Chapter 14
beyondthesea- i thought the scrimgeour change would be interesting and kinda cool haha thanks for the support
Harry was dreaming of a walk through the Hogwarts woods alone, until he finally reached the lake. He took a seat by the tree that Hermione and he had claimed their own, and stared out into the lake. Before he knew it, he thought he could've sworn he saw a blue light hovering over the lake, but as he focused in on it he notice it disappear. He shook his head, and rested it back against the tree, staring into the branches and leafs that were above him. After a short while, he returned his gaze down to the lake only to find him surrounded by a number of glowing bodies. He stood immediately and reached for his wand, except it wasn't there. This was his dreams, why would he need his wand in them?
"We've been watching you closely, Harry Potter." The voice came from straight across Harry. He couldn't make out any of their faces, but he knew they were bodies of some kind.
"Who are you?" Harry asked, and the voice answered. "Not I, but we. We are the soul of the ring. We are most surprised that you are here alone tonight, rather than Hermione here as well." Harry took a step forward, "How do you know about Hermione?" Harry asked defensively, trying to protect his girlfriend even when she wasn't in his dream.
The voice gave a small laugh, and then replied. "My dear boy… we chose her just as we chose you."
Harry was trying to process everything in his head right now, but the voice did not wait and he continued. "Do not fret over anything prior to this moment, Harry. We are here to help you, not harm you." Harry looked around him and saw the rest of the glowing bodies around him. "We know what is happening in your life, Harry. In fact, you have shown us. He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named must be defeated, and with us that is possible." Harry returned his gaze on the speaker, and waited for him to continue. "There are a few things you must know about the ring before you can truly use it to the fullest. The ring does, as you have learned first-hand, have two different sides. We are normally protective over our owners, but when you lose your temper Harry, we have no other choice than to hurt you to keep your emotions in check." Harry felt courage rising in him now. "My anger was well placed. The Professor did his best to keep Voldemort from learning my whereabouts and it was only right that I save him for that…" the voice interrupted him. "Nevertheless, that is carelessness, and we do not protect those who do not use their heads in a moment of crisis."
Harry took a moment to think it over, and in the end, the voice had made sense. Harry wasn't using his head; he was the wizarding world's best chance at defeating Voldemort, and he had tried to risk his life to save Professor Sallow's when he knew he would be returned to Hogwarts.
"See; even you know it was foolish now. Now, as we were explaining to you, there are two sides to the ring. You must understand that we act only from how you act. The ring will protect you from only certain things, most importantly the killing curse. As long as you have us on you while you are hit with the killing curse, we shall protect you. Also, you have noticed that you are protected from certain aspects of a spell. For instance, the Death Eater at the Burrow casted the blasting charm at you, sending you flying backwards but leaving no marks. We can take some damage, but not contain all of it."
Harry turned to face the other glowing faces again, still listening to the voice speaking to him. "However, should anyone other than yourself and Hermione wear the ring, they shall be tortured and within a matter of time, killed. The ring belongs to you and your wife, and you should not be careless enough to let someone else allowed to the privileges of the ring that you are allowed. It is not theirs after all, it is yours." Harry turned around. "Hermione and I are not married, we are just together." The glowing body moved forward from the others, and now stood in front of Harry.
"You say that now." Harry couldn't help but feel calm around the glowing body even though he wasn't sure what exactly it was. The body continued speaking. "Now for our other half. Like humans, we are not perfect. We have our good and our bad and as i just explained, only the two of you can wear the ring. Should someone else wear it, they will be tortured and killed. That is not all, however. As we also stated earlier, you need to control your angers Harry. That is partially why Hermione was chosen to be able to wear the ring; she knows how to settle that anger inside you. That is why we require the two of you to be close together. Until we believe you have managed your anger, we will not allow you to be on your own with the ring."
Harry was confused. "Why did you chose me if you knew that I couldn't control my anger?" The body began walking back towards where he originally was standing. "No one is perfect. There is good, and there is bad. Those who are truly great find a way to embrace the good and control the bad. There is a great amount of good in you, Harry, but also an amount of mad. We understand why you are mad, but we also have put our faith in you to control that part of you. We believe Hermione is the key to that."
Harry screwed up his face. "How could you know what is causing my anger when even I don't know?" The glowing body stopped and turned to face Harry, and then changed its form to become the image of Harry's mother. Harry was shocked; now his mother was speaking to him.
"You are angry for many reasons, Harry. You are angry because Voldemort murdered your parents before you were allowed to live your life with them" it changed forms to his father now, "because you weren't able to experience what most of your fellow classmates get to experience when they return home. Instead, you return home…" it changed forms again to look like Dudley "to this. To your Aunt and Uncle's house, who treat you on a basis of borderline abuse, but you never argue. You accept it, because your soul is good. We see that in you Harry." It changed its form to Sirius now. "But most of all, you are angry that the last family you had was taken from you so suddenly, so miraculously, because he came to save your life. You feel responsible for the death of everyone who has sacrificed themselves to save you. But you are overlooking a key word Harry; sacrifice. They chose to give their lives to save yours. They loved you enough to overlook the rest of their lives in order to give you a chance to live yours. You mustn't feel angry because they were taken from you, but grateful that they cared enough to give themselves up so you were able to fight another day." Harry collapsed onto his knees to the ground. He hand't realized how hurt he was feeling until the voice had revealed everything to him so clearly. It all made sense to him now. The image of Sirius changed back to the glowing body that had no face, and then it returned to the circle completely now.
"We must leave you now to your dreams, but understand Harry that you have been warned. Contain your emotions, and your anger. That is the key to unmasking the true potential you have within yourself. You have the power to destroy the Dark Lord, you just have to find it in yourself." Harry looked down at the ground, staring at his hands as if he had done something wrong. He was thinking about his parents, about his life at the Dursley's, about Sirius giving his life up to save him. It was everything that had been eating away at him over the past year, finally being confronted all at once. He looked up from his hands: he was alone again, on his knees in front of the tree staring out into the blue lake in front of him.
Harry opened his eyes and was looking straight at the top of his bed. He immediately raised his hand to reveal the ring around his finger. He knew it wasn't just a dream he had had, the ring had spoken to him; instructed him, and he had to listen. He put on his glasses, rose from his bed, and noticed the photo of Sirius and the black dog lying underneath his wand. He picked it up, staring at it for a moment and smiling to himself, then opened the drawer underneath the nightstand and removed the photo album that Hagrid had given to him years ago. He opened it to an empty page, and slid the picture into one of the holsters. Harry looked at it for a brief moment, and then closed the book and returned it into the drawer. Harry proceeded to get dressed, and then made his way down to the common room, spinning the ring on his finger as he walked.
Something about him felt changed; Harry felt like a new man. Hermione and Ron were seated across from each other and Harry stood behind Hermione and kissed her on the head, making her know that he was finally awake. "Ron and I were just about to wake you" she said as Harry took a seat next to her.
"Why do you look different?" Ron asked, and Harry just shrugged. "I guess I just needed a good night's sleep for a change" he replied, and he had to admit, he had had a good night's sleep, even if the dream was a bit creepy at first, it turned out to be a pretty good one. Harry couldn't help but think about what the voice had said to him. "You and your wife…" Harry began to stare at Hermione without realizing it. "You say that now…"
Harry snapped out of his daze when he noticed Ron snapping his fingers in front of Harry's face. "What the bloody hell is going on, mate?" he asked, and Harry shrugged again.
"I guess I am just realizing how lucky I am" Harry said, and he saw Hermione smile wide after he said this.
The rest of the day went very well, Harry and Hermione being extra cheerful together which irritated Ron slightly as he spent more and more time with them. Harry hadn't told them about the dream yet, and he thought it best that he keep this one to himself for now. He thought it better not to freak the others out: after having Voldemort in his mind, he was sure if they heard about the ring in his head that it would cause them to be concerned.
They all sat around a table in the library working on their different homework. Hermione was flipping through three books surrounding her work place, and Harry was writing on a piece of parchment trying to finish his Defense Against the Dark Arts essay Professor Sallow's had assigned them. Ron, on the other hand, was reading through a Quidditch magazine with his Defense Against the Dark Arts essay empty in front of him.
"Ron, don't you think you should start your paper for Professor Sallow's?" Harry asked, Hermione not noticing Ron's un-studious behavior. Ron just shrugged at Harry.
"I'll get it done mate, but honestly you need to read this article about the England National team. They say that the new Seeker is barely the age of 20. Must be pretty good?" Ron questioned but just as he did, Neville came running into the library until he saw Harry and came over.
"Harry you need to come quick! Something is happening in the common room!" Harry rose from his seat immediately, with the others following quickly. They ran back to common room to find Romilda Vane and Ginny Weasley with their wands raised at one another. Ron saw the image and stood in the middle of them.
"Tell him, Romilda! Tell him what you did!" Ginny screamed and Ron turned to face her. Romilda held her wand steady at Ron's chest, and then she spoke- her voice shaky as she did-" Ron it wasn't my fault I swear…" she started, and Ron's eyes squinted together, waiting for more, "Draco Malfoy used a love potion on me…" Ron's eyes widened and he turned to Ginny.
"Is it true?" he asked her, and Ginny shook her head. "I looked everywhere; there was nothing in her room that could've been jinxed. No chocolates, drinks, anything that a love potion could be put in." Ron turned back to Romilda, whose expression was more of fear than anything. Romilda had her wand lowered now, but Ginny kept hers pointed at Romilda. "Where is he?" Ron asked.
Neville chimed in now. "I saw him walking up to the seventh floor before I came in and found this."
"No Ron don't do anything..." but Ron had already walked past Harry and out of the common room. Harry and Hermione looked from Romilda to Ginny, and then ran out of the common room to catch Ron. They ran across the changing staircases until they came to the door leading to the seventh floor. Hermione quickly pushed it open, and they began running through the corridor's look for Ron before they both stopped.
"I don't understand we've checked everywhere" Harry said, and then Hermione thought of something.
"The Room of Requirement Harry!" and she turned to go down the corridor behind them. Harry quickly followed and they had reached the entrance, but how do they get in?
Harry thought. 'I need to stop Ron from doing something stupid'. To his surprise, a door was revealed and Hermione looked at him then they pushed their way in. The room looked like a mini apartment, almost as if somebody was living here on their own. There was a door leading to a bathroom, and a bed on the far right of the room. Ron and Draco were in the middle of a duel before they both heard the doors open. Harry looked at Hermione, "Get Ron!" he said, and then Hermione ran over to try to stop Ron. Harry ran over to Draco, who casted a spell at him, but Harry ducked and the spell slammed in to the doors behind him. Just before Malfoy casted another spell at Harry, he was shot backwards and landed on his bed.
Harry ran over to the side of the bed and immediately saw blood surfacing through his shirt near his stomach. Harry shot a look at Ron and yelled at Hermione, "Get him out of here Hermione!" and Hermione began pushing Ron out of the room, giving Harry a glance backwards before she left. Harry ran through the room, looking for something to put a damper to the bleeding, but couldn't find anything. 'He's going to die if I don't save him!' Harry thought to himself, and before his eyes, a chalk board appeared in front of him with the directions for a spell. Harry quickly glanced at Malfoy, who had his hands covering the wound for the time being, and inspected the board as fast as he could.
Harry quickly removed his wand as he ran over to Malfoy's side, and then began moving his wand in a clockwise motion around the wound, saying Vulnera Sanentur each time he finished a full circle. Slowly, the blood began reentering the wound, and before he knew it, all that was left was a scar that reached across his entire stomach. Draco lay on his bed, eyes fixed on the ceiling. Harry fell backwards onto his bottom and rested his back against the wall, glad that nothing more severe had happened. Finally, Draco spoke.
"How did you find me?" he asked, but Harry just waited to answer.
"I didn't. Hermione did" he said, and Draco tried to lean forward but couldn't because the scar still hurt. He decided it best to roll onto his side, and now was facing Harry.
"You've saved my life twice this year, Potter…" he started, but Harry cut him off.
"Save it, Malfoy. You had this one coming. I only saved you because Ron would've been tried for murder." Harry stood and turned towards the door.
"I didn't use any love potions, Harry. We've been seeing one another." Harry stopped at the door, "Then maybe I should have let the wound get worse."
Harry left with that. He found Hermione waiting outside, but Ron nowhere to be found. Hermione saw Harry covered in blood, and then saw the look on his face. "Is he…" she started but Harry shook his head and she felt a little relieved that he did. "Although I have to say I think he got what was coming to him. Only thing is there's another person who has what's coming to them…" Hermione covered her mouth with her hands, and Harry nodded his head.
"Where's Ron?" Harry asked, and he started down the hall with Hermione.
"I sent him back to the common room." Harry looked at Hermione, and then down at the floor. "Well let's hope he doesn't do the same thing to her."
They ran back to the common room, not sure what they were going to find. When they entered, they inspected everyone in the room only to find that Romilda and Ron were the only two missing. Harry quickly looked at Ginny, and once she saw the blood she knew what he was asking. "Ron isn't here. Romilda ran up after you once you left and I don't really care where she is." Harry thought for a moment, and then knew where Ron would have gone. He kissed Hermione on the cheek, and ran out of the room. Hermione took a seat on the couch, staring into the fire in a daze. Ginny took a seat next to her.
"Is Ron alright?" she asked, and Hermione nodded. "What happened?" she asked, and Hermione looked at Ginny now. "Ron nearly killed Malfoy, that's what happened."
Harry had just made it onto the pitch before he found Ron landing on the same bleacher seat that he and Ron had been at before Ron had his surprise for Romilda. Harry raised his hand, summoning his Firebolt – which shot out of the broom shed- and landed into his hand. He flew up and landed next to Ron. Ron had his face in his hands, resting his elbows on his knees as he sat there. Harry took a seat next to him, and Ron looked up.
"How'd you find me?" Ron asked, and Harry laughed.
"Ron, I've known you for six years, don't you think I'd know these sorts of things?" he asked, and a weak smile surfaced onto Ron's face, but disappeared just as soon as it had shown. Ron stood, walking to the edge of the stands and resting his weight on the edge. Harry stayed seated, waiting for Ron to talk.
"I don't know what came over me. I was just so angry, maybe because I knew Romilda wasn't telling the truth." Harry stayed silent; this wasn't what Ron was trying to get to.
Ron turned around. "I nearly killed him, Harry. That's not me, that's not who I am." Harry wasn't sure what to say, but he couldn't stay quiet. "He's fine Ron. I saved him." Ron shook his head.
"But it should have never gotten to that point. I should have never casted that hex at Malfoy to begin with." Ron rested his back against the wall, wrapping his arms around his knees.
"Malfoy won't tell anyone, Ron. And you're right, this isn't you. But that's why you have Hermione. That's why you have Ginny. That's why you have me. We're friends, and we've all got each other's backs. We're a family." Ron looked up at Harry, and then Harry stood.
"We should head back to the common room before people start to wonder." Ron nodded and stood. They flew down to the ground and put their brooms into the broom shed. They walked back to the common room in silence, but just before they entered the portrait hole Ron grabbed Harry's arm to stop him. "Thanks, mate" he said, and Harry nodded to him, being toppled over by Hermione the moment he walked in to the common room.
"I'm glad you're okay Ron" Hermione said, and Ron gave a weak smile to her, but didn't speak. Romilda was still nowhere to be found, and Harry assumed she was up with Malfoy on the seventh floor taking care of him. Ron walked up to his dorm room, not wanting any company at the moment, and Harry and Hermione took a seat by the fireplace. "Is he going to be alright?" Hermione asked, and Harry looked at her. "He just needs time to get over it. He nearly killed Malfoy, Hermione" Harry said, and Hermione rested her head on Harry's chest.
"Ron lost his temper. Thanks to that nasty, cold-hearted…" Harry covered Hermione's mouth with his hand to keep her from continuing her statement. Just as he did so, Romilda Vane came back through the portrait. Her eyes were slightly red and puffy, and she looked over at Harry and Hermione and then quickly walked over to them. "Where's Ron?" she asked, but Harry said he didn't know.
"Well, thanks for saving Draco" she started but Hermione cut her off. "Harry didn't do it for you; he did it to save Ron." Hermione gave Romilda a cold stare and she got the hint. Romilda left them alone and walked up the spiral stairs and entered her room. Ginny came over and sat in the chair across from them.
"What happened?" she asked.
"Ron found Malfoy in the Room of Requirements, they were dueling by the time Hermione and I got there. I ran to grab Malfoy and Ron caught him off-guard and hexed him, and if the Room hadn't showed me what spell to use, he'd probably be dead." Ginny looked confused.
"The Room showed you how to save him? What do you mean?" Harry shook his head.
"I don't really know. I just thought to myself I needed to save him and a chalkboard appeared showing me a spell. Sounds far-fetched I know, but I wouldn't have saved him without it." Ginny looked up towards the door to Ron's room.
"How is he holding up?" Ginny asked, and Harry rested his head back.
"He'll be fine soon enough. But right now, I think it best we leave him alone."
Over the next couple of days, Ron only spoke when he had to. He ate in silence at all the feasts, and whenever he was out of class he was in his room alone. Quidditch practice was nearly the only time Ron had been able to let himself go, but even then the only time he spoke was when he directed people around. It was hard for Harry and Hermione having to watch their best friend deal with such a hard pain but they knew the only way for him to get over it was with time.
"We've got to do something" Hermione said one day, and Harry had to agree with her.
"But what?" he asked, and it took them a short time of thinking about it before they were able to fix things.
Ron was lying in his bed staring at the roof of it when he heard the door crack open and saw his two best friends appear. He gave them a nod, and then continued to stare where he had been before they had entered.
"Hey Ron… have you done your Defense Against the Dark Arts essay?" Hermione asked, and Harry gave her a 'why are you saying that' sort of look, and then he spoke instead. "If not we both have it finished." Ron didn't answer, but kept his stare. "Ron, there's something I wanted to show you." Harry said, and Ron finally responded to them. "What do you mean?" he asked.
Harry waved his friend towards him and then Ron got up. "Follow me" Harry said, and then they made their way through the castle. Harry and Hermione led the way and they were standing on the Quidditch Pitch, Ron looking at him confused.
"Harry I don't want to play Quidditch right now…" Ron started but Hermione turned around and waved him off.
"Are you sure? Because with your new broom in the shed, I figured you might want to wear it in a bit before our next match against Slytherin." Ron's eyes widened.
"My new broom?" he asked, and Harry raised his hand, and summoned Ron's brand new Firebolt out of the shed.
Ron nearly jumped on it once it hit Harry's hands and he was gawking at it until he stopped.
"Harry I can't take this. I haven't the money to pay for it." Harry laughed.
"Don't worry about that, it was free from the broom shop in Diagon Alley. Let's just say I agreed to be their cover-boy for next month as long as I got this." Ron couldn't help but laugh, and Harry summoned his Firebolt from the shed. The two of them raced one another around the pitch, neck and neck the whole way through. Ron and Harry landed a short time after with Hermione clapping and smiling. Ron and Harry walked back over to the broom shed, and put their brooms back on their respective shelves. Harry turned to leave, and then Ron spoke. "Thanks Harry" he said, and the three friends were as close to normal again as they could've been.