Chapter 3: Switch Unveiled
Harry violently shoved a large piece of meatloaf into his mouth and chewed it with great and evident force. Ron and Ginny didn't show up for dinner because Ginny insisted that she would rather stay in the Infirmary with Ron. Harry and Hermione couldn't get past Madam Pomfrey this time to see their friends, but Ginny had poked her head out the door to let them know she and her brother were fine and that they were sorry about dinner.
Hermione felt a little more comfortable that Ginny was up and about and taking care of her brother, but she, just as anyone, could tell Harry wouldn't believe anything until he could see Ron with his own eyes. Most of the Gryffindors were whispering and sharing with one another the rumors they'd heard about 'The Ron Situation" as it had come to be called.
"… And then the jaguar ended up in my backyard!" Seamus Finnigan had just finished his rendition of 'The Ron Situation' for the fifth time during dinner.
Harry finally said something for the first time. "All this in five hours." He was angry. It was scary when he was angry because Harry wouldn't say very much. He would just sit and stare and brood.
He only spoke to Hermione. That or everyone else was so busy with 'The Ron Situation' that they couldn't hear Harry when he spoke. She tried to offer some words of comfort. "Harry, you really shouldn't worry so much—"
Hermione stopped speaking and realized those were close to the exact words she'd said the last time Harry had become angry with her… five hours ago. Harry noticed what she'd perceived and broke the ice. "Malfoy." Harry spit the name out of his mouth. Harry was such a gentle creature, yet he now treated Draco's name so harshly.
"What do you mean?" Hermione asked, though she had an idea of what Harry was talking about.
"Do you remember what Ron was talking about before we decided ignoring him and fighting over something stupid was a better idea?"
The thoughts in Hermione's mind clicked and she realized what Harry was talking about. Hermione turned around and Harry looked over her shoulder to scan the Slytherin table. Harry scanned the table one more time after Hermione had turned around, but nonetheless, Draco wasn't there.
"It has to be him! He's got everything against Ron and his family—"
"Harry," Hermione said, "we can't point fingers until we're sure. I mean, Draco's not even as big as Ron, and sure he's got muscles and a really nice six-pack," Harry now arched his eyebrows, "which is beside the point," Hermione continued, "he's not strong enough or magically skilled enough to have thrown Ron across the room so hard."
"So?" Harry said, as if what she'd said had had no effect. "What if he had an accomplice? What if the accomplice escaped out the window?"
"And what if he hadn't?" Hermione said. "You said it yourself, Harry. Ron told us Draco wasn't in class this morning. He's been—" Hermione thought of what she might say and another thought clicked in her mind. "He's been missing since this morning," Hermione said.
"What?" Harry said. "You think Malfoy's been abducted or something?" Though Harry had been feeling very glum, he managed a snort at the thought. "Why would anyone in his right mind want to kidnap Malfoy, of all people?" Harry said the name this time through stifled giggles.
"Well," Hermione exploded, "I've got an appointment."
Harry was feeling a lot better now. He crossed his arms over his chest and asked, "With whom?"
"Dumbledore," Hermione announced. With that, she heaved her books into her arms and marched out of the Great Hall.
Harry was feeling moody and silent once again. In truth, Hermione's presence had encouraged him to think of other things. He sighed as he poured his pumpkin juice into the salad on his plate, swirled the degrading mixture about, and watched the salad go back to normal as his cup refilled with pumpkin juice once again.
* * *
It was cold.
Ron shivered as his shirt surrendered to the vicious winter wind.
But it was autumn. It wasn't supposed to be this cold so soon.
Ron suddenly realized he was sitting up. When he'd tried to open his eyes, he couldn't. He was blindfolded as well. Naturally, he tried to use his hands to undo the bindings on his head, but his hands were shackled and tied behind the chair he was sitting in. He soon discovered that his legs were tied to the chair in which he sat in and strangest of all, something was preventing him from opening his mouth.
An impulsive rage of panic took hold of Ron's body. It was dark, freezing cold, he was tied up, and he didn't know where he was. He didn't even know if he was inside or outside. Who had tied him up? Was he left here to starve and die?
Visions of his encounter with Riddle flashed across the backs of his eyelids. Riddle, that bastard! Ron thought to himself. Ron then began struggling to the best of his ability to free himself or at least loosen one of the bindings tying him to the chair. After a minute or two, his efforts proved to be fruitless. He'd only managed to land on his right side because his immense movement had overbalanced the chair he was in.
Ron lay on his side for a good two hours and his right arm was beginning to hurt since the weight of the rest of his body rested on it. He'd tried to flip over to his other side, but his attempts to do that weren't a big success. For a large portion of the first hour, he wiggled around, tried to kick, and attempted to yell for help, but his mouth was covered up, so all he could manage were a few muffled cries, but they didn't seem to reach anyone else's ears. He was terrified and it was getting harder and harder to just use his nose to breathe since moving around so much had caused his heartbeat to start racing. Ron tried to pace his breathing by telling his body to relax, but that was impossible.
Without warning, Ron heard a door open.
So he was inside a room. Or perhaps he was outside of a house? Nonetheless, Ron's body tensed.
The person who had entered the room was now walking towards Ron. The floor was hard and the approaching person's heeled shoes could be heard, every step he took. Finally, Ron felt the intruder's presence around him and trembled as the eerie feeling of being watched bore on his shoulders.
In an instant, Ron felt himself and the chair being lifted into the air. He thought for a second that someone was going to throw him across the room, but this person had merely set him upright again.
Then the intruder spoke. "I did not expect you to wake so soon. I presumed you would be out for at least another five hours."
Riddle?! Ron thought frantically at the sound of his voice.
"By the way, Mr. Weasley," Riddle now ripped off Ron's blindfold with a dramatically exaggerated motion of his arm, "you look great in blonde."
Ron's eyes widened. Blonde? He thought to himself. Then he took in his surroundings.
Nothing.
It was completely dark and except for the involuntary flash of white light in his mind the second the blindfold had been removed from his eyes, the area surrounding him was the same pitch black darkness that he had been in before. Ron's eyes frantically darted about, but he suddenly gasped and pressed his back against the chair he sat in. Riddle was now directly in front of him with a nasty smirk on his face.
Ron was furious now. Tom Riddle had abducted him from the Hogwarts kitchen, separated him from his friends, had him tied to a chair, and was calling him blonde! The nerve of this guy! Ron tried to move away from Tom, but being tied to a chair at the moment, he wasn't having the best of luck. He had a few things he wanted to say to Riddle too, but he couldn't speak. Then he remembered Riddle, in some profusely freaky way, was able to read his mind… or so he thought.
Listen up you frolicking fuck, Ron began, thinking this greeting wasn't too harsh. Riddle arched an eyebrow and Ron heard his voice in his head. So he could read his mind. Yes? Was all Tom said.
You don't know whom you're messing with! You better untie me right now and let me go! My friends— Harry, he's going to come rescue me and—"
What else? Riddle interrupted. Is your daddy bigger and stronger than my daddy is? Riddle asked in a mocking tone.
Ron growled and it seemed as though he was trying to pierce a hole through Riddle with his glare.
Riddle was now twirling a wand in his left hand. Ron took a closer look and discovered it was his wand he was twirling. Now he didn't have any way of defending himself. Then again, not being able to move his hands and all, it didn't matter whether he had his wand or not, but possession of his own wand was like owning a security blanket; it provided comfort in dreadful and unimaginable situations such as this.
Plus, Riddle added, I don't think Potter's going to come looking for you for a while.
Ron was about to launch his telepathic philippic in response to what Tom had just said, but Tom's index and middle fingers were approaching the left side of Ron's head now. Sit still, Riddle's voice hissed in Ron's head.
Right, Ron thought as he began to move around in every way he was able to.
Aye, that was your choice, Riddle said in Ron's head. As soon as Tom's fingers made contact with Ron's head, Ron's eyes flew open for a moment before they slowly closed. The darkness around him, was still darkness, but he was once again swimming in another pool of darkness. Riddle's pool of darkness. The last thing Ron heard before he passed out was from Riddle. "I think it is finally time that you see..."
* * *
Draco was feeling fine. There really wasn't much to it. He was for some unknown reason stuck in Weasley's body, was wearing polyester hospital clothes, had the urge for blood, and was now speaking to Ginny Weasley, his 'sister', about Harry Potter.
Right. Everything was just fine. Except for cringing every five seconds when he remembered he was sitting in the poor, dirty, gangly, freckled body of Ron Weasley! Degrading! Disgusting! This is so screwed up and when I get my hands around Weasley's neck, he's so going to be dead— wait, if I strangle Weasley, he's probably in my body and that would mean I'd be strangling myself? That is just really wrong. Weasley's in my body!
"Ron, what's wrong?" Ginny suddenly asked, knocking Draco back into reality.
He realized he'd pulled a disturbing face when he'd thought about Ron being in his body.
When Draco didn't say anything, Ginny said, "Well yes, I suppose what I just told would be kind of disgusting. I shouldn't have told you about the dream. Sorry!"
Draco arched an eyebrow and nodded.
"So, like I was saying," Ginny continued, "do you think he'll ask me to this year's Yule Ball?"
Draco mouthed wordlessly at Ginny. Girl problems… Ick, Draco thought. He was glad he wasn't a girl.
"Ron!" She pleaded. "You're with Harry every single day! Hasn't he said anything about me?"
"No," Draco responded back in a tone that seemed like he was asking a question.
"What?" Ginny said exasperated. "But yesterday you said he was— that he had— that I was—" her voice died down.
Draco smirked internally. Time for some fun.
"Ginny," he said, trying to ignore the squeaky voice that protruded from his mouth, "Potter, doesn't like you, never liked you, and never will like you. You're an annoying distraction to him. All those freckles on that thick head of yours may have blocked reality, but aren't you glad you've got a wonderful brother like me to hand it to you on a silver platter?"
Ginny's eyes widened. She was horrified.
Draco smirked. Being stuck in Weasley's body, he had the right to have some fun! "Get over it," he said. "No one will ever love you if you chase him all the time. Are you so thick that it's taken you six years to realize that four-eyed nerd known otherwise as 'The Boy Who Lived' doesn't obsess over you like you choose to obsess over him?"
Ginny's bottom lip trembled. This was the cruel truth, but why was Ron telling her all this now?
Draco casually used his hand to cover his— Ron's mouth. He had the best sneer on his face, but he couldn't let his 'sister' see through him.
Next, Draco received a surprise. He'd been saying all this so that he'd have Ginny hating him. Though it was the truth, no one ever actually told Ginny about Harry. Not this cruelly, that is. But Ginny suddenly leapt out of the chair she was sitting in and was now on the bed Draco sat in. Her hands were wrapped around his body and she hugged him, shaking, crying and gasping as she spoke.
"Oh, Ron," she coughed a bit. "I feel so horrible!"
Draco sat still. This was certainly not what he'd expected. So much for being able to read girls… maybe it only worked on Slytherins. But he'd made fun of her freckles, called Potter a nerd, insulted her intelligence, and told her she'd wasted six years of her life on the most famous boy in the Wizarding World. Now he was her hero? Her savior? The person she came to for refuge?
Ginny let go of Draco's neck. "Ron?" She said. She repeated herself and said, "Did you hear what I said, Ron?"
"Wha— oh, no, what'd you say?"
"I said you'd better get your robes." She sniffled a bit and wiped the tear tracks off her cheeks. "Madam Pomfrey said we can leave in a bit." Ginny handed Draco Ron's wand as she stifled a sniffle.
Ginny usually kept her feelings bottled up and it had startled even her that she had burst out crying, but the way Ron had decided to present the truth to her so bluntly and clearly had stricken her as strange, but she was also grateful in way. She'd have to think about it later. It was very uncharacteristic of her to express her feelings in front of everyone. It was her problem so she'd deal with it later.
Ginny looked up when her brother finally grabbed the wand from her with his left hand and said, "Accio!" Ginny raised her eyebrows.
Seconds later, starched and neatly folded robes flew through the air and landed in Draco's hands. Dammit! Draco thought. He'd conjured his Slytherin robes to himself!
He looked up and Ginny stared back at him impatiently, her hands crossed over her chest and her eyebrows slightly raised.
"Well," Draco stuttered, shoving the robes to the side, "don't watch me while I change!"
"Mm," Ginny said. "By the way, here," Ginny tossed him what looked like a purple beet.
The purple beet was a fruit called a Darhosh. It tasted like sweet oranges and bananas combined. Many people ate it as they would eat an apple, simply to please their hunger, but this fruit also had rejuvenating powers and bountiful supplies of it could often be found in hospitals.
"Pomfrey said to eat it before you go."
"Oh," Draco said simply as he tossed it into his mouth.
Draco looked up and Ginny still stood where she was. Finally, she moved and on her way to the door, Ginny said, "I'll wait outside for you." She paused and Draco could feel something unpleasant coming on. Ginny repeated herself. "I'll wait outside for you… Draco."
Draco's body tensed. What?! How had she figured it out?
Ginny slammed the Infirmary door shut and placed a locking charm on it. "Then again," for a Weasley, she had a very menacing expression on her face, "we could chat a bit in here."
Though Draco was trapped in Weasley's body, he was still able to hide his emotions behind a blank face.
"By the way," Ginny said matter-of-factly, "Ron's right handed, and you're the only person in his year that is left handed besides Seamus Finnigan." Ginny knew random facts such as these since she'd spent the last six years of her life drooling over Harry Potter. "And Ron never folds, starches, or irons his robes, and he's allergic to Darhoshes. Where's my brother?"
Crap, Draco thought to himself.
* * *
Blaise growled. The Slytherin common room was full of people now that dinner was over, but Draco was no where to be seen!
His words played in her mind, See you at dinner, love!
That had been the secret code! Her mother would be furious that she hadn't gotten the plans from Draco. Where was he?
Blaise walked over to the entrance of the Slytherin dungeons and pulled out her wand. "Point me," she said. The wand spun around her hand but slowly came to a halt.
"The Infirmary? What's he doing in there?" Irritated, Blaise shoved her wand back down the front of her dress and marched out of the dungeons to find Draco and the plans.
* * *
"My Lord, there's been a mistake."
Lucius Malfoy stood in the parlor of Malfoy Manor. He was speaking to Lord Voldemort now. The only thing that illuminated the room was a fire in the fireplace, but it failed to heat the freezing cold room in which he stood. The whole Manor was frigid all year long, but evil minions were cold-blooded; it didn't affect them.
The Dark Lord's voice magically projected throughout the whole room. "What is it?" Voldemort retorted. "We don't make mistakes," he hissed. "Whatever it is, fix it!"
Malfoy winced at the Dark Lord's harsh tone. Though he was stressed and worried at the moment, Lucius had the same trait as his son: he was able to hide everything under what looked like a calm and composed person. His long silvery hair lay on his back, smooth, shiny and untangled. His pale face with its pointed nose remained wrinkle-free and no lines of stress were to be found on his face either. However, the Dark Lord knew all. No one could hide anything from him.
"There has been an unexpected change of plans. We need more venom," Lucius told the Dark Lord in a strong and bold voice. The Dark Lord detested weakness of any kind.
He heard Voldemort sigh a great chafing sigh and then he asked, "Where is Tom?"
"He is in the Green House, my Lord. He is awakening the Diviner."
"Ah," Voldemort replied, quite pleased. "Very well. Very well indeed. The extra venom is on its way. Use it well, my pet."
Out of Lucius' mouth, a tongue that belonged to a snake slithered out, quivered a bit and retreated back into its owner's mouth. He hissed and walked out of the parlor.
Author's Note: Wow! What an exciting chapter, eh? True, it's more confusing than pens being made in a soup factory, but soon enough, I'll explain about Tom Riddle and Voldemort, Ron and his freakiness, Blaise and the plan and the business and all that jazz. Patience is a virtue, you silly grasshoppers that are still reading my fic! I hope you're enjoying it!
Chapter Four: Ginny and Draco must team up so that Draco and Ron can be in their own bodies once again, but where's Ron? In the Green House of course! Hermione has a very interesting conversation with Dumbledore and Harry's a git. Yes, look forward to it. >D
Thank you to my reviewers, Cass, Jonah, ye ye, and the older sister I never had, Erika! You guys rock my toe socks, that you do! ^_^
Harry violently shoved a large piece of meatloaf into his mouth and chewed it with great and evident force. Ron and Ginny didn't show up for dinner because Ginny insisted that she would rather stay in the Infirmary with Ron. Harry and Hermione couldn't get past Madam Pomfrey this time to see their friends, but Ginny had poked her head out the door to let them know she and her brother were fine and that they were sorry about dinner.
Hermione felt a little more comfortable that Ginny was up and about and taking care of her brother, but she, just as anyone, could tell Harry wouldn't believe anything until he could see Ron with his own eyes. Most of the Gryffindors were whispering and sharing with one another the rumors they'd heard about 'The Ron Situation" as it had come to be called.
"… And then the jaguar ended up in my backyard!" Seamus Finnigan had just finished his rendition of 'The Ron Situation' for the fifth time during dinner.
Harry finally said something for the first time. "All this in five hours." He was angry. It was scary when he was angry because Harry wouldn't say very much. He would just sit and stare and brood.
He only spoke to Hermione. That or everyone else was so busy with 'The Ron Situation' that they couldn't hear Harry when he spoke. She tried to offer some words of comfort. "Harry, you really shouldn't worry so much—"
Hermione stopped speaking and realized those were close to the exact words she'd said the last time Harry had become angry with her… five hours ago. Harry noticed what she'd perceived and broke the ice. "Malfoy." Harry spit the name out of his mouth. Harry was such a gentle creature, yet he now treated Draco's name so harshly.
"What do you mean?" Hermione asked, though she had an idea of what Harry was talking about.
"Do you remember what Ron was talking about before we decided ignoring him and fighting over something stupid was a better idea?"
The thoughts in Hermione's mind clicked and she realized what Harry was talking about. Hermione turned around and Harry looked over her shoulder to scan the Slytherin table. Harry scanned the table one more time after Hermione had turned around, but nonetheless, Draco wasn't there.
"It has to be him! He's got everything against Ron and his family—"
"Harry," Hermione said, "we can't point fingers until we're sure. I mean, Draco's not even as big as Ron, and sure he's got muscles and a really nice six-pack," Harry now arched his eyebrows, "which is beside the point," Hermione continued, "he's not strong enough or magically skilled enough to have thrown Ron across the room so hard."
"So?" Harry said, as if what she'd said had had no effect. "What if he had an accomplice? What if the accomplice escaped out the window?"
"And what if he hadn't?" Hermione said. "You said it yourself, Harry. Ron told us Draco wasn't in class this morning. He's been—" Hermione thought of what she might say and another thought clicked in her mind. "He's been missing since this morning," Hermione said.
"What?" Harry said. "You think Malfoy's been abducted or something?" Though Harry had been feeling very glum, he managed a snort at the thought. "Why would anyone in his right mind want to kidnap Malfoy, of all people?" Harry said the name this time through stifled giggles.
"Well," Hermione exploded, "I've got an appointment."
Harry was feeling a lot better now. He crossed his arms over his chest and asked, "With whom?"
"Dumbledore," Hermione announced. With that, she heaved her books into her arms and marched out of the Great Hall.
Harry was feeling moody and silent once again. In truth, Hermione's presence had encouraged him to think of other things. He sighed as he poured his pumpkin juice into the salad on his plate, swirled the degrading mixture about, and watched the salad go back to normal as his cup refilled with pumpkin juice once again.
It was cold.
Ron shivered as his shirt surrendered to the vicious winter wind.
But it was autumn. It wasn't supposed to be this cold so soon.
Ron suddenly realized he was sitting up. When he'd tried to open his eyes, he couldn't. He was blindfolded as well. Naturally, he tried to use his hands to undo the bindings on his head, but his hands were shackled and tied behind the chair he was sitting in. He soon discovered that his legs were tied to the chair in which he sat in and strangest of all, something was preventing him from opening his mouth.
An impulsive rage of panic took hold of Ron's body. It was dark, freezing cold, he was tied up, and he didn't know where he was. He didn't even know if he was inside or outside. Who had tied him up? Was he left here to starve and die?
Visions of his encounter with Riddle flashed across the backs of his eyelids. Riddle, that bastard! Ron thought to himself. Ron then began struggling to the best of his ability to free himself or at least loosen one of the bindings tying him to the chair. After a minute or two, his efforts proved to be fruitless. He'd only managed to land on his right side because his immense movement had overbalanced the chair he was in.
Ron lay on his side for a good two hours and his right arm was beginning to hurt since the weight of the rest of his body rested on it. He'd tried to flip over to his other side, but his attempts to do that weren't a big success. For a large portion of the first hour, he wiggled around, tried to kick, and attempted to yell for help, but his mouth was covered up, so all he could manage were a few muffled cries, but they didn't seem to reach anyone else's ears. He was terrified and it was getting harder and harder to just use his nose to breathe since moving around so much had caused his heartbeat to start racing. Ron tried to pace his breathing by telling his body to relax, but that was impossible.
Without warning, Ron heard a door open.
So he was inside a room. Or perhaps he was outside of a house? Nonetheless, Ron's body tensed.
The person who had entered the room was now walking towards Ron. The floor was hard and the approaching person's heeled shoes could be heard, every step he took. Finally, Ron felt the intruder's presence around him and trembled as the eerie feeling of being watched bore on his shoulders.
In an instant, Ron felt himself and the chair being lifted into the air. He thought for a second that someone was going to throw him across the room, but this person had merely set him upright again.
Then the intruder spoke. "I did not expect you to wake so soon. I presumed you would be out for at least another five hours."
Riddle?! Ron thought frantically at the sound of his voice.
"By the way, Mr. Weasley," Riddle now ripped off Ron's blindfold with a dramatically exaggerated motion of his arm, "you look great in blonde."
Ron's eyes widened. Blonde? He thought to himself. Then he took in his surroundings.
Nothing.
It was completely dark and except for the involuntary flash of white light in his mind the second the blindfold had been removed from his eyes, the area surrounding him was the same pitch black darkness that he had been in before. Ron's eyes frantically darted about, but he suddenly gasped and pressed his back against the chair he sat in. Riddle was now directly in front of him with a nasty smirk on his face.
Ron was furious now. Tom Riddle had abducted him from the Hogwarts kitchen, separated him from his friends, had him tied to a chair, and was calling him blonde! The nerve of this guy! Ron tried to move away from Tom, but being tied to a chair at the moment, he wasn't having the best of luck. He had a few things he wanted to say to Riddle too, but he couldn't speak. Then he remembered Riddle, in some profusely freaky way, was able to read his mind… or so he thought.
Listen up you frolicking fuck, Ron began, thinking this greeting wasn't too harsh. Riddle arched an eyebrow and Ron heard his voice in his head. So he could read his mind. Yes? Was all Tom said.
You don't know whom you're messing with! You better untie me right now and let me go! My friends— Harry, he's going to come rescue me and—"
What else? Riddle interrupted. Is your daddy bigger and stronger than my daddy is? Riddle asked in a mocking tone.
Ron growled and it seemed as though he was trying to pierce a hole through Riddle with his glare.
Riddle was now twirling a wand in his left hand. Ron took a closer look and discovered it was his wand he was twirling. Now he didn't have any way of defending himself. Then again, not being able to move his hands and all, it didn't matter whether he had his wand or not, but possession of his own wand was like owning a security blanket; it provided comfort in dreadful and unimaginable situations such as this.
Plus, Riddle added, I don't think Potter's going to come looking for you for a while.
Ron was about to launch his telepathic philippic in response to what Tom had just said, but Tom's index and middle fingers were approaching the left side of Ron's head now. Sit still, Riddle's voice hissed in Ron's head.
Right, Ron thought as he began to move around in every way he was able to.
Aye, that was your choice, Riddle said in Ron's head. As soon as Tom's fingers made contact with Ron's head, Ron's eyes flew open for a moment before they slowly closed. The darkness around him, was still darkness, but he was once again swimming in another pool of darkness. Riddle's pool of darkness. The last thing Ron heard before he passed out was from Riddle. "I think it is finally time that you see..."
Draco was feeling fine. There really wasn't much to it. He was for some unknown reason stuck in Weasley's body, was wearing polyester hospital clothes, had the urge for blood, and was now speaking to Ginny Weasley, his 'sister', about Harry Potter.
Right. Everything was just fine. Except for cringing every five seconds when he remembered he was sitting in the poor, dirty, gangly, freckled body of Ron Weasley! Degrading! Disgusting! This is so screwed up and when I get my hands around Weasley's neck, he's so going to be dead— wait, if I strangle Weasley, he's probably in my body and that would mean I'd be strangling myself? That is just really wrong. Weasley's in my body!
"Ron, what's wrong?" Ginny suddenly asked, knocking Draco back into reality.
He realized he'd pulled a disturbing face when he'd thought about Ron being in his body.
When Draco didn't say anything, Ginny said, "Well yes, I suppose what I just told would be kind of disgusting. I shouldn't have told you about the dream. Sorry!"
Draco arched an eyebrow and nodded.
"So, like I was saying," Ginny continued, "do you think he'll ask me to this year's Yule Ball?"
Draco mouthed wordlessly at Ginny. Girl problems… Ick, Draco thought. He was glad he wasn't a girl.
"Ron!" She pleaded. "You're with Harry every single day! Hasn't he said anything about me?"
"No," Draco responded back in a tone that seemed like he was asking a question.
"What?" Ginny said exasperated. "But yesterday you said he was— that he had— that I was—" her voice died down.
Draco smirked internally. Time for some fun.
"Ginny," he said, trying to ignore the squeaky voice that protruded from his mouth, "Potter, doesn't like you, never liked you, and never will like you. You're an annoying distraction to him. All those freckles on that thick head of yours may have blocked reality, but aren't you glad you've got a wonderful brother like me to hand it to you on a silver platter?"
Ginny's eyes widened. She was horrified.
Draco smirked. Being stuck in Weasley's body, he had the right to have some fun! "Get over it," he said. "No one will ever love you if you chase him all the time. Are you so thick that it's taken you six years to realize that four-eyed nerd known otherwise as 'The Boy Who Lived' doesn't obsess over you like you choose to obsess over him?"
Ginny's bottom lip trembled. This was the cruel truth, but why was Ron telling her all this now?
Draco casually used his hand to cover his— Ron's mouth. He had the best sneer on his face, but he couldn't let his 'sister' see through him.
Next, Draco received a surprise. He'd been saying all this so that he'd have Ginny hating him. Though it was the truth, no one ever actually told Ginny about Harry. Not this cruelly, that is. But Ginny suddenly leapt out of the chair she was sitting in and was now on the bed Draco sat in. Her hands were wrapped around his body and she hugged him, shaking, crying and gasping as she spoke.
"Oh, Ron," she coughed a bit. "I feel so horrible!"
Draco sat still. This was certainly not what he'd expected. So much for being able to read girls… maybe it only worked on Slytherins. But he'd made fun of her freckles, called Potter a nerd, insulted her intelligence, and told her she'd wasted six years of her life on the most famous boy in the Wizarding World. Now he was her hero? Her savior? The person she came to for refuge?
Ginny let go of Draco's neck. "Ron?" She said. She repeated herself and said, "Did you hear what I said, Ron?"
"Wha— oh, no, what'd you say?"
"I said you'd better get your robes." She sniffled a bit and wiped the tear tracks off her cheeks. "Madam Pomfrey said we can leave in a bit." Ginny handed Draco Ron's wand as she stifled a sniffle.
Ginny usually kept her feelings bottled up and it had startled even her that she had burst out crying, but the way Ron had decided to present the truth to her so bluntly and clearly had stricken her as strange, but she was also grateful in way. She'd have to think about it later. It was very uncharacteristic of her to express her feelings in front of everyone. It was her problem so she'd deal with it later.
Ginny looked up when her brother finally grabbed the wand from her with his left hand and said, "Accio!" Ginny raised her eyebrows.
Seconds later, starched and neatly folded robes flew through the air and landed in Draco's hands. Dammit! Draco thought. He'd conjured his Slytherin robes to himself!
He looked up and Ginny stared back at him impatiently, her hands crossed over her chest and her eyebrows slightly raised.
"Well," Draco stuttered, shoving the robes to the side, "don't watch me while I change!"
"Mm," Ginny said. "By the way, here," Ginny tossed him what looked like a purple beet.
The purple beet was a fruit called a Darhosh. It tasted like sweet oranges and bananas combined. Many people ate it as they would eat an apple, simply to please their hunger, but this fruit also had rejuvenating powers and bountiful supplies of it could often be found in hospitals.
"Pomfrey said to eat it before you go."
"Oh," Draco said simply as he tossed it into his mouth.
Draco looked up and Ginny still stood where she was. Finally, she moved and on her way to the door, Ginny said, "I'll wait outside for you." She paused and Draco could feel something unpleasant coming on. Ginny repeated herself. "I'll wait outside for you… Draco."
Draco's body tensed. What?! How had she figured it out?
Ginny slammed the Infirmary door shut and placed a locking charm on it. "Then again," for a Weasley, she had a very menacing expression on her face, "we could chat a bit in here."
Though Draco was trapped in Weasley's body, he was still able to hide his emotions behind a blank face.
"By the way," Ginny said matter-of-factly, "Ron's right handed, and you're the only person in his year that is left handed besides Seamus Finnigan." Ginny knew random facts such as these since she'd spent the last six years of her life drooling over Harry Potter. "And Ron never folds, starches, or irons his robes, and he's allergic to Darhoshes. Where's my brother?"
Crap, Draco thought to himself.
Blaise growled. The Slytherin common room was full of people now that dinner was over, but Draco was no where to be seen!
His words played in her mind, See you at dinner, love!
That had been the secret code! Her mother would be furious that she hadn't gotten the plans from Draco. Where was he?
Blaise walked over to the entrance of the Slytherin dungeons and pulled out her wand. "Point me," she said. The wand spun around her hand but slowly came to a halt.
"The Infirmary? What's he doing in there?" Irritated, Blaise shoved her wand back down the front of her dress and marched out of the dungeons to find Draco and the plans.
"My Lord, there's been a mistake."
Lucius Malfoy stood in the parlor of Malfoy Manor. He was speaking to Lord Voldemort now. The only thing that illuminated the room was a fire in the fireplace, but it failed to heat the freezing cold room in which he stood. The whole Manor was frigid all year long, but evil minions were cold-blooded; it didn't affect them.
The Dark Lord's voice magically projected throughout the whole room. "What is it?" Voldemort retorted. "We don't make mistakes," he hissed. "Whatever it is, fix it!"
Malfoy winced at the Dark Lord's harsh tone. Though he was stressed and worried at the moment, Lucius had the same trait as his son: he was able to hide everything under what looked like a calm and composed person. His long silvery hair lay on his back, smooth, shiny and untangled. His pale face with its pointed nose remained wrinkle-free and no lines of stress were to be found on his face either. However, the Dark Lord knew all. No one could hide anything from him.
"There has been an unexpected change of plans. We need more venom," Lucius told the Dark Lord in a strong and bold voice. The Dark Lord detested weakness of any kind.
He heard Voldemort sigh a great chafing sigh and then he asked, "Where is Tom?"
"He is in the Green House, my Lord. He is awakening the Diviner."
"Ah," Voldemort replied, quite pleased. "Very well. Very well indeed. The extra venom is on its way. Use it well, my pet."
Out of Lucius' mouth, a tongue that belonged to a snake slithered out, quivered a bit and retreated back into its owner's mouth. He hissed and walked out of the parlor.
Author's Note: Wow! What an exciting chapter, eh? True, it's more confusing than pens being made in a soup factory, but soon enough, I'll explain about Tom Riddle and Voldemort, Ron and his freakiness, Blaise and the plan and the business and all that jazz. Patience is a virtue, you silly grasshoppers that are still reading my fic! I hope you're enjoying it!
Chapter Four: Ginny and Draco must team up so that Draco and Ron can be in their own bodies once again, but where's Ron? In the Green House of course! Hermione has a very interesting conversation with Dumbledore and Harry's a git. Yes, look forward to it. >D
Thank you to my reviewers, Cass, Jonah, ye ye, and the older sister I never had, Erika! You guys rock my toe socks, that you do! ^_^