A/N: I just want to thank those of you who've told me that I'm mad to think about stopping this story. You'll be glad to hear I've changed my mind, tho I'm sure you were starting to wonder if I was gonna update. It took me awhile and I'll try to update sooner from now on. Enjoy. ~alive

Here To Stay

Ron shrugged, walked back around to where he'd stopped looking for the Time-Turner. By the time he reached the deserted castle he still hadn't found the Time-Turner. He pushed open the front doors and made his way slowly back up to Gryffindor common room.

He climbed through the portrait hole and sat down in a cushy chair by the empty fireplace. He looked around and noticed something that he should have seen right away. Everything that had Gryffindor on it or was even Gryffindor colors had been destroyed. Not just destroyed but demolished completely.

"Who would have done such a thing? Surely it's not just Gryffindor." Ron said to himself as he went back out into the hallway, just outside the common room. He made he way towards the corridor where just recently he, Fred and George had encountered a group of Hufflepuffs.

When he arrived there and pulled open the blank canvas portrait, he found upon entering the Hufflepuff common room, that all things Hufflepuff had also been destroyed also. He sighed loudly and made his way back to the Gryffindor common room.

He sat in a chair by the window as the light began to fade from the sky and night began to set in. He trudged slowly up the stairs and flopped down on 'his' bed without bothering to take his cloak off. A short while later he was asleep.

Ron woke and upon remembering all he'd seen, mumbled, "What a weird dream. Glad that's over." He stood and stretched, then realized that it had not been a dream. "Well, before I start trying to find the Time-Turner I've got to get something to eat, I'm starving!"

As he made his way downstairs towards the kitchen he heard approaching footsteps. Without even thinking about it, he hid behind a suit of armor and peeked around the helmet to see who it was walking down a deserted Hogwarts corridor. He smiled when he saw the familiar face above the navy blue robes. Seamus!

He stepped out and said quite loudly, "Seamus, I'm so glad to see you!"

Seamus nearly fell over in shock at seeing a quite young Ron Weasley. "Ron? It's great to see you too. I'm, um, what are you doing here?" He asked, tugging at the sleeve of his robe.

"Oh, it was such an accident!" Ron said quickly, going on to spout the whole story not giving Seamus time to get in another word.

Seamus listened impatiently, occasionally rubbing his arm and looking around. "How fascinating. Listen, where are you headed?" He asked when Ron'd finally finished running his mouth.

"Down to the kitchens. Thought there might be a house-elf or two hanging around down there. I'm starving!" Ron said, turning to walk off.

"NO! I tell ya what. You go hang out in the common room and I'll, err, I'll bring something up to ya." He rushed turning Ron back towards the common room.

"Wha? Uh, okay. Are you alright Seamus?"

"Yes, yes. Wonderful. GO!"

Ron shrugged and headed back upstairs, the thought of why Seamus was in a very deserted Hogwarts never crossed his mind. A little over an hour later he jumped to his feet when Seamus climbed through the portrait hole carrying a plate of food and a pitcher of pumpkin juice.

Seamus sat the plate and juice down on the table and sat down beside Ron, who in his hungry state, had already started clearing the food off the plate almost as soon as Seamus had sat it down.

When Ron had finished the food, he sat back with a full glass of pumpkin juice and looked idly round the common room. "Seamus, what are you doing in Hogwarts? It's deserted."

Seamus looked at Ron and said, "I'm assigned to a group that, um, periodically checks for uh, changes in certain areas."

"What happened Seamus? I found a copy of the Daily Prophet in Hogsmeade but I lost it before I got a chance to read it." Ron asked draining his glass of pumpkin juice and leaning forward to refill it.

"Honestly Ron, have you not figured it out yet? Even with Draco talking about Headquarters?"

"Draco? On first name terms with the evil git now days? Didn't it used to be Malfoy?"

"Well, yes. But now that we're out of Hogwarts there is his father also, so it's just easier if we all use first names."

"That's understandable I guess. Now, what happened?!"

"It started back in late February. Godric's Hollow was the first to go, and Hogsmeade followed soon after."

"Go? Explain." Ron said, looking a bit confused.

"Well, Lord Voldemort decided he'd had enough of everyone's insolence. So, he did what he does best. He killed nearly everyone in Godric's Hollow while they slept. News travels fast you know so by the time he'd reached Hogsmeade nearly everyone had gone."

Ron's mouth dropped open when Seamus said 'Lord Voldemort'. Even when Harry said it he only said 'Voldemort', the Lord was never added. "So, then. He's back to full power?" Ron asked not able to hide the tremor in his voice.

"Yes, he is Ron." Seamus replied with no emotion whatsoever. "He is and he's here to stay."