Unannounced Romance Author: Skitter160 Pairings: Draco/Ron (Ron/Draco?), Harry/?, Hermione/Ginny Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter it is propriety of J.K. Rowling and the other companies that hold the rights, I'm not making any money off of this, this plot is mine though. I don't think I want the pressure that comes with owning Harry Potter either.
Warning: I'm still not following the books or movies... If you didn't read the other warnings that's not my problem, I warned you.
Authoresss Note: I just thought I should inform you I don't use a beta, no I don't want one, that's not why I'm saying it. I usually have my friend read through this story before I post, because this is not my Fandom. She was not able to this time, so if you find any errors please let me know. I know my own editing skills are a bit lacking for my own work. And back to the story part. This is not the last chapter, but most likely the chapter before last. PLEASE R&R! I love to hear from you guys. Well enjoy.
The parchment was good quality Ron noted as he opened it the first thing he noticed about the words was the fact they were green, it was indeed a Slythrin like he had hoped/feared. In the writer's prefect scrawling handwriting it read:
To Ronald, Ron Weasley,
I have wanted to call you by your name for so long now I've lost count of the times I've almost messed up and just said it aloud. I couldn't yet no matter how much I wanted to.
I have not always been the nicest to you; I was more along the lines of the worst. But I want to change that, if you'll let me. I know what you're thinking. Yes I'm a Slythrin, and I know you think I can't be trusted. I would like to change that too.
I love you. Even if you don't believe me I love you.
Ron reached the end and saw there was no name but a part of the parchment was enchanted shut and he pulled out his wand and broke it rolling it down. A beautiful necklace of silver and some blue gem that almost perfectly matched his eyes fell out and in that little space there was a name.
Draco Malfoy
Ron gasped turning bright red as a hundred or so thoughts bombarded his mind at once, the letter clutched tightly in one hand the necklace in the other. In the jumble of his thoughts though was the persistent question and answer he did not know was there. 'Do I love Malfoy, or even just like him?' He asked himself and to his simple and utter surprise the answer had been there all along. 'I don't think I ever really hated him. I like him…' But this did not answer his question in entirety, but it told him as much as he needed to know.
Malfoy who was looking for Ron's reaction and expecting a look of utter contempt was quite ecstatic to have him smile. But that small gesture brought such heat to his cheeks he thought his face was burning and had to quickly look away and stood as well leaving the Great Hall because he housemates would be no help.
"Ron?" Harry said watching as he turned to the Slythrin table, where he saw Malfoy go beet red and he knew the feelings were returned.
"Yeah Harry?" Ron asked turning around his own face quite pink.
"Was it Malfoy?" Hermione asked also having seen the exchange.
"Yeah…" Ron smiled scratching the back of his head. "I think I rather like him too…" He looked at the necklace in his hand and wondered what the gem was instead of looking at them as he finally realized this meant he liked the enemy.
"It's okay Ron." Hermione patted his hand understanding what the current confused look meant. "We knew you liked him before you did." She shot Harry a look out of the corner of her eye.
"Yeah it's alright Ron." Harry smiled weakly feeling nothing was alright and it never would be.
"So what was the gift?" Hermione motioned to his still fisted hands.
"Oh this…" Ron handed her the necklace and she inspected it.
"RON!" Hermione gasped. "This is a blue diamond, these are quite expensive!" She whisper shouted, a very rare talent she possessed.
"Really?" Ron took it and examined it. "It doesn't really look all that expensive…" He said slipping it around his neck.
"It is. It can stop certain spells." Hermione went on but he was no longer listening and instead looking out the Great Hall and contemplating his next move.
Beside Hermione Harry was going crazy in his mind but he knew it was his fault for not telling Ron how he really felt. Telling him now was out of the game as well; it would just leave Ron confused and somewhat more perplexed on what to do than he already was. Gathering his own courage he looked at Ron and saw him looking out the Great Hall as if he wanted to follow Malfoy. "I love you." Harry whispered just under his breath, he hadn't been able to stop himself, even though it was not what he meant to say, and Ron turned to face him realization on his face just before he stood abruptly and left. He was not sure if he had been heard or if Ron was just making a decision on what to do. But the brighter red of Ron's ears told him what he didn't want to acknowledge, Ron had heard him and knew it was meant towards him. He silently cursed himself before turning to Hermione and letting her in on his slip up.
"YOU WHAT?" She practically screamed at him before quickly calming down. "You see this is why I advised you to tell him." She shook her head. "We'll need to give him some time, we'll go look for him at the lake later. For now think about what you can do to repair the damage."
'Harry just said….And to me…' Ron's mind was reeling first Malfoy confessed in that letter, then his best friend; though he was quite sure Harry had not wanted him to hear that but it filled in a lot of questions he had about why Harry would look at him weird sometimes. 'But what am I going to do? How do I even feel? Bloody Hell this is so messed up.' He was just about to the lake when he saw a flash of a robe storming past him he saw enough of their face to recognize them as Pansy. Shrugging it away he headed towards the lake again. It had always brought him calm when he watched the water rippling out on the lake. He was surprised to see someone already there when the lake came into view. He was even more surprised to see platinum blonde hair. 'Should I just go to the other side instead?' He asked himself as he neared the lake Malfoy just standing there and watching the water.
Hearing someone approach Malfoy turned to see who it was and quickly turned back his face a little pink. 'I forgot this is his thinking spot.' He would never admit to having watched the other boy think, but he did it quite often. Which was actually why he was standing there now, he was hoping since it worked for Ron, the hot tempered, it might help him to calm down too. 'Maybe I should just leave?' He thought as he heard the footsteps falter he could feel the other boy not very far from him.
Approaching his spot he hesitated. 'Maybe he wanted to be alone…' He wasn't sure why he cared at that moment because it was Malfoy that had confessed to him, not the other way around. "Do you mind if I join you?" He had asked before he even realized he had opened his mouth. He was quite pleased with the slight pink Malfoy turned at his question though so he was rather glad he had asked.
"I don't mind." Malfoy turned his face completely away from Ron. 'This is not what I planned.' He thought as he heard Ron taking a seat in the grass beside him.
"…" Ron wanted to say something anything as the silence dragged on for what felt like hours but was really only a few minutes of them watching the water. "So why was Pansy down here?" He blurted not even at all curious but he couldn't bare the silence any longer.
"She followed me out here." He answered simply and honestly, he didn't really want to go into the fact that the cow had tried to hit on him, but after a slight pause he asked. "So why are you out here anyway?" He asked casually his voice doing its best not to sound nervous, because Malfoy's don't sound nervous his mind provided and he suddenly decided he didn't care if he did sound nervous.
"Well…" Ron blushed a little; this was their first attempt at actual conversation. Malfoy seemed interested enough to know what he was about to say and nodded as if waiting. "Harry kinda…told me he loves me…." Ron scratched the back of his neck nervously. 'I really don't need to be telling Malfoy this…He just confessed toady as well.'
Malfoy was a little shocked to hear this, the whole school had known about Potter's crush on the Weasley but no one had ever thought he would tell him. He wanted to murder Potter, and his face was showing this, but he quickly replaced the evil glint with a thoughtful look. "Well how do you feel about him?" Malfoy looked at him seriously. "The whole school has known that's he's been head over heels for you since thrid year." He smirked. "Well except you."
Ron was not expecting this kind of response. Had the whole school really known about Harry's affections? Had he really missed them? "I don't know…" Ron said sadly. "He's my best friend… I don't think I see him like that." He was not expecting Malfoy to be so…Thoughtful?
Malfoy nodded. "So what about me?" He had not meant to say that and got up to leave not letting the questioning look he got from Ron stop him. "Never mind I'll let you think some more. I'll…be around." He flashed the red head a soft smile as he got up and returned to the castle his heart beating faster than it should have as he left a very dumbfounded red head sitting by the lake, he felt his eyes on him the whole way back.
"That was odd…" Ron felt saying this aloud would somehow bring clarity to the situation, sadly it did not. But he felt something stirring within him as he watched the blonde walk away, something he had only ever associated with people he liked. 'I know I like him…But how much?' He found himself staring at the lake again. 'And what about Harry? I mean how do I turn down my best friend? That's going to tough.' He sighed. He didn't actually have time for this. 'It's almost time for DADA….Bloody Hell…' He just realized he had that class Malfoy, and not just Malfoy but Snape. 'My life sucks.' He thought as he made his way up to the castle avoiding most of the other students as he made his way to the classroom. His mind tried to reassure him on way. 'It's not like the classes so far have been bad, well except for Snape…But that's just Snape's nature. Malfoy hasn't really insulted me in a week…But now knowing why will I be able to sit in the same class with him?' His mind paused. 'What about Harry? You sit next to him all the time; you sleep in the same dorm…Bloody Hell…' Ron just realized what those snitch boxers really meant and why Harry would go all misty-eyed when he wore them. That wouldn't stop him from wearing them, no, a good pair of boxers is not something to be thrown out, he would just not parade around in them anymore. Reaching the classroom he took a deep breath and stepped inside to see that he was just in time to get a seat between Harry and Hermione, the only seat left. 'To hell with it!' He thought as he sat down roughly between them doing his best not to look over at Harry who was looking quite hurt for the treatment.
"Ron…" Harry said timidly hoping that he would at least look at him, he didn't so he went on. "I'm sorry."
"Sorry for what Harry?" Ron snipped his voice low so the class wouldn't hear. "For not mentioning that you had your eye on me? We've known each other for years now. I think you would have told me you've loved me since third year." He sighed. "I'm not mad Harry I'm just confused. I don't feel like that towards you." He said softly.
"I know." Harry smiled weakly. "That's why I never wanted to tell you." He went to pat Ron's shoulder but stopped halfway. "I'm sorry you found out."
"It's okay Harry." Ron patted Harry's shoulder. "It doesn't really change the fact we are best friends. Just don't go doing anything weird like spying on me in the shower." Ron laughed at how red his face got.
"I would never." Harry did his best not to show that he had once, but not been able to see anything.
"Keep it that way." Ron smiled and just then Snape walked in his cloak billowing behind him.
Malfoy in the corner of the room had been watching Ron and Potter interact and was not happy Ron was touching him, but he knew they were not an item from the look on Potter's face. He sighed mentally. 'But how am I supposed to get Ron?' He thought remembering the look Ron had given him after the letter of confession he knew he wasn't hated, but he didn't know how different the emotion was. 'Now is not the time.' He shook his head and turned towards Snape to hear what he had to say about the lesson today, but from the corner of his eye he saw Ron look at him and a note landed on his desk. Waiting until Snape was preoccupied he took the note and opened it. It read:
Meet me after classes at the lake. We need to talk.
Ron
Looking over at Ron he saw him wink and he blushed before returning his attention to the professor.
Ron himself wasn't sure why he had sent a note instead of just cornering Malfoy, but somehow this seemed more appropriate seeing as he wanted to thank the blonde. 'It's going to be long day.' He thought as his heart sped up just thinking about the meeting. He wasn't sure what all he would say, but he had plenty of ideas. Most of them along the lines of thanks and disbelief, but somewhere in there he felt something else lurking in wait for the right time to voice itself.
Did anyone see this coming? Just curious...
