Disclaimer: Don't own Harry Potter characters but own the plot, which
includes their history (7th year and older.)
CHAPTER 3: Ron's Mansion
Harry put his hands on the cold black stone. He couldn't wait to get to the other side, it was like wonderland and peaceful. He tried pulling it opened but it didn't work. Harry's happy expression faded as shook the gate, eager to get on the other side.
"Get out of the way Potter!" Malfoy snapped and pushed Harry aside.
"*Alohomora*!" Malfoy then noticed it had a lock. "Oh, of course. Key?"
"Key?" Harry repeated.
"Ron probably sent you one so you could get in."
"Right." Harry checked his robes and found inside pockets full of things. He took out a pile of stuff, searching for a key. Then he found a black key that obviously matched the gate. He handed it to Malfoy who quickly fitted it in the lock.
"There." Malfoy said swinging the gates open. "Lets go."
Harry strolled on the paved path looking at all he can. Then he noticed that the circle of sand had holes and gold coins littering the edges. Small creatures were coming out of the sand and placing the coins up on the surface.
"Nifflers." Malfoy said as he grabbed a handful of coins and stuffed it in his pocket after checking if they were real.
They walked on, Harry looking into the flowerbeds and Harry glanced at the water fountains too. Coins were resting inside them as well.
Malfoy strode to the door and knock twice. No one answered. Malfoy knocked again harder and their still was no answer.
"You'd think that someone would answer, seeing that this is a mansion." Malfoy murmured. Malfoy was about to knock again then looked as if he'd realized something. Malfoy backed away from the door, looking clueless of what to do.
"Hello. You must be Harry."
Harry and Malfoy spun around to see a man wearing a dirty vest, shirt and pants. He smiled, his hand held out to shake Harry's hand. Harry did, trying to hide his a disgusted face.
"You are.Draco." The man said slowly holding his hand out to shake Malfoy's.
Malfoy's face contorted as he stepped back. "No thanks." His eyes surveyed the man's clothes. "I know what *you* are."
The man didn't seem hurt. "I do to." He answered. Then he said softly "May I escort you to the lounge where you may have something to drink?"
For a man covered in filth, he sure spoke like a fancy butler. Harry and Malfoy followed him and Harry watched as the man's boots spilled mud onto the fancy hardwood floor. They disappeared almost instantly as if sucked into the floor. Harry looked around him as they found themselves in the lounge. It looked only half fancy. Curvy stairs visible behind the walls, large paintings of fruit and landscapes, a warm fireplace, glass table that was balancing on a red ball. There was a large clock that didn't have much people on it only Ron, the man and another woman.
Harry and Malfoy sat on the soft green couches.
"Wine?" The man asked, looking odd in such a clean, neat setting.
"Bring a bottle down." Malfoy said sinking comfortably into the couch.
"Uh." Harry wasn't sure what to say. "You got any butterbeer?" Harry asked, remembering he was still sixteen.
"Masters favorite." The man commented and walked away.
"This is what you get for a lousy chess job, an old auror job, and a low department job?" Malfoy said impressed. "Well it's not that big anyway my mansion is twice-"
"Shut up, Malfoy." Harry said trying to look at everything and take mental photos. He walked over to the fireplace and saw pictures of Ron's family, some people Harry didn't recognize and Hermione. It was old in this time she looked about seventeen or eighteen. She smiled at Harry, glared at Malfoy, and then smiled again. Harry smiled.
"Harry?"
Harry turned around and then he saw Ron. He was smiling broadly, his hair slightly messy and Harry noticed Ron's strong figure. He looked about half a head taller then Harry, blue eyes bulging with excitement. Then Ron's eyes jerked to his couch.
He jumped at the sight of Malfoy. "What're you doing here?"
"I helped Potter get here." Malfoy said staring at Ron without blinking.
Ron glared but then turned to Harry. "We'll deal with him later. Now- " Ron and Harry looked at each other smiling.
"Do you think-"
"Would it be to weird? -"
Harry stepped closer. "Nope." They hugged.
"Long time no see."
"Guess so."
"Ooh it's the reuniting of Potty and Weasel." Malfoy said clapping his hands and pretending to have tears of joy. "My, my, what's to come?!"
"Shut up." Ron said as the backed away. "Or else I'll have you kicked out of my house."
Harry saw the plump woman that was on the clock appear with a tray that held a bottle of wine and a bottle of butterbeer and two wine glasses and a regular glass.
"Sorry for the wait." The woman pouring the wine into one of the glasses. Malfoy snatched the glass drinking it in one gulp and setting it down for more.
"No apologies necessary." Ron said. "That'll be wine for me too, Georgia."
"Yes sir." She said pouring more wine and then pouring the butterbeer.
Harry tasted the smooth butterbeer as Georgia left.
"So, What have you been up to?" Ron asked sitting down in an armchair.
"Potter's got a memory charm!" Malfoy blurted as if it were something really bad that Harry would get in trouble with.
"What?" Ron said almost spitting his wine out. "How, when?"
"People on the streets." Harry said sighing. He couldn't help but notice Malfoy and Ron looking so adult and holding wine glasses in their hands while he had butterbeer in a regular glass. "Yeah-stupid- er- damn beggars- protester- group people." Harry said remembering what Malfoy had said.
Malfoy nodded, agreeing, helping himself to more wine and Ron nodded slowly.
"Yes.some groups are just cruel." Ron's eyes were on Malfoy.
"P.A.D.L? Do you know what that even means?" Malfoy asked.
"Of course but doesn't P.A.D.L interact with G.W.W and other groups like that?" Ron said raising an eyebrow. Harry could barely understand what they were saying.
"Look.Harry has a favor to ask you, go ahead Harry."
Harry looked at Draco and noticed him giving an eye that said 'what we talked about before.' "Yes." Harry said pouring more butterbeer and drinking more. Then quickly he said, "Malfoy wants to stay at your house for a little while since he did help me and all." Harry sipped more.
"What? No way!" Ron said getting to his feet rapidly that drops of wine stained the white-carpeted floor. Slowly it was turning lighter. "Over my dead body-"
"Whatever-"
"I don't see why you have to or need to unless you were planning something- "
"I always plan, but I'm not out to kill the other filth that live in this house-" Malfoy spat. "Oh, w e know you've been living hell without *her*." Ron said.
Everyone froze and everyone was quiet. Malfoy was burning with anger and Ron's face looked as if he regretted what he'd said.
Malfoy put his glass down. "Don't you ever talk about her- don't you ever remind me about her-"
Ron sighed. "Sorry." Then Ron mumbled, "I s'pose- you could stay. It must be lone-never mind."
"Well then-I'd like a room please." Malfoy said, ending the awkward moment.
Ron himself gave them each a room by the kitchen and fixed up the rooms complete with beds, books, dressers and desks. He told them they could eat and read whenever they wanted to and ride the horses, though it took long for Ron to agree that Malfoy could. He told them not to explore too much and not ruin anything. Harry supposed Ron would keep an eye on Malfoy.
As Malfoy worked up some kind of summon charm to get stuff from his mansion to here, Ron showed Harry his house.
"My mansion could have been bigger, but their are only three people living here so I saved the fields for horseback riding. Okay, you've seen my studies, exercise room, game rooms, pools, bathrooms, regular guest rooms and the third floor which belongs to the Hiffins." Ron said as they walked down the stairs. The Hiffins were the man and woman named Greg and Georgia. "You want to ride horses."
Ron gave Harry a white horse named Harold and Ron road a horse named Ronnis. The third horse was named Hermesia. They road through the fields and Harry saw a forest off in the distance.
"It's no forbidden forest, but on the other side lies another mansion." Ron informed Harry.
"That reminds me how's the school? Is Dumbledore still headmaster, is there new teachers?"
"Oh.yeah.that memory charm." Ron said sadly. "Harry-in our near the end of seventh year You-Know-Who-he blew it up, Harry."
Harry's eyes widened. "What?"
"Not many people died, most injured.it's in ruins right now but their cleaning it up for the reunion." Ron said.
"Reunion? When?"
"In about what two weeks?" Ron said. "I didn't know they had reunions but maybe they decided to since we never got to the last day of school. It's only our class."
"Oh, okay so you know what's happening with everyone?"
"Yeah.I'm not sure what the teachers are up to but err about a year ago I saw Dean Thomas playing the saxophone in Spain. He's pretty good. Neville- well he died the day the school blew up. Not because of the explosion but because- he stood up to You-Know-Who and well he didn't like it much.broke his neck in front of us." Ron said. Harry shook his head. How horrible. But Harry liked how he stood up to the darkest wizard of all times.
"Yeah, you, me, Hermione, Malfoy, and Lisa all saw Neville die and the castle explode before our eyes. Dark Lord used a pretty huge spell to blow up such a castle." Ron's eyes were very miserable. Harry decided to get out of the subject.
"Okay then what's happening with-" Harry remembered Malfoy's explosion in Larrick's. "Hermione."
Ron froze. He stared at Harry mouth opened.
"Err- Ron." Harry said.
"Eh?" Then Ron, not watching where he was going, bumped his head hard on sticking out branch and fell off his horse. Ronnis had ducked and now was looking clueless of what happened.
"Ron!" Harry exclaimed jumping off his horse because he didn't know how to stop it. Harry fell onto the cold grass then quickly went to Ron's side.
Ron stood up looking dazed. "Fine.just a small bump." Ron massaged a large red bump on the side of his forehead.
"First Malfoy goes all angry then you bump your head, Ron what is going on? What happened to Hermione?" Harry asked angrily.
Ron sighed deeply. "I could tell you but you'd have to promise not to go all mad and rightful on me like you did five years ago."
"Ron, I promise." Harry said eager.
"I could tell you on the way to her house." Ron whispered slowly looking around to see if anyone was near. "And you must tell no one where she is hiding out- especially Malfoy." Ron got up and so did Harry. Ron clapped the back of his hands together five times and then led Harry into the mansion. As they went inside, Harry saw Greg collecting the horses.
Ron peeked into Malfoy's room. Malfoy was sitting on the bed putting pictures on his desk.
"Georgia and Greg will watch you while me and Harry go up to the town." Ron lied. Malfoy looked up giving them suspicious looks. He then placed a photo of a blonde on the table. "If you try anything-funny or magical-"
"Yes, I know." Malfoy lazily. "I know what they are."
Ron nodded and then led Harry outside. As they passed the sand circle Ron looked at the coins. "Guess it's a slow day for them." Ron said. "It's like someone stole a handful of coins from the pile."
***********************
Next chapt explains Hermione and Malfoy's secret.
CHAPTER 3: Ron's Mansion
Harry put his hands on the cold black stone. He couldn't wait to get to the other side, it was like wonderland and peaceful. He tried pulling it opened but it didn't work. Harry's happy expression faded as shook the gate, eager to get on the other side.
"Get out of the way Potter!" Malfoy snapped and pushed Harry aside.
"*Alohomora*!" Malfoy then noticed it had a lock. "Oh, of course. Key?"
"Key?" Harry repeated.
"Ron probably sent you one so you could get in."
"Right." Harry checked his robes and found inside pockets full of things. He took out a pile of stuff, searching for a key. Then he found a black key that obviously matched the gate. He handed it to Malfoy who quickly fitted it in the lock.
"There." Malfoy said swinging the gates open. "Lets go."
Harry strolled on the paved path looking at all he can. Then he noticed that the circle of sand had holes and gold coins littering the edges. Small creatures were coming out of the sand and placing the coins up on the surface.
"Nifflers." Malfoy said as he grabbed a handful of coins and stuffed it in his pocket after checking if they were real.
They walked on, Harry looking into the flowerbeds and Harry glanced at the water fountains too. Coins were resting inside them as well.
Malfoy strode to the door and knock twice. No one answered. Malfoy knocked again harder and their still was no answer.
"You'd think that someone would answer, seeing that this is a mansion." Malfoy murmured. Malfoy was about to knock again then looked as if he'd realized something. Malfoy backed away from the door, looking clueless of what to do.
"Hello. You must be Harry."
Harry and Malfoy spun around to see a man wearing a dirty vest, shirt and pants. He smiled, his hand held out to shake Harry's hand. Harry did, trying to hide his a disgusted face.
"You are.Draco." The man said slowly holding his hand out to shake Malfoy's.
Malfoy's face contorted as he stepped back. "No thanks." His eyes surveyed the man's clothes. "I know what *you* are."
The man didn't seem hurt. "I do to." He answered. Then he said softly "May I escort you to the lounge where you may have something to drink?"
For a man covered in filth, he sure spoke like a fancy butler. Harry and Malfoy followed him and Harry watched as the man's boots spilled mud onto the fancy hardwood floor. They disappeared almost instantly as if sucked into the floor. Harry looked around him as they found themselves in the lounge. It looked only half fancy. Curvy stairs visible behind the walls, large paintings of fruit and landscapes, a warm fireplace, glass table that was balancing on a red ball. There was a large clock that didn't have much people on it only Ron, the man and another woman.
Harry and Malfoy sat on the soft green couches.
"Wine?" The man asked, looking odd in such a clean, neat setting.
"Bring a bottle down." Malfoy said sinking comfortably into the couch.
"Uh." Harry wasn't sure what to say. "You got any butterbeer?" Harry asked, remembering he was still sixteen.
"Masters favorite." The man commented and walked away.
"This is what you get for a lousy chess job, an old auror job, and a low department job?" Malfoy said impressed. "Well it's not that big anyway my mansion is twice-"
"Shut up, Malfoy." Harry said trying to look at everything and take mental photos. He walked over to the fireplace and saw pictures of Ron's family, some people Harry didn't recognize and Hermione. It was old in this time she looked about seventeen or eighteen. She smiled at Harry, glared at Malfoy, and then smiled again. Harry smiled.
"Harry?"
Harry turned around and then he saw Ron. He was smiling broadly, his hair slightly messy and Harry noticed Ron's strong figure. He looked about half a head taller then Harry, blue eyes bulging with excitement. Then Ron's eyes jerked to his couch.
He jumped at the sight of Malfoy. "What're you doing here?"
"I helped Potter get here." Malfoy said staring at Ron without blinking.
Ron glared but then turned to Harry. "We'll deal with him later. Now- " Ron and Harry looked at each other smiling.
"Do you think-"
"Would it be to weird? -"
Harry stepped closer. "Nope." They hugged.
"Long time no see."
"Guess so."
"Ooh it's the reuniting of Potty and Weasel." Malfoy said clapping his hands and pretending to have tears of joy. "My, my, what's to come?!"
"Shut up." Ron said as the backed away. "Or else I'll have you kicked out of my house."
Harry saw the plump woman that was on the clock appear with a tray that held a bottle of wine and a bottle of butterbeer and two wine glasses and a regular glass.
"Sorry for the wait." The woman pouring the wine into one of the glasses. Malfoy snatched the glass drinking it in one gulp and setting it down for more.
"No apologies necessary." Ron said. "That'll be wine for me too, Georgia."
"Yes sir." She said pouring more wine and then pouring the butterbeer.
Harry tasted the smooth butterbeer as Georgia left.
"So, What have you been up to?" Ron asked sitting down in an armchair.
"Potter's got a memory charm!" Malfoy blurted as if it were something really bad that Harry would get in trouble with.
"What?" Ron said almost spitting his wine out. "How, when?"
"People on the streets." Harry said sighing. He couldn't help but notice Malfoy and Ron looking so adult and holding wine glasses in their hands while he had butterbeer in a regular glass. "Yeah-stupid- er- damn beggars- protester- group people." Harry said remembering what Malfoy had said.
Malfoy nodded, agreeing, helping himself to more wine and Ron nodded slowly.
"Yes.some groups are just cruel." Ron's eyes were on Malfoy.
"P.A.D.L? Do you know what that even means?" Malfoy asked.
"Of course but doesn't P.A.D.L interact with G.W.W and other groups like that?" Ron said raising an eyebrow. Harry could barely understand what they were saying.
"Look.Harry has a favor to ask you, go ahead Harry."
Harry looked at Draco and noticed him giving an eye that said 'what we talked about before.' "Yes." Harry said pouring more butterbeer and drinking more. Then quickly he said, "Malfoy wants to stay at your house for a little while since he did help me and all." Harry sipped more.
"What? No way!" Ron said getting to his feet rapidly that drops of wine stained the white-carpeted floor. Slowly it was turning lighter. "Over my dead body-"
"Whatever-"
"I don't see why you have to or need to unless you were planning something- "
"I always plan, but I'm not out to kill the other filth that live in this house-" Malfoy spat. "Oh, w e know you've been living hell without *her*." Ron said.
Everyone froze and everyone was quiet. Malfoy was burning with anger and Ron's face looked as if he regretted what he'd said.
Malfoy put his glass down. "Don't you ever talk about her- don't you ever remind me about her-"
Ron sighed. "Sorry." Then Ron mumbled, "I s'pose- you could stay. It must be lone-never mind."
"Well then-I'd like a room please." Malfoy said, ending the awkward moment.
Ron himself gave them each a room by the kitchen and fixed up the rooms complete with beds, books, dressers and desks. He told them they could eat and read whenever they wanted to and ride the horses, though it took long for Ron to agree that Malfoy could. He told them not to explore too much and not ruin anything. Harry supposed Ron would keep an eye on Malfoy.
As Malfoy worked up some kind of summon charm to get stuff from his mansion to here, Ron showed Harry his house.
"My mansion could have been bigger, but their are only three people living here so I saved the fields for horseback riding. Okay, you've seen my studies, exercise room, game rooms, pools, bathrooms, regular guest rooms and the third floor which belongs to the Hiffins." Ron said as they walked down the stairs. The Hiffins were the man and woman named Greg and Georgia. "You want to ride horses."
Ron gave Harry a white horse named Harold and Ron road a horse named Ronnis. The third horse was named Hermesia. They road through the fields and Harry saw a forest off in the distance.
"It's no forbidden forest, but on the other side lies another mansion." Ron informed Harry.
"That reminds me how's the school? Is Dumbledore still headmaster, is there new teachers?"
"Oh.yeah.that memory charm." Ron said sadly. "Harry-in our near the end of seventh year You-Know-Who-he blew it up, Harry."
Harry's eyes widened. "What?"
"Not many people died, most injured.it's in ruins right now but their cleaning it up for the reunion." Ron said.
"Reunion? When?"
"In about what two weeks?" Ron said. "I didn't know they had reunions but maybe they decided to since we never got to the last day of school. It's only our class."
"Oh, okay so you know what's happening with everyone?"
"Yeah.I'm not sure what the teachers are up to but err about a year ago I saw Dean Thomas playing the saxophone in Spain. He's pretty good. Neville- well he died the day the school blew up. Not because of the explosion but because- he stood up to You-Know-Who and well he didn't like it much.broke his neck in front of us." Ron said. Harry shook his head. How horrible. But Harry liked how he stood up to the darkest wizard of all times.
"Yeah, you, me, Hermione, Malfoy, and Lisa all saw Neville die and the castle explode before our eyes. Dark Lord used a pretty huge spell to blow up such a castle." Ron's eyes were very miserable. Harry decided to get out of the subject.
"Okay then what's happening with-" Harry remembered Malfoy's explosion in Larrick's. "Hermione."
Ron froze. He stared at Harry mouth opened.
"Err- Ron." Harry said.
"Eh?" Then Ron, not watching where he was going, bumped his head hard on sticking out branch and fell off his horse. Ronnis had ducked and now was looking clueless of what happened.
"Ron!" Harry exclaimed jumping off his horse because he didn't know how to stop it. Harry fell onto the cold grass then quickly went to Ron's side.
Ron stood up looking dazed. "Fine.just a small bump." Ron massaged a large red bump on the side of his forehead.
"First Malfoy goes all angry then you bump your head, Ron what is going on? What happened to Hermione?" Harry asked angrily.
Ron sighed deeply. "I could tell you but you'd have to promise not to go all mad and rightful on me like you did five years ago."
"Ron, I promise." Harry said eager.
"I could tell you on the way to her house." Ron whispered slowly looking around to see if anyone was near. "And you must tell no one where she is hiding out- especially Malfoy." Ron got up and so did Harry. Ron clapped the back of his hands together five times and then led Harry into the mansion. As they went inside, Harry saw Greg collecting the horses.
Ron peeked into Malfoy's room. Malfoy was sitting on the bed putting pictures on his desk.
"Georgia and Greg will watch you while me and Harry go up to the town." Ron lied. Malfoy looked up giving them suspicious looks. He then placed a photo of a blonde on the table. "If you try anything-funny or magical-"
"Yes, I know." Malfoy lazily. "I know what they are."
Ron nodded and then led Harry outside. As they passed the sand circle Ron looked at the coins. "Guess it's a slow day for them." Ron said. "It's like someone stole a handful of coins from the pile."
***********************
Next chapt explains Hermione and Malfoy's secret.