Chapter 2
Harry flipped through his new books. As soon as Hermione came they would all head back to The Burrow until school began. He yawned boredly and looked around his Leaky Cauldron room.
"Hi Harry!" He heard a familiar voice say. He looked up to see Hermione standing in the doorway.
Right on time. Harry thought to himself. "Hey Hermione."
"Say Harry… I have something to ask you." Hermione said as she took a seat next to where Harry was.
"What?"
"Have you noticed anything strange about Ron?" She asked
Harry thought for minute then shook his head. "Nope." He shrugged. "Why? Did you?"
"He looks a bit ill…"
"Oh, he cut his arm pretty deep and lost quite a bit of blood. It's probably just that." Harry said bluntly.
"How'd he manage that?"
Harry told Hermione about Ron being late for dinner and how he and Fred had looking for him. They had found him laying unconscious on the ground near the forest clearing where they practiced Quidditch.
"There's Ron for you… Going and knocking himself out." Hermione half joked.
"Speaking of Ron, we should go to find him soon. Now that you're here, we'll probably be going back soon."
Ron stared longingly at the brooms in the window. Firebolts, Nimbuses, what he would do to get one…
"What's wrong Weasley? Trying to figure out if selling your house might give you enough money to buy one of those?" An all to familiar voice sneered. Ron spun around to see Draco Malfoy snickering at him.
"Bugger off Malfoy."
"So Weasel how's the pig? You know, your mother. I hea-" Malfoy was cut off as Ron's fist slammed into his face. He stumbled back, his eyes watering up from the pain in his nose. He could fill the blood running down his face and dripping off his chin. Rather than grabbing for his wand, he retaliated with a punch of his own. This time Ron felt the pain in his stomach as his slumped over. Malfoy didn't wait for Ron to get back up; he swung his leg back and kicked Ron as hard as he could in the face, sending the red-heed falling onto his back. A crowd was beginning to form around the two and not wanting his bloody face seen, Malfoy left. Ron picked himself up from the ground, and headed off towards the Leaky Cauldron, slouched over slightly and holding his stomach.
Harry and Hermione's conversation about what the school would be like this year was interrupted as Ron and his mother burst into the room, with Fred tagging along. Mrs. Weasley both scolded and sympathesized her boy all the way in.
"This is what you get for getting into a fight like that I hope you know! But honestly, to hit a man when he's down…"
"What happened?!" Hermione demanded.
"He got into a big fight with Malfoy! Me and George were going to open up our shop, George went ahead and I was going to try to get Ron to eat a Canary Cream when Malfoy popped up behind him." Fred explained. "I'm not sure what Malfoy said, I was a bit too far away when Ron gave him a bloody nose he'll never forget! But then Malfoy sucker punched him in the stomach and then kicked while he was down! The son-of-a-…"
"That's enough Fred! Now… Go ask Tom if he has any rags or something." Fred obeyed and left. "Ron… How are you ever going to heal if you keep getting hurt?"
"Sorry mum…" Ron murmured quietly.
"Well at least you didn't tear open your arm again."
Ron stared at the ceiling. The room was very dimly lit, it's only source of light being a candle that had burnt down to the point that it had almost no wick. He gingerly rubbed the right side of his face; Malfoy's kick was certainly more damaging than that punch of his. The fact that they were staying in the Leaky Cauldron an extra day wasn't helping either. After all, there was no place like home. He rolled over on his side and stared out the window. Outside would be pitch black if it weren't for the lights that were coming from the very few shops that were still open.
His stomach churned at the sight of the crescent moon looming over the rooftops. Ron rolled over again so that his back faced the window. Stubbornly, he reminded himself that nothing of importance happened that night. Making a few mental notes that he would prove to himself that he was fine, Ron fell asleep.
Bleh… Yeah, I know, this chapter is VERY short. But I've been very busy over the past two weeks. Well, anyway, since things are starting to slow down, I can make the next chapter bigger. And sorry for the slow post. . And thanks to ze reviewers! Thank ya very much.