Chapter Five
Ron Returns (And So Does Grandfather)
The next morning, Harry and Hermione came downstairs to the kitchen to find Mrs. Weasley talking with Mr. Weasley, neither of who had slept last night.
"I can't believe him. Molly, go to bed. I'm sure he's fine. He's probably pulling a stunt. When he comes home, because he will come home eventually, send me an owl immediately. I said I would take care of this, and I intend too. I don't want him going to his Grandfather's." Mr. Weasley says.
Fred and George who had just woken up entered the kitchen, followed by Percy, who was dressed for work.
"Where's Ron?" Fred asks.
"He didn't come home last night?" George asks.
"No boys, he didn't." Mr. Weasley says.
"Dad, was that caution ever lifted?" Fred says.
"Not that I can say." Mr. Weasley says.
"Oh no! What if he was going to Toby's, and he was running through the forest! He doesn't know about the warning." George says.
"What warning?" Harry and Hermione ask in unison.
"About the middle of July an auror spotted You-Know-Who around this area. Not where we live, but as a precaution no muggle or wizard in the vicinity of Devon is allowed out after dark. Especially not near the forests. I think they spotted him somewhere near Dartmoor, southwest of us, but they have us all alerted. I think your brother's just fine George, but it's good to know you're concerned for him." Mr. Weasley says.
"Oh, well if he was killed, since I was so concerned for my brother, can I get his owl?" George asks.
Mrs. Weasley smacked him in the back of the head.
"I was just asking!" George says backing away rubbing the back of his head.
"You were asking for a smack in the head." Mrs. Weasley says.
Just then there was a knock on the front door. "I'll get it." Percy says. He leaves the kitchen.
Mrs. Weasley made everyone a plate of breakfast and a cup of tea, while they waited for Percy to come back.
Percy came back looking anxious. "Mum… the person at the door wants to speak to you or dad." Percy says.
"Who is it?" Fred asks.
"Somebody for mum or dad, whoever's not busy." Percy says.
"I'll see who it is. Sit down and have some breakfast before you go to work, dear." Mrs. Weasley says patting his shoulder.
"I'm not going to have the appetite shortly." Percy says.
"Why? Percy, who was at the door?" Mr. Weasley asks.
Just then however, Ron walked into the kitchen. "Ron, where were you?" Mr. Weasley asks.
"I wasn't at Toby's or Sabrina's. Don't worry!" Ron says making himself some tea.
"That doesn't answer my question, where were you?" Mr. Weasley asks.
"I went for a walk." Ron says. His hands were shaking as he picked up his cup of tea and sipped it.
Harry looked at Hermione and she had noticed this too.
"Boys, Hermione, would you mind giving us a few minutes, please?" Mr. Weasley asks.
"Yes." Fred and George reply in unison. Mr. Weasley looks at them.
"You said you were going to punish him, I want to see this." George explains.
"Out!" Mr. Weasley snaps pointing toward the living room.
He watches as they all walk out of the room.
"That means out of earshot Fred and George!" Mr. Weasley yells.
"What?" George asks.
"See, we can't hear you!" Fred says.
"Upstairs, now." Mrs. Weasley barks at the twins.
"Oh boy, he's in deep." George says as their mother escorts them away from the kitchen.
"You're going to send me back to Grandfather's?" Ron asks.
"No, what made you think that?" Mr. Weasley asks.
"The twins. They said you're punishing me. I figured that's my punishment, and you're sending me there, so I won't hate mum as much." Ron says.
"What made you leave last night?" Mr. Weasley asks.
"I got into an argument with Harry, and I went to blow off some steam." Ron says.
"All night?" Mr. Weasley asks.
"No, after the first half hour when I was done, I'd knew mum would be flipping, and I didn't feel like listening to her yell for just walking around my own neighborhood for a half hour, but I knew she would anyway, so I figured I'd chill the night outside. I swear I didn't go over Toby's or Sabrina's." Ron says.
"All night, you were outside?" Mr. Weasley asks.
"Not all night." Ron says sipping some more of his tea.
"Why'd you knock on the door?" Mr. Weasley asks.
"I didn't." Ron says honestly.
Mr. Weasley looks at Percy, "Who knocked on the door?" Mr. Weasley asks.
Percy opened his mouth to say something, but saw his infuriated mother storming toward the kitchen and picked up the Daily Prophet.
Mrs. Weasley walked in and pointed her wand at one of the chairs. She transfigured it into a door and levitated it over to the opening of the kitchen and put it in place, so that nobody could walk in, or hears all of the yelling.
"Who was at the door, Molly?" Mr. Weasley asks.
"The muggle police officer that brought him home!" Mrs. Weasley whispers dangerously as she looks at Ron.
"The muggle police? Ron what the hell did you do?" Mr. Weasley asks not bothering to keep his voice down.
"I was just walking around, blowing off steam. The muggles have a curfew. They pick anybody up who's out after a certain time." Ron says.
"They picked him up at 3:30 this morning, and he refused to tell them his name or where he lived until this morning." Mrs. Weasley says.
"Was it just for curfew?" Mr. Weasley asks.
"Yes, you know the warning, no wizard or muggle is allowed out after a certain time. When they finally did get it out of him, they had no record of any Weasley, so they thought he was joking. Someone from the Ministry came and verified he was telling the truth and brought him home. Luckily, he got off with a warning. If it happens again, we could face a fine, and a muggle fine, and they aren't any easier." Mrs. Weasley says. "But you want to take care of this one. So go ahead. I think it would just be easier to owl your father. He was doing so well over there. He's only getting into trouble here." Mrs. Weasley adds.
"I didn't know there was a curfew!" Ron interrupts.
"You knew damn well, not to runaway. You knew you weren't to be out after dark. Those rules were set from Bill's years growing up. They've stayed the same! You knew not to lie, you could've told the police officer sooner, and he would've brought you home. It didn't matter what time it was! We were up all night worrying about you. I'm going to be late for work, and I'm already exhausted as it is, and this is all because of your reckless behavior!" Mr. Weasley yells.
Ron wasn't sure whether to be frightened or laughing. He was scared to hear his father, of all people, yelling at him, but at the same time, his father had never seriously punished him, so he thought of it as a very funny joke, but he controlled his thoughts, and decided to keep a neutral face about the situation. His mum was still present.
"Go to your room! STAY THERE! God help you, if you're not there when I get home from work tonight. You're to stay there until I can deal with you tonight. You're grounded, until I have time to think of a proper punishment!" Mr. Weasley says.
Ron looked to his mum for permission to go upstairs; she had always been the boss. "You heard your father, go on!" Mrs. Weasley snaps. Ron leaves the kitchen, and he could be heard going up the stairs.
"He didn't take me seriously for a second." Mr. Weasley says.
"If you weren't so indulgent with them, he might've." Mrs. Weasley says.
"Don't worry about it. It's great to have a father like you. You're nothing like Grandfather. I think I'd have runaway myself, had I grown up with him. Besides, when mum's on the warpath, its good to have a peacemaker stopping her." Percy says.
"Aren't you late for work?" Mrs. Weasley asks.
"Bye mum, love you." Percy says disapparating.
"Don't worry about Ron today. Let me deal with him when I get home. Please trust me on this. If I do horrible at it, you can owl my father." Mr. Weasley says.
"I won't even talk to him until you get back." Mrs. Weasley says.
"Thank you. I love you, take care." Mr. Weasley says. He kisses his wife and disapparates.
Later on that day, there was another knock on the door to the burrow. Fred or George, Mrs. Weasley wasn't really sure, offered to get it. Both boys ran into the kitchen looking excited yet scared.
"Boys, who's at the door?" Mrs. Weasley asks as she laughs at the expression on their face.
"Hello Molly, dear. How are you?" Grandfather asks as he enters the kitchen.
"John? What are you doing all the way over here? Can I get you some tea?" Mrs. Weasley asks.
"Please." Grandfather says.
Mrs. Weasley fixes him a cup of tea.
"Thank you." Grandfather says taking it from her.
"Your welcome. May I ask what brings you over here?" Mrs. Weasley asks.
"My grandson. I heard muggle police arrested him. I'm here to discipline him." Grandfather says.
"John, I do appreciate you coming here, but Arthur wishes to handle him." Mrs. Weasley says.
"When? At the end of the week, when he gets time?" Grandfather asks. "No, he's not going to do it, he'll postpone it, and forget about it, and Ronald won't take it seriously, because it's going to be too late." Grandfather says.
"Arthur promised me he'd take care of whatever this problem is, by the end of the night. Otherwise, I would send him straight to you. You seemed to have no problems with Ron, while he was there, but I promised Arthur I'd give him a chance." Mrs. Weasley says.
"Grandpa, how did you hear about Ron?" Fred asks daringly.
"I have my connections. Who do you think helped your mum and dad out of paying a hefty fine? I paid the Ministry worker to let Ronald off with a warning. Otherwise, Ron could've stayed in that muggle jail until you raised enough money to trade in for muggle money and then bail him out. If you couldn't get enough money together quick enough, Ron would be in what the muggles call a Juvenile Detention Center. It would've done him good, mind you, but I didn't want you to panic over his sudden disappearance." Grandfather explains.
"How did you know that Ron was arrested though?" George asks.
"As an auror, I have special privileges. I placed a tracking charm on Ron. I check on him now and then. It alerted me when he was not inside the house at two thirty. Then muggles had a run in with him, and I decided to check it out. I apparated to the gates of the Ministry and asked about it, and I talked with the representative that works with muggle and wizard relations, and I gave him the location the tracking charm had traced down, and he negotiated with the muggles." Grandfather explains.
"You can make yourself at home, if you wish, but unless you talk with Arthur, or unless Arthur doesn't carry through, I can't allow you to discipline Ron. I would've already punished him, but Arthur wants to take care of this." Mrs. Weasley says.
"I'll be speaking with my son then, excuse me, I should be back shortly." Grandfather says. He leaves the house.
Fred looks at George, and George leaves the kitchen. Fred, confused, follows his twin up the stairs into Ron's room. They find Harry playing Wizard's Chess against Ron, while Hermione sat on Ron's bed reading a big book.
Ron looks up at them, while Harry ponders his next move.
"What?" Ron asks.
"We've come to say our goodbyes." George says.
"Why is dad home already?" Ron asks.
"Would we have to say goodbye if dad actually were to punish you?" Fred asks.
"No, that's why I don't understand why you're up here. Dad won't remember to punish me; this is probably the worst it's going to get. I'll be grounded to my room. So what do you want already?" Ron asks.
"We want to wish you a better life in the next world, after you die." George says.
"Get to the point already." Ron says, as he moves his bishop to take Harry's knight out.
"Well, once Grandfather kills you, we were wondering if we, having been so nice to you, get to inherit Pig?" George asks.
"Grandfather only gets to kill me if dad fails to punish me. Harry, you're in check." Ron says.
"Well, Grandfather was just here." George says.
"What? Why? Mum, wasn't supposed to write to him! What's he doing here? He doesn't know, does he?" Ron asks.
"He knew before mum and dad did. He placed a tracking charm on you, and it went off when you were out at 2:30. He went to the Ministry and talked with the people from muggle wizard relations, and Grandfather paid him to talk to the muggles to let you off with a warning. He came here to punish you, but mum said dad said no. He's gone to talk with dad." Fred says.
"Oh no! He's going to kill me!" Ron cries.
"That's what I said. So can we get Pigwidgeon?" George asks.
"Does he still have a tracking charm on me now?" Ron asks.
"Yep." Fred says.
"Damn! He said he was going to break my legs, if I ran away again!" Ron says.
"Relax, I'm sure it was just a threat Ron, or an exaggeration." Hermione says.
"No, my Grandfather doesn't make threats, he makes promises, and he never exaggerates, he understates." Ron says with tears of fear in his eyes.
"He can't break your legs, that's child abuse." Hermione reassures him.
"He can, you don't know my Grandfather. He's made his own rules. He can break a bone and then repair it without anybody knowing it, and my leg's been broken before, mind you, and it hurts." Ron says.
"So, can we get Pigwidgeon?" George asks.
"George, you're not helping, do you mind?" Hermione asks.
"That's what I'm asking." George says toward Ron.
"Get out." Hermione says pointing to the door.
"Man, who died and made you queen of the bi-" Fred shut the door, blocking out the rest of George's remark.
Hermione shut her book and left the room going after the twins.
"Ooh, they set her off." Harry says.
"My Grandfather's going to kill me Harry, what am I supposed to do?" Ron asks.
"Pray that your dad follows through with his promise of punishing you." Harry suggests.
"Either way I'm doomed." Ron says. "Checkmate."
Grandfather returned later that evening. "Molly, Arthur's gave me his consent to discipline my grandson. He needs to be disciplined right." Grandfather says.
"Should I pack his things, then?" Molly asks.
"No, this shouldn't take more than a minute." Grandfather says.
"All right then." Molly says.
Grandfather climbed the stairs to Ron's room. He knocked on the door, before letting himself in.
Ron gasped in surprise.
"Excuse me, I hope I'm not interrupting anything. I need to speak with my Grandson." Grandfather says.
"You're Ron's Grandfather?" Hermione asks.
"Yes, Ronald, how impolite not to introduce your guests. Although, being on groundment never included guests to my knowledge, and I spoke to your father, and he said you were grounded." Grandfather says.
"Grandfather, these are my friends, Hermione Granger, and Harry Potter. Harry, Hermione, my Grandfather." Ron says.
"Nice to meet you sir." Harry says.
"A pleasure." Hermione says.
"Such nice manners. I can't imagine why two nice kids such as yourselves would associate with a miscreant like my grandson." Grandfather says.
"Ron's not a miscreant sir." Hermione says.
"I wouldn't be so sure, on the road he's taking." Grandfather says. "Might I have five minutes, please?"
Harry had no intention of moving, and as much as Hermione didn't want to leave Ron with such a mean person, she knew she had better. "Harry, come on downstairs. We should help Mrs. Weasley with dinner." Hermione says grabbing Harry's arm. "A pleasure to have met you sir." Hermione says shoving Harry out of the room.
She shut the door behind her, and tried to get Harry to start down the stairs, but he was fighting to go back. "Come on Harry, I don't want to hear this." Hermione cried pushing him. He reluctantly went down the stairs.
They went downstairs to the kitchen. "Mrs. Weasley, can't you change Ron's Grandfather's mind? I think Ron's learned his lesson, really! He wouldn't have runaway, if I hadn't argued with him. I should've been the one to leave. I started the whole thing, it was so stupid, and he's the one being punished for it! Please don't let that man punish him!" Harry cries.
"Harry, this has nothing to do with you. He's been out of control all summer! If he had a fight with you, he could've come back, or he could've just come downstairs. He could've slept on the couch or in one of his brother's rooms. His Grandfather saved us from a huge muggle fine, by letting Ron go but Ron can't always get away with everything. He's got to learn, and I wish it didn't have to be like this, but it is. I don't know what's gotten into him, but he needs to be changed. Don't feel this is your fault at all. Don't put guilt on yourself. Ron's earned this." Molly says.
"Mrs. Weasley, Ron says that his Grandfather's going to break his legs. He's not really going too, is he?" Hermione asks, she couldn't help her fingers from fidgeting.
"No, of course not, dear. Would you two mind helping me set the table?" Mrs. Weasley asks.
"Of course not." Hermione says. She hands Harry silverware, while she takes plates. She warns him to help her with a look in her eyes.
After they had set the table, Mrs. Weasley had asked them to fetch the twins and Ginny for dinner.
Hermione let herself into Ginny's room and let her know, while Harry climbs to the next floor and alerts the twins.
When everybody was seated at the dinner table, Grandfather entered the kitchen. "Well Molly, the boy won't be able to walk outside, I doubt he'll be running away again anytime soon." Grandfather says.
Mrs. Weasley swallowed back tears for her son. It was apparent she didn't approve of physical punishment, but she wasn't about to say it in front of her father in-law.
"Thank you John. May I offer you some dinner, while you're here?" Mrs. Weasley asks offering him a plate.
"Thank you Molly, it's hard to believe that such a wonderful woman like yourself gave birth to him." John says looking up, gesturing to Ron.
"Ron's a wonderful son. He's just going through a hard time right now." Mrs. Weasley says defensively.
"I'm not saying its your fault, I know its Arthur who's responsible for his lack of manners and his unwise decisions, I mean look at where he is in the Ministry." Grandfather says shaking his head.
"Arthur's happy where he is in the Ministry, it's where he chooses to be." Molly says.
"He doesn't have a choice when he has kids to feed, not to mention seven of them." John says.
"Bill and Charlie have moved out, and we have enough. If we didn't, I'd work, but we've always been able to manage." Molly says.
"Bill and Charlie were good boys." Grandfather says. "And of course there was Percy and I never fear that Ginny will be like those two troublemakers or the one upstairs." Grandfather says gesturing toward the twins.
"John, may I inquire a word in the living room, please?" Mrs. Weasley asks.
"Of course." Grandfather says.
"Excuse us." Mrs. Weasley says.
The twins listen eagerly for the conversation.
"John, I appreciate everything you've done to help us out with Ron, but I can't allow you to bad mouth my family in front of my children, their guests, and myself." Mrs. Weasley says.
"Molly, I'll be leaving shortly, but I don't think its proper for one who's grounded, whom is Ron, to be having his friends in his home. The correct groundment is to keep him apart from the things he likes, friends, girls, and fun in general. What you need to do is keep him busy and away from his social life with chores. Keep him busy, and you'll keep him out of trouble. If I find he's in to any more trouble, I'll see to it he spends all his holidays with me until he's finished Hogwarts." Grandfather warns. "I'll take my plate home with me, I'll owl it back."
"You can keep it." Mrs. Weasley says.
"Thank you. I'll have to come again." Grandfather says reentering the kitchen. He takes his plate. He kisses Ginny, and shakes hands with Harry and Hermione.
"Nice to have met you sir." Hermione and Harry say in unison.
"Nice to have met the both of you as well. Be careful of what kind of friends you make. You both ought to watch your back with the one who's upstairs." Grandfather says before disapparating.
"I'm sorry about all of that. Eat your dinners, I need to go check on Ron." Mrs. Weasley says. She leaves the kitchen with tears in her eyes.
Mrs. Weasley knocks on Ron's door before entering. Mrs. Weasley gasps as she sees her son. Ron is lying on his stomach on his bed, with his shirt off, and his back was covered with welts. His face was buried in his pillow, but he wasn't crying.
"Ron, sweetheart, I am so sorry!" Mrs. Weasley cries. She walks over to his bedside.
Ron lifted his head and looked back at his mother. "You told him to punish me, what were you expecting?" Ron asks hoarsely.
"Not this! Has he done this to you before?" Mrs. Weasley asks.
"I wanted to write you to make you let me come home, but I figured this is what you asked Grandfather to do. You sent me there. I thought you had him whip me, so I would hate him and not you." Ron says resting his head on his arms.
"No, I just thought he was making you work hard, and he deprived you of bad company for example, Sabrina." Mrs. Weasley asks.
"He did that. I didn't have time to find any company, because I was always busy with something. Some days, he gave me chores that wore me down to exhaustion, and I couldn't take it anymore and I flipped out. Stupid on my part, it wasted my energy and earned me a whipping, but I do everything the wrong way." Ron says.
"No, no you don't do everything the wrong way." Mrs. Weasley says.
"You're right I know how to dress the right way. I mean my shoes aren't on the wrong foot." Ron says sarcastically.
Mrs. Weasley smiles that her son hadn't lost his sense of humor. "Will you ever forgive me?" Mrs. Weasley asks.
"It wasn't your fault. It was my own." Ron says.
"You may have been out of control sometimes, but you don't deserve this." Mrs. Weasley says.
"No, Grandfather says I deserve worse, actually." Ron says.
"Forget about what your Grandfather says, won't you?" Mrs. Weasley asks.
"I wish, but it's a bit hard when it's scarred your back." Ron says.
Ron Returns (And So Does Grandfather)
The next morning, Harry and Hermione came downstairs to the kitchen to find Mrs. Weasley talking with Mr. Weasley, neither of who had slept last night.
"I can't believe him. Molly, go to bed. I'm sure he's fine. He's probably pulling a stunt. When he comes home, because he will come home eventually, send me an owl immediately. I said I would take care of this, and I intend too. I don't want him going to his Grandfather's." Mr. Weasley says.
Fred and George who had just woken up entered the kitchen, followed by Percy, who was dressed for work.
"Where's Ron?" Fred asks.
"He didn't come home last night?" George asks.
"No boys, he didn't." Mr. Weasley says.
"Dad, was that caution ever lifted?" Fred says.
"Not that I can say." Mr. Weasley says.
"Oh no! What if he was going to Toby's, and he was running through the forest! He doesn't know about the warning." George says.
"What warning?" Harry and Hermione ask in unison.
"About the middle of July an auror spotted You-Know-Who around this area. Not where we live, but as a precaution no muggle or wizard in the vicinity of Devon is allowed out after dark. Especially not near the forests. I think they spotted him somewhere near Dartmoor, southwest of us, but they have us all alerted. I think your brother's just fine George, but it's good to know you're concerned for him." Mr. Weasley says.
"Oh, well if he was killed, since I was so concerned for my brother, can I get his owl?" George asks.
Mrs. Weasley smacked him in the back of the head.
"I was just asking!" George says backing away rubbing the back of his head.
"You were asking for a smack in the head." Mrs. Weasley says.
Just then there was a knock on the front door. "I'll get it." Percy says. He leaves the kitchen.
Mrs. Weasley made everyone a plate of breakfast and a cup of tea, while they waited for Percy to come back.
Percy came back looking anxious. "Mum… the person at the door wants to speak to you or dad." Percy says.
"Who is it?" Fred asks.
"Somebody for mum or dad, whoever's not busy." Percy says.
"I'll see who it is. Sit down and have some breakfast before you go to work, dear." Mrs. Weasley says patting his shoulder.
"I'm not going to have the appetite shortly." Percy says.
"Why? Percy, who was at the door?" Mr. Weasley asks.
Just then however, Ron walked into the kitchen. "Ron, where were you?" Mr. Weasley asks.
"I wasn't at Toby's or Sabrina's. Don't worry!" Ron says making himself some tea.
"That doesn't answer my question, where were you?" Mr. Weasley asks.
"I went for a walk." Ron says. His hands were shaking as he picked up his cup of tea and sipped it.
Harry looked at Hermione and she had noticed this too.
"Boys, Hermione, would you mind giving us a few minutes, please?" Mr. Weasley asks.
"Yes." Fred and George reply in unison. Mr. Weasley looks at them.
"You said you were going to punish him, I want to see this." George explains.
"Out!" Mr. Weasley snaps pointing toward the living room.
He watches as they all walk out of the room.
"That means out of earshot Fred and George!" Mr. Weasley yells.
"What?" George asks.
"See, we can't hear you!" Fred says.
"Upstairs, now." Mrs. Weasley barks at the twins.
"Oh boy, he's in deep." George says as their mother escorts them away from the kitchen.
"You're going to send me back to Grandfather's?" Ron asks.
"No, what made you think that?" Mr. Weasley asks.
"The twins. They said you're punishing me. I figured that's my punishment, and you're sending me there, so I won't hate mum as much." Ron says.
"What made you leave last night?" Mr. Weasley asks.
"I got into an argument with Harry, and I went to blow off some steam." Ron says.
"All night?" Mr. Weasley asks.
"No, after the first half hour when I was done, I'd knew mum would be flipping, and I didn't feel like listening to her yell for just walking around my own neighborhood for a half hour, but I knew she would anyway, so I figured I'd chill the night outside. I swear I didn't go over Toby's or Sabrina's." Ron says.
"All night, you were outside?" Mr. Weasley asks.
"Not all night." Ron says sipping some more of his tea.
"Why'd you knock on the door?" Mr. Weasley asks.
"I didn't." Ron says honestly.
Mr. Weasley looks at Percy, "Who knocked on the door?" Mr. Weasley asks.
Percy opened his mouth to say something, but saw his infuriated mother storming toward the kitchen and picked up the Daily Prophet.
Mrs. Weasley walked in and pointed her wand at one of the chairs. She transfigured it into a door and levitated it over to the opening of the kitchen and put it in place, so that nobody could walk in, or hears all of the yelling.
"Who was at the door, Molly?" Mr. Weasley asks.
"The muggle police officer that brought him home!" Mrs. Weasley whispers dangerously as she looks at Ron.
"The muggle police? Ron what the hell did you do?" Mr. Weasley asks not bothering to keep his voice down.
"I was just walking around, blowing off steam. The muggles have a curfew. They pick anybody up who's out after a certain time." Ron says.
"They picked him up at 3:30 this morning, and he refused to tell them his name or where he lived until this morning." Mrs. Weasley says.
"Was it just for curfew?" Mr. Weasley asks.
"Yes, you know the warning, no wizard or muggle is allowed out after a certain time. When they finally did get it out of him, they had no record of any Weasley, so they thought he was joking. Someone from the Ministry came and verified he was telling the truth and brought him home. Luckily, he got off with a warning. If it happens again, we could face a fine, and a muggle fine, and they aren't any easier." Mrs. Weasley says. "But you want to take care of this one. So go ahead. I think it would just be easier to owl your father. He was doing so well over there. He's only getting into trouble here." Mrs. Weasley adds.
"I didn't know there was a curfew!" Ron interrupts.
"You knew damn well, not to runaway. You knew you weren't to be out after dark. Those rules were set from Bill's years growing up. They've stayed the same! You knew not to lie, you could've told the police officer sooner, and he would've brought you home. It didn't matter what time it was! We were up all night worrying about you. I'm going to be late for work, and I'm already exhausted as it is, and this is all because of your reckless behavior!" Mr. Weasley yells.
Ron wasn't sure whether to be frightened or laughing. He was scared to hear his father, of all people, yelling at him, but at the same time, his father had never seriously punished him, so he thought of it as a very funny joke, but he controlled his thoughts, and decided to keep a neutral face about the situation. His mum was still present.
"Go to your room! STAY THERE! God help you, if you're not there when I get home from work tonight. You're to stay there until I can deal with you tonight. You're grounded, until I have time to think of a proper punishment!" Mr. Weasley says.
Ron looked to his mum for permission to go upstairs; she had always been the boss. "You heard your father, go on!" Mrs. Weasley snaps. Ron leaves the kitchen, and he could be heard going up the stairs.
"He didn't take me seriously for a second." Mr. Weasley says.
"If you weren't so indulgent with them, he might've." Mrs. Weasley says.
"Don't worry about it. It's great to have a father like you. You're nothing like Grandfather. I think I'd have runaway myself, had I grown up with him. Besides, when mum's on the warpath, its good to have a peacemaker stopping her." Percy says.
"Aren't you late for work?" Mrs. Weasley asks.
"Bye mum, love you." Percy says disapparating.
"Don't worry about Ron today. Let me deal with him when I get home. Please trust me on this. If I do horrible at it, you can owl my father." Mr. Weasley says.
"I won't even talk to him until you get back." Mrs. Weasley says.
"Thank you. I love you, take care." Mr. Weasley says. He kisses his wife and disapparates.
Later on that day, there was another knock on the door to the burrow. Fred or George, Mrs. Weasley wasn't really sure, offered to get it. Both boys ran into the kitchen looking excited yet scared.
"Boys, who's at the door?" Mrs. Weasley asks as she laughs at the expression on their face.
"Hello Molly, dear. How are you?" Grandfather asks as he enters the kitchen.
"John? What are you doing all the way over here? Can I get you some tea?" Mrs. Weasley asks.
"Please." Grandfather says.
Mrs. Weasley fixes him a cup of tea.
"Thank you." Grandfather says taking it from her.
"Your welcome. May I ask what brings you over here?" Mrs. Weasley asks.
"My grandson. I heard muggle police arrested him. I'm here to discipline him." Grandfather says.
"John, I do appreciate you coming here, but Arthur wishes to handle him." Mrs. Weasley says.
"When? At the end of the week, when he gets time?" Grandfather asks. "No, he's not going to do it, he'll postpone it, and forget about it, and Ronald won't take it seriously, because it's going to be too late." Grandfather says.
"Arthur promised me he'd take care of whatever this problem is, by the end of the night. Otherwise, I would send him straight to you. You seemed to have no problems with Ron, while he was there, but I promised Arthur I'd give him a chance." Mrs. Weasley says.
"Grandpa, how did you hear about Ron?" Fred asks daringly.
"I have my connections. Who do you think helped your mum and dad out of paying a hefty fine? I paid the Ministry worker to let Ronald off with a warning. Otherwise, Ron could've stayed in that muggle jail until you raised enough money to trade in for muggle money and then bail him out. If you couldn't get enough money together quick enough, Ron would be in what the muggles call a Juvenile Detention Center. It would've done him good, mind you, but I didn't want you to panic over his sudden disappearance." Grandfather explains.
"How did you know that Ron was arrested though?" George asks.
"As an auror, I have special privileges. I placed a tracking charm on Ron. I check on him now and then. It alerted me when he was not inside the house at two thirty. Then muggles had a run in with him, and I decided to check it out. I apparated to the gates of the Ministry and asked about it, and I talked with the representative that works with muggle and wizard relations, and I gave him the location the tracking charm had traced down, and he negotiated with the muggles." Grandfather explains.
"You can make yourself at home, if you wish, but unless you talk with Arthur, or unless Arthur doesn't carry through, I can't allow you to discipline Ron. I would've already punished him, but Arthur wants to take care of this." Mrs. Weasley says.
"I'll be speaking with my son then, excuse me, I should be back shortly." Grandfather says. He leaves the house.
Fred looks at George, and George leaves the kitchen. Fred, confused, follows his twin up the stairs into Ron's room. They find Harry playing Wizard's Chess against Ron, while Hermione sat on Ron's bed reading a big book.
Ron looks up at them, while Harry ponders his next move.
"What?" Ron asks.
"We've come to say our goodbyes." George says.
"Why is dad home already?" Ron asks.
"Would we have to say goodbye if dad actually were to punish you?" Fred asks.
"No, that's why I don't understand why you're up here. Dad won't remember to punish me; this is probably the worst it's going to get. I'll be grounded to my room. So what do you want already?" Ron asks.
"We want to wish you a better life in the next world, after you die." George says.
"Get to the point already." Ron says, as he moves his bishop to take Harry's knight out.
"Well, once Grandfather kills you, we were wondering if we, having been so nice to you, get to inherit Pig?" George asks.
"Grandfather only gets to kill me if dad fails to punish me. Harry, you're in check." Ron says.
"Well, Grandfather was just here." George says.
"What? Why? Mum, wasn't supposed to write to him! What's he doing here? He doesn't know, does he?" Ron asks.
"He knew before mum and dad did. He placed a tracking charm on you, and it went off when you were out at 2:30. He went to the Ministry and talked with the people from muggle wizard relations, and Grandfather paid him to talk to the muggles to let you off with a warning. He came here to punish you, but mum said dad said no. He's gone to talk with dad." Fred says.
"Oh no! He's going to kill me!" Ron cries.
"That's what I said. So can we get Pigwidgeon?" George asks.
"Does he still have a tracking charm on me now?" Ron asks.
"Yep." Fred says.
"Damn! He said he was going to break my legs, if I ran away again!" Ron says.
"Relax, I'm sure it was just a threat Ron, or an exaggeration." Hermione says.
"No, my Grandfather doesn't make threats, he makes promises, and he never exaggerates, he understates." Ron says with tears of fear in his eyes.
"He can't break your legs, that's child abuse." Hermione reassures him.
"He can, you don't know my Grandfather. He's made his own rules. He can break a bone and then repair it without anybody knowing it, and my leg's been broken before, mind you, and it hurts." Ron says.
"So, can we get Pigwidgeon?" George asks.
"George, you're not helping, do you mind?" Hermione asks.
"That's what I'm asking." George says toward Ron.
"Get out." Hermione says pointing to the door.
"Man, who died and made you queen of the bi-" Fred shut the door, blocking out the rest of George's remark.
Hermione shut her book and left the room going after the twins.
"Ooh, they set her off." Harry says.
"My Grandfather's going to kill me Harry, what am I supposed to do?" Ron asks.
"Pray that your dad follows through with his promise of punishing you." Harry suggests.
"Either way I'm doomed." Ron says. "Checkmate."
Grandfather returned later that evening. "Molly, Arthur's gave me his consent to discipline my grandson. He needs to be disciplined right." Grandfather says.
"Should I pack his things, then?" Molly asks.
"No, this shouldn't take more than a minute." Grandfather says.
"All right then." Molly says.
Grandfather climbed the stairs to Ron's room. He knocked on the door, before letting himself in.
Ron gasped in surprise.
"Excuse me, I hope I'm not interrupting anything. I need to speak with my Grandson." Grandfather says.
"You're Ron's Grandfather?" Hermione asks.
"Yes, Ronald, how impolite not to introduce your guests. Although, being on groundment never included guests to my knowledge, and I spoke to your father, and he said you were grounded." Grandfather says.
"Grandfather, these are my friends, Hermione Granger, and Harry Potter. Harry, Hermione, my Grandfather." Ron says.
"Nice to meet you sir." Harry says.
"A pleasure." Hermione says.
"Such nice manners. I can't imagine why two nice kids such as yourselves would associate with a miscreant like my grandson." Grandfather says.
"Ron's not a miscreant sir." Hermione says.
"I wouldn't be so sure, on the road he's taking." Grandfather says. "Might I have five minutes, please?"
Harry had no intention of moving, and as much as Hermione didn't want to leave Ron with such a mean person, she knew she had better. "Harry, come on downstairs. We should help Mrs. Weasley with dinner." Hermione says grabbing Harry's arm. "A pleasure to have met you sir." Hermione says shoving Harry out of the room.
She shut the door behind her, and tried to get Harry to start down the stairs, but he was fighting to go back. "Come on Harry, I don't want to hear this." Hermione cried pushing him. He reluctantly went down the stairs.
They went downstairs to the kitchen. "Mrs. Weasley, can't you change Ron's Grandfather's mind? I think Ron's learned his lesson, really! He wouldn't have runaway, if I hadn't argued with him. I should've been the one to leave. I started the whole thing, it was so stupid, and he's the one being punished for it! Please don't let that man punish him!" Harry cries.
"Harry, this has nothing to do with you. He's been out of control all summer! If he had a fight with you, he could've come back, or he could've just come downstairs. He could've slept on the couch or in one of his brother's rooms. His Grandfather saved us from a huge muggle fine, by letting Ron go but Ron can't always get away with everything. He's got to learn, and I wish it didn't have to be like this, but it is. I don't know what's gotten into him, but he needs to be changed. Don't feel this is your fault at all. Don't put guilt on yourself. Ron's earned this." Molly says.
"Mrs. Weasley, Ron says that his Grandfather's going to break his legs. He's not really going too, is he?" Hermione asks, she couldn't help her fingers from fidgeting.
"No, of course not, dear. Would you two mind helping me set the table?" Mrs. Weasley asks.
"Of course not." Hermione says. She hands Harry silverware, while she takes plates. She warns him to help her with a look in her eyes.
After they had set the table, Mrs. Weasley had asked them to fetch the twins and Ginny for dinner.
Hermione let herself into Ginny's room and let her know, while Harry climbs to the next floor and alerts the twins.
When everybody was seated at the dinner table, Grandfather entered the kitchen. "Well Molly, the boy won't be able to walk outside, I doubt he'll be running away again anytime soon." Grandfather says.
Mrs. Weasley swallowed back tears for her son. It was apparent she didn't approve of physical punishment, but she wasn't about to say it in front of her father in-law.
"Thank you John. May I offer you some dinner, while you're here?" Mrs. Weasley asks offering him a plate.
"Thank you Molly, it's hard to believe that such a wonderful woman like yourself gave birth to him." John says looking up, gesturing to Ron.
"Ron's a wonderful son. He's just going through a hard time right now." Mrs. Weasley says defensively.
"I'm not saying its your fault, I know its Arthur who's responsible for his lack of manners and his unwise decisions, I mean look at where he is in the Ministry." Grandfather says shaking his head.
"Arthur's happy where he is in the Ministry, it's where he chooses to be." Molly says.
"He doesn't have a choice when he has kids to feed, not to mention seven of them." John says.
"Bill and Charlie have moved out, and we have enough. If we didn't, I'd work, but we've always been able to manage." Molly says.
"Bill and Charlie were good boys." Grandfather says. "And of course there was Percy and I never fear that Ginny will be like those two troublemakers or the one upstairs." Grandfather says gesturing toward the twins.
"John, may I inquire a word in the living room, please?" Mrs. Weasley asks.
"Of course." Grandfather says.
"Excuse us." Mrs. Weasley says.
The twins listen eagerly for the conversation.
"John, I appreciate everything you've done to help us out with Ron, but I can't allow you to bad mouth my family in front of my children, their guests, and myself." Mrs. Weasley says.
"Molly, I'll be leaving shortly, but I don't think its proper for one who's grounded, whom is Ron, to be having his friends in his home. The correct groundment is to keep him apart from the things he likes, friends, girls, and fun in general. What you need to do is keep him busy and away from his social life with chores. Keep him busy, and you'll keep him out of trouble. If I find he's in to any more trouble, I'll see to it he spends all his holidays with me until he's finished Hogwarts." Grandfather warns. "I'll take my plate home with me, I'll owl it back."
"You can keep it." Mrs. Weasley says.
"Thank you. I'll have to come again." Grandfather says reentering the kitchen. He takes his plate. He kisses Ginny, and shakes hands with Harry and Hermione.
"Nice to have met you sir." Hermione and Harry say in unison.
"Nice to have met the both of you as well. Be careful of what kind of friends you make. You both ought to watch your back with the one who's upstairs." Grandfather says before disapparating.
"I'm sorry about all of that. Eat your dinners, I need to go check on Ron." Mrs. Weasley says. She leaves the kitchen with tears in her eyes.
Mrs. Weasley knocks on Ron's door before entering. Mrs. Weasley gasps as she sees her son. Ron is lying on his stomach on his bed, with his shirt off, and his back was covered with welts. His face was buried in his pillow, but he wasn't crying.
"Ron, sweetheart, I am so sorry!" Mrs. Weasley cries. She walks over to his bedside.
Ron lifted his head and looked back at his mother. "You told him to punish me, what were you expecting?" Ron asks hoarsely.
"Not this! Has he done this to you before?" Mrs. Weasley asks.
"I wanted to write you to make you let me come home, but I figured this is what you asked Grandfather to do. You sent me there. I thought you had him whip me, so I would hate him and not you." Ron says resting his head on his arms.
"No, I just thought he was making you work hard, and he deprived you of bad company for example, Sabrina." Mrs. Weasley asks.
"He did that. I didn't have time to find any company, because I was always busy with something. Some days, he gave me chores that wore me down to exhaustion, and I couldn't take it anymore and I flipped out. Stupid on my part, it wasted my energy and earned me a whipping, but I do everything the wrong way." Ron says.
"No, no you don't do everything the wrong way." Mrs. Weasley says.
"You're right I know how to dress the right way. I mean my shoes aren't on the wrong foot." Ron says sarcastically.
Mrs. Weasley smiles that her son hadn't lost his sense of humor. "Will you ever forgive me?" Mrs. Weasley asks.
"It wasn't your fault. It was my own." Ron says.
"You may have been out of control sometimes, but you don't deserve this." Mrs. Weasley says.
"No, Grandfather says I deserve worse, actually." Ron says.
"Forget about what your Grandfather says, won't you?" Mrs. Weasley asks.
"I wish, but it's a bit hard when it's scarred your back." Ron says.