Here I am, and sorry for the long wait. I wanted to make a longer, more
content-filled, crème-filled story for your pleasure. So hopefully I have
not bastardized my original intent, and hopefully I have not disgraced H.P.
Speaking of that:
DISCLAIMER: This story is written with the utmost respect to the original genius behind it. No infringement intended, though I think I already established the bastardization part. Finally, this story is SLASH. Say it with me....MALE PAIRINGS. So if you no likee, go read something more.....tame?
Thanks for reviewing, too! ^_^
-------
Part 30
Ronald Weasley began to sway. Somehow, and Ron didn't remember when, Lucius Malfoy had made him stand, and Ron now swayed such that more of his weight was on the chains binding his wrists than on his feet. Not only that, Ron's vision had begun to lessen. Ron felt like he could almost see another entire environment if he concentrated hard enough. He figured anything must be better than the dungeon he now resided in. As he concentrated again, he found he could see a flat, white surface, possibly a wall or ceiling.
"What is....that...." Ron mumbled out. His mouth, he realized, was quite parched. He remembered Malfoy forcing small amounts of water and some other liquid down his throat some time back. Ron looked wearily at his arms, which had begun to appear fuzzy. The heat he had felt so long ago was a tiny memory against the despair he now felt.
"It looks like you are progressing, Mr. Weasley." A cold voice from somewhere in front of Ron. Ron looked up.
"Fuck you, Malfoy." Ron could still taste blood.
"It would be satisfying to punish you for that remark, but I feel that it will be even more satisfying when you've arrived."
"Arrived....where?" Ron wasn't sure he was strong enough to feel dread.
"Why, back in your body, of course." Malfoy smiled. "This will happen when your body is in our possession."
Ron's mind did a double take.
"My...body?..."
"Yes, Mr. Weasley." Malfoy grinned now. "All this time, all this torture and this dungeon and those chains have been in your mind. In your body. Which is at Hogwarts at present."
Ron's heart leapt. He almost smiled.
"Of course, we have made sure that your body will not be there long. Have you ever heard of the Grendarius Penser?"
Ron didn't move or speak.
"I didn't think artifacts were part of your magical training at that....school." Malfoy spit out 'school.' "You, and your compatriots, were entered into the Grendarius Penser more than a week ago, in part thanks to our spell, in part thanks to your father."
Ron looked up with fury in his eyes.
Malfoy continued, delighted at the response he was getting. "Since we captured your consciousness on the train, we were able to perform the Grendarius Summons. We can summon your body to anyplace we wish, and reinsert your consciousness." Another wicked smile flourished his lips. "So, Mr. Weasley, I'd watch the comments. Your body will soon be suffering far more than your simple mind has." Ron's head lowered, bringing Malfoy out of his view.
Part 31
Harry made a lunge for Mrs. Weasley, but tripped over a piece of bedcloth and hit his head on the bed. Hermione dove in front of Mrs. Weasley and caught her readily. Mrs. Weasley's eyes were rolled to the back of her head.
Harry got up slowly, wincing. He now had a headache. Looking up, he saw that Hermione had caught Mrs. Weasley and laid her down on the floor next to the bed. Hermione gingerly slapped Mrs. Weasley's face, calling her name sharply.
Harry moved quickly to the fold of cloth, and ran as fast as his muddled vision could manage. A shocked Madame Pomfrey was moving in the opposite direction, toward Ron's enclave. Harry ran as fast as his feet would carry, straight into Dumbledore outside the infirmary. Harry bounced back, and Dumbledore proffered a hand, seemingly unaffected by the run-in.
"Sorry for the perfectly inelastic collision, Harry." Dumbledore raised Harry to his feet with ease. "I came after Molly's screams."
Harry was not eased by the Headmaster's presence. "What's wrong with Mr. Weasley? What is Mrs. Weasley saying?" Harry looked at Dumbledore with a mix of confusion and hope.
Dumbledore merely brushed past Harry, and Harry was transported for a moment back to fifth year when it seemed that the Headmaster was ignoring him. Dumbledore must have sensed this thought, because he turned around and addressed Harry with a look in the eyes. "You will soon know, Harry." He turned again, and quickly went to Ron's bed. Harry chased after.
Harry waited at the curtain for some time, because Dumbledore was blocking the entrance with his body. After a while, Dumbledore swept out again, followed by a teary Mrs. Weasley and Hermione. Harry followed the procession as Dumbledore led them all back to his office, where they could talk in peace and without distraction.
As soon as they got there, Hermione sat next to Mrs. Weasley, who was sobbing uncontrollably now. Dumbledore stared at Harry for a moment before speaking.
"Harry, there is something that you are going to have to do, if you want Ron back again."
Harry straightened immediately. His look of resolve was a strong way of saying 'anything.'
Dumbledore nodded at this. "We have determined how you entered the Grendarius Penser, and how to get you back in." After a pregnant pause, Dumbledore continued. "Mr. Weasley, under the effects of the Imperius curse, enchanted you and Ron using special floo powder." Dumbledore paused another moment as Harry's jaw dropped. "Hermione was affected in a similar way." Dumbledore looked at Hermione. "I believe that you had a run-in with a vendor of Snakes and Rats."
Realization dawned, and Hermione nodded. She looked mortified that she hadn't thought of it earlier. "He ran into me, and sprinkled something on me, but I didn't pay any attention to him. I was in a hurry." She finished with a look of understanding.
"Then how did Malfoy get in there?" Harry asked.
"You don't know?" Dumbledore asked kindly. Harry sat blankly, and Dumbledore continued. "His father used the same floo powder on him the day they left."
Harry put it together. The conviction of Malfoy on the train, and Voldemort's sentiment to him, seemed evidence of why Lucius Malfoy would go to the trouble of sending his son to Voldemort. Harry thought a moment more, and wondered why he, in fact, was going back to the train.
"But why cant you go, or come with us?"
Dumbledore seemed to expect this question. "The reason we can send you back in the first place is that you have the residual effects of the spell. No one but you, Miss Granger, and Mister Malfoy have the ability to go back."
"But...we don't have to take-"
Dumbledore interrupted Harry. "I would advise taking him. He has the ability to become a great wizard. He is intelligent, and quick." At Harry's continued look of incredulity, Dumledore merely smiled. "Take him." Harry knew that it wasn't a request.
"So then, what is wrong with-" Harry gave a worried look at Mrs. Weasley, who was in Hermione's arms.
Dumbledore put his fingers together. "He is currently in St. Mungo's." He looked as though he wouldn't offer any more information.
Harry looked down. This was going too far. People who were his family, and his world, were once again in the middle of the battle between him and Voldemort. This had to end, and it was going to end sooner than later.
"I'm going back," Harry said through clenched teeth. "And I'll take Malfoy, if I have to. I want Hermione to stay here."
Hermione gave a yelp of indignation. "Oh no you don't, Harry Potter! You've left me in the dark enough! Enough self-pity and bubbling tempers! I am going in there for our best friend whether you like it or not!" Her face was red, very angry.
Harry was momentarily taken aback, and his original thread of determination was disrupted. "Fine, Herm. But Voldemort is mine." No one spoke after this for a long time.
Part 32
There were tens of spells that Harry was given to memorize, spells that would be most effective inside the Grendarius Penser. Hermione learned still more. Harry was sure that the same spell list was given to Draco, but he didn't care. At this point, he figured there was one person, or rather, thing, that he wished to destroy.
The day of training was very difficult. Harry spent the first four hours of the day with Dumbledore and Snape, practicing warding spells and attack spells with Hermione. After lunch, which was difficult enough due to the myriad of questions given him about why he'd been skipping classes, he went into their training room to find Draco Malfoy practicing spells against Dumbledore.
Harry wiped the involuntary sneer that had graced his face and made his way cautiously over near them.
"Good, Mr. Malfoy, but with more of a flick." Dumbledore flicked his wrist quickly, and spoke rapidly, and a large purple spheroid appeared in front of him.
Draco puffed up a little, obviously noticing Harry's presence, and flicked his wrist in kind. "Honorius." Something similar to, but not quite as large as, Dumbledore's spheroid came out of his wand.
"That will be good enough. Harry, would you be so kind as to destroy Mr. Malfoy's ward?" Dumbledore strode over to the side of the room where Harry was and faced the room. Harry nodded, slowly, and made his way to where Dumbledore had been.
"This looks familiar, eh Potter?" Draco drawled from a few meters away.
"Bugger off," Harry whispered. He noticed a disapproving look from Dumbledore. Harry straightened up regardless, and flicked his wand quickly in front of him. "Yonnar Vegatum!" he yelled. A purple bolt flew out of his wand and hit Draco's sphere, which promtly dissipated. As Harry turned with a triumphant look on his face, the sphere popped back to shape and shot a green bolt at him. Harry panicked and dropped to the ground, his wand rolling out of his hand.
The laughing from Malfoy was enough to make Harry's blood boil. Not caring he was on the ground, he grabbed his wand and pointed it sharply at Malfoy's bubble. As he was about to form the words of a spell, he heard a female voice say "Yonnar Vegatem." A purple bolt flew to the sphere, and burst it. Malfoy stepped back, not in shock, but to not get any purple ooze on him.
Harry stood up hastily as Hermione walked over to him. "All in the pronunciation," she said with a firm smile. Harry couldn't help but smile back.
"Nice work, Granger," Draco said icily from across the room. Though said with obvious discomfort, Harry thought that Malfoy may have meant it.
"So shall we continue sparring?" Hermione said far too cheerily. Harry grumbled, and Draco nodded.
They practiced well into the night, with a break for dinner. Harry had to admit that Draco was a rather good wizard, though nothing he did that evening endeared him to Harry. Dumbledore also gave them a timeframe: tomorrow, breakfast in the great hall, and by noon they would all be in another sleep-like state.
Harry and Hermione left the training room together. As they made their way toward the Gryffindor common room they heard running behind them. Draco Malfoy sidled up next to Harry with a slight pant.
"That was rather refreshing, especially in this school." Matter-of-fact and without malice.
Harry grumbled, and Hermione cleared her throat.
Draco seemed undeterred. "Tomorrow."
There was a long, uncomfortable silence, in which Malfoy was the only one not fidgeting.
Harry finally spoke, quietly. "Dumbledore told me to get along with you, not to like you."
"He told me the same. He also said it would be worth my while to try and...converse with you? Yes, that was it. It seems you have the conversational ability of a mountain troll." Draco flickered a sly smile. "I've held off the 'mudblood' this and 'weasel' that."
Harry began to turn red. "Malfoy. I - HATE - YOU." Harry didn't bother to look up.
"To be honest, I don't find a single redeeming thing about you, either. It might have been worth siding with Voldemort just to see your pride crushed." There was emphasis on 'crushed.'
Harry made to punch, but Hermione caught his arm. Harry gave her an angry look, but it was instantly dissolved by Hermione's acetic look. "Harry. Don't." She focused on Draco. "Malfoy, for once I can actually appreciate the fact that you haven't mentioned my heritage in a disparaging way. However, I am loathe to like you more than I did before. Kindly leave us." She had a firm, set look, and Harry hoped Draco knew to leave. Harry's fist was still balled.
Draco looked at Harry. "Everyone is right. You are a self-absorbed prat." Draco turned abruptly and made his way in the opposite direction, assumedly to his common room.
Harry looked at Hermione. "Everyone?"
Part 32
Ron was having that daydream again, the one where Harry came bursting into the jail and immobilized the Deatheater standing guard. Ron smiled slightly as Harry gave the guy a good knee in the stomach before throwing him to the ground. Harry looked around wildly, eyes focusing on Ron.
Ron was sure that Harry said his name, and was more sure that Harry's face was a rush of emotion. Ron tried to say Harry's name, but nothing came out.
The dream wasn't ebbing, and Ron was enjoying watching Harry ponder how to get into the cell. Ron knew 'alohomora' wouldn't work. Apparently Harry did not. Then something happened that never happened in one of these dreams; Hermione walked in. She was accompanied by.....no, that couldn't be Draco Malfoy, Lucius had been here just moments ago....
Hermione opened the cell door. Ron watched lazily as Harry made his way over, and Ron prepared himself for the kiss, after which he was usually awakened. Instead, Harry unbound the chains holding Ron's arms, and Ron fell to the floor before anyone could catch him. Ron did not move after that.
But then his body was being lifted, quite high, and he could smell a perfumed musk. He wrinkled his nose; he hadn't smelled such things in a long time. It made him remember how he felt the first time he really hugged Harry; a bit excited, a bit naughty, and a bit more comforted. He felt the sensation of being jostled, as though he were over someone's shoulder and they were running. This was turning into the most bizarre dream he had had yet.
The strange euphoria didn't last too long. Ron suddenly felt his benefactor shudder, and he was thrown unceremoniously to the ground. There he stayed until another great force lifted him and his movements became undistinguished.
Part 33
Harry had made sure to give Draco a good scowl before they set out. The train was as they remembered it; now they just had to find Ron on it. Hermione took the lead, wand at the ready, with Draco in the middle and Harry bringing up the rear. This arrangement was made to console Harry and Hermione, neither of whom trusted Draco.
They cautiously made their way through the corridors of the train, noticing small details that they'd never noticed on the real train. Harry sighed angrily as they passed the cabin he and Ron had been in.
Had it only been a week ago that Ron had said he loved him? Love? Harry felt the same thing for Ron, but it was a love that seemed disconnected from the lust Harry felt. Now, for the first time, the love and the lust and the feeling of Ron hit Harry squarely. Was his disconnected feeling the reason he found it so easy to deny Ron before?
Was the new feeling the reason he felt a passionate yearning to deal pain upon those who had taken Ron?
The train finally ended with the conductors cabin, and there was nothing that looked like an exit. Harry pounded a fist on the conductors door, and Draco crossed his arms. Hermione began muttering spells under her breath, shaking her head. The conductors cabin was a place that Harry couldn't recall ever seeing, or even thinking that it existed. It consisted of a chair placed in front of a console, and there were several strange meters that emanated from the console. There was one large lever that looked as though it had lateral and longitudinal movement.
"Ah!" Hermione stated, and Harry jumped. Draco merely raised his eyebrows.
Knowing that response was not necessary, Harry answered anyway. "What?"
"I read that the Grendarius Penser was a continuous world, meaning that it couldn't be split into separate worlds. It could contain parts that were incongruous, though."
Draco's eyebrows remained raised. Harry blinked.
"C'mon!" Hermione ran back down the hall to the first train exit. She tried to open the door, but it didn't budge. "Entrare Justificus!" The doors slid open violently, and Hermione hopped out and looked around cautiously. Draco followed her, and then Harry. There was a worn trail leading from the train, which was not on tracks. It led into a dark abyss, and Harry's heart sank.
"In we go," he said confidently. He brushed past his two companions and strode confidently into the dark. Hermione's yelp was lost on him as he began to feel a resistance build up around his body. He could hear Malfoy's voice, though it was distorted.
"Potter, you idiot!"
The world began to swirl, and he felt his balance being compromised. He found himself falling, and landed sharply on his shoulder. The pain wasn't enough to hold him down. He got up quickly, and was surprised to find himself surrounded by stone walls. He was in a dungeon.
Harry made his way silently forward, trying to imagine where Ron would be. Ahead, he could see that there were several off-shoots to the main corridor he appeared to be in. The with a cry someone landed behind him, then another cry. He turned.
Hermione sat up, looking ruffled but determined. Her face changed to one of utter shock as she sprang up. Draco sputtered something about Mudbloods as he stood up roughly and smoothed his cloak out.
"I would have warned you about that, you idiot." Draco spat.
Hermione began to laugh loudly. Harry couldn't help smile as he thought that was the way Malfoy should have landed: right under Hermione. Harry turned, ignoring Malfoy's vicious looks, and continued walking.
"Hey Potter." Harry turned to Draco, and Hermione continued walking forward slowly. "How about a search spell?" Harry stood for a moment.
"You mean you know one?" He couldn't remember any such spell being given to him.
Draco smiled perniciously. "Yes, I do. And if you ask nicely, I'll use it."
Harry looked pleadingly at Hermione, who looked as though she was going through every spell she'd ever learned. When she shook her head, Harry reluctantly looked back at Malfoy.
"So Dumbledore gave you something knowing it would make you valuable, eh?" Harry said this maliciously.
"I already knew it, Potter." Equally malicious. "Again, ask very, very nicely, and I will use it. Otherwise, we could just forget about Ron and take care of Voldemort."
Harry was sure his face dropped. He knew Hermione must have reacted. "Yeah," he said, "because you'd be a match for him, eh?"
"So you don't want my help. Fuck you, Potter." Draco walked angrily past Harry, and Harry panicked suddenly.
"Malfoy." Nothing. "Draco!" Desperately, and Draco turned around with a sly smile on his face.
"What." Not a question.
Harry scrunched his face in anger. "Please...please help."
"Yeah, c'mon Draco." Hermione said this without malice or kindness.
Draco sighed. He then flicked his wrist, and muttered something under his breath. A tiny red ball of light formed. Then he looked at Harry expectantly. Harry didn't know what to do, but he moved closer to Draco.
"Speak his name."
"Eh? Erm, why? Never mind – RONALD." When nothing happened, Harry added "WEASLEY."
Suddenly the light flashed, and formed the shape of...Ron! It wafted slowly down the corridor, the group of teens following behind.
"Could it move faster?" Hermione asked.
"No." Draco, simply.
They walked on, turning left once, then right, then right, then right, and Harry was sure they were going to end up where they'd started. As they made their way into a four-way chamber with three wooden doors, the ball of light flashed and disappeared, and Harry gasped.
"What-" Harry understood immediately as Draco shot him a patronizing look.
"Which door is it?" Harry asked.
Hermione piped up. "Three doors...wands at the ready, lets split up."
The three of them agreed, and Harry took the door directly in front of them. He opened it cautiously, and finding an empty corridor , nodded to the others. They opened their respective doors one at a time and, finding nothing, each entered.
Harry walked slowly down the hall. He had a feeling that something was ahead, something very menacing. As he made his way around a corner, he saw the dungeon, he saw Ron, he saw a Deatheater who saw him. Harry spat off a spell that caught the Deatheater by surprise, and ran quickly to the Deatheater. Feeling a surge of emotion, he screamed and kneed the person hard in the stomach. The man fell over, quite immobilized. In his adrenaline rush, Harry searched around madly. He rested his eyes on Ron, and he almost puked.
Ron was bound by his wrists, hanging limply, and blood was around his face and arms. Harry wondered how he could look like this in here and have his outside body be fine. His anger amplified, thinking about how he'd ran his hands over the smooth flesh of Ron's cheek that was now a scar of some kind. Ron's clothes were in tatters around him, and Ron looked barely conscious.
Angrily, Harry tried "Alohomora!" It didn't work. Then Hermione and Draco came in behind him. Seeing Harry's frustration, Hermione moved to the front and pointed her wand at the lock.
"Negatomora!" The lock clicked, and Harry opened the door. Harry ran over to Ron, who looked as though he was puckering. Harry ignored this and undid the chains binding Ron. Harry tried to catch him before he fell to the floor, but he couldn't get there fast enough.
Harry began to try to lift Ron, but Draco stopped him.
"Let me, I'm stronger." This was said without pride, and Harry's insides fought. He finally relented to Malfoy because he couldn't think of anything to say. Draco slung Ron over his shoulder and began to exit the cell. The three made their way back out of the cell and down the corridor. When they got to the four way chamber, a sudden laughing burst through the silence.
Harry started, and turned toward the door it came from. He opened it, and at the end Voldemort stood. Harry turned back to Draco desperately and yelled, "Go on!" Hermione, face set, stepped up next to Harry. Ignoring her for the moment, Harry yelled at Draco again, this time more forcefully. "GO!"
Draco turned and ran down the corridor that led to the entrance, not even thinking about how he alone would get Ron out.
Part 34
Draco ran on, Ron beginning to get heavy on his shoulder. He wondered for a moment why he'd bothered offering to carry the empty-headed cretin that was a Weasley on his back. All he'd wanted was to find his father and exact...revenge.
As he made his way farther, picking apart the way they'd gotten there and reversing the directions, he heard a cold voice call his name. He stood, turned, and shuddered.
Lucius Malfoy stood back about ten meters, looking as though he were not looking at his son but some kind of disgusting creature. As the bolt flashed from his father's wand, Malfoy jumped, and Ron fell limply from his shoulder.
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Okay, if there were tons of spelling errors, sorry...I wrote that last few parts at, like, um, late. Yeah. So there is, assuming things go well, one more chappie to write. I happen to like where I'm going...sorry if there is confusion about the G.P., as I've been calling it.
Thanks so very much to those who continue to shine the great green light of GIR upon me and review: lipstickblack (nice SN, and because of your pointed remark, I promise you something in that vain before I end it officially); Beloved (I hope that I wrap up the confusion, and I am really happy to hear you like it....encouragement rocks!); viu (I continued and continued and continued...I hope you like it when it ends, too...:) ); and KarenleFay (thenk you for being there consistently to review and support! Muchly appreciated!).
If there's anything I can do bettah, lemme know! :)
DISCLAIMER: This story is written with the utmost respect to the original genius behind it. No infringement intended, though I think I already established the bastardization part. Finally, this story is SLASH. Say it with me....MALE PAIRINGS. So if you no likee, go read something more.....tame?
Thanks for reviewing, too! ^_^
-------
Part 30
Ronald Weasley began to sway. Somehow, and Ron didn't remember when, Lucius Malfoy had made him stand, and Ron now swayed such that more of his weight was on the chains binding his wrists than on his feet. Not only that, Ron's vision had begun to lessen. Ron felt like he could almost see another entire environment if he concentrated hard enough. He figured anything must be better than the dungeon he now resided in. As he concentrated again, he found he could see a flat, white surface, possibly a wall or ceiling.
"What is....that...." Ron mumbled out. His mouth, he realized, was quite parched. He remembered Malfoy forcing small amounts of water and some other liquid down his throat some time back. Ron looked wearily at his arms, which had begun to appear fuzzy. The heat he had felt so long ago was a tiny memory against the despair he now felt.
"It looks like you are progressing, Mr. Weasley." A cold voice from somewhere in front of Ron. Ron looked up.
"Fuck you, Malfoy." Ron could still taste blood.
"It would be satisfying to punish you for that remark, but I feel that it will be even more satisfying when you've arrived."
"Arrived....where?" Ron wasn't sure he was strong enough to feel dread.
"Why, back in your body, of course." Malfoy smiled. "This will happen when your body is in our possession."
Ron's mind did a double take.
"My...body?..."
"Yes, Mr. Weasley." Malfoy grinned now. "All this time, all this torture and this dungeon and those chains have been in your mind. In your body. Which is at Hogwarts at present."
Ron's heart leapt. He almost smiled.
"Of course, we have made sure that your body will not be there long. Have you ever heard of the Grendarius Penser?"
Ron didn't move or speak.
"I didn't think artifacts were part of your magical training at that....school." Malfoy spit out 'school.' "You, and your compatriots, were entered into the Grendarius Penser more than a week ago, in part thanks to our spell, in part thanks to your father."
Ron looked up with fury in his eyes.
Malfoy continued, delighted at the response he was getting. "Since we captured your consciousness on the train, we were able to perform the Grendarius Summons. We can summon your body to anyplace we wish, and reinsert your consciousness." Another wicked smile flourished his lips. "So, Mr. Weasley, I'd watch the comments. Your body will soon be suffering far more than your simple mind has." Ron's head lowered, bringing Malfoy out of his view.
Part 31
Harry made a lunge for Mrs. Weasley, but tripped over a piece of bedcloth and hit his head on the bed. Hermione dove in front of Mrs. Weasley and caught her readily. Mrs. Weasley's eyes were rolled to the back of her head.
Harry got up slowly, wincing. He now had a headache. Looking up, he saw that Hermione had caught Mrs. Weasley and laid her down on the floor next to the bed. Hermione gingerly slapped Mrs. Weasley's face, calling her name sharply.
Harry moved quickly to the fold of cloth, and ran as fast as his muddled vision could manage. A shocked Madame Pomfrey was moving in the opposite direction, toward Ron's enclave. Harry ran as fast as his feet would carry, straight into Dumbledore outside the infirmary. Harry bounced back, and Dumbledore proffered a hand, seemingly unaffected by the run-in.
"Sorry for the perfectly inelastic collision, Harry." Dumbledore raised Harry to his feet with ease. "I came after Molly's screams."
Harry was not eased by the Headmaster's presence. "What's wrong with Mr. Weasley? What is Mrs. Weasley saying?" Harry looked at Dumbledore with a mix of confusion and hope.
Dumbledore merely brushed past Harry, and Harry was transported for a moment back to fifth year when it seemed that the Headmaster was ignoring him. Dumbledore must have sensed this thought, because he turned around and addressed Harry with a look in the eyes. "You will soon know, Harry." He turned again, and quickly went to Ron's bed. Harry chased after.
Harry waited at the curtain for some time, because Dumbledore was blocking the entrance with his body. After a while, Dumbledore swept out again, followed by a teary Mrs. Weasley and Hermione. Harry followed the procession as Dumbledore led them all back to his office, where they could talk in peace and without distraction.
As soon as they got there, Hermione sat next to Mrs. Weasley, who was sobbing uncontrollably now. Dumbledore stared at Harry for a moment before speaking.
"Harry, there is something that you are going to have to do, if you want Ron back again."
Harry straightened immediately. His look of resolve was a strong way of saying 'anything.'
Dumbledore nodded at this. "We have determined how you entered the Grendarius Penser, and how to get you back in." After a pregnant pause, Dumbledore continued. "Mr. Weasley, under the effects of the Imperius curse, enchanted you and Ron using special floo powder." Dumbledore paused another moment as Harry's jaw dropped. "Hermione was affected in a similar way." Dumbledore looked at Hermione. "I believe that you had a run-in with a vendor of Snakes and Rats."
Realization dawned, and Hermione nodded. She looked mortified that she hadn't thought of it earlier. "He ran into me, and sprinkled something on me, but I didn't pay any attention to him. I was in a hurry." She finished with a look of understanding.
"Then how did Malfoy get in there?" Harry asked.
"You don't know?" Dumbledore asked kindly. Harry sat blankly, and Dumbledore continued. "His father used the same floo powder on him the day they left."
Harry put it together. The conviction of Malfoy on the train, and Voldemort's sentiment to him, seemed evidence of why Lucius Malfoy would go to the trouble of sending his son to Voldemort. Harry thought a moment more, and wondered why he, in fact, was going back to the train.
"But why cant you go, or come with us?"
Dumbledore seemed to expect this question. "The reason we can send you back in the first place is that you have the residual effects of the spell. No one but you, Miss Granger, and Mister Malfoy have the ability to go back."
"But...we don't have to take-"
Dumbledore interrupted Harry. "I would advise taking him. He has the ability to become a great wizard. He is intelligent, and quick." At Harry's continued look of incredulity, Dumledore merely smiled. "Take him." Harry knew that it wasn't a request.
"So then, what is wrong with-" Harry gave a worried look at Mrs. Weasley, who was in Hermione's arms.
Dumbledore put his fingers together. "He is currently in St. Mungo's." He looked as though he wouldn't offer any more information.
Harry looked down. This was going too far. People who were his family, and his world, were once again in the middle of the battle between him and Voldemort. This had to end, and it was going to end sooner than later.
"I'm going back," Harry said through clenched teeth. "And I'll take Malfoy, if I have to. I want Hermione to stay here."
Hermione gave a yelp of indignation. "Oh no you don't, Harry Potter! You've left me in the dark enough! Enough self-pity and bubbling tempers! I am going in there for our best friend whether you like it or not!" Her face was red, very angry.
Harry was momentarily taken aback, and his original thread of determination was disrupted. "Fine, Herm. But Voldemort is mine." No one spoke after this for a long time.
Part 32
There were tens of spells that Harry was given to memorize, spells that would be most effective inside the Grendarius Penser. Hermione learned still more. Harry was sure that the same spell list was given to Draco, but he didn't care. At this point, he figured there was one person, or rather, thing, that he wished to destroy.
The day of training was very difficult. Harry spent the first four hours of the day with Dumbledore and Snape, practicing warding spells and attack spells with Hermione. After lunch, which was difficult enough due to the myriad of questions given him about why he'd been skipping classes, he went into their training room to find Draco Malfoy practicing spells against Dumbledore.
Harry wiped the involuntary sneer that had graced his face and made his way cautiously over near them.
"Good, Mr. Malfoy, but with more of a flick." Dumbledore flicked his wrist quickly, and spoke rapidly, and a large purple spheroid appeared in front of him.
Draco puffed up a little, obviously noticing Harry's presence, and flicked his wrist in kind. "Honorius." Something similar to, but not quite as large as, Dumbledore's spheroid came out of his wand.
"That will be good enough. Harry, would you be so kind as to destroy Mr. Malfoy's ward?" Dumbledore strode over to the side of the room where Harry was and faced the room. Harry nodded, slowly, and made his way to where Dumbledore had been.
"This looks familiar, eh Potter?" Draco drawled from a few meters away.
"Bugger off," Harry whispered. He noticed a disapproving look from Dumbledore. Harry straightened up regardless, and flicked his wand quickly in front of him. "Yonnar Vegatum!" he yelled. A purple bolt flew out of his wand and hit Draco's sphere, which promtly dissipated. As Harry turned with a triumphant look on his face, the sphere popped back to shape and shot a green bolt at him. Harry panicked and dropped to the ground, his wand rolling out of his hand.
The laughing from Malfoy was enough to make Harry's blood boil. Not caring he was on the ground, he grabbed his wand and pointed it sharply at Malfoy's bubble. As he was about to form the words of a spell, he heard a female voice say "Yonnar Vegatem." A purple bolt flew to the sphere, and burst it. Malfoy stepped back, not in shock, but to not get any purple ooze on him.
Harry stood up hastily as Hermione walked over to him. "All in the pronunciation," she said with a firm smile. Harry couldn't help but smile back.
"Nice work, Granger," Draco said icily from across the room. Though said with obvious discomfort, Harry thought that Malfoy may have meant it.
"So shall we continue sparring?" Hermione said far too cheerily. Harry grumbled, and Draco nodded.
They practiced well into the night, with a break for dinner. Harry had to admit that Draco was a rather good wizard, though nothing he did that evening endeared him to Harry. Dumbledore also gave them a timeframe: tomorrow, breakfast in the great hall, and by noon they would all be in another sleep-like state.
Harry and Hermione left the training room together. As they made their way toward the Gryffindor common room they heard running behind them. Draco Malfoy sidled up next to Harry with a slight pant.
"That was rather refreshing, especially in this school." Matter-of-fact and without malice.
Harry grumbled, and Hermione cleared her throat.
Draco seemed undeterred. "Tomorrow."
There was a long, uncomfortable silence, in which Malfoy was the only one not fidgeting.
Harry finally spoke, quietly. "Dumbledore told me to get along with you, not to like you."
"He told me the same. He also said it would be worth my while to try and...converse with you? Yes, that was it. It seems you have the conversational ability of a mountain troll." Draco flickered a sly smile. "I've held off the 'mudblood' this and 'weasel' that."
Harry began to turn red. "Malfoy. I - HATE - YOU." Harry didn't bother to look up.
"To be honest, I don't find a single redeeming thing about you, either. It might have been worth siding with Voldemort just to see your pride crushed." There was emphasis on 'crushed.'
Harry made to punch, but Hermione caught his arm. Harry gave her an angry look, but it was instantly dissolved by Hermione's acetic look. "Harry. Don't." She focused on Draco. "Malfoy, for once I can actually appreciate the fact that you haven't mentioned my heritage in a disparaging way. However, I am loathe to like you more than I did before. Kindly leave us." She had a firm, set look, and Harry hoped Draco knew to leave. Harry's fist was still balled.
Draco looked at Harry. "Everyone is right. You are a self-absorbed prat." Draco turned abruptly and made his way in the opposite direction, assumedly to his common room.
Harry looked at Hermione. "Everyone?"
Part 32
Ron was having that daydream again, the one where Harry came bursting into the jail and immobilized the Deatheater standing guard. Ron smiled slightly as Harry gave the guy a good knee in the stomach before throwing him to the ground. Harry looked around wildly, eyes focusing on Ron.
Ron was sure that Harry said his name, and was more sure that Harry's face was a rush of emotion. Ron tried to say Harry's name, but nothing came out.
The dream wasn't ebbing, and Ron was enjoying watching Harry ponder how to get into the cell. Ron knew 'alohomora' wouldn't work. Apparently Harry did not. Then something happened that never happened in one of these dreams; Hermione walked in. She was accompanied by.....no, that couldn't be Draco Malfoy, Lucius had been here just moments ago....
Hermione opened the cell door. Ron watched lazily as Harry made his way over, and Ron prepared himself for the kiss, after which he was usually awakened. Instead, Harry unbound the chains holding Ron's arms, and Ron fell to the floor before anyone could catch him. Ron did not move after that.
But then his body was being lifted, quite high, and he could smell a perfumed musk. He wrinkled his nose; he hadn't smelled such things in a long time. It made him remember how he felt the first time he really hugged Harry; a bit excited, a bit naughty, and a bit more comforted. He felt the sensation of being jostled, as though he were over someone's shoulder and they were running. This was turning into the most bizarre dream he had had yet.
The strange euphoria didn't last too long. Ron suddenly felt his benefactor shudder, and he was thrown unceremoniously to the ground. There he stayed until another great force lifted him and his movements became undistinguished.
Part 33
Harry had made sure to give Draco a good scowl before they set out. The train was as they remembered it; now they just had to find Ron on it. Hermione took the lead, wand at the ready, with Draco in the middle and Harry bringing up the rear. This arrangement was made to console Harry and Hermione, neither of whom trusted Draco.
They cautiously made their way through the corridors of the train, noticing small details that they'd never noticed on the real train. Harry sighed angrily as they passed the cabin he and Ron had been in.
Had it only been a week ago that Ron had said he loved him? Love? Harry felt the same thing for Ron, but it was a love that seemed disconnected from the lust Harry felt. Now, for the first time, the love and the lust and the feeling of Ron hit Harry squarely. Was his disconnected feeling the reason he found it so easy to deny Ron before?
Was the new feeling the reason he felt a passionate yearning to deal pain upon those who had taken Ron?
The train finally ended with the conductors cabin, and there was nothing that looked like an exit. Harry pounded a fist on the conductors door, and Draco crossed his arms. Hermione began muttering spells under her breath, shaking her head. The conductors cabin was a place that Harry couldn't recall ever seeing, or even thinking that it existed. It consisted of a chair placed in front of a console, and there were several strange meters that emanated from the console. There was one large lever that looked as though it had lateral and longitudinal movement.
"Ah!" Hermione stated, and Harry jumped. Draco merely raised his eyebrows.
Knowing that response was not necessary, Harry answered anyway. "What?"
"I read that the Grendarius Penser was a continuous world, meaning that it couldn't be split into separate worlds. It could contain parts that were incongruous, though."
Draco's eyebrows remained raised. Harry blinked.
"C'mon!" Hermione ran back down the hall to the first train exit. She tried to open the door, but it didn't budge. "Entrare Justificus!" The doors slid open violently, and Hermione hopped out and looked around cautiously. Draco followed her, and then Harry. There was a worn trail leading from the train, which was not on tracks. It led into a dark abyss, and Harry's heart sank.
"In we go," he said confidently. He brushed past his two companions and strode confidently into the dark. Hermione's yelp was lost on him as he began to feel a resistance build up around his body. He could hear Malfoy's voice, though it was distorted.
"Potter, you idiot!"
The world began to swirl, and he felt his balance being compromised. He found himself falling, and landed sharply on his shoulder. The pain wasn't enough to hold him down. He got up quickly, and was surprised to find himself surrounded by stone walls. He was in a dungeon.
Harry made his way silently forward, trying to imagine where Ron would be. Ahead, he could see that there were several off-shoots to the main corridor he appeared to be in. The with a cry someone landed behind him, then another cry. He turned.
Hermione sat up, looking ruffled but determined. Her face changed to one of utter shock as she sprang up. Draco sputtered something about Mudbloods as he stood up roughly and smoothed his cloak out.
"I would have warned you about that, you idiot." Draco spat.
Hermione began to laugh loudly. Harry couldn't help smile as he thought that was the way Malfoy should have landed: right under Hermione. Harry turned, ignoring Malfoy's vicious looks, and continued walking.
"Hey Potter." Harry turned to Draco, and Hermione continued walking forward slowly. "How about a search spell?" Harry stood for a moment.
"You mean you know one?" He couldn't remember any such spell being given to him.
Draco smiled perniciously. "Yes, I do. And if you ask nicely, I'll use it."
Harry looked pleadingly at Hermione, who looked as though she was going through every spell she'd ever learned. When she shook her head, Harry reluctantly looked back at Malfoy.
"So Dumbledore gave you something knowing it would make you valuable, eh?" Harry said this maliciously.
"I already knew it, Potter." Equally malicious. "Again, ask very, very nicely, and I will use it. Otherwise, we could just forget about Ron and take care of Voldemort."
Harry was sure his face dropped. He knew Hermione must have reacted. "Yeah," he said, "because you'd be a match for him, eh?"
"So you don't want my help. Fuck you, Potter." Draco walked angrily past Harry, and Harry panicked suddenly.
"Malfoy." Nothing. "Draco!" Desperately, and Draco turned around with a sly smile on his face.
"What." Not a question.
Harry scrunched his face in anger. "Please...please help."
"Yeah, c'mon Draco." Hermione said this without malice or kindness.
Draco sighed. He then flicked his wrist, and muttered something under his breath. A tiny red ball of light formed. Then he looked at Harry expectantly. Harry didn't know what to do, but he moved closer to Draco.
"Speak his name."
"Eh? Erm, why? Never mind – RONALD." When nothing happened, Harry added "WEASLEY."
Suddenly the light flashed, and formed the shape of...Ron! It wafted slowly down the corridor, the group of teens following behind.
"Could it move faster?" Hermione asked.
"No." Draco, simply.
They walked on, turning left once, then right, then right, then right, and Harry was sure they were going to end up where they'd started. As they made their way into a four-way chamber with three wooden doors, the ball of light flashed and disappeared, and Harry gasped.
"What-" Harry understood immediately as Draco shot him a patronizing look.
"Which door is it?" Harry asked.
Hermione piped up. "Three doors...wands at the ready, lets split up."
The three of them agreed, and Harry took the door directly in front of them. He opened it cautiously, and finding an empty corridor , nodded to the others. They opened their respective doors one at a time and, finding nothing, each entered.
Harry walked slowly down the hall. He had a feeling that something was ahead, something very menacing. As he made his way around a corner, he saw the dungeon, he saw Ron, he saw a Deatheater who saw him. Harry spat off a spell that caught the Deatheater by surprise, and ran quickly to the Deatheater. Feeling a surge of emotion, he screamed and kneed the person hard in the stomach. The man fell over, quite immobilized. In his adrenaline rush, Harry searched around madly. He rested his eyes on Ron, and he almost puked.
Ron was bound by his wrists, hanging limply, and blood was around his face and arms. Harry wondered how he could look like this in here and have his outside body be fine. His anger amplified, thinking about how he'd ran his hands over the smooth flesh of Ron's cheek that was now a scar of some kind. Ron's clothes were in tatters around him, and Ron looked barely conscious.
Angrily, Harry tried "Alohomora!" It didn't work. Then Hermione and Draco came in behind him. Seeing Harry's frustration, Hermione moved to the front and pointed her wand at the lock.
"Negatomora!" The lock clicked, and Harry opened the door. Harry ran over to Ron, who looked as though he was puckering. Harry ignored this and undid the chains binding Ron. Harry tried to catch him before he fell to the floor, but he couldn't get there fast enough.
Harry began to try to lift Ron, but Draco stopped him.
"Let me, I'm stronger." This was said without pride, and Harry's insides fought. He finally relented to Malfoy because he couldn't think of anything to say. Draco slung Ron over his shoulder and began to exit the cell. The three made their way back out of the cell and down the corridor. When they got to the four way chamber, a sudden laughing burst through the silence.
Harry started, and turned toward the door it came from. He opened it, and at the end Voldemort stood. Harry turned back to Draco desperately and yelled, "Go on!" Hermione, face set, stepped up next to Harry. Ignoring her for the moment, Harry yelled at Draco again, this time more forcefully. "GO!"
Draco turned and ran down the corridor that led to the entrance, not even thinking about how he alone would get Ron out.
Part 34
Draco ran on, Ron beginning to get heavy on his shoulder. He wondered for a moment why he'd bothered offering to carry the empty-headed cretin that was a Weasley on his back. All he'd wanted was to find his father and exact...revenge.
As he made his way farther, picking apart the way they'd gotten there and reversing the directions, he heard a cold voice call his name. He stood, turned, and shuddered.
Lucius Malfoy stood back about ten meters, looking as though he were not looking at his son but some kind of disgusting creature. As the bolt flashed from his father's wand, Malfoy jumped, and Ron fell limply from his shoulder.
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Okay, if there were tons of spelling errors, sorry...I wrote that last few parts at, like, um, late. Yeah. So there is, assuming things go well, one more chappie to write. I happen to like where I'm going...sorry if there is confusion about the G.P., as I've been calling it.
Thanks so very much to those who continue to shine the great green light of GIR upon me and review: lipstickblack (nice SN, and because of your pointed remark, I promise you something in that vain before I end it officially); Beloved (I hope that I wrap up the confusion, and I am really happy to hear you like it....encouragement rocks!); viu (I continued and continued and continued...I hope you like it when it ends, too...:) ); and KarenleFay (thenk you for being there consistently to review and support! Muchly appreciated!).
If there's anything I can do bettah, lemme know! :)