Chapter Four

Disclaimer on chapter one

Ruby did not feel like training. She wanted to know more about this dream plan. She wanted to know who they were after. But she pretended that she was focused as she worked on casting Critica (think ultima) when Tom brought out another beast to battle.

"This, is one of the rarest dragons alive." The dragon's landed with a huge thud. "Defeat it."

The dragon wasted no time, but dug in its heels and growled fiercely. Ruby first called on Asta who came and attacked first with physical attacks, clawing at the dragon. The dragon responded with fire from its nostrils. Then Asta used her laser like ability from its beak and shot at the dragon that way. The dragon then looked up at Asta, rearing back its head, and out of its mouth, shot a stream of fire at the hippogriff. Ruby quickly sent Asta away and called for Petra. The dog came quickly and ferociously ran head first to the dragon. Before the Grim reached the dragon's head, the dragon let out another stream of fire which Petra leaped over and onto the dragons back. The dog started tearing at the dragon with its claws and teeth. The dragon swung its tail, trying to throw the dog off its back. After several minutes of this, Ruby sent the Grim away, and attempted to finish the dragon off with magic.

"Demi," she yelled, and thus paralyzed the dragons wings. The dragon growled and shot fire at Ruby, just as she cast ice, which luckily canceled each other out. Then she tried her new spell. "Critica!" This greatly weakened the dragon, who finally, gave up and bowed its head to Ruby.

There was no kiss "good job". She was sure he was testing how she felt about the comments after the box incident. So, Ruby retreated to her garden, to heal Petra and Asta, and think of a name for the dragon.

She sat by her lake, in jeans and a t-shirt. Petra was curled up next to her, while Asta bathed in the water. Mars always stood as if guarding something. Ruby was glad she had her pets to keep her company, but today was a hard day. She missed Ginny and Hermione. She missed messin' around with Fred and George, they had become like big brothers to her. She even missed Ron and Harry, even though they got on her nerves sometimes. But most of all she missed Snape. She missed her potions classes. She wondered what she would have learned this year. Then she remembered what happened the last time she had seen him. She had the dark mark on his arm. Somehow he was once a follower of Lord Voldemort, but if he was, why wasn't he here now? Was he some how part of his plan to infiltrate Hogwarts? No, Dumbledore would have seen through that. Then Ruby thought of the last Defense Against the Dark Arts teacher. No, Snape was on the good side, he had to be. She hated thinking so much, she hated having this much time to think.

Sabo was suddenly behind her causing Ruby to jump. "I'm sorry to scare you, Lady Ruby."

"Sabo, why don't you just call me Ruby? I mean, we are the same age and all."

"But you are higher then me for the time being. I do not want to slip up in front of his Lordship."

"I guess that makes sense."

"I have something for you. My mother gave it to me along time ago." Sabo handed Ruby a box. When Ruby opened it she found a really old looking time turner.

"What's this for."

"In case you need a break. I know you are very stressed, and maybe if you can go back to Hogwarts or Hawaii, just for a little while, you can rejuvenate your self or something." Ruby gave Sabo a big hug.

"Sabo, you are very thoughtful. I do not think I will use it, but if I need it, I thank you now."

"If anything, it will give us a chance to see how the switch would work in a slightly longer situation," Sabo smiled. It was the oldest trick in the book, but it worked well. There were times when Ruby and Sabo would switch places. They looked very similar, and with the help of magic, they hadn't been caught once.

"I'm sure it would work," Ruby smiled back. She tucked the time turner away, not thinking twice about it. Until a few weeks later, a party the dark lord was holding for his followers. Here Ruby made her biggest faux paw.

She arrived at the grand ballroom in a long Grecian, green dress. Voldemort met her at the door. "You look lovely tonight."

"Thank you, but what is this celebrating?"

"You shall see." He escorted her to the head table, where they ate dinner with the deatheaters and there families. A chill was in the air, but Ruby was not sure if it was from the snow outside, or the company in the room. He then made an announcement.

"As most of you know, we have completed are new course of action. We have successfully infiltrated dreams of a number of people. This allows us to see places and things that could be vital to future plans." The deatheaters applauded.

After dinner there was dancing, where Ruby danced with all the high ranking deatheaters. She moved to the side of the room during one song until she was tapped on the shoulder.

"May I have this dance?" Ruby turned to be face to face with Draco Malfoy. She was slightly taken aback, but quickly answered, "Of course." She tried to act as cordial as possible, hoping it wouldn't be as bad an experience as she felt it might be.

"So," he began, "how does it feel to be the last mudblood?"

Ruby laughed, "we are not gone yet, Mr. Malfoy."

"That is only a matter of time though, isn't it?" Turn step step turn "And the dark lord fancies you, what a wonder. You know everyone at school thinks your dead." Step step

"Why should they think that?" turn turn step

"Well, the only one who came back alive after the tournament was Potter. Diggory is dead, others are now dying, and all of your friends have gone mad." Step step.

"I'm sure it is quite a sight." She could tell this was not the answer he was looking for, and even though she wanted to ask him about what was going on she tried hard to fight the urge. "How are your studies going, you do have OWLS this year correct?" She tried desperately to change the subject.

"I wonder how long the dark lord will wait." Step turn step

"For what?"

"To get rid of you"

"Shut up, Malfoy." Turn step

"I mean, you will obviously be the last mudblood alive, but will you be killed after he controls everything, or after he gets what he wants from you?" step step

"Shut up, Malfoy," she seethed slightly louder then the time before.

"Or even better, he will put you on display, the only mudblood to live."

SHUT UP MALFOY!" She then slapped him a crossed the face. Then she fell to the floor in a burst of pain. It was almost instantaneous. Lucius had put her under a Crucious curse. She then heard Voldemort say, "STOP!" Then, more sternly, "Get her to my chambers, I will deal with her there."

Sabo put one of Ruby's arms around her neck and helped her walk to Voldemort's chamber.

Ruby stood in the middle of his chambers, waiting. She did not know what was going to happen, but she felt if she was standing she would be ready. She saw the door open and heard Voldemort's voice seeth, "Crucious." If Ruby thought she felt pain when Lucius used the curse, it was nothing compared to the blinding waves that came over her now. She felt she had no control of her body and when the pain stoped, she found her face in her own vomit.

"WHY ON EARTH, MADE YOU THINK THAT YOU HAD THE PRIVLAGE TO SPEAK TO A SON OF A DEATHEATER?" Ruby just looked at him, without the strength to move her head, let alone her body. "Look at you, you piece of filth. You can't even move out of you bodily fluid." Ruby then summoned all of her strength, and some that she knew was not there, and moved her head in defiance. "Well," Voldemort said sarcastically, "I guess you showed me." And that's when everything went black.