Latrunculus--Part 19

Ron eyed the monstrous prison. It always made him want to shudder, even when he wasn't inside its walls. He straightened his robes and headed to the main gates.

“State your name and business,” a guard ordered when he noticed Ron's approach.

“Auror Ronald Weasley.” He showed the guard his badge. “I'm here to question the prisoner Draco Malfoy.”

“Malfoy? He's to be Kissed in a few hours. What do you want with him now?”

“Auror business.”

The guard grumbled under his breath but Ron did not catch the words. “Will you need an escort, Auror Weasley?”

“No, I can find my way.”

“Very well. Please check back here when you have concluded your business.”

“I will.” Ron nodded to the other guards as he made his way into Azkaban.

* * * * *

Seamus Finnigan grumbled as a loud knocking echoed throughout his flat. He wearily looked at his clock, which informed him it was just after five o'clock in the morning. “Someone had better be dying.”

Two arms wrapped around his waist, attempting to pull him back to bed. Lavender pressed a kiss to his shoulder. “Maybe if you will ignore them, they will go away.”

Another set of knocks refuted her theory.

“I'd best see who it is, love.” He reluctantly pulled her arms away from him. Behind him, Lavender sighed and rolled over.

He quickly threw on a pair of pants and was still trying to put on a shirt when he reached the door. He glanced through the peephole. He was shocked at the identity of his visitors. He threw the door open before Hermione could knock again.

“Bloodly hell, it's five o'clock in the morning, Hermione. This had better be important.”

“Hermione Granger?” Lavender called from the bedroom. A moment later she appeared dressed in a modest dressing gown. “And Harry Potter? What's going on?”

“I think I know where Ron is,” Hermione said.

“Great,” Seamus said around a yawn. “Owl Shacklebolt. He'll be relieved once he's done being angry.”

“We think Ron's in trouble,” Harry explained. “We need your help.”

“We need an Auror,” Hermione added.

Seamus felt dread building in his stomach. So much for his lie-in with Lavender. “What kind of trouble do you think he's in?”

“This doesn't go beyond us,” Hermione said, looking pointedly at Lavender.

“I can keep a secret,” the other woman huffed as she sat on a sofa.

“She will,” Seamus vouched. “Let's get it out. What is Ron up to?”

“There may be a cure for Malfoy's curse,” Hermione began, “and we're afraid that he is going to use it.”

* * * * *

Draco Malfoy looked like hell.

His pale blond hair was matted in places and was filthly. His eyes were sunken in. The visible bones of his wrist and hands above the metal cuffs of his chains further attested to his poor nutrition.

'Good,' Ron thought as he surveyed the prisoner. 'He should suffer. Suffer that and more.'

Malfoy lifted his head and eyed his visitor. “Ah, Weasel,” he rasped. “One last visit before the Dementors.”

Ron knelt until he was eye-level with the other man. “Well, you only have a few hours left, Malfoy. Wanted to see if you were ready to give us the cure for the spell you used on Hermione.”

Malfoy laughed. “You are truly stupid. I've told you: there is no cure for your precious Mudblood. I made sure of that before I used it. She's a Muggle like she should be.”

“Ah, but there's where you're wrong, Ferret. There is a cure.” Ron grinned as fear grew in Malfoy's eyes. “See the Dark wizard who created the curse also created a counter-curse. He wanted to be sure there was some way to counteract such powerful magic.”

“You're lying.”

Ron opened his pack and began setting out his supplies. “The counter-curse isn't in English so it took some time for it to be found. Luckily, some of Hermione's friends found it.”

“What kind of friends can a Mudblood have?”

“More than you have at the moment, Malfoy,” Ron said evenly. He dipped his wand into a vial of dark, thick liquid that looked like dried blood. He then moved his wand toward Malfoy's face.

“What are you doing!” Malfoy demanded, jerking his head back.

Ron fisted his hand in Malfoy's hair, using the pain to hold the other man still. “I'm performing the counter-curse. I'm going to rob you of your Magic just like you robbed Hermione of hers.” He drew a symbol on Malfoy's forehead. “It may also take other things like your life or your sanity. The manuscripts weren't exactly clear on that.”

“You can't do this!”

Ron opened the prisoner's shirt, baring his thin chest. Methodically Ron drew the required symbol over Malfoy's heart. “You're going to be Kissed regardless of what I do. At least you can make amends for what you have done.”

“They'll throw you in here for what you are doing!”

“Maybe. If they ever find out.” Ron stepped back to study the symbols. Satisfied, he pulled out his notes to review the incantation one more time. “I'm willing to take that chance.”

* * * * *

“Why, yes, Auror Weasley just went to see the prisoner. Stated that he had Auror business before the prisoner is to be Kissed.”

Seamus nodded. “Thank you. We'll go catch up with him.”

“But, sir, the civilians.” The guard looked pointedly at Harry and Hermione. “They're not allowed.”

“Surely you're aware of the prisoner's crimes against Ms. Granger and her family.” The guard nodded. “The Aurors are allowing her to view the Dementor's Kiss so she can be assured that justice has been done.”

“This is most irregular,” the guard grumbled.

“We live in strange times, mate,” Seamus agreed. Harry and Hermione quickly followed Seamus into the prison before the guard could change his mind.

* * * * *

“It's time,” Ron announced, interrupting Malfoy's latest outburst. The prisoner's cries for help and screaming curses had been ignored. For the other guards, he was just another person being broken by Azkaban.

The Auror put away his notes. He raised his wand to begin the incantation but stopped when there was a commotion outside the cell. Malfoy began calling for help. Ron quickly cast a silencing spell. As his voice faded into nothing, Malfoy thrashed harder against his chains.

Ron assumed a professional air. But it quickly faded as Hermione entered the cell. “What are you doing here?”

“I could ask the same of you,” Hermione replied. She gestured for Harry and Seamus to stay outside. The other Auror glared at Ron but closed the cell door.

Hermione glanced at Malfoy. He was still screaming despite his voice. He did not look like he had been hit with the counter-curse. She was glad, though it for Ron's sake.

“Ron, please, don't do this.”

“You can have your magic back! You can be a witch again!” He turned and glared at Malfoy. “And he needs to pay for what he did to you and your family.”

She touched his arm, bringing his attention back to her. “He will, Ron. He's going to be Kissed.” She trailed her hand down his arm to his hand. She squeezed it. “That is enough for me.”

“But your magic, Hermione,” Ron protested.

“I'd rather have you than my magic, Ron.” She glanced at their joined hands. “I can live without magic. I don't want to live without you.”

“Hermione.” His voice broke on her her name. “Are you sure?”

She nodded. “I'm sure.”

“Okay.” He moved toward the door but she stopped him with a tug of their hands. “What?”

“Take the spell off of him, Ron.”

For a moment he looked like he was going to argue. Then he pulled out his wand. A quick Scourgify removed the marks from Malfoy's forehead and chest.

“And the other one, too.”

With a sigh, he reversed the silencing spell. Malfoy immediately began cursing them and pulling at his chains. However, he cowered back when Ron advanced with his wand.

“Enjoy your Kiss, Malfoy.”

With that, he and Hermione left the cell and left Malfoy to his fate.

To be continued


Part XIX Ron eyed the monstrous prison. It always made him want to shudder, even when he wasn't inside its walls. He straightened his robes and headed to the main gates. “State your name and business,” a guard ordered when he noticed Ron's approach. “Auror Ronald Weasley.” He showed the guard his badge. “I'm here to question the prisoner Draco Malfoy.” “Malfoy? He's to be Kissed in a few hours. What do you want with him now?” “Auror business.” The guard grumbled under his breath but Ron did not catch the words. “Will you need an escort, Auror Weasley?” “No, I can find my way.” “Very well. Please check back here when you have concluded your business.” “I will.” Ron nodded to the other guards as he made his way into Azkaban. * * * * * Seamus Finnigan grumbled as a loud knocking echoed throughout his flat. He wearily looked at his clock, which informed him it was just after five o'clock in the morning. “Someone had better be dying.” Two arms wrapped around his waist, attempting to pull him back to bed. Lavender pressed a kiss to his shoulder. “Maybe if you will ignore them, they will go away.” Another set of knocks refuted her theory. “I'd best see who it is, love.” He reluctantly pulled her arms away from him. Behind him, Lavender sighed and rolled over. He quickly threw on a pair of pants and was still trying to put on a shirt when he reached the door. He glanced through the peephole. He was shocked at the identity of his visitors. He threw the door open before Hermione could knock again. “Bloodly hell, it's five o'clock in the morning, Hermione. This had better be important.” “Hermione Granger?” Lavender called from the bedroom. A moment later she appeared dressed in a modest dressing gown. “And Harry Potter? What's going on?” “I think I know where Ron is,” Hermione said. “Great,” Seamus said around a yawn. “Owl Shacklebolt. He'll be relieved once he's done being angry.” “We think Ron's in trouble,” Harry explained. “We need your help.” “We need an Auror,” Hermione added. Seamus felt dread building in his stomach. So much for his lie-in with Lavender. “What kind of trouble do you think he's in?” “This doesn't go beyond us,” Hermione said, looking pointedly at Lavender. “I can keep a secret,” the other woman huffed as she sat on a sofa. “She will,” Seamus vouched. “Let's get it out. What is Ron up to?” “There may be a cure for Malfoy's curse,” Hermione began, “and we're afraid that he is going to use it.” * * * * * Draco Malfoy looked like hell. His pale blond hair was matted in places and was filthly. His eyes were sunken in. The visible bones of his wrist and hands above the metal cuffs of his chains further attested to his poor nutrition. 'Good,' Ron thought as he surveyed the prisoner. 'He should suffer. Suffer that and more.' Malfoy lifted his head and eyed his visitor. “Ah, Weasel,” he rasped. “One last visit before the Dementors.” Ron knelt until he was eye-level with the other man. “Well, you only have a few hours left, Malfoy. Wanted to see if you were ready to give us the cure for the spell you used on Hermione.” Malfoy laughed. “You are truly stupid. I've told you: there is no cure for your precious Mudblood. I made sure of that before I used it. She's a Muggle like she should be.” “Ah, but there's where you're wrong, Ferret. There is a cure.” Ron grinned as fear grew in Malfoy's eyes. “See the Dark wizard who created the curse also created a counter-curse. He wanted to be sure there was some way to counteract such powerful magic.” “You're lying.” Ron opened his pack and began setting out his supplies. “The counter-curse isn't in English so it took some time for it to be found. Luckily, some of Hermione's friends found it.” “What kind of friends can a Mudblood have?” “More than you have at the moment, Malfoy,” Ron said evenly. He dipped his wand into a vial of dark, thick liquid that looked like dried blood. He then moved his wand toward Malfoy's face. “What are you doing!” Malfoy demanded, jerking his head back. Ron fisted his hand in Malfoy's hair, using the pain to hold the other man still. “I'm performing the counter-curse. I'm going to rob you of your Magic just like you robbed Hermione of hers.” He drew a symbol on Malfoy's forehead. “It may also take other things like your life or your sanity. The manuscripts weren't exactly clear on that.” “You can't do this!” Ron opened the prisoner's shirt, baring his thin chest. Methodically Ron drew the required symbol over Malfoy's heart. “You're going to be Kissed regardless of what I do. At least you can make amends for what you have done.” “They'll throw you in here for what you are doing!” “Maybe. If they ever find out.” Ron stepped back to study the symbols. Satisfied, he pulled out his notes to review the incantation one more time. “I'm willing to take that chance.” * * * * * “Why, yes, Auror Weasley just went to see the prisoner. Stated that he had Auror business before the prisoner is to be Kissed.” Seamus nodded. “Thank you. We'll go catch up with him.” “But, sir, the civilians.” The guard looked pointedly at Harry and Hermione. “They're not allowed.” “Surely you're aware of the prisoner's crimes against Ms. Granger and her family.” The guard nodded. “The Aurors are allowing her to view the Dementor's Kiss so she can be assured that justice has been done.” “This is most irregular,” the guard grumbled. “We live in strange times, mate,” Seamus agreed. Harry and Hermione quickly followed Seamus into the prison before the guard could change his mind. * * * * * “It's time,” Ron announced, interrupting Malfoy's latest outburst. The prisoner's cries for help and screaming curses had been ignored. For the other guards, he was just another person being broken by Azkaban. The Auror put away his notes. He raised his wand to begin the incantation but stopped when there was a commotion outside the cell. Malfoy began calling for help. Ron quickly cast a silencing spell. As his voice faded into nothing, Malfoy thrashed harder against his chains. Ron assumed a professional air. But it quickly faded as Hermione entered the cell. “What are you doing here?” “I could ask the same of you,” Hermione replied. She gestured for Harry and Seamus to stay outside. The other Auror glared at Ron but closed the cell door. Hermione glanced at Malfoy. He was still screaming despite his voice. He did not look like he had been hit with the counter-curse. She was glad, though it for Ron's sake. “Ron, please, don't do this.” “You can have your magic back! You can be a witch again!” He turned and glared at Malfoy. “And he needs to pay for what he did to you and your family.” She touched his arm, bringing his attention back to her. “He will, Ron. He's going to be Kissed.” She trailed her hand down his arm to his hand. She squeezed it. “That is enough for me.” “But your magic, Hermione,” Ron protested. “I'd rather have you than my magic, Ron.” She glanced at their joined hands. “I can live without magic. I don't want to live without you.” “Hermione.” His voice broke on her her name. “Are you sure?” She nodded. “I'm sure.” “Okay.” He moved toward the door but she stopped him with a tug of their hands. “What?” “Take the spell off of him, Ron.” For a moment he looked like he was going to argue. Then he pulled out his wand. A quick Scourgify removed the marks from Malfoy's forehead and chest. “And the other one, too.” With a sigh, he reversed the silencing spell. Malfoy immediately began cursing them and pulling at his chains. However, he cowered back when Ron advanced with his wand. “Enjoy your Kiss, Malfoy.” With that, he and Hermione left the cell and left Malfoy to his fate. To be continued


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