chapter 38 : A Sweet Christmas

***I suggest you listen to the music [The lost soul down X Lost Soul ] for a better immersion in the atmosphere In this chapter ***

The following days were very busy for Ron with training others in the Room of Requirement, including those of his little gang where he began to teach them the dash move and the defense spell combined with the patronus .

 He had also set up the meeting and reception room of the Slughorn club and had also sent letters of invitation with masks anonymously to certain students he considered remarkable from the fourth year onwards.

 He had also teleported to their family's mall to see how things were going and the profits were monstrous.

 The potion recipes he left with his mother allowed them to create new products that caused a sensation.

 The anti-baldness potion which allowed certain mages to regain their beautiful hair style, the healing potion and the bliss potion which allowed anyone to have excellent sleep where they could dream of what they wanted.

 They were expensive but sold very well.

 Weasley products were already selling across the UK, the gallery was thriving and the family fortune was growing at a frightening rate.

 It was Christmas morning, Ron and the others were in Grawp and Hagrid's cave where he brought them some presents to Hagrid's tears, touched by their gesture.

 Neville and Ginny got to know Grawp under the assistance of Harry and Hermione, everything went relatively well. A little apart and sitting together, Ron and Luna gave each other their gifts.

 "Merry Christmas Ron…" Luna said taking two bracelets out of her pocket, they were braided with their hair red for Luna and light blonde for Ron.

 "I had completely forgotten about this bracelet thing. Thank you darling, I love mine. I have something for you too..." He took two rings out of a pouch and carried one.

 Luna: A ring...I thought we were going to do that after we graduated from school.

 Ron: They're not wedding rings yet, wear your ring and you'll see.

 She did as he said and as soon as she put the ring on, she started to feel things.

 Luna: This feeling is like last time...

 Ron: I enchanted these rings myself and what you feel is just a glimpse of what I feel thanks to a slight empathy spell. But that's not all…

 ~I love you~ a voice echoed softly in his head.

 Luna: I heard a voice...

 Ron: It's me, I just concentrated on conveying my thoughts to you and you can also do the same with me thanks to the ring, no matter the distance.

 Luna: Ron...

 Ron: Now close your eyes and try to think about me.

 She did so but immediately she saw something and it was her own face with her eyes closed, it was actually Ron's vision that she was sharing.

 Ron: This is the final enchantment on the ring. I can teleport my dear but I can't go to a place that I don't know or can't visualize, if one day...if one day we are far from each other and you need me...then -(interrupted)

 Luna: I want to go back to bed...(breathe) at your house at the mansion...(breathe)

 Ron: Are you sure?

 Luna: I need it right now. Not you ?

 He took her hand and they disappeared from there without saying anything to the others. Once in the bedroom, they started kissing and got into bed where they started undressing each other before the kisses and caresses increased further.

 This time, they made love for the very first time. They were young but who cared between the two? It was never just them in the world whenever they were together.

 (I'm not going to write a sex scene with them, it's already way too much at their age even if like me, many started much younger than them.

 Ron will be 16 in January and Luna will be 15 in February, physically they were much more developed than in the films but they were still young. I'm sorry for creating this kind of romance if it bothers some people.)

 Later after some rest they returned to Hogwarts as there would be the evening Christmas reception organized by Professor Slughorn for the club, the others had not seen Ron and Luna all day but as president from the club, Ron must have been there to welcome the guests.

 The furnished room was rich in luxurious renaissance type decoration, a large buffet was in a corner with some students engaged as waiters, instruments were in a corner of the room and played music by enchantment and many other things were also there to entertain guests and select club members.

 Among the guests, there were Dumbledore, McGonagall as well as other professors but also famous personalities who were former students of Slughorn and who had been part of his club.

 Several approached Ron to talk to him and he even received advances from older witches but he only had one girl on his mind and she was his obsession now, the rest he didn't care.

 Ron as president did not have a mask because everyone had to recognize him, his face was famous, very famous and made a perfect advertisement of the excellence of the club.

 He was chatting with McGonagall about things concerning Gryffindor house when his eyes met Luna's in the distance and they smiled at each other before returning to their activities.

 The evening went wonderfully and there were even duels in a place prepared so that the students could show the extent of their abilities and several duels took place with Harry, Luna and Hermione who easily crushed their opponents.

 Of course, the audience demanded a demonstration from the club president and Ron agreed on the condition of facing adult wizards.

 Several nominated themselves to have the honor of giving the famous Ronald Weasley advice but at the end of the duels, the crowd was just silent.

 Ron had beaten every adult who had faced him in one shot every time and among them were two famous and very experienced auroras.

 Everyone was fascinated by him but many were also frightened by the young man and wondered who he will be in the next twenty years.

 The curious came to ask him a lot of questions, they had heard that he had created a resurrection spell and he did not deny anything.

 What could they do to him?

 At one point, Filch interrupted the mood by walking in with Draco, grabbing him by the back of the neck.

 Malfoy: Take your old hands off me...

 Filch: Professor Slughorn, I just found this boy lurking near the entrance, he said he was invited by you but he has no invitation on him.

 Malfoy wanted to speak but Ron did so before him.

 Ron: He's telling the truth! I myself invited Draco verbally, it's my fault he doesn't have an invitation with him. (looks at Draco) I am sincerely sorry for the treatment you received. You can leave him alone, Mr. Filch.

 Malfoy looked at him strangely and suspiciously, as did Snape before Ron took Draco by the shoulder and led him aside to talk.

 Draco: Why are you covering for me? Do you think I'll forget what you did to my family?

 Ron: What did I do?! Your family made itself an enemy of mine, it was you who kept getting in our way and annoying us since the first year, it was your father who wanted to kill my little sister with Voldemort's diary to bring his master back to life, it was again him who wanted to kill Harry and the others with Bellatrix at the ministry, he was there when Voldemort killed Cedric thanks to Pettigrew and also wanted to kill Harry. Your aunt Bellatrix's husband was killed by his own spell and your lord is coming after you because you failed but I'm the one at fault according to you?! (shows a vial) Is that why you came with this poison?

 Draco flinched before putting his hand in his pocket to feel it but the poison he had brought was no longer there...

 Draco: I...I don't know what you're talking about...

 Ron: Don't be stupid man, I have a very keen nose to recognize the smell of this kind of substance or ingredients for that matter. Who were you planning to kill?! Dumbledore or me!? Draco, I know we haven't always been allies but we are much too young for this, for this dark dimension of our world and I can see the fear in your eyes. You don't have to make the same choices as your father.

 "I have no choice...if I don't he'll kill me..." He said as his eyes became watery.

 Ron: We can help you, my family can keep you safe for as long as it takes until this is over.

 Draco: He will kill my parents if I run away and he will find me because I bear his mark.

 Ron: Knowing where you are and reaching you are two different things. I can help you and your mother, but your father was far too complicit in atrocities.

 Draco: My mother hates you, my father remains my father and I cannot abandon him. This poison was for Dumbledore because the Dark Lord has a message for you, he wants you to join him, he knows about your resurrection spell and he says he will kill every one of the Weasleys if you refuse.

 Ron: You tell that noseless bastard that he's going to pay with his life for his threats and also for the murder of Harry's parents. You have just made your choice Draco and I respect that, only, when the time comes for war, know that I will no longer show pity or sympathy… (comes closer and looks into his eyes) I will kill you if I found you in my path, just like the other death eaters.

 He patted him on the shoulder before walking away.

 In the end, the evening ended and it had been a success much to the delight of Slughorn who took photos with Ron, Harry and several other people, the guests also wanted photos with Ron before leaving.

 Ron took advantage of the fact that so many famous people were present from elsewhere to advertise the Lovegoods' newspaper, the Quibbler.

He said he read it regularly and saw much more true information there than in the Daily Prophet.

 He gave the case of Sirius's guilt but also the case of Voldemort's return where the newspaper hid the truth by accusing Harry and Cedric but not this little newspaper which had given them credit.

 Many did not even know the existence of this newspaper and hearing Ronald Weasley talk about it like that greatly aroused their curiosity.

 (later)

 Ron: An unbreakable oath?! Why did Voldemort make you do this if he trusts you professor?

 Snape: It's all because of you...Weasley. When you and the director confronted him at the ministry, he was taken aback by your power, he almost took my life when I reported to him. Even I knew nothing of your prowess so he made me swear to help little Draco either by recruiting you or by killing you and Dumbledore.

 Dumbledore: This becomes problematic Severus.

 Ron: Yes, very problematic. The location spell is far from ready to locate the Horcruxes without him realizing it right away and especially the soul extraction spell. You knew about Harry's case, didn't you? That connection with Voldemort, you knew he was a Horcrux as well.

 Dumbledore: (sighs) Alas, yes.

 Ron: Did you plan to make him die too...?

 Dumbledore: Weasley, you are far too intelligent to know that things are not that simple.

 Ron: He deserves to know...he deserves to know for himself. (looks at Snape) He deserves to know that his father was not always a saint and that you loved his mother, he deserves to know that beneath your cold actions you had always sought to protect him. Why are you making things so difficult yourself?

 Snape:...I couldn't tell him...

 Dumbledore:…

 Ron: You know, looking at you I realize that there is no side for good or side for evil but just wizards with different opinions who all have questionable morals. We are in the same camp, it's true, but you, Professor Dumbledore, are a great, sinister manipulator deep down, especially if we take the case of Sirius Black, whom you left to rot in Azkaban, and you, Professor Snape, were complicit in several crimes with Voldemort, you only sided with this because Lilly Potter's life was in danger. You betrayed Voldemort not out of morality but for the love of a woman.

 "I wouldn't even help you normally but we have too many common interests...somehow, I even feel sorry for you. You exist but you have no life professors, try to live when this whole thing is over please" He told them before leaving.

 [The entities]

 Eternity: This kid is definitely better than Jacob.

 Death: I like him a lot but...ok he's better than Jacob but admit that universal talent is really too much.

 Fact: Not false.

 Eternity: Okay but his romance with Luna is better than Jacob and Danielle's.

 The death :...

 Eternity: Your silence says everything.