Title: Kaleidoscope
Part: II
Author: Cugami
Pairing: Ron/Draco
Summary: Alternate Universe. Ron is a mortal who made an Immortal Draco bleed mortal blood.
Disclaimer: Harry Potter Series copyrighted to JK Rowling and Warner Bros. Kaleidoscope World lyrics are by Francis Magalona.

A/N: Well, it's been months since I wrote the first part. I will be continuing this but it will be slow in coming as I am rather busy trying to finish college. Part I is still the same, but with a few corrections on typos before. Thanks for reading. :)

Some are mad, while others laugh
Some live alone with no better half
Others grieve while others curse
And others mourn behind a big black hearse

Kaleidoscope World by Francis Magalona

"Reconsider."

All the movement ceased inside the room. The clothes stopped folding, the shoes still in mid-air, including the young man who was orchestrating the activity earlier. One heartbeat, then two, and finally, the blur of activities resumed until all the suitcases closed and locked themselves. Ron's face contorted into an uncharacteristic scowl as he turned to look at his visitor, a young lady whose voice of command could literally send a great number of men to bend their wills. It was a good thing that they had been long friends. Nonetheless, he still didn't like that tone of voice.

"We've discussed this a number of times. Yes, I have to go home. No, I don't want to live in the palace. No, I will not change my mind. Yes, I am leaving today."

The stiffness of her posture was an indication that this would be another long and relentless debate. Without the long gown Hermione used for the formal Introduction with the god, she looked less elegant but every bit as graceful in wearing a simple set of white tunic and gray pants. She made her way inside, each step light but purposeful; it almost reminded Ron of when they fought in the Great War and she was in espionage before climbing to a high enough rank where she was no longer in the field.

She placed a hand on his arm and said, tiredly, "Be practical. You're the captain and it would be much safer if you stay in Grimmauld instead of having to travel back and forth from Burrow."

And so, here they go again. "You forget. I'm a Wizard and a Pureblood. I have means of traveling that need not require long walks. You know the fastest way to send word to me and there are guards all over the capital. They do their jobs well even without Quidditch to play officers."

She did not look convinced.

"Besides, what would you feel if you see knights walking around the capital everyday?" Ron shook his head, "Think about it. The presence of Quidditch tend to make people think there might be something wrong in Grimmauld. War's over, Hermione."

"You fought the war on our side. Your family did, too. I don't see why…" Sighing, she gave Ron a look that said she would not drop this thoroughly. There was unease among the people when the highest of all ranking guards were around. The Quidditch were made up of Pureblood knights. It played a déjà vu among the ordinary people, Muggles, that there was a power not everyone was gifted with.

Much as the three of them had tried to bring together all three races, the Pureblood and the Muggle just could not get along. The world that belonged to the Muggleborn was the only neutral ground at the moment. Though the Muggle citizens felt comfortable with the Halfblood and the Muggleborn, the Pureblood was a whole other level.

"I'll leave my armor here. It's not needed where I live."

"It's not right, Ron."

"Hmm?"

"Your forefathers made all these things possible. And now, the Pureblood is the outcast in Hogwarts. Halfblood owe their existence to that time when the Pureblood crossed the wall to the Muggle. A Muggleborn like myself would not have gained what I know now if not for the teachings of the Pureblood, also."

"I would prefer not to use the word 'outcast' for the Pureblood, Hermione." Ron hoped this would end soon. He did not like arguing with Hermione, namely because she would find holes everywhere and she would prod and poke and find more things to argue about until he just gave in. He could never win.

Just then, Harry Potter, true to his name and reputation as the Hero, just walked in Ronald Weasley's room to do just that. Be a hero.

Ron smiled.

"Your sister's here, Ron."

"I'll go meet her. Hermione here…" Ron didn't bother to continue and slapped Harry's back on his way to the door. With a last glance at Hermione, he waved and left the room he hardly slept in. His luggage obediently followed its owner outside until the house elves picked everything up and whisked into thin air.

Hermione looked back and sighed. "Sometimes, I can't help but wonder, Harry."

"Don't. You'll have to understand and trust Ron on this. It's much safer to give the Pureblood a land of their own than have them live in the capital. They're welcome here, I gave them that reassurance. But, that's all I can do."

"Then the war concluded nothing. There's still conflict."

Harry looked at Hermione, "The dead no longer counts by the dozen per hour."

-

Ron walked along the corridors, past the statues, past the gallery of frozen paintings, past all the chandeliers that lined the ceiling and past all things that were glorious and unimaginably expensive decorations. At first, it was a welcome sight and an almost exuberant feeling to deserve such an elaborate lifestyle.

As all dreamers did, most tend to wake up. And he was very much awake after the quiet had settled from what seemed an endless war.

He felt arms around him all of a sudden and smiled down at his sister, "Hey Ginny. I wasn't going to be late for supper, you know. You didn't have to come and pick me up."

"It's been a week and I missed you." Her laughter was muffled in the fabric of his clothes. Pulling away but not entirely letting go, "Come, brother. I've brought the carriage despite Percy's protests. It's horse-drawn and not a magical creature, also, as per your request upon entering the capital. We'll take in the scenery on the way to the pier."

The smile on Ron's face faltered. All of them had grown accustomed to magic that to be denied of such was a handicap. But, in the capital, the less magic visible, the better. His sister dragged him all the way out where their carriage was waiting. Indeed, Ron noticed the two stallions.

One winked. And Ron knew they weren't real stallions. He shot Ginny a look.

"Well, they are normal looking stallions."

"That can sprout wings and a horn anytime." Ron sighed. He hoped the winged-unicorns would behave long enough before a Muggle hunter decided it would be profitable. "You know there's a reason why magical creatures are hardly seen near the capital, Ginny!"

Percy opened the door and cast his siblings an impatient glance, "Well? I don't have all day, you two. I still have taxes to collect after I drop you off."

Ginny sat across her two brothers, shaking her head. "Honestly. Percy, you work too much and it's rubbing on Ron."

"I told you, I could've just gone home on my own…" Sighing, Ron looked at his older brother as he closed the door. Something told him an escort like this didn't bode well. He was only gone for a week. What could have possibly gone wrong while he was at work?

The curtains were drawn the whole time and the ride was silent. Ron didn't want to ask what was wrong. Percy seemed busy enough with his ledger and Ginny fell asleep. He pulled the cloth a little to look outside and saw the citizens mingling about with their daily routine. An ordinary sight to an ordinary day except that these kids at play would be either be awed or scared if the 'horses' drawing the carriage began to fly.

They tried, they really did. But, it was hard to change people's world views. The Muggle thought the Pureblood were dangerous and most of the Pureblood thought the Muggle were barbaric and primitive.

At least people were no longer trying to kill each other and the war concluded with a truce, giving way for economic progress - as Percy had so succinctly put it. Since the races were more or less civil with each other right now, the only remaining problem was the presence of uncontrollable beasts outside the capital. Mostly Halfblood but those who failed to become entirely human or take human form - those Halfblood with more beast blood running through their veins and whose intellect could not be tamed and rationalized with the humans. It was a dirty job but it was something only Pureblood mages could handle. He certainly hoped the truth about the origins of these beasts would never reach Hermione's ears. Bad enough what had happened with the House Elves.

Grimmauld was the capital and safest place in Hogwarts, as people perceive it. The Pureblood live in another city, however. It was located in a different continent, separated entirely from the capital. The continent was magical, wild but safe to those who knew how to get around the Forbidden Forest that surrounded Burrow City.

Still, Ron could not help but brood. The carriage was slow and, indeed, they were taking their time in traveling. From the small partition between curtains, he could see the pier and the short queue of fellow Purebloods ready to leave the main continent for home. From what he could tell, nothing seemed amiss and he was ready to bang his head against the glass window to get rid of any paranoia. He could not shake off the feeling that his siblings were purposely hiding something from him or, at least, making a very short journey impossibly long.

Crossing the straight by a Muggle invention, a ship that relies on natural wind to set sail and the laboriously menial task of paddling through the unfriendly waters, irritated Ron. By and large, Ron was perfectly fine with this form of transportation but as of this point, he just wanted to arrive, slump in bed and sleep the rest of the afternoon. The long and bumpy ride inside a carriage, then the slowest transportation on water and worse, they still have to land on an island and transfer to a different boat that can cross through wards - Wizard invention, of course.

It took hours, to say the least. Ron was exceptionally tired of seeing nothing but water and was personally glad to feel the ship anchor. It was dusk when they arrived and it still took a while for their carriage to be brought out. Even the winged-unicorns looked glad to shred off the camouflage and extend their, no doubt, stiff wings. From the port to their land went much, much, faster and hardly a bump to make Ron's muscles ache more from being cramped in a box too long.

Bill was the first one to greet Ron when he entered their manor. He looked tired, Ron noted as he returned the hug. With them orphaned, it was up to Bill to be the head of house and it showed that their eldest did not like it much. The Weasley was an ancient clan, it's possible that they could trace their ancestry as far back as the early settlements were formed. Because of this ancestry, even though their current monetary situation could barely be considered grand, the name they carry could get them anywhere if they so chose to. Ron could gripe continuously why their family seemed to not use such privilege to its full advantage every time the sight of strife would come to his eyes, but most of the time he understood. Besides, he was the one who kept turning down the invitation to live the life of the king's best friend.

Theirs was a decent living, and it was enough.

"You must be tired," said Bill.

"You," Ron emphasized, "must be tired." He laughed and allowed himself to be dragged inside by Bill and pushed by Ginny. He was tired.

Just then, Fred bounded out of the fireplace with George, cheekily grinning at each other and at everyone in the room. "Mission accomplished." They chorused.

"Pansy, miraculously, didn't argue. She even looked apologetic and sent her sympathies that 'dear Ronald Weasley' had to travel the Muggle way. The council will be held tomorrow, though." George all but snorted the words out.

"Council?" Ron looked at Bill. Now, it was starting to make sense why they made sure he would arrive after dark.

"We thought to drill you in for the night on the happenings of the past while you were gone. That way, you can handle them without losing your temper."

"I do not!"

There was a chorus of laughter as the siblings slapped and hauled their brother into the dining room. It was to be a long night and all intended to start it good and early so their temperamental brother can hit the ceiling well-fed.

To be continued…