Bite The Dust
I'll Be There For You
Whoa, another chapter. This one doesn't focus on a set pairing, though there are little bits throughout, it's actually pretty light hearted. Oh, and set at the end of Harry's fifth year.
R&R please!
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It was the summer holidays at The Burrow, and the Weasley family and Harry, who had arrived a few days earlier, were enjoying the warm days as much as the next family, well, most of the family was. Ron and Harry, however, had been hired by Mrs Hoover down the road to clean out her attic. Not entirely the two boys chosen pastime for the summer days, but Mrs Weasley had firmly stated that they needed to show some responsibility.
So there they were; Harry half-submerged underneath a pile of old rugs that smelled strongly of cats and mothballs, and Ron teetering precariously on top of a mountain of boxes, seemingly reaching for the light switch. Why someone would place a light switch in such a place that could only be reached by someone of Hagrid's stature was beyond Harry's comprehension.
Percy, the third eldest Weasley child, had returned to The Burrow for a short visit, and was currently supervising the clean up. While the two younger boys were grafting away, he was using the time to prepare more articles and papers for the Ministry. However, the overly mature-beyond-his-years young man was startled out of his progress by a loud CRASH, and upon looking up found that Ron was under a heap of boxes, broken furniture and doilies.
Clicking his tongue, Percy strode over to stare disdainfully down at his younger brother, and said in a very authoritative tone "So, no one told you life was going to be this way?"
Ron frowned indignantly at Percy and, pushing seemingly useless junk off him, scrambled to his feet. "Yeah? Well your job's a joke!"
The older Weasley was now fuming with rage at the thought of his important career choice being abused, by none other than Ron. Spluttering profoundly, he puffed out his chest and thrust his face into Ron's. "You're broke!"
Harry stood up, intending to intervene as he knew full well that Ron was extremely touchy about his wealth compared to Percy's. He was saved the effort, however, as Ron merely smirked at his older brother. "Well your love life's D.O.A" He pronounced each letter slowly, clearly, drawing the effect out as both he and Percy knew full well that the latter had as much luck with girls as Snape did.
Percy gave Ron a look of what he must thought was one of extreme disdain and superiority, and without another word, strode from the room. Ron beamed triumphantly and began to pick up his things, and he and Harry slowly returned to The Burrow.
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A few hours later, and dusk was beginning to show signs of blanketing the countryside. Hermione had arrived at the Weasley household while Harry and Ron were at Mrs Hoover's, and the trio were currently sitting in Ron's room, along with Ginny, Ron's younger and only sister.
Ron was lamenting to his friends about the woes of the working life, while Harry just sat by and watched, an amused smile on his face. "It's like you're always stuck in second gear."
Ron and Ginny looked puzzled by this, and as to what 'second gear' Harry was referring to, the young magicians had no idea. Hermione on the other hand, being Muggle-born, seemed to know exactly what Harry was on about. "He means when it hasn't been your day, your week, or your month."
Ginny let out a small giggle and nodded. "Or even your year!"
Ron's only response was a hard THWACK to Ginny's head with an over-fluffed pillow.
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The next morning dawned bright and clear, although Ron was not yet awake to notice this. Snoring soundly, he was sprawled across his mattress with the covers in a heap at the foot of his bed. He was awoken from his slumber, in which he was having a particularly nice dream involving Fleur Delacour making him poached eggs in the morning, by the slamming of his door against the wall. Opening his bleary eyes to stare groggily at the fool who dared disturb his beauty sleep, he was mildly startled to see a frustrated Hermione come storming into the room.
Dazedly Ron pulled the covers up to his chin, only to find the effort useless as Hermione yanked them off him and flung open the curtains, revealing a steady stream of golden light. "You're still in bed at 10, and work began at eight!" Hermione pulled him from the comfort of his bed and motioned in the direction of a pile of clothes casually thrown on the floor, before storming off downstairs, leaving Ron to wonder what side she got out of bed of that morning.
As Ron descended to the bottom of The Burrow, he was greeted with the distinct smell of charcoal. Hurrying the last few steps, he was dismayed to find a sheepish Ginny holding a frying pan, out of which thick black smoke was billowing. Not even registering the thoughtful gesture, Ron stared at her horror-struck. "You burnt my breakfast!" He said in such a tone that implied that Ginny had just committed a most horrible crime.
Slumping down at the table, defeated, he barely responded to Harry asking him how he was. "So far things are going great." He said the last word with such obvious dismay and sarcasm that Harry had to smile.
Hermione, on the other hand, wasn't nearly as forgiving. "Well your mother warned you there'd be days like these!" She snapped.
"Well, er- yes, but-"
Fortunately for Ron, whose ability to string a sentence together was currently failing him, Harry came to the rescue. "She didn't tell them when the world has brought you down to your knees!"
Hermione just rolled her eyes at their melodrama, turning abruptly away from them.
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As the sweltering days of summer were drawing to a close, and Ron had been coerced into trying to sew house-elf hats for Hermione (only of course when she promised to let him copy her notes in Charms), Harry was amusing himself with a game of Wizard Chess with Ginny. Although she wasn't nearly as good as Ron was, the youngest Weasley was still managing to put up a good fight.
Harry studied Ginny's face more closely, noting how she had matured quite a bit over the past 5 years, both physically and emotionally. She was furrowing her brow in hard determination, and Harry remembered the same look in the Chamber of Secrets, in his second year at Hogwarts. Remembering the few days of fame, if somewhat for a grisly cause, Ginny had received after the events in the Chamber, Harry had a sudden appreciation for the bright-headed girl sitting across from him.
"Seems you're the only one who knows what it's like to be me." The words had come out of his mouth before he even had time to form them, and was startled at how abrupt and out-of-the-blue the statement was.
Ginny was startled out of her concentration by his voice, and raised her eyes to meet his. The understanding between them was clear, and there was no need for words. After holding his gaze for a few more seconds, she slowly lowered her head to plan her next move.
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Outside, under a shady tree, Ron was becoming more and more frustrated as he threw his Muggle-made knitting needles to the ground, only to find that he had thrown them directly at Crookshanks, who had been toying with a ball of wool. The large ginger cat hissed madly and darted out of the wool basket with such speed and force that he sent the balls of wool flying.
On taking one glance at Ron, Hermione had burst into a fit of giggles. The reason for Hermione's laughter was clear; Ron now resembled one of Umbridge's hideous dresses, as he was covered in an array of brightly coloured wool. Pulling a string of vibrant purple from his hair, Ron grimaced. "Even at my worst, I'm best with you, Hermione."
Hermione just laughed at the absurdity of the situation and helped retrieve the lengths of wool from his person.
There, all done. I quite liked this one, actually. Hope you did too. Thanks for reading, R&R please!