The Family Jewels

Have you seen the latest pictures of Chris Rankin, the actor who plays Percy Weasley in the films? Shoulder length, curly red hair, in a word – HOT!

Chapter 49
Up Above It

Ron had been taken to St. Mungo’s first. Physically, there was not much damage. He was still unconscious; they had no way of knowing if he was still sane. The Cruciatus curse had come from Bellatrix Lestrange. Harry had reported to the Weasley family members that Snape had sent the Killing Curse her way. Mr. and Mrs. Weasley were there, and the twins, Harry supposed that all would be coming through the doors in the coming hours. Bill, Charlie, they would be needed; he knew Ginny was on her way. Percy, he couldn’t say.

It was frightening to see Fred and George without their trademark good humor. Even when angry, their eyes were usually dancing with plans of retribution. Harry spoke to George, who blinked at him owlishly. “Are you two all right?”

“We’re fine. We’re just waiting, along with everyone else. Harry, good one mate,” George held his hand out to Harry, who shook it with great dignity.

Fred also shook hands with Harry. “We’ve got everything under control here, Harry.”

Surprisingly enough, that did appear to be the case. The twins were a tower of strength for everyone waiting for news. They were so adept at reading and communicating with the other with the merest glance, they were able to convey their confidence that Ron was going to wake any second, wondering why he wasn’t being fed yet. Harry himself took comfort from them and moved his weary mind onto other distresses.

Neville. Neville weighed heavily on Harry’s mind. He wasn’t sure if the fact that Bellatrix was now dead would be enough for him, because Harry knew that Neville had wished very much to be the one to kill her himself. She had robbed Neville of his childhood, much as Voldemort had taken Harry’s. Neville had a home with his Grandmother, and she loved him, but she was an austere witch, always finding fault. Mrs. Longbottom had been so affected by the insanity of her son and his wife that she was never really able to see the good and the value in her only grandson. Neville had repressed much of his natural magical ability as a result. Maybe now, Neville would be able to come into his own. Unfortunately, Harry was sure that Neville would view this as another failure on his part. Neville hadn’t been the one to exact payment for his parents, that task had fallen to Professor Snape. ‘Neville hates Snape with a passion,’ thought Harry, ‘he won’t be overjoyed that he is now indebted to him.’

Blaise indeed had two broken legs, as well as damage to several of his internal organs. His parents had come from Italy to be with him, and he was now resting comfortably. Carlo Zabini’s anger had been a sight to behold. It was so calm and calculating that it had chilled Harry to the bone. The vendetta against Lucius Malfoy was by no means ended. Injury against his son demanded satisfaction, and Harry had no doubt that Carlo would have his say in the end.

Blaise and Ron were in the same room for now, it was quite touching when Molly Weasley and Isabella Zabini had hugged and cried over their sons. In their own ways, they were very much the same. Ron and Blaise were each their youngest sons, and they loved their families more than anything.

Draco was with Hermione in her room. She had been under Cruciatus for only a short time; however, Snape had cast it while angry and afraid. The curse had been very strong. Hermione was awake and talking, the Healers knew she would make a full recovery. Harry and Draco had been hurt, but not seriously. Their injuries had already been healed, and Harry was surprised by the anguish Draco had shown over Ron. Draco had taken the liberty of making sure the hospital would be billing the Malfoys for Ron’s treatment.

Ginny walked out of Ron’s room almost in a daze. She wanted to see Hermione and Harry as well. Bill had walked in a few minutes after her, and she felt better leaving her mother with four of her sons.

She spied Harry just up ahead, leaning against the wall outside Hermione’s room. “Harry, love, are you all right?” Ginny asked breathlessly, holding him very tightly.

Harry nodded, then hung his head. “Ron hasn’t regained consciousness,” he said.

“Pansy is distraught, Harry. She really wants to be with him, but she doesn’t have permission from her parents to come to St. Mungo’s. Do you think we could talk to Dumbledore or Snape about it? I know Ron would want her here,” Ginny said.

“We should have Draco ask. He seems to have a way with his godfather,” Harry said with a worried expression. He didn’t want to think about the possibility that Ron would not be coming back to them as he had been before. The Healers had said that the fact that he was still unconscious was a good sign. His magic was fighting the lasting effects of the curse.

They walked down the hall to Hermione’s room. Ginny threw herself at Hermione in a strong hug. “Hey,” Draco said, “Why was I told that you were still healing, but Ginny gets to throw herself at you?”

“Well, Draco, it might have something to do with the fact that you weigh twice what I do,” Ginny said drolly.

Draco looked like he wanted to argue, but Ginny drew up to stand straight in front of him, and he had to admit that she probably spoke the truth. “I can be gentle,” Draco said softly.

“That’s true,” Hermione said. For a minute there, Ginny and Harry began to feel that their presence was a damper on the emotions going back and forth between the other two.

Draco moved forward and enfolded Hermione in a gentle hug. The silence dragged on for quite some time, eventually, though, Ginny felt that she had to fulfill her promise to Pansy Parkinson that she would find a way to get her to St. Mungo’s.

“Draco, Pansy really needs to see Ron, but she doesn’t have permission to leave school. Can you ask Professor Snape if she can come?” Ginny asked.

Draco turned his head to look at her and reluctantly drew back from Hermione. She was desperately worried about Blaise and Ron, and the Healers had to sedate her to keep her in bed. “I’ll go speak to Uncle Sev, if you promise to stay here with Hermione until I get back. She does not have permission to go visit Blaise and Ron.”

He ignored Hermione when she stuck her tongue out at him. “I don’t think you want your friends to know how much I like that tongue, love,” Draco said, causing a blush to cover all of Hermione’s exposed skin.

“You stay here with Hermione, love. I’ll go check on Ron and Blaise. Charlie should be here soon,” Harry said to Ginny, heading out the door behind Draco.

“What about Percy?” Hermione asked Ginny, dreading the answer.

Ginny and the twins had been quite vocal about Percy in recent years, so it was no surprise to Hermione when Ginny snorted and said, “That git. He is not my brother. If he doesn’t come here for Ron, Mum might even give up on him.”

“No,” Hermione said, “Your Mum will never give up on him.”

Tears came unbidden into Ginny’s eyes, “I know you’re right. That’s the part that’s really hard. He keeps breaking her heart all over again.”

Hermione didn’t want to worry about Percy Weasley. She was more interested in worrying about Ronald Bilius Weasley right now. Gryffindor, Quidditch Keeper, Brother, Chess Player, Member of the Golden Trio, Redhead, Boyfriend, Wizard, Son, Friend; however you wanted to define him, he was all that and more. His role in the Trio was not easily labeled, he was easy to forget. Harry was the Hero, Hermione was the Brain, and Ron was…the Third One? For years he had been the emotional outlet, now he was oddly the voice of maturity for his friends. Hermione would never forget the effortless way he had accepted her situation with Draco and Blaise, although Draco had spent years taunting him. As soon as she made her choice, that was enough for him. He was supremely loyal; he would see what his loyalty had now sown.

Draco walked into Severus Snape’s room in St Mungo’s, where he found his mother kissing his godfather. “Hello Mum, hello Uncle Sev, I hope this isn’t a bad time?” he asked with a very Malfoy smirk.

Narcissa Malfoy turned very unembarrassed eyes toward her son, “Hello, darling, is Ron doing any better?”

“Well, actually, his girlfriend would certainly like to be here to help him along. But she doesn’t have permission from her parents or her Head of House to come to St. Mungo’s.” Draco raised his eyebrows expressively at Severus.

“Surely Professor McGonagall would allow one of her students to come here to be with Weasley?” Severus said, not really having paid much attention to him except to take points away in Potions.

“Ron Weasley is dating Pansy Parkinson,” Draco informed him soberly.

“I see,” Severus said. “I should send an owl to the school giving her my permission to come,” he said.

“An owl,” Draco said, looking at his watch.

“Fine,” Severus said impatiently, “I’ll write a note which you can deliver via Floo. Will that be acceptable?”

Draco nodded, holding out a sheet of parchment and a quill. “How did you know that Charlemagne’s sword would kill Voldemort?” Narcissa asked.

“That was actually Hermione’s idea. She knew that Charlemagne’s code bound our family, and that we were the keepers of his sword. It was an oath to the Dark Lord that breached Charlemagne’s magic for the first time in over a thousand years. Charlemagne’s magic is now restored. The Dark Lord is dead.”

Professor Dumbledore strode into Severus’ room then, Pansy Parkinson in tow. “Ah, Severus, Tom is dead, I hear. Miss Parkinson has been most anxious about Ronald Weasley. Although she is in your house, I have taken the liberty of giving her permission to stay at his bedside in the hope that her presence will speed his recovery. I do hope you have no objection.”

“No, Headmaster. Miss Parkinson, he is in the next room, I believe. Draco, please go and introduce her to his family,” Severus said.

Pansy looked like she wanted to drag Draco away so that she could get to Ron as quickly as possible. “I’m coming Pansy. I do hope you know what you’re getting yourself into, they all have red hair, you know,” Draco drawled at her.

“Let’s go, Draco. He needs me,” Pansy spared a small smile for the other occupants of the room before she disappeared to take up her vigil.

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A/N – There is more coming, but I wanted to put a chapter up for you all, you have been so kind. See, there is good in the world.