Chapter 6-
Ron burst into Snape's office, even redder in the face than usual and panting hard like a dog. He had momentarily forgotten why he had sprinted like a wild animal to the Dungeons, leaving Hermione behind in the Forbidden Forest. It suddenly occurred to him that that may not have been the best idea. Snape sat behind his desk, quill in hand. Ron noticed a photograph of him with an attractive, red-headed woman who he assumed was Potter's mother.
"What do you want, Weasley?" Snape's voice was cold, but not so disdainful as it usually was when he addressed Ron. He stared at Ron with his dark eyes.
"I- I," Ron suddenly remembered why he had come here, but to ask Snape about Horcruxes out of the blue would seem mad, childish even. He remembered Harry's difficulties in talking to Slughorn the previous year, and then the memory came back to him, "Sir, I was in the library the other day… in the Restricted Section… and I came across something rather odd about a bit of rare magic-"
"- Where did you hear that, Weasley?" Snape's voice was breathy, confused, even a little afraid. Ron felt his face turn from red to a deep shade of maroon, "WHERE DID YOU HEAR THAT?" Snape shouted, standing up from behind his desk and rounding on Ron. He had never seen Snape this angry, even at Harry when he talked back.
Ron decided if he was going to get anything out of Snape, he would need to power through with his idea, "Sir, do you know anything about Horcruxes?"
"Get out of my sight." Snape's voice was quiet and full of hatred.
"No." Ron suddenly felt a surge of bravery wash over him. If he could find out how Snape had killed Voldemort in this world, perhaps it would help him to discover how they could kill Voldemort in his own. He imagined the look on his Hermione's face when he finally returned home, triumphant, with the secret to destroying Horcruxes in his brain, "I'm not going to leave until you tell me what you know about Horcruxes."
"If you don't leave now, Weasley, I shall have to give you a detention," Snape sighed, his voice was less angry, just bored and disapproving.
"Please, Professor, this is important," Ron pleaded with Snape, "I need to know about them."
"No one ever needs to know about Horcruxes, Weasley," Snape sneered at him, "Despite having a talent for Potions, someone who is as sadly lacking in the magical department as yourself would be quite incapable of finding a Horcrux, let alone creating or destroying one."
"What do you know?" Ron took a new angle, testing Snape. If there was one thing he felt he knew about him, it was that he was a rather proud man, and an insult to his ego might convince him to share his secrets, "I bet you only killed Voldemort as a fluke-"
"Weasley, I have tolerated your abominable rudeness for a moment longer than I might have wished," Snape sighed, "I will allow you to leave without difficulty, and without a detention, if you leave now. Now." He repeated, gesturing towards the door.
Unsatisfied with Snape's attitude, Ron convinced himself that perhaps he should try again another day. He turned towards the door, kicking several stools on his way out, he understood the childish nature of his actions but it didn't bother him in the slightest. He lifted the heave handle to the creaking wooden door to the Potions Master's office, and as he did so, Ron could have sworn he heard Snape whisper "Pipes"… As Ron wandering through the corridors of the castle, flicking his Deluminator on and off, momentarily plunging himself into darkness, he remembered Hermione's scribbled message about the Basilisk. Could Snape know about the Chamber of Secrets? How could that possibly have helped him to destroy Voldemort? Suddenly he thought of the conversation that had persuaded him to abandon Harry and Hermione in the tent. "The sword takes in only that which makes it stronger… The sword is impregnated with Basilisk venom!" Ron heard Hermione's voice ring through his head. Had Snape destroyed the Horcrux with a Basilisk fang? Ron shook the idea with his mind… he was being foolish. For one thing, the Snape of this world could not possibly know about the Basilisk attacks in his second year, nor about the message Hermione had written for them – they had never happened here. And yet… it seemed just too perfect.
"Good evening, Weasley," a serene voice spoke from behind Ron, and he turned around to find himself face to face with Professor Dumbledore. Ron realised that this was the only time he had spoken to Dumbledore on his own. He noticed that he was still holding the Deluminator, and hastened to shove it into the pockets of his robes.
"It's the morning, sir," Ron replied sheepishly.
"Is it indeed?" Dumbledore looked around quizzically, "And there I was, thinking it was time for supper. I so felt like sweet potatoes."
"You'll have to wait a while I'm afraid, Professor," Ron chuckled to himself.
"Yes, yes, but I often find that it is these little bumps in the road which have the most profound effect upon our lives, do you not agree?" Dumbledore's blue eyes pierced Ron's, "By the way, I couldn't help but admire your fine Deluminator. I do believe I have a similar one myself."
"Yes- well," Ron felt oddly confused and embarrassed.
"I hope you make good use of it, Weasley," Dumbledore peered over the top of his half-moon spectacles, "There is often more to these things than meets the eye. Good day, Mr. Weasley."
Ron blinked, and Dumbledore had disappeared behind a corner, "See you later, Professor." He said quietly, to no one in particular. That was without a doubt the oddest encounter Ron had ever experienced. It was as though Dumbledore knew everything that was going on, as though he could see through Ron's eyes and into his mind. Then it occurred to Ron that he probably could, Dumbledore was renowned as a highly accomplished Leglimens. Ron made a mental note to ask Harry about Occlumency when he got home. It was odd, since telling Hermione about how he wasn't from this Universe, his desire to return home had become all the more great.
"Why are you down here, Ron?"
Ron was beginning to grow tired of people constantly sneaking up on him, he turned around for what felt like the hundredth time that day, to see Potter standing behind him looking rather the worse for ware, "Went to see Snape," Ron said calmly, he felt no need to lie to Potter.
"That seems to be a popular thing to do today," Potter agreed, Ron noted he was being oddly polite, "Where are you heading?"
"Nowhere in particular," Ron commented.
"Another popular choice," Potter grinned at him, "Mind if I join you?"
"Why aren't you being an arsehole today?" Ron said suddenly, feeling his ears go red as he did so.
"Good one, Ron," Potter laughed, slapping Ron on the back, "You know there's no one around don't you?"
"What the bloody hell are you on about?" Ron shrugged himself away from Potter, who was still grinning happily at him, "You hate me?"
"Only in public, mate," Potter continued to smile, "What's got into you?"
"Okay," Ron thought for a moment, "So, are you trying to tell me that we're friends now!"
"Pretty much," Potter said, "Seriously, what's wrong with you?"
"What the fuck?" Ron shouted suddenly, "So in public, you treat me like shit? But in private we're best mates?"
"Not best mates, more… amicable acquaintances," Potter chuckled, "Why are you acting like you don't know what's going on?"
"Because I don't know what the fuck is happening!" Ron shouted again, "One moment you hate me, the next you love me! Snape was actually a decent bloke for once! Hermione and Draco are fucking together and Dumbledore addresses me personally like we're fucking best friends!"
"Well, yeah," Potter said stupidly, "I don't know about the Snape thing, he's always been a dick to me, obviously, but you know… Hermione and Draco have been together for about a year, I know you love her mate, but you can't only be realising this now?"
"WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?" Ron screamed, his head felt like it was going to explode. It felt as though he'd had to relearn everything that had ever happened in his life, only to discover that most of it was a lie, and have to relearn it again.
"It's pretty clear what's going on here," Potter sighed, as he and Ron began to walk together through the corridor in no direction in particular.
"Is it?" Ron said sarcastically, "Is it really?"
"Yeah," Potter replied, "Fucking Septimus Malfoy's hit you with a Befuddling charm again. Bloody bastard, I know you still think Draco's a good guy, but I'm convinced he's more like his brother than he lets on."
"Why are you always so suspicious of Malfoy?" Ron asked. His conversation with Potter, as in his one with Hermione, was allowing his guard to slip for a moment.
"Dunno mate," Potter laughed, "Something about blonde hair creeps me out."
Ron laughed too, his confusing descending into happiness. He had found it difficult to believe that any manifestation of Harry could be as much of a bastard as Potter had been to him, not wanting to trust him too much, Ron chose not to tell him his secret, "So why were you seeing Snape?"
"Wanted to tell him to fuck off."
"Really?" Ron asked sceptically.
"Nah, not really," Potter laughed, "My dad asked me to send a message to mum. Something about wanting his mum's ring back. The bitch still has it."
"How long ago did they break up again?" Ron asked coolly, finding it odd hearing Harry talking about his parents.
"About seventeen years I think," Harry sighed, "Best thing that ever happened to my dad, Sirius reckons. Then again, he would think that, wouldn't he?"
"Yeah," Ron laughed, feeling it was better to act as though he knew exactly what Sirius might think, "Snape's such a smarmy git though isn't he?"
"Woah – I've never heard you say a bad word against the greasy bastard!" Harry said in mock amazement, "That's the main reason we stopped being friends, remember?"
"Not in the slightest," Ron said. His tone was sarcastic, even if his words were not. It was so easy to talk to Harry again, it felt as though they had just been in an argument, and reconciled, "So why are we friends again?"
"Mutual hatred of Draco Malfoy of course," Harry smiled at him, "Septimus got you pretty well didn't he?"
"Clearly…" said Ron, "Remind me again why we hate him?"
"Well of course, you hate him because he stole your girl," Harry replied, "And I hate him because he's a smarmy little bastard."
"Fair enough," said Ron, he loved how easy to trick Harry was. Unfortunately this was a trait that his Harry had long since lost. They had managed to walk all the way to the Gryffindor common room without meeting another soul. They approached the Fat Lady, and gave her the password, Gurdyroots, and the portrait hole swung open, as they walked into the bustling common room, Ron turned to Harry and said, "So, fancy going to practice Quidditch later, mate?"
"Hah, good joke, Weasley," Harry sneered at Ron, using a tone that Ron now recognised as false hatred, "I'd rather snog that giant squid. Later, ginger."
Ron felt a combination of confusion and understanding as Potter swaggered over to sit with Nev and Lavender Brown. He chose to take a seat next to Hermione and Draco, who were cuddled together on the sofa. Ron suddenly understood how the sight of that every day might turn you to be friends with Potter after all, even if he was a bastard most of the time. He felt sick to his stomach.
"If it's any consolation, I think you two would be better together," Rosie Black said from behind him as they walked towards the pair together.
"Thanks, Rosie," Ron grinned at her as they sat down beside Draco and Hermione, who broke apart. Ron couldn't help but feel an easing in his stomach and in his mind. He looked over to where Potter was sitting, laughing loudly with a raucous group of Sixth-Years. Ron couldn't understand why they weren't friends in public when they so clearly got on, but at the same time, he was still cautious of whether or not Potter could be trusted. He meant to ask Hermione about it the next time they met – hopefully it would also be a good opportunity to apologise for abandoning her earlier as well. She kept shooting him odd glances as they spoke, clearly wary of him now. He grinned foolishly at her, but she did not smile back. Ron's stomach sank once more, and the sick feeling which he had become so used to returned.
WOAH! What just happened there ;) ? Did you guys enjoy my little twist... Okay, now is the time when I need advice, so what do you guys think should happen next? If there are any ideas I like I will incorporate them into my next chapter, but only if you REVIEW!
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