Author's Notes: I'm probably exaggerating Ron's heroic streak by making him endure this torture, which may make him a tad OOC. However, in all other respects, he IS in canon, and I would like to state that this exageration has been done purposefully as a symbol. Because I do believe that, if tested, Ron could withstand plenty of different kinds of torture. That was my English lesson of the day.
Also, the italicized quotes at the beginning of every chapter are all from the same place, a source I shall not name til the end of the series. 100 cookie points to whoever guesses where I got the idea for Hermione's little alley sequence (Hint: it's a movie!). I'll be sure to mention the winner in the next chapter. Also, I'd like to see if anyone recognizes the quotes. Haha, a running contest. Good luck!
Chapter 6: Appearances
How could a night so frozen be so scalding hot? How could a morning this mild be so raw...
With a single phrase, he had done it. Ron had given them all the information they'd needed.
"Mr. Weasley, can you hear me?"
But no, he couldn't. That world didn't matter anymore.
The Businessman frowned, worriedly, as he snapped his fingers in front of Ron's eyes.
"Mr. Weasley! Answer me now!" No response. "Crucio!"
His body twitched like a corpse, but no more.
The Businessman turned to the door. "Avery! Avery, get in here! We have a situation!"
"What is it?" groaned the watchman, opening the door.
"The boy's gone catatonic on us!" hissed the Businessman, urgently.
"So?" said Avery. "Kill him."
"I can't do that!" said the Businessman. "He's given us next to nothing!"
"I'm sure I can drudge up a potion from somewhere..." muttered Avery, reluctantly. The Businessman was watching Ron, intently.
"I had no thought nor care for his psyche. But it seems it has been broken. There is no potion strong enough to erase psychological trauma..." The Businessman sighed. "But I suppose we can aim for a temporary solution. Just to make him coherent enough, maybe steal some Veritaserum from that rare potions shop in Knockturn Alley..." He started to make his way towards the door, muttering to Avery. He hovered in the doorway, conversing with the man.
"I have an idea of what's going on now. Our little friend's bitterness towards Mr. Potter is obviously genuine, which leads me to believe..."
Their voices faded as the Businessman walked away down the hall and Avery closed the door to the prison.
"What have we done, Ron?"
Harry stepped out of the shadows and walked slowly to his chair.
"What will become of us now?"
"We are lost," Ron said. "I want to go home, Harry." Ron began to sob.
"Shh," Harry said, soothingly as he rubbed Ron's slumped shoulder. "There's got to be more to it then this. They want more from you than me."
"They want me!" Ron said through his tears. "They will use me to get to you. To... to kill you. Imagine that, killed by you're best friend."
"How could they do that, Ron?" Harry said with a small laugh.
"They could. Imperious Curse, treachery, lies... I'd kill you outright if I go insane here."
"You are insane," Harry reminded him.
Ron was quiet a moment. "I wish you were here–"
"I am here, Ron," Harry said sternly. "I'm always–"
"No you're not!" Ron screamed at the shadow before him. Harry's silhouette went cold and rigid as he stepped back from Ron. "You've left me here..."
"What's happened to you, Ron?" Harry asked, quietly, disturbed.
"I've died..." Ron uttered. He started coughing, and he spat out blood from his mouth as if to emphasize the comment. He then looked up, into those stone dark green eyes with nothing behind them. "And so have you."
Hermione looked up at the tall, mildewy stone walls and at endless path before them.
"This isn't working," she said, frustrated. "This thing goes on forever."
"Do you think Greggo could have been wrong?" Harry asked, for once doubting his instincts. But Hermione turned to him and shook her head.
"No," she said. "We're just being pessimistic. Maybe... this only appears to go on forever." Biting her lip, she took off at a run. Harry watched her for a few seconds than chased her down the alley. Finally, she stopped and panted.
"We aren't getting any closer," she said, breathlessly. Harry agreed. Hermione frowned again. "Wait a minute..."
Hermione turned and looked at the walls a moment. "Something's not right..." When she found nothing on the lefthand wall, she turned to the right and looked at it long and hard. Finally, she smiled and strode straight towards it.
"Hermione, what are you..." But Harry stopped mid-query as he noticed Hermione had discovered a new passage. She turned to him and smiled.
"Well? Come on!" and she beckoned him in.
This new passage grew darker and darker and turned into a dank tunnel. Finally they came to a door. Hermione went to open it when Harry hesitated.
"What?" Hermione asked.
"I've seen that door before," Harry explained. "When... I tried to reach him... Ah!" Harry doubled over in pain, tearing at his hair. Hermione's eyes doubled in size as she imediately went to her friend's aid. His teeth were clenched as he held his hands over his ears.
"Harry, what is it?" Hermione asked, anxiously.
But Harry was lost to the screaming in his head. The demons lurking around the corner, in the shadows, whispering, conspiring, betraying.
"Who are your real friends?" they whispered. "What are you doing here?"
"I'm here to find Ron."
"Ron?" hissed the shadows. "Ron is lost to your world."
"But not to this one..." Harry said, slowly, half-way sure of himself. The shadows became nervous and Harry knew he was right. "Please," he said. "You've helped me before." The shadows seemed to exchange words before they answered.
"What do you want from him?" they asked.
"I need to save him."
"He is beyond salvation," they answered.
"Then I need to salvage what is left of him," Harry said.
"You always need to play the hero, don't you Harry Potter?"
Harry spun around at the voice. He noticed a familiar form with dead black eyes, twisting with the shadows.
"For once, why can't you let things be. You're walking into a trap."
"I know, Cedric," said Harry. "I've always tried to be a hero. But for once, just once, I'd like to know that I can actually succeed at it and save someone.."
"Like you saved me?" Cedric hissed, coldly. "Like you saved your Godfather?"
The words stung, but Harry knew they were true. "Like I tried to save you," he said, painfully.
"What makes you think Ron is any different?" Cedric asked.
"Cedric is right, Harry." Another one. Harry turned and stopped. "You'll be trapped."
"Sirius..." Harry said. "I won't. I'm lost without Ron."
"I know you care about him, Harry," said the black-eyed Sirius. "But this is too dangerous for you. Tell Dumbledore, the Ministry, anyone. But don't do this to me, Harry, please."
Harry turned away from Sirius.
"You aren't who you appear to be," he whispered to the shadows. "What is your agenda?"
When he turned, Sirius had disappeared and the shadows remained, forever twisting and swirling like a black sea.
"We are the shadows of the unknown. Unanswered questions, unseen futures and unknown evils. We have no agenda."
"Don't do this to me, Harry," Sirius's voice came from the blackness. "I don't want to lose you."
Harry turned away from all of them and looked towards the light.
"I'm sorry, Sirius," Harry said. "But this is something I just have to do."
Harry opened his eyes.
"Harry, are you alright?" Hermione's eyes were pleading. Harry's expression was set.
"He's here," Harry said. "They just confirmed that for me."
And with that, they opened the door.