No one appreciates Ron's greatness until it's too late

The next few days were all the same. Everyone helped Mrs Weasley clean the house during the day and after dinner, they all tried to listen in on the Order's meeting. Every attempt was worse than before. Compared to the first meeting, they never managed to get new pieces of information. Ila hadn't seen Draco or Dumbledore either, though, there was a moment of surprise when she saw Snape enter No.12.

"What the fuck is he doing here?" Ron whispered as they all watched him greet the other members. "I feel like we're getting taken over by a bunch of Dark wizards and no one's realising."

"Like that bird!" George exclaimed. Everyone turned around. "You…you know that bird. The one that…that kills the baby bird and replaces it…you know? C'mon Hermione you should…."

"I have no idea what you're talking about."

"I read it in a book!"

"Now you're definantly lying," Ginny giggled.

"Maybe he's a spy too," Ila whispered.

"Spy my arse," Ron said. "At least Malfoy's just a student. Snape's got some power here to fuck things up."

The days of monotony were broken up by two letters. One was Ila's court data, which just so happened to be tomorrow. According to Mr Weasley, it was as though the ministry was setting her up to fail before leaving the room to find Kingsley. The second letter was…rather surprising to everyone. For the most part, it was the normal welcome back letter, enlisting all the supplies you needed. However, on just two of the letters, there was something extra added –

"Dear Miss Granger,

We have been pleased to inform you that you have been selected to be Gryffindor's prefect. Your academic record has shown that you have exhibited the bravery and responsibility that Gryffindor looks for in its students. Enclosed, you will find your Prefect Badge. We hope that you will not take this job lightly and take your new responsibilities seriously. Failure to do so will mean revoking your position. However, we are sure that will not be the case. We hope you enjoy your new position! Please head to the Prefect carriage on your journey back to Hogwarts immediately to be briefed about your Prefect duties as well as to meet your fellow Prefects.

Sincerely

Minerva McGonagall."

"I can't believe it!" Hermione squealed, jumping up and down. "I didn't expect them to give it to me so early. God, I need to tell my mum!"

"There's been a mistake," Ron said, looking down at his letter. "There's been a big – I mean – this isn't….what the fuck happened?"

Ila and the rest of the Weasley siblings peered over Ron's shoulder to see him get the same letter as Hermione.

…

The exact same letter.

"What was Dumbledore thinking?" Ginny muttered as she re-read the letter twice.

"AW! Our lickle Ron's prefect!" George cooed.

"We better not make any trouble for him," Fred said, pinching his cheek. "We don't want him to get stressed out!"

"Geroff!" Rom grumbled, pushing the twins away. He tipped the envelope and landing in his hand was an identical prefect badge that Hermione had gotten to. At the same time, Mrs Weasley arrived in the kitchen. She didn't need to be told about what happened. Having three prefects in the family, Mrs Weasley was familiar with the shiny red badge that gave most students a power trip.

However, her reaction to Ron's prefect position wasn't the same compared to her other sons.

"Oh, Ron!" Mrs Weasley said, with a smile on her face as she walked up to him. She picked up the badge, the sun hitting it a perfect angle for Crookshanks to play with the light.

"Thanks Mu-"

"Where did you find this?" Mrs Weasley said. "I thought Bill lost his. He'll be really happy when I give this back to him."

"Huh?" Ron said, snatching the badge out of her hand, the light disappearing for Crookshanks. "What do you mean? It's mine."

Mrs Weasley blinked before breaking out into a laugh. "I never really got your jokes before, but I think I finally understand."

"I'm not joking mum, look!" Ron showed his mother the letter he received. The more times Mrs Weasley read it, the more her smile dropped until a straight line formed on her lips. Her eyes grew wider and wider, trying to take in all the information in the letter.

"Oh."

"Oh?" Ron said. "Seriously, is that all you can say right now?"

"To be fair to Mum, you're not exactly prefect material," Fred said. "No shame, neither were we."

Ron faced his mother, looking to see any disagreements on her face.

She smiled nervously, patting him on the shoulder. "It's not that…it's just…It's a bit of a surprise…that's all." Ron groaned, throwing his hands in the air. "Do you know who the other prefect will be?"

"It's me, Mrs Weasley," Hermione said, waving her letter.

Mrs Weasley let out a gasp before bringing her into a hug. Ron stared at the two for a while, agape.

"Mum, I'm your son!" Ron exclaimed.

"Poor Ronnie never got a hug from his mummy!" George said before wrapping his arms too tightly around Ron. "I guess we have to make up for it."

"I can't believe this," Ron muttered. "You know, if Dad was here, he would have congratulated me!"

"Ah - " was all that Mr Weasley could say, staring at the letter a mere moments after Mrs Weasley had seen the letter.

"Fuck this family," Ron muttered darkly.

"Perhaps we should have a party," Mrs Weasley suggested, starting to feel bad about her lack of reaction to Ron's prefect position. No one would have blamed her. Ila was sure that Ron didn't blame her either.

"Did I hear the word party?" Sirius said, entering the room. "Who's party? Is it for your birthday Ila?"

"Hermione and Ron are prefects now," Ila said, and it felt like the entire room stared at him, waiting for his reaction.

"Oh," Sirius said as Ila handed Ron's prefect letter. "Cool."

"You know what I just realised today?" Ron asked, standing up, and snatching the letter from Sirius. "No one appreciates greatness until it's too late. Just like Van Gogh, no one will appreciate me until I'm dead!"

With that, Ron left the room.

No one went after him.

"I'll make some of my crumble," Mrs Weasley said cheerfully. "I suppose we should get some supplies too."

"We'll get them," the twins said simultaneously.

"No," Mrs Weasley replied. "No child of mine will leave the house after what happened."

"We're just trying to have some fun, Mum," Ginny said, grumpy that she couldn't explore the streets of London.

"I would ask you Hermione, but I don't want you shopping for your own party," Mrs Weasley said before slowly turning to Ila.

"I guess I'll..I'll-I'll go," Ila stuttered, following Mrs Weasley out into the hallway. "Er – what – what should I get?"

"She can't go by herself," Sirius said. "I'll join you."

"No, you can't either," Mrs Weasley said. "You're still a wanted man."

"I can turn into a dog Molly, it will be fine," Sirius said, already starting to get onto all fours when Mrs Weasley stopped him.

"It's too much hassle Sirius," Mrs Weasley said. "Besides, didn't you want her to have some freedom from me?"

Sirius sighed, looking at Ila. "Not like this."

Just then, creaks from the stairs above interrupted the three. Ila looked up to see Dumbledore and Draco.

They were here this entire time, Ila thought.

"A problem?" Dumbledore asked, walking down the stairs.

This was the first time Ila had seen Dumbledore properly since the last day of school. Since he broke her promise. The rage she felt, the one feeling she tried her hardest to push down, the one that faded until it was nothing but a mere stain on her mind had come back. Maybe it was because it had been a long time since she had seen him, but she felt worse. She felt angrier than ever. She wanted him to know what pain she went through. Not just the humiliation of standing in front of the entire school whilst someone else told your story – no, Ila wanted him to feel the pain Voldemort put her through. She wanted him to lose sleep over it. To not be able to walk for long, to wake up every day in pain. She wanted him to mourn over his past self.

Ila turned away, wiping a tear away as he stopped at the last step. Of course, he would do that. He just had to feel better than everyone else.

"We were trying to figure out who can accompany Ila to the shops – just to get some decorations for Hermione and Ron's prefect party," Mrs Weasley said, stressing Ron's name in hopes that Dumbledore would tell her that it was a mistake and they actually wanted Robert or Rory or Rodney to be prefect instead.

"Ah. Well, congratulations to the two of them. I'm sure they will be the perfect fit," Dumbledore said. Ila could feel the twinkle in his eye. "As for a companion for Ila, well… Draco?"

Draco hummed in response.

"You mentioned you were going back to an empty house, didn't you? Perhaps, if it's not too much you could accompany Ila."

"Er…Well…Ok. Ok sure. I'll – I'll yeah…"

Draco's sentence fizzled out as he walked past Dumbledore. Ila could feel him standing behind her.

"Well, great – I guess that's sorted," Mrs Weasley said, opening the door for the two of them. "Er – just get some paper plates and some cups, preferably with a theme. Oh, and maybe some balloons or a card. Like I said, nothing too much. Stay safe."

"If something happens," Sirius started.

"You won't hesitate to run the streets of London as a dog," Ila finished and stepped outside, with Draco following close behind.

In fact, maybe a bit too close. For a few streets, Ila had her shoes constantly stepped on by how close Draco was walking until –

"If you're going to walk with me, either walk next to me or leave a bit more a of a gap!" Ila exclaimed, pulling her shoe back again. She looked up to see him staring at her.

He had changed. Nothing drastic – he still had his sharp features, and his blonde hair but, he had grown even more since the last time she had seen him. He looked a lot less young, his baby fat (that was barely there) disappearing completely, leaving him hollowed-out cheekbones.

There was a slight bubble of insecurity that popped in the sea of anger drifting in her, as she knew her own cheeks were the only thing that couldn't be lost.

Draco was doing the same thing to her. She wondered if he thought about her, about her face. She wondered what she would look like to him.

Actually – no.

She didn't want to think about that.

Ila turned around and continued walking. She wasn't entirely sure where she was going.

"Isn't this the same park?" Ila asked, stopping in front of the gates to the park. She was pretty sure she had seen the child on the swing, whining to his mother about pushing him higher.

"Yep," Draco replied, watching the child too.

"Why didn't you say anything?" she said, looking up to him.

"It's fun seeing you fail," he replied, looking down at her.

"I thought you were trying to be a good person."

"I guess old habits die hard," he shrugged. "Besides, I don't really want to go back just yet."

There was a knot that formed in Ila's stomach, but it felt different. It didn't hurt or make her anxious. It made her excited.

It had been a while since she felt this.

She didn't want it to leave her.

"What do you want to do?" she asked, her eyes never leaving his.

Draco stared at her a moment too long before looking off in the distance. "There's a place we can sit down. C'mon."

Ila followed him as they entered the park. Perhaps it was the desperation (it was definantly the desperation) of not wanting to lose the feeling that made her follow him.

However, she was reminded of the conversations with Hermione and Ginny. Another feeling swept by her that was not as nice.

"Does it hurt?" Draco said, tracing the scar on her forehead. He was gentle, barely laying a fingertip on her.

"No, well…not anymore," she said.

"Does it…I don't know, does it tell you the future?"

"Do you think it shoots out lightning bolts or something?"

"Like your wand?" Draco smirked, his hand travelling down to her face. He brushed her hair away when a gust of wind picked up.

"In my defence, I didn't know it would do that," Ila said, burying herself closer to him. "It wasn't until Ollivander checked my wand before the tournament started."

"Are you nervous? For tomorrow I mean?"

Ila smiled slightly. "Do you want me to tell you the truth or make a lie up to help you feel better about asking me a stupid question?"

"Sorry," he said sheepishly. "You know, there's a chance that nothing bad would happen. Maybe I got the dates mixed up or maybe they won't even do that. Maybe we got completely wrong?"

"What happens if we got it right?" she asked, looking up at him. "What happens then?"

Draco's brows furrowed. He brought her so close to him. He wanted to be the one to protect her, to give her everything. At that moment, he wanted to kill Voldemort for Ila. He had never felt like this before. To love someone so deeply, you would do anything for them. It was the same sensation whenever he flew too high, too quickly. His stomach dropped; his head spun.

"I'll be there," he whispered. "Whatever happens I'll be there for you Ila, I promise."

"You promise?" she said. She raised her pinkie. He smiled before hooking his own. He placed his lips gently on her finger and kissed it.

"I won't force you. You come to me anytime. I'll promise I'll listen. I'll promise that I'll be by your side, no matter what, Ila Leela Potter."

"How did you find this place?" Ila asked after a while. The two were sitting by the bank of a river. Ducks and swans were swimming peacefully. Ila could hear the buzz of crickets, bees and the occasional dragonfly whizz past her. For London, the water looked relatively clear, though there were patches of algae floating on top. The two sat under a large tree, large enough to shield them from the afternoon sun.

"I come here often enough," Draco said, leaning back onto his elbows. "It's not like I'm in a rush to get back home anyway."

"Why are you here?" Ila asked, bringing her knees to her.

"Is it obvious?" he said. "I've joined the Order."

She looked back at him. He was bathing in the sun. He closed his eyes and felt the sun hit his face.

"Why would you want to do that?"

"Dumbledore offered me a place long ago," Draco explained. "The whole reason why I investigated the Sisters was because Dumbledore told me. He wanted to prove to everyone that I was serious enough to join."

Ila scoffed. "He just wanted someone to do the work for him and take the credit."

Draco opened his eyes and sat up. "Ila-"

"Don't!"

Ila rested her head on her knees, away from Draco.

"I'm sorry for not…I'm sorry for what he did Ila. You shouldn't have gone through something like that. If I could, I would go back in time -"

"What's done is done," she said thickly, staring at a three-leaf clover.

A silence fell between the two. Ila could hear Draco's shift in position. She could feel him closer to her. She couldn't see the hesitation in him. He wanted to hold her, tell her that she can stay with him, like this forever. That they two should just run away together, hand in hand, away from Voldemort.

But he couldn't. This wasn't the Ila that he kissed the night before the Third Task.

"I know Dumbledore would've told you, but we were right," Ila said. "The Four are here."

"Yeah…I know."

Ila slowly turned her head around. "Do you know about Lesser Malling?"

Draco chuckled nervously. "Ila, I can't tell -"

"You promised you'd be there for me," she said.

Draco looked at her. "That's different."

"How?" Ila questioned. "Was it before you realised how hard everything will be?"

"It was before I was sworn to secrecy, Ila."

"What? Did you take an unbreakable vow or something?"

"No, but, Ila I can't tell you things out of your own protection."

She scoffed. "Sounds like talking points from Dumbledore. Besides, when has that ever stopped you last year?"

"Ila please, I will literally do anything else. I just can't tell you about what goes on during those meetings."

"You'll do anything?" Ila said, looking up at him.

Draco nodded.

"Promise you won't lie to me again," she said before getting up and started to leave the park.

"When did I lie?" Draco said, walking after her.

"Where were you?" Ila said, turning around. Ila shoved him. "Where the fuck were you?"

"I didn't lie to you," Draco replied, taking the hit and walking just as close. "I promised you that I wouldn't leave you. I also told you that I would wait for you. You would come to me whenever you needed."

Ila looked at him, her brain running a mile a minute. The ground below her swayed back and forth.

"You never met me. You never said another fucking word!" Ila yelled, pushing him harder this time. Draco stumbled back. He didn't look annoyed. He looked like he wanted her to go harder. "You never stepped foot in the hospital wing."

"Did you want me to?" Draco countered, stepping closer. "With everyone there, with your friends and their families, did you really want me to be there?"

"I don't fucking know, that's not my decision to make it was yours," Ila snapped before walking again. She looked down to see the ground change momentarily. Instead of pavement, it was grass. Her feet were in the air, against a stone grave. She looked up to see the park once more.

Watch out! Any angrier and you might do something you'll regret. Or maybe you can't control it. Reminds me of another family member of yours.

Draco managed to catch up to her and stood in front of her. She stopped a few steps away, only able to think about what she said.

That's not true. Just because He was on some family tree doesn't mean they're the same…

You both caused death and destruction. The only difference is, one of you has already done it. We're just waiting around, like sitting ducks for the other.

"Ila!" Draco said loudly, waving a hand in front of her. She looked up at him again, dispelling her thoughts. "Listen…I'm sorry, I should have met you in the hospital or just…said something. I got…I got scared if I'm being honest. I didn't know what I would do if I saw you again. I saw you when you came back from the maze and…I couldn't do it. I was just so fucking…it was like my brain exploded. But I couldn't move. I didn't do anything. I'm sorry. I really am Ila."

She shouldn't have made him say this. She knew that he couldn't have come to the hospital. She shouldn't have been angry. She didn't…

"I'm sorry for getting annoyed, I shouldn't have…I shouldn't have done it."

Draco shook his head immediately. "Don't say that. You can…you went through some shit times. It's ok to feel angry. I'd rather you be angry than keep it in, y'know?"
"Yeah," was all that Ila could say.

Suddenly the thought of asking Draco about their relationship felt useless. There were bigger things going on. Maybe another time.

"Do you think it's going to be a lot of work?" Ila asked as Ron, Hermione, Ginny and herself sat on the floor, shielding behind the sofa and armchairs from the adults who were busy getting tipsy…or drunk in Sirius's case.

"THIS WINE IS ABOSSSSLLLUTTELY MARVELOUSSSSSSSSS!" Sirius yelled, holding up a beer can.

"It better not be," Ron replied. He still hadn't gotten over no one appreciating his greatness and yet the moment it came for his celebratory dinner, he was the first to stuff his face with food.

"We're prefects Ron, of course, it's going to be a lot of work," Hermione said, leaning back. "We'll know more in our meeting. Which reminds me, can you save us seats on the train?"

"Sure," Ginny said, taking a sip of her drink, that was definantly not just a fizzy drink. "But something tells me we'll be late. We might have to share. Anyway Ila, you're birthday's coming up – what do you want?"

"You know every year you ask me this, and the answer's the same. I don't - "

"That's literally bullshit Ila," Ginny exclaimed. "Give me a real answer."

She shrugged her shoulders. "I'm really not in need of anything."

"Fine – this is the last time I ever be nice to someone."

Ila smiled, pulling Ginny into a hug.

"What about…oh, I saw somewhere about a voucher for Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop," Hermione suggested.

"Yeah, what about that?" Ginny said, who was now leaning against Ila.

"What is that?" she asked.

"It's just a popular place to go for a first date," Ron said, surprising the three girls. "What? I do come in handy sometimes."

"Sounds like you were planning on taking someone Ron," Ila said, raising her brows suggestively.

"It wasn't any – It was Fleur…but you all saw how that turned out," Ron said grumpily.

"No offence to your brother, but aren't you a tad bit concerned that the age gap is too much of an age gap between them?" Hermione asked, taking a sip of her drink.

Ginny shrugged. "She's French."

"It's not that big," Ron said. "It's only five…maybe six. Could be seven."

"Do you even know how old your brother is?" Ila asked.

"Fuck knows," Ron said, shrugging his shoulders before lying down on his side. "All I know is that he's older than me."

"Ron, can you get me some more Coke?" Ginny said, shoving her cup to him.

He stared at her hand before looking up at her. "I just laid down. What makes you think I'm going to do that?"

The exchange was wordless, but Hermione and Ila could see that from an exchange of glances, something disturbed Ron enough for him to take the cup and move to get the drink.

"How did you do that?" Hermione asked. Ginny replied with just a tap of her nose.

"Anyway, how was your walk with Draco?" she said, looking up at Ila smiling.

"Is that why you wanted Ron out of the way?"

"I'm such a good friend."

Ila sighed, leaning back on the sofa, making Ginny sit even lower. "When I met him…I was pissed off at him. I don't know, I guess…I thought he would say something. But obviously he didn't and he apologised - "

"Fucking Malfoy apologised?" Ginny said bewildered, sitting up. "Now I have to meet the new Draco."

"He's not that different," Ila said. "Besides you see him here. Why don't you go talk to him?"

"You don't know what it's like to have brothers do you Ila?"

"Did anything happen after?" Hermione said. "Did you talk about you know…" She looked around for the twins – who were busy dancing with Tonks and their mum or Ron – who was trying to sneak another bottle of firewhiskey, only to be dragged away by Sirius.

"No," Ila said.

The two girls groaned in disappointment.

"I thought we were going to do this," Ginny said. "We gave you the blessing and everything."

"It's not that, it's just….I don't know, we didn't really have any time."

"You guys were gone for a while," Ginny said, raising a brow. "Thought the two of you ran off together or something."

"OK fine, I guess, I don't know, we were talking about that night, not all of it but just…I guess I didn't think it was that important."

"But you will talk about it with him won't you?"

"I don't know - "

"What did we just talk about?" Ginny said, sitting up.

"I don't get why you guys are so fussed about this, surely you two should be against this – you especially," Ila said, pointing to Hermione.

"He apologised," Hermione retorted. "It does seem like he's changed Ila."

"Yeah but the rest of the world hasn't changed," Ila said.

"The change about what?" Ron asked, sitting back down and handing Ginny the drink. He was red in the face that could either be from the firewhiskey or the dancing.

"Er – just about the whole You Know Who thing," Ila said, although now that she had said it aloud, she was wondering where why there was a lack of response.

"Did you not see it?" Ron asked before Hermione slapped him and gave him a look to stop talking.

"No, go on," Ila said to Ron. "See what?"

"You really want to do this now?" Ginny asked.

"What is it?" Ila asked.

Hermione got up and walked to the kitchen, browsing the table. She managed to avoid all the drunk adults and picked something up before coming back. Hermione dropped a newspaper in front of Ila before sitting back down.

On the front cover read –

"THE GIRL WHO LIVED OR THE GIRL WHO LIED?"

"You've got to be joking," Ila said, her eyes zeroing in on Rita Skeeter's name. "You'd think she'd stop. You'd think..."

"She was never one with morals," Hermione said.

"Our famed Triwizard Winner, starting from humble beginnings. Well…not really. We all knew who the winner was from the moment she was a mere babe, being the one who saved the whole world from the wrath of You Know Who. It seems, however, that our winner wants even more fame. Being a Triwizard winner when she wasn't even supposed to compete wasn't enough. Though, it makes sense. Some people will do anything for fame. According to an exclusive interview with Cornelius Fudge, the Minister of Magic, Ila had "ran into the hospital wing, grabbing me and yelling to make me believe her." Ila Potter went on to talk about how You Know Who had actually come back but weren't you the one that killed him?

She had even gotten Albus Dumbledore to play a part, telling the whole school of Hogwarts about what happened. After getting a few more interviews from students, Ila had just gotten the Triwizard Cup but was somehow transported to a completely different place. She had come face to face with You Know Who himself and had to fight him to the death! She even got tortured with the Cruciatus and all. And if that didn't make you laugh, she even told John Dawlish that his wife had come back to die and wanted to pass him a message!

It has been said that a person in fame, their maturity level stays at the age of when they got famous…Something tells me that it's true. Perhaps instead of staying at Hogwarts, she might need a trip to St Mungo's.

Fudge has debunked the delusions that Ila had come up with, saying that "she's a child, she clearly has no idea what she is talking about. Besides, people like her, they'd want to take the limelight away from real issues. Such as the decline in our economy or our food shortage which we will be quick to get ahead of this issue. These are the real issues everyone has to focus on, not some make-believe from a child who clearly wants attention. You've seen what her people are like. To think her grandparents wanted a statue to commemorate the night You Know Who died and honour their children. I wonder how they would feel knowing their same grandchild is lying about His return. Really puts her parents to shame for their sacrifice."

Ila didn't know what to think. Or what to say. Or what to do. She stayed, staring at the newspaper. It went on like that. But Ila couldn't read anymore, she couldn't concentrate. She would have to start re-reading the line before because she didn't internalise what was being said.

Fudge didn't believe her, she had gotten over that. But it's not just Fudge now is it? It's everyone who reads the Daily Prophet, and everyone who knows someone who reads the Daily Prophet and so on.

It's everyone. She wondered how many people at school would believe their parents who read the Daily Prophet over Dumbledore.

Too many.

There were times when she wondered if it did happen. If she was living this life of a teenager having to deal with someone who was trying to kill her. Maybe it wasn't real. Maybe she banged her head hard or something but in those moments, like her body was trying to remind her that it was real, her spine would jolt from pain, or her arms would spasm.

The lasting effects of the Cruciatus curse. She wouldn't remember a lot of things. She'd forget stuff immediately. Her brain could barely string a thought at the worst of times.

Ron took the newspaper and ripped it up to the pieces before throwing it in the fire. He left a couple of pieces for Ila.

"C'mon, it might feel good," Ron said. Ila took the pieces and threw them into the fire. However, there was one piece that was too light to fly straight into the fire, landing on the floor instead.

Staring straight at her were the words "THE GIRL WHO LIED."