Penname: Page of Cups
Email: AndromedanPrincess@hotmail.com
Title: Everything Changes
Pairing: Ron Weasley/Draco Malfoy
Rating: R
Summary: Draco's afraid, Ron's afraid, and Lucius is having a good time
Disclaimer: Refer to first chapter. Tis tedious repeating that am not J.K.. Am poor. Do not have money. Would be waste of time and energy to sue me. Am broke college student.
Chapter Sixteen: Deceptions
Lucius Malfoy stared across from him to the youngest Weasley boy, who was currently bound to a chair in the Manor sitting room. He had wanted something a little more creative than a chair, but Narcissa hadn't been paying much attention again when he made his request. Perhaps he should reduce the amount of medication he was giving her these days, though she had been a pesky little bitch this morning.
Ron felt completely helpless, and rightly so. He had been brooding on Hogwarts grounds about what had transpired with Draco when he was hit with the full body bind, and the next thing he knew, his wrists and ankles were bound. The gag had come later when he tried to shout for help, and his body was dragged through dirt and mud. When he later apparated with his captor, he imagined that he must have been dragged out of Hogwarts borders. That was when he came into the light, and saw Lucius Malfoy standing across from him.
For a brief, glorious twenty seconds, the gag had been removed, but Ron had tried to bite Lucius's hand in a stupid attempt for freedom. It did not please the elder Malfoy. Now, for the past two hours, they had been sitting across from each other, staring. Tedious business, that, doing nothing but staring at another human being for hours on end. If Ron weren't so terrified, he would chance being bored.
"Wha ah ew koing to do wif me?" said Ron, and Lucius furrowed his brow. Ron tried not to sigh. It wasn't easy being articulate when one was gagged. Didn't Lucius know that?
"What did you say?"
Ron shook his head, looked at Lucius as if he were stupid, and dropped his chin to his chest.
"I can't take the gag off. You'll try to bite me again. We wouldn't want that, now would we?"
"Ew ouldn't," said Ron, though a mouthful of cotton.
"What did you say?"
Ron rolled his eyes. Lucius stood from his seat, walked over to where Ron was, and circled him. Kneeling beside him, Lucius placed his palm flat against Ron's thigh, and with his other hand, ran his fingers through the copper strands of his hair.
"I can see why Draco was so attracted," he mumbled. "If you want to live through the next hour, I suggest you do not try to bite me when I remove the gag. Do we understand each other?"
"Es," said Ron, nodding for emphasis. Anything to get this gag off.
His fingers worked quickly, and Ron breathed in as much oxygen as his lungs could gather when the material was removed from his mouth. Glaring at Lucius, he watched as the man folded the gag, and then placed it in his pocket. He returned to his chair opposite Ron, and they went back to staring at each other. In the corner of the room by the fire, Narcissa had returned to sit in one of the chairs. Remembering what Draco had told him about his mother, Ron assumed that she was drugged. In fact, she hadn't looked his way once while he was there. She just went about her business, making tea and reading books.
"What did you say to me?" said Lucius. Ron caught his hard, blue eyes.
"I asked you what you were going to do with me."
Lucius smirked, a half-grin that Draco also possessed. Ron had come to associate that look with sex, as Draco often took it on right before he went about ravishing him. Thinking about Draco was painful, though, and Ron shut his eyes tight, trying to block it out. The efforts only made Lucius's soft laughter echo that much louder in his ears.
"What do you think I'm going to do with you?"
"I haven't a clue."
"Then let me fill you in, Weasley. As I'm sure my son has been kind enough to inform you, there is a Death Eater ceremony tonight. An initiation ceremony. Whether or not my son will be present has yet to be determined, but if he is there, all the better. I'm also assuming that he has not filled you in on what goes on in said ceremonies. Correct?"
"Something like that."
"Allow me to enlighten you. For each Junior Death Eater, there is a virgin sacrifice."
"Hope this doesn't ruin your plans, but I'm not a virgin."
Lucius's lips twitched at that one.
"There is a sacrifice," Lucius repeated. "Chosen by the Dark Lord himself procured by a Senior Death Eater, the fledgling is required to complete three acts with their sacrifice: torture, rape, and murder."
"I'm a sacrifice, then, am I?"
"Weasley, don't degrade yourself. Sacrifices are reserved for Muggles and Mudbloods. No, we've found a much greater use for you. You see, Weasley, you lost me my heir. That was a very stupid thing of you to do. You're a gift, shall we say. A little something to make up for Draco's loss, and if by your capture we get him anyway, then that would make us all very happy."
"Hate to disappoint you, but whatever you've heard about Draco and I, it isn't true."
"Isn't it? You know what I heard?"
"Probably that Draco and I were in a relationship of a romantic sort. I can assure you, we weren't. If you're trying to lure him here, you're wasting your time. He won't even notice that I'm gone."
"That sounds like low self esteem talking," said Lucius, frowning. "Can't imagine why you'd have that. No matter. As it is, your connection or lack there of to my son has little to do with why you're here. I believe your best friend is one Mister Harry Potter, is he not?"
Ron's face fell. So that's what this was about. They were trying to get to Harry, and Harry was already worried about Ron. He was here to replace Draco, to get to Harry. His head was spinning, and he couldn't stop himself before leaning over just far enough not to hit himself when he vomited. Lucius called for a house elf to clean up the mess, and looked on at Ron with his lip curled.
"Then again," said Lucius, "the Dark Lord may have further plans for you. We shall see. And if my son or Mister Potter do not come for you, then we'll just end your life. Shouldn't matter much. One less Weasley to reckon with. Cutting down the most revolting wizarding family one by one. First the stupid girl, and then the ravenous boy."
"Shut up about my family."
Lucius cocked his head to the side, and kneeled down before Ron. Carelessly, he swished his wand forward, and said, "Crucio."
Ron was screaming. He couldn't breathe. His lungs were aching against his chest as they sought oxygen, but if any was there to relieve him, Ron would never know. The exploding pain in his body, the burning sensations taking over his limbs, would not allow him to think of anything other than the fact he felt like he was being torn apart. Relief only came when a vague murmur was heard, and Ron looked up into the startled grey eyes of Narcissa Malfoy.
~*~
It was a difficult task to explain the Marauder's Map to Draco all while trying to get to Dumbledore's office without being caught after hours. By the time Draco actually shut up long enough for Harry to reveal the invisibility cloak, it was after curfew. Walking around Hogwarts with Draco and still keeping the cloak on didn't prove to be an easy task either. Harry was starting to doubt his opinions on Draco's true feelings for Ron as the other boy practically dragged them through the corridors. Twice now, the cloak had slipped off, and Harry couldn't walk, think, keep the cloak on, and explain about the map all at one time, so when they reached the gargoyle, Harry put the Stupefy spell on Draco.
"Would you listen?" hissed Harry. "What do you plan on telling Dumbledore?"
"I - I hadn't really thought about it."
"Obviously. Listen, Dumbledore is going to want a few explanations. I'm parting with my map for Ron, so you had better have a good excuse. Think, Malfoy."
"Well, I guess we'll tell him that I got into a bit of a row with him -"
"A bit?"
"He doesn't need to know that nature of the severity of the fight," said Draco, glaring. "Anyway, Ron went off alone, and we let him because he needed to relax. Then, when I came looking for him, I couldn't find him. I came to you, because I thought you'd know where he was. Then you told me he wasn't on Hogwarts grounds anymore, and something about a map. That's all I know."
"And then I'll explain about the map, and how I know that Ron isn't on the grounds anymore. You know he's going to want some explanation for why Ron was taken. Have any theories?"
"I don't know!"
Draco buried his head into his arms, releasing a dry sob. Harry felt very awkward watching this emotional moment, but steeled himself remembering everything that had happened today. He started guessing the password to the office, and eventually the gargoyle started to move at the mention of sugar quills.
"Do this often?" said Draco.
Harry only shrugged, barging into Dumbledore's office. He was still up, sitting at his desk and shifting through pieces of parchment. Glancing at Harry and Draco over the top of his half-moon spectacles, he stilled in his work. It wasn't every day that Draco Malfoy and Harry Potter came into your office together for a reason that seemed to be other than fighting.
Clearing his throat, Dumbledore said, "Is there something I can help you two with?"
There was a lot of confusion, and a lot of jumbled words as both Harry and Draco tried to tell the story at the same time. Once Dumbledore had calmed them down, Draco got through his portion of the story, followed by Harry. The headmaster didn't seem completely surprised at the map, though somewhat delighted, perhaps at now knowing just what exactly the infamous makers had used on their late night excursions.
"Have either of you any idea where Mister Weasley may have gone?" asked Dumbledore.
"Nowhere that I know of," said Harry. "He wouldn't just wander off the grounds. I know Ron. Even if he was upset . . . You don't think that Voldemort could be behind it, do you?"
Dumbledore gave him a half-nod.
"It is possible."
Just at that moment, the door to Dumbledore's office banged open, and Professor McGonagall entered with an extremely familiar looking woman. Harry surveyed her, trying to place her, but then Draco turned around, and his pale face flushed with blood.
"Mum! What are you doing here?"
"I ran into Mrs. Malfoy on the first floor. She said she needed to speak to you, headmaster," said McGonagall. Dumbledore motioned for her to take a seat, and then McGonagall was dismissed.
"Is it safe to assume that you're here on the same business as your son?"
"If my son is here on business of the youngest Weasley boy."
"Ron," said Draco.
"You have information for us?"
"He - Lucius took him. He's been at the manor. There was nothing I could do -"
"Is he okay?" asked Draco, not caring that he interrupted.
"Let her finish," snapped Harry.
"Narcissa," said Dumbledore.
"I didn't know what to do. He was bound, gagged - Lucius had really done a number on him by the time I came to."
Harry noticed that Draco winced at her words. Part (though only a small one) felt bad for him.
"He took the gag off. I don't know what they were talking about. Something about Death Eaters. I'm not really sure. Then I heard the screaming, I started coming back, and I realized Lucius had put Cruciatus on the boy. I didn't know what to do, so I used one of the curses I remember learning as a little girl. One for abused wives against their husbands. The boy was weak; I wasn't much stronger, mind you. I couldn't apparate for us both, but I could alone. So here I am."
Draco was completely silent from that moment on. Dumbledore went about procuring them a Portkey to the Manor, and while doing so, explained that he was going to go to the ministry to report what had happened. Narcissa was to bring Ron back, and after many requests and pleas, Draco and Harry were granted permission to go along.
Harry could see that Draco was not going to be well again until he laid eyes on Ron, and knew he was safe. Narcissa led them inside, and into the sitting room, but when they arrived, she almost fainted herself.
"They were right here when I left . . . Lucius . . ."
"Where is he?" asked Draco. His skin had gone a sickly grey as he clung to his mother. "Where is he?"
"I left him right here," she stammered.
"He wasn't dead, you twit," said Draco, swaying on his feet. "He wasn't dead! How could you leave him alone with father? You know what he's like! How could you have left him alone?"
"Draco, darling, calm down," said Narcissa, but her voice sounded just as unstable as Draco's.
Narcissa was still staring at the empty spot where she had left Ron and her husband's body as Draco dropped to the floor. Curling his body into himself, Draco was rocking on the ground, repeating, "They've got him," over and over again. Harry didn't know who to feel worse for, and he was certain he had lost his mind when he dropped to the floor next to Draco, and wrapped the other boy in a hug.
"We're going to find him," said Harry. "Don't worry."
"They've got him," said Draco. His voice was haunting to Harry, detached, and hollow. "He can't die. Not now. I need him. He needs to know that."
"Draco, it's okay. Ron's brave. He'll be okay. We'll find him."
"He has a big mouth, Potter. That Gryffindor bravery is going to get him killed. They've got him. You don't understand."
"Make me understand."
"My father was talking about Death Eaters." Draco stopped rocking, and Harry pulled back to catch Draco's eyes, piercing into his own. "If my father was talking about Death Eaters, he took Ron for a similar purpose. Tonight was supposed to be my Death Eater initiation. Me and Goyle. There's a ceremony. That's where they've got to be. There's not a question of finding him. There's a question of how to keep him alive."
"I don't understand, Malfoy."
"I told you so."
"You aren't doing a good job of making me understand, either."
"Potter, there are several different kind of people at these ceremonies. Junior Death Eaters, which are those who have already received the mark but have only recently joined, Senior Death Eaters, sacrifices, fledglings, bait, and the Dark Lord himself. Ron is either a sacrifice, or he's bait. Either one is not a good position to be in."
"Bait?"
"Are you ready to run in the middle of their Death Eater circle for him?"
"Yes," said Harry, nodding.
"So am I," said Draco. "See. Bait. Then again, he could be both."
"Both?"
"Bait and a sacrifice, depending on my course of action. If I don't show up, bait for you. If I do show up . . . my father - if he knows about me and Ron, he's sadistic enough to make Ron my sacrifice."
"And what does that entail."
"Performance of the Unforgivables and rape. Imperius and Cruciatus, first, then the rape, ending with the killing curse. It has to be done with indifference and impartiality. Failure to comply results in death."
"What do you propose?"
"I don't know . . . he can't die, Potter. He thinks that he means nothing to me. Today - I don't know what that was. Crabbe was in my room, heard me talking to Ron . . . he knew I wasn't planning on taking my mark tonight. And because he knew, and he told my father, this happened. I was trying to prevent this. I don't care what happens to me, I just want him safe, and I buggered it up."
Draco twisted his fingers in his hair, fisting the strands. His eyes were watering, and Harry couldn't tell if it was from the pain or from the thought of losing Ron. When he was sitting there like this, pouring his heart out, it was hard to hate him. In fact, it was almost easy to see why Ron had fallen so in love with him. It didn't stop there, though. Draco kept going, explaining his every last motivation that led to what had happened with Brandon Corey. Draco was a mess through the entire thing.
"I love him, Potter. I love him, and I only told him when it was too late. He doesn't know. He thinks - oh, gods, Potter, he thinks he means nothing to me, and he's my entire world. I don't care if he hates me, but I need him to know that I love him. I need him to know that I did what I did because I love him. I don't care how he feels about me. I just want him to be safe."
"We're going to save him, and then you can tell him. We just need to get to that meeting."
"We aren't going to get there feeling bad for ourselves," said Narcissa, softly, causing the boys to jump. She had been quiet for so long, they had forgotten she was there. Giving Draco a brief hug, she pulled him to his feet, and motioned for Harry to come to her. "Draco, your father was teaching you how to apparate, right?" He nodded. "I'm going to need your help, then."
Together, they apparated close to Hogwarts grounds, and Draco led them to the underground harbor where his boat would be waiting. Their plans were made briefly, formulated as fast as possible as they traveled across the grounds. When they reached their point of destination, Draco was surprised to see that Goyle was already waiting there.
"What are you doing here?" asked Draco.
"I could ask you the same thing, but I already know," said Goyle. "I'm going to get my mark. Or rather, Crabbe mentioned something to me about Weasley. Said it was a good thing he didn't mean much to you, otherwise he wasn't going to be the only one tonight. I pieced it together."
"He's my sacrifice," said Draco.
"That's what I figured. I went straight to Dumbledore soon as I figured it out. Told me that you had just been to see him, and that he was off to the ministry. Well, you know how they are . . . they don't want to help at all, but there's a group of Aurors who are coming in for back up. They're going to track us. I thought I'd help as well. What are your plans?"
"About the same as you. Show up like I'm going to accept my mark, and when it comes time to take my sacrifice, allow all hell to break loose. Harry and my mum are following us there. Suppose we have a better chance now, don't we?"
"I'd say so. We could use three more, especially you and Harry, and I'm sure you could use a team of six or seven Aurors."
"I wouldn't say no to that."
They were interrupted by the arrival of their boat, which was magically enchanted to take them to their meeting. Draco and Goyle boarded, and not long after, Harry mounted his broom with Narcissa, and they followed after. The trip took a good twenty minutes, and there were times when Harry lost sight of the boat up ahead, but he found a place off to the side of the island they had arrived at to hide. The Aurors seemed to be there already, and one snuck over to Harry and Narcissa once Draco and Goyle had joined the other three fledglings.
Harry followed the Auror to the position he indicated, and listened patiently as he was given instructions. It was uncomfortable hiding behind the large rock they had indicated, and stone was digging into his lower back as the ceremony started. Sneaking a peak, Harry forced the bile that rose up his throat back down, refusing to give in. Second in a line of five, bound and gagged to a makeshift wooden cross, was Ron. He was either in an enchanted sleep or unconscious, but Harry was guessing the former. Somehow, he had a feeling that the sacrifice would be awake for the full extent of their torture.
On the opposite side, Draco stood facing Ron. He was not robed yet, as he was not yet accepted into the circle. Someone was speaking, but Harry didn't recognize the voice. Sometimes it sounded like Voldemort, and sometimes it sounded like someone entirely different. The voice was addressing the fledglings, and Harry glanced across the gathering, looking for the Auror in charge, who was to give the signal to attack.
Harry hid in the shadows and waited. It wouldn't be long now.