A/N:  I'll tell y'all something for nothing, my generation is the laziest yet & I am at the top of the list! That might be a rather out there, off topic comment, but I had to say it. Now that's out of my system, here is Chapter Eight of my story.


THE JOURNEY HOME

Chapter Eight - Promise me, Ron.


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Ginny sat on the grass with her plate balanced on her lap, listening to Ron and his research assistant Marion arguing over equations. She had been trying to get her brother alone for the last hour, but had not had any luck. Harry sat a few feet away listening to the conversation with surprising interest.

"...then you carry the four and you have the exact location," Marion indicated the parchment with her dinner knife.

Ron swallowed his mouthful. "No - no way, that can't be right. I had it at least ten degrees less than that."

"I'm telling you I ran the numbers three times and I came up with this answer every single time, you must be doing it wrong."

"You're the one doing it wrong, I checked and double checked those numbers." Ron scooped the last of his stew into his mouth. "Get Harry to go over them. You're good with numbers aren't you Harry?"

Ginny grinned at the look of shock on Harry's face.

"Ah, yeah, sure I'll look them over if you want."

"Yeah, okay. You can do the washing up then Weasley." Marion shoved her plate into Ron's hands and motioned Harry over. Ron gave a small salute behind her back and stood up.

Ginny stood up as well and took Harry's plate from him. She followed Ron into the wooden shack. He had already begun filling the sink with hot water when Ginny slammed the plates down on the bench beside him.  She pursed her lips and glared at him. "Why'd you have to hit Harry?"

Ron sighed. "For abandoning Hermione, for breaking your heart, take your pick."

"Harry didn't break my heart and he didn't abandon Hermione. You shouldn't have hit him, you're supposed to be friends."

Ron snorted. "Friends? Ginny we haven't spoken in, how many years? He thinks I'm crazy, I don't even know why he's here."

"He doesn't think you're crazy, it's just -" she paused trying to find the right words, "he's a lot more used to dealing with grief than we are. He just thinks you're not dealing with it, not moving on, he's just worried about you."

"Moving on? You mean, giving up. Like he did." Ron shot.

Ginny gave an exasperated sigh.

 "Gin, I will not give up on her, not until I know what really happened."

"But why do you have to be angry at Harry? He's here isn't he?"

Ron went quiet. He ran his fingers through his hair. "Yeah, he's here, but why? Why all of a sudden has he decided to help? I mean, you've talked to him haven't you? Did he say anything about why he came?"

"No. He has read the papers though and he did say he thinks you're onto something."

"Did he say he agrees with me, that Hermione could still be alive?" Ron turned away from the dishes, a hopeful look in his eyes.

"I don't think so."

Ron turned back to the sink deflated. "Then why is he here?"

"You ever think maybe he's here for you?"

"What do you mean?"

"I mean, maybe he misses you. You were the first friend he ever had and the best. Maybe he's here for you, to help you and get his friend back."

"I don't want him here unless he's here for her." Ron replied, resolutely.

"Well, you're just going to have to tell him that then, aren't you?" Ginny retorted, angrily. The room was silent for a few minutes while Ginny tried to think. "Ron?" she started.

"Yeah?" Ron didn't look up.

"You have to come home."

There was another silence. Ron stared at Ginny.

"You have to promise me whatever happens, whatever the outcome, when this is done you'll come back with me and Harry."

"Where is this coming from?"

"Mum. You're killing her with worry Ron, you have to come home. Promise me."

Ron was silent for a moment and then he turned back to the dishes. Ginny didn't press him for an answer, she knew she wouldn't get one. There were voices coming from outside and before long the door swung open.

"Hey Ginny," Enya burst through the door and headed for the huge pot of stew Ron had made up earlier. "Thank god, I'm starving."

Ron handed her a freshly cleaned plate. "Your welcome."

"Mmm it's good too," Enya mumbled picking a piece of meat up with her fingers and chewing gratefully.

"You know, we do have cutlery." Ron laughed.

"Mmm thank you." Enya accepted the knife and fork with her mouth still full.

"Hey, did you leave some for me?" Alice asked, waltzing through the open door.

"There's plenty for everyone." Ron replied, handing her a plate.

"Great. I'm Alice by the way, you must be Ron."

"Yup, that's me."

"Mmm Enya." Enya pointed to her chest with her knife and continued to munch happily.

"Nice to meet you both." Ron chuckled.

"Is it just you two?" Ginny asked, glancing round them to see outside. "What happened to the boys?"

"We had enough of Joshua's sexist crap, decided to split up," Alice explained.

"It'll be dark soon, we might have to send out a search party." Ron said looking concerned. "The woods aren't exactly the safest place in the world."

"We didn't have any trouble last night," Enya replied.

"Harry cast a couple of protection charms round the tents," Ginny explained.

"Well if wild animals decide to maul Joshua, I won't be the least bit upset, but I don't think my parents would be pleased if I left my brother out there," Alice sighed.

"Ah, I don't think you have to worry." Ron stepped past them and leaned on the doorframe with his arms crossed.

The booming voice coming from the edge of the forest carried into the little shack and Ginny heard clearly. "I see there's no sign of the girls. What I tell you Ags? Just not up to auror standards."

"Aren't aurors meant to be observant?" Ginny heard Harry call to them.

"Eh?"

"Maybe if you were up to auror standards you would have noticed the two bags beside me."

Inside the shack both girls chuckled and stepped past Ron into the waning sunlight. Ginny followed and caught the look of shock on Joshua's face before he managed to hide it.

"How long have you two been here?" Agrius asked.

"Oh, a good hour or two, right Alice?" Enya shrugged casually.

"At least," Alice confirmed, nodding in agreement.

"Bull," Joshua laughed.

"When are you going to admit that we're just as tough as you?" Alice asked.

"When you prove it!" Joshua shot back.

"Mate, they beat you here didn't they?" Ron interrupted.

"I'm sorry, who are you?" Joshua asked with a rather hostile tone.

"Ron Weasley," Ron stepped towards the boys and held out his hand, "for the next few days, you work for me."

Joshua gulped and accepted Ron's hand. "Uh, nice to meet you."

"Yeah," Ron narrowed his eyes, "rule number one, show respect to everyone here or you'll be on the first portkey home."

"Any other rules?" Joshua asked cautiously.

"I'll let you know," Ron replied, then he stalked back into the shack.

Ginny glanced around. "Where's Gabriel?"

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Love you all for reading and even more to those who review (especially moony*padfoot)! We're getting closer to the big ritual! Oh it's getting exciting I can't wait! Hope you enjoyed that part and I'll get the next one to you as soon as possible!