Fate Chapter 61 - Harsh Lessons, a harry potter fanfic

AUTHOR'S NOTES: Chapter 61 is here, and my God! I read through it after I finished, and this a fucking dark chapter...

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.

Fate

Chapter 61 – Harsh Lessons

Ronald Weasley's POV

Saturday 11th July, 1993 (Greengrass Manor – Near Lunchtime)

"So she invited you back?" Lord Greengrass asked, they were discussing the dinner at the Zabini residence.

"She did" Ron replied. "Even I can tell that she wants something from me, and I get the feeling that it's not good."

"I told you Ron, she has a habit of making powerful allies" Lord Greengrass reminded him, and Ron nodded. "Try and keep your distance from her as much as possible, that's all I'll say."

"No other advice?" Ron asked.

"No" Lord Greengrass shook his head. "You are getting older every day, and I'd like you to start thinking about your Future on your own." Trust me, that's all I ever do.

"Actually, I do have a favor to ask of you" Ron said as he remembered Lady Longbottom's invitation. "Could you perhaps buy me a nice bottle of Sherry?"

"Sherry?" Lord Greengrass smirked. "What would your parents say to that, Ron?"

"It's not for me" Ron chuckled. "I'm having dinner with Lady Longbottom on Wednesday, and her grandson told me that she enjoys a nice bottle of Sherry from time to time."

"And so your list of allies keeps growing" Lord Greengrass chuckled. "I will get you a nice bottle before Wednesday, I promise."

"Thank you, my Lord" Ron smiled gratefully, that was one problem taken care of. "I will pay you back, I swear."

"Excellent" Lord Greengrass said as he stood up, and Ron followed suit. "Let's get some lunch, and then we can keep working on those conundrums." Ugh… More puzzles? "Don't be like that Ron, they are helping you improve. You act much faster now, and sometimes you figure out my moves as soon as I implement them." Ron nodded at that, glad to see that his mentor had taken notice of his improvement. They both made their way out, and as they were closing in on the Dining Room, Theo caught up to them.

"My Lord" Theo greeted Lord Greengrass, and then he looked to Ron. Still blonde, it looks so weird. "Ron, can I talk to you?"

"Sure" Ron replied, eager to hear what Theo had to say.

"I will see you both at the dining table" Lord Greengrass said as he left them. Theo shot looks around them, and Ron slowly followed his gaze.

"Good, we're alone" Theo smirked, making Ron blink. "So… How was dinner at the Zabini residence?"

"It went well, and I think…"

"Enough about that" Theo cut Ron off, and Ron frowned at Theo's rudeness. "What did you think of Blaise's mother?" What? Ron blinked again, but Theo's ever growing grin gave Ron a clear idea of what he wanted to know.

"Clementine…" Ron muttered, his ears turning red at the thought of her bare shoulders and neck.

"Yeah" Theo nodded slowly, his grin threatening to split his face. "She is one sexy witch, isn't she?"

"She is" Ron whispered, smiling guiltily.

"Blaise is a lucky man" Theo whispered.

"That's his mum…" Ron looked at Theo with slight disgust.

"You thought it too Ron, I know you did" Theo put his arm around Ron's shoulder. "Just admit it, mate."

"I didn't…" Ron lied lamely, he had thought that last night. It'd be so neat to live in a house with a witch that looked like that. But then again, I'd probably hate it because I know what she's capable of. Murder.

"Yeah, you did" Theo hummed. "She used to put me on her lap when I was younger… Merlin, I miss those days. She once even let me rest my head on her breasts…"

"Lucky bastard" Ron mumbled, horribly jealous of Theo.

"What are you two talking about?" came Daphne's voice, and both boys squealed before turning to look at her. She was walking over to them, her eyes widening slightly because of their girly screams. DON'T KILL ME! IT WAS ALL THEO! Ron pushed Theo's arm off of his shoulders, all the while staring at Daphne with an ever increasing blush. She didn't hear us, did she? No, I don't think she did. Thank Merlin.

"Daphne, what brings you here?" Theo asked, his voice controlled and calm.

"It's my house" Daphne narrowed her eyes on Theo, and then looked to Ron. Were they talking about something inappropriate? "Ron… What were you two talking about?"

"Nothing" Ron lied, but Daphne just narrowed her eyes even more. "It was nothing, I swear."

"We were talking about what we're going to get you on your birthday, so stop asking questions or you'll ruin your own surprise" Theo lied smoothly, and Daphne blinked at him.

"Oh…" Daphne's eyes widened slightly, and then she covered her ears. "Okay, don't tell me" she smiled, and then she quickly left for the Dining Room. Theo's a bloody genius.

"Bloody hell, Theo" Ron muttered. "That was amazing."

"I know" Theo smirked. "But now we have to get her something amazing for her birthday…"

"A problem for another day" Ron patted Theo's right arm. "Now… Tell me more about Clementine…"

"With pleasure" Theo grinned, while Ron just smiled in a guilty manner. Nothing wrong with a little 'guy talk', right?

Sunday 12th July, 1993 (Greengrass Manor – Morning)

Ron waited in the Living Room eagerly, his hands fidgeting and a massive grin on his face. My training starts today! He wasn't waiting alone either, nor was he the only excited individual in the room. Daphne, Tori, Mary, and Theo were also sitting in the Living Room, all of them awaiting Madam Roberts' arrival. Lord Greengrass had left on some important business last night, but not before bringing up Ron's brain-damage, much to his surprise. As it turned out, Ron's parents and the other adults wanted Ron to tell Madam Roberts about his condition. But they had ultimately left the choice in his hands. He still hadn't decided what to do yet.

"Will we get to watch?" Tori asked Mary once again. "I really want to watch."

"That is up to Madam Roberts, love" Mary replied, reading her Muggle novel. Tori went to speak again, but the whole room was engulfed in silence when the fireplace blazed to life. Madam Roberts stepped out of the green flames, a stern expression on her face. Ron immediately noticed that she was carrying a brown suitcase, and that she was wearing some sort of Dueling Uniform. The logo over her heart captured Ron's attention. A capital 'A', with a wand going through the middle.

"Welcome back, Madam Roberts" Mary greeted her, and everyone, except for Theo, rose out of their seats.

"Lady Greengrass" Madam Roberts greeted with a curt nod, her eyes going to Ron. "I'd like to get started as soon as possible. Do you have your wand with you?"

"Yes, I do" Ron nodded, trying not to grin at her.

"Good, then let's get started" Madam Roberts said, placing the suitcase in the middle of the room. She opened it, and gestured Ron to step inside. What the fuck? Ron blinked at the suitcase, and then he blinked at Madam Roberts. "Now, Mr. Weasley… I don't have until the end of my life for you to realize that there is an Undetectable Extension Charm on this suitcase." Bloody hell, she is so grouchy.

"Can we watch?" Tori asked meekly, the old witch intimidated her greatly. The massive scar on the right side of her face even frightened Tori, who couldn't help but wonder how the old witch got such a ghastly scar.

"No" Madam Roberts replied curtly. "I'm here to teach Mr. Weasley, not to be your entertainer." Tori looked thoroughly put off, and she pouted miserably at Madam Roberts. It did nothing to faze Madam Roberts, who just cocked an eyebrow at Tori. Ron decided to move into the suitcase before Madam Roberts lost her patience, shooting a sorry look at Tori. "We will see you in a few hours" Madam Roberts told Mary, who gave her a soft nod.

Ron was genuinely surprised to find stairs when he stepped into the suitcase, and he slowly walked down them while also minding his head. This is… awesome! I need to learn this Spell immediately, and to buy a suitcase to use it on. Ron heard Madam Roberts behind him, and when she closed the suitcase's lid, the inside went completely dark.

"Lumos" Ron chanted, his wand brandished by his face. White light lit up the inside of the suitcase, which looked like a thin, leathery corridor leading up to a closed wooden door. "This is so cool! Did you Enchant this suitcase yourself?"

"I did" Madam Roberts replied, eyeing Ron's back with a slight frown. Was this the same boy who nearly killed her last week? He seemed so… childish… right now.

"That's awesome" Ron grinned, approaching the door. He pushed it open, and his jaw dropped to the floor at the sight before him. It's a small house in here! Ron quickly made his way inside, looking at the barely lit interior with childish glee. Much like the Sanctuary, there was a small section filled with couches and a coffee table. But most importantly, there was an actual Training Ring in here.

"Incendio" Madam Roberts chanted, flicking her right hand at the torches which all lit up immediately. Ron looked around with a massive grin, and then he looked to Madam Roberts.

"Is this 'Undetectable Extension Charm' hard to learn? It has to be, right?" Ron asked, he definitely wanted her to teach him this. Just imagine having my Sanctuary at the foot of my bed. I'll never have to sneak up to the seventh floor again.

'It is, but everything can be mastered with time and practice" Madam Roberts replied, looking at Ron's clothing.

"Oh, these are my running clothes" Ron told her.

"You will not be training in those" Madam Roberts said in a stern voice, her face expressionless now. "Go to the showers, your Training Outfit is inside." Showers? This place has showers? Ron turned around and spotted one wooden door near the couches, which was previously hidden due to the darkness. "Hurry along now, we have much to do."

"I'll be right back" Ron nodded, quickly making his way to the closed wooden door. He pushed it open and entered the 'showers', but much to his shock, this room wasn't just showers. It was a massive bathroom; outfitted with five showers stalls, five toilet stalls, and five lockers. Bloody hell, this is my new favorite Spell. Goodbye Disillusionment Charm and Blasting Curse, you never stood a chance. Ron spotted his 'Training Outfit' on a bench, and it looked just like Madam Roberts'.

Ron quickly changed into it, truly grateful that it was long sleeved and that it came with trousers. Once he was fully dressed, he looked himself over in a nearby mirror. The Training Outfit was completely white, with shoulder and knee pads fitted inside the thick fabric. Ron tucked his top into his trousers, just like Madam Roberts, and then he went outside to meet her.

"Good, it fits" Madam Roberts nodded, walking over to Ron. Just as Ron was about to speak, the old witch fixed his shoulder pads in place rather roughly. She then fixed his collar, again rather roughly, before taking a step back. "This will be your new Training Outfit, you will treat it with the respect that it deserves. Keep it clean, and wear it every time we train together. I also want you to wear it when you train on your own, understood?"

"Yes, Ma'am" Ron nodded firmly, smiling gratefully. "Thank you for this."

"Thank Greengrass, he paid for it" Madam Roberts told him.

"Mine doesn't have that insignia on it" Ron said, looking at the insignia over her heart.

"That insignia represents the Auror's Academy, where I teach new recruits" Madam Roberts said, walking over to the Training Ring. Ron followed after her, stretching his arms and back. It's a little too snug, if I'm being honest. "Perhaps one day… You too will wear this insignia over your heart." I hope so.

"Now Mr. Weasley, let's begin" Madam Roberts said, turning to face him. "First, we will go over some basics. Things such as rules, form, and Dueling styles. Then, we will do Circuit Training. I want to start working on your strength building and muscle endurance immediately."

"Is it alright for me to start doing muscle stuff? I'm only thirteen" Ron asked, he didn't want to damage himself before the war. "Also, what is Circuit Training?"

"Circuit Training is a form of endurance training developed by the Muggles" Madam Roberts told him.

"The Muggles?"

"When it comes health and exercise, Muggles outclass us in every way possible" Madam Roberts told him, she had seen Muggle soldiers and was greatly impressed by them. Do they really? I'm not surprised actually. Every time I learn something about the Muggles, I'm left impressed. "As for your previous question, you will be fine Mr. Weasley. The Muggles may be better at health and exercise than us, but they do not have Magic to aid them. After every training session, I will personally heal you and give you Potions that will help in muscle recovery. In one year, you will be as strong as an ox."

"I like the sound of that" Ron admitted.

"I'm sure you do" Madam Roberts said, her voice cold and hard. "But we'll see if you're still smiling after the day is finished. I will not hold back on you, and if you refuse to obey me…" Madam Roberts conjured a thick wooden baton in her left hand. "I will beat the necessary discipline into you." Ron's eyes widened at that, his excitement slipping away and being replaced with a hint of fear.

"You'll… hit me?" Ron blinked, he didn't see that coming. Can she even do that?

"Under my tutelage, the Auror Academy has graduated some of its most well-trained Aurors" Madam Roberts told him, staring right into his eyes. "My methods were so effective that they even put me charge of the Auror's Academy during the Great War, and the Aurors that I trained kept the Ministry from falling apart. And no, I will not hit you needlessly. You will get three warnings in each session."

"If you disobey me directly, that's a warning" Madam Roberts went on, while Ron swallowed thickly. "If you endanger your life or my life, that's a warning. If you cut corners, that's a warning. If you refuse to learn something over a vast period of time, that's a warning. If you start complaining, that's a warning. After your third warning has been issued, you will receive the rod instead of my words. Is that clear?"

"I… Is that…?" Ron stammered, his heartbeat increasing slightly. That's a thick baton, it's going to hurt like hell…

"Do you want to be the best?" Madam Roberts asked him, and Ron stared at her for a few seconds.

"Yes…"

"Then you must learn to endure pain, to overcome it" Madam Roberts said firmly. "Take this from someone who has won more Tournaments than you've seen years, the best steel is forged in the hottest fire. Now, are you willing to learn from me? Despite everything that I just told you?" The best steel is forged in the hottest fire… I want to be the best, I need to be the best. And I've suffered through pain before… Real, mind-numbing pain. The moment Ron's mind drifted to his family's Future, his mind was made up.

"I will learn from you, and I will give you nothing but my best" Ron promised, straightening his back. I'll break every bone in my body if I have to if that's what it takes to save my loved ones. I will not fail like the other Rons, I won't let the Entity be proven right.

"Good" Madam Roberts gave the boy a rare smile, she liked the resolve in his voice. "Take a seat" she gestured to the wooden bench behind him, and Ron did as he was told. "Let's start with the rules of Dueling, they will serve as your foundation within Tournaments."

"The most important rule in Tournaments is that you cannot make physical contact with your opponent, unless the Tournament specifically allows you to." she continued, and Ron listened with rapt attention. "If it doesn't state anything about physical contact, then it means that it's not allowed." Sorry, Harry. "Every Tournament follows a Five-Point rule, which just means that the first person to reach five points wins. One point is earned for throwing your opponent on their back, two points for disarming them, and three points for stunning them. If the opponent forfeits, you receive five points immediately."

"Every time a point is earned, the round ends" she went on, and Ron nodded along. "Each round has a ten minute limit, and if neither party earns a point in those ten minutes, then the judges award a point to the person who showcased a better understanding of Spell-work in that round. Following along?"

"Yes, Ma'am" Ron nodded firmly.

"There are three ways that a person can get disqualified" Madam Roberts said, focusing her attention on Ron. "The first way is to get caught cheating. That includes using Potions to enhance your senses, or to gain any sort of advantage. They have ways of testing you, so don't even think about it. The second way is to use illegal Spells, such as the Unforgivables. And no, your Dark Serpent Spell would not be classified as illegal."

"It wouldn't?" Ron blinked.

"No" she shook her head. "That Spell is Dark, but so are all the Curses."

"So what makes a Spell illegal?"

"If it will get you locked up in Azkaban, that makes it illegal" Madam Roberts replied. "Your Spell cannot be something that will cause immediate death, pain that will cause permanent trauma, or anything that will damage your opponent's mind permanently. A Confundus Charm is allowed, but if you start throwing out the Imperius Curse, then you're done. Also, don't ever try and use Obliviate. If they redirect it, then your life is over. Oh, and you'll be disqualified." Bloody hell, she is so blunt about these things.

"The third way to get disqualified is if you make physical contact when it's not allowed, so it doesn't really apply to you if it is allowed" Madam Roberts told him. "Do understand the rules now?"

"I do" Ron replied.

"Good, now let's move onto form" Madam Roberts gestured him to stand up and come to her, and Ron did as he was told. "You're a tall lad, and you have wide, strong shoulders. That is a good thing, and a bad thing. Let's start with the good. You have an intimidating figure, especially when you're angry. I learnt that myself last week."

"Sorry…"

"Don't apologize needlessly, only apologize when someone asks you to" Madam Roberts said, her voice as hard as stone. "When it comes to Dueling, there are two battles in play. One battle is visible for all to see, but the other one is far more subtle. And far more important. It's the battle that happens in here" she said as she tapped his forehead. "In your mind, and in your opponent's mind. You nearly beat me last week because I underestimated you, and when you showed me your strength, my mind was too shocked to fight back properly."

"But the thing that impressed me most, other than your spectacular use of Spells, was the fact that you didn't give me a chance to recover from my shock" Madam Roberts told him, and Ron resisted the urge to smile. "If your opponent is too shocked, or too afraid, to fight back properly, then you've already won. Which brings us back to your intimidating figure. As far as thirteen year olds go, you're just about the tallest one that I've ever seen."

"And we can use that?" Ron asked, and she nodded curtly.

"When your opponent is towering over you with a murderous grin, most people shit themselves and panic" Madam Roberts told him, and Ron blinked at her language. "Your tall figure is an advantage that we will utilize, but it does have one major drawback. Can you tell me what that is?"

"I'm a bigger target" Ron replied, he had learned that from the dozens of Stinging Hexes that he had taken over the course of his second year of schooling.

"Exactly" she smirked. "A person with a smaller frame is harder to hit, that's just common sense. Luckily for us, you're pretty damn fast from what I've seen. So this is what I have in mind…" Madam Roberts then turned Ron side-ways, with his wand hand facing where the opponent would be. "This makes you a thinner target, but it still shows your height. Bend your front knee a bit, it'll make it easier for you to move on a moment's notice." Ron did as he was told, and she straightened his shoulders and back for him.

"Keep your back straight, otherwise you'll risk injury" she told him, digging her knuckles into his back. Ow, shite! "Do you stretch?"

"Sometimes…"

"Sometimes? Greengrass told me that you go running every single day, but you only stretch sometimes?" Madam Roberts frowned at him, and Ron averted his gaze. "From now on, you will stretch before and after your runs. And you will stretch before we start training. If you don't, then that's a warning." Ron swallowed thickly, and then he nodded. "This form looks good, what do you think?"

"I… um… I might have some trouble if I'm trying to move back" Ron replied, and she nodded slowly.

"Then we will work on that" she told him. "You may sit back down, and don't forget your form. We will work to perfect it over time, but for now, it will serve as your default."

"I understand" Ron said, taking a seat again.

"Now, let's talk about Dueling styles before we start your Circuit Training" Madam Roberts said, and Ron leaned forward in his seat. "This is completely up to each individual. Every one Duels in their own way, but their 'style' originates from one of three categories. The first is aggression, being completely on the offensive. The second is reactive, being completely on the defensive. The third is opportunistic, this one relies heavily on movement and getting your hits in whenever your opponent makes a mistake." Damn, I never thought about any of this. I just go with whatever feels right.

"There are advantages, and disadvantages, to each of these styles" Madam Roberts went on. "But we will save that lesson for when we actually start Dueling. For now, I've explained everything that you need to know. Is it still all in there? Or did it go in one ear and come out the other?"

"It's still there, Ma'am" Ron replied, standing up with his back straight.

"Good, then start stretching" Madam Roberts ordered. "The next two hours are going to be difficult, and painful."

Sunday 12th July, 1993 (Greengrass Manor – Close to Midday)

Madam Roberts had planned out everything for Ron; his exercises, his meals, how he would train without her, and how he was never allowed to eat sweets again. That last one had stung horribly, especially because Ron had a sweet tooth. As for his exercises, he would work-out his entire body every three days. On Sundays, then Tuesdays, and then Thursdays. Every morning he would do fifty pushups and fifty sit-ups, and then go for his morning run. And if he didn't stretch… Then Merlin help him.

As for his entire body workout, it consisted of seven exercises. Thirty pushups to work his chest, biceps, and core. Twenty squats to work his thighs, and glutes (his arse). Twenty lunges to work his quadriceps, glutes, and hamstrings. Two minutes of burpees to work his arms, chest, core, and lower body. Two minutes of jumping jacks to strengthen his bones, and to make them denser. Two minutes of holding a plank to strengthen his core, and to stretch out his lower body. And finally, twenty shoulder presses without weights to work his deltoids. And he had to do three fucking sets of this back to back, with no rest in between. Which is why he was currently struggling to even breathe, but at least he was on his last set.

Ron heaved again, doing his best not to vomit. He was currently on all fours, and his entire body felt like it was on fire. Madam Roberts had been right, Ron was not ready for this sort of 'exercise'. Running every morning was one thing, but this 'Circuit Training' was another. How Muggles did this sort of exercise was beyond Ron, and he had thought about quitting several times in the last two hours. Madam Roberts had sensed his reluctance, and had issued two warnings so far. One more, and then she's going to beat me with that baton.

"Get up, Weasley" Madam Roberts ordered, casting the 'Mr.' part aside. Ron struggled to stand up, his teeth gnashing together. Just the plank and the shoulder presses left, get up! Just do them, or she's going to hit you. "First I underestimated you, and now I've overestimated you… Where is the young man who nearly defeated me?"

"I'm right here" Ron bit out, and she cocked an eyebrow at his tone. Another thing that she had to fix; his violent temper.

"Two minute plank… Now!" she yelled at him, making him flinch. Ron had never been spoken to like this before. Sure, he had been yelled at for various reasons. But this was different, it was almost demeaning. Not to mention that she kept the baton in his sights, and the fear of getting hit pushed him to work even harder. I'm never looking forward to another Sunday again, I just know it. Ron grunted as he got into the plank position, his arms feeling wobbly.

"Start the timer…" he managed, thick drops of sweat rolling down his face.

"I will when you hold it properly" she said with disgust, using the baton to lower his arse. "Two minutes start now, and if you break this plank, I'll break your head open." Fucking FUCK! Ron was barely keeping his temper in check, he didn't like being threatened whatsoever. But he needed her… Just take the abuse, and get stronger. Think of them. Just a bit more… keep going…

Five Minutes Later

Ron's breakfast came flying out of his mouth, and he made a rather disgusting noise as he projectile vomited. Madam Roberts just stared at him, half-disgusted and half-pleased. At least the boy had finished his Circuit before projectile vomiting all over the place. She had overestimated his physical capabilities, but who could blame her, he had been nothing short of amazing last week. She had her work cut out for her, and if the boy wanted to succeed, then he needed to get his head on straight. She planned to give him a three month trial period, if he didn't show signs of improvement in that time, then he could find himself a new trainer. She had better things to do than to train an inept boy.

"Sorry… about your suitcase…" Ron panted, keeling over and trying to steady his breathing. I'm dead… Merlin, I just want to sleep forever.

"Think nothing of it" she told him, flicking her wand and cleaning up the mess. She then conjured up a glass of water, which she offered to him. "Drink slowly, or you'll vomit again." Ron nodded meekly, and did as he was told. Once he was finished, she helped him over to the couches, planting him on a couch with little to no regard for bedside manners. "At least you finished, that's a good sign."

"I'm supposed to do this three times a week?" Ron groaned, ready to give up on this type of training. I'll be dead before the war even starts if I keep this up. Maybe I should tell her about my brain-damage in the hopes that she'll take it easy on me. The thought shamed Ron, but he was still considering it seriously.

"Yes, but it will get easier with time" she assured him, though her voice lacked any compassion. "My Aurors recruits go through the same training, though your training has been cut in half due to your age."

"Half?" Ron looked at her with disbelieving eyes. How the fuck is someone supposed to do two times what I just did?

"I have no reason to lie to you" she told him, and she really didn't. "You told me that you want to be the best, this how you become the best. Hard-work and pain, those are the ingredients needed to create a Champion." Champion? Fuck, I hate that word. "Now… Relax your body, I need to start healing your muscles."

Ron relaxed as best he could, his body burning like never before. Madam Roberts placed the tip of her wand on his left foot, and then she began muttering in a barely audible voice. Ron felt something cool pass through his left foot, and when Madam Roberts began moving her wand up his leg, the cool feeling moved with it. Ron would be lying if he said that he didn't find it mind-numbingly pleasurable, it just felt amazing to feel his muscles cool off and heal after being worked so hard.

"I will perform this treatment every Sunday, and it will help to negate any permanent injury to your muscles" Madam Roberts told him, but he barely understood a word that came out of her mouth. His eyes had closed due to the cooling sensation, and he was simply enjoying the treatment. But that enjoyment died the moment he felt his manhood stir. Fucking shite! Not now, you little bastard! Wait… I just called myself little… Dammit!

"Um… Can I…?" Ron tried to stand up, hoping to leave before she noticed anything. Why was this happening right now of all times?!

"Relax, Mr. Weasley" Madam Roberts rolled her eyes. "Becoming erect is a common side-effect of this treatment due to the 'pleasure' it brings. There is nothing to be ashamed of." Becoming erect?! My fucking trainer just said 'Becoming erect'! Ron's entire face turned bright red, and he shifted around because of his crippling embarrassment. What do I even do? Just let this happen? This is so embarrassing… And before long, he was as hard as he'd ever been. Kill me, Entity. I've shamed us both because of this.

"Sorry…" Ron mumbled, averting his shameful eyes away from her.

"Again you apologize when no one asked you to" Madam Roberts frowned, continuing the treatment without a care in the World. At least the boy had the decency to not start moaning like some of her recruits at the Academy, a reason why she had stopped giving this treatment herself. "Once I finish this treatment, I will give you a Nutrition Potion to drink." For fuck's sake, two in one day?

"I've already had one this morning" Ron informed her, and she gave him a quizzical look. "Personal reasons…"

"I see…" she nodded slowly, and then she turned her attention back to the treatment. "Well, having two in one day won't do anything harmful to you." Great. "Once you've had your Potion, go and take a cold shower. It will help with muscle recovery, and put you in a decent state again." You mean not being erect? Ron's face burned once again, and he nodded meekly. I will never mention this to anyone. And if she mentions it to others, I'll kill myself.

Thirty Minutes Later

"That was too long a shower" she frowned at him as he stepped through wooden door, he was wearing his running gear once again and was carrying his Training Outfit.

"Sorry, but I hate cold water" Ron smiled sheepishly, he had spent over ten minutes gaping at the fact that there was no option for hot water. The next twenty minutes were spent running in and out of the water, all the while cursing at every single thing that came to mind.

"Get used to it, you will now take cold showers after your exercises" she told him, and he let out a tired sigh. This has been a horrible day, if I'm being honest.

"Why?" he asked, forgetting to hold his tongue.

"Cold showers are good for you" she replied, and he blinked at her with utter disbelief. "They promote fat-loss, give you better circulation, and can even help relieve stress. But make sure that you cool off properly first, otherwise your muscles might seize up because of the shock." You're just going to say that with a straight face? Really? Ron suddenly felt his stomach grumble, and he groaned slightly as he put his hand over his stomach. I threw up all the food in my system.

"Come Mr. Weasley, we should get some food in you" Madam Roberts said, and Ron nodded gratefully. "Remember what I told you of your meals?"

"I need to keep eating as much as I do, but I need to increase my intake of vegetables" Ron replied, grimacing at the prospect of eating more vegetables.

"And?"

"And no more sweets…" Ron sighed.

"Good" Madam Roberts nodded. "Mr. Weasley, don't think for a second that you can cheat me. If I don't see an improvement in you in the next three months, then you can start looking for a new trainer. Do you understand?" Can I start looking for one now? Crazy old woman.

"Yes, I understand" Ron nodded as well, feeling utterly miserable. We didn't even spar. No Magic whatsoever. Just me getting fucked in the arse. They made their way out of the suitcase together, with Ron occasionally losing his footing. The treatment had eased his soreness considerably, but he was still feeling out of sorts. Not to mention that he was utterly exhausted. Once they were both in the Living Room, Ron noticed that only Mary was in the room.

"Taking a break?" Mary smiled at Ron, but her smile faltered when she saw that he was looking utterly dazed.

"We are done for the day" Madam Roberts told Mary, who just blinked at her. "Get some food in him, he threw up his breakfast."

"Threw up his breakfast?" Mary asked, standing up and walking over to Ron. As Mary fussed over Ron, Madam Roberts picked up her suitcase and headed for the fireplace.

"Remember Mr. Weasley, it takes real effort to be the best. Don't slack off, because I will know if you do" Madam Roberts reminded him, and then she flooed back to the Ministry. Ron decided to forego his tough act, and he sunk into the chair behind him.

"Ron? What did she do to you?" Mary kneeled in front of him, putting the back of her hand on his forehead. "You're shivering for Merlin's sake…"

"Cold shower" Ron mumbled, thoroughly upset with how his day had gone. I have to do this Circuit Training nonsense three times a week? A weak part of Ron wanted to just give up, and a childish part of him wanted to throw a tantrum. But the part of him that feared for his family's Future refused to back down. If he could deal with the Entity, then why not at least give this a go? She didn't teach me any Spells…

"She made you take a cold shower after training?" Mary asked, her eyes going to the sweat covered Training Outfit in Ron's lap. "Spinny!" Mary called, and a House-Elf popped into the room. "Take these and wash them immediately" Mary handed Spinny the Training Outfit.

"Spinny will get it done immediately, Mistress" Spinny bowed with the outfit held closely to her chest. And then, she was gone with a loud crack.

"Come Ron, let's get some food in you" Mary said as she helped him up, making him groan from the effort. Ugh… That chair was so comfortable. They made their way to the Dining Room, and Ron made sure not to put any of his weight on Mary.

"Where are the others?" Ron asked, stretching his back and rolling his neck.

"Spending time together in the Gardens" Mary replied, running her hand through his cold, wet hair.

"Mary…" Ron whined, trying to move his head away.

"Tell me what happened right now" she ordered, and Ron felt the need to glare murder at her. I'm getting sick of people ordering me about today. Ron swallowed his anger down, and he told her about his training session. He left out the part about the baton, and the part about him becoming erect during the treatment. Though he couldn't stop his ears from turning red with shame, something that she luckily missed.

"And you're meant to do this horrendous routine three times a week?" Mary asked as she helped Ron into a seat.

"Yes, but not just that… I also have to do fifty pushups and fifty sit-ups every morning" Ron replied, his voice coming out as particularly whiny. Mary shook her head in disbelief as she rung the dinner bell, and the House-Elves conjured food onto the table from the kitchens. Ron's eyes went straight to the salads, and he pulled a face. Old bitch.

"Ron, did you tell her about your condition?" Mary asked with a soft voice, putting her soft palm on his right cheek. Ron tried to avert his gaze, but she turned his head to face her.

"No…" Ron mumbled. I was going to, but then… that… happened.

"Stubborn boy" Mary scolded, but her face showed only concern. "You should start eating… I'll go and grab my wand from the Living Room in order to dry your hair."

"You can use mine" Ron offered.

"There is no need for that, love" Mary patted his right cheek. "I'll be right back." Mary left in a hurry at that, while Ron started piling food onto his plate. As he was putting a sizable amount of vegetables onto his plate, an odd form of panic began to bubble inside of Ron's chest.

This was it, wasn't it? For the foreseeable Future, Ron would have to live in this 'disciplined' way. He would have to embrace this difficult, and dull, lifestyle in order to be the best, wouldn't he? A feeling that Ron had lost along the way began to resurface, and it only furthered his growing dread. I can't do this. I can't put myself through this type of torture three times a week for the rest of my life. I don't want to. Ron melted into his seat, his long lost laziness whispering doubts into his mind. No sweets. No cakes. Only well-balanced meals, with lots of vegetables and chicken.

The walls began to close in on Ron, his miserable existence becoming even bleaker. Why did he have to suffer like this? Daphne, and the rest of his friends, didn't have to deal with these issues, so why did he? Why was it always him who got the short end of the stick? How was that fair? Always… It's always me. My friends are spending time together in the Gardens, while I'm coming to terms with this garbage. It was usually in these moments that Ron thought of his family, and then he'd tell himself that he was doing it all for them. But did that really apply this time? There were ways to keep them safe that didn't rely on Ron putting himself through so much work.

A bead of sweat, or water, rolled down his face. Ron wasn't too sure which it was, but it made him alert enough to realize that his hands were trembling. Shite… Stress moment… Ron knew that it was coming, all the signs were already there; the walls closing in, loss of focus, pointing fingers at everyone but himself, shaky hands, his heart beating in his ears… How is this fair? Why can't she just teach me Spells? That's all I want! Not this Circuit Training nonsense!

"Ron?" came Mary's distorted voice, and he looked at her with tired eyes. "You've gone pale, what's wrong?"

"Stress moment…" Ron managed, his throat closing up. "They come and go…"

"Do you want me to grab you a Calming Draught?" Mary asked, kneeling by his side and stroking his cheeks. A Calming Draught? I haven't tasted one in so long… I promised Daphne that I'd only have one if I was about to have a panic attack. Am I about to have one? No… But you know what? I'm going to have one anyway. I deserve one after what I just went through…

"Yes, please."

Sunday 12th July, 1993 (Greengrass Manor – Near Lunchtime)

Ron's worries were gone, and so he was free to demolish as much food as he could. Once he had drank down the Calming Draught, his laziness had also subsided. He'd give this new lifestyle a go for three months, and if he showed vast improvement in that time, then he'd keep going. And he wasn't doing this for his family, not entirely anyway. He had always dreamed of being a great Duelist, what Magical child hadn't? This was his chance to try his hand at being one, a chance that not many other children got. I'll give it my best, and if it doesn't work out, then I'll figure something else out.

"I'll never get used to how much you eat" Mary chuckled, fixing his hair in place while also drying it with her wand. She had even summoned some product to style his hair, but he knew that she just wanted to play around and be creative. It didn't really bother him because it kept her busy. And quiet.

"I love food, and your Elves make great food" Ron shrugged.

"Well, thank you" Mary hummed. I was complimenting them, not you. Ron finished his last bite, deciding that three plates were more than enough.

"I think I'll head home for the day" Ron said, waiting for Mary to finish with his hair. Once she pulled her hands back, Ron stood up and stretched. Merlin. That hit the spot. "Thank you for the lunch, Mary."

"You're welcome, but are you sure that you don't want to spend some time here?" Mary asked, a nice smile on her face. One that Ron decided to reciprocate, though it looked so forced that Mary lost her own. "You can spend some time with Daphne, she always enjoys having you around." Is she hinting at something? Does she know about Daphne and me? Hmmm.

"Does she?" Ron asked in return, and Mary blinked. "Did she tell you that?"

"Pardon?" Mary just stared at Ron with a confused, and worried, look.

"Ron!" came Tori's voice, and both Ron and Mary turned their attention towards the door. Tori, Daphne, and Theo had just entered the Dining Room. Tori ran up and hugged Ron's side, like she always did, but Ron simply gave her a light pat on the back. There, now get off me. "What was that?" Tori snorted, letting go of Ron. But her laughter died immediately when she was met with a pale blue gaze that looked through her rather than at her.

"I'm heading off for the day, thank you for having me over" Ron looked to Mary, who nodded slowly. "Spinny!" Ron called, and an Elf popped into the room.

"Did someone call Spinny?" Spinny looked around, and then she looked to Ron. "Master Weasley, did you call Spinny?"

"I did" Ron replied, staring at the little Elf. "Are my clothes dry?"

"Yes, Spinny had…"

"Go and get them. Now" Ron ordered, and she disapparated. Daphne and Theo went slack-jawed at the sight of Ron acting so odd, but their shock died at the same time when they realized why he was being like this. They had spent enough time around him when he was on his Calming Draughts to know that this wasn't their Ron.

"He's on that fucking Potion again" Theo whispered in Daphne's ear, who was just staring at Ron. Spinny returned with a loud crack, Ron's Training Outfit folded in her arms.

"Thank you" Ron said as she handed it to him, and then she bowed deeply before cracking away. Ron began making his way towards the fireplaces, but Daphne jumped into his way. Theo tried to stop her, but she was too quick.

"Are you on a Calming Draught?" Daphne asked, her voice slightly panicked. She couldn't let him leave the Manor like this, she knew just how terrible he became whilst he was on that Potion. He became extremely cold, he threatened people, and sometimes, Daphne even feared that he'd hurt someone. The Potion turned Ron into the worst sort of person, a person that didn't care about anything around him.

"I am" Ron nodded, and her bottom lip quivered slightly.

"You promised…" Daphne whispered, looking slightly hurt.

"I was about to have a panic attack" Ron lied, and she blinked at him. "Ask your mother, she will confirm my story."

"Why? What happened?" Daphne asked. "Was it your trainer?" I can't even leave without people crawling into my arse.

"Yes" Ron replied. "My training regimen overwhelmed me, so much so that I was driven into a panic. Can I leave now? Or do you want me to write you my autobiography?" Daphne flinched at that, while Theo clenched his jaw at Ron for being such a prick.

"Ronald…" Mary gasped, staring at Ron with utter disbelief.

"It was a joke" Ron 'smiled', staring right through a hurt Daphne. And then he simply walked past her, heading straight for the fireplaces.

Daphne Greengrass' POV

Sunday 12th July, 1993 (Greengrass Manor – Near Lunchtime)

Ron disappeared from the Dining Room, no doubt heading home to his family. Daphne however, was rooted in her spot. Ron hadn't spoken to her like that in months, and so she had forgotten how much it hurt to be on the end of his harsh words. That Potion… Damn that Potion! Daphne shot a glare at her confused mother, who was still just trying to figure out why Ron would act like that whilst being on a Calming Draught.

"You gave him a Calming Draught?" Daphne asked her mother, half-accusing and half-frustrated. I warned my parents to keep that vile Potion away from Ron!

"I did, but it shouldn't affect him like that" Mary blinked. "Unless…"

"Unless what, my Lady?" Theo asked.

"Merlin, I forgot that he started drinking it in excess near the end of the school year" Mary rubbed her forehead. Too much of this particular brew resulted in some nasty side-effects, one being a complete mental block on one's inhibitions. And Ron… Ron was a troubled young man, everyone who loved him knew that. Without his inhibitions, he'd start letting his worst side influence him. The side that was in pain and was constantly stressed out. Mary didn't even want to imagine what kind of person Ron would become, but judging by what she had just seen, she knew that she wouldn't like him very much.

"I'll be right back" Theo said, and then he darted out of the room.

"What's going on? What's wrong with Ron?" Tori asked, looking to her regretful mother. Daphne decided to chase after Theo, who was no doubt trying to get to Ron before he flooed away. This dress! I can't run properly! Merlin, if Ron floos back home… His family is in for a nasty surprise. Daphne caught up to Theo, who was just staring at a fireplace with an angry glare.

"He's gone" Theo looked to her, clearly frustrated. "Quick bastard… He's no doubt terrorizing his family as we speak."

"Calm down, and let's go and get him" Daphne told Theo, who gave her a quizzical look.

"I'm not going there, they'll kill me" Theo scoffed. What?

"Why would they do that?" Daphne returned his look.

"Son of a former Death-Eater" Theo pointed to himself, making Daphne grimace. "You go and get him, they like you I'm sure. You saved his life after he had that seizure." Great.

"Fine!" Daphne exclaimed, moving to the floo-powder.

"Daphne, where are you going?" Mary asked her daughter, arriving on the scene with a confused Tori.

"I'm going to the Burrow to make sure that Ron doesn't ruin his relationship with his family" Daphne replied. "Why would you give him that Potion, mother? Didn't I warn you a hundred times not to?" Daphne herself had no idea where she got the strength to say that, but before anyone could figure it out, Daphne cast the floo-powder into the flames. "The Burrow" she called, and then she stepped through the green flames.

"Woah, unwanted visitor" came the voice of one of the twins, and Daphne looked to see both twins sitting on one of the couches.

"Is Ron here?" Daphne asked, and the twins sniggered.

"Any particular reason why you're looking for our dearest little brother?" one of the twins asked. Yes, I'm trying to make sure that he doesn't kill your pets. Because right now, I wouldn't put that past him.

"He left something at the Manor, I just want to return it to him" Daphne replied.

"Then give it to us, we'll give it to him" one of the twins smirked, and the other one mimicked it. Damn, they got me.

"Oh… What are you doing here?" came Ginny's voice, and Daphne looked to see the youngest Weasley child enter the room with Luna behind her.

"Looking for Ron, have you see him?" Daphne asked.

"He went up to his room" Luna hummed. "But you shouldn't go there, it's highly inappropriate." Daphne blinked at Luna, while everyone else just looked to Luna like she was insane. Noted, but I still need to.

"Thank you Luna, you're a gem" Daphne gave the girl her best smile, and Luna smiled widely at the compliment. Definitely Ron's best sister.

"What is this noise?" came Ron's voice, and he suddenly stepped into Living Room. "I'm trying to study, if you want to make noise, then get…" he trailed off when he spotted Daphne, who just looked at him with her composure intact. I'm ready this time, and I'm not letting you ruin your relationship with your family. You just got them all back on your side. "Daphne? What bring you here? Did I forget something?"

"You did" Daphne nodded, looking right into Ron's eyes. I'd rather not do this in front of them, so please read my mind!

"Alright" Ron said, and then he turned around and left the room. His siblings just blinked at where he was, while Daphne felt the need to slap her forehead. He just walked away! Giving no explanation whatsoever! Merlin, he really doesn't care about social queues when he's on that stuff, does he? Daphne gave his siblings soft nods as she followed Ron out of the room, both of them going to the end of the kitchen. "What is it? Did something happen after I left?"

"No, Ron" Daphne sighed, and he waited for her to go on. "I came here to stop you from making enemies with your family."

"Why would I do that?" Ron asked, just staring at her.

"Because you're a jerk when you're on that Potion" Daphne hissed, her temper flaring because of his earlier behavior. "So thank me, and then apologize to me." Ron just stared at her for a few seconds, and she felt the need to squirm under his gaze. Damn his height, he's always looking down on people.

"Thank you Daphne, you always look-out for me" Ron said suddenly, and Daphne smirked and nodded curtly.

"Now the apology" Daphne said, still waiting.

"And I'm sorry for being rude, it just slips out when I'm on this stuff" Ron apologized. "You didn't get to eat, did you?" Daphne blinked at his odd question, and then she nodded slowly. What's he up to? "Take a seat, there are pies in the kitchen. I'll grab you a few."

"That's fine Ron, I can just eat when I get home" Daphne told him. "So c'mon, let's go."

"Or we can go up to my room with them" Ron suggested. "And we can study together after you finish eating."

"Your room?" Daphne blinked, looking to the Living Room. She immediately spotted Ginny hide behind the corner, and that made Daphne tense. This is unsafe. I should say no.

"I want to study" Ron shrugged, not even caring that Ginny was 'spying' on them. "I've been slacking off for the last four days, and at this rate, I'll fall behind my schedule."

"Ron, if we both go up to your room… People might get suspicious" Daphne whispered. Why am I even entertaining the idea? Oh, I know! It's because it sounds great, but only if Ron was… Ron.

"Then you should head home" Ron shrugged again, moving to go to his room. Ugh… I'm going to kick him in his crotch!

"Wait, we'll go up to your room" Daphne whispered, looking to the Living Room. "Just stay away from your family for a few hours."

"Alright" Ron nodded, grabbing some pies for Daphne.

Sunday 12th July, 1993 (The Burrow – Late Afternoon)

"Can I get you something to drink?" Ginny asked, this was her fourth visit so far.

"No Ginny, I'm quite fine" Daphne smiled at Ron's little sister. "Thank you for the offer though."

"Alright, just give me a call if you need anything" Ginny 'smiled', her eyes digging into Daphne's. I won't need to because you'll be back here in thirty minutes. Like clockwork. Ginny slowly left the room, leaving the door open. Daphne waited for a few seconds, and then she looked to Ron who was looking at his notes with a confused look.

"I don't think your sister likes me being up here with you… alone" Daphne told him. Ron had been true to his word, and he had started studying the moment he entered the room. Was Daphne disappointed? Slightly. Was she glad that he was playing nice? Definitely. Though he could sneak in a kiss every now and then… But then again, I'd rather he go back to normal first.

"What makes you think that?" Ron looked to her, they were both sitting on his bed.

"Well for one, she just looked into my soul" Daphne huffed, looking back to the open door. "And secondly, that was her fourth visit up here."

"She probably thinks that you're up to something… inappropriate" Ron smirked, looking alive for the first time in hours. Has the Potion worn off? No, it shouldn't wear off this early.

"Are you back to normal now?" Daphne asked slowly.

"Sort of" Ron shrugged, still looking at her. "I still feel rather… aloof. But I'm also really glad that you're here."

"You are?" Daphne blinked.

"I like having you close-by" Ron admitted. "Just makes me happy."

"Finally, you're back to being you" Daphne smiled, and Ron smiled back. "I really hate the person you become on that Potion."

"Isn't that person still me?" Ron asked.

"It is, but you're not a complete tosser when you're off it" Daphne smirked, and Ron chuckled.

"You said a bad word" Ron tutted. "I'm telling your father about this."

"I'll tell him that it's your fault" Daphne challenged. "You've corrupted me, just like you corrupted Luna. Remember that?" Because I do.

"Oh, I do" Ron pulled a face, making Daphne giggle. "I almost had a heartache when she said 'fuck'."

"Ron" Daphne frowned. "Don't cuss so openly, it's a filthy habit. And it's not attractive whatsoever." Ron was about to retort, but a tapping on his window stopped him. Both Ron and Daphne looked to see Helios waiting outside, eager to get inside. Ron hopped off of the bed, walked over to the window, and he opened it quickly. Helios hopped in, and Daphne saw Ron quickly remove something from the bird's leg and pocket it. What was that?

"Welcome home, Helios" Ron smiled, rubbing his pet's chest. Helios hooted loudly, and then flew over to his perch and started munching on some Owl treats.

"Hello, Helios" Daphne smiled at the Eagle-Owl, and Helios gave her a loud hoot. Ron walked over to the bed, picked up his notes, and then he walked over sat down right beside Daphne. "Ron… What are you doing?" Daphne asked, getting sandwiched between the head of the bed and Ron.

"I want to sit next to you" Ron replied, relaxing and putting his back against the wall. Daphne's face flushed, and she looked back to the open door. "Relax, we're friends Daph. Friends can sit side-by-side if they want to."

"I'm sure they can, but do you really want people asking questions?" Daphne whispered, she had a strong feeling that Ginny was close-by.

"What questions? I just need your help with Herbology" Ron replied, tapping the parchment in his spare hand.

"Help with Herbology?"

"Yes actually, I really can't understand some of this" Ron admitted, while Daphne just read his face. Wait… He's genuinely asking for help? This was another thing that she hated about the Calming Draught, she couldn't predict Ron's thoughts while he was on it. The normal Ron would never pull this kind of stunt, even if he needed help. He always tensed up whenever she got too close to him, and would only relax after a minute or so. Or a kiss or two.

"Well I can't help you, I'm doing my own work" Daphne smirked, trying to regain her footing in the conversation. She then looked back to her (his) Charms notes, but she didn't really pay attention to them. She hadn't paid attention to them for the last three hours.

"I'm sorry for what I said back at the Manor" Ron suddenly whispered, and she looked back at him.

"You already apologized" Daphne told him.

"I didn't mean it then" Ron admitted, and she frowned slightly.

"What makes you think that I'll believe that you mean it now?" Daphne asked, and Ron suddenly leaned forward and pecked her lips. "Ron, for Merlin's sake…" Daphne looked to the open door in utter panic, trying to keep her frown from turning into a smile.

"I'm sorry" Ron repeated, kissing her right cheek. Agh! Why is he doing that? His guard-dog of a sister could walk in at any moment!

"As much as I love your kisses, stop it" Daphne warned him. "Your sister could be around the corner."

"She's not" Ron told her, and she blinked at him. "Helios would start hooting if she was, he gets really excited when she's nearby."

"Why?"

"He really loves her" Ron replied, and Daphne wondered why. "Now please help me with Vampiric Vegetation… I don't understand why some plants are considered to be Vampiric, but others aren't."

"When it says 'Vampiric', it simply means that the plant has fangs" Daphne told him, surprised that the 'Prodigy' didn't know something so basic. Ron nodded slowly, looking back over his notes.

"So any plant with fangs is a part of the Vampiric Vegetation category?" Ron asked, and she nodded slowly. "And they don't suck blood?"

"Not necessarily, no" Daphne replied, and Ron gave her a grateful smile. Odd that he doesn't know something so basic, even Tori knows this kind of stuff. Ron was once again staring at her, and when his eyes darted down to her lips, she knew why. Daphne put her left hand on his left cheek, gave him a kiss that lasted two seconds, and then looked back down at her notes with a smile. Ron seemed happy enough with that, going back to his own notes with a wide smile.

Daphne, on the other hand, was starting to get curious about something. Her eyes darted over to the rest of the bed, and then to the floor around Ron's bed. Notes… Notes everywhere. Usually when someone went through notes, they would put them away after finishing. But he just has them lying around. Why? Daphne subtly looked at the parchment in Ron's hands, and much to her surprise, it was the same sheet of paper that he had been reading thirty minutes ago. Ron's not a slow reader, I know that for certain.

Then why? Why was he still reading the same piece of parchment from thirty minutes ago? Maybe his Potion is affecting his ability to study? No… He's aware enough to know that Helios will warn him that Ginny's coming, so he's not slowed down. She thought about asking him, but she knew that that would be pointless. Ron had a tendency to start stressing when people looked into his business, and when Ron stressed, he also got defensive.

"Ron, a quick question" Daphne said, looking to him with a soft smile. "What's seven times one hundred and five?" Seven hundred and thirty five. Ron did the math in his head, looking up at the ceiling for around ten seconds.

"Seven hundred and thirty five" Ron replied, and Daphne nodded and looked back down at her notes. That took him just over ten seconds, whereas it took me around three seconds. I need one more 'test subject'.

Five Minutes Later

Helios suddenly began hooting at the door, and both Ron and Daphne looked up to see Ginny walk in with two glasses of pumpkin juice. Like clockwork. Ginny's eyes widened at seeing Ron sitting shoulder to shoulder with Daphne, while Daphne kept her composure in check. Time to test Ginny's mind.

"I got you juice…" Ginny said, looking at Daphne with an expressionless face. This is your brother's doing, not mine.

"Thank you, Ginny" Ron gave his sister a smile, one that she didn't return.

"Ginny, a quick question" Daphne said, ignoring Ron's confused look. "What's seven times one hundred and five?" Ginny blinked at her, doing the math in her head.

"Seven hundred and thirty five" Ginny replied after five to six seconds. She's faster than Ron as well.

"Thanks" Daphne said, taking the glass of juice from a confused Ginny. Ron did the same thing, but he was looking at Daphne with a furrowed brow. Ginny stood there for a couple of seconds, and then she left the room slowly.

"Daph? What was that?" Ron asked her. "You asked me the same question."

"Ron… Why are you still reading the same piece of paper?" Daphne asked in return, looking at him with an understanding look. "You've been reading it for over thirty minutes now." Ron blinked at her, and then his cheeks began to turn red. "Are you just memorizing the answers?"

"Yes" Ron nodded, looking back down at his sheet. Does he have no basic understanding of the concepts behind these things? He's not a… He's not a Prodigy, is he? We kept thinking that he was a genius, but he just memorizes answers and then repeats them. How many hours does he spend doing this?

"Why? Why not study properly?" Daphne asked in a whisper, utterly shocked at this discovery.

"This is studying" Ron quickly defended himself. "I know the answers, and I know what applies where."

"But you didn't even know what Vampiric Vegetation was" Daphne said, trying to keep her voice gentle. "You read the word 'Vampiric', and assumed that it referred to blood-sucking plants." Ron blushed even more at that, averting his gaze completely. "Ron… How long have you been doing this? Is this why you were so far ahead of everyone when you first came to Hogwarts? It was, wasn't it? You always gave the answers first, always finished the tests first…"

"What does it matter?" Ron asked, looking to her with an upset look. She felt a pang of guilt at that, she didn't want to hurt his feelings. She just wanted some answers. "I get things right, and our house benefits."

"What happens if they change the course-work?" she asked, her voice slightly panicked. "Ron, you will fail your O. and N.E. if you don't learn the theories behind our studies."

"Have I failed anything yet?" Ron asked. "Who is at the top of our class?"

"You… but Granger is right behind you" Daphne replied. "And unlike you, she understands everything she writes down."

"I understand it too" Ron told her, his face flushing. "Why do think I spend so long going over things? I just… I get confused sometimes, alright?" Ron shifted in his spot, drank down his whole glass of juice, and then looked back down at his notes. Daphne just stared at him, both shocked and worried. Shocked because Ron was clearly not an Academic Prodigy, some might even call him a cheat. And she was worried because her friend was playing a very dangerous game, one that could come back to ruin his life at some point. "I'm not stupid…" Ron whispered, staring at his parchment.

"I'm not saying that you are" Daphne shifted closer to him, close enough that the smell of jasmines mixed with sandalwood filled her lungs. "No one could ever claim that you're stupid. It's just… Ron, this could come back to haunt you someday. Why not study properly? It would be far more efficient than spending hours memorizing course-work."

"I know more than just course-work" Ron looked back up at her. "And as for this 'Prodigy' title, I didn't ask for it. People just threw that on me, and now they expect me to be a genius. I have never once claimed myself to be a genius, I know that I'm not. I am where I am because I work harder than people like Hermione, who are just born smart. I have to work far harder than anyone else around me just to be where I am, and this method works for me. I'm not giving it up." He sounds rather frustrated… and bitter.

"Alright, don't give it up then" Daphne decided to compromise, using her skills in negotiation. "But when we return to Hogwarts, why don't we study together? Just you and me. No one else, not even our friends. It'll help you not get easily 'confused', I promise." Ron frowned down at his piece of parchment, but Daphne could see that it was working. "And after every session, we can 'spend some time together'."

"Time together?" Ron's ears perked up as he looked to her. "You mean…"

"Kissing, cuddles… Whatever we want to do" she whispered with a sly smile, she had him now.

"I'm in" Ron smiled despite himself, but he quickly schooled his features. Cute. Daphne went to move back to her previous spot, but Ron put his arm around her. "Stay here, please." Is it just me, or is he getting used to being this close to me?

"Ron, your family could…" Daphne started, but Ron pouted miserably.

"Mum and Pandora are spending their day at the Rookery, dad is at work, Percy is in Muggle London with his girlfriend, and my other siblings don't come up here that often" Ron listed, hoping to keep her close to him.

"Your sister has been up here five times" Daphne blinked at him.

"Helios will tell us if she's near" Ron smiled in a hopeful way. "We can't sit this close to each other back at the Manor, remember? Theo… Tori… Your parents…" That's true.

"Alright, you win" Daphne agreed, resting her shoulder onto his. Nothing wrong with cuddles, right? We'll be fine. Hmmm, he smells nice.

"Thank you" Ron smiled widely, giving her a kiss on the cheek.

Sunday 12th July, 1993 (The Burrow – Dinnertime)

She had ended up spending the entire day with Ron, much to her own shock. They had stopped studying pretty quickly after their cuddle session had started, neither of them wanting to concentrate on parchment when they could be sneaking in kisses. Ginny had made multiple appearances, but Helios had managed to always warn them in time. Daphne could tell that Ginny didn't like her much, but that was alright because Daphne didn't like Ginny much either. And Daphne definitely didn't like Ginny spending her time hovering near Potter rather than her own flesh and blood, where was her loyalty to her kin?

"I'd better go home" Daphne hummed, attempting to stand up. Ron pulled her back down and hugged her from behind, something that made her giggle. This is new.

"No."

"Yes."

"Stay for dinner" Ron requested, making her smile widely. "I always eat dinner at yours, but you've only eaten dinner here once."

"Ron… My parents will be worried for me" Daphne told him, she could feel him trying to nestle his head into her hair.

"They trust me" Ron countered, his breath hitting the back of her neck. She shivered at that, her stomach feeling light and floaty.

"They shouldn't" Daphne laughed. "What would they say if they saw us like this?"

"I imagine Lord Greengrass would turn into a demon and eat me, while Mary would be disgusted with your 'unladylike' behavior" Ron replied.

"Are you making fun of my parents?" Daphne asked, her tone slightly scolding.

"Yes."

"Wow" Daphne snorted, making Ron laugh.

"Oink, oink" Ron snorted back, making her laugh hysterically.

"Ronnie! Dinner!" came Molly Weasley's voice, and Ron groaned in an annoyed manner.

"Time to let go, Ronnie" Daphne sang, and he let her go. Aw… She turned to see him stand up as well, her eyes traveling to his slightly red lips. Too many of those long kisses… "Ron, your lips are a little… agitated."

"So are yours" Ron pointed out with a smile. Damn.

"Do you have your wand on you?" Daphne asked, and he nodded slowly. "Quick, take it out and point it at my lips."

"What?"

"Just do it" she frowned slightly, and he did as he was told. "Give your wand a soft flick, and say 'Episkey'."

"Episkey" Ron chanted, flicking his wand gently. Daphne's lips felt very hot, and then very cold. It worked. "Woah, your lips are back to being their usual pink selves."

"It's a Healing Spell" Daphne told him, surprised that he didn't know that. "Now do it to yourself, I don't anyone to suspect why both our lips are a little sore." Ron nodded, and healed his own lips quickly.

"Where did you learn this Spell?" Ron asked, and she blinked at him.

"It was in our Charms textbook, Ron" she reminded him, and this time, he blinked at her. "You didn't read the textbook, did you?"

"Damn…" Ron frowned, putting his wand into his pocket.

"It's okay, we'll fix that" Daphne promised, while Ron shifted in his spot.

"I'm sorry that you have to waste your time like that…" Ron sighed.

"It'll be fun, Ron" Daphne smiled for his benefit. "We can cuddle and read together. Doesn't that sound fun?"

"It does" he nodded, still a bit glum. I don't mind going over a few things again, it'll be good to review the things that I've forgotten.

"Don't be so glum, it's not very cute" Daphne poked his stomach, but it hurt her finger slightly. Um… Why is his stomach as hard as a rock?

"Ronnie! Dinner!" came Molly's voice again, and Ron rolled his eyes.

"Stay for dinner, please" Ron said, and she nodded. They both made their way down together, keeping a healthy amount of distance between each other. As they stepped into the kitchen, Daphne was met a lot of Weasleys.

"Hello, dear" came Molly's voice, who was looking right at Daphne with a kind smile.

"Hello, Mrs. Weasley" Daphne greeted, giving a polite curtsy.

"Come, take a seat" Molly beckoned her, though it sounded more like an order. Ron and Daphne sat beside each other, and Daphne did her best to keep her composure. Everyone is looking at me.

"Thank you for hosting me" Daphne decided to say, looking to Mr. Weasley.

"The more the merrier" Arthur Weasley chuckled, making her smile lightly. "How was your study session?" Study session? Ginny Weasley…

"Fruitful" Daphne replied, it certainly had been in her mind.

"That's good to hear" Pandora hummed, her sharp eyes looking right into Daphne's. This was a mistake, I should've gone home.

"Where's Percy?" Ron suddenly asked.

"Still wooing his lady-love" one of the twins sniggered, smirking at Ron and Daphne.

"Speaking of which…" the other one started, but Molly Weasley shushed them. Daphne just smiled at them, not planning to let them rattle her. This is not helping our 'secret relationship' whatsoever, is it? Daphne would never admit this to anyone, not even to Ron, but in her mind, she already referred to Ron as her boyfriend. All he has to do is catch-up and ask me out, and then we can stop pretending.

Thirty Minutes Later

"Here you go, dear" Molly hummed, putting some more food in front of her. Merlin, this is my third helping. I can't take another bite, but I can't refuse her either. She's been nothing but a gracious hostess, and the food does taste amazing.

"Thank you" Daphne smiled at Molly, who was already waiting for her to start. Daphne began eating, shooting a look to Ron who was just smirking at his plate. Arse.

"Do you two study together often?" Pandora asked, all eyes shooting to Daphne again. How many questions are they going to ask me?

"We do" Daphne replied. "Usually we all study together, but since everyone is on Holidays, it's just Ron and I."

"What did you study again?" Ginny asked, trying to outsmart Daphne.

"I did Charms, and Ron did Herbology" Daphne replied. "You should join us next time, I'm sure your brother can help you get ahead. Maybe he'll even teach you things that Potter can't." Ginny blinked at her, while Daphne just smiled politely. Stay in your weight-class.

"Are you continuing your study group next year, Ron?" Luna asked. I love how he just stole Granger's idea, and then took over completely. Very Slytherin of him.

"I am" Ron nodded with a smile. "You're all welcome to join us, by the way."

"Pass" the twins said together.

"You have a study group at school?" Arthur asked, looking to Ron.

"I do, and it's made up of people from every house" Ron replied, playing with the salad on his plate. I've never seen him eat so many greens before.

"Hermione mentioned that she started it" Ginny piped in.

"But Ron perfected it" Daphne added. She suddenly felt Ron tap her foot, no doubt telling her to get along with Ginny. Fine.

"Well, that's great to hear Ronnie" Molly Weasley smiled at her son. "Being inclusive is very important." I'm sure it is, but I can't help but think that Ron has other motivations. No doubt relating to his beliefs about an 'upcoming war'. If Daphne was being completely honest, she didn't really believe in Ron's superstitions. Even if the Dark Lord did return, it wouldn't be for a long time. The Wizarding World was at peace, and the Ministry was vigilant about such matters. Plus, what can we do about something as big as war? Ron stresses too much.

"How are your parents? We never asked" Pandora changed the topic, she could feel some hostility between Ginny and Daphne.

"Mother is at the Manor, while father left for the Muggle World last night" Daphne replied.

"The Muggle World?" Arthur smiled widely, his face coming to life. "What's he doing there?"

"Oh… Father owns a business with Mr. Davis" Daphne replied. "He left in a hurry last night, so I'm not too sure about what he's doing in the Muggle World."

"Do you go to the Muggle World often?" Arthur asked, and Daphne saw all the Weasley children shake their heads slightly. Are they telling me to not answer? That would be so rude.

"Only when I visit my friend Tracey, she lives in the Muggle World" Daphne replied, looking to Ron for a second. "And I go there to Holiday with my family, but that doesn't happen all that often."

"Tracey? A Pure-Blood living in Muggle London?" Pandora asked.

"Tracey is a Half-Blood, Pandora" Ron piped in, he needed to end this before his father went off about Muggles. The twins were already holding back their groans, while Ginny had completely zoned out.

"Oh, she's the girl you attacked Malfoy for" one of the twins remembered, and Ron nodded.

"Our brother, defending the honor of young maidens" the other one sang.

"That's me" Ron chuckled, while the twins sniggered at his response.

"I'll get dessert ready" Molly hummed, standing up and leaving for the kitchen. Dessert? I've gained ten pounds tonight, I just know it!

Ten Minutes Later

The apple pie Molly had baked had been delicious, but Daphne wasn't all that surprised. From what she had seen of Molly Weasley's cooking, the woman knew what she was doing. The only odd thing that Daphne had noticed was that Ron had tried to put off eating the pie at first, but then he had given in and eaten a quarter of it by himself. Daphne found that rather suspicious, mostly because Ron never refused dessert. He had a sweet tooth, one that he always sated at every opportunity.

"Thanks for coming over, Daph" Ron said, they were both standing by the fireplace. The rest of Ron's family were still in the kitchen, talking and cleaning up. "Please do it more often."

"You know what? I will" Daphne promised. "I had a lot of fun today, Ron. And I learned a lot."

"I'm sure you did" Ron sniggered, making Daphne smile slyly.

"I still haven't shown you the Gardens properly" Daphne whispered, and Ron nodded. "Can you try and spend next week at my place? I've decided to have that sleepover."

"So not this upcoming week, but the one after?" Ron asked for clarification, and she nodded. "I'll be there."

"Good" Daphne smiled, deciding not to hug him goodbye. No evidence. She turned around and took a pinch of floo-powder, and then cast it into the fireplace. "Greengrass Manor" she called, and the flames blazed green.

"Bye, Daph" Ron said as he took a step back.

"Bye, Ronnie" Daphne teased, making him roll his eyes. With that, she stepped through the flames and found herself back home. Daphne immediately put her hands on her stomach, letting out a weak moan. "My tummy… I should start exercising…" Daphne then made her way to the Living Room, where she found Theo reading a large book on Herbology.

"You're back" Theo looked to her. "Thank Merlin, I thought that he'd killed you."

"Stop that" Daphne frowned, taking a seat close to the fire.

"Just kidding, Daphne" Theo smirked. "How was your date?"

"You won't get a rise out of me Theo, so don't even try" Daphne huffed in indignation, while Theo sniggered to himself.

"Your sister has a crush on Ron" Theo tried again, and Daphne did her best not to frown. I know, alright. I know… "Still nothing? I must say that I'm impressed, you usually don't like people teasing you."

"You're not teasing me, you're boring me" Daphne smirked at him, and he grinned back.

"There's that sassy wit" Theo said, and Daphne rolled her eyes. "I missed not having it directed at me today." Theo then became dead-serious, something shifting behind his eyes. "Did you get there on time?"

"I did" Daphne replied. "He was just about to rip into them, but I stopped him in time."

"You did well Daphne, I mean that" Theo nodded, looking back to his book. "Ron is his own worst enemy." Trust me, I know that. I still can't believe that he's so far ahead, but so far behind as well.

Ronald Weasley's POV

Monday 13th July, 1993 (Diagon Alley – Midday)

Ron stood in front of the steps leading up to Gringotts, this was it. He had thought about finding Victor Burke in Knockturn Alley in order to find out if he was being cheated in any way by Gornuk, but in the end, Ron had decided against it. He didn't want Victor to know that he had managed to procure the dead Basilisk's organs. Victor was no doubt still in the loop when it came to Hogwarts, and he would definitely question how Ron found the Chamber. That was a headache that Ron could do without, so Ron decided that he'd just haggle with Goblin.

And there was Snape's letter from yesterday… Dumbledore was still missing, and the lack of news put Ron's teeth on edge. Just the thought of Dumbledore dying scared Ron, it genuinely scared him. Not simply because he liked the kind old man, which he did, but also because the Wizarding World needed Albus Dumbledore. He was too important a man to lose, especially this early. Without Dumbledore there to face him, the Dark Lord would win in no time. And unfortunately for all parties involved, Ron still hadn't had a single vision since… Since a long fucking time.

Ron made his way up the steps, his chest and stomach hurting slightly. The pushups and sit-ups had been a real chore to do, and the cold shower had made Ron grouchy. He still couldn't believe that he had to go through so much trouble just to get Madam Roberts to teach him, but he was willing to put in the effort for three months. If she still wasn't happy, then fuck her. Ron would find someone else to teach him, or he'd keep teaching himself. And I won't have to suffer through 'Circuit Training'. Ron walked into Gringotts, and he waited in line to see Gornuk.

"Next" Gornuk said after serving an old wizard, and Ron stepped up with a smile. "Good afternoon, Mr. Weasley. How may we help you today?"

"I am here about your offer" Ron started, but the Goblin frowned and shushed him. Okay…

"Of course, let's have a look at your vault" Gornuk said, making Ron blink. Um… Just nod and follow him. Gornuk led Ron down to the cart ride, which they took together in silence. Ron was quite unsure about what Gornuk was playing at, but for the time being, Ron had no choice but to do as he was told. Once the cart stopped in front of his vault, Ron dismounted and handed Gornuk his key. The Goblin quickly unlocked the vault door, and then led them inside. The moment Gornuk shut the door, Ron turned to face him.

"Why are we down here?" Ron asked, and Gornuk just frowned in response.

"Too many eyes and ears upstairs" Gornuk replied, and Ron nodded slowly. "Now… What's this about our deal? Are you willing to sell me that fang?" Gornuk asked, his greedy eyes traveling to the corner where Ron had hidden the fang.

"No, but I have other things to sell" Ron replied, and Gornuk frowned once again. "Basilisk things…"

"Really?" Gornuk's eyes gleamed, a sharp-toothed smile appearing on his face. "Do tell, Mr. Weasley. I have never been one to enjoy suspense."

"I have two fangs, slightly chipped" Ron told the Goblin, who was rubbing his long-fingered hands together. "The heart, the liver, the pancreas, the spleen, and the right lung."

"My, my…" Gornuk licked his lips, something that made Ron shudder slightly.

"Oh, and one more thing" Ron suddenly remembered. "I have its poison sac, which is intact and filled with Basilisk Venom."

"What a day" Gornuk clapped his hands together loudly, his beady eyes crinkling because of his ever-growing smile. "I will not ask you how you obtained such… curios, but I am more than willing to buy them off of you."

"Great, how much money are you willing to hand over for them?" Ron asked, his own eyes gleaming gold for a second.

"For the poison sac alone, I'm willing to pay fifteen hundred Galleons" Gornuk offered.

"That's all?" Ron asked, keeping his voice indifferent. "Even I know just how expensive Basilisk Venom is, and that sac is filled with it."

"Two thousand Galleons" Gornuk corrected himself, still smiling like a greedy little blighter.

"My friend in Knockturn Alley offered me a better deal" Ron lied.

"Twenty five hundred Galleons, that's as high as I'll go" Gornuk's smile faltered. Merlin, that's a lot of money for one item!

"Alright, I can settle for that" Ron nodded, while Gornuk smiled once again. "What about the other items?"

"The fangs are chipped, so I'll pay five hundred Galleons for them both."

"For both? You offered to buy the last fang for five hundred just by itself" Ron frowned slightly.

"That fang was undamaged, these two aren't" Gornuk shrugged. "Unless you wish to sell me the undamaged one…"

"No" Ron sighed. "Five hundred Galleons for both chipped fangs is fine." Still a lot of money, so I don't mind too much. "Now the other organs?"

"I'll take the lot for five thousand Galleons, and that's very generous" Gornuk said with a firm voice. So I'll make eight thousand in total… That's good. I'll take it.

"Done" Ron nodded, putting his hand forward for a shake. Gornuk stared at it, and then stared at Ron. Do Goblins not shake hands? Ron slowly pulled his hand back, deciding to do his best not to offend the Goblin in any way. "So how do we do this?"

"Friday night, Knockturn Alley" Gornuk told him. "Behind the White Wyvern Pub, in its back alley." Shite, how am I supposed to go to Knockturn Alley at night?

"I'm thirteen, I can't go there at night…" Ron told the Goblin.

"That's your problem, not mine" Gornuk said. It is your problem, you twat. If I can't go there, you don't get your items. "Meet me there at eleven 'o'clock, and wear something less… flashy."

Monday 13th July, 1993 (Knockturn Alley – Past Midday)

Ron passed by the shady looking people, each of them staring at him with dark looks. Fucking shite, what am I doing here? But he already knew the answer to that, he had decided to have a quick look at this White Wyvern Pub. Just to make sure of where it was, and where the back alley was found. So now here he was, walking down Knockturn Alley with his hand on his wand. Most of the shady people only stared, but one crimson witch had offered to make Ron 'a man'. He had never walked past someone so quickly in his life before.

Unlike Diagon Alley, which was bright and cheerful, Knockturn Alley was gloomy and full of dark secrets. Just by being here, Ron felt like he was committing a crime that would land him in Azkaban. The buildings themselves gave Knockturn Alley a twisted look about it, mostly due to the fact that they hid the sunlight in any way that they could. The tall buildings seemed to warp in on Ron as he walked down to the White Wyvern Pub, giving the streets a weird tunnel-like feel to them.

"Hello, can I get five eggs please?" a wizard asked, and Ron's eyes went to his right immediately. The dirty wizard was talking to a hole in the wall, a glazed over look on his face. What in the actual fuck? Ron swallowed thickly, picking up his pace. After a couple of more twists and turns, he found the White Wyvern Pub due to the directions placed around street corners.

The pub itself looked rather out of place, mostly because it was blindingly white and spotless on the outside. But judging from what he saw through the windows, this place was definitely a dive worthy of Knockturn Alley. He could hear the voices coming from inside the pub, but he couldn't make out what they were saying. Ron decided to forgo listening in, he had to find the back alley. It took him less than a minute to find it, and if he was being honest, being in it terrified Ron. It smelled rotten, and it was disturbingly dark considering that it was Midday.

"Marty" Ron called, and his Elf appeared with a loud crack. Merlin, make more noise next time. I don't think they heard you inside. "Marty, too much noise…"

"Apologies Master, Marty forgot to be quiet" the Elf smiled apologetically, and then he looked around with a surprised look. "Master…"

"We're behind the White Wyvern Pub in Knockturn Alley" Ron explained, and Marty nodded fervently.

"Marty knows Master… Marty has been here before…" Marty informed Ron, looking around with a jittery look. He knows?

"You've been here before?" Ron blinked, and Marty nodded.

"Master Greengrass had… dealings here, Master…" Marty whispered, and Ron blinked again. "Dark dealings…"

"What for?" Ron asked, forgetting where he was.

"For his collection" Marty mumbled, not keen on talking about such things. "Why is Master in such a dark place?"

"The Basilisk items…" Ron whispered, and Marty's big blue eyes widened. "I found a buyer, and we're to meet them here on Friday night. At eleven. I just wanted you to see this place so you could apparate us here on Friday."

"Marty can do that" Marty nodded. "Though Marty would prefer Master to stay at home, where Master is safe and protected."

"Marty, it's just for one night" Ron started, but Marty gave Ron a panicked look.

"Marty can do the dark dealings for Master, just as Marty did them for Master Greengrass" Marty offered. "Please stay home…" Dark dealings? I suppose that is the right term for this… Fuck, when did I turn into this person? Ron shook his head clear, deciding that this wasn't the place to have an existential crisis in.

"I can't just let you come here alone, it could be dangerous" Ron said, but Marty just made a more miserable face.

"Marty can take care of Marty" Marty pleaded. "Master, please stay at home. Marty is begging Master…"

"Alright, alright…" Ron said in a calming manner, Marty's eyes had welled up with tears. "I'll… I'll stay at home… And you can come here and trade the items in. The buyer is a Goblin named Gornuk, and he has offered to pay eight thousand Galleons in total for the items. Understood?" This is foolish, we should both be here. "Marty…"

"Marty understands" Marty nodded, cutting Ron off. "Marty will sell the items for eight thousand Galleons to Gornuk, the Goblin. And Marty will make sure that Master is not cheated, and that Master remains at home where Master is safe." Um… "Master is too young to be in such a place."

"I… I understand" Ron mumbled, feeling like a scolded child. Marty nodded firmly, his eyes clearing up as he smiled from relief. "Just… Just be safe, alright. And if anything goes wrong, leave the items and run away."

"Marty knows how these things are done" Marty assured Ron, who managed a weak smile. "Shall Marty take Master to his room?"

"Um… no" Ron shook his head, he decided to try and find Victor now that he was already here. "You're dismissed, Marty."

"If Master needs Marty, Marty will come immediately" Marty told Ron, and then he popped away. Alright, that's one thing taken care of. Wish I called Marty before I found myself in this alley. Ron quickly made his way out, his hand on his wand again. It took him very little time to find Borgin and Burkes, a place that Ron knew Victor worked in. Thank you, Lord Greengrass. Ron peeked inside through the dark, cracked windows, and he could see a young man talking to a young woman by the counter. Time to rekindle my alliance with Victor. Ron pushed the door open, and the bell attached to it rung out.

"Welcome to my Uncle's shop" Victor greeted, his eyes falling on Ron. They widened momentarily, something that made the young woman he was talking to turn around and look at Ron as well.

"Are you lost, kid?" the brunette asked, she was wearing a rather revealing dress. She was slender, almost gaunt, and she looked to be around fifteen years of age. Ron would say that she was pretty, but she clearly needed to eat more often.

"Ronald doesn't get lost" Victor smirked at Ron, who was looking around the shop with a wary look. A glass case nearby held a withered hand on a cushion, a blood-stained pack of cards, and a staring glass eye. Evil-looking masks stared down from the walls, an assortment of human bones lay upon the counter, and rusty, spiked instruments hung from the ceiling. Ron even saw a charred skull locked behind a display case, rubies fitted into its jaw.

"You know this kid?" the brunette looked to Victor, and then back at Ron. Ron's fancy clothes made her frown with disgust, probably another rich Pure-Blood.

"I do, we are old friends" Victor hummed, eyeing Ron with interest. "What brings you to me, Ronald?"

"Like you said, we're old friends" Ron smiled, his skin crawling because of how Victor eyed him. "I've been meaning to get back in touch with you, especially after I saw you again." Let's not mention that he was in Greengrass Manor, this girl clearly doesn't like me and can't be trusted.

"Where did you find this one, Victor?" the brunette asked Victor, shooting a frown at Ron.

"In Hogwarts" Victor shrugged. "Ronald, this is Priscilla. Priscilla, meet Ronald."

"A pleasure to meet you" Ron gave her a polite nod, hoping to make a better impression.

"Priscilla, this is the Ronald" Victor looked her in the eyes, something shifting behind them. "The one I read to you about, remember?" The brunette's eyes widened to an impossible size, and she looked to Ron with utter shock. The one he read to her about? What?

"You're the Ronald? Ronald Weasley?" Priscilla asked, her voice reaching a higher note.

"Yes…" Ron nodded slowly, and she squealed before pulling his head onto her chest. Ron froze completely as his head was placed on her tiny, almost bare breasts. What the shite?! Victor made an amused sound from behind the counter, while Priscilla squealed again. Ron broke out of his shock, and he pulled his head away from her.

"You really killed a Mountain Troll when you were eleven?" Priscilla asked, making Ron blink.

"He did, it was quite gruesome as well" Victor 'smiled' at Ron, amused by Ron's ever increasing blush. "Priscilla is a fan of yours, Ronald, be polite."

"Right…" Ron mumbled, his ears turning red. Her skin felt so smooth…

"I thought you were another Pure-Blood kid with too much of your parents' money in your pockets" Priscilla smiled sheepishly. "I'm sorry for being rude."

"It's… It's alright" Ron shook his head clear, looking to an amused Victor.

"What can I do for you, Ronald?" Victor asked, eyeing Ron's nice clothes lazily.

"I was hoping to talk to you… in private" Ron replied.

"Oh, I get it…" Priscilla nodded. "I'll head back out for the day, Victor. Thank you for the tea and sandwiches."

"Thank me by keeping your eyes and ears open" Victor told her, losing his amusement for a second. Priscilla nodded, and then with one last smile at Ron, she departed for Knockturn Alley.

"Who was that?" Ron asked, confused by the odd girl he had just met.

"Priscilla… Don't know her last name" Victor replied, leaning against the wall behind him. "She comes here every day, and I feed her and check her for diseases. I even let her shower sometimes…"

"Doesn't she have her own house?" Ron asked, and Victor smirked at him.

"She is a whore, Ronald" Victor said bluntly, and Ron blinked. A whore? She looked so young? "An underage whore, to be exact. There's quite a market for that in these streets." Ron's stomach turned at that, and all he could do was stare at Victor with a dead look. "You really don't belong here" Victor drawled, his face completely losing its humor. Ron truly believed in the meaning behind those words right now, he was not ready to be here.

"She's underage?" Ron mumbled, still stuck on that.

"She's a Squib, so it hardly matters" Victor replied. A Squib? Ron didn't care much about Squibs, not even his family cared much for them, but still… "Her parents died in the Great War, she ended up in an orphanage for Magical Children, but when they discovered that she was a Squib, they threw her out. She grew up on these streets, and she knows them better than most."

"She's your spy?" Ron asked, remembering Victor's previous words.

"Not a 'spy', Ronald" Victor scoffed. "She keeps me in the loop, and I make sure that she is free of diseases and is fed… Somewhat fed…" I need to leave. "Oh, and I read to her whenever it's a slow day. That's how she knows about you."

"You read the Daily Prophet exclusive to her?" Ron asked, and Victor snapped his fingers loudly.

"Sharp as always" Victor smiled in his cold way. "I told her of how you smuggled a Dragon out of Hogwarts, of how you slew a Mountain Troll to save the life of Harry Potter… And she listened with a dreamy smile. It's her dream to see Hogwarts, the fool that she is." Disgusting bastard, speaking of her like that.

"I'm here to ask if you have any 'special' Tomes" Ron said, trying to change the topic. He didn't want to learn more about Priscilla, he couldn't take it.

"Special Tomes?" Victor repeated, trying not to laugh at Ron's squirming. "Already finished the one I gifted to you?"

"I learned what I wanted from it" Ron replied curtly, not keen on telling the whole truth. "So? Do you have anything like the last one?" I should just leave, fuck the Tome.

"Tone, Ronald" Victor tutted, and Ron blinked at him. "Mind your tone, or you won't leave this shop. I mean, you will… but in pieces." Ron paled a bit at that, his hand traveling to his wand. "NOW!" Victor exclaimed suddenly, clapping his hands so loudly that Ron flinched. "Let's get you what you want" Victor smirked, chuckling at Ron's scared features. Fucking prick… Ron relaxed a little as he watched Victor look at the shelf to his left. "Do you want something Dark, or something Dark and Forbidden?"

"Do you have any Tomes on defeating the Dark Arts?" Ron asked, and Victor gave Ron a bored look.

"You're in the wrong shop if that's what you want" Victor replied. "Ron… Don't lie to yourself."

"Lie to myself?" Ron blinked.

"You came here to find a Tome that will help you defeat the Dark Arts? Really?" Victor's black eyes dug into Ron's blue ones, and Ron averted his gaze. "We both know why you came here… Just admit it."

"Something Dark…" Ron muttered, clenching his fists at himself. Just so I know how to fight them.

"Here" Victor said as he put a black leathered Tome on the counter. "This isn't illegal, and it has some interesting Spells in there. Mostly Curses, and Counter Curses… Perfect for children in denial." Ron fought the urge to frown at Victor, the handsome young man was clearly enjoying making Ron feel like a weak fool.

"How much?" Ron asked.

"Sixty Galleons" Victor replied, and Ron took out his pouch and payed him. "A pleasure doing business with you, Ronald. Again…"

"Right" Ron said as he took the book, forgetting why he was even in here in the first place. I'm never coming back to Knockturn Alley, not unless I have no other choice. Ron turned to leave, but Victor whistled at him.

"Here, take this" Victor said as Ron turned around, and then Victor threw Ron a dusty black cloak with a hood attached to it. "You're an idiot for coming to Knockturn Alley in your fancy clothes" Victor sneered with disgust. "And cover your red hair with the hood, every cunt with half a brain will recognize you for a Weasley Blood-Traitor. You'll be lucky if they kill you quickly." Ron just blinked at Victor, and then at the cloak. "Hope to see you again" Victor 'smiled' suddenly, though it was more scathing than polite.

Ron put the cloak on, pulled the hood over his head, and then hid the black Tome from sight. With that, Ron stepped out of Borgin and Burkes in a daze. His stomach felt light, and the more he looked around the street, the more sick he felt. This place is a blight. Ron began to make his way out of the street, but he was suddenly pulled into a dark street by a thin figure. Something snapped in his head, and he grabbed his assailant and slammed them against the wall. Priscilla let out a weak cry as she fell down, and Ron stepped back in a hurry.

"Priscilla? Oh fuck… Oh fuck, I'm so sorry" Ron quickly helped her up with shaky hands.

"It's okay…" she croaked, clearly winded. "I shouldn't have pulled you like that…"

"No… No, I shouldn't have attacked you like that" Ron looked her over, and he immediately averted his gaze when he saw that her revealing dress had come loose. Shite! I just saw her naked breasts! "Your… Your dress…" Ron pointed, his throat suddenly dry. Priscilla looked down, and then she quickly made herself 'decent' again.

"That's embarrassing" Priscilla chuckled, clearly not embarrassed. Ron looked back at her with a flushed face, this day hadn't turned out as planned.

"Sorry…"

"It's alright" she assured him, though she had to hide the pain shooting up her back. "We both made a mistake, let's move on?" Ron nodded weakly, guilty for being such an idiot. "You're Ronald Weasley" she smiled at him, and he just stared at her.

"Yes…"

"What are you doing here?" she asked him, her smiling falling a little. "This is not a place for kids."

"You're a kid…" Ron mumbled, and she blinked at him. How old is she? Fifteen? Sixteen? I should have never come here.

"Victor told you" she stated, losing all of her mirth. "You should stay away from him… He's kind to me, but only while I'm helpful…"

"Does he…?" Ron started, but his throat closed up. I'm going to throw up…

"I'm missing some of the bits that he likes" she told him, a half-smirk on her face. Oh. "You should go, and you shouldn't come back here. The Ministry won't even look into you if you go missing here, trust me." The Ministry? Why aren't they cleaning this place up? Ron just stared at the girl that he had just met, her life making him feel nothing but… sadness.

"What about you?" Ron asked, only to realize too late that he sounded like an idiot. What about her? She didn't have a home to go back to. Nor did she have any family. Only Victor.

"I… I'll do another round… before nightfall…" Priscilla looked down. "You should leave." Ron nodded dumbly, and Priscilla shot him a weak smile. "It was nice to meet you."

"Nice to meet you too" Ron muttered, going pale in the face. With that, Priscilla walked off down the dingy alley. Ron stared at her leave, and then he began making his way out of Knockturn Alley. No one paid him any mind because of his dirty cloak, but even if they did, Ron simply didn't care. He felt like he was floating around the place, completely out of his mind. And depth. As Ron reached the end of Knockturn Alley, he stopped walking.

"Marty" Ron called, his voice breaking.

"Master?" came Marty's voice, and Ron realized that Marty hadn't made a sound. Ron took off the dirty black cloak, and he handed it to Marty along with the Dark Tome.

"Take these to the place where you have the items hidden, I'll collect them when I'm back at Hogwarts" Ron instructed.

"Marty understands" Marty bowed deeply, and then he was gone with a pop. Ron walked out of Knockturn Alley and went straight for The Leaky Cauldron, he just wanted to go home.

Fifteen Minutes Later

Ron stepped into the Burrow through the fireplace, and he could immediately smell his mother's cooking. It turned his stomach, and he could feel the saliva building up in his mouth. Ugh… I'm going straight to my room. Ron left the Living Room, and just as he was about to run up the stairs, his mother called out to him.

"Ron, you're back" Molly breathed a sigh of relief, stopping Ron dead in his tracks. "Take a seat love, we're just getting started."

"I'm not hungry" Ron croaked, and then he cleared his throat.

"What was that?" Molly asked him, not hearing him right.

"I'm not hungry…" Ron replied more clearly. His family shot him confused looks, since when did Ron refuse to eat?

"You should eat a little" Pandora smiled airily at him.

"No thanks, I'll be in my room" Ron turned to leave.

"Ronald, come and eat" his mother ordered, she was not letting him miss meals. Ron wanted to argue, but the look on her face made him think twice. He liked his ears attached to his head. Ron sulked over to the table, and he took his seat quietly.

"Not hungry?" Fred hummed.

"Is something upsetting you, Ronnie?" George asked.

"Girl troubles?" the asked together, sniggering like little children right after. Girl troubles? Ron closed his eyes and swallowed thickly, the walls were beginning to close in. I don't know anything about the World around me, do I? An afternoon in Knockturn Alley proved to me that I'm just some… Some brat… What the fuck was I thinking when I decided to go down there? I'm such an idiot… This isn't Hogwarts, but I was operating like it was. Thinking that I'd just get away with a quick lie, or a snarky comment. Fuck me…

"Ron? Are you unwell?" Luna asked, watching him lose his color. Ron just looked at her with a dead look, and then he looked back down at his empty plate. The smell of his mother's cooking was nauseating, and he was moments away from throwing up. Two days in a row. Bloody hell. Ron felt bile rise at the back of his throat, and he shot out of his chair and ran to the sink.

"Ron!" came his mother's voice, but it was drowned by the sound of him vomiting his insides out.

Wednesday 15th July, 1993 (Longbottom Manor – Dinnertime)

Ron had been actively avoiding his family for the last two days, and he spent most of his time going over his notes. His trip to Knockturn Alley was still fresh in his mind, and Ron prayed to Merlin that he'd just forget it. He had even done his Circuit Training, enduring horrible exertion, in order to hide from his memories. What was the point of thinking about it? Ron had learned his lesson, and he had no intention of ever going back to that place again. And yet… His mind kept drifting to Priscilla. A girl who was two or three years older than him, and who had gone through things that Ron could never even understand.

Ron couldn't help but feel guilty when he looked back at his own life in the past two years. He had fought bitterly against his parents, but at least he had parents to fight with. He had complained about Malfoy and the Slytherins, but he was living Priscilla's dream. Ron had actually been foolish enough to feel ashamed of the Burrow, but at least he had a fucking house to live in. These thoughts had bogged down his mind completely, and his guilt had turned him into a reclusive person. But that had ended tonight, because tonight, he had to have dinner at Longbottom Manor.

So here he was, a nice bottle of Sherry in his hands. Wearing silk robes that smelled of jasmines and sandalwood. Merlin, he just wanted to go back home already.

"Ron, it's good to see you mate" Neville greeted him, his Gran standing behind him.

"Good to see you as well, Neville" Ron smiled, and then he approached Lady Longbottom. She put her right hand forward, which he took gently and kissed. "Thank you for inviting me into your home, Lady Longbottom. It's an honor to be back here." Ron then presented the bottle of Sherry to her, and she smiled at him with pursed lips.

"Thank you, Ronald" Lady Longbottom said gratefully, taking the bottle from him. "Neville, be a dear and take this to the Dining Room. I wish to speak to Ronald for a moment." Neville nodded, took the bottle, and made his way to the Dining Room. "Welcome back to Longbottom Manor, Ronald. Let me apologize to you on behalf of my grandson. I am sorry."

"I accept your apology, just as I accepted his" Ron responded, and she nodded curtly. "Neville and I have put our fight in the past, we were both to blame for it."

"That is good to hear" Lady Longbottom said. "And he apologized properly?" Properly? What is that supposed to mean?"

"He was very honest, and I understood him perfectly" Ron replied.

"Good" she said, sounding slightly relieved. "Come, let's eat. Then we can work to remove any bad-blood between you two." Bad-blood? Whatever.

Thirty Minutes Later

Ron had surprised himself with how much he ate, whereas Lady Longbottom seemed rather pleased. She had told him that a young man should eat as much as possible, and then she had ordered Neville to keep up with Ron. Something that Neville had failed horribly at, which wasn't surprising. Few could match Ron's appetite, and he hadn't eaten lunch today.

"Did my grandson tell you that I enjoy a good Sherry?" Lady Longbottom asked, sipping some from her glass. She seems to be enjoying it.

"He did" Ron admitted, seeing no reason to lie. "I asked him when we all went to Muggle London last week."

"I see" she shot Neville a tight smile, who smiled back sheepishly. "I am happy to see that you are all friends once again. And that you are all actively trying to move on, it makes my duty that much easier."

"Friends fight" Ron smiled, looking to Neville. "And Neville is quite amazing at apologizing."

"Thanks" Neville chuckled, shaking his head slightly. "But yes, as you can see Gran, Ron and I are on good terms again."

"Good" Lady Longbottom nodded, her surprise slightly evident. She then looked to Ron, deciding to give Ron their eternal friendship… again. The boy was the only reason why Neville was even alive, and she could never repay him for that. "Ronald, allow me to give you the eternal friendship of the Longbottom Family once again. This time, we will not break it." She then looked to Neville, who cleared his throat.

"I vow to uphold this friendship, and to never do anything to endanger it" Neville promised Ron, who just nodded slowly. What am I supposed to do now? Do I have to make any pledges? "If you ever need my help, then you will have it. I will keep your secrets, I will protect your back, and I will never doubt the sincerity of your words. I promise." Merlin, that was… Touching?

"Thank you" Ron responded, was he supposed to say that oath too? Damn, where is Daphne when I need her?

"Excellent" Lady Longbottom said, happy that the formalities were through. "Let us talk of more… entertaining things, shall we?"

Twenty Minutes Later

Somehow the topic had come back to the Ministry, the French Ministry to be exact. Ron had been telling them of how he had resisted the Veelas, a story that he hated repeating. And during this story, he had mentioned the French Ministry trying to cheat him out of a win. That had been a mistake because Lady Longbottom had started ranting about her displeasure with the Ministries. All of the Ministries…

"They would rather assure us that everything is alright instead of doing their jobs and fixing this country" Lady Longbottom went on, while Ron and Neville just listened. I think she's enjoyed too much of that Sherry. "I mean, just look at their new Legislation against Werewolves… How is that helping anyone but the fools who are easily frightened?" Legislation against Werewolves?

"What is this Legislation?" Ron asked, thinking of Remus. Neville just blinked at Ron, why would he ask something that would just send his Gran on another rant?

"It makes it impossible for Werewolves to find work, Ronald" Lady Longbottom frowned, turning to face him fully. "Businesses are forced to supply their Werewolf employees with a Potion that they can never afford, which in turn has resulted in Werewolves losing their jobs the country over. Now we have hundreds of angry Werewolves roaming the country, with no means to provide for themselves except to turn to crime and villainy."

"And who passed this Legislation?" Ron asked, just shocked that he had missed this. I don't know anything. FUCK! This is Knockturn Alley all over again.

"Dolores Umbridge" Lady Longbottom rolled her eyes, while Ron's eyes widened slightly. The woman I supposedly killed in the Future? According to my friends' suspicions, anyway. "A pathetic, power-hungry bottom feeder. One who is using the hate against the Werewolves to climb the ranks of the Ministry, damn the consequences."

"Is that normal? For people to use methods like that to climb in the Ministry's hierarchy?" Ron asked.

"It is indeed" Lady Longbottom replied, glad that at least some child out there was trying to learn more about the horrid World that they lived in. A World seething with backdoor politics, hate-crimes, and disgusting opportunists who would sell their own kin to further themselves. "Occasionally, you get one bottom feeder who is so good at taking advantage of other people's misery, that they are named the 'Minister of Magic'. A job filled with weak fools. If only Crouch Snr's degenerate son didn't shame him, we could've had a decent Minister for once."

"Barty Crouch Jnr…" Ron nodded slowly, remembering Snape's history lesson. Lady Longbottom blinked at him, while Neville's mouth hung open. Did Ron know about his parents?

"You know of the Crouch Family scandal?" Lady Longbottom asked, and Ron nodded.

"I am sorry for what they did to your son and daughter-in-law, Lady Longbottom" Ron gave his condolences, meaning every word. He then looked to Neville, who had just gone pale. "I'm sorry Neville, I really am."

"Thanks…" Neville looked down, just closing in on himself. Poor guy… Losing his parents like that.

"I pushed for the Dementor's Kiss on those four…" Lady Longbottom said bitterly.

"Gran, don't talk about this" Neville piped in, not wanting to hear this.

"It's unspeakable to you?" she asked, frowning at Neville who simply looked back down at his plate. "What they did to your father, my son, was unspeakable. What they did to my beloved Alice was unspeakable. They didn't deserve mercy, they deserved the Kiss. But no… The Ministry spun a tale about 'taking the high road', and sent them off to Azkaban instead. A stunt to appease the masses, and to assure them that everything was alright. My Frank and Alice lost their chance at true justice because of the Ministry's games… Only Crouch Snr took my request seriously, and they shamed him for wanting to send his own son to the Dementors."

Neville suddenly got up and marched off, clearly not wanting to hear this bitter rant again. Ron just watched him leave, a feeling of awkwardness engulfing him. Lady Longbottom frowned and shook her head, her grandson needed a sturdier spine. Ron and Lady Longbottom sat in silence for a bit, and Ron simply watched her finish off the last of the Sherry. She drank the whole fucking bottle in one sitting.

"Forgive Neville" she sighed suddenly. "He's a good hearted boy, but he can be weak sometimes." Weak?

"Are his parents still…?" Ron trailed off, and she nodded.

"They live in St. Mungo's, but they are no longer themselves" Lady Longbottom replied, a hint of sadness in her voice. "He deserved to be raised by them, they were spectacular people. Noble, righteous, and brave." Ron nodded slowly, unsure of what to say to her.

"Is the Ministry really that bad?" he asked, deciding that that was better than silence.

"Yes, and no" she sighed. "The World is a complicated thing, and the Ministry plays its own role inside it. I speak about them to you youngsters because one day, it will be you lot who inherit this World. Without the Ministry, Wizarding Communities would crumble. The Old Families would go to war again, and the Statute of Secrecy would be shattered. The Ministry is necessary… But it has been tainted by the ambitions of the people who are meant to serve it."

"Why doesn't the Ministry do something about Knockturn Alley?" Ron blurted out, immediately biting his tongue. Fuck me! Wake up, Ron. Wake the fuck up.

"What can they do?" she asked. "Evict them? They'd just settle somewhere else. Haul them off to Azkaban? There would be riots in the streets. Tell me, have you been there?" Ron blinked at her, and she smiled knowingly.

"Please don't tell anyone" Ron pleaded, and she held up her hand.

"I will keep your secrets" she assured him, but Ron's paranoid nature wasn't sated by that. "It is a sorry place, is it not?" Ron nodded weakly, thinking of Priscilla. "Full of crime, Dark Object peddlers, whores, and thieves. Even the occasional murderers. And yet, it is kept right next to Diagon Alley."

"I met a girl there…" Ron mumbled, he couldn't keep this in any longer. "She was around sixteen… And she was a…" Ron trailed off, feeling his stomach turn.

"I imagine that she was a Squib" she figured, and Ron nodded weakly. "If she wasn't, she'd be anywhere but there."

"Why doesn't the Ministry help people like her?"

"Help the Squibs?" Lady Longbottom asked, surprised by his foolish question. "Who would that please? No one."

"People like her would be pleased" Ron said, his voice almost jittery. Fuck, my head is starting to hurt.

"People like her can't offer the Ministry's parasites anything" Lady Longbottom told him. "The Ministry is necessary, but it has been tainted by the ambitions of the people who are meant to serve it" she repeated, and Ron slouched in his chair. "You are almost a man, as is my grandson, and I imagine that you two don't truly understand the World you live in." I'm beginning to see that. Snape's history lesson, this Werewolf Legislation, Priscilla and Victor, the Ministry's shady habits, Madam Maxime's plans, even Lord Greengrass' Dark dealings… All of it. My view on the World really is pathetic, isn't it?

"I want to learn" Ron admitted. But it just pales in comparison to the upcoming war. There's too much to do, and never enough time.

"Then learn, and do with that knowledge whatever you can" she advised. "Now, you should go and find my grandson. He will be in his room. Third door on the left, second floor." Ron nodded slowly, and then he got up.

"Thank you for hosting me, and for your advice" Ron said, and she gave him a soft nod. Ron made his way out of the Dining Room, missing Lady Longbottom's look of approval. Ron quickly found the stairs, and he made his way over to Neville's room. The door was closed, so Ron knocked on it lightly. After some shuffling sounds, the door opened slowly. Neville looked at him through the crack, and then opened the door fully.

"Hey" Neville greeted, going back into his room.

"Hey" Ron said back, entering the room and closing the door behind him. Ron looked around the room, and he found it to be rather plain. There was a nice bed, a sturdy looking table with books on Herbology, some framed photos of Harry and Hermione, and a stack of old books near his Hogwarts trunk. There was one thing that caught Ron's eye however; the walls were laced with gum-wrappers.

"My mum…" Neville piped up, sitting on his bed and looking at the walls. "She gives them to me every time I visit…" Ron swallowed thickly, his chest tightening a bit. There's thousands of them. He must go there every day.

"Does she recognize you?" Ron asked slowly, and Neville looked conflicted.

"I don't know…" Neville admitted, his voice strained. Merlin…

"I'm sorry" Ron repeated, what else was he supposed to say? "Do Harry and Hermione know?"

"They do… They know everything" Neville replied. Good, he's not alone. Harry and Hermione are the sort of people who will look after him. "Is Gran still going on about the Ministry?"

"No… No, she stopped" Ron shifted in his spot. "She actually sent me up here…"

"Does she want me to come back down?" Neville asked, looking rather subdued.

"No, I'm just about to head home… Thought I'd say goodbye before leaving" Ron told him, and he relaxed a bit. "I won't tell anyone about your parents, Neville. I swear. I will keep your secrets." Neville smiled at that, looking to Ron with a grateful look. "Take care."

"You too, Ron" Neville nodded, and Ron turned to leave. "Ron… You should come around more often." Ron looked back to Neville, and he gave the Gryffindor a nod.

"I will try and do that."

Lord Voldemort's POV

Wednesday 15th July, 1993 (The Albanian Forests – In the Dead of Night)

The Unicorn's silvery-blood rolled down his chin, and he let out a victorious hiss. The three days he had spent tracking the beast had finally paid off, and he could feel his 'body' being revitalized. Any sense of shame that he had once felt at being so weakened was gone now, replaced by a desperate need to survive. To defeat Death, the ultimate enemy. Lord Voldemort lived, and that was the only thing that mattered.

The Albanian Forests were teeming with life, both Light and Dark, but they all avoided him because of sheer instinct. He was the king of this Forest, and they all knew it. For now, that was enough for the Dark Lord. He would survive, and eventually thrive. And then… He'd burn the Forest down in order raise his own kingdom. A kingdom created to spit in the face of Death, and all the fools who accepted it. A kingdom where there was no threat to his life, where no one would dare challenge his will. Lord Voldemort would live… forever.

Lord Voldemort walked past the drained corpse of the Unicorn, and with a flick of his stolen wand, he levitated the heavy beast and strung it up. The branches of the trees weaved through the beast's corpse, creating a truly haunting piece of art. It brought a smile to his little face, he was getting stronger. Soon… I will have the power to step out of the shadows soon.

His soul had once again become stable, and whatever horrors that that monster had inflicted on him, were now healed. He no longer felt the crippling agony that he used to, but the fact that he had created another Horcrux taxed him greatly. There were days where he would just lose the strength to even move, but they were becoming far less frequent. Now that he had this new host, he could actually start recovering his power again. But rather than drain his current vessel's Magical Core, Lord Voldemort had started hunting the Unicorns. Their blood was a suitable replacement, and it kept his vessel from breaking apart from the stress of his ever increasing power.

He eyed the haunting piece of art with a sense of pride, it had been too long since he had created something. Something that serves a purpose. This piece of art would keep the locals out of the Forests, like his previous works had been doing. He was currently residing near a Magical settlement, with no more than three hundred people residing in it. They were a superstitious lot, who were wary of outsiders and preferred to live in isolation, which suited the Dark Lord just fine. His host needed actual food from time to time, just so it wouldn't lose muscle mass, and he could easily sneak into the settlement and steal whatever he needed.

"Mathew!" came a loud yell, and Lord Voldemort frowned. That peasant is back. "Mathew! Son! Are you here?!"

"Irritating fool" Lord Voldemort hissed, his vessel's uncle was looking for 'him' again. Lord Voldemort had put off the idea of killing the peasant uncle, but only because it would direct unwanted attention to himself. But these 'visits' were becoming tedious, and they were starting to get in his way. Lord Voldemort became one with the shadows, disappearing into the branches in a puff of dark smoke. From there, he watched for 'his' uncle.

"Mathew!" the older wizard called again, walking into view. He was almost an old man, with greying hair, and his worry for his nephew had seemed to have age him a hundred years. Bothersome oaf, I will suffer you no more. "Son, where are…?" the uncle started, but his voice died in his throat when he saw the dead Unicorn. "By the Old Gods…" the old fool stumbled back, losing his footing and landing on his back. The sight pleased Lord Voldemort, especially because of the plan that was brewing in his mind. I'm strong enough now, so I know that it will work without fail.

"Uncle?" Lord Voldemort called, taking shape behind the blubbering fool. The uncle turned around with a horror-stricken look, his heart lifting at the sight of his long-lost nephew.

"Mathew? Mathew!" the older wizard stood up in a hurry, but then he stopped moving completely. There was Unicorn blood all over the boy, and something wasn't right behind those eyes. "Mathew? Is that you?"

"No" Lord Voldemort smiled cruelly, not in the mood for playing games. "I am something… more." The old man paled as Lord Voldemort's eyes blazed red.

"What are you? The Devil?!" the old wizard demanded. "Did you kill my little brother and his wife?! What have you done to Mathew?!"

"Silence, you will serve me" Lord Voldemort hissed, how dare this lowly peasant raise his voice at the most powerful sorcerer in history?

"Serve you?" the older wizard blinked, and then his face contorted with rage. "Give me back my nephew, demon!" The peasant tried to go for his wand, but Lord Voldemort seized the very blood in the old man's veins. A wondrous scream tore out of the peasant's throat as he seized up, his blood boiling in his veins.

"You. Will. Serve. Lord Voldemort" the Dark Lord hissed, using his Magic to drag the old man by his feet. "But first, I will break you."

Albus Dumbledore POV

Thursday 16th July, 1993 (Magical Settlement on the Border of the Forests – Early Morning)

Albus apparated right at the edge of the settlement, his boots getting soaked in the mud immediately. Albania's current climate was… bothersome. The cold made his bones ache, despite the fact that he wasn't wearing his own skin. In order to stay undercover, Albus had been drinking Polyjuice Potion every two hours. Polyjuice Potion that contained the hair of some middle-aged man that Albus had found handsome in a rugged sort of way. The locals of such small towns often opened up to a handsome, but familiar looking, face.

He had had no success in his mission so far, but he knew that he was getting close. Whispers of dead Unicorns had traveled down the border of the Forests, and Albus had followed these rumors to this settlement. If this was indeed Tom, then he was getting bolder. And if he was getting bolder, than that meant that he was also getting stronger. Time was of the essence, and Albus intended to waste none of it.

After drawing in a deep breath, Albus began making his way into the settlement. The townsfolk were just waking up to start their daily routines, with the men heading off to work while the women took their children on grocery runs. It was a very small settlement, which meant that Albus' task to gather information would be much more difficult. Small towns hold their secrets far more closely to their hearts. I should start with the locals, and then head to a pub. If they have one… Albus was ripped from his thoughts when he saw a burnt down house, its roof had collapsed in and the whole house was charred. It was burned down a long time ago by the looks of it, but no one has cleaned up? Odd.

"Stay away from that place, lad" an old crone croaked, shambling past him with a cane. "It's cursed."

"Cursed?" Albus asked, and the old woman stopped. She turned to face him with milky white eyes, her wrinkled face pinching. She is blind.

"A stranger…" the old crone hissed, spitting on the ground. Not blind enough, it seems. "Leave this place, we don't want your kind here. Misery… That's what you strangers bring. Death and misery…" With that, the crone turned around and began limping away. Albus watched her limp away, this town was as friendly as the last one.

He could feel eyes falling on him, most of them were hateful and wary, but there were some that were simply resigned. Something ominous was at play here, and Albus felt relieved at the prospect of finally locating Tom. Relieved, and fearful. If Tom was indeed here, then this town would not be safe from their battle. Tom understood the value of hostages even though he couldn't understand love, which made him far deadlier than even Gellert Grindelwald. Gellert at least respected life, whereas Tom lived to serve only himself.

Albus spent an hour surveying the town, keeping away from the eyes of the townsfolk. He had seen, and learned, some troubling things. For one, the locals were afraid of the Forests that they lived near. The men would leave to hunt early in the morning, and they'd come back well before dark, regardless of how their hunt went. A young girl had told him that there was something 'Dark and Old' in the Forests, and that it was angry with them. Albus knew that small Magical settlements like this one were superstitious, but the way the young girl had spoken to him had sent a shiver up his spine.

The second thing he had noticed was that people steered clear of the burned house, they didn't even want to look at it. This only intrigued Albus even more, and he decided that he needed to learn more about it. Why would people fear a burned down house if something truly horrible didn't happen in it? For all Albus knew, Tom could very well be connected to that house. It was a possibility that Albus couldn't rule out, he had learned from the folly of going up against Tom unprepared. Tom was capable of anything, and everything.

Thursday 16th July, 1993 (Magical Settlement on the Border of the Forests – Dinnertime)

The day had been a resounding failure, but Albus wasn't deterred just yet. These people were scared, and that gave them the right to be wary of strangers. Albus was currently in the local pub, sitting alone in a dark corner, waiting patiently to be served. A young woman, who was the only waitress, was serving the locals first, which was fair because they had brought the meat to be used tonight. Albus could tell that these were a humble people who valued community above all else, which also explained why they were so shaken by that burned house. Tragedy can be a bitter thing to swallow.

"What can I get you?" the young woman asked, smiling weakly at him. Albus smiled back politely, which eased her tense shoulders.

"Could I please grab a bowl of venison stew? And some ale?" Albus asked, deciding to live a little.

"Sure thing, I won't be long" the waitress nodded, leaving for the kitchens. Albus returned to his thoughts once again, he would venture into the Forest tomorrow. If Tom is out there, I'll find him. And once I do, I'll trap his wraith-like form in a Magical bubble. After that… I'll figure out what to do with him. But he already knew what he had to do to Tom, he had to find a way to destroy his former pupil. But what if he created more than one Horcrux? Could Tom be capable of such a feat? Most likely.

"There are no more tables, but you can join that other stranger in the corner" Albus heard the waitress' voice, and he looked up to see who his new 'companion' would be. Albus' mouth hung open from utter shock, this couldn't be happening. What is he doing here?

"Thank you, kind girl" Xenophilius said to the waitress with an airy smile, something that made her blink. Albus controlled his features, and he looked down at his hands that were resting on the dirty table. Xenophilius walked over to where Albus was sitting, still smiling airily. Why is he here? Of all the places in the World, what would compel him to come here? "May I join you, good man? There are no other tables."

"Certainly" Albus replied, making his voice deeper. I'm still disguised as someone else, now I just need to be careful and mind my voice. Xenophilius took a seat from across Albus, and then he opened up a journal and began reading it. Albus watched him for a few seconds, deciding that he needed to learn of why Xenophilius Lovegood would be here.

"Here's your order" the waitress said, putting a hot bowl of stew and a mug of ale in front of Albus. "What can I get for you?" she then asked Xenophilius, who looked up with a smile.

"I will have the same as my companion" Xenophilius replied, shooting a smile at Albus.

"Alright" she nodded, and then she looked to Albus. "Pay up the front once you're done, stranger. Zamir knows what you ordered, and he'll take your money." Albus nodded politely, and then he watched her leave.

"Not a friendly lot" Xenophilius observed, though he didn't sound vexed whatsoever. "I went to a Muggle town before this, and they were quite a wonderful lot. They even helped me pick out suitable clothes." Albus looked at Xenophilius' clothes, and they definitely looked more local than his own.

"We Magical-folk are wary by nature" Albus said back, and Xenophilius nodded gently. I've heard that Muggle Albania is very traditional, and that they respect each other's differences. We could learn from them.

"That we are" Xenophilius agreed. "Xenophilius Lovegood, a pleasure to meet you."

"John Proctor, likewise" Albus lied, using the name of a character from a Muggle book.

"John Proctor? That's a nice name" Xenophilius smiled airily. "What bring you here, John? Are you simply passing through?"

"Yes, and no" Albus replied, deciding to spin a tale. "There's been some irregular activity in the area, and the Albanian Ministry sent me here to investigate."

"Irregular activity?" Xenophilius blinked, and then he smiled more widely. "I believe that our paths were destined to cross, John." They were? Why is he here?

"Really? What brings you here?" Albus asked.

"My wife and daughter, truth be told" Xenophilius chuckled, while Albus waited to hear his story. "I run a magazine back in Magical Britain, it's called The Quibbler. I write about the things that the Ministry tries to hide from the people." Yes, I've read it before. And truth be told, I'm not a fan. "Anyway… I got word that some… Dark things… were happening in the Albanian Forests."

"Dark things?" Albus asked, and Xenophilius nodded and leaned in.

"Dead Unicorns" Xenophilius whispered, and Albus nodded gently. Merlin, he's looking for Tom without even realizing it. I need to send him away from here. "My daughter, Luna, she loves Unicorns" Xenophilius smiled widely, his eyes relaxing at the mention of his own daughter. "I wasn't going to come down at first, my wife is pregnant you see, but they both urged me to look into this." Pandora is with child?

"Congratulations" Albus offered Xenophilius a smile.

"Thank you" Xenophilius leaned back. "So here I am, looking into the monsters who would harm such beautiful creatures."

"Monsters?" Albus asked, looking to the waitress who was approaching them.

"Here's your order" she said, placing it in front of Xenophilius. "Pay at the front, Zamir knows what you ordered."

"Thank you, kind girl" Xenophilius smiled at her, and she smiled back before leaving.

"You mentioned monsters?" Albus asked, starting his meal alongside Xenophilius.

"Poachers, I'd wager" Xenophilius sighed, looking slightly crestfallen. "I've tracked a lot of poachers in my time, they're always the same… Greedy, violent, and they have no respect for the land that they walk on." He's tracked them. Something clicked in Albus' mind, something that made him feel rather guilty.

"Maybe we can find them together?" Albus suggested, and Xenophilius looked up with a surprised look. "I'm not very good with tracking people through forests, and two heads are better than one."

"Two heads are better than one? I like that…" Xenophilius smiled, nodding his agreement. "The sooner I get this done, the sooner I can return to my wife's side." Albus, what have you done?

Friday 17th July, 1993 (Albanian Forests –Morning)

Albus and Xenophilius had started their hike through the Forest at the crack of dawn, and for a while, Albus had struggled to keep up. Despite using Warming Charms, Albus was still an old man wearing the skin of a young one. His feet hurt terribly, and the cold had made his joints ache.

"Keep up, John" Xeno chuckled, making his way forward. "This is summertime, and the day will get warmer, I promise."

"This is summertime?" Albus asked, catching up to Xeno.

"The Muggles told me that it was" Xeno nodded, looking around for tracks. "They said that they've had a lot of rain recently, but the Sun still comes out around Midday. I reckon today's going to a lukewarm day, judging from the lack of clouds and cool breeze." Albus looked up at the sky at that, and Xeno was right. Barely any clouds up there. He knows what he's doing, but then again, of course he does. He travels at least ten times a year. "You're not from Albania, are you?" Xeno asked with a knowing smile.

"No" Albus replied. "Just a wand for hire…"

"I see" Xeno nodded. "I once ran into a band of wizards and witches who were wands for hire. We ended up exploring a lot of Scotland together."

"I usually work alone" Albus said, he didn't want Xeno seeing through his story.

"Me too" Xeno said, and then he smiled widely. "Except when my little Luna comes along with me. She's as sharp as they come, and she knows all of my tricks."

"How old is she?" Albus asked, keeping the conversation on Xeno.

"She's twelve" Xeno beamed. "She studies at Hogwarts, and she was smart enough to land in Ravenclaw. Just like her father and mother."

"She really asked you come here?" Albus prodded, trying to fully understand why Xeno was even here.

"She and my wife both" Xeno nodded. "They want me to report what's happening here, and why the Ministries aren't protecting the Unicorns. They're already an endangered species, but the Ministries aren't doing anything to help them. I've been writing an article about them, and when this came up, they urged me to investigate. But truth be told… I want to go home as quickly as possible."

"Then let's find out what's happening here, and then let's be on our way."

Friday 17th July, 1993 (Albanian Forests – Lunchtime)

Nothing. They had spent hours traveling the woods, and they had found nothing. Not even tracks.

"Here" Xeno offered Albus some salted meat, and Albus took it with a polite smile. "Bread and cheese alone won't keep you in shape" Xeno chuckled. They were currently having some lunch, both of them had their own supplies in Enchanted pouches, but Xeno was far better prepared than Albus when it came to food. "I'm surprised that a man in your trade doesn't feel right at home here." I'm a Professor, not a mercenary.

"I prefer working near civilization" Albus replied, smiling despite himself. "There is no life to be found in these woods, and that makes me uneasy."

"And it certainly should" Xeno told him, and Albus looked to Xeno with a curious look. "These woods are meant to be teeming with life, but so far, we haven't found any signs of that." No… We haven't. "Something is not right in this Forest, John. I can feel it. The animals are hiding from us… Just listen." Albus listened, and he heard nothing.

"There are no birds, or insects…" Albus realized, and Xeno nodded slowly. I made the right call by asking him to join me.

"Animals aren't mindless creatures, trust me" Xeno said, his voice almost ominous. "They are hiding because they are afraid of something… Something that has taken over this Forest." Tom. It has to be him.

"Back in the settlement, I spoke to a young girl about the burned house" Albus said, deciding to share information. "Before she ran off, she mentioned that something 'Dark and old' had stirred in these woods. The locals, I believe, think that a Curse is upon them."

"They do" Xeno confirmed, making Albus blink. "Do you remember our waitress?"

"I do."

"I spoke to her after you went to your room for the night, she opened up to me because no one was watching us" Xeno informed Albus. "That house burned down about a month ago, and the family that lived inside it burned along with it. The locals tried to put out the fire, but they couldn't do a thing to stop it."

"What do you mean?" Albus asked, was it a Cursed Flame?

"I think that the fire was Cursed, John" Xeno replied, and Albus nodded. "They recovered the bodies the next day, but here's the thing, the eight year old son was missing. Both mother and father were burned beyond recognition, their size was the only indicator of who they were, but the son was never found." A boy goes missing after a house-fire?

"Did they try and find the boy?" Albus asked, forgetting to eat his food.

"They did, but they never even found a trail" Xeno shuddered. "His uncle, the town's bailiff, still goes out looking for him. But no one has seen him since Wednesday… The locals have every right to fear that a Curse is upon them, I myself believe it."

"Perhaps…" Albus said, taking a bite of his meat. "Do you still suspect poachers?"

"You think that the Unicorn deaths and the town's misfortune are related?" Xeno looked up, and Albus nodded. "I suppose that makes sense… Perhaps that little girl was right, and we have both stepped in something far bigger than us." Albus couldn't help but notice that Xeno had gone slightly pale, no doubt worried about not making it home.

"Perhaps we should leave?" Albus suggested, though he had no intention of backing out.

"Leave?" Xeno blinked, looking in Albus' eyes. "You're not planning to leave, I can see it in your eyes." The Lovegoods. They are far too observant. "Two heads are better than one, John" Xeno smiled softly. "I'm not abandoning you here."

Friday 17th July, 1993 (Albanian Forests – Sunset)

"John, are you alright?" Xeno asked, putting his hand on Albus' back. Albus drew in a deep breath, and then he looked to Xeno who was also somewhat out of breath.

"It's getting harder to breathe. Have you noticed?" Albus asked, and Xeno nodded. "I think we've passed some sort of ward."

"I think we should turn back" Xeno suggested, looking around the darkening woods. "If we've passed wards, then the person who put them up knows that we're here." Tom knows. Xenophilius is right, we need to turn back for the time being. I'll take the wards down tomorrow.

"Alright, let's turn back" Albus agreed, and they both began leaving the dense part of the Forest. The sun was beginning to set, and it gave the woods an orange color scheme. Orange, and filled with shadows.

"We should camp on higher ground" Xeno suggested, and Albus nodded. "That's better" Xeno breathed in. "The air is clearer here." That it is. Albus was relieved at that, he truly needed some rest. I'm too old for this sort of behavior.

"We know where to start looking tomorrow" Albus told Xeno. "I'll take down the wards at day-break, and then we can investigate further in the woods." They both walked for a few more minutes, the silence between them being filled by the sound of crunching twigs and stomping feet. And then, all too suddenly, Xeno stopped making any noise.

"John, wait" Xeno said, stopping in his tracks. Albus stopped as well, facing Xeno with an alert look. "Tracks…" Xeno pointed just in front of himself. "Unicorn tracks…" Unicorn? Albus' eyes twinkled slightly, and he watched Xeno study the tracks with a keen eye.

"Can you follow them?" Albus asked. If we can find where the Unicorns are going, we'll find Tom. Find him, and capture him.

"I can" Xeno smiled at Albus before looking back down. Thank Merlin, we finally have a trail to follow. "These are deep, and perhaps a day old. Maybe two…"

"Deep?" Albus asked.

"This Unicorn was running" Xeno noted, taking out a camera from his pouch. Xeno then took a photo of the Unicorn track, the camera's flash echoing through the Forest. "It went that way" Xeno sighed, pointing to the denser part of the Forest. Then we must follow it. The wards… The Unicorn tracks… Tom is hiding in there, I can feel it.

"Will you be able to follow this trail tomorrow?" Albus asked, and Xeno looked up at the sky. Albus followed his gaze, and much to his disappointment, he could see thick clouds. Xenophilius mentioned that there had been a lot of rain recently.

"The rain will destroy the tracks" Xeno stood up, his camera still in his hands. "So much for clear skies…"

"The sooner we find the cause of the dead Unicorns, the sooner we both get to leave" Albus said, deciding to follow the tracks. Xeno nodded at that, and they both began making their way back to warded part of the Forest.

Thirty Minutes Later

Albus had broken the wards with relative ease, which was a good sign. If Tom was the one who placed them, then he was still weakened. Xeno had been truly impressed by Albus' ward-breaking skills, while Albus was truly impressed with Xeno's tracking skills. Xeno could see tracks with little to no effort, while Albus couldn't tell one patch of Earth from another.

"We're getting closer" Xeno said suddenly, taking another photo of the tracks.

"What makes you say that?" Albus asked, his eyes traveling to ever shadow around them

"The tracks are getting deeper, and fresher" Xeno replied. "I think that it…" Xeno stopped mid-sentence, and Albus looked to him. Xeno was staring at something ahead of him, and Albus followed his gaze to a wet, silvery patch on the ground. Unicorn blood… It's staining the ground. Xeno quickly moved towards it, while Albus failed to stop him.

"Xenophilius… Use caution…" Albus frowned, brandishing his wand as he caught up to Xeno.

"It died here…" Xeno muttered, his voice slightly strained. Albus looked to the wide patch of stained Earth, and he said a silent prayer for the Unicorn. Poor beast. To meet such a horrible fate. Xeno took a photo of the ground, while Albus wondered where the body was.

"Where do you think its body is?" Albus asked, feeling his stomach tighten at the sight of so much Unicorn blood.

"There's no blood trail" Xeno looked around. "If some other animal found its carcass, then there would be a trail. This Unicorn's carcass simply… vanished…"

"Did someone take it?"

"Poachers are messy, they'd leave behind a mess" Xeno took another photo of the blood. This is… odd. Albus suddenly felt something land on his right shoulder, and he felt it trail down his jacket. Birds… Albus went to clean the bird-dropping, but his eyes widened when he saw that it was Unicorn blood. Merlin's beard… Albus looked up slowly, and his blood froze.

"Xenophilius… Look…" Albus managed stepping back as if in a daze. Xeno looked up as well, and his camera fell from his hands.

"By the Hallows…" Xeno whispered, the blood draining from his face.

There, right above them, was the dead Unicorn. The branches from the tall trees around them were weaving their way through the desecrated carcass of the Unicorn, creating an image so haunting that even Albus was shaken. Pure anguish was etched on the dead Unicorn's face, with wooden branches piercing out of its eyes, nostrils, and ears. It hung there for the World to see, its belly ripped open and devoid of any organs. Whoever had done this, they had done it to inspire horror. And it was working.

"Poachers don't do this…" Xeno muttered, taking a shaky step back. "This is… This is cruelty manifest…" What have you become, Tom?

Friday 17th July, 1993 (Albanian Forests – Night)

"Xenophilius, please eat" Albus said, offering Xeno bread and cheese. Xeno looked to Albus with a haunted look, his face dirtied and pale. Xeno had taken pictures of the desecrated Unicorn, and then he had cut it down and buried it. Albus had helped of course, and he had respectfully remained silent when Xeno had teared up. Albus knew that Xeno, even as a young boy, loved Magical Creatures. And he is one of the finest students of Care of Magical Creatures that Hogwarts has ever seen. Almost as good as Newt himself. Though his belief in unnatural Creatures did wound his grades terribly.

"I'm not hungry" Xeno whispered, looking back at the small campfire with puffy red eyes. Albus nodded gently, deciding not to push him any further for now. I am taking him back home when the Sun rises. "Who could do this?"

"Someone who has no humanity left in them" Albus sighed, taking a sip of Polyjuice Potion. "We will leave in the morning, and you can return to your wife and daughter. Think of them, Xenophilius. Cast aside the horror that we just witnessed. It does not do well to dwell on darkness." Xeno looked up at that, his eyes piercing. "What is it?"

"You just reminded me of someone" Xeno replied, looking back to the fire. "An old wizard who used to tell me that being different wasn't a bad thing." He's speaking of me. I used to tell him that whenever I found the other children bullying him. He never once fought back. Not even when James, who was two years his senior, hung him upside down for two hours.

"And it isn't" Albus replied, offering Xeno the bread and cheese again. "Eat, you will need your strength." Xeno took the food reluctantly, nibbling on it as he gazed into the fire.

"I'm going to publish this article, John" Xeno whispered suddenly, and Albus nodded in an understanding way. "The people need to open their eyes to things like this… There are barely five hundred Unicorns left in Europe, with the largest herd of them living in Hogwarts' Forbidden Forest." Only four of them left now, thanks to Tom. "And once I've published the article… I'll sell the Quibbler to the Daily Prophet…" Albus blinked at that, rather taken aback by Xeno's words.

"Sell the Quibbler? Isn't it your life's work?" Albus asked, and Xeno shot him a tired look. Be careful, Albus.

"It is… But I've been thinking about selling it ever since I found out that my Pandora is pregnant with our second child" Xeno replied. "The Daily Prophet offered me a great deal for it, mostly because they want the people who read my magazine to read their papers. They'll let me work with them to publish my work in a small section of the Daily Prophet, and I can even call it the Quibbler. With the money that I'll get, I can make room for the new baby. And I'll need a stable job to support two children and my wife… No more traveling…"

"I see" Albus nodded, oddly upset at this bit of news. 'The harsh realities of life'… Isn't that what Gellert called this phenomenon? That we must abandon our dreams to fulfil a greater role. And yet, he still chose to chase his dream of absolute power. Something that destroyed him. "You are a good man, Xenophilius. Not many can give up their dreams for others."

"I'm not giving up my dream, I'm focusing solely on it" Xeno smiled for the first time since they had found the dead Unicorn. "I don't why I just told you all of that… You're a good listener, John."

"I've been told as much" Albus smiled, looking to the fire.

"Tell me about yourself" Xeno said, turning to face him.

"Nothing much to tell" Albus shrugged.

"Any family?"

"No" Albus replied, thinking of Aberforth. "None that want me around."

"I see" Xeno said slowly. "Forgive me for prying, I just…" he trailed off.

"Need a distraction?" Albus smiled, and Xeno nodded weakly. "I had a…"

"Shhh" Xeno shushed suddenly as he stood up, and Albus did the same. What is it? Albus' hand went to his wand, prepared to brandish it at a moment's notice. Albus could hear the leaves rustling, but nothing else. "The leaves…" Xeno whispered, and Albus blinked at him. "John, there's no wind…" We're not alone.

"You shouldn't be camping here" came a man's voice, and both Albus and Xeno brandished their wands. An older wizard stepped into the fire's light from the shadows, his appearance was haggard and dirty, but he was still mostly hidden by the surrounding darkness. Albus' instincts told him to stun the man, but he stayed his hand.

"We're simple travelers" Xeno announced, hoping to de-escalate the growing tension. "Who are you, my good man?"

"The bailiff of a nearby town" the man replied, looking at Albus and Xeno's wands. "The bailiff of a nearby Magical settlement."

"The missing boy's uncle…" Xeno whispered, and they both lowered their wands. What was he doing out there in the dark? Why didn't we see him in the Forest? Albus kept his guard up, ready to strike the man down at a moment's notice. "We passed through the town, and we…"

"What are you doing here?" the bailiff demanded, cutting Xeno off.

"We are simply enjoying the countryside" Albus replied, he did not trust this man. "Step further into the light, my good man. Let us share the fire, and what little food we have, with you."

"How do I know that you're not brigands?" the man asked, keeping his face hidden in the dark.

"If we were brigands, we would've attacked you on sight" Xeno replied. "It is a cold night, my friend. You are welcome to our fire." The bailiff didn't move from his spot, and both Xeno and Albus exchanged looks. Something is wrong here. Why is he hiding his face? The bailiff reached for his wand suddenly, and Albus non-verbally stunned him in less than a second.

"John!" Xeno exclaimed, going wide-eyed.

"Raise your wand, and stay alert" Albus ordered, his eyes hardening. Xeno nodded shakily, pointing his wand at the darkness. Albus non-verbally levitated the bailiff to the fire, placing him on the ground gently.

"Why did you stun him?" Xeno asked.

"Instinct" Albus replied, studying the man's gaunt and pale features. "This man hasn't eaten in over a day… And judging by his torn shoes, he's been walking around for a while." Albus quickly checked the man's eyes, and unsurprisingly, they were milky white. "The Imperius Curse…"

"Imperius Curse?" Xeno asked, his wand hand trembling. I need to get Xenophilius out of here. If Tom is behind this, then all hell is about to break loose.

"You always were quick, weren't you?" came a child's voice, and Albus looked up into the surrounding darkness. A child? The missing boy!

"John? What's happening?" Xeno asked in a panicked voice, his wand still aimed at the darkness around them.

"Concentrate, Xenophilius" Albus instructed, looking for any signs of movement. And that's when he felt it, a sudden change in the Magic around him. Albus looked down at the unconscious bailiff, and his eyes widened as he saw the bailiff's skin become violently red. He had seen this Spell before. "XENOPHILIUS!" Albus threw himself at his former pupil, raising a golden shield at the same time the bailiff exploded into fiery, meaty chunks.

Albus' rushed shield shattered, and both men were sent barreling into the darkness. Their camp was utterly destroyed, along with their only source of light. Albus could hear the blood pumping in his ears, his forehead getting slicker by the second. Tom!

"Xenophilius?" Albus called, lighting his wand.

"I'm here…" Xeno groaned, his clothes slick with blood. As Xeno tried to stand up, Albus was glad to learn that the blood on his former student wasn't his own. The bailiff… "John? Are you alright?"

"I am…" Albus groaned, he could feel the gash on his forehead burning.

"Lumos" Xeno said, stumbling towards Albus. "What is happening?"

"We're being attacked" Albus replied.

"By a child?" Xeno muttered, still dazed from the explosion. "The bailiff… Oh Merlin… By the Hallows…" Hallows?

"Steady, Xenophilius" Albus ordered, looking around the darkness.

"You should never have come here… Albus" came the child's voice, and Albus' stomach tightened. Tom! Show yourself, coward.

"Albus?" Xeno blinked, shaking like a leaf.

"Show yourself, Tom" Albus ordered. "You will hide in the shadows no longer!"

"It does not do well to dwell on darkness…" came the boy's voice, it was scathing and cold. "You are still spewing out the same nonsense…" He's been watching us. The wards… He has been watching us from the moment we passed them. "Tell me Albus, have you come to die?"

"Not by your hands" Albus replied, he could feel Xeno shaking by his side. "Xenophilius… You must run when the time comes…" Albus whispered, and Xeno blinked at him. "Run, do you understand?"

"Do not listen to him, he cares nothing for your life" came the boy's voice, it echoed from all around them. He's using some sort of Spell to hide his location. "Why do you think he brought you here with him? You are nothing but a pawn to him…"

"Who are you?!" Xeno called out, and then he looked to Albus with scared eyes. "Dumbledore?" That's when it all clicked in Xeno's mind, and he felt his knees wobble.

"Xenophilius, hold your ground" Albus said with a hardened expression. I can't fight Tom and protect Xenophilius at the same time. Albus then looked back into the darkness, and the moment he did, a jet of green light flew at him. Albus quickly jumped out of the way, while Xeno fired three stunners into the darkness.

"Hahaha" a child laughed, the laughter echoing loudly around them.

"Fawkes!" Albus called, and the Phoenix flashed into existence right above them. For a moment, it looked as if the entire Forest was lit up, and Albus spotted a child staring at him from the distance. Their eyes locked, and Albus' chest tightened when the boy's eyes gleamed red. "Fawkes, take Xeno…" Albus started, but his instructions were cut off when he felt his blood boil in his veins. Not this Spell again…

"Dumbledore?" Xeno gasped, and then he looked to the little boy who was holding his hands out at Albus. The boy was no older than eight, and yet, the sight of him terrified Xeno. "Stupefy" Xeno chanted, firing a stunner at the boy. The boy grinned in a cruel manner as he vanished into the darkness. Albus coughed roughly as he broke out of Tom's Blood-Magic, something that sickened Albus down to his core.

"That is no ordinary boy" Albus told Xeno, and then he looked to Fawkes who was flying around in the sky. He's trying to find Tom?

"It's the Dark Lord, isn't it?" Xeno asked, his voice trembling.

"Fawkes will take you away…"

"No, I'm not leaving you here" Xeno refused. "That monster nearly killed my son. And he's the one who's behind the Unicorn murders… I'm staying… I'll fight…"

"Don't be…" Albus started, but a nearby explosion cut him off. Both men turned to the explosion, and they went wide-eyed as they saw massive tree trunks coming straight for them. Albus waved his hand powerfully at the debris, sending it flying in the other direction. But the moment he did that, he saw another jet of green coming for him. Albus ducked, and he felt the energy from the Killing Curse pass over him. It froze his bones with how cold it was.

"You have gotten old, haven't you?" the boy laughed, hiding in the shadows.

"And you are still a coward" Albus goaded. "Hiding in the darkness, hoping that no one can see how weak you are."

"Weak?" the boy hissed. "I have accomplished feats beyond your comprehension."

"Was losing to a toddler one of them?!" Xeno yelled, baring his teeth.

"Silence, worm" the boy hissed, and Albus spotted two tiny red orbs in the darkness. There!

"Divinum Lumen!" Albus roared, firing a pillar of golden light at Tom. The golden light clashed against a Dark shield with a thunderous sound, nearly deafening them all. Dumbledore missed the sound of Tom disapperating, and so he looked around for any signs of the Dark Lord. The area where their Spells had clashed was leveled, with entire trees ripped out of the ground root-and-stem.

"He's possessing a child?" Xeno asked, amazed by Albus' Spell.

"They are more… compliant" came Tom's voice. "Adults have matured minds… Possessing them completely is impossible…"

"You killed the boy's family" Albus accused, and Tom's laughter echoed through the woods. "Convinced the townspeople that their land was Cursed. Forced them to become even more wary. Is that why you desecrated the Unicorns that you slew?"

"Fear is a powerful weapon" Tom replied, clearly amused by this encounter.

"You drank Unicorn blood whilst possessing the boy…" Albus said, his grip on the Elder Wand tightening. Xeno paled for a second, and then he flushed red.

"Coward!" Xeno yelled, both revolted and terrified. Fawkes suddenly screeched, flying down at something with terrifying speed. Albus followed Fawkes movements, and he fired a Blasting Curse at where his companion was heading. The fiery orange light, and the subsequent explosion revealed Tom, and Albus fired another pillar of golden light at him. Tom summoned a shining silver shroud in front of himself, absorbing the golden light, and then he sent it right back at Albus and Xeno. That's new.

Albus quickly put up a golden shield, and the pillar slammed into it with such force that Albus had to dig his heels into the dirt to keep his balance. Tom disapparated again, appearing on their opposite side with a weak pop. As Albus recovered from stopping his own spell, Xeno moved to cover him with an ordinary shield. Tom fired some black and silver Curse at Xeno, and Xeno barely managed to hold back the onslaught. Tom quickly disapparated again, disappearing from sight.

"Xenophilius, cast anti-apparition wards around us" Albus ordered, looking for Tom. Xeno did as he was told, while Albus summoned Fawkes to him. He heard the Phoenix shrill as it flew over to its master, but it was suddenly shot out of the air by a wooden spear, getting impaled to a thick tree.

"That's one" Tom laughed maniacally, while Albus clenched his jaw. Fawkes was a Phoenix, and therefore immortal, but it still stung to see him die in such a manner. I will recover you, my friend. "What will you do now, Dumbledore? Your torch has been snuffed out. I wonder… Will you burn down this Forest in order to find me?" No, but you are not the only one who has learned new tricks.

"Sol Temperat" Albus chanted, aiming the Elder Wand into the sky. A bright white orb shot out of the tip of his wand, and it hung in the sky for a moment before exploding brightly. The entire area around them was lit up by a long-lasting white light, taking away Tom's advantage.

"There…" Xeno panted, and Albus turned to see Tom just staring at him. They were twenty feet apart, but Albus could feel the rage emanating from Tom's vessel.

"No more games, Tom" Albus said, thinking of Ronald's words. "I will not let you take this World." Not this time.

"No… You want it all to yourself, don't you?" Tom smirked. "The great Albus Dumbledore. The man who decides who lives… and who dies. The man whose 'wisdom' cannot be challenged by anyone, and those who do challenge him, are servants of the Dark Arts."

"Look at what you've become Tom, you have no right judge anyone" Albus responded, not even acknowledging Tom's words. Albus also took advantage of this brief respite and studied the boy's features, and much to his regret, he realized that the boy's body was breaking apart. At this point, Tom is simply wearing a corpse.

"You see what you've done" Tom said, his face suddenly expressionless. "This… boy… will not last me the night. Not after our little Duel. But it matters not, you will die before this body breaks apart." Tom's eyes began to glow red, and Albus took on a defensive stance. "Avada Kedavra!"

"Expelliarmus!" Xeno chanted, diving out of the way. Albus simply stepped to the side and sent fiery ropes to bind Tom, who blocked both Spells with ease before sending a Killing Curse at Xeno. Albus took the opportunity to try and yank Tom's wand out of his hands with Wandless Magic, but Tom countered that by sending more debris towards Albus.

Albus summoned a golden shield to protect both Xeno and himself, and he felt the impact of the assault as the tree trunks shattered against shield. Xeno fired more stunners at Tom, who batted them away with no real effort. Albus decided to sync his attacks with Xeno's, who had no real strategy against a foe as powerful as the Dark Lord. If we both attack him together, he will have to go on the defensive more often.

"Die!" Tom yelled, his face contorting with rage as he fired a shadowy Curse at Albus' golden shield, and Albus braced himself and held off the attack. The wind picked up around them as Tom maintained his Curse, and it was so violent that Xeno had to dig his hands and feet into the ground in order to not get blown away. Tom suddenly pulled the Curse in on itself, turning it into a ball of unstable energy right in front of himself, and then he sent that energy at Albus and Xeno in a wave of destruction.

Albus felt his shield crack immediately, and he let out a roar as he pushed back with all of his might. The tree around them were blown to shreds, and Fawkes' corpse was left in pieces. Albus felt anger swell in his chest, and he slammed his wand into the Earth, creating a prism of golden light around Tom. As Albus moved to crush Tom's body, Xeno fired ropes from his wand that bound Tom. He didn't move? Tom let out a laugh as the prism crashed in on him, and both Xeno and Albus cringed as they heard the boy's bones shatter.

"Yes…" Tom coughed, silver blood oozing out of his mouth. Albus heard Xeno gasp from horror, while Albus was momentarily shocked into a daze. His blood is silver? What has he done to the boy's body? Tom let out a maniacal laugh as his body began to break apart into a thick black smoke, Xeno's ropes sliding off of him as he became an Ethereal Shadow.

Albus locked eyes with Tom, blue eyes clashing against bright red, and then Tom shattered the prism with sheer will alone as he began to float into the air. Thick, shadow-like smoke came off of Tom as he hovered above them, looking down at them like the insects that they were. And then, Tom sent his shadows at them. Albus blocked them with a powerful white shield, while Xeno just stood there with a horrified look on his face. Lightning and fire came to life where their Spells clashed, with both wizards fighting for dominance.

Albus could feel the ground heat up at his feet, but he didn't stop pushing. Tom would not take this World, not again. This Cycle will not fail. I will not let it! Albus roared as he pushed Tom back with all of his might, and much to his shock, it worked. Albus realized too late that Tom had abandoned the fight for dominance in order to fly right at Albus, and by the time Albus figured that out, Tom had his tiny hands around Albus' throat. Tom lifted Albus into the air, and then slammed him into the Earth with such force that Albus heard multiple ribs break.

A scream tore out of Albus' throat, but Tom cut it off as he squeezed down with an unnatural amount of strength, trying to strangle Albus to death. Xeno fired a stunner right into Tom's back, but it had no effect whatsoever. One of Tom's shadowy tendrils smashed into Xeno's side, sending the former Ravenclaw barreling through the air.

"Just us, Dumbledore" Tom hissed, still trying to crush Albus' windpipe.

"Accio wand" Albus croaked, summoning his wand into his right hand. And then, without a moment's hesitation, Albus jammed the tip of his wand into the side of Tom's throat.

"Not my body…" Tom grinned, more silver blood oozing out of his mouth. It trickled over Albus' face, and Albus turned his head in order to avoid any of it going into his mouth.

"I know… But this will still hurt…" Albus retorted, and then he fired a burst of electricity from his wand right into Tom.

"AGH!" Tom howled, his body going into wild spasms on top of Albus'. Albus ripped his wand back out, aimed it at Tom's chest, and fired a powerful Knockback Jinx. Tom' tiny body was sent flying away, landing on the ground with a sickening crunch. Albus grit his teeth as he got up, his broken ribs causing him excruciating pain. Tom also slowly got up, his tiny broken bones crunching as they moved about.

"I never thought that you'd do this to a child's body" Tom hissed as he faced Albus, half of 'his' face sinking into his broken cheek.

"That boy died the moment you possessed him" Albus said, feeling utter disgust at the sight before him.

"No… No, he was alive before our Duel started" Tom said, silver blood leaking out of every orifice. "You did this to him…" Albus shrugged of Tom's words, he would not fall victim to guilt and regret. Not right now. Xenophilius… Albus saw his companion trying to stand up, but to no avail. Broken bones, I'd wager.

"It's over, Tom" Albus aimed his wand at the Dark Lord. "Your vessel is finished…"

"You cannot kill me… No man can…" Tom laughed, his left arm breaking off of his body. Merlin, what kind of Magic is this? Necromancy! He's turned his host into a different type of Inferi? Tom aimed his wand at Albus, his right hand shaking as his body began to break apart. Tom's eyes suddenly blazed red, and he cast Fiendfyre right in front of himself. Albus was stunned for a split-second, but it quickly wore off as he ran to Xenophilius, putting up a powerful golden shield around them. The flames roared loudly as they came to life, obscuring Tom from Albus' sight. What has he done?!

"Xenophilius! Stand up! Undo the Wards!" Albus yelled, the Cursed Flames lashing out at everything around them. Xeno quickly began muttering the counter to his anti-wards, his face devoid of any color.

"TOM!" Albus roared, watching the Cursed Fire take on several forms as it began to spread out in every direction. Flaming Serpents, Chimaeras, Manticores, and Dragons ran rampant, feeding on the Forest around them as they began burning down everything in their path. NO! What has he done?! Albus suddenly saw Tom for a moment, his body burning as he watched Albus with a victorious smile. And then, a wraith-like shadow burst out of the boy's chest and flew off into the night sky. No… No…

"Xenophilius! The Wards?!" Albus yelled, his shield cracking. We're going to die…

"Broken!" Xeno yelled, and Albus grabbed him and disapparated to the Magical settlement. The landing was bad, but neither of them got splinched. Albus fell on his knees, trying to calm down his breathing. But when he heard screams coming from the settlement, he looked up.

"No…" Albus muttered, watching the unstoppable Fiendfyre light up the night sky. They were miles away from the battleground, but the Cursed Flames would be here in minutes.

"What do we do?" Xeno asked, grunting as he stood up. Albus looked to him, and he could see the fear behind his eyes.

"We need to get the town people to help us!" Albus ordered, breaking out of his own fear. "Get them to apparate into different locations and build a Finite Wall, while I contain the Flames on the outskirts!" Xeno nodded, and then he disapparated. Not a second to lose! Albus reached into his jacket, and he pulled out his Enchanted pouch.

Albus reached inside it, and he pulled out a vial of Phoenix tears which he drank down quickly. His pain subsided immediately, his bones cracking back into place and mending. Albus then reaching into the pouch again, ripping out his broomstick. Albus mounted it immediately, and then he blasted off into the night sky. Once he was as high as he needed to be, he looked down at the Fiendfyre with widened eyes. The Forest was completely ablaze, and the Flames had no intention of stopping. Damn you Tom!

Albus flew down towards the Flames, his wand aimed at them as he created a trailing Finite Wall. Albus pushed his broom to its limits, creating a Magic-dispelling Wall as far as he could. Unfortunately, the Flames had spread too far… Which meant that although the town could be saved, the majority of the Forest would be lost. All the creatures living in it were doomed, and Albania's wilderness would never be the same again.

Saturday 18th July, 1993 (Magical Settlement – Morning)

Albus, and the folk from the settlement, had spent the entire night fighting the Cursed Flames. Many Albanian Officials had also appeared on the scene, and in the chaos, Albus wasn't even noticed. His Polyjuice Potion had worn off, and now he was using a powerful Disillusionment Charm to remain hidden. He was so proficient with that Charm that he was effectively invisible.

The Forest was mostly lost… But the Settlement had survived, as had many of the other settlements on the Forest's borders. Tom had escaped once again, taking advantage of Albus' desire to protect Xenophilius who was still missing. Albus was flying above the town, searching for a head made of Cotton-Candy colored hair. Xeno had successfully convinced the townsfolk to band together instead of running away, and in doing so, he had saved so many lives. Albus couldn't help but feel a little proud of his former pupil, but that pride was nothing compared to his regret. So much was lost in one night…

Albus spotted Xeno sitting by himself, his head hanging low as he examined his camera. He saved that camera? How? Albus flew down slowly, hovering over Xeno's head.

"Xenophilius" Albus called, and Xeno looked around for him. "I'm above you, meet me where we apparated last night." Xeno nodded, and then he disapparated. Albus flew out to meet Xeno, finding him alone and still fidgeting with his camera.

Albus knew what had to be done… What he had to do. There would be many questions about last night, and Xeno would soon be the center of attention. He had shown up in the middle of the night, and then banded the people together to combat the Cursed Fire. The Albanian Ministry would start looking into this, and if Xeno told them that it was the Dark Lord's doing, then only Merlin would know what would happen. Albus was sure of one thing however, there would be complete chaos if Xeno told the truth.

For one, no one wanted to believe that the Dark Lord yet lived, and so Xeno would be blamed and get thrown into prison. Then there was the fact that both Xeno and Albus were citizens of Wizarding Britain, and their being here and fighting the Dark Lord without alerting the Albanian Ministry would cause an International Incident. Tom most likely had thought that through, hence his extremely dangerous actions. Tom had put the ball in Albus' hands; he could tell the truth and cause complete chaos, or he could lie and fabricate a story to protect himself and Xeno. Tom had managed to win… again.

"Xenophilius" Albus greeted, breaking his Disillusionment Charm.

"Dumbledore…" Xeno greeted back, still shell-shocked from last night.

"How are you, my boy?" Albus asked in a gentle voice, and Xeno shook his head. "It's alright, Xeno… We lived…"

"The Forest…" Xeno's eyes welled up, looking to Albus for answers. "The Dark Lord… Why didn't you say anything? I could have died… My wife and my daughter would be…" Albus felt a strong pang of guilt, but he buried it deep down.

"You saved your camera?" Albus asked, and Xeno blinked at him.

"The films were destroyed…" Xeno said, his face gaunt and tired. Good. The townsfolk will confirm his story about the dead Unicorns, while I tamper with his memory and fabricate a different tale. Forgive me, Xenophilius. Albus aimed his wand at Xeno, who went wide-eyed for a second.

"Obliviate."

AUTHOR'S NOTES: And there it is! Is this the biggest chapter yet? I'm not too sure. But it sure was grim, wasn't it? Well, I hope you enjoyed that.

I bet that many of you feared for Xeno's life in this chapter, but he made it out in one piece... sort of. See, I want you all to know and understand these characters, to love them. So when I start killing them off, it'll be that much more fun for me =) (Think I'll start with Sirius)

Thoughts?

See you on Sunday!