Chapter 16
Hermione and Harry were seeing to Ron. He seemed alright. Three stunning spells hadn't done him any harm. he would just be out for longer and have a nastier headache when he woke up.
"Is... is Ron alright?" Asked a small voice off to the right side of the chamber.
Harry and Hermione turned to see who it was. He was a pale rather sweet and kind looking boy with blond hair who looked younger than his actual age of 15, more like maybe 12 or 13 Harry thought. Harry flushed and felt some bile rising at the thought of Ron taking advantage of this kid. Derek's eyes were puffy and red. He appeared to have been crying profusely. Draco was right, his cousin Derek didn't look like he belonged in Slytherin at all.
Harry was going to have a long conversation with that bloody Hat.
"I... I tried to stop him." Derek sobbed, "But Ron was too strong for me. He put some kind of curse on me which sort of paralysed me. Will he be alright? Please... I don't care if he put a curse on me. I just want him to feel better. I... I love him."
"He'll be alright now. Those stunning spells just knocked Ron out" Said Hermione gently. "But Ron will be better off at St Mungo's for a while. He's got some serious problems. I'm sure they'll let you visit him."
It was nearly midnight by the time the Medi-wizards from St Mungo's had collected Ron. Molly Weasley had gone with them, but Arthur Weasley had stayed behind to talk to Harry and Hermione. For privacy, Harry had invited the Minister of Magic to his living quarters, and now they were all drinking tea-except for Alex who had conjured up a can of soda.
Arthur looked apologetically at Alex, the very pretty girl from America who had returned with Harry. This was the first time Arthur had met Alex. And he hadn't even seen Harry and Hermione since the beginning of the summer. They had given the Weasley residence a wide berth-with good reason Arthur thought.
"I'm so sorry," Arthur began, "I had no idea how badly off Ron was. I would have never sent him back to Hogwarts if I had known..."
"Well, we're none the worse Arthur. It's Ron that really needs looking after." Said Harry, who was becoming more and more accustomed to using the first names of the adults in his life.
"Yes... er indeed!" Said a flustered Arthur. "He'll be getting the care he needs at St Mungo's for a bit. Then I suppose we'll have him at home after that." Arthur stared at his shoes glumly. "That boy... Eric?..."
"Derek," said Hermione.
"Is Derek going to be alright? The boy seems besotted with Ron. Should I let him visit Ron?"
"I'm not sure, Mr Weasley. Maybe..." said Hermione sighing. "It will make Ron feel a bit better. But keep your eye on things and don't let Ron alone with Derek-even when he comes out of the hospital. Ron could really hurt Derek if he loses it again."
"I think it would almost be better if you sent him to live with your cousins in Ireland," continued Hermione. "Ron needs to figure out who he is without all of us ghosts to haunt him-and that includes Molly I'm afraid."
Arthur stared at his shoes again, and steepled his fingers.
"I've... I've been thinking that too," said Arthur, "But Molly won't hear of it. I don't know what to do. She won't listen to me about this, I'm certain. Molly is my wife, and usually we agree on everything... but when it comes to her children... Well you two know how she is."
Harry did know, but he thought he knew a way to get past that...
"Molly might not listen to you Arthur, but I think Minerva can set her straight. Minerva is brilliant at telling people how to raise their children."
Arthur burst out laughing, but Harry was looking at him with a straight face. Hermione giggled.
"You're right Harry," Arthur said, still chuckling. "I'll set her on Molly and step out of the room. That's not something I want to be in the middle of."
Even Alex started laughing at that crack. Arthur reminded her a bit of her own dad-but perhaps a bit smarter. Okay, a lot smarter!