Temporal Flux

Chapter Twenty-Eight: Confrontation

Ron had no idea where he was going. The map was having difficult tracing Hermione, which rendered it almost useless. He had only a feather and a comb to go by as clues. He was going to have to find Hermione soon or she and Jared would be gone. He kept going until he was at the edge of the Forbidden Forest. It was the first time that he had ever even considered entering it alone. He noticed the trail seemed to end at the edge. He realized that he was walking straight into a trap.

Squaring his shoulders, he looked around him. He decided that it was best to announce his arrival. "I'm here!" shouted Ron as loud as he could. "COME AND SHOW YOURSELF! IF YOU WANT ME COME AND GET ME!"

The raven swooped from a tree and Magus transformed as he came down. He landed perfectly on his feet. Ron forced himself to stand his ground. He didn't even have his wand drawn yet. "Where is she?" demanded Ron. "Where did you put her?"

"By now, you would have noticed your whelp fading away, Weasley. I've been waiting for you to come."

Ron looked at him. He had white hair that hung down to his back. He had clear, colorless eyes. His skin was as pale as the snow surrounding them. "I know what you are and what you did," said Ron. "And I don't have any time nor the tolerance to deal with you. You want to hurt me? Why didn't you just come right after me?"

"I take greater pleasure in watching you suffer than hurting you directly, Weasley," said Magus. "You ruined my life."

"I'll ruin your life," Ron boldly corrected. "You couldn't stop me in the future that's why you had to come back here when you think I don't have any skill at all."

"You are nothing. I couldn't understand how a no one like you could have stopped me."

Ron drew his wand. "That's because I'm more than that. I am going to ask you only one more time: where is Hermione?"

"She's around," answered Magus as he drew his wand. "I doubt you know how to use that wand as well as you do later on."

"You'd be surprise at what I can do," retorted Ron. "Expelliarmus!"

Harry wouldn't allow them to throw him out of the infirmary as soon as he dropped Jared off there. He insisted on staying as Madame Pomfrey went to work. The only thing she could do to get rid of him was to send him off to go and get Professor Dumbledore. Harry stood there just looking at what they were doing. Professor Snape joined them as Professor De Luca started to question Harry about what had happened.

Harry wasn't giving any good answers because he was watching as Professor Snape and the Headmaster were assisting Madame Pomfrey. She had managed to stop the bleeding, but they were now administering something else. It looked they were going to have Jared's blood taken and cleaned out like what had been done to him before. They were having so much difficult because Jared was fading in and out.

"Ron's out there," Professor De Luca. "Which way did he go, Harry?"

"He went towards the forest," said Harry, nearly sounding frantic. "I didn't exactly which way he went, but I had to bring Jared here. Hermione's in trouble. Can't you see that! How can you stand here and ask questions? His parents are in trouble you have to get out there and help Ron. I promised Ron that I wouldn't leave Jared. I can't leave him." Harry glanced over at Jared for a moment as he thought about what he had to do. The thought of losing his friends was overwhelming. He had to do something. Anything to keep them alive. "It hasn't snowed yet, there should still be some tracks."

Professor De Luca nodded. He glanced at Professor Snape who was freed up for a moment. "Severus. Come with me. Harry, you stay here."

"I'm not going anywhere," said Harry firmly.

Professor Snape looked to Professor Dumbledore for a moment who gave a nod, "Go Severus. You've already done you work on the potion. I will remain here. Harry, you can help me. Come on, hold Jared down once the blood has been cleaned enough. The treatment I've devised will be very painful. You'll need to hold him down."

Harry nodded and walked up to the bed. He touched Jared's hand and felt how cold it was. Professor Dumbledore gave him enough room to get up close enough. "It's going to be all right, Jared. I'm here. I'm not going anywhere, but you've got to stay with me, too. Don't leave," he whispered. "You've made it this far. You've got to keep fighting."

Ron wasn't able to get the wand away from Magus who was threw a spell at him. Ron was able to block it. He pulled back away from him. "I wasn't foolish enough to keep any daggers with poison lying around, Weasley. No, I have learned from my mistakes."

"Obviously, you haven't learned enough," retorted Ron, "Flipedo!" He was going to have to come up with something. He thought back to all the lessons that year with Professor De Luca and all the DA meetings. He remembered how Harry told him some of the things he was learning from Professor Snape. After finding out that someone was after him, Ron started pouring over the books that Harry. He had to come up with a plan and he had to do it fast.

The spell had succeeded in knocking Magus off his feet by flipping him over. Magus got back on his feet, he was bleeding from the mouth. "You are right about one thing, Weasley! The longer it takes to fight me the less you have a chance of saving her! And if I'm dead, then there's no way you'll find her in time!"

"You will tell me where she is, or so help me I will do what I have to get what I want," snarled Ron. "I won't let you kill her and Jared. You're not taking my family away from me!" He flicked his wand and arrows spewed out of it nearly, hitting Magus. "You are a coward. You're trying to kill off the Muggles because you are one. That's the worst part of it. You hate yourself so much that you want to destroy everything. I won't let you win! Let's see if you can cast any spells without a voice."

To Magus' surprise, Ron came up to him faster than he could have imagined. Up till this point, Ron was pulling back defensively. "Silencio!" shouted Ron, using a jabbing motion with his wand. Magus pulled back, he opened his mouth to speak and grabbed at his throat. "I don't need you to have a voice to tell me where Hermione is." He gripped the wrist of Magus, causing him to drop his wand. As soon as Magus had dropped his wand, Ron grabbed him by the throat, making his eyes practically pop out of their sockets. Ron whispered with his wand pointed at Magus' chest, "Legilimens."

Just as Ron had expected, Magus wasn't expecting that from him. Ron braced himself for what was going to happen. He had never done that to anyone before and never really had a chance to practice it. He had to get past all the horrible and disturbing images that were in embedded in the mind of a murder. Ron felt it overwhelming him until he got to a point where he had to get what he wanted.

"Where are you taking me?" asked Hermione. "What is it that you want? What about Jared?"

"This isn't about you or your whelp," spat Magus. "This is about his father. You are just bait to draw him out. When I am done with him, he'll have nothing left. Then, I'll kill him."

Hermione was afraid as she continued walking. Then as they got to the edge of the forest, she broke off running. She wasn't going to get very far. Magus transformed into his Animagus form and took flight above her. He landed right in front of her. She screamed and pulled out her wand. "Stay away from me!" she shouted.

"It's over now. You will comply," said Magus as he pointed his wand at her chest. "Imperio." Hermione struggled to fight it, but Magus used his wand and said more forcefully, "Imperio. You see I'm not concerned about Azkaban because I already have a life sentence there. Thanks to him. He didn't even have the courtesy of killing me. And I thought he was the only one worthy of the game. What a disappointment. He's an embarrassment to his pureblood class, marrying out, and bring forth an abomination. I will purge the world of such weakness. Come."

Magus led Hermione along towards the lake. He put the bubble head charm on her head and used his wand to cut a hole in the ice. "Jump in," he whispered into her ear. Hermione's body moved slowly and she walked right into the hole and sunk under. "If the charm doesn't break, you'll freeze to death in the water, but if it does, then you'll drown. Either way, I get what I want." He used his wand to seal up the ice.

Ron released Magus from his grip. "I won't give you the satisfaction of killing you, but I won't let you ever hurt anyone again," he said. "All you'll have is time." With that Ron, pulled at the chain that was around Magus' neck and got the Time Turner. "I'll see to that." He let it drop to the ground and crushed it under his feet.

He heard the sound of foot steps coming up to him. He turned around and let go of Magus completely. He saw Professor Snape and Professor De Luca coming up to him. "You can have him," said Ron. "I need to go to Hermione."

Ron took off running as fast as he could. He had to get back to the lake. Worst yet, it was starting to snow. He wouldn't be able to see the trail much longer. He kept going until he reached the lake. The more shallow parts were completely froze over. Ron had to figure out where Hermione was under the ice. "Hermione!" shouted Ron at the top of his lungs. "HERMIONE! Come on, show me where you are!"

A thought came to him, he pulled out the comb that was still in his pocket. He didn't mention it, but he had bought the combs in Diagon Alley. The salesperson told him that the comb would light up to find its pair if they were separated. It wasn't glowing before, but Ron covered it with his hand, which was getting colder and colder. "Come on, show me where your partner is," he whispered. "Come on." There was still light out. It was too bright to see anything. Ron put his wand away for the moment and covered his other hand, so that he could see. It was glowing now. Ron looked around, searching for a light blue glow. He walked along the edge and looked as hard as he could.

Then, he suddenly saw it. There was a faint blue light not too far from him. He went up to the ice and drew his wand. He used a spell to blast through the ice. Ron pulled off his out of cloak and jumped into the water. "Lumos." He lit his wand before he went under the water so that he could find her faster. He dove under the water, immediately feeling the cold. He swam as deep as he could looking all round.

He saw the blue light. He saw that she was tangled among the weeds. The bubble head charm was still in place, but he knew that she must have been nearly frozen. Ron swam up to her and tried to pull her from the weeds, but he couldn't get her loose. He saw the bubble head charm flicker out. Bubbles were escaping from her lips. His eyes widened and he pressed his mouth against hers and forced air through. He swam back up and took a deep breath. He swam back down and pressed his lips against hers again, then went back up. He used his wand to make a bubble head for himself before going back down a third time.

Ron went down to Hermione's legs, seeing that it was her cloak that was caught on the weeds. He went back up to her neck and freed her from her cloak. He pulled her close and swam upwards. When he got to the top, he burst through and took off the bubble head charm. She wasn't breathing. He carried her out of the water completely. "Hermione?" he said, as he checked her pulse. He pointed his wand at her and said, "Ennervate!" The spell didn't work.She wasn't breathing. "Come on, breathe. Come on," he pleaded. He grabbed his cloaked and wrapped around her ice cold body.

Professor De Luca was headed towards them. He had Snape bring Magus back to the castle. "Ron! You found her!" shouted De Luca. "Is she alive?"

"Her pulse is slowly. She's not breathing. I gave her some air while we were under the water," answered Ron anxiously. "Do something!"

"You need to keep breathing for her. I'll do the chest compressions," instructed Professor De Luca. "Professor Snape has gone back to the castle. He should be alerting someone to come and help us." He adjusted Hermione's body and further instructed, "You will give her three breaths and I will do the compressions. We'll alternate until she either regains consciousness or we get some help."

Ron nodded and they started. They went on for three tries until Hermione started to respond. She started cough and Ron pulled away from her. "Ron?" she asked. "What's going on?"

"It's all right. You're all right," answered Ron as held on to her. "We're going back to the castle now."

"What happened to the man? What about Jared?" asked Hermione.

"He won't hurt you anymore," answered Ron. "Jared's going to be fine." He picked her up and suddenly felt cold, but his cloak was around her instead.

Professor De Luca urged, "Let's go back before we get completely covered in snow." Ron nodded as Hermione closed her eyes again. Professor De Luca led them back to the castle as Ron kept Hermione steady. When they got to the castle, the other students were getting ready to go down to dinner. Ginny's eyes widened as she saw her brother, carrying Hermione.

"What happened?" asked Ginny.

"We have to go to the infirmary," answered Ron. "I'll tell you later."

"Did you find Jared?" asked Ginny after him as she started to follow him to the infirmary. "Oh my God, what's going on?"

Madame Pomfrey looked at Ron as he stared at what was going on with Jared. Harry was holding down his shoulders as his body shook. Professor Dumbledore was pouring some more potion down Jared's throat. "Set her down on a bed over there," ordered Madame Pomfrey. Ron hesitated for a moment, but did as he was done.

"What's going on with Jared? What are you doing to him?" demanded Ron.

"Mr. Weasley, you're soaking wet. Come here," insisted Madame Pomfrey. She took a blanket out and wrapped it around him. Ron struggled against her. "I'll get some potions for both you. You lay down."

"I don't need to lay down," said Ron defiantly. He asked again, "What are you doing to him?"

"Saving his life," answered Professor Dumbledore. "I have figured out what will cure him. He didn't tell you that he had a relapse of the blood poisoning, did he? He wasn't taking the potion that he was supposed to be taking regularly in order to keep this from happening. He didn't even have a sample of it."

Ron's eyes widened as he jaw dropped. He felt Ginny tugging at his arm. "Ron. You need to get some rest. You can tell us what happened later. Please." He let Ginny guide him to a bed next to Hermione. Madame Pomfrey came and gave him some Pepperup Potion along with Hermione who went right back to sleep. Professor Dumbledore drew the curtains close to keep Ron from watching.

Ginny stayed by her brother's side as they waited. "I guess you found him."

"And he dealt with him, too," said Professor Snape. "Mr. Weasley, have you ever done that before? Have you ever used Legilimency before tonight?"

"No," answered Ron as he glanced at Hermione. "Can we talk about this someplace else?"

"Ron, are you sure you can get around right now?" asked Ginny. "You should change your clothes."

"Yes," said Ron as he got off the bed. "I'll change my clothes and meet you at your classroom, Professor Snape. Ginny, stay here and if anything happens, come and get me." She chose not to argue with him and just nodded.

Ron went all the way back to the dorms and changed clothes. Ignoring all the strange looks at him. He went straight back to the dungeons and saw that not only Professor Snape was waiting for him, but so was Professor De Luca and Professor Dumbledore. "Where did you put him?" asked Ron. "Where'd you put Magus?"

"We put him in one of the towers, but I doubt he will be able to do anything," replied Professor Snape. "Now, will you answer my question, Mr. Weasley?"

Ron nodded and looked away from him for a moment. "I never did it until tonight," he answered. "I never even had a chance to practice it. I just had to do it."

"Do you have any idea how difficult it is to do that type of spell?" asked Professor De Luca. "Especially at your age and skill level without any practice of any kind?"

"Did you take off the silencing charm I put on him?" asked Ron. "Did you?

"I did, but it won't do him any good to speak. When you went into his mind, you stayed for too long. When you do this type of magic, you only gather what you can see and what you can correctly interpret. What you did, was so deep that you scrambled him from the inside," explained Professor Snape.

Ron swallowed. "I didn't know that."

"The thing is that one never knows how long a person will stay like that," said Professor Dumbledore. "You took his Time Turner, didn't you?"

"I destroyed it. He's stuck," replied Ron coldly. "He didn't give me much of a choice. He wanted me to kill him and I didn't want to do that. What will become of him now?"

"We will find a place to put him," said Professor Dumbledore. "He will most likely be placed in St. Mungo's in the ward for mental illness, but as Professor Snape pointed out, he could come out of it at any moment."

"Then, we'll have to come up with something more permanent," said Professor De Luca. "We'll have to do a mind wipe."

Professor Snape nodded in agreement. The Headmaster looked at Ron and said, "You may go now."

"Thank you," said Ron and he exited the room. As soon as he was gone, Professor Dumbledore turned his attention back to his fellow teachers. He observed, "It seems that Ron Weasley will be a very powerful Auror when he comes of age." They nodded and soon left.


AN: Harry chooses to stay with Jared. It is something that links up to how his relationship with his own godfather was like. Ron has come through, but Jared's survival is yet to be determined. But the story is almost done. Ron was rather severe with what he did to Magus and even if Ron doesn't get the satisfaction of Magus remembering what he has done, at least he'll be gone.

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