Maybe a day ago if he'd been hearing this from Ernie, he'd probably have taken another shot at him, but he had Hermione to think of and his family and he needed to be smarter than he had been. He clenched his fists in his pockets, and waited a few seconds to let himself calm down before he spoke.
"I'm sorry. I er, I've been a prat to you and I know you've just been trying to help. It's been hard - it still is - and I'm not really sure how to deal with this, but I'm trying not to be such a git about it now. And you said all that shite about protecting Hermione and it just got to me so that's why it - that's why I did it."
He nodded when Ernie mentioned taking care because there are people who depend on him. "I know, mate. I've got 'Mione to look out for now and I'm not going to let anything happen to her. Thanks for being persistent, y'know, even if it's a bit annoying sometimes." Ron said, laughing a bit at the end.