Disclaimer: Hey Harry, you're so fine! You're so fine, you blow my mind! Hey Harry! Hey, hey, Hey Harry! That directly translates to I don't own any of this.
Insanity-of-the-owl, Siriusly-0bessed: Yeah he's evil and it's here to stay. Muahaha. LOL...But don't worry there is much info on Ron to come.
mystikalolo: It is odd to see Ron so...evil. But there is so much more that'll happen. It was oddly creepy when Ron was calling to Harry. Hah...Anastasia? Hmm...
kamplified: Yeah it isn't as 'exciting' but I wonder...Dumbledore seems to be a big part of it 'cause he's on the US and the UK/Canada covers. Edmund knows battle techniques. I supposed it could be kung-fu even to some extent.
Taurus 07: No I didn't mention what happened to Ron but you'll find out soon.
bethzc: Hehe. Enjoy evil Ron. I can't reveal this fate just yet. But you remind me of my friend Sandy if that doesn't sound too weird.
daddysgirl101989: I know. It's so breathtakingly different then how I usually read him as. Yeah I knew it was the first time I used the 'eff' word. ((gasp)) The wand actually belonged to Hagrid. And truth be told I never thought of the baseball option you mentioned LOL. Sometimes I can be a real dunce.
UltimateHPFreak: Coolios. I wish I could go to Paris! I go to a french immersion school too so that kind of increases my urge.
Thanks to:hjchick,VaterVonMelkor, dancerrdw, mysticofthepen, Geeter, anonymous and PinkyTheSnowman.
'When life gives you oranges throw them back and ask for lemons'-Unknown
Harry and Luna found themselves tunneling out into a dusty cellar. It was piled with boxes and boxes of goods. Luna was the first one out and therefore she was the one who helped pull Harry out from the darkness. Even if the cellar, itself, was dark, it was still much lighter than the darkness of the tunnel. Harry was rather glad to finally be getting some fresh air and breathed it in happily.
They had spent what seemed like hours in the tunnel, crawling all the way here to what seemed to be a store. Footsteps and muffled voices could be heard from above. Luna straightened and dusted some dirt off her robes. She was covered from head to toe in a musky colored dirt and her usually blonde hair was looking rather gray. She stared at him curiously for a moment as if wanting to ask him something. She ended up turning away from him and looking around the room. She was assessing their situation, which while better than it had been an hour or two ago was still not looking every good. Ron and his Death Eaters could be anywhere at this time. Perhaps even above them. Waiting eagerly for Harry and Luna to appear. As far as Harry knew Ron could know the secret path just as well as him.
"Harry," Luna spoke after a while, "I think I see a door and stairs leading upstairs."
"Really, where?" Harry crinked his neck while looking around.
Luna pointed it out and Harry had to blink a few times to notice it in all the dust and dark. But there it was. It looked like it couldn't handle much weight on it though. Luna strolled over to it and rubbed a finger down a stair, leaving a streak of shiny wood. Her finger however was now thick with a layer of dust.
"You wait here while I go check the upper level," Luna said, beginning to climb the steps.
"Wha-? Wait!" Harry called to her, "I can't just let you go alone. The Death Eaters might be waiting."
"That's exactly the reason why I have to go along," Luna smiled, continuing on her own merry way.
"But I can't let them just catch you while I wait here helplessly," Harry tried to reason with her.
He would feel guilt beyond anything if Luna go caught by Death Eaters. More so if she got killed. The chance of that was growing minute by minute. However, she seemed not to have a care in the world. Actually she seemed almost calm and serene even with their current situation. Harry wondered briefly if perhaps he should just knock her out and go on searching around for himself. Maybe then the chances of them getting out of the situation with both their lives would be more likely.
"You don't seem to understand how important you are," Luna responded to his desperation, "But I suppose you haven't gotten there yet in your lessons?"
Harry resisted the urge to ask her what she was talking about, "But if you leave me here the Death Eaters could come out of the tunnel. I'm not quite sure but I have a feeling Ron might know where the secret passage is and where it leads."
Luna eyed him for a minute and Harry was downcast to see that she didn't seem to buy his excuse very much. However, she just held out her hand for him to take. He did and she pulled him up the stairs. With their combined force they pushed the door above them open. Dust fell all over their already filthy heads and a spider fell to the ground.
"Well if you want to come that bad, might as well," Luna shrugged, crawling out, silently.
She placed a finger to her lips to keep him quiet as if he didn't already know how big of a friend silence was to them at this moment. She helped heave him out of the cellar and was the one to shut its way gently. Obviously she had done a lot of spying and sneaking around in her day. She bent down close to the ground and dragged herself along on her elbows behind the counters. She motioned for him to follow.
They were obviously in some back room of a restaurant or some kind of shop. Luna and Harry made their way towards a slightly opened door. Luna checked the creak, a pale line of light following on her face. Her face showed no expressions so Harry was utterly confused about whether or not they were surrounded by Death Eaters.
"Well?" Harry demanded, getting impatient, "What do you see?"
"It's just what I thought," Luna nodded, sensibly.
Harry stared at her in disbelief for a second. She was crazy.
"What's that supposed to mean!" he whispered, harshly.
Luna blinked once and glanced at him as if noticing him for the first time.
"Oh Harry, could you repeat yourself?" Luna asked, simply.
Harry fought the urge to argue with her and repeated himself as calmly and coolly as possible, "Could you please tell me what it is you see out there? Any Death Eaters?"
Luna chanced another glance out of the door, "Now look at that. Very polite way to put it. See, Harry? You'll always catch more bees with honey than vinegar."
Harry suddenly felt tricked rather badly. Yet he had the element to feel ashamed of himself.
"Well it's obviously Gorgons. People are drinking, shady characters of course. No Death Eaters," Luna went on.
Harry sighed a breath of relief.
"Don't," Luna suggested, "There's still danger. Every single one of those people out there are servants of the Dark Lord. And when they see you...they'll eat you alive."
Harry looked at her to see if she was jesting. But her face was entirely serious. A small crease had formed on her forehead. For once she seemed almost worried. However Harry had a feeling it wasn't for her life but his.
He felt like a little kid saying this but-, "What're we going to do?"
Luna felt staring out of the door for a tad longer. Finally she reached up for the doorknob and shut the door. She had a way with her hands because just as when she'd shut the door to the cellar, it made no creak as this door closed. Not a sound. Just the softest of clicks which were hardly anything above the rowdy noise outside.
"Do you have a hood?" Luna questioned.
"Yeah, at the back of my robe," Harry said, bending his arm back and reaching for it.
"Good. Put it on," Luna supplied, "We need to cammoflauge as best as we can. Hoods pulled over our faces are a good cover. We'll fit right in."
Harry nodded and tugged his hood over his head. He tried to hide as much of his face as possible. Luna did the same with hers. The shadow over their faces were a welcome.
"After we get out of the back, we leave the pub as fast as possible," Luna stated, "As soon as we leave we flag down the Knight Bus. From there it's straight to Headquarters."
Harry agreed, "But why don't you just morph us using magic?"
Luna smiled, "I don't know how to do that. I dropped out of Hogwarts in sixth year."
Harry mouthed an 'O' as he was not quite sure how to respond to that. Somehow he felt guilty for that too. Luna seemed to have moved past that little snippet and opened the door once again. Her eyes grazed the outer reaches of the room. Finally she dared to begin a short crawl out of the room. Harry followed suit and his ears met with loud, wild noise. Glass breaking, wizards yelling, drinks splashing around, a witch singing, furniture crashing.
Harry closed his eyes and tried to imagine himself back at Headquarters where Padma often brought him a nice cup of something warm at this time. Where he experienced the occasion special visit for Hermione. Where Luna often often played wizard's chess with him not slinked around like a spy. Whenever he played chess with Luna, she always lost. Her flaw was the fact that she let her soldiers order her around. She always tried to meet with their expectations and never chose a solid direction. She was always in the middle. Harry knew she needed to rise to her full potential and become the leader she was meant to be with her chess followers. That and she just didn't care. For the strangest reason that message seemed to delve deep under his skin.
Lucky for them they managed to make it around the counter without anybody taking real notice. Luna jumped up, quickly, keeping her hood in place. Harry had to move more slowly or else his hood would've fallen off. The sight he saw was not inviting. Wizards and witches fought with each other, mercilessly. Vulgar others gorged themselves with alcohol and food.
"I recognize this place," Harry breathed into Luna's ear, "It's...Honeydukes, isn't it?"
Luna nodded, solemnly, giving the impression to all others that they were talking of something very dodgy.
"What happened to this place?" Harry inquired, moving closer to Luna as a rather large, drunk witch swaggered past.
"Well, the Dark Lord wasn't too keen on candy shoppes," Luna clarified, stiffening her collar, "Come now. We've lingered long enough. I'm going for the exit. Follow me and don't make eye contact."
Luna moved ahead, going swift and quick. Harry followed, trying to maintain her speed. He found it oddly difficult to avoid eye contact with the various people standing about, fighting with one another. Out of nowhere a chair with a white bearded man fell in his way and another man pounced on it. Harry gulped and took a way around it. Luna was far ahead by now and almost at the door. Harry picked up the paced and started to jog. Unfortunately the sudden burst of speed caused his hood to fall off.
Since almost every other person was either hooded or scary looking enough without a hood, they all turned to the odd person out. Immediately Harry could tell trouble was about to ensue.
"Bloody hell, it's Harry Potter!" one of them cried.
"You blistering idiot! Harry Potter's dead," another shouted.
"Aye, and an idiot he was to disobey the all mighty Dark Lord," a third added.
A tall, gangly, one shouted a spell which blasted Harry with a full blast of cold wind. His robes and hair went flying everywhere.
"He has the scar!" the man who had laid the curse exclaimed, "Get him!"
There was a mad scurry as every single person in the room rushed to get their hands on Harry Potter. Luna was prepared and hexed her heart out.
"Protego! Expelliarmus!" she cried, many of the people went flying all over the room.
Luna took the oppurtunity to grab Harry and run like mad. Bells chimed as they made their exit. Harry knew that people would already be coming to with a brand new hatred for him as the cool night air met his face.
"Luna! Luna! Are we going to call the Knight Bus?" Harry called, as they ran along the streets of Hogsmeade.
"No time for that," Luna breathed out, "We'll make for a place nearby that I know."
Harry looked over his shoulder and noticed a wild herd of Gorgon-goers chasing after them. He turned back to the front just in time to see Luna pull him into a dark, side alley. They pressed themselves up against the dank walls as the violent people rampaged the streets looking for them. Fortunately they passed by and Harry and Luna went undetected.
"Harry, this way," Luna whispered, leading him out the other mouth of the alley.
They came upon a few risque hills. Luna started to climb by with him in the rear. Harry's heart pounded in his ears as he heard yelling from the town below. Evidently the drunks were waking up all the rest of Hogsmeade as well to warn them of Harry's visit.
It was not an easy venture going up those hills. The grass was long and itchy. The slope was steep. And worst of all, the summit kept getting farther and farther away from them. Yet somehow, after what seemed like hours to Harry, they reached the top where they were met by-nothing?
"Luna," Harry sighed in exasperation, "There's nothing here!"
Luna grinned, "Not quite. But welcome to the Caves of the DA. Or better known as Les cavernes de l'armes du Dumbledore. I am the Secret Keeper."
Out of nowhere a bunch of caves popped out of the grassy outbacks. Luna smiled, softly, at the surprise evident on Harry's face. She led him closer towards the caves which were beginning to resemble small cottages. He noticing a round, wooden door and watched as Luna leaned in and opened it. The cottage, itself, was much larger on the inside than it was on the outside. A fireplace was blazing and a kettle was boiling tea. It was already perfectly homely and welcoming for the two travelers.
Luna didn't wait long before rushing over towards a vase over the fireplace and grabbing a handful of white sand in her arm. Harry felt the name appear in his mind as he watched the white powdery substance slip through Luna's fingers. Floo Powder.
"I remember this. It's a way to communicate. Sort of like a telephone sometimes," Harry mumbled, stepping forward.
"Tele-what?" Luna questioned, an eyebrow raised.
Harry shook his head to signify a nevermind moment.
She thrust it in the fire and it turned blue instantly. And was about to kneel forward when-
"Is it safe to be doing that?" Harry asked, unnerved.
Luna moved back, "No, why?"
"Well-phone lines can sometimes be watched, isn't it like that with this Floo Powder stuff?" Harry supplied, hoping he wasn't just wasting time.
"Yes," Luna agreed, "The Dark Lord keeps track of every fireplace that he knows of."
With that Luna restarted adding powder into the fire. It sprung up and turned blue. Harry backed away a bit and stared at it unblinkingly. He wasn't sure that the Floo Network was his favourite way to travel.
"You first, Harry," Luna gestured towards the fire, "Say Number 12 Grimmauld Place clearly or else you'll get lost."
Harry was none too eager to step into a large fire but he did it eventually. He tried not to cough too much and quickly repeated what Luna had said before having some ashes jam down his throat. The oh so familiar swirling began and he was lost in a fit of coughs.
Ron was not very pleased to be returning to the Ministry of Magic. Especially since he'd obviously have to reveal his failure at capturing Potter to him. There was no point in lying and no matter how much he covered it up Voldemort would know. He always knew
Once when Ron was a fresh Death Eater he knew a senior Death Eater called Lipped-Lucas. Now one day Lucas was sent on a mission by the Dark Lord to snub out a Ministry worker (these were in the days before the Dark Lord reigned). In the end Lucas had snubbed out the Ministry worker but instead of Avada Kedavra it ended up being a fluke fall off a bridge. Muggles and even a witch were witness to it.
Now Lucas was excellent at lying and lie he did to the Dark Lord claiming he'd killed the Ministry worker off properly. All would've gone smoothly if the person he had been lying to was anyone but the Dark Lord. He knew instantly and Lucas was dealt with in the worst possible way. Soon he was known as No-Lips Lucas instead. Voldemort still kept those lips in his chambers as a kind of warning to any one who dared to speak falsehoods to him.
Ron decided that anything would be taken better than lies. They had finally trudged into the Ministry and Ron dismissed all of his Death Eaters. It was better to get his gloomy talk with the Dark Lord over with it now.
He headed towards the chambers, feeling dread loom ever closer. He had never felt his way before entering the Dark Lord's room. He hardly had a defeat to announce and today...was just an off day was all.
He opened the door and saw Voldemort sitting on his high chair with a goblet in his hand. Red wine. That was all the Dark Lord ever drank. It reminded him of human blood, he'd told Ron once. At the time of hearing it he'd found it rather amusing, but now, for some reason, he saw how really revolting that statement was.
He entered and stood straight beside the Dark Lord's chair or rather throne. Apparent Voldemort had been waiting for him because he took not too long to speak.
"Weasley, Weasley, Weasley," Voldemort said, "You've disappointed me, Weasley."
So he already knew. Ron should've known. He hung his head in shame.
"Why, is it Weasley, that you fail this one simple task while succeeding in all others much more difficult than this?" Voldemort asked, softly but Ron could sense danger on his tone.
"I don't know, sir," he replied, not meeting his gaze.
"But I do," Voldemort smirked, "Potter."
Ron was about to open his mouth to protest but one glare from Voldemort shushed him, "Don't stress over it, Weasley. It had happened to me many times before too. You believe yourself to be the superior going into the battle but once in it, Potter changes everything. The sky is the limit for him and he has a speciality at pulling off miracles. One too many times have I thought him dead to see him return again."
Ron remained silent. It was uncalled for the Dark Lord to actually admitt that someone else sometimes had the upper hand when dealing with the All Mighty Lord Voldemort. Yet Potter always seemed to be in a category all his own.
"But, believe me, we are both upped by Potter in different. He gets to me because he is something I do not understand all times. Even he does not know it but he is more powerful than any other Death Eater I have. I see you getting heated up Weasley and yes, Potter is much more powerful than you could ever dream of being," Voldemort said, swishing his goblet to stir the drink, "But the thing with you...he gets to you. You are too emotionally connected to him. Whenever it negative emotions or positive ones."
Ron resisted to burst out in disagreement. Him? Emotionally connected to Potter? Hah. Now that was a joke. He couldn't care what happened to Potter.
"Do not deny it," Voldemort continued, as if reading his mind, "So I have explained to you now why I'm taking you off the Potter case."
"NO!" Ron cried out in anguish.
Even the Dark Lord seemed surprised by his reaction and raised an eyebrow, "And tell me why not?"
"Please, give me a chance and I promise I'll catch him," Ron begged, "I couldn't stand another Death Eater handing him over to you. And you know that if I can't catch him none of those other dunces can."
Voldemort stared at him, "Draco Malfoy and Theodore are quickly catching up to your potential so do not flatter yourself Weasley."
Ron sighed. Draco Malfoy? He was so very dodgy and wasn't even around half the time. Ron couldn't bring himself to trust that idiotic spoilt brat.
"But, I will let you a second chance," Voldemort dismissed him, "And do not disgrace me again."
Ron felt the Dark Lord's chambers rather shaken up. He had never been less confident with where he stood at the league of the Death Eaters. He had always been part of the Death Eaters Six. The High Six. Yet now...his Lord believed him to be attached to Potter. Worse yet he thought him to have feelings for Potter. How presumptious! All he felt when he thought of Potter was greed, spite, and overall hate. When he caught Potter would be the crowning glory of his career.
He would never dare to admitt to himself over the tiniest of under laying emotions which recalled perhaps a tinge of guilt and companionship.
Author's Note: Hey! Sorry for the long update. Couldn't be avoided sadly.
This shit is bananas! B-A-N-A-N-A-S!
We've got a long way to go!
Thanks for listening to the winky-rant!
xoxo
winky-wink