I apologize a thousand hundred times for this long of a break- school has been kicking my ass right now and I finally got the time to sit down and write this chapter. Thank you all for your lovely reviews and comments- they're seriously making me think hard about the plot. I am also in need of a beta for this story as my writing can be a bit rubbish after no sleep so if any of you would like to do that please drop me a line! Also I have literally no idea where this is heading- whether Ron is actually going to do anything, or if he's just going to sulk in the shadows, so fingers crossed for that :).

-DarkPrincessFangirl 3

Molly Weasely was under the impression that she knew her children quite well, but when Ron had returned from his second year at Hogwarts, she wasn't so sure anymore. He had crashed through the barrier at the train station and wrapped himself around her, burying his head in her shoulder and staying there for quite a while.

During the summer she noticed other changes- he didn't laugh easy, keeping his smiles to a minimum, and at night Molly swore up and down she heard him sobbing. But he'd always denied it.

And now he was off to his third year. "Ron," Molly caught her son's sleeve right before he boarded the train. "Sweetheart, be careful out there, all right?"

He looked down at her- when had he gotten taller than her?- and smiled crookedly. "Don't worry Mum, I doubt Sirius Black cares about me."

"Be careful anyway, Molly said firmly, trying to ignore the hollow look in his eyes and patted his cheek. "I love you."

"Love you too," Ron whispered, just as the train whistled and pulled away.

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Ron had dreadful luck, and so of course it would be appropriate that the only seat left in the entire train, was with Lupin. And Harry and Hermione. Great. Ron tossed his luggage up and tried to ignore the other two sitting across from him, curling his hands into fists and digging them into his thighs.

"Sirius Black escaped from prison?" Harry whispered "Who's he?"

"A mass murderer apparently." Hermione hissed back, and through slits in his closed eyes, Ron could see her clutching tightly onto Crookshanks.

Stupid cat. Crookshanks yellow eyes swiveled to him and Ron turned away, refusing to have a staring contest with a cat for Merlin's sake.

The train shuddered to a halt and Ron's couldn't hold back a groan. Dementors, how in the name of everything holy could he have forgotten?

He sat up studiously ignoring Harry's eyes flashing to him. "What?" He snarled at Hermione who had gone very white.

"It's you," she hissed back, clearly trying not to wake Lupin. "The boy in first year."

"Well obviously it's me," Ron hissed back yanking his coat on as frost started to cover the windows. "I am a student, you know." He turned towards Lupin's sleeping form and poked him hard. 'Oi, wake up."

"What are you doing?" Hermione snapped scandalized. "That's a teacher."

Ron waved his hand dismissively. "Wake up." He poked Lupin harder. "There are Dementors on board, and I still haven't managed to get that stupid spell, so it's up to you."

Lupin opened a single eye and scrutinized him before pulling out his wand and stepping into the corridor of the train. When Ron turned back, Harry and Hermione were staring at him, mouths slightly open.

"What?" Ron asked defensively.

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