Chapter 14
The Great Hall had large windows on one side to allow in the sunlight. The other side of the hall was a solid wall. On the night of the fifth anniversary since the defeat of Voldemort there were large pictures of the fallen. In smaller frames there were pictures of those that had fought by Harry Potter's side. McGonagall being who she is decided that, even though he never lifted his wand in the battle, for giving the warning Draco Malfoy's picture belonged on the wall. It was an old one, taken that year, but all of them were. Ron had walked right past it, not noticing it in the midst of all the others until he was told of the rumors. He scanned his eyes over each individual while he tried to waste time before the feast would begin and then he would have to deliver his speech.
He was now staring at that single picture. He wasn't sure when it was taken, but it was a good one. He figured Colin must have captured it. It was so Kodak, as the boy that had died too soon used to say. Draco had his wand out for some reason. He was in that suit that Ron loved so much. He was turning and glaring off at something that had been happening behind him. Ron felt a small hand land at the base of his back and he looked away to be met with the brown eyes of his current lover. Josh's eyes flicked to the picture that Ron had been staring at. Ron's eyes narrowed as he dared Josh to say something. Josh smiled pleasantly as he offered, "Come dance with me."
Listening to the slow rock ballad that was starting up, Ron shook his head. "No, I'm not dancing with you to this song."
"And why not?" Josh demanded. "You've been acting weird since you met with the reporters. If you want us to actually work, you need to talk to me."
"You need to shut up so I can listen to my favorite song," Ron snapped as he leaned back against the wall and listened to the lyrics floating through the Great Hall.
He mouthed with them, "And I'd give up forever to touch you, Cuz I know that you feel me somehowYou're the closest to heaven that I'll ever be, And I don't want to go home right now, And all I can taste is this moment, And all I can breathe is your life, Cuz sooner or later it's over, I just don't want to miss you tonight, And I don't want the world to see me, Cuz I don't think that they'd understand, When everything's made to be broken, I just want you to know who I am."
His head bopped to the beat as it lulled into an instrumental section. "And you can't fight the tears that ain't coming, Or the moment of truth in your lies, When everything feels like the movies, Yeah, you'd bleed just to know you're alive, And I don't want the world to see me, Cuz I don't think that they'd understand, When everything's made to be broken, I just want you to know who I am." He sighed as he swayed to the soft beat, nodding when it picked up several times. He tapped his foot to the quicker beat. His eyes never opened as he listened to the song. Josh watched him with fascination as he absorbed the song. He let out a long sigh as it slowed down into the lyrics, "And I don't want the world to see me, Cuz I don't think that they'd understand, When everything's made to be broken, I just want you to know who I am, And I don't want the world to see me, Cuz I don't think that they'd understand, When everything's made to be broken, I just want you to know who I am, I just want you to know who I am, I just want you to know who I am, I just want you to know who I am." He waited until the song came to an end before he blinked his eyes open.
He was lost in that moment. It was a new song, and Hermione became obsessed with it. Harry did not like listening to it, it reminded him too much of what was coming. Ron did though, and he sneaked the C.D. out of the Common Room and made Draco listen to it. Draco would deny it as much as he had to in front of others, but he liked muggle music. When Ron made him listen to the song they had been sitting on their bed. Draco curled up against Ron's side. Ron tucked Draco in even closer as Ron wrapped his arms around Draco. They'd shared soft kisses during the musical intermission, but when it finished they joined their voices with the last minute or so. Draco had stared into Ron's blue eyes for several long moments before he sighed, "You're the only one, you know."
"You're the only one," Ron agreed. "Only you know me."
Draco had slipped his hand into Ron's hair, scratching the other across Ron's scalp and making him moan. Ron tightened his arms around Draco's shoulders as he leaned forward and captured his lips in a sweet kiss. Draco moved to deepen it, but Ron pulled away in order to keep it sweet. Draco whimpered, and Ron finally gave in.
Draco stepped into the Great Hall, his heart clenching as he did so. His eyes darted across the faces of those eating and collecting food. Those standing beside the memorial wall. He lost his breath when he saw the red-head he was looking for. He was different, older and his features had hardened. He looked like a young man that had seen too much pain. Draco wanted to race across the hall and kiss away the pain. His eyes were closed and he was mumbling something. Draco listened to the lyrics dancing over the castle and smiled as he heard their song playing. He bit his lip, forcing his legs not to move towards the red-head. Beside him was a thin man as tall as Draco but shorter than Ron. His head was turned away so Draco had no idea what color his eyes were. His hair was a dark brown, and curly even though it was cut short around his ears. Draco looked over the stick like shape, and snorted. The music was turning, changing and Ron's eyes were slowly opening.
"That's for him, isn't it?" Josh suspected.
Ron lifted his chin, "And if it is?"
"What happened to the man that was telling me he had moved on?" Josh snapped. "Ron, it's been five years."
Ron scoffed, "Josh, I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but you're a fling." John sucked in an offended breath. Ron shrugged, "What, go ask Simon, he'll tell you the same thing. We broke up because he couldn't take it. It's probably better you know now than later. My heart will never belong to anyone besides Draco Lucius Malfoy."
Ron's lips lifted in a smile Josh had never seen before. He knew who it was that Ron had been with. Everyone knew why Ron was the one that heard the warning that Draco gave that night. Looking up at the wall of pictures was just another reminder of the relationship. Ron's was right next to that of Malfoy. Ron was leaning against a column somewhere, his arms crossed and his head tilted cockily. The way that they were standing in their pictures, it was almost as though they had their backs pressed against each other. John shook his head, "It's been five years."
"I don't care," Ron shrugged, "I'll go to the grave having loved him and only him."
"Are you saying you lied," Josh accused.
Ron smirked, "I never said anything of the sort to you. Ask Simon, he'll tell you the same."
"I thought you were trying to move on," Josh reminded.
"I did," Ron agreed, "I attempted, I failed, he's back."
"I'm not breaking up with you," Josh declared.
Ron's brow shot into his hair, "Okay, we're through."
Ron stepped away turning towards the entrance of the Great Hall. There was a murmuring that erupted in the midst of the party. The music was drowned out by the mutters of the guests as they realized who had joined them that year. Josh looked as well, his eyes going wide as he reached for Ron's arm. Ron ripped his arm away as he started on his path that would lead to the man in the threshold. Draco stayed still as all of the eyes in the room locked on him, but his were only for the only person moving.