The Blood of Ronald Weasley
Okay, for all you people who reviewed and said, "What does the blood of Ronald Weasley have to do with anything?" You have your answer!! I just want to say that I love Neville, and I'm sad that he died, but he died nobly. I'm sorry Emma Malfoy that you were so upset, but that's the way it has to be.
CHAPTER SIXTEEN: ORDER OF MERLIN, FIRST CLASS
When Harry, Hermione, Ginny and Dumbledore composed themselves, they headed solemnly to the hospital wing.
"When did Professor Snape return, Professor?" Harry asked. His voice was flat and he was crazed with worry for Ron. He glanced toward Hermione and saw tears streaming down her face. He heard her sob every once in awhile, and the same went for Ginny.
"This evening. I felt it necessary for him to be here," Dumbledore said shortly.
Harry fell silent. He had so many questions, but he couldn't bring himself to speak. He couldn't believe it. His world was crashing down around him and there was nothing he could do to stop it.
They entered the hospital wing and say Madam Pomfrey bustling around, muttering things that no one understood.
"How is he, Poppy?" Dumbledore got straight to the point.
"He had a deep gash in his arm, and he lost a lot of blood. He was unconscious when he was brought in, but he'll be coming to very soon. He'll be a little woozy but I mended his wounds. When all's said and done, he'll be fine, Professor. What on earth has happened?" she sounded more concerned than usual.
"I'd prefer not to spread anything around as yet," Dumbledore said. "Can we see him now? These three are extremely upset."
Hermione's face was wet with tears and with fresh ones pooling in her eyes, and Ginny was gasping and shaking. Harry simply looked miserable.
"Go right in."
The four walked around the curtains and saw Ron, pale and stationary, on the hospital bed. His eyes were closed and his chest was rising and falling with peaceful breath.
Hermione stifled once and wiped her eyes, then summoned a chair and parked herself next to his bed. Ginny stood beside her, so Harry put his arm around her and they all looked down at the youngest Weasley brother.
Harry watched Hermione's hand slither across the bed and take Ron's hand in hers. Ron groaned and his eyes fluttered open.
"Hermione?" he whispered faintly.
"Ron? How are you doing? Oh my God, Ron." Hermione was trying to maintain composure, but she failed.
"Ron, are you awake?" Ginny asked.
He groaned again. "My arm hurts," he mumbled.
"I know, sweetie, I know. You lost a lot of blood, honey. But Madam Pomfrey said you're going to be all right," Hermione said.
"I just remember—Fudge—and he said he wanted my blood to stain…and he was going to kill me. What happened?"
Hermione and Ginny both broke into fresh sobs, but Harry said, "Neville saved you. He's…he's dead, Ron. He jumped in front of you and—he saved you."
If possible, Ron paled more than he was already. "Neville…saved me and he's—he's dead?"
"Yeah," Harry said sadly.
"Bloody hell," he breathed.
Hermione didn't even bother to scold him.
"I'd be dead now if it wasn't for him. He saved my life. He just jumped in front of me?"
"It happened so quickly. People were holding Hermione and Ginny back, and Fudge was standing right in front of me and we couldn't—"
"That's right. Fudge! Damn him from here to hell and back! How could he—why did this happen? When did he get so…" Ron trailed off, his blue eyes shifting to Dumbldore for the first time. "Oh, Professor, I didn't know—"
"It is quite understandable for one in your condition to use such words, Mr. Weasley. To answer your question, I think Fudge has been planning something like this for more than sixteen years. I didn't know it, but he had the makings of another Voldemort. Thanks goodness for Mr. Longbottom."
"But wouldn't it have been the same if he killed me instead, Professor?" Ron asked miserably.
"Most certainly not. His goal was to kill you. By not killing you, he never reached his goal, and that weakened him. His followers lost faith, and our side gained it. Neville ended his reign before it started. He made a choice, and a brave one at that. He chose between what was right and what was easy, and that is once of the hardest decisions we have to make as human beings. Our minds say take the easy road, but our hearts say differently. He followed his heart, and he saved more lives than just yours. I plan to say exactly that to his family, and to the ministry when I request that he receive the Order of Merlin, First Class. Now I will leave you alone, and I think that you ought to get some sleep, Mr. Weasley." Dumbledore turned to go, but Harry stopped him.
"Professor, Malfoy was at the meeting tonight."
"I know, Harry. He got word yesterday morning that his father was killed. Some Death Eaters who were never sent to Azkaban and who were upset with him for many reason, which I'm too tired to go into. He came to speak with me this morning, and I advised him to go and help you in whatever way he could."
Harry nodded, and watched Dumbledore leave the hospital wing.
"Do you need anything, Ron," he heard Hermione ask.
"No. I just feel so…guilty, I suppose. Here I am, and Neville…I don't think I can stand it. He just found Parvati, you know, and we're gonna graduate soon and he won't be there." Ron paused and looked into Hermione's eyes. "I know it sounds selfish and horrible, but I—what would I do without you? I'm so happy that he saved me but at the same time I'm devastated that he died. He died for me. Would I have done the same thing?"
Ginny spoke. "Of course you would have, Ron. You were put in Gryffindor for a reason, the same one as Neville. For bravery. You're brave, and so was he. I know Hermione and I were ready to kick Fudge's a—"
"GINNY!" Ron looked shocked.
"Oh, shut it, you hypocrite. I think I would have done the same for any of you, but I suppose you have to be in that situation to really know. Anyway, Neville did it and it's done. Just be thankful. Just be glad to…well, be."
I know this chapter was really short, but oh well. There are only gonna be like 2 or 3 more chapters depending on the length, and then I MIGHT write a sequel. My friends say I should, but lemme know what you think by posting a review…