Nov.02: Hey guys! I didn't get any feedback except for *sexy-as-ron* and
*LadyRose4*! Thank you guys though! *huggles* I understand though.....NE-
who, if your wondering where the muses are, they boycotted me since I
stopped writing the other story. *Pout* I miss them sooooooo much.
Draco: *from the couch* Shut up over there!
Nov.02: Evil Eye to you mister! So the little dashes [ - ] means that people are signing to Ron! Now read and enjoy! Guess what..I just wrote the chapter w/ Draco finally in it! YAYAY! He's so evil and yummy!
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Chapter 3
Ron's head had a rhythmic thumping pound his head. An influx of pain washing over him, realization sinking in. He wasn't in his room that's for sure. His room was orange and brilliant, a vibrancy that he will have to see as a bitter memory as the days passed.
What was more disturbing than not knowing how he would see the world was not hearing it. Ron could see the creatures moving about behind the glass of the small window. He watched as mediwizards passed the opened door but he couldn't hear their shoes scrapping the floor or the noise of outside. This was Ron's reality. This was his own personal dark place.
Ron continued to observe silence; not acknowledging the figure that was inching into his line of view. How would he ever cope with this? Who knew that this place we called the world could be so silent?
- So, how are you doing? - Malfoy signaled to him.
- How do you bloody well think I am doing? I am happy that I do not have to learn the whole language of sign though. - Replied Ron.
- Speak aloud. I am sorry about this, Weasley. -
"Why? I thought you would be jumping for joy."
- Though it is common knowledge of our strong disliking towards each other, even I don't think it's so wonderful that you have to be put through all of this. -
"Thank you, I guess."
- You're welcome. -
"Hold on. I thought you said you only knew a few phrases."
- I know sign language. Just don't breathe a word to anyone about this, all right? I visit that uncle of mine that I told you about but I'm not supposed to. Him having a handicap has made him out to be shunned from the family. I like him though. -
"Oh."
Ron ran his fingers though his hair, dragging them across him face. And there was another awful sign to the horrible reality of it all. Glasses.
- They aren't bad looking on you. -
"Oh thank you. Now I can go on with my life now that I know you approve of these bloody glasses."
- No need to get snitty about it. I was just trying to help you out. If you don't like them then take them off! -
"Fine. I will!" And Ron did, only to see the hardcore evidence placed in front of his eyes. The blurs of the world were his first indication that all that was said yesterday was true. He quickly replaced the eyewear, not wanting to spare one moment on coming to terms with his inflictions.
Malfoy stood by his bed, awaiting the response of the Weasel. It was sad to see his enemy so down in the dumps that even he wouldn't insult him or throw this in his face. He wouldn't know how to survive if he were thrown into the situation like Weasley was. The blonde knew he would most likely be sent away, banished from the family.
"Could you show me how I'll communicate?" whispered Ron.
- I am. -
"No. Show me how I'll understand everyone when I'm bl-bl-"
- Fine. Don't want to see you blubber about it. -
It was true; Malfoy didn't want to see the broken boy cry. He wouldn't know how to handle the situation and he would feel highly uncomfortable. After six years of hatred, Draco could finally see the boy, the Ron, behind the Weasley. The fragile boy who could be so behind closed doors. This irritated Draco, seeing him weak like this. That whimpering boy was not the Weasley he knew. The Weasley he knew was the type of person would was strong, annoyingly loyal and a fighter until the end. And seeing that fighting Gryffindor weeping, or on the verge of, like a scared Hufflepuff, unnerved the Slytherin.
The blonde young man glided over to Ron's beside with the grace only a Malfoy could behold and took his freckled right hand. He coaxed it into an open position, placed his hand under it and began to sign the alphabet.
"A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I," Draco went through the alphabet, pausing as Ron's fingers began to feel the letters.
"J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T," Ron recited after he gave Malfoy's hands a brief inspection.
"Aye, that's right. Guess her little potion worked."
"Thank you. So, how in bloody hell did your father manage to squeeze past the Ministry with nothing after Harry defeated his Lord and outted him as a Death Eater?" asked Ron, no hint of anger or sarcasm or malevolence. Just a boy wondering.
"That was really smooth there. I was trying to be civil and all you can bring up is Father. I don't know why I even try!" It was rather disturbing to see Weasley intently watching him while he talked.
"I'm sorry! I just wanted to know what was going on!"
"Well," Draco took Ron's hand, - Sod off you handicap! -
"Oh, you bastard!" Ron tried to lounge onto Draco but all he managed to do was grasp the blonde by his shirt, trying to steady himself to keep from falling. "It took you long enough to say that!"
"Oh get over yourself! It took you long enough to decode it!"
"I hate you!"
"I hate you more, Weasley!"
"MR. MALFOY! GO SIT DOWN NOW!" Mrs. Nicholas shouted as she entered the ward. "Nevermind that. Just go to the reception area. You're father is here to collect you! Go!"
Malfoy stood rooted on the spot, staying there until Ron pulled himself up and laid back. "Fine. Good day to you all." Malfoy turned on his heel and waltzed out, pulling his robe on over the hospital pajamas.
"Are you all right, dear?" asked the mediwitch as she checked his vitals with her wand.
"I'll be okay. I just hate that Malfoy. I guess you do too." Ron smirked.
- I don't hate him. It's just that we've seen him here so many times with unexplained injuries. We just get tired of seeing him here then leaving with his father prematurely. I think that he's also tired of seeing our faces. Including mine. - She began scribbling something down on her clipboard and returned to checking his temperature.
"What do you mean? 'Unexplained injuries'?"
"Oh, don't go thinking he's up to know good, though I was surprised that he wasn't."
"Then what's he doing with injuries?"
- Doctor-patient privilege. -
"Well, does he have the Mark?"
"Merlin, no! He refused to take it. That was the day he started to come in." Katherine took off the glasses she was wearing. - So, you see glasses aren't completely bad. I rather like them and your friend, Harry, wears them including your father and brother. Not bad, huh? -
"They aren't going to go- well you know."
"True but I was just-"
"Trying to cheer me up. Thanks but I don't want to be cheered up. I just want this to be all over. I want to wake up and let this be some horrible dream."
- I'm sorry, Ron. Really, I am. You don't deserve this, no one does, but all you can do is forge ahead. I'll go and tell your family that they can come in. - Mrs. Nicholas left.
Ron didn't want to be happy, he just wanted to be normal. But how was that to be with him deaf and blind? "And Quidditch," he groaned, more realization sinking into the pit of his stomach. He couldn't play anymore, he knew that. And after he was becoming an excellent Keeper and he was Captain of the team. Now that day was a shock if he ever had one. He always suspected that Harry would be chosen but when he got his letter the summer before his sixth year...he had never been happier. But now it was Harry's turn to lead the team to victory. No longer would he be able to fly. No longer would he be able to feel the wind in his hair. No longer would he be able to dress himself properly. This was officially the worst day of his life and those days leading after this.
"Hello Ron." Hermione smiled. - How are you? -
"I could be better." He watched as the twins, Ginny, Hermione, Percy and Harry walked into the room. Seeing Harry smile at him with some sign of fear and reassuring nurture made Ron feel a bit better inside.
Harry made a beeline to Ron, making sure to sit next to him on the bed. - So, is this awful or what? Those glasses just don't do a thing for you. But neither did mine. Maybe we can get you to change them. That made me feel better. -
"Harry." Grinned Ron as he scooted over, allowing more room for Harry to sit next to him. Thank goodness Harry was here. He didn't know how he would have to live this life if he didn't have Harry with him.
"What?" he wondered innocently. Soon, Mrs. Weasley entered the ward, some sheets of paper in hand.
"Hello, sweetheart."
"Hi, mum."
His mother was by his other side in no time, "So, you ready to come home?"
He simply nodded his head in response, wanting to get out of there as quickly as possible.
"Great, well, we'll leave you to getting dressed in these." She pulled out some of his clothes from her bag. "And we'll be outside. Come 'long everyone." She ushered everyone out of the room, leaving Ron to change.
He did so quickly, pulling that bloody Braille Machine out from under the bed and placed it in the case that Kate must have left behind for him. He heaved the massive thing into his arms and headed out the door but not without sending one last glance over to the cubicle Malfoy was in.
- You ready, Ron? - Percy asked, taking the case from his littlest brother.
"Let's go."
The large procession of Weasleys plus two took the stairs down to the reception level, walked the streets and boarded the metro. Ron took a seat next to Percy; wanting to settle this whole matter of why Percy wasn't there when they needed him had become a high priority to Ron. With this bombing, he gained a new perspective on life, on family. But still, how was he supposed to go on with life?
"So, explain yourself." Ron spoke softly to Percy without looking at him directly.
- Ron, I wish you could believe me when I say, I didn't have a chance to get to you all when Ginny was captured. I wish that I could have but everything was so swamped at the office. I had to discharge the papers for the Aurors; I had to make sure that everything was in order. I wanted to leave. I truly did. I fought to get back but I was needed. Can't you give me a break? I was seeing my world crumble beneath me and then I finally got a job of some substance, where I was needed, where my boss knew my name. I was an important figure there. -
"You're world was crumbling? When? You seemed like the same old Percy for, since, forever." Ron turned to his older brother. He could finally see the small lines of worry and long nights at the Ministry on his brother's face. "I do want to know."
- After graduating, I expecting getting a good job where I could make some money and repay Mum and Dad for everything. But when I got there, it was surreal. All the pressure, all the hectic activity, all the disappointing news. I got fed up. I couldn't take it. It was boring but I had to get on. -
"But you seemed excited about it."
- I didn't want everyone to worry. I had lost Penny because of the monotony I was stuck in. It was devastating. Then, when I had finally gotten some recognition and became Undersecretary, I was thrilled and willing to not mess it up. I think it was more about the money more than anything else. -
"But the way you talked about our parents. How could you?"
- I had always thought that when working in the Ministry, you don't get paid too much. But as I grew older, I saw that there was much more and I was angry. I was upset that Dad wouldn't, didn't want to go into another job that would give us kids more stability. I mean with seven kids, wouldn't you try to find a job that could give them a great life? I thought that he was being selfish and I was enraged at the thought. Please Ron. Please forgive me. I've explained this to everyone and they've forgiven me. -
"What about-"
- Of course Fred and George haven't forgiven me. Would they be the twins if they did? I don't blame them though. I deserve it. -
"You do but if what you say is true then I can forgive you." Ron truly could. He knew that his brother was a bit more on the serious, business side of it all. He couldn't hold that against him. Plus, the sincere look on his worn face convinced him that it was for the best. "Just don't hug me."
"I won't. Unless...." Percy placed his arm around Ron, pulled him close and kissed the top of his head.
"Oh gross! That is so much worse than a hug!" He scrubbed his head with his hand. "You prat! Eww."
"Oh you loved it! You loved it! You so did!"
"I think this is the first time I've seen you enjoy yourself. Smiling and all."
"I think this is. You love me."
"No, I don't!" he chuckled.
"Then why haven't you moved?" Percy grinned as he pulled his arm from around Ron's shoulder. "You love me."
"Say what you will."
The rest of the train was uneventful. Soon, they got off at their stop and walked home. "So, I'm going to have to memorize this walk." It was a statement for Ron knew it was true. He would have to remember numbers of how many steps it would take to get to places, how else would he get to places without going past wherever he needed to be?
"You'll have to." His mother called back to him as she approached the front door. They all filed in, Ron closing the door behind him. Everyone was seated in the living room.
"Well, what do we have to do then? What does the paper say?" Ron wondered.
- We've labeled everything in Braille. Fred, George, Charlie, Bill and I went around the house and labeled everything. But because most of the things you'll be doing can be done with magic or someone else's magical assistance, not a lot of things had to be labeled. You already know the layout of the house. Start counting how many steps it takes to get to room to room. Count how many steps it takes to get to your landing. That's about all. Also, you'll have to learn time placements for eating. - Mr. Weasley spoke along with the signs, to help Ron understand lip reading easier, with more practice.
"What?"
Ron watched as his father took out a few dishes that had small notches drawn on each quarter of the plates. There was a number 12, 3, 6, and 9 next to each line.
- You'll have to learn where your food will be. We'll start saying the placement of each item of food on your plate. By saying, 'Meat at 3 o'clock, potatoes at 6..' and so on so you'll know where it's all at. Soon, we'll use 10 o'clock, 5 o'clock. But that's for more than four items on your plate. -
Ron was dumbstruck. He lightly took the plate, memorizing the marks. This was how he was going to eat? It was so childish looking. How would people react to seeing him needing to be told where the food is on his plate? ...where it will on the table at Hogwarts. He couldn't take it. Thinking about sitting at Hogwarts, everyone talking around him, him not knowing what they were doing, saying. And he would be sitting around, quiet as a mouse, waiting for someone to remember that he was still there and sign him the conversation.
"Thank you," he began to tear up. "I mean it." He rushed out the room, putting the dish on a table, and ran up the stairs, slamming his door.
"Oh, Arthur." Mrs. Weasley rushed to her husband's side. "What will we do?"
"All we can do is be there for him. Come, I'll make you some tea." The provider of the family escorted his wife into the kitchen.
"Harry go talk to him." Spoke Hermione from the corner.
"Why me? Wouldn't he want his family with him?" Harry didn't know if that was such a good idea. Ron wouldn't want to see him after all of this. If that bomb was supposed to kill all of them, it was because Harry was there. Any Death Eater who got away with all their crimes would be wanting to exact revenge on him.
"Why would he want us when he could have you there?" asked Charlie. "I mean this could be your chance to finally ask him out."
"Hold on there. Now how many people want me to be with Ron?"
Every hand of the occupants in the room rose.
"What?"
"Yeah, even I knew that. And I wasn't even around." Piped Percy from a chair near the unlit fireplace.
"Oh, that's lovely. But weren't you the one warning Ron to stay the hell away from me because I was a maniac for speaking the truth." That day in his 5th year, when Percy told Ron to stop being his friend was the only time he could think of being so silently enraged.
"So I believed the Daily Prophet. A lot of people did. And I'm sorry for that"
"Yeah, Harry don't feel so bad about. He even thought the same about Mum and Dad. Alienation and all." Fred sneered.
"Are you going to keep throwing that in my face?"
"Of course. What else is family for?"
"Whatever. But go on. He needs a friend more than anything else."
"Then Hermione, you go." The bespeckled young man with black hair said.
"He's not as close with me as he is with you." She answered.
"But what if-"
"You ask and he says 'yes'." Added George.
"George and the rest of you, listen now. I'm not going to go up there and be all like, 'Hey Ron. Sorry about the whole deafness and the blindness that will be coming within two weeks but how about we go out?' I'm not going to do it!"
"If he says 'yes', what's the big deal?" Fred asked, truly not understanding.
"Then for the entire duration of our relationship I'll wonder if the only reason he okayed the relationship was because he so desperately needed to be with someone, he needed to cling to me. I wouldn't do it. I'll talk to him though."
Harry quickly left to go and help his friend. When he opened the door, the sight of Ron, sprawled on the bed, crying killed him. Ron didn't deserve this. Ron was a nice bloke who helped him out so many times before and now he was suffering.
He tapped Ron on the shoulder, scaring him slightly. "What do you want? Do you want to show me-"
Harry pulled him into a hugged. "I don't have anything to say." He whispered, making sure Ron could see him. "I'm willing to listen."
Ron couldn't believe it. For once, he got want he wanted: someone to listen to him. "I don't have much to say other than I'm scared. Just then it hit me. I'm going to be blind and deaf. I'm not going to see the world or hear it anymore. I'm going to be stuck in silence and darkness. Harry, I don't think I can do it. I really don't. I'm scared and embarrassed."
"Why?"
"I'm going to be depended on you and Hermione and Ginny for everything when we go back to school. I like everyone in Gryffindor but I don't really trust them too much. I won't have anyone to talk to."
"You have me."
"You'll get tired of me."
"I doubt that."
Ron couldn't hold back the tears much longer. He laid his head on Harry's shoulder. "I'm just so scared."
Draco: *from the couch* Shut up over there!
Nov.02: Evil Eye to you mister! So the little dashes [ - ] means that people are signing to Ron! Now read and enjoy! Guess what..I just wrote the chapter w/ Draco finally in it! YAYAY! He's so evil and yummy!
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Chapter 3
Ron's head had a rhythmic thumping pound his head. An influx of pain washing over him, realization sinking in. He wasn't in his room that's for sure. His room was orange and brilliant, a vibrancy that he will have to see as a bitter memory as the days passed.
What was more disturbing than not knowing how he would see the world was not hearing it. Ron could see the creatures moving about behind the glass of the small window. He watched as mediwizards passed the opened door but he couldn't hear their shoes scrapping the floor or the noise of outside. This was Ron's reality. This was his own personal dark place.
Ron continued to observe silence; not acknowledging the figure that was inching into his line of view. How would he ever cope with this? Who knew that this place we called the world could be so silent?
- So, how are you doing? - Malfoy signaled to him.
- How do you bloody well think I am doing? I am happy that I do not have to learn the whole language of sign though. - Replied Ron.
- Speak aloud. I am sorry about this, Weasley. -
"Why? I thought you would be jumping for joy."
- Though it is common knowledge of our strong disliking towards each other, even I don't think it's so wonderful that you have to be put through all of this. -
"Thank you, I guess."
- You're welcome. -
"Hold on. I thought you said you only knew a few phrases."
- I know sign language. Just don't breathe a word to anyone about this, all right? I visit that uncle of mine that I told you about but I'm not supposed to. Him having a handicap has made him out to be shunned from the family. I like him though. -
"Oh."
Ron ran his fingers though his hair, dragging them across him face. And there was another awful sign to the horrible reality of it all. Glasses.
- They aren't bad looking on you. -
"Oh thank you. Now I can go on with my life now that I know you approve of these bloody glasses."
- No need to get snitty about it. I was just trying to help you out. If you don't like them then take them off! -
"Fine. I will!" And Ron did, only to see the hardcore evidence placed in front of his eyes. The blurs of the world were his first indication that all that was said yesterday was true. He quickly replaced the eyewear, not wanting to spare one moment on coming to terms with his inflictions.
Malfoy stood by his bed, awaiting the response of the Weasel. It was sad to see his enemy so down in the dumps that even he wouldn't insult him or throw this in his face. He wouldn't know how to survive if he were thrown into the situation like Weasley was. The blonde knew he would most likely be sent away, banished from the family.
"Could you show me how I'll communicate?" whispered Ron.
- I am. -
"No. Show me how I'll understand everyone when I'm bl-bl-"
- Fine. Don't want to see you blubber about it. -
It was true; Malfoy didn't want to see the broken boy cry. He wouldn't know how to handle the situation and he would feel highly uncomfortable. After six years of hatred, Draco could finally see the boy, the Ron, behind the Weasley. The fragile boy who could be so behind closed doors. This irritated Draco, seeing him weak like this. That whimpering boy was not the Weasley he knew. The Weasley he knew was the type of person would was strong, annoyingly loyal and a fighter until the end. And seeing that fighting Gryffindor weeping, or on the verge of, like a scared Hufflepuff, unnerved the Slytherin.
The blonde young man glided over to Ron's beside with the grace only a Malfoy could behold and took his freckled right hand. He coaxed it into an open position, placed his hand under it and began to sign the alphabet.
"A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I," Draco went through the alphabet, pausing as Ron's fingers began to feel the letters.
"J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T," Ron recited after he gave Malfoy's hands a brief inspection.
"Aye, that's right. Guess her little potion worked."
"Thank you. So, how in bloody hell did your father manage to squeeze past the Ministry with nothing after Harry defeated his Lord and outted him as a Death Eater?" asked Ron, no hint of anger or sarcasm or malevolence. Just a boy wondering.
"That was really smooth there. I was trying to be civil and all you can bring up is Father. I don't know why I even try!" It was rather disturbing to see Weasley intently watching him while he talked.
"I'm sorry! I just wanted to know what was going on!"
"Well," Draco took Ron's hand, - Sod off you handicap! -
"Oh, you bastard!" Ron tried to lounge onto Draco but all he managed to do was grasp the blonde by his shirt, trying to steady himself to keep from falling. "It took you long enough to say that!"
"Oh get over yourself! It took you long enough to decode it!"
"I hate you!"
"I hate you more, Weasley!"
"MR. MALFOY! GO SIT DOWN NOW!" Mrs. Nicholas shouted as she entered the ward. "Nevermind that. Just go to the reception area. You're father is here to collect you! Go!"
Malfoy stood rooted on the spot, staying there until Ron pulled himself up and laid back. "Fine. Good day to you all." Malfoy turned on his heel and waltzed out, pulling his robe on over the hospital pajamas.
"Are you all right, dear?" asked the mediwitch as she checked his vitals with her wand.
"I'll be okay. I just hate that Malfoy. I guess you do too." Ron smirked.
- I don't hate him. It's just that we've seen him here so many times with unexplained injuries. We just get tired of seeing him here then leaving with his father prematurely. I think that he's also tired of seeing our faces. Including mine. - She began scribbling something down on her clipboard and returned to checking his temperature.
"What do you mean? 'Unexplained injuries'?"
"Oh, don't go thinking he's up to know good, though I was surprised that he wasn't."
"Then what's he doing with injuries?"
- Doctor-patient privilege. -
"Well, does he have the Mark?"
"Merlin, no! He refused to take it. That was the day he started to come in." Katherine took off the glasses she was wearing. - So, you see glasses aren't completely bad. I rather like them and your friend, Harry, wears them including your father and brother. Not bad, huh? -
"They aren't going to go- well you know."
"True but I was just-"
"Trying to cheer me up. Thanks but I don't want to be cheered up. I just want this to be all over. I want to wake up and let this be some horrible dream."
- I'm sorry, Ron. Really, I am. You don't deserve this, no one does, but all you can do is forge ahead. I'll go and tell your family that they can come in. - Mrs. Nicholas left.
Ron didn't want to be happy, he just wanted to be normal. But how was that to be with him deaf and blind? "And Quidditch," he groaned, more realization sinking into the pit of his stomach. He couldn't play anymore, he knew that. And after he was becoming an excellent Keeper and he was Captain of the team. Now that day was a shock if he ever had one. He always suspected that Harry would be chosen but when he got his letter the summer before his sixth year...he had never been happier. But now it was Harry's turn to lead the team to victory. No longer would he be able to fly. No longer would he be able to feel the wind in his hair. No longer would he be able to dress himself properly. This was officially the worst day of his life and those days leading after this.
"Hello Ron." Hermione smiled. - How are you? -
"I could be better." He watched as the twins, Ginny, Hermione, Percy and Harry walked into the room. Seeing Harry smile at him with some sign of fear and reassuring nurture made Ron feel a bit better inside.
Harry made a beeline to Ron, making sure to sit next to him on the bed. - So, is this awful or what? Those glasses just don't do a thing for you. But neither did mine. Maybe we can get you to change them. That made me feel better. -
"Harry." Grinned Ron as he scooted over, allowing more room for Harry to sit next to him. Thank goodness Harry was here. He didn't know how he would have to live this life if he didn't have Harry with him.
"What?" he wondered innocently. Soon, Mrs. Weasley entered the ward, some sheets of paper in hand.
"Hello, sweetheart."
"Hi, mum."
His mother was by his other side in no time, "So, you ready to come home?"
He simply nodded his head in response, wanting to get out of there as quickly as possible.
"Great, well, we'll leave you to getting dressed in these." She pulled out some of his clothes from her bag. "And we'll be outside. Come 'long everyone." She ushered everyone out of the room, leaving Ron to change.
He did so quickly, pulling that bloody Braille Machine out from under the bed and placed it in the case that Kate must have left behind for him. He heaved the massive thing into his arms and headed out the door but not without sending one last glance over to the cubicle Malfoy was in.
- You ready, Ron? - Percy asked, taking the case from his littlest brother.
"Let's go."
The large procession of Weasleys plus two took the stairs down to the reception level, walked the streets and boarded the metro. Ron took a seat next to Percy; wanting to settle this whole matter of why Percy wasn't there when they needed him had become a high priority to Ron. With this bombing, he gained a new perspective on life, on family. But still, how was he supposed to go on with life?
"So, explain yourself." Ron spoke softly to Percy without looking at him directly.
- Ron, I wish you could believe me when I say, I didn't have a chance to get to you all when Ginny was captured. I wish that I could have but everything was so swamped at the office. I had to discharge the papers for the Aurors; I had to make sure that everything was in order. I wanted to leave. I truly did. I fought to get back but I was needed. Can't you give me a break? I was seeing my world crumble beneath me and then I finally got a job of some substance, where I was needed, where my boss knew my name. I was an important figure there. -
"You're world was crumbling? When? You seemed like the same old Percy for, since, forever." Ron turned to his older brother. He could finally see the small lines of worry and long nights at the Ministry on his brother's face. "I do want to know."
- After graduating, I expecting getting a good job where I could make some money and repay Mum and Dad for everything. But when I got there, it was surreal. All the pressure, all the hectic activity, all the disappointing news. I got fed up. I couldn't take it. It was boring but I had to get on. -
"But you seemed excited about it."
- I didn't want everyone to worry. I had lost Penny because of the monotony I was stuck in. It was devastating. Then, when I had finally gotten some recognition and became Undersecretary, I was thrilled and willing to not mess it up. I think it was more about the money more than anything else. -
"But the way you talked about our parents. How could you?"
- I had always thought that when working in the Ministry, you don't get paid too much. But as I grew older, I saw that there was much more and I was angry. I was upset that Dad wouldn't, didn't want to go into another job that would give us kids more stability. I mean with seven kids, wouldn't you try to find a job that could give them a great life? I thought that he was being selfish and I was enraged at the thought. Please Ron. Please forgive me. I've explained this to everyone and they've forgiven me. -
"What about-"
- Of course Fred and George haven't forgiven me. Would they be the twins if they did? I don't blame them though. I deserve it. -
"You do but if what you say is true then I can forgive you." Ron truly could. He knew that his brother was a bit more on the serious, business side of it all. He couldn't hold that against him. Plus, the sincere look on his worn face convinced him that it was for the best. "Just don't hug me."
"I won't. Unless...." Percy placed his arm around Ron, pulled him close and kissed the top of his head.
"Oh gross! That is so much worse than a hug!" He scrubbed his head with his hand. "You prat! Eww."
"Oh you loved it! You loved it! You so did!"
"I think this is the first time I've seen you enjoy yourself. Smiling and all."
"I think this is. You love me."
"No, I don't!" he chuckled.
"Then why haven't you moved?" Percy grinned as he pulled his arm from around Ron's shoulder. "You love me."
"Say what you will."
The rest of the train was uneventful. Soon, they got off at their stop and walked home. "So, I'm going to have to memorize this walk." It was a statement for Ron knew it was true. He would have to remember numbers of how many steps it would take to get to places, how else would he get to places without going past wherever he needed to be?
"You'll have to." His mother called back to him as she approached the front door. They all filed in, Ron closing the door behind him. Everyone was seated in the living room.
"Well, what do we have to do then? What does the paper say?" Ron wondered.
- We've labeled everything in Braille. Fred, George, Charlie, Bill and I went around the house and labeled everything. But because most of the things you'll be doing can be done with magic or someone else's magical assistance, not a lot of things had to be labeled. You already know the layout of the house. Start counting how many steps it takes to get to room to room. Count how many steps it takes to get to your landing. That's about all. Also, you'll have to learn time placements for eating. - Mr. Weasley spoke along with the signs, to help Ron understand lip reading easier, with more practice.
"What?"
Ron watched as his father took out a few dishes that had small notches drawn on each quarter of the plates. There was a number 12, 3, 6, and 9 next to each line.
- You'll have to learn where your food will be. We'll start saying the placement of each item of food on your plate. By saying, 'Meat at 3 o'clock, potatoes at 6..' and so on so you'll know where it's all at. Soon, we'll use 10 o'clock, 5 o'clock. But that's for more than four items on your plate. -
Ron was dumbstruck. He lightly took the plate, memorizing the marks. This was how he was going to eat? It was so childish looking. How would people react to seeing him needing to be told where the food is on his plate? ...where it will on the table at Hogwarts. He couldn't take it. Thinking about sitting at Hogwarts, everyone talking around him, him not knowing what they were doing, saying. And he would be sitting around, quiet as a mouse, waiting for someone to remember that he was still there and sign him the conversation.
"Thank you," he began to tear up. "I mean it." He rushed out the room, putting the dish on a table, and ran up the stairs, slamming his door.
"Oh, Arthur." Mrs. Weasley rushed to her husband's side. "What will we do?"
"All we can do is be there for him. Come, I'll make you some tea." The provider of the family escorted his wife into the kitchen.
"Harry go talk to him." Spoke Hermione from the corner.
"Why me? Wouldn't he want his family with him?" Harry didn't know if that was such a good idea. Ron wouldn't want to see him after all of this. If that bomb was supposed to kill all of them, it was because Harry was there. Any Death Eater who got away with all their crimes would be wanting to exact revenge on him.
"Why would he want us when he could have you there?" asked Charlie. "I mean this could be your chance to finally ask him out."
"Hold on there. Now how many people want me to be with Ron?"
Every hand of the occupants in the room rose.
"What?"
"Yeah, even I knew that. And I wasn't even around." Piped Percy from a chair near the unlit fireplace.
"Oh, that's lovely. But weren't you the one warning Ron to stay the hell away from me because I was a maniac for speaking the truth." That day in his 5th year, when Percy told Ron to stop being his friend was the only time he could think of being so silently enraged.
"So I believed the Daily Prophet. A lot of people did. And I'm sorry for that"
"Yeah, Harry don't feel so bad about. He even thought the same about Mum and Dad. Alienation and all." Fred sneered.
"Are you going to keep throwing that in my face?"
"Of course. What else is family for?"
"Whatever. But go on. He needs a friend more than anything else."
"Then Hermione, you go." The bespeckled young man with black hair said.
"He's not as close with me as he is with you." She answered.
"But what if-"
"You ask and he says 'yes'." Added George.
"George and the rest of you, listen now. I'm not going to go up there and be all like, 'Hey Ron. Sorry about the whole deafness and the blindness that will be coming within two weeks but how about we go out?' I'm not going to do it!"
"If he says 'yes', what's the big deal?" Fred asked, truly not understanding.
"Then for the entire duration of our relationship I'll wonder if the only reason he okayed the relationship was because he so desperately needed to be with someone, he needed to cling to me. I wouldn't do it. I'll talk to him though."
Harry quickly left to go and help his friend. When he opened the door, the sight of Ron, sprawled on the bed, crying killed him. Ron didn't deserve this. Ron was a nice bloke who helped him out so many times before and now he was suffering.
He tapped Ron on the shoulder, scaring him slightly. "What do you want? Do you want to show me-"
Harry pulled him into a hugged. "I don't have anything to say." He whispered, making sure Ron could see him. "I'm willing to listen."
Ron couldn't believe it. For once, he got want he wanted: someone to listen to him. "I don't have much to say other than I'm scared. Just then it hit me. I'm going to be blind and deaf. I'm not going to see the world or hear it anymore. I'm going to be stuck in silence and darkness. Harry, I don't think I can do it. I really don't. I'm scared and embarrassed."
"Why?"
"I'm going to be depended on you and Hermione and Ginny for everything when we go back to school. I like everyone in Gryffindor but I don't really trust them too much. I won't have anyone to talk to."
"You have me."
"You'll get tired of me."
"I doubt that."
Ron couldn't hold back the tears much longer. He laid his head on Harry's shoulder. "I'm just so scared."