Seeing with the heart
Disclaimers: not mine; for full details see prologue.
Comments to:
Note: I know these first few chapters are slow time wise but after the next one, things will start heating up and time will start moving on. I just want to take the time to show the various relationships that will be developing through the story.
Edit note: I've gone back and ended this chapter at its original ending point as stuff got tact on that didn't need to be there and hadn't even been checked, I'm so sorry about that.!
Enjoy!
#=thoughts
OOOOOOOOOO=seen change
Chapter 3: January Fourth
Hermione was awakened by a soft voice murmuring in her ear. It was to her chagrin becoming a habit for them to fall asleep in the Common Room.
"Wake up beautiful lady."
"Shay?"
"Who else?" He stroked her cheek.
"Look." She pointed across from her and he snapped a picture.
Sometime after Halloween, he had started to carry a camera around. Apparently the shots he took helped Dean with his drawings.
Ginny stumbled down the stairs with Mildred. The two girls flung themselves on the floor.
"Wake up you two!" Ginny sang out from her prone position.
Ron leaped up tossing Harry to the floor. Shouting, "Rutty hell! What's going on, Gin?!"
There was a beat of utter silence then nervous laughter that quickly turned genuine as Ron played the moment up for his friends by giving his sister a menacing glare and shouting down at her in what appeared to be a fit of typical Weasley temper. That was how the rest of Gryffindor House found the group.
OOOOOOOOO
The older students made certain the younger ones were shepherded to the Great Hall and the younger ones still learning their way around allowed themselves to be guided. They enjoyed their breakfast, not truly aware of the undercurrents; the momentary levity from their older classmates making any lingering concerns melt away. The fifth through seventh years slowly quieted.
Ron stared, unseeing, at the platters of food in front of him. His sister placed food in front of him and nudged him. He looked down at the table and sighed.
He'd been drawing with a quill. The design looked abstract. It showed an octagon with various shapes grouped around sections of the overall design. He scowled fiercely at it.
"Eat Ron, or I'll write mum."
The words propelled Ron into grabbing the nearest bit of food, with his fingers, and stuffing it into his mouth. It happened to be egg. Ginny muffled her laughter as did most of Ron's friends. Others weren't so kind. Laughter and pointing fingers had Ron ducking his head.
A feeling of shame swamped him in that instant. Just yesterday, he found it perfectly right and natural to humiliate someone and that someone hadn't even been behaving like an unmannerly oaf.
"Remind me not to laugh at people any more or make fun of them either." He murmured to the nearest person, who happened to be Dean.
Dean nodded his clever fingers sketching rapidly. Ron huffed out a breath. He knew the scene would be up all over the school soon.
He picked up a fork and ate absent mindedly. He glanced around and realized how empty the room felt. How long had Goyle been watching him? Had he become so used to the gaze that he actually felt lonely without it? Why hadn't he noticed it before? Why hadn't the gaze felt harmful, the way Malfoy's always had? Why was he even thinking about the Slytherin? Hadn't he already done his part? He'd checked up on him and everything.
Hestia flew into the room and dropped a letter next to him. The gentle owl perched on his shoulder. The twins had bought the owl for their parents. Arol had finally been allowed to retire with dignity.
"Does mum want an answer?" The owl seemed to nod.
He took the letter from her with one hand and patted her gently with the other. He set the letter down and handed the owl a slice of ham.
Sighing, he once more picked up the envelope and opened it. With a bit of hesitation he looked down at the single hand written page.
OOOOOOOOOO
Dear Ron,
I hope you're eating. I know you get distracted these days but it's very important to keep up your energy. Please try to stay focused, dear. We've spoken to Albus and he's told us some disturbing news. I don't want you and Ginny going to Hogsmead but I won't forbid it though it pains me, you are growing up in troubled times and you've suffered enough to have some privileges you might not have otherwise. I will ask that you be careful and please Ron, try and think before you act.
Love, Mum
OOOOOOO
Ron gazed down at the note then folded it gently.
"Go be with Pig and Hedwig, Hestia. I'll come find you later. Ok, girl?" With a gentle nip, she left him.
Distractedly, he got up and wandered out of the great hall. He found himself at the Hospital wing. He walked over to Neville.
"Hey. I just wanted to see how you were. Justin misses you and we have the best jokes to show you." He fervently hoped the rest of the year was not spent talking with friends in the Hospital Wing.
"Guess what? Mildred and Ginny are spending time. Didn't think my sister went for the ladies. Go figure! It just shows you don't know people, even if you grew up with them. Did you know Hermione and Seamus are dating? Shouldn't I be upset?" With a shake of his head he walked away.
As quietly as he could, he tiptoed to where the Slithering were. Crabbe was asleep leaning back in a chair. With a flick of his wand, Ron levitated the Slytherin to a bed. Goyle was watching him.
"I told you not to come back."
Ron almost walked away. He started to turn and then couldn't. There was no way he could turn away from that exhausted tone. No one should be that tired and be so alone.
"Yeh, well I needed to see Neville, didn't I? Figured I'd come over."
"Well don't bother."
Ron sighed. He wondered if that would become something he'd do all the time. At least the Slytherin's tone held a bit more spirit.
"Hey look, I was an Arse at breakfast yesterday. I know it, you know it, and the entire school knows it!" Can we just get past it?" Ron almost laughed because he'd never seen anyone look so bewildered.
"Excuse me? You tell the entire Great Hall I'm lower than scum but hey, let's just get past it?" Greg hissed the words trying not to wake Vincent.
A second later, he felt rather alarmed when he saw Ron rub his forehead.
"Are you okay?" A hand reached out against Greg's will and touched Ron's unoccupied fingers.
"Just tired. I didn't get much sleep last night."
The hand that had been soothingly stroking his fingers abruptly stopped and Ron felt a little bereft.
"If it's what you really want, I won't bother you anymore."
Ron felt the smidgen of energy he'd gained leave him and he rose unsteadily to his feet. It would be best if he went back to bed.
"Wait! I'm just having a bad week. I do appreciate you coming by." The words slipped out despite Greg's attempt to hold them in.
"I'll bring notes by. I promise you won't get thrown out of school. I'll help you. Look here's -- um." Ron looked around for his bag.
"Must have left it somewhere." he mumbled.
"What are you looking for?"
"My bag. It was a present from the twins."
"Weasley!"
"Yes."
"Calm down. You probably didn't have it with you, it's Saturday after all."
"Oh yeah, thanks." Ron felt his lips tug into a grin.
The slow smile that served as a reply had a unique effect on the Slytherin's face; it completely transformed the homely features into something softer. He would never be good looking but there was a certain appeal, a sweetness that Ron couldn't deny.
"Shouldn't you be going to meet your friends, or something?"
"Probably, but there's not much hurry. Look, G-Greg I'm really grateful. Let me finish, ok?" he said quickly at the sight of parted lips ready to reply.
"Good, thank you for protecting me."
"I told you, I didn't want your--"
"I know, but I really mean it. I ... didn't want to leave you yesterday but well." He shrugged trying to express house rivalries with the motion.
"Ok, ok! I accept that! Were you serious about training the younger Slytherins?"
"Yes," the word rolled easily and without any struggle off his tongue.
"Can you pass me the quill and parchment on the nightstand?"
As soon as they were handed to him Greg jotted down all the names he could remember. The small effort tired him out more than he thought it should. Ron gently took the parchment and quill away from him and eased him back down to the pillows.
"Rest, I'll drop in on Monday."
After Ron left, Greg sat staring off into space. He'd resolved not to allow Ron to get to him. He'd been doing rather well until the other boy had talked to him like he were a person. He'd even sent him away. Not that Ron had listened; it was the principle of the thing.
People didn't listen to Greg much. Hell with it! He smiled softly and went back to sleep. Ron had held a conversation with him. Things were looking up. They really were.
OOOOOOOOOO
Ron wandered towards the Quidditch pitch. He wasn't alert enough to fly but just sitting there looking up at the sky helped him focus. For once, he hoped no one was about. He didn't want to deal with anyone. It was still early for a Saturday and there was no one about. He walked over to the stands and clambered up to the highest one. Then he lay down and stared up at the clear sky. It was strange to have such good weather during this time of year. He wondered if the dementers had been somehow curbed or if they were just having a lucky break. He pushed away the list of things to do calling his attention and floated in the stillness around him and time slid onward.
OOOOOOOOOO
Harry quietly sat in the library. He was determined to research the founders without involving Hermione if possible. It wasn't that her help wouldn't be appreciated but more the fact that she seemed rather lost -- and the best medicine for that seemed to be Seamus, of all people.
Madam Pinse?" He called quietly. Magic forefend he interrupt anyone studying and there were people studying for OWLS and NEWTS.
The library was never crowded even with an entire house of studious folk.
THE librarian walked quietly over to where he was
"What can I help you with, Mr. Potter."
"I'd like to do some research on the founders for History of Magic but there doesn't seem to be much on the shelves." He tried a sheepish grin. "Are there any resources that aren't commonly used by students?"
"Wait here a moment."
He sat quietly musing on the previous day's events. He did not automatically associate "Slytherin" with "Evil" as most did but he felt constrained by all the prejudice around him. It was wrong and causing more trouble than he thought possible but until yesterday he'd been willing to let it alone and hope for a miracle. It seemed he'd got his miracle because Ron of all people was showing interest in a Slytherin.
Irma pinse moved quietly to a magically hidden section of the library. It was beyond the restricted section in a cubby hidden with many notice-me-not charms and was generally empty. At most, this section held one or two books an enterprising student might need. The last time it had held a large stack of books was when Alastor, Minerva, Poppy, Augusta and she had been looking for spells to gage true intent. They'd taken a blood oath never to share or use the knowledge without the consent of all of them. They'd used it on Tom Riddle and kept an eye on him as much as possible and because of the magic involved they had been unable to warn anyone of the young man's slide into evil. She knew they would never forgive themselves. She new Alastor still couldn't live with what they'd been unable to prevent and that the rest of them coped in different ways. She herself was still at Hogwarts though it tormented her to stay and Minerva forced herself to be religiously fair and... She took a breath and pushed her regrets to a tiny corner of her mind. What ifs wouldn't change the past.
She stared as a stack of no less than 10 books sat quietly awaiting her.
#well, quite interesting. #
She looked at the small ledger and saw H Potter, r Weasley, H Granger, G Goyle, V Crabbe will have access to these texts. Inform all parties to give each book a single tap with their wands, when all use has been made of them.
She shrank them and returned to the main part of the library. She saw the young man lost in thought and cleared her throat.
"Mr. Potter."
"Madam?" He looked up at her and smiled when he saw the stack of books she held in her Hand.
"Thank you! Are there any special instructions for using them?"
They will be needed by several other students. Please make certain to lend them as needed."
"Yes ma'am! Which students?"
"The text will look like something innocuous to those not needing the information." Then thinking better of such vague instructions, she used her wand to create a scrap of parchment with the names.
He reached and took the books from her along with the bit of parchment.
"Thanks again, Madam Pinse." Gently putting the books in his bag, he wandered towards Gryffindor tower.
OOOOOOOOOO
The knock on his door startled Severus Snape. He was involved in trying to put together what the hell had happened in his class to cause such a horrific explosion that he'd turned inward. He stumbled to his feet. He couldn't rest, not now, not after having been called by Voldemort the previous evening, certainly not after having suffered Moodys stare throughout supper. That speculative gleam made him very uncomfortable. The man looked as if he were contemplating something Severus Snape didn't want to be a part of.
Minerva stood at his door. It was obvious she'd been worrying... She held out a bottle of Brandy as an offering and he let her into his sanctuary.
"Severus." Her voice held a gentle note that he generally cringed away from for the simple reason that it meant she was feeling maternal and he wanted none of that, ever.
"How are you holding up, dear?"
"Fine, Minerva. If you could just get Moody to stop staring at me I would be wonderful."
She looked at him. Minerva looked at him all the time but he was rarely subjected to her "teacher" look any more; it was the look that said "I will get what I want right now." She generally did, always had from her students, even the Slytherins.
"Is he staring at you, Severus? I hadn't noticed."
She'd gone to school with Alastor and if he were staring at Severus it probably meant trouble. He hadn't always been Anti Slytherin but the war had damaged her old friend to the point where she didn't recognize him. He'd once been rather roguish allot like Sirius Black but without the undercurrent of malice that had sometimes underscored Black's actions.
"I'm tired, Minerva. I need to speak with Crabbe and Goyle. I have to try and figure out if they saw anything."
"I wish you'd rest some."
"With what time? There's so much to do."
It won't go away, Severus."
"I know."
She leaned forward and brushed a kiss to his forehead. He flushed and she padded his cheek. And sauntered out, leaving the Brandy in his hands. He thought about drinking it and then realized he couldn't, not if he intended to speak with the boys in the hospital wing and it was rather early in the day for booze.
OOOOOOOOOO
The two young men sat quietly, not speaking when Snape entered the Hospital Wing.
"Mr. Goyle, how are you feeling?"
"Professor, I'm fine. I'm a bit concerned about classes though. Isn't it possible that you could ask madam Pomfrey to release me?"
He watched the hopeful look on the boys face and gently shook his head. I'll help you catch up but if Madam Pomfrey says you need to stay I will not counterman the order. I'd like to talk to you about yesterday."
"Yes?"
"Can either of you tell me anything unusual that happened?"
"I'm not sure." Crabbe spoke hesitantly.
"It was almost as if the potion was possessed, if that could happen." He smiled deprecatingly at the suggestion.
"Hmm. An interesting supposition."
"Really?"
"Yes." He smiled a little at the shocked look in the boys brown eyes so average in appearance and yet, if one took the time to look, an extraordinary amount of suffering could be seen.
"Professor?"
"Yes, Mr. Goyle?"
"It seemed to be targeting myself and Mr. Weasley."
"Severus blinked.
"I'll have to look into that. Are neither of you able to sleep?"
Goyle shook his head in the negative.
"Mr. Crabbe?"
"I rested a bit, sir."
"You will drink this in any case. While you may have rested a small amount, it is obvious by the circles under your eyes that your sleep is troubled."
He took out two tiny viles, each containing one draft of his specialized Dreamless Sleep. He held the viles out to the two boys who hesitated in excepting them.
"This is my own formula. It should protect you from the Nightmares that a typical batch of Dreamless Sleep cannot reach." He watched as relief spread over both faces.
"Thank you." They spoke almost in unison and reaching for the viles they drank down the contents.
Severus, overwhelmed by tenderness gently guided Vincent Crabbe to an empty hospital bed near his friend and pressed him down into the pillows.
"Rest now. I'll check on you both tomorrow," but he didn't leave. He sat with the two late into the afternoon putting off the many things he had to do.
Minerva had a point things weren't going anywhere and this way he could keep watch over the boys and make certain they were safe.
OOOOOOOOOO
When Ron stumbled, tired beyond belief, into the Common Room, Hermione was waiting for him. He gave her a distracted smile and flopped into the space next to her, momentarily too tired to move.
"What's up, Mione." He hoped the words didn't sound as slurred as they did in his head.
"Hey, where have you been all day?"
"Out on the pitch." His eyes slowly drifted closed.
"Ron," she spoke softly.
"MM-hmm?"
"I think. I mean we were all just talking and Jin said one of your drawings looked like someone she'd uh seen but she couldn't remember. It's probably important." She turned sideways to face him.
Her words had started off slow and hesitant but had picked up speed as she continued.
"The thing is, we need to organize them..." She looked everywhere but at him.
"Mione, jus ttell me what you've done, or what yu are doing and what you need me to do, ok?"
He wanted to ask her to stop talking, or at the very least, to slow down so that he could have a hope of understanding what she was going on about. Knowing Hermione, that wouldn't work so he tried directing her instead.
"There's a spell that will organize and find all the drawings in the tower or else where, for that matter."
"Organize them?"
He felt utterly ridiculous; she generally made him feel like that but this conversation seemed to be about him and his new abilities. With a mental effort, he kick started his brain, again.
"We want to try and find the patterns, Ron. There are always patterns. The progression, you know?" She was suddenly more intense than usual, leaning towards him, a hand covering Ron's own.
He sighed. He was pretty certain there was no stopping them, especially considering the fact there were multiple participants and never mind they were * his* images, doodles drawings? He wasn't sure what to call them. She was probably right about the patterns and it would be good to know. Maybe he would be able to get some sleep if he figured it out. Sleep would be so wonderful. He thought he should probably show more interest in the conversation, in the plan but he couldn't quite bring himself to do that.
"We should move it from here. I'm sure you got all kinds of notice me not spells and what not but I'd just like to be sure they're safe, Mione." The words slipped out before he even understood the thought "That no one can steal it."
"That's a good idea! We'll move it up to the boy's dorm. That way you can have it near. It'll be less of a drain."
"Yeh, yeh, ok."
#Less of a drain"# what was she going on about.
Having had enough of the conversation, his mind drifted away from her chatter. He understood that it was important they figure things out. He knew that but it rankled still. He just wanted a little normality at school. Couldn't someone else do it? Just this one little time?
For the moment, it could wait! He'd given his input. They'd do just fine without him. Everyone always did.
He had more pressing matters on his mind. He was used to drifting off, not sleeping and finding random available surfaces covered with doodles. He wasn't used to strange voices in his head. He'd been able to take it in stride at the time. After all, being best friends with The Boy Who Lived meant strange things happened to him.
"Mione? Do you know of any um well uh." He stammered to a stop not quite able to ask what he wanted.
The constant exhaustion he lived with made it all but impossible for him to be tactful or even clear about what he wanted. He wanted her to point him in the right direction. She looked at him. Then she got a speculative gleam in her eye. That look usually meant bad things for whoever the look was aimed at.
"Does this have to do with Goyle?"
"Err, well no and yes, but not really." Good going, he thought disgusted with himself.
She didn't bother to say a word, just looked at him. He took a fortifying breath before he spoke.
"Harry and me had something strange happen to us. We were just minding our business when the castle moved and we found ourselves in this strange place. Kind of dark, you know? It has to be part of the castle but it wasn't an area we'd seen before. Then some bloke started talking to us saying he was Godric Gryffindor and showed us all about the first time he met Slytherin. You know Salazar Slytherin." He stopped for a breath.
She blinked, taken aback by his words. If it had been a less serious situation, he could have laughed or kidded her. It wasn't though, and he felt his nerves stretching like taffy.
"Start from the beginning, Ron."
#Was that a flicker of concern in her eyes?#
He did as she asked.
***
He'd taken it better than she thought he would. His rambling explanation of what had happened to him and Harry was a true shock. How did these things happen to them, all the time? She couldn't understand. When he just did as she asked and began retelling the story, alarm bells started going off. It wasn't like Ron to be this compliant for so very long. There hadn't been a peep, or an argument out of him since their return.
She wondered if anyone else had been getting visitations from Godric Gryffindor, or Salazar Slytherin for that matter. She wondered how she could find out.
When he stopped speaking, she gave him a smile. She tried to hide the concern she felt. This was very different. Her mind started whirring with ideas and concepts.
A spell. It would have to contain tremendous preservation abilities. If this weren't some huge joke, could the founder of Gryffindor house even be sane. Was it possible to be held immobile, without participating in the things around you, knowing people did not even think you existed and maintain any kind of sanity? She wasn't even sure that was possible. She didn't know everything though.
The Wizarding world had given up a great deal of magic, now considered dark, so there was no way to really figure out what was going on. They had to try though. She forced her mind back to the conversation and away from theory fascinating though she found it.
"What exactly did he say to you?"
OOOOOOOOOO
He blinked, exhaustion once more making itself felt.
"What I told you!"
She gave him a long look and touched his cheek.
"Go get some rest, Ron."
"I think I'm too tired to sleep. Is that possible?"
"Try Ron. Put all of this out of your head. We'll figure it out together, somehow."
"We always do, right?" He gave her a hopeful smile then reached out to the nearest surface to steady himself as he rose.
***
Hermione watched as Ron stumbled to his feet and towards the stairs. She felt a little panicky. They had been through a great deal together and he had never looked the way he did now, as if a puff of wind would blow him over.
--------------------
Ginny just missed him. She tried to make it a point of spending a few minutes with Ron every day. She was growing more concerned about him with every day he didn't rest well. Mum and dad hadn't really seemed to notice. She did though, and surprisingly enough, so did the twins.
"What happened?" She gave her friend a long look.
She watched as Hermione pulled out her wand and gave it a flick. Then the older girl leaned back. She wriggled around until she was sitting with her legs crossed, feat on the couch. Her back rested against the arm. Ginny shifted her position so that they faced one another.
"Have you seen either of the boys?" There had been a time when she had imagined the four of them double dating, but those days were long gone.
"I'm not sure where Harry's got off too, but I was just talking with Ron. Gin, he looked as if a puff of wind would knock him over." She tuched her friend's hand.
"I know! Since this new power, or whatever it is has appeared he's got more fragile. It frightens me mione. I think that it drains his magic somehow like if we understood better the images would tell us more. Magic doesn't tend to be so wasteful."
"I haven't had time to research this much and its driving me mad." Hermione didn't try to keep the worry out of her tone.
Ginny looked at her friend for a long moment. There were things she understood and didn't know how. Her possession by Tom had changed her. She had to take a chance somewhere. She hadn't spoken up when she had noticed something wrong in her first year and it had caused a mountain of problems.
"Mione, can you feel the stillness in the castle? Like its waiting for sides to be chosen?"
"Yes I think I can and it frightens me a great deal."
"What's happened changes things. We can't keep going around excluding Slytherins."
"I know it! The question is can we get the other houses to see it?"
"The sorting Hat sang almost the exact same song it did last year. That means something! It has to, Hermione!"
She closed her eyes a feeling of tiredness and hopelessness overcoming her.
"There are things I don't tell people, I haven't shared with anyone, Hermione. I think that needs to stop now. I believe I know things that can help."
She gave her friend a wary glance. Everyone understood, but no one discussed that Ginny could not have remained the same girl she'd been after her possession by Voldemort. It was a stupid conspiracy, she'd always thought. Not discussing something didn't fix it, or change it but behaving like ostriches, with heads berried in the sand, made it easier for everyone. People could pretend nothing had changed, it allowed people to feel like everyone had moved on. Hermione had always tried to be there for the younger girl. She'd tried in what she new was an inept way, to let her know they could talk about anything.
"What, Jin?"
"I understand Tom in ways he doesn't understand himself. He is a loner, he doesn't trust anyone. He's obsessive to the point of madness and he's lonely, Hermione. That's the one thing that makes his decisions for him. His loneliness, the fact he doesn't think he needs another way. It's turned to hate. His rage has just about consumed all of the young boy that craved acceptance and love, the boy that saw Hogwarts as his home.
"That's a rather chilling and accurate description of him I'd wager all my OWL's on it. It matches all the tidbits we've managed to put together. For someone who doesn't know love, who has never known kindness; that would be an easy path to take." She trailed off for a moment before speaking again.
"The things we know, that we suspect."
"What things?" The younger girl gave Hermione a piercing stare.
"Lots of things. Nothing's happened this year. Until we came back, it was as if there was no war going on out there!"
"What else, Hermione?"
Hermione talked softly for a long while. She explained about their adventures, bringing them to life, giving them a depth and realism that shook the younger girl.
"There's been a war for years and no one believed." She sighed and got to her feet.
"I need to think, Hermione." With that, she slipped out of the portrait hole.
***
"Tonks?" She called quietly and almost jumped right out of her skin when the medamorphmagus appeared at her side.
"Hey, gin."
"Can we talk?"
"Always! What's bothering you?"
The young aurror folded into a sitting position right outside the Gryffindor common room and tugged her friend next to her. It only took a couple of flicks of her wand before they were invisible and a privacy ward was put up.
"I've been dreaming with him. I see him almost every night, Tonks. He's so angry and bitter and alone. In those dreams, I've seen Professor Dumbledore and the others ignore the obvious signs. I'm left with the feeling no one really had the energy to save one lone Slytherin, not back then."
"And not right now?"
The younger girl nodded.
"We won't let it happen, Gin. We won't let ignorance and bigotry condemn another generation."
Tonks watched the younger girl with slight concern. It sometimes seemed that she was too involved in the life of that young, neglected and lost Tom Riddle; too involved to be objective, to stay clear headed.
The clumsy facade she presented to the worldwas mostly an act. Tonks was very bright, not brilliant but certainly above average in intelligants and she understood what it was like to empathize with the wrong sort, at least well enough to see it in another person. She tried to relax so the youngest of the Weasley's would remain calm.
"Thanks, Tonks. I think I needed to hear that."
"Good, go get some dinner, do a bit of flying and have a good night's rest."
Ginny left her friend who removed the wards, with a quick flick of her wand, deep in thought. She'd made a promise and intended to keep it. She just had to convince her mentor. She could do it if anyone would be able. It would just take time, and energy and creativity, with a hint of mischief. Nymphadora Tonks, "just Tonks please," smiled to herself. She had a lovely, lovely idea!
As Ginny left, comforted by her friend's words, said friend felt the relaxed pose she'd been maintaining become a reality.
"Alastor. I need to speak with you."
Her words were spoken into an ornamental looking tiger clipped to her robe.
"Albus is calling me. Drop by later."
***
Up in Gryffindor Tower, Ron tried to take Hermione's idea to heart but couldn't. His curtains were pulled tight and the view he had painstakingly created of the stars wheeling in the sky mocked his inability to sleep. All the things he had to do ran through his head as he tried to calm his thoughts.
First, He had a letter to write to his mum. Then he wanted to find out if Gryffindor and Slytherin had truly been lovers or if he and Harry were just losing their minds, a distinct possibility with all they'd been through.
It wouldn't be a bad thing if it were true; it would just be unexpected. Same sex couples held an interesting niche in the Wizard World; they were the ones who took in orphans and the unwanted -- children who were anything from squibs to magical children not wanted by their Muggle parents and even those unfortunate enough to be born with or receive a physical or mental wound that could not be magically fixed; an event that happened far more often than anyone would admit.
THERE was also the problem of just how clueless he was when it came to planning research. He could do it with the best of them but didn't like it. That was Hermione's job. At least Hermione would help now. The gleam she got when unleashed on a problem had been there so he new that if information was available she would find it. Something more important to him, why was he interested? Of course, if the Founders could help them, supposing the story was real, they couldn't turn that away. They just couldn't
What must have been ages after he lay down, Ron sat up. He gave in to the inevitable and poked his head out to see an empty room.
His head ached, a constant throb that had been with him since they had found Neville so still. His friends had given him potions but nothing worked well so he lived with a constant pain that slowed his thoughts. Maybe if the ideas would stop crowding his brain he would be able to concentrate -- either on sleep or homework or the many puzzles that seemed to be invading his good verses evil world view.
He grabbed up quill and parchment and began to write. At least he would be able to mark one thing off his list.
caret caret caret caret caret caret caret caret caret caret
Dear mum,
You shouldn't worry so much. I'm eating and trying to rest. It's the middle of the afternoon right now and I'm trying to get myself to sleep, Mione actually suggested it. I'm not sure if that's funny or scary.
I have a headache all the time now. I think it's the ideas, mum. Sometimes the ideas ...don't have how to come out. Well, this is the first time the ideas hurt. It's like there's a river and its damned up and they're just trying to come out. I don't know how to let them and I can't stop them.
I'm not doing very well with my classes. I guess that's nothing new but I just zone out and I can't control it. And I'm scared and now I owe my life to a Slytherin. Mum he doesn't remember some of the spell work we've learned, and its my fault. I teased him, rather cruelly too, and he ran out and I'm not sure what happened. In Potions there was an accident and now he's very hurt and he's a Slytherin but he saved my life, and I'm so confused.
I don't want to grow up. Not if I need to learn my prejudices are just that. Does that make me as bad as Voldemort? Do you think he could have been something different? Like if he'd had you and dad and the twins? What about Malfoy and the other Slytherins? Bloody hell, (sorry mum), even Snape, I guess can't be all bad. He's spying for us, right?
I love you mum. I have dreams sometimes and I get confused with them like I'm not sure what's real and what's not. I don't know what I'd do if I lost you and dad or even, heaven help me, pursy. Even though he's being a bloody git.
There's other stuff but a letter just isn't the place. Give my love to everyone.
Ron
caret caret caret caret caret caret caret caret caret caret
He stared at what he had written and folded it up. He hesitated in sending it. The letter was very personal. He adored his mum but she worried and got very loud about it too. This was sharing more than he was used to but she had been more concerned with him and more understanding than he was used to so he was trying to show appreciation for that.
He rummaged beneath his bed for a moment and tugged out a Muggle pen. It was pretty fancy. It wrote in four colors and was easy to hold. Dean had left it out in the Common Room and when Ron had tried to return it, Dean had shrugged and shaken his head. Ron had held on to the pen and now attached it to the note with a tiny smile. His dad would love it!
He got up and went to find Harry. It took him almost half an hour as he wandered the school and tracked him down to one of the unused classrooms; one that looked out on to the Quidditch pitch.
His friend sat there, holding what appeared to be a small book staring at it as though he couldn't believe whatever was on the page.
"What's wrong?"
Ron kept his voice soft and managed not to startle Harry.
"I was trying to do a bit of research on the founders so I went to the library. Madam Pinse gave me these books. This one is kind of like a diary or something."
***
Harry shook his head to clear it and took a good look at his friend. He was becoming more and more concerned as time past and Ron continued to look worn down.
"What's up with you?"
"I can't sleep so I wrote mum."
"Sleep?" Harry gaped at his friend.
"Yeah weird, huh? It was Hermione's idea."
Harry was going to have to get Mione alone. They had to do something about Ron's inability to sleep well.
"Let me see the letter?"
He handed the paper over and squeezed on to the large window seat next to his friend.
Harry unfolded the paper and scanned through it. Then he read it with a bit more care.
"Hmm! Are you getting all Ravenclaw on me?" He grinned to show his friend he was joking. "Really though, these are good things to think about."
"I talked to Mione and told her about the voice and the stuff he said." Ron spoke softly and tried to return Harry's smile.
"She got that crazy research look."
"Do you think it could be true?" It was important to Harry that Ron remain open minded.
"Who knows?"
"I'll tell you one thing I do no, they were best friends and I think Slytherin's feelings were certainly more than brotherly."
"Oh well, it's not a crime; there's even bonding ceremonies in our world for two people of the same sex. It isn't really a big deal. Course, it is for some of the old pureblood families but even in those cases, no one is disowned or anything.
Harry let out a huge sigh of relief. That would make things easier if everything he suspected was true. He felt relief that Hermione was willingly going to be helping them. He hadn't wanted to ask her but if she was going to do it on her own and if the true content of the books was available to her, that made things different.
"We should go eat something, Ron. I'll bet you haven't eaten or anything.
Ron's reply was a quick nod and they rose to grab some food. It was a great thing that they new and were liked by the House Elves. It made not dealing with the Great Hall much easier.
cont chap 4: