behind this new scam.
Seeing that no one was going to respond, Malfoy continued. He hadn't intended to go on this much, but he found himself upset. Upset with his father, himself, and his life in general.
"I hate my father. He's a brainless fool and will die like one. I don't want to be like him." He added the last part softly, but with the same amount of malice dripping from his voice.
"At least you have a father," Harry spat.
"I'd rather him dead, if you must know, Potter," Malfoy whispered.
Ron looked from Harry to Malfoy with confusion. This was the most they'd ever said to each other without fighting. If one didn't consider this a fight, he mused.
"He isn't of any use to me. And I mean nothing to him. Just a façade he hides behind, wife, son, mansion. But he's so useless he's practically depleted the family fortune. Shallow, bumbling fool. Almost as bumbling as Fudge."
Harry wasn't sure that Malfoy was even talking to them anymore. He sensed that they had inadvertently touched on a nerve.
Neville felt that he should say something. Anything. "For such a bumbling fool, he certainly ruined a lot of people's lives." For the first time, Neville's voice held a tone of disgust.
To everyone's surprise, Malfoy merely nodded. "It's hard, having such a loser for a father. Then he expects you to take up where he left off, do his bidding, and be a miniature of him. But what if you don't want to? What if you want something else?" Malfoy was looking at the floor, still leaning against the wall.
Ron chanced a glance at Harry. He was pale, and Harry was too.
"Then go after what you want," Harry said sharply.
That was the last anyone spoke that night. Malfoy actually picked up a rag and cleaned his share of desks. When Professor McGonagall came back, she decided that everything was in order and told them they could leave.
Harry, Ron, and Neville walked back up to the tower in silence. They gave the password to the fat lady and found Hermione and Ginny sitting in a corner, talking quietly.
They looked up as the boys took seats next to them.
"Boy, have we got a story to tell you," Ron said as he put his arm around Hermione. Harry did the same to Ginny and looked at Ron, almost daring him to say something. But Ron remained silent.
They repeated what Malfoy had said to them and asked their opinion.
"Well, it's obvious, isn't it? Malfoy hates his father so much he'll do the opposite of what he wants him to do," Hermione said.
"And his father wants him to join this new order to take over the wizarding world because he isn't brave enough to pick up where Voldemort left off himself," Ginny added.
Harry smiled. His girlfriend was quite bright, wasn't she?
"You're really smart, you know that?" Harry whispered in her ear.
Ginny smiled her wonderful smile. "I know. But I defiantly don't hear it enough," she whispered back.
"Well, I'll just have to whisper it in your ear more often."
"I'd like that. What should I whisper to you?" she asked softly.
"Anything you want," Harry whispered, nipping at her earlobe.
"Excuse us, guys. Harry has something to tell me," Ginny said. She rose without fuss and Harry followed her to the empty armchairs by the fire.
"I suppose you don't need me sticking around. I need to finish some homework anyway," Neville said, then he walked up to the boy's dormitory.
"Guess our way is clear then," Ron said leaning in for a kiss, but Hermione put a hand on his chest to stop him.
"Aw, what's the matter love? Not in the mood?" He waggled his eyebrows.
Hermione rolled her eyes. "It's about Ginny."
Ron sighed. "Has Harry spoken to you too?"
"No, but Ginny did. She feels awful, Ron. She thinks that you think she's being a terrible person by going out with your best friend. She thinks she's making you feel awkward and creating tension between you and Harry."
"What? Why would she think that?"
"Because you're being insufferable."
"I'll talk to her. I promise. I don't like upsetting her," Ron said, "Do you like upsetting me, Hermione?"
"I upset you?" Hermione furrowed her brows.
"You will if you don't kiss me."
"Well, then come here, Mr. Weasley, and I'll cheer you up."
YES! I finally posted chapter ten!! Sorry it took awhile, but I had school and computer problems and all that nonsense…Please review!!