Chapter XIII: McGonagall's Unveiling
Nighttime had fallen. Inside the Common Room candles of all arrays lit the room, hovering several feet above each student's head. Blankets of thick texture lined the floor, for most students refused to go into their bedrooms to sleep because another threat could appear and there would be no way of getting to a nurse or doctor. As the last sleeping areas were made, Ron stood next to an almost burnt out fire and next to that, the young lady who stole his heart.
"Didn't you hear that?" Ron asked Hermione again trying to whisper his words so that the students could not hear him.
"Ron, you're paranoid. Snape's got you all wound up."
"No, it's not that. I'm certain. You knew when something is going to happen, something bad, and you can feel it in your veins?"
"I suppose so."
"Hermione, I know this is one of those times. And, before something terrible does occur, I have to tell you what I've always wanted to tell you."
Hermione looked hesitant, her face turning aside as she looked for any one to run to as an excuse. However, she was trapped. Whatever Ron had been trying to tell her she had to listen now. And so, she waited, looking into Ron's shaking eyes and sweaty brow.
"Hermione, I'm in love with you," Ron said, loud enough for Hermione to hear and even some snickering students around them.
"Ron," Hermione began, in an innocent, sweet voice. "Ron, I," she started once more.
"Look!" a student yelled.
Hermione spun around without finishing. She looked at a first year pointing at the doors and when looking at the doors, she found them starting to move. Inch by inch they opened outward until they were completely unlocked. Two erect doors stood sideways against the outside walls, and a dark pathway to the mysterious world outside was clear.
"Ron, this is our opportunity. You can go get Professor McGonagall, and I'll stay here."
Ron's face did not show disappointment that Hermione did not utter his words back. But facades are meant to be deceptive. Inside, his stomach became hollow and a scooper scraped along the edges, taking away all the inner lining that once protected him from anything menacing.
"Alright?"
Ron nodded his head and sighed. He stared off at the hallway and then back to Hermione who had already rushed over to the students to explain their situation. Gradually, he walked out of the Common Room and paced himself so that he did not trip over his own feet in fright. Professor McGonagall's office was fortunately in that part of the building, but Ron still had use to the stairwell.
As he approached the moving steps, Ron swore he heard laughter. Perhaps it was just his imagine or Peeves playing a practical joke, but whatever it was, it sent chills crawling down Ron's spine. This was a not a most pleasant day and falling down those steps to his death was not what Ron had in mind to complete it.
"Almost there, chap," Ron said to himself, taking one small step onto the stairwell. As he did, it already began to shift. However, Ron steadied himself, knowing he had been on these stairs hundreds of times before and never had fallen. "Good, you're getting there. Just keep taking small steps. Damn it, Ron, you know better than to look down. Makes you all dizzy."
Ron froze, nearly tipping off the side. When the stairs stopped shifting, he spotted a lucid path toward the hallway containing McGonagall's office. Ron unbuckled his locked down feet and ran across the twisting steps and downwards to the right and then a little bit up to the left. He continued this until the floor was just in reach. His right foot touched the floor. And then… His left foot touched the floor as well. He had made it.
"Okay, her office should be right there," Ron told himself and headed to the door. "What am I supposed to tell her? Hey, Professor, us students are a wee bit scared right now. Do you mind telling us if we are going to die soon? And what about these threats? Find out whose behind them yet?"
Ron laughed at the ridiculous questions that somehow he had to get answered. The locked door stood in front of him. With a shaking hand, Ron knocked on it; however, the door was not locked, just closed. It began to open by itself and without question, Ron naively stepped into the office.
"We've been inspecting you," a boy's voice said.
"Harry?" Ron asked, recognizing his best friend immediately.
"Not exactly," a woman said. "Mister Weasley, please come join us."
Ron stared into the room, ogling at the three magical people before him. Professor McGonagall, Marcus Malfoy and Harry stood smiling at him. However, they were not the innocent folk he knew. Again, he felt that sensation that screamed to run, but Ron could not leave Harry and leave without answers.
"I've missed you," Harry said in a more usual voice but still, something not the same. Ron looked over to him, then to Marcus who merely smirked back.
"Harry?"
"Ron, did you ever wonder why we could never defeat Voldemort?"
"But you did!"
"No, we never really did. Can you honestly think a young, stupid boy like me can defeat his great power? And even so, you cannot destroy all his descendants."
"I don't know what you mean," Ron said, his body starting to quiver more violently.
"Yes, you do," said Marcus. "You know that Harry carries apart of Him inside of him everywhere. That cannot be killed. It was only a matter of time before Harry knew he could rejoin his kind, us. He is our leader now."
"Harry? What is he talking about?"
"Mister Weasley, it is better for you to come with us. Your blood is pure enough. You do not need to be destroyed. But your family has never supported us. You can be the first."
"Support who?"
"We are the Blue Bloods," Professor McGonagall revealed. "Well, apart them. Mister Potter shall help lead us to victory. Marcus has gathered those who he deems first to be with us. Soon enough, you shall see the fields of war plague Hogwarts."
"You cannot be evil!" Ron yelled at her, trusting his Professor throughout his years at Hogwarts. "Who else is behind this?"
"What do you mean, who else?" Harry asked, but his voice was so deep and hoarse. "You'd be surprised to know who is with us. Lucius tried to stop us so many times. He even is influencing Dumbledore as we speak. But do not worry, Ron. We have others that can reverse what he has done."
"Lucius… He's a good guy?"
"Unfortunately," Marcus interrupted. "We had argued earlier—he was so suspicious that someone had let him go from Azkaban before his trial. That someone was me. The Professor here unleashed her brother as well. They were to take the fall for us. Truly, Ron, does it not make sense? Who would destroy Hogwarts- two respectable Hogwarts employees or two escaped convicts of Azkaban prison?"
"You were trying to set them up!" Ron yelled. "And you, Harry, you are with them?"
Harry nodded. "I read a letter once, Ron. It read,
-Blue Blood-
To Hogsmead
I thought it meant for me to meet someone at Hogsmead who was a Blue Blood. No. It was not signed from the Blue Bloods. It was addressed to The Blue Blood. I am that person, Ron. And when the battle begins shortly, you better know who you are."