Chapter 12

Ron and Life

I isolated myself within my compartment sitting on the soft red sofa lost within my own thoughts. My head was pressed against the cold window. My eyes followed the crowed that eagerly awaited the departure of the train. The kids ran about the corridors excitedly talking about their summer and discussing their expectations for another year at Hogwarts. First years confusingly walked about the platform with cages in their hands and backpacks full of food. Their parents warned them about the dangers of the school and what is completely forbidden by their family rules. Muggle parents expected letters from their kids on daily bases with no exceptions.

Hermione's folks also came to wish their daughter a safe year. I did not stay long with them. My mood was in no condition to communicate with such fine people like themselves, and I did not wish to say something I would regret in the long run. I politely excused myself from their company and slipped into the warmth of the train. I did it purposely quiet, so no one would miss my presents until the leave.

Harry was communicating with Fred and George, while Ginny stood by their side soaked in their conversation. I could hear bits and parts of many different topics and decided to ignore them all together. My thoughts were focused on the child version of Professor Lupin and his young mother.

"What tragic end they came to," I though, "I wouldn't wish something as this to my enemy, and I have many. I wonder if he lived in a forest."

"Well wolfs don't run about in the city." Another voice spoke within my thoughts.

"Where they attacked because someone has sent them?"

"But who would send them? I mean Voldemort wasn't in his power just yet. He was still a student, if I'm not mistaking."

"But why then? Does the professor know? I'm sure Dumbledore would know. I bet he knew beforehand. Why did he show up at the moment the werewolves attacked? Have he received a message? What about Professor Lupin's father? Did he die? Of course! He must have."

"Stop! It does no good to think about it! What for are you thinking about it all?"

"Just get out of my thoughts!" I've said aloud violently shacking my head.

"Ron hurry up! The train is going to leave in just a minute! What's wrong with you today?" My attention was switched to Mrs. Weasley that was blathering in a loud tone, as her red haired boy gloomily walked after her. Mr. Weasley followed them rolling the trolley stack with a trunk and a cage in which a small brown owl zoomed about.

"Arthur, how lovely to meet you." A tall man sweetly said. My eyes froze on him. It was Lucius Malfoy. The memory of mum vividly played before me. I couldn't remove my eyes from him. He was quite handsome like Madam Malkin remarked, but there was no warmth about him. His eyes were captivating, but they radiated a frost that placed fear within me.

"What do you wish from me Lucius?" Mr. Weasley sharply asked as soon as Mr. Malfoy finished his phrase.

"Why such a harsh tone? I have not seen you for this whole summer. Was your little vocation constructive? I hope it did not affect your poor financial status." I heard the

gentle jingling of metal within his robes, as he placed one of his hands into his pocket.

Mr. Weasley tightly clenched his teeth and angrily stared at his speaker.

"Go on about your business Malfoy! You have none here!" Mrs. Weasley pressed on nervously.

"Right you are!" Mr. Malfoy said loudly. "I have no business talking to people inferior to my own state. I'm glad you brought me back to my senses. How thankful I am." He turned on his heels and left the three red haired figures standing bright red in their faces at the middle of the platform.

"Come on Ron!" Hermione screamed eagerly. The loud whistle blew, and the steam rose over the heads of the passengers.

The sleepless night came over me at last. My eyelids slowly slipped down, as my mind wished to be shut down for the time being. However, something caped it awake. Mrs. Weasley was crying when I entered the kitchen this morning. Her husband was circling about her nervously, biting his nails. Sirius sat by the fire. One of his feet rested upon his knee fervently shacking. Ron was so pallid, it seemed he was going to faint.

"Katie!" Harry screamed, suddenly appearing before me with a loud crack. Everyone turned my way.

"Oh dear! You're freezing cold!" Mrs. Weasley hugged me and escorted me to the fire. I was keen for the warmth, as the night chilled me down to my bones.

"Are you ok?" Sirius asked uneasy. I bet I looked as white as Ron. I bet they thought I was bitten.

"I'm fine. Don't worry I wasn't harmed in any way." I could barely hear my own voice; however, the exhales of relief filled the room pretty loudly.

"I'll make you some hot chocolate. It will help you warm up much faster."

"We were worried sick! The moment you left, Dumbledore raised the alarm. He thought Professor Lupin would kill you. He had no idea of where you could have taken him. He didn't even know you could apparate. All three of us got a bad shaking!" Harry looked at Ron.

"Hermione was crying ever since. Professor Snape and Mad-Eye were sent to the Hospital Wing at Hogwarts. However, Professor Snape will be attending his classes tomorrow." He said disappointedly.

"Harry!" Mrs. Weasley gave him an irritated look and went back to the hot chocolate.

"Well, anyways that is what happened. Does Professor Dumbledore know that they are back?"

"I expect so." Sirius was down. His spirit was dwindling for some reason. He was gloomier then ever.

"Here you go dear;" Mrs. Weasley pushed Harry aside and handed me a cup of warm and sweet chocolate.

"Where did you take Professor Lupin? Did he bit you?"

"Ginny!"

"What? I just want to know!"

"Go upstairs and get ready! We'll be leaving soon."

"But mum! I want to hear of what she has to say!"

"I said go!" Ginny went out mumbling to herself, loudly colliding her feet with the floor.

"Well, it is interesting where you took him." Harry whispered to me.

"I got Professor Lupin to a forest of some sort. I don't know which one; you can ask him yourself. I guess he would know." I took another sip of my drink. Ron walked out of the kitchen. I could tell he was relieved.

"What came of my things?"

"Oh, Professor Dumbledore brought them to school. He was furious! I only saw him like this when he was fighting Voldemort in my fifth year." The remaining Weasley's flinched, but Sirius remained fully composed.

"He gave Hermione and me a lecture about how ruthless we were. Pretty useless if you must know."

"How so?" Sirius asked arms crossed. His thin lips turned into a grin.

"For one, Hermione was in no condition to listen. Secondly, I was too preoccupied with Katie to listen."

Here the conversation turned back to our most favorite subject about my name.

I came back to the comfortable red seats, as the train began moving. Harry slid the compartment door and sat besides me. Ron and Hermione sat opposite of us.

"What a day!" Hermione said looking out of the window. The cold droplets of rain knocked on it drifting my concentration to its gentle drumming. The chilly rain abruptly replaced the hot days. The gloomy weather fitted well with my morose spirit.

" We need to get some sleep. We have a long way to go." Harry gazed at me softly.

"I don't think I want to sleep on the train, not when Malfoy's around. He can pool a prank on us at any moment." Hermione said bitterly and glanced at the compartment door. Someone was giggling just behind it.

"I have a feeling that they are preparing something this very minute." Ron quietly said.

"That's it!" Harry jumped off his seat. Sliding open the door he quickly moved the upper portion of his body to the left. Small round things were fired at the supposed Harry, but collided with the window instead. As they smashed, the compartment was experiencing the most outrageous smell that I ever came to face with. Harry waited for the attack to be over and took out his wand.

"Tarantallegra!" He shouted three times. He leaped further back into the compartment as Draco's head appeared before us, shaking violently. Someone was shouting for help outside my view, but I very well knew who it could be.

"You'll pay for this Potter!" Draco spat out trying very hard to keep his voice steady.

"Pay for what Malfoy?" Ron screamed disgustedly. "Pay for the trash you turned this place to? Or maybe for his excellent spell that he performed on you three? He needs to practice on someone." He said as a mater-of-fact.

Draco removed the curse from him and pointed his wand at Harry. Before anyone could do anything, he shouted, " Engorgio!" A light blue spark rushed to Harry's face and hit him head on. It knocked him off his feet to the floor. With a dull thud he lay quietly on the ground.

"Harry!" Hermione shouted.

"Are you ok?" I asked.

"You'll pay for this Malfoy!"

"I suppose the great wizard like you will take me out off the picture. Don't make me laugh! Your wand is a trash, and your whole family is a joke!" Ron's ears turned red, and he jumped on Draco placing hits on his face.

"Break it up!" I jumped away from Harry to drag them apart. Grabbing Ron by his sweater I began pulling him away.

"Leave me alone!" He shouted.

"That's it!" I took out my wand, "Stupefy!" He fell to the floor.

"Draco, You are not welcome here! Take your unwanted behind out and don't spoil our day! I had enough and don't need some immature dweeb ruining my day any further!" He stared at me quite confused, but didn't move an inch.

"Are you deaf? I said get the hell out of here!" I pushed him out of the door and slit the it closed placing a locking charm on it.

"Finito Incantados," I whispered pointing my wand at Ron.

"What did you do that for!" He screamed as soon as his eyes opened.

"Do you want another detention? I think you had enough! If it's that easy to get you all boiled up, then what will happen when you'll start working? What will you do if both of you were working in the same place? Don't look at me like that! I saw your dad and Lucius Malfoy, and they are obviously not best friends! If your father jumped at him every time Mr. Malfoy insulted your family, he would have been jobless. Life is not that simple Ron!"

"When I'll need help I'll ask for it otherwise don't help me!"

"Then I wouldn't want to help you even if you'll ask! Life is not what you want! It's how you act out before people, how you communicate with them, how they see you! You're such a baby!"

"A baby am I?"

"Maybe you should have your own head on your shoulders and not follow what Hermione and Harry tells you to do. Sometimes friends are not there to help you. You have to make your own decision that will affect the rest of your school years, your career, and your whole existence! Obviously you don't know how to do that!"

"You...I...you are..."

"Save it Ron for someone who cares! I saw what I saw and made out the conclusion. What you'll say is just wards. Telling something is much easier then showing it."

"Can you stop arguing!" Hermione screamed. "Look at Harry!" His face was very swollen. He could barely open his eyes or move his lips.

"It's not dangerous. It's just a stupid spell and not a very good one. A first year will be able to do it much more efficiently." I conjured a glass with ice. "Here, take out some cloth and put the ice into it. Place it over his face. It should remove the spell in about fifteen minutes. I'm going out!"

"Where are you going?" Hermione asked me very worried.

"I need to be alone for a while. I can't think clearly. I'm going to be in the whole just behind the door." With that settled I slid open the door and stepped out, as Hermione and Ron engaged into another quarrel.

A/N

Sorry it took so long to update! I might have rushed through the chapter, but their kind of not much to say. What house is Katie most likely to be placed to? I hope you'll guess right!

I'm writing a new story called Through the Marble Doors. I hope you'll reed it.

Harry wants revenge for his godfather's death, but an unexpected letter arrives to him at Number Four Privet Drive. Harry is not the only Potter left, and that person holds the past of Lily and James Potter. As everything clears out can Harry give up his relative to his enemy?