Detention

Ron walked wearily into the Gryffindor common room. Seeing both Harry and Hermione sitting next to the fire he walked that way and flopped down on a couch.

Harry looked up from his studies. "You ok mate?"

"Yeah Harry I'm just tired. These last couple of weeks have been a bit rough. Directed studies is hard and every Friday I keep getting beaten by some short guy with a weird scar."

"Well that short guy is awfully good looking as well." Harry smirked.

Both of them broke up in laughter then Harry got serious again.

"Your still not sleeping well though are you?"

Not really though it is getting better."

Hermione seemed to take notice at that. She carefully book marked the page in her book and turned to Ron.

"You've been pushing yourself to hard. Since tomorrow is Saturday why don't we go have a picnic while the weather is still nice?"

Both Harry and Ron looked at Hermione.

"Harry did Hermione just tell me I was working to hard?"

"It sounded like it but Hermione would never say that."

Hermione just huffed and they both started laughing again.

"That sounds wonderful Miss Granger." Ron said formally. "Though I can't help but wonder if it's an excuse to be alone with me."

"Well Ron I was thinking we could invite Harry and Ginny along with Neville and Luna. Though I do believe some quality alone time would be in order." as she said that Hermione smiled at Ron like he was the only one in the room and Harry blushed for him.

"Hermione Granger have I told you how wonderful you are?"

"Not for several hours at least Mr. Weasley" she said smiling. "We should all go down to dinner."

"I'll catch up with you guys in a second." Ron called "I have to go up to the dorms for a bit."

"I can't believe how hungry I am." Hermione laughed as they sat down to dinner.

"It must be my older brothers influence."

"Now Ginny be nice or I will have to ask where you and Harry went last night after dinner."

"Don't let Ron hear you say that Hermione. Speaking of which where is Ron? I would have figured he would have beaten us all here."

Harry spoke up "He had to go put some of that healing salve on before he came down. He's banged up pretty badly.

"Well Harry maybe you shouldn't be so hard on him during your duels."

"Hard on him Ginny? Last week he almost broke my neck. Besides it's not me that's doing the damage. It's all the fighting he does in Directed studies."

All three of them looked at Neville.

"Harry's right that class is pretty rough and Ron fights harder than I do."

Neville looked at them then down at the table. "I thought Moody had killed him yesterday."

Ron walked up behind Neville. "Aren't you being just a bit dramatic Neville?"

"Well maybe Ron." Neville said doubtfully.

"When we get back to the common room I'm going to take a look at those bruises and I don't want to hear any arguments Ron."

"Why Hermione you know I'll take my shirt off for you any time you like." he said grinning from ear to ear.

At that point Hermione stood up and pointed at him "Just because you can be utterly charming sometimes does not mean you can make me forget about this."

Ron looked through chastised "Ok Hermione."

"Ron you sound just like dad does when mum is reading him the riot act." Ginny giggled.

Hermione flushed bright pink at that and sat back down.

"Well mudblood I see Weasley hasn't dumped you yet."

Hermione stood up "Well I'm glad we had already finished eating. It seems someone spilled a load of trash here and covered it up with Slytherin robes."

When Hermione turned to leave Malfoy reached out and grabbed her shoulder spinning her back to face him.

"The time is coming mudblood when all your cleverness won't sav......"

Malfoy never got to finish his sentence as Ron's fist connected with Malfoy's nose sending a bright spray of blood everywhere. Malfoy fell backwards and Ron followed him to the floor. After several more punches to Malfoy's face Ron lifted his head by his hair and leaned down into his face.

"If you ever hurt her again it will be the last thing you ever do you stinking Death Eater.'

Ron then let his head fall back to the floor. He stood up and looked at Crabbe and Goyle who had just arrived from the Slytherin table.

"Either two of you idiots feel like being taught a lesson as well?"

Just then Professor McGonagall and Professor Snape reached them.

Professor McGonagall spoke first "What are you doing Mr. Weasley? Have you lost your mind?"

Ron turned to look at her "Malfoy hurt Hermione and I was teaching him the error of his ways."

"How noble" Snape sneered "however I guess you forgot that at Hogwarts the teachers are the ones who hand out punishments."

"From where I am standing Professor the teachers, at least some of them have been doing a right poor job of watching Malfoy and I'm sick and tired of him hurting people." Ron sneered right back.

"Mr Weasley you will speak to Professor Snape in a respectful and proper manner."

"With all the respect in the world to you Professor McGonagall I believe I am doing just that."

"Just like Gyffindors so arrogant and self centered, I trust you will see to his punishment Minerva?"

"Yes Professor Snape I will indeed. Crabbe, you and Goyle take Mr. Malfoy to the hospital wing Weasley follow me."

Ron followed Professor McGonagall out of the hall as the rest of Gryffindor just stared at them.

They paused at the door to the Headmasters office "Wait right here Weasley and try not to hit anything."

Professor Dumbledore looked up "You need to speak with me Minerva?"

"Yes Professor I'm sorry to disturb you but there has been a fight."

Dumbledore sighed and took off his glasses." I see, who were the students involved?"

"Ronald Weasley and Draco Malfoy."

"I take it you have Mr. Weasley with you? Well both of you come in and have a seat. Also please close the door behind you."

'Well Mr. Weasley why don't you tell me what happened?"

Ron explained what happened at dinner trying to be as honest as possible and not letting himself get angry again.

"So you thought the best answer to Hermione getting hurt was to hurt Malfoy?"

"Well Professor so far nothing anyone else has done has stopped him." Ron said looking Dumbledore in the eye.

"You hold the staff here responsible do you?" Dumbledore said softly.

"Your damn right I do. Malfoy and his two thugs torment people and when someone finally stands up to them they get punished worse than the people who started it in the first place. That's not all either, Snape hides half the things Malfoy does from the rest of you amd we get punished for that as well. I mean what kind of school thinks its ok for a Professor like Snape to harass students unfairly? Not to mention how horribly he treats Harry just because he didn't get along with Harry's dad before we were even born."

Ron had jumped out of his chair and started to pace back and forth like he always did when he was very angry or upset.

'We are always told that we should let the teachers handle things but when we do nothing ever changes. It's like you all think its ok for us to be Malfoys punching bags. Well maybe you think that's ok but I don't and I'm going to do everything I can to make sure it stops. You people never tell us anything but I know what's going on. It's getting dark out there by the day, I can feel it. How can we fight back if you don't tell us anything? How can I keep Harry and Hermione safe? How can I protect them if I don't know what's going on? How can I keep them safe from Death Eaters if I can't even deal with Malfoy?"

The last statement came out with a low growl and Ron just stopped and looked at Dumbledore.

"So you think you have to protect them Mr. Weasley?"

"Of course I do. Now I know the prophecy says Harry can kill Voldemort but it doesn't say anything him killing all of the Death Eaters does it? Well he can't do it alone. Look I've learned enough in Divination to know that there is a reason that the three of us are in this together. Harry is the only one who can kill Voldemort. Hermione maybe the only one smart enough to come up with the way to do it. I'm just here to make sure Harry gets the chance and I intend to do just that."

"Is that so Mr. Weasley? That would explain a great deal. Alastor has told me that he has never had a student train so hard as you have been training and professor Leonidas says you have been giving Harry a run for his money. Don't you think though that this is a rather large burden you have placed on yourself?"

"It's not a burden Professor. Having to deal with Snape and Malfoy is a burden. Being friends with Harry and Hermione is an honor, one I intend on being worthy of."

"Well Mr. Weasley you know very well I can't have you punching Mr. Malfoy in the Great Hall so what do you think I should do?"

"How about you keep Malfoy in line?"

"That Mr. Weasley is easier said than done. As headmaster I must have indisputable proof before I can punish students and Mr. Malfoy has been very discrete about his transgressions."

"Unlike a certain Gryffindor I might add." Professor McGonagall spoke up.

"Professor Dumbledore are you saying I just need to be more careful about being caught?" Ron asked looking confused.

"I will leave that up to your interpretation Mr. Weasley."

"Now for your punishment, I believe a very long detention should be in order. It is my understanding that Minerva was already to start on a new project that might help you transfer your aggressions into something more constructive. With that in mind I believe a three month detention is in order."

"Three months." Ron said stunned.

"Now if you will excuse me I have more than enough work to do."

"umm Professor...."

"Yes Mr. Weasley?"

"Sorry about my language earlier."

Dumbledore smiled "I see Miss Granger is having some effect on you after all. Good night Mr. Weasley."

"Good night Professor."

Professor McGonagall led Ron out of Dumbledore's office.

"Mr. Weasley you will be serving your detentions with me and you will be working very hard. We will meet for one hour every night after dinner Monday through Saturday. So make sure Quidditch practice is before dinner."

"Professor if you don't mind my asking what can I possibly do in detention for three months."

"Tell me Mr. Weasley if you could have any magical power what would it be?"

"I would like to be an Animagus." Ron replied without thinking.

"Why is that Mr. Weasley?"

'Well two reasons really. The first is I would like to do something that none of my friends or family have done. Don't get me wrong it's not a jealousy thing. It's just that it would be nice to do something that's really hard to do on my own."

"and the second Mr. Weasley?"

"Well I used to talk to Sirius back at HQ a lot when Harry wasn't there and Sirius said that when he changed forms it was a great way to get away from all the rubbish life throws at you. He said running along in dog form was the best way to really think about things and figure out what was really important. Sometime I think that would be really nice."

Well Mr. Weasley there are no guarantees but if you work hard you will get your chance. Now get back to your common room and remember you start your detention monday night."

"Yeah Professor" he smiled "have a very good night Professor."

"You do the same Mr. Weasley and stay away from Mr. Malfoy."