A Secret Worth Keeping

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor any of the characters from the books or movies. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.


A Secret Worth Keeping

Chapter Forty-Six: Betrayal and Promises

“Hey, baby brother.” Percy grinned as he stepped from the blazing hearth. He threw a heavy satchel onto a chair and dusted the ash off of his fancy jacket. When he was ash free, Percy then looked around the Common Room. “Place looks the same as it did when I was here.”

“Yeah well, it’s only been a couple of years, Perce,” Ron returned grumpily.

“Well, what’s up your bottom baby brother? Seems like you aren’t glad to see me.” Percy plopped down onto a sofa and grinned up at Ron.

“It’s just been a long day.” Ron plopped down beside his brother and crossed his arms across his chest. “Haven’t been getting much sleep lately.”

“No? Why’s that?”

“Hermione’s baby cries a lot. It’s hard to sleep at night with all that racket going on.”

“Her baby’s here?” Percy leaned forward and Ron caught the all too keen interest on his face. “I thought they stayed down in the dungeon with Harry.”

“Normally, yeah, but for some reason they’ve been staying up here instead. I think it’s something to do with Snape. Not sure what though. I don’t think they’re getting along. Not like anyone can get along with that snake.”

Percy chuckled and leaned back into the seat cushion. “I hear that. I remember the detentions he used to give. Not that I got any, mind you, but I have heard some of the rumors that returned with the less fortunate. Tell me, Ron. Is it true?”

“Is what true?” Ron narrowed his eyes and turned to look at his brother, the betrayer.

“Is it true that he has a whole room of sexual torture devices?”

“What?” Ron jumped to his feet and turned to glare down at his elder brother. How deviant could his brother get? “How the hell am I supposed to know that? I don’t go poking my nose into where it’s not supposed to be.”

Percy looked delighted at Ron‘s reaction and leaned back into the cushions. He raised his arms behind his head, posed nonchalantly with his feet straight out and crossed at the ankles. Teasing Ron had always been his favorite past-time. “Well, you have been in detention a lot of late. I just thought that you may be…enjoying… your time in there.”

“Fuck you, Perce. Now just why are you here any way? To torture me yourself?”

Percy laughed and spread out his arms to cover the back of the sofa. “Mum thought that it would be good for us to spend some time together. Seems she thinks that I could be a good influence to you. Get you to see the purpose of a good paying job. I can get you that job once you get out of school. I have a lot of contacts at the Ministry.”

“Bull,” Ron muttered, pacing the floor. “You have as many contacts there as I do. I wouldn’t work for that lot even for a thousand Galleons an hour. The Ministry is warped. Just as you are, Perce.”

Percy stood up to face his brother and glared at him. “I would watch what I say around certain people, Ronald. Some aren’t as forgiving as I am.”

Ron stood toe to toe with his big brother. Percy may have been older, but Ron had the strength between the two. Ron towered over his brother by a good four inches. He crossed his arms across his muscular chest. "You aren’t anything to them, Percy. You are an insignificant little bug in their infestation of our world.”

“Oh, big words, little brother. Is our little Hermione finally rubbing off on you? Or better yet…on you?”

“What is this, Perce? A bit preoccupied about sex aren’t you?” Ron bantered. “First Snape’s supposed sex room now with this little innuendo with Hermione?”

“Hell, Hermione’s a hot little number. I’ll grant you that.” Percy returned. “I even thought of asking her out a few times.”

“She wouldn’t go out with you if you begged.” Ron smirked.

“Of course not. She’s married to our friend Harry. That would make her a tramp.” Percy returned and turned away from Ron to reach for the satchel that he'd thrown on a chair. “Hey, come on. Let's not argue. I brought you something.”

Ron watched as Percy reached into his bag, pulled out a wrapped package the size of a small jewel box and handed it over. Ron took the box a bit hesitantly and gave his brother a suspicious look.

“You never give me anything except at Christmas. What’s the occasion?”

“No occasion, Ronald. It’s just something that I thought you might like. Open it up.”

Ron ran his wand over it a couple of times to determine if there was a spell or something on it.

“Hell, Ron. What do you think it is? A bomb? Just open the damned thing.”

Ron turned the box over a few time before he opened it, not noticing that his brother took a few steps back. Immediately, he was doused with a fine white mist and the next thing he knew, he was out like a light.

“Sorry about this baby brother,” Percy looked down with regret at Ronald as he snored deeply. “But this is something that I can’t stop. Not if I want to live.”

Percy picked up Ron and sat him down on the sofa, laying him out as if he'd fallen asleep there, then turned to face the stairs leading up to the rooms. He would have to do this quickly. Get in and get out before anyone knew what he was up to. The baby had to be up there, probably close to Ron’s room since he claimed that the baby cried a lot. He cast a look back at Ron and sighed. After tonight everything would change. Everyone would see how he had been working towards a stronger tomorrow.

From the fireplace, two brown eyes watched the exchange between brothers before disappearing silently and reappearing before the waiting three upstairs.

Percy silently made his way up the steep staircase, listening for any signs of a baby. Soon, just as he approached his old head room, he heard it. A light sniffling of an infant. It sounded like it was coming just from his right. Quietly, he turned the knob and opened the door a small bit so he could look inside. Hermione was sitting in a rocker just to the side of a well decorated crib and Harry sat across from her. Both were sleeping. Hermione’s head had fallen forwards while Harry’s tilted back to rest against the back of the chair. Both were snoring rather loudly. No wonder they couldn’t hear the sniffling coming from the crib.

Carefully, Percy tip-toed forward and looked into the emerald green eyes of the baby. A tug at his heart caused him to hesitate before picking him up. Immediately, the baby stopped crying and captured a tuft of his red hair in his little hand. He cast a quick glance around the room at the two sleeping occupants and felt a huge sensation of guilt and sadness. He hated doing this to Hermione and Harry but the baby’s sacrifice had to be done to help the masses. Once the baby had done his part in the ceremony, then nothing would stop the forward development of the Pure-Blooded Society. There were going to be a lot of people hurt by this, including Hermione and Harry, as they weren‘t full-blooded. The pain would be bad but after a while, everyone would see that he'd done the right thing. There was no telling how long the pain would hurt, but the sacrifice had to be made. No one really understood what the Dark Lord was trying to do. No one but him. He was the soul confidant of Voldemort now. He understood what must be done. Everyone would come to see that in the future, Voldemort had guaranteed it.

He tip-toed back to the door. He was nearly there when he misjudged a step and jostled a basket sitting on a chair. It tipped and nearly fell over. He quickly reached out with one hand and stabilized it, but not before it made a loud rasping sound. He cast a glance back to see Hermione rousing herself. He groaned loudly as his eyes met a disbelieving Hermione’s.

“HARRY!”

Percy didn’t wait another moment but barreled out of the room at full tilt, heading down the stairs, his feet barely touching ground. He could hear commotions coming from behind closed doors as he raced into the common room. He cast his eyes to his still sleeping brother but didn’t stop until he was down the stairs and out of the castle. Good luck had him out of the gate where he could Apparate freely. He looked down at the baby still in his arms, its eyes wide with surprise. He did look a lot like Hermione.

Percy cast another last look at his old school. “Sorry about all of this, but it can’t be helped.” He spoke softly as he nosily Apparated away.

~0~

“Is he okay?” Harry rushed over as Hermione took the real Sebastian out of the old wicker basket and sighed with relief. The sleeping spell was still in use and the baby was still out cold.

“He’s fine. Still sleeping,” Hermione replied while tucking him back into the now empty crib.

The door opened and Snape entered, walking quickly over to his son and looking down at the tiny baby. “Everything went as planned?”

“Yes, Nanny got here well before Percy did and did what she was told. She hid Sebastian then took the potion.”

“Can you locate them?” Harry asked.

“Lets see.” Severus returned and pulled out several maps. Wizarding maps. Whatever one was looking for, all they had to do was hang a silver mirrored pendant over the paper. The pendant acted similar to a scrying mirror. The mirror would reflect where their prey was at, then it would identify the location and expand onto the map. Their exact location would be pinpointed by a twirling vortex.

As the three leaned over the parchment, they watched, fascinated, as the map formed. Each held their breath as the marked prey was finally located.

~0~

“How are you feeling?”

“Tired…and hungry.”

“I have a basket here. Take a seat and let me see what the House Elves packed.”

“Any sardines?”

“Uh, maybe. How about some crackers and,” he took a sniff, “some paste stuff.”

“That’s pâté‘. Probably a salmon. Smells like it.”

“Well, it’s not sardines but it’s fish. Want some?”

“Sure. Are there any pickles you can put on it?”

“Uh, well. Sure. Here.”

“Thanks.”

“How long are these cravings supposed to last?” Ron leaned back to watch her eat. A big grin on his face.

“No idea. I hope its over soon. I hate pickles.”

“I guess the baby wants it.”

Pansy shook her head and moved to stretch out beside Ron, leaning her head on his shoulder. A pickle and salmon pâté cracker in her hand.

“Want a bite?”

Ron grimaced as he shook his head. “Gods, no. And don’t plan on me kissing you with that breath.”

Pansy giggled and popped the cracker in her mouth, chewing slowly. “It’s better than it sounds.”

“I’ll just take your word for it.”

“How did it go with your brother earlier?”

“Well. Hermione, Harry and Snape are mapping their journey.”

“I’m glad that Snape was able to revive you.”

“Me too. I’d hate to have missed our meeting.”

Pansy turned into Ron’s arms and sighed deeply. “So, you are you going to go with them?”

“I have too, Pansy. Nanny’s risking her life to pull this off and the others need my help.”

“I wish I could be there with you.” Pansy sniffed softly and buried her nose in Ron’s neck. Calmly, Ron touched her chin and turned her to face him. Softly, he kissed her lips.

“I’m not risking you or the baby. I want you two safe for when I come back.”

“You will come back, right?”

“Nothing will keep me away. I…” Ron took a deep breath and sat up, pulling Pansy up with him. “I love you, Pansy, And when this is all over, I want to claim the baby as mine and marry you. If you will have a poor man as a husband.”

Pansy’s eyes filled with tears as she threw her arms around his neck. “With you in my life, we will never be poor. Yes, I will marry you, Ron. So you had better come back to us.”

Ron took Pansy into his arms and laid her down onto the soft rug. They didn’t have long tonight. Soon he would be summoned and, after tonight, it was more than likely things would change. He leaned over Pansy and she arched into his clever hands. If tomorrow never came at least he would have tonight to remember with his last breath.

An hour later, as the two lay sated in each other’s arms, a disembodied voice spoke from everywhere in the room.

“It is time.”