"Think we should wake him? He looks tired."
"I thought vampires didn't need that much sleep."
Ron opened his eyes lazily to find Fred and George looking at him the couch nearby. With Valkyrie fitted snuggly in his arms as he'd cuddled her while he was asleep and a blanket over himself he didn't feel like getting up.
He was glad that the pressure and the headache he'd felt before had lifted, however. "What time is it?" he asked.
"It's just 8:30" George responded.
"Are you- well Hermione and Harry said you were probably really overwhelmed earlier?" Fred said.
Ron was quiet for a beat.
"I was before but I feel okay now, I just needed to get out of everything for a moment" Ron replied. He sat up slowly, Valkyrie seemed to wake up too then and grumbled. Ron pets her head and she sighed moving over to his lap.
"Ah, so it's like when you shut everything out then?" George suggested.
"We also heard what you did that hippogriff, sounded pretty fantastic," Fred said.
"I'll take that as a compliment," Ron sighed "well I better get started on my homework before Don comes to collect me."
"We meant it as one but good luck," the twins said in tandem, a common occurrence that Ron swore they had to practice. No way it was just luck every time. Ron smiled when a thought came to mind, if he didn't know any better he'd say the twins were worried about him.
He walked upstairs to get his bag, his nose picked up something off. Hermione's cat was in front of Scabber's cage, staring it down. "Crookshanks?" he said and the cat looked up at him then dashed away.
Scabber's looked fine if not frightened. He shook his head ignoring the strange happenstance, it wasn't news that Hermione's cat was bonkers.
Ron collect his bag and walked down to a table to find Ron and Hermione down there. "Hey Ron, feeling better?" Harry asked.
"Loads" Ron replied with a smile taking a seat "hows Don's class Hermione?" he asked.
"Fine, what about Divination?" she asked.
"Well…" Harry began to explain about the grim and how eccentric Trelawney was,
"Hm… from what I've read, divination isn't an exact science," Hermione said opening yet another book in her extraordinarily large stack of them.
"Yeah, it's probably not a big deal," Ron said. "Besides Trelawney's on the batty side anyway, don't let it get to you, Harry,"
Harry sighed and nodded. Hermione seemed to have more homework than the rest of them combined.
"Hermione, isn't Ancient Runes at the same time as Romanian?" he asked looking at her notes.
"Don't be silly," she said, flushing "how are you doing writing for Transfiguration?" she asked quickly shifting the subject. Well, whatever was going on, something was curious, she smelled like sand.
It wasn't like a bad smell but considering how she normally smelled (like a combination of shampoo and like a whole library of dusty books) it was odd. Once again he let it go, for now, no point in interrogating her.
They worked on homework, Ron reading his book and making notes the book whether or not he had to. After doing it for all his subjects over the summer it had become a habit.
It took a bit longer but it was much easier to look at his notes then to look back at a book to get information for writing his essays. "Wow, Ron," Hermione said looking at his notebook.
"Yeah, Donovan has me doing notes for every subject and every book" Ron explained.
"Do you have to bookmark the pages? That's your only notebook" Harry asked, looking up.
"Actually, Don had it charmed so when I close it, the content of the pages rearrange itself by subject" Ron explained.
"He'll need to teach me how to do that," Hermione said. "I've been carrying so many books around because- um I mean I've got a bunch of notebooks. Really they add up."
"Er, right," Ron said "my mom was pretty happy to not have to buy much parchment paper. Except for my essays."
"Ah," Harry nodded, Ron finished his homework after Harry did. Hermione went to the library after Ron and Harry finished theirs. Ron played a few games of chess with Harry who lost, of course. "So… Ron, we don't know about Mr. Grey" Harry said after his second time losing.
"I know, I'll talk to him tonight about maybe setting a time to have tea with you two or something," Ron promised.
"Yeah, well tell me, what's he like?" he asked.
"Well… he's kind of like if my brother Bill had the wisdom and intelligence of Dumbledore. He's really very nice but he's also kind of strict, he says that he will hold me to higher standards so I have to keep good grades. And I want to make him proud, he's strangely endearing" Ron said.
"Hm, I can't really picture him," Harry said.
"You'll see eventually…" he paused as some Gryffindor girls started giggling. He turned to glance at them and Ron immediately glanced to Harry. "Looks like you've got some fans" he commented.
Harry coughed out a laugh "Ron, they're not even focusing on me" he said.
Ron blinked then flushed "Harry, you're having me on."
Ron had always been Harry's shadow, dim enough to blend with everything else. It was jarring because it wasn't like he was cast into the light but become so dark he was the night to Harry's daylight.
Harry shook his head "um well, don't take this the wrong way, I don't fancy you or anything but girls have noticed that your I dunno handsome." Ron's jaw fell open "Don't give me that look, I feel like it's a vampire thing."
"Not so, not all vampires are quite so blessed. It may have to do with Ron's fat cells depleting from his body. Vampires by nature cannot get fat as blood is a perfect food product" they both turned to find Donovan behind them.
Harry glanced at his mentor like he was trying to figure him out. Ron forgot in that moment how intimidating he probably looked. He was so tall too, taller than Snape even with red eyes he must paint a sinister look to someone who didn't know him.
"Forgive me for not introducing myself sooner, Mr. Potter" Don explained.
"That's alright, sir, I understand" Harry replied.
"Good," Don commented giving Harry an interested gaze. Ron tensed, this whole scene was really awkward.
"You're early" Harry added.
Don smiled "yes, actually I wondered if I might borrow him for some special training. I've been slightly negligent showing him the physical abilities of vampires" he said glancing at Ron.
Ron couldn't imagine his mentor ever being negligent about anything ever, but he didn't comment. "I'm done with my homework," he said.
"As expected, then let's go" Don stood up "do forgive me, Mr. Potter,"
Ron stood up "er that's alright, er Professor" Harry said in light confusion.
"I look forward to getting to know you," Don said.
Ron nodded at Harry then whistled "Valkyrie, come" he said. His now medium size pup bounded up, springing to follow him. "So um… that was interesting," Ron asked as they strode quickly down the steps toward the castle courtyard.
"I'm curious about Harry Potter" Don responded easily "I want to know what he's like."
"Join the club," Ron said and Don chuckled.
"I didn't mean in general, I meant as a person, as your friend. The same with Ms. Granger, they are important to you so I should get to know them."
"Why?" Ron asked.
"Your friends say a lot about you." Ron had to really think about that one, what did he mean? He flushed in hesitation, should he keep asking questions even if he didn't understand the answer. "You don't understand," Don stated.
Ron shook his head "no" he said.
"Those you surround yourself with shape who you are; negative or positive other people are what causes us to change. Your family is typically not chosen but your friends are. Who you chose has a lot to do with character," he explained.
"Harry chose to be my friend," Ron said not necessarily to his mentor but as a statement. He was thinking back to Harry rejecting Malfoy's hand for his "And we chose Hermione, I never thought about it that way" he admitted. He didn't mention how it took a while for Ron to stop being horrible to her. To be fair she was rubbing Ron's mistakes in his face.
"Hm," Don said "as much as I would like to hear about your friends some more later, it's time I gave you some physical lessons. I heard about the incident earlier" he said.
"With uh the hippogriff? Yeah, I hadn't realized I was that strong" he said.
"It's a good thing that you didn't squeeze however or you would have a dead hippogriff on your hands. As I said it was my oversight on not walking you through physical training. It's a wonder you haven't gripped something and shattered it," he explained.
Ron couldn't think of a moment like that "so I could break someone's hand if I'm not careful?" he asked.
"To say the least, that's not to say everything needs a light touch. There is awareness when we use our strength. I'm assuming you felt your own strength when you grabbed that hippogriff?" he asked.
"Yeah, I did," he said.
"Then there you are, never use your strength against human or ordinary animals unless you intend to do some real damage," he explained. Ron frowned, he still couldn't gauge what that was.
"So how do we train?" he asked.
"We'll start with stamina, I expect you to do this every day. I'm sure you are familiar with Quidditch training so today we'll run three laps around Hogwarts" he said.
"Fine," he said "but uh I'm not really dressed for athletics," he said.
"As barbaric as it sounds, we'll run barefoot and well it'll be good to learn to run no matter what your wearing," he said.
"Won't that hurt?" he asked.
"Perhaps" his professor allowed while taking his shoes off. Then his coat off until he was left in his trousers and a button-up shirt. Ron did the same feeling misplaced and Valkyrie started to get excited standing and wagging her tail.
They started running at a light job, Valkyrie was having the time of her life of course. Maybe she needed the time to run more often, the grass part wasn't so bad but they went over the sand near the lake and the rocky parts are where his feet ached.
He flushed as some elder girls pointed at them running and started giggling.
Halfway through Don sped up into a faster jog and Ron sped up to keep up. After his first lap, he was breathing heavier than he'd done since he'd turned. His feet burned and he ground his teeth to ignore it. Halfway through their second Don was running fast, probably as fast as he could and Ron struggled.
He turned to see Valkyrie running but unable to keep up with them. His lungs burned and his legs ached from running at full speed to keep up with his mentor. When they stopped Ron flopped over onto his back taking in gasping breaths. A few moments later, Valkyrie caught up and laid down next to him, panting with her tongue lolling.
He laughed scratching her ears and she licked his wrist. "Excellent job," Don said taking in a deep breath in and then out, he wasn't breathing hard.
"Why am I so happy? That was the hardest thing I've ever done, my feet hurt like hell" he asked.
"Adrenaline, I expect; perhaps you aren't getting the exercise you've needed," he replied.
Ron sat up to look at his feet, they were bloody "your not hurt," he asked pointing to his feet.
His mentor inspected his feet "I've developed hard callouses" he said then waved his hand on Ron's feet and suddenly they were clean of blood. Upon inspection, they were already healing the cuts he'd received.
"Okay, but why barefoot?" he asked.
"Tradition, mainly, vampires have traditions regarding being barefoot. It is all rather archaic and dangerous but that is why I need to toughen you up" he explained.
"Right," Ron said turning to Valkyrie who's sat up with his ears perked when he did. He laughed pulling her into a hug, she licked his face. His frustrations seem to have been blown away by running with Don and his familiar.
"Well, the next thing you'll be learning is more combat skills but not today," Don said picking up his coat "you'll be learning some Romanian today but perhaps a bath before," he said.
"I'll go get my clothes then," he said taking up his shoes and cloak.
"Take your time," he said.
Ron walked around the castle barefoot, he liked the feeling of cold stone on his slightly aching feet. He passed the library but paused when he saw Hermione.
XXX
Ron's appearance was altogether familiar and completely unfamiliar. Hermione couldn't find anything significant in the library about Vampire transformations. The ones that were available were ridiculous and archaic texts that pictured Vampires as savage monsters.
The only thing that was agreed upon in the books about them was their distinctive features which Hermione was surprised to find that the stories of Dracula and other legends weren't far off at all.
Pointed ears, bright eyes, and fangs were certainly how Ron looked now. He was so different but he was still utterly Ron. Everything seemed to pale or darken. His skin pale and seemed to glow under the light like it repelled the sun. It was a bit like he was illuminated inside.
His hair was darker and less ginger and more of a dark red. His eyelashes were darker too, she recalled that Ron had white lashes. It was quite common since much of the Weasley family did as well. But now they were coal-black and contrasted with molten silver and gold irises.
Hermione could now understand how arresting it was to be in a vampire's presence. Everything about him had this strange intensity now. Ron stood out to her before but not everyone else.
But there had always been this dismissal that people had toward him. Like he was just an extra in his family but now anyone could pick him out in any crowd. Ron was different from his family, he was their Ron.
"I bumped into Ron Weasley in the hallway" she paused in her reading ofVampires: Monsters or misunderstood?
It sounded like a first-year and there was conspiratorial tone in the boy's voice. "The vampire?" another boy asked.
"Yes, I was going around the corner and I bumped into him and fell on the floor. I was terrified he was going to eat me or something" the boy said.
"What did happen?" a girl's voiced joined in.
"Nothing, he just pulled on his arm to bring me upright. He's really strong. Anyway, he just pulled me up and said 'careful' and walked away. His eyes really are silver and gold by the way" the boy's voice got excited.
"Ooh what they were like? He's so tall and handsome, I bet their beautiful" the girl added.
"Or scary" the other boy suggested.
"Both, they looked like real melted metal," the boy said.
Hermione suppressed the urge to laugh, to hear Ron talked about was similar to how Harry was spoken about. It was strange.
"Uh hi, Hermione" she jumped spinning around to find Ron standing barefoot holding his shoes and cloak with Valkyrie at his side. His pale skin flushed high at his cheekbones and at his pointed ears. Some things never changed really.
"Hi Ron," she said, he sat down across from her "so you heard what they...?" she whispered and Ron nodded.
"I suppose in the scheme of things, it's a bit complimentary," he said.
"Right," she said then Ron's eyes flicked to her book and oh darn she was holding it right where he could see the spine. She put it down "this is the only book in the library with any real basis," she flushed.
"Oh no, I was just looking," Ron said "honestly I haven't been taught all that much about vampires yet anyway," he said. Hermione huffed.
"Honestly, Ron, If it was me I'd learn all I could," Hermione said.
"Well I've got you to learn everything so why do I need to do it?" he asked with a grin.
Hermione rolled her eyes "Ronald" she said.
"Hermione," Ron said in the same even tone. She pursed her lips together but she couldn't resist the urge to smile.
"Stop that," she said.
"Stop what?" Ron raised both eyebrows with a twinkle in his eye.
"Making me laugh, this is very serious" she laughed "Merlin, we haven't gone back and forth in ages. I missed it" she said.
"You want me to argue with you?" he asked.
She had a feeling she'd regret it but "yes, it's fun" she admitted but at the moment she didn't regret it at all with the smile he gave her. Somehow his teeth were a little cute.
"Alright then I promise to argue," he said noting her deadpanned look. "But for now I just dropped in to say hello before I met with Don again. He stood up, forgetting about the first years behind him who stared at him then.
He sensed the eyes but he didn't look "um Ron, why are you barefoot?" she asked.
"Running around the castle, I'll explain later. Have fun with your book I suppose, let me know if it decides I'm a monster or not," he said turning around.
A first-year Ravenclaw student nearly dropped her book at the sight of him at the check out counter. He smiled and winked at her causing her to look away. Maybe Fred and George were right, this was kind of fun.
He grabbed some pajamas and head to the bathroom. Donovan was already in the bath when he showed up. He sank into the large tub across from him, the heat felt amazing.
"This going to our tradition then?" Ron asked, Valkyrie laid by the bath, her tail thumping as she watched Ron lie back against the massive tub's wall.
"Sure, I think I will enjoy this tradition" Don explained sighed as he leaned to wet his hair.
Ron turned his attention to Valkyrie, she scrambled to her feet and walked closer. He glanced at her and she whined, he laughed and reached up to scratch behind her ears. "You big baby, hard to believe you aren't a dog at all," he said.
"She's taken to you well," Don suggested.
"Yeah," Ron said.
"Hence why vampires admire these animals, wolves inspire unending loyalty. Valkyrie is a fitting name I must say" Don said scrubbing his hair.
"Ginny's idea, really, she's good at naming things," Ron said.
"Your siblings are all rather clever, I'm sure your mother is proud," he said.
"Yeah, I think so but sometimes I feel like I don't measure up. Like just because she had me before the girl she's always wanted. I used to wish I was a girl so maybe she'd love me more."
"From what I have seen, you are loved very fiercely by your mother. You know my wife wanted a girl when she was pregnant with my son" Don began.
"Yeah? How old is your son?" Ron asked.
"Hm… he's only a little older than you. She'd hoped for a girl but when she got a boy instead she was still just as happy. She'd, of course, refused for another child, it was a difficult pregnancy, my son was a large baby" he explained smiling.
Ron nodded, maybe that made things harder "so she's not still disappointed she never had a girl?" he asked. "Also, your wife is human?"
Don shook his head "She used to be and now she is a vampire. No, my son had long hair for years as a child and as a teenager. My wife had her fun with his hair and he grew to like it. Vampires aren't so strict about gender as wizards are. So much of her jewelry goes missing so my son can wear it" he shrugged.
Ron was a little surprised "my mum isn't very happy with Bill because he wears his hair long and ears pierced" he said.
"Yes, well vampires are simply fond of jewelry," he said.
"Do you think I could get away with it?" Ron asked.
"If you like," Don said.
"I like Bill's piercings, their kind of, I dunno, cool" Ron said "yours are too" he added glancing at Don's small silver hoops.
"I think at some point we do things beyond the judgment of our parents. It's really up to you" Don said.
"Yeah… maybe" Ron nodded then sighed "so Harry and Hermione wanted to have tea with you sometime this week and make a kind of weekly thing too so they get to know you," he said rising out the bath. Valkyrie sprang up, picking up his towel for him.
He took it and wrapped himself in it "alright, I agree to that" Don said staying in the bath to rinse his hair.
"Great, then how about during the weekend? Sunday afternoon?" Ron asked.
"I'll put it on my schedule" Don agreed.
"Great" Ron replied then headed off to get dressed. Heading the room of requirement and pouring tea, Don explained his next lesson.
"I'm going to teach you to speak Romanian" his mentor explained "many vampires won't speak English so to interact with them as you need to, several languages need to learn. For now, it's Romanian and you will need to learn French."
"Should I have switched to take Romanian with you then?" he asked.
"No, I am biased towards you so I may give you more attention than the rest of my students so you'll have to be taught privately."
"Oh," Ron said.
"However we're just going to do something different, for at least an hour each day we're going to speak in Romanian. I'm going to teach you phrases then we'll be off. We're going to hold a conversation every day like this" he said.
"Okay," he agreed. The rest of the hours were spent with Ron butchering pronunciation until he got it right and then forgetting phrases constantly. Why was this so difficult.
"Excellently done, the next time we'll pick up from the beginning with introductions," he said.
"That didn't go so well" he admitted.
"It's your first day, have patience" Don chuckled "can you make it through the night without your dinner or do you need it now?" he asked.
"I'll just have it for breakfast," he said, "I think I'll turn in though, I've got options in the morning," he said.
"Ah, then good luck" Don replied. He nodded then head for Gryffindor tower with Valkyrie at his side, he walked along the castle corridors. His sight was excellent, he was still getting used to not having to use a light when walking around.
He turned a corner and jumped a little to find Professor Lupin "you startled me, hello Professor Lupin" he said.
"Sorry, just doing some patrolling, I'm assuming you were with Professor Grey?" he asked.
"Yes sir," he replied.
"Ah, then on your way to Gryffindor Tower," he said, "Should I walk you back?"
"Yes, sir and no, you don't have to. Promise" he said.
"Right then, goodnight" Lupin replied and Ron said goodbye and they parted ways. He only noticed as he arrived at the Fat Lady that he hadn't been walking around with a lit-up wand. Weird.
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