Pain.

In every facet of his body, in his skull, his eyes burned when he tried to open them, and his arm felt like it was on fire. The same fire was spreading through his veins quickly. He could feel fractured bones in his arms and legs. A couple of ribs were broken on top of that. While the pain was nothing new to find himself waking up to, the fire in his veins was. Thankfully, he was soaked from head to toe with icy water, and laying on a cold stone floor. So that made his situation mildly more bearable.

Given all of that, he knew he was alive again.

The smell of stale air greeted him when he dared to breathe. The taste of stagnant water mixed with his sweat and blood greeted his tongue when he opened his mouth. He didn't need to open his eyes to know where he was; he'd woken up in this condition before.

He was in the Chamber of Secrets once more.

Gabriel’s words, you will be sent back to a time where you can do the most good, kept echoing in his head as he rolled to his back.

This was before Sirius’s escape, but after he defeated the basilisk given the burning in his veins; this was when he defeated Memory Mort from the diary Horcrux. Why in the world was he brought back to this particular point? He thought he would wake up the morning after the chamber, not in the middle of the fucking fight!

Relief spread through him as the fire in his veins began to recede. It was then he noticed something was standing on his stomach, though it was relatively weightless. Ares opened his eyes, and he was met with the golden eyes of Fawkes.

Ares merely grinned at the bird. "Hello, old friend."

Fawkes sang a sweet melody, and Ares stood up once more, fully healed. Fawkes flew off his stomach as he did, and came to rest on his shoulder as he turned and faced the almost corporal form of teenage Tom Riddle.

“No!” The phantasm screamed. “You should be dead!”

“Phoenix tears have healing powers.” Ares said, his voice as apathetic as his expression was, though it helped that he was bored out of his skull at this whole thing. “Someone who claims to be the greatest wizard who ever lived should have realized the threat the Phoenix was the moment it entered the room.”

“I am the greatest wizard to ever live!”

His enemy shrieked in an oddly girly fashion that made Ares look at him critically.

“Perhaps you have more in common with Dumbledore than I thought.” Ares mused softly. “You two certainly seem to think the same thing despite it being false.”

Not seeing the insult for what it was, Riddle took Ares’s words to mean something else entirely.

“Of course, that old fool would send his pet to rescue The Boy Who Lived!” Riddle cursed.

Ares glared as he walked back to the comatose Ginny. “I don’t give a flying fuck what that old goat fucker thinks or wants.”

Despite the words, despite the glare, Ares spoke in a calm, perhaps, even polite tone. As he expected Riddle was much too shocked and confused by this to notice exactly what Ares was doing. Armed with the Sword of Gryffindor, Ares stood in front of Ginny, his ripped robes concealing the diary and the fact that the sword was positioned right above it.

"Something's wrong." The phantasm Riddle exclaimed softly, looking at Ares critically, and seeing things that likely any mortal would be blind to. "You've changed. You're not the same boy you were upon entering here or even the same one who killed the Basilisk a few moments ago."

“No. I’m not.” Ares grinned manically at Riddle. Then added with a snarl. “And this time, you will meet your end!”

Ares revealed the situation with a diary, and before old Tommy boy could react other than look shocked and horrified, Ares drove the sword down onto the center of the diary. As the Basilisk venom was absorbed into the pages, the pages spewed forth massive amounts of ink that made up for the previous entries. All the while, Riddle’s ghostly form began to crack and split apart.

Riddle’s screams of agony, fury, and fear echoed throughout the chamber. All the while, Ares watched, not moving, or making a sound. The Sword of Gryffindor still firmly lodged in the center of the diary. Little pulses of black ink pushing up and out of the diary. With each pulse of expelled ink, a new crack appeared on Riddle.

With a final pulse of ink, Riddle's soul burst into a thousand tiny shards before wilting to ash then disappearing altogether. Silence once more reined in the Chamber.

Riddle was vanquished and gone. The Horcrux in the diary was removed, and it was now just as it should have been. Though, now completely useless due to the massive hole in the center with ink saturating the hole the sword made and the rest of the pages as well. Ares began twisting the sword around for good measure.

When the hole in the diary was big enough, Ares pulled the sword free with ease. After carefully wiping the blade free of the ink, he walked over to where Riddle had dropped his wand. With his wand retrieved, he felt something different course through him. He had anticipated he'd need a new wand to keep up with his newfound power levels, especially once his core was unbound, but he never expected for his wand to merely tolerate him upon his arrival.

Oh, he could still use the wand because it was familiar with him, but it would never be his wand. It was proof that the Holly Phoenix feathered wand never really chose him, it chose the Horcrux in his brain. As disappointing as that way, it was a problem for another day. Not much he could do about it until he got to Diagon Alley.

He wandered back to where he’d been, quickly banishing the ink off the diary, and shrinking it. He stashed it in his pocket as Ginny began to stir. The last thing he needed was for her to see the diary and have a relapse. There was also this feeling in his gut that no one should take it from him. He wondered if that was the angels giving him a clue, or as Mal teased, his "premonition" ability kicking in. With a sigh, he put that aside for the moment as well.

He was standing once more, the tip of the sword resting on the floor, his hands folded together holding the ball on the end of the hilt.

He stood there, dirty, in pain, looking every bit as pissed off he was feeling at that moment. With the adrenaline wearing off, the pain was steadily increasing in intensity. Fawkes's tears were helping, but there was only so much they could do. He needed to get to the hospital wing soon. Pure stubbornness kept him going.

Looking down at the girl, he now understood why Gabriel sent him back to this moment. It was here in this place, at Ginny’s weakest point, that he had to begin crushing the image of him she’d built in her mind. He was not a knight in shining armor coming to save the damsel, or in the case of her thoughts, the princess, in distress. There was no true loves kiss, a fairy tale wedding, and a happy ending at the end of this story for her.

Given the way she reacted when she saw him; a sigh and a dreamy look in her eyes, it was clear that’s what she was expecting. He quickly pulled up his occlumency shields and cast a small Legimens probe into her mind. He was surprised to find her mind so unguarded. Whether it was because she was magically weaker than him, or perhaps she was simply an eleven-year-old child, he wasn’t sure.

Ares knew he would every advantage in his arsenal to put some distance between him and his enemies. He was well and truly done with the youngest Weasley's, and if they didn't get the message and leave him alone after he said his piece, then they would fall before his wand or this sword. Whichever was handier at that moment in time.

}TLCW{

Ginny was used to waking up after being possessed. By the time she realized what Riddle was going to do to her, it was too late to tell anyone or stop what she was doing.

She couldn’t stop doing it because she’d poured out so much of herself already into the Diary, and now, Riddle didn’t even need permission to possess her, he could do so on his own power there at the end.

She couldn’t say anything because of how it would all look. She was a Weasley daughter, they had loudly proclaimed themselves to be a “light” family. What would people think and say if they found out she had an artifact of Voldemort? (At least she was pretty sure it was Voldemort, Riddle never outright told her.) All of her mother’s plans would be in ruins!

Ginny had come down into the Chamber on Riddle's orders, unable to stop herself, so he could absorb the last of her soul. He would be made whole, and she would die. Lying forgotten in the chamber by all. Still, she had hope, there was one, and only one, who could stop Riddle, and save her.

As her strength began to return, Ginny was relieved. She knew she’d survived. Now it was just a matter of making sure it was how she thought it would be, and making sure she looked like the helpless victim.

She opened her eyes, and happiness filled her. She knew that he would come and save her. There was never any doubt in her mind that he would come running when a Weasley, especially this Weasley, was in danger. No matter what Riddle said, she just knew that her Harry would defy and risk all to come to rescue her. He was standing before her now, fresh from what was obviously a hard battle, a sword in his hands. Just like the knights and princes in the stories her daddy used to read her.

Ginny liked to pretend as a little girl that it was her as the fair maiden and Harry Potter as the one rescuing her. Well, she got her wish now; she was living that situation now. Here she was, her life in danger, and there her Harry was, it was the makings of a lifelong romance!

Oh, how merlin and fortune smiled upon her this day! She would not let their blessing go in vain.

}TLCW{

Ares didn't need his Legimency to know what Ginny was thinking, it was written clearly on her face as she woke up and looked at him. He knew her well enough to get a pretty good idea of what she was thinking just by her expressions. Though he couldn't deny that it was nice to know exactly what the little bitch was thinking.

He had tried to convince himself as she was stirring that she was an innocent child, but her thoughts upon awakening cemented that she wasn’t the Ginny Weasley people thought her to be, and she was every bit the horrible woman Molly was, and would be even worse when she grew up.

Ares’s hands twitched on the hilt of the blade. He wondered if Mal would hate him if killed Ginny here and now and disposed of her body. It’s not like anyone would be able to find out, though Dumbledore might eventually figure it out.

With a sigh, he relented. If Ginny died down here it would bring up too many questions, and Dumbledore trying to mind rape the fuck out of him to find out why he didn’t succeed in saving Ginny. It was too soon for Dumbledore to try to rifle through his mind.

It was better to stick to the script as much as he could bear. That meant Ginny would live, and he would use this whole event to break away from the youngest Weasley's, as well as Hermione, as soon as he was able.

He also knew that Mal wanted to confront his previous to show them what they could have had, and what they never will now.

He had once thought such behavior was a woman’s thing, as Ginny and Hermione did it often enough during his marriages to them. But he realized after his test life with that it was typical jealousy and territorial feelings when it came to being a couple. Especially when someone was actively pursuing your spouse or partner, with you standing right there. Though no one was denying the fact that his previous wives took that behavior to the extreme.

Ares had to bury those memories behind his occlumency shield. It would not do for him to react to those memories right now. Though the sidetracked thoughts allowed Ares to overcome his desire to straight-up kill Ginny right there and hide the evidence more than the logical thinking had.

His eyes had been on Ginny the whole time, looking down at her. Apathy would be his prevailing appearance and way of treating almost everyone at Hogwarts for his remaining time here.

Ginny was looking up at him, smiling softly at first when she saw him. Sweet, innocent, and offering. However, he remained silent, staring down at her with that emotionless expression, and her smile faded little by little, no matter how she fought to keep it in place.

She was waiting for him to rush down to her side. To drop the sword and look upon her with relief and compassion.

Only, he didn’t.

Ares had done that before when he thought of her as Ron's little sister, and maybe someday he could be another big brother to her. That was all he'd ever truly wanted from Ginny, a little sister figure. Like he had a big sister figure in Hermione.

Thanks to his memories, he knew how he reacted before, and the result that came from them. While he thought he was being a kind and considerate person, he realized now that he was only playing right into Ginny’s delusional fantasies.

Well, he was doing to do the exact opposite this time around. It helped to have the Legimens, so he could see what she expected him to do, what she wanted him so desperately to do, which were two entirely different scenarios. Thanks to that knowledge he was able to not only do the opposite but completely shatter her imaginings. Forcing her to face the truth at that moment.

So while she came back to herself, Ares merely stayed stationary. No emotion showing, not a muscle moving. Not only did it help keep the pain to a minimum, but it presented the scary image he wanted to impose upon Ginny's mind.

It was slow, but eventually, she came to realize that her Harry wasn’t going to follow the script in her head. So she sat up straighter, abandoning the perfect pose for him to swoop down and embrace her. One that would see them laying on the floor in a passionate embrace.

Ares wondered if it was normal for eleven-year-old girls to have sexual fantasies. Something to ask Mal later.

Ginny was trying to be discrete as she looked around for the diary that caused this whole mess – and utterly failing at it from Ares’s perspective. She was unnerved by its disappearance, and she was more than glad to believe it had been lost, better yet destroyed, in the battle. The last thing she needed was for Harry to find it again. If it was one thing, she was aware of now, Riddle used the secrets of others to gain the trust of the person writing into the Diary. He would use her actions against her and drive a wedge between her Harry!

She looked up at the still unmoved Ares and tried to salvage what she thought was a fairy tale romance in the beginning.

"Oh, Harry!" She fake sobbed. Trying to sound as weak and as tired as possible, as well as doing her best to look guilty at the situation and relieved to see him. She'd perfect her lower lip quiver to get what she wanted out of her daddy and oldest brothers, and she used it now to add to the effect. It never failed to get her what she wanted before.

Ares was rather amazed at how much the potions affected his mental state and observation skills. Even without his memories and his Legimens ability helping now, he wouldn't have bought that act. He grew up with Dudley, the King of the Fake innocent act. He realized that's exactly who she reminded him of.

"Oh, Harry!" She fake sobbed again, "I'm so sorry! I'm so sorry for everything. I didn't know what was happening! Riddle took control and made me do it! I had no choice!"

He realized that while her statement itself wasn’t contradictory, he could see in her mind that she was lying. Perhaps someone as paranoid as Alastor Moody would have sensed the duplicity in her statement.

In the past, he had believed her when she said that. Now, he knew she was lying, and decided to take a page out of Moody’s book. He could always argue that the reason he didn’t believe her was because of Dudley’s antic’s and he noticed a similarity. Which was technically the truth.

Ares was silent for a moment longer, appearing, and feeling, unmoved by her fake tears and false apology, glared down at her. Making sure that when he spoke it was cold, but otherwise as unfeeling as possible. “Which is it?”

Ginny had been envisioning her Harry dropping to his knees and enveloping her in his arms, holding her tightly against him as he kissed her gently and said it was alright. It wasn’t her fault. He knew it wasn’t her doing, and he completely forgave her. His question snapped her out of her pleasant daydream right before her Harry’s lips gently touched her own for their first, innocent, true love’s kiss that would lead to more.

Confusion became the embodiment of Ginny Weasley for a moment. She merely stared up at him, at a loss for words, and unable to answer him.

Ares drew a careful breath before clarifying himself. “While I realize that he could have taken control and you not know, something he said implied that you knew exactly what was happening when he took control.” That was a lie, but Memory Mort wasn’t there to contradict him. “So, which is it? He took control, that’s a given, but did you know what was happening, or were you unaware until after the deed was done? It can’t be both ways.”

Ginny was shocked, and a little fearful. He had never been this astute or this quizzical before, analyzing what was said and pointing out the discrepancies that the other person said. Even that mudblood Granger was able to say half-truths or blatant lies and her Harry never once questioned. If it came from a Weasley, the mudblood, or Dumbledore, it might as well have been written in solid gold and a divine gift from Merlin himself in Harry’s mind.

The tears were a little more real as they fell from Ginny’s eyes now. Things weren’t going as her little mind envisioned, and her heart firmly believed would happen. She was more hurt by Ares’s reaction than she was by what she’d done.

“I didn’t know this would happen.” She sniffled, now avoiding looking at him. Seeing that stony expression on his face was breaking her heart. “Riddle took over me, made me do things. I had no control over my actions.”

At least, there was some truth to what she said this time. Ares thought to himself. Even if she didn’t answer my question, but she knows she can’t lie now or I might catch on to her bullshit.

When she looked back up at him with a hopeful expression, he remained the same. She was expecting her admittance there to bring out the Knight in Shining Armor persona. She was expecting her predictions/fantasies to happen according to the script from this point on.

She expected, no that was wrong.

All of her was demanding that he be that person for her. To show her kindness after her terrible ordeal, to be the understanding friend he'd been since he met her. Disregarding the fact that they hadn't spoken but a handful of words to each other since he met her.

He was all too happy to deny her all of it. It helped when he saw in her mind the truth of her thoughts and feelings about what happened. It all started when Riddle suggested that he could lend her his power to release the Basilisk for a Halloween prank, and if she was really lucky, get rid of the “mudblood bitch” that was standing in her way.

Ginny didn't even hesitate, but wholeheartedly agree. She wanted Hermione away from her Harry, and really, regardless of what mummy said, Ron deserved a pureblood witch as a wife.

Ginny didn't regret the crimes she'd been "forced" to commit. She remembered them with picture-perfect clarity and relished in the experience and power. The mudbloods were in the way, and Penny was adored by Percy who'd been a git to Ginny on more than one occasion. And in Ginny's mind, Hermione was the worse mudblood of them all and had to go. Which is how Riddle won her over as Ares already saw.

Ginny had two regrets throughout all of this. The first was she hadn't killed anyone, only petrified. The second was Riddle's betrayal when he revealed that he was leeching away Ginny's life for himself.

She was a Pureblood! The future wife of the Boy-Who-Lived! A princess, and one day a Queen! How dare that bastard do this to her!

Ares found himself sickened by how well and truly evil, not to mention selfish, Ginny was at even this age.

Of course, “Harry” wasn’t to know that. There was a series of expectations laid out for him. A carefully written script for him that must never be deviated from. Among them was to never know the truth about Ginny’s and Ron’s allegiances and beliefs. He was supposed to follow along and never question the intentions or loyalty of the Weasley’s and Dumbledore.

His past behavior indicated they had nothing to worry about from that angle, all Ginny had to do was ride out this temper tantrum and he would be back to his meek little self, eager to please everyone. Especially the Weasley’s.

No more! Ares’s thought screamed out.

No more was he the desperate little boy looking for friends and willing to do practically anything and everything to keep them. No more was he a love and loyalty potioned halfwit, a mere step away from a flubberworm in intelligence. He was a man who’d slain the Dark Lord Voldemort, twice, and watched as many true friends and family died in the process.

He was a trained and battle-hardened warrior, and he was pissed off!

“Yeah, yeah, battle-hardened warrior,” Fawkes laughed in Ares’s mind, “stuck in the body of a broken and weak twelve-year-old boy!”

“This is new.” Ares commented, turning to look at the bird on his shoulder, rather surprised he was able to communicate with the phoenix this way. “And I’m nearly thirteen, the rest will be taken care of in time.”

“Sure." Fawkes drawled amusedly. "Sure, it will.”

Frustration touched the Legimens probe Ares had in Ginny’s mind, and he looked back at her from Fawkes. She was still sitting there, a small pout forming, and a rather annoyed look in her eyes.

He’s not doing what he was supposed to! Her thoughts kept screaming.

Ares decided to use this chance to thoroughly spank Ginny down, without actually having to touch her, as that's what she wanted most. "You're a bloody hypocrite Ginevra Molly Weasley, and you should be ashamed of yourself." Ginny reeled back as if struck, but Ares was far from done. "Did you really think that I wouldn't notice that you didn't answer my question? You say that he made you, but you implied that you're a victim, same as those who you petrified. Codswallop!"

Perhaps this was kicking a man when down, and he ran the risk of getting severely punished for his conduct down here, but he didn’t fucking care. Ginny’s thoughts cemented firmly what he already suspected; Molly, Ron, and Ginny were closet blood purists, and if he was right, Dumbledore too.

Having said his remark, Ginny’s memories flashed over her crimes and victims, confirming what he already learned. Ginny was a willing accomplice up until she learned Riddle was going to kill her.

“Perhaps you didn’t know this would happen as you so claimed, but you, Weasley, of all people, should have at least suspected.” He glared down at her. “Your father has worked in the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts at the Ministry all of your life. I’ve listened to him talk about work and some of those cursed objects that he had to deal with, and I know you grew up hearing stories like this. When that diary began to talk back, it should have immediately dawned on you that this was a cursed object.

"At the very least, you should have realized that a talking diary wasn't normal and asked your father about it or McGonagall! You hadn't released the Basilisk yet, you hadn't begun to terrorize the muggleborns yet, you wouldn't have gotten trouble for bringing the right attention to the Diary's existence! You could have ended this before it all began, as much as I disagree with this fact, we both know that Dumbledore won't punish you for any of this either."

Ares took a careful step back, but otherwise looked and remained the same. “And what about the times you were in control, Weasley? Riddle didn’t control you all of the time, why didn’t you say something when you were in control? As I said before, if you didn’t realize that the diary was trouble when it answered you, you should have been clued in when you came too after losing hours of time. When you realized that other students were harmed.”

She had tears flowing down her cheeks, and he could feel her heart, not breaking, shattering. Not over anything that she did, but because of how he was talking to and treating her now.

"No one would have blamed you; it wasn't your fault. You were being controlled by a cursed object. You couldn't have been held responsible for what happened, and as I said before, you won't face any punishment for it. However, much I now believe you should. I learned all about cursed objects in my first year, and I know you should have as well. Because of our debilitating DADA professors, Flitwick's first-year groups take a couple of classes to teach this so the students know if they become aware of one, or suspect that someone is being controlled by one, to bring it to the professor's attention.

“You could have, should have, said something when you became aware that something was wrong!” His glare became more pronounced as years’ worth of anger came out into his tone. “Better yet, why didn’t you say something when I had the journal? That was the perfect chance to come clean about all of it, yet you didn’t! You stole it back, and things escalated to where you would be dead now if I hadn’t come down here!”

He took a breath to calm himself, closing his eyes, calling on calm from his occlumency shields, before looking back at her again. “In my opinion, you were being stupid, as you deliberately didn’t do the right thing, and kept using the diary. This was completely avoidable, yet you ignored all logic. Stupid.”

Ginny's shattered heart had given way to fury. He wasn't playing by the rules, and now he wasn't believing the helpless victim act and poking logical holes in her story. Ares kept an eye on her thought process as he ranted and watch as her pain descended into fury. It was inevitable that when he finished, the legendary Weasley temper would make an appearance.

“Why didn’t you say anything!?” She screeched at him. “You had the diary! Why didn’t you say something to a professor!?”

“If it hadn’t been for Hermione and Ron convincing me not to, I would have.” Ares said firmly and with complete honesty. “I remembered what Arthur said about his work, and I remembered my lessons with Flitwick, I was going to give it to him. However, Ron and Hermione thought it was part of the mystery, a piece of a puzzle that would lead to the answers about what was going on this year. They wanted to keep it so we could crack the secrets and expose the answers when we turned it into the professors. Hermione was in it for the knowledge, Ron was in it for the glory,” Ares shrugged, barely managing to avoid wincing at the pain flaring up when he did. “I went along with it because they were my friends. Ron had more experience with magical items, plus your father on the back burner for any questions we had. Hermione was the brains of the outfit, and she wanted to know what was going on so she could protect herself, and ideally, the other muggleborns.”

He sighed. “For each day we had that offending thing I wanted to tell a professor. Hermione and Ron kept convincing me not to. Days turned into weeks, and I eventually had it. Nothing they could say could change my mind, not that they were aware of this. I’d come to realize I couldn’t tell them until after I’d given the diary to a professor. The day you stole it back, I was heading to my dorm to get it, and bring it straight to Flitwick and McGonagall. I suspected at the time it was stolen back because someone knew what I was fixing to do.”

Ginny was staring at him in utter shock. She hadn't expected a coherent answer, much less that he would have gone against Hermione and Ron to give the diary to a professor. She expected him to pitch a fit and not really answer, giving her vindication that he hadn't thought of it for himself. Thus, providing her with a reasonable doubt as to why she didn't.

It was laughable how she kept coming up with schemes and he kept shattering them. He would look back on this memory in the future and laugh at the pathetic little girl trying to make sure she looked like a victim, and her obsessive determination to make "Harry Potter" her boy toy and bankroller.

“Now,” He said bringing her attention back onto him and not giving her quick-thinking time to create a reasonable answer that he would accept, “my question is why?”

“Why what?” She demanded, not having an answer and getting worried at his pointed questions.

"Why didn't you tell someone?" He clarified simply as if talking to a toddler.

Ginny’s mind was scrambling to come up with a believable explanation.

"I've never had a diary before." She lied, but it was the truth that followed, envious truth, before diving back into blatant lies at the end. "All of the other girls had pretty diaries. The muggleborns had a variety of different ones. Bright colors, pretty patterns, silky or fuzzy covers. All I found was a used-up leather one in with my school books while packing at the Burrow, still, it was my own diary. I didn’t want to give that up. I just wanted to fit in with the other girls by having my own diary.”

“So, it was out of selfishness?” Ares asked for clarification.

“What!?” Ginny snapped, “No! I just said-!”

“You said because you saw the other girls with pretty ones, you got jealous and wanted a pretty diary as well. But you didn’t have a diary like them, and there was no way you were ever going to get one like them, but you did have a diary. So you swallowed your embarrassment and used the ratted leather one. Because that’s what people would expect from the poor Weasley family, but at least you were proving yourself a normal girl, and making the best with what you had.”

“I never said any of that!” Ginny screamed with all of her might.

“But that’s what you meant.” Ares said gently.

Ginny had no response to that; it was the truth. She couldn't argue against it without having any kind of proof. Lying about something like this could lead to magical vows or that nasty truth potion, and Ginny couldn't risk any of that.

“As I said, you were being selfish.”

“My mum approved when I showed it to her!” Ginny yelled. “She said every young witch needs a diary at some point! I needed it! Don’t you understand that!? Girls are different from boys! We need diaries!”

Ares just rolled his eyes at her desperate and pathetic ploy, as did Fawkes who had been watching and listening. “Now you’re just acting spoiled and trying to place a little blame on your mother for saying that you needed it.” He met her eyes, “Girls don’t need diaries, they simply want them. Hermione doesn’t have one, she has planners, but my point stays.”

It didn’t escape his notice that every time he mentioned Hermione, rage would fill her mind and would make an appearance in her expressions.

Finally realizing that he wasn’t going to swoop down and embrace her, Ginny stood to face him now. In her thoughts, she was seething with rage that he would mention that mudblood slut in front of her, as well as the aforementioned not playing along with the usual script.

“I was scared!” She screamed, getting closer to him as she did so. “People could have died! And it would have been my fault! I would have been a murder!”

Ares raised one hand off of the sword, raising his arm so his hand was between himself and Ginny. While it hurt, it was manageable, and he thanked Fawkes for choosing the other shoulder to perch on. "One," he counted off his fingers, "the lesson on cursed objects. Two, your father's work. You are very well aware that you can't be held responsible. So that," Ares waved his hand a little, referring to Ginny's previous statements, "whatever that was either proves your stupidity or was a blatant lie. Take care not to lie to me Ms. Weasley, I do not deal with lairs well."

Ginny’s lower lip was now quivering. Shock was the prevailing emotion now. The fury had ebbed, and all that was left was the shock and the growing sense of hurt. Ginny was beginning to realize there was no way to win this argument with him, he was sticking to his convictions for a change. Plus the fact that he had convictions!

Ares fought the urge to groan as she tried the last tactic she could think of. One every manipulative woman fell back on when all else failed. She began to cry. At least the tears weren’t fake. They came naturally because of the hurt.

“Why are you being so mean to me!?” She sobbed heartbreakingly. “I’m the victim here!”

“As you said a few moments ago, people could have died; you almost died because of your choices. That’s why I’m being mean, as you put it! This whole thing, as I believe I’ve mentioned before, was completely avoidable! And you're not helping yourself by trying to paint yourself as the biggest victim in all of this!" Ares found himself yelling. "You made the choice to keep doing this and not say anything, at that point you stopped being the victim in my opinion and became the villain!

“All your pathetic arguments and whining has proven to me that you are were being selfish, spoiled, and stupid! That is the only explanation that makes sense to me in all of this! Why else would you have kept the diary, or reclaim it after getting rid of it once already and let it keep doing those things to you!? Either you were being selfish, spoiled, and stupid, or you were a willing participant in the evil that occurred here this year!

"Which means you're guilty of multiple attempted murders! Especially against an Ancient and Noble House, as your last attack landed Penelope Clearwater in the hospital wing as well! Which is an automatic death sentence! There is no leeway, there is no what-if scenario's, your age, gender, and blood status would have played no part in saving you!"

The reality of the situation she was in hit home, and Ginny realized if certain people in the Ministry found out about this, her father losing his job would be the least of her problems. If any of this was brought to the light of day, Ginny would be dead before Dumbledore even had the chance to launch a protest on her behalf, the laws were very clear on attacks against the Ancient and Noble Houses.

Ginny fell to her knees as her mind and emotions broke. “But I’m the victim! I’m a victim too! You shouldn’t be treating me like this!”

“Then I suggest you go home and cry to your mother if you want comfort.” Ares stated, his apathetic demeanor returned. “I would also recommend seeing a mind healer, I’m sure Dumbledore can arrange one for you. You obviously need one with your logic being so flawed that I doubt you have any claim to sanity. Add the trauma of this past year you just endured; you need a mind healer. Don’t let anyone convince you otherwise.”

There, he said his piece and gave her an out to deal with her mental issues. Now all he could do was wait and see if she would correct her thinking after some much-needed therapy, or if she would continue to be a shadow darkening his future until dealt with.

Before Ginny could say anything more, Ares turned and began walking towards the door, using the swords as a cane. "We need to go. There was a cave in when a spell backfired earlier. Ron's on the other side with Lockhart, trying to shift some rocks around so we could get back through. Lockhart and Ron already needed Madame Pomfrey, now you and I as well. There are more people involved with this than just you, you are hardly the only victim, and all of them need medical attention."

Once they were out of the door, Ares cast a powerful notice me not charm around himself for a moment and sealed the door shut.

Do not permit any entry until the passwords are removed.§ Ares softly hissed at the door, lacing it with as much magical power as he could, as he set up a series of passwords.

“Can Dumbledore still get in here?” Ares asked Fawkes as he canceled his charm, allowing Ginny to see him again as he led her back up the tunnel. She was too busy crying to even notice they’d stopped for a moment.

“I’m not entirely certain.” Fawkes trilled back. “But I’m sure that a soul traveler such as yourself can think of ways in which he could. For the record, rule me out. I won’t be bringing him down here.”

“Good to know.” Ares sighed as he walked. “And yes, I can think of a couple. I’ll just have to have sure that outside forces keep him busy.”

“Make sure you render the skin invisible.” Fawkes warned him. “Even if Dumbledore can’t get into the chamber, he could still steal the skin for a profit if you let him.”

“Will do.” Ares said silently thanking the bird.

Upon arriving at the cave-in, enough of the rocks had been moved that Ron was pacing on the side facing Ares and Ginny waiting for them to come back. Ron had waited here the entire time. He wasn't stupid enough to go into the chamber and fight against a Basilisk. The acromantulas were bad enough, he wasn't going to face a giant snake. Not even to save his baby sister. A sister he didn't really like all that much and was jealous of a lot of the time.

Ares had to fight down his shock at that. Ron was jealous of Ginny? Upon inspection into the red head’s mind, he saw that, in the Weasley home, from Ron’s point of view.

Molly loved all of her sons, true, and doted on Ron a little more than the others because he was her baby boy, but Ginny was her baby girl, the only girl, and she had wanted a daughter above all else. Which is why Arthur and Molly had so many sons, she wanted to keep trying till she had her daughter. This was spoken often enough it seemed it was ingrained in Ron’s subconscious.

Yes, Ron was special, mummy’s baby boy, but Ginny would always be mummy’s favorite. Nothing would ever change that, and if Ginny were gone, nothing Ron did would make it better.

So if Ginny found herself in a deadly situation; Ron would save her for two reasons:

1) his mother would never forgive him for not rushing to her aid and would curse him into oblivion. If he survived, his limbs being severed, and she'd likely starve him like he saw Harry was all the time at his muggle relatives.

2) Ginny was now his meal ticket to a better life. While all of his brothers had more power and talent than him, if Ginny held up her end of the bargain and married Harry, Ron would be the brother in law to the Boy Who Lived. Women would be breaking down his door to spend time with him. Job offers would be plentiful, and he could have his pick of them. Though there would be little point in that, he'd be the one Weasley son who would never have to work a day in his life. Ginny was going to give him a cut of the Potter fortune so Harry would never find out that Ron and Ginny had played him like a game of Wizard's Chess, and Harry was the broken piece.

Ginny's constant sniffling, which thanks to his legimency probe in her mind, Ares knew she was forcing now to make herself look like the perfect victim after a terrible ordeal, finally caught the attention of Ron. Although they'd been in view and most certainly could be heard Ron never noticed them. Though in his defense, neither of them made any effort to get Ron's attention. Ginny because she was scheming, and Ares because he was avoiding talking to the bastard any more than he had to.

Ares realized that it said a lot about the git when Ron didn’t hear or notice anything until they were but a few feet away.

Ginny was still holding herself crying, while he wasn’t aware of exactly what she was scheming at the moment, he knew that she was. He had to focus on walking and not looking weak while he was about it. For the simple fact that he wanted to look like the legend others claimed him to be, powerful and strong. He was also right pissed from the encounter in the chamber, added to what he just learned from Ron, he knew he made the right call. Curses would likely have gone flying if he saw what the little bitch had in mind.

With a sigh, he lamented keeping his temper in check was hard work. He couldn’t help but think that he needed Mal. She could keep him calm when his occlumency failed without much effort on her part.

"Ginny!" Ron exclaimed and rushed forward gathering Ginny his arms and hugging her tightly. Taking small breaks in their embrace to look her over and make sure that she was all there and okay. "Thank Merlin you're alright! I've been so worried about you!"

Ares rolled his eyes and walked past them to get to the other side of the cave-in where Lockhart was still staring at nothing and singing to himself. Biting his already cut up tongue to keep from commenting about the big lie Ron just told. The only thing Ron worried about was his own arse.

If Ginny was selfish, spoiled, and stupid, Ron was greedy, jealous about anything and everything, with the brains of a Troll. Ares would live by that till the day his soul ceased to exist. And knowing the angels as well as he did, he had a feeling that wasn’t going to happen within the next few millennia at least.

Ron and Ginny were still embracing though they had followed Ares through the hole Ron created. Ron was just relieved to have her back and scared if he let her go, she’d disappear. He couldn’t afford to let anything happen to her, literally. His financial future rested squarely on her shoulders, or technically, what was between her legs.

Ares looked away at that, he didn’t need to know that. Or wanted to listen in to Ron’s hormonal thoughts, especially in regards to his sister.

Ginny, was worse. Here was the embrace that she wanted, here was the compassion and love she was so desperate for. As Ron held her close, whispered sweet nothings in her ear, and made sure she was okay, she kept her eyes closed the entire time. She was pretending that Ron was her Harry. If Ron kissed her now, it wouldn’t be Ron she saw, it would be her Harry, and she so wanted a kiss from her Harry.

The person who Ginny thought was her Harry, was gagging and nearly threw up then and there.

“Somethings are better left unknown.” Fawkes gagged himself.

To keep himself from getting sick, which would cause him yet more pain, he inched his way over to the skin and used both parseltongue magic as well as several notice me not charms on the skin to hide it. Fawkes added his own magic to boost the still core-blocked Ares’s spells. While some of his skills had transferred down, and the blocks were cracked after “such a vicious battle”, his core was still blocked. He was sure the angels gave him a boost for just the beginning.

He began to realize that perhaps that every battle the blocks cracked on his core, but Dumbledore fortified them after each one. Making them stronger each time he did. In all likelihood, if they had become unblocked as an adult, he'd have died because his body wouldn't be able to contain his magic. Perhaps it was another defense in Dumbledore's mind, in case his various tests failed him.

Ares shook his head. Not the time to think about such things. He was at least, assured that Dumbledore wouldn't be getting the skin, now there was just working on a way to keep him out of the chamber. Satisfied for the moment, Ares turned back to the youngest Weasley's, whose behavior was borderline incestual.

They finally parted seconds after his attention was back at them. As Ron was beginning to realize he’d hugged his sister a lot longer than he should have, and was thoroughly embarrassed by this.

Ginny opened her eyes and looked around. She didn't have to remind herself that she was in Ron's arms all along, she already knew that. She used him as he used her, to get what she wanted at the moment. Her eyes landed on Ares, with his still infuriating apathetic demeanor.

She wanted to get him trouble. She wanted to cause him the same pain as he had caused her. Ginny turned to Ron and looked as heartbroken as she possibly could, and she began crying all over again.

Ares rolled his eyes and didn't even try to hide it. Never mind the fact that he was in physical pain, literally sporting broken bones, a possible concussion, and nearly died due to Basilisk venom. Never mind that Lockhart was reverted to his toddler days mentally. Never mind that the whole school was on lockdown and in a panic because a student had gone missing and was rumored dead. That student being Ginny. No, all of that didn't matter.

What mattered was he hurt Ginny’s feelings, he broke her little heart, now she was going to do the same to him by turning his best mate against him.

“Ginny!?” Ron squealed getting worried all over again. “What is it, what’s wrong?”

Ginny shook her head, “You won’t care!”

“Of course, I will!” Ron insisted. “I’m your brother!”

“But you always take other people’s sides, you never believe me!” Ginny wailed.

“I promise Ginny, I will take your side! I will believe you!” Ron promised. “Now tell me what’s wrong? What happened?”

Inside, Ginny was grinning, and laughing manically. Outwardly, she was wailing, “Harry was mean to me! I’d just woken up after Riddle had almost drained me of my life, and he was cold and cruel to me! He said it was all my fault and said I should be punished! It wasn’t my fault! I was possessed! I tried explaining but he wouldn’t listen to me!”

Ginny knew how to play to Ron’s anger and insecurities to turn him against Ares. Not that Ares wasn’t grateful to Ginny for getting the ball started. The original plan was to get Ron angry with him so he would leave Ares alone for a little while. Ginny was doing a bang-up job all by herself.

Ron reacted exactly how Ginny knew and hoped he would. While grateful, Ares was, however, rather annoyed that it was so easy to manipulate Ron.

Among Ron's many weaknesses, and it's not as if it was overly hard to figure out as Ron made no attempt to even hide them, was his jealousy. His jealousy was probably the most problematic of all of his weaknesses. The biggest example Ares could think of was fourth year. Again, Ares shook his head, coming to realize that it had to be the potions messing with his mind because there was no way he would have forgiven Ron after that fiasco.

Ron was jealous. Pure and simple. Jealous of everyone, and almost everything. He was jealous of his brothers. They got the good looks, the power, and brand-new things occasionally while he was always stuck with their cast-off. He was jealous of everyone else for a similar reason because they all had brand-new things when everything Ron had was secondhand or hand-me-downs from his brothers. Not one thing that he owned he could honestly say was bought for him and him alone, except for the things that Harry bought for him. Even Ron's prized possession which entailed anything from the Chudley Cannons was bought out of a second-hand store.

Worst of all, Ron was especially jealous of those who were richer than him. Ron was from a long-established Pureblood line, and yet his families were worse than mudbloods just after graduating from Hogwarts trying to find work. He was better than all of the half-bloods and mudbloods like Harry and Hermione. He was right up there with Malfoy, better even as the Malfoy’s came from France. His family had been born and bred on the British Isles for centuries, they could trace it back to the fourteenth century a relative had ranted one afternoon. He wasn’t sure which one now, but he knew it had been said.

It was humiliating that Harry Potter, an orphaned welp, destined to die if Dumbledore was to be believed, and Hermione, a mudblood whose only purpose in life was to spread her legs for him, had riches Ron could only dream of. It wasn’t fair in his mind.

It was this jealousy, compounded with that Weasley temper and pride that saw Ron lashing out at any perceived threat or insult against the Weasley family. He wouldn’t tolerate an attack on his family. Not even if it came from Harry.

Ginny played her part well, and Ron was absolutely livid when he looked back at Ares. “What did you do?”

Ares merely glared at Ron unamused. Remembering all of the times that Ron fought with Ginny and called her spoiled, Ares answered honestly. “Nothing you wouldn’t have done if you were in my place, mate.”

“See! See what I mean!?” Ginny sobbed harder. “He called me terrible things!”

“What did you call my sister!?” Ron shouted, his face going red.

“I called her stupid for not reporting the diary as a cursed object to your father or one of the professors.” Ares admitted, unphased by Ron’s anger and Ginny’s pathetic attempt to get revenge on him. “There’s more, but that’s the heart of the matter.”

Ginny, of course, wouldn’t let it end there. Though she was rather surprised that Ares was admitting to everything rather than picking a fight with Ron about who was right and who Ron should believe. It was Ares’s admittance to everything so casually that kept Ron on the edge of his anger being controlled or lashing out. Ginny had to push it a bit further if she wanted to succeed.

She bawled harder than a two-year-old who had their candy taken away. Which Ares would know because he’d grown up with Dudley, and even at fifteen, he still behaved that way to get what he wanted from his mother.

“He called me spoiled and selfish!”

Ares, couldn’t help but chuckle and had to cough quickly to disguise it and call upon his occlumency to hide his amusement. It was hilarious! Ginny was doing her damnedest to turn Ron against him as an act of revenge, just to teach him a lesson, and Ron was falling for it hook, line, and sinker.

The goal in Ginny's mind was for Ron to stop having contact with Ares for a little while, just until the end of school. By then, Ares would come crawling back to the Weasley's, begging for Ron's forgiveness so he could get his best mate back and find some relief not to stay at the Dursley's all summer. Naturally, the condition of this forgiveness would be an apology and making amends with Ginny. She would then string Ares along for a few years, date a few other guys to make him jealous, before finally giving him the time of day.

Ares didn't need to see into her mind to know that she completely believed her delusional plan would work. And Ron would go along with it, because number 1) Ares disrespected the Weasley's and needed to be punished for it. Number 2) Ron stood to gain apology gifts.

This petty vindictive little girl was unknowingly working to get the youngest pair of Weasley’s out of his way, and later his life, much faster and better than any plan he’d been concocting. He wasn’t sure whether to be proud or groan at the fact that Mal predicted this just right when they discussed how to get the youngest Weasley’s and Granger away from him early on.

She said to be himself and not take any shit from the Weasley’s, and their vindictive pride wouldn’t allow them to grovel to Ares. Especially when they fully anticipated that he would come groveling to them before long. In the end, he decided to be amused.

He merely stood back and let the youngest Weasley’s bury themselves deeper and deeper into the mass grave they were creating around them.

Ron was as furious as expected, and however much he agreed with Ares, he was giddy with greed at the thought of apology presents. "Apologize to her this instant or we're not going back!"

“What?” Ares asked genuinely confused. Even Ron’s mind wasn’t prepared for that last part.

Ron shook his head, he wanted to get out of this dump and shower, yesterday! So he decided to pretend he didn’t say that last part. “I said what I said and I meant it!” Ron thundered. “Apologize to Ginny this instant!”

Anger, which Ares had managed to get down to simmer, hidden behind his occlumency shields, was beginning to boil. He decided that now would be a good time to get that anger out to play.

“No!” Ares yelled, half of his anger coming out to play. His magic began to flare about it, causing a soft wind to billow off of him. “I’m right! And you know I am! I can see it in your eyes that you agree with me, you prat! I’m not going to apologize for being right! Ginny had to know, had to learn, that what she did was wrong on so many levels! If the Wizengamot gets wind of Penny’s state, and that there’s someone to actually blame for this whole disaster of a year, she’s dead! No matter how much protection Dumbledore places on her!”

Ares noticed then, with their eyes locked onto him, they looked terrified. “Huh?”

“It seems your new appearance, courtesy of the higher powers I assume, has finally taken effect. My tears unlocked it.” Fawkes trilled amused. “In this dank and dark atmosphere, your darker shade of hair isn’t that noticeable, but your glowing golden eyes are. Combined with your new attitude, yes-yes, Dumble-dick is sure to call you a new Dark Lord.”

Ares had to choke back his laugh. It was fortuitous timing at that moment that Ginny shrieked in fear and hid behind Ron, who's hands had balled into chubby fists. Ares couldn't help but think "Oh, how cute.” sarcastically at the pathetic show of bravado.

“That’s not him!” Ginny wailed, though internally she was ecstatic. “That’s not our Harry!”

“Where’s Harry, you imposter!?” Ron demanded.

Ares rolled his eyes and didn’t bother trying to hide it. Of course, because I have a new look and a new attitude, I must be a fake.

"What's got into you two?" He asked in a relatively calm manner, though his voice was still low and dark.

“He’s Riddle reborn!” Ginny gasped. “The ghost from the diary that possessed me!”

Ron drew his wand, and Ares rolled his eyes again. They both knew that broken stick wouldn't work on him. Lockhart was proof enough of that. Though, in the blockhead's defense, he probably didn't remember any of that.

“What in the hell makes you think that I’m Riddle reborn!?” Ares demanded himself, not bothering to hide his annoyance.

“Your eyes.” Ron said in a shaking voice, emphasizing the tremors already coursing through him. “They changed color.”

Ares took a deep bracing breath and thought of a way of explaining it to them so that even the dumbasses that they were could understand.

He also made a mental note to thank Mal again for expanding his knowledge of cursing. The wordy kind, not the magical kind.

"Ron, I was bitten by a Basilisk, meaning I have the venom in my blood. Fawkes here healed me. Meaning I've also got Phoenix Tears in my blood. Combine the two and I'm sure that my appearance has altered just a tad. I'd be surprised if it didn't!" He could see the doubt coming into their eyes, and decided to push the advantage home in a way that even Dumbledore couldn't refute. "Besides, do you not see that Fawkes is still riding on my shoulders? Phoenixes are the foremost light creatures in the magical world if he's still attached to me, and calm, then I must be a good guy. Otherwise, he'd be attacking me to protect you two."

Ron's little brain was almost to the point of overload. The changes in his best mate were appalling. His attitude Ron didn't begrudge because as he said, he was right about Ginny's actions. It was the insult to his sister that Ron couldn't allow. They couldn't allow Ares to grow a backbone or they'd be able to control him. He already had his heart set on a new wand and broom as apology presents, there was supposed to be an amazing one coming out this summer too!

No, the attitude didn't surprise Ron he'd think there was something wrong with his best mate if he hadn't been cranky. Ares was always cranky after a battle. It was the change in his eyes that scared the pants off Ron. If he hadn't already emptied his bowls, he was sure he would have shit his pants when the change occurred. But Ares had a point in his argument. Fawkes was Dumbledore's familiar, and the fact that he was still clinging to Ares was proof enough for Ron that he was still a good guy and on their side.

Ron pocketed his broken wand and nodded. “Sorry mate, that was scary.”

Ares merely nodded, grateful to see that for a brief second the red-headed male forgot that he was supposed to be angry with him to get his apology presents.

Ginny's reaction was different but expected. She began bawling harder, and this time, it was real. Ron was wavering in his resolve to punish his best mate, and she could see it. More than that, if Ares wasn't possessed by Riddle, it meant that her Harry was being mean to her because that’s what he truly thought. She all but firmly believed once again that her Harry would never speak to or treat her in the way he did.

Lockhart, all but forgotten off to the side began singing. “Row, row, row your boat.”

Thoroughly done with all of it, Ares removed the legimency probes and turned to Fawkes. “Sorry to ask this, but will you please take us to the hospital wing?”

“Finally!” Fawkes trilled annoyed. “I was over this scene before it began. Now, we can get to the good stuff! Well, have everyone line up and grab hold.”

“Please, no flying. We're all tired, most of us are injured, and then we'd have to walk up all of those stairs up to the hospital wing. It would further injure us.” Ares pleaded.

Fawkes narrowed his eyes. “I do not appreciate being used as a pack mule taxi service.”

“You mean you don’t want to show how fast and easily you could take us?” Ares questioned.

“Showing off is all well and good,” Fawkes argued. “But when Dumble-dicks has me performing that service every bleeding time he wants to go somewhere!”

“I get it, I do. But this gets it done faster, and you won’t have to touch anyone other than me physically.” Ares said. “And I promise, I will not ask this of you again.”

“Promises from you are as good as swearing on your magic.” Fawkes sighed. “Damn it! Why’d you have to argue so logically and be all noble?”

“To appeal to your better side and vanity?” Ares laughed.

“Well, it worked.” Fawkes said as he spread his wings and engulfed them all in Phoenix fire. “This time.”

}TLCW{

Poppy Pomfrey was making the rounds over her patients, seething with rage that they were still in this state, despite the fact that they could have been revived within days of their petrification. Now they were going to need intense care and several potions due to muscle atrophy and whatever else came up once they were revived. She’d have no way of knowing until they were revived, all she could do now was stay vigilant and prepare for the worst-case scenario.

She nearly had a heart attack when her ward suddenly burst into flames then quickly faded revealing several filthy and obviously injured patients. Her screams were still echoing, and likely hurting them when she finally managed to swallow them.

Ares winced past the ringing in his ears as he looked at Madame Pomfrey, "Madame, as lovely as your voice is, thank you for silencing yourself." He looked across at the Weasley's and Lockhart. "As you can see, we've recovered Ginny, but we are injured, some of us greatly, and beyond exhausted. We're all in need of your care. Ginny's suffering from the lingering effects of being possessed by Voldemort. Ron is suffering from scrapes and bruises due to a cave-in. Lockhart attacked us, intending to obliviate us, but he made the mistake of using Ron's broken wand, and it backfired onto himself. Now it seems as if he's mentally a toddler again. See to them first, and I shall tell you of my condition and the full extent this time, no holding back once you've finished with them."

Ares then sat and carefully laid back on the bed closest to him, as she pulled herself together and began to snap commands. While she wanted to treat him first, she ignored Ares and went about caring for the “simple” ones first.

She could see he intended to have them out of his way. Whatever happened, he wasn't on the best of terms with them at the moment. It was in no way professional, but she was actually grateful for the rift. In her experience, the Weasley's, and Dumbledore for that matter were only a hindrance when it came to her healing young Potter.

When he checked in her mind, Ares was grateful for her caring. Genuine caring for his wellbeing. He used this opportunity to “doze”. In truth, when he closed his eyes and appeared to be sleeping, he went over this life’s memories thus far behind his occlumency shields. A brief scan over and he saw nothing that he wasn’t already familiar with.

When he opened his eyes again, he saw Ron was checked over, given a few potions and sent to shower. Ginny and Lockhart were taking the longest for obvious reasons. While eventually Ginny was also sent to shower before coming back to Pomfrey, Pomfrey used her wand to clean the former Defense professor up and put him into bed with a potion to make him sleep.

While he waited for his turn to arrive, he noticed a Daily Prophet nearby, he used his wand to summon it to him, after discovering wandless magic was no longer an option. He also used his wand to place the sword under notice me not charms.

“Won’t work,” Fawkes sang, “But the sword won’t allow itself to be taken away this time around. It will return to you.”

“That’s a relief." Ares sighed as he organized the paperback together after someone had taken the pages apart and unorganized it.

Meanwhile, Fawkes sat back and contented himself with a song.

“Nasty humans, nasty humans, nasty humans all.

Filthy harlot with the game all in her head, and none to play along.

Filthy backstabber with his jealousy to make him fall.

A filthy liar with his head now stuck in song.

Filthy Dumble-dicks in ugly clothes trying to stand tall!”

Ares looked at Fawkes amused, but otherwise, let him have his song. Both knew Fawkes would be Ares familiar soon. The moment Ares realized he could speak to Fawkes; he knew that the bird would also be a familiar of his. Another clue was Fawkes's magic doing exactly as Ares asked. Without the familiar bond-forming, Fawkes, technically still being Dumbledore's familiar, without the specific instructions, would not have been able to flame travel everyone in the chamber and would have had to fly them out of there.

However, both knew, at least for now, Fawkes had to play the part of Dumbledore’s familiar. It kept the attention off of Ares for now, and it allowed Fawkes to spy on Dumbledore for Ares. At least that what Ares suspected Fawkes was up to.

With the Daily Prophet now organized, Fawkes was forgotten as a picture of Mal was staring up at him. The article showcased the results of the custody trial and how the other Bones heir was coming home to Britain at last. For the sake of doing her beauty justice, the Prophet printed her photo in color, deciding that the necessary magics and ink were worth the expense to show the Wizarding public the jewel they were going to gain.

Staring up at Ares, turning around before smiling softly, was his love. Her ice-blue eyes vibrant and full of love, her hair, the dark umber brown mixed with the red, giving her hair the dark burgundy look he adored, was past her shoulders and falling in-ring curls. Then the picture changed to one that was taken the morning of the final hearing. Her hair was smoky lavender like she hoped to accomplish before leaving Purgatory, it paired well with her eyes. No matter which version he stared at, she was as beautiful as ever.

Fawkes stopped singing, sitting his head on Ares’s own, he looked down at the picture Ares was still staring at.

“Beautiful, isn’t she?” Ares chuckled.

“Indeed.” Fawkes agreed, all playfulness absent from his demeanor. “I look forward to meeting your mate soon my friend.”

It was at that moment when Dumbledore entered, surprisingly absent of his usual Slytherin Shadow, and Pomfrey had finally finished with the youngest Weasley’s and turned to Ares. Both looked very worried and even a little scared.

Ares sighed internally, realizing just how much people paid attention to his eyes and hair, more so than his scar. They first looked for the eyes and the hair, and his face. Since it was "well known" that he looked like a clone of James. However, he now knew that's not what the two were seeing. Rather than a clone of James, his facial features were now what they were supposed to be, a mix of James and Lily. That would be among the first things noticed, then it would be his eyes.

“You are correct in assuming that Dumbledore and I cannot communicate this way together.” Fawkes began softly, “He can’t get a read on me at all, and all I can sense from him is his emotional reactions. I can tell you this much, he does NOT like the new look at all.”

“Can you guess at a reason?” Ares asked.

Fawkes shook his head. “I sense there are many reasons, but I cannot get deep enough into his mind to see what they are. All I can say for sure is what I told you, and there are many reasons why.”

Ares thanked his friend as Pomfrey stepped to his bedside and began to take in his state and scan over him with her wand. Her voice was fearful and trembling as she spoke. "What happened to you!?"

"I would like to know the answer to that as well." Dumbledore said in his grandfatherly tone.

Before he began, Pomfrey came to his defense, “Dumbledore! Headmaster or not! I will not let you pester my patients! This boy is in terrible condition and needs his rest more than you need your bloody questions answered! There are more important things than you!”

Ares’s approval rating for the healer skyrocketed as she ranted at Dumbledore. Still, “It’s okay Madame Pomfrey, I’ll explain what happened as I only intend to tell this once.”

He felt the Legimens probe then and decided to let Dumbledore have this, but all he saw was what Mal called "the canon" memories as Ares spoke.

Ares explained about the message Hermione left, and how he and Ron figured everything out. Then about their plan to help Lockhart, only for his dirty secrets to be discovered, then his inevitable betrayal. How they went after Ginny with Lockhart in tow as cannon fodder if needed, Lockhart's second betrayal of the night. The cave-in that followed after that. Harry going on alone into the chamber, the scene with memory Mort, fighting and then defeating the Basilisk, Fawkes healing him, the end of Memory Mort, the confrontation with Ginny, then Ron, and then Fawkes bringing them here.

"Why were you so cruel to Miss Weasley?" Dumbledore sighed. "She'd just been through a terrible ordeal and did not need that."

“Was I wrong?” Ares countered.

Before Dumbledore could answer, Madame Pomfrey answered. “Certainly not! While I agree in part with Dumbledore said, you were rather cruel about it, given your condition however, I cannot blame you in the anger you must feel. You are also one hundred percent right that if the Wizengamot learned of her crimes, her life is forfeit, Lord Clearwater is not a man to let an attempted murder on any family go. Especially his only daughter.”

Dumbledore paled significantly.

“I also agree with you that she needs a mind healer, immediately!” Pomfrey continued.

Dumbledore shook his head in shock and simply stared at Pomfrey as if seeing her for the first time, then at Ares. Realizing, this all came from Ares.

Deciding he needed to know, using Fawkes's connection to Dumbledore, and Fawkes's approval after he realized what Ares was doing, they looked into Dumbledore's thoughts.

Old Albus was shaking in his polished boots. Bought and paid for with Potter money of course.

The Wizengamot finding out the specifics of what happened would be bad enough, but Pomfrey was right, Lord Clearwater would call for little Ginny's death as the old laws demanded. Dumbledore had openly supported them in the past, so long as it got rid of the enemy, though for the public face he argued against it and beseeched for redemption. It worked; his enemies were destroyed. However, at that moment, Dumbledore hated them. After giving his support to such calls in the past after his initial protest, he couldn't argue against it so vehemently without someone calling into question why.

No, he absolutely could not let this get to the Wizengamot. He couldn’t lose Ginny; she was vital for his plans.

Ginny seeing a mind healer was another thing he simply couldn't allow. If she saw a mind healer, then all of his plans, and Molly's for that matter would be revealed to the healer. Because of their oaths, the healer would have to inform Amelia Bones as it was technically illegal activity. Bones was the last person he wanted poking about in his business.

The fact that she was busy rescuing the unknown niece was buying him some time. That was another matter he’d have to see to, but he didn’t have the time to worry about it at this moment.

The fact that this all came from Ares scared Dumbledore. How much did the boy know? Who was helping him? Did he do his own research? He’d already had all relevant books removed from the library when Granger figured it all out. Perhaps a few had missed the purged, he’d have to have Madame Pince rectify that immediately!

All of that was running through the back of Dumbledore's mind, there was one important thing he wanted to know at that moment.

“And the change of your appearance my boy?”

Ares shrugged. “As I haven’t seen it yet, only that Ron and Ginny pointed it out to me, all I can do is guess. I mean, you and Pomfrey have more knowledge than I do in this matter. As I told them when they asked, I had Basilisk venom and Phoenix tears injected into my blood. Perhaps them mixing caused some kind of magical reaction that changed my appearance?”

Fawkes trilled and nodded, as did Pomfrey, without the trilling.

“I have to agree with Mr. Potter.” She said glaring at Dumbledore. “And if I were able to award points,” She said turning back to Ares. “I’d give fifty here and now. That was a rather brilliant deduction.”

Dumbledore was able to quell most of his panic with Ares's explanation and Pomfrey's backing it. Though he was concerned about what other effects such a magical mixture would have on the boy. Could this be the power that he knows not? It was already clear that the bindings on the boy's core had been weakened. He'd have to take a moment to reapply them.

Both Ares and Fawkes see this in Dumbledore’s mind. Ares had to sigh at the manipulations while Fawkes growled. Though Ares was grateful that he kept that in their minds and didn’t do it aloud. For now.

“Well, I’ve done all I can, I’ll have some potions sent to your dorm. You can take them after you’ve showered. Sleeping in your own bed will do you some good.”

“Even with my broken ribs?” Harry asked confused. He’d always stayed in the hospital wing before, and he could see in her mind that she desperately didn’t want to do this.

Dumbledore had gone off and was conversing with the youngest Weasley’s who’d returned from the wing’s showering area. Pomfrey used this time to lean in and whisper to him.

"Normally, yes, I would keep you here, but as I said, I've done all I can, also," She narrowed her eyes over at the youngest Weasley's and Dumbledore's back. "Dumbledore might not see it, but I can tell, given from your story, that you want nothing to do with the Weasley's right now. At least those two over there. Your dorm, while not altogether safe from the Headmaster, at least gets you away from those two for the night. Further, there's not a lot I can do against the Headmaster, you're as safe there as you are here from him, unfortunately."

Ares grinned at her kissed her cheek. “Thank you for that Pomfrey.”

She stood straight and coughed to hide her blushing. "Yes, well, as I said, potions will be on your nightstand, make sure you take them!" She narrowed her eyes at him. "And rest. Take tomorrow off from classes and not go wandering about the castle. If you must, then take it slower than usual.”

Ares nodded and stood. Going to grab the sword only for it to flame away.

“It’s in your trunk.” Fawkes said. “Best I can do for now.”

“That’s perfect.” Ares said allowed as he stroked the bird’s feathers and kissed his cheek.

Fawkes didn’t blush; Fawkes would defend that through eternity and Ares couldn’t hold back the laughter.

Pomfrey tried in vain to argue with Dumbledore about the Weasley’s stay there. Hoping she could kick them out and get Ares to say in the bed he was currently trying to get out of. She had the petrified, and now Lockhart to deal with. If “Harry Potter” could back to his own bed, so could these two. However, as Ares was leaving the wing, he heard Dumbledore urging Pomfrey to essentially pamper the two babies.

Defeated and murderous, Pomfrey relented.

Ares was halfway down the hall when Dumbledore called from behind him. “Ah, Harry my boy, a moment if you would!”

Ares sighed, but stopped, knowing there was no stopping this conversation. When Dumbledore caught up, the two began to walk together.

“I’m sorry for this terrible ordeal you’ve been through, my boy.” Dumbledore began.

Safe from the Legimens probes, for now, Ares sighed internally. Just get on with it, you old goat. Still, he shrugged and answered allowed. “With what happened last year, forgive me, but I kind of expected another terrible occurrence this year.”

In his mind, Ares could see that Dumbledore stumbled a bit, but carried on. "Whatever became of that diary? You never said."

Ares pulled out his wand and the shrunken diary cast then enlargement charm on it. Before showing it to Dumbledore.

Only to find Dumbledore staring at in shock. “I didn’t realize that you knew that spell, Harry. That’s very advance for your age.”

Ares shrugged. "Hermione stumbled upon it some time ago, thought that it would be useful, especially with all of the things she carries around. She was right, as per her usual I suppose. I hadn't done it before, and I am rather surprised that it worked. I didn't want Ginny to see the diary again and did the first thing that came to mind."

Ares as never more grateful for Hermione’s petrification than he was now. She couldn’t contradict him or lecture him for lying to the Headmaster. He knew by saying that Hermione was always right Dumbledore would write it off as yet another interference the Granger girl committed.

And he’d been one hundred perfect right, Dumbledore did exactly that.

While Dumbledore was contemplating ways to undo Hermione’s influence and “always right” in “young Harry’s mind”, Ares couldn’t help but think for now. For now, she was “smarter” than him, and for now, she was “always right.” Soon, the day would come when she learned just how advanced Ares had become, and there was one other who was right there with him.

“May I see the diary?” Dumbledore asked after their brief moment of silence.

It was only because Dumbledore was wide-eyed and eager to get his hands on it, most unlike the grandfatherly figure he was trying to portray himself as, that he didn't notice Ares struggle with whether or not to give it to the Headmaster.

Thankfully, and most annoyingly, Ares was saved by Lucius Malfoy, of all people, storming up the hallway toward him calling out Dumbledore’s name.

As Dumbledore and Lucius argued back and forth about Dumbledore's being back and the reasons as to why Ares and Dobby make eye contact. Ares remembers that Dobby was supposed to remember, and the moment their eyes connected, Ares could see that Dobby did remember as Gabriel promised. The two shared a little grin, and Ares winked at him, Dobby gave a little nod, knowing what Ares was planning.

Looking back at the two older gentlemen, Dumbledore had just gotten to the part that “Harry Potter saved the day” again. This was where Lucius insulted him, instead of allowing that to happen again, Ares stepped forward.

“Excuse me, Lord Malfoy, the house of Potter would like to return something of yours.”

Both men looked at Ares in shock and confusion. Dumbledore because of what he just said and wondering, in even more of a panic than before, just how much did “the Potter brat” know, and Lucius because he couldn’t think of a single thing that the Potter’s had that was once a Malfoy’s.

Ares then handed Lucius the diary. Using his wand, grateful he still had silent casting to switch his sock with a page of the dairy. Even more grateful that Dumbledore was still eyeing the diary avidly. Allowing Ares the ability to use his wand without notice and tuck it back in his pocket before people got suspicious of it being out.

Lucius, to his credit, attempted to look confused, even scandalized, as he held the diary. He looked at Ares, “What? I don’t know what you’re talking about, this isn’t one of my possessions.”

"I'm well aware that you do know what I'm talking about." Ares grinned at Lucius. "You see, I know that you put that diary into Ginny's cauldron back in Diagon Alley, the fight with Arthur was just to disguise the fact of what you did. I know it was you who brought all of this about. All in an attempt to make Arthur look bad and kill, as you would say, a few mudbloods along the way."

“How dare you!?” Lucius thundered gripping his cane-wand tightly. “How dare you accuse me without any evidence to support your claim!”

"Now, now Lucius, Mr. Potter is but a second-year student." Dumbledore chuckled, playing heavily on that grandfatherly tone he used. "Have a care, it wouldn't look good if you attacked the Boy-Who-Lived in Hogwarts, and nothing he accuses you of will ever see the light of day in the Wizengamot, that is unless you attack him."

Mollified for the moment, Lucius handed the diary to Dobby out of habit, while glaring at Ares. “I demand to know your proof boy!”

Dobby, not even bothering to hide the fact that he knew that the sock was in there and where, opened the diary, grabbed the sock, and began to chant that he had his freedom. In his excitement, he dropped the diary. He jumped high, eye level with the two grown men, allowing Ares to redraw his wand, silently summon the diary, shrink it, and pocket it once more. He once more winked at Dobby.

“That’s also in your trunk now.” Fawkes said to him, still perched on his shoulder, enjoying the show.

“Thank you again.” Ares grinned and scratched under his chin.

As before, even with Dumbledore there, Lucius goes to attack Ares. As before, Dobby defends Ares. Dumbledore merely stood back and watched. Ares could see that he wanted Ares taken down a peg, and thought the elf would jump in front of the spell, saving Ares, and ridding him of a loyal follower and a potential disaster for Dumbledore. He never suspected for a moment that a house-elf would attack a wizard, especially a former master.

However, Lucius didn’t even get the words for the spell out, Dobby blew the wizard back. So far down the hall in fact, that the man began to fall down the flights of the stairs, that aligned so perfectly that he landed on the ground floor, right in front of McGonagall, who promptly took the Death Eater to St. Mungo’s so he wouldn’t be in the hospital wing with all of the petrified muggleborns.

Lucius left in such a hurry he didn’t even get to threaten my life. Ares thought with a chuckle.

"That was very reckless." Dumbledore scolded Ares. "I realize it was all in an attempt to free the elf and get justice for Ginny, but it was reckless."

“But not pointless.” Ares grinned at Dobby who hugged Ares’s legs tightly as tears streamed down his face.

“Harry Potter’s sir!” Dobby proclaimed loudly, despite knowing the truth of the situation. He was playing it up for the audience. “You truly be’s a powerful and great wizard! Thank you for saving me’s!”

“Such a bright creature.” Dumbledore grinned down at Dobby, his eyes twinkling. “We could use an elf such as you at Hogwarts. Why don’t you report to the kitchens, and we can go over your employment later? I’m prepared to meet whatever terms of payment you request, I’ve no desire to take your newly acquired freedom.”

Dobby smiled at Dumbledore, “No thank you Headmasters sirs, I’ll be finding other works somewhere’s else.”

Ares watched as Dumbledore could only blink in surprise as Dobby popped away again. Ares had to bite his tongue hard to keep from showing any emotion or reaction at all. Even with his occlumency. So Dumbledore did just hire Dobby to keep an eye on him and keep him from actually doing any real help as Dobby would have wanted. Likely used Dobby to spy on him as well knowing that Ares trusted Dobby. It would explain why Dobby was much more helpful after Dumbledore's death. Dobby was forbidden from doing any more than what he was allowed. Even if he was a free elf, he was bound to Hogwarts for his magic's sake, and Dumbledore used this and his role as Headmaster to control the elf.

"Well, headmaster," Ares yawned, "It's been a long day, a long night, and now an eventful morning. I'm after a shower and my bed. Good day to you."

“Ah, Harry my boy!” Dumbledore called after him once he got over his shock and realized that Ares was leaving. “You still have my familiar on your shoulders.”

“Fawkes?” Ares asked looking at the Phoenix.

Fawkes nuzzled against him for several moments before flaming out of there. He didn't even give Dumbledore the curtsey of his company. Something Ares could see annoyed the old man. With Fawkes gone, the Legimens probe was weakened and would disappear soon, but Ares still got the emotions and strong thoughts that leaked out. Dumbledore was insulted and annoyed that Fawkes clung to Ares while Dumbledore could barely pet the bird these days.

“Was that all headmaster?” Ares asked, knowing the old man was far from finished. “I’m quite exhausted.”

“Yes, yes, you should rest, but first,” Dumbledore turned his twinkling eyes up to maximum and laid his grandfatherly tone on rather thick. “may I have the diary?”

“Why do you want it?” Ares countered.

The only show of his annoyance was the image Dumbledore had fixed at Ares lessened a few degrees, Dumbledore also made sure to add some seriousness into his expression and tone. “It has been the cause of so much trouble. I’m sure that the Weasley’s, Ginny especially, and myself for that matter, would feel much better once I’ve disposed of that thing.”

Right, I don’t believe that for an instant. Ares thought bitterly. You want to study it and thus verify the Horcruxes and not do a damn thing about them until the last fucking minute.

“I don’t have it anymore.” Ares said honestly. It’s in my trunk. He pointed to where the diary fell. “Dobby dropped it over . . .”

Then he stared at the place where the diary had fallen in shock.

He was rather proud of his acting, as Dumbledore followed his direction and also saw that the diary was missing and began to inspect the area. Ignoring Ares after that.

Dobby popped back and snapped his fingers silent. Ares realized Dobby was masking the area with his magic so that when Dumbledore started scanning for magics used, even with the elder wand, all he would get would be Dobby's signature.

“Thank you, Harry, you may go to bed now.” Dumbledore said turning back to Ares with a soft smile. “Be sure to take the potions Madame Pomfrey sent for you, or she’ll be very cross with you.”

Ares grinned and left the hallway before Dumbledore could hinder his departure further. Dumbledore would likely try to get the diary off Dobby or search Ares's things later to get it. Ares knew going back he'd have to find a way to protect his things, and recent events just put that to the top of his priority list.

Safely back in the Gryffindor tower, Ares went straight to the shower. Stripping off his clothes, and leaving them forgotten on the floor. He wasn’t surprised when he turned around to find them gone, nor was he surprised to find the soaps that he favored as an adult waiting for him the shower. Ron would see them and call him a sissy, but the Irish Spring charcoal deep scrub always had him feeling cleaner than any cleansing charm or other such wizarding soaps he'd used over his course of Hogwarts or living with Ginny. Hermione turned him onto this, and it was one of the things he was actually grateful for.

He took his time, the first because he was still tender despite the healing, and second because he wanted to make sure that everything was cleaned off of him. He scrubbed every facet of his body. All in effort to get rid of the smells that seemed soaked into his skin and were making him sick. He was a bit of a neat freak, and that was one thing that was universal.

After an hour of scrubbing his body and his hair, he was as clean as he could make himself. His skin was scrubbed red, his scalp stung a little, but all he could smell now was the Irish Spring. He’d have soaked in a bath for his aches, but he was so exhausted he didn’t think he could stay awake.

Dressed in the pj’s that Dobby had set aside for him, he went into the dorm and found Dobby proudly waiting on him. Wearing a uniform with the Potter Crest, and a long coat with many pockets inside and out.

“Master Ares!” He sobbed, “Welcome back!”

“Is that safe to say?” Ares asked curiously.

Dobby narrowed his eyes. “Don’t worry, it’s safe for us.”

Ares nodded. “Want to make that master thing official?”

“OH YES!” Dobby shrieked. At Ares’s wince, he apologized.

The ritual wasn't that complicated. All he had to do was state his full name, and that he took Dobby as his elf. Dobby had to say his name, and that he accepted the bond. Once finished, Ares felt a little more powerful and certainly more protected.

“I don’t understand, I thought you were supposed to unlock my core?”

Dobby shook his head. “No, unfortunately, this was the fear of Gabriel. The plan was for me to unlock your core, but it would seem that Dumbledore’s power is too much for me to overcome at this stage. With your core still bound the way it is, it’s not enough to empower me to further unlock it.”

“Goblin ritual it is then.” Ares sighed. “Is there anything we can do in the meantime?”

Dobby nodded. “I can make sure that W3 can't rebind your core whilst here in Hogwarts. I've also taken the liberty of hiding your cloak, the sword, the diary, and everything else you hold as valuable, in my many pockets. Not to worry, the sword has scabbard I found the Potter vaults. It can't hurt me. Fakes have been placed in your trunk for a few things so no one will suspect."

“That’s Dobby, that’s a great relief, and something I can put off until later now.” Ares then raised his eyebrows at Dobby, “W3?”

“White. Whiskered. Wanker.”

Ares threw his head back and laughed. “Oh, Mal’s going to love that.”

"I saw her picture in the profit." Dobby grinned. "Even without my memories, I knew the pretty witch was going to be your future wife."

Ares grinned back at him. “That she is, and will be.”

“Is there anything important that we need to do right now?” Dobby asked.

Ares shook his head. “Other than protect my trunk and core no. You’ve taken care of my trunk for now, so it’s just a matter of my core.”

“Regardless, I’ll still protect the trunk.” Dobby snapped his fingers and the trunk flashed. “It will only work for three days, so that gives us time to figure out a more permanent fix to protect the trunk. I can protect your core from W3.”

Ares chuckled again at that nickname. Then something occurred to him. "You're talking a lot clearer now."

Dobby nodded. “Blessing from the angels. It will also get better as time goes on.”

Ares had nothing more to say to that. He looked over at his nightstand to find the potions and a few sandwiches. He consumed the sandwiches with vigor. Food. Real food. He could cry from how wonderful it tasted and felt in his mouth. As he took the potions with a sigh, he resigned himself that he was going to have to get used to it. He was likely in store for several potions throughout the summer for his health.

He laid back on his bed and missed Mal more than ever. Having her there with him when he showered was all well and fun, and would be a lot more fun now that they were living beings again. But it was not having her there when he slept that he knew was going to be the hardest part of this separation. Still, as exhausted as he was physically, he didn't miss her long. Passing out not three minutes after laying back. It would be the coming nights where his loneliness would keep him up.

“Oi!” Ron’s voice woke Ares’s mind, even if his body was immobile. “Wake up! I’ve got things to say to you!”

There was silence for a moment before Ron’s voice could be heard again. “What the!?”

"Leave. Him. Alone." Neville's voice was low but firm.

“Lay off Neville!” Ron shouted. “This doesn’t concern you! This is between me and my best mate!”

"I don't care, you loud-mouthed idiot!" Neville continued in that low voice. "It's all over the school. Once again, there was some crazed happening, and once again, you guys are at the heart of it. You both nearly died, again! Hermione's not here to hold you in check, so I'm going to do it this time. Leave Harry alone, he needs rest. You had the hospital wing for the day, and I know Madame Pomfrey sent him here so he could rest away from you. I can see that she was right to do so!"

“So soft baby Neville is going to stop me, is he?” Ron seethed, and Ares could just picture him going to face to face with Neville.

"In a battle of the wands, I still have the upper hand, Weasley. I also do not doubt that if you started swinging, that I would go down." Neville said, but Ares could hear the grin as he continued. "But I would get back up. You're only good for one punch and can't defend for shit. We both know that my work in the greenhouses has given me some strength."

"You don't scare me, Longbottom!" Ron snarled.

"Then perhaps this will," Neville chuckled, "my orders come straight from McGonagall. I was told to make sure that he rested, and to go get her if Harry was disturbed. I'm doing this because McGonagall, as well as the twins, Wood, and the rest of the Quidditch team, asked me to. If I can't stop you, I'm to report straight to them. I may not stop you, but McGonagall will tear your hide once I tell her."

“You rat!” Ron thundered.

"Scabbers is there on your bed." Neville countered. "I'm merely doing the job that was given to me by people who care about Harry's wellbeing. Now let him sleep, and go to bed yourself. The rest of us also need to sleep."

“Don’t even think of attacking Neville.” Dean threatened from the other side of the room. “Seamus and I are behind him all the way on this.”

Ares drifted off again. If Ron tried again on the overnight, Ares was unaware of it. The next morning, it seemed that Ron tried again, though Ares could barely hear him. He could hear Neville, Seamus, and Dean all drag him out of there. Allowing Ares to drift back off again.

}TLCW{

According to his clock, when he finally woke up, it was just shy of lunchtime. And the dorm was blissfully empty. Ares rose, washed his face, and dressed for a leisurely day like Pomfrey asked him to do. He winced and gagged, but he took the vile potions on his nightstand as instructed.

Since he had the time, he sat down and compiled a letter, following the etiquette and manners that his grandfather and father had beaten into him, to the Goblins. Requesting a meeting regarding his parent's will, and the Potter/Pendragon businesses and accounts. Calling the family passwords and standing within Gringotts to look into why he went unnotified and hoping for a chance to mend the bridges between them. He sent the letter through Dobby, knowing it was faster and safer than in the hands of his beloved Hedwig.

He walked down to the Great Hall at a slower pace than he was used to, but he walked with his head held high, and with confidence, that confused all who saw him. He smiled and waved politely at the stares and watched in amusement as their jaws dropped and eyes widened. Well, when compared to his usual, head down, shoulders shrunk together and avoiding any and all eye contact, this would be shocking for them.

He reached the doors of the Great Hall five minutes after lunch started. As expected, Ron was already there, stuffing his face, per his usual, not usual was the fact that Ginny was sitting with him. Ares realized due to the possession Ginny hadn't made any friends yet. He wondered if she had been allowed to make friends, would she have been spared and grown out of her obsession with him, or would things have remained the same?

People stopped eating now and stared at him, and his new look. He looked around meeting a few of their eyes before he walked further into the hall at the same leisurely pace as before. Ares liked who he was now, something it was clear Dumbledore didn't, and neither did Ron or Ginny. Which honestly made him like it all the more.

Ginny wouldn't stop staring at him, her eyes glued onto his every move, her lowering lip quivered as he ignored her existence. It took Ginny nudging him for Ron to finally notice that Ares as even there and about to walk past them. Ron began to call out to him and gesture to join them, despite the dark look on his face that promised a fight. He then hollered at Ares as he walked past. It was expected that he would sit with them as he always had.

Now, however, Ares moved on. He sat clear at the other end of the table with Neville and Susan Bones from Hufflepuff. Well away from Ron and Ginny, but still a decent enough distance from the Headmaster, whom, Ares never even spared a glance at. This turn of events was as likely to go unnoticed as Ares’s new eye color. Before he was even seated the whispering began. His change in appearance and his new attitude were already the priority topic after his casual walk from the Gryffindor tower down to the Great Hall, it was now drastically dull in light of the revelation that “Harry Potter” was now clearly avoiding, and ignoring, the youngest Weasley’s.

One of whom had been his best mate since they met on the train. The other, he’d gone down into Salazar Slytherin’s infamous and insidious Chamber of Secrets, slaying the Basilisk, all to rescue her. All girls, despite the jealousy and wishes it had been them instead, could see the writing on the wall, the future and inevitable “Happily Ever After” that seemed to be Ginny’s future with the “Boy-Who-Lived”.

Now, this distance cast some doubt on those previous assumptions.

“Afternoon Harry.” Neville grinned at him, “You look a lot better.”

“Afternoon Neville, and yeah, I feel a lot better.” Ares grinned at him. “Thanks for the help with Ron last night and this morning. His loud gob woke me up, but not enough to the point where I could move and deal with it myself. Thanks a lot.”

“Well,” Neville blushed. “It helped that I mention McGonagall and the twins.”

“Despite the fact that you were under no such orders?” Ares chuckled softly.

Neville merely wagged his eyebrows, getting a giggle out of Susan.

As Ares piled food onto his plate, Neville and Susan went back to their conversation. Neville, knowing he could trust Ares, didn’t bother holding back his words while talking with Susan. Trusting Neville, Susan followed his example. It helped that she never believed that Ares was the heir of Slytherin. It suited Ares for the moment, though he was touched by the gesture they were giving him. He didn’t want conversation just then, he wanted food.

He took stock as he ate, realizing Neville always treated him this way, with warmth, acceptance, no matter what troubles he was facing. Neville trusted Ares’s word, which he felt guilty that he took advantage of that in the past at the prompting of Ron and Hermione. There in Neville, was true friendship, the kind that he thought he had in Ron. There was the chance of brotherhood even. All of it eluded him and was lost over time, all due to the potions that were forced into him by money-grubbing and jealous thieves.

When the conversation between the two stopped and looked back at him, Ares grinned at Susan and Neville. “Really you two, don’t mind me. I just want to eat, those potions took a lot out of me, and my stomach’s demanding to satisfied. I’m not about to talk while I eat. I’m not Ron Weasley, I’ve no desire to intrude on your conversation, nor do I insist on talking with my mouth full.”

This caused Susan to laugh, “Oh thank Merlin! One Ron Weasley is enough for the world.”

“You got that right!” Neville agreed as he drank from his Goblet. “You were saying?” he prompted Susan.

"Oh, Neville!" Susan's cheeks went red, tears filling her eyes and she smiled brightly. "I'm so excited I can't contain it!"

Ares ate at a slow pace, knowing it was better for his stomach. Seeming as if he was ignoring what was said, and simply eating. He made sure that he didn’t put out negative vibes, just neutral ones. Giving the impression that he had a lot on his mind. Which was understandable, many thought, given what he went through, with the news that the petrified would be revived a week from today, that he was on edge. They all suspected he was eager to get to Hermione’s side.

It was almost humorous how his Legimens caught all of that, but he had already guessed it right before his ability confirmed it.

He was grateful Susan felt comfortable around him as she talked with Neville. Mal was in the Bones family, and he was certain the topic of her would come up soon. He was eager to know when she was coming to England exactly. Susan would know the details the Prophet wasn't able to extract from Madame Bones.

“We won!” Susan gushed. “We won! She’s coming home with Uncle Darren! I have a cousin!”

"So you've said and I've seen the Prophet, Susan." Neville chuckled before taking her hand. "I'm so happy for you Susan. When do you get to see her again?"

Ares had to hide his grin. He knew it!

“They’re staying with the MACUSA until Hogwarts releases, then Auntie and I are taking an international portkey to America, and then we’re taking a cruise ship back to England!” Susan exclaimed excitedly. “Uncle Darren says it’s so we can spend time as a family and get Mal accustomed to being around us before having to live with us. That way she’s not jumping from one home to another with relative strangers.”

“That’s fantastic!” Neville agreed, then looked at her confused. “What’s a cruise ship?”

“No idea!” Susan laughed. “But Mal assured me in her letters that I’m going to love it!”

Ares thought they were adorable. Both with the crushes they were clearly sporting, and the enthusiasm over things they were ignorant to.

“If I may interject, I know what a cruise is, I could explain it to you.” Ares grinned at them.

“Oh please!” Susan pleaded. “Uncle Darren and Auntie wouldn’t tell me, and Mal didn’t give specifics. I honestly don’t think she knew before the approval was granted.”

Ares nodded. It was likely so she didn’t get her hopes up. “A Cruise is, as you two said, a ship. A very large ship, with many activities, such as swimming if there’s a pool, crafts, and such. There are areas where kids can go and play. There are areas where adults can go and relax. There are spas, and daily events everyone can take part in. And lots and lots of food, of all kinds.”

Susan got wide-eyed and even more excited. "Have you ever been on one?"

Ares chuckled. “Alas, no. But I’ve managed to hear stories here and there, and seen a bit on the telly.” At their confused look he chuckled again. “Television, it’s a muggle entertainment system.” He grinned at Susan. “You actually will have a chance to learn all about them when you go on that cruise.”

Susan was bouncing, it was as she said. She could barely contain her excitement and Ares as glad that Mal would have such a loving cousin with her soon.

Neville was also charmed by Susan's reaction. "Congrats Susan! This is a wonderful opportunity, and if you take Muggle Studies like you were planning, writing up what happened might give you extra credit!"

Satisfied with the answers he got, and confident he could figure out the when and where Mal would arrive in Britain on his own, he stood to leave.

"Oh! Please stay a moment." Susan stopped him, "There's something I wanted to talk to you about."

Neville looked nervous but nodded at Ares with a soft smile. “It’s alright, I promise.”

Ares sat back and allowed Susan to speak with him.

Relieved Susan, took a calming breath before meeting his eyes. “I’m so, so, sorry.”

Ares looked at her confused. “For what?”

"I never believed that you were the heir of Slytherin or you were petrifying the muggleborns. One of your best friends and your mother for that matter were muggleborns, there was just no way it was you." Susan said softly. "Still, I never spoke in your defense. I wanted to, but I would have been in a lot of trouble in Hufflepuff if I did. Even so," She shook her head, and looked him in the eyes, "I should have defended you, and for that, I'm so sorry."

“Out of curiosity, what prevented you from speaking out before?” Ares asked politely.

With a sigh of relief, Susan smiled softly. “I can’t speak for Gryffindor or Slytherin, but I can say that the bullies in Hufflepuff are worse than any in Ravenclaw. Everything you went through and worse would have happened to me if I tried to defend you. I, I don’t feel comfortable saying more than that. I mean, I get it, we’re supposed to be the house of loyalty, but even so, what they would have done goes against everything Hufflepuff stands for.”

Ares could see her remorse, and hear her sincerity. He used Legimens and saw it was all genuine. It was slightly shocking, but then, not very much. Susan was a sweet-hearted girl.

At one point, Ares had honestly thought that if he came back with his memories, he would have met any and all who wronged him with rage and demanded recompense. Once again, he had to admit that Mal had a great tempering effect on him and his fury. He also understood now why Mal urged him to forgive most of the kids in Hogwarts.

One, he didn’t know what their circumstances were, they were all still children technically. While he thought they were doing it to be mean, she argued there was a chance they were doing it for different reasons than Ares assumed. Hear them out, and judge them based on the truth, and forgive them and move on.

Two, by forgiving them, rather than punishing them, he could begin building allies. Very powerful allies. If he was going to save as many people as he possibly could, he needed to gain allies through trust and respect, later on using his cruel intimidation for his real enemies. Right now, in the beginning, it was about forgiveness and trust. To show his future allies that he was a good guy and a capable future leader.

Looking at Susan and Neville, he could see the wisdom in her words more than he did when she said them to him.

It would seem as if Gabriel had been right after all. Funny how when Gabriel suggested it after his life married to Ginny, he’d shrugged it off as nonsense. Even yelled and raged for several minutes. But when Mal said it, it made him stop and think, and he saw the sense of it. He grinned, outwardly even, realizing that Satan was right too when he teased Ares during his training. Mal really did have Ares whipped and wrapped around her finger.

Even so, Ares didn’t mind in the slightest.

More than Susan being Mal’s cousin in this life, and the daughter of the Ancient and Noble House of Bones, it was clear by alienating Susan, he would push Neville away before he could even begin to amend past mistakes. Ares didn’t want that at all.

Neville should have been his brother. Ares wanted that for the two of them. Neville had already proven, on several occasions, past, and future, that he was ten times the friend Ron was. On the other hand, Ares would also need the Ancient and Noble House of Longbottom in an alliance.

Ares sighed when he realized that Neville and Susan were staring at him concerned. “Sorry about that, I got lost in thought for a moment.”

He looked around and realized that several people were listening in on the conversation, well, that was fine.

“Thank you for your honesty.” He said to Susan. “I won’t lie, I was rather put out about the whole thing earlier this year, but I’ve come to understand. I understand why you, and many others, didn’t speak out against those spreading those horrible rumors. I can even understand why they were saying those things. They needed a face to blame, and when I spoke Parseltongue, it was the perfect candidate. Now I could argue several reasons why it wasn’t logical; however, I know that fear can dull the mind. Better than anyone I think.”

He looked at Susan and smile softly as he offered his hand. “I understand, and I hope going forward we can put this behind us.”

"Oh yes!" Susan agreed and shook his hand excitedly. "I promise, I'm not the only one who thought you were innocent and felt strongly about it. You'll likely receive several more apologies throughout the day and before the term ends."

“I hope so, and I’ll forgive those who overcome their pride and apologized. I wish I knew who started that vicious rumor, but alas, it’s probably one of those things that will be lost in the crowd as they saw.” Ares grinned.

Neville looked rather pleased.

Ares wanted to contact Mal, more than anything, but knew he had to wait. For appearance's sake, all he could do now was stare at the pictures of her in the Prophet, and wait. Researching in his own time to reunite with her as soon as possible.

The owls began to swoop in with the mail. Hedwig dropping in with the Prophet, and the response from Gringotts. He lovingly stroked Hedwig for several minutes before moving onto the Prophet. Opening his letter from Gringotts while pretending to read over the Prophet. Ragnok himself answered, as his grandfather and James predicted. Agreeing with him that things were indeed amiss and that they should meet at a later date. Allowing Ragnok and his security to purge the Banks walls of the traitors they had among them.

Ares readily agreed and would answer later, saying they could speak of a date and time when Ragnok thought it best. Dobby magicked the letter away as soon as he was finished reading it.

With that resolved, Ares went back to the Prophet. There, in bold and huge headlines, the Prophet announced the break out of Sirius Black. Ares did his best to not smile at that. So, that was one honorary uncle back with his memories. He was sure that wherever Sirius was, he was getting the treatment he needed.

He spoke with Neville and Susan for a few moments about it. Saying he was glad they were in Hogwarts, and after they all promised to be careful, the conversation changed again. During that time, a few more people came up and apologized to him, and Ares forgave them as well. He was surprised, Susan had been right about that. Even Ernie Macmillan apologized.

He felt that it was all rather anticlimactic, but then again, things couldn’t be happening so fast all of the time, or their minds would likely overload. There had to be breaks, lulls, so both sides could rest and assimilate what happened. Though he was grateful to know that his Godfather’s escape was the perfect thing to distract Dumbledore from him. Ares could get a lot more done with Dumbledore chasing after his dogfather.

Fed, bridges mended with Susan and Neville, and a few more people, he set off again. Hearing about the Ravenclaw bullies reminded Ares of another friend he needed to make early on, and help immediately.

Luna.