Defiant Blood - Blood and Bone Saga

Chapter 6

Warning: Adult themes with underage, no details or smut.

Poppy stepped hurriedly into the side room, deflecting the curiosities shouted from the others in the main waiting room. Crossing the threshold, she felt the tingle of the silencing ward, stepping through she entered the wave of sound spilling out from Pansy. The girl was laid down, bracing herself as she panted between screams.

"Everyone out!" she ordered as she saw the bunched-up group in the corner, minus Molly who sat holding the girl's arm.

They all made to move when Molly ordered them to stop in warning, "none of you leave that door until I've dealt with you".

Poppy didn't argue and just conjured a line of screens to separate the tiny room into two. She took hold of her tiny handbag, hanging from its strap over her shoulder. She placed it by the couch and tapped it with her wand, it grew, opening up into a large medical bag, full of organisation and readiness to be used.

She began quickly examining Pansy, her face, her eyes, anything that would tell her, something! "I need to work out what to do with her", she said stressed in concentration.

"You mean you don't know", Molly hissed.

"Of course I don't know", Poppy hissed back, "look at her, her stomach's as flat as a pancake, physical conception is no more than two weeks and yet she's as ready to push as I've ever seen while delivering". She looked at Molly, both women had the same, desperate despair on their faces, "honestly what would you suggest!".

"I… I don't know", Molly admitted, "it's got to be just phantom cramping, right?"

Pansy screamed out again as the pressure swelled, her hair was wet through with sweat that dripped down her face. "I don't know Molly… look at her, this is happening. It's as real as I've ever seen it". She addressed Pansy, "let me give you something for the pain".

"No", Pansy heaved through the panting, "urgh!" she moaned out, her head falling back on the arm of the bed. "Can't!" she hissed, "she… she has to come natural".

The women exchanged glances, "who does, Pansy?"

"Baby! … she has to come soon… I can't do this".

"She can't know that!"

"Molly, I don't know anything here", Poppy whined.

"I want Ronald!... I want mother!... argh!

"Pansy, we can't dear, I wish we could, but we can't!"

Pansy's hands started to grasp at the button on her jeans, desperate to relieve herself of them. Poppy saw this and without the presence of anything else to work off she conjured sheets to throw over her. Molly took the hint and helped her wiggle out of them, neither of them knowing what help it could do.

Molly gripped her hand tightly, her memories of herself, lay where the girl was, coming like flashes of motion picture. Pansy's pain built, wave after wave quickened as the tide moved against her. Professional curiosities driving her Poppy had to check her. But as she expected, Pansy was just a normal non-expectant girl. She desperately wanted Albus here with her, but knew that he just couldn't bring himself to, not with a student, it was on the two of them.

The curtain opened. "Out!" yelled Molly, not looking. Fleur came around behind the couch leaning over to look down her in concern. "Fleur, I'm sorry, but you can't be here".

"Non', I 'elp!" she said forcefully. Pansy could hardly register any of it, let alone her own annoyance or embarrassment. "Pensèe, you want naturelle oui? Then let me 'elp you". Fleur leaned over, ignoring any protest she took the sheet off her waist and placed her hand on her bare belly. She closed her eyes in concentration, focusing intently on her alure. She allowed it to spread, reaching to the girl, trying to encompass her pain.

Pansy felt something instantly, it was nothing to stop the pain or dull her senses to it, but she could at least think beyond her blurred vision now, in some small way, it helped.

"Fleur?" Bill shouted with a strained voice, "you're doing it again".

"Désolé mon amour", she apologised, "fight it while I help Pensèe". She turned to Molly, sharing a look at Pansy's flat stomach gleaming with sweat as she tensed and flexed. "C'est Incroyable non'!"

"It is", Molly breathed, "incredible".

"Pansy", Poppy said strained, all she had to go off was timing as she heard her, "I think you need to push now".

"And then what!" Pansy choked out.

Poppy shook her head, terrified, "I don't know".

"I'm gonna' kill him", Pansy gasped through breaths, "I need Ronald!"

The group of men in the corner, already stunned into silence by sounds of horror beyond the curtained off space gave each other paled looks.

Hearing the screaming gear up louder, Charlie spoke up, "can't we get him for her dad?"

"I honestly don't know what's best anymore. But your mothers come to care for her strongly, she'll be looking after her", Arthur said quietly.

"Just how on earth did you get through", Bill gulped nodding, "that".

"You want to watch yourself boy, that girl of yours might just put you in that situation if you're not careful", Arthur smirked.

"Like Ron you mean", Percy said disapprovingly.

"Hey", Bill called quietly, "you don't know half of it".

"I know he's gone well beyond what any of us were doing at his age", Percy pointed out.

"Speak for yourself", Charlie smirked, his face dropped the smile quickly as he saw his dad's face. "Hang on!", he rounded on his father, "why should I take that off you, you were a dog with a bone when you managed to pull mum, I've heard the stories". Arthur now pulled a face knowing he couldn't argue, "that's what I thought, Mr 'start your own quidditch team'".

Arthur enjoyed the moment with his boys. Until they all stopped, hearing a particularly pained scream.

"Was it this bad with mum?"

"Both up and down really", Arthur smiled in the memories, "weirdly the twins were easiest. Bill you weren't bad, Charlie you were awful, she screamed blue murder having you. Punched me in the eye, accidently due to the pain, so she claimed. Percy, you were pretty down the middle, probably our quickest in and out time in this place with you. Ron didn't want to move, nearly three weeks late, probably why he's such a bruiser, bit like you Charlie, you were nine days over. Ginny was one of the more peaceful ones though".

"I remember", Bill nodded, "she was really chilled when we came in after to see her. We all know she loves us, but you could see she was relieved she finally had her girl".

"Each of you were a blessing", Arthur pointed out.

"Dad", Charlie said quietly, "what's gonna' happen. I mean she's giving birth in there, there's no denying… this!" Charlie pointed at the wailing, "but after all this… I mean, we know there's nothing in there yet".

"What do you mean yet?" Percy said confused.

"Percy, there's a lot you don't know, and even less I really want to share, but we'll go grab some coffees in a bit and I promise I'll explain it. In answer to your question Charlie… I really don't know. They've been run through the mill so much and were all just lucky to have Ron back alive. Whatever we can do though, we will, because between us lot, that nutter Arachnus Parkinson, is a complete waste of space".

He eyed them all in turn, "and right now she wants… wanted", he frowned at all of them, "this known by as few as possible and that includes Ron. He's not in a good way and I don't know what he'd do if he heard this now. So we support her, we keep our mouths shut and we do what we can".

They all nodded, but then, looked up as a new concern woke in them. The room was silent now, save for ragged breathing, the screams and grunting had ended.

Pansy lay on her side, her knees to her chest she tightened herself into a foetal ball. Every inch of her wanted to get up and leave, go down the hall and see Ron's face, have his arm hold her tightly.

"You know why you can't though", she thought to herself, "of course, I can't put him through this, not till I'm sure, not until there's a bump under my shirt and a kick in my belly".

"There there Pansy", Molly breathed, desperate to comfort her. It had been one of the most heart wrenching experiences of her life. To comfort and guid the girl through what she knew from experience was a long and painful birthing process, but with nothing to show for it. Even, while as horrible and tainted the idea could be, had any tragedy have befallen, at least there would be understanding in the grief. Pansy though, had nothing.

"What's going to happen", she quietly said, holding back tears, "does this mean it's like Ron's arm, is she still coming or has all this been…"

Molly's head dropped as she heard her; she heard the strain as the lump she tried to bite back in her spilled, and a sob shuddered through her mouth. "I don't know dear, I'm sorry". Undecided if less or more was best for the girl she decided to speak on. "But your young, you both are. If this… if there isn't", Molly bit her lip, "you have time when you're both older. But for now, I'm here".

Molly brushed the hair out of Pansy's face as she heard her speak, her voice cracked and tired. "I need to rest, Ron can't see me like this, it would kill him".

Molly knew this, she knew Pansy wanted to be certain of the facts before she told her son and Molly hated herself for agreeing it was for the best. "We can bring you back in the morning", she tried, knowing it pointless before she'd finished speaking.

"No, it has to be tonight. And I couldn't wait any longer either, we stick to what we agreed" Pansy croaked.

"Let her sleep Molly, the nurses here have said they'll take her for a shower and Minerva is bringing her some clothes. I've a few potions to help her", Poppy said.

They all exited the room, knowing they were to be set upon, they were. Tired and desperate herself, Molly knew it showed on her face and all the younger group became silent.

"She's had an episode", Poppy took over recognising it in Molly, "you can go in but don't!... start picking the pieces out of her, let her sleep".

Tracey was understandably the most worried, Ginny stood in her arms rubbing her shoulders in comforting. "Is she that bad?" her eye's watery.

"She is", Poppy confessed, she exchanged a look with Molly, "but she's had a vision-…"

"A what!"

"Kind of like what happened in the ward the other week, as bad as this is, she believes the worst is over for her for now". This seemed to work and Ginny smiled into Tracey who sighed in relief. There was a little truth in this, they had agreed amongst themselves that with the pain of this phantom labour over, Pansy might be rid of the physical symptoms. It did nothing for them and their worries for her mental state but it was something they could work with.

Knowing there was no way to push this, the younger blood of the group entered, lightly greeting Pansy who was all but asleep to them all.

Pansy opened the door to Ron's room, her face lit up despite her inner pain, it all pushed aside as she saw him. Ron looked pained to stay put in his bed, half ready to leap out and grab her. Trying to avoid this, and because her body had already decided to operate without instruction of her head, she ran to him. He buried his face in her hair as hers went to his neck, an arm pulled her tightly to him and she recognised quickly a shivering from him.

Trying to look into his face she realised he was shaking and not shivering, his shoulders rocked up and down as tears drained from his eyes, silent sobs escaping his throat. The realisation struck at her, her own started up, raw and guttural it broke her.

Taking from their past she pulled open his sheet's, slipping herself into bed with him. No arguments came from any of the others who Ron had failed to recognise as he only had an eye for Pansy. But they were already being guided back out by Molly. Knowing what was best for them both she dimmed the lighting in the room and stepped out, leaving them both behind.

Pansy wrapped herself around him, doing her best with comfort in mind but it was no good, he was drawing it all out of her and soon she was wailing into his neck. The two breaking down completely as their presence drew out each other's pain like a poison.

"I love you", Pansy heard his voice muffled and strained, "I thought I wasn't coming back; I thought I'd lost you".

"I'm right here", she cried, holding him tight, "I've never needed anyone like I need you, I love you".

The body clock within Pansy told her she'd slept for hours, but a real one on the wall said she'd woken roughly an hour later. She smiled, once again waking buried into him, as she felt she always should be.

"How long was I out", Pansy asked, her throat now shattered she felt as though she'd emerged from a concert.

"Bout five minutes longer than I did", Ron said, his head jerked gently to the side, his eyes closed as he did, and a small snarl showed on his lip as it bared his teeth for just a second. Pansy noticed it but just as quick he'd stopped and smiled at her, but again that too evaporated. "I'm sorry I went to pieces on you like that".

"Please Ronald, don't do that", She sat up, looking down to him, "I don't want us to start going down a road of apologising for not being ok. You scared me more by not reacting like this. I broke down on you because I'm not ok, but you're the one thing I knew would make me shed it".

"I want to Sea", he grimaced again with that tick like turn of his head as he sat up. Scooting over to her, he stroked her face. Pausing she saw his eye look at her in searching, he had something to say, but whatever it was she knew he buried it. "How come it took so long for you to come, there was loads of shouting earlier".

"Ronald", she said gently, "it's ok to not be ok you know".

"I'm fine", he said all too quickly.

Pansy wanted to fight him, but she was too exhausted, to full of a hundred questions and too tired for those too. "Do you remember what you said to me when you woke?"

"You mean before none of you stopped them putting me back under", Ron shot, Pansy eyed with hurt, "I'm sorry, I didn't mean that".

"You weren't well, you needed to heal, they were right to", she saw another grimace, "I hated being away from you". He accepted her hand and stroked her knuckles as he usually did, it warmed her.

"Yes", he said quietly, he saw the question in her eyes, "do I remember, yes, well I did but waking from that Coma's fucked me up all kinds of ways".

"What did you mean by it?" she asked, she scooted closer to him needing to feel him against her.

"It's hard to say, people have been looking at me funny, I'm worried their gonna' put me with the nutters".

"I'll believe you, so long as your honest with me, I won't question you, I've seen to much to disbelieve. Did you see me, when I saw you? In that strange place".

Ron paused, he stared at her in disbelief, "you… that was real, for you I mean… you were there, in the Night Realm?"

"The what?" she said, her heart gave a flutter as it started beating a touch faster, "yes I saw you, with Corvus!" She watched a light go on in his eyes, he really had been struggling.

"The place you saw me, I was trapped there-…".

The door to the room opened and the lights brightened, faces popped in and began smiling.

"Told you he'd be awake", Fred said brightly.

Pansy watched with a prang of concern, Ron had looked excited as they started talking, then smiled seeing his brother, but now a scowl was showing. It didn't last long before it vanished, but she'd seen it and been worried by it. Now a smiled fixed his face but she didn't hold much hope it was genuine.

Ginny came in, making a b-line for Ron, she wrapped her arms around him tightly but the shock of feeling his incomplete self, it made her arms retreat. The act wasn't missed by Ron, and Pansy knew now where his head was truly at. Ron tried to hide his scowl as he smiled at his sister and lightly hugged her with his arm.

"Missed you", he whispered, and Ginny fell into him fully, forgetting any concern or dread.

The twins followed with light slaps to Ron's face, "never doubted you dick head", Fred said affectionately, though there was a strain in his voice.

"Yeah, typical you, fitting yourself up for sympathy when there's nothing wrong with you", he smirked.

"Big man", Charlie said as he hugged his brother, "never had me worried for a second". He leaned down and allowed Ron to see him eye Pansy, who'd exited the bed, now moving over to sit on Ron's other side to give everyone room. "Well done mate, you've scored big there", he whispered, glad to see Ron proudly smile back.

"Bill", Ron said as he came over and embraced him, "that Fleur on your arm?" he asked looking at the girl, "or are my eye's really fucked?".

"Wonderful to see you again Ron", Fleur said leaning down and kissing his cheek, "Bill as been so worried".

"Go big or go home lad", Bill whispered leaning down, he too glanced at Pansy, "and he's right, well done Bruv!"

"Hello you", Ron smiled as Tracey came over, a pained smile on her face she welcomed his hug as she strangled him.

"Worried the hell out of me you did", she smiled with watery eyes.

"I'm sure there's a storeroom you can punish me in somewhere, although mum and dad thought to warn me about you before I saw you".

"Oh yeah", she scoffed, "can't imagine what that's about".

"No, I thought you might not" Ron smiled back, "kept that quiet didn't you".

"Well, your girl knew!" she inclined her head to Pansy.

"Traitor", Pansy hissed, smiling.

Ron was about to settle down, his annoyance at having his time with Pansy cut short was nicely dissolving as he got to see his family. Thinking they were done he froze as he saw a final face, "what the fuck are you doing here!" he shouted looking at Percy.

"Ron", Percy didn't wait to see if it were anger or pain that Ron was going to show him. Seeing his younger sibling so deformed by violence made his heart ache, he crossed the room crying and pinned him with his hug. Ron struggled against him, as he too felt the bitter bite of yet more tears threatening him, his brother was a prat, but it had been too long they spent apart for him to care.

Percy made to stand up, but Ron had a hold of his collar, locking him in place. His voice so strained he felt Pansy comfort him, rubbing his shoulder. "Nothing, comes before family, never fuck off like that again!" he managed darkly.

Silent tears flooded Percy, as aggressive as his words were he only heard the love behind them, striking at him in a way that he never wanted to be shamed again. "I promise Ron, never!"

Eventually everyone settled after their greetings until Ron stood getting out of bed. As he did, he revealed he was in Pansy's favourite state, wearing nothing but a pair of pyjama bottoms. This time however it had a horrendous effect on everyone. Quite the difference from seeing him laid up in a bed, as he now stood, the effect silenced them all, widening their eyes. Aided by being the largest person there, his presence dominated their eyes as they all took in the image of his now incomplete body. The sight of him stood with his bare shoulder no longer forming the familiar silhouette of his body.

The reaction from them all was unmissable to his eye and it wounded him greatly, Pansy saw his head twitch and the grimace returned. She knew now that it was something that happened whenever he felt it bite at him. When he made to do something, even something as simple as move when they were in bed before, it was torment. He couldn't, not like he used to. His brain was still telling his arm to do things and when he realised each time, it stabbed at him. Her heart broke where she stood, her back to them all, she went to him.

"What do you need?" she asked softly, stroking his face.

He wouldn't meet her eye, his gaze on the floor, "t-shirt", he whispered painfully, "feel exposed", He turned his face away and stood staring at the wall, away from everyone.

Pansy went to his clothes and took one, bringing it to him she whispered, "no one means anything by it".

He didn't answer, he just shook the thing trying to open it. She made to help but he walked away, back to the bed where he laid it down, pooling it by the neck so he could try to slip it over his head.

Pansy struggled seeing his pain as he fought with the garment, she wanted to go to him but knew what was coming. It was all too much for him, her eyes were already watering as she bit back the lump in her throat. Quickly her eye's found Molly's and she understood, seeing it herself.

"Why don't we all give Ron a minute to change hey?", Molly whispered to the group.

"It's fine!" Ron ground out bitterly. He'd looped it over his head and was now struggling to get the rest to slip over his shoulder as he slid his arm through. His head ticked again as he did then he began to feel the prickle of heat rise up his neck in frustration. "Fuck's sake!" he bellowed out, ripping it off his neck he launched it across the room and stalked off through the door to his bathroom.

Pansy stood with a hand over her mouth as she did her best to fight it off, "that's enough", she said aloud, her voice catching. Tracey came over to support her, "he's going to get worse, he's embarrassed", she whispered. She knew it was more than that but, it didn't matter, they all just needed to go.

No one argued, except when it came to who wanted to wait to say goodbye to him rather than just leave. Tensions were high now, they'd all been through a lot and each of them felt entitled to feel responsible for making him feel better.

"Well Percy, the least from you the better", Charlie said bitterly.

"Never drop anything, do you", Percy shot back.

"Not when it's to do with walking out on your family no".

"Give him a break", Ginny warned.

"You've changed your tune", Bill sniped.

"Yeah, I have, because Ron's doing shite, he doesn't need this".

"We'd like to point out that neither me or Fred have done anything to fuck with him, unlike most of you", George poked.

"What's that supposed to mean", Ginny said.

"Actually, he's talking about Bill and Charlie deciding it wasn't fun enough and had to drag Pansy's name through the mud to excite themselves".

"Stop it the lot of you, he'll hear you, and stop this swearing!" Molly hissed.

"Don't stir up shit the pair of you!", Bill harked.

"That's rich seeing as you pretty much called Pansy a slut and accused Charlie of bedding her!"

"Ginny!"

"You what!" They all turned.

Ron was stood by the door of the room, his eyebrow angled to attack and his jaw set.

"Everyone out, now!" Pansy shouted, she'd seen this side to Ron, she knew the damage he could cause, this wasn't a call back to playful sibling rivalry.

"Ron, no!", Bill walked over to him, Pansy tried to stop him but he sides stepped her. "Ron it wasn't like that. Charlie was just being a dick, and I wanted to throw it in his face, they'd gotten close and…".

"Bill!" Pansy shouted; he'd really phrased it all so wrong.

"Mate, it's not like that, nothing's been going on", Charlie came over to them.

"Get out!", she tried to push both elder brothers back, while keeping an eye on Ron. "Ron please, don't take this that way!"

In Pansy's mind, they made things worse, again side stepping her they both fronted Ron. Bill took hold of him, his arms pulling him close, Charlie stood with his hands on Ron and Bill's shoulders, supporting them both.

"Ron, please, we were idiots, that's all, we both like her", Bill shook his head, "not like that".

Bill felt Ron's arm come around his shoulder, it snaked his neck, pulling him into him tighter. Bill, Charlie too, were relieved as he did, trying to avert disaster.

"Ron!", Bill said in alarm as he started to feel the heaviness of Ron's arm crushing against him, "Ron stop!" he pushed, trying to break against Ron's hold, he couldn't move. He couldn't push him back or pull his head away, his arm was locked, vice like. "Charlie!" he said in alarm.

Charlie started pulling Ron's arm off Bill, but as Ron had slid his arm around his brothers neck he'd also grabbed a handful of Charlie's t-shirt. Both grown twenty something's now pushing against their fifteen-year-old brother in panic. But the bend in his arm wouldn't budge, he wouldn't relent and as they looked up into his face, they saw his eyes bulging and jaw set baring his teeth.

"Fred!", Bill grunted.

"George", Charlie called.

They came over and as they tried to pry them all apart, they managed to push Ron back together, but he was pressing against them now, pushing them all back, his eyes only focused on Bill and Charlie. Their faces stunned by the raw power he was fighting back with

"You called her that name!" Ron growled.

"No Ron he never!" Charlie struggled.

"You made her out to be a…a… and you!" Ron's eye's found Charlie. Fred had leaped onto Ron's back now and slipped his own arm into a choke hold, but Ron just snarled through it. George was pushing his wait into him through his shoulder, four unable to move one.

"Ron…no! I'd never".

Fred was putting everything into choking Ron but still he kept going, in the background his mother and father shouting something. "Never, speak to her, like that, again!" his voice snarling animal like.

"Ronald!" the cry was a knife through his red missed filled vision, his eye's widened, softening as his grip finally loosened. "Please, please". Pansy was reaching up through the mess of sibling limbs, reaching for his face. She saw him soften, then his face reddened as his unearthly strength receded and the chokehold took effect. "Fred, stop it!", she ordered, and he did. He released Bill and Charlie, and they stood panting against him, not yet retreating. "It's ok love", she tried to sooth.

Bill grasped Charlie as he gasped for air, Charlie too breathing heavy. The twins wearily stepping back now, while both older brothers grabbed at Ron.

Bill pulled Ron's head down, he and Charlie resting their foreheads against his. "Never, ever", Charlie breathed, "I could never Ron, not to you…never to you", his eyes watering, but not with pain from the fight, but a wounding he felt for hurting his baby brother.

"I'll never speak ill of her mate, I promise", Bill gasped, he too struggling in the emotion of the moment. He kissed his youngest brother's forehead. "I'm a fucking fool mate, please forgive me".

Pansy pulled at Ron, trying to get under his arm, as Bill pulled her into the huddle. "Don't push us away, please!"

Overwhelmed, tired and lost, Ron sank his weight into the three of them as he lost all sense of where he was, who he was with. His cries filled the room as the anguish poured out. All others present except for Molly and Arthur slipped out as Bill and Charlie tried to guide him to bed, tears welling now in their own eyes.

Ron sat on the bed bent over, feeling wrecked and alone. Pansy came to him, taking his face in her hands, she put her forehead to his, just the two of them. He opened his blue eyes, finding hers and looked away shamed.

Pulling his face back to her she brushed her lips off his, it was wet and sad and reflected how they both felt right now, "don't shut me out, please, I'm… I'm not ok", she whispered in pleading.

He nodded, watery eyed he nodded in desperation, "I'm… I'm not ok Pansy!" he finally admitted in echoing, and it broke her, finally allowing his wall to come down for her she wrapped herself to him.

Arthur gasped for breath, his eyes were wide as he inhaled sharply, rising from the inexistant waters of the Pensieve. His hands touched his face, he was stunned in his shock and anger to find he'd been crying. Next to him his eldest three sons emerged with Dumbledore and Kingsley from the basin they'd all been looking in.

Percy staggered to the bin, feeling the need to vomit. His eldest brother joined him, patting his back. The sight of his brother being maimed in such a way had disturbed them all out of any further animosity.

It was late, around midnight. Fleur had insisted Bill take her back to her flat and return to his parents. He'd been so proud of her, putting her wants aside for them as she did, it focused his intensity knowing he was right to believe in her all along. He'd return in time to see Charlie and Percy arguing with his dad after all the young blood had been returned to the school, minus one of course.

The argument had been Arthur's slip up to Molly in front of them, that he had urgent business with Albus about Ron. Having none of it at first, after Bill added himself, he couldn't fight three on one.

They had all just watched Ron's memory from the moment they wrapped up the merriment in the Three Broomsticks to the time he lost consciousness. Dumbledore had taught Ron how to extract, focusing the mind on two points, its start and end. He offered it up willingly and the old friend had been good enough to wait for Arthur before they viewed it in his office.

"He fought like a lion", Kingsley said sadly, honestly believing this but mostly wanting to give Arthur a sense of pride.

"How is he that strong Sir", Bill asked Dumbledore, "sorry, Albus. Four of us had no chance against him in the hospital".

"A question I've asked myself many times since we first saw evidence of it", he went to sit at his desk, saved the job of conjuring chairs as all present already did so in sitting. Instead, he summoned a decanter and glasses, pouring all his favourite cherry whiskey. "My best theory is that since Pansy has given me so much to work with, I believe he has travelled beyond this place and draws power from there somehow".

"Seriously?" Percy said astonished, "then everything they've told me, it's all true!"

"Now he believes us", Charlie smirked at Bill.

Dumbledore nodded. He was satisfied with Percy after the boy chose to take part in a truth bond with him, dispelling the possibility of revealing any Order secrets and choosing to join them. A highly valuable piece on the board, so close to Fudge, "some luck for a change", he'd thought.

"He scared the crap out of me", Charlie said, "it was like the English Winged Prider we had to re-capture last year, the spare dragon we brought that escaped. Took eight of us to subdue her and even then, she had so much fight in her".

"I thought he was going to kill me", Bill confessed.

"Your brother is going through a very difficult trauma", Dumbledore said gently, "take away his recent oddities, he's just a young man whose world's been turned upside down. I noticed myself, his politeness to always meet one's eye has gone, he's reclusive and subdued. I suspect he feels a deep shame".

"He's nothing to be ashamed of, did you see him, he was like an animal up there. And all he cared about was that Pansy was safe".

"Charlie", Dumbledore soothed, "it will not take away from the fact that you are all whole in his eye, and he is not".

"Is there nothing you can do, Albus", Kingsley's deep voiced asked with a hope.

Dumbledore met his eye in knowing, "you refer to Harry's details of the graveyard, Wormtail and the new arm he was gifted". Kingsley nodded and the older man sighed, his eye's finding Arthur's. "Ron's life can return to him, if he's strong enough and we offer him the right support. He can be taught to lead a normal life, some aspects heightened even. But Tom's actions, the dark magics he used, those kinds of ideas could be a poison to Ronald's mind. And as much as I wish I could give him this, it's beyond me".

"It's alright my friend", Arthur confirming he did not resent the decision. He turned to Kingsley, "so, his attackers?"

Kingsley nodded as he considered the questions, "a very obvious contrast in class of offender. I see both child and man, both inexperience or lack of, as well as hardened criminals, I counted nine on the hilltop. It isn't beyond the realms of possibility that some present might be student aged".

"Agreed", Dumbledore nodded, his voice dark but with a cautionary hint.

"But nothing to my eyes gives us any evidence of who, if any".

"We know who!" Charlie spat.

"Son", Arthur said weakly, "I've been there, as you are, thinking the exact same, I still do. But how can we act without proof, without assurances. What if you beat the Malfoy boy to a pulp, then find we find proof it wasn't. Meanwhile Kingsley has to haul you off to Azkaban for it".

"That's all good and all dad, but when you know, you know", Charlie warned.

"What concern's me is the ease in which they managed to take the boy", Kingsley brought them back to the matter at hand. "They were organised well enough to have themselves stationed to strike and remove him to the predetermined area. Again…", he said with apologetic eyes to Dumbledore, "information that could only be gained from a student".

"What about that big dude", Bill spoke up, "he was definitely in charge. But didn't like what they were doing either, weird isn't it?"

"It's strange", Dumbledore said refilling all their glasses, his voice was one of a man who didn't sound like he thought it strange at all. "Even the worst of us can show regret, contempt. We saw just how much respect he showed Ronald, and I believe, in all honesty that the man did try to help give Ron the best chance of survival". There was a noise of snorting in disgust, "Charlie you saw the memory, I believe he was trying to reduce the damage, however wrong he was, and he was the one who guided Pansy to him after they all fled".

"Are we supposed to be grateful?" Charlie scoffed.

Dumbledore smiled gently, feeling the same pain and frustration as he did, "I am", he said darkly. He looked back at Kingsley, "I don't suppose he seemed familiar?"

"Perhaps, I need to review a few files at work, I believe him and one or two of the others are from the breakout. Him and at least one of the others, they appeared to be heavy hitters, generals perhaps. But if I'm right I need to see their most recent custody images, Azkaban changes them so drastically, it's hard to tell.".

"Albus", Percy spoke up, his voice with an air of someone who believed he'd reached a point via age or station that he should address him as such without invitation. "What are Ron's chances of returning to school?"

Dumbledore considered Arthur as he spoke, "something else I wished to speak with you about, he should be arriving shortly".

Pansy woke feeling hot and a little sweaty in the small, enclosed room. Very quickly, she found she didn't care. "Hello", seeing Ron's face smile down on her made the sadness that woke her melt away.

"Hi", her chest swelled as he smiled back, "you struggled most of the night".

"I did?"

"You did, kept me awake loads… I don't care", he added as she made to apologise. Then seeing her quizzical brow he said, "You kept moaning that you needed me, and your mother". He pulled a face, "you also moaned for Fleur's help a lot, just what exactly were you dreaming about".

Pansy didn't want to lie any more than she was doing already, and so chose to tell him the story they'd come up with for Tracey, Ginny and the others. He didn't like hearing a word of it, it seemed to only wound him that they wouldn't let him come to her. He relented, hoping that she was right and that would be the end of the pain that plagued her.

"There's something I never had chance to mention, it's about your mother", Pansy said shyly.

"What's she done now!"

"Hey! Don't take that tone over Molly I… I happen to… sort of love your mum".

"What, your kidding, I thought she'd freak knowing you're a Slytherin", he said in shock.

"Hasn't come up", and she realised then it hadn't even crossed her mind, she doubted it had Molly's with everything that they'd been through.

"So, is that it? It's sort of cool that you like her. I always thought that-…".

"She thinks I'm your girlfriend!" Pansy rushed. Ron stared at her; it only took seconds before she realised, he looked confused and not as shocked as she expected. "Well, don't you think we should talk about that?"

"Well… aren't you?" he said matter-of-factly.

"Huh?" she turned her head confused.

"Well, I assumed we were", Ron stated, "we were… we were each other's first", he said lowering his voice. He delighted in seeing her blushing face smile. "I sort of assumed it was a given thing".

"I… I just thought it was a big deal"

"Pansy, I died!" he shook his head with a smirk, "that's kind of a big deal more. But if you need it saying… Parkinson, will you officially be my girlfriend".

"Dick!" she smiled embarrassed, it was nice to know that some things just weren't that big of a deal and that they could laugh their way through them. Quickly she kissed him, "Yes", she mouthed silently.

The lack of anyone around, their early morning wake up, and the fact that they were finally together, not overtaken by tiredness, made them both very happy to be alone. Pansy gently pressed her lips to his, vaguely caring that they'd just woken and not showered or brushed yet. He was gentle with her, as she was with him, but it didn't last long. They caught each other's eyes as they opened them, the gold of amber meeting an electricity of blue, they ignited. Pansy pulled him down over her, scrambling to feel him against her.

He pinned her to the mattress with his mouth as he plunged into her, his arm gripping her waist tightly as he fell to his side with her, yanking at her t-shirt to release over her head. Her mouth biting down his neck to his chest where she traced her fingers along hardened skin that had scarred, tiny impact marks from the blast, now healed. They paused her only for seconds as she found his face, deciding his eye now resembled an onyx jewel rather than something to fear.

"So beautiful!" she breathed trying to fall into that pool of blue in his eye.

She dived back into his mouth, moaning as his hand bruised the skin of her chest purposefully. Her hands found his hair and back, grasping and clawing, to press herself further into him. Fire was spreading now between them and soon his hand slid up her back then down to her rear where it collected the waist band of her underwear.

Ron paused, an unsure look on his brow. Pansy paused too, but for the first time she couldn't find a single thought in her head that could argue that she didn't want this desperately or reasoning that could stop them. She fell into his lips again as she yanked at the waistband of his pants too, showing without question what she wanted. Soon they were fever driven as they explored each other in desperation and Pansy had the wherewithal to know that this time she would take the lead until he was able to. Drawing no attention to any inability of his arm, she mounted him as her body burnt feeling his desire that prickled with her fear. He was pressed against her intimidatingly, she hadn't forgotten the pain of their first but there was no stopping them.

Pansy lay panting on top of Ron, together their breathing ragged, her pale skin burning as read as her lovers' hair. They were both drenched in sweat and a glow that had no equal to any feeling in either of their lives. She was drained of all energy and incredibly sore but the look on his face, she knew, riveled her own. If only he could see it under the mass of sweat covered black hair hiding her eyes.

Pansy was shocked as her body trembled violently, laughter escaping her lips in crashing waves. She blushed again as the feeling hit her repeatedly. She wiped the hair from her eyes as he started too, beginning to laugh with her. Finding each other's gaze, he dragged her up his body to where she collapsed back on him, now meeting his lips. Tracing them against each other they continued to giggle.

"Oh, good lord!" a voice said behind them.

They jumped, completely uncovered, snagging handfuls of sheets and pulling it to their necks in panic. It was a healer, embarrassed she turned away covering her eyes.

"We were just… cuddling", Ron tried, Pansy was sure he knew how to lie better than this when it wasn't related to them in bed.

The healer was young, barely out of Hogwarts herself. "Yeah, I don't think that excuse works Mr Weasley". Luckily, she smirked as she looked back at them, "just be glad the Matron wasn't the one catching you, she wasn't happy you stayed in the first place".

"Sorry", Pansy said, closing her eyes to the pitiful sound of her voice, wishing she'd stayed quiet, her embarrassment was paralytic.

Panic met confusion as the young witch laughed, "don't worry, it's hardly something were not used to, you'd be shocked! How about I go get my morning coffee, send in one of the porters to change your bed and you two grab a shower. Then we'll try this again and I'll ask the hospital elves to send an extra breakfast tray up".

She left and the two exchanged a shaken look after being caught. it was fleeting however as another round of laughter hit them. Ron sat up, nuzzling her neck, the reaction was instant as she flushed. Feeling him awaken again against her.

"You can't be serious", Pansy breathed as he kissed her neck.

"What, I haven't seen you in centuries and now were alone. You can't blame me", he murmured as his mouth continued on.

Half intrigued again, half drowsy on his advances she breathed out, "what does that mean, you keep speaking like that".

"Its nothing to worry about now", he whispered, "right now I only want you".

"You heard her, she's only giving us so long and we need to go shower. I'm not sure were ready for these games". Ron's eyebrows rose with accusation, "hey don't start", she whined.

"Who wasn't for taking no for an answer in the hospital wing that morning", he teased.

She hit him in the chest, "I said don't start", she moaned prissily, his smile drawing yet more laughter from her. His smile intoxicated her, and she dropped her head to his chest laughing, "I can't compete with your stupid cute face". Huffing she stood up, dropping the sheet. A truly satisfied grin appeared as she saw his face fall. The sight of her completely naked and stood before him was a sight he'd never seen; it threw him completely. She couldn't miss the truly hungry look that formed on his face, seeing his hunger for her so visibly rocketed her confidence. "How could I be creating such lust in him" she thought.

Walking off she called over to him, "she said get showered, she didn't say alone".

Disappearing into the bathroom Ron tripped over himself jumping from the bed as he scrambled after her.

Pansy sat with her black tea in one hand and toast in the other, her jaw hanging open as she sat cross legged looking up at him.

"That's gonna' be cold if you keep sitting there staring", Ron said with a smirk.

Pansy looked down, forgetting the job of eating again. "Ronald how can I eat with you telling me all that! And you remember being they're for… how, how could you exist there that long, how is it even possible".

"This is the exact reason I refused to tell Dumbledore Pansy; you were there, you saw me with Corvus and yet even you can't believe me".

She couldn't hide the hurt look, "I believe you, I just… well how can I comprehend that!" she asked in earnest.

"How can I?" he retorted to her confusion, "this version of me wasn't the same version of Ron in the Night Realm. That me was confident and fearless to the point that I can't imagine being. And then when I was in the coma a second time, it all came back to me, and I replayed it all with these eyes". His head ticked as he mentioned his eye and his head dropped.

"You can talk to me about it", she put her toast down and touched the back of his hand. He looked at her and didn't pull away, it was progress. She went into shock in the shower with him as she realised what they'd been doing and never once thought of his shoulder. He had to spend five solid minutes convincing her that he hand-on-heart, felt no pain there. "I wish you would", she added.

"I… I feel ugly, misshapen, deformed".

She put down her tea and scooted over to him. Wrapped her legs around his waist and sat in his crossed legs. "Not to me you're not", she waited, and the shake of his head came as she anticipated. "I'm telling you, as a girl confident enough to know she's not the same pug faced minger she once was".

"You were never!" he argued.

"Sweet, but what right do you have to say that and have me believe you if you won't believe me", she started to stroke his face, brushing his unkempt mane from his eyes, behind his ears. "You wear your wounds in such a strong way, you're as beautiful as the day I realised I was attracted to you". She grabbed a fist of his hair, rolling his head to meet her eyes, "I'm deeply attracted to you Ronald Weasley, truly!"

She wasn't done and she wasn't for moving, she realised she liked this seat, even with something pressing against her again. "Am I pretty Ronald", she asked, allowing her eyes to look him over hungrily.

"Of course you are", he breathed as his eye became transfixed on her, "I couldn't look at anyone with you around".

"And if I lost my arm and my eye? If my face was scarred as yours will be when your fully healed? What if I lost a leg, or I gained weight?"

"I don't want you because of how you look".

"But there has to be an attraction", she continued.

"Alright yes, obviously", he agreed.

"So?"

"Why do I need to say it, you know it's true, but that's not fair, I get what you're saying but I am deformed, its already happened and I'm weaker for it".

"Weaker, how are you weaker", she said annoyed, "your stronger than any adult I've ever met. You crossed two worlds and befriended your personal nightmares. You watched me patiently for god knows how long and you came back to me. And if you need proof of the physical aspect of that, can I point out you nearly killed your brothers yesterday as four of them struggled to move you more than an inch".

"I'm scared to have you see me like this!", he said, his voice growing louder as she heard an under growl to his tone.

"Ronald, I get your scared, I would be too. But I just described how I see you. I just told you how attracted I am to you. I selfishly covet these!" she gripped his pectorals, "I will miss your bicep that had me getting hornier every time I saw you in a shirt two sizes too small, but I get to fawn over the other one instead". She kissed him hard, trying her best to punish his stupid words, however much she understood them. She grabbed what lay digging into her thigh hard, forcing a hiss, and began whispering about this being a piece of him that she claimed as her own.

After a few minutes of mutual kissing, she pulled back, happy to remain on her perch. "Do you feel the least bit better?"

He sighed but couldn't stop his smile, it warmed her knowing some things were slowly sinking in. "I can see", he said quietly.

"What?" she said grabbing his shoulders and leaning into stare into his black eye. "I thought… they said you lost your sight".

"I have, most of it, I can only see a little but it's all dark. I can see you out of it now, but it's like your completely in shadow".

"Why haven't you said! They need to know this stuff love!"

"I haven't said because its terrified me", she looked at him curiously, "I see things", he said quietly. "I can see things clearly In the dark, but only through that eye. In the daylight it's like I'm almost blind except for seeing in shadow. But I see things".

"What things", the look on his face made her worried for him, she held his face again.

"Your neck, I see you completely in shadow, except for your neck". Automatically her hand found her dagger. Like a nauseating vision, the image of it flashed in her mind. "I see it, glowing like a blue flame. Just like my own, just like Corvus saw".

A frightening chill trickled down her spine as she looked into his face. "Ronald, why am I scared right now", her throat caught as though a cold breath from something had breathed on her from behind.

"There's more I haven't told you".

A/N

Moonie, Your an absolute inspiration and light! This is definitely a chapter dedicated to your brilliant writing mind.

To anyone interested in some truly staggering reads check out 'Hiraeth' and 'Two Soul's, One Body' on AO3 and everything else from the author, its just not my place to give away their tag.

After the last chapter my good friend Moonie suggested they'd love to have seen the Bill, Charlie, Pansy triangle continue to where Ron heard, and I got a wonderful description of what they'd love to see. All credit to them in this Chapter because, 'it fit!' not only that but it worked as a great catalyst for breaking down Ron's walls.

A difficult one to write with a lot of emotions attacking me.