Through The War

christmas at shell cottage

RON'S POV:

With Fleur reading quietly on the couch before me, the light crackle of the fire, I feel at peace for the first time in months. Though I still feel guilty for leaving, and in such an angry state, I can't help but feel calm and comfortable, especially since Fleur made dinner and tea.

It's short lived though. The front door slams, rattling the photo frames and the tea on the coffee table. I look over, startled and feel my jaw drop at who I see.

Ginny.

She's safe. I haven't hugged her properly in years, mostly because I'm too awkward for that, but she's my little sister and I haven't seen her in months. " Ginny! You're safe!" I cry, setting down my plate of food and jump up to greet and hug her. She pushes me away though, and I realize that she's angry.

Actually, she's furious.

I back away, in confusion and watch as she throws her coat on the ground, and shoves Bill off her as he tries to calm her, his hand on her shoulder.

" How could you?" She snarls at me, her fists balled up and face red. It looks like she's been crying, and I wonder what's happened. I open my mouth to respond, but it flops rather like a fish, unable to find words, because, frankly, I don't have anything to say. I don't have a valid answer. " You left them, Ron! They could die! They could be hurt! They could be captured right now!" She throws these words at me, hit after hit, as if I haven't heard this a million times from Bill, Fleur and myself. She continues to yell at me, every insult in the book flying out of her mouth, and words she certainly wouldn't say in front of mum. Once she's done, she puts on a good imitation of mum, hands on hips, waiting for my response.

" I lost my head." I hang my head low, face burning up and shoulders sagged. " I got angry and stupid and jealous and I ran out on them. I said horrible things to them, I said-

" You said what?" Ginny asks, angry still. I almost stay quiet in embarrassment, but it's going to come out one way or another. Bill prods me to go on, and I take a deep, shuddering breath.

"I was jealous of Harry and Hermione," I wince at the disbelieving look on Ginny's face, because she 100% trusts Harry and Hermione, and has no reason not to. She rolls her eyes, knowing my problems with jealousy. "I know, I know, they wouldn't do anything, I know that they don't like eachother like that. and I know he only loves her like a sister, he's told me so - it's just I was stressed and angry, and Hermione and I got into a fight. Screaming and insults everywhere, tears and slammed books - Harry was trying to stay out of it, trying not to get himself caught up in it. Soon, he had enough and tried to calm me down, and I - I... I said he'd never understand because he has no family. I said, your parents are dead. I said worse things to Hermione, and that's saying something considering that's what I yelled at Harry... I..." I stop short, embarrassed and ashamed at the look of rage and disbelief on Ginny, Bill and Fleur's faces, jaws slack and eyes wide. I hadn't even told Bill this part, and I let my arms drop at my sides, trying not to look into their eyes.

Ginny shakes her head and scoffs. "God, Ron. I knew you had insecurity issues, but fuck. You insulted Harry for the one things he's fighting against now, the reason he's on this hunt, the reason he was Chosen in the first place? You were fighting with Hermione because of the insecurities in your relationship! She loves you! Imagine how she's feeling now that you left her and Harry in the middle of a war when they're on a life threatening mission? We're in a war, Ron! You can't push away the people who care about you! That's what he wants!" Ginny grabbed her bag and stalked up the stairs angrily, muttering obscenities as she stormed up. I look at her bag confusedly, and Bill comes to my aid.