Disclaimer: ROWLING'S WORK, NO MONEY MADE
Yes, I'm Muggleborn
Chapter 1
Ron wrenched the chain from over his head and cast the locket into a nearby chair. He turned to Hermione.
"What are you doing?"
"What do you mean?"
"Are you staying, or what?"
"I..." She looked anguished. "Yes.. yes, I'm staying. Ron, we said we'd go with Harry, we said we'd help"
"I get it. You choose him."
"Ron, no ¨please ¨come back, come back!"
She was impeded by her own Shield Charm; by the time she had removed it he had already stormed into the night. Harry stood quite still and silent, listening to her sobbing and calling Ron's name amongst the trees.
After a few minutes she returned, her sopping hair plastered to her face.
"He's g-g-gone! Disapparated!"
She threw herself into a chair, curled up, and started to cry.
Harry felt dazed. He stooped, picked up the Horcrux, and placed it around his own neck. He dragged blankets off Ron's bunk and threw them over Hermione. Then he climbed onto his own bed and stared up at the dark canvas roof, listening to the pounding of the rain.
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Ronald Weasley was miserable. He had just finished wandering around for hours, looking for Harry and Hermione. He had been an utter prat, he realized that now. "THAT DAMN HORCRUX!" he yelled furiously. He heard a low howl from a distance, and instantly dropped his voice to a grumble.
"Don't be an idiot Ron. You don't want to be eaten by an animal after that fiasco back at the tent.", he chuckled humorlessly. He had said the nastiest, meanest things to Harry. And Hermione…, he couldn't even begin to imagine what she would be thinking now. Like an idiot he forced her to make a choice between him and Harry, and he was devastated to see her pick him.
"She doesn't love you, Ron" The Horcrux had whispered back then.
He had left it, stepped out and had regretted it as soon as he was back in the darkness.
"Calm down Ron." He told himself. He had been an idiot before, but if there was one thing Ronald Weasley prided himself on, it was his ability to think strategically. He knew he had a poor chance of finding his friends now that he was away from them. It's not like the Death Eaters had found them yet, he thought hopefully.
Right now, his options were to either continue to search for Harry and Hermione, or to return back to the Burrow. He dropped the other idea almost instantly. He could imagine his Father's reaction to that. Arthur Weasley might be considered a joke by many people, but nobody had ever called him a coward.
AND HIS MOTHER!
He blanched when he thought what Molly Weasley would say to her son. Her eyes full of disappointment. No, BUGGER THAT. He had to think of an alternative. He couldn't just wander back home, and he would have little luck finding Harry tonight.
Then, he stopped suddenly as a thought entered his mind.
Hadn't they heard Dean and Ted before when they were speaking with Phineas Nigellus? It had been little over a day. They couldn't be that far away! Dean was a mate of his, and he could join up with him and travel much in more safety. And Ted Tonks might have some knowledge about the Order's current whereabouts. Ron quickly ran a mental checklist of possible scenarios and decided on the following:
Find Dean and the others.
Regroup and resupply. (He did have Dittany, potions and a small quantity of food, no Candy on him.)
Find Hermione and Harry.
With this plan, Ron got up and started walking towards the stream. Didn't the goblins caught fish by using magic near that stream. It made sense to have a camp near it, as they would have a steady supply of fresh water. Not to mention, a side of their tent protected by water. He whipped out his wand and whispered, "Point Me Stream".
"North-East then", Ron thought happily as he changed directions and started walking.
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Dean Thomas was bored as he poked at the flames. It had been hard work carrying their supplies up the wooden slope. Being on the run had been scary in the beginning, but after weeks hiding away in woods, meadows and at the edges of civilization, it had turned into something of a routine. Wake up before dawn, cook breakfast, pack, bring down protective enchantments and hide traces of their camp. Then take an inventory of the food they had left and plan the next safe location to go to. They had been hunted by snatchers, Ministry personnel, even chased out under a huge Oak tree by a swarm of angry Bowtruckles. "Wand trees", Griphook had grunted while Ted and Dirk chuckled. Dean also had a grin on his face when he remembered Hagrid's class on Bowtruckles, or had it been Professor Grubbly-Plank? He was finding it harder to keep those memories straight in his head now.
He heard footsteps behind him and turned back to see Ted coming towards him. Dean wordlessly got up and handed Ted back his wand with a stony face. Ted Tonks smiled gently and said, "Thanks for keeping watch Dean, I'll take it from here". Dean nodded and went back in the tent.
Rowan and Unicorn Horn core, he thought.
He had been eleven years old when he got his letter to Hogwarts. His Mum had been so proud, her little boy a Wizard! His father had never been a part of his life. Her Mum had gotten pregnant with him after a small affair she had in London during her visit to the Museums there. She restored old Paintings and Murals, and Dean had been watching her paint since he was a toddler. She had taught Dean to paint as well, and Dean had hoped to become a Portrait Painter after he graduated. He had been fascinated by the portrait of the Fat Lady as a little Firstie, and had spent many hours asking her questions. The Fat Lady had answered his questions with fond patience. She was proud of her little lions, but especially of little Dean Thomas. Many thought Gryffindors were all about recklessness and mindless courage, but bravery came in many forms. It took guts to make Art, a measure of honesty to portray something as it is which is uncommon.
As Dean lay down on his bedroll, he wondered where it all had gone wrong.
He knew what it meant to be different from others. He had faced ostracism before because of his skin color. He wasn't too bothered by the condescension heaped on him for being a Muggleborn. He knew most people will always judge you based on appearances, and they were the wrong sort to hang out with.
It had all changed with a letter he received in August at the beginning of his 7th year, asking him to come to the Ministry for registration. Muggleborn Registration. He had been understandably nervous. His 6th year had been a turbulent one, with Voldemort's return and reign of terror he had sprung upon Wizarding Britain, followed by Headmaster Dumbledore's murder at the hand of that sneering bastard Snape.
Muggleborns have to register at the Ministry of Magic, Mr. Thomas.
It was never good when a group people were segregated based on ethnicity, or "stolen magic". Suddenly, he thought of the Holocaust. Jews led to their deaths by the millions. They had been asked to surrender their jobs, wealth, liberties and the last shreds of their dignity. And then they were slaughtered like animals.
Rowan and Unicorn Horn core, he remembered.
He had surrendered his wand willingly before he entered the room. It was a just a small formality, Percy had said. He would be given a code number and be required to check in with Ministry. They would try to confirm his ancestry to see if he had any witches or wizards in his family. As soon as he stepped in the room, he knew it had been a very bad idea.
It was the Toad.
She was smiling like she had swallowed a particularly juicy fly. Madam Umbridge tittered, "Mr. Thomas, how good to see you again. How are you this morning?"
He had recovered fast, he remembered proudly. He had stepped forward, and gave an elaborate low bow. "It's a pleasure to see you Professor Umbridge. I hope you are well." He gave a small smile.
Umbridge looked surprised, and a little flustered.
"I'm good, thank you!"
"I never did thank you for your hard work during our 5th year at Hogwarts. I managed to get an EE in DADA, and it's all thanks to your dedication and guidance." Dean lied smoothly. In his head, Dean was disgusted. But he had realized that Professor Umbridge heading the Muggleborn Registration committee was a very bad thing. Hadn't Hermione mentioned once during their DA meeting, that she hated half-breeds and was responsible for some anti-werewolf legislation that made it impossible for people like Professor Lupin to get a job anywhere?
"You're such a dear aren't you? I really appreciate good manners Mr. Thomas", Umbridge smiled widely now. "Now don't you worry, my dear boy... This is just a formality to separate magic thieving mudbloods from honest wizards and witches. I just wanted to ask you a few questions, and then I'll be happy to send you on your way!"
"As you wish Professor", Dean swallowed nervously.
"State your name for the record please"
"Dean Fabian Thomas"
"Name of parents?"
"Viktoria Thomas, Professor. I never knew my Father" Dean supplied.
"What a pity", there was no pity in her gaze.
"Mr. Thomas. You have been unable to prove a wizard in your immediate family, and we have no records of squibs with the name of Viktoria Thomas. Now usually, I would recommend you to be a ward of the Ministry where you will live in an institution with other Muggleborns. You will be taught essential skills to support the population and industries of Wizarding Britain." She smiled widely, "However, I remember you and Mr. Seamus Finnegan from Hogwarts. You had stood up to Mr. Potter's lies back then and I really appreciate that. You have the proper spirit and I wish to give you a fighting chance."
Dean had never been more thankful for Seamus being such a prat to Harry back at the beginning of their 5th year. Umbridge tapped the ornate silver bell with her wand. The doors opened and Percy Weasley entered.
"Good morning Percy. Can you be a dear and escort Mr. Thomas to that filthy goblin for a paternity test?"
"But of course, Madam Umbridge", Percy bowed. "Come along Dean", he said in his Prefect Percy voice.
Dean followed Percy down the corridor till he reached a room guarded by two Dementors. He felt the cold before he saw them.
His teeth chattered and he felt any icy shard pierce his heart. He remembered his mother crying in the living room, looking at an old photo of her with a man with flaming red hair. He remembered being back in the Gryffindor Common Room and seeing Ginny rush into Harry's arms and kiss him. He remember gripping the goblet too hard and the glass shattering in his hand, red drops falling like tears on the floor.
He was enveloped by a blazing warmth.
"Sorry about that", Percy said as his Dog Patronus moved in front of Dean. It was a big German shepherd and the Dementors quickly gave way while opening the door. He nodded to the two Hit Wizards standing behind the Goblin's desk.
"Griphook, we need a paternity test", Percy said in an official tone.
"Drop 7 drops of blood here", Griphook grunted without even bothering to look up.
Dean picked up the silver needle and pricked his thumb. He carefully counted down seven drops of blood in the vial. Griphook extended a clawed finger in the vial and started swirling the blood within while chanting in Gobbledygook.
Dean watched in fascination as the blood swirled into a pale blue whirlpool, moving in hypnotic patterns. Griphook raised an eyebrow at Dean and said, "Pureblood father". Percy looked extremely interested and a little relieved. He gave Dean an encouraging nod.
Griphook snapped his fingers and the blue whirlpool rose and hit the blank parchment in the middle.
Percy looked down at the parchment in shock while Griphook grinned nastily.
Dean Thomas, son of Viktoria Thomas and Gideon Prewett.
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Author's Note- I've made some edits after LeadVone gave me a few good tips. I would like to thank Unlikely2, my first ever reviewer for his kind comments! :D I would be updating fairly regularly every week, as I have a planned plot progression for this fic. Please let me know your thoughts through your reviews!