LEAST LOVED

Disclaimer: I own nothing about Harry Potter and the cover image.

Important AN: As much as possible, in this fanfiction, I don't really want to open ideas about extraordinary powers like a long lost magic or maybe an obscure power source or whatnot and yet I'm incorporating two known ideas from many other fanfictions—magical cores and intent. Well, I came up using magical cores and intent when I read online some time ago how JKR made it seem that magic in Potterverse as very laidback and comes easily unlike the usual structures in magic/fantasy novels where 'everything comes with a price'. Usually, the source of magic would be discussed or at least the effects when used and in some cases, depletion of such. But JKR never explained it and simply presented magic as a simple wave of a conduit or some Latin (etc.) words and phrases. Maybe it's just the force of nature and will of heaven or maybe due to the DNAs! I just hope I could give justice with these two.

Previously:

…Did she [Hermione] still have lingering feelings for Harry? Look at her, she didn't even seem to realize that Ron was watching her.

Harry, on the other hand, was nervously but happily talking with Cho Chang. His face was reddening like mad and his stutters almost made him spit his saliva. Very smooth, Harry, very smooth.

A jolt suddenly ran on Ron's spine that made him jump. The three all turned to him with funny looks.

"I forgot something," without waiting for their reply Ron ran away.

Chapter 10: The Ghost in His Future

Ron, forgetting his earlier romantic blues, ran back to the stairs and up the seventh floor. He was giddy that his theories with linking and animation magic actually worked! This idea came from his most favorite game in the world—the Wizarding Chess.

Ron lived all his life surrounded with magic so most of the time he took for granted all about it. He didn't care how his mother made their clothes fold by itself, how the knitting needles knitted their jumpers, how the washer cleaned up their clothes and dishes. Everywhere was magic. But when he ran away after his row with Molly, he found out how ungrateful he had been with magic. His flat was always dirty, his clothes were all soiled, and the kitchen looked ransacked and demolished. He had no idea what to do! He knew repairing spell, levitating spell and even disarming spell but none was useable on these times. He tried using many muggle appliances like the TV, washing machine, microwave and stove, but he simply felt empty. Why he never tried to care for what he had? He wanted to go back to where he belonged.

But with his shame and fright against his mother he learned those menial spells instead of going back. For months he read and practiced until he's doing them unconsciously. The only missing part, he couldn't recreate his mother's cooking. But in those times, he came to appreciate many simple things about magic. Soon he began to note small things he never considered before like using a simple cleaning spell to attack—he used it against a hag in one downtrodden street; or used a single spell for multiple usages—like the impediment jinx that he found out that can also be used as binding spell and knock-back jinx. He also had ideas about improving spells like the intruder charm into something like the Caterwauling Charm used by those Death Eaters in Hogsmeade. He even started asking questions how particular spells and charms worked. He simply had so many ideas when he let himself free from everything and everyone.

And one that opened his world wider was when he reconsidered how his favorite game worked. How can those midget stone characters moved in the chess board? He wasn't using his wand. He wasn't saying any spells. He just sat there and told those midgets "pawn to E4". And what he found out was the power of linking magic. Of course there's also the animation magic but what really caught his attention was the former.

The Linking Magic could be the most versatile and flexible type of magic, and also the most used. It's basically rooted from the caster's will and intent. Its examples were everywhere—the two way mirror Harry used to call for help when they're at Malfoy's dungeons, the self-inking quills and the anti-cheating quills widely used in the community, the self-operating typewriters in the publishing houses and the ministry, the scourge mark of the Death Eaters, the moving pictures and paintings, even the floo networks was based in linking magic! There was even more of this wondrous magic. Of course, the most commonly used Linking magic is the Protean Charm which his Hermione used with their DA enchanted coins.

But what everyone didn't know, this magic was fundamentally the intent of the caster. The enchanted coins changed its markings to show the next DA meetings when Hermione finally collated everyone's schedules. She inserted her will so the enchanted coins will display her thoughts of the next meeting on the coins of every member. This was also evident with the Dark Eaters' Dark Mark that burned when Voldemort inserted his intent into the mark to call his minions. The products used day by day were all made with the intention to work in specific orders like the quills that only wrote the interviewee's and interviewer's words, the two way mirror that opened up the visuals on each side of the mirrors, and the paintings and portraits which a bit of intent of the original was left. There were tons that used intent, even the most simplest of spell. Without the intent to light up the wand, Lumos would never lit anyone's wand-tip.

But this kind of magic was forever taken for granted, just like how Ron did with magic since he's been so used with it. Many have forgotten the basics of magic which the ancient highly regarded. Needed not to mention how much was already forgotten by the passage of time and the appeal to submit to the modern era. Witches and wizards now firmly believed that magical power lied in blood and ancestry, in wand material and cores, in latent talent and memorizing capability, and even in the name of school and the one who taught them. But no, magic was everywhere as intent was in every magic.

Ron was still at the base of his studies so he hasn't over complicated the things he's experimenting with. He just had the vague idea that this would help him dearly in the future.

Quickly entering the Room of Requirement, Ron immediately noticed the small pile but properly arranged stacked of books, bottles and vials, furniture, apparels and others that he knew were all for resale. There's also a larger pile of broken items and a good pile of cursed items. He discovered that there were also some destroyed dummies while the others had lost limbs. They looked products of the apocalypse. He shivered at the thought if he actually let the house elves do this job. After a quick check on the progress, he quickly turned to the other side of the small clearing in the huge room.

A magnificent looking diadem with glinting gems about and a big sapphire at the center. The Lost Diadem of Rowena Ravenclaw. It looked glorious by simply sitting by the pedestal but Ron would never miss the taint it radiated. He just know the feeling of that power, the very same he felt from the locket.

Fishing from his knapsack with a nonverbal summoning charm, he brought out a normal looking book. The cover showed that it's a collection of muggle fairy tales by Grimm Brothers but he knew it was far from it. Just by simply holding the thing he could feel the familiar cold and dark feeling that was gripping him once again, urging him to wear what's inside. Concentrating, he released the transfiguration on the book which turned out to be a simple box. Opening it up presented the Locket of Slytherin, polluted with unseen darkness. He had to do this since none of his known spells would work with the locket but by keeping it in another vessel and then charming or transfiguring that vessel to hide the thing actually worked. He had been keeping it with him since the Grimmauld Place. Back with Kreacher, he left the elf a replica of the locket with compulsion charm to believe it's the real one. So far, the house elf hadn't followed him with scream of murder, err robbery.

Without touching the tenant of the box, he moved the horcrux-locket next to the horcrux-diadem. But suddenly there was a vibration of sort as if a magnet was trying to reach for another magnet or some good metal. When he watched closely, it was the locket and the diadem echoing at each other!

'Shite! Was this why we had to take down each horcruxes one by one? They echoed at each other and it seems the power and compulsion magic are becoming stronger!'

Ron quickly jumped away from the diadem although he could still feel the vibrations with the thing on his hand. He didn't have any idea on this matter but he vaguely remembered when Harry told him his excursion to Bathilda Bagshot's house with Hermione. Harry told him he felt great familiarity with the woman and compulsion of getting close even though that's the first time they met. The same happened with the diary and the locket! Ron couldn't help cursing his carelessness.

"Hide these two items where no one can find them unless I look for them," he said to the air and the diadem together with the banishing cabinet both disappeared. He couldn't just leave it by chance; he had to separate these horcruxes until he found a way of destroying them. Whatever the effect could be when all of them were collected, he knew not but it wouldn't definitely be good.

Once again he put the lid of the box back, charmed it with compulsions and various repelling charms before transfiguring it back to a muggle book. Just like what he did with the entrance to the Room of Requirement, he casted three layers of Notice-Me-Not Charm on it.

He had theories of this layering of spells previously which should give a better level of power and security. One can release a layer with Finite but they wouldn't think that there's simply another one and another one. And since three was such a powerful arithmantic number, it gave a powerful shield against Finite charms.

Ron sighed and once again put back the damn thing inside his knapsack. Initially, he thought he could simply leave it hear in the Room of Requirement together with the diadem and be gone with those foul nightmares but it seemed he still had to endure. He has nowhere to trust of this aside from himself. So he needed to rush the next part of his plans. Gloomily, he left the room and ran down to the dungeons and was just in time for Potions.

Professor Snape entered their classroom and initiated the droning waffle about how important this O.W.L. year for them as how all the rest of the teachers would be with them this year. He auspiciously predicted that most of them would no longer be returning by next year. Ron chuckled at how happy the man seemed with the idea.

Severus Snape, in Ron's opinion, could be the recipient of that Oswald—err, Oscar Award of the muggles. Probably because he's a master Occlumen thus he's so good in acting, but all the same, Ron had his wizard's hat off for the man. Or maybe even the Sorting Hat would do. He was there in the last moment of this dreadful teacher and until this moment he still had mixed feelings about him. He was such a nasty piece of— a nasty teacher in all their six years but in the end, it all turned to be acting? How can a single man do all those he did? And yet in the end, he died under the long winded manipulations of a senile old man. It was a lonely and heart aching ending.

Ron jumped when Snape suddenly turned to him with narrowed eyes. He felt a prick in his temples and quickly dodged his eyes.

'Too strong! Almost penetrated my defenses!' he shouted in his mind.

Concentrating with their first concoction of the term, the Draught of Peace or the Calming Draft, Ron knew it was a level higher than their last year's. It's a must since it's a usual part of the O.W.L. Exams the Ministry of Magic would provide by the end of the term. Usually, Ron would just help a little chopping or dashing or maybe a few stirs when he's partnered with Harry but this time he set his own cauldron and prepared his ingredients like a good student. Halfway their work, Hermione was already disheveled and very snappy at everyone, murmuring under her breath like a madman, err madwoman. Harry also looked irritated and started looking around desperately while Neville was already crying silently while still stirring his own already puffy cauldron. Ron also felt exhausted but certainly not irritated. He might have never seen the book of the Half Blood Prince but he had already concocted this potion for several times in the past.

"Potter, what is this supposed to be?" drawled Professor Snape readying to banish the dark solution in Harry's cauldron.

Of course, Severus Snape, the busy man he was with all his double crossing against Voldemort, will take his exhaustion and irritation with Harry. The reason was still unclear with Ron aside from the idea that he simply hated the face-copy of his old rival from school. But then it wasn't such a grand reason to do so Ron quick-wittedly sent a wandless Knockback Jinx to Goyle's cauldron which toppled to the table and over his remaining ingredients, producing various effects. There were mini sparks, ingredients rocketing out, and some just smoked rancid smell. The Slytherins shrieked around as more cauldrons were upturned in their panic.

Snape was so mad that he had to end the class much too earlier. Harry was not happy with the 'accident' because Snape took it on him and gave him detention due to his incorrect concoction, which in all fairness didn't explode unlike of Draco's and the rest of Slytherins! Ron may have saved him against a zero score in today's class but not from a detention. He felt very guilty.

"That was really unfair," said Hermione consolingly to Harry.

"Since when did Snape ever been fair to me?" snapped Harry.

"Why don't we ask help from Professor McGonagall? She'll definitely help explain that it wasn't that bad to deserve a detention. In the first place it isn't your cauldron that exploded," suggested Ron with voice slowly fading. He's still feeling guilty. He just wanted to save Harry from shame and fail score for the day but he landed him in detention. That's why even if he knew how Harry hated asking for help from the adults, he has no other idea how to have Professor Snape revoke his detention, unless maybe, when hell froze over?

"And look like some spoiled git like Malfoy?" growled Harry and turned away after glaring at him.

Ron forgot to retort. He recalled how his Harry's been this way in their fifth year; they had to keep up with his tantrums and outbursts. He cursed the scar in his head, if only the horcrux wasn't inside him he won't be like this in the first place. But somewhere inside him knew it wasn't all that. He knew that even after Harry was freed from the horcrux he still chose to leave them amidst the aftermath and all the woes of the war. He understood Harry wasn't perfect just like him. And today, Ron might originally want to save his arse but unwittingly he sent him instead to detention. So he wondered if he should just let him be on his own this year. Besides, he also has other things to focus with.

Divination was just another resting period for Ron. He sat next to Harry who hadn't spoken at him since he snapped earlier about Potions. Ron sat silently and with the added dimness of the room, no one realized he's actually meditating instead. He was practicing Occlumency.

He had never the chance to practice Occlumency because of the war and his insufferable laidback attitude afterwards. But when he arrived back in time, this ability was one of his most sought to help him in his plans. This would avoid anyone from knowing what he's doing and of course he kind of like becoming a great actor like Professor Snape. No! He's not his idol! Never!

But aside from this, his most concern was his still yet to mature magical core. Magical cores were something yet to be fully studied but the arguments were already there. Magic was everywhere, with everyone, with everything. But only those that have magical cores may harness them. It wasn't definite if it was something to do with the DNA since intermingling of magical raises like the veela with the humans had long been accepted. But if this was really the origin of a wizard's magic then many arguments can be made against it, where did those magical creatures came then? How magic actually came to be? And simply thinking of pairing with a merman or a centaur, Ron couldn't imagine doing it. Thus he believed in the second notion—magical cores resided in the souls.

Of course it was all conjunctures. For thousands of years, studying and experimenting, the world's tenants have yet to unearth all its mysteries especially all about magic. But what Ron understood, a wizard's growth of magic core meant a more stable control and more powerful magic. Raw magic found with the younger ones may be powerful on its outburst but it's like a one way ticket to Hades Fire pit. Many has already fallen into death when left uncheck or repressed resulting into magical core implosion and becoming an obscurus.

According to various studies, maturity of the magical core coincided with the maturity of the wizard himself. This may also be the reason why the trace, a special type of charm magic for tracking underage magic, cannot be placed with adult wizards and simply vanished when an underage reached seventeen of age. At the moment, Ron felt his own magical core was almost matured. Probably because by the next March after the following year he's turning seventeen. But there were also ways to forced it. His Hermione in the future explained him that even though magical cores normally matured at coming of age, there were ways or instances when it can be forced. She cited about their traumatic incident in the ministry can be one way but she warned that they were very lucky that nothing happened to them instead. Forcing the magical cores may result into a success but with backlash or losing magic, worst could also be death.

Ron didn't plan to play with fate. He may have his plans but he needed to be alive to complete them. So instead of doing some obscure and unsafe power ups, he trained himself little by little, step by step. Anyway, he's doing quite fine and his plans were working accordingly.

The first Defense Against the Dark Arts class for the fifth year arrived. As they piled inside the room, Ron found a toad in pink costume by the teacher's desk. He blinked and chuckled when he realized it wasn't a toad but actually their new teacher, Umbitch. He sat silently and simply kept his wand away. He had an idea what to do while wasting time in such a class if he's not meditating. He just hoped Umbitch will like it.

"Well, good afternoon!" a high pitch, girlish voice sounded along the room and every heads turned towards the front. Umbridge finally stood up to greet them. "Tut, tut. That won't do, now, will it? I should like you to reply with 'Good afternoon, Professor Umbridge'. One more time, please. Good afternoon, class!"

"Good afternoon, Professor Umbridge," everyone chanted while Ron used the same high pitch voice of the toad, err teacher. Umbridge narrowed her eyes but it seemed she took the voice to be natural from someone in the group.

And so she blabbered like a stupid mental patient. She cheerily reminded how crucial this term was for all of them and then sweetly announced "wands away, quills out" in the end. She disparaged the previous years and their previous teachers for Defense Against the Dark Arts and egoistically declared that they're not doing practical but would instead follow the 'carefully structured, theory centered, Ministry-approved course of defensive magic'!

Of course, Hermione had just to ask the very questions that helped Harry land him with his second detention of the term! Ron face palmed on their stubbornness and not an iota of self-preservation. But then he remembered it's their supposed first time meeting this teacher.

'Well, let this one slide so everyone will know how vicious this toad is. I just hope they, especially Harry, will tread more carefully after this incident,' he thought. But recalling his bestfriend's very stubborn personality, he doubted.

After Harry's and Umbitch faced off in their first DADA class, the whole school buzzed with the newest news of how Harry declared he fought Voldemort after he saw Diggory being killed. That he also won against a powerful mad wizard and triumphantly returned after their fight. There were other accounts that he fought several Death Eaters and still won over them. Of course, the absurdity of this unclear news added the disbelief everyone had towards him and his claims about snake-faced return. Ron decided to interfere and rather had the arms of times and events moved forward than stupidly wait for them to come.

Ron made it to the common room half a step after Harry and Hermione but somehow the two simply sat together as if it was just them. Previously, he didn't care about little things as such, Hermione would embrace Harry or Harry holding Hermione's hands. It was pure friendship in his eyes before but today he simply felt his heart aching, squeezed dry then hexed with Duro Spell and let dropped to shatter into smithereens. But he ignored it, just like how he always did with his family, with his friends and once again with his supposed lover.

'Stop, you promised to let go. You promised to prioritize saving everyone. Fred's still alive here, Hermione's parents won't need to be obliviated, everyone's still in here,' he chanted in his mind as he tried to focus with the help of his Occlumency. When he neared the two he immediately understood their conversation.

"How could Dumbledore let that terrible woman teach us? And in our OWL year, too!" Hermione sobbed.

Ron remembered this conversation and he understood where Hermione was coming from. She's the most studious witch he had ever met and she always poured her all with studying. He admitted all the time that she's the brightest witch of their generation. Oh, how he missed her smile every time he reminded her that. He sat next to her and patted her back while Harry was still hugging her shoulders.

"Ron?" she finally realized his presence. "Where have you been?" she snapped at him, teary eyed glaring at him.

There was it again, the pain in his chest. He vaguely thought if he has a heart disease or something. Even though he was used to the pain he can't help suspecting it could also be some kind of illness. If only Madam Pomfrey could do an ECG or any cardio tests.

"I was going to the Kitchen," he unconsciously mumbled. He was about to go down the kitchen but seeing his two bestfriends entering the portrait hole he decided to follow them first and know their situations.

"How could you eat when Harry's just given detention for telling the truth?!" she was still glaring at him while Harry didn't even looked up at him.

'They never understood,' that was all that flashed in his mind. The two closest people in his heart and in all his life aside from his family were also the most who were unclear of his thoughts and personality. When did it all end here? He knew he chose to be lazy, he chose to simply follow again and again; but did they know he wasn't really like that? He used to like to share his thoughts with everyone, until the twins told him off, that he's not cut to be a prankster, and when Percy banged the door shut to his face, or when no one really cared of him especially when Ginny arrived.

'Why care?! Why stay!? I'm so tired!'

Ron watched the two before standing away from them. He reminded himself of his plans that were currently working suitably and thought he really didn't need to stay with all of them. He can actually work on everything alone, with himself. In the first place, no one will believe him that he came from the future. Even the probability of that future has now collapsed the moment he woke up back in his fifteen year old body. Maybe, space was still better than time. Time can heal the pain but space can help him now ease that pain.

He schooled his expression and spoke towards Harry. "You said you didn't care if they don't believe you."

"W-what?" asked Hermione in confusion. She looked to Harry then Ron then back again.

Finally, Harry looked up at Ron, with glare but didn't reply.

"If you really don't care then don't make a scene. Stay quiet and let them feel sorry as they suffer when Voldemort finally surface from his hiding," Ron said darkly. It should suit them all, he thought. Why care? Nobody cared now, right? Why not let everything burn?!

"Ron!" Hermione screamed his name and stood up angrily in front of him, staring at him as if seeing him for the first time. Unknowingly, she thought she saw a red gleam flashed his eyes.

Ron watched his two bestfriends as he steeled his heart. They're not even his Harry and Hermione. They were gone. He's alone now. All alone to save everyone.

It wasn't because he can't understand Harry, but Ron also has his own problems. Unlike previously, on his first life as a fifteen year old, Ron walked a no-care life and had all his attention to menial things. That time, his so called emotional capacity of a teaspoon, as Hermione always rubbed at him, was focused in supporting and sympathizing with his male bestfriend, Harry, even after all his cranking up. This time, though, he has goals to focus instead which were more important than some teenage angst. And if leaving them will give both sides' happiness then so be it!

"Git," Harry gritted his teeth.

"I'm a git? Then what are you? Shouting here and there as if you're a tragic hero! You're not the only one who lost love ones! You're not the only one who had it difficult in life!"

"Stop it, Ron!" screamed Hermione as she stood between the two boys who seemed to be about to punch each other's brains out!

"You screaming you're not lying but you don't want to explain! Why don't you just tell everyone what really happened that night?! What are you scared of? Your ego? And don't give me that shit that no one will listen to you! Daily Prophet isn't the only newspaper in Britain," Ron said his final piece and walked out of the common room. Vaguely he felt that this scene was very familiar, together with the usual headache he's having lately, he felt it was such a déjà vu.

AN: I'm really sorry that I left a cliffhanger on the previous chapter. I just realized that I cut my original from there since the next part is the self-insert concepts and their explanations. I beg your forgiveness; I too, hate cliffies. In return, please accept a longer chapter on this one. Actually, it's long due to too much explanations. ᕙ(-‸-‶)ᕗ

Hey, thanks for the reviews. I didn't know I offended people with the name calling especially with Dumbledore. I have my reasons why I hate particular characters as much as I like the others. We all do and I'm not here to force you to change your views. I like it when you support and defend your favorite characters and somehow—well, in case of Ron, you've made me change my views about him, and for the better. I hope you do the same with the rest, and so I DARE you make me change my views with that old coot Dumblydoor, too.

[babydoll9498], as early as now I would like to apologize about Nagini since I still haven't thought of disposing it. We'll see. Also, I feel you, too. I never considered Ron in the rift in their fourth year since my perspective has always been with Harry (JKR's POV in the book). When Ron found out it was dragons in the first task, he tried to tell Harry about it amidst his hurt after his bestfriend's 'betrayal'. They should have simply talked it out, for effing sake!

[notsing], oops, I actually switched Harry and Hermione's chess positions. Corrected. Thanks! And I second you on that, Harry and Hermione are not the best type of friends for Ron on those particular times. I mean he could have at least built his own esteem first before meeting them and maybe they could be the best Golden Trio, the tragic hero, brightest witch and coolest wizard. Whatever, dreaming me. Both you at babydoll are hung-up with Nagini, I wish I could jump there to tell yah already. XD

[anon], yes you're spot-on! That's exactly the reason I started this ff. Ron is an embodiment of unfulfilled potentials. Right? Right? And I agree against Ron and Hermione pairing at this stage. Thanks for the idea about Harry and Ginny pairing. I wonder since I haven't really decided on them yet…*light bulb!* XD

Once again, I thank everyone for reading LL. More thanks for the reviews, following and favorites. I hope not to let you down especially with how my story is going. See you again in the next chapter!