Fate

by TheTrueSpartan

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

74. Chapter 74 - Le fléau de Vélane

AUTHOR'S NOTES: Chapter 74 is finally done! Once again, I'm very sorry for the one day delay. But I'm really sick, and even though that's a lame excuse, I just couldn't think straight with a blocked nose and a headache. I really enjoyed writing this one, so please get started right away.

Please Enjoy!

DISCLAIMER: I do not own Harry Potter, and I do not intend to make any money off of this. Harry Potter is the intellectual property of J. K. Rowling , and I take no credit of it whatsoever.

I was also inspired by Demon Eyes Laharl's: THE RED KNIGHT! and also from Random-Fruitcake04's: CHOICES! I hope you check them out as well because they are genuinely very good stories.

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Fate

Chapter 74 - Le fléau de Vélane

Ronald Weasley's POV

Friday 11th September, 1993 (Slytherin Common Room – After Dinner)

How the hell was he supposed to help Malfoy? The moment he had left Snape's Office, he had realized just what he had promised to do. Ron would soon have to deal with a storm of shite that was going to leave him and his friends covered from head to toe, and all for an entitled brat that might one day become a respectable human being.

Deep down, he knew what this really was. This was all about his own need to be some sort of hero. This was all about his need to be seen as the best sort of bloke around. The moment Snape had swallowed his pride and said 'please', Ron couldn't help himself. Some idiotic part of him still wanted Snape to like him, and for all of his wit, Ron couldn't figure out why. Maybe it was because Snape knew who Ron really was? Or maybe it was because he respected Snape? Or maybe he just didn't want Snape to target him? Ron genuinely had no clue as to why he had agreed to help Malfoy, but it was too late now. I gave my word, and my word is my bond.

"Pure," Ron said to the entrance, and it slid aside for him. Ron managed to take five steps into the common room before he was ambushed by his first years, who were being led by an overexcited Tori.

"Ron!" Tori squealed, and like always, she clung to his middle as tightly as she could. "Where were you?"

"With Snape," Ron replied, and then he drew in a deep breath. I'll worry about Malfoy after I fix my own problems. For now, he can deal with Flint on his own.

"Are you alright, Ron?" John asked, and Ron put on a smile.

"Yeah," Ron replied, but the first years simply exchanged looks.

"You're not hugging me back," Tori said haughtily, and then she pulled her head back in order to show Ron her miserable pout.

"Sorry, Tori," Ron apologized, and then he squeezed her into his chest. "What are you lot up to?"

"We were waiting to ambush you," Lysandra smirked. "Notice anything different about me, Ron?"

"She's put on weight," Hestia said before Ron could reply, and both John and Sebastian sniggered.

"How rude," Lysandra huffed, and then she flicked her shortened hair back. Her hair is shoulder length now… I missed it during the day.

"You got a haircut," Ron said, and Lysandra beamed.

"Do you like it?" Lysandra asked.

"Stop trying to flirt with him," Tori hissed, and then she turned around and eyed Lysandra coldly. "Ron is mine." Actually, I'm your sister's.

"Doesn't he get a say?" Derek asked, and Tori glared at him. "I was just saying…"

"Grow a spine, Derek," Lysandra frowned, and then she smiled at Ron. "Well?"

"I like it," Ron replied, it did suit her.

"Are you going to teach us new Spells on Sunday?" Mathew asked, and Sebastian smacked his arm.

"What happened to being subtle?" Sebastian asked, but Mathew just shrugged. New Spells? Shite, I'm not even going to be here on Sunday. I'll either be in France, or at Grimmauld Place. Not to mention the fact that I need to find the person who leaked information about The Quibbler.

"I won't be here on Sunday," Ron told them, and they all looked either shocked or crestfallen.

"What about our study session?" Mathew asked.

"What about you teaching us new Spells?" Sebastian asked.

"Is everything alright?" Flora and Hestia asked together, and Ron smiled at them. Odd that they would ask that. They don't exactly look empathetic.

"Everything is fine," Ron replied. "Let's go sit down over there for a second. I need to talk to all of you." The first years exchanged worried looks, and then they did as they were told. Ron took a seat around a round table, while the first years moved into the chairs across from him.

"Are we in trouble?" Derek asked, the chubby boy looked quite worried for no reason.

"No, not at all," Ron smiled at him, and he managed a weak smile back. "Is there a reason you would be?"

"No," Sebastian replied quickly, and Ron lost his smile. He's lying to me.

"Sebastian got into a fight with a Hufflepuff," Lysandra replied, a cruel smirk on her face.

"You bitch," Sebastian hissed, while Lysandra simply kept smirking.

"Language," Ron said firmly, and then he eyed Sebastian. "You got into a fight? Talk."

"That git was calling John a 'Death-Eater in training'," Sebastian replied angrily, and Ron blinked at him. A Hufflepuff? Which Hufflepuff would do that? "So I clocked him one… What's the big deal?"

"You lost us twenty House Points," Tori pointed out, and Sebastian laughed coldly. "And he beat you up."

"You've lost us the most-"

"Enough," Ron said, cutting their argument short. "John, tell me what happened."

"Zacharias Smith just started annoying us while we were going to lunch," John replied, he looked slightly uncomfortable. Zacharias Smith? Second year, right? "I told him to sod off, and that's when he… It's alright though, I don't even care…" Your tone suggests otherwise.

"Sebastian, no more fighting," Ron said, but he couldn't help but give the sporty boy a quick smile. "Good job on defending your friend though."

"See?" Sebastian smirked at his friends. "I told you that Ron would understand!" I should speak with Cedric about this. He knows John personally, and it'll show him that I respect him enough to come to him.

"So how many House Points did you lot make in total this week?" Ron asked.

"Counting our losses, we made eighty four House Points," Mathew replied, and Ron nodded in approval.

"We met our quota," the Carrow twins said together.

"Well done," Ron said, and the twins smiled slightly at the same time. Creepy, but cute.

"Why is our quota bigger than everyone else's?" Tori asked. "It's not fair."

"It really isn't," Lysandra flicked her hair once again. "Can't you do something about this, Ron? Please?"

"He already told us why," Derek piped in, but the girls shut him up by eyeing him harshly.

"It's easy enough to meet," Mathew said to Ron, his brown eyes fixed on Ron's. "I manage to get us to forty points all by myself."

"You're such a kiss-arse," Sebastian rolled his eyes.

"If he's making forty House Points alone, then he deserves to be praised," Ron said firmly. "Why is one person making so many points? What aren't you lot helping him?"

"We're trying," Tori said, her voice slightly subdued. Don't get angry. Keep your shite together, Ron.

"He keeps answering everything," Lysandra pointed out.

"We tried to discuss a routine," Hestia started.

"But he won't listen," Flora ended.

"You lot are too slow," Mathew scoffed. "You barely ever put your hands up… I'm not going to sit around for you all to catch up. The teachers will pick our year-mates if I wait too long."

"Do you have any advice, Ron?" Derek asked.

"Well, if one person keeps answering everything, then the Professors will stop rewarding him," Ron replied. "Trust me, I learned that from personal experience. And if what Mathew is saying is true, then you lot need to get it together. You can read ahead, or do some work outside of our study sessions. This is a school, not a social club."

"It's boring," Tori groaned.

"You want rewards? Then you'll do the work," Ron stated simply. "The Triumvirate are very happy with you guys at the moment, try and keep it that way. You don't want to get on their bad sides, believe me. Mathew, from now on, you're the leader of this group."

"What?" Tori gasped, she looked utterly betrayed.

"Why does he get to be in charge?" Sebastian demanded.

"He isn't in charge, I am," Ron told them. "But when he tells you to study, you'll study. And if you don't, then I'll make you study. Understood?" This way, I don't have to hover over them constantly. I can deal with my own problems whilst being safe in the knowledge that the first years aren't slacking off.

"Yes," the first years mumbled, while Tori just gave Ron her most miserable look.

"Mathew, don't abuse this power," Ron told him, and he nodded firmly.

"No more than one hour a day," Mathew promised, and Ron nodded his agreement.

"We're in the lead already, but that will change drastically once the year is in full swing," Ron told them. "Gryffindor is most likely going to win the Quidditch Cup, while this Dueling Club has the potential to turn everything on its head. Our quotas have to be met, otherwise, we'll end up losing the House Cup. Tell me, do you want to lose?"

"No," the first years said together.

"Do you want the Gryffindors prancing about the school with their noses held high?" Ron asked.

"No."

"Do you want to be the ones who prance about?"

"Yes."

"Then keep up the good work," Ron smiled at them, and most of them smiled back.

"I'm pretty good at Quidditch," Sebastian added quickly. "Would I be able to join the Slytherin Team?"

"You're in first year, and from what I've heard, they're not holding trials this year," Ron informed him, and he looked crestfallen. "What's your position?"

"Chaser," Sebastian mumbled, while Derek patted his back encouragingly. "Why does everyone just treat us like babies?"

"Respect has to be earned," Ron told him. "If you want influence in this House, then you'll have to earn it. Trust me, everyone has been where you are now. But unlike you lot, we didn't have the advantage of the Triumvirate involving us in their plans."

"How's that an advantage?" Lysandra asked. "They're treating us like cows with House Points in their udders…" That's a disturbing image, but quite accurate.

"They're giving you a chance to prove your value to the House," Ron told her. "They're handing all of you a chance to earn the respect of the older students, who by the way, will pretty much dictate your standing within the House. Look at Malfoy, for example. He has wealth, a powerful name, and for a time, he held quite a bit of influence in the House. But now no one even looks at him. Do you know why?"

"Why?" Flora asked.

"Because he refused to play his part," Ron replied, and they all nodded slowly. "He didn't put the House first, so now, the House refuses to acknowledge him."

"So if we keep succeeding, we'll be treated more like equals?" Mathew asked, and Ron gave a firm nod.

"If a Blood-Traitor can succeed in this House, then you lot definitely can," Ron smiled at them. "Don't be discouraged so quickly, just keep doing what you're doing. Trust me, your House-mates will acknowledge your hard work." That should be enough motivation, I think. "Now, do you guys have any more questions?"

"What do we do on Sunday?" Hestia asked.

"You aren't going to be here," Flora added.

"You study just like we discussed," Ron said. "I'm not going to reward you every single weekend, that's just not plausible. When I decide that you've all been good, then I'll teach you something."

"You're kind of mean," Tori huffed. "Do you treat your own friends like this?"

"When I deem it necessary, yes," Ron admitted. None of us can afford to be lazy. Not with what's coming. "Anything else?" The first years exchanged looks, and then they shook their heads. "Alright then, goodnight."

"Goodnight, Ron," they said together, and Ron got up and left them to talk to each other. Time to find my own friends. His group wasn't hard to find, they were all lounging near the fireplace as usual.

"There you are," Pansy smiled at him. "What did Snape want? Was this about your endless detentions?"

"It was," Ron chuckled as he sat down by her feet.

"Well?" Daphne asked, she was sitting in between Tracey and Millie.

"Did you talk your way out of it?" Theo asked.

"Talk my way out of detention?" Ron laughed. "With Snape?"

"They overestimate your silver tongue," Millie sniggered.

"More like lead," Tracey smirked at him, and Ron gave her the bird. "Real mature."

"So what will you be doing?" Blaise asked. Learning Occlumency.

"Cleaning cauldrons and doing his paperwork," Ron lied.

"Ouch," Tracey grimaced. "Longbottom better appreciate what you did for him."

"Even if he doesn't, it still felt great to piss off Snape," Ron admitted. Bloody hell, I'll be pissing off a lot of people once I bring Malfoy into this group. Fuck me, why did I agree to this? I was hoping for more time before dealing with that shite.

---

Saturday 12th September, 1993 (The Great Hall – Early Morning)

"You really didn't have to wake up so early, Daph," Ron said, but she just waved a dismissive hand.

"It was past time that I saw you go on your morning run," Daphne smirked, and Ron let out a snigger. "I love your Training outfit by the way. It hugs your figure very nicely."

"My figure?" Ron snorted, and Daphne nodded.

"Your bum was on full display," Daphne teased. "I might join in on your morning runs from now on. Strictly for health purposes, of course."

"I'm sure… Pervert," Ron smiled and shook his head. "And what's the real reason that you woke up at the crack of dawn?"

"Shame on you for ruining my game," Daphne stuck her tongue out, which she only did because no one else was in the Great Hall. "I wanted to talk to you about your plan to win over Madame Maxime. Chances are that my father has managed to secure a Portkey already, and if that's the case, you'll be in France before long."

"We only sent Helios yesterday," Ron pointed out. "Even he's not that fast."

"But if he was, then we need to discuss what happens if Madame Maxime refuses you," Daphne said, and Ron felt his shoulders tense. She won't. I can't let her.

"We can talk about that after I've spoken with her," Ron said, but Daphne shook her head.

"Don't let your emotions dictate how you act in business, Ron," Daphne said. "I know that you're worried about her refusing you, which is why you need to have a backup plan. And… And I've thought of one."

"Does it involve me begging for money?" Ron asked.

"No," Daphne replied, and then she took in a deep breath. "My trust account is-"

"No," Ron outright refused, and she kicked his left shin under the table. "Ow!"

"Don't interrupt me," Daphne frowned. "I'm trying to help you, Ron. My trust account is bigger than all of our friends' combined. And it's just sitting there. If all else fails, then we can use that."

"I'm not taking your money, Daphne," Ron said firmly. "I got myself in this mess, and-"

"Didn't we just talk about this yesterday?" Daphne asked, her features turning cold. "You have friends for a reason, Ron. Why do you have to be so proud all the time?"

"And would you accept charity in my position?" Ron asked, he could feel a fight brewing.

"I'd make the most logical decision in your position," Daphne replied. "Which, in this case, is to accept the help of my friends. This isn't charity. I'm not pitying you, nor am I acting like your better. I just want to help you because I happen to care about you. I know how much this Quibbler business means to you, and I know that Luna's Family needs this to work. See reason, Ron."

"I get it," Ron said coldly. "I know that you mean well, but my answer is still no."

"Why?" Daphne asked, her tone becoming snappish.

"Because I got myself in this mess, and it's not fair that you have to pay for my carelessness," Ron replied. "For me, the most logical decision is to carry the weight of my own mistakes. They are my responsibility, not yours."

"Nonsense," Daphne scoffed. "Your problems are my problems, Ron. Tell me, if all of this goes sour, who are you going to take it out on? Are you going to take it out on yourself? No… No, you'll take it out on us."

"When have I ever taken my anger out on you?" Ron asked.

"I've lost count," Daphne replied, and Ron realized just how stupid his question was. "At best, you'll turn cold and distant. And at worst, you'll start snarling and threatening us. We'll spend weeks trying to appease you, and then you'll have some epiphany and come back with an apology. Everyone will accept it because they've missed you, but you know what? I won't. Not this time. I'm giving you a way out, but you're refusing to accept it because your own ego."

"My ego?" Ron asked, his breakfast forgotten. Does she have to keep insulting me?

"Yes, your ego," Daphne repeated, her breakfast also forgotten. "I get that you have a lot of pride, I do as well, but unlike you, I don't let my pride blindside me. You never want to accept people's help. That's utterly mental, Ron."

"I've done fine on my own so far," Ron said as he pushed his plate forward.

"Bollocks," Daphne said as she did the same. She's just mimicking me! Is this her way of pissing me off even more? "You didn't even know how to eat properly until Theo taught you how."

"I ate just fine," Ron scoffed. "It went in from one end, and it came out the other. Just because you eat 'properly' doesn't mean that your shite doesn't smell."

"What the hell are you on about?" Daphne asked, and Ron stood up.

"I don't know!" Ron snapped. "I'm going to work!"

"No, you're not!" Daphne snapped as well, and then she too stood up. "We're still discussing this!"

"Like hell we are," Ron said, and then he began to march towards the exit. Daphne caught up to him within seconds, and Ron quickened his pace.

"Real mature, Ron," Daphne hissed. "Running away like some five year old who's painted on the walls. Real mature."

"Stop following me," Ron glared at her.

"No," Daphne huffed. "I'll bloody floo back to Greengrass Manor with you if I have to."

"You're insane," Ron groaned. "Leave me alone."

"No," Daphne huffed again.

"I listened to your plan, and I didn't like it," Ron said as he began taking the steps down to the Dungeons.

"You didn't even think about it," Daphne argued. "You just heard that someone else would be giving you the funds needed for your business to work, and you turned into a feral beast. This is not how normal people react to getting help."

"Well, I'm not normal," Ron laughed mirthlessly.

"Believe me, I know that," Daphne snapped. "But here I am… Doing my best to help you even though you don't have the decency to hear me out."

"I heard you out," Ron argued back. "But after I said no, you started kicking me and insulting me. You don't always have to get your way, Daphne."

"Are you calling me spoilt?" Daphne asked, and Ron stuck his nose up into the air. Don't say it! Don't you dare, Ron!

"Yes," Ron said, and Daphne stopped walking. Huh? Ron stopped and turned to face her, and her dark look frightened him a little. "What? Are you done following me around?" She just kept staring at him, her bottom lip quivering a bit. "Whatever…" Ron turned to leave for Snape's Office, and that's when he heard her running at him. And then, Daphne was hanging off of his back with her arms wrapped around his neck. "What the fuck?!"

"Take that back!" Daphne yelled into his ear, her hold tightening around his neck. "You take that back right now, Ron!"

"No!" Ron snapped back. "Get off of me, you psychotic bint!"

"BINT?!" Daphne shrieked, and Ron felt his brain rattle. "I'm trying to help you!"

"What sort of fucked up help is this?!" Ron demanded, and then an idea popped into his head. "Here's your help!" Ron started spinning in circles as fast as he could, and Daphne shrieked as she held onto him for dear life.

"Stop!" Daphne squealed. "Ron, I'm slipping!"

"What is the meaning of this?!" came Snape's voice, and Ron stopped immediately. He then slowly turned to see the Potions Master glaring at the fighting couple, and both Ron and Daphne froze. Oh fuck! "Speak!"

"I… Um…" Ron mumbled, while Daphne just flushed crimson. "I was giving her a piggyback ride…" Yeah, that just made him angrier I think.

"Idiot…" Daphne whispered in his ear, and Ron nodded to himself.

"Get off of him, Greengrass," Snape hissed coldly, his eyes digging into hers. Daphne slowly slid off of Ron's back, and they both fixed up their clothes. "Ten points from each of you for behaving like apes. Weasley, come here." I don't want to… "Now!"

"Yes, Sir," Ron mumbled, and then he slowly walked up to Snape. Snape immediately grabbed Ron's left ear and twisted it, making the redhead squeal a bit.

"Don't hurt him!" Daphne yelped, but Snape's glare shut her up.

"Go back to the common room," Snape ordered. "If I see you both acting this way in public again, I'll Transfigure you both into actual apes. Go!" Ron gesture Daphne to save herself in a subtle manner, while she looked at him with far too much worry. And then, Daphne slowly skulked off towards the common room. Snape then dragged Ron towards his Office by the ear, all the while ignore Ron's complaining. Once they were at the door, Snape opened it and shoved Ron inside.

"My bloody ear…" Ron moaned, he could feel it throbbing.

"Explain yourself," Snape ordered as he shut the door behind himself.

"We were having an argument," Ron replied as he rubbed his left ear.

"A lover's quarrel?" Snape asked, and Ron felt his face heat up. Yes… "In the middle of the school? At seven in the morning?"

"How did-"

"The Bloody Baron came to my Office," Snape glared at him, and Ron shuffled in his spot. "Half the school probably heard you both. This is not how Slytherins behave."

"Stupid ghosts," Ron mumbled to himself. "Can I go to work now? Or are you planning to twist my other ear as well?"

"Don't tempt me," Snape snarled, and Ron scurried towards the fireplace. "Have you spoken to Draco yet?" What?

"It hasn't even been a day," Ron blinked, was Snape serious?

"It doesn't take that long to speak to someone," Snape cocked an eyebrow at him, and Ron laughed in disbelief. "What?"

"You have to give me time here," Ron said, and Snape just stared at him. "First of all, he'll probably tell me to go bugger myself. And if that doesn't happen, then I have to prepare for the backlash which will come from putting Malfoy in my group. My Family, my friends, the Trio, Flint, the Triumvirate… The list is endless. I need at least a couple of months here."

"A couple of months?" Snape asked, and Ron nodded.

"What? You thought that I'd skip down to the common room, find Malfoy, and then weave him a friendship bracelet?" Ron asked, and Snape frowned slightly. "He hates my guts, and truth be told, I can't stand him either. Now I'm willing to swallow my hate for him because I've seen actual evidence of him being a good bloke someday, but the people in my life don't have that luxury. I mean c'mon, our Families have been fighting for as long as anyone can remember. I need to lay some groundwork for this."

"Marcus Flint will not wait around for your 'groundwork'," Snape told him, and Ron felt his temper flare. Talk about ungrateful.

"You want my help? This is what it looks like," Ron said firmly. "Believe me, I'll leave your Godson to rot in Flint's closet and not give it a second thought. I'm doing you the favor here, not the other way around. Do you have any idea about what this will do to me? The moment I let that little shite into my group, he'll start scheming against me. And while he's doing that, I'll be fighting a war against everyone I know just to keep him around."

"I get it," Snape said, his hand going up to silence Ron.

"Good," Ron said, and then he took in a deep breath. "I might not like the fact that Flint is bullying him, but I'm not ready to put my neck on the line just yet. Let me fix my own problems first, and then I'll do something about Malfoy's." With that, Ron turned around and took a pinch of floo-powder. "Greengrass Manor," Ron called, and then he threw the floo-powder into the flames. When they blazed green, Ron stepped through them.

"Ron!" Mary called as soon as he stepped out of the fireplace, and Ron looked to his left. She was standing in front of one of the fireplaces, and she had a bright smile on her face. "Welcome back."

"It's good to be back," Ron smiled at her, his body relaxing at the sight of her.

"Are you alright?" Mary asked, her smile faltering a bit. "You look quite tense." I just had a tense conversation. "Come here, love." Ron walked over to her, and she cupped his cheeks and looked into his eyes. "You always look like you have a lot on your mind."

"With both of your daughters at Hogwarts, I certainly have reason to," Ron joked, and Mary chuckled before putting her arms around him.

"You teenagers and your overdramatic tendencies," Mary said as Ron hugged her back. "You keep growing like a weed. Do you ever plan to stop?"

"Not if I can help it," Ron replied, he quite liked his height.

"Merlin, why are you so tense?" Mary asked, and then she pulled back to look at his face.

"I'm not," Ron replied truthfully, what was she on about? Mary nodded slowly, and then she poked his stomach. "Hey!"

"Aren't you the muscular young man?" Mary smirked at him, and Ron couldn't help but blush slightly. Composure, Ron. Have some bloody composure.

"Were you on your way out?" Ron asked, quickly attempting to change the subject.

"Don't be disheartened, my sweet," Mary pinched his left cheek. "It was a compliment."

"Thanks," Ron smiled a bit.

"And yes, I was indeed on my way out," Mary replied. "I'm heading to the Ministry to secure you a Portkey for tomorrow."

"You got my letter then," Ron nodded. "Thank you, Mary. I really appreciate this."

"Think nothing of it," Mary smiled as she walked over to the fireplace. "My husband was quite… upset… when we got your letter. We'll find the leak, Ron. I promise you that." Find them? So it wasn't the Greengrasses. Then it can only be Sirius, Xeno, Pandora, or my parents. My siblings have no method of contacting Cuffe.

"Is Lord Greengrass in his study?" Ron asked, and Mary gave him a nod. "Alright. Have a safe journey."

"I'll be back before lunch," Mary said, and then she flooed to the Ministry. Back by lunch… Should I ask them for permission in regards to dating Daphne? I mean, today is not exactly ideal. This whole business with The Quibbler should be my only concern, right? We'll see how it goes. If they are in a good mood, then I'll broach the subject. If not, then I'll leave till next week.

Ron began walking towards Lord Greengrass' study, and he couldn't help but feel a little nervous. He knew that he could convince Mary to let him date Daphne, but Lord Greengrass… That man was a different story. For all of his coldness, Lord Greengrass loved his daughters above all else. And if Ron planned to become Daphne's boyfriend, the pale patriarch of the Greengrass Family would need to be convinced. Just how Ron was going to accomplish this was a mystery even to him, but there had to be a way.

"Good morning, my Lord," Ron said as he walked into the open study, and Lord Greengrass looked up from his copy of the Daily Prophet. Something's wrong here.

"It is anything but good," Lord Greengrass said, and then he tossed the copy of the Daily Prophet to Ron. "Read it." Alright…

Sirius Orion Black Exposed!

Little is known about Sirius Black's Hogwarts days, but through a lot of interviews and firsthand accounts, I was able to put the pieces together for my faithful readers.

Sirius Black was a bully. That word came up in every single interview, and after hearing some of the accounts of his victims, I myself could think little else of him. Sirius Black, who incidentally happened to be in Gryffindor, was a menace towards the rest of the student body. In-between his constant pranks and troublemaking, Sirius Black also spent his time physically and emotionally abusing his many 'targets'.

The Slytherins, such as the esteemed aristocrat Lucius Malfoy, were often harassed by Black and his gang of Gryffindor lackeys. James Potter, Remus Lupin, Peter Pettigrew, and Sirius Black were notorious troublemakers from the moment they stepped into Hogwarts, and by the end of their education, they had easily established themselves as Hogwarts' number one thugs.

Was his childhood in the Black Family responsible for his vile behavior at school? This reporter doubts it greatly. Sirius Black's younger brother, Regulus Arcturus Black, was praised as a gentle soul, one that spent most of his time studying in the Library and helping Slytherin first-years get familiar with their new environment. So what went wrong with Sirius?

Well… There was only one thing that set the Black brothers apart. Their Houses. Regulus was sorted into Slytherin, just as the rest of his Family, whereas Sirius was sorted into Gryffindor. Now we all remember our Hogwarts days, don't we? There was teenage drama, dating, rumors, the occasional Duel, and House Rivalry.

Sirius and his gang were infamous for only targeting Slytherins, and why wouldn't they? It's not like they were being punished for their behavior. A credible source has informed me that the teachers were quite fond of these four hooligans. Their pranks and constant troublemaking, no matter how damaging to the victims, were always seen as 'jolly old fun'. But was it just 'jolly old fun'? Or was it a statement about how poor Hogwarts' stand against bullying is?

It is no secret that some Houses are favored by the Professors of Hogwarts, and I won't insult your intelligence by stating which one in particular. But the fact that these four boys terrorized the whole school on a daily basis, and got away with it, speaks volumes on the subject. And what did these four boys go on to become, you ask?

They were personally invited to join Albus Dumbledore's Order of the Phoenix by the legendary wizard himself. Their inexcusable behavior at school was rewarded by Dumbledore, who himself was a Gryffindor in his much younger days.

Now, I won't besmirch the Order's good name. It is no secret that the Order played a pivotal role in protecting this country from the forces that sought to destroy it. But saying that, I must also point out that the Order was a rebel organization, one that refused to work with the Ministry for unknown reasons. So is it really surprising that Black and his comrades joined up with an organization that held no respect for those who were in positions of authority? For me, it isn't a surprise at all.

The horrors of the war are still fresh in the minds of many, and writing about them would leave a foul taste in my mouth, so let's skip to the end of the war. After years of fighting against the Dark Lord and his forces, the Ministry prevailed. Most of the Dark Lord's army was scattered when he perished, and with the Order's help, the Ministry began to round up the Loyalists. But where was Sirius Black during all of this?

He was hunting down his former friend, Peter Pettigrew, who had betrayed the Potters to the Dark Lord himself. It never once occurred to Black that perhaps the Ministry could've helped him, but then again, he was never one to put much faith in law and order. Instead, he chose to act as a vigilante. And twelve Muggles paid the price for his arrogance.

During his confrontation with Peter Pettigrew, the traitor fired off an Exploding Curse that killed twelve innocent bystanders. By the time Ministry Officials arrived on the scene, Black was found laughing hysterically all by himself. When the Ministry Officials couldn't get a statement from him, they did the only thing that they could. They cleaned up the mess, took Black into custody, and sentenced him for his crimes.

But in truth, the wealthy Heir of the Black Family was unjustly charged with the murder of twelve Muggles, and his own childhood friend, Peter Pettigrew, who had faked his own death in order to hide from the Order. However, the Ministry has since rectified its mistake and released Sirius Black into the public.

But was it the right decision?

This reporter personally doesn't believe so. Through hours of hard work and investigation, I was able to gather a handful of facts about the mysterious man's daily routine nowadays.

Sirius Black spends most of his nights in taverns, drinking and gambling with our society's least venerable individuals. And when he's not doing that, he's often seen in the company of younger women. Sirius Black's Grandfather, Arcturus Black, was rewarded the Order of Merlin (First Class) for his services to the Ministry, and yet his Grandson hasn't even spoken with the Ministry since his release.

All of this can be excused as the behavior of a man who never learnt to grow up, but do you know what can't be excused? Sirius Black's possession of Peter Pettigrew's hollowed out vessel. That's right. Sirius Black has been keeping his old friend in St. Mungo's Hospital ever since he was kissed by the Dementors for his crimes against Wizarding Kind.

According to my sources, Lord Black has paid a hefty fee to the Healers of St. Mungo's to keep his childhood friend 'alive'. And no, this is not because Sirius Black can't part with his old companion. The Nurses have heard Black boasting to Pettigrew's body about his 'adventures with various women', and some have even reported finding bruises on the hollowed out man after some of Black's visits.

It's clear, is it not? Sirius Black is tormenting his childhood friend's body, and in hindsight, this shouldn't shock anyone too much. After all, Black has spent his entire life bullying those he deems beneath him. His stint in Azkaban has clearly damaged what little sanity he had to begin with, and Peter Pettigrew is unable to find rest because of it.

Now, I'm not defending Peter Pettigrew in any way, but I believe in the sanctity of life. Peter Pettigrew's life is over, and yet his body remains bound to this Earth. And Sirius Black spends his days defiling Peter Pettigrew's corpse. This is sick, and a man who is capable of doing such a thing has no place in our society. Black needs help. Professional help. He shouldn't be walking around Diagon Alley, where your children spend their free time. He needs to be St. Mungo's Psych Ward.

Always hunting for the truth,

Rita Skeeter.

"Bloody hell," Ron muttered, his wide eyes traveling to Lord Greengrass. The pale man was just staring at the Chess board in front of him, a slight scowl on his face. "My Lord, is this true? Sirius really has Pettigrew locked up in St. Mungo's?" I can't believe this. I thought that he was dead and buried. Fucking hell, is this entire thing for real?

"Take a seat, Ron," Lord Greengrass ordered, and Ron quickly did so.

"Has Mary read this?" Ron asked, and Lord Greengrass shook his head.

"The Elves bring the paper straight to my study," Lord Greengrass told him. "But she'll no doubt learn about this during the day. What a mess."

"Is it true?" Ron asked again. "All of this… Is it true?"

"I don't know," Lord Greengrass said, his eyes locking onto Ron's. "Rita Skeeter is a deceitful bitch, one that will say or do anything to get more readers. But… She was right about Black's Hogwarts days."

"No way," Ron muttered under his breath. Sirius and Remus were bullies? Remus? Sirius maybe, but I just can't see Remus bullying people. He's way too… polite… to do that. And Harry's father as well? Oh shite, Harry… He'll read this paper in an hour or so.

"Lucius and I were in our fifth year when Black and his friends came to Hogwarts," Lord Greengrass said, and Ron leaned forward in his seat. "It was the 1971-1972 year, and believe me, those four boys quickly became well-known around the school. They targeted people constantly, and they often took things too far. Your Potions Master was often their main target."

"Snape?" Ron asked, this was insane. "Who could bully Snape?"

"Believe me, if they tried that with him now, he'd destroy them," Lord Greengrass replied, though he decided to keep Snape's tutelage under the Dark Lord to himself. "But yes, they often went after Severus. They once glued his eyes shut with a Jinx, and it took Madam Pomfrey three days to undo it. He could've lost his eyesight…"

"What the fuck?" Ron whispered to himself. "Why? What did Snape do to them?"

"As far as I know, nothing," Lord Greengrass replied, and Ron blinked at him. "Severus didn't have any friends, and so he was an easy target. Actually… He did have one friend… A girl… Yes, he was friends with a Gryffindor girl." A Gryffindor?

"He had a friend from Gryffindor?" Ron asked, and Lord Greengrass nodded.

"The Slytherins did not approve," Lord Greengrass remembered. "When Black and his friends weren't targeting him, he was being beaten around by his own House-mates for it. And yet, he refused to stop being friends with her. Narcissa Malfoy, who was a Black then, took a liking to Severus. It's why Lucius took Severus under his wing."

"Lucius Malfoy protected Snape?" Ron asked, his head was starting to hurt. This is so… surreal.

"We were all very different in Hogwarts," Lord Greengrass replied. "People change."

"So if she was right about Sirius' childhood…" Ron started.

"Then she might be right about Pettigrew," Lord Greengrass finished. "Even she wouldn't make up a lie like this, especially because people can check up on it."

"Why would he do this?" Ron asked as he sunk into his chair. "Why keep Pettigrew's body around?"

"I don't know," Lord Greengrass admitted. "Perhaps revenge?"

"Revenge?" Ron asked.

"Pettigrew was behind the death of the Potters, and he also orchestrated Black's incarceration," Lord Greengrass replied. "Perhaps Black wants to torment him."

"He's dead though," Ron stated.

"Indeed," Lord Greengrass said, and then he took in a deep breath. "Black clearly needs help…"

"Yeah…" Ron muttered. I had no idea that he had this in him. "Poor Harry… He's going to read this paper in an hour or so. Everyone at Hogwarts will." Ron didn't know why, but his gut twisted a bit for Harry's sake. It was no secret that the students of Hogwarts could be mean little twats, and this was definitely going to cause Harry a lot of grief.

"She was investigating Black," Lord Greengrass said, and Ron blinked at him. Did he even hear me? Wait… Why would he care about Harry? "Ron, what if she found out that he was investing in The Quibbler during her research?"

"That's not possible," Ron shook his head. "I only showed the papers to the investors, and I haven't mentioned The Quibbler being bought by me to anyone. If she found out about it, then it was because someone told her."

"Alright, who knows about your business?" Lord Greengrass said. "Let's make a list, and work down from there."

---

Harry Potter's POV

Saturday 12th September, 1993 (The Great Hall – Breakfast)

This was unbelievable. Utterly unbelievable. Harry slowly put the paper down, and then he looked to his best friends. Both Hermione and Neville were looking at him with sympathy, and if Harry was correct, shock.

"Harry…" Hermione croaked out, and then she looked around the table. Harry followed her gaze, and unsurprisingly, he was being stared at by his House-mates. What are they staring at? Harry felt his face heat up from anger, but he didn't make a sound. Instead, he looked back down at the Daily Prophet. This is not true. None of this is true.

"Mate, are you alright?" Neville asked, and Harry glared at him.

"Am I alright?" Harry asked scathingly, and Neville blinked at him. "You read this, didn't you?"

"I did," Neville muttered.

"So you already know that I'm not," Harry grit out. "This thing is lying." Peter Pettigrew is dead. Sirius told me so himself. As did Remus.

"Harry, Neville's on your side," Hermione piped in.

"This thing is lying!" Harry snapped, making everyone around him flinch. Harry shot a look towards the staff table, and he spotted Remus reading his own copy of the Daily Prophet. Before he could think twice, he was already marching towards the D.A.D.A Professor.

"Harry, wait!" Hermione called out, both her and Neville quickly catching up with him. "Harry, people are staring…"

"I don't care!" Harry snapped again.

"Mate, what are you doing?" Neville asked, his eyes darting towards the staff table. "Harry, don't. Not out here."

"This doesn't involve you two," Harry hissed, and then he was standing right in front of Remus. "Is this true?!" Remus looked up from the paper, his rugged features slightly paler than usual.

"Mr. Potter, mind your tone," McGonagall said, a thin-lipped frown on her face. "You are speaking to a Professor." Harry blinked at her, and then he looked at all the teachers on the table. They were just staring at him, some of them frowning, while others giving him sorry looks. Hagrid looked quite angry on his behalf, his own copy of the Daily Prophet was being crushed by his meaty fingers. Dumbledore is still not back yet. Where is he?

"Harry, let's go somewhere more private," Remus whispered, his eyes darting towards the staring student body. Harry glared at Remus for a few seconds, and then he gave the man a curt nod. Remus quickly stood up and gestured Harry to follow him, and they began to walk towards the back exit. Harry's eyes landed on Snape's for a second, and much to his surprise, Snape was just staring at him with an expressionless mask. I bet he's loving this! Hook-nosed git!

"Is this true?!" Harry demanded the moment they were out of the Great Hall, and then he heard Hermione and Neville close the door behind themselves.

"Harry, you can't believe-" Hermione started, but Remus cut her off by raising his hand. He then looked to Harry with a sorry look, but that only angered Harry even more.

"So it is true!" Harry yelled at Remus. "All of it is true then! My dad, Sirius, and you were bullies! And Pettigrew is still alive! You told me that he was buried on Azkaban Island! You lied to my face!"

"It's more complicated than that, Harry," Remus said gently as he tried to put his hand on Harry's shoulder, but Harry jerked his shoulder away from Remus' hand.

"No, it's not!" Harry bellowed. "You lied to me! What's so complicated about that?!"

"Telling you about Peter would only hurt you," Remus explained, he was having trouble hiding his hurt from Harry's hostile behavior. "I tried to convince Sirius to let Peter go, but he couldn't do it… I'm sorry, Harry. I made him promise to not tell you."

"Why?!" Harry demanded. "You knew that I wanted to see him! You knew that I wanted to see the man who betrayed my parents!"

"It wouldn't have done you any good," Remus replied, and Harry scoffed bitterly. "Seeing him like that… It wouldn't bring you closure. It would just…" Remus trailed off.

"Scar me?" Harry laughed coldly, and Remus blinked at him. "This sickens me! Is this garbage about Sirius tormenting Pettigrew's corpse true?!"

"I… I don't know," Remus admitted slowly. "I've never been to see him."

"I want to talk to Sirius," Harry told Remus. "Today! I want to go see him right now!"

"That's not possible, Harry," Remus sighed, and Harry's hands turned into fists.

"Why?!"

"Because students can't leave Hogwarts without the Headmaster's permission," Hermione piped up, and Harry shot her an angry glare. "Sorry."

"The Headmaster isn't here," Remus said as he rubbed his face.

"Where is Dumbledore then?" Harry asked, and Remus shook his head tiredly.

"On business," Remus replied.

"Order business?!" Harry asked immediately. "You'd know, wouldn't you?! You and Sirius were both a part of the Order, and so was my dad, but you never told me! More secrets!"

"The Order is a secret society, Harry," Neville all but whispered. "They never talk about themselves… Even I didn't know about them until my Gran told me…"

"You knew about this?!" Harry turned on Neville, who went wide-eyed from fright. "You knew about them being in the Order?!"

"Harry, don't yell at Neville," Remus said a little more firmly. "Your friends don't deserve to be screamed at. They're only trying to be here for you."

"I didn't know about Remus or Sirius, I swear," Neville said quickly. "I only know about the Order because my parents were in it…"

"Frank and Alice…" Remus muttered under his breath, his eyes becoming slightly distant. "Yes… I fought alongside them…"

"Why didn't you tell me?!" Harry turned back to Remus.

"Some things are best left in the past," Remus sighed, but that wasn't good enough for Harry.

"I've asked you and Sirius about my dad a million times, and you couldn't have told me even a little bit?" Harry asked, his eyes were starting to sting. "Was my mum in the Order too?"

"She was," Remus replied.

"Is that why they were murdered by Voldemort?" Harry asked as he tried to blink away his tears.

"Yes," Remus replied, deciding to keep the reason behind why they were targeted in the first place a secret. The only thing Remus knew for certain was that some prophecy had been made, which in turn had forced both the Potters and the Longbottoms into hiding.

"Was that so hard?" Harry asked bitterly, and all Remus could do was to avert his eyes. Look at me. Harry opened his mouth to say something, but nothing came out. What else could he say? What could he possibly ask Remus at this point? Nothing. He won't tell me a thing about the Order. So Harry turned around and left, he needed to owl Sirius right now. He needed to know why Peter Pettigrew wasn't dead yet.

"Harry, please wait…" Remus started, but Harry completely ignored him.

"Harry, where are you going?" Hermione asked as she followed after him, while Neville just stayed behind with Remus.

"My room," Harry replied curtly, and then he walked back into the Great Hall. Every eye in the room darted to him, and when all the chatter stopped, Harry felt his blood boil. What are you lot staring at? Piss off! Harry marched down towards the giant door, all the while ignoring the ever increasing whispers.

"Harry, let's just talk about this," Hermione whispered to him, but he chose to ignore her as well. Instead, he looked towards the Slytherins. Most of them were smirking at him, a few were even laughing outright, but it was Ron's lackeys that caught his attention. They were talking to each other in whispers instead of smirking at him, which he found rather odd. Of course Ron isn't here. He doesn't need the Headmaster's permission, does he? He can get away with whatever he wants.

"Harry, are you alright?" Ginny asked as she caught up to Harry and Hermione. "Everyone's talking about this tripe on the Daily Prophet."

"Of course they are," Harry scoffed as he exited the Great Hall. "People love gossiping in this school, don't they?"

"Technically, they're only discussing…" Hermione started, but Ginny cleared her throat loudly. "Oh… Sorry…"

"Where are you going?" Ginny asked him. "Did you even eat anything?"

"I need to owl Sirius, and I'm not hungry," Harry replied as he started climbing the stairs.

"Maybe you should calm down before owling Sirius," Hermione suggested, and Harry felt his jaw clench. "Harry, you should think about what you're going to say to him."

"I already know what I'm going to say," Harry grit out. "I'm going to ask him about why he lied to me. And then I'm going to ask him about seeing Pettigrew myself."

"I don't think that that's such a good idea," Hermione said. "Harry, you'll get nothing out of seeing that man."

"I want to look him in the eyes," Harry said coldly. "I want to see what that coward looks like now."

"I agree with Hermione on this," Ginny piped in. "Seeing him will only hurt you."

"When I want advice, I'll ask for it," Harry snapped, making both girls flinch a bit. "Just leave me alone." Hermione and Ginny slowly stopped following him, and Harry took that opportunity to quicken his pace. I'm seeing Pettigrew one way or another, and from now on, Sirius better tell me everything!

---

Ronald Weasley's POV

Saturday 12th September, 1993 (Greengrass Manor – Lunchtime)

"So you really can't think of who spoke about Ron's business?" Mary asked her husband, who simply looked to Ron to answer.

"It could only be Sirius, my parents, or Xeno," Ron replied, and she nodded slowly. "My parents would never do that to me, but they can be a little careless sometimes. Sirius is the most likely candidate, especially because he was being investigated by Rita Skeeter-"

"That foul woman," Mary grimaced. "I can't believe that she hasn't been locked up yet. Sirius is just the latest person that she's done this to. Remember what she wrote about us, love?"

"I do," Lord Greengrass said, but he didn't go on. She 'exposed' something about them as well? What's this bitch's problem? "That particular fiasco cost me several business deals."

"And she can just get away with that?" Ron asked.

"She's protected by the Daily Prophet, who eat right out of the Ministry's hands," Lord Greengrass stated, while Mary looked back down at the article.

"Despicable," Mary huffed. "Poor Sirius… I wonder if he's read this."

"He's probably still asleep," Lord Greengrass rolled his eyes. "Mary, let's get everyone together tonight."

"Everyone?" Ron asked.

"Your parents, the Lovegoods, Sirius, and us," Mary replied, and Ron nodded slowly. "We'd get Remus too, but he's at Hogwarts."

"It's good that you're all friends now," Ron smiled a little, and Mary's features softened into a loving look. "And thank you for being there for Sirius, my Lord."

"My husband is softer than he looks, isn't he?" Mary smiled at Ron, and Ron's lips twitched upwards.

"Ahem," Lord Greengrass cleared his throat. "Can we get back to the problem at hand?"

"Which one?" Ron asked.

"Yours," Lord Greengrass said as he threw the Daily Prophet aside. "Mary, did you get the Portkey?"

"It'll be here tomorrow morning," Mary replied, and then she looked back to Ron. "I've ordered you a very nice outfit as well, Ron. You need to look powerful when you walk into Beauxbatons, and your appearance will play a big part in that."

"I see," Ron nodded slowly, he felt a little guilty that she was even buying him clothes for this. "Thank you for doing this for me. I really do appreciate it."

"Think nothing of it," Lord Greengrass said in his calm, yet kind voice.

"Daphne certainly convinced us in her letter, didn't she?" Mary smiled at her husband, who gave a curt nod. She did? What did she say? She told me that she was just telling them of what had happened. "How is Daphne, Ron? Are you two getting along?" Huh? What kind of question is that?

"We are," Ron replied calmly. "But… We did have a bit of a fight this morning."

"A fight?" Lord Greengrass cocked his eyebrow, while Mary just waited for him to go on.

"She offered to pay for my business," Ron admitted. "And I… I acted like a moron… I know that she was just trying to help, but she wouldn't hear my refusal."

"Why didn't you accept?" Mary asked, and Ron blinked at her. "She has more than enough in her account-"

"A man has his pride," Lord Greengrass interrupted, his pale eyes fixed on Ron. "She should learn that."

"You men and your 'pride'…" Mary sighed out. "This is why witches live longer than wizards."

"Maybe we call it in early for a reason," Ron joked, and Lord Greengrass chuckled.

"Aren't you cheeky?" Mary tried to frown at him, but her lips kept forming a smile. "You'd better make up with my daughter, Ron. Today."

"I will," Ron promised, though he wasn't sure what Mary's real intentions were. Why is she so interested in my friendship with Daphne? "I should also make up with Tori then."

"Tori as well?" Mary asked.

"I'm in charge of the Slytherin first years," Ron told them, and they both listened intently. "Tori wants to be a leader of sorts amongst her peers, but there's someone better suited for that role. I picked him over her, and she looked quite hurt because of it."

"How is this boy better suited than my daughter?" Lord Greengrass asked, and even though he sounded calm, Ron gulped from worry.

"He has better grades, works harder in his classes, he's always willing to learn, and he's putting the House before his own needs," Ron replied. "Tori, on the other hand, keeps getting in trouble. I think she's lost the House thirty odd points in just two weeks."

"I see," Lord Greengrass said. "You did the right thing then, Ron."

"I did?" Ron asked, and both Greengrasses nodded.

"Respect must be earned," Mary stated.

"It shouldn't be given to you because your parents are wealthy," Lord Greengrass added. "This boy has strong leadership qualities, and the fact that you can see that speaks about your own character. You did the right thing, so do not apologize for it. If Astoria wants to be a leader, then she needs to act like it first."

"As for Daphne, you'd better swallow your pride and talk to her," Mary ordered, and Ron nodded. "Make her understand why you are refusing her. She's a smart girl, and she probably knows that your pride is on the line, but when the people she cares about are in trouble, she tends to rely on cold logic over emotions." She was pretty emotional this morning, but then again, I doubt that they've ever seen her act that way before.

"The Ice-Queen of Slytherin," Ron muttered under his breath, and then he smiled to himself. People don't understand just how compassionate she is. If it wasn't for her, I wouldn't have even thought of Madame Maxime.

"Eat up, Ron," Lord Greengrass said. "We've spent enough time neglecting your training today."

"I hope you're ready to lose," Ron smirked, and Lord Greengrass smirked back.

"I hope you're ready to impress me for a change," Lord Greengrass retorted, and while Ron lost his smirk, Mary broke into a hearty chuckle.

---

Saturday 12th September, 1993 (Snape's Office – Before Dinner)

In the end, Ron had decided to not ask Lord and Lady Greengrass for Daphne's hand in dating. For one, he had too much on his own plate right now. Secondly, they had had a fight this morning and Ron needed to do something about that first. As far as Ron was concerned, they had both acted quite terribly. Ron was rude because he had been too prideful for his own good, and she was overzealous about 'helping' him. And lastly, Ron just didn't feel right about asking Daphne out when Sirius was knee deep in shite.

"How was your day, Ron?" Snape asked as soon as Ron stepped through the fireplace, and Ron turned to see the Potions Master sitting behind his desk. Oddly enough, Snape was smirking to himself.

"It was fine," Ron replied slowly, his eyes narrowing on Snape. "Why do you look so… cheerful?" Who died?

"You haven't read the papers?" Snape asked, and Ron took in a deep breath. Now I get it. He's clearly glad that Sirius' name has been dragged through the mud by Skeeter.

"I read that garbage that they call 'news'," Ron frowned as he took a seat across from Snape. "How is assassinating a random person's character 'news'? Who does this help? Fucking Daily Prophet…"

"It certainly brightened my day," Snape replied, still smirking to himself.

"I'm not even surprised," Ron rolled his eyes. "If I died tomorrow, you'd probably dance on my grave."

"I have certainly entertained the idea, yes," Snape said icily. "Potter has taken the news of his Godfather's doings rather terribly. No one has seen the boy all day."

"What?" Ron asked, and Snape nodded. "Bloody hell… And Remus?"

"Also missing," Snape gave a twisted smile. "Minerva tells me that Potter has sealed himself away in his room, while Remus has taken to working in his Office. I didn't see either of them since breakfast."

"Which explains your face having a seizure," Ron remarked, and Snape's 'smile' got wider. "Isn't Harry important to our plans? Why not get on his good side? Why torment him?"

"Because he is an arrogant brat that nearly killed my students last year," Snape replied, his face returning to normal.

"You hated him long before he did that," Ron pointed out.

"He reminded me of his degenerate father, and after all the stunts that he's pulled over the last two years, I know that he's just like James Potter," Snape said rather menacingly. "Lazy, arrogant, and self-entitled."

"Whatever," Ron shook his head. "I don't care enough about him to argue with you. I'm just saying that keeping him close will help us, and antagonizing him will hinder us. The Headmaster wants Harry at the helm of this ship, and that won't happen if he hates all of us."

"And I would sooner eat my own tongue than to 'follow' that fool," Snape said. "No, it will be you who leads after Albus and I are gone."

"Stop saying that," Ron frowned at the brooding man. "Plus, they won't follow me. I'm starting to slowly understand that. My own bloody sister came to me after I beat Harry yesterday, and she told me to forfeit my win."

"Really?" Snape blinked, and Ron nodded tiredly.

"I'm just… Ron," Ron sighed. "Whereas Harry is the 'Chosen One'. If my own sister can't stand behind me, what makes you think that anyone will when the Dark Lord returns? Harry is the one who 'defeated' him, and so people will follow Harry simply because of that."

"A fair point," Snape stated. "We'll just have to wait and see then, won't we?"

"Yeah," Ron relaxed into his chair. "By the way, I can't go to Grimmauld Place tomorrow."

"Why?" Snape asked.

"I need to go to France," Ron replied, and Snape cocked an eyebrow at him. "My Quibbler is in some deep shite at the moment, and Madame Maxime is my shovel."

"You're prioritizing your magazine over a Horcrux?" Snape asked.

"We don't even know if Kreacher has any information on it," Ron replied. "And if he does, then it's not going anywhere. Kreacher will still be there next weekend, my 'magazine' will be ruined by then. I have Barnabas Cuffe trying to crawl into my arse, and the sooner I start my advertisement campaign, the better. Plus, we already plan to utilize my Quibbler, remember?"

"Amelia Bones," Snape nodded. "Very well, go to France tomorrow."

"No permission needed?" Ron asked.

"I will convince the other Heads of Houses that Albus has given you permission," Snape replied, and Ron nodded.

"Thank you," Ron said, and the school bell went off immediately after.

"Let's hope that Potter is still trying to starve himself," Snape smirked, but Ron didn't smirk back.

"A dead Harry is not useful to us," Ron stated as he stood up. "And give him a break… Sirius is his Godfather, and the students of this school can be mean bastards. He hasn't done anything to deserve this sort of negative attention."

---

Saturday 12th September, 1993 (The Great Hall – Dinnertime)

"Everyone's talking about it," Millie told him, and he frowned a little. Bloody vultures.

"How are you taking this?" Pansy asked him, and Ron shrugged.

"Sirius isn't my Godfather," Ron replied. "So I'm definitely doing better than Harry."

"You're not angry on his behalf?" Daphne asked, and Ron gave her a weak smile.

"I want to smack the shite out of this Skeeter bitch," Ron admitted. "As far as I know, Sirius hasn't done anything to her. She simply wants more readers, and so she's targeting a famous wizard. I mean c'mon, 'Sirius Orion Black Exposed'? Even her title screams that she wants attention." Damn bitch, going after Sirius like that.

"Trust me, her readers believe everything that she writes," Blaise piped in. "My mother is an avid reader of hers. We've even hosted Skeeter at our house before."

"Really?" Theo asked, and Blaise nodded. "I didn't know that."

"So does Sirius really keep Pettigrew locked up in St. Mungo's?" Tracey asked, and Ron shrugged once again. I genuinely think so. Why else would Remus be missing?

"I have no idea," Ron replied. "And if he does, then that's between him and Pettigrew. What's this nosey bitch's problem with it?"

"It's kind of… twisted, isn't it?" Pansy asked.

"Yeah, sort of," Ron replied, he couldn't deny that. "I didn't know that Sirius had this in him."

"No wonder Potter's disappeared," Millie said. "Lord Black is like his father, and now Potter learns these horrible things about his 'father' all at once… I'd also stay out of the public's eye."

"Is that sympathy I hear?" Theo smirked, and Millie frowned at him.

"No," Millie replied. "I said that I can understand his reaction, not that I care about it."

"You're so mean, Millie," Theo chuckled. "I won't lie, I feel a bit bad for Potter." Huh?

"Really?"

"No, you don't."

"Liar."

"Oi, ease up," Theo frowned a bit, and his friends just stared at him. "Skeeter has gone after my father as well, so I know from experience how shitty it feels. Remember when Skeeter reported on my father's mistress?"

"Mistress?" Ron asked, while everyone but Tracey nodded.

"It was before Hogwarts started," Theo shrugged. "My father was feeling lonely, so he tried his hand at 'dating' once again. Skeeter caught wind of it, and she turned my father into a joke. He has never tried it again."

"Sorry that we made fun of you for that," Pansy smiled sheepishly, but Theo simply waved a dismissive hand.

"All water under the bridge, my sweet," Theo smiled at her, and Pansy let out a giggle. "But yeah, I feel a bit sorry for Potter. Skeeter is a proper menace, and no one can touch her. She hides behind her 'freedom to report the news' nonsense, and the Ministry always sides with her."

"And after they pull her out of the fire, she writes a glowing article about them," Daphne told Ron, who simply rolled his eyes. "It's about who you know with these people, not what you know. Rita Skeeter wouldn't know real journalism even if it hit her in the face."

"I'd hit her in the face," Ron grumbled darkly.

"I'll hold her down," Theo sniggered, making Ron smile a bit.

"Longbottom is trying to get your attention," Blaise suddenly pointed out, and Ron looked to see Neville staring at him. Neville then pointed towards the giant door, and Ron nodded in agreement. A chat in the moonlight? Why Lord Longbottom, I thought that you'd never ask.

"I'll be right back," Ron said, and then he looked to Daphne. "Care to join me, princess?"

"Don't call me that," Daphne frowned a bit, while Ron just sniggered at pulling her leg.

"And what about us?" Tracey asked.

"You lot should stay here," Ron replied, and they blinked at him. "Whenever I bring all of you with me, you waste time antagonizing the Golden Trio. So from now on, I'll just deal with them with one person by my side."

"Whatever, my Lord," Theo shrugged, and Ron ruffled his hair with a grin. "Oi! Arsehole!"

"Let's go already," Daphne said, while Ron tried to annoy Theo again. The others just laughed at Theo, who was trying to smack Ron's wandering hands away.

"Leave him be," Blaise chuckled as he nudged Ron's back. "Don't keep them waiting."

"Right," Ron said as he pulled his hands back, and then he began making his way towards the giant door. The other Slytherins shot him quick looks, and once they notice Neville, Hermione, and Ginny heading out as well, they frowned to themselves. Ron simply ignored them, he had the Triumvirate watching his back after all.

"What do you think they want?" Daphne asked him as she moved to his left side.

"No idea," Ron admitted. "It's not like I can help Harry with this, the guy is hiding in his room."

"How do you know that?" Daphne asked him, and Ron blinked at her.

"Snape told me," Ron replied truthfully, and Daphne nodded slowly.

"So he's not angry with you anymore?" Daphne asked.

"He's always angry," Ron pointed out with a laugh. "But no, I don't think so. What about you?"

"What about me?" Daphne asked as they stepped outside into the Courtyard. "Wait, hold onto that thought." Right, we can't be seen arguing in front of other people.

"Did you hear about Sirius?" Neville asked as soon as he and his companions stepped into the moonlight.

"I read the paper, yes," Ron sighed, and both Hermione and Neville nodded in understanding.

"Does she need to be here?" Ginny asked, her eyes fixed on Daphne.

"Do you need to be here?" Ron asked back, and Ginny glared at him. "Daphne stays by my side, and that's final." Neville nodded once again, while Hermione and Ginny just stared at Daphne.

"I know I'm beautiful, but please stop staring," Daphne smirked at them, and Ron had to bite his tongue in order to not laugh.

"Maybe we should send the girls away?" Ron looked to Neville, who smiled weakly.

"Maybe," Neville said, and Hermione smacked his arm and glared at him. "Sorry."

"Do you believe what this Rita Skeeter wrote about Sirius?" Hermione asked Ron, who quickly rubbed the back of his neck. At least she's not glaring at me. What was that about last night anyway?

"I have it on good authority that Sirius, and his friends, were indeed troublemakers," Ron replied.

"Whose good authority?" Ginny asked quickly.

"Lord Greengrass," Ron replied, and Ginny rolled her eyes. "Don't be rude, Ginny. Lord Greengrass and Sirius are actually friends, even if Lord Greengrass won't admit it openly."

"It's true," Daphne joined in. "My mother has informed me that Lord Black often eats lunch at our Manor."

"I even ran into him last week," Ron told them, and something flashed behind Neville and Hermione's eyes.

"Did you see him today?" Hermione asked.

"Nope," Ron replied. "Though I wish that I had, he's probably not taking this all too well. How's Harry?"

"Locked away in our room," Neville replied. "He put some Locking Charm on the door, and McGonagall forbid us from breaking in. She plans to talk to him after dinner."

"Send him our sympathies," Daphne said, her expression completely neutral.

"Your 'sympathies'?" Hermione asked. "What 'sympathies'?"

"I'm trying to be polite," Daphne replied coldly. "I may not like Potter, but he is clearly having a hard time today."

"Thank you, I'll make sure to tell him," Neville smiled at her, and she gave him a polite nod in return. Neville then looked to Ron, who was smiling at him for being so civil. "He'll probably be out for breakfast tomorrow, and you can talk to him then."

"I won't be around tomorrow," Ron said, and Ginny blinked at him. Plus, I see no need to talk to him. Though I would love to see Sirius in order to find out how he's handling this.

"Why?" Ginny asked. "You don't have work tomorrow."

"I will be in France," Ron replied, and all three Gryffindors gaped at him. "Please tell Harry that I'm sorry about this, and that Rita Skeeter is a bitch." Neville let out a weak chuckle, Hermione scowled at his language, while Ginny just kept gaping at him.

"France?" Ginny repeated. "Don't you need Dumbledore's permission?"

"Chess related business, and I already have the Headmaster's permission," Ron lied, and they all slowly nodded.

"Another Tournament?" Neville asked, and Ron nodded.

"About the Dueling Club…" Hermione started, but Neville quickly cleared his throat. "What, Neville? Don't be rude." What about the Dueling Club?

"Is this the best time to discuss this?" Neville asked her, but she simply moved her hands to her hips.

"Discuss what?" Ron asked. Is she going to ask me to give Harry the win as well? If so, then she'd better bolt right after.

"How long have you been practicing Wandless Magic?" Hermione asked quickly, and Ron couldn't help but detect a hint of anger in her voice.

"Since his first year," Daphne lied, and Ron barely kept his composure. Why would she lie about that?

"First year…" Hermione muttered, her eyes widening a bit. Even Neville and Ginny looked rather impressed, and Ron realized that Daphne was trying to make him look even more powerful than he was.

"Ron held back quite a lot yesterday," Daphne went on, while the Gryffindors just blinked at Ron. "Trust me, if you knew what he is truly capable of, you'd have never entered the arena."

"Is this true?" Neville asked in a whisper.

"It is what it is," Ron shrugged with an easy smile, and the Gryffindors each had a different reaction. Neville looked to be in awe of Ron, Ginny just stared at him as if she didn't even know him, while Hermione looked utterly crestfallen.

"Good on you, mate," Neville patted Ron's upper right arm.

"Thanks, Neville," Ron gave him a wink, something that made Neville snort.

"I'm going to head back inside," Hermione said rather quietly, and then she turned around and left.

"Hermione, wait up!" Ginny called, and then she quickly followed after Hermione.

"What was that?" Ron asked, though he had a pretty good idea. She's feeling jealous of me. Well, she shouldn't. She should instead appreciate her life as it is. I'd trade anything to have her ignorance.

"Sorry about that," Neville sighed in defeat. "Hermione's a little too competitive sometimes… Don't let that bother you."

"Nothing wrong with a little competitiveness," Ron said genuinely. "I respect her need to be the best."

"I'll let her know," Neville chuckled tiredly, and then he gave Daphne a parting nod. "I'll see you guys around." And just like that, he too was gone. Ron looked to Daphne once Neville was out of sight, and she smiled at him.

"First year?" Ron asked, and she simply shrugged.

"There is power in what people believe," Daphne told him, and Ron cocked his eyebrow. "The next time they go up against you, they'll be scared of what you are 'truly capable of'."

"I understand," Ron nodded, and then he smiled back. "You're not mad at me anymore?"

"No," Daphne replied. "I'm sorry for insulting you, and attacking you. I just got really frustrated because we just had a conversation about you accepting help yesterday. I kind of forgot how prideful you can be, which by the way, isn't always a bad thing. I shouldn't have thrown my wealth in your face like that, it was unbecoming."

"You meant well," Ron said as he held his gloved hand out, and Daphne took it with both of hers. "I shouldn't be so rude to you, especially when you're only trying to help me. If this thing with Madame Maxime doesn't work out, then we can discuss the details of your plan."

"I'm glad that we settled that," Daphne said, and Ron pulled up her hands and kissed her left one.

"Did anything else happen today?" Ron asked.

"Actually yes," Daphne replied, and Ron waited for her to go on. "First, Finnegan tried to start a 'movement' against you and your brothers."

"My brothers?" Ron asked.

"The twins Hexed his eyebrows off last night," Daphne giggled, and Ron let out a laugh. Nice! "Madam Pomfrey regrew them, and then Finnegan tried to rile up the Gryffindors."

"And?" Ron asked.

"And it failed," Daphne replied. "First it was this thing with Lord Black, and then the girls in his year told him to shut up."

"Lavender and her flock?" Ron asked.

"Your study group is quite loyal," Daphne smirked, and Ron smiled to himself. Good. "Mostly everyone agrees that Finnegan should have been disqualified outright, not to mention that he has no tact or skill in negotiation. All he's capable of doing is making noise."

"I thought he and Lavender were an item," Ron said, but Daphne just waved a dismissive hand.

"That stopped when the older Gryffindors started judging her," Daphne told him, and Ron nodded. "Hmmm, what else happened? Oh, that's right. My sister was rather upset with you. She told me that you picked some stranger over her."

"Great," Ron rolled his eyes.

"Don't worry, I told her that she needs to learn to follow before she can learn to lead," Daphne said, and Ron blinked at her. "I might have made it sound like it was one of father's lessons, and she thinks that you're trying to groom her. So, that's all settled as well."

"Wow, thanks for that," Ron grinned. "That's one less problem that I need to deal with."

"Actually, I might need your help very soon," Daphne said.

"Name it," Ron said.

"The Triumvirate spoke with Theo, myself, and Malfoy today," Daphne went on, and Ron listened intently. "We need to get them into shape. They not only embarrassed our House on Thursday, but they also failed to meet their quota this week."

"Shite," Ron frowned a little. "The Triumvirate aren't angry with you, are they?"

"They were… displeased," Daphne replied. "Theo and I will be spending more time with the second years, and if they still don't get in line, then I might need you to scare them a little."

"Scare them?" Ron cocked an eyebrow.

"You can be pretty scary sometimes," Daphne smirked, and Ron nodded slowly. "Don't worry, everyone knows that you only turn scary when someone wrongs you. So, can I count on you?"

"Of course," Ron replied, and Daphne smiled at him. "I'll scare the shite out of them if they don't behave."

---

Sebastian Greengrass' POV

Saturday 12th September, 1993 (The Leaky Cauldron – Past Dinnertime)

"Here you are," Tom the bartender said as he started putting their drinks on the table. "And a cold water for Pandora."

"Thank you, Tom," Pandora smiled at him, and he gave her a firm nod before looking to Sirius.

"Yours is on the house," Tom said to Sirius, who was still just staring at the Daily Prophet article. "None of us believe that tripe, mate. I'm barring Skeeter from this day on."

"Thank you, Tom," Sebastian said, and Tom made his way back downstairs.

"Sirius, stop reading that please," Arthur said gently, but Sirius just ignored him. He's been reading it for the last twenty minutes. Sebastian reached forward and ripped the article away from Sirius.

"That fucking bitch," Sirius suddenly hissed, his face twisting in anger. "She was playing me the entire time!"

"Playing you?" Molly asked.

"I ran into her a few days ago," Sirius replied, his hands traveling up to massage his temples. "We had a few drinks, and then…" he trailed off. He slept with her? Did she snoop around his house? Is that how Barnabas Cuffe learned about The Quibbler?

"How much of this is true?" Sebastian asked, and Sirius blinked at him. "We need to salvage your reputation, Black."

"She's not done with you yet," Mary added, and everyone just stared at her.

"She always writes a follow up article to accompany her main pieces," Molly explained, and everyone looked to her.

"Molly is a fan of hers," Arthur told them, and Molly quickly shook her head.

"Not anymore," Molly said firmly. "The gall of this woman… She even disrespected the Order in that article. 'Rebel Organization'…"

"You really didn't get a chance to read that today?" Xeno asked Sirius.

"No, I didn't," Sirius told them again. "I was at a friend's place all day." Another woman, you mean. "Harry and Remus have probably read this too. Fuck me, this is bad…"

"Poor Harry," Molly sighed out. "That poor boy doesn't need this sort of thing in his life right now."

"Are you talking about the article, or me?" Sirius asked, his tone turning hostile.

"We're all friends here, Sirius," Pandora said calmly. "I'm sure Molly meant the article."

"Of course I did," Molly defended herself. "I just meant that kids can be… mean. I'll owl Percy and ask him to keep his eyes on Harry."

"Thanks," Sirius said, his voice piping down. "What do I do about this?"

"I suggest that you stop these visits to St. Mungo's," Sebastian replied, and Sirius blinked at him.

"I'm not doing-"

"Black, they will have people looking out for you," Sebastian frowned slightly.

"Then I'll floo in," Sirius said stubbornly.

"This may surprise you, but these people can also go inside the hospital," Sebastian said scathingly, and then he looked to the others. "Talk some sense into this fool."

"Sirius, why even keep him around?" Arthur asked, and Sirius looked down at his pint. "Isn't it a little… grim?"

"You should let them euthanize Pettigrew's body," Molly suggested, and Sirius shook his head.

"I'm not letting them kill my friend," Sirius spoke to his pint, and everyone exchanged slow looks. That's healthy.

"He's gone, Sirius," Pandora said.

"What's left behind isn't him," Xeno added. "We are our souls, and Pettigrew's soul is no longer with us. You are only hurting yourself by trying to grasp at something that is no longer in reach."

"And boasting to it?" Molly asked, she looked quite disturbed. "Sirius, can't you see how wrong that is? What would Harry think?" Sirius didn't reply to that, instead he just stared at his untouched drink.

"You are a parent now, Sirius," Mary said gently. "Parents need to put their children first."

"This man betrayed Mr. Potter's parents, he'll want to see him," Sebastian added. "Do you want him to see something like this?"

"No," Sirius shook his head weakly.

"Then you should let him go," Arthur smiled weakly, his free hand rubbing Sirius' back.

"I don't know how," Sirius looked up, his eyes looked decades older than his body. "Have any of you been to Azkaban? And I mean inside it, not that tourist shite." I have.

"I spent a month in lockup before my trial," Sebastian said, and Sirius looked to him as if they were comrades in arms.

"Then you know," Sirius said softly.

"I know," Sebastian nodded, and he felt his wife's hand move onto his thigh. I'm fine, love. I don't have my nightmares anymore.

"I spent ten years there," Sirius rubbed his face. "Ten fucking years… The screaming never stops, the Dementors turn that place into a tundra, and the food… I had to survive on maggoty bread and… The Dementors… They feed you the dead inmates sometimes… Just because they can…"

"Merlin," Molly whimpered, her face losing all of its blood.

"The Ministry Officials never go inside, and for good reason," Sirius went on. "Do you know how I survived that? I thought about my friends. Remus, James, Lily, and even Peter. They kept me going… And Harry. I thought about Harry every fifth minute. You are asking me to let go of something that kept me sane all those years, and I don't know how to do it."

"You're losing one friend, but you have so many more now," Arthur said as he put his arm around Sirius. "We're always here for you, Sirius, you have to know that. As for Petti… Peter… He's gone. You have to let him go for your own sake, and for Harry's. No child should see death, and that boy has seen more than enough already."

"You can't let Harry see what's left of Pettigrew," Molly said as firmly as she could, she was still quite shaken by Sirius' words. Oddly enough, all she wanted to do right now was to cook Sirius a proper meal. She even felt horrible for Sebastian right now.

"He's at Hogwarts," Sirius sighed.

"But he won't be there forever," Pandora said calmly.

"And if he gets the Headmaster's permission, he'll come down much earlier," Xeno added.

"Dumbledore would never allow Harry to see Peter," Sirius said, but Sebastian could see that the man was beginning to break. He needs a light push, and I know just how to do it.

"Would that have stopped you? Or James Potter?" Sebastian asked, and Sirius' face fell.

"No," Sirius realized, he knew what had to be done. As much as it hurt him to let his childhood friend die, he'd always put Harry first. It's what a parent was supposed to do, and Sirius knew that Remus would do the same. "Next weekend… I'll go down to St. Mungo's… I'll see it done…"

"You're doing the right thing," Arthur smiled in a rather loving manner, and Sirius sniffled and cleared his watery eyes.

"Look at me," Sirius chuckled mirthlessly, and then he sniffled again. "Crying like a ten year old girl…"

"Letting tears out is good for you, otherwise they poison your brain," Xeno said in a sagely manner, and everyone looked to him. "It's true, just ask my wife."

"It is," Pandora smiled lovingly at Xeno, while everyone else just decided to let it go. I've never met a stranger man in my life.

"Why don't we finish up here and go back to the Burrow?" Molly asked, shooting Sirius a motherly smile. "There's Sunday Pot Roast back at home, and I'm sure that your 'friend' didn't feed you today."

"She 'fed' me something else," Sirius joked, though his voice proved that he was still upset.

"You really can't help yourself, can you?" Sebastian asked, he had to force his mouth to not smile.

"No," Sirius replied, his lips twitching up weakly.

"Drink up, mate, and then let's get some food in you," Arthur smiled at Sirius, all the while patting his back. I still need to find out who spoke about Ron's business. It's the real reason why I called for this meeting.

"There is one more thing that we need to discuss," Sebastian said, and everyone looked to him.

"What is it?" Arthur asked.

"Is it about Ron?" Molly asked quickly, and Sebastian nodded. "Is he hurt? Did something happen with his condition?"

"Nothing like that, Molly," Mary smiled at the suddenly jittery witch, who relaxed considerably after Mary's assurance.

"His business is in trouble," Sebastian said, his eyes traveling to the Lovegoods. "The Quibbler is in trouble."

"It is?" Xeno asked, his voice hitching slightly. "What… What's happened?"

"Someone broke their investor's agreement and talked about The Quibbler undergoing management," Sebastian told them. "Barnabas Cuffe caught wind of it, and now he's searching for Ron. The man wants to know who stole The Quibbler out from under him."

"But more than that, the old goat has used his connections to stonewall Ron's advertisement campaign," Mary took over, and everyone listened intently. Even Sirius had stopped sniffling in order to pay attention. "Ron doesn't have the funds to seek outside help, and without the campaign, the costs won't justify the results. The Quibbler will go broke if more people don't subscribe to it."

"When did this happen?" Pandora asked.

"He found out on Thursday, and he's trying to handle it," Sebastian replied.

"He needs our help?" Molly asked, and when Sebastian shook his head, she looked rather dejected. Why doesn't she just write to him already? Weasleys… They're all so damn stubborn.

"Handle it how?" Sirius asked. "If the pup wants money, I've got plenty to give. What's mine is his."

"He doesn't think that way," Mary sighed. "If he did, then we'd have stepped in ourselves. Ron doesn't want anyone's money, he instead wants to fix this himself. 'My business, my responsibility', that's what he said."

"Doesn't that sound just like him, Arthur?" Molly asked, there was obvious pride in her voice.

"It does," Arthur smiled a bit, and then he looked to Sebastian. "What's Ronnie doing about this? And who talked?" Straight to the point, I like it.

"Ron will be traveling to Beauxbatons Academy of Magic tomorrow in order to seek out Madame Maxime, the Headmistress of the institution," Sebastian replied, and everyone went wide-eyed. "She and Ron are friends, but more importantly, they are allies. With her connections, Ron plans-"

"The pup got in with the Headmistress of Beauxbatons?" Sirius interrupted. "The school full of Veelas? That glorious little-"

"Shhh," Molly shushed, and then she looked to Sebastian. "Ronnie is really friends with someone like that?"

"He has a habit of seeking out powerful allies," Mary smirked, and Molly blinked at her. Ease up on the pride, love. His parents still have trouble with his sorting.

"She has connections in the Media," Sebastian restarted. "With her help, he'll be able to run an advertisement campaign without Barnabas Cuffe catching on."

"Why is it so important to hide this?" Xeno asked slowly, and Sebastian blinked at him.

"Because Cuffe will try to sink his business," Sebastian replied, his eyes fixed on Xeno. Don't tell me… "It was you?"

"What was him?" Sirius asked, his eyes darting between Xeno and Sebastian.

"Xeno?" Arthur and Molly asked together, while Pandora just stared at her husband.

"I didn't think that it would cause this much trouble," Xeno said weakly, his eyes passing between people. At least Ron and I were close to the real target.

"You told Cuffe?" Mary asked, and then she looked to Pandora. "Did you know about this, Pandora?"

"No," Pandora replied, her eyes still fixed on Xeno. "Love, why did you talk about The Quibbler to the competition?"

"It wasn't really like that," Xeno replied with a dim voice. "It's just that the Rookery is undergoing construction, and since we're staying at the Burrow, I wanted the owls to stop harassing Molly and Arthur because of me."

"Owls? What owls?" Sebastian asked. This should be good.

"Those barmy birds were from this Barnabas Cuffe fellow?" Molly asked, and Xeno nodded.

"He wanted to know why I rejected his offer," Xeno replied. "I didn't reply at first because of the agreement, but he kept sending the owls. Eventually, I told him that I had sold The Quibbler to someone else, and that he needed to stop harassing me. I never once mentioned Ron's name, I swear." Merlin, I could honestly reach across the table and slap him right now.

"Do you have any idea how much trouble you've caused for my apprentice?" Sebastian hissed, and Mary quickly put a calming hand on his upper arm. Damn idiot! Ron put every Knut that he's earned into this!

"I… I didn't think that it would…" Xeno mumbled, he looked genuinely devastated.

"Xeno… Mate…" Sirius muttered, he looked both confused and shocked at the same time.

"Ron really doesn't need our help tomorrow?" Arthur asked, deciding that it was better to ignore what had already happened.

"No, he can handle Madame Maxime," Mary replied for her husband, who was still glaring at Xeno. "But once he finds out that Xenophilius was the leak-"

"He'll be angry," Pandora finished, and Mary nodded. "Husband, once he comes back from France, you and I will both speak with him. And we will apologize for putting him through this."

"I should be the only one who apologizes," Xeno started, but Pandora simply shook her head.

"We will both do it," Pandora said firmly, and Sebastian eyed her critically. She plans to be there in order to 'calm' Ron down. If I was him, I'd fire Xenophilius in a heartbeat. The man broke his contract, and not only that, but he nearly sank the goddamn ship as well.

---

Ronald Weasley's POV

Sunday 13th September, 1993 (Greengrass Manor – After Breakfast)

"He literally owled the man?" Ron repeated, and once again Lord Greengrass nodded. Are you fucking kidding me?!

"In his defense, he's never really been part of a business before," Mary said, and Ron blinked at her.

"And I have?" Ron asked, and then he drew in a deep breath. "Let me guess, he probably thought that it was the right thing to do."

"He did mention that, yes," Lord Greengrass replied. "He didn't want your parents to be harassed because of him, and he felt that Cuffe deserved to know why his offer had been rejected. Personally, I think that you should fire him."

"I'm not firing anyone," Ron said quickly, and Lord Greengrass nodded in understanding.

"It's your business, so it's your call," Lord Greengrass said. "And for what it's worth, he is sorry."

"His sorry doesn't do shite for me," Ron grit out, and then he turned his head and cracked his neck. "I… I'll talk to him once I've calmed down… I need to get this business sorted first anyway."

"Your suit is here," Mary told him. "It's in your room. Get dressed, and then we'll take you to the Ministry. Your Portkey should be ready by now." Right. Ron stood up at that, and he gave Lord and Lady Greengrass a grateful nod.

"Thank you again for all of this," Ron started, but Lady Greengrass waved a dismissive hand.

"You're one of us, remember?" Mary smiled at him, and he managed a smile in return. "Now off you go. We'll be by the fireplaces."

---

Ten Minutes Later

Mary sure knew how to pick a good suit, even Ron could tell that much. His new grey suit hugged his body rather snuggly, and just as Daphne had taught him, he only did the top button up. On top of that, Mary had even gotten him a light brown trench coat that reached his knees. He felt both warm and confident in his new outfit, which was clearly Mary's goal. As he stepped into the Greeting Room, he spotted Mary and Lord Greengrass talking to each other.

"Ron!" Mary beamed at him, her eyes quickly taking in his appearance. "Look at him, Sebastian! Isn't he the most handsome young man that you've ever seen?!" Ron blushed at that, especially because Lord Greengrass was smirking at him.

"So handsome," Lord Greengrass teased, which in turn made Ron's ears burn.

"Am I wearing this properly?" Ron asked, and Mary walked up to him in order to check. "Why Muggle clothes, by the way?"

"This suit and coat are Burberry, Ron," Mary told him, but he had no idea what that meant.

"Is that a type of material?" Ron asked, and Mary blinked at him.

"It's a brand, Ron," Lord Greengrass informed him, and Ron nodded slowly. Now that I've embarrassed myself and every Weasley that's ever lived, shall we head out? "A British brand to be more specific. It'll definitely catch people's eyes, and that's what we want."

"Right," Ron nodded, and then he looked to Mary. "So, am I wearing this right? Daphne taught me to only do up the top button when my suit has two buttons in total."

"It looks perfect," Mary said as she fixed his black tie to the center of his white shirt. "Do you like how snug it is? It's called a slim-fit, and with your height and build, it looks very appealing."

"Should I be worried?" Lord Greengrass asked, and Mary shot her husband a playful smirk.

"Don't mind my husband, Ron, he's always been the possessive sort," Mary chuckled as she turned her attention back to him. Possessive? Is that where Daphne gets it? You did this to her?! "Don't do up the coat, alright? Let it hang open, but keep your suit buttoned up."

"Understood," Ron nodded once again, and Mary smiled at her handiwork.

"Let's get going then," Lord Greengrass said, and both Ron and Mary made their way towards the fireplace. Lord Greengrass opened a connection to the Ministry, and all three of them stepped through the green flames and into the Ministry's atrium.

"Stay close, Ron," Mary said as they began to navigate the crowd, and Ron did as he was told.

"Once you're done with your business, take the Portkey back to the Ministry," Lord Greengrass instructed. "Try to get back before dark please, or your mother will slit my throat."

"I understand," Ron said, he could actually see that happening. I wonder if she's still upset with me. Probably. We Weasleys tend to hold onto our anger. Or is it the Prewett in me that acts like that? Dad isn't exactly a vindictive person, and he certainly hates confrontations. Whereas mum has quite the temper, just like us kids.

"Ron, are you listening?" Mary called, and Ron broke out of his thoughts.

"Sorry," Ron apologized.

"Come straight to the Manor after you're done," Mary repeated. "Xenophilius and Pandora want to speak with you, as do your parents."

"Right," Ron nodded as they got into the elevator.

"Try to be understanding please," Mary said gently, and Ron gave her a slow nod. I'll try.

"Level six please," Lord Greengrass said to some random wizard, and the man clicked the button. Mary quickly held onto her husband, while Ron grabbed onto a hanging handle. The elevator started with a jerk, and then it sped up far too quickly. And then, it slammed to a stop. It wouldn't surprise me if this fucking elevator has a mortality rate.

"Ghastly contraption," Mary frowned as they got out of the elevator, while Ron and Lord Greengrass smirked at her.

"Welcome to the Department of Magical Transportation," a woman's voice rang out from the ceiling, and Ron looked around himself.

"It's an Announcement Charm," Lord Greengrass told him, and Ron nodded with an impressed smile. I should learn it, and then use it to call Theo a twat every time he enters our room. "We need to head towards the Portkey Office." With that, Lord Greengrass began to guide the way. Ron and Mary followed after him quietly, and Ron took the opportunity to look around the place.

It was surprisingly busy for a Sunday, and Ron knew why. The Gaia Project meant that people were constantly traveling between this Ministry to the one in Albania, which meant that this entire Department was currently overworked. His father had told him in a letter that he himself was spending hours of overtime handling the books, and that every single Department was equally as strained as this one. Oddly enough however, Ron quite enjoyed the hustle and bustle of the workforce. It felt like the building itself was alive, and that each room was a World of its own.

"In here, Ron," Lord Greengrass said as he opened the door of the Portkey Office, and Ron stepped inside with Mary by his side. He immediately spotted dozens of people waiting in line in front of a barred counter, and a portly old witch working behind it. There were dozens of cubicles towards the right side of the room, and each one was currently occupied by a busy worker. There was loud talking, the sound of feet shuffling, and a rather pungent smell in the air.

"Someone vomited recently," Lord Greengrass pointed out, while Mary covered her nose with a white handkerchief. "Let's get in line."

"Is it always this busy, or is it just because of this Gaia Project?" Ron asked as they stepped into the back of the line.

"I'd imagine the Project is behind this," Lord Greengrass replied. "But it does get this busy without it. Wizards and witches like to travel, and Portkey is the easiest option despite its drawbacks."

"You mean nausea that threatens to turn you inside out?" Ron joked, and Lord Greengrass nodded.

"You get used to it," Lord Greengrass smiled at him.

"You're Ronald Weasley!" a witch suddenly yelled, and Lord Greengrass stepped out of the way to reveal a pale, heart-shape faced witch with blonde white curly hair.

"Hello," Ron smiled in a friendly manner, while Lord and Lady Greengrass frowned at the witch for yelling so loudly. Another fan? My word, I certainly have a fair few these days. It kind of feels nice.

"You really are," the witch beamed, her dark twinkling eyes fixed on him. And then, her white blonde curly hair turned light pink and straight. What the fuck?!

"A Metamorphmagus," Lord Greengrass said, and the witch blushed a bit.

"Sorry about that," she giggled, her eyes still fixed on Ron. "Can I give you a quick hug?"

"Pardon?" Mary asked, while Ron shrugged.

"Sure," Ron smiled, the witch was pretty enough to warrant one.

"Tonks, stop harassing people," came a familiar voice, and Ron's smile widened. Madam Roberts stepped into view, her signature scowl in place. "Don't you have work to do? Papers to file?"

"Sorry, Madam," the witch named Tonks deflated a bit, and her hair turned a sad shade of blue.

"That's bloody wicked," Ron couldn't help but grin, and the witch gave him a quick wink. I must learn it. "How do you do that?"

"She's a Metamorphmagus," Lord Greengrass told Ron, and then he looked to Madam Roberts. "How have you been, Madam Roberts?"

"Fine," Madam Roberts replied curtly, her frown still fixed on Tonks. "Go, now."

"Yes, Madam," Tonks said, and then she looked to Ron. "I'll see you around then. Oh, I'm Sirius Black's cousin by the way." What? Really? He has cousins? "Once removed, anyway. Thank you for what you did for him, my mother and I are eternally grateful." With that, Tonks quickly left the room. Wait! I have questions!

"Sorry about her," Madam Roberts looked to Ron, but he just smiled at her. "She's loud, clumsy, and has no tact. But she is also one of my best recruits."

"Loud, clumsy, and has no tact… That's high praise coming from you," Ron joked, but Madam Roberts just stared at him. "Oddly enough, I have missed that dead stare of yours."

"Ron, manners," Mary said, though she sounded quite amused.

"And I have not missed that sharp tongue of yours," Madam Roberts shot back. "How are you, Ronald?"

"Quite well," Ron replied, and then he remembered the Dueling Club. "By the way, we're holding a Dueling Club at Hogwarts this year, and I managed to secure the highest rank by winning all of my ranking matches."

"Is that so?" Madam Roberts cocked an eyebrow, and Ron gave her a nod. "Congratulations are in order then."

"Thank you," Ron smiled, his chest puffing out a bit. "And thank you for your tutelage, however brief it was. It really did help me a lot. I'm still doing the Circuit Training."

"Good," Madam Roberts said, her frown being replaced by a very weak smile. "And are you still refraining from eating sweets?"

"No," Ron replied, and her 'smile' disappeared. "I have no one to tell me off, so I've turned a bit lazy."

"Which goes to say that the offer still stands," Lord Greengrass joined in, and Madam Roberts blinked at him. "The contract would be the same, and you'd be able to train a champion just like you wanted to. Just like you promised to." Madam Roberts stared at Lord Greengrass for a few seconds, and then she looked to Ron. Is she considering it?

"I won't lie, I have thought about it since our lunch together," Madam Roberts confessed, her amber eyes fixed on Ron's. PLEASE SAY YES! I'LL DO WHATEVER YOU WANT!

"I have no intention of backing away from my Dueling training," Ron pointed out. "Wouldn't it be safer if you could supervise my progress?"

"Ease up on the sell," Madam Roberts said, her lips twitching up for a second. "I suppose we can discuss it next Saturday, if you are free that is. I can come by the Manor." Ron's face split into a grin, one that made Mary chuckle into her hand.

"Come by for lunch, and we can work out the details," Lord Greengrass said, and Madam Roberts gave him a curt nod. "Just out of curiosity, why are you in the Portkey Office?"

"Trouble in Albania," Madam Roberts replied, and Ron's grin fell a bit. Dumbledore is in Albania. He's safe, right? "But it's been handled. I will see you on Saturday then. Goodbye."

"Bye," Ron said as she turned to leave, and just like that, she was gone. "Yes!" FUCK YES! I can't believe this! I'm so fucking lucky!

"Volume," Mary laughed, and then she held onto Ron's right arm. "This day is already working in your favor. I'm very glad for you, Ron."

"Let's move up," Lord Greengrass smiled at Ron, and then he patted Ron's back. "We'll get her back, Ron. Don't doubt it for a second. I'll double her pay."

"Thank you, my Lord," Ron smiled at the pale man, and he had to fight the urge to hug the man. "Any advice for getting Madame Maxime to help me?"

"If all else fails, guilt her," Lord Greengrass replied, and Ron blinked at him.

"How am I supposed to guilt her?" Ron asked.

"Your condition," Lord Greengrass replied, and Ron was rather taken aback. "Mention it in slight passing… She's a clever woman, she'll understand that she made matters a hundred times worse because of her Veela scheme. She also happens to love students, and knowing that she hurt a student, regardless of their school, will weigh her down. She'll break, trust me."

"That seems rather… cruel… to me," Ron admitted.

"In business, emotions are deadweight," Lord Greengrass told him.

"But if you don't feel comfortable doing that, then you don't have to," Mary assured him, and Ron nodded to himself.

"I'll… I'll see what happens," Ron said, he really didn't want to play such an underhanded trick with Madame Maxime. Making her think that she's responsible for my brain-damage is just cruel, not to mention a straight up lie. If I remember correctly, the Entity managed to heal the damage caused to my mind during the Tournament.

---

Fifteen Minutes Later

"So you're taking this Portkey to… Wow, right outside Beauxbatons?" the portly witch asked, her tired eyes scanning the documents again.

"I am," Ron replied.

"He will also be taking it back here today," Mary added, and portly witch nodded before putting the papers down. "Follow me." Ron and the Greengrasses followed the witch towards the right side of the room, and once she opened the sealed door for them, they all stepped through. "Just in the back here."

"There's another room back there?" Ron asked as he followed after the witch.

"Of course, handsome," the witch chuckled, and Mary nudged Ron from behind with a mischievous smile. "Right in here." With that, the witch opened the backroom door and led them inside. It was dimly lit, spacious, and there were several buckets next to the spots marked with the Department of Transportation seals. "Just wait here, and I'll bring you your Portkey." With that, the witch went back out of the room.

"So this is it," Lord Greengrass said. "How do you feel?"

"Confident, but slightly nervous," Ron replied truthfully.

"You can do this, Ron," Mary cupped both of his cheeks. "Be polite, be charming, but most of all, don't give an inch."

"I understand," Ron smiled, and she leaned up and kissed his forehead. She smells really nice.

"Be safe please," Mary said, and then she stepped back.

"When am I not?" Ron joked.

"Whenever you are awake," Lord Greengrass quipped, and then he got rather serious. "If the Veela students start using their allures around you, tell the Headmistress immediately. Promise me that."

"I promise," Ron said with a firm nod, and then shockingly, Lord Greengrass pulled him into a quick hug.

"Come back in one piece, my boy," Lord Greengrass said as he patted Ron's back, and just like that, the hug was over.

"Now I'm getting nervous," Ron blinked at them. "I'll be fine, I swear. I'll Portkey there, get the job done, and then be home in time for a late afternoon snack."

"I'll tell the House-Elves to stock up our larder then," Mary smiled lovingly. "Oh wait, drink this after you land." Mary then took out a vial of Anti-Nausea Potion from her purse, and she tucked it into Ron's trench coat pocket.

"Here we are," the portly witch said as she re-entered the room. Ron noticed that she was carrying a worn out ring in her palm, one that was resting on a white handkerchief. "Please step onto the sign."

"Alright," Ron said, and then he quickly stepped onto the sign on his right.

"This is very simple," the witch told him, and Ron listened intently. "The moment your skin touches the Portkey, it will activate. Make sure that you keep it wrapped with this handkerchief until you need to use it. Simply wrap it up, and then put it in your inner pocket or something. It only holds two charges, and once they're used up, it's useless. So don't touch it by mistake."

"Understood," Ron nodded, and then the witch carefully handed Ron the ring and the handkerchief.

"Whenever you are ready, simply touch the ring with your uncovered hand," the witch said, and then she stepped back.

"I'll see you both soon," Ron promised the Greengrasses, and they waved him off. Let's do this. Ron then put his left index finger on the Portkey, and he immediately felt like he was being pulled by the naval with a meat-hook. He felt like the whole World was spinning around him so fast that it had become a blur, and then, he landed harshly on solid ground.

"Fuck me," Ron groaned, his back resting on a bed of grass. He felt a little nauseas, and so he reached into his pocket and took out the vial of Anti-Nausea Potion. Ron quickly uncorked it and drank it down, and he felt his stomach settle as the sweet Potion did its work. Ron then stood up and patted down his clothes, making sure to check if his wand and Gringotts pouch were still there. Alright, where's the Portkey?

Ron looked around himself, and he spotted both the handkerchief and the worn out ring lying side-by-side on the ground. He quickly grabbed the handkerchief, and using that, he wrapped up the Portkey carefully before pocketing it. Right, now where do I go from here? Ron looked behind himself and noticed that there was a cobbled pathway leading towards a massive golden gate, and he smiled in satisfaction. Beauxbatons.

"Here I come, Veelas!" Ron grinned as he fixed up his suit and coat, and then he began walking towards the impressive gate. While Hogwarts had a dull iron gate at the entrance of the school grounds, Beauxbatons had a gate made of solid gold. It was surrounded by an equally majestic wall that circled around the entire school grounds, and much to Ron's confusion, there were hundreds of lemon trees planted just in front of the wall. Mum could get an endless supply from here. I guess the yellow does match the gate.

"Tiens-toi lá!" came the voice of a witch, and Ron immediately stopped moving. Two witches suddenly apparated in front of him, their wands fixed on his person.

"Hello," Ron smiled at them, doing his best to keep calm. Merlin, where did they come from?

"Identify yourself, stranger," the brown haired witch ordered, while the blonde one eyed Ron carefully.

"Weasley, Ronald Weasley," Ron introduced himself, making sure to give them a polite bow. "I'm here to see Madame Maxime."

"An Englishman? Here to see the Madame?" the brown haired witch asked, and Ron nodded. "And you think that you can just walk in here?" I believe so, yes.

"Marie, put your wand down," the blonde witch said suddenly, her light blue eyes going wide. "That's him! Le fléau de Vélane!" What? What's Le fléau de Vélane?

"It is," the witch named Marie realized, her wand slowly going down.

"May I know your names?" Ron asked them.

"I am Marie," the brunette replied, her eyes studying Ron with a hint of… fear? "And this is Alexa."

"Bonjour, monsieur Weasley" Alexa greeted, and then she gave him a concentrated look. Ron immediately felt a very weak jolt of pain shoot up his skull, and he made sure to not show it. She's a Veela.

"A pleasure to meet you," Ron smiled at them, he couldn't help but notice how beautiful they were. I love this school. And by school, I mean its sexy student body. Wait, are they students?

"He is resisting me," Alexa told Marie, who nodded slowly. "It really is him."

"Why do you want to see the Madame?" Marie asked.

"She and I are friends, and I wish to speak with her about a personal matter," Ron replied truthfully.

"You couldn't send an owl?" Marie asked, and Ron shook his head.

"I need to ask her a favor, and it would be disrespectful to do that over a letter," Ron replied, and both witches nodded in agreement.

"The Madame has claimed him to be her friend, Marie," Alexa pointed out. "Perhaps we should let her decide for herself, no?"

"Don't try anything," Marie warned him, but her voice betrayed her purpose. Why is she scared of me? I've never even met this witch before. With that, Marie turned around and waved her wand at the golden gate. It slowly began to dematerialize, and then, it simply vanished from sight. That's awesome!

"I will take you to the carriages," Alexa said, and then she gestured him to follow her. Ron did as he was told, and as he was walking past Marie, the witch took a shaky step away from him. Again, why is afraid of me?

"I like the lemon trees," Ron smiled at Alexa. "They look quite beautiful during this clear-sky weather."

"They were planted by the school's Founders," Alexa told him, and she was polite enough to smile back at him.

"All of them?" Ron asked, and Alexa shook her head.

"They planted the first one hundred, and every time a new Headmaster or Headmistress is selected, they too plant one," Alexa replied. "It is tradition." Neat. That explains why there are so many. But why lemons?

"Why lemon trees? I don't wish to be rude, but I'm simply curious," Ron asked, and Alexa gave him a reassuring smile as they stepped past the wall.

"The Founders were two lovers, you see," Alexa explained. "They met in secret upon these hills because they were both betrothed to people that they didn't love. Their shared love of lemon cakes was the reason why they had met in the first place, and once they had built the school together, they planted the lemon trees to signify their union. The first students of this school were like their children, and for each student, they planted one tree."

"That's quite amazing," Ron smiled to himself, all the while wondering about Hogwarts' Founders. Four friends that wanted to protect and teach people like them, until one of them went insane and ran off. What did the Hat tell me? Yeah, the others were heartbroken once Salazar was gone. Especially Godric Gryffindor.

"This carriage will take you to the chateau," Alexa told him, and Ron eyed the light blue carriage. "It is not a long ride, but it is certainly beautiful. But be warned, you will be under our constant surveillance."

"I understand," Ron nodded, and then he entered the carriage. "Thank you for letting me in."

"Enjoy your visit, monsieur Weasley," Alexa said as she closed the door of the carriage, and once she had stepped back, the carriage started moving.

Compared to the carriages of Hogwarts, this carriage was clearly far superior. It was lavish, had soft cushiony seats, and Ron couldn't even feel the road's bumps. And best of all, there were refreshments and sweets on a small tray to his right. Don't mind if I do. This school is the epitome of comfort. No fucking Basilisks, no Philosopher Stones, no House Politics, and no deranged ex-students that turned into Dark Lords.

As the carriage was pulled by the well-groomed horses, Ron took the opportunity to look out the window in order to observe the grounds. They were breathtaking to say the least, and Ron felt a pang of jealousy because of that. Hogwarts was definitely beautiful, but not like this. The grounds of Beauxbatons were like a vast garden, one which was filled with the widest array of flowers and trees that Ron had ever seen. He could see the students mingling with each other under the clear blue sky, and some even noticed his carriage moving along.

And then there were the Magical Fountains. Each of them were created with solid gold, and all of them were Enchanted to play harps and other instruments. Unsurprisingly, he spotted a fair few older students snogging by the Magical Fountains. And much to his glee, quite a few of the couples were pretty girls. I'm changing schools next year. Hogwarts can kiss my arse, I want to study here. But then again, I can also see a few lads going at it. Oh well, if it makes them happy, then by all means, snog away.

After ten or so minutes, Ron's carriage came to a halt. Ron slowly stepped out and closed the door behind himself, and he immediately recognized where he was. The beautiful chateau was right in front of him, and behind him were the gardens where the Junior League Tournament had been held. As Ron fixed up his black tie, he looked around to see that a lot of students were shooting him quick looks. They were all wearing their pale blue school robes, despite the fact that it was Sunday. Alright, now what?

"Excusez-moi, Puis-je vous aider?" an older man asked, and Ron blinked at the man who dressed as a butler.

"Um… Hello," Ron smiled sheepishly, and the older man nodded in understanding.

"May I help you?" the butler asked, and Ron smiled more fully.

"I'm here to see Madame Maxime," Ron replied, and the butler waited for him to go on. "My name is Weasley, Ronald Weasley. She is a friend of mine, and I need to discuss a personal matter with her."

"Monsieur Weasley," the butler said, something flashing behind his pale eyes. "Yes, I do indeed remember you. Please, follow me."

"Thank you," Ron nodded gratefully, and he began following the butler towards the chateau. You can do this, Ron. You have to do this. Xeno and his Family need this, and so do you.

"Might I take your coat, Sir?" the butler asked. "It is a warm day, after all." My wand and pouch are in my coat, as is the Portkey.

"Thank you for the offer, but I'm fine as is," Ron replied, and the butler gave him a nod. "May I ask you a question?"

"Certainly," the butler replied.

"Why are the students wearing their uniforms? Don't they get the weekends off?" Ron asked.

"Our uniforms are compulsory whenever you are moving about the school grounds," the butler replied. "As for getting the weekends off, they each have clubs on the weekends. Every student is required to be a part of three clubs minimum, with a maximum of five clubs. They, of course, do get time to socialize, but this school expects them to put their education and Magical development first. Are things different at Hogwarts?" He said that he remembered me, so I shouldn't be surprised that he knows which school I'm from.

"Our club involvement isn't compulsory, but it is encouraged," Ron replied. "As for our education… Well, some Professors are more relaxed than others."

"I see," the butler nodded slowly. "What about expulsion?"

"Expulsion?" Ron repeated.

"Are students expelled if they fail to meet a certain level of educational achievement?" the butler clarified, and Ron blinked at him.

"No, not that I'm aware of," Ron replied, and once again, the butler nodded slowly. I was clearly mistaken, this school has its own set of problems. Change the subject, Ron. "I couldn't help but admire the grounds, they are quite breathtaking."

"Thank you," the butler said, there was no hint of joy on his face. "They are maintained both Magically and by hand, and I myself am responsible for their care."

"So you're the Groundskeeper?" Ron asked, and the butler nodded. "Well, you are quite amazing at your job."

"Thank you," the butler said, and this time, his lips twitched upwards. They both settled into a comfortable silence at that, and Ron decided to observe the school's interior. It was well-maintained, but instead of feeling like a castle, it felt more like a Manor. Sort of like Greengrass Manor, but much bigger. I like the hardwood walls, not to mention the paintings and other ornaments.

"This feels more like a home than Hogwarts," Ron admitted as they began climbing the stairs. "Hogwarts feels like a very old castle, whereas this place feels more like a well-kept mansion."

"It was designed to be this way by the Founders," the butler nodded his agreement. "Hogwarts was originally designed to be a fortress built to protect the British Magical community, whereas Beauxbatons started off as the home of the Founders. Once they learned that they couldn't have children of their own, they turned it into a school. Over time, the school has been greatly expanded, but in honor of the Founders, its ambience was kept the same. This was their home, and it shall forever remain so."

"Bonjour, garde-jardin Raphaël," a young witch said as they passed her by on the stairs.

"Bonjour, Yvette," the butler smiled at the witch, and then he continued walking up the stairs. She looked really young. Like she was eight or something.

"Does Beauxbatons take in students at a younger age?" Ron asked, and the butler nodded.

"If their parents wish it so, then yes," Raphael replied. "This is a boarding school, after all. The students who are younger than eleven are taught basic mathematics and languages, and once they become of age, they become full students."

"Are they allowed to join the clubs?" Ron asked, he rather liked the idea of growing up with his friends.

"Certainly," Raphael replied. "However, the Dueling Club and Quidditch Club are off-limits for them."

"I see," Ron nodded. "I have to admit, I am greatly impressed by everything in this school."

"You are kind to say so, monsieur Weasley," Raphael gave him a polite smile. "Beauxbatons has been the jewel of the French Magical community for centuries, and will remain so for many more."

"I don't doubt it," Ron smiled back. This place is something else. It lacks Hogwarts' mystery and enormousness, but it makes up for it by being drop-dead gorgeous.

"Here we are," Raphael said as they stepped onto the fourth floor, which happened to be the highest. "Come, Madame Maxime should be in her Office. You certainly picked a good day for your visit, the Madame has been incredibly busy as of late." She has? No, I shouldn't ask that. I am a guest, not a member of the Inquisition.

"Lady Luck has been on my side today," Ron smiled at the man, who simply nodded in response. Trust me, I deserve it after the shite I've been through over the last three days.

"Please wait here," Raphael said as he stopped in front of a massive golden crest. Ron couldn't help but admire the school's coat of arms, which consisted of two golden wands crossing over one another on top of a bed of golden flowers, with each of them shooting three golden stars.

Raphael placed his right hand in the middle of the crest, and much to Ron's surprise, the golden stars came to life and swirled in on Raphael's hand. And then, Ron heard a lock open and the crest split open from the middle. And what do we have? A stone gargoyle. Damn I love this place. Raphael stepped through the crack and walked to the door behind the crest, and then he knocked on the door lightly.

"Come in," came Madame Maxime's voice, and Raphael entered the room and shut the door behind himself. Guess I'll just wait around. Ron whistled to himself as he looked around the hardwood hallway, and his eyes stopped on the statue of a naked Nymph. Well, hello there. The statue came to life as it noticed an admirer, and it smiled seductively at Ron.

"Hello," Ron smiled back, and the statue betokened him to her. Ron walked up to the statue, all while doing his best to not look at her stone breasts. That would be rather rude, right? The statue however, had different plans. She stuck her chest out to display her womanly parts to him, and Ron's eyes immediately darted down to her well-carved features. "Awesome!"

"Ahem," Raphael coughed from behind him, and Ron quickly turned around with a sheepish grin. Caught in the act! Shite!

"Um… I was just admiring the craftsmanship…" Ron said, but Raphael simply smirked at him.

"The Madame is waiting for you," Raphael gestured towards the Office, and Ron nodded quickly. As Ron began to walk towards it, Raphael moved into his way.

"Is everything-"

"Your tie is not centered," Raphael said as he fixed it for Ron, and then he stepped aside. "Good luck, monsieur Weasley."

"Thank you, Groundskeeper Raphael," Ron smiled at the older man, who gave Ron a polite nod before leaving. Ron then walked past the open crest, and he knocked on the Office door. This is it.

"Come in, Ronald," Madame Maxime called, and Ron stepped inside and closed the door behind himself. "Isn't this a wonderful surprise? Welcome back to Beauxbatons, my friend."

"Thank you, Madame Maxime," Ron smiled at her, his eyes examining the extremely comfortable looking Office. It was nothing like Dumbledore's Office. If anything, this looked more like a lounge than an Office. There were comfortable looking blue sofas, a lavish fireplace, sculptures of naked men and women, and the whole room smelled like toffee apples. And at the back of the lounge was an extravagant golden desk, behind which sat Madame Maxime on her massive throne-like chair.

"Please, come and sit with me," Madame Maxime smiled at him, and then she gestured to a golden seat in front of her. Ron walked over and sat down on it, his bottom sinking into the blue cushion placed upon it.

"This is a lovely Office," Ron said, and she gave him a grateful nod.

"Most of this furniture was brought in by me," Madame Maxime admitted. "Sadly, my predecessor had rather poor taste. Would you like some honeyed tea?"

"Thank you," Ron said, and Madame Maxime flicked her wand at her golden tea set. It began pouring itself, and then a cup of hot tea floated up to him. Ron took it carefully, and after having a sip, he smiled at Madame Maxime. "I'm sorry for dropping in unannounced like this, but I figured that I owed you a surprise visit after yours on the day of my last Tournament."

"Naturally," Madame Maxime chuckled. "Once again, I thank you for what you said to the reporters. It helped me a great deal."

"What are friends for?" Ron stated, and she smirked at him.

"Judging by your actions and words, you need my help with something," Madame Maxime said, and Ron didn't even bother hiding it.

"I would've sent a letter containing the favor I needed, but I didn't want to come across as ill-mannered," Ron told her, and she waited for him to go on. "I have bought The Quibbler from Xenophilius Lovegood, and in case you don't know what that is, it is a magazine."

"You own a magazine?" Madame Maxime blinked, her composure cracking for a moment. "At the age of thirteen?"

"I do," Ron smiled, and then he took another sip of his tea. This is really good tea. Maybe I should get some for our room?

"You are the strangest young man that I've ever come across," Madame Maxime laughed heartily, and Ron's smile widened without his consent. She has a loud laugh, but it's rather contagious. "What do you need from me, Ronald?"

"Barnabas Cuffe-"

"That cretin," Madame Maxime hissed, her good humor immediately gone.

"You know him?" Ron asked, and she took in a deep breath.

"Forgive me, my friend," Madame Maxime apologized. "But the mere mention of that entitled, self-serving pig turns my stomach. You are not in business with this man, are you?" Entitled pig? Did he try something with her?

"No, if anything, I hate him too," Ron replied, this was looking great. "He has banned every advertisement firm in Britain from working for my business. I stole The Quibbler out from under him in a rather devious fashion, and since he doesn't know who actually bought it, he's banned everyone from helping The Quibbler."

"I see," Madame Maxime nodded slowly. "And why is it that a thirteen year old feels the need to own a magazine?"

"That… is a long story," Ron replied, and Madame Maxime relaxed into her throne-like chair.

"Please, I'd like to hear it," Madame Maxime, and Ron took in a deep breath.

"Well…"

---

Thirty Minutes Later

"And now here I am," Ron finished his story, he had told her everything.

"You wish to help girls like this Priscilla then?" Madame Maxime smiled at him.

"Everyone like her, yes," Ron replied, and Madame Maxime nodded in understanding.

"I must admit, I am once again puzzled by you," Madame Maxime said, and Ron waited for her to go on. "I've never met such a… passionate… young man before. You certainly seem to enjoy outshining everyone your age."

"That's not exactly hard to do," Ron smirked. "Most people my age are more concerned with how they look than with the state of things in their countries." And most of them aren't preparing to fight a war.

"You need not worry about your looks," Madame Maxime stated, her eyes analyzing his sharp grey suit and light brown trench coat. "I sense a woman's touch in your outfit."

"You sense correctly then," Ron chuckled. "Lady Greengrass picked this outfit for me. I won't lie, fashion is something that I still have trouble with."

"As do all boys," Madame Maxime chuckled as well. "No matter, let us discuss what you need from me."

"I was hoping that you had an advertisement firm in your pocket, and if so, then I would like to utilize them," Ron said. "Barnabas Cuffe has made it impossible for me to find one myself, and so I'm looking to my allies for help."

"A favor for a favor then?" Madame Maxime asked. Is she trying to make me forget the fact that she owes me? Well, I don't forget things like that. Especially considering that I nearly died.

"Indeed," Ron replied. "I helped you with your reporters, and with the people who were besmirching your name in the papers. So yes, I was hoping that you could repay the favor."

"I see," Madame Maxime put on a smile, had the boy seen through her ploy? "Unfortunately, I don't have an advertisement firm in my pocket." Ron's stomach dropped at that, and his disappointment clearly showed on his face because Madame Maxime smiled apologetically. Fuck… I'm going to have to accept Daphne's money now, aren't I?

"I… I see," Ron sighed, and then he drew in a deep breath. Stay calm. Don't fucking panic in front of her.

"But I can make some inquiries on your behalf," Madame Maxime said, and Ron blinked at her.

"Inquiries?" Ron asked.

"I have friends who like to roam around in those circles, and perhaps, they know of a firm that is looking for a suitable deal," Madame Maxime replied.

"I don't wish to sound rude, but how long will that take?" Ron asked. "I'm a bit rushed because of Barnabas Cuffe's ongoing investigation into who I am."

"Give me a few hours, and if such a firm exists in France, then one of their representatives will be here to meet you on this very day," Madame Maxime promised. "The summons of Beauxbatons' Headmistress is not so easily refused."

"I… Thank you, Madame Maxime," Ron bowed his head. "I cannot thank you enough for this."

"Raise your head, my friend," Madame Maxime smiled at him. "I have not forgotten what I put you through… I hope that this can earn me your true forgiveness. Now, why don't you take a tour of the school grounds while I reach out to my friends? I'm sure Amanda is eagerly awaiting for our meeting to finish."

"Amanda's outside?" Ron asked, and Madame Maxime nodded.

"I had Raphael fetch her for you," Madame Maxime replied. "She has been excused from her Club activities for the day, and she'll spend the day showing you around."

"That sounds great," Ron smiled widely, he couldn't deny the fact that he had missed his Tournament companion. "Thank you once again, Madame Maxime."

"I will see you at lunch, Ronald," Madame Maxime gave him a polite nod, and Ron stood up and departed from the Office. The moment he stepped past the golden crest, Amanda ran up and hugged him.

"You're really here!" Amanda laughed, her body tightly pressed against his.

"Now that's a welcome!" Ron laughed, and then he hugged her back. "It's great to see you again, Amanda!"

"You too, Ron!" Amanda exclaimed as she rested her head on his left shoulder. "You've gotten taller than me. What do they feed you down there?"

"I eat a lot," Ron chuckled, and then he realized that he wasn't the only one who had grown. Amanda had grown too, but in a different department. Sweet Merlin, her chest feels magnificent. And she's surprisingly soft all around. Ron gave her a tight squeeze, which in turn made her squeeze him back. Awesome!

"Why didn't you owl me? I would've planned out the entire day," Amanda said, still holding onto him. This is a very long hug, not that I mind of course.

"I was trying to be spontaneous," Ron replied, and then he slowly let go of her. Amanda took a step back and beamed at him, and he took the opportunity to fully observe her. She was wearing her pale blue silk uniform, including the pointy blue hat. "Your uniforms are really nice." Especially how well they are fitted. Yes… This school is heaven on Earth.

"Well, thank you," Amanda chuckled before giving him a twirl in order to show him her back as well. And then, she eyed his clothes with an impressed smile. "Do you always dress so nicely?"

"I wanted to impress you," Ron smirked, and she let out a cute laugh.

"Well, consider me impressed," she smirked back, and then she moved to his right side and tangled her arm with his. "Come Ron, I'll show you around the school."

"We won't disturb anyone, right?" Ron asked as they began walking.

"The Clubs are just starting up, so most of the students will be out of our way," Amanda replied. "Plus, you are the Madame's guest of honor today. No one will dare say a word against you. Now, where should we start?"

"Let's start simple," Ron replied. "What about the place where you all eat?"

"Hungry?" Amanda giggled, and Ron shrugged.

"Food is never far from my thoughts," Ron admitted.

"Then let's go to the Grand Hall," Amanda said as she sped up a bit, which in turn made Ron speed up too. "There always cakes and other sweets laid out during the day."

"This school is quickly becoming my favorite place on Earth," Ron smiled widely.

"Maybe you should move here then," Amanda suggested. "I know a lot of girls who'd be interested in making your acquaintance."

"Trying to set me up already?" Ron sniggered.

"And some boys too, actually," Amanda smiled mischievously, and Ron blinked at her with his smile still in place. "There's nothing wrong with trying new things, is there?"

"If it means that I won't be able to sit down for a while, then I'd rather not," Ron joked, and Amanda let out another cute laugh.

"That was quite the dirty joke," Amanda tutted, but she was still laughing. "So, have you notice anything different about me?"

"Yes, I have, but a gentleman would never say such a thing," Ron replied, and Amanda hugged his arm more tightly.

"As much as I'm enjoying your train of thought, I was actually referring to something else," Amanda said, and Ron thought about it for a second.

"Your English has improved," Ron realized, and she beamed at him.

"I got a tutor after the Tournament, and she's been helping me every week," Amanda told him. "How is your French coming along? You mentioned in one of your letters that you wanted to learn it."

"I'm afraid I never got around to it," Ron said with a sheepish smile. "Sorry."

"Oh well, I guess I'll just have to translate for you," Amanda smiled at him.

"Is that your way of saying that you'll stick to me like glue?" Ron asked, and she gave him a wink. "Now I'm glad that I didn't learn French."

"You have a quick tongue," Amanda complimented.

"My friends and I banter a lot, but thank you," Ron smiled at her, and then they stepped onto the first floor.

"The Grand Hall is just around the corner," Amanda said excitedly, and then she sped up again. She's either really excited to show me the Grand Hall, or she's actually hungry herself. Amanda led Ron into the Grand Hall, and once they were inside, she stopped in order to let him observe the massive room. It was just as he remembered it, but with a few minor differences. There were no fairies flying around, nor were there any bright lights dancing near the ceiling. But the braziers with the golden flames were still warming up the Hall, and the proud Ice-Knights were still watching over the Hall with piercing eyes.

"I just love this school's atmosphere," Ron admitted, and Amanda smiled proudly. "It just feels… Magical."

"You don't have Ice-Knights in Hogwarts?" Amanda asked as she began leading him towards the food.

"No, but we did have a fifty foot Basilisk," Ron smirked.

"I heard about that," Amanda nodded. "Weren't you… Never mind."

"It's alright, Amanda," Ron gave her a soft smile, and she managed one back. "It was a while ago, and I don't even think about it anymore. Do you ever wonder if there are any secrets in Beauxbatons? Like a secret chamber with a monster inside it?"

"Well, there is a rumor which claims that a demon is sealed underneath this school," Amanda replied, and Ron's ears perked up. "But there is also a rumor about one of the fountains in the gardens being laced with aphrodisiacs."

"That one might be true," Ron chuckled. "I saw dozens of people going at it in the gardens while I was in the carriage."

"That's not that unusual," Amanda said sweetly. "Most of them are just practicing with each other. At Beauxbatons, the Professors let us experiment as much as we want. As long as our grades are good, and we participate in the school's Clubs, we can do as we please."

"Sounds amazing," Ron said. "At Hogwarts, people usually use empty broom closets."

"Broom closets?" Amanda blinked. "But what about the romance? There is no romance in a broom closet."

"What if I lit a nice looking candle first?" Ron asked, and Amanda started laughing. "No? Still not romantic? Alright, what if I cleaned that broom closet before bringing in a Lady?"

"Stop it, Ron," Amanda giggled. "You're making my stomach hurt. No broom closets, alright? Don't you have a room?"

"I share that room with two other boys, and I'm not inviting them to join the fun," Ron said. "That's where I draw the line."

"You have to share a room?" Amanda asked. "What about your privacy? What if you need to relieve some tension?"

"Then you have to wait for the best moment, and then make sure to lock the shared bathroom," Ron replied, his face feeling a little hot. I'm talking to a girl about getting myself off.

"Ce n'est pas juste," Amanda muttered as she shook her head. "Maybe you really should move here."

"I'm considering it," Ron replied, though he really wasn't. As nice as this place is, my mission is back home. "Now, which cake should we start with?"

"Raspberry," Amanda smiled at him.

---

Thirty Minutes Later

"Am I really allowed in here?" Ron asked again, they had just crossed the gardens and entered the students' dorms. Strangely enough, both the boys and girls shared one massive house together. The boys lived in the left wing, while the girls lived in the right wing.

"It's perfectly fine, Ron," Amanda chuckled as she led him to her room. "All the students live in here, and we all have an unspoken rule. If the door is closed, then don't even knock on it. Trust me, we won't be invading anyone's privacy."

"Alright," Ron said slowly, he couldn't help but observe that the school and the dorm house shared a very similar design. "Is your room on the fifth floor because you're a fifth year?"

"Exactly so," Amanda nodded, and then she opened the door to her room. "Go on, Ron."

"Thanks," Ron said as he entered the room, which was nothing too special. There were a lot of Chess posters around, and Ron's eyes widened when he noticed that he was on one of them. That's an enlarged photo of my cover shot.

"Um… I hope you don't mind that," Amanda mumbled, her cheeks turning rosy. "I just… I forgot that that was up there…" Good lord, say nothing Ron. Say nothing!

"I don't mind," Ron smiled at her, doing his absolute best to not embarrass her any further. Ron then looked to her furniture, which consisted of a single bed, a small study table, and a comfy looking blue chair. On the table was a set of Potions labeled 'contraception doses'. What the fuck?! Why is this shite just lying around?

"Sweet Morgana!" Amanda squeaked, and then she ran over to the Potions and hid them inside the study table. She then turned around slowly, her face clearly burning from shame. "I… I didn't know that my friend had dropped those off…"

"Right," Ron said, doing his best to not grin at her. Don't do it, you cunt! Control yourself!

"My boyfriend and I are… Oh Gods, this is embarrassing…" Amanda sighed as her head hung low.

"There, there," Ron said as he patted her upper arm. Look at me, I might as well take over Pomfrey's job.

"Please don't say a word about this," Amanda pleaded, and Ron gave her a firm nod. "I can't believe that Penny just left them there… She's a complete moron."

"I won't say a word, I promise," Ron assured her. "So… what now?"

"Do you want to play a few games of Chess?" Amanda asked weakly, and Ron nodded. "Alright… After that, we can go to some of the Clubs. The Gymnastics Club and the Dueling Club start at one 'o'clock in the Gymnasium."

"Gymnastics Club?" Ron asked, and she nodded.

"Acrobatics, keeping in shape, that sort of stuff," Amanda replied.

"Acrobatics? Veelas doing acrobatics?" Ron asked, and Amanda blinked at him. "I'd like to see the Gymnastics Club please."

"You…" Amanda started, but then she broke into a laugh. "Thank you for making me laugh, Ron. You're very sweet." Sweet? Woman, I wish to eyeball some Veelas! Take me there at once!

---

One Hour Later

Ron had managed to beat Amanda in all of the games, but just barely. Truth be told, she was much easier to read when his mind wasn't being bombarded by the Veelas. Much to Amanda's credit, she was willing to learn from her mistakes. She had explained that whenever she played against him, she had trouble figuring out what to do. Ron had then helped her figure out some of his traps, and she in turn had taught him a new strategy which relied on using both of his rooks to trap the enemy's king. Overall, her embarrassment was quickly forgotten and they both had had a great time together.

"Behind this door is the Dueling Club and the Gymnastics Club," Amanda said as they neared the entrance to the Gymnasium, and Ron stopped walking in order to look to the sky.

"Theo… Blaise… I know that you're not here right now, but the moment I get back home, I will share this experience with you," Ron prayed to the sky, and in his heart, he knew that both Theo and Blaise had heard him. "This is a victory for all three of us, and it will-"

"You are so weird," Amanda laughed, and Ron looked back to her. "It's just Gymnastics, Ron. I'm part of that Club too."

"You are?" Ron asked quickly, and she nodded slowly. "Amanda, marry me!"

"What about your girlfriend?" Amanda giggled.

"We'll get her together with your boyfriend," Ron joked.

"Alright, if you can accomplish that, then I accept," Amanda shook her head with an amused smile. "C'mon, let's go inside. Oh wait… Be warned, Professor Leblanc is a bit of a menace. She loves boasting about Beauxbatons, and since you're from Hogwarts, she might come across as… annoying."

"Does she teach Gymnastics?" Ron asked. "If so, then I already forgive her."

"She teaches Defense Against the Dark Arts, and is therefore our Dueling instructor," Amanda replied. "Why do you like Gymnastics so much, Ron?"

"Can you do the splits?" Ron asked, and she nodded. "Bless this school… Bless it…"

"I didn't know that you were such a pervert," Amanda smirked at him. "I like it. Now let's go inside, shall we?"

"Lead the way," Ron gestured, and they both walked into the Gymnasium. The inside of the bulding was massive, and Ron figured that the room was under a similar Charm as Madam Roberts' suitcase. Definitely the same Charm, I reckon. Half of it was a makeshift arena for the Dueling Club, while the other half was being used by the Gymnastics Club.

"Which Club do you-"

"Gymnastics please," Ron smiled, and Amanda chuckled before taking his arm again. The blonde witch then guided Ron towards the back of the Gymnastics Club, while Ron subtly ogled the girls who were stretching in their silver leotards. THEO! BLAISE! HEAR ME, BROTHERS! SEE WHAT I SEE!

"Let's sit up here," Amanda said as she pulled Ron into the stands, and they took up a vantage point. "Now watch, and be amazed. See that black haired girl?"

"Yes," Ron replied, his eyes fixed on the girl who was preparing for a run-up.

"She's a sixth year, and apparently, she enjoys the company of boys who are younger than her," Amanda smirked, and Ron grinned like a fiend. "Want me to introduce you?"

"Yes, please," Ron chuckled, though he had no real interest in her whatsoever. Looking is fine, but I'd never put a finger on her. Merlin! I should buy Daphne one of these outfits! Fuck yes! I mean, she'll slap me in the face, but on the off chance that she wears it, I'll die happy. The black haired girl ran up, and then she broke into a series of cartwheels and back-flips. Ron's jaw dropped at the sight of her, and when she landed with her arms raised by her sides, Ron had to fight the urge to whistle. "Merlin, Amanda… That's amazing! Can you do that?"

"Not as well as her, but yes," Amanda replied, and Ron just stared at her. "I've been practicing since I was eight. See? There are younger girls here too." There are? "That's Gabrielle Delacour. You met her at your victory gala."

"The girl that was terrified of me," Ron said as he stared at her, she too was wearing a silver leotard.

"Veelas have some strange beliefs," Amanda sighed. "Some of them are calling you Le fléau de Vélane…"

"The gatekeeper called me that," Ron told her, and she frowned deeply. "What? Does it mean something bad?"

"It translates to 'The Scourge of Veelas'," Amanda replied, and Ron blinked at her. "They have some insane myth amongst them about a crimson eyed demon that eats the hearts of their kind, and since this fairytale monster could resist them like you can, some of the older, and more senile, Veelas have dubbed you with this name. Or title… Whatever…" The Scourge of Veelas? Crimson eyed Demon? Sweet Merlin, if the Entity shows itself on my features when I'm here, they'll fucking lynch me.

"I didn't know that I was so famous amongst them," Ron said truthfully.

"The Veelas are extremely community orientated," Amanda explained. "Word of your achievement spread like wildfire in the French Veela community, and it's only increased since you left."

"That's why the gatekeepers recognized me, and why one of them was terrified of me," Ron realized.

"Don't let that get to you," Amanda took his left hand into her right one. "It's only the old Veelas who are scared of you, most of the younger ones are rather enamored with you. I've even heard some of them boasting that their allure could pull you in." I rather doubt it, and if it does happen, then they'll learn that I'm a package deal.

"So you're saying that I have beautiful girls pining for my attention in France?" Ron asked, and Amanda chuckled as she nodded. "What the hell am I doing in Britain then? I should move here immediately."

"Amanda!" the Gymnastics tutor called, and both Ron and Amanda looked to the middle-aged woman. Not bad, and that leotard suits her nicely. The tutor went to say something, but when her eyes landed on Ron, her smile died and her eyes widened.

"Oh shite," Ron whispered.

"Regardez!" a random witch called, her finger pointing towards Ron.

"Le fléau de Vélane!" a little girl screamed, and Ron flinched. This is how it ends, Entity! Lynched by leotard wearing goddesses!

"I should leave," Ron said quickly, but Amanda was giving everyone a dark look. And then, she stood up far too angrily.

"Il est l'invité d'honneur de Madame!" Amanda told them all, and everyone exchanged looks before eyeing Ron again. "C'est vrai! Il suffit de demander à Raphaël!" What is she saying?

"Amanda!" the Dueling tutor called, and then she gestured Amanda to come down to her.

"I'll be right back, Ron," Amanda said firmly. "Don't go anywhere." And just like that, she stormed down and started speaking to her Professor in a rather haughty manner. Ron just sat there with a sheepish grin, while everyone was just staring at him. Some of the looks were genuine looks of fear, while quite a lot of them were looks of intrigue or excitement. That's when he felt a jolt of pain shoot up his skull, and he instantly regretted coming here. Fucking birds! There's at least fifty in here. I need to leave the moment Amanda comes back. Ron looked down at his feet as he messaged his forehead, coming here was definitely a mistake.

"Champion, what is the meaning of this?" came the Entity's weakened voice, it sounded as if it just stirred from a deep slumber.

"Not right now," Ron thought, a bit of panic seeping into his veins. "They'll fucking lynch me if you show yourself."

"They can try," the Entity snarled. "Leave this place at once. We are in no state to help you right now."

"What happened to you? Did you escape the barrier? Also, I'm seeing visions of my past lives… Care to explain that?"

"You are?" the Entity asked, and Ron swallowed thickly.

"It's not you who's giving them to me?"

"We are even more injured than we realized…"

"What does that mean?"

"We are bleeding into your mind… This may damage your Cycle..."

"Bleeding into my mind? What the fuck does that mean?!" Ron waited for an answer, but none came. Instead, he felt another jolt of crippling pain. "Entity? Fucking fuck, I need to get out of here…" Ron stood up and started to leave, his face showing the pain that he was suddenly being forced to endure.

"Ron!" Amanda ran to his side, her face a mixture of worry and anger.

"I can't be here… They're using their allures," Ron said, and then he quickly walked towards the exit.

"Arrêtez immédiatement!" one of the tutors yelled at the Veela students, while the other glared around the room. Although it eased his headache, Ron still left the gymnasium behind. The moment he stepped out into the cool breeze, his entire body relaxed. Merlin, that fucking hurt. Entity? Are you alright in there? They didn't fuck you up, did they?

"Ron, I'm so sorry," Amanda quickly stepped in front of him, her own panic written on her face. "I'm so sorry about that. The younger Veelas… They can't always control their urges…"

"Not your fault," Ron smiled weakly, and then he took in a deep breath. "Can we please sit down somewhere? Maybe in the gardens?" Entity? Are you there? Fuck, it's probably even more hurt than it already was. What the hell did it mean by 'We are bleeding into your mind'?

"Of course, let's go," Amanda said as she took his left arm.

---

Lord Voldemort's POV

Sunday 13th September, 1993 (Knockturn Alley – Afternoon)

He walked down towards the Knockturn Alley Potions shop, his tiny body draped in a thick black cloak. No one paid him any mind, mostly because they simply assumed that he was just a Goblin. The thought disgusted the most powerful wizard of all time, but right now, survival was far more important than pride.

Dumbledore, the old crooked-nosed fool, was no doubt hunting him down this very instant. After his encounter with the Headmaster of Hogwarts in Albania, Voldemort had come to realize the error of his ways. He had assumed that since he was in hiding, the old coot would focus on establishing his own reign over the Wizarding World. But then, out of nowhere, the old man had found him Albania. No place was safe, and he understood that now.

And judging by what Dumbledore had done to his previous host's body, Voldemort knew that this was a very different Dumbledore than the one he remembered. Something had changed in the older wizard, and despite how much he hated to admit it, he was now terrified of the Leader of the Order. Lord Voldemort could not afford to be caught again, and so he too had taken drastic measures.

After setting off the Inferno, Voldemort had fled to Riddle Manor for safety. But fear had kept him from staying in the safety of his degenerate father's childhood home. If the old man could find him in the middle of the Albanian Forest, then he could find him in his ancestral home as well. Which left the Dark Lord only one option… He had to become a nomad. He had to scurry from city to city, from country to country, from host to host… No place was safe, not until he had returned to his former self.

"Good afternoon," the shady store owner said as Voldemort stepped into his shop. "What can I do for you, my Goblin-" Voldemort flicked his wrist, and despite his host's rather pathetic Magical Core, he Wandlessly snapped the man's neck. Goblin… This is what Lord Voldemort has been reduced to… The man dropped dead with a dull thud, and Voldemort closed the door behind himself before locking it. Once the drapes had been pulled down, he turned the sign to signal that the shop was closed.

"Now, Bogdan… Where did you keep your secret supply?" Voldemort hissed in a little girl's voice. He knew this shop from when he was still in power, Severus often came here for his ingredients. Severus. The traitor. Dumbledore's dog. Lord Voldemort walked around the counter, and he searched Bogdan's corpse for his wand. Once the wand was in his girly little hands, Voldemort creeped towards the back of the store.

"Revelio," the Dark Lord hissed as he aimed the wand at a large cupboard, and just as he remembered, the cupboard vanished from sight. A Glamor Charm. Pathetic. With the illusion gone, Voldemort walked into the dark cellar that it was hiding. It didn't take him long before he found the vials of Unicorn Blood, and much to his joy, Bogdan also had a Unicorn Heart in his inventory.

He drank down the vials first, the silvery liquid tasted like the Nectar of the Gods to his parched mouth. And then, he began feeding his stomach with the Heart. Bite after bite, Voldemort devoured the Unicorn Heart with an insatiable hunger. Each bite made his tiny muscles seize up from euphoria, and that only drove him further into his gluttony. And once his meal was over, he felt rejuvenated. This host would last him another two or three weeks, he was certain of it.

"Papa?!" came the voice of a child, and Voldemort glided towards the exit. He then slowly looked around the corner, and he found a tiny boy kneeling by Bogdan's corpse. "Papa? Did you fell?" the boy spoke in broken English. Younger than five. I can't leave any trace of my presence.

"Your 'papa' is asleep," Voldemort spoke in his host's sweet voice, and the boy quickly turned to face him.

"Who are you?" the boy asked, and Voldemort pulled back his hood to reveal his host's face. The boy relaxed at the sight of a girl near his age. "I'm Sven… What's your name?"

"Abigail," Voldemort lied. "Come here, Sven. I know how to wake up your papa." The boy blinked at his host's cute little face, and then he slowly stepped closer to the Dark Lord.

"His neck is twisted," the boy muttered, his eyes were watery from fear and worry.

"Not twisted, shattered," Voldemort hissed, ditching his alter ego. The boy's eyes widened, but by then, Lord Voldemort had already used Bogdan's wand to enter the boy's mind. It took less than ten minutes to plant the memories that he needed to plant, and five minutes after that, he had wiped away all traces of himself ever being here. When the boy would eventually wake up, he'd find his father's wand in his hands. And then, he'd remember accidently killing his father with a bout of Accidental Magic. No one would be the wiser, and since this was Knockturn Alley, no one would even care about this boy.

With his body rejuvenated, and his presence erased, Lord Voldemort left the shop and traveled down the dark alleyways. I must find a suitable body. This cannot go on for much longer. The old fool is watching for Unicorn disappearances, I just know it. Without Unicorn Blood, my hosts can't survive for long. I have to find a servant, one that can assist me in creating a new vessel for myself.

"Move aside, Goblin filth," someone hissed from behind him, and he felt someone strike him from behind. His tiny body lost its balance, and he stumbled aside. WHO DARES?! Voldemort glared at his attacker through gleaming red eyes, but the wizard had already walked too far to notice the Dark Lord's wrath. It cannot be… Lucius? That's when Lord Voldemort realized that Lucius wasn't alone, he was being accompanied by Cornelius Nott.

"The state of things," Cornelius spat out as he and Lucius kept walking away. "Damn Goblins everywhere…" My servants. Something shifted behind the Dark Lord's eyes, and a terrifying smile creeped onto his face. My slaves. The Dark Lord quietly began to follow the two wizards, who were far too self-absorbed to realize that someone was on their trail.

"They want to buy the shops of Knockturn Alley too," Lucius scoffed. "Their greed for our land is never ending."

"If the Dark Lord was still in power-"

"Not here, you fool," Lucius hissed quickly, while Voldemort's mind began to scheme.

"He is out there, Lucius," Cornelius said quietly. "Now that we know that he is alive, we must find him. Our search needs another man." They've been looking for me? That particular thought jarred him slightly, he had thought himself abandoned by his followers. They believe me dead? FOOLS!

"We already have Severus," Lucius argued. "We do not need another man." Severus is helping them? He is still loyal to me? No, I must see him for myself first. He is far cleverer than these two, and he could easily trick them into believing him loyal.

"He has been useless," Cornelius hissed, his face twisting in anger. "Our Lord needs us, Lucius… And where is Severus? Kissing Dumbledore's feet." Lord Voldemort does not need you, he only needs your obedience. You forget your place, Nott.

"We have searched three countries, and we haven't found a single trace yet," Lucius told Cornelius. "He could be anywhere in the World right now. Another man will not help us there. Severus knew the Dark Lord better than most, he can help us."

"Weren't you his second?" Cornelius spat out, his envy clear to all. My second? He tried to take over my empire once I fell like some filthy bottom-feeder. You are not forgiven… Neither of you are.

"Even if we find him, how do we bring him back?" Lucius asked. "Do you think he will allow us to live if we bring him no solutions to his plight?" The Dark Lord felt his blood boil because of their sheer arrogance. A solution to my plight?! As if Lord Voldemort can't think of something that these two worms can! It took everything in him to not kill the two of them on the spot, instead, he just kept following them.

"I have thought of a solution," Cornelius smirked, and both Lucius' and the Dark Lord's ears perked up. "Have you read this article on Black?"

"I have," Lucius replied, his eyes fixed on Cornelius.

"Then you know of Pettigrew," Cornelius said. Pettigrew? That rat is alive?

"Black is keeping him alive in St. Mungo's," Lucius said. "So what? What does it matter?"

"He is an empty vessel," Cornelius drawled. "Think about it… The Dementors ate his soul, and now he's just an empty body with a fully developed Magical Core. We bring the Dark Lord Pettigrew's body, and once he possesses it, he'll be back. And it won't be like with Quirrell either… There is no one in there to fight the Dark Lord's spirit for control."

Lord Voldemort stopped walking, his red eyes fixed on his two scheming servants. This was it. This was his solution. He had finally figured out a way to come back. He would not need a servant if he had a grown wizard's body, but there were two worms right in front of him who were eager to serve. Pettigrew lives… And he is in St. Mungo's. Even though the Dark Lord was wondering how Cornelius knew of Quirrell, he decided to focus his attention on Pettigrew for now. It is past time that Lord Voldemort stepped back onto the board.

His tiny face split into a smile, and he began walking towards the direction of St. Mungo's. By the end of the week, Lord Voldemort would once again rise up to drown the World in blood. By the end of the week, his empire would start anew.

---

AUTHOR'S NOTE: There it is! To the people who guessed the whole Pettigrew thing early on, well done! (I'm looking at you, Randver, you genius you). Anyway, things are going to obviously going to get out of control very soon. That's all I'll say!

See you guys on Friday/Saturday!