Misunderstood
Chapter Two
Bullies Young And Old
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: Thanks for the reviews. I've always had a problem with keeping it the same tenses like past or present tense, but it's something I intend to work on. Thanks for the honesty and the encouragement! ~*Carey*~
Ron didn't bother to have breakfast. He told Ginny that his stomach hurt, and reassured her that he was fine. He couldn't believe Ginny was worrying about him. He was supposed to be worrying about her!
"Ronald!" Grandfather's voice called from the dining room.
Ron flinched at his name. He wouldn't be able to take this all summer. His name, Ronald, alone was enough to push his buttons. However, he'd have to get used to it if he wanted to survive the summer. Ron entered the dining room.
"Yes sir?" Ron asked timidly.
"Take mine and Virginia's dishes into the kitchen and wash them." Grandfather said standing up.
"Yes sir." Ron said softly in way of response. He walked over to where the dishes were and began to pick them up when he flinched as a hand gripped his shoulder tightly.
"Virginia's never to find out about this, do you understand? I don't want her to feel guilty about anything. She offered to do the dishes for you… I don't want her to lift a finger in this house, and so help you if she does. Do you understand me?" Grandfather asked.
Ron shuddered. He wanted to shrug his Grandfather's hand off of him and throw him into the wall, but what would his parents think of him? He swallowed his pride deeply in defeat. There was no way he was going to win.
"Yes sir." Ron answered praying his Grandfather would let go of him.
"You better hope so." Grandfather said with a painful squeeze before letting Ron go.
Ron had to control himself so he wouldn't run into the kitchen with the plates. He wasn't going to stand up to his Grandfather, but he wouldn't show him fear, either.
Ron washed the dishes and cautiously entered the living room, where Ginny was drinking tea while talking with her Grandfather on the couch. Ron hung back in the doorway, as not to draw any of his Grandfather's attention to himself, and groaned inwardly knowing he'd have to wash their cups when they finished.
"Those robes are much too worn for a beautiful young lady to be wearing." Grandfather said as he noticed the hand-me-down robes she wore.
"These were once Ron's, but before that they were one of the twins', and before that they were most likely Percy's." Ginny said thoughtfully.
"How would you like it if we were to go to Diagon Alley to get you some proper robes that fit?" Grandfather asked with a smile.
"These robes fit me well enough Grandfather, and I don't think mum and dad could pay you back." Ginny said and her ears turned red as she became interested in her tea.
"There's no such thing as well enough for my granddaughter! Don't you worry about the cost of anything! It's all on me!" Grandfather asked.
"Grandfather, you really don't have too…" Ginny said, though Ron knew she wanted new robes more than anything.
"I know I don't have to, but I want to!" Grandfather said gladly.
"Oh thank you!" Ginny said excitedly hugging her Grandfather tightly.
It was then that Ron saw his Grandfather smile a true smile. Ron was sure that he'd cry of happiness, but that was until he opened his eyes to finally notice Ron.
"Ronald!" Grandfather said happily.
"Yes sir?" Ron asked hesitantly.
"Your sister and I are going to Diagon Alley. If you want, after your done washing our cups, you can take the opportunity to go outside and meet some of the adolescents around here." Grandfather said brightly.
Ron knew that there was something suspicious behind his Grandfather's cheery tone. Surely, it couldn't have been making Ginny happy that caused Grandfather to be nice to Ron. Ron knew that his Grandfather would never take him out in public with him, if he could help it, but to let him stay home, and possibly make friends? Ron knew if there was one thing out of order when his Grandfather returned, he'd be killed, but why would Grandfather let him have fun? Was it an attempt to make up for his drunken behavior last night? No, because his Grandfather didn't need to be drunk to hurt Ron he'd already proven that in the kitchen. Maybe his parents were coming to make sure everything was all right. Maybe they had felt so much guilt that they felt they needed to check on them. Maybe his Grandfather was trying to make it up to him by letting him have a bit of fun.
"You're sure? I can stay here and work on my assignments, if you'd rather…" Ron offered.
"Do what you want, but you can't stay cooped up all summer. It's very unhealthy." Grandfather said.
"Oh, well then I guess I'll do that. Thank you sir. Oh, wait!" Ron said as he realized another possibility. "Are there wizards and witches around here?" Ron was sure his Grandfather was up to something, and he had only said adolescents, not muggles or wizards. Ron wasn't sure he'd do real well around muggles. He only knew a few things about the muggle world, and he had a feeling his knowledge even on those few things weren't completely accurate.
"Of course, you don't think I'd surround myself with muggles, do you?" Grandfather asked, his voice full of shock.
"Well no sir, but you don't surround yourself with… well, anybody sir." Ron said.
"There are young wizards and witches just two villages away. The villages aren't big at all mind you. Once you're out of the woods, you walk straight down the main roads and you'll get to the wizarding village. You'll know when your there. Most of the teenagers hang out on the sidewalk, not bothering to keep their voices low about terms muggles wouldn't know." Grandfather explained.
Ron wondered if he'd know any of these teenage wizards and witches, and he also wondered if he'd want to know them. What if Draco Malfoy, Ron's archenemy, lived in York as well? Malfoy only needed to see the bruise on the side of Ron's face to have a great laugh for the school year.
Ron took the teacups into the kitchen and washed them quickly, anxious to get out of the house, yet he was careful to not drop them.
Ron came back into the living room to find his Grandfather and sister still there. He silently prayed that they'd leave soon so he could get out of the O'Riley manor.
"We're going to be another few minutes. You don't have to wait around for us to leave you should start walking now. I want you home before dark, and it'll take you a bit to meet people and then you'll have to walk home… Mind you, I said I want you home before dark, I don't want you walking home when it gets dark." Grandfather said with a tone of warning in his voice.
"Yes sir. Thank you sir!" Ron said excitedly and left the manor.
Ron ran excitedly through the woods to the next village. Ron followed the streets that looked like main roads, though he wasn't sure. Ron was practically skipping with delight as he made way toward the next village. Perhaps he was really skipping, for he tripped over something ripping the knee in his pants and skinning his knee. What a klutz, the wizards would think him to be.
Ron started to get up, not bothering to check what had tripped him; he didn't want to lose any time. However the person who tripped him didn't see it that way as he shoved Ron from behind down on the cement causing Ron to scrape his arms.
"What the- Ow! Hey!" Ron yelled angrily at the two teenagers behind him who were now grabbing him by the arms to pull him up.
"Get off of me!" Ron yelled pulling one arm free.
The teenager who had lost his grip quickly regained it as the two young men dragged a kicking and yelling Ron behind a brick building.
"Let me go! Now!" Ron yelled as they slammed him against the brick wall… hard.
One of the muggles searched Ron's pockets, while Ron kicked and elbowed him.
"Where's your money?" A voice from behind the two muggles in control asked.
Ron struggled to stand to his full height, and finally managed to do so, to see three more muggles standing behind the two that were searching him.
"I don't have any." Ron said through gritted teeth. It was all he could do to keep calm. If he was caught fighting with muggles his father might not ever speak to him again, as he worked in the office of Misuse of Muggle Artifacts in the Ministry. It was his job to protect muggles.
A powerful blow to the jaw found Ron's face meeting the brick wall. Ron cried out in surprise. He could taste blood from his lip.
"I'll ask you nicely one more time! Where is your money?" The muggle asked threateningly.
"I honestly don't have any! I have five brothers and a sister, and we're really, really poor! I don't have anything for you!" Ron cried out helplessly. Ron didn't want to sound desperate, his stubbornness would hardly let him, but the fear of disappointing his father alarmed him, and he thought maybe if he'd sound honest, they wouldn't hurt him too badly.
Ron flinched as somebody stepped forward and yanked at his wrist. He felt a tug and something snap and he opened his eyes to find one of them twirling his watch around on their finger.
"Nothing for us, eh? Oh yea, he's real trustworthy, all right… I say we teach him a lesson!" One of the muggles said with a smirk.
Ron lost all control he had. "Give me back my watch! Somebody needs to teach you all a lesson about what's right and wrong! Messing with me… is wrong!" Ron said punching the face in front of him. Ron was surprised at the power of the blow as he saw the muggle fall to the ground.
"GET HIM!" The fallen muggle yelled.
They chased after Ron, who's speed was always incredible, once he was running… As it was, Ron hadn't started running long enough to make such speed and was slammed into the wall again, and yelled as more than one pair of hands punched him. The punches were coming randomly, one after the other, to different places of his body, and somehow Ron couldn't move from the wall where he was slammed up against even harder from every blow.
Ron started to fight back, elbowing, swinging his fist as he turned around, kneeing somebody between the legs, which turned out to be a great defense… However, when he turned around, he made his face more vulnerable to being hit, which was taken advantage of, as blows came to his head, his nose, eyes, and jaw. He could only fight back against the five boys, and wasn't doing it successfully. However, he couldn't give up, despite the powerful hits. Ron's vision was becoming blurred… He'd be passing out any minute now, and then they'd kill him! Despite how well Grandfather treated Ginny, Ron couldn't die while Ginny was in his Grandfather's custody.
As if by some miracle, he felt the gap between him, the wall, and the muggles open, and he took his chance and ran as fast as he could out of the village, running through the woods to his Grandfather's manor.
He reached the house in record timing, only to find that when he turned the handle, the door… didn't open.
Now he was locked out! Ron walked over to the nearest tree and kicked and punched it in frustration. He punched it until he was so worn out that his knees gave out from under him. He fell onto his knees, and lay against the tree he just beat up.
He looked at the sky, it was still long before dark, but it was murky, and thunder sounded confirming him of his thoughts… it was going to storm.
'Of course!' Ron thought as he curled himself up as tight as he could to keep warm. This was why Grandfather had let him go out of the house. He must've known of those muggle bullies in the next town. He must've known that it would storm! He must've known Ron had only two choices, both of which would end him in a bad position with his Grandfather.
On the one hand, he could wait until his Grandfather got home, but who knew when that would be… most likely after dark, just so he could punish Ron for coming in late. On the other hand, he could break a window to enter, though that would earn him a worse punishment for damaging his Grandfather's property.
Ron heard the crack of thunder again, and with a flash of lightning and another boom, it began to pour.
Ron had no recollection of how he got to sleep in the storm. However, he awoke from quite a few hours of sleep, and it was now dark. It was still stormy out. Ron's breath caught in his throat as he saw the lights inside the manor were on. Grandfather was home. Oh why couldn't he have woken up sooner?
Ron walked up to the door and turned the handle. To his surprise and advantage, it was still locked! Grandfather would surely understand now, even though it wouldn't matter, he wouldn't berate him in front of Ginny. Ron knocked on the door several times and swallowed deeply.
Ron heard the door unlock and it swung open, revealing a very happy Ginny wearing her brand new robes that fit her perfectly.
However, the radiant expression on her face turned quickly to a look of horror as she saw her brother.
"Oh my God!" Ginny gasped. "Grandfather! Grandfather! Come quick! Ron's hurt!"
Quick footsteps brought Grandfather to the door where he looked at Ron with an expression similar to Ginny's.
Grandfather grabbed Ron tightly by the shoulder pulling him in the manor. With a wave of his wand Grandfather dried Ron of the excess water and blood, revealing the bruises and cuts that had definitely come from somebody's fists.
"Have you been fighting?" Grandfather asked dangerously.
"It wasn't my fault!" Ron said insistently. "Some muggles attacked me and stole my watch!"
"I thought I told you to come home before dark!" Grandfather snapped; it seemed he didn't hear any of Ron's words.
"I was! I was right outside! The door was locked!" Ron cried desperately.
"Grandfather, I did have to unlock the door." Ginny says meekly.
"Still, we were home before dark. The fire was lighted as soon as we returned!" Grandfather said gently to Ginny, then his voice became harsh as he turned back to Ron. "If you had been out there, you should've knocked for us to let you in!"
"I fell asleep!" Ron cried.
"In that storm? You're telling me you fell asleep in that?" Grandfather asked disbelievingly as he pointed toward the window.
"Yes! I don't know how either! I think the muggles hit me too hard!" Ron cried.
"Ronald, stop it right now! I don't like liars, and it is clear to me that you have lied to me this whole time. You have nothing but excuses, and poor excuses at that! I reckon the muggles must've hit you too hard, because you're not thinking straight. I want you to be honest with me Ronald!" Grandfather said.
"I am being honest with you! I never lied once!" Ron cried.
"I'm ashamed of you! You lie consistently! What's even worse is you fought… Only cowards fight with their fists! That's what you are Ronald Weasley, a coward! A coward who fought innocent muggles!" Grandfather said disappointedly.
"They weren't innocent! They hit me, and were going to kill me! They stole my watch!" Ron yelled frustrated as he held up his wrist to show his Grandfather.
His Grandfather grabbed his wrists, for he saw something else. "No you didn't hit them…" Grandfather said looking at Ron's bloody and bruised knuckles.
"I may have hit them once or twice, but only in defense to get away! I swear! I was upset that I couldn't get in the house, and I punched the tree! You don't damage your knuckles like I did by punching anybody!" Ron raged.
"Go downstairs to your room. You've disgraced me. I don't want to see you for the rest of the evening, is that understood?" Grandfather asked.
"You have to believe me!" Ron cried.
"Apparently I haven't made myself clear." Grandfather said raising his voice.
"No sir, I understand." Ron said under his breath before running down the basement steps.
Ron changed into clean robes and lay on his bed. Ron inwardly shuddered dreading when Ginny would go to sleep. Grandfather would kill him then.
Ron could hear his empty stomach rumble as the smell of dinner found it's way to Ron's nostrils. He hadn't had anything to eat since the cold dinner he had the previous evening.
Ron dozed in and out throughout the evening hours, but jumped up with alert as he heard footsteps and the basement door swing open. He had no idea as to what time it was, since his watch was stolen.
"Ronald!" Grandfather called from the top step.
Ron forced his aching body to go to the bottom of the stairs and steadily ascend to where his Grandfather stood, waiting for him to push, so Ron would fall. However, Grandfather did not do this, nor did he have any intentions of doing so at the moment.
"I'm going out. Virginia's in bed, and I need you to keep an ear out for her. I'll be home around three." Grandfather said and without another word he walked outside and disapparated.
Ron was too tired and too weak to even begin to think about another Holiday assignment. So he grabbed his blanket and fell asleep on the couch in front of the fire.
He was awoken at midnight by a knocking sound, and Ron started. Grandfather couldn't be home already! Ron had only fallen asleep, or at least that's what it felt like.
Ron walked over to the door and thanked the heavens above that it was not his Grandfather but his owl, with a letter from Harry attached. Pig had apparently woken Ginny, because she came down the stairs, still half asleep with her hair disheveled.
"Ron?" Ginny asked groggily.
"Go back to sleep Ginny. I'm sorry that Pig woke you. He'll be gone in a few minutes." Ron said hastily.
"No, Ron-"
"Ginny, unless there's something I can get for you, you'd better get back to bed." Ron said quietly.
"Ron, whom did you send Pig too so soon that he's got an owl for you?" Ginny asked. "It is only the second day of the holiday…"
"I know. I just wrote Harry yesterday to let him know that I wasn't at the burrow." Ron said. "You better get back to bed… Grandfather might be back soon, and he wouldn't want you out of bed."
"Ron look at me straight in the eye." Ginny said firmly.
Ron's blue eyes met his sister's brown pair. "Ginny, what is this about?" Ron asked.
"Did you hit the muggles? Don't look away either!" Ginny warned.
"I hit them in order to defend myself Ginny." Ron said seriously. "I thought they'd kill me. I almost passed out in front of them, but somehow I managed to get here first."
"Did you really fall asleep outside?" Ginny asked.
"Yes, Ginny. It's confusing to me too. I know it doesn't make any sense, but I just remember closing my eyes and thinking to myself, and then I was waking up… I swear everything I told Grandfather this afternoon was the truth!" Ron said fervently.
Ginny didn't have to study her brother's face a minute longer, though she did, to find out the truth. Ron never lied to her, ever, and if he had he wouldn't have dared to look Ginny in the eyes while lying to her. Ginny knew her brother like the back of her hand. She could tell if he was up to something, when he was lying, and she could tell when he was truly hurt by just looking at his eyes.
"You aren't lying." Ginny whispered. "But then Grandfather's making a mistake!"
"What do you mean?" Ron asks. He didn't think Ginny would love Grandfather as much, if she knew Ron was being hurt. Surely, he didn't tell Ginny his plans!
"Grandfather's sent an owl to mum and dad saying you beat up local muggles, and that you lied straight to his face!" Ginny cried.
Ron breathed deeply. His father would hate him now!
"Well, it doesn't matter anyway. Grandfather will think what he wants, and he's in charge not them at the moment." Ron said miserably.
"I'll let him know he's wrong first thing in the morning! He may not listen to you, but he always listens to me!" Ginny said excitedly. She thought that if perhaps Grandfather were proven wrong about Ron, he'd stop being so mean to him.
"No!" Ron said quickly. "Ginny, correcting him won't do me any good. He'll just think I asked you to lie for me, and then what would he think of you? Well the same, but I mean he'd know you were up. Speaking of which, you shouldn't be. Grandfather can come home anytime."
"Ron… you're going to be yelled at for something you didn't do!" Ginny said anxiously.
"I only listen when I want to." Ron lied reassuringly to Ginny. "But I will be yelled at for something I did do, if I you don't go to bed! Grandfather will see that I allowed you to stay up."
"Well, I'll correct mum and dad in private when they come on Saturday." Ginny said.
"Don't!" Ron said. "If mum and dad spoke to Grandfather about it afterwards, he'd think you went behind his back, which you would actually be doing. He would be hurt, and you don't want to hurt Grandfather, do you?" Ron asked.
"No, but that's not right for you to be punished." Ginny said.
"What's the worse they can do?" Ron asked raising his eyebrow.
"Well mum's going to yell herself hoarse, and dad… I honestly don't know. He might shout at you a bit…" Ginny said.
"And I told you I have selective hearing. I only listen when I choose to." Ron lied. He wanted selective hearing, but he seemed to hear everything, though he didn't quite understand it all.
Ginny sighed. "All right. Well goodnight." Ginny hugged her brother before running back upstairs to bed.
Ron sighed. She wanted to help so badly, but she didn't know the worst of it. Ron was grateful for that.
Ron grabbed the envelope with his name on it from Pig's leg. He walked down the basement stairs throwing Pig into his cage and tossing him some owl treats. Ron then went back up the stairs and stole into the kitchen filling Pig's water dish with water. He then went back downstairs into the basement and gave Pig his water, before finally returning upstairs to read the letter Harry had written him.
Ron,
Despite what you may believe I am not your complaint box. Any more complaints about Hermione will be forwarded to her, but it's not as if she doesn't know by now! Right now I'm at Ms. Figg's house. She's the auror who protects me on Privet Drive. By the way she's the auror who told Dumbledore it wasn't safe for me to go to the burrow, because it wasn't safe for you, the twins, or Ginny. So I'll apologize for her. I'm sorry that I can't go to the burrow, but she said something wasn't right about it. Anyway, I'm fine, Ron. Honestly.
Oh, and don't worry about me feeling guilty about you being at your Grandfather's. I had no intention of feeling anything but great joy, well while I'm not in the Dursley's presence. Ron, you know what your problem is? You're a spoiled brat! And we both know it has nothing to do with money. You've always gotten your way. How dare your parents send you to your Grandfather's house to protect you? Oh no, you have to live with a relative, whom is a bit strict! What is the world coming to?
No, but seriously it doesn't sound like you wanted to stay at your Grandfather's. I can't imagine why you wouldn't. Your whole family's great. And if this has anything to do with you being bored… I have tons of chores on Privet Drive to be done.
Also, thanks for the reminder about Fred and George… but as of now, the muggles haven't treated me any worse than usual. They just ignore me is all, but I wouldn't want their attention anyway.
As for Hermione, I didn't know that she was going to Bulgaria, but that's her decision to make, not yours. The competition is over, and she's not betraying me now, nor has she ever. Though there was that time where you didn't believe me! So don't even start.
Now, do you think you could get along all right a week without me writing to you? I mean you didn't even wait twenty-four hours. I'll talk to you soon. – Harry
P.S. I saw Snuffles and he says hello.
Ron laughed. Harry didn't know anything either. Oh yea, Ron was being spoiled all right. Ron had spared him the facts that his Grandfather hated him, and he'd sent Pig off before he fell down the stairs, but he wouldn't have told Harry about that either. Ron read the part about Hermione never betraying Harry… Ron laughed. They may have been wrong, but she got Harry's Firebolt taken away, without talking to Ron and Harry first! Sure she had been right about it being sent by Sirius Black, but it wasn't intended to kill Harry! Ron tried to think of other times to point out when he wrote back in a week, but couldn't think of any. He also reckoned he'd forget by then or he could even be dead by that time.
Ron yawned and returned to sleeping on the couch, while waiting for his Grandfather to come home.
Grandfather didn't knock on the door when he got home at three thirty. He opened and shut the door very quietly and stumbled quietly into the living room, to see his youngest Grandson sleeping on his couch with his shoes on! A drunken rage built up inside of him, while he surveyed the living room. Despite the fact that Ron was on the couch with a blanket over top of him, nothing seemed out of place… except for a letter lying on the living room table. Grandfather read the letter.
Ron yelled out in pain and was brought to his feet as somebody yanked his arm forcefully, in the middle of his sleep. Ron gasped. Had he fallen asleep so deeply that he hadn't heard his Grandfather knock? He was in enough trouble as it was! He didn't need another reason to be hit! Then again, he never needed a reason to be hit by his Grandfather, for he just did it anyway.
His Grandfather punched Ron across the face. Tears came to Ron's eyes. "Shh! Be quiet!" Grandfather hissed darting his eyes to the stairs listening for noise. There was none.
Grandfather pushed Ron toward the basement, gripping his arm tightly. He swung open the door, and Ron gripped the railing so he wouldn't fall when he was pushed. Grandfather shut the door behind them, and never made an attempt to push Ron down the stairs. Instead he lead the way pulling Ron's arm forcefully as they descended the stairs. On the bottom stair, Grandfather shoved Ron to the cement basement floor.
"You have some complaints about me, do you?" Grandfather asked loosening his belt.
"No!" Ron cried backing up as far away as he could.
"You lie again! It's what your friend said… how dare you make others feel guilty for you being placed here? You should be nothing but grateful to have a Grandfather who takes you in! Your friend's damn right too! You are a spoiled brat, but you know what they say… 'Spare the rod, spoil the child.' Well, like you said, I'm a bit strict, and I'll beat all the rottenness out of you!" Grandfather raged with his belt in his hand snapping it together.
Ron was horrified of his own stupidity! Why had he left that letter on the table?
"Come here." Grandfather said dangerously pointing to the bed.
"No." Ron cried.
"Ronald, you're already in enough trouble as it is. God help you, if I have to tell you again to get here." Grandfather warned.
Ron swallowed hard. He'd never been hit with a belt, but he knew by the sound of his Grandfather cracking it that it would hurt terribly. Ron knew if he stayed on the floor, his Grandfather would wear himself out, raising his arm higher in the air to make the power last to where Ron was on the ground. If he walked over to the bed, it'd make it easier for his Grandfather, and a lot more painful. He didn't move.
Grandfather walked dangerously over to Ron and swung the belt, hitting Ron sharply in his side. Ron cried out in pain and kicked his Grandfather in defense. Ron inwardly cried. What made him defend himself, now of all times, when things couldn't get worse!
Grandfather stumbled from old age and his excessive drinking, but to Ron's unfortunate, but grateful surprise, he didn't fall down. It was unfortunate, because he didn't pass out, but Ron was grateful, because he'd be in worse trouble if he had.
Grandfather's eyes were angrier than Ron had ever seen them. He stormed over to Ron and started punching him mercilessly. "WHO IN THE HELL DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?" Grandfather raged, still punching him in the stomach, in the chest. Now he started kicking Ron hard in his legs. Ron tried to control his breathing as he sobbed and clutched different areas of his body where he was being hit.
"Stop! Please! Please stop!" Ron cried softly in between sobs.
Grandfather yanked him roughly to his feet by his hair, and threw him on his bed, where he pinned him using one arm to hold his neck down. Ron tried kicking his Grandfather before he could do anything, but felt a sharp pain hitting the back of his legs. His Grandfather had hit the back of his legs, what seemed to Ron to be about an hour as the belt overlapped welts he was giving him. Ron felt his knees collapse from under him, and he fell back on to his legs.
This setback didn't seem to bother Grandfather as he continued to whip Ron, only moving to his back.
Ron screamed into his arms, crying and sobbing into them as the belt came down beating his back painfully.
"STOP! PLEASE STOP!" Ron screamed. When the belt just came down quicker and more painfully, Ron thought desperately and found his only key to saving him. "GINNY! GINNY HELP!" Ron yelled screaming towards the ceiling hoping Ginny would hear him. She had after all, heard Pig pecking at the window.
Grandfather had indeed stopped whipping Ron. Now he had yanked him roughly to his feet, and turned him around to see his face. He hit Ron hard across the face, and Ron couldn't help but just cry. Grandfather shook Ron extremely hard for what seemed like five minutes. Then he hit Ron across the face over and over again as he yelled at him.
"HOW DARE YOU! HOW DARE YOU CALL VIRGINIA THAT CHILDISH NAME! YOU'D DO BEST TO LEARN HOW TO RESPECT A YOUNG LADY, ESPECIALLY MY GRANDDAUGHTER! AND HOW ARE YOU SO WEAK AS TO CALL OUT FOR MY GRANDDAUGHTER TO HELP YOU? YOU FOOLISH BOY! IF YOU DARE TELL VIRGINIA ANYTHING, ANYTHING AGAINST ME… YOU'LL REGRET THE DAY YOU WERE BORN!" Grandfather raged.
Finally, all of the hitting stopped, though the pain wouldn't go away, not for a long time to come yet. Ron continued to sob into his arms on the bed, fearing his Grandfather's next blows. Grandfather seemed to be calming down though.
"Just so you know, since you're so bored… I'll assign you muggle chores, loads of them so you can never remember the meaning of being bored. And just so your friend doesn't get anymore, bad impressions, your owl privileges are being taken away. You'll give your owl to Virginia first thing in the morning. If Virginia notices any more bruises, tell her your face just swelled because you didn't have ice for the damage done after the muggle fight. If she doesn't believe you, find a good excuse. I warn you Ronald… If you don't want Virginia to hate you, you'll agree with everything I say. You may think she loves you, but I know a few things that are sure to turn her against you. You don't want that Ronald." Grandfather warned.
Ron still sobbed into his arms, not making any response to his Grandfather's words.
"Get some sleep, for when I wake up, you're going to be waking up, and then you can look forward to a whole days of chores. I mean that's what your problem was, wasn't it? You were too bored?" Grandfather asked.
Not expecting Ron to answer, Grandfather put his belt back on and headed up the stairs leaving Ron crying.
It was a good half hour before Ron finally managed to calm his sobs. He crawled on to the bed, which was without a bedspread because he'd left his upstairs on the couch, and he cried himself to sleep.
Ron jerked awake as he heard the basement door swing violently open four hours later. He heard his Grandfather's voice from the top of the stairs.
"Ronald, are you awake?" Grandfather asks from the top of the stairs.
"Yes sir." Ron said loudly so his Grandfather could hear him.
"Rise and Shine. Get dressed and come upstairs. Also bring that owl's cage with you." Grandfather said.
Ron heard the door shut and quickly stood up to change. Ron had to stifle a cry as pain jolted throughout his body. His back and legs stung and throbbed badly; his stomach and chest ached; his face hurt worse than ever, and he had to fight to keep his left eye open. Dry blood had closed the bruised eye shut throughout the night. His shoulders were sore as well from being yanked and shaken so roughly. Ron feared Ginny's reaction. She'd notice if he felt so much pain.
Ron dressed with difficulty and then grabbed Pig's cage, regretfully waking the hyper owl up. Ron also brought the bag of owl treats with him as he walked up the stairs. The things he owned were rubbish, sure, but to be honest, he'd rather have Pig as annoying as he was than not have him at all. Pig was the one true thing that had been Ron's besides his mum's homemade sweaters, and his wand. Pig hadn't been passed down from anybody. Sirius Black had given him to Ron and now Ron was giving him to Ginny, who Grandfather in a heartbeat when asked would buy the best owl there was for Ginny to have. No, this wasn't a hand-me-down thing this was a punishment.
Ron entered the kitchen to find his Grandfather and Ginny talking over breakfast. It was only eight o'clock in the morning. Ron wished they would've slept two more hours, so he could've.
"Ron!" Ginny cried and to Ron's surprise she looked disappointed at him rather than concerned. "Why must you always act so stupid? You tried to get your revenge on those muggles at half past two in the morning? Looks like they got you again, and if they came off worse, I'd hate to see what they look like."
"Now, now Virginia dear, he'll pay dearly when your parents stop by on Saturday. In the meantime, he wanted to give you something that you deserve. Foolish boys don't deserve pets, as they're so irresponsible and unreliable. I'm sure you can take care of that owl much better than Ronald could. Ronald, give Virginia the owl that she rightfully deserves for turning out so well after you turned out so wrong." Grandfather said nonchalantly.
Ron placed Pig who was currently going crazy in his cage on the table and pushed the bag of owl treats next to it.
"I'm sorry for not being somebody you could look up to." Ron said hoarsely. He had cried himself hoarse.
Ginny looked up at Ron with tears in her eyes. She didn't mean to make her brother feel so badly. She just couldn't believe how badly he was messing up.
"Now Ronald," Grandfather began, clearing his throat. "I'd like you to cut the lawn. As you're underage and can't perform magic, I suggest you try using that old lawnmower in the shed. If it doesn't work, as it's so old… you may have to try and fix it."
"Yes sir." Ron answered. He wanted desperately to ask for food. He hadn't eaten since his first evening at the manor. Ron ignored his stomach and excused himself from the room. He went outside, behind the house and went into the shed to find a muggle lawnmower. He pulled it out of the shed and tried starting it up, but when he pulled the string that seemed to be the thing to start it, nothing happened. He pulled it a few times, faster, but still nothing happened. Ron knew nothing about muggles. He only knew this was a lawnmower, because it said it on the side. He went through the old shed looking for anything that might make this thing go. He looked on shelves, under shelves, any space for some kind of muggle instruction booklet.
Finally, about after an hour of literally just searching the garage, he came upon a lawnmower manual that was in a drawer. He opened it and actually read the thing, finding that the lawnmower needed gasoline. Now where would he find gasoline? Ron thought a moment and looked around. He found a large plastic container that held gasoline. He read the instructions and poured the right amount of gasoline in.
Ron got the lawnmower to work and looked around his Grandfather's property. There was a lot of grass in the back yard alone. The back yard went as far back to the woods. Ron groaned. This would take him until noon.
Ron started pushing the lawnmower across the field. A few pebbles and grass blades hit Ron's ankles. They were bare because his pants were too short for him. Ron mowed the lawn, finding it a bit quicker than he thought it would take to move the machine across the yard.
It was eleven o'clock, when a very sweaty Ron finally reentered the manor. He had taken his robe off, as it was so hot. It may have been England, but the sun was still shining. He wanted to take his shirt off but thought better of it, as he had bruises and welts all over him.
Ron found his Grandfather and his sister in the kitchen now having a cup of tea. "Grandfather, I mowed the lawn. Can I have something to eat now, please?" Ron asked. He didn't care if he'd pay for it later. Ron was starving now. Grandfather wouldn't deny Ron food in front of Ginny; surely he was in a winning situation.
"I'll make a sandwich for you Ron." Ginny volunteered eagerly, standing up.
"No, I'll make one, if I'm allowed?" Ron asked his Grandfather again.
Grandfather looked out the window looking for a mistake to punish Ron for. "Make yourself a sandwich, you're going to need it. Since you proved yourself useful at something, despite the fact that it's a muggle job, you can do some muggle work for me.
Ron went to make himself a sandwich, but didn't make it into the kitchen. He stopped at his Grandfather's muggle insult. Even Ginny looked horrified at her Grandfather.
"Go on then Ronald. Eat up. You only have twenty minutes." Grandfather said looking at his clock.
"Yes sir." Ron said miserably. He didn't want to fight with his Grandfather, not before he ate something anyway. He didn't know when he'd have permission to eat again.