Ron stepped into the girls' bathroom, heart heavy with desperate hope, glasses from the Room of Requirement perched on his nose. Moaning Myrtle, surprisingly cooperative, recounted her death fifty years ago. Harry thanked her, sparking her enthusiasm.
"Thank you, Myrtle! You helped us find the snake entrance!" Harry said.
"No one's ever thanked me like that!" Myrtle gushed, tears cascading like a waterfall.
"There's a monster beyond this entrance that might've killed you," Harry said. "We'll save Ginny and retreat, but if we can, we'll avenge you."
Ron, watching Myrtle's watery outburst with unease, added, "Myrtle, call someone reliable—someone who can take on a Basilisk."
At Ron's plea, Myrtle vanished. Harry, using Parseltongue, opened what seemed to be the Chamber's entrance. Ron conjured spiders with Transfiguration to scout ahead, despite his phobia. He'd memorized the spell from Fred's cruel prank, and now, casting aside revulsion, relied on spiders and the Sneakoscope in his pocket. They'd detect the Basilisk, letting them unleash their trump card before meeting its deadly gaze.
"Impressive, Ron," Harry said. "You'd get an 'O' for those spiders."
Ron raised his left hand, barely acknowledging the praise, his mind fixed on one thought: Please be safe, Ginny…
For Ron, for the Weasleys, Ginny was everything—their miracle, the cherished youngest sister, their savior. Ron, the sixth child, felt like an afterthought. Growing up, he was outshone by his brothers. Bill, Charlie, Percy, Fred, and George each had strengths; Ron had none, or so he believed. His father was always working, his mother swamped with chores, leaving the older brothers to mind the younger ones.
Charlie taught Ron to fly, but Ron was the worst on a broom—even Ginny surpassed him. Bill and Charlie left home, and Percy became Ron's strictest critic, exasperated by Ron's academic struggles. Percy aced twelve OWL subjects effortlessly. Fred and George, closer in age, were unbeatable. They killed Ron's Pygmy Puff, used as a Bludger, and turned his teddy bear into a spider, cementing Ron's fear and inferiority.
Ron had nothing to excel in—studies, magic, Quidditch, pranks. Before Hogwarts, he lay awake, wondering, Am I the unwanted child? His brothers had defining strengths; Ron had none. Only Bill showed him kindness, but Ron still felt like the least important Weasley, plagued by inferiority.
Hogwarts changed that. Away from his brothers, Ron was just Ron, not the sixth Weasley. His friends—Dean Thomas, Seamus Finnigan—didn't compare him to his siblings. Dean shared Muggle knowledge, broadening Ron's world. Zamza Beoulve and Neville Longbottom, fellow Gryffindors, felt distant—Zamza a research nerd, Neville a klutz.
Hermione Granger clashed with Ron constantly, criticizing his magic, leading to harsh words and regret. But last Halloween, Harry Potter helped them bond, becoming Ron's best friend. Harry exposed a dark wizard pet and, despite joining Slytherin, proved his heart by saving Hermione. Ron might've misjudged Harry's "normal" sense of justice, but through him, Ron befriended Slytherins.
Farkas Sadalfas was Ron's favorite—poor like Ron, never mocking or pitying his hand-me-downs. Bloom Azrael, initially irritating like Malfoy, surprised Ron with Muggle knowledge, challenging his view of Slytherins as bigots. Personal beliefs didn't always match character, a new lesson. Blaise Zabini, once a bully mocking Ron's appearance, changed after their shared adventures, becoming a prank partner who laughed at Ron's jokes—more fun than Harry, though Hermione's scoldings were a bonus.
Hogwarts started rough but became fulfilling for Ron. Ginny, a first-year, struggled. Despite a new wand and better possessions, her poverty and Arthur's minor crime made friends scarce. Ron saw her scribbling in a diary, alone. Shamefully, he felt a fleeting superiority over his sister.
Ron tried advising Ginny, but she saw him as a nuisance. Perhaps she sensed his jealousy. Percy, five years older, doted on her, free of rivalry. Did I really care for her? Ron wondered as Harry spoke.
"Ron, can I ask something?" Harry said. "About Ginny—anything odd lately?"
"Since Colin was petrified, she's been off," Ron said. "Distracted, always writing in her diary, no friends."
"No close friends?" Harry asked.
"Maybe, but she'd hide them from us. Siblings prying is annoying."
"She might've known she was a target," Ron said. "If I'd brought her to Duelling Club, Flitwick might've noticed something…"
"That's hindsight," Harry said cautiously. "Even Flitwick, seeing her in class, wouldn't catch it."
"Still… Ginny's clever, unlike me. She might've known something…"
To Harry's group, Ron wasn't useless. His differences with Zabini and Farkas were manageable. Yet Harry's dark magic risked expulsion. Ron understood Harry's drive to protect Hermione, who, despite her bossiness, was irreplaceable. But Ron hadn't invited Ginny to the club—not just because she was young, but to protect his place among friends. He didn't want her seeing the school Ron, different from the home Ron.
"Ginny's clever," Harry said. "Does she speak Parseltongue?"
"Nope," Ron said. "That'd be family gossip. I've competed with her ten years—she doesn't talk to animals, let alone snakes."
"Thanks," Harry said, lost in thought.
Ron's unease grew, recalling Harry watching Ginny during the Parseltongue stunt. Is he…
"Harry, are you suspecting Ginny?" Ron asked, gripping his wand.
Harry spoke calmly. "She doesn't speak Parseltongue, but she reacted to it in the hall. Someone might've taught her."
Ron glared. Only you could do that! Harry was the only Parselmouth and dark magic user in Slytherin. Ron nearly accused him but knew Harry wouldn't. "Why would the Heir make Ginny do that?" Ron demanded.
"Remember Quirrell possessed by Voldemort?" Harry said. "A grown wizard acting odd raises suspicion, but a first-year? People assume they're just adjusting."
Ron froze. Harry continued, "Someone taught Ginny Parseltongue, controlling her to commit crimes unnoticed. She's resisting. Ron, ahead, we might face her and her controller."
"Unforgivable!" Ron growled, guilt replaced by fury. Harry nodded approvingly.
"If Ginny's forced to attack, I'll handle the Basilisk. Use Expelliarmus to stop her."
Ron nodded firmly, anger fueling him. He noticed his scout spiders hadn't returned—odd, as they'd flee a Basilisk. Harry took the lead, casting Protego ahead, Ron lighting the way with Lumos.
Did the spiders find something? Ron's hope surged. In the narrow, tunnel-like passage, they pressed forward. A snake-carved wall appeared. Harry hissed in Parseltongue: "Open."
The wall's gemstone snake eyes gleamed, and it rumbled open. But above, the tunnel began collapsing. Harry, focused on Protego, didn't notice.
"Harry, look out!" Ron shouted.
The Sneakoscope screeched. Ron shoved Harry aside as rocks crashed down, Protego shielding Ron but separating them.
Zabini and Farkas, meant to grab the Invisibility Cloak and join Harry, rushed without using it to catch up. This cost them. Draco, spotting them with glasses and the Cloak, sensed trouble. They're up to something dangerous again, he thought, recalling their Philosopher's Stone adventure.
Draco didn't care much for Zabini or Farkas, but the Heir—tied to Lucius—changed things. If they provoked the Heir and died, Draco's conscience would sting. He, Crabbe, and Goyle ambushed them. Zabini dodged, and their Duelling Club-honed reflexes made it a tough three-on-two fight. Draco used Crabbe and Goyle as distractions, binding Zabini with Incarcerous and petrifying Farkas after disarming him with Expelliarmus.
"Tell me what you're planning," Draco panted, savoring his victory. "You're done this time."
His gloating was his downfall. "Expelliarmus," a dreamy voice said. Draco's and Farkas's wands flew to a blonde girl—Luna.
"Luna?! Why are you here?" Draco gasped.
"Wandering, looking for everyone, and saw something fun," Luna said brightly.
Draco stood stunned. Outdone by a younger girl?! Zabini shouted, "Cut the ropes with a Severing Charm!"
"Sorry, I can't—cutting's scary," Luna said.
"That's your vibe?!" Zabini groaned. Luna, a genius with selective spell mastery, couldn't help. He urged her to take the glasses, don the Cloak, and find Myrtle.
"Hurry! Harry and Ron are ahead, saving Ginny from the Heir!"
"What?!" Draco snapped, realizing his interference was pointless. Harry was already in danger.
"I'm going," Luna said, offering Draco his wand. He refused.
"Don't mock me! Why would a Slytherin defy the Heir?" Draco bluffed.
Luna withdrew the wand. "Because friends help friends." She apologized to Zabini and Farkas, promising to return, and vanished under the Cloak.
Draco watched, fuming. If the Heir knows I helped Harry… He wanted to save friends but feared Lucius's wrath. A way to help without being caught…
"Dobby!" Draco shouted. "If you're watching, show yourself!"
A terrified house-elf appeared, eyeing Draco, his master's heir, with dread.
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