Chapter 22 – a talk with the devil and the dead

Word count: 4,717

The opening scene in this story was heavily inspired by 'Those Four Last Days of the War' - as originally written by; oscarpaz00 - - Fanfictiondotnet id #:7192398. I recommend it for those who like uber-powerful Ron's. The major differences between his tale and mine start with - one) the character of Ron himself, mine isn't all powerful and - - secondly and more important - - what happens after they meet in the forest of Dean and that's when his turns left and I hopefully take a different path go the right.

Now I have not been reading Oscarpaz00 version for quite some time - so that I'm not tempted to burrow more of his tale than I already have. Once I'm done with mine, I'm going to read his from start to finish to see how close our imaginations really are.

OoOoOoOo

Roll film

OoOoOoOo

"It is over," Voldemort said to himself as he slowly and painfully sat up in the rubble covered courtyard of Hogwarts. "The boy put up a better fight than I had expected "

"Hello Tom" a very old and tired voice declared from somewhere off to his immediate left and far closer that Lord Voldemort normally allowed even his most devoted followers. Shaking his head the dark lord tried to clear his somewhat confused mind. His blood boiling at the thought that anyone who dare call him by his real name – but his vision was still to blurry and he was feeling far weaker than any other time in his current existence to do anything about it.

Only Bellatrix was allowed to actually touch him, and he had to punish his former mistress recently for her failure to protect the Horcrux cup. That he had allowed her to live at all - was amazing to his followers and yet he did not spare her life out of affection. Letting Bella live kept him from being too predictable in his punishments – and by showing occasional mercy he kept everyone uncertain about what he'd do next.

"Tom I don't have much time, so I hope you can hear me". The ancient voice declared again - from just outside Voldemort's line of vision. "First off, congratulations - you've apparently killed Harry Potter; - his body lays unmoving some forty-five paces in front of you. That means the goddess of destiny should be satisfied. The confrontation demanded by the prophecy of so long ago has at last been fulfilled. You've got your duel, and you ended it by finally getting one of the killing curse you shot at him around the shields I provided - - killing a barely trained seventeen-year-old boy.

"Nagini – dinner," Tom said smugly - his voice sounding odd – somewhat slurred and weak.

"Sorry Tom, your pet snake will not be dinning on Harry today - or any other day, because it's dead. One of my lieutenants – while disobeying my direct orders - - snuck into the courtyard and cut your snakes head off as it moved to attack me from behind – regretfully I was distracted during that critical moment – and because of it - Harry died. Apparently Nagini could see through another of the Deadly hallows – the cloak of invisibility.

"Nagini is dead?"

"Yes Tom – you're fully mortal now, and according to plan I worked out with Harry - I'm supposed to have killed your sorry-arse already - and then crawl off to a dark corner of this courtyard and die a very old squib. I should be with my best-mate in the afterlife right-now - but regretfully no plan of mine has worked-out exactly as I laid it out, luckily for all concerned - I'm adaptable. The powers above have arranged - for reasons known only to them - to give you a living punishment worthy of your crimes instead of the quick death you deserve.

"A punishment that fits my many crimes, you say - like in the Mikado?

"You know of Gilbert and Sullivan… all-the better then. While I waited for your duel with Harry to start - I heard a woman's voice in my head telling me not to kill you outright. It wasn't my Granger's voice; for I know her telepathic manner of speaking all too well, the words used the sentence structure – even the tone was very –very different. Anyroad, something deep-down told me that this voice was not to be disobeyed. So that's why you're still alive.

"Where is my wand old man, I need it to kill you," Tom said sternly his vision clearing enough to see a very ancient man sitting on the ground next to him dressed in Muggle clothing. It was then that Tom realized that he too was dressed as a Muggle. "What have you done to me?"

"I changed your clothing obviously. The shattered into many pieces 'elder' wand lies next to your discarded robes, surrounded by the cremated remains of one of the two Death Eaters you brought with you under invisibility spells to this duel. There are enough cremated ashes mixed in your former robes to qualify as your official remains."

"What utter rubbish - - My Death Eaters will see that I'm still alive and Potter dead - that means I have won. My troops will surge forward across the bridge and crush this rebellion once and for all. As for you …I will kill you slowly – with much pain – like all the other rebels still in Hogwarts.

"The DE won't see you, Tom – no one can see you except me - - you're under the most powerful Fidelius Charm ever cast. No-one in the magical world will see you ever again - and when I - as your secret keeper – die of very old age – which should be quite soon now. There will be no witch or wizard with an ounce of magic anywhere in the world - that will ever see, hear or communicate with you in any way - ever again. Even written notes will appear blank to anyone magical.

"I am the most powerful Dark wizard in the world, your silly spell with be broken in moments."

"That would be true – if you were still a wizard – but you're not. I drained you Tom just like I did Avery – every drop of your core magic is gone, released to the air – you now have less magic in you - than the most common of Muggle's.

"You are lying?"

"Here is one of my spare wands, go ahead - hex me?" the ancient wizard said handing him a ten inch oak wand. Tom tired for a solid minute to make the wand work and failed, even his wandless magic deserted him.

"This is a fake wand."

"No, it's not, and I don't have all day to convince you otherwise, for my life force is fading away as we speak. The voice in my head wanted me to tell you as Albus Dumbledore once told Harry – that there are far worse things than death. Being dead doesn't teach anything and the suffering involved is far too brief. My own magic is almost gone and when I become a squib - the time slowing incantation I'm using to talk to you will end. The moment it does normal time will resume and the other DE you brought with you will most likely kill me.

"At that point the Repello Muggeltum hex surrounding Hogwarts will kick in full force and you – as a permanent Muggle will feel an irresistible urge to get as far from any magical location on earth as quickly as humanly possible. The combined Fidelius Charm and Repello Muggeltum will condemn you to spend the remaining seventy odd years of your life as the ugliest Muggle on earth, without documentation of citizenship or Muggle work skills - - I can't envy your existence living hand to mouth in shelters or on the street - often hungry - or on minimum wage jobs.

"Oh no – life as a Muggle – anything but that – why not just kill me?"

"I've given-up my life force to see to it that the rule of your 'blood status' …bigoted DE in England comes to an abrupt end. So letting you live wasn't the easiest decision for me to make. The turning point in making up my mind however was the voice in my head that promised a happy ending for my country, family and friends in exchange for me not killing you. I know I'm most likely being a gullible fool again - tricked by someone I can't see or existence I can't understand, but on the off chance the voice in my head speaks true. Your life is safe in my hands.

"Please kill me".

"No-can-do, in fact …the more I think on it – letting you live as a Muggle is the far better punishment than a quick death." The old man said with an amused snort. "Besides; the happy-ever-after I was promised is conditional on me doing no more killing. As fate would have it, with you now a harmless Muggle – my need to hurt anything …sort-of ends. Others can clean up the post-war mess that you and I leave behind. "

"I can still kill – the Muggle way, with my bare hands if I have too? But you can still stop me – here and now …by killing me," Tom pleaded.

"Tempting – very tempting, but with regret, I must decline," Ron retorted. "However - I do like to give my enemies a choice, Tom. I did it for all the DE I 'murdered' during this civil war - and so I will with you. The voice in my head has condemned you to spend the rest of your life as a Muggle – a fate I cannot change. But you can still decide for yourself how long that 'punishment' will last. The stone bridge behind you covers a chasm that is three hundred feet deep. At the bottom of that gorge is bone breaking jagged rocks. I will say no more than that; the choice is yours and yours alone - Tom Marvolo Riddle."

Then showing his advanced age, Ron slowly regained his feet, and then slowly turning his back on the once most powerful Dark wizard of the modern age. Ron with his glamor discarded and feeling every day of his one hundred and eighty-seven years – each step causing him indescribable pain – made his way to the stairs that led down to the boat house. He seemed compelled by a whisper in the back of his head to discard his plan to die in the courtyard and walk down the winding stairs to a spot untouched by the battle. Behind him as he descended Ron heard the sounds of celebration as the ash filled robes of Voldemort were discovered.

Amazingly enough – in spite of Ron's advanced age he made it all the way down the stairs, without incident - only to trip on the last step. When he regained consciousness some time later- he looked up to see festive fireworks going off in the darkened sky high above Hogwarts. Ron took this as a sign that the England's first magical civil war was over. He also felt a sharp pain in his right hip - and rolling over slowly - he reached into the inside pocket of the invisibly cloak he had with him and pulled out a golden snitch, which Harry had apparently carried with him for some time. Ron saw writing on the snitch that read – "I open at the end "-

Sitting up slowly and not knowing how long it would be before he him-self died - - Ron stared at the snitch and thought – 'I imagine you opened for Harry at some point, and I hope he doesn't have to wait too long for me to join him.' Suddenly the snitch open and a tiny stone fell out into the palm of Ron's right hand. The moment it touched flesh – abruptly Ron was no longer alone. Three ghostly figures surrounded him – one he recognized instantly - - Fred.

OoOoOoOo

"I'm dead - aren't I?"

"No - icicle Ronniekins – not yet, you aren't" Fred replied. "Do you remember the story of the three brothers that dad read to us as nippers? The Deadly Hallows?"

"You're saying that this is the resurrection stone?"

"Yeah, you're holding it in your hand."

"No way?"

"How else could I – a dead man - talk to you?" Fred said as the other two unknown Ghosts nodded in agreement. "But we can't talk here, too big a chance for interruption – so get up Ronniekins, there is a cave nearby where we won't be disturbed.

"I'm sorry – that you died Freddie, you should have left the fighting here to my boys – the resistance," Ron said with deep regret.

"Just like you and Potter – trying to hog 'all the fun' to just the trio?" Fred said

"Fun – what fun? People have died, hell - - you died."

"I don't blame you for what happened to me; Ronnie, George and I have been straining at the bit since the take-over just looking for the means to strike-back," Fred said with a jack-ass grin "There has to be loads of others that wanted to be here, but lacked to Potterwatch connection to get in before the siege started. But this isn't the best place to chat.

"Why do I have to move – I'm dying Freddie, can't you see that? Just wait five lousy minutes and after I pass over - we can chat as equals

"It's not far to go; Ronniekins, humor me …please.

"Okay-okay, don't get your knickers in a twist," Ron said feeling irritated and put upon - as ever so slowly he got up – he swayed a-bit, unsteady on his ancient feet. He felt so weary – so tired, all Ron wanted to do was sleep, but Fred just wouldn't let him rest. Staggering slightly he followed his brother's ghost to a cliff face next to the stairway. Fred reached out and touched a projecting bit of rock, turning to face his brother, he said; "Touch the same rock I'm touching."

Ron too tired to argue - reached out, his solid hand going right through Fred's ghostly one - and the moment his hand touched stone, the rock he touched moved inward like a button. With a loud noise like grinding rocks, a stone covered door that blended perfectly into the cliff face swung open revealing a long narrow tunnel.

It took Ron twenty solid minutes to travel this corridor of rock – each step felt like lifting a hundred pound foot - one at a time. He felt beyond bone-tired – his arms weighted like a ton of lead each - and over-all - he was so physically drained to the point of having to stop and catch his breath - every so often. Only Fred's nagging voice kept him going, that – and the heavy guilt of responsibility he felt for his brother's death – which meant of course – that he could deny his dead sibling nothing. The door at the opening of this tunnel had long since closed behind him and his way was lit by a series of candles that lit as he approached and went out as he passed by.

Ron finally emerged into a natural made cave fifty feet across - with a twenty-five foot tall celling above his head that was softly dripping water - the floor below was filled with seven foot tall stalagmites. In the exact center of this earthen chamber was a hovering ball of golden light about three feet in diameter. Facing this ball of soft light that floated unsupported some ten feet in the air - was a huge throne like chair - made of black quartz. Instinctively Ron moved toward the throne and sat down in it with a sigh of fatigued relief.

"Fred – are you there?

"Yeah Ronniekins – I'm here, along with your uncles - - Gideon and Fabian Prewett.

"Is that who they are - don't really remember you at all – sorry," Ron said in a worn-out, apologetic tone

"That's alright nephew," Fabian replied with a gentle smile. "You weren't even a year old when Thorfinn Rowle and Antonin Dolohov murdered us. We've been chatting with Fred since he crossed-over …getting reacquainted and all. When he told us you had the stone – that would allow us to chat with the living - we thought we'd come down to the boat-house to thank-you in person for avenging our deaths.

"I didn't get Thorfinn," Ron softly interrupted

"Not directly – but he was one of those idiots - that tried the black-smoke flying trick to infiltrate Hogwarts, so you can say your defenses indirectly caused his death," Gideon said with a wicked grin of satisfaction.

"I'm sorry that I couldn't get some payback for you both sooner," Ron said in a weary resigned tone.

"We are the ones that need to apologize," Fabian interjected. "Our little sister is being an unusually stubborn Git about you. We stood by unseen – as she disowned you as a cold-blooded murderer several times, saying to all who'd listen - that you'd changed into a monster. She has repeatedly declared that the welcome mat has been officially withdrawn for the entire trio at the Burrow – and Arthur is beyond furious with her because of it. She has even publicly refused Abe Dumbledore's request to bury your body in the family graveyard.

"They found the body?

"Using Polyjuice Potion to fake your own death was a stroke of Genius – Ronniekins. The ultimate prank," Fred said proudly.

"That was part of an escape plan that Abe and I worked out before my last chat with Harry. I didn't kill the DE I used for the pretend me either – he got hit with a fatal slashing curse across the throat - by someone else during the stone bridge fighting – and was barely alive when I found him. I just poured the potion down his throat while he was still breathing and then swapped clothing after he died a minute later. Dragging his corpse into the courtyard and hiding it using a transfiguration spell was child's play.

"It's still a brilliant prank on everyone, Ronnie," Fred said all but beaming with pride.

"But like I said it just was a back-up plan – on the off chance I survived Harry's duel with Tom - which I did …but not by design.

"But you did survive, because after killing the snake - your friend Neville killed Voldemort's other invisible body guard." Fabien said, "My sibling and I have been following you around all day, so we saw the whole thing. As your magic waivered the transfigure body reappeared as a dead you, - - but you made one mistake nephew – you didn't swap shoes."

"No one will notice my footwear, I'm sure."

"You're most likely correct; I just wanted you to know of the one flaw in an otherwise brilliant plan. Anyroad; when our sister refused to take the 'Polyjuice Fake Ron's body" - home for burial," - Gideon continued - "your mentor instantly jumped into the dispute on what do with your remains. Abe took charge and instantly arranged a funereal bier in the courtyard before anyone could think to object.

"Your Granger had a complete mental breakdown when she heard of your death and Mr. Potter's – she had to be heavily sedated, to prevent her from doing injury to herself." Fabian declared. "So she was in no condition to object to the quick disposal of your pretend body."

"As my real body will be joining my fake one soon," Ron said in a resigned tone, "it doesn't really matter where I decompose. Fred - - who besides George knows about this passageway? How long before someone finds me dead …in this chair?"

"This cave and the tunnel to it are not on the Marauders Map; Ronniekins," Fred said in a smug tone, "And George doesn't know about it – no living soul has been inside this cave in the last two thousand plus years."

"Then my rotting corpse will never be found here – that's good," Ron said feeling relieved. "I don't want to happen to me - what happened to Cromwell."

"That much I can promise you ickle Ronniekins, "Fred said fighting back a knowing grin. "Your body when you do finally die - - will decompose in peace - where no one will disturb it.

"Oliver Cromwell's fate won't be shared by your Polyjuiced mortal remains either as they are being cremated as we speak," Gideon said with a smile. "Hanged-drawn and quartered can't be done to ashes spread to the winds.

"Abe did me a good turn, by cremating the fake right away. I wish I could thank him.

"That way the fraud can't be discovered. You thought of everything; Ronnie," Fred said proudly.

"Neglecting the tiny details is what brought down Napoleon; nephew. You mucked-up with the shoes," Gideon again pointed out

"Which are being burned-up as we speak, no one will remember what shoes Ron wore today, so let it go uncle." Fred snarled.

"Prior to coming down to the boat-house - as just two of the many Hogwarts Ghosts that are incapable of becoming visible - - my brother Fabian and I have been listening in on how the living in the castle above - are talking about you. Your actions in this civil war have had mixed reviews with the victors, and are considered very controversial - even by your closest supporters. Now that your dead - Dean has expressed some misgivings over the prisoners you - - executed.

"Oddly enough - - Dean can't think of a workable alternative to killing the prisoners you did kill or allowing some of them to buy their lives with gold or information," Fabian said in clear disappointment – "and neither can any of the other hindsight military tactician's who are now finding fault in your methods. Dean, as I think you suspected would happen - -has been quick to point out that you and some of the others who are now ever so conveniently dead - killed captured prisoners and You as leader of the resistance; repeatedly took full and total responsibility for the treatment of all the prisoners taken.

"Yes – that's good, Dean is following the plan I outlined to the letter, excellent," Ron said feeling rather smug."

"Your plan alibies the rest of the resistance while painting a huge bull's-eye on you nephew," Fabian said. Naturally – your loudest critics are those who arrived after the fighting was over. Many who sat on their hands during the tyranny – now seem to agree wholeheartedly with Molly about - Ron the resistance murderer.

"A lot has happened since I came down here," Ron said slightly amazed.

"Pottercast spread the good news, right after they found Voldemort's remains. The French Muggle-born Volunteers barely had time to 'arrest' the surviving DE camped near the pitch before the thrill seekers showed up to 'Help'

"I still don't understand why I didn't die before I reached the bottom of the steps, my magic was spent.

"Not totally spent; Ronnie – your core was never completely empty," Fred quickly interjected.

"Sure it was –it had to be, I calculated it down to the last gram. With no way to recharge during the battle to cover the rate of my usage-discharge, so I should be a squib now – just like Tom," Ron said becoming noticeably angry - as if catching his second wind.

"Then you calculated wrong!

"So after talking things over with our nephew; Fred "– Gideon said interrupting the sibling argument before it became more heated. "We all agree that you should take full advantage of your public funeral fire in the courtyard …and leave the country - as soon as you can.

"Not without talking to Hermione, first" Ron said sternly. "We were going to go into exile together. How long have I been unconscious anyway?

"Just short of a couple of hours at the bottom of the stairs, I'd guess," Fred said. "You fell at a spot not visible to the courtyard above. But …Hermione can't go with you – if she was to suddenly disappear – especially right now - - loads of people will start to wonder why. She is now THE most famous Muggleborn in the whole country – the best friend of the chosen One – history's heroine. It will be many months before she could just disappear into obscurity… if at all? "

"This can't be right. Avery didn't last more than a half-hour after being drained of core magic. If several hours have gone by - I should be long-time dead by now.

"Well – get over yourself, you are not dead - - which only proves my point ickle Ronniekins; that you've calculated wrong - and are not completely drained – either that or the bloke upstairs running things - isn't done with you yet.

"But that can't be right," Ron countered. "My task ended when Tom got drained. The great lord above gave me one thing to do and I did it - - the pure-blood bigots are crushed at last.

"And you've done that Ronnie – and seeing as your still among the living… it's time to get yourself out of England before your fair weather friends turn on you exactly as Snap predicted would happen.

"Fred is right nephew," Gideon declared, "with Tom Riddle gone, you become the most powerful wizard around and from what we overheard up in the Great Hall - the Wizarding world of the UK has no desire to replace one tyrant with another."

"I'm no tyrant!" Ron protested.

"We know that Ronniekins," Fred said exasperated "but give it a think – will you? You're too bloody-powerful to be allowed to wander about. You're a threat to the body politic and any new Minister elected. Dead and cremated you are free to disappear without any fuss.

"I can't walk ten meters without exhaustion, how am I going to find the strength to leave the country.

"Do you know where you are - - right now? Fred asked fighting back a grin.

"No –what does it matter?"

"Even as we speak - you're recharging your magical-core …and yes - I know about your core. We dead have sources of information that's denied to the living. In front of my very eyes little brother - I've seen you getting noticeably stronger with every minute you're in that chair - that's why I insisted you coming into this chamber, it's the only place in all of England that a bloke like you can get a second chance at life … welcome to the Core Chamber underneath Hogwarts, the spot Abe couldn't find.

"Oh shite," Ron managed to exclaim before going into a shocked induced state of unconsciousness.

OoOoOoOo

End Tran

OoOoOoOo