Driven

Disclaimer: I do not own the world of Harry Potter, but Blessings to JKR for creating it

Chapter 16: Dungeons, Deceptions and Discoveries

Ron sat on the cold stone floor of the dungeon that was his current residence. One hand was pressed to his head blood oozing between his fingers, while the other fiddled with a string on the rags he had been left with when his clothes had been taken from him.

The floor was filthy and he shivered the only hint of heat he got was what wafted through the doors when someone came to question him. It was quite laughable really, and he fought back the hysterical giggle that threatened to escape him. He truly didn’t know anything. He was in training for Merlin’s sake and all information the order gleaned was distributed on a need to know basis.

He’d pretty much lost all track of time, once the interrogations and beatings had begun, but it felt like he’d been there for weeks or months. ‘Merlin! What I wouldn’t give for a fag,’ he though to himself. His captors had been providing him with the bare minimum of sustenance to survive.

As he sat there trying to figure out how he got himself into his current shite situation he replayed the events that followed the tongue lashing he gave Harry the morning after the Halloween Ball.

*********
One week earlier…

He was walking down the cobbled street of the village they were staying in, headed for the pub, intent on continuing his weekend bender. As he cut through the small alley between two buildings he fell to his knees as someone hit him from behind. He rolled to his back and was reaching for his wand when he looked up, jaw dropping in recognition of his attacker, “What the…” was all he managed to get out before he was hit with a hex and everything went black.

He woke up on an unfamiliar cold stone floor, his ears were ringing and his head felt like it was too big. His lip was swollen but he couldn’t remember biting it, the coppery tang of dried blood assaulted his tongue as he licked it gingerly. Someone had taken his clothes and replaced them with rough canvas rags that fell to his knees. His head was cold too and he reached up to find that it had been shaved.

Ron pushed up to his hands and knees, trying hard not to vomit as his vision swam, and managed to crawl to the back wall so he could sit and not have his back to the very solid looking door. He pulled his knees to his chest and was thankful that the sack was large enough to pull over them though it didn’t provide much in the way of warmth.

Head in his hands he tried to deny who he’d seen before blacking out, ‘He’s a ponce yes but a bloody traitor?’ Hearing the bolts on the door creak open he slowly lifted his head, wanting to look the bastard in the eye, only to be faced with himself? “Bloody Hell,” he whispered.

“Brilliant isn’t it” his other self said, “You’ve managed to alienate everyone you care about so it will make our infiltration flawless. My master has promised me a go at Hermione Granger once we have her.” The mirror image taunted. Ron tried to lunge at his captor but found himself suddenly chained to the wall.

His breath escaped him as he was punched in the gut, and he started to shake as a voice that was so similar to his own, hissed in his ear, “to think she dumped you for the ferret and his boy toy. Oh I know you tried to give the ungrateful bitch what she deserved, but I promise you, brother, that I will ride that prefect little body until she screams, begs, for mercy.”

As his tormentor left and the door slammed shut his chains disappeared and Ron slumped to the floor, unaware of the tears streaming down his face as he rocked repeating to no one, over and over, “I’m sorry Mione, I’m so, so sorry.”
*********

Ron looked up as he heard the door to his cell being opened and he crawled as fast as his bruised and battered body would allow him into the corner and curled into a ball, ‘not again,’ he though. He was tired of being tortured for information that he simply did not have.

The only glimmer of hope he'd had since his capture and imprisonment was the approximate location of where he was being held. He'd overheard his captors speaking outside his room after one of the interrogations and they'd mentioned the word "Ardvreck". He seemed to remember an Ardvreck Castle in Scotland and it served to reason that if there was a castle there was a dungeon.

He locked the precious piece of information away in the hopes that he would eventually escape and be able to lead the Order back to his captors. He held on to that possiblity as he gathered his resolve and lifted his chin to look his brother in the eye.

“Can you imagine the look on her face when she realized that she’d been raped by her former best friend?” the voice that now haunted his nightmares began, “My master and I knew that my disguise would only be practical for a short time in dealing with such an intelligent creature. But, I must say that seeing her reaction more than made up for the end of your usefulness.”

Ron squeezed his eyes shut and prayed that it would be over quickly, he cried out as a hand fisted in his hair, yanking his head back so that he was forced to look into his betrayers eyes. He gathered every last ounce of defiance he possessed and spat in his brother’s face, “Percy, I so regret that I won’t be there to see you get what’s coming to you.”

Percy scowled down at his little brother and knocked his head against the stone wall, as his vision faded to black Ron allowed the trapped giggles to come out, turning into a full on belly laugh before fading to nothing as unconsciousness claimed him.

As he looked down at the still form below him Percy hissed, “If it was up to me I’d kill you now. Unfortunately my master has decided to keep you alive…. For now.”

**********

Hermione accepted the mug of tea that was pressed into her shaking hands, “thank you love,” she said looking up at Blaise and attempting a smile. She sipped the steaming concoction while looking across the room at Molly Weasley. She’d been uncharacteristically silent since she was informed of her youngest son’s actions. “Molly,” she said quietly.

The normally exuberant woman looked up with a blank expression, and empty eyes. She was the picture of defeat, and Hermione couldn’t bear it. “Molly, I’m going to say this once and you can either choose to believe me or you can sit there and continue to beat yourself silly. This is NOT your fault! Ron is of age, he is very angry with me and the choices I have made, but this was His decision.”

“Hermione, you know that I consider you one of my own don’t you?” Molly paused and Hermione nodded as she sipped her tea, “My family is falling apart before my eyes and I don’t know how to fix it.”

Hermione set her tea on the table beside her and crossed the room to take the older woman’s hands in her own. “You can’t fix this Molly, you’ve raised your children to have minds of their own, and you’ve no responsibility for the actions they make as adults. All you can do is love them and know when to let go.”

She stepped away from Molly and stood in the middle of the room her gaze coming to rest on the portrait of Albus Dumbledore that had been hung in what was now Minerva McGonagall’s office. “Professor, you’ve been gone all of six months and all hell is breaking lose.”

“Miss Granger, I have every faith in all of you.” Hermione startled a bit, not really expecting the portrait to reply. The rendering of Albus had been sleeping for the most part since its animation at the moment of Albus’ death. The artist had done a wonderful job; he’d even managed to capture the famous twinkle in the professor’s eyes.

“Based on what I’ve gathered,” Albus continued, “I would suggest that you further investigate matters before you act on your assumptions. You have all been witness to events that would at best be considered improbable by most. Before you condemn Mr. Weasley, I believe you should verify your accusations.”

Hermione turned to Moody who was holding a cold compress to the impressive egg on the side of his forehead, “Alastor, did you detect anything off about Ron?”

“No Lass, but there are certain spells an potions that can get past me eye, and others still designed specifically to fool it. It is possible that he was under some kind of influence.” Moody explained.
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Hagrid walked along the edge of the Forbidden Forest on his way back from checking on Grawp, testing the wards as he went along, secretly proud at his ability to maintain them inspite of his unfinished education. About a hundred yards from his cottage he stopped in his tracks. It looked like someone had dropped a body just inside the grounds, parallel to one of the apparation points.

As he approached cautiously; he realized that the pitiable creature was bald and clothed in rags. Crouching down as much as his oversized frame would allow, he nearly tipped over in shock when he realize who was lying there. “Merlin’s balls,” he breathed, scooping up Ron’s prone figure and rushing towards the castle.

He flew across the grounds he was so familiar with barely paying attention to where he was going, racing up the steps and across the entry hall headed for the Hospital wing yelling for help at the top of his lungs. He was met halfway by Harry, Draco and Severus who all stared in shock at the gaunt figure that barely resembled Ron Weasley anymore.

“He’s breathing,” Hagrid started, “but from the looks of that cut on his ‘ead he’s lost a lot of blood.”

Once they got to the Hospital Wing, Hagrid lowered his burden on to one of the beds while everyone gathered round, the silence was thick they all had one thought on their mind, ‘that cannot possibly be the same boy that left here an hour ago.’ They’d been tricked and someone had infiltrated their ranks.

“There’s something written on the front of his shirt,” Draco noticed and they all leant closer to attempt to make out the messy writing which appeared to be blood. “Snake in your pumpkin patch?” Hermione read out loud.

Suddenly all the torches in the wing went out and someone groaned in pain followed by an audible thud. Severus re-lit the torches with a wave of his wand and several people gasped, Harry was curled in a ball on the floor clutching his scar. Ginny knelt beside him and put her hand on his shoulder.

Harry’s head snapped up, his eyes glowing surreally as a voice that wasn’t his own started to pour from his mouth, “How easy it was to slip into the fold. One of those loyal to me walked amongst you, a test. Soon now….. Soon I will be coming for you. Soon I will end this insurrection.”

Harry collapsed unconscious Ginny just managing to catch his head before it hit the stone floor.

Molly cried out, rushing across the room to where Ron was now thrashing on the bed trying to sit up in spite of his still bleeding head wound, and mumbling, "Ardvreck, Ardvreck......" "Shhhh Dear," Molly said brushing her hand over his forehead even though he had no hair to push back, "you're home now my Ron we've got you love"

Poppy, managed to get a calming draught into Ron, with the help of Aurthr and Alastor, while Draco and Severus helped Ginny get Harry settled across the room. Once both boys were sleeping comfortably everyone retreated to Poppy's office where the could keep watch without disturbing their charges.

"He kept mumbling about Ardvreck," Molly started, "There's a castle there, do you think that's where they were holding him?"

"Probably not Ardvreck itself Molly, that castle is open to Muggle tourists year round," Severus began.

"No, I know of several castles in that area that are unplottable and more or less deserted. It's not unheard of for Voldemort to occupy one of these for a period of time before moving on." Lucius added, "Which one is most likely do you think Severus?"

"I have an idea but I'm not sure what its called though I can get us there. I think we can check the area without tripping the Wards if we are carefull. However, I don't think it would be prudent to launch an attack without first acertaining what we are up against." Severus noted.

They all turned when they heard screaming from the other room, Ron was sitting up in his bed, eyes wide open in unseeing terror, "No Stop Please I don't know anything!" He pleaded, clutching the sheet to his chest, tears streaming down his face. "Percy please don't hurt me anymore, I'm your brother. Please.... Arrrrrrrgh!"

He slumped back to the bed as his nightmare concluded. They all looked at each other in disbelief, Molly standing there with her hand over her mouth, in tears at the ultimate betrayal of her son, by her other wayward son. Arthur wrapped his arms around his shaking wife, shooting a meaningful glance at Severus who knodded in return, before leading her from the room.

She'd had quite enough for one night and he meant to give her a dreamless sleep and put her to bed. No mother should have to deal with the revelations that she'd been dealt that evening.
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"Draco, you're being a git! Its just reconnasaince, I'm going full stop!" Hermione argued, getting right up in her boyfriends face for the upteenth time since they'd met as children.

Draco rolled his eyes, looked down at his very pissed off girlfriend, and in a very calm reasonable voice said, "You're mine, and you're pregnant. There's no way in Hell that you are leaving this Castle. You may be a very powerful witch my love but I assure you I can make sure that you do as I say."

"He's right Mione, and I'll help him if necessary," Harry said from across the room where he was getting checked out by Mme. Pomphrey, before they headed out to check the Castles in the area surrounding Ardvreck.

Hermione just stood there gaping in stunned silence at the nerve of her best friend. Ginny however was not speechless, "Harry James Potter, you take that back," she exclaimed cuffing her fiance upside his head.

Harry rubbed his still aching head and glared up at his betrothed, "Ginny, I love you but Draco IS right and I won't take it back. For that matter, you may not be pregnant, but I forbid you to step one foot outside Hogwarts proper either."

Hermione walked across the room and linked arms with Ginny, "come along Ginny, lets leave these Neandrathals to their recon. We'll see how much information they gather with out us." She flipped her growing hair over her sholder and they stormed from the room in a blatent display of female solidarity.

Harry and Draco looked at each other in exasperation, shaking their heads. Poppy gave Harry the go ahead to leave the infirmary but not without voicing her reservations. The two headed down to the main hall to meet up with Lucius, Severus, Blaise, Arthur and Moody. Blaise and Arthur would be staying behind to watch over the women.

At the last minute Ron stumbled into the enormous foyer, puffing with the effort that it took his recovering body to run halfway across the castle. "I.. I'm going with you," he gasped out leaning over and puting his hands on his knees to catch his breath.

Harry grabbed his shoulder and helped get him upright, "Ron, mate I understand why you would want to go. I do really, but you're in no shape for this. We may have to hike for miles because of the wards and the number of castles in that area. I need you to stay here and get better so you can fight beside me when I face Voldemort." Harry explained looking Ron in the eye..
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They apparated to a spot that Severus knew about twenty miles from Ardvreck, that was not likely to be within any ward perimeters that the Death Eaters would have erected. From there they hiked northeast for about an hour testing for wards constantly as they went along. Finally Draco felt a vibration in his wand that was a sure sign of a ward, "Everyone hold. We need to find a way through or around this without tripping it off."

The four men worked in tandem for another forty minutes to find a way through the ward, then followed Severus' lead towards the unnamed castle. They were all paying carefull attention looking out for Death Eaters and they reached the edge of the forest without incident. The castle loomed before them only half intact, and as per their plan Harry threw his invisiblity cloak over himself and Draco as well as casting a disillusionment charm as an extra precaution.

Draco's disembodied voice floated over his Father and Godfather, "If we're not back in forty five minutes......."

"We're coming in after you both and I'll not here another word about it. Your mother would skin us alive if we left you in there!" Lucius stated firmly

The two older men watched the castle in silence praying to Merlin that the boys would get in and out without detection.

Harry and Draco made it across the lawn without incident and entered the castle through the crumbling gates. Halfway across the remains of the main hall they stopped dead nearly running into someone coming out a door leading to a more intact part of the castle. They couldn't believe their luck. Not fifty yards into the castle and they run into none other than Percy. Three silent spells later and they were headed back across the grounds with the unconsious traitor.

Severus and Lucius both grinned at the boys when they realized their good fortune, Severus in a shockingly uncharacteristic display of affection ruffled Harry's hair, "Golden boy indeed."

Lucius clapped his son on the back, "Well done my boy, well done. Lets get back to the castle, I'm sure my future daughter in law as a few more priceless words to bestow upon you. After that, we will teach this weasle what a real interrogation is."

They made their way back to the wards. Portkeying back to Hogwarts as soon as they were safely on the other side.

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A/N: I am soooo sorry that this has taken so long! Bad Jessi No Cookie! I am so near the end and it has taken me a year to get to this point. I appreciate every one who has stuck with me through all of this. I'm thinking one more chapter, an Epilogue and they Finis. Please give me feedback on how you want this to end.