CHAPTER FOUR

MUGGLE PSYCHOLOGY

"What was McGonagall going on about-- 'it only gets better'?" Ron complained as they walked out of the pub. "How would she know? Where was she when--"

Ginny put her arm around Ron and said in a soothing voice, "It's okay, Ron. Breathe."

He found himself smiling. "Breathe, huh? What are you, my brain prober?"

"Yeah, probably. Seeing as you won't go to St. Mungo's."

"Where's your brain probing certification, young lady?"

"Don't have one. But it's a good idea. I could go to medical school and become your brain prober. Did you know the Muggles call it psychology? I've been reading all about it."

"By the time you learn all that stuff I'll be fine."

"I'll learn it quickly, then."

"You're scary, Ginny. Are you really that eager to practice medicine on me?"

"In all seriousness, though, you should see one. You've been so off. Mum and Dad are worried about you. They talk about it all the time."

"They talk about me behind my back?" Ron felt himself become angry. "Why?"

"Because you explode for no particular reason. You're constantly angry, like, well, like you are now." Ginny smiled wryly.

"I am not angry," he snapped as a brunette came up and stood in front of them.

"Are you Ron Weasley?" she asked.

"Yeah," he said, glaring at his younger sister.

"Will you sign your autograph for me?"

He took out his quill and hastily scribbled his name down on her spare parchment. His eyes followed her until she ran into a Quidditch shop. Ron looked at the window for a minute where a plastic mannequin was displaying the newest Quidditch robes and the newest brand of broomstick. It had been such a long time ago since he'd envied Harry and all of his new models. And it seemed like a different world-- the world in which Harry had given Ron the position of Quidditch captain their seventh year. They'd won the Cup that year, and Mrs. Weasley had framed the picture of Ron holding the trophy over his head, triumphant.

"I miss Quidditch," Ginny said, as if reading Ron's thoughts.

"Me, too. God, we were so carefree in those days."

"Ron, what can I do to get your mind off of your troubles for a day or so? You're going to explode if you keep brooding on the past."

This almost made him smile.

"God, if anyone thought all those things they'd explode."

"Just because you have the emotional range of a teaspoon doesn't mean we all have."

It was weird, what made him smile these days.

"Well, there's one thing I'm sure of." This time, a smile really did spread across his lips. "Hermione's still alive. McGonagall said."

"Ron--" Ginny began with a sigh.

"I know, I won't go looking for her."

But when they Apparated back to the Burrow, Ron felt a hundred pounds lighter.