9026.doc
Written by pbmaxca
Property of © 1999-2007
TITLE: TrippingSONG: #44 -- Chain of Fools (Sung By Aretha Franklin)
AUTHOR: pbmaxca
RATING: PG
PAIRING: Ron/Hermione
WORD COUNT:
SUMMARY: Ron tries to get out of Hogwarts for some rest.
DISCLAIMER: NONE
"Harry, can I ask a favor?"
"Sure Ron," Harry said enthusiastically putting down his book, folding his arms on the table and looking at his friend with bright wide eyes through his glasses.
Ron hated to ask him for anything these days. He'd learned over the last few weeks that being independent wasn't all that bad. He'd been called Harry Potter's sidekick so many times and had tired of being asked, "Where's Harry?" when he showed up places along. The only reason he would even dare walk to the study hall room was because he needed out of school for a few hours and Harry was the only one who could help.
Taking a deep breath, he moved his weight from one foot to the other then took another deep breath. He listened to his heart beat heavily in his ears, swallowed then gathered his courage. He leaned across the table a bit and asked in a hushed voice, "Can I borrow the Marauder's Map?"
It hadn't taken him long to figure out that the Marauder's Map was his key to freedom for the week. He could have traveled by Floo Powder, but was afraid that the common room fire place wouldn't be available until too late at night to use. His parents would kill him if he appeared in their fireplace in the middle of the night. What he needed is a way to get out of the castle without getting caught. Using the map that showed all of Hogwarts was the only way since he couldn't really aparate too well yet.
His friend only looked at him strangely for a moment before saying something. "Sure," Harry said then narrowed his eyes, "Why?"
"I just need to borrow it. I'll be really careful with it and I'll return it in the morning."
"In the morning?" Harry said and looked at the clock on the wall.
"Yes," Ron said and kicked his toe into the ground nervously, trying not to look at his friend in the eyes.
"I guess," Harry said, "It's up in my trunk."
"Can I get it?" Ron asked.
"Let me," Harry said and gathered his books into a pile, "Not that I mind you going up there, but sometimes Hedwig can be a little overprotective. He's been flying outside my window lately and if the window is open he'll swoop in an attack."
"Really?"
"Yeah," Harry smiled, "It was kind of funny the other morning while you were in class. He swooped in and landed on Colin Creevy as he was trying to take a picture of me.
Ron let himself laugh a little, something he hadn't done with Harry in a long time. "I can't believe that kid is still after you like he is." He shook his head.
Harry shrugged. "I understand that he wants to be a reporter, but does he have to chose me as his obsession in life?"
Although Ron didn't understand being the center of attention like that, he forced a smile, "I know what you mean."
"So am I allowed to ask where are you going?" Harry asked.
"No," Ron said immediately.
"Can I ask why you're going?" Harry asked.
"I need a break from school…from Hogwarts…" He didn't add anything about Hermione or about needing time away from Harry, but his friend seemed to realize that his need to leave was real and serious.
"Are you going home?"
"Maybe," Ron said, "I haven't decided yet."
"You know this is the weekend that Hermione is in London."
"I know," Ron said knowing that he never would forget the way his stomach had dropped when Harry had told him that Hermione was leaving school for the weekend. In the past the threesome had done everything together and it had been strange to hear news about her that didn't come straight from her mouth.
"You aren't going there, are you?"
"No," Ron said with a firm shake of his head.
He wanted to tell his friend how their relationship now looked as if it was unfixable. He'd been a fool to think that they could get through this without some damage, but he hadn't really started to think that he was over with until he'd heard about Hermione leaving school. Even though he knew that she wouldn't miss a class, knowing that she wasn't around depressed him.
When they got to the room Harry went to find the map and Ron packed himself up a backpack similar to the one he'd taken with him to the Quidditch World Cup. It was a light pack, just a change of clothes and a few candies he had left over from his last trip to Honeydukes.
"That's all you're taking with you?" Harry asked.
Ron nodded yes.
"Do you need any money?" Harry asked.
Ron nodded no.
"Do you need any extra food?" Harry asked, "I think I might have an extra pumpkin pastie."
"No," Ron said feeling his temper getting out of control, "Just the map."
Harry handed over what looked to be a blank piece of parchment folded as any other map would be folded. To outsiders it would just look like a piece of parchment. Few really knew how to use the map let alone that it even existed. "Be careful and don't let anyone steal this."
"I won't," Ron said feeling instantly that Harry was talking down to him.
Throwing his backpack over his shoulders, he stuck the map inside his robes and strode out of the room. Once alone, he reached for his wand. The fourteen inches of willow wood felt strange in his hand. He hadn't used his wand in days, at least not outside of class.
Ducking into an alcove, he turned his back to the hallway and unfolded the map, tapped it with his wand and said, "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good."
The map appeared on what had been blank paper. He could see little foot prints moving around on the map with names attached to them. It took him a moment to figure out where all his professors were at the moment, but once he did, he found a pathway that would lead him to the statue of the witch on the third floor. From there he would use the Dissendium spell which would open the pathway so that he could head to Hogsmeade and then would be able to make his way home without getting into trouble.
He could see Harry still up in their room, sitting just about where his bed was. He was probably studying, not that he needed. No one would care if he got good grades or not. He would be passed through the grades and Ron was sure would get a job and live happily ever after no matter what he wrote for answer three on his History test next week.
The one thing that he did find disturbing was the lack of feet prints marked with Hermione's name. He took a deep breath when the emotion hit him. Damn all these feelings that he was feeling. He needed to get his head together, which was the exact reason for him getting away now.
"Stupid girl," he said shaking his head at the map.
Figuring that he didn't need to look at the map the whole way, he tapped it again with his wand. "Mischief managed."
"What's managed Weasley?"
Ron turned around to face Draco Malfoy. The tall boy with pale skin and angled face with silver-blond hair, seemed to almost glow in the dim hallway despite being dressed in his dark uniform and green and silver tie.
"Nothing," Ron said pushing the map into the back of his pants, underneath his robes.
"You sure Weasley?"
Ron nodded.
"Where is your little girlfriend?"
"I don't have one."
Draco looked up and down the hallway. "Where's Potter?"
"How the bloody hell am I supposed to know?" Ron answered.
Before he knew what was happening Draco was saying a spell. Ron wasn't sure what he'd said or what he'd done with him, but when he blinked against a bright flash of light he found that he couldn't open his eyes again.
For the first time in a long time Ron wished that he hadn't been such a fool. He could have used some friends now, even if moments before he didn't want to have anything to do with them.
Chain of
Fools
Sung By Aretha Franklin
Chain, chain, chain, chain, chain, chain
Chain,
chain, chain, chain of fools
Five long years I thought you were my
(wo)man
But I found out I'm just a link in your chain
You got
me where you want me
I ain't nothing but your fool
You treated
me mean oh you treated me cruel
Chain, chain, chain, chain of
fools
Every chain has got a weak link
I might be weak
child, but I'll give you strength
You told me to leave you
alone
My father said come on home
My doctor said take it
easy
Whole bunch of lovin is much too strong
I'm added to your
chain, chain, chain
Chain, chain, chain, chain,
Chain, chain of
fools
One of these mornings the chain is gonna break
But
up until then, yeah, I'm gonna take all I can take
Chain, chain,
chain, chain, chain, chain
Chain, chain, chain, chain of fools