Chapter 41 : Ron vs Dumbledore

"It is indeed a...replica of Salazar Slytherin's locket..." Snape said with his usual stoic look in Dumbledore's office with Harry, Arthur and the others.

 Ron: Well done professor, 100 points for Slytherin.

 Snape: Don't provoke me, Weasley. What did this letter say?

 Ron: Apparently the guy who did it was a death eater who decided to betray Voldeshit so that the Chosen One could take one of his weak points and beat him. (hands over the letter) It is signed "R. A. B".

 Sirius: "R.A.B" ?

 Ron: Does that mean anything to you?

 "Can I see the letter Severus?" Sirius asked him and Snape gave him the piece of paper. The man went silent as he looked at the writing and signature.

 Sirius: Regulus Arcturus Black. These are my brother's initials and it's his handwriting. He was indeed a death eater…

 Ron: Where is he?

 Sirius: Missing. However, it is still possible that the item is in my parents' home. Kreacher our house elf Maybe knows more .

 Ron: Well, we have a lead. Harry and I are coming with you.

 They each took one of Sirius' arms and disappeared into a distortion.

 Dumbledore: Arthur, this is the first time in my life that I have seen someone like Ronald, your son.

 Arthur: I've been trying to get used to being his father for 16 years and counting. Ronald is…special…

 Dumbledore: And again, the word is weak.

 Sirius, Ron and Harry appeared in front of the muggle building where his own family's residence was hidden in a magical dimension inside the building itself that Sirius made appear. They entered and the somber atmosphere greeted them.

 Ron had only been there once but Harry came from time to time to be with his godfather. Sirius called Kreacher and spoke with him while Ron immediately went to the kitchen where he heated the tea using magic before sitting with Harry and talking while drinking.

 Ron: Did you and Snape talk?

 Harry: He showed me his memories and...we talked a lot. My father...he...(sighs)

 Ron: I know, I saw it too, but Harry, what your father was like when he was younger doesn't mean anything. If your mother married him it was because he had become a man who deserved her love. I felt sorry for Snape but after seeing what he did for Voldemort, he has no excuse. Lucius Malfoy is an angel compared to him, you can believe me, he is a repentant and he had a second chance. I can't say the same about his victims.

 Harry: He has done bad things but he has good in him.

 Ron: No, he has your mother's love in him. Listen, Dumbledore and I were attacked by inferi earlier, there were hundreds of them and they were all certainly victims of Voldemort. Ask yourself how many Snape killed directly or indirectly. I'm not judging him, but these people were cruelly killed by them Harry. Neville's parents, my mother's two brothers were killed by them and Snape was on their side. He knew that Sirius was innocent since he and Pettigrew were death eaters.

 "I know..." Harry said thoughtfully.

 Ron: You also know you're a Horcrux, right?

 Harry: Somehow, I always knew that. This connection between him and me, my dreams...it all makes sense now.

 Ron: That's good then.

 Harry: If that means I have to die then I'm ready if it can stop all this. Too many people have suffered because of Voldemort.

 Ron: Very noble of you to think like that Harry but I have a way to extract his soul without killing you.

 Harry: Is that true?

 Ron: Obviously! My man, we are going to undo the link you have with this scum once and for all.

 « YEAH ! » They said at the same time while giving each other a high-five.

 "I have it, I have the necklace. My brother had left it in his cabinet but I knew how to open it. » Sirius said with the necklace in his hand.

 Ron: Uncle Sirius, I can sense dark magic coming from this thing and I'm sure the wearer can definitely be affected by the necklace. Better give it to me if you don't mind.

 Sirius: Sure, take it (throws the necklace). Wait…did you just call me uncle?

 Ron: Sorry! That bothers you ?!

 Sirius: Of course not ahahahah, you're almost Harry's brother and you've helped us so many times. I'm quite honored.

 They headed towards the exit when Ron saw Kreacher cleaning one of the portraits in his corner.

 Ron: Uncle Sirius?

 Sirius: Yes Ronald.

 Ron: How many years has this elf been a slave to this family?!

 Sirius: I wasn't even born yet and he already was.

 Ron: Slavery, I'm not really comfortable with that concept.

 Harry: I agree. Can you free him?! I also did this for Dobby.

 Sirius: I don't mind, I'll just have to hire someone to take care of the house. A simple household spell could do the trick just as well. (To the elf) Kreacher, come.

 Kreacher: Kreacher is there master.

 Sirius: Do you want to be a free elf?

 Kreacher: (spits) It's a shame for an elf to turn his back on his masters.

 Ron: You can just as well serve Sirius and his future offspring without being a slave. That way, you will stay with them but you will have to make an oath.

 Kreacher: Is that possible?

 Ron: Of course.

 Sirius: That's okay. (takes a hat) I, Sirius Black, through this garment give freedom to the elf Kreacher in exchange for his loyalty and goodwill towards my blood and my house.

 Kreacher: Kreacher accepts the garment, Kreacher swears loyalty and benevolence to Mr. Sirius Black as well as his descendants.

 Sirius: Fine, you can stay here if you want. I know this home is close to your heart.

 "Huuuum" The grumpy elf nodded before returning to his business.

 Sirius: It makes me feel good to have done that. Thanks Ronald.

 They returned to Hogwarts where Dumbledore welcomed them and they were relieved to have the real necklace because Ron would finally be able to locate all the other horcruxes and bring them together to destroy everything.

 Dumbledore: Now you can finally get to work, Weasley.

 Ron: Easy professor, I don't work for you but with you. First we need to clear things up about Voldemort and his death eaters.

 Arthur: What do you have to say son?! We are listening to you.

 Lupin: Your help has been and will be great, you have our attention.

 Ron: There was a first war started by Voldemort and his followers, you lived through it and no doubt know how many innocent lives were taken and how many precious friends were taken from this world. I think of Neville's parents, the Potter couple and the Prewett brothers, my maternal uncles. I think about Uncle Sirius's 12 years in Azkaban and the other injustices that took place because the leaders didn't have the courage to root out evil and kill them all. Today, because of this stupidity, Voldemort has returned and all his former followers have gathered again to do more evil. How many innocent people have already been kidnapped or killed? If I am to serve alongside you, I must not repeat the same mistake and eliminate them all once and for all.

 Dumbledore: THERE'S NO WAY WEASLEY! WE DON'T WORK LIKE THAT!

 Ron: Not us, YOU don't work like that professor and I prefer to tell you to your face. You believe you are acting for the greater good but you are just an egoist who follows his own behavior while taking others for pawns.

 Dumbledore: That's not justice, Ronald.

 Ron: And it's up to you to say what is justice or not? Ask the victims of these monsters what justice would be and they will tell you. You're playing fair but where were you when Lilly and James were killed?

 Arthur:…

 Sirius:…

 Lupin:…

 Harry: Where were you professor when my parents were killed?

 Snape: He was right here...in this office...

 Ron: And you dare to want to teach a lesson in justice.

 " THAT'S ENOUGH !" Dumbledore shouted and a magical pressure weighed on everyone.

 "Are you sure you want to go to this field?" Ron said as he did the same and his pressure countered Dumbledore's, it was even significantly greater than him.

 The sky grew dark outside and lightning began to roar, several windows of the school shattered as Ron with his hands in his pockets faced Dumbledore.

 "BOTH OF YOU STOP IT…" McGonagall came and instantly, Ron stopped and Dumbledore followed.

 McGonagall: May I know what's going on here? (looks at Ron) Boy do you think you're grown up enough to face your teachers? You are of immeasurable power but you will face me just as well?

 Ron: I would never dare Professor McGonagall, you know how much I respect you.

 McGonagall: Then why do you want to fight Albus.

 Ron: He started it...

 McGonagall: I DON'T WANT TO KNOW ANYTHING!!

 Ron: Why did you ask?

 McGonagall: WEASLEY!!

 Ron: Sorry professor. Fine, we'll do it his way, but when another crisis comes, I won't be here to sort it out.

 McGonagall: And I certainly won't be in this world anymore.

 Ron: Please don't talk like that, Professor. I'll get to work then.

 Arthur: Ronald…

 "It's okay dad, that was just my take on things. We have a common enemy and time is running out. Don't worry about me…" He said as he left leaving the others.

 A silence reigned before everyone left without saying anything to Dumbledore, Snape stayed and also looked at him for a long time before leaving too.

 McGonagall: Albus...

 Dumbledore: Once again young Weasley leaves us speechless...I am powerless in every way before this child Minerva. I have never seen such a wizard, he is much more honest than the rest of us.

 (later)

 Ron was in the Room of Requirement and sitting on the ground around him, there was a magic circle drawn on the ground as well as some blank sheets of paper and fountain pens floating in the void.

 It was a very advanced divination detection session.

 He began to recite a series of incantations and the candles lit before he went into a trance.

 He had Gaunt's ring in his left hand and the necklace in his right hand, the trance lasted for a while before several images were shown to him in flash and the fountain pens began to make sketches on the leaves or write things.

 He saw a golden Chalice in a Gringotts safe and Bellatrix's face. He then saw a magnificent tiara in a small chest inside a large room filled with all kinds of objects with a certain female face that he recognized, it was Rowena Ravenclaw.

 Another image came to him and it was a large snake near Voldemort. The rest of what he saw was a zoom in on Harry's face at the scar, the locket and also the ring.

 When he stopped, his breathing was heavy, he was sweating profusely with steam coming out of the pores of his skin. He left there to go straight to the prefect's bathroom to clean himself up.

 After taking his bath, he was tired and went to his room to sleep. He woke up hours later to Luna sleeping with her head resting on his chest.

 It had been a long day, they hadn't seen each other for hours but to them it seemed like an eternity.

 In her sleep she felt Ron's movements and was awakened. Luna raised her head and their eyes met again.

 Luna: I missed you, you're exhausted too and I can feel it.

 He kissed her very slowly on the lips and the kiss became more languid and energetic, the caresses followed and the breathing became louder. They were hungry for each other and dinner and served for a very long, passionate night.