Unofficial Portkey Archive

Just Another Weekend-Chapter 9

Harry awoke to the sounds of Ron's snoring and Neville crawling around the floor looking for Trevor, his pet frog. Harry wondered if the only normal, including him, might be Seamus. He put on his glasses gathered up a towel and his toiletries. He headed off to the loo. When he came back he noticed that Ron was up and reading Quidditch through the Ages.

"Ron, you must have read that a hundred times already, mate," Harry said as he dried his hair a little more.

"Yeah, well I don't mind reading it because if I don't Luna will know more than me about Quidditch. I mean I mention something and she totally like dives into it." Ron said with a pained look. "Last night I couldn't remember the dive we practiced this summer and she came up with it off the top of her head. Bloody amazing. She may not be as smart as Hermione, but she's pretty good."

Harry was glad to see that Ron had some company. He and Hermione had kind of been keeping to themselves since the beginning of the term. Some of it was because of the whole blow up with Ron, but most of it was just because they needed to get to know each other as a couple. Either way, Harry was glad for his mate. "So, she keeps you on your toes huh?"

"You can say that again. Along with all her talk of magical creatures I've never heard of and conspiracies within the Ministry, my brain can't take all this information at once." Ron was happy, but he'd found out what it was like when someone else's interests melded with your own. He'd met brain-overload.

"So are you two getting serious?" Harry asked without to much emphasis. He didn't want to sound like he was hoping Ron was forgetting about Hermione.

"Yeah, a little closer than I ever thought I would get with her. At first she was just fun because she had this cool devil-may-care attitude. She didn't argue if I didn't agree. She just blew it off and we talked about something else. Then she'd bring it up a different way and sometimes it made sense. That's when I realized how smart she was. She didn't have to be right. Like someone we know!" Ron took the shot at Hermione and Harry had to agree, sometimes his darling Hermione was going to be right even if she had to push your nose into it.

"That's cool, but you remember Hermione never really did that with me that often," Harry said. Then he wished he'd have filtered it.

"Yeah, that's partly why I was jealous mate, but don't worry I'll just kick your ass in Wizard Chess for that comment." Ron said with a little sneer.

"What? Wizard Chess, do you mean now?" Harry asked.

"Yeah, now, you stinking prat. You deserve a good ass whooping," Ron laughed at his own joke harder than anyone else. Harry thought it was funny just not as funny as Ron thought.

Harry couldn't believe it. When was the last time Ron asked him to play chess in the dorm? He looked at his watch, smiled at a smiling Hermione and put it back. "Okay, it is nine-thirty and I have to go get Hermione for lunch at eleven-forty five. We have to eat and then get some instruction for the meeting tonight. If we don't finish, we'll have to leave it until later."

"Don't worry, mate. The way you play, I'll be able to spank you in two or three games before then." Ron smiled. Harry knew that this was his Wronski Feint. Ron could out think just about anyone when it came to Wizard Chess.

­­­­­­­­­­­­

In the girl's dorm, Ginny sat with Hermione as she brushed her hair. "So what are you and, what do you call him, Romeo, doing this afternoon?"

"Where did you hear that phrase?" asked only slightly embarrassed.

"Do you know you talk in your sleep, Hermione?" Ginny said with a sly grin.

"I do not." Hermione stated flatly.

"'Whoa, hold on their Romeo, it's a birthday kiss, not a first date.'" Ginny mocked the night in the attic.

"You little…you were listening to us up in the attic. I don't think I've ever called him Wizard Boy," Hermione said. As she thought about it she did call him that during their wee-hour-of-the-morning liaison in the field.

"You know, Fred and George have almost perfected making the extendable ears invisible," Ginny said laughing.

"What else have you heard?" Hermione knew Ginny's reputation for keeping secrets.

"Nothing, really. That first night I was excited for both of you. I couldn't help myself," she said. "Believe me, I wouldn't want someone eavesdropping on me either so I don't do it to others." She said with a cringe.

"Well, to answer your question, we are going to get lunch and then Professor Dumbledore has some special instruction for us in his chambers." Hermione told Ginny. "I think it may be a new spell or something."

"I wish I wasn't so hard to please. Every guy I end up seeing says I'm high maintenance. What the hell does that mean anyway, Hermione?" Ginny looked upset.

"Who said that? One of the slugs in this house? Sometimes you do show off how smart you are about relationships. Maybe they don't want to have the perfect relationship right now. That's not your fault. They're just too immature." Hermione spoke from the heart. Ginny had understood the dynamics of her and Harry better than Hermione herself. "I'm serious. Be careful, but don't expect all boys are age to have grown up much yet."

"That make sense, but it's real tough when you meet someone who's nice and a real good kisser, and then he goes insane for some other girl." Ginny looked like she was talking about someone specific.

"Who is it?" Hermione asked.

"No one." Ginny wasn't about to open that can of worms.

"You're lying, but that's your business." Hermione said as she finished the final stroke of the brush.

With lunch finished Harry and Hermione walked slowly toward Dumbledore's chambers locked arm in arm. They looked at the paintings on the walls as they walked. Some moved continually, but there were some that just looked as if they were done the normal muggle way. They were beautiful. This must have been something that Dumbledore had done. He had mounted a picture of `The Lilies' by Claude Monet and just as Harry and Hermione looked at it a frog jumped from one lily pad to the other. They laughed. "So much for that, huh Hermione?"

"Yep, this place is so eerie sometimes," She said.

They arrived at his chambers and as if a lookout had announced their arrival the doors opened. "Good afternoon, my young friends." Dumbledore said in an unusually familiar way.

Hermione was the first to notice it. She looked keenly into their Headmaster's eyes and saw sadness. The sadness had been their before from all that had happened to Harry. This time she saw what seemed like fear. "Professor, why the over-the-top greeting today?" Hermione asked looking directly into his chiseled old face.

Harry looked at Hermione with wonderment. Then he looked at Dumbledore again. A moment ago his face had shown more happiness than Harry remembered seeing for a long time. Now, he saw the change in the old wizard's countenance.

"Harry, Hermione. I may have misled you the last time we met about someone you met this summer Harry." Dumbledore looked disturbed.

"Pappy? What about Pappy?" Harry demanded. "Don't give me any rubbish about not knowing anymore, if you do." He was angry.

"Harry, truthfully, I remembered some about him, but I told you what I truly believed. I always shook off the other possibilities." Dumbledore sounded like he was talking in riddles.

"Professor, does he mean harm to Harry?" Hermione asked very quickly.

"No. Of that much I am certain. But he deceived you by not telling you the full story. He attended Hogwarts. The story he told you was the truth, but he failed to tell you that he'd used his training in school to hurt those people with their deepest secrets." Dumbledore sighed. "He is a very powerful wizard who decided, with his girlfriend and future wife, to forego the life of a wizard. He hated pure bloods for their smug meanness. They moved to Godric's Hollow to live among muggles and pursue their love of antiques. They wanted a family. They couldn't have children."

Harry looked at Dumbledore with sad eyes, but didn't speak. He wanted to hear everything. Hermione gently took Harry's hand and held it in her lap. She too was engrossed in the tale. "How tragic," Hermione said.

"They made enough money to buy the cottage your parents lived in and rented it. They were just a nice old couple to Lily and James. They never knew Francine and Nathaniel, Pappy, were once wizards." Dumbledore continued.

"The death of Francine was unsolved. Pappy declared that it was Voldemort and that she'd died in the same fire as Lily and James. The Ministry denied it. The rumors around Godric's Hollow became unbearable for Pappy, so he left shortly after. He hid from us. He wanted nothing to do with the Order. He passed out of my memory. Why I do not know. Professor McGonagall was a childhood friend to his wife. She went to see him recently." Dumbledore told them with a slight grin. "He's fine, Harry. He does care for you both. Hermione, he met with you too. You bought the watch from him in an antique store in Oxfordshire." Dumbledore said.

"That's not possible, Professor. I bought the watch from a woman." Hermione corrected.

"You know what Tonks' abilities are, correct?" asked Dumbledore.

"Ah, you mean he's a Metamorphamagus?" asked Harry.

Hermione was impressed.

"He helped you each select the presents you gave one another for a reason. We have yet to determine that reason or to determine whether the purpose is completely in your best interests." Dumbledore informed them.

"How could they not be in our best interest? You just said he cares for us deeply." Hermione pointed out.

"Yes, but he may hate Voldemort more. He is a seer as you may have noticed Harry. He knows things that are going to happen, but won't tell us the full story. He has heard the prophecy you went to get in the Department of Mysteries, just as I have. He heard it from a different source. He made the same one." Dumbledore looked at Harry whose face had frozen in stoic silence. "Hermione, you are going to hear it today in a rather unique way. Come here."

Dumbledore pulled out the pensieve and instructed Hermione on its use as she walked toward him.

"Hermione, listen to all of it. Concentrate. I know you have a hard time with the person who is making this prediction." Dumbledore warned.

"Trelawney?" Hermione asked. Dumbledore nodded. She looked at Harry who still looked straight ahead and nodded.

Hermione placed her face in the pensieve and took it all in. When she was finished, she looked over at Harry with a pained look. "I told you I feared for you. Why didn't you tell me?" She briskly walked over to Harry. "Look at me." Harry looked up with a sad and guilty look. "Why?" she asked again angrily

"He was told to tell no one. Those who know are the only ones that can confirm for Voldemort what he needs to know about the prophecy's contents. You now are in danger as well." Dumbledore said with considerable sadness.

"So you were protecting me again," Hermione said angry but not as angry as before. "I'm not angry with you sweetheart. I am angry because we can't have a normal life."

"Professor what does all this mean? What can we do?" Harry asked.

"It means, dear boy, you and Hermione must find out all you can about the magical powers your gifts to one another possess." Harry and Hermione looked at one another as if they'd just been told something in a foreign language.

"Professor, what do you mean?" Hermione asked first.

"There is hidden magic in the music box and the pocket watch. Look for something that Voldemort can't use, but can be used to destroy him. I fear that it can also destroy each of you too. I believe that Pappy's hatred of Voldemort may have blackened his heart enough to expose the two of you to its dangers as well." Dumbledore turned to them. "Arm yourself with knowledge of those things. That is what I am saying."

"Professor? Is Pappy mad? Is he beyond reason, I mean?" Harry asked.

"No, Harry I don't think so. But as I said, write to him as you would have before. Show him your love. He may yet reveal the secrets he knows to you, Harry." Dumbledore looked tired.

Harry rose and took Hermione's hand. "Good day, Professor. We will do anything you ask. I am afraid, but I trust Pappy. My heart is filled with joy when I think of him. He's helping somehow, I know it. Don't worry about us." Harry said with a finality that gave Hermione and Dumbledore hope.

"Thank you, dear boy," Dumbledore said hoping that Harry had not been deceived.

Harry and Hermione held one another as they exited. Dumbledore watched them as he thought, `So much like your parents and so much like Nathaniel and Francine.'

This was the coldest day of the season, but Harry and Hermione needed to be alone together. They walked silently after deciding to go there. The tension between them was different than it had been before. It was more hurried. As they arrived they were glad that the sun was out and it was bright. The high sky made it colder, but the sun improved their mood. They were only used to being here at night.

"How do you feel Harry?" Hermione was worried about the look she'd seen on his face. "I'm sorry for being so selfish. When I think of you, sometimes I think of how much I'll be hurt if something happens to you. Instead I should think of way it affects you." She put her hands to both sides of his face and kissed him. He could taste her tears as she backed away.

"Hermione, don't let anyone separate us by fear. We are all there is to hang onto here. You don't have your parents and I don't have anyone anywhere that can be fully trusted except you." Harry professed. "If you let go of me because of the terror of losing me, I have no one." His tears now started to show. "Do you understand?"

"Yes, I do. More now than ever." They held one another. Hermione knew this wasn't the time, but all fear of making love to Harry had disappeared. `Each day he teaches me of his loyalty and love for me. If the time feels right…,' she thought as Harry said something.

"You were staring off into space. I don't want you to worry. Remember what I said. Nothing will pull us apart if we don't let it." Harry smiled. She must have left this place for a moment, because he'd pulled off his cloak and put it on her to stave off the cold chill.

She knew it was too cold for them today, so they took a walk around the tower and then descended the winding staircase toward the lower floors. Her mind wandered to that day in the store as the pocket watch was boxed and wrapped. What had the old woman said, `I don't know, but they say it has the power to show you the one you love most, when you need him or her most.'

"Hermione, watch out! You're going to pull us both down the stairs. You were daydreaming again. These stairs are treacherous. Are you okay?" Harry asked.

"Yes, yes, just fine." She looked Harry in the eyes and pondered his scar for the first time in ages.

"We have to get to the Room of Requirement. The meeting starts in ten minutes," Harry said as they picked up their step. They looked at each other and laughed breaking into a skip like two seven year olds. Their hearts floated for those moments until the reality of what the DA was for sobered them again.

The decision had been made to hold a meeting of the DA that afternoon so that everyone could study and rest for the coming week. Even though they'd both been preoccupied with the news and dark warnings of Dumbledore, they'd come up with a good plan. The crowd had grown even larger this time.

"Okay, listen everyone. Today, we are going to practice the Stunning Charm. Do we have any volunteers?" Harry realized it might be difficult to find someone who wanted to be knocked unconscious.

"I'll do it," said Neville. "It's the one where you can be brought out of it by the "Ennervate" charm right?"

"Very good, Neville. Everyone thank Neville for volunteering will you? I have killed the last three rats I tried this on." Harry looked at Neville and laughed as Neville backed away. "I'm kidding Neville, I'm kidding." Neville smiled.

"I know. You forget. I saw the rats." He said as laughter broke out throughout the room. He had put Harry on pretty successfully.

With Neville standing in the middle of the room and no one directly behind him, Harry sad, "Stupefy!" Neville's eyes rolled momentarily and he collapsed onto the mat below. Harry walked to Neville and said, "Ennervate." Neville slowly opened his eyes and shook his head. Harry stood and backed away. Harry began speaking again.

"You have to learn to aim with this spell while moving as I showed you last week. You may have to recover your wand, roll, and do this in one motion." He nodded at Ron. Ron ran across the room and yelled, "Expelliarmus." The wand was thrown from Harry's hand and he fell from the force of the charm.

Harry found his wand on the floor. He dove toward his right, as Ron yelled, "Stupefy!" The curse missed Harry and all the other students. As Harry rolled to his right he called out "Accio wand!" The wand had returned to his hand. In an incredible demonstration of agility and speed, Harry's roll had left him in perfect position to stun Ron, "Stupefy!" Ron's wand fell to his side as he slumped to the mat." As Harry revived Ron, there was applause from the gathered students.

"Harry is that how you escaped Voldemort and brought back Cedric?" a seventh year that Harry didn't recognize asked.

Harry looked stricken for a second, but recovered. "In battle, no one move will do everything. You must be wise of your surroundings and let your instincts work for you. No, not directly. I stayed alive by that move. I had help in getting Cedric out. But that is a discussion for another day."

He had shown them how it worked, but he had no intention of having fifty students stunning one another in the Room of Requirement for fun on a Sunday afternoon. Once Ron had recovered, he asked "How easy was it to aim at me as I rolled?"

Ron looked at the crowd of students. "We're not all as talented as Harry, but one move by your opponent or enemy while you focus your spell makes aiming nearly impossible. Harry asked that I help show you that. I was aiming to stun the prat. I can tell you that. Because he told me if I could get him he'd let me have his Firebolt and then he wouldn't get me." He laughed as did everyone else.

"That's absolutely true," said Hermione. "Harry wanted you to see in live action how these things work. He's the only one of us who has seen battle like that. Confidence that you know what you are doing is essential." Harry had asked her to say that because he knew she could carry off the white lie about battle. Of course, Ron, Neville, Luna, and Hermione had been with him last year in the Department of Mysteries."

"Let's go eat." Harry said as everyone filed out of the room. "Thanks, mates." He said to Neville, Ron and Hermione. He saw Luna standing a little ways away. Harry motioned for her to join them.

"Harry. Why did you have Hermione lie to them about being in battle?" Luna asked. "I know it wasn't because you weren't proud of us being there with you, was it?"

"Luna, you see too much." Harry laughed and put his hand on Ron's shoulder. "Without you guys, I would never have survived. But remember, they only saw the time I brought back Cedric. We don't want them endangered by knowing too much about the Department of Mysteries."

"Oh, I see. That makes sense when you put it that way," Luna said with a gracious smile. "Come on, Ronnie, let's go eat."

"Good bye, RONNIE." Harry said emphasizing the Ronnie part. "How different this year is turning out. Huh, guys?" he turned to Neville and Hermione. Hermione was smiling.

"There was a time I never thought I'd see you two talking, let alone getting by with putting each other on." Hermione said.

Neville sat with them for awhile and they chatted about school. Neville looked like he was having fun for the first time since he'd been at Hogwarts. When they practiced with a boggart, it still became Snape. But now, he could turn Snape into a ballerina in a tutu. He was working on dressing him like the Queen of England, but he couldn't remember exactly what the royal gown and crown looked like. He'd thought people might take offense too. So he stuck with the tutu.

The evening's study session was difficult for Harry and Hermione. Just last night they'd discussed predicting future events and now, she had the real evidence. She looked at him with a questioning look. "How did you manage to talk to me about Trelawney and Pappy without divulging Trelawney's prophecy?"

"I don't know how I've managed not to tell you since the end of last year. There are some things that you just don't try to think about all the time. When they come up, you force them out of your mind again." He explained. "Last night, I knew that you'd be told if it were important to your safety. And, I knew he'd show you not just tell you."

"He didn't explain it." Hermione complained.

"Nor will I, right here and right now. The implications are too dangerous to talk about out here. He told you today so he could tell us both about Pappy. You'll just have to accept that for now." Harry was icy cold with his explanation.

"Harry, why are you talking to me like that?" Hermione was hurt and showing it.

"Sweetheart, do you even remember the prophecy now, two hours later? I mean word for word." Harry asked in a gentler tone.

"No, not really. Why would I want too?" Hermione asked. "I was shocked at 'the you dying' part."

"Sh," Harry said quietly. "I don't want you to remember any more of it than that then." Harry's demeanor changed to a very commanding tone. "Don't dig up more about it. It could be the difference between life and death for you."

"Why?" Hermione asked in a frustratingly irritating tone.

"Come with me!" Harry stood up with his hand out for her to take it. "Grab your cloak." She took her cloak off the chair. "Our books will be okay."

Harry walked quickly and without comment. Hermione found herself at a run beside him at times. They walked up the winding staircase. This time they weren't at the Astronomy tower. She recognized it as the owlery. He walked her to the far parapet away from the owls. "Hermione, you have to listen to me. Don't ask questions!" There were tears in his eyes. He was not sad; he was angry and Hermione knew it.

"Why are you mad at me?" Hermione wanted to cry, but sat up straighter and fought it off.

"I'm not mad at you. I am mad that I can't explain it all and that there is even anything to explain." He sighed. That made it easier. He saw her relax just a bit with the news that it wasn't her. He knew she was in fight or flight mode until now.

"Okay. Settle down, sweetheart and explain that. I know you can do that for me." Hermione could see the struggle Harry was going through.

"Sure. You have known that there is a connection between me and Voldemort. Well, I can't avoid it now, just like I said yesterday in Hogsmeade. The more you know about that connection, the more likely it is that you too could become a target. He's seen you now. If he finds out our connection and you know more than you do now." Harry's eyes filled with tears. "You didn't see how easily he killed Cedric. No emotion, no hesitation, no conscience. He could torture and kill anyone who he thinks knows anything."

Hermione looked at him calmly and unfazed saying, "I know that sweetheart, but I can't let you be tortured alone like you are now. He probably laughs at the day-to-day pain his existence brings to you, just as it infuriates him that your presence denies him full power." Look at me. "You are the good guy. Remember that. You have no responsibility for the evil he does. Neither Sirius nor Cedric were killed by your hand, actions, or inactions. They were killed by the evil that is Voldemort. You are not connected to that. You cannot save everyone. You can save yourself and love us who love you. Love me, Harry. Don't miss out on the love we have in your fear for me." Hermione stopped talking and walked to the other side of the parapet. "If I jumped from here right now, what could you do?" She asked rhetorically. "Nothing. I have choices; you have choices. Make them and go on. Just love me, because as sure as I stand here I know I will never love anyone else." For the first time, the tears flowed down her cheeks.

Harry looked at her in disbelief. He thought he had to be the strong one. He knew she was his anchor, the one who he needed. He walked to her and held her. No kisses. Just a hug that they held for a few moments that allowed him to feel her heart beat with his.

Ron was excited. Harry had come back looking like he'd played ten hours of Quidditch and he heard him say that was the way he felt to Hermione. He faked snoring while Harry got ready for bed. Before he knew it, he had the map. He and Luna were going prowling around the castle tonight. They'd planned an adventure through the dungeons and were going to look for their special place.

Ron snuck down the stairs past the sleeping Fat Lady and into the main corridor. He headed directly for Ravenclaw house. She'd be waiting for him there. He'd sent Pig to her window from his to tell her where to wait just as Harry returned. The coast was clear.

He had found the entrance to the dungeons through the main floor near the Great Hall. He had been before. Luna wanted to investigate them. She said there were some really interesting ghosts that were supposed to be there. Ron didn't like that part but as long as there were no spiders, he would take a chance.

"Hi Luna!" he whispered as he saw her.

"I didn't think you'd come Ronnie." She hugged him and kissed him on the lips. "That's for doing this for me." Ron thought, `You mean all I have to do is go ghost hunting with you for a kiss, no problem. Wonder what I'll get if we find any.'

They each took out their wands. "Lumos." They lit up the corridors. They walked for what seemed like miles, keeping track of where they were on the map. Finally, on the far northeast side they found a room that was open and fairly clean.

"This is weird, Luna. Look at that table. There is no dust." Ron walked around the stone table. The table was made of what appeared to be granite. The legs were pillars that were part of the floor. The top had a marble look as though it were made out of some kind of ore that changed color. Ron thought that maybe it was a vein of iron ore.

"Ron, look at this." Luna was walking along the back wall from the furthest corner to the left from the door to the right. There was writing on the wall. "Can you read this Ron? It looks like…" Luna stopped for a second to think. "It looks like it's written in Parseltongue."

"Luna, don't say that. You're making me nervous." Ron said. "I wish Harry were here, he could probably read it."

"Ron, where are we on the map?" Luna asked.

Ron spread the map on the stone table and looked. "Luna, we're not on it."

"Ron, don't scare me like that." Luna said.

"No, really, we faded off the map. It still shows Hogwarts but just before that last corridor, the map ends." Ron turned to Luna with a frightened glazed look. "What if?" He stopped for a second. "Did you hear that?"

"Hear what?" Luna said as she looked at the rest of the wall. "Ron, the map had to end somewhere or it would have to show all the way under the Forbidden Forest too…" Luna felt her heart pumping fast. "Ron, we're under the Forbidden Forest."

"Luna, stop talking and listen." Luna heard nothing.

"Ronnie, stop scaring me. I don't hear anything." She said trembling now.

"There." Pause.
"There." Pause.

"You hear it?" Ron heard the sound of running water or escaping steam.

"It sounds like some sort of machine that produces steam…bloody hell…what would a machine be…." He stopped.

He and Luna turned toward the door where near the floor they saw two green glowing orbs. The realization that the hissing sound came from the vicinity of the green orbs took a second. "Hi dear Master Ron." The voice sounded eerily familiar to Ron. "What surprised to see me? My hair hasn't grown back."

"Scabbers…I mean…Pettigrew…I mean….Wormtail," Ron could feel the warm wetness on his leg as he realized that the creature next to the voice was a snake.

"Good job, Nagini." The voice that chilled Luna and Ron this time was like only one they'd heard before-in the Department of Mysteries. It had been like a dream. Their wands went out as if all power had been drained from them. "Mr. Weasley, Wormtail tells me that you are in possession of something very interesting to me."

Ron couldn't speak. He felt choked as if there were a hand around his throat. "RAISE YOUR HAND HOLDING THE MARAUDER's MAP!" As if he had no will of his own, his hand raised the map that displayed the locations of everyone at Hogwarts. `PLACE IT ON THE TABLE AGAIN.' The voice was clearly in his head now and not audible to Luna.

"Don't do it, Ron." Luna screamed. As she screamed, Ron momentarily regained his own mind and turned to look. She had blood coming from her nose and mouth, but was still breathing.

"Lord Voldemort will tell you when to speak," said Wormtail in a condescendingly warm voice. "Dear Master Ron, aren't you glad to see me? Miss Luna isn't, is she?"

"Leave her alone. You piece of …" Ron felt the choking sensation again this time it felt as if his eyes would explode from his head. His feet weren't touching the ground and Wormtail had a hold on him with his silver hand.

"Let him be, Wormtail, we will kill him when he has fulfilled his purpose." said Voldemort.

"Bellatrix, the potion." From out of the darkness walked Bellatrix LeStrange. `She was the one responsible for the madness of Neville's parents,' thought Ron. She pulled some hairs from Luna's head and pushed her limp body to the wall. "You and I will have fun spending all that time with your best mate. Maybe we can swap girlfriends. Oooh would that be nice." She put the hairs into the beaker of bubbling liquid and drank it. Within seconds, she began to transform into Luna.

Once the transformation was complete, she walked to Ron. "With this young body, I can fulfill your fantasies Weasley." She nibbled his earlobe and put her hand on his crotch. "Your pants won't be wet from fear when I'm done with you. You'll be ready to kill to keep the pleasure I'll provide. IMPERIO."

Ron didn't move he could feel the hand on his crotch. A moment before this warm and inviting sensation seemed disgusting, but now he wanted to feel the warmth and excitement as it grew.

"Luna, what just happened?" He looked at her hand wrapped around his quickly swelling member. "What the bloody hell?"

"Show me you love me, Ronnie." Luna said to him. He had no will of his own left.

He was sure it was Luna. He looked around and everything seemed as normal as it had been ten minutes before.

Ron looked at Luna whose eyes were pleading him. He pulled her close and kissed her. Her flesh was velvety smooth. He looked at her. "Are you sure?"

"Ron, isn't this the most erotic place you've ever been?" Luna's voice sounded sultry.

She pulled at her jumper and removed her brassiere. "Have you ever seen anything so beautiful in your life? Let's do it, Ronnie. Right here on the table?"

The sun blazed through the windows in the boy's dorm that morning. Harry was annoyed because he'd gotten up early in the morning to find Ron's bed empty. He was pissed because he was so used to using the loo and, then, going to sleep to the rhythmic sounds of an old saw. Finally as he was fading off he thought he saw Ron return, but he just rolled over.

"Ron, mate. Where'd you go last night?" Harry asked in total confusion.

"I couldn't sleep, Harry so I sent Pig to Luna's room and we met down in the main hall." That was Ron's last recollection. He had met Luna in the hall in front of the steps to Ravenclaw. `I can't wait to get out of these dreams and into reality with Luna,' he thought. `She is…,' his thoughts were disrupted by Harry.

"You could have gotten busted. You're a prefect remember. You and Hermione. You guys are pretty good about not flaunting it but if you get caught you get it taken away."

Harry said angrily. "You could have lost it trying to kill me, but Dumbledore spared you. So straighten up."

Ron looked at Harry. "What time is it?"

"What time do you think it is? Does the sun usually come through the window that brightly before 10 AM?" Harry asked.

"Bloody hell…shit…I'd better…," Ron was in a frenzy running into the loo and coming back for his toiletries. "I owe you one, Harry. Thanks."

While waiting for Ron, Harry opened his trunk to polish the handle of his broom for a minute or two. He looked for the kit Hermione had bought him. He found it right where he'd left it--under the Marauder's Map.

Document created with wvWare/wvWare version 1.0.0

-->