Author's Note: A special thanks to every that's been reviewing. It's such a morale booster to see everyone's encouraging comments. And I'm sorry it took so long to put this new chapter up. I've been working on it for a long time, plus I had midterms (which I did great on, by the way!). The chapter isn't as long as I thought it would be, mostly because I decided to split it up into two parts. So sorry for the short chapter. It has a cliffhanger, but I'll be sure to come out with the next chapter very soon. :)

Ron and Ginny took seats on either sides of Hermione. They slumped in the chairs, wishing that the food was anything but noodles with cheese sauce. Hermione was sure to know exactly how poor they were.
Not that Hermione would be as mean as Malfoy about it. She wouldn't ever do that. Ron was just worried about how she'd react. She may even start a "helpful" club, just like she'd done with the house elves and S.P.E.W..
"Hermione," Ron started.
"Yes, Ron?" she said, corning a cheesy noodle with her fork.
"Erm, well." He stumbled over words. "You know abo-" He trailed off, mumbling.
"Ron, you'll have to speak up. I can't hear you."
He decided on a different approach, one with small sentences. Maybe then he could handle saying something without rambling too much.
"My family. You know about-" He gulped, wondering if he should really say this. "About how we don't have much money and all?"
Hermione blinked. "Why are you bringing this up? You know, it doesn't really matter how much money you have. Not to anyone but that idiot Malfoy, that is."
"I know. I-" He sighed. "It's just that you're here now. You'll probably notice it even more now."
"I've been here before."
Ginny intervened before anything else could be said. "Hermione, don't worry about it. It's always a little tough when we have people over. Our house just sort of shows what kind of money we have."
"That's all you were worried about, Ron? I've known for a while about your family's money problems."
"It's not like I shout about it at the top of my lungs, Hermione! Really, were you trying to nose around and figure out what kind of family we were?" Ron said bitterly.
"It's not like that!" Hermione searched for words. "Besides, that's not even what we were talking about!"
Ron's face had turned a deep shade of red. "Shut it, Hermione."
Ginny grabbed Ron by the arm. "You're not thinking straight. Go to your bedroom and stay there until you've calmed down."
"You're not Mum, Ginny."
"Go upstairs. Now." She pointed to the stairs demandingly. Ron made a snarled face and headed to his bedroom without another word. "Really, Hermione, I don't know what's wrong with him. He just sort of snapped."
"I guess he's just protective of his family." Hermione sighed. "I just don't understand. I didn't try to insult you or your family or anything!"
"I know you didn't. Ron just wasn't being himself."
"Should I go and talk to him?"
Ginny shook her head. "No. Maybe later. Not now."
Hermione started to clear the table, emptying the bowls and putting them in the sink. Her eyes then widened for a moment. She dropped a bowl into the sink, making a great rattle.
"Ginny? How long has your mum been out there?"
Ginny's eyes widened too. "For hours and hours. She was out there while we were sleeping, I think. She usually checks into the house once in a while, Hermione."
Hermione wrung her hands. "Maybe she just is enjoying the outdoors for a while longer than expected. You know, getting some air."
"I don't know. We have to go check."
With that, they ran out the back door of the house. Everything looked fairly normal. Though the empty laundry basket needed putting away, the clothes were neatly pinned up on the line. There was no sign of Mrs. Weasley.
"Mum?" Ginny called. After no answer came she decided, "She must be in the garden. Sometimes she can't hear us from that far away."
The garden was only a moment's paces away, through a few trees and down a path. The weaved through the trees and ran hurriedly down the path. A picketed fence ran the length of the garden, with an old gate in the front.
Ginny was running so fast that she ran straight into the fence. She let out a gasp, winded. Hermione ignored her though, her eyes fixed on something inside the garden.
"Ginny," she whispered. "Your mum is in there."
Ginny got a good gulp of air, then looked into the garden. "Oh my Lord," she murmured. "Mum!"
Mrs. Weasley was lying in the dirt, face down and still.

Author's Note: Again, sorry for the short chapter. I'll come out with the next one very quickly.