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.

59. Chapter 59 - A Wild Beast

AUTHOR'S NOTES: Chapter 59 is here, right out of the oven that is my computer! Thank you all for the warm welcome back, it feels good to be back here. There's so many stories that I want to read right now (none of them about Ron, sadly). Anyway...

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 59 – A Wild Beast

Ronald Weasley's POV

Monday 29th June, 1993 (Greengrass Manor – An Hour before Midday)

Ron stepped through the fireplace, fully expecting to get tackled by an excited Tori, but that didn't happen. There was no there to greet him, yet Ron wasn't too bothered. He instead began making his way to the Living Room. The Mansion was massive, so it took Ron a couple of minutes to get there. The moment he stepped into the room, he spotted Daphne and Tori playing a game of Chess together. Mary was reading a novel by the fireplace, completely absorbed by the book.

"Hello, my Ladies" Ron greeted them, and they all looked to him with smiles.

"Ron, you're here a little early" Mary greeted back. "Come and sit down with us, we can leave after I finish this chapter."

"Interesting book?" Ron asked as he sat down in an empty chair.

"It is" Mary chuckled. "One of my Husband's Muggle romance novels." It's so weird that Lord Greengrass reads those types of books. Mary turned her attention back to her book, so Ron looked to the girls. Tori was focused on the board, but Daphne gave him a nice smile. I wonder how she reacted to me sending her Ice-cream. Hopefully she didn't think that it was creepy.

"Who's winning?" Ron asked the girls.

"Me" they both replied, and then they looked at each other with confused looks.

"That's never a good sign" Ron laughed, and he could hear Mary stifling her laugh. "Theo not here yet?"

"No, he won't be here until the afternoon" Daphne replied as she took Tori's knight.

"Ugh…" Tori groaned at losing her knight. "I don't want to play anymore… You've killed both of my knights."

"So I win?" Daphne smirked, and Tori frowned at her sister.

"No, I'm just not playing anymore" Tori argued. "There's a difference." That's called forfeiting, so Daphne does win.

"Alright" Daphne agreed, making both Ron and Tori blink in disbelief. "We can continue later, if you want." Tori nodded slowly with narrowed eyes, her sister was up to something. "Ron, Blaise sent a letter for us. Said that it was urgent." Ron was immediately alert at that, and even Mary looked to Daphne for a second. "It's in my room, you need to read it."

"Alright" Ron stood up, his brow furrowed. Blaise is sending urgent letters? He still hasn't sent me one inviting me over for dinner with his mother. Is he in trouble? Daphne stood up and walked over to Ron, and Tori made to follow.

"Tori, this is kind of private" Daphne gave Tori a soft smile, but Tori just huffed.

"Tori, come sit with me love" Mary called out, and Tori sighed and did as she was told. Ron gave Mary a grateful nod, and she smiled in return.

"Show me" Ron turned to Daphne, and she nodded. They made their way up to her room as Ron ran through all the different scenarios in his head. "Did he say what was wrong? He hasn't contacted me about dinner at his place yet."

"Not here" Daphne replied, and Ron held back his questions. Damn, what's gone wrong? They entered Daphne's room, and she locked the door behind her.

"Where is it?" Ron asked, his expression dead-serious.

"There's no letter, Ron" Daphne giggled, her features relaxing because of her ploy succeeding. Huh? What? "I wanted to talk to you alone, so I used Blaise sending an 'urgent' letter as a means to trick mother."

"Daph…" Ron groaned. "I was scared for him…"

"Sorry" Daphne smiled as she walked up to him. "But I wanted to thank you for the Ice-cream yesterday. I think it was a really sweet gesture, and it made my day."

"Really?" Ron relaxed considerably. Blaise is fine, thank Merlin.

"Really" she hummed as she put her arms around his lower back and gazed up at him. Ron felt his face flush, and he awkwardly looked down and gave her a weak smile. "We've hugged before Ron, there's no need to be so tense."

"I know… It's just that you hug me differently…" Ron mumbled, earning a giggle from her.

"How so?" Daphne asked. "Describe the difference."

"Well for one, your arms are near my… lower back" Ron replied, trying his best to avoid the word 'arse'. "And you're pressed up against me more…" Merlin, what's the damn temperature in this room?

"Your blush is so cute" Daphne smiled up at him, and he managed another weak smile back.

"You're blushing too" Ron pointed out, but she just shrugged.

"It doesn't bother me anymore" she admitted. "Does it bother you?"

"I… Sort of…" Ron admitted. "Sorry."

"What for?" Daphne asked. "You have the right to not like blushing, despite how cute you look when you do." Cute? She really thinks that I'm cute? Ron smiled a little more genuinely at the thought, he thought that she was cute too. "As for the Ice-cream, thank you." Daphne then leaned up and pecked his lips, and Ron's stomach felt like it was floating again. Damn Charlie, his words got to me. We've kissed plenty of times now, so why am I getting so nervous again? This counts as kissing, no matter what Charlie says.

"You're welcome" Ron smiled, and she blinked at him.

"Ron, what's wrong?" Daphne asked.

"Nothing" Ron lied with a smile, but she let go of him with a sigh. Damn, how did she know?

"I know when something is bothering you, Ron" Daphne told him. "Tell me what it is, I want to help." Ron shuffled his feet, his face burning from embarrassment. Damn you Charlie Weasley, damn you.

"What we do…" Ron started slowly. "It counts as kissing, right?" Daphne would be lying if she said that she wasn't left gobsmacked by his weird question, and she didn't even try to hide it.

"Ron, did you bump your head?" Daphne asked, half-teasing and half-serious.

"No" Ron quickly replied, his sense of embarrassment increasing. Nice going, Ron. You daft cunt. "I'm being stupid… Sorry…"

"No, it's alright" Daphne reassured him. "I shouldn't have said that. You have something on your mind, and I shouldn't make fun of you for it. Tell me what's wrong." Ron smiled gratefully at that.

"My brother… My older brother Charlie, that is… He knows that we kiss each other" Ron told her. "I asked him about it when you first kissed me because I was really confused by it, and he knows that we're still doing it in secret. He won't tell anyone, I can promise that. Anyway… He said something to me that just got to me, that's all."

"What did he say?" Daphne asked with a patient smile. It was taking everything in her power to not start teasing Ron for acting so bashful near her.

"He said that…" Ron stopped, but Daphne gave him a soft nudge. "He said that 'bumping lips' isn't kissing…"

"Bumping lips?" Daphne frowned. "That's a gross way to say it."

"Sorry, Charlie can be a bit too blunt" Ron admitted. "Anyway, it just got to me for a second." That, and him saying that Daphne's my girlfriend. The really scary part is that I actually really like the sound of that. Shite, am I actually smitten?

"Why wouldn't it count as kissing?" Daphne huffed, slightly annoyed with Ron's brother.

"I said the same thing" Ron assured her. "But he just laughed at me…" Daphne huffed indignantly at that.

"Come here please" Daphne stood up to her full height, and Ron moved over to her. "Kiss me." Damn, that sounded like an order rather than an invitation. "And I want one of those long kisses. We haven't done one of those in forever."

"Do you want me to give you a salute as well?" Ron asked.

"If you want" Daphne smirked. "Now hurry up. Mother will want you back soon." Ron nodded, calmed his nerves, and he gave her what she wanted.

---

Monday 29th June, 1993 (The Ministry – Near Midday)

Ron stepped through the fireplace after Mary, both of them entering the Ministry of Magic. Mary quickly locked her arm with his, and he smiled at her. Merlin, she smells nice. Wait… What the fuck am I thinking? I just kissed her daughter, and I've just realized that I have a crush on said daughter. I've kissed my crush! WOHOO!

"Ron?" Mary laughed. "Why are you smiling so happily?"

"Oh… Just happy to have a beautiful woman on my arm" Ron replied, earning another laugh from Mary.

"Very nice use of flattery, Ron" Mary smiled as they began moving. "Trust me, flattery is a powerful weapon when used right. And you are getting better at it every time I see you."

"Daphne's helped me a lot, if I'm being honest" Ron replied, his eyes traveling to the Fountain of Magical Brethren. Statues made of solid gold. A wizard, a witch, a Centaur, a Goblin, and a House-Elf. Father told me that the Fountain symbolizes unity, but everyone knows that witches and wizards dominate the Wizarding World. This Fountain is just for show.

"That is good to hear" Mary responded. "You and my daughter are very close, aren't you?" Ron tensed at that, and she felt it. It brought a mischievous smile to her face.

"She's my best friend" Ron admitted, hoping to throw her off. Though Tracey is hers. Odd, that my best friend is best friends with someone else.

"You're such a sweet young man" Mary cooed, her smile widening as she saw his blush. She found it rather adorable, yet odd, that her daughter, who was someone that refused to wear her heart on her sleeve, constantly brought Ron up. Every fifth sentence would either be about him, or allude to him. Daphne was clearly harboring a massive crush on the boy, and he being who he was, seemed utterly oblivious to it.

"You're teasing me" Ron stated with a frown.

"Forgive me, but I couldn't resist" Mary laughed. "I'll stop, I promise. Tell me, how is Blaise?" Blaise? Oh, the 'letter' he sent. Great work Daph, now I have to come up with a suitable lie.

"He's fine" Ron replied. "He wanted to let me know that his mother wants me over for dinner soon." Mary stopped dead in her tracks, making Ron do the same. "Mary?"

"Ron, is this true?" Mary's eyes widened, and Ron blinked at her before nodded slowly. "Verdammt" she muttered in a foreign language.

"What's wrong?" Ron asked.

"You should refuse her invitation, Ron" Mary urged him, much to his surprise. "Stay away from that… that vile, despicable woman. She is a spider, one that will try to entangle you in her webs." Not a fan? And spider? Ron shuddered at the thought of those monstrosities. Ugly little bastards.

"That's Arthur Weasley's youngest boy…" came a voice from somewhere, and Ron looked around to see dozens of people eyeing him.

"That's Ronald Weasley…"

"That's the kid that resisted fifty Veelas? Wait… it is…"

"Mr. Weasley!" a shabby looking man waved to him, and Ron turned to see some reporter march towards him. There was a massive camera floating behind him, and Ron tensed. Other people heard the shout, and they started eyeing Ron too.

"Ron, start walking" Mary instructed as she all but began dragging Ron with her. "Damn vultures…"

"What's going on?" Ron asked her, his eyes darting to the people staring at him.

"You're quite famous" Mary reminded him. "But my husband, at your father's request, has kept you relatively shielded from 'journalists'. Don't look at them Ron, just keep your eyes forward." Ron did as he was told, all while wondering why his father didn't want him talking to journalists.

"That's really him…"

"He looks… like a normal kid…"

"Isn't that Mary Greengrass?"

"Leave the kid alone…"

"Hold the elevator" Mary ordered, and a tiny witch squealed and held it open. Ron and Mary squeezed in, while some bloke inside spotted the journalists and quickly closed the cage. "Thank you, my good man." The man nodded, and then looked back to his paper. Mary pressed the button for the second floor, and then tightened her hold on Ron's arm. "Don't leave my side for a second."

"I won't" Ron promised. The elevator jerked to life, and Ron quickly grabbed a handle with his free hand. Mary just used Ron as her support, effectively making him work to keep her stable too. Once the elevator finally stopped on the second floor, a light-headed Ron opened the cage and guided Mary out.

"What a horrid contraption" Mary sighed out, her grip on Ron's arm loosening. Ron was about to answer, but he stopped when he spotted Madam Roberts just standing there. She was looking at Ron and Mary, no doubt waiting for them.

"I said Midday, and you're five minutes late" Madam Roberts stated, her face calm but her eyes judgmental.

"We had the misfortune of running into some enthusiastic journalists" Mary informed the woman, who simply gave a curt nod. But they didn't really slow us down. If anything, we got here quicker because of them.

"Come with me" Madam Roberts ordered, and Ron and Mary began to follow her. Ron's eyes traveled all over the place, hungrily taking in the sights. The Department of Magical Law Enforcement was huge, with people running back and forward in a hurry. I wonder how many of them are Aurors? Ron felt giddy for some reason, he'd love to work here someday. Catching bad guys, working cases related to the Dark Arts, protecting innocent people. Ron was nearly salivating at the prospect of such a job, something that Mary noticed.

"Do you want to work in this Department someday?" Mary asked him, she figured that he would. Ron had a tendency to get into trouble, and to help other people along the way.

"I do" Ron admitted. "Being an Auror sounds like fun."

"It sounds fun?" Madam Roberts turned around, her face expressionless. "You want to deal with the scum of the Earth for the rest of your life, is that it?" Ron blinked at her, while Mary frowned. "You want people throwing Killing Curses at you every other week?"

"He's just a boy" Mary said as she looked into Madam Roberts' eyes, but the older witch simply turned back around and started walking again. "Don't listen to her Ron." I… I think I should. She's seen war before, and I'm preparing for one right now. 'Sounds like fun', what the fuck is wrong with me? They walked the rest of the way in silence, until eventually they entered the Auror's Headquarters, and that silence was broken. There was a lot of noise, which was the first thing that Ron noticed. Then he looked around the cluttered open area divided into cubicles, which was buzzing with loud talking and laughter.

"Hand me your wand" Madam Roberts turned around, and Ron did as he was told. As soon as the warmth of it left his hand, Ron felt naked. Madam Roberts examined the fourteen inch wand, her eyes narrowing on the elegant flowery design. "What type of wood is your wand made out of?"

"Cypress" Ron replied, and Madam Roberts looked back at him immediately. Something flashed behind her eyes, and her lips twitched upwards for a second. What was that? She looked almost pleased for a second there.

"Wait here" she ordered, and then she began to head deeper into Headquarters. "Kingsley, I need your help with something."

"That woman…" Mary sighed. "Who says that to a child?"

"I'm not a child" Ron gave her a weak smile. "And I think she was trying to show me what being an Auror is really like."

"Still…" Mary frowned. "There are gentler ways to do it."

"It's alright" Ron reassured her, and she patted his right cheek gently.

"You are in the way" came a man's voice, and both Ron and Mary turned to see the man limping towards them. He wielded a walking stick to help with his slight limp, and looked rather like an old lion with streaks of grey in otherwise tawny hair and bushy eyebrows.

"Mr. Scrimgeour" Mary greeted, and the man stopped when he heard his name. His keen yellowish eyes landed on Mary, and he fixed his wire-rimmed spectacles to see her better.

"Ah, Lady Greengrass" Scrimgeour greeted back. "It has been a long time, has it not?"

"It has, and I must admit, I am grateful for it" Mary smiled at the man, while Ron just studied the older wizard. "Ronald, this is Rufus Scrimgeour. Head of the Auror's Department." Ron's eyes widened slightly, and he put his hand forward for a shake without even thinking about it. Rufus Scrimgeour shook his hand firmly, and gave Ron a curt nod.

"I'm Ronald Weasley, Sir" Ron properly introduced himself.

"Rufus Scrimgeour" the older wizard said curtly, letting go of Ron's hand. "I've heard much about you, Mr. Weasley. Some rather troubling things, I must admit."

"Troubling, Sir?" Ron blinked.

"You possess a penchant for getting into trouble" Scrimgeour replied. "I imagine that you'd fit right in here."

"Oh… Thank you, Sir" Ron beamed, nearly passing out from excitement.

"Now please excuse me, I have a meeting to get to" Scrimgeour excused himself, and then he limped onwards and disappeared into the headquarters.

"Did you hear that?" Ron beamed at Mary, his grin nearly splitting his face open.

"Composure, Ron" Mary reminded him, a soft smile on her lips.

"Sorry" Ron apologized, his grin still in place. But that grin fell when he spotted Madam Roberts coming their way, and Ron cleared his throat to warn Mary.

"Here's your wand, and your permit" Madam Roberts said as she handed Ron his wand back.

"Permit?" Ron asked as he quickly pocketed his wand. Finally, I was feeling like I was starkers.

"I've pulled some connections, and had the Trace lifted from your wand" Madam Roberts explained. "As for the Trace on you, that will be ignored for these school Holidays. This permit is proof of you being in our 'exclusion books', don't lose it."

"I'll take that" Mary said, and Madam Roberts handed her the permit.

"Is the Trace permanently lifted from my wand?" Ron asked, and Madam Roberts cocked an eyebrow.

"No, only temporarily" she replied. "Once Hogwarts reopens, the Trace will return. Can't have an untraceable wand out there, security reasons. This is just so that the Aurors don't come looking for you while we spar, and if I decide to teach you. Now excuse me, I have work to get back to." Madam Roberts turned on her heal, and she walked off without saying goodbye.

"I don't think she likes me much" Ron joked.

"I'd wager that she doesn't like anyone much" Mary said, and then she gave Ron a smile. "Let's head off, I promised your mother that I'd send you straight home after this."

---

Charlie Weasley's POV

Thursday 2nd July, 1993 (Grimmauld Place – Afternoon)

Things were going rather well for Charlie, with only a few minor inconveniences. The first one, and the major one, was that Kirsten had gone back to Romania. He was going to miss his witch, but he knew that he'd see her soon enough. At least he had managed to see her before she had departed, and they'd had mind-blowing sex before parting ways. The other inconvenience stemmed from his own siblings. Charlie understood that he was never home, mostly because of his busy and difficult job, but it still bothered him when his siblings became possessive. He barely had a minute to himself, and because he was used to having his freedom out on the reserve, he was getting a little prickly.

The twins, bless their hearts, were shameless attention-seekers. They were constantly trying to show him their creations, which were rather ingenious, but always left behind sticky messes. In an effort to win their big brother's approval, the twins had turned wilder than usual. Percy often fell victim to their shenanigans, as did Ron, and that had turned their mother into a Banshee. There was so much noise in the Burrow, and most of it stemmed from the twins.

Percy was his usual self, constantly boasting about his grades and new girlfriend. He would send her letters in front of other people as a way of showing off, but would just end up getting teased by everyone. This did nothing to stop him however, it only made him renew his efforts. It was an endless cycle with him, and Charlie feared that his brother had become a glutton for pain.

Ginny was going through her own problems, as Charlie was well aware thanks to their parents, but Merlin she was a handful. She constantly snapped at the twins for bullying Percy, but had no problem making remarks of her own. She constantly butted heads with Ron for no apparent reason, even when Ron was just minding his own business. Charlie suspected that it had something to do with Harry Potter, who seemed to be prefer Ron's company over hers. Charlie knew that if left unchecked, Ginny was going to push Ron over the edge any day now.

And Ron… Whoever this person was, he was not the little brother that Charlie remembered. Ron had always been so carefree, constantly prioritizing play over work. Ron used to laugh and make jokes constantly, fly around whenever he got the chance, and he would shine like the Sun if people made him the center of attention. But now… Now Ron was closed off, always in the distance somewhere. He made himself known of course, but only when it suited his needs. Beyond that, he didn't seem to care much for attention. Kirsten had been the one to point that out to Charlie after their meeting with his siblings, and she was rather hurt by Ron's distrusting nature. Ron fucking Weasley was distrustful of people! What the fuck had happened to him? Why was it that of all of Charlie's siblings, Ron was the only one who didn't want any attention from him?

And then… Then there was that temper of his. Their father had told Charlie about it, and about how Harry Potter had fallen victim to it. Charlie had finally seen it in person yesterday, and he wasn't ashamed to admit that it had scared the shite out of him. They were all de-Gnoming the garden, all laughing together and whatnot. But then Ginny started questioning Ron about why he was wearing a jumper and his glove even though it was hot, while she herself was wearing a jumper, and that had closed Ron off again. Ron quietly left in order to work alone, but Charlie had noticed that his little brother's mood had been soured. And that's when it happened. A Gnome bit Luna's leg, bringing her to tears. The Gnome, being what it was, seemed rather pleased with itself. And that had snapped something in Ron's head.

Charlie's stomach dropped as he remembered how Ron's face had contorted in utter rage, and then he had started attacking the Gnome, smashing the poor fucker into the ground over and over. Punching its face bloody and screaming like some wild animal as he did it. It had taken both Charlie and Percy to get Ron away from the tiny Gnome, who had limped off in an effort to save his life from the crazed Weasley. But the worst part about this was that Ron had turned around with the full intention of clocking Percy in the head, only to stop at the last second. That had made Charlie dead certain that Ron was trying to kill the Gnome, and that scared the piss out of him. Everyone avoided Ron for the rest of the day, except for Luna, who spent the entire day with Ron in his room.

"Charlie, are you listening?" came Ginny's voice, and Charlie snapped out of his dreadful thoughts. He looked over to see Ginny sitting on the ground, alongside Harry, Luna, and the twins. They were playing Gobstones, while Percy was just watching them play as he lazily read a book. "Do you want to play? We need one more to make it even." Charlie's eyes went to Ron, who was playing Chess against himself in the corner.

"You should invite Ron" Charlie said softly, hoping that Ron didn't hear. He's too busy playing against himself, but why does he need to read that book at the same time?

"Um… We'll just play with five people" Ginny mumbled, looking back to the game. Harry gave her a confused look, and then he looked to Charlie for an explanation. Consider yourself lucky, mate. You didn't see Ron nearly murder a Gnome yesterday. Charlie remembered that Ginny had started crying out of sheer fear, while the twins had both turned tail and run. Fucking hell… Against his better judgement, Charlie moved over towards Ron.

"Little brother, what are you up to?" Charlie smiled at Ron, who looked away from his book and at Charlie.

"Solving Chess conundrums" Ron replied, his eyes going back to the board. "Doing so improves my ability to interpret strategies of all kinds." He even talks differently now, but that's not a bad thing at all.

"Sounds boring" Charlie nudged Ron. "How about a game of Gobstones?" Ron looked back at Charlie, and then his eyes went towards their siblings and Harry. Charlie saw something shift behind them, and Ron looked back down at his board.

"Please don't make me…" Ron whispered, his voice strained. "I know they don't want me there…" Charlie would be lying if he said that it didn't twist his heart to hear Ron sound so alone, but Charlie knew that egging him on would only make Ron close off even more. This Chronic Stress nonsense doesn't have some cure? Like a Potion, or something?

"Alright, Ron" Charlie managed a weak smile. "Just let me know if you want to talk, alright?"

"I will" Ron nodded, clearly lying to Charlie. As Charlie made to leave, Ron suddenly looked back up. "Can we go running again tomorrow? I didn't mean to skip out on you this morning, I was just feeling off."

"Sure thing Ron, I'd love that" Charlie said truthfully, and Ron gave him a grateful smile before returning to his game. Charlie turned back around and went back to his chair, his siblings shooting him glances. Harry still looked confused, and he was eyeing Ron with a furrowed brow. Best keep your distance Harry, it's the Dragon that looks worn out that gets you.

"You kids need anything?" came Sirius' voice, all jolly as usual. Charlie looked to see Sirius grinning at everyone, his eyes traveling around the room. They stopped on Ron momentarily, but then kept scanning the room.

"We're fine, Sirius" Harry smiled up at his Godfather, who gave Harry a wide grin.

"Alright then, enjoy your play date" Sirius laughed, making everyone groan at him. "Charlie, can I have a word with you?"

"Of course" Charlie replied as he got up and followed the man out of the room.

"Let's go up to the roof, there's something that I need to do" Sirius said, his voice suddenly more calm and collected. Charlie followed Sirius up the stairs in silence, until they finally stepped out onto the roof. It was a nice day out, but Charlie could smell the incoming rain. Probably an hour away, and it's going to pour.

"Well, what did you need?" Charlie asked as they stepped further out on the rooftop. Sirius reached into his jacket, and he pulled out a pack of smokes. "I didn't know that you smoked."

"Yeah, only a couple of people do" Sirius shrugged, and then he gave Charlie a knowing smile. "You know what cigarettes are?" He's a sharp bastard.

"I do" Charlie chuckled, and Sirius offered him one. "One can't hurt, I suppose. We have this Muggle-Born on the reserve, smokes them constantly. Idiot tossed a used one in a pile of Dragon dung once…"

"He didn't" Sirius laughed. "He didn't know that Dragon dung is flammable?"

"He does now. The whole fucking heap exploded. Hot shite everywhere" Charlie laughed as well. "We usually bum some off of him when we all go to the pub." Sirius lit his own cigarette, and then he lit Charlie's. "Thanks" Charlie said, and then he took in a drag. That's the stuff. I should come here more often, definitely beats all of mum's rules.

"So… What's wrong with the pup?" Sirius asked.

"Pup?"

"Ron, what's wrong with him?" Sirius asked.

"You haven't heard?" Charlie took another drag. "I thought that you adults all kept constant tabs on him."

"Yeah, I've heard…" Sirius sighed out, rubbing his forehead with his free hand. "Was hoping that something else was bothering him… Fuck me, did he really lose it like that? Arthur made it sound like a horror story."

"It was worse" Charlie laughed mirthlessly. "Sirius, he was out for blood… If we weren't there, he was going to kill that little shite."

"And I thought Harry had temper issues" Sirius muttered.

"Harry? Polite, soft-handed Harry?" Charlie asked.

"He has his moments" Sirius admitted. "Gets riled up if he sees someone bully others, or if people keep things from him. Saw me yell at Kreacher, ended up ripping into me right on the breakfast table. He's just a kid, so I can't really explain that Kreacher is a bigoted little twat."

"Yeah, I met him" Charlie took a deep drag. "Called me a Blood-Traitor on the spot, and then fucked off to Merlin knows where."

"Little cunt" Sirius shook his head. "I wanted to get rid of him, but Remus told me to stay my hand. Told me that Kreacher was the last connection that I had to my parents, as if I care about keeping something like that." He clearly does, considering that he listened to Remus. "Damn, we're veering off topic. What are Arthur and Molly doing about the pup's latest… episode?"

"Nothing, not a fucking thing" Charlie frowned, and Sirius gave him a confused look. "They're scared of pushing him away, Sirius. So much so that they constantly try to please him, something that's turning our siblings against Ron. Ginny is green with jealousy, and the twins target anyone who is favored by authority figures. It's a fucking circus back at home. Poor Pandora is the only one trying to do the right thing, whilst also trying to keep Ron in line. Sirius, he's changed so much that it fucking terrifies me."

"What was he like? You know, when he was a kid" Sirius asked, offering Charlie another smoke. Charlie took it, and Sirius lit it.

"He was a goofy moron" Charlie smiled to himself. And he was perfect. "Always joking, laughing, skipping work, flying around on dusty old broomsticks. He didn't have a damn care in the world, except for maybe his need to please everyone around him. But all kids are like that."

"When did that change?"

"When he turned eight" Charlie leaned against the railing, his face towards Sirius. "Suddenly declared that he wanted to be tutored, and that he wanted to learn spells. Percy jumped at the chance to build a connection with someone, while I just thought that it was adorable. Fucking fool I was… Look at him now…"

"He's still an amazing kid" Sirius took a long drag, and then exhaled loudly. "I love him almost as much as I love Harry, nothing can change that." Charlie gave Sirius a grateful smile, one that he returned.

"He lies a lot" Charlie noted, and Sirius nodded.

"I've noticed" Sirius shrugged. "He always has an answer for everything. And he somehow knows things that he shouldn't. Maybe he really is a real Prodigy, far smarter than any of us. Maybe that's where his insight comes from."

"Maybe" Charlie took a drag, he didn't really believe that though. People don't become prodigies overnight, they don't change who they are overnight. But Ron did. Like some damn switch went off in his head, and it took Ron with it. "I love him to bits, you can ask anyone that. But Sirius, I've been having trouble even connecting with him during our runs. He so closed off that I just want to throw a fucking tantrum. Every question I ask him is met with a preplanned answer. And if I catch him off guard, he just stares at me… Makes even me feel… small. Like I'm nothing, and that I have no place asking him questions."

"Fuck…" Sirius muttered. "Haven't seen that side of him yet… But Harry has mentioned something similar before."

"Really?"

"Yeah, when they had their fight" Sirius nodded. "Said that speaking to Ron didn't feel right to him, like his instincts were telling him to leave. Harry said that Ron always managed to say things that pleased Harry, no matter the circumstance. But it didn't feel natural, it felt planned. I thought that Harry was just angry because of the fight, but now here you are… saying the same thing."

"I have half a mind to quit my job and move back home" Charlie admitted. "Just so I can keep an eye on him, just so I can make sure that he's getting help."

"Are Arthur and Molly really coddling him?" Sirius asked, and Charlie nodded. "Bit late for that, isn't it? They already pushed him to the point of nearly running away from home, so why now?"

"Guilt?" Charlie suggested.

"Love shouldn't come from guilt" Sirius frowned, tossing his cigarette away but taking out another. Sirius also tossed Charlie one, which Charlie caught easily because of his Seeker days. Charlie used his own wand to light the smoke, and then he took a long drag. That's getting rough, last one. "Ron needs help, which means that he needs to be held accountable. Otherwise, what's the fucking point?"

"I tried talking to dad about it last night" Charlie mentioned. "Told him that Ron needed to be… That he needed to be controlled. That his anger needed to be controlled. Dad told me not to worry about it, and that he'd talk to Ron."

"But he hasn't" Sirius figured, and Charlie nodded. "He broke some kid's nose on the train ride home as well… Some snot nosed brat that was trying to bully him."

"Percy mentioned that" Charlie replied. "I'll talk to him myself, I reckon."

"Need help?"

"Not yet" Charlie replied. "I want to talk to him alone, see if I can't find out why his temper gets to that point."

"Well if you learn anything, let me know" Sirius tossed away his cigarette, most of it still unused. "Want to head inside? It's going to rain, I think."

"It is" Charlie confirmed. "And yeah Sirius, let's go." They made their way inside, and went down the stair in silence. Just before they finished making their way down, Sirius stopped them both.

"I want you to bring him here more often, alright" Sirius instructed. "I feel like I'm standing around with my dick in my hand, and Remus feels the same way too."

"Where is Remus?" Charlie asked.

"Went to his shack for a couple of days, we got into a fight" Sirius replied, and Charlie nodded.

"I'll bring him" Charlie agreed, and Sirius smiled gratefully. They made their way back downstairs, and Charlie entered the room with the kids inside. His eyes went to Ron, and he smiled when he saw that Ron and Harry were playing Chess together. Ron looked much happier because of it, and Charlie thanked Merlin for Harry Potter. Charlie's eyes then fell on the others, and he noticed Ginny shooting looks at Ron and Harry. They were jealous looks, and they made Charlie want to bang his head on a wall. I need to talk to her as well, and I need to do it tonight.

---

Thursday 2nd July, 1993 (The Burrow - After Dinner)

"Why didn't you stay over, love?" Pandora asked Ron, who was currently reading his chess book and sitting with her. She was stroking his hair in a motherly fashion, and talking to him in a soft voice. Charlie only heard them because he was trying to listen in, trying to find out why Ron had refused to spend the night with Harry at Grimmauld Place. Of all the Weasleys, Harry had asked only Ron to stay over. Charlie suspected that Harry knew that something was bothering Ron, and so he wanted to try and fix it somehow. Charlie was starting to grow rather fond of Harry, even though they had only met recently.

"I have work to do" Ron replied with an equally soft voice. "Being there would just distract me." Does he ever turn off at some point? Or does he recite his textbooks in his sleep as well?

"It was just one night, Ron" Pandora hummed, still stroking his hair. "Harry's your friend, and he's just a bit lonely in that house." Ron looked away from his book at that, but then he immediately looked back at it.

"I didn't think of that" Ron admitted. "Next time Pandora, I promise."

"Good" Pandora smiled at him. She knows how to talk to him, even I can see that. Should I stroke his hair too? Nope… Bad idea. Charlie looked around to the others in the room, his eyes shooting to all of his siblings. The twins were sniggering with each other in a corner, Percy was reading a book by the fire, Luna was cuddled up with a plushy and fast asleep, and Ginny was just hovering about. Ginny, much like Charlie, was listening in on Pandora and Ron's conversation.

"I'm tired" Ron suddenly announced, closing his book and standing up. "Goodnight, Pandora."

"Goodnight, love" Pandora said back. Ron went to leave the room, only to stop and walk over to Luna. He grabbed a blanket off of an empty couch, and put it around Luna. Once he had covered her fully, he turned around and left the room without a word. Charlie smiled over at Pandora, who smiled back at him. Charlie waited for five minute before getting up to follow Ron, hoping for a quick chat with his brother. Charlie spotted his mother and father in the kitchen, talking to each other and giggling like teenagers. He'd have thought it sweet, if it didn't gross him out to see them like this. At least they're in love. Charlie made his way up to Ron's room, and he knocked on the closed door.

"The door isn't locked" came Ron's voice, and Charlie opened the door but lingered in the doorway. Ron was sitting on his bed, surrounded by parchments.

"I thought you were going to sleep?" Charlie asked with a pleasant smile.

"I was" Ron shrugged. "But after spending the whole day at Harry's, I figured that I had slacked off too much. I just want to go over some things before I sleep."

"It's the Holidays" Charlie chuckled, torn between teasing Ron and admiring his determination.

"I know" Ron smiled. "Just a bit of work, and then I'll go to sleep. Are we still up for tomorrow?"

"Yeah, of course" Charlie replied. He was about to go on, but a creaking sound stopped him short. Charlie looked down the hallway, only to find it deserted. We're not alone… Ginny. "Goodnight Ron, I'll see you bright and early." Our chat can wait until then.

"Goodnight, Charlie" Ron said back, his eyes already on his parchments again. Charlie closed the door, and he made his way down the Burrow, stopping near Ginny's door. If I was spying, and then nearly got caught, I'd hide in my room too. Charlie knocked on Ginny's door, and he heard the sound of feet shuffling. Caught you, little sister.

"It's me Gin, got a minute?" Charlie called, and then he heard the door unlock. Ginny opened it, an innocent look on her face. Ha, people don't look innocent unless they're trying to hide their guilt.

"Is everything alright, Charlie?" Ginny asked with a polite smile, and he smiled back.

"Yeah, but I just wanted to chat with you" Charlie replied. "May I come in?"

"Sure" Ginny replied as she stepped back into her room, and Charlie went inside and closed the door. "What did you want to talk about?"

"About you… and Ron" Charlie replied, and he saw her tense. "Ginny, what's going on with you two? Has Ron done something to upset you? Does he even know that?"

"Nothing's wrong with me and Ronnie" Ginny replied, dropping onto her bed.

"Ginny, you're not in trouble" Charlie assured her as he sat down on Luna's bed, facing Ginny with a kind smile. "I just want to know why things are rocky between you two. You keep butting heads with him, and he seems oblivious as to why. Does it… Does it have something to do with Harry?"

"No, why would it?" Ginny asked immediately, her face flushing. That's a yes if I've ever seen one. Charlie just stared at her with a kind look, and she began squirming. "Stop that, Charlie. I'm telling the truth… This has nothing to do with Harry." Charlie kept staring, and Ginny huffed angrily at him. "Yes, and no… Happy?" she snapped.

"Talk to me Gin" Charlie leaned forward a bit. "I have to go back to Romania soon, and I want to make sure that everything is alright before I leave." Ginny put her knees against her chest, and she frowned miserably.

"Why does everyone always go to Ron for everything?" Ginny asked, her voice rising. Huh? "Everyone gives him preferential treatment, despite his prat-like behavior. Mum and dad are constantly hovering around him, giving him everything he wants. Mum won't even put his name down for chores, and dad is constantly asking us where Ron is. Ron this, Ron that… I want to know what's going on, alright. That's all…" I was right, she's jealous. But also worried for him.

"And now he's also going to be a Godfather" Ginny went on. "I can understand why, but still… Back at school, everyone is always bringing him up near me. 'What's he like at home? Has he always been like this? Does your brother really study the Dark Arts?'… I'm sick of it. People have labelled me as 'Ron's little sister', and so most of them don't even bother learning my name. All the girls in my year are constantly asking me private things about Ron, yet they run away when I offer to introduce them to him."

"Gin…" Charlie started, but she wasn't done yet.

"And why didn't the rest of us get asked to stay over?" Ginny asked, and Charlie just blinked. Girls, and their overwhelming angst... "Why just him? He's not even in Gryffindor, and yet Harry, Neville, and Hermione act like he is. They'd rather be friends with him than the other Gryffindors, and people talk about that all the time behind their backs. Ron's just… He's just… Why is he always just getting everything without even trying? Even after what he did to Harry, Harry just turns around and forgives him. Wants to be Ron's best friend…" That is a lot to take in. She's jealous of Ron, worried about Ron, worried about Harry and his friends, whilst also feeling overshadowed. Fuck me, I'm not equipped to deal with this. Kirsten, why did you leave before helping me with this?

"Ginny, I'm sorry that you feel like Ron is overshadowing you" Charlie started, but she groaned loudly.

"He isn't overshadowing me."

"But" Charlie went on, ignoring her comment. "Ron works very hard, no one can deny that. He does try, and I know you know that." Ginny averted her gaze, her cheeks becoming redder. "And I know that you know that he doesn't try to make you feel… insecure…"

"I'm not insecure, Charlie" Ginny glared at him. "Just go away, please. I'm tired, and I want to sleep." Ginny lay down on her bed, and she looked to the wall, effectively turning her back to him. Nice going Charlie, you dung-brained arse.

"Ginny…"

"Leave" she snapped, not looking at him. Charlie let out a sigh, and he left her room. That was an astounding failure. Great… I was never any good with her. Where is Bill when you need him?

---

Friday 3rd July, 1993 (The Burrow – Early Morning)

Charlie wasn't the conceited type, but he wasn't completely humble either. He knew that he was in perfect shape, all the whistling witches back at the reserve had shown him that. The training regimen that they all went through for their work kept them in amazing shape. So he was nicely surprised to see that Ron could sort of keep up with him if he held back a bit. Whenever their runs ended, Charlie pretended to be more out of breath than he was in order to make Ron happy. Which, judging by Ron's exhausted grin, was clearly working.

"I kept up, see?" Ron panted as he bent over. "Nothing to it…" He tried his best, that's what counts.

"You've gotten much better than you used to be" Charlie admitted, his voice humorous.

"I go running everyday" Ron grinned, still panting. "My mates, Blaise and Theo, join me as well."

"Really?" Charlie asked, genuinely surprised. Slytherins back in my day were a lot more… lax. But they were also the naughtiest bunch. Charlie smirked to himself as he thought about the 'forbidden' things he had done with a handful of Slytherin witches, all of them pretending like they hated him but moaning his name nonetheless.

"What are you smirking about?" Ron asked. "It's a creepy smirk too…" Heh, love me some snake-meat.

"Don't worry about it" Charlie waved a dismissive hand.

"Well… I'm heading inside" Ron took in a deep breath, they were currently standing near the Burrow.

"Wait" Charlie stopped Ron, who turned around with a pleasant smile. Now or never. "Mate, I wanted to talk to you about what happened with the Gnome…" Ron's smile disappeared immediately, and Charlie was met with that cold stare again. Merlin, it's unnerving.

"Charlie, I don't want to talk about that" Ron turned back around.

"I don't care, we're talking about it right now" Charlie said with a firmer tone, he couldn't let Ron leave without him explaining himself. "I want to know why you did something so horrible."

"Horrible?" Ron asked as he turned around. "I did nothing wrong, Charlie…" Charlie blinked at Ron, who just stared back at him with an expressionless face. Stop it, you're not supposed to have that kind of look in your arsenal.

"Ron, you nearly killed something" Charlie pointed out, but it didn't register with Ron.

"It hurt Luna, and it was proud of its actions" Ron stated. "I simply showed that… thing… that no one hurts my family."

"Is that what you think you did?" Charlie asked, his temper flaring. How could Ron even think something this horrid? "That you showed it how protective you are? That's not what I saw… That's not what our siblings saw, including Luna. You scared the piss out of me, the twins ran off, Ginny started crying, and Percy has been keeping his distance from you. And the adults… Fuck me, they're all a different story. You better explain yourself to me, or I swear Ron…"

"I just did" Ron frowned. "It hurt Luna, it drew blood, and it made her cry… So I did the same to it. And I'm going to make sure that it never happens again. I'll build a fence around this entire property myself if I have to, but those fucking Gnomes are done for."

"They're harmless…" Charlie defended them, their gardens had always been home to Gnomes. "Sure, they can be a bit rough, but they're not…"

"Violent?" Ron scoffed. "They bit Ginny once, made her bleed and cry too. Now they've done it to Luna."

"Dad likes having them around, you know that" Charlie stated, but Ron cocked an eyebrow.

"I don't care about what he likes" Ron sneered, stunning Charlie. "I will not allow them to stay here anymore, and that is final!" Ron made to leave, but Charlie grabbed Ron's right arm with more strength than he intended. Charlie had finally reached his limit, and his entire face turned red with rage because of it. This ends now, I'll smack him back to his senses if that's what it takes!

"Final?!" Charlie roared, twisting Ron's arm. It clearly hurt Ron, but he didn't make a sound.

"You're hurting me" Ron stated, his face contorting slightly.

"What has gotten into you?!" Charlie demanded. "TELL ME!"

"Let go…" Ron tried to free his arm, but Charlie tightened his grip.

"You beat your friend bloody, you broke another kid's nose, and then you do this! You think you can do whatever you want, is that it?! You think hurting other people has no consequences?!"

"Charlie… Let go…" Ron tried to free his right hand, but Charlie twisted it again. Ron started trying to yank his arm free, but that just pissed Charlie off even more. I'm trying to help you, you psychotic git!

"You've been acting like a proper cold bastard, and for the life of me, I can't tell why!" Charlie yelled, his temper engulfing him. "You made Kirsten feel so unwelcome that she didn't want to see you guys again, and for what?! What are you so obsessed with hiding?! Why are you so fucking closed off?!" Charlie was nearly frothing at the mouth, but when he saw tears in Ron's eyes, he felt like someone had poured a bucket of ice-cold water over him. His rage just died, and he let go of Ron's arm, making the younger Weasley tumble back and land on his stomach. Ron quickly pulled his right arm into his stomach, going utterly silent. No… No, no, no… Ronnie…

"Ron…" Charlie muttered, his throat closing up at the sight of Ron keeled over. "Little brother…" Charlie reached forward with a shaky hand, but when he saw Ron trembling, he pulled back. "Ronnie… I'm sorry… I am so fucking sorry…" Ron slowly got up, still shaking, and then he looked back at Charlie with a look that made Charlie's stomach drop. Ron?

"You…" Ron hissed, his face contorting from rage. Ron had gone blood red in the face, was shaking from wrath, and his eyes were glassed over. The sight made Charlie swallow thickly, he had never seen Ron so fucking angry before. Not even when he had attacked that Gnome.

"Ron, I didn't…" Charlie started, but he was stopped when a fist suddenly collided with his nose. Charlie heard his own nose break, and the pain was excruciating. So much so that even a big guy like him let out a scream, his hands covering his nose immediately.

"Fucking fuck!" Charlie screamed as he bent over, blood spilling out of his nose and through his hands. FUCK! MERLIN FUCK! HE BROKE MY FUCKING NOSE! Charlie looked back up through stinging eyes, and he saw Ron glaring at him. Ron then turned his head and cracked his neck in a grotesque manner, his face still red with wrath. "You little shite!" Charlie snapped, his hands still covering his broken and bleeding nose.

"Don't ever put your hands on me again" Ron hissed. "Or I'll do worse." Worse?! Charlie's temper roared back to life, his head spinning from the blood-rush. Charlie stood up to his full height, and he spat out the blood that had gotten into his mouth. And then, Charlie clocked Ron back. Charlie had pulled his punch at the last second, but it still floored Ron. And yet, Ron started getting back up slowly.

"Stay down" Charlie panted, his entire face throbbing so much that he wanted to scream out cusses. "Stay down… Or I'll belt you again… I'm older than you, and stronger than you… Stay down…"

"You're nothing compared to what I've gone up against…" Ron said bitterly, and then he suddenly shot up and kneed Charlie in the crotch. Charlie bent over, his face tightening as he held back a scream. MOTHERFUCKER! Ron went to throw another punch, but Charlie moved out of the way and clocked him again. This time it was harder, and it sent Ron tumbling to the ground again. Charlie took the time to let out a pained gasp, his face and groin throbbing.

"You kneed me in the balls…" Charlie groaned, his eyes stinging horribly. "What the fuck?!" Charlie shot a look towards Ron, who was struggling to stand up. The sight of his little brother's face in the dirt brought Charlie back to his senses, and he limped towards Ron. "Ronnie… I'm sorry… Here, let me help…" I just hit a fucking kid… FUCK!

"Don't… Don't touch me… Ungrateful… You're all just… ungrateful…" Ron mumbled, still trying to stand up. Charlie didn't even register the words because of how much his body parts were hurting. Charlie put his arms around Ron's chest, but Ron jerked up and pushed Charlie away. It didn't even move Charlie, but Ron fell back on the ground, his face up. He already had a bruise forming on the right side of his face from Charlie's last hit, and he had a bloody lip from the first one.

"Let me help, please" Charlie groaned out, his stomach tightening from pain because of his currently bruising testicles.

"I don't… need it…" Ron cried, and Charlie finally realized that Ron was trying to keep himself from crying. That made Charlie feel a million times worse, and he swore at himself internally. "I don't want it… I'll do it all myself…" What the fuck is he going on about?

"CHARLIE?! RON?!" came their mother's shriek, and Charlie looked to see Molly Weasley running at them. "RONNIE! WHAT HAPPENED?!" She tried helping Ron up, but he threw her aside with surprising strength.

"OI!" Charlie shouted, immediately going to his bewildered mother's side.

"Stay away from me!" Ron yelled, his face contorting with rage again. This fucker doesn't know when to stop, does he?! But instead of fighting, Ron turned around and ran away towards the house.

"RON!" Molly stood up and ran after him, with Charlie limping behind her. My fucking balls…

---

Ronald Weasley's POV

Friday 3rd July, 1993 (The Burrow – Early Morning)

There were two kinds of pain in Ron's experience. Emotional and physical. Personally, he preferred the physical variety. Physical pain could be healed with spells, bandages, time… The possibilities were endless. But emotional pain… That stayed with you forever. That was the kind of pain that gnawed at you before you slept, before you ate, before you did anything important. Ronald Weasley knew pain better than most. He had suffered through both types of pain far more than he ever let on. And yet, right now, he was confused. His face was hurting, his arm was hurting even worse. But something in his chest was also hurting, and it wasn't his heart.

He could hear himself crying, but he didn't feel it. His eardrums were thumping in rhythm with his elevated heartbeat, and his vision was just a blur. What the fuck had just happened? What had he done to deserve this? He had protected his sister from a creature that had made her bleed, a creature that had laughed cruelly as Luna hunched over in tears. So what if Arthur Weasley loved the Gnomes? They had to go, and anyone with a modicum of sense could see that. But not Charlie, apparently… No, his older brother would rather nearly break his arm than let those filthy creatures get what they deserved. There were two kinds of pain in Ron's experience, and he was currently engulfed in them both.

"Greengrass Manor" Ron cried out as he hurled the floo-powder into the fireplace, ignoring that his mother was shrieking from outside. The fire roared to life, and Ron stepped through it when it changed color. This is how they repay me?! After all I do for them?! His mind was besieged by a hundred different thoughts, and he didn't even realize where he was going. He just kept walking, and walking. Why was this fucking house so big? Did Lord Greengrass feel the need to compensate for something? Ron stopped in front of the study door, his safe place. Chess… This is where I learn how to win. Ron knocked on the door, his arms barely lifting. Tired…

"Come in" came Lord Greengrass' voice, it felt divine to Ron's ears. Ron opened the door, and he stepped inside before shutting it behind him.

"Can… Can I stay… here?" Ron asked, his voice utterly strange to even himself.

---

Sebastian Greengrass' POV

Friday 3rd July, 1993 (Greengrass Manor – Early Morning)

"Can… Can I stay… here?" Ron asked, his voice broken and heart-wrenching. Sebastian just stared at him for a couple of seconds, his eyes widening to the size of dinner plates. The right side of the boy's face was bruising, his lip was split and bleeding, and he was in hysterics.

"What happened?" Sebastian demanded, rushing out of his chair and standing in front of Ron. The boy suddenly hugged him, and started crying into his chest. WHAT THE FUCK?! "Ron… What happened? Who did this to you?" They're dead!

"I don't… know what… I did wrong…" was the answer that Sebastian got, and so he knew that Ron wasn't planning on telling him. Sebastian put his arms around Ron, hoping to instead comfort the hysterical boy.

"Shhh" Sebastian shushed, he had no idea about this sort of stuff. "I'm here, and you can stay."

---

Five Minutes Later

The room had been silenced by Sebastian, and Ron had gone to sleep. Well, passed out is more like it. Sebastian had put Ron in his chair, and begun pacing like a mad-man. This was not how his morning was supposed to go, not at all. Who did this? He's wearing his running gear, and judging from the bruising, this just happened. A terrible thought entered his head, but he quickly dismissed it. Arthur and Molly would die before doing this to him. No, this is either from a sibling fight or a stranger. But if it was a stranger, then he wouldn't have come here. He wanted to get away from his home. Damnit! Sebastian looked to the sleeping Ron, and he felt his face tighten into a sneer. I'm going down there.

Sebastian walked out of his study, and he marched towards the Greenhouses first. He had to get Mary to do her Healing Magic on Ron, it was never his forte. As he was nearing the exit, a voice called out to him.

"Husband?" came Mary's voice from behind him, and Sebastian quickly turned around. Theo was with her, as was Daphne. Damn! Sebastian beckoned her to him, and she quickly came over. Theo and Daphne exchanged looks, but didn't follow. "Sebastian, what's wrong? Why do you look so…"

"Ron is in my study" Sebastian whispered. "He's hurt… He was beaten. Go there, and heal him. Keep the children out." Mary's eyes widened, and then she all but ran off towards the study. Fine, I'll keep them out.

"Mother?" Daphne called out before looking to Sebastian with a scared look.

"Take Theo back upstairs" Sebastian ordered.

"Father, what…"

"Do not argue!" Sebastian snapped. "Upstairs, that is a command." Daphne nodded, grabbed Theo's arm, and they both left in a hurry. Sebastian made his way towards the fireplaces, and within moments, he stepped into the Burrow. They'd better tell me who did this to Ron, or so help me Merlin… Sebastian burst into the kitchen, and he spotted a hysterical Molly Weasley being comforted by Arthur. Pandora was also in the room, and she was glaring at some boy who looked far worse than Ron. Not a boy, this is a grown man.

"What is the meaning of this?!" Sebastian yelled, all eyes going to him immediately.

"He went to you" Molly stated as she cleared her eyes, her voice both relieved and confused.

"Tell me what happened now" Sebastian demanded, his eyes going to the injured man. The Weasley had a bloodied nose, which was clearly broken, and a red handprint on his left cheek. "Did you do this?!"

"Who are you?" the man demanded, his voice breaking.

"Charlie, be silent" Arthur ordered, and then he looked to Sebastian. "Is he alright?"

"Is he alright?" Sebastian repeated scathingly. "No! Tell me what happened."

"It's my fault" Charlie Weasley responded. "We got into a fight, and things got out of hand."

"Out of hand?" Sebastian laughed coldly, scanning Charlie's face and the ice-pack between his legs. "You attacked a child? And he did this to you?" Unbelievable… How could a thirteen year old manage that? This man is built like a mountain, and yet he looks ten times worse than Ron. He clearly must've held back, or he's a simpleton who doesn't know how to fight.

"Ron's a tough bastard" Charlie laughed tiredly, but then extreme remorse crossed his face. "Is he alright? Where is he?"

"Sebastian, take me to him" Arthur said as he moved towards him.

"No" Sebastian responded, making Arthur stop dead in his tracks. "He came to me to get away from you lot, and I'm not betraying him by bringing you to him. When he wakes up, he can decide for himself. And as for you…" Sebastian glared at Charlie. "A child… That's what he is. I don't care if you're a Weasley, if you ever put your hands on him again, I'll kill you." Charlie Weasley nodded, keeping his eyes on Sebastian. Sebastian turned back around, and he marched home. Weasleys, what a mad lot. Their tempers are too great for their brains to handle.

---

Ronald Weasley's POV

Friday 3rd July, 1993 (Greengrass Manor – Early Morning)

Ron woke up with a jerk, his eyes darting around wildly to take in his surroundings. Where am I?! All thoughts of his surrounding vanished as he felt pain shoot up into his brain, his face and right arm were killing him. Fuck me, what happened? A fight… Fragments of a fight with his big brother came to mind, and Ron caught up with everything. He had fled to his safe place to lick his wounds, to hide from his family. Ron stood up on shaky legs, a groan escaping his lips. Damn, Charlie hits like a Troll. Ron wasn't an idiot, he knew that his brother had held back considerably. And Ron also knew that he himself hadn't. He had broken Charlie's nose, and probably killed his future nieces and nephews too. All because I protected Luna from that filthy creature. Why can't they see that? The door to the study burst open, and Ron turned around with a pissed off look.

"Merlin" Mary gasped, her hands going to her mouth. Ron's face relaxed, and he fell back into his chair. Bloody hell, I'm done. I'll just sit here for the rest of the day, I think. "Ron, who did this to you?" Mary asked as she shut the door behind her, and then she ran over and kneeled in front of him.

"Brotherly fight…" Ron replied, his voice hoarse. "It happens…"

"It happens?" Mary repeated, her face suddenly becoming fierce. She took out her wand from her front pocket, and Ron finally noticed that she was wearing a gardening outfit. "Let me heal you…"

"No" Ron said immediately.

"What? Why?" Mary blinked. "No, this is not up for debate."

"Please… just leave it… It hurts less than…" Ron trailed off. It hurts less than what I'm feeling, and it's a welcome distraction. Mary just stared at him, she was at a loss.

"Ron, my daughters are in this house" Mary told him, and he looked at her with tired eyes. "And if they see you like this, they will be left horrified." Daphne and Tori. She's right about that. Ron nodded, and she pointed the wand at his face. "Episkey."

---

Friday 3rd July, 1993 (Greengrass Manor – Before Dinner)

As if getting his arse handed to him by Charlie wasn't enough, Ron had spent the rest of the day losing in Chess to Lord Greengrass. One would think that Lord Greengrass would hold back, considering Ron's emotional state, but no. Lord Greengrass didn't understand the notion of going easy on other people. Ron didn't mind though, it was a welcome distraction. They had played all day, with a House-Elf bringing them food and drinks. Daphne, Tori, and Theo didn't even know that Ron was here, much to his relief.

"Dinner is about to be served" Lord Greengrass stated, and Ron looked up from the board. "We should join the others."

"Can't I stay here?" Ron asked, his eyes going back to the board. I'm trapped, he's got my queen locked down and I can't save her.

"Ron, we've been in here all day" Lord Greengrass replied. "Locking yourself away isn't healthy. Siblings fight, trust me. Tori and Daphne used to fight constantly, pulling each other's hair and biting. But they always made up, just like you and your brother will." I know we'll make up, but how long will that last? How long until one of them is on my case again?

"How was he? I didn't ask" Ron looked up.

"Worse off than you" Lord Greengrass smirked, but his smirk fell right after. "He asked me about you. He is worried about you… Very worried, actually. How did you manage to beat up a grown man?"

"He held back a lot" Ron shrugged.

"I see" Lord Greengrass nodded. "By the way, you're about to lose again."

"Yeah, I know…" Ron sighed, frowning at the board.

"Come, let's go eat" Lord Greengrass stood up, his eyes fixed on Ron. That sounded like an order. Ron stood up, and he gave a reluctant nod. They made their way out together, and they walked to the Dining Room in silence. The moment they entered, Ron knew that he should've remained in the study. His Slytherin friends were here… All of them.

"Ron?" Millie looked to him, and every eye shot to him immediately. What the fuck? Why are they all here?

"Hello" Ron greeted them as he and Lord Greengrass both stepped further into the room. Did he know that they were here? Is that why he made me come out?

"I didn't know that we had guests" Lord Greengrass said as he took his seat at the head of the table. "When did you all get here?"

"Just before lunch was served" Mary replied for them because they were too busy looking at Ron, who was still wearing his running gear.

"And why are you all here?" Ron asked before he could stop himself.

"I called them here" Daphne replied, her eyes studying Ron. "You're Dueling against an Auror tomorrow, and everyone wanted to watch so I invited them over." The Duel… I left my wand back at the Burrow. Shite. "When did you get here?"

"He got here at Midday, and we've been working together the entire day" Lord Greengrass cut in, his eyes on Ron. Thanks. "Now, let's eat shall we?"

---

Friday 3rd July, 1993 (Greengrass Manor – After Dinner)

"So you got here at Midday, did you?" Theo asked as Daphne shut the door behind them, they had all decided to catchup in her room before sleeping.

"Yeah, but I went straight into Lord Greengrass' study" Ron lied, but they didn't buy it.

"You showed up in your running gear?" Blaise questioned, and Ron blinked at him.

"Want to try again?" Theo asked with a smirk. No, not particularly. What was he supposed to do? Was he supposed to tell them that his older brother, the brother he all but worshiped, had kicked his arse? That Charlie had held back considerably but still floored Ron with little to no effort, despite Ron taking cheap-shots at him? That's the worst part about this fucking mess… If Charlie was a Death-Eater, my Cycle would be over right now. Ron vowed in that moment that he'd always keep his wand on his person from now on, no matter where he was.

"Ron, you've zoned out" Pansy nudged him, and he drew in a sharp breath before looking to her. "You don't have to tell us if you don't want to."

"I got into a fight with my older brother" Ron sighed. "A physical fight…"

"Why?" Tracey asked immediately. "Did you win?" The other three girls shot her deep frowns, and she shrugged with a guilty look.

"No" Ron admitted. "I didn't have my wand, and Charlie works at a Dragon Reserve… It didn't end well for me, or him. Can we move on from this now?"

"One last thing" Daphne piped in, she was really beginning to dislike this 'Charlie'. "Were you the reason why my parents were in such a rush this morning?"

"Yeah… Sorry about that" Ron rubbed the back of his head. "I was bleeding, bruised, and also utterly dazed… I just barged into Lord Greengrass' study, and Mary ended up healing me in there too."

"Bleeding? Bruised?" Millie all but snarled. "What kind of siblings fight like that? And didn't you say that he was older than you? How could he…?"

"Millie, I'm alright now" Ron gave her a weak smile, but she scoffed at him.

"How much older?" Tracey asked, and Ron let out another sigh. This day… First I get a beating for protecting Luna, and now I'm getting interrogated by my own friends. Friends who are only here to watch me get destroyed tomorrow, even if they won't admit it.

---

Saturday 4th July, 1993 (Greengrass Gardens (Transfigured Training Area) – Midday)

Ron was a bundle of nerves right now, and it wasn't simply because he was about to spar with an Auror. It wasn't even that he had to remove Pandora's Rune Ring. No… Ron's main concern was being made fun of by the vultures he called his friends. They were all here, sitting in the stands that Mary had transfigured into existence, wide and unsympathetic smiles on their faces. Blaise and Theo weren't even trying to hide their excitement at Ron getting his 'just desserts'. A term Tracey was using because they all wanted to see Ron be beaten for once. Even Daphne was looking forward to it, and she wasn't the sort to back away from teasing him. Millie and Pansy were concerned about his safety, but they too wanted to see Ron be beaten by an Auror.

He couldn't entirely blame them, mostly because he knew how hard he pushed his friends to be better. All of them had earned bruises more than once from the Stinging Hexes fired by the dummies, so to them, this felt like a bit of justice. And their excitement had transferred over to Tori, who was initially scared for him, but was now grinning like the little demon she was. Lord Greengrass was his usual stoic self, his eyes simply resting on Ron. Mary was the only one who was truly in Ron's corner. And as for Madam Roberts, how did the old witch manage to look so intimidating? Maybe it's that scowl, or the fact that she's an International Champion. Bloody hell, how did I land myself in this situation?

"The first rule of Dueling, Mr. Weasley, is that you never show your opponent your distress" Madam Roberts said, her eyebrow cocking as she studied his fidgeting. Ron quickly steadied his mind and regained some of his usual composure, something that earned him a curt nod from his opponent. "Good, let's start your test then. Try and disarm me, and I will try the same against you."

"I'm ready" Ron said as he tightened his grip on his wand, his eyes reading all of her movements.

"Don't hold back" she advised as she took on her stance. It was a rather odd type of stance, one that Ron hadn't seen before. Her knees were slightly bent, her wand was aimed at him, and she had her free hand behind her back. She is standing with her side facing me, which makes her a smaller target. I'll need to make her move so that she can make a mistake, which'll make hitting her easier. "Ready. On the count of three… One… Two… Three!"

"Stupefy! Expelliarmus!" Ron shouted as he fired the first two Spells, and just like he predicted, she moved left in order to dodge them. Ron took the opportunity to cast the Disillusionment Charm on himself, effectively vanishing from sight.

"WOW!" came Tori's loud cheer, followed by her making wooing sounds. "GO RON!" Ignore it, even if it feels really nice. I need to keep my focus on Madam Roberts.

"The Disillusionment Charm…" Madam Roberts smirked, her amber eyes peeled for any movement. He knew that if he moved erratically, she'd catch him out. "Not bad, Mr. Weasley… not bad at all." Ron smirked as he moved a bit further away from her, hoping to get behind her without being spotted. As he slowly moved to her right, he feared that his elevated heartbeat might give him away because of how loud it was.

"Glacius!" she suddenly bellowed as she slammed the tip of her wand into the Earth, something that caught Ron by surprise. A thin sheet of ice began spreading from around her at an alarming speed, and Ron was forced to jump over it before it froze over his feet. The moment he landed, he knew that he had been caught. Madam Roberts fired two non-verbal stunners at him when she heard the ice shatter to her right, and Ron side-stepped them and responded in kind. She has a bigger Magical Core than me, so trading with her isn't an option for me. I need to end this quickly.

"Expelliarmus! Confringo!" Ron chanted, sending the Disarming Charm at her but the Exploding Curse right behind her. She dodged the Disarming Charm with little to no effort, but Ron saw her eyes widen as she spotted the fiery orange light of the Exploding Curse. With a wave of her wand, she raised the thin sheet of ice at her feet to act as a wall. What the…? Is she trying to die?!

Ron spotted her mouth moving, but he didn't hear her. And then, much to his shock, the Exploding Curse hit the sheet and caused a fiery explosion. A shroud of black smoke engulfed where she had been. Oh fuck, I killed her! Ron's eyes darted to the stands, and he saw that his spectators were all watching the smoke filled area with widened eyes.

"A clever strategy, boy" came Madam Robert's voice, and Ron blinked at the smoke. It was suddenly banished, leaving behind Madam Roberts… and her unscratched sheet of ice. How the fuck?! She flicked her wand and sent the sheet flying at him, whilst following up with a volley of stunners. Ron dodged the sheet of ice in time, but his left foot slipped because of the slippery, ice-covered ground.

"Protego!" Ron chanted, and he felt the stunners slam into his shield. Fuck! I'm so fucking fucked now! As Ron maintained his shield, she maintained her assault. Stunner after stunner slammed into Ron's weakening shield, turning the tide of the Duel in her favor. Until he decided that drastic measures had to be taken… He wasn't losing so quickly, not when he needed her to teach him. His Cycle may depend on her teachings, and that steeled his resolve. Ron suddenly dived to his right, and rolled into a crouched position.

"Wingardium Leviosa!" Ron chanted as he aimed his wand at her feet, and then he jerked his wand up to the sky. The thin ice under her feet shot up, making her lose her footing and land on her back. Ron saw a flicker of shock on her face, but instead of feeling proud, Ron unleashed a barrage of his own.

She quickly cast a Shield Charm non-verbally, but the weight of the stunners and Curses was making it difficult for her to stand back up. The boy was certainly crafty, she'd give him that much. And his stunners were getting stronger and stronger, no doubt because of his adrenaline rising. He had certainly impressed her, and she had decided to teach him the moment he had cast the Disillusionment Charm on himself. His effective use of the Exploding Curse had further cemented her decision. But now she was done holding back for his benefit. It was time to end this.

"AGH!" she suddenly yelled as she pushed her shield forward, something that Ron didn't even know was possible. He had no time to react to the shield, and no method of dodging it either. The spectral blue shield came at him in a large, dome-like shape, and it hit him like an iron-clad punch. A full body iron-clad punch. Ron was sent barreling through the air, and he landed hard on the thin sheet of ice behind him, shattering it with his back. Pain shot up into his brain like a murderous disease… Pain, and panic.

The last time he had been sent flying back by a witch, it had been his possessed little sister. He still remembered the moments before his petrification perfectly, like they had only happened yesterday. He had indulged in his weakness that day… He had managed to catch Ginny's possessor off-guard, but he had submitted because it was his little sister's body in front of him. And he was rewarded for it by being petrified…

The thought of Ginny brought Charlie to mind, and Ron grit his teeth. Damn him! All I did was protect Luna! All I do is protect them! Ron turned on his stomach in order to use his arms to aid his recovery. His heart was thumping, his ear-drums were ringing, and there was a fire growing in his chest. Ron wasn't sure if it was the adrenaline, or the pent up anger from his fight with Charlie, but Ron was suddenly boiling from rage. His fucking blood was boiling in his veins, and he wasn't letting this old bitch beat him so easily. Ron suddenly shot up to his feet, aimed his left hand at her wand, and yelled out a Spell.

"ACCIO WAND!" Ron bellowed, his face contorting into a hateful sneer. Madam Roberts' wand suddenly tried to leave her hand, much to her utter shock and disbelief. The boy knew Wandless Magic too?! She managed to hold onto it, but the boy's Summoning Charm nearly yanked her arm out of its socket. She fell forward and landed on her stomach, still utterly shocked at this turn of events. But that shock wore off when she saw the murderous look on his face. As shock turned into panic, and slight fear, she quickly moved into action.

"Protego!" she chanted without even thinking twice, and luckily for her, it was just in time to stop the boy's onslaught.

"EXPELLIARMUS! STUPEFY! REDUCTO! INCENDIO!" Ron bellowed, throwing anything that came to mind. I DON'T LOSE! I CAN'T LOSE! He saw her shield cracking, and that gave him further incentive to go all out. "AGHHHH!" His roar nearly deafened her, and she noticed that he was firing Curses non-verbally now. But it wasn't intentional, he had simply gone into a frenzy… A terrifying frenzy that was overwhelming her shield, and her. Curse after Curse slammed into her shield, and she had to grit her teeth to stand up fully while maintaining her ever-weakening barrier.

"AGH!" she roared as she once again pushed her shield at him.

"PROTEGO!" Ron yelled, he had expected her to do that again. Her shield shattered upon contact with his own, but it also left his shield badly damaged. "AGH!" Ron bellowed as he copied her earlier movements, all the while picturing his shield shooting forward like hers had. That was the trick with Spells, they all depended on the caster's imagination, and Ron had a powerful imagination.

"Damn…" she muttered, nearly out of breath and once again shocked. He had copied her earlier Spell… He had bloody copied it after seeing it only once?! She slashed her wand up, and in doing so, she slashed his shield open in the middle. It zoomed past her, and for a single moment, she spotted him again. There was a gleam of red in his eyes, but she figured that it was a trick of the Sunlight.

"Expelliarmus!" she chanted

"EXPELLIARMUS!" Ron roared at the same time as her. But unfortunately for Ron, her Disarming Charm was much more powerful, and it tore right through Ron's like a scarlet bullet. Ron felt his entire rib-cage rattle as the scarlet Spell hit him in the chest, and he was once again launched into the air. The sudden impact loosened his grip on his wand, and it was sent flying back alongside him. But unlike last time, he was so driven by his anger that he rolled back and shot up to his feet as soon as his arse hit the ground. He could see the look of shock on her face, her once neat and tidy appearance now wild and haggard.

"BRACHIUM COLUBRUM!" Ron chanted as he aimed both of his palms at her, and from each arm an ethereal green serpent shot out with horrifying speed. One wrapped itself around her neck, while the other one wrapped itself around her right thigh. I'll break your fucking neck before I lose! This time… I won't show any mercy!

"Merlin…" Madam Roberts managed to choke out, her free hand digging at the strangling serpent around her neck. It kept tightening as the boy's face morphed from rage to an evil grin. The Sun once again made her think that his eyes were gleaming red, but when she looked into them, they appeared to be simply icy blue. Whilst struggling to even breathe, to even stand up straight, she aimed her wand at the boy. He began turning his palms upwards, and the serpents tightened even more. She fell to her knees, her eyes bulging out because of the growing pressure in her skull.

"RONALD STOP!" came Lord Greengrass' voice, but it fell on deaf ears. Ron would stop only when she dropped her wand, and submitted her service to him. I need her for my war!

"Stupefy…" Madam Roberts choked out, and a red beam of light shot out of her wand. Ron's eyes widened for a second, and then it all went black.

---

Blaise Zabini's POV

Saturday 4th July, 1993 (Greengrass Gardens (Transfigured Training Area) – Midday)

It was probably wrong to fear one's friends, but right now, Blaise didn't care in the slightest about that idea. Whoever thought of this idea first clearly wasn't friends with Ronald Weasley, because if they were, they'd probably fear him too. Anyone with half a brain would be wary of Ron after what Blaise, and his other friends, had just witnessed.

They had all made bets about how Ron would go down. They had made bets on the Spell, the time, and whether or not Ron would lose his temper. At least I won two of the three… But I don't think that I'll be collecting. I don't think anyone will be. Blaise looked away from the unconscious Ron and to his fellow spectators, and he wasn't surprised to see their hanging mouths. Theo, Pansy, Millie, Tracey, and Tori looked genuinely too shocked to even move. More like too scared… Fucking hell, Ron… You crazy fuck. Lord and Lady Greengrass were just staring with unbelieving eyes, but at who, Blaise wasn't sure. Daphne on the other hand…

"Ron!" Daphne called out, and then she suddenly ran up to the protective barrier around the training area. "Mother! Undo this!" That effectively woke them all up from their shaken stupors, and Lady Greengrass unsheathed her wand and undid the barrier. Yeah… I'll give him the letter from my mother tomorrow, or whenever I can bring myself to stand near him and not shit myself.

---

Sebastian Greengrass' POV

Saturday 4th July, 1993 (Greengrass Gardens (Transfigured Training Area) – Midday)

As Mary undid her protective barrier, Sebastian quickly moved down from the stands. He saw his eldest daughter run up to Ron's unconscious body and kneel next to it, her worry written on her face for all to see. Sebastian didn't give it much thought however, right now he had another job to do. He had to convince this Auror to never speak of this again… He had hired her to teach Ron, and Ron clearly didn't need teaching. Sebastian quickly approached Madam Roberts, who was on one knee and coughing as she massaged her already bruising neck. Fucking Merlin… Where did he learn to do this? He's supposed to be a thirteen year old… And yet, even Sebastian was forced to admit that he didn't plan on getting on Ron's bad side. Ever.

"Madam Roberts" Sebastian called out, his voice coming out slightly hoarse because of the lump in his throat. "Let me help…"

"No need…" Madam Roberts coughed out, and then she grunted as she stood up with wide grin. The grin on her face unnerved him, and it unnerved Mary too judging by her stopping right behind him with a gasp. Madam Roberts' throat was already bruising horribly, her hair was a ragged mess, her clothes were lined with dirt, her breathing was labored, and yet she was grinning like a mad woman. "I'll take him…" Madam Roberts looked to Sebastian, her amber eyes locking onto his. "Give me a year, and I'll give you a Champion…"

"Your throat…" Sebastian managed, his composure ripped away by her odd reaction to nearly dying.

"Civilians…" Madam Roberts chuckled, something that Sebastian wasn't even sure she was capable of. "It's just a bruise… I've had much worse. Forget about it… I want to start training him as soon as possible." Training him? Sebastian and Mary blinked at the mad witch before them, both of them not knowing how to even respond.

"Is he alright?" came Pansy's voice, and the adults looked to see the children standing around Ron. Daphne was on her knees, cleaning his dirtied face with a white handkerchief. Odd… Those two are rather… attached to each other. Sebastian cleared his head of his foolish thoughts, they weren't important right now.

"He's just stunned girl, and he'll wake up in a couple of hours" Madam Roberts informed them, and then she looked to Sebastian and Mary. "I'll sign the contract today, and he can sign it once he wakes up."

"You'll… You'll still teach him?" Mary blinked, what was wrong with this woman?

"I most definitely will" Madam Roberts replied, her grin dying down. She was still having trouble getting her breathing under control, and her heartbeat was still too out-of-sorts. "Talent like that… It has to be tempered." Sebastian's ears perked up at that, those words meant something to him.

"He used a rather… Dark Spell…" Sebastian mentioned, hoping to convince her to keep her silence. Madam Roberts just scoffed, almost as if she thought that Sebastian was an idiot.

"That bothers you? Given your history?" Madam Roberts asked, and Sebastian felt Mary tensing behind him. "Curses are allowed in Dueling Tournaments, and Curses are also considered the Dark Arts. Only hypocrites and fools believe that the Dark Arts are inherently evil… No, it's all about intent. I could just as easily kill a person with a Charm instead of a Curse."

"So you won't mention this to anyone?" Sebastian asked, his cold demeanor coming back to him. Given my history… This woman.

"If we locked up everyone who ever used the Dark Arts, the Dementors would grow nice and fat" Madam Roberts sighed, her left hand massaging her neck again.

"Let's go inside" Mary suddenly suggested. "I'll heal your neck, and any other injuries."

"Thank you" Madam Roberts nodded curtly.

---

Saturday 4th July, 1993 (Greengrass Manor – Near Lunchtime)

"Done" Madam Roberts said as she signed the contract, her eyes going over the details again. It was a rather simple contract, one that could be terminated at any time. All she had to do was tutor Ron to the best of her ability, and to be present at any Tournaments that Sebastian would sign him up for. He was willing to pay for Ron, but he expected success from his apprentice. Success, and prestige for the House of Greengrass.

"Are you sure that you won't stay for lunch?" Mary asked, clearly happy that Ron wasn't being hauled off to Azkaban right now.

"Yes, I am sure" Madam Roberts replied as she stood up. "I have to get back to work, especially because I'm already late for it. I didn't expect him to be so… well-trained already."

"About that…" Sebastian started, but she stopped him with a raised hand.

"I do not care about where he learned his… skills" Madam Roberts said firmly, much to Sebastian's relief. The Dark Arts are not something that a thirteen year old should know. Should I tell his family about this? No, most definitely not. It would raise too many issues for him, and he already has enough on his plate.

"I must admit" Madam Roberts went on. "He certainly took me by surprise. Wandless Magic, non-verbal Magic, strategic use of a wide variety of Spells… That Dark Spell at the end… I look forward to working with him. Good day." With that, she turned around and left the Dining Room. She's mad, but maybe that's a good thing. She clearly wants to teach him, and from what I've heard about her, I can think of no one better. I don't think Ron would have been able to overpower her like that if she hadn't underestimated him so much. But then again… I don't even know what to make of this.

"There's something wrong with that woman" Mary whispered, and Sebastian gave her a weak smile. "Sebastian… Did you know what he was capable of? Did you know that he was so… dangerous?" Sebastian's light smile turned into a frown. Dangerous?

"I didn't know, and he is not dangerous" Sebastian replied. "Remember what Roberts said? She told us that Ron went into a battle frenzy, and that it was quite common."

"Sorry… I'm just a bit overwhelmed by what I saw" Mary took in a deep breath, he seldom saw his wife like this. I don't blame her for her reaction, I'm barely managing to keep my own head clear.

"Where are the children?" Sebastian asked.

"In the Living Room with Ron" Mary replied. "He won't be waking up for another hour or so… I overheard them talking, love. They mentioned something about his 'training', and that he did it almost every day."

"Training? At Hogwarts?" Sebastian asked, and she nodded. Now where would he do that?

---

Daphne Greengrass' POV

Saturday 4th July, 1993 (Greengrass Manor – Near Lunchtime)

Chatter. That was all that she could hear, and it was horribly distracting. But maybe that wasn't so bad right now. Maybe all of her friends, and sister, chattering nonstop was a blessing in disguise. It was certainly helping her calm down, and it was helping them too. Tori had gone from being terrified for Ron, to being terrified of Ron, to becoming Ron's devoted fan. All of this in the span of an hour.

"Could he beat the seventh years in Slytherin?" Tori asked them, a gleeful look on her face. She was red with excitement, and she was bombarding them all with questions that they themselves didn't have answers for. Was Ron the strongest student at Hogwarts? Did he train in the Dark Arts? Could he beat their father, Lord Greengrass, in a Duel? Did they know just how strong, and scary, he really was? All of her questions were disconcerting, but mostly because they didn't know the answers. Not completely anyway.

"Probably…" Theo replied, he was still examining Ron's wand. It's not the wand, Theo. It's him. They were all sitting around in the Living Room, while Ron lay unconscious on one of the couches. He looked so peaceful, an alarming thing considering that just around an hour ago he was out for blood. He looked just like he did when he attacked Potter… The only thing missing was laughter, but he was still grinning like a mad man.

"If all of you Dueled him at once, would he still win?" Tori asked, her eyes darting to Ron and Daphne. While everyone was either sitting away from Ron, or standing around like Blaise, Daphne had decided to sit down near Ron's head. At first it was because she was cleaning his dirtied face, but now she just wanted to sit here. That's not entirely true… I want to put his head on my lap, like Luna did on the train. I wonder how that would feel? I bet he has a heavy head.

"If we all Dueled him at once, he would probably still win" Tracey answered, breaking Daphne out of her weird thoughts. What's the matter with me? I can't stay focused.

"That's so awesome" Tori grinned, her face flushing even more. "Does he train you guys too?" They all exchanged looks, but that was enough for Tori to figure it out. "That's so awesome! You reckon he'll teach me too? What am I saying? Of course he will, he loves me!"

"Blaise, you're being awfully quiet" Pansy pointed out, and they all looked to him. He was standing by the fire, lost in his own thoughts.

"Blaise!" Millie called out, of all of them, she was the most calm right now. Daphne figured that after getting over her shock, Millie had simply come to respect Ron's strength. That's just how Millie was, especially because of her Family. The Bulstrode didn't just look stout and well-built, their Family was well-known to be supporters of Professional Dueling and Quidditch.

"What?" Blaise looked to them, still barely paying attention.

"Pansy pointed out that you're being too quiet" Millie replied, and Blaise shot Pansy a quick look.

"I'm just thinking, that's all" Blaise told them.

"Care to share your thoughts with us?" Daphne asked, finally breaking her silence.

"No, not particularly" Blaise shrugged, his expression cold and uninterested. Looks like he's gone back to normal. It's certainly better than him gawking at Ron. "What would be the point? Tori can ask all the questions that she wants, but the truth is that we ourselves have no idea about what to say."

"Blaise, mate…" Theo started, but Blaise cut him off.

"It's true, and you all know it" Blaise went on. "While we struggle to even face one damn dummy, he nearly killed an Auror today… And yes, I know that he just caught her off-guard. And that she was taking it easy on him at first, but still…" Blaise then looked to Tori, who blinked at him. "If you want actual answers, then you should ask him when he wakes up. But I rather doubt that he'll tell you anything…" With that, Blaise went to leave the room.

"Where are you going?" Tracey asked.

"To eat" Blaise replied, and then he was gone. They all exchanged looks again, and Daphne could see that the others were now worried about Blaise too. Except for Tori, she was once again looking at Ron with a gleeful look. Does she really think that he'll tell her his secrets? If Ron held any more secrets, he'd be a Tome within the Forbidden Section. Theo suddenly walked up to Daphne, who looked up at him expectantly.

"Here" Theo said as he handed Daphne Ron's wand, which she took slowly. "I'm going to go talk to him… Find out what's really bothering him."

"Thanks, Theo" Daphne managed a weak smile, she didn't want to leave Ron alone. She wanted to be there when he finally woke up.

---

Theodore Nott's POV

Saturday 4th July, 1993 (Greengrass Manor – Near Lunchtime)

"I know that look Blaise, I've seen it a hundred times before" Theo said as he caught up to Blaise, who turned around with an expressionless mask plastered on his face.

"What look?" Blaise cocked an eyebrow.

"When you look like you need to shit, but can't" Theo sniggered, earning an eye roll from Blaise. "What's wrong, mate? Was it Ron?"

"I don't know… Maybe" Blaise sighed out, looking rather conflicted all of a sudden. I guess it's deeper than that. "How did he do all of that?"

"He prac…" Theo started, but Blaise cut him off by clicking his tongue.

"We've seen him practicing" Blaise said curtly. "But what we saw out there… That was not from just training. He took on an Auror, and he nearly won."

"Our Ronnie is quite special" Theo shrugged, his shock had completely worn off now. And his usual scheming self was back. Instead of interrogating Ron, I'm going to ask him to teach me all of that. And knowing him, he'll do it with a happy smile on his face. I was an idiot for not taking him more seriously before.

"You're up to something" Blaise frowned, and Theo sniggered again. "I've seen that look a hundred times before."

"Nice turnaround" Theo smirked. "If I'm being completely honest, I don't really care about how he did it. And yes, he was rather frightening out there. But instead of going into shock, I think I'll just ask him to teach me his tricks."

"Why?" Blaise asked.

"Because just like you, I felt really jealous" Theo stated, there was no shame in admitting the truth. I've had to admit to worse things than feeling jealous of my friend's power. "And before you deny that, just know that I know you better than anyone. I think that behind our shock and awe, we were all feeling a little jealous of how strong he is."

"The girls don't look jealous…" Blaise said softly. The girls, eh? Theo smirked to himself, it was odd to see Blaise being so open.

"No, they don't" Theo chuckled, earning a glare from Blaise. "Daphne is taking the opportunity to play nurse, Tracey is too busy trying to keep Tori from passing out from excitement, and both Pansy and Millie look rather proud of Ron's valiant effort. Let them worry about idiotic things like that… You should join me instead."

"Join you?" Blaise cocked an eyebrow.

"I'm going to ask him to teach me everything" Theo replied. "Fuck being weak when you can be strong…"

"And Ron is someone who'd happily show you his tricks" Blaise noted to himself.

"He is rather generous, isn't he?" Theo grinned, and Blaise smirked to himself. "When he wakes up, we'll just ask him outright. He likes honesty, mostly because he has trouble looking into the meaning behind other people's words."

"You're right" Blaise gave a nod. "But we should praise him before we ask. Ron responds well to being praised… It makes him more agreeable."

"Then it's settled" Theo agreed. "When he wakes up, we'll kiss his arse and ask for his help. And in the meantime, you'll stop looking so fucking glum."

"Ron's influence has ruined your vocabulary" Blaise smirked, but Theo just shrugged. I kind of like that about him. He doesn't really care about what people around him think. He just takes matters into his own hands.

---

Ronald Weasley's POV

Saturday 4th July, 1993 (Greengrass Manor –Lunchtime)

Ron's eyes drifted open slowly, his vision groggy and his head aching slightly. Merlin, what happened? He felt the soreness in his chest and back, but something soft under his head. Ron blinked his eyes clear, and he spotted Daphne's face. Her face, and the lower half of her chest hovering over his head. WHAT THE FUCK?! She was looking ahead with a guilty smile on her face, something that made Ron question whether she was breaking some sort of rule. The Duel! Ron sat up with a grunt, earning a frightened squeal from Daphne.

"What happened?" Ron croaked, his throat too dry from his nap. "Where is Madam Roberts?"

"Ron, you scared me half to death" Daphne sighed out, her cheeks turning rosy.

"Sorry" Ron blinked at her, and then he looked around. The Living Room? Where is everyone else?

"The others are at lunch, but I stayed behind because…" she trailed off, her cheeks turning scarlet. What did she do? What happened with Madam Roberts?

"Daph, where is Madam Roberts?" Ron asked quickly. "Did she leave?"

"She did, but not before signing the contract" Daphne gave him a smile. "You impressed her greatly, and she wants to start training you from next Sunday onwards. The Sunday after tomorrow, that is." She does? SHE DOES! Ron jumped off of the couch and pumped his fist in the air, completely forgetting his soreness.

"WOHOO!" Ron exclaimed, a massive grin on his face. I DID IT! He heard Daphne giggling at him, but he didn't mind at all. He had managed to secure a powerful Auror as his teacher, an Auror with legitimate war-experience. I could learn so much from her! This is so fucking great! After a couple of more fist pumps, Ron turned to Daphne with a wide grin. She was just watching him with amusement, and after seeing his grin, she let out another giggle.

"You're so weird" she stated, but Ron just shrugged with his grin in place. Wait, why isn't she at lunch with everyone else?

"Daph, why were you here alone?" Ron asked as he looked around again.

"Oh… I was just making sure that you weren't hurt…" Daphne replied, and even Ron could tell that that was a blatant lie.

"I see…" Ron nodded slowly, observing the blush on her face. "Wait… Was my head on…"

"Are you hungry?" she cut him off quickly. "I'm pretty hungry, so we should go down to the Dining Room. Let's go." Um… What?

"Alright" Ron said as he eyed her. My head was on her lap when I woke up, wasn't it? Is that why she was staying behind? And she says that I'm the weird one. Daphne quickly stood up and began marching out of the room, with Ron following her more slowly. They made their way into the Dining Room quietly, and all the eyes turned to look at Ron.

"Hello" he greeted them with a smile, which they all slowly mimicked. All of them except for Lord and Lady Greengrass, who were just staring at him.

"Ron, sit here!" Tori called out as she patted the seat to her left, which just happened to be empty. Ron did as he was asked, all the while watching the look of admiration on Tori's face. It made him a little uneasy.

"Tori, stop staring at him like that" Daphne sighed as she sat down beside Tracey, who was giving Ron an uneasy smile. What's with the weird atmosphere in here? Why are they all just looking at me?

"Are you the strongest student at Hogwarts?" Tori blurted out, shifting closer to Ron. Daphne rolled her eyes, while everyone else just waited for Ron to answer.

"Probably not…" Ron replied, managing a weak smile at Tori. "I haven't Dueled anyone except for Harry…"

"Harry Potter?" Tori cut in, her eyes widening a bit. "Did you win?"

"I did… Tori, what's with the questions?" Ron asked as he began putting food on his plate.

"You beat THE Harry Potter?" Tori grinned, her eyes almost gleaming with excitement. "But he was powerful enough to beat the Dark Lord!"

"Astoria Greengrass!" Mary scolded. "You will not mention him in our home!" Lord Greengrass just pinched the bridge of his nose, while Ron absent-mindedly made sure that his scars were covered up. Harry didn't beat the Dark Lord, of that I am dead-certain. Something else happened that night, and I want to know what. It may be the key to defeating him when he returns. The thought of the Dark Lord made Ron think of Dumbledore, who was no doubt in Albania right now. All alone… Fucking hell, if he dies… It's all over.

"Sorry" Tori smiled sheepishly, earning an annoyed frown from Mary. Tori then looked back to Ron, no doubt ready to ask him even more questions. As long as she doesn't mention the Dark Lord, I don't mind too much. "Do you train in the Dark Arts?" Fucking hell…

---

Saturday 4th July, 1993 (Greengrass Manor – Late Evening)

His afternoon had passed by slowly, but that was mostly because of the million questions that Tori had asked him. Questions that he didn't really answer properly, or simply lied on. She eventually took the hint that Ron didn't like discussing his private matters with people, and so she stopped with her questions. But she didn't leave his side. No, she instead clung to him and started dropping hints about wanting Ron to teach her. Ron would have no problem with that, he simply wished that she'd ask him outright. He hated it when people beat around the bush when they wanted something from him. Ron had to lie and tell her that he had 'homework' just to get away from her, and from her looks of admiration.

And so here he was, sitting alone in his room and going over next year's notes. Lord Greengrass had been kind enough to go to the Burrow last night and grab some things for Ron, just the essentials of course. Ron's wand, his notes, his toiletries, and a few clean clothes. He didn't want to go to the Burrow himself, mostly because he didn't want to deal with his older brother just yet. Ron wanted to see Pomfrey first, she always gave him sound advice and right now he needed it. He was angry, apologetic, bitter, and hopeful whenever he thought of his next meeting with Charlie, which made him realize that he needed help working through his emotions again. So he decided to stay at the Manor for the weekend, see Pomfrey on Monday, and then go home and deal with Charlie.

"Someone's moved up in the world" came Theo's voice, and Ron looked up to see both Theo and Blaise enter his room. Blaise was looking around with approval, while Theo was sniggering at his own joke.

"Someone's forgotten how to knock" Ron chuckled as he looked back at his notes, he was sitting on his magnificent bed.

"It wasn't locked" Theo shrugged as he sat down at the edge of Ron's bed, while Blaise was studying the room with a keen eye. "Are you actually studying? Or are you simply avoiding little Tori?"

"Bit of both" Ron admitted, earning a snigger from his mates. "Do you know what's gotten into her? Hero-worshiping doesn't suit her."

"Did you just call yourself a 'hero'?" Blaise asked with a smirk, but Ron just waved a dismissive hand.

"You know what I mean…" Ron replied.

"Give her a break, she hasn't seen Magic being used in a Duel before" Theo shrugged. "Even we were left in awe of you. You're quite amazing, Ron." Ron felt his cheeks flush a bit, and he looked back down at his notes.

"Thanks…" Ron smiled to himself.

"He's right, Ron" Blaise piped in. "Even I'll admit that you were amazing out there, and that your hard work has really paid off." Don't blush at their compliments, just enjoy them.

"Thanks, you two" Ron looked up with a genuine smile, it felt good to be validated by his friends. He had worked hard, so much so that he was constantly sore from his training whilst at Hogwarts. But it's so worth it. And it's getting easier to just do it, I don't even try and make excuses to put it off anymore.

"Seeing you out there…" Theo started, a small smile on his face. "It made us realize that we were dead wrong about your advice." Ron blinked at that, his eyes fixed on Theo. "You worked hard, and it paid off spectacularly today."

"So we've decided to do the same" Blaise sat down as well. Really? YES! "From now on, every time you train, we train."

"Really?" Ron smiled widely, and they nodded. "Great! There's so much that I want to show you guys, but couldn't because of the bare minimum time we spent training together. I'll even pass on whatever Madam Roberts teaches me." This is excellent! If they're both as prepared as I am, then they can help me protect the others. Maybe the girls will join in too after seeing Theo and Blaise come around. Ron's mood was improved greatly by this, something that Blaise and Theo noticed rather easily.

"One more thing, mate" Blaise suddenly jumped in, and Ron looked to him with his smile still in place. Blaise reached into his robes, and he pulled out a golden envelope. "An invitation from my mother, hand delivered." Blaise handed Ron the invitation, and Ron opened it slowly. Ron pulled out a white card from the envelope, and he read the golden writing on it. Dinner at the Zabini residence? On Friday the tenth of July, 1993? So I finally get to meet this… spider-woman? The woman who abandoned Blaise, her own son, in Diagon Alley just to go on a date.

"I accept" Ron gave Blaise a smile.

"Good, be there at six" Blaise nodded. "We'll bring the wards down so that you can floo in. Wear your best robes, be polite, and don't give her any reason to complain about you. This is important to me Ron, don't mess it up."

"You want me to win her over" Ron noted, and Blaise gave a curt nod. "So you can keep being friends with me…" Blaise nodded again, but this time it was more slowly. Ron understood Blaise's predicament, but it still hurt that he had to jump through so many hoops just to be friends with him. I wonder if Theo's father has something similar in mind. What do I do then? I don't want to meet that fool, especially because of his current 'activities'.

"Ron, it's just one night" Blaise said, and Ron fixed his faltering smile.

"Sorry, I'm just being an idiot" Ron shook his head. "Yeah mate, I'll be there. And I won't mess it up, I swear." I'll talk to Mary about Blaise's mother as well, just to find out what I'm getting into.

---

Monday 6th July, 1993 (Greengrass Manor – Midday)

"What if she's not there?" Pansy asked, and Ron shrugged in response.

"Then I'll come right back, I suppose" Ron replied, fixing his glove in place. He was heading off to see Pomfrey in order to get help with his 'family issues', and he was hoping to see Snape as well. If the Potions Master was in the castle, Ron would find him and ask him about Dumbledore's mission.

"Pansy and I won't be here when you get back" Millie sighed. "My parents are taking us to a fund raising event today." Fund raising event?

"It's for a Charity that aims to help children with Dragon Pox" Pansy explained right after Millie finished, and Ron blinked in response. That sounds… nice of them. Did they support You-Know-Who?

"Well, I'll see you guys when I see you" Ron gave them a parting nod. "Tell Daphne that I snuck off again, that'll annoy her a bit." Tracey, Theo, Daphne, and Tori were currently helping Lady Greengrass in the Greengrass Gardens, whereas Blaise had left for home yesterday.

"That's mean" Millie chuckled. "I'll tell her once you floo out." Ron turned around at that, and he grabbed a handful of floo-powder that he threw into the fireplace.

"Severus Snape's Office, Hogwarts" Ron called out, and the fire blazed green. Ron stepped through it, and he found himself within Snape's Office.

"Mr. Weasley" came Snape's voice, and Ron looked to see the Potions Master putting jars of ingredients on the shelf behind his desk. Snape gave Ron a curt nod as he went on with his task, but when Ron lingered, Snape turned to face him fully. "Are you here to see Pomfrey?"

"I am" Ron replied, oddly happy to see the Slytherin Head of House. "How are you, Sir?" Snape cocked an eyebrow at that, the boy loved making idle conversation.

"I am fine, Mr. Weasley" Snape replied as he began putting the final two jars on the shelf. It's like I'm talking to a wall.

"Have you heard anything from the Headmaster?" Ron asked, deciding that beating around the bush wasn't his forte. Snape turned around and took his seat at that, his black eyes looking into Ron's.

"No, I haven't" Snape replied truthfully. "He is most likely within, or near, the Albanian Forests by now. All we can do is wait." Great, I can keep worrying then. "Have you had any more visions?"

"No" Ron admitted as he took a seat in front of Snape, ignoring the slight frown on Snape's face. "I have some more questions."

"Of course you do" Snape whispered coldly. "Well, spit them out already."

"My friends…" Ron started, slightly annoyed with Snape's rude behavior. "Tell me about their parents. Which of them were Death-Eaters? Who supported the Dark Lord, and why?"

"And why do you need to know this?" Snape asked, slightly taken aback by Ron's questions.

"So I can plan accordingly" Ron replied. "I want to know who I might need to deal with in the Future."

"Deal with?" Snape cocked an eyebrow. "Planning to lay waste to the most prominent families within Wizarding England?"

"If I have to" Ron replied immediately, causing Snape to blink in confusion. Pansy's own mother killed her in my vision, so I'll do whatever it takes to protect my friends. Even if that means getting rid of their families. "But I would like to avoid that if I can" Ron added on.

"Mr. Weasley…"

"Please Sir, call me Ron" Ron interjected, and Snape frowned at being interrupted. Whoops, that was rude of me.

"Ron…" Snape started again, his voice coming out as a cold whisper. "You should be careful with what you say. Threatening the families of your friends is not a wise policy." What if those families threaten my friends? Then what? "As for who is guilty of what, I'm inclined to tell you. But only because we might need to work around said families." Ron nodded at that, he was fine with whatever Snape's reasons were as long as he got his answers.

"Firstly, the Greengrasses" Snape continued, and Ron leaned forward. "Sebastian Greengrass funded the Dark Lord's war against the Order and the Ministry."

"Why?" Ron asked. He knew that his mentor was on the wrong side of the war, but hearing his crimes still managed to anger Ron. There better be a good reason behind it.

"His wife, Mary Greengrass, was abducted by the Dark Lord and held as a hostage" Snape replied, and Ron clenched his jaw.

"Mary was kidnapped…" Ron grit out to himself, disgusted with the Dark Lord and his minions.

"Yes, when your friend Daphne was still a babe" Snape went on, not really caring for Ron's feelings on the matter. The boy needed to learn just how horrible war was. "The Dark Lord gave Sebastian a simple choice; Serve or watch your family die. Sebastian chose to serve, was marked, and then funded the Dark Lord's war for nearly a year. He was eventually captured, tried, and found innocent due to being coerced. He was fortunate that his wife made friends with another Pure-Blood who was rotting away in one of the Dark Lord's dungeons, James Davis. His testimony saved your mentor from a life within Azkaban."

"Bloody hell" Ron shook his head. "Tell me more, please." I wonder if Daphne knows about this.

"As you already know, Nott Snr was a… is a Death-Eater" Snape went on, his expressionless face watching Ron's. "His wife's death truly ignited his belief in the Dark Lord, and so he is trying to bring him back."

"Did she serve the Dark Lord too?" Ron asked.

"No, but she attended the meetings with her husband" Snape replied. "She didn't have the stomach needed for a war, and so she was only there because her husband needed her to be. I always found her to be… an odd individual. She was a Pure-Blood, but didn't act like one. She had no particular hatred for Muggles and Muggle-Borns, nor did she care if they died. As long as she wasn't doing the killing, she ignored it for her husband's benefit. They both used the 'Imperius Curse Excuse' to get out of serving a life-sentence within Azkaban."

"Imperius Curse Excuse?" Ron asked. "Is that when the Death-Eaters claimed to be under the Imperius Curse, and the Ministry was stupid enough to believe them?"

"The Ministry didn't believe most of them" Snape scoffed. "The Ministry was more interested in the wealth that the Pure-Blood families held. They needed every Knut in order to start rebuilding the Wizarding World, and the 'Imperiused victims' happened to have a lot of money."

"Couldn't the Ministry just empty their vaults?" Ron asked.

"And risk another Goblin uprising?" Snape asked in return. "No, they pardoned a lot of Death-Eaters simply because they were rich. And those who were pardoned repaid the Ministry's mercy by handing over vast amounts of money, effectively fixing whatever they broke."

"What about the people that died?" Ron asked, his temper flaring. "What about the children who got orphaned, or the women who got widowed? What about them?"

"Tough luck" Snape replied curtly, and Ron couldn't help but release a mirthless chuckle. Fucking corrupt arseholes. They let them off the hook for simply being rich enough to rebuild everything. It's like the war never happened, that thousands didn't die pointlessly.

"Is that how Lucius Malfoy got out? He just had a lot of money?" Ron spat out.

"Yes" Snape replied, ignoring the look of disgust on Ron's face. "Lucius wasn't like the other Death-Eaters, he was the Dark Lord's second in command."

"Second in command?" Ron asked. "How the hell did he go free then?!"

"He was 'Imperiused', of course" Snape replied. "When the Dark Lord disappeared, his army was fractured and faced its own civil war. Lucius tried to unite the remaining forces in the hope of destroying the Ministry and then ushering in his own reign, but the Loyalists, led by Bellatrix Lestrange, broke away. They wanted to find their Lord, and kill anyone who got in their way. Lucius realized that without the Dark Lord, the families would just start vying for power again. So he walked into the Ministry, and told them that he was under the Imperius Curse the entire time. That he wanted to help bring justice to the Loyalists."

"And Bellatrix? What about her?" Ron asked.

"She was captured by the Aurors after a violent encounter" Snape replied, he looked rather sickened as he spoke of the woman who would one day kill his Godson. "She, and three others, were captured after they tortured an Auror couple into insanity with the Cruciatus Curse. Frank and Alice Longbottom…"

"Neville's parents?" Ron asked, and Snape nodded. Bloody hell. Poor Neville. Ron had just found another reason for wanting Bellatrix Lestrange dead. So that's why he lives with his Grandmother, and not his parents. Shite mate, I'm so sorry.

"She was sentenced to life in Azkaban for her crimes, along with Rodolphus Lestrange, Rabastan Lestrange, and Bartemius Crouch Jr" Snape went on. "Rodolphus was her husband, but in name only. Rabastan was her brother in law, while Barty Crouch Jr was the son of Barty Crouch Snr."

"Barty Crouch Snr? Didn't he sanction the use of the Unforgivables for the Aurors during the war?" Ron asked, he had read about that within the Library.

"He did" Snape smirked, pleased that Ron knew such a detail. "His policy was to 'fight fire with fire', which turned out to be rather effective. In the first month alone, the Ministry regained a footing within the war. The Order was, of course, against the use of such tasteless acts, but the rest of the Aurors didn't really care. They just needed an excuse, and when they were given one, they started piling bodies all over England."

"Piling bodies?" Ron blinked.

"Yes, funny how they keep that part out of the history books" Snape smirked again. "If there was any reason to believe that you were aiding the Dark Lord, the Aurors would break into your house and execute you. No questions, no trials, and no repercussions for them. The public was appalled and the Order distanced itself from the Ministry, but Barty Crouch Snr ignored them all. His Aurors ended up with a higher body count than the Death-Eaters themselves."

"What the hell?" Ron was honest-to-Merlin shocked at this.

"There were only around thirty Death-Eaters, of course. The Dark Lord made sure that none of us knew who was who, except for a key few individuals. This way, if one of us was caught, the others were safe. But that didn't really matter once the Kill-Order came in. The majority of the Dark Lord's army consisted of criminals, Dark Creatures, and outcasts. And none of them were safe from the Aurors. When the Dark Lord disappeared, and two separate factions sprang up to fill the void, the Dark Lord's army disbanded. The Aurors were blood thirsty, and they had no intention of stopping until they were forced to. The world may claim that Dumbledore and his Order were the reason the Dark Lord lost, but that's not entirely true."

"I didn't know that the Aurors were so… vicious" Ron admitted.

"War is a terrible thing, and we must be terrible to wage it" Snape quoted, and Ron nodded slowly. I'm guessing that Madam Roberts was one of these Aurors. "The Aurors became terrible, but by doing so, they managed to keep the Ministry from crumbling. And it was all thanks to Barty Crouch Snr, whose own son was found out to be a Death-Eater. Crouch sent that son to Azkaban, who died within the year, and Crouch Snr lost any standing he had with the people of Wizarding England."

"And you? How did you escape?" Ron asked, earning a deep scowl from Snape. "You were a Death-Eater, right? Did Dumbledore manage to save you?"

"He did" Snape replied curtly. I want to ask why he became a Death-Eater, but I'd rather not get Hexed to death. "We have veered off topic, you wished to know of your friends' parents?"

"Yes" Ron replied, as if accepting the change in topic.

"The Bulstrodes supported the Dark Lord, and still do, though they don't make a show of it anymore" Snape told him, and Ron let out a tired sigh. "The Parkinsons joined because they were afraid of the Dark Lord's power, except for Lady Parkinson. That vulture is as bigoted as they come." Believe me, I know that already. If she even touches Pansy, I'll rip her hands off. "James Davis is a Pure-Blood who married a Muggle-Born witch, Susana Davis, but was captured and tortured for it. He refused to divorce her even under the threat of death."

"Brave man" Ron blurted out.

"Brave… and foolish" Snape cocked an eyebrow.

"Foolish for what? Staying true to his wife and principles?" Ron narrowed his eyes.

"For staying within the country" Snape replied coldly. "If he truly loved her, he'd have taken her as far away from the Dark Lord as possible. Instead, he openly stayed within England as a direct insult to the Dark Lord."

"I stand corrected then" Ron said firmly. "Brave man." Running away, and abandoning his home, would be as bad as giving into the Dark Lord's insanity. Snape rolled his eyes at Ron, something that made Ron frown. "What about Clementine Zabini?"

"She was not welcome at the Dark Lord's table" Snape replied. "Though she was forced to pay for her 'safety'."

"Why wasn't she welcomed by the Dark Lord?"

"I'm sure you've heard the rumors about her" Snape replied, and Ron nodded. "The Dark Lord had no intention of letting that Black Widow into his camp, especially because she was looking for another husband at the time." Black Widow? Another spider reference? Merlin, can I refuse to see her please?

"Are the rumors true?" Ron asked.

"Perhaps… No one knows for certain" Snape replied, and Ron shuddered. "She is incredibly beautiful, and she has a string of dead husbands. My advice is that you stay away from her."

"Too late" Ron groaned, and Snape blinked.

"What?"

"I said it's too late for that" Ron replied. "I'm having dinner at hers next Friday."

"Another ally, Ron?" Snape asked, and Ron noticed that his name sounded odd coming from Snape's mouth.

"No, at least I don't think so" Ron replied. "I'm doing this for Blaise's benefit. He wants me to kiss her arse so he can keep being friends with a 'Blood-Traitor'…"

"I see" Snape nodded once. "Be careful." Is that concern I hear?

"I will be" Ron nodded as he stood up. "It was good to see you, Professor, but I should go and find Madam Pomfrey. Please keep me updated on the Headmaster's status."

"Very well" Snape responded. "You may send me an owl if you need anything, I will not be at the castle after tonight."

"Returning home?"

"Yes, I am" Snape replied.

"Alright, take care then" Ron said as he made his way out. Snape watched Ron leave, and then he relaxed into his seat. The boy was clearly planning to save his friends, even if that meant that he had to get rid of their parents. This could be… troublesome, and Albus needed to hear of this.

---

Monday 6th July, 1993 (Pomfrey's Office – Afternoon)

"I want to go home…" Ron went on, he had been telling Pomfrey about everything that had happened since he left Hogwarts. "But Charlie's there… My mum and dad are there… Pandora is there. I want to go home, but I don't want to deal with…" he trailed off.

"You don't want to deal with the repercussions of the fight?" Pomfrey provided, making Ron shift in his seat.

"I don't want to hear the apologies" Ron admitted.

"Hear them, but not make them?"

"I have nothing to apologize for" Ron repeated for the tenth time. "I protected my sister, and I won't apologize for that. And Charlie started the fight with me."

"Go on, Ron" Pomfrey leaned forward.

"He blamed me for his girlfriend's sour mood" Ron scoffed. "So what if I was a bit distant, I don't even know this person. She's a stranger to me, and why would I tell a stranger my life story? I didn't ask her for hers, why can't she show me the same respect?"

"People generally share life experiences when they socialize" Pomfrey stated. "Maybe she was looking forward to meeting you, and when you didn't reciprocate those feelings, she was left hurt."

"Then she needs thicker skin" Ron frowned. "And my life experiences aren't something that I want to discuss. Not even with my own family. What was I supposed to do? Tell her about how the Dark Lord left me a mangled mess on the dungeon floor?" Or how the Entity's favorite pastime is causing me misery?

"You could have told her of your hobbies."

"I did" Ron responded. "I told her I enjoyed Chess, practicing with new Spells, all of that stuff. But she was clearly expecting me to bear my soul to her, and when I didn't, Charlie blamed me for her insanity. Then when I told him that I planned to create a fence around our property, something that any normal family would want, he nearly broke my arm."

"And that's when you both traded blows?" Pomfrey asked for clarification, and Ron nodded. "I believe that it might be deeper than that, Ron. Your brother sounds like a rational person, which leads me to believe that a lot more happened before this fight."

"He… He called me a cold bastard" Ron remembered, and Pomfrey waited for him to go on. "Said that I was too closed off, that he couldn't understand why I was being like this… He said some other nonsense too, but I don't really remember much."

"Perhaps your brother lashed out because he was scared?" Pomfrey suggested, earning a confused frown from Ron.

"He was scared? That's why he went rabid?"

"Helplessness can often lead to anger, and your family's temper is legendary" Pomfrey smiled gently, she was trying to push Ron to figure this out himself. If he could manage that, then he might find the courage to go back home.

"So Charlie felt… helpless?" Ron asked slowly, drifting into his thoughts. Helpless about what? Me being closed off? I'm not even that closed off, I just don't talk about my problems. I'd rather just deal with them. But he doesn't know that, I suppose.

"Tell me Ron, how did you feel when Ginny began spending time with Harry and his friends instead of spending it with you?" Pomfrey pushed a bit more. "How did you feel when she wouldn't talk to you about what was bothering her?"

"I felt… agitated" Ron replied slowly, something clicking in his brain. "He wanted me to talk to him… But he didn't know how to ask, and when we argued, he lost his temper… Bloody hell."

"This is good, Ron" Pomfrey smiled genuinely, and he managed a weak smile in return. "Perhaps your brother and you aren't so different."

"I guess we aren't" Ron nodded weakly. "I… I shouldn't have hit him…" I should never raise my hand against my family. I'm supposed to protect them.

"And he shouldn't have twisted your arm in the first place" Pomfrey added. "You both made mistakes, and from what I've seen of you, you're not the sort of person who leaves his mistakes unattended. Your brother is going back to Romania soon. Do you want him to leave before you sort this out?"

"No" Ron replied. "I need to go home."

"I think that's for the best" Pomfrey smiled. "And Ron, don't forget your breathing exercises."

"I won't" Ron smiled and rubbed the back of his head, he was already feeling better. "Thank you, Madam Pomfrey. I really appreciate everything that you do for me."

"I'm here whenever you need me, Ron" Pomfrey responded. "Just make sure that you don't need me on a weekend." Ron chuckled at that, and then he nodded firmly.

---

Harry Potter's POV

Monday 6th July, 1993 (The Burrow – Afternoon)

Harry flew past George so fast that the older boy nearly fell off of his broom, and Charlie followed right behind. Harry had his eye on the Golden Snitch, and he was dead certain that so did Charlie. He has a longer reach than I do, so I need to get to it first. Harry leaned forward on his broom, diving forward slightly in the hope of gaining some extra speed. The Snitch gleamed in front of him as it flew around wildly, and for a second, Harry lost his concentration.

Fred took the chance to smack a bludger at Harry, and by the time Harry realized that it was coming, it was too late. Miraculously however, Ginny flew in and hit the bludger out of the way just in time for Harry to make it to the Snitch. Charlie was just on his tail when Harry caught the Snitch, ending the game in favor of his team.

"Bloody hell, you're a quick little bugger" Charlie laughed as he came to a stop.

"Thanks" Harry grinned, though he knew that he had a massive advantage over Charlie. While Harry was flying around on his Nimbus 2001, Charlie was flying on a chipped and dusty old broom. He still nearly caught me. I definitely believe that he was the Quidditch Captain of Gryffindor now. They all flew down and dismounted their brooms, with Percy landing last and falling over.

"Ha, nice one" Fred laughed at Percy, who stood up with a deep frown.

"Can I go inside now?" Percy asked Charlie, who just let out a laugh and patted his brother's back a little too hard. Percy, Ginny, and Harry were on one team, while the twins and Charlie were on the other. Luna was just watching them, and cheering for Ginny rather loudly.

"But we'll be a man down if you leave" Harry tried, he didn't like the twins mocking Percy for being bad at flying. Percy was like Hermione, only comfortable in the library.

"If it's him, you'll be better off" George sniggered, earning a frown from Ginny.

"Or maybe you'll finally win one?" Ginny shot back.

"Ohhh" the twins howled, chuckling at Ginny's comment.

"I reckon we've played enough today" Charlie noted with a smile. "Plus, it's nearly lunchtime."

"Are you guys going again?" Luna asked as she approached them.

"No, little Luna" Charlie ruffled her hair, making her giggle. Harry had grown rather fond of Charlie, especially because Charlie treated everyone with care and attention. Even Harry himself. And Sirius likes him a lot considering that he kept bringing him up to Remus. Though he did sound really angry that one time when he mentioned Ron on the weekend. "C'mon, let's go inside and harass mum for something to eat." As they all began making their way inside, Harry positioned himself by Charlie's side.

"Charlie, where's Ron?" Harry asked, and he felt Charlie tense for a second. "I asked the twins, but they weren't too sure. Neither were Ginny and Luna."

"He's at his mentor's house" Charlie gave Harry a friendly smile. "Something to do with his Chess career." Harry nodded slowly, his instincts were telling him that something was off. First, Ron was really gloomy when he came to Grimmauld Place. And now he's not at home? And why don't his other siblings know where he is?

"He's alright, isn't he?" Harry asked, deciding to let his concern for Ron's well-being win out. "He was acting rather off when he came to mine, and now he's not here. Not to mention that Sirius and Remus were talking about him in hushed whispers again… I just want to know if he's doing alright."

"You're a good lad" Charlie chuckled, giving Harry a pat on the back that nearly winded him. Ow… "Ron's alright, I promise. My brother's a busy kid, as I'm sure you know."

"I guess I do" Harry smiled to himself. "I was actually hoping to see him today."

"Something important?" Charlie asked.

"Yeah" Harry nodded. "Neville and I are heading into Muggle London to meet up with Hermione, and we were hoping to bring Ron along. We were hoping to spend more time with him… especially after… you know…"

"The fight…" Charlie nodded slowly. "I think that's a great idea, Harry. My brother's lucky to count you as his friend." Maybe… But I have to make amends for going behind his back after everything he did for me. For Sirius, Hermione, and Neville as well. I owe him quite a lot.

"You reckon he'll be back before Thursday? That's when we're all going to Muggle London" Harry stated.

"He'll be back" Charlie replied, something flashing behind his eyes. It was gone as quickly as it came, and Charlie gave Harry a wide smile. "I'll let him know."

"Thanks" Harry smiled back. "Just tell him to be at mine on Thursday morning, we'll take it from there."

---

Ronald Weasley's POV

Monday 6th July, 1993 (Greengrass Manor – After Dinner)

"Checkmate" Lord Greengrass smirked, and Ron bowed his head in defeat. He cheats, I know it. "Don't look so defeated Ron, maybe you'll beat me when I'm old and grey."

"When?" Ron smirked, earning a chuckle from Lord Greengrass.

"Maybe if your mind was as sharp as your tongue, you'd win one already" Lord Greengrass smiled arrogantly. "Would you like a drink?" Lord Greengrass asked suddenly as he stood up and walked over to his Brandy table.

"Um… I…" Ron started, but Lord Greengrass just poured Aged Apple Brandy into two Brandy snifters.

"It is rude to refuse a Lord's offer" Lord Greengrass stated as he handed Ron a snifter, which Ron took with a grateful smile. "It doesn't hurt to start building a palate for such things at your age. When I turned sixteen, I could tell where a wine was bottled just by the smell."

"A useful talent" Ron smirked.

"It certainly impressed a specific German witch that caught my eye" Lord Greengrass sat back down, an easy smile on his face. He rather enjoyed this banter between him and Ron, which was a new thing. After watching Ron Duel Madam Roberts, Sebastian had come to respect the younger wizard's talent even more.

"A German witch?" Ron smiled slyly.

"The most beautiful witch that I had ever laid eyes on" Lord Greengrass chuckled. "She had never even looked in my direction, but once I approached her, we became inseparable. And I learned that her mind was even more beautiful than her visage." Ron took a sip of the Apple Brandy, and it burned his throat. He could sort of taste the apples, but they were masked by an overwhelming burning sensation. "It gets easier, Ron" Lord Greengrass smiled.

"I don't wish to be rude, my Lord" Ron started, while Lord Greengrass sipped his drink. "But you summoned me in here right after dinner, and I got the feeling that you wanted to talk to me about something."

"I did" Lord Greengrass replied. "There are a couple of things that I wanted to talk to you about. First and foremost, I've signed you up for another Tournament. Nothing too big, just eight competitors including yourself. But I've heard rumors that the International League of Wizard's Chess Club will be interviewing the winner, and I want you to be that winner."

"Rumors, my Lord?" Ron asked after he took another sip. Isn't he a part of the League?

"Yes, rumors" Lord Greengrass exhaled. "They aren't very happy with me, not after what happened in Paris."

"They cut a dirty deal and payed for it, how is that your fault?" Ron frowned to himself.

"When foolish people fail, they often pin the blame on their betters" Lord Greengrass smirked. "Either way, it doesn't really matter. If you win this competition, we can begin making peace with these people."

"When and where is this competition?" Ron asked, deciding to listen to Lord Greengrass' advice.

"The tenth of August, at Flourish and Blotts" Lord Greengrass replied.

"It's at Diagon Alley?" Ron asked with a smile. Handy.

"An easy trip for us, thank Merlin" Lord Greengrass took a sip. "Now, for the second thing. My wife has been… worried about something that you told her."

"Mary's worried?" Ron leaned forward.

"I won't lie Ron, she's in a bit of a panic" Lord Greengrass sighed, his wife had been talking his ears off for almost two days now. "You are having dinner with Clementine Zabini soon, aren't you?" Oh, that…

"I am going to the Zabini Residence on Friday" Ron nodded, taking a sip again. "And I'm becoming increasingly worried about it, especially because people keep telling me to stay away from her."

"It's a wise policy to listen when everyone tells you the same thing" Lord Greengrass stated. "Ron, this woman… She's not mentally stable."

"Tell me about her" Ron relaxed into his seat, whilst also resisting the urge to crack a joke about his own mental state. Daphne will burst in here just to slap me in the face, I fucking know it.

"She's had six husbands in the past fifteen years, her first one being an old Pure-Blood wizard when she had just graduated from Hogwarts" Lord Greengrass started, the thought of that venomous woman sending a shiver up his spine. "He died within a year, and she became one of the wealthiest witches within England."

"Did you know her at Hogwarts?" Ron cut in, curious about Lord Greengrass' past.

"She was two years above me, but I didn't know her" Lord Greengrass replied. "She did sleep with Lucius, but once he met Narcissa, whom he married, she lost all interest in him. That woman even scared Lucius, which should tell you more than enough about her."

"Does she really kill her husbands?" Ron asked slowly.

"Personally, I believe the rumors" Lord Greengrass replied, and Ron swallowed thickly. I need to get Blaise away from her before she hurts him. "I believe in patterns, and she has a rather malicious one. She marries older men, who all die within a year or two, and she is always the beneficiary in their wills. And she has a penchant for making allies with powerful people, which is how she avoids investigation. Don't let her charm and beauty fool you Ron, she is a spider… One that will entangle you with her honeyed words if you're not careful."

"I'll be careful" Ron nodded.

"Ron, look at me" Lord Greengrass ordered, and Ron did so. His mentor had a hardened expression on his face, but his usually cold eyes were warm and worried. "Be polite, be vigilant, and don't give her any reason to feel antagonized. She may be your friend's mother, but she is not someone to be trusted. Promise me that you will be careful."

"I promise" Ron said firmly. And I promise to get Blaise away from her before she hurts him. She's not his only family. He's got a proper family as long as I'm alive.

---

Tuesday 7th July, 1993 (Greengrass Manor – Midnight)

"Marty" Ron called, and there was a sudden pop from behind him. Ron turned to see his Elf smiling up at him, and Ron smiled widely at the sight of him.

"Master called Marty?" Marty asked.

"I did" Ron nodded. "How goes your mission?"

"Oh!" Marty beamed. "Very well, Master. Marty and his new friends have found much. The beast was burned on the outside, but its insides were mostly undamaged you see. Marty has even secured the beast's heart for Master."

"This is excellent news!" Ron grinned from ear to ear, and Marty mimicked him. "Well done Marty, I knew that you wouldn't let me down!"

"Marty lives to serve" Marty bowed deeply, his wide smile still in place.

"How long before you finish?" Ron asked.

"Chivvy, the House-Elf overseeing the harvesting, believes that Marty's task will be done within two days" Marty replied. "Marty also took the liberty of securing the beast's shed skin for Master. If Marty lines Master's robes with it, the skin will protect Master from many Spells." Really? That sounds useful.

"How much skin did you secure?" Ron couldn't help but ask.

"Around thirty feet, Master" Marty replied.

"Marty, come here and give me a hug!" Ron laughed excitedly, and then he crouched on one knee. Marty did as he was told, and he hugged Ron for almost ten seconds. Ron didn't really mind, Marty had earned that hug and more. "Once you've finished your job, bring everything to me in my room at the Burrow. Come at midnight, and don't make a sound."

"Marty understands, Master" Marty said as he let go of Ron, a toothy smile on his face.

"You're dismissed Marty, I'll see you soon" Ron stood back up, and Marty bowed before popping away. Ron pumped his fist into the air, and danced around with childish glee for a few seconds. Calm Ron, calm. Breathe, and keep your composure. Even if you're about to make a lot of fucking money! Ron pumped his fist again, and then headed for his bed with a massive grin. But a sudden knock at his door stopped him, and he walked over to the door and opened it slightly.

"Can I come in?" Daphne whispered, she was in her silver silk pajamas. A bit late for that, but sure.

"Come on in" Ron smiled as he opened the door for her, and she tiptoed in. Ron shut the door gently behind her, and then he turned to see her smiling mischievously at him. He knew that look, and it made him flush immediately. Fuck, what's wrong with me? Just because I've started crushing on her doesn't change anything, we've kissed so many times now.

"I've been meaning to talk to you" Daphne hummed as she walked over to his bed, and Ron followed her slowly. "But you're far too busy to even look at me lately."

"It's… It's not like that, Daph" Ron gave her a sheepish smile, but she gave him a fake pout.

"No, you've forgotten all about me" she said dramatically. "Like I was just another wench to you…" Another wench? Ron held back a snigger, especially because he was enjoying this playful game.

"You're not like the other wenches, I swear" Ron decided to play along, much to her delight.

"I bet that's what you say to all of them as well" Daphne feigned hurt. "That they're special… But we're nothing to you, are we?"

"I… I just need time… I'm sorry" Ron looked away dramatically, and Daphne snorted. Ron let out a chuckle before sitting beside her. "Cute snort."

"Shut up" Daphne giggled.

"So, what brought that about?" Ron couldn't help but ask.

"I've been reading one of father's Muggle Romance novels" Daphne smiled widely. "I'd rather read a manifesto written by Theodore Nott."

"I'll never understand why your father reads that stuff" Ron sniggered.

"Mother says that father is a hopeless romantic" Daphne whispered, as if telling Ron a dark secret. "But enough about old people."

"Very respectful" Ron chuckled, but Daphne just shrugged.

"Are you leaving tomorrow?" Daphne asked as she scooted closer to him, something that Ron immediately became aware of. She's nearly at kissing distance. Play it cool, Weasley. What?! No! Just be normal, you half-wit. "Ron?"

"Oh… um… Yeah, I am" Ron replied.

"But we never went into the Gardens" Daphne groaned, something that she'd never do in public.

"I'll be back, I promise" Ron assured her. "I just need to solve things with my brother before he leaves for Romania."

"Well, in that case, I'll let you go" she said dramatically.

"You have my gratitude, my Lady" Ron shook his head slightly, amused by her antics. "But I was here for nearly five days, Daph. Why didn't we… you know, sneak off to the Gardens?" Did I really just ask that? I'm almost as smooth as sandpaper.

"Well, all of our friends were here for one" Daphne sighed, scooting even closer to him. Their legs were now touching, and Ron could put his arm around her quite easily. Should I? No, that's weird. I've never done it before, but maybe I should try it. Ron put his left arm around her, and she moved a bit to make herself more comfortable. She didn't mind! Praise Merlin!

"You did invite them" Ron whispered.

"I know" Daphne sighed again. "But I figured that we'd get to sneak off anyway. My sister ruined any chance of that happening with her constantly following you around. Did you really have to show off that much?"

"Well, I'm sorry" Ron chuckled, making her laugh as well. "I was trying to beat an Auror, one that I desperately needed."

"Needed?" Daphne looked to him, her eyes fixed on his.

"She was the best candidate, and I wanted her to teach me" Ron replied, that was still true. "I hope Tori stops asking me her absurd questions soon, they make me rather uncomfortable. She… She asked to see my scars…"

"What?" Daphne frowned. "Ron, you didn't…"

"No, of course I didn't" Ron quickly responded.

"I'm going to have a chat with her, she needs to learn that not everyone will put up with that kind of behavior" Daphne noted. "I love her to bits, but she'll make a lot of people angry at Hogwarts if she doesn't learn to behave."

"She's always been this way, hasn't she?" Ron asked. And she's always been frail according to Lord Greengrass. I wonder why. She does go to sleep very early, and I've never seen her running around or exerting herself. Ron's protective instincts went off, and he decided that he'd try and learn more about Tori's health.

"She has, and it doesn't help that my parents don't stop her" Daphne replied before deciding to change the topic. She knew that her sister wasn't… healthy. But that's all she knew. Her parents were rather tight-lipped about it, and even Tori didn't know why she was so small and frail. "Anyway, I wanted to see you before you 'snuck off again'."

"What's on your mind?" Ron asked.

"This" Daphne hummed before giving him a quick kiss. "Finally, I've been waiting for days to do that."

"Really?" Ron asked with a whisper, and she nodded.

"Why do you always think that I don't like kissing you?" Daphne asked with a soft smile.

"I don't think that" Ron blinked.

"Well, I do like kissing you" Daphne said firmly. "So stop thinking that I don't, because I know you do."

"I… I like kissing you as well" Ron whispered.

"I know" Daphne whispered back. Wish I had that sort of confidence. I mean if it's Chess or a fight, then I'm as confident as they come. But this sappy stuff isn't my forte. "By the way, Pansy asked me a very funny question."

"What did she ask?"

"She asked me if I still had a crush on you" Daphne replied, her voice amused. "And before you ask, I do." I have a crush on you too… Should I say that?

"What did you tell her?" Ron asked instead of confessing. Ronald Weasley, emotionally stunted extraordinaire.

"I told her that I've moved on" Daphne giggled. "She was genuinely upset with my response… Turns out that she has a bet with Tracey that you and I will end up dating soon, but Tracey believes that we won't date until we're much older." Can we go back to kissing instead, this is giving me anxiety.

"Do people start dating in third year?" Ron asked, but he already knew the answer to that.

"Most of them do" Daphne replied, and then she gave him a knowing smile. Fuck! "Don't worry Ron, I'm not hinting at anything. I told you that what we do together doesn't have to mean anything unless we both want it to. For now, I'm just happy that I have a boy to practice on."

"Practice on?" Ron blinked.

"You know, for when I do get a boyfriend" Daphne hummed, but she stopped when she saw something gleam behind Ron's eyes. If someone asks her out before me, I'll knock their teeth in. Ron took in a deep breath to calm down, and he gave her a calm smile.

"So I'm just another 'wench' to you?" Ron asked, and Daphne broke into giggles. Ron squeezed her, and she put her arms around his stomach and kissed his left cheek.

"No, you're special to me. And if any girl asks you out, I'll claw her eyes out." Ron broke into a laugh at that, and then he gave her a long kiss.

---

AUTHOR'S NOTES: I hope you enjoyed that! Much action, much suspense, much angst...

Now a quick announcement, I will update the next Chapter by Saturday at the latest. But I'm worried that some of my readers don't actually know that I'm back, and there is no way for me to alert them either. Damn FF... Anyway, if you know someone who reads this story as well, let them know please.

See you guys on the next one!