The Weasley's kitchen was deserted when Harry and Hermione arrived. They stood and listened for a moment, ears pricked for any sound.
CRASH
Harry and Hermione dashed upstairs to the source of the noise and they skidded to a halt on the top floor – Ron's room. They knocked loudly and waited for an answer.
"What?" Came an angry voice. The door was thrown open and there stood a tall, gangly figure, bathed in shadow.
"Harry! Hermione!" Cried Ron, stepping out of the shadow. His red hair was as red as ever and there were more freckles on his face and arms than there were when the trio had said goodbye for the summer.
He flooded them with questions. "How are you? What are you doing here? More importantly why are you here?"
"We're here to see you!" said Hermione. "Who else?" She joked.
"But… I thought we were meeting up tomorrow." He said. "Why are you both here?"
Hermione tried to speak but Harry interrupted. "My Uncle was on the rampage so I had to leave right away."
"Right. Would you both… like to come in?" he asked.
"Sure." said Harry. Ron moved aside to let them both in but as they stepped in they saw the state of Ron's room, and it looked like a bomb had hit it.
"What on earth have you been doing Ronald?" asked a shocked Hermione. "It's never been like this before."
"I've been trying to find something." answered Ron.
"It must be small for the room to look like this." Hermione said whilst walking into the room. "What were you looking for anyway?"
"Some documents;" he replied. "I'm applying to be in the Department of Magical Games and Sports."
"You never said anything!" burst out Harry. "Why didn't you tell us?"
Ron's freckled cheeks went slightly pink. "Well… you Harry, are most definitely going to be an Auror; and you too Hermione; I just can't fight anymore. I've gone through too much already."
All three of them stood in silence for a minute remembering Ron's dear loss.
Two years ago, his eldest brother Charlie had died fighting Death Eaters, Lord Voldemort's followers. Voldemort had been the most feared sorcerer for a hundred years, but only last year had Harry conquered him, with some of the most ancient and powerful spells he could find, with help from the Headmaster of Hogwarts, Albus Dumbledore who was the most powerful and good wizard of the age.
Harry, Hermione and Ron had been cornered off in the Forbidden Forest, tricked into thinking something bad had happened to the giant Grawp, their friend Hagrid's half-brother, who was a half a giant. Lord Voldemort had cornered them personally; Dumbledore had wanted to speak to Harry and his friends in his office but when they had not appeared he had alerted the rest of the staff, and sent out a search.
Unfortunately, Charlie had found them first, and as Voldemort shot a killing curse, Avada Kedavra, at them, Charlie had dived and knocked them out the way, taking the whole blow for himself. Dumbledore arrived next, and whilst keeping Voldemort distracted, reminded Harry of the ancient spells he had learnt and now was the time to use them.
Harry, with Dumbledore's aid, duelled Voldemort and with each spell he grew weaker, and weaker and then the last spell, Avada Kedavra, finished him off and Voldemort exploded in flames, roaring with pain and fury.
"So…do you want something to eat or drink?" said Ron in a hollow voice.
"Sorry, Ron, we're gonna eat in about an hour or so." Hermione said quietly.
Harry didn't know what to say. There was nothing to say.