1 Chapter Two
1.1 Lies And Runaways
Ron ran home, getting his ankles muddier, and he was more soaked than before, which he didn't think was possible. He opened the door to the burrow assuming everybody was in the kitchen, not wanting to get the house wet; he stepped out of his shoes and pulled off his socks. He took off his shirts and rang them out. Then he stripped himself of his soaking pants ringing them out as well. Being only in his boxers, which were soaked through, he quickly ran to the living room to gratefully not find anybody there. He ran up the stairs with his drenched clothes in his arms. He ran all the way up to his room and dropped his clothes. He put on some dry clothes and ran back downstairs. He made his way into the kitchen where he was surprised to see only his mum there. She was cooking dinner.
"Hey mum, I'm home before five, just like I promised. Where are the others? They're not in the living room." Ron says.
"How dare you lie to me Ronald Patrick Weasley?" Mrs. Weasley asks.
"What are you talking about? Mum, they really aren't in the living room." Ron says bewilderedly. He looks back and still does not see anybody in the living room.
"Ronald, you're in enough trouble as it is! Don't be fresh! You've been lying this whole time!" Mrs. Weasley says.
"What? What are you talking about?" Ron asks.
"I had Anne over here for tea this morning. I thanked her for having you stay last night. She said that nobody was home and that nobody stayed over. They were at the Leaky Cauldron last night! Where were you?" Mrs. Weasley asks.
"Me? I was there. I didn't want to come home last night, and Toby gave me his bed." Ron says.
"You're lying to me again! That isn't true, and even if it was true… you told me this morning that you were catching up all night, and you wanted to continue this morning. Mrs. Lovegood said you stopped by for a second this morning, but you left quickly, before returning when I allowed you too, which meant you must've lied to me!" Mrs. Weasley yells.
"I lied about the catching up, only because I didn't want to hurt you by saying I didn't want to wake up here, because I feared Fred and George's inventions." Ron says.
"You could've been home for dinner if that lie was true, but you are lying, and you are calling me a fool, for trying to trick me. Now where were you at last night?" Mrs. Weasley asks trying to remain calm, though she looked dangerous.
Instinctively, Ron said the first, safest answer that came to his mind, "I was at Toby's like I said!" Ron insists getting a bit loud.
Ron was startled as his mum started toward him. He backed into the wall as she came toward him. She smacked him across the face hard. She started beating him and he cowered under her and fell to the ground. He started shouting for help, while his mum yelled at him.
"Don't you dare lie to me, I'm your mother! How dare you think me as a fool!" She roared as she beat him.
It sounded like thunder as several people ran down the stairs. All at once, Ginny, Fred and George, Percy, Charlie, Bill, and Mr. Weasley entered the kitchen to see Mrs. Weasley smacking something repetitively.
"What's that?" Fred asks.
"I think its Ron." George laughs.
"Should we help him?" Fred asks still amused though a bit concerned.
Bill and Charlie pulled their mother up off of Ron. Arthur embraced Molly and gestured to Percy with a nod to help out Ron.
Percy helped Ron up. Ron had tears on his face, though he didn't look upset, but he did look angry. His face was dark red with a scratch by his eye and his lip was bleeding.
Ron struggled out of Percy's clutches for the back door. He wouldn't stay there for another minute, but someone else's grasp held him back. He turned to see Charlie holding him back.
"Let go of me Charlie! I don't want to stay here! Get off of me!" Ron yells. Ron swung at Charlie, but Bill's hand caught his arm in mid-swing. Bill and Charlie forced Ron into a chair.
"No! Ron, knock it off! Stop it!" Bill says pulling out his wand.
"No!" Percy says taking Bill's wand out of his hand. "No, don't do anything, or you'll regret it. Trust me." Percy warns.
Bill nodded and Percy gave Bill back his wand, which he put in his pocket.
Ron still struggled against Charlie's grip. "Let me go!" Ron yelled angrily.
"No, Ron! You're not going anywhere." Percy yelled.
"Who died and made you boss?" Ron asks still fighting Charlie.
"You're about to die in a minute, little brother." George laughs.
Ron kicks him hard in the shin. "Shut up!" Ron yells.
Fred grabs the back of Ron's hair and pulls his head back so he can see the ceiling, and now Fred's face. "Ron, if you move, I guarantee huge live spiders will be crawling all over you. Now knock it off!" Fred yells slapping his brother in the back of the head as he lets go of him.
"Ron, what happened?" Mr. Weasley asks calmly but sternly. This was the first time his father was actually ever serious about punishing his son. Usually, he was very indulgent, but he wanted to know the answers.
"I don't know. I came home, and she flipped out at me!" Ron yells.
"There isn't a need for yelling. We can all hear you fine. Now, she didn't just go off on you, what did you say to her?" Mr. Weasley asks.
"I said I'm home before five, like I promised. Then I asked where everyone was, and she yelled how dare I lied to her!" Ron says innocently.
"What did you lie about?" Mr. Weasley asks, looking with surprise at his son.
"Nothing." Ron says.
"That's another lie!" Mrs. Weasley says.
"I'm not lying!" Ron yells again.
"Molly, what did Ron lie about?" Mr. Weasley asks.
"He says he spent the night at Toby's last night!" Mrs. Weasley says.
"You didn't?" Mr. Weasley asks.
"I already told her I did! She just wants to punish me!" Ron yells.
"The Lovegoods spent the night at the Leaky Cauldron last night. I had tea with Anne this afternoon. She said Ron left last night, and returned this morning only for a second, before leaving and coming back later when I allowed him too." Mrs. Weasley says.
"And I told you that I didn't want to go home last night so Toby gave me his bed!" Ron says.
"Why didn't you want to come home?" Mr. Weasley asks.
"It's the first night of summer. Fred and George were starting up their inventions, and they might've tested them on me while I slept, and I didn't want to spend the next sixty-one days worrying about how they'd blackmail me and humiliate me at Hogwarts by recalling their pranks." Ron says.
"You could've came home for dinner last night." Mr. Weasley says.
"I lost track of time, and I forgot. I knew if I came home you'd be mad at me." Ron says.
"You know for somebody who doesn't get high marks, you can think real good and real fast." Ginny says. "But I suppose it's the thinking stupidly that gets you those poor marks, because you come up with some real good lies and excuses quickly, but you're stupid for lying. You see Ron you clench your jaw right before you lie." Ginny says.
"You noticed that too? I was going to wait and see how many excuses and how many lies he could go on with before he ran out." Charlie laughs.
"Where were you last night?" Mrs. Weasley asks.
"I told you!" Ron says.
"Well, I got a pretty good guess. Judging by the facts, I'd say he was with Sabrina Fawcett." Ginny says.
"How'd you guess that?" Mrs. Weasley asks.
"Well, there are only two girls around his age that are witches and live around here, and that is Tabitha Lovegood, and Sabrina Fawcett. Well, nobody was home at the Lovegoods like you said, and you have to pass the Lovegoods to get to the burrow from Sabrina's, unless you want to walk extra long, and I imagine Ron wanted to tell Toby about his night of fun as he passed, and like you said mum he stopped by early this morning, before returning back later. Oh, and I believe it to be Sabrina and nobody else, because he's got a hickey on his neck, and Sabrina's known to get around." Ginny says smiling.
Ron instinctively reached up and covered his hickey with his shirt. He glared evilly at Ginny.
"Please let me go." Ron pleaded with Bill in a whisper.
"Ron, don't worry. I can reassure you that you will be gone very shortly. Possibly by tonight." Mrs. Weasley says.
"What?" Ron asks.
"I have a feeling you won't be going to Toby's." Fred says.
"And definitely not to Sabrina's." George says.
"I'll ask your grandfather to take you in for the rest of the summer." Mrs. Weasley says.
"I'll runaway or die first." Ron says.
"Which grandfather?" Ginny asks confused.
"Grandfather John." Mrs. Weasley says.
"Is that supposed to be a punishment?" Ginny asks.
"Worse than death and mum put together." Ron says.
"Grandfather's always so nice to me." Ginny says.
"Grandfather loves you." Fred says.
"He hates Ron, worse than me and Fred combined." George says.
"Why?" Ginny asks.
"Because Ron's not smart or talented." Fred says.
"At all." George adds grinning at Ron.
Ron continued to stare at the rain beating the window on the opposite side of the room.
"But you're talented, why does he hate you two?" Ginny asks.
"Because we're mischievous, or something." George says.
"But he always said that Ron was the biggest mistake in the Weasley history, and that's even bigger and worse than what he thinks of dad's job. He was never in favor of muggles or the Ministry." Fred says.
"That's enough!" Percy yells disgusted at his brothers' cruel remarks. "Ron, maybe you should go to your room and think of everything that just went on." Percy suggests helping him up.
Ron got up and walked out of the kitchen and climbed the stairs to his room, but he didn't stay there. He climbed out his window and down the tree, not caring that he could slip on the wet branches. He got down well enough, and ran as fast as he could to the Lovegoods.
Knowing, Anne was upset with him for lying to his mother, he knew he wouldn't be welcomed through the front door and that if Anne did see him, she would owl his mother to make sure he had permission to be there. Ron decided to climb a tree into Toby's room. He knocked softly on the window as he saw Toby doing his homework at his desk. He watched Toby lock his door before opening the window and letting Ron in. He handed Ron a towel, and pointed to the closet without saying anything. Ron knew Anne would be coming in soon, and Ron dried off quickly and hid in the closet, hiding behind a cloak and a broomstick.
Toby unlocked the door and continued his homework. Soon enough, his mother entered. "Drink this." Anne says.
"What is it?" Toby asks.
"Hot cocoa. You're freezing. There's a whole pot of it downstairs. Will you be all right for an hour or two? I forgot to pick up some Floo powder while I was in Diagon Alley, and I need to pick it up. It won't take me too long." Anne says.
"Oh, mum you're so overprotective. Of course I'll be all right." Toby reassures his mother.
"All right, stay out of trouble. I love you. I'll be home shortly. Your sister's downstairs with Sabrina. If you need anything give them a shout." Anne says.
"All right. Have fun mum." Toby says.
Ron listened as the door closed. After about ten minutes, he heard Toby leave. When he reentered the room, he opened the closet door. "You can come out now. Just don't make too much noise. I take it you're not supposed to be here, if you put so much effort into climbing through my window." Toby says letting him out.
"I snuck out. Your mum and my mum had a chat earlier. My mum thanked your mum for having me last night, and she told her that I was never here that nobody was here." Ron says.
"Oh no." Toby says.
"She found out all my lies, even after I went through so much trouble of thinking up more lies. Stupid Ginny had to see right through me and spill it for everyone to hear." Ron says.
"I don't understand. How did Ginny know?" Toby asks.
"My mum was thrashing me for not telling her where I was, and I guess my shirt collar slipped, and it revealed a hickey, and Ginny said the only witch around here that's known for getting around is Sabrina, and they put the pieces together from there." Ron says.
"What now?" Toby asks.
"Now my mum's planning on sending me away to my grandfather's. He thinks I'm the biggest mistake to the Weasley name since my dad's job. He thinks my dad wastes his time with muggles. He and my dad don't even talk anymore. My mum's the one who makes us visit him. He loves everybody, even Fred and George, who he thinks are bad, but he still loves the twins, but he hates me. He truly does. He insults me and makes me feel like I'm worse of a human being than the rest of my brothers already do. If only my older brothers or Ginny went with me it would be less of a torture. I'd be neglected rather than verbally abused. I have a bad enough opinion of myself as it is. I don't need him reminding me how much worse it is. When Bill, Charlie, or Percy went he'd admire them, because they were smart, they upheld the brains of the Weasley family, or in Charlie's case, he'd admire him for having talent. When Fred and George came, he'd yell at them for being rascals or messing up his perfect house. He's very strict. The twins wouldn't care though. They'd be having too much fun. Besides, grandfather never really yelled at them, he loved them they have Quidditch talent. Ginny, on the other hand, he loves her because she's a girl. He was never fond of grandsons, unless they made him proud. I can't make anybody proud." Ron says sadly.
Back at the burrow, Percy unlocked Ron's door to find the room completely empty. He ran over to the closed window and sighed in relief, as he didn't see Ron's body on the ground, floors below. He ran downstairs into the kitchen.
"Is Ron packing?" Mrs. Weasley asks.
"Er… no." Percy says.
"Why not?" Mrs. Weasley asks.
"I can't tell him, because he's not in his room." Percy says.
"What?" Mr. Weasley asks.
"His floor is the highest in the burrow. He couldn't have climbed down." Fred says.
"Well that tree in the back goes the length of the house. It's got plenty of branches. Unless he jumped out of the window, there's no other way down. I mean I agree with Ron, I'd rather die than live with Grandfather for one day. You're talking about the whole summer." George says.
"He's not lying lifeless on the ground outside, so I think we should go over to Toby and Sabrina's and bring him home." Percy says.
"Why? He'll just leave again." Fred asks.
"Not if I break his legs." Mrs. Weasley says.
"Mum, calm down, we'll body bind him first. Look, George and I will check at Toby's for him, and Fred and Charlie will go to Sabrina's. There aren't any other wizarding families in the area, except for the Diggory's, but…" Bill sighs.
"All right then. We'll be going now." Charlie says interrupting the sad silence.
The twins followed Bill and Charlie outside. It was still raining.
"Was Ron this out of control in Hogwarts?" Charlie asks.
"No. I didn't even notice a change until mum flipped." Fred admits.
"It's amazing the power that girls have." George says sarcastically.
"Like you'd know." Fred says rolling his eyes.
"No, but you do." George teases.
"Ooh! Fred has a little girlfriend, does he?" Charlie asks teasingly.
"No, of course not." Fred says casually.
"All right, I'll be sure to let Angelina know how little you think of her." George says.
"You wouldn't!" Fred says seriously.
"Oh, Angelina, eh? I think Fred does have a girlfriend. So how did this happen?" Bill asks.
"He asked her to the Yule Ball." George says grinning.
"As a friend." Fred insists.
"Oh, of course." Charlie says sarcastically.
"Right. Just friends, I got you." Bill teases.
"Oh shut up, I'm seventeen for crying out loud! I had the guts to ask out a girl, unlike somebody!" Fred says looking at George.
"Ooh, George, what happened? Lost your nerve?" Charlie asks.
"No, I just don't happen to like anyone in particular. Besides, I don't see you or Bill with anyone." George points out.
"He's got a point." Charlie says.
"We're just going to end the discussion now. Let's concentrate on what spell we can use that won't hurt Ron, but will make him come home with us calmly." Bill says.
"There's no such spell." Fred says.
"Yea, when Ron's angry, there's no hope in calming him down." George says.
"For at least twenty-four hours." Fred says.
"Can't we hurt him?" George asks.
"Can we knock him out?" Fred asks.
Bill and Charlie laughed at their brothers' remarks.
"It depends on Ron. If he tries to run, we'll stun him, and carry him home. If he comes with us, there won't be a need to do anything." Charlie says.
They walk up to the Lovegoods and knock on the door. Tabitha opens it and looks confused.
"Hello Tabitha, is your brother around?" Fred asks.
"No, he left with Ron a while ago. I can give him a message if you want." Tabitha says.
"No, we were looking for Ron. Do you have any idea of where they might've gone?" Bill asks.
"No, sorry." Tabitha says.
Just then, Sabrina walks up to the front door.
"Well, he's not at your house then either. Send him home when you see him, please. It's important." Charlie says.
"I'll try." Tabitha says shutting the door.
They started walking home when Fred stopped.
"What is it? Why are you stopping?" George asks.
"I think Tabitha was lying. They're probably in the house." Fred says.
"We'll come back tonight. Their mum will be home, and she'll tell us where Ron is, if she doesn't send him home herself." Bill says.
"No, I'll be back." Fred whispers.
"Where are you going?" Charlie asks.
"I just want to see if they're in there or not." Fred whispers.
"How do you plan on doing that?" Bill asks.
"There's a tree that leads up to Tobias' room. When Ron and Tobias used to be best friends ages ago, George and I would chase them with spiders and such. Ron always climbed up that tree and into Tobias' window." Fred says.
"You'd be invading their privacy." Bill says.
"Nobody has to know, besides, their mum's not home. I'll be quick about it. I'll look in the window, if I don't see anyone, we'll go home, if I do, we'll knock again." Fred says.
"You got five minutes." Charlie says.
Fred runs quickly around the back of the Lovegoods house. He climbs a tree and looks in a window. There he sees Ron and Tobias playing Wizard's Chess. Quickly, he climbs back down and runs over to his brothers.
"Well?" George asks.
"I knew she lied! They're upstairs playing Wizard's Chess." Fred says out of breath.
"All right, let's get him." George says.
"Oh, what are we supposed to say? I think you're lying, because Fred just climbed up the back of your house and found Ron playing chess?" Bill asks.
"If it comes to that." Fred says.
Without giving his brothers time to think, Fred ran up to the front door and knocked repetitively until Tabitha opened it once again.
"Yes?" Tabitha asks.
"We found Ron playing Quidditch in the woods, and my parents are taking him home, but he forgot something in Toby's room, which we were sent to retrieve." Fred says.
"What's that?" Tabitha asks.
"Him." Fred says.
Fred and George ran up the stairs pushing past Tabitha and entering Tobias' room. Ron and Tobias hadn't noticed who entered the room yet, because they were too focused on their game.
"Tabitha, I thought I told you to knock before entering, and even then, not to enter. What do you want?" Toby asks.
"One, we're not Tabitha. Two, we're here to retrieve Ron. Bill is out back, and Charlie is downstairs. Don't try to run, because they will stun you. If you come with us calmly, we won't hurt you." George says.
"See you later, Ron." Toby says as they both stand up.
"I have a feeling you won't." Ron says.
1.1 Lies And Runaways
Ron ran home, getting his ankles muddier, and he was more soaked than before, which he didn't think was possible. He opened the door to the burrow assuming everybody was in the kitchen, not wanting to get the house wet; he stepped out of his shoes and pulled off his socks. He took off his shirts and rang them out. Then he stripped himself of his soaking pants ringing them out as well. Being only in his boxers, which were soaked through, he quickly ran to the living room to gratefully not find anybody there. He ran up the stairs with his drenched clothes in his arms. He ran all the way up to his room and dropped his clothes. He put on some dry clothes and ran back downstairs. He made his way into the kitchen where he was surprised to see only his mum there. She was cooking dinner.
"Hey mum, I'm home before five, just like I promised. Where are the others? They're not in the living room." Ron says.
"How dare you lie to me Ronald Patrick Weasley?" Mrs. Weasley asks.
"What are you talking about? Mum, they really aren't in the living room." Ron says bewilderedly. He looks back and still does not see anybody in the living room.
"Ronald, you're in enough trouble as it is! Don't be fresh! You've been lying this whole time!" Mrs. Weasley says.
"What? What are you talking about?" Ron asks.
"I had Anne over here for tea this morning. I thanked her for having you stay last night. She said that nobody was home and that nobody stayed over. They were at the Leaky Cauldron last night! Where were you?" Mrs. Weasley asks.
"Me? I was there. I didn't want to come home last night, and Toby gave me his bed." Ron says.
"You're lying to me again! That isn't true, and even if it was true… you told me this morning that you were catching up all night, and you wanted to continue this morning. Mrs. Lovegood said you stopped by for a second this morning, but you left quickly, before returning when I allowed you too, which meant you must've lied to me!" Mrs. Weasley yells.
"I lied about the catching up, only because I didn't want to hurt you by saying I didn't want to wake up here, because I feared Fred and George's inventions." Ron says.
"You could've been home for dinner if that lie was true, but you are lying, and you are calling me a fool, for trying to trick me. Now where were you at last night?" Mrs. Weasley asks trying to remain calm, though she looked dangerous.
Instinctively, Ron said the first, safest answer that came to his mind, "I was at Toby's like I said!" Ron insists getting a bit loud.
Ron was startled as his mum started toward him. He backed into the wall as she came toward him. She smacked him across the face hard. She started beating him and he cowered under her and fell to the ground. He started shouting for help, while his mum yelled at him.
"Don't you dare lie to me, I'm your mother! How dare you think me as a fool!" She roared as she beat him.
It sounded like thunder as several people ran down the stairs. All at once, Ginny, Fred and George, Percy, Charlie, Bill, and Mr. Weasley entered the kitchen to see Mrs. Weasley smacking something repetitively.
"What's that?" Fred asks.
"I think its Ron." George laughs.
"Should we help him?" Fred asks still amused though a bit concerned.
Bill and Charlie pulled their mother up off of Ron. Arthur embraced Molly and gestured to Percy with a nod to help out Ron.
Percy helped Ron up. Ron had tears on his face, though he didn't look upset, but he did look angry. His face was dark red with a scratch by his eye and his lip was bleeding.
Ron struggled out of Percy's clutches for the back door. He wouldn't stay there for another minute, but someone else's grasp held him back. He turned to see Charlie holding him back.
"Let go of me Charlie! I don't want to stay here! Get off of me!" Ron yells. Ron swung at Charlie, but Bill's hand caught his arm in mid-swing. Bill and Charlie forced Ron into a chair.
"No! Ron, knock it off! Stop it!" Bill says pulling out his wand.
"No!" Percy says taking Bill's wand out of his hand. "No, don't do anything, or you'll regret it. Trust me." Percy warns.
Bill nodded and Percy gave Bill back his wand, which he put in his pocket.
Ron still struggled against Charlie's grip. "Let me go!" Ron yelled angrily.
"No, Ron! You're not going anywhere." Percy yelled.
"Who died and made you boss?" Ron asks still fighting Charlie.
"You're about to die in a minute, little brother." George laughs.
Ron kicks him hard in the shin. "Shut up!" Ron yells.
Fred grabs the back of Ron's hair and pulls his head back so he can see the ceiling, and now Fred's face. "Ron, if you move, I guarantee huge live spiders will be crawling all over you. Now knock it off!" Fred yells slapping his brother in the back of the head as he lets go of him.
"Ron, what happened?" Mr. Weasley asks calmly but sternly. This was the first time his father was actually ever serious about punishing his son. Usually, he was very indulgent, but he wanted to know the answers.
"I don't know. I came home, and she flipped out at me!" Ron yells.
"There isn't a need for yelling. We can all hear you fine. Now, she didn't just go off on you, what did you say to her?" Mr. Weasley asks.
"I said I'm home before five, like I promised. Then I asked where everyone was, and she yelled how dare I lied to her!" Ron says innocently.
"What did you lie about?" Mr. Weasley asks, looking with surprise at his son.
"Nothing." Ron says.
"That's another lie!" Mrs. Weasley says.
"I'm not lying!" Ron yells again.
"Molly, what did Ron lie about?" Mr. Weasley asks.
"He says he spent the night at Toby's last night!" Mrs. Weasley says.
"You didn't?" Mr. Weasley asks.
"I already told her I did! She just wants to punish me!" Ron yells.
"The Lovegoods spent the night at the Leaky Cauldron last night. I had tea with Anne this afternoon. She said Ron left last night, and returned this morning only for a second, before leaving and coming back later when I allowed him too." Mrs. Weasley says.
"And I told you that I didn't want to go home last night so Toby gave me his bed!" Ron says.
"Why didn't you want to come home?" Mr. Weasley asks.
"It's the first night of summer. Fred and George were starting up their inventions, and they might've tested them on me while I slept, and I didn't want to spend the next sixty-one days worrying about how they'd blackmail me and humiliate me at Hogwarts by recalling their pranks." Ron says.
"You could've came home for dinner last night." Mr. Weasley says.
"I lost track of time, and I forgot. I knew if I came home you'd be mad at me." Ron says.
"You know for somebody who doesn't get high marks, you can think real good and real fast." Ginny says. "But I suppose it's the thinking stupidly that gets you those poor marks, because you come up with some real good lies and excuses quickly, but you're stupid for lying. You see Ron you clench your jaw right before you lie." Ginny says.
"You noticed that too? I was going to wait and see how many excuses and how many lies he could go on with before he ran out." Charlie laughs.
"Where were you last night?" Mrs. Weasley asks.
"I told you!" Ron says.
"Well, I got a pretty good guess. Judging by the facts, I'd say he was with Sabrina Fawcett." Ginny says.
"How'd you guess that?" Mrs. Weasley asks.
"Well, there are only two girls around his age that are witches and live around here, and that is Tabitha Lovegood, and Sabrina Fawcett. Well, nobody was home at the Lovegoods like you said, and you have to pass the Lovegoods to get to the burrow from Sabrina's, unless you want to walk extra long, and I imagine Ron wanted to tell Toby about his night of fun as he passed, and like you said mum he stopped by early this morning, before returning back later. Oh, and I believe it to be Sabrina and nobody else, because he's got a hickey on his neck, and Sabrina's known to get around." Ginny says smiling.
Ron instinctively reached up and covered his hickey with his shirt. He glared evilly at Ginny.
"Please let me go." Ron pleaded with Bill in a whisper.
"Ron, don't worry. I can reassure you that you will be gone very shortly. Possibly by tonight." Mrs. Weasley says.
"What?" Ron asks.
"I have a feeling you won't be going to Toby's." Fred says.
"And definitely not to Sabrina's." George says.
"I'll ask your grandfather to take you in for the rest of the summer." Mrs. Weasley says.
"I'll runaway or die first." Ron says.
"Which grandfather?" Ginny asks confused.
"Grandfather John." Mrs. Weasley says.
"Is that supposed to be a punishment?" Ginny asks.
"Worse than death and mum put together." Ron says.
"Grandfather's always so nice to me." Ginny says.
"Grandfather loves you." Fred says.
"He hates Ron, worse than me and Fred combined." George says.
"Why?" Ginny asks.
"Because Ron's not smart or talented." Fred says.
"At all." George adds grinning at Ron.
Ron continued to stare at the rain beating the window on the opposite side of the room.
"But you're talented, why does he hate you two?" Ginny asks.
"Because we're mischievous, or something." George says.
"But he always said that Ron was the biggest mistake in the Weasley history, and that's even bigger and worse than what he thinks of dad's job. He was never in favor of muggles or the Ministry." Fred says.
"That's enough!" Percy yells disgusted at his brothers' cruel remarks. "Ron, maybe you should go to your room and think of everything that just went on." Percy suggests helping him up.
Ron got up and walked out of the kitchen and climbed the stairs to his room, but he didn't stay there. He climbed out his window and down the tree, not caring that he could slip on the wet branches. He got down well enough, and ran as fast as he could to the Lovegoods.
Knowing, Anne was upset with him for lying to his mother, he knew he wouldn't be welcomed through the front door and that if Anne did see him, she would owl his mother to make sure he had permission to be there. Ron decided to climb a tree into Toby's room. He knocked softly on the window as he saw Toby doing his homework at his desk. He watched Toby lock his door before opening the window and letting Ron in. He handed Ron a towel, and pointed to the closet without saying anything. Ron knew Anne would be coming in soon, and Ron dried off quickly and hid in the closet, hiding behind a cloak and a broomstick.
Toby unlocked the door and continued his homework. Soon enough, his mother entered. "Drink this." Anne says.
"What is it?" Toby asks.
"Hot cocoa. You're freezing. There's a whole pot of it downstairs. Will you be all right for an hour or two? I forgot to pick up some Floo powder while I was in Diagon Alley, and I need to pick it up. It won't take me too long." Anne says.
"Oh, mum you're so overprotective. Of course I'll be all right." Toby reassures his mother.
"All right, stay out of trouble. I love you. I'll be home shortly. Your sister's downstairs with Sabrina. If you need anything give them a shout." Anne says.
"All right. Have fun mum." Toby says.
Ron listened as the door closed. After about ten minutes, he heard Toby leave. When he reentered the room, he opened the closet door. "You can come out now. Just don't make too much noise. I take it you're not supposed to be here, if you put so much effort into climbing through my window." Toby says letting him out.
"I snuck out. Your mum and my mum had a chat earlier. My mum thanked your mum for having me last night, and she told her that I was never here that nobody was here." Ron says.
"Oh no." Toby says.
"She found out all my lies, even after I went through so much trouble of thinking up more lies. Stupid Ginny had to see right through me and spill it for everyone to hear." Ron says.
"I don't understand. How did Ginny know?" Toby asks.
"My mum was thrashing me for not telling her where I was, and I guess my shirt collar slipped, and it revealed a hickey, and Ginny said the only witch around here that's known for getting around is Sabrina, and they put the pieces together from there." Ron says.
"What now?" Toby asks.
"Now my mum's planning on sending me away to my grandfather's. He thinks I'm the biggest mistake to the Weasley name since my dad's job. He thinks my dad wastes his time with muggles. He and my dad don't even talk anymore. My mum's the one who makes us visit him. He loves everybody, even Fred and George, who he thinks are bad, but he still loves the twins, but he hates me. He truly does. He insults me and makes me feel like I'm worse of a human being than the rest of my brothers already do. If only my older brothers or Ginny went with me it would be less of a torture. I'd be neglected rather than verbally abused. I have a bad enough opinion of myself as it is. I don't need him reminding me how much worse it is. When Bill, Charlie, or Percy went he'd admire them, because they were smart, they upheld the brains of the Weasley family, or in Charlie's case, he'd admire him for having talent. When Fred and George came, he'd yell at them for being rascals or messing up his perfect house. He's very strict. The twins wouldn't care though. They'd be having too much fun. Besides, grandfather never really yelled at them, he loved them they have Quidditch talent. Ginny, on the other hand, he loves her because she's a girl. He was never fond of grandsons, unless they made him proud. I can't make anybody proud." Ron says sadly.
Back at the burrow, Percy unlocked Ron's door to find the room completely empty. He ran over to the closed window and sighed in relief, as he didn't see Ron's body on the ground, floors below. He ran downstairs into the kitchen.
"Is Ron packing?" Mrs. Weasley asks.
"Er… no." Percy says.
"Why not?" Mrs. Weasley asks.
"I can't tell him, because he's not in his room." Percy says.
"What?" Mr. Weasley asks.
"His floor is the highest in the burrow. He couldn't have climbed down." Fred says.
"Well that tree in the back goes the length of the house. It's got plenty of branches. Unless he jumped out of the window, there's no other way down. I mean I agree with Ron, I'd rather die than live with Grandfather for one day. You're talking about the whole summer." George says.
"He's not lying lifeless on the ground outside, so I think we should go over to Toby and Sabrina's and bring him home." Percy says.
"Why? He'll just leave again." Fred asks.
"Not if I break his legs." Mrs. Weasley says.
"Mum, calm down, we'll body bind him first. Look, George and I will check at Toby's for him, and Fred and Charlie will go to Sabrina's. There aren't any other wizarding families in the area, except for the Diggory's, but…" Bill sighs.
"All right then. We'll be going now." Charlie says interrupting the sad silence.
The twins followed Bill and Charlie outside. It was still raining.
"Was Ron this out of control in Hogwarts?" Charlie asks.
"No. I didn't even notice a change until mum flipped." Fred admits.
"It's amazing the power that girls have." George says sarcastically.
"Like you'd know." Fred says rolling his eyes.
"No, but you do." George teases.
"Ooh! Fred has a little girlfriend, does he?" Charlie asks teasingly.
"No, of course not." Fred says casually.
"All right, I'll be sure to let Angelina know how little you think of her." George says.
"You wouldn't!" Fred says seriously.
"Oh, Angelina, eh? I think Fred does have a girlfriend. So how did this happen?" Bill asks.
"He asked her to the Yule Ball." George says grinning.
"As a friend." Fred insists.
"Oh, of course." Charlie says sarcastically.
"Right. Just friends, I got you." Bill teases.
"Oh shut up, I'm seventeen for crying out loud! I had the guts to ask out a girl, unlike somebody!" Fred says looking at George.
"Ooh, George, what happened? Lost your nerve?" Charlie asks.
"No, I just don't happen to like anyone in particular. Besides, I don't see you or Bill with anyone." George points out.
"He's got a point." Charlie says.
"We're just going to end the discussion now. Let's concentrate on what spell we can use that won't hurt Ron, but will make him come home with us calmly." Bill says.
"There's no such spell." Fred says.
"Yea, when Ron's angry, there's no hope in calming him down." George says.
"For at least twenty-four hours." Fred says.
"Can't we hurt him?" George asks.
"Can we knock him out?" Fred asks.
Bill and Charlie laughed at their brothers' remarks.
"It depends on Ron. If he tries to run, we'll stun him, and carry him home. If he comes with us, there won't be a need to do anything." Charlie says.
They walk up to the Lovegoods and knock on the door. Tabitha opens it and looks confused.
"Hello Tabitha, is your brother around?" Fred asks.
"No, he left with Ron a while ago. I can give him a message if you want." Tabitha says.
"No, we were looking for Ron. Do you have any idea of where they might've gone?" Bill asks.
"No, sorry." Tabitha says.
Just then, Sabrina walks up to the front door.
"Well, he's not at your house then either. Send him home when you see him, please. It's important." Charlie says.
"I'll try." Tabitha says shutting the door.
They started walking home when Fred stopped.
"What is it? Why are you stopping?" George asks.
"I think Tabitha was lying. They're probably in the house." Fred says.
"We'll come back tonight. Their mum will be home, and she'll tell us where Ron is, if she doesn't send him home herself." Bill says.
"No, I'll be back." Fred whispers.
"Where are you going?" Charlie asks.
"I just want to see if they're in there or not." Fred whispers.
"How do you plan on doing that?" Bill asks.
"There's a tree that leads up to Tobias' room. When Ron and Tobias used to be best friends ages ago, George and I would chase them with spiders and such. Ron always climbed up that tree and into Tobias' window." Fred says.
"You'd be invading their privacy." Bill says.
"Nobody has to know, besides, their mum's not home. I'll be quick about it. I'll look in the window, if I don't see anyone, we'll go home, if I do, we'll knock again." Fred says.
"You got five minutes." Charlie says.
Fred runs quickly around the back of the Lovegoods house. He climbs a tree and looks in a window. There he sees Ron and Tobias playing Wizard's Chess. Quickly, he climbs back down and runs over to his brothers.
"Well?" George asks.
"I knew she lied! They're upstairs playing Wizard's Chess." Fred says out of breath.
"All right, let's get him." George says.
"Oh, what are we supposed to say? I think you're lying, because Fred just climbed up the back of your house and found Ron playing chess?" Bill asks.
"If it comes to that." Fred says.
Without giving his brothers time to think, Fred ran up to the front door and knocked repetitively until Tabitha opened it once again.
"Yes?" Tabitha asks.
"We found Ron playing Quidditch in the woods, and my parents are taking him home, but he forgot something in Toby's room, which we were sent to retrieve." Fred says.
"What's that?" Tabitha asks.
"Him." Fred says.
Fred and George ran up the stairs pushing past Tabitha and entering Tobias' room. Ron and Tobias hadn't noticed who entered the room yet, because they were too focused on their game.
"Tabitha, I thought I told you to knock before entering, and even then, not to enter. What do you want?" Toby asks.
"One, we're not Tabitha. Two, we're here to retrieve Ron. Bill is out back, and Charlie is downstairs. Don't try to run, because they will stun you. If you come with us calmly, we won't hurt you." George says.
"See you later, Ron." Toby says as they both stand up.
"I have a feeling you won't." Ron says.