Misunderstood
Chapter One
The Start Of It All
Disclaimer: I don't own anything besides the plot to this story. All characters that you recognize belong to J.K. Rowling and Scholastic and all them people.
Author's Note: You do not have to read Changes In Ron to read this story. This story is not a sequel to Changes In Ron. It has nothing to do with Changes In Ron. It's a completely separate story. I hope you enjoy. I have an actual plot this time, though that won't make it better than Changes In Ron. I know I have the Grandfather character in my story again. He's needed in order to make this story work. He'll be just a bit different in this story, though he'll still be cruel. Remember I'm a drama queen, so if this goes overboard a few times, forgive me. So just read and if you like it or have criticism for it, leave a review. Thanks! ~*Carey*~
Ron Weasley looked at his mother with tearful, pleading eyes that were desperate for an alternative. Mrs. Weasley gave Ron another warm hug. "Ron, I don't want to send you there either, but…"
"Then don't! I'd rather stay and take the chances than go there and be protected. Grandfather's place is worse than death! Please mum…" Ron cries desperately.
"Ron, I need you to go to watch after your sister." Mrs. Weasley says with tears falling from her eyes. She didn't want to do this anymore than he didn't want to go. "I promise you'll have a great time."
"You know Grandfather hates me!" Ron says.
"He loves you Ron. He's your Grandfather!" Mrs. Weasley tries again.
"Only by blood." Ron cries stubbornly.
Mr. Weasley entered the house and took in the scene before him. Only two of his children were home. Ginny was sitting at the kitchen table watching her brother and her mother argue. Two trunks waited in front of the fireplace. It looked as if they hadn't even changed.
"What's going on dear?" Mr. Weasley asks taking off his hat and approaching his wife cautiously. She didn't look angry, but she was crying.
"Dad, please! Mum is making me go to grandfather's, and you know he hates me! Please don't let her send me!" Ron cries.
"Why are we sending him to your father's?" Mr. Weasley asks.
"The same reason why the twins are staying at the Jordan's, and the same reason why I'm sending Ginny along with Ron." Mrs. Weasley says.
"Oh, I nearly forgot about the warning." Mr. Weasley says turning a bit pale and looking sympathetically toward both of his children. "Ron, come sit down in the kitchen. We need to talk."
"I know about the warning. Mum's explained! Send me anywhere else… please!" Ron cries.
"Ron," Mr. Weasley spoke softly pulling his son to a chair next to Ginny at the kitchen table. "Ron, you don't know how hard it is for us to send you and your brothers and sister away."
"So make it easier on yourselves and don't!" Ron cries.
"Let me finish, please… This is terribly hard on us, but we have to. You may not thank us now, but in the end… We're just trying to protect you. You can't apparate incase of an emergency. That warning about You-know-who and his followers being around isn't one anybody can take lightly. It was issued from Dumbledore. We have to send you away, and who knows, the caution could be lifted in a week… so it really won't be too bad." Mr. Weasley says.
"It might not be lifted all summer!" Ron cries angrily.
"It might not be, but just think of it this way… if you two stayed here, in a week Ginny won't be sitting there, and your mum might not be either. If you stay, you're in danger. Your mum and I will not let you get harmed as long as we're alive. We don't want to take a chance like that Ron. Dumbledore wants you out of reach especially. You know about as much as Harry as he does. If they were looking for Harry, all they'd have to do is find you. You wouldn't want to put Harry's life in danger, would you?" Mr. Weasley asks.
Ron sighed deeply. "Well, what about sending Ginny and me off to friends houses like you did the twins?" Ron asks.
"We wanted to do that, we really did. Only I don't know any of Ginny's friends' parents well enough to ask them for that favor, and my father's the only family we can depend on… whom is still in the country. And I don't want Ginny to be at my father's by herself. She'll get bored." Mrs. Weasley says.
"So send us to Hermione's!" Ron pleads.
"Her parents are muggles, and from what I was told Hermione was planning on going to Bulgaria. Ron, please don't make this any harder than it is. We really don't want to do this, but we have too." Mrs. Weasley cries.
"What about Percy? He's moved in with Penelope!" Ron suggests.
"But the whole county is under alert… They can't be responsible for you two, and I know they'd bore you to death with studying." Mrs. Weasley explains.
The clock that told the Weasley's schedule chimed seven times. "Time to go you two. I told him you'd be there at seven, exactly." Mrs. Weasley says.
Ron took a deep breath and stood up. "Let's go Ginny." Ron said softly helping her up.
Mrs. Weasley stopped him. She hugged him tightly again. "Thank you sweetie. We'll check on you every week." Mrs. Weasley whispers in his ear. She kissed his cheek. "I know you'll have fun."
Mr. Weasley clapped Ron on the back and gave him a reassuring smile, while Mrs. Weasley hugged and kissed Ginny. "Owl us if you need anything." Mr. Weasley says.
Ron wanted to say he needed to stay home, but decided against it. He knew he didn't have that choice, and it was hard enough on his parents already.
"Ron you go first." Mrs. Weasley says.
Ron grabbed his trunk and Pigwidgeon's cage and put a pinch of Floo powder into the flames and said very clearly, "The O'Riley Manor," and was taken out of sight in a rush of emerald flames. He spun faster and faster, blurred fireplaces flashing past him, until finally he felt himself slowing down and he stepped out of the fireplace of his Grandfather's manor. He brushed soot off of his robes and pushed his trunk and owl's cage a few steps in front of him, so that Ginny could step out without falling into him, while he had a look around.
It had been ten years since he'd last seen his Grandfather's house. While the Weasley's were very poor, Grandfather O'Riley, Mrs. Weasley's father had come from great wealth. Mrs. Weasley had stopped speaking with her father, when he'd tried to break up her relationship with Mr. Weasley. Her father offered her all his wealth, if she'd only leave Mr. Weasley. She could bring her children, but Grandfather despised Mr. Weasley, and tried everything to make his only daughter leave him.
Grandfather only had one child and he loved Molly dearly. He had tried to keep her his little girl forever, but then she met that Arthur Weasley at Hogwarts and had left her father for a life of her own. And Grandfather was disgusted with the poverty-stricken life his daughter had chosen.
Ron was only five the last time he was here, and his grandfather had said less than ten words to him. "Disgusting. Stay out of my sight!" It became apparent why he hated to look at Ron. Ron looked like his father.
Grandfather loved Bill; he was his first grandchild, despite the fact that he had his father's looks. Grandfather had loved Charlie just as much, if not more, because Charlie definitely looked more like his mother than his father, and he had 'the O'Riley strength and talent' as Grandfather called it. Grandfather could even see almost the exact image of his younger self when he was a youngster when he looked at Charlie. Percy impressed his Grandfather because he was smart. It was decided while Percy also had his father's looks; Percy had his mother's brains. Grandfather didn't especially like the twins because of their jokes, in fact Grandfather was without a sense of humor, but the twins charmed him because they were twins and adorable. Grandfather couldn't find any excuse for Ron to explain how he was related to the O'Riley family. In Grandfather's opinion, he was the exact replica of Mr. Weasley. Ginny on the other hand was Grandfather's favorite grandchild. Ginny was smart, beautiful, and exactly like her mother when she was her age.
Ron looked around the living room. The room was huge; there were three long sofas all in front of the fireplace in a semi-circle so that the fireplace seemed to keep the company who sat on them well warm. There was a long glass table in between the sofas and copies of the Daily Prophet lie neatly piled on top of each other on one corner of the table.
Ginny stumbled out of the fireplace, and nearly fell over her trunk, but Ron caught her just in time. He helped brush soot off of her, and she stared in amazement at the living room, which alone was about as wide as the Weasley's whole first floor. Ginny looked at her older brother and smiled with excitement, for neither of them had been here in a decade, as it was a decade since their grandmother passed away, and Mrs. Weasley couldn't bear to come back to a place where she had lost her mother. Grandmother O'Riley had been loving and caring. She supported Mrs. Weasley's marriage, for she knew that marriage had nothing to do with money, though she offered to help with her daughter's finances, Mrs. Weasley had too much pride to accept her mother's charities.
"You're late." A voice from behind them spoke, causing them both to gasp with surprise and turn.
They saw their Grandfather. Grandfather was just a bit taller than Ron, though Ron was only fifteen and still growing. For being old, Grandfather didn't look weak, though he did use a cane from time to time. He was short yet stocky with muscles. He was almost completely bald, yet the hair that he still had was red. He wore fine robes and polished shoes.
At first Grandfather looked at Ron and glared, but his expression was completely the opposite when he saw Ginny step forward. His eyes filled with tears and he smiled widely opening his arms.
"Virginia, my have you grown! It's been ages since I've seen you last. My word, you look just like your mother!" Grandfather says.
Ginny blushed and smiled at her Grandfather's words, and after an unnoticed nudge from Ron, she walked over to him and Grandfather hugged her tightly.
"Come and have supper. I told your mother not to feed you, tell me she didn't." Grandfather says.
"No, she had us wait to eat with you." Ginny says.
Only when Ginny said we did Grandfather remember Ron was staying with them as well. He looked over to Ron.
"I'd prefer you to put your things away before you join us. You can place your stuff downstairs in the basement. You can bring Virginia's things to the first bedroom on your right upstairs." Grandfather says.
Ron nodded in response and took his trunk and Pig's cage downstairs into the basement, which was unheated. It was summer, but the evenings in England could be a bit chilly, and Ron noticed the change in temperature as soon as he stepped downstairs. The basement was dark, and Ron couldn't find a light for the life of him. Ron was terrified of what could be down here. Ron wasn't afraid of the dark, but he couldn't see what was down in this dark, cold basement, and feared that spiders might be lurking there, and spiders were the things Ron feared most of all. Ron placed his trunk next to the bottom stair, in front of what little star and moonlight managed to shine through the basement windows. He couldn't see a bed or anything else for that matter. Ron put Pig's cage on top of his trunk in the little light that shone in the basement, so that the owl wouldn't have a fit.
Ron made his way back up the stairs as quickly as possible, and brought Ginny's trunk up the stairs to the second floor and opened the first door on the right revealing a huge light pink bedroom. In the center of the room was a huge Canopy bed made with pale pink sheets and blankets. She had countless pillows at the head of the bed. The top one, and the biggest one, had the name Virginia sewn across it. The bedroom was designed especially for her. A window just above the headboard let the light from the night light up the room. There was a vanity dresser on one wall of the room, and against the opposite wall was a desk. There was a huge closet just next to the door. Ron placed Ginny's trunk against the closet and left the room, shutting the door, descending the stairs knowing that once there was light in the basement, he'd see the complete opposite of Ginny's room. If he were lucky he'd get at least one blanket and maybe one pillow.
Ron entered the dining room, which had one long table with plenty of chairs. Ginny sat across from her Grandfather at the opposite end of the room, laughing and talking, while enjoying her dinner. Though Ron noticed she was smart enough to not talk and eat at the same time. Ron wondered if his Grandfather would correct her if she made this mistake. Grandfather looked up as Ron walked across the room to take a seat next to Ginny.
"There were no problems, I trust." Grandfather says.
"Er, actually there's no heat in the basement, and I couldn't find a light." Ron says.
"Well, I only keep a fire going on the first floor. It is summer after all, and you'll be able to see perfectly well once the sun come out in the morning. It's the new moon tonight, so there's not a lot of light." Grandfather says.
"But you don't have any light at all downstairs?" Ron asks.
"You're fifteen, you can't be afraid of the dark." Grandfather says.
"No sir, I'm not. It's just I can't see where I'm sleeping, and I need to unpack and a little light would be useful." Ron says.
"I'll get you a lantern." Grandfather says.
"Thank you." Ron says uncomfortably.
"Your dinner's in the kitchen." Grandfather says.
"Oh, all right." Ron says standing up. He leaves the table for the kitchen just behind him. He came back with a plate of cold food, but sat down and began to eat anyway.
"You need to learn some manners, while you're here son." Grandfather warns.
Ron wiped his mouth, and he swallowed the bite of food he was chewing. "I'm sorry?" Ron asks.
"You're forgiven, but you're still going to learn." Grandfather says.
"No, I meant I'm sorry as in I don't understand what you're implying. When didn't I use manners?" Ron asks, now a bit irritated. Ron had specifically been watching himself to use perfect manners. He was cutting his chicken with his fork and knife, he had a napkin on his lap, and he was chewing with his mouth closed, and not talking.
"You didn't excuse yourself from the table." Grandfather explains.
Ron fought hard to stay calm. His grandfather wouldn't fail to correct him at any minor mistake.
"I apologize. I won't make that mistake again." Ron says.
Ginny looked at Ron with surprise. Ginny was expecting Ron to get defensive, but somehow he was remaining calm.
"I hope not for your sake." Grandfather says finishing up his dinner. "You two finish up. Then Virginia, please go to your room for bed. I want you to unpack and get settled. I want you well rested."
Ginny went to protest, but decided against it. Her grandfather was treating her splendidly; there was no reason to argue with him. "Yes Grandfather." Ginny says.
Grandfather turned to Ron. "I have to go out for a bit. I'll be in late tonight. I want you to lock the door behind me, and wait up until I get home. Do you understand?" Grandfather asks.
Ron nodded.
"Unless you are mute, you will speak, and I know you can speak as you had so many complaints about your room." Grandfather says.
"Sorry sir. I understand." Ron says.
"Good." Grandfather says standing up. "Excuse me." Grandfather brought his plate into the kitchen and came back out. He kissed Ginny on the head. "It's great seeing you again sweetheart. Enjoy your dinner. I hope you like your room."
"Thank you." Ginny says.
"Ronald…" Grandfather says indicating that Ron should follow him.
Ron winced at hearing his full name. "Excuse me." Ron says to Ginny as he got up from the table and followed his Grandfather to the door.
"Make sure Virginia's in bed after she's finished eating. Wash the dishes, and wait up until I come home. I'll be home between two and three. Watch Virginia, don't you dare hurt her, and don't mess up the house. You may wait in the living room for me, but nowhere else, unless you're checking on Virginia. Do you understand?" Grandfather asks in a dangerous whisper.
"Yes sir." Ron says.
"You better." Grandfather says taking his cloak. He wrapped it around himself and stepped outside, where Ron watched him apparate. Ron locked the door before returning to the dining room to eat.
Ginny looked up at Ron worriedly. "Ron, I'm afraid. What if I make a mistake, what if I forget my manners? I feel like I'm in trouble every time he says my name. I'm afraid to correct him." Ginny says.
"Don't worry about a thing. Grandfather loves you. You should see your room!" Ron says reassuringly.
"Do you think I should ask him to call me Ginny?" Ginny asks.
"Virginia's a better name than Ronald." Ron says. "I'd rather him just look at me and tell me what to do rather than be addressed by Ronald. I can't stand that name."
"Are you really going to make me go to bed after dinner? I'm fourteen now, and I'll be in bed my nine o'clock. Do you know how young that makes me feel?" Ginny asks.
"He won't be home until two, but I'm not risking my skin for your privileges. Just be in your bedroom when you're finished. Unpack and then you can relax a bit. Grandfather's got everything in your room for you. You won't grow bored." Ron says.
"You don't want me to wait up with you?" Ginny asks.
"Ginny, Grandfather would hang me if I let you." Ron says.
"But what if you grow bored? You can't even see your room." Ginny says.
"I'm not sure that I want to. I have plenty to do while I wait." Ron says.
"Where do you think Grandfather went?" Ginny asks.
"He probably had to go check on a friend." Ron suggests, referring to his Grandfather's days as a mediwizard, or a wizard doctor. Though he was retired, he was still requested now and then. Ron knew that he was rarely called upon anymore, and that he was more than likely at a pub drinking into the late hours of the night.
"This late at night?" Ginny asks.
"From what mum has said, he was one of the best mediwizards… and wizards and witches can get sick at any hour." Ron says.
"True." Ginny says shrugging. Then she stood up holding her plate, in a mocking tone she spoke. "Excuse me."
"Ginny, let me take your plate out. I want to bring the crumbs to Pig, and I have to wash it anyway." Ron says rolling his eyes.
"I'll wash the dishes for you." Ginny offers.
Ron grabbed the sleeve of her robe. "Grandfather wouldn't have any of that. Just go to your room and wash up and unpack." Ron says.
Ginny sighed, rolling her eyes. "I'm sorry Ron. I'll explain to Grandfather tomorrow that I'm perfectly capable of helping out around here, despite the fact that I'm a girl." Ginny says.
"Ginny, enjoy not having to do anything. Just unpack, or I'll have to do that tomorrow for you too." Ron says.
"All right. Goodnight Ron." Ginny says smiling sadly at her brother. Ginny didn't think it was fair at all that she was treated like a princess, while her brother was treated like scum. She climbed the stairs and all of that was forgotten as she nearly shrieked with delight at seeing her perfect room. She put her stuff away, and made herself comfortable in bed, falling asleep soon after.
Meanwhile, Ron had just finished washing the dishes. He brought all the crumbs down to Pig, and decided to get Pig out of here, as he was making a bit of a ruckus down in the basement. He decided to write to Harry. He wanted to write to his parents, but he didn't want them to feel even guiltier. He was in a helpless situation. He had nowhere else to go; so writing to them wouldn't do any good. Besides, things could've been a lot worse. Little did he know that they were about to…
Ron sat on the black couch facing the fire working on one of his holiday assignments. He never thought he'd be so bored as to get started on his holiday essays on the evening he arrived home. It wasn't even the first day of the holidays. Ron started on his essay summarizing the Unforgivable Curses, and had rewritten four times, making it longer and better each time. The first time, he had written two paragraphs in big handwriting to make it the length that the assignment was required to be. Now he was writing extremely tiny for him anyway and just squeezing the last words on the bottom of the parchment. His new professor would be impressed for sure.
He wanted to write to Hermione sending this essay with a letter, but then decided against it, because one he'd already sent Pig off with a letter to Harry, two he didn't want to talk to the traitor who was probably having a great time in Bulgaria even though it was a few hours, it seemed like a couple of weeks to Ron, and three he'd probably get a reply of 'I told you, you could do it if you just concentrated for more than two minutes,' and then he'd probably be nagged to do more if he went back to his old ways, which he would be doing as soon as he had better things to do.
Ron reread his essay a final time and tucked it back inside his bag. He pondered whether he should start on another essay, but then he looked at his watch. It was quarter to three in the morning! Ron put his quill, ink, and book back into his bag, which he then placed back into his trunk, which he had brought back upstairs to see his things. He then decided to bring his trunk back downstairs. He came upstairs and sunk back into the couch as he waited for his Grandfather to come home. Surely, he'd be home soon.
Ron's eyelids started growing heavy. He was tired from the train ride home and that had been hours ago. Where was his Grandfather?
A popping noise and loud knocking from the front door woke Ron up. Ron rubbed his tired eyes and looked at his watch before getting up. He hadn't known he'd fallen asleep. It was now half past four in the morning. Ron was grateful that he had fallen into a light sleep. Usually he'd be dead to the world when he was out. Ron stumbled sleepily over to the door and peered out the window to see his Grandfather. His heavy eyelids didn't let him see that he appeared angry. Ron unlocked the door and it flung open knocking Ron roughly to the floor.
Ron went to speak, but his Grandfather reached down and grabbed a handful of Ron's hair violently, pulling Ron on to his feet with a cry.
"Grandfather, let go of me!" Ron cried trying to struggle away from him without pulling his hair even more.
Grandfather shut the door and locked it ignoring Ron's cries. He yanked Ron's hair violently toward the basement causing Ron to follow. Grandfather swung open the basement door and looked at Ron dangerously. "You have complaints about the rooms of my house, do you?" Grandfather asks in a slurred voice.
Ron thought quickly to understand what Grandfather was talking about. His eyes grew wide with anxiety as he remembered. "No! No sir, your rooms are perfect!" Ron cries.
Grandfather grinned. "Here's something to complain about…" Grandfather said shoving Ron forcefully towards the basement.
Ron flew, but hit the fourth cement step hard, then his body followed, causing him to tumble down the steps, and he couldn't stop rolling until he crashed into something… hard. Everything went dark.
The next morning, Harry Potter awoke to a tapping noise at his bedroom window, well his cousin Dudley's second bedroom window. Harry rolled his eyes to see Ron's overexcited owl so soon. Not that Harry didn't want to hear from Ron, in fact Harry was happy to hear from a friend so soon, yet it hadn't even been twenty-four hours since he last saw his friend. With an inward laugh, Harry crossed the room and opened the window letting the small owl in. He snatched the letter and opened Hedwig's cage, so that the owl could have a bit to eat and drink.
Thankfully, Hedwig wasn't there as she was delivering a letter to Sirius so that he would be reassured that Harry was fine, though his shoulders felt tremendously burdened with guilt of Cedric Diggory's death, he didn't want Sirius to worry about him. Truthfully, he had sent the letter to see how far away his Godfather was. Harry didn't want him to be so close, and yet he hoped he wasn't too far.
Just as Harry was unfolding the parchment that revealed Ron's loopy scrawl, Aunt Petunia shouted for him from the bottom of the stairs. Harry folded it back up and tucked it into his pocket, he'd have to wait a bit before he could read the letter. He grimaced as he looked back at Pig. If Hedwig came back anytime soon, she'd have a fit, and Harry wasn't sure about keeping Pig penned up. Surely he'd cause a riot. Though he couldn't send Pig back without a reply. Harry had no clue as to when Hedwig would be back.
Harry sighed hoping the bird could be calm for once as he turned towards the door and headed downstairs. He found his aunt in the kitchen slicing vegetables. Dudley was sitting in front of the television, unaware that his cousin had entered the kitchen. Dudley was off of his diet though he was larger than last year. Some of his fat had gone unnoticed as he was now a foot taller, however the Dursley's were paying extra for having his uniforms custom made, now Dudley was allowed to eat whatever he wanted again. Now Harry could eat a better meal than just a quarter of a grapefruit, if his cousin didn't eat it first. However, he would soon be asking his friends to send food, and was a bit surprised to see that there was not food sent with Pig, though Pig couldn't carry it by himself anyway.
"Yes Aunt Petunia?" Harry asks expectantly.
"Dudley's friends are coming over, and I'll be having tea with a few of my friends. Therefore, you'll be spending the afternoon at Ms. Figg's, as you always seem to do something abnormal when company comes over. Mind you, your uncle Vernon threatens to flay you within an inch of your life, if Ms. Figg mentions anything abnormal that you've done, or has any complaints whatsoever. Do you understand?" Aunt Petunia asks.
Harry inwardly groaned. Ms. Figg was a nice but crazy old lady with lots of cats. Her house smelled of cabbage and her food always tasted stale to Harry.
"Yes Aunt Petunia." Harry said with a heavy sigh.
"Good, then go on. You'd best arrive there; I'll be calling in ten minutes to see that you do." Aunt Petunia says.
Harry rolled his eyes and left the house. He walked the two blocks to Ms. Figg's house and knocked on the door.
Harry took a step back and it opened, revealing a cheery looking old lady. "Harry, dear…" She spoke rather loudly. "Do come in. I've been expecting you."
Harry forced a smile and stepped into the house, which filled his nostrils with the smell of cabbage.
Harry was brought into the living room, where Ms. Figg's many cats were. Harry rubbed his eyes as he saw a black dog sitting in the doorway of the kitchen. Harry stared apprehensively at the dog, knowing it was Sirius. He was mad! He had to be, to be in a muggle's home that was beyond crazy. Sirius leapt on to the couch where he transformed into his wizarding self, beaming at Harry.
"Have you gone mad? You're a fugitive in the muggle world too! Change back and get out before she sees you!" Harry whispered quickly.
"Sirius! I told you not to change, unless all the shades are drawn down." Ms. Figg said pointing a wand at the shades, which at once came down, making the room a bit darker.
"You're a witch!" Harry says.
"Well of course she is! Arabella's an auror! Where have you been?" Sirius asks as if it were obvious. Then his eyes grew worried. "You didn't lose your memory during the TriWizard Tournament, did you?"
"How would I know if I'd forgotten? No, I haven't lost my mind, but Ms. Figg never mentioned she was a witch before." Harry explains. Then he realized a connection. Dumbledore had sent Sirius to alert the old crowd… Arabella Figg… Ms. Figg. Of course, this was why Harry stayed at Privet Drive. An auror was two streets away.
"No, I didn't. I haven't seen you since before you found out you were a wizard. I couldn't have let you run around telling the world about me… and our world." Ms. Figg says going into the kitchen.
"Oh." Harry says.
"I got your owl." Sirius says changing the subject.
"Oh you did?" Harry asks. Then he jumped up with alarm. "Please tell me you didn't send Hedwig back yet!"
"I didn't send Hedwig back yet." Sirius says calmly.
Harry sighs. "Good."
"Why is that good?" Sirius asks.
"Well, because my aunt and cousin are having company, and I got sent out without being able to read Ron's letter, so I couldn't reply, and I didn't know when Hedwig would be back with your response, so I kept Pig in my room, and Hedwig and Pig don't get along real well, because Hedwig's really a great owl, and Pig is a bit rowdy, and if Hedwig was sent back, there'd be a big commotion and Hedwig would have to be given away, because the Dursley's would kill me." Harry says.
"They wouldn't dare. They know I'd kill them first, and if they don't know, then you should let them know." Sirius says. "How's Ron doing? Wait, didn't you guys just come home yesterday? Is he so worried about you that he can't wait twenty-four hours to write, or do you owl each other daily?"
"No, I actually don't know why he owled so soon. He's probably worried about me, but I don't know. I didn't actually read it yet." Harry says pulling out the letter from his pocket. "Maybe I can stay with the Weasley's now!"
"I doubt Dumbledore made a decision so quickly. He wouldn't send you to the Dursley's for less than two days just to change his mind." Sirius says.
"What are we talking about?" Ms. Figg asks bringing three cups of tea out with cakes on a platter.
"I was saying that maybe my friend wrote me so soon to let me know I could come and stay with him. I always go to the Weasley's for part of the summer." Harry says.
"Well that letter best not have said you could stay. I specifically told Dumbledore that there's a bad aura around that area. If Arthur and Molly are smart, you'll find that your friend's aren't even there." Ms. Figg says.
"You told Dumbledore not to let me go to the Weasley's?" Harry asks in disbelief.
"It's for your safety." Ms. Figg says. "Tell me your friend's not at the burrow. The death eaters only have to put the Imperius Curse on him to get to you."
Harry read the letter.
Harry-
How are you? Are the muggles treating you all right? I know it hasn't even been twenty-four hours since we last saw each other, but your uncle didn't look especially pleased to see you, and a lot has happened since then. I barely had time to speak with my father before Ginny and I were gone again. The twins are spending the summer, or at least part of it with Lee. I found out the reason you can't come to the burrow right away. I'm not even allowed there right now, mind you it's my home. Some auror warned Dumbledore that You-know-who and his death eaters were lurking around somewhere not far from the burrow. Anyway, there's a heavy caution that my parents are listening to, and they don't want us to be in danger, as we can't apparate, so we've been sent to my Grandfather's. Given the choice, I'd have stayed with my parents, but they wouldn't hear of it. They said I know almost as much about you as you do, and that if the Death Eaters did come, I could put your life in jeopardy. So being the loyal friend that I am, I'm stuck here somewhere in York. But don't feel guilty, like I said I didn't have a choice to begin with and I have to watch Ginny, so it's partially her fault too.
No, my Grandfather isn't all bad. His house is huge, and he's given me the whole basement for my room. Grandfather's really rich, mind you, but my parents have too much pride to take anything he offers, well except for us coming to stay here of course. They had to comply for our safety. I don't like my Grandfather's house as much as the burrow though. The burrow's not much, but it is home. Grandfather's a bit strict about his house though, and I'm always afraid I might break something by accident. Hermione would be proud to see me hold my tongue rather than start an argument like I would normally. You know how I hate being corrected, and of course I forgot to excuse myself from the table to get my dinner, and he had to say something about it, but I somehow managed to apologize, even though I was coming right back to the table!
Speaking of Hermione, the traitor! Do you know that she's going to Bulgaria for the summer? To see Krum of course! She lied to me! I mean the few times she didn't answer me don't count as lying, but she said she wasn't sure if she was going, that she hadn't made up her mind, or that she was still thinking about it! Well she obviously knew she was going, because when my mum spoke to Hermione's parents about possibly taking Ginny and I in just for a week or so, then we'd come here, they apologized and said that they'd love to have us, but that Hermione wouldn't be there, as she had plans to go to Bulgaria.
Anyway, I hope the warning is lifted soon; otherwise I'm in for a very boring summer. I hope the muggles are treating you all right, and if they're not owl Fred and George and ask for some of their new sweets. Threaten the muggles with them. Then again, maybe you'd be in a worse position with them. You won't know until you try. – Ron
Harry inwardly laughed and couldn't suppress a grin. Ron had probably given himself a hand cramp from writing so much.
"He's not at the burrow, he's at his Grandfather's house." Harry says folding up the letter.
"Let me see that." Sirius says.
Harry looked a bit hesitant, but handed it to Sirius and watched curiously as his Godfather read the letter.
"What does he mean by Hermione, the traitor?" Sirius asks.
"Oh, he's just complaining about her again. If he had written me a letter that didn't have a complaint about Hermione, then I'd be worried. He thinks Hermione betrayed me, because she was a bit friendly with another school's champion in the TriWizard Tournament." Harry says nonchalantly.
"It sounds like he really didn't want to go to his Grandfather's house." Sirius says.
"Yea, but I can't imagine why. Ron never told me about his Grandfather." Harry says.
Ron Weasley awoke with every part of his body aching. Tears came to his eyes as he stood up. He limped over to a small bed that was nothing like Ginny's, but would accommodate him. He now was able to see the basement that would be his room during his stay. It was big and empty. At the bottom of the stairs, you could go left or right, Ron had kept rolling forward and smashed into the cement wall. There was an old dresser next to Ron's bed, and a desk on the other side. Other than that, there was nothing but Ron's trunk and Pig's cage in the basement. While Ron hated his Grandfather, he was grateful that he kept the basement immaculate, because Ron wouldn't have to fear spiders here.
Ron looked at his watch to find that he had been unconscious for six hours as it was ten thirty in the morning. He changed into clean robes painfully. He could see cuts and bruises on his arms, his stomach and chest, his legs, and he was sure he bruised his tailbone, as it hurt him to sit. He could feel pain in his back and the back of his neck as well. His head hurt greatly, and his face hurt, but he hoped there was nothing to show. He couldn't let Ginny know, or she'd end up hating her Grandfather, and Grandfather would hit Ron worse and start to hit her. They weren't able to leave, so even if they were able to tell their parents, it wouldn't do anything. Ron thought of an excuse for anything that might've been apparent that Ginny would see as he started up the stairs.
He entered the dining room to find Grandfather and Ginny talking over breakfast. Ginny gasped when she saw Ron, for she saw dried blood, and bruises on the side of his face.
"Ron! What happened?" Ginny cries, standing up and running over to her brother.
Ron inwardly groaned. Ginny hadn't excused herself, because of him. Surely Grandfather would punish him for it later.
"I fell down the stairs." Ron says. It wasn't lying exactly. He had fell down the stairs after his Grandfather pushed him.
"Oh my gosh! I thought Grandfather was giving you a lantern so you could see down the steps." Ginny cries. She was now in tears seeing her brother so beaten up.
"And he did!" Ron said quickly. "I was just stupid and didn't use it to find my way upstairs to the bathroom. Going back downstairs I stumbled over my own shoelace, and fell." Ron lies.
"Can I get you some ice or a wet rag or anything?" Ginny asks.
"No, I'm fine, really. I was on my way to the bathroom to wash up." Ron says.
"But the bathroom's upstairs." Ginny says confusedly.
"I know, but I smelt something cooking, and I decided to say good morning. Now I'm going to wash up." Ron says and walks out of the room, forcing himself to walk right, rather than limp.
Ron washed his face in the bathroom. A bruise darkened the left side of his face, and there was a scrape on top of that.
Ron silently prayed that his Grandfather wouldn't stay out late drinking often, and if he did, he prayed that he'd be kinder than that.