Title Needed (Desperately!)
Chapter 11: The Anger Builds
A/N: Ehh... I'm writing for the sake of writing... I don't have the slightest clue what is going to happen in this chapter... maybe I'll expand on Ron's anger??? Ooh, good idea! I'll stop babbling and start writing now that I have an idea!!!!
Disclaimer: Ha, very funny!!! That's the best joke I've ever heard! Me, owning Harry Potter!! Hahahaha!!!!
***
Ron walked towards the Quidditch pitch. He was still in complete shock from what had just happened. His best friend wasn't dead. After ten years of thinking that, Ron still couldn't accept that maybe, just maybe, it hadn't been true. 'He's dead. When someone dies, they stay dead. It's not possible,' he kept thinking to himself as he entered the stadium. His class was standing, waiting expectantly for their lesson to start. Ron went to the broom shed and took out enough brooms for the class, and handed them out, somewhat distractedly. Thinking clearly for just a moment, he assigned partners and told them to practice tossing tennis balls back and forth while hovering two feet off the ground. Once his class was taken care of, Ron went to sit in the stands to think about what had just happened.
'Why did he have to come back? If he's just going to die, why bother? Why not just let us believe that he had died ten years ago, instead of screwing up our lives like this?' Ron asked himself. He shuddered as he heard the anger in his own thoughts. He didn't want to feel angry. It was his best friend for crying out loud. 'But is he really my best friend? I don't know him any more. And he doesn't know me. Ten years can change a person,' he thought darkly, as he watched the students still throwing the ball back and forth. He didn't realize how much time he had spent there thinking until he heard the bell ring out across the grounds. "Put the balls in the basket and make a pile of your brooms, please!" he called out to the students, who complied, then quickly headed off for their next class. Ron walked down towards the pile of brooms.
He picked up the basket of balls and with his wand, levitated the brooms along side of him. He opened the shed door and put everything away. Then he went to a cabinet in the back. Unlocking it, he took out his own broom and walked back to the field. He mounted his broom and flew around as fast as he could, trying to ease some of the tension he was feeling. After a while, he landed again and put his broom away. He started walking towards the castle, all the while thinking about the conversation they had all had only a short while ago. Checking his watch, he realized it was dinner time. He wearily made his way into the Great Hall.
Much to his dismay, Harry was already sitting there, Hermione on one side, Ginny on the other. He walked over, going to sit down next to his wife. He just nodded slightly in greeting to everyone before starting to eat. He half-listened to what the three were saying. It brought back memories of their time together in school, and Ron started to feel the anger boiling up again. He needed to get away from everyone. He quickly excused himself and started to walk. He didn't know where he was going until he found himself outside of the trophy room. He went inside and walked over to a corner. There, in the case, were two small brass plaques, honoring two students for 'aid to their school'. Ron just stared at them for a moment, remembering how they had gotten the awards.
"Silly, really. I didn't even do anything. Just moved some rocks," he said quietly to himself. He jumped slightly when he heard a voice behind him.
"But if you hadn't moved those rocks, Ginny and I would still be stuck down there," the voice said. Ron knew who it was, even if his voice had changed over the years. Ron didn't turn around. He just tried to calm himself once again, but it didn't work too well.
"Why?" was all he managed to ask, rounding on his friend. Harry stood there, illuminated only by the shaft of moonlight coming in through the window. Ron saw a flash of guilt on his friend's face.
"I don't know, Ron. I just don't know. I knew he was coming. He'd been hiding in the forest for weeks. Not even Dumbledore knew he was there. But I knew if I didn't do something, he'd attack the school, kill everyone. I couldn't let that happen. I didn't think I would be strong enough to make it through that. I almost wasn't. But during that moment, when I cast my spell, I knew I was going to live. But I knew nothing would ever be the same. I would be thrust into the spotlight again. I didn't want to live through that any more. And I knew you, and Hermione, and Ginny, and even Sirius, would be shoved into the shadows again. It wasn't fair to you guys. So in that instant, I decided to leave. When I found myself in America, I was in a hospital. The nurses said I had been there for months, in a coma. I was going to write you guys, but then I overheard some wizards talking about how I was supposedly dead. So I thought maybe it would just be best if everyone thought I was gone.
"I met this girl, Jenny, and we fell in love. Last year, Jenny wanted to visit England. Who was I to tell her no? We came, and she fell in love with London. Found herself a teaching job, and so we moved into a flat. Her brother was a wizard, and she had taken to getting the Daily Prophet. I never told her who I really was, but she knew I was a wizard. At the beginning of the summer, I saw an advertisement in the Prophet. Hogwarts needed a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. It was actually Jenny who suggested I apply for the job. I was content with working as a janitor. But she insisted. So I came out here one day, and applied. Then a few weeks later, Dumbledore owled me and told me I had the job. I didn't know you guys were teaching until a few days before term started. When I realized I'd be seeing you again, I just thought I'd play it cool, not let on who I was. But I should have known you guys would have figured out who I was," Harry said, smiling slightly at the end.
"It still doesn't make it any better. You left us. You lied to us. You betrayed our trust. You didn't only hurt Hermione, Sirius and I, but you hurt my sister. She loved you. She still does. Her last year here was horrible for her. She hardly ever talked to anyone. Don't you see Harry? You weren't the only one in pain. You weren't the only one suffering. However noble your cause might have been, it doesn't change what you did to us," Ron said angrily.
"No, it doesn't change what I did to YOU. That's the issue here, isn't it? We were best friends, and you felt like I left you out that night I went chasing after Voldemort. I didn't want to see you get hurt. I've seen too many people get hurt because of me. I knew you were worried, and so was everyone else, but I promised to myself not to let you guys get involved," Harry said, taking a step closer.
"Oh stop with your little guilt trip. You aren't going to get any pity from me. It's not like I haven't heard this speech before, you know. It's always the same. Always. 'I never wanted to hurt anyone'," Ron mimicked. He felt a pang of guilt as he saw the hurt expression cross Harry's face, but he brushed away the feeling.
"Excuse me. I didn't realize it was a crime to try and protect those you care about," Harry said, anger creeping into his voice as a defensive tactic.
"Oh come off it. We didn't need any protecting. We're just as capable as any. Not that you ever noticed though," Ron said bitingly.
"I never noticed? I think you're sorely mistaken. I always noticed. Others might not have, but I tried to stay out of the spotlight as much as possible," Harry replied. "Honestly, you're acting the same way you did during fourth year."
"And what's that supposed to mean?" Ron asked angrily. Harry just rolled his eyes and turned his back.
"I think you can figure that out for yourself. You're perfectly capable," Harry replied, throwing Ron's own words back at him.
"You would say that, wouldn't you. Always the humble one, oh Great Harry Potter," Ron said sarcastically. Harry turned back around and glared at Ron.
"I think it's your turn to come off it now. Let me ask you this. Who's idea was it for the statue? The holiday? Hmm?" Harry asked. Ron glared back at him.
"Excuse me for trying to honor a friend. How sorely mistaken I was though. You aren't my friend. And I'm not quite sure you ever were," Ron said. Harry looked extremely hurt once again.
"Fine, if that's what you think. I had plenty of other friends. Others who weren't so jealous of something I hated being," Harry retorted.
At that moment, Ron dashed forward, closing the gap between them. Pulling his arm back, he punched Harry in the jaw. Harry just stood there in shock for a minute, then rubbed his jaw slightly.
"Feel better?" Harry asked, still massaging his sore jaw. Ron rubbed his knuckles where they had connected. "Look, I'm sorry Ron, but I can't change what happened. Can you please just let bygones be bygones?"
Ron continued to rub his hand for a moment more. Then he nodded slightly. "I'm sorry Harry. I acted like a jerk. It's just... hard... I thought you were dead. That was one of my biggest fears, ever since first year, that one day, you would die. I never wanted that to happen," Ron said, inconspicuously wiping away a tear on his face.
"I know. Come on, it's getting late, and we have classes to teach in the morning," Harry said, waiting for Ron to walk back to their rooms together.
***
A/N: Sorry for the horribly long wait. I had the BIGGEST case of writer's block on this chapter. Literally, I had the first paragraph written, then I got stuck for like three weeks. Thank vacation that I finally got this done, otherwise, I wouldn't have the time. Thanks for your patience though! Sorry if this chapter sucked. I think the end was bad. They made up too quickly. But I liked the part when Ron punched Harry. I was going to have a full fight scene, but Harry just doesn't seem the type to hit back... Oh well. Thanks again! Please read and review!!!!!
My special thanks section (if you review, you get to see YOUR name here!!!)
Bleeding Heart- Did I ever say he was going to die in this story?? It could end before that... *grins evilly*....
Michelle- Of course I can do anything I want to! I had to explain that to my sister the other day... lol... gave me kind of a power trip, lol... Anyway, thanks for the review!
~*Twisted*LJ*Fan*~ / Phoenixheart- Thanks for keeping up w/ my story and for putting it on your Favorites list! I'm so honored! And I'm expecting a story from you so I can review it!
SiriusBPadfoot- In time, in time... I think maybe in not the next one, but the one after that (probably chapter 13... oooh! chapter 13... hmmmm....... lol...). Keep writing your story, it's good! Thanks for the review!!! And thanks for putting this on your profile as a story you like!!!!
M- BAD writer's block!!! I think I exhausted my muse... I wrote three chapters in one night, then I kinda died... but I'm slowly recuperating. Vacation is GOOD!!!! Especially when you don't have ANY from December until April (evil school, aka prison, it really looks like one you know... construction... lol....).
sisterofsailorsol- Thanks for the WONDERFUL review, oh dear sister of mine! As you see, I HAVE been writing, so SHUT UP!!! And she's just as much my cat as yours, seeing as she'd rather sit on my lap then sleep with YOU!!! So HA!! And you've taken advice from her before, admit it!!!! And BTW, I'M not the one obsessed w/ the Sims, that would be you and Dani, so HA!!! Now I'm going to post and continue to write, so :-P!!!!
Thanks to all my wonderful reviewers! You are my inspiration! And thank you to my sister Sarah for reading this and bugging me to write more. She is my "moose"... Crazy, psycho older sister who calls herself a "moose" when she's purposely butchering the word "muse".... Lol... I'll go write the next chapter now....
Chapter 11: The Anger Builds
A/N: Ehh... I'm writing for the sake of writing... I don't have the slightest clue what is going to happen in this chapter... maybe I'll expand on Ron's anger??? Ooh, good idea! I'll stop babbling and start writing now that I have an idea!!!!
Disclaimer: Ha, very funny!!! That's the best joke I've ever heard! Me, owning Harry Potter!! Hahahaha!!!!
***
Ron walked towards the Quidditch pitch. He was still in complete shock from what had just happened. His best friend wasn't dead. After ten years of thinking that, Ron still couldn't accept that maybe, just maybe, it hadn't been true. 'He's dead. When someone dies, they stay dead. It's not possible,' he kept thinking to himself as he entered the stadium. His class was standing, waiting expectantly for their lesson to start. Ron went to the broom shed and took out enough brooms for the class, and handed them out, somewhat distractedly. Thinking clearly for just a moment, he assigned partners and told them to practice tossing tennis balls back and forth while hovering two feet off the ground. Once his class was taken care of, Ron went to sit in the stands to think about what had just happened.
'Why did he have to come back? If he's just going to die, why bother? Why not just let us believe that he had died ten years ago, instead of screwing up our lives like this?' Ron asked himself. He shuddered as he heard the anger in his own thoughts. He didn't want to feel angry. It was his best friend for crying out loud. 'But is he really my best friend? I don't know him any more. And he doesn't know me. Ten years can change a person,' he thought darkly, as he watched the students still throwing the ball back and forth. He didn't realize how much time he had spent there thinking until he heard the bell ring out across the grounds. "Put the balls in the basket and make a pile of your brooms, please!" he called out to the students, who complied, then quickly headed off for their next class. Ron walked down towards the pile of brooms.
He picked up the basket of balls and with his wand, levitated the brooms along side of him. He opened the shed door and put everything away. Then he went to a cabinet in the back. Unlocking it, he took out his own broom and walked back to the field. He mounted his broom and flew around as fast as he could, trying to ease some of the tension he was feeling. After a while, he landed again and put his broom away. He started walking towards the castle, all the while thinking about the conversation they had all had only a short while ago. Checking his watch, he realized it was dinner time. He wearily made his way into the Great Hall.
Much to his dismay, Harry was already sitting there, Hermione on one side, Ginny on the other. He walked over, going to sit down next to his wife. He just nodded slightly in greeting to everyone before starting to eat. He half-listened to what the three were saying. It brought back memories of their time together in school, and Ron started to feel the anger boiling up again. He needed to get away from everyone. He quickly excused himself and started to walk. He didn't know where he was going until he found himself outside of the trophy room. He went inside and walked over to a corner. There, in the case, were two small brass plaques, honoring two students for 'aid to their school'. Ron just stared at them for a moment, remembering how they had gotten the awards.
"Silly, really. I didn't even do anything. Just moved some rocks," he said quietly to himself. He jumped slightly when he heard a voice behind him.
"But if you hadn't moved those rocks, Ginny and I would still be stuck down there," the voice said. Ron knew who it was, even if his voice had changed over the years. Ron didn't turn around. He just tried to calm himself once again, but it didn't work too well.
"Why?" was all he managed to ask, rounding on his friend. Harry stood there, illuminated only by the shaft of moonlight coming in through the window. Ron saw a flash of guilt on his friend's face.
"I don't know, Ron. I just don't know. I knew he was coming. He'd been hiding in the forest for weeks. Not even Dumbledore knew he was there. But I knew if I didn't do something, he'd attack the school, kill everyone. I couldn't let that happen. I didn't think I would be strong enough to make it through that. I almost wasn't. But during that moment, when I cast my spell, I knew I was going to live. But I knew nothing would ever be the same. I would be thrust into the spotlight again. I didn't want to live through that any more. And I knew you, and Hermione, and Ginny, and even Sirius, would be shoved into the shadows again. It wasn't fair to you guys. So in that instant, I decided to leave. When I found myself in America, I was in a hospital. The nurses said I had been there for months, in a coma. I was going to write you guys, but then I overheard some wizards talking about how I was supposedly dead. So I thought maybe it would just be best if everyone thought I was gone.
"I met this girl, Jenny, and we fell in love. Last year, Jenny wanted to visit England. Who was I to tell her no? We came, and she fell in love with London. Found herself a teaching job, and so we moved into a flat. Her brother was a wizard, and she had taken to getting the Daily Prophet. I never told her who I really was, but she knew I was a wizard. At the beginning of the summer, I saw an advertisement in the Prophet. Hogwarts needed a new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. It was actually Jenny who suggested I apply for the job. I was content with working as a janitor. But she insisted. So I came out here one day, and applied. Then a few weeks later, Dumbledore owled me and told me I had the job. I didn't know you guys were teaching until a few days before term started. When I realized I'd be seeing you again, I just thought I'd play it cool, not let on who I was. But I should have known you guys would have figured out who I was," Harry said, smiling slightly at the end.
"It still doesn't make it any better. You left us. You lied to us. You betrayed our trust. You didn't only hurt Hermione, Sirius and I, but you hurt my sister. She loved you. She still does. Her last year here was horrible for her. She hardly ever talked to anyone. Don't you see Harry? You weren't the only one in pain. You weren't the only one suffering. However noble your cause might have been, it doesn't change what you did to us," Ron said angrily.
"No, it doesn't change what I did to YOU. That's the issue here, isn't it? We were best friends, and you felt like I left you out that night I went chasing after Voldemort. I didn't want to see you get hurt. I've seen too many people get hurt because of me. I knew you were worried, and so was everyone else, but I promised to myself not to let you guys get involved," Harry said, taking a step closer.
"Oh stop with your little guilt trip. You aren't going to get any pity from me. It's not like I haven't heard this speech before, you know. It's always the same. Always. 'I never wanted to hurt anyone'," Ron mimicked. He felt a pang of guilt as he saw the hurt expression cross Harry's face, but he brushed away the feeling.
"Excuse me. I didn't realize it was a crime to try and protect those you care about," Harry said, anger creeping into his voice as a defensive tactic.
"Oh come off it. We didn't need any protecting. We're just as capable as any. Not that you ever noticed though," Ron said bitingly.
"I never noticed? I think you're sorely mistaken. I always noticed. Others might not have, but I tried to stay out of the spotlight as much as possible," Harry replied. "Honestly, you're acting the same way you did during fourth year."
"And what's that supposed to mean?" Ron asked angrily. Harry just rolled his eyes and turned his back.
"I think you can figure that out for yourself. You're perfectly capable," Harry replied, throwing Ron's own words back at him.
"You would say that, wouldn't you. Always the humble one, oh Great Harry Potter," Ron said sarcastically. Harry turned back around and glared at Ron.
"I think it's your turn to come off it now. Let me ask you this. Who's idea was it for the statue? The holiday? Hmm?" Harry asked. Ron glared back at him.
"Excuse me for trying to honor a friend. How sorely mistaken I was though. You aren't my friend. And I'm not quite sure you ever were," Ron said. Harry looked extremely hurt once again.
"Fine, if that's what you think. I had plenty of other friends. Others who weren't so jealous of something I hated being," Harry retorted.
At that moment, Ron dashed forward, closing the gap between them. Pulling his arm back, he punched Harry in the jaw. Harry just stood there in shock for a minute, then rubbed his jaw slightly.
"Feel better?" Harry asked, still massaging his sore jaw. Ron rubbed his knuckles where they had connected. "Look, I'm sorry Ron, but I can't change what happened. Can you please just let bygones be bygones?"
Ron continued to rub his hand for a moment more. Then he nodded slightly. "I'm sorry Harry. I acted like a jerk. It's just... hard... I thought you were dead. That was one of my biggest fears, ever since first year, that one day, you would die. I never wanted that to happen," Ron said, inconspicuously wiping away a tear on his face.
"I know. Come on, it's getting late, and we have classes to teach in the morning," Harry said, waiting for Ron to walk back to their rooms together.
***
A/N: Sorry for the horribly long wait. I had the BIGGEST case of writer's block on this chapter. Literally, I had the first paragraph written, then I got stuck for like three weeks. Thank vacation that I finally got this done, otherwise, I wouldn't have the time. Thanks for your patience though! Sorry if this chapter sucked. I think the end was bad. They made up too quickly. But I liked the part when Ron punched Harry. I was going to have a full fight scene, but Harry just doesn't seem the type to hit back... Oh well. Thanks again! Please read and review!!!!!
My special thanks section (if you review, you get to see YOUR name here!!!)
Bleeding Heart- Did I ever say he was going to die in this story?? It could end before that... *grins evilly*....
Michelle- Of course I can do anything I want to! I had to explain that to my sister the other day... lol... gave me kind of a power trip, lol... Anyway, thanks for the review!
~*Twisted*LJ*Fan*~ / Phoenixheart- Thanks for keeping up w/ my story and for putting it on your Favorites list! I'm so honored! And I'm expecting a story from you so I can review it!
SiriusBPadfoot- In time, in time... I think maybe in not the next one, but the one after that (probably chapter 13... oooh! chapter 13... hmmmm....... lol...). Keep writing your story, it's good! Thanks for the review!!! And thanks for putting this on your profile as a story you like!!!!
M- BAD writer's block!!! I think I exhausted my muse... I wrote three chapters in one night, then I kinda died... but I'm slowly recuperating. Vacation is GOOD!!!! Especially when you don't have ANY from December until April (evil school, aka prison, it really looks like one you know... construction... lol....).
sisterofsailorsol- Thanks for the WONDERFUL review, oh dear sister of mine! As you see, I HAVE been writing, so SHUT UP!!! And she's just as much my cat as yours, seeing as she'd rather sit on my lap then sleep with YOU!!! So HA!! And you've taken advice from her before, admit it!!!! And BTW, I'M not the one obsessed w/ the Sims, that would be you and Dani, so HA!!! Now I'm going to post and continue to write, so :-P!!!!
Thanks to all my wonderful reviewers! You are my inspiration! And thank you to my sister Sarah for reading this and bugging me to write more. She is my "moose"... Crazy, psycho older sister who calls herself a "moose" when she's purposely butchering the word "muse".... Lol... I'll go write the next chapter now....