Fate

by TheTrueSpartan

When Ron discovers that he can see the future, his entire fate is thrown off of its course. A story about adventure, friendship, growing up, and pushing forward through hardships. This story will get darker as it progresses, just like the original Harry Potter novels. It will cover all Seven Years of Hogwarts, but mostly from Ron's perspective. No Mary Sues, no Character bashing.

35. Chapter 35 - Battle Scars

AUTHOR'S NOTES: Chapter 35 is finished and double-checked! Here it is!

1. A little bit of ... tension...

2. The whole Christmas Arc done.

3. And more Severus and Albus!

Please enjoy!

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.

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Fate

Chapter 35 – Battle Scars

Ronald Weasley's POV

December 21st, 1992 (After Breakfast)

"What do you think happened to Dumbledore?" Ron asked Daphne, they were currently walking around the lake.

"I'm not sure…" Daphne shrugged. "He's old, probably has a lot of issues…" I'm not so sure about that… He looked like he was asleep with his eyes open… Ron and the other children had been surprised when Albus Dumbledore had suddenly stopped responding to everything around him. Snape had cut the breakfast short and sent them all on their way, and Ron hadn't missed Snape's piercing eyes staring at him. Something wasn't right…

"So, what do you want to do today?" Ron asked Daphne. "It's just you and me for the remainder of the Yule Break."

"Um… I don't know…" Daphne muttered, and Ron found that odd. She usually doesn't act so uncertain… What is wrong with people today? "I want to walk around the lake some more, it's a nice morning today…"

"Alright" Ron smiled, it was indeed a nice morning. The air had a crispy coldness, but it wasn't unpleasant. "Daph…" Ron started, and she looked at him with a faint smile. "Why did you really stay behind?" Daphne blinked at him.

"I told you" Daphne huffed, she was tired of answering this question. The girls had interrogated her for hours, and Tracey had made far too many inappropriate jokes. "I didn't want to leave you here with Malfoy and his goons. They'd probably beat you up again…"

"They can't beat me up" Ron argued in a childish tone.

"They've done it once before…" Daphne pointed out.

"They caught me off guard" Ron frowned, he was getting defensive. Daphne thought that was extremely cute, she enjoyed poking his ego.

"Well, that's why I stayed" Daphne smirked victoriously. "You won't get caught 'off guard' with someone watching over you." Watching over me? I'm not a toddler…

"Whatever" Ron huffed, he didn't want to argue. They walked around the lake quietly for a couple of minutes.

"My father was disappointed…" Daphne said suddenly.

"I'm sorry to hear that" Ron sighed. "It makes sense though, considering that you're avoiding spending time with them."

"Oh… He wasn't disappointed with me" Daphne smirked. Huh? "He was disappointed with you."

"What?!" Ron asked in a small panic. "Why?!" Daphne giggled at his reaction.

"He wanted you to spend Christmas with us" Daphne hummed, toying with Ron was fun. He was so… emotional!

"What did he say?!" Ron asked as he came to a stop.

"Oh, it's not important" Daphne said playfully. Is she pulling my leg?

"Daphne" Ron said firmly. "What did he say? Is he actually angry with me?" Daphne giggled.

"Calm down, Ron." She giggled. "You're so emotional! I was just joking, but he was a little saddened to hear that neither of us will be over for Christmas. I told him that you wanted to stay behind with your sister…" she trailed off. Bringing up Ginny wasn't a clever idea…

"My sister…" Ron muttered, he immediately felt tired. Ginny snapped at me during breakfast… I just wanted to see if she was alright…

"I'm sorry, Ron" Daphne said softly. "She'll come around, just wait and see."

"I'm not so sure…" Ron said as he sat down near the edge of the water. Daphne quickly sat down next to him. "She used to follow me around everywhere…" Ron muttered, but then he stopped. Daphne probably doesn't want to hear me talk about Ginny… I should change the subject…

"Tell me about her" Daphne hummed with a faint smile. "I'll tell you about Tori in exchange." Ron chuckled mirthlessly, but he started talking without even thinking. He missed Ginny so much…

"Well, she's the first girl to be born in the Weasley Family in generations" Ron started. "And so, everyone adored her. From the moment she was born, Ginny had everything she wanted. New clothes… New toys… New everything. She didn't ask for it, but she got it all nonetheless… I used to… I used to be so jealous of her…" Ron admitted shamefully, and Daphne just kept smiling. "I'd watch mum and her play together, and it used make feel so… insignificant. And alone… Ginny didn't want me to feel like that, of course, but I did anyway… I really was pathetic… Still am…"

"No, you aren't" Daphne said softly. "I used to feel the same way when Tori and I were younger… She got to play with her dolls and make mischief, while I was locked away in a room with a dozen nannies who lectured me on how to be a Lady. Even now Tori gets to do as she pleases… I sometimes feel really jealous of her freedom, and I sometimes hate the fact that all the responsibilities of the family are dropped on me. If I even talk loudly in front of others, I get scolded by mother for hours on end… Tori doesn't even have an inside voice…"

"I've noticed" Ron smiled at her. "Ginny is… was… the same way. She'd cause so much noise in the house, always yelling and throwing fits if she didn't get her way. And she was possessive…" Ron chuckled as he remembered how Ginny used to crush his hand, Merlin he missed that… "She'd always follow me around… Ask me to sleep in her bed… She'd crush my hand in a death grip… If I had chores, she'd hover over my shoulder the entire time… If I ever did something without her, she'd start bawling her eyes out…" Ron let out a tired breath, she hated him so much now. And he didn't even know how it had gotten so bad… But I know it's my fault, it's always my fault.

"Why is she so angry with you?" Daphne asked in a whisper. "I mean, you yelled at her… But I yell at Tori all the time…"

"I hurt Potter…" Ron admitted, and Daphne blinked at him. "She has always hero-worshipped the boy-who-lived… And I hurt him in front of her…"

"But that only happened a few days ago" Daphne mused. "She has been awful to you for months…"

"She isn't awful to me…" Ron argued. "I did something wrong, Daph… I always do something wrong." Daphne blinked at him again, was he being serious? "But I'm going to fix it!" Ron said firmly. "I'm going to talk to her no matter what, and I'm going to find out what I did wrong… And then, I'll fix it!" I have to fix it, I have to win her back somehow!

---

Severus Snape's POV

December 21st, 1992 (Midday)

He was done waiting for Albus to wake up, he needed some damn answers right now! Albus had clearly used Legilimency on the boy, but then… Then something had gone terribly wrong! The boy was completely unfazed by Albus' Legilimency attack, and yet Albus had passed out from exhaustion… HOW?! Albus was the most powerful wizard in England, maybe even the world. And yet, a twelve year old boy had sent him to the Hospital Wing? Snape needed answers right now!

Snape stood above his unconscious mentor, and he slowly took out a flask filled with the Invigoration Draught. Snape shot quick looks around himself, the last thing he needed was an angry Poppy Pomfrey tearing off his limbs… Once Snape knew that he was alone, he poured the contents of the flask into Albus' mouth. C'mon old man, wake up… Snape waited for a few more seconds, and then his mentor's eyes opened slowly.

"Severus?" Albus croaked, and Snape quickly moved closer to him. "Water…"

"Here" Snape said as he helped Albus drink a full glass. "What happened?" Snape asked bluntly, he was done being patient.

"Not here…" Albus sighed as he slowly sat up. "Take me to my Office, please…" Snape clenched his jaw, but he didn't argue. He helped his mentor stand up, and then they slowly made their way up to Albus' Office. Neither of them said a word, and the silence was getting to Severus. He had never seen Albus look so worn out, or disturbed… Albus was good at hiding his emotions, but Severus had spent far too much time with the man. Something went horribly wrong! But how?! How could a child beat Albus like this?! As soon as they entered the Office, Snape helped his mentor into his chair.

"Now… Talk" Severus said firmly. Albus looked at Snape with a tired smile, and then he nodded.

"I went into his mind" Albus said softly. "I felt the 'Void', and I chose to penetrate it… It led me into his memories, Severus…" Albus paused for a few seconds, he was thinking of something.

"And?" Snape frowned. "What happened?" Don't hide things from me, not this time!

"I saw Ronald's home life" Albus said sadly. "And I saw how he felt when his friends betrayed him… And then…" Albus trailed off, his complexion becoming pale. What?

"Albus, tell me…" Severus said as he slowly sat down. "What happened in the boy's mind? Why did you go into a trance?"

"Before I tell you" Albus began. "You must tell me, what was Ronald's reaction to my Legilimency attack? Did you see any signs of him resisting?"

"No, I did not" Snape frowned. "He mentioned getting a small headache, but nothing else. He didn't even know that you were in his mind, Albus."

"Then it is as I feared…" Albus said, a hollow look on his face.

"Feared what?" Snape asked softly, the old man was beginning to worry him.

"Ronald Weasley is possessed" Albus muttered, and Snape just blinked at him. What is he talking about?

"Possessed?" Snape whispered. "By who?" It couldn't be the Dark Lord, could it? Snape shuddered at the thought.

"I don't think it's a 'who'…" Albus said slowly. "Rather, it's a 'what'…"

"Albus, you are not making any sense…" Snape said in his low voice. "Speak plainly for once, I need to know…"

"Something trapped me in the boy's mind, Severus" Albus recalled, he looked… scared. "It created some sort of illusionary world in which it could attack me… It felt so real while I was there, but now… Now I'm not so sure… Even after Ronald had left, that creature kept me in place…" Snape felt his own breathing become uneven, what was Albus talking about? What creature?! Had he gone mad?! "It was a monster, Severus" Albus said in a hollow voice. "And it attacked me…"

"You're not making any sense, Albus…" Snape muttered. "What monster? And what do you mean it attacked you?"

"It was pure evil…" Albus said softly as he gazed at his own hands. "It was so angry with me… I felt its rage and hatred… And I suffered its cruelty" Albus muttered as he remembered his monstrous sister.

"Albus, please…" Snape whispered. "Make some sense… You're starting to worry me…" Has he gone mad? What did Weasley do to him?!

"The Sorting Hat, Severus" Albus said suddenly, the old man had suddenly regained his clarity. "Bring it here." Snape did as he was told, and he summoned the Hat onto the table.

"Wake up, Hat" Severus ordered. "The Headmaster wishes to speak with you…"

"Is that so?" the Hat yawned. "Very well. What may I do for you, Albus?"

"Tell me of the monster possessing Ronald Weasley" Albus said firmly. There was dead silence in the room, and Snape knew immediately that the Hat knew something.

"Talk!" Snape snarled at the Hat, and Albus didn't tell him to calm down like usual.

"You used Legilimency on him?" the Hat asked Albus.

"Yes…" Albus answered.

"How dare you, Albus…" the Hat said, it sounded appalled. "How dare you attack one of your charges? What gives you the right?!"

"You impudent little…" Snape snarled at the Hat, but Albus stopped him by raising a hand.

"I was concerned for his safety, and I was right to be" Albus replied to the Hat. "Tell me everything this instant, and don't lie to me." The Hat was dead silent for almost a minute, and then it finally spoke.

"What happened? Did it attack you in any way?" the Hat asked, and Snape was winded. So he is possessed?! Merlin help us…

"It did… It created illusions to torture me…" Albus said softly, and Snape's eyes widened. He was tortured? "Sorting Hat, why did you not tell me this? That boy is in grave danger! And you kept it a secret from me… Why?"

"The boy is in no danger…" the Hat replied, and both wizards blinked at the Hat. "It most likely attacked you because it saw you as a threat to Ronald…"

"Explain yourself" Snape said softly.

"When I sorted Ronald, I felt the 'Entity' in his mind…" the Hat explained. "But it realized that I could not harm the boy in any way… So it allowed me to do my job. But you, Albus, used a Legilimency attack on the boy… You threatened his safety…" There was another short pause as Albus and Severus thought about the Hat's words.

"Champion…" Albus muttered, and Snape looked at him with a furrowed brow. "That's what it called Ronald… It warned me that if I ever enter his mind again, it would kill me… Now it makes more sense…"

"What makes more sense?" Snape asked, he was having a hard time even thinking straight.

"Tom tried to possess the boy, do you remember?" Albus asked Snape, and Snape nodded. "I always found it curious as to how a child resisted Tom… And now I know… It wasn't Ronald who repelled Tom, it was this 'Entity'…"

"What about his injuries?" Snape asked.

"Most likely the work of Tom" Albus mused. "He never could take rejection…"

"The Dark Lord…" Snape muttered as he remembered that awful night. "He was screaming in absolute agony as he flew past me… You don't think that this 'Entity' tortured him as well, do you?"

"It most likely did…" Albus said softly. "It enjoyed causing me pain, Severus. And its voice… Severus, if only you heard it speak…" Albus visibly shuddered, and Snape knew for damn certain that he didn't want to hear anything from this 'Entity'. What are we going to do about this?! We can't let that thing roam around the castle!

"What do we do about Ronald?" Severus asked his mentor.

"Ahem…" the Hat coughed. "Leave him be…"

"Leave him be?" Snape repeated. "That boy is a danger to everyone around him!"

"He is not" the Hat argued firmly. "Ronald is not this Entity… He is not even aware of its existence. And this Entity only attacks those who enter Ronald's mind… It acts as a guardian of sorts."

"Does it?" Severus snapped. "And how do you know this? You had no right to keep this from the Headmaster! You've endangered everyone inside this school!"

"Like when you two buffoons brought that stone into the castle?" the Hat snapped back, and Snape clenched his jaw. "Ronald paid the price for your sheer arrogance! And despite it all, he still chose to keep his mouth closed! As for Albus getting attacked, he more than deserved it! How dare you, Albus Dumbledore?! How dare you attack your own student like this?! You bring shame to your Office…" Snape blinked at the Hat, he had never seen Albus get scolded before. "Ronald has done nothing to warrant an expulsion!"

"He has…" Albus said softly. "He beat Harry Potter mercilessly during a friendly duel… Hat, is there any way that this Entity can influence Ronald?"

"No" the Hat replied. "When I first found it lurking within Ronald's mind, it was operating as an Occlumency shield of sorts. It wanted to keep everyone out, but it let me pass because it sensed what my job was."

"It is clearly more than some 'shield'…" Snape said icily. "The truth is that you don't know anything about this thing… And neither do we. I say we expel the boy, he is a danger to the other students."

"No" Albus said softly. "Ronald is a student as well, and he deserves to be protected…"

"That's rich coming from you…" the Hat spat out, and Albus sighed.

"I feared that he was possessed by Tom Riddle" Albus admitted. "I did what I did to protect Ronald. I will leave the choice to believe my words up to you. As for Ronald, I will not turn my back on him. If this Entity is indeed a danger to the boy, then we must do everything in our power to protect him."

"And how do we do that?" Snape asked with a sigh. "Should we exorcise it?"

"That is not a wise choice" the Hat interjected. "This Entity is attached to Ronald's mind, their bond is… remarkably strong. Exorcising it may leave Ronald braindead…" What?

"Are you saying that this Entity is a permanent part of Ronald?" Snape asked. "Like a limb…"

"Yes…" the Hat replied in a sad tone. Merlin… What kind of creature is this?!

"Then exorcising it is off the table" Albus said firmly. "And no more Legilimency either…"

"I'm glad you learnt your lesson" the Hat said bitterly. "Don't ever do something like that again, Albus… I'm warning you. I will inform everyone in this school of your actions if you do."

"Forgive me, Hat" Albus smiled sadly. "I did what I thought was right…"

"That is no excuse" the Hat said firmly. "My duty is to protect the students of this school, and that includes protecting them from a self-righteous fool like you…" Albus nodded softly, and then the Hat was gone.

"Why do you let it speak to you like that?" Snape asked coldly.

"Because the Hat has been around for a thousand years, Severus" Albus smiled. "And it has never failed to protect its students… We could all learn much from it." Snape shook his head slowly, that Hat was an arrogant little shite.

"What do we do about Ronald?" Snape asked, he was still trying to get his head around all of this.

"We keep our knowledge to ourselves…" Albus sighed, and Snape looked up.

"What?" Snape growled. "More secrets Albus? The boy deserves to know. His family deserves to know…"

"And what would we tell them exactly?" Albus frowned. "All we would do is cause a panic if we tell others without a solution…"

"I've heard this song before" Snape said bitterly. "So what, we just keep this a secret forever? Let Ronald go about his life without even knowing that some monstrosity is lurking about in his mind?"

"I did not say that" Albus sighed. "I believe that we should find out what this Entity really is… And then we can act. As for Ronald, I want you to take him under your wing. The same way you have done for Draco. Ronald needs guidance, Severus… I know it…"

"Do you?" Snape asked slowly. "And how do you know this?"

"Because I saw his memories… His pain… His need to be seen…" Albus said in a sad voice. "He just wants to be seen for who he really is, Severus… And he is a good person."

"Tell that to Potter…" Snape shook his head.

"He made a mistake, he was hurting and he did something foolish…" Albus justified. "We have all done foolish things in our lives, Severus. Ronald wants to do good things, and we must show him that he can."

"We?" Snape asked.

"Of course" Albus chuckled softly, his eyes twinkling again. "I think I'll challenge him to a game of chess every now and then… No offense, Severus, but you are rather terrible at the game…" Snape used his Occlumency to calm himself down.

"And what do we do if this thing possess Ronald completely?" Snape asked. "We don't even know what it's capable of…"

"If it comes to that…" Albus said softly, his eyes hardening. "We protect the school…" Snape understood what that meant… Albus would destroy both the host and the parasite…

"I will talk to him…" Snape said softly. "Just like I do with Draco…"

"Good" Albus nodded. "I will try to find something that can educate us more on what this Entity is. But I believe the Hat… The Entity specifically threatened me against attacking Ronald. The Champion…" Albus finished softly as he rubbed his chin. "Something larger than us is happening here, Severus… I can feel it in my bones… Something big is coming…" Snape felt a chill run up his spine, his mentor was right. Snape could feel it too… And Ronald Weasley is at the center of it all!

---

Ronald Weasley's POV

December 21st, 1992 (After Dinner)

Daphne and Ron were sitting together on their favorite couch in the common room. Although they were having a nice conversation about Daphne's favorite dress, Ron's mind was on something else entirely. Why were Snape and Dumbledore watching me so intently during dinner? Snape was just glaring right at me… While Dumbledore was shooting me those smiles… Those creepy 'I care about you' smiles… Ron shuddered as he thought about the old codger's creepy smiles.

"RON!" Daphne called, and Ron snapped back into reality.

"What?" Ron asked with a semi-scared look.

"You didn't hear a word of what I said…" Daphne pouted angrily, and Ron thought it was really cute. Stop it! Now who's the creep?!

"Of course I did…" Ron chuckled.

"Really?" Daphne frowned. "What's the color of my favorite dress?"

"Green…" Ron muttered as he smiled sheepishly. Daphne blinked at him.

"You guessed that!" Daphne accused. "What kind of dress is it?!" Now I'm screwed…

"Um… A green one…" Ron managed, he didn't know shite about dresses. Daphne narrowed her eyes on him.

"Look at you two" came Malfoy's pompous voice from behind them. "The princess and the pauper!" Malfoy laughed, and his goons laughed when he did. There goes any hope of this tosser ignoring us for the duration of the Yule Break…

"You're the only princess here, Malfoy" Daphne smirked, and Malfoy completely ignored her. Instead, he was glaring right at Ron.

"Are you the Heir or not?" Malfoy asked Ron bluntly.

"Excuse me?" Ron blinked at Malfoy.

"You heard me, Weasley" Malfoy said icily.

"No…" Ron replied, and Malfoy scoffed arrogantly.

"I knew it… How could you be Salazar's Heir? It would be a tragedy…" Malfoy sneered.

"Your face will become a tragedy if you don't piss off" Ron grit out.

"Too late for that" Daphne chuckled venomously. Malfoy glared at them, and then he turned around and marched away.

"What a tosser…" Ron muttered.

"Ron, language…" Daphne smirked. "I'm a Lady, and you should act more like a gentleman near me."

"Forgive me, Lady Greengrass" Ron said in an exaggerated tone that made Daphne giggle. "Where are my manners? Would you like a foot rub?"

"Well, since you are offering" Daphne smiled playfully. "By all means…" Daphne then threw her feet on his lap, and Ron stared at her bare feet in confusion.

"I don't actually know how to give foot rubs…" Ron said softly, he could feel a blush creep onto his face. But then he spotted something peculiar… Daphne had a scar on the top of her right foot. Ron traced his gloved index finger over it. "What happened here?" Ron asked as he looked at the faint scar.

"Oh…" Daphne went crimson. "Um… Childhood accident…" Ron looked to her for a better answer. "Tori did it…" Daphne sighed. "She dropped a pot-plant on my foot when we were kids… And then she started crying about getting in trouble, so I never told anyone. And it scarred…" Wow, that was kind of her… Ron smiled at her proudly, Daphne was a great sister.

"That was really nice of you, Daph" Ron smiled, and Daphne nodded slowly.

"Do you… do you have any scars?" Daphne asked softly, and Ron froze. Fuck…

"Um…" Ron started but stopped. He looked down at him Daphne's feet, and he wondered if he should tell her.

"It's okay… you don't have to tell me" Daphne interrupted. But she told me… And I've already told Pansy, and the boys… And Daphne would keep it to herself, she always does…

"I um… I do" Ron said in a soft whisper. Ron then looked at Daphne, and she was looking at his gloved hand. "But you already knew that…" Ron smiled softly at her. Daphne gave him a kind smile and nodded softly. "Do you… do you want to see it?" Ron asked, his entire face was burning. Why is it so fucking hot in this common room?!

"Show me…" Daphne whispered with baited breath, she had been waiting to see his hand for months. Ron looked around for Malfoy and his apes, but they weren't even in the common room anymore. Ron then slowly took off his glove, his face burning due to a mixture of shame and fear. Once his glove was off, he presented his hand to Daphne. She didn't make a sound… She instead took his hand into hers to examine it.

"Well?" Ron asked after a few seconds. Daphne looked up and smiled at him softly.

"I think it's wonderful" Daphne hummed, and Ron blinked at her. "A battle scar from your fight against the most powerful Dark Wizard of all time… You should be proud to have it." Ron was stunned into silence, and all he could do was nod lamely. She doesn't find it disgusting? I find it disgusting… But then again, she doesn't know about my other scars…

"I have more of them…" Ron muttered, what the fuck was he thinking?! "On my arms… and legs… and on my chest…" STOP TELLING HER THINGS! Daphne blinked at him.

"Is that why father changed your uniform?" Daphne asked slowly, she was honestly staggered by his sudden honesty. Ron nodded slowly.

"I didn't want to show my arms…" Ron admitted, why couldn't he stop telling her things?! And why is she still holding my hand?!

"Can you show me…?" Daphne asked, her voice was husky. Ron felt his stomach doing flips, and he felt rather lightheaded… What was happening to him? He never revealed things like this to anyone! Daphne suddenly stood up without letting go of his hand. She pulled him up, and he followed her to his room. They closed the door behind them, and Ron locked it.

"Daph… I'm not sure…" Ron muttered, he was feeling extremely confused right now. He wanted to show her, but he knew that she would be horrified. He would scare her, but he still wanted to show her.

"Please?" Daphne asked. "You don't have to do everything alone…" Ron gulped as she stepped closer to him, her eyes seemed to be misted over. He was, honest to Merlin, confused out of his mind right now… But there was another feeling swirling around in his chest, excitement. Ron slowly pulled up his sleeves, and he presented his arms to her. She just stared at his snake-trail scars, they were horrid… But she didn't feel disgusted by them, or even scared… They were just… there…

"Don't tell the other girls…" Ron said, his entire face was on fire. "Please… Daph…"

"I won't" she smiled softly, and then she took another step closer to him. Ron slowly backed, but she kept stepping forward. And then Ron's back hit the door… What's she doing?! Ron's heartbeat accelerated to the point where he was sure it was about to explode.

"Daph… what are you…?" Ron managed to whisper, but she just looked at him with her misty eyes. They were a much darker shade of blue compared to his, and he could see some gold flecks in them.

"Your chest…" she said softly, and he could feel her breath on his face. She was around his height, and THEY WERE TOO DAMN CLOSE!

"My… my… chest?" Ron managed, his tongue had apparently forgotten on how to do its job. I should run for it… Right fucking now!

"I've seen your arms, Ron…" Daphne whispered. "Show me your chest…" When Ron didn't move a muscle, she decided to have a look for herself. She had no idea what had come over her, but it was giving her the strength to finally get to know more about Ron. She'd at least uncover a few of his secrets tonight…

Ron was putting his entire mind on the task of controlling his breathing, and he was slowly losing that battle. Daphne was undoing the top buttons on his robes, and he was a moment away from passing out. Should I hold my breath? No, that's stupid… But what if my breath on her face is annoying her? Fuck, what do I do?! Daphne undid only the top half, and then she slowly spread his robes apart to have a look at his chest. Ron glared at the wall behind her, it was helping him stay at least a little calm. Ron shivered as he felt her trace her finger along his scar.

"He did this?" she whispered, her voice was meek. Ron nodded slowly, and then he swallowed. I need some water…

"Yes…" Ron croaked. She can probably feel my heart beating! I can't take much more of this! How is she so calm?!

"He did this…" she repeated softly. "Ron…" Ron closed his eyes and tried not to think about that night… The pain had been too much to bear… "Was it the pain that put you in a coma?" Ron blinked rapidly as images of that night played back in his head. He didn't remember much, but he did remember that he wanted to die…

"I wanted to just die… That's how much it hurt…" Ron said softly, his body almost collapsing as he admitted this. Then he heard Daphne sniffle, and he was immediately on full alert. All of his confusion and anxiety was gone. "Daphne?" Ron looked at her with a concerned look. She was holding back her tears and sniffling, and Ron wasn't sure what he should do. But she did…

"I'm sorry…" she whimpered as she hugged him tightly. "I'm sorry he hurt you so much…" Ron was taken by surprise at first, but then he regained his senses.

"I'm alright, Daph" Ron comforted her. "I lived… And I plan to keep on living." Daphne tightened her hug, and Ron let out a soft laugh. And then, he hugged her back just as tightly.

---

December 22nd, 1992 (Midnight)

Daphne had left shortly after their hugging session, and Ron was left more confused than he'd ever been. For one, he had never been in such an odd situation before. Secondly, hugging Daphne had felt way too good… He hugged his sisters and the other girls often enough, but it had felt very different to hug Daphne. Thirdly, he was utterly baffled at his own behavior. When did he start sharing personal things like that?! Ron couldn't have that… He had too many important secrets, and he had no intention of sharing them. Keeping things hidden was now a part of who he was, and he had no intention of stopping. Being in Slytherin had taught him the value of keeping certain things to yourself! And lastly, what the fuck had just happened?! Why was his body still flushed and uncomfortable? Daphne had left hours ago…

After Daphne had left, Ron had paced his room for a good twenty minutes. And then, he had done something incredibly stupid. He had written a letter to Sirius… But he had felt it necessary! Ron wasn't too sure about what he was feeling… And so, he had asked Sirius for help. Ron had wanted to ask his father originally, but the last time he had seen his parents, one of them had clocked him one. He had deserved it, but it still made him feel ashamed… After he had drafted a letter telling Sirius everything that had happened, Ron had snuck into the Owlery to find Helios. The angry bird had pecked him affectionately, and then he had flown off to carry out his mission. After that, Ron had come back inside and paced his room some more before getting into bed.

And now here he was, still awake! Ron shuffled around in his bed, and then he moaned in frustration. Go to sleep! UGH! Ron sat up and let out a defeated sigh… Damn Daphne for hugging him! Damn him for telling her everything like some moron! What if she told the other girls about his scars? What if she told other people if they ever became angry at each other?! He had given her one over him… UGH! I'm so damn stupid! Ron rocked back and forward with a deep frown on his face.

"Stressed, Ronald?" came a voice from where his pillow was. Ron screamed in fright as he flew off of his bed. "Hahahaha!" the Sorting Hat laughed.

"YOU SON OF A BITCH!" Ron yelled at it. "Why do you always do that?!"

"Because it's funny, dear boy!" the Hat chuckled. "Now, put me on your massive head!" For Merlin's sake… My heart is going to give out at this rate… Ron picked up the Hat and put it on his head.

"What are you doing here, Hat?" Ron asked.

"I wanted to talk to you, Ronald. Something terrible has happened!"

"Of course it has…" Ron sighed.

"Albus and Severus know about the Entity…"

"WHAT?! HOW?!" Ron felt his chest tighten.

"Albus tried to look into your mind, Ronald… And the Entity decided to interfere. It beat the Headmaster into submission…"

"Are you… serious? The Entity beat… Dumbledore?" Ron wasn't sure if he should be scared, or impressed.

"Indeed my boy, indeed…"

"So they know my secret?" Ron felt lightheaded at that. "I'm so buggered…"

"Not quite, Ronald. They only know of the Entity. I convinced them that you know nothing of it, and that its only function is to protect you from those who plan to harm your mind. They are no doubt trying to learn more about it, but your secret is safe!" Ron almost passed out from the relief he felt.

"Sorting Hat… Thank you… You really are the best!"

"I know!" the Hat chuckled. "They will be wary of you for a while, so please don't give them any reasons to fear or doubt you. Is that understood?"

"Yes! Yes, thank you!" Ron exclaimed in his mind. "Wait… Is that why Dumbledore was acting so weird at Breakfast, and why they both kept staring at me during lunch and dinner?"

"I imagine so… Either way, no more brutalizing fellow students!"

"You heard about that...?" Ron felt his cheeks flush.

"Yes I heard, you fool! What were you thinking?! Oh wait, you weren't thinking at all! You should be ashamed of yourself, Ronald! I thought young Potter was your friend!"

"He was…" Ron sighed as he sat down on his bed. "But a few things happened between us, and then it all ended with me doing something incredibly horrible… You can take a look…"

"I already have… You overreacted, plain and simple!"

"I know…" Ron nodded. "I wish I could take it all back…"

"You can, dear boy… Remove their punishments…" the Hat said softly.

"What?! And let them just get away with it?!"

"You got away with it, didn't you? And they've suffered enough… It is not too late to mend the bridge…"

"Mend the bridge? Merlin, Hat… I burned down the whole province! Not just the bridge…" Ron rubbed his face as he finished.

"You'll never know unless you try… Tell me, have I failed you yet?"

"No…"

"Good, then you will rectify the situation!"

"But Lord Greengrass…" Ron started but the Hat cut him off.

"He wanted to send a message, and he did. Show a backbone, my boy! He will respect that! Now, I must return to Albus' Office. Good night, Ronald."

"Good night, Hat…"

"Oh, and before I forget… Well done with that Tome, dear boy. Well done!" the Hat said proudly, and Ron smiled widely at that. And just like that, the Hat was gone.

---

Hermione Granger's POV

December 23rd, 1992 (Morning - Grimmauld Place)

Hermione stared at the wrapped up present in front of her, and she bit her bottom lip. It was a Muggle digital watch that she had bought for Ron back in November… But now she wasn't sure about what she should do with it… I should give it to someone else. He'll probably just throw it away… Hermione sighed and kept staring at the green box. This had been the worst month of her life! Nothing good had happened whatsoever for the entire month! She had lost her first friend, all of her hard work on the Polyjuice Potion had been wasted, she had nearly gotten expelled, she was being forced to serve a detention every single day, and she had lost Gryffindor one-hundred points. All of these terrible things had one common denominator… Ronald Bilius Weasley. A person she utterly adored… A person who had never done any wrong by her…

But she had wronged him… That was the difference between her and her two Gryffindor best friends. Hermione understood that they had thrown the first stone… And she had also learned that Ronald was extremely vindictive, and even ruthless. He had destroyed them completely… Harry and Neville had slowly become bitter towards Ron, and Hermione decided to keep her opinions to herself. She didn't want to lose her only two friends… But every time they said something bad about Ron, Hermione would have to clench her mouth shut. Neville was utterly convinced that Ron was the Heir, especially after what Ron had done to Harry. If Hermione was being honest, in that moment when Ron was beating Harry into a pulp, she too was convinced that he was the Heir. But now she didn't even care… Whoever the Heir was, they were too good at hiding their identity. And Hermione was done breaking the rules in order find them… She had learnt her lesson, and she had learnt it the hard way.

Unfortunately, Harry and Neville hadn't… Neville already hated Ron for hurting Harry like that. And Harry too had slowly started becoming bitter towards Ron, and she couldn't blame him. Ron had turned Harry into a laughing stock in public, beaten him bloody without firing a single spell, taken away his Quidditch privileges, and had him serving detention every single day with Professor Lockhart of all people. Hermione wished she could serve detention with Professor Lockhart, but no… She was stuck with Professor McGonagall, and Professor McGonagall was extremely strict. Hermione had cleaned the Trophy Room spotless…

"Hello, Hermione" came a happy voice from behind her. Hermione quickly grabbed the present and hid it behind her back, and then she turned to face Sirius Black. "Do you want me to pretend like I didn't see that?" Sirius chuckled, and Hermione nodded.

"Please do…" Hermione felt her cheeks flush. Sirius smiled widely, and Hermione sighed. He isn't going to let it go, is he?

"Is that for anyone special?" Sirius grinned, but she didn't answer him. "A boy perhaps…?"

"NO!" Hermione squealed, and Sirius howled in laughter.

"And there's my answer!" Sirius grinned. "It's fine to gift a present to a boy, Hermione! It's Christmas!" Wait… Maybe he can help me?

"I'm not sure I should…" Hermione shuffled her feet, and Sirius cocked his head.

"Why?"

"The boy… hates me…" Hermione muttered, she hated saying that out loud. She missed Ron… She missed their study sessions… And how he always snuck food in… She'd scold him, but he'd talk her into eating his snacks… I should have never doubted him, I'm so stupid… Sirius sighed as he realized who she was talking about.

"Ronald…" Sirius sighed, and Hermione nodded meekly. "I wish he had come… I wanted to sort out everything between you lot…"

"It was all our fault, wasn't it?" Hermione asked softly.

"No… No, it wasn't" Sirius said as he sat down on the dining table, it was brand new. "What you guys did… it was wrong. He was your friend, and you judged him without any facts… Trust me, there's no feeling worse than that. And he… He took things way too far… No one is innocent here, if that's any consolation."

"It isnt…" Hermione sighed as she sat down as well. "I'm so stupid, Mr. Black…" Hermione muttered as her eyes began to sting.

"Hey…" Sirius patted her shoulder. "You aren't, you're all just kids. And kids make mistakes, trust me! I made loads of them! Sometimes, time heals any wounds you have. But sometimes, you have to send a Christmas gift…" Sirius smiled, and Hermione sniffled as she looked up at him.

"What if he throws it away?" Hermione sniffled.

"What if he doesn't?" Sirius asked back. She managed to smile a little at that, Sirius really was amazing. "Have I told you about the time I shaved Remus' head while he slept?" Hermione chuckled at his random question.

"I hope not" Remus Lupin said as he entered the dining room. "The others are on their way down… I'm going to get breakfast on the table." With that, Remus Lupin went into the kitchen. Hermione was grateful that he didn't comment on her current state. Hermione quickly wiped her eyes and schooled her face, she hated it when people saw her get emotional. The twins were the first through the door, and they were as loud as always. Harry and Neville came in after them, and they were both yawning.

"Late night boys?" Sirius chuckled at his godson and Neville.

"Yeah…" Harry said as he rubbed his eyes. "Good morning, Sirius."

"Good morning, Mr. Black" Neville greeted with a smile.

"Please… call me Sirius!" Sirius laughed. "Mr. Black makes me sound like I'm old and married…"

"Ugh… Marriage" Fred groaned.

"A dreadful bond" George added in.

"So much commitment" the twins said together. How do they do that?!

"Indeed, lads!" Sirius nodded approvingly. "A dog should never tie its own leash against a pole!"

"What?" Hermione blinked, and Sirius chuckled.

"Don't worry, Hermione" Sirius said with a smile. "It was just a bad joke…"

"Yes, it was" Remus said with a frown as he entered the dining room. There were plates full of pancakes and bacon floating behind him. Once the table was all set up, everyone dug in. The conversation flowed well, with Sirius taking the lead in everything. Sirius cracked jokes, bickered with Remus, laughed at the twins' antics, and he gave Hermione comforting smiles. Hermione thought that Sirius was utterly amazing! And he's here because Ron figured out that he was innocent… Did Harry ever thank Ron for that? Her thoughts were interrupted when there was a loud knocking sound from a nearby window. Sirius flicked his wand at the window, and it flung open. That's when a light grey Eagle-owl with black spots flew in and started hooting wildly. That's Ron's Eagle-Owl! Everyone stared at Helios as he perched himself on Sirius' shoulder, and then Helios presented his leg to Sirius. There was a letter attached to it…

"Why is he sending you letters?" Harry asked, his voice was too bitter for Hermione's liking.

"Harry…" Remus said softly. "Ron has every right to send Sirius mail …" Harry grimaced at that, and Hermione nearly started lecturing Harry. But she stopped herself, she didn't want to fight any more of her friends. Sirius suddenly laughed maniacally, and everyone looked at him with shock. Sirius was grinning in a wolfish manner, and there was a mad glint in his eyes.

"I'll be right back!" Sirius exclaimed as he ran out of the room with the letter clutched tightly in his hand. What happened?! What did Ron say?!

"Excuse me, children" Remus said with a polite smile, and then he got up and followed after Sirius.

"What did that git write about?" Fred scowled.

"Pure git…" George sighed.

"Our own little brother…" Fred shook his head.

"A little snake who uses the Dark Arts…" George muttered. Fred looks outraged, but George just seems sad and disappointed…

"HOOT!" Helios hooted loudly at Hermione. And then it jumped in front of her plate and began eating her bacon.

"Hey!" Hermione frowned as she tried to shoo him away. Helios lunged at her fingers with his sharp beak, and Hermione squealed in fright. Helios hooted loudly as he ate more bacon off of her plate.

"Ruddy bird!" Fred shouted at it. "Leave her be…" Helios looked at Fred with a menacing glare that made Fred go wide-eyed. Why is this bird so angry all the time?!

"I guess they're perfect for each other…" Neville muttered. "Both of them are a menace…" Hermione glared at Neville. "What?"

"Don't talk about him like that…" Hermione grit out. Neville just sighed and nodded softly, he didn't want to upset her. Helios hooted and flew up to sit on her left shoulder. Hermione went wide-eyed, and she tensed in fear. Get him off! Get him off! Helios then head-butted her jaw and nipped at her earlobe.

"Go away…" Harry snarled at Helios, but the bird didn't give a damn about what Harry had to say. Instead, Helios hooted as he gave Hermione 'affection' for defending his master.

"Thanks…" Hermione squealed meekly as Helios nipped at her earlobe again. It hurt a bit, and the head-butts weren't soft either. If this is how he shows affection, I'd hate to see him angry…

"GIVE IT BACK, REMUS!" came Sirius' shout, and then Remus ran into dining room with Ron's letter clutched in his hand. "I want to frame that!"

"Absolutely not!" Remus shouted back as he dashed towards the kitchen with Sirius hot on his trail. What's going on?! What did that letter say?!

'NO!" came Sirius' wail. "You fucking burned it!" Hermione blushed at the profanity. He said the f-word!

"Language!" came Remus' shout. "And all I did was save poor Ron from your stupidity!"

"This was his greatest achievement!" Sirius argued. "And now we have no proof!"

"Are you insane?!" Remus shouted back. Hermione and the others just listened with wide-eyes.

"Possibly!" Sirius shouted, and then he entered the dining room with an angry frown. He had another letter in his hand, and he quickly tied it to Helios' leg. Helios was about to fly off, but Sirius stopped him. Sirius then looked at Hermione with a soft smile, his anger completely forgotten. "Aren't you going to send anything?" Sirius asked her softly, and Hermione could see everyone eyeing her. Hermione drew in a sharp breath, and then she nodded at Sirius firmly. I need to take the first step!

"Here, Helios" Hermione said as she pulled out Ron's present from under her chair. "Take this to him… Make sure he gets this for Christmas." Helios hooted loudly as he picked up the small box with his beak.

"Hermione…" Harry and Neville both said in shocked voices.

"What? It's Christmas" she smiled at them innocently. Sirius chuckled at that, and Harry just stared at his godfather in complete disbelief. Helios then flew up and began circling the room.

"What's he doing?" George asked.

"Barmy bird has lost…" Fred started but then he suddenly shrieked. Helios had pooed on him! Sirius barked in laughter as Fred yelled profanities and stood up in outrage. Even Remus and George were laughing at Fred, and Hermione had to bite her bottom lip in order to stop herself from joining them. Helios then flew right out of the window, his speed was astonishing. I will never make that bird angry! God help me!

"He got you good!" George howled with laughter, and Hermione finally lost it. Even Harry and Neville were sniggering as Fred ran off to clean himself up.

---

Daphne Greengrass' POV

December 24th, 1992 (Christmas Eve)

Daphne cupped her cheeks, and then she drew in a sharp breath as she stared at her reflection. She was blushing crimson from embarrassment, and an odd sense of excitement. Agh! What did I do last night?! Ron's barely spoken all day! What was I thinking?!

Things had taken very weird turn last night… She had wanted to see his scars for herself, she had wanted to make sure that he knew that she didn't care. But then everything had gotten really… strange. She had barely managed to keep herself from panicking, and her stomach had done a million flips. But she had managed to see them all… The scar on his right hand, the snake-trail scars on his arms, and the massive slash-like scar on his chest. It had twisted her heart to see them, and she had felt so sad about the fact that he had been dealing with this all alone. But it had also made her realize that she knew nothing about Ron… Nothing important anyway. He preferred to keep his problems to himself, and he certainly enjoyed keeping secrets. But she liked that about him. He was strong… Not only physically, but mentally as well. He dealt with his own issues and he never brought them up, that was the complete opposite of her. If she ever had a problem, she'd run straight to Tracey… Or her mother.

But now she had a problem that she couldn't talk to anyone about... That problem being how odd she had felt around Ron during last night's events. Her face burned at the thought of telling anyone, especially Tracey or her mother. Tracey would just laugh and make inappropriate jokes that would make her uncomfortable. And her mother… Her mother would be horrified! Daphne had been anything but a Lady last night… She had cornered her crush, and then she had pretty much taken his clothes off! AND THEY HAD BEEN SO CLOSE! Daphne went tomato red at the thought… We were kissing distance! AGH! What do I do?!

Daphne washed her face quickly, and then she walked out to the common room. Christmas Eve dinner would be served shortly, and she'd be sitting next to Ron again! Things had been a little awkward between them today. Ron had closed off, and his cheeks would become red whenever she tried to talk to him. Boys… Daphne had read in Witch Weekly that boys weren't as good with emotions as girls, and so she knew that he was feeling embarrassed. Why couldn't he understand that she was feeling embarrassed too? She didn't want things to be awkward between them…

"Waiting for your ginger shadow?" came Malfoy's voice from behind her. Ugh… Why does he always creep around like this?

"What do you want?" Daphne huffed as she turned to face Malfoy and his goons. Crabbe and Goyle used to be so sweet when they were younger, but Malfoy had ruined them with his Pure-Blood views. Now they were just a couple of oafs that wanted to beat up 'Mud-Bloods and Blood-traitors'… I can't believe that I used to not mind that kind of attitude!

"Just striking up a conversation" Malfoy smirked. "You didn't answer my question… A Lady shouldn't be so rude, Daphne."

"Yes…" Daphne answered in a dead-tone. "I am waiting for Ron… There, we had a conversation. Now leave me alone…"

"So ill-mannered" Malfoy sniggered, and his goons sniggered when he did. Oafs… "I remember when you used to have manners, but I guess Weasley has made you all barbarians just like himself…"

"Don't talk about him like that" Daphne warned.

"Aw!" Malfoy cooed. "Someone likes the Weasel…" Daphne felt her cheeks flush, but she easily kept her composure.

"You know, Malfoy…" Daphne smirked. "All you ever do is talk about Ron… I think it's you who likes Ron… Would you like me to help you out with that? You're clearly too shy to approach him by yourself." Daphne's smirk widened as she saw Malfoy clench his jaw and turn a light shade of red. But then Malfoy's face turned cold, and cruel.

"I wonder how he would react if he knew that your father served the Dark Lord" Malfoy said softly, and Daphne felt her temper flare.

"He already knows…" Daphne lied.

"I don't think he does…" Malfoy smirked. "I think that you've never once mentioned that your father bears the 'Mark'…" Daphne went a little pale at that, she had only told Ron that her parents weren't Blood-Purists. She had never told him that her father was forced to fund the Great War… And he funded the side that fought Ron's family…

"I don't know what you're talking about" Daphne lied, but her voice was weaker than before.

"I think I'll tell him…" Malfoy smirked.

"What's your problem with me, Malfoy?" Daphne grit out. "You helped Ron at the Dueling Club, so why are you being such a… such an arse?!"

"I didn't help the Weasel…" Malfoy sneered. "He wanted to fight Scarhead… I figured that one of them would have to walk away embarrassed, it was a win-win situation for me…" What a rat!

"You are such an arse" Daphne scoffed. "Leave me alone… Or I'll hex you!"

"Will you?" Malfoy laughed, and Daphne saw Crabbe and Goyle crack their knuckles. She'd be a fool if she didn't feel a smidge of fear.

"Can I join in?" came Ron's voice from the entrance to the boys' dorms. Daphne smiled as she saw Malfoy's face fall a bit.

"And the ginger tumor is here…" Malfoy said venomously as he turned to face Ron.

"Daphne, let's go…" Ron smiled at her, and she nodded. Ron then walked past Malfoy, and they both left the common room side by side. He didn't attack Malfoy?! He actually kept his cool… How?

"Ron…" Daphne said as they were climbing the stairs. "Why didn't you attack Malfoy?"

"What would it change?" Ron shrugged. "He always starts shite like this…" WAIT! He didn't overhear Malfoy, did he? Daphne decided to not ask him, just in case he hadn't. An awkward silence creeped up between them. I should ask him something! Something casual, and not weird…

"So… How was your day?" Daphne asked slowly. HOW WAS YOUR DAY?! Merlin help me…

"My day was fine… We spent most of it together…" Ron said replied even more slowly.

"I know that! I was just…" Daphne trailed off. "Ron…" Daphne sighed. "Are we alright? Things have felt a little off since last night…"

'OH…" Ron gasped, going red in the face. And there it is… His face is now as red as his hair… "I want us to be… Can we just… not talk about it, please?"

"Okay…" Daphne replied, she was a little disappointed by that. Boys… ugh… They walked up to the Great Hall in silence, but they stopped when they both spotted Ginny Weasley heading up to Gryffindor tower.

"Gin!" Ron called to her, his voice optimistic. "Aren't you joining us for dinner?" Ginny Weasley turned around and stared right at Ron with a disturbing look. It was empty, almost as if she couldn't even see Ron and Daphne.

"No…" Ginny said in a dead-tone. "Go bother someone else, Ronald…" And just like that, she turned around and left. Wow… Ron… Daphne looked to Ron with some hesitation, and the look on his face made her cringe. He looked devastated, and confused…

"She called me Ronald…" Ron muttered as he just blinked at where Ginny was a moment ago.

"Ron…" Daphne started but stopped. What do I even say? I don't know anything about their family dynamics… But enough is enough! She is acting like a complete bitch, and I'm sick of her kicking Ron around!

"I'm not really hungry anymore…" Ron whispered. "I'll see you back in the common room…" Ron turned to leave but Daphne grabbed his gloved hand.

"You're eating" Daphne said firmly. "And after that, we're going to figure out what your sister's problem is…"

"Daph…" Ron said softly, there was no fight in his voice. "The only problem she has is that she was born with a brother like me…"

"Stop" Daphne ordered. "There is something not right with your sister, and you need to stop doubting that. If it were anyone else, you'd be on their case. We are going to talk about this, and I'll force you to listen if I have to." Ron stared at her with an expressionless look. "Now, let's go eat." Daphne said as she dragged him behind her, and he followed without a fight. AGH! I'm holding his hand again!

---

Ronald Weasley's POV

December 24th, 1992 (Close to Midnight)

Hey kid!

So I got your letter… AND I AM SO PROUD RIGHT NOW! Even Remus is proud, but he won't admit it! He was always the boring type… Is that why you didn't come around? You sly dog you! Either way, I'm glad that you sent me this letter. I just want you to know that I'm not going anywhere kid, I'll always lookout for you.

As for this Daphne girl not being scared of your scars, why would she be? Scars are sexy kid! Ladies love them!—

Ron, this is Remus. Ignore everything Sirius just wrote. He can be quite immature… You should be careful, Ron. You are both extremely young, and you shouldn't do anything that you both don't feel comfortable with. Make sure you two know what you're getting into… At your ages, your hormones can start to change how you see things. How you see girls, and how girls see you. I'm sure you know about puberty, Ron. But I still want to talk to you about it. Ron, when a boy rea—

Kid, I'm back! Don't listen to this garbage! This girl likes you, Ron! Don't waste that—

Ron, I will be sending you a letter which will explain the changes you are going through. Being prepared is the most important thing in these matters. Sirius was obliviously dropped on his head as a child, so you should ignore him—

Ron put the battered letter down and frowned, what the fuck was this?! He asked for help, and they both failed to help him… Back to square one, I suppose. At least things are less awkward now, considering we just talked for two hours without any awkward pauses…

Daphne and he had been discussing Ginny's cold behavior, and Ron was still convinced that it was his fault. It had to be… It was always his fault because he was a moron. But Daphne was convinced that Ginny needed to grow up and stop being so spoiled, Ron thought that was rich considering how Daphne sometimes behaved. But he didn't say that… Daphne scared the shite out of him, and her pinches always left bruises… In the end, both Ron and Daphne had decided that they would watch Ginny more carefully. If there was something wrong, they'd help her out. And if there wasn't, then Ron would confront her. That won't end well for me… I can just feel it…

---

December 25th, 1992 (Christmas Morning)

"I love them, Ron!" Daphne squealed as she looked at her new earrings greedily. She'd been dropping hints about getting new ones non-stop, and they weren't subtle hints… Ron had contacted Martin the Jeweler in order to get Daphne her new dark sapphire studs. Ron thought it a good choice because they'd match her eyes… Okay, Tracey thought that… Thank Merlin for Tracey! "Open mine, it's the one in the gold wrapping paper" Daphne said excitedly.

Ron opened the box slowly, and he could feel his excitement building. Daphne always got him good presents! That amazing cloak, which those apes destroyed… And my serpent ring, which I always wear! They were opening their presents in Ron's room, mostly because they didn't want Malfoy ruining their morning.

"Woah!" Ron exclaimed as he saw his gift. It was a single black serpentine-skin glove with a golden 'R' on the back. Ron looked at it with a genuine smile, it looked quite… alluring.

"That's actual Horned-Serpent skin" Daphne hummed proudly. "I had it custom made for you…" Ron was lost for words… "Do you like it?"

"I do…" Ron said with a wide smile. He then took off his current leather glove, he didn't care if she saw his hand. He knew that she didn't care… And then, Ron put on his new serpent-skin glove. It was a perfect fit, and it was warm. The inside of the glove was so soft that Ron thought his hand was engulfed by a fluffy glove. Ron clenched and unclenched his hand, this glove felt much more comfortable than his previous leather one. "Thank you, Daph" Ron smiled at her gratefully, and she beamed.

"It's nothing… Happy Christmas" Daphne said with a small blush. They then opened their other presents, laughing and enjoying each other's company. But Ron's laughter stopped when he opened his mother's present, a white Weasley sweater with a green 'R' on it. He didn't know what to feel about his new sweater… A part of his was over the moon with joy, but another part of him remembered her slapping him right across the face in front of everyone. He knew he deserved that slap… but he still wished she hadn't done that…

"Ron?" Daphne called to him. "What's wrong? You've gone quiet…" Ron looked at her and smiled.

"It's nothing" Ron lied, but she caught on.

"I know when you're lying…" Daphne huffed. "It's Christmas! Don't lie on Christmas, it's against the rules."

"The rules?" Ron cocked his head with a grin. "Who's rules?"

"Mine" she smirked. "Now tell me what's wrong?"

"Fine…" Ron sighed. "Mum sent me this…" Ron showed her the white Weasley sweater with a green 'R' on it. Daphne blinked at the sweater, and then she blinked at him.

"You don't like sweaters?" Daphne asked with a confused look. Ha! If only it was that simple!

"I like sweaters" Ron chuckled. "She… she doesn't want me in Slytherin anymore…" Ron decided to say. I don't want to tell her that she slapped me… That's my problem to deal with. "She asked Dumbledore to re-sort me…"

"When?" Daphne frowned.

"After the incident with Potter…" Ron sighed again.

"She can't make you do that!" Daphne exclaimed, her voice becoming high-pitched like it used to be. "If anything, that incident showed how good of a Slytherin you can be!" Ron blinked at her.

"What?" Ron asked slowly.

"I don't mean the part where you beat Potter senseless…" Daphne frowned. "I meant the part where you outmaneuvered the Headmaster! It's the reason why everyone in this house didn't say a word after your speech! You have strong connections on the outside, Ron. You got the Board of Governors to strong-arm Dumbledore into making a deal that was made just to benefit you! That was the most amazing thing I've ever seen, Ron!" Ron blushed deeply at that… There it is again, that weird feeling I get whenever we're alone together…

"If you mother can't see the value in that, then it's her loss" Daphne continued. "Not to mention all the success you've already had due to being in Slytherin! Does she think that you would get these opportunities anywhere else?"

"I don't think she cares much for my success…" Ron admitted shamefully. "She never has… I'm always her last pick…" NO! Don't tell her things! What the fuck are you doing, Weasley?!

"Her loss then" Daphne huffed indignantly. "There is nothing wrong with being cunning and ambitious. And no one can doubt your bravery Ron, not even her… You faced and defeated a twelve foot Mountain Troll, and you faced the Dark Lord and lived! Which of your other siblings come even close to that? None! Doesn't want you in Slytherin… Nonsense!" Daphne ranted to herself, and Ron chuckled at her anger. She's that upset over me? Why? I'm not that upset over me… "And don't you dare leave!" Daphne narrowed her eyes on him. "Or I'll… I'll tell father…" she finished lamely.

"Oh no…" Ron smiled at her, her words had meant more to him than she actually knew. "Not your Lord Father!"

"Exactly!" Daphne smirked, completely missing his sarcasm. "He won't be happy with you! Now open your other presents" Daphne huffed haughtily. Ron chuckled and did as he was told. So bossy… Ron shot a quick glance at her as she was opening her other presents with a smile, and that feeling was back. The weird one in his stomach… Like his stomach was floating around… Ron then saw a small green box without a name on it. Huh? Ron opened it slowly, and a tiny card fell out. Ron picked it up and read it.

"I'm sorry" Ron read, and then he blinked at the card. Ron then looked to his gift… It was a wrist-band of some sort… One that was displaying the time? "A Muggle watch…" Ron muttered as he remembered the watches in his father's shed.

"Granger…" came Daphne's cold voice, and Ron looked to her. She did not look pleased whatsoever. Ron picked up the watch and studied it, he had no clue on what to do with it. They weren't even friends anymore, were they? Ron hadn't sent Hermione a thing… He didn't feel the need to. He was still pissed off at them, but not pissed enough to go after them. In all honesty, he was just confused about the Trio. He missed them, but he didn't miss them… It was an odd feeling…

"What should I do with this?" Ron asked Daphne, he knew that he couldn't decide no matter how hard he tried. Daphne stared at the black Muggle watch with disdain, and then she sighed.

"It's a gift…" Daphne said in a cold whisper. "You don't throw away gifts on Christmas…" Ron was stunned! Was this actually Daphne he was talking to?! "What, Ron?! You're staring at me!"

"Nothing…" Ron said softly. "It's just that you hate her… don't you?"

"I do" Daphne said bluntly. "But she got you a gift, and she apologized. Unlike the two clowns she follows around, she at least understands that she was a terrible friend… I can almost respect that…"

"Really?" Ron asked with an awed expression.

"Yes…" Daphne hissed, she didn't like him doubting her words. "And you should wear it on your left wrist… That's the Muggle fashion for men…"

"How do you…" Ron started but Daphne cut him off.

"Mr. Davis wears one, and he got one for father… It's called a Rolex, or something…" Daphne sighed. "What kind of watch is that?"

"I don't know…" Ron muttered as he stared at it. Ron then put it around his left wrist, and he did up the clasp. "Well?" Ron asked as he showed his wrist to Daphne. "What do you think?"

"It's fine…" Daphne said coldly, and Ron smiled at her. She doesn't want me wearing it… But she also doesn't want me to throw it away… She's so weird.

"Okay…" Ron smiled, he had to change the subject. "I've got only one present left… And it's from your family…"

"They sent you a present?" Daphne asked slowly, and then she smiled widely. "Well, open it! I want to see it!" That was way too easy… Ron opened the present that had Lord and Lady Greengrass' signature on it. It was a card, and a framed photo. Ron scooted over to Daphne's side as they both looked at the photo. It was a moving picture of Ron and Lord Greengrass, and it had been taken right after Ron had won that competition in Paris. The picture was of Ron smiling and waving as Lord Greengrass stood behind him with a proud smile, his hand on Ron's right shoulder.

"To the first of many victories together, Ronald" Ron read the card as Daphne smiled widely at the photo. "Our partnership has only just begun, but I already know that it will be a fruitful one. Happy Christmas, Ronald. Love, ASTORIA GREENGRASS!" Ron laughed at the end. "She scratched out their names! And she signed hers in massive letters! Here, have a look" Ron laughed as he showed Daphne the letter, and Daphne frowned at it.

"Tori…" Daphne sighed. "My sister wasn't born right, I swear…"

"I think Tori is great!" Ron chuckled.

"Do you now?" Daphne smiled coldly, and Ron stopped chuckling.

"Um… no?" Ron managed sheepishly.

"So my sister isn't great?" Daphne narrowed her eyes. What? What's the right answer here?!

"Can I say both?" Ron smiled sheepishly, and Daphne suddenly broke into giggles. "You're the worst…" Ron pouted, and she kept giggling at him.

---

December 25th, 1992 (After Breakfast)

"Headmaster, can I talk to you please?" Ron asked as they were all getting up to leave. Merlin, I hope I'm doing the right thing here! He knows about the Entity… But he doesn't know that I know that he knows… Okay, that was confusing…

"Certainly, Ronald" Dumbledore chuckled, his eyes twinkling. "Come, take a walk with me… It is a lovely Christmas morning!" Ron followed after the Headmaster, and he gave Daphne a quick nod before he left. They walked out into the courtyard in silence, and Ron was doing his best to muster his courage.

"Headmaster…" Ron started slowly. "I was hoping to talk to you about what happened between us…" Dumbledore stopped moving, and he slowly turned to face Ron. His eyes weren't twinkling anymore…

"What happened between us?" Dumbledore asked, his expression had become a little too serious for Ron's liking. He thinks I want to talk about the Entity? Merlin no! Fuck that…

"When I used the Board against you… and the Trio…" Ron clarified, he felt some shame creep into his mind.

"Ah!" Dumbledore chuckled, he was visibly relieved. "Brilliant move, Ronald! I was very impressed" the old codger chuckled merrily.

"You were…?" Ron asked, he honestly couldn't understand this man.

"Of course" Dumbledore said in a tone that implied the obvious. "You really are a chess player at heart, not many children pull such tricks!"

"Yes… well…" Ron started, he decided to ignore Dumbledore's odd behavior. Ron knew it was an act, he'd seen the real Dumbledore during Peter's capture and trial. "I wanted to undo the punishments I gave out…"

"You do?" Dumbledore smiled at him. "Why?"

"I overreacted… I was angry, and I made a rash decision…" Ron admitted, and it felt like a weight was lifted off of his chest.

"That is very mature of you, Ronald" Dumbledore said, his eyes dancing in merriment.

"Thank you, Headmaster…" Ron smiled softly. "Except for the Quidditch thing… Professor Snape would kill me if I gave Potter his Quidditch privileges back…" Dumbledore laughed lightly, and then he nodded.

"Very well, Ronald" Dumbledore beamed. "I will see it done."

"Thank you" Ron nodded. "I'm going to go back inside… I don't want to leave Daphne alone…"

"Certainly" Dumbledore smiled. "Have a wonderful Christmas, Ronald."

"You too, Headmaster" Ron smiled back, and then he began making his way back inside.

"Ronald" Dumbledore called to him, and Ron turned around. "I'm very proud of you." Ron's cheeks flared red, Albus Dumbledore was proud of him!

"Thank you, Headmaster!" Ron beamed, and then he walked back inside with a massive grin on his face. I made the right choice!

---

January 5th, 1992 (Snape's Office)

Ron stood outside of Snape's office, and he felt a cold sweat on his brow. This summoning can't be a good thing… Daphne was waiting in the common room for their friends to come back, the Hogwarts Express would be stopping at Hogsmeade Station any minute now. Ron wanted to stay with her, but Snape had summoned him to his Office for something. Ron knocked on the door lightly, and Snape answered.

"Come in" came Snape's low voice, and Ron entered the Potions Master's Office. "Come, sit down Mr. Weasley." Ron did as he was told.

"Is there anything I can help you with, Sir?" Ron asked with a calm voice. Play it cool, Weasley. You've done nothing wrong…

"No, Mr. Weasley" Snape replied, his face was an unreadable mask. "I just wished to speak with you about your year so far. Is that alright?" Did he just ask me if that was alright? When does Snape ever ask that?

"Of course, Sir" Ron replied. "What would you like to know?"

"Tell me, how are things for you within Slytherin?" Snape asked, and Ron blinked at him. What is this?

"Things are going well…" Ron replied slowly.

"Mr. Weasley, speak your mind" Snape said softly. "Whatever we discuss will not leave this room." That would have comforted Ron if he wasn't so paranoid…

"I am generally accepted within the house" Ron answered elusively, and Snape picked up on his elusive response.

"That is good…" Snape drawled, the boy was a decent liar. And Snape couldn't even use light Legilimency… "How are things between you and Mr. Malfoy?" Shite…

"As they've always been" Ron smiled faintly. Snape frowned internally, damn this boy…

"Mr. Weasley, I want to help you" Snape decided to go with a different approach. "I want to know if there are any other factors that may be causing you extra stress besides your studies. And I would appreciate it if you answered honestly…" Um no…

"Of course, Sir" Ron nodded. "Malfoy still comes after me every now and then, but it's nothing serious. He throws a few insults, and I ignore him. I'm not sure if he is still spying on me, but at this point, I don't really care. I have nothing to hide."

"How is your relationship with your parents?" Snape asked, and Ron blinked.

"We haven't spoken much…" Ron said in a dead-tone. "They sent me a Christmas present each. Mum knitted me a sweater. Dad sent me some Muggle toy, it's called an 'Action-figure'." Snape nodded slowly. The boy's tone and curt answers showed that he wasn't happy with his parents.

"And how are you dealing with the rumors that you are the Heir of Slytherin?" Snape asked, and Ron started to get annoyed. What the hell was up with this interrogation? And why is he talking so politely?! Usually he'd call me an imbecile and tell me to sod off… Well not quite, but still!

"I have no issues with those rumors, Sir" Ron said with forced politeness. "I ignore them. They are false. Sir, what is this? Why am I being interrogated?"

"No one is interrogating you" Snape said, his tone becoming cold. There it is! That's better…

"What else would you call this?" Ron goaded the Potions Master. Any second now!

"I am just checking up on my students" Snape said in a dead-tone.

"Shouldn't Daphne be here as well then?" Ron asked innocently, and Snape's lips twitched. Disrespectful little brat… Had using the Dark Arts given him such a big-head? Snape would knock that pride down a peg soon enough…

"The Headmaster and I are concerned about your recent behavior" Snape said icily, he was done playing nanny. It was time to frighten the boy. It was time to initiate their plan…

"My recent behavior? Is this about Potter? Sir, I already apologized for that." Ron said firmly. "And I removed the punishments… Well, most of them."

"And what about that Curse you used?" Snape asked, his black eyes staring right into Ron's ocean blue ones. "Did you think I missed that?" Snape sneered.

"It is a spell that I found in the Forbidden Section" Ron lied. "I practiced it, and mastered it. And then I used it on Potter."

"Do not lie to me…" Snape seethed. "I have scoured that Section many times… There is no such spell in there." Shite… Bad lie!

"Perhaps you missed it…" Ron smiled, he was beginning to lose his resolve. Snape was a scary man!

"I have other ways of finding out the truth, boy" Snape said menacingly. "Do not push me…" I am getting sick of this interrogation! I did nothing wrong! I even took back those punishments!

"Sir, I…" Ron started but Snape cut him off.

"I know the Dark Arts when I see them" Snape said firmly as he stood up to tower above Ron. Ron instinctively shrank into his seat. "If I ever see you use them again… I will have you expelled on the spot, do you understand me?!" Ron nodded meekly. "Now, answer my questions! And do not play games with me… Where did you learn that spell?"

"A seventh year taught it to me, Victor Burke..." Ron lied, and Snape bought it. Snape knew that boy quite well, and Ronald's answer was plausible.

"Why did you lift the punishments on the Gryffindors?" Snape snarled.

"I felt guilty…" Ron replied in a meek tone. Ron's guilt was creeping back into his mind slowly…

"You didn't feel guilty when you beat Potter like a dog… Why now?" Snape demanded, and Ron remembered what he had done. How he had lost control and scared even his own friends…

"I don't know what came over me…" Ron replied honestly, his eyes were starting to sting. Why was Snape doing this? He had been good recently… He had been trying to make amends… But it'll never be enough… Snape told me that they'd never trust me again…

"I will tell you what came over you" Snape said coldly. "The Dark Arts seduce the mind, boy. You allowed them to warp your mind, like some idiot! And another student paid the price because of your weak character." Ron flinched at that, he was starting feel overwhelmed. Snape was speaking the truth, and Ron knew it… "I'm sure you felt really powerful when you used that Curse, but now you've lost three friends because of it." Ron flinched again…

"They betray…"

"SILENCE!" Snape cut Ron off, and Ron looked down at his feet. "You will speak when I allow you to speak, do you understand?!" Ron nodded as he wiped his eyes. "Foolish boy… Is it not bad enough that everyone in this school is turning on our house? Your use of such a Dark Spell has won us no goodwill… I thought you had at least one brain cell when you threw those parties… Clearly I was wrong. You will abandon this path, do you hear me?" Ron nodded again. "Answer me, boy!"

"Yes… I will…" Ron sniffled. He had already decided that, but Snape's words were hitting to close to home… Ron was overwhelmed with what he had done… And with what had followed. His mother slapping him in front of everyone was all that he could think about.

"I will keep my eyes on you, never forget that" Snape snarled. "If I ever see you use the Dark Arts… Expulsion will be the least of your concerns. Now get out of my sight!" Ron got up and left quickly, all the while rubbing his eyes like some scolded toddler. He felt exactly the same way he had after his mother had slapped him…

After Ronald had left in tears, Snape sat back down in his seat and sighed. He felt like a proper bastard for what he had just done… But it was necessary. The last thing that the Wizarding World needed was another Dark Wizard. And Ronald would make for an extremely dangerous one… Now, it was all up to Albus. Snape had played his part…

---

Albus Dumbledore's POV

January 5th, 1992 (Dungeons)

Albus waited patiently for Ronald to arrive, and he prayed that Severus had shown restraint. They wanted to scare Ron about the truth of the Dark Arts corrupting the mind, not scare the boy out of the school. They had planned this right after Ronald had used that serpent summoning Curse, but then one thing had led to another. And now here they were, terrifying a child right before he was reunited with his friends… Better him being scared than him becoming corrupted. This is for the Greater Good… This is for own sake. Albus heard quick footsteps approaching, and he steeled his mind. Albus then walked around the corner and bumped into Ronald.

"Ronald, slow…" Albus' sentence died in his mouth. Ronald was crying, and his eyes were inflamed because he had been rubbing them too hard.

"So… sorry, Headmaster…" Ron hiccupped. SEVERUS YOU FOOL! WHAT DID YOU DO?! THIS IS NOT A LITTLE SCARED!

"Ronald, what has happened?" Albus asked the hysterical boy.

"Noth… nothing…" Ronald hiccupped again, and then a sob broke out of his throat. "I'm sorry…" And just like that, Ronald tried to go around Albus. Albus grabbed his arm gently and stopped him, and then Albus kneeled to Ronald's height.

"Ronald, tell me please" Albus implored.

"I fell…" Ronald lied, and Albus smiled softly. Loyal to a fault… Even now…

"You must be hurt…" Albus said softly. "Come with me."

"It's… okay…" Ronald sniffled.

"Do you want Miss. Greengrass to see you like this?" Albus asked, and he cringed internally. That was a terrible thing to use against Ronald…

"No…" Ronald shook his head. Was he always this small? He usually looks taller… Albus' chest tightened, but he decided to stay the course.

"How about some hot chocolate?" Albus asked with a smile. "In my office… No one will be there. And you can relax a little before your friends arrive." Ronald nodded meekly as he rubbed his eyes. I am going to have a little chat with Severus after this! Albus then led them up to his Office, and then he seated Ron down on a seat as he summoned two cups of hot chocolate. "Here, Ronald" Albus said softly as he handed the boy a cup.

"Thank you, Headmaster…" Ronald whispered. The boy clearly had something on his mind, and Albus planned to coax it out of him soon enough.

"I love hot chocolate" Albus hummed as he sat down in front of Ronald. "I find that it soothes my very soul" Albus chuckled. "What about you, Ronald?"

"I like it too…" Ronald replied as he sipped his drink. At least he isn't hysterical anymore… Merlin damn you Severus… Do you not understand the notion of restraint?!

"How about a game of chess?" Albus smiled. "I've heard you are quite the player." Ronald looked up with a smile, and puffy red eyes.

"Did my trophies tell you that?" Ronald joked, and Albus chuckled genuinely. Quick-witted too!

"Then you don't mind playing a game with this old man?" Albus asked as he summoned his chessboard. "Which side would you prefer?"

"Black…" Ronald answered softly.

"Then I believe it is my move first" Albus said as he moved a pawn forward. Albus immediately noticed how alert Ronald had become suddenly, the boy's eyes were darting all over the board. Impressive… He wants to anticipate my moves before I make them? The game progressed slowly at first, both of them played rather cautiously. Albus wanted to talk rather than play, but he decided to let the boy calm down a little. When they were five minutes into their game, Albus finally broke the silence.

"Are you going to tell me what happened, Ronald?" Albus asked softly, and the boy's grip tightened around his mug.

"I fell, Headmaster" Ronald lied again.

"In front of Professor Snape's Office? That is where you were coming from, weren't you?" Albus asked, and Ronald looked up slowly. "It is okay, Ronald. Professor Snape can be quite… harsh sometimes. But he means well…"

"I know…" Ronald replied. The boy had that tortured look on his face again, like he wanted to ask something but he was too scared to. "He saved my life, didn't he?" Ronald asked, and Albus blinked at him.

"Yes…" Albus smiled sadly, that night was something he never wished to repeat. "He does care for you, Ronald." Ronald nodded meekly as he took Albus' pawn. "Why did he scold you?"

"I used… I used a Dark Spell… against Potter…" Ronald replied, there was so much shame in his voice.

"I see…" Albus nodded, he already knew but he needed Ronald to admit it. "How did it make you feel, Ronald? When you used that spell?" Ronald looked up again, his bottom lip quivered a little. They were both silent for a few seconds, and then Ronald answered.

"Strong…" Ronald muttered, his eyes becoming distant. "It made me feel strong…" Ronald's voice cracked. "I didn't care about hurting Potter either… I wanted to do it… I…" Ronald let out a small cry as his eyes teared up again. "I did something really horrible…" Ronald began crying. Albus took in a long breath, he was glad to see this remorse. Ronald was a good person, and this proved it completely. That Entity has no hold over him. Good!

"That is what the Dark Arts do, Ronald…" Albus said softly, it was time to drive the message through Ronald's mind. "They make you feel strong, so strong that the suffering of others is easily forgotten… Can I tell you a story, Ronald?" Albus asked as he took Ronald's bishop. Ronald nodded as he rubbed his eyes and sniffled. "I knew a boy once, he was utterly brilliant. Many called him the 'best student that Hogwarts had ever seen'… He was the type who would go on to change the world. Everyone had high expectations of this boy, many even claimed that he would one day become Minister of Magic." Ronald looked up and listened with complete attention.

"But this boy" Albus continued. "He hid a certain part of himself from others. He had a fascination with the Dark Arts, and he began to study them in his time alone. Now this brilliant boy, who was well-liked by others, slowly began to change. He became cold, and distant. No one understood why he was changing because this boy hid his passion vehemently. The Dark Arts were warping his mind… He began to see himself as better than others, more deserving of life. Causing others pain no longer bothered him, it made him feel stronger…" Ronald gulped at that, and his bottom lip quivered wildly.

"This boy…" Albus continued. "Grew up to become Lord Voldemort." Ronald flinched at that, and his blood-shot eyes became teary again. "I believe that he was not always the monster people say he was… He was a student of our school, just like you. Just like your friends… He ate where you eat, he slept where you sleep, and he studied where you study… He was an ordinary boy, but the Dark Arts turned him into a monster that the Wizarding World shudders at the thought of. He gave into the Dark Arts, Ronald… Do you understand?" Ronald nodded slowly, their game of chess utterly forgotten. "Real power…" Albus said as he moved over to Ronald and kneeled in front of him. "Real power comes from here" Albus said as he put his hand over Ronald's heart. "It comes from the love you feel for others…"

"Did he not feel that?" Ronald whispered.

"Perhaps he did… Perhaps he did not" Albus smiled sadly, he had truly failed Tom. Albus knew why the Entity had shown him an image of Tom being crucified… It was one of his greatest regrets, just like Gellert and Ariana were… "What matters, Ronald" Albus said softly "Is if you feel it. And I know you do…" Albus smiled, and Ronald nodded softly. Fawkes suddenly shrieked and flapped his wings, and Ronald look at it with wide-eyes.

"Ah, Fawkes" Albus smiled as he stood back up. "He is my oldest friend Ronald, do you know much about Phoenixes?"

"No, Headmaster" Ronald replied, his voice was calm once again.

"Magnificent creatures" Albus said proudly. "Their loyalty is hard-won, but it will last a lifetime. They can carry loads of immense size, their very tears can heal even the most gravest of injuries, and they can tell a person's character just by looking at them. Such intelligent creatures…" Albus was about to go on, but he stopped when he noticed Fawkes staring at Ronald. Albus looked down to the boy, and he was staring right back at Fawkes. Albus smiled softly at this. Fawkes then let out a sharp cry and flew over to Ronald's chair. Albus was stunned, how was this possible? It had taken Albus well over a year to even approach Fawkes without the Phoenix flashing away!

"Headmaster…" Ronald squeaked as Fawkes glared at Ronald.

"Shhh" Albus shushed Ronald, he wanted to see this. Fawkes, my friend… What are you doing? Fawkes then hopped into Ronald's lap, he was trying to gaze into Ronald's eyes. Ronald had tensed immensely, but he looked back into the Phoenix's eyes. There was dead silence in the room, and then Fawkes let out a softer cry. Fawkes rubbed Ronald's face with his head, and Albus could only watch in absolute awe. Fawkes had accepted the boy… in mere moments… And then, Albus felt his chest swell with joy, Ronald was an exceptional person. His run-in with the Dark Arts was nothing more than a small mistake… And everyone was entitled to a few mistakes.

"Headmaster, what is he doing?" Ronald asked as he let the Phoenix play with him.

"Fawkes likes you, Ronald" Albus smiled widely, he couldn't help it. This is an amazing turn of events! Ronald, my dear boy, this is wonderful news!

"Why?" Ronald asked. Albus blinked at him for a second, but then he remembered Ronald's memory. A sense of worthlessness… I will change that myself! Ronald must be shown that he is valued!

"Because you are a good person, Ronald" Albus said truthfully. "And Fawkes knows it… But I must ask you to stop, Fawkes. Students are already piling into the Great Hall…" Fawkes let out another soft cry, and then he flew onto his perch.

"Daphne!" Ronald exclaimed. "I left her all alone… I'm dead…" Albus let out a hearty chuckle.

"Come along, Ronald" Albus beamed. "I will escort you down. You can tell them that I wouldn't let you go."

"Really?" Ronald smiled in relief. "Thank you, Headmaster!" Is he really going to use me as an excuse?! HAHA! Excellent! Albus then led them both down, and Ronald was looking like his usual self. His eyes were still a bit red though… Albus cast a non-verbal wandless spell to ease the inflammation, and Ronald didn't even notice.

"Headmaster" Ronald broke the silence as they neared the Great Hall. "We never finished our game…"

"True…" Albus smiled softly. "We can play whenever you want Ronald, you know where my Office is."

"Really?" Ronald smiled. "I can just come over?"

"Of course, just ask Professor Snape for the password."

"Professor Snape…" Ronald said softly. He is still scared… Severus…

"Do not worry, Ronald" Albus put his hand on Ronald's shoulder as he led them inside. The Hall was packed, and the students were waiting for him to give his address. "Professor Snape did what he did because he is worried for you… He is not good with… emotions…" Albus chuckled.

"I've noticed" Ron chuckled as well. Albus then gave his shoulder a comforting squeeze.

"Go on, Ronald" Albus smiled. "You're friends are waiting for you…"

---

Ronald Weasley's POV

January 5th, 1992 (Dinner)

Ron shot Dumbledore one more genuine smile before he started to walk down to his friends, the old codger wasn't so bad… Ron shot a quick look to the Gryffindors, and they were looking at him and Dumbledore in confusion. Jealous? Ron then spotted the Trio, and they too were watching him. Neville and Harry looked genuinely baffled, but Hermione was smiling softly at him. Ron decided to give her a soft smile as well, and she was stunned. Ron then reached his friends, and he sat down in between Blaise and Theo.

"Why were you with Dumbledore?" Daphne asked, she sounded worried.

"We played some chess…" Ron smiled at her, and she narrowed her eyes on him.

"I waited for you…" Daphne pouted.

"Sorry Daph, the old man wouldn't let me leave" Ron lied. "Welcome back you guys!" Ron beamed at his friends.

"Good to be back!" Tracey winked at him.

"Tell that to my parents…" Millie shook her head.

"Mine too" Pansy sighed. "This Heir business is ruining Hogwarts…" I couldn't agree more!

"Theo has some good news though" Blaise smirked. Ron and the others turned to Theo, and he was wearing a victorious grin.

"I figured out what the monster of Slytherin is…" Theo whispered with his grin in place. Everyone but Blaise went wide-eyed. Blood hell…

---

AUTHOR'S NOTES: That was my longest chapter yet! Feels good! I hope you guys enjoyed that, there was a lot to process there! Albus and Severus have officially decided to enter Ron's life, and what a way to do it!

Let me know what you all think! See you guys soon!