Chapter 14 – Who's the Boss?
Word count; 2,553
AN; The opening scene in this story was heavily inspired by 'Those Four Last Days of the War' - as originally written by; oscarpaz00 - - Fanfictiondotnet id #:7192398. I recommend it for those who like a uber-powerful …emotion-free, Ron's. The major difference between his tale and mine is - one) the character of Ron himself, mine isn't all powerful or devoid of emotion - - secondly and more important - - what happens after they meet in the forest of Dean.
When I wrote the above back in chapter one - I fully expected our two stories to go in very different paths once Ron opened his 'pie-hole' and in several ways they have, I took my Ron to Malfoy manor –oscarpaz00 did not, he invaded the Ministry and I didn't, - - oscarpaz00's Ron works alone and shuns help – my Ron leads a resistance group
But then again there were those pesky similarities' – we've both hurt Hermione – but in different ways – still, the Hermione-prefect …up-on-pedestal crowd can't be happy with either of us. I can't wait to see how rbwHJG reconcile in 'Those Four Last Days of the War'- as for how I do it – read on.
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Upon leaving the tent, Aberforth guided Arthur and Molly to the same transfigured beach chairs he had made the day before for his heart-to heart with Ron. They were barely seated a moment later - Abe saw Dean Thomas guide an amazed looking Bill and Fleur Weasley into Ronald's pavilion tent.
The old wizard was happy now that he had managed to talk Tweaky into putting Ron and Hermione in side by side medical gurneys in the mini surgery in the front of the tent - instead of the kings-size bed in the huge tents master-bedroom in the back. Molly's reaction to that sight would have been far more severe.
A few moments after a commotion was heard coming from the tent - - Abe beheld Bill and Fleur Weasley emerge from the tent in a rush - accompanied by Dean and a stern-looking Madam Pomfrey, only to move down a row of tents towards them. The two Weasley's were in a very animated discussion often gesturing back toward their damaged cottage alternating with the pavilion tent.
"I'm sorry Mr. Dumbledore, but these two insisted that I bring them to you," The Matron said in a 'put-upon' tone, "They have been told by Mr. Thomas that the RW resistance intends to pay them rent for the use of their home and compensate them for any damage done while the RW occupies Shell Cottage - tending the wounded.
"Yes - Poppy - I sure Mr. Thomas was correct; we in the RW don't occupy homes without compensation." Abe said nodding at the boy who was standing in the back. Just make a list of the cost of repairs Bill – turn it over to Dean here and you'll get all the gold you need.
"Right you are," Dean said
"That won't be necessary," Bill tried to say.
"But I'm afraid it is, the gaffer of this unit will insist on it. He has a sort of fetish about doing things properly in regards to non-combatants," Dean said smiling at some private joke.
"Well - I just have a go at him, then" - Bill snarled sounding faintly like a wolf. "Fleur and I won't accept a brass Knut for helping refuges get away from you-know-who. And we speak for the Delacour's as well. We brought back the thirty thousand that Luna Lovegood brought to my in-laws. We don't take gold for doing what's right.
"But Mr. Weasley – Dean explained slowly and carefully – "My gaffer didn't send that money to France for your families personal use. We have an operation in the final stages that if not successful - will involve the quick resettlement of what's left of the resistance and what's left of our immediate families. - -.
"A major Battle is in the works – eh?" Bill said sounding excited
"Perhaps and then again - maybe not - more likely just a meeting engagement or an ambush. My chief hasn't filled us in on the final details yet
"Can you tell us anything about it; Aberforth?" Arthur asked.
"Oh heavens no, I'm a retired researcher and bookkeeper not a stagiest" Dumbledore lied smoothly while suppressing a knowing smile.
"- - But I thought you were in-charge here, Aberforth," Molly asked in a somewhat puzzled tone.
"I handle logistics and finances - along with several others of our group - both here and in Paris. But the original founder of the RW and overall commander is - -
"- - Is Potter in charge here, then?" Bill interrupted eagerly, "I saw him in what a house-elf called the commanders tent.
"The history books will portray it that way, especially if we win, but Harry actually only joined us two days ago. Before that; he and Granger spent the previous five months – since the break-in at the Ministry - in fact - in hiding at various locations throughout the U.K." Aberforth said fighting back a laugh.
"I must insist, that we have a word with your commander," Molly said in her stern no nonsense tone. "I want my son separated from that shameless jezebel and turned over to me at once.
"You can't speak to the commander at the moment,
"And why not," Molly asked.
"Well you saw for yourself, your son is unconscious." Aberforth said smiling in delight as he let the cat out of the bag.
Total silence
Pause
Awkward silence
"Not funny Aberforth", Molly said - but Arthur sitting next to her was looking extra hard at Dumbledore.
"I dink he is serious - Mama," Fleur said to Molly somewhat amazed. "Ve Vela is good at detecting de lies, and ze old man is not lying."
"My son - - Ronald, - - he is in charge here?" Arthur said as gob-smacked surprise as everyone else but Abe and Poppy.
"The general public and the DE think that 'RW' stands for 'royal wizards'" Dean chuckled, "but to the lads in the resistance - RW actually stands for Ron's Warriors. That it is also his initials just adds to the irony
"When he sent us off to France – he intended this?" Bill asked rhetorically
"Not by design," Aberforth replied in all seriousness. "After a bit of special training with me to develop his gift, the brash fool began freeing Snatcher prisoners in late-November. At first he gave them the gold and wands that he foraged from the dead snatchers. He'd then create illegal portkey's to get these fugitives out of the country and onto the Continent, using Delacour Manor as a start point for the refuges to scatter into hiding.
"Yes papa was glad tu help, but we did not know Ronnie was behind dis" Fleur said in heavily accented English.
"He began the compensation policy after arranging the mass breakout of Azkaban in December - - two hundred thousand in gold; or the entire 'liberated' portion of the DE treasury – was put into the Grint account to be used to help the refuges resettle.
"But papa only distributed de gold – vee took none for ourselves." Fleur protested.
"Surely you've had expenses, you've fed them, helped them on their way," Aberforth objected
"Never mind the gold, how did my Ronald of all people …become - - Molly began furiously.
"- - Does anyone in your family not underestimate that boy?" Aberforth interrupted with heavy distain. "No wonder he has suffered from insecurities issues his entire life. His own family doesn't think him capable of doing anything!
"Now see here," Molly snarled as her temper flared - only to be interrupted - as Harry appeared at the door of the tent. In loud voice he shouted: "Aberforth come quick - - they're arguing."
"Well nothing new there", Arthur said with a chuckle as he stood-up …only to be glared at by his wife.
The group then as a whole moved to the entrance to the tent.
"You're saying they are awake, Potter?" Poppy asked as she passed the Boy
"No madam Pomfrey, their eyes are closed tight – they haven't moved - and Hermione is the only one yelling. But I swear to Merlin it sounds like half of or one-side of - - one of their famous arguments.
"I don't understand you?" Pomfrey countered.
"Harry is right," Dean said after listening a-bit. "She's arguing with somebody - - as if the other person is just outside of the room." Confronted with this confusing description the Matron paused to listen. And too her surprise - Dean was right
"I didn't say that Ron…
Pause
"No… not alone you're not …
Pause
"Well that's just too bad …
Pause
"I'm going with you… that much is non-negotiable
Pause
"Because I love you - - you idiot…
Pause
"Don't you dare walk out on me Ronald Bilius … I'm warning you …
"She must be dreaming?" Poppy Pomfrey suggested softly - - unable to think of any other explanation – but as if to give lie to that idea, Ron suddenly sat upright, swung his legs over and onto the floor and with eyes still tightly closed – he stood-up on unsteady feet.
"Get-out of my head –woman," Ron exclaimed hotly - as he staggered blindly toward the exit of the tent. Everyone else was too stunned to interfere - - except -
"Potter – stop him!" - Aberforth shouted. And to everyone's surprise Harry did – try – not that the mostly starved, skin and bones seeker could hope to slow down the raging bull of a tall and muscular goal keeper. The collision wasn't pretty and Harry was swatted aside like a fly. But Ron didn't get out the door, less than a foot from the entrance - he collapsed like a sack of meal - - as if the air was leaked out of a big-bag all at once. Back at the 'side by side' cots – Hermione too, with a sigh also collapsed.
"They're connected – oh this is just marvelous." Aberforth exclaimed with all the excitement of a schoolboy on Christmas morning. Abe then levitated Ron with his wand back over and onto the empty gunnery,
"Stand aside, - no one come close," Aberforth ordered. "Potter pick-yourself off the floor and get over here - do it - now." Without thinking Harry obeyed.
"Same hands as earlier, on the count of three," Abe said lifting Ron's right hand up and over toward Hermione, while Harry did the same thing with Hermione's left hand.
"One - - two - - three
When the two hands were pushed within a few inches of the other - - with a flash of extra bright white light the two hands joined, a second later and at the same moment – Ron and Hermione moaned in exhausted pain.
"Ron listen to me", Aberforth said loudly into the boy's ear – "use your Occlumency to separate your thoughts from hers – don't try to push her out - that most likely won't work. Tell your wife to do the same thing in her mind – if my theory is correct - she'll know how by now.
A long moment of silence followed as everyone looking on held their collective breath. Suddenly Ron opened his eyes. Turned his head slightly to the left and said in an exhausted whisper - - "Master?"
"Yes Ron - I'm here," Abe said leaning forward.
"What happened?
"You did it,
"Hermione – is she alright?
"I'm here too, luv." A weak sounding voice whispered - somewhere to his right.
"Thank-god," Ron said with a contented sigh.
"Ronald Bilius Weasley you let go of that jezebel at once – do you hear me?" - Molly growled loudly like an angry lioness.
Ron began to get angry, his entire body began to glow white
"Ron – don't. She doesn't understand what we just went through. Please luv – for my sake," Hermione pleaded weakly. After another moment of uncertainty - the white glow faded.
"Thank-you my love," Hermione said with a satisfied smile - before she drifted off to sleep.
"MUM, listen to me!," Ron semi-growled - - his anger with his mother all but palpable. "I'm only going to say this once. Hermione and I are together. I know she did bad things that hurt me last term - - but we've just sorted that out. She wants another go at us as a couple and so do I. This won't be easy for either of us – so please cut us some slack.
"But son - she's can't be - - -"
"I can trust her now, where I couldn't before - and that's all that matters. We are both of age, and you have two options here, - be supportive and happy for me, or object and be obstructive and you'll never see me again.
"Ronald how can you trust her, you haven't seen her since she betrayed you - - she's an amoral slag - - -" Molly began hotly only to be abruptly silenced by an unspoken spell at the same time Ron's free hand briefly glowed white.
"Master, do you understand what happened to us?
"Yes boy – I think I do.
"Could you explain it to the others, Hermione and I are a-bit knackered and need a little nap.
"Will you both be okay?"
"Yes, the barriers are down, we are one, - - and Master?"
"Yes Ron.
"We need a new plan
"You've found a reason to survive the war - eh? Aberforth asked in a delighted tone, but Ron didn't reply - his eyes were gently closed and he was sleeping peacefully – with a huge contented smile on his face.
(End Tran)