Defiant Blood – Blood and Bone Saga - Part 2

Chapter 4

"And after that I realised, I had control there, and I decided to visit my memories of him. We were in the hospital wing, on one of the nights I snuck in to see him", Pansy didn't avert her gaze, Pomfrey had turned up earlier and she didn't want to deal with the fallout.

"When I was there, we talked, or I did but he couldn't, there was only my voice, Then I started to question him about us, why it felt like this, and if it were real. Were just teens at the end of the day and as I did, I started to think about something that kept coming back to me".

"And what was that?", Dumbledore asked quietly.

It was dark now, the Headmaster had dimmed all light in the waiting room, it made her feel calmer while talking. "I can't shake the feeling that this year some things have been backwards for us. Like pain and emotions".

"What makes you say that?"

"When we were on the hilltop, he never once screamed, he never even flinched. I thought it might be shock, but I know he just wasn't in pain. And I think", she allowed her eyes to look up to her, "even Madam Pomfrey might agree he's been in so much more pain this year with his shoulder. I decided that I needed to watch him some more, so I went to a Potions lesson we had. As I got there, I saw him with Tracey at their table. And even though I wasn't with them, I hoped I was close enough to see him in my memory, or dream, I don't quite know what it was".

Pansy took a moment to breathe. "I saw what I was looking for, he was flinching and clutching his shoulder at the slightest bump. Then I stayed around thinking it were stupid. I watched Tracey flirt with him a bit and Ron watching me from across the room-…".

"-We were just messing about", Tracey spoke up, bringing the eye of everyone, she was looking at Ginny, "honest". Then she looked at Pansy, "how could you know that", she said hoarsely, "that room is always thick with smoke and mist.".

"I told you I'd be having words about it", she smiled weakly, "then Ronald kissed me-…".

"-No, he didn't", Tracey spoke up again.

"Tracey please", McGonagall hissed gently.

"No, it's ok Minerva, please my dear, go on", Dumbledore encouraged.

"Well, if it were a dream, she can't just make up that I was flirting with him, because how could she know that it was true. Because for a while I was", she added sheepishly, "they weren't a thing yet, but I knew she liked him and I wanted to know if he felt the same, and if he were…", she eyed Molly, "A bit of a pig or not. But he wasn't", she added quickly. "I even joked about freely fooling around to see if he'd snog me in the storeroom", Snape coughed, "but he only looked to Pansy".

Tracey shook her head, "that's not it though, it all just means that can't be a dream doesn't it! But also, it can't be a memory, because they didn't first kiss until much later, and certainly not in front of me in the Potions dungeons", she finished with a small smile to Pansy.

"A very observant point, thank you", Dumbledore bowed his head.

"That's what's weird though, I felt that too", Pansy said, "But I'd done it three times now, or three times Ronald had done it I should say, in the dream, memory… whatever it was. Changed it I mean and kissed me, and I did it back, wanting to".

"Theres something else too", she went on, "when I was there, I realised I had no thought, as In I couldn't think, whatever it was anything I thought in my mind, came out my lips. And I really tried too, it didn't matter how hard, I spoke whatever was on my mind".

"Incredible", Dumbledore said softly, "and when is it you believe you saw Ronald, our Ronald and not a dream-memory you manifested?".

"In the dungeon, I'd just felt like giving up and I joked about heading in the storeroom with him-…".

"A popular place it seems", Dumbledore smiled kindly.

Pansy had to bite down a genuine smile, she noticed Tracey's too, she hadn't realised how much it could raise her spirits. "Erm, anyway as I said this, I looked behind me and this huge… well it was like a window that appeared. Everything in that place was like a perfect memory, but this thing didn't belong".

"And Ronald was on the other side, and you knew it was really him?" Dumbledore prompted.

"Yes!" she stressed eagerly, "he walked past then saw me and started banging and for the first time I could hear something. Only feint banging, and we had to scream for the other to hear, only just able to be heard. Other than that, we had to lip read and sign".

Molly's arms around the girls were tighter as she heard this, Arthur came behind her and she thanked the heavens for the hand he placed on her shoulder, grounding her.

"What did you both say?" Dumbledore asked quickly.

"Erm, well he asked if I were dead, I asked if he were too. He asked if my thoughts were being spoken when he saw me talking aloud and then said his was too. Then I saw him talking aloud, but not in the same way, it looked like he was talking to someone else, there with him, then I saw it"

"It?"

"Corvus!"

McGonagall and Snape fidgeted where they stood, "you saw Corvus?" Dumbledore asked.

"I saw him the whole time, but I didn't see him, he was like a shadow behind Ron, still and unmoving until I noticed. He terrified me at first, I pointed, screaming for Ron to get away. But the big daft sod just smiled at me confused", to her side Molly smiled, knowing the exact sort of look she was describing and seeing it in her motherly mind. "He just pointed behind him shouting, I heard it him shout that it was Corvus when he bellowed it to the glass for me. That's when the dream place started to fade, then I woke".

"Fascinating", Dumbledore exclaimed, "can you describe Corvus for me?"

"Tall, very tall, so much taller than Ron, he was covered in a cloak that blended into the shadows. But under all that I could see his face, it was like a mask, an old metal mask with symbols and markings. But more than that it had a huge, curved bird like beak that protruded out".

Behind Dumbledore, Snape's head turned to McGonagall with a smirk. "Don't you dare say it", she warned.

"I thought it looked like an ancient plague mask" Pansy finished. But she saw something in the old man's eyes, a recognition of sorts. "Sir? You know what I'm describing don't you?"

"Quite remarkably I think I might. But before I put all thoughts together, could I ask where it looked like Ron was, behind the frame I mean".

Pansy did as asked and described what she said, when she finished he went quiet. "Sir, there's another reason I knew it were Ron, there in that moment. And why I'm even more sure now", he looked up, "his arm was gone, but not just gone like it is now, it's gone like it's going to be".

"Going to be?" Bill said.

Coming back Molly had only the time to update Arthur with what the Matron said, "there performing surgery on him, they have to take everything, up to his shoulder. There was too much damage, and it can't be saved", she finished sadly.

The reveal hit everyone present, but Pansy wanted answers, "Sir, I saw him without his arm, not just like it was gone either. Or I mean, not like it was lost in an injury, it just wasn't there, like it never existed".

"I'm sorry Pansy", she stilled as she heard her name come from him, "I can't give you any answers, and what theories I have will only be vague. The creature you describe, you could pluck this from any wizard or muggle book of dark creatures or mythos. But at a push I would say that it sounds like a creature of Shadow, one of Death's messengers. But even this is vague. Things like this come from people who believe they have seen things either on this plane or another. More often than not they're considered the ramblings of madmen".

"What do you think though, your gut I mean?" Pansy urged.

"I've only ever read of two creatures that sound like how you describe Corvus, a Shade of Niflheimr or, an Arcane. Both are virtually identical and may even be two mythos, told from differing times and beliefs. But accounts of these come from only three people throughout all of documented history, but the premiss does fit. The two most being Death and some form of afterlife or alternate plane.

This served in swirling Pansy's mind with an all too welcoming puzzle that served to distract her, "so theoretically, one could suggest that Ron's mind, or soul, has travelled to another plane where he's met Corvus. But he's still alive, so as long as his body is safe, he could wake back up here", she said excitedly.

"This is only theoretical Pansy", now she really did recognise the softness in Snape's voice.

She breathed down a barb to retort with. "I'm having this, I don't care", she thought, "It's as good a hope to cling to", she voiced the rest. "Sir, the questions you asked me, Time and Poison, there not from my subconscious, I've been thinking on them myself".

It was all coming to her, pieces of the puzzle that before had no form or edges, now fit intricately, at least within her head. "Ron's been in pain all year, I know he's injured himself falling of his broom playing that stupid bloody game", she missed Harry's scowl, "but he's been in too much pain all this time. And then he has none! After some bastard blows his arm off!"

"Pansy!"

"Just look at the physicality of it all! His arm nearly frying Harry's hand. Madam Pomfrey, no one in fact, could explain why his arm would burn white hot. Even in that dream-memory with him, I felt this, but now I can see it. We haven't been feeling phantom pain all year, Ron's been feeling the pain of the attack, which is why there was none at the time, he's already felt it, paid for it".

"Pansy just stop for a second".

"You tell me Professor", she looked at Snape and McGonagall, "white hot arm, and it just so happens to be the one he has blasted off, and with a spell that causes intense heat. God's nary paint in coincidence", her voice sang. "And you know what, I'll bet that's where Corvus comes in, because that's what this is, we've been poisoned by time! Everything is backwards for us, everything is happening or being felt in vastly the wrong order. I'll bet that was why Corvus showed up in his dreams, he was bound by time to meet him in the future, so he saw him too early".

She paused, "And Ron wasn't frightened by him either, in that place when I saw them, I'll bet this creature knows Ron's mind shouldn't be there, trying to get him home. It doesn't matter if it's a Shade or a spirit, or even death herself, it probably knows this and wants to help him…".

"Pansy!" Arthur was crouched down, his hands on her shoulder. Looking around she just realised she was away from them all now, pacing without thought.

Molly joined him now, "you need to calm down, this isn't healthy", she breathed.

"But Molly, I've found him, I know what's happening now", she looked into both their faces, "I thought you'd be pleased", she wined softly.

"I would be", Molly said, the back of her hand on the girl's face, "but you're running blindly down a rabbit hole and we don't want it to consume you. Please Pansy, trust me as I did you".

Pansy felt her heart now, it had been thundering the whole time, with Molly's touch it slowed, her breathing fuller now, she felt lightheaded. "I think I need to sit", she said groggily.

Molly guided her back to sitting, now with Ginny and Tracey, shielded by the patriarch and matriarch of Weasley's. Pansy leaned her head on this newly appreciated mother figure and spoke. "I'm sorry Sir", her voice was tired now, she was tired. "Is there any truth to what I said?"

Dumbledore sat quiet for a moment, clearly chewing over his thoughts. "I'm somewhat reluctant to answer given how much you've gone through today".

"Honestly Sir, I just want to know if I'm mad or not".

He twisted his smile in consideration, "most certainly not, in my opinion. But as long as you promise to stay calm…", she nodded, "then I say this. The idea that time was distorted around you was one of the very first ideas that occurred to me. But that is no comfort to me", he added with uncertainty.

As he said this the idea formed in her mind, pained she looked down, "because that would mean that mine is yet to come".

"Albus?" Arthur now stunned into a possibility this could have truth to it, the mans worried face scared him.

"It has occurred to me yes, that the pain you felt, as Ronald did, that night in the hospital wing and since then on, might be yet to come. But that's not to say that this is at all correct and that we could be wrong".

"I understand sir, it's ok", Pansy tried her hand at reassurance, this failed as Tracey wrapped around her from her left. "I have another question for you, if that's ok, before we stop".

"Of course,".

"The words I spoke, Dearest blood, is there a visible connection with any of this?"

"The words have connotations that lead back to both Death and the Goddess of Night, but the two have been linked as the same person by many throughout time. I believe the latter to be whom you referred to however with the word, 'Fate's'".

This, however interesting didn't set anything alight in Pansy's head, she didn't know where she got the words from or what they meant, so to her it was throw away information. But as she sat there she had a final question, she couldn't dare utter it. It stabbed at her as she thought of swallowing it, her hand coming to rest on her stomach again. She was jolted into awareness as Molly noticed the act.

"What's is these, looks like many Ron's", Corvus poked his head into a frame they passed as they walked the corridor.

Ron stopped and had to lean into the small frame, squeezed in with Corvus, it was the first scene he found that wasn't of him and Pansy. His mouth fell open, "lord!", he breathed, "how could I forget about this lot".

For such a tiny frame, the scene behind was vast. They were both looking at an almost picture-perfect Barbeque at the Burrow they'd all enjoyed the summer before last. Only the evening before they went to the World Cup final. It felt like centuries since he'd got to see their faces.

"It's my family", he said astonished.

"Truly, so's this why they looks like you's", Corvus exclaimed, "Ron is rich!"

"You taking the piss?" Ron laughed, "we were piss pot poor".

"Ron means wealth, Sad to Corvus that he knows this, would's have liked to know Ron see's the wealth of's a large and just family".

"Your impossible sometimes you know that, you should write Christmas Cards! Of course, I know the value of my family, I just guess that when you're the youngest, unless you count Ginny, and get everything sixth and seventh hand, its not a value you bank on".

"That is dim view to holds".

"I know mate, honest, I'd give anything to see them all. See her, that's my closest friend Hermione, him with the Black hair, that's harry, closest mate. Then that's my little sister Ginny, my twin brothers Fred and George-…"

"They has a tricksters aura", Corvus chimed in.

"You can say that again, tricky as they come those two, never out of trouble. That one there with the face that's uptight that's our Percy, then there's Charlie, I've always secretly had a thing about thinking he was a right badass. Then that's Bill, he can never do wrong and cool as you like. That's", he laughed, "that's my dad! And…". Ron sighed sadly, "mum!", he moaned. It pulled a tightening now around his heart how much he missed them all.

"Ron is rich", Corvus said.

"Yep", he smiled, "Ron is rich".

They went on, at an incredibly slow pace as Corvus now took a liking to most of Ron's frames and scenes, wanting to know the intricacies of what was happening with some.

"You do's that a lot", Corvus said after the fifth scene of him and Pansy.

Ron felt like his body used to blush at one time in his other life at something like this, "yeah", he said with a mild yet humoured embarrassment, "it's kind of what you do when you're that into each other".

"So this is called the snagging's, the kissing's", he confirmed.

"Snog! Snogging" Ron corrected.

"Ron really likes to kiss the area's on tops of Pansy's chest, this fourth time in as many memories", Corvus observed.

"Maybe that's a good place to move on from this one mate", Ron said nervously.

"Why Pansy grabs Ron there a lot? At top of Ron's legs?"

"Yep, that's definitely a good time to stop", Ron announced, walking off.

"But she grab's something no?"

"Corvus come on!" Ron shouted.

"What is it", Corvus said as they'd managed to get another twenty feet before they reached another place that peaked his interest, it was hard for Ron too, to simply walk past the treasury of memories.

"It's called quidditch, its game, sport"

"Ron plays?"

"Does Ron play!" Ron laughed, "only the best keeper my schools ever seen!"

"Was!" Corvus added and glided off.

"I should never have taught you humour", Ron shouted after him, "you're a fucking nuisance. And that, wasn't, funny". He gritted his teeth as he heard the giant laugh.

Corvus had a particular hard time coming away from the memories of pranks played by the twins. Ron suspected he had a very rebellious and darkly humoured side to him, as anything involving Ron's downfall amused him greatly.

They carried on, venturing for more time than either would ever account for. By this point Corvus was almost as knowledgeable in the details of Ron's life than Ron himself was. Soon Ron began to feel he was tight in his chest and it pushed a sense of urgency into him, like he was close or had to hurry.

"Ron!" Corvus shouted as they passed yet another Frame.

"What, Ron had to double back.

"Pansy!"

"I know mate, lots of them are".

"No", he said impatiently, "this has two Pansy's".

"What?" Ron turned to look at the large frame, "the, fuck!" his eyes had come to sweep over her, then quiet incredibly, a second". He stood in shock as they stared into each other, "how are there two, is… is she looking at me?"

He looked over at the other Pansy, she was stood trying to work next to Neville, as the memory should be. Then back at the other, she was stood by him and Tracey. "Corvus", he said panicked, excitement and fear flooding him, "Corvus that never happened, she shouldn't be there. Pansy! Pansy!" He couldn't help his shouting, he jumped forward banging his fist off the glass, but it sounded so thick.

Pansy came running over, her eyes searching his face and her hand on the glass, "she can fucking see me mate!" He pointed at her then his ear, "I can't hear you!" he shouted. He banged again and she showed she heard something. "My gods this is real", he breathed.

She pointed at him, he looked down, "my arm? I know", but then he read her lips and made it out. "You, are, real", he said it aloud, "she know's I'm real", he spoke not feeling the tear that started to well.

A new panic flooded him. Knowing where they were, his now detailed knowledge, it terrified him, "Corvus, is… is she dead, please tell me she's not dead".

"Corvus… Corvus not know Ron, two can not's be here… but you should not be here eithers", Corvus shouted back, clearly he was feeding off Ron's pulsating feelings.

"Are you dead?" Ron couldn't help but shout, her ear came close to the window, "oh thank Mord", he sighed as she answered. "Corvus look, look at her mouth, she keep's speaking. I think she's talking like me, thoughts!" he tried to remind him, "when my thoughts not stay in, and speak'zes them, she's doing it too".

He tried to ask her this and resorted to crude gesturing, but she quickly got it. She gestured back for him to come closer, he pressed his ear to the glass, closing his eyes. He heard it, "Am I alive?", she nodded, but the question halted him. "I don't know", he thought aloud.

"You are, you are alive!" he dropped to his knees reading her lips, his hand on the glass reaching for her, "You come to me, wake up, come home!"

"I… I…" he said the words that had been on his mind so much, he saw her eyes sparkle and she repeated it back to him twice over, something in him surged, every syllable meaning something so important. He pulled his gaze away, "Corvus", he said strained, "she's really found me".

Looking back, she jumped violently pointing behind him, "what? run?" he looked round, "oh! No, it Corvus! No, come here you silly…", Ron coaxed her back to the window, "I said… Corvus!... yes, that's Corvus, how? I dunno' how", he signed.

Something changed, the images in the scene remained but around her something blurred and she looked panicked. "Ron! You need to wake up!" he could read it as she repeated it. Her hand found the glass again.

"I love you" she shouted, even without sound, he heard it. His pounding heart thundered violently now.

"I love you", he roared back, his hand held to hers, her eyes sparkled wildly until they faded, and she began to vanish.

"Ron!"

"Pansy!"

She was gone, the realisation hit him, striking at him like heavy blow. "No! Fuck no!" he shouted punching the window. "She's gone", he whimpered, his voice scratchy and weak.

"She returns", Corvus said, Ron couldn't register it.

"What if that was it, what if I never see her again and I really am dead, or worse she is!".

"She wakes", Corvus said firmly.

"Yeah! How could you know that, we don't know anything, were scattered across the fucking stars right now…"

Ron was slammed into the glass, his back hitting it audibly. Corvus came looming down towards him, bringing his face to meet Ron's. Something in the back of Ron's head told him he had just pushed him, forced him against the surface.

"Corvus knows it, he knows it because Ron must believes it!", he shouted into him.

Ron stood panting wide eyed, for first time Corvus seemed fierce and yet it was all for him. This creature, species and universes separating them, they'd bonded so closely.

"Ron know's it!" Corvus said forcefully but quieter now.

"Ron know's it" Ron nodded, "because Corvus believes it!" The weight lifted off him and he stood, levelling his shoulders. Panting with a fixed jaw he lunged forwards, feeling the force from the giant wrap around them as they hugged one another with that same fierceness.

"What do mean your leaving", Arthur said in shock.

"Because Arthur, that girl feels like the closest thing to our son. It's like I can feel him on her, his presence". Molly took her lovers hand, they stood off in a corner together, "I'm so terrified everything she said might be right and I can't see why, but we need to do this, we need to know".

"But you won't say what it is!"

"No, I won't, because you've got enough on being my strength, our boys need you, our daughter needs you. Just please believe me, this is important. I can explain later, when were alone, and with any luck we won't be long".

He didn't reply, only pulled her close and kissed her. It was rough and punishing, he couldn't help it, he was wound up so much. Molly didn't care, it was power pulsating off him, another echo of just what it was she could draw from him when she needed.

They didn't speak any farewells but as everyone got wise to the knowledge that some were leaving, a revolt began as they portkey'd away.

"I said enough!" Arthur's fatherly ferocity, usually only reserved for the most Fred and George-Est of occasions coming out to silence them all. "They have something they need to do; they'll be back soon. Now were going to stay here and wait". He looked around, somewhat more at ease after Fawkes had brought the rest of his boys since they decided they needed to be there too.

"What's this?" Fred asked as tables of food arrived, appearing in the makeshift shanty room. Dumbledore had transfigured a number of couches and beds with screens for them all as it was getting late now.

"Hogwarts house elves, almost as good as your mothers cooking", Arthur said feeling grateful.

George rolled his eyes, "well if no ones getting any", he got up to fill a plate.

"How can you possibly eat!", Ginny snarled.

"Other than Pansy, name me one other thing Ron enjoys doing… oh look, and here's some of his favourites", he waved a chicken leg at her.

Arthur, feeling a fight brewing sighed in relief seeing his son force a smile on to Ginny's face. "He's not wrong, if it were one of us in there, he wouldn't pass the chance for food, his one true love".

They began laughing and all started to join in, giving in to hunger. Tracey coaxed Ginny, pulling on her arm. She accepted and the two sat together soon after with plates in their laps.

"So", Fred spoke up, "this is new!" he smirked along with his brothers as Ginny went red.

"And?" she said with a viciousness.

"Nothing, just didn't know you err-…".

"-Bat for two teams?" Tracey said. Arthur coughed choking on his potato salad, it brought a raucous of laughter from the Weasley boys.

"She's good", Charlie said, "you'll fit right in at the next clan meal".

"Yeah, just don't accept a tour of the twin's room. Last girl to do that never came out", Bill snorted into his drink.

"That so?" Tracey said, "and how is Angelina?"

Both twins choked, there eyes finding their dads. "I so don't want to know boys", he put his hands up, "thank the gods Molly's not here".

Ginny was smiling warmly at Tracey; a lust filled her as she saw her family warm to her. Unable to act she leaned in, pressing herself to her girlfriend.

"Your smiling", Hermione said in Harry's ear, finally feeling a warmth after not seeing anything but sadness on his face.

Harry leaned in and kissed her below the ear, smiling as he listened to the banter, "I've missed this", he sighed. Feeling the same parental warmth from Arthur as he smiled at him, just as he would with Molly.

"Hey", Charlie said, "remember the time we were in Egypt and we were on that carpet ride to go to the pyramids".

"Oh yes!" Bill said, "and the driver had to slam on and stop as he was landing because that dog ran in the way".

"Oh no", Arthur said.

"What?" Tracey said looking up, a grin lighting her face now.

"Well," Ginny jumped in, "I nearly flew off the thing, fell forwards and bang my head".

"Oh, you didn't!" Tracey said.

"That's not the best bit, you know how Ron has a thing for decking people", George said, "well he jumps off, goes up to this bloke by the dog and punches him".

"No!"

"Yeah but…", came Fred, "he punches Ron back, I mean he's only like, thirteen at the time".

"Please don't" Arthur said without conviction as his smile grew.

"Well." Charlie said, "Dad jumps off, running over and punches this bloke, starts shouting, 'don't you hit my son!' so this bloke turns round and said, 'well why did he hit me?' Ron turn's round and said, 'your bloody dog just nearly got my sister killed'…" Charlie stopped, not able to breathe, as were most of them as they all rolled round belly laughing.

"What?" Tracey said, "what was it".

"He didn't have a dog", Arthur shouted over the laughter.

Next to him there was a snort from either one of the professors as they swigged from their cups, neither able to keep a straight face hearing the story.

"Hey", Ginny sat up straight, her face lighting up, "who remembers that time Ron…"

Pomfrey and Dumbledore landed along with Pansy and Molly back in the Hospital wing. It was much darker now all the candles were dimmed, only the fireplace at the end of the ward illuminated much of anything.

Pansy spotted Ron's bed, Pomfrey, or maybe the elves had changed the sheet's since he'd been there. Pansy made straight for it and climbed on, sitting herself down.

Molly joined by sitting in the chair next to her and Dumbledore lead Pomfrey over courtly, conjuring them both two chairs effortlessly.

"So", said Pomfrey, "should I be thinking that you need some kind of medical treatment as you've asked for me in private?"

"Erm, sort of", Pansy admitted. After things calmed during her earlier outburst, she finally asked Molly to join her alone and admitted she wanted to speak with the three of them away from everyone else.

"Sir, I need to ask you, do you think this… let's just call it, time distortion, is at all plausible even if improbable?"

Dumbledore sighed through his nose, "I do", he couldn't hide the dark undertones in his voice.

She nodded keeping a tight grip on her emotions as they threatened. "Then were in agreement that it's plausible that we've felt things in our bodies that haven't yet occurred".

"Plausible, yes".

She breathed in a sob as her tears returned, "the do you think it theoretical, that I might be pregnant?"

Silence fell, only Pansy's gentle sobs could be heard as each adult eyed each other. Molly felt no shock, only an intense heightened sense of things. She knew this was coming, the question, she'd observed Pansy's hand go to her belly a number of times and the question had formed in her own mind.

"Again", Dumbledore said gravely, "I do".

Pomfrey's hands came to her mouth as Molly's arms found Pansy's shoulders. Pansy's hand once again found her stomach.

"Should's we try the book?" Corvus asked.

"I'm not sure I want to, as daft as it might sound, I think this needs to come from where I feel it, and not where I read it".

They had been walking, as ever, in the unknown when it came to a time reference. All Ron did know was that he was confident now.

"There's something I haven't thought about since I've been here, it's quite the thing though and something I've only realised since we saw Pansy".

"Corvus is an ear".

"No", Ron scoffed, "all ear's, your all ears".

"Maybe Ron is not good teachers of jokes", Corvus teased.

"Oh don't you start that Rass again, you know perfectly well you've mastered the art of taking the piss, that's all down to me".

"You's have created a monsters".

"Yes I fucking have!" Ron smirked.

"So?"

"Well, I haven't thought about it because I haven't thought about the old me, or my life. It's all such a long time ago it's like someone else's story now. About the only fresh thing I cling to is Pansy, my family are back in my head but only after we got here".

"So, something has changed in you?"

"Yes, it's like a confidence, an almost impossible one. Old me should have shit my pants seeing you, or even hearing your voice, its should have been terrifying. But when I got here, I felt what cold was again as it went through me, but I've never been scared".

"Except's for when you was", Corvus nodded.

"Oh?"

"Pansy", he nodded again.

"You know too much you, your right though, scared me to death. Seeing her, worrying for her. But the point is, I feel like this place, I accept everything here without question, or fear or worry for the most part".

"Which does you prefers?"

"I think this! How can I not, everything seems so much better when you're not worrying about everything".

"There is benefits though", he saw Ron's face, "Fights, Flights", he added.

"You know about that too then?"

"It is universal feelings".

"You already know I'm gonna' say your right", Ron quirked an eyebrow.

"Corvus is smart arses".

"Hmm", Ron mused.

Ron stopped, Corvus didn't, he carried on until he felt the distance and turned, questioning him with a lean.

"Ron?"

"Corvus, I… I feel it"

"You do's?"

"I do's!", he said, his hand found his stomach and something of Pansy came to him. "It's close, and I think it's somewhere I've been. Were looking for a window, maybe, this tall by this wide".

"Yes!" Corvus growled in triumph. Ron smiled feeling his enthusiasm.

Corvus led the charge, Ron at least knew it was this way, on, rather than back. There may only be two directions to go in this place, but they were two infinite directions. Corvus was stopping at every window that fit the description. But nothing felt right, they were all fine memories, but nothing that he could feel like a tangible force that he knew was driving this now.

Then, it was there, "Of course", Ron said, breathily, "it had to be this".

"Why's you think this one is so specials", Corvus asked gently.

"Because it's just that, the most special memory I have" Ron whispered as he watched.

"What's Ron and Pansy doing".

"Well, she snuck into my bed, again, she has a habit of doing that", the memory made him smile, "I miss that".

"Pansy will not look at Ron!"

"No", he sighed, "she was having a hard time, she kept saying she felt like she wouldn't get to wake up with me again".

"Pansy might have felt something's of this place on you, fear of loss".

"Yeah, yeah! That's a good point, maybe she didn't know, but subconsciously".

"What Ron saying".

"Oh, well, Pansy asked Ron to tell a lie, to say, I love you".

"A lie?" Corvus said sounding insulted.

"She said it didn't need to be true, she just wanted the memory".

"And did pansy says it to you?"

"She did", Ron said with a smile, "she whispered it in my ear".

"Then Pansy lied".

"Well yeah, but she did ask me to".

"No", Corvus said, "Ron not see as Corvus does. Pansy asked Ron to lie, say the words. But Pansy say's the words. She lie that it's a lie, Pansy say's the words because they true!"

"What? No!" Ron laughed.

"No?" Corvus asked, "ok's, tell Corvus this, did Ron's say the lie?"

"I did, as she asked, I whispered it in her ear".

"Ok, so looking backs now, seeing's this, with just Ron and Corvus, did you lie, or did you tell a truth's".

Ron stood looking at the scene, "god I hate you!"

Corvus roared again in triumph, "because?"

"You're making me say it!" Corvus filled his face, "urgh, because Corvus right, Ron wrong, I mean it, I loves Pansy when I says it". The great shape roared again in victory, Ron laughed, so many qualities of the friend reminding him of the different qualities in his own brothers.

"Hey", Corvus said, "what Ron and Pansy doing now".

Ron blushed, even here, his hand brushed the back of his neck, his Dagger. "Erm, that's kind of why it's special".

Pansy lay under the sheet to keep warm with her dress now removed, Professor Dumbledore waited beyond the curtains and only Molly sat with her holding her hand.

"If, if this is…", Pansy tried, Molly looked to her, "I mean, If I'm… then it could only be…his".

"I understand", Molly said.

"We would never mean to… I'm sorry".

"Pansy, I'm not about to start attacking you or forbidding you to see Ron. You're welcome to pursue whatever happiness you can together, but… if this is", she swallowed, "if you're carrying my grandchild, then we'll get through it. These things sometimes happen, I understand you've both been under pressures other young people haven't, even adults don't deal with the forces you've both been fighting".

Pomfrey came back, the same box as last time. "Well Pansy, you know how this works dear. Your still happy for Molly to be here?"

Pansy looked as fearful now as she had all night. "Madam-…".

"Poppy dear, I feel were both passed that at this point".

Pansy's eyes darted to Molly then Poppy, filled with guilt as they welled once more. "How soon would a positive test show up, after normal…conception?"

"Well not very long but it would need to…", she tilted her head, "Pansy?", she saw a shame fill her face, Poppy looked to Molly then back again. "Pansy, did you lie to me? You promised me you were a virgin!" she hissed.

"I didn't lie", she began crying, "I was".

"Then how could you possibly…", her eye widened with realisation, "when?", she whispered incredulously.

Her tears came freely now, Molly couldn't help but mount the bed herself, holding her tighter. "This morning", she cried.

"But this morning you were in here… oh pansy!" Poppy sighed.

"I'm sorry, I tried so hard. I fell asleep crying on him, I had so much hurt inside me, I felt like this was it and I was going to lose him".

"The reason you had to see him so desperately", Poppy said quietly.

"Yes, I woke up feeling so sad, like I'd never wake up with him again, he was being so bloody cute. I asked him to me; to tell me he loved me". She turned, "I'm so sorry Molly, I just wanted the memory of him saying it. He couldn't so I whispered it to him, but secretly I meant it. Then when I heard him whisper it back to me. We just… it just happened".

Poppy sat wide eyed, Molly trying to wipe her own quietly. "You were both under a lot of pressure".

"No Poppy, we were in control, I know we knew what we were doing. I'm so sorry, to both of you".

It took some time but eventually they were all able to come to a calmness between them that allowed them all to let Poppy work.

After a while Molly spoke up, "has children ever come up between the pair of you?"

"No", Pansy admitted, "there's a lot I wished we could talk about. I know where he gets all his excess of caring and over protectiveness from though now".

"There's nothing a parent wouldn't do for their child".

"I hope I could be like you, I didn't have a great upbringing", Pansy admitted.

"There was talk about your mother, only a feint whisper, and obviously were not in with many of the families anymore. I'm sorry for you if there's any truth to it. And I think I know enough about your farther to know it can't have been easy".

"Thank you, it's not been easy since, all that. As for farther, let's just say walking out on him isn't going to be difficult".

"Done", Poppy said quietly. "How would you like me to say this, with or without the Headmaster?"

Molly and Pansy shared a look as she pulled the sheet up to her neck, "with", Molly said.

Poppy opened the curtains, and he walked over from the fire. Not wanting to waste time she spoke up once he reached them. "I did the test three times", she said, "then I did it three times more".

"I thought you did", Molly breathed being an expert at witnessing the test, "well?"

"Inconclusive", Poppy shook her head in irritation.

"What exactly did each test result show?", Dumbledore asked quietly.

She exchanged a look with Molly then Pansy, "not pregnant, three times. Pregnant, three times". She huffed in irritation, "you can't be pregnant", she whispered, "not from this morning! And the results last night were not like this. They all showed not pregnant, they were just, less clear".

"Forgive me ladies, Pansy, with the utmost respect and discretion am I presume the attempt to", he paused, "stave off the attractions they've both fought against, have now been… unsuccessful?"

"Yes!" Molly said sharply, trying to cut Pansy off before she spoke.

"I see, then the matter goes no further my dear", he said to Pansy, "please don't let any school issues pressure you, and I need no further details".

"Albus", Molly said. "This whole plausibility thing. If she's not pregnant now, but she's suspected that she was, however impossible", Pansy looked at her, she hadn't confessed this to her yet. "Does that mean this could all be unavoidable. If they've been pulled together time after time, having to fight off… urges, could that not also be time? Forcing them to complete the act for the baby that, isn't and yet is conceived".

Dumbledore thought for a while before he emerged, "its quite fantastical and impossible, but I have to agree plausible when looking at everything else as a whole". He sighed, "I think we should agree to keep this to ourselves for the time being".

Pansy sat staring into space thinking, the possibility of a child filling her mind at a time where there wasn't room for anything more in her head. And then, quite suddenly.

"Ron!", she said aloud, she sat upright, her hand on her stomach.

"Pansy what is it", Molly said in worry.

"It's Ron, I can feel something, something important, something about…" she looked to Molly fearfully, "this morning!" She closed her eyes trying to feel what it was that was pulling at her desperately.

Her eyes widened, "Molly!" Pansy said, "It's Ronald, he's trying to wake up, I can feel it. We need to get back now; they need to wake him".

"What is its", Corvus said.

"I don't know", Ron panted, "I just feel really… really dizzy, like I'm drunk or something. My heads spinning". He looked up into the image, they were lay holding each other in bed, an afterglow pulsating from them both.

Here and now Ron's heart was pounding fast, he could feel it now as if he was alive again. "Corvus… mate somethings happening to me", his voice was panicking now.

"Ron is scaring Corvus".

"Ron…"he panted, "feels scared to… for once". He looked down at his body he was fading in and out of solidity, "is this it? Am I going… I don't know, I don't wanna' say goodbye… I need to go, but!"

"Ron!"

"Corvus!"

Ron leaned forwards, arms folding around his friend, he felt the embrace returned, "come to me in my dreams, I don't wanna' forget you".

"Corvus never forget Ron".

Pansy came running into the waiting room, "where's Ron!"

She was met by a number of tired and sleeping faces all looking up in shock and the frustration of rude awakenings.

"Mr and Mrs Weasley", the Matron came through the other door, "I have some news for you".

Molly came panting into the room behind Pansy, followed by Dumbledore and Poppy. She pushed Pansy forward with her arms on the girl's shoulders.

"Is he out of surgery?" Molly said desperately.

"He has been for a while now and his recovery has been better than expected, we just needed to observe him to make sure before we told you when he was to be brought out of his coma".

"He's coming out now?" Pansy demanded.

"Yes, there just-…"

Molly and Pansy ran past her, pushing through the doors.

"Molly!" Arthur shouted.

"You can't go running in there", the Matron shouted after them, "it's a long process and he won't wake for hours". She followed, the entire circus at her back. Entering the doors of Ron's room she took a firm stance. "Now listen! I'm going to have to insist everyone leave this room. Ron's barely out of surgery and this process takes a long time, we'll call you when he's awake".

Pansy was already to his side, her hand on his chest she stared down at him with an absolute certainty he had been about to wake, sure of it and unable to believe otherwise, seeing him now still asleep only served to wound her again.

"It's ok love", Molly said, "he'll wake, we just need to wait".

Molly managed to get Pansy to come away after kissing his cheek they turned, walking to the door when the Matron's face froze, wide eyed with a mouth hanging open.

Ron gasped loudly as he tried to take breath, sitting up, a head full of panic and despair after arriving, having crossed from one reality to another. Nearly vomiting against the thing, he yanked the tube in his mouth out, coughing as he did.

"Where the fuck have you been!" he shouted seeing Pansy.

Turning, her face lit up as

she saw him smile at her. Running to him she forgot every detail of how fragile he was as she crashed into him, his right arm crushing her into his chest, each refusing to release the other.

"I love you so much", she cried.

"I love you too", he choked against the lump in his throat.

A/N

I'm nakard, need to rest after this journey, I'm the one writing it and it's killing me. Good job I adore the bones of these two.

Venom xx