The Devil's Book

Severus Snape stared down at the trembling red head that sat before him, crumpled on the floor in his quarters. The youth looked shaken and Severus could only think of one thing that would help them both through what was sure to be a rather sleepless night. The tall professor picked up Ronald and deposited him on an overstuffed couch that sat before the fire in the middle of the lounge. When the Gryffindor made a noise to protest Snape just glared at him and continued on to the liquor cabinet to pour the both of them a tumbler of Muggle scotch.

"I have a feeling we will both appreciate these before the night is out," Severus said as he handed one of the glasses to the young man. Ron just stared at it while Severus continued to speak. "I believe that I know what you speak of, but you must tell me everything that you know, everything that you have remembered."

Ron looked up at his surly potions professor. He took a large swallow of the alcohol in his hand and began his tale, the betrayal of Harry Potter.

"Ron! Why don't we go up to your room and talk for a little while?"

It was a bright and sunny summer day, and the group of teenagers was sitting by pond near The Burrow. Harry was trying to talk to Luna and Neville while Ginny was hanging off the poor boys arm. He wondered why no one else seemed to notice that Harry didn't really like the attention all that much. He knew Ginny was his sister, but he felt awful for his mate, what with the way everyone was pushing the two of them together. The twins were swimming in the pond, and all of the other school friends his mum had allowed him to invite were eating and chatting close by. Hermione however, well it seemed like she was trying to whisper something in his ear, which was odd seeing as she hadn't talked to him all summer.

---- ---- ---- ---- flashback ---- ---- ---- ----

"Ron I just wanted to you to know that I have feelings for you too," the bushy haired girl looked up at him through her eyelashes. She had dragged him out of the Great Hall saying that she had something important to tell him.

"Feelings for me? What kind of feelings?" the red head asked, just wishing he could get back to the meal.

"Love, Ron. I love you like I know you love me."

"I don't love you 'Mione, you're like m bloody sister. Besides I thought you knew I didn't fancy birds."

"What are you saying Ronald?" Hermione asked with anger infused in her voice.

"I though everyone knew, I mean I was fooling around with that bloke from Hufflepuff most of the year. I'm flattered that you feel that way for me, but it's not like I was leading you on or anything. I'm sorry Hermione, if you came here expect us to get together it's just not going to happen."

With that the young man left the class room they had been holed away in. He didn't look back, but if he had he would have seen the seething look of a woman who thought she had been scorned.

---- ---- ---- ---- end flashback ---- ---- ---- ----

"Hmm...oh hello Hermione, are you talking to me again?" Ron asked as he continued to take in his surroundings.

"I was never not talking to you, Ronnie, we were just having a lovers' spat."

"We would have to be lovers first, and you aren't exactly my type," Ron said laughingly.

"Ronald, this joke isn't funny anymore, you know we are meant to be," the girl said as she glared at the carefree red head.

Ron sat up, looking serious. "This isn't a joke, it never has been. I'm gay Hermione, I'm never going to be interested in you that way." Ron shook his head. "I'm really sorry that you feel like we should be together, but we shouldn't, that's just the way things are." With that Ron walked away from the gathering on to the house.

Hermione was still pissed, Ron didn't think he wanted her for some reason, but that didn't matter. He was going into The Burrow, just like he was supposed to. Once he walked in Dumbledore would hit him with an Imperio and he would do everything the Headmaster said. She was sure she could just ask him to make Ron fall in love with her. It was better this way she supposed, at least now she would never have to worry about him cheating.

'Or about that stupid Potter brat,' she thought with a smirk. 'Ron has refused his parents' offer to join the group for that last time. His misplaced loyalty will no longer stand in the way of the greater good, and our love.'

Ron paused to take another drink of the liquor. It burned his throat, but right now that pain was a welcome relief to the sick sense of dread that had filled him as he told his tale.

"The girl who I thought was one of my best friends has been technically raping me the entire school year. Merlin, all of this is just so very wrong and scary." He looked up at his professor with empty eyes.

"If you wish to stop for the moment I am sure we can continue this discussion tomorrow," Severus said, being uncharacteristically kind to this poor boy whose faith in humanity had been ripped away so violently.

"No I've started, I've got to finish."