Penname: Page of Cups
Email: AndromedanPrincess@hotmail.com
Title: Everything Changes
Pairing: Ron Weasley/Draco Malfoy
Rating: R
Summary: Goyle's human, Ron gets a surprise, and Draco gets more than he bargained for.
Caution: Boy on boy love. If this makes you go, "hmm . . ." in a good way, feel free to proceed. If not, you know where the back button is.
Disclaimer: In the first chapter, I have this lovely official disclaimer that not only makes me smart, but says that I don't own Harry Potter. If you haven't figured that out by now, you can click the back button, too.
If you are an idiot, please don't read this story. If you are unsure if you're an idiot or not, email me what you think about this story, and I'll let you know. I don't have time to deal with, "OMG!!! I luv this story cuz its so cool!" J If you aren't an idiot, thank you.
Chapter Six: "What Happened to You?"
Throughout the entire Potions class, Weasel must have said a total of ten words to Draco, all of them having to do with the brewing aphrodisiac. Over the course of the past few days, Weasley was being more avoidant than ever. Something akin to remorse was building in Draco for driving Weasley away, if only for the pained expression that was on his face every time they fought, acting positively normal in the eyes of their peers. They didn't see the fact that Weasley's face didn't get quite as red as it used to or that his eyes, which were normally a startling blue, had gone dark. Draco didn't like the fact that he did notice nor that he was having any feelings at all. He had to have him soon or he was going to go completely crazy. Draco had to have Weasley and it had to be brutal, rough, and unforgiving, anything to banish Weasley from his thoughts. Someone so undistinguished working his way into Draco's thoughts was messing with his body chemistry. He wasn't built for that kind of meager existence that Weasley possessed, which caused emotions that he wasn't built for, either.
Despite his many attempts to provoke a reaction out of Weasley, he remained docile. Sure, the words were still there, but not once did Draco think that he was going to be grabbed by the front of his robes and abused in a way he did not desire. Crabbe and Goyle were starting to get bored, and Draco had to pick on a third year Hufflepuff just to get out his pent up anger. It was very unsatisfying. The kid didn't have the same energy Weasley did. Even when he had pulled out the mother card, Weasley had just told him to fuck off before storming away. Granted, it wasn't what he was looking for, but even having Weasel's hands on him in the midst of a brawl was something. Now it was nowhere to be found.
Today was his day, though. Draco was certain of it. He could have killed McGonagall for interrupting his every wet dream come true at that last detention. Last night was the second detention with Weasel and Draco had anticipated it, hoping to finish what they started and get Weasel out of his mind for good. It was to no avail, however. For some reason, McGonagall thought it would be a good idea to make them work in the hospital wing and Madam Pomfrey loomed over their shoulders every five minutes, giving them little time to breathe, much less snog. Once Weasel was out of his mind and his pants, Draco would have to think up a way to punish both McGonagall and Pomfrey. Something with enduring pain that went beyond Cruciatus would not be amiss.
Tonight was the third attempt (if you could call the Pomfrey episode an attempt) and Draco was determined to succeed. No longer did he have to worry about Weasley's reaction. It didn't take Merlin to notice that Weasel was more than a willing participant at the last encounter. His biggest problem now was to get away from Crabbe and Goyle, an easy enough task when he was focused, but to find Weasley when he was alone? Now that was a challenge. That fight outside McGonagall's office couldn't have gone more the way he wanted it to if Draco had been moving every person in the school at his command. Luckily, McGonagall had been right where he wanted her and Weasley had been pushed over the edge right when Draco desired. Chances that his luck would be so good tonight were not so high. If Granger didn't go to the library like predicted or if Weasley went to Potter's silly Quidditch practice, Draco would be presented with much more difficult circumstances.
"Going to watch Potty fly like a faerie on his broom tonight, Weasel?" said Draco, smirking.
"Not that it's any of your business, Malfoy, but no. Why do you care what I'm doing anyway? Want to get me into some more trouble with McGonagall?"
"Not exactly," drawled Draco. "Are you sure Potty will be okay without his bitch to back him up? You must be very important for his playing skills." Weasel rolled his eyes and studied the instructions. "Well that's it, isn't it? There's no other reason for you to be so adamant about going to his practices. It must be very exciting to be Potter's sidekick."
"And it must be very exciting entertaining Crabbe and Goyle," he retorted, not even looking up. Draco scowled, snatching the parchment out of his hand.
"Put your potions to the side and clean up," announced Snape. "When you're done, you may leave."
With a flick of his wand, Weasel put out the heat from beneath the cauldron. He transferred their work over to the project table, scowling at Draco upon his return at not having done any of the cleaning up. Well, what did he expect from a Malfoy? Draco wasn't about to clean up anything that someone as lowly as a Weasley was working on, even if it was partially his own. Not waiting for Weasel to finish the job, Draco grabbed his bag and sauntered out of the classroom. He was positive that if he turned around, he may just get a glimpse of an angry Weasley.
~*~
Ron had been trying to ignore Malfoy like Hermione often suggested but he felt that Malfoy saw right through him. The smirks never ceased and now Ron, infuriated, had been left alone to clean up after the potion. He hated Snape for putting him into this situation and he hated himself for allowing it become worse. Saying things under his breath that would have shocked his mother, Ron started to shove his things in his bag. If he had tried to pull a stunt like this, Gryffindor would have lost points for sure, but because it was Malfoy (in one of those favoritisms Snape bestowed on the Slytherins) it was likely he would receive points for the abandonment. Snape seemed to be smirking at Ron's ill fortune anyway as he sulked out of Potions and headed for Gryffindor.
"What did Malfoy do now?" asked Harry as Ron entered the common room and slumped down to the sofa, spilling his things everywhere. He unloosened his tie, threw his head back, and left out a long sigh.
"Ditched me to clean up alone. Snape just loves to torture me."
"He loves to torture me, too. Want to go do something before dinner? We can go visit Hagrid or take a walk or something. I think you need to get Malfoy as far away from your mind as possible."
Feeling the same way, Ron agreed with Harry's sentiments and the boys, deciding to spend some time alone without Hermione, headed out of the portrait hole. Harry watched Ron from the corner of his eyes, observing the way he sort of dragged his feet across the ground. There was very little left of the boy he had met on the train when first going to Hogwarts and Harry was filled with immense sadness. How had things gotten to the point where they had grown so far apart? Malfoy probably noticed more about Ron than he did. Between Quidditch and his various girlfriends, Harry had failed to notice this steady decline in his best friend. He had known it was there the same as he knew his hair was black, but it wasn't something that he had thought about. Something besides this recent squabble with Malfoy was on his mind and Harry felt that if he had been a better friend and paid attention, he would know what it was.
"I'm sorry, Ron," he said aloud before he could stop himself. Ron laughed.
"Sorry for what?"
"Er - I'm not really sure. For not spending as much time with you anymore as we used to, I guess."
"Don't think about it," he said, waving his hand. "I need some time to myself. Form an identity other than your other half."
"People do not see you as my other half."
"Yes, they do. It's okay, Harry. Really. I don't mind so much except for when Malfoy throws it in my face next to a comment about my family."
"I'm sorry for avoiding talking about Ginny."
Ron grew quiet for a moment and Harry would have felt bad for bringing it up except it wasn't an awkward sort of silence. Ron's brows had furrowed, apparently thinking something over, and then he sighed.
"You don't really have to. I know people don't want to focus on what happened. It just upsets me. I lost my little sister and everyone seems to be in denial. I think Mum still expects her to come home one day. Very few people seem to actually acknowledge she's gone and it bothers me. I guess I'm afraid she'll be forgotten."
"We could never forget Ginny," said Harry. "At least I know I won't, and neither will you. You're family is going to pull through."
"I know we will. Just makes me sad is all. Then there's this thing with Malfoy -" said Ron, before realizing what he was saying and stopped himself.
"What thing with Malfoy? The fights?"
"Er - yeah. I'm sick of fighting with him. We're practically adults now and the only reason I can think of for not liking him now is that he's immature."
"That and his sex games," said Harry, who had been on the receiving end of Ron's rants about Malfoy's sexual behavior too many times to remember.
Turning a bright shade of crimson, Ron said, "Right. That too."
"There you two are!" said Hermione, walking up to them. "I've been looking everywhere for you. Seamus said he hadn't seen you since just after Potions. What are you doing?"
"Just walking," said Harry. "Ron needed to brood over his fights with Malfoy."
"Again?" said Hermione, looking at him. "What did he do this time? If he hurt you, Ron, I'll slap him again. I swear it."
"He didn't do anything, really. He just annoyed me."
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah. I'm sure. Leave it alone. What time is it? I'm starving!"
Hermione grinned at familiar Ron behavior. "I'd say just about time to go to the Great Hall. Why? Is Ron Weasley actually hungry?"
"Famished," he replied, grinning. Draping an arm around Hermione's shoulders and pushing his Malfoy thoughts as far away as possible, he began to drag her forward. "To the Great Hall!" he cried in his most Sir Cadogen-like voice. Harry, snickering, hurried to catch up with them.
As they entered, Ron barely gave a passing glance to the Slytherin table where Malfoy was already seated.
~*~
Draco watched Weasley as he sauntered into the Great Hall looking a lot like Draco imagined he must look when doing the same thing. Since when did Weasley strut about, especially with that Mudblood piece of trash by his side? And why did Weasel have his arm around that whore? As Draco narrowed his eyes, he decided tonight had to be the night before Weasel got some crazy idea that going back to Granger would be a good idea.
"Jealous?" said a voice and Draco's expression twisted, looking to see who had insinuated that he could possibly be jealous of a Mudblood bitch like Granger. It was Goyle.
"Of what?"
"Granger and the fact Weasley's got his arm around her."
"Why would I be jealous of that?"
"Just that you've been hard for Weasley for months."
"Since when did you string together coherent sentences?"
Goyle snickered at that. "You wish I were stupid and less observant. Going to seduce Weasley tonight?"
"What are you talking about?"
"Oh come on, Draco, we all know. You aren't exactly discreet about it."
"Everyone knows?"
"Way to admit to it, Draco. Admittance is the first step to recovery."
Scowling, Draco straightened. "How did you figure it out?"
"You used to moan Weasley's name in your sleep."
"I do what?" said Draco, wide-eyed, and sitting up very straight.
"You used to moan Weasley's name in your sleep," he repeated. "At first we thought you were having nightmares. Zabini heard you first. Then we thought you might be wanking off because you're awfully vocal about that, too. Then we realized you were asleep. I wonder if you still do it. I mean - you're in the Head Boy room and all. I know you still wank off to him because of the showers."
"You can hear me when I - er -"
"Do you not realize how loud you are? Half of Slytherin knows when you're getting yourself off. Tell me, Draco, how is it you need to partake in such an act when you're always having sex?"
"I haven't had sex for two weeks."
"That's because you've probably been wanking off thinking about Weasley."
Still scowling, Draco crossed his arms and gave a curt, "Fine."
"It's okay, Draco. No need to be embarrassed you're in love with Weasley. He's poor but no one could call him ugly."
"What did you say?"
"That no one could call him ugly. Surprisingly, he's a very nice-looking man. If you're into that kind of thing, anyway."
"Not that. Before."
"That it was okay?"
"After that."
"You don't need to be embarrassed about being in love with him?"
"That! What gave you the idea I was in love with him?"
"You say so in your sleep." Goyle bit off a piece of his steak.
"Liar," Draco muttered under his breath. "Where's Crabbe?"
"Who cares?"
The bitterness Draco had been feeling dissipated and he turned to look at his friend.
"Why do you say that?"
"Because I don't care. Do you care?"
"Not really, but why don't you care? He's your best friend."
"Used to be."
"Since when?"
"He got his letter yesterday."
Draco suddenly grew very grave. Goyle had stopped eating to look at Draco, his steak and potatoes forgotten.
"His initiation letter?" asked Draco, dropping his voice. Goyle, very slowly, nodded. "Well?"
"I think he's going to do it."
"We swore we wouldn't. We're better than that. Doesn't he know that?"
"I don't know. He's under a lot of pressure from his father."
"And I'm not? If any of us is under pressure, than it's me."
"I don't know, Draco. Did you get yours yet?"
Shaking his head, Draco said, "No. I think my father is waiting until closer to the end of the year. I'm not looking forward to it. He's going to try to kill me when I reject . . . are you? Still going to reject, I mean. Now that we've lost Crabbe."
Goyle paused for a moment and then nodded. "I have to. Don't think I'm going to join Potter's fan club and wave a little banner in the air, but I can't take that mark. I can't degrade myself like that."
"Me either. Zabini?"
"Still mark-free. His father is still neutral so I expect it will stay that way."
"I expect."
Glancing across the hall, Draco caught sight of Potter leaving the Gryffindor table. Moments later, the Granger bitch went as well. Next to him, Goyle sniggered and prodded Draco in the side.
"If you're going to go get him, I suggest you do it now."
With a withered glance, Draco left the Great Hall. Which way was the Gryffindor common room? Going the way he remembered Weasel stomping off last night, Draco slipped into an alcove by the Grand Staircase and waited. It didn't take long. Less than five minutes later Weasley came walking down the hall, thankfully alone. Timing it just right, Draco waited until he was directly in front of him before reaching out, grabbing Weasley by his robes, and yanking him into the alcove.
Pinning him against the wall with his hips, Draco said, "Well, hello there, Weasley. Fancy meeting you here."
"What are you doing, Malfoy?" said Weasley, apprehension lingering in his eyes.
"Finishing what we started. If you're still a willing party that is." Draco had dropped his voice to a low, seductive tone and he rolled his hips against Ron's.
The answer wasn't in words, Ron leaning only slightly forward as he twined his fingers in Draco's hair and yanked his head to meet lips with a crushing force. It was so sudden and up to the caliber Draco had been hoping for that he was drowning in Ron, already hard and moaning into his mouth. He barely even noticed that he was now pressed against the wall and Ron was the one in control.
Draco was panting as Ron hooked his arms under Draco's legs to hoist him up. Stone rubbed into the sensitive flesh of Draco's back through layers of school robes as his legs hooked around Ron's waist with only the support of Ron crushing him between his body and the wall to keep him elevated. Running his tongue along Ron's bottom lip, which had gone to a deep red color, Draco slipped his tongue into the hot caverns of Ron's mouth. He tasted even sweeter than Draco imagined and he snatched a fistful of Ron's hair, yanked his head back to expose his neck, and wrapped his lips around his Adam's apple.
"Oh, gods, Malfoy," moaned Ron, rolling his erection against Draco's as the suction grew stronger on his neck.
With his free hand, Draco managed to sneak it between their bodies and through Ron's robes to find his trousers. Something about the fact Ron was still in his uniform was only turning him on more as he undid the zipper to slip his hand inside. Finding his way through boxers, which were soaked at the front with precum and that Weasley was bursting out of in his arousal, Draco found that Ron had much to be proud of.
"What did you eat as a child?" panted Draco, rubbing his thumb along the underside of Ron's cock. Ron made a choked sound like he wanted to laugh but was unable to due to the intense pleasure racking his body.
"I need more of you," Ron moaned. Dropping his legs from around Ron's waist one at a time, Draco guided Ron into a corner of the alcove and began to stroke Ron's length with his fingers.
"Something you like, Weasel?" said Draco, hoping he didn't sound as turned on as he was. Grunting, Ron nodded furiously. "You need to say it, Weasley."
"Yes! I like it!"
"Now, Weasley, not so loud. Someone might hear you."
Ron made an unintelligible sound that to Draco sounded like a whine mixed with a groan. Smirking, Draco stepped closer to Ron and increased the pace he was pumping Ron's erection. "Do you want my mouth on you?"
"I want you to suck me," said Ron, looking straight into Draco's eyes. His cheeks flushed a furious red and Draco wasn't sure if it was from what they were doing or embarrassment at being forced to say such things to Draco.
"How bad do you want it?"
"Don't play fucking games with me, Malfoy," he managed to say. "I need you right fucking now."
The last words were said tersely, almost like a threat, and Draco thought it was the scariest he had ever seen Weasley. The way he said it so clear and soft was unsettling and Draco almost considered complying right then and there. Finding his mind, he remembered to smirk before removing his hand and zipping Ron's trousers. From the way Ron was staring, Draco should probably start fearing for his life.
"Don't want that to be over too soon, now do we?" said Draco, desperately hoping he sounded more confidant than he really was. Weasley wasn't supposed to have this much of an effect over him. "You can't possibly think I'm going to do such a thing here."
"Malfoy," seethed Weasley. This time it was clearly a threat.
"Don't get your knickers in a twist, Weasley." Peering out into the corridor, Draco said, "Follow me."
It was a very rushed walk as they made their way into the prefects corridor and the Head Boy room. Draco didn't know what they were doing there. His plan had been to take Weasley in some classroom without the luxuries that were supposed to be involved in meaningful sex, that making love bullshit he heard about. However, they were here now and even though he couldn't let Weasley know, Draco couldn't wait much longer, either.
Their robes went faster than was comprehensive. Ron had undressed Draco, leaving only the green and silver Slytherin tie hanging loosely around his neck. Forming a fist around the tie, Ron dragged Draco on top of him and gasped into his mouth upon feeling their sweat-covered bodies touching in full.
Draco kissed his way across Ron's cheek and along his jaw line. His tongue snaked out around the neck and licked his way along an imaginary line down Ron's chest and to his navel. Rubbing at Ron's pelvic bone with his thumb, his fingers skirted across the flesh on his stomach before descending and brushing across his pubic hair.
"Merlin, Weasley, if all the men in your family are built like you, I can see why you have so many siblings."
"Less talk, Malfoy," Ron said in his deep, throaty voice that Draco had been thinking about since the first detention. There was nothing else he could do but comply.
At the point where Draco and Ron couldn't take it anymore, needed to be inside each other, Draco had been the one to take over.
"Turn over, Weasley," commanded Draco.
"No."
"Weasley, damnit, turn over. I don't want to hurt you."
Where the fuck had that come from?
"No."
"Fuck, Weasley, just turn over already. It'll hurt less."
"I want to see you."
Draco understood the sentiment. He loved to see his lover's face when he came. Nodding, he kissed Ron in a way that he chided himself for later on. The only word that could have described it was chaste. Something he had also prepared for was to be brutal. He had used his teeth and Weasley would be sporting more bruises in the morning along with hickeys, but it was supposed to be rough. There was supposed to be nothing gentle. All Draco wanted to do was fuck Weasley until he couldn't vocalize anymore. Now, he was preparing Ron for entrance, stretching him, and actually allowing him to get comfortable before sliding himself in.
They rocked against each other, heightened to a euphoria neither one had ever known before. Ron came first with Draco following shortly after. Still spent and laying on Draco's bed, Ron frowned as Draco climbed out of bed and headed for the bathroom.
Shutting the door, Draco leaned against it before walking over to the mirror. He was already sporting a large hickey on the side of his neck and several across his chest, arms, and legs. There were bruises on his hips and thighs and Draco sighed, closing his eyes. That hadn't gone the way it was supposed to. There had been the violence he craved but he may as well have completely surrendered.
"I'll go slow," said Draco, mocking what he had said to Weasley when the red-head confessed he had never shagged before.
Sneering, he reached for his toothbrush. Weasley was supposed to be out of his system by now. Maybe if he brushed his teeth, his strange urge to go back into his room and cuddle with Weasley would go away. Having Weasel's taste lingering in his mouth couldn't be good for ridding himself of his desire.
Rinsing his mouth, Draco stared at himself again. Weasley was still in his room, laying in his bed, and probably stark naked. It wasn't just sex, anymore. Now Draco had a desire to go out there and fucking spoon with the muggle-lover and the obsession with Weasley hadn't been abated in the least. Every other time he achieved a conquest, he washed up in the bathroom and them told them to leave. It was expected. Sex with Draco Malfoy happened once, twice if you were really good, and came with no strings attached. He didn't desire to snuggle with people. He didn't want it more after than he had before. What the hell was going on?
Deciding that he needed to get Weasley out of here if he wanted a chance of ever becoming normal again, Draco emerged from the bathroom. Ron was still in bed, the blankets drawn up to his chin and apparently embarrassed about being completely naked underneath. Draco also thought he looked sad, and for a moment, he almost found himself walking over to that bed again. Stopping himself, Draco repeated in his mind that he needed to do this and began picking up the robes, making it a point to sneer at the state of Ron's.
"What are you doing?" said Ron, meekly. Weren't so meek twenty minutes ago, were you, Weasley?
"You didn't think you'd actually stay around, did you?" he tried to sneer. It must have worked because Weasley had gone red again.
"I thought . . . after -"
"I highly doubt you thought. It was just sex, Weasel, and you were just a hole. I should think you'd be accustomed to things being used. Why should you be any different?"
Furious, Ron seemed to have forgotten he was naked and threw off the covers, going for his clothing. Draco's mouth had gone dry seeing Ron flushed, still slightly sweaty, and angry as all hell.
"You're a bastard, Malfoy, you know that?" he seethed, grimacing at his boxers and pulling on his trousers without them. "What made you like this, eh? You weren't always such a bugger."
Caught off-guard at hearing these words while watching Ron pull on his school shirt and then his sweater vest, Draco's head snapped up to meet Ron's eyes. The blue was more intense than he had ever seen them and Draco swallowed hard.
"What?"
"I actually thought . . . I'm so stupid!"
Licking his lips, Draco said, "I won't disagree with you there, Weasel."
"I can't imagine what made you such an insufferable git." Ron adjusted his tie, brushed the coppery fringe away from his forehead, and glared into Draco's eyes. "You used me like that. How can you treat people like this? What happened to you over the course of four years that made you such an arse? You used to be my best mate."
"I was never your friend," said Draco, looking confused. Ron looked even angrier than he had before.
"No. I can't expect you to remember, can I? You probably shut out any memory that doesn't have to do with torture or sex."
"That isn't true. I have quite a good memory and we were never friends. I don't know when you hit your head and got that crazy idea in there -"
"Oh, yes, we were."
"No, we weren't."
Draco just wished he would stop talking nonsense and go. He didn't know how much longer he could keep up this cold, unfeeling facade. Facade? Since when? He was cold and unfeeling. Bugger, what the fuck was Weasel doing to him?
"Yes, we were!" cried Weasley with such assurance that Draco almost doubted himself. "We were friends from the time we were three until we were seven! We went to the child care center in Diagon Alley together! I was your best friend and you bit Crabbe because he made fun of me!"
There wasn't a response Draco could come up with. He scowled because someone had been clearly messing with Weasley's brain when it all seemed to hit him at once. The picture was as clear in his mind as anything had ever been. Draco had virtually forgotten anything that happened before he was eight but once Weasley had mentioned it, it clicked. They had been best friends when they were kids. Ron had been the only person there for him when Lucius started locking him in the dungeons in solitary confinement for punishment.
"I can't believe I let you use me like that!"
Ron's words brought him back to the present and Draco needed Ron to go this very second. Guilt like he had never felt before was washing over him in multitudes he didn't think he could take. Ron had been there for him. He had forgotten Ron but Weasley remembered everything this whole time. The desire to take Ron in his arms or be taken (Draco didn't really care which, another oddity) was so strong that Draco could barely keep control over his own limbs.
"It was only sex, Weasley," he said.
"Stay away from me, Malfoy. I don't ever want you near me again."
Ron turned around and stalked toward the door but Draco cried out, "Wait! Weasley, hold on."
Laying his hand on the doorknob, Ron turned around to glare at Draco. He had never seen so much hate before in someone's eyes. What was he doing, asking Weasley to wait? Sneering at him, Ron shook his head and Draco couldn't hold back anymore. Crossing the space between them, he took Ron's face between his palms and leaned up to kiss him.
"I told you not to touch me," said Weasley, pushing him away.
After a long pause of the two staring at each other, Draco said, "I forgot."
"What?"
"I forgot we were best friends," he said, softly. Ron's sneer fell from his face to an unreadable expression. "I really forgot. I don't know - I don't know how I could have."
"So, what? You don't want me to hate you just because we once got along? You want me to forgive you for using me just because we were friends before we knew anything about purebloods and mudbloods and half-bloods?"
"That's not what I said, Weasley," said Draco, sighing. "Just because it was sex it doesn't mean it was bad sex. I fully intend on doing that again."
"I don't think so, Malfoy. Besides, I've heard your rules. I don't want to go through this a second time."
"You won't," said Draco before he could stop himself. The pleading in those two words made him cringe. "I mean - gods, Weasley. So I don't typically shag people more than twice. Let's make an exception."
"You want to be fuck buddies?" said Ron, sounding offended.
"I'm not looking for a relationship," said Draco, tersely. "I don't believe in them. And fuck buddies is a really foul way of saying lovers."
"You want me to be your lover?"
Draco tentatively reached out to brush Ron's forearm.
"What would it hurt, Weasel?"
Apparently thinking over, Weasley sighed. "I don't know."
"Look, the only reason I want you to leave is that Potter and Granger will probably be wondering where you are if you don't rush back. You really don't want to explain what you were doing, do you?"
Weasley shifted. "You'd really let me stay if it weren't for Harry and Hermione?"
Wincing, Draco said, "Yeah. Sure."
Nodding, Ron said, "Okay."
"Okay. When - er - I'll owl you."
Ron didn't answer but made a slight acknowledgment with his head before turning the knob and slipping into the prefects corridor.
*Sigh* Ron's a gullible one, isn't he?