Disclaimer: I'm a little fish in an ocean that belongs to JK Rowling!
School! An unloving, homework-giving, nothing-to-do-around-school, School! At least I got my best friends from school in my homeroom! Yay! I must admit sometimes school is okay and my friends are great but I would enjoy my school a whole lot better if it were Hogwarts! Ah every Harry Potter fan's craziest dream. Well at least it's mine. To be at Hogwarts would've been awesome! I know I sound crazy but I guess I'm such a drifter at times lol.
ANYWHO...to the usual thank you's. You all know I adore you all for the fab reviews!
Chrismukkah-hunnie: Lol I'm pleased you feel so honored by me (plain old me!) mentioning you! No I missed the game against Russia but I heard we won which is awesome! (We are the champions...we are the champions...) lol but I shouldn't jinx us. God forbid that! Hmm.I think I've heard of Chrismukkah somewhere before...I'm not sure but I think it's from the OC; I dunno if you watch that... anyway thanks for reviewing also!
QueEnfullofDrama: Thank you as always! I regret telling you Seamus cannot always be covered in lemon meringue though I'm sure everyone wishes so. Hey you know what's scary when you first reviewed I kept having to go back to check from your pen-name for which letters to capitalize but for this chapter I did it on my own! I think I'm getting used to typing it! He he!
Kris: I'm very glad to see you like the story and you didn't let my Harry/Luna pairing stop you. I sometimes like fanfictions that are out there. Aren't I just a queerbo...and thanks for reviewing!
fredngeorgegirl: Thank you Thank you!
Mijy: It even pains me that Hermione's with Seamus but I'm glad you trust me on this one because I don't want to disappoint anybody. Thanks for your review!
BuckNC: Yeah I quite agree with that. Food fights are always hilarious and I can vouch for that since I've been in quite a few myself. Thanks once again for reviewing!
blahblah: Thanks for the compliment on my writing. It's one thing to get it from teachers and other older people but from someone totally anonymous its really flattering lol. I'm happy the first sentence had such an impression on you. I'm glad you enjoyed the mischief! Thanks for the review and thanks also for saying I deserve more!
lindsey-31: Your welcome! It was my pleasure! I really did love writing this chapter. I thought it might've been hard but it wasn't at all. School hasn't been that bad but I'm happy to see your cool with me maybe not updating as quicker! Although I hope it doesn't come to that. Thanks for the review of course! Take care!
Silver Ice: Yes Becky is gone...for now starts laughing like a maniac I'm not saying if I'm joking or if I'm dead serious about this because it would give pieces of plot away! Lol...Yes Hermione running to Ron was quite the highlight! I was planning on someone getting hit by pie and then I thought "Whom better than Seamus?" I'm glad you liked it! Thanks!
Brooke Monica: I'm glad you think its funny! Thanks for the encouragement!
bethzc: I'm happy to say I loved the last line too! I'm happy you liked it! I hope you enjoy this chappie!
I'm happy you all liked the last chappie! It was fun to write because I, myself, have caused quite a lot of mischief. Just ask my mom as she's gotten a large blow of it since I once put make up on her large mirror. But we don't talk about that...I was only five I'll have you know. Or maybe you should ask my dad who has had to go up and down an escalator for a large part of the day since I kept dropping money and credit cards off our apartment balcony. Of course I have never done it since partly because my dad threatened to take away my dollies (this is where you all gasp!) and partly because we don't live in an apartment anymore. The list goes on...but between you and me I admit I quite like being a trickster!
If you've read this far into my notes...well I'm surprised but good for you! Now to the story!...(and beyond!)...
DAILY PROPHET PUTS RUMORS TO REST
Editor: Hermione Granger
As early as last night I, the Prophet's Editor in Chief,
Hermione Granger, had sought out the
Writer of a recently published article claiming
That Harry Potter, Luna Lovegood,
And the Weasleys are only to be critized for
Deceiving us all. The writer per say
Was none other than Pansy Parkinson, ex-Assistant
Editor, who had infact, obtained her information
By manipulating all and invading a staff member's
Privacy. Worst yet is that most of the information
Printed in the article was mostly false therefore the Prophet
Turned not into a newspaper but a bunch of tabloids.
A reporter of ours was heard saying, "It is not my desire to have the
Most accomplished newspaper in the world turn into another Quibbler."
I must take the time to say we have not anything
Against the Quibbler but hope it is taken as a figure
Of speech. I wish to inform you that even though
The Mr. Potter and Miss Lovegood are engaged
They did not intend to hide it from us all. They are, however, not needed
To tell us seeing as most of us are not their family, friends
Or have any connection to them. As for the Weasley Story,
I believe it appropriate to say that anyone who has
Met the Weasleys will know that they are perfectly
Happy living in the Burrow which to most of them, a childhood home.
We do not wish to reveal any of the Weasleys financial status
As it is not our business but I can comment that if they had indeed
Wished to buy their parents a new home, they most certainly could've
Afforded it. I, on behalf of everyone at the Prophet, apologize to anyone
Who felt offended or upset by the two articles mistakenly published.
We deeply regret our decision in hiring a witch as incompetent
As Miss Parkinson, who is now working at the Daily Gazette in Scotland.
The Daily Prophet will most certainly not be missing her.
Ron knew everyone would be pleased to see the article Hermione had promised them publish so quickly. He, himself, was mighty glad the whole ordeal was behind them. No more worries about what would happen if he ever took Hermione home for dinner.
"Weasley!"
Ron practically jumped out of his skin in shock. Dolferth Croaker, the head of the Department of Mysteries and Ron's boss was standing extremely close to his left ear and had just shouted in it. Ron's ear was ringing in pain...
He had no idea why Croaker did it but every time Ron would be peacefully sitting in his office he would come in and shout in his damn ear to get his attention. Ron would've gotten used to it if he weren't so positive that it was impossible to. I mean even if it happened to you everyday wouldn't you be terribly shocked if someone screeched in your ear?
"Did you want something, sir?" Ron said grumbling and trying to keep his voice polite at the same time. He knew there was no point to ask. After Croaker shouting in his ear a million times and him asking, "Did you want something, sir?" all he ever got in response was, "Just wanted to make sure you were on alert." For goodness sakes what did he think Ron was, an Auror?
"Well actually today I have a job for you Weasley" Croaker replied causing Ron to be even more shocked then when he'd yelled in his ear. He was still one of the youngest Unspeakables and almost never had a task. To think of all those rooms in the Department of Mysteries he'd seen in fifth year...and he'd been to hardly any of them.
"What is it, sir?" Ron questioned trying to keep the excitement in his voice to a minimum.
"I want you to reorganize some vials-Ron could feel his heart drop-in the Destiny Chamber. Particularly the Soul Mate Area. That oaf, Wayne Hopkins, knocked the shelf they're stored in to the ground while wrestling-oh never mind, just get the reorganizing done by tonight" Croaker finished and, with a slightly severe look at Ron, left.
Ron sighed. One of his first tasks in a long while and what was it? Reorganizing. Could his life be any duller? Sometimes he regretted choosing the Department of Mysteries anyways. Maybe he should've become an Auror. From the way Harry made it sound it was quite something. More action than here at least. But what attracted him to become an Unspeakable he would never know. Perhaps it was the night he'd come here as a teenager. Being naturally curious (some called it nosy) he had had the urge to sneak around the place all night with its strange artifacts, mysterious doors and hidden secrets. It was as if all the answers to life had been held together in one place and Ron wanted to know exactly what they were. Of course Ron knew that night he couldn't have a look around because Harry would've gone berserk. Finally he had come here and for three years none of his questions had been answered.
He had reached the circular room and remembered a time when he and his friends had rampaged there. The doors began to spin but Ron knew which one he'd have to go into. Each Unspeakable was taught an ancient scripture and each doorknob had the name of its room written on it. Ron took a door to the right and found himself amongst the Destiny Chamber. The room was entirely black except for a bunch of planets that roamed the 'sky'. In fifth year when Ginny, Luna and himself had run in the wrong direction and ended up here it had seemed so ethereal and cool. Now it just seemed eerie. Ron knew that an aging Centaur was kept in here to watch the movement of the planets to help predict the outcomes of people's lives. Of course no one ever saw him. Ron guessed he must've stayed in the shadows and the only person to see his face was Croaker. Ron could feel himself shiver as he realized the Centaur could probably see him now.
Ron ducked as Mars passed overhead and made his way over to a door that was almost invisible to the naked eye because it blended so well into the dark room. As he opened it a stream of light sailed into the room giving it an even creepier feeling because it was as if the light didn't reach past the door. It was too scared and stopped right at the doorway.
He wasted no time in shutting the door behind him and finally reached the Soul Mate Area. He knew that whenever a new witch or wizard was born Ministry Officials always took an 'essence of their soul' and kept it stored in this room to wait until the soul that was it's other half to arrive. Once the second half arrived the two souls instantly mingled together to form a new sort of misty liquid. A perfume if you will. Ron had no idea how you would take the 'essence of someone's soul' but he suspected that Luna could lecture him on it. He fleetingly remembered him telling her he and Hermione were soul mates. Well there were soul mates so why not him and Hermione...
Wait. Whatever Luna said about soul mates was rubbish. She'd never even been in this room before.
The Soul Mate Area was full to the brim with vials of the soul essence. They came in five colors, gold, which indicated soul mates that had gotten together and were happily off, silver, which indicated a soul's other half had arrived and they two were intermingled, bronze, for the ones who still hadn't found their second half, gray, when a soul was either with the wrong person or alone yet without their soul mate, and black those who had died without their soul mate at their side.
Usually the vials were neatly stacked on the shelves but obviously Hopkins had done a tremendous job on knocking them over since most of them were on the ground, all five colors jumbled together. One of the shelves had been knocked over too and Ron tiredly went to pick it up.
"Well, time to 'reorganize.' Perhaps next I'll do a little laundry and dishes and while I'm at it become a housewife" Ron sighed loudly. He was trying to make the situation funny but he had to face it. It was just boring. He picked up a silver vial with the name Eddie Carmichael written on it. He placed it on the second shelf and started towards a black vial with the name Victoria Frobisher placed on it. Ron stared at it grimly. Poor girl died without ever getting hooked with her soul mate.
'That could just as easily be you' Ron thought and cringed. He was no nearer to meeting his soul mate than he had when he'd been born.
Ron tried to push that happy thought to the back of his mind and concentrate on the vials. He picked up another black one. This one said Sirius Black. He let his finger trace the name. He'd always liked Sirius, thought he was a rather fun bloke. It was almost a shock to see the vial of him here. It was still a surprise to think that such an alive person had passed on. Died without love...how could anyone say that about Sirius? So many of them had loved him and grieved at his funeral. Ron remembered it was the first time he'd ever cried since he was five and Fred and George turned his teddy bear into a spider. But he guessed that sometimes life was unfair even to the good people.
To cheer himself up a bit he chose to pick up a golden vial this one said George Weasley. He smiled gently to himself. He would definitely have to ask his brother about that.
It took Ron most of his workday to sort though all the fallen vials. Finally all that was left were four gray ones. He picked up the first of them and was shocked to see Seamus Finnigan on it. Seamus was with the wrong person? Now that was a thinker. Ron's mind started to work fast. If Seamus wasn't meant to be with Hermione than why was Ron helping him propose to her?
Ron quickly grabbed up another vial, Neville Longbottom. Neville? It was interesting but not the name he wanted to see right now. At last the final two vials read out Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger. He felt a surge of happiness burst through him. Maybe, just maybe, he and Hermione were soul mates? Of course it could all be some big coincidence and they both could have different soul mates among the hundreds of other grays but one thing still remained the same. Hermione and Seamus were most definitely not soul mates. Ron laughed to himself thinking that he would've saved himself a lot of time if he had only taken heed to Luna.
This was final then, not that he had a problem with Seamus, but he just couldn't help him get Hermione if they were not meant to be.
He'd done it. Well he hadn't done it. But he'd done something else that he could not say he was proud of. He knew he had promised himself to abandon helping Seamus. He knew he had promised himself to tell Hermione the truth. He also knew that he shouldn't have helped Seamus buy the final engagement ring for the big proposal.
Ron couldn't have helped it if he tried. It was a beautiful, classy, ring. Exactly what Hermione would've dreamed of. A thin silver ring with a large diamond with little clusters of smaller diamonds around it. He would've loved to give it to her but now thanks to his big mouth he couldn't.
Seamus had called an hour after he had gotten back from work and had practically begged Ron to aid him in the ring search. Ron was very hesitant to agree but in the end decided they possibly couldn't find the perfect ring today could they? After all they hadn't been searching very long. But there it was. In Rina and Row's. Beautifully set on top of a velvet cushion. He was appalled at himself for not noticing it before. It was so perfect for her and he had clumsily told Seamus so.
Taking Ron's word for it Seamus had bought it without a second thought and now here he was. Moping. Moping because Hermione would end up with the perfect ring and he wasn't the one giving it to her.
Now he would be worried. Worried every time they went out. Seamus could ask her whenever he wanted to and there was nothing Ron could do to stop him. He couldn't constantly watch them. He'd just have to die alone is all. He pictured a young Unspeakable sorting through the vials one day and finding a black one with the name Ron Weasley. It was an all too vivid image so he quickly decided to drown it out at the Leaky Cauldron with a couple of drinks and good-looking witches. Maybe Gina would be there as well.
The Leaky Cauldron was dank and dodgy at night. A replica of the Hog's Head in London. You were sure to pick up on good folks but also suspicious characters. Tonight it was extra busy and the magical community was mostly drunk or in the process of it.
Harry and Lee Jordan had to drag Ron out of the Leaky Cauldron with him kicking and screaming all the way.
"We don't want you to make a mistake by sleeping with some witch!" Harry shouted angrily partially because Ron had attempted to bite him.
"Don't you understand! I've already made the biggest mistake of my life!" Ron retorted giving a hard fight, "I let Hermione go! Oh she's got these pretty eyes you know? They're all nice and brown like mud! And I l-l-love her!"
Ron hiccuped and started to weep. Hard. Harry looked up at Lee Jordan seriously.
"You go on" Harry said softly, "I'll make sure he gets home alright."
Lee shot Harry a doubtful look but only nodded and staggered back off into the pub.
"I guess I'll have to tell my girlfriend your not giving her that autograph today" Lee mumbled absentmindedly.
"Ron" Harry sighed grabbing Ron's arm and pulling it over his own shoulder and limply dragging him along beside him, "You either have to tell Hermione how you feel or get over her. You can't just drown out your feelings!"
Ron looked at him feebly, "Why not?"
"What?" Harry said staring at him blankly, "Just because you can't!"
Ron kept staring at Harry, "Why not?"
"Its not the way people function. It's not the way they get over things" Harry responded.
"Why not?"
"'Cause they know it isn't healthy"
"Why not?"
"It just isn't! Stop asking me so many questions!" Harry growled growing frustrated, "And when did you get so philosophic anyway with all your 'why nots.'
"Why not?" Ron repeated.
"Wait have you just been repeating the same thing for the past few minutes because you don't know what I'm talking about?" Harry spat.
Ron giggled and nodded.
"Ron!" Harry exclaimed, "What is wrong with you these a days. You've become such a low life. Sleeping with all these witches, drinking way too much, and god knows what else! What have you got to say for yourself?"
"Your eyes light up when you're mad. Like green baubles! Your eyes look very pretty when your mad too" Ron said causing himself to go into a fit of giggles. Harry watched him and almost understood what Hermione meant in seventh year when she said that he and Ron were immature. He would've rolled his eyes at this moment if he hadn't thought it would be pulling too much of a Hermione.
Ron looked up at Harry and kept giggling. In between fits of laughter he would utter the words, Pretty eyes or Green Jewels.
Harry eyed him nervously, "We better get you home quick before you try to sleep with me."
Author's Note: Phew! Done! Well school's started and I'm not that far behind on updating. I'm sorry if it seemed long to some! I hope you liked this chapter. It was more on Ron's work life.
There's something I know I should tell you all but I might not have to so no use in worrying you all now! Hehe! I just hope I am FAST. So hope you see you reading this story again next chapter!