Order Only: Ron

[alt_molly]

Ron sent Arthur a letter (to his office), telling him that he won't be coming home for Christmas. He wrote that he's been getting behind in things, and he figures the holidays would be a good time to get work done. As if Ron ever cared about being behind in school! 'And, anyway,' it went on, 'that way it won't be so many of us for Mum to cook for and things won't be so mad.'

!!!

Things have gone so dreadfully wrong with Ron this year, and I just don't know anymore how to fix things. I sent him a letter to apologise for sending him the Howler over all that business with the car at the beginning of the year. But it's clear he hasn't forgiven me. He couldn't have even send an owl to his own mum at home? For Christmas? Talking as if feeding him and welcoming him home is a burden???

Arthur says we should just act as if we're taking the letter at face value, let him have some distance to work things out on his own. But, oh, I don't know how much longer I can bear to go along with the pretence that there's nothing wrong.

Comments

[alt_bill]

You might ask Charlie if he knows anymore about what's going on with Ron. He was there at Hogwarts for a visit, wasn't he?

What do Percy's letters say?

[alt_molly]

That's a thought. Perhaps Charlie would know something. As for Percy, he's mentioned Ron in passing in his weekly letters, but he hasn't said anything in particular about what might be bothering Ron. But if I asked him directly...

I'll write to both of them tonight.

[alt_arthur]

Try not to take it too much to heart, Molly dear, at least until we've managed to learn a bit more from Charlie or Percy. Teenage boys can be a bit thoughtless when it comes to considering their mother's feelings. As you very well know.

[alt_bill]

Oi, is that supposed to be a commentary on your other sons?

[alt_arthur]

I'll leave that to your conscience to decide.

[alt_bill]

Ha. I wouldn't call it 'a little bit thoughtless,' myself.

More like 'a little bit thick.'

Don't know how you put up with me and Charlie all these years, Mum.

[alt_hermione]

I don't know anything about what he's doing with you, Mrs Weasley, but Ron's not dark. I mean he's all right in that way. He's not going bad. He isn't, even if he doesn't talk to you about it.

[alt_sirius]

I dunno, Molly, I think I may disagree with Arthur.

Ron may be waiting for you all to extend the olive branch, wanting to hear from you something other than how much you expect from him or warnings to toe the line.

I know you were upset, and for all the right reasons, but I know a little bit about feeling like a disappointment. Especially if he thinks no one in the family supports him - that's hard enough when it's just your parents, but with all the brothers you've given him ... well, I'm not surprised if he's feeling put-upon.

I'd be interested to hear what Charlie thought when he saw the lad.

Incidentally, what on earth is all this rubbish Malfoy and the others are saying about some new magazine? I take it I'm made out to be some sort of buffoon?

[alt_poppy]

Molly, I'm sorry you're having this difficulty.

If it's any consolation, he seemed genuinely concerned when his sister was injured. And now I think of it, all your boys were here--Ronald, the twins, and Percy--and they did not appear to be at odds with one another. There were no signs of strain or estrangement amongst them; all of them were here to be sure their sister would be all right, and they behaved like brothers do, teasing but also concerned.

I know that's no help with whatever misunderstanding is between you and your son. If there's anything I could do to help, please let me know.

[alt_arthur]

My intention is to get the boys together this Christmas and to piece together their conversations with Ron to see if we can get to the bottom of this. I do intend to take whatever steps necessary to heal the breech with him, but first we have to find out what the trouble is, since he's apparently refusing to talk with us. I'm beginning to suspect he may have never read Molly's letter.

Molly just got a prompt reply this morning from Percy to her letter of yesterday, unexpectedly offering to stay at Hogwarts to keep Ron company this Christmas. He suggests using the same excuse that Ron has offered: the press of work is keeping him at Hogwarts. That was quite a surprise, but upon talking it over, Molly and I think it's actually a rather good idea. Molly strictly instructed Percy in her own letter NOT to try to interrogate Ron, but we hope Ron might open up a little bit more about what's bothering him if Percy can spend a little time with him, playing chess and so forth. And it's a comfort to both of us that he won't be alone without any family at all over the holiday. Of course, Percy's probably not his favourite brother--I suspect he'd appreciate the company of the twins more. But Percy has promised to be tactful, and his Prefect's training has given him a little experience in subtly encouraging troubled students to open up. Perhaps this scheme will break the ice and help us to learn a little bit more.

[alt_molly]

That's very good to hear at least, Poppy, thank you.

[alt_molly]

Thank you for that, Hermione, dear.

[alt_sirius]

I hope you're right, Arthur. I'm sure you know your boys better than I do, after all - and it sounds like you've chosen a wise course, to find out from his brothers what, if anything, they've observed.\

Good luck.