A/N: Ok, only two chapters left, maybe three, it depends. Just so you know towards the end of this chapter Ron will be remembering back to a moment from the second chapter. When he does, regular italics will be what he saw the first time, bold italics will be what he remembers now… you'll see.
Disclaimer: Ok, this delightful little chapter is part of my plot, but the characters- sadly; will never be mine… unless my plan is working… :)
--
Somewhere in the Ministry of Magic
"It's about time"
"Impatient aren't you?"
"The quicker this is over with the better"
"Think your life will be better once you do this?"
"Of Course. Everything else will fall into place, and I'll have my rightful place back"
"Status is over rated"
"But people have been killed over it, and for it."
"And which will you be?"
"I guess we'll find out"
Ron's POV
"Speaking of looking foolish… how's Granger?" Malfoy asked.
I had a feeling this would come up eventually if I didn't get him there in what should've been 15 minutes tops…
"Well aren't you going to answer me, how is the little mu-" Malfoy started.
"Shut up Malfoy, don't start. What do you care for anyways?"
I asked doubly annoyed- by his question, and the lack of the lift's appearance.
"Who said anything about caring? Just thought talking about Granger would annoy you the most." Malfoy stated.
"Congratulations, you're right. Now come on" I say and start to pull him with me.
"Wait, where are we going?" Malfoy asks.
"Something's off… the lifts are taking entirely too long, we have to go with Plan B." I reply as we head back towards the door we just came out of.
"So we're just going to walk back through that room again? Won't that seem a bit suspicious?" he questions.
"We're not going that way again." I say turning off in a different direction from the door.
"Well, that's a relief. Glad to see there's a plan B" he states.
"Of course there's a Plan B, Hermione works here, there's a Plan Z, a Plan Double A, and Plan Double A little a. She always makes sure there's another option for safety reasons." I reply.
I see Malfoy smile at these words. Not a smirk, but a genuine smile… why, I don't know.
"Why are you smiling like that?" I say.
"What? I- I wasn't smiling, you're seeing things" He stutters out.
"I was not." I say as we make an abrupt right turn.
"Where are we going for this Plan B?" He says trying to change the subject.
"You'll see" I say.
"I think we should have just waited a bit longer for the lifts." He says.
"Maybe you don't understand this, but everything is supposed to be set up and positioned perfectly, this way if something's out of place, it will be easier to pinpoint and locate the problem. Thus, making it easier for one to pinpoint a solution." I say.
"Ron, you surprise me, you sounded like-" Malfoy starts.
"I told you stop calling me Ron. And of course I sound like Hermione, she came up with it." I say cutting him off.
"Did she? I always got the impression, that you weren't much of a listener." He drawled.
"I'm not… well, not really… I mean I listen to her because it's her isn't it… why am I talking about this with you again?" I say realizing this is not what I want to talk about.
"No go on, I enjoy hearing you give me stuff to use later on" He replied smiling.
I ignore him as we get to the door I was looking for. I knock on it and then say Head Boy. The door opens.
"What's the point of knocking if you know the password already?" He sneers.
"To let-" I start.
"Ron, what's the meaning of… something's gone wrong then?" Percy says upon seeing Malfoy standing there.
"A bit." I reply.
"A bit, a bit? A toilet nearly drowned us, and then boiled us to death, and that incident on the stairs probably wasn't a coincidence either you know." Malfoy drawls loudly.
"Like I said, a bit" I reply.
"I see" Percy states.
I can see Malfoy giving us both looks like were nuts. But then the look sort of softens as if he notices something.
"You know if I recall correctly he wasn't your favorite brother, yet you seem to favor each other a lot more than you both probably realize." Malfoy said in a very un-Malfoyish way.
"What are you on about? Never mind, you've been acting weird all day. Perce, you know what I need to do." I say deciding to ignore this new Malfoy.
"Right. I'll be sure to let the Minister know when I reach downstairs. Good Day" Percy says before leaving.
"That's it, I just told you we've almost been killed and you're not going to stay and help? What type of brother are you?" Malfoy yells.
"You're over dramatizing." I say.
"Yes, I'm sure Ron can handle it. Good Day" Percy says and leaves.
"No wonder you can't stand him." Malfoy remarks.
"That was a while ago actually, we're usually civil to each other now… wait a minute how do you know I couldn't stand him?" I ask.
"I didn't know that… I mean I just assumed it was equal dislike, he was going around the Ministry trying to act like he wasn't a Weasley. Father mentioned it." He replied.
I took him at his word and began looking through Percy's bookshelf.
"What are you doing?" He asked watching me.
"Help me find it- never mind got it" I say finding the book I was looking for.
"Found what?" He asks.
I pull one of the books by the top and push it back. A second later what looked like a plain stretch of brick wall opened to reveal a fireplace.
"That was amazing? Why is he hiding his fireplace?" Malfoy asked looking at it.
"Percy hates to Floo, so he doesn't use it." I reply going to Percy's desk to get the Floo powder.
"But what if someone else wants to Floo in, what then?" Malfoy asks.
"Then they have to let him know in advance. Once he made head of the Department he made the request to do it this way. He said never liked that anyone could just Floo in whenever they wanted. 'What if I was in a meeting? Completely unprofessional' he says." I explain mimicking my brothers words.
"Oh, but what if it was an emergency?" He asks genuinely interested.
"He has a bunch of reasons to answer that I couldn't be bothered to listen to. Just for an occasion like this actually, if some one asked me- I wouldn't have to explain it. Now take the powder and throw it in." I say handing Malfoy some powder.
"What destination am I supposed to say?" He drawls stepping in.
"None, he only has it hooked up to one other fireplace so speech is unnecessary." I answer.
"Which one?" he asks.
"You'll find out when you get there, won't you? In fact maybe I should go first…" I say wondering.
But before I can decide he smirks and throws the powder down, and is gone a flash of green flames. I follow behind him quickly. I land on him just as he was turning over. We're face to face. The smile that appears on his face is unnerving.
"What if… why are you smiling at me like that?" I yell getting off of him.
"You wish" He says coming back into himself.
"You've been acting really strange, even for three years in Azkaban, you know that right? It's like you're a different person…" I say.
There's no mistaken the look of worry that falls across his face.
"Maybe I am. You don't know what it's like in Azkaban, do you?" He sneers.
"Thank Merlin no." I say watching him get up.
"Yeah well, lucky you." He drawls and starts looking around.
"Not luck." I say.
"What was that?" He says looking at me sharply.
"I said it wasn't luck. Surround yourself with the right people and not Death Eaters, and you'll be fine." I say motioning for him to follow me.
He doesn't say anything for a moment, just continues to look down.
"People like H- Granger?" He says quietly.
"Yeah, people like her, and Harry, my family of course…"
I realize that perhaps maybe I am a bit luckier than Malfoy. He was born into a Death Eater's family, not much choice there, I suppose. I can't believe I'm about to say this…
"Actually, maybe I am a bit luckier." I say.
"A bit. So where are we?" He says abruptly changing the subject.
"Level Two, Department-" I start.
"Save it. It's the Auror's floor. Finally going to get some back up?" He says.
"No. There aren't any Auror's around." I reply.
"Then why are we here? And why is this the place your brother's Floo is connected too?" He drawls.
"Because this is also my father's floor as well. And we're here because this was the next quickest way of getting us closer to the courtrooms." I respond.
"Right. How much time until the trial starts?" He asks.
"20 minutes. Hopefully, there won't be anything else in the way." I say.
We walk through the corridor. I stay close to his side.
"Ok, Plan C involves attempting the lifts, again. Plan F involves the stairs, which would mean if there was something funny going on on the stairs we'd have to risk it." I say suddenly stopping.
"Why are you asking me now all of a sudden?" He states surprised.
"Because… this way you'll have no one to blame but yourself for the decision." I reply lamely.
"The lifts then" He replies.
"We'll still need the stairs anyways but this will get us to next floor." I reply.
"Then why… what's that… uh oh" Malfoy says scrunching his nose.
I immediately put my hand over my nose. A stench of dirty socks, and unclean bathrooms had reached my nostrils. A familiar stench I hoped never to smell again, by the way.
"Bloody hell. It can't be, not here…" I say.
I grab Malfoy, and pull my wand out. I walk towards the direction of the lifts. Before I get to the spot where they're located a scream rings through the air.
"Aahhh"
The person who screamed it flew passed my vision into a wall to my left. Malfoy and I both backed up. I looked at Malfoy. He nodded at me as if to say 'well go on, you're the Auror'. And really, I can't argue with that logic can I?
I looked to see, Terry Boot trying to pry himself from the wall.
"Terry?" I say.
"Uh… what? Oh Ron, Thank Merlin you're here, a troll is on the loose, smashed the lifts to pieces, but all the Auror's are at the trial, and regular Law Enforcement gave up and just blocked the area off trying to keep it in one place. But that stopped working about two minutes ago." He said quickly.
"How did it get in?" Malfoy asks coming forward.
"That's the mystery, ain't it? Look, I'm an Unspeakable, but Trolls don't fall under that category, you handle this." He said looking at me.
"But, you guys do… well you do stuff, surely something you've learned can help?" I say exasperated.
"This job is overrated. Look, I know another way to get to the trial, but I had to try and get passed the troll first. I made it, and now I'm off. There are people over there that would really appreciate your assistance; you know Auror and all that. Later" Terry said.
And before I could get another word out, Terry was sprinting up the corridor we just came from towards the Floo.
"I think we should follow him, if he knows a way to get to the trial, without the lifts we'd be there in seconds." Malfoy says.
"Yeah you're right, but if his way is booby trapped, or something you could be in even more danger." I reply.
I know he wants to argue back but his face seems to go white. I turn knowing it could only be one thing by the heavy thud I just heard. The troll.
"I think it's spotted us" Malfoy says as it takes steps our way.
"What gave you that idea" I remark to the obvious.
"Do something" He says.
"You make it sound simple." I say pushing him back, and taking a step forward.
"REDUCTO" I yell.
The spell struck him at his chest. He clutched at it for a moment before managing to look angrier than before.
"I don't think that'll work, he's a troll." Malfoy shouts.
"I noticed. But I'm short on spells that get rid of Trolls at the moment. If you know any, please feel free to enlighten me." I say watching it smash more walls.
"PETRIFICUS TOTALUS" I say hoping it would seize up.
No luck.
ROAR
"Let's go back to your brother's office." Malfoy yells.
"No. I can't let it smash through the Auror offices... Get to safety." I yell.
"You're worried about your office?" Malfoy asks amazed.
"You don't know Kingsley Shacklebolt. Once he finds out I was here he'll kill me for letting the Troll in." I say seriously.
"Not if the Troll kills you first." Malfoy says, though his face seems to agree...
"What are going to do by yourself? You'll only get yourself killed." Malfoy adds.
"Go" I yell back. "I have a plan."
"REDUCTO" I yell again, this time aiming for the wrist holding the club and he drops it.
"That didn't do anything, before, remember?" He yells.
"Go" I yell again, "I'll catch up"
The troll goes to reach down for its trusty club. And I see my moment to attack. Hopefully this worked for Harry, it'll work for me. I run and jump on the Troll's head. It starts to turn its head wildly grunting, trying to swing me off. I hold on for dear life. I can hear Malfoy from the ground calling my name… gods, I hate that.
"Ron are you crazy?"
"Go before you get caught:" I yell as the Troll decides to swat at his head.
I wiggle my body as much as possible to avoid the blows… not that it helps, one of his fingers catches my leg, but I don't think it's broken. But it hurts like hell.
"Hey, over here. Look you big ugly Troll." I hear Malfoy's voice screaming.
I can feel the Troll turn it's head in his direction.
"Hey did you forget about your Club?" Malfoy yells.
"Are you crazy?" I yell.
The chatter seems to be making the Troll madder, and it starts trying to get me off its head again.
"Look at me, I'm by your club, You're CLUB" Malfoy is shouting.
The troll must've seen it, because I can feel it lowering itself to get it.
"The troll having its club is a bad thing, I assure you" I yell at Malfoy. "Go before he clubs you with it"
"When I say when, let go of his head" I hear Malfoy yell.
"What?" I say still holding on.
"Yeah that's it, pick it up, now hit yourself with it, and get that annoying creature off you" I hear Malfoy yell. "Hit him, hit him."
I can hear the troll, grunt, and I see it raise its arm to attempt to beat me into unconsciousness… or worse.
"Now, let go now" I hear Malfoy say.
And before I know it I'm falling to the ground… hard.
"Aahhh" I say on impact. "Bloody hell"
Thought the hell part is blocked by the sound of a loud-
THUNK
The troll must've hit itself on the head with his own club. I see Malfoy scramble over to try and pull me away from the Troll, I try and move with him as fast as possible, but my leg really hurts. I can hear a loud groan and crash just as Malfoy pulls me back in the Auror's Corridor. I turn to see the Troll lying on the floor unconscious.
"What were you thinking, you could've seriously hurt yourself just running and jumping on that- that thing like that." Malfoy say immediately.
"I was trying to slow it down so it wouldn't do anymore damage to person or property" I reply sitting up and grabbing my leg.
"Unless that person or property was you" He says getting up.
"Not one of my best plans, but it worked none the less." I say attempting to get up.
"No my plan worked." He says helping me stand up.
"Ouch, but my plan made your plan succeed." I say leaning on him.
"Let me get your wand to wrap your leg. Your plan was dangerous." He says putting his hand out for my wand.
"Was not"
I'm about to hand my wand to him, when I realize this is Malfoy. I think he notices the same thing and withdraws his hand. I move off of him and lean on the wall instead.
"I almost gave you my wand… for a second I thought I was arguing with Hermione instead of Dra- I mean a Malfoy." I stutter on the last part.
I almost called Malfoy, Draco… what a difference a day makes, hun?
"Did you almost call me Draco?" He drawls.
"No. I was going to say Dragon Dung Breath" I sat stupidly.
"Right. Well your leg isn't broken but I think you should wrap it just the same." He says.
"I never was any good at those hospital type spells, that's Hermione's department."
I'm really beginning to miss her… not only because I may die trying to protect Draco Malfoy today, but because I didn't realize how much I would. Working together all the time, made me take her presence for granted.
"Do you trust me?' Malfoy says suddenly.
"What?" I ask.
"Do you trust me? It's a simple enough question, you know?" He asks smirking.
"But why are you asking me that?" I quiz.
"Because I can do the spell, but I would need you to give me your wand in order to do it." He answers.
Do I trust Malfoy? Do I Ronald Billius Weasley, trust Draco-
"What's your middle name?" I ask.
"Where did that come from?' He asks confused.
"Just what is it? This is about trust right?" I say.
"It's Abraxas, after my grandfather" He replies.
Do I Ronald Billius Weasley, trust Draco Abraxas Malfoy?
The worst thing you could do is give someone a reason, to do something.
Kingsley's words echoed in my head. I'd been trying to save his life all day, sure I made a couple of jokes along the way, but not enough to make him decide to possibly do damage to me now, right? He did just sort of help save my life, didn't he? In fact that's probably the only reason I'm even giving this a thought now.
Yes, I Ronald Weasley, Trust Draco Malfoy.
"Fine." I say, and start reaching in my robes.
"What re you doing then? Your wand is in your hand still?" He points out.
"I know that. But my extra wand isn't." I say pulling my extra wand from it holder safely hidden away from prying eyes.
"I didn't know you had an extra wand. Wait a minute, you had an extra wand that whole time, and didn't say anything?' He drawls.
"Was I supposed to broadcast that I carry an extra, really Malfoy, be serious." I reply handing it to him.
"No, but… never mind." He says.
I expected him to get a feel for the wand or something first, but he took it naturally, like it hadn't even been three hours, let alone three years. He tried to do the spell, but nothing happened.
"I forgot some wands don't work as well with other wizards do they?" He said concentrating and trying again.
"Yeah they don't but… it's a unicorn hair wand, it shouldn't give you that much trouble, should it?" I say wondering.
"There you go, how's that feel?" He asks.
It does feel better.
"Yeah thanks." I say standing straighter.
"Here's your extra" He says handing me the wand.
"Keep it. You may need it" I say.
"Are you serious? There isn't a rule against giving Azkaban prisoners wands, or something of the like?" He questions.
"Probably, but there are no rules on doing what you have to do to save your own life and those around you." I reply.
"Right" He says matter of factly, keeping it tight in his hands and lowering it.
"Well come on. Terry's probably long gone by now, and the only way left is the steps. And we have less than 10 minute till the trial." I say walking around the unconscious troll.
We head towards the stairs. Passing the broken lifts, and about a dozen abandoned, half destroyed offices along the way.
"Listen if anything else goes wrong I just wanted to say…" He started leaving the sentence hanging.
"Don't get all sentimental Malfoy; you're going to make it to the trial."
I say surer than I really was. Never let those you're protecting know how bad the situation may or may not be.
We got back to the staircase. I opened the door first and pushed it open- it seemed to stop short of the wall. But Malfoy was already behind me, before I could investigate, and the next thing I know I'm being pushed down the stepa and Malfoys being pulled forwards towards the door.
I stumble on the steps a bit, but regain my balance and turn around with my wand pointed out. I see Malfoy seemingly being held in a choke hold by-
"But your dead, it can't be you" I say.
"But it is." A voice drawls back.
"Father?" Malfoy says.
It's obvious he couldn't see who was holding him.
"Yes dear son, it is your father. Sorry we must meet under such dire circumstances, but I can't let you go to trial." Lucius said with his grip on his son getting tighter by the second.
"Let him go" I say wand still pointed in their direction.
"I'm sorry to say that I can't do that. You see my son is expected to testify against the Dark Lord's followers, people who have been my friends for years. I just can't stand idly by and allow that to happen." Lucius explained.
"Testify against them… but…" I say confused.
"Come now, surely you already knew that? They did give you some sort of information on Draco, right?" Lucius asked.
The file… come on Ron, think- what did that file say? Yada, yada… No, some where in your mind you took in what you read Ron; just think…
Father: Lucius Malfoy, Convicted Death Eater, seems to have died in Azkaban…
Oops, you'd think the words 'seems to have' would've sent an alarm out.
Mother Narcissa Malfoy, formerly Black, current location Malfoy Manor, moved out at 28 years old…
Wait that can't be right…. It must be a typo, must be 38… that means she's no longer living at the Manor… keep thinking Ron.
Draco Malfoy: wand type Beechwood, 11 and a quarter inches, unicorn hair…
That's right, then why can't he use my spare, it's not Beechwood, but it is Unicorn hair… ask that later Ron.
Lucius Malfoy claims he was innocent, but son Draco Malfoy gave information to the Ministry about Death Eaters to help the Order, helpful to bring down Voldermort. Testimony Hidden…
Merlin I swear if you let Draco- that's right, I'll even call him Draco; if you let Draco and I come out of this alive, I promise I'll read my files thoroughly, I promise… Oh wait there was more…
Currently being imprisoned for safety reasons…
Crap.
--
Well, well, well… isn't Ron the best? I think so, even though he doesn't feel that way about himself at the moment. Next chapter will be Draco's POV…
Speaking of Draco, are you noticing his mannerisms yet. Quite odd for him wouldn't you say? I said in the beginning I'd be keeping the characters in character, and I stick by that… a puzzle for your thoughts.
Oh and if you think you've got it figured out, then you might even be able to figure out the two people in the "Somewhere in the Ministry" scene's… because as you can tell it's not the Killers after Draco, that's Lucius.
Good Luck. Reviews bring a faster update, I swear. :)