A retelling of - BuckNC - classic tale …Dragon Heart …as redone by Billybob
Chapter 38 – here to kill
Word count within this chapter: 5,805
Billybob note: Real life - has hit me rather hard lately, I received an unexpected truck-load of 'lemons', from 'someone' clever enough to forward it to me – as he had enough already - - leaving me a-bit short tempered. As I did not want to take my lemon-based depression out on this story - I gave myself a brief detention (time out) in a corner - doing lines - to sort out my head.
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About two hours later, after lunch, Harry's POV:
Harry watched as Ron pulled out of his jacket and then magically expands a huge map of Europe for Professor Dumbledore, Professor McGonagall, and him to see. Even Bonnet, the blue phoenix that Ron had saved from the Death Eater camp was paying attention to what Ron was doing. This was rather amusing because Bonnet seemed to prefer Ron's shoulder than her perch beside Fawkes.
Harry laughed softly to himself at how Ron looked 'just like' a pirate with a parrot on his shoulder.
"May I begin Sir?" Ron said very formally.
"Yes Ronald", Albus said in his friendliest tone
"Order search teams managed to pick up three Death Eater camp stragglers; two trainees in Veles, Macedonia and one in Vrasta, Bulgaria. Now keep in mind, we don't have any solid proof, but two of them 'volunteered' information that they were ordered to meet in the Schwarzwal region in Germany along the French border in a few weeks time".
"We're not sure if that's the new camp or just a way-station for somewhere else." Ron spoke with seriousness that Harry found unnerving. His easy-going nature had suddenly vanished.
Harry couldn't help but wonder; was this the same best friend, with whom he used to have fake chicken wand fights with in the back of Professor McGonagall's class. Was that little-boy gone forever now - for there was nothing of a boy in his manner? For Ron was delivering a very important intelligence brief about the war to the highest level leadership of the Order. Harry glanced over and saw a similar look of pride on Professor McGonagall's face as well.
"Director Vargas has already contacted his counterpart in France and has asked that a search team be sent. At the time I left Romania they hadn't been able to find anything yet. Still, there is some good news to all this. It looks like that except for a few vampire covenants still loyal to Voldemort and a few well-placed …deep-cover spies in the Ministries; I'm willing to bet that Eastern Europe is almost Death Eater free."
Harry rewarded his best mate with a smile and watched admiringly as Professor Dumbledore offered Ron a Chocolate Frog.
Professor Dumbledore continued to stare at the map as he ate the legs off his Chocolate Frog. He slowly sat back down in his chair before he gave his appraisal, "I don't share your opinion; Ronald, the DE movement has taken a heavy hit over there – but so long as Dolohov is unaccounted for - Eastern Europe is still in danger- -"
"- - Dolohov is in England," Ron interrupted, as if stating a fact and not an opinion.
His firm statement of fact - didn't go unnoticed by the others in the room and Dumbledore leaned back in his chair and looked at Ron visibly stunned – enough to pause for a moment before asking his follow up question.
"You seem very certain of this, Ronald. May I ask why?"
Ron hesitated for a second then softly answered the Headmaster, "Only if I can 'once again' have your solemn word as a wizard that what I reveal will stay between you and me …alone?"
Harry was instantly floored that Ron had asked that. Even Professor McGonagall seemed a bit taken aback by his request.
"What you say before me, you can say to Minerva and Harry." Dumbledore answered, looking a bit surprise himself at Ron's request.
Ron swung around to see Harry standing open mouthed and Professor McGonagall wearing an extremely concerned expression.
"I'm sorry. I want you to know that I would die to save either one of you in a heat-beat. But as no one in this ruddy-castle has any concept – besides Hermione - - of keeping my secrets …private".
"Ronald", Minerva began to object - only to be interrupted
"- - Look - - I realize that you all feel I'm overdoing my reaction to the letters - but I don't regard what has been done to me as a easy to forget lark".
"I left here because people I trusted betrayed my trust in them", Ron continued. I came back to find nearly everyone having a 'huge laugh' at my expense. You all must think this is just another amusing adventure of the trio's _ sidekick-clown, but I see things differently. For as far as I'm concerned there is no one here – that I can one-hundred percent trust to safeguard my back - - except for …maybe - my semi-sister Hermione.
Believe me when I say – that if I could do this-task …alone I wouldn't be at Hogwarts right now. I just can't risk someone else finding out about this and then casually revealing everything …including my planed counter-moves during a Friday evening entertainment."
"And if I refuse your terms?" Albus said sternly – for he was as guilty as the rest.
"Then I resign from the 'Order' right now, and walk out of here and handle this issue – my way," Ron spat like a angry-cat in an ice-cold monotone.
Harry wasn't the only one stunned – he just couldn't think of what Ron could know that he didn't want Professor McGonagall aware of. After failing the trust test of that very morning Harry fully understood his exclusion. For whatever reason, Ron was deadly-serious about this task – whatever it was.
After a brief pause, Professor Dumbledore looked at Ron and then over to Professor McGonagall who looked offended and more than just a little hurt – mixed equally with embarrassment over her part at ruining Ron's trust in 'anyone' at Hogwarts. After thinking it over for a-bit, she reluctantly nodded back at Albus to let him know that she agreed with Ron's condition. Knowing in her heart she had much to make-up for.
The headmaster then glanced over at Harry and Harry took one last look at Ron before nodding his agreement as well.
"Very well, Ronald, we agree to your conditions."
Ron nodded, and then pulled out a worn letter from inside his jacket and handed it over to Professor Dumbledore. It took the Professor a while to read the letter, as he seemed to examine everything about it, from the paper to the writing. Harry could tell from Dumbledore's expression that it was as serious as Ron had stated.
Dumbledore slowly stood up when he finished reading and walked over to where Ron was standing. He laid a hand on Ron's shoulder, held it there for a moment and then made his way toward the fireplace.
Harry continued to watch as Professor Dumbledore tossed a handful of floo powder into the fireplace.
"Under-Secretary, Weasley's office!"
"Arthur, we have an update. Please inform Kingsley to brief the Aurors that Antonin Dolohov is back in Great Britain."
Harry and Professor McGonagall were both stunned as they watched Professor Dumbledore talking into the floo network about Dolohov being in England. Harry looked back over at Ron who was still standing stiffly by the Headmaster's desk.
"Great Merlin!" Mr. Weasley shouted back. "I thought he was still in Eastern Europe."
"Not anymore, Arthur. Also, it would be a good idea to put up new wanted posters of him and to alert the press."
"Dolohov now has a pronounce limp in his right leg, his right arm is all but useless and he carries and uses a wand only in his left hand." Ron added to both Professor Dumbledore and his Dad.
"Is that Ron?" Mr. Weasley asked, turning his head to see his son.
"Yeah, - Dad." Ron softly answered.
"Why didn't you tell me about this before?" Mr. Weasley asked angrily.
"Sorry, Dad, I'll explain later."
"Ah-um... Okay - Albus, any other new information?"
"That's always seems to be the question when dealing with your youngest son." Dumbledore negatively remarked as both he and Mr. Weasley gazed hard at a stone-faced Ron.
Ron continued to say nothing, even under everyone's hot stare.
"Thank you Arthur," The Headmaster finished as he realized that no new information was going to come from Ron.
"Yes... bye Albus. And Ronald I expect to hear from you - soon!" Mr. Weasley demanded before leaving the Floo Network.
Ron nodded his head in understanding and then he swiftly reached out to collect the letter from the Headmaster's desk. He buried it back deep into his own Dragon-hide jacket.
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Professor Dumbledore slowly walked away from the fireplace and over to Ron. He stared directly at him through his crescent moon glasses.
"You didn't come home to finish your education - did you?
"No Sir, not really – at first, I intended to just stop him, but after today's 'special lesson' in Wizarding justice …that you so kindly gave me - - the 'gloves came off' and now I've decided to avoid all the legal fuss over 'greater good' complications' surrounding 'His' possible arrest – and just kill the ruddy-bastard," Ron replied stone-cold monotone.
"You are withholding information again", Dumbledore said sternly.
"And you could have told me directly that my private mail had become a 'Friday night spectacle' during your Romanian visit. I'm sure you had good reason for keeping me in the dark – so the way I see it - I have been just as forthcoming and candid with the telling the truth as you have been over the years - Headmaster," Ron replied equally stern. The unspoken message was clear – Ron no longer regarded Dumbledore with the same Hero worship as he had as a child.
"You are ordered to behave henceforth like a normal student," Dumbledore said in his most commanding voice - - having been caught-out by the hypocrisy he had displayed earlier that morning. Trapped in his own legal 'double standard' - all Albus could do was try to put the genie back into bottle.
"You are to finish the school year guarding your primary as you were supposed to be trained to do. It will be the job of the Ministry Aurors to catch him?" Albus said knowing full-well how unlikely that was.
Ron gave the headmaster a look that clearly indicated his doubts …but nodded his in agreement anyway. "Just so you know …the number of people I regard as my 'primary' as you put it – greatly expanded after noon …today".
"The way I see it …after Alastor's Auror teaching - - by deliberately and with criminal- level predetermination - - 'withholding from me critical information concerning the identities' of the DE wantabe's operating here …within Hogwarts – your lack of cooperation is making my task of protecting my primaries a thousand times more difficult".
"Ronald", Albus said in a heavily put-upon tone. "As we have already discussed - some of the people with DE wantabe leanings here - can still be 'saved' from the path taken by their parents. – I will not throw the baby out with the bath water.
"And I swear on my family's safety – to respond with equal force 'spell-for spell' to any wantabe attack on me or my primaries", Ron said in a calm and reasonable tone. "I will not do more harm… 'hex-wise' - than theses killers shoot at me. But if anyone 'here' helps that bastard 'get in' ...then the restrictions on the rules of engagement for his little helpers …come off".
"Agreed", Albus said trying hard to regain control of this conversation.
"You and I know his principal target and who knows – if we end-up having another mini-DE invasion as we did last term - - perhaps Harry will become a secondary target – after he finishes with- -" suddenly Ron's entire body all-but openly trembling in animalistic anger, and he instinctively began to growl like a furious lion - - and then just as sudden Ron realized his temper was getting the better of him – so he bit back the roar of defiance on the tip of his tongue – and then he paused for a few moments to regain his composure.
"I'm sure one of your pet snakes can find another 'secret way' to get a DE raiding force undetected into this castle – Draco has a fine track record for doing that kind of thing. By-the-way Professor, what punishment did you allocate to Draco Malfoy for letting into a castle full of children – six death eaters?"
"Mr. Malfoy's punishment for last terms 'incident' is not open to discussion at this time," the headmaster retorted feeling somewhat embarrassed.
"No worries Sir - I given-up any hope of equal justice from you", Ron said sadly. "Besides – I won't go looking for 'the bastard'; the 'UK' is too big to make that practical. Also, I know his plans and to carry them out, he'll have to come here …to me. The moment he steps 'one toe' onto Hogwarts proper; – I kill him, - and …any other DE with him from the outside …or 'inside' these walls."
For the second time, Harry was floored and shocked. Even Professor McGonagall seemed aghast at Ron's declaration of inside Hogwarts threats. Only the headmaster found the ability to talk.
"Ronald my original order still stands. He is to stand trial for his crimes. You more than most understand my reasons for this and the importance of it," Dumbledore declared, as he took Ron's last comment as a statement of fact.
"Stand trial for his crimes - - so that Justice may be served", Ron sneered with bitter contempt, "Really Sir, you must be joking. Justice …like the kind I got earlier today? Headmaster; I'm not even as naive as I was when I left this room - and after the lesson you taught me 'mere hours ago' - - your clear abuse of our Justice system to safeguard the lot of them …in my preview - - permanently sets me free of any take prisoners promise that I made in Romania - - when I foolishly believed in justice under English Law under the reign of the current Chief Warlock of the Wizengamot."
"Under special circumstances - -"Albus began weakly in protest only to be interrupted
"- - Is that what you told Sirius Black when as 'Chief Warlock' you allowed another Order Member to rot in Azkaban for twelve years without a trial. No Sir – with all due respect - I won't allow you to sacrifice - or - put at risk those I hold dear …just for the sake of trying to save from divine damnation those evil-bastards …who do not want to be saved. Keeping things from me for the 'greater good' doesn't cut it anymore".
"I've made my share of mistakes in how I've treated you this term – I admit that, however- - " Albus began
"- - I'll keep the deal I made with you today – for my word of honor means a lot to me", Ron interupted softly. "But the gloves are off when it comes to him. The moment that 'piece of dirt' sets foot on the school grounds - he dies!" Ron growled-out his oath.
"Both of you will live regretting this decision." The Headmaster reasoned sadly.
"So long as she lives, marries the kind of bloke she fancies and has a house full of brilliant nippers - I don't ruddy care," Ron stated with grim determination. Ron then ended the discussion and walked away from Albus's desk …as he put Bonnet back on her perch next to Fawkes.
"She should be told, Mr. Weasley." Professor Dumbledore warned Ron, as he sat down behind his desk looking a-lot older and tired than when he had left it.
"Like you told Harry about the prophecy right from the off- or -me about the letters" Ron said, - - "No, Professor - after the last time, she had nightmares. I think it better if we go with the game you're still playing; -'withholding critical information', from one of the pawns on your chess-board - - so that she remains; relativity-innocent in all of this".
"He's going to have to kill me to get to her. I couldn't protect her last time - - I lacked the skill - but by Merlin's beard …I swear I'm going to protect her now." Ron declared with grim determination
The room was silent and even the Headmasters' portraits were stunned into silence as everyone waited for Professor Dumbledore to speak.
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Professor Dumbledore's POV:
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"I see that I can't persuade you to see reason on this."
Ronald nodded affirmatively as he looked back to the tight lipped Headmaster who knew his decision that morning had come back to bite him.
"You are to return back to the Gryffindor tower where you shall carry out your remaining months at Hogwarts as a regular student. That will be all, Mr. Weasley. "
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After Ron saluted – did a crisp about-face and with Harry following sheepishly - they both left the Headmaster's office. Once they were alone – in the office Minerva spoke up, "Dolohov threatened Miss Granger, I take it?"
Professor Dumbledore said nothing in reply. However his silence was all the confirmation that Minerva needed.
"Oh dear! - The poor child!" Minerva squeezed at her chest in fear. After sitting back down in her chair and regaining some of the color back in her face she spoke. "Still, I can't imagine anyone better to protect her than Ronald - - be it Mountain Trolls, Acromantula's, or even Antonio Dolohov."
Dumbledore nodded his head in agreement before saying, "Ronald clearly intends on doing this- 'dirty-work' -all on his own …I see that now. I'm sure he wants to spare Harry from getting any blood on his hands - and that's why he wanted to exclude him from this briefing - but Harry won't sit for that, they'll both be in-it up to their teeth before it's over."
"So I shouldn't be surprised to find a grossly oversized 'red colored' saber toothed panther …protecting the Head suite hallway in the middle of the night."
"No I imagine not" Dumbledore replied with a small sad chuckle.
"What do we do to protect them, Albus?"
"Concede the inner defenses to the best wizard bodyguard in Scotland, and focus on the defenses outside the wards surrounding this castle.
"But how do we do that?"
"For that I'm going to need Severus." Albus said to himself
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Harry's POV:
Harry was past livid even though he knew Ron had his reasons, but he also wasn't stupid enough not to figure out that the letter was about Hermione. Harry ground his teeth and said nothing as he grabbed the back of Ron's jacket and dragged him inside an empty Charm's classroom.
Ron smiled bitterly as he recognized the classroom and remembered it as their first year Charms classroom and what that meant to him. Harry spun around and did a silencing and locking charm on the door and then he turned to yell at Ron.
"RON! This is all about Hermione you prat! Now what's in that bloody letter! And what does Dolohov have to do with this!"
"Mind your own business, Potter. This doesn't concern you, - go back to pranking first year Hufflepuffs with my little sister, leave this kind of 'work' to the professionals", Ron retorted as he pushed Harry away from him.
Harry responded by moving back into Ron's face. "Slytherin-Dung! Hermione is my friend and if she's in danger, I have a right to know!" Harry then pushed Ron back in the chest to make his point.
Ron stepped back into Harry's face not backing down an inch. "No! I'm not telling you!"
"Why not, you stupid-git —," Harry bellowed.
"Watch it Mr. Hypocrite …you push my buttons again - and I might have to put you flat on your arse…AGAIN. But basically; this is one letter that won't be read aloud Friday night in the Great Hall by my back-stabbing sister and YOU.
More importantly; if Hermione suspects anything or sees you suddenly acting differently when you're around her... she will have those bloody nightmares again!" Ron screamed back into Harry's face, reminding Harry of last year when Hermione had several painful nightmares about Dolohov almost killing her.
"I thought you forgave us for the whole letters thing?"
"Forgive you-lot yes, trust you like I did before … oh hell NO
"I said I was sorry …didn't I?"
"Damn-it, Harry – I refuse to give you a quick-pass on this …You don't think things though – you just act! You rush off to do what you think is right at the time and to-hell with the consequences. You need to grow-up a-bit. Think-on-it, you made a promise to Hermione that darn-near killed our friendship forever, - and then you yielded to 'popular demand' and read the contents of my inner soul to the whole ruddy-school. Right now, I don't see you having done a whole lot in my interest.
"Ron …I" Harry stuttered.
"Then-again, you've haven't been all that good a friend to Hermione either – but that is going to change – real fast. You have completely failed to prevent her reputation from being dragged in the mud and you haven't supported her as Head Girl as you should have, causing her to become - as you both told me repeatedly in letters - the most universally hated Head Girl in the last three centuries."
Harry winced again as he heard first hand a list of his recent failures as a best friend and then he exhaled slowly in understanding - as he realized what Ron was trying to do; He was protecting Hermione from herself. And from the look in Ron's eyes told him he was going to do it no matter what.
Harry felt he had to play the pessimist by playing devil's advocate with Ron.
"Ron, there's no way you can keep this from her, tomorrow or Monday at the latest, it will be all over the press."
Ron said nothing as he started to leave the classroom.
Harry provided more information to Ron about the need to tell Hermione. "Ron she reads the Daily Prophet everyday – she's going to find out!"
Ron turned around to answer Harry. "I got a plan for that. Ginny is not the only sneaky one in this family. I spent part of the afternoon-"
Harry interrupted to snidely remark. "What - buying new clothes?"
"Well I did that too – but primarily I was canceling her subscription to the Daily Prophet. Bloody hell, it took me half of last night to learn how to copy her handwriting style. Not to mention getting all the material I need to make the potion —"
Harry interrupted again, "A potion? Ron we're not talking about some Polyjuice Potion to hide Hermione with. You need to tell her the truth before it's too late."
"Oh that's ruddy-rich coming from you, Mr. Hypocrite." Ron said focused his eyes on him and uncharacteristically told him straight up. "Harry, I'm more than willing to give my life 'protecting you' during this bloody war - and less than a few weeks ago …I put my life on the line to save my team-mates at that bloody camp. Now I'm telling you flat out, that I'm more than willing to Kill …without hesitation anyone who threatens… MY Hermione."
"Okay-okay I understand that-bit, but what happened to you this morning? Something big turned you so hard against Dumbledore – what was it?" Harry asked.
"Do you know that I was attacked on my way to the headmaster's office after giving Ginny her dragon-hide jacket"
"Yeah, such news spreads fast – but where did it happen?" Harry asked calmly for after six years of similar incidents – such things were almost common-place.
"Third floor, between the hunchback statue and the chamber where they kept fluffy."
"And 'Who' attacked you?" Harry asked.
"Draco, Vincent Crabbe, Theo Nott and Blaise Zabini …in one, if not the dumbest ambush I have ever encountered. Right from the off - old Nick taught me to move without making any noise, so my attackers didn't 'hear' me come down the hall. Secondly; they were supposed to be hiding and ready to pounce and yet they were chatting away to one another - rather loudly in fact - from their separate hiding spots – so I had no trouble in discovering there hiding spots. Third; they picked the darkest part of the third floor hallway which limited their ability to see, but didn't affect me at all".
"So you can see in the dark now, like Mrs. Norris flinch's cat", Harry asked
"Yeah – sort-of", Ron replied sheepishly.
"So what happened next?" Harry inquired.
"I stood in the hall semi-concealed in a niche in the wall and from the darkest called out to them - by name".
"And," Harry asked in an excited tone - as only then he noticed the fresh spell burns in Ron's jacket.
"Crabbe then called out 'hey-guys he's here, let's kill him', and started wildly shooting killing spells into the dark - - without taking the time to aim - - moments later the other wantabe's joined in, firing hexes wildly into the dark-hall."
"Did Dumbledore come along and save your arse", Harry asked with a snicker.
"No Harry, no-one came along", Ron said sounding disappointed. – "I have undergone a change – during my co-op holiday, I've learned how to fight properly so I didn't a teachers help – or yours, to save my bacon. I just laughed at their amateurish ambush – mocked their lousy aim. Of course my mockery infuriated my incompetent attackers to the point where they abandoned their cover and lined-up to face the darkness shoulder to shoulder".
"No way" Harry said in disbelief.
"Not the sharpest knives in the tray – that lot". Ron replied with a soft chuckle.
"Anyone hurt?" Harry asked with clear hesitation.
"Nothing they can't recover from," Ron said unhappily – "for I was under orders to take prisoners and I foolishly-thought …that if I turned them in – I'd get justice and they and the bloke who planned that laughable ambush - would go to prison".
"And our Headmaster overruled the law", Harry asked putting the pieces together.
"Harry - Albus Dumbledore has kept things from you for years, bending the Hogwarts school rules and manipulating Wizarding Law is 'child's play' to that old fox. I made a deal with him – word-of-honor stuff …concerning my attacker's punishment that I fully expect him to break".
"Professor Dumbledore would never break his word of honor – would he?" Harry asked in a semi-worried tone - suddenly remembering how long the prophecy had been kept from him.
"For the 'greater good' – as he sees it, yeah …I can foresee him doing whatever he thinks is best", Ron admitted sadly. "And haven't we been doing whatever we had to do – for years – and to hell with the rules, like when we went to the Department of Mysteries without official permission? So I'm not all that surprised when Four DE wantabe snakes tried to kill-me a few hours ago, and Dumbledore instantly started looking for ways for the wrong-doers to escape criminal punishment".
"That's not fair", Harry growled.
"Come-on; Harry… think-on-it for a-bit! The headmaster bent to near breaking - the underage magical-usage laws for your specific benefit after the Dursley/dobby incident. Think of all the rules we broke in second year, rules bent in our favor so that we not only rescue Ginny - but also win the house-cup".
"We've gotten use to the Albus manipulation of things and spinning facts around to get us out of trouble", Ron continued. "But it is naive to think that he's only bent the rules for the benefit of Gryffindor exclusively.
"You're spot-on about that!" Harry exclaimed. "Draco has gotten away with loads of stuff for years now …above and beyond avoiding any kind of punishment for letting in the DE during or sixth year …as you so cleverly pointed out", Harry said sounding proud this time.
"Hermione I bet - always knew about this flaw in our beloved Headmaster and just assumed we knew it too. Brilliant and beautiful is that girl", Ron said in admiration that bordered on worship. Harry noticed the reverence that Ron displayed at the mere mention of her name and felt sorry for his best-mates ongoing heartache.
"The old fox must have a phobia to rescue people from the big-trouble they get into, and Merlin knows the trio nearly got 'expelled' from Hogwarts - - a dozen times over the years", Ron said. "I'll wager that Dumbledore plays his manipulation games out of some internal compulsion to 'save' those in peril all for the 'greater-good' – with the trio rescued so ruddy often …due primarily to the 'Orders' fixation over the prophecy".
'Ya-think', Harry exclaimed with a snort.
"Look Harry – I'm a little slow on the pick-up at times about things right under my nose- -"
"- - like Hermione,"
Yeah, I muffed my chance with her, and thanks so much for rubbing salt in that wound", Ron said with a sad half-chuckle. 'You aren't her type' he said to himself before saying out loud - "Apparently Dumbledore has determined that the trio shouldn't have everything go the Chosen One's way - and has taken-up a new pet project – to rescue Draco and the other DE wantabe's from them-selves".
"But we're talking attempted murder here …Ron" Harry pointed out
"It's the only explanation I can come-up with – without Hermione around to point-out the flaws in my logic", Ron said with a deep sigh of regret. "Did you notice that Hermione wasn't invited to the DE war briefing – last term she would have been?"
"If she was there, your so-called secret DE target would be exposed", Harry pointed out with a chuckle of his own.
"Yeah-yeah I know – but doing this 'TASK' without Hermione clever insights - is like trying to swim with only one arm. She was great at helping 'us' figure for what happened and what to do next - if nothing else. I miss the old days – the three musketeers Trio days, Harry – okay?" Ron said sadly.
"So Draco need to be protected from himself and the law, he has to be saved in spite of letting the DE into Hogwarts last year and now from trying to kill you. He's also protected Snape more times than I can count, kept him from prison after the first war", Harry said as if suffering an epiphany.
"We are all - just pieces on Albus's world-stage chess board match with Voldemort. In Romania I woke-up to that uncomfortable truth, good thing to - don't you think?" Ron said. "I've accepted being the 'thing' that my co-op turned me into. I've come to expect the games old Dumbledore plays with people, you included - and I've done things I'm frankly not proud of. Today I learned …the hard way - that Dumbledore will help you one day and Slytherin the next and all out of a 'desire' to be 'fair'."
"Soldiers aren't interested in a level playing field, fighting battles with even numbers - - in war we want to win – with minimum casualties on our side. We don't fight for God, country – or some idealistic 'greater good' - soldiers fight for their mates. I've killed to save my teammates because I trusted them to do the same for me if my back is exposed - that's the reason the letters are 'still' sticking in my craw – it's all about life-or-death trust".
"And I've betrayed your trust multiple times this term", Harry said sadly.
"At least you admit it, Ginny never admits to the pranks she pulls and Hermione never apologizes", Ron said. "People around-here …still think of me as some clumsy fool in the hand-me down clothes. Four snakes thought they were ambushing your dimwitted sidekick. They underestimated the thing I became in Romania this morning and have paid the heavy price for it. Snape too believed I would be the same easy mark I was when I left and he too was terribly wrong".
"I'm not the same little-boy that left – Harry. I didn't come back to finish school – I didn't come back for you, Ginny or any of our other dorm mates. I didn't come back out of fear of my mother's temper. I'm here to keep a promise – to fulfill a solemn vow to protect my … 'semi-sister', - a girl I'm trying to hook-up with Krum …for Merlin's sake. So go back to having fun as a prankster with my sister – your girlfriend …and leave this unpleasant task - - to me",
Harry couldn't say anything in response, even if he did, it would've come across as petty when compared to the ultimate sacrifice of loyalty and love that Ron was willing to make. He could only watch gob-smacked as Ron lifted the spells on the door and walked out.
Harry didn't like being in the position of sidekick for a change. But he trusted Ron to do the right thing regarding Hermione's safety. The problem being that he knew he would have to help Ron 'cover his tracks - hopefully 'long enough' for the Order or the Aurors to capture Dolohov. He also had a hunch that Professor Dumbledore and McGonagall would be doing the same.
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End Tran - for now