The Blood of Ronald Weasley
TO UNDERSTAND THIS CHAPTER, YOU MUST READ MY AUTHOR'S NOTE!! Okay then. Now that I have you attention, this chapter takes place in April, then moves through to graduation. Wooohoooo. Oh, just as a side note, I'm not JKR. Lol…
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN: THE PUREST FORM OF MAGIC
The winter passed in a blur of cold and snowflakes. Hogwarts was bathed in a wonderland of white for four and a half months, and when April finally came, all the students could think of was a nice walk around the lake, no cloak needed.
On a clear spring day at the beginning of the month, Ron received a letter at breakfast. Hermes swooped down beside his toast and nibbled at the crust while Ron untied the letter from his leg.
"What does Percy have to say, Ron?" Ginny asked.
Ron read the letter through and his eyes got wide and his face broke into a grin. "Here, let me read it.
Dear Ron, Ginny, Harry and Hermione,
I can't waste time writing the pleasantries, so I'll just tell you right away. Penny had the baby. It's a boy! Kaleb Sebastian Weasley was born at eight-thirty last night, April second. He's amazing. Mother, Father, Bill and Charlie Apparated up last evening, as did Fred, George, Angelina and Katie. I was a little worried about what sort of trouble they'd make, but they were pretty much on their best behavior, except for the sticky bun incident. Don't ask. I can't wait for you to see Kaleb. Maybe in a few weeks we'll come out to Hogwarts, but he's too young to do that kind of travel right away. At the very least we'll be there for graduation. How does it feel to be an uncle? Or an aunt? Bill was very excited, and so was Charlie. Mum was pestering them about when they were going to settle down and all that. Bill had actually brought his girlfriend with him. Apparently they were on a date when I sent for him. You'll never believe who she is. I'm not sure if you'll remember her, but she was the champion from Beauxbatons during the Triwizard Tournament, Fleur Delacour. Mum was a little skeptical about her, but after awhile she warmed up to the idea. Charlie mentioned that he was going with one of the Weird Sisters, Mallory Duncan. I don't think he was brave enough to tell Mum. Fred was going on about wanting a signed poster, and he kept shushing him and Angelina kept glaring at him. Penny sends her love, and Kaleb sends gurgles. Have a good term and be sure to owl us back.
Love,
Percy"
"Oh, how wonderful! I'm an aunt!" Ginny exclaimed.
"Congratulations you guys. I adore the name. Although I'm sure Penny's had it picked out for awhile. I already know what I'll name my children," Hermione said.
"Me too," Ginny added.
"What are you talking about? Why would you have names picked out?" Ron asked.
"And isn't there someone else who has a say in it? Your husband maybe?" Harry added.
Hermione shook her head briskly. "When my husband carries him or her for nine months, then he can choose the name."
Ginny nodded, as her mouth was full of porridge.
"Well, what are they then?" Harry asked.
"If it's a girl, Tabitha Jewel, and if it's a boy, Aidan Alexander," Hermione said.
"Aidan Alexander? Are you sure you like that?"
"If I didn't, I wouldn't name my son that, Ron," she replied.
"Do you really want to subject your children to weird, abnormal names just because your parents did it to you?" At her scowl, Ron added, "Not that I don't like your name, it's just, uncommon, is all."
"Well, I like them. Especially Tabitha Jewel. Tabitha Weasley, I like it, it works," Ginny said. After the words left her mouth, she realized the impact they were having. Ron had turned an odd shade of purple and Hermione had blushed scarlet. Harry must have seen this too, because he changed the subject.
"What are your names, Ginny?"
"Evelyn Margaret for a girl, and Peter Graham for a boy. Can you two honestly tell me that you've never thought of names for children?" she asked.
"Yes, I can honestly tell you I never have. Shall I comment on the absurdity of the name Peter Potter?" Ron said. He was getting back at Ginny for embarrassing him.
Ginny blushed. "I…um…well…"
"It isn't like she has to decide right now. There's plenty of time," Hermione said. Ginny sent her a thankful look.
"Then why have you already decided on yours?" Ron threw his hands in the air.
"Because."
"Because why?"
"Because I said so," Hermione said firmly.
"What kind of an answer is that?" Ron sounded exasperated.
"A vague one," Hermione answered. With that, she stood abruptly and stalked out of the Great Hall.
"Jeez, Ron, what was that about? That was the most pointless argument I have ever heard. And I grew up with six older brothers," Ginny said.
"I have no idea. She gets upset so easily over the stupidest things. Must be that time of the month."
"Okay, well if you tell her things like that, no wonder she thinks you're a pig!" Ginny exclaimed.
"Did she really say that?" Ron sounded hurt.
"No. I'm not sure if she thinks you're a pig, but I sure do! That time of the month, honestly!"
"Maybe you should go after her," Harry suggested.
"I think you should give her awhile to cool down. I have to go, Potions is first this morning, and I can't be late." She pecked Harry on the cheek and left the Great Hall.
"Women confuse me," Ron muttered.
"What else is new?" Harry asked.
***
Hermione stomped out of the Great Hall. She was angry with Ron, but had no idea why. Grr, he confused her sometimes. What on earth were they arguing about, anyway? She thought he might be upset over her thoughts on children, namely his and hers. To tell the truth, it freaked her out too, but she didn't start arguments over it.
She was so upset that she stopped midway up the staircase and sat down to think.
"Is that you, Miss Granger?"
Hermione jumped. "Oh, good morning, Professor Dumbledore."
"Good morning Hermione. May I be so bold as to ask what's troubling you?"
Hermione thought for a minute. Would Dumbledore really be the best person to discuss her private life with? But then again, he was very wise and might help her look at her problems with objectivity.
"What would you do if you had a fight with someone and you don't really know what you were fighting about but you're really mad anyway?"
Dumbledore furrowed his silvery brows. "Does this have anything to do with Mr. Weasley?"
Hermione blushed. "Yes," she replied softly.
"I see. Well Miss Granger, I don't like interfering with matters such as this, especially with students. However, I can tell you this much. You are Muggle born, is that right?"
Hermione didn't see where this was going, but she nodded.
"Well, love is the only kind of magic Muggles have. Here, with charms and potions and that sort of thing around every corner, we sometimes take the purest form of magic for granted. We like to think of ourselves as wiser and more powerful than Muggles, which is untrue, because they are able to see things we don't. Magic isn't only a spell or enchantment, and sometimes we tend to forget that." He smiled. "Does that help?"
Hermione nodded. She hadn't ever thought of love as a form of magic. Magical, maybe, but never true magic. "Thanks, Professor, it does."
"Marvelous. Well, I was sure the cleverest witch in seventh year would understand what I was talking about, even though most grown wizards and witches don't."
"I'm not the cleverest witch," she mumbled out of habit.
"But of course you are, Miss Granger. That's why you are graduating first in your class."
"I am? But I was sure I'd fallen behind after all that time I missed last year…"
"It certainly doesn't seem that way. I look forward to your speech. Good day, then." And with that, Dumbledore winked and continued down the stairs.
Hermione stayed where she was for a long time, thinking.
"Hermione?"
She jumped. "Oh, Ron, you scared me!" She stood and brushed off her robes.
"I'm sorry. I shouldn't have spoken to you the way I did. Do you even know what we were arguing about?" The sides of his mouth twitched as he fought a grin.
"I haven't the faintest idea." She smiled. "But I enjoy fighting with you."
"Why?"
"Because it means we get to make up."
"Or out, as the case may be." With that, Ron bent down and kissed her.
TWO MONTHS LATER, GRADUATION DAY…
"Oh, I'm so nervous!" Hermione exclaimed. She was fixing her hair so it wouldn't be frizzy for the ceremony, and trying not to panic about her upcoming speech.
"Don't be nervous, Hermione. You'll do just fine. Now, which earrings are you going to wear?" Lavender asked, reaching into Hermione's jewelry box. The girls were all fluttering around their dormitory, trying on last minute jewelry and looking for things they'd left behind. After the ceremony, they'd go directly to the feast. Then in the morning, they'd board the Hogwarts Express for the last time.
Hermione looked away from the mirror, and her gaze landed on Lavender's hand. "Oh my God, Lavender! Is that an engagement ring?"
The whole dormitory went silent. Belle dropped the dress robes she was showing Parvati and Eloise came out of the closet where she was looking for a lost pair of shoes.
"An engagement ring?"
"Let me see!"
"Is it from Seamus?"
Lavender rolled her eyes at Parvati. "Of course it's from Seamus. How many guys do you think I date?"
Hermione cleared her throat and the other girls made similar noises.
"Okay, okay. That was the old me. The new me is marrying Seamus next June."
Hermione noticed that Parvati looked a little pale, and tears were starting to form in her eyes. Guessing it had something to do with Neville, she ushered her to the bed and put an arm around her shoulder.
"I'm so sorry, Lavender, I'm just…" she sobbed.
"Oh, Parvati, don't worry, I understand."
They sat around Parvati in silence for a long time. They remembered Neville, and how he died and what he died for. They would end their education with one less person than what they started with. It was a sad moment, made for memories.
"Are you ready yet? It's almost time for the start of the ceremony and Hermione needs to be there!" Ginny said, bounding into the room. She surveyed the scene and asked, her voice full of concern, "What's the matter?"
"Long story, Gin. Come on now, girls, we have to go graduate," Hermione said, helping Parvati to her feet.
"Neville would want you to be happy today. Dry your eyes, and remember that he's here in spirit," she added softly.
The girls tromped down the stair and out of the common room.
"Where are Ron and Harry?"
"Already down at the pitch," Ginny answered. The ceremony was held in the Quiddich stadium because it was the only place big enough to hold so many students and parents.
"I wish I was graduating," Ginny sighed.
"You will next year, cheer up. And Ron, Harry and I will be here to see you."
"Yes, well, that's all well and good, but…" Ginny trailed off.
"But Harry won't be around everyday?"
Ginny nodded. "And what if when he gets a job he meets some attractive woman and forgets all about me? Why would he want skinny little red haired me when he can have some French model or something?"
Hermione stopped and laid a hand on Ginny's shoulder. "Harry would never do that. I don't know if you've noticed, but every time you're within a mile of him, he glows. And he practically grins himself silly when you look at him. He's mad about, you Ginny. And no French model, or even a veela for that matter, could change that."
"Thanks. That's just what I needed to hear, Hermione."
"And if he did dump you for some French model, Ron and all the rest of your brothers would skin him alive," she added mischievously.
Ginny laughed. "You're absolutely right. I have nothing to worry about."
Harry saw Ginny and Hermione walking down to the stadium from his place on the make-shift stage. The teachers had magiced in a kind of stage on the middle of the pitch, while the parents sat in the stands. Hermione must have said something funny, because he saw Ginny toss her head back and laugh. Her fiery curls cascaded down her back, and her smile shown brighter than the sun. He was going to miss her. Wait, that's silly, he thought. She wasn't going anywhere. He'd write to her and come see her as often as he could. And they did have the whole summer together, after all.
***
"And now, Miss Hermione Granger will make her valedictorian speech," Dumbledore announced.
Hermione rose from her seat and headed up to the podium. She put her wand to her throat and muttered, "Sonorus", and then began.
"I would like to say that I, and all of my classmates, have learned many things here at school. We can now rattle off difficult potion ingredients, not to mention grow them ourselves, transfigure pieces of furniture into animals, and care for those animals. We can flick our wands and invoke quirky charms, and undo every spell we cast. I am proud to say that we can do those things, but I am dismayed to add that we can also spot dark magic, and have encountered our share of dark wizards. The things that we learn outside the classrooms count very much as well. We make lasting friends, and enemies, and some find love."
With that, she glanced over at Ron.
"All of these things, and people, shape our personalities and our futures. I can say that the events of last year changed my life, and I am not afraid to speak of them. They happened, and we can't change that. I say, speaking from personal experience, that things like that can only strengthen people if they survive them. Today, I would like to remember the dead while we honor the living. Let us take a moment of silence to remember Neville Longbottom, and all the others who died too young." She bowed her head, as did the students and the parents. After a few moments, Hermione continued.
"With that said, I would like to congratulate all of my classmates for a job well done. Some of you I know better than others, but I will miss each one of you with all my heart. Thank you."
She muttered "Quietus," and then sat back down, all the while listening to the tremulous applause.
"That was spectacular, Hermione," Harry whispered to her.
"Thanks."
Ron just beamed at her. "I love you", he said.
Hermione blushed. He didn't usually say that when there were so many people around.
"I love you too."
They listened to Dumbledore call each of the students up to receive a diploma, and they clapped extra hard for everyone they knew. They even clapped for Malfoy, a little.
After the ceremony, Hermione brought her parents to where Harry was standing with all of the Wealseys. Sirius and Remus were there as well, and they looked proud as punch.
"You've made your parents proud, Harry", Sirius said.
"And we're happy for you as well," Remus added.
"Thanks," Harry replied. He was standing next to Ginny, holding her hand. The twins hadn't made a wise crack about it so far, but Harry wasn't sure how long his luck would last. He was happy to see that Hermione had showed up with her parents to take some of the attention away from him.
"Mr. and Mrs. Weasley, you remember my parents, don't you?"
"Oh, Hermione, how many times have I asked you to call me Molly? And yes, it's lovely to see you again, Mr. and Mrs. Granger," Mrs. Weasley said.
"Please, call me Harvey, and my wife Harriet," Mr. Granger said, extending his hand to Mr. Weasley.
The adults got to talking, and so Hermione, Ginny, Harry and Ron took turns holding Kaleb.
"That's it, Ron, support the head," Percy instructed. "Careful."
"I am being careful, Perce. I'm his uncle, for goodness sake," Ron snapped. "This isn't so hard," he added.
"Yeah, that's because you get to give him back when he starts crying. Tell me it isn't hard when you have to get up for the two a.m. feeding."
"Why do you have to get up? You can't feed him," Ron said.
"It's one of the mysteries of life, Ron," Percy said. "Women want you to get up because they have to. It doesn't make sense for you to get any sleep just because you have to get up and go to work in the morning."
"Absolutely right, Percy," Penelope said. "Why should I suffer alone?"
They laughed. Harry seized the moment and hauled Ginny away from the crowd and out to the lake.
"Tired of my family already?" she asked jokingly.
"Never. I just wanted a minute alone. I have some news," Harry said.
"What kind of news?"
"Sirius asked me to move in with him this summer."
"That's great," Ginny said half heartedly. If Harry was going to move in with Siruis, he wouldn't be spending time at the Burrow. With her.
"Gin." Harry held her face in his hands. "I said he asked me. I didn't say I said yes."
She grinned. "So you'll stay at the Burrow?"
"If I'm welcome."
"You're always welcome, Harry. My door will always be open for you."
Wow that turned out to be a really long chapter, but I'm really pleased with it. Sorry the baby wasn't a girl, Emma Malfoy, but in my other story they had a girl so I thought I'd shake things up a bit. Okay, I'm sure most everybody knows this, but for all those who are as slow as I am, the Weird Sisters are the three witches from Shakespeare's MacBeth. Duncan was the king of Scotland in the play, hence the girl I made up for Cahrlie to date, Mallory DUNCAN. See, I'm clever…please review!!