*The Obligatory Disclaimer* I don't own anything Harry Potter. I wish I owned Ron, that way I can honestly say "Ron's all mine! He's mine! And you can't have him!" but alas, I don't so I can't. JKR owns him as well as everything else Harry Potter, not me.
Chapter 2----Facing the Humiliation
Ron, clutching his crutch, walked slowly into the Great Hall with Harry and Hermione. The breakfast feast was already on, and the Gryffindor table was packed. Ron was glad to see that there were empty seats close to the door. He had been hobbling to the end of the table, closer to the staff table at the front of the room, since he started school because Harry and Hermione had already been seated there when he walked in. Now, the less hobbling he has to do, the better. "Let's sit here" he told his friends. They nodded in agreement.
Ron sat down at the edge and placed his crutch next to him, propped up on the bench under the table so no one would trip over it. No sooner than he began filling his plate with food, he heard footsteps behind him and a drawling voice said "Hey Weasley"
Ron sighed, but didn't bother turning around. He chose to ignore Malfoy instead as did Harry and Hermione. Ron just continued filling his plate with food. Malfoy, however, chose not to be ignored. Loudly, but not loud enough for the teachers to hear from across the room, he said, "Hey Weasley. How much do you charge for your services? I've got a gay cousin who might like to buy you for a few hours" The Slytherins howled with laughter from their table. Even a few Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw's snickered, but not many.
Instead of retorting his usual comeback, Ron's eyes filled with tears. 'No, stop that!', he told himself. 'Dont! Don't let him get to you' So, since Ron couldn't think of a comeback, he just ignored Malfoy and pulled his plate closer to him and picked up his fork.
"Come on, Weasley. I need to know" Malfoy persisted. "He's going to contact me by owl at lunchtime and I need to send his reply". Ron was no longer hungry. He put his fork down, his fists clenched. He wanted to punch Malfoy. Wanted to break his nose. But he knew he couldn't fight. A crippled boy could not fight. He could barely walk, if he fell, Malfoy and his 'bodyguards', Crabbe and Goyle, would be on him faster than he could even get up. So he just stared at the table and instead of fighting Malfoy, he was fighting back the tears that threatened to fall. It was Harry who stood up to Malfoy. "If you know what's best for you, Malfoy, you'd leave him alone"
Malfoy howled with laughter. "Did you hear that? Was that a threat, Potter? If that's your best threat, then you have a lot to learn"
Harry got up from the table, and grabbed Malfoy's arm, then whispered, low enough so Ron couldn't hear him and said "Listen, Malfoy. This is low, even for you. I don't know how you heard about what happened to Ron when we were in America, but you don't really know what happened to him. He's having a hard enough time dealing with this, and he doesn't need you to throw these rude insults at him"
Malfoy yanked his arm out of Harry's grip. "Chill, Potter" he said.
"Just go!" Harry yelled loudly, a little too loudly, as the whole school, teacher's included, turned to look their way. Dumbledore rose out of his seat and said gently. "Mr. Malfoy. Please return to the Slytherin table"
Malfoy nodded. "Yes, Professor" he gave Harry and Ron both an evil look before going back to the rest of the Slytherins. Ron was still staring at the table. Harry sat down next to him. He looked at Ron and started to say something when he noticed a lone tear fall from Ron's eye to the table. "Excuse me" Ron said softly as he picked up his crutch from the underneath the table and walked slowly out of the Great Hall.
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After breakfast had ended, Harry and Hermione ran up to the Common Room, but Ron wasn't there. As they walked into their first class, Transfiguration, fifteen minutes before class was to begin, they were both relieved to see Ron already stting there. Harry took his usual seat next to him. "Don't let Malfoy get to you like that" Harry whispered to him.
"I try not to, Harry" Ron told him. "It's just....hard. No one understands what I went through down there, not even you guys, because you weren't there"
Hermione pulled a chair up to Ron and Harry's table and placed her hand on Ron's. "Your right, Ron, we don't know what you went through down there, but we do know that what happened to you has hit you hard, and if you let idiots like Malfoy get you down, then the harder it will be to feel better"
Ron rubbed his eyes. "I'm trying....I'm trying"
Hermione smiled and gave him a soft kiss on the lips. "Remember, we're here for you"
Other students started filling the classroom, and Hermione pulled her chair over to her desk, giving Ron one more encouraging smile. Malfoy snickered as he passed Ron, but to his credit, didn't say anything. Professor McGonagall entered the room and class began, announcing the day's lesson. Harry was pleased to see Ron place his wand on his desk, and stare up at McGonagall, listening to every word she was saying. Though he could still see pain in Ron's eyes, he could also tell that Ron was trying hard to pay attention to what is in front of him, instead of paying attention to what happened in the past.
Harry was pleased to see that the morning's classes went by rather well, other than one rude remark by Malfoy in Potions, to which Snape so convientely ignored. Harry thought Ron handeled that well too, and hopes lunch and the afternoon classes went by smoothly as well.
Ron was starved by the time lunch came around since he hadn't eaten breakfast, and he helped himself to huge helping of food. He even seemed in much better spirits by playing around and doing another one of his favorite pastimes. Teasing Hermione. He kept swiping some food off her plate, or tickling her on her side when she least expected it.
The mail came just then, the room suddenly swarming with hundreds of owls, dropping letters and packages to various students. Ron stopped eating when a letter was dropped into his mashed potatoes. Ron made a face and lifted the letter out of the mashed potatoes. "My daily 'Are you okay?' letter from Mum"
"She's just worried about you" Hermione said.
"I know" Ron said softly. "But I wish she'd realize that I'm okay here" He opened the envelope and unfolded the letter. It was longer than his mother's letters usually are.
"Dear Ronnie (only his mother could get away with calling him Ronnie),
How are you today, sweetheart? Are you feeling better? If you need anything, all you need to do is send an owl. Also, this Friday, you have a doctor's appointment at London General Hospital. Just a checkup. Well, okay, it's not just a checkup. Doctor Hankers also wants to you to see another doctor, Doctor Gaither about what he calls 'emotional problems you may have'. I was told by someone that you were having nightmares. I mentioned that to Doctor Hankers, and that's when he suggested you see Doctor Gaither. I know you probably don't want to do this, but I'm afraid you must, for your health and safety. Your father and I will be by Hogwarts to pick you up Thursday evening at 8pm. We'll drop you back to Hogwarts after your checkup. Your father has already spoken with Professor Dumbledore about this, so he knows and has agreed to let you take as many days off as you need for your doctor appointments.
Well, I better let you get back to your classes. I love you, sweetheart. Owl if you need anything.
Love,
Mum
Ron sighed and refolded the envelope and stuffed it in his pocket. He didn't understand a few things. He's been to London General Hospital once before, after he left the American Muggle hospital, he met Doctor Hankers, and liked him okay. But he doesn't understand why he needs to go to a Muggle hospital. What's wrong with St. Mungos? His father told him that it was because Doctor Davidson, his doctor back in America had recommended London General when they left to go back to England. But he was still wary about being treated by Muggles. He had nothing against Muggles, he liked them just fine, but all those Muggle contraptions gave him the creeps. He wasn't used to those. His parents were a bit wary at first, as well, but back when Ron was in the American hospital, Hermione's parents, who are Muggles, had told them that, although some of these things look bad, they are really best for Ron.
The other thing that got him after reading the letter. His mother had said 'I was told by someone that you were having nightmares'. Who told her? Only two people knew about the nightmares. Harry and Hermione. Well, Neville knows, but he highly doubts his mother was exchanging owls with Neville. He hadn't even told Ginny about the nightmares. That was because, though, he knew she was still very worried about him, and he didn't want to worry her even more. But why would Harry or Hermione tell her? He told them that he didn't want anyone to know.
Ron turned to look at Hermione. "Have you been writing to my mother?"
Hermione stopped eating. "Yeah, she's been sending me and Harry owls, asking about you. How your doing and stuff like that. She's really worried about you"
"Did you tell her I was having nightmares?"
"No" Hermione said. "I didn't tell her that. I keep thinking I should, but I never did. Why?"
"Someone told her" Ron said, looking at Harry. "Harry, did you tell my mother I was having nightmares?"
Harry looked a bit guilty. "Yeah, I did. Sorry, Ron, but I thought she should know. I promise though, I didn't tell anyone else, and I'm not planning on it. Don't be mad"
"I'm not mad" Ron told him. "But now, I have to see a doctor about...umm..." he checked the letter again. "'emotional problems you may have'"
"Maybe that's for the best" Hermione told him. When Ron looked at her with disbelieve, she said. "Ron, these people just want to help you. Maybe it is best that you talk to someone about those nightmares and what happened. They can help you get over this Ron. You can't do this alone"
"I'm not alone though" he said. "I've got you guys"
"Yeah, you always have us" Harry said. "No matter what you always have us. But maybe we're not enough. If your doctor thinks that seeing someone about this is the best, then it probably is"
Hermione put her hand on his arm. "We want you to get through this as painlessly as possible. You don't deserve to be in any more pain. I can't stand seeing you in this much pain" Her eyes filled with tears. Ron sighed and softly wiped the tears away with his finger. "Okay" he told them. "Whatever works"
*Author's Note*. Chapter Three up soon .
