What Tomorrow Brings
On the eve of his task from Voldemort, Draco receives a visitor that attempts one last time to sway him from his path and then to offer what little comfort he can. SLASH
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DISCLAIMER: All characters, settings, and magical occurrences were all conceived and created in the brilliant mind of J.K. Rowling. Nothing except the glorious plot is property of mine. No profits are being made from my writing.
WARNING: This story will contain some SLASH, as it will be the main pairing. If this bothers, offends, or just grosses you out, you can save yourself a lot of pain and heartburn and just click the back button. Otherwise, stick around. I can only hope not to disappoint. I suppose it's best to point out that there will is a MAJOR HBP SPOILER as this piece is supposed to fit in along with the plot during the sixth book. This is also a prologue to a piece I'm working on now which was detail the events after the sixth book ended. This is more of an interlude.
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Draco leaned his shoulder up against the bark of the tree, one leg moving to cross the other as he stood. His eyes were staring blankly out at the lake before him, but not really seeing it. There were clearly other things on his mind that evening. Things that held much greater importance to him for he knew that it was to be his last evening at Hogwarts. His last night to be considered anything close to innocent though he knew he may be stretching that a little.
The wind whipped a little violently over him and on reflex he brought his arms up and crossed them over his chest, one hand pulling his robes tighter around him. The late night hours provided a bite to the air around him and though not particularly chilling it was enough for the ever freezing blonde. Just as he felt his body catch and shiver slightly from a chill, two arms enclosed him, hands beginning to rub against his arms in an attempt at warmth.
"You're always so cold," The comment was made to which Draco's features seemed to soften a little as he leaned into the hands and arms around him.
"I can't exactly help it," He responded, leaning off of the tree and shifting himself around enough to face his new companion. At that moment, his steel gray eyes met cool blue.
"I know," Ron nodded to him and Draco couldn't help but wonder if he meant simply about the cold or otherwise. The tone was suggestive enough and the idea caused his eyes to drift away, not daring to make eye contact again.
"I didn't think you'd come out here tonight," Draco began pulling away and found himself taking several steps towards the lake, keeping his back fully on the redhead.
"I didn't either. I just had to," The voice that met Draco's ears caused his stomach to twist in knots. It was the one voice that made him fully question everything he was about to do. It was the voice that had made him question a lot of things.
"You aren't going to change my mind," Draco reminded him, finally spinning back around, attempting to put his mask back on but it was clear that Ron saw through it.
"I know but I had to try. One last time," Ron offered in a defeated tone. Those words seemed to chill Draco more than the breeze for it truly was just that.
"It just isn't that simple."
"Nothing about this is simple, I know that. And I know that I can't stop you. But I had to see you." At the conclusion of his statement, he took the few steps towards Draco, leaving their bodies mere inches apart. The blonde felt his body react instantly to the warmth and more importantly the redhead.
"Don't make this harder," Draco muttered, his throat tightening as his eyes read Ron. It wasn't a difficult thing to do with him and he knew it. But that did little to quell the desire to give everything up right then just to wipe that look off of his face.
Instead of speaking, arms closed around one another, Draco sinking into the embrace fiercely, burying his face deep in the collar of Ron's robe. It had that familiar and potent smell that he'd become all too familiar with. Specifically Ron. He breathed it in deeply knowing it could very well be the very last time. One last time. Hands moved and in an easy motion, raised Draco's face up so it was staring directly up at Ron's. Eyes met for a very long moment, seeming to say everything that the other didn't know how to. Silver making the only apology that Ron knew he'd get.
"Will you please keep yourself safe?" Ron questioned, attempting to lighten the mood with his tone but not doing a very good job. It was clearly false and the question much more serious.
"I'll try. But will you do something for me?" Draco posed his own question to which he received a nod. "Try to understand. There isn't any other way for me. Please don't hate me for this," Draco was angry with himself for the words that were slowly betraying him but he couldn't give it much care.
"I can't hate you," Was the only response he got and that had been quite enough. Standing there in the shield of the forest, there were so many other things that could've been shared. Many things that needed to be said from both parties but as the reality was made severely clear, it just didn't seem to be the place. Time was not on their side that evening and most likely never would be again.
"You should go," Draco's voice was almost pleading as it crept from his throat. Every second he stood there made it that much harder for him to do what he had to and let the redhead leave him at all.
"Draco."
"Please. Just go," His tone came out slightly more forceful this time which did nothing but cause the expression worn by Ron to fall that much more. Draco couldn't let it affect him. He had to maintain himself.
"Promise me I'll see you again before the end," Ron ignored his request, not daring to take even the slightest step away.
"I can't promise that. After tomorrow, you won't want to see me anyway," Draco let himself fully break eye contact and he attempted to back away. Ron decided to have none of it as he held on a little tighter, just enough so that Draco gave up trying.
"I'll always want to see you." The words were utterly simple and so was the kiss that followed, lips brushing against each other quickly, both parties feeling the pull that could be described only as needy. Draco wound himself back up against the redhead, sinking into the embrace and the kiss. And only when common sense took hold of him again did he pull back, pushing away from Ron.
"I have to go. You have to go," He said quickly, head shaking simply from his nerves.
Eyes held for a long moment before Ron's head moved in a faint nod. He gave Draco a once over before turning around on heel and starting back up towards the school. Draco watched him slink away, pulling his robes around himself again, the chill returning to the air. He stood there alone one last time. Tomorrow, he would kill Dumbledore.
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A/N: Oh the little plot bunnies. I've had just a bit of writer's block lately but as I was laying in bed I had an idea for this piece. It's obviously to depict a conversation between Ron and Draco the night before Draco's plans to kill Dumbledore are set into motion. It's a one-shot by itself but it is an interlude/prologue which will lead into the next piece I'm writing which will be more along the lines of Hopeless/Between You And Me. I hope that you've enjoyed it, I haven't written anything this short in a while but I didn't even want to bother cluttering it up. I liked it as it was. Short, sweet, simple and to the point. So if you enjoyed/hated/loved/despised it, let me know. I love reviews so very much :-D