Ron Weasley and the Philosopher's Stone

“Ron, Harry's awake.” Hermione jumped up to me. I wonder how she found out. “Let's go visit him soon.” I put down the chess set and rubbed my aching head. Damn, she cracked my skull, you bastard. We put on our robes and went to Harry's infirmary. But Madam Pomfrey balked and wouldn't let us in. While she was talking to Harry, we waited outside the door to the medical wing. Finally, she opened the door, letting Hermione and me into the room. “Harry!” Hermione screamed, rushing towards Potter. “Oh, Harry, we were sure you were...” Hermione stopped herself from saying the word "die." “Dumbledore was so worried...” “The whole school is talking about what happened," I said. “And what really happened  there?” It was one of those rare occasions when the truth turns out to be much stranger and more exciting than the most ridiculous rumors. Harry told us everything - about Quirrell and the mirror, about Voldemort and the stone. Hermione and I were very good listeners. We gaped at the right places. And when he told us about what was hidden under Quirrell's turban, Hermione screamed loudly. “So the stone is gone?” I asked when Harry stopped talking. “So Flamel is going to die?” “I asked that question too," Harry nodded. “But Dumbledore did... I'll remember now... He said that for a highly organized mind, death is just another adventure.” “I always said he was crazy.” I responded with adoration in my voice. Dumbledore was my idol. “And what happened to you after we broke up?”Harry asked in turn. “Well, I went back and fixed Ron up, and it wasn't easy. The blood didn't want to stop, and a concussion was such a thing.” Hermione rolled her eyes. “And then we hurried to the owlery.But on the way out of school, they ran into Dumbledore. He already knew everything, can you imagine? He just asked: "Harry went after him, didn't he?” and he ran to the third floor, to the hatch.  “Do you think he set it up like this on purpose? Maybe he wanted you to do it.” I asked thoughtfully. Since he's the one who sent you the invisibility cloak and all...” “Well, you know!” Hermione exploded. “If it's him... I mean, it's terrible, because you could have been killed...” “No, it was all right.” Harry answered after a pause. “He's a strange man, Dumbledore. I think he just wanted to give me a chance. And that he, in general, knows about everything that happens here. So Dumbledore was aware of what we were up to. However, instead of stopping us, he taught me something, prepared me for what was about to happen. I don't think I found the Erised mirror by accident-he was the one who pushed me to find it, and he explained to me how it works. I even think he was the one who decided if I had the right to face Voldemort one-on-one. And I proved that I am ready for it...” “No, Dumbledore is really crazy!” I exclaimed proudly. “Listen, Harry, you shouldn't stay here too long - tomorrow there will be a festive feast on the occasion of the end of the school year. Of course, we don't have much to celebrate-of course, Slytherin won the inter-house competition, and we didn't do well in Quidditch either. The last game you missed, the Ravenclaw boys blew us apart like a steamroller. But the food at the feast will be delicious," Ron promised his friend. At that moment, Madam Pomfrey burst into the room. “You've been sitting here for fifteen minutes now” She said sternly. “Now get out of here!” Then she kicked us out the door. I hope she lets Harry out to the feast tomorrow. *** Harry arrived at the banquet when the hall was already full. When he entered the Great Hall, all the faculties were already there. Since the competition between the houses was won by Slytherin for the seventh time in a row, the hall was decorated in green and silver colors. There was a huge Slytherin banner with a snake on it on the wall behind the teacher's desk. As soon as Harry entered the door, there was complete silence in the hall, and the next second everyone was talking at the same time. Harry, without raising his head, quickly came to our table and sat down between me and Hermione. He tried to pretend that he did not notice the stares of all those gathered at him. Many even got up from their seats to get a better look at him. Fortunately, Dumbledore appeared in the hall just a few seconds later. Everyone took their seats, and the conversations died down. “So, another year is over!” Dumbledore exclaimed happily. “But before we begin our fantastic feast, I'll bother you a bit with senile grumbling and empty chatter. So, a great school year is behind us! I hope your heads are a little heavier than they were at the beginning of the year. However, you have the whole summer ahead of you in order to get your heads in order and completely empty them before the start of the next semester.” Dumbledore looked around at everyone present with his radiant eyes. “And now, as I understand it, we have to determine who won the competition between the faculties. Let's start from the end. The fourth place was taken by the Gryffindor faculty - three hundred and twelve points. The third is Halfpuff, they have three hundred and fifty-two points. Ravenclaw is in second place, with four hundred and twenty-six points. And on the first Slytherin - four hundred and seventy-two points.” The table where the Slytherins were sitting exploded with loud cheers and applause. I saw Malfoy triumphantly banging a golden goblet on the table. “Yes, yes, you did a great job,” Dumbledore said, addressing the Slytherin table. “However, we did not take into account the latest events” the hall fell silent, and the smiles at Malfoy's table were no longer so joyful. Dumbledore chuckled loudly. “So," he continued. “Due to the fact that in the light of recent events, some students have earned some points... Wait, wait... yeah...” Dumbledore thought about it, or pretended to think about it. “Let's start with Mr. Ronald Weasley...” I turned purple. “...For the best chess game in the history of Hogwarts, I award the Gryffindor house fifty points.” The screams that rose from the table where I was sitting probably reached the enchanted ceiling. At least the stars on the ceiling began to tremble. I could clearly hear Percy shouting non-stop to the other prefects.: “This is my brother! My little brother! He won McGonagall's enchanted chess game!” Finally, there was silence again. “Further... Miss Hermione Granger” Said Dumbledore. "For the ability to use cold logic in the face of flames, I award the Gryffindor house fifty points.” Hermione covered her face with her hands. Did she cry? Something unimaginable was happening at our table - in one minute the faculty earned a hundred points. “And finally, Mr. Harry Potter” Dumbledore announced, and there was absolute silence in the hall. “For iron self-control and fantastic bravery, I award the Gryffindor house sixty points.” The noise was deafening. Everyone who could count and yell hoarsely at the same time had already realized that Gryffindor now had four hundred and seventy-two points. That is, the same amount as Slytherin. We almost won the competition between the faculties. If only Dumbledore had given Harry another point... Dumbledore raised his hand. The hall began to quiet down. “Bravery can be different.” Dumbledore was still smiling. “You have to be brave enough to stand up to the enemy. But it takes no less courage to stand up to your friends! And for that, I award ten points to Mr. Neville Longbottom.” If someone had been standing outside the doors of the Great Hall, they would have thought that an explosion had occurred here, so violently did the headmaster react to the words at the Gryffindor table. Harry, Hermione, and I jumped up and applauded Neville, cheering him on. And Neville, all white with amazement, disappeared under the students who rushed to hug him. Before that, he had only earned points in Herbology when Hermione refused to answer the teachers' questions. He's too insecure. Besides, Hermione always answers first in herbology. Harry, still applauding, poked me in the ribs and nodded at Malfoy. He looked so confused and scared, as if Hermione had cast a spell on him that had completely paralyzed his body. “So," Dumbledore shouted loudly, trying to drown out the applause, which was only intensified by the fact that the Ravenclaw and Halfpuff houses were also cheering over Slytherin's defeat. “So we need to change the scenery.” He clapped his hands, and the green and silver banner hanging from the wall turned scarlet and gold, and the huge snake disappeared, and the giant lion of Gryffindor appeared instead. Snape extended his hand to Professor McGonagall and began shaking it with a forced smile. We started celebrating the victory and the end of the school year. Kidney pudding come to me. And a chicken. And potatoes. Damn, Harry had given himself very little again. I handed him a chicken leg. Let him eat. The next day, we were informed of the exam results. Harry and I got good grades, and Hermione, of course, became the best student. Even Neville managed to pass the exams somehow: His good grade for herbology made up for his incredibly poor grade for potions. Harry and I hoped that Goyle - who was as dumb as he was mean - would be expelled. But he also somehow managed to pass the exams. It was a shame, but as I rightly pointed out, you can't get everything at once. Just a few minutes after the announcement of the exam results, all the cupboards were empty, the suitcases were packed, and Neville's toad was caught trying to escape through a hole in the toilet wall. All students were given warnings that they should not resort to magic during the holidays. Of course, you can do magic in our house, but mom is against the use of magic by children. “And I was hoping that they would forget to give us these pieces of paper at least once.” Fred remarked sadly. We boarded a horseless carriage and drove to Hogsmeade. The students boarded the train, chatting and laughing. Outside, the wilderness gave way to manicured fields and neat houses.We ate candy together as we drove past Muggle towns, and then we took off our robes and put on jackets. Finally, the train pulled up to platform nine and three quarters of King's Cross station. It took us a long time to leave the platform. A wise old caretaker stood in front of the exit, releasing the children in twos and threes so that they would not attract the attention of Muggles. If a crowd of schoolchildren with huge suitcases suddenly appeared out of a solid wall, the Muggles would definitely be alarmed. “You should come and stay with us this summer,” I said as we stood in line. “And you, Hermione, too. I'll send you an owl.” “Thank you," said Harry gratefully. “I am glad that something pleasant awaits me this summer.” We were returning to the Muggle world in a terrible commotion and crush. “Bye, Harry!” There were several voices. “See you later, Potter!” A few more people shouted “You're still famous and popular.” I grinned at him. “But not where I'm going, that's for sure," Harry assured me. He, Hermione, and I went through the wall together. “Here he is, Mom, look!” It was my younger sister's voice, but she wasn't pointing at me at all. “Harry Potter!” Ginny piped up. “Look, Mom! I can see him.” “Keep it down, Ginny," her mother warned her. “No need to point fingers, it's ugly.” Mom smiled at us. “Has it been a difficult year?” “Well, yes," Harry admitted. “Thank you so much for the sweater and sweets, Mrs. Weasley.” “Oh, don't mention it, my dear” She replied. A fat man with a moustache came up to us. “Well, are you ready?” Mr. Dursley was clearly outraged by his nephew's insolence. To think of standing among ordinary people with a huge owl in a cage! Behind him, Mrs. Dursley and his cousin could be seen staring at their cousin in horror. “You must be Harry's relatives!” Mom exclaimed. “In a way," growled Uncle Vernon. “Hurry up, boy, I'm not going to wait for you all day.” Mr. Dursley walked away, and Harry turned to Hermione and me. “See you later," he smiled. “I hope you have... That you'll have a fun vacation...” Hermione said uncertainly, clearly startled by Mr. Dursley's ungraciousness. “Oh, don't hesitate!” Harry exclaimed. Hermione and I were surprised to see that he was grinning broadly. “My relatives don't know that we're not allowed to use magic during the holidays. Which means I'm going to have a lot of fun with Dudley this summer...” “Well, goodbye or something. Good luck with your family.” Harry went to the Dursleys' car, Hermione was picked up by her parents, and we went to our flying Ford. And now, a couple of hours later, we're home. Mom immediately began to set dinner on the table. Well, finally you can eat normally. Harry was the only one who gave me sweets on the train. Yes, I ate the chicken leg I captured at the feast yesterday.