DISCLAIMER: None of these is mine. Aren't I such a pity? Anyhoo, please see page one for proper disclaimer. Thanks
Chapter 14: Life's Tragedies
There are two tragedies in life.
One is not to get your heart's desire.
The other is to get it.
Bernard Shaw, Man and Superman, IV
"You've been seeing her." A woman's accusing tone greeted Ron as he apparated back to his dwelling in Ireland. It was Memo of course, and Ron knew right then and there where the conversation would lead to. Memo had always been trying to convince him to keep himself hidden, she had cited numerous reasons why he should do so and somehow all of them made perfect sense. But that was before and Ron was tired of living as if he was dead. He had Hermione back and he was sure that sooner he could have his life back as well. He won't let go anymore.
"I tried not to, Memo. You've got to understand..." He began wanting for Memo to hear him for once.
But his companion wasn't interested on whatever Ron has to say. For her, the matter was a closed book. For her, they have concluded this issue a long time ago. "We've already gone through…a couple of times already, actually. But I will say it again in case you have forgotten. Ron, you are in grave danger. Can you actually risk her life as well?"
It wasn't that she sounded like his superior. It wasn't even the number of times he have heard her say those exact words. It was merely because she was contradicting Hermione's view, and between the two of them, Ron has all his trust on Hermione's words, and these he voiced out to her with utmost calmness on his tone. "I'm in not in danger, Memo. I may have been, but...
"But what?" she snapped not regarding how he would feel about this.
Ron kept his composure. He wasn't going to fight with her. "It just doesn't make sense that I'm still alive when someone's supposed to kill me. And these are Death Eaters we're talking about." Inspite of their clashing views, Memo has been the friend who took him in when he was hurt, took care of him and gave him shelter when he rejected his life in London—which day he now truly regrets.
"What part doesn't make sense to you?" She sounded more offended, "You're alive because you've been hiding fairly good."
"Yeah, I've been hiding. I'm alive because I'm hiding. But you know what I've realized? I was never alive. I've kept my breath, my heartbeat for a year but where is my life, really? Where is my family, my friends?"
"Or Hermione?" she asked with a narrowing look.
"Or her, yes." He answered proudly.
Memo shook her head in disbelief, "So you think running away with her gives you that life?"
Ron stopped and considered for a while. How did she know about their plan to run away? "Were you spying on me?" he demanded with suspicion.
She didn't answer the question thrown, instead she went on with her argument. "Stop this now before someone gets hurt." He voice was imposing.
He respects her, all right. But Ron was getting tired of this exchange. He was thankful she saved him; that she cared for him, but she has to understand where he's coming. After all, it is his life and he doesn't need anyone to order him what to do. "You can't tell me that." He said simply.
Memo gave him a taunting smirk, she shook her head and replied in an apologetic note, "You'll just regret it Ron." She crossed her arms before her chest and looked at him straight in the eye as if challenging him.
Ron returned her smirk and sighed, "What I regret, Memo, is spending three long years without her." He said truthfully.
Memo rolled her eyes away from him and returned with a teary glare, "Well, I'm sorry if I saved your life, that I had to bring you here, that I had to keep you safe for one long year!" she cried.
"That's not what I meant, Memo." He replied in panic with the look of his friend's wet face. "You know how thankful I am to you, but you've got to understand..." he was desperate.
"I understand." She pressed, "If I don't, why do you think I'm stopping you now?"
"Memo..." Her firmness on the matter was getting quite difficult for Ron to handle. He was starting to get impatient.
His intolerance was tested more when Memo barked "She's married!", looking both disgusted and scandalized.
Memo was judging Hermione. Ron didn't have to hear her say that, he only have to look at her reaction and he knew what she was thinking. "She doesn't love him, all right!" he retorted as he threw his fist into the wall. It gave a loud thump and Ron kept it there, clenched in anger.
The girl flinched when he hit the cement and for a moment, none spoke. Memo decided to change her approach. She began in a pacified tone, "No, listen. She's married, her husband wants her, needs her. I don't know if he even loves her but he's obsessed. He won't let her go! He'd do anything, Ron. Hermione's his and he'd do anything to keep her from anyone, especially you."
Her statement only brought more suspicions into Ron's head, "What do you know about Krum? Do you know him?" he asked as he dropped his arms from the wall, blood dripping from the back of his hands. He waited a few seconds for an answer that didn't come. "Are you friends with him? Did he talk to you on this?" he demanded as he took two steps forward Memo, "Did he ask you to keep me prisoner so he could have Hermione? Did you plan all this!" and for the first time Ron was furious at her.
Memo swallowed and cleared her throat. She was scared but did a very good job hiding it. "I think it's time to let you know. I'm not the person who you thought I am."
It was as if Ron's blood raged to his head. All the hurt, the anger, the regret he couldn't blame on anyone was hastening out of his chest. Finally, he found someone to point a finger at and end his doubts and misery. "You...I trusted you!"
She backed away but kept her straight look, "Listen." She began as she raised her chin up the air, "Whatever I've done and am doing, this is for all of you." Inside, her heartbeat was on a riot.
"This is for Krum, and you know that!" his cracking voice echoed the house. Shaking finger still pointed at her while blood was still dripping from it.
She took a deep breath, "Will you let me through?" she begged. When there was no answer, she continued, "I am a Seer." Ron was obviously surprised. "Yes. I see things ordinary witches and wizards don't. I..."
"A Seer?" he repeated, "You could...You...What...?"
"What I see as end result of what you're about to do? I see death, Ron. Not yours, not Krum's. Yes. Hermione's." her hazel eyes was staring directly at Ron's blue ones. Her face was stern.
Looking at his friend, Ron instantly got mixed of emotions. He was still surprised by the revelation, at the same time he was now scared, but doubtful. "But...Who...? No. You're just telling me that so I won't go."
"Her husband will be back tonight. He'll see you. He'll try to stop you, and of course, you won't let him. But he's anger will get the better of him and the two of you will have a duel. Hermione will jump between you when he's aimed the killing curse and she'll end up dead." She narrated confidently.
"You're making that up." Ron said in a sneer.
"Am I? Then go ahead. I'm not stopping you now. You decide. Besides, the guilt is not on me anymore." Memo walked to the door and opened it, prompting Ron to leave.
There was another silence. Ron was in deep thoughts as though trying to weigh the matters. He didn't know what to believe anymore. What if he didn't believe her and everything she said turned out to be true? What if he did and it was just a tricky lie? Hermione would hate him if he would not show up. "How could you not tell me you're a Seer? How could you even let me see her in the first place?" What would he do?
"I don't see the point telling people of my abilities. And for your other question, I did not know you were seeing her until I had a vision this morning, until I proved to myself that you are indeed doing the thing I most forbidden you to. You have indeed planned to meet up and run away." Her expression unchanged.
"Why did you stop me from coming back that day? You know, Memo, none of this would have happened if I just arrived before he..."
She cut him off, "I would have. But you weren't gonna make it anyway, you know. I could've let you go but then you'll just fall unconscious on the way, and I don't know where that way is and I'd only have a hard time finding you. And I thought, I might be even late if I get to find you."
"You should've let me died."
"Well, again, I'm sorry for making you live a miserable life."
"When is this going to end?"
She shook her head in disappointment, "I can't tell." Her voice was now low and reluctant.
"'Course you can. Tell me. How long are we going to wait?"
"You can't be with Hermione, Ron. Either you die or she dies."
Ron thought that it's starting to get too far-fetched. He breathed a soft and mocking laugh, "That's bloody absurd. What if I kill Krum?"
"I know you won't do that. You're not a killer."
His face straightened at once, "I can be." he said and meant it unreservedly.
"Would she like it that you become one? I don't think she'd even be allowed to visit you in Azkaban."
"You're making a prophecy, but not the future." Ron headed towards the open door. It was just a test, he thought. He can't believe everything she would say or he'll be a prisoner all his life.
"Where are you going?" she demanded as soon as she jumped before him.
"If you think of it, it's quite simple, really. He's coming back tonight, so we'll do it this afternoon." He smiled and brushed Memo's arm that was blocking his way.
Memo caught his other arm, "It's far more complicated than you'd ever think."
Ron turned to look at her, "What?" his brows raised.
"Do you think she'd leave without saying goodbye to her family, her friends? She may have just been to her parents' by now and is probably going to meet with Harry and your family. You'd let them see you?"
Ron nodded at Memo, smile still playing on his lips, "I'll wait for her in her house. We'll leave together."
"Ron." Her voice was now pleading, "Even I am not sure if her husband just arrived when the two of you were about to leave or has already been there when you came to fetch Hermione."
"Well, I won't wait for him to challenge me for a duel. Once I get there, I'll get Hermione and we'll apparate to somewhere." He stated his plan simply.
"Listen." Memo grabbed both his arms, "For some reasons, you can't avoid the duel. You can't even prevent Hermione from interfering. Once you're there. You're there. What I see won't be altered."
Seers exist. Ron knew that. One of their professors back in Hogwarts was a Seer, Professor Trelawney, who made quite some predictions and most came true. Harry was a witness to one of her prophecies, about Pettigrew and Voldemort being reunited. She was the one to make the famous prophecy about Harry and Voldemort…One must die for the other to live and it came true. Voldemort was dead, and Harry, was thankfully alive. Ron was caught on uncertainties once more, "You won't ever let me go, won't you?"
"I just don't want any of you to get hurt." And more, Memo sounded as if she was so sure about everything she was saying.
"And I'll make her happy for not showing up? I'm breaking my promise for the second time and Krum would be there again." Ron said weakly.
"I'm afraid he'll always be there." She answered sympathetically, rubbing his shoulders.
"How could you tell how he's going to be there and not for how long? Hermione's never gonna forgive me. I can't let her live with Krum any longer. She'd loathe me."
"You have to. That's the only way to keep her."
"She'll be miserable with him..."
"She'll pull herself together. Didn't you say she's the strongest woman you know, after your mom?"
"What if she doesn't turn out to be that strong?"
"Besides, Ron, don't you think she'd be a little relieved that you weren't seen by her husband on the night you're supposed to elope? She'd understand if she's that logical like how you said she is." She gently pushed Ron back to the nearby couch as she closed the door behind them. Ron followed faintly and Memo sat beside him and started mending his bruised hand.
How could fate play on them like this? Their only desire was to be together and fate kept it for three and so years. It did give that back but with so many complications. How could he be so cowardly to take risks? How could she ever forgive him again?
AUTHOR's NOTE: I'm six chapters from the end so don't worry if Ron had to be kept again. It's very important in the story so I hope you'll just trust me. Please review!
