Too Much Of Not Enough ~
Disclaimer: Yeah. I own it. I also own God, and the artist formally known as Prince.
Also, this is a Ron/Draco fic. It will be SLASHY SLASHY SLASHY eventually. Don't like it. Don't read it.
I love constructive critisism, however, flames will be mocked, and mocked, and mocked some more
Chapter 1 -
"Oh honestly Ron" Hermione huffed, tapping her foot in what Ron considered a slightly loud and obvious manner "Hurry up will you? We can't be late on our first day! McGonagall would have a fit. Ron?! Roooooooooooooon!!?"
Ron Weasley sighed, and while balancing his well loved suitcase in one hand, tried to push an over excited little owl into it's cage "C'mon Pig you silly bastard, get in. You heard Herm, we'll miss the train"
Somehow, he managed to shove the squawking ball of feathers into the cage, and slam the little brass door behind it. He ran out into the hallway, flushed, where a bemused looking Harry Potter and an exasperated Hermione Granger were waiting for him.
"About time" Hermione chastised, hands on hips "Imagine if we were late!"
Ron smiled, discreetly eyeing the all but identical gold badges both Harry and Hermione were wearing, and trying to ignore the faint pang of envy in the pit of his stomach. He hoisted his trunk awkwardly over his shoulder;
"I imagine it would be quite a disgrace if the head boy and girl weren't on time," he said "But it doesn't matter if a lowly student like me is late now, does it?"
"Of course it does, you're our friend" Hermione teased, pretending she hadn't noticed the tiny amount of bitterness in Ron's voice. "I don't want you to make us look bad"
Harry chuckled, and reached over, taking Pigwidgeon's bouncing cage from Ron's hands "It matters a lot Ron, well, at least to us. Besides, you know Snape will use any reason fathomable to take points off Gryffindor."
Ron nodded glumly in agreement, Harry was right, Snape had always held some incomparable hatred towards the trio, and had taken much pleasure in treating them unfairly. He felt a surge of annoyance, and was about to call his Professor a few choice expletives, but Hermione let out a growl of impatience "You can badmouth the rest of the Hogwarts teaching staff later! Let's go! Sirius is waiting for us in the car!"
They all bustled quickly through the house, (Ron tripped over a crumpled rug, and came very close to being pinned under his suitcase like a turtle, this caused Harry to laugh mercilessly) and out the front door where Molly Weasley and Sirius Black were waiting for them. Immediately Mrs Weasley began to fuss over Harry and Hermione, - she kept touching their head boy and girl badges affectionately, and shooting pointed looks at Ron, which he tried his best to ignore. He knew his mother cared about him, head boy or not, but he felt a little embarrassed nonetheless. Evidently, so was Harry, a red tinge appearing in his cheeks, but Hermione didn't seem to notice and proceeded to tell Mrs Weasley how as head girl, she was determined to "ensure all students kept the high standards of Hogwarts undiminished".
Ron shrugged at Harry and walked over to the khaki green Gemini with Sirius. In Ron's opinion it was a very sad looking car; it kind of smelled funny and parts kept falling off; but Harry and Sirius were so proud of it - their "Muggle mobile" as they called it - he didn't dare say anything. Anyway, they both deserved whatever happiness was afforded them, after everything they'd been through the past few years.
Scratch that, for most of Harry's life.
"Looking forward to your last year?" Sirius asked him offhandedly, trying vainly put Ron's large suitcase into the small trunk.
Ron shrugged, as he watched his suitcase mysteriously shrink "I s'pose so. I'd like to get it all over and done with so I can go over and work with Charlie in Romania or something brilliant like that"
"Well, then you better do well in your NEWT's this year," Mrs Weasley said, only half-scolding. She pulled Ron into a big hug. "Now you know your father sends his love" she said, squeezing most of the air out of his lungs ".he'd be here to see you off if he didn't have to take care of that matter with Fred and George". Her face creased in slight annoyance as she said this, but Sirius, Harry and Hermione knew better than to ask questions, and simply exchanged a few amused looks. Fred and George Weasley had established quite an infamous reputation in the wizarding world over the past year.
"Yeah Mum" Ron said trying to squirm out of her embrace. "I know."
"And Ginny sent a owl from Beauxbaton's" She continued, not lessening her grasp any "She wanted you to know she saw Fleur Dellacoo the other day"
"Delocour" Ron corrected, reddening slightly. Even after these years the mention of her name brought back the inevitable embarrassment. He tried not thinking about it
Mrs Weasley nodded "That's right, apparently she's engaged now, some young man named Krum."
"WHAT?" Hermione and Ron yelled simultaneously.
Mrs Weasley looked slightly taken aback "Er.she didn't give any specifics"
Hermione and Ron both looked completely astounded, while Harry was having trouble keeping himself from doubling over with hysterical laughter.
"Well" Sirius interjected, smiling "We'd better be off"
"Of course" Molly nodded, and while Harry pushed a dazed Hermione into the little green car, she gave Ron a last kiss on the cheek "Now, do try hard this year Ron, and be good!"
Ron nodded emphatically and pulled himself out of his mothers grasp "Don't worry Mum, I'll keep the Weasley reputation intact"
"That's exactly what worries me!" Molly Weasley yelled, watching her lanky, red haired son squeeze into the back of the car, smiling mischievously at his friends.
The trip to platform nine and three quarters passed relatively uneventfully, except for one moment when there was a loud clunk and Ron had been convinced the old car was going to split in two. Hermione had chatted cheerfully to Ron in the back of the car about how wonderful it was that Ginny had got a place on the Satorn program (a sort of muggle student exchange program for wizards), and how great an experience it would be for her at Beauxbatons. He noticed she didn't mention any more about Fleur and Viktor though.
When they reached the station Sirius walked them right onto the platform, and Ron noticed when Harry said his farewells, he kept shifting uncomfortably from foot to foot and looking around as though he didn't want to leave. It occurred to Ron that perhaps Harry wasn't looking forward to going to Hogwarts as much as he used to. It was understandable, Sirius was like the father he never, but was always supposed to have had. After Scab- Peter Pettigrew had been found, and his name cleared, they'd never been happier. They did practically everything together. They were like best friends, but differently to what Ron and Hermione had. Like brothers perhaps. Ron felt a little pang in his stomach as he watched the two of them, both unwilling to leave, and found himself wishing Sirius would just turn into that big black dog again and come with them.
Hermione gave him a playful shove, waking him from his stupor, and smiled at him "The year will be over before we know it" she said gently, and he returned her smile gratefully. Hermione could bug him like no one else but, sometimes, Ron thought, she really got it.
~*~
The Hogwarts express clattered noisily along the tracks. Ron in the midst of his boredom exhaled forcefully, creating a small patch of fog on the train window. With the meticulous concentration of a small child he traced his name on the cool glass, and then leant back against his seat to oversee his handiwork.
Hermione looked up from her book, Apparition Made Easy, and over at Ron's name on the window. "Congratulations" she said dryly "you've learnt to spell you own name, I expect in no time you'll be able to count to ten"
Ron snorted "You're a bloody comedian Herm, you are"
They exchanged mock dirty looks. Harry smiled, was used to this kind of bickering between the two of them, although he'd somewhat stupidly thought they might have grown out of it eventually. "Hey Ron" he said, throwing his open copy of Witch Weekly at him. "Check out the new Lightmaster model, apparently it outstrips the Firebolt Five by a good sixteen k's, aswell as the new built in auto-dive."
"I know" Ron replied, sighing in a sated kind of way, and fingering the picture of the gold flecked broom wistfully. "I'm saving every Knut for this one, I'll own it if it's the last thing I ever do".
Hermione rolled her eyes emphatically "Why on earth would you want to spend such an obscene amount of money on a broom, when you have a perfectly good Nimban 2000?"
"Nimbus" Harry corrected. "And that's practically the most ancient model broom these days"
"So what?" Hermione continued "It goes alright doesn't it? I mean, honestly you two, why do you absolutely have to have the latest brand?"
Ron sighed happily, still staring adoringly at the picture of the broom "Because it's perfect."
Hermione mumbled something that sounded vaguely like ".could feed five thousand homeless house elves" She grabbed her bag and ruffled through it till she found a Muggle sweet, and began to unwrap it.
Ron looked up suddenly; a sly smile creeping across his face "Well well well, I reckon you're in a bit of a bad mood Herm."
Hermione raised an eyebrow at him, popping the sweet into her mouth, daring him to say something else. Harry looked a bit scared, and reached over for the witch weekly, pretending that he suddenly found that article about the benefits of wormwood on acne extremely interesting.
"Well." Ron continued, his mouth twitching slightly "It seems to me you've been rather cross ever since Mum mentioned the engagement of Viktor Krum and Fleur Delocour.it wouldn't be a case of the green eyed monster causing all this crankiness would it?"
"Oh shut up Ron, please" Hermione retorted "You make my head hurt from your preposterousness"
"Right" Ron said in a manner that he thought settled everything.
Harry shot him a knowing look.
"I mean really, is that the best you could come up with?" Hermione continued "It's not as though I even liked him tremendously, I haven't even talked to him since before, well since."
"Before Voldemort" Harry finished for her, flicking the magazine nervously in his hands. Ron flinched.
There was an eerie silence in the carriage then. That name still caused nervousness amongst the strongest wizarding folk. Even after all these years they had trouble speaking about what had happened with Voldemort, and the death eaters, and Cedric Diggory. Ron hadn't ever been able to fully shake the image of Harry re-appearing with Cedric's limp body in his arms. And when Harry had been lying there, not moving, he'd thought.well.he'd thought he was dead too. He felt a chill in his stomach, and stared blankly at the scenery flying past the train windows.
He couldn't forget his father's absences that summer either. The fear every wizarding family had felt. As thick as fog. And then it had been over, as quickly as it had started.
"Well there is no need to worry about him anymore." Hermione said, sensing the animosity in the room.
Ron and Harry looked at each other.
Hermione sighed impatiently "He's gone! You both know it aswell as I do, he's been gone for almost three years, and he's not coming back. Voldemort's gone!"
"That's what they thought the first ti-" Harry started, but Ron intervened
"Hermione is right Harry, he's gone" he said, smiling in what he hoped was a reassuring matter "Dad told me, Dumbledore made sure of it"
Harry nodded, returning the smile. But Ron noticed him absently touch the lightning shaped scar on his forehead.
Ron tried to think of something more reassuring to say, but he'd never really been good at this kind of stuff, so he patted his friend on the shoulder in what he considered an extremely pitiful manner. Harry half smiled and then everything suddenly went black.
"Oh great.."
"What.. is going on?" Said Harry's voice from beside him
Ron remembered the last time this had happened "You don't suppose that its Dementors again do you?"
"Don't be absurd, the train hasn't stopped"
"I realise that Hermione"
"Whose hand is that?"
"Sorry.just looking for HA! Lumos!" Harry's wand lit up slightly, casting a greenish light over the three of them "That's better"
Ron looked at the wand protruding from his pocket, and felt a little foolish that he hadn't thought of the most obvious solution. He looked curiously at the door of their compartment
"I think I might go and see what's going on, eh?" he said opening the door, and moving out into the dark hallway before Hermione could protest. It was eerie out in the small corridor, everyone seemed to have gone quiet in lieu of the blackout, and the only small amount of light was the blue haze from the half-moon. He walked quickly down the hall in the direction of the teachers' carriage and was just rounding the corner when he collided into another human being with a loud "oeuf". Ron looked up quickly at the figure he had just bumped in to, but it wasn't until he started to speak that he recognized the cold, cruel drawl.
"Weasley, what do you think you are doing walking through the train in the dark?" The voice growled at him.
"I could ask you the same question Malfoy" Ron shot back, annoyed. His eyes were starting to adjust now and he could see those familiar unfriendly gray eyes looking resentfully at him through the darkness "Trying to stir up trouble no doubt"
"I wanted to see find out what was going on" Draco retorted. "You know as well as I do the Hogwarts express is enchanted, this is no ordinary blackout." He smirked at Ron vindictively "It's something substantial.and most likely something unpleasant"
"You can only hope!" Ron bit back.
"Scared?" Draco replied, moving towards Ron threateningly "It's not a pretty thought is it Weasel? Because you know that you, and Potter and that Mudblood, and your entire destitute family would be the first to go".
"You make me sick" Ron spat angrily, shoving Draco and catching him off guard; him tumbling backwards. Ron laughed, forgetting his anger at the sight of Draco sprawled on the floor "You're so bloody pathetic Malfoy.
Abruptly, the lights came back on, and Draco got up quickly, scowling, a flicker of tangible emotion fleeting in his eyes before he moved at Ron as though he was going to hit him. But a door slammed, and he dropped his arm. People were beginning to move about again, and Ron smiled smugly as he realized Draco wasn't going to try anything with possible witnesses around.
"You'll pay for that Weasley" he hissed angrily as he walked away.
~*~
By the time they'd reached Hogwarts, Hermione had finished her book, Harry claimed he had found a new freckle on Ron's face and wanted to call it "Harryovia", and Ron was so hungry all he could think about was the opening feast. He was quite sure he could devour a fully-grown Norwegian Ridgeback.
"It's nice to be back isn't it? " Harry said, smiling at the familiar surroundings. Ron agreed silently, he wasn't sure how he'd feel at the end of the year when they'd be leaving forever.
As they filed into the great hall, he found himself feeling quite resentful of the first years and their sorting ceremony; he wondered if he should take Dumbledore aside and ask if it could wait. "I need food.I'll expire if I don't get it soon" he whispered as he sat down next to Harry at the Gryffindor table. His stomach rumbled in agreement. Hermione sat opposite the boys and smiled excitedly at them. Ron snickered. Hermione's love for school was an unrelenting source of amusement (and wonder) for him.
Finally Dumbledore cleared his throat loudly and a hush fell over the great hall. Ron was kind of glad because Seamus had been telling him in vast detail how his muggle father had taken him camping over the holidays and all the delicious food they had cooked and Ron had been staring at his own hand, disturbingly close to testing the theory that everything tastes like chicken.
"Welcome to another year at Hogwarts' Dumbledore began " I trust you have all had fun and fulfilling holidays, and are ready to begin a year of hard work-"
Ron groaned slightly and Hermione kicked him under the table. She had unfortunately misjudged how far away she was from him and her foot met his knee with full force, prompting a loud "OW!" to escape from his lips. Everyone immediately turned to look at the source of the interruption, and there were a few loud sniggers, especially from the direction of the Slytherin table. Ron felt his ears going red and mumbled a quick "sorry" before staring at his hands, wondering if it was possible to get expelled on your first day back.
Hermione smiled apologetically.
"Now that Mr Weasley is finished." Dumbledore continued, in what wasn't an entirely unfriendly manner, ".let me aquaint you with the newest member of our staff; Professor Ernestina Lintel who is replacing Professor Snape in Potions. I am sure you will all make her feel most welcome."
"Snape finally got the Defense against the dark arts post!" Harry snorted, gesturing towards their greasy haired Professor, who was beaming proudly and looking quite out of character.
But Ron wasn't that interested for once. When he has entered he had been so pre-occupied with food he hadn't noticed the new Professor, and was now carefully eyeing her over. She was partially slouched over in her seat, looking completely nonplussed and Ron thought she looked a lot younger that the rest of the staff. Perhaps around Charlie or Bill's age. She also had short uneven black hair, and from what he could see under the hat, what looked like white streaks. Hermione was also looking at the woman with much interest, and Ron noticed her nose wrinkle slightly at what he assumed must have been the skunk type hairstyle.
Dumbledore finished up telling the first years about the forbidden areas and finally turned and gestured towards the Gryfinndor table. Ron momentarily thought he was going to say something more about his interruption but quickly realized who he was gesturing to,
"Harry Potter and Hermione Granger are head boy and girl this year.. They represent you, you can talk to them about any queries that do not need to be assisted to by other staff members, as well as assisting to duties throughout the school" Dumbledore said, smiling as they made their way to the top of the room. "They will sit with the staff for the feast tonight.I know they will make us all very proud"
There was a lot of cheering from the Gryffindors as two chairs were pulled up to the staff table. None whooped louder than Ron himself did.
Hermione sat down next to the new teacher looking like she was about to burst with pride.but any happiness Harry might have felt was quickly extinguished as he realized he was sitting next to Snape. Ron chuckled as he looked at the two of them, unable to decide who looked more disgusted by the arrangements.
Finally the first years began the sorting ceremony. There was lots of talking and applause, as the houses were announced, but Ron felt a little awkward.he usually debated with Hermione and Harry right about now about who would go in which house.but there was just two empty spaces either side of him. As much as he hated to admit it, he felt left out and alone. I mean, there was Neville and Seamus and Dean, who were all good for conversation, but he felt slightly miserable and even a little annoyed that he was without his two best friends for the opening feast. He was beginning to figure his first day back couldn't get any worse when he looked up to see a familiar, and entirely unfriendly face.
That bloody slimy git Draco Malfoy was looking at him from across the room, no longer looking angry or embarrassed after their incident on the train, but with a huge sneer on his face. As though he knew how miserable he was feeling, and was enjoying every minute of it. Ron scowled back at him, and looked up to see "Collins, Alison" being sorted into "SLYTHERIN!". Poor little bugger. He wondered if she knew how bad she'd just got it. He looked back towards the Slytherins to see Malfoy still staring at him with that contemptuous smile smeared across his ugly face. Ron began to forget about feeling sorry for himself; the anger was burning up inside him now. He wanted to run across the great hall and wipe that grin off his sodding face once and for all. He began to picture creative ways of ripping his head off, one that included an artichoke and chopsticks. He settled for making a rude hand gesture at him instead, scandalizing several Hufflepuff first years in the process.
Draco just smiled more. 'Demented little bastard' Ron thought, looking away again, his face burning, "The prick is enjoying this'. He shook his head slightly and tried to listen to the Sorting ceremony. Dean Thomas's little sister was sorted into Gryffindor. Ron clapped and smiled, and talked to Neville about Toad food, and waved at Harry and Hermione, and temporarily forgot about Draco Malfoy. Perhaps that's why he did it. Apparently no one just ignores a Malfoy when he's trying to bug the hell out of you.
It happened as "Yueng, Jack" was sorted into "RAVENCLAW!" and the Feast had appeared on the tables in front of them. Ron had sighed happily. Finally! Food! He put a chicken leg in his mouth and then.
~THWACK~
Half the Gryffindor table stopped eating suddenly.but the rest of the hall hadn't noticed that something round and soft had just hit Ron in the side of the head. Bewildered Ron looked at the broken roast potato on the ground beside him, and put a hand to his red hair, where there were bits of white mush stuck in between several strands. Finally he looked in the direction of where the offending potato had come to see several 7th year Slytherins clutching their sides in hysterics
"That." Ron began as he got up forcefully, knocking the rest of his plate to the floor with a clatter, his eyes flashing with murderous wrath. Neville tried desperately to grab his arm, but it was too late. Ron tore across the room in a matter of seconds, flying at Draco, and both of them pitching down the side of the Slytherin table with a huge bang. The entire hall erupted with noise.
"Get. The. Fuck. Off. Weasley!" Draco yelled at him furiously, whacking his arms against his chest and face. But the Gryffindor was bigger, and it didn't help that he was also enraged. Ron punched at him, hitting his cheekbone with a sickening crack, then grabbed a handful of food from Draco's plate and shoving it forcefully into his mouth. Draco made a choking noise and got one well placed shot, punching Ron hard in the nose which made him fall sideward, gasping in pain. Ron swore, and was about to hit Draco again when a loud voice boomed "STOP IT NOW! STOP IT BOTH OF YOU!"
It was Dumbledore, he was staring down at them angrily, and the boys, angry as they both were, knew better than to disobey him. Draco spat out the remaining peas that had been shoved in his mouth, glaring at everyone around, daring them to laugh. Ron himself paid little attention and held a hand to his nose in a weak effort to stop the blood pouring from it. With the anger fading, he was beginning to realise the gravity of the situation he had just put himself in due to his out-of-control temper, and felt a little ill at the prospect.
He and Draco picked their battered-and-food-covered-selves up off the floor and stood in front of their angry headmaster. Dumbledore spoke slowly and sternly "I do not know what caused this outburst, nor do I care much, but I am extremely disappointed in both of you. As senior students you should know better than to desecrate this feast with such violence, and set such a bad example for your fellow students".
Draco cleared his throat, and lifted his chin slightly "Sir, its not my fault. Weasley-"
"SILENCE!" Dumbledore interjected "Both of you are to leave the hall now and go straight to Madame Pomfrey. You will remain there until I join you after the feast, to decide whether or not you shall remain at Hogwarts this year".
Disclaimer: Yeah. I own it. I also own God, and the artist formally known as Prince.
Also, this is a Ron/Draco fic. It will be SLASHY SLASHY SLASHY eventually. Don't like it. Don't read it.
I love constructive critisism, however, flames will be mocked, and mocked, and mocked some more
Chapter 1 -
"Oh honestly Ron" Hermione huffed, tapping her foot in what Ron considered a slightly loud and obvious manner "Hurry up will you? We can't be late on our first day! McGonagall would have a fit. Ron?! Roooooooooooooon!!?"
Ron Weasley sighed, and while balancing his well loved suitcase in one hand, tried to push an over excited little owl into it's cage "C'mon Pig you silly bastard, get in. You heard Herm, we'll miss the train"
Somehow, he managed to shove the squawking ball of feathers into the cage, and slam the little brass door behind it. He ran out into the hallway, flushed, where a bemused looking Harry Potter and an exasperated Hermione Granger were waiting for him.
"About time" Hermione chastised, hands on hips "Imagine if we were late!"
Ron smiled, discreetly eyeing the all but identical gold badges both Harry and Hermione were wearing, and trying to ignore the faint pang of envy in the pit of his stomach. He hoisted his trunk awkwardly over his shoulder;
"I imagine it would be quite a disgrace if the head boy and girl weren't on time," he said "But it doesn't matter if a lowly student like me is late now, does it?"
"Of course it does, you're our friend" Hermione teased, pretending she hadn't noticed the tiny amount of bitterness in Ron's voice. "I don't want you to make us look bad"
Harry chuckled, and reached over, taking Pigwidgeon's bouncing cage from Ron's hands "It matters a lot Ron, well, at least to us. Besides, you know Snape will use any reason fathomable to take points off Gryffindor."
Ron nodded glumly in agreement, Harry was right, Snape had always held some incomparable hatred towards the trio, and had taken much pleasure in treating them unfairly. He felt a surge of annoyance, and was about to call his Professor a few choice expletives, but Hermione let out a growl of impatience "You can badmouth the rest of the Hogwarts teaching staff later! Let's go! Sirius is waiting for us in the car!"
They all bustled quickly through the house, (Ron tripped over a crumpled rug, and came very close to being pinned under his suitcase like a turtle, this caused Harry to laugh mercilessly) and out the front door where Molly Weasley and Sirius Black were waiting for them. Immediately Mrs Weasley began to fuss over Harry and Hermione, - she kept touching their head boy and girl badges affectionately, and shooting pointed looks at Ron, which he tried his best to ignore. He knew his mother cared about him, head boy or not, but he felt a little embarrassed nonetheless. Evidently, so was Harry, a red tinge appearing in his cheeks, but Hermione didn't seem to notice and proceeded to tell Mrs Weasley how as head girl, she was determined to "ensure all students kept the high standards of Hogwarts undiminished".
Ron shrugged at Harry and walked over to the khaki green Gemini with Sirius. In Ron's opinion it was a very sad looking car; it kind of smelled funny and parts kept falling off; but Harry and Sirius were so proud of it - their "Muggle mobile" as they called it - he didn't dare say anything. Anyway, they both deserved whatever happiness was afforded them, after everything they'd been through the past few years.
Scratch that, for most of Harry's life.
"Looking forward to your last year?" Sirius asked him offhandedly, trying vainly put Ron's large suitcase into the small trunk.
Ron shrugged, as he watched his suitcase mysteriously shrink "I s'pose so. I'd like to get it all over and done with so I can go over and work with Charlie in Romania or something brilliant like that"
"Well, then you better do well in your NEWT's this year," Mrs Weasley said, only half-scolding. She pulled Ron into a big hug. "Now you know your father sends his love" she said, squeezing most of the air out of his lungs ".he'd be here to see you off if he didn't have to take care of that matter with Fred and George". Her face creased in slight annoyance as she said this, but Sirius, Harry and Hermione knew better than to ask questions, and simply exchanged a few amused looks. Fred and George Weasley had established quite an infamous reputation in the wizarding world over the past year.
"Yeah Mum" Ron said trying to squirm out of her embrace. "I know."
"And Ginny sent a owl from Beauxbaton's" She continued, not lessening her grasp any "She wanted you to know she saw Fleur Dellacoo the other day"
"Delocour" Ron corrected, reddening slightly. Even after these years the mention of her name brought back the inevitable embarrassment. He tried not thinking about it
Mrs Weasley nodded "That's right, apparently she's engaged now, some young man named Krum."
"WHAT?" Hermione and Ron yelled simultaneously.
Mrs Weasley looked slightly taken aback "Er.she didn't give any specifics"
Hermione and Ron both looked completely astounded, while Harry was having trouble keeping himself from doubling over with hysterical laughter.
"Well" Sirius interjected, smiling "We'd better be off"
"Of course" Molly nodded, and while Harry pushed a dazed Hermione into the little green car, she gave Ron a last kiss on the cheek "Now, do try hard this year Ron, and be good!"
Ron nodded emphatically and pulled himself out of his mothers grasp "Don't worry Mum, I'll keep the Weasley reputation intact"
"That's exactly what worries me!" Molly Weasley yelled, watching her lanky, red haired son squeeze into the back of the car, smiling mischievously at his friends.
The trip to platform nine and three quarters passed relatively uneventfully, except for one moment when there was a loud clunk and Ron had been convinced the old car was going to split in two. Hermione had chatted cheerfully to Ron in the back of the car about how wonderful it was that Ginny had got a place on the Satorn program (a sort of muggle student exchange program for wizards), and how great an experience it would be for her at Beauxbatons. He noticed she didn't mention any more about Fleur and Viktor though.
When they reached the station Sirius walked them right onto the platform, and Ron noticed when Harry said his farewells, he kept shifting uncomfortably from foot to foot and looking around as though he didn't want to leave. It occurred to Ron that perhaps Harry wasn't looking forward to going to Hogwarts as much as he used to. It was understandable, Sirius was like the father he never, but was always supposed to have had. After Scab- Peter Pettigrew had been found, and his name cleared, they'd never been happier. They did practically everything together. They were like best friends, but differently to what Ron and Hermione had. Like brothers perhaps. Ron felt a little pang in his stomach as he watched the two of them, both unwilling to leave, and found himself wishing Sirius would just turn into that big black dog again and come with them.
Hermione gave him a playful shove, waking him from his stupor, and smiled at him "The year will be over before we know it" she said gently, and he returned her smile gratefully. Hermione could bug him like no one else but, sometimes, Ron thought, she really got it.
~*~
The Hogwarts express clattered noisily along the tracks. Ron in the midst of his boredom exhaled forcefully, creating a small patch of fog on the train window. With the meticulous concentration of a small child he traced his name on the cool glass, and then leant back against his seat to oversee his handiwork.
Hermione looked up from her book, Apparition Made Easy, and over at Ron's name on the window. "Congratulations" she said dryly "you've learnt to spell you own name, I expect in no time you'll be able to count to ten"
Ron snorted "You're a bloody comedian Herm, you are"
They exchanged mock dirty looks. Harry smiled, was used to this kind of bickering between the two of them, although he'd somewhat stupidly thought they might have grown out of it eventually. "Hey Ron" he said, throwing his open copy of Witch Weekly at him. "Check out the new Lightmaster model, apparently it outstrips the Firebolt Five by a good sixteen k's, aswell as the new built in auto-dive."
"I know" Ron replied, sighing in a sated kind of way, and fingering the picture of the gold flecked broom wistfully. "I'm saving every Knut for this one, I'll own it if it's the last thing I ever do".
Hermione rolled her eyes emphatically "Why on earth would you want to spend such an obscene amount of money on a broom, when you have a perfectly good Nimban 2000?"
"Nimbus" Harry corrected. "And that's practically the most ancient model broom these days"
"So what?" Hermione continued "It goes alright doesn't it? I mean, honestly you two, why do you absolutely have to have the latest brand?"
Ron sighed happily, still staring adoringly at the picture of the broom "Because it's perfect."
Hermione mumbled something that sounded vaguely like ".could feed five thousand homeless house elves" She grabbed her bag and ruffled through it till she found a Muggle sweet, and began to unwrap it.
Ron looked up suddenly; a sly smile creeping across his face "Well well well, I reckon you're in a bit of a bad mood Herm."
Hermione raised an eyebrow at him, popping the sweet into her mouth, daring him to say something else. Harry looked a bit scared, and reached over for the witch weekly, pretending that he suddenly found that article about the benefits of wormwood on acne extremely interesting.
"Well." Ron continued, his mouth twitching slightly "It seems to me you've been rather cross ever since Mum mentioned the engagement of Viktor Krum and Fleur Delocour.it wouldn't be a case of the green eyed monster causing all this crankiness would it?"
"Oh shut up Ron, please" Hermione retorted "You make my head hurt from your preposterousness"
"Right" Ron said in a manner that he thought settled everything.
Harry shot him a knowing look.
"I mean really, is that the best you could come up with?" Hermione continued "It's not as though I even liked him tremendously, I haven't even talked to him since before, well since."
"Before Voldemort" Harry finished for her, flicking the magazine nervously in his hands. Ron flinched.
There was an eerie silence in the carriage then. That name still caused nervousness amongst the strongest wizarding folk. Even after all these years they had trouble speaking about what had happened with Voldemort, and the death eaters, and Cedric Diggory. Ron hadn't ever been able to fully shake the image of Harry re-appearing with Cedric's limp body in his arms. And when Harry had been lying there, not moving, he'd thought.well.he'd thought he was dead too. He felt a chill in his stomach, and stared blankly at the scenery flying past the train windows.
He couldn't forget his father's absences that summer either. The fear every wizarding family had felt. As thick as fog. And then it had been over, as quickly as it had started.
"Well there is no need to worry about him anymore." Hermione said, sensing the animosity in the room.
Ron and Harry looked at each other.
Hermione sighed impatiently "He's gone! You both know it aswell as I do, he's been gone for almost three years, and he's not coming back. Voldemort's gone!"
"That's what they thought the first ti-" Harry started, but Ron intervened
"Hermione is right Harry, he's gone" he said, smiling in what he hoped was a reassuring matter "Dad told me, Dumbledore made sure of it"
Harry nodded, returning the smile. But Ron noticed him absently touch the lightning shaped scar on his forehead.
Ron tried to think of something more reassuring to say, but he'd never really been good at this kind of stuff, so he patted his friend on the shoulder in what he considered an extremely pitiful manner. Harry half smiled and then everything suddenly went black.
"Oh great.."
"What.. is going on?" Said Harry's voice from beside him
Ron remembered the last time this had happened "You don't suppose that its Dementors again do you?"
"Don't be absurd, the train hasn't stopped"
"I realise that Hermione"
"Whose hand is that?"
"Sorry.just looking for HA! Lumos!" Harry's wand lit up slightly, casting a greenish light over the three of them "That's better"
Ron looked at the wand protruding from his pocket, and felt a little foolish that he hadn't thought of the most obvious solution. He looked curiously at the door of their compartment
"I think I might go and see what's going on, eh?" he said opening the door, and moving out into the dark hallway before Hermione could protest. It was eerie out in the small corridor, everyone seemed to have gone quiet in lieu of the blackout, and the only small amount of light was the blue haze from the half-moon. He walked quickly down the hall in the direction of the teachers' carriage and was just rounding the corner when he collided into another human being with a loud "oeuf". Ron looked up quickly at the figure he had just bumped in to, but it wasn't until he started to speak that he recognized the cold, cruel drawl.
"Weasley, what do you think you are doing walking through the train in the dark?" The voice growled at him.
"I could ask you the same question Malfoy" Ron shot back, annoyed. His eyes were starting to adjust now and he could see those familiar unfriendly gray eyes looking resentfully at him through the darkness "Trying to stir up trouble no doubt"
"I wanted to see find out what was going on" Draco retorted. "You know as well as I do the Hogwarts express is enchanted, this is no ordinary blackout." He smirked at Ron vindictively "It's something substantial.and most likely something unpleasant"
"You can only hope!" Ron bit back.
"Scared?" Draco replied, moving towards Ron threateningly "It's not a pretty thought is it Weasel? Because you know that you, and Potter and that Mudblood, and your entire destitute family would be the first to go".
"You make me sick" Ron spat angrily, shoving Draco and catching him off guard; him tumbling backwards. Ron laughed, forgetting his anger at the sight of Draco sprawled on the floor "You're so bloody pathetic Malfoy.
Abruptly, the lights came back on, and Draco got up quickly, scowling, a flicker of tangible emotion fleeting in his eyes before he moved at Ron as though he was going to hit him. But a door slammed, and he dropped his arm. People were beginning to move about again, and Ron smiled smugly as he realized Draco wasn't going to try anything with possible witnesses around.
"You'll pay for that Weasley" he hissed angrily as he walked away.
~*~
By the time they'd reached Hogwarts, Hermione had finished her book, Harry claimed he had found a new freckle on Ron's face and wanted to call it "Harryovia", and Ron was so hungry all he could think about was the opening feast. He was quite sure he could devour a fully-grown Norwegian Ridgeback.
"It's nice to be back isn't it? " Harry said, smiling at the familiar surroundings. Ron agreed silently, he wasn't sure how he'd feel at the end of the year when they'd be leaving forever.
As they filed into the great hall, he found himself feeling quite resentful of the first years and their sorting ceremony; he wondered if he should take Dumbledore aside and ask if it could wait. "I need food.I'll expire if I don't get it soon" he whispered as he sat down next to Harry at the Gryffindor table. His stomach rumbled in agreement. Hermione sat opposite the boys and smiled excitedly at them. Ron snickered. Hermione's love for school was an unrelenting source of amusement (and wonder) for him.
Finally Dumbledore cleared his throat loudly and a hush fell over the great hall. Ron was kind of glad because Seamus had been telling him in vast detail how his muggle father had taken him camping over the holidays and all the delicious food they had cooked and Ron had been staring at his own hand, disturbingly close to testing the theory that everything tastes like chicken.
"Welcome to another year at Hogwarts' Dumbledore began " I trust you have all had fun and fulfilling holidays, and are ready to begin a year of hard work-"
Ron groaned slightly and Hermione kicked him under the table. She had unfortunately misjudged how far away she was from him and her foot met his knee with full force, prompting a loud "OW!" to escape from his lips. Everyone immediately turned to look at the source of the interruption, and there were a few loud sniggers, especially from the direction of the Slytherin table. Ron felt his ears going red and mumbled a quick "sorry" before staring at his hands, wondering if it was possible to get expelled on your first day back.
Hermione smiled apologetically.
"Now that Mr Weasley is finished." Dumbledore continued, in what wasn't an entirely unfriendly manner, ".let me aquaint you with the newest member of our staff; Professor Ernestina Lintel who is replacing Professor Snape in Potions. I am sure you will all make her feel most welcome."
"Snape finally got the Defense against the dark arts post!" Harry snorted, gesturing towards their greasy haired Professor, who was beaming proudly and looking quite out of character.
But Ron wasn't that interested for once. When he has entered he had been so pre-occupied with food he hadn't noticed the new Professor, and was now carefully eyeing her over. She was partially slouched over in her seat, looking completely nonplussed and Ron thought she looked a lot younger that the rest of the staff. Perhaps around Charlie or Bill's age. She also had short uneven black hair, and from what he could see under the hat, what looked like white streaks. Hermione was also looking at the woman with much interest, and Ron noticed her nose wrinkle slightly at what he assumed must have been the skunk type hairstyle.
Dumbledore finished up telling the first years about the forbidden areas and finally turned and gestured towards the Gryfinndor table. Ron momentarily thought he was going to say something more about his interruption but quickly realized who he was gesturing to,
"Harry Potter and Hermione Granger are head boy and girl this year.. They represent you, you can talk to them about any queries that do not need to be assisted to by other staff members, as well as assisting to duties throughout the school" Dumbledore said, smiling as they made their way to the top of the room. "They will sit with the staff for the feast tonight.I know they will make us all very proud"
There was a lot of cheering from the Gryffindors as two chairs were pulled up to the staff table. None whooped louder than Ron himself did.
Hermione sat down next to the new teacher looking like she was about to burst with pride.but any happiness Harry might have felt was quickly extinguished as he realized he was sitting next to Snape. Ron chuckled as he looked at the two of them, unable to decide who looked more disgusted by the arrangements.
Finally the first years began the sorting ceremony. There was lots of talking and applause, as the houses were announced, but Ron felt a little awkward.he usually debated with Hermione and Harry right about now about who would go in which house.but there was just two empty spaces either side of him. As much as he hated to admit it, he felt left out and alone. I mean, there was Neville and Seamus and Dean, who were all good for conversation, but he felt slightly miserable and even a little annoyed that he was without his two best friends for the opening feast. He was beginning to figure his first day back couldn't get any worse when he looked up to see a familiar, and entirely unfriendly face.
That bloody slimy git Draco Malfoy was looking at him from across the room, no longer looking angry or embarrassed after their incident on the train, but with a huge sneer on his face. As though he knew how miserable he was feeling, and was enjoying every minute of it. Ron scowled back at him, and looked up to see "Collins, Alison" being sorted into "SLYTHERIN!". Poor little bugger. He wondered if she knew how bad she'd just got it. He looked back towards the Slytherins to see Malfoy still staring at him with that contemptuous smile smeared across his ugly face. Ron began to forget about feeling sorry for himself; the anger was burning up inside him now. He wanted to run across the great hall and wipe that grin off his sodding face once and for all. He began to picture creative ways of ripping his head off, one that included an artichoke and chopsticks. He settled for making a rude hand gesture at him instead, scandalizing several Hufflepuff first years in the process.
Draco just smiled more. 'Demented little bastard' Ron thought, looking away again, his face burning, "The prick is enjoying this'. He shook his head slightly and tried to listen to the Sorting ceremony. Dean Thomas's little sister was sorted into Gryffindor. Ron clapped and smiled, and talked to Neville about Toad food, and waved at Harry and Hermione, and temporarily forgot about Draco Malfoy. Perhaps that's why he did it. Apparently no one just ignores a Malfoy when he's trying to bug the hell out of you.
It happened as "Yueng, Jack" was sorted into "RAVENCLAW!" and the Feast had appeared on the tables in front of them. Ron had sighed happily. Finally! Food! He put a chicken leg in his mouth and then.
~THWACK~
Half the Gryffindor table stopped eating suddenly.but the rest of the hall hadn't noticed that something round and soft had just hit Ron in the side of the head. Bewildered Ron looked at the broken roast potato on the ground beside him, and put a hand to his red hair, where there were bits of white mush stuck in between several strands. Finally he looked in the direction of where the offending potato had come to see several 7th year Slytherins clutching their sides in hysterics
"That." Ron began as he got up forcefully, knocking the rest of his plate to the floor with a clatter, his eyes flashing with murderous wrath. Neville tried desperately to grab his arm, but it was too late. Ron tore across the room in a matter of seconds, flying at Draco, and both of them pitching down the side of the Slytherin table with a huge bang. The entire hall erupted with noise.
"Get. The. Fuck. Off. Weasley!" Draco yelled at him furiously, whacking his arms against his chest and face. But the Gryffindor was bigger, and it didn't help that he was also enraged. Ron punched at him, hitting his cheekbone with a sickening crack, then grabbed a handful of food from Draco's plate and shoving it forcefully into his mouth. Draco made a choking noise and got one well placed shot, punching Ron hard in the nose which made him fall sideward, gasping in pain. Ron swore, and was about to hit Draco again when a loud voice boomed "STOP IT NOW! STOP IT BOTH OF YOU!"
It was Dumbledore, he was staring down at them angrily, and the boys, angry as they both were, knew better than to disobey him. Draco spat out the remaining peas that had been shoved in his mouth, glaring at everyone around, daring them to laugh. Ron himself paid little attention and held a hand to his nose in a weak effort to stop the blood pouring from it. With the anger fading, he was beginning to realise the gravity of the situation he had just put himself in due to his out-of-control temper, and felt a little ill at the prospect.
He and Draco picked their battered-and-food-covered-selves up off the floor and stood in front of their angry headmaster. Dumbledore spoke slowly and sternly "I do not know what caused this outburst, nor do I care much, but I am extremely disappointed in both of you. As senior students you should know better than to desecrate this feast with such violence, and set such a bad example for your fellow students".
Draco cleared his throat, and lifted his chin slightly "Sir, its not my fault. Weasley-"
"SILENCE!" Dumbledore interjected "Both of you are to leave the hall now and go straight to Madame Pomfrey. You will remain there until I join you after the feast, to decide whether or not you shall remain at Hogwarts this year".