Disclaimer: Once more, I do not own Harry Potter. Not even 0.00000001% of it. This is a work of pure fanfiction, no money is made.
(I'm getting really tired of typing that. And, I'm running out of creative ways.)
/few curse words in this chapter! I think it's fine though. Just a trigger warning./
A/N: Another chapter I typed during my holiday. I just had to wrap things up, so here it is. Enjoy.
Chapter 9
The next evening in the Great Hall, when lessons were about to start, the Headmaster rose from his seat and tapped his wand on his throat.
"Good evening, teachers and students. I'm sad to say that Professor Rosales has returned to the States this afternoon, and she pardoned me to relay the message that Hogwarts was truly welcoming and she loved spending time here, and she had many tips to bring back to the States." Snape did not sound sad at all, just the opposite.
Just when he was about to start the dinner, the doors of the Great Hall was pushed open, and a figure cloaked in expensive black robes glided in, head tilted up proudly and posture confident. The fiery red hair was styled professionally, his skin pale, the blue eyes piercing right into the soul.
"Ah, seems like I've interrupted the Headmaster! My sincere apologies, Headmaster," Ronald Weasley's voice was clear and piercing, and he tilted his head to the side like he was listening attentively for a response.
Gaps echoed throughout the hall and both professors and students were stunned.
"What's he doing here? Isn't he supposed to be with Harry?" "Ron?!" "Where's Harry and Hermione?" "Ronald Weasley?" Whispers were heard, and even the Carrows were shocked. Weasley? Is he supposed to be here?
Severus Snape stood frozen, thoughts racing through his head. What's the idiot boy doing?
Ron, having no response from the Headmaster, went forward and stood in front of the teachers' table.
"Good evening, Headmaster, Professors Carrow," he paused there, and when he received looks from the other professors, he continued. "Ah, my dear old professors, how do you do?" His tone was not warm at all, and everyone was shocked at the iciness underneath.
Snape, having no choice but to go along with him, answered. "Ronald. A pleasure for you to join us! I'm sure Lucius was welcoming?"
"Absolutely. Mister Malfoy was nothing but welcoming. Draco was there, too."
By this point, all was too shocked to utter a word. Lucius? Malfoy? Draco?
...
At noon
An eagle flew into the Headmaster's tower, and it perched on the chair edge.
"Who's eagle is it?" Ron asked.
"Malfoy's."
Ron went forward and untied the letter on the claw, and read its contents. He grimaced and said, "Well, a trip to the Malfoy Manor is on the schedule."
"Apparite to the library of the Manor," Snape answered. "You know what to do."
Ron nodded in response and donned a black cloak. He then threw a handful of floo powder into the fireplace and stepped in, clearly saying, "Malfoy Manor Library!"
He appeared in a rustic and sophisticated looking library, not a speck of dust to be seen, the head of Malfoy Manor and the young Malfoy stood in front of a velvet couch, no doubt an antique.
Ron smoothly dusted his robes and confidently greeted them, tilting his head. "Good afternoon, Mister Malfoy. And yes, Draco."
Lucius Malfoy plastered on a fake smile, but Draco did not bother to remove the scowl on his face.
"Draco, what's the matter? Something bothering you?" Ron asked, pretending to be innocent.
Lucius Malfoy glanced at the scowl on his son's face, and glared at him. Scared of daddy's glare, Draco instantly wiped the scowl off and glared at Ron when his father turned away. Ron only smirked in response.
"Ah. What curses and spells do you know already?" Lucius asked. Ron assumed he was talking about the Dark Arts, and replied.
"Just a few. Sectumsempra, and"
"We'll be covering what the Dark Arts mean and the branches of Dark Magic. Like normal Magic, the Dark Arts include Jinxes, Hexes, Curses, Potions, Artifacts, Creatures, and Practices. To put it in the simplest terms, the Dark Arts refers to any type of magic that is mainly used to cause harm, control, and death to the victim. Even though normally wizards and witches consider spells like the Unforgivable Curses to be Dark Magic, a simple spell like the Summoning Charm can also cause harm and death to the victim..."
...
After the lesson
"Thank you for the lesson today, Mister Malfoy. I've learnt a great deal of things." Ron thanked him, and continued. "Say, do you have a couple hundred of Galleons to spare? I do need to throw away these filthy rags and buy some new ones."
Lucius was speechless, and Draco could not help himself but retorted, "What?! My family does not give out money to Weasleys!"
"I can't very well be wearing the horrendous hand-me-downs from my family, can I? The Dark Lord has a reputation." Ron sneered.
"Very well. It will not do for any follower of the Dark Lord to be wearing rags," Lucius got Ron's point and gritted out. He took out a huge bag of Galleons and handed them to Ron. "I hope you do not embarrass our Lord." The message underneath was clear, and Ron replied, "Of course."
He graciously took the bag of Galleons and bid his goodbyes to both Malfoys, and stepped into the fireplace.
...
"You may sit anywhere you like for dinner. That is if you're joining us, Ronald," Snape said.
"Definitely. I missed the food here, even though the castle's once been filled with Mudbloods," Ron sneered, and further gasps echoed throughout the Great Hall.
Ginny Weasley was stunned. He's so...so cold and different! He's associating himself with Malfoy, of all people! And why isn't Snape and the Carrows capturing him? They act like they're...they're allies! And...and what's with the comment about Mudbloods? Hermione's a Muggleborn!
"He's the best mate of Potter! Why aren't you capturing him?!" A Slytherin shouted out, and the others nodded their heads.
"Capture me?" Ron chuckled. "Why would they? And watch your words, who's the best mate of the Chosen One?" His tone turned icy.
The Slytherin was speechless, and he quickly retreated back.
Ginny was having a hard time grasping this Ron. Why is he like this? Where's Ronnie? Maybe he's polyjuiced? That's not Ron, it can't be!
After Snape started dinner, everyone was unusually subdued and almost no one talked. If they did, it was in whispers, and mostly the topic was about Ronald Weasley.
...
Ginny ran after her brother along the empty corridor, and cried out, "Ron! Ron! What's with you?" She finally reached him and got hold of his left arm. Ron turned slowly, and his face was stony, those warm blue eyes she knew and loved was replaced by piercing ones that made her shiver.
"Let me go, Ginevra," his tone was cold and unfeeling. Ron could not believe he was doing this.
"Ginevra? Ginevra? When did you start calling me that? Huh?" Ginny burst out, eyes pooling with tears.
"I'll call you what I want. Be grateful it's not worst," Ron bit out, and he averted his gaze, afraid that he would lose his front. "Now let go of me, I will not hesitate to make you do so."
Ginny stood rooted, hurt mixed with anger swirling in her brown eyes. It pained Ron to see her like this, but he had to. I can't let her know.
Suddenly his forearm flared and Ron's eyes widened. Now of all times to summon me!
Ron tried to snatch his arm away from her grasp, but Ginny was as stubborn as ever and refused to let go. She was searching for the old Ron, the one she grew up with, the one she quarrelled and cried with, the Ron that calls her Gin-Gin. I can't find him.
Ron, knowing that Ginny would not be giving up anytime sooner, lifted his sleeve and the bandage was seen. Ginny immediately dropped his arm and her face was drained of colour. She slowly peeled off part of the bandage, and the Dark Mark was pulsing and glaring at her.
"You're...you're a..." she never got to finish her sentence, when Ron could not restrain himself further, he leaned forward and pecked his sister lightly on the forehead with his lips. Like when they were small.
I'm truly, genuinely sorry, Gin-Gin. I love you. Ron tried to use Legilimency to send the words he could never say out loud to Ginny and his eyes softened down. Ginny's eyes went even wider, and judging by her reaction, the message got across. Ron quickly pulled his arm back and ran out of the castle, once out of the wards, he touched the mark and Disapparited.
...
Ron arrived at the same ballroom, but with only a few more trusted Death Eaters of the Inner Circle present. Ron noticed that Snape was already there, and he knew that he was late.
He knelt down in front of the Dark Lord immediately, and said, "I'm sorry, my Lord. I got...delayed by someone."
The Dark Lord gave no response, but entered Ron's mind. He exited after a few seconds and spoke.
"Dear Ginevra! She's grown to be quite a young woman, hasn't she? She was quite co-operative with my diary, I recall." The Dark Lord had a glint in his snakelike eyes, and his expression was one Ron did not want to see.
Ron's heart skipped a beat and he fought to remain the mask on his face. "I apologize, my Lord. She did not let me go, and on account of her being my sister for seventeen years, I did not bear to lift my wand. I assure you, my Lord, it will never happen again."
The Dark Lord was sent a Cruciatus Curse at Ron. Exploding pain flowed through Ron's veins, and he forced himself to remain silent. The Dark Lord lifted the curse after ten seconds, and drawled, "See that you follow your words."
Ron quickly recovered and nodded his head, pulling his bandage and sleeve down, making a point of covering his bandaged Mark. His actions did not go unnoticed. The Dark Lord leaned forward and lifted Ron's arm up, letting the sleeve fall. He then unraveled the bandage with his claws and the Dark Mark was seen with his dried blood.
"What is this, Ronald?" The Dark Lord pretended to be caring, but everyone could hear the threat lingering under the sick warm tone.
Ron snarled and his face turned into disgust and hate. "That old Mudblood-loving fool placed a spell on me. He knew that I may turn my allegiance towards you, my Lord. The mark would bleed after it was newly received. Professor Snape had already tended to it."
The Dark Lord seemed to accept his explanation, and continued to other matters.
...
After the summoning, Ron returned to Hogwarts with Snape, and once back in the warded Headmaster's tower, he bit out.
"What. Were. You. Thinking?"
"Relax, Professor. I deliberately let him see the memories. I can't very well be perfect, he'd suspect something was very wrong. I need to make some mistakes," Ron replied. "Do you have a Nerve Replenishing Potion? That Curse was quite a painful one."
Severus summoned one with his wand and handed Ron the vial, but kept silent, as he was surprised that the boy could think of that.
Almost like reading his mind, Ron I uncorked the vial and downed it in one go, slowly saying, "You know, I'm actually technically not a Gryffindor. Fully."
Severus looked up and his black obsidian eyes were mixed with curiosity and surprise. "What?"
"Yeah. The Sorting Hat offered me Slytherin, but I refused."
"Weasley? You? In Slytherin?"
"What? Don't be so appalled. I have a brilliant mind for strategies and such too. After all, Harry was offered Slytherin too."
Just when the surprise was washing over Severus, he asked. "Where did you get those robes? And your hair?"
"From Lucius, of course."
"How did he give you money?" He was unable to keep the surprise in his tone.
"Ah. Some convincing and the mention of the Dark Lord and the word 'reputation' did the work."
Now, Severus was sure Weasley was a Slytherin.
...
Ginevra Weasley sat by her bed, deep into the night, staring out the window, still trying to make sense of what happened.
Suddenly, a small pop! was heard, and Ginny swiftly stood up, wand in her hand, alert and on her toes. "Who is it?"
"Dobby, Miss Wheezy, Dobby!" Huge green eyes the size of tennis balls could be seen in the dark room.
"Yes, Dobby?"
"Mister Wheezy is expecting you at Come-and-Go Room, miss! Sir told me to Apparite you, Miss!"
Ron? Ginny stretched her arm out and Dobby touched her, and both witch and elf disappeared with a pop.
Ron was pacing to and fro on the floor of the Room of Requirement, heart anxious and beating fast. Ron could almost hear the familiar voice of Hermione snapping at him. Could you stop it? I'm trying to study here!
Pop!
Ginny appeared beside him, with Dobby bowing and saying, "Mister Wheezy sir, Miss Wheezy is here!"
"Thank you, Dobby. You may go." Ron smiled at the house elf and he Disapparited with a "Yes, Mister Wheezy, sir!"
"Someday I'll have to teach that elf to pronounce our name correctly!" Ron turned towards Ginny and tried to inject some humour in.
Receiving no response from Ginny, he turned solemn and look at her brown warm eyes with his blue determined ones. "Ginny, you have to promise me–"
"Promise you? Promise you? Why would I promise a Death Eater something?" Ginny shot back, eyes blazing.
Hearing her call him a Death Eater, Ron's heart broke a little more. Even though he had accepted the fact that he is a Death Eater, hearing it from his own sister hurt him all over again, and he could not cover the agony in his tortured eyes.
"Please, Ginny, I beg you. Please. You have to promise me that you'll stay safe, you'll keep away from the Carrows', you'll not draw attention to yourself, you have to promise me that, please, Ginny!" Ron said, and tears started to pool, despite his will to hold them in.
"Why?" The word was spat out with little patience.
"Oh, fuck, you'll have to promise me, Ginny! You need to! The Dark Lord has his goddamned eyes on you, Ginny! You can't attract attention, Ginny, I– I don't know what he'll do to you!" Ron absolutely lost it, his worry and anxiety spilled out, and he ran a hand frustratingly through his hair.
"Tom?" Ginny's voice was small and tiny, barely heard over the volume of Ron's outburst.
"Yes, Ginny! Tom bloody Riddle! He could be after you! I couldn't hide it from him, you were blocking me, I arrived late, and do you know how serious that is? You'll have to endure more than just a Cruciatus Curse!"
"I– I made you arrive late and got you Crucio'd?" Ginny responded, worried.
"It's not about me, it's about you! You need to promise me. I'm sorry, Gin, I really am. You'll have to promise me. Really." Ron waved her worry away.
"I can't just ignore it when people get tortured by the Carrows, I have to help, it's who I am, Ron."
Ron took a deep breath and answered, "Okay. Fine. But, Ginny, promise me you'll at least try? And if any Death Eaters come after you, run. Don't fight, Ginny, run."
Ginny stared at Ron, and slowly nodded her head. She was so confused. Is Ron on the Light or the Dark side?
"You're okay? The Crucio?" She asked, pushing her confused thoughts away for the moment.
"Yeah, it's all fine, I've drank a Nerve Replenishing Potion," Ron replied with a small smile. He felt albeit a little warmer. Ginny still cares for me. "Dobby?"
The same elf appeared again. "Please bring Miss Wheezy back to her dorm room, thank you."
"Yes, Mister Wheezy!"
Ginny disappeared with a mixed expression on her face, and Ron exhaled a breath he didn't know he was holding.
A/N: Some of you may have noticed the change in name basis of Snape. From now on, when the POV is of Snape's, I'll type his name as Severus, and when it's Ron's, I'll type it as Snape. (At least until Ron calls him Severus.) Ah, and I revealed that Ron was offered Slytherin. It isn't actually not canon, as I don't recall JKR ever saying that Ron wasn't offered Slytherin. Ron just chose Gryffindor, after all. Some of you may say that having great chess skills does not mean good strategy planning, but in this story, just take it as Ron has a strategic and cunning side, and he plays great chess.
Oh, and if anyone was wondering, this story does not contain incense. Crush all hopes of Ron/Ginny. Thanks. The peck on the forehead was purely a gesture of brotherly love and Ron will only do that in that circumstance. He was feeling angry, sad, hurt, and basically he's all messed up, but he could not resist comforting his sister, and while the peck comforts Ginny, it was also for Ron himself.
Yes, and my grammar is just so messed up. My phone automatically changes the words to American style, but sometimes I notice and change them back to British, sometimes I don't. So there's American and British words littered all over my chapters. I'm truly sorry. And words like 'Apparate' (that's in the American books version) and 'Apparite' (that's the Bristish version), I'm definitely going to mix them up. So sorry!
I know I said I was planning for a time loop fic, but it turned out to be Ronbledore. If you have time, check the first chapter out? Thank you!
Review responses, as usual:
Wallflower Weasels – Thanks for picking up on my shameless suggestion! And I'm glad you like my story. (I've just finished "Stand By Me", any other brilliant Ron/Draco bromance recommendations? Or just brilliant Ron ones? Thanks!) Hope you read and enjoyed this chapter too!
Phoenixx Rising – Haha, yes, poor Ron! Draco definitely will be a problem! Hope you liked this chapter too! Thanks for reviewing x
JeanAndBilius – Haha I'm happy you still think this story's real great! And sigh, someday I'll have to comb my chapters for those typos and mistakes.
notsing – Yes, everyone needed a breather from that gloom and doom torturing chapter 7, and I hope this chapter was just ok with the darkness, humour, and family love. (Okay to be very very honest, I kind of have lesser respect for Harmione. Seriously, they just don't fit, and Draco...we can't say he's entirely bad, can we? I can only say that in this story, Draco has a long journey to redemption.) Thanks for reading!