A/N: Hello everyone! OMFG... I'm so busy this week! Today is Thursday and tomorrow I have five tests! I'm going to sleep in late tonight and wake up early to study! TT Crap, and this weekend I'm am full! I have to go shopping on Saturday for my friend's birthday gift, and I have no idea on what to get him, plus I have to do some shopping for my self too. And on Sunday I have to wake up early to go to a early mass at church because I have to go to this Student Ambassador Information meeting at 1 pm. GAH! So sleepy too and it's only 5 pm... blah... well enough of my problems! Read and review please! Don't forget to vote!
PS: this chapter has to do with the Ministry Ball and Ron coming back into public eye!
Full Summery: After being accused a murder right after the Tournament, Ron 'runs away' to America, hoping to start over anew. But three years later, his wife is struck by a curse that will end her life in one year. There is no cure for the curse, except a powerful potion. But no one knows how to brew it, well, except one. So leaving his wife at a famous wizard hospital in California, Ron and his two year-old Daughter go to England, where the only man who knows how to brew it lives. And that man is Severus Snapes, Potion Professor at Hogwarts: School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. So here are the big questions: will his family and friends accept Ron again? And will his wife's life be saved?
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter or any song/ quote that I will use. They belong to their respectable owners/ creators. But anything that I have made up belongs to me!
X o X o X
Seeing you in my tears
In my own reflection
I heard you in the wind that passes through me
Feel you in my hunger
You're haunting my ambition
Beautifully destructive attraction
Climbed to zero G's
Now falling like a rock
Drugged and digitzed you inside a dream
You are for me... the air that I breathe
My food, the eyes I see with
You're the magic! Ad I feel
That I'm in love
Immeasurably and almost infinitely
Live, in my thoughts
A velveteen equation
I find you in my fears
And in my fascination
I taste you in safe water and it drowns me
Paranoid and peaceful
Inside a sweet addiction
Velvety electrical reaction
Soft insanity
And I can't make it stop
Like hallucination with in a dream
You are for me... the air that I breathe
My food, the eyes I see with
You're the magic! And I feel
That I'm in love
Immeasurably and almost infinitely
Live, in my thoughts
A velveteen equation
Magic, this is the great love
Magic, this is the great love
-Velveteen, Ghost in the Shell
X o X o X o
Wind From Tomorrow
Chapter Eighteen: Velveteen
"Ready?" Ron called from the stairs.
"In a minuet!" Layla called back. Ron sighed and walked back to the foot of the stairs. The family was staying at a muggle motel in London, since there wasn't much room back at the Borrow.
Amory came prancing into the foyer of the hotel suite. Her dark brown hair was down with some pulled back and held down by a magenta ribbon that matched her frilly pink dress that had those puffy sleeves and a magenta ribbon tied at the waist. "Daddy! Daddy!" she cried out as Ron bent down and swooped her into his arms. As Ron carried Amory she said, "I look like a princess!"
"Yes you do!" Ron sweet-talked his daughter as she grinned.
"Daddy looks like a king!" Amory replied gleefully.
"Aw, really?" Ron joked. He wore a black tux with a grey vest underneath the jacket and a scarlet tie. Teddy joked that Ron should've included a top hat, to only receive a smack from Layla saying that it would've look ridiculous.
Amory nodded. "OOO! Look at Mommy!" She pointed up the stairs. Ron smiled as he saw his wife walk down the stairs gracefully. Layla wore a burgundy V-neck dress that tied behind the neck and showed her upper back. The dress was so long that even if she sat down, her dress still covered her feet. The end of the neckline was rouched and a diamond brooch was pinned over the creases. Her hair was pinned into a simple and yet elegant bun, which has held by a diamond incrusted pin, and she wore chandelier earrings, with a matching diamond necklace and bracelet that went on her left wrist.
"Hey." She smiled.
"... Wow." Ron breathed out in amazement.
"Huh?" Layla asked, breaking the romantic moment.
"Daddy said that you are very, very pretty." Amory explained in her four year old voice. Layla laughed and smiled. There was a knock at the door and it was a bellboy telling them that their ride was ready. The three were going to the ball by car then trade the car for a carriage when they got near the place where the ball was held, this was what many witches and wizards planned to do too.
X o X o X
"Wow! Elaine you look so pretty!" Layla complimented as the friends took their seats at the circular table. The seating went like this: Amory, Layla, Ron, Harry, Luna, Hermione, Draco, Teddy, Rick, and then Elaine. Since Ron was part of the Weasley family, they sat in front of the main table, which stood in front of four gigantic windows. All of the Weasleys sat at the main table, except for Ron because it wasn't made public yet that he has returned.
"Aw, Thanks Layla!" Elaine replied back joyfully.
Teddy looked around. "Damn! There are so much people!"
"All of them are important." Said Hermione. She was right; basically everyone in this room was some important figure in the wizardry world. "After all, this is the biggest and most important ball held by England's Magic Ministry."
As the friends chatted and Amory occupied her self by a small children book that Layla brought for Amory to read, the food appeared.
"I must say," Luna began. "I think that the Ministry is slowly recovering from the damage that Fudge caused."
"Yeah, that is true." Harry replied.
"How much damage did the former minister caused?" Rick asked.
"Well, lets say a lot that caused a few dents in the government's system and laws." Hermione replied. "Most of it took place right before the Great Battle."
"Oh, what happen to Fudge?" Ron questioned.
"He disappeared after I defeated Voldemort." Harry answered, causing some occupants of the table to flinch a bit at the name.
"Oh... the bloody coward." Ron commented before going back to his food.
Dinner ended, and before the dance floor was opened, Arthur had to make a speech. As his speech came to a close he told the guest that her had wonderful news. "A few months ago, during a Death Eater attack in California, a little girl flooed into my living room." Arthur paused before continuing. "It turns out that she is my granddaughter. Who are her parents you ask? Well, the father we all thought to be dead and a criminal, but he isn't any of those two. Please, stand up, Ron."
Ron looked at Layla before getting up, who smiled at him. Ron stood up confidentially. The was the expected gasp from the crowd but then cheering started, it was from the Twins, soon the guest began to cheer and clap. "And please welcome his wife, my daughter in-law, Layla Weasley and my granddaughter, Amory."
Layla stood as Ron picked Amory up. "This wasn't so bad." Ron whispered to Layla.
"Ha-ha... wimp." She joked as they took their seats. Cameras were going off everywhere, most were from the press. Layla noticed that Amory felt uncomfortable. "Ron, Amory isn't taking the pictures well." She told her husband. Ron nodded as Layla took Amory outside to the gardens, with the help of some minor Aurors to keep the press away.
"I so wouldn't be surprised if your picture ends up on the Daily Prophet's front page." Harry said casually as he lifted his drink to his mouth.
"Since the news is out, can the Quibbler be the first for an interview?" Luna asked hopefully.
"Ha-ha, I'll give it some thought." Ron replied as his eyes lingered at the door that Layla and Amory existed.
Teddy followed Ron's gaze. "You know how the press are, Ron. The public is gonna find out bout the hex, ya' know."
"Yeah." Ron nodded. He rubbed his eyes and looked up at the main table. Ginny saw this and waved happily to him, Ron smiled in return. "I'll be back in a few." Said Ron as he stood up and walked over to the main table.
"Dad, can I ask you something?" Ron asked as he approached the table.
Arthur turned his head. "Sure! What would it be?"
"Can, you... um... make the press go away? And maybe try to get them to stay away from my family? Since this is one of the year's biggest news, there are going to be a lot of reporters bothering us." Ron requested. "I don't want anymore stress on Layla, and Amory is just a kid." Ron added.
"Fine, I'll issue a statement in the morning, okay?" Arthur suggested.
"Sure." Ron smiled. "I'll be heading back to my table."
Molly watched her son go back to the table and talk to his friends. "Ron is only 17, why do I think he is older then that?" Molly asked her husband.
"Maybe because he is married and a father?" Arthur joked lovingly.
"Maybe" Molly replied. "Him and Layla remind me of a two teenage couple."
"Because they are, Molly." Stated Arthur. "They have been through a lot together. Their strong, Molly." Arthur took her hand. "Just like us, eh?"
Molly smiled and laid her hand on his shoulder. "Yeah..."
X o X o X
After spending almost a month in England, Ron, Layla, Amory, Teddy, Rick, and Elaine left for the states. On their first night home, Layla and Ron put Amory to bed before sitting at the kitchen table with two glasses of water since it was hot inside and outside of the house. They sat in silence, enjoying each other's company until Layla grew tired around midnight and retired to bed.
Half an hour later Ron followed. But, when he entered the bedroom, Layla was there. He panic and headed right to Amory's room. He pushed the door open quietly and sighed in relief. Layla was sleeping next to Amory, cradling Amory in her arms. Ron smiled and closed the door and went back to the master bedroom. When he got to bed, the last thing he though before closing his eyes and entering dreamland was, 'three more months.'
X o X o X
A/N: BWAHAHA! Okay, I started writing this chapter on Thursday, and today is Monday! I'm in such a piss off mood; first for the Student Ambassador Program I have to pay $5000 plus spending cash! GAH! And secondly, I got ANOTHER F on my math test! DOUBLE GAH! So, no flames or any reviews that sound negative... (Glares) I mean it... I can be pretty scary... ask my friends Jasmine, she pretend to take off my back brace during lunch of Friday, lets say things got pretty ugly. So, watch your backs and send in a nice review... make sure to vote on my next story. Can't remember what the choices are? Go back to the Chapter label: The Poll. The last time you can vote is your last review for the story, as in the review for the Epilogue, which you WILL send. So, until then, VOTE! For the next story, and if you are able to, VOTE ON NOV. 2! We make the choice for our future, may it be a wise one.
-LalathePanda