Revelation
"Ron... Can you please talk to me?" Hermione pleaded.
People always thought that Ronald Weasley and Hermione Granger will end up together, eventually... Now when war was over people thought that this was their time, heck even Hermione thought it is, but Ronald didn't. He saw too much, thanks to Arabella. So he didn't bother with Hermione now, what is the point? She is returning to Hogwarts to finish her education along with Harry and Draco, Ronald isn't. He is already training for Auror and besides that he got tied to Bella Potter case.
"We have nothing to talk about, Hermione."
Ronald really meant it, now he didn't want to have anything with Hermione. He has no time for her now, he is tied to Bella. After Bella was found and placed in St. Mungo's, he had to swore that he won't say anything about Bella to anybody. The Ministry was now even more afraid of Arabella Riddle, they thought that she brought Isabella back for reason and for that reason they decided to do anything to protect Bella. Most of people thought that Isabella is the key to catch Arabella.
"Yes we have!" Ron looked at Hermione, he felt pity. She was about to cry.
"Go to your precious Draco, I have no time for this." He was harsh enough to make her run out of room in tears. He didn't care.
Ronald was in kitchen reading Daily Prophet and drinking coffee. He made it on cover with 'Deidre Mavrai' last week, but not only in Daliy Prophet, articles about' attractive new couple' and pictures were published in Witch Weekly and The Quibbler. His picture was everywhere, it seemed that after war people just enjoying reading nonsense. The Ministry was okay with this, it was actually amazing for them that people got their attention fixed on something else rather than real problem called Arabella.
"Ron, honey... Don't you think ou are being little harsh towards her?" Molly Weasley steeped in kitchen, she passed Hermione in hall.
"Why exactly would I care?" He didn't even look from up from newspapers.
"She is your friend." Molly took Prophet from him. " And she obviously wants more from you, but all you think about is your job. You are acting like Percy."
"I see nothing wrong with that... Percy accomplished many things in life, I actually feel honored to be compared to him." His words caused Molly to gap at him, this wasn't her son. She sat on chair next to his and took his hand.
"Ronald... This isn't you... What did that horrible girl force you to do? You are distant, harsh...cold... You don't even enjoy playing Quiditich as you did... You changed." Ron didn't say anything, there was no need, Percy just came from work and heard what their mother said.
"War changed many things, mother..." He started. "Ron grew up and became wiser." Molly couldn't believe her ears, both of them had gone mad. " Minister spoke with me, Ron will be the head of Department of Magical Law Enforcement when he finishes his training, although Minister thinks he is already more than ready and I agree."
"Thanks, Perce." Ron smiled at his brother, those two became extremely close after Isabella was found.
Reason for this was simple, both of them were working on Isabella Potter case. After war Percy became Minister's right hand and he had huge influence of Minister's decisions. So Percy thought that Ron would be perfect for this case, he was friend with Isabella, but they weren't too close at her last year in Hogwarts. Percy worked close with him and for the most of the time, he had many obligations now, but Isabella Potter was more important than anything, even Minister thought so.
"No problem... Now Mom, we are both really sorry for out behavior, but can't change it at moment... We are working on something huge, it is secret actually so we can't tell you, but really soon everybody will know so... No worries."
But Molly Weasley did worry and she couldn't help but think that there is something more...
Meanwhile, Percy and Ron joined in living room. Everybody was here, it was thursday and that meant family dinner for all order Members. It was now July, final battle happened in May, but still on this dinners war was still the most talked subject. War and how to catch that Bond haired demon... There were only three people in that room who actually hopped that she won't be caught because if she gets caught she will get killed. Harry and Ron were just two.
"What is this?" George asked. "Minister won't be joining us?"
"He is busy.."
"Well he was busy last week." Fred said.
"There is so much to do." Arthur defended Kingsley. "Something big is going on..." Arthur left sentence hanging.
"What exactly?" Harry wanted to know.
In past few months Harry wanted to know many things... He was still confused with whole Arabella thing, he had those confusing feelings for her, he was also bothered with what she said when she disarmed him. She said to fall in love with Isabella again, but don't look for master of death... It was confusing, he wasn't sure if Bella was really alive or not and other thing... Harry knew that Arabella had stone and cloak, well and wand... She was the master of death, but problem is that if wand has the master then it is Isabella.
"I have no idea and those two..." Arthur pointed at Ron and Percy who were whispering something each to other. " Know something, but won't share." Heads around table turned to look at Ron and Percy who were still whispering... They must have felt someone's eyes burning at them because they eventually realized that they are being watched.
"What?" Ron asked.
"Oh... Nothing. "Harry said. " We are just talking how Ministry is suspicious and you two know why." He said it like it wasn't big deal.
"If you ask me..." Draco joined. "I think that those two are behind it." Everybody laughed, fools.
Ron and Percy laughed too, although they forced themselves to do. Ron could feel and read it from Draco's head how he actually believed it. Rest of dinner went in lighter tone, Fred and George said few jokes, Hermione eventually appeared from her crying session and as Ron predicted she sat as close as she could to Draco. Someone asked Harry what is his plan after Hogwarts and he responded that he plans to be Auror... It will be interesting to see how great Harry Potter will work under Ronald Weasley...
"How is you family, Draco?" Molly asked." Harry said that you went to see them today." Molly invited Lucius, Narcissa, even Bellatrix to join for dinner, but they all declined. It was shocking for everybody to know that those three were along with Snape all working for Dumbledore for all this years... Especially Bellatrix who went in prison for Voldemort.
"I went to Manor, but Mother and Father weren't there, I thought nobody is home, but then I found Aunt in my old room..." Draco stayed with Weasley's after war, he wasn't ready to return to house of terrors just yet." Auntie said that Arabella was using the room before she married Voldemort, which is confusing..."
"Oh, why?"
"Everything looks exactly as I left it before my seventh year at Hogwarts... normally I would doubt that anyone even used that room, but there is that smell... It smells like dungeons." People grimaced at thought, everybody knew what happened in dungeons. "I talked with her, she seems... sad and normal which is very confusing."
"That is very confusing, I thought she was fucked up in head."
"Ginny, language!"
"It is okay, Mrs. Weasley... We all thought it." People laughed. " It is just so strange... Mother and Father arrived then, Mother was crying again and when I asked what is going on they didn't want to answer me. They are acting like somebody died." That maybe wasn't the best subject to talk about, luckily one can always count on Weasley to cheer others up.
"Oh, look! Maybe Minister remembered at after all." George joked when lynx shaped Patrouns appeared in room. Ron and Percy went stiff.
"Shhh... Everybody!"
"Percy, Ronald... It is time..." That was enough for Percy to apparated away. Lynx got closer to Ron. " You plan worked, we got her angry... Bring them to St. Mungos, hurry we don't have much time..." Ron stood up, ready to go, lynx had something else to say. "And congratulations, I won't wait another month, you are the head of Department of Magical Law Enforcement now."
Hermione, Draco and Harry looked at Ron, they were dumbstruck. Others didn't look any better. Percy told Molly that this will happen earlier, but she didn't believe it then and she certainly didn't believe it now. Molly loved her son, but somehow she always saw Harry as head of that Department. While others were still frozen in spot, Ron conjured his patronus and sent it to Snape. Then he snapped his fingers to bring others back into reality.
"What is going on?"
"No time for this, we are limited... Draco, Hermione,Harry... grab my hand, we will apparate."
"No until you tell us what is happening!" Hermione demanded.
"You caught her!" Harry assumed.
"Who?"
"Arabella..."
"Godric, no... It is impossible to catch her when we don't know what to look for..."
"Wait... I got letter from her..."
"Who?"
"Arabella..."
"Godric... Go bring it down and we are leaving."
When they apparated to St. Mungos, Harry, Draco and Hermione still didn't know what to expect, Ron still didn't explain what is going on. At hospital, healers were rushing around, but there in crowd of people that were rushing through corridors, Draco saw his parents and Bellatrix... Ron started leading them somewhere when Severus Snape appeared in front of them. Ron greeted him with respect and trio was surprised when Snape responded same.
"Severus..."
"Ronald... Thank you for informing me... Follow me they transferred her to another room, Percy is already there with her. I will have to talk with your brother about this Ronald, it is not exactly advisable having him falling in love with her... At least not now."
"Is William here?" Ron asked.
"Yes. I brought him with me, you know how he was in this from start."
William spent his time after war mostly with Snape, for some odd reason both off them enjoyed each other's company. Although Harry was William's legal guardian when Isabella died, this changed once war ended. William himself demanded to be out in care of Severus Snape, Harry knew that boy dislikes him so he didn't want to make him dislike him even more so he gave into boy's want. William once said to Harry that he know that Harry only took after hom because he felt like he owes to Isabella.
"Of course... Severus, Harry received letter from..."
"Arabella." Snape interrupted Ron and turned to Harry. " Let me see it." He demanded.
Dear Harry,
Congratulations, you've made it, from now on there is no Dark Lord, as you put an end to him.
But... There is alway but, isn't it?
I gave you something and now I will take something in return.
You will have her back, but in same time you won't...
I am terribly not sorry for this... Thank you for loving me.
Love,
Bella
P.S. - You would be thousands times better choice than Draco.
"Well, it is certainly her." Snape rolled his eyes and handed letter to Ronald to read it. "And we know what she is talking about."
Snape lead them up stairs to 5 floor. When they were on fourth Hermione finally got some courage and asked Snape where he is leading them. Snape gave them answer easily, he was surprised that Know-It-All didn't ask earlier. Snape was leading them to asylum, special department of it where only one patient was... Harry, Draco and Hermione still didn't know who. They were lead in form of room which was whole made of glass. They saw Minister and Percy sitting next to blond haired witch who had her back turned to them.
"Arabella..." Harry said silently.
"Not quite..." Snape didn't even care to explain he focused on girl. Minister was asking her questions.
"Tell me... How does it feel knowing that they survived war without you?" She laughed, no one could ever forget that bell like laugh.
"Bella..." Draco gaped.
"They survived without me, you say?" He voice was filled with arrogance and absolutely frightening. "Well, I survived without them too." She laughed. " All they did, they did because of me. They survived because of me." Her head bent on side and returned on natural place rapidly.
"Why do you think that? Is it because you were born special?"
"I was born as human." He head moved rapidly again. It was her tic. "Plain. I worked hard to achieve greatness."
"You were powerful witch... What kind of magic did you sister use on you?"
"Powerful indeed. Both of us were no strangers to dark arts... But she used something more powerful." Tic.
"What?" Tic.
"That is on me to know." Tic. "And you you to... dot, dot, dot. " Tic. "You want me to destroy her, that is why you are here, you don't care about me actually." Tic.
"We want to catch here and kill her."
"No." Tic. "You won't do such a thing." She turned and Harry, Draco and Hermione finally saw her face, she saw them too, but ignored them. She looked at Kingsley. " If you thought for a second that war Voldemort caused was bloody, then I will give you new meaning to the word 'bloody'. She is mine." Tic, laugh.
"What are you planing to do?" Minister asked, he was more careful now when he sensed that she was very dangerous.
"Nothing." She could take seat on bed, but she sat on Percy's lap. " She will come to me." Tic.
"And then? Last I checked she is the master of death and she already defeated you once..."
"I went easy on her, but just like her I can play dirty." She played with collar of Percy's shirt. " I wish for you to leave now. You and other you brought. They didn't need me for a year and I certainly don't need them now." Tic. "Percy can stay."
"Bella... I am offering you my help."
"Isabella." She corrected him. "Bella is only for friends, not that I have any." Tic. "I don't need your help Minister, everything you see from now on is a game... And I am warning you there is no rules." Tic.
"I understand." Minister replied and stood up to leave.
"One more thing, Minister!" She yelled after him. "That girl... Arabella as you call her, she is fake." She raised her hands, showed her palms... They were freshly slashed, bloody dripping. "This war is about me, there is no Arabella, at least one I am related to. Girl you are after... She is not my sister." Tic.
Isabella's grey eyes went to blue... In matter of seconds her appearance changed from grown up Isabella to much younger looking Arabella, eight years old Arabella to be exact. Isabella didn't notice anything, she wasn't even Isabella anymore, she was this little girl. She began talking about dolls, how she never had any, then about Isabella singing songs to William and about Isabella setting one man on fire. People around here were just staring at her. Kingsley left the room.
"Tell me Ronald... If you had a patient with mental disorder who just told you that she is the murderer of 18 people would ou believe it?" Ron looked at Bella, he knew Minister was talking about her.
"Not without proof, Minister." He replied.
"Fine then... Ronald I think..." Minister was interrupted by one of healers from lab.
"Minister, we got results from lab about bones from another coffin..."
"I don't have whole night, Miriam."
"Bones belong to Arabella Helena Clark, well Slytherin... Sister of Isabella Marie Potter and half-sister of William Standstrong."
"I am Arabella and you are?" Heads turned to room in which Isabella was. Catching the Dark Lady just became even harder, especially with fact that no one had idea who she is.
Arabella Helena Clark died in 1996. Dead since, she wasn't the one world was after.
Another twist! Hope you liked it.
Sorry for mistakes,
Wicked Daphne
