A Glimpse of the Hidden
~I pledge my loyalty to Honor, Justice, and Hogwarts~
Part Seven
And so, time passed. Classes continued, friendships continued, homework continued, Defender meetings continued, and to Ron it all seemed to be passing by through a sheet of foggy glass. He was lost in his own mind, lost in the surreal world of the dead.
It was Peter's fault, of course. As Ron plunged deeper and deeper into necromancy he began to lose touch with the real world. Peter was showing Ron the mysterious, unknown pathways to the afterlife, a few clues to the answers of humankind's most basic question: Is death the end?
Of course, Ron didn't take the time to look at it so philosophically. He found the whole business disgusting and somewhat frightening. However, between his uncle's incessant visits and the marble's constant instructions, he had little choice in the matter.
Draco found the entire business quite amusing.
March soon gave way to April, and while the world saw the same old Ron, just as the marble wished, the real Ron was becoming panicked. The date of the Godric's Hollow visit was drawing nearer, and there was nothing he could do about it.
Meanwhile, the rest of the Defenders were training hard in preparation for a possible attack. Neville and Cho worked the hardest and quite possibly the most efficiently. Everyone else had something on their mind.
Harry and Ginny could hardly stand being in the same room. Ginny was torn with guilt. But at the same time, she found herself daydreaming and remember the few moments of happiness in The Kiss...and as soon as she was smiling, a vision of Draco would sear across her mind's eye and her guilt would return in full force.
Seeing Ginny was torture for Harry. He was confused, lonely, and angry...and jealous. Harry would have never guessed Draco Malfoy would still have the power to gloat over him even after his death, and seeing Ginny sitting by the window, looking out at the grounds with a melancholy smile he knew was just for Draco was more painful than anything Malfoy had ever said or done in life.
So Harry tried to put Ginny out of his mind with thoughts of his parents, and the fact that he would be seeing them, or at least their final resting places, soon. His emotions were mixed concerning this course of action. He was looking forward to and dreading it at the same time. The sharp pain brought on by thinking of his parents too much made Harry turn his thoughts back to Ginny...where he was even more confused. His Lightening powers reflected his mental state; blazing with strength one day, and pitiful the next. Luna tried to talk to him about it, but Harry was not about to open up to his coach and professor about Ginny.
Hermione's predominant emotion was worry. Between Harry retreating into a shell, Ginny lost in the past, and Ron's increasing distance, worry was almost consuming Hermione. She didn't know what to do or how to help them, so she sat in her room and chewed her nails and read everything on Divination she could find in hopes she would get a clue to help Ron at the very least. However, her study and ragged nails did nothing.
Draco was floating in the Gryffindor common room, smirking at a pair of snogging fourth years on a fine April evening. Ron was trying to get some sleep and Draco was bored. Hermione and Harry were studying at a circular table in the corner, neither speaking. Ginny was no where to be seen, which was all the better in Draco's opinion. He didn't want to watch Harry staring at her at every possible opportunity, and Ginny stealing glances back when she thought no one was looking.
But Draco was trying not to think of Ginny (as if this were possible or something). He was actually thinking about how much he missed steak-in his opinion there was nothing quite like a big hunk of cow-when he saw Ron emerge from the boy's staircase. Oh no, he thought, here was go again.
"Weasley," he snapped, "What's going on now?" Ron didn't even look at him, and Draco groaned. That meant the marble was in power, and chances were he was going down to see dear old uncle Pete.
"Ron!" Hermione exclaimed. "Where are you going?"
"I'm just going to mail this letter to my parents," Ron shrugged, showing her an envelope. Draco cursed the marble for thinking up something so...plausible.
"Oh," Hermione replied, her cheeks flushing. "I...sorry."
"That's okay, 'Mione," he smiled, pecking her cheek. "I'll be back."
"Yeah, right," Draco said sarcastically, following Ron out into the corridor. Ron spoke as soon as they were alone.
"You're not making this any easier," Ron snapped, "It's not like I enjoy lying to them...or that I'm even doing it on purpose."
"I know that," Draco shrugged. "I'm on your side, remember?"
"I'm on both sides, remember?" Ron snapped in return.
"Boys, there is no need to argue," a voice interrupted them. With a start, Draco realized they had reached the classroom Peter typically used as their meeting place and had opened the door. Ron went inside silently, and Draco followed his example.
"So, what's on the schedule tonight?" Ron asked, leaning against a tall wing chair as Peter shut the door and chanted locking and silencing spells.
"Oh, I think you'll enjoy this," Peter said, sitting and gesturing for Ron to do the same. They were facing each other, and in between them was a small, wooden table with a circular black disk lying upon the surface. The disk was small enough to fit into the palm of a hand. Ron frowned at it.
"What is this?" he asked. Peter chuckled.
"It is called a Glimpse," he explained. "Appropriate, isn't it? Who would you like to see?"
"What the hell are you talking about?" Ron snapped.
"I think...I think I know what he means," Draco said, studying the disk carefully. He felt an intense desire to touch it, as if it were calling to him. "A glimpse of the hidden, like you were talking about...you can call the dead with this, can't you?" Peter nodded, and Ron inhaled sharply.
"Watch and learn," Peter whispered. He closed his eyes and touched the glimpse with the tip of his finger. Ron watched in fascinated horror as a shadowy form appeared. Peter paled as the form took shape, and after a moment Ron recognized it as Lily Potter. Her form became less hazy and more defined, and at one point Peter collapsed. Then, to Ron's amazement, she spoke.
"It is a rather unique sight, is it not?" she asked, smiling.
"You...you..." Ron stuttered. "You're Harry's mum!"
"Yes," she smiled. "He's grown up splendidly. You've been a good friend to him, Ron,"
"I...well, er, thank you," Ron muttered, not knowing what to say.
"He's going to see my grave next week, is he not?" she asked.
"Um...yeah, but there's going to be an attack..." Ron said, still struggling not to stutter.
"I know," Lily said sadly. "I don't blame you, Ron. I blamed Peter when he turned, but that was before I witnessed the power of the marble. It can only be conquered by my locket, you know."
"What?" Ron asked, bewildered.
"The spell, the magic in the marble, can be counteracted by the locket Tom Riddle gave my mother. Harry has it now."
"But...I can't touch it!" Ron cried.
"I know," Lily said. "But you will think of something, I'm sure."
"But what-" Ron started.
"I really must go," she interrupted, "I am draining Peter's life force. Goodbye Ron, take care of Harry for me. Good luck." The form flickered, then faded away.
"Uncle Peter?" Ron asked cautiously. The man didn't move. "Uncle Peter?" Ron asked again, more anxiously. His eyes flickered.
"You never quite get used to that," he muttered.
"I never intend to try," Ron replied.
"Oh, but you have to," Peter said. "That's the entire point, Ron. I have talked to Lily before...I'm sure she told you about her locket?"
"Yes," Ron replied, "But it still doesn't make any sense to me."
"Well, Lily knows more than how to defeat the marble. She also knows how to defeat Lord Voldemort."
"Wh...what?" Ron's eyes were wide with shock.
"It's Harry's job, naturally," Peter continued, "But you must play a part," his eyes shifted to Draco, "Both of you."
"But..." Ron tried to formulate a logical thought. "Why?"
"Because the Defenders must work together to defeat the Dark Lord," Peter's eyes did not leave Draco's transparent form. "All of the Defenders."
Draco's eyes widened. Ron met his uncle's steady gaze, then looked down at the glimpse. It suddenly made sense.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Harry went to bed the night before the Godric's Hollow visit in an aggravated state of mind. He couldn't concentrate, and his mind wondered from one confusing thought to the next. He tossed and turned, trying to find a comfortable position and failing. The room was dark and full of snores from the other soundly sleeping boys.
Eventually, Harry came to the conclusion that it was useless, and he was cold. He opened the curtains and suppressed a groan when he saw the clock, which informed him that it was just past one o'clock in the morning. He flinched when his feet touched the cold stone floor, but went down to the common room anyway, looking for some solitude by the warm remnants of the fire.
Well, there was a fire, but no solitude.
He was at the foot of the stairs before he realized there was someone seated on the couch. That someone was none other than Ginny Weasley. He turned and started to go back upstairs.
"Harry?" her voice stopped him again. He cursed under his breath. This was the last thing he wanted right now. Turning slowly, he nodded.
"Yes. Ginny?"
"Yes," she nodded. There was an awkward silence. "Why don't you sit down?" she asked. He walked slowly toward the couch where she was sitting, his eyes locked with hers, trying to find meaning in her words. He sat down, and for a moment they both just sat in silence.
"So, what are you doing down here?" she asked awkwardly.
"Couldn't sleep," he shrugged. "You?"
"I was thinking..." she trailed off. She caught his eye, then continued bravely, "I was thinking about what you said about...about...learning to let go of people," she finally managed to say. Harry looked at her in surprise. He thought she had pushed all thoughts of their encounter from her mind.
"And?" he asked, hardly daring to hope.
"And...you were right," she replied. "Draco wouldn't want this for me. I know it. And I...I..." she blushed furiously. "I know...I've always known...er...I mean, I loved Draco, don't mistake me, but...I...I love you too, Harry," she finally whispered. His eyes widened in surprise at her words. Having finally confessed this, she continued. "And it scares me sometimes, how much I love you. But you never loved me back. Then Draco came and he...he was everything I ever wanted, and he appreciated me and loved me for just being me! And when he died I lost that, I lost the first person who had ever really loved me for me and who I loved in return and...and..."
"Ginny," Harry finally interrupted, taking her hand. When she met his gaze he saw the tears in her eyes. "I was a fool, and Draco was not. He saw everything about you that I had ignored. Trust me, Ginny, I know why Draco loved you. Oh, do I know why he loved you...why I love you..."
And this time when he kissed her, she did not pull run away.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Ron met Harry, Hermione, Sirius, and Luna in the Entrance Hall after everyone else had left for Hogsmeade. Everyone was tense. Draco followed Ron, of course. He was unusually silent, and when Ron had question him that morning Draco had nearly bitten his head off.
Luna produced the portkey Dumbledore had provided for them. After a moment of uncertainty, they all touched it and waited a few moments. Ron's stomach churned with anxiety.
The first thing Ron noticed about Godric's Hollow was the silence. They had been taken to what had obviously once been the Potter home. It lay in ruins. Ron looked around, waiting for the Death Eater attack he knew was coming and was helpless to prevent.
He struggled internally, fighting desperately for control of his will. The marble's grasp on his mind was firm, and at this point he was helpless to overcome it. Draco followed, of course, and was as annoying as ever.
"Come ON, Weasley, you have to snap out of it," he commanded sternly, as if Ron were doing it on purpose. However, Ron could not so much and ground his teeth in response. Draco continued yelling at him, and the marble prevented Ron from defending himself...or doing as Draco asked, which would, of course, be the sensible course of action if Ron were in possession of his senses.
They finally reached a small plot of land behind the remnants of the house. There, rising from the long green grass, was one single black marble gravestone stretched in an arc as if imitating the sky. Lily Rose and James Edward Potter, 1961-1981. Ron stared at the names, trying to capture all they represented. They were names, only names, forgotten and buried in the overgrowing weeds behind the ruins of a condemned estate. Names engraved in unforgiving stone, vain attempts to remain on earth even after death.
Sirius knelt, and Luna placed her hand upon his shoulder. He was weeping. So was Harry, a few silent tears making their way from his stubborn emerald eyes, so like the eyes of the very same Lily Rose Potter of the stone. Hermione looked as if she were about to cry as well. Ron closed his eyes, waiting for the panic.
The stillness of the quiet, grieving scene was broken suddenly by the sounds of approaching men. Even though he was expecting it, Ron was startled. The others turned and their eyes widened in disbelief as they saw the horde of Death Eaters approaching. Ron's hand flew to his wand, and he panicked yet again. He had no idea what spell the marble would command of him. He closed his eyes, at a complete loss to fight it any longer, when he heard Draco's voice.
"You are damn lucky, mate. The Ministry's been following you."
Ron's eyes flew open. Indeed, there were Aurors everywhere. It was over in moments. The Aurors apprehended one of the gang, the others escaped. Sirius, Luna, Hermione and Harry simply watched in shock and confusion as it all took place around them. After the three-minute scuffle, one of the Aurors approached and told Luna that it was all okay, and they had it taken care of. He then disappeared without another word of explanation.
"What was that all about?" Hermione demanded, still too shocked to completely comprehend the situation.
"I saw this attack in a vision," Ron was shocked to hear his own voice reply. "I knew I wasn't supposed to tell you, so I notified the Ministry."
"The damn marble's not entirely stupid, obviously," Draco spat contemptuously at Ron's speech.
"Oh," Hermione replied, sounding dazed. After a few moments in which they all just kind of looked at one another Sirius suggested they return to the castle. Everyone agreed, and Luna pulled out the portkey. When they returned to the castle, Luna and Sirius went to tell Dumbledore what had happened. Harry and Hermione were casting strange looks at Ron.
"I'm sorry I couldn't warn you, but..." the marble commanded Ron to say.
"It's okay," Harry replied, putting a hand on his friend's shoulder. "Why understand, don't we, 'Mione?"
"Of course," she nodded.
Ron looked from one to the other. The marble took over, and they went upstairs together, the three best friends in the world. It was only Ron's mind that cried, "No Harry! You don't understand! No one understands! Somebody help me, please!"
No one responded to the desperate cry for help only heard in Ron Weasley's mind.
~I pledge my loyalty to Honor, Justice, and Hogwarts~
Part Seven
And so, time passed. Classes continued, friendships continued, homework continued, Defender meetings continued, and to Ron it all seemed to be passing by through a sheet of foggy glass. He was lost in his own mind, lost in the surreal world of the dead.
It was Peter's fault, of course. As Ron plunged deeper and deeper into necromancy he began to lose touch with the real world. Peter was showing Ron the mysterious, unknown pathways to the afterlife, a few clues to the answers of humankind's most basic question: Is death the end?
Of course, Ron didn't take the time to look at it so philosophically. He found the whole business disgusting and somewhat frightening. However, between his uncle's incessant visits and the marble's constant instructions, he had little choice in the matter.
Draco found the entire business quite amusing.
March soon gave way to April, and while the world saw the same old Ron, just as the marble wished, the real Ron was becoming panicked. The date of the Godric's Hollow visit was drawing nearer, and there was nothing he could do about it.
Meanwhile, the rest of the Defenders were training hard in preparation for a possible attack. Neville and Cho worked the hardest and quite possibly the most efficiently. Everyone else had something on their mind.
Harry and Ginny could hardly stand being in the same room. Ginny was torn with guilt. But at the same time, she found herself daydreaming and remember the few moments of happiness in The Kiss...and as soon as she was smiling, a vision of Draco would sear across her mind's eye and her guilt would return in full force.
Seeing Ginny was torture for Harry. He was confused, lonely, and angry...and jealous. Harry would have never guessed Draco Malfoy would still have the power to gloat over him even after his death, and seeing Ginny sitting by the window, looking out at the grounds with a melancholy smile he knew was just for Draco was more painful than anything Malfoy had ever said or done in life.
So Harry tried to put Ginny out of his mind with thoughts of his parents, and the fact that he would be seeing them, or at least their final resting places, soon. His emotions were mixed concerning this course of action. He was looking forward to and dreading it at the same time. The sharp pain brought on by thinking of his parents too much made Harry turn his thoughts back to Ginny...where he was even more confused. His Lightening powers reflected his mental state; blazing with strength one day, and pitiful the next. Luna tried to talk to him about it, but Harry was not about to open up to his coach and professor about Ginny.
Hermione's predominant emotion was worry. Between Harry retreating into a shell, Ginny lost in the past, and Ron's increasing distance, worry was almost consuming Hermione. She didn't know what to do or how to help them, so she sat in her room and chewed her nails and read everything on Divination she could find in hopes she would get a clue to help Ron at the very least. However, her study and ragged nails did nothing.
Draco was floating in the Gryffindor common room, smirking at a pair of snogging fourth years on a fine April evening. Ron was trying to get some sleep and Draco was bored. Hermione and Harry were studying at a circular table in the corner, neither speaking. Ginny was no where to be seen, which was all the better in Draco's opinion. He didn't want to watch Harry staring at her at every possible opportunity, and Ginny stealing glances back when she thought no one was looking.
But Draco was trying not to think of Ginny (as if this were possible or something). He was actually thinking about how much he missed steak-in his opinion there was nothing quite like a big hunk of cow-when he saw Ron emerge from the boy's staircase. Oh no, he thought, here was go again.
"Weasley," he snapped, "What's going on now?" Ron didn't even look at him, and Draco groaned. That meant the marble was in power, and chances were he was going down to see dear old uncle Pete.
"Ron!" Hermione exclaimed. "Where are you going?"
"I'm just going to mail this letter to my parents," Ron shrugged, showing her an envelope. Draco cursed the marble for thinking up something so...plausible.
"Oh," Hermione replied, her cheeks flushing. "I...sorry."
"That's okay, 'Mione," he smiled, pecking her cheek. "I'll be back."
"Yeah, right," Draco said sarcastically, following Ron out into the corridor. Ron spoke as soon as they were alone.
"You're not making this any easier," Ron snapped, "It's not like I enjoy lying to them...or that I'm even doing it on purpose."
"I know that," Draco shrugged. "I'm on your side, remember?"
"I'm on both sides, remember?" Ron snapped in return.
"Boys, there is no need to argue," a voice interrupted them. With a start, Draco realized they had reached the classroom Peter typically used as their meeting place and had opened the door. Ron went inside silently, and Draco followed his example.
"So, what's on the schedule tonight?" Ron asked, leaning against a tall wing chair as Peter shut the door and chanted locking and silencing spells.
"Oh, I think you'll enjoy this," Peter said, sitting and gesturing for Ron to do the same. They were facing each other, and in between them was a small, wooden table with a circular black disk lying upon the surface. The disk was small enough to fit into the palm of a hand. Ron frowned at it.
"What is this?" he asked. Peter chuckled.
"It is called a Glimpse," he explained. "Appropriate, isn't it? Who would you like to see?"
"What the hell are you talking about?" Ron snapped.
"I think...I think I know what he means," Draco said, studying the disk carefully. He felt an intense desire to touch it, as if it were calling to him. "A glimpse of the hidden, like you were talking about...you can call the dead with this, can't you?" Peter nodded, and Ron inhaled sharply.
"Watch and learn," Peter whispered. He closed his eyes and touched the glimpse with the tip of his finger. Ron watched in fascinated horror as a shadowy form appeared. Peter paled as the form took shape, and after a moment Ron recognized it as Lily Potter. Her form became less hazy and more defined, and at one point Peter collapsed. Then, to Ron's amazement, she spoke.
"It is a rather unique sight, is it not?" she asked, smiling.
"You...you..." Ron stuttered. "You're Harry's mum!"
"Yes," she smiled. "He's grown up splendidly. You've been a good friend to him, Ron,"
"I...well, er, thank you," Ron muttered, not knowing what to say.
"He's going to see my grave next week, is he not?" she asked.
"Um...yeah, but there's going to be an attack..." Ron said, still struggling not to stutter.
"I know," Lily said sadly. "I don't blame you, Ron. I blamed Peter when he turned, but that was before I witnessed the power of the marble. It can only be conquered by my locket, you know."
"What?" Ron asked, bewildered.
"The spell, the magic in the marble, can be counteracted by the locket Tom Riddle gave my mother. Harry has it now."
"But...I can't touch it!" Ron cried.
"I know," Lily said. "But you will think of something, I'm sure."
"But what-" Ron started.
"I really must go," she interrupted, "I am draining Peter's life force. Goodbye Ron, take care of Harry for me. Good luck." The form flickered, then faded away.
"Uncle Peter?" Ron asked cautiously. The man didn't move. "Uncle Peter?" Ron asked again, more anxiously. His eyes flickered.
"You never quite get used to that," he muttered.
"I never intend to try," Ron replied.
"Oh, but you have to," Peter said. "That's the entire point, Ron. I have talked to Lily before...I'm sure she told you about her locket?"
"Yes," Ron replied, "But it still doesn't make any sense to me."
"Well, Lily knows more than how to defeat the marble. She also knows how to defeat Lord Voldemort."
"Wh...what?" Ron's eyes were wide with shock.
"It's Harry's job, naturally," Peter continued, "But you must play a part," his eyes shifted to Draco, "Both of you."
"But..." Ron tried to formulate a logical thought. "Why?"
"Because the Defenders must work together to defeat the Dark Lord," Peter's eyes did not leave Draco's transparent form. "All of the Defenders."
Draco's eyes widened. Ron met his uncle's steady gaze, then looked down at the glimpse. It suddenly made sense.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Harry went to bed the night before the Godric's Hollow visit in an aggravated state of mind. He couldn't concentrate, and his mind wondered from one confusing thought to the next. He tossed and turned, trying to find a comfortable position and failing. The room was dark and full of snores from the other soundly sleeping boys.
Eventually, Harry came to the conclusion that it was useless, and he was cold. He opened the curtains and suppressed a groan when he saw the clock, which informed him that it was just past one o'clock in the morning. He flinched when his feet touched the cold stone floor, but went down to the common room anyway, looking for some solitude by the warm remnants of the fire.
Well, there was a fire, but no solitude.
He was at the foot of the stairs before he realized there was someone seated on the couch. That someone was none other than Ginny Weasley. He turned and started to go back upstairs.
"Harry?" her voice stopped him again. He cursed under his breath. This was the last thing he wanted right now. Turning slowly, he nodded.
"Yes. Ginny?"
"Yes," she nodded. There was an awkward silence. "Why don't you sit down?" she asked. He walked slowly toward the couch where she was sitting, his eyes locked with hers, trying to find meaning in her words. He sat down, and for a moment they both just sat in silence.
"So, what are you doing down here?" she asked awkwardly.
"Couldn't sleep," he shrugged. "You?"
"I was thinking..." she trailed off. She caught his eye, then continued bravely, "I was thinking about what you said about...about...learning to let go of people," she finally managed to say. Harry looked at her in surprise. He thought she had pushed all thoughts of their encounter from her mind.
"And?" he asked, hardly daring to hope.
"And...you were right," she replied. "Draco wouldn't want this for me. I know it. And I...I..." she blushed furiously. "I know...I've always known...er...I mean, I loved Draco, don't mistake me, but...I...I love you too, Harry," she finally whispered. His eyes widened in surprise at her words. Having finally confessed this, she continued. "And it scares me sometimes, how much I love you. But you never loved me back. Then Draco came and he...he was everything I ever wanted, and he appreciated me and loved me for just being me! And when he died I lost that, I lost the first person who had ever really loved me for me and who I loved in return and...and..."
"Ginny," Harry finally interrupted, taking her hand. When she met his gaze he saw the tears in her eyes. "I was a fool, and Draco was not. He saw everything about you that I had ignored. Trust me, Ginny, I know why Draco loved you. Oh, do I know why he loved you...why I love you..."
And this time when he kissed her, she did not pull run away.
*~*~*~*~*~*~*
Ron met Harry, Hermione, Sirius, and Luna in the Entrance Hall after everyone else had left for Hogsmeade. Everyone was tense. Draco followed Ron, of course. He was unusually silent, and when Ron had question him that morning Draco had nearly bitten his head off.
Luna produced the portkey Dumbledore had provided for them. After a moment of uncertainty, they all touched it and waited a few moments. Ron's stomach churned with anxiety.
The first thing Ron noticed about Godric's Hollow was the silence. They had been taken to what had obviously once been the Potter home. It lay in ruins. Ron looked around, waiting for the Death Eater attack he knew was coming and was helpless to prevent.
He struggled internally, fighting desperately for control of his will. The marble's grasp on his mind was firm, and at this point he was helpless to overcome it. Draco followed, of course, and was as annoying as ever.
"Come ON, Weasley, you have to snap out of it," he commanded sternly, as if Ron were doing it on purpose. However, Ron could not so much and ground his teeth in response. Draco continued yelling at him, and the marble prevented Ron from defending himself...or doing as Draco asked, which would, of course, be the sensible course of action if Ron were in possession of his senses.
They finally reached a small plot of land behind the remnants of the house. There, rising from the long green grass, was one single black marble gravestone stretched in an arc as if imitating the sky. Lily Rose and James Edward Potter, 1961-1981. Ron stared at the names, trying to capture all they represented. They were names, only names, forgotten and buried in the overgrowing weeds behind the ruins of a condemned estate. Names engraved in unforgiving stone, vain attempts to remain on earth even after death.
Sirius knelt, and Luna placed her hand upon his shoulder. He was weeping. So was Harry, a few silent tears making their way from his stubborn emerald eyes, so like the eyes of the very same Lily Rose Potter of the stone. Hermione looked as if she were about to cry as well. Ron closed his eyes, waiting for the panic.
The stillness of the quiet, grieving scene was broken suddenly by the sounds of approaching men. Even though he was expecting it, Ron was startled. The others turned and their eyes widened in disbelief as they saw the horde of Death Eaters approaching. Ron's hand flew to his wand, and he panicked yet again. He had no idea what spell the marble would command of him. He closed his eyes, at a complete loss to fight it any longer, when he heard Draco's voice.
"You are damn lucky, mate. The Ministry's been following you."
Ron's eyes flew open. Indeed, there were Aurors everywhere. It was over in moments. The Aurors apprehended one of the gang, the others escaped. Sirius, Luna, Hermione and Harry simply watched in shock and confusion as it all took place around them. After the three-minute scuffle, one of the Aurors approached and told Luna that it was all okay, and they had it taken care of. He then disappeared without another word of explanation.
"What was that all about?" Hermione demanded, still too shocked to completely comprehend the situation.
"I saw this attack in a vision," Ron was shocked to hear his own voice reply. "I knew I wasn't supposed to tell you, so I notified the Ministry."
"The damn marble's not entirely stupid, obviously," Draco spat contemptuously at Ron's speech.
"Oh," Hermione replied, sounding dazed. After a few moments in which they all just kind of looked at one another Sirius suggested they return to the castle. Everyone agreed, and Luna pulled out the portkey. When they returned to the castle, Luna and Sirius went to tell Dumbledore what had happened. Harry and Hermione were casting strange looks at Ron.
"I'm sorry I couldn't warn you, but..." the marble commanded Ron to say.
"It's okay," Harry replied, putting a hand on his friend's shoulder. "Why understand, don't we, 'Mione?"
"Of course," she nodded.
Ron looked from one to the other. The marble took over, and they went upstairs together, the three best friends in the world. It was only Ron's mind that cried, "No Harry! You don't understand! No one understands! Somebody help me, please!"
No one responded to the desperate cry for help only heard in Ron Weasley's mind.