Defiant Blood – Blood and Bone Saga - Part 2

Chapter 3

Ron stepped out through the swirl, passing from a Realm of Shadows to one of Night. His brain became a fuzzy mess for a moment as he re-registered what true colours were to his mind's eye now, he was back.

"Wow", he said, "that's better than a portkey", he said looking up at Corvus. "What?"

"It would seems Crowdah really shouldn't leave's his thing's lying rounds", he accused.

"Ohh!", Ron said looking back at him, "saw that did you, smart arse Mord", he smiled.

"Indeed", he nodded, "Corvus will think of Ron as Crowdah throws his tantrums. But, I don't thinks it work's".

"What, the Shroud?", Ron reached in his pocket, his eyes widened as he felt for the folded fabric and found something else. He pulled out his hand holding a thick purple and black shard of crystal, "you were right". Corvus nodded, but looking down Ron felt it in his hand, light yet full of weight all at once. "There's power here", he thought as he rolled it in his thumb, "like the book, it's still a powerful object, just in a different form now".

"Good", Corvus thrummed, "Ron can thank Corvus for present's".

"But I nicked it, your full of Rass", Ron laughed, "maybe not as much as Crowdah".

Corvus's laugh echoed, "so where too?"

"Good question", he put his hand in his pocket, "do you still have the book?"

Corvus turned his head, looking out at the expanse of endless library.

"You trying to be a smart arse now?", Ron rolled his eyes as Corvus nodded again. Ron picked another book, this one smaller than the last, bound in green leather with black lettering. "Dearest Blood, the Ron and Corvus tale continues", he read out. "Dearest blood? Ok, lets see". He made to open the book when he saw Corvus tick-tock. He looked up, "Corvus?"

"Ron will not likes", Corvus said mournfully.

"Why?" he paused, "you know what… just say it", Ron said impatiently.

Corvus sighed, "Corvus not honests with Ron. Corvus allow Ron to think's men come Night Realm some times, they don'ts. This only place for females, Ron is first to come. Only Females can pay the Debt. But Corvus also wishes to know what does Dearest Blood mean's in Celestia?"

Ron was still trying to take in Corvus's confession as he asked, "erm", he shook his head, "it's just sort of an old saying, I think. Whenever I've heard it, it's been meant as an old world'y sort of term of endearment. Like dearest kin".

"It has older meaning to Mistress", Corvus said, "it is term of sadness for the loss of her children, those she cannot see's any longers".

"Death has children?"

"She did, many. Death see's all as her children but also, yes, she has had her own's. They are all gone's now as millennia stretches, realities changes", Ron was hanging on to Corvus's words in fascination, he barely recognised how truly fluent he had become when conversing. "She has always been the nights and her mate the darkness. They were always these things, but their childrens were the personifications of forces. Like Moros, he was Doom. Thanatos was her alter, her compassion as was compassionate death. Oizys was pains and Distresses. Nemesis her retribution".

"Wait a minute, you're talking about Nyx? Death is Nyx? The Goddess of Night", Ron said in disbelief.

"How Ron knows this? This is one of her names yes, one of her truest"

"There ancient telling's, really ancient, but you barely hear of them anymore, but they fascinated me. I always liked the Goddess of Night, she was one of my favourites".

"Then you loves death", Corvus said powerfully.

"No, of course not", but he wasn't sure he knew anything now.

"It sound's to Corvus as such. But my points is this. Dearest Blood means loss of her most beloved, its what she never admits her hearts longs for. She is eternals and most powerfuls, she is not able's to pass as her children or her mate".

"Your talking about Erebus? Darkness" Ron said.

Corvus nodded, "Ron is smart arses!", Corvus boomed making Ron laugh. "Once they passed she had to become all of those things and she cannot do this alone's, this why she creates Arcane's"

"So really, you're her children" Ron said.

"We reveres her as such, but her heart's cannot takes the loss of being loved to loses again. So she gives us god's to worships instead".

"I see, that's really sad I guess", Ron looked up, "so, the deception?"

Corvus worries at the time that if Mistress find's Ron here she will become angered and Corvus wanted to learn more of Ron. But Corvus see's something he think's Ron know's nothing about. Maybe only to Corvus, or to Shadow-kind that it visible".

"What?" Ron looked down at himself, other than his arm he saw nothing else.

"Your necks!"

"What about it?" Ron said, and absently his hand rested on the back, where his hairline ended.

"You… has Death's Dagger".

"Minerva what's up with her", Molly said panicked.

"I think she's having another one of their episodes". McGonagall said.

Pansy tried to push past the hands holding her to the chair, "I'm not having an episode", she cried out, "it's Ron, I've seen him, he's alive!"

"We know he's alive dear, he hasn't left us", Pansy recognised it as Pomfrey, she'd found recently a liking for the woman, but now she only had her mind focused solely on Ron.

"I'm sorry but we've got to go", one of the Medi-Healers said to Dumbledore and Arthur, "who's traveling with him?"

"Who… erm… "Arthur wanted to be the one, but this new outburst was troubling him and he couldn't focus.

"Dad!" Bill came over, "let me, please. I thought I could stay with the lads but, I need to be with Ron".

Arthur's head came back and forth from his sons to the scene, quickly he landed his hand on his eldest's shoulder, "alright Bill, were right behind you".

Pansy saw the healers gather around them and one of the taller Weasley's, "what are they doing, they need to stop!"

"Pansy please", Snape had now come over to them.

The healers placed a large circular rope around Ron's entire body, flat against his bed. On a quick count down they all grabbed it and were sucked into a vortex that disappeared.

"No!" Pansy screamed. She fought against everyone trying to keep her steadfast in her chair.

"Pansy what's this", Pomfrey pulled an empty vial from her hand, Pansy hadn't realised she was holding it. "Dreamless sleep and Living Death, again! You've been in my office".

"No, Ron had it, I just needed to see him", Pansy was crying now, "please, what does it matter, take me to him, I need to wake him!"

"I don't think you should go anywhere", Snape's voice was laced with concern as his face came into frame.

"No, you can't!"

She broke free and got up staring at them all in disbelief, she wanted to scream, turning she made to leave, to run away if they were going to ignore her like this. As she did, she hit a solid frame. It was Ron's dad; he looked down at her and as he did, she couldn't help noticing that same blue of her Ronald's eyes. "Please!" she pleaded with him.

He took her shoulders and leaned down to her, "what did you see?" he asked tentatively.

"He's alive, not like this, but like he was. He's trapped somewhere, but if he stays asleep here he's not going to get back", her eyes were streaming now, "please believe me", she breathed in desperation.

Arthur pulled her into his chest, seeing only a small girl like his own, all alone in a room of adults not willing to hear her, "I do", he patted her back. After a moment he looked up, "Albus?"

Dumbledore stood with his hand pressed against his lips, deep in thought by all account. "I think I desperately need to hear what the young lady has to say, urgently", he nodded. "Everyone joining us, please gather round".

Dumbledore conjured his own line of rope and laid it out perfectly in mid-air. Ginny and Tracey stepped forwards, Arthur had a hold of Pansy with one arm, he pulled his daughter close with the other.

"Albus, I need to stay for now, they're all still so shaken, I need to be here for them", Pomfrey said.

"Thank you, Poppy, if you wish to join us simply call for Fawkes and he will bring you to us".

Molly had stepped over to her boys, taking the twins in her arms.

"I'll stay with them for now mum", Charlie said, "I can't keep looking at him like that. If I need to I can come with Poppy".

"He'll be ok boys, I promise, we'll get through this, I love you all so much". She stepped away, seeing Harry and Hermione holding each other. "I thought I felt something in you both this year", she smiled. Harry fell into her arms as his sobs returned, muffled into her she had to pull back to hear him, "Harry dear what is it!"

"I did nothing, I just stood watching him on the floor", he cried.

"Harry, don't you dare!" she said fiercely, "I've got one son close to… I'm not losing you too, I've seen what blaming yourself can do, I won't have that from you! Do you think I would have been any better or would I have broken down into a screaming heap".

"She's right Harry love", Hermione whispered, "there's nothing more any of us could have done".

"You listen to Hermione", Harry shook his head, and she snapped, "Harry James Potter! You stop that now; no son of mine is going to stand there beating himself up. How many times has it been you on that bed, or the one saving everyone else. You're the reason my daughter lives. Now get over to that portkey the pair of you. You're my family, and I won't have either of you out of my sight".

She held them both protectively again and brought them over. Seeing the others, her son's and Pansy's friends she promised them news as soon as they had it and broke each of their ribs in turn holding them all.

Coming over to Dumbledore she, Harry and Hermione joined the others along with Snape and McGonagall. On Dumbledore's mark they vanished.

"How is that even possible, I've never had a mark there, especially a tattoo", Ron said in disbelief. He had stormed off rounding corner after corner looking for the closest thing to a mirror. He stopped when he found an over polished brass surface that did the job just about.

"Tattoo?" Corvus said, "the females mark, on skins?".

"Yes" Ron said absently as he tried his best to angle a view in his reflection, "Corvus mate I can't see anything, what are you on about".

"Corvus not say it tattoo, it not like female's. It… it different. It glows to Corvus eyes. When Ron not mentions having one's earlier, Corvus thinks maybe he not knows, not sees, if he not sees or knows of it, then it strange no?"

"I mean, if your right, and you've no reason to lie then yeah its strange, its bloody freaky", Ron still tried to look but stopped figuring it was nothing he was going to see.

"Ron uses the word's for blood oftens", Corvus pointed out.

Ron knew it was a question, "oh, yeah. Well, it's another hard one to explain, I mean, its 'idiom', displays anger or disbelief. Can be good and bad, Oh bloody hell Corvus that's cool. Or oh bloody hell mate I'm sorry".

"Another good explanations", Corvus nodded, "I likes, I keeps it".

"So' what do you reckon, Death's Dagger, good bloody hell, or bad one?" Ron asked.

"Dagger is good, but only made for females".

"Why is that exactly, I get that she's female but, it's supposed to be to bring her to people quick, because of darkness?"

Corvus nodded, "With Erebus gone, Darkness is under Mistresses controls' but remembers I said, she has made Arcane's to help. She has many responsibilities; she cannot have full control's over all's. This was why her and Erebus has children in first place, to allow them chance to look after responsibilities diligently. Now Darkness is under her, and she can not watch over all at once's, things can grows out of her control".

"What things?"

"What human and wizard kind say, thing's that go bump in the nights?"

"Why do I feel your about to say that's a literal reference?".

"Because they do", Corvus said with emphasis, "there is many dark creatures in Celestia yes? There is many dark creatures in all Realms, except some, like Night Realm".

"That's good to know", Ron breathed dramatically looking round.

"But there are things in the space between space. The place's that lies between each Realm, there is true darkness, without shadow as there is no light. It is a place Erebus kept clear and in check for her, to keep Mistress and her charge safe".

"But now he's gone", Ron nodded in understanding. "So, the Dagger what, stops them?".

"Dagger offers protection to family and kin, it brings responsibility to barer to pay's the debt. In return Mistress is quick to collect the soul for next place. But only females bare the dagger, when I says this last, I think you thinks I mean as choice. Because parents give the dagger as you says, as tattoo. But its is literals, it does not work on males. This is because Mistress knows mens is strong, they must protect and provides, but only females has the true strengths. Female can not make life without males, but only females is strong enough to bare them into reality-…".

"Does any of that have something to do with ancient magic, Mother's Love?" Ron hated to interrupt him, but Harry came to his mind.

"It does, Ron knows this too".

"My best mates mum, she sacrificed herself to protect him as a baby", Ron explained.

"It is a powerful magics, but an offering to the Mistress, he will have power he knows not because of this".

Ron was stunned to hear this, he couldn't help but think quickly about what an amazing woman she might have been to meet. "So only women can pay the debt, because only a woman is truly powerful enough to birth a child".

"It is honours to all women, of all kinds", Corvus nodded.

"I see, and without the Dagger?"

"It is difficult to explains", Corvus admitted, "there are wizard kind who are not of the families, not of the bloodlines but they also's have use of magics and no awareness Dagger exists".

"That's a good point, like muggles and humankind I guess".

"Exactly", Corvus nodded, "and they pay different price, in different realm, with different means by different children of Mistress she has created to take care of. This not part of Corvus's world so he does not know".

"So all this is for blood of the Pure?" Ron asked.

"Yes, it big business, there is great deal who are connected by pure bloods throughout Celestia, but it important work and evens more important to magic's greatly. Magic started with the Pure bloods, it will endure only withs them or stop".

"Really?" the revelation was shocking; he found it amazing that after all this time there was a truth to the necessity of pure blood.

"But Pure blood is not just meanings one pure with one pure, the debt can be passed to those who… wander? Is this words?"

"Erm, wander? Those who wander?" Ron pondered, "one with one, you mean the half bloods don't you?"

"Yes, they is incurring the debt and not know, it is sad as some becomes lost to the darkness", Corvus said in a sombre note.

"Oh Mord, so if they just, believed a little, and what? got the Dagger and accepted the tradition?"

"Then Mistress can shelter and protect. And then their kin also has protections".

"Sounds like Mistress cares a lot", Ron said, and he was puzzled to see Corvus's face drop and sway. "What is it?"

"Mistress cares great deal, but, her wrath is great when she see's there is loss of innocent", his head tilted as he saw Ron's face. "The innocence of youth".

"But, not to be crude but children die all the time, its life, isn't it?".

"No, it's death, and it is not something's to fear, innocents go to most wondrous place until they reunite with kin. But their soul, it is too pure!".

"I don't like the sound of that!" Ron said somehow knowing what Corvus was about to say, in one way or another.

"The darkness, there is some creatures that lust only to feed on purest spirits, they hunts only innocent's, If Mistress does not see's them fast enough, does not reach them for the journey, they are consumed. It is… unpleasant".

"Fuck!" Ron breathed.

"Bloody Fuck!"

"I guess", Ron sighed, "and Dagger?"

"Dagger would protect the innocent, makes them unable to be taken. Mistress would appear and slay any darkness nears it, then carry's it for the journeys".

"This is some important Rass then!"

"Bloody important shit!"

"So, for me to have one, I guess it could either be a blessing and protect me, or could really piss Death off", Ron theorised.

"Quite! Corvus didn't want to be's honest before, he worried once you knows, Death might see's you, come for you".

"And is that likely?" Corvus tick-tocked, "you don't know", he answered for him. "I think your talking about the taboo, girls should keep their Dagger knowingly unseen".

"I do's".

Ron lifted the book again; he was stunned by everything he was hearing. Gods of Death and Shadows, monsters that linger on the edge of humanity. Stalking the unknowing and preying on the innocent. It was all an incredible truth he was being sown existed. "So, we give Dearest Blood a try", Corvus nodded, " ok then, here goes".

They started to walk, following Ron's voice as the book detailed the journey as they took it, only ever telling them so far ahead which way it was they took within the story. "Ron led Corvus on, as they walked Ron suspected what Corvus said earlier was right. That Corvus entering his dreams might have sent him near mad in his own Realm. He felt this now because he didn't think his mind could comprehend learning of such mythical realities existing as truth there as it was almost hard to accept here where it was visible before his eyes".

Ron stopped looking up, "these books freak me out, I was literally thinking that before it showed up on the page".

Walking on, Ron spoke up again, "you know, I feel like I remember something", Corvus's head turned, "I know I don't remember almost anything about the dreams, of you I mean. Even after being told, we both shouted your name, all except one thing".

"What was thing?" Corvus asked, "wait! Corvus know, Ron feared Corvus!"

"Funny how we can tell what each other thinks Eh! But I don't know why I remember that I know I thought you were coming for me, to get me". Corvus bellowed laughing, Ron smirked at him, "I don't even know why that's funny, and yet I feel it too".

"Hey look", Ron said, "Ron pointed at the book open in his palm, reading the words it he noticed it said they walked only a few more yards before turning right. When they did, they found the entrance to the libraratorium". Ron looked up, "that even a word? Well, it's in the book so who am I to argue". He jabbed his finger down, "the libraratorium entrance where they first met. That's it! That's were we need to go, I can feel it".

Corvus barked out in triumph as Ron picked up his pace. Rounding the corner, they found the area they left so very long ago. Ron had no concept of time anymore, but he knew within himself they had wondered some decades. How this worked he didn't know, "nor am I going to think on it", he thought.

Corvus stopped him and looked up. Ron staggered back as he did, he was looking up at floor upon floor of library circling its way up. It echoed the grand staircase back at Hogwarts but some ten or twenty times taller and more grandeur.

"I'll guess you could explore this place a thousand years and only scratch the surface, its wonderful", Ron said his mouth hanging open.

"Mistress is kind", he caught Ron's attention, "but also cruel!".

"Roger that!" Ron whistled, "Can't believe we never noticed this before, then again. Me meeting creature and Corvus meeting ghost, it doesn't half focus the mind".

"Indeed", Corvus nodded, "and's look, Corvus see's his door!"

Ron followed his eyeline, of sorts, after a minute seeing another door, very similar to the one that led to Corvus's office. "That's a way up there mate, can you reach that?"

"It no issues. Besides, Corvus has memorised to work door's now. Where does Ron feel pull?"

"Pull… oh you mean where's home calling me from… hmm, lets see". He waited a moment and closed his eyes. Something told him this was not a time for the book, it was a pull from his chest now. "I can't think heart", he whispered quietly, "not if this doesn't work and I don't make it back to her".

"We will makes it work!" Corvus forced, Ron tried to be as quiet as he could think, but the great Spector never missed a beat.

"Right then", Ron spoke up, "well I'm sure its this way, to the corridor".

Ron led them along to the door that started the meeting, it was still ajar, and Ron suspected it always would be. Back to the corridor of his biggest desire. They stepped through and Corvus looked around, his beak flashing every which way as he took it all in.

"Corvus can make his way back, for sure?" Ron asked.

"It is straight run?"

"Always has been since I came here, doesn't deviate, just goes on".

"Then Corvus not worried, he find's his ways". His attention was stollen though by something behind them. Ron turned round; it was a large window frame. Some twelve foot high and twice as wide. "This is mate? This is Pansy…yes?"

"Wow", Ron breathed. Never gone from his mind, she would always remain, but now he was looking at her in a way that felt alien to him. Simply owing to the fact he hadn't been here in so very long; he hadn't been allowed to see her. "Pansy", he whispered.

They were stood staring into a slice of Celestia, Snape's storeroom to be precise. Pansy had hold of Ron's hand, wrapping something that soothed to his aching knuckle. It was dark in there but from this angle all was clear. Pansy had her hand on Ron's chest, here and now, stood watching, Ron couldn't help but follow, his hand touching where hers once lingered.

Corvus see's a presence arounds her, she has a darkness".

"I don't like the way you say things like that mate", Ron warned.

"No, it is same presence Corvus has always seen's around you. There is something's of the Shadow's about Ron and Pansy".

"Ok? I guess that's a bit better, right?" Ron asked.

"Corvus… is puzzle by this, it very strange, he only see's same thing around mistress". He looked down at Ron, "but it not feel's like a bad thing".

"Few!" he breathed, "at least that's something, even if we do look like Death", only Ron got this and shrugged it off.

"Pansy is, exceptional?" Corvus asked.

Ron couldn't take his eyes off her as she stared up into his eyes so desperate to consol him. "Yeah exceptional". Ron came out of his head, "Ron has lots who hate because he with Pansy".

He laughed, "Corvus and Ron do alright's for themselves", he looked down, "prettiest girls in school!"

Ron laughed, genuinely pleased to have him in his company, "you make me feel better, I could lose myself watching her".

"Corvus knows the hurts".

Ron did something instinctively and was stunned when he realised it had an effect. He had leaned to his left, into Corvus. As he did his shoulder hit a solid form as he physically leaned on his companion. Quite the same revelation was the feeling of a force across the top of his own shoulders. This was the same as the force Corvus had used to shepherd him into the cloakroom. They were sharing a comforting embrace; Ron felt a mutual pain as he looked back.

"Come Ron, follow your pull".

"Naw mate", Ron shook his head, finally tearing his eyes away from her, turning to him, "I've gotta' be honest with myself now, I need to follow my heart".

They landed in a waiting room; it was full, and a great deal of eyes darted towards them. Albus Dumbledore and Harry Potter were not easily hidden faces.

"Mr Dumbledore sir" the woman behind the information desk breathed. "We've been told to expect you".

"Are yes, thank you Matilda, I'm glad to see you, it's been quite a while since your final year, always a pleasure".

The woman smiled, "this porter will show you to where you need to go".

Saying a 'thank you' and 'farewell', all followed, and Pansy was pleased to see that behind his pleasant exterior, the headmaster had something of urgency about him. Many minutes, lift rides and wards later and they were in a specialised intensive care ward. They were met by the Matron who took them to a large waiting room that they were told they could expect to be kept private for them.

She made to leave, and Pansy spoke up, "I need to see Ronald… er, please". She only realised now that Ron's mother had been guiding her, her hands on Pansy's shoulders. She'd never known such gentleness from an adult.

"That's quite out of the question", the Matron said, "he's undergoing critical care".

"Pansy, let them work", Snape tried his hands at gentle, it didn't register for her, "the headmaster needs to speak with you".

She turned to Molly, "Mrs Weasley, I… I need to see him", she whispered.

Molly looked down at her, for what little in height there was between them, both being vertically challenged. Looking into her face she believed it, "and so do I", she thought. She turned to the nurse, "Please Matron, they can pause for a second surely, I need to see my son, I can't say I'll ask this nicely a second time".

The Matron raised an eyebrow, biting back an urge to retort, she waned under the woman's gaze. "Just the two of you", she said quickly.

Molly was saved the need to look for Arthur, he was behind her now, squeezing her shoulder he silently told her to go.

Inside a sterile looking white room, Pansy's breath hitched as she found him in front of her. Much unchanged to how he was in the hospital wing, seeing him now hit home how much he'd suffered. Cleaned from the blood and bandages the left side of his face was opened with ribbons of cuts. His skin was peppered with shining black flecks. His left eye was gone, no cornea or sclera, it was just a black glassy orb. The wound left from his arm was, thankfully, still covered, but it hit her all the same. He was incomplete and damaged; she felt beyond repair.

His chest slowly rose and fell, a fleeting second of hope that he was waking, she realised some magical apparatus they'd placed in his mouth was helping him breathe.

Reaching his side, she allowed her fingers to brush his hair, he had a scar across the side of his head behind his ear. "He's… he's so!" she trembled as tears came to her again, Molly came and enveloped her, unable to swallow the lump in her own throat she began to feel her eyes flood and streak her face. "How can anyone do this to him".

"I know sweetheart, I… I feel all this too".

Pansy pulled back, "I don't care how he looks; I don't care what he's lost, I…I just want him back".

Molly's throat burned as she heard this, it was powerful against her, she had to concentrate hard on not going to pieces. She found herself hoping beyond hope he would pull through and not just for her own selfish need to see her baby alive and safe.

The Matron coughed behind them and Molly signalled her they were leaving. She placed her love on his forehead with a kiss and allowed Pansy a moment to do the same.

They turned to leave, "Are you going to lift the stasis coma", Pansy asked, "he needs to wake, so he can come back".

Molly looked at her then the nurse, she noted the look of a person confused and unsure about someone's mental state.

"I'm sure he'll, return if he can", the Matron tried, "but that's beside the point now. He needs to remain as he is while we look to heal his injuries. His shoulder is most concerning-…"

"His arm", Molly said.

"Sorry?"

"His arm, he's only injured to his elbow".

"I'm sorry Mrs Weasley but Ron will lose everything up to his shoulder, there's no saving it at this point. I know that's hard to hear, most people think if we can limit the damage its less of a loss, perhaps that's true to a point. But I'm afraid his only option is magical surgery".

Molly gasped; she was unable to think of what she'd fully expected. The Matron's words landed, and she recognised what she meant. Part of her did think the more they could save, the less of a loss for him. But hearing it just made her feel hollow.

"We need to leave now, I'm sorry. But as soon as he's out of surgery we'll update you. If he's strong enough and comes back, and I'm sure he will", she added trying to reassure, "this will give him the quickest healing time, far quicker once he's in another coma".

"You'll put him back in another coma" Pansy said in disbelief.

"Yes, it's a powerful healing tool, he'll be able to rebuild his life quicker", the Matron sighed, "you're his girlfriend I presume?"

"I…erm-…".

"She is!" Molly pressed; this forced a look of sad happiness to envelop Pansy's face as she turned to her.

"Then please, allow us to do our jobs, to the best of our abilities, to give him back to you as soon as possible".

"He'll need to wake", Pansy forced.

The woman nodded, "we will, I can assure you",

They walked outside and as they did, they both breathed, looking at each other they nodded. A silent agreement that this had helped. Molly rubbed her shoulders and Pansy smiled hiccupping a sob.

"You're not a child are you", Molly said sadly, "this has broken you; they've robbed him of his body and you of your innocence".

"I promise you Mrs-…".

"-Molly", she watched as Pansy shook her head, "girl, we are not that kind of family, I can't, and you won't, just push the manners aside when you're with me".

"Molly", she forced out with difficulty, "I promise, I don't know what this is, I don't know what happened to us but were drawn to each other. I wish it was a childish thing; I wish the worst that could happen was we hurt each other and break up like any other teenagers, move on to the next childish thing".

"But this isn't that!" Molly said in knowing, "I believe it, I just don't… don't understand it".

"Neither do I, I think I'm close though, but it's scaring the hell out of me". Pansy confessed.

"You really saw him didn't you!" Molly breathed as she saw it now, the honesty of it all was visible to her. Pansy nodded and as she did Molly noticed something. It was something her subconscious had noted several times now, it terrified her as much as Pansy admitted to being. She reached for her hands, "Pansy, are you with my sons child?"

Pansy froze, no thought of embarrassment or anger came as it had at school. It had been on her mind so much now, "I can't be, surely, Poppy tested me".

Molly bit her lip, her next question pained her, "but is there any truth that you could be?"

"Mum!" Bill jogged over to her. Pansy and Molly stood locked in with a mutually fearful gaze , it had to break as Bill got close.

"Sorry dear", Molly said.

"Dad said to come get you, Dumbledore needs to speak to…", he looked down to her, "Pansy?" She nodded, he nodded back, "Bill, their eldest" nodding to his mum.

Pansy smiled but it didn't feel like the time, she was glad that Molly gave her arm back to Pansy, pulling her in. She guided her back to where the others waited.

"Pansy, before you tell me what you saw, I'd like to ask you questions about what you think. These questions will go beyond what you might be able to answer in any normal conversation. But you must answer them in as short an answer as you can, the first thing you see or feel, if that's possible. Is that, ok?"

"Yes Sir", Pansy answered Dumbledore, he was sat in a chair, directly opposite her, leaning forward and staring intently.

"Then I'd like you to forget me, forget us all," as Dumbledore said this, he was distant already, some great force in his words projecting them into the back of her mind. "Go into that place where only your voice is visible and nothing else remains".

Pansy wanted to do as he said, but like a person being told 'not to look', something in her rebelled, daring her to do the opposite. She couldn't though, whatever the old man was doing she had to remind herself; he was possibly the most powerful old man alive. Whatever magic this was, she couldn't rebel.

"Pansy is that you?" a voice said. It wasn't Dumbledore now. His was distant, growing further away the deeper she fell. This voice was clear, it was strong and reassuring, she knew she could trust it.

"Are you me?" she asked impossibly.

"I am, I'm your subconscious, most never converse directly. I'm glad we can meet".

Molly gripped Arthur's arm as they all heard this. Her husband's mouth hanging open. Pansy's eyes were closed, her mouth speaking out, then answering herself. They were all following the conversation happening in the girl's head.

"How is this happening?" Pansy asked.

"Someone is projecting a question to me, they ask, I speak, you answer".

"Ok".

"When you dream, where do you go?"

"Death", Pansy said.

Snape and McGonagall eyed each other, they'd seen him do this once before. Well twice but the second time was a teacher's party and Albus was showing off. Now though he had a serious face and leaned forward concentrating. He spoke in only a whisper they could hardly make out, after this Pansy spoke the question aloud, then spoke again the answer.

"You are dead in a dream?" She asked.

"No!"

"But this place you visit, its full of death?"

"No, made by Death!" her eyes remaining closed, she barely appeared to be conscious.

"In what way did you see Ronald?" she asked.

"Through window"

"Is there no way for her to answer more clearly?" Arthur whispered.

"No", Snape said, "he is splitting her mind from her subconscious, to ask too much of it can be dangerous".

"How do you know Ronald was not a dream?"

"Two Ronalds, one I visit as a dream, second I see is real".

Dumbledore tilted his head in consideration.

"Who was Ronald with?"

"Corvus, he is shadow".

"What pulls us to Ronald? Dumbledore's head tilted; this was not the question he asked.

"Duty, Fates, Dearest Blood", Pansy spoke breathily now.

"What has been harming us this year?"

"Time, poison!"

Dumbledore slowly stood. He laced his fingers and placed them to the bridge of his crooked nose as he did when he was about to pace. He stopped, looking down at the girl in shock as she spoke again.

"You must keep our secret safe, can you do that?" her subconscious asked.

"Must I?"

"Yes".

"Then I will!".

"Albus, what's she doing?" McGonagall asked stepping forward.

"You will leave him; do you understand this?" Pansy asked.

"Why?" she asked in reply, her face still vacant, eyes shut but now they leaked silent tears.

"Because you must, you must keep them both safe".

Dumbledore stepped to Pansy and placed two fingers to her forehead, pushing her head gently back she gulped in a huge lungful of air as her eyes opened. Surfacing from the place she had just been. The room around her came into focus, all eyes watching her in confusion, she met Dumbledore's concerned face.

"I'm sorry my dear", he said gently, "I think that may have been too much for you".

Her eyes were wide as she scanned the room, the mild panic wearing off, "it's fine, I'm ok Sir", she said quietly, though her head dropped.

"How could she continue to ask questions?", Snape asked, his curiosities too strong to ignore.

"While not common, it isn't unheard of for a powerful mind to overcome the connection and ask the question's it wants answering".

Pansy had to hold back a slither of surprise to hear the Headmaster refer to her as a powerful mind.

"Without being rude Dumbledore, sir", Bill still struggled addressing him as anything less than Headmaster, "what did any of that tell us that you couldn't have got from just asking her?"

"William that's a very astute question, but one I fear isn't your brightest", Dumbledore smile kindly, "we were attaining information from her subconscious, where we can store information without knowing it".

Bill smirked as he rolled his eyes, "damn, I'm usually better than that".

"Quite", Dumbledore smiled back.

"Pansy?" Molly walked over as she stood and started walking off, "where are you going dear".

"I'm tired of crying", she said sadly, "I've no more to give".

"But that's ok, you've shed all you can, no one will look at you differently".

"But that's just it, I want to, I'm sadder now than ever. I just told myself I should leave him!", Pansy choked.

"But that could mean anyone, your betrothal or your farther, McGonagall said you were turning your back on your name", Molly reached for her, but Pansy backed away.

"No", she moaned, "its him, it's because I blamed myself. This was my doing but I buried the idea, now I know it was because I put Ronald in danger! Draco threatened he was to be marked if I didn't go to him, then I go and flaunt us, parade us around the school for them all to see".

She struggled to breathe and as it swelled her flight response kicked in, she turned and ran. It wasn't a heartbeat into her decision that she was grabbed and turned. Ron's dad had hold of her and she hated seeing her Ronald's eyes projected in his.

"If you run off now, you'll regret it worse later, for life if… if the worst happens. I won't have that for you Pansy". Again, he didn't seek permission as he pulled in what felt like a replica of his own daughter. "No one here blames you, especially me, so please don't do this to yourself. Come and sit with us and tell us what you were desperate to have everyone hear".

Pansy buckled into him, it was a paternity she'd never had the chance to feel before and it did something to her she hadn't expected. It drew out all the negative in her that she felt in the moment and told her 'it's ok, someone is here for you'.

With Arthur with Pansy, Molly went to her other desperation. Pushing her daughter from her own apparent love interest, still as strange as this was to think on. She forced them into separate seats and sat in between them. Then she pulled each in, one on each side, allowing them to rest their heads on her shoulders so she could absorb what she could of their pain as she waited for what was next to come.

A/N

One or two nods to Cannon fell into a line or two in this chapter as they just sort of slotted into place perfectly where they sat. Like the nod to Lily's sacrifice. It has no real place in this story but was a nice parallel.

This Chapter felt a bit, 'wet', as Pansy and Tracey would say. A bit too much soppiness, tears and going in circles over how Ron and Pansy feel for each other now apart. But weirdly writing it was different. It was actually harder to not write it wet and soppy as that felt like it fit more, so I had to fight to keep more of that out, rather than try to put more in. Like Pansy crying over him, she would in reality but there's a point where you stop, look for hope or humour to replace the anger and hurt. But I've not been so kind to her, she's had to be his saviour as well as his mourner and then a vessel for seeing him where his is and needing to relay that, so its tough on her.

Love and Light

-Venom