"So, we've got bait, but how do we get Dumbledor to the cabinet?" Draco asked staring at the monstrosity.
Ron shrugged. "We could move it, shrink it down or something and put it near his office. That's where he always has his lessons with Harry."
The blond shook his head. "No, we can't shrink it. I don't want to risk it now that the damned thing is fixed."
"Fuck," Ron groused. "I forgot about that." He walked around the object studying it. "It needs to be relocated though. Trying to get the old man to come here opens us up to a lot of unnecessary risk."
"It's hardly unnecessary if we can't get the bloody thing out of here without breaking it," the other boy scoffed.
The ginger nodded his head absently. Draco knew better than to press him when he had that look on his face. It was the same look he often had when studying a chess board. Typically, right before the blond was summarily trounced.
Suddenly Ron's face lit up. "I've got it!" he exclaimed.
"Well, do tell," Draco responded.
"We don't need to shrink the cabinet itself, if we place it into something that's small and easy to carry," he said.
"What?" the blond asked. "Did you get hit with a bludger when I wasn't looking, Weasley?"
Ron rolled his eyes. "We need a big sack or bag. We can put an undetectable extension charm on it. Oh, we'll need to put a lightening charm on it too. That way, we aren't shrinking the cabinet, and we can easily move it wherever we want," he said triumphantly.
"Shit, that's brilliant!" the blond exclaimed. "One more problem solved."
The ginger laughed, "And a million more to go."
*D*D*D*D*D*D*D*D*D*D*D*
Ron sped through the corridors. He'd just gotten a message from Draco. He'd caught sight of McLaggen following Hermione looking very much like he hoped no one noticed. The blond had written, that he might want to go after his mudblood before someone else got to her.
He quickly followed the instructions left to him and almost stumbled upon the two. Cormac had Hermione up against a wall, one hand pawing at her breast over her jumper and the other trying to make its way up her skirt. The witch was weakly trying to push him away and seemed dazed.
"McLaggen! Ron roared as he tackled the other boy, ripping him away from the girl. They landed on the floor with the ginger using his weight & momentum to knock the wind out of the wretch. With his opponent briefly stunned, Ron pummeled him, raining down blows. He only stopped when he heard Hermione whimper.
He looked over to see the witch shaking violently, gasping for air. "Shit!" He leapt off Cormac and was instantly at Hermione's side. "Hey, just breathe," he said putting an arm around her.
She flinched away from him. Her eyes couldn't seem to focus and her breathing got rougher. It took him only a second to realize the issue. She'd been confunded. He brought out his wand and cast a finite at the witch. Instantly she was alert.
Hermione looked around wildly, only calming when she saw who's arms she was in. "Where?" she asked quietly looking around.
"He's over there," the ginger answered. "Don't worry Mione. We'll get McGonagall, and he'll be gone by supper," he promised holding her tight. The witch nodded her head.
It was that moment that McLaggen started laughing where he lay. "You won't do shit," he said. "You think I don't know what that bitch did?" he asked. "She ruined my Quidditch tryout. You think no one else noticed? You say one word to the professors, and she'll be kicked out right alongside me," he threatened. He continued laughing as he stood. He wiped the blood off his face. He drew his wand but only used it to repair his broken nose. "I think it'll be in all of our best interests if we keep all this to ourselves. Don't you think?" he asked. He threw Hermione a wink before turning and casually walking away.
The witch started to sob, and Ron held her a little tighter. "Is he right?" he asked gently. "Did you sabotage his tryout for me?"
The girl nodded. "You deserved it more," she whispered. Ron smiled and crowed internally. "How did you find me? Why are you helping? I've been so mean to you lately."
"Hey, we're still friends. I love you, Mione. A little fighting won't change that. I'm always going to be there for you, no matter who I date," he said.
"I'm sorry I've been so awful about Lavender," she said.
"You don't need to apologize. I could have let you know before you saw us together, but I didn't," he said grimacing at the thought of that first very public make out session.
"We can't tell anyone what happened tonight, Ronald. I can't get expelled," she said with a bit of panic tinging her voice. "Please, Ron," she begged.
"Of course, of course," he soothed, "anything you want."
*R*R*R*R*R*R*R*R*R*R*R*R*
It took some time before Hermione was composed enough to return to their common room. Thankfully McLaggen was nowhere to be seen. Ron escorted the witch to the stairs up to her dormitory and then rushed back to his room. He grabbed out his notebook and jotted a brief note for Draco.
McLaggen must die.
It only took seconds for a response to appear.
I knew we were friends for a reason.
Ron laughed before closing the notebook and readying himself for bed.
