Author: Cugami
Rating: PG13
Pairing: Ron/Draco
Summary: There's a way to get Draco out of Death Eaters' hands and right under Voldemort's very nose, even. And Ron has to.
Disclaimer: Harry Potter Series copyrighted to JK Rowling and Warner Bros.
Notes: The cliff-climbing is inspired by a French Legend, The Cliff of the Two Lovers (La Cote des Deux Amants). Setting: Post-Hogwarts. Fresh out from school.
italics -- denotes Ron's thoughts
ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo
Fact number one, Voldemort is alive and kicking.
Fact number two, there is a war.
Fact number three, people are suffering.
Harry Potter is their hero. He survived Voldemort once and no doubt he can survive everything and anything until the day he faces off with Voldemort. And that day is not today.
Harry Potter facts, there are people who will give their lives up for him. He has friends. He has an extended family. He has the love he thought he never had.
Voldemort is their enemy. He survived Harry Potter, came back from some oblivion and no doubt he can survive everything and anything until the day he faces off with Harry Potter. And that day is not today.
Voldemort facts, there are people who will give their lives up for him. He has influence. He has minions. He has fanatics he knew he always had.
Ugly as it sounds, fact number four says the fight is even.
It's just not right. Ron's mind stopped trying to make sense of things and simply concluded that at a time like this, sense is the farthest thing from reality. Reality is when people are dropping dead. Reality is when he hears cries and sobs from friends, acquaintances and from people he barely knew. What made sense is for him to be tucked in bed, thinking about which university to go to if he will dare pursue higher studies. But, things do not make sense. And this is where he finds himself in.
On one end of the cliff stood his friends, family and others who are on the side of the Order. He can see his mother, standing right next to his father and her ashen face look so distraught even from this distance. Right next to Hermione is his best friend, Harry Potter. Well then, Harry should have been the one right here but as his closest friend, Ron will not allow it.
For that brief moment, their eyes met. A look of gratitude, apology, distress, other things he can't name are visible in those green eyes.
Hey, mate, this one's for you. So you can have another day to fight that awful snake.
Speaking of snakes, he raised his head and there before him are Death Eaters. He can't tell whether Voldemort was among them or not as they are all wearing a uniformed black robe and most have masks; except for one man. That man stands by the edge, meeting his eyes.
He hates Lucius Malfoy, more so now than ever. He hates because of that grudging respect he just gave to the man for all this. No matter what the conclusion of today's bout will be, it favors Lucius Malfoy. The man wins whether Ron survives this or not. Ronald Weasley stands by the foot of a cliff with his once enemy not too far behind.
It all began when Lucius Malfoy arranged a meeting with a member of the Order. He is a Death Eater, and a loyal one at that and his son isn't. It was a challenge the Malfoy had given, risking his son's life in the process but at the same time, giving a perfect opportunity for his son to come out clean and slip him past the danger zone right under Voldemort's nose.
The two sides of the war are at a standstill and strengthening whatever force they have. The Malfoy had set his pawn, Draco Malfoy. If the Order can get Draco out of the grasp of the Death Eaters and win the war, they have one prominent name, someone whom people will listen to because of the old ties and someone whose treasures can be used in the redevelopment of any casualty and disaster of the war. Provided, Draco cooperates. Dumbledore, who sees hope in anyone, trusts that Draco is capable of making the right choices, given that the boy grows up in an environment that doesn't lead him straight to a murderous path. On the other hand, they can only get Draco out if someone from the Order is willing to challenge the Death Eaters for him.
When Ron heard it from Dumbledore, he knew it was a trap. It doesn't take a genius to know that. Nonetheless, they are willing to do it. When his father had agreed to it, Ron understood something. Arthur Weasley hates Lucius Malfoy but, they are Fathers. Lucius had a job to do and he had to do it, but he wanted his son out of it. And it was the only way. Of course, Ron can argue with that and can likely come up with a hundred excuses why this isn't necessary. But, he's just a boy and they are adults. They don't think in the same line.
Ron understands why having Draco safe and sound by the end of war and on their side is good for them. It took enough pride for Lucius to offer his son and of equal pride for Arthur to accept it. Where does Ron come in?
He volunteered.
A sigh escapes his lips upon remembering that.
Here he stands before the cliff where he most likely will end his very short life. There are people better suited for this task than him, he knew. But, the Order needs and expects results from each of its members. They can't possibly risk Harry Potter to do this job. None of his brothers are willing to do this for a Malfoy and at the same time, they all have their own tasks to accomplish which Ron isn't capable of. The female and the aging population of the Order is not an option.
In short, Ron is a spare pawn. They will not say it outright and probably doesn't even think that's the case but Ron understands. He can live and he can die, and people will move on.
Now, the task at hand; if he lives through this, Draco lives also. Draco can be kept safe, and most likely live through the war and be among the political foundation of the new generation after being thoroughly taught by the adults in the Order. Even if Lucius dies or is imprisoned after the war, the man will be just as proud to have a Malfoy out there and prominent on the 'good' side just as he was on the 'bad' side.
If Ron dies and Draco dies also, Lucius successfully delivers death to one of the Order. Not just any member, at that. It will be the death of Harry Potter's best friend. He may not be as important or as gifted as everyone else but he is linked to so many. All the Weasleys will weep, no doubt. Lucius might feel the loss of his own son but he will be satisfied that Arthur lost his.
Lucius wins, either way.
And Lucius gives Ron a nod.
Ron closes his eyes, taking a deep breath and finally lets it out. He will not lie. He wants to go home. And this is almost as bad as having the biggest spider right next to him.
Arms begin to snake around Ron's neck and he slowly bends down, making it easier for the other person to climb his back. He can feel the knees curl just by his waist and the weight shift about behind him, finding a comfortable place. He wonders if he can reach the top of this cliff at all. Alone, he can. With this load behind him, two lives in his hands --- Ron mutters a prayer to all deities, avatars and gods he's ever read about.
So begins the long climb of Ron with Draco behind him, serving as his load and handicap as well as his prize. Long limbs stretch and pull without effort and Ron finds himself easing through the first quarter of the cliff with little difficulty. In his mind, hope begins to burn. Perhaps, he can do this.
He grabs on to the edges, clinging to each rock like a lifeline. Nearing halfway
through, gravity begins to pull its weight and remind him that his lanky frame
can only do so much. The loose chalks roll away beneath his feet and there are
slippery places which he can't hold on to. He falters as the rocks begin to
give but he can't stop for breath or this game will be over. The consequence
of stopping midway is a signal for Death Eaters that the representative of the
Order had given up.
The sounds of cheers from his friends come muffled in his ears. His vision blurs
and the ringing in his ears won't stop. Nonetheless, he can still decipher the
jests of the Death Eaters high above him.
His back ached and his feet can hardly keep from stumbling. His fingers begin to feel numb and he honestly doesn't know if he can still continue.
"Breathe."
The voice cut through all the panicking Ron's mind immersed itself with.
"Use your feet."
Ron doesn't have the time to argue. He can't stop the climb. Though his mind has started a long tirade about Draco giving him orders at a time like this, he unconsciously began to put his weight on his feet. Ron swings one leg over, hooks in a foothold and pushes the rest of his body up with the support of his arms.
"Keep at it. One foothold after another."
Ron just wants Draco to shut up. He needs to concentrate and he can't with that voice biting orders right next to his ear. He wants to scream.
Hissing, Ron grunts and pushes his body up and higher. His head is dizzy and his eyes begin to dim. He can hardly feel his legs anymore.
"Focus!"
Yes. Up. Higher. One after another.
"Almost there."
Unbearable. His breathing has started to become erratic from exhaustion and lack of air.
"Breathe. In and out. Come on."
He doesn't know when or how but soon enough, his breathing synchronized with the up and down movement of the chest beating on his back. He can't tell one noise from another, anymore. Nor can he see what goes on around him. He can hear yells, is that cheering?
Where is he? He doesn't know. He can't feel the rest of his body.
He can't see.
His vision slowly comes into focus, blurry still but he can glimpse black things and some pale blue. The blue can be the horizon since he's probably lying on his back at the moment. He can't tell.
Bit by bit, the black swirls begin to disappear like a flurry of robes swishing away.
He attempts turning his head, which, he quickly learns, is quite a mistake as the blood rush seep up his throbbing head. He sits up with the help of someone supporting his back and carefully, he stands up and propped against a smaller frame.
Ah, finally. He can breathe better while standing up. Looking around, he realizes they are on top of the cliff and the Death Eaters are gone. Wait. Wait. Wait!
His gaze falls on the ground and he can see two sets of feet, a booted set which belongs to him and the other is bare. His eyes crawl up that bare feet and he meets the stare of its owner.
"You're barefoot." Such a dumb comment.
He also looks thin, Ron mentally notes. Come to think, Draco's robes look --- Ron tightens his grip on the robes that Draco's wearing with a frown.
"What do you think you're doing?" Draco raises an eyebrow as Ron tugs on his robe.
" --- your robes."
"It's the lightest material I have."
Ron doesn't know what his face must look at that moment. Realization hits like stones being thrown at him piece by piece. A barefooted Draco wearing the thinnest fabric of clothing as possible and the pale boy looks thinner than normal as if he hadn't eaten for days. No wonder the first half of the climb was easy.
"I don't know what to say ---"
Draco looks at a distance where the rest of the Weasleys are making their way to congratulate their son.
"You can start with calling me Draco from now on."
Fact number five, war changes people.
This is reality. Here he stands right next to Draco Malfoy. Alive. He climbed a six-hundred foot cliff with this young man on his back and it sounds impossible. One day, he'll understand what just happened and things will make sense. But, not today.
-- fin --