"Let go of me," Ron muttered as he tripped up the steps, Percy's hand still painfully there on his shoulder. "I'm going in, I'm going in. . ."

"I'm sick of delays," Percy snapped, now knocking Ron through the black doors which swung in with surprising speed. "I didn't come here so you could chitchat with every solitary…."

"Must be nice to know the dead."

"You knew Uncle Bilius!"

The doors swung back in, freezing closed in the frame and sucking out every particle of the golden light.

"Are they closed?" Percy asked.

A tomb, Ron thought suddenly. He was no longer in heaven but trapped in that stupid coffin. Or the maroon jar, if Percy hadn't been joking about the funeral. He spun around, utterly blind. Well, it wasn't as bad as just beyond the veil, but…

"But I don't know why they'd have anything closed in the spirit world," Percy mused.

"Are you arguing with yourself?" Ron hissed. "I really don't think we should be here."

Silence. Then Percy sighed. "You're not still afraid of the dark, are you? Just. . . walk forward or something."

Not knowing what else to do, Ron did. And slammed right into a wall. Gasping in pain, he felt his nose, expecting blood. Of course there wasn't any.

"So we won't go that way," Percy said.

From somewhere to Ron's left came another deep sigh and a strange clicking. "For heaven's sake," said a woman's tired voice, "I hate it when they turn off the cold fusion sources. . . I'm sorry about that!"

The clicking increased, and the room flickered into light. Ron stumbled back from the wall, still rubbing his nose which still hurt. He had forgotten how painful having a body was…

"Oh, dear, did you bump it?" The woman, a short blonde with a halo above her head sitting at a wooden desk just feet away from Ron, peered worriedly at him. "That's no fun at all. Well, at least you can see now." Her too-thick lips flipped upward into a broad grin. "Again, I'm so sorry."

Percy glared at her. "Weren't you there to have the lights on?"

Immediately the smile was gone. "Oh, excuse me! I didn't know that angels weren't allowed to have other things in their busy lives other than sitting at a desk for eternity! It's bad enough that I have to rush here from the Elysian Fields every time some Joe walks in, but now I have to be responsible for turning on the lights! This stupid cold fusion is nothing but a pain. . ." The angel angrily ripped a sheet of parchment from the desktop and held it right up to her face. "And I don't think there were any appointments scheduled. . . ."

"Um." This wasn't the reception Ron had imagined. "We're a walk-in?"

Percy groaned.

"We're a walk-in," the angel mimicked, her angel slanting down toward her hair. "Well, it's not like anyone ever comes in here anyway. Curse my willingness to take such a job."

"If no one comes in here anyway, then why were you just complaining…."

The angel muttered something under her breath and pulled what Ron recognized as a Muggle ballpoint pen from a drawer. With a disparaging glance at Ron and Percy she scribbled something on the schedule. "Fine, whatever. If you're brave enough to see the ghost council, walk right in. I'll tell them you're coming. She motioned at a door that melted into the wall behind her.

Ron darted through it, eager to escape the psychotic angel.

"She could hold it in better," Percy commented, following him. His voice had softened to almost sympathy. "Poor thing, though."

"Poor thing?"

He shrugged. "Well, it's hard, doing that sort of thing. The people you have to put up with. . . ."

Ron frowned, staring at the empty vestibule they had entered. Another door was at the end of it. "But you liked your job alright."

Percy gave a derisive laugh. "Oh, yes, fetching coffee was loads of fun." He pushed past Ron and opened the other door a crack.

Ron hung back, expecting something to jump out. There was nothing but a door and a slant of light behind it.

"Hm." Percy opened the door a little further. "Hello?"

There was a muffled shriek flung among a storm of noises like furniture being scraped over the floor and a crash of something glass.

Ron wondered if he'd prefer the secretary.

"Enter," boomed a voice. The door flew open, nearly slamming into Percy who only barely managed to jump back.

The room was nothing what Ron expected. Actually, he wasn't sure what he expected, but it wasn't the scene he saw before him. A long wooden table, aging and somewhat splintery and decorated with a yellow paisley tablecloth, lined one wall of a rather small and boring room. Set up against the table were thirteen chairs, only six of which were occupied.

"Welcome!" the voice boomed again. It belonged to a man sitting around the middle of the table. He was dressed far too extravagantly for his surroundings in a glistening green robe. "I am Sir Eldenar of the Ghost Council of the Spirit World!" Dark locks of hair fell over his smooth face as he stretched into a deep bow.

Ron choked back a laugh.

"And these are my associates," Sir Eldenar continued, waving a hand at the five other people. "Kendra Arlington, Abraham Michaels, Esperenza Catalina Montoya, Cedric Diggory, and David Price."

"Cedric?" Ron heard himself repeating. His eyes flashed over the table. Near the end sat a burly, dark-haired boy, smile mixed with a something of boredom until he met Ron's gaze.

"Ron Weasley?" Cedric asked, standing up. "Percy Weasley? What are you doing here?"

"We're dead," Percy replied dully.

Cedric nodded, glancing back at the other council members who were watching the scene with fascination. "I know, but. .." He sighed and ran his hand through his hair. "I didn't expect to see you here."

Percy nodded impatiently. "Wonderful. But we're here anyway."

Ron just stared at Cedric. He supposed after seeing his uncle and Sirius and the Potters, he should have expected to see Cedric, but Cedric Diggory had been murdered several years before. He wasn't supposed to be anywhere. "You're on the ghost council?" he asked incredulously.

Cedric rolled his eyes and forced a more realistic smile. "Not exactly. But. . . for some reason they want me to do this for a month or so. Not like there's anything else to do until the new Quidditch field comes in." His face brightened. "Have you seen the location for it yet?"

Quidditch. Something Ron hadn't been able to properly discuss in forever. "Yes, it's where we landed! It'll be perfect."

"I know, won't it though? It's—"

"As fascinating as the new Quidditch field is," David cut in. "I'd really like to know who braved through our propaganda and why they're here." He nodded at Percy. "You know, we really don't like having to do this council thing and we go through a lot of work to scare everyone away and we'd really rather be doing something else, all of us, so if you'd care to bring up the matter and then leave…"

Percy cleared this throat and Ron stepped back, still amazed at meeting Cedric. "We're here because of these," Percy began, rolling back his sleeve so that the rope was visible.

"Rope?" Abraham snickered.

Ron prepared for the demonstration.

"It's not just rope," Percy continued. "It's the fault of one of the ghosts in the living world. One at Hogwarts."

"Hogwarts ghosts!" one of the woman cried. "Oh, they're so much fun, I hear such good things about them. That Bloody Baron. . . " She blushed. "I'm sorry. Please go on."

The woman fancied the Bloody Baron! Ron looked at Cedric, who nodded as he tried not to laugh.

Percy swore under his breath, but put on his best brown-nosing composure. "Actually, this was the Bloody Baron's doing. My brother Ron and I were fighting, and apparently that broke some rule we didn't know about involving keeping peace within the school, and the Baron decided to put these on us. And now we can't go fifty feet from one another."

"Hang on, hang on," Sir Eldenar said, shaking his head. "I'm confused. You're saying that you actually came from the Living World? Excuse my disbelief, but that's very rare that a spirit will do that. Are your hauntings not going well?"

"We weren't haunting anyone, we were—" Ron started, but Percy cut him off.

"Yes, we came from the Living World or whatever you call it. We came through the Veil in the Department of Mysteries. We—"

"They still have that stupid Veil?" David asked the other woman. "Esperenza, did you know anything about that?"

"Well, they just like studying things like that. Give the living a break."

"But to leave it there like that. . . ."

With a deep sigh Cedric stood up and cupped his hands around his mouth. "Will everyone just shut up?!"

David and Esperenza stopped talking and stared up at him.

"Thank-you." Cedric hopped back into his seat. "Now my friends here have a problem, and we're supposed to help solve it."

"I'm in charge here, and I'm permanent," Eldenar mumbled.

"Sorry. Percy, you can continue."

Percy looked at Cedric, then at the rest of the council. "I don't even want to bother."

He wasn't trying to force a point. Ron studied his brother. How often did that happen? "We just want to get these removed. We were Gryffindors, so Sir Nicholas is our house ghost and he says he supposed to be in charge of other Gryffindor ghosts—"

Cedric nodded.

"But he says he isn't able to remove the bindings. We thought you might help us."

The council members exchanged confused looks. Even Cedric watched Sir Eldenar.

"We can't help you," Eldenar finally said.

"What?" Ron exclaimed.

"We can't help you." Eldenar leaned back in his chair, kicking his feet onto the tabletop. "I'm most sorry, but it's out of our hands."

"But you're in charge of ghosts," Percy said. "That's what we were told!"

"True," said Kendra. "But we don't have much experience with them. As we said, it's quite rare for ghosts to come here to see us. When most come over to this world, it's to stay permanently. We don't get bothered a lot. Technically, the Baron had no right to do this to you, but. . ."

"That's what everyone's been telling us." Percy picked at the rope, face desperate. "Please, is there nothing you can do?"

"What I'm curious about," Abraham said. "Is how you came over in the first place. I mean, you said you went through the Veil, but I didn't think anyone knew about that old rag."

Old rag? Somehow it didn't seem appropriate to call the Veil an old rag. "Well, Sirius Black came through it, and then the Bloody Baron and the Grey Lady were fighting about it—"

"The Grey Lady?" Cedric echoed. Without another word he disappeared.

"More ghosts," Eldenar sighed, tracing his finger along the table's edge. "I don't see how they can help you, either. Unless, of course, you contact your representative. Why didn't you see him in the first place?"

"Because we don't know who he is," said Percy. "You know, you ghosts are a lot less stable and organized with your rules than I would have thought."

"And it's your responsibility to find these things. Most ghosts don't care." Eldenar dropped his feet down. "Well, it was nice to meet you and sorry again we can't help you."

"Thanks for dropping by," Esperenza said with a smile, climbing to her feet. "I do hope you enjoy the rest of your visit. The door will open for you."
"But—" Percy said, holding up a hand.

"Thank-you," she said more pressingly, waving them toward the door.

Then, one by one, the council vanished, leaving Percy and Ron along in the empty room.

"That was helpful," Ron commented, staring at the rope, so ordinary and appearing so weak. . . It hit him. It wasn't coming off. With a scream he ripped at it, feeling the rough fibers slide over him but not through. It really wasn't coming off. He'd be stuck with Percy for the next century. Percy. It was all his fault. Somehow…. "Now what are we going to do?"

Percy didn't reply. He didn't even show any sign of hearing Ron. He stood where he was, staring at the table, eyes blazing behind his glasses.

Ron felt his own anger ebb into fear. This was the most furious he had ever seen his brother. Ever. A silent rage that was probably building up….

Percy suddenly screamed and launched out violently, kicking the table. "I can't believe this!" He whirled towards Ron. "You. . . "

Ron stepped back. "What did I do?"

"You. . ." He clenched his teeth, grinding them, and with a low growl shook his head.

Percy couldn't even fight again. Somehow that fact just made everything worse. Ron marched toward the door, trying hard not to cry. "Let's just go." Without waiting he slipped into the vestibule and back to the secretary's room. The cold fusion thing the angel had mentioned had the room lit somewhat dimmer than before. She wasn't in sight. Ron wasn't surprised.

Well, Lily had mentioned ice cream. He felt a smile force its way up. He hadn't had ice cream in so long. . .

He screamed as he was flipped backward, his right wrist twisting behind his body. The bindings… He straightened up, glancing at the door. So Percy had failed to follow him.

The thought of ice cream vanished. This was just getting ridiculous. "Percy!" he called.

"I'm right here." The door opened and Percy appeared face expressionless.

"Where were you?"

"None of your business." Well, you're the one that wanted to leave." Without a glance at Ron he strode through the front doors.

Only Percy could be obnoxious enough to stall like that. A heavy mug sat at the angel's desk, begging to be picked up. Ron watched it. He should turn away but. . . oh, he couldn't resist. With one fluid action he picked up the mug and chucked it toward Percy. Unfortunately, the doors swung closed just in time for the mug to strike them. It fell to the ground, unharmed.

"Bloody hell," Ron whispered, following after Percy.

The city outside was oblivious to what had just happened with the council. It was sickening, especially how it demanded to brighten Ron's mood.

Sirius was waiting at the bottom of the staircase. "How did it go?"

Percy scowled and held up his wrist. "No wonder you wouldn't go in."

Sirius frowned, and for the first time seemed bothered by the situation. "So. . you're stuck like that?"

"Unless we find this bloody 'representative' everyone keeps mentioning," Ron said. "Sirius, you are so lucky you aren't a ghost."

"It can't be all bad," he said wistfully. "At least you're out there. Don't get me wrong, I love this place. But sometimes. . ." He sniffed and glanced down the street. "I told Lily and James that I'd show you where the ice cream parlor was. Come on."

"I don't want ice cream," Percy said. Still, he followed.

"But you haven't tried this ice cream. It might make you feel better."

The ice cream parlor was a tiny silver shop crammed between two larger buildings. Lily and James were waiting outside, surrounded by even more shopping bags than before.

"She found things I needed," James explained, embarrassed. "I take it didn't go very well?"

Ron let Percy give his laborious explanation. He couldn't concentrate on the council when Harry's parents were right in front of him. They seemed so nice… how come Harry didn't get to know them?

"That's terrible," Lily said as soon as Percy was finished speaking. She stared at the ground, fingering one of the handles of a shopping bag. "I know ice cream probably won't help, but. . . I really want to talk to you. I invited you before, and if it still isn't too much trouble, I really would like you to come in."

Ron gave Percy a quick look, wondering if he'd challenge the invitation further. But he hadn't been able to do so with Sirius and seemed less willing to do so with Lily.

Sirius hadn't lied about the ice cream. It was delicious, and being the second thing after the chocolate Ron had eaten in days it was mind-blowing. He devoured his bowl, loving the way the cold strawberry flavor slipped down this throat.

Lily waited patiently for him to finish before throwing out her demand. Evidently there was a price to the ice cream. "You need to tell me about Harry. Everything about him."

Ron blinked. "Harry is. . . Harry." No, that wasn't appropriate to tell Harry's parents. "I mean, he's wonderful. He's great. He's my best friend." It still didn't sound right. "You'd be proud of him."

James smiled and took another spoonful of his marmalade-chocolate ice cream. "We are. I don't think he knows that, but. . ."

"He's a murderer," Percy whispered. He sat in the corner of the booth, ice cream barely touched save for the carvings his spoon had made. Fortunately, Ron was the only one that heard him.

"I. . . I don't know what else to say," Ron finished. How stupid was that. He couldn't think of a single thing about Harry, nothing good enough for his parents, anyway.

Lily's pretty face was tight with anticipation, demanding something more. But nonetheless she nodded, tears glittering under her eyes. James' eyes weren't dry, either.

They miss their son, Ron suddenly realized. They also miss Harry. He didn't know why the idea struck him so hard, but some part of his mind lashed out in unfairness. Harry was his best friend. Up till the he had been the only one actually missing Harry. No one else had. But now, with Sirius and Lily and James all around that able eating ice cream, he realized just how absurd the idea was.

"Thanks," she murmured. "I think I needed to hear that."

That single word was a key to everything. Before he knew what was happening his mouth was open, spilling out in a rampage nearly everything he and Harry had ever done before, how they had met on the Hogwarts Express, playing Quidditch, classes, spending time at the Burrow, everything he could think of. All of it almost seemed to happen again as he spoke, sending memories whirling through his mind. Sirius sat back, smiling, while Lily and James listened in rapture. Only Percy managed to ignore everything.

"I don't have time for this," he finally said, interrupting a story about something funny that had happened in Divination. "Mr. and Mrs. Potter, thanks for the ice cream, but I think I'll wait outside."

"What about the binding?" Sirius asked.

Percy shrugged, not looking back. "It's less than fifty feet."

"What's his problem?" James asked as soon as Percy was gone.

Ron made a face, not really caring. "I don't know. He's always been like that."

"Perhaps you should go talk to him," Lily said, gazing at the door.

Again he felt his temper rise. It wasn't fair. He had been having such a good time with Lily, James, and Sirius, and Percy had to ruin it all. "I'd. . . rather not."

For a moment she seemed ready to say something, but changed her mind. "Ron, I can't tell you how wonderful it was to finally meet you. You have no idea what it has been like to watch Harry and be able to say nothing to him."

"You said something about that earlier. How are you able to watch him?"

"We aren't ghosts like you," James said. "But the living and the dead are never so far apart as to cut off all contact. God isn't that cruel. We just. . . watch. It's very difficult to explain, but I suppose that's the gist of it." He gave a small laugh. "I guess you can call us Harry's guardian angels. Even though we really don't do anything."

"But we saw everything that night," Lily said. "The night you. . . died. Harry was fantastic. We were proud of him. He was never supposed to go through any of this. No one was supposed to. All this time I've just wanted to step in and take care of him and make sure nothing happened to him but. . . I suppose that's what every mother wants for her child, though. But it doesn't work out that way." She paused, her hand scratching at the countertop. "Ron, I'm so glad he has you."

"Had him," Sirius corrected.

"No, has him. We can look in, but we aren't ghosts. We can't be seen, not like you can. You. . . you can still talk to Harry, if you wanted to."

Talk to Harry? The Hermione incident was still too fresh. "Uh-huh. I. . . I don't think I could do that to him?"

James looked bewildered. "Do what?"

Ron shrugged, suddenly unsure. "I don't know. I just don't think Harry would like it very much if I just. . . appeared."

"How do you know?"

Percy, he almost replied. But why would he admit to listening to Percy?

"Maybe we should go," he muttered.

"Of course," Sirius said. "If you plan on figuring anything else about your problem."

Lily nodded, more tears in her eyes. "I wish you the best of luck. Thanks for everything." Again, she threw her arms around him in a hug rivaling his own mum's. "Please. . . just be there for him. And talk to your brother."

James shook his hand, face shining. "I'm really glad to have met you. You were very brave that night. I think you might have even helped save Harry's life."

Ron had to say something back. "Harry still wishes you were around." Stupid.

The Potters just laughed. "That's good to hear," James said.

Somehow, that laugh made the parting easier.

Percy was waiting outside, looking noticeably bored. "Took you long enough," he muttered, shoving something into his pocket. "Some Virgil idiot asked me if I wanted to go to hell with him. So. . . how do we leave here?"

Sirius shook his head, glancing at Ron. "I feel like a bloody chauffer."

Ron laughed. He really would miss Sirius. Again.

Note: Before you freak out that this entire chapter was a wild goose chase… think of Percy's delay and the "shoving something into his pocket."

SHOUT OUTS!!!

Annie: Thanks!

A Little Birdie Told Me: For some reason, your review made me laugh. Don't take that the wrong way.

Crystal Lightning: Brownies! This update is especially for you!

Dr. Huff-Puff: Hmm.. actually, I don't know if Harry will meet Sirius! We'll have to see! And here's the story about killing Ron: I'm a Percy fan, and the original idea was that somehow he'd die and be a ghost and it'd be all angsty. But then I thought… someone else should die as well. And that turned out to be Ron. And then it became more Ron-centric. And as for the original idea of death and ghosts… I blame "Ghost" and "Angels Don't Know!"

Duj: Yeah, it kind of his a filler chapter. But I had to make a bridge somewhere.

From the Silent Planet: Curse those fluffy white clouds! I have nothing against them, but I want me and Lily to be shopping buddies. Glad you approve of my heaven. And curse your lazy muses!

HiddenFlame42: Nice to know I made you laugh. Thanks for your compliment. I just hope I can work all my ideas in properly.

Hi Im Crazy: Well, I couldn't do Sirius and then skip out on the Potters! I actually think it's funny you forgot about them.

Hotdog-Jo: Yup, heaven is a happy place.

Hydrangea777: I thought Sirius and the Potters might just be so excited about seeing Ron, but… I think you're right. =P

Hydraspit: Thanks! And so far now fundies have attacked…

Icy Dragon Claws: Wow… you're a decent person for pitying Ron. I just can't help but think that death is hard for those who die—in that social way. Bilius isn't that scary—he's just nuts.

JelleyBaybee555: Yes, they have to meet all the good people. I couldn't go without Sirius….

Kellalor: Thanks! I guess it can't help being both.

Krenya-alenak: So you picked up on the redemption? I'm glad. And I think I'd also be eating those chocolate streets. Well, Lily and James have a right to be happy, and they do get to watch, and yes, they of course will be reunited with him. Someday. Hopefully not too soon. But that all depends on J. K. Rowling…

Kristen36: Thanks!

Lady Meriadoc: Yup. James is awesome.

Lady Peregrine: Haha! You called them bracelets as well! Maybe I should let that catch on….

Liseli: I PROMISE that the trio will again interact.

LJ Fan: Aww… I'm glad I made you stuck between locations for Ron.

Midnight Dove: You didn't get your name in bold because… you're special!

Mooncheese: Percy's job is to ruin everything. He's a git, but he'll get better. Thanks for your review! Very inspiring!

Muses' Advocate: I've passed on your condolences to Ron. Your lovely review just made me realize that, well, all these people really are dead! I mean, me being the one that caused some of those deaths I of coruse knew, but you know what I mean. Anyway, your review just made my day!

pIPPENpPIRATE: It wouldn't be heaven without shopping.

Pline: That's actually one of the things I find saddest about this story. Harry has never known his parents, Ron has known his own, and yet he's the one that meets Harry's parents. I thought Ron might feel a little bad about it.

rosepetal13: ee!! Tooth pulling!

Starsmiles: Lily and James will play quite a role in this story. =)

Tabitha78: Oh, you're welcome about the mention of God. You know I'm also religious, and it doesn't bother me to let wizards in heaven or deny religion…

Tap Dancing Widow: I LOVE "If the Fates Allow"! It's one of the best fics I've ever read! Agivega is just incredible.

Try Lys: Thanks!

UniCornVampire3z: Lol. So you're not confused anymore?

Vanilla Kiss: Aww…thanks for your review! It was nice to hear that! Made me really feel I'm doing a good job. So you also have a fear of choking?! Me too! Probably why I included it…

v-baby24: I can do the rod n' reel and the brownie, too!