Author Note: The resolution of Ron. Such a brief part in the story but hopefully memorable. I am sorry for all of the short chapters but my brain has been so full of so many ideas, real world things going on, and other factors that being able to sit and focus on one story for an extended time is a problem. Hope you're enjoying what there is though.
Chapter begins
Snape had spent his Saturday dealing with his petulant dark lord. She was trapped in the body of a teenage girl. Unable to alter the appearance of it.
"Severus. Why can I not kill this body?"
"Excuse me my lord?" Snape asked in shock.
"Watch." She commanded and took one of Snape's sharpest knives across her wrist. Red blood briefly welled up then the wound reversed and healed as if it had never been there. "I am trapped in this body. I cannot voluntarily abandon it, and I cannot kill it to be removed from it. I even had Pettigrew strike me with the Killing Curse. Even someone as weak as he is should have succeeded in that."
Snape blinked rapidly. It was becoming obvious they were dealing with forces well beyond the level of mortals. However if he told the Dark Lord that he would be able to speak with these forces far too quickly.
"Snape. I am waiting for an explanation of this?" Voldemort put her hands on her hips and stared at him accusingly. Snape had a brief moment of horrified recognition of Molly Weasley in her stance. He congratulated Potter for missing out on this one in his harem. Thinking quickly he said, "This child is the seventh born of Arthur and Molly Weasley. As you are aware sire, seventh children are powerful. Also the Weasleys are very closely attuned to life and fertility magics. Perhaps the body has some residual charm or spell upon it."
"Then how do we remove that. I was assured by Van Gelder this body would be able to be altered to suit my needs as soon as I took it over." She sneered angrily.
"I will have to do some research. Perhaps I could take some blood and tissue samples, examine the aura of the body." Snape carefully said.
"Very well do so. But carefully."
Snape took a deep breath as he began his examinations.
===xxx
Several hours later he was stymied. There was no explanation at all for why the body could not be changed by Voldemort. There was no magic he could detected and the only soul that showed up in the aura was that of the Dark Lord.
He was about to tell him the bad news when his dark mark flared into painful awareness.
"What is it Severus?" Voldemort hissed in her girlish voice.
"I am being called by the other one my lord." Snape said tapping his Dark Mark to acknowledge the call. "I must go."
"Fine. When you return you may explain what is going on." Voldemort dismissively sneered, although with a slightly pouty expression.
Snape bowed then hurried to Malfoy manor. Soon he was led to the main bedchamber where the Dark Lord was lounging in the bed.
Frowning Snape closed the door, "You summoned me?"
Riddle sighed, "Yes. Narcissa did her part and brought me the cup. Its over there on the dresser."
Looking Snape saw the cup of Hufflepuff sitting calmly on the dresser like it was any other beverage container. He moved closer to examine it and felt the dark mark crawling under his arm. A strange whisper seemed to come from the cup and he felt a slight bit thirsty. Stepping quickly away he shook his head to clear it.
"Rather nice piece of work isn't it?" Riddle said sitting up with the blanket barely concealing his modesty.
"Yes. It will be a shame to see such a historical artifact destroyed." Snape turned to look out the window rather than anywhere in the room.
"Oh what's wrong Severus? Jealous I tapped Narcissa? She has been very appreciative since her youth was restored. In all my years of observing coupling she even managed to impress me with a new trick she learned. Did you know she can take her tongue and."
Severus spun angrily, "Yes. I am aware of Narcissa's talents. I do not need a teenage specter taunting me about it."
"Ohhh someone's angry." Riddle mockingly sympathized.
"I have spent the entire morning examining and testing the body of Ginevra Weasley to determine why the Dark Lord is not able to alter its appearance. He is completely unaware of the forces at work here."
"Good. Good. Keep him in the dark. Tell him you cannot find anything wrong and it must be his magic is weakened."
Snape scowled, "I will do no such thing. Do you realize what he would do to me if I told him that?"
Riddle shifted into the form of Lily Potter, "Oh Sev really? Scared of a little bit of pain. After all you gave up to serve that foul spirit. After willingly turning your back on someone who cared about you, could have loved you if you had not fallen in with the very people who saw her as an animal. As something to be destroyed?"
Snape closed his eyes as his breath became ragged. "Torment me no more. Please. I did not want to hurt her. I never wanted her to be hurt. I loved her. She was the only one to give me love."
Riddle's form had shifted again, this time of a medium height heavyset man with a thin mustache and a sneering face. A sleeveless white undershirt was sweat stained and his breath smelled of cheap gin. "Oh yes. Dear ol Daddy. Use him as an excuse for your failure. Your lack of morals and maturity. Pathetic. Weak little worm. You hide behind a bad childhood to excuse bullying and terrorizing the students you are supposed to teach. Potter was an orphan raised by animals and he is a better person than you are."
Snape opened his eyes in rage and took a step towards the hated figure with his arm raised, "You are dead old man. This form is nothing but a shade of him. You have no more power over me."
Sneering the figure of Snape the elder backhanded Severus so hard he staggered back a pair of steps. "YOU GAVE ME THE POWER! You gave me the power the moment you turned your back on love. You turned your back on hope and the light." It growled with spittle flying.
Snape wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, seeing blood he blinked several times as the shade of his father shrunk back into the form of Myrtle Warren. He clenched his fists as he screwed his eyes shut. His entire body shivered as he fought with himself. The demons in his mind.
"Severus. Each person is given free will. The powers only act to give us a nudge, open a door here or close one there. We are the ones who make the final decision on what path to take. You still have a choice. One last fork in the road. What happens to you depends on which road you take." She stood quietly.
"I. I understand." He finally said opening his eyes as tears fell down his cheeks. "I don't know why I am being given this choice though."
Myrtle took a deep breath as she considered what to say, "Because She is allowing it. After watching you be a bitter, misanthropic pig for the last decade I'd let you wallow in your own gravy. But its not my decision. All I can do is my part in all of this."
"Why? Why do you care. You're a ghost. None of this would matter to you?"
"Because Harry has been kind to me. His friends have been kind to me. I don't want to see them hurt. That's why. Now go take the cup to Dumbledore. Then get back and tell Voldemort whatever you want to. He won't listen to anything he doesn't want to hear anyhow." Riddle ordered dismissively.
Wrapping the cup in a scarf Snape nodded. He felt more drained and hurt than if he had been crucioed. Myrtle shifted her form back into that of Riddle walking him out as he congratulated Severus on being so loyal and obedient.
===xxx
Cho was studying when Ron Weasley sat down across from her. She had been told about his brainwashing and the plot to have him kill Harry. So far though he had not acted on it. Everyone was curious but in the last month he had been polite, helpful, respectful and actually improving his scores in class. An entirely new and improved Ronald Weasley. To be honest some of the people had wondered if they could keep him this way as they liked him better.
Sighing though Cho asked, "Can I help you Ron?"
"How come you're not part of Harry's harem?"
She looked at him in surprise, "Excuse me?"
"I mean you go off on their little secret meetings, and I've been hearing things about a new and more powerful Dumbledore's Army but Harry and the others are holding me at arm's length. I want to know why." He was looking at her with a slightly disturbing intensity.
"Well you'd have to ask harry about that." She tried to say flatly. A hint of annoyance did creep into her voice as she had been trying to hold everyone at arm's reach herself.
"So you won't tell me either?" Ron dejectedly huffed as he leaned back in the chair.
"There isn't much to tell. We do have a new DA. We've been working on cleaning up the school. "
"And all of you screwing like rabbits." He crassly declared.
Cho crossed her arms, "I've not been involved in that."
"Oh why?" Ron leaned forward, "None of them good enough for you?"
She felt a surge of anger go through her before she managed to calm herself, she was going to say something when she saw Daphne Greengrass coming over. The tall cold blonde had taken over Slytherin House with the removal of Draco and his cronies. The improvements had been noticeable within hours.
"Hello Cho." She said with her usual curtness.
"Hello Daphne."
"Weasley come with me." She commanded.
"Why would I want to go anywhere with a Slytherin?" He sneered.
"Because if you want to have a blow job you'll come with me." She said in a haughty tone of voice, "Unless you would rather not have one."
Ron frowned at her, "What kind of trick is this?"
Daphne smiled coldly, "No trick. You see I have been a good friend of Harry's and secretly working with him. You want in with him, I am the way to get there."
"Really?" He said gob-smacked and looking from Cho to Daphne.
Cho tried to control her expression and must have managed it as Ron stood up, "Why the hell has everyone let me run around in circles for the last month then?"
"Because we didn't trust you." Daphne said like it was blatantly obvious.
Cho was confused. She had not heard anything about Daphne being that close to Harry, but then she had not wanted to be involved in their sexual Olympics.
Ron's face fell as he heard that, "Didn't trust me? Why not?"
Daphne smiled, "Well if you pass this last test you can ask him."
"Well then lets go." Ron declared jumping to his feet.
Cho watched the two of them walk off unsure of what just happened but she had homework to do.
===xxx
Daphne led Ron into the Room of Requirement. She grinned as he saw the room had a screen along the left side and a bed in the middle of the room.
"So the Room of Requirement can turn into this too?" Ron grinned looking around.
"They've discovered a few neat tricks since you went away. Now you go get comfortable on the bed and I'll change into something a bit more, entertaining." Daphne purred before she slipped behind the screen. Ron could just begin to hear the slide of cloth on cloth as he grinned and walked to the bed.
Daphne stepped behind the screen then saw the room form a holographic duplicate of herself. The duplicate began to change into a very slinky black and dark green lace outfit.
She walked to Harry and Hermione who were standing off in a small room with a view screen showing the interior of the Room. Daphne was wondering if this holodeck thing could be installed elsewhere as it had some very interesting potentials.
"Well the only thing he has on him is his wand and a few normal things." Hermione said as Ron stripped down to his briefs.
Harry had turned his back on the screen not wanting to really see what was going on. "And how will this tell us if he's really brainwashed or not?"
"Well by relaxing him with the sex that will let the scripted responses I worked with my golem there should tell us how much of Ron is the real Ron and how much is the programming."
"Well we know he has been trying to get into the ADA. He's been pushing to get Harry to go off and hang out alone." Hermione said with her arms crossed watching with a frown.
"Which is odd as having Ron kill you in public would have been the better way to disgrace Dumbledore and his allies." Daphne observed, "The fact he wants to get you alone is curious."
Harry shrugged, Daphne had come to Hermione with this plan after Draco and Theodore had been removed. She had heard, somehow, about Ron's issues and wanted to discus it with Hermione. Harry was slightly uncomfortable with how much information Daphne had on what was going on around the school and the outside world. Her father owning the Daily Prophet might have something to do with that he considered. Her growing friendship with Hermione was also something slightly curious Harry wondered about. The two girls were similar in their ability to focus on solving a problem, he thought Daphne might be a bit more willing to push the edge of darkness more than Hermione though.
Daphne snorted, "As subtle as a hammer. No technique at all. Good thing I made the golem not care about it. I would have kicked him out of bed long before now."
"Technically is a hologrammatic simulacrum of you. Do you really have that tattoo on your spine?" Hermione asked curiously. Harry wanted to turn and see what she was talking about but was afraid of what else he might see.
"No. I was curious how it would look so had the Avatar put that on her body." Daphne replied.
Hermione nodded appreciatively, "Hmm. Not bad. I might do something like that."
"I think you'd look good with some ink." Daphne agreed. "Maybe a rose around your left nipple."
Harry closed his eyes and thought about cold, crystal mountain streams as the two girls discussed potential tattoos and their locations.
"You can look Harry they're done and covered." Hermione said after a few minutes.
Harry quickly looked at his watch then at both smirking girls. "Okay. That didn't take long."
"I had the Avatar read my mind for my sexual skills. Apparently Ron couldn't handle them." Daphne stated self-confidently.
Harry blinked a couple of times before Hermione cleared her throat. "Right, yeah."
They watched as the holographic Daphne talked to Ron. The real Daphne had shushed Harry so she could listen. She kept shaking her head, "He's been programmed good. He's very evasive but he's conflicted. This is why most magicals don't bother with this. The person's moral code and personality can break through. Much simpler to just overpower it with an Imperious if you want a simple task done or blackmail if you want something complicated. Bloody amateurs."
Harry and Hermione both looked at her in surprise but watched the screen as the hologram version got dressed and left. Ron began to get dressed after cleaning himself off.
"Okay. No matter what he said I had the golem go get the golem of you. He should be coming in any moment now." Daphne said.
Harry turned and watched as the illusionary him walked into the room.
"Hey Ron. Daphne says its okay to meet you now. So what do you need to talk to me that is so secret no one else can know?" Illusion Harry asked.
Ron stood up and started pacing. Looking around he said, "Draco was supposed to still be at the school. He was supposed to help me."
Harry raised his eyebrow as Hermione gave a low growl. Daphne merely raised her eyebrow.
I-Harry tilted his head, "What do you mean Draco was supposed to help you. Help you do what?"
Ron drew his wand and shakily pointed it at I-Harry. "He was supposed to help me get your body out of the castle. So the M-m-master could." Ron was panting harder than he had during the sexual encounter. His eyes had narrowed and he looked like he was in pain.
"Could what Ron? Mutilate me? Parade my body around like some kind of trophy?" I-Harry hissed strongly.
"I had the Avatar program him to try and push Ron for as much information as possible." Hermione pointed out.
Harry nodded. Watching Ron stand there shakily pointing his wand at Harry he was not entirely sure this was a good idea.
Ron winced as he said, "I. I. I don't know. He wanted you. That's all I know. He wanted you dead. I. I can't do it. I can't." Ron's breathing was even more ragged as he began to cry but the wand still pointed in the general direction of I-Harry.
"Why not? You've hated me all your life. You've been jealous of me. Why not kill me then you can take over my life. Have all the power and glory and fame. Have the girls too." I-Harry demanded. Real Harry glanced at Hermione askance but she was watching the interplay between the two intently.
"Yes. No. Maybe I have been jealous. I don't know anymore. Its all so confused. I loved you Harry. You were like a brother to me. I don't know what to do. What do I do?" He begged.
Harry called out "Avatar stop this. End program. Whatever."
Both girls tried to stop him but the room had already caused all of the illusions to waver and fade out. Leaving the four real people standing in the room.
Ron spun to look at the real Harry, "YOU TRICKED ME!"
"I had to know what you were doing Ron. What was going on with you." Harry said stepping towards Ron.
"You. I have to kill you. But I can't. Help me Harry. Help me know what to do. Its all so confusing." Ron was looking into Harry's eyes.
Harry stepped forward until his fingers closed around Ron's wand. He tugged and Ron resisted for a moment before the length of wood slid from his limp fingers. Ron fell against Harry crying. Harry held the red headed boy trying to calm him.
Hermione called for Dobby while watching to make sure Ron did not do anything.
"Yes Mistress Hermione?" Dobby asked when he arrived.
"Dobby go tell Remus Lupin that we may have someone to take to the safe house. He'll need some actual mental health help." Hermione explained, "Then come back."
"Yes Mistress. Harry Potter has saved another!" He proudly declared before popping out.
Hermione sighed, "Maybe."
"C'mon Ron. We'll get you the help you need. It'll be okay. It'll be okay."
===xxx
They had managed to get Ron to go with Dobby. Remus had said he would pass him along to her uncle who would make certain he got to the continent and received the real help he needed. Harry had promised Ron that he would check on him when he could. He would be his friend.
"We should go make sure the rest of the castle didn't fall down." Hermione joked. "With the way things have been going, who knows."
Harry nodded. He was ready to hate Ron and now he just felt sad and pity. His mind had been broken so badly over and over by Scabbers, by the so called healer Van Gelder.
Van Gelder was in the Saint Mungo's mental health department. The same department that oversaw patients like the Longbottoms. Harry's eyes narrowed as he thought about it.
"Harry. What are you thinking?" Hermione asked as she saw his expression harden.
"Van Gelder. He was the one who did that to Ron and Ginny. Who else do you think he might have hurt?" Harry asked turning towards Hermione who seemed to realize what Harry was intimating.
"Neville's parents?" She asked.
"Neville's parents. Maybe they've not been able to recover because someone keeps hurting them. Keeps torturing them."
Daphne raised her eyebrow. "I can make a few inquiries to see if Van Gelder has access to them. Masterson is the chief healer for the Mind Injuries Department. Van Gelder is his assistant."
Hermione grabbed Harry's arm, "We don't mention this to Neville until we get proof."
"Proof that they have been kept in a vegetative state for the last decade? That is not going to end well."
"Not for Van Gelder."
===xxx
Neville had been called to the headmaster's office. He stood looking at Snape, the Headmaster and professor McGonnegal.
"Ah Mr Longbottom. As Harry has made himself unavailable it seems that this task has befallen you." The headmaster said calmly.
"What task sir?" Neville asked looking at the other two.
"One of the Horcrux is sitting in my meeting room. The sword is available to you. I believe you can figure out what the process should be from there?" Dumbledore asked with a smile.
"Yes sir. I can." Neville confirmed with a firm expression.
Taking the sword into the room he stood staring at the cup. It sat there quietly glinting in the lights, the chased silver and gold accents twinkling calmly. He felt a bit of a thirst and wondered if he could get a drink be fore dealing with this think. It was rather hot in the room.
Shaking his head he glared at the cup and swung the sword in an overhand chopping motion. Cleaving the cup into two pieces that flew to opposite sides of the room. His follow through buried the blade of the sword the full width into the ancient oak boards. A gout of flame and smoke issued from the space where the blade had struck.
The smoke began to scream and swirl before it spiraled down into the floor and beyond the realm of the mortals.
Neville leveraged the sword out of the table before sheathing it. "Uh sorry sir. I've been working out and got a bit overzealous with my swing." The boy said handing the sword to the headmaster.
Dumbledore looked at the deep gash in the wood and said with a solmen expression said, "It'll buff out. No problem."
"Yes sir. Is there anything else you require?"
"No. I believe that should be sufficient. Do tell Harry about this won't you please?" the headmaster said.
Neville nodded then with a nod saw himself out.
Snape glanced at the table before saying, "A bit overzealous? Typical Gryffindor." He shook his head.
"Yes he is." Minerva said proudly.
Albus chuckled, "Well Severus I believe you need to return to your house-guest before there is any further trouble."
Snape nodded, "Yes sir."
Once he had left Albus waved his wand and the table was restored to his former condition. "Well by my calculations that leaves only one of the foul things left. Then this whole sorry mess shall be over."
Minerva raised her eyebrow, "And then what shall you do?"
"I think I shall retire to a cottage by the beach. Perhaps write my memoirs. That sounds quite enjoyable." he said shuffling back behind his desk.
Minerva raised her eyebrow, "You do realize that Mr Potter and his ladies are working very hard to set their own path in this world. It seems more and more are joining them."
Albus leaned back with a broad smile, "Yes it does. Harry's generation is the future Minerva. We should not fear it. Tom and his friends tried to change this world into a dark and angry place. Harry and his friends are lifting it up into a bright and happy world. I for one look forward to see how successful they are."
Minerva considered before sighing, "I suppose, do you think that you and I have grown too old, and too inflexible to be part of this brave new world?"
"Maybe myself, not you Minerva, you are still young enough." He chuckled.
Minerva gave a slight smile before saying, "Perhaps. Albus. Perhaps. Now I too have duties I must attend to. Please let me know if there is any further crisis brewing, preferably before it reaches a boil."
Albus chortled deeply, "Of course old friend. Of course."
Review Responses
Wiebenor: Thank you for the compliment. As for the stories I keep hammering on them as I can. Although as my brother likes to say I have about as much ability to focus as a pair of binoculars tossed from a truck sometimes.
Well you're polite and nice enough to read the stories I write so its only polite I thank and answer you when you have a valid point or question. I am trying not to abandon anything and bring the stories to an end (I know Retold year 3. I keep sitting and staring at that wondering where I am going with it. Someday, hopefully soon)
Thanks for the compliment again as I do like to tell stories and chatter on. Hopefully I got a few more in me before I go to the great beyond but I'll keep going as long as I can.
Jadesabrexiv: Luna, Hermione and Lavender working together to get revenge on those two would result in some, interesting things happening. I had a few more ideas but my wife made me tone it down a bit and focus. Lolol.
As for the pins I saw a few out in the local store wearing them and thought that would be something to use. And the boobie trap may make an appearance again. Although my wife said that the way I described it would have been much more unpleasant so if it is used I'll have to take that into account. Although that might explain why Hermione was rather testy. As for Bella she might enjoy it.
DennisUD: Well here is what happens to Ron. One more Horcrux, a few loose ends and we are getting closer.
