Chapter 1208: Ron, You Silly Boy
Chapter 1208: Ron, You Silly Boy
It didn't take long for the quartet to arrive outside Professor Slughorn's office, where a boisterous atmosphere awaited them.
The office was noticeably larger than those of the other professors, with verdant, crimson, and golden drapes hanging from the ceiling and walls, giving the impression of stepping into a grand tent.
As soon as Harry entered, he was spotted by Professor Slughorn, who promptly pulled him away to meet the other guests. Despite his annoyance at the situation, Harry maintained a neutral expression.
Watching Harry's retreating back, Luna turned to Hermione and said, "Harry doesn't seem too happy about this, does he?"
"I think Harry has his reasons for acting this way," Hermione replied, also gazing at Harry's departing figure. "He's changed a lot lately. We all have, as we prepare for the changes that may come our way, and we're ready to face any challenges head-on."
Hermione then turned her head to glance at Ron, who was still looking around curiously.
"What's up?" Ron asked, feeling a bit uncomfortable under Hermione's intense stare.
"Nothing," Hermione said, turning away and changing the subject. "Let's find a place to sit and eat something. It looks like we'll have to wait a bit longer for Harry."
After getting some food from the buffet tables, the three of them squeezed into an empty spot in the corner of the office.
"What were you going to say?" Ron asked between mouthfuls.
Hermione shot a glance at Luna, then lowered her voice. "It seems like you haven't quite prepared yourself yet."
"Prepared for what?" Ron asked, his expression turning bewildered as the food in his mouth almost fell out. Clearly, he didn't understand what she meant.
"For the wizarding war," Hermione said, frowning at Ron as he stuffed another pie into his mouth. "I suggest you finish eating first before we talk."
"Oh, sorry," Ron said, quickly swallowing his food. "Go on."
"The last time I went home, it made me realize that this war is no child's play," Hermione continued. "Harry and I have both steeled ourselves for what's to come. What about you, Ron?"
"Me?" Ron's face froze again, not having given any thought to how he would respond to Hermione's question.
Of course, he wanted to help Harry, but he hadn't really considered the level of commitment that Hermione was talking about.
"Hi, Ginny!" Luna greeted her friend cheerfully.
"What are you guys talking about?" Ginny asked as she approached them.
"Nothing much!" Hermione replied, turning to Ginny. "Where's Dean?"
"He went to get drinks." Ginny waved at the boy in question, who was on the other side of the room.
"Ron." Dean's eyebrows furrowed slightly as he spotted Ron in their company, but his expression softened when he saw Hermione.
"Here," Andy said, handing Ginny a butterbeer before turning to the group in an attempt to alleviate the slight awkwardness. "I heard there's a vampire at the Christmas ball today."
"Rufus Scrimgeour?" Luna asked, looking up.
"The Minister of Magic is a vampire?" The group exchanged bewildered looks, finding the idea rather absurd.
"Yes, he is," Luna asserted. "My dad once wrote a lengthy article trying to expose this, but the Ministry wouldn't let him publish it. They obviously don't want the truth to get out!"
"Scrimgeour is not a vampire," Harry interrupted, having appeared from nowhere. "But there is a real vampire here. That man over there with the dark circles under his eyes—he's a vampire." He pointed to a man standing not too far away, looking weary and bored.
"Is that a vampire? He looks... hungry," Hermione remarked, eyeing the man who was edging closer to a group of girls. Something about him made her feel that he had less than honorable intentions, and she thought it unwise of Professor Slughorn to invite a vampire to the Christmas feast.
"We should probably keep our distance from him, just in case he loses control when the hunger gets too much," she added.
"So, vampires are real? Do they really feed on blood?" Ron asked, his eyes wide.
"Definitely," replied George. "I just saw that vampire eating a pie."
Fred and George had appeared from somewhere, smiling as they joined the group.
"I think he might need a Blood-Flavored Lollipop," George said, looking at the vampire with a hint of pity. "Too bad I didn't bring any."
"Do those lollipops really work?" Ron asked, curious.
"Of course," Fred replied. "They're said to be specially made by Honeyduke's for vampires."
"Anyway, how did you guys end up here?" Harry asked, his confusion evident as he looked at the Weasley twins.
"Well, we're here on Albert's behalf," Fred explained with a casual shrug. "He's not too fond of parties like this, so he sent us in his place. He said we're famous enough now that Professor Slughorn would welcome us."
"Albert thought it would be a good idea for us to invite Professor Slughorn to join us and become our Potions consultant," George added.
"A Potions consultant?" The group exchanged baffled looks, unsure what they were getting at.
"You know how many of our products contain potions," George continued, not intending to hide their purpose for being there. "Albert is highly skilled in Potions, but he's always busy, so he thought it would be a good idea to have a consultant to help us with any Potions-related issues."
"Like the consultant for the radio program?" Andy asked, intrigued.
"Similar, yes," Fred nodded.
"But it would be a much more relaxed position with us," George explained. "It mostly involves providing information and advice, and there aren't many commitments. The benefits and salary are quite attractive, too. It's an excellent job for someone who wants a laid-back retirement while still utilizing their expertise."
"Did Professor Slughorn agree?" Ron asked, hoping for a similar opportunity.
"He said he needs to think about it," Fred replied, exchanging an amused glance with George.
"Albert said he can take his time deciding," George added. "He won't be teaching at Hogwarts forever, and he can always join us after he retires. It's a good deal for him."
Of course, Fred and George both knew that Albert was more interested in Professor Slughorn's connections than anything else. By offering him a comfortable arrangement, they could keep him on retainer and benefit from his expertise and network in the future. After all, Professor Slughorn was a renowned Potions expert, and his presence would save Albert a lot of trouble.
The Christmas ball continued, and Harry found himself repeatedly accosted by Professor Slughorn, who introduced him to a multitude of guests under the pretext of helping him get to know famous people.
Ron was completely baffled by their words. "What are you talking about? How bad could it get?"
"Dumbledore might not make it," Harry said calmly, delivering the chilling news.
"I don't want to speak ill of him, but his condition is worse than we thought. That's why he told me about the Horcruxes and entrusted me with the task of destroying them," Harry explained.
"But..." Ron began to protest.
"We've had our suspicions, and now we believe this possibility is very high, extremely high," Hermione interjected, gesturing for Ron to listen. "Once we lose Dumbledore's deterrence, the British magical community will descend into chaos, and even Scrimgeour won't be able to control it. Albert's prophecy will likely come true."
"I won't let Harry face this alone," Ron declared loudly.
"But you're not mentally prepared, Ron," Hermione said softly.
"What mental preparation are you talking about!" Ron exclaimed, feeling increasingly agitated.
"The preparation to face death and endure tremendous hardship, even failure and the loss of your life," Harry continued calmly. "I don't know what the future holds, but I've put everything on the line, including my life."
"So have I, Ron. We're all prioritizing defeating the mysterious wizard, and we're preparing for it," Hermione nodded. "You should have noticed that Fred and George are also ready, but you're not. We shouldn't be the ones telling you this, but..."
Ron's mouth hung open in shock.
"If you feel the pressure is too much, I understand. Everyone has their own choices," Harry said, placing a hand on Ron's shoulder, not forcing him.
"What about you, Hermione?" Ron asked, looking at her in confusion. He couldn't comprehend how Hermione had reached this level of determination.
"When my family almost lost their lives because of the mysterious wizard, and I had to send them away, I realized I didn't have many options," Hermione said, lifting her head to meet Ron's gaze. "Also, don't forget that we're Harry's best friends. The Death Eaters know this, and they won't let us go easily. We can either hide in fear somewhere outside of Britain for the rest of our lives, or we can help Harry defeat the mysterious wizard and restore peace to the wizarding world."
"My family has already left Britain, so I have no more ties holding me back," Hermione added quietly. "I trust Harry, and I trust Albert. I believe they can put an end to this nightmare. I don't want to live my life in fear, Ron. The mysterious wizard hates Muggle-born wizards, and Harry and I have no choice but to fight. But you still do."
"I will never bow down to Voldemort," Ron stated, his face paling slightly as he spoke the Dark Wizard's name. "Everyone in my family, except that traitor Percy, is bravely fighting against the mysterious wizard. I won't back down, ever. Tell me what I need to do."
(End of Chapter)
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