Once again, I'm writing this at 3 in the morning. Sorry if it's not that good, and it's somewhat a long chapter too. The next chapters will be more exciting. I'll write more if I get more reviews. And I'm sorry if it takes a while to get chapters up, but I have a life, and I'm prone to writer's block a lot of the time. Well, enjoy.
Chapter 3: The Special Detention
"Goody gumdrops," Snape stated to the statue with a pained expression on his face. Ron would've laughed at the fact that Snape looked appalled that he had just said that, but he was about to be expelled from Hogwarts. He couldn't find much humor in anything.
The statue jumped aside, and a revolving spiral staircase started to move upwards from the ground. Snape made a movement like he was going to grab Ron and push him onto the stairs, but looked revolted at the idea of touching him. He gave Ron a sharp look and Ron stepped onto the staircase. At last it stopped moving, and Ron and Professor Snape climbed up the last couple of stairs to the door of Dumbledore's office. Ron felt strongly like he was going to throw up, and severely hoped that he would do it on Snape.
Snape rapped sharply on the door, and heard the scraping of a chair from inside. The door opened and Ron was staring up at the smiling face of Albus Dumbledore.
"Mr. Weasley, Severus – quite a surprise. Come in and sit, please," Dumbledore said amiably and he turned around and made his way to a large comfy looking chair behind his desk. He conjured two other chairs in front of his desk, and Ron practically collapsed into one. He felt so afraid, he was sure his knees were about to give way from under him. Dumbledore glanced at Ron with a flash of worry and then flicked his eyes over to Snape.
"Forgive me headmaster, but I would rather stand," Snape said, his mouth set in a grim line. Dumbledore gave a small nod, and brought his hands together in a clap and then placed them folded on his desk as he leaned forward to Ron.
"Are you alright Ron? You look as though you're about to be sick, and I would hate for it to happen all over my desk," Dumbledore stared at Ron, his blue eyes twinkling in concern. Ron opened his mouth, but no noise came out. He was so scared; he could not trust himself to speak. Dumbledore raised his wand and conjured a pail next to Ron on the desk. Ron nodded gratefully.
"Do not show him pity, headmaster," Snape spoke in a low venomous tone. He glared at Ron and Ron shifted his gaze to the carpet.
"And why not Severus? Had it been you who looked like this, I would've conjured you a pail," Dumbledore said, twiddling his thumbs idly.
"Mr. Weasley has shown me the most disrespect ever by any student in all my teaching here," Snape breathed in deeply, "Never since my own school days when James Potter was still at school have I ever experienced such anger and indignation in being insulted as Mr. Weasley has just done, "Snape's eyes bulged as he looked at Dumbledore, "And he also attacked a fellow student," he finished, almost as an afterthought. Dumbledore nodded faintly.
"I see… and tell me Severus, what exactly happened?" Dumbledore asked, stroking his silvery beard.
"Well sir," Snape began with an air of importance, "I had to pull Mr. Weasley off of Draco Malfoy, as he interrupted my potions lesson. I began to lecture him on his behavior, and he snapped back at me in a rude manner. I threatened to send him to Professor McGonagall…" Snape trailed off, as he glared at Ron again, his nose upturned as if he smelled something foul.
"Please, go on," Dumbledore urged, his face passive.
"Then Mr. Weasley decided to inform me that everyone in the school hates me, headmaster, and went on to tell me that he thinks I should burn in hell," Snape spat, malice dripping off his voice.
Ron felt his face burn and he knew his ears were turning the same vivid red as his hair at the moment. He was sure Dumbledore was ashamed of him. Dumbledore turned to Ron and Ron felt compelled to look up.
"Is this true?" he asked simply, his voice clear of accusation. Ron nodded slowly. "But I'm sure that you have your own version of events to tell me," Dumbledore said expectantly. Ron nodded vigorously. "Very well, Mr. Weasley, it is your turn to relay the events onto my old brain."
Ron shot a nervous glance at Snape who was shooting daggers through his eyes at Ron. Ron tried to start, but his voice had escaped him again. Dumbledore suddenly turned to Snape.
"I'm sorry Severus, but it seems as though we'll never hear what Mr. Weasley has to say unless you leave us." Snape looked shocked.
"Headmaster, please, I would like to remain and tell you what really happened -," Dumbledore cut him off.
"You have already told me. Events seem different to certain people, I'm sure there are different aspects of the story that you both missed. I would better understand if I heard it from both sides. But I will never hear what Ron has to say if you remain here. He seems to be fearful under the unfriendly looks you keep giving him," Dumbledore said with a slight smile.
"I have your word headmaster, that Mr. Weasley will be punished as fit?" Snape's eyes were dark as night, and the look on his face was mutinous. Ron knew if he somehow managed to escape this with anything less than expulsion, the potions master would go mad. Dumbledore nodded simply. Snape scowled and without another word swept across the room and exited through the door slamming it shut behind him.
"Well then Ron, I'd like to hear your version of the events now," Dumbledore said kindly.
Ron launched into his explanation of how Malfoy insulted his family and Hermione, and stole his wand, and how that led to Ron jumping on him, and how that led Snape berating Ron's lack of manners, and how that led Ron to believe that he refused to punish Malfoy and would rather torture Ron out of pleasure, and how that led to Ron snapping and telling Snape to burn in hell.
Ron had said this all without stopping and seemed to be very out of the breath by the end of his story. Dumbledore who had been staring at him attentively throughout this account, stared at him thoughtfully for a moment, and then leaned back in his chair.
Ron looked around the room at some of the whirring silver instruments and at the beautiful red and gold phoenix Fawkes, resting with his head under his wing. Dumbledore cleared his throat and Ron jumped and stared at the old wizard.
"If you don't mind me saying Mr. Weasley… Mr. Malfoy has teased you and your friends many times in the past, saying much of the same things that he said to you today… why, this time, did you choose to give him a bloody nose, rather than ignore it as always?" Dumbledore's expression was one of pure curiosity. Ron sat there for a moment, thinking. Every excuse he came up with sounded stupid in his head, perhaps he didn't even know the reason why he did it.
"I- I'm not quite sure Professor," Ron said shakily, "I s- suppose I just snapped this time," Ron hung his head. There was no way that brilliant explanation was going to get him off expulsion. Dumbledore raised his eyebrows in almost amusement.
"Harry or Hermione did not try to stop you? Where were they in all this?" Ron shifted uncomfortably in his seat.
"Well sir, me and Hermione got into an argument, which led to me and Harry getting into an argument… and I haven't spoken to either of them in weeks," Ron finished, feeling as though his stomach was trying to escape through his mouth.
"Ah," said Dumbledore, comprehension dawning on his features. "Now I see… well Mr. Weasley, you know that you were wrong in your actions," Dumbledore said sternly. "Despite popular beliefs, Professor Snape doesn't deserve to burn in hell," Ron thought he saw a glimmer of a smile, but it faded quickly. "We do strange things when we feel alone in this world. I expect life has been a tad bit harder now that you no longer have Hermione or Harry to talk to." Ron shrugged and turned away. He didn't really want to talk about his traitorous friends at the moment. Dumbledore got up from the chair and strode around the room, and went over to stroke Fawkes' gorgeous plumage.
"Ron, you know at the state of things… it is not wise to stray far from our friends who trust us and care about us," he said gravely, facing Fawkes rather than Ron. Ron knew he was talking about the return of Voldemort.
"Yes, I do," Ron whispered, not sure of where this was going.
"It is more important now than ever to remain with those who love us… now that everyone believes Harry and I… about the Dark Lords' return... we must all remain united against the enemy, and refuse the dark feelings of jealousy, hate, and anger that destroy the relationships that matter most," Dumbledore turned around and stared into Ron's eyes. Dumbledore's gaze was steely and severe, and Ron felt the urge to run, hide, do anything to get out of the way of his stare.
"I understand sir, I do," Ron began, even though he wasn't sure he understood at all, "But with all due respect, what does this have to do with telling Professor Snape to go to hell?" Ron just didn't understand what Dumbledore was getting at. Maybe the headmaster really was starting to go batty as he got older.
"I don't believe you do understand… but it's understandable, you're still young. You still have lots to experience, even though you've been through much more than the average wizard your age, seeing as you've been Harry Potter's friend for 6 years," Dumbledore's look softened. "Now we must discuss your punishment."
Ron's eyes widened and he grabbed the pail off the desk, clutching it to his chest.
"I don't think the regular detention will do… not even a week's detention, no…," Dumbledore tapped his chin with a long finger, contemplating. Ron clutched the pail tighter to him, like a security blanket.
Oh no, here it comes…my wands going to be snapped in half and everything... Mum's going to kill me when I come home early… I'll never be let out of the house again…Maybe I can stay on and take another job in the castle... like Filch's assistant... or more likely Mrs. Norris' assisstant..., Ron thought to himself forlornly.
"We'll just have to issue a… special detention…" Dumbledore looked at Ron as though he was keeping a secret from him.
"Special detention?" Ron croaked. Images of him chained upside down in the dungeons while Filch prodded him with a mop handle paraded themselves through Ron's head. He shuddered at the thought.
"Yes… meet me back in here a week from now, at 7 o'clock. Please don't be late, once you arrive we'll have to get you underway quickly. And now Mr. Weasley, you can return to your classes," Dumbledore said, returning to his seat behind his desk. Ron gaped at him for a second. He wasn't being expelled?
"If you don't mind me asking Professor, what will I be doing?" Ron asked, expecting the worst, he felt his legs quivering. Dumbledore smiled kindly and crinkled his crooked nose.
"You'll be doing something for the Order. It will be dangerous, but I'm sure you will manage," he said shortly. As an afterthought he added, "I won't write to your mother if you won't. I'm not sure she'd be too happy hearing that I'm taking her son out on dangerous missions." Ron dropped the pail and it clattered on the floor. That wasn't a detention at all! Ron had always wanted to do something for the Order ever since they'd found out about it in the summer before 5th year.
"Why?" Ron blurted before he could stop himself. Dumbledore looked over his half-moon glasses at Ron, looking as if he invited every student that insulted a teacher to accompany him on dangerous missions with him.
"I believe that it will teach you things about yourself, and your friends. I know you find yourself to be shadowed in Harry's glory a lot of the time, Ron. But remember, he has been through a lot in his life, and has faced many hardships and losses-," Ron cut him off by saying "I know Professor, I know. But what has that got to do with my punishment?" Dumbledore smiled secretively and responded, "You will know when we are done Ron. It will be clear then," he grabbed a quill and began scratching things down on a piece of parchment in front of him. "Farewell Mr. Weasley."
Ron decided it was best not to ask further questions, judging from the finality in Dumbledore's voice. He muttered a quick thank you and retreated from the headmaster's office. He climbed down the spiral staircase and walked quickly down the hall towards Charms.
He could hardly believe his luck. He had not been expelled at all, but was helping the most important wizarding organization in the world on an important mission. Maybe he was doing something that would change the world or something. Ron felt a bounce in his step. Some part of him told him he should be worried about what he might face, and what exactly he was doing on this mission, but another part of him was calling that part a prat and was thoroughly excited.
It had actually been a very good day for Ron Weasley. Maybe it was a little taxing on the emotional part, but good nonetheless. He had punched Draco Malfoy in the nose, and told Professor Snape to go to hell. And he escaped expulsion with the promise of a grand adventure. Ron found himself outside the Charms classroom, thinking about how Harry and Hermione were going to look after he told them about his "punishment". Hermione would be worried and offer to look up helpful hexes for him for when he got into danger. Harry would look envious and then they would proceed to guess what the task would be.
Ron froze with his hand on the doorknob. What was he thinking? He was no longer speaking to Harry and Hermione. Ron felt a strange pang of regret in his chest. He had no one to share this victory with. In fact, he had no one at all.
Ron had a large family, and Harry and Hermione around him at all times… he had never been truly alone in his life. He never had really experienced a feeling as vast as loneliness. It left him feeling as though there was a gaping hole inside of his chest. Ron tried to shrug this feeling aside as he opened the door to the class.
An odd hush fell over everyone as Ron entered and took a seat next to Dean. Dean was staring at him warily, as though Ron might pounce on him and give him a bloody nose. When Ron just sat there, looking sulky and unimpressive, everyone turned back to their work.
"So mate, what happened? Obviously you aren't expelled," Dean asked eagerly, staring intensively at Ron's pale face. Seamus leaned in from behind Dean. Ron thought he should've taken this to gloat, but he just shook his head. He didn't feel much like talking. Normally he would take any opportunity to feel important and brag about anything- like how he had escaped expulsion without a detention- but Ron felt as though all the energy had been zapped out of him.
Ron heard an odd squeak from behind him and turned to see Hermione standing there, looking very nervous.
"I just wanted to say thanks for standing up for me against Malfoy like that," Hermione muttered, looking everywhere but Ron's face. Ron's heart rose as he realized that Hermione was speaking to him again. Things could go back to normal. He felt uplifted- but those good feelings crashed down upon Ron as Harry appeared behind Hermione, looking hopeful. An odd rushing sound reached Ron's ears as he frowned.
"I didn't do it for you. He insulted my family," Ron said dully, looking quite bored. Hermione frowned, and Harry looked angry.
"Oh, well, of course, but I thought-," Ron cut her off by saying, "Well you thought wrong didn't you? Don't you have house points to earn or something?" Ron snapped. Harry glowered at Ron, and Hermione looked like she was about to cry. Ron didn't care, he had cried enough for the past couple of weeks.
"Come on Hermione, we don't need to take this from a prat like him," Harry said dangerously, and grabbed Hermione's arm. Ron's stomach flip-flopped when he saw Harry touch her and he scowled.
"Yeah, bugger off, I'm sure you have some autographs to sign or something," Ron growled. Harry pulled Hermione off with him to the other side of the room where they sat whispering urgently for the rest of the class period. Dean and Seamus got the idea that Ron was not in the mood for talking and left him alone for the rest of class.
Ron sat there simmering in anger, wondering why he just did what he did. Hermione and Harry had obviously come to reconcile with him. Ron's stubborn pride and fat mouth got in the way. The hole inside Ron's chest seemed to have grown even larger. He had just felt so resentful towards them. They hadn't known how he felt, they had each other the past couple of weeks. They had not missed him at all. Ron had been the one suffering, all alone.
If I am so lonely, why am I so quick to refuse their company? Ron sighed as this thought floated across his mind.
And for a second Ron felt as though he understood what Dumbledore meant when he said that people do strange things when they feel alone.