Still Daft
Chapter Four: Brotherly Affairs
The next few weeks passed by quickly at the burrow. Mrs. Weasley took Ron, Ginny, Harry, and Hermione to Diagon Alley to get their school things and Fred and George made a surprise visit. They lived in a flat near their store, Weasley's Wizard Wheezes that Harry had funded for them. They brought by some new products that they had invented for the school year. Ron's favorite was the blue quill that took notes for you in class, so that you could sleep. It would write down anything that the teacher would say and you wouldn't even have to be awake to make sure that it took them properly. Hermione, however, wasn't too fond of this. She thought that taking notes in class helped you memorize and retain the information better than nodding off while the teacher was speaking. Ron fired back that she should be glad he wasn't going to steal her notes anymore. Ginny and Harry secretly liked the quill as well, but didn't have enough guts to voice their opinion. Purposely making Hermione mad was like poking a sleeping dragon in the eye.
The last day of the holidays rolled around and Ron awoke to his mother screaming at him to come to breakfast. She sounded slightly different this morning. Her voice had cracked when she screamed and she seemed almost worried.
Ron sighed and threw back his covers, giving in to his mother's call to breakfast. He put his slippers on and ran his fingers threw his messy red hair. He grabbed a shirt out of his closet and threw it on because he was only wearing pajamas and slippers. That attire wasn't entirely appropriate for having guests in the house, even if it was only Hermione and Harry.
He opened his door and trudged down three flights of stairs, but when he reached the landing in the kitchen, the atmosphere was strange and uninviting. Hermione was biting her nails, practically radiating worried thoughts and Ginny was staring unseeingly into her plate, her face stony and cold. Ron looked over to his mother to see her head in her hands, covering her emotion. Ron's eyes caught Harry reading the Daily Prophet with his eyebrows raised and his mouth open. "What's wrong with everyone? What? What's happened?" Ron said as he walked over to Harry.
Harry's head jerked up to face Ron and he quickly folded the paper and put it on his lap, hoping that Ron didn't see the front page. "It's nothing," Harry tried to fake a smile, but failed miserably.
Ron turned to his mother, "Mum, what is it? What's in the paper?"
Mrs. Weasley just shook her head and didn't look Ron in the eyes. Her face was still in her hands, shadowing her emotions.
Ron turned back to Harry and held his hand out. "Give me it. Give me that paper."
Harry looked around the table and no one seemed to object. He bit his lip and slowly handed Ron the Daily Prophet.
Ron unfolded it to the front page to see a big picture in the center and a long story under it. In the picture, there was only one man, a pompous looking man that Ron knew as Percy Weasley.
Ron cringed at the picture of his brother. It had been two years since he had spoken to him and now he was on the front page of the Daily Prophet. Ron glanced down at the headline that read, "Percy Weasley catches a notorious servant of the Dark Lord." He took a deep breath and read on.
Percy Weasley, who works at the Ministry of Magic, single handedly captured Lucius Malfoy, a known death eater. When interviewed, Mr. Percy Weasley was ready and willing to tell the story of the capture.
"I had just finished my shift at the ministry and I apparated to the Leaky Cauldron, where I usually retire after a long day, when I saw four mysterious men in the corner of the pub, talking secretively. They were wearing black cloaks and their faces were hidden by shadows. I moved to a table closer to them and heard them speaking of plans to harm muggles. Of course I couldn't stand for that, so I waited until they were done talking and had split up and gone their separate ways. I followed the man that seemed to be the leader of the four out of the pub and onto the streets. I don't think he knew I was following him because the next thing he knew, he was hit with a very strong binding charm. I looked to see whom it was that I had captured, and to my surprise, I was staring into the face of Lucius Malfoy. I knew that he had escaped from Azkaban last year, so I didn't want to just let him go. I levitated his body back to the front steps of the ministry, where Mr. Fudge came running out. Now, Mr. Malfoy is on trial and is sure to be prosecuted," said Percy Weasley. Indeed Mr. Malfoy has been prosecuted and sent to Azkaban for life. Many readers may be worried about the security there, since the recent departure of the dementors. No need to worry, however, because there have been newly posted guards consisting of highly trained aurors. Mr. Malfoy will be in prison for the rest of his days.
When Ron looked up from the paper he noticed that everyone in the room was staring at him and waiting for his next move. He swallowed hard and clenched his jaw. He scowled at their faces and sat down at the table, saying nothing.
Everyone waited in silence, expecting a blow up from Ron, but instead he was quiet and showed hardly any emotion at all. Hermione glanced around the table and saw that all of the present Weasley's were very silent, unlike their usual manner. Unable to bare the building tension in the room, she was the first to speak.
"So, erm, do you think that the knew prison guards will work?"
"Who bloody cares. You-know-who is just going to free Malfoy anyways." Ron said tonelessly.
"Ron, surely you must be proud of Percy for catching Malfoy, even if your brother did what he did." Harry said timidly.
"The only brothers I have are Fred, George, Bill, and Charley. There is no Percy Weasley in this family."
For the first time, Ron noticed that his mother was crying.
"Mum, don't be upset over that bloody traitor. He's not worth it."
"That's not what I'm upset about," she shook her head. "Since your brother- "
"He's not my brother," Ron objected.
Mrs. Weasley winced. "Since he has captured a very powerful, well known death eater, I fear that he is in danger now too. You four have always been in danger, and it worries me sick. Then your father, and now Percy. The thought of more people dying in the order, I...I just don't know what I'm going to do," she buried her face in her hands and sobbed harder than before.
Ginny had dropped her fork at her mother's words and Ron had a nervous look to him that he was trying hard to cover up. Neither of the Weasley children had seemed to catch onto the fact that Percy was in danger, until their mother let it out through her tears. Once again, trying to break the silence, except for Mrs. Weasley's sobs, Hermione spoke very quietly.
"Ron?"
"WHAT!!!" Ron finally blew up.
"Sorry, I was just-"
"SORRY ISN'T GOOD ENOUGH!!!!!!" Ron shouted more to Percy than anyone else, even though he was miles away.
Ginny jerked her head up from her plate. "HEY, don't talk to Hermione like that, you git!"
Ron rounded on her. "Why do you care?"
"Just because you are mad about Percy, doesn't mean that you can take it out on us! You have no reason to be mad at him right now. Regardless of what he did to us, he still did a good thing. He's my brother too you know."
"According to that bastard, we aren't his family anymore. So why should I claim to be his brother when he won't claim to be mine?!?!"
"Because you should, you dunderhead. Disowning him will only make you as stubborn and as backstabbing has he is."
"OH BUGGAR OFF GINNY!!!!!!! You're too young to know what you are talking about."
"I've gone through more than you give me credit for. I've been there, fighting death eaters off just like you. Don't you DARE say that I'm too young."
"You haven't gone through anything."
Ginny jumped up out of her chair. "Oh really?!?!?! I WAS THE ONE WHO WAS UNDER TOM RIDDLE'S CONTROL, AND I SEEM TO REMEMBER THAT YOU WERE BACK IN A DIFFERENT PART OF THE CHABER, JUST WAITING FOR HARRY TO SAVE ME INSTEAD OF DOING IT YOURSELF!! I WAS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF MYSTERIES THAT NIGHT TWO YEARS AGO, JUST LIKE YOU WERE!!!"
"Stop it, both of you," Mrs. Weasley interjected.
"Why do you care about Percy getting attacked? Why do any of you care about that smarmy bastard?" Ron stood up and walked out of the room. No one followed him because they knew that he needed to be left alone with his thoughts.
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A/N: Hey everyone!!!!!!!! Okay I hope you like the latest addition to Still Daft. I know that this chapter may seem out of the ordinary, but trust me, this information will tie in later in the story. Just you wait.......
Just so you know, the Daily Prophet part is supposed to be a different font and it's supposed to be in italics. I don't know why it's not working. I've tried a number of different things but nothing seems to work. I'm just as frustrated as you guys are.
Thank you to everyone who has reviewed so far. It helps me get a better understanding of what kind of chapter I should write next. Of course, I have an ultimate plan for this story, but I still like to hear your input on things. Well, thank you again and please continue to review.
Oh, and if you haven't reviewed yet please find it in your heart to do so!!!!!!
Love from,
Chrystal
Chapter Four: Brotherly Affairs
The next few weeks passed by quickly at the burrow. Mrs. Weasley took Ron, Ginny, Harry, and Hermione to Diagon Alley to get their school things and Fred and George made a surprise visit. They lived in a flat near their store, Weasley's Wizard Wheezes that Harry had funded for them. They brought by some new products that they had invented for the school year. Ron's favorite was the blue quill that took notes for you in class, so that you could sleep. It would write down anything that the teacher would say and you wouldn't even have to be awake to make sure that it took them properly. Hermione, however, wasn't too fond of this. She thought that taking notes in class helped you memorize and retain the information better than nodding off while the teacher was speaking. Ron fired back that she should be glad he wasn't going to steal her notes anymore. Ginny and Harry secretly liked the quill as well, but didn't have enough guts to voice their opinion. Purposely making Hermione mad was like poking a sleeping dragon in the eye.
The last day of the holidays rolled around and Ron awoke to his mother screaming at him to come to breakfast. She sounded slightly different this morning. Her voice had cracked when she screamed and she seemed almost worried.
Ron sighed and threw back his covers, giving in to his mother's call to breakfast. He put his slippers on and ran his fingers threw his messy red hair. He grabbed a shirt out of his closet and threw it on because he was only wearing pajamas and slippers. That attire wasn't entirely appropriate for having guests in the house, even if it was only Hermione and Harry.
He opened his door and trudged down three flights of stairs, but when he reached the landing in the kitchen, the atmosphere was strange and uninviting. Hermione was biting her nails, practically radiating worried thoughts and Ginny was staring unseeingly into her plate, her face stony and cold. Ron looked over to his mother to see her head in her hands, covering her emotion. Ron's eyes caught Harry reading the Daily Prophet with his eyebrows raised and his mouth open. "What's wrong with everyone? What? What's happened?" Ron said as he walked over to Harry.
Harry's head jerked up to face Ron and he quickly folded the paper and put it on his lap, hoping that Ron didn't see the front page. "It's nothing," Harry tried to fake a smile, but failed miserably.
Ron turned to his mother, "Mum, what is it? What's in the paper?"
Mrs. Weasley just shook her head and didn't look Ron in the eyes. Her face was still in her hands, shadowing her emotions.
Ron turned back to Harry and held his hand out. "Give me it. Give me that paper."
Harry looked around the table and no one seemed to object. He bit his lip and slowly handed Ron the Daily Prophet.
Ron unfolded it to the front page to see a big picture in the center and a long story under it. In the picture, there was only one man, a pompous looking man that Ron knew as Percy Weasley.
Ron cringed at the picture of his brother. It had been two years since he had spoken to him and now he was on the front page of the Daily Prophet. Ron glanced down at the headline that read, "Percy Weasley catches a notorious servant of the Dark Lord." He took a deep breath and read on.
Percy Weasley, who works at the Ministry of Magic, single handedly captured Lucius Malfoy, a known death eater. When interviewed, Mr. Percy Weasley was ready and willing to tell the story of the capture.
"I had just finished my shift at the ministry and I apparated to the Leaky Cauldron, where I usually retire after a long day, when I saw four mysterious men in the corner of the pub, talking secretively. They were wearing black cloaks and their faces were hidden by shadows. I moved to a table closer to them and heard them speaking of plans to harm muggles. Of course I couldn't stand for that, so I waited until they were done talking and had split up and gone their separate ways. I followed the man that seemed to be the leader of the four out of the pub and onto the streets. I don't think he knew I was following him because the next thing he knew, he was hit with a very strong binding charm. I looked to see whom it was that I had captured, and to my surprise, I was staring into the face of Lucius Malfoy. I knew that he had escaped from Azkaban last year, so I didn't want to just let him go. I levitated his body back to the front steps of the ministry, where Mr. Fudge came running out. Now, Mr. Malfoy is on trial and is sure to be prosecuted," said Percy Weasley. Indeed Mr. Malfoy has been prosecuted and sent to Azkaban for life. Many readers may be worried about the security there, since the recent departure of the dementors. No need to worry, however, because there have been newly posted guards consisting of highly trained aurors. Mr. Malfoy will be in prison for the rest of his days.
When Ron looked up from the paper he noticed that everyone in the room was staring at him and waiting for his next move. He swallowed hard and clenched his jaw. He scowled at their faces and sat down at the table, saying nothing.
Everyone waited in silence, expecting a blow up from Ron, but instead he was quiet and showed hardly any emotion at all. Hermione glanced around the table and saw that all of the present Weasley's were very silent, unlike their usual manner. Unable to bare the building tension in the room, she was the first to speak.
"So, erm, do you think that the knew prison guards will work?"
"Who bloody cares. You-know-who is just going to free Malfoy anyways." Ron said tonelessly.
"Ron, surely you must be proud of Percy for catching Malfoy, even if your brother did what he did." Harry said timidly.
"The only brothers I have are Fred, George, Bill, and Charley. There is no Percy Weasley in this family."
For the first time, Ron noticed that his mother was crying.
"Mum, don't be upset over that bloody traitor. He's not worth it."
"That's not what I'm upset about," she shook her head. "Since your brother- "
"He's not my brother," Ron objected.
Mrs. Weasley winced. "Since he has captured a very powerful, well known death eater, I fear that he is in danger now too. You four have always been in danger, and it worries me sick. Then your father, and now Percy. The thought of more people dying in the order, I...I just don't know what I'm going to do," she buried her face in her hands and sobbed harder than before.
Ginny had dropped her fork at her mother's words and Ron had a nervous look to him that he was trying hard to cover up. Neither of the Weasley children had seemed to catch onto the fact that Percy was in danger, until their mother let it out through her tears. Once again, trying to break the silence, except for Mrs. Weasley's sobs, Hermione spoke very quietly.
"Ron?"
"WHAT!!!" Ron finally blew up.
"Sorry, I was just-"
"SORRY ISN'T GOOD ENOUGH!!!!!!" Ron shouted more to Percy than anyone else, even though he was miles away.
Ginny jerked her head up from her plate. "HEY, don't talk to Hermione like that, you git!"
Ron rounded on her. "Why do you care?"
"Just because you are mad about Percy, doesn't mean that you can take it out on us! You have no reason to be mad at him right now. Regardless of what he did to us, he still did a good thing. He's my brother too you know."
"According to that bastard, we aren't his family anymore. So why should I claim to be his brother when he won't claim to be mine?!?!"
"Because you should, you dunderhead. Disowning him will only make you as stubborn and as backstabbing has he is."
"OH BUGGAR OFF GINNY!!!!!!! You're too young to know what you are talking about."
"I've gone through more than you give me credit for. I've been there, fighting death eaters off just like you. Don't you DARE say that I'm too young."
"You haven't gone through anything."
Ginny jumped up out of her chair. "Oh really?!?!?! I WAS THE ONE WHO WAS UNDER TOM RIDDLE'S CONTROL, AND I SEEM TO REMEMBER THAT YOU WERE BACK IN A DIFFERENT PART OF THE CHABER, JUST WAITING FOR HARRY TO SAVE ME INSTEAD OF DOING IT YOURSELF!! I WAS IN THE DEPARTMENT OF MYSTERIES THAT NIGHT TWO YEARS AGO, JUST LIKE YOU WERE!!!"
"Stop it, both of you," Mrs. Weasley interjected.
"Why do you care about Percy getting attacked? Why do any of you care about that smarmy bastard?" Ron stood up and walked out of the room. No one followed him because they knew that he needed to be left alone with his thoughts.
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A/N: Hey everyone!!!!!!!! Okay I hope you like the latest addition to Still Daft. I know that this chapter may seem out of the ordinary, but trust me, this information will tie in later in the story. Just you wait.......
Just so you know, the Daily Prophet part is supposed to be a different font and it's supposed to be in italics. I don't know why it's not working. I've tried a number of different things but nothing seems to work. I'm just as frustrated as you guys are.
Thank you to everyone who has reviewed so far. It helps me get a better understanding of what kind of chapter I should write next. Of course, I have an ultimate plan for this story, but I still like to hear your input on things. Well, thank you again and please continue to review.
Oh, and if you haven't reviewed yet please find it in your heart to do so!!!!!!
Love from,
Chrystal