For The Greater Good (A Draco Malfoy Story)

A Ginger Finds His Way Back

     Rustling from outside drew us out of the tent, tensed and braced for attack. Since Harry had my wand, I felt a bit foolish having nothing to hold or point at my enemy...but then again, it was a comfort knowing I didn't need a wand to have power.

"Ron?" Hermione gasped suddenly. I looked up to see Harry making his way towards us with our favorite ginger in tow, sheepish grins spreading on their faces.

"Hey," he said rather lamely. And that's when Hermione snapped. She had been a dimmer version of herself these past few weeks, her daily enthusiasm had withered away.

"Hey? Hey?" She stormed over to him with her eyes blazing.

Run, boy, run, I heard Gabriel's thought and suppressed a laugh.

"You stand here after weeks of no word and all you have to say is hey?" She spit out. "You complete arse, Ronald Weasley!" A few choice swear words slipped out of her mouth and I could feel the collective amused surprise going through each of us. Jeez, when was the last time Hermione cursed? She took his bag and started to beat him with it.

"Alright, alright! Break it up," Gabriel stepped in and dragged Hermione away with a strong arm around her waist. As he did so, I finally got a good look at Harry and Ron.

"Why the hell are you both soaked to the bone? Did you just take a swim? It's bloody negative degrees!" I blinked. They didn't even look blue around the edges!

"Well, that's a long story," Ron remarked, scratching the bridge of his nose and it was then that I caught sight of what was dangling from his hand.

"You destroyed the locket." Harry and Ron both nodded, the latter tossing the blackened remnants of the Horcrux to me.

"And how is it that you just happen to have the sword of Gryffindor?" Hermione snapped from a few feet away, drawing everyone's eyes to the shining sword in Ron's other hand. The hilt was decorated with precious rubies and gold trimming.

"It's a long story," Ron said once again.

Hermione seemed to be considering something when she said, "Don't think this changes anything."

"Of course not, I just destroyed a bloody Horcrux for nothing! I wanted to come back as soon as I could, I just didn't know how to find you. I was in this pub on Christmas Eve, hiding from these snatchers--"

"Snatchers?" Harry asked, furrowing his eyebrows.

"They're scummy wizards that catch muggleborns and half bloods and sell them to the ministry," Ron explained with disgust. Harry grimaced and shook his head before Ron continued his story. "And out of no where I heard it..."

"It?" I asked. He nodded.

"A voice. Your voice, Hermione. Coming out of here," he withdrew the deluminator Dumbledore had bestowed upon him in his will.

"And what exactly did I say may I ask?" Skepticism marred her features. Ron only smiled a small smile.

"My name. Just my name, like a whisper. So I clicked the deluminator and what came out was a ball of light and it came through me, right here," he pointed to his chest, right where his heart was. "Right through me. I disapparated and traveled up hillside, I sort of knew where I was going. The light in me was guiding me in a way. I walked around here, hoping you guys would see me or I'd be able to find you. And I did. I found Harry," he smiled at the end. Harry looked at him like he had gone mad a little and Hermione's expression had softened momentarily before hardening again. I smiled encouragingly at Ron, I believed him. The ball of light reminded me a little of myself strangely. When Ron was finished explaining, we lead him inside while Hermione took first watch.