Chapter Five: Secrets of Whispers

Oh Just one last thing before I go I never meant to hurt you so

I need you now, you turn away, I'm falling down I ask today.

Just one last thing before I go I never meant to hurt you so

I said it once; I'll say it once again

The group watched on in horror as Ron bounded towards Minerva, grabbing her and thrusting a knife against her neck. She stilled, eyeing her captor dangerously. "Let me go this instant Ronald."

"Or what? You'll deduct house points?"

"No, or else I'll do this." she flicked her wrist as she spoke, glowering as he lessened his grip.

"What the hell did you do?" He went to grab her as she moved away, and she smirked evilly.

"I'd stay still if I were ye. They're blast ended skrewts, and they don't like it when ye move. Put down the knife, son, and I'll transfigure them back." He dropped the knife, watching as she flicked her wrist to transfigure them away.

George ran through the gates of Hogwarts, the still body in his arms, his heart racing. He was exhausted. Having hit the ground running, he had apparated as close to the school as possible, though it still meant clearing the Forbidden Forest at a desperate pace. "Dumbledore! Madam Pomfrey!" He bellowed in desperation as he flew up the stairs, wondering vaguely if he were about to have a heart attack. He arrived at the Infirmary as the pair ran towards him in alarm.

"How is she?"

"She won't wake up… help her!" Poppy nodded and levitated Hermione to a bed as George slumped to the ground in exhaustion.

"Where are the others?"

"Still there. Snape… he told me to… get her here." He panted in reply to the Headmaster's questions. Patting the boy on the head, Albus moved towards the frantic mediwitch.

"Poppy?"

"She'll be fine, Albus." She eyed George carefully before she spoke again. "Maybe we should go prepare for other arrivals, Albus. George, would you keep an eye on her?" He nodded as the pair left, Albus looking thoughtfully at George as he moved to Hermione's side.

"You had the right girl all right, Albus, but you predicted the wrong Weasley." Albus merely smiled one of his more secretive smiles and led her away.

Ron smiled evilly at the group. "You still don't get it, do you?"

"I understand perfectly, Voldemort." Severus moved from the girl, subtly shielding the rest of the group as they collectively gasped.

"Ah, Severus," Ron's voice hissed darkly, "I see you're still miles ahead intellectually. Unfortunately, as ever, your realisations come far too late to be of any practical use."

"An interesting trick, definitely, but of no real use, is it? Being stuck in that body, oh how the mighty hath fallen." Severus' eyes glittered in amusement.

"My unfaithful one, I can smell the fear as it radiates from you. You're afraid, not for yourself, but for the others. Perhaps I shall start by killing the girl." His gaze flickered over Ginny, a small, cruel smile playing on his pale features.

Ginny whimpered softly, but stared at him defiantly. "Tom Riddle, we meet again. Don't you remember me? You linked yourself to me years and years ago."

"I recall you, child, but I have never linked myself with so lowly a creature."

"Then what is this?" She retorted in annoyance, "Because it looks suspiciously like you in the body of my idiot brother."

He laughed. "This isn't linking, this is possessing. He, or his soul, is lying quivering within, unable to do a thing. Rather like you were, girl." He turned to Severus and Minerva next, grinning evilly as he looked them over. "I'll admit, though, the mudblood was a rather… satisfying conquest. She didn't suspect a thing at first, until it started to hurt. The first time…" he eyed Harry menacingly as he continued, "I forced her, she begged me to stop. Reminded me they were planning to wait till after the wedding. Bled for hours, and just sat rocking in the corner… Then you came to dinner."

"Enough!" Ginny stood menacingly before Voldemort, sizing him up and giving the impression she found him a less than adequate opponent. "You think that's enough to throw us?" Looking around, it was obvious that, yes, it was, but still she continued. "Now, as I recall, you're part mudblood yourself, so I wouldn't be so high and fucking mighty about it! I was also speaking when you interrupted me to spout this nonsense, and that, mudblood, is the height of rudeness when in the company of a pureblood." She watched with morbid satisfaction at the fury on his face. The rest of the group watched on in pure shock, even as Harry, Fred and Severus subtly and instinctively moved towards each other. "You linked with me because you are housed in the body of my brother, and if you look at your hand you'll understand how." A scar stretched across the palm of Ron's hand, and Voldemort eyed it quizzically. "It's called being blood brothers. It means that you, because you are housed within that body, are held to the same conditions as Ron." She sniggered slightly before she continued, eyes glittering maliciously. "You are so screwed. Scared yet?" Her voice was deadly quiet, but echoed through the still room.

"Never."

"Now!" Severus boomed as he fired of the Crutacius curse, echoed by Harry and Fred. Ron's body fell to the floor convulsing. Ginny shrieked in surprise, but Minerva moved to hold her.

"Hush, dear. They're just weakening him."

"Hermione, please wake up." George whispered as he stroked her hair tenderly, tears rolling down his face. "I wish you'd come to me when this happened. I would have done anything, anything, to protect you from him. I'm sorry, I'm so, so sorry. I shouldn't have let you stay with him; I should have had the guts to tell you. This is all my fault. Maybe if I had told you every single day that I loved you… you wouldn't have stayed with him. Maybe you'd have been with me, and he'd never be able to touch you. Please come back to me, I can't lose you again."

Ron panted as he looked up at Harry. "It's me, Harry." The three wizards paused their casting and eyed him warily. "I need… I need you to do something for me, Harry. I need you to tell her that I'm so, so sorry. Tell her it wasn't me, Harry, please. I don't want her to be angry at me anymore. Tell her I tried to fight him, but he said he'd kill her if I didn't. He said she'd live through if I submitted. I never thought he'd hurt her like this. Please, tell her it wasn't me; that I never wanted to hurt her. Promise me you will."

"Of course, Ron, but you can tell her yourself soon."

"No I can't, Harry. You have to kill me."

"What? I can't…"

"He's in me; he's trapped in me… he lives while in me. Please… No, he lies, Potter. He wants the pain to end. But if he dies, I'll just move to someone else. Let him live and I'll let him go."

"You don't make deals unless you've been dealt the losing hand, Voldemort." Severus spoke quietly. "He'll die either way. If The Weasley's break the spell they apparently have over you, he'll die and you'll live. Admit it."

"Can you really take that chance, Potter?"

Minerva looked to Severus before she spoke. "Harry, I'm sorry but Severus is right. Either way Ron will die. But you now decide whether he dies a hero or a victim." Harry didn't move.

"It isn't his choice," Fred moaned softly, looking at the sobbing form of his sister, "It's left to Ginny and I. Ron has already cast his vote… Ginny?"

"Is he really going to die either way?" Severus nodded sombrely. "Then let him be a hero." Fred nodded, tears falling over his freckled face as he screamed the killing curse at the top of his lungs before falling to his knees, sobbing. Ten minutes passed before anyone could move.