"Ron, you are in your mid-thirties, it's time to show some ambition. Every single one of your colleagues is at least a Senior Auror. It's almost automatic promotion after ten years of work! You can't be a simple Auror forever. Don't you know how bad it looks? "
Hermione was again nagging about things. And here he thought that after moving out of Burrow, he will be a free man. Nice wife, nice sex, then birth of children as a consequence, easy, warm job at Ministry. He was quickly disabused of these thoughts. She was ten times worse than his mother with nagging and she declared right from the beginning, that she won't cook for him, because she's a free woman.
Well, ok. When you marry, there obviously will have to be compromises. After a couple months of being married, he learned another nasty habit of her – she simply loved to blackmail him with no sex.
"Darling, can we have more than two kids?" Suggestion alone earned him two weeks on the coach.
"I've got a job at DMLE and if you think, that I will resign from it to have seven children, you're sadly mistaken!" She yelled. To be honest, he thought something among these lines, maybe four, not seven kids, but come on! He was a family man!
"Honey, don't you think, that we could give our son some name more magical than Hugo?" He suggested. Names of wizards might sound strange to Muggles but the same goes the other way. Hugo wasn't a common name even among non-magical. He didn't want his son to be bullied, damn it!
"You racist, pureblood pig! You think, that everything magical is better than Muggles? I just knew that you were a closet blood-supremacist. Even in Hogwarts you did more harm to Gryffindor than your help for Harry was worth." Now she did it, she brought up Harry. He was always jealous of him and he will always be.
"I simply don't want our children to be ridiculed! But maybe Slytherins were right about Muggleborns, if you're an example!" Ron shouted. He always had this problem to be quiet rather than say some random stuff he himself didn't believe in.
Now, this was about politics, and she was really serious about equality, hate-speech, what with her crusade to make magical world a copy of the muggle. He seriously thought that this might end in court, but eventually he "only" had to pay with 2 months of abstinence.
With all his troubles and shattered dreams, why haven't he tried to divorce? Simple, she knew laws, had higher position in Ministry, earned more, and was a mother – there is no doubt, who would get custody over kids. Aliments would leave him penniless – he knew very well that Hermione could be vicious and in the case of divorce she wouldn't pull any throws. Then came sex – they no longer loved each other, but with their much more frequent rows sex became even better – oh, irony.
Back to present, Ron sighed in his mind. He pretended to read a newspaper while in reality he was ogling his wife. She was wearing a black jacket and quite a short skirt – nice outfit befitting a businesswoman or a high-level ministry worker. She was sipping her coffee, looking at him with distaste and disappointment. Usually he would try to appease her, pretend to agree with what she says, to lie, if only for a quickie before a work. Not today. Something inside of him rebelled against all of this pretending, being nice to a person that would always find him lacking.
He didn't want to start an argument, so he stood up, grabbed a floo powder, threw it into fireplace and shouted "Ministry of Magic!". Before vanishing, he could see his wife, she was opening her mouth, then she stopped, but her face clearly indicated that it's not over. Why couldn't she just drop it? He was happy with his position and responsibilities.
He was going to decrease the amount of paperwork today, as a proper paper-pusher ought to, but didn't manage to even sit in his chair, before a paper plane from Department of Mysteries arrived.
'Strange.' He thought 'It's rare for them to solve cases together with me. Not enough creativity, they say.'
Weasley, we'll be adding protections to the Goblet of Fire. You are friends with Potter and he had a lot to do with this artefact, but he has too much on his plate to bother him with it. So if you could help us sometime before 10, ok?
Grey
'And for a moment I thought that someone needs me and not a Potter's shadow, sidekick.' He thought bitterly. As years passed his friendship with the great saviour was more and more forceful. He suspected that Hermione would prefer Harry as her husband, it was one of her hobbies, compare them, say something among the lines:
"He didn't care for marks just like you, but look, with hard work he achieved so much more than you."
'Hard work my ass!' Honestly? Nothing changed, Harry was as lazy as he was, but he was a celebrity. Every achievement was a pure luck on his side. Yet he got all the fame and seems that even love of his wife.
'Grrr! Might as well check what Unspeakables want with me. Now I'm too angry to sit in one place.'
After a short ride with the lift he arrived to this dark, circular room with many doors. Somebody was already there - grey robes, a hood, the same, exact plain look - that was an Unspeakable for you.
"Weasley, already here? We thought you'll be later. You look like a man who's waiting till the last moment." Grey seemed… surprised? Hard to tell, their voices are always distorted.
"Yes, well... Seemed like a good alternative to paperwork." Ron had a hard time not to say something rude as an answer.
"Hmm, we aren't ready yet. Come with me, you'll have to wait about 15 minutes, I'll show you the room with the artefact!" The researcher walked without looking back. Finally they arrived in a small room filled to the ceiling with a lot of strange trinkets including broken time-turners, parchments with moving runes and old weapons. In the middle of the room on a desk was the aforementioned goblet.
"Is it safe to keep such a powerful thing in this storeroom?" Asked the ginger.
"No, but nobody knows that we moved it here. I hope an auror will be responsible enough not to announce it? I need to tell my co-workers that you're already here, I'll be back in a couple of minutes. Please, don't touch anything, especially not the goblet." Said the Unspeakable.
"I'm an adult, I'm not stupid! Either way, what could've happened even if I touched the goblet? It's supposed to work on parchments consumed by fire..." Wondered Ron.
"I don't know, but better not to tempt fate. You have the strongest connection to the goblet among the living, excluding the participants and organizers of the tournament, of course. One of the reasons we wanted you here." Answered Mr Grey.
"What?! How?!" Ron was scared. The goblet could take away the magic, he didn't want to have anything with it.
"We are not sure, but our devices are showing strong residue connection and you are the easiest to meet. How did this happen? We think that Ginevra Weasley's life debt was the most important part. Then your family lightly connected with the goblet, when your brothers attempted to join the tournament. The connection would've fade after a couple of days...
But then Mr Potter was chosen as a champion and you betrayed him publically, terrible thing considering the life debt owned by your family. What is more, you declared that it was you that should've been chosen. Nothing happened, but residue connection was forged. Now, if you don't have any more questions, can I finally look for the rest of my team?" With these parting words Grey left the room.
Ron was pacing, he touched many things, he didn't give a damn. At some point he probably even touched the sand from a time-turner.
'A traitor, me! He dares to admonish me! I remember the story. Harry again had an opportunity to impress chicks, in a tournament that was said to be finally safe! And then there was money. How was I supposed to know that he didn't care about girls?' Ron ranted in his head.
'Well, fuck you, what could've happened if I did it?' Ron thought and touched the goblet with his hand dirtied by the time sand. As soon as he did it, he felt as if he touched a portkey.
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"Harry Potter!" Someone said. Ron was trying to adjust his sight after travel. He was sitting at the... Great Hall in Hogwarts? He was surrounded by people that should either be dead or much older. Near the Head Table was the Goblet of Fire. Ron quickly realised that he travelled back in time to the moment when Harry was chosen as a fourth champion. Someone other than him would've panicked or wouldn't believe that it's all real. But not Ron. He always dreamed that he is given a chance, that he finds a rare magical artefact or that something unusual happens to him.
'Merlin's beard! I'm no longer married to that slut! I can change everything! Save Fred and... Screw everybody else, save Fred, the rest can go to hell. Hmm... What can I do? I remember a lot about quidditch results and... I need to get Deathly Hallows, I'm the only one that knows where are all of them! But firstly I should take it all slowly, to refresh my memories of these times.' It would be a lie to tell that Ron was happy, no! He was ecstatic! His musings were suddenly broken by a loud voice.
"I didn't do it!" Shouted Harry wondering why Ron is so happy.
"Well, I believe you, but you should use this opportunity to get laid! Girls will be probably all over the champions." Ron answered with a mad smile.
"Ron!" Both Hermione and Harry were indignant.
"What? When life gives you lemons..." He said with a knowing smile. Harry might be slightly upset, but as long as he will say that he believes him, he could get away with nearly everything.
"Mr Potter!" Repeated Dumbledore, people were beginning to gossip loudly.
"Harry, go! Remember that we believe you!" Said the ginger - it's always good to establish yourself as a loyal friend. This is the thing he screwed the last time – Harry would forgive you everything, he is stupid like this, but betrayal… To be honest it was too forgiven, but not forgotten.
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Ron was in the Gryffindor common room preparing for a tricky task – how to antagonize Harry even more, isolate him and on the other hand still appear to be his best mate? Forcing Hermione to take the blame would be the icing on the cake. Right now his best idea was to create a rift between him and other houses – Slytherin was always against the Boy-Who-Lived but this event created a unique chance to piss off Ravenclaw and Huffelpuff. With luck words will be said that will permanently create new enemies.
"Hey guys, whether he put his name or not, one thing is certain – Hogwart is represented by Gryffindor! Let's party people!" Ron began. Then his brothers quickly created more chaos unaware of his plots. There were some grumblings though.
"Gryffindor champion? Great! He will only make a fool of us! He's too young." This came from Angelina Johnson. She hoped to be chosen herself and won't forgive this unexpected change soon.
'Vox Modulatio!' Cast quietly Ron.
"You are simply jealous! By the way, you're quite a traitor, aren't you his teammate?" Came a voice from the largest crowd. Nobody could tell, who said it and nobody suspected Ron. He created a nice stir, Angelina was becoming angry and will surely lash out as soon as Harry arrives. When things seemed to quiet down, he heard another interesting comment.
"How was he able to put his name in the goblet?" Wondered some third year.
"He's the Boy-Who-Lived! Although, if he's such a hero, shouldn't he tell us how to do it? It's called being a good sport!" Predictably, voice came from another crowd and again nobody could point the speaker. Angry shouts appeared again – many people were disappointed that Harry didn't show house unity and didn't share his method.
As a finishing touch, he put a weak compulsion on Hermione:
'He broke the rules again! But this time for adventure instead of saving innocents!'
She was addicted to rules and he didn't need to use anything stronger – she loved to lecture them, this time it'll be her who'll put her foot in her mouth. All was prepared, he was only waiting for the show to begin. People were tense, they would only need a trigger to explode. The portrait of Fat Lady finally opened.
"Harry! Why did you do it?! You shouldn't put your life in danger just for a new adventure! I know that you want to save people, but other champions are powerful and will manage to survive! There was no need to put your name in the goblet just to be closer to them. Tomorrow we will go to Professor McGonagall, you will say sorry and we will take you out of this death trap."
Ah, good old, bossy Hermione. So sure, that she is right, always willing to order you to make your life better. She didn't realise, even when she was already a mother of teenagers, how frustrating it could become.
"Hermione…? How could you? You out of everybody should know me well enough that I wouldn't do something so stupid and without good reason." Look of betrayal on Harry's face, it was so beautiful! In this life Hermione won't sleep with Harry during their Horcrux Hunt.
"Third floor. Chamber of secrets. Dementors. Hogsmeade. No, you won't break the rules without a reason, you said it yourself. But when you think, that there is some life you can save, you ignore all the rules that exist. But Harry, this time they will be protected. You didn't need to do it. You will just apologise and I'm sure that everything will be alright. Well maybe you'll get a detention, but it's better than to risk your life." The girl was full of passion, people were nodding. She was so clever and so stupid at the same time!
This is why he chose her as a spokesperson. She could argue efficiently using logic, but she never stopped to ask herself, whether she was in the right. Once the idea stuck her, she stubbornly followed it. Nothing will convince her that he didn't put his name. All dangers will only strengthen her delusions.
Her half-truths were working, people were muttering and shouting in agreement. Harry was trembling, for someone who knew him as well as Ron it was clear that he was on the verge of tears.
'You shouldn't have slept with my girlfriend in the tent during our seventh year! You shouldn't be the third person in my marriage! Supporting Hermione's genocide against house elves wasn't that great idea either. Squandering your family's fortune instead of sharing with the friend… Giving your family magic to public instead of sharing with, you know, FAMILY – Weasleys through marriage.
Destroying magic together with Hermione, bill by bill. You had always good intentions, but you should be more selfish. In the end your willingness to suffer was hurting your allies too…' Ranted Ron in his mind.
Visibly though his face didn't show hate, he looked like he was angry with the crowd. When Harry entered the dormitory the ginger quickly said.
"Harry, I want you to know that I believe you. I don't know what is wrong with Hermione. Today her sticking to rules went too far. It's like third year all over again. Why did she snitched you when you got Firebolt? I will never get it." The redhead pretended to be a good friend.
"Ron, you don't realise how much it means to me. Thanks mate." The honest face of Harry nearly broke all conviction of Ron to suck him dry and then abandon. He was such an innocent guy! But then he remembered that he was also a doormat, a trouble magnet and the most important – a martyr. Being his friend, no, even allowing him to live in the end attracted destruction and defeat.
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Sunday, the day after choosing champions Ron was pacing in front of the wall on seventh floor. He created something resembling a plan, more like an outline, but he got an idea where to begin with his financial troubles. There was a long time before the Yule Ball, but he needed to be prepared – it was his best chance to find some willing girl to get laid – assuming that he will look and behave at least presentable. Thus the Room of Requirement.
'I need a room of lost things. I need a room of lost things. I need a room of lost things.' The ginger chanted in his head.
'Another thing our hero was able to spoil.' He noted bitterly.
Training facility with an easy access to magic from forbidden section, probably even with magic completely forgotten that elsewhere didn't survive purges ordered by headmasters. A cheat! Opportunity to rise and shine, prove superiority of magic, bring new era to their community (and gain fame as a side effect). Then Harry's effect rises its ugly head.
Potter had this ability to discover forgotten artefacts, mysteries, to raise your hopes and then crush them for the greater good. So he didn't use the room to its full capabilities, he didn't show it only to his best friends. No! He decided to use it as a meeting place for some new club. As they say, a secret known by three people is not a secret. Even sharing it only with the rest of Golden Trio would be a stretch. But inviting two dozens of people?
By the end of the year everybody that meant something in Hogwarts politics knew about RoR. Meaning, their enemies – Draco and co. were informed and quickly showed that villains are always more efficient. Just the next year they brought Death Eaters using this place. Burning of all lost things during the Battle of Hogwarts is nearly not worth mentioning by comparison.
His musings were interrupted by the appearance of a door. He opened it and was looking at a huge room, full of things. Many were broken, but as the name indicated – most were lost.
'Now I need to do it smartly and begin with something that can be quickly sold.' Thought lazily Ron.
Collecting money was not an option. Lost coins were transferred to Hogwarts Vault. So maybe jewellery?
"Point me nearest piece of expensive jewellery without enchantments!" The redhead decided to use magic, he was a wizard after all. It didn't take him long to find a golden bracelet incrusted with rubies.
'Should be worth enough to buy a better robe for Yule Ball and will leave me still with a lot of pocket money. Now the question is - where and how can I sell it?'
Ron left the room and focused on his second goal - forgotten/forbidden magic.
'I need a place to learn and practice rituals. I need a place to learn and practice rituals. I need a place to learn and practice rituals. '
The room was much smaller now, the size of a classroom. There was a large pentagram in the middle of the floor inside a bigger star, all inscribed with well-known as well as obscure runes. At the back there was a lot of drawers filled with books, a coach, an arm-chair and a desk with one book laying on it.
The boy assumed that it is a beginner textbook, because that's what he wanted while creating this place, even if he didn't voiced it. Yes, as he approached he could clearly see the title 'Rituals, grade 1'. As he leafed it, he realised that the language was slightly old-fashioned, but otherwise it was quite easy to understand.
'[...] Rituals allow us to focus much more magic than spells, but the time required by them, ingredients and quite often a sacrifice makes them impractical for everyday use. It doesn't mean of course that they have no applications.
One of the most important possibilities lays in enhancements. Unfortunately, the most powerful rituals improving the wizard must be conducted before his first magical majority - 11th birthday, effectively leaving them under discretion of parents. Trying to perform them later may lead to death or insanity as a drawback.'
'Grrr. That's exactly the reason why I need to destroy Granger-Potter duo. This type of magic should be available, legal. So what do they do? Penalise even more magical practises.
Wait! Parents... I'm quite sure that a couple of dark families gave their children this advantage - there must be a reason why the rich purebloods are unearthly good looking and studying comes easy to them. Though it shows lower status of Crabbe, Goyle or Bulstrode.
'Well, I can't change the past... Hehehe. In fact I can, but I will never be younger than 11 again, this one time travel was already an example of a wild luck. So let's see which rituals I CAN do. '
Eventually he found a couple of lesser rituals – he decided to go with the one improving looks – nothing ground-breaking, he won't suddenly become a male veela, but all his minor flaws, asymmetrical spacing of features, tendency for some diseases will be removed and it will all become hereditary. With the full ritual he would be completely rebuild into the top of evolution, optimal human being.
'It's good enough – all of the changes would be attributed to puberty finally hitting me. I will look slightly better, be a little bit more healthy, live longer. At least nobody will notice drastic changes overnight as would be the case with the full ritual.' Ron was pretty pleased with his findings.
He wasn't really upset, there was only information about existence of the full rituals, but no instructions. It was probably part of Greengrass' and Malfoy's family grimoires – these two were looking too good to be natural. He suspected also that Potters, seemingly light family, used the full Felix Ritual – increasing the luck of a person by 777%. It wasn't simply possible for Harry to survive all this shit without such extra help.
After two hours he was more or less ready with all the information he needed about his two chosen rituals. He was lucky with Lesser Body Purification Ritual - there was only one ingredient needed - seven drops of veela blood. It's just so happened that Fleur was in the same castle every day. What about her being only a quarter? Smokescreen - you either are or aren't a veela - the genes are either activated or not - there is no middle ground. Her animal magnetism clearly showed that she was indeed a veela.
'Damn, the second one is quite tricky.' Grunted Ron.
He didn't find a way around it - he needed either very rare and expensive ingredients or, as he found out in one of the other books, human sacrifice. The thing was, he really needed the Lesser Felix Ritual - an 77% increase in luck wasn't something he could scoff at. He even had a willing participant - Barty Crouch Jr, dead in the eyes of the Ministry, so he wouldn't be wanted for homicide.
'To destroy the timeline or not to destroy...' Mused Ron. Eventually he decided that with his newly gained luck there won't be too many changes.
'Ok, it's discouraged to perform more than one ritual per month. Let's start with the pretty chick. How to cut her without bringing anyone's attention?' Plotted the redhead.
'Wait! It was around this time that ferret gave Hermione these huge teeth. Spells hit the bystanders. This is it! I will somehow begin a row with Malfoy when she will be around, levitate a sharp stone or something... No sense to plan any details, no plan survives contact with the enemy.' Ron was satisfied that finally things were moving forward.
'Shit! I spend here a lot of time. I have to find Harry and give him some bullshit about contacting my family.' Ron quickly went to Gryffindor Common Room.
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"Harry, I got a letter from Charlie today. The first task will be dragons. You'll have to bypass it and steal a fake egg. He knows because he will be here handling these beasts. Remember, it's top secret, even if you will talk to him alone, he will deny that he told you." Ron began in concerned voice.
"Dragons! What the hell were they thinking?! At least I have time to prepare... Ron, you are saving my life! If there is something, anything I can do for you... I mean it." It was obvious that Harry was honest.
'You are playing right into my hand.' Thought ginger with amusement. Finally he was the one more cunning, not hard when you are almost thrice as old.
"Mate, I don't need anything! Although... Now that you mentioned saving your life. You know that Ginny and our family owes you a life debt? I know it's not the same, but... I would sleep better knowing that Ginny won't ever be forced to anything." Here he paused and after a moment added quietly with some hesitation. "Usually purebloods use a debt to gain a mistress."
"Ron, you know I'm not that kind of a guy!" Harry exclaimed.
"I know! But what about your children, grandchildren? Being raised in Wizarding World it's a fear on the subconscious level. We didn't know how to approach you." The redhead said absently.
"Sure Ron, I didn't save her for some debt! What should I do?" Harry was seemingly concerned.
"Well, if you could repeat after me, holding your wand: I, Harry James Potter recognise the help in saving my life in Tree Wizard Tournament provided by Ronald Billius Weasley and find it enough to pay back the life debt of Ginevra Molly Weasley and Weasley family. So mote it be!" Ron quickly provided the wording. Harry repeated after him, determined to prove to be a good guy. His wand emanated a bright light and Ron felt freer than ever in his life.
"Uff, good to get rid of..." Started Harry but didn't manage to end.
"Obliviate! I helped you, but there was no talk about life debts." As an auror he was quite proficient in this charm. Harry didn't consider the information that important, he was focused on dragons, so charm will be unbreakable and with time any traces will fade.
Ron didn't want Harry to remember this - life debts were much more valuable and he basically scammed the orphan.
'Meh, so what? Now our family is free from him and I'm free from the goblet - it was nice to get a second chance, but I don't need a connection to this thing anymore. Next time some accident could put me at a disadvantage.' Ron mused. The debt was payed, by helping in the Tournament even, so he didn't need to worry about being returned to the future.
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Nearly two weeks has passed and Harry was even more isolated than in the first timeline. In the new one he had much poorer support from Gryffindor too. Partially thanks to Ron's plotting, suggesting from shadow that great Boy-Who-Lived should've share his method, partially because of Hermione. Bossy? Yes. Annoying? Surely. Loud? Unfortunately.
However, all people agreed on one thing – she tried to be just and follow all rules to the letter. It was usually why others didn't want much to do with her. What is a life without small indulgences? But at the same time she was some sort of indicator – when she said something, she was probably overreacting but there was a grain of truth in her words. That's why Gryffindor wasn't such a great place for Potter now – it wasn't a well-known for his jealousy side-kick Weasley that publically chastised him – it was an oversensitive teacher's pet Granger. She surely wouldn't lie, right?
'Ok, time to begin the show.' Thought Ron as he caught sight of Fleur walking no further than 10 metres from him and Harry. Malfoy was nearby too, wearing a badge insulting Potter. Without interference, he would start his bullying in 5 minutes. The redhead couldn't afford it – by then veela would be safely far away from them.
"Oi, Malfoy! What do you think you are doing with these stupid badges?" Ron shouted. All the bystanders stopped and started to observe.
"Wow, if it isn't an orphan and beggar. Do you like our badges, Weasley? I heard one is worth more than your house." Draco as always had this infuriating smirk, taunting him to explode. Not this time, first blow must be thrown by Slytherins.
"You didn't make it by yourself… Who helped you? Your fath… I mean head of house, Professor Snape? I heard he and your mother are good... friends and so he is willing to give you a helping hand from time to time." Ron mocked and not so subtly suggested that Lucius had no son. Nothing could move ferret. Accuse his father of bribery? They are both proud of it. But Draco always loved his mother, it was his soft spot.
"What are you suggesting, Weasel?!" Angry beyond words, Draco threw neon orange curse at him.
'Finally!' The redhead was ecstatic. He pretended that he's throwing a curse at Draco, than 'accidentally' hit some random, stupid looking Slytherin. The fight between two houses began. Both Slytherins and Gryffindors were throwing curses without care. In the chaos Ron transfigured a sharp piece of stone, stealthily levitated it in the direction of his enemies, then changed its course and openly let it fly through air at Fleur's arm – it all looked as if she was a victim of snakes.
"Merde! Stupid islanders! Barbarians!" Fleur was livid, she was a racist and hated England to begin with. But now they dared to attack her! A pool of blood was emerging on the floor. Luckily for her, the injury was skinning over as she was slowly changing into some sort of human/bird hybrid.
"Animals! Is this how Hogwarts greets its guests?!" Her voice was becoming distorted. Eventually she was done with words and started to throw (admittedly small) fireballs at Slytherins.
'This is my chance!' Ron started crawling, avoiding legs of all fighters, trying to reach the blood.
"What is going on here?!" Screeched Professor Sprout quickly approaching the duelling crowd. "Cease this madness now!"
'Damn, I'm out of time!' Ron decided to forsake stealth – nobody was looking his way. He ran pulling out a vial with unbreakable enchantment, charmed to be unbreakable and hiding its content even from magical eyes.
"Liquor volito!" He whispered – he had to use specialized charm for levitating liquids – he couldn't allow any contamination – rituals required as pure ingredients as possible.
'Great, there is probably thrice as much blood as I need.' He mentally patted himself while hiding his haul. There was still a lot of blood on the floor so nobody will ask awkward questions.
"Mr Weasley!" He heard a shout and almost died from fear. It was Professor Sprout, she was heading his way with angry scowl.
"The students informed me that you were the cause of this foolishness!" She accused him.
'I should be afraid, but really… Nobody caught me collecting blood (never a good sign in our community), so I'm safe.'
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He was eventually punished with a week of detentions but so was Malfoy. Ron wasn't particularly angry about it – he began this little riot knowingly and was aware of possible consequences.
'If somebody would've seen me stealing blood I would've been expelled or even tried before the Wizengamot.' Ron mused while putting fertilizer into soil for some strange plant he didn't care about.
'Another good thing – the first time around I had this detention with Snape. Wanker didn't waste any second of these two hours to humiliate me.' The redhead happily thought while working at a greenhouse.
"That's enough for today Mr Weasley. Really, as a fourth year you should know better than to insult parents of people you don't like. I know that it's usually Mr Malfoy that starts fights, but there are some lines that shouldn't be crossed. You weren't the one to throw the first curse… but Mr Weasley, today I was more disappointed with you. You can go, I have to go to the third greenhouse and send away the other hooligan." Sprout walked away while still muttering something under her breath.
Ron didn't have to fake his embarrassment, he was an adult for god's sake, but on the other hand this was Malfoy. As he grew older he learnt that people that are close to you can deal more damage, so he began to really hate Hermione and Harry – the latter for being a doormat, wasting every opportunity given by fate, the former for simply being a bitch. Malfoy wasn't an issue any more, he almost never saw him. Now it's changed.
'He is ultimate bully, isn't he?' Ron was forced to remember his teenage years, all humiliation dealt by the blonde, baiting, being forced to take blame for Malfoy's misgivings (favourite action of Snape). Honestly, when dealing with him there was no line he wouldn't cross, he deserved everything and more. It was one good reason to allow Voldemort to return – nobody would be surprised that people are disappearing – from both sides.
Once he returned to dormitories, he took a quick shower – he didn't want to smell like a dragon dung. He was drying his hair when he saw something he didn't want – Hermione in the middle of her rant.
"Harry, that's enough! You pretended for almost two weeks, but now it's time to apologise. To the teachers, to me and to our house. Time is ticking and I should've already been preparing you." The girl was in a full swing.
"I think you don't understand, Granger." Ron never heard Harry's voice to be so cold. "My true friend is already helping me and I don't need you. You were always increasing my stress rather than truly helping."
'Oooh! That must've hurt! Are these tears I'm seeing in her eyes? Maybe it's not a bad occurrence to see her today after all.' Probably the only thing that the redhead was missing now was popcorn and he could happily watch the show. Unfortunately his peace wouldn't last.
"What, Ron? Harry, we both know he is not… He surely has many good qualities… Hmm… He is a great friend and… Hmm… Yes, really, but… It's not a game of chess you'll be forced to play. In the past people were fighting against manticores and cockatrices!" If he truly would had only an experience of 14 years, he would've been hurt by what she said.
'But I heard worse from her. Daily. In front of my kids.' Ron thought bitterly.
"Hem, hem! I'm here, you know Hermione? I think that we should discuss it… alone." Ron said pointedly looking at the small crowd that was happy to see some drama. Then he met Harry's eyes and tried to convene a message:
'I will try to talk some reason into her.'
From the look of his face, Harry understood something among these lines. Both Ron and Granger left the common room and found some empty classroom.
"Listen, Ron, I didn't…" Hermione started to make excuses. Unluckily for her, he knew all her strategies. He didn't explode, didn't shout at her, which would give her some justification, that maybe she was initially wrong, but he escalated it. Instead he smiled sadly.
"It's… lamentable, that you have such low opinion of me" He said while coming closer and looking her in the eyes.
"I didn't mean it like…" She started stuttering.
"I know that you worry about Harry. So do I. You were right about dangerous creatures. He will have to fight or trick dragons. I know from Charlie. That's the help I've given Harry." He said while placing his hand on her arm.
"I…" She was confused, probably feeling guilty. She didn't know how to respond to his gestures which were more than friendly. He knew her well – Ms Genius didn't know a thing about emotions. Force her to feel a dozen different ones and she loses all her brilliance. That was his plan - she will mix it all up with a crush.
"Give him some time. Remember your argument about Firebolt – eventually all ended well. I must go – there is one secret passage I wanted to check." He squeezed her hand.
"Ron, it's already after cur…" She stopped when he kissed her cheek and walked away.
'First step taken. Maybe I'm stupid to walk again this path, but this time I want to be the one who will take her virginity, not some Bulgarian celebrity. Only then will I be able to close this chapter of my life. Ironic, sex as the last act of our marriage, instead of the first.' He grimly smiled.
'I will have to work fast - we need to break up long before Yule Ball. She has to go with Krum – this is the most reliable method to put her under lake. And then… It is a public knowledge that especially during this tournament, accidents happen.' The investigation after incident with Delacours showed him many interesting assassination ideas.
Deciding not to dwell too much on the future, he stealthily arrived before the Room of Requirement – Hermione was right about curfew, he didn't want to be caught.
'I need a place for Lesser Body Purification Ritual and instruction. I need a place for Lesser Body Purification Ritual and instruction. I need a place for Lesser Body Purification Ritual and instruction.'
This time the room looked slightly different – he requested help with specific ritual after all. It was night too, so the torches were lighting on walls. There wasn't much in the room – a table with a parchment and bowl and a lot of stars and symbols cut on the floor.
'I don't need to remember what should be drawn, it's a plus. Still, it will hurt.'
He took off his clothes, then drank a blood replenishing potion.
"Diffindo!" He said pointing his wand at his wrist.
Blood started flowing freely into the bowl. He waited until it was full then healed his wound.
"Episkey!" Even with potion he still felt light headed.
He leaked his blood into grooves feeling lucky, that the runes and shapes are already drawn. It took him ten minutes to fill all the crannies – he had to be careful not to use too much of his blood and not to change any shape. Finally he stepped in the middle of all these squiggles, holding only wand, vial and the parchment.
He sat in lotus position and took a few deep breaths. Eventually he decided to begin. He tapped the Uruz rune – symbol of action to start the ritual. His blood was now glowing blue.
"Purgo meus…" The chant in Latin was long, but luckily the inside of circle didn't need to be empty yet and parchment, as an object prepared by natural means, could stay here during the whole ordeal.
After seven minutes of reading, he opened the vial and poured precisely seven drops of Fleur's blood in a proper hole.
'I hope that the pain won't be too strong…' Ron was slightly afraid but decided to continue. He threw the vial out of all circles, tapped Raidho rune, threw his wand too, gulped, then said.
"Commuto!"
Initially he felt only heat, but then pain hit him. Luckily it wasn't as bad as Cruciatus, he probably won't even need to cry, but it wasn't comfortable. Finally, after about thirty seconds the pain went away.
'Well, time to see my new face!' Even though he was exhausted, he was quite cheerful. He quickly put on his clothes, took all his items and left the room.
'I need a shower, towel and a mirror. I need a shower, towel and a mirror. I need a shower, towel and a mirror.'
He had to take a shower again, he was all sweaty after ritual. When he came in and saw his reflection he had to smile. There was a change but of a kind that you cannot put your finger on what exactly happened. His face was more symmetrical, all indications of his future beer belly disappeared, as well as a mole near his right nipple.
'Great, not too much so nobody will question me. And if somebody does, I will tell them that I started to take a second shower, or that I stole my sister's shampoo. The only one who could call bullshit is Granger, but after what I did today she will just be sure that she is falling in love with me and that's why I look better in her eyes.'
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Luckily, he did his ritual on Friday's evening, so he could safely sleep in the next day. Eventually he decided to grace the Great Hall with his presence. As he walked people were staring, giggling and pointing fingers at him. He caught eyes of Hermione – she looked like she was crying but now he could see… lust? Yes, it was lust, after years he could easily recognise it, in her eyes. She was red and after meeting his gaze, she rapidly moved her head.
'Ok, what's going on? Our 'romance' should take more time to develop. And why are all these people behaving like idiots?'
He noticed that Lee Jordan was reading a Prophet.
"Oi, Lee, can I take a look?" He asked him already suspecting what's going on.
"I would even say, you have to! Here, Ron." The black guy was much too cheerful.
Difficult love triangle
'As many readers of Prophet already heard, in an unexpected turn of events, our saviour, Harry Potter was chosen as a fourth champion in Triwizard Tournament. Many wondered what pushed him to break not only the school rules but also recommendations set by Ministry of Magic.
"Potter is an attention seeker. Every year he creates adventure to increase his legend. I would be surprised if he wouldn't use such an obvious opportunity for his fourth year." Confessed his classmate, Pansy Parkinson.
It was however Draco Malfoy, one of the top fourth years who shared with us an intriguing and strangely fitting theory:
"Potter always has a team with whom he prefers to disturb our peace at school instead of doing what we should – learn. But recently there was a trouble in a paradise. Herione Gangrene, or what was she called, started to argue with Potter, seems that this new adventure was too dangerous for her. I think that the Golden Boy wanted to impress her with something nearly impossible."
In answer to my surprise, he elaborated:
"The Golden Trio – Gangrene, Weasel and Potter were always close. It was becoming strange for us, other students, they didn't want to have anything to do with others, they isolated themselves. The Boy-Who-Lived refused friendship from many good, influential pureblood families. People have suspicions – they say that nobody is allowed inside because they are more than friends – that they created a love triangle."
I wasn't convinced about this theory, even though Malfoys are generally respected so I asked another friend of Mr Potter – Hannah Abbott. She was visibly nervous and not comfortable with the topic, but decided to share her knowledge:
"Hermione was always a smokescreen! It's well known fact that Ron and Harry are gays. Harry is uke and Ron seme!"
I didn't know these expressions so I asked for clarification, but it seemed to fluster the girl and she instead continued with explaining the complicated love life of our hero.
"Recently Ron decided to try something new, he wanted to be with a girl, so Hermione received more active role in Golden Trio. This however angered Harry, who never doubted in his sexuality, didn't want to experiment. So out of jealousy he decided to pick up Cedric Diggory, a handsome Head Boy from Hufflepuff House. There wouldn't be anything wrong if not for the method – to catch his attention Harry entered the tournament."
At first, all these theories seem to be too complicated, but then your reporter must admit that it begins to make sense! As they say, there's no smoke without fire.
Rita Skeeter'
Everybody looked at Ron expecting him to explode. Instead he started laughing.
"Harry, seems that I can no longer pick up a soap while you're under a shower!" People were slightly disappointed but were laughing with him either way.
"Bugger off Ron, doesn't it piss you off? I would think that you'd be first to be enraged by it." Harry clearly wasn't in a good mood.
"About buggering… I must say no, I prefer a particular girl. About article though… Harry, it's Rita Skeeter, when she writes an article, you should instead read a Squibler, their theories are usually more sound. She lives to destroy people, a grain of truth, then ten pages of speculation." Ron wasn't really angry, it might even help him with Hermione. He will have to write a letter to his mother though – she was always too quick to believe a written word, much like his wife, come to think of it.
Before Harry could reply, Malfoy approached their table.
"Well, Weasel? Your secret is out!" The idiot taunted.
"Ah, Malfoy. First you tell the newspaper about your dreams, about us being puffers, then you come to talk to us. For years you were trying to be mean to Harry… I get it! Straight boys, when they're still immature and fall in love with a girl, are pulling braids. But Harry's hair is short…" Ron answered with infuriating smirk of his own.
"I will get you for it!" Shouted Malfoy pulling his wand out.
"Mr Malfoy, 10 points from Slytherin! What were you thinking, beginning a fight in the middle of the Great Hall?!" McGonagal was furious.
'Ah, it's good to provoke this ferret for once. It's a complete change of roles. How nostalgic!' Mused Ron.
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Despite detentions and therefore, less time, Ron managed to achieve a couple of his goals before the First Task. During the next week he protected Granger from repercussions of the interview which made him a hero in her eyes. It shouldn't be a surprise then, that she easily agreed to go with him to Hogsmeade.
Their date wasn't remarkable, but it wasn't supposed to be – average was just good enough. The important thing was that they were returning to castle holding hands and before she went to her dormitory Ron kissed her lips. Of course, since she so loved rules, written word and formalities he had to confirm that they are a couple.
Unfortunately, as a side effect, Harry felt that he was now betrayed by his second friend, too.
"Ron, how could you?! You know what she did to me and now you decided that she will make a perfect girlfriend?" Harry was furious, but luckily he decided to argue in an empty classroom.
"I'll be honest with you, mate. I only want to get into her knickers. Yeah, cold, but think about me as your indirect revenge." Ron explained. He didn't outright lie – half-truths are always the most convincing.
"Ron… I… I don't know. I'm furious with her, but girls shouldn't be treated like that!" Harry finally managed to collect his thoughts.
"Mate, I made it sound colder, to show you that I'm not betraying you, but look… I don't love her, but I think she has a great body. I know that she will lose her virginity this year, the signals she sends are clear – Fred and George gave me a quick lesson in reading females. So, it's better for her to do it with someone she knows, right? And, will we eventually break up? Almost certainly, relationships in our age don't survive longer than a couple of weeks." Ron hoped that his rant will convince his 'friend'.
"It just sounds like you're playing with her feelings. I'll never trust her again, but I simply want to cease any contact, I don't want to torture her." Harry seemed still unconvinced.
"Harry, if not me, she would sleep with Krum, I saw where she was looking. I am not talking about breaking her heart. In a couple of weeks we will again argue and we will break up. I'm not going to abandon her after the first shag. It's just... I know that she will eventually be the one to end things." Ron wasn't sure that he won the argument, but Harry left the matter alone and they once again started to talk and train.
The second most important achievement before the Task was repeating all the material from his fourth year (including runes and arithmancy he had been once forced to learn by Granger). Yes, he was much more advanced – he participated in many auror trainings, he had six years of education, but firstly, he never finished Hogwarts and secondly, he was never a bookworm. This time he will be able to play a hard-working pupil.
The teachers already noticed his better wand work and essays. Luckily, they believed him when he attributed it to training with Potter; and wasn't it frustrating? The-Boy-Who-Lived had had always similar marks, maybe better by 10%. The only subject in which he was clearly gifted was DADA. Him training with Potter shouldn't convince anybody to be a reason of a 50% improvement – the other boy was simply not smart enough. Another proof that Potter was always pampered by authority figures.
Ron's third victory wasn't so big, but considering how slyly he managed to achieve it, he was still very proud of himself.
"Ron, I don't know how will I be able to fight these dragons! I think this time my luck won't save me." Harry was despairing as always when things go south.
"Mate, we were training for weeks and we've got still another one. You are able to cast plenty of fire resistance charms – they won't hold against dragon fire, but you won't be burnt badly either. You've got all these shields against physical harm – some of them, as you know, are auror grade and should be able to stop even a bullet from a muggle gun." Ron tried to calm his 'friend', but internally was disgusted with this weakling.
"Yes, I know, but it's all defence! I can't hide in some hole, I need to face this beast!" Let it be known that nobody is allowed to stop Harry's angsting. Nobody!
"Hmm… How about playing to your strengths? You are great at flying and come to think of it, you only need to get an egg, let's just ignore the dragon." In his mind Ron was laughing madly. He sold impostor's idea and gained free brownie points with Potter!
"Outfly a dragon?! This is madness! I love it! You are the best!" Harry finally relaxed and was clearly happy. "I will need to use this summoning charm to get my broom… Only wands are allowed… They will probably destroy this loophole for the next task…" Potter was still mumbling something under his breath as he went after the charm's textbook.
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Harry obviously won the first task with the most points given by judges – he did it once (from Ron's point of view), but now he had some protection charms and more time to practice summoning – victory wasn't a matter of doubt. However, as a side effect of much better performance, everybody believed that Harry willingly put his name in the Goblet. His victory didn't end the whispers nor isolation.
It was thus sadly Ron's duty, as Potter's only friend to spend time with him. How he nearly ended in Slytherin was incomprehensible. The lad lacked completely any drop of ambition. Realistically, Dursleys had won – for all his dislike for them, Harry wanted to be normal, just like them. Average.
His relationship with Granger was progressing nicely – he knew all her buttons and had advantage of age – they were now snogging regularly, though he had to be still careful with his hands. Then, almost two weeks after the first task, he was reminded of the necessity of ending this small adventure quickly – Hermione found out about houselves.
"I knew about prejudice and hoped that it will fade away… But Ron! Slavery! Tell me that your family doesn't own one of these slaves! I couldn't be a girlfriend of a slaver!" She was sitting in his lap, but in the same time was very determined, fully seized by self-righteousness.
"No, we don't have a house elf… Though there is more to it than slavery. There is some bound, giving magic…" This time he didn't try to defend the situation. He saw, that she still was preparing for a long argument, cutting down his sweet snogging time. "You need to do some research. How it came to be. Read. Ask elves. Only then, when you know fully, act."
She was calmer now, but still tried to say some nonsense – he silenced her with kiss – only this way she could be bearable and even, dare he say it, sweet.
But he held no illusions – eventually she would still try to free them all and as side-effect, commit a genocide. Like the last time. He could tell her, that they were creatures of almost pure magic, with little need for food. That bond was everything for them. That they had been created by accidental magic, then gained consciousness and began breeding by themselves. Their very nature, purpose immutable, set by magic.
He tried arguing last time – for once in his life he was the one using logic, facts and proof. All for nothing. Then again, he was thankful for this reminder – going out with her, easy manipulation made this relationship so nice, he slowly began to forget why he hated her. He began to question, whether murder was necessity. After all, with his experience he could raise her to be a perfect wife. Only to be straightened by the appearance of Dobby.
'It's not only a revenge. She is a danger for the society. Sleep with her, break down with her, kill her. Follow the plan, here's the reason.'
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A month passed since the duel with Slytherins and the following improvement of his looks and health. Meanwhile time was ticking – McGonnagal announced Yule Ball and he was in need of a lot of luck to finally get into Granger's knickers – winter (and thus Christmas) was coming, he had to still disassociate himself from her and then woe some nice, stable girl. It was time for ritual.
"Weasley, what do you want?" 'Moody' asked, surprised that Ron of all people visited him during tutorial hours.
"Well, professor…" He began to spin some bullshit story about helping Harry with second task. This wasn't the point. In his bag was an opened vial emitting invisible fumes – Benny Sleep was a potion that should be invented in 15 years. It became a great help for undercover auror missions – provided that you took the antidote.
"You know that as a teacher I can't help him." Then Moody showed a scary smile. "Though I don't like these dark wizards or frogs… I always was of the opinion that if you're not cheating, you're not trying."
What followed was 3 minutes of hidden advices, which Ron didn't even bother to listen to – the potion was moderately slow acting, but after full 5 minutes of exposure, Moody was cut in the middle of his sentence – the real advantage of this concoction. It gave no warning and the antidote was known only to aurors (from future), sworn under Unbreakable Oath (but they weren't forbidden to use it – it was assumed that symptoms would be instantly telling in the case of misuse).
Ron quickly transfigured the body of his "teacher", repeated the process with the real Moody (it wouldn't do to be linked to this event), then freed the auror and gave him delayed antidote (should wake the real one in 12 hours).
'Hmm, let's add some modern Confundus and strange spell residue – poor sod will think that he was always a teacher, was never kidnapped and simply botched some spell.'
Evidence fabricated, it was time to get lucky.
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Things seemed to flow – it was the best word with which his life could be described after the Lesser Felix Ritual. It wasn't hard to woe Hermione and fuck her silly. It wasn't hard to destroy their relationship without being obvious about it – he had some instincts now, he knew that his behaviour towards her has to be more barbaric – he didn't even need to pretend that he cares only about sex. She didn't like it and after 5 days of pleasure she broke up with him.
Ron didn't mind – these days were a kind of goodbye to their marriage. Arguments were reminder that strengthened his resolve to end her. Now was time to find a girl that is not only cute, but also nice and warm on the inside. He was torn between inviting Luna or Padma. Oh, how he regretted the errors of his youth – laughing at Luna's strangeness (nowadays he found it refreshing), ignoring Patil during the Ball.
Meanwhile his luck was working – Granger was still invited by Krum, despite a very short time limit. He suspected that they were flirting even when Hermione was officially still his girlfriend – he knew his ex-wife quite well and she was this type of a slut.
There were some fortunate coincidences that started to appear in his life. Once, while walking through the corridor, he heard two Slytherin boys talking about the need to give some nice jewellery to their girlfriend, then whining about having to buy new dress robes, because his old ones clashed with his girlfriend's.
In the future Ron would have learnt that not all Slytherins were evil – some were trying to be neutral and showed their cunning by staying quiet. He recognised these two as neutrals. Initially they were wary and wanted to know how a Weasley got such an expensive item.
"Let's just say that recently I discovered quite a talent for gambling." He said with a charming smile – his good looks were working also on guys, although in different way, making them believe that he is trustworthy. "Now, I wanted to give it to my own girlfriend, but it's no longer a possibility. So how about exchange – your old robes and fifty galleons? The thing that my mother calls dress robes shouldn't be shown in public, so my offer is quite generous."
"Forty and you've got a deal." Responded the other boy after appraising him for ten long seconds. "It's curious that a Weasley is able to tolerate people from our house…"
"When you play, you can learn quite a lot about inter house politics. About your offer… Deal!" He could try to get more, but he didn't want to spoil his first impression with neutrals. And let's be honest, this wasn't a bad offer, for both sides.
As for Moody, he was even more jumpy, but everybody believed that he obliviated himself. The old auror though thought that this was some sort of attack (and amusingly enough, this time he was right), but everybody else laughed at it as a bout of paranoia.
The biggest question that should be asked was about the ritual – how Ron was able to so ruthlessly sacrifice a human life? First kill should be traumatic for all that are not psychopaths. But here's the thing – this was not his first kill, nor tenth. Harry Potter could've gone through war with clean hands, but only because the rest did the job for him. This was war – good guys didn't have natural instincts like Harry, so they had to use stronger spells - Bombarda, Reducto were very trendy at the time.
Then he was an auror, worse, average auror, meaning, unpleasant jobs were delegated to him. Wizarding World is brutal – with a wand in hand of every witch and wizard there are only two possible systems – something close to mix between feudalism and libertarianism (and this was actually the state of affairs in their country) or totalitarian regime – binding all people with Unbreakable Oaths, using Trace also on adults, etc… Personal power and flexibility didn't allow for half-measures. As a consequence, aurors were quite often being given undercover assassination missions. The Ministry couldn't risk prolonged battles with certain powerhouses, cheap shots allowed avoiding collateral damage. And so, Ron had a lot of experience in killing dark wizards in cold blood.
Back to the Ball, the redhead eventually decided to invite the Patil girl, like in his first time-line. He wasn't going to start with her anything serious and he hesitantly marked Luna as a possible wife-material. This meant, that once they started going out, he wouldn't be able to have other partners. During the ball he will relax, but then he will begin to plot anew.