Let's Try Again

Chapter Twenty: Third Year (Part 1)

"But I want to get lots of stuff from Honeyduke's and Zonko's." Ron demanded.

"I want to go to Hogsmeade." Ginny whined at the same time as her brother.

"Ron, if you want to do any extra shopping then you are going to have to earn the money this summer. Your older brothers all did extra work in the garden and in the orchard. If you spend an extra few hours out in the garden, and help with the harvesting before you go back to school you will have plenty of money in your account.

And Ginny, you can't go to Hogsmeade until you are in your third year. You know that." Arthur sighed. He couldn't stop himself from starting to count in his head to see just how long it would take before both children whined to their mother.

"But I don't want to work. Muuum, tell dad I don't have to work." Ron whined less than three seconds later, turning to his mother. But she couldn't really hear him, as Ginny had started whining at the same time and drown him out.

"Muuuum. I want to go to Hogsmeade with Harry. It's not fair that I can't go and everyone else can. Make them let me go."

All of the other males at the table rolled their eyes.

"Don't worry Ronnie, I'm sure it will all work out. Ginny, I'm sorry sweetheart but your dad is right, you can't go to Hogsmeade until next year. I will try talking to the headmaster to see if he will make an exception, but I don't know if he even can. With the other school governors being so difficult, the headmaster is having a really hard time lately." Molly tried to placate both children.

Ron was happy. He was sure his mum would just give him the money and that he wouldn't have to do those stupid jobs his stupid dad wanted him to do.

Ginny, for her part, was still furious. She knew when she was being placated. They weren't going to let her go to Hogsmeade and she knew it. It wasn't fair. She wanted to go. Who did they think they were, keeping her away from her Harry? Ginny slammed down her fork, and stormed off up the stairs, pretending to cry as she did.

Molly got up and rushed off after her baby. Reassuring the girl that she would make it all better and that she would get to go to Hogsmeade. Ron wasn't paying any attention to them. Seeing two unguarded desserts had distracted him. Quick as lightning, the two extra plates were in front of him, next to his own already empty plate.

Before he could put his fork in the cobbler, the plate was snatched away. Looking up he saw his father looking at him with a raised eyebrow.

"You have already had your dessert Ron. Those are your mother's and sister's. It is wrong to take other peoples food."

Ron was furious. His dad just didn't understand. he was a growing boy, he needed extra food, his mum always said so. Slamming his fork down, he stomped up the stairs and into his room.

When Ron was gone, everyone else sighed. They really did love Ron and Ginny, but they made it so hard to tolerate them.

"Those two... I swear to Merlin, I don't know what I did wrong..." Arthur put his head in his hands.

"You didn't do anything." Both Fred and George reassured their father.

"Yeah, it's her. She treated them like babies, even now. They have never grown up. They behave like 5 year olds still. Demanding everything they see.

That isn't your fault. You've been trying for years to teach them responsibility, but as soon as you turn your back, she's there, giving them whatever they want.

Besides, five out of seven isn't bad." Percy told his father. He hated seeing how bad his younger siblings made his father feel about himself. There was just too much Molly in those two, and not enough of their father.