Our Ickle Ronniekins

"Well anyway, I got mad and Snape kicked me out of his office," Ron said. "Then I came out and… well… you know the rest."

"Ron," Harry said, "does it bother you?"

"What?"

"How, well, your family is, well… that is…"

"Poor? Yea kind of. I mean, almost everything I own has been owned by someone else. And there’s other stuff. I’ve told Hermione some of it. If you look at any of my siblings you know instantly who they are. Bill and Charlie are the cool ones, Perfect Prefect Percy, Fred and George, the jokers… Heck, Ginny’s just different ‘cause she’s a girl. What am I known for? I’m best friends with the two most famous students at Hogwarts. I’m not known for my achievements, people just know me because I’m that Weasley that hangs out with you guys. It’s not like I’ve got anything against you, I mean, I’m going out with you, Hermione, but… it makes me feel like Waste- Of- Space Weasley or something crazy like that.

Hermione and Harry didn’t know that Ron was hurt that badly. They would have never guessed that they were partly the cause of Ron’s troubles. "Well," Hermione said, "I know I can’t help you with being poor, but I can give you some advice. You can only become known if you make yourself known." Hermione was happy that she has thought of advice on such a short notice, but stopped a laugh when she saw the confused look on Ron’s face. Answering his thoughts, she said, "That means people will only know you if you try to get to know them. Like find a common interest with some one. No girls though. I know they all secretly think you’re attractive…" She winked at him.

Harry thought for a moment. "Just remember this, too. I might have a small fortune and I might be famous, but I would give it up in a second for one thing. If I could be like your brother or something. Because your family might not be rich in money, but you’re rich in love. Love is what counts. All I have is an aunt and uncle that are disappointed whenever I come home for the summer holiday alive even though I had a thousand chances to die. I think it’s sick, but I’m stuck with it."

"You could marry Ginny," Ron suggested.

"No he likes Cho," Hermione said.

Harry blushed. "When did this turn to my love life?" he said.

Ron sighed. "Well I guess you guys are right." He sighed again. "Hey I got a good idea, let’s go get dressed and get some breakfast."

"Okay," Hermione and Harry agreed. They left the Common Room to go to their dorms.

"Ron," Harry said, "that one thing you said was funny."

"What?"

"The thing about ‘You- Don’t- Know- Who. That was good."

Ron’s ears went pink.

* * * * *

Harry, Ron and Hermione exited the portrait hole and headed to the Great Hall. They walked in and sat at their regular seats, waiting for everyone to come in. Draco Malfoy was sitting at the Slytherin table. He had gotten out of the hospital wing the day before. Malfoy was talking to Crabbe and Goyle and furtively glancing at Harry, Ron and Hermione as they waited for their breakfast to appear.

The Headmaster, Dumbledore, walked in and began talking to Professors McGonagall and Snape. Then they sat down as a great whoosh reached their ears. The morning post flew in, and a grand eagle owl came swooping in and deposited a forget- me- not blue envelope in Ron’s lap.

"Wow! Wonder who’d be sending me mail with this!" Ron exclaimed in awe. Soon after, a commotion stirred at the Slytherin table. Draco Malfoy got up and walked toward the Gryffindors, projecting his voice.

"Weasley," Draco shouted. "I see you’ve received Father’s owl." Indeed, in the place of the return address was Lucius Malfoy’s fancy signature.

"Don’t come any closer," Ron snapped. "Unless you want your face bashed in."

"I don’t think anyone is going to be doing any ‘bashing’," Draco said coolly and he approached Ron. At the snap of his fingers Crabbe and Goyle jumped to Draco’s aid. "Go on, read your letter."

Ron tore furiously at the envelope and opened the blue stationary. The short letter read:

Dear Mr. Ronald Weasley,

Today Professor Severus Snape informed me that you had attacked my son, the proceeded to call me a ‘sodding Death Eater’. I am making it known to you that next time you even mention another attack on Draco I will personally request you expulsion, and furthermore, I shall do what is in my power to remove your father from his position in the Ministry of Magic.

Sincerely,

Lucius Malfoy

P.S.: Money is power.

Ron looked up to see Malfoy’s leering smirk looming over him. Ron was scarlet from anger. Hermione, who had been reading the letter over Ron’s shoulder, gasped, and her face went ashen. She didn’t know if Ron could hold in his anger, or if the thin thread keeping him from exploding would break and… she didn’t want to think about it. Ron blinked, and it seemed as if someone had turned on a light in his head. His face went calm. "Alright," he said, "You win, Malfoy."

Draco’s jaw dropped. He had half-expected Ron to throw a punch at him, or at least react differently than this.

Ron continued. "If it means that much to you for you to go whining to you dad every time someone touches you, then fine. But you can go leave now, because I really don’t want to look at you right now.

Draco still looked as if someone had just told him they had cancelled Christmas. As he searched for words his face screwed into shock, and his mouth opened and closed like a goldfish out of water. Word’s formed in his brain, but he couldn’t voice them. Crabbe and Goyle looked dumbfounded as usual.

Harry smiled. He and everyone else knew that by Ron admitting ‘defeat’ he has ‘won’. Suddenly Dumbledore got up and walked over to the source of the scene. Ron noticed him and looked at Hermione and Harry. Dumbledore approached him and asked, "May I read the letter?" Ron handed it to him and he read it over quickly. After he finished he sighed and said, "I think the Malfoys have something against the Weasleys. I don’t think you are going to be expelled anytime soon, not if I have a say in it. And, between you and me, I think I do have a say in these things." He handed a quill and a piece of parchment to Ron. "Go ahead, write him back." Dumbledore found an empty seat and watched Ron furiously scribble words, peppering his sentences with some not- so- nice word. When Ron finished he handed the letter to the headmaster. Without reading it, he conjured up and envelope and put the new letter inside of it. Ron addressed it and tied his reply to the eagle- owls claw. Malfoy still stood there, not accepting his ‘defeat’. Ron shot him a scowl as he let the owl go. Malfoy walked away, Crabbe and Goyle at his heels. As Dumbledore walked away the porridge materialized.

Ron was still quite tired from staying up so late. For now, at least, his anger and worry had subsided. Besides, he had more important things to think about now, for example, Hermione.

"So," Hermione said, "What do you want to do tonight?"

"Dunno…" Ron said, "Weren’t you going to study?"

"I think I’ve studied enough today."

"Well… why don’t we just hang around? It’s not like we can go anywhere, and were not going to Hogsmeade any time soon…"

"Okay," Hermione said, "Sounds like a plan."

* * * * *

After breakfast until lunch, the day want as usual for Harry, Ron, and Hermione. They had their usual Gryffindor bashing in Potions, their usual Care of Magical Creatures class, and Herbology lesson… Everything was unusually normal.

At lunch, however, Hermione decided what she and Ron were going to do after class. Harry read the note she passed to him. He nodded to her and she smiled.

"You guys talking ‘bout me?" Ron asked as he watched Harry write something on a piece of parchment and hand it to Hermione.

"Um," Harry said. That was all he had time to say as a sandwich materialized on his plate. He stuffed half of it into his mouth.

"He’s not allowed to talk with his mouth full," Hermione said pointedly. She winked at Ron as she picked up her sandwich and neatly bit a piece off.

Ron got the hint and didn’t ask any more questions. Instead, he took out his quill and a piece of parchment then proceeded to do his homework for the next class. He inadvertently looked up… and saw Draco staring in his general direction. Draco had an odd expression on his face. Instead, he looked

"Hopeless," Ron muttered under his breath.

Hermione looked over. "What’s hopeless?" she asked.

Ron gestured towards Draco with his quill. "Him. Can you see the look on his face?" Draco shook his head slightly, then glared at Ron and Hermione.

"That was odd," Hermione said. Suddenly, Fred and George walked up to Harry, Ron, and Hermione and took two seats next to them.

"Hello, everyone!" they said at the same time. "How are you all this fine day?"

"Um, good." Harry said.

 

Fred, who was sitting next to Harry, cuffed him lightly on his shoulder. "So," Fred said, "Who do you fancy now?"

"Uh, no one?" Harry said cautiously.

"Oh, I see," George said, rubbing his chin in mock skepticism.

Luckily for Harry, their food disappeared and they all filed out of the Great Hall, Fred and George running ahead of Harry, Ron, and Hermione.

"Where’re we going next?" Harry asked.

"You’ve got Divination," Hermione said. "I have Arithmancy, because you two we’re too stupid to drop Divination."

Ron groaned in despair. "I hate that class!" he said loudly.

"Oh, shoot," Harry said as they rounded a corner. They saw three red- heads down the hallway.

"What’re Fred and George doing down here?" Ron questioned. "They haven’t got a class down this hall."

"And why is Ginny with them?" Harry asked as they approached them.

"’Lo Ron, Hermione," Fred said.

George chuckled. "And Harry. Just the man we’ve been looking for. All right, Harry?"

"Hullo George, hullo Fred," Harry said. "Hi Ginny, haven’t seen you in awhile."

Ginny blushed. She looked at something on the ground. "Hi," she said in a small voice. She blushed crimson again. Hermione looked at Ron and raised her eyebrows. Ron looked clueless as ever. Fred winked at Hermione, as if he knew something.

Suddenly, there was a commotion at the end of the hall. It was Draco Malfoy, flanked by Crabbe, Goyle, and some other Slytherin fifth years. Ginny gasped quietly in surprise. The group of six Slytherins approached Hermione, Harry, and the Weasleys.

"My, my," Draco drawled. "If it isn’t the little Weasel."

"Leave her alone," Ron sneered. He had Fred and Gorge on his sides, who were just as menacing as Crabbe and Goyle.

"Little Weasel, have you sent Potter another valentine?" Draco said haughtily. He looked as if he had a foul taste in his mouth.

"I said," Ron repeated. "Leave my sister alone!"

"Yea!" Hermione joined in, standing on Fred’s side. Pansy Parkinson matched her spot on the Slytherin side, standing by Crabbe.

Harry stood by Ginny and bent down to whisper something to her.

"Ginny," he said. "If something happens and they start fighting, run with me to that empty classroom. I don’t want them hurting you."

Ginny looked in Harry’s worry- filled eyes. "Okay," she said softly. All at once they heard shouts and Ron’s fist connecting with Draco’s face.

Harry picked Ginny up. "Come along," he muttered as he ran with Ginny in his arms.

Ron had punched Draco quite hard, making his nose bleed like a fountain. Suddenly the three very tall Weasleys and Hermione were on the six Slytherins. Fred had Crabbe in a headlock and George had grabbed the front of Goyle’s robes. Hermione had a handful of Pansy’s hair. Ron was sitting on Draco’s stomach, punching the living daylights out of him. The two remaining Slytherins tried to help their comrades but ended up walking to their next class. Without warning, the eight students heard the far- away echo of high-heeled shoes, and immediately ran away from the scene.

Meanwhile, Harry and Ginny entered the empty classroom. Harry sat Ginny down in a chair. He took a seat on the floor next to red, crackling enchanted fire.

"So what happens now?" Ginny asked.

"Dunno," Harry said. "I guess we wait." Ginny got up and sat next to Harry by the fire. Instinctively, Harry put his arm around Ginny, and she laid her head on his shoulder. They sat there awhile, staring into the flames. Finally they heard the fighting stop, so they got up and parted ways to go to their classes.

* * * * *

Harry slipped into Divination quietly, hoping Professor Trelawney wasn’t there yet. Luckily, she wasn’t, so Harry took his seat next to Ron.

"So," Ron said. "Where did you go?"

"I took Ginny into the empty classroom down the hall," Harry replied.

"Oh… Why?"

"Dunno," Harry said. He shrugged his shoulders. "I just didn’t want that creep Malfoy to hurt her."

"Okay." Ron thought for a moment. "Do you fancy her?"

"Um… I dunno." He avoided giving Ron a straight answer.

"Oh, okay." Ron looked away. "You know, this morning… I wasn’t serious about you marrying Ginny, you know?"

"Yea I know." Harry subconsciously ran his fingers through his hair. Harry stared at the back of Ron’s head. Ron blew a strand of hair out of his face. He turned around to face Harry, looking in his eyes, trying to figure out the real meaning of his words. Harry’s deep- green eyes stared right back, also searching for a meaning. He realized now what he felt for Ginny. He felt the way he never thought he would feel the first time he met Ginny. He knew he liked her, but he also still liked Cho. It was his turn to look away, and as he busied himself by looking through his bag he thought about Cho. He knew that Cho would most likely always love Cedric, even if it only meant holding onto his memory. Harry realized that he only liked Cho because of how she looked. But Ginny… she was more of a mystery to him. ‘Okay,’ he thought to himself. ‘I like Ginny, now what?’ He thought of what she had said to him in the empty classroom. ‘What happens now?’ he thought. He looked up when he heard Professor Trelawney enter the room, and both he and Ron prepared to go to sleep.