28. Passing of the Craft

Harry awoke quickly for once. The infirmary was quiet and torches flickered in their sconces. Marcus Sideson sat at the foot of his bed watching him. "Good, you're awake. The Headmaster wants to see you now."

Harry sat up stiffly, his back and shoulder will still swathed in bandages. "How long-"

"Later. The Headmaster was very specific."

Harry stood up and blinked in confusion, "But aren't you…"

Sideson handed him a shirt, "You'll see in a moment."

Harry took the time needed to go from the infirmary to the Headmaster's office to take stock of how he felt. He could tell that he was by no means healed yet. His shoulder was so stiff he could barely move it and turning his torso sent a line of fiery pain coursing through the cut there. In addition to that his legs were badly bruised and he found he had slight limp favoring his right leg.

The hall echoed emptily and Harry threw a questioning glance at Sideson, "Where are all the students?"

"Gone, we've evacuated the school, Only yourself and Mr. Weasley remain."

"What about Ginny and Hermione?"

"Ms. Weasley and Ms. Granger were evacuated with the rest of the students of course. All will be explained." He swept up the spiral staircase and Harry followed into the office. Fawkes the Phoenix squawked at him as he entered and Harry finally felt like smiling, "Dumbledore!" Sure enough, he was there behind his desk, half-moon glasses winking in the torch light.

"Yes, hello Harry. It would seem that the ministry has rethought its decision to fire me and as a result, here I am."

"Is the staff…?"

"Yes, you're risk paid off and the school is now properly protected once more."

Harry glanced around the office. Ron sat to one side staring morosely at a large oaken box. Marcus Sideson had folded himself into a chair and sat brooding with his hands clasped. Harry turned back to Dumbledore, "If the school is safe, why was everyone sent home?"

"Two blatant attacks in a year has the parents scared, and rightfully so. We've ended early for the peace of mind of those who entrust us with their children."

"Was anyone killed?"

Dumbledore nodded gravely, "We were fortunate enough not to lose any students, thanks to the courage and preparedness of our teachers, but we did suffer casualties."

"Professor Argano."

"Yes, also, Severus Snape has not reported to us since his last warning. I fear he may also be lost to us. As for Ryan, he was shot by the assassin who infiltrated the school this year."

Harry shook his head, "But Martin Diggory was a squib, how could he do all those things?"

Dumbledore sighed, "He was provided with an invisibility cloak and other things he needed. Muggles react differently to certain spells and that is why the disguise spell did not wear off for several weeks when he chose to impersonate the unfortunate Professor Dameron."

"But why did he do it?"

"A person without magical abilities who is raised in a magical family often harbors deep resentment to magical society. My guess is that Voldemort promised Martin magical powers if he aided in this plot. A lie of course, magical abilities can not be given in any way. We will never know for certain why he did what he did, he is dead as well." Harry glanced over at Ron, who was still starring at the box in his hands. Ron did not look up.

Dumbledore stood slowly, "I wish to congratulate you Harry, you have once again demonstrated courage and ability far beyond what could have been hoped of you. And with that, I must wish you farewell for another summer."

Sideson stood and shook Dumbledore's hand, then nodded to Harry and Ron, "All right, let's get you on the train boys."

Harry tried to catch Ron's eye the whole way down to the train but Ron just walked silently with his eyes on the floor ahead. Finally, when they were alone on the train, with their luggage already loaded in he compartment, Harry turned to him and said, "Ron, what's the matter?"

In answer, Ron undid the heavy clasp on the box and swung open the lid. Two heavy guns glinted in the waning evening light. Harry peered closer at them, "Are those…" He trailed off.

Ron nodded, "They're Ryan's Loranciados."

"Why do you have them?"

Ron shrugged, "Professor Dumbledore says they're mine now. He explained the whole thing."

The train began to move with a burst of steam and a sharp whistle.

"Enchanted weapons are always passed on to an apprentice who demonstrates and adeptness with their use. We were all running for the castle, with all that lightning and rain, and they just landed at my feet." Ron closed the box and stared at his hands. "I'm not sure why I picked them up, but when I did, it felt right." His eyes closed slowly, "I just shut my eyes like this and felt them take over. After that, I didn't know what was going on."

Harry considered the closed box and his troubled friend, "Will there be a funeral?"

Ron nodded, "The ministry held a small memorial in London. I heard that no one went. He had no family, no friends. All the professors were too busy with the evacuation to go. All he had were these guns."

Harry thought he was getting a sense of what might be troubling his friend. "It's not the guns that made him that, he was alone because himself, not because of a pair of enchanted pistols."

Ron shook his head, "I'm not so sure. Remember the way everyone stared at you when they found out you were a parceltongue? Well that's how people look at me now. Even Fred and George couldn't find anything funny to say and Hermione…" He trailed off and stared out the window into the middle distance. "She's scared of me Harry."

Harry crossed the compartment and awkwardly drew Ron's shoulders into a hug, "It won't last Ron, they'll all get used to it."

Ron shrugged and turned away, "I always wanted to be you Harry, I wanted just once, for something extraordinary to happen to me. But I never expected it to, and neither did anyone else. If we had known the guns were going to pass on in the beginning of the year, everyone in this school except you would be sure that you were going to get them. But it didn't pan out. They're used to you doing incredible things Harry. But they're just scared of me."

He sat down slowly and Harry thought he looked almost as old as Ryan had those last few days. He wondered if that was the real price of the Gunslinger's Craft, not loneliness, but age. "Relax Ron, by next year barely anyone will remember what happened, and it's not as if they'll let you bring the Loranciados back to Hogwarts. Why don't we just try and enjoy the summer? Hermione loves you, she's not going to leave you just because you have to hold onto two lumps of enchanted metal."

Ron made a visible effort to cheer up. "You don't think so?"

"No, of course not."

Ron considered for a few moments, then changed the subject, "Dad says you can stay at the Burrow until you've healed some more. I get the impression the ministry would like to keep their eye on you."

"Ginny will be glad to hear that."

"So will Fred and George."

Harry's face fell, "Oh right." He considered for a moment, "I guess Fudge can't deny Voldemort's return any more."

Ron laughed hollowly, "It doesn't matter what Fudge denies, he's out of office and being charged with gross negligence."

"Who's going to replace him?"

Ron shrugged, "Dad has no idea. The ministry has enough to worry about with the emergence of Voldemort's faction. They're in complete disarray. Lucius Malfoy was spotted ransacking the offices and now several important files are gone." Ron brightened, "But why should we worry about any of that right? We're still just fifth years from Hogwarts, it's not as if we have to save the world right?"

Harry nodded, "Right." He broke into a smile, "In fact, I'll make a deal with you."

Ron cocked an eyebrow, "What's that?"

"The only thing we worry about for the rest of the summer is how we did on our O.W.L.s."

Ron grinned, "Done."