Always the Sidekick

Ron was on such a high after his win of the Quidditch Cup that even Malfoy's taunts didn't bother him. He tried to study for O.W.L.s, but every time he sat down and opened his books, another Gryffindor would come and congratulate him, which would make him replay the whole game again. It was absolutely annoying to Hermione. She ended up spending all her free time in the library to escape the noise.

When the O.W.L.s finally arrived, the high from Quidditch faded, and nervousness began to take hold of him. After his first exam, he couldn't imagine having to spend an entire week of this. Maybe he could just leave like Fred and George did. He didn't need school anyway. He didn't even know what he wanted to do when he got out. What good was school for anyway?

With the tension mounting in the Gryffindor common room, most people went to their dormitories early or hung out other places. Harry, Ron and Hermione were alone in the quiet room. Ron didn't complain. He needed all the help he could get. "Do you think they'll know if we make stuff up on the Divination O.W.L.?"

Hermione gave him a sharp look and went back to her parchment. But to Ron's surprise, she wasn't studying. She was writing a letter. And even though Ron couldn't see to whom, he knew.

"What is it with Viktor, eh? Is it because he's handsome, or older, or clever? What?" Ron asked, taking the parchment from Hermione and trying to read it. She had charmed it, however, so he couldn't tell what she'd written.

"Ron, don't be silly." She laughed. She didn't think it would be polite to point out that Viktor was neither handsome nor clever. "Viktor is my friend. He's very talented."

"He's very talented," Ron mocked. "Heh. Talented how?"

"I will not have this discussion with you." Hermione grabbed the parchment out of Ron's hand and rolled it up.

"He doesn't think of you as just a friend. He wanted you to go to Bulgaria to see him." Ron glared at her. "Did you?"

"No. I went to Grimmauld Place to be with you, Ron. That should say something."

"Should say something? What?"

"If you can't figure it out, I'm not telling you. You can be so thick sometimes, Ronald Weasley." Hermione stood up, piled her books into her hands and stormed off up to her dorm.

Ron watched her go then turned to Harry. "Did you understand that?"

Harry suppressed a smile and just shrugged, staring at his star chart.

After the drama that followed their Astronomy O.W.L.s, from Hagrid being fired and McGonagall being stunned and sent to St. Mungo's, their final O.W.L couldn't come fast enough.

Ron sat perched over his parchment. Ruddy History of Magic, he thought. Why on earth would they ever need to know this stuff?

He was nearly done with the exam when he looked around the room. Hermione looked like she'd been done for ages and was quietly reading a book. Harry looked like he was asleep. Asleep? Had he finished his exam too?

Bloody fantastic, he thought. He would be the only one of his friends who hadn't finished his exam. Well, don't sit there thinking about it, a voice in his head told him. Finish the exam. He went back to his parchment and started on the next question when the silence in the room was broken by an earth-shattering scream. When he looked at the source of it, Harry fell to the floor. Oh, no. Not again.

Ron's immediate impulse was to run to him, but he was still in the middle of the exam, and only a second later the examiner was by his side. Ron looked at Hermione, who was staring at Harry with bewilderment. She too looked inclined to jump out of her seat, but an examiner was helping him up now, and it looked under control.

He shook his head and went back to the parchment sitting in front of him. The words didn't make sense though. When the exam was finally over, he shot for the door and was in the Great Hall before Hermione.

"Where did he go?" she asked breathlessly.

"Hospital wing, I'd wager." Ron didn't wait for her but started up the staircase to the hospital wing. And only a second later, Harry appeared at the stairs and dragged them into a classroom.

Ron sat in the empty classroom listening to Harry tell him and Hermione the dream he'd just had about Sirius. Harry was talking about going to rescue him from You-Know-Who. And of all the times he'd admired Harry for fighting You-Know-Who, Ron really had no desire to meet him. But he would never in a million years let Harry go alone into something like that. So, needless to say, a plan was concocted, and they were heading to the Gryffindor tower to help pull it off.

As Harry ran up to his dorm room, Hermione, Ron, Luna Lovegood and Ginny stood outside the portrait of the Fat Lady.

"We have to find a way to notify each other if trouble is coming," Hermione said. They were going to Professor Umbridge's office. All Ron had to do was send her in the wrong direction. That actually seemed like the easy part. He thought they might pull this off now.

His thoughts were interrupted by Luna humming "Weasley is our King." He glared at her.

"What about a verse of 'Weasley is our King'?" Ginny said.

"Great," Hermione said. And a second later the portrait hole opened, and Harry was back.

Ron headed off to find Umbridge, not sure where she was, but confident that at this time of the day and with the O.W.L.s just getting out, she wouldn't be in her office.

He hurried down four flights of stairs before he saw her Inquisitorial Squad. Ron rolled his eyes. Damned kiss-ups, he thought. But in the middle of the Squad, he saw a stout figure with a yellow bow in her hair. Umbridge. Ron started running to her.

"Professor," he shouted. "Professor." Professor Umbridge stopped, and she and the gang of Slytherins turned to look at him. "I was just walking by the Transfiguration Department when I saw Peeves smashing it up. You have to go now and stop him." Ron found the voice he was saying all this in wasn't his own but hoped Umbridge didn't know him well enough to know that.

"Is that so? Well then, I'll just have to go and stop him, won't I?" She gave a peculiar smirk at her Inquisitorial Squad, and they snickered. "Warrington, hold him off; I'll meet you all in my office. If you find any others, bring them in also." And before Ron could do anything, before he could really process what Umbridge had just said, Warrington had Ron in a hold, and the rest of the Squad was running down the corridors.

"Weasley is our King," Ron yelled at the top of his lungs, so it rang down the corridor. "Weasley is our King," he continued.

"Shut it, Weasley." Warrington said, an excited expression on his face. "I imagine we'll have you stripped of prefect status after this."

Ron didn't care. He just didn't want them to go to Umbridge's office and find Harry talking to Sirius.

They turned the corner, and to his horror he saw three more Slytherins: Crabbe, Goyle and a sixth year girl, Jane Forester. They had Ginny in a Binding Charm while Luna had her wand out, ready to stun, and was giving Neville a scathing look. Neville? Ron had to do a double take. When did he enter the mix?

"Take me instead," Neville said. It didn't make much sense to Ron. What good would Neville do them? To make matters worse, Umbridge just flew past them. Ron's eyes got big, and he yelled his loudest, "He always let's the Quaffle in, Weasley is our King," then was silenced with a bind in his mouth that pressed so hard at first it broke his skin. He had to let Hermione and Harry know Umbridge was coming. He struggled against Warrington, but the Slytherin was surprisingly strong. A shake of the head from Ginny told him it was no use. Before they knew it, he and Ginny, Luna and Neville were walking into Umbridge's office.

Ron knew he was in trouble the minute he saw the look of fierce anger and frustration in Harry's face. This could get bad. He hoped Harry could get them out of this one just like he was able to get out of all the other messes they'd been in, but he couldn't see how. He glanced across, and Hermione caught his eye. She was looking at him, her eyes big, and then she looked down at her hands. Ron's eyes followed. She was spelling something out with her fingers. He tried to see what it was, but her movements had to be so small as to not attract attention that he couldn't see. She had a plan though; he could tell. That comforted him a little. Her eyes darted to the window then back to him. It was a signal. She needed them to get out? Well, yes, he knew that. He was struggling against Warrington again, trying to get loose to at least ungag himself. His lip was really starting to hurt. It was now he felt something in the palm of his hand. His first horrible thought was that it was Warrington trying to grab his hand. That was a little friendlier then Ron wanted to get with him just now. But then he realized it was Ginny, and he stopped struggling. Ginny was kicking her captor but was still able to take Ron's hand. She started tapping it. It was a code they'd used when they were small kids. The twins devised it so they could collaborate their stories even when their mother was interrogating them. He tried to remember the code. Four taps was D...okay, that he got. Wait, was a tap and a rub T or U. Damn, this wasn't working either. He would be sure to ask Ginny when they got out. He was able to make out forest before the room got quiet, and everyone was staring at them. Ron started to struggle again and met Hermione's eye once more. Now he moved his eye toward the window in the direction of the forest. She gave the smallest nod. They would try to get out of here and escape in the forest. But that didn't make much sense either.

Snape had just left the room, and Umbridge was in a fury again. Ron wasn't sure he'd heard right when she said she was going to perform the Cruciatus. He was almost glad she would, that would mean life in Azkaban, but not at the expense of his best friend. Just then Hermione shouted.

"NO! No - Harry - Harry, we'll have to tell her!," she said, hiding her face in her hands.

"Hermione, no!" Ron shouted through his gag. He then realized when she got more into the explanation that this was part of her plan. He listened carefully.

When Hermione was done telling her story, and she, Harry and Umbridge were out of the office and far enough away not to hear the commotion, he started struggling against the bonds again. It happened so fast he was not even sure how. Ginny stomped on her captive at the exact same moment Ginny's elbow hit the girl in the ribs. The girl shrieked and let go of Ginny. She pulled out her wand and hexed Malfoy who was heading toward her.

Ron gaped. When the hell did Ginny become such a fighter? Millicent Bulstrode now crossed to get Ginny and succeeded in grabbing an arm when Luna, who wasn't really being held all that tightly in the first place, pulled out her wand and hexed Millicent.

Before he knew it, there were flashes of red light all over the room. Ron was thrown to the floor at one point, and when he stood up, Warrington was petrified on the floor.

It took one last curse from Ron, and all the members of the Inquisitorial Squad were down for the count. "Where did Harry and Hermione go?" he asked, breathing heavy.

"Into the forest." Neville was standing, looking out the window on his tiptoes.

"Right." Ron headed out of the room, and the other three followed.

~~~

Ron, Luna and Ginny were in the Department of Mysteries, now separated from Harry, Hermione and Neville.

They entered a room off the Prophesy Room. It was dark and cold.

"This isn't right," Ginny said nervously.

"Well, we can't go back in there," Ron said, looking at the door. He hoped Harry and Hermione could get out all right. "Better keep going. We're bound to find the way out eventually." There were crashes coming from the Prophesy Room, and Ron heard a door slam. He walked forward. "Lumos." A line of white light shot out of his wand. Ginny and Luna did the same, so now they could see the other side of the room.

The room was empty. Their voices echoed off the walls and granite floors. Ron had just started to realize it was getting colder every step they took. He should have brought his heavy robe. But how was he to know in the middle of June he would need it?

They walked in silence to the other side of the room.

"Ron, I'm really cold," Ginny said, stopping just ten feet from the door. "I don't think I can go anymore."

Ron looked at her. Her lips were purple, and her skin was white. Luna looked fine though, and Ron definitely wasn't as cold as Ginny was. "Just a few more steps, Ginny, you can do it." He put his arm around her to try and warm her up. She was ice cold.

Ginny didn't move. Ron tried to pull her, but it seemed her feet were frozen to the floor. He looked at Luna. "What should we do?"

Luna took her wand and said, "Incendio." Fire shot out of the tip. For a minute Ron was sure this would work, but as soon as the fire flittered away from the wand, it was out.

He heard voices coming toward the door. "We have to hurry." Ron tried to move Ginny again, and nothing happened. He bent over, looped one arm around her legs, and the other around her back, and hefted her off the floor. Ginny was stiff as a statue. "Open the door, Luna," Ron grunted as he held his sister outstretched in his arms.

A second later they were out of the cold room and into another room that looked unfamiliar. At least the room was warm. "Incendio," Ron said, and the fire stayed alight. Ron moved the fire just inches away from Ginny to thaw her out. When the color returned to her face, she fell to the floor, sobbing. "What is it?" Ron asked.

"My ankle, I think it twisted when you pulled it." She sat on the floor, holding her foot. The noises outside the door were coming closer. "You have to go without me." Her voice cracked.

"I'm bloody well not leaving you," Ron said. He helped Ginny to her feet, and she fell again. This time he picked her up and carried her. "Come on, Luna. We have to find Harry." He walked to the door at the right of the room. But as soon as he reached it, the door opened.

"We've found some," a man yelled. He grabbed for Ron who leapt back, almost dropping Ginny.

"Intoxicario!" a voice yelled. A flash of orange came midair and hit Ron square in the back.

"Stupefy!" Ginny shouted when the man reached for her again. The stunned Death Eater fell backward.

"Ha ha. Did you see that?" Ron asked in a wary voice. The room was suddenly spinning, and his sister felt very heavy. He swayed back and forth and fell to the ground, right on top of Ginny, her ankle now out at an odd angle.

"What did he do?" Ginny asked Luna. Ron's eyes started to cross. He started feeling sick.

"I don't know," Luna said airily, as if it was no big deal.

"We need to get to Harry," Ginny said. She tried to stand up but couldn't. Luna walked to her side and helped her up.

"Come on, Ron," Ginny snapped.

Ron had his hands in front of his face and was giggling. "Oi, look." He slapped his nose. "Ha ha. That didn't hurt."

"Ron, we have to get out of here." Ginny hopped toward the door with Luna supporting her. Ron slowly walked to the door, wobbling the whole way.

A moment later a door to the left opened, and Harry, Neville and an unconscious Hermione were there.

~~~~~

Ron was tangled in the brain tentacles and trying his hardest to get out of it. Harry had already left the Brain Room, and Ginny was throwing Ron fierce looks.

"If you'd stop moving, we could get it off you." Ginny started crossing the room, hopping.

"Stay where you are," Neville said. He walked over to Ron. "I think he'll be all right. I need to go to Harry; will you be okay if I leave?" he asked Ginny.

She nodded painfully and then sat on the floor. Neville left the room, and Ginny pointed her wand at Ron. "Relashio," she mumbled. The brain tentacles broke in several places like a piece of rope and were lying at all sides of Ron in shards.

"Wow, that was fancy," Ron slurred. "Can I see it again?" Ron raised his wand once more but found it hard to keep his hand steady. He swayed back and forth.

"You're so bleeding stupid," Ginny snarled at Ron. She took out her wand and crawled across the floor. The only spell she could think of was "Stupefy." And the room went black.

~~~~~

When he woke up, the dark room was in a frenzy. Lupin was in a corner, pale, and it seemed he was hiding tears. Neville was attending to Ginny and Luna. And leaning over him - "Mum," he said.

"Can't believe you lot. Running around the Department of Mysteries. Could have been killed. Disturbing a perfectly lovely evening I was having with your father..."

"What did you want us to do, Mum, let Harry come here alone?" Ginny said from across the room.

"Mum," Ron said again, giggling. "Isn't Mum great, Gin? She comes to save us whenever we need her."

"You be quiet," Molly said in an annoyed tone.

"I love you, Mum. And Ginny." He turned and faced Ginny who was trying to stand up with Neville and Luna's help. "I love Ginny too. She's not so bad all the time."

"Thanks," Ginny said distractedly.

Then Ron's eyes fell on Hermione. "And Hermione. I love her most of all."

"Yes dear, we know," Molly said. She finally was able to conjure a stretcher and tried to put Ron on it.

"I should tell her." He got up and walked to her. "Hermione, I love you most of all," he slurred. "She's not moving," he said. He looked at Molly. "Why isn't she moving? Should we poke her with a stick?" Ron's eyes started to cross, and the room went blurry.

Molly rolled her eyes. "Can I just stun him? It's the only way we'll get him out of here." Then the room went black again.