A/N:

Hey!

Thanks for all the reviews!

So, from what I read there's an issue with the pov switches and the time skips. I always write with multiple povs, cause I like letting each character sort of express themselves and showing different perspectives. I know it annoys a lot of people but I don't really write any other way. Sticking to one singular pov feels stifling for me so I avoid it. As for the time skips, the confusion generated is my fault.

So just to explain the time line:

Everyone is moved up a year, so everyone is sixteen instead of fifteen

Lee and the twins have already graduated and started working

Its set post Goblet of Fire, so ignore everything after that (But just treat it as a complete AU, I am changing a lot)

Lee starts interviewing the Lestranges long before Ron even gets pregnant. So, everything else is happening simultaneously: Ron finds out he's pregnant, Dudley starts at Durmstrang, Severus' relationship with Harry takes off blah blah blah – all at the same time. Lee starts interviewing the Lestranges months before that. Treat Lee's parts like a flashback. I did this because I wanted a sort of slow burn for their relationship so when he finds out about Ron's situation it becomes a trigger for him sort of allowing them in during something that happens later.

Everything else will be explained in the story as it moves along.

Usual apologies

Disclaimer: See previous chapters

Neville is amazing.

Ron has said a lot of things about the raven-haired teen. He's teased and made fun of him multiple times, but really, he is a great friend.

After they left the dungeon Ron felt a bit better than he did when he woke up that morning, but he still wasn't up to going to the great hall for breakfast. No one knew his secret so its not like anyone would be talking about it, but the idea of going out around the other students and professors just made him feel nauseous. Like they'd all just take one look at him and know everything. But he needed to eat if he was going to take his medication. Neville offered to go get him something to eat from the great hall and bring it back to the tower.

Ron headed up to the tower, both hoping and dreading that Harry would be awake and they could maybe talk about what happened the night before. But Harry wasn't there when he got back despite it being so early. Ron sat on his bed going through the book that madame Pomfrey gave him the night before only to quickly put it away when Seamus and Dean came from the bathroom and started getting dressed. Its needless to say that they were both more than surprised to find the redhead up so early but Ron just brushed it off, saying he had to meet with Snape about something important.

They talked about the quidditch game, filled him in on how the game was postponed after he went falling off his broom. Seamus asked him if he'd be able to play the next game. Ron lied and said yes.

Neville came in a few minutes after they left for breakfast. Ron's eyes went wide when he saw the sheer amount of food that the raven brought with him. Bacon, eggs and sausages. Crumpets, scones with jam and scones with cheese. Fruit salad yogurt, toast, two muffins and some pumpkin juice.

Neville blushed after he'd set it all out on the floor in the middle of the room, setting the basket he'd gotten from the elves aside as he sat down beside the redhead.

"I wasn't sure how much to get since you're eating for two right?"

"Yeah Neville, I'm eating for two, not an entire quidditch team."

Later on, Ron would shrink down in shame after he actually managed to eat all of the food Neville brought, although the raven helped him with some of it. He blamed it on the potion he took before he started to eat.

Afterwards they headed to class. They had charms that first thing, it wasn't Ron's favourite class but it was the first one he had where he sat next to Harry so he figured it would be a good time to try and talk to him, though he dreaded that conversation. They'd just made the turn around the next corner and Ron almost froze when he saw the figures headed their way walking in the opposite direction.

Draco Malfoy, Theodore Nott and Blaise Zabini.

Of course.

Ron wanted to crawl into a hole and never come back out.

"Ron." Neville whispered in concern and the redhead realised that he stopped in his tracks the moment he set eyes on the three Slytherin, "Are you alright?"

Ron didn't say anything as they came closer and Neville frowned, taking a hold of the redhead's elbow to tug him away, "C'mon, we'll go another way."

Ron took a deep breath as he whispered, "I… No, I might as well just get this over with, right?"

Neville didn't look sure and Ron even less.

"Well well well, if it isn't Weasel and Squib." They heard Malfoy said as they stopped just a few feet away, "And no golden saviour in sight, isn't this a rare sight to see. I have to say, the little show you put on yesterday was quite entertaining. Have a nice fall?"

Ron glared, he couldn't reign his anger in, "Oh piss off ferret face."

Malfoy glared back, Nott just rolled his eyes in annoyance. Blaise gave a snort of amusement which got the attention of his housemates but he didn't seem to care as he simply shoved his hands in his pockets. The blonde Slytherin opened his mouth to give another retort but Ron beat him to it, looking right at the Italian as he spoke.

"I need to talk to you."

Blaise arched a brow at the teen, Malfoy scoffed. "What on earth would he have to talk to a blood traitor like you about?"

Ron glared hard at the blonde, "What, Death Eaters can't hear? I told you to piss off."

Malfoy's face went red with anger and Ron could see Nott reaching for his wand. Neville's eyes went wide as he quickly reached for his own as well when-

"Fine."

"What?" Malfoy said and they all looked up at Blaise as the Slytherin turned to walk back the way they came.

"Lets just get this over with Weasley."

Ron took a deep breath as he followed. Malfoy gaped at his housemate, "Blaise-"

"I'll meet you in the Great Hall."

Ron resisted the urge to look back and smirk in victory, he had bigger things to worry about. Instead he gave Neville a look over his shoulder, the raven gave him an encouraging smile and he looked back to keep following the Slytherin. Down the hall and around the next turn. Blaise stopped at an abandoned classroom that Ron's walked past hundreds of times.

"Alohamora."

He heard the lock slip out of place and the Slytherin opened the door, Ron blinked in surprise as they stepped inside.

"I forgot you can do wandless magic."

Blaise shrugged as he stepped aside and let Ron walk in before he shut the door behind him. The redhead walked in further glancing around the dusty tables and shelves and the books stacked up against one wall, light pouring in through the dirty window. Ron took in a deep breath to steady his nerves as he turned around to face the Slytherin.

"I need to talk to you about-"

Ron didn't get the chance to finish his sentence when Blaise's arm was suddenly around his waist while his other hand cradled his face and the Slytherin kissed him. Ron blushed a deep red at the contact, for a brief moment paralysed in shock. Blaise's lips moved against his own and then the redhead's eyes slid shut as he melted into the kiss with a moan.

It was just like this, two weeks ago.

After he got on the broom, Blaise flew them into the Forbidden Forest, to a spot deep into the woods. It was a lake surrounded by trees. The waters looked like they were pitch black, reflecting the bright glowing moon over its gleaming surface with the stars shining up above. It was beautiful and there was this odd dark haunting air around them. Ron was on edge from the moment that they touched down at the lake, he wanted to leave immediately.

But Blaise didn't look afraid, he didn't even look uncomfortable.

"Shh." The Slytherin hissed as he stepped away from the Gryffindor and the broom and walked over to the side. Slow steady steps towards the edge of the lake which is when Ron suddenly realised that the lake wasn't still. The water was rippling, circles growing bigger and bigger, moving from a point at the edge of the lake where Blaise was headed until they suddenly stopped when Blaise did. The Slytherin reached out to touch…

Nothing. There was nothing there for Blaise to touch but his hand stayed up in the air as if holding something while the other stroked repeatedly.

Ron frowned, "What're you-"

"Come on." The Slytherin said and Ron's frown grew, Blaise rolled his eyes, "Just come over here. If I wanted to kill you, I would've just dropped you while we were on the broom."

"You say that like I would've let you." The redhead huffed but he still moved closer still feeling uneasy as he stopped at the other's side. Blaise reached out to take his hand and Ron allowed the movement as his hand was raised only to bite back a yelp and flinch back when he actually felt something.

"What-"

"Calm down." Blaise said as he pulled the redhead close and put his hand back and Ron almost flinched again before taking in a deep breath as he rested his hand on the side of something warm smooth skin. Thin skin, he could feel some sort of skeletal structure underneath and when he moved his hand further up, he felt a long thick main of hair. He felt a huff of breath against his shoulder. The skin was moving, a creature breathing in and out and moving a bit.

"What is it?" Ron asked as he brought up his other hand to touch the creature, Blaise didn't let go of the redhead's arm as he looked down at him before he spoke.

"A thestral."

"A what?!" Ron yelped in alarm as he tried to get away only for the Slytherin to hold him still. "Calm down."

"Calm down? Don't you know how dangerous these things are-"

"They're only dangerous when provoked now calm down." Blaise said. The thestral could sense the redhead's panic and it started getting uneasy. Blaise kept one hand on the side of the animal while his other hand stayed locked around Ron's wrist.

"Just breathe. If you freak out you'll startle it, now breathe."

Ron did as he was told, taking deep breaths, "Shh." Blaise whispered and the redhead felt himself start to calm. The Thestral stopped squirming uncomfortably.

"See, everything's fine."

"You do know that thestrals are bad luck, don't you?"

Blaise rolled his eyes, "Superstitious nonsense. They're beautiful creatures, completely misunderstood."

Ron paused, "You can see it."

"Yes." Blaise said without hesitation as he let the redhead go and brought both his hands up to what he assumed would be the thestral's head. Ron felt tempted to pull his hand away. Instead he brought his other hand up wondering what it looked like, almost wishing he could see it while being grateful that he couldn't. Only those that have witnessed death can see thestrals.

"Who-… how did-"

"My father and no I didn't kill him. Slytherin aren't naturally predisposed to murder let alone patricide, regardless of what Gryffindors and goody-goody light families might think."

Ron's eyes went wide, "I wasn't going to say that."

"But you'd think it."

Ron didn't say anything to that and Blaise kept talking, "This one's a mare, two years old I think."

"How do you know that?"

"We have thestrals at the manor. Father started breeding them the year I was born, he always loved them. Strong beautiful creatures, he used to say. Rejected by a world that simply refuses to understand them."

Ron looked away squinting at the empty space where he could feel that smooth warmth, "The ministry has them banned. They say they're dangerous."

Blaise scoffed, "The ministry has dozens of banned objects in its registry, half of which are completely harmless."

They were both silent for a moment when the Slytherin spoke again, "I think its safe to assume that you're never ridden a thestral."

Ron didn't answer him and Blaise gave a snort, "Don't worry I won't try to force you on one. This one's too wild to try and ride anyway."

"Really? She seems calm enough."

"Try to mount her and see what happens." Blaise challenged as he shook his head, "It wouldn't be safe for you anyway, you can't even see her."

"Well," Ron paused, "What does it look like?"

Blaise looked up at him for a moment before walking around to stand behind the Gryffindor, "Close your eyes."

"I don't think so."

"You've gotten this far. Is this really that big of a step?"

He has a point.

Ron huffed out a sigh of frustration and shut his eyes, "Fine."

He felt Blaise's hands on top of his own and the Slytherin started moving them.

"Imagine dark skin, grey-almost black. A mane of long pitch-black hair." Ron allowed himself to be moved and stepped around the side feeling over the body, almost like a horse but with skin so thin he could feel the bones. They stopped at what felt like another thick bone protruding from the side, over a long leathery flap with smooth edges. "Huge wings, like a bat tucked into her sides." And then they moved back over what felt like a neck up to her neck and onto a head. "Scales, some of them are darker than the others and long fangs resting against her bottom lip." Bumpy, it felt like there were rivets there, a long snout, Ron jumped when he felt sharp and pointy teeth.

"I'd take you around the back but, she'd make us both regret it."

Blaise leaned in next to the redhead's ear, "She has the softest grey eyes, tortured but serene. The furthest thing from a dark evil creature and yet an hour ago, you probably hated her."

Ron's eyes snapped open at that and Blaise stepped away going to the side and pressing a kiss against the thestrals invisible side. The redhead didn't know how to respond his mouth opened and closed a few times and he looked down at the empty space where he held the thestrals head. He remembered the incident with Remus, how he reacted to finding out that Remus was a werewolf. He thought of Snape and how he thought of how the man just had to be a Death Eater but how the man protected them. He thought of how absolutely sure everyone was of Sirius Black's guilt in the Potter family murders. The way he reacts to the mere mention of all dark creatures. The way he's reacted to every Slytherin he's met

"It's not like that." Ron said quietly and Blaise looked up at him, "I… How do you-… what do you do when you've been told the same thing everyday since you were born? How do you stop believing…" The red head took a deep breath, "How do you make it O.K to feel different from what you felt before?"

Blaise paused, "Do you feel different?"

"Sometimes, but it's not. You're not supposed to-"

And then the redhead's eyes went wide when a hand went around to cup his jaw and turn his head to the side and a kiss was pressed against his lips. Ron froze and Blaise pulled back.

"Stop thinking so hard. If you feel something, then let yourself feel it." Ron was speechless the Slytherin smiled at him and he couldn't stop himself. Ron wrapped his arms around Blaise's neck and kissed him, full and hard and the Slytherin seemed to stumble back in surprise. Chuckling briefly as he wrapped his arms around the redhead's waist and kissed him back

Two weeks ago, and yet the moment the Slytherin kissed him, Ron felt himself start to come apart like it was the first time. But he couldn't let himself stay in that haze for too long. Blaise broke the kiss, smirking at the redhead when his eyes fluttered open.

"What was that for?"

"Nothing, I just felt like it." Blaise said as he pulled away and went to lean back against the teacher's desk at the front of the class. "What did you want to talk about?"

Ron felt himself flush and he had to look away, "It's about what happened between you and me… in the forest two weeks ago."

Blaise started to smirk, "I thought you said you never wanted to talk about it."

"There's a problem."

And then the Slytherin started to frown, "What problem?"

"I-…" Ron took one more deep breath and spoke before he could convince himself otherwise, "I'm pregnant."

Blaise gave a scoff, "You're what?"

"I'm pregnant Blaise."

"You can't be you're a ma-"

"Do you know what carriers are?"

And then the Slytherin went silent. Ron cleared his throat wishing that the earth would just open up and swallow him whole so he wouldn't have to have this conversation.

"Carriers are-"

Before Ron could finish his sentence, he was cut off yet again as the Slytherin grabbed his arm and dragged him from the classroom and rushed down the hallway.

"What do you think you're doing?!" Ron hissed as he was pulled along, going right passed Neville who seemed to be waiting for his friend only for his eyes to go wide when he saw the two storm passed him. Blaise paid no attention to the other students that they passed, he didn't really seem to care, though Ron felt his face flush several shades darker at the stares and whispers that he caught as they went by. They were headed to the infirmary, Ron might not be the smartest student in school but he could guess why.

They broke through the hospital wing doors moments later, the large doors slammed shut behind them and madame Pomfrey quickly walked in at the sound. The woman frowned at the pair when she caught sight of them.

"What on earth-"

"He says he's pregnant." Blaise hissed as he dragged the redhead closer and almost tossed his arm aside. Ron glared hard at the Slytherin completely missing the look on the mediwitches face as her gaze darted between the two teens and realisation dawned on her.

"I see." Poppy said seeming to nod to herself as she took a deep breath and gestured towards an empty bed, "Well, Mr Weasely. You know how this goes, same as yesterday."

Ron wanted to argue but decided against it, he'd rather just show the other rather than explain the whole situation himself anyway. He took of his robes and got up on the cot lifting his jumper and shirt to expose his stomach and undid the buckle of his belt to lower his pants a bit. Madame Pomfrey took out her wand and gave a brief wave as she muttered a brief spell under her breath and a sonar screen came floating into the room.

The redhead lay back as the witch came closer and Blaise stepped closer to the bed as well. The woman glanced up at him for a brief moment before clearing her throat to begin.

"Let's get started. Like I told Mr Weasley yesterday, unlike muggle sonar machines magical sonars can pick up on the development of a new magical core within the first few days and the earliest development of a heartbeat within the first two weeks. The chances of inaccuracy in determining pregnancy are slim to none." Her wand started to glow and she gave Ron a soft smile, "Deep breaths, try to relax."

Ron did as he was told trying to breathe deep and calm his nerves but it was hard focusing on that when Blaise was standing right there beside the bed not saying a word. It wouldn't be so bad if the Slytherin would just show some kind of emotion on his face.

Poppy brought her wand down to touch his skin and Ron shut his eyes until he heard the tell-tale sound of the heartbeat on the sonar machine.

"That is your heartbeat Mr Weasley and then this," Her wand moved down lower and a different thumping noise came from the machine. The rhythm was different from Ron's, at a different slower pace but still steady. "This is the baby's heartbeat. You can see it right there."

This time Ron opened his eyes to look at the screen on the sonar machine and he saw a small pulsing lump in the centre of the green screen. Last night, he hadn't really gotten the opportunity to fully appreciate what he was seeing. Too absorbed in his own shock to really see it but now. He felt something warm spread across his chest at the sight, something than made his chest feel tight, his throat clenched. He almost wanted to cry, scream… maybe break something while he cursed repeatedly. Instead the redhead swallowed hard. The steady thump thump thump almost felt painful to his ears. Part of him wanted to block it all out, the other half wanted to hear it forever.

He's always wanted children. He's always wanted his own family. Things were difficult for him growing up, for a number of reasons though he is grateful for everything his parents did for him. He was a happy child growing up on the farm. Nothing seemed wrong or out of place. Even his brother's taunts and pranks didn't seem all that bad. His parents were lovely. They tried extraordinarily hard and, to be honest Ron never realised that anything in his life had been lacking, not until he got to Hogwarts. At Hogwarts the other pureblood kids had new books and new robes, wands made of the finest materials. For the first time he noticed the oddity of his hand me down clothes, the old outdated robes and the ratty textbooks. He suddenly felt so out of place. It brewed a lot of resentment in him, although he knew it was an irrational feeling.

He grew up happy and healthy, he never needed anything. Then he met the kids at Hogwarts. He met Malfoy, heard other students make fun of his robes, his faulty hand me down wand wasn't making things any better and-… Sometimes he'd catch himself growing jealous. He wouldn't really know what to do with those emotions that would push and claw at his chest. He'd burst and act out. He hurt Hermione and Harry so many times, lashed out at Neville more than just a few times though he had no right to do so. He wanted to be normal, he wanted to be accepted. He wanted to be like everyone else and at the same time-

Hermione was sweet and Harry was just the greatest friend. They made it feel alright being different made him feel like he didn't have anything to be ashamed of and then at the same time he wanted more from his life. He wanted more than what he had, but Molly always made such thoughts so… difficult.

Whenever he had thoughts of wanting more, he'd hear his mother's voice in the back of his head, scolding him over his greed, scolding him for not being content with what he had and wanting to be like everyone else. Slytherin is the home of the cunning and ambitious. Ambition, such a terrible thing. Too much ambition is what caused the rise of the dark lord and brought him such loyal followers, ambition and greed and the desire for more. Gryffindor is the home of the loyal and the brave. It's the house of Albus Dumbledore one of the greatest wizards to ever live. Gryffindor families are light families and the Weasley family has been loyal to the light for decades, withstanding ostracization by the rest of the wizarding world, bravely standing by their beliefs. Ron had always been proud of that, he's still proud of it but at the same time-

He wanted more.

Ron wanted children because he wanted a second chance. He wanted to be able to give someone else everything he never had. He wasn't really sure how to go about it though. He didn't have the best marks in school and although he was decent as a quidditch player he certainly wasn't good enough to play professionally. He wanted so much but he didn't know what to do with those desires. Ambition without direction can be a dangerous thing. It can be a paralysing thing. Ron was the latter.

He didn't do well in school, he was average at quidditch so he settled. He could finish school and then go work for the ministry. He wouldn't get all that he wanted but its better than nothing. He thought of becoming an auror, talked about it with Harry a million times but he didn't hold up much hope of making it through the auror program. And what if he who must not be named finally reared his ugly head and war finally broke out? What then?

Ron thought about these things but never for too long. His mother told him to trust in Dumbledore and the light, all would be well. He'd try but he couldn't help but doubt.

Now he's having a child.

How could he keep it? Would he really be able to give the child everything he's wanted to give? And how would he give it away? What if a war broke out? What if the child was harmed?

"Oh Salazar." Blaise gasped and Ron turned his head to look at the other teen. Suddenly remembering that he wasn't alone. He suppressed a snort at the look of complete and total utter shock on Blaise's face.

The Slytherin stumbled back, bracing his hands on the cot behind him as he raised a hand to his head and cursed, "Shit."

Madame Pomfrey let out a soft sigh as she pulled the wand back and banished the monitor, "I'll give you two some time alone."

Ron zipped up his pants and buckled his belt before pushing his shirt down just as Blaise spoke.

"Why on earth didn't you tell me that you were a carrier?"

"I didn't know."

"You didn't know?! How the hell could you not kno-"

"If I knew that I was capable of getting pregnant or that any man for that matter was capable of getting pregnant I wouldn't have let any other bloke near me."

Blaise just stared back at him in silence, his hands clenched against his sides, his leg bounced over and over again until the Slytherin suddenly shut his eyes and turned, "I need to think."

"You need to think?" Ron asked incredulously as he got off the bed, "Think about what-"

Blaise ignored him as he left the hospital wing and the redhead just stared after him in shock. Its not like he didn't expect it, but actually seeing Blaise just walk out on him like that made his chest pull tight and his throat clench. He swallowed hard, tried to remember to breathe.

Sweet Merlin.

Is he really in this alone?

Madame Pomfrey walked back into he room just then pursing her lips together in a tight line.

Ron looked up at her, gave a snort and tried to make it seem as convincingly uncaring as he hoped it would, "Let me guess, give him time?"

"It's a big shock." The mediwitch said as she stopped by the bed beside the redhead, "Do you remember how I told you that I haven't encountered a male carrier in more than ten years?" Ron nodded his head as she continued, "The man, well boy back then, was a student here at Hogwarts same age as you. He had no idea that he was a carrier either and he was just as terrified as I'm sure you are when he found out about it."

"Let me guess, the other bloke involved stormed out on him too?"

Madame Pomfrey shook her head, "No no, he never fell pregnant. He had an accident and when I ran bloodline tests on him, I discovered that he was a carrier."

"I don't really see what I have to do with-"

"There was a boy he liked, he found out that he was a carrier and he was elated at the prospect of them marrying and having children someday. But they never did."

"Why not?"

The woman's head gave a tilt, "Honestly, I'm not quite sure. They broke up, quite violently actually, though I'm not sure why." And then she looked over to the redhead, "What I think is important to note is that Mr Zabini didn't ask you to explain what carriers are. I hope… Have you spoken to professor Snape yet? Did he tell you? About the bond necessary to for carrier pregnancies to be possible?"

"Yes."

"The carrier gene is part of old magic. Bloodline magic. As a Zabini I'm sure he understands the implications of you falling pregnant with his child." And then madame Pomfrey frowned, "It really is quite strange that your parents didn't inform you of it."

Ron looked up at the woman with his own frown, "Are you saying they knew?"

"It isn't impossible that they wouldn't know, but normally…" Madame Pomfrey sighed, "When a child is born into a magical family the ministry conducts a series of tests to determine bloodline traits. So, parents know what to expect from the child's development. Werewolf children, Veela children. Children with advanced abilities. These tests are highly contested by activists fearing that children may be mistreated because of the diagnosis of these tests but they often do more good than harm since parents can prepare for whatever happens in the future." The mediwitch folded her arms across her chest. "As a pureblood they should have conducted the tests on you as well. You should've been informed of this when you turned sixteen."

Ron's frown deepened as he looked down to the tiled floors beneath his feet in thought. Do his parents know? If they knew then why wouldn't they have told him? At the very least the twins would have somehow found out and teased him mercilessly about it for years. Why on earth wouldn't they tell him?

"In any event, try not to worry about Mr Zabini too much. Stress isn't good for the baby." Madame Pomfrey said as she stood up straight and smoothed out the skirt of her dress. "If you've already seen professor Snape then I assume he already gave you the prenatal supplements?"

"Yes."

"Works wonders don't they." The woman smiled, "Make sure you take them just the way he told you. Have you spoken to Harry or Hermione yet?"

Ron sighed looking away, "I'm giving them time."

Poppy sighed, "If you need someone to talk to-"

"No, I'm fine." Ron said taking a deep breath as he got up, raking a hand through his hair, "I should go."

The older woman nodded, "Of course."

"Wait." Ron started as he looked back at the woman, "Does the headmaster know yet?"

"I went to see him this morning." Madame Pomfrey said, "Your parents should be informed before the end of the day."

"Brilliant." Ron muttered as he continued on his way out the door and Madame Pomfrey couldn't help but frown as she watched him go. So strange that Molly wouldn't tell Ron that he was a carrier. She must have known, then again, its always possible that she had no idea.

The mediwitch turned around and made her way to her office. Maybe a quick call with the Ministry and St Mungo's is in order.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

We all have our vices. Those dark little desires quietly stirring in the back of our heads, begging for attention and demanding satisfaction.

For Dudley, it was a boy named Arnold.

Dudley shuffled down the empty hallway, books clutched tightly against his chest as he tried and failed to avoid bumping into anyone as he made his way to his… guardian's quarters.

The past month has been difficult to say the least, but nothing absolutely nothing could have prepared him for what happened to him the day before. It started one month ago when he was attacked by his so-called friends in an alley in uptown Cokes worth.

They were up to no good, so its probably nothing more than Karmic justice that everything was immediately turned on its head. But he thought he was save. With Arnold there, Dudley always felt safe.

Arnold Bunting was a boy that Pugsley met in his last year of middle school. He was a senior in high school at the time. He was tall and strong and handsome and incredibly cool. They met because of a party his friends convinced him to go to, though they didn't have to try too hard. Harry – the freak - was back from Hogwarts for the summer. That single fact left his parents difficult to deal with. They became overbearing.

It's something he doesn't like to think about too closely, how persistent and overbearing they became whenever the freak was there. When he was younger, he loved it. The attention, the gifts and praise for practically no reason whatsoever, while the freak was pushed aside and ignored. It made him feel special, but then he got older. He went to school and suddenly things were different. At school, outside the warm fuzzy cocoon of oblivious bliss his parents constantly kept him wrapped in vanished.

Outside and away from his parents, he wasn't special. He was just another child, another student at school, another kid on the playground. He had to make actual effort to get anything resembling praise. Throwing a tantrum and crying to get something he wanted, didn't fly.

Then he'd get home and Pugsley would be special again. That's when he noticed.

He was only good because at home the freak wasn't, he was only special because the freak wasn't. At first, he revelled in it. Outside he was in the big bad awful world that was completely unfair to him for absolutely no reason whatsoever and when he got home, he'd be the golden child completely showered with all the affection in the world.

But time went on, he got older and he noticed that his parents only treated him so well, in order to make the freak feel bad.

Then the freak went away to the freak school, his mother seemed more distracted, she suddenly had more things to do. Sometimes she'd lose her temper with him which she usually never did. His father was equally distractible just as easily angered, but the differences weren't too obvious.

At first.

But then he'd be back and Pugsley was special again. He took advantage of it. He'd mock the freak, talk down to him, insult him. His parents only seemed to egg him on.

But then he'd leave again. Pugsley realised he needed a new focus for those months when he wasn't there. Somewhere to go and something to do so he wouldn't have to deal with his parents suddenly just being so absent.

Pugsley made new friends, which wasn't as difficult as he thought it would be. All he had to do was flash some of the money and gifts his parents showered on him whenever the freak was home and he'd have friends for days. Always praising him and standing by his side.

Its these friends that told him about a party that was being thrown by some older kids on the other side of town. The freak was home, so it didn't take much persuasion to convince Dudley to sneak out and got to the party without his parents' permission. They wouldn't punish Dudley as long as he was there.

He went to the party and that's where he met Arnold. That's when things changed and suddenly started spinning out of control, until that day one month ago. Dudley made a mistake, Arnold got upset resulting in all his friends suddenly turning against him. Dudley was scared and confused and without meaning to he tapped into what they tell him is his magical core. Things got worse. He lost all his friends, no one would speak to him and worst of all his parents changed, they drew away from him. They became even more distant than before.

They started treating him like the freak.

Dudley was ripped from his thoughts as let out a grunt of pain when he was bumped into and fell to his knees, his books scattered before him.

No one seemed to notice. There were a few students that glanced down at him, but for the most part no one seemed to care, though they managed to avoid stepping on his books as they went on their way. Dudley felt his eyes begin to sting but he did his best to force back the tears as he quickly collected his books only to pause when someone else suddenly came down beside him. He wasn't wearing a uniform like the other students that drummed by passed them and looked like he was at least a year older. Dudley could only stare as the man helped him collect his books and stacked them up.

"You don't seem like you're from around here." Dark eyes on a handsome face with a strong square jaw snapped up to lock onto him, "I assume you're new. A late muggleborn I assume?"

His voice was deep with a thick accent. The man picked up the stack of books and Dudley was so surprised by it all that he only stood up along with him. The older man stood up to his full height as he held out the raven's books towards him.

He was tall.

"Viktor Krum." He said giving a bow.

Dudley opened his mouth, before closing it again. He couldn't stop thinking about everything he's been through the passed few months. He couldn't stop thinking about what happened the very night before. Under the weight of all those thoughts and all those emotions he could barely think. The fear and anxiety was crippling, Dudley suddenly felt like he couldn't say a word. He looked away and grabbed his books before turning around to rush away.

"Wait!" Viktor called but Dudley didn't so much as pause, bumping into some of the oncoming students much harder than he had before. Clutching his books tightly against his chest.

xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

Rushing, rushing. It feels like he barely has a moment to pause and rest these days. But its alright, he expected this. He thrives on this. Order and schedules and deadlines that need to be met, the need for discipline and a higher sense of responsibility.

Working for the ministry was difficult for several reasons, but Percy didn't mind too much, even if his family started making things even more difficult.

"Oh Percy!" A perky little brown-haired girl with dark eyes said just as Percy rushed through the open office area towards the Minister's office.

"What is it Isabel?" Percy said distractedly, trying to balance his notes long with the stacks of paperwork that needed to be signed. "I'm in a rush, I have to get these proposals on the Minister's desk before twelve o'clock."

The girl looked down at her watch. "It's eleven fifty-five."

"And that's exactly why you have two minutes." Percy said shortly as he dodged an elf and moved around a desk.

"Oh, right." The girl said immediately shuffling through the paperwork she had in her own hands, "I have a few more last-minute proposals to give to the Minister, regulation on fairy related items. Silk, wings, teeth."

"Potions ingredients. From apocathery owners I assume." Percy said as he took the file from the girl and she nodded, "Right, then Gringotts is upgrading its security measures, they'd like permission to use some… unorthodox methods for security."

"They're probably pushing to have dementors on the premises, but those are dark creatures not guard dogs. Gringotts isn't Azkaban." The redhead took the file all the same as the girl continued, "They're also asking to use Boggarts."

"Of course, they are." Percy said with a heavy sigh, "Anything else?"

"Just one more," The girl seemed to pause, "St Mungo's wants authorisation to release medical documents to Hogwarts, they were requested by Madame Poppy Pomfrey, for one of their students."

Percy frowned just as they stopped in front of the door of the Minister's office, "Hogwarts has full access to Medical records for each and every one of their students in order to ensure their safety and health. They don't need our permission to hand them over."

"She's asking for medical documents concerning blood traits and inheritance." The girl answered and Percy frowned as he took the file from her and opened it. The redhead's eyes went wide.

"Ronald Billius Weasley? Why on earth would they need… is he hurt?" Percy asked and Isabel shrugged, "They didn't say, but I don't think so."

"This doesn't even make sense. We don't have any blood traits or magical inheritances."

"Apparently you do, or at least, your brother does." The girl muttered and Percy's eyes narrowed down ever so slightly, "You read it."

The girl blinked, "I was curious I didn't mean any harm."

The redhead sighed. Isabel shifted a bit in front of him, "It's a real doozy too."

Percy paused and then his gaze snapped over to the clock on the wall.

Two minutes.

He quickly flipped through the file and his eyes widened for a second time, this time he almost dropped the other files in his hands. He looked up at Isabel who was looking at him expectantly. Percy lowered his voice as he took a step away from the door.

"Did Poppy say what she needed this for?"

"No."

Percy glanced back up at the watch, "Alright take this and make a copy for me, then bring it back and I'll slip it in with the others."

"But-"

"Isabel, I don't have time just do it." Percy said as he immediately turned to the door and took a deep breath to compose himself before he knocked and stepped inside.

"Good afternoon Minister."

"Ah, Mr Weasley, right on schedule."

A/N:

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