do you know something? *kistin*

[RONALD BILIUS WEASLEY !]

After the death of his best friend Harry Potter and older brother Fred Weasley his life changed drastically. It turned to the worst. He couldn’t expect it to turn better. He just hated the change and knew he’d never get used to the change. Ron turned to depression. His daily life changed before his eyes. It had turned into a boring disaster. Every day he would wake up, eat a little, go work at the joke shop, come home, then sleep. It was his new routine. It was what he had become immune to. And he had a feeling for as long as he lived that was how it was going to be. He had no desire to do anything else. Unless he was fighting again. Fighting against Voldomort and destroying him. He wanted to revenge everyone’s death so bad. But he had no will power. He had nobody he knew willing to help. He didn’t know where to begin. And he couldn’t ask his family. Not right now.

But today something changed. He overheard something strange. Something that made his blood boil. Something that made his stomach ache. Something that made him feel alive for only a moment. Something he shouldn’t have overheard but boy was he glad he had. For two young witches were talking about Hermione Granger. She had been spotted earlier. At first, he thought he was hearing things. So he inched closer to the young witches. But his ears had not deceived him. He hadn’t remembered the last time he felt so much relief. So much life to his body. The last time he actually paid attention to what people were saying. He absorbed their conversation until they left.

And from that moment on their was a little more spunk to his step. You see Ronald Weasley had thought Hermione Granger was dead. The Hermione Granger that fought alongside him and Harry Potter. Hermione who was his best friend. The girl he loved back in Hogwarts. The girl he almost married until she ran off. He couldn’t fully blame her for running away. Everyone had been so cruel to her after the death of Harry, when Voldomort took over. But a part of him still hated that she left. A part of him hated the fact that she was still out there and he thought she was dead! If she was alive he had to find her. Find her to see for himself if she was still here. If she was still here maybe, just maybe, part of him would go back to his old self, if he had a friend still alive, it’d be a miracle. And maybe, just maybe, yet again, she’d be working her way to revenge. And he’d fight with her till the end. He wasn’t sure how much he heard was true. But he needed to find out.

This led him to a dark and chilly night on a trip to Hogsmead. He had to find answers. How he was going to do it? He wasn’t sure. He had to be careful. He couldn’t run into people that worked for Voldomort. He had to pay close attention to their arms. To signals. To everything. But he was bound and determined to find someone that knew something… He had to.

[KISTIN THEODORE CROSS !]

Kistin Cross descended the rocky cliff face nimbly and quickly, his ice blue eyes, so used to the darkness, scanned the streets of Hogsmeade to make sure he was unnoticed. He smartly stepped down on to the streets and made his way through to the main Hogsmeade road. He was wearing a black hooded canvas jacket (his second best jacket - his favourite red one was still being worn by Ella) unzipped over a black t-shirt, and black skinny jeans and boots. His blonde hair just peeked out from below the hood of the jacket, and his eyes kept looking around for any unwanted attention from the likes of the Malfoys, who had been seen around Hogsmeade regularly recently...and no doubt Fenrir had either been killed for letting him and Ella get away...or Fenrir had told the Death Eaters everything about the vampire's appearance, accent and attitude he could. For all Kistin knew he could be a marked man, being hunted down by the hour.

He walked down the road like...well, like a pureblood. He always hoped that with his blonde hair he would be mistaken for a Malfoy and people would leave him alone. He also knew that with the twilight hours setting in, people would see his gait and assume the worst...that he really was a pureblood (even better, that he really was a Malfoy) and would give him a wide berth.

As he continued to walk, he suddenly spotted a flash of red hair. Very few people had sported the colour since the downfall of Harry Potter, due to how it had become synonymous with one person...one person he thought he had just spotted down the road...but it couldn't be...?

Kistin had both had the pleasure and the pain of meeting Ms. Hermione Granger barely a week beforehand. Pleasure, as she was someone who knew so much about the predicament people like Ella faced, being one herself, and this made her a huge ally in Kistin's eyes. Pain, though, because like any sane person, she had lit her wand to see who had addressed her. While she had healed the blisters that night, his hand was still red, and a memory of pain existed. However, Hermione had spoken of the person he thought he saw as if he were dead...or at least disappeared to the depths of time, as she herself (it seemed) had done.

When he had finished putting all of this information together, he suddenly realised (with much annoyance at himself) that he had been staring at said person for at least the last half a minute. Hoping that they hadn't noticed, Kistin spun on his heel and began to walk away quickly, a frown on his face.

[RONALD BILIUS WEASLEY !]

He didn’t know where to begin. He couldn’t even trust anyone. Anyone now a days was working for Voldomort. Voldomort knew of Hermione Granger. He knew that Hermione was friends with Harry. And he must have heard small talks of her rebellion. If he got wind of this Ron would be ordered to be destroyed. Then others would be ordered to be destroyed. He couldn’t risk this. So he was lost in an obstacle. He really didn’t know where to begin. But he had to begin some place.

His eyes were going from side to side. Hoping some where soon he would find a sign. A sign leading him to answers. Or at least leading him to clues. Stumbling along people were giving him strange looks. Some were even jeering at him. ‘ is that a weasley.’ or ‘ why isn’t he dead yet?’ A question Ron still wondered. He didn’t understand why Voldomort spared him. Ron was still in the magical world. It was a wonder that someone that followed him hadn’t tried killing him yet. He assumed that it was because he was a pureblood. And now that Harry Potter was dead it didn’t matter what Ron was doing. Voldomort assumed Ron was harmless. And, boy, would Ron love to prove him wrong.

As his eyes scanned his surrounding they met with an interesting person. For only a moment it seemed. Because as soon as Ron looked his way the man had taken off. Taken off at a fast pace. He didn’t understand why the man was looking at him? Who was he? He couldn’t be someone that worked for Voldomort could he? No? They wouldn’t have stared at him. They would have said something disgracing to him as well. And they wouldn’t be walking away as fast as they were.

“ Wait!” he shouted after the man. Getting disgusting looks from people walking the streets. “ Please, wait!” he said running now to catch up with the man. At this point he didn’t care who he was. He had to take a chance sometime. And, what better time then right now? He’d take a risk. And he’d take a chance. There was a fifty percent chance he might know something. And, there was a fifty percent chance he didn’t. But Ron was holding on to hope. And oh how much hope it really was.

[KISTIN THEODORE CROSS !]

"Okay, that failed wonderfully." Kistin thought, as the man in question shouted after him. He kept walking steadily, but he could hear the footsteps behind him quickening and getting louder. He knew the man was running to catch him, and Kistin deliberated over whether to run also...but decided against it. All it would do is draw attention to the two of them, and the last thing he needed was more attention.

Although he did not speed up, he did wheel into a small alleyway off the main road. If he was going to have a conversation with this person, he was not going to do it with the jeers and catcalls of a crowd. Not just that, but if he was going to have the conversation he envisioned having, the least people around; the better.

Kistin walked midway through the alleyway, not looking back, before stopping and turning on his heel to face the way he had come. He only had to hope the man was brave enough to follow. That said, he was brave enough to walk through Hogsmeade with a head of bright red hair...and that took guts.

[OOC: SO sorry it's so short!!!]

[RONALD BILIUS WEASLEY !]

He wasn’t wanting a chase. He was not in good shape. The poor bloke had never been in that great of shape. Back when he was in Hogwarts being on the journey with Harry kept in decent shape. And, the Qudditch Team even did its own little part, in keeping Ronald healthy and fit. But now, now that he was out of school, and not doing much of anything after the death of Harry and Fred, he just stopped caring. At this moment he regretted it. He was doing all he could to keep up with the man. The man wasn’t even going that fast! And Ronald was already getting out of breath. He figured if a rebellion was going to break out he’d need to start working out some more. This was far besides the point…

Finally Ron managed to catch up. He witnessed the man go down a dark ally way. It made Ron stop dead in his tracks. Either the man was about to kill him or the man was about to tell him some information in the dark ally way. He so hoped it was the second bit. Maybe, he just needed to talk while nobody was around. It hadn’t been that smart of Ron to just start screaming his name. His red hair drew attention. And if he was going to get information from anyone nobody was dumb enough to do it in plan sight.

He slowly crept along until he reached the man. “ Hello.” Ron said staring at the man. Trying to get a good grasp of his face. It had been more difficult then he wanted. But he’d deal with it. But after the hello words swelled up in his voice. How was he supposed to even approach this? He bit on his bottom lip and gulped. “ I’m Ronald Weasley…” he paused. He was already too far in now to care what happened to him. “ And I was wondering if you might happen to know some information…” he trailed off. He couldn’t start babbling now. He had to wait to see his reaction to the name. If it was a sneer or a jab he’d go the other way. Or risk getting killed, he didn’t care. But, he wasn’t going to ask for the information till he knew it was safe to do so. He couldn’t bring in Hermione’s name not yet.

ooc: it's all good. i've been a little sketchy with my writing. i'm having a hard time trying to figure ron out right now. =P but i'll get him here sooner or later. lol.

[KISTIN THEODORE CROSS !]

After a short pause, Kistin saw the man following him down the alley - albeit slowly. Then again, that was probably sensible considering Kistin was an unknown, and could be any number of sinister beings...a vampire, for one.

As the man greeted him, Kistin's eyebrow raised slightly. He hadn't expected him to be so forward. "Good evening." He replied. As he uttered his name, Kistin's brow furrowed, and continued to furrow as the man asked if he knew "some information". "Not many people would be brave enough...some might say "stupid", but each to their own...to call themselves by that name to someone they have no knowledge of." He commented. "Someone who is unlikely to be on the same side as themselves." He added, with a hint of warning. "And what kind of information do you think I might know?" He asked, a hint of haughtiness in his voice.

If this really was the Ron Weasley, then he was a fool. Surely using his real name and - like Hermione - not using any kind of disguise was a surefire way to draw attention to himself and increase the risk of imminent death? The Weasleys had been regarded as lesser to most pureblood families before he had become firm friends with the late Harry Potter. At least Hermione made herself scarce and kept out of clear view for the majority of time. This man, who called himself Ron Weasley, obviously had a death wish...especially when he was standing in an alleyway with a man who could quite easily have skipped the niceties and Avada Kedavra-ed him to death in an instant. Had Kistin Cross been a new Death Eater, "Ron Weasley" would have been a bloody easy target...and an even easier kill.

[OOC: It's fine. And sorry for Kist's haughtiness and disdain. XD Had Ron met him way back when, he would have been far more approachable!! ]

[RONALD BILIUS WEASLEY !]

Ifhe was going to kill him he’d have done it by now. People working for him were not this way. They did not ‘care’ enough to explain to him how stupid he was. They would not have bothered to lead him to a dark ally. Voldomort didn’t care about Ronald. They didn’t have to worry about upsetting him. This was why Ron had been so upfront. If the man was going to kill him, he’d have done it by now. The only way Ron was going to die by this man was if he said a wrong thing. A wrong thing not to do with who he was. But offensive to the man. He could already sense he wasn’t working for Voldomort. Those men held no remorse. They would have been beyond pissed a Weasley was following them, and killed him.

But part of Ron being brave wasn’t because he sensed the man didn’t work for Voldomort. It was because he didn’t care anymore. Why should he? He had his family, yes. But he lost his best friend. He lost his brother. He was already broken. And in this world Ron didn’t care what happened to him. This world was doomed. He hated it more then he had hated anything else in his entire life. So yes he was upfront. And at this point in his life he didn’t really care. He had to take risks to find Hermione. And this was one of them. And if he died before reaching her, then so be it. He wasn’t getting anywhere in a quick matter if he didn’t take risks.

He was taking enough risks just being a Weasley. Why not chance some more? “ If you wanted to kill me, you would have done it already. Your not working for him. Are you?” his mouth went a little dry. It was a stupid question. Even if he was he wouldn’t admit to it. But really. Ron was doubting that he belonged to Voldomort. It just couldn’t be…

Unless he was a spy. Which made Ron double think himself. It could be a trap. A trap to get him to spill information. Information about Hermione. About a rebellion and then he was screwed. He didn’t mind if he was killed. But he didn’t want to risk Hermione being harmed. For being so brave earlier he was now faulting. He was thinking of walking away. But he already got himself too far in now to turn away.

“ Information about… about muggleborns. “ he wasn’t mentioning Hermione. And this was nearly safe. The reaction the man gave would give him away. For a person not trustworthy would talk of disgust. And it’d be written all over their face. But a man that cared for them would be protecting them, no foul words would be exchanged. And if there were, he’d turn and walk away.

[KISTIN THEODORE CROSS !]

Kistin heard his question and snorted derisively. "If I was, would I really tell you? And if I wasn't, would I be fool enough to admit it?" He replied, answering his question with two in return.

However, when he spoke of muggleborns, Kistin's mind suddenly spun. What if this "Ron Weasley" was someone using Polyjuice Potion - it would hardly be the first time unsuspecting sympathisers with the late Harry Potter had been duped and caught...and killed. He didn't mention Hermione, which caused this sudden whirring of Kistin's brain. By muggleborns, this man could mean Ella...and he wasn't putting her (nor Hermione for that matter) at risk.

"Muggleborns?" Kistin asked, conversationally. "What do you think I would know of muggleborns? And why" He asked, stepping forward slightly, "..do you think I..." He removed the hood from his head, revealing his hair, eyes and, as he spoke, his fangs, "...would know anything..." (he stressed this word, his fangs clearly visible; long, pointed and sharp) "...about muggleborns?"

If this man were a death eater, he would apologise and leave. If he were an impostor, but not a death eater, he would probably jump out of his skin and run.

And if he did neither of these things...? Well...Kistin would jump that hurdle if he came to it.

[RONALD BILIUS WEASLEY !]

He wasn’t getting anywhere. It was making him sick to his stomach. This man was terrifying. He didn’t know where else to turn. He was already risking so much by talking to him. By being in Hogsmead. This could be the end of Ron’s life as he knew it. Even if this man wasn’t a death eater, that didn’t mean he wouldn’t harm Ron. Some people could care less about what was going on in the world. And because of that, they could care less with what happened to people. Ron didn’t know who to trust anymore. Before Harry died you could often spot the people that could be trusted rather easily. But now, nobody was trusting. Even if they had a trusting face, it didn’t mean they could be trusted. Sometimes the most trusting face became the worse.

He gulped. His eyes went wide. Was that fangs? Oh god, it was fangs? A vampire? Was he speaking to a vampire?! Oh. He was a dead man. He was such a dead man. His hands began to sweat, his body tensed up. He fell back to the ground, as he started to inch away from the man. He thought he was ready for death. He really did. But not this type of death. If the man was going to kill him it would be painful. It wouldn’t be with a flick of a wand. It would be torture. Was getting killed really worth it? Was finding out about Hermione worth pain? He licked his lips and inhaled sharply. Knowing it was worth it.

“ I just. I. “ he stammered. “ There is a muggleborn I’m looking for. That is all.” his words stumbling out. Still being careful not to mention Hermione. But if this man knew anything about the past trio, he might figure it out. He really hoped he wouldn’t know anything about the trio, if he was with Voldomort. “ I think. I mean. I know she’s dead. I just wanted to know if someone knew how it happened. For revenge.” he expressed quickly.

This last bit was a lie. But he couldn’t say he wanted to know where she was. He couldn’t say she was alive. It was better to go with the dead story. If they thought she was dead and they were with Voldomort they wouldn’t search for her. If they weren’t with Voldomort, and they might know something, they might tell him she’s not dead. And if he was lucky they might know where she was at. But he was having his doubts. And Ron really felt like he just walked into his death trap. He was going to be dead soon.