Ron Weasley and the Green Flame Torch

"NOOOOOO!" cried Harry, clutching his scar painfully. "NOOO! Keep them safe! Please keep them safe! Do whatever you like to me, but keep them safe!!!!!"

"Silly boy," snarled Voldemort, raising his wand. "Why would I kill a Mudblood and a Weasley when I can kill Harry Potter himself?"

"No!" squeaked Hermione from the other side of the room, struggling to untie the ropes around her wrists. "Please, don't hurt Harry!"

"Shut up!" roared Lucius Malfoy, slapping her across the mouth. "Don't worry...you're next."

Ron battled to get to them, but it was nearly impossible with the gag in his mouth and the rope tied tightly around his shoulders and wrists, cutting agonizingly into his skin. But he didn't care, Hermione was standing right next to Lucius Malfoy and Harry was a mere foot away from Voldemort himself. Both of his friends were in trouble, and he couldn't do a thing about it.

He desperately rubbed his wrists together. Maybe the friction would fray the rope and he would break free. It's not working, he thought furiously, dammit...Weasley...do something!

"And now, Potter," came the icy cold voice of Voldemort, chilling Ron to his bones. "I'm going to kill you."

Ron screamed in his gag, but made no noise. There was only the vibration of the cloth gag in his mouth, the vibration no one could hear or feel but himself.

"NO!!!" screamed Hermione, running foward. "No! Harry! NO!!!" She ran toward her friend, tears streaming down her dusty face.

"STOP HER!" bellowed Voldemort.

"Crucio!" yelled Malfoy, his wand aimed at Hermione.

Ron watched as her body fell limply to the floor, then started twitching horribly. She rolled from side to side, screaming in agony, her bushy hair sticking on ends, her mouth agape, her arms flailing.

He closed his eyes sharply. He couldn't watch it. He couldn't watch his best friend get tortured.

"Avada Kedavra!"

Ron's eyes flew open, and he watched as Harry Potter fall onto the stone floor, his green eyes glazed over, his glasses breaking as his body weight crushed them.

"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!"

"Ron! Ron, wake up!" Mrs. Weasley shook her son forcefully. "Wake up...come on now...up."

Ron's eyes fluttered open, his vision clearing when he saw his mother hovering over him, looking very anxious.

He was soaking wet, as was everything else in his bed. The sheets, his pillow, his pajamas, his hair all looked as if they had just been through a strong hurricane. He brought a shaky hand up to his face and let out a sigh of relief.

"I'm fine, Mum." Three simple words. Three simple words that held so many lies. In all honesty, he wasn't fine. That wasn't the first nightmare he had had. Ron Weasley had only been home from school for a month, and he had at least two nightmares a night, always waking up drenched with sweat.

"No, you're not." Mrs. Weasley helped him out of bed, but said nothing else.

Ron knew the routine. His mum would help him out of bed, he would take a shower, and when he got back in to his room, his bed would be as dry as a cement sidewalk in summer. So, he took a shower, and walked back into his room, and sure enough his bed was dry. It didn't even look as though it had ever been wet.

He sat down and put his head in his hands. He needed to stop having nightmares. He needed to take the Dreamless Sleeping Draught his mother gave him every night, but he never did. He didn't know why, but he just didn't take it. Maybe it was the taste. Maybe he'd rather just have the nightmares then to drink something so horrible. No, that wasn't it. It was something much deeper, something he quite decipher.

Ron ran a hand through his hair, and then sighed deeply. He was worried about Harry. He knew Harry was going mad at Number Four Privet Drive, mourning the death of Sirius on his own and plotting an evil revenge for Bellatrix Lestrange. He constantly asked his parents about Harry's whereabouts, how he was, and when he was going to finally be able to visit the Burrow. They answered with "never you mind", and told him to go away.

A peck at his window snapped Ron out of his thoughts. He raised his head to see Pig flailing outside excitedly.

"Stupid git," muttered Ron angrily as he opened the window to let the over-excited owl in. He took the two messages from his leg, and let Pig twitter around while he read them. One was a very thick envelope, and the other was a letter from Harry.

Ron-

My summer's going fine. The Dursleys are on a holiday in Austria, so I have the house to myself. Tonks and Moody pop in every other day to check on me and they stay for a couple of hours before leaving again. Personally, I think the Dursleys left just to stay away from Mad-Eye.

What's going on in the Order? Do you know? Where are you? When can I leave here? Are you coming to get me soon? Tonks only told me they are recruiting new members, and Moody's staying quiet. If they want new members, I don't understand why they just don't let us join. I know, we're underage, but I really don't care. I've been through more than most of those adults combined.

Well, anyway...I got my O.W.L results. I got seven. Potions, Transfiguration, Divination, Care of Magical Creatures, Astronomy, Defence Against the Dark Arts, and Charms.

Owl me back soon. I want news

-Harry

"I wish I knew something," said Ron under his breath. He truthfully didn't know anything. He was as clueless as Harry. He knew his parents went on duty, switching nights. What they did while on duty, he didn't know. Why they went on duty, he didn't know. Mrs. Weasley just brushed him off whenever he asked, and Mr. Weasley was hardly ever home, so he couldn't question him .He also knew that they were recruiting new members for the Order, but that's it.

Ron picked up the thick envelope

Dear Mr. Weasley,

Enclosed you will find your new book list, and your O.W.L results. Congratulations, Mr. Weasley, you did much better then your brothers.

The Hogwarts Express leaves at eleven o'clock on September 1st. All prefects will meet in the prefects compartment at the front of the train to go over duties. Please don't forget as this is very important.

Sincerely,

Minerva McGonagall,

Deputy Headmistress

Ron put McGonagall's letter aside and picked up his O.W.L results.

Dear Mr. Weasley,

Your O.W.L results are as follows:

Astronomy: Exceeds Expectations

Care of Magical Creatures: Outstanding

Charms: Outstanding

Defense Against the Dark Arts: Oustanding

Divination: Acceptable

Herbology: Exceeds Expectations

History of Magic: Acceptable

Potions: Exceeds Expectations

Transfiguration: Exceeds Expectations

Congratulations, Mr. Weasley

Sincerely,

The O.W.L Examination Team

"Bloody Hell," said Ron out loud. "I did better than Harry."

"RON!!" called Mrs. Weasley from the hallway before walking into his room. "Have you got your Hogwarts letter? I'm going to Diagon Alley tomorrow for your books."

"Yeah." He handed his mother his O.W.L results.

Her eyes scanned the parchment, and she smiled warmly when she finished. "Excellent, Ron. That's nine. I'm so proud of you, Ronnie. You're still prefect, aren't you?"

Ron nodded.

"Excellent!" She stretched up on her tip-toes to kiss her son's cheek. "Ron, I really am proud of you. You've turned out better then I expected you to--with your brothers roaming around with hopes of a joke shop." She frowned. "But Ron, this is great, really."

"Thanks, Mum." Ron smiled at his mother.

Mrs. Weasley nodded, took his book list, and exited the room.

Regardless of his previous feelings of dread about Harry, Ron smiled. He was glad he had his mum's approval. He needed his mum's approval. Being a very insecure sixteen-year-old, it felt good to know that someone thought highly of him. Sure, he made the Quidditch team, but only to humiliate himself for three fourths of a year by not blocking his hoops properly.

He was getting better at Quidditch. All summer, he had been outside, flying around on his broom. He also had Fred and George throw parchment balls at him to help sharpen his reflexes.

He thought about Quidditch for a while, but soon his thoughts wandered off to Hermione. Hermione was the first person he told about becoming Keeper. She was absolutely estatic, and hugged him enthusiastically. Like most of their hugs during fifth year, it was awkward, but that didn't matter--at the time, he was so happy about becoming Keeper, it didn't bother him at all.

He was worried about Hermione, too. He hadn't recieved a single letter from her in the month they were apart, and he couldn't stand it. He was desperate to know how she was. Since Hermione was a Muggle-born, he couldn't help but feel a little unsettled whenever he thought of all the possible things that could be happening to her. Just thinking about those things made him uncomfortably anxious.

"Ron?" asked Ginny as she stood apprehensively in his doorway.

"Hey, Ginny," he said absently. "What's up?"

"Nothing." She looked at him expectantly. "Er--Ron, are you alright?"

Ron glanced at her. "'Course I am."

She bit her bottom lip. "Ron, don't lie to me. All summer you've been really distant. I want to know what's wrong."

Crack.

"Hello, little bro." Fred grinned. "Oh, and little sis. How's life going for you two?"

"Fine," said Ron and Ginny in unison.

Fred frowned. "Ickle Ronnie-kins, are you going to tell Freddy-Poo what's the matter?"

Ron glared at his older brother. "Sod off, Fred."

"Oooh...touché," mocked Fred before Disapparating with a crack.

"Ron-"

"Drop it, Gin." Ron sat on his bed.

"Ron-"

"I said drop it, Ginny," said Ron a little more firmly. "I'm great, Ginny. Nothing's bothering me."

She nodded, but didn't move.

"Ginny, what do you want?"

"Have--have you heard from Hermione?" asked Ginny uneasily.

Ron shook his head. "No."

"Oh."

"Why?"

Ginny sighed before walking further into Ron's room and sitting down next to him. "I'm getting worried, Ron. I mean, I hope she's okay." She shook her head. "She's probably on holiday or something. I'm just being paranoid."

Ron shook his head. "No, you're not. I'm worried about her, too."

Ginny nodded, looking sideways at her brother. "I thought you would be."

He nodded soundlessly.

"Ron, you don't have to suffer alone, you know. You're not the only one in this family who went into the Department of Mysteries."

He looked at his sister, and was surprised to see tears sparkling in her eyes.

"I'm scared, Ron," she whispered shakily. "I'm so scared."

Without thinking, Ron wrapped his arms around his younger sister and held her close to him. "It's okay, Gin. I'm scared, too."

* * *

"Ron, I'm about to go get Harry," said Mr. Weasley the next morning at breakfast. "I want you to stay here."

"But, Dad--"

"No, Ron," said Mr. Weasley firmly. "I'll feel better knowing you're here. It'll take me twenty minutes at the most to get him here."

Ron didn't protest. He was too tired to argue with his father. He had had another nightmare the previous night, but instead of Lucius Malfoy and Voldemort doing the killing, it was Draco Malfoy and Bellatrix Lestrange.

Crack.

"Where's Mum?" asked George after he and Fred Apparated into the room.

"She had duty last night," replied Mr. Weasley, chewing on his bacon. "She'll be here in about an hour. But now, I'm off to get Harry."

"You're getting Harry?" asked Ginny in surprise as she walked down the stairs.

"Yes." Mr. Weasley nodded before going into the broom cupboard and pulling out his broom. He fingered it gingerly. "It's been a while since I've been on one of these things. I should hold out alright, though. Well, I'll see you lot later."

Ron nodded as he watched his father exit the door.

"Excellent," said Fred, "Harry's coming! I'm sure we'll learn more stuff about the Order now."

"What makes you say that?" asked Ginny.

"Are you serious, Ginny?" asked George incredulously. "Mum and Dad are going to tell Harry everything just because Harry wants to know it! That means we'll learn about what You-Know-Who is doing!"

"They will not," retorted Ginny. "Mum got simply furious when Sirius tried to tell Harry everything last year, remember?"

"Yes," said Fred, eating a buscuit, "but I'm sure someone will tell him."

Ron didn't have the sightest idea about what his brother was talking about, and he didn't care, either. He was just anxious to see his best mate again.

For the next half an hour, Ginny, Ron, Fred, and George all dragged themselves around the house, trying to "tidy up". They found a note from Mrs. Weasley with a detailed list of who should clean what. Much to Fred and George's disgust, Ron agreed with Ginny when she said they should follow their mother's orders.

"Do you want to get into a row with Mum?" she asked them threateningly, as if getting into an argument with Mrs. Weasley were equivalent to a death sentence.

Fred and George didn't reply, but grumbled the whole time they were cleaning.

The banging of the kitchen door announced Harry's arrival, and all four of them excitedly raced down the stairs to greet him.

"HARRY!" said Ron, grinning as he caught site of his best friend. Harry had grown a few inches in the month since school ended, making his clothes seem slightly less baggy--but just slightly. Much to Ron's surprise, Harry didn't look horrible. In fact, he looked very well rested, as if he hadn't had a dream in four weeks.

"Hey," said Harry, grinning as he greeted his friend with a handshake. "How've you been?"

Ron shrugged. "Pretty good, you?"

Harry smiled. "Excellent."

Ron raised his eyebrows, but said nothing. Why was Harry so...happy? It's not like he didn't like seeing Harry happy--in fact, he was relieved to see his friend so happy--, but why was he so happy? The last time Ron saw Harry, he was so...unhappy.

"Fred, George, take Harry's trunk upstairs, please," said Mr. Weasley, looking slightly frightened as he walked in behind Harry. His red hair was sticking up as though it were wire, and his face was pale and frightened. He glanced at his broom, and then dropped it with a thud.

"Are you alright, Dad?" asked Ron.

"I'm fine, Ron...I just haven't flown in over thirty years." Mr. Weasley shut the door. "If you'll excuse me...I'm going to go lie down."

Ron nodded, and motioned for Harry to follow him and the twins upstairs to his room. When they got there, Harry wasted no time in questioning his friend.

"So...what's going on with Voldemort?" He looked at Ron intently.

Ron shrugged. "I honestly don't know, Harry. I just know Mum and Dad have duty every other night. That's why Mum isn't here, she's at duty. I tried asking her about it, but she just told me to mind my own business."

"I've been checking the Daily Prophet everyday," said Harry, "but nothing's happened."

"I reckon he's staying low, you know, all of the wizarding world has just found out he's back. I'm not sure he wants to expose himself now. At least not when it's expected."

"I see." Harry nodded.

Ron nodded. "Harry...what's going on with you?"

"What do you mean?" asked Harry distantly.

"Well--uh--you're...happy."

Harry grinned. "And that's a bad thing?"

Ron shook his head. "No. It's just a bit unexpected."

"Do you know Lisa Turpin?"

"She's in Ravenclaw, right?" asked Ron uncertainly.

Harry nodded. "Yeah. Well, anyway, she owled me earlier this summer and wrote about how pleased she was to know that the Ministry had been made complete fools of because her dad got laid off because he said he believed me when I said Voldemort was back, and how impressed she was that I had the guts to go against the Ministry like that and to, you know, go into the Deparment of Mysteries and stuff."

"Right." Ron nodded.

"So, anyway, we exchanged owls for about a week when I finally plucked up the courage to ask her out because she lives in Little Whinging as well, and we met at an ice cream parlor. It was fun. And, I don't know, it's just fun being around her, you know? She's great."

Ron smiled. "That's excellent, Harry."

"And she's really pretty." Harry turned red. "I can't believe she agreed to go out with me-"

"RON!!!" yelled Mrs. Weasley's urgent voice from downstairs. "RONNIE!!!! WHERE ARE YOU???"

Ron's heart skipped a beat. Something was wrong, he knew it. His mother sounded absolutely terrified. What happened? Was it Bill? Charlie? What happened?

Mrs. Weasley skidded to a hault when she approached Ron's room. "Ron, Harry...you two are going to have to come with me."

"Why? What happened?"

"Back your bags...GINNY, FRED, GEORGE, PACK YOUR BLOODY BAGS!!"

Ron was scared. He'd never heard his mother swear before.

"Mum--wha-"

"We're going to Headquarters," she said quickly, tears brimming in her eyes.

"What happened?"

"Ron," said Mrs. Weasley in a soft but urgent voice. "Hermione's house has been attacked."