Hero

CHAPTER I

THE MAGIC CONTINUES

Tree. Tree. Tree. Tree. Tree. That was the only thing visible through the windows of the Hogwarts Express. There were so many trees that he could not understand what God was thinking when he made all those trees. Ron was literally dying to get out of there, as he was so bored.

Ron Weasley was a sixteen-year-old boy that was about to start his sixth year at Hogwarts. He had red hair (just like the whole Weasley family), beautiful sky-blue eyes and some freckles in his beautiful face. He was really tall and thin, but his body was muscled too, although no one could see it because of his wizard clothes.

Ron was always an amazing person: he had always a funny joke to cheer his friends, nice words to comfort them, great intelligence to solve mysteries and play chess (no one ever won a game with him as the opponent) and a gorgeous lopsided smile that he only used for just one girl. Yes, he was also in love.

He still remembered when he realised that he was in love with the only girl that would never look at him as more than he is: her best friend. On his first year at Hogwarts, Ron's life changed completely, as he met one of the most famous boys of the entire wizarding community: Harry Potter, the Boy Who Lived.

Every wizard knew his story: how his parents died for him when Lord Voldemort came to kill him, how the curse that should kill Harry backfired and hit Voldemort, turning the Dark Lord to a merely living creature, while the little one-year-old boy survived with only a lightning shaped scar. Harry Potter became famous by that, because Voldemort was terrorising the whole world, including the Muggles (non-magical people), and Harry was the first one surviving a curse like that.

When Ron turned eleven and was ready to go to his first year in Hogwarts, it was told to him that he might meet Harry Potter, as he was eleven too. That actually happened when they were travelling to Hogwarts by train, the Hogwarts Express, and they shared the same compartment.

Since that day, Harry became one of Ron's best friends and, together, they've lived the most dangerous, exciting and wonderful adventures (including facing Voldemort again, killing a giant serpent, proving the innocence of Harry's godfather while defeating a big number of Dementors and other more serious things related to Voldemort).

But none of that could happen without the help of Hermione Granger, other of Ron's best friends. Hermione Granger was, probably, the brightest witch of her age. She always knew the answer to every question, always had top grades and her favourite pastimes were reading and doing homework (almost). Ron never met anyone like her. Even though they had rows all the time, she was like no other girl and was always willing to risk her safety for her two best friends: Ron and Harry.

Ron always admired her a lot, even if he never said it out loud (he never found a way to express his feelings correctly), with her brown bushy hair, her chocolate-brown eyes, her angel face and her capacity to always think logically.

Ron never tolerated when anyone insulted her. A wave of fury ran through his entire body and he could kill that person. He hated when he made her cry for some stupid row and no one could ever know how sorry he was. Hermione was everything in his life and no one would change that.

By that, the trio stood side by side, always ready to face a challenge, always willing to protect each other at all cost, always there to the end.

But something had changed in the past two years, when Voldemort rose again, and Ron found out that he was falling in love with Hermione.

Ron could never forget when he saw him with his Hermione, the anger he felt when she smiled at his ugly face and the way they danced all night in the Yule Ball. He asked himself why she chose such a moron when he could give her the most wonderful night she ever had. Was it because Krum was bloody rich and a famous Quidditch player and he was poor and insignificant? Why? Why? Why? Why? Later then, he realised that he wasn't the chosen because he didn't even invited Hermione in time and he felt like he was the stupidest person in the world. Then again, he asked himself why he was so angry about it, when Harry didn't mind at all. Was it just because of his vow? Or was it something else more? It was only in that moment that he found out that his whole anger was jealousy and he truly loved Hermione.

But how could someone love somebody like him when there were more wonderful people all around her? Besides that, Hermione was always very busy to worry about him with all the happenings on the end of the year.

After thirteen years of waiting, Voldemort got himself a body and returned. Harry saw the entire thing and warned everyone about the Dark Lord's return. Although Dumbledore, the best Headmaster Hogwarts had ever had, told the students that that was indeed true and they were all in grave danger again, back in the fifth year, no one believed in Dumbledore and everyone thought Harry was a mental.

During that whole year, Ron and Hermione had to stand Harry's fury attacks and his moody periods, times when he was always yelling at them like they were guilty of all his problems. Often Harry made Hermione cry silently and Ron hated his best friend those times. He could never stand the sight of Hermione crying.

At least, they didn't have to be with Harry every time. Surprisingly, Ron became the Gryffindor prefect boy when everybody thought it would be Harry the chosen one. Ron was very happy with it because not only he finally did something Harry didn't but also because Hermione was the prefect girl and he could spend more time with her alone.

One thing that Ron always knew was that Hermione worried a lot about Harry's safety. When Harry entered that... hum... annoying phase, he sometimes got so angry that he could do something really wrong, like putting himself in danger. He started to talk about strange dreams in which Sirius (Harry's godfather) was being tortured and he was the only one that could save him. Well, as usual, Hermione had a brilliant and logical explanation. In her opinion, just like Dumbledore had said before, the scar on Harry's forehead connected him, somehow, with Voldemort. So, the Dark Lord could enter Harry's mind and share his feelings with him. Harry thought that Hermione's idea was a very big nonsense and refused to believe it. Hermione was right, though.

The months passed and he still had those dreams. He could see Voldemort killing Sirius at the Ministry of Magic and he made himself believe that he had to go there and stop Voldemort. But Ron was really worried with Hermione. She was always telling Harry to be careful, but he didn't listen to her. She was a worried sick about him and Harry didn't care. During many days, while they were supposed to be patrolling the corridors on prefect's duty, Hermione passed the whole time crying on Ron's shoulder, and he could do nothing else but comfort her with gentle words and his lopsided smile. They became really close during that year and Ron believed that maybe, but a very little, tiny maybe, he had a chance with her. Even though they had lots of rows, Hermione knew that Ron would never treat her like that. Ron was trying to get the courage he needed every day. He even felt really brave when Hermione kissed him in the cheek on the day of his first Quidditch match as a Keeper. And Ron remembers what made him stop from confessing his feelings: Hermione was still in touch with that ugly, grumpy, bushy-eyebrowed prat Krum! And she would never like him while Krum was still around.

So, it was a strange year: Ron and Hermione were best friends more than ever, but they could never end up together because a famous and ugly Quidditch player was between them.

By the end of fifth year, Harry found by his own errors that Hermione was right, that Voldemort wasn't keeping Sirius, he only used those dreams to lure Harry to the Ministry, but that error had a very high price: Sirius's death.

From that day on, Harry learnt to listen more carefully to his friends and not to do anything hastily. But something good did indeed happen that year: because of the incident inside the Ministry, everyone started to believe that Voldemort was back and that meant War.

And that was why Ron was so eager to arrive at Hogwarts, he wanted to start a new year, he wanted to befriend with Harry again, he wanted to live another adventure. But he could never imagine what was coming to him.

'What are you thinking about, Ron?' asked Hermione, right beside him. Ron stopped looking at the boring trees and faced his best friend with a smile. 'About last year, actually. I'm really looking forward to this new year.'

'Any special reason?'

'Not really. Harry stopped yelling at us. We won't have exams. How better can it get?'

Hermione grinned a little. 'Yeah, you must be right. You were a really great help last year. I could never imagine a way to thank you.' Ron's smile became bigger. 'There's no need to, after all, we're friends, right?' 'Right.'

With that talk, the travel seemed to be quicker in that little prefect compartment. Looking back to the trees, Ron also imagined that sixth year could also be a wonderful opportunity to get Krum off his way.

● ● ●

Finally, after nearly three hours, the Hogwarts Express arrived at the Hogsmeade station. From there, Harry, Ron and Hermione got in a carriage and went to the castle.

There was the usual great banquette and they went all to sleep afterwards. It was a tiring day and they needed to be well in the morning.

For everyone's surprise, Snape, Hogwarts's most horrible teacher and Potion Master, would be teaching Defence Against the Dark Arts (or DADA, for short). The new Potions teacher would be Horace Slughorn. He looked like a walrus and liked to befriend with the big and the famous. For that purpose, he created the Slug Club, where he could reunite with all his famous and talented students get them to know each other and forge useful contacts.

Harry, as well as Hermione and Ginny (Ron's younger and only sister), was invited to the club, one thing he tried to escape, as Ron seemed to be very annoyed to be so insignificant.

'Really, you could just ditch me! I'm nothing but a dead end to you two!' he was always saying. But they could never possibly leave Ron! He was like a brother to Harry and Hermione would never survive without his support. And Ron noticed one thing for sure: that year, Harry would return to his normal state.

● ● ●

There was always one person that would never forget Ron in any occasion. He was a very nice boy and he like to be in touch with Hogwarts as often as possible. His name was Ronan Barney, but Ron and the others simply called him Ronan.

Ronan was, probably, the nicest person Ron had ever met. With his golden hair and eyes the same colour as Ron's, Ronan was always a target to girl's giggles and gossips. But he couldn't care less about them: he had the most wonderful girlfriend that he could wish (a girl called Martha) and, as he always kept saying, they were also the bestest best friends at the beginning. Ronan was the only one who knew about Ron being in love with Hermione (because it wasn't just a crush) and he was always trying to help his friend to confess his feelings. He met him and his family when they were shopping at Diagon-Alley. Both their families knew each other for many years and the two boys started a friendship. Ronan was a different kind of wizard. He didn't need a wand and he used mind magic to understand, control and speak to animals. That way, he could unleash their special powers which are very useful in a dangerous battle. But, unfortunately, that day, Ronan brought bad news.

'I think we have trouble,' he said, while dismounting Junior, his beautiful light-speeded griffin. 'A bridge collapsed in Sydney, but there wasn't any earthquake or anything that could destroy a bridge!'

'Then, what happened?' Ron asked, surprised by the news.

'It's just a thought, but I reckon that Voldemort might be involved. I've heard he's travelling round the globe reeking havoc and Sydney could be a nice target. What d'you reckon? (a/n: Ronan lives in Sydney)'

'Yeah, maybe you're right. But are we getting help from other countries? Are we fighting Voldemort by ourselves?'

'I don't think so. If Japan knows what's attacking, then the Australian Ministry of Magic must be prepared to War. And speaking on which, how's Harry?'

'I think he's normal, again. Well, he had to be, we're at War, and we can't afford to make mistakes, can we? He said Dumbledore would be giving special classes to him. To find a way to kill Voldemort, or something like that. Dumbledore reckons he's immortal. Well, it makes perfect sense to me. Any other reason why Voldemort didn't die that day?'

'Hum, that's interesting...' Ronan said. 'If there's some way I can help, please let me know. I'm really worried about all this. But let's talk about other things. Can I enter?'

The two boys, who were outside the castle, said goodbye to Junior and went to the Gryffindor common room. Harry and Hermione were sitting by the fireplace. Ronan and Ron grabbed sits next to them.

'Ronan!' Harry called out. 'Long time no see. How have you been?'

'Fine. I've heard about your new classes with Dumbledore. I hope they'll work right.'

'Yeah, me too. So, how's Shane?'

Shane was Ronan's pet and his best friend. He looked like a little, cute and orange bat with wide wings instead of his hears. Shane was funny, outgoing and nice, but he was also lazy and grumpy, just like Ron, and the two of them were always together.

'Couldn't come, I had to cover from mum. She thinks I'm bathing Shane. I must return quickly. Thank God Junior's a light-speeded griffin.'

'So, why did you come for?' Hermione asked.

'Ron will tell you. I'll come back another day. This will be an interesting year, I can tell.'

'Well, that was a quick visit. Bye, then.'

'Bye.' And Ronan left the castle, mounting on Junior's back again, returning to Sydney.

'Why did he come for?' Harry asked Ron. He explained all about the bridge accident and Ronan's worries about the War.

'Ronan is right. We must be very careful this year, especially you, Harry,' Hermione said. 'I just hope nothing bad happens to him.'

'Don't worry about Ronan,' Ron said. 'He passed through tougher days. He will be just fine.'

And was thinking about the War's dangers that the three friends spent that afternoon.

● ● ●

It was Tuesday and they would have classes with Slughorn. The three friends were looking forward to finally meet the teacher, because Potions was never very funny with Snape in the command.

Ron felt happy. Certainly, Slughorn wouldn't be like Snape, always giving extra credit to the Slytherins. That would shut up Malfoy once and for all. Draco Malfoy was the person Ron hated the most. He, like Ron, descended from a family of wizards and was proud to be a pureblood. But, unlike Ron's family, the Malfoys hated and despised everyone who came from a family of Muggles, or the Muggle-born. Unfortunately, Hermione was a Muggle-born and Malfoy called her nasty names such as mudblood. Those times, Ron hated Malfoy with all his strength and would kill him if Hermione didn't stop him.

But Ron's thoughts drove apart when Slughorn arrived and the students entered the Potions classroom. Slughorn, indeed, looked like a walrus. He had a preference in famous and talented students too. Just like Harry said. He, Harry and Hermione were about to sit down together when Slughorn stopped them. It seemed like he had other plans.

He said, 'I know you're used to sit with your own friends, but Professor Snape told me you weren't having great grades and I thought I could rearrange class differently'.

The three friends were caught in surprise. Did it mean that they were going to be apart? Slughorn's changes were very nasty. He put Malfoy working with Harry while Ron would be working with Hermione. There were other strange changes throughout the classroom. But Slughorn gave a simple explanation. Like that, there were more well-balanced groups and the results would be better that way.

Ron could not believe his luck! He had Hermione just for him and she, surely, could help him out. 'Here's your way to thank me', said Ron, quietly, to Hermione. She merely gave him a sarcastic smile and said nothing. Slughorn used almost all the class's time to his changes. Then, he said only one thing.

'Well, there's little time left, but it's enough time to do one simple thing: the antidote for the coral-snake venom. You have the recipe on page 134 of your books. Enjoy!'

Coral-snake. Ron didn't imagine he would make that antidote one more time. He remembered that he had made it lots of times when he was a little kid. But Ron didn't want to remember, those memories were too painful.

Immediately, Hermione turned to page 134 and scanned the ingredients. It was a fairly easy potion to make. She then asked, 'Why do wizards worry about the coral-snake? I thought it was just a Muggle mania.'

'It isn't', Ron simply said, still turning pages. 'There are other venoms of that type that appear in flowers and eatable plants. People need to take the antidote first. Everyone knows that this antidote is essential.'

Hermione seemed surprised with Ron's answer. How did he know so much about that antidote? She didn't remember eating any of those plants at The Burrow. 'How do you know that?'

Ron smiled widely. 'It's written on the book.' When she realized the truth, they both started laughing like crazy and Slughorn had to shut them up.

The rest of the class was very funny for them. They did the antidote together while Ron was making fun of Malfoy's face and imagining how Snape would react if he saw Harry Potter, the student he hated the most, with his little Malfoy boy. Ron never saw Hermione laughing that much, but it didn't distract her from the potion. In the other hand, Ron had done the potion so many times that he didn't need to prevent distraction at all.

Harry looked like he went trough the nine circles of hell. He and Malfoy were constantly rowing and throwing killing looks to each other. Their antidote, which should be as clear as water by then, was the colour of blood.

Ron and Hermione finished the antidote before time and she consented to explain Ron all about last DADA lesson. Snape was so demanding, quick and terrorising that Ron didn't have the time to get down some notes. So, he didn't understand anything about the Inferi at all.

By the time the bell rang, Slughorn started to patrol the room, giving some advice and useful tricks on potion making. When he arrived at Harry and Malfoy's table, he caught them rowing and blamed Malfoy for his behaviour, as he already knew Harry would never do something as bad as that. And he was right. The look on Malfoy's face! The grin on Harry's lips!

Then, Slughorn passed to Ron and Hermione's table. He gasped in surprise when he saw their antidote. 'Mr. Weasley and Miss Granger! This is amazing! I have never seen such a perfect coral-snake antidote! You see?' he asked the classroom. 'You should stop complaining about my changes! Look at the results!'

Ron and Hermione never found themselves in the spotlight, at least, without Harry, and it was a wonderful feeling. Everyone applauded and the two friends exchanged smiles and slight touches. Harry was smirking.

'And as you two did the most perfect antidote in class, thirty points will be awarded to Gryffindor and you two won't have homework!'

The rest of the students seemed disgruntled. Maybe they did a better job the next time. After that, Slughorn gave permission to the students to leave and Ron and Hermione were joined by Harry at the entrance hall.

'Well, I reckon you had a lot of fun in there. If I have to spend another second with that little Malfoy brat, I'll suicide! Plus, I'll take my homework with me!'

Next class would be Charms and they ran to reach the classroom in time.

The rest of the day passed normally and nothing special happened.