Chapter Eleven

A Painful Return To Reality

Ron steps out of the fireplace and into his kitchen. Ron wouldn't have minded being home, if he weren't on suspension. Ron had always wanted to be the first to do something, but this was not what he had in mind. He didn't want to be the first Weasley to be sent off to live with his Grandfather, because his parents couldn't handle him. He didn't want to be the first Weasley suspended. These were not the possibilities he had hoped for. Then again being the youngest son in a family of seven children, possibilities were very rare, and he was now the first Weasley to be kicked out of Hogwarts, the best school of sorcery for all of the witches and wizards in Great Britain.

Ron didn't gasp when his Grandfather entered the kitchen looking dangerous and meaner than ever. Though he almost did, he kept his promise to himself to not let anybody hurt him, and kept his face calm and unbothered. Ron didn't dare ask where his parents were although it was their house. He knew his Grandfather had complete control over him for the next two weeks, and knew that they'd be better off if he kept his mouth shut during them.

"Well, well, well… thrown out of Hogwarts… what a disgrace to the wizarding world. I don't know one person who was suspended, besides you. I knew you were meant to be a muggle." Grandfather starts.

"I'm not a muggle, sir. I never will be one." Ron says softly.

He knew he had been better off keeping his mouth closed; his Grandfather punched him hard in the face for responding.

"Keep your mouth closed, you don't get to talk now. You don't get to do anything but breathe and listen." Grandfather says.

"You don't know why I was suspended, sir. You can't tell me what I can and can't do. I don't care that my parents left you to take care of me. I'll leave if I have too, but you won't hit me again!" Ron yells.

"You're making this harder on yourself you know. I know why you were suspended. You fought repeatedly and were warned of suspension if you didn't stop. You've been caught fooling around the school, and you were in the forbidden forest, hence the word forbidden! I can tell you what your limits are, and I can tell you what to do. I'm the adult, and you're the child. You keep forgetting that I'm in charge. You've disgraced the Weasley name if your father hasn't already." Grandfather starts, as he takes off his belt.

"You won't talk about my father like that! He's your son, or do you forget? My dad is a great father, unlike you were to him!" Ron yells.

"Boy, what did I tell you about that tone? If your father was such a great dad then how come he raised you to be such a bad child?" Grandfather asks.

"My name is Ron not boy! My parents raised me to be well. Nobody understands me, and I do what I want. Don't criticize my father." Ron yells.

SMACK! Everything went black as Ron was knocked out from a punch.

Ron awoke the next morning unable to move as much as he tried. He felt as if all the skin on his back had been ripped off.

'So much for not letting anybody hurt you.' A voice in his head said.

'I meant inside, stupid.' Another voice argued.

'Yes, and what about your backside, I'm sure it feels well right now, doesn't it?' The voice argues.

Ron rolled his eyes; he really was hit too hard in the head. He drifted in and out of consciousness throughout the beating.

Ron's head pounded, or so he thought. Then he realized it was somebody coming near him. His Grandfather's footsteps echoed up the stairs and stopped outside his room. He watched as the doorknob turned and his Grandfather stepped in the room his belt clenched in his hand.

'Great,' Ron thought to himself. 'Another beating is just what I need.'

Grandfather didn't make any more movement toward Ron however. He stopped, stood there, and finally after a minute's silence, spoke.

"I'd beat you again, but you're not worth it. You had potential to be somebody, but you're nothing now. You're worse than nothing. You're poor parents couldn't stand the shame. Your father even said I was right. I told him he should've worked more the year you were born, and then he wouldn't have time for anything. If he had only waited another year they could have Ginny and escaped the shame of having you. They regret having you. You're mother couldn't even bring herself here to scream herself hoarse at you. She was crying too much saying how you were the biggest mistake she ever made. Your father's beyond disappointed. He couldn't bring himself to even talk to you. He didn't come home because he knew he couldn't look you in the eye." Grandfather says.

Grandfather leaves the room with a sigh of disappointment.

Why did Ron have to listen now of all times? Why didn't he tune his Grandfather out like he had everybody else who had told him something he didn't want to hear? Why did he have to care now of all times? Tears ran down Ron's face, his mum and dad both agreed they made a mistake and not raising him, but having him. He was one boy too many. He was a disgrace to the whole Weasley family, to the whole wizarding world. His Grandfather was proven right to his father because of him. Everything was because of him.

Ron broke down crying, although he kept it silent as not to cause his Grandfather to know he cared. He cried himself to sleep.

Percy awaked Ron roughly. "Wake up!" Percy yelled with a great shove.

"What?" Ron asks miserably.

"Get up." Percy says.

"I can't move." Ron says.

"I'll make you." Percy threatens.

"What do you want Percy?" Ron asks.

"You made our whole family look bad, including me. Luckily, Fudge knows I'm nothing like you or father. You with your rebelliousness and father going against Fudge siding with Dumbledore are really putting me in a bad place with the Ministry. You straighten up, or you'll find yourself in Azkaban… everybody's starting to wonder if you're on the dark side." Percy says.

"You sided with the Minister over dad and Dumbledore? You're the one who's wrong… I don't give a damn what your place is in the ministry, Fudge is wrong! And how could I be on the dark side? Why would I be on the dark side? I'm fifteen years old! I don't listen to anybody, and I'd listen to Grandfather before You-know-who." Ron says defensively.

"I can't believe you of all people were suspended… after Bill and I have both been prefects and head boys… Charlie was too focused on Quidditch to get in trouble, and the twins aren't even that stupid. You know I used to pity you for having to live with Grandfather, but now I realize you deserve much worse. I want you to know that I'm ashamed to have you as my brother." Percy says.

"I'm ashamed to have you as my brother, siding against dad. All you want is power, Percy. I can't believe you're as thick as Fudge, you used to be really smart." Ron says.

SMACK! Percy had hit Ron hard across the face.

"You don't have any room to talk. If I ever hear you insult the Minister or myself again, it'll be the last thing you do." Percy says.

Ron rolled his eyes, and Percy left.

A few hours later, Ron was working on his essays he'd been given to do during his suspension when he heard something crash downstairs in the kitchen. Letting his curiosity get the better of him, he boldly took a chance downstairs, knowing his Grandfather didn't want to see him.

What he found was the last thing he expected… Grandfather was being surrounded by Voldemort and his lot of death eaters.

"The boy's not here, and neither are his parents." Grandfather says in a strangled voice.

There was a squeak by his feet and he looked down to see his old rat, Scabbers. In his third year he had found out that Scabbers was actually an Animagus by the name of Peter Pettigrew. Pettigrew faked his own death and framed Harry's Godfather.

Ron fell back as he looked up. In front of him was Voldemort. "The boy's not here, eh? I think somebody ought to be taught a lesson!" Voldemort says.

"Grandfather go!" Ron yells struggling to get back up the steps.

There was a pop and a lot of commotion, Ron never saw if his Grandfather was able to apparate or not, because Voldemort had a very tight grip on his shoulder and he dragged him to a chair.

Ron crawled underneath the table, before anybody could bind him to the chair. He crawled toward the front door, but there was a death eater out front. Ron somehow got to the stairs, but Voldemort had a hold of his foot, and painfully broke Ron's ankle with a snap. Ron couldn't run anymore.

Voldemort pointed his wand at Ron and pointed to the chair. Ron flew backwards at the chair, but the impact of Voldemort's powers, made Ron crash into the chair and tumble backwards. Ron grabbed the handle of the back door and pushed it open. He started crawling outside.

Voldemort shook his head and sighed, "Kids always have to learn the hard way."

Three death eaters carry Ron back inside and locked the door. Ron put up quite a fight against the three strong wizards, but somehow they managed to get him to a chair, where Voldemort didn't hesitate to bind him to the chair with rope.

"Now, now… you are truly a disgrace to the wizarding world… first being suspended, and even I was never suspended from Hogwarts, and now killing your own Grandfather." Voldemort shook his head.

"I didn't kill my Grandfather! You did!" Ron cries.

"Ah, but he would've been able to escape had you not been suspended." Voldemort says.

Ron was silent as he reflected his words. He was responsible for his Grandfather's death… but it didn't matter, Ron wouldn't cooperate with the most evil wizard alive. Soon Voldemort would kill him, and all the pain and blame would stop.

"He wouldn't have been killed if you hadn't come in the first place." Ron says.

"Oh, stubborn, eh? Well, let's see Weasley do you like pain?" Voldemort asks.

Ron rolled his eyes and braced himself for what Voldemort was going to do.

"CRUCIO!" Voldemort yells.

It was pain beyond any pain Ron had felt before, it felt like somebody was stabbing him everywhere. He wanted it to stop, wanted it to end… his fingernails dug into his palms, and his teeth were clenched. He would not cry, no matter how bad it got… but it wouldn't end, it was like somebody was breaking every bone in his body and it felt like somebody was grabbing his broken ankle extremely hard. Ron screamed out in pain, he couldn't help it.

It stopped. Ron was shaking severely, and he was drenched in sweat. Tears ran down his cheeks, and his ankle was throbbing. Ron was breathing heavily.

"Did you like that boy? Because if you don't answer my questions, you're going to get that a lot." Voldemort hisses.

Ron was still panting. "I won't answer anything you want to know!" Ron yells.

"Oh, but I think you will. Let me remind you of the consequence of not answering me, the dark lord, the most powerful wizard there is!" Voldemort says.

"You're not the most powerful wizard, you're still afraid of Dumbledore! He's the most powerful wizard there is." Ron yells defensively.

Voldemort was not pleased in the slightest. His evil smile dropped, and he raised his wand. "CRUCIO!"

Ron was screaming in pain, his ankle was in so much pain, and his back felt as if all the skin was being ripped off, if it was still there. He wished it all would stop or he would just die, but it didn't stop. He felt like he was on fire, being burned alive. He felt all the skin come off his body as the flames engulfed him…

Then it stopped. Ron crashed down on the chair breaking it. Somehow he had been in the air when the Cruciatus Curse was performed. Ron couldn't move even if he tried. He was trying to catch his breath, he was breathing so fast yet so heavily, and he couldn't calm himself down. His ankle was bleeding now as it hit the ground it landed on a sharp piece of glass. All of the windows had been smashed in when Voldemort lost his temper. Ron's shoulder was bleeding through his shirt, and his hands were bleeding. Ron didn't know if it was because of his own fingernails or if it was from the glass. He didn't have time to ponder.

Three death eaters picked him up and sat him up on the table. One was grinning behind his mask.

"Master, may I speak to the boy?" A cold voice hisses. Ron recognized it immediately. It was Lucious Malfoy's.

"As you wish." Voldemort says.

Lucious Malfoy smacked Ron hard against the face, causing blood to stream down his face from the corner of his eye.

"You are a friend to the Potter boy." Lucious says evilly.

Ron didn't say anything.

"Where does Potter stay during his summer holidays?" Lucious asks.

Ron quickly thought of anything but the situation. He knew if he didn't think of Harry, they might not be able to get answers from him.

He remembered the time Hermione slapped Malfoy across the face. He remembered the time Hermione hugged him after he and Harry made up. He remembered when Hermione had offered to help him with chores and how cute she was when he pushed her into the leaves. He realized he liked Hermione more than a friend, but he would never get to tell her that now.

Lucious Malfoy smacked him back into reality.

"IMPERIO!" Voldemort yelled.

Everything went blank around Ron, he wasn't in the kitchen, he wasn't anywhere, and he seemed to be floating in nothing. Nobody was around him, but then he heard a voice.

"Where does Harry stay on the holidays? You could stay here forever in no pain if you tell…"

"At Hogwarts." Ron answers.

"No, where does he live during the summer holidays? Where do his relations live?" A voice asks, though it was angrier than the first, and scarier.

Ron wouldn't say.

"If you tell us, we won't kill your little mudblood girlfriend on the holidays… think about it, who means more? Potter or Granger?" A voice asks.

Pain was starting to come back to him. He couldn't tell. He couldn't answer… Hermione was going to be killed if Ron didn't say, but if he did say Harry would certainly be killed, because Ron wouldn't be able to warn anybody. He knew they would kill him; it was just a matter of time.

He was brought back to reality with pain hitting him harder than ever. He couldn't stop shaking, and tears threatened to fall from his eyes... tears for Hermione.

"Yes you are a disgrace to the wizarding world, to have feelings for a mudblood." Lucious hisses.

"She's not a mudblood! The only people who have bad blood are dark wizards like you!" Ron yells before he could stop himself.

"CRUCIO!" Lucious yells.

Ron knew this was the last time he could handle this, he was so weak, and the pain was growing stronger and stronger. He felt as if somebody was slicing his skin off slowly and agonizingly. He felt his bones breaking, he was in so much pain he couldn't even cry out. He felt himself being burned alive, and he felt himself hit the floor full of shattered glass as it finally stopped.

Ron was dying he knew it. The death eaters and Voldemort seemed to realize it too. They were still trying to get answers out of him, this time quicker.

"Where does he stay during the summer?"

"Who's protecting him there?"

"You're risking your sister's life by not telling us."

"We won't kill the mudblood if you tell us, it's your last chance."

"Don't you want some company when you die? Wouldn't you want your best friend dead with you?"

Ron couldn't answer, he couldn't find his voice, and everything was blurry, he felt numb.

One of the death eaters brought him over to the living room. The death eater jammed his arm between the grandfather clock and the wall, and made it painfully tight. Ron didn't know what they were doing, but was very aware after it had been done. Somebody pushed him forward, dislocating his arm and breaking it. Ron cried on the floor, he was too weak to do anything else.

Ron felt somebody roll him on to his back, and he heard a voice say, "Wormtail leave our mark. Macnair, finish him off."

The last thing Ron saw was the executioner's axe before he went into complete darkness.

Harry awoke on the floor in the dungeons during Snape's Potions lesson. He was sweating and still twitching. His breathing was fast and heavy, and tears were in his eyes. The horrible thing was, he didn't remember anything of what happened. Harry shakily stood up. Everybody was staring at him, and surprisingly Snape was not there.

Hermione had a cauldron full of cold water that she was about to pour on Harry, when she saw he was awake.

"Thank God, Harry what happened?" Hermione asks.

"I… I…" Harry grabbed his head tightly, trying to remember everything he had seen.

Somebody shook his shoulder. It was Professor Dumbledore, Professor Snape was right behind him. Snape had gotten Dumbledore.

"Harry, what happened?" Professor Dumbledore asks.

"I… can't remember. I think somebody was killed… I can't remember." Harry says trying to think.

"It's all right, follow me." Professor Dumbledore says. Professor Dumbledore leads Harry out of the classroom.

Meanwhile, Grandfather had apparated to the Ministry gates and ran inside as fast as his old legs would carry him. He ran up the stairs and found his son finishing a report in his office.

Mr. Weasley looked up surprised to see his father there.

"Ron…" Grandfather panted, but couldn't catch his breath.

"What about Ron?" Mr. Weasley asks seriously.

"Death Eaters… You-know-who…" Grandfather coughed.

"You're not making any sense." Mr. Weasley says.

"They were at the burrow. I'm sorry… I left him there…" Grandfather cries.

"You left him there?" Mr. Weasley cries.

"I'm sorry! I thought I could get help in time…" Grandfather says. "He told me to go! I'm so sorry." Grandfather broke down sobbing.

"Come with me." Mr. Weasley says.

The two of them ran into an office, where a meeting was being held. Among those present were Percy Weasley and Cornelius Fudge, the Minister of Magic.

"Arthur, what is the meaning of this barging in here?" Fudge asks standing up.

"You need to dispatch the Magical Law Enforcement immediately! You-know-who, and the death eaters are at my home right now. My son is at home. They'll kill him if you don't send them!" Mr. Weasley says.

"This is ludicrous! This is exactly what Dumbledore put into your head! The dark lord has fallen!" Fudge says.

"Yes, but he has risen again! I was at home with my grandson, and they apparated on to the property. I left to get help, but nobody's moving!" Grandfather yells.

"This is out of control. I must ask you to leave." Fudge says.

A member of the Magical Law Enforcement came to see what the yelling was about. It turned out to be Robert Edwards.

"John, Arthur, what's happened?" Robert asks seriously.

"You-know-who and the death eaters are at the burrow, killing my Grandson." Grandfather says.

"You should have somebody at St. Mungo's check you out. You have a few injuries yourself. Arthur, come with me, we'll get your son…" Robert starts, but Fudge wouldn't hear of it.

"Mr. Edwards, would you like to lose your position at the Ministry? They believe You-know-who has risen!" Fudge yells.

"I'm not risking my position, if somebody needs the magical law enforcement then we have to comply." Robert says.

Robert got the rest of the members of the Magical Law Enforcement, and they all apparated to the burrow.

When they got there the Dark Mark was just rising in the air. There was one person inside, but they disapparated just as they arrived. They walked into the burrow. Everything was in smoke; they extinguished a fire coming from the living room magically.

They reached the kitchen; Robert tripped over something and caught the cabinet before he fell. He felt something pierce through his glove. It was glass. He noticed all the windows had been broken.

"Everybody stand back!" Robert called.

Robert reached down to see what he tripped over, and through the smoke, he saw a hand. Robert waved the smoke away and found Ron. He conjured up a stretcher that rose out of the ground and pushed Ron outside on the stretcher.

"Was there anybody else home?" Robert asks Mr. Weasley, who has yet to see his son on the stretcher.

"Just Ron and my father, my father left." Mr. Weasley says.

"What about Molly?" Robert asks.

"She's in hiding. Ron can't be too far. You don't think they took him with them, do you?" Mr. Weasley asks with an unsteady voice.

"No, I've got him on the stretcher next to me, you can't see him through the smoke." Robert explains.

"Is he all right? Is he alive?" Mr. Weasley asks.

"I don't know, my main priority was getting him out of here. We'll check when we're out of the smoke." Robert says.

They walk outside, while other Hit Wizards searched the house. They saw Ron lifeless, bloody, and beaten. He was unconscious, and it looked as if he wasn't breathing.

Mr. Weasley broke down crying. His son was dead, and he never even got to say goodbye to him, how proud he was of him, because he was proud of his son, no matter what he did, and he never got to tell him that he loved him.

"Arthur, he's still got a pulse, it's incredibly weak, but if we get him to St. Mungo's they might just be able to save him." Robert says.

"How do we get him there?" Mr. Weasley asks.

"I'm a hit wizard, I'll apparate him there." Robert says.

"Thank you." Mr. Weasley cries.

As Robert disapparated with Ron, Mr. Weasley wondered how he could tell his children, how he could tell his wife.

Mr. Weasley apparated to where his wife was in hiding at. He told her and as hysterical as she was, they didn't hesitate to apparate to St. Mungo's. However the children had a different way of finding out.

The next morning at breakfast everybody was receiving mail as they ate breakfast. Every seat in the Great Hall was filled with the exception of one seat, and that was at Gryffindor Tower where Ron usually sat.

Harry was quiet, still embarrassed of having a nightmare in Snape's classes. He would be tormented for months to come by Malfoy and Professor Snape. Hermione was reading a book while she ate some bacon. An owl swooped over to her and delivered the Daily Prophet. Hermione paid the owl and it flew off. She closed her book and opened the paper. From the cover of the paper she couldn't breathe. Her chest swelled up. The cover picture was of Hit Wizards removing the Dark Mark from the burrow, and the headline read:

The Dark Lord Has Risen Again!

Hermione kept praying that Ron was in Ireland with his Grandfather, so she skimmed the article. Hermione didn't care that Rita Skeeter reported it, because she was more concerned of what happened than anything else.

The Weasley family, one of Britain's oldest wizarding families has suffered a great tragedy on the morning of Halloween reports special correspondent Rita Skeeter. Of the seven people who live here during the holidays only one person was injured. Ronald Weasley, the youngest son of the Weasley family was severely tortured by He-who-must-not-be-named. He was thought to be dead on the scene, but he was still brought to St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Injuries and Maladies.

Medi-wizards have said far stronger wizards and witches have been tortured less, and have been killed or declared insane. There is absolutely no chance that this fifteen-year-old boy will live.

Ronald Weasley had been home on a suspension leave from Hogwarts, under his Grandfather's care. Arthur and Molly Weasley were elsewhere at the time of the attack. John Weasley was watching his grandson, when You-know-who and the Death eaters arrived. It is said that Ronald told his Grandfather to leave for help, and he fled. Though help did not arrive soon enough. The burrow, as the Weasley's call their home was set on fire, which Hit Wizards extinguished. There was glass everywhere; the windows had been busted in. Chairs were broken in the kitchen; the whole of the first floor has been ruined.

Ronald's injuries are listed as fatal, among the numerous amount of torture that was performed; his arm was dislocated and broken in three places, while his ankle was also broken. He was covered in bruises and blood when he was brought to St. Mungo's; he was and remains unconscious, if not dead.

Hermione was shaking as she stood up. Tears for Ron threatened to fall. She held the paper tightly in her hand and walked over to the Slytherin table. She grabbed Malfoy by the collar and threw him to the ground. People started to look around, surprised that a goody-goody know-it-all was about to kill Malfoy.

Hermione completely forgetting her magical witch powers started punching Malfoy as hard as she could, which in Malfoy's opinion was pretty strong for a girl. Malfoy couldn't stop her, he could only try to block her hits, but still she'd hit him in another place just as hard. The Slytherins were too shocked and scared of Hermione's rage to do anything, and when one would try to stop her, she'd hit them, before going right back to Malfoy.

Professors and Gryffindors hurried over to try and stop her, but no threat from a teacher mattered, and she was able to wriggle herself free from her classmates' grips.

"Hermione, have you lost your mind?" Neville asks.

"Stop Hermione!" Harry urges.

"Ms. Granger, what do you think you're doing? Stop!" Professor McGonagall cries.

"Fifty points from Gryffindor!" Professor Snape yells.

Hermione still didn't stop, and nobody could make her, or so she thought. Somebody with no effort grabbed her by her robes and swung her a great distance away from Malfoy. This somebody was somebody Harry and Hermione missed, and it wasn't even Ron.

"Hermione, what do you think yer doin'?" It was Hagrid's voice.

All in all even if it was Hagrid, Hermione was still full of rage.

"HE KILLED HIM!" Hermione screams. She lost all self-control when the paper arrived. She was extremely emotional and breaking down into tears.

Harry grabbed the paper from her, but before he could read it Hagrid took it out of his hand. Hagrid read it. He went pale white, but still he wasn't going to let Hermione or Harry kill another student, he knew how powerful the Malfoy family was with their money, and he knew what Azkaban was like and did not wish either of them to go there.

"Harry, Hermione, why don't you come with me. Come on now, it's all right. The paper exaggerates from time to time… come on now." Hagrid says gravely.

Hermione followed him sobbing as she left the great hall. Harry followed trying to get the paper or answers from Hermione. They followed him into an empty classroom, and they sat down.

"Are you back for good now?" Harry asks hopefully.

"It all depends on Professor Dumbledore." Hagrid says.

Hermione was still sobbing. She had cradled her knees with her arms and was sobbing into her robes.

Professors Dumbledore, McGonagall, and Snape found them and joined them.

"Ms. Granger, Mr. Malfoy has a black eye, a bloody nose, and a fat lip, because of you, what do you have to say for yourself?" Professor Snape asks.

"Ron's dead because of him! He didn't get half of what he deserves!" Hermione sobs.

"Ron's what?" Harry asks suddenly.

"Ron's dead, they killed him." Hermione sobs.

"No, no, it wasn't Ron…" Harry says.

"It happened yesterday morning, when you had that nightmare in Professor Snape's class. You saw it!" Hermione sobs.

"Hermione, the paper never said he was dead, it merely stated statistics of those who had been tortured by You-know-who. They wouldn't have brought him to St. Mungo's if there were no hope. That Rita Skeeter lady is just trying to make a story even bigger." Hagrid says.

"Rita Skeeter? She's not allowed to write!" Harry says.

"What do you mean?" Professor McGonagall asks.

"She's an illegal Animagus, she gets her stories by becoming a beetle." Harry says softly.

"I'll speak to the Minister about that…" Professor McGonagall says.

"Harry, do you remember anything at all from the nightmare?" Professor Dumbledore says.

Harry thought for a long minute. He was concentrating hard. Then he began to speak.

"They were trying to get answers… about where I stayed on the holidays… and who protected me there. I don't think he told them." Harry says. "They did the Cruciatus Curse on him… he wouldn't cooperate with them… there was an axe, the executioner was supposed to finish him off, but I woke up. I know there was more, I just don't remember." Harry says. He looks up and shakes his head, "I can't remember."

"How Ms. Granger do you accuse my student of killing Mr. Weasley, when it was the work of You-know-who and the death eaters?" Professor Snape asks.

"Tabitha said Malfoy pushed him in the lake. He didn't hit Malfoy or anything he just started with him. Malfoy jumped in after him, it was his own choice. I don't know if there was fighting in the forest or what, but both of them came out alive, which means one of them could've easily let the other stay there and get eaten by dangerous beasts, but they didn't! If Malfoy hadn't pushed Ron in the lake, Ron wouldn't have been suspended! Why wasn't Malfoy punished at all? It wasn't fair. Malfoy's father is a death eater, he could've easily written to him about how he got him suspended. It benefits You-know-who, because Ron knows everything about Harry! If he hadn't had started with him Ron would still be here." Hermione says.

"Ms. Granger, he earned a suspension! It was not Mr. Malfoy who suspended him, as much as you wanted to take your anger out on him, it was not he who suspended him, it was me. I regret it tremendously now, but how are we supposed to reprimand students if we let one get away with anything?" Professor McGonagall asks.

"You already did. You reprimanded Ron, but Malfoy's still here. He hasn't even served a detention, meanwhile Ron's dead!" Hermione says.

"Hagrid said he wasn't dead, maybe you misread it." Professor McGonagall says.

"Perhaps you should read it Professor, it said he was thought to be dead on the scene… Medi-wizards have said far stronger wizards and witches have been tortured less, and have been killed or declared insane. There is absolutely no chance that this fifteen-year-old boy will live… His injuries were listed as fatal." Hermione cries.

"You need ter have faith, Hermione. Ron Weasley is one of the most stubborn people I've met." Hagrid assures her.

"Yes, and you haven't seen him this year…" Professor Snape says.

"What is that supposed ter mean?" Hagrid asks.

"Mr. Weasley has been out of control, and extremely stubborn." Professor Snape says.

"Not much unlike Malfoy." Harry says.

"That is enough. I wish you two would not say anything to Fred, George, or Ginny Weasley. Their parents or myself will address them when we know anything." Professor Dumbledore says.

"Will you let us know if you find out anything more? I don't want to find out when Hermione kills Malfoy." Harry says.

"I will let you know, and Ms. Granger I must ask you to bring any news like this to my attention, before you lash out at anybody." Professor Dumbledore says.

"And speaking of anybody… Ms. Granger you may go and apologize to Mr. Malfoy now." Professor Snape says.

"Yes sir." Hermione cries. She gets up and begins to leave, Harry follows her.

They return to the Great Hall to find everybody talking about Hermione's attack on Malfoy.

Harry follows Hermione over to the Slytherin table. Everybody stops talking to hear her, and heads all turn to watch her.

"I apologize Draco Malfoy, for not killing you, like I originally intended to do." Hermione says.

She turns and leaves the Great Hall again. Harry's teary eyes were wide with surprise. He follows her out to the entrance hall, where the four professors were now emerging.

"Did you apologize?" Professor Snape asks.

"Sincerely." Hermione says.

"Very well then." Professor Snape says giving them searching looks.

"I suggest you two go up to the common room, there's hot chocolate up there waiting for you. Ms. Granger, I assure you that no points have been taken from Gryffindor house, as your reaction was reasonable. However, if anybody asks you lost a hundred points. I don't want the twins to react like that or worse." Professor McGonagall says.

"Thank you Professor, I'm sorry for ruining everybody's meal." Hermione says. She leaves for the common room still crying.

"Professor, do you need me ter leave straight away again? I think the kids might need some consoling if they find out, and I get along all right with them." Hagrid says hopefully.

"Hagrid, I think I'll need you to be here for a bit, but let's go up to my office, I need to know how you did…" Dumbledore says.

Harry and Hermione entered the Gryffindor Common Room crying. Someone grabbed Harry, causing him to yell and jump, and the invisible person started laughing. It was Sirius, but he stopped laughing once he saw they were crying.

"What happened?" Sirius' voice asks.

"Ron's dead." Hermione sobs.

"What?" Sirius asks again.

Hermione fell on the armchair and curled up into a ball. She sobbed into her knees. Why did she have to realize her feelings for him too late? She would never know if he felt the same way, and she would never get to tell him her true feelings. She cried herself to sleep.

Harry awoke Hermione when night had fallen. She opened her eyes. There were Gryffindors all around her studying, relaxing, or in the case of Fred and George being loud as possible joking around and imitating what they thought was the greatest thing on earth, Hermione beating the crap out of Malfoy.

"Hermione, are you all right?" Dean Thomas' voice came from behind her. He saw that she took the mug of hot chocolate from Harry and started drinking it. "You missed every class today…" Dean adds.

"That was brilliant the way you pounded on Malfoy! McGonagall's been saying she took a hundred points from you, but the hour glasses still say we're in the lead with points." Seamus says.

"So it wasn't a nightmare, he really is dead?" Hermione asks Harry with teary eyes.

"You don't know he's dead, Hagrid even said it was just Rita Skeeter and statistics." Harry says softly.

"Who's dead?" Angelina asks softly.

"It wasn't Viktor Krum, right? That would be horrible, Bulgaria would never make it to another Quidditch cup if they lost him." Fred says.

"No." Hermione says.

"No? Well it must've been somebody you really liked for you to skip classes, and beat the crap out of Malfoy in front of all those teachers. It's not Krum, so who could it be?" George asks.

"I would've killed him if I remembered I had my wand." Hermione mutters to herself.

"Well tomorrow's another day." Fred says.

"Would you stop? She's obviously hurting, leave her alone." Angelina says giving Fred a shove.

"Oh my God…" Ginny cries.

"What?" George asks.

"Hermione, it wasn't Ron, was it?" Ginny asks.

Everyone went silent waiting for Hermione to answer. Hermione averted her eyes to the ground. She couldn't let them know. Dumbledore asked them not to tell them. How could you tell Ginny Weasley her older brother's been killed? How could you tell the twins their younger brother's not coming back?

"Hermione, was it Ron?" Fred asks in an unsteady voice.

"Oh God, he was home on suspension! Hermione, what did the paper say? Is my brother dead? What about my parents? Hermione, if you had any siblings, you'd want to know. If he went to your house, you'd want to know if your parents were still going to be able to greet you home on the holidays or if they're being buried in a cemetery plot. Hermione tell me!" George yells.

"I was told not to tell you." Hermione cries.

"Yea, and we were told you lost Gryffindor a hundred points, but it doesn't matter, tell us." Fred says.

"That's it, I'll get McGonagall to explain things." George says frustrated. He opens the portrait hole and sees his oldest brother Bill fall to the ground as the picture hit him in the face, meanwhile Charlie laughs and helps him up.

"Ah, thank you George. We've been trying to get her to let us in for about five minutes now." Charlie says as they climb through the portrait hole.

"What happened at the burrow?" George asks seriously.

"I don't know." Charlie says.

"Then why are you here?" George asks.

"What we can't spend some quality time with our brothers and sister without having a reason for doing so?" Bill asks.

"Not at Hogwarts, why are you here, what happened?" George asks.

"Well, there's been a lot of bad stuff going on and we figured we could use a good laugh to cheer us up, and the thought of our brothers and sister came to our minds." Bill says.

"What's the bad stuff? And Ron's not here, maybe you know where he is?" George asks.

"One, I can't tell you where Ron is, because the information is being withheld from us, but they said St. Mungo's… though, they refuse to let anybody in. They think somebody's trying to use Polyjuice potion or something to get in and kill him, and they can't take chances with children, or anybody who's not old enough to apparate, so they have the place on lockdown. Until they move him to a safer place, which we have no idea as to where one might be that could help him recover is, nobody's in or out of that building. Two, You-know-who and the lot of Death Eaters came to the burrow and everything's a wreck… they set the first floor on fire, they broke chairs and busted in all the windows… We couldn't see half the damage, dad left orders with the hit wizards to not let us within a kilometer of the house." Bill says.

"Ron's not dead?" Ginny asks hopefully.

"Ah, not yet… they're still unsure. They were surprised he's still alive now. They were shocked when he was still breathing at the burrow. Ron's a fighter. He's hanging in there. So as much as that cow Rita Skeeter writes about how Ron's got no chance, just know it's all a load of dung." Charlie says.

"So he could come out alive and sane?" Hermione asks.

"Alive yes, as for his sanity, they highly doubt it, but still they highly doubted he'd be alive this morning. The medi-wizards have been proven wrong about their statistics so far. Although, after what we've heard he's been through I don't think he'll be the same again, but if he does come out of this, he'll realize he's not invincible, and he might be controllable." Charlie says.

"What about mum and dad?" Ginny asks.

"Dad was working, and mum was in hiding." Charlie says.

"Who was with Ron then?" Fred asks.

"He wasn't home alone, was he?" George asks.

"Oh of course not, Grandfather got custody over Ron, so he and that idiot Percy were at the burrow. Percy went back to work, but Grandfather was the first attacked when they came to the burrow." Bill says.

"Was he all right?" Ginny asks hopefully.

"Ron made him leave, caused a distraction, allowing him to apparate to the Ministry to get some help. He's at St. Mungo's… had a heart attack from everything, seeing the dark lord. If it wasn't for Ron, we might not have a grandfather." Charlie says.

"But he just left him there?" George asks.

"He should've stayed with him!" Fred says.

"If he had stayed, he would've been killed and nobody would know until Percy got home and saw the dark mark. Ron was right to make him go, and the way Ron's been acting you're not about to argue with him. Besides, Ron wouldn't want the blame of causing Grandfather to die." Charlie says.

"It wouldn't be his fault." Ginny says.

"He'd think it would be… if Ron wasn't home, Grandfather would've apparated easily no problem… but Ron was home, and why was he home? Because he was suspended… now who earned him a suspension?" Charlie asks.

"Malfoy." Hermione answers.

"No, he fought with Malfoy plenty of times, and I saw those marks on his face as we went by. As amusing as it was to see that, McGonagall won't tolerate it." Charlie says.

"Hermione gave him those marks. She's not suspended." George says.

"I won't ever get on your bad side." Charlie promises.

"It wasn't just the fighting though, he ended up in the Forbidden Forest." Bill says.

"Malfoy pushed him in the lake, and he had to fight Grindylows, and when he got up he was there, so he had no choice… Besides, Malfoy was in the Forbidden Forest and he wasn't suspended." Hermione says.

"He was out of control, Hermione, and the consequences never bothered him. They were afraid he or Malfoy would kill one another, so they kicked Ron out. Snape's biased, McGonagall's fair. From what I was told, he caused a lot of chaos around the castle; some of it was with girls, something that Malfoy didn't do, so maybe they just wanted him to stop that. I don't have the mind of McGonagall, but basically he earned himself a suspension, and he would've never forgiven himself if our Grandfather had died instead of him." Charlie says.

"Why do you keep calling Percy an idiot?" Harry asks.

"Well, there's two sides at the Ministry now… One believes what Dumbledore believes, You-know-who's come back… the other is with Fudge pretending it's all dung that Dumbledore's full of rubbish. Now which side would you think Percy to be on if we're calling him an idiot?" Charlie asks.

"Percy's against Dumbledore?" Fred asks.

"No, not against Dumbledore… see there are three sides… The bad, the good, and the people who don't think there is a bad side anymore. You-know-who's the problem, Dumbledore and everybody who's willing to go against You-know-who are the solution, and then there are just people who think Dumbledore's crazy and making stuff up, and won't bother to help, but won't go on the dark side, so they're just idiots." Bill explains.

"Mr. Weasley, and Mr. Weasley, it's been a while…" Professor Dumbledore's voice came from the wall. He along with Professor McGonagall were leaning against the Gryffindor wall by the portrait hole.

"Yes, I haven't seen you since spring." Bill says.

"I haven't seen you since last year." Charlie says.

"So what brought you two here? I thought maybe your parents would tell them." Professor Dumbledore says.

"They would've, but St. Mungo's is on a lockdown. Nobody in or out, and we're waiting for an owl. My parents would send word when they're able to move him, and they're sending an owl to these three letting them know exactly how Ron is, and we're going to intercept it." Bill says.

"Where are they moving him to?" Professor Dumbledore asks.

"They can't say, but they can't keep him at St. Mungo's, its too dangerous. He's too young to apparate, and they can't apparate him out of St. Mungo's. A hit wizard apparated him there, but we don't know how it was possible. The other patients have a button thing that the medi-wizards could push if there was an attack, but they'd have to know how to apparate before they were in there in order to get them out. Its really confusing, but basically Ron would be killed if there was an attack there, and a few aurors told my parents that You-know-who knows Ron's not dead, and he still wants answers and he wants to kill him, because Ron knows something that could ruin plans if he survives and remembers. And because Rita Skeeter printed that article, they know he's at St. Mungo's. They still think he could break through the lockdown though. Somehow Rita Skeeter's inside. They don't know if she's using Polyjuice potion or what, but the medi-wizards are encouraged to lie, so she'll write that he's dead, and You-know-who might leave them alone, but Rita Skeeter won't stop spreading news." Charlie explains.

Just then an owl addressed to the twins and Ginny flew in. Charlie reached up and snatched it.

"The funny thing is, it had our names on it, not yours." Fred says.

"I came here to intercept your letter, maybe you didn't hear me." Bill says.

Charlie shushed him as he read the letter. "Read it." Charlie says handing Bill the letter.

Dear Fred, George, and Ginny,

Or should I say Bill and Charlie, if they intercept your letter. I know your brothers have informed you about the attack on Ron. We can tell you very little, but we will write all we can. We are with your brother outside of the country. I can't tell you where, but I can tell you that Ron is alive, but has yet to awaken. The medi-wizards tell us that he more than likely will be insane when he does awake, and probably won't remember anything not even his family. However, we've been lucky so far, the medi-wizards have been proven wrong, as Ron has survived thus far. He's even breathing somewhat better; this is a great step to recovery for him. Please behave as best you can. Boys watch after your sister.

Bill and Charlie go to Percy for information on where to find us. Don't kill him, at the moment we don't need anymore of you hurt.

Love,

Mum and dad

"Do you think they were lying?" Charlie asks.

"No, it's all here, they only wrote what they could. We better go see the idiot." Bill says handing Charlie the letter.

"Can I have that letter now?" George asks impatiently.

"I don't know, can you reach?" Charlie asks holding it high above his own head.

"Not funny, give it." Fred says.

"Give him the letter, we need to see the idiot." Bill says.

"You're no fun, give him the letter you know you're starting to sound like the idiot." Charlie says handing the letter to Fred.

"You're starting to sound like a dead Weasley." Bill warns.

"Dead people don't make sounds, idiot." Charlie says.

"We'll be back. Nice to see you all again." Bill says to the professors, shaking their hands, he turns back to his siblings who were reading the letter. "Fred, George… behave!" Bill says.

"Oh no, you don't sound like the idiot." Charlie laughs as they exit the portrait hole.

Harry watches Bill run after Charlie as the portrait hole closes.

"He might not even remember us." Fred says hoarsely.

Ginny, who had read the letter ran up to her dorm, obviously afraid to cry in front of everybody. Her classmates followed her up the stairs and into the dorm.

"Mr. Weasley, might I see that letter, please?" Professor McGonagall asks.

Fred handed it to the professor. Both professors read it.

"I'm very sorry." Professor McGonagall says.

"It's not your fault. If it had been any other year, nothing would've happened." George assures her.

"I wish you all to come down to the feast tonight. It will be dedicated to Mr. Weasley." Professor Dumbledore says.

They all nodded or showed some gesture that they would indeed go to the feast.

At dinner that night Hagrid sat up at the staff table with the rest of the teachers. Only one spot remained empty still, and that belonged to Ron. Before dinner appeared on their plates, Professor Dumbledore stood up and everybody silenced.

"This feast is dedicated to Mr. Ronald Weasley, for he is not with us, and he may not be with us ever again. Yesterday morning, Lord Voldemort tortured Ronald Weasley severely. We will hold our glasses up and make a toast to Ronald Weasley and we will honor his strength and his fight. Ronald Weasley was a great friend, a great brother, and a great student. To Ronald Weasley." Professor Dumbledore says raising his glass.

Everyone else, with the exception of the Slytherins raised their glasses and honored Ron Weasley, who they would not see again for the rest of the year.