Rating:
G
House:
The Dark Arts
Characters:
Fred Weasley George Weasley Ron Weasley
Genres:
General Drama
Era:
1981-1991
Spoilers:
Philosopher's Stone Chamber of Secrets
Stats:
Published: 12/11/2005
Updated: 12/11/2005
Words: 1,242
Chapters: 1
Hits: 654

Ron's Icy Mishap

forbidden-paradise

Story Summary:
It's a beautiful, snowy winter's day at The Burrow. 8-year-old Ron Weasley is sceptical about ice-skating on the lake, but his brothers Fred and George don't think so. Why is Ron so scared? Read to find out why.

Chapter 01

Posted:
12/11/2005
Hits:
654


RON'S ICY MISHAP

Written by forbidden-paradise

"George, Ron, WAKE UP!"

Fred's shouting voice echoed from the bathroom to the bedroom in which George, Ron and himself shared.

"GET UP, it's snowing!" Fred came bounding into the room and jumped on George's bed.

"Aaaargh... what - what's wrong?" cried George with a start as he awoke.

"It's snowing and everything is white!" replied Fred excitedly. "Come on, get up!"

Ron had been woken by his brother's yelling voices.

"What's going on?" he asked sleepily as he rubbed his eyes, trying to wake up properly.

"IT'S SNOWING!" his older brothers hollered happily at him.

Right on cue, all three of them turned to look at the bedroom window. They all gasped, and George walked over to open it. Silently, slowly, crisp white snowflakes gently drifted into the bedroom and onto the floor. George stuck out his tongue to taste one, and it was ice cold.

"Oh, I wonder if the lake has frozen over." He paused for a second, in deep thought. Then suddenly Fred announced, "We can go ICE SKATING!"

"Why do you always have the good ideas?" Ron whispered groggily.

"Because we're older than you, and you know it."

George and Ron hurriedly got dressed into winter clothes and jackets (Fred had dressed earlier), and being careful not to wake their parents, trudged outside. The air was damp and George rubbed his hands together to warm them - he had forgotten his gloves.

"Look! There's the lake - and it's covered in ice!" Fred exclaimed, his eyes gleaming with adventure.

"Do you think it's safe to skate on yet?" George wondered. He had always been the more sensible twin - but that was not to say he didn't like getting up to mischief!

"Of course it is! It looks really thick just here, don't you think?" Fred pointed to one edge of it.

"Well then, what are we waiting for? But maybe one of us should go on it first, just in case," George suggested.

"I agree. Ron, since you were the last to get up, YOU do it."

"Me? I - I don't know..." Ron trailed off uncertainly. He didn't want to go, but then again didn't want to look like a coward in front of his brothers.

"Come on, you've done it loads of times. Remember last winter?" George said, and Fred nodded.

"EXACTLY! So go on in and get your ice skates, quick smart. George 'n I'll start making a snowman!"

"I suppose..." Ron hurried inside to get his ice skates, and as he did he heard Fred yell, "I'LL GIVE YOU THE REST OF MY CHOCOLATES!" and without a second thought, he was back outside and putting them on. He stood up, and walked over to the edge, but stopped.

"Always knew you had it in you. You're not scared of the ice breaking, are you?" Fred laughed, and Ron was starting to regret it when he was suddenly pushed onto the ice.

Wobbling a bit, Ron soon steadied himself and glanced back at his brothers. Fred was staring at him expectantly, and George was gathering up a big ball of snow. Why did I have to go? It's not fair; they're older than me so they get to do anything they want. I wanted to make a snowman, Ron thought to himself, but it was too late to go back - he had drifted to the middle of the lake.

He skated around a little, and expected to hear a crack - but none came. Relief spread over him and he forgot all about previous worries. Just as he was starting to enjoy himself, a massive crack split the silence. He looked down at his feet, and the ice had split into about twenty places - any slight movement and he was a goner.

What am I going to do? I can't call out to them... they'll just say I'm too chicken. But if I move the ice will break. Oh why did I agree to this? Ron felt like he was going to cry, despite being 8-years-old (he considered that too old to cry), but before he could do or say anything more, the ice gave way beneath him and he fell into the dark, icy water below.

At first, he hadn't realised what had happened until he heard Fred yell, "RON!" and then his head went under. It was extremely cold and black, and Ron couldn't see anything. He tried to swim towards the surface, but his clothing had become waterlogged and heavy - they were dragging him further down. He blacked out.

*

Ron awoke fifteen minutes later and found himself lying on the sofa by the raging fire. He had about three blankets around him, and a thermometer stuck in his mouth. He looked around him and stared right into the eyes of his mother, Molly Weasley, who took away the thermometer and shook her head.

"Thank goodness you're alright! Oh Ron, I was so worried! You could have died! You could have caught a fever! You could have -"

"Mum, please, I'm feeling better now." Ron coughed and sat up a little.

"Luckily Fred was watching the entire time! You'll thank your brothers one day. Now, what made you go onto the lake? You know very well that it takes a while for a thick layer of ice to cover it! I'm a bit disappointed in you - I thought you would have known better, Ronald Weasley!"

"I - I do! Fred and George MADE me do it! It wasn't fair - F-Fred said he'd give me the rest of his chocolates if I did! It's not my fault - it's theirs!" Ron protested.

Mrs. Weasley looked at him curiously, and put a hand through her messy ginger hair. Then she said, "I think there's only one person to blame here." It was at this point that Ron wished his father wasn't at work - at least he had more rational decisions. As a matter-of-fact, his father would probably be asking him if Harry knew anything about Muggle ice-skating. Ron was about to mention this, but knew his mother wouldn't take it lightly, so instead he proclaimed,

"What!"

"Ron darling, you had a choice. You could have turned your back on your brothers, on those chocolates, and faced cowardice rather than fall under peer pressure and end up nearly drowned!"

"What do you mean?"

"It's as simple as looking before you leap - thinking it through before you do something. Now, I'll have a talk with your brothers about what they did, they may only be 10-years-old, but they had no right to force you into doing something you don't want to. Nevertheless, please think about what I've said. I'll make you a hot chocolate, hmm? Wait 'til your father hears about this!"

"I wish I was Ginny, Mom, it's not fair! She cries her eyes out all the time and people come to her side. But when I cry I just get called a baby!"

"Don't you bring Ginny into this!"

"But -"

"No buts, Ron." And she hurried off.

Ron was speechless - for once in his life, he was more in trouble than his own mischievous brothers were. Little did he know that this wouldn't be the last time his brothers played a trick on him; in fact, they were planning another attack right at the instant!

Bloody hell!