Misunderstood
Chapter Eleven
Nothing But The Truth
Disclaimer: I don't own anything besides the plot to this story. All characters you recognize belong to J. K. Rowling, Scholastic, and all them people.
Author's Note: Thank you for reading Chapter Ten. I had too many breaks while writing it, and I had too much on my mind to focus, as you obviously could tell. I'm really sorry for posting such crap. Anyway, thank you all for staying so loyal with your reviews and reading. I hope this chapter is more enjoyable even though it is rushed a bit, and no, this is not the end of the story. Enjoy! ~*Carey*~
Harry and Hermione looked guilty as they stood in front of Professor Dumbledore's desk. Professor Dumbledore had called them to his office after receiving a copy of the Daily Prophet. Hermione knew Rita Skeeter must've written something different than what she had asked. She hadn't received her copy yet.
"Before you start, Professor, it's all my fault. See, I told Hermione to write it, because she's good at writing, and we didn't know that… but we should've, and I'll take all the blame." Harry said.
"What makes you think you did something wrong?" Professor Dumbledore asked.
"Because it's Rita Skeeter." Harry said. "Wait… if we're not in trouble, then why did you call us up here?"
"I wanted to let you know, that after this paper was released, the Minister denied ever having cancelled Mr. Weasley's appeal, even though I did receive his owl last night." Professor Dumbledore said. "The appeal is next week, and I have you two to thank for that. However, I was wondering how you manipulated Rita Skeeter into writing again, and how you manipulated her into writing something that good will come out of for once."
Hermione and Harry exchanged looks of uncertainty.
"We blackmailed her into writing no more than what we had written." Harry said.
"We sort of knew how Rita Skeeter got her stories, and I told her last year that I wouldn't say anything if she kept her quill to herself for a month, but when we heard of Ron's losing situation, I wrote to her asking for a favor, which she couldn't refuse." Hermione said.
"Well, I must say I don't approve of blackmailing by any means, but under the circumstances, it worked." Professor Dumbledore said.
"Professor," Harry thought quickly. "You know how you said we were to thank for the appeal being back on again and so quickly? Could you maybe thank us by letting us attend the appeal?"
"Nice try, Harry, but I can't let you come. You may have another look in the Pensieve when I return, but I'm afraid I cannot let you come." Professor Dumbledore said.
"What about me?" Hermione tried. She couldn't help it; it was worth a shot anyway. "May I go?"
Professor Dumbledore chuckled and then turned serious. "Ms. Granger, I'm already on tight grounds with the Minister. I'm afraid I cannot allow any Hogwarts students to attend the appeal, with the exception of the Weasley's."
To Harry and Hermione's surprise, a week later the Weasley's were still in school. They weren't allowed to attend the appeal, because of the brawls Charlie had started at the last trial. Harry, Hermione, Ginny, Fred, and George all waited for Professor McGonagall to return with news good or bad. If it was good, Ron would be walking through the portrait hole behind her, if it were bad… well, nobody wanted to think about that.
With the exception of three, underage Weasley's, everybody who had been to the original trial was there. There were new jury members as well as half of the original jurors from the previous trial. The crowd seemed bigger, as Rita Skeeter's paper had reached everybody outside of Hogwarts. With the exception of the Headmaster, nobody in Hogwarts had received the copy of the Daily Prophet. Mrs. Weasley, her father, Bill, Charlie, and Percy Weasley were all seated in the front row.
Professors McGonagall and Snape were at the trial, as was Hagrid and Remus Lupin. Remus looked extremely ill, as the full moon had been last week. Professor Dumbledore would be asking the questions this time, and Ron would be under a very strong truth potion called Veritaserum.
"Bring him in!" The Minister ordered.
The dementors brought in Ron as the Minister opened the appeal by stating the crime Ron was accused of and explained to the crowd and jury members that Ron would be questioned under the truth potion, which a Mediwitch, just outside the courtroom, already gave him.
"Ronald Weasley, can you hear me?" Professor Dumbledore asked the heavy-lidded, out of focus eyed redhead.
Ron nodded.
The Minister cleared his throat and spoke. "I will be asking questions now, to make sure that he is under the truth potion." The Minister told Dumbledore and the crowd. "Ronald Weasley, were you arrested by muggle authorities during the summer?" Fudge asked.
"Yes." Ron said with no emotion.
"For fighting?" Fudge asked.
"No." Ron answered to Fudge's surprise.
"No? What were you arrested for?" Fudge asked.
"For being out past curfew." Ron answered.
"But had you been fighting that night?" Fudge asked.
"Yes." Ron answered.
"Earlier this summer, did you hit your sister, Virginia Weasley?" Fudge asked.
"No." Ron answered.
"Who hit your sister then?" Fudge asked.
"My grandfather." Ron answered.
"Why would he hit your sister?" Fudge asked.
"Because he was drunk and thought it was me." Ron answered causing quite a few people to gasp.
Bill, Charlie, and even Percy looked at their Grandfather dangerously. Mrs. Weasley looked at her father horrified.
Not convinced that Ron was really under the Veritaserum, Fudge asked something he knew Ron wouldn't admit if he weren't under the Veritaserum.
"Who told you that I had paid the jury to find you guilty?" Fudge asked.
"Hit Witch Diane Watson." Ron said with no emotion.
Fudge raised his eyes searching the crowd for the Hit Witch, but she wasn't there. "Albus…" Fudge said letting Dumbledore know he believed that Ron was under the Veritaserum, and that Dumbledore could now question Ron.
Professor Dumbledore looked angrily at Fudge for causing Ron to reveal his source, but at least he was satisfied that Ron was under the Veritaserum.
"Mr. Weasley, on the night of August thirty-first, were you upset or angry with your father?" Professor Dumbledore asked.
"No." Ron said.
"What was the last thing your father said to you on that evening?" Professor Dumbledore asked.
"He said that he was proud of me for being so strong over the summer and for putting more effort into my holiday assignments. He said he loved me and he thanked me for being a reminder of normalcy, and he told me to get some sleep, because I'd have to get up early the next morning to catch the Hogwarts Express." Ron recalled.
Professor Dumbledore was surprised at how much Ron could remember under the Veritaserum, when he was said to be losing his mind in Azkaban.
"Where was your wand when you went to bed that night, do you remember?" Professor Dumbledore asked.
Ron didn't answer at first, but after a few seconds, he did speak. "It was on my dresser." Ron said.
"When you awoke the next morning, was your wand still on your dresser?" Professor Dumbledore asked.
"Yes." Ron said.
"Was it in the same place, do you recall?" Professor Dumbledore asked.
"No." Ron answered.
"What was the difference?" Professor Dumbledore asked.
"I always keep my wand on the left side of my dresser and it was on the right side of the dresser when I woke up." Ron said.
"Did you wake up at all during the night?" Professor Dumbledore asked.
"Yes." Ron answered, causing everybody in the courtroom to hold his or her breath.
"Why did you wake up?" Professor Dumbledore asked uneasily.
"I heard a noise." Ron answered.
"What made the noise, do you know?" Professor Dumbledore asked.
"A rat that had a silver paw." Ron answered.
Professor Dumbledore glanced ever so quickly at Remus.
"What does a rat have to do with anything?" Fudge asked Dumbledore.
"It wasn't just a rat." Ron said.
"What?" Fudge asked.
"It was an illegal Animagus, a death eater named Peter Pettigrew." Ron said.
Gasps, whispers, and cries of disbelief and outrage were heard among the courtroom.
"Peter Pettigrew was murdered more than a decade ago!" Fudge yelled to Ron over everybody's voices.
"No he wasn't." Ron said.
"How are you so sure?" Fudge asked.
"I saw him in the shrieking shack alive, at the end of my third year at Hogwarts." Ron answered.
"Severus Snape, a Professor at Hogwarts, was with you and he saw no sign of Peter Pettigrew." Fudge said.
"He was stunned before Professor Lupin and Sirius Black could make him show himself." Ron said.
More whispers and outbursts came throughout the crowd.
"You wouldn't happen to know how Sirius Black was getting into the castle that year, would you?" Fudge asked knowing Ron couldn't lie.
"He was an illegal Animagus too." Ron said causing Remus to turn paler than he already was.
"What kind of animal was he able to transfigure himself into?" Fudge asked.
"A black dog." Ron answered causing Professor McGonagall to look horrified.
Professor Dumbledore had to say something, but Fudge wasn't finished.
"Has Harry Potter been in contact with Sirius Black at all since the time at the Shrieking Shack?" Fudge asked.
"Yes." Ron answered.
"When's the last time he's contacted him?" Fudge asked.
"At the start of the summer." Ron said.
"And has Sirius Black tried to harm Harry in any way?" Dumbledore asked loudly.
"No." Ron answered causing even more outbursts throughout the courtroom.
"Has Professor Dumbledore been in contact with Sirius Black at all after your third year?" Fudge asked causing the courtroom to be deafeningly silent.
"Yes." Ron said.
"Did you murder dad?" Bill asked loudly, trying to distract them from Sirius Black.
"No." Ron answered.
"He can be released," Fudge said to Dumbledore. "But you've been associating with an traitor. You were the one who told me that he betrayed the Potters!"
"Mr. Weasley, what did Peter Pettigrew admit to doing, in the shrieking shack that night?" Professor Dumbledore asked.
"He admitted to tipping off You-know-who of the Potter's whereabouts. He had turned spy for You-know-who at least a year before their murder." Ron said.
"How did Pettigrew know about the Potter's whereabouts?" Professor Dumbledore asked.
"Sirius made him secret-keeper, because he knew that You-know-who would come after him, and he planned to trick You-know-who by using Pettigrew." Ron said.
"And Pettigrew was the spy?" Professor Dumbledore asked.
"Yes." Ron answered.
"And Pettigrew's still alive?" Fudge asked disbelievingly.
"Yes." Ron answered.
"In light of testimony under the Veritaserum all charges against you Ronald Weasley, are dropped, and for your pain, you are to be given free treatment at St. Mungo's Hospital as well as a hundred galleons and the Ministry's full apologies." Fudge said quickly. Then he turned to Dumbledore. "You're school is now under my ruling. You may continue to be the Headmaster, but it will run the right way. No more of this… deceit!"
The dementors entered the room through the door. They were ready to take Ron back with them; only Fudge realized this and stopped them. "No, he's free. Go to Hogwarts and search for Sirius Black. Carter, Johnson, bring this boy to St. Mungo's at once. Andrews, find Watson and tell her she's fired!" Fudge yelled to the Hit Wizards and Witches.
Professor McGonagall opened the portrait hole and dementors swooped in the Gryffindor Common Room.
Remus Lupin, Hagrid, the Minister, and Professors McGonagall, Snape, and Dumbledore entered the common room to find Harry and Hermione working on homework with a black dog lying beside the table. The dog whimpered and backed up against Harry, who was now aware of the dementors. Harry and Hermione pulled out their wands and stood in front of the dog.
"Professor Dumbledore!" Harry cried frantically.
"Mr. Potter, move now." Fudge said dangerously.
"No." Harry said defiantly.
Fudge pushed Harry hard out of his way and grabbed the black dog pulling him hard so that death eaters surrounded him.
Fudge performed the spell that caused Sirius to turn human.
"Mr. Black…" Fudge muttered something and sparks came out of his wand and shot into Sirius' wrist, causing Sirius to curse with pain. "You are being magically traced. You have a trial in two months to prove your innocence. If you should wander outside of the castle before your trial, there will be no trial. Dementors will come and administer their kiss, if you so much as put a toe out the door. You won't be able to transfigure yourself, while there's a tracer in you, and should anybody try to remove it, the dementors will be here, and you will not have a trial. Do you understand?" Fudge asked.
Sirius looked to Dumbledore who gave a meaningful look. Sirius nodded.
"If you want your trial, you won't leave this castle until I send hit wizards for you next week." Fudge said. He turned to leave with the dementors just behind him.
The students in the Gryffindor Common Room were staring with disbelief at the fugitive Sirius Black, as were Hagrid and Professor McGonagall.
The Gryffindor Common Room was deafeningly silent from everybody staring at Sirius Black. Sirius didn't dare move, as Hagrid was right in front of him and looking at him with an expression he couldn't read.
BAM! Sirius, and all of the Professors and students jumped as a Filibuster Firework went off in the common room.
Everybody turned ever so slightly to see Fred and George Weasley on the other side of the room, looking nonchalantly at the Professors who stared at them.
"Oops." George said very sarcastically.
"Now may not be the best time to bring this up, but do any of you know whether my brother's going to be coming back to school any time soon?" Fred asked as if nothing was wrong.
Ginny, Harry, and Hermione looked up at the Professors hopefully.
"It depends on when he's ready to come back." Professor Dumbledore said with a twinkle in his eye.
"Yes!" Ginny cried.
"All right then, carry on!" George said trying to lighten up the situation.
"Yea, you all were giving each other threatening glares…" Fred said.
"Kind of like the way you're looking at us." George said referring to the annoyed adults that were looking at them impatiently.
"Don't you have a detention to go to?" Professor Snape asked irritated.
"I don't know what's today?" Fred asked.
"Today's Saturday, which means you're late for your detention with Professor Binns." Angelina lied meaningfully.
"Oh, okay then." George said cheerfully standing up to leave.
"Isn't it funny that Harry's dog was the person supposedly trying to kill him all these years?" Fred asked.
"Yea, it's a wonder he didn't get Rabies and bite Harry ages ago. Nobody would've ever known." George said and they disappeared through the portrait hole.
Hagrid sighed and let out a laugh. "I reckon their right, if you wanted to kill Harry you could've done it ages ago, when you lent me that motorcycle, you could've hexed it, but you didn't." Hagrid said.
"So you're not going to kill me?" Sirius asked unsurely.
"Nah, I reckon Harry and Dumbledore trust yeh, and yeh weren't the only one thrown into Azkaban without a trial, so as long as Harry's alive then I won't have to kill yeh." Hagrid said.
Sirius smiled then looked to Professor McGonagall hopefully.
"I don't think it was possible for Weasley to lie under the Veritaserum, welcome back Mr. Black." Professor McGonagall said. "If you'll excuse me, I'm going to go make sure the Weasley's aren't doing too much damage to the castle."
Professor McGonagall left through the portrait hole with Hagrid and Professor Snape just behind her.
"Perhaps we should move this up to my office. Mr. Potter, Ms. Granger, you should come too." Professor Dumbledore said.
Remus, Sirius, Harry, and Hermione followed Professor Dumbledore to his office. There Sirius, Harry, and Hermione had a seat. Remus remained standing.
"Before you start, they should know that he really had no control…" Remus said to the Headmaster.
"What did Professor McGonagall mean, when she said she didn't think it was possible for Ron to lie under the Veritaserum?" Harry asked.
"Mr. Weasley was under the Veritaserum, or the truth potion as you all know. Under the potion, he was made to answer every question, and honestly." Professor Dumbledore said.
"How does that have anything to do with Sirius?" Harry asked.
"Well, it turns out that Wormtail had been in the burrow the night Arthur Weasley was murdered. He apparently woke Mr. Weasley up and the Minister got his explanation about Sirius being the illegal Animagus and everything that happened in the Shrieking Shack." Professor Dumbledore said.
"Ron told? How could he?" Harry asked angrily.
"He was under the Veritaserum, he didn't have a choice." Professor Dumbledore said firmly.
"Fudge also heard about Pettigrew being the one to betray your parents, and how Sirius never killed him, how he's still alive. He knows about Wormtail being an illegal Animagus as well." Remus pointed out.
"I hate him!" Harry muttered angrily.
"No you don't!" Hermione snapped.
"If Fudge gives Sirius a trial like Ron's original one, Sirius will get his soul sucked out of him! Ron was only in Azkaban." Harry said.
"Harry, first of all I won't be having a trial like Ron's first one. He may have just freed me if I'm put under the Veritaserum. Azkaban is the most miserable place in the world. If Ron had been there in another few weeks, he'd die." Sirius said.
"How do you know Fudge is going to put you under the Veritaserum?" Harry asked.
"Dumbledore will be there." Sirius said.
"Professor Dumbledore was there when Fudge came in with those dementors, or don't you remember?" Harry asked.
"Have faith Harry." Sirius said.
"I had faith in Ron, but look where you are now!" Harry cried angrily.
"The Minister found Ron innocent, though, right?" Hermione asked. She had heard the Headmaster say it before, but she needed to hear the words.
"Yes." Professor Dumbledore said.
"So when's he coming back?" Hermione asked.
"When he's ready to. He needs to regain his sanity first." Professor Dumbledore said.
"If he was insane, then how could he answer the questions under the Veritaserum?" Hermione asked.
"The Veritaserum is a very strong truth potion, it made him remember, so he was able to answer the questions truthfully." Professor Dumbledore said.
One Month Later…
"Hey, how are you feeling?" Charlie asked hugging his youngest brother tightly.
"A lot better, thanks." Ron said smiling. It had been forever, since he'd smiled.
"Did Bill come and visit you last week?" Charlie asked taking a seat next to his brother's bed at St. Mungo's hospital.
"Yea." Ron said.
"You up for a game of chess?" Charlie asked pulling out a chessboard.
"Always." Ron said happily.
"Hey Charlie, can I ask you something?" Ron asked later that evening.
"Sure. What?" Charlie asked.
"Does… Mum doesn't believe me, does she?" Ron asked.
"I'm sure she does, why do you ask?" Charlie asked knowing very well that his mother was still skeptical.
"She hasn't come to visit me at all." Ron said. "In fact, nobody's visited me besides you and Bill, and you don't know how much I appreciate your visits. I just wish mum would come see me, even if she screamed at me, or didn't say anything at all." Ron said despairingly.
"Percy hasn't stopped by at all either?" Charlie asked.
"No, he hates me because I make him look bad at work. To be a brother to a suspected murdered isn't something anyone would be proud of." Ron said.
"Did you hear that they're going to let you go back to Hogwarts on Monday?" Charlie asked.
"I can't wait." Ron said sarcastically.
"I'd have thought you wanted to go back to Hogwarts." Charlie said.
"I do, it's just I'm not looking forward to the taunts. Everybody's going to be afraid of me and think that I'm a murderer." Ron said.
"Well Fred, George, and Ginny know that you didn't do anything." Charlie said.
"Where will I go next summer? Mum's not exactly inviting me home." Ron said looking a bit apprehensive.
"I think they said something about going to live with dad's father, in Ireland." Charlie said.
"That wouldn't be bad." Ron said.
"And if there were any problems, Bill or I would let you stay with one of us. Picture that, going to Romania, helping me with dragons." Charlie said.
"That would be fun." Ron said.
"Speaking of fun, or the opposite… do you need anything for school?" Charlie asked.
"My trunk was at the burrow, and I think the Ministry members have my wand." Ron said.
"It will all be here on Monday. Until then, just relax. Heaven knows how much you'll have to make up." Charlie said.
"Are you sure that Dumbledore and everybody's going to let me go back after all I've missed?" Ron asked.
"Yes, he's arranged for you to take Floo Powder from here to Honeydukes in Hogsmeade." Charlie said.
"Won't Madam Rosmerta mind?" Ron asked.
"No. She'll be expecting you." Charlie said.
Ron stepped out of the fireplace at Honeydukes brushing the soot off of himself. To his surprise, Madam Rosmerta wasn't around. Ron pushed his trunk out of the shop and ran into Hagrid who seemed to be waiting for him. He beamed at Ron, who returned a nervous smile.
"How are yeh doing?" Hagrid asked taking Ron's trunk, as they began to walk up to the castle.
"Good." Ron answered.
"Look, I know how it is to lose a father, and I know how it is to be wrongly accused. So if you ever need to talk, you remember where my hut is." Hagrid said.
"Thanks Hagrid." Ron said happily.
"Harry and Hermione have really missed you, not to mention your brothers and sister." Hagrid said.
'At least somebody missed me.' Ron thought. He inwardly wanted for his mother to miss him just a bit.
"Did I miss a lot?" Ron asked.
"Nothing Hermione can't catch you up on." Hagrid said.
Ron entered the castle and headed straight for the Gryffindor Common Room, but Hagrid stopped him. "I'll get one of the houseelves to bring up your stuff. You go and see Professor Dumbledore. He'll be in his office." Hagrid said. He whispered the password and left Ron.
Ron knocked on Professor Dumbledore's door.
He heard someone call him in and he entered the office, to his surprise, he saw Sirius in his human form having a cup of tea at the Headmaster's desk.
He didn't take more than a step into the office. Ron had read in the Daily Prophet about what he confessed on trial just a week ago, and he knew that he was responsible for Sirius now being traced, and if things kept on going the Minister's way, he'd be responsible for Sirius getting the Dementor's kiss. He was also aware that he had lost Diane Watson her job.
"Mr. Weasley." Professor Dumbledore said smiling.
Sirius turned to see Ron and he smiled sadly at him. He felt terrible for him. Sirius had been wrongly accused and suffered thirteen years in Azkaban, and even though Ron had suffered only two months, Sirius knew those two months were worse, especially for a fifteen year old. When Sirius was fifteen he had been dating girls and pulling pranks, at least his adolescent years were free from such pain.
And despite what Ron believed, Sirius didn't blame Ron in the slightest, if anything he wanted to thank him, because under the Veritaserum, he had proven that Peter Pettigrew was still alive, and he was the one who betrayed the Potter's. Though Harry was angry with Ron for putting his Godfather in such a jeopardizing situation, and Sirius could see from Ron's hesitant behavior, that Ron felt guilty for putting him in such a situation as well.
"Ron, come sit down, and have some tea, won't you?" Sirius asked.
"Thanks, but I have classes to go to." Ron said looking at the floor. He looked up at Professor Dumbledore. "Professor Dumbledore, am I allowed to attend them, or would you rather me just wait until next year, because if you'd rather I could go-"
"I'd prefer you to attend your fifth year this year. I trust Ms. Granger will catch you up on everything you've missed, and the Professors understand your absence. If you're not feeling well enough, you don't have to attend lessons, you may go to the infirmary, but under no circumstance should you feel that you're not allowed to learn here." Professor Dumbledore said.
"Thanks. Do you have my timetable or does Professor McGonagall?" Ron asked.
Professor Dumbledore scanned the top of his desk, and reached for a piece of parchment. He handed it to Ron. Ron looked at it and saw that he had Potions this morning, and as classes had already started, he would be late.
Professor Dumbledore handed Ron another piece of parchment that was a pass for being late.
"Thanks." Ron said. He turned to leave.
"Mr. Weasley…" Professor Dumbledore called stopping him. "Please know that there will be talk amongst the students, and that you are in for a rough day back, but if you ever need to talk, you know the password. My door will always be open to you."
"Thanks." Ron said again.
Ron went up to the common room and got his robes. After showering, he got his books and walked down to the dungeon for his Potions lesson.
He knocked on the door, feeling like an outsider.
"COME IN!" Professor Snape had called.
Ron knew by his tone of voice that Professor Snape was in a wonderful mood as usual. Ron would only be making his day more enjoyable by showing up.
Ron pushed the dungeon door open and stood in the doorway, unsure of what to do. He could see out of the corner of his eyes, his classmates all staring up at him with disbelief.
Professor Snape looked up to see who had come in, and he looked at Ron with disbelief, not expecting him to have come back so soon.
"Mr. Weasley." Professor Snape started.
Ron walked over to Professor Snape and gave him his pass.
"Go take a seat and open your book to page seventy." Professor Snape said.
Ron nodded and walked over to the tables. Dean and Seamus sat at a table, Parvati and Lavender sat at the next. At the third table from the front sat Harry, Hermione, and Neville. Ron sat at the back table all alone and opened his book.
"Professor, I refuse to go to school with a murderer!" Malfoy said loudly causing all the Slytherins to look at Ron with glares as they mocked terrified looks. The Gryffindors all looked behind them to Ron. Only Harry and Hermione had known why their classmate hadn't been in school for the first three months. Hermione looked at Ron with a look of sympathy. Harry hadn't looked at Ron, and Ron knew Harry was mad at him, though he didn't see the dangerous glare Harry had been giving Malfoy.
"Mr. Malfoy, if you'd prefer to not learn, or learn elsewhere you're free to leave. Otherwise, you'll be quiet and you'll continue to brew your potion." Professor Snape said.
Malfoy didn't leave and surprisingly he stayed quiet.
Once Potions was over Ron left trailing behind all of the Slytherins and the Gryffindors. Ron could handle this; anything was better than being in Azkaban…
"Why'd you do it Weasley? Were you mad because your father doesn't make as much as mine? Did you think if he died, you'd get some money from it?" Malfoy taunted.
Ron ignored him and continued to walk.
"Such a pity your suicide attempt didn't work." Malfoy continued with a smirk on his face. "I guess that's the end of my relationship with your sister."
Ron nearly stopped walking, but kept his cool. Most unfortunately, Malfoy realized the effect the mention of his sister had on him.
"You know your sister's a real harlot. I noticed those new robes she's wearing. Her pockets have holes for my hands to feel her thighs, among other things. Such a pity I wasn't her first, I guess that Creevey kid with the camera got there first." Malfoy taunted.
Ron stopped in his tracks, turning around ever so quickly and looking dangerously at Malfoy.
SMACK!
Ron looked around, surprised. As much as he wanted to hurt Malfoy, he knew he couldn't risk getting in trouble after all of the rumors going around. But somebody had got to him.
"If you ever say another word against Ginny, I'll remove the parts of your body that keep you from being a girl!" Hermione warned dangerously.
Malfoy paled and took a step back.
"Come on Ron." Hermione said gently pulling on Ron's sleeve a bit.
They made their way out to the greenhouses without Malfoy making another comment.
After Herbology, everybody headed for the Great Hall for lunch.
Ron didn't seem hungry, since he walked straight up the stairs heading for the common room. However, once he entered the common room, he found Harry and Sirius talking, and he ran quickly and quietly up to his dorm.
"Harry, he's having a rough time right now, you're not helping him any by not being there for him." Sirius said.
"You don't realize how much trouble he put you in!" Harry said.
"No, I don't. I realize that he's helping me. He's allowing me the trial I was never given. He gave testimony under the Veritaserum that Wormtail is still alive, and that he confessed to betraying your parents. Fudge wouldn't have believed that otherwise. You know what I also realize, Harry? I see that Ron's been to Hell and back, and he does feel a tremendous amount of guilt for upsetting you and for jeopardizing my life, but you know what? Ron's in a world that hates him, and you're not there with him. You're part of the world that hates him Harry, and you need to change that before its too late." Sirius said.