Chapter Twenty Four: The Impossible Twists of the Characters

"Dean asked me out today! Can you believe it?" shrieked Lavender to Padma, sitting on a comfortable sofa in the Gryffindor Common room.

"No way!" Padma exclaimed, taking hands to her chest.

"We are going to the Astronomy tower tonight!"

"What do you know! And by the way," Padma leveled her head to Lavender's right ear. "Seamus asked me out also!" she screamed into Lavender's ear.

Girls squealed and giggled. They weren't the only one in the school who were discussing the love matters today. The whole castle seemed to be flooded with flowers, sweets and invitations for a secret dates. Well, it wasn't any epidemics or trick of Voldemort, but simply the day in the middle of February which is waited by all teenagers every year. St. Valentine's Day.

Holiday of love and happiness. Even at the times like these romance was blossoming within walls of Hogwarts. It was full of shy boys and blushing girls today. It, of course, annoyed professors to no end, but they knew that they could do nothing about it.

Still one girl was far from sappy comments on her beauty or wisdom. She restlessly searched through the castle looking for her best friend or ex-friend, if she didn't do anything about his girlfriend. Quite unpleasant situation, if you ask me, but nobody wants to know my opinion in this matter, but to Hermione Granger the situation was dreadful. She must confront Ron now or never, or there will be more than bad consequences. She had only suppositions, but still. She was going downstairs from the girls' dormitories, when collided with the object of her search.

"Ron," Hermione addressed him calmly, but at the same time rooting him to the spot.

"What?" Ron snapped.

She was taken aback a little by the fury in his eyes, but continued, "How are you? I haven't seen you in ages," she said in the same tone, coming down, without taking her eyes from his.

"I'm fine, thank you," Ron replied nastily.

Hermione didn't know what to do. She'd prepared herself for a barrier, but this was a brick wall! But she was determined to complete her mission and no wall could stop her. She decided not to jump around the bush and asked directly, "How is your girlfriend?"

"More fine that you could ever imagine," Ron answered, but with less nastiness this time.

'Ok, let's take this pattern.' "You are quite serious as I've heard."

"Yes. Why such interest all of a sudden?" he asked with a scowl.

"Why not? My friend is having a dreadfully serious relationship with a girl I've never seen. Who just popped out of nowhere. Are you sure that everything is all right with her?"

"Of course, everything is all right with her! And she didn't pop put of nowhere, she was transferred three years ago!" Ron yelled into her face.

They began to gather attention already, standing practically in the center of the Common room.

"Well, is you are saying so," she trailed. "But you know, I came to a conclusion that she may be using you," Hermione suggested casually.

"What right do you have to talk about Traitina like that, Granger?" Ron roared, pushing Hermione into a nearby chair.

The Common Room went gravely silent. Ron called his best friend, the part of the Dream Team, where he has been since his appearance at Hogwarts, by her last name. No one could predict what could come out of this, but everybody understood that it would be nothing good.

"But, Ron, she is…" Hermione began.

"Who?" Ron interrupted. "You know nothing about her! Nothing! But I can tell you one thing right away. She is nothing like you! She doesn't argue with me all the time, she helps me with my homework. She is a ravenclaw and is very smart, but she doesn't rub it into my face all the time like you, know-it-all Granger!" Someone gasped.

"Ron, I am your friend. I just want to help…"

"With what? You only want to get rid of a person, who makes me happy! And do you know, why? Because you are jealous, jealous that someone and not you has something precious in his life and you're stuffed with useless books! Nobody wants you! Do you hear me! Nobody in their right mind will want to have you by his side!"

Hot tears were streaming down Hermione's cheeks. She wanted to say how much she cared for him, how much she wanted to clear his mind from all the nonsense that was in his head right now. She knew he was in great danger, now she was certain about it after everything he'd said to her. But she couldn't open her mouth to form any words. She felt pinned to the chair by Ron's glare.

"And I want to get one thing straight, Granger," Ron said sternly. "Don't ever dare to badmouth Traitina in front of me or other. Don't even say her name, because you're not worthy to do it. And remember, you can do nothing about my seeing her. I love her! Do you understand? And nothing, absolutely nothing can stand between us, especially you!" With that he stormed out of the Common room.

"What have I done? What have I done?" Hermione wailed, hiding her face behind her hands. Then she stood up and practically flew through the Portrait Hole.

Nobody could say a word, they only exchanged glances of disbelief and shock. Ginny was sitting on a couch in the far corner of the room, but heard and saw everything. She couldn't believe that it had been her brother Ron, who had stood there just minutes ago. He would never in his right mind say such things to Hermione.

She abruptly stood up and headed out of the Common room to find Hermione. She couldn't leave her in such a state and she had a few question to ask her. But she couldn't find her anywhere.

While searching for Hermione, Ginny thought about words said by Ron. How could he be so mean? Tears started to pour themselves, when she understood how Hermione must fell right now. She knew that feeling of everything crushing inside with no hope to recover it.

Suddenly she stopped, the last encounter with Hermione in the library came to her mind. Her eyes opened wide with realization and fear. Ginny rushed to the dungeons with out even thinking about any precautions. She ran to the laboratory, tears running down her cheeks. Ginny opened the door to the lab with a slam and flew in like a tornado.

Draco turned to see what the commotion was about and saw Ginny who was out of breath with trays of tears' patterns on her face.

"What did your git of a brother do this time?" he asked with anger.

His right wrist began to arch immediately, but he paid no attention to it.

"Oh, Marko, you must do something! You must save him! I'll do anything to repay you, I don't know, who else to turn to! Please, you are my only hope!" Ginny was practically hanging on him, clenching his forearms so tightly that he could feel her fingernails through his robes.

"Calm down. What's the matter? Whom must I save?" Draco almost dragged her to the chair beside the worktable. He kneeled down and took her hands in his. She looked as if she'd seen a basilisk: eyes wide with horror and face white as a wall.

"Calm down. Everything is all right. I am here. Nothing is gonna happen." He tried to calm her nerves a bit, but from her state he understood that something very bad was going on.

"We must save Ron," she said in a trembling voice. "Something's happening to him, he isn't Ron anymore. You weren't there, you can't understand. It was awful," she said with the new tears coming. "He insulted her like she was some dirt. Poor Hermione." Ginny sobbed into Draco's shoulder. "He talked to her, like she wasn't his friend anymore."

At this Draco became alert. "Not his friend anymore? But that's…that's impossible," he stated with a frown.

"I know, I know. There is something wrong with him. I am sure about it."

Draco stood up and began to pace deep in thought. "Do you have any ideas about the reasons of his behavior?"

Ginny brushed tears from her face and was now more rational. "That's what brought me here. I recalled my colliding with Hermione in the library the other day. You know, how she is all secretive about her own researches. I was just passing by and decided to say hello. As soon as I came nearer, she covered the title of the book she was going to open, saying she wanted to surprise the guys or something. But I saw some of the words of the title and only today it hit me."

"So what were those words and how's it all connected?"

"The words were 'love possession'," Ginny whispered.

"So?"

"Ron is possessed by love."

"By whom?" Draco asked rolling his eyes.

"By his new girlfriend."

Draco's face suddenly darkened. "That slimy bastard!" he hissed, hitting the table with his fist.

"Who? My brother? You can't blame him for having a girlfriend."

"Oh, no, I was talking about somebody else. But your brother is in great danger." Ginny paled. "We must act immediately." Draco spanned around and grabbed a piece of parchment. He took a quill but couldn't write a word, because his wrist was in agony. "Damn."

"What is it?" Ginny asked with worry.

"My wrist. I said what I thought about your brother."

"Oh," Ginny said with a tiny smile and touched the back of his right wrist, but then pulled back her hand. "There are two of them."

"Huh?"

"There are two scars on your wrist. Two vows."

"Oh, that's a very long story. I'll tell you some other time. Now we need to move and quickly." He wrote something on the parchment and handed it to Ginny. "Give this to Potter and do whatever he says. But don't show any interest in it."

"To Harry?"

"Yes. Run as fast as you can. Time is our enemy now."

Ginny sprinted up from the dungeons. She needed to find Harry and quickly. But where to look for him? She was quite exhausted from running all over the castle, but the life of Ron, her brother, was in her hands and she didn't want it to slip through her fingers.

Luckily for her, she found him at dinner in the Great Hall. Everybody was still cheerful and anxious to go to their dates tonight, but Ginny heard nothing of girls' gossip or dreamy sighs. She came straight to Harry and gave him the note. Harry looked at her with lifted eyebrows, but unfolded the note which read:

Potter,

Find Ronald Weasley and 'check him out' immediately. Then write everything you see and give your answer to the deliverer of this message. Then bring him to the Dueling Room. Don't think twice about my orders, do this right away. The lives of your best friends depend on it.

Marko

P.S. Weasley is better not stand on his legs, when delivered to the Room.

"So what is it about?" Ginny asked as indifferently as she could.

"We need to find Ron. How did this get into your hands?"

"I just walked pass Snape's office and he asked me to give it to you," she answered in the same tone. 'Nice one.'

"Ok. Let's go." Harry stood up from behind the table. This evening he won't touch any food.

Year after year Ginny was surprised by how enormous Hogwarts castle really was. They looked in all hallways or rooms possible, but there were still three times more places to look in. Practically, Ginny did the entire search, because Harry was somewhere else, he just followed Ginny wherever she went.

Harry was thinking. A lot of questions popped in his mind, all connected with Marko's note. 'Why did he write it? How did he know that Ron was in trouble at the first place? Why did he even bother to warn me?' Why? Why? Why? There were too many whys without any reasons.

Finally they found Ron near the boy's restrooms at the sixth floor. It was pure accident.

"Hi, Ron," Harry greeted, standing behind him.

"Hello, Potter," Ron answered with a sneer.

Harry's eyes became bigger than his glasses at Ron's attitude. "How are you doing lately?" Harry asked shakily.

"Much better than a month ago," he said with the same sneer.

"You know, I need to talk to you."

"What a coincidence, everybody wants to talk to me lately. I'm so popular."

This was definitely not the Ron Harry knew. He was debating about knocking him out before, but that was the last straw. Taking a little bit away his right hand, he concentrated all his might in his right fist and made a right hook, Taison would've been proud of.

"What was that for, Harry?" Ginny asked with irritation and concern at the same time.

"I have my reasons," Harry only said. He put Ron on his shoulder and took him to the first abandoned classroom they could find.

Harry put him on a desk and concentrated. Hard. Everything began to spin, but in a few seconds he found himself looking at a huge orange spot. Ron's aura. He tried to remember every detail. It would help to bring the old Ron back or heal him or something. Harry didn't know why he was really doing that, but he didn't think that Malfoy would just make a joke, saying it was life or death situation.

After a few minutes he opened his eyes which slightly ached and wrote everything he's seen on the other side of the parchment, sent by Draco.

"This is the answer," Harry handed Ginny a tiny scroll.

She looked at it and took. She couldn't understand what that was all about: knocking Ron out, then strangely looking at him, but she knew quite clearly that if that was the answer, she must deliver it back. That's why she only nodded and stormed back down to the dungeons.

Draco was pacing back and forth at the lab, he already had some hunches about what Potter's answer will contain. But he still needed an exact picture. 'Where is she for so long?' As if on clue, the door cracked and Ginny stepped in. She wordlessly gave him the parchment and patiently, or as patiently as she could, waited for Marko to say something.

"Again! Those white light spots again!" Draco exclaimed with irritation.

"What white spots?" asked Ginny understanding absolutely nothing.

"You won't understand," Draco threw at her, beginning to pace again.

"But I want to understand! It's my brother's life we are discussing here. First Harry looks at him, as he wants to penetrate into his soul, then those mysterious white spots. I don't understand anything in this mess, but I have all the right to!"

"Ok, ok," Draco said in a peacemaking tone. "I'll tell you. It's quite complicated, but I think, you'll get it." They sat down on the chairs beside the table. "Practically, you are right. Potter was penetrating into your brother's soul."

"He has a name, you know."

"Ok, Potter was checking out Ronald's soul," Draco said the name with a shudder.

"Is it possible?" Ginny asked surprised, but eager to know the rest.

"Quite. Everything has its magical aura, but with people it also mirrors their souls. I am colliding with the same white spots in the auras of different people and I can't comprehend what emotion or feature they could represent. I don't know anything that can correspond to such expression." Draco explained with a slight frustration.

"So how many of them Ron has?"

"Seven small and one big. Pretty large, it takes almost half of his aura," Draco said, looking at the edge of the desk deep in thought.

Ginny eyes brightened, but then sadness filled her features. "I think I know what emotion they represent," she whispered.

"Are you sure?"

"Look at my soul, you'll definitely find there something interesting." Draco took her advice and his eyebrows were lost in his hairline. "Same seven small white spots isn't it?" Draco only nodded he was so shocked.

"What are they then?" he managed.

"They are our family, my brothers and parents," she said with sorrow.

"You mean these spots mark the number of relatives? Then what does that big one stand for?" Draco was totally confused.

"This light is the feeling we share with our family or close people. It's love, Marko. You don't know what love is," Ginny said quietly without looking into his eyes.

"Love, hm…That explains a lot," Draco said like speaking about a potion ingredient, which can make the potion work better.

But he couldn't fool Ginny anymore. She saw longing and suffering in his eyes. Hers were full of pity. 'How can anyone live without love? I am sure I would've died with no one to love me.'

"Common, out mission isn't completed yet," Draco said with fake calmness. "You'll come with me."

"Where are we going?" she asked, standing up.

"We need to meet Potter and your…and Ronald."

"But we caaan't. I mean, go together. Harry can't see us together."

"Hell with it. Besides, I need your help. Ronald is your favorite brother, isn't he?"

"How did you guessed?"

"One of the spots was larger than the others."

"I won't ever let you look into my soul again. No more ticks! May be I have something private in there!" Ginny said with a hint of playfulness.

"Ok, only when you ask me." Ginny snorted.

When they reached the doors to the Dueling Room, it was almost midnight.

"It took you long enough," Harry grunted without looking at them then he lifted his head up. "What is she doing here?" Harry didn't ask it with disgust or anything similar, it was just pure surprise. After all Malfoy's hush-hush about their lessons, he brings here Ginny of all people.

"She has all the right to be here. He is her brother. And without her I can't help our patient," Draco snapped. Harry didn't say anything back. "Let's see," Draco turned to Ron, who was lying on the desk. Harry couldn't put him on the floor. He was his friend for Gryffindor's sake. After a few moments of 'checking out' Ron, Draco turned to Harry. "Congratulations, Potter. Another success, not a single mistake." Harry only rolled his eyes. "But that thick fog is bad news, very bad news," he said gravely.

"What about it?" Harry asked with alert.

"Who is his girlfriend?"

Harry blinked at such topic change. "I don't know. I've never seen her."

"You don't know! You've never seen her! You didn't check her out!" Draco's every word was gripping with indignation. He was slowly advancing on Harry.

"Why should I? I have some tact not to pry into my friends' private life!" Harry yelled back.

"Why should you? Are you crazy, Potter! Don't you remember my words about keeping an eye on them? Then I'll remind you! Voldemort is taking them one by one without looking at the dirtiness of his methods. This is the result!" Draco pointed at Ron. "Do you know what this fog is! It's the trace of the Imperio curse." Ginny gasped and looked at Ron sympathetically. "Your friend has been brainwashed by his girlfriend for more than a month! When I go to Hell next time, I'll catch cold because today is the first and I hope the last day when I agree with Granger.

She knew something was wrong. She was suspicious about that entire girlfriend ordeal. And being who she is she's found the cause. Ronald was possessed by love. The dirtiest and most disgusting way to take someone apart from a group. Just in Voldemort's stile. Where is Granger now?"

"I don't know, I haven't seen her today after lunch," Harry stammered. Draco's words were too hard for him to take all at once.

"You don't know! What is it with you, Potter? They are your best friends for Merlin's sake! I know so little about real friendship, but even I know, that this is filth, filth towards them. You," Draco felt a soft touch of a hand on his back. Such sudden movement made him stop. Draco threw a glance at Ginny. Her eyes were saying to him, "Stop. He had had enough already." Draco took a deep breath and calmed down.

Harry felt guilty. Guiltier than he felt in his life. Even Cedric's death didn't bring such feeling of shame. Marko was right, they were the closest people in his life and he overlooked such important things about them. It was his entire fault. Again.

"Is there any way to get rid of the fog?" Harry whispered.

"Yes, there is and you won't like it. But I'll still try. Come." He motioned for Ginny to follow him.

Harry only now remembered Ginny also was there. It was strange that Marko behaved in such a way around her, as if…as if it was normal. He saw him whisper something into her ear and she did nothing to stop him. Ginny was one of his friends also and he didn't want to happen anything to her. But he was absolutely sure that there was something going on between them. And sooner or later he'll find out.

Draco and Ginny were standing in front of Ron's body. "Here. Stand in front of me," Draco instructed, whispering into her ear. Ginny took the position. "Now remember about Ron, why he is your favorite brother. Concentrate all your love for him in your hands." Draco stepped closer, Ginny was almost learning on him. "Put your hands on mine. Now everything depends on you, Anne."

Ginny concentrated. Every memory of Ron flashing before her eyes. His playing with her in the garden at the Borrow, giving her sweets, when she was upset, protecting her from Mum, when she did something wrong and thousands of other memories, where Ron proved to be a real brother to her. She felt her palms to warm up, then Draco's trembling beside her and a desperate moan, coming up from the very bottom of his stomach. Streams of blue fire came out from Draco's palms and within seconds Ron was on fire.

If Ginny hadn't been standing in front of him, Draco would've surely collapsed on the floor. She guided him to the nearest wall which he slid down, closing his eyes and founding himself sitting on floor. Ginny felt useless. She couldn't ask, if he was all right or stroke his back to make him feel better or anything, because Harry was there and she acknowledged the fact that he was watching her every move.

"What have you done?" Harry asked Draco with fear and fascination simultaneously.

"It is called the Blue Fire. It doesn't burn or provide heat, but it cleans the Dark Magic from the aura. This case was very difficult, because he was on edge already. Another week and he wouldn't have remembered that he was a Weasley, only that he is a slave of his goddess, who would've taken him on her leach straight to Voldemort." Draco said it all with closed eyes and in a bored tone. He was tired that couldn't even feel any emotion. "And, Potter, don't try to do it by yourself, because you won't be able to do anything else."

"I've already understood." 'How can he even talk? It looked like all his energy was directed to conjure that fire. To save life of a Weasley. Ron Weasley, a boy he hated with pure hatred, or did he?' "When will the fire go away?"

"When he is as innocent as a baby," Draco answered with a smirk. "I hope, my participation in the ordeal won't become a public knowledge," he said, looking directly at Harry.

"Yes, you can be sure about it."

The fire faded. To Harry's surprise Ron really looked like a baby, he was peacefully asleep. Harry put him on his shoulder again and headed to the Gryffindor Common room. "Gin, are you coming?"

"Yes, go ahead. I'll be there in a moment."

'Definitely something is going on between them.'

When the door was closed after Harry, Draco turned to Ginny, who was still standing beside him. "Why did you stay? He will certainly think that something's up."

"Oh, Marko, how can you think about such things! You can barely stand!" She exclaimed with concern. "I couldn't have left you just like this, without even saying thank you. You've saved my brother's life after all."

"You said you would do anything to repay me. You meant that you would've even slept with me?"

Ginny turned red, then white, then red again but answered firmly. "Yes, I would."

"You must really love your brother then. You know, I felt your love in my hands back there. It is really a powerful thing."

"Love can make miracles," Ginny paused for a second. "So what about the repayment?"

"Forget it. You asked me to help you and I did. This is what friends are for, right?"

"Right," answered Ginny with a broad smile.