A/N: Here's chapter eighteen. Don't expect a new chapter in twenty-four hours though. Due to an institution commonly referred to as high school, my writing may or may not be slowed down depending on a certain constantly changing factor often referred to as homework.
"Fancy running into you two!" Fred and George exclaimed together as they pulled over a couple of chairs and sat down at Harry and Ginny's table. Ginny shot them an annoyed look which the twins missed and took a sip from her bottle of butter beer.
Harry grinned and set down his bottle. "What brings you two here?"
Fred and George grinned evilly. Fred answered, "We decided to stop by and give ickle-Ronniekins and his delightful girlfriend a hard time about their romance. You know, tease them bit.
"We haven't seen them around all day," Ginny said in an attempt to get them to leave. "They're not around here."
"Of course they're not here," George said. "They're in that dumb tea shop around the corner. He held up his camera and winked. "We already paid then a visit, they don't know that yet." The twins grinned simultaneously. Harry laughed and Ginny spilled some of her butter beer.
"Wait until Mum sees some of these shots," Fred said, rubbing his hands in anticipation.
"You came all the way here just to take rude photos of Ron and Hermione?" Ginny asked dryly as she shot them another annoyed look.
"Well, actually that's not the whole reason," George admitted.
Fred grinned happily, "We've been doing so successful in Diagon Alley with Weasley's Wizard Wheezes that we came here to buy out Zonko's. The old man was retiring and it was going cheap. From this day forward, it shall be known as Weasley's Wizard Wheezes."
"They've nearly sold out everything that we brought to start out with." George put in proudly.
"Nice seeing you and all," Fred said. "We need to run. We've already been away from the shop longer than we should have." With that the twins stood up, said their goodbyes and exited the pub.
"They'll probably hang around and see if they can take any naughty pictures of us kissing," Ginny commented darkly. "What a way to have a date. Having to look over your shoulders constantly to make sure no one has a camera."
Harry smiled, "You're the one who was talking about watching people slobber all over themselves last week."
"I wasn't talking about taking pictures and showing them off to their parents," Ginny defended herself.
Harry only laughed as they stood up and headed out to make their rounds of the various shops around Hogsmeade. When afternoon quickly arrived they found themselves back in front of the Hogwarts Castle. "Well, that was a fun day," Harry said nervously. "I think that I need to go and check Professor Lupin's lesson plans for Monday."
"You're forgetting something Harry," Ginny said in an amused voice.
"What?" Harry asked.
Ginny stepped closer to him and pulled his face close to hers. She then tenderly kissed him and ran off leaving a very shocked Harry.
!@!@!@!@
Later that night Ron and Hermione had found a secluded classroom in which to practice some of their newer skills. Over the weeks since Dumbledore had informed them that they were Lieutenants to the High Lord of Phoenix, they had began to intensely practice. It added strain to their already heavy schedule for the day but they felt that it was worth it.
"What I don't get is how Harry and Ginny can complete their homework so quickly and have so much extra time!" Ron said tiredly as Hermione helped him up from some cushions on the floor. He had failed once again to wrap a safety-shield cocoon around himself in time for Hermione's stunning spell.
"What I wonder," Hermione responded as she rearranged all of the pillows, "is what they do during all of their extra time. No one ever sees them out wandering the halls, or studying by the lake, or just relaxing in the common room."
"Just like us," Ron muttered. "What do you think about all of this Tescaster business? I think that something should be done right now, or at least as soon as possible." He sat down and leaned against the wall tiredly.
Hermione joined Ron and leaned against him. "I'm sure the High Lord is more than anxious to get this all taken care of. Just remember what Professor Dumbledore said. It's all for the best."
"We're powerful enough!" Ron pointed out fiercely. "We could take Voldemort on together. What's two Lieutenants against a spell cast by one Lieutenant?"
"It doesn't matter from who's wand the Stunning spell comes from, or how skilled they are. You still get stunned." Hermione said wisely.
Ron sighed, "I suppose that you're right. Even if we are powerful, we'll need help. Probably from Harry and Ginny. If the time isn't right they could get severely hurt."
"That doesn't matter," Hermione pointed out. "They won't go until the High Lord gives the okay."
"There's always the chance that we could pull it alone," Ron said returning to the earlier part of the conversation. "Harry and Ginny are a little advanced, not much though. We'd be the main power sources and fighters. They would be insignificant."
"I'd still hate to go without them," Hermione said. "They may not be as powerful as us, they many not be as skilled, or competent, or as smart, yet I'd still rather go with them. That's how it has always been. They're our friends! Besides, in case you haven't noticed, Harry almost mints his own luck."
"The lucky bloke," Ron muttered to himself. "It's always that way isn't it?"
* * * * * * *
"Won't you reconsider Harry?" Ron pleaded. "I seriously believe that we're competent enough to go to Tescaster and get the staff."
Harry stifled a sigh as he set down the large fantasy novel he was reading. It had just barely gotten to the best part and now he'd have to wait. "What did Professor Dumbledore say?"
"It doesn't matter what he says," Ron replied. "He doesn't understand how powerful we are! We've been able to do all of those things in the past. Remember our first and second year. What about last year at the Ministry?"
"People could have died," Harry whispered fiercely as a large wave of guilt swept over him. People could have died. Now Ron wanted Harry to come and face certain death. He wanted to face it as well because he felt that he could do it. "People did die. Sirius died." Harry had to fight the wave of emotion that tried to overwhelm him.
"That was a total accident. It shouldn't have happened." Ron countered.
"Is death ever intentional or on purpose? Is it ever supposed to happen?" Harry asked Ron sadly. "How do you know that some accident won't happen this time? I don't want anything to happen to anybody. Death is so painful. Dumbledore has a heart Ron. He will wait until he knows that he is not sending us into certain death."
"You're afraid aren't you?" Ron said. "You're supposed to be really powerful because of what happened with Voldemort and you're afraid despite that."
"I'm not afraid of anything but fear!" Harry said cooly as he slammed the book down on the table. Why was Ron doing this! What had overcome him? Had this sudden amount of power gone to his head?
"Then why won't you go!" Ron yelled as he stood up before Harry.
Everyone in the common room turned to look at them to see what was going on but quickly averted their attention as Harry stood up slowly and in a dangerous stance. "I'm not a fool."
"Are you calling me stupid?" Ron snarled angrily as he reached out his hand towards Harry.
Harry could sense the power welling up in Ron. Ron was going to strike at him and show that he was bigger and more powerful. Sad thoughts flashed across Harry's mind. Why was this happening. Why wouldn't it work? Harry sighed inwardly as he finally decided what he had to do. He was THE High Lord of Phoenix and he could do nearly anything. Harry could visualize the power coming from Ron. He reached out with his mind and just as Ron's power was about to strike him, he dissipated it and it faded into non-existence. He then welled up his power and struck at Ron in a manner in which Ron nor anyone else could see or feel directly.
Harry stood facing Ron feigning ignorance to anything that was happening as Ron desperately tried to draw power to strike at Harry. No matter how Ron tried, no power would come.
* * * * * * *
Ron timidly sat in Dumbledore's office as Dumbledore fiercely paced back and forth behind his desk. "How dare you use your power as a Lieutenant to try and strike a fellow student! That is not what those powers are for!" Dumbledore took a deep breath and finally took a seat.
Thoughts were running through Ron's head quickly. "I'm sorry Professor. It's just that Harry made me so mad."
"From what I've heard," Dumbledore responded unhappily, "Harry didn't even raise his voice. You just kept pressing him on the matter. You made yourself angry at him. You MUST learn discipline! If you get angry or scared, or prideful in any situation that will be your downfall!"
"I'll remember that and try to learn discipline, Ron promised.
"Good." Professor Dumbledore said as he visibly calmed down.
"There's another thing Professor," Ron said meekly. "Ever since the fight I haven't been able to use my power. When I grasp for it or try to draw my will, nothing happens." He looked to Dumbledore for an explanation and hopefully, a quick solution.
"When you kept pressing Harry and then finally struck at him, not only were you doing something that you should never do against a fellow friend, you were disobeying orders from the High Lord that have been made explicit to you." Dumbledore explained as Ron shifted uncomfortably. "These acts are recognized as insubordination and borders on the lines of treason. The High Lord has taken away your power Mr. Weasley. You are neither a Lieutenant or even a Lord of Phoenix at this point."
Ron's mouth dropped open and he exhaled loudly. "What! Why? Will I ever get them back?"
"All you can say is 'what' and 'why?'" Dumbledore replied sadly. "Examine what your thoughts, actions, and attitudes have been since I told you that you were a Lieutenant Mr. Weasley. Then compare them to what they should have been. I have communicated with the High Lord about this incident. As soon as you come to fully realize what went wrong, what you need to do, and how you need to change, your power and perhaps Lieutenancy will be restored."
"You told the High Lord what happened then? Is that why he took my power away?" Ron asked in a morose voice.
Dumbledore studied Ron over the top of his glasses very intently for several seconds making Ron very uncomfortable. "More evidence that a necessary attitude change is needed." Dumbledore sighed. "Your lack of power is not the result of my communication with the High Lord. He is not ignorant, nor unaware of events as they unfold in such perilous times Mr. Weasley. You lost your power the instant you attempted to strike Mr. Potter with your power."
"Oh," Ron said timidly.
"I suggest you continue learning the magical theory of your suspended power with Miss Granger." Dumbledore continued. "If it is restored you will be undoubtedly in need of it as will the High Lord and the magical world. You will also need to learn another lesson of your own. I have already told you about it. That is all Mr. Weasley."
!@!@!@!@
Ginny walked up to Harry and gently squeezed his shoulder before sitting down next to him at the breakfast table the next morning. "I heard about your little fight with Ron last night," she said in a comforting voice as she spooned some eggs onto his empty plate. She then helped herself to the eggs and the rest of the food. "Eat Harry, it'll do no good to starve about it."
"Why can't Ron and I just be friends and forget about all of the other stuff?" Harry muttered taking a few small bites before setting his fork down again. "I have absolutely no appetite."
"So? Eat, you need your strength. Hermione knows that Ron is wrong but she still sympathizes with him. She wasn't exactly very chummy with me this morning."
"Why was she that way?" Harry said grumpily. "You didn't do anything to her precious Ron!" He grabbed a piece of toast and ripped it in half savagely and began to chew angrily.
"Well, you see," Ginny said in a secret-like whisper, "she thinks that I'm in your camp. I can't imagine where she got that idea though." She continued on in a normal voice. "Actually Ron asked me this morning if I thought that maybe you were to blame a little bit for provoking him."
"I hope you told him to go and jump in a lake and to stop blaming other people." Harry replied.
"Something like that," Ginny grinned. "I said that if he chose to bang his head against a stone wall, he could hardly blame the wall for any injuries received. I think he knows that it's his fault and he needs to do something to fix his own problem but he just doesn't want to admit it. I also got the impression that something more went on other than Ron's little detention from McGonagall. What did you do to him?"
"I revoked his power until he can stop being a baby!" Harry replied.
"That was wise," Ginny said. "He'll grow up all right. That power is certainly attractive to him."
"He has to do a little more than grow up," Harry conceded. "He needs to change his attitude about things. It sort of irked me how he would almost look down on us and everyone else. He needs to learn respect for others, himself, and his power."
Ginny nodded in agreement with Harry. "Yes, that he does need to do. I just hope that he does it before we need his power and skill when the time comes to pay a little visit to Tescaster. If he doesn't, we'll have a very hard time indeed."