The Struggle

(Part 1)

Ron woke up the next day, feeling slightly lonely, which was nothing surprising, however, as last night's event drifted back to him, he felt as if something was now missing from his life, as if something was ripped out.

Once getting dressed, he headed downstairs for breakfast, where he could clearly hear Hermione's voice, she must have arrived a few moments ago, he stopped just before going in, taking a deep breath, he walked into the kitchen, where he saw everyone, including Remus.

Molly said when she saw him, "Good morning, Ron. Did you have a nice night?"

Ron said, trying to not glance at anyone, "It was fine, Mum."

Arthur said, "Ron?"

Promise me, that when your friends get here, that you won't say anything to them about what happened over this past week, alright?

Ron tried to not think about the promise that they both made to each other, he said, his voice beginning to get thick with sadness, trying to blink back tears, "Don't worry, Dad. They left last night."

Everyone, but Hermione, exchanged looks around the table, however, Hermione asked, looking at Ron, "Who came by, Ron?"

Ron said, "Just someone."

Molly said, "Speaking of that someone, you have a letter here, Ron."

Ron quickly grabbed the letter, gave everyone a look, opened it under the table, and silently read;

Weasley,

It was him! When I had returned back to the Manor last night, he was there, waiting for me! At first, he wanted to know where I had gone, I simply told him that I was at a friend's house, but when Father came in, we talked about what was to happen on my sixteenth birthday. I'm right now about to ask Mother about what we'd talked about, I hope that she knows something about that other baby, if so, then let's meet somewhere in Deigain, somewhere we can talk about what we've found out about that other baby. However, back to my main reason for writing to you, Weasley, while Father and I were talking with him, he told me, that if I were to be a Death Eater, then I would need to prove my worth, which means, I'm to not only cut off all ties with you, but I'm to kill the Headmaster. Weasley, I don't want that, I've realized it now, I can't even be around him or the other Death Eaters, I don't want this to end.

From;

D. Malfoy

Horror struck, Ron re-read the letter at least five times, when he wasn't seeing things on the letter, he whispered softly, so that everyone barely heard him, "Not him… it can't be him… he can't…"

Hermione asked him, "Ron?"

Ron didn't seem to hear her, he was horror struck at what he'd read, Molly asked gently, "Ronald? Is everything alright?"

She reached out to touch him, but at that moment, Ron stood up, eyes wide, and he said, his voice thick with sadness and horror, "I need parchment, a quill, and ink."

Remus waved his wand, the three items flew over to the table, in which Ron got them, sat back down, and began writing his letter, which he sent off with his owl, with a silent 'Draco Malfoy'.

Hermione asked, "Ron, is everything alright?"

Ron said, "Yeah, everything's fine, Hermione. How was your summer?"

Hermione said, "Well it was great, I went to France with Mom and Dad, it was so nice, not to mention, I've already done all my summer assignments. How about you?"

Ron said, "Mine was alright."

Ginny asked, "Hey Ron, where's that someone at, anyway?"

Ron said, "They went home last night, saw them leave."

Molly said, "I hope that they're alright."

Ron just looked down, eating his food with care, once he had everything all cleared away on his plate, he walked into the living room, where he saw his dad and Professor Dumbledore talking, however, the moment Professor Dumbledore had left, Arthur said, turning around to face his youngest son, "Ron, do you want to talk?"

Ron bit his lip, not sure how to explain it to his Father, who quickly noticed that his youngest had something on his mind, but before Arthur could even say or do anything, Molly said as she came into the living room, "Ron, someone wants to talk to you."

Ron quickly went into the kitchen, where he saw the flaming head of Draco, quickly looking around, he saw everyone else looking curiously at the flaming head, who quickly caught sight of him, and Draco snapped, trying to keep up appearance, "Weasley, quickly!"

Ron rushed over to the fire place, where Draco was at, he heard Hermione say, "Ron, who's that? It sounds like—"

Ron asked quickly, getting quill and parchment, "Did you find anything?"

Draco lowered his voice to a whisper, and he whispered softly, having Ron to lean closer into the flames, "Mother's arranged a trip to the Alley tomorrow, think you can slip away for a bit?"

Ron whispered, keeping his voice low too, "I'll try to, but if not, then I'll think of something."

Draco whispered, "Good, then we'll talk there. Meet me at Grinngotts, Mother's decided that I need a check-up, you know, to make sure that I'm still a Malfoy."

Ron whispered, "Alright. Now, did you find anything?"

Draco whispered more quietly, "Yes, but all I can say is, the mysterious baby in the photo, his name's Rodgric Weasley… I think you were supposed to have a twin, Ron."

Ron froze that the word 'twin', his blue eyes widened, he thought back to last night, how he and Draco were able to hear each other's thoughts, but he decided to not mention it to him, especially in front of Hermione, who had been watching from a few feet behind, curious about the exchange, however, Ron quickly wrote a few notes down, and he whispered, glancing up from his parchment, "It looks like we may be identical, you know, like the twins."

Draco whispered, "True, however, this Rodgric person, Mother says that he was sent away as for like, some sort of 'Peace' treaty, you know, between two families."

Ron whispered, "Peace treaty? You mean like trying to make peace between two families?"

Draco whispered back, "Yes. Look, all we know is that this mysterious baby is somewhere out there, probably not knowing who they really are, or who is probably either, one, on the opposite side of this war, or two, who doesn't even know anything about this his family or about this war going on."

Ron continued to take notes as Draco continued whispering all that they know about the mysterious baby in the photo, by the time they were done, Ron had at least a foot of notes, he sighed, and whispered softly, "Think we have everything that we know about him, so far, I mean. I'll owl you the notes later on today, that way we both have at least a copy of notes on this Rodgric person."

Draco nodded, and whispered, "Alright, that sounds good. Think that's it than."

Ron nodded too, and he whispered, "See you tomorrow, then."

Draco quickly said, keeping his voice down, "Sounds good. Remember the promise?"

Ron quickly and quietly said, "Yes, you?"

Draco nodded, however, Ron clearly heard him say silently; Yes, I haven't forgot.

Ron grinned slightly, and quietly said; Can you hear me? I heard you.

Draco's eyes widened, he couldn't help but say silently; Of course, I can hear you.

Ron said out loud, or rather, whispered softly, the grin still on his face, "You know what this could mean?"

Draco said, his gray eyes shining a little brightly at the idea, "Write to me, that way no one will know about it. This could be useful for this war. Don't you think so too, Ron?"

Ron silently said; Don't worry, I'll write to you once we're done. Besides, if this is found out—

Draco's voice cut in, and he said silently; Then we're so dead, that's what.

Ron nodded, suddenly realizing the situation that they had found themselves in, he sighed, and said almost rudely, shooting Draco a look, "That's all, Malfoy?"

Draco, quickly catching on, put up his sneer, and he snarled, his voice cold, "That'll be all, Weasley. Now if you excuse me, Mother's waiting for me."

Ron shot him a glare, but silently said; We should do this more often. With this connection, we could practically talk to each other without anyone knowing about it, don't you think so too?

Draco silently said; That's true, I could feed you information about either the Dark Lord or anything about Rodgric Weasley.

Ron nodded silently, Draco only flew out of the fire, not really in the mood for a foolish farewell with the Weasl, however, he didn't forget to say silently; See you soon.

Ron clearly heard him, and he silently said, knowing that the other boy would probably not hear him; See you soon. Be safe.

Shortly after the call, Ron quickly sent off the second copy of his notes, including a letter, off to Draco, who vowed to never let anyone, not even the Dark Lord or his Father, know about the bond that he'd shared with a certain redheaded Weasley.

Both boys vowed to keep their promises to each other.