Chapter 18 justice or cruelty
Word count; 3,250
AN: no I'm not dead – at least not yet - nor has this tale been abandoned
AN: this is where I earn my M rating – this is RON as OOC from the books as you can get. If you are looking for the bumbling sidekick JKR wrote about the read no further. The old Ron is dead and the below proves it. This also showcases the negative effects of a romantic betrayal combined with a genocidal war can have on an otherwise gentle soul. The new Ron is a hard man and a soldier. It is things like the below that make men of the WW2 generation not want to talk about the horrors of their war. JKR's war was a very unrealistic PG rated for she wrote to thirteen-year-olds - - mine won't be - - this way be dragons - ladies - okay you've been warned.
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This update is late due to medical issues that had me in hospital for 2 days – recovery will be a slow thing for me. So be patient – please.
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All the Gryffindor's were mumbling amongst them-selves softly while heading out of the Hall and toward their common-room when Ron focused his attention onto the teaching table. It was odd really because this was the first time in Ron life that he saw the entire Hogwarts teaching staff sitting behind that table. Traditionally eating with the students was a voluntary thing - with some of the staff only seen in their individual classrooms. Thanks to his link with Hermione - Ron knew for example what Babbling Bathsheba who taught Ancient Runes looked like the same could be said Septima Vector who taught Arithmancy. Off to the right side sat Sibyll Trelawney another instructor who almost never ventured out of her Divination tower.
Headmaster Snape had changed all that by making all the teaching staff attends all the meals. After countless decades of Albus Dumbledore easygoing administration - no one could deny that Severus Snape hadn't left his personal stamp on Wizarding England's premiere educational institution. Ron couldn't help but wonder how long Snape had dreamed of this - - transforming Hogwarts into a Military school with harsh discipline that made a prison seem like a holiday-resort in comparison.
Emerging from his musings Ron walked up to a squat-lumpy looking wizard Amycus Carrow – Hogwarts Defense against the Dark Arts teacher for this term. A proud Death Eater - his sense of cruelty knew no bounds – the primary advocate of the Crucio curse punishment for all students – including first years. Amycus was also the self-proclaimed director of student discipline and therefore de facto leader of the newly reformed inquisitorial squad. Any student who had suffered this term could honestly blame Amycus as the architect of their pain.
"You don't remember me - do you?" Ron said in a soft growl as with a casual wave of his wand he released the DE from his petrified state. "You and I fought briefly during the battle of the tower. You had the advantage of experience over me at that time - would you care for a rematch- now? Just you and me – right here - - think on it …you could turn this whole take-over around. Your master would be ever so grateful if you stopped this invasion." Amycus eyes went wide in anticipation of his master's reward - - as Ron stepped back to ten paces – still facing the death eater, with Hermione saftly off to one side - just like a gun-fight show-down in a American-western that he had once seen at the Muggle-cinema with his Dad; Arthur - as a boy.
The DE drew his wand fast and shouted Avada Kedavra while Ron just stood perfectly still - his free hand glowing with an intense white light. In the next moment a replay of what happened to Vincent Crabbe accrued - the only difference was in the fact that this time there was no slow motion. The red bolt of light erupted from Amycus's wand and a fraction of a second later it had stopped turned about and stuck the Death Eater square in the chest. Amycus had no time to jump-aside from his own spell – he barely had time to acquire a look of shocked surprise onto his face before he died – dropping like an empty sack into a heap on the floor.
Looking over his shoulder toward Hermione - Ron held up both hands in surrender – "No "- He said to an unspoken question; "That wasn't actually murder – because technically Amycus killed himself. But I do think I have just put lie to the often held myth that the killing curse cannot be deflected." Ron said extra-loudly so that everyone still in the Great Hall could hear him. Two student houses had been unwilling witnesses Hufflepuff and Slytherin as well as the entire teaching staff.
As he walked over to Alecto Carrow he saw that the woman was the polar opposite to her brother, tall and thin she had a stern appearance to her carriage that all but screamed asexual. There wasn't anything feminine about Alecto, which was a pity - for with a bit of effort - she could have been regarded as facially, border-line pretty.
This unconscious observation got Ron into trouble as he heard a soft growl of annoyance come from Hermione's direction, mumbling a quick telepathic apology, Ron got back on task. "We haven't met, although I know for a fact that you also had a hand in the tower Battle. I'm a part of Potter's inner circle a member of the golden-trio, Harry's famous sidekick - Ron. What I just did to your brother pales in comparison to what Harry would have done to him in my place. You are all fortunate that Harry delegated this minor task to his bumbling sidekick – for I assure you the outcome for all of you would have been far different if the Chosen One was here in person.
"You see unlike the Chosen-One - - I fancy giving you DE a free will choice – life or death, - for example; when I release you – we can do a replay of what Amycus tried to do and you can end up – just as dead. Or you can be reasonable and drop your wand the moment I let you go, - your choice," Ron said stepping back ten paces.
"Hufflepuff you may go" – Ron said over his shoulder as he released them with a flick of his wand – while never taking his eyes off of Alecto. The spell holding her ridge ceased - and for a moment no one moved – a few seconds later she slowly pulled out her wand – and dropped it to the floor.
"That was a smart move, for Harry has a message for you to carry to your master," Ron said pulling a parchment envelope out of his robes. Touching the document with his wand he duplicated the message just as Dean roughly prodded Delores Umbridge into the great Hall, "Put Delores next to Alecto" – thank you Dean." Ron said while pointing at the unarmed DE.
"Chief – Potterwatch is on the air – and the owls have arrived at all the wireless radio stations and at the Daily Prophet. The entire Wizarding world of Great Britain knows by now that the RW has taken over Hogwarts and holding all the Slytherin's hostage, "Dean said with his trademark Cheshire cat grin.
"And our guests?
"Apparateing by the cart-load by the Quidditch pitch, we're doing a quick count from the astrometry tower. Dean said calmly.
"Out in the open, no attempt to conceal their numbers – that's not too bright – unless they think to intimidate us by sheer numbers into surrender," Ron said sounding thoughtful. "And the Dementor's are they still attacking.
"Chief -unless there is a band of them wandering about somewhere in remote Wales, our little air-born traps have rendered that species of magical creatures extinct. Once in one of our deliberate holes in the wards it's like getting sucked into a Muggle wood-chipper. Grounded up into dust – the same fate happens to the DE black-smoke flyers. Dirk estimated that a couple hundred DE have kicked it – trying their black-smoke trick.
"Ron this is horrible – Hermione said deeply disturbed.
No – this is unrestricted warfare, and we didn't set the rules for this War of Genocide – Tom did." - Ron spat back loudly unable to bite back the venom in his tone. Backpedaling he tried to explain himself. "Hermione if we win you can put me in Azkaban and throw away the key. But we have fought these same pure-blood bigoted bastard twice now in twenty years – twice! I don't want Ginny's nippers or yours fighting-them… again - twenty odd years from now. We tried Albus's non-violent way – we took Lucius Malfoy and loads of others to court last time - and they bought their way out. No damnit, this time we finish it – this time it's them or us, countless half-bloods, Muggleborns and Muggle's or a few hateful pure-bloods.
Hermione was dumb-struck; she had never seen Ron so passionate before. Glancing at Dean she saw a facial expression of semi-hero-worship – a victimized half-blood himself Dean had clearly found a leader who believed deeply in his cause. And the she remembered that Ron was fighting specify for her and all the Muggleborn's like her and any criticism on his Total war policy - that she might have offered died in her throat.
"Honey – I'm with you in this," She said softly as a tear of regret ran down her cheek. "Its times like this that makes me proud to be your wife," it was intended to be a counterirritant joke and it worked. Ron face briefly turned red with rage and then abruptly he bit-back a hot retort - - instead he slowly smiled at her, the tension on his face - easing a bit.
"Now, back to the ladies - I have offer Alecto Carrow the chance to fight me wand to wand and she wisely declined. I make the same offer to you Delores," Ron said in a heartless monotone – "kill me and you can walk out of here a free woman,"
"And if I refuse?" She replied.
"Then I portkey you and Alecto out of here and into the forbidden forest - with this message for Voldemort. One of you should eventually make it to his lines.
"What's the catch?" Delores asked clearly frightened.
"Oh, well spotted - Ms. Umbridge." Ron replied. "Believe me ladies you both deserve death ten times over for what you've done in the last year alone. Torturing eleven year old children with the curio curse - - and there is innocent blood on your hands as well, Delores - as head of the Muggleborn Registration Commission – you've sent countless children to horrible deaths - - to the point that even a regular unbiased court would condemn you both for your war crimes. It's ironic really that both of you owe your miserable lives to a Muggleborn witch who has suffered … oh, never-mind.
"I will be giving you a choice of two port-keys," Ron said dispassionately. One will take you to the center of the Centaur encampment in the middle of their mating season. The other will land you closer to the DE occupied village of Hogsmeade." Hearing this Delores collapsed onto the floor - sobbing uncontrollably – while Alecto just looked confused.
"I don't understand" – Alecto said
"How old are you Death Eater?" Ron asked without emotion.
"Thirty-two
"Are you fertile?" Ron said as Delores sobbed even louder.
"What does that matter?
"Centaur females are very rare and heavily fought over like African lions do with their prides. Do to this sacristy of females - - the males which are numerous - live in separate herds and are compelled to try to mate with another species in order to reproduce – namely …humans. One of the reasons that the forbidden forest is prohibited to students - is this Centaur never-ending urge to mate. Normally at this time of year the males fight to the death over the few breedable females.
"Our esteemed head of the Muggleborn Registration Commission spent several days in June of 1996 in the gently hands of theses randy Centaurs - and had she not been rescued by Albus - she would still be in there as a breeder right-now. It took Delores considerable therapy to get over being the human lover to a herd of Centaur's - but as you can see she did survive the experience.
"Now as I said before, - only one of these port-keys will land you in the center of these randy males - the other one will take its holder closer to the village. Wand to wand against me is certain death; you saw that for yourself Alecto. If you don't outrun them to the village the centaurs will put you to work as a herd breeder for their offspring, - - it won't be a pleasant existence - however, you will be alive - and there is always the outside chance of eventual escape. Remember – wherever you land - Hogsmeade is located due-west of the Centaur camp. Now come and chose.
"Please have mercy?" Delores pleaded.
"Did you show mercy to the Muggleborn Mothers and their children when they pleaded with you?" Ron spat.
"I was only following the orders of the Minister."
"That excuse didn't help at Nuremburg Germany - - when Gellert Grindelwald's Dark wizard followers were tried in 1945 - and it won't help you now.
"Have mercy – I beg you".
"I am showing mercy, you stupid sow. Hermione tells me that I really should cut down on my drum-head court-marital …battlefield executions," Ron said. "To make Ms. Granger happy – a Muggleborn witch who you both now own a life debt - - for you and Alecto will both be alive tomorrow - which is more than I can say for loads of the DE gathering down at the Pitch. Now get up and chose.
"A few minutes later and after considerable sobbing Alecto and Delores had gone to meet their separate fates. Leaving Snape, his Slytherin's and the teachers still petrified in the great hall.
"Ron which one got the closer to the village port-key," Hermione asked out of curiosity
"Delores I think - but with those fat little legs that running will not get her very far – besides she is only one hundred feet closer to the village than Alecto.
"RON – you didn't
"Show me the lie in anything I actually said". Ron counted with stone-cold harshness. "They will be alive tomorrow - as you asked.
"Is this payback for the way I fed you only part of the truth during my school-trysts with Harry," Hermione asked - already knowing the answer - and feeling deeply ashamed if only belatedly - for the harm she had caused to what had once been a totally honest transparent-soul. "Not outright lies – but not the whole truth either?
"No Hermione – not at all - but you must admit that withholding key information is a very useful technique to avoid telling an outright lie. You were an expert at such carefully worded deceit last term – for thinking back at all you said to me – I cannot think of a single outright lie you told me concerning you and Harry relationship. I learned the hard lesson of plausible deniability that you taught me last term and have used it to great effect in all my DE encounters ever since.
"I'm sorry, Ron." Hermione said fighting back tears, this was all her doing. 'The boy she had crushed with her betrayal had taken a chapter from her technique of parching the truth to heart," she said to herself. 'She had killed his natural trusting nature with people; the fun loving boy had become a bitter cynical young man and she was the sole cause of this transformation. The guilt of the murder of the old Ron was on her hands and she stood there and wondered if the end of the war would let his trusting nature return.'
"I'm what this war - and you and Harry have made me," Ron said aloud confirming her musings - - "Just don't let it happen again – not even once – do you understand," it was a softly implied threat, but a now very guilty feeling Hermione got the message loud and clear – 'walk on egg shells girl – you got a long row to hoe to mend things. But her Ron was worth the pain – every ounce of it'.
"Alright then - - and now saving the best for last it's time for a little chat with the much beloved Headmaster, Snape," Ron said aloud.
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End Tran
AN: rant four; when I asked for reviews I was hoping for the helpful sort the kind containing suggestions on plot points that I missed or needed to work on. - Just my luck however - I get a heckler in the back row of the theater. I should have expected flames – my lack of proper grammar alone deserves that. - - I have gotten better over time - believe it or not - when I first started writing I was once accused of having English as my second language. LOL
Everyone is entitled to their option and if someone wishes to use mockery and personal attacks in his/her reviews to belittle my humbel tale - then that is fine. As long as there is no vulgarity – flame-on – after all even my biggest critic gave me food for thought. - JKR herself - has been repeated accused of promoting Satanism and witchcraft - if she can take it ...so can I.
In spite of all the flaming arrows - - I am still foolishly asking for your reviews, one embittered reader cannot spoil my soup. Deep down I knew I would not please everyone – especially the Hermione Prefect crowd. But as I am an admittedly armature cook and part-time storyteller - I would like help with the broth. Thanks in advance - billybob