ARGH! I'm sorry this took so long! I'm really a crappy person.

I shall explain at the end of this chapter!

But for now...story!

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Things were fairly quiet at the Burrow for a few hours, after the drama that occurred in the kitchen. Ginny and Hermione were still up in Ginny's room, and Ron and Harry were busy playing wizard's chess in the living room. Mr. Weasley, unable to accept defeat, was determinedly trying to get the muggle clock to work, much to the displeasure of Mrs. Weasley, who was trying to fix dinner in the kitchen at the same time. Besides Mr. Weasley standing on the countertop, in order to reach the clock (which blocked part of the countertop Mrs.Weasley needed to cook on), Mrs. Weasley also had to dodge tools zipping through the air that would fly through the air as Mr.Weasley summoned them. Occasionally, one would ram into her at high speed, causing Mr. Weasley to jump down off the countertop and apologize profusely, while she herself would being muttering incoherent things about "wizard divorce."

As a result of this, dinner took longer to prepare than usual, but finally, four bruise and three divorce threats later, it was ready. Mrs. Weasley wiped her hands off and went to call everyone to dinner, while Mr. Weasley put away his muggle tools.

"Here are dinner kids," Mrs. Weasley smiled, pointing her wand at the food, causing it to zip over to the table where they were seated. "Oh...and be careful chewing the bread pudding. There might be something...unexpected in it," she warned, glaring at Mr.Weasley over her shoulder as she did so, who was climbing off the counter after his battle with the clock. Mr. Weasley smiled sheepishly. "Your father has assured me, however, that whatever fell into wasn't anything sharp."

Ron and Harry went into the kitchen and took seats at the table while Mrs. Weasley continued to yell out to Fred, George, Ginny and Hermione to come to eat. The two boys sat next to each other, waiting for the rest of the family to arrive so they could eat. Harry looked over at his best friend and saw Ron staring blankly down at the tabletop. Ron had grown suddenly quiet since Mrs. Weasley had announced it was dinner time, and Harry knew it was because the red head realized he would have to face Hermione. Harry just hoped that, whatever happened, Ron wouldn't act as stupid as he had earlier.

A moment later, both Ginny and Hermione filled into the kitchen. Ginny gave Ron a look that could kill and sat down at the table across from Harry. Hermione sat down on the other side of Ginny without even glancing at Ron, sitting on the side farest away from him, saying nothing. Harry noticed how she was distancing herself from Ron. He looked over curiously to see what Ron's reaction would be to this, or if he even noticed what Hermione was doing (Ron was kind of, well, oblivious to thing sat times). However, when he looked over, he felt a twinge of pity for Ron for the first time. Though he seemed to be trying to control his face, Ron was looking at Hermione as if she had just slapped him. Ron quickly got his face under control a moment later, except for his eyes. They were filled with hurt, as he continued to look at Hermione, though she didn't notice. Harry looked at his friend with sympathy. He couldn't imagine how awful it would be if Ginny ever got that mad at him...

Harry looked up at that moment and met Ginny's eyes, then quickly looked back down, fighting back the redness that was threatening to show itself on his face.

Ron, meanwhile, was staring blankly down at the wooden table top, his stomach feeling heavy. Hermione was obviously still mad and him, so mad that she wasn't even going to acknowledge that he existed. He felt a sharp pain in his stomach, and suddenly really didn't feel like eating dinner anymore. His chest felt heavy. Ron sighed inwardly, and hoped that dinner would go quickly, so he wouldn't have to watch her as she ignored him. He stomach lurched again.

As much as he hated to admit it, he almost wished she were yelling at him like she did after the Yule Ball, and a thousand other times when she was mad at him. At least she would be talking to him, acknowledging him. But the silence...that was something Ron couldn't take.

"Hello everyone!"

Ron looked up as the twins walked into the room, Mrs. Weasley close behind them. Mrs. Weasley had a slightly irritated look on her face, and walked passed the group sitting at the table without a word. Harry looked from Mrs. Weasley to the twins. "Is she alright?" he asked, looking at Mrs. Weasley who was putting the finishing touches on dinner in a slightly violent manner.

"Oh sure," Fred nodded, waving a hand dismissively. "She's just miffed because she found out where the weird smells in the house have been coming from the last few weeks."

"Apparently, for some reason, she finds bat guano in the house to be an offensive thing," George explained.

"Especially when it's flung passed her head," Fred added. "Really though, I'm not sure why she's mad. The uses of bat guano are endless, as clay, spackle, beauty masks-you girls might want to make a note of that..."

Fred trailed off as Hermione and Ginny grimaced. "...or not," he said as he sat down at the table next to George.

"Or maybe it's just because she found out we were keeping a bat in the house," George shrugged, as Fred continued to rattle off a list of really useful uses of bat guano. "But, no matter what, it's a mystery we're not too bent in solving at the moment. First food."

"Could two of you give me a hand with dinner?" Mrs. Weasley called from over her sholder. "The quicker I get the food served, the quicker you eat."

"I'll help you serve mum!" George volunteered, getting up out of his seat and making his way towards his mother. Mrs. Weasley paused and turned to look at George. "You...want to help serve?" Mrs. Weasley asked, looking at George suspiciously. "What are you up to?"

"Mum!" George exclaimed, looking at his mother reproachfully. "I'm just trying to help!" he explained. "What makes you think I'm up to something?"

"Past experience," Mrs. Weasley said, stepping between George and the food. "Far, far too many past experiences. Ginny, you will help serve the drinks. Ron," Mrs. Weasley began, addressing her youngest son. "You can help me serve the food."

Ron grumbled something and Ginny gave him another hateful look as the two got up to help their mother serve dinner. Soon glasses of butterbeer were passed out to everyone, as well as plates that consisted of roast beef and an assortment of vegetables. Mr. Weasley, who had gone off to clean up, re-appeared and soon everyone busied themselves eating.

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Dinner passed uneventfully. Soon, everyone was heading off to do their own thing Harry and Ron decided to go play a round of exploding snap, Hermione had left earlier to go set up some muggle-game for her and Ginny to play called "Clue." (Mr.Weasley was also going to participate, Hermione having asked him after seeing his enthusiasm over "muggle board-games"). Ginny was in the kitchen still saying something to Fred and George, all three seemed to fairly amused at what they were talking about. Harry was curious, but couldn't hear from where he sat at the kitchen table. Perhaps when he walked by...

He and Ron got up from the kitchen table and walked towards them, but as soon as the three saw Harry and Ron approaching, they seemed to quiet. George said something else to Ginny and the twins walked off in towards the stairs, while Ginny went to find Hermione.

Harry and Ron soon caught up with Fred and George as they towards the stairs as well, the twins talking among themselves as Harry and Ron walked in silence. Ron hadn't said much at dinner, and now he was looking more dejected than ever. Harry was about to say something to him when Ron bumped into George.

"Hey! Watch it!" George exclaimed, looking at Ron reproachfully. Ron just glanced at him then continued. Harry, however, noticed something fall from George sleeve.

He glanced down in time to see a small glass vial roll across the floor. A second later, however, it was scooped up by George.

"What was that?" asked Ron, peering over Harry's sholder. Both boys looked up at the twins.

"Well, it was full of bat guano," Fred admitted, as George picked the vial off the floor and stuck it into his sleeve. "That is, until we dumped it in your drink."

"WHAT?" Ron yelled, staring at his brothers in horror. "Why you-I'm gonna-urlp!" Ron gurgled, covering his mouth with his hand. His face was beginning to turn a pale shade of green. He looked up and glared murderously at the twins, before turning and running up the stairs. "Just wait till I brush my teeth!" He yelled, over his shoulder. "Then I'll make you pay for this!" He then flew up the stairs as if a thousand dementors were after him.

Harry watched Ron as he sprinted up the stairs for a moment, then turned and looked back at the Weasley twins. "You didn't really put bat guano in his drink, did you?"

"No," George admitted, as he and Fred walked by Harry, over towards the stairs their younger brother had just gone up. "But the lie was worth it to see his face turn that lovely shade of green!"

Harry shook his head. "I'd better go tell him, before he pulls his teeth out trying to get them clean," he said, following the twins up to the top of the stairs.

"Tell us if he throws up!" called Fred. Harry nodded, and he and the twins parted ways.

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After dinner, Ron and Harry went up to Ron's room to play a game of exploding snap. Harry suspected the reason they didn't remain down in the living room was because Ron wanted to avoid another confrontation with Hermione. He thought of saying but at this point he decided it was probably better to keep his mouth shut.

Maybe he could talk to Ginny into helping in getting them to forgive each other...

He could use the help. And well, that might let him spend some quality time with Ginny…which he could definitely use. He had decided awhile ago if he was ever going to pluck up the courage to ask her out, he needed to spend more time with just them two of them together first.

Harry's thoughts were interrupted as he heard a weird raspy sound. Unsure what it was, he decided to ask a second opinion. "Hey Ron," he began. "Did you hear a-"

"Urph!" Ron hiccupped, covering his mouth with his hand. Harry looked at him in surprise. So that's where the sound had come from. Ron just had hiccups. He had solved the mystery of the minute.

Harry's brow's furrow though, as he looked at Ron in concern while the red head's hiccup's continued.

"Harry..." Ron whimpered, staring down at his skin as it continued to turn greener. "What's happening?" As his skin changed, Ron's eyes seemed to be growing bigger and bigger at the same time. Suddenly Ron dropped to the floor, shaking slightly. Harry leapt out of his chair and grasped Ron's arm, trying to steady him.

"Harry..." Ron whimpered fearfully. Harry tried to help him up, but it was no use. Ron didn't seem to be able to move his leg.

"Mr. Weasley! Mrs. Weasley! Someone! HELP!" Harry yelled, trying to get help. He wanted to run and go get them himself, but Ron looked to terrified. Ron's fingers were beginning meld together, and his tongue lolled out of his mouth.

"Ron," Harry said, as no one came to their aid. "I'm going to go get help. I'll be back as quick as I-"

POP!

A light flashed in front of Harry, engulfing Ron as Harry jumped back. He fell backwards over the chair he had been sitting in and crashed onto the floor.

He sat back up, his glasses hanging crookedly on his face. He looked in front of him to see the spot where Ron had just been, which was now billowing with smoking. There was no sign of Ron.

"Ron!" Harry exclaimed, lunging forward. He dove into the smoking, panicked, looking for any sign of his best friend. The smoke burned his eyes and stung his nose as he tried to catch a glimpse of Ron. He couldn't see anything.

Then suddenly he heard a faint sound in front of him. "Ron?" Harry exclaimed. "Is that you?"

Roak

Harry eyes flashed as he heard the sound again, searching as the smoke began to clear" Ron? Are you okay?"

Roak. Ibbit.

"Ron?" Harry said, responding to the sound. He could now see a small object in front of him. Curious, he waved the smoke out of his face with his hands. He squinted at the small object, trying to distinguish what it was.

Suddenly it began to move towards him. Harry's widen and he fell backward again as the-thing, the whatever it was moved towards him, coming out of the smoke. It moved across the floor quickly and the stopped, sitting in front of his sneaker, looking up at him.

Harry's eyes grew even bigger as looked down at the frog that was now sitting by his foot. It couldn't be...

But it had to be...

There was no other explanation.

"Oh my god..." Harry gasped. "RON?"

The frog croaked indignantly in response.

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Again, apologies for taking so long! But I had spring break and then my internet was down, so I couldn't get anything done. (Half the story was saved on this site, so I couldn't get to it). I got some on the end chapters written though (though there's still some middle chapters to write). And now it is forth quarter! So I have loads of time to write. In short, more updates, more frequently! Whee!