Prologue
The grounds of Hogwarts was bare and empty at the break of dawn. It was all the better for Ronald Weasley, as he strolled by the majestic lake, deep in his own thoughts. The sun was about to rise. A tall, forlorn figure aged fifteen, he was no longer the Ron Weasley everyone used to know.
And that was exactly what was bothering him. No longer the same old Ron. He didn't like the old Ron, whom he knew so well. The Ron who was poor, the Ron who was merely Harry Potter's best friend or the Ron who was best friends with the brains of the class, Hermione Granger. Anger rose through him. He was a nobody in everyone's eyes.
He wasn't smart or a Head Prefect like Bill; he wasn't as talented as Charlie; as smart or as loyal as Percy; never funny and as easygoing like Fred and George. He was just Ron Weasley, nothing.
The sun now rose over the Hogwarts castle, casting it into a shadow over the grounds. Ron walked further along the lake. But I'm not a nobody! he though angrily. I don't want to be a nobody, he thought. And I won't be...
His mind lingered over those last words. Instinctively, he pulled back the sleeves of his black Hogwarts robes. And there it was, looking up at him, burned black on his skin. He still remembered the pain when he got it, and the pain had never gone away since.
What would Dumbledore say? What would his parents say? What would Ginny, the only sibling whom he was close to, say? Ron tried to block this last thought, but he couldn't help it:
What would Harry Potter, his best friend say?
Harry Potter wasn't his best friend anymore. Outwardly, yes. But inside... he was merely doing it for his master. His master, whom he placed above everything and everyone else in his life. His master, whom would lead him to greatness. HIS master, whom could give him everything he wanted in the world. Riches, fame and very soon... POWER.
Ron smiled at the thought. It was a cold, almost maniacal smile. No one would think that he was a nobody anymore. He would be like Draco Malfoy. Draco Malfoy, whom he despised, yet secretly admired. Draco had everything in this world. He was born with name, fortune, talent and power. All he needed to do was prove it, come the awaited day. But Ron still had a long way to go. And he needed Potter for it.
Ron wanted to be his master's most faithful and loyal servant. Not like Peter, though. Ron twitched as he thought about Peter. Peter was still a nobody. Was Ron being like Peter? Peter betrayed his own friends for the very same reason Ron did. No, I'm not like Peter and I won't be, Ron thought firmly.
The sun now shone brightly in his face. Ron cast a quick glance over the lake and headed in the opposite direction towards Gryffindor Tower, to answer his master's summon.
Another day alive for Harry Potter, Ron thought, but not for long...
A sudden, vivid feeling of indescribable guilt yet indefinable satisfaction came upon him. And only Ron himself knew exactly what these feelings were of.
Betrayal.