Changing Sides

Chapter 17: Feats and Defeats

Disclaimer: It's here every chapter to show you that it is not mine.

Ron and Hermione touched down on the ground just as it stopped raining.

"Ron, I cannot believe I let you fly us here in the middle of a storm!" Hermione said as she got of the broom and landed her feet in a puddle of mud. "Ugh, mud!"

"Come on Hermione, it was exciting. And now, we're going back to Malfoy Manor to rescue Harry like we did during the summer," Ron said. "Now that I think about it, that wasn't even that long ago."

"Ron, it's not Harry's fault," Hermione pointed out. "He's you know, the prophesized one and all that. The Chosen One. Things just happen a lot around him, for better or for worse but mostly worse."

"The Chosen One?" Ron asked.

Hermione stopped talking. "Did I just say that out loud?" Ron nodded. "No I didn't. Ron, what are you t-t-talking about?" Hermione stuttered nervously.

"Hermione I know you're lying. First off, you never ever stutter and secondly, well I just know you are, you're getting all nervous," Ron said. "Tell me."

"Fine," Hermione said. "There is a prophecy made about Harry that he will be the Chosen One, the one to defeat Voldemort. I overheard Professor Dumbledore and Professor McGonagall talking about it a couple of days ago. That's why Dumbledore left, he has to go protect this prophecy for a few days until they are able to move it to the Ministry of Magic. Voldemort is most likely after it."

"So, Harry is the Chosen One. He's going to defeat You-Know-Who and save the world because of some rubbish some psychic said?" Ron asked.

"In simpler terms, yes. But I don't think Harry even has the slightest clue that he is the Chosen One," Hermione answered.

"That's great and all but I think we should go rescue the Chosen One and his girlfriend a.k.a. my sister," Ron stated. "Let's go." He started walking in a general direction.

"Ron, please don't get us lost. I have no idea where we are," Hermione said.

"You don't remember this place?" Ron asked.

"Ron, it's a forest. Of trees. I have seen many trees. Not many that I would precisely remember," Hermione answered.

"What about this tree?" Ron asked. He pointed to the tree he was leaning against.

"It looks like any other tree," Hermione commented. Then she saw three green arrows sticking out of the tree. "From Malfoy! Last time we were here! We wrote that message to Harry! We must be by Malfoy Manor!"

"Right there," Ron said moving aside so Hermione could see the giant white mansion.

"It's the second time that I've seen it and it is still extremely creepy," Hermione noted.

"True. Let's go," Ron said and walked forward. Hermione quickly cast a disillusionment charm on themselves and they walked quietly across the lawn.

"Remember over the summer when Harry sent those letters?" Hermione asked. "He described his room to us and it fit the description of that one." Hermione pointed her finger straight up at a double window and a balcony.

"Shall we?" Ron asked already mounted on the broom.

"We shall," Hermione answered and climbed on to the back as Ron shot straight into the air.

Three seconds passed and they landed gracefully on the balcony. Ron shrunk the broom and put it in his pocket and pulled out his wand. Hermione did the same and took the disillusionment charm off of them.

"Hermione," Ron said after a silence.

"What?" Hermione asked.

"I-I. Um, I..." Ron stuttered.

"For goodness sakes Ronald! Say it already!" Hermione said.

Ron leaned forward and kissed Hermione on the lips.

"I love you," he said.

"I love you too Ron," Hermione said and she kissed him again.

"Ready. Let's do this," Ron said. "Wait. Should we knock or something along those lines?"

"No," Hermione said.

"Then what--?" Ron started. He was cut off by a loud explosion.

"Bombarda!" Hermione cried pointing her wand at the window. The two windows flew open and glass went flying everywhere.

"Subtle," Ron commented and he jumped into the room with Hermione following. The room they were standing in was quite grand. It was... Gryffindor colors with a huge bed containing a Harry and a Ginny.

Ginny looked up at the two wet teens standing among all the shattered glass. "Subtle," she commented.

"I said the same thing," Ron said.

"Gin, how are you holding up?" Hermione asked.

"I'm fine, Harry on the other hand is a different story," Ginny said looking down at Harry.

"Oh Merlin!" Hermione cried running over to the bed. "What happened?"

"Well, Harry was supposed to get something but no one told me what it was and then Malfoy just like tackled me and had me on the ground. He said he would kill me right there but he didn't want to deny Harry the pleasure of watching him do it," Ginny explained as she started to cry remembering what Malfoy said to her. "Then he told Harry I was incentive for him to do whatever he had to do and Malfoy was going to bring me outside of Hogwarts Gates where you can disapparate and wait for him there.

"We got about halfway and then I broke out of his grip and I ran back to the castle. He had a bow and arrow, I don't know if you guys know this but he has exceptional aim with that thing. But I'll guess that you knew that judging by the looks you're giving each other now. And then Harry came running out of the castle but he wasn't holding anything like I thought he would be and he was shouting something to me but I couldn't hear him and then when I got within earshot, there was thunder and it all happened so fast for me. Harry forced me to the ground with his wand and an arrow that had been going straight for me hit Harry right in the stomach.

"Then Professor Connelly... Professor Connelly! So there was this death eater whose name was probably Dolohov since that is what Liucius Malfoy called him and his voice sounded oddly familiar and I couldn't think of who it sounded like and it was him! Professor Connelly is a death eater, or is disguised as one. You would think Dumbledore would check out these people after the incident we had last year with Moody and Harry almost dying again. He's a magnet for trouble, he is. So Malfoy took me and Professor Connelly took Harry and we disapparated and ended up here and then he was like all in my mind and I didn't even really notice, it felt like the beginning of a headache. Then since he was reading my thoughts, I thought of every insult I could and of course he could hear it and when he turned around to tell me to stop I stunned him with his own wand which I stole out of his pocket.

"I ended up in Malfoy's bedroom. When Lucius and Dolohov flew down after seeing Malfoy just lying on the grass and I went and took their brooms and flew up to the window that they came out of, and it was probably Malfoy's bedroom. Right across the hall from this room and I found Harry in here and then you'll never guess who else is here. It's Miranda Wesley. Actually, it's Miranda Fudge. Yes, related to the insane Minister of Magic and an undercover spy. At first she was trying to get information on Harry and that's why she befriended him and then blew her cover when she found out his secret, kind of what she was actually trying to discover in the first place. But now she's changing sides and pretending to be on Malfoy's side and they are together, I guess.

"Miranda gave me some advice though. Keep your thoughts to yourself. Now you know all of this and I know all of this and if you think about it while in Malfoy's presence, he will know all of this too. And it will most likely end in a horrible and painful death. Malfoy can read minds or like hear your thoughts if you're thinking them and he's present."

There was silence.

"That was..." Hermione said trying to think up a word to describe Ginny's epic tale.

"Long," Ron finished.

"So tell me what you know," Ginny said.

"We know pretty much everything you know," Hermione replied. "We know that Harry stole the sword of Godric Gryffindor, but no one seems to know why." Also, the reason Dumbledore left is to go and protect a prophecy made about Harry as the Chosen One or the Prophesized One who will defeat Voldemort. Harry is this Chosen One and it is his job to defeat Voldemort because neither can live while the other survives."

"You know way too much Hermione," Ron remarked.

"I'm just relaying what I overheard," Hermione answered.

"Someone's coming!" Ginny stated.

"I don't hear anyone," Ron whispered.

"You weren't listening," Ginny answered.

Everyone was quiet as they heard the slowly approaching footsteps.

"I think you guys should probably hide somewhere," Ginny said.

Ron and Hermione both ducked under the bed.

Ginny rolled her eyes at their choice of hiding spot. Couldn't've picked a less obvious spot than under the bed, she thought.

The footsteps stopped outside of the door and the door swung open.

"Geez, Miranda," Ginny said. "I thought you were Malfoy."

Miranda stood in the doorway, a weird expression showing on her face. She widened her eyes and formed her mouth into a line and shook her head. Ginny understood her expression a second later when Malfoy appeared in the door beside her.

"What's the matter Weasley? You don't like me?" Malfoy asked.

"Puh-leeze. Who does?" Ginny asked surpressing a smile.

"I do," Miranda said and reached over to hold Malfoy's hand.

"Not now Miranda. I heard a noise," Malfoy said dropping Miranda's hand and taking a few steps further into the room. It was kind of hard not to see the open windows, the rain that came in them and soaked the carpet, the puddles where Ron and Hermione had been and the shattered glass everywhere, but other than that, maybe he wouldn't notice.

Ginny pressed her hand to her head and thought of random things to keep images of Ron and Hermione out of her head. She willed herself to think of the time with Harry in the Room of Requirement when he had had that fight with Miranda. She didn't think of Ron and Hermione one bit. Just of Harry and every now and then she would think up a good insult to throw at Malfoy.

"What happened in here?" Malfoy asked turning to face Ginny. "You know if you don't tell me, I can find out for myself."

Ginny felt the beginnings of a headache, no, it wasn't a headache. It was Draco Malfoy sifting through her thoughts. She could feel her thoughts of Ron and Hermione coming to the surface. No. Do not think about that. Do not let Malfoy see those! Suddenly she felt like she had built a wall in her mind. It surrounded her thoughts of Ron and Hermione coming into the bedroom and then hiding under the bed. She felt like her thoughts were completely blocked off. Don't think about it. Don't think about it. She was building a shield around everything that had recently happened and cutting it off from Malfoy.

"What!" Malfoy cried as he stumbled backwards. "You shouldn't have the power to do that!"

"Do what?" Ginny answered innocently and proudly that she had kept Malfoy out of her thoughts.

"Miranda! I can't break through whatever sort of shield she put around her mind," Malfoy shouted to Miranda.

"Let me try," Miranda said and stepped into the room as well.

Malfoy gave a gesture towards Ginny and Miranda stared hard at Ginny.

Ginny didn't even feel the same sensation she had felt when Malfoy tried to get in. Either she was so good and blocking people out that she did it subconsciously or Miranda wasn't even trying.

"That's tough," Miranda said turning to face Malfoy. "I don't detect a shield but there is one there."

Malfoy was furious. Miranda was attempting to calm him down. Ginny was nervous. There was silence. Then a voice that hadn't spoke before broke the silence.

"Ginny? Gin, where am I-- ow."

"Harry," Ginny breathed and spun around. Sure enough, Harry's eyes were open slightly and he was looking at Ginny.

"Gin, where... ow. My stomach hurts," Harry said. He put his hand on top of where he felt the pain and there was a large bandage there.

"You were hit with an arrow," Ginny answered.

"Oh yeah," Harry said after a silence. "I remember that. Are you okay?"

"Am I okay? You're the one who had an arrow protruding out of your body," Ginny stated.

"I hate to be breaking up this love fest, but now that Potter is awake, you will most likely have visitors shortly," Malfoy said and he took Miranda's hand and headed to the door. Malfoy stopped at the door and turned around. "I don't know what happened here but I will make it my business to find out," he said. He flicked his wand at the window and it repaired itself instantaneously. Then he turned and made a dramatic exit with Miranda.

After the other two were gone, Harry was about to say something but Ginny cut him off.

"Harry! Are you alright?" Ginny asked worriedly.

"Yeah, fine. I'm perfect, I mean I was shot with an arrow and I'm in Malfoy Manor but I'm perfectly alright," Harry answered sarcastically.

"You're right, that was a dumb question," Ginny said.

"I saw you put up a mind shield," Harry said. "Pretty impressive."

"Thanks," Ginny answered and leaned down to kiss Harry lightly.

"Oi! Don't forget about us under here!" Ron said as he came out from under the bed.

Hermione rolled out of the other side. "Ginny, I can't believe you blocked Malfoy out of your thoughts! That was amazing!" Hermione said.

"I don't even know how I did it," Ginny answered. "I was just trying to keep Malfoy out and think of anything but you two so he wouldn't see. But I mean, how could he not see?"

"I thought we were done for when he asked what happened in here. I mean it's not that hard to connect an open, shattered window, with puddles leading from there to under the bed," Hermione said.

"But since when has Malfoy ever been smart?" Ron asked.

Harry painfully sat up. "Merlin, I've endured some painful spells that make you feel hurt but when you're actually hurt, it's like a thousand times worse," Harry said.

"Harry, we know everything," Hermione suddenly said.

"Everything?" Harry asked.

"Everything," Ginny repeated. "You spent the summer here in this Manor, you stole the sword of Godric Gryffindor and our professor is a death eater in disguise."

"That pretty much sums it up," Harry said.

"Why would you do all that?" Ron asked.

"Do you think I wanted to? At the end of the third task last year, when I sent Cedric's body back, I did it wandlessly so Voldemort saw potential in my power and took me here to Malfoy Manor. I lived here all summer, or almost all summer, dueled every single death eater here and beat them all, even when they ganged up on me five to one. Voldemort gave me a task to do. He said he needed the Sword of Godric Gryffindor and I was to bring it to him or he would hurt all of you guys. I don't even know why he needs that thing and honestly, I'm not sure why I'm able to tell you all this when I know I was under a Fidelius Charm," Harry explained.

"Me and Malfoy almost became friends. Or maybe he was just gaining my trust, he gave me that talisman and I don't even know what it did but I ripped it off before, it was probably some sort of tracker and then school started and Miranda Wesley... I don't know. I loved her in like a day, I don't even know how that happened and now she hates me."

"Actually, I would just like to point out that it is Miranda Fudge. As in related to the Minister of Magic. She's undercover looking for information on Voldemort and you. Rumor had it you were missing all summer and you were and she befriended you because of that and now she's befriended Malfoy and he told her everything so she knows everything and she'll probably go report it back to Fudge. That's so like Fudge, to send a fifteen year old girl instead of a professional Auror," Ginny said.

"Fudge?!" Harry asked. "I'm ashamed to say I liked her."

Everyone laughed.

"But the current predicament is how we're getting out of here," Hermione said.

"Predicament? Couldn't you use a smaller word like problem?" Ron asked.

"But what about the sword?" Harry asked. "I have it in my robes pocket, wherever that is."

Ron got up and grabbed Harry's robe off of the desk and tossed it to Harry.

"Be careful Ronald!" Hermione reminded him.

Harry searched through his pockets and he pulled out the mini sword. "Here. I don't know what I'm going to do with it," Harry said.

"Well, why don't we just jump out the window and run back to Hogwarts?" Ron asked.

"Well for one, I'm awake now. I'm sure Malfoy has reported that so I'm probably expecting visitors anytime soon," Harry said. "This kills," he said placing his hand over the bandage.

"Maybe I can attempt to fix it," Hermione said. She ran her wand over his bandage a few times occassionaly saying a word or two.

"Ron, bottom drawer of the desk is a pain reliever potion, can you get it?" Harry asked.

Ron went to the desk and opened the bottom drawer. There was a small vial there. "How did you know?" Ron asked.

"This was my room," Harry said. "Do you think there would be a single room in Draco Malfoy's house with Gryffindor colors?"

"I didn't even notice the colors," Ron said, "but here you go." He handed him the vial and Harry downed it in one go.

"How do you feel?" Hermione asked.

"Better. What did you do?" Harry asked surprised. He unwrapped the bandage and all that was left now was a tiny scar. "Another scar. How great." Harry went into the closet and put on a t-shirt.

"It's so weird thinking that you lived here. This was your bed, your clothes, your books, your desk," Ginny said tracing her hand along the spines of all the books. "This is such advanced magic."

"I read every book at least twice. When the Malfoy's had parties, it tended to be very boring for me. I couldn't leave my room and they would make the door disappear so I was stuck here. There's a secret passage in Malfoy's room though which I accidentally stumbled across and then I found out that Malfoy was double crossing me," Harry explained. "Hermione, whatever you did was brilliant, I feel great." Harry could move around freely and he put the small Sword of Gryffindor in his pocket.

"Thank you," Hermione said. "Now let's get out of here."

"Leaving so soon?" someone asked from the doorway. Everyone turned around to see Draco Malfoy standing in Harry's room with an army of at least twenty death eaters behind him. "I don't think so," he said.

I got really excited when I received a review so I updated. My updates are spaced apart, I know but it's my last story so I'll go the way I want to go. Thank you to those who do review, you make my day.

--Liz