The Horror Of Being Ron Weasley

The trio, along with the rest of the school entered the Great Hall for the Sorting Ceremony. Candles were floating in midair and the ceiling above reflected the starry sky outside. The head table was full of it's usual professors. Hagrid and Professor McGonagall were missing, probably with the first years.

Hermione leaned over and whispered, "Look, I think that's our new Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher."

The boys looked up to see a young woman seated at the staff table. She had curly blonde hair just past her shoulders. Bright blue eyes took in the scenery of the castle's Great Hall. She wore a dark purple hat and long robes to match. She was beautiful.

The Gryffindors separated and sat down at the appropriate table. Dean and Seamus were in deep conversation when the trio sat down next to them.

"Do you think she'll last more than a year?" Seamus asked, his thick Irish accent carried across the table.

"I don't know, she's quite a beauty though, if something tries to attack her, no way will it kill her! It'll just stare!"

Hermione broke in, "Do you think she's nice? A good teacher?"

"As long as she's nice I'll be fine," Ron said.

Harry gasped beside him, "Where's Snape?"

Ron looked around, "Hm, I don't know ... maybe he got fired!''

"No way, we hope for that every year and it hasn't happened yet," Harry answered although he looked ready to pee his pants with excitement "but maybe ..." He grinned.

"He must still be teaching here," Hermione said, "where would he go?"

At that point, the whole hall became silent as a group of first years entered the room. McGonagall led them with the stool and the old frayed hat in hand. She set the stool at the head of the hall, and the ceremony began. After what seemed forever, Dumbledore stood up. Some people groaned, their stomachs crying for food.

"Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! I would like to introduce our new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor, Professor Chambless!"

The hall erupted into applause as she stood up, giving a graceful bow. After a moment, the Hall quieted, and the Headmaster continued.

"Professors Snape, and Hagrid will not arrive until tomorrow, ready for classes. Now I can see how hungry you all are," he was answered with nods, "So let's eat!"

He clapped his hands and food appeared before the students. Ron found it odd that Dumbledore hadn't mentioned You-Know-Who or anything that had happened the previous year. But he didn't worry.

"Well," said Hermione, "I'm going to the library first thing tomorrow morning."

"Why?" Ron asked.

"To look up the Connection Amulets, but tonight, I'd like to see your amulet," she said pointing to Ron, "and your knife," she said to Harry.

They nodded and she smiled, "I'll give it to you later," Harry said through a mouthful of food.

When they finished their feast, they all headed up to the designated Common Rooms. On the way to the Gryffindor common room. Hermione disappeared with Dean.

"So Ron, do you think you'll try out for Keeper?"

"Huh? Oh uh, I don't know, I've never played that position before. I'm used to playing Chaser."

"Move! Out of the way!" They heard Hermione's bossy voice behind them. Dean followed her up to the portrait of the Fat Lady and waited until a large group of angry, impatient Gryffindors gathered.

"Attention everyone, the password is holly berries," she yelled. Then turned to the portrait which swung open and they all entered.

Ron and Harry went over to Hermione who was absolutely beaming.

"Hermione," Ron said, "how did you get the -" he stopped abruptly as he saw a bright silver prefect badge on her robes.

"I'm a prefect!"

"Why didn't you tell us?" Harry asked.

"Well, I uh ... wanted to surprise you! Oh, and Dean is a prefect as well!"

"Well, congrats Hermione!" Harry smiled.

Ron nodded and they headed up to the dorms. Harry grabbed his knife and the two headed back down to the common room. He gave Hermione the knife as Ron reached under his robes retrieving the amulet. When she reached out to touch it, it turned red, the same as when she touched the small figure eight on Harry's knife.

"Harry," Hermione glanced at him, "when you touched Ron's amulet it turned black. Here Ron," she handed him the knife, "touch the small amulet."

He reached down and touched it. Just as it turned black, Hermione snatched it back.

"Well, goodnight!" She stuffed them both her pocket and walked off.

"Hermione!" Ron stood up and ran to her, "can I have it back?"

"Oh," she reached into her robes and retrieved it, "Yeah, here. Give this back to Harry," the amulet turned back to gold when Ron touched it and he gave the knife to Harry.

When they were finished, they headed up to their dorms.

"This is so weird," Harry said.

"Yeah, goodnight."

"Goodnight."

Ron pulled the curtains closed around his bed. *I wonder what this really is,* he thought as he pulled it over his head. *Well, we'll know soon enough, Hermione's good at this kind of stuff ...*

***

In the morning, they all got up and headed down to breakfast.

"Where's Hermione?" Ron asked as they sat down.

"I'll give you one guess ..."

"Library," they said in unison.

Professor McGonagall came around passing out the timetables.

"Mr. Potter, please give Miss Granger her timetable when she returns."

"Alright," he looked down, "hey Ron, we have Defense Against the Dark Arts first!"

"Really? Yes!"

"Then we have Care of Magical Creatures," his face fell, "with the Slytherins."

"Yippee ..." Ron gave an unenthusiastic cheer.

They got up to leave and headed to the DADA classroom. When they arrived, Hermione came bustling in. Just as she sat down, Professor Chambless came in.

"Good morning class," she gave a curt nod.

She did not smile. When she took role, she called out names, looked up when each person replied to their name, and gave each a searching look.

"Could somebody please tell me what you have learned in the last four years?"

Hermione instantly raised her hand, "Well first year was basics, second year we didn't learn anything because -"

"Did I say you could talk? Keep your mouth shut girl," the woman growled.

She looked around the class and her lip curled (much like Snape might), "Mr. Potter, could you tell me?"

Harry gave a nervous nod, "Er, well like Hermione said, Gilderoy Lockhart was our teacher second year so we didn't learn anything. You've heard that story right?" she nodded and Harry continued, "In third year Professor Lupin taught us about dark creatures. Last year," he paused looking down at his desk. Hiding his eyes from everyone.

Ron glanced over at his friend, understanding why he didn't continue, and spoke up, "Barty Crouch Jr. posed as Mad Eye Moody and taught us about curses ... the unforgivable ones."

She looked at him then down at a scrap of paper which looked to be a list of the names of the students, "Thank you Mr. Weasley, but I see no reason why Mr. Potter couldn't answer for himself."

The room was silent. They all new what had happened last year, though none understood why their supposedly brave hero was so afraid to speak.

Professor Chambless smiled, "Five points to Gryffindor for covering up that blunder."

***

"Well? Are you going to tell us?" Ron poked her side.

Hermione sighed, "Fine, I'll tell you what I've found, but it doesn't make sense ..."

"Harry come over here! She' going to tell us!" Ron yelled across the common room.

He came over and Hermione began.

"Basically, the two of you having these identical amulets means that you're connected. Feelings and emotions are shared, but only the strongest ones. If you kill one person, it can kill the other." She looked up.

"But if Ron and I are connected, well he always wears the necklace but I don't wear the knife."

"Well, once you've touched it you're branded and forever bonded. It's charmed so that only when the chosen person touches it, they are bonded."

Ron and Harry nodded in understanding.

"When the person that you've been connected to touches the amulet, it turns black, the book didn't explain why though. When any other person touches it, it turns red. The book was unclear about that too. I just don't understand it. I had to look in some very old books to find it. Only one book had that information. The others were gone."

"But who would want me and Harry connected?" Ron said, gazing at the fire.

Hermione bit her lip and looked up at Ron.

He looked up at her, "What?'

Her gaze shifted uneasily between Harry and Ron. "Well, I have a theory."

"Well, out with it Hermione!"

She swallowed, "Um, I think I should do more research," she stood up.

Ron grabbed her sleeve and she turned around, "Hermione, c'mon what is it?"

She sighed and whispered something inaudible.

"What? I didn't hear you." Harry said.

She closed her eyes, "I think it might have been You-Know-Who."

"What?!" They gasped.

"So," she looked down at her hands and whispered, "So he could kill you, and that would kill Harry. Since he's after him and all ..."

They gaped at her.

"Fine!" Ron got up suddenly, "He can come and kill me, I'm just a little weakling! I'll be up there!" he yelled pointing up the stairs. Then he stomped up them angrily, leaving Harry and Hermione behind.

*This is just great! Voldemort is after me now. Just to get to the famous

Harry Potter!* he thought angrily. Then he stopped, *Fuck! Why can't I say it?! I can think it, but I'm not able to say it out loud,* "V- ....fuck!"

He flopped down on his bed and closed the curtains around himself.

"Ron?" Harry came into the room.

*No! Just go away!*

Harry continued, "I think we need to talk, and then tell Dumbledore. C'mon Ron, why are you mad at me?" he seemed to anger, "fine, I'll tell him tomorrow, get over it."

Ron sat up and opened the curtains a bit, "Look Harry," Harry turned around, "I just need to think about it."

Harry nodded and Ron closed the curtains again.

"Goodnight."

"Goodnight."