Learning New Lessons

By: Shadowboltz

A/N: I hope you all liked the last chapter! Thank you for all the reviews, keep it up please!

Oh.. and I don't own Harry Potter!

Chapter 3: Internal Battles of the Past

'I can't believe he's here of all people' Ron thought despondently as he slowly walked through the now empty halls of Hogwarts. It seemed amazing to him that the life that he began to enjoy once again was once again shaken to its core.

As Ron continued his slow walk through the repaired halls of the magical school, his thoughts ran at the speed of a rampaging hippogriff. Thoughts of his secret infatuation of Headmaster Potter, his failed relationship with Hermione and the even worse fail of the relationship between his former best friend and sister.

'Figures the bloody tosser couldn't stay out of my life like I told him too. Stubborn git' Ron though maliciously as his feet carried him through the halls. Once again, his mind was taking him back to the day it all fell apart 9 years ago

9 Years ago

Ron sat at the standardly filled table at the Burrow with a flagon of mead firmly in hand and a giant smile on his face. Today was a day of celebration as they had numerous things to celebrate.

"… It is with great pleasure and honor that I offer you the position of Professor of Charms at Hogwarts…" Molly Weasley read from the letter delivered to Ron earlier that morning. "This is great! My baby boy is going to be a teacher!"

Ron couldn't help but chuckle at his mum's obvious enthusiasm of a job he hadn't even accepted yet. The rest of his family and Harry sat around the table chattering excitedly at Ron's good fortune. Hermione was also just as estatic as Mrs. Weasley as that same morning, she had received an identical letter offering her the transfiguration professor's position and she was bouncing up and down as she hugged Ron firmly around his neck. Harry had also received a letter asking him to assume the ever vacant Defense Against the Dark Arts position, but he was much more subdued about his enthusiasm.

After over a year of intense working around the clock, the Ministry of Magic and other volunteers had finally repaired Hogwarts into a condition, capable of holding classes and housing students. While numerous repairs had yet to have been made, the overall structure of the school was repaired and as such Hogwarts was restocking its staff as numerous professors had moved on to other opportunities.

"Mum, I haven't even accepted it yet. I don't know what I want to do with my life" Ron said kindly to Mrs. Weasley. At this, the entire room fell silent.

"What do you mean Ronald? This is a wonderful opportunity and a honor to teach at Hogwarts. Besides, Harry and Hermione will all be there!" Molly admonished her son. With all attention on Ron, no one noticed Harry's slightly guilty look!

"She's quite right!" Hermione chipped in. "This is great, the three of us teaching at Hogwarts and sticking together like we always have. Isn't that right Harry?"

Everyone's eyes turned to Harry, waiting to hear how Ron's best friend will talk him into taking a position that was obviously good for him. However, Harry remained silent.

"Harry?" Hermione asked again softly

"Well actually…" Harry started, while clearing his throat. "I'm not taking the Hogwarts position." Harry said while looking down at his half eaten cake.

"What? What do you mean you're not taking the position?" Hermione and Molly asked simultaneously. Ron even sat up in his chair to hear what he had to say.

"I'm umm…. Joining the Aurors" Harry responded quietly. The entire Weasley clan and Hermione simply sat in shock at the news. Everyone had already figured that Harry would want to do something 'non-violent' after the war. The entire Weasley clan sans one.

"Oh no you are NOT joining the Aurors Harry Potter!" Harry's fiance, Ginny suddenly stood up in building anger. "I will not have you risking your life anymore. Haven't you had enough of that?"

"Ginny… just because the war is over doesn't mean there aren't still death eaters out there" Harry said in his defense.

"That is true but that also doesn't mean that YOU have to be the one to find them! You're taking the Hogwarts position" Ginny shrieked.

At this, it seemed as if everyone in the room suddenly stopped breathing. Everyone knew how the famous Potter temper could show itself when Harry was told what to do.

"Who are you to tell me what I am and am not going to do Ginny? This is MY decision, not yours."

"I am your fiancé Harry James Potter and don't you forget that!" Ginny retorted.

"Just because you're my fiancé, doesn't give you the right… we'll discuss this later" Harry stopped suddenly, remembering that he was essentially surrounded by Ginny's family.

"No, we'll discuss it now!" Ron interjected in a neutral voice. "I agree with Ginny, Harry. The war is over, Voldemort is dead. You should let someone else take care of the rest"

"And why exactly should I do that? If I want to be an auror, then what is the huge deal?" Harry said defensively, as he stood from his spot at the table.

"Because it's dangerous Harry. You've done quite enough dangerous activities to last multiple life times" Molly added, hoping to talk her "son" out of such a career choice.

"AND… because I won't allow it!" Ginny said, with a note of finality in her voice.

"What do you mean by that?" Harry asked.

"I mean Harry, you have to choose… its either me, your fiancé, your best friend's sister." Ginny said, with a dangerous tint to her voice. "Or the aurors."

Everyone eye in the room immediately snapped to Harry, eager to hear his decision yet fearing the worst.

"Don't push me Ginny…. I ask you, don't push me" Harry said in a steely whisper.

"Me or the aurors Harry. Those are your options" Ginny retorted firmly, crossing her delicate arms across her chest.

"Fine… I choose the aurors" Harry said firmly. Shock rippled through the tiny kitchen; Arthur's eyebrows shot up in a questioning arch, Bill and Fleur sat stone still and Ron let out a tiny growl in anger…

"RON!" a voice essentially shrieked from behind him. Ron broke out of his deep reverie and turned around to see a Professor Hermione Granger running up behind him, her robes of green and gold flowing behind her.

"Isn't this exciting! Harry's the new Headmaster!" Hermione gushed brightly as she fell in step alongside Ron.

"Yeah… exciting" Ron muttered. Hermione simply gave Ron a sympathetic look at his less than exuberant response.

"Oh Ron" she sighed as she laid a hand on Ron's shoulders, halting his movement. "You can't be mad at Harry forever. Besides, your entire falling out isn't 100% his fault."

"Yeah, but most of it is his fault." Ron retorted, starting to bristle in anger at Hermione's defense of the new Headmaster.

"Yeah Ron… it is his fault for pursuing what he wanted to do with his life even if it meant shattering the perfect world you envisioned for yourself."

"What do you mean 'the perfect world I envisioned for myself" Ron asked defensively.

"You know very well what I mean Ronald Weasley. It was beyond obvious that you wanted Harry to marry Ginny so that he could be your brother… just like you always wanted." Hermione stated wisely while placing her hands on her delicate hips.

"Yeah but…" Ron began but Hermione cut him off.

"And it isn't right. Out of everyone who deserved the opportunity to do with their life as they saw fit, Harry did. You know most of Harry's early life was about what others expected him to do."

"I know that Hermione but…"

"Your whole entire family has forgiven him for breaking Ginny's heart. I've forgiven him. Even Ginny herself has forgiven him and she's been more of a friend to him these past 9 or so years than you have…" Hermione lectured.

"He was supposed to be where I could protect him!" Ron grumbled in response, slightly shocking the powerful witch in front of him. "We were supposed to tackle the rest of the world together whether it be at Hogwarts or somewhere else… but he chose the dangerous bloody aurors!"

Hermione's building irritation at her friend began to dwindle at Ron's statement. Being Hermione Granger, she noticed something in those azure orbs beyond just bitterness and resentment.

"Ron…" Hermione began, quickly choosing her words carefully. "I feel that there are deeper feelings behind what you're telling me."

"What are you getting at?"

"Whether or not you choose to confront those feelings Ron is your business" Hermione continued as if she didn't hear his question. "But Harry is back in your life whether you like it or not and you're going to have to confront them eventually."

Hermione gave Ron a brief hug before turning down an adjacent corridor to head to her quarters. Ron watched her leave before she suddenly turned back around .

"By the way, Harry wants to talk to all of the Professors individually. He'll be expecting you tomorrow morning at 10am." Hermione said before resuming her trip to her room, leaving Ron standing in the middle of the hall.

As Ron stood there, pondering over his ex-girlfriend's words, he knew that she was right. He needed to do some intense soul searching for the core issue of his anger with Harry. And he had almost 12 hours to do it.

Hope you all like this chapter! More to come! Please review, it keeps me going :)