Ron was busy packing his stuff for his trip. He was not really thinking about what he was packing. His thoughts were more on what he, and his other three comrades had discovered. The shock had still not worn off, even though an hour had passed. It wasn't easy after all, when your best friend for seven years, who you thought was muggle-born, was not one at all. Instead, she was a pureblood, and a powerful one at that. Malfoy would have to eat his words now.
Arelle knocked on the oak door leading to Ron's room. She had been waiting for him in the common room for a few minutes, expecting his appearance soon, however, there was no flaming red hair to be seen. The door opened, revealing a very surprised Ron. "What's taking you so long?" Arelle peered over his shoulder. The room was in a mess. Clothes were strewn about everywhere and all kind of junk was in his trunk. Pushing past Ron and stomping into the room, Arelle started a small outburst.
"Ronald Weasley! You are not even packed! What in the world have you been doing all this while?!" Arelle yelled, glancing around at the mess. Ron flushed bright red, and started to response. "I was busy!" Arelle glared at him and began checking his trunk. A pocket sneakoscope, parchment, quills, owl treats, unwashed robes, pair of old socks, Chudley Cannons poster, small toy figure, birdcage... "What the hell are you packing?! It's all trash!" Arelle screeched.
Grabbing the trunk, she emptied it and laid it back on the bed. Whipping out her wand, she swept it around. Clean robes hanging in the closet flew out and packed themselves neatly into the trunk. Other necessary items were also swept inside. Ron gazed in awe at his self-packing bewitched trunk. As the last item, his new broomstick, a Comet 350, a gift from his parents, settled in. The trunk snapped shut and locked itself. "Locomotor trunk." Arelle commanded, walking out of the room, the trunk trailing behind her. Ron dumbly followed her, until she stopped him at the door.
"You're not going off like that are you?" she asked, an eyebrow raised. "What's wrong with my clothes?" Ron replied. "For Merlin's sake! We're using muggle transportation, not magic! You have to wear muggle clothes! You change while I wait for you downstairs." Arelle cried out, before continuing her way to the common room. Ron wandered into his room for something suitable to change, coming down fifteen minutes later, all messed up. He desperately tried to smooth out the wrinkles in his shirts. Arelle gave out a weary sigh and started heading for Dumbledore's office. This was going to be one long trip.
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Hermione awoke. She glanced around quizzically before realizing where she was. Giving out a small sigh, she stretched out. Her arms, legs and neck were cramped from her sleeping position. "Nice to see that you're awake," a voice said. It sounded near. Yet distant. Looking around her cell, she could see no one. She started growing frantic. Was she hearing voices? That can't be good. "Over here dear," the voice, definitely female, said. Following the voice, Hermione looked out of her cell's bars and into the cell opposite hers.
A lady, with dark black hair and pretty features was watching her. A playful smile dancing on her lips. Unable to see clearly due to the darkness of the dungeons, Hermione squinted her eyes for better view. The woman looked familiar. That voice. That smile. Of course! "Tonks? Nymphadora Tonks?" Hermione asked, hope rising in her voice. "Don't call me Nymphadora!" Hermione spread into a gleeful smile. "Tonks it's really you! You changed your hair again? Why are you here? What happened? How are the others?" Hermione started. Tonks gave out a small laugh. "Hold on there, Mione. One at a time."
"Well for one, I thought lime-green didn't suit me. Black looks so much more elegant, don't you think? I'm not really sure how the others are...and as for how I'm here...that's a long story." Tonks replied. "We have plenty of time," Hermione pleaded. "Well, some members of the Order, namely Mundungus, Hestia and myself, were at the Ministry getting some reports for Dumbledore. Death-eaters took us by surprise when they decided to attack the ministry. Most of the workers got out just in time. We however, were trapped. Mundungus managed to escape, and Hestia, well I don't really know what happened to her. Some menace, I think it was Bulstrode, knocked me out. Next thing I knew, I was here, and in front of me, was Malfoy carrying you in." Tonks finished.
"Malfoy? Carrying me in? Impossible!" Hermione exclaimed. "No, I'm pretty sure I saw Draco Malfoy walking in with you in his arms. He looked quite concern Mione. And he was ever so gentle." Tonks stated. "Are you mad Tonks? He's Malfoy. Mal-foy. Pureblood. I'm a mudblood don't forget. Certainly not someone they would care about." Hermione replied. "You should give him a chance Mione. He's not like the rest of them. I can see that in his eyes." Tonks seriously said. "Fat chance. So Tonks, do you still have your wand?" Hermione abruptly changed the subject. Tonks gave out a loud sigh of defeat before responding to the newly forming conversation.
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Draco walked into his father's office, looking calm, cool and confident. That was only his mask though. Inside, his heart was beating rapidly against his chest. Had his father found out what he had done? Was he going to be punished? Or was he going to have to be part in another killing spree? He sat himself down on one of the silk green couches.
"Draco. The Dark Lord had actually wanted to see you instead. It's odd that you would make a mistake about that. However, I have no time to punish you for that. I have brilliant news! The Dark Lord wants an heir, and he has chosen you. Isn't that great? I'm sure you would do the Malfoy name proud." Lucius said pompously. Draco stared at his father in disbelief. "A...heir?" he repeated. "Yes, an heir! When you get the dark mark on your 18 birthday, you will have to do a task. When you complete it successfully, you will become the next in line to the Dark Lord himself." Lucius stated.
His mind was spinning around in horror and confusion. 'Voldemort wants me...? Voldemort wants me?! Voldemort wants me!' Thoughts of being the next dark lord plagued him. No...He didn't want to be it. He didn't even want to be a death-eater! No...This wasn't suppose to happen...
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Dumbledore looked up from his newly received letter. They were here. He waved his wand over the parchments on his desk, and they disappeared. He walked over to the entrance of his office just in time to greet a ruffled Ron Weasley and a grumpy Arelle Dythe. Letting them enter, he walked back to his table and sat down. He looked in amusement at the two teenagers in front of him. After their bickering had ended, and both calmed down, Dumbledore took out two small boxes. He gave Arelle the green box, and Ron the red.
"Inside the boxes are some items which you may need for your journey. As both of you know, you will be traveling by muggle transportation for better protection. Voldemort and his servants would be less likely to suspect the two of you in the muggle world. I hope that you will refrain from using your magic unless in an emergency. At any point of time, if help is needed, just press the button inside your boxes, and either one of the professors, or myself, will be there at your assistance." Dumbledore explained.
Arelle and Ron lifted up the lids of their boxes. Inside, they found the button attached to the boxes, muggle money, id's, an invisibility cloak, and a weird golden object. "Hey, I recognize this!" Ron said, picking up his item. "Dad bought this back home once, it's a Features Modifier!"
"Wow! I heard they were really rare to get!" Arelle exclaimed. Dumbledore's eyes twinkled much more brighter. "I happen to have one or two of them. You will need it to change your appearance every few times so that spies out there would not suspect who you are. Just think of what you would prefer to look like and click the button on the top. You'll change into that person momentarily. Each appearance change lasts about a week. However, it cannot change your natural eye color, but that would not be much of a problem." Dumbledore informed.
"Your id's picture will change as your appearance changes too, so you do not have to worry about it. The id's are there in case either of you gets stopped by the muggle law. It'll help you explain some things. The invisibility cloak you can use for your purposes. Muggle money for muggle expenses. The trip is an estimate three months, due to the fact that the Grangers are currently in the US. Their location is unsure of. But it is a fact that they are in Montana. If there are no questions, you may leave to say your final farewells to your friends before departing for your journey."
Thanking the Professor, Ron and Arelle walked out of the room and headed towards the infirmary to meet up with Harry and Ginny.