Painful Betrayal

Painful Betrayal

By Lizzy/Tygrestick

"Argh, I really hate Divination," complained Ron Weasley, a sixth year student at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

"Yeah," replied his best friend, Harry Potter, "But the sooner we get it done, the sooner we can go visit Hagrid."

"I can't believe this," Ron continued to grumble. The sixth year divination students had been given an especially hard topic today: Write the ways in which the planet alignment today shall influence the rest of you're life.

"It's too bad Hermione is sick in the hospital wing," remarked Harry. "She could help us make some stuff up."

Ron didn't answer. He was staring into space with a strange look on his face- Harry couldn't quite place it. "Ron?" he asked. "Are you alright?" Ron had been acting very strangely recently.

"What? Oh, yeah. Sure. Hey, lets go down to Hagrid's now!"

"Ron, we're not even nearly done, and…" began Harry, but he was cut off as Ron stood up, grabbed Harry by the arm, and propelled him towards the fat lady. "Ron? Let me go! I have to finish this!" Harry's protests fell on deaf ears.

Ron kept walking without saying anything until they got out of the castle. Harry was starting to feel frightened. "Ron? Where are we going?" he asked annoyed. 'This isn't the way to Hagrid's.

It wasn't. They were going in the opposite direction, towards the forest.

"My master will be pleased." said Ron suddenly, startling Harry.

"Your who?"

"My master. He has long waited to kill you."

"You mean Voldemort? Ron, what the hell are you talking…"

He was cut off as Ron, who was much bigger then him, threw him roughly to the ground. Then Ron pushed up his sleeve. On his arm was the dark mark.

"Ron?" whispered Harry, deadly quiet. Ron gave him an evil grin and pressed the mark on his arm. It burned black, and Harry knew he had only a minute before the Death Eaters and Voldemort would apparate into the clearing. He reached inside his robes for his wand, only to find it missing.

He looked up and it was in Ron's hand. He must have taken it on their way to the forest. Harry knew it would be no use to ask for it. And then there were many pops all around him, and the Death Eaters arrived.

"Is the master here yet?" said Ron harshly to Lucius Malfoy.

"Not yet," said Lucius, glancing with delight at Harry. "But he should be very soon. He has been waiting for you to get Potter for a long time, Weasley."

Harry found his voice. "How long have you been…"

Ron cut him off. "A Death Eater? A year. You are so stupid Potter, not to notice it."

"Why?" the Death Eaters burst out laughing at Harry's next question. Harry ignored them.

"Because of you Potter. You always had to have the recognition, didn't you? Famous, great, 'The Boy Who Lived' Harry Potter. And what was I? The faithful sidekick. Well, not anymore! Now me and my true friends will rule the world!"

"You were never my sidekick," glared Harry. "Never. But even if you felt that way, you could have just stopped being my friend. You've ruined your life Ron, and now it's too late for you. I feel sorry for you. But it was your choice. And you're right. I should have guessed you'd be another pathetic Pettigrew, he was your rat after all." Harry was in shock, but he still felt very angry, and sad. His eyes betrayed his sadness as he looked at Ron, but Ron only sneered. "I'm going. I don't need to stay here." Harry got to his feet and prepared to leave the clearing, but just then there was another loud pop, and Voldemort appeared. Harry swore under his breath.

"So, Potter. At last we meet again."

"Yes," Harry gave a fake grin. "Really cheery to see you again. Spiffing, really. But, Tom, I'm afraid I can't stick around. You know, places to go, people to see…."

"Don't call me Tom, boy. Crucio."

Harry was on the ground, screaming as loud as he could, but he couldn't hear it. He could barely breath, his head felt like it was going to spilt, and he was being stabbed by white-hot pain from all directions. And then it was gone, and the Death Eaters were laughing. Ron hardest of all.

"Now, Mr. Potter," said Voldemort, staring at him will a kind of hunger in his eyes. "You have escaped me a countless number of times. But not this time… this time you will die. But again, I will give you a fair chance. We will duel."

Harry glared at Voldemort. "We can't duel. Our wands are brothers, idiot."

"Ah," answered Voldemort, "Really Harry, there is no need for name calling. And who said anything about you having a wand?"

"Oh, some fair duel," Harry scoffed. "What're you trying to prove? That you can kill an unarmed 16-year-old boy? Oh yes, you're a big, bad dark wizard."

"I am not trying to prove anything," answered Voldemort. "I just want you dead. Now, we shall bow." This time, Harry didn't wait for Voldemort to go first. He immediately swept into a large and over exaggerated bow. Voldemort barely inclined his head.

"Crucio!" he shouted, but Harry dodged.

"Missed!" cried Harry happily from his position near a tree.

"Crucio!" cried the dark lord again, but again Harry dodged. "Crucio! Crucio!" Voldemort kept firing spells, and Harry kept dodging. Most of them hit the other Death Eaters, standing in a circle around the duelers. Finally, enough of them were down that Harry was able to run outside the circle and make a break for the trees.

"Kill him!" he heard Voldemort shout, and looking back, he saw Ron raise his wand to yell the killing curse. He ran faster.

"Avada Kedavra!" cried Ron, but Harry was already out of the forest, and too far away for the curse to hit.

Harry ran as fast as he could up to the castle, and slammed the door. Ron wouldn't dare come in- he would know that Harry would tell Dumbledore.

"Right," said Harry to himself, shakily. "Dumbledore's office." As soon as Harry said this, he looked around and there was the guard Gargoyle. Harry didn't bother to wonder how; he just went straight up to it and tried to guess the password. "Erm, Blood Pops." he said to the creature. To his amazement, it stepped aside at his first guess.

He stepped on the moving staircase that would take him to Dumbledore's office. He got to the top and quickly knocked, praying that Dumbledore would be there. He was.

"Ah, Harry, come sit down," Then he noted the look of panic on Harry's face. "What's wrong?"

"Professor…" Harry took a deep breath, "Professor, Ron is a Death Eater. And he took me to the forest, and Voldemort was there, and he's got my wand, and we dueled, only he didn't give me my wand back, and…"

"Harry, calm down," said Dumbledore. "Take a deep breath and tell me what happened.:

Harry did, and when he was done, Dumbledore looked at him sadly "Harry, don't blame it on your self. You must know that it was not your fault."

"But it was, professor! He said it was because I was famous, and he always felt like he was my sidekick… why didn't I notice?" said Harry desperately.

"Harry, when there is evil in one's heart, there is nothing that can be done about it. It is not your fault, and must never think it is."

"But professor…," started Harry.

"No. It is not," said Dumbledore firmly. "Now, I suspect you will want to break the news to Hermione yourself. I shall owl the Weasley's."

"Yes, sir," said Harry miserably. He knew none of the Weasley's would blame him, but he still felt horrible. He got up to go, but then a thought struck him. "Professor, Ron's still got my wand. I need it, it's the only way I can duel against Voldemort…"

"Yes, that is a problem, Mr. Potter. I will summon it. Accio Harry Potter's wand!" he cried. They waited. And finally, he could hear a faint rushing come up the office stairs, and his wand zoomed into his hand again. "Now, Harry," said Dumbledore. "You will want to see Hermione."

"Yes, thank you sir," Said Harry, and he walked down the steps to the hospital wing where Hermione was ill with the wizard flu.

"Where do you think you're going?" said Madame Pomfrey at the door.

"I need to talk to Hermione. Dumbledore gave me permission."

"Humph. Fine. But only 5 minutes!"

Harry walked in to see Hermione sitting up in bed reading "Hogwarts, A History."

"Hermione?" he said hesitantly.

"Harry? What's wrong?" she said, seeing the look on his face,

"Hermione… Ron's a Death Eater."

"What?" she gasped. He told her everything.

"Oh, Harry! How horrible! Oh, Ron, what was his thinking?" Hermione sobbed when he was done.

"It's my fault." said Harry glumly.

Hermione stared at him. "No it's not! Harry, if Ron was going to become evil, there would be nothing you could do to stop it, or start it. It's no ones fault but his!" cried Hermione.

Suddenly, Harry could take it no longer, and he collapsed into her arms,

sobbing. He had not cried since he was 5.