The next morning as Harry left the dormitory he spotted Ron, Hermione and Ginny sitting at a table talking.

"Ron, did you get into any trouble over the incident with Malfoy?"

"Detention on the weekends throughout the rest of the school year."

"Doing what?"

"McGonagall has a list of things for me to do."

"You won't be able to watch the match will you?"

"McGonagall wants me to be in her office tomorrow following the match."

"What exactly do you have to do during the detentions? In other words I want to know more than just a list of things."

"Tomorrow she's having me do lines. The rest is polishing things through out the school. She's only having me do the detentions for like an hour or two."

"Has your mum found out about it yet?"

"McGonagall didn't say anything about writing to my parents but if Percy knows than I should be hearing about it soon. My mum and dad are not going to happy about my wand being broke in two."

"They can't get to mad, you're not the one that snapped your wand in two."

"I don't know Harry."

The rest of the day went smoothly and quietly. After class before lunch Professor Sprout wanted to have a quick word with Ron. Harry and Hermione left for lunch.

"I wonder what's going on? Lunch is almost over and no sign of Ron." Hermione asked

"Your guess is as good as mine Hermione." Harry replied

"We need to be patient with Ron once we see him. Ron missing meals is not something anyone should have to deal with." Ginny stated.

Hermione and Harry laughed.

As the three of them headed off to the common room they bumped into Ron.

"Ron. What did Professor Sprout want? What took so long?" Hermione asked.

"Dumbledore wanted to see me. Mum was there. Percy found out about what happened the other day and sent an owl to her. It's not that bad though. She let me explain what had happened, yes she's upset that I was fighting but seems to be understanding about it."

"What did mum say about your wand?"

"She really didn't say anything. Wands are expensive and mum and dad can't afford to get me a new one. I don't know what I am going to do without a wand."

"Personally I think that the Malfoy's should get you a new wand. Draco is the one that broke it."

"You are probably right Hermione but I wouldn't want anything that the Malfoy's bought."

"Look Ron, just hear me out okay. I could buy the wand for you and your parents can pay me back in installments. I would not mind doing that."

"I don't know Harry."

That night after every one had gone to bed and were asleep, Harry got up and wrote a note to Mrs. Weasley about what he had mentioned to Ron. Harry knew that if Ron's parents didn't accept his offer he was going to have to find a way to get Ron a new wand without Ron knowing who was behind getting the wand. Depending on what Ron's parents said in their reply he was going to talk to Dumbledore.

The next morning all of Hogwarts was up and heading out to the Quidditch pitch. Slytherin appeared to be dreading the match. Hufflepuff on the other hand was pumped up and ready to go.

Both teams walked out on to the pitch, Montague and Cedric shook hands, Madam Hooch blew her whistle and they were off in the air.

"Smith takes first possession of the quaffle and soars up the pitch, ooh Blaise blocks it. Pucey with the quaffle, passes to Warrington and he drops the quaffle, Summerby there to catch it and soars up the pitch and scores. Montague with the quaffle he zooms down the pitch and scores. Cadwallader with the quaffle and soaring up the pitch, dodges a bludger, nearly collides with Bole and scores. The score is twenty to ten to Hufflepuff and Warrington takes the quaffle and speeds down the pitch and nice save by Abbott. Smith with the quaffle headed right for Warrington and Montague, he passes the quaffle to Cadwallader ooh he drops it but wait Summerby catches the quaffle and takes off and scores. Montague with the quaffle and speeding down the pitch dodges Hopkins passes the quaffle to Warrington who passes it to Montague and scores. The score it thirty to twenty to Hufflepuff. Looks like Slytherin is calling for time out."

After a ten minute time out the game resumed.

"Smith with the quaffle flying fast, ooh a bludger hits him in the side and he drops the quaffle. Pucey snatches the quaffle and soars down the pitch and slips it in past Abbott. Summerby takes the quaffle and takes off up the pitch dodging a bludger and scores. Warrington with the quaffle he passes to Pucey. Pucey drops the quaffle Montague right there to catch it and scores. The match is tied as forty points each. Diggory appears to have seen the snitch he's flying so fast he's nearly a blur and he catches the snitch. Hufflepuff wins one hundred and ninety to forty."

Ron got up and quickly made his way to McGonagall's office and waited for her there.

"Mr. Weasley you remembered. Very good, shall we go in? As you know today I am going to have you do lines. I want you to write that you will not fight. Oh and I have had some food brought in so that you won't miss out on lunch. Just because you have detention does not mean that you will go without meals."

Ron took a seat and begun to write out his lines. Periodically he would take a bite of food.

"I think that will do Mr. Weasley. You may go and enjoy the rest of the day."

"But.."

"Between you and me I wouldn't even be making you do the detentions. I don't think that you should have been fighting but I understand why. There are some people that would have a hissy fit if you did not receive some punishment. Professor Dumbledore agrees with me. I am not going to keep you long for your detentions. A couple of hours at most each day, so I will see you here tomorrow after breakfast."

Ron left the room without another word. Though McGonagall had said that it was just between him and her he could not wait to tell Harry, Hermione and Ginny.

Ron found them all in the common room.

"You'll never guess what McGonagall said to me."

"If we'll never guess then just tell us." Hermione replied

Ron looked around to be sure that if there were anyone else in the common room that they would not be able to hear. He leaned in closer to them and softly told them what McGonagall had told him.

"Are you serious?" Hermione asked

"That's what she said. In other words if Dumbledore could have gotten away with it I wouldn't even have detention. It's just to appease other people. More than likely Lucius Malfoy. I wouldn't be surprised."

"Your probably right." Ginny said.

"The fact that Malfoy was about to curse Ron, I mean who cares if there had been a mediocre brawl. Ron not only had his back to Malfoy but he was also unarmed. It's ridiculous that Ron has to do detention for the rest of the year on the weekends even if it is only for an hour or two. It shouldn't even be that way."

"Thank you Hermione." Ron said.

At dinner Hedwig soared through the hall and landed in front of Harry, he took the letter from his owl, opened it and read,

Harry,

How thoughtful of you. Mr. Weasley and I appreciate it greatly. I do not know how we could ever pay you back.

Mrs. Weasley.

Harry got up and left for the common room and wrote to Mrs. Weasley,

Mrs. Weasley,

As far as paying me back you really don't have to worry about it. I would rather you and Mr. Weasley save the money that you would use to pay me back in installments and get Ron some new dress robes. I know this might seem strange but not to worry.

Harry

Harry quickly sent the letter with Hedwig. Moments later Ron, Hermione and Ginny walked in to the common room.

"Harry what are you doing?" Hermione asked

"Nothing."

"Yeah right Harry."

"Ron don't worry about it. I have made arrangements with your parents to get you a new wand. It might not be until next year when we are at Diagon Alley but you will have a new wand."

"Harry…"

"Ron don't worry about it. Arrangements are made for them to pay me back. You can't go without a wand Ron."

"I know but…. uh thank you."

"No problem."

The next day Harry received a letter from Mrs. Weasley,

Harry,

Thank you so much for your generosity. Though I must say that we would rather we pay you back with what we can each month, we will save up to get Ron new dress robes. Again thank you.

Mrs. Weasley

Harry smiled and was happy that Ron's parents agreed to what he wanted.

"What are you smiling about?"

"Just you mum letting me know that she and your dad have agreed to my offer and arrangements for paying me back."

"So how long do we have without Malfoy? Does anyone know how long he is suspended for?" Ginny asked.

"He'll be out until the sixteenth of May." Harry replied

"I have to say that it is going to be boring with Malfoy gone."

"At least for a while no one will have their wand snapped in two. I don't doubt that it will be boring but I am going to enjoy the time while he's gone." Hermione said.

"Also Ron with Malfoy gone you won't have to worry about how you'll defend yourself against him without a wand." Ginny added.

Ron said nothing at his sister's comment. He knew she was right. How could he possibly defend himself against anyone at the moment without a wand?

The following morning as Harry, Ginny, Ron and Hermione were about to leave the common room Professor McGonagall walked in.

"Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley would please come with me?"

Harry and Ron exchanged confused looks and followed McGonagall out of the common room and to her office.

"Don't worry, neither of you are in trouble. I just wanted to let you know that today before lunch you are to go to Dumbledore's office. Special arrangements have been made for the two of you to go to Diagon Alley to get Mr. Weasley a new wand. These arrangements have been made with haste so that you aren't without a wand. You may go and have breakfast. Oh yes the password is lemon meringue."

Harry and Ron quickly made their way to the dining hall and ravenously ate their breakfast.

"So what did McGonagall want?" Hermione asked.

"Oh, after lunch we're going to go to Diagon Alley to get Ron a new wand." Harry said quietly.

"Good thing we don't have class after lunch."

"Hermione do you really think that Dumbledore would let us miss class just to get a new wand?"

"You never know Ron. Whether or not you want to believe it, this is pretty serious. Without a wand you are vulnerable. And I don't mean just you, anyone would be vulnerable without a wand."

After Ron and Harry's last class before lunch they went to their common room to drop off their book bags before heading to Dumbledore's office. Once they reached the gargoyle they said lemon meringue and the gargoyle sprung out of the way allowing them to step onto the spiral staircase. Once at the door to Dumbledore's office they knocked.

"Come in."

"Professor McGonagall said that we were to come here before lunch."

"Oh yes. I know you both have traveled by floo powder before, on your return just say 'Gryffindor common room'. Do not take too long. If all goes well you two will return to an empty common room or at least no more that Miss. Granger and Miss. Weasley."

Harry stepped into the fireplace first and instantly found himself in Diagon Alley. He had just barely moved when stepped out where he had been. They headed straight for Ollivander's.

"How may I help you?"

" I need a new wand."

"Ah very well. Let's try this one…no…how a bout this one?"

This went on for twenty minutes when Ron finally had a wand. He was ecstatic that he had a wand of his own, that it was brand new and that he would be the only person to use it.

As they stepped out of the fireplace in the common room they found only Hermione and Ginny sitting at their table.

"So, what kind of wand do you have?" Hermione asked.

"It's fourteen inches long, willow with one unicorn tail-hair."

"You know what, Ron I bet you'll do better in classes."

"What do you mean Hermione?"

"You have your own wand, a wand that chose you. Obviously you'll do better in charms and transfiguration. The wand you had before belonged to your brother Charlie and you didn't win it so to speak. This wand you'll be able to do so much more with, you won't have much difficulty using it."

"Much difficulty! What is that supposed to mean?"

"You also have to pay attention in class."

Ron merely grunted at Hermione. Harry worked extremely hard to pull of not busing up laughing.

"Hermione has a point Ron." Ginny stated.

The next several days went by without incident. Though Draco was gone Harry and his friends still kept their guard up. Harry fully expected the rest of the Slytherin's to blame him for Draco being suspended and to retaliate. Harry being exhausted from all the Quidditch practices felt as though it would be the perfect time for the Slytherin's to do something. Harry was relieved that nothing happened.

Slytherin had not been their usual daunting selves while Draco was gone. They perked up when he returned.

"What do you mean Zabini? Potter and the rest of them have been going on without any trouble!"

"What exactly could we do Draco?"

"If it had not been for Potter I wouldn't have been suspended."

"Draco, there were too many people around. It would not have mattered if Potter had ratted you out or not."

"Siding with the enemy are you?"

"No! Just stating the obvious. You should be thankful that no points were lost over your ordeal."

Draco said no more and brooded. He was determined to get Harry and his friends back.

Several days went by. A group of Slytherin's were talking by a tree discussing the upcoming match.

"Hold on. How did our match go?" Asked Draco.

"Horribly."

"What do you mean by horribly Zabini?"

"We had been tied but then Cedric caught the snitch. The final score was one hundred and ninety to forty."

"Are you kidding me? Who played in my place?"

"Terrence Higgs."

"You couldn't find anyone else to play seeker? Out of our whole house he was the only one you could find?"

"Cool it Draco or I just might have to replace you permanently. You weren't here to see how the replacement trials went because you got caught messing with that Weasley kid. I know what you have been saying Draco. Whether or not Potter had intervened you still would have been in trouble if not expelled like Marcus. If Potter had not disarmed you, you would have succeeded in cursing Weasley in front of a Professor."

"So it's all my fault, is that it?"

"I'm no saying that Draco. What I am trying to get at is that you need to be more careful when you pick your fights or when someone picks a fight with you. Don't go trying to get revenge on Potter and his friends, whether or not you get caught you will be suspected and we don't need that right now. What we need to do is rally behind Ravenclaw. I know we are out of the running for first place but if Ravenclaw can keep Gryffindor from getting more than thirty points we won't be in last place."

"So how exactly are we supposed to that Montague? Do you remember the hell we put them through just before we played them?"

"They know it was just a ploy to get them unfocused on the match, which didn't work that well."

"Have you thought about possibly just taking Potter out of the match? Not that he's all that good but the rest of Gryffindor seem to think that he is."

"What would you know about talent Malfoy?"

"Ron don't bother. He's not worth it. Honestly he wouldn't know talent if it hit him in the head. Come one let's go." Harry said as he dragged Ron away from the group of Slytherin's.