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Chapter 14: Ron's Secret
"Parkinson's hair?"
"Check."
"Draco's hair?"
"Check."
"Invisibility cloak?"
"Check. Why do you need me to go along again?"
Ginny sighed as yet again, four weeks later; Hermione was asking the same question. "I've told you, Hermione, there's something you need to be shown since you don't want to believe us."
"Ready when you are, Ginny." Harry announced as he placed the two locks of hair and the last few necessities into a bag to take to the dungeon where the caper was to take place. "Blaise should be ready down in the spare dungeon by now."
Down in the dungeon, the three Gryffindor's found Blaise with two goblets of lightly smoking potion, ready to have its final ingredient added.
"I hope you two know what you're about to do. Ever the lone pessimist where optimists walk, since you two are so adamant about this plan, there are so many ways that this could go horribly wrong and you know it."
"But all of this is so that things can be set right. While the potion was bubbling away, we planned and planned, preparing for any negative occurrences that we could think of. Plus- we are so close to the end, we can't think about going back now." Ginny said as she put Pansy's jet black hair into a goblet, wrinkling her nose when it turned into a hideous, puke green. "Ugh, this definitely brings back less than pleasant memories."
Harry chuckled as he added Draco's donated lock to his goblet, watching it turn bright, snow white. "No surprises there."
"Hermione, when we've finished changing, hide under the cloak. Blaise is going to get Ron. Ron cannot see you less he would pick up on the ruse. Oh, and we know you wouldn't do it, but this is just in case you try to run away. We chose this dungeon because there is an old locking charm on the door. This makes it where you can only open it from the outside from when the Founders were around." Ginny said, eyeing Hermione.
"Then how did I get out before?"
"All the cell doors have their quirks." Harry added. "This door is one of the last originals that were created by the Founders, so the spell is still in place. Good, Blaise has gone to get Ron."
Raising their goblets, they clinked them together and Ginny said, "Here's to the truth."
Downing their goblets, Ginny made a face again. "Ugh, looks like puke; tastes like puke. Why do I find it so befitting of her?"
"That seems about right." Licking his lips, Harry added, "Hmm… tastes like vanilla ice."
"Seems like the essence his being is sweeter than he let on for the past six years."
Two minutes later, two entirely different people were standing before Hermione than who entered the dark and dreary dungeon.
"Holy crap! Pansy's boobs are huge! I wonder how many surgeries she's paid for. And just how many pain charms she puts on her back every day?!" Ginny said as she weighed the other girls' breasts in her hands. "Self confidence issues much?"
"Okay, that's enough, Ginny. Shall we continue with the plan? Blaise will be back soon with Ron."
"Yes, of course. Hermione, it's time for you to go under the cloak."
A moment later, there came two loud pounds on the door. Ginny walked over to the door and pounded back twice, before leaning against the wall next to the door casually. Harry hurried over to the shadowy corner where Hermione was hidden.
"Remember, Hermione, this is all so that you know the truth." Harry whispered as Hermione shifted uncomfortably, both of them watching Blaise walk in with an unconscious Ron behind him, leaving the door open.
"He should wake up in a minute." Blaise said as he set Ron down before leaving the room.
Ginny pushed off the wall to walk to where Ron lay, standing over him when she noticed stirring. Looking at Harry, she nodded her head and watched him mimic.
"Ugh, my head." Ron moaned, trying to hold his head only to realize that his hands were chained behind his back.
"Okay, Draco!" Ginny cried nervously, standing up to face Harry. "He's in chains, just like you commanded. Please don't hurt me!"
Pushing her out of the way, Harry strode over to Ron, hoping it looked as much like Draco as possible.
"You should feel lucky, Parkinson, that I don't turn you into the Headmistress for kidnapping the Head Girl and using Polyjuice within the school grounds." Harry said snidely to Ginny, eyes hard and unforgiving. Ginny whimpered and turned to run to the darkened corner next to Hermione's hidden form, taking Harry's place and adding a fake sob for theatric emphasis.
"Wass goin' on?" Ron asked groggily, shaking his head to try to clear the fog.
"Good, you're awake." Draco said, crouching down to be eye level with Ron, an evil smirk on his face. "Pansy here has told me everything."
"Told you everything? About what? I have no idea what you mean, Malfoy." Ron spat, glaring at the Slytherin.
"Do not play dumb. Even for someone like you, being dumb isn't a good thing; especially now. You are the reason why Hermione is not with me any more. You are the reason why she has been so sad and inattentive." Draco said as he stood up and began pacing, sparks being emitted from his wand.
"No I'm not! Pansy was the one who planned it all." Ron said loudly, his confidence growing. "All that I wanted was to get Hermione from you, you Slytherin prick."
"Why?" Draco asked through gritted teeth as he turned back to face Ron whom was struggling against his bonds on the dungeon floor.
"I know who you are. You are a rotten Death Eater. I wasn't about to let Hermione near scum like you to be taken advantage of."
Draco huffed, tapping his wand in agitation. "You have no idea who I really am, Weasley." Coming to a sudden stop in front of Ron, Draco crouched down again, pulling his sleeve up to show Ron his bare right forearm. "I would never hurt Hermione in any way. If anyone has truly hurt her, it was you. And now she will know of your actions and betrayals."
Ron stuck his chin up and made a sound of defiance. "Do you really delusion yourself in thinking that Hermione would ever believe you over me? She and I have been through more together than you can ever pay to dream of. As far as she knows, it was you in the dungeon that night; not me using the Polyjuice potion that Pansy stole from Snape."
"So they really were right." Echoed a voice. Ron cast his eyes from side to side in search for the voice that he was hoping was not whom he thought. Hermione removed the cape and handed it to Ginny and moved from the shadows. When Ron moved his head to focus on the movement, Hermione watched his eyes grow wide as she emerged from her shadowed hiding spot, eyes cast downward in disappointment.
Ron gulped a loud. "Hermione?! Did you hear all of that?"
Hermione looked at him, completely lacking in emotion. "Please don't play dumb, Ron. Of course I did. Was everything that you just said the truth?"
"I did it to save you! Parkinson just wanted Malfoy."
Hermione looked down, deep into his eyes, her expression turning sad. "For your information, I didn't need saving, Ron." Turning from the boy on the floor, Hermione went to the door and pounded twice, leaving the dark dungeon through the opened door.
Looking back at Ron from watching Hermione leave, Draco glared at Ron. "The truth is always more powerful than any lie, Weasley."
Ron sputtered in shock as Pansy walked back towards the two of them from the darkened corner, Invisibility cloak over her left arm. "Harry?!" Ron managed to choke out.
Draco smirked and stood, Pansy placing her hand on his shoulder as he straightened. "Next time, think about how your reactions affect other people before being self-centered and stupid."
"How could you do this, Parkinson?"
"As easy as drinking Polyjuice Potion and tricking you into telling the truth, big brother. Lets go, Harry."
Ron stared after them in shock as they pounded the dungeon entrance and left through the re-opened door, leaving him alone in the darkness.
~//~
"So Weasley admitted to that, did he?"
"Yes."
"That means that I can talk to her now, right?"
"She has just learned the truth, Malfoy, she needs some time." Harry told Draco the next day as everyone was heading towards their common room after their classes.
Draco nodded. He knew that Harry was right, but it still didn't mean that he wasn't extremely anxious to speak with Hermione again to try and make amends for what happened, even though he hadn't been involved beyond being in a relationship with her.
"What can I do to help?"
"Let Hermione make the first move. She will come around eventually." Ginny replied.
"What about Weasley though? Aren't you worried about him alerting Professor McGonagall about being kidnapped by Blaise and the two of you using Polyjuice Potion?"
"Not if he wants us to do the same to him. The three of us have come to an agreement to forget everything that happened. Pansy has no idea what happened. She thinks she fell asleep at the dinner table." Ginny answered.
"Okay." Draco sighed. "Wait for Hermione. I will wait for eternity if it means she's forgiven me."
"However, I am still confused about something. I'm not sure why you feel you must be forgiven; you had no part in what happened. You were at your manor all Christmas break."
"It's because of me that she has had to go through this. If I hadn't been so adamant about perusing Hermione and gaining her affection, Weasley wouldn't have felt the need to work with Parkinson when she formed such a plan."
Ginny stopped next to Harry in the middle of the Entrance Hall, focusing on a deep thought. Looking at Harry, Ginny squeezed his hand, smiling, before moving to the other boy to give him a comforting hug.
"I'm glad that you are willing to wait for Hermione. Just because you might feel it's your fault, even though it isn't, please don't give up on her. I believe that you are the right person for Hermione, and she for you. All loves in every form have their tests that they must overcome. Some must be worse than others. It's my belief that the stronger the love, the tougher the trials. Harry and I are over our trials because we were tested before our relationship even officially began. I have always loved him; I just had to find a way to be with him, even through his stubbornness." Ginny said as she pulled away, moving back to Harry.
"Thank you, Harry, Ginny. I owe the two of you so much."
"We just ask that you make Hermione as happy as you can. If you don't, we will hear about it and I'll set a fiery red-head on you."
"Which one?" Draco asked, slightly afraid of Harry's answer.
"Surprises are so much more fun than telling you." Harry chuckled at the look on Draco's face.
"Anyways, it's getting late. You two have Care of Magical Creatures tomorrow."
"Yes, you're right. See you tomorrow, Potter."