Alright, next chapter. Sorry for the delay, I had work and then children to attend to.

I think I've also finally finished chapter one of my book book now. It's taken me a while to write it in the way that I want.

As a bit of a note on that, and some shameless self advertising… I have told everyone in my authors notes that I am transgender. I am on HRT and am now looking into surgeries, with the full support of my family. But still, mental health is a thing. My wife and I both have therapists to help with our issues. And that has led to this project.

I am writing down my experiences as a transgender individual, starting with my first gender wellness appointment. My birth name is kept blurred, and in every proper opportunity, I will be using my pen name "Lwa Pennman."

This story is my own, and will take readers through the many instances in my life that made me realize my differences, with the hopes that others will find a bit of kinship there. My end goal is to put my experiences down, and connect with other trans individuals, and then from there, start a new project.

Of course, that will be once I am finished with this one.

So, if you would all like, I can publish a few sneak peaks of my book as we go along, and hopefully, when I am finished, and I can actually publish, I will be able to gift a few copies to those who want them.

Well, if I do succeed in publishing, that is.

Anyways, This chapter has a few things to cover. Moody's interview with a muggle, the Shortsnout chase, and Ron making it to London.

Two chapters to Hogwarts, let's go

—0—

Alastor Moody looked at the plain muggle house near Crawley. It was familiar to him, certainly. He knew the woman by name, he had seen her so many times.

A muggle witness who saw almost everything. He knew that it led to obliviation resistance, one could only have their memories wiped so many times…

But she had contacted them about a missing person. The Weasley boy had apparently passed through here, so he had volunteered to help.

Unfortunately, it meant that he'd have to administer a potion to wipe her mind. Albus had provided him with the venom from the swooping evil, which he and Newt Scamander had harvested after Grindelwalds war.

Hopefully she's still serve tea.

The door opened inward with nary a knock. She was already there, ready for him. He had tried to dress his best for muggle fashion, some muggle work pants and a buttoned shirt. The black jacket overtop might have been Albus's touch, but sue him. He had even left his eye in his office at the ministry, covering up the pit it left behind with a plain black eyepatch.

"Evening Miss McAllen."

"Mr. Jacobs! I didn't know they were sending you!"

Alastor winced internally. That was his first sign that she wasn't effected by obliviators anymore. "Yes miss, they recognized the number and sent me the case."

"Hadn't you retired?" The woman smiled, welcoming him into the house. "You must be getting close, at the very least."

"Me, retire? Ha! Those youngun's on the force wish I weren't there. But someone has to stay vigilant. They just don't train 'em right anymore."

The woman nodded and sat him in her sitting room. "I was expecting someone at around this time. It's when you would show up, of course. Waters on for tea, but we should probably sit and talk first."

Alastor pursed his lips. "Well… I'm okay to wait for a few minutes."

"I know you have something different, Mr. Jacobs. Your wand isn't at your hip anymore."

Alastors eyes widened as the woman sat down, smiling sweetly. "I had a feeling that you'd remember… How long?"

"I stopped reporting things after the last five calls a few years ago. My head hurt the first time, and then I started remembering." She nodded, laying back. "I had hoped that it wouldn't have come to me being wiped again, but I needed to tell someone."

Alastor leaned forward. "What do you need to tell us, ma'am?"

A whistle came from in the kitchen, startling Anne to her feet. "That's the kettle. One moment Mr. Jacobs."

She hurried out of the room to fetch the teacups, leaving Alastor with a few moments to think. Anne was having headaches when she remembered things… and with five consecutive failures of his own obliviate spell, on top of the obliviators.

Would swooping evil venom work?

"I remember that you liked the milkthistle tea. With all those scars on you, I'd expect you had something to drink for. It helps with the internal scarring."

Alastor accepted the tea, but refrained from spiking the womans cup. "Thank you."

She nodded, taking a sip of her own beverage. "I'm sorry to put you in this position again…"

Alastor nodded. Years ago, just out of Voldemorts war, when the force was getting back to domestic calls, that was his first time at this house. It was relaxing, and he always wanted to keep it that way.

'Constant Vigilance…'

Anne was always vigilant. He could think of no muggle that had noticed so much magic. Often times, he wondered if she was a squib. It would ake some sense, he supposed.

"Don't apologize. It's because of you that I can save someone."

"The boy." McAllen nodded.

Alastor leaned in. "Tell me again, what you saw, miss. There wasn't much information given from your call."

The woman shrugged. "It… it will make me sound quite batty. Even for your people. I do not wish to speak of it again sir. You will think me mad. Just… the boy."

"I won't think anything less of you." Alastor spoke, setting his teaup down. "Every bit of information helps, so I wish to know all of it. Just tell me what you saw."

"Is it really worth repeating?"

"It is more important that you could know."

She sat there, wringing her hands slowly, shifting her legs every so often. She was scared of something. Something other than him. That, in and of itself, terrified Alastor. He himself had terrified hundreds of dark wizards, what could terrify her more than him? Especially with her knowledge of magic intact?

"The boy. I saw the boy."

"Red hair, Blue eyes-"

"Black hair, but he had a wand, like you. His eyes were blue. Maybe he changed his hair?" She suggested.

"It could be possible." Alastor nodded. "He is young, however. What scares you so, miss?"

"The boy… he brought them with him. He spoke to them. Directed them. They protected him…" She was looking all over the room now, as if it were filled with watchful eyes of spies. Her anxious demeanor was starting to get to him, believe it or not. Especially because he didn't have his eye.

"Spiders… millions of spiders. They were everywhere. The roads, the houses. They crawled upon his skin like some living clothing." She shook, rubbing her shoulders. "But he seemed safe with them…"

Alastors brow furrowed. He remembered such phenomena from the last war. Bellatrix Lestrange could control spiders. Why would the boy be able to do such a thing?

He would have to ask Albus.

"Thank you for telling me, Miss. Your help is greatly appreciated." Allastor stood and gave a short bow.

"Are you not going to take this away from me?" She tapped her forehead.

Th elderly Auror pondered for a moment, before reaching for his wand. With a flick, the womans window flew open, and in fluttered an owl.

"I think that it would be better if you could write to me directly when you see something. Just give a letter to the owl, and he'll deliver it in a day."

Anne blinked as the owl hopped over to her counter and gave a small hoot. Looking up. She saw the hardened face of the man she had come to know soften, with his single eye looking at her with something akin to sadness.

"I'll write, Jacobs. I swear I will."

"It's Alastor, ma'am." Moody stowed his wand as he turned to walk out of the house. "Alastor Moody."

—0—

Charlie raced along the pathway to Shortsnout RIdge as fast as his broom could carry him. All caution was thrown to the wind as he flew low enough for his feet to brush the dirt.

Up ahead, the roars were becoming louder, and he could see the flickers of fire breath lancing into the air.

"Come on… COME ON!"

The speed of his flying doubled as he pushed his magic into the broom. He was a mile out on the trail, then a half, then-

He could see them hurrying up a rocky scramble as Ryggrad roared behind them. From the sounds of it, he ws still near his cave, looking around for the two. They had heard him before he caught their scent.

That was good.

Charlie landed at the top of the scramble and grabbed Scortwits arm, pulling him and Merlot up to safe ground. The girl looked at him in relief.

"Charlie…"

Without the words for her, he turned to Scortwit. "What the hell were you thinking?"

"We took all of the necessary precautions-"

"They don't work with Ryggrad!" The Weasley boy hissed. "Quick, get down."

The three hit the dirt as the Swedish short snout lumbered out from his nest. Charlie's nose wrinkled as he saw the green buildup on the edges of Ryggrad's scales.

"Fuck… didn't think it was that bad…"

"Shhh. He'll hear us Charlie!" Merlot whispered.

"No. He's deaf." Charlie whispered back. Merlot's eyes widened and she turned to Scortwit, who was holding his head.

"Don't tell me-"

"I forgot. I thought that we'd switched him out and moved him to the cliffs."

Charlie huffed. "You're overtired, sir. We tried that before, but he couldn't remember where his nest was."

The man cursed and shook his head. "Yeah… I remember now."

Charlie chuckled and shook his head. "Fat lot of good it does us now. Alright then… I can deal with this."

Charlie stood up and drew his wand.

"Charlie, you can't-"

The redhead ignored Merlot's words and jumped down to the dragons level, straightening up as he stalked towards it.

"He'll be okay, won't he?" Merlot whispered.

"Okay? Yeah… I just hope the dragon comes out intact." Scortwit huffed.

Merot looked down just in time to see the two come face to face. The dragon breathed in, and Charlie moved.

Merlot had never seen someone move so fast. It was as if his muscles were as strong as the dragon he was facing. The fire splashed harmlessly across the ground, turning rocks cherry red as Charlie appeared behind the beast.

"AGUAMENTI!"

A blast of water, bigger than any that Merlot had ever seen, roared out of Charlie's wand. The force of it dissolved the green buildup on the edges of the dragons scales, and began to fill the rocky depression where the Dragon had been laying.

"Holy-"

"His talent is one that is perfect for jobs like these." Scortwit shook his head. "Remember how I said he can walk through dragons flames? He can direct their magic through himself when they are within close proximity. I don't think any dragon could reasonably hope to defeat him."

Merlot watched as Charlie directed the water upwards, right into the side of the dragons head. The force was enough to smash it back, pressing into one of the rocky walls of the area.

The shortsnout roared as Charlie ended the spell, before lunging towards him with a great flap of its wings.

"Glacius! Incendio!"

The air turned to ice in a cold snap, before expanding with a loud boom as a spear of dragon fire flew from Charlie's wand, smiting the dragon across the face and disorienting it.

"Are you done yet Ryggrad?" The young man spoke, though his words were unnecessary. He knew of the beasts disability and knew it couldn't hear him.

The dragon let out a low clicking growl, before lunging again. Fire curled at the corners of its mouth as it stopped short, before blasting outward and consuming the wizard in an unholy blaze of heat.

"CHARLIE!"

"He's fine." Scortwit lunged forward and caught Merlot before she could jump down. "Trust me. He'll be okay."

The dragons breath continued on for more than half a minute, before Ryggrad feelt confident that he had won. He made the mistake of ending his attack, giving Charlie the advantage.

The wizard leapt out of the dragons flame as it petered out, whipping his wand to the side. Ryggrad's entire body was flipped over and slammed into the ground. The beast squealed in pan, but Charlie wasn't done. A cry of "Aguamenti!" Sent an even larger jet of water into the dragon, pushing it back to its nest. Merlot's eyes widened as she watched the scales of the dragons hide flake off under the pressure and scatter across the area.

With a final slash of his wand, Charlie hit the beast with a wave of heat, evaporating the water from its skin and causing its eyes to roll back. The temperature change took its toll, and the dragon fell down, knocked out.

Charlie stowed his wand and slowly made his way back to Scortwit and Merlot, wincing at odd movements. It had been a while since he had bathed in a dragons breath, and his skin didn't seem to take to kindly to the first being a shortsnout.

"You're face!" Merlot cried out as he crested the rocky scramble. "Oh Charlie-"

"Not as bad as it looks. Just feels lika sunburn is all." The young man shrugged, before wincing. "Only it's across my entire body."

Merlot winced and Scortwit tiptoed forward. "I'm sorry… I didn't mean-"

"You and me will have words about this Scortwit." Charlie turned, his demeanor instantly shifting to righteous anger. "You brought a child into a dragons hoard. She could have been killed!"

"Charlie, stop! I agreed to it." Merlot grabbed his hand.

"But I didn't. We both look after you Merlot. This was wrong!"

"Charlie-boy please-"

Scortwit was cut off by a slap. Merlot screamed and ran to his side as he clutched his face.

"Do not try to be kind to me! My daughter could have died today! My brother is already gone what do you-"

"Your daughter? Your daughter?" Scortwit snarled. "You need to look at yourself boy. You aren't here to be her parent."

Merlot shook her head. "Stop it please, both of you!"

In his rage, Charlie shoved the girl away, causing her to stumble back and fall to the ground.

"Who's taught her how to fly? Who gets her to come with us on safe jobs? Who taught her her first spells?" Charlie shouted.

"We both did, TOGETHER!" Scortwit yelled back. "But you are not in the place to be caring for her right now. I can handle it!"

"What do you mean I'm not-"

"STOP IT!"

The two froze, turning to see Merlot crying, clutching her cane tightly. "I-I'm sorry that I got in the way, okay?"

"Merlot-" Charlie stepped forward, only to freeze as the girl scrambled back, pushing herself as she had yet to get to her feet.

"Don't-" Merlot shook her head. "Don't touch me. Neither of you come near me."

"Merlot, I-"

"You. You made a mistake, and you brought me on a dangerous job." The girl planted her cane in the ground and struggled to her feet. "But Charlie… I only said yes because you need time too."

"I'm fine."

"You are not fine." Merlot spat, tears rolling down her cheeks. "Your brother and dad are gone, and your family is in ruins. You. Are. Not. Okay. You just slapped Scortwit and pushed me around without even noticing. You aren't okay!"

"I'm sorry. I swear that-"

"One month." Merlot whispered. "Actually… less than that. There are three weeks until Hogwarts. You need to take that time to get better."

"Merlot-"

"I won't forgive you until you take time, Charlie. Or this will only happen again DON'T-" The girl raised her wand at him as he tried to reach for her. "Don't touch me."

Charlie watched as she put her wand back shakily, before limping back towards the lodge trail. "We should get home for dinner… Don't want to keep the others waiting."

Scortwit looked at Charlie, before following along. The redheaded wizard watched them walk a few feet, before following after.

'I'm sorry.'

—0—

Albus watched as Alastor crumpled in his seat. He had never seen the man like this before. He was not one to typically be emotionally compromised.

"What did you find, Alastor."

"The witness was an old friend… she saw the boy."

"An old friend? In a muggle reporter?"

"Old lady. Anna McAllen. Showing up to tell her that magic wasn't real used to be my break from catching stray death eaters… She remembers me, Albus."

The man leaned forward. "Did you use the venom, then?"

"No. I didn't." The man said, placing the vial of swooping evil venom on the desk of the Hogwarts Headmaster. "I couldn'tt bring myself to."

"You do know that this goes against the ministry." The elderly wizards eyes flicked up to him.

"If you report it, yes. But she's been more vigilant then half the wizards I see now adays. I'd rather she has a way to explain things in her life."

Albus shrugged. "Perhps it is better for her then. What of the boy?"

"She saw him. Young, blue eyes. Though he had black hair instead of red, apparently."

"So… a hair changing charm perhaps. Interesting." Albus nodded.

"She says that he wasn't alone Albus. He brought millions of them with him too."

"Millions of what?"

"Spiders."

The answer made Dumbledore freeze. Molly had told him of the boys gift. Things were beginning to fall into place for him.

"A large pureblood family. A boy with a gift from a different bloodline… A horcrux from a woman from that bloodline."

"A horcrux?" Alastor raised a scarred eyebrow. "I was under the impression that Arthur was hunting them."

"I think that I have just come to a conclusion that seems almost improbable… but knowing what we know, is quite possible." Albus nodded. "Arthur apparently had an artifact connected to Bellatrix Lestrange. Before his dissappearance, he told his eldest son that it could help with a gruesome injury, and if it couldn't, then Ronald Weasley could."

Alastor blinked. "A dark artifact, hm?"

"Do you recall how the Weasleys and Malfoys began their family feud?"

"Well, Lucius grew angry after his sister was killed by Arthur during the war. Then he began using the money and influence he had gathered to start buying Potter land away from its vassal families, in an attempt to cut their family magic down to nothing."

Albus nodded. "When Arthur and Molly were declared blood traitors by Lucius, they had just had the twin children. Do you think that a curse on magic, coupled with enough children, could allow the two of them to no longer have more? More children, that is."

Alastor leaned back. "It is possible… Twins are generally a blessing, showing a bountiful amount of love and magic between two individuals… You know a bit on soul magic too… you give it as reasoning for families having older wizards and younger squibs."

Albus nodded. "In order to create a magical soul, two souls must join in union. When a new soul is created, it draws power from both parents, and is born from thbeir sparks. Eventually those sparks dwindle, and one can no longer have children."

Alastor nodded. "But, if another soul was added…"

"Arthur may have found himself unable to have more children. He allowed himself to be possessed by this artifact, which is no doubt, a Horcrux belonging to Bellatrix Lestrange. Her soul interacts with the souls of Molly and Arthur, recharging them, but not before another soul is created."

"Ronald Weasley."

"Born of three souls." Albus nodded. "A Weasley and a Prewett in looks. A Black in magic."

"Spiders."

"He has her gift. It is passed down from parent to child." Albus nodded.

"That, I can understand. His appearance now, however. Black hair. Do you think that it is a spell? Or his relation to the Blacks?"

"That, I have no way of answering. Unless I can speak to the boy… We will not ever know."

Alastor sighed, before pushing himself to his feet with a grunt. "Well… it jhas been good to see you Albus. I must go home to get some shuteye while I have the chance."

"I was under the impression that you didn't sleep." The elderly wizard chortled.

"Constant Vigilance! But… it is harder to remain vigilant when your eyes can't stay open." Moody sighed. "Goodnight Albus. We shall see each other again soon."

"Yes, my friend. Until then, goodnight."

—0—

The large swarm of spiders had slowly dwindled as they made pilgrimage to London. Nonmagical spiders, for all their worth, did not live forever. Many of those with Ron had perished upon the journey to the city, while others had gotten old, and wished to build webs to live in. The millions of spiders that once followed him had now turned to a few thousand.

It made Ron think more about the arachnids. He had no love for spiders, it was true. At least, when he was little. He was still more boy than teen, not even much past twelve years, but he was maturing far quicker than normal, especially now, thanks to his… predicament.

Nib had become wiser, though she was no closer to dying of age. Ron could feel a sort of bond between them, which kept her by her side. It was good, especially because she was one spider that he didn't truly fear.

The others in the swarm had slowly been accepted by him. Of course, he still felt gross after the Djieien, and the mending of his throat. Throwing up a group of spiders was definitely an event that left mental scars. But, he was now up to the point of touching other spiders, and in turn, letting them touch him. It had grown to be something that was expected, so much so that he never noticed it anymore. He would slip and scratch his hand, it would be mended with spider silk within minutes. There was a time where he had fell a bit hard on one of his arms, and the spiders had made him a sling.

The spiders were crafty, and incredibly intelligent. So much so that Ron actually began to see their whispers of hunting as something to laugh about. Finding food turned them child-like in their speech patterns. Sure, the constant whispers of blood and organ soup were a bit creepy, but now, it felt like he understood them better.

Ron was jarred from his train of thought as a whistle blew. Looking up, he could see the engine on platform eight was getting ready to depart.

'I wonder if there are other middle platforms…'

It was too early for school to begin. By his estimate, he was three days early. But the Hogwarts express did daily trips for Hogsmeade, so if he waited, he would be able to hop on to get to the castle early.

"I remember this place, whisperer… are we going to go this way?"

"Yes Nib." Ron smiled, stroking the spiders back. "We're going back home."

—0—

And that's the chapter. Two more chapters after this. Mostly minor things, of course. Then we'll be at Hogwarts!

As always, leave a review, and until next time,

Adios.