A Surprising Turn of Events

"Professor you wanted to see me?"

"Yes come in Mr. Weasley. I hope you don't mind but I asked Professor McGonagall to be here for our little chat."

"I don't mind at all Professor Dumbledore though I have no idea why I'm here."

"Well Mr. Weasley I have been talking to both Alastor Moody and Nymphadora Tonks and they tell me you are doing very well in your Directed Studies class."

"Well thank you Professor though Neville is doing well also."

"Both Moody and Tonks believe that you would benefit from some more hands on training and I am inclined to agree with certain stipulations."

"I'm not sure what you mean exactly by hands on training sir."

"What I mean are field operations Mr. Weasley."

"I was under the impression that I wasn't considered suitable by the Order so I can't think of how I could go on field operations."

"Have you spoken to Mr. Potter or Miss Granger regarding Order operations?"

"No sir I haven't, though I just assumed that if they missed that party they wanted to go to and were gone for that amount of time and they couldn't tell me about it when they got back that it had to be Order related. From there it was relatively easy to assume that if I wasn't invited that there must be some sort of Order related reason for it."

"I should have known you and Miss Weasley would figure it out quickly. Suffice to say the Order had its reasons and they have nothing to do with your ability. In fact it's your abilities that bring you to my office today. Your trainers have spoken of your desire to join the fight against the Death Eaters, is that still your wish?"

"Yes sir it is, if I can be frank I'm tired of everybody worrying about what the Death Eaters are going to do. It would be nice if we could make the Death Eaters worry a little."

"That in fact is why the Order considers you a risk factor. Now before you become insulted it isn't meant to be a negative. The Order of the Phoenix is based around the philosophy of containing the Death Eaters and looking to help Harry strengthen his power for his final fight with Voldemort."

"Well sir I will be there with Harry when it happens."

"I have no doubt of that Mr. Weasley though the reason I have asked you here is to gauge your interest in perhaps joining another Order."

"There are other orders Professor Dumbledore?"

"Oh yes Mr. Weasley there are many. We have found it better to work in many different groups with differing goals. Many of the Orders are very old, some are brand new. All of them are dedicated to fighting Voldemort. The main differences are how they go about fighting Voldemort."

"Well sir I would love to be able to do something to help. I can't stand sitting around and being kept in the dark."

"There are conditions of course to this. The first being you must keep your grades up at all times. Secondly you must return to sleeping in your dorm and eating meals at your house table. Thirdly you will not endanger any Hogwarts students while working for the order in question if they accept you. Fourthly you will work on a project I have in mind with Miss Granger, Mr. Potter and your sister. Finally you will not ever let your mother know I did this. Molly Weasley is one of the few people I truly am afraid of."

Ron laughed 'It's good to know I'm not the only one."

"I also feel I should tell you that we will set up special floo's for you to do your Orders business. If Professor McGonagall has any reason at all she will be instructed to close them off. So you should do your best to curry her favor and stay out of trouble."

Ron looked at Professor McGonagall "I will do my very best sir."

"Very well Ron, Tonks will give you a package with all of the information you will need to meet the people who can help you. Remember just because you aren't in the Order of the Phoenix doesn't mean you aren't very dear to us. It has been my privilege to see the three of you grow up, perhaps to quickly but none the less my privilege."

Ron stood up understanding his meeting was over. "Thank you sir, you won't regret it."

"I certainly hope so Mr. Weasley. One more thing Ron, it would do this old mans heart good to see the three of you walking the halls together. I won't speak for Miss Granger on the nature of her feelings for you, I will leave that to her. I do however know they both care a great deal for you and I can see how much you miss them written on your face. Don't wait to long for a chance to make things right."

Ron looked at him for a moment and nodded then walked out of the door.

As soon as Ron had left Professor McGonagall looked at Dumbledore. "Are you sure it's wise to help him join another Order?"

"No Minerva I'm not but you saw the boy. He's a fighter just like Moody said and if you cage that type they will snap in the end. There is also another matter to consider Minerva. I have come to believe that he must stand beside Harry at the very end. I can't tell you why but I believe it as much I do the prophecy. We believe the power Voldemort knows not is love but what if it's even more specific. What if it's devotion? What if it's Ron's devotion to Harry? I cannot escape the conclusion that they must be together at the end. If that is indeed the case then Ron will need all the training he can get."

"How can young men and women be such an important part of the fate of the wizarding world?"

"As you know Minerva all through out history extraordinary times have called for extraordinary people. In this particular time we cannot afford to ignore the contributions of anyone whatever there age. I wish we could protect them but I don't know if we can anymore."

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Hermione sat watching the snow fall from her dorm room window. It had fallen heavily enough last night to blanket the countryside but had since lightened to only soft flurries. It mirrored her own desire for quiet and contemplation. Downstairs the common room was ablaze with conversation and laughter, she however had tired of watching Harry and Ginny flirting with each other while they were studying.

I know it's mean spirited but both Harry and I made a mistake and it seems like I'm the one paying for it.

As soon as that thought went through her head she dismissed it.

Harry misses Ron as well just not as much as I do I guess. Well maybe just not in the same way.

As she started to draw on the frosted glass she noticed a figure walking on the snow heading down to the lake. The shock of red hair gave no doubt as who was down there even from this height.

I'm going to go talk to him like McGonagall said. What can it hurt?

Hermione bundled up in her heaviest coat and wrapped her self up with a scarf and hat and headed down stairs through the common room.

As she got to the common room people saw her all bundled up and started to ask her questions.

Ginny called out "Hey Hermione where are you going?"

"I'm going for a walk Ginny, hopefully with your brother."

At that most of the conversation in the room stopped.

As Hermione got to the portrait door she heard Lavenders voice behind her calling out "Good luck Hermione, beat some sense into him if you have to."

Hermione just smiled.

I may have to do just that.

Ron had been sitting by the lake for ten minutes or so when Hermione found him. He had smelled her coming his way for a while.

Just one of the benefits of being a shape changer I guess.

"How are you doing today Hermione?" he asked not turning to look at her.

"Much better now." she replied coming to sit beside him. "Its beautiful out here isn't it?"

"Yes it is but I hate this time of year."

"Why is that?"

"It's just that the snow is nice but it's not permanent. The real world is trapped underneath it and all you need to get to the real world is a little heat but you can't make the heat yourself you have to wait for it."

"I'm not quiet sure I understand Ron."

"Ok think of it like this; remember the ball in our first year? You used all that hair tonic to straighten your hair and you were beautiful but it wasn't you. You aren't the kind of person who has to do that to be beautiful, you already are beautiful."

"Ron look at me for a moment please."

He slowly turned to look at her questioningly.

"I'm so sorry about what happened. I don't know how it did or why it did and I'm not going to try and make excuses. I just hope that you will be able to let me try and show you what my real feelings are." she said very softly looking him in the eyes.

For a moment she was certain that Ron was going to get up and walk away then he let out a long deep sigh. "I'm trying Hermione I really am. There have been dozens of times when I wanted to come tell you how much I need you and right as I was about to do it I saw you and Harry kissing in my mind again and my anger got the best of me. It's childish and silly but I can't help it. Sometimes lately I feel like I can take on all the Death Eaters in the world and the next day I will feel like a little boy who wants to do nothing more than play Quidditch and read comic books. It's just so hard sometimes."

Hermione was quiet for a moment "I understand exactly what you have been thinking Ron." Then she bit her lip for a moment "Would it be alright if I hugged you?"

Ron looked very sad "I don't think it's a good idea right now."

He saw her face start to tear up and quickly said "It's because I think if I hugged you I would kiss you and I want the next time I kiss you to be when everything is back the way it should be. Can you understand that?"

She nodded and was smiling just a bit. "So you think you will want me to be your girl friend again?"

"Weasley men love hard Hermione and it's doesn't die easily."

Then he locked eyes with her for a second and for the first time in what seemed like forever smiled at her. "If you really want to hug me I just though of a way it would be ok."

She smiled back at him "However you want Mr. Weasley."

Ron had a look of concentration cross across his face and then he transformed and Hermione found herself looking at a one eyed lion who crouched down beside her.

Laughing with delight she threw herself against his side and wrapped her arms around him.

How can he still smell the same?

Up in Gryffindor tower several students looking out of a window started to smile to themselves and Lavender was the first to speak.

 "It's a start." she said.