Harry Potter and The Gilded Portrait
A/N; This chapter is a bit of a fill-in…As always, thanks for reading.
Standard Disclaimers Apply
Chapter Seven - Moving Forward
Harry woke the next morning after another dreamless night of sleep He felt rested and more relaxed than he ever remembered.
I could really get used to this…
Even though the weight of the day's events sat heavily on his mind it was nothing like the stress of the last several years. It made him feel a bit guilty to be so…care free.
He thought about Hermione and how much better things would be for her once her parents were back. He figured she would want to spend some time with them and help get things back to normal.
As far a Ron was concerned, Harry had no idea what caused him to go completely off the grid but he figured Ron would surface sooner or later. He still couldn't understand why he wasn't with Hermione or at least with his family.
As he made his way to the kitchen after a nice hot bath, he was assaulted with the smells of breakfast. Hermione may have disapproved of what he was thinking at the moment but having a house elf was worth its weight in galleons!
"Morning Kreacher," Harry said brightly as he sat down at the table.
"Master," Kreacher replied and bowed low. The heavy silver locket rapped hard on the stone floor again.
Harry tensed for a moment, then slid off the bench and went to crouch down in front of the wrinkled old elf.
"Now see here Kreacher," Harry said as kindly but sternly as he could, "Let's stop this whole master business shall we? I'm not your master and even if I were, I wouldn't want to be. I'm your friend, ok so as friends I would much prefer if you would just call me Harry."
Kreacher stood there blinking at Harry for a moment then his bottom lip began to quiver. Harry guessed what would come next and he wasn't disappointed. The old house elf's eyes began to tear and he covered his face with his hands.
"No-one has ever considered Kreacher a f…friend!"
"Know what," Harry replied matter-of-factly, "They do now. After what you did for us at Hogwarts the wizard world thinks of you as a hero, wouldn't surprise me if they don't award you a medal or something for your bravery."
Harry made a mental note to pass that idea on to Kingsley and maybe even mention it to Mr. Weasley as well. Dispatching Voldemort should have earned him a few points with the Ministry so he may as well use them for a good cause.
Kreacher, as expected, burst out in a fit of wailing tears. All Harry could do was pat the elf lightly on his thin shoulder until he got a hold of himself. After a moment Kreacher looked back up at Harry.
"Mas…er…Harry Potter sir is indeed the greatest and most noble wizard who ever lived!"
Harry couldn't help but smile and chuckle, "Right erm, thanks Kreacher. We'll work on the whole formal addressing thing. Thank you for breakfast by the way."
"It's Kreacher's honor to look after his ma…Harry Potter sir. If there is anything else you require…"
"No…no Kreacher," Harry replied looking over the mouth-watering spread on the table, "I think this is plenty."
Kreacher scurried off to attend to cleaning up the kitchen humming in his low scratchy voice while Harry settled himself to his scrumptious breakfast. As he dove into eggs, kippers, muffins, and fresh, ice cold pumpkin juice he perused the day's copy of The Daily Prophet. When he saw the photo and the headline below the fold he almost spit his juice across the room.
The photo showed Ron, who was obviously drunk out of his mind, with his arm around a very pretty, beaming blond witch. He was mugging for the camera.
The caption below the photo read,
Golden Boy- The Celebration Continues!
He then read the article that followed;
"Last night Ronald Weasley, one of the members of the now famous Golden Trio of young Hogwarts Students who were primarily responsible for the demise of Lord Voldemort, was spotted at the new wizard night spot The Dancing Leprechaun having what could only be described as lively evening of marry celebration.
Word spread around the local village and before long the pub was standing-room only as folks waited in line for hours just to get inside to get a glimpse of the red-haired hero.
We were fortunate enough to make our way in to try and get a word with Mr. Weasley. By the time we were able to reach him however, the celebration had been going on for quite some time.
When asked to share a snippet of the harrowing adventures that took place over the past several weeks, Mr. Weasley replied, "Hey…you, pull me finger!" When we respectfully declined he turned to another reveler and repeated the request. The man was then rewarded with a loud flatulent sound followed by raucous laughter. They then made their way to the bar.
Mr. Weasley was never very far from a lovely young witch by the name of Cassandra Crenshaw. It was later discovered Ms. Crenshaw is in the employ of the pub and was there having a good time on her night off. When asked about her relationship to Mr. Weasley she replied,
"Oh yah! Me and Ronny's real close. I'm just bonkers about `im! Isn't he the cutest thing and he's a bona-fide hero ya know? It was me what suggested Ronny write a book about all the things him and his friends went through. He's gotta meeting with this snobby author lady what's gonna help Ronny put it together."
When asked who the snobby author lady was Ms. Crenshaw was unable to recall her name. Some speculation led us to someone who might have been the author in question. When asked if she had been approached about a possible book deal with Mr. Weasley she declined to be identified for this article but did offer a tantalizing non-statement, "Now sweetheart, let's not put the Wizard before the wand so to speak shall we. Like a fine mulled mead…all good things in time."
Prestwick Pittman, the owner of The Dancing Leprechaun had this to say about the night's events and his special V.I.P. guest,
"Weer' mighty prood ta' haf sech a sportin' brier ta come callin' this nie'. As fine a lad `er there wuz one eya! B' mighty prood ta' `ave `erry Potter n' tha' wee bonnie lass come t' call as wail! Dars opn' `eny tym' n' `er gold is na' goot `er."
When asked about the other two members of the Golden Trio Mr. Weasley had this to say, "No idea where they are but I'm `avin a jolly good time!(hic)" We're wondering when Mr. Potter and Ms. Granger will end their fastidious self-imposed exile and join the rest of the wizard world in celebrating their amazing accomplishments.
Further inquiry revealed the night of revelry for Mr. Weasley began earlier at the residence of one Darby Danforth, the rather notorious son of Digby Danforth, the member of the Wizengamot suspected in being a Death Eater sympathizer. No further information on that case has been released and no trial date has been set although one has to wonder if it is due to the chaos and disarray of the Ministry of Magic at present.
As more celebrations take place throughout the wizard world to signal the end of Lord Voldemort's dark reign of terror we'll be there to bring you the scoop."
Harry could do nothing more than stare dumb-founded at the paper watching Ron's face contort into stupid silly muggings over and over.
The first thought that occurred to him was how Hermione was going to react to this. He couldn't help but feel bad for her. It would be the second time Ron had landed in the Daily Prophet completely pissed but not only that, with an attractive witch on his arm.
He could only hope Hermione was still in Australia although Harry thought it would serve Ron right if she saw what he was up to.
Hermione doesn't deserve this.
He also wondered what book the article had been referring to. Harry had no clue.
He laid the paper down with an exasperated sigh and glanced at the clock on the mantle. He was going to have to finish his breakfast quickly if he was going to make Colin's service on time. He cursed himself for loosing track.
After a hasty farewell to Kreacher Harry grabbed his invisibility cloak and made his way to the front door of the house. Surveying the area as he stood on the concealed porch he noticed a few Aurors nearby. He recognized Benjamin Twycross but slipped his cloak over his head all the same. He stepped off the porch, turned quickly and disappeared with a pop!
---@>---
Hermione's eyes fluttered open to complete darkness. Disorientation made her head spin painfully for a moment until she recalled the events of the previous evening.
…Or maybe it's the same evening.
Stiffly she lifted her body from the bed and made herself move toward the sliver of light showing beneath the door of the room she was placed in when she had collapsed.
She cursed herself for her weakness and the memory of it irritated her greatly. She snatched at the doorknob and flung the door open. When the bright lights from the hall flooded the doorway she felt as if someone had stabbed her in both eyes, the pain piercing her brain.
Well that was really stupid Granger!
She stood there with her hand over her eyes waiting for the tears to stop flowing and the pain to ebb when she heard voices coming down the hall from her right.
When the two Healers came within sight of Hermione's open door they stopped.
"Ms. Granger," The male Healer said, "You're awake." They then noticed the tears streaming down her cheeks from beneath her hands covering her eyes, "My dear are you alright?" He exclaimed sounding suddenly concerned.
Hermione nodded, "Just opened the door too quickly. Should have lit my wand in the room first I suppose."
Seemingly assured by her explanation both Healers seem to exhale.
"Do you know my parents Daphne and Edward Granger?" Hermione asked. "They're Muggles brought in for memory modification."
"Yes, of course Ms. Granger," the female Healer replied smiling, "I'm responsible for their care for this shift."
Hermione removed her hands and began blinking rapidly to clear her vision. When she could see the Healers clearly she looked at the woman.
"Is there any change in their condition," she asked hopefully.
"I'm sorry but only a little," The woman suddenly looked sad, "The Oblivators and Ms. McGonagall have been working non-stop to try and find a solution. So far there seems to be no reasonable explanation for what is happening to them. I believe Ms. McGonagall is presently at the Department of Mysteries at the Ministry to find any information they my have on the subject."
"I hear tell," the male Healer added, "the next step if a solution can't be found here they will be transferred temporarily to a Muggle facility and there they'll undergo what I think I heard an Oblivator call a cat scan although I can't for the life of me figure out what the devil a cat would have to do with looking into ones head."
If Hermione didn't feel so bad at the moment she would have thought that quite amusing. She knew, of course, the Healer was referring to what was known in the Muggle world as a Computed Tomography or C.T. scan that was used to take very detailed cross-section x-rays of just about any object including the human brain.
That knowledge only served to make her head pound even worse. She felt her stomach rumble with emptiness but she had no desire for food. Just the though of eating made the bile rise in her throat.
"Can I see them?" She asked.
"Of course Ms. Granger," the female Healer replied, "In fact we encourage it. We feel the more familiar people spend time with them the better."
With that Hermione made her way across the hall to the door she remembered from before. She realized she had no idea what time it was or if it were day or night or even what day it was for that matter but she also realized she didn't really care. The only thing that mattered to her was finding a solution to her parent's problem.
As she entered the room she could see they both looked much better then the last time she saw them. She recognized personal items they must have brought from their house to see if any of it would spark recognition. The female Healer told her they recognized a few of the items and it was a very good sign. Although Hermione was glad to hear, it did nothing to lessen the sheer weight of stress and guilt trying to squish her.
She spent time with both her mother and father, talking to them about things they had done together and places they had gone. Some they could remember some they couldn't.
The Healers had asked her to purposefully avoid mentioning anything connected to the magical world to try and stimulate as much of their Muggle memories as possible. They felt trying to assimilate too much wizard world information into their minds at this point would just be too confusing for them. She agreed.
At one point when fatigue got the better of her, without giving it another thought Hermione crawled into her mother's bed and enfolded her in a tight embrace laying her head on her mother's chest just as she had done when she was a little girl. Her mother seemed to respond rather stiffly at first but then slowly relaxed and even put a hand on top of Hermione's head after a while. It seemed to spark a deeply hidden maternal memory in her mother.
A bit later Hermione heard the voice of Professor McGonagall out in the hallway. She reluctantly excused herself from her mother's arms with a smile and made her way out to speak with her mentor.
She found her in deep conversation with a few Oblivators and Kingsley Shacklebolt.
McGonagall started slightly when she saw Hermione come out of her parent's room.
"Oh, I see you're awake, Ms. Granger," McGonagall said, "I'm glad to see you spending time with your parents young lady but you look as if your about to fall over from exhaustion. Did you not get any rest last night?"
"A bit," Hermione replied but really didn't care to discuss her own condition at the moment, "Did you manage to find out anything at the Department of Mysteries Professor?" She didn't even realize she had addressed the now-official Hogwarts Headmistress that way.
"How did you kn…" McGonagall was about to ask then pursed her lips knowingly, "One should never underestimate your resourcefulness Ms. Granger however, unfortunately no. The Unspeakables were unable to find any useful information on correcting memory modification problems with Muggles. Most of the information that does exist pertains to wizard folk only and I will not risk any further…complications by applying untested theory."
Hermione nodded. She wasn't surprised.
"The Healers told me you're going to try a Muggle C.T. scan next."
"Yes," McGonagall nodded, "That's one of the reasons Kingsley is here. He's going to personally oversee the transfer of your parents to the Muggle institution. All the necessary arrangements have been made so there is nothing for you to worry about."
Kingsley stepped forward and laid a hand gently on Hermione's shoulder.
"I assure you Ms. Granger," he said in his deep voice that resonated with surety and confidence, "They will be perfectly safe. The entire procedure should take about forty-eight hours. The Oblivators are already on route to make the necessary preparations on the other end."
"What's the other reason?" Hermione asked.
Kingsley and McGonagall glanced at one-another.
"Beg pardon dear?" McGonagall asked.
"You said transporting my parents was one reason Mr. Shacklebolt was here. What's the other?"
"Yes…well. So I did," McGonagall's face pinched slightly with concern. She looked at the Head Auror holding out her hand, "I think she needs to know Kingsley."
Kingsley nodded glumly and Hermione could feel the blood turning to ice in her veins. She didn't know if she could physically handle any more devastating blows to her emotions at the moment but she steeled herself for the worst.
If you can survive the Crutiatus curse you can survive anything Granger so suck it up!
Hermione felt herself lifting her head and stiffening her jaw at the thought.
"Arthur and I were going through the Minister's office earlier today and we've discovered an egregious amount of papers, files and…other things have been removed and we have no idea at this time where it all might be or if any of it even still exists."
What Kingsley was saying didn't surprise her all that much. After all Pius Thicknesse had been an imperiused Voldemort puppet and the Death Eaters would have had the run of the place after the ministry had fallen.
She should have seen it though. She should have been clever enough to realize what was coming next but she simply felt numb at the moment. Her mind was filled with so much sorrow and guilt she was completely unprepared.
"Hermione, the coded list of your parent's clients was one of the documents they took."
She suddenly felt as if someone had punched her in the stomach. She wanted to vomit but she fought the nausea that threatened to overwhelm her and took a deep ragged breath.
McGonagall had voiced her concerns at placing her list within the Ministry but she knew if things went badly the Aurors and Oblivators would need access to the list and besides, she was relatively certain at the time all this was put together Hogwarts would eventually fall. She had refrained from making more than one copy because there was less chance it would be discovered. Once again she had outsmarted herself.
For a moment she couldn't figure out why the thought of her list being taken by the Death Eaters would cause such a reaction of dread. After all it had been written in an all but dead language and only two people on the planet had the key to decode its contents. One was herself and the other was standing right in front of her looking at her with compassionate concern.
It had taken her three days to compile the list but it wasn't as if she couldn't do it again.
"I'll make you another Mr. Shacklebolt," she said but it didn't sound like her. It sounded as if the voice speaking was at the other end of the hallway.
Suddenly Hermione wanted to be somewhere else. She knew her parents would be in good hands and safe during the up-coming transfer and she thought she should be there but a C.T. scan was a relatively simple non-evasive procedure and she needed to get out of St. Mungo's. She wasn't sure why but then a face filled her mind quite out of the blue.
Harry…I need to see Harry.
She had no idea why but she was certain of it.
---@>---
He was riding on the back of Aragog rushing through the Forbidden Forrest and why he was on the back of that dirty great spider he had no clue.
`I HATE SPIDERS!'
But as he sat astride the creature's hairy back he could see its legs moving back and forth as they flew through the forest.
There was a constant pounding in his head.
It was then he realized Kreacher was riding his shoulders and the barmy old elf was constantly whacking him on top of his head with the handle of Harry's Nimbus 2000 broomstick chanting `Fight…fight…fight!'
The next thing Ron realized his eyes were opening to bright sunlight streaming in through the slit in some heavy curtains covering a window in a strange room.
A dull throbbing pain pulsed in his forehead just behind his eyes.
He then realized a body was lying next to him in a strange bed. A girl's body!
She was lying on her stomach in nothing but some very skimpy red satin and lace knickers. His eyes moved along the soft curve of her lower back and the gentle swell of a rather perfect looking bum.
Cassandra! I bloody slept with Cassandra last night!
At first shock and fear gripped him but then he slowly realized if something had happened she wouldn't be wearing her knickers…would she?
He looked down at himself and saw he was only in his boxers himself.
Oh Bugger!
He lay there trying to reason through the pain. He tried to search himself to see if anything was different. He could still feel the dull throbbing in his loins that had been a constant thing since he started snogging Lavender so that must mean nothing happened…didn't it?
I mean…wouldn't I feel different somehow?
Another dreadful thought occurred to him as he felt Cassandra stir beside him.
What if we tried and I couldn't…couldn't do it! What if I didn't know how? What if I made a bloody arse out of myself?
With those dreadful thoughts still swirling around in his throbbing head Cassie popped up and looked around for a moment until her hazy eyes fell on Ron.
Her face broke out in a wide, sleepy smile Ron thought just too cute for words.
"Mornin' love," she whispered. She then leaned over him and kissed him lightly on the lips, "How you feeling this mornin'? You sure threw down a gob of whiskey and good cheer." She chuckled as she rolled over and sat up, "You hit the bed and passed right out!"
Ron moaned to himself.
"I feel like I've got the bloody Hogwarts Express speeding through my brain. Erm…sorry for…you know…passing out and all. I didn't…erm…I didn't make an arse out of myself did I?"
"What?" Cassie looked at him still smiling, "No, love not at all. You were fine. You were so funny. That's the most fun I've had in ages."
Ron exhaled in relief. He felt better except for the throbbing that had now shifted to his temples. He reached up and messaged them with his fingers. Cassandra watched him amused.
"I think you need a spot of Megan's after-party concoction. Amazin' stuff! Fix you right up, it will."
She then proceeded to crawl over him to the other side of the bed. He couldn't help but take in the girl's amazing body. A different voice sounded in his head.
And you did absolutely nothing last night! Some lover boy you are…
Cassie slid off the bed and rooted around the room for a moment until she found a thin silk gown and slipped it on. She then went back to the bed and grabbed Ron's hand, giving him a yank.
"Come on," Cassie laughed again, "Let's go see if Megan's up yet and I'll get her to fix her brew."
As they made their way to the bedroom door they heard voices out in the hall. When Cassie pulled the door open Megan was standing there having a rather heated discussion with a strange bloke. He was shirtless and Megan was wearing a short black silky gown that showed all her shapely legs. Her arms were crossed tightly under her ample breasts.
"Look Gabriel," Megan said, "We had a lot of fun last night but it's time for you to go love."
"But," the bloke stammered. Megan held up her hand.
"No really," Megan said sternly, "The party's over, time for you to go home now."
The bloke looked angrily at Megan for a moment. Ron bristled but when the bloke glanced at Cassie and Ron standing there but he just huffed and went on his way throwing his shirt on over his shoulders.
Megan turned to look at Ron and Cassie.
"Some blokes just don't seem to get the message." She winked at them smirking.
"See you had some fun last night!" Cassie said brightly. Megan just lifted a slender shoulder then cast a glance at Ron.
"You as well," Megan said grinning, "But our resident hero looks a bit peaky this morning."
"Yah," Cassie replied but grimaced slightly, "I believe he's in need of a spot of you magic potion dear."
"Not a problem," Megan nodded and headed down the hall, "We'll have you feeling right as rain in no time flat my boy."
"Thanks," Ron mumbled as he followed the girls.
They came out into what appeared to be the sitting room. The furnishings were old and a bit shabby but the place was clean and neat. Megan went into a small kitchen area and began fishing around in a cabinet for a few items. She produced what Ron recognized right away as a bottle of Pepper Up Potion. Turning to the icebox she produced a container filled with a thick red liquid.
After mixing a few things together in a glass she handed the concoction to Ron.
"Best not think about it love. Just open up and pour it in." Megan said.
Ron gaped at her for a moment but it was Cassandra who piped up.
"Really Ron, it'll make you feel loads better, right Megan?"
"That it will, my love now in you go," Megan said nodding.
Ron closed his eyes, threw the brew into his open mouth as he was instructed and swallowed. It tasted vile and he had to force himself not to wretch but once he had got the concoction down he smacked his lips and realized it really didn't taste half bad and he started feeling better almost at once.
As he stood there marveling at the effects the brew had on him he found himself grinning, "Not bad. What's in it?"
Megan beamed. "Told ya' so," but then she looked at Ron a bit more seriously, "Oh a spot pf Pepper-Up, some Muggle tomato juice, and a little of this and that but be aware. I've found it can have some odd side-effects for…"
Before she could finish her declaration they heard a low rumble deep down in Ron's stomach. He looked down, placing a hand on his roiling gut. His face then wrinkled into a grimace and sweat broke out on his forehead.
"Loo?" He asked.
Megan pointed back down the hall, "Last door."
Without another word Ron shot down the hall. The girls heard the door slam and the sounds of moaning relief coming from behind it.
Megan just shook her head then turned to give her younger companion a significant look.
"What's he still doing here Cassie?"
Whaddya mean," Cassie asked innocently, "I like Ronny! I think he's really nice and a lot of fun," she said but then a puzzled look crossed her pretty face as she bit her thumb, "but I don't think he's ever been with a bird before, know what I mean?"
"If he spends another night with you that'll change," Megan retorted, "He's just a baby Cassie! What is he seventeen, eighteen tops?"
"So," Cassie replied indignantly, "I'm only a few years older than he is besides, he really likes me and he's nice to me."
Megan ran a hand over her face.
"Cassandra, far be it from me to tell you how to live your life but you're twenty-two years old and have shagged blokes old enough to be your grandfather! What's Golden boy gonna say when he finds out what we do in our spare time?"
"Well," Cassie narrowed her eyes, "who says he has to find out?"
"Oh for the love of…" Megan was getting exasperated at her often-bubble headed best friend, "Of course he's gonna find out! Maybe not today or tomorrow but eventually he will, then what are you going to do? You plan on giving all that up?"
Cassandra simply shrugged her shoulder looking blankly off into the distance, "He does have that lucrative book deal in the works."
"And who says he's gonna share any of that loot with you?" Megan asked. Cassie slapped the counter top.
"Well why not? T'was my idea after all, it was!"
"I see," Megan said darkly, "Make an honest woman of you right?"
"Jealous, are we?" Cassie asked haughtily.
Megan mentally threw up her hands. She knew trying to talk common sense into her friend when she got like this was an exorcize in futility.
"No Cassie, I'm not jealous," Megan sighed, "I hope things work out for you. I really do but just do me a favor and don't get your hopes up too high alright?"
With that Megan turned toward the stove and began pulling pans from the cabinets with her wand.
"You hungry?"
"Ravenous," Cassie said with a slight growl but then smirked as they heard Ron come out of the loo, "but not just for breakfast!" She giggled.
As Ron turned the corner of the hall Megan tossed him a glance.
"Feel better?"
Ron took a quick inventory and stretched as Cassandra moved forward and wrapped her arms around his middle. He had pulled on his trousers on the way back from the loo.
"Yah, actually," Ron smiled, "Never better. That's some amazing stuff you've got there!"
Just then an owl arrived at the kitchen window carrying the morning copy of the Prophet.
"Can you get that Cass?" Megan asked, "What do you like for breakfast Ron? I assume you feel up to eating, am I right?"
"Yah…erm…I'll just have a bit of whatever you're having, thanks."
Cassandra took a few coins from a plate by the window and tucked them in the owl's pouch. Unrolling the paper she scanned the front page quickly. When she saw her own face next to Ron's on the front page she squealed so loudly it made Megan slosh porridge all over the stove.
"WE'RE ON THE FRONT PAGE OF THE PROPHET!" She screamed and started bouncing up and down.
Ron couldn't seem to tear his eyes away from Cassandra's amazing, almost unfettered bouncing boobs. When Cassie ran to him and showed him the paper he could see she wasn't exaggerating in the least. There he was, sloshed out of his mind making stupid faces out of the photograph for everyone in the wizard world to see.
That includes my family, Harry and…Oh Merlin…Hermione!
He had not thought about her at all in the last few days. He had not thought about anything but getting lost in the world that was Cassandra. He liked being with her but when he thought what would happen when his mother saw the paper. His stomach knotted all over again.
Cassandra, still excited, began reading the article that accompanied the picture. When she read where the reporter had quoted her she squealed again. Ron could only offer her a smile that looked more like a grimace.
Megan was watching him with keen-eyed attention. She knew exactly what he was thinking.
"And see," Cassie pointed to the article excitedly with wide eyes, "they even mentioned your book Ronny! Oh Merlin! Why you're gonna be even more famous and the book is gonna sell like fish n' chips! WAIT!" Cassie looked back down at the photo, "I'm gonna be famous now too!"
With that revelation Cassie tossed the paper up in the air and leaped into Ron's arms and started kissing him all over his flushed face. With one final squeeze Cassie slid to the floor and rushed toward the loo.
"Hold on I gotta pee! All that jumping up and down I guess!" She laughed and began singing all the way down the hall.
Megan looked at a completely stunned Ron with a smirk on her lips.
"You got family don't you Ron?"
He could only nod and flush bright red.
"Ooh," she said, hissing between her teeth, "How do you think they're gonna take it?"
No sooner had the words left her mouth then a spastic little owl landed on the kitchen window sill. It was carrying a thick red envelope. Ron knew at once what that was. Megan saw his face turn sheet white. She turned to look at the fidgeting little owl.
"Oh boy," Megan winced, "I think I know what that is. Better get it or there's no telling what will happen. I'd rather not have my kitchen destroyed if you don't mind."
Ron crossed to the window and snatched up a hooting Pigwidgeon. He snatched the letter from the strap that held it to the owl's leg and tossed Pig back out the open window like a tiny feathered dart.
He rushed to the front door as the envelope rumbled and fluttered madly in his grasp. Ron had just managed to clear the threshold when the scarlet letter burst open with a shower of angry red sparks and loud popping sounds and hung in the air a scant few inches from his sweating nose.
He cringed as the booming voice of his mother exploded all around him. It was so loud it blew his hair back and made his cheeks flap.
"RONALD BILIUS WEASLEY! HAVE YOU COMPLETELY TAKEN LEAVE OF YOUR SENSES? WHERE ON EARTH HAVE YOU BEEN? DO YOU HAVE ANY IDEA WHAT FOLKS ARE SAYING ABOUT YOU? AND WHAT ABOUT THIS BOOK I'M BEING TOLD ABOUT? YOU MUST BE CONFUNDED! THAT'S THE ONLY PROPER EXPALINATION! YOU LISTEN TO ME YOUNG MAN…YOU WILL GET YOUSELF TO YOUR BROTHER'S FLAT IN DIAGON ALLEY THIS INSTANT AND YOU WILL REMAIN THERE UNTIL I SEND FOR YOU, DO YOU UNDERSTAND? TO THINK THE TROUBLE YOU ARE CAUSING FOR YOU FATHER WHILE HE'S TRYING TO ASSUME THE ROLL OF MINISTER! HOW DARE YOU! GET TO DIAGON ALLEY…IMMEDIATELY OR I'LL TELL YOUR FATHER TO HAVE YOU ARRESTED AND HAULED INTO THE MINISTRY IN IRONS!"
As his mother's voice echoed off the walls around him the letter quickly burst into red-gold flames and disappeared in a puff of hideously smelling dark smoke. Ron stood there for a moment stunned and blinking as black soot from the mini-explosion covered his terrified face.
Back inside the flat Cassandra had returned from the loo as Megan began serving the breakfast she was making, putting the food out on plates and the porridge in bowls. They could here the booming voice of Mrs. Weasley clearly coming from the entrance at the front. Cassandra tossed Megan a quizzical look.
"Howler," the older woman shrugged, chuckling, "and a good strong one too from the sound of it!"
"Who in blazes would be sending Ronny a howler, I wonder?" Cassie asked to no-one in particular as she watched the letter blow up on Ron's face. It made her jump slightly.
"Who do you think Cassie?" Megan stared at her dingy best friend, "Use your head. The bloke's been running around with us getting pissed and getting his picture in the Prophet to boot. Seems his old man is up for the Minister's post or something and finding his son running with the likes of us won't sit too well with those stodgy Ministry types."
"What are you on about Megan," Cassie looked suddenly aggravated, "Those stodgy Ministry types are some of our best customers!"
"Yes, well," Megan actually blushed at that declaration, "This is a bit different Cassie."
Ron came back into the flat looking glum and resentful but had seemed to take on the appearance of a scolded school boy all the same.
"Mum a bit miffed with you Ron?" Megan asked trying desperately to stifle the laughter trying to escape her throat. Cassie had retrieved a wash rag from the bathroom with her wand and was dabbing the soot from his face.
"You could say that," he replied a bit dazedly.
"Come have some breakfast and you can sort it all out after," Megan said as she sat down at her plate, "I don't think your mum will send the Hit Wizards after you this very moment."
"Thanks," Ron replied, "but I better go. You don't know my mum. Wouldn't surprise me if she put a tracing charm on the howler," he looked down at Cassie, "I don't want to make any trouble for you two. You've both been really nice to me and well, I just better go that's all."
Cassandra looked worried for a moment. She stepped away from Ron wringing her hands nervously.
"Your mum really wouldn't have you arrested…would she?"
Ron said nothing as he looked glumly at the floor.
"Why that's…" Cassie began to say but Megan quickly cut across her.
"Look Cassie, maybe it's for the best. Ron, you should go patch things up with your folks and after things settle down for a bit you can come back. We'll be here, won't we Cassie?"
Cassandra looked as if she wanted to argue her point, whatever point that was but Ron seemed to be resigned to his pending fate. He stepped toward Cassie and pulled her into a tight hug.
"I really like being with you. I've had more fun the last few days then I've ever in my life but Megan's right."
"M…maybe I can go with you," Cassandra asked. She looked as if she was about to start crying. Ron knew he wouldn't be able to handle that. Megan came to his rescue.
"I don't think that would be a good idea Cassie," Megan said flatly, "There'll be time for that after, right Ron?"
"Of course," Ron smiled at Cassie, "I'll be back as soon as I'm able. It might take a while to get things sorted out but I promise I will be back. I have to admit I kind of like being famous."
With that Cassandra seemed mollified and Ron felt only slightly better about his chances for survival over the next few days. Cassandra folded him into a heart-stopping kiss then, after snatching a few pieces of bacon and stuffing them quickly in his mouth and retrieving the rest of his things he turned and apparated to Diagon Alley.
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