A/N: Thanks for your reviews! I love them! And for those that have complained about Australian stuff: I'm not Australian nor have I ever been there, so thus I rely on the internet for information… blame it, not me…Okay… Now where did I leave off…? Oh yeah, I remember now…

Please note: if you haven't reread the first two chapters do that now… I deleted some stuff… Erase the original chapters from your mind… Hermione doesn't know about the locket incident, and Ginny has no clue of what happened while the trio was hunting… Got it?

Disclaimer: *sigh* I still don't own HP, though I can't freakin' wait to see DH 2!

Now a random fact about your author: "I often talk back and forth to myself just to weird out my sister/ Co-author (aka: LlamaiiiiXlovesXSeddie)…"

When we last left our beloved characters: "Colin's memorial is scheduled for today, May 19th, at 1:00 pm. He will be dearly missed."

~rAndOM sQuIrReL~

"Oh shut up, Pig," Ron scolded as he entered his bedroom. The small owl had begun hoot and fly in circles around the attic bedroom the moment his owner had opened the door.

"PIG!" Ron shouted. The owl settled on its perch and hooted softly, ruffling his feathers.

Ron meanwhile collapsed on his bed and stared up at his ceiling.

"Ron?" Hermione's voice was followed by a knock on his door. She slowly entered the room. "Can I come in?"

"Yeah."

She sat at the end of his bed. "Harry is just-."

"It's okay 'Mione. I'm fine. I understand."

"But Ron-."

He sat up, "Blimey, Hermione, do you ever stop running your mouth?"

"Do you ever stop being rude?" she asked angrily.

"You know that's not what I m-."

"Well, you can sometimes be very hurtful with your-."

"Hermione."

"Words. Like in fifth year-."

"'Mione."

"Had Luna been a bit more socially aware she would have been upset at some of the things you said. She-."

"Hermione," he repeated firmly.

"What?" she asked using a similar tone.

"Calm down, 'Mione."

"Don't tell me to calm down, Ronald. You never tell a woman to calm down it only increases frustration-."

"Hermione, stop worrying. Harry will come 'round. He is just having to deal with reality once more. In Australia he was able to leave it all temporarily behind, but now it's catching up."

"Well, he is good at hiding it all underneath, but he bottles it up and it starts to come out. And after all he has been through, it's understandable why. Ginny has been giving him time, but is anxious to hear about what has happened between the wedding and the battle," she said.

"When he gets back we'll talk to him, okay?"

"Okay."

~rAndOM sQuIrReL~

"Come on Ginny! Score already! I know I'm a good keeper, but you're an even better chaser!" Ron shouted to his little sister from across their makeshift quidditch pitch.

Ginny, quaffle in hand, slowly flew closer to Ron and the goal posts. She looked distractedly towards the Burrow, before dropping quickly with a scream, then racing to the goal posts and punting the ball through the hoop. This maneuver allowed her to score, as Ron was temporarily confused.

Before Ron could argue about her tactics a loud pop was heard from below and both of the Weasley children flew lower to see Harry walking to the Burrow at top speed, Hermione, who had been reading below, pursuing him with difficulty.

Ron nodded to Ginny, who returned this gesture before flying off to deter Harry at the front door. Ron meanwhile sped off towards the topmost window, which led to the bedroom that he and Harry shared. After climbing through it, he rested his broom against the wall, and sat down on his bed, awaiting the arrival of his roommate.
Ron tracked Harry's progress to the room through the sounds the house made: the door slamming, angry voices, and heavy footsteps on the stairs. Harry finally burst through the door and collapsed on his cot.

"Harry?" Ron said softly. Harry remained silent as he stared at the ceiling. "Harry?" he repeated.

"Not now, Ron. I have a headache," Harry said sharply.

"Your scar isn't hurting is it?" Ron asked, worriedly. Harry sat up in bed and shook his head. A knock sounded at the door and Hermione entered.

Harry sighed and rolled his eyes in return. "No, Hermione."

"What do you mean 'no'? I haven't said anything, yet."

"Yet."

"Harry, you've always had this terrible habit of shutting yourself in, whether in good times or bad. Ron and I have tried to help pull you out in past years, and we sometimes managed to, but we can't keep doing this."

"Yeah, mate. It's rather exhausting. You still haven't realized that you are no longer that lonely 11- year-old from the cupboard," Ron said.

"I have too," Harry said turning to look at them. "If you haven't notice a lot has happened in these past seven years. I have faced Voldemort several times, as well as fought him and his death eaters, I've been tortured, jinxed, cursed," he paused momentarily, then said quietly, "Given family and then had it taken away."

Hermione sighed, "Harry, we've all faced that, including losing family."

"Yeah, but you got your family back," Harry said bitterly.

"I haven't," Ron said, quietly. "Fred's gone for ever. It's hard enough for us to deal with, but imagine how George feels. His partner in crime, his best mate, a part of himself is lost, and is never gonna be found. Every day he looks in the mirror is a reminder of Fred."

Hermione gave Ron a sympathetic look.

"You're not the only one who's lost something, mate," he continued. "And like I said before: you aren't that lonely 11-year-old. You've got us. You've always had us and you'll always have us. And not just 'Mione and me. There's always Mum and Dad and Ginny."

Harry nodded once and sighed. Ron stood and followed Hermione out, to allow Harry some time to his thoughts.

~rAndOM sQuIrReL~

"No! Please! No! Stop! Take me! Take me!"

Ron woke suddenly, and grabbed his wand off the nightstand. Harry lay in his cot, thrashing. He was drenched in sweat, and was constantly tossing and turning. He woke abruptly and sat up in bed, panting.

Ron summoned a glass from the kitchen, whispered, "Aguamenti," and handed him the glass.

"Thanks," Harry muttered before taking a large gulp.

"You okay, mate?"

"Yeah. Just go back to sleep," he said putting the glass down and rolling over.

"Are you sure-?"

"I said I'm fine Ron," He said sharply.

"Yeah, right. 'kay," Ron responded. Instead of going back to sleep he pulled on a jacket and shoes before he went downstairs and outside.

~rAndOM sQuIrReL~

The next four days passed quickly, with Ron and Ginny practicing quidditch and Hermione watching and reading contentedly from the ground. Harry meanwhile moved into the twins' old bedroom, which had been vacated two years ago (yet still smelled of gunpowder), as Fred and George had moved into a flat above their shop. Mrs. Weasley said it was time Harry received his own bedroom, until he saw it fit that he move out.

Saturday evening rolled around and Mrs. Weasley began cooking the family dinner at 4:00. She and Mr. Weasley had invited everyone from the family, as well as close friends, and members of the Order to join them, as was traditional of Weasley family dinners.

By six that evening almost everyone had arrived. Bill, Mr. Weasley, and Percy conversed about politics and the ministry in a corner of the living room, while Harry and Ron played chess. Hermione read, and Ginny and Fleur talked in the corner. George was quietly working in another corner, on a potion, but was looking quite frustrated. Without warning the fireplace exploded with green flames, a huge figure appearing in the grate.

"Sorry, I'm late Molly. I got a little carried away with repairs. We've been workin' hard to restore the school to its original state before term."

"Not a problem at all Hagrid. It's understandable. Can I get you a glass of Firewhiskey?" she said, her infamous smile of kindness etched upon her face.

"Oh you can get me more than just a glass," he said with a chuckle before following her into the kitchen.

Hagrid returned to the living room with a large mug of the amber liquid and took a massive swig. He swayed a moment on the spot, then shook his large bearded head before sitting down on the couch next to George. A bit of firewhiskey sloshed out of the mug and into the cauldron, as the thundering crack of the couch breaking sounded.

George cringed as the drink splashed into his potion. He slowly peered over the edge, as the once red-brown contents now turned a dark espresso color. A large bubble rose to the surface of the liquid and popped, splattering George's face with the potion. Instantaneously a beard sprouted from his chin. While the family was quite astonished and concerned, George seemed to be delighted.

"Brilliant! Thank you, Hagrid!"

"I'm not sure what I did, George, but you're very welcome," Hagrid laughed.

"You added the last ingredient to my potion. The final element to the next Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes product! I don't know why I didn't think of using Ogden's Old Firewhiskey! I mean it grows hair on your chest," he pounded his fist on his sternum, "Metaphorically, but mixed with the right concoction it apparently does. Do you think that was 100 mL or 150?" He then became very preoccupied with noting every reaction very carefully on a piece of parchment with scribbles all over it.

The family went back to what they had been doing prior to Hagrid's arrival, but were interrupted once more by the green flames erupting in the fireplace, welcoming the arrival of an older woman with graying brown hair. She exited the fireplace and, using her right hand as her left was securing a bundle beneath her cloak, brushed away the ashes.

"Oh, Dromeda! You're here! We are so very glad you could make it," Mrs. Weasley said rushing into the living room.

Her appearance had made Harry rise to his feet, his wand at the ready, as he had done the year before. Ron too, was surprised at her features similar to that of her older sister, Bellatrix. He quickly stood, knocking the chessboard over, and shielded Hermione, his wand raised.

Andromeda looked over to where Ron and Harry were standing, the noise of the chess board catching her attention. Her kind eyes watched them carefully. Harry realized his mistake, and lowered his wand, giving her a weak smile as he sat down. Ron refused to move.

"Ron, dear. Lower your wand. This is Andromeda Tonks," his mother said.

"Prove it," he said with a nod, never shifting his gaze.

"Ronald-," his mother began.

"It's alright Molly," Andromeda said. "He has every right to be cautious, especially after all the pain my sister has caused."

Ron repeated himself, "Prove it."

"My name is Andromeda Tonks. I am- excuse me- was the wife and mother of Ted Tonks and Nymphadora Lupin. I was the safe house for Harry Potter and Rubius Hagrid the night of Harry's removal from his childhood home."

Ron studied her carefully, before slowly lowering his wand. He slouched a little and rubbed his neck, "Sorry."

"No need to apologize, dear," she said with a smile.

"Let me get you a cup of tea," Mrs. Weasley said bustling into the kitchen, Andromeda following behind.

Fifteen minutes later, Mrs. Weasley called everybody outside to the dinner table. Everyone took a seat, or in Hagrid's case three, and sat down to eat. Halfway through the dinner Ron noticed a small baby with bright turquoise hair, sitting on Andromeda's lap. He smiled as Teddy blew bubbles with his spit.

After dinner they moved to the living room, where Mrs. Weasley served treacle tart. Soon the dishes were all piled in the kitchen, cleaning themselves.

"Sorry, Molly, but I must be gettin' back to 'ogwarts. Still lots ter do," Hagrid said after finishing a fourth helping.

"Not a problem, Rubius," she smiled. "We were glad you could come."

"Thanks, Molly," he stepped into the fireplace and disappeared into the green flames.

Teddy began drawing in the attention of the women, by cooing and giggling.

"Mrs. Tonks, may I hold Teddy?" Ginny asked.

"It's Andromeda, dear, and certainly. I have had to use the loo for awhile," she said passing the month old baby to the red head and getting up. Ginny took a seat next to Ron and Harry and rested Teddy on her lap.

"He is really quite cute," Ron thought. "He is so happy too. No cares in the world. No idea what people are going through. No idea that he will never see his parents."

Ron began to imagine what it would be like if his parents had died when he was young, like Harry and Teddy's had. Ginny would have never been born. A pang hit his heart and his stomach flipped at the thought.

His mind began to wander. He thought of the battle, Fred's smiling face, Hagrid holding Harry's limp body, Ginny and Hermione's screams. A lump lodged itself in his throat and his heart began to race. Hermione's screams of pain mixed with Bellatrix's yells flashed back into his mind.

"Ron? Are you okay?" Hermione asked, touching his hand. "Ron you're ice cold."

He tried to speak but couldn't. His stomach began to ache and his mouth went dry. He felt a numb feeling growing in his toes. His vision blurred and went black.

A/N: Haha! Cliffhanger! I'm really anxious to read your reviews… Because you made Ron choke to death? What is wrong with you? (And I know that all of our readers are looking forward to a mouth-to-mouth resuscitation/kiss thing in the next chapter now...) *sigh* Btw everyone, the story is waaay more fun to read in an angry Scotsman's voice, especially when you change the voice a bit for each character. Hermione's is best as a low and smoker-ish growl. =D *whispers* I hate you... Review Please! I'll post the next chapter soon, because I know you hate cliffies AND because I'm freaking out right now… You can't see me, but I am freaking out. My stomach is feeling this weird sensation that I get when I'm REALLY excited and I only get it when I watch, read or write HP… or when my cousins come to town… That sounds kinda creepy actually... That's not what I meant... Review!