A Grimm Journey

Chapter Three

Chapter three:

Everyone listened intently to Remus as he shared the grimm happenings in not only the wizarding world, but the muggle world as well. Things such as dementor attacks, disappearances, loyalties turned over, even a few killings. The horror and sadness was evident in everyone's faces, including Ron's.

"They found Igor Karkatoff's body dumped in some shack up north, covered in the dark mark."

They went on to talk about how, frankly, they were surprised he had made it this long, but Ron wasn't really paying attention anymore. He was thinking about how dismal the world had grown, how these things that were happening became treated as though they were a regular thin. He finally snapped out of his trance when Bill mentioned something about Florean Fortesque.

"Dragged off, by the looks of his place."

"Why?" Ron asked. He noted his mother's glare at Bill, who went on anyways.

"Who knows? He must've upset them somehow. He was a good man, Florean." Said Bill. They went on speaking of Ollivander's, and how his shop was closed and abandoned too. This got to Ron, considering Ollivander's was the best place to get their wands. Still, there were other places to go, but no place like Ollivander's.

Ron stayed silent for the rest of the conversation, listening but not really until it was time to go to bed. Once Harry got up there, Ron apologized, I mean it was his birthday after all. "Sorry about that, mate."

"Eh, "replied Harry, "you can't ignore the real world, not really, anyway."

"Yeah, I guess." Stated Ron, thinking that in itself was a rather gloomy statement. "Night Harry."

•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•~•

Ron woke the next morning, knowing that this would be the day he got his task from Harry, and quite frankly, he dreaded the idea.

He trudged down the many flights of stairs, avoiding getting to the kitchen by any means necessary. When he finally got down there, much to his dismay, was Harry waiting there for him, a mischievous smirk upon his face. "So, what misery do you bring me this week?" Ron asked this way, considering Harry had beat him the last three weeks too.

"You have to do my share of de-gnoming the garden!" Harry said victoriously, his voice rising as he got to the end.

"Woah! Slow down, mate! De-gnoming? I can't do my share and yours!"

"We agreed we'd do anything the other asks, no matter how horrible."

"What are you two bickering about now?" Hermione questioned, as though this was completely normal, which it pretty much was. Ron sat disgruntled back in his chair, arms crossed. But he couldn't get over, or barely hide his feelings for Hermione, gosh he liked her a lot. Not now, he told himself over and over. Now is not the time.

Ronald huffed, "Nothing,".

"Ron's just mad, because I won this week, and I've decided he has to de-gnome the garden for both he and I, for the rest of the week.

Hermione looked quickly disappointed, and for a moment, Ron thought she was going to side with him, he rose slightly, hoping. Then a smile broke onto her face, "Sorry, Ron, but I have to admit, that's pretty good." She said, half-giggling. Ron sank back down into his chair, and Hermione sat down next to Harry, two seats away from Ron. The rest of the day went slowly, tomorrow he would have to de-gnome the gardens, for both he and Harry. Ina week and a half they would leave for platform nine and three-quarters, and off to Hogwarts.

Dinner was about to be served, and Ron dug in less than gracefully. The rest of the family laughed and began eating as well.

The next day, Ron woke and hopped in the shower. When he got out he was the first one down to breakfast. Figures, he thought bitterly. Turns out, maybe he wasn't so lucky. Fred and George had booby-trapped the chair he was about to sit in, and all of a sudden, he heard four little poofs underneath him. The legs of the chairs had turned into rockets, and zoomed around the room a couple times, with Ron screaming, holding on for dear life. The chair set him down less than gently. Fred and George burst out of the kitchen laughing their heads off. "Holy Jeez!" You nearly killed me! Screeched Ron, the twins laughed even harder.

"What on earth is going on in here?!" Molly yelled, rushing into the sitting room. The twins stopped laughing at once, Ron still red with anger. "What do you think you're doing?" Barked Molly again. Everyone began talking at once, and quickly everyone else showed up behind Molly and Mr. Weasley.

"Alright, alright!" Declared Molly, " I don't wanna hear it!" Just sit down while I make breakfast, and Fred and George since this was probably your doing, you're grounded for three days."

"But mum!" They began blabbering,

"Bup-bup! I don't want to head it" with that she stormed into he kitchen. Everyone sat down at the table quietly and awkwardly. Hardly anyone said a word until Molly came back with the food. Everyone carefully set food onto their plates, including Ron. Once everyone was finished, with the wave of her wand, the dishes began to magically clean themselves up. "Now, onto chores." Molly announced. Oh no, Ron knew this was coming, guess he would just have to suck it up and wait for his name to be called. He glared at Harry, and he gave a small frown filled with mock pity. Ron glowered at him and then turned away. He looked over to Hermione who waited patiently while Molly went through the list. Before Ron could be caught staring, he turned back to looking at his mother expectantly.