Ron had just disappeared. Harvey had spent most of the day keeping an eye out for his friend, but he never found him. He didn’t come to a single class or the Great Hall, and he wasn’t in the Common Room. Harvey had sighed with relief when he found his invisibility cloak in his trunk, he stuffed it in his bag and gave it to Harry during lunch, but there was still no sign of Ron.
By the end of the day, Harvey had decided that it was time to tell a teacher. Harry hadn’t found him and told him that he had seen Ron, neither had any of Ron’s brothers. Harvey packed up his books and waited for one of his Ravenclaw classmates to finish with Professor McGonagall.
Professor McGonagall was defiantly his favourite teacher. She had always been kind, firm, but kind. She smiled at him, warmly as he approached her.
“Harvey, what can I do for you?” she asked.
“It’s Ron, Professor.”
“Is he alright? I did notice that he was missing.”
“That’s the thing Professor, I haven’t seen Ron since this morning. We argued in the Common Room, and then he just never showed up again.”
Professor McGonagall frowned. “No one else has seen him?”
“I don’t think so. Harry promised he would keep an eye out. I asked Ron’s brothers too, and he has just disappeared.”
She nodded. “Thank you for telling me. I will find him. You should head to dinner.”
Harvey frowned. He wondered if he should mention the stone.
“Was there something else?”
Harvey decided not too. Ron would already be in trouble for skipping classes. “No, Professor.”
In the Great Hall, Harvey had no appetite. A few people had mentioned Ron’s strange absence, some even asked Harvey, but no one seemed overly worried about the red-head. They all chowed down their dinner happily. Harvey couldn’t really eat anything. He pushed his food around his plate.
He hadn’t been able to stop himself from wondering if he was at fault. Maybe if he had just agreed to go along with Ron, he wouldn’t have taken off? Harvey also felt bad for threatening his friend; in the moment, he had hated how Ron had spoken about Harry, which had made him want to hurt Ron, but all he could hear was his mother’s voice telling him that two wrongs don’t make a right.
Harvey sighed and dropped his fork.
“Harvey, Professor McGonagall will find him. She has all the ghosts searching as well as the Prefects,” said Hermione.
Harvey nodded. “I know. I just know he is gonna be pissed because I got him in trouble.”
“You didn’t do anything. Ronald got himself in trouble by being bone-headed.”
“You don’t think he went down on his own, do you?”
Hermione shook her head. “Ronald can say stupid things, but I don’t think he would. Besides, how would he even get past Fluffy?”
Harvey frowned, and his stomach dropped. What if he had tried and Fluffy had eaten him? Harvey suddenly felt like he was going to vomit.
A hand came to rest on Harvey’s shoulder, and he turned to see one of Ron’s brothers. One of the twins, George, he thought.
“Hey Harvey,” he said.
“Hi, George.”
The twin smiled. “Good guess.” George took a seat beside him. “I thought I would let you know that McGonagall found Ron.”
Harvey breathed a sigh of relief. “Where was he?”
George said, “He was not far from the Whomping Willow.”
“Why was he down there?” asked Hermione.
“Who knows. That boy has issues,” grumbled George.
Harvey wanted to ask where Ron was now. He wanted to talk to him and find out why he had just disappeared. He also wanted to know why Ron was so determined to prove Harry wrong.
“Harvey, don’t let Ron’s attitude get to you. Mum says he has little brother syndrome. Not that I believe it’s a real thing. I think he’s just after attention,” said George.
“You talking about Ron?” George’s twin, Fred, appeared behind them. He dropped down beside his brother.
“Yeah, just telling Harvey that the idiot was found,” said George.
Fred sighed. “Yeah, Mum’s going to kill him. Bloody idiot disappearing like that.”
“Where is Ron now?” asked Harvey.
“McGonagall took him up to Dumbledore’s office,” said Fred.
“Guaranteed he gets detention,” said George.
“And the loses us a lot of house points,” said Fred.
Harvey looked back to his plate of food. He hoped that Ron was okay.
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Harry had heard that Ron had been found and taken to see Dumbledore. He knew that Ron would no doubt get detention for his disappearing act, and knowing the boy’s mother, he would get an ear full. But Harry felt the need to talk to Ron himself. From what Harvey had told him, Ron seemed to have some issues with him. Somehow, Harry had angered the youngest Weasley boy without even planning too. He would have understood if Ron was simply trying to comfort his friend; after all, Harvey and his relationship had been difficult until recently. But it seemed that Ron’s anger was related to something else because even though Harvey and Harry were fine, Ron seemed determined to turn Harvey against him.
It was an hour after dinner when most students had made their way back to their Common Rooms for the night that Harry waited for Ron. There couldn’t be much else that Dumbledore could say that would keep the boy much longer, so after parting with his friends, he waited not far from the Gryiffndor entrance.
Ron came down the hallway alone; shoulders hunched, his eyes red and puffy. The boy had clearly been crying and looked exhausted. Harry contemplated leaving the conversation for another day, but he was more worried about Ron trying to run off to the third floor, which could lead to Harvey chasing after him.
Harry cleared his throat, causing Ron to jump slightly and then stop.
Ron frowned. “What?”
Harry ignored Ron’s attitude and said, “I just wanted to have a chat about the stone.”
Ron huffed. “I don’t want to listen to anything you have to say.”
Harry crossed his arms and said, “And I don’t care if you don’t want to listen. Normally, if you were any other kid, I couldn’t care less if you did something as stupid as trying to go after the stone and get yourself killed in the process. However, you happen to be my little brother’s best friend, and we both know that if you go running off, Harvey will chase after you.”
Ron scoffed. “Like you actually care about Harvey. You spent most of his life wishing he didn’t exist.”
“The relationship between my brother and me has nothing to do with you.”
“Yes, it does. I have been a better brother to him than you ever have. For years, I tried to tell him to just forget about you because you didn’t care. But somehow, Harvey just couldn’t see what an asshole you really are. And now suddenly you want to be best buds, and he just accepts it. Like you have done nothing wrong.”
Harry sighed. This boy was getting on his nerves. He knew nothing. “I am sure that Harvey appreciates your friendship and knows exactly what you have done for him. And not that I need to explain myself to you, but the issues that Harvey and I have had aren’t because I disliked him. There is so much more to it.”
Ron stomped his foot on the ground and clenched his fists. “I don’t care if there is more to it. Harvey deserves better than you. He deserves a brother that cares about him, someone who includes him and wants to spend time with him. He doesn’t deserve to be ignored and left behind because he wasn’t the one you wanted.”
Harry frowned at the boy's words. “Why does it sound like you aren’t actually referring to Harvey?”
Ron’s cheeks turned a dark red. Tears were gathering in his eyes. “Shut up! You don’t know anything.”
“Enough. Stay away from the third floor, don’t go after the stone. If you do, and you drag Harvey into it, I will make you regret it,” snapped Harry.
Ron’s chest heaved, but he didn’t respond. A tear spilt down his cheek, and he turned away and walked over to the portrait. Harry watched him enter the Common Room before taking a shaky breath.
The conversation wasn’t what he had expected; it seemed that Ron had issues with his own brothers. He could understand why; he was one of six boys and the youngest of them. It was possible that Ron had felt excluded from them his whole life, and Harvey was the brother he so desperately craved. Seeing that Harvey had a difficult relationship with a sibling probably would have made Ron feel like he had found someone who would understand him, but when Harvey had forgiven Harry, Ron felt betrayed.
Harry considered asking Harvey about it. Maybe Ron had shared his feelings with his friend before, but he didn’t want to cause trouble for the boys. Harvey was already upset with Ron from their earlier argument; perhaps it was best to just stay out of it and let them work it out.
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The Gryffindor Common Room was quiet as Harvey waited. Ron had never shown up to dinner, so once Harvey got back to the Common Room, he grabbed his Charms homework and sat on the couch. He wanted to wait and see if his friend was okay. A few other students hung about, some of them studying, others playing Exploding Snap or just talking.
It wasn’t till most of the students had headed to bed that Ron came in. Harvey frowned at the sight of his friend's puffy eyes and wet cheeks.
Ron froze when he noticed Harvey on the couch.
Harvey closed his book and said, “I was worried about you.”
Ron sniffed. “Were you?”
Harvey nodded.
“I figured you wouldn’t care where I was,” grumbled Ron.
Harvey shook his head. “Of course, I was worried. You’re my friend.”
“A friend you threatened to hex.”
“You were being a tosser.”
Ron fiddled with his tie. “I was.”
“Just because we argued doesn’t mean I hate you,” said Harvey.
Ron shuffled over and sat down on the opposite end of the couch from him. “I’m sorry for being a tosser.”
Harvey shrugged. “It’s fine. Just don’t do it again.”
“No promises.”
Harvey cracked a smile. He knew Ron was sorry and that his temper sometimes got the best of him. But he was his best friend.
“Did you get detention?” asked Harvey.
Ron nodded. “A week's worth.”
“That sucks.”
“And a letter got sent home to the parents. Mum’s going to kill me.” Ron rubbed his face.
Harvey chuckled.
Ron punched him lightly in the arm. “It’s not funny.”
“Yes, it is.”
The two friends stayed on the couch and hung out until everyone else had gone to bed. The fire crackled beside them, and went the room was silent; something seemed to go off in Ron’s head because he stilled and smiled.
Harvey frowned. “I don’t like that look.”
Ron smiled and said, “I just had a thought about the dog.”
Harvey sighed. “Ron, let it go.”
Ron said, “Oh come on, Harvey; Harry can come up with explanations if he wants, but something strange is going on. It makes no sense that Dumbledore would hide the stone in the school unless he had a reason.”
“Ron, the spells and enchantments alone that we would need to get past are well above our level of understanding,” said Harvey.
Ron looked at him with disbelief. “That’s what Hermione is for.”
“Ron, we aren’t getting her in trouble.”
“How much more trouble can we get in?”
“You are the only one who is in trouble, thank you very much.”
“Only because you dobbed me in,” said Ron.
That comment caused a jab in Harvey’s chest. “You shouldn’t have disappeared all day.”
Ron rolled his eyes. “Whatever.”
“Even if we did go, how would we get past Fluffy?” asked Harvey. They had been thinking about it before Harry had knocked some sense into them and had come up with nothing.
Ron smirked. “We ask Hagrid.”
“He’s not going to just tell us.”
“Sure he is; we ask him enough questions; it will just spill out like it always does.”
Harvey sighed; this wasn’t good.
“Go get your dad’s cloak.”
Harvey paused. He didn’t have the cloak. “I don’t have it.”
“What do you mean?” Ron frowned.
“I gave it to Harry.”
“Why would you do that?” Ron’s voice got loud, and he cringed at his own volume.
“To stop you from stealing it,” said Harvey.
“I would never steal your cloak. Why would you think that?”
“Harry thought that you might be so determined to try and get the stone that you would take the cloak. So I gave it to him, so you weren’t tempted to just take it.” Harvey felt guilty, as he explained. He sounded like he didn’t trust his friend.
Ron sighed. “Thanks for the trust, mate.” He stood up and huffed. “We will just have to sneak down without getting seen.”
Harvey frowned. This was going to end badly.
Ron wasn’t taking no for an answer, and so Harvey found himself following Ron through the corridors, avoiding ghosts, teachers and Filch. They almost ran right into Flitwick, who was humming to himself as he pottered along, but they ducked behind a statue before he could notice them.
They somehow made it out of the castle and were running down to Hagrid’s as fast as they could. Both of them tripping as they couldn’t really see their feet in the dark. But they made it to Hagrid’s hut and were glad—Ron mainly—that their half-giant friend was awake.
Ron knocked on the door.
Hagrid opened it and frowned when he saw them. “You two should be in bed.”
Ron smiled widely. “Couldn’t sleep.”
Hagrid sighed. He never could turn them away, it seemed. “A cup of tea and then back to bed.”
Ron nodded. “Alright.”
Harvey wished Hagrid would just say no.
Inside, Hagrid had his fire going. Fang was stretched out beside it, and on a stool just above fang was Norbert. Hagrid’s pet dragon seemed to be content sitting by the fire with his eye’s closed. He did open them and give both Harvey and Ron a click look before closing his eyes again.
“Norbet’s getting big,” said Ron.
Harvey nodded. The last time they had seen the dragon was when it had hatched. Norbert seemed to have doubled in size.
“Yeah,” said Hagrid. “He’ll be too big to keep inside soon. Have to work out where to keep him.” He picked up his kettle and hung it over the fire. “So, what have you two been up too?”
Ron dropped onto a chair. “Honestly, I’ve been having nightmares.”
Harvey looked at Ron, confused.
“Ever since we ran into Fluffy, I’ve been scared.” Ron seemed to make his lip tremble as he spoke.
Harvey almost wanted to yell at him. Ron was lying. The boy slept like the dead, snoring so loud that it sometimes woke Harvey up.
Hagrid sighed. “Fluffy looks meaner than he is. After all, he’s just doing his job. Any other time he is perfectly harmless, especially if you know how to calm him down.”
Ron asked, “What do you mean?”
The kettle whistled from the fireplace. Hagrid grabbed a large mitten and picked it up before pouring three cups of tea. “Well, it depends on what you're dealing with. Fluffy might be a big scary dog, especially when he’s guarding something, but if you play him a bit of music, he calms right down. Play long enough, and the silly bugger goes right to sleep.” Hagrid chuckled to himself.
He was oblivious to the large grin of victory that Ron was flashing at Harvey, who was frowning back at him.
Hagrid handed them their tea and sat down. “It was like I told the fella who I won Norbert off. Every beast has a trick; you just need to know what it is.”
Harvey felt uncomfortable as they sat there with Hagrid. Ron looked so pleased with himself, but Harvey wasn’t sure how. He had lied to Hagrid, tricked him. Harvey knew that sometimes Hagrid tended to let things slip, he didn’t really think before he spoke, but Harvey hated how Ron had taken advantage of him.
They left Hagrid’s after their tea, wishing the half-giant a good night; Harvey ignored Ron as they made their way back to the castle. Ron’s proud grin all over his face.
“That was easy than I thought,” said Ron.
Harvey frowned at him. “I can’t believe you did that.”
Ron stopped. “What?” He seemed surprised by Harvey’s reaction.
“You lied to Hagrid; you tricked him.” Harvey shook his head and kept walking.
Ron reached out and grabbed him. “It wasn’t a complete lie. That dog is terrifying.”
“Not the point, Ron. Hagrid is our friend, and you used him because you are obsessed with the stupid stone.” Harvey pulled his arm from Ron’s grip.
“You are the one who wanted to find the stone in the first place,” accused Ron.
“No, I wanted to know what Fluffy was guarding. We know what it is, and now we can forget about it,” said Harvey.
“Why would you do that? We can find the stone now.”
“Ron, the stone isn’t some prize that we get for completing a riddle. Dumbledore is protecting it.”
“You said yourself that you thought something else was going on, that someone was after the stone.”
Harvey had, in the beginning. He had gotten himself so convinced that Snape was after the stone just because he went near the dog. But it made sense that Snape would check to make sure that the protections were still in place. There hadn’t been anyone else that had seemed suspicious, no other teachers or students that know about the stone or would want it. Everything Harry had said to him had made sense.
“Maybe someone is,” said Harvey, “but Dumbledore and the rest of the teachers will keep it safe.”
“But Harvey—”
“No, Ron. Please, just let it go.” Harvey gave his friend a pleading look before turning around to leave. He wanted to get back to the Common Room and forget he ever found out about the stupid stone.
Harvey gasped as he turned to see Professor McGonagall standing in the entrance. Her arms crossed. Behind her was the smirking face of Draco Malfoy. Harvey couldn’t help but sigh as he realised they were both busted.
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