About the Series: In Mix-Max Muses, I'm trying to do challenges meant for the Tolkien fandom in the way of the Harry Potter world. That means stories belonging to this collection is purely of the Harry Potter fandom, so you don't have to worry about knowing about Tolkien's works in the first place. (Crossovers may be involved somewhere in the collection, but there will be ample warning for you beforehand.
From Back to Middle-Earth 2009 Day 1.
Challenge: Margaret Atwood once wrote: "We are learning to make a fire." Create your own story, poem or piece of art around this.
Point of View: Ron Weasley
Year: 1992, Christmas holiday
Place: Hogwarts
Warnings: none
Title: Dare and Daring
Summary: Survival is often the most effective insentive to diligently work on something. But for Ron, several things also came in handy.
The Polyjuice potion was ready.
Ron squeezed into the cubical together with Harry and Hermione – the maker of the potion itself. And there it sat bubbling on the toilet seat, lit from beneath with a Bluebell fire. He hoped the smell of the potion did not indicate how foul it would taste, especially when he already have to live with the thought of drinking a part of Crabbe or Goyle for himself.
Well, but he had to admit to himself too that the flip-flop his tomach was currently enjoying did not all result from the anticipation of downing the vile concoction. Rather, he was worried of the trio's success to infiltrate the Slytherin dorms. Many things would be at stake in this, some brutal retaliation from the slimy gits not being the least. (Well, and there were the expulsion from Hogwarts and his mum's wrath too…)
Was it worth it? Should they really do this?
An hour later, Ron was torn between being happy and dejected. The harebrained mission had met with failure, but at least he and Harry had not met with expulsion. Hermione… Well, Hermione was more or less safe in the Infirmary, being a cat-woman. (He did not know why that term made Harry snicker, and he could not find anything funny too when Harry, still giggling like mad, explained about a man named "bat-man.") They could tell her later about the result of their infiltration: nill.
Malfoy had not opened the Chamber of Secrets, and neither had any Slytherins the blond knew. It meant more work for them. That was, if Hermione's enthusiasm had not been quenched by her being a cat-woman. But Ron was drawing the line: he did not want to drink any part of Goyle – or Crabbe for that matter – again!
Truth be told, he really did not like the experimenting part of this mission. But if it would save Muggle-born students… Hmm, some adventure and acknowledgement from his teachers and parents if they were successful would be the bonus, right?