A/N:
New Chapter! Yey!
Warnings:
Will be HPDM, will contain violence, strong language, and various other adult themes. I would recommend that you be of age in your resident country to read this story.
Disclaimer:
I don't own these characters or this world. These ramblings make me no profit. I am prone to bribery in the form of reviews and new violin pegs.
Harry held the vial up to the light and scrutinised it for a moment. He could smell wafts of peppermint and chocolate, and was thankful for that. Shaking his head, he brought the vial to his lips and downed the contents in one fell swoop. He felt the familiar twang of his insides starting to shift around. He watched his hands shrink, the fingers becoming smooth and slender, he almost laughed when his chest swelled out and his hair flowed down, lightening along the way. Taking his wand, he pointed once to his clothes and once to his voice box, before stepping out in front of his bedroom mirror. Staring back at him was an unassuming blond girl dressed in trainers, flared jeans, and a purple vest top.
Ron crunched his way across the city's snowdrift in a sulk. When he eventually reached the coffee shop he forced a smile for the waitress and was told 'Mr Hart' was in the stockroom but would be out soon. He ordered a coffee and dumped himself down at a seat by the window. A blond girl glanced over at him from a nearby table but he was in no mood to strike up a conversation, instead he turned inward to his own gloomy thoughts.
"You look like someone's smacked you in the face with a wet fish." Draco announced as took up the chair across from Ron. Ron saw the blond girl staring over at them and realised he'd probably been drawing attention to himself by scowling up a storm and grumbling under his breath.
"I'm fine," he ground out.
"You don't look fine."
"It's nothing."
"You're not... having an attack of conscience are you? About me?"
"I have a permanent attack of conscience when it comes to you!" Ron growled.
Draco sat back in his chair, his eyes darkened, "That's not funny."
"Do you see me laughing?"
"You know what," Draco said as he rose to his feet, "I have places to be. Maybe we'll catch up when you've stopped acting like a bloody pratt."
Ron shifted uncomfortably, they were making a scene. The blond was staring down into her coffee cup trying to pretend she couldn't hear, but the repulsed look on her face told him that he was being an arse.
"Hermione's getting remarried."
Draco stalled his exit, turning back to Ron, "And?"
Ron felt a surge of frustration at his friend's lack of response, "You know we got divorced, yeah?" He challenged, clenching his fists. "I mean, I know you stick your head in the sand at even the most remote mention of things back home, but not even you could fail to notice what's missing from this picture," he held up his wedding finger.
Draco also noticed the attention they were drawing and he smiled an apology to the blond girl whose eyes widened at being caught staring.
He gracefully re-took his seat, "That, and the fact that you keep making moon eyes at my best friend. Which leads me to ask, why do you care?"
Ron deflated, "Because they're going to be this complete family unit now. Him, her, and my kids. There's no room for me in that picture."
"Okay, first of all let's get one thing straight," Draco pointed a finger in Ron's face, "That damn well better be the only reason you're sulking over this."
"Well why else would I care!"
"Do you still have a thing for that daft bint?" Draco's voice was low and dangerous.
"Don't be ridiculous!"
"Because I swear to god Ron, if you're stringing Asha along I'll break you in half."
Ron shot him an angry look, "She can take care of herself."
"Yeah, it seems that way doesn't it?"
"What's that supposed to mean?"
"I mean she's not as savvy and untouchable as she likes to make out. She thinks the world's full of good people and its bloody well not. She falls too easily and she gets hurt, and just because she manages to bounce back from it doesn't make it okay."
"You think I'd do that?"
"I think you're fallible like the rest of us, so I'm warning you, because you're my friend - Don't - Give me - A reason." Draco punctuated the threat with jabs to Ron's chest.
Ron stuttered, ready to defend himself but unable to choose the right words.
"Shut it, I'm not finished," Draco said, "Secondly, you're an idiot, you know that?
Ron folded his arms and gave up the fight, "Yeah, I know that."
"No, seriously, you're a world class title-weight eejit."
"Thanks, sometimes I forget how charming you can be."
Draco sighed and put his head in his hands for a moment before meeting his friend's eyes, "You'll always be their father, nobody can take that away from you, he can't take your place."
Ron looked hopeful, "Yeah?"
"My old boss, Mr Henderson," Draco shifted in his seat, "Well he's much more than that to me. He didn't just give me a job, he welcomed me into his family. I call him my old man, and he treats me like the son he never had. He's guided me and supported me and I try to make him proud with everything I do because he's part of who I am. But he could never replace my father."
"I thought you hated Lucius?"
Draco flinched at the familiar use of his father's name. "Of course I don't hate him! I was angry at him for a long time, and I can't say that I've forgiven or forgotten, but my father isn't what keeps me away, I thought I was pretty clear before on what does."
The pair sat in silence for a few minutes until eventually Draco shoved Ron's shoulder and they both laughed to ease the last of the tension between them.
"I meant it when I said I had places to be," Draco said.
"Oh, okay," Ron looked disappointed.
"You could come," Draco looked down and picked at his nails, "If you wanted to, that is."
"When, where, for how long?"
"Now, up north, and we'd be back by this time tomorrow. "
Ron stretched his arms over his head and did his best to look nonchalant, "Well, it's not like I have anything better to do."
Draco stood and knocked on the table, "Hop to it then. Chop chop."
Ron stood and put his arm around his friend's shoulders as they headed for the door, "Hang on," he stopped suddenly, "You're not driving are you?"
"Do you have a problem with that?"
Ron turned to face him, "You drive like a mental case!"
"So we'll get there in half the time," Draco returned, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
The blond girl allowed herself to watch them leave. When she removed her hands from their death grip around her coffee cup they were shaking uncontrollably. She touched her face and found it was pale, clammy. Her eyes sought out the bathroom sign and she took a deep breath before getting to her feet and hurrying over to it.
Harry shut the cubicle door behind him, still shaking, though now from head to foot. His knees buckled beneath him and he landed on the tiled floor just as the tears started to fall. He gripped the toilet lid with one hand and covered his mouth with the other, the tears were everywhere now, flowing out from the pit of horror in his stomach, over his face and hands and arm. Seeing Draco striding across the coffee shop like he owned the place was... terrifying. He felt a rope wrap around his neck in response to it: tighter with every word and gesture, until he thought he might pass out from lack of blood to the brain.
"Are you alright in there?" Harry hadn't even heard anyone come in, but now they were knocking on the door having obviously heard his muffled pain. He stood up slowly and opened the cubicle door. His eyes were so swollen he could barely see, and he knew he must look like a complete mess but right then he barely cared.
"Aw honey," the concerned stranger exclaimed, "Are you okay?"
"No," Harry coughed out.
"Come over here by the sink," she said, guiding him over and filling up a basin of water. He leaned over it, splashed his face, and took the offered paper towels to dry off. He looked into the mirror and almost jumped when he saw not his face, but that of the blond girl he'd transformed into. He saw the other girl reflected behind him and suddenly realised who she was.
"Man troubles?"
Harry stared at her waist length strawberry blond hair, her odd clothes, her warm smile. She reminded him of Luna, but this definitely wasn't Luna.
"Something like that," he whispered.
"I'm Asha," she said, offering her hand. Harry froze and just looked at it until it withdrew. "Listen, I was hoping to catch my flatmate but I must've just missed him, if you need someone to talk to I can get us a coffee?"
Harry felt acid rise up in his throat, "I need to go," he said, bolting for the door and out of the shop into the fresh air.
After a short trip to Draco's flat for a few extra supplies they were out of the big city, and Ron actually began to enjoy Draco's seemingly reckless brand of driving. He realised that his friend was in fact fully aware of the road around him, even if he acted to the contrary.
They drove with the windows down and the music up, past hillscapes of sheep and through quaint little villages. The land twisted and rolled around them for hours; it was nightfall by the time they parked up at a desolate little cottage in the middle of nowhere.
"We're here," Draco announced.
"What is this place?"
"It's a bothy," Draco said, as though that explained everything, "Come on, help me with the bags."
The fresh air hit Ron's stomach and he realised how hungry he was with a wave of nausea. He staggered backwards slightly when Draco threw a rucksack into his reluctant arms before scooping up the rest of their kit, making for the front door, and nudging it open with his shoulder.
"Do you own this thing?" Ron looked around, there wasn't much to it really: A small fireplace, three rickety looking chairs, and a table pushed against the back wall of the room.
"God no, I imagine it's owned by the Lord of the estate, but they only ever use it during deer stalking season," Draco lifted the rucksack from Ron's arms and sat it on the floor next to the pile of items he'd brought in.
"Isn't this trespassing?"
Draco crouched down and began rifling through their bags, "Nah, travellers from all over use this place the rest of the year. Check out the sign."
Ron looked around and indeed there was a sign indicating that visitors were welcome - outwith the month of October - provided they left the place as they found it.
"Then how did you know it would be empty?"
"I didn't really, but it usually is on the eve of the solstice. I guess most people prefer to be tucked up in their own beds this close to Christmas," Draco was sat on his haunches, smiling up at him and holding a block of firewood in each hand.
"So, where do we sleep?"
"Um..." Draco bit his lips together, raised his eyebrows, and glanced around the room. Ron stepped back in disbelief.
"No way," he said, holding up his hands against the idea, "We'll freeze to death! We'll be eaten by wolves!"
Draco blurted out a laugh at this before he could stop himself, and he regretted the hurt look on his friend's face.
"There are no wolves out here Ron, we're in Scotland," he began gently, "And we won't freeze, that's what the fire's for," he tried to keep his tone light but he was beginning to see that he'd misjudged the situation completely. He felt his face fall into one of sadness and he bowed his head to hide it. "Look, I would have given you more warning, but I figured you'd appreciate the adventure. I won't be offended if you want to go home. I have to stay, but you could, you know," Draco made a motion with his fingers to suggest that Ron could apparate out.
Ron sat himself down on one of the chairs and sighed, "No, I'm being a bloody pansy. I'll suck it up. What needs doing?"
Draco grinned, "Can you find me the flasks of tea while I light a fire?"
Ron nodded and set about the task, glancing up from time to time study Draco's back as he loaded wood into the fireplace. Dear Merlin he was cold! His teeth were beginning to chatter, but just as he located the flasks he heard the roar of the fire and the room flooded with heat.
"That was quick," he said, re-taking his seat by the fire and handing one of the flasks to Draco, who took it with a guilty look on his face.
"What?" Ron took a moment to click, "You did that with magic." It was a statement, not a question.
Draco mumbled something to himself and wrung his hands.
"But you don't use magic," Ron sounded suspicious, "At least, not intentionally."
"Rules can be broken occasionally," Draco shrugged but the effect was negated by his uneasy tone.
"What rules?"
"My rules," Draco met his eyes, "It's complicated."
Ron nodded, though he didn't really understand, "What are we doing up here Draco?"
"Seven years ago I woke up in a hospital bed, clean of magic. I decided then that I was better off without it. I cast a spell on some of paperwork they had me fill out so that it would infiltrate the records and spread out into any other records connected to them. Like a virus. I vowed that that would be my last act as a wizard."
"That's how you changed your identity?"
Draco nodded.
"I've heard stories of wizards who tried to suppress their magic Draco, and none of them could."
"I was naive, I'll admit that," Draco gave him a wry look. "Long story short, I realised I couldn't just bottle it up and forget about it. So every year on the Winter Solstice I come up here and let it out."
Ron was stumped, "So you're breaking the rules because it's not the solstice yet?"
"You think I'm being ridiculous," Draco grimaced.
"I didn't say that."
"You're thinking it though. That's okay. I didn't expect you to get it. I'm glad of the company though, so I..." Draco looked around awkwardly, "Thanks for staying."
Ron clubbed him on the shoulder in return.
The next morning Ron awoke stiff. Sleeping bag or no, flagstones did not make a comfortable bed.
Draco was already up. Ron sleepily watched him gather their rubbish from the night before into a plastic bag he'd brought with them.
"Morning," he said, "I'm going to dump this stuff in the car, if you want to get dressed I'll make us some breakfast."
Breakfast consisted of sausages roasted on the fire and hard boiled eggs Draco had brought with them. Afterward they packed up the rest of their stuff into the car and doused the fire with a bottle of water.
"What now?"
"Now, we're going for a bit of a walk," Draco handed Ron two small bottles of water to stash in the pockets of the fleece jacket he'd lent him.
Walk had been an understatement as far as Ron could tell; this was more like a hike. After about an hour Ron was starting to list, he thought about asking how much further they would be going but the look of concentration on Draco's face told him not to.
Eventually Draco stopped on the edge of a massive circle of toadstools. At least, Ron assumed it was a circle, it stretched out so far that he couldn't see the other side.
"What are we doing here? Fairy rings are dangerous Draco."
"This isn't a fairy ring, it just looks that way, come on," Draco said and offered his hand. Together they stepped into the circle and Ron's jaw dropped.
This hidden place was full of life. There were more species of magical creature here than in the forbidden forest. The air was thick with the smell of wildflowers and sparks of pure magic fluttered between them like butterflies. Toward the other side of the circle a unicorn of pure light grazed on the long grass there. In the middle of everything was a shimmering black obelisk.
"This place is beautiful, how did you find it?"
"I made it."
"But it's unplottable, I felt it when we crossed the line. The ministry put a trace on unplottable spells after the war, they'd have sent a team of Aurors straight here within minutes."
"I made it unplottable before the war ended, it's been added to in others ways since then though," Draco said quietly, no longer paying attention to Ron, but instead making his way toward the centre of the circle. Ron followed.
The unicorn made it's way over and nuzzled in to Draco's hand when he stopped to greet it.
"This is your patronus," Ron said.
"It is indeed. Such a good girl you are too," he whispered to it.
They continued their journey and when they reached the stone in the centre Draco knelt in front of it. Ron knelt beside him. It was then that he saw the plaque fixed there and the name 'Chloe Evans'.
He watched as Draco placed his hands on the stone, his hands glowed with magic and the stone lit up with it. Within minutes a sphere of gold engulfed the whole circle, and it shone as bright as the sun above them. An eternity later Draco let go. He wrapped his arms around his body and shivered. Ron took off his coat and wrapped it around him.
"Are you okay?"
"I'll be fine. I just need a little while to recover."
"She's the child you lost. You and Harry."
Draco nodded.
"You didn't tell him?"
"I tried. I couldn't make him hear me. He had his own way of dealing with things I guess. You're the only other person who's set foot in this place."
Ron pulled his friend up into his arms and held on tight.
A/N:
You beautiful wonderful fantastical readers/reviewers, I love you, you are amazing :)
x X x
'Rora
