"So, how is Sirius doing?" Ron asked as he stretched his hands over his head. He was sure glad to be back at Malfoy Manor and away from his family. It wouldn't have been so bad if they hadn't tried, the entire time he was there, to get him to see Dumbledore. His constant refusals had fallen on deaf ears which caused him to cut his time with his family short. He hadn't been the only one annoyed with his parents. Fred and George had returned to Malfoy Manor three days before Ron, having had enough of their mothers constant nagging.
"I think he's adjusting rather well." Draven looked up from the map he had been studying. "He's been down to see Bella every night this week and I think he's actually helping her. I mean, just yesterday she left Dobby feed her without causing him injury. If that isn't progress, I don't know what is." He folded the map up and pushed it to the side.
Ron shifted in his chair to look at Draven. "How's he handling the fact that you used to be Harry Potter?" He asked, bluntly.
Draven shrugged and jotted something down on a nearby piece of parchment that was covered with numbers and addresses. "We haven't spoken about it since the day I told him. Every once in a while he'll refer to James and Lily as my mum and dad but other than that...nothing. We'll discuss it more in-depth when he is ready, not before." He stressed knowing that his friend would try to help and only make matters more complicated and awkward.
"So that should be the twelfth of never, right?" Ron asked, sarcastically, then waved his hand to dismiss his question. "So have you decided where the Fangs are going to attack next?" He changed the topic.
"Draco has made some interesting suggestions." Draven left his friend change the subject. He looked back to his piece of parchment. "I considered each of his suggestions before dismissing them. They weren't places that would make an impact." He was quiet for a moment then pulled out a neatly folded map, one he had drawn himself. Unfolding it, he smoothed it out and motioned Ron over.
Ron stood and walked over to the desk that Draven was sitting at and leaned over his shoulder to get a closer look at the map. His eyebrows hiked higher and higher on his forehead with each name and location that he read. "This is going to be our biggest attack yet." He whispered wondering if they were ready, or even prepared, for something this big.
Draven nodded his head. "It is. This attack will let the Minister and Dumbledore know that we are not to be scoffed at. This will let them know what kind of a threat we really are." Cold green eyes moved over the map. "You will lead your Death Eaters in an attack here." He pointed to Wales. "Recruitment has been good this year." He explained which was his way of saying that each Fang was getting more members added to their teams. "Draco will lead his men into London and Orion has agreed to take his flank to Westminster. Any questions?"
"Wales?" Ron asked in a small voice. He suddenly felt overwhelmed. "Do you really think we should be split up like that? What about you?" He searched the map for Draven's target but found nothing. But he knew his friend well enough to know that he would be involved with the fighting. "Where are you going to be?"
"I will lead a small group to Little Whinging, Surrey." Draven's voice suddenly chilled. "We've been preparing for this day for years, Ron. All the attacks and raids have been leading up to this point and I have faith in you. So have faith in yourself!"
Ron chewed on his lower lip and dropped down into a chair near the desk. "This is suicide." He whispered. "There isn't enough Death Eaters for this attack!" His voice suddenly grew strong. "We'll be stretched too thin!" He was the strategist, after all.
Draven sighed and pinched the top of his nose. "As I have said before, recruitment has been good this year and last year and the year before. We have enough men or I wouldn't have laid it out like this." He waved a hand over the map."You can't back out now, Ron. You're in too deep. You can't just quiet because you've chosen this point in time to grow a bloody conscious!" He snarled, green eyes flashing with anger.
"I'm not backing out!" Ron hissed, growing defensive. "I was just pointing out that this is insane! That's my job, isn't it? To tell you what attack will be successful and what attack won't? Which raid will bring us the most supplies and which will lose us men? Oh I forgot, you know what's best right? That worked out well for Rodolphus didn't it." Before he even closed his mouth, he knew he had crossed an unspoken line and wasn't surprised to find himself on the floor, thrashing around in unbearable pain.
Clutching his wand, Draven watched as his friend slid to the floor as his Cruciatus Curse hit him. For several moments he watched in grim satisfaction as Ron flailed around like a fish out of water. Then, as if snapping out of a daze, he cancelled the curse and sat back in his chair. "Where there is war, there must be punishment." He said, quietly. "Next time I will not be so lenient."
Ron laid on the floor, panting, trying to catch him breath. Finally, he pushed himself up and gingerly sat back onto the chair he had previously occupied. "I didn't mean...I shouldn't have said...I'm sorry." He whispered. "I do trust you, Draven." He took a deep breath. "So if you want me to lead an attack against Wales then I shall." He agreed.
Draven finally brought his eyes back to his friend. "I did not like doing that." He frowned. "But I would do it again. You were out of line!" He bellowed then his anger deflated slightly. "You will have more than enough men to successfully launch an attack against Wales." He waved his hand. "Leave me."
Nodding, Ron stood, shakily, and walked out of the study. Once the door was closed, he slumped against the wall, his legs, which felt like jelly, refusing to hold him up. "Bloody hell." He mumbled. "Note to self, never piss off the future conqueror of the Wizarding World." Pushing himself up, he used the wall for support and make his way up to the room he shared with Orion. He breathed a sigh of relief when he saw that the room was empty. He plopped down on his bed and tried to relax his screaming muscles. And that's how Orion found him, three hours later.
