LEAST LOVED

Disclaimer: I own nothing about Harry Potter and the cover image.

Author's Note/s shall be arranged at every end of the chapters. Thanks!

Previously:

"Git," Harry gritted his teeth.

"I'm a git? Then what are you? Shouting here and there as if you're a tragic hero! You're not the only one who lost love ones! You're not the only one who had it difficult in life!"

"Stop it, Ron!" screamed Hermione as she stood between the two boys who seemed about to punch each other's brains out!

"You screaming you're not lying but you don't want to explain! Why don't you just tell everyone what really happened that night?! What are you scared of? Your ego? And don't give me that shit that no one will listen to you! Daily Prophet isn't the only newspaper in Britain," Ron said his final piece and walked out of the common room. Vaguely he felt that this scene was very familiar, together with the usual headache he's having lately, he felt it was such a déjà vu.

Chapter 11: The Moving Plans

"Hurts…"

Ron stumbled across the hallway. He was holding his head not only because it's throbbing nastily but since memories kept flashing in his head.

Leaving, abandoning, Harry and Hermione in the wilderness… he thought he lost them that night fortunately the Deluminator found Harry by the frozen lake—

The hurt of betrayal in the night Harry's name came up from the Goblet of Fire… no! Harry didn't betray him!

The pitiful young redhead who's left with old and tattered clothes of his brothers and a dress robe from one of his aunt… there's no other choice, they're poor—

Watching his own brother, Fred, died… unable to save him…

His mother missing his presence and greeted Harry immediately instead…

Watching Hermione, again and again, as she danced happily with Viktor Krum… Hermione…

Hermione crying in Harry's arms when he dated Lavender Brown with intentions of only making Hermione jealous…

Watching in terror as Hermione fell down after Antonin Dolohov hit her with a nasty purple spell in the Department of Mysteries…

Hermione… Hermione-and-Harry-horcrux making out in front of him…

"Why return? We were better without you, happier without you, glad of your absence. … We laughed at your stupidity, your cowardice, your presumption…"

"Presumption!"

"Who could look at you, who would ever look at you, beside Harry Potter? What have you ever done, compared with the Chosen One? What are you compared with the Boy Who Lived?"

The gazes of everyone on him, Harry and Hermione, his brothers and sister, his mother and father, even the teachers and other Hogwarts students; they're all mocking him…

"Ronald?"

He thought he heard a small voice. It was mellow and very gentle as if afraid a loud voice would just intensify his pounding head. But the whispers inside him were still on high.

"You're mother confessed that she would have preferred me as a son, would be glad to exchange."

"Who wouldn't prefer Harry Potter, what woman would take you, Ronald? You are nothing, nothing, nothing to him!"

"Least loved, always, by the mother who craved a daughter… least loved, now, by the girl who prefers your friend… second best, always, eternally overshadowed…"

"Ronald, are you alright? Ron!"

Suddenly, a small hand held his shoulder. He didn't know how but even with his uniform and cloak on, somehow, he still felt the coldness coming from her hand. It was comfortable, though, as if trying to cool down his overheating mind.

"L-luna?" he stuttered when he realized who it was.

"What happened to you?" she asked in calm confusion, as if asking for the weather or time.

"I don't know," he scrunched his face since he really didn't know what happened to him earlier. It felt like everything fell against him, suffocating him almost squeezing him off his breath. What was it? Why was it happening again? He wasn't wearing the damn locket nor anyway near it. Why was it affecting him so?

"Are you alright now?" this time though, Luna's voice was laced with worry.

"I-I," he didn't know what to tell her. Should he tell her? Would she believe him? He knew Luna was someone wittier in special ways but should he dare talking to her about it? He felt he needed someone to save… no at least listen to him.

"Are you hearing the Blibbering Humdinger? I've been telling everyone that Hogwarts was infested with them."

"Blibbering? Humdinger?" Ron suddenly had a flash of memory after the Battle of Hogwarts when Luna, to let Harry escape the mad public congratulating him, shouted at everyone that she just saw these Blubbering Somethinger in the Great Hall.

"Yes!" she answered seriously, matter-of-factly. Her face had that 'Now you believe me!' expression.

"Pu—wahahaha! Luna—haah, haaha, you're really the best. Hahaha!"

"…"

"And the Nargles infest the brains, right?"

"No. They infest mistletoes."

"Hahaha!" Ron can't help laughing out more although he knew he'd been discourteous enough. Heaving himself to composure, he told her with still heaving chest, "I'm sorry, Luna. I didn't mean to laugh at your fantastic creatures. You, just seriously, you make the best lines all the time."

"But your jokes are better," she returned earnestly.

"Ugh," he coughed after that sudden attack from the pure girl. "T-thanks."

"Hm, are you better now?" watching Ron closely, she asked again.

"I think so," unknowingly his headache had really disappeared. It's as if that cold hand earlier and her voice sent it all away, leaving only a fluttering feeling after his laughter. He knew he should have really taken it properly up the matron since the headache potion seemed not that effective.

"Are you sure?"

"Yeah, thanks Luna," he tried to smile but instead a grimaced was shown when he remembered his blunder earlier in the common room.

"That's a funny face but you still seem to need some rest," she said good-heartedly.

He sighed before answering. "If you know our first day's classes you'd be as tired as hell, too."

"You're probably right. Everyone's talking about Dracey's neon hair."

"Malfoy? Oh! After the accident in the Potions!"

"You never thought of that, didn't you?"

"W-what? Why me? I didn't do anything," he answered in fluster.

Eyeing Ron questioningly, Luna murmured, "But I didn't say you did anything, Ronald."

"Ugh," and yet another cough escaped him. "Yeah, you're right," he also gave a shallow laugh.

The only reply Luna gave him was straightening up and then rubbing her cold hands while looking around.

"Anyway, why—why are you not wearing shoes?" Ron finally realized that it wasn't because Luna's blood sugar was low thus her hand was clammy but because she's really cold since she's walking around Hogwarts' stone floors without her shoes! Anyway, it was Hermione who used to explain him things about blood sugar and cholesterol due to its affinity to dental issues.

"People take them and hide them, you know. But as it's only the first day, it's no big deal," she answered serenely as if it's normal as the sun rose from east and set in west.

"What? That's—" awful. But pointing it out won't help her since the very person wasn't perturbed at all. "Think of your shoes Luna, imagine it properly in your head."

And so, Ron taught Luna the best way to summon her things back and then the Anti-Theft Charm he learned before returning in time. Back then, he needed to be sure no one can rob him while he's looking around in Knockturn Alley and other alleys. He also remembered one Thief's Curse but decided not to teach her that lest she fell in an accident of her own doing.

"Now, remember this, Luna, if this happens again go and report it to the professors. Don't bother reporting this to Umbitch, her mind is as small as that of frogs, you see. And if they still won't do something about it, tell me and I will give them a good curse."

As Ron was giving her instructions seriously, Luna suddenly giggled while her eyes were shining towards him.

"What?" he asked in complete confusion. He was talking seriously! He's not even joking this time!

"You call the new teacher Umbitch?" she repeated in another fits of giggles.

"Uhm… that's well, she is, you'll see. Anyway, don't be afraid of her. Just do your thing," he said in complete confidence.

"Alright. Thank you, Ronald."

"You can call me, Ron, you know," he told her while smiling at this wonderful girl. He wished to be good friends with her. Of course, with many others, too; Neville, Seamus and Dean, the Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs, but no Slytherins, absolutely none of them at the moment. Maybe after this war he'd try reaching out with them but if he did now he might be stabbed in the back since those snakes' sense of self-preservation was bone deep.

"Then you may call me, Luna."

"I've been calling you that. Sorry, it seems I've been overly familiar."

"It's fine. I feel like I have a friend."

"I am your friend, Luna," he told her sincerely.

"… Thank you, Ron," although she definitely paused there, her stare at Ron was steady albeit a burning one.

The two separated ways since Luna was to return her summoned possessions back in Ravenclaw's tower while Ron was to continue his earlier plan before having a row with Harry and Hermione. He passed the Great Hall where students were now trickling in for dinner.

"Hello to the ever diligent house elves of Hogwarts," Ron greeted the busy elves in the kitchen. He felt good after his talk with Luna so his atmosphere was also bright as he greeted these small beings. In response, they all turned to him with shining and smiling faces. They simply loved being praised.

He continued. "I know you're all busy so I'll be direct, I need the help of your best spy-elf in here," he announced with his conspiring grin towards them.

The house elves looked at each other with excitement but after sometime they all turned to the single elf in one corner which also looked-like the smallest and youngest of them. The said elf gratefully smiled at the rest of the elves and walked forward to Ron.

But Ron wasn't done yet. "And Dobby come along," he called to Dobby before the small elf could greet him.

Dobby happily jogged towards Ron and greeted. "Oh, Master Wheezys. What can Dobby do for you, Sir?"

Ron talked first to Dobby and he explained him the stupid idea of Hermione about SPEW. He told Dobby of Hermione's plot to free the house elves in the castle which will definitely harm the said creatures. He asked Dobby if he could find Hermione when she's alone and explained to her how the house elves magic works.

Ron knew Dobby was one of a kind. He's the lone house elf to ever prefer being free and although it will weaken his elf magic, he didn't care. He didn't even know where the idea of freeing itself actually came from. As far as he knew, it all started when Dobby met Harry back in their second year. Being freed also shortened the life span of the elves due to limited magic. Again Dobby didn't care. But even if he's working as a free elf, the ancient binding magic known to the house elves still worked for Dobby even if he's only under employment instead of slavery. The magic would latch with him and his current employer as long as the elf wanted to work with him.

Dobby agreed happily and popped out, most probably to look for Hermione and discuss the issue at hand. Ron didn't want the Gryffindor common room and the house dormitories to be abandoned by the elves, left dirty and disordered, like his previous fifth year.

"Sorry about that. I don't want you hurt because of my friend's ignorance so I had Dobby started on it as early as possible," Ron told the other elf as he turned to it. "What's your name?"

The elf's eyes were bulging as he looked Ron in highest respect. "This is Tippy, Master Wheezy," he tried calling Ron same as Dobby did.

"Tippy, you don't need to call me master. Call me Ron just like all my friends do."

Tippy smiled happily and accepted excitedly. Ron was thankful that Tippy wasn't as dramatic as the other house elves he's met. So far, the most exciting was still Dobby in his memory.

"So, Tippy, I wonder if you want to help the students here in Hogwarts?"

"Of course, Mas—Sir Wheezys! Tippy will help students in Hogwarts!"

Ron smiled as he overplayed the issue of Umbitch with the elf. How she hurt the student, made them stupid and even usurped the headmaster's position. He wanted the elf to sympathize and then eventually help him further in cleaning the school. He was eyeing the boloney ghost of their history class and the very outdated studies of muggle world. But his priority for now was the toad of a woman in their defense class.

In response, the house elf was scarily mad looking and promised to give the pink tosser hell as the two of them 'pranked' her. And since he's also already there, he simply ordered for his favorite steak and kidney pie and more meat since he needed lots of energy from today.

Early days in Hogwarts were as how Ron remembered them on his first time being a fifth year. All subjects hammered their brains how crucial their OWL year was for their future. Charms, Transfiguration, Care of Magical Creatures, Herbology, Astronomy, plus their subjects on the first day all gave them homework and essay on their first classes! The biggest difference though, this time Ron was separated from Harry and Hermione.

Ron watched how disheveled Hermione became as she continued taking every classes, as if dropping Divination didn't actually made any difference, not at all. Sometimes, he'd see her looking at him but then quickly dropping her eyes as soon as he turned to her.

He missed her, he'd confess. Not because of all the revisions they're receiving for their OWL year, he's actually done them the day he received them; but because, she's Hermione. She should be his. But after coming back in time he knew he erased that future they would have. In return, he's given a second chance to correct things, save people. The problem, though, he's doing a not so great job as of now.

He was clear that he's being affected by the horcrux. The outburst he had the other day was definitely its work. Those thoughts flashed in his mind, yes, but he never looked further on those things. He understood they all had their goodness and flaws. Back in their horcrux hunt, he remembered telling his Harry that that thing made the things in his head worsened. He thought since he killed it the first time, he wouldn't have problems with it this time. But no, the power it has even seemed to have amplified after coming closer with the other horcruxes. He'd definitely separate them especially from Harry and work quicker to get his hand on the closest way of destroying them. The basilisk's venom. The last hurdle though he's yet to know how to dismantle the corpse and get what he needed.

Fortunately, the cleanup of the Room of Requirement has reached the suitable percentage for take-out. And so, according to his plan, he'd start his business deals outside to have a quick liquid dosh to move his plans.

Ron took three shrinkable and bottomless trunks that the dummies found in the piles and transferred the categorized items into them: one for items for resale, another for items for repair, and the last for items he'd put to his vault, mostly cursed items, if no one can cleanse them. The last arrangement was to avoid further harm if ever they stumbled this room again by their seventh year. The rest were banished since they're trash, irreparable and outright junk. Of course, he left all the wands since it would be helpful in the future.

On the next Saturday morning, Ron disguised himself like they did before they broke into Gringotts, sneaked out from the castle to Hogsmeade through the secret passage by the One-Eyed Witch and then disapparated by the very spot. He appeared at an empty street in Knockturn Alley where he arranged his meeting with the sales agent. After his repeated simulation in his head, he stunned the very agent and dragged him by the dingy and shady store in one of Knockturn Alley's corner. The old woman watching over the store wasn't even surprised as if this was usual event in this place. Ron found this infamous rickety store, Moribund's, through his association with Mandungus in his previous timeline. Back then he saw the big vases by the window and looking closely they seemed to have been repaired countless times with magic. Cracks were lightly visible. He soon found out about this store who's network with magical artifacts can be said the best, in the illegal point of view.

He forced the agent for an Unbreakable Vow for proper and fair business between them while the store owner stood as the bonder, and then he turned to that store owner and did the same while the agent stood as the bonder this time. Probably they should have fought but the idea of huge business stopped them. He thought the old woman will kick him out but all she did was laughed at him and surprised him as she made the vow without hesitation. Ron has backup plans anyway in case these two tried to do him in.

He left them all the three trunks. The agent was to find buyers in both magic and muggle world for them, while the store owner was to repair the second trunk, cleanse those possible from the third trunk and then forward the saleable items to the same agent. Before leaving, he advised them of his next return.

His final stop today was at Gringotts. He asked to have his very own goblin-advisor, gave his blood for opening a new international vault under a blank name, and finally wrote his last will. Ron wanted this vault to be opened only with his patriarchal ring and a password enchantment, but the ring couldn't be readily made since it's customized by the goblins. His last will, however, noted of immediately enforceability in case the ring reverted back to the goblins, meaning he died. After arranging all these, he visited his new vault and set his password using a well-known line of the charismatic muggle comics character he read his first life after the Second War. This way, none can think of the possibilities of his password.

However, the real reason he did all these was to chuck a filthy thing here for safekeeping. The damn horcrux-locket. Somehow, he imagined becoming like Voldemort as they both sought this abode for safekeeping of something important. He shivered at the thought, though.

'This should be best, for now,' he thought.

AN: I did ask you guys who would you want to be paired with Ron. Well, I like the character of Luna so I'm giving her the exposure but again I'm still considering Hermione. Later in the story, I wish you'll understand why I don't actually want any pairing in this story.

[javi30], thank you. I actually think I overdid it in the last chapter. I don't want you guys to miss this effect of horcrux to Ron or maybe I simply felt dark that time. XD

[Son of Whitebeard], I really enjoy your one line comments XDD

[notsing], ! You really defended Dumbledore…wait, I'm pm-replying. And honestly, about using magical cores and intent, I'm just too lazy to introduce ideas of new power or whatnot so I turned to the most used in webnovels.

[babydoll9894], honestly I think everyone can be affected with the horcrux since it's the darkest of dark magic, right? There's even an idea that the Dursleys hate Harry due to the horcrux but of course there's still their fear of magic as the root. And Ron being isolated? Hmn, I consider it once but the story turns dark and I don't like it. Haha.

Heh, were you thinking of Peeves instead of an OC-house elf?

Lastly, Dumbledore, there's a lot I want to rant about him but I want to tell for now that I don't hate him because of who he is but because of his choices.

Again, thank you for reading guys! I appreciate your comments and reviews, they point out my mistakes and how different our views are. This makes correction easier, too, especially when I'm flipping the canon too much. See you again soon!