Hello readers! Well, I apologize for the delay of this chapter. This chapter is also not that long, only about 1600 words? I'm sorry, but I'm sorting a lot of stuff out, school's almost starting for me and there's a lot to be done, but I will try and get the 16th chapter up and ready as soon as possible, and I promise it will be longer.
Now, this chapter starts off with a little flashback as suggested by some reviews. I think it would be nice to show how Harry and Ron met in this story, and soon I'll write another flashback depicting how they met and made friends with Hermione.
Current song: Between Two Points by The Glitch Mob. I made a pact with myself not to repeat "current songs" but when my iTunes shuffled to that song, I just could not press the next song. Harry and Hermione are now separated from Ron. So there is a distance.
OK, I'm finished. Now the story…
Harry looked around. It was his first day at Draconifors, and the school was so large, and particularly unkind to first-years. He caught site of 5th year boys sniggering at him and pointing. He quickly dashed away, so as the older boys could not harm him.
"Hello, there!" he quickly whipped around, ready for a fight. Instead there was a boy about his age, taller than him, but nonetheless a first year. He had blazing red hair, freckles, and a long nose, and was wearing dark trousers and secondhand-looking tunic. "Are you lost?"
"Yes," he said, relieved that he had maybe found someone in the same situation as him.
"So am I," said the boy, and Harry's stomach sank. "But I've got a brother whose a 3rd year, and he'll know where we should go. Oh, and you must be Harry Potter."
Harry's eyes widened and he prepared to run, but Ron laughed and continued, "It's alright. My parents know Sirius, they're both in the Order, you see. Sirius actually instructed them to have someone help you on your first day of school…it was supposed to be Fred and George, but I see they've made new friends," he said, pointing at two twins who sported the same hair as him. He looked back to Harry and smiled. "I'm Ron, by the way, Ron Weasley."
"Nice to meet you," Harry said, smiling back at Ron and shaking his hand. "I take it you know who I am and where I'm from?"
"Of course," Ron said. "Now, let's go find Percy. I'm sure he can help us."
Harry smiled as Ron lead him through the crowded hallways of the school. He never thought he'd have friends, let alone make a first friend in Draconifors.
Harry's feet hit the hard ground. He turned to see Hermione breathing heavily on a nearby fence, and he collapsed to the ground, desperate for air; he saw his surroundings, and saw that they were right outside a small village with many houses, and made out a title on the nearby, familiar and rusty gate…
They were at Muggle & Burrow.
"S-Snape," Harry said, or stuttered, as he staggered towards his Master. "Snape…we have to go back…"
"That is Master Snape to you," Snape said curtly, dusting of his dusty robes.
Hermione looked around her surroundings, and rounded on Harry, "Where's Ron?"
"We have to go back!" Harry shouted.
"Keep your voice down, Potter!" Snape said, shaking Harry to silence him.
Harry turned to Hermione, and he felt his nose start to bleed. "They have him," he said in a thick voice. "They have him. They probably think he's me, they're going to give him to Riddle, Hermione…we have to go back…"
"What?" Hermione said, helping him up. Harry caught sight of the tears streaming down her face. "How is it –"
"They think that your friend here is Harry Potter," Snape said, "which is a perfect decoy, might I add, Potter, and if you think about going back to save your friend then it will be a suicide mission."
"We can't just leave him!" Harry said, wiping his nose on his white shirt. Hermione was sobbing hysterically into her hands.
"He's as good as dead by now, if we go back, you will be too!" Snape argued back.
"I never knew you were a coward –" Harry began in an enraged voice.
"Do not –" said Snape quickly, rushing up to Harry and grabbing his shirt and pulling him dangerously close, "Call. Me. A. Coward."
Harry shook Snape's hands off him, and said, in a clear voice, "What he did tonight, how much he's sacrificed has proved he deserves to live." He glanced at Hermione. "We have to go back."
Snape's narrowed eyes eased a bit, but he nevertheless kept a stern face. "It is not up to me to control your actions, Potter, even if they are foolish. But I vowed to protect you to Sirius, and to the good King Albus himself. We must return to Muggle & Burrow and ensure your safety for the time being." He turned swiftly and continued walking towards the Gates of Muggle & Burrow, muttering a spell that would let them pass.
Harry stood rooted on the spot, and then turned to see Hermione, who was sniffing audibly, wiping tears from her face, concealing it from Harry. He grabbed her hand. She looked down at his and then hugged him tightly. Over her shoulder, Harry saw Snape glance at them. As she pulled away, they hurried up the trail to the gate, Hermione still sobbing.
-O-o-O-o-O-o-O-
He knew he was going to die, right there. Bellatrix would call her beloved master, and if he would determine that he was, in fact, Harry Potter, his life would end right there. But Ron Weasley knew one thing: Harry and Hermione were safe, and Harry still had a chance in overthrowing Riddle.
He sat there, in his cell, his eyes wide open, staring at the sky in a small opening; it was now a light purple shade; day was approaching fast. Harry and Hermione would've gotten back to Muggle & Burrow by now.
His cell door suddenly flung open and Wormtail burst in, grabbing him around the arm and shoving him out of his cell. "The King has arrived."
He tried not to feel nervous, but a huge feeling of terror overcame him. Either Riddle would make his death quick, or he, like Bellatrix, would play with his food before eating it. He was lead up the stairs quickly, and as he took steps, he started to see the room clearly; Bellatrix was pacing nervously behind Riddle, who's back faced Ron. They were the only two people in the room. Draco and his parents must have left.
Wormtail gave out a wheeze to alert Riddle of Ron's presence. He let go of Ron and he stumbled forward, but quickly regained himself and refused to stare into the cold King's eyes.
"So," said Riddle. "Is this the mighty Harry Potter?"
Bellatrix's face was flooded with nervousness, "We believe so, my lord…there was another boy whom was caught as well, but I think that is irrelevant…I truly believe this boy here is Harry Potter."
Riddle stared Ron up and down. "Yes, but we cannot be sure of it."
Ron said nothing, and did not know if he should. He contemplated the idea of confessing to Riddle that he was Harry.
Riddle paced to the back of the room, then travelled around Ron, looking into his blue eyes, which Ron avoided. Ron felt like prey to Riddle, like he was a deer being circled by wolves. "Red hair…like Lily," Riddle said, edging closer to Ron. "I can see some sort of resemblance to the brave James Potter…but still, I am not quite….sure."
"You don't have to think about it much longer," Ron said, his voice high and cracking. "I…I am Harry Potter."
Bellatrix gasped, but Riddle looked widely unconvinced; he stopped his walking towards Ron and said, in a cruel voice, "Idiot boy. Why would you admit that to me? Are you not afraid of the death you will face?"
Ron shook his head. "Many people are dying for me. You are killing innocent men and women to find me. Nobody deserves to be put under your reign, you selfish –"
He was cut off as Riddle hit him across the face, the blow echoing around the room. "Very well, then. We have caught Harry Potter. Good job, Bellatrix," he added at her, and she smiled to Riddle to show her satisfaction. Riddle raised his hand, and Ron knew what was coming. The Salazar Touch. He welcomes pain, or however death felt like; he then thought of Harry, of Hermione, and his fear eased up a bit.
"Wait," Riddle said, and Ron opened his eyes to see him lowering his hand. "I have an even better idea."
Ron looked on as Riddle smirked and walked to his side. "Harry Potter will be executed in front of the public eye, in three days time, as a reminder of their faithfulness to me and that anybody who crosses the line will be executed."
Ron looked at Riddle, wearing a look of complete incredulousness on his face.
Riddle only smiled even wider, and called for Wormtail. "Take him away."
Ron only stared at Riddle's face as he was led away by Wormtail. His scared blue eyes met Riddle's cold and dark ones. He had already accepted his death. But what he did not want to accept was the wrath the innocent people of Hogwarts would suffer.
What do you guys think? Please rate/review! I feel so terrible writing this…Ron is truly my favorite characters. Thank you for reading the story!
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