Chapter 10

The Yule ball was something interesting. Everyone played their usual roles. Viktor Krum ended up taking Hermione to the ball anyways. Needless to say, Ken was not happy. He ended up going with his partner anyways. Salamandra had written to Charlie nearly every day for the first few weeks asking for to be forgiven, but she was just ignored. Roxanne was bored out of her mind sitting at the teacher's table flanked by two of the Celestial Knights. She was relieved when Ken and Salamandra came to switch places with them. Severus looked at the three of them with an amused look, but schooled his features immediately when he thought someone else might be watching.

Poor Ron was stuck wearing, what looked like a, dress out of an old English novel. Draco had made one nasty comment about it, but quickly remembered what his purpose was. More than halfway through the dance he was trying desperately hard to get rid of Pansy so that he could tail Weasley. Not that he needed to, the red-headed twerp was sitting in a slump in a chair. He watched as one of the Durmstrangs guys steal his date, and he didn't care. Pansy was trying to get his attention. He had told Hermione about his assignment because that's what he usually did. They were partners. If he was working on an assignment she knew about it and vice-versa. Draco also needed Hermione's help. He knew nothing about Ron. He had spent a better part of four years making fun of the Redhead. All of the plans that they had worked out all involved Ron possibly getting killed. He couldn't tell the twins because he was afraid that their reaction would be similar to Charlie's. Roxanne had told him what happened. He saw the moment when Ron and Harry slipped out onto the grounds. He dragged Pansy to an empty corridor and slipped his arms around her. She giggled when he put his mouth to her ear, to her surprise he whispered a spell, and she instantly fell asleep. Draco rounded up Blaise and handed Pansy to him while he went to find Weasley.

He hid in a bush while Karkaroff flashed something on his forearm. Draco knew what it was. Half his family had one, but it was still an unpleasant sight to see. He snickered when he saw Severus yell at some students. Hermione came down to yell at Ron, and Harry who couldn't take it anymore walked back inside. Draco was more grateful than ever that Hermione was his partner. Much to his luck, Karkaroff and Severus had walked back towards the castle as well.

"Hey Weasley, I hate to break your love fest here, but there's a spider on you." Draco had remembered Hermione saying that Ron was terrified of spiders when they were preparing for the assignment. Right on cue, Hermione muttered a spell to make spiders appear while Ron was turned. Draco had never heard a guy shriek that loudly before. Draco began swatting them off the the redhead. When that ordeal was over Ron glared at Draco, "A thank you would be nice."

"How do I know you weren't the one that sent those spiders?"

"You don't, but I just saved you from them. Therefore, you should thank me." Draco spoke in his usual spoiled demeanor.

"Thanks," Ron said in with a weird look on his face, then he walked away dragging an annoyed Hermione with him. She turned around and winked at him. Draco furrowed his eyebrows. Spiders didn't work was a head start. He needed to do something drastic, like Salamandra said, to earn Ron's trust.

Back in the Gryffindor common room, Ron was telling Harry what had happened, "It was so weird. Malfoy didn't even take out his wand. He just swatted the spiders of my back."

"That's such a 'muggle' thing to do," Harry said. Ron and Hermione laughed. The next day it was even stranger for Ron. During potions, Malfoy was assigned to be Ron's partner. He volunteered to do most of the work, and clean up the mess when they were finished. They had gotten an Outstanding for the day. Ron never got an Outstanding in anything. Malfoy seemed to be appearing at random times to help Ron out, whether it was picking up books that he dropped. One time he had offered to help Ron, with his homework at the library when no one was around. It was very unusual for Ron to be at the library, but Hermione had told him that she wouldn't give him her notes anymore.

"What's wrong with you, Malfoy? Yesterday, you saved me from spiders. Today, you got me a good grade in potions, and even helped me pick up my books when they fell. I thought you always hated me." Ron looked up suddenly. Draco was suddenly really nervous like he was going to ask a girl out. Hermione had given him this excellent opportunity. Suddenly he came up with an idea. It was crazy, and Ron might end up hating him afterwards. Who cares, right? It's not like they had ever been friends. He was a Slytherin. This kind of thing should be normal for a Malfoy. Draco leaned over and pressed his lips to Ron's lips. Sure enough, the reaction Draco was hoping for happened. Ron's eyes turned wide open, and pushed him off. The redhead had no idea what to say.

"I know I've said some horrible things about you and your family. I know I'm a Slytherin, but the truth is I like you." It's a good thing that Draco was embarrassed for having to say these things. The blush added a nice touch.

"Uh, I don't swing that way, Malfoy. Sorry about that." Ron picked up his books and darted out of the library. A giggle came from behind Draco.

"I didn't know you swung that way either Draco." Hermione couldn't keep it together.

"I don't. Don't you go spreading rumors. I'm just doing my job." Draco glared at his partner. He was embarrassed about having been caught. He was straight. Hermione knew that, but Draco wasn't the type to get close to people or let people get close enough to him for physical contact. Despite the already made rumors about him as a Slytherin, Draco was a very private person. Kissing someone, boy or girl, was way outside his comfort zone, and the only one who knew that the most was Hermione.

"I was going to suggest the mortal peril tactic again, but your way is much safer. Good luck with that. I hope you don't actually have to 'do it' with him." Draco gave her his best horrified look. That would not happen. Too many feelings would be involved if that happened because someday, he would have to tell Ron the truth. Sometimes getting a job done without a mess involved doing something that he wouldn't normally do.

"At least, I'm not stuck as Dumbledore's pet Phoenix. I mean, can you imagine the horrors that Roxanne's brother must see?"