chapter 33 : Progress

Two months and 22 days later, the door to the Room of Requirement opened and a very light dark mist came out from there.

 Inside, the room was dilapidated and seemed to have a terrible smell.

 Ron hadn't had a bath in over two months, he had cleaned himself with magic and hadn't responded to any letters from Luna or visited the others like he had promised his mother.

 He walked out of the room with a blank stare and dark circles under his eyes as he heard whispers trying to invade his mind like they had for a while now.

 He raised his arm and sniffed her scent before teleporting to the prefect's bathroom where he took a long bath.

 When he finished, he disappeared only to reappear in his Gryffindor room where he got dressed before disappearing again to go who knew where.

 He needed a secluded, peaceful and very pleasant place to become himself again, he needed to sleep and not just a little.

 When his little week-long retreat was over, Ron first returned to his family.

 When he walked through the door of the mansion, the others looked at him with quite a surprise and Molly came to hug him.

 "I missed you mom…" he said with great sadness as Molly trembled as she listened to her son's heartbreaking words.

 Molly: What happened? Where were you ?

 Ron: Where are everyone else? I 'll tell you…

 Molly: Luna and the rest of your little gang are in the darkroom. They've been practicing there every day for hours. Ronald, you were right about this room, it's really amazing!

 Ron: Did you and the order learn of the fate I left you?

 "We learned it son, if your explanations hadn't been so simple then we never would have made it. Manifesting a patronus without incantations or a wand to combine it with a protego is…brilliant. I don't know how you came up with the idea but now thanks to you none of us will be vulnerable anymore. » Arthur said as he proudly placed his hand on his son's shoulder.

 They talked about several things, the activities of the store and the death eaters who have been particularly active in recent months.

 After a while the others came out of the dark room and when they saw Ron then they rushed to greet him except Luna and Cedric who just watched.

 Nymphadora was particularly happy to see him as if she was eager to tell him about her progress and for the others, they had a certain maturity in their looks, they had experienced countless battles.

 After greeting them, he spoke with Diggory for a bit before coming in front of Luna.

 Luna: Hello Ronald…

 Ron: I broke my promise.

 Luna: It doesn't matter, you were busy with more important things. You are here now.

 "Come, I have to tell you all what I had to do, you have the right to know..." he said and they walked in as Luna held his hand. He sat everyone down and started talking to them.

 (A few minutes after…)

 "Ronald…" Molly said sadly.

 Moody: Where the hell did you find Ekrizdis' writings?! You even have scrolls of Herpo the Infamous, the man who created the basilisks!!!

 Ron: I won't tell you. You don't need to worry, having deep knowledge in dark magic does not make me a dark mage. For security reasons, I couldn't tell you what the purpose of all this is in case there is a traitor among us or someone who gets caught.

 Lupin: He's right.

 "Okay, I'm exhausted, I'm going to my room to get some sleep..." He got up to go upstairs and Luna went upstairs with him.

 Without either of them saying anything, they slept together and in the same bed, a way of saying to the other "I missed you." ".

 The next day, Ron was in the darkroom with Luna to see her progress and he was pleasantly surprised to see her manage 7 death eaters all by herself, the young girl knew how to use her environment well and could be very creative in trapping them .

 Ron was proud of that and wondered how much battle she had fought in over two months here.

 Everyone had become really strong but the surprise came from Neville whose potential definitely exploded and he was even more talented than Harry in battle because of its ferocity.

 Ginny was also strategic and formidable just like Hermione but where he was frightened was by the demonstrations of Fred and George who knew how to use their malice and their creativity in a battle.

 They could confuse multiple enemies with illusion spells, disillusionment spells, or enchant items with spells of their own creation.

 Usually, they put their genius at the service of laughter or jokes but this time, they used it in combat through dint of experience and they had the best teamwork.

 As for the adults, they were very satisfied with the passive defense spell that Ron had left, especially Moody who must have recognized all of Ron's genius.

 Reading his instructions, he realized that in addition to being a powerful wizard at this age, the young man of almost 16 was also an excellent teacher thanks to the simplicity of the written instructions.

 As he and Luna walked out of the dark room, they heard a noise inside.

 The couple walked in to see Dumbledore chatting with the others and they saw each other.

 Ron: Professor...

 Dumbledore: I received your letter Weasley, I don't know how your cat knew where I was but it did its job successfully.

 Ron: Lucius is a friend with very astonishing abilities. The preparation for the project is a success so before we tackle it, we'll have to confirm your hypothesis.

 Lupin: Can you explain to us?

 Dumbledore: Later Remus...

 Ron: Yes, later Remus...

 Lupine: RONALD!!

 Ron: Now you know what it's like to be left out, right?

 Lupine: IT WAS ALMOST THREE YEARS AGO!

 Ron: I don't care. (Looks at Harry) Old one, we have to go with Professor Dumbledore somewhere and it's very important.

 Harry: Uh okay.

 Dumbledore: We won't take time Harry, I promise you. Now, each of you take one of my arms.

 Harry held on to Dumbledore's left arm while Ron just grabbed the old man's shoulder, he winked at Luna before Dumbledore apparated with them.

 They reappeared in the village of Budleigh Babberton where Dumbledore led them to a fairly large residence.

 Ron: Is this where your friend lives?

 Dumbledore: That's where he's hiding...

 Harry: Which friend, professor ?

 "You'll see..." Dumbledore replied before entering with them behind and immediately, they saw the house completely ransacked as if there had been a fierce battle inside.

 They all immediately activated their wands to better illuminate the place.

 "Horace..." Dumbledore murmured his friend's name several times and walked silently like Ron and Harry. Ron didn't have the patience to look for anything so...

 "Revelio" he pronounced the spell he saw everything that happened before he saw him, the armchair at the back of the room.

 Ron: Mr. Slughorn, you have nothing to fear so although your transformation into this chair is very successful, it will not be very practical if we want to chat with you.

 Dumbledore moved closer to the chair and lightly jabbed the tip of his wand on him.

 « By Merlin's beard ! There's no point disfiguring me Albus! » Horace Slughorn said as he stood up as his transfiguration wore off.

 Dumbledore: I must admit that you make a very convincing armchair, Horace.

 Slughorn: It's all in the tapestry, the padding is natural to it. I don't know who this kid is (looks at Ron in the darkness) but he's smart.

 Dumbledore: Ah yes introductions, Harry and Ronald I present to you an old friend and also a former colleague, Horace Slughorn. (Points to Harry) Horace, you know who he is...

 Horace: Harry Potter (laughs) and that other kid, your face is just as famous as your friend's. Ronald Weasley, right? The best in all areas at Hogwarts but also the youngest Quidditch world champion.

 Ron: I see I'm famous. Professor Dumbledore said that you were the best potions professor Hogwarts had. I would have loved to learn from you, too bad you retired.

 Horace: Actually I-(interrupted)

 Dumbledore: Why this staging Horace?!

 Ron ignored their discussion and waved his wand lightly so that all the objects returned to their places and the magic brought them to life so that the whole house became tidy again before the impressed eyes of Slughorn, Ron apparently knew advanced utility spells and could use them without incantations. He then looked at the few photos that were there and saw Slughorn in all the photos with his students.

 "Look Harry, there's your mother" he showed him one of the photos and Harry moved closer to look at it. He wanted to say something but Ron beat him to it.

 Ron: Professor Dumbledore, your friend seems fine, we should go away and stop bothering him.

 Dumbledore: Oh yes, you're right Ronald. We have a lot to do, I need to find another teacher to fight the dark arts. Snape could have done the trick but he already teaches potions.

 Harry: Professor Slughorn, thank you for teaching my mother and remembering her. See you…

 Horace: You...Are you leaving already?!!!!

 Dumbledore: Yes my old friend, I was worried about you but you seem fine. For the moment, we need to complete the number of teachers and this will not be an easy task...

 Horace: Albus, I might consider taking the position to teach potions to these tw-*ahem*...the precious students at the school. I was happy to teach their parents so why not them.

 Dumbledore: I thought you didn't want it anymore, however, given the number of times you refused the offer. I will find a teacher just as unique as these two, you would have done the trick but I don't want to ruin your old days my old friend.

 Horace: But I accept Albus, it would make me very happy but I want a raise and Professor Merrythought's office, not the storage room I had.

 They walked out of there with a satisfied Dumbledore.

 Dumbledore: That was well done, Ronald.

 Ron: It was rather easy, his greed to possess students who will become exceptional mages is visible. He looked at us like collectible jewelry.

 Dumbledore: Does this bother you, my young friend?

 Ron: I don't care.

 Harry: I'm not sure I understand...

 Dumbledore: You and Ronald are talented, famous and powerful, very powerful even if we focus on Ronald. And Horace appreciates that, he will try to have you in his club and you will be the jewel of his collection. That's why he's coming back to Hogwarts and it's vital that he comes back. (looks at Ron) Ronald?

 Ron: It's okay. Harry, let's go home.

 Dumbledore disappeared and the two of them were left.

 "I'm going to teach you and the others how to Apparate before school starts" he placed his hand on Harry's shoulder.

 Harry: Back to school is pretty close, it's going to be complicated. It seems that it is very complicated to learn and even more difficult to master.

 "Even with me as a teacher? (sighs) why do I feel like Dumbledore is prostituting us...?" He said and Harry looked at him strangely but Ron immediately teleported them to the manor.