Moving On

Chapter - 12

Pansy Parkinson was crying as she leaned onto her grandmother, not so happy about being a pureblood witch anymore.

"Don't worry, dear. They won't find you here..." said Mary, hoping to herself that her words would prove true. Even though she and her husband did not like their son-in-law being an unruly death-eater, they did not voice their concerns at that time, lest be branded as blood-traitors. But, when their only girl died in the service of the monster, calling himself Voldemort, they were broken. As they recovered from the blow, they started questioning the very belief to which they lost their daughter to.

Now, within months of losing their daughter, it broke their hearts to know that they were very close to losing their granddaughter too.

Comforting the crying girl in her arms, she shared a look with her husband, who just sat heavily in the armchair opposite. Tired of all the magic spent.

"The place already has fidelius." started Brice. "I have also brought up some alert and repelling wards. That... I don't think I can find words to describe that pathetic excuse for a human." he nearly shouted.

"Now, now, dear. Can you just get the elves to clean a room for Pansy? I think she would like her mother's old room?" she asked the witch, who was now looking and nodding at her.

As her husband left, she quietly said to her granddaughter, "Don't worry, Pansy. We won't allow your father or anyone to hurt you. I can think of how you must feel. You'll be safe here, okay?" as she again got a nod back, she continued as she looked right into her eyes," You look just like your mother." she said softly with her own eyes glistening slightly.

"Stay here. I'll go and check what your grandfather is doing." she smiled before continuing with a mock huff, "Only that man can take this much time for even instructing a house elf." and proceeded to walk out of the room, leaving a once crying girl, with a little smile on her face.

"Is she OK?" asked Brice, as he poured some firewhiskey into a glass.

"She is still sad, and a lot angry. Well, what would you do if your father tried to sell you for money to an old man?" she snarled. Her anger at the man clearly showing in her voice. "I don't know how our daughter even fell in love with that vile man!"

"Past is past, dear. We would just have to do our best to protect our granddaughter. From what she said, it seems they are planning on bringing outside help this time. And, also, Parkinson Senior has taken the role of the Dark Lord. But he is more disgusting! She is also his granddaughter as much as ours! And he suggested this idea!"

As they both took sips of the liquor, both resolved at one thing, to do anything to protect their grandchild and to stop that reign of terror to come once again.

A boy with a messy head stirred from his deep slumber, disturbed by the light falling on his eyes. As he opened his eyes, he blinked a few times before looking to his side, mostly lying on him, he saw his love, slowly following him to back to the land of the living.

Even though they fell asleep on the couch and ended up sleeping in an awkward position, both surprisingly got good sleep.

It was that moment Hermione chose to open her eyes, moving the curls of her bushy mane out her view, tucking them behind her ears. She saw a big smile on his face, which she couldn't help but return.

Moving a bit slow, she leaned into him and gave a soft peck on his lips, as she greeted him. After the greeting and kiss returned, it took sometime before both teens parted, albeit reluctantly, as they stood from the couch both heard a pop as Aleen appeared.

"Good morning Master Harry, Mistress Hermione. You both were asleep when I saw you, so I could not take you to your rooms. Now, please follow me." she said, before starting to move.

She led both the teen into a master bedroom, looking as posh as the rest of the manor. Leaving the teens to it, she popped out of the room, after asking for the menu for breakfast.

As the two finished their morning ablutions, both settled at the dining table as the food appeared.

"So, Hermione. When should we go to 's?" he asked.

"How does afternoon sound?" she asked back.

"Sounds good. But.. as you said yesterday shouldn't we plan before?"

"And, why else do you think I said afternoon?"

"Dunno, maybe so that I get used to kissing my girlfriend?" he asked cheekily, earning a slight whack on his arms with a "Prat!" from her as she slightly blushed. But silently agreed it to be a good idea too.

After they had taken some more bites of the food, Harry continued the conversation.

"What's the plan, 'Mione? I think we must at least put on some glamour. There are too many death eaters still at large. Plus after the 'Battle of Hogwarts', we'd attract too much attention."

"And I think we should also use made-up names at 's too. At least ask them to do that in their records. As much as they value the patient's privacy, we cannot risk it. We should also see an optometrist. At least a muggle one for your glasses."

"Yeah, 'Mione. I wonder why I didn't think about it. Even when we visited in ."

Not wanting to answer it right now without proof, she kept quiet. Harry kept on thinking through things and silence engulfed them once more as they thought about possible dangers. Suddenly, he nearly shouted her name, startling her.

Seeing that he had startled her, he reduced his volume as he apologized and continued, "Sorry, 'Mione. But what are we going to do for the money?" he asked.

"We'll find a way, Harry. Don't worry." she consoled, but both realized that they did not have any option at all. Now that they are not in a good relationship? with the goblins, they couldn't access their vaults. Her savings too had dwindled during the hunt. As they were thinking about what to do further, they were interrupted by Aleen.

"Master Harry, Mistress Hermione, I kind of overheard that you were worrying about what to do for money." she started sheepishly. "Master Harry and Master harry's grandfather did not trust the Goblins much. So they kept most of their wealth here and at other Potter properties."

Harry and Hermione looked at Aleen for some moments before proceeding to run towards the elf and nearly crushing her in a hug. Celebrating the happiness as one of their major problem was solved. The elf in question was stunned at first and slightly blushed.

"Thank you so much, Aleen!" both teens chorused. Nearly jumping in joy.

"It's alright, Master Harry, Mistress Hermione. Come with me, I'll show you how to access the lockers here," she said and once again proceeded to guide the two, through a narrow path which was not there a moment ago.

Millicent Bulstrode was not a happy woman. It was true that she loved Ron Weasley. But she could not help but think that it was his plan that had led them to their current state.

She understood that she was the one to blame for it. She wanted him for herself and for that wanted him to separate him from the others. So, starting with a passing comment in the second year, she tried to start wooing him.

She acted as she was concerned for him, which she was as he was her first crush, and being with Harry Potter made someone's life expectancy a lot shorter. It didn't take much effort to sway him to at least listen to her.

She acted like a friend who wanted to just share the truth, it was hard at first to even approach him and there was also him blabbering what she said and did to his friends. It took some time for her to make him even believe not every Slytherin was not a slimy snake.

She led him to think that she was just trying to find a friend outside Slytherin. Playing on his feelings of hatred towards them, she went on at every meeting, on how hard it was to be in Slytherin, how she hated it. She kept on with it, earning his trust slowly. She also played the lonely card, trying to earn his pity and therefore, make him give her his company.

At first, he blabbed about her approach to them both, which she had to oblivate from them and also had to put a compulsion to not notice what he would say about her. It cost her a pretty galleon, but was worth it. She did not ask how the 6th year Slytherin did it, without anyone knowing, not that he would say anyway, he had done it and now she could proceed with her plans without any problems from those two.

Also now, that he could now at least believe that she was his friend and not blab everything she said to those two. She spent every minute she thought they could be alone without anyone knowing with him, teaching him things, not sounding like a bigot but as a concerned friend.

It took a lot of time, to make him understand everything. To make him realize his worth. To make him understand the proper order.

There were some changes and improvements, they were slow but were there. She clearly understood his weakness, his self-pity, and self-entitlement. Thinking himself to be the center of everyone's life.

Many times they were nearly caught, either by her friends in Slytherin or his friends form Gryffindor. But to her happiness, by the end of the second year, she succeeded in making him understand the way things should be. To understand that Mudbloods and the half-breeds under the purebloods. It did not take long after that for her to make him hers.

Ron too was now trying it hard to control his temper. He could not stand by the muggle loving idiots. It even angered him more to be not able to express his feelings openly. Every time he watched Malfoy taunt Potter and Granger, he could not help but feel jealous of not being able to do the same.

She also had to help him to learn to mask his new feelings, lest be found and corrupted once again by others. She thought about it at the very first and approached him with occlumency lessons. With the correct motivation for exotic and special food at every meeting, she managed to make him take some interest in it.

As time passed by, her efforts started showing giving produce. She could see the drastic changes at every meeting. He even began to show signs of cunning behavior. Her project of ensnaring the red-headed Gryffindor was becoming a huge success. If one had seen and spoken with him during one of those sessions with Millie, they would have rather seen a red-headed Malfoy or Nott rather than a Weasley.

As the two were planning for their life after school. Ron proposed a plan to her. To say she did not expect anything like that would be an understatement. The plan was simple and effective. But would end up helping Ron and Millie to reach a very high place in life. Act like still best mates with Potter, take the wealth as a Pureblood he rightfully deserved from him. Use the know-it-all Granger and throw them both.

She could feel nothing but proud, this was her success. Something even better than what she thought she would get.

She only wanted him to accept her views, but to go overboard he was now ready to even start working with that idea in mind was not even in her imagination.

It also made her feel giddy to see that her lover was now thinking about their future to raise their status as well. So she happily agreed, unknowingly leading her once innocent lover to a path to darkness.

All was going well, but one day, both Potter and Granger became suspicious as Ron's facade broke for a second in the third year and the two confronted Ron. It again took a payment from her to the senior year Slytherins for an attack on the two and to oblivate the entire day, with it the suspicions. It was then she planned it, to use loyalty potions on the two, keyed to Ron. That would take care of the suspicions.

As the year proceeded, both Potter and Granger began to get closer. It resulted in a half an hour rant from Ron when they later met. It was then she gave him the idea of Repulsion potions, which sadly could only be procured the next year, so they left the two to enjoy it till the year-end. Not that they would be ever together again.

By the end of the year, it was him surprisingly him once again, who gave the new plan, it was simple but effective. And also clearly showed how he had changed completely. It was to use love potions on Potter, make him go after Ginny Weasley. And the Weasley family gets control of the Potter fortune. What Millie did not know was Ron's plans to make Granger his pet with the help of the same potions.

The repulsion potions arrived early, nearly at the end of the ear. From what he said, it was a spectacular fight between the two over a silly broom. But what the both could not believe was the affections they both had for each other, by the end of the year, both overcame the repulsion potions.

From what Ron said, they both stood by each other and rescued Sirius Black from the dementors. But another problem came in the name of Peter Pettigrew. Ron had his rat with him during many of their sessions and planning together. There was no reason for him to out them, but still, the prospect of someone knowing what they were up to and out them was too scary. That led to change of venue from the unused classroom to more secretive broom cupboards, not that Millicent minded it in the least.

Then was the castle's map. It was a nightmare, to say the least, both did not know when Potter would use the map. Ron could get it from him only occasionally, citing errands for the twins. He couldn't do that too much without getting caught. The loyalty potions would have taken care, but still, they were a bit careful.

And the next year, the potions were liberally used on the two, what they once again did not account for was Hermione Granger's brains. It did not take her long to find something amiss and tried to take him to the hospital wing, it was then Ron started executing his plan. He gave the idea and doused her too with the love potion, and feigned ignorance of her feelings.

I should have seen it at least then... she thought to herself, thinking about how Ron played with Granger's feelings, even though she was a mudblood, Millie could not help but feel pity for her. Unknown to Millie, Ron relished the feeling, as she pinned after him, like a love-sick puppy as he proceeded to ignore her. He even increased the potion dosage, making her desperate for him to return her feelings. Driving her to the extent of trying to make him jealous by going out with Krum.

It did not take long for her to find out Ron's plans. She wasn't a Slytherin for nothing. It took her so much effort to make sure that she would not leave him. What he does to the mudblood was not her concern. She thought as the Dark Lord gained power that Ron would join her. Even though she did not like the Dark Lord for his demands of subservience and his methods, she always like her father, considered him as a necessary evil.

But she couldn't help but swell in pride as he explained his plans to her. Stick with the two, as they defeat the Dark Lord, as soon as Potter paired up with Ginny, change the marriage contracts to get the wealth and he would continue to keep Granger as a pet and relish seeing her as his servant, even though she was greater in magical power and knowledge, be in her rightful place, at the feet of her superiors.

Even though she did not like the last part, she could see that all those years being not noticed as the youngest brother, and Granger's bossy attitude towards him was the reason behind it. She decided to let him think that for now. Even if she could not bring him to sense, all it would take is to remove Granger from the equation. Not that he needed to know that she did it.

As the years proceeded, Millie could see that Ron still had the idea, it led to some fights between them. It was then she saw that the Ron she wanted had completely turned into someone very different. Not just that, he had also learned to hide that side of him perfectly. She decided on working quietly as he did to handle the problem.

When Potter and Granger decided to hunt the Horcruxes, Millie presented Ron with a communication watch. Even though she would miss him, his idea was too good. Taking all the fame for himself as Potter would be stuck with Ginny Weasley, at the most, be an Auror or Quidditch Player.

The loyalty potions worked perfectly as Potter would not even talk about Umbridge's torture to anyone but Ron and Hermione. Ron enjoyed it, as she shared with her, at how the one who always overshadowed him is now loyal to him, in some years, act for his every whims and wishes. All it would take now was the right comment at the right time, and Potter would do it. His fame, power, talent ending up useless as he would be stuck as a lowkey Auror or Quidditch player. As Millie and he would enjoy the political and social power, and the Potter wealth.

What they could do nothing once again was about the closeness of those two. Even though they were doused to the eyeballs in repulsion potions, at the most they could get were the occasional fights over silly things.

To keep them away from the other, the two doused them occasionally with love potions keyed to different people. It was entertaining at first. But it also helped her find out how much Ron liked to torture Granger, not directly with words or actions but by simply ignoring her potion induced feelings.

Sometimes, she could not believe how much he hated her and wanted to show Granger her place, all that for correcting his mistake? She asked herself. With all these years of potioning, Granger would do anything for Ron now. It slightly frightened her. She could not say she had the looks like her and also made her wonder what if Ron drifted away from her. But what shocked Millie was that Ron, unlike himself, comforted her and even made an unbreakable vow to her!

He vowed to her that it was all as payback and to make an example to other mudbloods at how even the brightest of her age would be under him, a pureblood. It scared her, to see what she had done, to which extents her teachings turned Ron. Sometimes in the night, she wondered, should she have had used a love potion and be done with it?

But what was done could not be changed now. But the problems started coming up when the potions started running out in the hunt. Ron started panicking and dumped the two and came running back. Even when he returned, he could not get any more chances to potion them again. And Granger's reaction was the biggest shock to them. Unlike as they thought that Granger would run back to him, under the effects of the loyalty potion, she was angry at him and nearly cursed him to oblivion.

They both had started fighting the potions. It had muddled their brains a lot but what they did not account was for the strong will of the two. Granger started distancing herself from him. But after some time, she once again succumbed to the potion's effects.

Everything once again started going by their plan. Granger even kissed, the potion had completely overcome her mind. Harry was once again trying to get back with Ginny.

But the biggest mystery was, somehow both had snapped out of the years of potioning. The only possibility that Millie could think of was something in Madam Pomfrey's medicines had countered the potions. They both started recovering and Granger appeared to start questioning her feelings for Ron too. And even Ginny had broken up with Potter! And to make matters even worse, both started to see the real Ron, the one who he had turned into. Someone no better than Draco Malfoy.

Millie would never be able to forget the day Granger broke up with Ron or the look of fury etched on his face. It took so much time to just convince him not to try to go after her. He could never overcome Granger magically nor by knowledge. It had been a way for him to prove himself to be better than her. And to satisfy his ego.

The fury was the result of the feel of helplessness. As much as he wanted to, even under the potion's effects, Granger would have wiped the floor with Ron. Now that she is recovering from the potions that muddled her brain, Millie hated to even think about what would happen to Ron as Granger would want revenge.

It was now a matter of when rather than if, for Granger to find out what happened. There were methods to detect and reverse oblivations, and Granger would know it. And against the two's power, they were nothing. She could not help but think of the look on Potter's face and the sheer power on the day of battle with Voldemort. If they came after them now, they would be finished.

It was that thought of hers that led them both to now hide in a Bulstrode family property well away from Wizarding Britain. Waiting for their time.

Coming out of her reminiscing, Millie could not help but feel guilty, as she saw the face of her love as he slept on the bed next to her, the peaceful look. It was then she could see what she had turned that Ron into, She could not leave him now, the guilt would break her. Now that they had time, all she can now do is to try to guide back Ron to what he was, the one before she turned him to a monster that he is now. The one she truly wanted...

A/N: If you are going to flame me for making Ron like this. Don't bother. But if you find some mistake, or anything else. Do comment or PM.