Disclaimer: same as on the previous page.
Warning: There is slash. You have been warned.
A/N- this chapter was a little short but I just had to get to the point of the story. Sorry the next chapter will be better, I promise.
Chapter One:
The Gilded Cage:
"Well that was a rather odd movie." Percy frowned doubtfully at the little town theater. "Are you sure this place is a registered theater?" Ron looked askance at him.
"Oh, Percy come off it! That was a great movie." Percy opened his mouth to say something but just then Hermione spotted the little book shop/coffee place across the road. Her eyes widened.
"Guys, come on! I need to get some books for English Lit."
Ginny nodded. "I could use some new reading material."
"I doubt they have all the latest romance novels Gin." Percy chided mildly. Draco snorted. Ginny stuck her tongue out at him.
"Do we have to go in there?" Ron whined. Hermione glared at him.
"Yes!"
Harry looked thoughtful. "I don't suppose it would hurt to give it a look." Ron scowled at him, and he gave him a sheepish grin.
Neville nodded. "I have to pick up a few things too, love." Ron looked at Draco in a halfhearted attempt to gain some support. Draco merely shrugged at him.
"Food."
Ron sighed, glaring around at his boyfriend and his five best friends. "Fine! But only because you ganged up on me."
Patting him on the hand, Hermione quipped, "Don't worry, it wont be too bad!" and led the way across the street.
Once inside, Ron was left sitting in the entrance, as the others went about their various ways. Looking desperately around for something to do while he waited his eyes settled on a book on a stand in the corner. It was red with gold trim that was nearly tarnished beyond recognition. There were dark stains across the frond and several pages hung out, tattered at the edges. Intrigued he walked over to take a closer look. When he picked it up a few pages fell out. Scooping them up he glanced at them in curiosity and nearly dropped them again. It was a book of spells; half the words in Latin, with runes and gothic designs edging the pages. He flipped to the front of the book. There was an inscription, illegible accept for the name, Cormon. Ron felt a sudden burning desire to posses that book. He took it over to the counter, and asked the girl, who's name tag said Tanya, how much the book cost.
"Hold on a sec," She replied before taking a deep breath, "HEY MARIA!" Ron winced. From somewhere at the back of the store replied.
"Yeah?"
"Come here for a minute."
"Kay, be right there." A few seconds later another girl year or two older than the first emerged from where the voice had sounded. "What do you want?"
"How much would you say this thing is worth?"
"I don't know, I wouldn't pay fifty cents for it."
"Gee thanks, you've been so helpful."
Maria flashed a smile full of teeth. "I try."
Tanya watched her walk to the back room again, muttering darkly, but a soon as she turned to Ron her expression brightened up. "I'll tell you what," She said leaning forward and whispering conspiratorially, " We've been trying to get rid of this thing for years. I'll let you have it for five bucks." Ron gapped at her.
"You mean it?"
"Sure."
He pulled out his wallet and handed over the money. "Thanks."
"No problem, kid."
Ron toted the book over to the nearest chair and sat down to read and wait for his friends to finish. He was totally engrossed by the time they found him a half-hour later.
When they got home he plopped in one of the bug cushy armchairs to read some more. Hermione's lecture about his blatant waste of money did nothing to dampen his excitement over his new discovery. And Ginny's request that he read some of it out loud was greeted with enthusiasm. So there they all sat, Hermione and Percy trying to ignore them, and Harry pretending to read his own book.
"Cleaning spells… boring. How to create mud?! Who comes up with these things."
"I told you it was a waste of money!"
Ron chose to ignore her and instead kept reading. "Palmistry, I think not. Hey! Here we go Sex Magic!" Ron gave Neville an amused smirk. Neville did his best (adorably so) To look disproving, failing miserably when he turned pink to the tips of his hair. Draco, who had come round to the back of the chair at the mention of sex and was now running his finger down the pages, let out a low whistle.
"Whoa, this is hot stuff. Oh now this one looks fun," He looked up flashing his usual charismatic grin, "Either of you ladies care to indulge me?" Hermione snorted, Ginny giggled and ducked her head. "No? Anyone else? Harry?"
"Not interested Draco."
"Scince when?"
Harry surveyed him mildly, "Scince the ninth grade when you ditched me for that…" He paused here, looking for the right word and finally settled on, "slut Pansy Parkinson." Draco waggled a finger at him.
"Now Harry you know it's not healthy to carry a grudge for so long."
"I don't carry a grudge, I'm just not interested."
"Fine suit your self, your loss." He shrugged and walked over to the table draping his arms around Percy's shoulders. "You?" Percy went slightly red and scowled at him.
"Do you mind, I'm trying to read." Draco backed up hand held up in surrender.
"Well excuse me, I was under the impression that you couldn't get any more boring."
"Well you were wrong." He snapped. "I'm going to study some where else."
"Yes, that would be best." Hermione agreed, following him down the hall to one of the many rooms made over into a study. Draco stood there for a moment looking hurt and shocked into silence (A rare occurrence) before spinning on his heal with a clipped:
"You're all boring, I'm going to go take a shower. At least I'll be in better company by myself."
Harry raised an eyebrow, then noticed the other's staring at him. "What?" Neville looked in the direction Draco had stormed in.
"He seemed upset." Harry sighed.
"I'll go talk to him." Climbing to his feet, he dog-eared his page and set off down the hall. Ginny checked her watch.
"Well it's my turn to cook, I should probably get started." Neville looked apologetically up at Ron.
"Sorry love but if I don't help her we don't eat tonight." Ron snickered.
"That bad, huh?"
"You have no idea."
In spite of Neville's warnings, of perhaps because of them, dinner was edible that evening, if rather late. Afterwards Ron gave Neville a quick kiss and a 'Goodnight Little One.' and headed upstairs to read some more. Left with kitchen cleanup, Hermione frowned after him.
"I'm worried about that obsession with that book. It's not good for him."
"Herm, you're always after him to read something, and now you worry when he does?"
"It's just that I can't help thinking he believes in all this."
"Don't be silly."
Meanwhile Ron's eye had found a rather interesting little spell/potion to bring good-luck and knowledge. Scanning the page next to it he failed to notice the torn edges of pages that had once lain between. It was so simple, most of the herbs he could get from the spice rack in the kitchen, and they had goats milk because Hermione had heard about its health benefits, and it was a full moon tonight. Something about this spell made him want to try it simply to see if he could.
So around midnight, when he was sure everyone else was asleep, he crept down to the kitchen and got to work.
A few hours later, Ron slipped back into his room with the finished potion in his hand. Standing in front of his mirror, he took a deep breath.
"Well here goes." He murmured, and tossed it back.
Immediately it was like fire running through his veins, spiraling out to the extended reaches of his body. He stumbled and fell, gripping his stomach. There was a flash of light and he had a sudden vision of a gilded, wrought iron cage before he blacked out.
Standing, he looked into the mirror at empty eyes, and smiled a predatory smile. His mouth formed the words but a voice that was centuries old issued forth.
"And now, you belong to me."
