Disclaimer...I don't own anything HP. I actually had the day off from both school and work yesterday (yay!), so I was able to write another chapter of this fic and my newest HP fic.
Chapter Seven
Ron closed his eyes, listening to the sound of the soft music playing on the radio in his bedroom. He still couldn't believe he told Christy that he would go out with her. It's not that he didn't like Christy. He did. She was sweet. A little overbearing at times and she liked to pry into his business more than he wanted her too, but she meant well. First, he had let Harry into his home and now agreeing to go out. What was happening to him? He glanced at the clock on his night stand. It was 4 o'clock. About time to get ready for his.....date? 'Nah', he thought. 'It wasn't a date. Just spending time with a friend'. He used to do this all the time with Hermione Granger when he was younger. But the fact that he and Hermione began dating shortly after didn't ease his mind any.
Ron sighed and switched the radio off. He showered and got dressed and looked at his watch. 4:30. He had to hurry if he was going to pick her up by 5. As he walked slowly to her house, he realized that he wasn't looking forward to this. He didn't enjoy going out anymore. He used to love it as a kid, but these days...he preferred being alone. He thought he felt someone watching him as he walked past an outdoor diner, but he didn't turn to look until he heard a voice call "Ron!"
'Damn', Ron thought. He could tell it was Harry before turning around. Sure enough Harry was walking towards him, though not smiling like he was the last time they saw each other. "Hi Harry" Ron said quietly.
"Hey" Harry said. "I was about ready to head to your house. You busy? We need to talk"
"Well, yeah" Ron said, looking at his watch. "I need to pick someone up in eight minutes"
Harry nodded. "Can I stop by your house later on tonight then? I have something really important that I need to tell you"
"I don't know" Ron said slowly.
Harry looked him straight in the eye. "Ron, I know you don't want anyone around, especially not me or your family, and I promised you I wouldn't, but you need to know this. Otherwise, I wouldn't be here"
"Okay" Ron said, looking once again at his watch. "Stop by at eight tonight. I'll be home by then" He wasn't sure what he and Christy were going to do tonight, but he'd make sure he'd be home by eight.
"Great" Harry said with a solemn expression on his face. "See you then" Ron watched him sit back down at the table he was eating at before heading off again towards Christy's house. He knew he'd be a few minutes late, but he didn't think she'd care that much.
He reached her house five minutes late. As he rang the bell, he took a good look at her house. It was a bit bigger than his, but not by much. It was kept in a nicer state than his was though. His house had shingles falling off, the paint was peeling and basically run down. Christy's house was very nicely kept. He stopped staring at her house when the door opened.
"Hi Ron!" Christy had said brightly. "Would you like to come in for a bit?"
"Sure" Ron said, stepping into her house. "Sorry I'm late" he apologized. "I ran into an old friend on the way here"
"It's no problem" Christy said and motioned over to the sofa. "Make yourself comfortable. Would you like something to drink? Tea maybe?"
"If your going to have some, I wouldn't mind" Ron told her. "Thanks"
While she was getting the tea, he glanced around her living room. She had owned stuff he didn't think he'd ever have enough money for. Oriental rugs, glass vases, and expensive paintings lined her walls. She returned and saw him checking out her paintings. She smiled. "I didn't buy those. I couldn't afford them. My parents bought almost everything in this house a long time ago. They let me take some things when I moved out"
"They are nice" Ron told her. "Umm, listen. Where are we going tonight? I have to be home by eight. I'm going to have company"
"Oh" Christy said, rather surprised. "Well, it's almost 5:30. We could get something to eat. Have you eaten dinner yet?"
Ron shook his head. "No"
"Hey!" Christy suddenly said. "How would you just like to stay here? I could make us something to eat and just hang out and talk. I still don't know that much about you, and I don't believe I told you much about me either"
"That sounds good" Ron said, and he meant it. He wasn't fond of the idea of going out to a public place anyway.
It turned out that Christy was a damn good cook. Ron hadn't had a meal this good in ages. Not quite as good as his mother's cooking, but good nonetheless, and when he was finished eating, he didn't think he could eat another bite of food in a week. She had even poured some wine for the both of them. He didn't want to admit it, but he was enjoying himself and he was enjoying her company.
"Let's talk now" Christy suggested. "Tell me more about yourself"
"What do you want to know?" Ron asked her. She already knew his name, where he lived, his telephone number and what he had done to his father, which no one else knew. What else did she want to know?
"Stuff...you know, where you are from, your family, friends.." Christy sighed. "Okay then, how about if I start first? I was born in Manchester, my parents are Hank and Lynn, I have an older sister Allison and youger brother Adam...." She trailed off, noticing the expression on his face. "Okay, we don't have to talk about this. Does talking about your family bring back too many bad memories?"
He didn't answer her question. He just said. "For the first eighteen years of my life, I lived with my parents, Molly and Arthur. I have five older brothers and a younger sister. Bill's the oldest. I was just told not too long ago that he now has a son. Austin. I wish I could see him. Then Charlie. Then Percy...then Fred and George, my twin brothers. I don't know what they are all up to now. My baby sister is Ginny. She's only a year younger than I am. I was told that she was getting married." He could feel tears welling up in his eyes. He's missing so much with his family, stuff he always wanted to be a part of, like Ginny's wedding. He couldn't be a part of these things now because he ruined their lives. Unintentionally, but he ruined them anyway.
He continued. "I loved my life. I had great friends, Harry and Hermione, a family I loved and who loved me. We didn't have much money, and sometimes that bothered me, but I was also happy with what I did have for the most part" He sighed and shook his head. "Sometimes I wish I could go back in time and start everything over"
Christy nodded. "I know. I think we all wish we could go back in time and start certain things over"
Ron looked at his watch. It was 7:30. Time sure flew. He had to leave now if he was going to get home by eight to meet Harry. "I better go" He said, getting up and walking towards the door. Christy followed him.
"I'm glad you stopped by" she said.
Ron smiled. The first smile he could remember doing in almost seven years. "Me too" He stared at Christy for a moment. He did like her. She was cute and sweet...and she cared about him. What he did next was completely unexpected by both Ron and Christy. He had no idea where it came from....
He kissed her...
A short, but sweet kiss. He pulled away and looked at Christy, trying to read her expression. Was she angry that he kissed her? Or did she enjoy it? He couldn't tell. He was about to apologize when she smiled and said. "Want me to drop you off at home?"
Ron shook his head. "No, I'm fine walking...see you at work Monday"
As he turned to leave, he heard her call after him. "How about tomorrow?"
He looked back at her and said. "Tomorrow it is" and then took off down the street towards home.
-----
When Ron reached his house, he saw Harry sitting on his front stoop. Ron looked at his watch. 7:59. "Have you been waiting long?" Ron asked him.
Harry shook his head. "Not long...only a few minutes"
Ron unlocked the front door and let them in. Before Ron could say anything, Harry spoke up. "I need to tell you something important. Something you ought to know"
Ron looked at him. He couldn't help but get a bit nervous by the expression on Harry's face. He was upset about something.
"Ron, I think you should go home....just to visit at least...because" Harry stopped and took a deep breath. "because your mum is very sick...she's dying, Ron"
At Harry's words, Ron felt all the breathe out of him leave completely. His mum is dying? When did all this happen? Harry didn't say anything when he came to visit several months earlier. Ron was about to ask when Harry said, like he could read his mind. "She just started getting sick a few weeks ago, but it was just the other day, I found out that she was dying. That's why I didn't tell you earlier"
Harry went on, heading towards the door. "I think you should make amends. She really wants to see you. If you don't want to tell her what happened before, I guess you don't have to. But be there for her. She needs her family now. And she misses you terribly. She really wants to see you before she dies"
Harry gave Ron a pat on the back before heading out the front door and disappearing into the darkness. Ron closed the door behind him. For the second time that night, tears threatened to fall. He replayed Harry's last words in his mind. 'She needs her family now. And she misses you terribly. She really wants to see you before she dies'.
That was all he needed to hear. Grabbing his jacket and house keys, he left for the Burrow, not knowing how long it would take him to get there by foot, but not caring, just wanting to get there as quick as he can. He knew he had been a terrible son the past several years. Harry was right. He needed to make amends. But Ron hoped it wasn't too late to do so.
Chapter Eight Up Soon