Chapter 16: With Friends Like This, Who Needs Enemies
Ron had been bored over the holidays. He was one of the few students that had stayed at the castle and found that there was only one other Gryffindor in the tower. His mother had sent a howler the first full night of break, ordering him to Potter castle for his sister's engagement announcement. But in true Weasley fashion he refused to accept that his only sister was a mate to a…..thing.
So he decided that, as one of her older brothers, he would find a way to stop her from ruining her life. That fit into his other plans to get Hermione away from Potter. Potter was to marry Ginny. Everyone had expected it, especially Ginny herself. Not to mention his mother. No, he had to find a way of breaking everyone up and putting them with the person that they should have gotten with in the first place.
This led to Ron doing something so unRon like. He began researching in the library, voluntarily, to find the answers. Little did he know that what he would find might kill him, but not from the actual spell. But in what the Vampires involved with the spell, would want to do to him when it was all said and done.
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The day before leaving to return to Hogwarts, Harry was asked by Andrew to meet with him in the audience chamber. Little did Harry know that this meeting would change everything that needed to be done.
"Lord Potter, may we present one of the Elder's of our clan, Antiochus." said Andrew.
The Elder vampire bowed his head in recognition of his lord. To Harry, there was something about this vampire that was sending his sense of danger into overdrive.
"What may I do for you Antiochus?"
"It is what I can do for you, my Lord."
"And that would be?"
"Helping you defeat the Dark Lord by helping you with your quest to destroy the Horcruxes that the Dark Lord has made, including your scar."
That was not what Harry had expected the vampire to say. "How do you know that my scar is one?"
"Because I know all of the objects and beings that the Dark Lord used."
"How?"
"It was I who was given the task in placing them in their environments and under the enchantments that they are under. You fought the Inferi in the cave did you not, my Lord?"
Harry's anger was evident as his fangs and wing came out. It took all of Andrew's strength to stop his Lord from killing the Elder vampire.
"Harry! Listen to what he has to say before you kill him! Please!?"
"FINE! But it had better be good."
"Thank you, my Lord."
"TALK!"
"I joined the Dark Lord during his first reign, when your grandfather was still on the throne. It was his decision as Lord not to follow the ideals of the Dark Lord, even though many of our clan believed in those ideals. I was one of your grandfather's advisors and openly told him that he was making the wrong decision. It was after my public sacking that I was approached by one of the Dark Lord's agents. What they said was very tempting and I gave into that temptation. The Dark Lord soon trusted me like no other, as I could spot someone lying almost immediately. It was right after your grandfather's death, which I now know was ordered by the Dark Lord, and your father's refusal to accept his mate, that the Dark lord gave me several objects. He charged me with their specific placements but left their security entirely up to me. I didn't know at the time that they were pieces of his soul; otherwise I probably would have refused to carry out those orders. But I did as he ordered, never revealing their location to anyone. He then had me witness the placement of one into his familiar, Nagini. I was horrified by what he had done. Not the murder of the muggle that he had used to create it but the actual creation of it. I watched as it entered the snake. I knew then that this 'man' was insane and that he was not worth following. I then decided that I would destroy the soul pieces in the objects if it was the last thing I ever do. So I began to research just how to do that. Last night I finally found the answer."
Harry was stunned to hear the story. Right under his nose, so to speak, was the one person who knew exactly what they were searching for. "How do I know that you won't betray me?"
Antiochus smiled. He liked this young Lord. "I can reveal another Deatheater among the clan, a marked one."
Andrew and Harry looked at each other. "Who?" asked Andrew.
"Your daughter, my Lord. The one bonded to the other two Deatheaters." he said to Andrew.
"Impossible! I checked her arm personally!"
"He mark is not on her arm, just as mine is not. Hers is located above her heart."
Harry and Andrew were stunned. It was one thing to suspect her but to hear it so bluntly put was a little overwhelming. They would decide what to do about her later.
"Can you name the Horcruxes?"
"Certainly my Lord. There is you, of course, though you were not the intended vessel, Nagini, the Dark Lord's diary from his school days, Slytherin's locket, the Ring from the Gaunt line, Hufflepuff's cup, and Ravenclaw's diadem, which is still hidden in Hogwarts. I am aware that the Ring and the Diary have been destroyed."
Harry was stunned as this vampire named each and every item. There was no doubt that he was telling the truth. When Andrew issued the search he never said why they were looking for those items, just that they were. He needed to know how to destroy them.
"How do I destroy them Antiochus?"
"Your don't my Lord. I do."
"How?"
"I have learned of a ritual that will allow me to remove the Horcrux from you into me and then a second ritual that will destroy them completely."
"What will happen to you?"
"I will die."
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Hermione was resting comfortably in the Head's compartment on the Hogwarts Express. Pavarti and Lavender were also there, along with Ginny, and they were surprisingly quiet for most of the trip. Nate and Harry were doing patrols, after having locked the girls in the compartment so that no one would bother them. It almost drove Hermione mad how protective Harry was being. Still he had always been like that, just more extreme since they had bonded and were now expecting a child.
Junior seemed to settle down for the return trip and Hermione ran her palms over her stomach. She had a definite bulge showing now. Junior decided to give her a kick, just to let her know that she was there. Sometimes everything seemed a little too real.
Hermione was also worried about Harry. Since his meeting with Andrew he seemed distant. Not that he ignored her because he hadn't, but when he thought that he was alone he seemed to have the look of the entire world on his shoulders. She had asked what the meeting had been about and had been given a very vague answer. It wasn't like him. She would just have to keep her eyes open.
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The next few weeks Hermione was simply too busy with her classes to worry about Harry. Not to mention that Junior was becoming active again. Her favorite target was Ron, causing the poor boy to wear various costumes at random hours of the day. She would never look at 'The Lord of the Rings' movies quite the same way again, especially the hobbits.
It was Valentine's Day before Hermione knew it. Being that it was on a Friday, Harry, had gotten permission for the two of them to return to Potter Castle for the weekend. Ginny was also coming to spend time with Nicholas. All in all Hermione was looking forward to the break.
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Nicholas arrived at Hogwarts to escort his Lord and Lady and fiancée back home. Nate was staying with his mates at the school and even though they were using a portkey, Harry and Hermione still needed a guard. Nicholas was happy to volunteer.
He found Ginny and the couple waiting for him in the entrance hall. He never saw his future brother in-law raise his wand, but he did hear the spell as Ron yelled it.
"Furor Ira Ater Corpus!"
Nicholas was hit directly in the chest. Nate, in rare anger, bound and gagged Ron before he could cast the spell again. Then he bound Nicholas. He hoped it would hold until they got back home. Quickly Nate took charge and got everyone portkeyed home.
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Three days later Nicholas woke up. The first thing he noticed was that he was in the house that he and Ginny would live in after they Bonded. The second thing he noticed was that Ginny was lying beside him, naked.
It was then that he remembered the spell that her brother had hit him with. It made his vampirism come out in force. He would have started attacking anyone and anything within hours. The only cure for the blood lust was his mate. For once he was totally ashamed of himself. To his eyes he had forced the Bonding between them before she was ready. He had broken the contract and if pressed her family could have it nullified. He would accept the consequences and let her go, leaving all those around him to go off and die.
Ginny turned over and glanced at Nicholas under her lashes. She saw that he was fully awake and seem to be in his right mind. Not that she was complaining. She had seen a side to her husband that she didn't know existed. She could sense through the bond that he was ashamed over what had happened and what he had done.
"It wasn't your fault."
Nicholas looked at her in surprise. "I should have had better control."
Ginny glared at him. "That spell was designed to make you loose control. That idiot soon to be ex-brother didn't read the spell properly. He wanted you to leave me and go on some binge, drinking muggles until you either killed yourself with too much blood or went insane. Then someone would have to kill you. He never even read the part about curing it with the mate. And before you start on that, I WANTED to bond with you. I even suggested it. My family barely got here when we had the ceremony and you carried me off. So don't start feeling guilty for loosing control. In fact I hope that you loose control more often."
Nicholas looked at her gobsmacked. "What happened to your brother?"
"I don't know. Harry was too angry to deal with him before the Bonding and I haven't left here since."
"I am sorry about this."
She put her finger to his lips. "I'm not. I know you wanted to wait until I was finished at Hogwarts. Well I have a surprise for you. I've been doing two years in one so that I can graduate this year instead of next. All you have to wait is just a few months. I wouldn't even mind if you distracted me from my homework."
Nicholas didn't know whether to laugh or kiss her. He settled for the latter.
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Ron was angry and slightly scared at being in Potter's dungeon, like a common criminal. He was dying to know if the spell had work. He would gladly give up his freedom if the spell had worked. Now all he had to do was hit Potter with it and Hermione would be all his.
The door to his cell opened revealing a man who looked a lot like Potter, only older. The man was glaring at him.
"You are to follow me to the audience chamber. Your trial will be held there."
"Trial? You can't try me here! I'm a wizard! I have to be tried at the Ministry, before the Wizengament."
"You attacked a member of the Potter clan therefore you will be tried here. Your Ministry can not interfere here. Now get moving."
Ron stepped out of the cell and followed the two guards in front of him. He didn't know that there were four more behind him. His face showed none of the emotions that he was feeling. He was starting to get scared over the fact that his 'trial' was to be here and not where he would get a fair trial.
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Harry and Hermione sat on their thrones waiting for Ron to be shown in. The entire Weasley family was here as well as all of Nicholas' family, including Victoria, Nicola, Snape, and Malfoy. For the most part Harry ignored them and their rude comments. Only Snape seemed to not say anything. He noticed the guards the stood behind him and his mates and wondered about it. Perhaps Potter was simply paranoid. Or maybe he found out about Nicola's true allegiance. If that was the case, then he needed to reassure Potter that he meant him, nor his family, any harm.
Harry's anger was evident and spiked when Ron was led into the chamber. Molly had already pleaded with Harry for Ron's life but Arthur told him to do what he must. Whatever the outcome, Ron was going to be ejected from the family.
The guards stopped in the center of the room. Arthur stepped forward and stopped when he stood in front of his son.
"I, Arthur Weasley, head of the Weasley family, hereby eject my son Ronald out of this family permanently. Never again will the Weasley name protect you."
Ron paled visibly but said nothing, for there was nothing that he could do.
"Ronald Weasley, you are charged with an attack on a member of my family. Do you deny it?" questioned Harry.
"No. If I had my wand I would try to finish the job."
Several gasps were heard. "Why? Why would you do this?"
"My sister should never have been even approached by that…thing. I'm glad that I killed him. Now she will be safe."
"Nicholas didn't die, Ron. In fact that spell you used only forced the Bonding sooner than planned. You failed and now must pay the price."
"WHAT? No he died! He went into a blood lust and died! He can't have Bonded with Ginny!"
"We are Bonded you prat! I hope Harry gives you a proper punishment."
"Ginny! I did it for you so that you can have Harry. Then Hermione would be mine as it's supposed to be."
Harry's anger went into overdrive. Not only did the idiot admit to what he had done, but he was willing to ruin other lives to get what he wanted, which was his mate.
Hermione, realizing that Harry was on the edge of loosing control, spoke. "Ronald! I AM BONDED TO HARRY YOU IDIOT! THAT IS SOMETHING THAT CAN NOT BE BROKEN! DID YOU HONESTLY THINK THAT I WOULD COME TO YOU IF YOU ACCOMPLISHED WHAT YOU WANTED! YOU ARE THE MOST PATHETIC PERSON ON EARTH. I NEVER WANT TO SEE YOUR FACE AGAIN!"
"You won't have to. I want you dead. However your mother has asked that your life be spared. She is one that I think of as my mother. So I hereby sentence you into slavery under the guidance of my Great Uncle Andrew. Do with him as you wish but don't kill him. I never want to see his face again."
"As you wish, my Lord. He will never grace the castle again."
"No Harry! Please don't do that! I haven't finished school or lived out my dreams!"
"And you never will."
Ron started screaming when the guards drug him out of the room. Harry turned to the Weasleys. "It will be up to Andrew if you will be allowed to see him but I recommend not right away. Let him get adjusted in his new life." All the redheads nodded. Molly had tears in her eyes but was glad that her son was still alive, even if he was ejected from the family.
"Thank you for showing mercy to him, Harry." Harry only nodded in acknowledgement. Calling one of the guards back into the room, the Weasleys were then asked to leave as Harry had another matter to deal with, a family one. Ginny was held back by Nicholas.
"You are now a part of this family. Harry wants you here." Ginny nodded, wondering what was going to happen.
"Nicola, come forward."
Nicola seemed surprised at the command. She moved to stand in front of the thrones. "My Lord."
"I need to know something and do not lie. Are you a Deatheater?"
"Why would you think that, my Lord?" she asked, frantically trying to think of an answer.
"Answer the question."
"No my Lord."
"Then why do you have a Dark mark on your breast, above your heart?"
"How did you know that?" she asked in surprise.
"Someone informed me of it. Now are you a Deatheater?"
She actually laughed. "I have always hated that label. If you wish to know if I serve the Dark Lord, then yes I do." Silence reigned in the room.
"Nicola, family or not, you will die."
"And kill my innocent child?"
No one said a thing. All knew that Harry would never kill an innocent. Surprisingly Snape stepped forward.
"I know that you have no reason to trust me, Potter, but I will swear to raise this child under your ideals if you will allow me to. Place her in a comfortable cell until the child is born then do as you wish."
Harry looked at his former professor in surprise and in slight disbelief. "Why would I do that?"
"Because you are Gryffindor to the core, although you have been showing some Slytherin tendencies lately. You have no reason to trust me. I only ask that you try for the sake of the child."
Harry looked to Hermione for her opinion. She leaned in and whispered "I think you know what to do. He has already given his oath. If he breaks that then he will die. I think that you can trust him enough for this."
"Like you trust him to make and teach potions to others here?"
Hermione had the grace to blush. "A very Slytherin tactic, Hermione. Did you honestly think that I wouldn't find out about your little project?"
"No, but I did hope that you wouldn't find out quite this soon."
"Keep your project, Hermione. If the greasy git wants to make and teach potions here, it might keep him out of trouble. I'll simply ignore it."
"Thank you."
"You're welcome. Nicola, you are hereby confined to a room, here in the castle, where you will never leave from. Your mates may visit once a week, separately, until your child is born. After that you will be killed. Snape will be allowed to raise your child, unless I find him in violation of his oath. Malfoy and Snape may continue to live in the home that I provided for the three of you. Enjoy what time you have left."
A/N: Furor Ira Ater Corpus is Latin for Rage Anger Dark Body.
