Too Much Of Not Enough ~
Disclaimer: Yeah. I own it. I also own God, and the artist formally known as Prince.
Also, this is a Ron/Draco fic. It will be SLASHY SLASHY SLASHY eventually. Don't like it. Don't read it.
I love constructive critisism, however, flames will be mocked, and mocked, and mocked some more
Chapter 2 -
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"What happened at the feast was inexcusable" Dumbledore said sternly "A your age you should not only know better, but should be trying to set an appropriate example for the other students"
There was a pause and Ron stared miserably at his feet, noticing a small amount of gravy was smeared on his left boot. They were in the infirmary; himself, Dumbledore, Snape, McGonagall, and Draco. Madame Pomfrey had left after smearing some foul smelling green paste on his battered face, which Ron thought really only added to the humiliation.
Draco spoke up, his voice unnaturally calm "It wasn't my fault Professor Dumbledore. Weasley attacked me. I have no idea why. I think he's jealous that my father got the Head ministry job over his father"
Ron looked up sharply, his face burning "That is NOT why, you miserable rat bas-"
"Ronald Weasley!" McGonagall interjected "That's enough!"
Snape stepped forward, looking at Ron in a perversely amused manner "Clearly Headmaster, this boy has serious anger problems, he should be expelled before he starts attacking other students"
Dumbledore paused and Ron felt his stomach drop. He wanted to take out his wand and hex Draco and Snape both; turn them into the rats that they were and hand them over to Crookshanks. At least then it might be worth the expulsion.
Ron raised his green splotched face to look at his headmaster, who looked back at him questioningly.
"Why did you attack Mr Malfoy?" He asked, his voice sounding tired.
"He, uh, threw.a pota- ..some food at me" Ron spluttered, realising as he did so, how ridiculous that sounded. He might as well have said 'he gave me a wedgie' or 'he smells funny and I don't like it'. He sighed and fingered the sides of his robes. If he wasn't expelled before, he was now.
Draco seemed to be thinking the same thing, and the sides of his lips twitched smugly "It could have been anyone, lots of people don't like Weasley"
Ron glared at him "How does it feel to choke on peas Malfoy?" he snapped.
Draco's face lost its arrogance "Watch it Weasley or I'll-"
"What?" Ron bit back "Beat me to death with some broccoli?"
Draco snarled and reached for his wand, but Snape and McGonagall had theirs pointed directly at the two of them.
"Don't touch it Mr Malfoy!" McGonagall said, her voice deathly serious.
Snape nodded and turned to face Dumbledore "Have you seen enough yet Headmaster? Mr Weasley is a troublemaker-"
"I have seen enough, thankyou Severus" Dumbledore's face was bent in thought, his eyes flicking between the two boys. Ron wondered what his mother was going to do to him when he arrived home, and felt a little nauseous. He straightened up. If he was going, he'd go with his pride intact. He looked miserably at the green paste on his hand where Draco had bitten him. Well, sort of intact anyway.
"I'll go pack my bags then" he said sombrely, starting to move. But before he'd taken two steps Dumbledore put a hand on his shoulder.
"There will be no need for that at this time Mr Weasley" he said, and Ron started. Surely he couldn't mean-
"I have thought of a different punishment for you and Mr Malfoy" Dumbledore continued. "There is a new wing on the third floor that has recently turned up, it happens from time to time, every hundred years or so Hogwarts renovates itself. Mr Filch has been in need of help to clean and fix up that area for some time, and I think you two would be the perfect candidates to do so".
Snape clearly thought this was not an appropriate punishment, his face contorting in repugnance "Headmaster, I hardly think."
"Yes, I'd noticed that" McGonagall replied quickly.
Dumbledore ignored them and continued to address Ron and Draco.
"You will report to Mr Filch for four hours after class for the next two weeks. On the weekends I expect the same, however you can organise a time with Argus that suits the both of you. At the beginning of each session you will hand over your wands to your house heads, as evidently you cannot be trusted to act reasonably around one another. Am I understood?"
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***
Ron could see Harry doing the calculations in his head. "Fifty-four-!"
"Fifty-six" Hermione corrected, without looking up from her book.
"Fifty-six hours of cleaning with Filch and Malfoy!" Harry continued, his nose wrinkling up in disgust "That's.That's." he paused, shaking his head "its sick is what it is."
Neville nodded in agreement "Worst punishment ever, sounds like"
The four of them were sitting by the fire in the Gryffindor common room. They were all on the floor facing each other, except for Hermione who was perched on the side of a chair, apparently riveted by the specifics of dragon reproduction.
"Yeah.I s'pose" Ron said slowly, chewing on a fizzing whizbee "I'm just glad I wasn't expelled"
By the look on Neville and Harry's faces, it seemed as though they couldn't decide which was worse. The fire crackled loudly and Hermione finally put her book aside, looking at Ron with an expression he couldn't interpret.
"You know, I really thought you would be" she said "Why on earth did you attack Malfoy like that?"
"Potato" Neville said helpfully.
Hermione waved him away dismissively "I know about all that, but Ron, it was just a bit of food, why risk expulsion over it?"
Ron shrugged helplessly. There were reasons he could think of. She and Harry hadn't been there to hold him back. He was tired. He was hungry. That stuff Malfoy had said on the train. None of them were good excuses. He'd just done it. He didn't want to think about what the real reasons might be. It made him feel sick.
Ron shrugged again, and Hermione shook her head, exasperated.
"Who cares about reasons?" Harry said finally "People have been wanting to do that to Malfoy for years."
Neville chuckled "You should have seen the look on his face when Ron shoved that food in his mouth."
Harry laughed, but Ron didn't. He felt confused and irritated, and wished they'd stop talking about it. He finally forced out a small laugh, which he thought sounded more like he was being strangled to death. "I'm really tired, I might make it an early night." he said getting up.
He was halfway up the stairs before Hermione caught him, grabbing his arm gently. Ron turned to look at her; her dark eyes were full of concern. "What's going on Ron? Is it the ministry thing? Because everyone knows Lucius Malfoy scared the council into voting for him, there is no use-"
"IT'S NOT BLOODY THAT!" Ron said angrily. Hermione looked taken aback
Ron sighed "Well, its not that exactly"
He hesitated, looking around distractedly, then grabbed Hermione's hand, pulling her after him and leading her up to the boys dormitory He scanned the room to check it was empty before locking the door behind him, he spun to face her "you can't tell anyone Herm, not Harry, not anyone!"
"Ron, who do you-"
"Promise me" Ron said firmly, gripping her hand. There was urgency in his voice. Hermione nodded silently and sat down on Ron's bed while he paced in front of her, biting at his nails, his faced scrunched up in thought.
"Lucius Malfoy didn't win the vote. Dad did"
"WHAT?" Hermione said incredulously "How is that possible? It said in the Daily Prophet that Mr Malfoy won easily..."
Ron looked around nervously, and lowered his voice "Just, let me finish okay?" Hermione nodded again. Ron was so nervous it was tangible; he kept fiddling with his nails, and averting his gaze. His hairline was beginning to dampen.
"Lucius blackmailed us" Ron said quickly, his breathing slightly ragged "He knows something about. something, not good. He told Dad unless he got the position as the Head of the Ministry he'd tell everyone.about it."
Ron raked a hand through his hair "I wasn't supposed to know. Everyone was asleep when Lucius came by. I woke up for .a glass of water. I didn't know, I heard mum crying first .and then I heard them talking. Dad said he'd just tell everyone that Lucius won the vote, so there'd be no suspicion."
Ron trailed off, looking out one of the windows. His skin looked especially pale. Hermione went over to him and placed her trembling hand in his. He turned his head and smiled thinly at her. "It's not her fault you know.she thinks it is.but he's to blame, I know it.."
Hermione was almost too afraid to ask "Ron, what is it? What happened?"
Ron swallowed. He'd started this; he had to tell her the rest.
"Ginny" he spluttered finally.
Hermione raised a hand to her mouth "Oh no, is she OK? He didn't threaten her?"
Ron laughed hollowly at the prospect. He'd have to start from the beginning, or else Hermione would be guessing all night.
"A little while after I was born, after you-know-who was defeated.my Grandpa, my mums Dad passed away.and mum was sad. More sad than usual, cause she'd just had me. There's a word for it I think."
"Post natal depression?" Hermione asked softly, and Ron nodded.
"One day when Dad was at work she got really sad, and told Bill to look after us all while she went to visit Grandpa's grave. Bill was only little himself." Ron hesitated, trying to find the words ".Well, she went to the pub instead of the graveyard, and was drinking a bit. A lot actually. Lucius turned up and she started talking to him about stuff. I don't know what stuff. But she was drunk, and sad and he wasn't" Ron said this angrily, setting his jaw "Lucius took her home with him."
Hermione gasped softly, tightening her grip on Ron's hand.
"When Mum realised what had happened, she was really disgusted and upset and she went home and told Dad everything" Ron continued "He said it was okay, and they got her help for her. He really loves mum- " his voice caught slightly and he cleared his throat "When Mum told him about Ginny he said everything would be alright he would raise her as his own and love her just the same and no one would know the difference. But Lucius knew. He knew. And now the arsehole is using it against us."
"No wonder your Dad is so angry with Mr Malfoy" Hermione said quietly "To do .and now this blackmail, it's." She couldn't finish the sentence.
"I hate him," Ron said resolutely
"Do your parents know .that you.know?" Hermione asked carefully.
"After I heard, what I did. I was mad, and the next day I confronted Dad about it, and he explained everything. He said he reckoned Lucius had alway fancied Mum a bit at school, but she was too poor for him. And then she met Dad, and it was too late. But then, all those years later when she was out of it like that, weak and vulnerable... he, he saw his chance..." Ron rubbed at his eyes angrily "Mum doesn't know that I know.I couldn't."
Hermione paused, nodding understandingly. There was a knock on the dormitory door, but they both ignored it.
"Does Draco know Ginny is his half sister?" Hermione asked quietly
Ron pulled his hand away from Hermione's and crossed his arms across his chest "She's my sister" He turned to face her, his eyes hard "She's a Weasley, not a Malfoy"
The knocking on the door became louder and more frequent.
"Of course she is" Hermione said quickly, she nervously tucked a strand of brown hair behind her ear "But, don't you think he and Ginny deserve-"
"No" Ron said stonily "No I don't"
There was a muffled yell and the door burst open abruptly. Neville and Harry came tumbling through the doorway. Ron gave Hermione a quick pointed look
"Why didn't you let us in?" Neville said, picking himself up off the floor.
Ron and Hermione began talking at the same time
"I . uh."
"Well you. see.we."
"Its like this she."
"um.."
Harry was looking curiously between the two of them sitting closely together by the window, his eyes widened slightly in surprise and then a presumptuous grin spread across his face.
"I think we may have interrupted something a little private Nev" Harry said, unable to keep the amusement out of his voice "A little.um, romantic"
Hermione rolled her eyes "You're as subtle as a brick Harry"
Realisation finally dawned on Neville "Oh!" He said, chuckling "Well it's about bloody time Ron and you got it together, you've been flirting with each other for years!"
Ron snorted with laughter, which he quickly disguised as a coughing fit. Hermione's mouth twitched, and she grabbed the hacking Ron by the arm and began to pull him out of the room
"Yes well, best be going then" she said quickly "got snogging to do, and declarations of love and all that."
Ron coughed harder, tears at the corners of his eyes now.
"Ron, are you alright?" Harry asked, looking worried "Do you need some water?"
Ron composed himself slightly, and looked up at his friend "All I need is Hermione" he deadpanned. This time Hermione began to cough violently and pulled Ron out of the room as fast as she could manage.
___ ***
Ron was into his fifth day working for Filch, and he was exhausted. Every day, straight after class, Draco and himself had been made to go to this old room and scrub and clean for hours, then have a late tea by themselves before going to sleep. They were supervised at all times. By Filch during their detention, and by either Snape or McGonagall while they were eating. Ron didn't mind too much. As far as he was concerned, the less he had to do with Malfoy, the better. They hadn't spoken two words to each other in the entire time; however there had been quite a few dirty looks and just as many rude hand gestures. Today they were painting, which ordinarily Ron might have enjoyed, except that the room was as big as a Quidditch stadium, and twice as high. He was tired and grumpy, and beginning to think he'd inhaled too much paint fumes. If he'd had his wand he could have painted the room in five seconds flat, he thought miserably.
He was in the middle of painting a stone gargoyle when the door swung open with a bang; Ron jumped, yelping in fright. Draco snickered derisively. Madame Hooch was in the doorway; she looked flushed, and motioned to Filch before he could reprimand Draco. They spoke in hushed voices and Ron strained to hear, but couldn't, so he continued to paint and stare listlessly at the wall. How riveting my life is, he thought.
Filch spoke up "The both of you keep painting, I have something to attend to with Madame Hooch here, and will be back shortly.." A unpleasant grin crept across his face "Either of you put so much as a toenail out of this door, and I will see to it that you are expelled" He slammed the door loudly, and Draco immediately dropped his brush on the floor and stretched his arms lazily, moving over towards Ron.
"So Weasel, have your parents had to sell you for food yet?"
"Shut up, you colossal prat" Ron replied, "See this?" He waved his paintbrush under Draco's nose "Side to side! Up down! Don't mess with a Karate kid!"
Draco looked at Ron blankly "What the fuck are you talking about?"
"Muggle movie" Ron replied, returning half-heartedly to his painting. Yeah. Paint fumes are fun.
Draco shrugged and sat down on a wooden crate "It is true about what everyone is saying? " he asked
Ron didn't reply. But Draco continued regardless.
"About you and that mud blood Granger, are you in love?" His voice was full of sarcasm.
"Why? Ron spat "Jealous?"
Draco sniggered "Please! As if anyone would want a freckled stupid red- haired freak like you"
Ron turned around and looked at Draco incredulously "I was talking about being jealous of me you moronic twat!"
"I knew that" Draco said, slightly unnerved "I... was just... saying
Ron began to speak when there was an almighty *BOOM* that shook the entire castle.
"What the-?"
He and Draco managed to exchange a nervous glance before the second *BOOM* hit. This one was so big it threw them to the ground. Ron fell backwards onto his right arm with a crunch and heard Draco yelp somewhere behind him. Dust and pieces of wood fell from the walls, and the lights flickered on and off around them. Finally it was over and there was nothing but silence.
Ron sat up and shaking the dust out of his hair. What the hell had just happened? Fear was beginning to mount in his stomach. This was Hogwarts. Hogwarts was supposed to be safe. He looked around. There were still a few lit candles, so he could see all right. The floor was littered with debris. He turned to find Draco, who was lying on his side looking like he was in extreme pain.
"Are you hurt? " He asked cautiously.
Draco looked up at him "Actually I was just thinking really hard about my potions NEWT"
"Oh, really?" Ron said, surprised.
"No, not really you dumb fuck!" Draco replied angrily "I fell on something, there is something stuck in my arse!" Ron cringed, hoping Draco wasn't going to get hysterical and cry or anything. He'd heard about animals going feral and attacking their helpers when they were hurt, and he wasn't going to put that past Malfoy.
He made his way around to have a look "I can't see what it is" Ron said, squinting at Draco's behind "there's too much blood, we'll have to go to Madame Pomfrey..."
"Ok that's fine Weasley, except that there is obviously something downstairs that just set off two explosions" Draco said "We need to protect ourselves..."
Ron looked around at the cans of paint and brushes, and crates, and shrugged. There was nothing. They were pretty much screwed. "Protect ourselves with what?"
Draco sighed and began to pull himself up off the floor "Well, I'd like to be able to put my faith in the Karate kid, but I think we need something else.. The cupboard room down the end, check in there"
Ron nodded and headed off quickly towards the end of the room, while Draco cursed as he stood up with whatever was still lodged in his buttock.
Ron returned minutes later with the only things he had been able to find. Two pairs of big boots that looked like they belonged to cave trolls.
Draco looked at Ron dubiously "Well that's great Weasley. When Voldemort comes we can kick him in the shins..."
"You don't know its Voldemort" Ron said indignantly, the fear in his stomach tripling at the thought
"You're right, its probably an army of midgets causing all that ruckus" Draco replied "Lucky you found those boots"
"What are you? Ron said, starting to lose his temper "The fucking sarcastic commander?!"
There was a loud bang on the door, and Draco grabbed a hold of Ron, pulling him in front of him.
There was another bang and the door flew open, Hermione and Harry came running in, followed by Filch.
"Ron!" Hermione gasped, out of breath "It's Ginny...!"
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A/N. I know the Molly/Lupin/Ginny scenario isn't highly probable, but I care not. It suits the story and it's needs. Thanks to all my loffly loffly reviewers (Merelyn, Lady Rose, Lucky, Cherry [my wonderful britpickee] and Kelly) Review again, and I may just write more. Thanks to my Ali-phant, for not reading but being such an encouragingly knarly beast anyway ;) I lub you, you big plebe.
Disclaimer: Yeah. I own it. I also own God, and the artist formally known as Prince.
Also, this is a Ron/Draco fic. It will be SLASHY SLASHY SLASHY eventually. Don't like it. Don't read it.
I love constructive critisism, however, flames will be mocked, and mocked, and mocked some more
Chapter 2 -
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"What happened at the feast was inexcusable" Dumbledore said sternly "A your age you should not only know better, but should be trying to set an appropriate example for the other students"
There was a pause and Ron stared miserably at his feet, noticing a small amount of gravy was smeared on his left boot. They were in the infirmary; himself, Dumbledore, Snape, McGonagall, and Draco. Madame Pomfrey had left after smearing some foul smelling green paste on his battered face, which Ron thought really only added to the humiliation.
Draco spoke up, his voice unnaturally calm "It wasn't my fault Professor Dumbledore. Weasley attacked me. I have no idea why. I think he's jealous that my father got the Head ministry job over his father"
Ron looked up sharply, his face burning "That is NOT why, you miserable rat bas-"
"Ronald Weasley!" McGonagall interjected "That's enough!"
Snape stepped forward, looking at Ron in a perversely amused manner "Clearly Headmaster, this boy has serious anger problems, he should be expelled before he starts attacking other students"
Dumbledore paused and Ron felt his stomach drop. He wanted to take out his wand and hex Draco and Snape both; turn them into the rats that they were and hand them over to Crookshanks. At least then it might be worth the expulsion.
Ron raised his green splotched face to look at his headmaster, who looked back at him questioningly.
"Why did you attack Mr Malfoy?" He asked, his voice sounding tired.
"He, uh, threw.a pota- ..some food at me" Ron spluttered, realising as he did so, how ridiculous that sounded. He might as well have said 'he gave me a wedgie' or 'he smells funny and I don't like it'. He sighed and fingered the sides of his robes. If he wasn't expelled before, he was now.
Draco seemed to be thinking the same thing, and the sides of his lips twitched smugly "It could have been anyone, lots of people don't like Weasley"
Ron glared at him "How does it feel to choke on peas Malfoy?" he snapped.
Draco's face lost its arrogance "Watch it Weasley or I'll-"
"What?" Ron bit back "Beat me to death with some broccoli?"
Draco snarled and reached for his wand, but Snape and McGonagall had theirs pointed directly at the two of them.
"Don't touch it Mr Malfoy!" McGonagall said, her voice deathly serious.
Snape nodded and turned to face Dumbledore "Have you seen enough yet Headmaster? Mr Weasley is a troublemaker-"
"I have seen enough, thankyou Severus" Dumbledore's face was bent in thought, his eyes flicking between the two boys. Ron wondered what his mother was going to do to him when he arrived home, and felt a little nauseous. He straightened up. If he was going, he'd go with his pride intact. He looked miserably at the green paste on his hand where Draco had bitten him. Well, sort of intact anyway.
"I'll go pack my bags then" he said sombrely, starting to move. But before he'd taken two steps Dumbledore put a hand on his shoulder.
"There will be no need for that at this time Mr Weasley" he said, and Ron started. Surely he couldn't mean-
"I have thought of a different punishment for you and Mr Malfoy" Dumbledore continued. "There is a new wing on the third floor that has recently turned up, it happens from time to time, every hundred years or so Hogwarts renovates itself. Mr Filch has been in need of help to clean and fix up that area for some time, and I think you two would be the perfect candidates to do so".
Snape clearly thought this was not an appropriate punishment, his face contorting in repugnance "Headmaster, I hardly think."
"Yes, I'd noticed that" McGonagall replied quickly.
Dumbledore ignored them and continued to address Ron and Draco.
"You will report to Mr Filch for four hours after class for the next two weeks. On the weekends I expect the same, however you can organise a time with Argus that suits the both of you. At the beginning of each session you will hand over your wands to your house heads, as evidently you cannot be trusted to act reasonably around one another. Am I understood?"
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***
Ron could see Harry doing the calculations in his head. "Fifty-four-!"
"Fifty-six" Hermione corrected, without looking up from her book.
"Fifty-six hours of cleaning with Filch and Malfoy!" Harry continued, his nose wrinkling up in disgust "That's.That's." he paused, shaking his head "its sick is what it is."
Neville nodded in agreement "Worst punishment ever, sounds like"
The four of them were sitting by the fire in the Gryffindor common room. They were all on the floor facing each other, except for Hermione who was perched on the side of a chair, apparently riveted by the specifics of dragon reproduction.
"Yeah.I s'pose" Ron said slowly, chewing on a fizzing whizbee "I'm just glad I wasn't expelled"
By the look on Neville and Harry's faces, it seemed as though they couldn't decide which was worse. The fire crackled loudly and Hermione finally put her book aside, looking at Ron with an expression he couldn't interpret.
"You know, I really thought you would be" she said "Why on earth did you attack Malfoy like that?"
"Potato" Neville said helpfully.
Hermione waved him away dismissively "I know about all that, but Ron, it was just a bit of food, why risk expulsion over it?"
Ron shrugged helplessly. There were reasons he could think of. She and Harry hadn't been there to hold him back. He was tired. He was hungry. That stuff Malfoy had said on the train. None of them were good excuses. He'd just done it. He didn't want to think about what the real reasons might be. It made him feel sick.
Ron shrugged again, and Hermione shook her head, exasperated.
"Who cares about reasons?" Harry said finally "People have been wanting to do that to Malfoy for years."
Neville chuckled "You should have seen the look on his face when Ron shoved that food in his mouth."
Harry laughed, but Ron didn't. He felt confused and irritated, and wished they'd stop talking about it. He finally forced out a small laugh, which he thought sounded more like he was being strangled to death. "I'm really tired, I might make it an early night." he said getting up.
He was halfway up the stairs before Hermione caught him, grabbing his arm gently. Ron turned to look at her; her dark eyes were full of concern. "What's going on Ron? Is it the ministry thing? Because everyone knows Lucius Malfoy scared the council into voting for him, there is no use-"
"IT'S NOT BLOODY THAT!" Ron said angrily. Hermione looked taken aback
Ron sighed "Well, its not that exactly"
He hesitated, looking around distractedly, then grabbed Hermione's hand, pulling her after him and leading her up to the boys dormitory He scanned the room to check it was empty before locking the door behind him, he spun to face her "you can't tell anyone Herm, not Harry, not anyone!"
"Ron, who do you-"
"Promise me" Ron said firmly, gripping her hand. There was urgency in his voice. Hermione nodded silently and sat down on Ron's bed while he paced in front of her, biting at his nails, his faced scrunched up in thought.
"Lucius Malfoy didn't win the vote. Dad did"
"WHAT?" Hermione said incredulously "How is that possible? It said in the Daily Prophet that Mr Malfoy won easily..."
Ron looked around nervously, and lowered his voice "Just, let me finish okay?" Hermione nodded again. Ron was so nervous it was tangible; he kept fiddling with his nails, and averting his gaze. His hairline was beginning to dampen.
"Lucius blackmailed us" Ron said quickly, his breathing slightly ragged "He knows something about. something, not good. He told Dad unless he got the position as the Head of the Ministry he'd tell everyone.about it."
Ron raked a hand through his hair "I wasn't supposed to know. Everyone was asleep when Lucius came by. I woke up for .a glass of water. I didn't know, I heard mum crying first .and then I heard them talking. Dad said he'd just tell everyone that Lucius won the vote, so there'd be no suspicion."
Ron trailed off, looking out one of the windows. His skin looked especially pale. Hermione went over to him and placed her trembling hand in his. He turned his head and smiled thinly at her. "It's not her fault you know.she thinks it is.but he's to blame, I know it.."
Hermione was almost too afraid to ask "Ron, what is it? What happened?"
Ron swallowed. He'd started this; he had to tell her the rest.
"Ginny" he spluttered finally.
Hermione raised a hand to her mouth "Oh no, is she OK? He didn't threaten her?"
Ron laughed hollowly at the prospect. He'd have to start from the beginning, or else Hermione would be guessing all night.
"A little while after I was born, after you-know-who was defeated.my Grandpa, my mums Dad passed away.and mum was sad. More sad than usual, cause she'd just had me. There's a word for it I think."
"Post natal depression?" Hermione asked softly, and Ron nodded.
"One day when Dad was at work she got really sad, and told Bill to look after us all while she went to visit Grandpa's grave. Bill was only little himself." Ron hesitated, trying to find the words ".Well, she went to the pub instead of the graveyard, and was drinking a bit. A lot actually. Lucius turned up and she started talking to him about stuff. I don't know what stuff. But she was drunk, and sad and he wasn't" Ron said this angrily, setting his jaw "Lucius took her home with him."
Hermione gasped softly, tightening her grip on Ron's hand.
"When Mum realised what had happened, she was really disgusted and upset and she went home and told Dad everything" Ron continued "He said it was okay, and they got her help for her. He really loves mum- " his voice caught slightly and he cleared his throat "When Mum told him about Ginny he said everything would be alright he would raise her as his own and love her just the same and no one would know the difference. But Lucius knew. He knew. And now the arsehole is using it against us."
"No wonder your Dad is so angry with Mr Malfoy" Hermione said quietly "To do .and now this blackmail, it's." She couldn't finish the sentence.
"I hate him," Ron said resolutely
"Do your parents know .that you.know?" Hermione asked carefully.
"After I heard, what I did. I was mad, and the next day I confronted Dad about it, and he explained everything. He said he reckoned Lucius had alway fancied Mum a bit at school, but she was too poor for him. And then she met Dad, and it was too late. But then, all those years later when she was out of it like that, weak and vulnerable... he, he saw his chance..." Ron rubbed at his eyes angrily "Mum doesn't know that I know.I couldn't."
Hermione paused, nodding understandingly. There was a knock on the dormitory door, but they both ignored it.
"Does Draco know Ginny is his half sister?" Hermione asked quietly
Ron pulled his hand away from Hermione's and crossed his arms across his chest "She's my sister" He turned to face her, his eyes hard "She's a Weasley, not a Malfoy"
The knocking on the door became louder and more frequent.
"Of course she is" Hermione said quickly, she nervously tucked a strand of brown hair behind her ear "But, don't you think he and Ginny deserve-"
"No" Ron said stonily "No I don't"
There was a muffled yell and the door burst open abruptly. Neville and Harry came tumbling through the doorway. Ron gave Hermione a quick pointed look
"Why didn't you let us in?" Neville said, picking himself up off the floor.
Ron and Hermione began talking at the same time
"I . uh."
"Well you. see.we."
"Its like this she."
"um.."
Harry was looking curiously between the two of them sitting closely together by the window, his eyes widened slightly in surprise and then a presumptuous grin spread across his face.
"I think we may have interrupted something a little private Nev" Harry said, unable to keep the amusement out of his voice "A little.um, romantic"
Hermione rolled her eyes "You're as subtle as a brick Harry"
Realisation finally dawned on Neville "Oh!" He said, chuckling "Well it's about bloody time Ron and you got it together, you've been flirting with each other for years!"
Ron snorted with laughter, which he quickly disguised as a coughing fit. Hermione's mouth twitched, and she grabbed the hacking Ron by the arm and began to pull him out of the room
"Yes well, best be going then" she said quickly "got snogging to do, and declarations of love and all that."
Ron coughed harder, tears at the corners of his eyes now.
"Ron, are you alright?" Harry asked, looking worried "Do you need some water?"
Ron composed himself slightly, and looked up at his friend "All I need is Hermione" he deadpanned. This time Hermione began to cough violently and pulled Ron out of the room as fast as she could manage.
___ ***
Ron was into his fifth day working for Filch, and he was exhausted. Every day, straight after class, Draco and himself had been made to go to this old room and scrub and clean for hours, then have a late tea by themselves before going to sleep. They were supervised at all times. By Filch during their detention, and by either Snape or McGonagall while they were eating. Ron didn't mind too much. As far as he was concerned, the less he had to do with Malfoy, the better. They hadn't spoken two words to each other in the entire time; however there had been quite a few dirty looks and just as many rude hand gestures. Today they were painting, which ordinarily Ron might have enjoyed, except that the room was as big as a Quidditch stadium, and twice as high. He was tired and grumpy, and beginning to think he'd inhaled too much paint fumes. If he'd had his wand he could have painted the room in five seconds flat, he thought miserably.
He was in the middle of painting a stone gargoyle when the door swung open with a bang; Ron jumped, yelping in fright. Draco snickered derisively. Madame Hooch was in the doorway; she looked flushed, and motioned to Filch before he could reprimand Draco. They spoke in hushed voices and Ron strained to hear, but couldn't, so he continued to paint and stare listlessly at the wall. How riveting my life is, he thought.
Filch spoke up "The both of you keep painting, I have something to attend to with Madame Hooch here, and will be back shortly.." A unpleasant grin crept across his face "Either of you put so much as a toenail out of this door, and I will see to it that you are expelled" He slammed the door loudly, and Draco immediately dropped his brush on the floor and stretched his arms lazily, moving over towards Ron.
"So Weasel, have your parents had to sell you for food yet?"
"Shut up, you colossal prat" Ron replied, "See this?" He waved his paintbrush under Draco's nose "Side to side! Up down! Don't mess with a Karate kid!"
Draco looked at Ron blankly "What the fuck are you talking about?"
"Muggle movie" Ron replied, returning half-heartedly to his painting. Yeah. Paint fumes are fun.
Draco shrugged and sat down on a wooden crate "It is true about what everyone is saying? " he asked
Ron didn't reply. But Draco continued regardless.
"About you and that mud blood Granger, are you in love?" His voice was full of sarcasm.
"Why? Ron spat "Jealous?"
Draco sniggered "Please! As if anyone would want a freckled stupid red- haired freak like you"
Ron turned around and looked at Draco incredulously "I was talking about being jealous of me you moronic twat!"
"I knew that" Draco said, slightly unnerved "I... was just... saying
Ron began to speak when there was an almighty *BOOM* that shook the entire castle.
"What the-?"
He and Draco managed to exchange a nervous glance before the second *BOOM* hit. This one was so big it threw them to the ground. Ron fell backwards onto his right arm with a crunch and heard Draco yelp somewhere behind him. Dust and pieces of wood fell from the walls, and the lights flickered on and off around them. Finally it was over and there was nothing but silence.
Ron sat up and shaking the dust out of his hair. What the hell had just happened? Fear was beginning to mount in his stomach. This was Hogwarts. Hogwarts was supposed to be safe. He looked around. There were still a few lit candles, so he could see all right. The floor was littered with debris. He turned to find Draco, who was lying on his side looking like he was in extreme pain.
"Are you hurt? " He asked cautiously.
Draco looked up at him "Actually I was just thinking really hard about my potions NEWT"
"Oh, really?" Ron said, surprised.
"No, not really you dumb fuck!" Draco replied angrily "I fell on something, there is something stuck in my arse!" Ron cringed, hoping Draco wasn't going to get hysterical and cry or anything. He'd heard about animals going feral and attacking their helpers when they were hurt, and he wasn't going to put that past Malfoy.
He made his way around to have a look "I can't see what it is" Ron said, squinting at Draco's behind "there's too much blood, we'll have to go to Madame Pomfrey..."
"Ok that's fine Weasley, except that there is obviously something downstairs that just set off two explosions" Draco said "We need to protect ourselves..."
Ron looked around at the cans of paint and brushes, and crates, and shrugged. There was nothing. They were pretty much screwed. "Protect ourselves with what?"
Draco sighed and began to pull himself up off the floor "Well, I'd like to be able to put my faith in the Karate kid, but I think we need something else.. The cupboard room down the end, check in there"
Ron nodded and headed off quickly towards the end of the room, while Draco cursed as he stood up with whatever was still lodged in his buttock.
Ron returned minutes later with the only things he had been able to find. Two pairs of big boots that looked like they belonged to cave trolls.
Draco looked at Ron dubiously "Well that's great Weasley. When Voldemort comes we can kick him in the shins..."
"You don't know its Voldemort" Ron said indignantly, the fear in his stomach tripling at the thought
"You're right, its probably an army of midgets causing all that ruckus" Draco replied "Lucky you found those boots"
"What are you? Ron said, starting to lose his temper "The fucking sarcastic commander?!"
There was a loud bang on the door, and Draco grabbed a hold of Ron, pulling him in front of him.
There was another bang and the door flew open, Hermione and Harry came running in, followed by Filch.
"Ron!" Hermione gasped, out of breath "It's Ginny...!"
_______
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A/N. I know the Molly/Lupin/Ginny scenario isn't highly probable, but I care not. It suits the story and it's needs. Thanks to all my loffly loffly reviewers (Merelyn, Lady Rose, Lucky, Cherry [my wonderful britpickee] and Kelly) Review again, and I may just write more. Thanks to my Ali-phant, for not reading but being such an encouragingly knarly beast anyway ;) I lub you, you big plebe.