End of the year, viewed from Ron's eyes.

RON X

The last week of Ronald Weasley's third year at Hogwarts could have been better. It could have been worse too. The Dementors were gone, Peter Pettigrew was dead, and as far as Ron was concerned, whether his former rat killed himself or it was Snape who did it, this was good riddance. However, Buckbeak's death weighed on all of them. Ron was frustrated, angry that all his efforts for the appeal proved to have been for naught. He was also miserable for Lupin's departure. All students were. Even in Slytherin, many students regretted their werewolf teacher. Not arranging things, Ron still resented Harry and Hermione for not telling him about Lupin being a werewolf. Still, he kept that buried, for this was nothing when compared to Hagrid's grief over the loss of his hippogriff, or Malfoy bragging about Buckbeak's death and Lupin's resignation. When the time for the feast at the end of the year came, and Ron heard Malfoy laugh about Buckbeak once more, he had enough and discreetly made a candlestick fall on his head. This earned Malfoy a good bump on the head, and although he was furious, the teachers couldn't find out it was Ron who did that. Ron himself was surprised that they didn't find it was him, even more surprised that he succeeded casting the spell to make it fall with success, and far more surprised that Hermione, who seemed to have noticed what he did, didn't show any sign of disapproving his actions. Really, Ron loved this version of Hermione, the one who slapped Malfoy across the face and lost patience with a teacher.

Ron looked in envy at the empty dishes on the large table. Having a candlestick fall on Malfoy proved to be entertaining, but it didn't fill his stomach. He wanted the year to end on a good note. Over the past week, he tried to cheer up his two best friends, Harry and Hermione, encouraging them to come with him to Hogsmeade during their last weekend, suggesting all kinds of activities from flying on Harry's Firebolt to playing chess and Exploding Snap. However, it proved hard, especially at the beginning, though Ron considered he met reasonable success in the end. Both Harry and Hermione were smiling and laughing today as they talked around with people at the Gryffindor table.

"I was so afraid to fail Defence Against the Dark Arts after I failed to face the Boggart," Hermione was saying to Percy. "I wish I had a better score, but still, I'm relieved that I managed to get it."

Ron rolled his eyes. This girl would really never stop. Hermione regularly worried about her results to the final exams, and despite Ron's best attempts to turn her mind towards something else, the topic always came back on the table.

"Too bad that Remus… Professor Lupin is not here today," Harry was saying to Dean, Seamus and Neville.

"Yeah. He should have stayed at least until the banquet," Seamus commented.

"It would have been kind. He was an excellent professor," Neville commented. "Did you have any news from him, Harry?"

"No. I guess he's back at his home," Ron's best friend replied.

"I wonder what they will give us next year. As professor of Defence Against the Dark Arts, I mean," Seamus wondered aloud.

"Maybe a vampire," Dean suggested on a hopeful tone.

Ron caught Harry gazing in a totally different direction from where the others he was speaking to sat. Ron followed his gaze and was barely surprised to see a certain girl at the table of Ravenclaw in Harry's line of sight. He and Harry never discussed it, but to Ron, it was obvious that his best friend had an eye on a Seeker that Ron didn't really appreciate, not after Pettigrew almost got in because of her parents. He decided to shrug it off. It would probably pass. Ron, on his side, although he found some girls pretty, even beautiful, had not set his eyes on one in particular yet. And truth be told, looking at Harry who only had eyes for Cho Chang right now, he wasn't really interested in it.

Someone tugged his leaves. "Hey, Ron. Did you hear me?"

He turned towards Lavender, who was sitting to his right. "Uh? What did you say?"

"Parvati and I have been thinking about organizing something this summer. We're trying to invite as many people as possible. Would you be interested?"

Before Ron could answer, they heard the characteristic tinkling of Professor McGonagall who asked for attention. Ron turned immediately his own attention to Dumbledore, who stood up. This meant that it wouldn't be long before dinner would start.

"And another year is gone," he said with a smile. "Before we fill our stomachs with all this good food that is waiting for us, I wish to say a few words. First, to those who will not come back next year, let me tell you that it is as much with sorrow as with happiness that we see you leaving for new horizons." Ron looked at Percy, not far away, who had a smile on his face he fought to hide, trying but failing to maintain the solemn behavior of Head Boy he thought was appropriate for the circumstance. "I have no doubt that you will leave as much an indelible imprint in the wizarding world as the one you left in this school. For the others, I'm sure that you are as glad as your teachers are that you survived your exams, and that you will come back next year with both empty heads and empty stomachs so we may fill them again."

Talking about food didn't make Ron less hungry, as a few laughter went through the Great Hall.

"Now, the time has come to announce the final ranks of the House Cup. In fourth place, Hufflepuff, with three hundred and sixty-seven points."

Ron joined the polite applauses at the announcement, though it was another one he was waiting for.

"In third place, Ravenclaw, with four hundred and two points."

New applauses followed.

"In second place, Slytherin, with four hundred and twenty-six points."

The only regret Ron had with this was that Slytherin didn't end at the end of the ranking. Only the Slytherins and a few students among other tables applauded, but it was by far the less enthusiastic congratulations on the evening.

"And, in first place, with four hundred and ninety-eight points, for the third consecutive year, Gryffindor!"

The table of Gryffindor began to applaud loudly.

"But…" Dumbledore's thunderous voice silenced them all. For an instant, Ron feared the worst. What was Dumbledore going to say? "For the occasion, a student for who it was the last year at Hogwarts, wished to celebrate another victory. Open the doors, please."

The large heavy wooden doors of the Great Hall, and to Ron's surprise, Oliver Wood stood in the doorway, a large cup in hand. Then he raised and shouted with all the power of his lungs.

"WE WON!"

The table of Gryffindor exploded, and Ron had the distinct impression the tables of Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff exploded as well at this sight. This was the definitive sign that Slytherin's rule was over. They had the House Cup and the Quidditch Cup back in Gryffindor. Percy, in one of his rare moments when he didn't try to behave with what he called dignity, joined Oliver. The two students who just ended their seventh and last year at Hogwarts, the Head Boy and the captain of the Gryffindor Quidditch team, raised the Quidditch Cup high in the air, resulting in a new wave of applauses.

"Very well! Very well!" Dumbledore said after a while. "Now, Mr. Wood, I suggest you bring the Cup out. It wouldn't be fitting for you to hold it while we feast. After all, it will spend the following year in Professor McGonagall's office, and I owe both her and the Cup to not cover it with sauce and chicken fat."

Many people laughed at it, including Oliver, who brought the Quidditch Cup out. Ron realized that the banners of Gryffindor House had appeared everywhere in the Great Hall.

"So, now that the Dementors are no longer here to cut our appetite…" Ron's stomach growled in anticipation. "Let the feast begin!"

And food appeared in all plates on the tables. Ron rushed to seize as many chicken wings as he could. He spoke a lot during that dinner, all about cheerful subjects, and ate even more than he talked. For this evening, the thoughts of Buckbeak, Pettigrew and Dementors were far away. Except for the Dementors, when Fred and George laughed about their departure and how useless they proved over the whole year, like the Ministry of Magic was since the day it was created, under the clearly disapproving look of Percy. Overall, everyone was in very good spirits. Even Parvati, who spent the entire year sulking because Trelawney predicted the worse things for her, looked to have found back her joy, and even discussed at lengths with Harry and Hermione from time to time. It was a little difficult for Ron to talk to her, since Hermione and Harry separated him from her, though it didn't entirely stop Lavender from calling her best friend over Ron's head regularly.

After the feast, they all walked towards their dormitories, Ron having only one wish, to have a very good night of sleep. Once Ron walked into their dormitory though, he realized that Harry wasn't there. He would have sworn though that his best friend was following him behind.

"Where is Harry?" he asked Neville, who was already in the dormitory.

"No idea," he said. "But I think I saw him discussing with Parvati before I came up."

Ron shook his head. That was a mystery to him. Ever since Pettigrew's death, Harry had spent some time with Parvati. And when Ron said some time, it was actually some time alone with Parvati. Their behavior left him totally confused. It wasn't Harry's style to discuss at length with Parvati, and even less Parvati's style to discuss alone with someone else when Lavender wasn't far away.

Ron shook his head again as he put on his pyjama. Harry had told them about the so-called prophecy Trelawney made in Parvati's presence. To Ron, it looked a little too much arranged. After one year of Divination, it was clear that Trelawney was only an impostor, someone who predicted disasters only to impress her public. He tried to talk some sense into Harry, and Hermione did try as well, but Harry wouldn't change his mind. Ron didn't think, anyway, that it was a good thing to encourage Parvati to think that Trelawney's predictions were accurate.

Harry opened the door not long after and proceeded to get dressed for the night as well.

"Don't tell me you discussed Trelawney's supposed prophecies again," Ron said, his voice tired.

"What? No," Harry replied. "In fact, I think she might be starting to not believe everything Trelawney says."

"Really?" Somehow, Ron found it hard to believe.

"In fact, she has a message for you. For all of us, in fact. I think Dean and Seamus are already aware, they were talking with Lavender when I left her. Parvati and Lavender are organizing a group activity early this summer, and they invite us all."

"What kind of group activity?" Neville asked.

"I don't know," Harry confessed. "They say it's a surprise." Ron was relieved to see that Harry seemed a little worried about what kind of surprise it would be.

"As long as this is not a session of Divination, I'm interested," Ron declared.

Neville said that he would need to discuss it with his grandmother first, and the three of them quickly went to bed afterwards. They were all tired. Ron slept peacefully.

Unlike most days, Ron woke up next morning without wishing he had more time to sleep. The Hogwarts Express was leaving soon. The scholar year was over, and he was going back home. He could already hear his father talk about Muggles and smell the fantastic meals only his mother knew how to prepare. And there was something else he was looking forward to during summer.

"It's the Quidditch World Cup in August, guys," he said as he put on his clothes for the day. "You're all going, aren't you?"

"You bet!" Seamus said. "My parents already arranged everything. They even invited Dean. He will be of the trip."

"My mother bought our tickets months ago," Harry said. "My godfather will be there as well."

Ron realized after a moment that someone wasn't answering. "What about you Neville?"

The boy very timidly answered. "My grandmother didn't buy us tickets. She says it's too costly."

"WHAT?!"

A concert of protestation against Neville's grandmother erupted. "It's not her fault!" Neville said. "We don't have much money. And she prefers to spend it on more important things."

"What is more important than assisting to the World Cup?" Seamus asked. On that, all boys in the dormitory agreed.

"My father can always get tickets, and we are… Well, we're not very rich," Ron said, not wanting to call his family poor. "And I have five brothers and one sister. You're alone with your grandmother. It must not cost that much."

They spent the next few minutes trying to figure a way for Neville to attend the World Cup, although Neville protested it was not necessary. Still, he was obviously flattered that everyone in the dormitory wanted him to attend the event, and Ron could tell that he wanted to come. He thought about asking his father to find a solution. Even if Neville's grandmother didn't want to pay tickets, she would probably not oppose that her grandson go there for free.

The ambiance during breakfast was cheery. Everyone talked about the summer holidays that were beginning. And of course, Ron didn't miss that he wasn't the only one to be excited about the Quidditch World Cup. When he told Hermione that he would make sure his father would find a ticket for her in August, she looked quite happy. Even she couldn't deny that this was the most important event in the world.

The three of them went to pay one last quick visit to Hagrid before they left. He seemed to be in a somewhat better shape, although they all avoided talking about Buckbeak. This was probably for the best. At eleven o'clock, the three of them were sitting in their compartment of the Hogwarts Express when it left the Hogsmeade station. Percy was in the compartment for prefects, enjoying the last time he would act as Head Boy, while Fred, George and Ginny had taken their own compartment. Ron turned to Hermione not long after the train began moving and the castle was slowly receding in the background from their window.

"Not too disappointed that the year is already over?" he asked Hermione, taking another opportunity to tease her.

"In fact, I'm relieved it's over," she declared to both his and Harry's surprise. "I think the next year will be much better. And I abandoned Muggle Studies."

"WHAT!?" they both said in unison. Hermione had a little smirk as she watched their reactions.

"What? Don't be so surprised. Did you really believe that I was going to go through another year like this one?"

Ron did. Hermione was definitely full of surprises this year. What was going on with her? In this instant, Ron was admiring her more than ever.

"Well, that's a good thing. All these subjects would have killed you in the end," he commented.

"Of course not," Hermione protested. "I just decided to focus on what was really important. Anyway, I'm a Muggle, and I think that one year studying it gave me more than enough about the wizards' views on them."

Ron rolled his eyes. She would never concede to being wrong or making a mistake easily, and she would certainly never recognize that she put up too much on her shoulders this year. Really, she even managed to…

"But, Hermione, how did you manage to attend all your classes over the year? Really? Sometimes, you had three courses at the same hour, and yet you succeeded in attending all of them."

"Ron, I already told you. I arranged everything with McGonagall," she stated.

"But how? Did she create a double of yourself?"

"Of course not. That's ridiculous!"

"As ridiculous as someone being present in two classes at the same time?"

"We cannot be present in two classes at the same time."

"And yet, you were. You were in Care of Magical Creatures with us, and at the same time, Ernie Macmillan was seeing you in Muggle Studies, sitting next to Susan Bones. How could you be trying to take care of a Flobberworm near Hagrid's hut and listening to Professor Burbage at the same time?"

"I wasn't, Ron."

"Then why did people keep seeing you in two or three different places at the same time. And why did you keep disappearing? Sometimes, you were next to us, and an instant later, you were nowhere to be found." Ron began to be fed up. This was a mystery that gnawed at him for the whole year.

"Okay, Ron. I know this sounds strange." Hermione exhaled deeply. "Well, I promised Professor McGonagall to say nothing, but since I gave it back to her… I had a Time-Turner."

"A what?" Harry and Ron asked at the same time.

"A Time-Turner. It is a small object that allowed me to go back in time for a few hours at a time. That's how I managed to get to all my classes through the year."

Ron was stunned for a moment. Of all the people, he never imagined Hermione talking about something as weird as travelling through time.

"Wait, you could travel through time?" Harry asked, obviously uncertain.

"Yes. But only a few hours at a time. Most of the time, I used it to roll back an entire hour. So I could attend Divination, then once the class was over, I travelled one hour back in time to attend Arithmancy. But it was driving me crazy at the end of the year. Without Divination and Muggle Studies, I won't need it anymore."

Ron was still stunned. Hermione really spent the entire year going back in time? She looked very serious.

"You never used it for anything else than your classes?" Harry asked.

"No. McGonagall made it very clear at the beginning of the year when she gave it to me. She had to write lots of letters to people in the Ministry to get me one. She assured them that I would only use it for my studies."

"Why didn't you tell us?" Ron asked her. "We're your friends."

"Because I promised to tell nobody. But now, I gave it back, so I guess it's not that bad if I tell you. I'll have a normal schedule next year."

Ron let a roar out of his mouth. "Did you two spend the entire year hiding things from me?" he accused both his friends.

"Harry wasn't aware of the Time-Turner," Hermione objected.

"Yeah, I just learned about its existence, same as you, Ron," Harry assured.

"But you hid from me that Lupin was a werewolf. Both of you," Ron complained.

"I promised McGonagall to tell no one," Hermione said.

"And I didn't know that Remus was a werewolf until later this year," Harry pointed out.

"You could have told me all the same when you learned the truth, instead of chatting about it between yourselves. You didn't mind telling Hermione about it," he told his best friend.

"Only because she already knew," Harry pointed out. "And we're not the only ones who hid it. All the professors knew, even Snape, and they never said anything. Even Susan was aware from the very beginning, and she never told anybody."

"But I'm your friend," Ron protested.

He didn't like being left out of secrets and important things. Ron's view of Remus Lupin didn't change much after he learned the truth. He had quite an episode of anger at Hermione when she told him that she knew he was a werewolf, which he tempered afterwards because of Buckbeak's funerals, but he still blamed her and Harry for not telling him before the whole school found out.

"And we all know what happened when Susan told her best friend about Professor Lupin's condition," Hermione pointed out.

"Well, in fact, she didn't…" Harry began, but Ron interrupted him.

"So you believe that I would have revealed the truth to anybody like Hannah did?" Ron asked, roaring, unbelieving.

For a long time afterwards, he and Hermione bickered. Harry left the compartment at one point, and they were alone to complain about each other's behavior.

"So you don't trust me?" Ron was asking her quite loudly after quite some time.

"Of course, I trust you, Ron," Hermione protested quite loudly as well. "But look at Susan. She just let the information drop by mistake when she thought nobody was listening to her. If she made that mistake, Ron, you could have…"

"So you trust me even less than a girl in Hufflepuff?" Ron asked, totally bewildered.

"What problem so you have with Hufflepuff or with girls?"

The door of the compartment opened at this moment. Ron and Hermione stopped their dispute at this very moment to look at two identical smiling faces.

"Don't stop for us," Fred said.

"This is very entertaining. We can hear you from the other side of the wagon," George added.

Ron was stunned, unable to speak. Did everyone in the wagon really hear them? He looked at Hermione who looked as embarrassed as he was, their dispute forgotten all of a sudden.

"But we think that you should go to the compartment where Ginny is, Hermione. Harry came to seek refuge there when you both started shouting, and Ginny was alone with us. This means that she is alone with Harry right now."

Hermione rolled her eyes, and pushed away the twins to head out, to their great amusement. Fred and George then walked in, closed the door behind and comfortably settled on the couches.

"Do you want to kill Ginny?" Ron asked them, easily imagining Ginny dying out of shame as she was alone with Harry and unable to utter a single word.

"Oh, no. Just laugh at her a little while we imagine her talking alone with Harry," Fred declared.

"At least, there's nothing to spill or topple in the train," George said.

"Too bad," his twin brother replied.

As a result, Ron spent the rest of the trip with Fred and George. Finally, after a moment, when the two were done laughing at their little brother, the journey proved funny.

When they arrived at King's Cross, Ron found Harry and Hermione once he was out of the train. Harry was with his godfather, Sirius Black. Ron thought about thanking him for getting him rid of Scabbers. He felt much better now that he was both gone and dead, but he seemed too much engaged in a discussion with Harry about his mother who started her final examinations to become an Auror. Apparently, that was the reason why she wasn't there.

He went to see Hermione and was glad that she seemed to have forgotten about their dispute. She stood with Ginny not far away. Ron found his mother not long after, who hugged them tightly turn by turn, before they all ran through the barrier that gave on the Muggle world.

"Have a good summer, Ron. We see each other next Friday," Harry told him before they got separated.

"What?" What was he talking about?

"Oh, you missed that," Hermione said. "Hannah came to see us while you were somewhere else. Apparently, she's organizing the group event this summer with Parvati and Lavender. And it is next Friday?"

"Oh yeah? What is it?" Ron asked.

"You'll never guess," Ginny told him, a smile on her lips.

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Next chapter: Lily