Guilt and Innocence

Ron felt his stomach tighten as his friend spoke the name of the traitor, the name of his baby sister. A cold sweat took over him and he felt like he wanted to be sick but he managed to control the urge.

What hurt him the most though was the fact that he instantly believed it, he didn't for one second even consider that Hermione was lying to him. He'd been through so much with her, loved her to much to think that she would lie.

Out of the corner of his eye he could see the reaction of the man sitting in the chair next to his. The man had paled although he wouldn't have considered that impossible before, the man's hands were shaking slightly and he looked up to meet Ron's gaze.

"We can't let her get to the battle."

A bang made the pair turn Harry was on his feet and had kicked the cupboard next to the bed. His eyes were glazed and Ron remembered a very similar look worn by another falsely imprisoned man and how he had looked for revenge being denied it to the last.

"Let me deal with her."

"Harry no, you can't."

"Hermione she framed me, she wrecked my life turned everyone against me and killed Neville, I'll kill her."

Ron shook his head he could see tears in Hermione's eyes. They both knew that if he got hold of Ginny he would be sent back to Azkaban for the rest of his days. There was another way to handle this.

"Think about it Harry. Do you remember our third year and when Sirius faced Peter?"

"Yeah look how well that worked out."

"Do you remember what you told him?"

A puzzled look came over his face and Ron was surprised that Hermione wore a similar look to the man. In his life it wasn't often when Ron remembered things that Hermione didn't.

"Harry you told him that your dad wouldn't want him to become a murderer because of Wormtail. Now I'm telling you Neville won't want you to be a murderer because of her. We'll send her to Azkaban make her spend the rest of her life there, let her rot away in jail."

Silence followed his words and it was a lucky thing too as behind the door the sound of footsteps echoed through the empty hallway.

"Hermione quick lay back in the bed and pretend not to be awake, Harry get behind that curtain."

It was done quickly and as the door opened Ron sat back on the chair as if in conversation with Remus. The pair turned slightly to see Luna and Ginny enter and Ron felt his stomach contract. He loved his sister and couldn't help but wonder what had happened to make her switch sides.

"Ron we brought you some toast."

He smiled at Luna as she showed him the stack in her hand however she made no motion to move. An idea developed suddenly in his mind they needed Luna to move away from Ginny otherwise she too could become an instant casualty.

"Luna a young boy came in while you were out. He's feeling a bit rough I told him to lay on that bed there, you'd better take a look."

She raised an eyebrow at him but he couldn't give her anymore of a reaction since Ginny was studying him closely. As she got in line with him he looked at his sister as the words left his lips.

"How could you?"

He wasn't surprised by the blankness or the confused look she wore but it suddenly left her as Hermione sat up in the bed and the curtains around the 'sick boy' opened to reveal Harry. His two friends were by his side in seconds and Remus too got to his feet.

"You framed me Weasley, why?"

"Isn't it obvious Potter I wanted you out of the way. With you gone our Lord was free to rid the world of filth like the mudblood you always protected."

"Ginny I don't understand why did you do it? Our family –"

"What? Our family was always against him, yeah and look where it got them the fools. Nobody will survive when my Lord comes here today he will kill you all and I will be at his right hand, his favourite."

"You were my friend, Neville's friend. You're not the girl we knew."

"No Potter, I grew up. What surprised? I was an idiot child, the baby always following and never standing out. Merlin I couldn't even get you to notice me, no you only noticed my brother and the mudblood. Well I don't care I'll kill you all."

Ron watched as she reached into her pocket to draw out her wand but Luna was quicker, maybe it was something a Healer had to practice, pulling out ones wand at speed. He heard the woman yell a curse that he had never heard before.

Before his eyes his sister's skin turned purple her eyes bulged and blue boils sprouted over her face. She dropped the wand quickly and fell to the floor.

"Lovegood my master will get you for this."

Then to his amazement her eyes dropped and she was unconscious.

"What was that?"

Remus' face looked as shocked as he guessed his own was and all four were looking at the Healer.

"It's a rather nasty disease known as rainbow fever. It won't kill her but until she's given an antidote she won't wake up so we don't have to worry about her during the battle."

Ron looked at his sister she looked peaceful and almost sweet. He couldn't believe that she was the same girl he had grown up with, she wasn't Ginny Weasley she was something else a monster that Voldemort had made.

"What's all this about the battle?"

Ron looked at Hermione she was white and now looked rather ill he wanted to wrap his arms around her and put her back into bed to rest but she looked on determined as Harry answered her.

"Voldemort is on his way, he'll be here within the next hour. The final battle is upon us."