A/N Well, everyone, we've come a long way. This is the last chapter *sniff*, but there will be an epilogue. I'm working on the first chapter of the sequel, Silver and Gold, right now. This story, Never Turn Back, is the first installment in a trilogy. So, for those of you disappointed or surprised or curious, don't worry, there's a long journey ahead for my poor innocent characters.
Well, that's all I have to say. I can't bring myself to pour all the sappy thank yous out yet, because the epilogue is yet to come. Have fun with this chapter, and don't forget to review!
Chapter Seven:
Bonds of Love
~We were strangers starting out on a journey
Never dreaming what we'd have to go through
Now here we are, and I'm suddenly standing
At the beginning with you
No one told me I was going to find you
Unexpected, what you did to my heart
When I lost hope, you were there to remind me
This is the start
Life is a road, and I want to keep going
Love is a river, I wanna keep flowing
Life is the road now and forever, wonderful journey
I'll be there when the world stops turning
I'll be there when the storm is through
In the end I wanna be standing
At the beginning with you~
*Richard Marx and Donna Lewis's 'At the Beginning'
Voldemort's dead body, with the hilt of the dagger protruding from its stomach, was the most prominent figure in the room. Above it, Harry's lean form was swaying. He would've fallen, too, if Hermione hadn't rushed forward to steady him.
However, this was not the scene Draco Malfoy was watching. His eyes were searching the shadows. After a moment the adjusted, and he made out the form he had been searching for in the darkness.
By that time, of course, most of their party had rushed to Harry's aid. However, Draco knew there were still a few with him. Severus and Ginny, to be precise.
Draco's heart leapt into his throat as he approached them. Rayven was lying limply in Ron's arms. For a moment, Draco thought she must've fainted from all the excitement, but then he comprehended the copious amounts of blood that had flowed from an ugly wound in her shoulder. He and his two companions came to a dead halt, exchanging looks of confusion and horror, wondering what to do now.
"Ron?" Draco finally tried. He looked up, and Draco nearly flinched. Ron's blue eyes were dull...almost dead-looking. He didn't reply.
"Is she...?" Ginny let her question hang.
"I don't know," Ron whispered hoarsely. However, Draco read a contradicting statement in Ron's eyes. Ron knew; he just didn't want to admit it. He let his head droop again.
"What are we going to do?" Ginny whispered. Obviously it was the right thing to say. Ron's head snapped back up, and his eyes had some spark in them this time. Something inside him had snapped, and he started barking out orders.
"Draco, apparate to Hogsmeade and run up to the castle. Tell Dumbledore we're coming." Draco nodded brusquely, then popped away. Ron then turned to Snape. "Severus, you and I are going to follow suit, with Rayven." Even as he said this, he was on his feet, conjuring a stretcher.
"What about me?" Ginny finally managed to squeak.
"Stay and deal with them," Ron nodded at the group of Ministry officials surrounding Harry and the Dark Lord. It wasn't the job she'd had in mind, but something in Ron's voice brooked no argument. She merely nodded meekly.
"Ready, Severus?" With a nod, the two men and the woman on the stretcher disappeared. Ginny whirred around, only to find the crowd had gone. Throat constricted, she ran through the hallways and out into the open air.
There they were, all in a circle as far as Ginny could tell. And at the center of this circle was a fire with bright blue flames. She only had to ponder for a moment about the fire before she heard a conversation. "Are you sure he's dead, Cornelius?" "Positive, Albus. I saw it with my own eyes."
Heart racing, Ginny shoved her way through the crowd. After what seemed like an eternity (it had really been about five seconds) she saw the familiar, reassuring face of the Headmaster, sitting comfortably in the blue fire.
"What's wrong, Miss Weasley?" Dumbledore asked, cutting the Minister off in the middle of a long spiel.
"It's Rayven, sir!" She exclaimed. Ginny was surprised to find she had tears running down her face. "She...I don't know, there was blood everywhere, and-"
"Rayven?"
"Yes, she was just lying there, and-"
"Ginny, listen to me," Dumbledore interrupted in an urgent voice. "Was she pierced by the dagger?"
"I...I don't know!" She wailed. "Maybe, she was bleeding everywhere."
"Apparate to Hogsmeade and get here as quickly as possible," Dumbledore instructed.
"But Ron told me to stay and deal with the Minister-"
"To hell with the Minister!" Dumbledore exclaimed. "Rayven will need all the help she can get." With that, the fire extinguished itself. Before anyone could say anything, Ginny disapparated.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
By the time Severus and Ron had arrived with Rayven, Draco and Dumbledore were waiting for them. They were utterly prepared; Dumbledore immediately ushered them into the hospital wing, where a bed had already been prepared for her. As soon as she was laid down, Madame Pomfrey began nursing her wounds, and the four men had to leave. No sooner had they reentered the hallway then the doors were flung open and Ginny ran inside.
"Ginny?" Ron asked, bordering on disbelief. "I thought I told you to stay and take care of the Minister!"
"I told her to come, Mr. Weasley." Dumbledore said.
"How did-"
"There will be time for questions soon," Dumbledore interrupted, raising a hand to bring Ron to silence. "In the meantime, the four of you, especially you, Mr. Weasley, need rest." Without further explanation, he lead them into an empty classroom right next to the hospital wing, with four beds set up. Beside each bed was a goblet filled with sleeping draught. "Good night."
"No dreams," Severus said after glancing at the potion. "Very well, to bed all of you!"
"That includes you, Severus," Dumbledore said, his eyes turning to the professor.
"Headmaster-" Severus began.
"You need rest too, Severus," The Headmaster cut him off. With one more nod, he swept out of the classroom.
And, without further argument, the four of them gratefully took the potion and fell into a deep, sleepless slumber.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The next morning the all got up and went their different ways. The door to the Hospital wing was barred, and although all four tried to get in during different parts of the day, none of them were admitted. So, they went on with their other morning duties of finding a shower and a toothbrush and so on.
However, about an hour after lunch (which none of them even attempted to eat) they each got an owl with a note from Dumbledore, telling them to come up to his office. It was much like Ron remembered it, with six chairs waiting for them.
Ron sank into the fourth or fifth chair...or was it the third? His mind was in a daze. All he could think about was Rayven, and those words she had spoken, "...You're going to be a Daddy..." He hadn't told anyone about that yet. He hadn't come to grips with it himself!
He buried his head in his hands. He had lost his wife and his unborn child. Why? To save Harry Potter's goddamned life. Because no one but the good, great Harry Potter could kill the Dark Lord. Because Rayven was a heroine.
Ron knew, right then, that if he saw Harry he would kill him. Harry was just fine, with his wife and his son. But Ron...there was nothing left for him. Without Rayven, life was nothing. It was just a blur of dull colors and a few indistinguishable sounds. Speaking of sounds...
Ron looked up as the door opened, admitting Dumbledore. Ron looked around, and saw that Ginny and Draco were sitting on either side of him. Severus was standing. Ron was about to go back to his dark musings, which were beginning to become suicidal, when he heard the door open again.
Speak of the devil, it was Harry Potter and his wife.
Ron stiffened, and he felt a hand fly to either shoulder. Draco and Ginny were both pinning him down. It was then that Ron realized the strategic way his companions had placed themselves. He smiled hollowly.
"Now that we are all here, please, take a seat," Dumbledore was referring to the Potters, but his eyes fell on Severus, who didn't move. The Headmaster tactfully decided to ignore this. "I have already heard the story from Harry's point of view."
"Is she dead?" Ron asked, although it didn't really sound like a question. Dumbledore sighed.
"Mr. Weasley, to answer that question I would have to explain what happened to her," He answered. "You see; Miss Michaels wasn't pierced by just an ordinary blade. It was the Dagger of Certain Death. It was forged sometime during the Middle Ages by an evil emperor who wanted to keep suitors away from his daughter."
"And what, exactly, does it do?" Draco asked, not bothering to hide his impatience.
"If it penetrates you heart, you die. There are no exceptions, no way to help you. You are dead."
"It was her right shoulder," Severus pointed out. "It couldn't have hit her heart."
"Well, then, there's only one thing that can save her," Dumbledore replied. "At the risk of sounding very cliché: the one thing that can save her is true love."
Ron stared blankly at him. Then he felt it coming up inside of him. Without warning, he began to laugh. A frightening, cold, maniacal laugh. Everyone else in the room stared in alarm.
"What's wrong with him?" Hermione cried, as Ginny and Draco managed to subdue his impulsive laughter. "Doesn't he love her?"
"It's not that simple, Hermione," Ron said, shaking his head as the laughter died. "She's a Death Eater. Magically speaking, love doesn't exist for her."
"What?" Hermione whispered. "That's impossible! It's-"
"Absolutely true, Mrs. Potter," Dumbledore interrupted, and Hermione's protests died in her throat. "You see, Voldemort couldn't really prevent his Death Eaters from loving or being loved, so he did the next best thing: Storybook love required for Potions and spells are useless with them.
"However," here the Headmaster sighed. "I did not say true love between a man and a woman. Remember; this dagger was created by an emperor for his daughter. Even Voldemort can't sever the bonds between a parent and their child."
"Maternal and paternal affection," Draco made a face.
"Unfortunately," Dumbledore sighed. "Both of Rayven's parents have been dead for many years. The only thing that could save her would be if she had a child of her own."
Silence hung in the air as everyone in the room accepted Rayven's fate. However, a tiny voice in the back of Ron's voice kept saying over and over "I'm going to be a mommy, and you're going to be a daddy. I can't die..." Ron kept telling himself it was impossible, she was hallucinating, and it wouldn't work with an unborn child anyway. But something kept telling him she was alive, and so was his child...
"Professor," Ron finally said. "What if..." He pushed all his skepticism away. "What if she were going to have a child?"
"I beg your pardon?" Dumbledore asked, looking up. Ron shifted uncomfortably as everyone's eyes turned to him.
"What if she were...pregnant?" Ron asked. It was the word he hadn't dared to use, not even in his thoughts. Saying it made it so...real.
"I suppose, possibly..." Dumbledore never got to finish. Ron had leapt from his seat and was flying down the stairs. Draco leapt up and began to follow him. He turned at the door when he realized no one was following him.
"Well?" It only took one syllable to get everyone else in gear. Ginny, Severus, Dumbledore, Harry and Hermione followed Draco and Ron at a sprint. Ron outstripped them all, his heart pounding in his chest as he skidded to a halt at the end of the Hospital Corridor. He ran down to the door, and found it open, stopping again, he looked inside.
Nothing. The room was as still as a graveyard. They must have already moved her from her bed to a coffin. Ron's shoulder sank. The others didn't even enter the hall, just stared at the figure in the doorway halfway down. As if they didn't already know, Ron turned to them and shook his head. But no sooner had he done this, than he heard voice floating down from the other end of the hall.
"Young lady, I strictly forbade you to leave your bed! And in your state-"
"I'm sorry, Madame, but I need to find them right now!" Ron would've recognized that frustrated voice anywhere. He turned slowly, hardly able to believe his ears. However, they were supported from evidence from his eyes as Madame Pomfrey rounded the corner with a sulking young woman in a nightdress following her.
"Rayven?" The word was rasping and disbelieving, so soft Ron could hardly hear it himself. However, she heard it. Her head flew up, and her eyes and smile brightened.
"Ron!" She cried, running down the hall. Hardly daring to believe it, Ron pulled his wife into a close embrace. Then he laughed--yes, really laughed this time--and lifted her by her waist to spin her around him. She was alive, yes, it really was his Rayven that was laughing and twirling around him. He brought her down to the ground again, and kissed her as passionately as he could.
"Rayven!" Ginny screamed, unable to hold it in any longer. Ron and Rayven broke apart so Rayven could embrace Ginny. Both girls were crying. She then hugged Severus and Draco.
She's alive, she's alive, she is ALIVE! It was the only thought Ron's mind could comprehend as he watched her welcome all her friends with open arms, crying freely. Then, to his delight, she turned to him with that certain smile, and eased herself back into his arms.
"Er..." The sound came from Harry, who was awkwardly watching the display. Dumbledore was smiling, and Hermione was...good Lord, Ron thought to himself, was Hermione crying? Yes, she was, he realized as she swept forward to that she was standing in front of Ron and Rayven.
"I'm so sorry," She choked. Rayven smiled, and pulled her into an embrace. When she let go, Hermione turned her eyes to Ron's. After a moment, Ron followed his wife's example.
"Nothing is between us now," He said as he pulled Hermione away. She was trying to control her sobs. "No secrets."
"I didn't know, Ron," She said. "I didn't know. I-"
"I know," He smiled. Harry then came up behind his wife. His green eyes behind his glasses were wide, taking in everything around him. He shuffled his feet uncomfortably, and Ron started tugging at his robe. Ginny, Hermione, and Rayven exchanged knowing looks.
"Ron-" Harry started at the same time Ron said "Harry-"
"Look, er..." Harry said. "I...uh...owe you..."
"Don't bother, Harry," Ron replied. "I owe you one too." For a moment, the just kind of looked at each other. Harry held out his hand. Ron completely ignored it, and gave his best friend a brotherly hug. Draco rolled his eyes, Severus looked like he wanted to, but the girls seemed to think it was sweet.
"So wait," Draco said, after all the hugging and mush was out of the way. "You're going to have a baby, Rayven?" Rayven blushed, and looked up at Ron. He put an arm around her waist.
"Huh," Harry said, unable to think of anything better. It was at that moment that Madame Pomfrey (who had left the scene muttering several minutes ago) returned.
"Harry Potter?" She asked. Harry looked over at her. "There is someone here to see you. I brought her up here, I hope you don't mind."
"No, no not at all." They all watched curiously as a timid blonde woman walked in, clutching her handbag. Harry's jaw dropped.
"Aunt Petunia?" He asked in shock. It was indeed. She flushed when he said this.
"Oh! You're alright, then? I, er, just wanted to make sure, you know. After, I mean, well I heard on the news that you were missing, and I...well, you're alright, so I'll leave now."
"Petunia?" The voice this time was Rayven's. Petunia turned around and smiled when she saw her.
"Rayven, darling!" She cried. The two women hugged, and Harry's jaw dropped, if possible, even lower, and the eyes of everyone in the room (excluding Ron, who was laughing) got wider.
"What are you doing here?" Rayven demanded.
"I was just making sure Harry was okay," Petunia replied. "I had another dream with my sister in it."
"Lily Potter was your SISTER?!" Rayven demanded. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"I didn't realize you were acquainted with my nephew," She replied. "Although I should've guessed, seeing as Ron's his best friend." Now even Ron's jaw dropped. Petunia laughed.
"Yes, Ron, I recognized you the minute I walked into the church. But don't worry, I didn't tell Vernon." She winked at him. "So, how was the honeymoon, Mrs. Weasley?"
As if everyone in the room wasn't in enough shock, this put them over the edge. Harry stumbled backward, Hermione was threatening to faint, Ginny stared at Rayven, Draco stared at Ron, Severus stared at Dumbledore and Dumbledore's jaw dropped.
"Oh dear," Petunia said, observing the reactions around the room. "Have you still not told anyone?"
"We were just trying to think of a way to tell them anyway," Ron assured her, coming up behind Rayven with a grin. "This way is definitely the most humorous."
"Indeed," Rayven said, looking around the room.
"Well, you're not even wearing your ring!" Petunia cried, seeing Rayven's finger. She laughed, and pulled out the gold chain around her neck.
"So no one would see it." She explained. "Now, about the honeymoon. We've been terribly busy, so we actually haven't gone yet."
"Really?" Petunia asked.
"Yes, but now we're all ready to go," Ron grinned. "We were thinking about France."
"No," Rayven said, turning to her husband. "We were thinking about Spain."
"No, we were thinking about France!
"We were THINKING about SPAIN!"
"FRANCE!"
"SPAIN!"
"You know," Petunia interrupted thoughtfully. "I honeymooned in Germany." Ron and Rayven looked at each other, and identical smiles spread across their faces.
"Deutschland," They said in unison, then all three of them broke out into laughter.
"I...you...married?" Draco asked in bewilderment. Ron and Rayven turned, and Draco could've hit himself over the head. He hadn't realized how in love they were.
"Yeah," Ron blushed. "We got married in May. We didn't tell anyone."
"How does SHE know?" Harry asked, gesturing to his aunt.
"Petunia here and her husband Vernon were our witnesses," Rayven beamed. "We'll probably have another ceremony though, for the family."
"The family..." The voice was Ginny's. Something dawned on her, and she looked up with bright eyes. "Oh my God, we're sisters!" She squealed, and with that they were hugging again. Ron rolled his eyes.
"Well...er...congratulations," Draco said, offering a hand. Harry, Severus, and Dumbledore did the same, while Hermione went to be girly with the others.
"So it's Rayven Weasley?" Dumbledore mused, looking down at her and her husband fondly. "Very good, very good."
"Will you really have another ceremony?" Ginny asked her eyes alight.
"Well...?" She looked over at Ron. His eyes darkened.
"For you guys," He said, looking around the room. "You too, Petunia, I promise. I don't think Mum and Dad will want to come."
And uncomfortable silence descended on them. Even Petunia, who didn't really understand what was going on, felt it.
"I really must be going," She said. "Vernon will miss me."
"Goodbye, Petunia," Rayven said, giving her a last hug. Petunia smiled awkwardly at Harry, who nodded back. It was probably the most civil exchange they had ever had.
"Go on home," Dumbledore said kindly to the young men and women around him. "Cornelius is going to have an awards ceremony in a few days. Until then, you need a vacation. Ginny, you and Bill have the time off too."
With a nod, they began to disapparate. Ron and Rayven first, then the Potters. Dumbledore and Severus melted away. After a moment of awkward silence Draco took Ginny's hand.
"This is it, Ginny," He said. "Voldemort's dead."
"Yeah..." She muttered. Their eyes met. Nothing happened.
"Just kiss her already!" A voice yelled. They whipped around to see Madame Pomfrey smiling. She bustled off, leaving them alone.
"You heard the woman," Ginny grinned. Draco smiled down, and kissed her. He then took her hand, and they disapparated as well.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The little park near the Ministry building had never seen such a crowd. Practically all of wizarding Britain was there, seated on the lawns in the chairs that had been provided, looking up at the stage that had been erected for the occasion.
Ginny was there, of course, seated between her parents and her brothers. Well, Bill, Charlie, Fred and George. She didn't know where Ron was, and of course Percy...well, she didn't really want to think about that.
Everyone was in a celebratory mood, parties had been going on for days in honor of Harry Potter's final triumph over Voldemort. This ceremony was for the aurors and such who had helped bring him down. Harry was on the list for twelve different awards. They had all been handed programs when they came in, and Ginny was prepared to have a few words with the Minister. The Circle of the Two-Faced wasn't on there anywhere.
She watched as Fudge made a touching speech, then proceeded with the awards. Seamus Finnigan, Lavender Brown, Padma Patil, and several others Ginny didn't recognize went up to receive Orders of Merlin in various classes. Then, Fudge made a speech to Harry, who went red as he received twelve straight awards. After that, everyone started to get up, but Fudge interrupted them.
"Wait a moment, folks," He said into his magical microphone. "I know Mr. Potter is the last man on the list, but there are a few more awards I'd like to hand out."
Ginny fell into her chair, her heart fluttering. Was this it? Maybe, if her parents saw this, they would understand. Maybe they could be a family again. Maybe...
"The people I have awarded today," Fudge began. "Openly fought and loathed the Dark Lord. However, there are those who helped our cause in a different way. They were spies, working as Death Eaters to protect and warn us of what was happening.
"The first man to work as one of these came to us looking for forgiveness. He was seventeen years old at the time. Now, he has been working with us to undermine the Dark Lord's plans for over twenty years. I'd like to award the Order of Merlin, First Class, to the Ministry's first spy against He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named; Professor Severus Snape!" Ginny applauded like nuts, whistling and yelling. The others applauded too, but they didn't really understand. Ginny felt a surge of annoyance when she heard her father scoff on her left as Severus slowly went forward, received the award, and quickly went back to his seat.
"Professor Snape wasn't the only man to do this, however," Fudge continued. "And I'd like to ask the next few people to remain standing her, since I believe they should be recognized together. Firstly, there was a boy-yes, ladies and gentlemen, a child of fourteen-who also came to us. His father was a Death Eater, and he wanted to help us instead of follow in his father's footsteps. For our sakes, he became a Death Eater at age fifteen." The Minister stopped for dramatic effect. "Fifteen. Do you remember your lives at fifteen years of age? I'm sure they did not involve answering to a powerful Dark Lord and then risking your life to betray him to the Ministry. Well, that's what this man did. I'd like to award the Order of Merlin, First Class, to Mr. Draco Malfoy." Ginny, once again, cheered as loud as she could.
"Ginny, please!" Her mother said, looking at Draco with distaste. "Arthur, this is quite a waste of time. They are awarding men who probably told them one thing, after the fact. I will not stand for it." She started to get up, but Ginny snapped.
"Damn it, Mother!" This made Mrs. Weasley sit down in a hurry. Her parents and her brothers stared at her. "Don't you understand?" She cried. "I'm an Unspeakable. Do you know what my job is? I'll tell you: it was staying up, every night, and waiting for one of these spies to come to my office. They came shaking and trembling, telling horrible stories. Do you think that's what they wanted? One of the spies was caught by Voldemort. He didn't just kill her, Mum, that would've been too damn easy. He tortured her, slowly. That's what these people risked." Her voice was taking on a higher pitch. "So I think you can at least have the decency to stay and watch them be honored for their sacrifices made on the behalf of ungrateful people like you!"
With that, Ginny turned and watched as Draco stood back, and the applause had died down.
"Ginny...Ginny, we didn't know-" Mr. Weasley began.
"Well you do now," She snapped. "Watch." Fudge was beginning his next award.
"Many of you remember the gruesome death of Miss Angel Pentser, who was also one of these spies. Well, Angel had a best friend, who also entered the business. She was recruited on accident, because we saw the powerful potential in these two girls that You-Know-Who would've eventually seen too. So, this young woman was initiated just before her eighteenth birthday to become one of them along with her best friend, who later died in our service. Still, she went on never even thinking of going back. She was imprisoned by US, but she escaped. She then nearly gave her life defending Harry Potter at the final battle, taking a dagger to the shoulder in his place. I'd like to award the Order of Merlin, First Class, to Miss Rayven Michaels."
Harry and his group of aurors that had captured Rayven stood up and gave her a standing ovation. She blushed, and let Fudge put the pendant over her head. She then walked back to stand by Draco. They exchanged high-fives before Fudge approached the microphone again. He waited for dead silence, and Ginny knew what was coming.
"Ladies and gentlemen, these two young people were very brave. Miss Michaels was an orphan, and Mr. Malfoy, as we all know, was brought up to be a Death Eater. So maybe, in a way, it was easier for them." Fudge leaned forward onto his podium, addressing the audience on a more personal level.
"Imagine, for a moment," He began quietly. "That you were brought up in a very tight knit family. Imagine that that family very openly detested the Dark Lord. Imagine you had grown up wanting to be an auror. Imagine you were working at the Ministry for some extra money one summer, and one of your professors pulls you into an office and tells you that you have the potential to be one of the most feared Death Eaters of all time." He let the thought hang in the air. "Rather a lot to swallow? Now imagine your professor tells you that if you become a Death Eater with the Ministry, you can help in ways even the aurors can't. You could prevent major attacks, you could defend the public, you could protect those you love...at a price. The price being your family, your friends, your career, and basically your entire life. Do you take him up?
"This young man did. At age sixteen he threw away everything he had been taught since childhood to become a spy. That is courage I have never seen the likes of before. Since then, this man has risen to the highest ranks of the Dark Lord, then been imprisoned in Azkaban, only to be let out just in time to help Harry Potter fight the Dark Lord. Ladies and Gentlemen, I'd like to award both the Order of Merlin, First Class, and the Order of Phoenix, to Mr. Ronald Weasley."
Ginny leapt to her feet, screaming like mad. Her other brothers and her parents just sat and stared dumbly as Ron, blushing furiously, climbed onto the stage and accepted both awards. Harry and Hermione were also on their feet. Around her, she heard the people chanting 'speech, speech, speech, speech!' Ron timidly approached the podium after getting a hardy slap on the back from Draco.
"Um...I'm not really much good at speeches..." He began. Rayven came up to him, and took the microphone.
"Just a moment, Ron, I have to register a complaint," She said.
"By all means," He replied. She looked down at Fudge.
"Minister, you pronounced my name wrong," She declared.
"What?" Fudge replied, confused. "How did I do that? Isn't your name Rayven?"
"It wasn't my first name, it was my last name," Rayven explained.
"Michaels?" The Minister continued.
"See, that's just it, my name isn't Michaels," She said. With a jolt, Ron realized what she was going to do. He braced himself, and saw her wink at him before continuing. "It's Weasley. Mrs. Ronald Weasley, if you don't mind." She put her arms through his, and gave him a dazzling smile, he had to smile back down at her. He was dimly aware of applause, mainly from Ginny, Harry, Hermione, and Draco.
"Oh," Fudge said stupidly. Ron laughed.
"Okay, well, my speech. Hmm..." Ron said. "I suppose I should thank Bill Croaker and my sister Ginny for being the most wonderful contacts ever." Wild applause. "And...er, well, this is where I'm supposed to thank family and friends, but I don't really have anyone else, do you guys?" He asked, looking at Rayven and Draco. They both shook their heads, grinning. This was priceless. "Well then, I only have four words." With that, he turned to Rayven and Draco. "Guys, we did it!" The three of them immediately started screaming over the wild of applause of the (only slightly drunk) audience. Ginny stood on her chair so she could see over people's heads to the stage, which Severus had now leapt onto.
"Ladies and Gentlemen," The Potions Master said. "I've grown very close to these kids. I almost feel like they're mine. I am very proud of them. As the Minister pointed out, only one of them really has a family. So if the so-called parents of Ron Weasley don't get up here right now, I will be forced to come over for Christmas."
Needless to say, that got Mr. and Mrs. Weasley up in a hurry.
Ginny was already on the stage. She flew to Draco who picked her up and twirled her around much the same way as Ron had with Rayven the other night. He then put her down and kissed her. He lifted his face away just a tiny bit, so that when he spoke, only she could hear.
"I should've done this a long time ago." He looked over at Ron, who nodded. Ginny watched the exchange in puzzlement, until she saw Draco drop to one knee. She gasped.
"Ginny Weasley, will you marry me?"
"Oh my God!" She cried, wrapping her arms around his neck. "Yes!"
"Oh dear, I'm going to have Draco Malfoy for a brother-in-law," Ron said, making a face as Ginny and Draco kissed...again. Rayven laughed.
"It could be worse," She pointed out.
"Ron!" A voice was heard through the hullabaloo. Ron turned, a grin on his face, but then stopped.
The voice had been his father's. His parents and his brothers were watching hesitantly. He walked over to them slowly, avoiding his mother's eye.
"Ron?" She asked, making her look up at him. He reluctantly did so, and saw her eyes shining. Was that...pride?
Before he could figure it out, she had wrapped him in a bone-crushing hug. He had just disentangled himself from her when he was passed to his father and his brothers. Then Harry and Hermione, who smiled and hugged him as well. Mrs. Weasley had pounced on Rayven, welcoming her to the family and demanding another ceremony. Ron wished, in that moment, that things could go back the way they used to be.
He imagined himself working in an office at Auror HQ, jealously watching Harry and Hermione's love bloom. He imagined never meeting Rayven, and cursing Malfoy every time the subject had been brought up. He imagined never having met Angel Pentser, or learning all the lessons he had learned over these two years. He imagined the way things used to be. He snorted.
Or not.
Well, that's all I have to say. I can't bring myself to pour all the sappy thank yous out yet, because the epilogue is yet to come. Have fun with this chapter, and don't forget to review!
Chapter Seven:
Bonds of Love
~We were strangers starting out on a journey
Never dreaming what we'd have to go through
Now here we are, and I'm suddenly standing
At the beginning with you
No one told me I was going to find you
Unexpected, what you did to my heart
When I lost hope, you were there to remind me
This is the start
Life is a road, and I want to keep going
Love is a river, I wanna keep flowing
Life is the road now and forever, wonderful journey
I'll be there when the world stops turning
I'll be there when the storm is through
In the end I wanna be standing
At the beginning with you~
*Richard Marx and Donna Lewis's 'At the Beginning'
Voldemort's dead body, with the hilt of the dagger protruding from its stomach, was the most prominent figure in the room. Above it, Harry's lean form was swaying. He would've fallen, too, if Hermione hadn't rushed forward to steady him.
However, this was not the scene Draco Malfoy was watching. His eyes were searching the shadows. After a moment the adjusted, and he made out the form he had been searching for in the darkness.
By that time, of course, most of their party had rushed to Harry's aid. However, Draco knew there were still a few with him. Severus and Ginny, to be precise.
Draco's heart leapt into his throat as he approached them. Rayven was lying limply in Ron's arms. For a moment, Draco thought she must've fainted from all the excitement, but then he comprehended the copious amounts of blood that had flowed from an ugly wound in her shoulder. He and his two companions came to a dead halt, exchanging looks of confusion and horror, wondering what to do now.
"Ron?" Draco finally tried. He looked up, and Draco nearly flinched. Ron's blue eyes were dull...almost dead-looking. He didn't reply.
"Is she...?" Ginny let her question hang.
"I don't know," Ron whispered hoarsely. However, Draco read a contradicting statement in Ron's eyes. Ron knew; he just didn't want to admit it. He let his head droop again.
"What are we going to do?" Ginny whispered. Obviously it was the right thing to say. Ron's head snapped back up, and his eyes had some spark in them this time. Something inside him had snapped, and he started barking out orders.
"Draco, apparate to Hogsmeade and run up to the castle. Tell Dumbledore we're coming." Draco nodded brusquely, then popped away. Ron then turned to Snape. "Severus, you and I are going to follow suit, with Rayven." Even as he said this, he was on his feet, conjuring a stretcher.
"What about me?" Ginny finally managed to squeak.
"Stay and deal with them," Ron nodded at the group of Ministry officials surrounding Harry and the Dark Lord. It wasn't the job she'd had in mind, but something in Ron's voice brooked no argument. She merely nodded meekly.
"Ready, Severus?" With a nod, the two men and the woman on the stretcher disappeared. Ginny whirred around, only to find the crowd had gone. Throat constricted, she ran through the hallways and out into the open air.
There they were, all in a circle as far as Ginny could tell. And at the center of this circle was a fire with bright blue flames. She only had to ponder for a moment about the fire before she heard a conversation. "Are you sure he's dead, Cornelius?" "Positive, Albus. I saw it with my own eyes."
Heart racing, Ginny shoved her way through the crowd. After what seemed like an eternity (it had really been about five seconds) she saw the familiar, reassuring face of the Headmaster, sitting comfortably in the blue fire.
"What's wrong, Miss Weasley?" Dumbledore asked, cutting the Minister off in the middle of a long spiel.
"It's Rayven, sir!" She exclaimed. Ginny was surprised to find she had tears running down her face. "She...I don't know, there was blood everywhere, and-"
"Rayven?"
"Yes, she was just lying there, and-"
"Ginny, listen to me," Dumbledore interrupted in an urgent voice. "Was she pierced by the dagger?"
"I...I don't know!" She wailed. "Maybe, she was bleeding everywhere."
"Apparate to Hogsmeade and get here as quickly as possible," Dumbledore instructed.
"But Ron told me to stay and deal with the Minister-"
"To hell with the Minister!" Dumbledore exclaimed. "Rayven will need all the help she can get." With that, the fire extinguished itself. Before anyone could say anything, Ginny disapparated.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
By the time Severus and Ron had arrived with Rayven, Draco and Dumbledore were waiting for them. They were utterly prepared; Dumbledore immediately ushered them into the hospital wing, where a bed had already been prepared for her. As soon as she was laid down, Madame Pomfrey began nursing her wounds, and the four men had to leave. No sooner had they reentered the hallway then the doors were flung open and Ginny ran inside.
"Ginny?" Ron asked, bordering on disbelief. "I thought I told you to stay and take care of the Minister!"
"I told her to come, Mr. Weasley." Dumbledore said.
"How did-"
"There will be time for questions soon," Dumbledore interrupted, raising a hand to bring Ron to silence. "In the meantime, the four of you, especially you, Mr. Weasley, need rest." Without further explanation, he lead them into an empty classroom right next to the hospital wing, with four beds set up. Beside each bed was a goblet filled with sleeping draught. "Good night."
"No dreams," Severus said after glancing at the potion. "Very well, to bed all of you!"
"That includes you, Severus," Dumbledore said, his eyes turning to the professor.
"Headmaster-" Severus began.
"You need rest too, Severus," The Headmaster cut him off. With one more nod, he swept out of the classroom.
And, without further argument, the four of them gratefully took the potion and fell into a deep, sleepless slumber.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The next morning the all got up and went their different ways. The door to the Hospital wing was barred, and although all four tried to get in during different parts of the day, none of them were admitted. So, they went on with their other morning duties of finding a shower and a toothbrush and so on.
However, about an hour after lunch (which none of them even attempted to eat) they each got an owl with a note from Dumbledore, telling them to come up to his office. It was much like Ron remembered it, with six chairs waiting for them.
Ron sank into the fourth or fifth chair...or was it the third? His mind was in a daze. All he could think about was Rayven, and those words she had spoken, "...You're going to be a Daddy..." He hadn't told anyone about that yet. He hadn't come to grips with it himself!
He buried his head in his hands. He had lost his wife and his unborn child. Why? To save Harry Potter's goddamned life. Because no one but the good, great Harry Potter could kill the Dark Lord. Because Rayven was a heroine.
Ron knew, right then, that if he saw Harry he would kill him. Harry was just fine, with his wife and his son. But Ron...there was nothing left for him. Without Rayven, life was nothing. It was just a blur of dull colors and a few indistinguishable sounds. Speaking of sounds...
Ron looked up as the door opened, admitting Dumbledore. Ron looked around, and saw that Ginny and Draco were sitting on either side of him. Severus was standing. Ron was about to go back to his dark musings, which were beginning to become suicidal, when he heard the door open again.
Speak of the devil, it was Harry Potter and his wife.
Ron stiffened, and he felt a hand fly to either shoulder. Draco and Ginny were both pinning him down. It was then that Ron realized the strategic way his companions had placed themselves. He smiled hollowly.
"Now that we are all here, please, take a seat," Dumbledore was referring to the Potters, but his eyes fell on Severus, who didn't move. The Headmaster tactfully decided to ignore this. "I have already heard the story from Harry's point of view."
"Is she dead?" Ron asked, although it didn't really sound like a question. Dumbledore sighed.
"Mr. Weasley, to answer that question I would have to explain what happened to her," He answered. "You see; Miss Michaels wasn't pierced by just an ordinary blade. It was the Dagger of Certain Death. It was forged sometime during the Middle Ages by an evil emperor who wanted to keep suitors away from his daughter."
"And what, exactly, does it do?" Draco asked, not bothering to hide his impatience.
"If it penetrates you heart, you die. There are no exceptions, no way to help you. You are dead."
"It was her right shoulder," Severus pointed out. "It couldn't have hit her heart."
"Well, then, there's only one thing that can save her," Dumbledore replied. "At the risk of sounding very cliché: the one thing that can save her is true love."
Ron stared blankly at him. Then he felt it coming up inside of him. Without warning, he began to laugh. A frightening, cold, maniacal laugh. Everyone else in the room stared in alarm.
"What's wrong with him?" Hermione cried, as Ginny and Draco managed to subdue his impulsive laughter. "Doesn't he love her?"
"It's not that simple, Hermione," Ron said, shaking his head as the laughter died. "She's a Death Eater. Magically speaking, love doesn't exist for her."
"What?" Hermione whispered. "That's impossible! It's-"
"Absolutely true, Mrs. Potter," Dumbledore interrupted, and Hermione's protests died in her throat. "You see, Voldemort couldn't really prevent his Death Eaters from loving or being loved, so he did the next best thing: Storybook love required for Potions and spells are useless with them.
"However," here the Headmaster sighed. "I did not say true love between a man and a woman. Remember; this dagger was created by an emperor for his daughter. Even Voldemort can't sever the bonds between a parent and their child."
"Maternal and paternal affection," Draco made a face.
"Unfortunately," Dumbledore sighed. "Both of Rayven's parents have been dead for many years. The only thing that could save her would be if she had a child of her own."
Silence hung in the air as everyone in the room accepted Rayven's fate. However, a tiny voice in the back of Ron's voice kept saying over and over "I'm going to be a mommy, and you're going to be a daddy. I can't die..." Ron kept telling himself it was impossible, she was hallucinating, and it wouldn't work with an unborn child anyway. But something kept telling him she was alive, and so was his child...
"Professor," Ron finally said. "What if..." He pushed all his skepticism away. "What if she were going to have a child?"
"I beg your pardon?" Dumbledore asked, looking up. Ron shifted uncomfortably as everyone's eyes turned to him.
"What if she were...pregnant?" Ron asked. It was the word he hadn't dared to use, not even in his thoughts. Saying it made it so...real.
"I suppose, possibly..." Dumbledore never got to finish. Ron had leapt from his seat and was flying down the stairs. Draco leapt up and began to follow him. He turned at the door when he realized no one was following him.
"Well?" It only took one syllable to get everyone else in gear. Ginny, Severus, Dumbledore, Harry and Hermione followed Draco and Ron at a sprint. Ron outstripped them all, his heart pounding in his chest as he skidded to a halt at the end of the Hospital Corridor. He ran down to the door, and found it open, stopping again, he looked inside.
Nothing. The room was as still as a graveyard. They must have already moved her from her bed to a coffin. Ron's shoulder sank. The others didn't even enter the hall, just stared at the figure in the doorway halfway down. As if they didn't already know, Ron turned to them and shook his head. But no sooner had he done this, than he heard voice floating down from the other end of the hall.
"Young lady, I strictly forbade you to leave your bed! And in your state-"
"I'm sorry, Madame, but I need to find them right now!" Ron would've recognized that frustrated voice anywhere. He turned slowly, hardly able to believe his ears. However, they were supported from evidence from his eyes as Madame Pomfrey rounded the corner with a sulking young woman in a nightdress following her.
"Rayven?" The word was rasping and disbelieving, so soft Ron could hardly hear it himself. However, she heard it. Her head flew up, and her eyes and smile brightened.
"Ron!" She cried, running down the hall. Hardly daring to believe it, Ron pulled his wife into a close embrace. Then he laughed--yes, really laughed this time--and lifted her by her waist to spin her around him. She was alive, yes, it really was his Rayven that was laughing and twirling around him. He brought her down to the ground again, and kissed her as passionately as he could.
"Rayven!" Ginny screamed, unable to hold it in any longer. Ron and Rayven broke apart so Rayven could embrace Ginny. Both girls were crying. She then hugged Severus and Draco.
She's alive, she's alive, she is ALIVE! It was the only thought Ron's mind could comprehend as he watched her welcome all her friends with open arms, crying freely. Then, to his delight, she turned to him with that certain smile, and eased herself back into his arms.
"Er..." The sound came from Harry, who was awkwardly watching the display. Dumbledore was smiling, and Hermione was...good Lord, Ron thought to himself, was Hermione crying? Yes, she was, he realized as she swept forward to that she was standing in front of Ron and Rayven.
"I'm so sorry," She choked. Rayven smiled, and pulled her into an embrace. When she let go, Hermione turned her eyes to Ron's. After a moment, Ron followed his wife's example.
"Nothing is between us now," He said as he pulled Hermione away. She was trying to control her sobs. "No secrets."
"I didn't know, Ron," She said. "I didn't know. I-"
"I know," He smiled. Harry then came up behind his wife. His green eyes behind his glasses were wide, taking in everything around him. He shuffled his feet uncomfortably, and Ron started tugging at his robe. Ginny, Hermione, and Rayven exchanged knowing looks.
"Ron-" Harry started at the same time Ron said "Harry-"
"Look, er..." Harry said. "I...uh...owe you..."
"Don't bother, Harry," Ron replied. "I owe you one too." For a moment, the just kind of looked at each other. Harry held out his hand. Ron completely ignored it, and gave his best friend a brotherly hug. Draco rolled his eyes, Severus looked like he wanted to, but the girls seemed to think it was sweet.
"So wait," Draco said, after all the hugging and mush was out of the way. "You're going to have a baby, Rayven?" Rayven blushed, and looked up at Ron. He put an arm around her waist.
"Huh," Harry said, unable to think of anything better. It was at that moment that Madame Pomfrey (who had left the scene muttering several minutes ago) returned.
"Harry Potter?" She asked. Harry looked over at her. "There is someone here to see you. I brought her up here, I hope you don't mind."
"No, no not at all." They all watched curiously as a timid blonde woman walked in, clutching her handbag. Harry's jaw dropped.
"Aunt Petunia?" He asked in shock. It was indeed. She flushed when he said this.
"Oh! You're alright, then? I, er, just wanted to make sure, you know. After, I mean, well I heard on the news that you were missing, and I...well, you're alright, so I'll leave now."
"Petunia?" The voice this time was Rayven's. Petunia turned around and smiled when she saw her.
"Rayven, darling!" She cried. The two women hugged, and Harry's jaw dropped, if possible, even lower, and the eyes of everyone in the room (excluding Ron, who was laughing) got wider.
"What are you doing here?" Rayven demanded.
"I was just making sure Harry was okay," Petunia replied. "I had another dream with my sister in it."
"Lily Potter was your SISTER?!" Rayven demanded. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"I didn't realize you were acquainted with my nephew," She replied. "Although I should've guessed, seeing as Ron's his best friend." Now even Ron's jaw dropped. Petunia laughed.
"Yes, Ron, I recognized you the minute I walked into the church. But don't worry, I didn't tell Vernon." She winked at him. "So, how was the honeymoon, Mrs. Weasley?"
As if everyone in the room wasn't in enough shock, this put them over the edge. Harry stumbled backward, Hermione was threatening to faint, Ginny stared at Rayven, Draco stared at Ron, Severus stared at Dumbledore and Dumbledore's jaw dropped.
"Oh dear," Petunia said, observing the reactions around the room. "Have you still not told anyone?"
"We were just trying to think of a way to tell them anyway," Ron assured her, coming up behind Rayven with a grin. "This way is definitely the most humorous."
"Indeed," Rayven said, looking around the room.
"Well, you're not even wearing your ring!" Petunia cried, seeing Rayven's finger. She laughed, and pulled out the gold chain around her neck.
"So no one would see it." She explained. "Now, about the honeymoon. We've been terribly busy, so we actually haven't gone yet."
"Really?" Petunia asked.
"Yes, but now we're all ready to go," Ron grinned. "We were thinking about France."
"No," Rayven said, turning to her husband. "We were thinking about Spain."
"No, we were thinking about France!
"We were THINKING about SPAIN!"
"FRANCE!"
"SPAIN!"
"You know," Petunia interrupted thoughtfully. "I honeymooned in Germany." Ron and Rayven looked at each other, and identical smiles spread across their faces.
"Deutschland," They said in unison, then all three of them broke out into laughter.
"I...you...married?" Draco asked in bewilderment. Ron and Rayven turned, and Draco could've hit himself over the head. He hadn't realized how in love they were.
"Yeah," Ron blushed. "We got married in May. We didn't tell anyone."
"How does SHE know?" Harry asked, gesturing to his aunt.
"Petunia here and her husband Vernon were our witnesses," Rayven beamed. "We'll probably have another ceremony though, for the family."
"The family..." The voice was Ginny's. Something dawned on her, and she looked up with bright eyes. "Oh my God, we're sisters!" She squealed, and with that they were hugging again. Ron rolled his eyes.
"Well...er...congratulations," Draco said, offering a hand. Harry, Severus, and Dumbledore did the same, while Hermione went to be girly with the others.
"So it's Rayven Weasley?" Dumbledore mused, looking down at her and her husband fondly. "Very good, very good."
"Will you really have another ceremony?" Ginny asked her eyes alight.
"Well...?" She looked over at Ron. His eyes darkened.
"For you guys," He said, looking around the room. "You too, Petunia, I promise. I don't think Mum and Dad will want to come."
And uncomfortable silence descended on them. Even Petunia, who didn't really understand what was going on, felt it.
"I really must be going," She said. "Vernon will miss me."
"Goodbye, Petunia," Rayven said, giving her a last hug. Petunia smiled awkwardly at Harry, who nodded back. It was probably the most civil exchange they had ever had.
"Go on home," Dumbledore said kindly to the young men and women around him. "Cornelius is going to have an awards ceremony in a few days. Until then, you need a vacation. Ginny, you and Bill have the time off too."
With a nod, they began to disapparate. Ron and Rayven first, then the Potters. Dumbledore and Severus melted away. After a moment of awkward silence Draco took Ginny's hand.
"This is it, Ginny," He said. "Voldemort's dead."
"Yeah..." She muttered. Their eyes met. Nothing happened.
"Just kiss her already!" A voice yelled. They whipped around to see Madame Pomfrey smiling. She bustled off, leaving them alone.
"You heard the woman," Ginny grinned. Draco smiled down, and kissed her. He then took her hand, and they disapparated as well.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
The little park near the Ministry building had never seen such a crowd. Practically all of wizarding Britain was there, seated on the lawns in the chairs that had been provided, looking up at the stage that had been erected for the occasion.
Ginny was there, of course, seated between her parents and her brothers. Well, Bill, Charlie, Fred and George. She didn't know where Ron was, and of course Percy...well, she didn't really want to think about that.
Everyone was in a celebratory mood, parties had been going on for days in honor of Harry Potter's final triumph over Voldemort. This ceremony was for the aurors and such who had helped bring him down. Harry was on the list for twelve different awards. They had all been handed programs when they came in, and Ginny was prepared to have a few words with the Minister. The Circle of the Two-Faced wasn't on there anywhere.
She watched as Fudge made a touching speech, then proceeded with the awards. Seamus Finnigan, Lavender Brown, Padma Patil, and several others Ginny didn't recognize went up to receive Orders of Merlin in various classes. Then, Fudge made a speech to Harry, who went red as he received twelve straight awards. After that, everyone started to get up, but Fudge interrupted them.
"Wait a moment, folks," He said into his magical microphone. "I know Mr. Potter is the last man on the list, but there are a few more awards I'd like to hand out."
Ginny fell into her chair, her heart fluttering. Was this it? Maybe, if her parents saw this, they would understand. Maybe they could be a family again. Maybe...
"The people I have awarded today," Fudge began. "Openly fought and loathed the Dark Lord. However, there are those who helped our cause in a different way. They were spies, working as Death Eaters to protect and warn us of what was happening.
"The first man to work as one of these came to us looking for forgiveness. He was seventeen years old at the time. Now, he has been working with us to undermine the Dark Lord's plans for over twenty years. I'd like to award the Order of Merlin, First Class, to the Ministry's first spy against He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named; Professor Severus Snape!" Ginny applauded like nuts, whistling and yelling. The others applauded too, but they didn't really understand. Ginny felt a surge of annoyance when she heard her father scoff on her left as Severus slowly went forward, received the award, and quickly went back to his seat.
"Professor Snape wasn't the only man to do this, however," Fudge continued. "And I'd like to ask the next few people to remain standing her, since I believe they should be recognized together. Firstly, there was a boy-yes, ladies and gentlemen, a child of fourteen-who also came to us. His father was a Death Eater, and he wanted to help us instead of follow in his father's footsteps. For our sakes, he became a Death Eater at age fifteen." The Minister stopped for dramatic effect. "Fifteen. Do you remember your lives at fifteen years of age? I'm sure they did not involve answering to a powerful Dark Lord and then risking your life to betray him to the Ministry. Well, that's what this man did. I'd like to award the Order of Merlin, First Class, to Mr. Draco Malfoy." Ginny, once again, cheered as loud as she could.
"Ginny, please!" Her mother said, looking at Draco with distaste. "Arthur, this is quite a waste of time. They are awarding men who probably told them one thing, after the fact. I will not stand for it." She started to get up, but Ginny snapped.
"Damn it, Mother!" This made Mrs. Weasley sit down in a hurry. Her parents and her brothers stared at her. "Don't you understand?" She cried. "I'm an Unspeakable. Do you know what my job is? I'll tell you: it was staying up, every night, and waiting for one of these spies to come to my office. They came shaking and trembling, telling horrible stories. Do you think that's what they wanted? One of the spies was caught by Voldemort. He didn't just kill her, Mum, that would've been too damn easy. He tortured her, slowly. That's what these people risked." Her voice was taking on a higher pitch. "So I think you can at least have the decency to stay and watch them be honored for their sacrifices made on the behalf of ungrateful people like you!"
With that, Ginny turned and watched as Draco stood back, and the applause had died down.
"Ginny...Ginny, we didn't know-" Mr. Weasley began.
"Well you do now," She snapped. "Watch." Fudge was beginning his next award.
"Many of you remember the gruesome death of Miss Angel Pentser, who was also one of these spies. Well, Angel had a best friend, who also entered the business. She was recruited on accident, because we saw the powerful potential in these two girls that You-Know-Who would've eventually seen too. So, this young woman was initiated just before her eighteenth birthday to become one of them along with her best friend, who later died in our service. Still, she went on never even thinking of going back. She was imprisoned by US, but she escaped. She then nearly gave her life defending Harry Potter at the final battle, taking a dagger to the shoulder in his place. I'd like to award the Order of Merlin, First Class, to Miss Rayven Michaels."
Harry and his group of aurors that had captured Rayven stood up and gave her a standing ovation. She blushed, and let Fudge put the pendant over her head. She then walked back to stand by Draco. They exchanged high-fives before Fudge approached the microphone again. He waited for dead silence, and Ginny knew what was coming.
"Ladies and gentlemen, these two young people were very brave. Miss Michaels was an orphan, and Mr. Malfoy, as we all know, was brought up to be a Death Eater. So maybe, in a way, it was easier for them." Fudge leaned forward onto his podium, addressing the audience on a more personal level.
"Imagine, for a moment," He began quietly. "That you were brought up in a very tight knit family. Imagine that that family very openly detested the Dark Lord. Imagine you had grown up wanting to be an auror. Imagine you were working at the Ministry for some extra money one summer, and one of your professors pulls you into an office and tells you that you have the potential to be one of the most feared Death Eaters of all time." He let the thought hang in the air. "Rather a lot to swallow? Now imagine your professor tells you that if you become a Death Eater with the Ministry, you can help in ways even the aurors can't. You could prevent major attacks, you could defend the public, you could protect those you love...at a price. The price being your family, your friends, your career, and basically your entire life. Do you take him up?
"This young man did. At age sixteen he threw away everything he had been taught since childhood to become a spy. That is courage I have never seen the likes of before. Since then, this man has risen to the highest ranks of the Dark Lord, then been imprisoned in Azkaban, only to be let out just in time to help Harry Potter fight the Dark Lord. Ladies and Gentlemen, I'd like to award both the Order of Merlin, First Class, and the Order of Phoenix, to Mr. Ronald Weasley."
Ginny leapt to her feet, screaming like mad. Her other brothers and her parents just sat and stared dumbly as Ron, blushing furiously, climbed onto the stage and accepted both awards. Harry and Hermione were also on their feet. Around her, she heard the people chanting 'speech, speech, speech, speech!' Ron timidly approached the podium after getting a hardy slap on the back from Draco.
"Um...I'm not really much good at speeches..." He began. Rayven came up to him, and took the microphone.
"Just a moment, Ron, I have to register a complaint," She said.
"By all means," He replied. She looked down at Fudge.
"Minister, you pronounced my name wrong," She declared.
"What?" Fudge replied, confused. "How did I do that? Isn't your name Rayven?"
"It wasn't my first name, it was my last name," Rayven explained.
"Michaels?" The Minister continued.
"See, that's just it, my name isn't Michaels," She said. With a jolt, Ron realized what she was going to do. He braced himself, and saw her wink at him before continuing. "It's Weasley. Mrs. Ronald Weasley, if you don't mind." She put her arms through his, and gave him a dazzling smile, he had to smile back down at her. He was dimly aware of applause, mainly from Ginny, Harry, Hermione, and Draco.
"Oh," Fudge said stupidly. Ron laughed.
"Okay, well, my speech. Hmm..." Ron said. "I suppose I should thank Bill Croaker and my sister Ginny for being the most wonderful contacts ever." Wild applause. "And...er, well, this is where I'm supposed to thank family and friends, but I don't really have anyone else, do you guys?" He asked, looking at Rayven and Draco. They both shook their heads, grinning. This was priceless. "Well then, I only have four words." With that, he turned to Rayven and Draco. "Guys, we did it!" The three of them immediately started screaming over the wild of applause of the (only slightly drunk) audience. Ginny stood on her chair so she could see over people's heads to the stage, which Severus had now leapt onto.
"Ladies and Gentlemen," The Potions Master said. "I've grown very close to these kids. I almost feel like they're mine. I am very proud of them. As the Minister pointed out, only one of them really has a family. So if the so-called parents of Ron Weasley don't get up here right now, I will be forced to come over for Christmas."
Needless to say, that got Mr. and Mrs. Weasley up in a hurry.
Ginny was already on the stage. She flew to Draco who picked her up and twirled her around much the same way as Ron had with Rayven the other night. He then put her down and kissed her. He lifted his face away just a tiny bit, so that when he spoke, only she could hear.
"I should've done this a long time ago." He looked over at Ron, who nodded. Ginny watched the exchange in puzzlement, until she saw Draco drop to one knee. She gasped.
"Ginny Weasley, will you marry me?"
"Oh my God!" She cried, wrapping her arms around his neck. "Yes!"
"Oh dear, I'm going to have Draco Malfoy for a brother-in-law," Ron said, making a face as Ginny and Draco kissed...again. Rayven laughed.
"It could be worse," She pointed out.
"Ron!" A voice was heard through the hullabaloo. Ron turned, a grin on his face, but then stopped.
The voice had been his father's. His parents and his brothers were watching hesitantly. He walked over to them slowly, avoiding his mother's eye.
"Ron?" She asked, making her look up at him. He reluctantly did so, and saw her eyes shining. Was that...pride?
Before he could figure it out, she had wrapped him in a bone-crushing hug. He had just disentangled himself from her when he was passed to his father and his brothers. Then Harry and Hermione, who smiled and hugged him as well. Mrs. Weasley had pounced on Rayven, welcoming her to the family and demanding another ceremony. Ron wished, in that moment, that things could go back the way they used to be.
He imagined himself working in an office at Auror HQ, jealously watching Harry and Hermione's love bloom. He imagined never meeting Rayven, and cursing Malfoy every time the subject had been brought up. He imagined never having met Angel Pentser, or learning all the lessons he had learned over these two years. He imagined the way things used to be. He snorted.
Or not.