***
Ron's POV again - more fun for me - and (I think) the second to last chapter in this little melodrama. Therefore, I bid you make haste! The story awaits!
***
When he asked me to tell him what was wrong, I ignored him. His lips attempting to mend my tears, however, convinced me otherwise, though I still took a few moments before saying anything in response.
"Malfoy," I said, hesitating slightly. I looked at him through blurred eyes. "I-I used the polyjuice potion tonight. It wasn't Harry - it was me." Every word seemed to make me stronger. "I was the one who kissed you behind the tapestry."
***
Late that night, we were still in hiding. As always, Malfoy appeared unmoved by anything I had said, but I was still convinced that my confession had impacted him by the way he had gathered me into his arms and continued to stroke my hair, even now. My head was in his lap, spinning, and with one hand I clutched his robes.
I had reverted to a child over ten years younger than I, but with Draco holding my hand and soothing my broken soul, I didn't mind.
I hadn't even realized that, after a while, he had begun to sing softly under his breath to pass the time before Hermione sent for us. My mind was too blurred with fatigue to make out the words he sang, but it was comforting and lulled me into an even drowsier state.
When I woke some time later, Draco was brushing his fingers over my cheeks and saying my name in a low voice. At the entrance of the tunnel, the twins snickered openly as they held the door open for us. I allowed myself to be helped to my feet by Malfoy and ignored my brothers' stupid remarks coolly.
Hermione was relieved to see us both looking well, other than tinged with dust from our hiding place, and, though puzzled over how exactly we had become so close and what our friendship was, exactly, she allowed us to say goodbye in an empty alcove. She had scolded the twins severely, who retreated into the Gryffendor common room sulkily, and Draco wrapped his arms around me in the silence of the corridor.
"Should we tell them?" he murmured into my ear. I sighed, shook my head decidedly.
"Not at first," I said, "No." He nodded and pulled away, his hand still clutching mine.
His face was lined with worry; so when he said, "Go to sleep," I knew I had to listen or he would never get his own rest. He grinned then, and patted my rear with his free hand. "You need your beauty sleep to look as good as I do."
***
I wrestled with myself that night. Malfoy obviously wanted me at some level, and I certainly wanted him more than anything - I turned into Harry for him, didn't I? However, it was awkward with his bargain hanging over our heads.
And if, indeed, he was only indulging my fantasies in some sick and twisted plot to get Harry; if, indeed, he was the conniving Draco Malfoy I had known since first year; if, indeed, I was not meant for someone of his noble stature, then I wanted to know now. I wanted to understand what I was getting into before I was hurt, and that way I wouldn't look back and beat myself up for not seeing it.
I knew that I would get hurt. You can't love without being hurt. You can't be happy without it all dissipating at some point.
I wondered about Malfoy, as well. How can someone simply give up the pursuit of something he wanted so much, just for the happiness of a friend? For the happiness of me? It was not something Malfoy would do, any Slytherin, for that matter.
And what if Harry caught wind of this deal we'd made? What if he found out that I'd been in on a plan to seduce him for Malfoy? The thought of losing my best friend sickened me.
I retreated to the bathroom, leaning against the cool stone walls and porcelain of the towel and toilet paper racks. Moonlight was haunting me, streaming through the thin window and digging into my vision. The moonlight made everything appear to clear and clean that it cut my eyes; I wrenched my sight to my knees folded before my face and blinked back tears.
At first, when the owl lighted on the windowsill, I had thought I was hallucinating. I blinked again, and decided that it was not some figment of my imagination, but there was truly a bird staring, with unblinking amber eyes, gazing down at me. It was intimidating, large and black, with a hooked beak the same charcoal grey of his gleaming talons. Tied to its leg was a small roll of parchment sealed with a familiar length of blood-red ribbon.
I shoved myself away from the wall, gingerly untying the parchment, and watched the owl until it took wing and was gone. I gaped at the empty sill for a moment longer, the image of the beautiful blue owl seared into my mind.
Settling back onto the gritty floor, I untied the letter, laying the ribbon aside.
Ron -
I believe that this is an appropriate time to give this to you. You deserve it; you earned it.
Draco
PS - I supposed now I should apply for the post of prefect for Gryffendor, then?
It was a very detailed work, a miniature key to every exam and homework assignment Snape would ever assign in his Potions class until seventh year. Once before Draco had given me the answers to an exam, but that had been a mere quiz - if Hermione saw this, she would go mental.
I tucked it away, behind a loose stone in the wall I had discovered second year and in which kept everything secret. I would use it later, when Snape had assigned a very difficult essay or exam.
The ribbon I kept with me, and tied to my wrist in a clumsy bow. Such an elegant thing should not have been given to me, a bumbling, poor boy, I thought bitterly. But a moment passed and I forgot about the ribbon, because once again the great blue own had come to rest on the windowsill.
It appeared perturbed that it should have been sent out twice in the middle of the night for the likes of me, but allowed me to safely take the new parchment from its sharp talons. This letter was smaller, thinner, than the last. But I did not read it until I had given the blue owl a bit of sausage I had been saving for Pig. He seemed content with this and left me to my reading.
Sykes has come back without my last letter, which I take to mean you're still awake. I thought I told you to get your beauty sleep? No matter; if you're up to it, meet me behind the tapestry within a quarter of an hour's time. If you aren't there, I won't hold it against you, nor will I send any more owls. I understand if you want to be alone right now.
Draco
PS - If you decide not to join me this evening, please consider breakfast tomorrow morning instead? You choose the time, the place. Just send that bit of fluff you call an owl down to me and I'll have things prepared.
PPS - Get some sleep.
I smiled to myself. He really does worry about me. He really does care.
The thought that he was sincerely looking out for me was enough to calm my ailing stomach, and I crept back into the main room of the dormitory once the two letters were safely stowed within the secret place in the wall. I summoned Pig silently and quickly scrawled a note to Draco.
Once the little owl was on his way, I crawled into my four-poster, drew the curtains, and fell quickly to sleep.
***
Ron's POV again - more fun for me - and (I think) the second to last chapter in this little melodrama. Therefore, I bid you make haste! The story awaits!
***
When he asked me to tell him what was wrong, I ignored him. His lips attempting to mend my tears, however, convinced me otherwise, though I still took a few moments before saying anything in response.
"Malfoy," I said, hesitating slightly. I looked at him through blurred eyes. "I-I used the polyjuice potion tonight. It wasn't Harry - it was me." Every word seemed to make me stronger. "I was the one who kissed you behind the tapestry."
***
Late that night, we were still in hiding. As always, Malfoy appeared unmoved by anything I had said, but I was still convinced that my confession had impacted him by the way he had gathered me into his arms and continued to stroke my hair, even now. My head was in his lap, spinning, and with one hand I clutched his robes.
I had reverted to a child over ten years younger than I, but with Draco holding my hand and soothing my broken soul, I didn't mind.
I hadn't even realized that, after a while, he had begun to sing softly under his breath to pass the time before Hermione sent for us. My mind was too blurred with fatigue to make out the words he sang, but it was comforting and lulled me into an even drowsier state.
When I woke some time later, Draco was brushing his fingers over my cheeks and saying my name in a low voice. At the entrance of the tunnel, the twins snickered openly as they held the door open for us. I allowed myself to be helped to my feet by Malfoy and ignored my brothers' stupid remarks coolly.
Hermione was relieved to see us both looking well, other than tinged with dust from our hiding place, and, though puzzled over how exactly we had become so close and what our friendship was, exactly, she allowed us to say goodbye in an empty alcove. She had scolded the twins severely, who retreated into the Gryffendor common room sulkily, and Draco wrapped his arms around me in the silence of the corridor.
"Should we tell them?" he murmured into my ear. I sighed, shook my head decidedly.
"Not at first," I said, "No." He nodded and pulled away, his hand still clutching mine.
His face was lined with worry; so when he said, "Go to sleep," I knew I had to listen or he would never get his own rest. He grinned then, and patted my rear with his free hand. "You need your beauty sleep to look as good as I do."
***
I wrestled with myself that night. Malfoy obviously wanted me at some level, and I certainly wanted him more than anything - I turned into Harry for him, didn't I? However, it was awkward with his bargain hanging over our heads.
And if, indeed, he was only indulging my fantasies in some sick and twisted plot to get Harry; if, indeed, he was the conniving Draco Malfoy I had known since first year; if, indeed, I was not meant for someone of his noble stature, then I wanted to know now. I wanted to understand what I was getting into before I was hurt, and that way I wouldn't look back and beat myself up for not seeing it.
I knew that I would get hurt. You can't love without being hurt. You can't be happy without it all dissipating at some point.
I wondered about Malfoy, as well. How can someone simply give up the pursuit of something he wanted so much, just for the happiness of a friend? For the happiness of me? It was not something Malfoy would do, any Slytherin, for that matter.
And what if Harry caught wind of this deal we'd made? What if he found out that I'd been in on a plan to seduce him for Malfoy? The thought of losing my best friend sickened me.
I retreated to the bathroom, leaning against the cool stone walls and porcelain of the towel and toilet paper racks. Moonlight was haunting me, streaming through the thin window and digging into my vision. The moonlight made everything appear to clear and clean that it cut my eyes; I wrenched my sight to my knees folded before my face and blinked back tears.
At first, when the owl lighted on the windowsill, I had thought I was hallucinating. I blinked again, and decided that it was not some figment of my imagination, but there was truly a bird staring, with unblinking amber eyes, gazing down at me. It was intimidating, large and black, with a hooked beak the same charcoal grey of his gleaming talons. Tied to its leg was a small roll of parchment sealed with a familiar length of blood-red ribbon.
I shoved myself away from the wall, gingerly untying the parchment, and watched the owl until it took wing and was gone. I gaped at the empty sill for a moment longer, the image of the beautiful blue owl seared into my mind.
Settling back onto the gritty floor, I untied the letter, laying the ribbon aside.
Ron -
I believe that this is an appropriate time to give this to you. You deserve it; you earned it.
Draco
PS - I supposed now I should apply for the post of prefect for Gryffendor, then?
It was a very detailed work, a miniature key to every exam and homework assignment Snape would ever assign in his Potions class until seventh year. Once before Draco had given me the answers to an exam, but that had been a mere quiz - if Hermione saw this, she would go mental.
I tucked it away, behind a loose stone in the wall I had discovered second year and in which kept everything secret. I would use it later, when Snape had assigned a very difficult essay or exam.
The ribbon I kept with me, and tied to my wrist in a clumsy bow. Such an elegant thing should not have been given to me, a bumbling, poor boy, I thought bitterly. But a moment passed and I forgot about the ribbon, because once again the great blue own had come to rest on the windowsill.
It appeared perturbed that it should have been sent out twice in the middle of the night for the likes of me, but allowed me to safely take the new parchment from its sharp talons. This letter was smaller, thinner, than the last. But I did not read it until I had given the blue owl a bit of sausage I had been saving for Pig. He seemed content with this and left me to my reading.
Sykes has come back without my last letter, which I take to mean you're still awake. I thought I told you to get your beauty sleep? No matter; if you're up to it, meet me behind the tapestry within a quarter of an hour's time. If you aren't there, I won't hold it against you, nor will I send any more owls. I understand if you want to be alone right now.
Draco
PS - If you decide not to join me this evening, please consider breakfast tomorrow morning instead? You choose the time, the place. Just send that bit of fluff you call an owl down to me and I'll have things prepared.
PPS - Get some sleep.
I smiled to myself. He really does worry about me. He really does care.
The thought that he was sincerely looking out for me was enough to calm my ailing stomach, and I crept back into the main room of the dormitory once the two letters were safely stowed within the secret place in the wall. I summoned Pig silently and quickly scrawled a note to Draco.
Once the little owl was on his way, I crawled into my four-poster, drew the curtains, and fell quickly to sleep.
***
