Ron was bound to a chair within seconds and Dumbledore's wand was pressed into his neck. Anger was rippling off the elder wizard.
"Enervate." He said with as much hate as he could muster, the twinkle gone from his blue eyes. Ron's eyes fluttered open and then set a harsh gaze upon the room. "Drink," Dumbledore prompted, producing a vile of clear liquid from his robes, shoving it to Ron's lips and forcing the potion past his lips.
"You forget, Dumbledore, I don't follow your orders." Ron spat the potion back in his face.
"Who do you work for, Mr Weasley?" He inquired, his anger abating as if he simply didn't contain the energy any longer.
"Your slut of a mother, that's who." Ron was unprepared for the on slot that awaited that reply.
Dumbledore was in his mind, ripping through memory after memory, before he could even whimper. Hermione wondered, if not for the first time, what was wrong with her ex best friend.
She grabbed Harry's hand to comfort him. He looked as if he was watching small kittens being murdered before him. What she wouldn't give to have the strength to ease her own pain so she could ease his.
Withdrawing from the younger boy moments later, Dumbledore seemed relieved and upset at the same time. The perplexed look on Ron's face didn't last, before more insults were slung at Dumbledore. The boy tried fighting against his restraints, begging for a piece of the older wizard.
"Aw, Mr Lestrange. It's so nice of you to drop by for a visit. I wondered why you put up such a good fight. I fear you have over stayed your welcome." Two wand movements latter and Ron was unconscious again. As for the other occupants of the room, Dumbledore turned to face them.
"I'm sorry you had to witness that." He stumbled over to his desk in a tired haze. "Please take a seat and I'll explain. Limon drop?" At their decline, he proceeded. "It seems that Mr Weasley have been under the imperious curse. By the strength of it, he's been under for a long time. When did you first notice a change in him, Miss Granger?"
"Over the summer," Harry answered for her, drawing the attention of the room to the newly awakened boy wonder. "I noticed he started ignoring anything related to the war. Anytime we tried to strategize, he would get mad and storm off."
"I see," Dumbledore looked pensive. "We will have to call a meeting, Severus. Please attend to Mr Weasley, he will be waking up shortly" He said before turning to his Phoenix companion and whispering instructions to her before disappearing into thin air.
ooo
To say Ron was perplex and scared would be an understatement. Waking up to Professor Snape (or someone one that looked like him, because there is no way Snape would ever smile at him) was the bases of most his nightmares. Even more so, he was alone with said Professor in Dumbledore's office.
"Where am I? Who are you?" Ron asked, looking around for his best friends.
"Mr Weasley, what is the last thing you remember?" The Professor asked in a caring voice that sent shivers down his spine.
"Walking thought Diagon Alley after school let out." By the cold he could feel seeping through the drafty windows, it wasn't summer anymore. "Who are you?"
"If you must persist; I am Professor Severus Snape, former potions master at this establishment. I currently teach world culture and religion. You are at Hogwarts and the date is January 9th." Severus responded with as little snark as he could contain. Weasley always put him in a foul mood.
"Why don't I remember coming back to school?" Ron asked, ignoring the change in Snape for the time being. Religion? Has he gone loony?
"You were Imperiused by Mr Lestrange. We presume it was during the summer. While under the unforgivable, most people retain only a slight awareness to their actions. You however, were attacked by one of the strongest members of the Dark Lords ranks, which would account for your inability to recall anything." At the conclusion of his explanation, Severus turned his attention to the pensive sitting on Albus's desk. "I have been instructed to inform you of all the changes and everything that has happened this year. Your expulsion has been revoked and you will be required to re-attend your classes as if nothing happened. You are now an even bigger target now that you are free from the curse."
"Expulsion?" Ron paled.
"Just watch the memories and then we will talk." He said, dragging the boy to the stone basin.
ooo
His shoes slammed against the stone floor, echoing throughout the hall. He had to find his friends. Rounding the corner he spotted the iconic bushy hair and sped up his stride. Suppressing her from behind, he wrapped his arms around Hermione and pulled her close, ignoring the brunette's fearful reaction.
"I'm so sorry, Mione!" He exclaimed and noted that the ridged figure in his arms relaxed. "Please forgive me, I had no idea."
Turning in his arms she kissed his cheek. How could she be mad at him, when he had no control over his actions?
"I forgive you, Ron. But so help me, if you ever get Imperiused again, I'll kick your arse." She huffed as he picked her up and spun around in joy. It was good to see a smile on her old friends face.
Dumbledore looked out at the crowed of gloomy faces. The news that the war would soon be at their doorsteps stifled the small spark of pleasantry that accompanied a few patrons.
"No words can temper the terror I know can be found in your very soul, I beg your pardon for baring this bad news." The aging man said, trying to stand tall against the heaviness of his own heart.
"Is the boy ready, Albus?" A defeated looking Tonks asked, breaking the silence flooding the room.
"I believe that if anyone could be prepared for something of this magnitude, it would be him." He replied. "We must all be prepared as well. While Harry is a key factor in our success, it cannot be left to him alone. I have faith that our side will win and see light again touch this world."
"When will they come?" Mrs. Weasley asked.
"Draco Malfoy has truly turned against his suppressors to give us valuable information. He received word from his father that he is to leave the castle by the 1st of March. They plan to strike the following morning." The gasp around the room was lost to the dark storm brewing just bend. That only left them a month and a half to prepare.