Jaded (Rewritten)

Chapter Six: Don't Speak

"Ronald."

Ron's head snapped up. He looked at his father with puffy, bloodshot eyes. "Dad," he said, his voice barely a whisper.

Arthur walked toward his youngest son and sat on the adjacent couch. He studied the purple bruise blooming across Ron's jaw—the mark he had put there himself. "Why didn't you let your mother heal that?"

"I deserved it," Ron replied, looking at his feet.

Arthur leaned back, his expression unreadable. "I won't apologize for hitting you. We both know you earned it."

Ron nodded silently.

"Can you be honest with me, son?" Arthur asked, his voice softening just enough to be dangerous.

Ron leaned forward, bracing his elbows on his thighs. "Of course, Dad. What do you want to know?"

"Why?" Arthur asked upfront. "Why did you cheat on Hermione?"

Ron cringed as if he'd been slapped again. He buried his face in his palms, rubbing his skin until it was raw. Arthur waited, the silence of the room stretching into an agonizing minute. Finally, Ron groaned and sat up straight. "To be honest... I don't know why. I love Hermione. I love her so much it hurts."

Arthur's brow furrowed. "Then why do it? And how many times, Ronald? Truly."

"Do I really have to answer that?"

"Yes, you do! Answer me truthfully!" Arthur snapped, the fire returning to his eyes.

Ron looked away, his voice dropping to a shameful murmur. "Three."

"THREE?" Arthur roared, surging forward. "THREE TIMES?"

Ron flinched, throwing his hands up in defense, but the blow didn't come. He peered through his fingers to see his father trembling with a forced, terrifying calm.

"Tell me," Arthur said through gritted teeth. "With whom. And when."

"Dad, I—"

"NO! You will answer me before I lose my temper and beat you again!"

Ron cowered, his words spilling out in a panicked rush. "The first was Lavender... back at Hogwarts. I didn't think it counted because Hermione and I weren't 'official' yet. But then... there was Millicent Bulstrode."

Arthur went deathly still. "Bulstrode?"

"She was helping me find a house," Ron stuttered. "For me and Hermione to move into after the wedding. We were drunk, and it just... it happened unexpectedly. I woke up in her bed."

Arthur didn't say a word. His silence was deafening.

"And the last one... it was an accident. It was the day Hermione found us. I was drunk again, and Lavender was there. It just happened, Dad."

"So," Arthur concluded, his voice cold and stoic. "You're telling me that this all happened because you simply cannot hold your liquor? That 'being drunk' is an excuse for destroying the life of the woman you claim to love?"

Ron couldn't meet his father's gaze. He just nodded miserably.

Arthur stood up, looking down at his son as if he were a stranger. "I think you should leave."

Ron's eyes widened. "But Dad—"

"No. Leave this house and think about what you have done. You broke the heart of a brilliant, loyal woman because you were weak. Not once, but repeatedly. Your mother and I cannot tolerate this behavior under our roof. I am ashamed of you, Ronald. And you should be deeply ashamed of yourself."