AN: I went back and revamped a few chaps so that the fic would "flow" check out chap 18 especially because parts of this chap are explained in the rewritten piece.

"Harry, can you hear me? Are you alright?"

Emerald eyes fluttered open and Harry was left groaning as light cruelly flashed into his face. He grimaced and raised a hand against the brightness.

"Ergh, Hermione?" he asked groggily.

"Madam Pomfrey, he's awake!" Hermione called over her shoulder as she then hovered closer. She worriedly scanned his face as she asked, "Harry, what happened to you?"

"What're you talking about?" Harry slowly sat up, his body feeling sore. He got a better view of his surroundings and frowned. "Wait, why am I in the infirmary? Did something happen again?"

Hermione seemed relieved that he was awake and talking, she ignored the momentary lapse in memory. "You slept through the entire day, Harry, it's Sunday morning," she said.

"What?" he yelped as he hurriedly sat up.

"Mrs. Granger, I will kindly ask you not to antagonize my patient until I am sure he is in perfect health," Madam Pomfrey came bustling into Harry's line of sight.

"I've been asleep since yesterday afternoon?" Harry turned his shock onto the nurse.

She proceeded to examine him thoroughly, ignoring his question and short temper. Harry tensed impatiently as her wand leisurely waved over his form and she nodded, seemingly happy with the results.

"Now," she said patiently, "you have undergone an extreme amount of stress recently, Mr. Potter. You may not be happy about it, but you need to rest."

Harry gaped disbelievingly at the witch. "I'm perfectly fine!" he argued.

Hermione decided to put in her two cents at that moment and looked toward her friend guiltily as she held up a protesting hand. "Actually, Harry, Madam Pomfrey is quite right. Your body may be able to handle more stress than is healthy, but you fainted yesterday. Don't you think you should slow it down a bit?"

"I did not faint!" Harry flushed. "I merely…er…passed out?" He cleared his throat and continued, "In a very manly way too."

"I'm sure," Hermione deadpanned. "I don't think you even understand what's happened to you, Harry."

He frowned and looked toward the nurse – who had continued to shift around potion vials as deemed necessary while the duo chatted. "What's happened to me? I don't feel any different…"

"You, Mr. Potter, are healed," Madam Pomfrey said.

"Er…what?"

Hermione grabbed his hand, along with his attention, and smiled brilliantly. "The bond, Harry, it's gone!"

Gone? Harry's lips tugged downward again as he looked at his chest, as though physical proof would be there. But there was nothing, and as he stated before, he felt the same as he had any other day previous. He looked up at the two witches, slightly confused as his fingers touched the area above his chest. "Are you sure?"

"Do you doubt my credibility as a nurse?" Madam Pomfrey retorted stiffly.

"Of course he doesn't, Madam Pomfrey!" Hermione quickly spoke up for her friend. "Harry's just feeling a little off, you know how he gets."

Harry ignored the words around him, turning his awareness inward. Is it really gone? Is this ordeal finally over? He snuck a quick peak toward Malfoy's bed and saw that the sheets had been neatly folded and the bed stood devoid of any occupant. I guess it is true then, Malfoy's run off to whatever life he had before this mess. I suppose I should be doing the same…

Wait, does Dumbledore know about this? No, he would have been in here if he did, he quickly thought. "Um, Madam Pomfrey? Do you think you could keep this between us for the moment?" Harry asked carefully.

"What are you hinting at, Mr. Potter?"

He flushed. "Well, I didn't want to let Professor Dumbledore know just yet. I wanted to tell him when I was ready…do you think that would be alright?" I want to tell him on my own terms, and I refuse to have him manipulate me again.

She gave him a shrew look, as though doubting his words. She finally nodded in agreement though, understanding a patient's need for privacy. "Very well, but I expect you to let him know by the end of the week," she said, brooking no argument.

Harry nodded hurriedly. "I'll even take Hermione with me so that I'll have a witness."

Hermione smiled at the nurse in reassurance. "I'll make sure he goes, Madam."

"I don't doubt you two. Now, Mr. Potter, before I can release you I must ask a few questions regarding your health. I also want to see the extent of your recovery when concerning your memory loss."

He straightened up more and nodded. "Ask away."

"Do you feel any unexplained soreness? Any pains in your joints?" she asked briskly, a clipboard appearing in her hand as did a writing quill.

"Er, I don't think so," he said, mentally checking himself over for any of the symptoms mentioned and even going as far as to poke his arm.

Hermione poked his shoulder in turn, grabbing his attention. "You'll need to give her a more thorough answer, Harry. She needs to know if the potions worked the way they were supposed to."

He shrugged uncomfortably. "I feel the same, I already told you," he said.

Madam Pomfrey nodded despite the vagueness of his answer; she was obviously used to having Harry as a regular patient. "Alright then, have you had any memory lapses in the past week or suffered from any mental trauma?" She glared warningly. "Though I'm sure I would know of any instances if you had."

He flushed and smiled sheepishly. "Now that you mention it, I have been having slight flashbacks," Harry said uncertainly, "I didn't really think anything of it though."

The woman huffed angrily as she wrote in her notes. "And you're telling me after the fits have passed? That was undoubtedly your mind trying to heal itself after all the stress you've put it through."

Harry scowled. "It's not like it was my fault!"

"Harry, you really should learn to tell people about these things," Hermione chided gently. "I'm sure Madam Pomfrey could have helped with the confusion you undoubtedly felt."

"Well it's too late now," he said.

Madam Pomfrey seemed putout as she replied, "Indeed it is. I'm afraid you won't regain anymore of your lost memories now that the treatment is complete."

That's fine, I'll be having enough nightmares as it is. "I have a question though," Harry said as a sudden thought came to him. "I thought the treatment was supposed to go on for a few more days, what happened?" he asked curiously.

Hermione smiled at her friend. "I think I can answer that one, you've always been a fast healer, Harry." She laughed. "Plus, it would be just like you to heal before the allotted time."

Harry looked toward the nurse for confirmation but the woman seemed uneasy as she replied. "That could be the case…the only other instance would be if the daily dose of the potion had been intensified."

"But you're the only one who is allowed to administer potions to patients aren't you, Madam Pomfrey?" Hermione asked as she caught on to the witch's suspicion.

She nodded. "Only I can give students healing potions, but during high cases of emergency Headmaster Dumbledore also has that right."

Dumbledore. Harry's eyes narrowed. Is that what Malfoy had been talking about earlier? I didn't know it was a bad thing to get the potion early.

"He was the one who did it," Harry said softly.

"Are you sure, Harry?" Hermione scrutinized her friend.

He nodded and looked toward the nurse. "Malfoy told me that he had taken more doses than necessary. I didn't know it was a bad thing at the time," he voiced his thoughts.

"It is and it isn't," Madam Pomfrey said briskly, "with the lower quantities given daily, Mr. Malfoy would be able to cope with the stress of breaking the ties between you two. It will not hurt him in the long run though, he is mentally stable and I have the utmost trust in his safe recovery."

Hermione smiled lightly. "You're your own man again, Harry, you're no longer bound to Malfoy."

Harry smiled at that. "You have a point. It really isn't so bad now that I think about it." He laughed weakly, not knowing why his stomach was beginning to feel unsettled. "I don't know why I would have ever thought otherwise."

"Your body has grown used to the extra weight of Mr. Malfoy's magic and the bond. It's understandable if you feel a little off at first," Madam Pomfrey said reassuringly.

"So that's it? After everything, it just ends so easily? If – I mean since it's really over, what do I do now?" Harry asked. He couldn't wrap his mind around the fact that it was finally over. For once he was willing to accept someone telling him what to do with his life.

Madam Pomfrey seemed confused by his question. "Isn't it obvious? You go back to what's familiar to you."

Familiar…of course, it's always so simple. Harry stared at the bed sheets, lost in thought. I don't even know what's familiar anymore. Ron's gone, Hermione will undoubtedly worry about me like a mother hen now and Malfoy…well I guess he's not really my enemy anymore.

He turned away from such confusing thoughts and smiled at the nurse gratefully. "Thank you for everything, Madam Pomfrey."

"I don't want to see you in here for a while yet, Mr. Potter," she said warningly, a teasing smile on her face.

"I'll try not to," Harry chuckled in agreement.

The woman nodded. "Then I declare you with a clean bill of health, you're free to go, Mr. Potter."

Harry threw the sheets off his legs and stood up eagerly, he didn't want to spend anymore unneeded time in the hospital wing after all. Hermione laughed as he lost his balance and nearly fell over again, she stepped forward and steadied him as they moved toward the exit.

"Be careful, Harry," she admonished as she Transfigured his pajamas into day clothes. "Thank you again, Madam Pomfrey!" Hermione called over her shoulder.

The pair began walking down the silent corridor, it was a Sunday morning and everyone was expected to sleep in so it didn't come as a surprise that they met up with emptiness.

Harry stretched his arms above his head, smiling happily as his back popped. "It feels good to be out of there, that place always gives me the chills."

"You're lucky you weren't in there longer. What were you thinking, Harry?" Hermione chided as they walked.

Turning, he sent her an incredulous look as he pointed to his chest. "Me? I didn't do anything!"

"Why were you there in the first place? Madam Pomfrey said she found you passed out on the floor. Not to mention that Malfoy was throwing a fit," she scoffed.

Harry's eyes trailed toward the windows lining the hall they now walked, the whispers of portraits followed their slow pace. "I was visiting Malfoy at the time, and I can't really say what happened because I don't know. One moment I was talking to the slimy git and the next I was going for…"

Hermione glanced at her friend questioningly as he trailed off. "Going for what?"

He shook his head, clearing his thoughts. "Malfoy was in some kind of pain and I didn't know what to do so I was calling for Madam Pomfrey to help. But then I passed out," he said with a dismissing shrug as though it were a normal occurrence.

"Surely you did something to trigger that sort of reaction," Hermione said reasonably. Harry silently glowered at her accusation. "What did you talk to Malfoy about?"

"I told him that I didn't love him and that I didn't want him," Harry said emotionlessly. His eyes dulled in memory, it hurt to see Malfoy's expression of anguish. No one deserved that sort of pain, no matter who they were. But neither could he force feelings of affection towards the Slytherin, sometimes the truth just hurt.

A heavy sigh at his left had him turning his attention onto Hermione once more. "I can't believe your rash sensibility sometimes, Harry. If Draco hadn't been cured – or hadn't been in the process of being cured – he could have died. Any little thing against his Veela instincts could have pushed him over the edge in his unhealthy state. Would you be able to live with that kind of guilt on your conscience?"

No. It would tear me apart if another person had died because of me. Harry felt a lump form in his throat. "That would have been unpleasant," he whispered.

"No doubt," Hermione agreed. "You really need to watch what you say to people because at times you can be a bit hotheaded and rush into decisions. It's not always wise."

"Speaking of hotheadedness, Dumbledore told me that I could visit Ron today," Harry said cheerfully, effectively turning the attention away from the sore subject that was Draco Malfoy.

That got the witch to pause, her lips pursed in a show of uncertainty. "Why would he tell you something as farfetched as that?"

"Because I am going to visit Ron, later this afternoon in fact…" Harry replied.

"Harry, I don't think it's…wise to visit with Ron," Hermione said slowly, knowing he would blow her words out of proportion and take them the wrong way. Harry tended to be overprotective of his friends, she knew this firsthand.

"What!" Harry reacted as she had predicted. "What do you mean I shouldn't visit Ron?"

Hermione sighed. "I never said you shouldn't visit him, I said it was unwise to do so. It's obvious that you still think of him, it's hard not to – I understand – seeing as he's been your best mate for years."

"What are you trying to get at then?" Harry began to scowl.

"What I'm trying to say is that you are far too trusting, Harry!" Hermione gave up on the gentle approach. "Haven't you listened to what anyone has said about Ron?"

Harry halted, arms crossing angrily as he essentially pouted. "Well excuse me for trusting my friends and not believing common gossip. I thought that's what you're supposed to do. Obviously I was wrong and you've never trusted me."

"Will you stop being a prat and listen to me, Harry?" Hermione snapped. "Merlin, you've been spending too much time with Malfoy if you can't even listen to what I'm trying to say."

"I don't know what you're --"

"Silencio," Hermione chanted without pause. Harry blinked in surprise as his mouth kept working while he tried to talk. He glared once he realized what had happened. Hermione glared back just as fiercely and planted her fists on her hips in a threatening manner despite her slightly shorter height. "Will you listen to me now?"

He nodded reluctantly, as though he had much of a choice!

"What I'm trying to tell you, Harry, is that Ron did rape you," Hermione said. Harry's eyes immediately widened and his mouth moved in protest, he was dutifully ignored. "The evidence is against him, I was there! I know you don't believe me, and that's why I say you are too trusting when it comes to Ron."

How can she be saying this! She's lying, they're always lying! I thought you were my friend, Hermione!

"Ron had – has – an unhealthy obsession with you, Harry, it became too much for him to keep secret and he grasped at the opportunity to have you when it was presented to him. I know he's your friend and I understand that you look to him as a brother would, but he doesn't see you in the same light…"

Harry vehemently shook his head, trying to shut out her words and continue to hold onto his denial. It couldn't be true, how could it? Ron would never betray his trust like that! Not only was he straight, but he was…Ron!

"You know how Ron gets sometimes…and I know that you would see this as a type of betrayal. This wouldn't be the first time he's betrayed your trust though, Harry."

He grew silent – more so than he had been before – thinking over what she had said. She had a point, and Hermione was usually always right. But he couldn't bring himself to accept these apparent facts. Ron was supposed to be his friend.

"This is hard for you, it's understandable," Hermione said gently. "I just want you to think about Dumbledore's supposed offer more carefully. Things aren't as clear as they seem, and I'll be the first one to admit that something's going on beneath all these pleasantries. Why would he want you to visit with Ron and why would he personally break the bond between you and Malfoy?"

So Hermione thinks something's wrong with Dumbledore too. Harry reigned in his more volatile emotions and just sat for a moment, thinking through everything he had been told. What though? It's not as though luring me away with a visit to Ron will help his cause in any way…and breaking the bond, didn't that help me? There has to be something I'm missing.

"Will you think about it, Harry?" Hermione continued beseechingly. "I don't want to see you hurt anymore, it's been hard seeing you at Malfoy's will. I just don't want the same thing to happen when it comes to Ron, he's still our friend."

The witch wiped at her eyes which had begun to tear up. She pointed her wand at Harry and smiled awkwardly.

"I don't know if I should release you from the spell or not. I'm sorry for doing that to you, but at the time it was needed," she said.

Harry's expression remained hard and closed off as Hermione removed the spell. He took a deep breath and bowed his head calmly.

"Hermione…"

She winced at the cool tone but undaunted, continued, "Yes, Harry?"

Slowly, he looked up, eyes cloudy with sadness. "I believe you."

"Oh, Harry," she whispered before moving forward and hugging him comfortingly. "I know it's hard, it was hard for me too. But it's better this way."

Harry hugged her back halfheartedly. "I know you probably won't agree with me, but I think I should still go to see him," he murmured against her shoulder.

"What?" Hermione pulled away in concern. "But you know what he's done to you. Why would you want to even see him?"

He shrugged. "Closure I guess."

Hermione looked for any hint of a lie in his eyes. "Are you sure? Is closure the real reason you're going to see him, Harry? It doesn't seem like you to do something like that. Revenge I can understand, but not closure…"

Should I tell her? Yes, this is Hermione, I can trust her. "Truthfully I guess I want to hear him admit it." He carded a hand through his hair distractedly. "There's a part of me that can't believe he would do something so… but anyway, I just want to see him."

"You're being very brave, Harry," Hermione said. "Most wouldn't be able to face such a person. You're a good Gryffindor." She smiled and patted his arm.

I don't know if that's a good or bad thing. Harry smiled ruefully in return. Malfoy's always berated me about my Gryffindor aspects. He frowned. Wait, why am I even thinking about him?

"Thanks, Hermione. For everything," Harry said and hugged her again. He pulled away and winked. "I'll meet up with you when I get back, alright? I'm going to go see if the Headmaster will let me use his Floo."

"Good luck, and say hi for me if Ron's in a good mood," she said as they went their separate ways.

Harry saluted her with a grin. "Will do, see you!" He turned around and quickly jogged toward the Headmaster's office. Knowing his luck, the old wizard wouldn't be there.

No, he told me that I'd get to visit with Ron. Harry stubbornly thought. Dumbledore may be a manipulative fool, but he won't back out on something like this.

He had nearly passed his turn down the corridor when he mentally corrected himself and spied the gargoyle statue. Blinking, he realized too late that the Headmaster hadn't given him the current password.

"Shit, just my luck," he cursed as he kicked the statue for good measure. What was the password Dumbledore had said yesterday? "Ice Mice?" he tried tentatively.

The gargoyle quickly jumped to the side as the staircase was revealed. Harry mentally cheered at remembering such an inane thing. He jogged up the stairs, more than ready to be done with one less painful memory.

"Professor?" He knocked on the door as he slowly pushed it open.

Glancing around the silent office confirmed his thoughts of it being empty, yet Harry stepped into the room anyway. Fawkes was sleeping on his perch beside the ancient looking desk, everything was in its rightful place, the only thing missing was the Headmaster.

Surely he doesn't just leave his office unlocked! Anyone could come in and steal something! Harry looked toward the fireplace. A tiny urn sat atop, undoubtedly filled with Floo powder.

He peeked around once more to make sure no one was lurking about, seeing that he was indeed alone, he moved toward the fire.

"I'm sure it wouldn't hurt if I went on my own, Dumbledore did say I was expected around this time anyway," Harry whispered to himself reasonably.

Grabbing a good handful of the powder, he stepped into the fireplace and continued before he lost his nerve. "The Burrow!"

Harry held his breath as he felt himself being literally sucked through the chimney, or however the damn contraption worked. He felt as though he were being smashed and suffocated with ash. He was all too happy to finally feel himself slowing – though this entire process had taken mere seconds it had felt much longer! Surprisingly enough, there was someone waiting to greet him when he arrived.

"Harry! I didn't expect you to show!" Molly Weasley warmly welcomed him as soon as he had landed on his arse in a puff of soot.

"Hello, Mrs. Weasley," Harry said as he picked himself up and tried to futilely wipe away the soot he had accumulated on his trip over. He only succeeded in dusting the floor with ashes. "I'm sorry about the mess."

Molly pulled out her wand and sent a quick cleaning spell toward Harry and then the floor. "It's fine, dear! Now come here and let me have a look at you."

Harry allowed himself to be pulled into a tight hug by the friendly woman and laughed. "I do need to breathe, Mrs. Weasley," he teased.

"I'm sorry, it just seems as though it's been ages since I've last seen you!" Molly gushed as she affectionately patted at his hair.

"Mum, leave the bloke alone, he's obviously still dazed from the trip over."

Harry turned toward the familiar voice and shyly acknowledged Ron, who lounged against the doorjamb. The redhead smirked and waved a hello before pushing away from his perch. "Hello, mate, long time no see."

"Seems that way," Harry said and smiled in return.

"Isn't this just wonderful," Molly said happily as she clapped her hands together. "Harry, you must stay for lunch! I'll have to whip up something --"

Ron spoke up, "Didn't you say you needed to stop by the market to pick up more vegetables?"

Molly seemed to remember herself then. "Oh dear, you're right of course." She frowned thoughtfully as she left them and escaped into the kitchen.

"Sorry about that, Mum's happy to see you," Ron said and shrugged, "obviously."

Harry smiled. "It's alright, I don't mind."

Ron started to speak again but his mother walked in at that moment, dressed in a traveling cloak.

"I'll be back in a little while, you two boys behave yourselves," Molly smiled, "it's so good to see you again, Harry."

Harry smiled and nodded with a polite, "You too, Mrs. Weasley."

He kept his gaze on the plump woman as she went outside and Disapparated with a loud crack. Taking a moment to gather his wits, Harry glanced around. The Burrow looked the same as it always did, homey and welcome. He honestly enjoyed spending time here, summers by far being his favorite excuse to visit.

"So what's new?" Ron interrupted his silent musings.

"Nothing much," Harry replied with an easy shrug as he turned toward his friend.

Ron scoffed, "Come on, Harry, you don't have to keep secrets from me. I've heard rumors that you're being cured of Malfoy, are they true?"

"To an extent, Madam Pomfrey has been shoving the potion down my throat since I woke up," Harry said and laughed. "Where'd you hear that anyway?"

"Here and there," Ron said with an easy shrug.

Harry nodded silently. Why was did it feel so awkward between them? Surely there hadn't been this much tension between them in the past.

"I haven't heard from you in a long while, why don't you write?" Ron questioned. His eyes narrowed as he continued accusingly, "Too busy to send an owl to a friend?"

Harry protested immediately, "Ron, you're making me out to be the bad guy! Hogwarts has been hectic, especially when it comes down to Malfoy and all the bloody gossip."

"Malfoy's a bastard, don't let him get to you," Ron muttered snappishly. "What about the rumors, what are those traitors spreading?"

There was an uncomfortable shrug as Harry replied, "They're saying that you did it, that you…raped me."

"Don't listen to what they tell you, Harry," Ron said quietly. "They're feeding you lies. I would never do anything to hurt you. You're my best mate!"

Harry nodded in agreement. "What am I supposed to do though? I have Malfoy breathing down my neck and Dumbledore's not helping matters. Do you want to know what he's done to us now? He has us sharing a room!"

Ron's eyes flashed in rage. "That's bad, Harry. Dumbledore must be in on Malfoy's plan, there's something going on, I know that much. I can't believe he's holed you up with that git!"

"That makes two of us," Harry muttered.

"What about the Headmaster, has he been going along with the Veela shite? Does he still trust Malfoy?"

"I don't know, he seems to be pushing me toward Malfoy, but he still has him taking the antidote." Harry shook his head, playing his part. "What am I supposed to believe?" I can't tell him that Malfoy's been cured yet, he doesn't need to know…

A friendly hand reached out as Ron squeezed Harry's shoulder. "Believe me, Harry. I'll help you sort through this mess."

I'm sure you would like that. Harry managed to smile despite the heavy hand that was touching him. "Thanks, mate, you're the best."

"Anytime, Harry. If you ever just want to talk, I'll be here to listen."

Ready to rape me again is more like it. As though I would give you the chance, Merlin, this is hard trying to keep up this act though.

"I miss this, Ron. It's lonely at Hogwarts without you, I know I have Hermione, but it's not the same without all three of us there. I wish everyone would stop being stupid and let you come back to school," Harry said in a show of frustration.

Ron shrugged. "There's nothing to do about it, I have to accept things the way they are now. We can still meet up during break or something."

Harry wouldn't let the subject drop though, he wanted Ron to admit to the crime, he needed to hear the words from the redhead's own mouth. "Isn't there something you can do to prove that you didn't do it? Maybe you could take Veritaserum or something."

"Unless you want to go forward with charges against me that won't be possible. It's illegal to have people drinking down that stuff unless they're in court."

"Go forward with charges!" Harry repeated in shock. "Ron, I know people seem to believe this shit about you raping me, but I don't. You're my best mate, you would never hurt me like that!"

Ron agreed readily, "Well of course not, I'm always there for you mate. They're all jealous of our friendship, they're making it seem like I'm obsessed with you."

Harry laughed, a bit weakly to his own ears. "That's crazy, why would you be obsessed with me? You're not one of those crazy fans who think they know me."

"You're right," Ron said softly, "I know so much more than they do."

"Er, what?" I did not just hear that.

Suddenly Ron seemed too close, either that or the space between them had magically disappeared – something Harry didn't doubt at this point. He shifted nervously, refusing to appear weak and loose ground by moving. He had to stay calm, he needed to know everything there was to know about the situation. Ron was making the task extremely difficult though.

"I said that I know more than they could ever imagine," Ron's voice rose above a whisper as he moved forward.

"W-well of course, you're my best mate, you're privy to a lot of my secrets. That's normal amongst friends," Harry stammered. Maybe it didn't matter so much if he moved a little bit, Ron was beginning to hover over him in an uncomfortable manner.

Ron smiled darkly. "Friends, right. That's all you'll ever see me as, one of your mates, a friend." His face pinched angrily. "Well I want more than that."

"Ron, you don't really like me," Harry tried to protest, finally giving in to his instincts and shoving himself from the chair.

"You're right, I love you." Ron moved closer still, hands trailing across the chair Harry had just vacated.

Harry desperately grasped for some way out of this mess. "Fine then, you're right, you do love me, but it's not in the way you think! You love me as a friend! Ron, you're not even queer!"

"I know what I feel, Harry, I truly love you. Why can't you believe me?" Ron pleaded.

"Because you're acting mad!" Harry cried with a wild gesture. "You've gone round the bend, Ron, look at you!"

Ron's face darkened immediately, a bitter scowl twisting his lips and marring his usually warm, freckled face. His hands fisted angrily as he leveled a betrayed glare at Harry.

"I'm sorry, Ron." Harry backed away, chagrin and regret lacing his voice. "Everyone was right about you though. It's better that you're here where you can't do anything harmful."

Ron angrily kicked at the chair. "I won't let you leave, Harry." He quickly moved forward and grabbed Harry by the arm before he could back away any further. He leaned his face close, lips pressed against Harry's ear as he whispered, "I need you too much."

Harry cried out as he felt a tongue swipe across his earlobe.

"Let me go!"

"Accept it, Harry, you're mine! You were my friend first, you chose me over that blasted git! How could you choose that blond prick now? After everything we've been through! Why not me, Harry? Why not me?!" Ron yelled as he shook the body in his arms viciously.

Struggling against the tightening hold, Harry's face screwed up in anguish. "You'll never be more than a friend to me, Ron! Why can't you understand that?"

"Dumbledore promised me! He told me I could have you!" Ron continued to rant temperamentally, face flushed a deep red.

Harry's insides froze. Dumbledore?

Ron took his lack of fighting for acquisition and allowed his hands to trail lower across Harry's stomach. Harry in turn squirmed and tried to kick out.

"Ronald! What in Merlin's name are you doing?!"

Harry jerked in the direction the voice had come from and felt relief rush through him at the thought of being saved. Molly Weasley was no witch to be trifled with, and when threatened she was just as formidable. She stood in the doorway – bags scattered at her feet and vegetables rolling across the floor – watching in shock as her son molested Harry.

"Release Harry this instant!" she screamed the demand and fumbled as she managed to point her wand at her youngest son.

Ron sneered while his face paled dramatically at having been caught. "You're not going to hex me, you're --"

"Petrificus Totalus!"

Harry watched in numb fascination as Ron fell to the ground in a motionless heap. He continued to stare as Molly ushered him out of the room and sat him on the couch. He ignored the firecall she made to Dumbledore and then felt a great weight settle in his chest and stomach.

Dumbledore had pushed Ron into doing something. That something had then been warped into a horrible something, Harry couldn't quite grasp the finer details of it all. It was all wrong though, everything was turning out wrong.

Harry closed his eyes, thoughts rampaging through his mind as he massaged his temples. He slowly slipped off his glasses and flicked open his eyes with a determined light flashing in their emerald depths.

He needed to talk to Dumbledore.

AN: What do u mean I've been gone for 4 months! Ouch, another long chap tho! Zoomi wanted to see a confrontation with Ron, so I had to bring him back momentarily. Hm, surprisingly I predict that all will be finished soon…

-Red