AUTHOR'S NOTES: Here is Chapter 18! I won't hold you back with announcements this time!
DISCLAIMER: I do not own Harry Potter, and I do not intend to make any money off of this. Harry Potter is the intellectual property of J. K. Rowling , and I take no credit of it whatsoever.
I was also inspired by Demon Eyes Laharl's: THE RED KNIGHT! and also from Random-Fruitcake04's: CHOICES! I hope you check them out as well because they are genuinely very good stories.
Fate
Chapter 18 – Hunting for Vipers
Ronald Weasley's POV
"Ron, don't do this" Blaise said, pointing his wand at Ron. "I will stop you by force if necessary. You could lose everything you've worked for if you go out there like that." I don't care… I've had enough of Malfoy… I'll make sure he never even looks in my general direction again.
"You… stop me?" Ron asked icily, his tone cutting. Blaise stood his ground however, he couldn't let Ron turn himself and the others into pariahs in this house. He had to stop his friend. Go on then… Try and stop me.
"Petrificus Totalus" Blaise chanted clearly, and a white beam shot out of his wand. Ron felt his middle finger on his right hand burn hotly for a second. And then Blaise was on the floor, paralyzed by his own curse. Theo stared at Blaise's incapacitated form with wide-eyes, and he slowly took a step away from Ron.
"What the… what the fuck?" Theo muttered in a shaky voice. Ron turned to Theo and just stared at him.
"Get out of my way… Or this time I'll throw out a curse myself" Ron gritted out, glaring at Theo in anger. Theo swallowed loudly, but didn't move.
"Ron… Don't" Theo pleaded, pointing his wand at Ron. His hands were shaking, and as such so was his wand.
"If you were my friend… you'd be helping me go after Malfoy…" Ron hissed.
"I am your friend Ron… That's why I won't let you do this to yourself" Theo responded, trying to find his courage. "You hurt Malfoy, and we lose everything. The girls Ron… they'll be made outcasts because of you… Pansy, Millie, Daphne, and Tracey… our friends Ron… Please think of them at least… Think about what your actions are going to result in for them." Ron just stared at Theo, and listened.
Ron wanted to go through Theo. Ron wanted to find Malfoy. Ron wanted Malfoy to pay for taking his treasures away from him. His treasures that connected him to people that he loved. His brothers had spent months writing those notes and teaching them to Ron. His mother had made that Slytherin sweater, just to show him how much she loved him. His first Christmas present from his best friends was just scorched ash at this point. And Pandora's chess board was in pieces. Malfoy deserved to suffer for that. Ron had to make him suffer for that… But Ron loved the girls too. They had stood by his side through everything. I'll ruin everything for them…
"Finite Incantatem" Ron muttered as he pointed his wand at Blaise's paralyzed form. Blaise jerked up, and looked around in a panic. And then he stared at Ron, remembering just how easily Ron had beaten him. Ron didn't even move a muscle? How is that even possible?!
Ron sat down on the floor and threw his wand on his bed, and he felt like he was being torn apart. Merlin it hurts… It hurts so much… But Ron didn't cry, instead he just stared at all of his broken treasures. He'd never read those notes again, or pass them off to his sisters next year like he had planned. He hadn't even started reading the book of Curses from Theo and Blaise. Nor the book of creatures from Xenophilius. He hadn't used that pen from the Grangers at all. He hadn't even worn that white Slytherin sweater once… Malfoy had taken so much from him, and all out of spite. My heart feels like it's tearing apart.
None of them said a word, and Theo also sat down with a relieved sigh. The crisis had been averted for now at least… Ron was calming down, or he had just given up. Either way, Theo was glad. After seeing Blaise topple over like it was nothing, Theo knew for damn certain that his words were his greatest weapon at that point. Dueling Ron wasn't an option, because for some reason his friend was able to deflect curses without even moving a muscle. That thought alone was worrying, and highly intriguing to Theo. Draco would have been doomed if Ron had left the dorm… But after seeing this, Theo didn't care one bit for Draco. This was a petty and disgraceful attack, it was beneath the Malfoy name. It was beneath Slytherins to act like this towards their own house-mates. Theo had stopped Ron for his own good, and for no other reason.
"I'm going to go shower" Ron said, breaking the silence. I need to be alone… Ron got up, picked up his school robes, and walked into the bathroom. Once he was inside, he closed the door and undressed. And then he jumped into the shower, basking under the warm water. It eased his nerves, and he began to relax. This isn't over Malfoy… I'll figure out a way to get you for this. I swear to Merlin. Ron finished up his shower, and dressed in his robes. They looked shabby, and he looked exhausted. I don't even care… Ron then walked out of the bathroom, and found Victor Burke sitting on his bed.
"Good morning" Victor said, his voice smooth and polite. "You should keep your room clean, Ronald. One's room reflects their character." YOU! Ron clenched his jaw at Victor and frowned.
"Get out" Ron gritted out, pissed off at seeing Victor. If he had kept his end of the bargain, then I wouldn't have lost everything!
"You are upset" Victor said, smiling sadly at Ron. "I understand that… but if you speak to me like that again Ronald… your belongings won't be the only broken things around." Victor then stood up and walked right in front of Ron, towering over the first year. Ron didn't shrink away though. Not today! Come at me if you want!
"This is your fault" Ron grit out. "I kept my end of the bargain, I earned us one hundred and fifteen points over the last month… My friends earned one hundred and twenty-five. I kept count. But you… you didn't get Malfoy to back off… Why?" Victor lost his smile and shook his head lightly.
"You are right, of course" Victor said, his voice soft again. Then he walked over to Ron's trunk and looked at the destroyed belongings. "My methods… or rather your methods… they took too long. The other Triumvirate members hindered my efforts at every turn… And now Draco Malfoy has undone our work…" Undone? What is he on about?
"What does that mean?" Ron asked, his anger slowly fading. Victor looked at Ron and exhaled loudly.
"He and his thugs were caught last night…" Victor said, his voice sounding tired. "They lost Slytherin House two hundred points…" What…? TWO HUNDRED?! All of my work this last month… wasted… Ron was stunned, and he walked over to his bed and sat down.
"I worked so hard…" Ron muttered. "I worked so hard for those points…" Victor walked over and sat next to Ron. Victor then put a hand on Ron's shoulder and squeezed it in a comforting manner.
"All is not lost, Ronald" Victor said in a comforting voice, it sounded forced.
"Two hundred? How?" Ron asked, the numbers didn't add up. Three people get caught, and we lose two hundred?
"They lost fifty each" Victor explained. "And then Malfoy made up some insane story about you roaming the castle with a Dragon." Shite… "And that put the whole staff on high alert because Malfoy was obsessively claiming it to be the truth. They searched the whole castle, every corner, for you… They never found you of course, and so Malfoy lost another fifty for lying to the staff and waking them all up… What a fucking mess." Bloody hell… Filch was just one of the people looking for us? Who else was hunting us down? What about Harry? Did they get caught? No… no they didn't, because Malfoy lost an extra fifty…
"You know… that story was true…" Ron whispered, deciding something. This was his way to get Malfoy. He'd make sure that Victor knew that this was all his fault in the first place. He'd get Victor angry, and then let him loose on Malfoy. Broken bones and whatever…
"What story?" Victor asked softly.
"The Dragon story" Ron said, looking Victor in his eyes. Victor furrowed his brow at Ron. It tarnished his handsome features.
"Explain… now" Victor gritted out, losing his 'kind' persona.
"I was smuggling a baby Dragon out of Hogwarts last night… Here, I'll show you proof." Ron then stood up and rummaged through his scattered things. He found Charlie's letter and handed it to Victor. Victor read the letter, going wide-eyed by the end of it.
"Weasley, what the fuck?" Victor muttered. And then he let out a loud laugh, taking Ron by surprise. "This is… gold! You are the most insane first-year I've ever met. So Malfoy wasn't lying at all? Merlin… And that idiot left this letter behind!" Victor then let out another laugh.
"Don't you understand yet Victor, this is all your fault…" Ron said calmly. Victor lost his humor and looked at Ron seriously. "You didn't hold up your end of the bargain… and Malfoy broke in here and destroyed my most prized possessions out of spite. Then he read that letter, and went after me. And being a complete moron, he got caught… And then he lost us the House Cup. All because… you didn't keep your end of the bargain… All of my hard-work, all of my friends' hard-work… wasted." Victor just stared at Ron, his stormy grey eyes burning with anger.
"You're right" Victor said suddenly, his anger disappearing in a second. Ron was quite surprised by that. He is completely unpredictable… "Can I keep this letter?"
"Why?" Ron asked, planning on refusing. That letter was proof against him.
"I'm going to go handle my end of the bargain" Victor said, and then he stood up and faced Ron. "With this letter, I'll strong-arm the other two seat holders into action. They can't keep out-voting me if I show them that they're neglect of the first-years' squabbles has cost us the House Cup. I know it's a little late, considering now that we've lost the Cup. But I'll make sure Malfoy pays for getting in my way… So, can I keep it?" Is this wise? What if he turns me in?
"You won't turn me in?" Ron asked slowly. Victor just smiled at Ron, it was unnerving.
"I like you, Ronald. So no… And I am a man of my word" Victor said softly. "I'll get Malfoy off of your back."
"Then keep it… show the other two seat members that they were idiots for not listening to you" Ron said, deciding that his revenge on Malfoy was far too important to pass up. Victor nodded and walked over to the exit, only to stop right before leaving.
"Good luck on your exams, Ronald…" Victor said kindly. And then he was gone, and Ron was alone again. Ron then packed his trunk up again, wincing at the sight of his savaged belongings. His eyes burned at the sight, and he quickly wiped them. With that, he walked out of his dorm and entered the common room. The common room was filled with people, and most of them were glaring murder at a certain platinum-haired boy. Ron's blood boiled at the sight, and he found himself slowly walking towards Malfoy. He was intercepted by Blaise.
"Ron, mate… take a walk with me" Blaise said, and then he grabbed Ron by the arm and dragged him out of the common room. Ron didn't even fight, he didn't have the strength. Once they were outside, Blaise guided them to the Great Hall. "You need some food and a lot of distance from Draco. He is going to get his just desserts, trust me." They entered the Great Hall and walked over to their usual seats. Ron noted that his friends were already at the Great Hall, and they looked quite distraught.
Ron sat down in his usual spot, but he didn't put anything on his plate. I'm not even hungry… Malfoy is going to pay… If Victor doesn't do anything, then I will! Ron then pondered Malfoy's actions, why had Malfoy done something so horrid? Sure they didn't like each other, but Ron would have never done something so shallow… And why did Malfoy leave that letter behind? He wasn't stupid! That was for certain… So why? Why leave behind actual proof? Things weren't adding up, and it was pissing Ron off.
"Ron?" came Millie's voice, it was low and soft. Ron looked over to her.
"Yes?" Ron asked, his face was blank but his bloodshot and baggy eyes made him look exhausted.
"You should eat…" Millie said, smiling faintly. I'll eat when Malfoy eats dirt!
"I'm not hungry. You should all eat your breakfast" Ron said softly, and then he stared at his empty plate.
"This isn't fair" Tracey grit out, getting Ron's attention. "We should go after him! What he did… It was cruel!" She looked livid, and Ron just stared at her. She is always on my side… I can't make them outcasts for my revenge… Let Victor handle it.
"Don't" Ron said, and Tracey looked at him with shock. "Don't ruin your next six years here just for me… Leave it alone." And then Ron decided to eat, it would at least distract him. He took one piece of dry toast and nibbled at it, musing on Malfoy's actions. He missed his friends looking at him with worry, and even admiration.
"Mr. Weasley" came McGonagall's voice from behind him, and he turned around to look at her. His haggard appearance took her by surprise because she let out a gasp. "My word, Mr. Weasley… What has happened?" Ron looked at her, and decided to leave things to Victor. I'm no tattle-tale…
"Nothing professor, I just didn't sleep well last night" Ron replied, forcing a smile on his face. McGonagall looked at him, and then a tight frown formed on her face.
"Mr. Weasley, follow me… now" McGonagall said, and then she began marching out of the Great Hall. Merlin… what now? Ron put the piece of toast down and followed her, ignoring his friends' pitying looks. They walked to her office in silence, and Ron couldn't help but wonder what this was about. They entered her office and McGonagall took a seat behind her desk. Then she just stared at Ron.
"Take a seat, Mr. Weasley" McGonagall ordered, and Ron did as he was told. What is this? McGonagall then reached into one of the drawers of her desk and pulled out a piece of parchment, and she placed it in front of Ron. Ron looked at the parchment, and his heart began thumping in his ears. Charlie's letter… VICTOR! He bloody turned me in! "Mr. Malfoy handed this to me last night" McGonagall said, her voice was stern. Malfoy? What? But he didn't take the letter… "Can you explain this to me, Mr. Weasley?" she asked. LIE!
"I've never seen this before…" Ron said calmly, but there was a hint of panic in his voice. McGonagall stared at Ron with a tight frown.
"I thought Mr. Malfoy was trying to frame you at first" she began. "I know that you two aren't friends… but the more I looked at this parchment, the more I realized that I had seen this hand-writing before." She then pulled out another piece of parchment, and placed it side by side with Charlie's letter. It was a report submitted by Charlie during last year… "See, exactly the same… Now, I'll ask once more. Can you explain this to me?" I'm done… She has me… But I can't admit to this, they'll expel me…
"Perhaps Malfoy is just that thorough?" Ron said, his face blank. McGonagall frowned deeply at this.
"Mr. Weasley, I'm only asking you for an explanation… But if you play games with me, I will drag you before the Headmaster, and then have you sent home. Make your choice very carefully." Ron just looked at the letter from his brother, and sighed. If they keep looking into this, they'll catch Harry and the others too… Not to mention Hagrid will be charged with illegal possession of a Dragon…
"I just… wanted to help my friend…" Ron muttered, thinking of Hermione. She needed me… They all needed me… McGonagall smiled sadly at the boy, her heart swelling with joy at his reply. She was right about Ronald, he was a good and kind boy. But… he had broken the rules. And that couldn't go unpunished… He had endangered the other students by sneaking a Dragon into the castle. He had endangered himself.
"Did you do this alone? I remember Harry Potter's name being mentioned. And the letter says that 'I'm very proud of you Ron for helping your friends like this, and for helping Hagrid'. Is it referring to Mr. Potter?" The truth was that she already knew the answer to that… She knew her three little Gryffindors were behind this crime as well. I'm not a tattle-tale. Images of Fred yelling at him when they were younger flashed in his mind.
"No… it was all me. I don't know why Charlie said something about me 'helping my friends'… I did this all by myself" Ron said firmly, looking right into McGonagall's eyes. They locked eyes for a few long seconds.
"Very well… fifty house points will be deducted from your house Mr. Weasley" McGonagall said, making Ron flinch. Two hundred and fifty points… in one day… "You will also serve detention with Mr. Malfoy, Mr. Crabbe, and Mr. Goyle. You are dismissed." Ron nodded slowly and got up, and then he walked out of her office with his head down. Once he was gone, McGonagall smiled at where Ron was but a moment ago. This boy should've been a lion, she knew that for certain now. The Sorting Hat had made the wrong decision.
Hermione Granger's POV
Norbert was safely in Romania by now, but things were not going so smoothly back at Hogwarts. The very next day, rumors were abound that four Slytherin first-years had singlehandedly destroyed Slytherin's chances of winning the House Cup. Draco Malfoy, Vincent Crabbe, Gregory Goyle, and Ronald Weasley… Hermione shot another look at Ron, and his broken expression twisted her stomach. Malfoy's wild claims had been confirmed, Ronald was accused of smuggling a Dragon through the school. The staff were currently discussing with the Headmaster on what his full punishment should be, and it boiled Hermione's blood.
The only crime Ronald had committed was to help her and her friends. They had hidden things from him, and he had still helped them. It was only because of him that they had even succeeded, and now he had taken the fall for their plan. This is wrong! We have to confess! Hermione turned to Harry, and caught him looking over at Ron as well.
"Harry" Hermione said, her tone haughty. "This is our fault! We need to tell the professors! They are punishing Ron because of us!"
"I'm with Hermione" Neville voiced his opinion. "This isn't right…" Exactly! Harry nodded at them.
"I was already planning on confessing, I just want to talk to Ron" Harry said firmly. "We'll catch him after lunch…" Hermione smiled at her friends and nodded. We will set this right. We have to protect Ron from being expelled.
The moment lunch ended, all three Gryffindors walked out of the Great Hall and waited for Ron's group to pass. Then Ron came out, and his shabby appearance made Hermione flinch from guilt. It must be really bad if he looks like that…
"Ron, can we talk?" Harry asked, approaching Ron's group. Blaise Zabini moved in between Ron and Harry, and then he shoved Harry back. Hermione and Neville tensed at that. This is not a good start…
"Sod off, Potter… You've done enough" Blaise Zabini said in a menacing tone.
"Blaise… stop it" Ron said, his voice sounded strained.
"No Ron" Daphne Greengrass said, glaring at Hermione. Hermione just looked back at her, feeling guilty about Ron. "These three will be the death of you! Stay away from him" Daphne gritted out at Hermione. He's our friend as well… Hermione straightened her back and glared back at Daphne Greengrass. The Slytherin girl was quite intimidating because she was extremely angry, but Hermione wasn't going to back down. Not yet… not until I can talk to Ron!
"Daph… don't start a fight right now… I can't afford any more problems…" Ron said softly, his stare was vacant. Tracey Davis then walked over to Ron and whispered something in his ear, and Ron smiled in a hollow manner.
"I want to talk to them" Ron told his friends. Good! "But Tracey will come with me, she says that's a fair compromise…" That's not good!
"We want to talk to you… alone" Harry implored, glaring at Blaise Zabini.
"Take it or leave it, Potter" Tracey Davis said, sneering at Harry. They're so rude!
"Ron, please" Hermione said, looking at Ron with a hopeful smile. "We want to help… please." Ron gazed at her, and she gazed back with a reassuring smile.
"Help?" Pansy Parkinson interjected. "What kind of help can you lot even offer? You've already cost us all…" Ron cut her off abruptly.
"Enough… all of you" Ron said, his voice was firm again. He looked close to losing his temper. "Harry, I'll talk to you… but Tracey is coming." Millicent Bulstrode nudged Ron's right arm. "And Millie as well. That's fair, three each."
"Alright" Harry agreed, and Hermione frowned at that. We can't talk about the stone now! What's Harry thinking? Ron's other friends slowly left, glaring murder at the three Gryffindors. "Let's talk in the Courtyard" Harry said, and then he walked off. Ron followed him, and everyone went after. Hermione could feel the tension between herself and the Slytherins. This could turn ugly…
"Well?" Ron asked once they got into the courtyard. "Classes start soon, we should talk quickly…" Is he angry at us? He has the right to be…
"Ron, we want to confess about the Dragon thing" Harry said, looking right at Ron.
"Yeah… we can't let you take the fall for our actions" Neville jumped in, smiling faintly at Ron.
"This is the right thing to do Ron, I'm so sorry" Hermione decided to add. "This is my fault… I made the plan to get your help with the Dragon… I should be in trouble, not you." There was a short pause, and then Ron let out a dry chuckle. Ron?
"Are you three stupid?" Ron asked, his voice was hollow. Hermione went wide-eyed at that. "I didn't shield you three, only for you to go and throw yourselves into the fire… Because either way, they have proof of me doing this… they don't have proof of you being a part of anything. If you confess, you'll do me in for certain… I lied to a professor to protect you, and you are just going to throw that away? Like it means that little? Just so you don't feel guilty?" Ron laughed again. "I don't betray my friends. But you will betray me by confessing…" Hermione went over his words, and one thing caught her attention. Proof?
"Proof?" Hermione muttered. "Ron what kind of proof? Did they catch you last night?" Ron looked at her and smiled, it didn't reach his eyes.
"No" Ron said. "Malfoy turned in the letter from Charlie… that's how they got me! You lot have a chance to not get thrown out of this school… don't throw that away. Or I'll kick you in the stones…" Stones…? What stones? Wait… STONE! The Philosopher's Stone! If we confess, Snape will steal it! Hermione was amazed at Ron once again, he was thinking ahead. Thinking ahead for something that they had asked his help with. He is still helping us… Ronald… She smiled at Ron, and he gazed at her.
"Stones?" Tracey Davis asked in a chuckle. "What about Granger then?" Ron gave Hermione a wink and just smiled, he knew that she had figured it out. She blushed at his wink and smiled more widely. He is right… We can't lose the stone!
"Ron… we just want to help" Harry pleaded, missing Ron's point. Hermione looked at Harry, and wondered why he was so slow.
"If that's how you feel Ron" Hermione said, feigning sadness. "Then we'll leave you alone."
"What?! NO!" Harry argued.
"Hermione…" Neville said, sounding shocked at her. They're both so slow!
"I do feel that way" Ron said, frowning at Harry. "I'm going to classes." With that, Ron turned around and walked away. Tracey and Millie followed him, but not before looking at her like she was disgusting. That's great… they hate me even more now…
"Hermione? What was that?" Harry demanded, frowning at her.
"Hermione this is wrong! What's the matter with you?" Neville questioned as well. Both boys were frowning at her.
"Stones…" Hermione said slowly, and they looked at her in confusion. "THE STONE! The one we are trying to save from Professor Snape! Ron wants us to protect it, that's why he won't let us confess…" Harry and Neville went wide-eyed at that. Ugh… Why can't they be a bit more like Ron!
"That's… he is still helping us?" Neville muttered. Harry smiled widely.
"He is" Harry said softly.
"I told you that we could trust him" Hermione said, her voice slightly boastful. But she didn't care about that, she was dead-right about Ronald's character. He isn't like the other Slytherins.
Ronald Weasley's POV
Ron finished his dinner in silence, still lamenting his treasures. But there was a bigger mystery to solve, why did McGonagall have Charlie's letter? Why did he have one as well? So Victor and McGonagall both have the same letter… None of this adds up… It's clear that Malfoy took the letter and handed it to McGonagall, but I still had one to give to Victor? Did Malfoy forge a copy? And if so… why? He thrashed my things, so he knew that I'd know that was he was the culprit… Why break my things and give himself away? Malfoy isn't stupid… I think…
Ron then looked up and around the Slytherin table. Malfoy was eating quietly, and a few Slytherins were glaring at him. Those are second years and fourth years. They've turned on him that quickly… Loyalties shift in this house on a daily basis. Ron then caught Snape staring at him from the staff table. Ron looked to the Potions Master, Snape sneered at Ron. Great… Another thing Malfoy has ruined… What a tosser! I hope Victor does him in proper. Dinner ended and Ron quietly walked with his friends to the common room. They talked to each other, and mostly left Ron alone. They knew it was pointless to talk with him when he was sulking. He'd lash out at them.
As soon as he entered the common room, he spotted Victor by the dorms entrances. He gave Ron a short nod, and then walked into the boys dorms. Finally, let's see what happens to Malfoy. Ron followed Victor into the seventh year boys' dorm, and Victor let him into his room. The first thing that Ron noticed, was that the room was clean. Too clean… It was bloody spotless.
"Don't make a mess" Victor said softly, and then he walked past Ron and sat down at his desk. "Now… well take a seat." Ron walked over and sat on Victor's bed, facing the Triumvirate seat holder. Victor smiled at him. "Would you like a butter-beer? I have a few in my desk drawers. The low temperature of our dorms keeps them cool." Ron nodded.
"Thank you for your hospitality, Victor" Ron said, smiling at the prospect of finally tasting genuine butter-beer. Victor grabbed two bottles and opened them, then he hand one to Ron. Victor then took a big sip from his own. Ron did the same, and it tasted like less-sickly butterscotch! Wow… Tastes amazing! Ron took another swig.
"Now, onto business" Victor said, happy to see Ron enjoying the beverage. "First things first, this Dragon business…" Ron stiffened at that. "Relax, Ronald. No one blames you, most of us are quite impressed actually. It's a shame that Malfoy's blunder came back to haunt you, and now we've lost another fifty points…" Ron flinched at that. Points aren't the only things I lost… They're going to expel me soon…
"Is there… even a remote chance that we win?" Ron asked, feeling guilty at causing even more damage to Slytherin on top of Malfoy's blunder. Victor sighed at that, and then looked right at Ron intensely.
"No… As of right now, we are still on top" Victor provided, much to Ron's shock. "But our Quidditch team has been beaten, Ronald. It's Ravenclaw vs. Gryffindor in the finals after exams… When either one of them wins, they'll overtake us. If we still had those two hundred and fifty points… We would have won…" Victor then sneered to himself, thinking of the Malfoy idiot heir.
"What about Malfoy… are you going to keep your end of the deal…?" Ron asked slowly. Please say yes… He needs to pay!
"I already have…" Victor said smoothly, a soft sadistic smile creeping onto his face. "After you gave me the letter, I went straight to my fellow Triumvirate members. We talked… and they saw the error of their ways. I was able to strong-arm them into using the 'Relegatio' seal on Malfoy…" Huh?
"What's a 'Relegatio' seal?" Ron asked.
"'Relegatio' means banishment, or removal… It is a power that the Silver Triumvirate wields, one that we never actually use because of Pure-Blood politics outside of Hogwarts becoming a nuisance to deal with. The person who the seal is used against… cannot join the Silver Triumvirate…" Ron went wide-eyed at that.
"I thought you said that you couldn't do that?" Ron asked, confused at this new development.
"Normally… no, I couldn't have." Victor said softly, slightly leaning forward in his seat. "But Malfoy betrayed a fellow Slytherin, then he got caught and lost us the House Cup. And not just any House Cup, but the seventh straight win… Did you know that the number seven is a powerful magical number, Ronald?" Ron shook his head slowly. "Well it is, and that was why it was so important to win. This victory would've been hailed as an extremely important one in the history of Slytherin House."
"So Malfoy… can never be part of the Triumvirate now?" Ron asked, becoming gleeful at the news.
"He can… if any of the following Silver Triumvirates unanimously vote him back in and remove the seal off of his name… But he would have to do a great service for this house in order to accomplish that." Ron felt put off at hearing that, and Victor let out a soft chuckle. "Do not worry Ronald, I have gone even further on your behalf." Further? What does he mean?
"I had a letter sent to Lucius Malfoy" Victor continued. "One that was signed by all three seat members of the Triumvirate. We explained our decision to him, and informed him that his son acted more like a petty Gryffindor rather than a proud Slytherin." Ron frowned at Victor's low opinion of Gryffindor. But Victor just smiled at Ron in satisfaction for getting under the boy's skin. "With little Draco taking away such a huge victory from Slytherin House, his father will have no choice but to reprimand his son. That should be fun to see, don't you agree?" Ron nodded slowly. And then Ron drank the last of his butter-beer.
"Is there anything else?" Ron asked, planning to go to sleep.
"There is…" Victor said with a kind smile, one that looked forced. "Your impending expulsion…" Ron flinched at that. "It won't happen, Ronald." Ron just stared at Victor.
"How do you know?" Ron asked, feeling hopeful.
"Did you get a detention? Don't answer that, I already know you did" Victor said calmly.
"What does that have to do with my expulsion?" Ron asked, curious now.
"Why would they give a detention to a student who was already on his way out?" Victor asked, and then he smiled and shook his head at Ronald. "You should try and think more on people's actions Ronald, it will save you a world of worry." That… makes sense… So I'm not getting expelled? YES! I can still get that damn stone!
"Wait… there is one more thing…" Ron said slowly, remembering the mystery of Charlie's letter. "McGonagall said that Malfoy gave her my brother's letter as proof… but we still had one…" Victor looked at Ron for a second, and then he chuckled at realizing something.
"Have you heard of the Doubling Charm, Ronald?" Victor asked softly. Ron shook his head. "It allows a wizard or witch to make an exact replica of an object. Including letters, it seems the Malfoy brat isn't as foolish as we thought."
"Then why break my things?! Why show me that he was there in the first place?!" Ron asked, angry at losing his treasures.
"People… no matter how refined, are still people" Victor said with a soft smile. "They are petty, jealous, and most of all, foolish. It may simply be that Malfoy lost his temper after copying the letter, and then gave into his basest nature. Either way Ronald, it matters little. He played his hand, and now we've played ours. Goodbye, Ronald… I doubt we will speak again." With that, Victor sent Ron on his way. Ron went straight to his own dorm, ignored his two best friends, and just went to sleep.
It was on the morning of May the Twenty-sixth that Ron received a note informing him that he would be serving detention with Hagrid after dinner. Victor had been right, Ron did not get expelled. But he did get a Howler from his mother, and it was seen by everyone in the Great Hall. Not only was it embarrassing, but it had turned him into a laughing stock amongst his own house and the other houses. People would laugh at him behind his back and when he passed them in the hallways. 'The Slytherin Prodigy' they would say in mocking tones… Ron was truly at his lowest point now. Everyone knew that he, and three other Slytherin first years, had lost Slytherin the House Cup, and they made sure that he never forgot that little fact.
His friends and brothers were, of course, staying by his side, with his friends openly defending him in public. The twins had pranked half the school in one week in Ron's defense, and Percy was throwing out detentions for 'bullying' at anyone who even looked at Ron the wrong way. Their support was the only thing keeping his head above water, and he was never more grateful for them being there.
Malfoy, on the other hand, was done for. His father's letter had arrived shortly after this debacle had become public knowledge, and whatever was on that letter, had completely sapped Malfoy of his strength. Ron had noticed the platinum haired boy just roaming aimlessly through his studies and school-life. It was like he had no will to keep up the fight, and that had made Ron feel nothing but pleasure. Malfoy had received his punishment, and Ron had received his. They had both destroyed each other… Neither one of them had won their little war that had begun at the start of this year. It had only resulted in mutual destruction…
Ron finished his dinner, and bid his friends farewell. Time to serve detention… with Malfoy… He made his way out of the castle and trotted down do Hagrid's hut. He knew that Malfoy and his goons were just behind him, and he decided to ignore them. He was tired of thinking about Malfoy, and the damage they had inflicted on each other. What a waste…
Ron stopped in front of Hagrid's hut, and Hagrid came out right on cue. He was wielding a giant crossbow, which made Ron really nervous, and Hagrid was accompanied by a large black dog with droopy features. Must be his pet…
"Evenin' Ronald" Hagrid greeted, smiling kindly at the boy. Hagrid had learned of Ron's sacrifice for Harry, and it had cemented his friendship with Ron.
"Good evening Hagrid, it is good to see you again" Ron greeted back, still awed by Hagrid's size. Wish I was that big… It would come in handy during the upcoming war at least… Malfoy and his goons joined them and stood next to Ron, all of them avoiding each other's gazes. This is some sick joke… being stuck with Malfoy for this after everything.
"'Ello Firs' years…" Hagrid greeted, but just out of politeness. He knew that the three other Slytherin boys were the reason he had lost Norbert, and it had angered him a lot at first. But they were just children, and Hagrid wasn't one to hold a grudge. Tonight, they were his charges and he would protect them with his life if need be.
"Now" Hagrid said, clearing his throat. "You four are to serve de'ention with me for the night. We will be headin' into the forest…"
"The forest?!" Malfoy said, his voice was shocked. "I thought that was a joke… we can't go in there… there are… things! Things that can eat us!" Eat you… hopefully…
"As long as yer with me… or Fang" Hagrid started. "Nothin' will touch ye… Now come along… We have a long night ahead of us." With that, Hagrid turned around and began marching into the Forbidden Forest, and Ron followed him closely. The last thing I need is to be eaten alive… What kind of school sends kids into a forest full of monsters for a damn detention…?
The six of them, which included Fang, marched together and Ron was on high alert the whole time. He had his hand on his wand holster, and if he so much as saw a shadow move near him, he was going to blast it. I'm not dying in here… not until I make sure to save Fred! The Forbidden Forest was haunting to say the least; it was quiet, dark, and there were howls and other noises coming from all directions. Ron now knew why it was forbidden…
Malfoy was all but clinging to Hagrid, making sure to stay by the giant man's left leg at all times. So when Hagrid stopped all of a sudden, Malfoy bumped into Hagrid's leg. "Hey… Why did you stop?" Malfoy complained, rubbing his nose. Haha…
"There…" Hagrid said, pointing to something on the ground. Ron followed his finger, and he saw an odd silvery liquid on the ground. It was slightly shiny, and it was seeping into the earth. Ron couldn't help but feel his stomach going light at the sight, this was something bad and he just knew it. "That right there… is Unicorn blood…" Hagrid explained, letting out a sad sigh. Unicorn blood?
"Is that why we're here… to collect Unicorn blood?" Malfoy asked, and his goons grunted.
"No" Hagrid replied quickly. "We're here to find out what's attackin' the poor beasts…" We're on a hunt?! For something that kills other creatures? Oh Merlin…
"You can't be serious?" Malfoy said, his voice laced with shock. "Something out here is killing things, and you expect us to go find it?! When my father hears about this…" Ugh…
"There is nothin' to worry about" Hagrid said, his voice becoming gruff. "As long as yer with me or Fang, ye will be safe. Now… We're gonna split up." Hagrid then turned around to face the group of children following him around. "You two" Hagrid said, pointing to Crabbe and Goyle. "Yer with me… That leaves Ron and Malfoy…" BLOODY HELL! REALLY?!
"Are you joking?" Malfoy said, his voice becoming pompous. "Me… with Weasley?!" Hagrid sighed at hearing that.
"Yes… that's what I said" Hagrid said firmly. I don't really want this… but I don't want to anger a ten foot tall man…
"Fine" Malfoy snapped. "But we get Fang!" Malfoy then smirked at Hagrid, as if he'd won some victory over the man.
"Fair…" Hagrid said. "But just so ye know… he's a bloody coward…" Fang whined loudly at that, Malfoy's face fell as he stared at the whimpering large dog. Great… stuck with two cowards, in a forest full of monsters. And I'm supposed to be looking for one of them…
"And what is our goal?" Ron asked, still a bit unsure about what was expected of him. Hagrid smiled down at Ron, and Ron smiled back.
"There's a Centaur, by name of Firenze" Hagrid explained. "He's a friend 'o' mine… yer to find him, and have him give his repor' on the forest… He should be in that direction" Hagrid said, and then he pointed to Ron's right. "He's expectin' ye so don't wander off somewhere else, ye understand?" With that Hagrid turned around and marched in the other direction. "C'mon ye two" Hagrid said to Crabbe and Goyle, and the two followed after the giant man. This left Ron, Malfoy, and Fang behind. Merlin… my luck is the worst… Ron looked at Malfoy for a second, and noticed the boy staring at Fang. Ron shook his head, and then marched towards the direction Firenze was supposedly in.
Malfoy and Fang followed him, and the silence between them all was eerie. Ron decided that he wanted to find this Centaur and be done with this as soon as possible. If Malfoy pushed him right now in any way, Ron knew he would lose his temper and hurt the git. There was a loud rustle of leaves, and all three of them stopped.
"Did you hear that?" Malfoy whimpered, and Ron felt his shoulders tighten. This is unnerving… Why couldn't I go with Hagrid instead?! Ron then began walking forward again, deciding that he had to get to Firenze quickly. Ron quickened his pace a little, and he heard Malfoy trotting right behind him. There was a loud howl in the distance and Malfoy shrieked, while Ron tensed up.
"Weasley, we should go back!" Malfoy whined, looking around frantically. Weasley? Not Weasel? Or filthy Blood-Traitor? Ron scoffed at the thought. If we were anywhere else, he'd call me Weasel instead… "Weasley, are you listening to me?! It's not safe here!" Malfoy continued, and Ron felt his temper flair at the use of his surname. Ron turned around and glared murder at Malfoy, taking the platinum haired boy by surprise.
"Don't call me Weasley" Ron grit out. "Better yet, shut up and don't even look in my direction…" With that, Ron turned around and kept walking forward. The gall of this git… After everything he did to me… Ron didn't hear footstep following him, so he stopped and turned around again. "WELL?! Are you coming or not?! Because I will gladly leave you here!" Ron said loudly, frowning deeply at Malfoy. Malfoy just stared back at Ron, and he looked… different.
"Listen…" Malfoy started, but then he paused and looked down at his feet. "I didn't destroy your things…" Ron had the wind knocked out of him at hearing that. LYING BASTARD! His temper flared, and he walked up to Malfoy and shoved him hard. Malfoy fell on his back with a thud, and then he stared up at Ron. Malfoy looked scared.
"Don't fucking lie to me! You destroyed everything!" Ron bellowed, forgetting where he was. "And for what?! What the fuck did I even do to you?! Ever since I got sorted, all you've done is antagonize me! WHY?!" Ron yelled, his face getting hot because of anger. "What is your damn problem with me?!" Malfoy stood up at that and came face to face with Ron.
"My problem?" Malfoy said, his voice venomous. "You took my friends away, you threw that in my face! You aren't even supposed to be in Slytherin, and yet you keep getting in my way at every stop!"
"When have I gotten in your way?! WHEN?!" Ron questioned back. He was gone, he knew it… his rage and frustrations had taken over his senses again. Malfoy looked the same.
"EVERY DAY WEASEL! The moment you got sorted, my friends decided to leave me for you! MY FRIENDS! NOT YOURS!" Malfoy yelled, his voice cracking a bit. "And then you go and turn the older students against me! ME?! I am the heir of the Malfoy line! I matter more than you ever could!"
"Piss off, Malfoy! Your friends left you because you're a piece of shite" Ron said venomously, he knew that had to hurt Malfoy. "As for the older students, they chose me over you because I did more for the house! That's what you just can't understand, can you? You can't understand that someone is better than you at something? Let me guess why, your rich family has always given you what you want! And so you expect to have everything like some spoiled brat!" Malfoy looked like he had been slapped, and Ron smiled viciously at that.
"At least my family isn't a lot of Blood-Traitor scum!" Malfoy bit back, regaining his anger. "You think you're better than everyone, don't you?!" Ron flinched a bit because he had been dealing with his hypocrisy lately. "I've seen you… marching around like some peacock whenever you preach your traitorous views to MY friends! Or when you openly associate with those Gryffindors! Harry Potter's pet snake!" Ron grabbed Malfoy by the collar of his robes at that. "What? You're going to attack me? That's what you do, don't you? I heard you threatening Daphne when she called Granger a 'Mud-Blood'…" Ron blinked at that.
"There it is" Malfoy sneered. "You're not better than me… You're not better than anyone Weasley… You're a thug, and you don't deserve my friends…" Ron felt like he had been kicked in the gut, and he slowly pushed Malfoy away.
"And you do?" Ron asked slowly, still reeling from Malfoy's tongue-lashing. Malfoy narrowed his eyes at Ron. "I saw the bruises on Pansy's wrists…" Ron grit out, feeling righteous anger at the memory. Malfoy flinched.
"That wasn't my fault… Crabbe pushed her and I didn't order it…" Malfoy said, sounding guilty. Order… He thinks he owns people…
"Order it?" Ron said, frowning at Malfoy. "There is your problem Malfoy… Blaise and Theo left you because they were sick of your orders… friends don't order each other around. But you never saw them as friends, did you? You saw them as your lackeys… as something less than people! And so they left you the first damn chance they got! And you still blame me?!" Ron glared at Malfoy, who was staring back with an open mouth.
"Don't you dare presume to know how I saw them…" Malfoy said, his voice becoming firm. "You don't know me."
"Yes I do" Ron said, nodding slowly. "They told me of how loyal you are to your 'friends'…" Malfoy blinked at that. "But they also told me of how you lorded your father's name over them… How they felt trapped by you… How they felt when you treated them as dirt… How much it hurt them when you saw them as your underlings… That's what you are Malfoy, someone who doesn't see people as people… In my eyes, you're scum!" There was a short pause at that, both boys had red eyes and red faces. Fang just watched them quietly…
"Tell me, Malfoy" Ron broke the silence in a firm voice. "Did you feel powerful when you destroyed my most cherished things?" Malfoy blinked at that, and angry tears fell down his face. "Did it feel good to destroy the 'poor' kid's things?"
"I didn't touch your damn things, Weasley" Malfoy said firmly, and Ron narrowed his eyes on Malfoy. "I found that letter, and while I took it to your table to make a copy, Crabbe and Goyle decided it was a good way to hurt you… By the time I noticed what they were doing behind my back, it was too late… All I could do was to try and stop the books from burning… And then I packed up your things and left… I'm not petty enough to lower myself to such a tasteless act."
Ron just stood there, it was all making sense now. Malfoy had never intended to leave behind evidence… his idiot goons however had done just that. Malfoy's plan would have worked out for him, if Crabbe and Goyle hadn't given away what it was. But it still didn't take the pain away… The pain of losing those few precious things that he owned, the few things that didn't feel like hand-me-downs…
"You have no idea… what you're actions did to me…" was all Ron could say, his pain taking over. He rubbed his eyes and looked at Malfoy, who sniffed loudly. "You may not have destroyed my things, but you did destroy all of my hard-work… and you did it out of spite! You lost us the House Cup, and you made me into a laughing stock at Hogwarts… I would have never done something like that to you… Not at first…" Malfoy looked down at that, remembering the time Weasley had offered him his hand in friendship. They could have made peace that night, and Slytherin wouldn't have lost the Cup. His father wouldn't called him a disgrace…
"You aren't the only one who lost everything Weasley" Malfoy said, his voice was regretful and soft. "My name has been tarnished in the house…"
"And whose fault is that, Malfoy?" Ron asked Malfoy, his own voice going soft. They were both emotionally drained by their verbal fight. "Who is the cause of all this mess?" Neither of them said a word for a few moments. "Yeah… that's what I thought" Ron said, and then he turned around and began walking again. We've wasted enough time… And I'm done with this…
They marched on slowly, both of them going over everything that had just been aired out. What a mess… What did we even get out of all of this? Nothing… we're both jokes… Ron kept moving, his breathing shallow and his head swimming with questions. And then he stepped in something wet, and sticky. Ron stopped and looked down, and his eyes-widened. Unicorn blood…
"Malfoy stop" Ron whispered, looking back at Malfoy. Malfoy went wide-eyed at the sudden actions of the red-head, and then he looked down and saw Weasley's foot covered in Unicorn blood. Malfoy's blood froze at the sight.
There was an evil silence around them, and the forest felt darker than ever. They both stared at each other, scared of being close to the creature hunting for Unicorns. It's here… somewhere… Merlin help us…
"We should find the Centaur…" Ron whispered, and Malfoy nodded slowly. All of a sudden, Fang let out a loud whine and bolted, howling loudly as it ran off.
"FANG!" Malfoy yelled after it, trembling with fear at being left by the dog. Malfoy then turned to a shocked Weasley and yelled. "WHAT DO WE DO…" and then Malfoy just stopped out of fright at what he saw behind Weasley.
Ron looked at Malfoy, and then looked behind him when he heard leaves rustling. He almost screamed in fear at what he saw. A hooded being was gliding in between the trees, and it was heading towards them. It seemed… ethereal in nature…
"MALFOY RUN!" Ron bellowed, and then he turned around bolted as well, running full-tilt in the direction of where Fang had gone. Both Malfoy and Ron ran side by side, panic making them run faster than ever before. Ron felt branches hitting his face and arms, but he ignored them. Right now, all that mattered was running. Running from that thing…
"WHAT IS THAT?!" Malfoy yelled as he kept running, matching Ron's speed.
"HOW THE FUCK WOULD I KNOW?!" Ron yelled back, feeling his heart beating in his ears. I can't die here… I have a job to do! I HAVE TO SAVE MY FAMILY! RUN FASTER! Ron picked up his pace, and Malfoy tried to match it. But that was a mistake… Malfoy's foot caught in a root, and Malfoy went flying face first into the hard ground. His nose broke with a sickening crunch upon contact, and Ron stopped when he heard the thud. He was a few feet away from Malfoy, who was laying on the ground dazed. Ron looked at Malfoy with wide-eyes, his legs burning from being pushed so hard. Then Ron saw it.
That thing was right there, gliding out from behind a thick tree. It let out a blood-curdling hiss, and glided towards Malfoy, who was staring at it with teary and scared eyes. Malfoy tried getting up, but his panic was making him clumsy, and he couldn't get a proper footing.
"Help me! HELP!" Malfoy screamed, his voice tearing from the pain on his face and the horror of dying in this forest. Ron just felt like time had slowed down for him… His eyes burned, his legs burned, his heart beat like a battle-drum in his ears, and his body shook with adrenaline. Malfoy was gonna die right there… right in front of him… And Ron felt something he hadn't felt in a long time. He felt powerless… Malfoy's screams took Ron back to his worst visions. Pandora's gurgling and bloody body… Hermione's shattered little form… Sirius screaming as the Dementors tore at him… Fred's peaceful dead body surrounded by his grieving family… NO! Not them!
Ron ripped his wand out of its holster and aimed it at the hooded creature. "GET AWAY FROM HIM!" Ron bellowed, his adrenaline giving him a second breath. "CONFRINGO!" Ron's wand burned hot in his hands and a fiery orange light shot out at the hooded creature. But then the creature did something that Ron hadn't foreseen… it deflected the spell with a wave of its cloak. The spell hit a close by tree and blew the bottom half of the tree apart. The large tree tumbled down, and Malfoy managed to barely jump out of its way.
The destroyed tree separated the boys from the creature in the dark cloak. Ron quickly ran over to Malfoy and grabbed him by his arm, hauling him up with a strength that Ron didn't know he had. "C'mon Malfoy… we need to go!" Ron ordered, Malfoy nodded fervently and then tried running. But he couldn't, his ankle had twisted because of the root… Malfoy fell forward again with a howl of pain.
"My ankle…" Malfoy cried, and Ron looked down at it. It was already red and starting to swell. No… He can't even walk with that… "Don't leave me here…" Malfoy cried, holding his ankle and blood running down his face. Ron just nodded fervently, he never even thought of leaving Malfoy behind until just then. Ron stood up and aimed his wand around, looking for the creature.
"We're gonna be fine… we're gonna be fine" Ron muttered over and over again, mostly to calm himself down. There was a loud rustling of leaves from Ron's left, and Ron turned to see the creature glide into view. Ron's heart thumped loudly and his mouth dried up. I'm not dying here! This isn't how I die! "GET BACK!" Ron bellowed at the creature, which glided slowly around the two boys.
"Ronald… Weasley…" the cloaked shade hissed, its voice was ethereal and unnatural. Ron felt his veins freeze over… This thing could speak! And it knew his fucking name!
"GET BACK!" Ron bellowed again, panic taking over. "GET AWAY FROM US! OR I'LL KILL YOU!" The creature let out a horrifying chuckle, and then it screamed murder as it charged at Ron. Ron shielded Malfoy with his own body and was about to throw out another Blasting Curse when a large body jumped in between the boys and the shade. It was a Centaur, and it charged the shade, which glided away from the Centaur with a loud hiss. The Centaur stood on its hind legs, and tried to kick the shade. It missed barely and the cloaked shade flew off into the forest, hissing violently. Ron and Malfoy just stared at the fight with wide-eyes and open mouths.
The Centaur then turned its attention to Ron and Malfoy, and galloped to them. The Centaur had long blonde hair and shining blue eyes. It towered over the two boys, and Ron pointed his wand at it. "You want next?!" Ron yelled, trying to get his voice out without it shaking. The Centaur just stared at Ron, and then a faint smile appeared on his face.
"You are brave, little human" the Centaur said, its voice was kind and strong. "I am Firenze… and I've been looking for you." Ron relaxed immensely at hearing that and he let out a strangled cry. His legs gave out and he fell on his knees next to Malfoy. We're safe… we lived… Relief flooded his whole body and the fear escaped through his mouth and eyes in the form of cries and tears. "You are safe now… both of you" Firenze said, approaching them both. Both boys whimpered and cried for a few minutes, trying to calm down. Firenze offered them consoling words and didn't push them.
"What was… that…?" Malfoy asked after a while, his voice still trembling. Good question…
"Something broken and cursed" Firenze said strongly. "Something that should have died a long time ago… and yet it lingers… Clutching to life at the cost of its humanity. It is the creature that has been killing the Unicorns and drinking their blood in order to sustain itself."
"What?" Ron asked, shocked and disgusted. "Why is it going after Unicorns for that?"
"It is a terrible crime to slay a Unicorn" Firenze said, his voice full of sorrow. "Drinking the blood of a Unicorn can save you even if you are on the brink of death… But at a horrifying price… From the moment its blood touches your lips, you will be cursed… cursed to live a half-life… a broken life." A broken life… That thing… was a person.
"Who was that?" Ron asked, his stomach feeling queasy. Firenze looked at the two boys with a saddened look, and Ron wished that he had never asked.
"You-know-who…" Firenze said slowly. It took Ron and Malfoy a few moments to figure out what Firenze had meant, and when they did… their minds just went blank from fear. Ron looked at Malfoy, and Malfoy looked back at Ron. Both had gone deathly pale, and Ron felt extremely light-headed.
"No… no…" Malfoy said, his voice strained due to the pain he was in.
"Come, we must leave" Firenze said. "You two need assistance, and I fear that you will not find any in this forest tonight." Firenze then picked Ron up as if the boy weighed nothing, and placed him on his back. Ron struggled to sit up on the Centaur, its body was hard in between Ron's legs. Firenze then picked up Malfoy like a baby, and began galloping towards the exit slowly. None of them uttered a word on the way back…
The Centaur took the two boys out of the forest and towards Hagrid's hut, where the giant man was waiting. Hagrid looked to be in a panic of sorts, and when the giant saw Firenze, he quickly approached the Centaur.
"Ye found them!" Hagrid's voice boomed. "Thank Dumbledore, ye did it Firenze!" Hagrid sent him looking for us? Thank Merlin for that… I just met the Dark Lord… We were going to die… Ron didn't say a word, still too terrified to even make a sound. Why was You-Know-Who even alive?! Didn't Harry Potter destroy him?! And why was the Dark Lord in the Forbidden Forest, so close to Hogwarts?! None of this makes any sense… This is too much…
"He needs medical assistance" Firenze said as he handed Malfoy over to Hagrid. Malfoy was pale and whimpering, and he looked like he was in a lot of pain. Ron couldn't help but feel sorry for him, they had truly gone through hell tonight…
Hagrid quickly made his way towards the castle, carrying Malfoy with as much gentleness as he could muster. Firenze removed Ron from his back and put him down on the ground gently. "This is where I leave you, brave child" Firenze said, and then he began to leave.
"Wait!" Ron pleaded, he had questions that needed answers. This could be my only chance! Firenze stopped and turned back to look at Ron. "Why was you-know-who in the forest?" Ron asked, without even thinking.
"You saw why…" Firenze replied. Unicorn blood…
"He died over ten years ago? That couldn't have been him…" Ron muttered, still unable to believe that he had crossed paths with the Darkest Wizard of all time. "He… knew my name…" That realization made him start shaking, and his hands trembled harder than ever before.
"He did not die, young one…" Firenze said, approaching the trembling boy. Firenze put a firm hand on Ron's shoulder, hoping to comfort him. "He was weakened, and I believe that he needs Unicorn blood to sustain his physical body."
"But why here? Why at Hogwarts? Dumbledore is Headmaster!" Ron questioned.
"Something is being kept at the school" Firenze said, not caring about Hogwarts' secrecy. "Something that has the ability to return him to power." Something is being kept in Hogwarts… THE STONE! IT GRANTS IMMORTALITY! MERLIN'S BEARD!
"The stone?" Ron muttered, making Firenze go wide-eyed.
"You are most well-informed…" Firenze said slowly, and then he gazed at Ron's left arm. "You are hurt…" Ron looked at where Firenze was looking, and noticed that his robes were torn. When did that happen? Probably when I was running for my life… "Go and get aid for that cut, you have seen enough for tonight." With that, Firenze turned around and galloped back into the forest. Ron shuddered at being alone and bolted to the castle.
Ron walked into the Hospital Wing to get his cut looked at, and he was glad to see Madam Pomfrey already helping Malfoy. She was applying some sort of salve on his ankle, and he was whimpering quite pathetically. "Quiet down Mr. Malfoy, I'm almost done" Madam Pomfrey said with a frown. Give him a break you old crone… we just ran into the Dark Lord… She finished rubbing the salve and turned around, only to spot Ron. "Mr. Weasley, there you are… Hagrid told me that you were out there as well. Come, let me look at you." Ron did as he was told.
"I have a cut on my arm" Ron told her, showing it to her. She examined it, and then she frowned.
"Why they would send children into that blasted forest is beyond me" Madam Pomfrey huffed. "Come, sit down on this bed." She then guided Ron to an empty bed next to Malfoy's, and then she took out her wand. "It's nothing to major, I can fix this quickly enough." She traced her wand along his cut, and Ron felt a soothing cold feeling pass through his cut. "There… done."
"Thank you, Madam Pomfrey" Ron said with a smile, and she returned his smile. Okay… I was wrong to call her a crone…
"You can sleep here tonight" she said kindly, and then she marched out of the Hospital Wing. Ron lay down on the bed, and exhaled loudly. Bloody Merlin… You-know-who is still alive, and he is outside in the Forbidden Forest… And he wants the Philosopher's Stone! How I let those three convince me that Snape was after it is beyond me… Their only proof was that Snape is a mean teacher, and I went right along with it… Bloody hell I'm stupid!
"Weasley…" came Malfoy's voice, and it broke Ron out of his thoughts.
"What?" Ron asked curtly, still reeling from the events of tonight. I need to think about this from every angle… And I need to get that stone and destroy it!
"Thanks…" Malfoy said in a whisper, and then he turned over and faced the other way. That was… new…
Ron decided to not start something with Malfoy right now, because right now he had to think. Ron lay there in the dark for hours, planning and plotting. Trying to make sense of everything.
What was he going to do with this information? Telling Dumbledore was his first thought, but he knew that in revealing his knowledge about the stone, he'd have to turn in his Gryffindor friends. There was no other way around that… Dumbledore would want to know of how Ron knew of the stone, and he only knew because of Harry, Hermione, and Neville telling him. Should he betray their trust and turn this in? It seemed like the right choice, what was the trust of three people compared to the knowledge that the Dark Lord was floating around Hogwarts? This brought up another terrifying question…
How did the Darkest Wizard of all time know his name? How was that even possible? Ron was no one… And yet the Dark Lord knew him, and had recognized him… This terrified Ron more than anything, and it made him lean towards telling Dumbledore everything. What if the Dark Lord returned with the stone's power? Is that why there was an upcoming war? Did you-know-who start a war after his return? Telling Dumbledore could result in this war never even happening! And Fred would be saved!
But what about the stone? What would Dumbledore do with it? Why hadn't he already destroyed it? Instead he was keeping it inside the school! Endangering lives, his students' lives… That thought jarred Ron, because he couldn't understand the logic behind it. What if Dumbledore himself wanted to use the stone? Is that why it was here? The Headmaster was quite old… It would make sense… But that wasn't the Albus Dumbledore Ron had grown up with. Ron's father had regaled him since he was a baby with the tales of the great Albus Dumbledore, and how lucky everyone was to have him… It seemed wrong to think of Dumbledore as some immortality seeking mad-man. And yet he couldn't rule that out, his paranoia from the things he had witnessed in his visions refused to let him think otherwise…
What if trusting Dumbledore resulted in the stone not being destroyed? And then it ending up in you-know-who's grasp?! Everything led Ron back to that infernal stone and its existence, it had to go. It had to be destroyed! There was no other course of action, not for Ron. With the stone gone, you-know-who couldn't return to full power… He'd be stuck drinking Unicorn blood just to survive as Firenze had explained. A broken life would be what the Dark Lord would live, and that made Ron smile.
With his resolve hardened, Ron decided that the stone's destruction was his primary goal. Now he just had to find the damn thing! Where could it possibly be? Hogwarts was massive, and the stone could be anywhere… Ron thought long and hard, and eventually he remembered the Giant Three-headed dog. It was standing on a trap door as Hermione had told them that night when he had saved them from Filch. That had to be it! Why else would that beast be in the castle? It was guarding the stone! This raised another question… How was he going to defeat that thing? He would die in a heartbeat if he fought it, and he knew that for certain. So what could he do? The library came to his mind, and he decided he needed to research the three-headed dog and find its weaknesses. Then he could get the stone, use the Blasting Curse to blow it up, and get away without anyone being the wiser!
The Dark Lord would lose his way to come back, and Ron would be sure that the stone wasn't going to be used ever again! Yes… this was the right move… Ron could feel it! He had done everything so far by himself, he had acted on his visions and saved lives all by himself! This time felt no different. This was his next adventure, and it would be his most important one. He'd save the Wizarding World from another war, and more importantly, he'd save his brother from dying… He'd save his family from so much pain! All he had to do, was find and destroy that stone.
Ron would bide his time, he'd spend the next few days doing his research on the monster guarding the stone. And once his exams were finished, he'd sneak into the third floor corridor that was forbidden. He'd defeat the monster, and find the treasure it was guarding. And then he would destroy that treasure, and leave without a trace…
Ron finally drifted to sleep, his resolve hardened and his mind made up. Fred's life is in the balance, and I can change his future…
AUTHOR'S NOTES: And there it is, I hope you all enjoyed that! First year is coming to a close (finally), and to think that I started this story twenty-two days ago! I'm going to be a little selfish and take a couple of days of, just to freshen up again! The next chapter is going to be intense and I hope I can deliver!
See you guys in three days!