Disclaimer: I do not own these characters or these worlds. I'm just having some fun. Though, as hot as it is today, it feels more like work.

Pre-Story Note: I had some trouble writing this fairy tale. I started it out in a more traditional manner, then I had an idea for a more science-fiction story. So, because I could not make up my mind, I wrote both and here they are. First is the traditional story, and then the more futuristic one, though the basic plots are the same. Let me know what you think.

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BROTHER AND SISTER

VERSION 1

When Ron Weasley was a child, a plague came through the land and took his parents and the oldest of his brothers. Bandits and army conscription took the others in the wake of the devastation, leaving the little boy alone with his baby sister, Ginny.

They were taken in by a neighbor, Mundungus Fletcher, but the man had no care for children. He ignored the little boy and girl for weeks on end. When he was around he beat them on a daily basis, and Ron would often have to put himself between his sister and the man's vicious blows. They were fed nothing but scraps and blamed for the man's hardships.

After Ron turned twelve, he knew they could withstand it no longer. He gathered what few possessions he and Ginny had gotten in their short lives, and took off into the forests that surrounded their shabby house.

Ron and Ginny had always known Fletcher as a peddler and traded in stolen goods, but they had no idea he was a wizard, and when he noticed their departure the man took off after them, seeking to halt their escape.

Ron and Ginny walked for hours until they found a small pool full of cool, clear water. Ginny leaned down to the edge to drink, but Ron heard the song of the birds in the air and pulled her back.

When she argued, he told her, "That water will turn you into a vicious tiger who would devour me. We cannot drink here."

The little girl nodded, and together the brother and sister traveled on.

Hours later, exhausted and thirsty, they saw a well. Ginny rushed forward to draw the bucket as Ron heard the birds singing again,

"No, Ginny, you mustn't drink or you will become--"

But it was too late, and where the little girl had knelt, there now was a gentle fawn. The little girls red hair had becomes the russet tones of the fawn's fur, and her freckles were echoed in the white spots on its coat.

Ron felt the loss of his sister on his heart and he fell to his knees and wept.

"Why could you not wait, Ginny? Now I have lost you."

The fawn came forward and nuzzled Ron's red hair. From the animal's throat came a guttural voice. "I am not dead, Ron. I am just transformed. You have not lost me and we are still together."

Ron embraced the deer, then stood, wiping the tears from his face with the tattered cuff of his shirt. He knew he would have to be strong for his baby sister, but now it was even more important to protect and watch over the little fawn.

Together they traveled onward for days, until they came across an abandoned cottage in the middle of the great woods, ivy covering the roof and creeping in through the windows and doors.

To the two weary travelers, boy and deer, it looked like nothing more than heaven. Ron turned to his sister and said, "This will be our home."

And so it was. Working together, the brother and sister cleared away some of the plants inside the cottage. Ron built a bed, and table and chair, from some fallen branches he gathered in the woods, and they gathered nuts and berries for their meals, along with some small animals for Ron, though never venison.

And so they lived for years, happier than they thought they could be in the years after their parents died when they lived with Fletcher. Ginny grew and became a large and beautiful doe. She could no longer live in the small cottage but instead spent the days wandering the forest, returning to the cabin at night where brother and sister would sleep side by side, sharing warmth.

One day as Ginny was wandering the woods, she heard a distant horn and perked up her ears. Hunters were rare, fearing the monsters spoken of that lived in the heart of the forest, but sometimes the braver and more foolhardy would risk their loves for the chance of a majestic catch.

Hearing the hunting horns come closer, and the sound of baying hounds, Ginny took to her heels, running back to their small cottage. She scratched at the door with her fore-hoof. "My brother, my brother, let me in," she cried in her husky voice.

Ron opened the door and Ginny rushed in, not noticing the watcher hiding in the brush.

A boy, Neville, had come with the hunters, sent to run head with the dogs and frighten prey out of the bushes and he saw a majestic doe run on fleet hooves across the forest floor to a cottage. Being of a curious bent, he followed and saw what he never thought to see, a deer speaking.

Flush with excitement at his discovery the boy rushed back to the senior huntsman, and he in turn brought the story back to the castle and to the ear of Prince Blaise, known for his fascination with marvels.

The prince, half disbelieving but intrigued, agreed to go with the huntsman on his next foray into the woods. This time they left the hounds and horses behind, but brought with them Neville as he was the only on who knew where the cottage was.

Together they found the doe and gently startled her again. On silent feet they followed her as she retuned to the cabin, and as she asked her brother to open the door, the prince's breath caught in his throat. A talking deer, who had heard of such a thing. Neither the prince, the huntsman, or the boy could see the figure in the cottage, and a curiosity rose in the prince's breast.

A few days later the prince returned to the woods alone, leaving his retinue of guards on the outskirts of the forest. He came upon the cottage and moved slowly towards the door. Seeing no one, he scratched at the door much as he had seen the deer so, and, trying to echo the deer, said, "Brother, Brother, let me in."

The door opened slowly, and the prince could not prevent a gasp, nor a small but growing smile at the sight that greeted him.

The boy was a vision, tall, only slightly shorter than the prince, and well-muscled. Gem-bright blue eyes sat in a lovely face, and hair as red as fire capped it all. The boy seemed affected as well. The prince had been told he was good looking before, flattery by the ladies and lads of the realm, but in the red heads stare he truly believed their words of praise for his cocoa colored skin, and the depth of his black eyes.

For the first time in his life, Blaise knelt before another, not even realizing it as is knee hit the ground.

"You-- You are lovely. Pray, what is your name?"

The boy blushed, Blaise could see that much beneath his lowered eyelashes.

"I am Ron, Ron Weasley, but please get up. You are obviously noble, and my house is humble. Please get up."

Blaise took the hand he was offered, rubbing his thumb softly over the warm freckled skin, and stood.

Ron blushed brightly at Blaise did not release his hand.

"Are-- Are you lost, My Lord? I could direct you through the forest?"

Blaise shook his head and smiled. "No, I have found all I sought in this place. You are like a dream I once had that I forgot upon waking with nothing more than a sweet emotion in remembrance."

For the first time Blaise noticed he had not risen from his knee and looked upon it as an omen. He looked up at Ron again and pressed a gentle kiss to his fingers before saying, "Will you marry me?"

Dry leaves rustled and both Ron and Blaise turned to see Ginny standing poised at the edge of the yard. Sha laughed in her rough voice. "You should take him up on it, my brother. How often will a prince propose marriage to a peasant boy?"

Blaise grinned at the doe's words and looked at Ron who echoed the expression before nodding.

His heart filled with joy, Blaise jumped to his feet and wrapped his arms around Ron, kissing him passionately.

Ron insisted that his sister come with him and he explained their circumstances to the prince. Blaise agreed to anything that would make his love happy and together the three of them traveled through the woods and back to Blaise's men who cheered when they saw their lord in the company of such a beautiful youth and the talking doe.

The wedding was a wonder and the entire land was there to witness Blaise's marriage for he was a kind and just ruler, and much beloved. All that saw the ceremony swore that they had never seen two men so happy, their hands entwined under the eyes of the bishop, a kindly old man named Dumbledore.

Some months later Ron grew ill. Blaise and Ginny were worried so they called upon the greatest healer in the country, a man named Severus Snape. Snape examined Ron, then announced to the pacing Blaise that his husband, his Ron, was pregnant.

And there was great rejoicing.

The entire country celebrated again when they learned that their prince, now king, was expecting a child. But far across the land Fletcher learned of the news and his heart was filled with bitterness nd rage. He had succeeded in punishing Ginny with his evil spell, but Ron had escaped unscathed, and now rewarded with his marriage to the rich and powerful king. Fletcher conspired with his cohort, Moody, to take vengeance on Ron for escaping.

Ron's pregnancy proceeded in a normal fashion. Well, as normal as a male pregnancy could, and in a kingdom when no one was really shocked to see a talking deer, it was pretty normal.

Blaise was kept out of the delivery room and he spent those long hours pacing up and down the halls of the castle, Ginny clipping along at his side. When the baby was born the nurse carried him out to Blaise. He had skin like milk chocolate and Ron's bright blue eyes.

Blaise wanted to rush into the room and kiss his beloved husband in gratitude, but the nurses put him off, saying Ron needed time to clean up and rest.

Unfortunately what Blaise didn't know was that the nurse was Fletcher in disguise and as the king held his son in the hallway, Fletcher's assistant Moody had grabbed Ron, still exhausted and pained from the birth and drowned him in the tub that had been put aside for him to bathe.

The king, impatient, began pounding on the door to get in to his husband and Fletcher panicked. He knew he needed time to escape so he used a spell to disguise Moody as Ron and forced the man to take his place in the bed. The only thing they couldn't change was the scar where Moody had lost an eye.

Eventually the king got in and hurried to the bed that held his love, but instead of rushing into his kiss as he always had, Ron was reticent, leaning back against he pillows with his hair hanging over his face. As Blaise reached out to brush it back and press a kiss against Ron's brow, the nurse moved forward.

"My Lord, my Lord, be patient. Hasn't he had enough of that already? You have the proof of your love in your arms, let your husband rest."

The king blushed and moved back, looking at the child in his arms and missing the conspiratorial look that passed between Fletcher and 'Ron.'

At the nurse's urging Blaise left the room, bringing the baby to the nursery they had prepared. According to the nurse that was tending Ron he was very ill and could not leave his bed so Ginny took it upon herself to stay in the nursery and watch over the baby.

That night Blaise slept alone, not knowing that his beloved husband was dead and gone, his body stowed away in a trunk that had been buried in the garden.

And as Ginny stood watch by the crib of her nephew she saw an amazing thing.

The next day she rushed to Blaise and said, "Your Majesty, I have seen something strange and wonderful. We have to talk to Ron."

Together they rushed to Ron's room and found the still-transformed Moody in the red head's bed.

Ginny looked at her brother and said, "Where were you last night?"

Moody kept his head down, red hair covering his face to hide the missing eye. "I was here in my bed. I am weak and need to rest."

Ginny and Blaise took their cue from Ron and left. In the hallway Ginny turned to Blaise and said, "Stand watch with me in the baby's room tonight. I cannot give words to what I have seen."

That night Blaise took up a position in the shadows of the nursery where Ginny indicated. The night passed peacefully until it was a few hours before dawn. Then a soft light began to glow next to the baby's crib and slowly that light became Ron, as sweet and beautiful as ever he had been.

The red head reached down and scratched Ginny between the ears, then lifted the baby boy out of the cradle and held him in his arms. In Ron's face was all of the love Blaise had ever seen him show and there was something deep and despairing in that expression. Ginny made an enquiring noise and Ron turned to her, saying, "I can only come one more night, my sister. Then I will have to lay me down and rest. But some strange magic has given me three nights to say farewell to my baby and you." With one last kiss, Ron laid the baby back down on his blankets and stepped away.

As the sun rose, so did the image of Ron fade away until there was no one in the nursery but Blaise, Ginny, and the crying child.

Blaise stepped out of his hiding place and looked at Ginny, tears in his eyes. "What does he mean? How can he have been in his bedchamber and say he is gone?"

Ginny stood and faced the king. "I asked the false Ron where he was yester night and he said in his room. That is how I knew he was not my brother. Besides, there is something dark and fierce about the imposter that my brother never had."

Blaise thought about the changes in his husband since the birth of their son and he had to agree with Ginny. Though their contact had been limited, still it was not hard to hide that something darker sat in Ron's stead.

That day they tested the false Ron again, asking where he had been the nights past and if he was well enough to rise from bed and all the while Moody demurred, acting as he thought the deceased red head would act.

That night Blaise and Ginny sat vigil in the nursery again, and that night the ghostly red head appeared as he had the two nights previous, taking his son into his arms and bestowing the whole of his heart's love upon the child.

"I'm sorry, my little one. I wanted to stay with you, but I cannot. Magic has given me these three nights to say my good-byes, but now-- oh, now I don't think I can go!"

Blaise emerged from his hiding place behind the drapes and approached Ron. "Why should you have to? You must stay here with me, with us," he said, gesturing to the babe and Ginny.

Ron blushed. "It is not my choice, my husband. Magic has taken my life and given me only this half-life in its place."

Ron laid the baby in his crib, but before he could move away Blaise rushed forward wrapping his arms around him.

"There is no magic more powerful than love, and my love commands that you must stay, lest my heart flee my chest from the pain of your absence."

Blaise could feel his hot tears flow down his face, and as the fell from his cheeks to Ron's the man in his arms felt more solid and more real by the moment.

Blaise closed his eyes tight as sunrise approached, not willing to see his love leave him, but as he felt the heat of the morning light against his back he opened his eyes.

Ron was still there, in his arms, the warmth of his body pressed against Blaise's own.

Now the red head was weeping, tightening his grip on his husband and king and laughing through his tears.

"Oh, my love, I am free. I am alive and returned to you."

Together the two men embraced and wept as they kissed, salt tears mixing.

Ginny nosed in between them, pressing her own kisses on her brother's face. And finally the babe took up the call from his position between them and began to scream, prompting Blaise to lift his son up in his arms and laugh.

Once the fierce emotions of the moment passed Ron was able to explain what had happened to him and together they made a plan.

A group of guards stormed the room in which the false Ron lay, with the real Ron at their back. At the sight of him the magic that had hidden Moody's identity faded, exposing the man and he was taken into custody. Fletcher had run at the first opportunity, leaving his cohort to his fate, but he was captured at the borders and together the criminals were hanged.

At the moment of Fletcher's death he spell upon Ginny was broken and she became a beautiful and graceful young woman.

And they lived happily ever after.

VERSION 2

When Ron Weasley was a child his parents died in a car accident. His two oldest brothers were away at war, leaving their five younger siblings to fend for themselves. The government, being the government, decided that no other home would take five children together, so they were split up. The oldest of the five went to one house, the twins to another, and Ron and his baby sister were taken in by an old family friend named Mundungus Fletcher.

Fletcher worked for the government, and he really had no time for children. He felt obligated to take them in but he was under no further obligation to take care of them.

The older man spent most of his time in his lab working on experimental chemicals and concoctions. There was never much food in the house and Ron and Ginny got by on scraps most of the time. Fletcher was also a big believer in 'spare the rod, spoil the child.' Ron and Ginny were small and as well behaved as young children can be expected to be, but they often received pre-emptive beatings, in case they did something bad in the future.

Ron, as the big brother in their tiny family, took it upon himself to take care of his little sister. Many nights he went without so she could eat, and he often did bad things on purpose so Fletcher's temper would turn on him, thought it went against his spirit to do so.. At night the two siblings curled up together on their narrow bed and Ron would tell Ginny stories of their real family, with mum and dad, and bill, and Charlie, and Percy, and the twins, Fred and George.

Years passed in this fashion, and while Ron's memories their family grew dimmer, Fletcher's beatings increased. He had been given new and difficult projects, dangerous chemicals meant to incapacitate the enemy in either a large swath or individually. The experiments weren't going well and he took his frustration out on the two children in his home leaving them bruised and battered.

After one beating Ron was unable to move for several days and Fletcher made Ginny leave him alone 'to learn his lesson' though Ron had no idea what he'd done wrong in the first place. She snuck him food and water when she could, but most of the time Ron made her leave him alone, hoping she would not receive the same fate.

A week later Ron was mostly recovered when Ginny came to him with a bottle of water she had stolen out of the refrigerator, she had her head down and her long fall of red hair covered her face. When Ron reached out to push it back she winced. Lifting her chin gently Ron saw a livid black bruise around her eyes and gritted his teeth. "We need to get out of this place. We can't stay here any longer."

For the first time in years Ron saw hope in his little sisters eyes and he cursed himself for not doing this sooner. Together the two began to plan.

A few days later when Ron was completely recovered, they waited for Fletcher to leave for his lab, then they bypassed the heavy security system and snuck out of the house.

They got two blocks away before Ron noticed his sister was crying.

"What's wrong, Ginny? You can't miss him?"

"No," she said, "We're free. I barely remember what that means, but it's wonderful."

She threw herself in her brothers arms and he began to cry as well. The sky above them was open and blue, the streets filled with regular people going about their regular lives, and the two red headed teens just stood in the middle of the sidewalk, crying and smiling.

Their first few nights of freedom were spent in a homeless shelter, sharing a narrow cot the way they had at home, not seeing the nuns pitying eyes take in their thin forms, ragged clothes, and fading bruises.

Ginny was still too young to get a job but Ron, at sixteen, hit a growth spurt that helped him pass for older. The brother and sister knew they would have to travel far to get away from Fletcher so Ron took up little odd jobs and they stayed in hostels ors shelters as they traveled.

His first job was in a fast food restaurant. The work was hard and the money as low, but it was more than Ron had ever had before and he and Ginny decided to celebrate by going out to a coffee shop for dinner. Ron didn't think it was very fancy, but Ginny spent most of her time watching television as she was growing up and she thought coffee shops were about the coolest place to be.

What neither red head knew was that Mundungus Fletcher was very eager to get his young charges back. In the early days of his experiments he needed human subjects. The government wouldn't allow it until he proved himself, and the children came along right when he needed them. He kept long journals of the things he subjected them to. The girl was too young for real genetic experimentation, so he had focused on suggestibility and obedience, thinking of the military implications. The boy was his prize. Fletcher had clear ideas of what humanity should be capable of, and he wanted to see if it was possible. If Fletcher had his way Ron would never know what his body was capable of. Even Fletcher didn't know how much of his work had taken hold. But he knew he had to get the children back. If the government found out what he had down with his wards he would be executed no matter how successful he was.

Fletcher knew Ron was the brains behind the escape, since the things he did to make Ginny suggestible had weakened her initiative to almost nil. But he had a plan.

At the coffee shop Ron heard a strange commercial playing over the radio, and nearby two customers were talking about it.

"I hate that commercial," the girl said.

''I know. I think it's trying to make me angry for whatever reason. Why would I want to buy something if I'm angry. It makes no sense,' the other replied.

Ron was much more intelligent than Fletcher gave him credit for and he had seen over the years his bright and impulsive sister become quieter and withdrawn with an unsettling tendency to do what she was told.

"Gin, we have to get out of here," he said as the music of the commercial played.

"Why," she replied.

Ron saw traces of red in the deep brown of her eyes, and the gentle smile she was giving him seemed to harden every moment. "Because, if we stay here you are going to kill me, now come on!" He grabbed her arm and half-dragged her our of the coffee shop and away from the commercial.

When they got outside her eyes cleared and she looked at her brother, a puzzled expression on her face. "Why did we do that? I was ready to order one of those giant coffees with the froth on top."

Ron explained what he thought was happening to Ginny, finishing with, "So I think he was trying to make you angry, maybe even angry enough to kill me."

Ginny looked shocked. "I would never kill you, Ron. You're the only family I have."

Ron saw the sheen of tears in his baby sister's eyes and hugged her. Together they decided to leave the city and move on, hopefully they would be able to get away from the angry commercial.

The news in the following weeks was filled with reports on random attacks in restaurants and coffee shops, though no one made a connection with the commercial, but as much as Fletcher searched he couldn't find the children so he decided to try another route. If he couldn't kill them, at least he could shut them up.

Miles away Ron had found another job, running a small newspaper stand. He didn't own the place, but it felt like he did and he relished the feeling of being his own boss.

Over the past few months they had done everything they could to keep Ginny from hearing the angry commercial and while there had been a few close calls they were successful. It had been a few weeks since Ron heard the commercial and Ginny wanted to try going to a coffee shop again, so after work one day they went.

The coffee shop was just the way Ginny saw in on television and she was thrilled, wandering around the spindly-legged tables, bouncing on the over stuffed couch, the singer even invited her onto the tiny stage in the corner of the room. She was so happy. Ron grinned at his sister as he ordered their drinks, a soda for him and a large cappuccino with foam for Ginny. He even got the barista to decorate the foam with a heart for his sister and he knew he would be thrilled.

On his way to the small booth his sister had finally settled on, the couch having been taken by a group of twenty-somethings already, he overheard a conversation.

"-e's not talking," one voice said.

"No. we were just listening to the radio, something about voice drops, and now he can't talk. It's the strangest thing…"

Remembering what happened at the last coffee shop, Ron looked over to his sister to see her bobbing her head to the music over the coffee shop radio. As the music stopped, the announcer came on and his voice was painfully familiar.

"So remember, if you don't use Fletcher's throat drops, you might as well stop talking."

Ron rushed over to the table and set the drinks down before looking at his sister. Her eyes were slightly glazed and he had to call her name several times before they cleared.

"Ginny, are you okay? Say something."

The red headed girl opened her mouth, but nothing came out. She looked confused, then worried, then upset. Ron reached out and pulled her into a hug. "Don't worry. I'm here and we're together and we are going to be fine."

As Ginny nodded and turned to her coffee, smiling brightly at the foam heart, Ron began to think. If Fletcher had changed his mind, wanting them silent instead of dead, then maybe they were safe.

Together Ron and Ginny kept traveling, until they were two states away. Ron reasoned that it was far enough if Fletcher really had given up, so he decided they could stop. It was hard to build a life from scratch, but Ron was smart and he had his sister to take care of, so he knew he could do it. He found a job working in a small newspaper office. First he was the office gofer, then he moved up surprisingly fast to general spelling and grammar checker, a deadly necessary role in most places where the reporters were more concerned with the story than how it was written. He was able to find a small townhouse that he got pretty cheap. It was a fixer-upper, which meant it was well on its way to falling down. Ron and Ginny worked on it in the evenings and on the week-ends but their days were full, Ron with his job, and Ginny at a school Ron found that would help her learn to function in the world with her disability.

And together they lived in peace for two years, hearing no more of their foster father or any of his conies.

One day a team of census takers was sent by the mayor to tour the poorer part of the city. They wanted to see where state and federal funds could be more effectively used.

One of them, a young man named Neville, happened to spot Ginny leaving the Hogwarts School and he pointed her out to the other member of their team. They watched the girl walk up to a dilapidated townhouse only a block away and tap an intricate pattern on the door, after which it opened.

Thinking it was interesting, Neville and Luna went back to the office and told their co-workers, and they all decided a new program to help the disabled and provide a city watch for their protection and the protection of other citizens would be a good idea, but before they put it into action, the mayor, Blaise Zabini, wanted to meet the girl and her family and see what they thought.

So together Blaise and his team of advisors traveled to the poor section of town and found the small house. Again the girl walked up and tapped on the door and as it opened Blaise thought he saw someone on the other side and he became intrigued. His thoughts were consumed on what sort of family the girl might have that would let her out on her own, teaching her how to take care of herself. He had his assistant find out as much as she could about the owners of the home, but there wasn't much information.

Finally Blaise decided to go for himself. According to their records the girl wouldn't be home for a few hours, but Blaise had memorized the tapping rhythm she had used to open the door previously and now he tried it himself.

From inside the house he heard a gentle voice say, "Ginny? What are you doing home so early?"

As the man inside spoke he seemed to some closer to the door until it finally opened and Blaise's breath caught in his throat.

Before him stood a tall and handsome red head with bright honest eyes and a soft, if confused, smile.

"I'm sorry, who are you?"

For the first time in his life Blaise found himself at a loss for words. He babbled for a moment before stopping, taking a deep breath, and starting again. "I'm sorry. My name is Blaise Zabini and I'm the mayor of this town. And you are?"

The red head offered his hand, which Blaise gratefully accepted. "I'm Ron. But how did you know that knoc--my sister? Is she all right?"

Anxiety filed the blue eyes and Blaise hastened to explain that as far as he knew the girl was fine. Then he proceeded to explain the program he was planning, a citizen's watch in the poor part of town along with funds to support a more effective system of education for disabled students.

Ron's eyes brightened at the idea and he began to suggest improvements and changes that had Blaise's head spinning. His advisors were intelligent, but none of them possessed the same passion for change that Ron showed. Together they talked in the doorway of the townhouse, argued, and discussed as the warm afternoon faded into twilight.

Blaise felt the presence behind him before he saw it, and he turned to face the girl he had been following in the first place. She had the same red hair as Ron, but her beauty was different, gentler that her fiery brother, and Blaise had always preferred fire.

He invited the brother and sister out to dinner and after long speaking looks between the two of them, they accepted.

Thus began Blaise's courtship. It was delicate at first, neither Blaise or Ron had ever dated a man before, and before Blaise the idea of being romantically interested in a man never occurred to Ron as Fletcher told him such things were sins against god.

Still, there was something about the dark-skinned man that made Ron feel safe for the first time in years, as though he wasn't alone anymore, to protect himself and Ginny.

Months passed and Blaise and Ron grew closer until one day Blaise decided he had to have Ron in his life on a permanent basis. He knew the idea of his being in love with a man might be bad for his political career, but he valued his heart and Ron's above that so on the six month anniversary of their meeting, and in the middle of the fanciest restaurant in town with reporters snapping pictures all around them, Blaise proposed.

And Ron, with a fiery blush covering his features, agreed.

It made all of the papers the very next morning, and while some people were outraged at 'such perversion' others thought it was lovely and romantic, a young orphan who had raised his disabled sister engaged to the upstart politician who had improved the quality of life for thousands of disabled or impoverished citizens.

The day the story was featured in the paper was the day Fletcher felt his world begin to collapse around him. By this point it had been over three years since the children ran away and Fletcher thought he would never have to worry about them again, but with them alive and well and Ron on the verge of marrying another man the very darkest of the scientist's secrets were about to come to light. He immediately called on his old associate, a one-eyed man named Moody, and together they created a plan that would rid Fletcher of the threat Ron represented while allowing him to see his greatest experiment come to fruition.

The engagement period was only a few months and before Ron knew it he was reciting his vows before a friendly judge, Ginny at his side and glowing with happiness for her brother as he stared into the dark eyes of the man he loved.

Their wedding night was spent at a fancy hotel before they left on their honeymoon the next day. Ron had been leery of leaving Ginny alone, but Blaise assured him that one of his team, a woman named Luna Lovegood, would be more than willing to take care of the red headed girl. Together the two men took off for a week long trip to a beautiful tropical island that they saw very little of. But, as Ron hastily assured his sister when they came home with no souvenir photographs, the room itself was lovely.

The little family moved into a small but comfortable house and they were very happy for a few weeks. Then Ron got sick. At first they all thought it was just a flu. He was dizzy and tired most of the time, and experiencing frequent bouts of nausea at all hours. But when the symptoms didn't abate, Blaise insisted they go to his family doctor, an older man named Dumbledore who had cared for generations of the Zabini family.

After a fairly straightforward examination the man announced that if Ron were a woman he would be completely healthy and about a month and a half pregnant.

Because, of course, there was no way Ron was pregnant, Blaise found the best doctors he could to determine exactly what was wrong with his husband. But all pf the results came back the same. Ron was perfectly healthy but or some symptoms and eventually an ultrasound revealed that Ron was, in fact, pregnant and judging by the fetus's development it was a honeymoon baby almost two months along.

This discovery led to some awkwardness between the young couple, neither sure how to react to the news. They were happy about the baby, but Ron had no idea how it happened and Blaise wasn't sure what to believe.

Their personal relationship wasn't the only concern, however. As it often goes in these things, the news leaked easily and if there had been a publicity furor over the gay marriage, it was nothing compared to the pregnant man.

Blaise had Dumbledore and his team examine Ron again, now that they knew he was pregnant, to see how it was possible, and the results they found were disturbing. They thought he might be a hermaphrodite at first, though the more uncharitable on the team thought he might be a female-to-male transsexual. In fact Dumbledore found that intense genetic restructuring had been done to Ron, forcing his body to create the structures and hormones that would support life in the baby.

They found other things as well. Ron's growth and physical development had been encouraged, making him larger and stronger than he might have been. His vision and hearing had been improved, along with his intelligence.

All of these things seemed familiar to Dumbledore. He knew there was some crackpot scientist who had promised this was possible, but that was ten years ago or more.

The pregnancy went on normally and Ron and Blaise moved past their anxiety in enthusiasm for the birth of their child. Ginny didn't seem to entirely understand what was happening, but she stayed by her brother's side every day, taking care of him the way she had when they were children, the way he had always taken care of her.

At eight months, three weeks, and four and a half days, Ron's water broke, sending him, Blaise, and most of the people in the house, Blaise having brought in most of his staff to help, into a panic.

Ginny was utterly calm as she signaled Blaise to call for Dumbledore and drafted a few of the staff members to help Ron into bed and get some clean towels. Though everyone was still afraid, there was a joy in their actions now. The baby was on his way.

Throughout the pregnancy Fletcher had been making his way closer to the family. He didn't dare approach them in public. He knew Ron and Ginny would recognize him and when he heard that Dumbledore was tending to the pregnant boy his heart froze in his chest. When he was still working for the University Dumbledore had been the head of the genetic studies department and Fletcher spent hours trying to prove his research was worthwhile and not just some fever dream of playing God. If the older man made the connection, Fletcher was sunk.

A few days before Ron was due, Fletcher created a disguise for Moody in the hope that he could sneak Ron out and examine him without attracting too much attention. Once Fletcher had all of the proof he needed that his experiments were a success they could get Moody out of the situation and dispose of Ron without anyone know the wiser.

The day Ron's water broke, Fletcher was working as a gardener on Blaise's property. When he heard the news he snuck Moody into the birthing room as a nurse. The delivery took hours and Fletcher observed the entire thing on a camera he made Moody wear. When it was over and the baby was born the other nurses brought the child out to see its other father and Fletcher made his move.

Moody drugged Ron and lifted him towards the window where Fletcher was waiting, then took his place on the bed, putting his disguise in order. The only thing Fletcher couldn't hide was the scar where Moody lost an eye, so the man kept his head down and turned away as the nurses returned to the room.

Waving them off with murmurs about soreness and exhaustion, the false Ron cuddled down in the oft bedding and grinned, mentally counting the money he would receive for his work.

In a small shed at the back of the property, Fletcher subdued Ron easily and drugged him into a come. The drug was experimental and Fletcher wasn't sure exactly how it would work on the genetically altered young man, but he expected it would be enough to keep him unconscious for a few days. And a few days is all he needed.

That night Ginny took up her post on a rocking chair next to her nephew's crib. Blaise was disappointed he couldn't spend the night sleeping beside his husband as he had for the past months, but his team of advisors wanted to celebrate so they spent the evening in a bar not too far from the house, toasting to Ron and the baby's good health.

No one was awake when a pale and trembling figure made his way into the house and through the quiet dim rooms.

Ginny was woken by a strange shuffling noise, and when she looked up she saw her brother standing over the baby's crib, brushing his fingers across the soft cheeks. She made an enquiring noise and Ron smiled at her before turning back to his son.

The three of them spent hours in silence before the sun began to rise and Ron visibly weakened. Ginny rushed forward to help him, but he pushed her away, a frightened look on his face.

"No, Gin. You stay here and watch the baby. I-- I have to go." With that the red head left.

Hours later Ginny went to her brother's bedroom to see him asleep, the covers pulled up over his face. She nudged his shoulder but he just grunted.

When there was no further response Ginny returned to the nursery where a well-mussed and completely hungover Blaise joined her.

The Hogwarts school had been very good in teaching Ginny, Ron, and Blaise sign language and now Ginny called on all of her vocabulary to tell Blaise that she thought something was wrong with Ron before recounting he events of the previous night and morning.

Blaise wasn't sure what to believe so he went and checked on his husband, but he found Ron as unresponsive as Ginny had. Unsure of the cause Blaise asked all of the nurses if anything out of the ordinary had happened during the delivery. Apart from Ron's being a man, everything went as per usual and none of them had anything to say so Blaise returned to Ginny with the news that there was no news, but at her prompting he agreed to spend the night in the nursery and see what happened.

Just as the previous night, Ron, looking more haggard and worn than he had before, came staggering into the room after midnight. Blaise bit back a gasp at the sight of his husband. He hadn't gotten a good look at the Ron in the bed, but he knew the other man was healthier than this.

Again Ron took up his place by the baby's crib, pressing kisses and sweet caresses against the soft baby skin of his son. Ginny stood up from the rocking chair and stood next to, but not touching, her brother. He turned to her and smiled, but the smile was weaker than it had been the night before.

"I'm sorry, Ginny. I've made such a mess of things and now poor Blaise and the baby are going to have to do without me."

Ginny shook her head in negation and wrapped her arms around her brother tightly, but as she did so he winced and pulled away and Blaise saw dark red stains seep through the fabric of his husband's shirt.

"Look, I don't know what's going on half the time. It's like I'm in some long nightmare and I-" Ron's voice faded. "I just want it to end. I want it to stop. I think I have the energy to come back one more night, then I can't fight anymore so you have to take care of Blaise and the baby, okay?"

Ginny nodded firmly and Ron pressed a kiss to her forehead, then to the baby's, before leaving the room.

Blaise came out of the closet and followed Ron, but before he could catch up to the red head, he was gone.

Frustrated Blaise returned to the nursery and looked at Ginny. "We have to do something. I don't know what's going on, but I refuse to lose him and I will not let him give up."

Together the man and his sister in law visited 'Ron' in his bed, but again the man refused to look at them or rise. When Ginny signed to him he gave no air of recognition, even looking puzzled at her frantic gestures.

Blaise had all of the security cameras around his home and property turned on, even the ones in the nursery and bedrooms that he usually kept off for privacy's sake and that night he and Ginny sat watch in the nursery for Ron, the real Ron.

In the wee dark hours of the morning the red head appeared again, looking exhausted and worn he seemed to be nothing more than a shadow of his former self. He walked past Blaise and sister as if they weren't there and went directly to the baby's crib, tears making their way past dark circles and shrunken cheeks.

Without acknowledging Blaise or Ginny, Ron began to speak, never looking away from his baby. "I don't know what he did to me. I don't know, but I'm so tired all of the time and I can barely stay awake for these few hours. I can't fall asleep, I can't. if I fall asleep again I may never wake up, but I'm so tired."

Ron's knees began to tremble and Blaise rushed forward, taking most of his husband's now meager weight onto himself. Dimmed blue eyes met dark brown and Ron smiled again, the way he had when they first met, soft and confused.

"How do I deserve you? How do I deserve someone who loves me as much as you do? I'm sorry, Blaise. I'm sorr…"

Ron trailed off as his eyelids began to fall and Blaise panicked, gesturing for Ginny to press the button hidden on the wall. She did and a troupe of guards and doctors rushed the room, taking Ron from Blaise's arms and examining him as the red head slipped into unconsciousness.

Dumbledore led his team to lift Ron onto a stretcher and take it into another room that had been prepared for him while Blaise took his guards in to confront the false Ron.

When they got there they found him standing at the window, one leg over the sill. The guards dragged him back inside and obtained information on where they could fins his partner. While half the team went out to the shed to stop Fletcher before he could get away another team held on to Moody until the police could arrive.

It was a frantic night for everyone involved, finally calming down as the dawn began to lighten the sky.

Blaise made his way to the room they were using for Ron and found Dumbledore standing in the doorway.

"Is he-- Is he okay?"

The old man's eyes twinkled. "He'll be fine. He was drugged but something in his system fought off the chemicals until we were able to get to him. If he had given up we would have lost him, but now I think he will be all right."

Blaise felt tears well up in his eyes at that. They had come so close to losing Ron.

He pushed past Dumbledore and into the bedroom, taking a seat in the chair next to the bed.

Ron was sleeping peacefully. Ginny had moved a small cradle into the room so the baby could rest next to his 'mommy,' and the girl herself was asleep on a daybed in the corner.

Blaise took in the sight of his little family and smiled, finally letting the tears fall. As he felt Ron's fingers caress his cheek, wiping away the salty drop of sorrow he knew they would all live happily ever after.

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Note: So there we have it. I'm not sure what fairy tale I will do next or when. These really depend on inspiration. Also some of them may be girl/girl if I feel that fits the plot better than any of the fellas.

Notes on Bearskin 1: For those who are interested, here are some notes from the original version of this story. The coat the princess wears when she escapes her father is alternately made of a bear's skin or fur from every type of animal in the kingdom, leading the her being called Bearskin or Many Furs by those that find her. The tiny gifts she receives are a spinning wheel, a ring, and a fish hook. But I thought there was something a bit ominous in her slipping a fish hook into the soup so I changed it. Also, in the version I read the princess actually ends up hiding in her father's castle, events proceed apace, and she winds up marrying her dad.So, no judgments or anything, but I decided to change that bit.

Okay, review and tell me which version you preferred, or if you want, why they both sucked, and I'll see you next time.