Just as Harry had expected, Ron had never considered resolving his own emotional problems. Instead, he buried his head in the sand like an ostrich, hoping time would solve everything.
Especially when it came to his crush on Hermione. No matter how unwilling Ron was to admit it, he knew there could be no progress between them anytime soon. All he could do was place his hopes in a distant, unreachable future.
In truth, Ron knew there was probably no chance of him and Hermione ending up together, but he was unwilling to give up that hope just like that. That was why he clung to such self-deceiving thoughts.
That tiny sliver of hope and self-consolation was enough, at least, to support Ron as he pulled himself together and climbed out of the low point in his life.
When Ron returned to the Ministry of Magic, he immediately sensed that something was wrong with the atmosphere in the Auror Office.
He did not dare ask Harry about it and could only stand awkwardly in a corner, waiting for the meeting to end.
"This is definitely a warning from the goblins!" someone said, slamming a hand on the table.
"What do those bastards want?"
"Are they planning to go to war with us head-on?"
The Aurors in the office all looked grim, and their emotions were highly unstable. None of them had expected to be ambushed by goblins while carrying out their mission.
Although the other side had left behind no evidence, no one found it difficult to guess that the goblins were responsible. It was a warning from them, telling the Aurors not to continue trying to monitor the Goblin Brotherhood's headquarters.
Otherwise, there was no telling what would happen next.
After all, if the goblins could silently take down