Chapter 26 - Ron's Choice III

Ron's brows shot up. Tempting, it was extremely tempting. The Malfoys were the richest, and owning all that wealth was an instant change of life, status, and lifestyle for his entire family and generations to come.

So that's why Mum and Dad looked like that. He realized, and looked at Narcissa's face; That hidden smile. She probably thinks we're still dirt-poor. Ah, Mum and Dad think that too… probably.

He realized he had never informed them how much money was in his personal vault after slaving himself to so many interviews.

"You want to buy your husband's freedom with money?"

"Just some leniency," she responded quickly. "Please, if you have any other demand, I'll fulfill it. Houses, businesses, I will give you everything for just a little… leniency."

"Anything?" He questioned while checking the woman out from head to toe. Held his gaze a little longer on her face, then her hidden mounds, and below at her closed, daintily postured legs. God knows who was boosting his confidence, but he felt he could even bed this woman if he played his cards right.

But I'm not a pervert or a blackmailer. Lucius deserves to die.

Narcissa gulped, noticing his heated gaze all over her feminine parts. Well aware of that gaze, she knew how many desired to have her in bed as her only true husband did. "Yes, anything."

It was a sacrifice she was willing to make right now.

"Then I want it all. Not just what's in your vault but also all the assets of the Malfoy family dating from the first generation of Malfoys. Your art collections, your business ownerships, your lands, mansions, castles, houses, artifacts—all of it!" Ron boldly demanded. "It's either that, or—"

"One percent." Narcissa interjected, "Just let me keep one percent of money and assets. That's all I ask to sustain myself and my son with dignity."

Bloody hell! She agreed to it! Ron was secretly in shock. He fully expected her to refuse and head home. After all, she could always marry another man to replace Lucius. But this level of commitment to her husband just took him by surprise. Mr. Malfoy lucked out with her.

"I will think about it. Please go home. I'll see you in the Ministry in the morning and inform you of my decision." Ron said so and got up, "Dad, I'll be in my room. I'm not hungry, so don't make dinner for me."

Scared by the uncertainty, Narcissa silently watched Ron leave. Neither Arthur nor Molly stopped him or tried to advise him. It was a decision for him to make. After all, the reward for the compromise was so grand that nobody could bring themselves to decide for him.

And similarly, Ron felt the weight. For the entire night, he turned left and right on his bed. Unable to sleep, constantly thinking about the offer. What he could do with all that wealth, and what it would mean to be that wealthy. It could change the status of the Weasley family forever.

Before he even knew it, morning came. Merely an hour or two of sleep, he heard the alarm bell ring and woke up. With baggy eyes, a tired body, and a frustrated mind, he had made up his mind, but it still felt heavy as a responsibility.

Knock! Knock!

"Let's go, Ron. We need to be at the Ministry. The Minister for Magic has come to pick you himself."

Ah, Mad-Eye Moody. He scares the living hell out of me. Ron wore his dark red suit, combed his hair one last time, and headed out.

Moody stood right in front of the fireplace, his fake eye acting up like crazy. "Have you made your mind, Weasley?"

"I have."

"Good, let's move."

Not even breakfast, and this time, not even Arthur or Molly. He was surrounded by the Aurors and Moody before leaving with them through a special Ministry's Portkey. This time, all the risks were evaluated and dealt with beforehand.

Flash!

Flash!

As soon as they landed on the Ministry's main floor, a massive crowd of journalists began clicking pictures and asking questions. Ron found even more Aurors coming and managing the crowd, surrounding him and protecting him.

Right away, he was shoved into the elevator and taken to Level 2 in the dungeons. It was cold and humid, giving Ron the chills. Certainly, not a place one would like to hear they'd be killed or sent to Azkaban.

"You have one minute." Right before entering the gates of the trial hall, Moody stopped as Narcissa Malfoy stood there with Draco Malfoy beside her, sneering at Ron but unable to hide fear on his face.

"Mr. Weasley," Narcissa greeted him again, looking as sleep-deprived as him. But somehow, she still ended up looking stunning.

Ron didn't have the energy to talk too much, "Did you bring all the transfer certificates and deeds?"

"Ah!" Narcissa almost fell to her knees, as if a great weight was lifted off her chest. "Yes, I have. It's all prepared in your name, Mr. Weasley. You only need to sign it."

"Tsk, greedy pig," Draco mumbled from the side.

Ron ignored it, knowing everyone was probably thinking the same. He could feel Moody's piercing gaze already. But the Minister for Magic didn't say anything and allowed him to sign the documents.

"T-Thank you! Thank you, Mr. Weasley!" Narcissa truly had tears in her eyes. Emotions ran so high that once Ron signed the papers, she moved in to give him a short hug in gratitude.

Ah, so soft. Ron felt all of her feathery bosom against his chest. However, he didn't place his hands on her waist. He wasn't in the mood. Not when every Auror there wanted to interrogate him for accepting the deal.

"Move along." Moody impatiently opened the gates and walked in. Inside was a big hall with semi-circular seats made in ascending steps at the edges. At the front middle was the podium behind which Dumbledore stood, and soon Moody joined.

Inside ten, metal spiky cages in the middle were the culprits. All looking dejected, defeated, and dirty. They all watched Ron enter with some expectations in their eyes, but not much hope.

Thud! Thud!

The gravel was slammed on the podium, and the court was in session. It was less of a statement from him and more of a question-and-answer session. He only had to say yes or no.

"Did Mr. Avery try to kill you in that ambush in the forest with a Killing Curse, Mr. Weasley?"

"Yes," Ron replied.

"Did…"

One after another, nine names went by. In the end, Lucius's name came with the same question.

"Did Mr. Malfoy try to kill you in that ambush in the forest with a Killing Curse, Mr. Weasley?"

Can't I just say yes? I already got the money and property. He wondered, but in the end, he chose not to. It'd ruin his name for eternity.

"No, he did not. He was too far away to do anything while being led by others."

Thud! Thud!

"Silence!" Moody slammed the gravel when murmurs arose. "That marks the end of the trial. For the first nine, Dementor's Kiss is all but a mercy. A death too quick against the misery they have caused others. All those in favor of Dementor's Kiss, raise hands."

"All against?"

Ultimately, nobody raised their hands against the Dementor's Kiss for the first nine Death Eaters.

"The case of Lucius Malfoy is peculiar in that he found himself in such a situation again. But we have heard the statements and looked through the evidence. Freedom for such a man is far too perilous, so imprisonment in Azkaban until natural death! All in favor?"

"All against?"

Thud! Thud!

"This marks the end of the trial…"

As expected, Lucius got a long Azkaban imprisonment instead of a Dementor's Kiss by the majority. Ron honestly felt death was better than Azkaban, but if Narcissa wanted it, who was he to oppose?

"I hope you pondered well before making that decision." Dumbledore came to Ron first, patting his shoulder, "Sometimes, what may appear the shiniest isn't the most valuable."

He's disappointed in me. Ron felt it through the tone of voice. Everyone probably feels the same.

Gathering some courage, Ron looked towards the stands and noticed Amelia Bones staring at him intensely. He noticed a slightly bigger baby bump on her belly. But he knew he couldn't smile at her; her disappointment would take away the charm.

I hope I did the right thing.

That day, nobody came to greet him after the trial was over. Narcissa hugged him again, but he silently left the place. Hiding from the eyes of the journalists, he used the Floo Network to arrive at Gringotts.

Officially, Ron Weasley had become the wealthiest man in Wizarding Britain.

####

Ron arrived back at Hogwarts late at night after his lengthy meeting with the many Goblins of Gringotts. It took a lot of time to count everything and make estimations. Truly, even with the one percent Narcissa got to keep, she was one of the wealthiest witches alive. That was the insane extent of Malfoy's fortune.

Ron knew the Daily Prophet's evening edition had already brought the news of the trial and his scandalous deal with the Malfoys to the school. However, Ron slept really well back in his dorm bed.

I think I made the right decision. He thought as he closed his eyes with a big, wide smile.

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