A/N: Sorry this isn't that long, but I am blowing off so much to write just this chapter, so it will have to do. I'll try to write more later this week, but no promises. Anyway, I miss answering my reviewers' questions, so if anyone has any questions, comments, or criticism, leave your e-mail address in your review and I will get back to you ASAP. Enjoy the chapter!

CH23: Responsibilities

Previous Chapter: Harry cut him off. "Draco?"

"Yes?"

"I'm sorry to have to ask you this again, but ... Do you want to break in to one of he most powerful men in the world's office or do you want to get this book legally?"

Draco smirked. "I'm a Slytherin. Do you really have to ask?"

"Harry – " Sirius began, but Draco interrupted him.

"How do you want to do this?"

Harry bit his lip and thought. It was a risky move, but it just might work. He smiled and pointed his wand at his throat, magnifying his voice to be heard throughout the entire school.

"Would Mr. Ronald Weasley please report to the Headmasters office?" he announce. "Mr. Ronald Weasley report to the Headmaster's office. Thank you."

"You can't do this, Harry," Dumbledore explained calmly.

Harry returned his voice to normal. "Watch me."

Draco frowned. "Why do we need Weasley?"

"Because he can afford to have his cover blown. Severus can't."

Several light bulbs clicked on over the heads of some of the room's occupants. "Do you think that is wise?" Severus asked quietly.

"Think what is wise?" Mrs. Weasley asked, bewildered.

"It's not up to what I think," he responded. "It's his decision if he wants to help or not."

"Help with what?" she asked again.

"He will," said Draco gloomily.

"Will someone please tell me what is going on?!?" she finally exploded.

"Mum?" Ron had arrived.

"Ronald," she turned to her son. "Why would they need your help to steal something from the Dark Lord?" Ron looked vaguely ashamed.

Harry's eyes widened. "She doesn't know?" He turned to Dumbledore. "You didn't tell her?!?"

"Tell me what?" She looked afraid to ask.

"I – " Ron gazed at the floor. "You've got to understand. I was angry, Mum! When Harry left, I finally got all the attention that I had always wanted. And then they found him innocent and no one paid attention to be anymore. I just wanted to be noticed, so I ... "

Harry felt bile rising in his throat. Ron, his ex-best friend Ron, had joined Voldemort because he felt neglected, because he, Harry, had always stolen the spotlight.

'It's my fault Ron became a Death Eater,' he thought despondently. He didn't even realize he had called Ron by his first name.

After several minutes of silence, Draco became fed up. "Oh, honestly, what he is trying miserably to say is that he took the Dark Mark." There was a collective gasp that indicated that Mrs. Weasley wasn't the only one who didn't know.

"Draco," Harry said between clenched teeth. Draco shot him a weird look.

"Ron, is this ... is this true?" Mr. Weasley asked, taking his place next to his wife. He nodded fearfully and Mrs. Weasley collapsed sobbing on her husband's shoulder. For the first time, Harry noticed that Bill, Charlie, and Percy were all sitting at the back of the room, stricken looks on their faces.

Eventually, Mrs. Weasley's deep shuddering sobs slowed down and she looked up, glaring. Only, she wasn't glaring at Ron; she was glaring at Dumbledore.

"How could you not tell me?" she shouted in his face. "He is my son!" She turned accusingly at the room. "Who else knew?"

Reluctant at facing the wrath of Mrs. Weasley, Harry raised his hand, along with Draco, Sirius, Remus, Severus, and Minerva.

As Mrs. Weasley puffed up to yell again, Ron stepped forward. "I'm – " He took a deep breath. "I am so sorry, Mum."

"Oh, baby," she pulled him into a hug. "It's alright. I still love you."

Harry felt a pang in his chest and had to turn away. He didn't notice the Headmaster's blue eyes watching him sadly.

"You should have kept your mouth shut, Im," Harry said quietly, very much aware of the crowd in the room watching them. Ron sat with his family in the other end of the room, having a soft conversation themselves.

Draco looked puzzled. "What?"

"You should have let Ron tell his mother what he did himself."

"What do you care? And since when is he Ron again?"

"That's not the point."

"Oh Merlin." Dawning appeared in his eyes. "You feel responsible!" Harry didn't respond. "Deni, it's not you fault."

"Fine, it's not my fault," he mocked bitterly. "Just like it is not my fault that Cedric is dead, or my parents!"

"Deni." He put a hand on his friend's shoulder. "I know you have a tendency to take the weight of the world on your shoulders, but this – is – not – your – fault. Weasley made his own choices, you had nothing to do with it, understand?"

"Yeah," he took a deep breath and smiled at his friend. "You're right."

"Of course. I am always right." He shined his fingernails on his shirt arrogantly. Harry laughed.

"Thanks, Im."

"Anytime."