Defiant Blood - Blood and Bone Saga

Chapter 14

Ron's time at the old Auror training camp, or his training camp as it had now become had been packed with days of early rises and late finishes. His reward. Cold showers and lukewarm food that barely kept its heat in Mad-Eye's Tupperware. What down time he was given he spent reading up on spell work, old Auror training manuals that were seriously outdated, though Mad-Eye insisted there was value in the old, dogged training. And, most surprisingly, a deeper dive into the Dark Arts than simply defending them.

In fact, the day Mad-Eye insisted he would be learning the Dark Arts, a heated argument started between them both. It came to a head when Ron questioned just what lengths the old guard had gone to, 'to get their man' as it were. Mad-Eye was offended by this and suggested that even in Ron's state he didn't know the true horrors of the Dark and what was needed to fight it.

It came to a head as cooler minds prevailed. Mad-Eye went into giving Ron his views that all magic shouldn't be viewed as good and bad or dark and light and should only be evenly measured in power. Ron saw the truth in this, from the comical idea that one off day for Seamus and he'd lose more than his eyebrows. To understanding that even simple magic could be dangerous, a powerful enough wizard with murderous intent could levitate someone to fatal hights. Fire casting charms weren't just for lighting fireplaces. Even a silencing charm could be dark when used to hide the sound of torture.

"What exactly do you think is running that new arm of yours!" Mad-Eye was reminding him, not quizzing him. It was one of the points that flattened his arguments. It was hypocritical and Ron knew it. What was more, they'd had this argument in Julious' workshop already.

The fight had given positives too. For Mad-Eye he enjoyed seeing just how strong the boys moral compass went. For Ron it was simple, he knew now the lengths Mad-Eye was going to, to help him. Ron understood when the time came, in the greater picture, it was just a matter of magic. So, concentrating, he cast the 'Umbraexcus' charm.

Ron's blue eye reflected a black glow as a dark shield appeared from the end of his wand. It had a viscus black translucence about it, as though he'd called a small black hole into existence.

"Fuck me!" Mad-Eye shouted, jaw hanging open. "You've cast it before?"

"No!" Ron said in irritation, "why?"

"Because you just cast it flawlessly on your first try, that's why". Mad-Eye walked up and eyed him suspiciously. "What aren't you telling me?"

"Nothing", Ron answered truthfully, "what is it, this shield".

"A defensive spell that creates a shield of shadow, its powerful, very powerful", Mad-Eye nodded, "which is why it's difficult to cast and can't be cast for long. It'll stave off more than just stunners that thing".

"Shadow", Ron muttered to himself. He saw Mad-Eye notice. He pulled a face, still in thought. "Something Corvus has said, a few times actually". Again, he was quizzed silently, "well he kept repeating that there's something of shadow about me, then when I saw him the other night he said, 'I belong to Shadow, as he was born to it', Strange, no?"

"What do you think?" Mad-Eye prompted.

Ron took a deep breath and stared off. "I think I'm a mental, since I came back. What do I feel? That's a different question. I feel, as though there's something of the Shadow's following me now." Ron turned and leaned against the nearest dummy. "I travel to the Night Realm and meet a creature born to the Shadow Realm. Even travel there with him. Then I lose an eye, yet regain sight, only to find I see but… only in shadow. Now that I see in it, I navigate through it flawlessly. You take me to the Umbra Court and if I recall my Latin, that just happens to be named after shadow". He let out a deep breath, "and if I'm honest, I'm more at peace in the dark than I am out of it. Then my bat shit mentor teaches me a spell that literally summons a shield of shadow. I don't like coincidence Mad-Eye".

Mad-Eye just blinked at him. "Er… yeah, I guess that sounds about as bat shit as it gets. And your right I must be bat shit because that actually makes sense, though neither of us have a clue what it means".

Ron turned and jabbed out his wand, casting the spell again, this time the shield seemed bigger, glowing in its ethereal glow.

"You shouldn't be able to cast that so soon after the last, it's incredibly draining", again Mad-Eye's face reflected his disbelief.

What followed after the pause of them both considering this, was an old man, dancing back as though back in his thirties, firing a volley of magic at the boy who ducked behind the newly conjured shield. Ron shouted his annoyance at the mad fool once it stopped and Mad-Eye his praise, but a reminder for the mantra of 'constant vigilance' was always worthwhile in the old Auror's eyes.

Since then, Ron had found that as good as Mad-Eye was, Ron was still a young man. Fit, despite his time in hospital. The differences began to show the more the days went on. Soon Ron was surpassing the challenges put to him and the amount of energy needed to keep at Ron was tiring to a man in his retirement. Ron was getting stronger and more resilient to magic; his tolerance's meaning Mad-Eye was in as much constant movement as the younger man. It tired him, and almost sadly it was noticed by the student.

"Miserable old shite!" Ron had muttered only the afternoon after feeling sorry for him. He landed face first in mud and staggered back to his feet. Panting as he kept running.

"That's it young blood, keep going", Mad-Eye shouted. He was sat at a table on the Parade yard, drinking his tea and eating his cucumber sandwiches, laughing at how badly the boy was doing.

He, unlike Ron had thought it a stroke of genius. He could wipe the snot from Ron's face in a duel, but not over the course of hours. But now using the assault course as a hard dose of fitness training to break up the boy's day, he got to enjoy a recharge. In reality it was needed, fitness was important and so was that mind muscle connection he needed to rebuild with his arm.

Despite the early complaints and angry shouts from the wee lamb that it 'wasn't fair' and how he 'only had one arm', Mad-Eye was watching Mors Manus work with the boy more and more. Even when Ron didn't apparently see it, Mad-Eye did and what was more, it had an effect away from the course. His arm was picking up the load here and there and Ron was finally seeing it himself. His confidence was up, along with his balance and poise. So, seeing how it was working, Mad-Eye did as he knew best and pushed the lad harder.

Ron panted on, his breath coming out in steady icy breaths in the cold air. He tried to ignore the fascination of his left arm pumping in time with his right as he continued jogging. It had become his new morning routine, running the base in laps for a half hour when he woke. Mad-Eye's face when he realised, he'd been doing it religiously was a peach.

But as much as he liked the act, it annoyed him. He could only run with the one arm with intent, his left hung uselessly as he ran off kilter, pumping only the right. It would, after a minute or so, when his mind stopped thinking about it, start to move in time with the other. But like trying not to look at something after being told not to look, it was a paradox and made the act impossible. So too was continuing to not think about it when all he could do was be fascinated by it, this of course halting it in the process. Another of the universe's little jokes.

Ron stopped as Mad-Eye arrived, appearing some feet from him. Leaned over panting with a glistening face and chest. His arm flexed, clenching as it hissed, firing steam from the vents under his triceps.

"Ruddy thing's violent", Mad-Eye chuckled.

"Does it a lot, whenever I exert myself, I sort of like it".

Mad-Eye passed him a small hand towel to wipe his face, having expected to find him out running. He offered it to his left, which only twitch, Ron took it with his right. Mad-Eye shook his head irritated. "Come on, lots to do today. Don't think were slacking just because it's Christmas Eve".

"It's Christmas Eve?" Ron said softly, he'd spoken allowed but

Mad-Eye stopped, turning back to Ron with something pressing on his lips. "I've been meaning to ask you something. The other day we had a half hour of arguing, but when the time came to use Dark Magic, you didn't hesitate…why?" Mad-Eye growled, already knowing but wanting to hear all the same.

Ron glared at him, quizzing him this early and after such an activity wasn't necessary.

"Humour me" Mad-Eye said evenly.

"I'll do what I need to, to get her back alive", Ron said, face hard and eye cold.

"Then that should give me leave to do what I need to get you there then".

"I guess", Ron said suspiciously, his eye's narrowed as the old man walked off.

Pansy got up and made her way, hurried footed, to the toilet as her clockwork morning sickness woke her. She spent some time dwelling on the dreams that had plagued her the night before. Undignified as she rested her chin on the porcelain seat, there was nothing of dread about the images, only confusion. She had been recollecting distorted and disjointed memories of conversations with Harrier that she felt hadn't happened but somehow believed they had. She recollected them but wasn't sure she remembered them. The longer time passed she would realise she remembered the hypnosis she was put under by her friend and separate the truth from veiled lies.

Pansy showered and readied herself, walking out she felt a presence in her tiny room that she took as her usual morning company. "Rolo, can you help me with my back again please, it's getting better but I'm in a lot of pain this morning".

She reached the bedside table and withdrew the solution he had brought her. She held it out behind her. It left her fingers, and she lowered the towel as she went to her knees. Wet hair still drying, her hand met her dagger naturally in covering it as she hissed through the pain of fingers gently massaging the liquid into her back.

"I can't let them know Rolo", she said quietly, "I don't know what's worse anymore, marrying him or not doing. I'm convinced one way or the other he'll end up killing me, but there's no alternative where I survive this. If I go to my uncles… I can't".

Long arms wrapped around Pansy; the act made her scream softly though it muffled quickly as she did. The arms, the hands she saw when she looked down were too long with maintained fingernails to be an Elf. As they wrapped, they brushed her breast, it caught her breath, but the act was of consequence with no intent, the aim was to hold. Pansy's breath hitched as she realised it was Narcissa who was no kneeling behind her, arms all-encompassing her naked self, her forehead pressed to the back of Pansy's head.

"Nar…Narcissa!" she breathed. The woman was sobbing into her.

One arm left her while the other remained, the fingers that were withdrawn stroked lines across the scarring that had begun healing down her back. "I'm so sorry Pansy, I knew what he was, I just couldn't believe it".

The grip on her faltered and Pansy scrambled away, pulling the towel back around her. Turning to look at Narcissa she saw the woman sobbing into her hands, it pulled at her. "Me and my bleeding heart!" She thought bitterly. She returned to her, going to her level she now snaked her arms around the woman and the two embraced. Pansy didn't know if this were a chance meeting or she somehow had prior knowledge, she certainly seemed to.

As Narcissa cried into her she couldn't help but see herself reflected in her. Something of scared arranged betrothal about her, it spoke to her on a similar level to her predicament, though less complicated.

"How long have you been in love with my uncle?" Pansy stilled as she spoke the words, all the more so as she felt Narcissa freeze, and her jerking sobs dissipate. She didn't know what had come over her, perhaps a small part wished to pull her out of her head, perhaps connect with her. She wasn't sure, but what she was sure of was that she had played a very dangerous move with a woman who could easily see her life snuffed out if she wished. Pansy was outing a major secret between them both, it was very smart or very stupid.

"You…", Narcissa's voice was strained, dark as she leaned back to lock eyes with her, "you're as observant as you are proficient at hiding the truth!"

Pansy recognised a snarl when she heard one hidden within words. Narcissa, for all her beauty had something of the wolf about her, a danger that ran deep. Something she imagined Rabastan found all too appealing in her. "Pain recognises pain", she said flatly. Pansy refused to avert her gaze as she committed to this. It dawned on her that she knew what this was about now, she was back to playing the game once again. Recognising she was still playing she had to remain strong.

"You go too far child", Narcissa warned again.

"I like you Narcissa", Pansy said with honesty, "but there are no lengths too far for me, only that Death is a destination I can bank on right now". Pansy eyed her, partly to do so and partly for the theatrical. "I think you are my closest thing to an ally in this, and I'm baring my throat to you now. What happens after is up to you, I'll accept my fate".

Narcissa pulled back a little as she heard this, there was nothing but honesty pouring from Pansy's eyes as she spoke. "How can you speak so calmly of death, so accepting of a fate to exist only to die".

"In that draw is my dagger, when I first came, I cut myself nightly and Rolo hid my actions for me", Pansy winced, all too late she realised she was implementing him. "I didn't do what my hand wanted to; I never plunged it into my chest to end my nightmare. I didn't, but I wanted to. I reconciled that, while I grew closer to wanting, I never could, our ways are too ingrained in me. Once I accepted it was a matter of the how, and not the finality of it all, I became content with the idea of dying".

Narcissa's maternity forced her hand as her own raised and she slapped the girl. No true power laced the assault and once she connected, she pulled the girl into her, holding her there as tears threatened. "Never speak of such things!" she breathed in pain, "your life is too precious". Narcissa leaned back to look at her with that same wolf-like intensity.

"My life is yours to do with as you see fit after this conversation ends", Pansy watched understanding dawn on her face, "if you don't believe that, then consider how my life then falls back into Lucius' hands next".

Pansy stood as Narcissa's face remained stuck in a mild horror as the truth of this dawned on her. She went to her corner and dropped her towel, only dressing enough to continue with her and nothing more. Returning she went back to that same spot, on her knees where they both felt vulnerable, inches from each other.

"Why are you here, you don't love him, he disgusts you", she bit down the words as they grated her. She would have hated any girl for feeling that way about her boy, but now she sympathised with her, knowing that same feeling for him lay within herself.

Pansy turned her head, eyeing Narcissa sympathetically as she offered all of her bare throat for the women's jaws to tear out now. She took in a deep breath. "Draco blew Ronald Weasley's arm off with a blasting curse the night he was attacked, with eight of the Dark Lord's men at his back. The ambush was a planned attack, an attempt to send a message to Potter, but also for Draco to send one to me. Ronald is my boyfriend and while I wish it wasn't so in many respects, it serious enough that it has caused the headmaster sleepless nights trying to understand what unknown force drives us together so fiercely".

Narcissa's mouth was hanging open, only slightly as she heard, her elegance wasn't so easily dropped. Pansy went on, she knew this was an all or nothing moment, many possibilities but with only one sure way to reach one that kept them both alive.

"After, I found Draco's note at my parents' house, after they died, it stated that Ronald would be next. So, I sought after him, to kill him". She didn't avert her gaze, if anything she inched closer to the woman, determined to offer her her life so ready for the taking. "He had used the situation with my parents to make me think he'd killed them, and I know now, he didn't. But at the time… he used the fear and threatened everything close to me, and I believed it. Though it took him threatening to kill his best friend in front of me with my dagger that I begged him to stop and yielded. I came here that same night".

Ringing started in Narcissa's ears as she heard this, her mouth moved several times, but no sound escaped her lips. Pitying her Pansy spoke up again, gently. "Draco has used me as nothing more than snogging practice for years, I thought I loved him unconditionally, but it wasn't that. This year I distanced myself from him and our friends and made changes in my life. He hated this, Millicent believed it drove him to desperately want me back in his life. Then he dropped on me with the news he'd asked Lucius to arrange the betrothal".

"I don't think it's fair that you bare the weight of this being laid on you so simply, I do like you Narcissa, I am sorry for you. I feel you stand to lose as much as me. But Draco is sick, truly. His mind is addled beyond what I imagined, and he needs help before you lose him forever".

Time passed in the tiny room and Narcissa's mind, probably out of desperation of not wanting to accept any of this, began to contemplate the unimportant. She observed the windowless boxroom and considered that Pansy probably declined more spacious quarters as there was something comforting in the enclosed space.

"You've a greater need than most when it comes to a need for comforting don't you", she said softly. Another moment passed and something within forced a strength back in her voice. "You've lied to me!" she accused.

"Yes", Pansy simply acknowledged.

"How can I believe you when you so freely offer the knowledge that you've lied every day to my face. How do I believe this is some sickness of the mind in my child when I see no reason not to blame you. You could have poisoned him so; you admit freely to going to him to end his life. You associate so openly with a blood traitor and expect him not to be deeply impacted by this".

"All true", Pansy bowed her head, "and I don't expect you to side with me on this, hence why I offer my life to you, to decide what's to be done with me. I gamble everything I have left by telling you this, with poor odds that it will help my situation, but still, I am here, offering no argument in response. I doubt you have power to help me even if you choose to, my uncles know they are powerless in the circumstances".

"They know!", Narcissa whispered, forgetting the stance she was trying to take.

"They do, as now do you", she reached over and took Narcissa's hands. "They don't know what Draco has done, they would murder him in seconds". She breathed, "I can't deny I desire that Narcissa, but I know see why a part of me has been wanting to hold off from seeing him get what by all rights he deserves". Narcissa turned her head, it was a warning glare, but it had no impact as her deeply saddening eyes showed her defences crumbling. "He's your child, your baby and I cannot be so willing in forcing a mother to lose her child if it can be helped". Tears now streamed her eyes.

Narcissa's own eye's watered at this, the forced strength in her voice waning as she felt herself weaken. "What could you possibly know about the bond between mother and child", she threw out, her voice wobbling.

Pansy's sob escaped her lips finally as her head dropped in defeat of her actions. She pulled Narcissa's hand, flattening the palm against her belly, placing her own on top. "Because… it's not just my life I'm baring to you".

"Ron!" the shout rang out down the hallway so loud that a blast of screaming sounded to his left.

Curtains flailing open, the sour pus of old Lady Black came into view, eye's bulging as she saw him. "ARGH… BLOOD TRAITORS", she roared.

"Piss off", Ron shouted as he was dragged off towards the kitchens of Grimmauld Place.

"GINGER SWINE…".

The person dragging him in the dark chuckled hearing the old hag.

"CREATURE OF SHADOW!"

"Wait… what?" Ron stopped, turning back to the portrait. "Shadow… again!" he thought.

"Oh, come on!"

"Ginny what the hell", when had his sister gotten so strong, he didn't remember her being so.

"Look who's here!" she chimed as they entered the great kitchen, coming into view after descending the stone steps.

Ron was quickly flooded with gripping hands that clapped his shoulder, eager arms intending on hugging and cheery calls of Merry Christmas. Arthur seemed as watery eyed as Molly when they managed to corner him, but it wasn't until a thundering of footsteps echoed out that everyone gave him space.

"Did I hear? …" Harry's frame burst into the kitchen looking round, spotting Ron he didn't miss a beat as he ploughed into him, limbs crashing against body as he wrestled his best friend with eyes squeezed shut.

Ron had to close his own against the lump in his throat, something raw and exposed finally being addressed as he was allowed to be with his longest friend. They didn't stop as they heard a lighter thunder, only released a little to allow Hermione space as she crashed into them both. The three stood embracing as though their absence had been years and not weeks.

"I've… we've all missed you so much Ron", Hermione cried, though her tears were halted in an instance of realisation. She turned her head, looking at her own shoulder and over at Harry's. Everyone else in the room seemed to have done the same now, a mixture of confusion and fascination. Ron's new cloak, dark and flowing was draped over them both in a way they weren't expecting. His right arm, though shrouded, around Harry, everyone stood looking at the shape that wrapped around Hermione to his left.

"Oh…", Ron breathed in recognition. He unbuckled his collar and threw off his cloak, folding it fluidly behind him as he hooked it onto his jeans.

All eyes glued, mouths opened aghast, the crowd jumped as he flexed his shoulders, squaring them off. The act caused Mors Manus to vent a jet of steam behind the triceps, Ron exhaled a similar steam through his nose as happened often when he came in out of the cold.

"Wicked!" Fred and George breathed somewhere to the left.

"Oh Ronnie!" Molly burst forward clutching at the vision of her son somewhat whole again. Her happiness seemingly bringing more tears that he didn't need, Ron was as amused as the others as she got close to him then recoiled. Without missing a beat she pulled a face, "oh Ron, you could have picked one less… less…".

"Morbid!" Hermione said wide eyed.

"Exactly", Molly agreed.

"No, he couldn't", Harry's words made Ron's face light up. He was looking at it in that same way as when he first unwrapped his Nimbus 2000. "That thing's friggin' awesome", he smiled.

"Places everyone!" Arthur cried, feeling the need to give Ron a break, "Merry Christmas".

The crowd moved and Ron found a pair of soft eyes fixed on him from where his sister clutched the owners arm. He met her as Tracey left Ginny for him. They collided as he had with Harry and Hermione, the memory of their last time together hitting at him painfully.

"I'm sorry!" he muffled into her hair.

"Don't", she breathed, "were both sorry, let's leave it at that. We've missed you".

"Pansy?" his voice was weak; he couldn't hold the question any longer.

Tracey shook her head; Ron had some hope as he saw she wasn't as desperately sad as the last time they spoke of her. "I think she's ok though", she urged, "Harrier's seen her, but I'm not allowed to know anything", she admitted. "Dumbledores taken a personal interest in getting her out", Ron's chest burned as he heard this, like a soaring hope. "I was told, well, sort of bribed. I'm allowed to stay here over Christmas and Ginny with me and my mum from tonight onwards as long as there was no kicking off about it all". She rolled her eyes, "I'm to trust in them when they say it's all ok, but I'm not allowed to see Harrier either".

"Is she here", Ron asked quickly, "Harrier, is she in Grimmauld?"

"No Ron, they won't let us, it's all going through the Headmaster. But Ron, she's ok!"

"I guess its news", he admitted, she nodded and gave his hand another squeeze. He eyed her as they were prompted to meet the rest of the Weasley's and other present Order members now seated for Christmas Dinner.

As he sat the bottles of wine and assortment of fizz danced gently overhead in long circuits above the table. Each dipping gently in offer of a pour. "Oh yes please!" he said excited for some real grub for once, and what was more, his mother's roast. He could murder a glass with a good meal.

The bottle made to pour itself, but Mad eye caught his eye, "perhaps…" he offered quietly. He conjured a metal version of the glasses they all had and levitated it to him. "Were not there yet", he shrugged.

He accepted it but now all eyes were on him. He grasped for the glass with his left, everyone watching on in fascination as Mors Manus plucked the uglier version of their own crystalware before them. As Ron placed it on the table, he saw the soft imprints left by its, his, fingers. Mad-Eye's assumption being correct as Ron thought it better than sending shards of glass everywhere.

"It's fucking insane", Charlie breathed looking at his arm. "It's so cool, and you've so much control".

"Yeah", Ron said absentminded as he staired back at Mad-Eye. The old man raised his glass to him and Ron smiled back sadly, raising his own drink in return. Only now truly understanding his teachings and training as the memories struck.

"Confringo!"

"Umbraexcus!"

It had happened in an instant, the shout and flash, the spark and shield. Sound and action, whether subconscious or intent, it happened all the same.

Mad-Eye's cry rang out with committed aim, the blasting curse left his Wand on target. Ron's speed was startling, his wand was in his back pocket, no time passed before it was in hand. His call for a shield was instantaneous, but the execution went all wrong. His wand was trained as it should be as he shouted the incantation, but as the dark energy left his wand, his left arm activated. The green power core fired up and Ron's hand opened, claw like. Mors Manus seemed to consume the energy, it balled up the dark swirl in his fist and formed a solid shield of that same black viscus energy.

The fluidity was flawless, while not what he intended, it shielded him well as the spell exploded against him. With the force of a small bomb, it sent him skidding backwards but he managed to stay on his feet poised to fight back. His wand trained on Mad-Eye he froze as he watched the energy core now draw in the fire that exploded against him like a vacuum. When it did, he felt his muscles tense as his arm seemed to flood with the power of the spell, like an instant charge of energy.

His awe at the sight was fleeting as he saw Mad-Eye run forward. "What the fuck are you playing at", he roared.

"How… how the hell did you do that!" The old man's face was white.

"Are you mental, you nearly killed me". And for the first time with his mentor, Ron's temper got the better of him. He shoved him with his hand as they now squared off, Mad-Eye seeming to forget his own awe.

"Wake up lad, this isn't a fairy tale, it's a fucking horror story, or did you forget?" Mad-Eye matched Ron's intensity and raised it.

"They took my fucking arm with that curse", Ron spat.

"I'll take your other one if you carry on bitching at me".

"You bastard", Ron raised his hand, finger pointing in the old mans face. "I thought you were so fucking cool, such a bloody hero but your nothing but… a reckless old fool playing teacher".

"I'm many things lad, but playing I ain't", Mad-Eye said darkly. "Thirty-Two!"

Ron blinked, "Thirty-Two?"

"Yes, Thirty-Two, that's how many lives I ended in the line of duty. Thirty…", he shoved Ron now, "Fucking…", another shove, "Two!" They eyed each other dangerously, but Ron's hard face softened as this struck him. "I'm not talking inadvertently, like sending to die in Azkaban, or some effect of loss on there families. I'm talking men and boys, males and females, dead… by my hands. I expect you to take at least one life before this is over, because if you don't, you die, she dies. I'll break every bone in your body if I think you'll grow from it. And hell, your free to leave whenever you want, but you won't, will you".

"Kill", was all Ron could say as his speech flattened him.

"Yes lad, is she worth that, could you take a life to get her back", Mad-Eye was calm now. This had all had purpose, big purpose and he was seeing it first hand, he just wasn't mentioning it while they were here in this very necessary moment.

Ron scared himself with how quick the answer came. "Yes, she's worth it, if the moment came, I would". He felt strange as he said this, like there was something greater than just Pansy that he was willing to protect. Ron turned to look at his left hand as he scratched his neck, something of this made his dagger itch. He turned to Mad-Eye with his mouth open, raising his new arm he turned his hand over and back again with intent.

Mad-Eye nodded with a sad smile, inside he knew it would take this, he didn't enjoy it but it needed to happen. Ron flexed his fingers and waved his hand, meaning to do every movement, complete control at his will.

Shaking his head Ron lowered his hand. "Whatever it takes" he said softly.

"Aye lad, whatever it takes", he answered back with that same sad smile.

Back at the table, Mad-Eye nodded with a brighter smile now as he turned back to Arther and Kingsley over dinner.

Back to his own spot in the gathering Ron continued with Tracey, leaving behind the memory of how he broke the barriers with his arm. "How the hell have you swung this by the way?"

"I know right!" Tracey laughed, "it's all sorts of crazy isn't it. Sat eating my dinner with my girlfriend, Harry Potter and, 'Notorious Mass Murderer… Sirius Black!"

"I swear if you imitate that man any clearer, I might just curse you on reflex one of these days", Sirius laughed with Tracey as he leaned down the table for the bowl of roast potatoes. Clearly something she'd been doing often while here.

"I guess", Ron hissed. He been seated opposite her, Charlie and Harry to his right, Bill and Fleur to his left, Hermione, Tracey and Ginny opposite. He was engulfed with family as even Fred and George pushed in close to him. "But how are you here exactly?"

"Oh I see, well, Ginny", Tracey said as his sister triumphantly put an arm around her girlfriends shoulders. "Obviously I had to sit with Dumbledore, he had to do a number of magical checks and make assurances. I can speak with you about the Order, but I'm unable to speak with anyone outside the circle, like Liza that time in the Room of Requirement. At least while I'm too young to join. Then there's obviously Britain's most wanted over there…".

Ron heard Sirius chuckle, clearly, he was enjoying the girl being around, "he would of course, there very similar".

"It wouldn't do well to have me feinting over breakfast every time I look at him, so some explaining was needed. But other than that, it's pretty much down to Ginny, she won't tell me what she said to get your folks on side".

"She won't tell any of us what she did", George said in irritation, "you know there sharing a bed right?"

"What?" Ron said in shock. He quickly found that while he was in disbelief, he wasn't angry. He liked Tracey and felt he could trust her with his youngest sibling. Did he really have a leg to stand on in arguing. But in believing this, really? … "No! You're having me on, there's no way they'd let you".

"Exactly what we said", Bill spoke up from his game of eye foreplay with his French beauty.

"What did you do?" Ron said in wonder, he wasn't asking but searching her face.

"We've tried everything big lad", Charlie said with a smirk, "she's not for budging".

"Well, we have rules", Tracey offered, "obviously no funny business, and we hand on heart haven't broken your parents trust".

"Well, it's not like you can get her pregnant is it", Fred laughed.

"Dick!" Ginny flicked a sprout at him as her siblings laughed. "What!" Ginny's attention was on Ron now as he stared at her.

"You", he accused, again his voice was gentle, he was reading her, not starting on her. "There's something I'm seeing that they're not".

"Well, I'm just happy to be here, and Ginny's been great. I made Molly and Arthur a promise and I'm keeping to it and Ginny hasn't made it difficult for me", Tracey shared a beaming smile with her.

"That's just because you're both shagged out from Hogwarts", this time Fred received two flying sprouts from the pair of them, accompanied with another round of laughter.

"No…", Ron was leaning on his elbows now, "that's still not right". They all paused to look between the girls and him as he surveyed them. He pointed at Tracey, "you see, I believe that. I can buy that she's playing it down the middle, no messing, well no messing except for a boat load of snogging I'd wager". Tracey blushed, but Ginny didn't, she only froze, her eye's hardening as she glared. "Argh, ok", he nodded, dropping his voice from the adults. "So that's right too, well no big surprise there, but you!" he squinted at Ginny, reading her.

Ginny's eye's made the feintest of darts, just a flicker as she glanced in all but a millisecond at his arm. "Oh, you didn't… You heartless cow!" Ron breathed with a smile.

Ginny froze, her eyes widened, and it set off a siren of alert to the others that she was rattled.

"What", the boys all chorused in unison, seeing as he was clearly onto something.

"Oh, but that's genius", Ron laughed.

"What!" they all repeated, Fleur included as even she was intrigued now.

"Ron… I… you can't!" Ginny started.

"Oh Ginny, you bad bad girl" he wound her up.

"What!"

"Little Ginny here, has told our parents that she's been suffering… what? dreams of pain, nightmares of Tracey", he suggested. "Just how much of what happened with me and Pansy have you copied to shit them up and make them fold to the idea".

The boys all looked at each other in shock, Tracey was pulling Ginny to look at her in an equal amount. After a moment Bill and Charlie stood clapping, followed by the twins who started waving their arms in unison, preying to her.

"Genius", they cried

"Superb!"

"Just inspired!"

Ginny went bright red as she hissed at them, all the adults pausing to see what the commotion was. Seeing an out she stood, clapping loudly, "brilliant mum", she cheered, "fantastic dinner!".

The boys all laughed, "yeah mum… brilliant, what do you think Tracey".

Molly frowned, "bunch of idiots", she turned back to Hestia Jones and their conversation.

Ginny slammed back down to her chair, "idiots!" she hissed.

"Hey, game appreciates game", Charlie raised a glass to her, Ginny blushed.

"I'm not sure your out of the woods yet", Tracey said through the side of her mouth, her arms were crossed now, and she was looking away from her. "That was all pretty hard stuff we watched them both go through, not exactly something to mock".

Ginny turned, visually struck by this. "Baby no!" she said low, trying to grab at her hands. "I missed you, I did it for us". She leaned in, pulling her chin to meet her. "I wanted to be with you".

Ginny was simpering now, and Ron could see the smirks on the others as Tracey's Icey wall melted quickly.

"Oh… Quah! … she is good!" Fleur said aloud as she leaned into Bill with a laugh.

"Ginevra Weasley, you've been warned about that at the dinner table!", they all laughed as Molly's voice rang out, seemingly seeing through the back of her head. Tracey's wall had all but melted completely and she fell into her girlfriend's mouth as Ginny had intended.

Ron laughed and paused with a weight in his chest, it was a very Pansy like mood. The idea of her was haunting, nothing much of this year felt like Christmas for him. But now he knew the only thing he wanted; he wasn't going to get it though.

"Ron", Charlie breathed, "that a friggin dragon bone in that arm?" His voice was filled with wonder and excitement as he looked at it.

Ron smiled, putting his arm around his brother he let his head go to his shoulder. He knew there was genuine wonder there, but also that Charlie had sensed his pain and was being a big brother for him, pulling him out of his head. "Merry Christmas Charlie".

"Merry Christmas little brother", Charlie said back softly, his head now against Rons. "Now, I want to know everything about this bad boy!"

Pansy woke on Christmas morning, she barely recognised it as such, only the usual feelings hit her as was customary now. She ran to the bathroom and spoke Rolo's name as dread took her, she needed his comforting. Narcissa had left her hear, in her room all of the day before. She hadn't asked the customary questions that might have been expected, she knew there was no way the baby would be her grandchild.

There was no pop of sound as Rolo entered, there was no sign or sound at all. Instead, she barely realised he wasn't there as she convulsed, instead she simply sweated, her hair matting to her forehead as she retched. Today was a bad day for her stomach.

She lay, head on porcelain, face washed out and eyes watering. "What are you doing to mother today?" she whispered. Her eyes widened; pain struck at her as she heard her own words. They pained her terribly, like an all too late realisation that this was now real, somewhere she was accepting she was with child. "I can't do that", she whimpered sadly, "I'm alone, your Da… he's not here, he doesn't even know. I can't get us out of this, I can't start doing that, talking to you".

The door to the bathroom gently clicked shut, Pansy hadn't heard it open. She hushed her sobbing but didn't have it in her to look up. She knew it was Narcissa, she simply closed her eyes to the world and waited.

Soft fingers stroked the wet hair from her forehead as an arm draped her shoulder in comforting. It withdrew and Pansy felt the tingle of wordless magic as the bath began to run.

There were no words spoken, only Pansy's continued retching as it started up again. By the time she was done she was guided to the hot bath where her would be mother-in-law stripped her bare and guided her into the water. They remained in silence for some time, Pansy's head resting on the back of the tub, Narcissa sat unceremoniously on the floor, her own head leaning against the side of the bath.

"I forced Rolo to alert me when you woke, I had to see for myself", Narcissa spoke softly, tiredly almost. "I went to sleep thinking of nothing but you, Draco, the entire farse".

"I'm sorry", Pansy offered weakly, she felt terrible today.

"I understand why you took the leap and told me; I understand your defeatist attitude in offering yourself. I hate that I did but you were right, the thought that it could drive me to murder did come to me". She closed sad eyes, when they opened, they offered a silent apology. "I even understand that this is real, that something in you seems attuned to motherhood". She sat up, leaning over now with her chin on her hands. "But I don't understand it, not at all, not really".

Pansy bit her lip, setting her jaw she took in a deep breath and banked on pure honesty, as she had the day before. Narcissa sat listening to everything, her, Ron, the power that pushed and pulled. For the most part she was silent in listening, here and there her mouth hung open. Sometimes her lips pulled into a smile, the romance of teenage life in Hogwarts hawking back to her like the sweetness of a gentle kiss. Pansy told her everything, in one go. It was more than any one person received from her, the whole truth, no hidden points or overheard conversation. She spoke of the simple attractions that were overpowering enough then added the forces that were undecipherable. She confessed the acts that led to her predicament, in all its beautiful and powerful detail. She even spoke of the tests that showed so much uncertainty and the labour that never was.

When she was done the water grew cold and Narcissa gave an odd look as she tapped the bath with her wand, water instantly growing hot. Pansy got it quickly and looked down, embarrassed to say. "Draco snapped it the night he…".

Narcissa's eye's closed and again they sat in silence.

Eventually Narcissa looked on the girl with a sad smile, feeling an overwhelming fondness. "I met the real side to your uncle Rodolphus in school, he was younger than me, he started when I was in my fourth or fifth year, I forget. I liked him, he was just a big quiet boy but very sweet in his own ways. Hogwarts was always where we found our true voices away from our elders.".

"I thought you were in school with my mother?" Pansy didn't mean to interrupt.

"No, I knew of her in her teenage years because your grandmother would throw a lady's garden party annually. She proudly hosted it with Parisa at her side. No, your mother was very young, only a year older than yourself when she, when she was as you are". Pansy blinked in surprise, "darling, your mother was very ill, it was easy to forget how young she was when sickness took her. She was only just younger than Rabastan, she missed out on school with him by months".

"So mother was sixteen when she married and had me? I… I didn't know, by the time I was old enough to think on such things she was…".

Narcissa stroked her head, "I know how hard it must have been for you, but yes sixteen or seventeen, I forget. Though it pained Ramacus and Sicilia to agree to a match in the first place. They never seemed the type to use her for marital gain or any desire to wed her off. But from what I heard there was some sort of family drama that forced their hands. Almost immediately after they accepted the offer from my father to wed Bella to Roddy. But I knew both Rodolphus and Rabastan as boys, as I knew your mother as a child, the families were much more for frequenting each other in those days"

Pansy rolled over in the tub, leaning on her side her hand begun to stroke her stomach. She felt so at ease listening to her that she didn't feel the cold fear of being naked in front of her, only what felt like a warmth she was being offered.

"I fell in love with your uncle while he was just sixteen", Narcissa made sure to offer Pansy the honesty in her eyes, the girls mouth hung open. "I'd been married to Lucious almost six years since the age of eighteen". She sighed, letting her hand hang over and swirled the water. "I was dutiful Pansy, as dutiful as I could be. I was the wife for him that you were expected to be for Draco, but he wasn't what I wanted. Still, I tried, I forced myself to see every positive as though each were a blessing to my eyes, but nothing ever truly clicked".

"I… I thought you seemed so…".

"…Suited?" Narcissa offered, "exactly what I was told repeatedly. My sisters knew of course. Bella told me often to suck it up and just be happy with the match I got". She seemed pained now when she mentioned her other sister, Pansy understood. "Andi insisted I leave him, find someone who I loved for myself, not for who I was supposed to. I hated her so much when she married Ted, the idea that she could just run off with someone like that, for true love while I struggled to even conceive with my husband".

Pansy sat wide eyed and fascinated; her eyelids lulled as the woman heated the waters again. "You struggled?"

"I did, I thought it an issue of Lucius' or a fear I was baron. It wasn't until I found Rabastan I realised I'd just been starving my body of true lust". She pulled a face, pained. "Don't misunderstand me Pansy, I loved my husband. Lucius was never cruel with me, but passion has never been a true forte of his. I tried my hardest, truly".

"But then…".

"But then…", she sighed, pooling the water again. "He looked so much more like a man, so much more of a man than those not of a boys age. It tricked me into forgetting how young he was. Next thing I know and he's charming me something stupid. He's always had a wicked sense of humour and taste for daring". There eyes met and she blushed, "charmed the dress off me, literally. After that I couldn't keep away from him, met him for every Hogsmeade trip until he left school. I fell for him completely. But Lucious was suspicious, and I had to maintain the visage, complete my duty".

"You conceived Draco soon after?" Pansy trying to do the math, "Close to mother with myself".

"Yes, I was as careful as I could be with Rabastan, but I was so scared". Narcissa's head dipped, and her hand found Pansy's. "Our situations are different… but I understand Pansy, I really do. I found myself travelling to one of the most discreet and expensive Seers in the country, just to find out who's child I carried. I lived on a knife edge, like you have, knowing he'd likely end my life if I were found out. Then I knew I'd be expecting the Blonde of a Malfoy and not the black of Lestrange. It forced us apart, and me closer to Lucious. I hoped it would complete me, satisfy me where I hadn't been for years".

Narcissa's eyes grey cold as she stared at Pansy, continuing her story. "I hated it, my life, my situation. Rabastan broke my heart with how gently he took the news, telling me my happiness was enough for him. I wanted to be my sister; I wanted to bare Rabastan's child and run away with him". She got up now, onto her knee's, forcing Pansy to sit upright as she went to shampooing the girl's hair. The way she secretly always wished she could with her own daughter one day.

"You did what was expected though, you remained dutiful", Pansy hoped this was some consolation for her.

"I did, and motherhood suited me well. Draco was a beautiful little chubby baby, and I could lose myself in him. At least that was the plan, until Lucious drained any fun out of it. The idea of his heir was more important than the idea of a child. He chose the best of nanny's to be paired with the best of upbringings, in his eyes. My duty of a mother all but taken from me. And while Lucius had his needs, he never had a wanting to give me another, he had his boy and that was enough. Then I saw that he left his true desires outside the grounds, his secret affairs were pitiful. As I know you've painfully noticed, my husband has a taste for the younger fare. Even at twenty-four I was too old for him, I could do the job of course but… well, would you want to. Knowing your husband fantasised over anything in school robes".

She began to rinse Pansy's hair, with astonishing care to be gentle to the touch. Pansy was feeling the true intimacy of it all.

"Then Rabastan followed Rodolphus who followed Bella, they pledged to the Dark Lord, and I was forced to see more of him. The spark between us never died and it reignited into an inferno. I…". Her voice failed and Pansy turned to her as she noted the strain in her voice. "I visited Andi after Rabastan proposed I leave Lucius. He offered to raise Draco as his, and I knew he would give him all the love Lucius couldn't. He wanted us to flee, something I always believed being that he'd gotten too deep with the Dark Lords lot and wanted out. Andi tried to convince me to do it, told me she'd take us in until we could go on. I even started to drain money from the estate into my own secret account. Then Potter happened, the Dark Lord fell and soon after Rabastan was arrested. It destroyed me".

Finally, Narcissa's tears fell, as they did Pansy, caring not for how soaked she was, pulled at her to share an embrace. She felt her pain as though it were her own, it was horrible to hear how she'd been so close to happiness, only to lose it before ever truly having it.

"He's here now", Pansy said, still clinging to her. "I don't know why but, now you say it, he doesn't seem as devout to the Dark Lord as I'd imagine. Why settle for an affair, run away with him, finish your story".

Narcissa pulled back, taking her hands. "How could I… where do I even start".

"You'd have better odds at surviving then I do".

Narcissa clenched her eyes shut, "Pansy! Don't, please. I'm pained by all this as it is, I can't think of myself when I need to think for you".

"For me?"

"I have to get you free of here, I must". She rested her forehead on Pansy's and they both closed their eyes to the sting behind them. "You have to return to Molly, to Albus, to Ronald. Only then will you be safe, for your child".

"Come with me!" Pansy begged, she didn't know why, she felt desperately close to the woman.

"I can't, for the same reason I can't run away with Rabastan. You said yourself, my son is sick, if there's anyway to save him then, I have to try".

A/N

Pansy and Narcissa have always had a potential to bond and it's taken a natural time to come around. Even after everything, Pansy has something in her that still hopes in saving something of Draco. I hope the story reads as something more than just good and bad. Also Ron is by no means 'there' yet. There's now defeater of all within him here, its not that kind of story, but there is a great deal of power and will. The hardest thing for me has been not dragging his process out or having it too short. Not a full building film or a quick Rocky montage.

-Lastly a little something for 'Bellozr98',

-Muchas gracias amigo/amiga, Perdonen mi uso grosero de una aplicación de traducción. Siempre es bueno recibir comentarios. Y muy positivo también. Solo puedo esperar que continúes la historia y que no decepcione.

Thank you very much my friend, Forgive my crude use of a translation app. It's always great to receive feedback. And so positive too. I can only hope you do continue the story and it doesn't disappoint. (You obviously did as you left a futher review since I sent this in PM but the Fanfic's App's been down for me since the. I know you reviewed Defiant Blood but the review vanished for me to view so I hope you've enjoyed - All this occurred to me as stupid as you've navigated everything in the story without me butchering any language with a crude app. It's a pleasure to hear more off people and you truly are too kind.

-Moody, I've had real issues with the App and the PM system so I only hope they came through.

-For everyone, thank you, were drawing near to the end of Defiant Blood now and we'll be starting 2025 with the final instalment in the form of the next book of the Blood and Bone Saga, thank you for the continued support. I only hope I'm doing something right and this gets someone out there feeling a certain sort of way as one fiction in particular did with me, sticking with me and hooking me. Making me want to consume more and write my own. Happy New Year to all, Love and Light, you all know the rest xxx