Chapter 18
Chapter 18
Ronald,
You need to try harder than that. You cannot allow Harry to be influenced by her evil plots. Be more genuine with your apology. I have included a small vial if you can be sneaky, pour this into Harry’s pumpkin juice or on some treacle tart you know he likes that best. Be careful, this is not something you want to be caught with.
Mum
*.*
Prongslet,
So Ron was rude to Hermione, did you say anything to her at the time? Or even try to stop him from mistreating your friend? They are both your friends and you need to figure out how to keep them that way. You should never be in a position to have to choose between friends but maybe you should take some time to evaluate what makes them each a good friend to you? I'm glad to hear that you won't let Ron keep you from being friends with Hermione but think really hard about what kind of friends you keep. They are a reflection on yourself. I'm not sure what other advice I can give you at this time, but I will think about it some more.
Padfoot
*Mail intercepted by Moody*
‘Albus, I received this on behalf of Potter.’
‘Oh, this will not do. We can't let Sirius advocate for Harry to stop being friends with Ronald.’
‘So what do I do with it?’
‘Don't allow it to arrive. Keep it, trash it, up to you.’
‘Won't Black have something to say when Potter doesn't receive his letter?’
‘Possibly, but it's not a concern today.’
‘If you insist.’
Dumbledore looks throughout the other mail Moody has after looking at Harry’s letter
Looking at the letter to the Lestranges he murmurs, ‘Hermione is reaching out to the wrong people and she doesn’t understand what can happen. This will be stopped.’
Picking up another letter and glancing over it, ‘She is flirting with George that’s fine.’
Moody looks perplexed.
‘Ron and Molly? Eh it's fine, nothing harmful there. Best to continue to keep an eye on it.’
Moody opens his mouth but changes his mind.
‘Ginevra? Keep an eye on it but don't stop it yet. We can see where it goes.’
Moody stands and begins to gather a snack for himself.
‘Draco? No he cannot be allowed to help Hermione send letters either.’
‘Let's see what happens if the Malfoys are unable to contact their heir, shall we?’
Moody ducks his head and focuses on fixing his tea.
‘As you wish Albus, anything for you.’
*.*
In a courtyard Hermione and her Slytherin friends are taking a walk before returning to the library for more studying, Ron was already in the courtyard. He has lavender pushed up against the tree snogging so heavily that they dont notice when they are not alone any longer. Hermione stops short
‘Oh my. Thats-’
‘Revolting?’ says Blaise.
‘Disgusting?’ muses Draco.
‘Disgraceful?’ ponders Theo.
‘Private guys, let’s go.’ Hermione turns to walk away and trips on a tree branch. Suddenly the couple stops snogging and looks over at the gathered group. Hermione is between Draco and Blaise. Both trying to make sure she is ok after tripping.
‘You're watching us? I didn't realize you were into that.’
Hermione scoffs. ‘As if. I would never want to watch the two of you.’
‘So you are jealous then, wish it was you?’ Lavender gasps in indignation at Ronald’s words.
‘From the looks of things George is a better kisser. Why would I want you?’
Ron strides toward her and Lavender pulls on his arm trying to stop the oncoming confrontation.
‘Won won, she's not worth it. Let’s go.’
‘You should go. Wouldn't want to start something you can't finish.’ Hermione comments.
Ron pulls his wand. An incantation on his lips.
‘You were warned.’ Hermione says before whispering her incantation. ‘Lavender are you getting involved or walking away?’
Lavender shakes her head before grabbing her bag and heading away from the small crowd.
‘Good choice.’ Ron is frozen in place. His wand gets removed from his hand and placed on the ground.
‘You need to start making better choices, Ronald. Dray, do you have that book I asked for?’
‘Yes cousin.’ He pulls out an old tome from his family library. She opens it and flips through until she finds what she is looking for.
‘Ah perfect.’ Ron has turned a deep shade of red he clearly wants to yell but can't.
‘Consistent compulsion causes increasing pain until behavior is corrected.’ Hermione murmurs to herself before she begins to weave the spell with a simple notice-me-not to prevent anyone from learning about this.
‘Make better choices or you will find yourself in a lot of pain.’
Hermione releases Ron from the body bind.
‘You Bitch, you can’t just curse me.’ Ron grits his teeth in pain.
‘I dont know what you are talking about Ronald, we were just talking.’
‘I know what you did.’ Ron raises his wand intending to cast a spell and doubles over in pain. ‘You can't do this to me.’
‘I haven't done anything Ronald, you are doing this to yourself. Make better choices.’ Hermione turns and walks out of the courtyard.
‘Weasel. Didn't I say I never wanted to see you in that kind of position again? On your knees.’
Ron's body trembles as he fights the order.
‘Find something else to occupy your time, no snogging for the next week.’ Blaise takes a step back.
‘Must you continue being a bother Weasel? You will never attack my cousin again. Four.’
Ron feels as if his blood is on fire.
‘Five.’
His head feels as if it will split in two.
‘Six.’
It feels as if he has been castrated. Ron is silently bawling now. His body trembles as he fights against the spells on him.
‘Leave my family alone, Weasel.’
At that the trio of Slytherins head to the library to find their lioness.
Ron stands, he is confused, why does he feel like he was just attacked? No one was here.
Where did Lav go? He has an instant headache when he thinks of what he had been doing before she mysteriously disappeared. Maybe he should go lay down. As he enters the castle again he sees the Slytherin trio ahead of him.
Ron raises his wand and suddenly he doubles over in pain. When he looks up again after catching his breath he is alone in the corridor. Ron continues the walk up to Gryffindor tower. With every step he wonders what is happening to him.
*.*
Harry walks into his dorm room to find Ron pacing.
‘Ron? What are you doing?’
‘I'm really sorry for how things have been between us all lately. I plan to talk to Hermione in the morning. I just want to put all this behind us.’
‘Alright, I believe you.’
‘Great. I'm gonna finish the reading for DADA class. I have some treacle tart if you want a piece.’
Ron points to the tin at the foot of his bed. He opens a book and lays on his bed to begin reading. Harry idly walks over to the tin and opens it. He plans to grab a small piece and head back downstairs. When he swallows his first bite his mind becomes clouded.
‘I think I need to sit down for a minute.’
‘You ok?’
‘Yeah, I think I'm just going to turn in for the night.’
‘Alright I hope you are ok.’
‘Me too, night.’
The next morning Harry and Ron are chatting about Quidditch. Any apology is forgotten and Harry doesn't bring up Hermione at all. Ron smiles.
*.*
Mum,
Thanks, that seemed to do the trick. Harry is spending more time with me and less with the snakes. Will I need to give him another dose? Sometimes I feel like I'm forgetting things. Not too much but small amounts of time. It feels like the snakes are the cause but I can't prove it. What can I do?
Ron
*.*
Ronald,
If you feel as if you have been cursed to forget, then you should go to the hospital wing. You will need to give Harry a new dose every week. I have enclosed a few doses for you. Don't lose them. Be sure no one else sees you.
I will write to your sister about her behavior.
Mum
*.*
‘Hello cousin.’
‘Hey, I was just about to head to the dungeons for potions, want to walk with me?’
‘Of course but first this is for you. He pushes the large package into her hands. From my mother.’
‘I told her it wasn't necessary, I suppose I need to walk this up to my dorm. Snape will kill me if I bring sweets into his classroom.’
‘Or, I could put it in my dorm until after class. We are heading down there, anyways.’
‘Would you? That would be so much easier.’
‘Come on let's go, you could even come in and look around for a moment.’
‘That sounds nice.’
Draco takes the package from her and they descend the stairs heading toward the slytherin common room. When they enter, Hermione gasps.
‘The lake does give it that underwater eerie glow, I always thought it was a rumor. This seems so relaxing. I barely noticed the common room when the girls dragged me in here for a makeover.’
Hermione drops into an armchair as Draco chuckles and heads toward his room. Blaise looks up from his book and spots Hermione.
‘Hello beautiful, how did you get in here?’
‘Dray needed to drop off something before Potions, I'm supposed to be looking around but this is so comfy I didn't want to get back up.’
‘Do we get to view the lion's den? It would only be fair now that you have been to the snake pit.’
‘Let me think about it. Oh there's Draco, ready for potions?’
Hermione jumps up without waiting for a response and strolls away from Blaise. He follows her with his eyes. Draco clears his throat.
‘I was just looking.’
‘At my cousin. Do you think that's a good idea?’
‘No clue, but it's a nice view.’
Hermione has left their common room and begun the quick walk to the potions classroom. The boys lower their voices.
‘How is your flavor of the week? Who is it again?’
‘Some 7th year puff. Why do you ask?’
‘You were staring at my cousin and I shouldn't ask if you are seeing anyone?’
‘I guess you are right. Hermione is just…. I'm not sure yet but she piques my interest.’
‘Hurt her and I will kill you.’
‘I know. I'm not doing anything. Just…. Thinking for now I guess.’
‘Well, think more privately.’
Blaise nods and they continue to follow Hermione down the hall. She seems to not have noticed their whispered conversation. A moment later they enter class and find their seats. After class Draco brings Hermione her package and she shares the snacks with her friends before taking the rest up to her dorm. She writes a thank you note and asks Draco to send it off.
*.*