Author's Note: Hey everyone! I seem to be taking my time posting this up. Mostly because I want to make sure the changes I make are just right… also because my time on the computer has now been cut in half. *^_^*  ANYHOW… this is one of the more pinnacle point of the story! I hope it's not too complicated or anything because this is where everything gets revealed. I want LOTS of feedback on this chapter particularly. So PLEASE review! Thanks and enjoy as I twist more information around!

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter or all the history of HP but wouldn't it be cool if J.K. Rowling used my ideas anyways? *coughs* Make Bill break up with Fleur *coughs again*

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Chapter 19

"Conspiracy"

Hermione couldn't sleep. Her mind lay troubled with the constant images of Ron turning and pacing about, mind and soul upset. The dreams had become frequent. Every since she had begun to wear that ring she could see him yet felt conflicted as to whether she should take it off or not. As time passed she felt the connection grow stronger between her and Ron and one night could swear that he had looked into her eyes. Ron was no longer asleep in her visions but aware that something more powerful then himself was taking over. Hermione wondered how it was that this could be. True, the magic of the Phoenix ring was known to be great but could it really penetrate the anti-magic charm that overtook all of Azkaban? She wondered if she should tell Harry and Ginny about her dreams but thought that perhaps it was her own imagination running away with her… Especially since Ron's 18th birthday had just passed without him.

Time was fleeting once again… And the trio continued to watch over Colin vigilantly. Ginny had a strange feeling come over her as the letters continued to flow from Ron but something felt off. He almost seemed too happy and she knew that Ron should have given in to the darkness more then that by that time. Hermione had stopped receiving Ron's letters to and this worried them all. Soon March had left them and April came. Draco began to dread time, as he would come closer to the trial that awaited him. The lies he had to utter for his father's love came to his mind, a sacrifice that Lucius did not seem too grateful for. Draco felt that he needed to see him. That if he awaited until the very day he would show his weakness to the council. So he embarked on a journey to talk face-to-face with his father and he would do it on the 10th of April.

"I'm leaving. I just need to see him. I need to know what he thinks about all this. I'll be back soon," Draco heard himself say. Why would he really care to tell anyone this?

"Alright! Tell us what you've found out. I hope everything goes well," said Ginny as Draco stood before the doors of the school.

Hermione looked at him with a mixed stare. Draco saw her and came closer to her. Hermione moved a few steps back until Draco stopped and actually smiled.

"You look worse then usual and that's saying a lot. Get some sleep Granger," he said surprisingly.

"I – I'll try," she said smiling slightly.

Draco turned about and looked at Harry, the smirk-like smile still stuck on his face.

"And I better not find you dead when I get back either. It better take more then a Dementor to kill you or else I'll be sorely disappointed. Then whom will I have to humiliate during Quidditch?" he said as Harry looked at him surprised.

Soon Draco turned to the door with a bag over his shoulder. The Headmaster had given him an early leave for Easter and he was to return before it ended. Ginny couldn't help herself and ran up to the Slytherin to give him a hug. Draco was thrown aback but found himself accepting it kindly. He felt like he needed some sort of reassurance. She let go of him and Malfoy walked out of the castle. Harry was somewhat startled at Ginny's actions and confronted her about them.

"I think he likes us," said Ginny smiling. "I think he's starting to realize that we're here for him. Harry, I know he won't turn out like his father. He doesn't have it in him. He just doesn't know any better," she said as the group began to walk to the Common Room.

"Aren't you afraid of being so kind to him Ginny? As annoying as Colin was I never thought he had it in him either," said Harry worried.

"Yes, but the difference is that Draco has always acted openly about what he thinks and feels and the situation is different now… Harry, I need to rest… I don't feel quite so good," she said holding her head.

Ginny perched herself on Harry' shoulder as they began to walk to the common room. Hermione didn't feel very good either but knew that it had more to do with her heart then with her head… then again, perhaps it was both. She decided that it was best for her to go to the Library and catch up on some reading when she saw Colin walk by on his way to the same place. Hermione decided to follow behind quietly and see what he was up to. As he crept up the stair case Hermione felt a strange wave of uneasiness fall upon her and the ring that she wore felt suddenly like it was burning her finger slowly. The tingling did not stop until she saw Colin stop and sit quietly on the floor of a hidden corridor near the Library. Then, to her horror rats, rats everywhere began to scurry to him.  Hermione hid behind a corner and subtly stuck out her head just enough for her eyes to see what was happening.

"I've done what you asked… Is it soon over?" he asked as he looked at the mice.

Hermione quietly gasped as she saw all the rats come together and squeak in unison. The sounds of high-pitched noises resounded and eventually turned into a single voice.

"No… your task is not yet over until he is dead… Until HE is alive… Finish what you've started… end what you meant to end… You still have one task left… It must be done quickly… Or it will feed on whatever it set before it… it will devour and leave nothing left… and the bait will be useless… and will be too difficult to control… only the Dark Lord had enough power to and only by his will, will it end... and will it begin… "

Colin sighed and closed his eyes. It looked like he was being forced to do something he didn't want to do. Hermione looked down sadly and noticed that one of the mice had scurried towards her! She stepped back and ran into a suit of armor with a clang! The other mice all turned their bodies at once. The strange black mass began to scurry towards the girl at full speed! She gasped and began to run down the corridor and down the stairs! She could hear them right behind her, squeaking and screeching in the background. Without looking back she dashed into the open hole of the Gryffindor common room and pushed the passing students away. Harry got up from his seat and looked at Hermione worried.

"What's wrong?" he asked seeing the panic on her face.

Hermione stopped to catch her breath.

"Rats! Rats!"

"Rats?"

"They…" she then turned her head to see everyone staring. She then moved closer to Harry and whispered. "They're giving Colin orders… They-"

"Hermione, you haven't been sleeping. Are you sure you're alright?" he murmured back.

At that very moment Colin entered the room and looked at Hermione dangerously. He made his way up the stairs but before ducking to his dormitory he made a final announcement.

"You both… I have a message for you. Meet me at the Library at noon tomorrow and you'll understand everything. Oh and Hermione, watch out for rodents… they're everywhere these days,"

***

The sun was setting as Draco walked to the building of the ministry of magic offices the day after. They welcomed him rather nicely and checked their lists to see when Draco would be seeing his father. They had arranged a brief meeting with him for twenty minutes and Draco felt that it was enough. Sirius was taking full responsibility in guarding Lucius and had appeared before the boy to escort him to the boarding house where they kept him. Draco wasn't sure why, after all this time, they didn't finish sending him to Azkaban but he supposed that they simply had pity for him. "If only they knew," he though as Sirius moved the boy into a house, through the stairways and halls. Finally after climbing up 2 flights Sirius nodded to a guard that Draco had been given time with his father. The man stepped a side and Draco entered the vastly empty room. Only a bed, two chairs and table rested on the wooden floor as Lucius looked out the window barricaded by bars. The door closed shut and Draco suddenly felt uneasy.

"So… my boy has come to see me. Quite generous," he said calmly still looking away.

"Why would you say that? I'm your son. Didn't you think I'd come to see you?" said Draco slowly moving towards his father.

"I just wanted to be sure that your little charade had not become more then just that,"

"What do you mean?"

"You looked quite friendly with Potter from what I saw but I know you would never stoop so low as to –"

"I? Stoop low? Aren't you talking about yourself?"

Lucius turned around and approached Draco extremely fast! His face was but inches away from his son and Draco looked back stunned. After a moment, he drew back and his mouth twisted into a smile. Stuffing his hand into his pockets, Lucius began to laugh casually and sat on the bed. He then stretched out relaxed his arms extended and leaning against the bed ends. Draco was somewhat surprised and decided to sit on a chair as Lucius smirked satisfied.

"For a moment there… I thought I didn't know you but I see you aren't different. You are quite the actor Draco. Obviously this is a new talent that you've discovered over these past months,"

Draco remained silent as he stared at his father. Why did he feel he really needed to do this?

"The way to tricked Potter into trusting you was an act of genius! I regret now, never letting you in on our little plans earlier. You could have contributed far more to the cause then -" began Lucius.

"What? The cause?"

"Why yes. Come now, did you really think that "I" could have been so easily caught off guard?"

Draco stood up from the chair and began to move backwards. This is impossible! What did he mean?

"You… you wanted to be cursed?" he said his eyes straining.

"Of course! I did let myself get cursed and although it was all supposed to have happened differently, the pieces still fit together in the end. My master's wishes, even after death, should always be respected,"

"What are you saying? Did you know the Dark Lord would fall?"

"Oh I dreaded it and I truly believed that his power would rule over all… But he had an omen… He felt his chance of victory slipping thorough his grasp when Potter finally obtained the 3 treasures of the founders… And so with this inkling of an end… he chose me! Me! To carry on his final plans… I was honored!"

Draco didn't know what to feel. What was happening? His father was part of some conspiracy? A back up plan that Voldermort had created incase he would indeed fall? He was there when the Death Eaters began their marches in the blood stained streets! He was there when muggles began to drop to the floor like rag dolls! He was there when he heard his best friends final gasps for life as the Killing Curse did its will! The riddles untangled themselves as Lucius continued to speak.

***

Hermione, Harry and Ginny were sitting in the library as ordered. They still had a few minutes before noon and they were all nervous, especially Hermione. Ever since that horrid night when she had seen those mice scurry like tiny demons she had been weary of everything around her. However, hoping to understand the unknown she rubbed the rim of her ring with anticipation. "Ron… we'll get you back!" It was then that Colin came walking in with a shifty look to him. He sat before the three Gryffindors and took a deep breath. With one final, almost sympathetic glance to Ginny, he began his discourse.

"It's time for you all to understand what's going on. I've been receiving orders, orders that if I don't obey to will lead to –"

"Don't tell me this trash Creevly! It was all about you getting revenge on me isn't it? Just standing a side wasn't enough was it?" said Harry as quietly as he could, his face growing red. However Colin continued to look placid.

"You're right Potter it is about you, it always was. Things didn't happen the way they were supposed to. YOU were the one that was supposed to go to Azkaban not Ron. He, as always, just happened to take the fall for you,"

"How dare –" began Ginny until she realized that she could not raise her voice. "How dare you! My brother -" she began in a heated whisper.

"Your brother just happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time as was Draco. This story truly begins that night when Draco found Lucius in the castle after being hexed. He was supposed to be lead out of there by another and then because of this mix up… I - I lost him and I could not do what I was ordered to do,"

"Your orders? But why? Who would want Harry to go to Azkaban? What does this give you?" asked Hermione.

"It gives me my family back…"

***

"I suppose you are curious as to the final request of the Dark Lord, Draco. It is simple brilliance. A truly fool proof plan that only a man such as he was could have devised," started Lucius.

Draco was still shaken. So his father wanted to be cursed, for what purpose?

"The Dark Lord, knowing of the chance he would be defeated had found a prediction of a possible future. He would die and the Death Eaters would all be convicted and sent to Azkaban.  However, by then the Dementors were few and it was easy to conclude that they would be non-existent in the future as Dumbledore continued to exterminate them one by one. That was simple logic of course. However he had decided to keep one for himself, one that would remain dormant for his use if ever this future was to pass. He knew that part of him was still inside Harry Potter. The essence that created his infamous scar and that his very essence would remain even after his death." It was then a Lucius let out a triumphant laugh. "And so, how would one extract this essence? By draining the unnecessary…

"Unnecessary?" gasped Draco.

"Exactly… the soul of Harry Potter…"

***

"Family?" said Ginny.

"Yes Ginny… have you not noticed that my brother isn't here? That Hogwarts has one less Creevly in it's midst?"

All three stood up and were thrown aback. Colin looked intently at Harry.

"A sticky little bug am I? Well, obviously that's what "HE" saw in me! He saw that I already despised you and that it would not be so hard to convince me to help him. Yet… yet I did not want it. I did not want anything that the Dark Lord or his followers could offer. He gave me the promise of rewarding my hatred for you but I can never hate someone to that point. He promised me money, power even love," he said looking into Ginny's brown eyes. "He had been watching me for a very long time. Yet I refused it all… that is until Dennis was taken away,"

"Oh Colin…" sighed Ginny.

"So my orders were simple. To make sure that Harry had contact with Lucius at least once and then send a letter to the ministry that Potter was helping a servant of Lord Voldermort,"

"But how could you guarantee that…"

"The curse that Lucius had cast on him was done purposely," he said as more eyes gazed at him.

"Purposely? So it was a curse! Which one was it?" asked Hermione eagerly.

"I don't know. All I know is that the moment the he'd see Potter it would be all he remembered but then… after being around Ron for so long he must have imprinted Ron's image in his mind instead of Potter's,"

"But… wait – wait!" began Hermione. "Who gave you these orders? Was it Voldermort himself? Is he not dead?" she said saying his name without worry.

"I'm not supposed to tell you that," said Colin dryly.

"Well, then why would "he" want Harry to go to Azkaban anyways? That seemed a tad petty for some sort of revenge. Any follower would have wanted Harry dead,"

"But Potter would have been greatly tortured had it all gone according to plan! By then Lord Voldermort would have still had control over Azkaban because one his creatures would be waiting there. You see, there "it" will soon be drawn anyways. "It" will come to drain the life out of the guilty party and so will "his" vengeance be complete,"

All three pairs of eyes were screwed up in confusion but Hermione then gasped so loudly that it made others students look in her direction. After they turned their heads she addressed Colin once again.

"Ron!" she breathed. "It will go for Ron won't it? It will drain Ron because it was supposed to go for Harry!"

"What?" said Harry shaken.

"You saved yourself Potter but it won't be the same for Ron. I really am sorry for all that's happened but it seems that even ghosts are dangerous. I just want my brother back. As much as I love you Ginny, I love him more,"

"I… I know,"

Hermione then stood up and left the room. This was madness! The Dementor would be after Ron because he was where Harry was supposed to be? It was all so stupid! Completely ridiculous! Unfounded! There was no logic in it at all! Ron was supposed to be protected in Azkaban not targeted! If the Dementor was so programmed to kill Harry then why did it leave lightning burnt marks on the floor? Why was it so unusual? Surely not what a regular Dementor would do? It was then, she felt herself get weak… It was happening again… but this time she wasn't sleeping… he ring was pulling her into a deeper level of consciousness… she was having another vision.

She was pulled into a dark room again. The same room that filled her nights with mixed feelings of relief and anxiety. It was the cell that Ron usually stayed in. The room where she'd so often had seen him gaze at the stone ceiling, his blue eyes blinking with what looked like hope. She'd seen him mouth her name a few times and wished for all dear hope that he could hear her. That he could feel her presence look over him like a guardian angel. Yet alas, it had never come to be… until this time. The only time she had ever had a vision while she was awake.

"Hermione?" breathed Ron, his eyes as round as the lake.

"Ron! You – you can see me?" she said in a chocked voice.

Ron nodded his head repeatedly like he was being electrocuted. He looked pale and stunned as his mouth remained opened in surprise. Hermione moved closer to him and held out her hand for him to touch but just as the other times, his hand passed right through her. She moved her gaze from Ron's hand to his face as his expression saddened. Hermione then closed her eyes and looked like she was going to cry.

"Hermione… please don't," he said softly. "Please…"

"But Ron… the dreams… the visions…"

"Please Hermione, I want you -" he swallowed hard. It looked like what he was about to say hurt him greatly. "I want you to wake up… You have to… you have to stop seeing me!" he whispered, now beginning to tear himself.

"Ron! Why?" she continued to faintly say.

"Because I can't risk you seeing… I can't risk you seeing me…"

"What?"

"It's getting dangerous here… the voices…"

"What? Ron! Please answer!!!"

"I love you…" he said as she moved his hand to where Hermione's face was even if he couldn't touch it.

Ron then advanced his face forward to where his hands were as if to kiss Hermione and strangely enough, she felt his lips press against hers but at the same moment, was shaken so violently with pain that she felt her nerves pinch and her heart stop. She awoke a moment after in the common room as Harry and Ginny looked at her worried. Hermione did not even need to re-adjust as she gazed at her friends meaningfully.

"We're going to get Ron out of there and we are going tonight!"

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A/N: Please everyone! I want LOTS of Reviews on this chapter! :D