AN: Hallo again all! You people make me blush; I didn't even dare to think so many would like my story.
Disclaimer: I do not owe any HP characters nor do I owe Dumas novel.
BARON RÖNNSKÄR
CHAPTER 9 PREPAIRING TO STRIKE
Almost at the moment when Baron Rönnskär appeared in his castle at Scotland he threw himself to a comfortable looking couch and collapsed in it.
What a day! I wasn't expecting to meet all of them during one day, Ron thought. His purposed had been only meet Percy and Malfoy, the rest he would have meet later on. Instead he had met his father, who had gained some weight, and it had taken everything Ron had not to pull him in a bear hug right there and then. The moment later he had to fight against again to keep his composure when Ginny had run towards him. His little sister had truly grown up, no more a child but a woman and mother. In Krum's he had seen his nephew James, cute little fellow with red hair and green eyes. And he had met Harry, his best mate. Aurors job truly had left its mark on him. Harry seemed to be even tougher than what he had known.
And Hermione had been there. That was the hardest thing to see her. Her brown hair was still slightly bushy and those beautiful brown eyes. Merlin, isn't it crime to be that beautiful? Yet there had been something in her that Ron couldn't explain. During the years he had learned to know Hermione pretty well so he knew when something was bothering her. She isn't happy. She looks her daughter with love but not her husband. Idea almost made Ron smile but he thought not to let his hopes get too high. Hermione is mother and I can predict that that Melissa will become just as beautiful as her mother.
Then he remembered the others: Percy, Malfoy and Krum. It was close Ron didn't curse them right there and then. Percy and Malfoy sit behind their desks and bath in money and power. Krum pretends to be a good family man and holds his wife's hand. He thinks Hermione as a trophy not a wife! I will destroy them. I will take everything from them.
"How was it?"
Ron was pulled out of his thoughts by a sudden presence in the room. He raised his gaze to meet a beautiful blonde haired woman in her mid 20's.
"Exhausting" Ron answered simply.
Without another word the woman pulled her wand and summoned a glass of firewhisky to Ron.
"Thank you, Anna" Ron said, before drinking it all.
"How many did you met?" Anna asked.
"Beside my mother almost everyone" he answered.
"Did anyone of them recognise you?"
"I doubt it" Ron said.
"Not even her?" Anna asked, not firmly but sweetly.
"She may have, but she refuses to believe it".
"And when she does believe?"
"It will be too late" Ron said with a voice that made Anna know there would be no more talking about it. "You're still sure you want to do this?" Ron asked suddenly.
"What?" Anna asked.
"This: whole plan. I understand if you don't want to go through it. I can still find some other way of getting back with-"Ron was cut off.
"I have told you already that I want to do this" Anna said firmly but still smiling. "That man has done wrong for both of us and I want to be there when truth comes out. I want to see his eyes when he realises he is ruined. When he realises that no-one can escape their past. You should understand me".
Ron gave a small smile. "I do understand". He then let out a deep sigh. "At least you don't how to pretend right before those you love most".
Anna put her hand to his reassuringly. "I'm grateful that you took the trouble of finding me and offering me to be part of this".
Ron was about to say something when a house-elf appeared.
"Master's guests are waiting downstairs" elf said.
Ron stood up and went through long corridors to downstairs. He entered the room that didn't have windows. Room's walls were soundproofed and it contained only a table, couple of couches and huge fireplace. Natasha Blackwood was sitting in one of the couches.
"Your Grace!" she shouted with a mocking tone. "I knew you would get far but didn't quite expect this".
"Nice to see you also, Natasha" Ron said.
"Tell me, your grace, what I can do for you?" she said.
"For a time being nothing. Still I would like you and your crew stay in Scotland for when I call you I want you to be there".
Natasha looked at Ron as if seizing him and smiled. "Staying in Scotland without doing anything is bad for my business" she said.
Ron snapped his fingers and an elf levitated a trunk full of gold to the room.
"Does that help you be a little more patient?" Ron asked.
Natasha took one coin from the trunk and examined it. She then cast a wicked smile to Ron. "It will do…for now. What kind of jobs am I expecting to receive, assassinations?"
"No, but I can't really specify them really" Ron said and decided to change the subject. "How is Severus?"
Natasha gave out a sigh. "Tempered, insolent, sarcastic…you know the usual" she said smiling.
"Some things never change" he said, wondering how much the peoples he loved had changed.
Ron shared a drink with Natasha and the bid her farewell. When he returned to the main chambers he was surprised to hear talking coming. He entered the room where he had left Anna very quietly and saw Anna smiling and talking to a young man there. They were talking very closely Ron noticed.
"Something interesting there, herra Longbottom?" he asked, slight Scandinavian accent in his voice.
Neville Longbottom almost jumped to the roof hearing Baron's voice. "I'm sorry Baron; I didn't know you were there…"
Anna saved him from the trouble. "Herra Longbottom arrived after you had to leave. I told him to wait here with me until you'd be available".
"Hopefully my sister hasn't bored you too much, Neville…may I call you Neville?" Ron asked smiling.
"Of course Baron and no, your sister hasn't bored me a bit" Neville said, taking a careful look at Anna.
This didn't go unnoticed by Ron. "I'm sure she didn't" he said with a teasing tone.
"Brother!" Anna shouted as Neville turned bright red.
Ron raised his hands as if defending himself. "So, Neville, what brings you to us?"
"Oh, I just wanted to thank you personally for recommending me to board of St. Mungos as a herb expert" Neville said, finding some composure.
"If I recall herbs still have a major importance in making healing potions and other medicines. Such a health-centre as St. Mungos needs the best they can have. And put it simply, you are the best" Ron said.
"Here, here" Anna said, giving a strange look to Neville and then turning her gaze away.
Neville seem to be beaming with pride. "Thank you, sir. I don't know what else to say except thank you".
"Don't mention it. After all you have been giving advices to my employees of where to get what herbs for two years now so I felt it was time to repaid it to you" Ron said. Two years Neville has been working for me without ever realising who I really am. "Don't forget to arrive to my ball in London".
"Of course I won't, thank you for inviting me" Neville says, shakes hands with them both and then leaves.
"So what were you two talking about, Anna?" Ron asks almost immediately.
"Well my dear brother that doesn't concern you now does it. It's between me and Neville" she says teasingly, making only one mistake.
"Neville is it now?" Ron asks, smiling. Anna turns surprisingly red for such a pale young woman and leaves the room muttering quick good night.
Chuckling Ron went to a desk and took a pile of parchment in front of him. He looked at them, containing information from various sources, time-schedules and plans. He had all the information he needed to make a good strategy. And as Ron had always being a great chess player it was already forming in his head.
Percy baths in money. After this he will not have even a shilling.
Krum has a family and friends. After this they will look at him with loathing.
Malfoy has power more than needed. After this the only power he has is the decision whether to breathe or not.
AN: I was originally planning to make the ball chapter now but I felt I should do this first. Ball will be next and a lot of things are going to happen. My apologises of any spelling and grammatical mistakes.