Harry Potter and the Guards of Gryffindor
By mid-day, Percy and Oliver had left for the World Cup. Oliver had spent the previous days worrying over his father and training with Puddlemore United. He was exhausted, physically and mentally, but excited to be on of the youngest Keepers to ever play in the World Cup. All in the Weasley Tower were relieved by the news of Oliver's father and a small breakfast celebration was held in his honor. George, Fred, Harry, Ron and Ginny were very dissappointed at not being able to go with Oliver and Percy to the Cup, but the Department of Magical Law Enforcement had only allowed the Department of Magical Games and Sports to host a World Cup with limited seating and hightened security. All attendees required special invitation and identification to enter. It was said that the wards on the arena were so powerful that if anyone who was not given written permission to attend the event came close, they would instantly be transported to a cell in Azekaban. The Wizarding world had darkened since the last World Cup and it was not safe to hold the event in the same way they had in previous years.
With the World Cup Security needs, Tonks, Moody, and Kingsley were all out of England and were working extra hours for the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. With three of the alternate bodyguards for Harry, Ron and Hermione gone, the remaining party were stretched to their limit. Harry, Ron, and Hermione noticed that they were allowed more leniancy within the tower and were no longer escorted to the watercloset or even downstairs. Hagrid had even mentioned leaving to tower to return to his hut. But even with all of the freedom given to the trio, Ron's foul mood continued.
"Bloody Hell," the redhead complained to Hermione as he sat next to her on the sofa with their Transfiguration homework between them. Harry raised an eyebrow from across the room, but said nothing. He continued to suffer from headaches and his scar burned often, leaving him tired and moody.
"Watch your language Ronald," Hermione chastised quickly as she finished writing a sentance. She then looked up to meet his troubled gaze. "What is it, Ron?" she asked with concern.
Ron shook his head. Though he no longer raged at Oliver. His anger was now directed at his parents and the Headmistress for lying to him. He did not rage however, he was quiet and dispondent, acting as Harry had for the past several weeks. "I can't do this. I can't take extra classes. I can't keep up with the ones I'm in. I'm not you, Hermione... I don't live for my homework!" His frustration echoed through the room as Ginny walked in from the kitchen.
"Oh shut your gob, Ron!" Ginny spat. "We're all sick of listening to you whinge. You just have to deal. I mean it's not like you're the savior of the world or anything!" With that, Ginny paled and Harry turned bright pink. The young couple shared a glance, Ginny regretted what she'd said, and Harry's expression was furious.
"No, it's worse. He has to give up all of his dreams and pretty much his entire life to do something he has no desire to do!" Harry shouted to the younger girl. Ginny's eyes welled with tears, but she said nothing. Harry stood and rubbed his burning scar.
"Enough," Hermione cried. "They both have to do things they don't want to do. We're all aware of that. The difference is that Harry's had about two years to accept what is happening to him. Ron's had two days..."
Ginny didn't hear Hermione's plea. She stared at Harry, felt his burning rage. "I'm so sorry Harry..." she mumbled. Harry glared past her and quickly ran from the room.
Ron placed his hand on Hermione's in appreciation and shook his head at his sister as she turned to follow Harry. "Gin, leave him."
"Ron he's so angry..." Ginny cried. Ron stood and walked over to his sister and threw his arms around her.
"I know, but you've got to let him work this out on his own. You know that he needs to keep you at a distance to do what he needs to do. It's just hard for him because he cares so much about you and about what you think. We can't talk him through this, though. It's his destiny and his feelings," he said softly.
Ginny let tears fall down her cheeks and as she rubbed her face into her tall brother's chest. After several minutes, she looked up at him. "How did you get so wise all of a sudden?"
Ron shrugged. "'Mione's rubbing off on me..."
Ginny slapped Ron's shoulder playfully and walked into the kitchen. Hermione smiled at Ron from the couch with pride and admiration. Ron blushed and came back to his seat beside her.
"You can do this, you know," Hermione said reassuringly.
Ron sighed. "But I don't want to. I want to be here, with you."
Hermione blushed and kissed Ron tenderly on the lips. "You will be. Only you'll be spending a few hours a week with Olivia and you won't have Defense Against the Dark Arts. You'll still have the DA and all of our other classes and me..."
"But I'll also have a Medi-Guard, 'Mione! Did you see Olivia's? It was Kingsley Shaklebolt's younger brother, Connor! He follows her around, knows everything about her... She get's no privacy... That's gonna be me. I'm gonna have some big lug following me around all the time..." Ron complained.
"But it's for your own safety. Olivia's been kidnapped, Ron. What if that happens to you? What would I do without you?" Hermione asked softly.
Ron shook his head. "If I don't train, it won't be a problem. I'll just have the magic, I won't be able to wield it."
"Ron! You know it doesn't work that way..." Hermione protested.
"How do you know?" Ron pouted.
"Because Olivia told us it would affect your magic... and because I asked Hannah to get me a book about Healers from the library," Hermione said matter-of-factly as she brought a book onto her lap.
"You would have read all about this..." Ron rolled is eyes as he gazed at the book titled, The Life of a Healer; Biography of Mungo Bonham.
Hermione sighed with irritation, but continued on. "Ron, the book says that your magic will depleat if you continue to cast spells using your wand. A Healers' magic is tied into his being, his very soul. Healing takes skin contact, nothing can come between your magic and your object, wether you're healing or casting a spell... The wand works against you, like a barrier. If you keep using it, you'll sort of burn out... it will kill you. You can live as a Squib and refrain from using any magic, but you'll still have a shortened life span."
"Shite," Ron squiked as Hermione handed him the book.
"I know you're going to hold this over me for weeks, but your homework can wait. Read this, Ron, learn about your gifts. You're so incredibly special, more than you realize," Hermione smiled shyly. "But healing isn't all that you are, Ron. Don't forget that. You're Harry and my best friend. You're a brother and a son and a student. Your're a Healer, but you're also my Ron Weasley."
Ron accepted the book and pulled Hermione into a tight hug. For the first time in two days, his world stopped spinning and he was quiet.
The young couple spent the afternoon working on their homework and reading. As they sat, Charlie and Hannah came to and from the Weasley tower, luging their belongings to their new home in Gryffindor tower. The married couple had spent the morning at St. Mungos and Hannah was indeed four months pregnant. They shared their happy news at breakfast with the family and then Charlie discussed the situation with Professor McGonagall. Hermione summised that the Headmistress had agreed to allow Hannah to continue living in Gryffindor, though they must have added rooms to their quarters to make a place for the future baby.
Mrs. Weasley had been giddy since learning of her pending grandchild. She had two sets of knitting needles working on blankets and clothing for the child and had spent all day in the kitchen preparing food for the future mother. Mr. Weasley was also very obviously proud, but had to leave early for work due to the chaos at the Ministry related to the World Cup. Fred and George had left after Percy and Oliver to check in at the jokeshop, leaving Harry, Hermione, and Ron to be watched by Remus, who had spent the day researching in books and writing in a notebook.
As the day progressed, the Weasley's slowly returned to the tower. An hour before the game was to commence, the Wizarding Wireless was turned on so that the family could listen to the game. Charlie and Hannah helped Ginny to set up the dining table for dinner. Ron and Hermione ran upstairs to get Hagrid and Harry for the meal and George and Fred returned from the WWW. Harry looked lethargic and his eyes were hallow and dark. His head ached and his scar pulsed with pain, but he refused to tell anyone. He was determined to fight Voldemort on his own. Therefore, he sat at the table and kept to himself as much as possible.
Just as the family sat down to dinner, Aurther arrived with a smile and a whistle. He kissed Mrs. Weasley on the cheek and greeted. "Good evening Weasley's!" during a break in the game. The group collectively greeted Aurther and dinner began with a host of questions, mostly about the Cup.
"How's the game really going Dad?" George asked drolly.
Aurther grinned. "Puddlemore is killing the Bees of course! And Oliver is playing very well. He was a bit injured by a wandering quaffle, but he's fine..."
"Bob's your uncle!" Fred shouted.
"Fanny's your aunt!" George laughed.
"Well done Oliver!" Remus conjolled. "But has there been anything amiss? Any threats? Any incidents? We've listened to the progress of the game and from what we hear, it sounds like things have gone smoothly..."
"Yes," Aurther said with relief. "and they have. There has not been one outburst or threat or incident."
"Yeah, but Dad, the Death Eaters attacked after the game at the last World Cup," Charlie said with anxiety.
"True, son, but no one is staying on the grounds and at the end of the game, people's tickets will become portkeys that send them to their homes the minute the game has ended. The Death Eaters want to make a splash, they want everything at sixes and sevens. They won't attack unless they can cause a ruckus." Aurther explained.
"Well, I pray that all goes as well as you anticipate," Hannah said as she set down her fork. "I would hate to see what happens if there is another attack. I mean the school is barely open as it is..."
"Hannah!" Charlie admonished.
"Shh!" Ron scolded. "The game's back on!"
"Sorry," Hannah winced. "I forgot..."
"What do you mean, the school is barely open?" Hermione asked with a whispered panic.
Charlie glared at his wife and took a deep breath. "You probly don't remember, but on the bottom of your Hogwarts letters, there was a plea for students' parents to contact the school and let us know if their children are to return in the fall term."
"What?" Ginny blerted out with shock.
"Shut it Gin!" Fred shouted as he strained to hear the wireless.
"Professor McGonagall is afraid that the general fear surrounding Dumbledore's death will lead parents to withold their children from school," Mr. Weasley explained somberly during the next break in the game.
"Why would parents do such a thing?" Hermione asked.
Mrs. Weasley smiled softly at the young woman. "We fear for our children's safety, much as your own parents did when they came to see you those few weeks ago..." Hermione nodded with understanding. "The letter also explained how Hogwarts would have increased protection from the Ministry, to help alleviate parent's fears."
"Yes, Miss Granger," Remus smiled. "You'll have the oppertunity to meet the new Hogwarts Aurors soon. And I've been working with Professor Flitwick to produce new protection charms and shields against Dark Magic."
"New Aurors? What about Tonks, Mad Eye, and Shaklebolt?" Ron asked gruffly. "I thought me Dad, Mum, Hagrid, Hannah, Bill and Fleur were gonna help them guard us..."
Remus blushed. "Yes, well, um, the plan has changed..."
Minerva raised her eyebrow. "Are you quite finished?" Remus nodded.
"I understand there are to be four Aurors brought to the school," Aurther commented easily.
Remus flushed. "Actually, the Ministry's going to allow a total of four Aurors to stay at the school, Tonks included. However, we will also have the addition of Ron's Medi-Guard to assist with the Gryffindor's."
Ron paled at the thought and Hermione took his hand in hers under the table and dinner continued on as a quiet affair as the group listened to the wireless.
At dusk, the wireless anounced a win for Pudlemore United against the Brazillian Bees. The tower shook with screams of joy and excitement from all. As the cries continued, four owls began to tap at the Tower's windows and Charlie quickly moved to open them. The owls quickly removed to Aurther, Remus, and the twins.
Fred was the first to open his parcel. "We've won!" he shouted. "Pudlemore's won the Cup and we've won the money for the satelight shop in Hogsmead!"
Everyone jumped up and began yelling and crying out in celebration. Harry half-heartedly hollared with the group, but tried to keep quiet to prevent his head from hurting more.
Remus read his letter quickly and announced that the match went smoothly and there were no security concerns as far as Tonks was aware. Leading to another round of whoops and cries. Charlie quickly shot off to the kitchen with Hannah in toe.
Aurther unfolded his letter to reveal a picture of Oliver blocking a quaffle during the match. "Percy writes that he and Oliver will be home late as Oliver has team obligations and Percy has agreed to escort Cho and Olivia back to St. Mungos with Conner. He said that Oliver's left ankle is sprained, but that Olivia worked on him during a time-out and he's feeling much better."
"Oh thank Heavens," Molly cried as she dabbed her eyes.
"What a relief," Remus sighed as Charlie and Hannah returned with cups of pumpkin juice and Firewhiskey.
"A toast," Charlie announced. "To a safe and successful World Cup!"
"Here, here..." the group shouted with glee.
The happy tension continued in the Tower for some time. Professor McGonagall and Professor Flitwick came up to the tower bringing butterbeer and a special edition of the Daily Prophet complete with stories and pictures. The wireless blasted interviews with team players and highlights from the game.
"Professor McGonagall, you must be so proud," Remus beamed.
Minerva's smile was brilliant. "Oh yes, Wood did wonderfully, didn't he?" She sighed. "I only wish that I could have been there..."
Ron's brows furrowed. "Why..." he began to ask, but he was cut off by Charlie.
"Security risk, Ronnie," he explained. "Professor McGonagall is a high profile witch. She's the new face of Hogwarts and has to keep the school safe. It doesn't look like she's protecting it if she's at a quiditch match."
"Right..." Ron shrugged as he drank his butterbeer.
"How is Micheal taking the news?" Aurther asked with amusement.
"Oh he's up at Madam Rosmerta's drinking with his mates and celebrating..." Minerva explained. "I think he's earned the right to be proud."
"Of course!" Molly cried.
"And with Cho leaving tomorrow for America, it's a double celebration for him..." Minerva smiled. With that, the group settled down to talk about the game and read the Prophet. Their late evening continued until Percy walked into the Weasley Tower carrying Oliver in his arms.
The celebrating group cheered for thier quidtch hero and Percy put the young man back on the ground. He walked with a limp, but was able to move without pain. He was greeted by hugs and kisses and shakes of his hand. The Weasley's and their friends burst with pride over the Keeper and his success. He shared his stories from the game with the group and another toast commenced. The party continued until well into the wee hours of the morning, when Molly insisted that Oliver be sent to bed for a well earned rest.