Disclaimer: I do NOT own the Harry Potter series. That credit goes to the brilliant mind of J.K. Rowling. Go Jo! I also do not own some of the material used. Again, that belongs to Jo and Warner Brothers.

Chapter 8

It was now the Christmas holidays, and Ron and Harry were seeing Hermione on the train. Harry was obviously staying because he was not about to go to the Dursley's. Ron's parents had decided to visit one of their other sons, so he was staying at Hogwarts with his three other brothers.

"Remember what you need to do, Harry," Hermione said.

He nodded, looking almost annoyed.

"I know," he said.

Ron looked down and gave a small grin. Harry was definitely getting annoyed. Hermione had obviously been telling him this for some time now. They finished telling Hermione goodbye and began walking back to the castle.

"What was that all about?" Ron asked.

Harry's eyes were on the ground. That was not a good sign to Ron.

"I don't think I should," Harry said.

Ron realized this was something important, and was now more determined to find out what it was about.

"Oh, come on," he egged Harry on.

Harry took a deep breath and looked up.

"All right, but you have to swear not to tell Snape," he said.

Ron had a pretty good idea as to why Harry was saying this, but again, he had to act as if he did not.

"What does he have to do with anything?" he asked.

"We think he's trying to steal something for Vol…" Harry began before Ron gasped.

Harry lowered his eyebrows.

"Okay, I get it. Just don't finish his name," Ron said.

Ron felt his heart beating faster and he looked down. Harry was still looking at him differently. Was this how it was going to end? Was it because of his reacted that Harry would know the truth?

"Um… all right," Harry said.

And then something more terrifying hit Ron. Was Voldemort already somewhere in Hogwarts?

"Wait, you think he's here then?" Ron asked.

"Somewhere in the forest," Harry said.

xxx

After dinner at night after Christmas, Ron sunk out into the Dark Forest. He had to know the truth. With his arms crossed, Ron walked deeper into the forest. He stopped dead in his tracks as he spotted someone hunched over a unicorn. Ron gasped as the figure turned and began coming towards him.

"Ah," he screamed.

It grabbed Ron by the throat and held him to the ground.

"Declare yourself," it demanded.

"I'm Ro…Ron Weas… Weasley," he stammered.

Ron began rubbing his throat when the figure let him go.

"My Lord?" he asked.

The figure turned his back on Ron.

"I am weak. Have you done what I asked?" Voldemort asked.

It took Ron a while to digest what was going on.

"Yes, my Lord," Ron finally nodded.

"Excellent. Now go. You have done your job," Voldermort said.

Ron nodded.

"Thank you, my Lord," he said.

xxx

Now it was Ron pacing the length of his bed while Draco sat on his. Ron had just returned and woke Draco up to tell him. They were making sure to stay quiet so they would not wake up the rest in the room.

"This is bad. Really bad," Ron panicked.

"What could be so bad for you to act like this?" Draco asked. "It's not like Potter knows the Dark Lord's here."

Ron gave him a want-to-bet look. Draco's eyes grew.

"No way," Draco said, a bit disoriented.

Ron finally stopped and sat on his bed, putting a hand on his forehead.

"I don't know how, but he and Hermione have a feeling Snape's stealing…" he began before Draco started laughing softly.

"Snape? Man, if they only knew…" Draco continued laughing.

Ron looked up and sighed.

"No comment," he said.

Then Draco really began thinking.

"If it is Snape…" he began before Ron grunted.

Draco watched Ron turn to lie on his bed.

"I don't feel like talking about this anymore," Ron said.

xxx

It was now reaching the end of January, and Ron found himself wandering the corridors, usually having to hide from Flitch or his cat, Mrs. Norris. He gasped as he hit something invisible. Ron picked himself up as the person was revealed.

"Ron?" the voice asked.

It was Harry. And in his hand Ron saw he had an Invisibility Cloak.

"Harry?" Ron asked.

Harry looked down, somewhat embarrassed. He then looked Ron straight in the eyes.

"Do you usually walk the corridors alone at night?" Harry asked with a slight laugh in his voice.

Ron smile and pointed to the cloak.

"No. What are you doing with an Invisibility Cloak?" he asked.

Harry smiled held it a bit tighter, as if he was scared to lose it.

"It was my dad's. Look what I found," he said, suddenly excited.

They entered a room what looked like to Ron to be a storage room. Harry walked over to a mirror and indicated to Ron to stand in front of it. Ron did so, but only saw himself.

"What am I supposed to see?" he asked.

Harry then walked next to Ron, a little confused.

"You don't see them?" he asked.

Ron looked over at Harry, whose eyes were glued to the mirror.

"Who?" he asked.

"My parents," Harry said.

Ron's eyes grew when his eyes met the mirror a second time. This time, he was not only seeing his and Harry's reflection.

"No, I see… um, never mind," Ron said.

Harry laughed at Ron's nervous expression.

"Come on now. What do you see?" Harry asked.

Ron turned to Harry as he laughed even harder.

"Oh, I know what it is," Harry said.

Ron began to panic. There were two things he saw. One them was the mission. The other was just Hermione standing next to him.

"You… you do?" Ron asked.

"It's sort of obvious." Harry said.

Ron swallowed hard.

"It… it is?" he asked.

"You see yourself with Hermione," Harry said as if it was the most obvious thing in the world.

Ron sighed in relief.

"Guilty," he laughed.

Harry still did n'o know anything… for now anyway.

AN:

Before you start bugging me saying my time line is messed up, I am already aware of that. Thanks!