The Second Visitor: Brown

Hermione sat in the dark, waiting for the next aspect of Ron's personality to arrive. For several minutes, she strained her ears to listen for footsteps.

Then she heard shuffling footsteps outside the visitor's door. The next visitor opened the door loudly, shuffled inside, and began to walk across the room. The door slammed shut, as he forgot to close the door softly. Hermione heard Ron say, "Oops! Darn it!" As the visitor drew closer, she could see a brown light through the bed curtains. But then the light wandered away with shuffling footsteps.

"Hermione? Hermione! Where are you?" he called out slowly and thickly. She heard him open up the curtains to a different bed, then say, "Nope! You're not Hermione!"

"Ron! Shhhh! I'm over here!"

The light got brighter as he came over to the correct bed. She saw the curtains rustle. Soon, another spitting image of Ron appeared, only this one was brown. His shirt was dirty and stained. His hair was filthy, messy, and matted. She was just about to say hello when Ron belched.

"Bllllaaaaappp! Oops! Sorry, Hermione!"

She wrinkled her nose. "Er, hello, Ron. Which aspect of Ron's personality are you?"

"Which what of Ron's what-what?" he looked at her, baffled.

"Er, who are you?" She asked.

"I'm Ron!" he smiled.

"I know that, but… could you describe yourself?" This Ron didn't seem to be the brightest crayon in the box. He still gaped at her, mouth hanging open.

Hermione said slowly and clearly, "What are you like?"

Comprehension dawned on his face. "Oh! The others say I'm stupid and…. er… I forget what else… Oh yeah! I'm forgetful! And clumsy."

"I see…" said Hermione. "I guess you're the one who's responsible for Ron never remembering that you can't apparate out of or into Hogwarts?"

Ron, who was scratching himself, said, "Huh?"

"Never mind. Ron, does Harry know that this has happened to you?"

Ron looked worried. "What's happened to me?" Hermione wished there wasn't this much stupidity in Ron, but this specter was almost a solid as the last.

"Er… has Harry met you?"

"Harry…? Oh! The guy with the glasses and the funny scar! Nope. He sleeping. Hey! You have any food? I'm hungry!"

"Er… I saved my roll from dinner. You can have it." She handed it to him.

"Thanks!" He stuffed the whole thing into his mouth. "Ime ahway ungway!" he said as he splattered her with crumbs.

"Ron, I can't understand what you're saying," Hermione said as she rolled her eyes.

It took Ron about a minute to finish chewing. "I said I'm always hungry."

"Yes, I know. Well, I'd like to meet the rest of the personas, so could you leave soon and send the next one?"

Ron looked hurt. "You want me to leave?"

"No, no, no, Ron! Well, it's not that I want you leave, it's that I want to meet the others like you! I don't mean to hurt your feelings!"

Ron still looked puzzled. "Hermione, you confuse me a lot."

"I do?"

"Yeah, I try to understand you, but it's real hard sometimes."

"I'm sorry, Ron," she said consolingly. "I'll try to be better. But I would like to meet the others who are like you. I'd like you to leave so that I can meet the next one. But it's been really nice to meet you!"

"Okay, bye-bye Hermione!"

He opened the curtains to leave and began to shuffle away. "Ron! Wait! Could you please close my curtains?"

"Oh yeah! Sorry!"

He did so and then left the door slammed behind him. Hermione heard a muffled "oops!" from behind the door. As much as she loved Ron, Hermione chuckled softly and shook her head at his clumsiness, forgetfulness, and bad manners that she knew so well.

But once again, she was alone, waiting for the next Ron to come visit her and hoping none of them would be that thick. She wondered what they would be like.