Chapter Fourteen – Complications

Impatiently, Pansy drummed a fast rhythm on the wooden table with the fingers of her left hand. Her right hand was holding the knife.

"I got it, I got it," the man finally exclaimed, relieved, and handed her the silvery key.

"Good," she smiled. "Give it to me."

He handed her the key and she took it impatiently. Very fast, she knocked the man unconscious and took his jacket.

She'd soon realized that she was nowhere near Asia at all. Actually, she was somewhere in South America – Brazil, she assumed. She's soon found the only man in the village who had a car. Well, now it was her car. She wasn't used to driving, she would have preferred a broomstick, but it was no use. As soon as she arrived in the next big town, she'd find a witch or wizard and a wand.

She smiled and turned on the radio. Some Latino song. She didn't like it, but her mood was so good that she didn't care. Oh yes, life was definitely improving.

'Soon,' she thought, 'soon, I'll be back!'

+~*#

"That's insane," Harry said. "It will never work!"

"It will," Ron said with a determined expression on his face. "I can do it."

"Okay, maybe you could. But if I had experienced what you had to see, I couldn't do it. Do you really think you are able to not freak when you see him?" Harry asked carefully.

Ron nodded. "I thought about it. I'm frightened, and I could scream only at the thought of going near him, but I can do it. If I don't, then it'll haunt me till I die. I just have to do it." He sighed. He couldn't live with the shadow of the events from Christmas above his head all the time. He had to get over it. And a confrontation was just what he needed. He had to get over it, to forget and start new all over again. And he couldn't do it when he let the fear rule him.

"So, do you think Colin will agree to that?" Hermione asked. "I mean, he's in Gryffindor and all, but would he really risk his life just for my parents?"

Ron smiled mysteriously. "Yes, he would. And besides, I'll explain it to him. He'll understand. And… if for nothing else, he'd do it for me."

"For you? I didn't know you were such good friends," Ginny said. She and Hermione shared a confused glance, while Ron was still smiling.

Severus watched the four Gryffindors discuss their "plan". He didn't like it. It was far too dangerous, for any of them. But the fact he hated most was that Hermione would be in danger. He glanced at Dumbledore and found him smiling at Ron. Severus raiseded an eyebrow. So Dumbledore knew why Colin Creevey would participate in their plan. And from what he assumed, it had to do with Ronald Weasley finding someone he could 'open up to' and 'feel safe with'. He didn't really care at the moment. He had other things on his mind. Like, how could he keep Hermione out of it?

Suddenly, he found everyone looking at him. He scowled. "Yes?"

"Professor, you do have a batch of the potion, don't you?" Ron asked.

"Of course I have, Mr. Weasley. As Hogwarts' Potions Master, I have a batch of every potion that is used in the students' curriculum."

"Well, then I call it a plan," Dumbledore said cheerfully. It was a wonder to Severus how this man kept his good mood even in the worst crises.

+~*#

'Oh, really, could this man be any slower?' Pansy thought to herself and tapped her foot impatiently. The woman behind the counter shot her an apologetic glance and then turned her attention back to the man in front of her. Pansy sighed. If the man didn't hurry, she'd miss the next Portkey to Britain. And it had already taken her two days to come to Brazil's wizarding capitol. Fortunately – for her anyways –, hospitality was like a sport here in Brazil. Everyone wanted to invite you for a cup of coffee – just because you happen to walk along the street in front of their house. Yes, people were nice here indeed. But this didn't help them – or trouble her. Once she'd found the perfect victim – a young witch, living alone and away from most other witches and wizards – she'd robbed her, and then left her tied up in a closet. Pansy didn't know if the woman had succeeded in freeing herself, or if she was dead by now. And she didn't particularly care.

She'd taken the woman's wand and changed her looks and clothing. And now she was waiting for the man in front of her to finish his business so that she could buy a ticket to Britain.

'Damn, if only we'd learned to Apparate already!' But Apparition lessons would start in two weeks, after the spring break. And she wouldn't be part of that. Well, of course not, since she had been expelled.

Finally, the man was all set and moved. Now it was her turn. She smiled at the woman and asked for a Portkey ticket to Britain.

After two minutes of good acting and shameless lying, she held the ticket in her hand. Still smiling, she made her way to gate fourteen.

+~*#

Severus sighed. This was no good. Not at all. The plan was not that bad, but it was still dangerous and risky. If Lucius found out… He didn't really want to think about it.

And yet it was always present. He didn't even have to close his eyes to see it. Hermione, dead. The baby, dead. Well, basically, everyone was dead. Except for Lucius, who was smiling. And oddly, the Lucius from his vision wasn't the one he'd seen at Christmas, but a younger Lucius. A twenty-year-old Lucius. His friend.

Now that he had to feel the pain, the fear, the anger; everything the attack of a Death Eater could make you feel, now he finally realized that he indeed wasn't a good person. He'd made people feel this. Made them suffer. Made them die horribly.

Just because he craved power and knowledge. He didn't even think about the victims, at the time. He didn't realize. Not to this extent.

But now he did, and he didn't like it. He had to stop Lucius.

Totally lost in thought, he started when he suddenly felt a movement beside him. But it was only Hermione, sliding slowly from the sofa. She'd fallen asleep, probably from exhaustion. He muttered a quick spell and Hermione was lifted back onto the sofa. She didn't even wake up. She looked so beautiful, and completely at peace. But he knew she wasn't, and it was enough to hate Lucius even more.

'Oh, yes, old friend. Payback time,' he thought, standing up. Potter and Weasley were still arguing about something, and Dumbledore was talking quietly to Minerva. Only Ginny Weasley wasn't present. He hadn't noticed her leaving, but she didn't matter right now.

"Mr. Weasley," Severus said. Potter stopped talking and both turned their heads towards him. "We might as well get ready. Fetch Mr. Creevey and the ingredients and come to my office."

With that, he turned to leave for the dungeons.

+~*#

"Professor, wait. I don't need to fetch the ingredients, I have them with me. I always do," Ron Weasley called after him. Along with Harry he hurried down the steps towards the hall.

Severus turned around, an eyebrow raised, but didn't question the boy. Why Weasley would want to keep that with him all the time, he could only guess. But it wasn't important. "But you'll still have to fetch Mr. Creevey. From what I know, he's needed for the plan."

"I'm here, sir," Colin Creevey said from behind Severus. He was slightly surprised to see the tall Gryffindor stand in the middle of the hall. He hadn't seen him when leaving Dumbledore's rooms. Severus shrugged. "Then why are you two standing there. Come on."

He led the way to the dungeons. When they passed the Entrance Hall and walked down the stairs, Severus heard footsteps. Cautiously, he pulled out his wand, but soon recognized Draco Malfoy's steps. He could recognize most people by only hearing their footsteps. It hadn't only been helpful while spying, but it also impressed most students when he didn't even have to look up to know it was them.

Severus frowned. Draco wasn't alone, and from the sound of it, it was –

"Ginny!" Ron exclaimed. "What are you doing down here?" His gaze fell upon Draco. "With him?"

Draco smirked. "Well, I guess you'd want to know that, don't you?" He shot a short glance at Ginny, who grimaced.

"Oh, please, leave it, Draco."

Severus grew impatient. So what? Miss Weasley obviously didn't tell her brother everything, but what girl would? And even if it was strange to see her next to Draco Malfoy without a trace of hostility between them, it wasn't really anything he wanted to discuss now.

"I think we have work to do," he said to Weasley and Creevey, heading for his office.

Miss Weasley quickly stepped into his way. "That's why we're here," she said. "Draco wants to help."

This only let her brother snort, and then laugh. "Yeah, right," he managed between fits of laughter. But he sobered up when Ginny smacked him hard.

"Oh, stop it, Ron. Only because you can't imagine anyone who's not in Gryffindor to help you voluntarily, doesn't mean we all have to be so narrow-minded," she said, anger clearly visible on her face. "If you'd only once pay attention to everyone around you, you'd realize that people are not often what they appear to be." She shot a glance at Severus. "And now, shut up." With that, she turned around into the direction of Severus' office, dragging Draco along.

Severus shrugged, and followed.

Behind him, he heard the Creevey boy say something that obviously made Weasley forget whatever he wanted to say, because he followed, too.

+~*#

"So, Ginny, would you finally tell me why Draco has to be present?" Ron asked. They were back at Dumbledore's office, and Ron refused to drink the potion as long as he didn't know why Draco suddenly was such a good friend of hers.

"Oh, Ron, can't you – just this once – trust me? I'm your sister. I wouldn't do a thing to harm you, or anyone else for that matter. Besides, Hermione is my friend, and it's her parents that have been kidnapped. And she does trust me!" Ginny crossed her arms in front of her chest.

Hermione tried a smile. She wasn't happy about trusting Draco to help saving her parents, but if Ginny said he was okay… She'd be a bad friend not to trust her.

Beside her, Severus shifted slightly. He was impatient. She knew it. He'd been impatient the whole day, and although they couldn't do anything until nightfall (which would be in about two hours), he couldn't sit still. She took his hand in hers and smiled reassuringly. Although she didn't feel totally confident, she was glad that he was there for her.

Ron snorted. "Yeah, like when you opened the Chamber of Secrets for the most evil and devious wizard and freed his pet basilisk. Which attacked several people, like Hermione, or my bo- Colin."

Oddly enough, Harry hadn't said a thing about the whole story. Hermione assumed he already knew – or he was too furious to say anything. But she'd go for the first option.

Draco sighed. "Just tell him, or this is gonna take forever."

"Okay. Ron, Draco and I are pen pals."

"What?"

"Pen pals. You know, when two people, who are both able to form whole sentences out of different words, write each other letters," Ginny explained with an evil grin on her face.

"Funny, Ginny. Really funny. But you know what I meant." Ron stopped pacing and sat down on the armrest of Colin's armchair. He crossed his arms and waited.

"Last September I wrote a letter to the Daily Prophet. It was an answer to another reader's comment on an article about purebloods. Soon after that I received a letter. It was from the reader I commented on. He got my dates from the Prophet. I didn't know who he was then. But he did. Some time after Christmas he wanted to meet me. And I agreed. When Draco revealed his true identity, I was shocked. And I felt betrayed. But then I thought about it, and I discovered the true Draco in his letters. Believe it or not, but not all of your prejudices correspond to reality."

"Well, that explains why you talk to him, but why does he want to help us?" Ron was still sceptical.

"Because I hate him," Draco spat out. "Probably even more than you."

Ron raised an eyebrow. "And why would you hate your father more than me?"

Draco had lost all his arrogance and now faced the window, fighting for his calm.

"Oh, Ron. You are the most insensitive, rude and… I don't know what person in the world!" Ginny stood up and then hesitated. She didn't know what to do. She could either go and try to comfort Draco (who wouldn't let her) or she could explain things to her brother (who'd hopefully shut his mouth). The decision was made by Harry. He stood up, shortly took Ginny's hand in his and said, "Why don't you try to convince Ron? I'll…" He looked over to where Draco stood, his back straight. Ginny nodded.

Severus followed all this with mild interest. He'd known that Draco wasn't like his father, and he wasn't even surprised that he hated his father. Yes, it was unlike him to go and team up with Gryffindors, but he knew another Slytherin who did just the same – like he himself, only that his reason to do so was not hatred but love. He only half-listened to Ginny's whispered explanation. But then his head shot up. What had she said? Narcissa Malfoy was dead, killed by one of Lucius' loyal followers. No wonder that Draco wanted to get revenge on his father.

There was excited chatter and whispering among them, and Severus wondered once more how easily just a few people could create such a noise level. But every sound died when suddenly the door opened and Dumbledore stepped in, followed by Minerva.

"I guess it's time to prepare, children," he said. Folding his hands over his stomach, he looked at them. "I think you all know what to do."

+~*#

Ron watched as Severus prepared the potion. He added the last ingredient, stirred a last time and then handed the thick, yellow-brown, mud-like liquid to Ron and left the bathroom.

Ron looked at himself in the mirror. His hair was still as red as ever, but his skin was a lot paler, and his eyes seemed darker. But soon, this would be different.

He stared at the cup for a few moments, then downed the whole mug in one huge gulp. Almost immediately, he felt the potion take effect. His skin burned hot, while his insides turned and twisted like a bunch of snakes chasing each other through his guts. Soon, he felt his bones shrink and his hair grow. His hands and fingers got more delicate and he was blinded for a short moment when his eyes changed their colour from a light blue to a darker shade. His shirt suddenly was too tight around the chest, while his trousers were too long and his shoes were too big.

Silently, Ron changed into the clothes Ginny had brought him. All the time he avoided to see himself in the mirror, but finally, he couldn't help it anymore. He had to face it.

When he looked up, he saw Pansy Parkinson staring back from the mirror.

A/N: Okay, honestly: Who of you expected this??? I hope none. And I'll explain Colin's role in all of this soon enough… I hope to surprise you further with it…

Well, the next chapter is only half written yet, and I'm away for the weekend, so don't expect anything until at least next Wednesday or Thursday.

Thanks to all of you! And yes, I mean the reviewers…

Special Thanks to Merry the Psychotic Coconut for being so nice to me on her Author's notes. You all, go and read her You want me to WHAT!. It's hilarious.