……….
"AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Ron shouted on the top of his lungs; why does everything bad have to happen to him today? For crying out loud it's his sixteenth birthday! Why does everyone love picking on him on his b' day and also he's in a towel…okay? And there's nothing funny or proud about it and candies before bed really wrecks your brain! You became hallucinated!
"Ahhhhhh!" Ron continued and panted as he was out of breathe…it's like the fifth times he bellowed that night and he has no strength to even stand up; he fell back to the table behind him and grasped for his life; he felt all tensed up at his chest and found it difficult to breathe…
No really…
He doesn't understand it; why was everyone here? As if it wasn't bad enough to worsen his unendearing knowledge… those' red eyes' thingy from earlier is in the room, the same room he is?! And why was he a she?!
S0oo00oo0oo0 many questions and no answer?!
Hopeless and confused Ron deemed to not know what to say being in this situation, "Professors, what are you doing here?!" and the words left Ron's lip before he even realised what he was saying and he felt stupid saying it! Duh isn't it obvious?
…Wait…no…
However Dumbledore doesn't think that was a stupid question at all…Ron is in his rights to demand to know what's going on but first he must calm down…
"Ron I need you to calm down before WE tell you everything," Dumbledore instructed and Ron nod; he obeyed without questioning…well Dumbledore was the only person in this room he entrusted with his whole life beside Hagrid of course, however Snape and McGonagall on the other hand was his worse nightmares and their scariness driven him away… far away…over the edge of the cliff…okay that was exaggerated…
Ron took deep breathes; his left hand place against his chest where his heart was, now, beating away at a rapid pace as if he had ran 100 laps. After several minutes of silence Ron had managed to calm down and now completely relax and wait to hear the truth…or asked for the truth?
"What's going on here?" Ron asked feeling a little more loosen up and unruffled as he looked up at Dumbledore and at the others for answers, now, he's not in the less concern that he's in a towel and that everyone was looking at him. No, he demanded to know what's going on and the truth…Okay only because everything that happened tonight has been very weird…well weirder than the usual Hogwarts' weird…if you know what I mean…
And Dumbledore sighed heavily as he gestured his hands over to the black cloak figures, "I think it's best to let them explain everything to you," and Ron's gaze switched to them sharply; "Them?" he thought ridiculously as he stood up straight, "they knew exactly what's going on and everything?"
Ron huffed at them, after having to be in his bath room earlier and now he had to trust them on telling him the holly truth?
Are they kidding him?
Right…but he had no other choice since Dumbledore leave the explaining to them.
"You're name is Ron, right?" One of them began trying to ease the tension and Ron scoffed,
"Yeah, I guess."
"You know what's going on, right, the reason we're here?"
And Ron gave them a blank expression, "I… don't… know," the words was delivered at a very slow pace…at a turtle's pace…okay, that was also exaggerated, he just said those words slowly…Honestly, how do they expect him to know when they just fell in from the ceiling?!
Honestly, he doesn't really know what's what anymore- especially what's going on...I mean isn't he the one asking them what's going on, like what's happening?
Okay, all of these things that happened to him tonight really confused him…he's not sure about anything anymore; his gender, his life, his crush and his…well what the heck is he then? Some sort of creature that turned into a woman when reaches the age 16 and now they come to annihilate him? That didn't happen to George and Fred when they turned 16! Great, everything bad just have to happen to him; Ronald Weasley! It's like God is against him or something! Has he killed someone in his past life?!
His train of thoughts was interrupted, again!
"But you know who we are, right?" one of them spoke again and Ron huffed, yeah of course he do even if they were burnt to ashes; he still recognised them and their tiny whispering voice,
"Yeah, those THINGS in my shower," and they all looked down as if to hide their blushes…well with the masks concealing their faces he couldn't see their emotional features but their body language told he so; that they are embarrassed from what had happened earlier…Yeah, they should be!
"Well…umm…you can say that," they whispered and Ron looked at them intensely…Urgh!
"Who ARE you?!" Ron demanded, "And what the bloody hell are you? Hentai!" words that are screaming in the back of his head dying to be heard aloud but he ignored them and awaits the answer from these strangers…
Well, he doesn't know them…s0o000o that defined them as 'strangers' or 'outsider'…his eyes narrowed at that thought, if they're outsider why hasn't Dumbledore or McGonagall kick their ass out of Hogwarts? They just stand there and let them explain! Do they really want Ron dead?
"We're Celestial's warriors," came the simply reply…
It was several minutes of silence and the chirping of the crickets could be heard from outside the window louder than usual. Ron paused for a while before replying them…feeling awkward…
"0o0o0o...kay," Ron nodded cluelessly, he hasn't got a clue on what they're going on about; Celestial Warriors? Who the heck are they and why are they here?
"Uh huh," Ron pretended to sound interested so they would continued.
"We had disappeared over decades ago-" they continued but Ron just has to cut in on that one, "Then why are you here, I mean, why now of all times to show yourself?" and that had Dumbledore shook his head at him in a contempt manner and Ron rolled his eyes…
"Okay, go on," and they did exactly that, "You don't remember do you?" they asked and Ron's frown, failed to understand, "Remember… what?" okay….was there something he'd supposed to know? Are they really here to annihilate him or did he owe them debts?
"You don't know-" their whispered in a disappointed tone… And Ron's face etched; emotions distorted, he's REALLY confused now, "I guess…not". And he felt stupid again; can't he say something that sounded smart for once, it's like they know something he doesn't and no one is bloody telling him anything until he answered all their questions! It's his questions that need answering not theirs!
"You don't know who you are, do you?" and Ron gave Dumbledore the eerie eyes, thinking WHAT THE BLOODY HELL?! He hasn't got a clue to what they're talking about and the Celestial whatever…
And was he being a little dense here on the situation or are they much more stupid than they looked? Because it was obvious who he was; he's Ronald Weasley, a BOY who he just turned 16, friends of Harry Potter and Hermione Granger…yeah…he was petty sure who he was until this night…until this dark hours…
Professor Snape looked at him strangely and Ron tried to keep his face emotionless and as plain as possible but it was difficult when he looked up at the figures…
Ron coughed trying hard not to snicker as his thought re-enter his mind, 'are they much more stupid then they look?' which caused everyone to looked at him strangely…Had he missed something or is everyone deaf? Isn't it obvious that he's Ron and this whole turning to a woman thing must be a joke from his two mischievous brothers, curse them!
Alright, answer the question!
"I'm Ronald Weasley," Ron managed to spoke while suppressing his laughter…Okay, for once tonight he said something smart and something logical…Duh!
He can't believe that he could actually laugh in this situation…but it's just s0o0o0o funny…he's Ron and that's who he is before or after being a girl, he's still Ron…right?
RIGHT?!
The figures stiffened, "We can assure you that you're not,"
And Ron bit his lower lips; fighting down the laugh that almost suffocated him to death from the inside, "How?"
And one of the figures huffed at Ron's question; as if to looked down or about make a scratching remark on his intelligence…Okay, he might not be the sharpest pencil in the box…but he's not dense- okay he's no fool.
"Are you the same as who you was before?" they spoke and Ron's laughter died down from inside him, his heart sank, "No, I'm a girl now," and Ron's eyebrows arched as they glanced at each other in silence and the wheel in his head began to turned-CLICK, okay it all now made sense, why haven't he thought of it? It was s0ooo0 obvious!
Duh! The bloody truth!
…Geez!
"Wait! Is that why you're here?!" his stated in an alarmist tone which caused Dumbledore to stepped in, "Ron, you might not believe it but-" "You! It's you! I knew it; you turned me into a girl!" Ron shouted his index finger pointing accusingly at them and others looked at him strangely, "What?" it's so00o00 obvious now that he hasn't got a tiny, bitsy, particle idea of what's going on…
The accusation has not budged a single rage or disconcert of perturbation from the figures; they stood their grounds in complete serenity, "No, you're born like that-"
"LIARS!" Ron bellowed, yelling on the top of his lungs in complete madness.
"We're not lying!" was the reply
"WHAT DO YOU WANT FROM ME?!" Ron snapped feeling fed up going in circle,
"WHAT DO YOU WANT?! FROM ME! ME?!"
Okay, that's it!
"FOR YOU TO RETURN HOME WITH US!" one of them yelled this time in an equal tone as he stepped out away from his group, feeling impatient and fed up with little conversation that gets them no where; all composure from before lost and now he's inches from Ron's face and Ron aren't going to back down and submit that easily…
To hell he is!
"THIS IS MY HOME!" he roared in correction literally hissing and spitting at the masked figure in front of him, who was yelling at him before! Ron visibly stomped his foot on the ground, in vexation. Gosh that guy is s0oo00o0oo0o annoying! Why don't they just get the message and leave, he's Ronald Weasley and this is his HOME! And whatever spell they cast on him to turn him into a girl, reverse it!
The figure pulled off his hood and ran his hands through his brown curls as the gesture of frustration and tapped his foot impatiently as if trying to calm down
"We don't have time to play with you and your little games-" "I'M NOT PLAYING ANYTHING!" Ron snapped wanting so badly to smack that figure guy in the head s0o0o0oo hard that it send him a splitting headache; he's not playing a games okay? Even if he was, he's more like a victim here- he's the one that WAS TURNED INTO a girl!
"Then go home with us already!" the figure hissed losing all temper but his mates doesn't seems to want to pull him back, they want him to act in annoyance and somehow try to convince Ron back while yelling at him. 'As if that would work-' Ron rolled his eyes at the thought…
"NO, THIS IS MY HOME AND I'M NOT GOING ANYWHERE WITH YOU FREAKS!" Ron corrected, blood boiled. God! He had NEVER, repeat NEVER been s0oo00o0oo0o00oo irritated in his entire life!
All the professors was dismayed and shocked with Ron's and their guest's behaviours as they are technically pointing and hissing at each others' face like wild territorial animals or worse arguing like little children.
The figured huffed and put his nose in the air with arrogance in an ungrateful manner, "THEN DISOWN YOURSELF, PRINCESS!"
And that had the professors and the other cloak figures buried their faces into their palms and shook their heads; as if they were having a terrible headache…prepared for the worse to come…
"WHAT?!" Ron snapped and shook his head as if to snap out of his reverie, "WHAT DID YOU JUST CALLED ME?!" he demanded.
Was his hearing damaged or did he hear what he thought he heard? Ron couldn't even hear it properly so he concluded that he definitely had heard the wrong thing!
Yeah, yeah he must have heard the wrong thing…that guy didn't just call him a princess, right?
"Princess!" he paraphrased, "that's what I called you," he corrected…Okay, Ron heard the right thing before…great…..his hearings' not damage…Lalalalala
WHAT?!
"We're Celestial warriors! The FIVE of us are HERE to bring YOU home to Celestial; where YOU belong to claim your throne and rebuild your parents' KINGDOM. Now you know Princess VERONICA! S0 just come back with US already!"
Ron fell backward in disbelief to the discovery and it's not the way the professors had expected the warriors to break the news to him…they thought it would be more…calm, composed…and well….restrained…
"But-but it…it can't be," Ron stuttered struggling to believed it himself as he clutches the front of his towel feeling vulnerable as he was exposed to the truth…the wicked truth of his identity…is that all of which he doesn't know?
Don't tell him there's more?
"I can't be a princess, I'm a boy. I'm Ronald Weasley NOT Veronica…" he murmured to everyone, correcting them but sounded more like he was trying to convince himself rather then convincing them…
The others remained silent
"Whether YOU accept IT or NOT, that's who you are," the figure corrected and Ron looked up at him…
"No, I'm Ronald Weasley," Ron whispered
"What?" the figure said incredulously
"No, I'm Ronald Weasley son of Molly and Arthur Weasley-" Ron began and the figure smacked himself over the head, "Great, here we go again," he sighed loudly…back to square one…How thick could the other boy be, denying all knowledge of his existence?
Really thick!
"I'm not YOUR princess okay? I don't even know who you are! I'm Ron, yeah, Ron!" Ron ranted pulling out his hair; there was a hint of insanity in his voice.
The truth was too much for him to handle or at least that's what the others said; that him being a princess of Celestial but NO he's NOT a PRINCESS definitely not! He's a boy, YEAH A BOY who just turned 16 tonight…he can't be a she! They're lying what made them lied?
"No, you're not Ron; you're our Princess Veronica, a female," the figure corrected and Ron squealed
"No0o0oo00o00o0, I'm a HE not a SHE, look I can prove it to you," Ron chuckle hysterically; reaching out and trying to undo the knot that held his towel together…
"That's not necessary," Dumbledore coughed the pink patches on his face glowing vividly; they don't need him to prove to them that HE'S a male, they have eyes and they can see a male he's not…
"Well, denial is very unhealthy," Snape added after Dumbledore and the others nodded…
"I'm not denying anything!" Ron shouted, wanting to rip Snape's head off!
And that had Snape and the others glanced at each other, "Denial" they said in unison…
Ron had his fingers rubbing intensely on his temple as if he was trying to clear a terrible headache…
'None of this is really happening, it's all an illusion' Ron tried to convince himself.
People just loved to barged in whenever he's changing or taking a bath; he has no privacy anymore doesn't anybody cares what he wants?! No one wants to tell him the truth and no one cared!
He was supposed to be normal wizard teenager okay? He's NOT a SHE, not a PRINCESS and HE'S definitely NOT IN DENIAL!
"Ron?" Dumbledore suddenly spoken breaking Ron's out of his train of disturbing thoughts and shook him back to cruel reality…Why does everything have to go wrong? Ron buried his face deep into his palms and sulked… Well, he's starting to feel gushy and all…maybe because he's a GIRL! N0o0o0o0o0o0o0o00o0!
The others looked at him strangely…
"This is not happening!" Ron aloud his thought, "This is not happening-"
"Mr. Weasley-," McGonagall began and Ron cut in on her, "Shut up!" his head shot up, why does everyone has to annoy him?
And Helen looked offended at this, "I beg your pardon?" she grasped and Dumbledore interrupted her, "There's no time for this, Helen," but she protested
"But, but Albus the boy-GIRL was disrespecting her teache-" and Dumbledore snapped, "Enough Helen, the boy is confused and-" he flinched, "I mean…girl, the girl is confused," and that had Ron moaning and sobbing in his palms as he was once reminded of the horrible truth…
'Why, why, why does he have to be a she? It's s0oo00o0o unfair, why is he a princess, why can't Fred or George be a princess? Why?!" Ron bellowed crying his heart out at as those words surges through his mind…"Why?!"
Ron's behaviour caused Snape to stepped back away from him, "I think SHE'S overreacting," and Ron snapped at him, "I'm not overreacting and I'm not a SHE!" and returned back to his sobbing to the palms…
The figures could not endure the scene before them any longer and, "Princess, we came for you and now please leave with us," and that had Ron looked up at them and
"Why?" he whispered…
And they exchanged glances and Ron continued, "Why me? Why can't someone else to be your princess?"
"We-" they pondered
"Are my parents, MY parents? What about my brothers are they princesses too? Ginny is she a prince, right?" the consecutive questions that reflected Ron's worries had been said aloud…
"Why are you telling me now? Do my parents know? How did you find me?-" Ron began rather alarmed
He looked at them…
"We'll explain everything to you when the time is right but for now bear with us," and that had Ron's eyes rolled….great, there's more he don't know, that they won't revealed to him!
What's next, Hermione's his brother?
And Ron moaned and sobbed again; his poor little heart is breaking! The figures was about to open their mouth to say something but Dumbledore beats them at it,
"I think it best; that he'll- she'll continue to stay here at Hogwarts until he's-she's ready to leave with you," and the figure closest to Ron, who had his hood off was about to protest but his mates beats him to it, "Fine with us, that IF we're to be able to stay here with our princess,"
Immediately Ron stopped crying, his head shot up from his palm as he stares at Dumbledore; awaiting his answer.
"We have to ensure our Princess's safety; she's precious to us," and Dumbledore nodded, understood.
"Very well, you can stay here as long as you like. I'll have Professor McGonagall see you to the West Tower where you and Ron would dwell until you're ready to leave," and Ron gaped, eyes widen in astonishment, 'Dumbledore is allowing the warriors to stay with him?!'
Dumbledore noticed that and looked at Ron, "It's what's best, Ron, for now."
Ron crossed his arms and huffed; it looks like he had no other choice but to accept this fate…cruel fate…
Ron wiped his tears, took one deep breathe and bravely took a huge step towards the 'warriors'…
"How do I address you?" the words left his lips before he even realised it and that causes the figures to flinched not in fear but in delight; knowing that he's-she's talking to them for once not yelling at them anymore…He's- she's asking their names…their princess is accepting them!
"The Amazing five," beamed the figure in front and the other figures nodded…
'The Amazing five,' Ron murmured under his breathe and nodded, "Understood." Normally, in this sort of circumstance he would burst out laughing at names like those but in his situation; he can't laugh at all in fact Ron felt his heart has never sank lower in his life…
"Well-" Dumbledore rubbed his hands together to get their attention, "With that over with; McGonagall please show our visitors and Ron to the West Tower," and McGonagall nodded and lead Ron and the others out of the bathroom.
And at that moment Ron saw Hermione coming in towards him and grabbed her by the wrist, "Hermione," Ron whispered pulling her over to a corner while others walked on not realising his absent…
"Don't freak but there's something I have to tell you-" Ron began, he wanted to tell her everything; whatever he knows about his true identity and what the hell is going on but Hermione just nod and said, "I know."
"You know, how?" Ron said giving her a blank face expression…
"They told me and beside everyone know about the Celestial's War it's the most famous battle in history- warriors-" and Ron cut in on her, "WHEN?" he demanded and she bit her lower lip and frown,
"Before they came barging into the bathroom," and Hermione shield her face with both her arms before Ron could even smack her…
Ron managed to restrain himself from striking Hermione, "You knew and you let them in?" Ron hissed…WHAT a good FRIEND she was!
"Sorry," she shuddered and Ron sighed heavily…
Women!
"You're a princess now, it's every girl's dream to be a princess, Veronica" Hermione beamed
"Ron!" Ron corrected Hermione, that's HIS name and she shuddered, "O0oo00ps…right…Ron," and gave him a wink, "I'll tried to keep that one in mind even though it WAS your old name," and smiled…
Ron shook his head and was about to re-join his group to the West Tower when Hermione, "Veronica-Ron can I come with you?" and he sighed again, "Okay!" he mumbled in a vexation tone and Hermione smiled
Hermione was about to turn and follow Ron to his new dorm when, "Hermione," Professor Dumbledore called out, Hermione and Ron spun around to face him…
"Great, you're still here," he added and Hermione lowered her gaze at him, "It's my dorm, Professor," and he shuddered, "Right."
"Is there something you want, professor?" Hermione asked
"Well, since you're here I was about to ask you a favour," he asserted and Hermione frown, "What sort of favour, sir?"
Suddenly Dumbledore's gaze switched over to Ron; a smiled played along his face and Ron frown, he doesn't like whatever thoughts that are surging through the Headmaster mind right now…
Hermione noticed that and her eyes glanced over at Ron and it clicked, "Oh," Hermione chuckle knowingly, she knew exactly what Dumbledore wants without him saying it…
"I know," she confirmed him and Ron looked at her…"Know what?"
"I'll do a good job," she added and Dumbledore smiled, "I trust you, Miss Granger."
And Ron felt frustrated has everyone suddenly just ignored him?! Hello!
"DO WHAT!" Ron bawled in vexation at Dumbledore's face but Hermione just push him out of the room with her before he could get a proper answer, "Nothing, nothing," she told him
"Seriously what is it, Hermione?" Ron asked feeling annoyed with the secrecy…
Hermione put her arms around his shoulders, "Tomorrow's the day you'll step into your woman's hood," and Ron frown, "What?" he haven't got a clue to what she's saying, it's girl's language!
And she rolled her eyes, "Tomorrow, we'll shop for your new wardrobe," and Ron's eyes widen, "What?!"
"Well, you don't expect to walk around Hogwarts in that towel do you?" Hermione asked and Ron's head fell low, "No- but," "Yeah, exactly," Hermione corrected and Ron was about to protest but Hermione dragged him along with her to the West Tower…
"Not a word Ron, tomorrow we'll get you some nice clothes, new uniform, robes, make-ups-" and Ron had to cut in on her, "But Hermione you don't like those things,"
And Hermione corrected, "Ron, that's not the point," and Ron frowns at that and she continued, "Oh you'll love the shops in London; they got all sort of dresses, scarfs, hats and hand bags and oh…-" and Ron sighed as he rolled his eyes…
'Girls talked too much…'
………
TBC