Part: 1/?
Author: Cugami
Pair: Ron / Draco
Rating: PG (for this chapter) R (at a later date)
Summary: It is a time of change, of strife and sorrow. Ron loses everything. Draco realizes he has nothing.
Disclaimers: All characters from Harry Potter aren't mine, though I wish.
Note: "Borrowed Heaven" is inspired from the album title of The Corrs. I was just watching TV when the bloody words showed up on screen and it stuck in my abused brain for days before I relented and started writing.
Timeline Sixth Year, onwards. I'm aware that Book 6 is being written and would likely be out before I finish this fic series. I have no plans of rushing so, might as well treat this fic as AU, branching out from where book 5 left off.
The pacing will be slow because I want to watch Ron grow up.
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The older students hardly look up anymore. The Hall's magic eventually became part of a student's life that its sensitivity to the castle's general populace was taken for granted. Nonetheless, out of habit, Ron's eyes gave a quick swoop of the ceiling upon entering the hall. What he saw made him stop short which had Harry and Hermione collide one after another on his back. The ceiling looked normal. Without its illusions, the hall felt empty to Ron. Not even an illusion of swirling clouds filled with stars to reflect the night sky outside.
"Something wrong?" Came Harry's concerned voice.
"Not sure but" Ron just pointed at the ceiling's emptiness.
"Well it's not like tonight's anything special. Supper and back to our commons." Hermione grabbed the hands of her two friends and dragged both to their table.
"It just seemed odd. That's all." Ron frowned, shoving a mouthful as soon as he was seated.
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Odd was odd. Ron gave himself a pat on the back as his observations were right this time. And they said he was paranoid. Though, he would have loved it more if he were wrong. The emotionless ceiling was, indeed, an indication that something had happened.
It all began just before the puddings were removed from their tables. McGonaggall, in all her stiff glory, stood up and announced for everyone to remain seated after the tables were cleared. Nothing much to worry about, or so they would all like to believe. It was just going to be a short announcement and they would all return to their towers, dungeons, wherever they were off to after supper.
Unfortunately, Ronald Weasley was not born to be a lucky man.
"Due to events that the staff has no control of, there will be changes in Hogwarts. Do listen carefully. All first, second, third and fourth years would be escorted by Professor Snape. He will inform and instruct you on your way."
She gave a curt nod to the Potions Master, who stood up and gave the hall a sweeping glance to do as instructed. His reputation did the rest as the students began to fall in line and pile out of the Great Hall without so much a fuss.
McGonaggall had always been firm despite the circumstances of massive panic through all these years and it gave Ron comfort that there were strong people around him. Now, if only he knew what was going on, then he could start panicking properly. The wait was making him itch. As soon as the double doors of the Great Hall had closed, McGonaggall finally spoke.
"I regret to inform you that we have entered a period of war. You-Know-Who's appearance the previous year is no old news. However, no one had expected a large scale war thus crippling the wizarding community's defenses when You-Know-Who and the Death Eaters made their move at a staggering number and stealth."
"You all have had ample training and education in Hogwarts. At this point, it is expected that you can apply the knowledge you've gained from your lectures. You know your basics and they are more than enough to keep you alive in times of emergencies."
She stopped when hands rose in question. Shaking her head, she made a gesture for the pupils to wait, "Questions will be entertained later."
"Let this be clear, you are not required to fight this war but the option is open."
The professor had long left the podium, leaving the students to digest her words. Silence governed the Great Hall and the dome had settled into a murky, swirling, sky. Not one student could find the voice to speak despite the apparent doubtful expression on each of their faces. Too many unspoken questions lingered in the air, yet no one dared ask.
The sound of wood scratching wood broke the silence, startling majority of the students. Dumbledore stepped up to the podium and addressed them without the usual flicker of mirth in his eyes. With hands clasped behind his back, he began, "Owls had been sent to your respective families concerning the situation of Hogwarts. Areas have fallen and the number grows as I speak. It came to my knowledge that the Daily Prophet was among the first to fall thus explaining a few things. The Daily Prophet had been under the management of the Death Eaters for over a month by now and all the news we have received thru the paper up until today, were filtered and false."
Dumbledore raised a hand to hush the sudden murmurings before he continued, "As is the case, Hogwarts is still safe in its isolation from the chained areas that the Death Eaters had taken over. Nonetheless, from this day forward, all the gates of this castle are heavily warded and locked."
He stole a glance at the Gryffindor table, particularly at the silent group of three, "Be reminded that the dementors are no longer under the employ of the Ministry of Magic. All the rules, namely the curfew, will be strictly implemented."
His eyes shifted and addressed the whole hall once again, "the Ministry of Magic had offered to send in Aurors to guard Hogwarts, which I declined."
Hermione pursed her lips, looking at her two best friends who were still listening to Dumbledore. Declining the Ministry of Magic meant that Dumbledore wanted to handle this on his own, which also meant breaching the very thin line of trust between the officials and Dumbledore.
The gasps caught Hermione by surprise and she leaned over to Ron, "PsstRon, what did he say?"
Ron turned to Hermione, looking quite pale, and whispered, "There are Death Eaters within this hall"
Dumbledore's voice rang above all the collective whispers after a while, "Further instructions will be given to you individually so please leave this hall one at a time as your names are called. As for the rest of you, please stay seated."
"Harry" Ron tugged on his friend's sleeves.
"Huh?"
"Did you know anything about this?"
"No" Harry's brows met as he touched his scar, "I know I should sense it when Voldemort makes his move but I had nothing all this time. At least we're sure that he isn't inside the castle."
Ron flinched at the mention of the name, "But what is going on? How come we didn't"
"Ronald Weasley."
Ron looked up at Professor McGonaggall and she gestured at the door that it was his turn. He looked at his friends for some reassurance and they gave him a nod. Though a nod could not solve anything, it was something he needed to see.
In the meantime, he was told to head straight for the library and Madam Pince would explain the rest. He wanted to wait for his best friends but Filch would not have it.
When Ron pushed open the library door, he didn't know what to expect. He did hope to find people he knew and kept his fingers crossed. Indeed, he saw familiar faces; faces that belonged across the Gryffindor table.
It was yet another reminder that Ronald Weasley was not born to be a lucky man.
He chose the farthest table and chair from the group of Slytherins, idly wondering if he did something wrong to end up with the forsaken house. He waited and kept waiting for Hermione or Harry. His best friends never came.
As the time ticked, Ron grew bored. Other students walked in but they came few and far in between. Nonetheless, Ron was glad enough to have other houses included. He and the Ravenclaw whose names he had yet to find out already ran out of things to wonder out loud about. How long they had been talking about chess, Ron didn't bother to time. He did find out that the couple of Ravenclaws he sat with were chess enthusiasts.
Finally, Madam Pince entered the library and stood by the doorway, leaving the door open which had been closed all this time. She looked around as if to mentally check attendance.
"Before anything else, those who do not want to be involved in the war may step out of this room. You will be escorted to the safest place in this castle."
She waited but no one left their seats.
"You've been handpicked by your heads of houses, thus your presence here but, you can leave if you wish. This is a period of chaos and I will not be dealing with immaturity in this library. Though the decision is yours to commit, I suggest you make it now. There are about a thousand students in Hogwarts and we are trying to organize everyone where they will be safe and be at their top form to contribute any way possible. Time is not in our hands to stretch and play with. Stay or leave to the safety of where the children are."
"But, we don't even know why we're here."
"Choosing to be uninvolved also meant knowing little. I will state the plans for this group after you've decided."
The Slytherin group discussed amongst themselves, and from the looks of things, some of them were arguing the case. The Hufflepuff side didn't look reassured but each wore a determined expression to stay put. The Ravenclaw side sat in silence, quite settled and Ron assumed they just didn't want to 'know little' because of the frown from the boy he was talking with earlier.
Ron raised his hand, "Where's Harry? Hermione?"
"Safe, Mr. Weasley."
"Why aren't they here?"
"Because they're better off at the front line, duh," One of the Slytherin snorted.
Ron decided he really did not like to be with those Slytherin people. At the risk of having them talk behind his back or worse, plot against his best friends when he could have done something about it, he opted to stay --- even if he was the only Gryffindor.
Before Ron could retaliate, Madam Pince tapped her heel to remind them of her presence. "Five more seconds and then I'll close this door."
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It was past midnight when Ron returned to the Gryffindor tower. He tiptoed his way up the stairs and into the room, hoping he wouldn't wake anyone up. Unfortunately, none of his mates were sleeping when he came in.
"Man, where have you been?!" Seamus exclaimed as soon as Ron had stepped inside.
"We thought you became a Death Eater or something." Dean helpfully supplied the reason for the relief in their eyes when Ron showed up.
Ron scowled at all of them, "Over my dead body."
He was tired but he had fun, almost. He had played every student inside the library and that was the most trying series of chess games he had played.
"Well? Where were you?" Harry tilted his head, watching Ron crawl in the bed across his.
"Library. Playing chess." Ron yawned and snuggled inside his duvet. Then, he sat up all of a sudden, remembering something, "Where have YOU all been?"
"We stayed at the hall all throughout. I think we were about a hundred and a half, could be more. Hermione got called out, too."
"Yeah? Where'd she go?"
Harry shrugged, "She was telling me all about it earlier but it blurred when she started mentioning lesson plans."
Dean and Seamus snickered.
"How about Neville?"
"With us."
"See why we thought you became a Death Eater?" Neville nodded his head at Ron.
Ron made a face at Neville. Then he turned to Harry, "Ginny?"
"Right there with us, also."
"What, exactly, would you all be doing?"
At this, the jokes being tossed about between Seamus, Dean and Neville came to a stop. None of the boys answered Ron, however. Instead, they waited for Harry to do the honor.
"Fight."
Ron's heart skipped a beat, thinking about his only sister, "Fight?"
It didn't need further explanations.
"Ron?"
"Yeah?"
"What were you doing in the library?"
Quietly, Ron replied, "Playing chess."
He looked at his friends' faces, waiting for any reaction but they didn't give away anything for Ron to know they understood what he had implied. His eyes met Harry's and there was the comprehension he had been looking for.
Ron lay awake that night, thinking to himself. The war was real and the pieces were set. There was nothing left to say or do but play the game.
The following day, breakfast was held at the Great Hall as usual but the vast dining hall was almost empty. More than half of the whole student body were nowhere in sight. Of the remaining few that belonged to the Fifth, Sixth and Seventh years, their number had been reduced also.
Not many returned to their quarters that previous night. Something happened between the Great Hall and their towers but Hermione said the professors refused to say where the others went. Ron had a wild guess but he refused to welcome the thought that the other students who didn't make it were killed by the professors.
Soon enough, Ron found himself walking back to the library. They had announced that breakfast would be served in a different chamber, smaller than the Great Hall. The hall would be used for something else in the following days.
Many had changed overnight. Classes were suspended until further notice. Students from First to Fourth years were all missing but were said to be safe. And the change that had affected Ron most was his separation from his friends. Harry, Neville, Dean, Seamus and his sister were together. Hermione was in a different team and he only saw her this breakfast, but she had to leave early.
The library doors had always been left open but starting today, it would be closed. No book would leave Madam Pince's domain without her permission.
"Him."
Ron blinked when he saw a Slytherin pointing at him. He closed the door and walked to the other boy, feeling his innate anger to any Slytherin begin to boil. "What do you want?"
"Great. We'd all be dead before we know it."
He really wasn't born to be a lucky man. Hearing the drawling voice made Ron seethe. "What are you doing here?"
"I don't see Potter or Granger around, Weasley. Got lost?"
"I don't see your goons, Ferret. Who's going to stop me from hurting you?" Ron was aware there were eight other Slytherins around, though. But, at the moment, he could care less about them.
"Blind, aren't we?" Draco Malfoy smirked.
"You will be." Ron took a step forward and Draco Malfoy instinctively took a step back. Ron smirked.
A Ravenclaw boy from seventh year grabbed Ron's shoulder before he could take another step. "Come on, Ron. There's work to be done."
Ron's glare never left the blond but he finally pried his eyes away and shot the Slytherins a look, before turning away to follow the Ravenclaw. The Slytherins followed suit, grumbling, sighing and muttering but took their seats in one of the long tables.
"For the sake of the newcomer," the Ravenclaw looked at Draco Malfoy, "here's a recap. Every committee, team or group, needs a leader. We're all strategists, as of yesterday and are expected to be capable of wit, accurate senses, reflex and good intuition. To reduce the bias of houses in voting for a leader, we've decided to settle it with a game of speed chess --- which Ronald Weasley won fair and square."
Ron's ears turned a slight shade of pink when all eyes bore down on him.
"Like I said earlier, we'd all be dead before we know it." Malfoy crossed his arms, glaring at the redhead. Of everyone, he was the only person who wasn't seated. He walked to Ron's chair and eyed the redhead, continuing, "Besides, how do you all know he's competent? He could have won by sheer luck. Also, it's hard to spot an illegal move when you're playing speed chess."
"How dare you accuse me of cheating," Ron hissed.
"15-5 was the score, Mr. Malfoy," Madam Pince left her office and heard enough to know an upcoming argument. She walked to the table, her face growing dim in annoyance, "If you cannot work with these twenty --- handpicked by their heads of houses --- people, the door is very wide."
Ron stood up from his chair and grabbed Malfoy's arm, "Allow me to show him out."
"Let go of me, you filthy mudblood-lover," Malfoy pushed Ron while attempting to yank his arm free. He was sent to the ground by a fist instead.
Madam Pince rubbed her temples. She could already imagine what the next few days would be like.
End part I.
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Speed Chess -
The game only lasts 10 minutes, so each player has only five minutes to make all his moves. That boils down to an average of about seven seconds per move in a typical game of 40 moves. That includes the time it takes to ponder the board, move the piece, and punch the time clock.