#which makes her descent into madness so sickeningly horrific

[dirtytransmasc]

saw someone say they're we're happy Alicent's and Otto's deaths forced them "realize what they had done" and like...

Otto's one thing, I get the animosity. but Alicent? your getting hot and bothered over her realizing she failed, she failed to save her children, she failed to protect them, to them alive? that she tried so hard, so fucking hard, making every hard decision, trying to get between her children and the fate they were damned to by Viserys and Rhaenyra? that she damned her kids, who were already damned to die to begin with, and had to suffer the guilt of them dying to her own hand? that she's going to drive herself mad with grief over her children, her grandchildren?

like... it's not satisfying (especially for show Alicent) watching a woman go so mad with grief it literally kills her because she fought with everything she had to save her children only for them to die anyway. ever since her father's exile, when Rhaenyra's lies took Viserys's favor, when Viserys ignored the Rhaenyra's sons bastardhood at the risk of the whole house, or when Luke took Aemond's eye and Viserys demanded good will; she knew her children's lives were forfeit. then Daemon killed Vaemond and her children's coffins were built, catching cobweb's all the while. she knew and she fought it desperately, taking risk after risk, living in fear until her moment came, she could out Aegon on the thrown, she could protect her kids, maybe, just fucking maybe they'd be safe... only for it to lead to a war that would kill her entire family.

her death, slow and tragic as it was, is heartbreaking. she didn't deserve it, she deserved to feel safe, to feel as though she could allow her past friend take the thrown without her children being at risk to feel as though she and her children weren't being circled by wolves and picked at by vulture's. she didn't deserve to live alone and die alone. she didn't deserve to have her hands coated in her children's blood.

[rons-hermiones]

Come Find Me

Come Find Me

by rons-hermiones

Summary: Unplanned, Hermione is forced to spend Christmas at the Burrow due to her grandmother falling very ill. After being ignored by Hermione for weeks, Ron is determined to show her how much she means to him. Just before he gets the chance to tell her, Bellatrix Lestrange shows up with other plans for Hermione. Can Ron get to her before it's too late? (Ron/Hermione Half-Blood Prince AU)

Rating: M for language & dark themes in later chapters.

Chapter Twenty Three

Ron scoured the train for a bit. Half looking for Malfoy, half avoiding going to sit back in the compartment. When he had nothing to do his thoughts became almost unbearable. 

However, he must’ve been moving at a very gradual pace, considering the train soon came to halt and he hadn’t even made it halfway through the cars. 

Sighing heavily, he began a descent against the crowd to gather his knapsack and trunk from where he had boarded. 

Thankfully, the car was empty when he reached it, saving him the task of explaining to Harry and his sister where he had been. 

Picking up his things he moved to place them in the ever growing pile of items for transport to the castle. 

As he placed his trunk down, he heard a noise. A sickeningly familiar one at that. One he had the pleasure of forgetting over break. 

Turning slightly, he saw Lavender giggling about something with Parvati. Panicking slightly, Ron stalked away to find a carriage. 

Harry’s mop of messy hair was visible in the crowd as he climbed into one. Moving quickly, Ron went to join him inside. 

“Oh there you are mate.” Harry said as his friend sat down. 

“Yeah, sorry, prefect business and all. Patrols.” He lied after seeing the look of concern on Ginny’s face. 

“All good.” His friend said with a nod, but eyeing Ron suspiciously. 

“What’s got you looking all flushed?” His sister piped up, unable to control herself. 

Weasley had half the heart to spill everything he was thinking about Malfoy, but knew he couldn’t for two reasons. One, Ginny didn’t know Harry suspected him as a Death Eater in the first place. Two, Ron wanted to take the Hermione approach of things. He needed solid evidence he had to do with this whole thing before jumping and only fueling Harry’s obsession further. 

“Uh, well, I saw Lavender.” He settled for. It was half true anyway. 

The pair cringed. 

“She didn’t see me though.” Ron added. 

“So, how are you gonna, you know, deal with that?” Harry asked uncomfortably. 

Ron shrugged. Lavender was certainly the least of his worries. As far as he was concerned things were over between them, they had been for a while. And as terrible as it sounds, he just doesn’t have the heart to explain that to her again. He was too dead set on other things. 

“I reckon I’ll avoid her. I did it before holiday. I told her things were over. There’s not much else I can do, I just hope she gets the hint.” 

Ginny scoffed, “not likely. She’s kind of obsessed with you.” 

The ginger rolled his eyes, “well, I’m kind of obsessed with other things at the moment. Too much so to entertain her obsession with me.” He said a little fed up with the topic. Though, some part of it felt nice to talk about something less than life or death situations. 

Suddenly feeling a little bad, Ginny nodded, “we should come up with some kind of word.” She said leaning forward. 

“For?” Harry asked, confused. 

She rolled her eyes dramatically, “you know, whenever Lavender’s coming of course! Something to warn Ron. No offense, but I think if you’re stuck in the same room with her you may lose your temper. It’s been a bit short as of late.” Ginny mumbled the last sentence. 

Ignoring the last part, he spoke, “alright what word?” Ron questioned. 

“How about ‘droobles’?” Harry suggested. 

Ginny shook her head, “no, knowing Ron that word probably comes up like once a day.” She said with a small laugh. 

Surprisingly, the pair of boys chuckled too. The first time in weeks. 

The youngest Weasley beamed at the sound, “okay, what about ‘squid’?” 

“Squid?” Ron asked. 

“Yeah, she’s all tentacles, latching onto you. Plus, squid and giant squid are two different words. You can manage to work squid into conversation.” Ginny justified.

“Alright then, squid.” Ron agreed. 

“Squid.” Harry added with a small smile. 

After that, they lapsed into silence. It was nice, if even for a few minutes, to have a conversation that removed his thoughts from Hermione, even if said conversation was about how to avoid Lavender. 

All of him does long for Hermione to be there. To see how serious he really is about being through with the blonde. 

Before his thoughts could wander further, the carriage comes to a stop as the three climb out. 

Harry and Ginny go left, but Ron goes right. 

“Oi Ron, this way.” Harry reminds. 

He shakes his head, “nah, gotta take the second years to the feast, then I’m gonna go up to the dorms. I got late patrols. I’m knackered.” He says, which isn’t a complete lie. He is pretty tired, but he also doesn’t think he can deal with the Gryffindor’s inevitable line of questioning to him and Harry about Hermione’s whereabouts. 

“Alright mate, I’ll bring you up some food.” Harry promises. 

Ron nods. For the first time since he can remember. He’s not very hungry for Hogwarts food. 

...

Escorting the second years only took about twenty minutes. Thankfully, they were less timid than first years, so they moved quicker. Also, he imagines they could sense Ron was in a testy mood and decided not to challenge him. 

After, he climbed the empty Gryffindor tower to his dorm and laid down for a kip.

Ron walked thoughtlessly through Hogwarts corridors. Hermione’s absence at times like these was more present then usual. Rounds were something always reserved for the two of them. No matter how awful it sounded, he looked forward to these times. Harry free. Just the two of them. 

As he turned down the Transfiguration hallway he caught sight of a head of blonde hair walking forward. 

“Malfoy!” Ron called. 

Surprisingly, the blonde turned to face him. 

“You’re not on rounds. You shouldn’t be out this late. May just have to give you detention. Maybe take away some points, eh?” Ron sneered, though he knew he couldn’t. After all, Malfoy was also a prefect. 

However, the blonde didn’t come up with some nasty retort about how Ron was poor or how he was a blood traitor. No, instead, he looked scared. 

“I was out looking for you.” 

“Me?” The redhead asked befuddled. 

Draco nodded slowly, “I need to talk to you. But not here.” 

With that, the Slytherin silently led him onward. Still suspicious, Ron’s hand was in his pocket, having his wand at the ready. 

Soon, they reached the astronomy tower as he deafly followed the git up the steps. 

“Brought me up here to push me off, have you?” Ron said, half serious as the wind ruffled his robes. 

Malfoy shook his head. Again, not coming up with any sort of taunts. It was almost worrying. 

“It’s about,” he stopped, eyes finally meeting his, “it’s about Granger.” 

Suddenly, his hand slackens in his pocket as he advances toward. 

“He-Hermione?” He squeaks. 

The blonde nods, “I know where she is.” 

All pretenses of the civilness they’d been fooling themselves with were lost. Ron shoved Draco backward, hitting the brick wall. 

“Tell me.” He grunted, hands fisting at his collar roughly. 

Draco opened his mouth to do just that until something caught the pair's attention. 

A laugh. 

“Oh! Gonna rat, were you Draco?” Bellatrix Lestrange’s voice sounded. 

Ron turned around to see the mad witch with her wand drawn. 

“No auntie, I-“ he cowered. 

“Nonsense. Just like your mother, weak! Never cut out for all this.” She spat. 

Ron exchanged a look between the pair. He was right all along? Harry was right? 

Draco’s eyes were screwed shut. 

“I’m not going to punish you Draco. As disappointed as I may be, you are family. It’s not my job to discipline you.” Ron wanted to know where that thought was when she killed Sirius, “no matter. I’m sure the Dark Lord will thank you, since you’ve brought me a lovely gift.” She smiled. 

Suddenly, her piercing gaze was on Ron. 

“She cries for you. Did you know?” The witch asks, walking closer to circle him. “Every night.” Bellatrix adds, like a knife to his heart. 

Not caring, he draws his wand and points right at her. “Take me to her.” He demands. 

“Oh!” She hoots excitedly at his action, “or I could take her to you.” The smile is back. 

“Greyback!” Bellatrix calls. 

Descending from the steps is Fenrir Greyback. In his arms is Hermione. Her entire body is slack and pale. Blood coats the expanse of her skin as he makes out horrific bruises and bites. 

“Hermione.” He moans making a move for her. 

Greyback drops her to the floor, Ron reaches for her. Like always, he’s too late, she hits the stone before Ron gets there. 

He throws himself to the ground, clutching at her body. His hands smear with blood as he reaches for a pulse. 

There isn’t one. 

Bellatrix begins cackling as Ron realizes she’s dead. 

“Hermione.” He cries. 

“Come on Mione. Don’t do this.” 

“Hermione.” He’s surely wailing. 

“Ron.” The voice isn’t hers. 

He doesn’t care, “Hermione. Please.” 

“Ron!” It’s louder. 

Her body begins to fade. “No! You can’t take her from me!” 

“Hermione!” 

“Ron!” 

He jumps awake to find Dean standing over him, concern evident on his face. 

“Moaning about Granger again? Can’t say I missed that.” Seamus joked from the doorway. 

Ron wasn’t even in a state to berate him. Too busy slowing his breathing. 

Dean seemed to notice and shot the Irish boy a glare. 

“You alright there Ron?” Dean asked softly. 

Weasley opened his mouth to tell him it was just a dream, but soon stopped himself. Once able to scrub the image of Hermione’s limp body from his brain, he can’t help but wonder about Malfoy. 

He isn’t a seer, hell, he isn’t even all that great at divination, but could it mean something? Could Malfoy truly know where Hermione is? Is that why he acted weird on the train? Is that why he told Katie she was gone? Was Harry right?

He soon pushed his thoughts away. In the back of his mind an image of Harry waking up in the middle of the night telling them Sirius was in trouble flashes in his brain. 

Don’t be irrational. A voice, it sounds like Hermione’s scolds him. 

Facts. Remember the facts. 

“Ron?” Dean asks again. 

He shakes his head, “yeah, I’m fine. Department of Mysteries.” He lies easily, eyeing the scars down his arm. 

Sympathetically, Dean claps him on the shoulder and moves away. 

“We were just coming to grab exploding snap, Harry told us to wake you for your rounds.” His roommate explains. 

“Right, thanks mate.” Ron says sitting up and smoothing out his hair. 

Dean and Seamus soon left, leaving Ron to toss his cloak on and prepare for patrols. 

Slipping away, he soon found himself in the transfiguration hallway, half expecting to see Draco Malfoy. When that didn’t happen, he worked his way to the astronomy tower. Again, testing his theory. 

As his eyes landed on the place he saw Hermione’s lifeless body, he soon decided on a way to take his mind off of everything. 

Operation, what the fuck does Malfoy know.