A/N: Ooh! Here's one of my favorite chapters!!! I hope you like it as much as I do! I love re-reading this chapter over for revising! Review please and tell your friends and those might be reading and haven't read the last chapters yet! They have to get to here because it will make me very happy and post the other chappy faster! :D

Disclaimer: Where-o-where has my little Ron gone… oh wait. I forgot, he's not MY Ron! He's J.K.Rowlings! *blush*

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

Chapter 22

"The Dementor"

After tearing away from that morbid scene the four set off up the main staircase. Ginny was clinging on to Harry more then ever and the very thought of a thing so terrible lurking about was getting to everyone. With all their wands firmly gripped (except Draco who took on Ginny's backpack after she grew tiered) they continued to ascend. Up and up they went until they were nearly at the top floor. Still, not a human sound was heard. There was not a whisper nor movement, none but the rats and spiders and the occasional drop of heavy dust as their robes swept the steps. It seemed that prison fell dead in itself, the walls of stone seeming old and timeless. Hermione had her fingers firmly wrapped around her ring. She wanted it to guide her to Ron but it had stopped glowing the moment after they had entered this forsaken place. Harry was bringing up the front with Hermione and suddenly seemed to have come to a realization.

"Hermione… You can use magic," he said as he stopped.

"Yes and?" she said her mind still set a drift.

"No, I mean, what happened to the Magical Barrier?"

"Oh! You're right!"

"No it's still up," muttered Ginny. "I tried to light my wand but it didn't work,"

Harry then took his own wand and muttered 'Lumos' and it lit up easily.

"These rings must give just us the power to use magic within the barrier," analyzed Hermione.

"I didn't bother to try. I remembered about it," said Draco and then looked at his shoulders. "Then that must mean the cloak is useless in here with me," he added as he took it off. "Perhaps Weasley will find a use for it," he then handed it to Hermione as they continued to walk.

"But where is he? We've been walking up these stair and passing floors and corridors. What if-" began Hermione.

"The book says to go to the top doesn't it?" Harry said as he cut her off.

"Yes but-"
"Then that's where he is. Your books have never failed us before have they?"

Hermione felt a mess. The silence and desolation in the whole building had made her restless and even made her doubt the one thing she would never had: the facts. Draco took the rear as they walked up. They finally made it up to the top floor and Hermione decided to try one last time. She tried as hard as she could to concentrate on her ring but nothing came of it': Not a glow, nor a vision. This was no good. Even if the barrier was still up she felt like above all else that the link between her and Ron should have been at least the one to work: The link she shared with a person she loved.

The passage was dark and the cold black steel that surrounded them was giving out a ghostly sensation. With the limp bodies covered in shadow, it felt like they could have arisen at any moment, hungry for something fresh from a world outside the one they had not seen for years. Draco found a chain on the floor and threw it in the bag. Magic or no magic he wasn't about to be helpless in a place that withheld a monster. Harry would grip on his sword on occasion out of nerves; this place could make the bravest of heart falter. A side from three large windows where the moonlight pierced through, the ascent was pitch-black. They continued to walk and took a turn to the north of the terrible stronghold. They could tell they were getting closer to the breaking tide and moon. It was then that amidst the cold gray they saw a patch of color lying on the floor. Hermione didn't hesitate. She ran to the messy red hair that bled onto the floor attached to what looked like a skeletal figure. "It's him… oh please be alive!" she though as she ran. Ron was lying flat on his stomach just as Hermione had seen him in her last vision. She paused before him, fell to her knees and delicately picked up his upper half. She could hear his slow, deepened breath and began to cry of joy. She then took the cloak from her shoulders and wrapped it lovingly around Ron. The cloak began to glimmer and soon the boy had begun coughing.

"Now quiet… lay still…"

"Hermione? Is this another dream?" he said his voice a mere whisper and his eyes still shut tight.

"No it's not. I'm right here. Just save your strength,"

"It's a dream… it can only be a dream…" he forced himself but began coughing again.

What Ron had made of himself through Quidditch was no more. He had reverted back into his thin, lanky body. However, he also looked very sickly. His skin was a pasty white and his freckles looked like the only bit of color left to his complexion. His fingers looked twice as long and seemed only skin and bone. Hermione cradled him slowly. What was this sort of treatment? How could he have crumbled like this without her knowing? In her visions he was just as she left him; ruby haired and still fit. But this… this was not what she had seen. Why didn't he write to her about this? Ginny and Harry were second to approach him and Hermione and huddled around, smiling weakly with relief. He was frail yes, but he was alive and that was far more then enough. Draco stood behind them and let his back fall tiredly onto the bars of a cell. That is until he felt a something bite his ankle.

"Ouch!" he looked down to see a rodent. "Filthy vermin!"

"Oh… do you really think so Mr. Malfoy…" said a high pitched voice.

Draco jumped at least five feet forwarded. The voice came from behind him within the cell where the shadow of a hunched person lay. Draco's eyes darted towards the dark area as he moved into the light with the rest of the wizards. Harry and Ginny had turned quickly to see who it was that remained in the darkness. Soon two fat hands had gripped the bars from inside the cell. They were covered in dirt, as was the face of this person now showing himself in a silver of light that hit his tiny eyes and round cheeks. He smiled maliciously.

"Well, well… I never thought that I'd live to see a Malfoy help a Potter,"

"Wha – Wormtail!" growled Malfoy.

"The Dementor didn't get you huh?" said Harry now lifting his sword that began to glow with his ring. "Pity," he added with disgust.

"Ha! It is very little you know children. The Dementor has not touched me, yes,"

"Now that's enough! Let's just leave and leave him to rot," said Hermione trying to pick up Ron with all her strength.

Ginny helped her and settled Ron's arms around their shoulders. Ron got to his feet and tried as best as he could to move. The raven cloak was still latched around him as his head began to bob with their movements. They began to walk passed Wormtail slowly until he spoke a second time.

"Silly girl, I thought you were the smart one. Ron always spoke very highly of you,"

"Yes well, hopefully you'll never have to hear any of it again," she said her eyes not shifting from the exit.

"Did you even take a moment to wonder why it was that Ron's cell was open Miss Granger?"

Hermione stopped. He was right. Ron's cell was wide open and she was so happy and relieved to see him she had completely ignored that. She remembered that in her visions, when he paced about, that the door was still closed. However, she continued to move. Sometimes all questions didn't need to be answered, at least not right away.

"He's hungry you know. Ron has always been quite the glutton. Maybe he should eat…"

"Shut up! We don't need to hear anymore from you!" said Harry angrily as he began to move away with Draco.

"Ron, are you hungry boy?" he asked.

Soon Ron's head shot upwards as if hearing a piecing sound. His feet seemed to acquire a new strength and he straightened up completely. His eyes were still shut and his mouth was slightly open he then turned around to face Pettigrew's direction. Hermione and Ginny were thrown aback.

"Yes… you're starving," he grinned.

Ron eyes opened slightly and he began to move towards Wormtail like his limbs had suddenly acquired a huge weight. Hermione grabbed onto Ron's arm panicked. What on earth was he doing? He then violently swung his arm and brushed the girl off of him. Hermione didn't know what do as she fell backwards on the stone floor. Ron quickly glanced to where he hand flung Hermione and turned around to walk to Wormtail. When he was at his side, the balding man laughed.

"Yes. How strange indeed that my old master has now become my pet," he said as he began to rub Ron's head like a dog and then pushed it away disrespectfully. Ron's head slowly came back to his position without retort. "You see. Isn't he a good little pet? Loyal and respectful,"

"Ron! What's wrong with you?" said Ginny to a blank stare.

"Little Ginny, it's too late now. Now your brother is completely mine and he will do as I command,"

"Ah!!! Stop these stupid games and riddles! There's a Dementor here! Don't you want to save your own skin Pettigrew?" shouted Draco temper now high.

"He's right! Don't you want to escape too?" said Harry branching his sword. "If you don't let him come with us I'll –"

"You'll what Potter? You'll use Gryffindor's sword? I have a treasure of my own that I can use on you as well, one that even Dumbledore had ignored! Did you really think it was normal for only three of the founders to have tools of that magical caliber? My master, the heir of Slytherin had one as well… one that he even during his fight with you had decided to keep secret because he knew that it would consume him… Ever wondered how Dementors were created?"

Hermione had picked herself up, her heart pounding relentlessly. This was ridiculous! They had no time for this! She moved in closer and looked at Wormtail with daggers in her eyes but felt the need to answer this one question. Perhaps it would stop him from delaying their escape.

"Their creation isn't natural. They're a wizard's work; they were made to torture,"

"I guess you are the smart one,"

"Ron… Ron let's go," she pleaded.

"You can do better Hermione," he said as he removed from his clothes a strange pendant with a green stone. "You've been getting glances at what's been going on in here. Tell me, how has Ron acted in your visions? I know you've been communicating with him. He's told me all about it you know. What is the thing he has told every single time you've spoken?"

Hermione was mute for a few moments and then breathed: "That he doesn't want me to see him like that… that I should leave…"

The short man grinned again.

"You should have listened. Ron it's time to feed… It's time to show Hermione why you've always wanted her to disappear in your dreams,"

"Yes…" he said in a croaked voice.

"Behold the treasure of Slytherin… the Snake Pendant. Once used to create Salazar Slytherin's servants of darkness: a race of few that remained after his death. Now, with the only heir dead it will be fit for only one last task," he said as he placed the pendant around Ron's neck.

Instantly Ron began to hunch and fell to the ground with pain as the stone emitted a green glare repeatedly. He winced and looked about ready to rip his hair out as he grabbed his head. Violently, Ron threw the cloak over his body and escaped everyone's view as he sat huddled on the floor. The blue veil began to ripple as an emerald glow emanated from beneath it. There were odd movements under the drape and the mass that was Ron's grew and grew and grew until a scaly green hand had finally slipped into view. Ravenclaw's treasure slid down a newly changed body hidden in darkness. The hand reached for the hood then slipped it over what was seemingly a head.

"It's amazing the power that the little ring has given him with the pendant. The ultimate Dementor has arisen and he's after you Potter…"

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~

A/N: PLEEEEEEEEEEEEAAAAAAAAAASE Review!! Me likes it very much! :D