Furnace of Affliction

Prologue

             "EXPELLIARMUS!"

          The wand that had belonged to Zabini fell out of its master's hand and flew to Ron right after the red head had casted the spell. Zabini cursed loudly and dropped to his knees when Ron hit him with a loud yell of, "Flipendo!"

          "You win, Weasley. I'm done," he said with a slight pant on the side.

         The red head smirked at him. "Never thought you'd be submitting to me, Zabini."

          "You're a fucking git," the dark skinned man hissed at him.

          "Don't forget that I have your wand and I have the ability and capability to end you," growled Ron.

          Zabini's ears perked. He looked up at Ron and gave him a sly smirk to the Weasley's confusion.

          "But, you can't," he said, cracking a grin. "That's what Potter suggested to the Ministry, right? Not to kill any Death Eater that was captured? So, that one could be interrogated?"

          "Shut up, Zabini."

          "You know, you could do better than this," Zabini murmurs. "You always clean after Potter's decisions. You always follow him. You could do so much more. You could do greater things than be a dog to Potter. You could have any power you want. Any girl you want. Anything you want. Join us. You don't have to be bossed around."

          Blaise Zabini is one intelligent man – he is right. Ron could do so much, but because of Harry, he was left not to test his own limits. He was left with his life in constant danger.

          Harry wouldn't want me to think like this.

          With a shake of his head, he cuffed Zabini's wrists together. "You're a dead man."

          Zabini laughed. "It's you who's dead, Weasley. Long live Voldemort."

          "You're a bloody prat! Stup—!"

          "Ron!"

          Hermione Granger runs toward her friend with Parkinson in tow. Blaise's eyes widened upon the presence of Pansy and gasped quietly.

          "I thought you were dead!"

          Ignoring what Zabini stated, Ron sighed as he breathed out his friend's name. However, he frowned when he saw the wounds and bruises on her skin.

          "Bloody hell, what happened?"

          Pansy rolled her eyes. "I was with Nott. This filthy little mudblood caught me sneaking into the forest."

          Hermione turned to Ron, "I lost Theo. I'm sorry. There were so many of them."

          Ron planted a kiss on her head. "It's okay."

          Hermione blushed before chaining Blaise with Parkinson. Ron watched her with pride and admiration as she does so. He felt prouder when he saw the wands in her pocket.

          "We must go back to the manor," Hermione said to Ron. "We can't apparate this time, since we've got them in tow."

          "Of course, yeah," Ron nodded. "We'll go by foot."

          "Manor?" Pansy echoes. "What do you mean manor? The Malfoy's Manor?"

          Suddenly, Blaise's anger rose out. His face turned red and stone hard. He clenched his fists and looked like he was going to trample the two Gryffindors.