A/N: Disclaimers and Warnings are in the previous chapters.

[ Black Balloons ]

"For aught that I could ever read,

Could ever hear by tale or history

The course of true love never did run smooth..

But either it was different in blood…"

-Lysander/A Midsummer Night's Dream/Shakespeare

****

Chapter 5- A fine line between this and that

~~~~~~

Ron stumbled backwards, head hitting hard against the cold tiled floor, knife dropping from his grasp and falling with a clang to the floor. Blood gushed out from his chest, tainting a spot on his already drenched robes, deep purple. He held his bleeding chest and felt the blood there, weakly reaching out, as he rolled some of the red liquid into his fingers, letting it trickled down the sides of his shaking hand. Pain seared within him. His head was throbbing, so hard, the sound from the outside world, blocked. Numbed by pain, blinded by his own tears and drowning in his own pool of blood, he let out an anguished sob before finally, his head dropped to the floor, eyelids faintly fluttering close.

The knife lay on the floor unheeded; blood stains visible on the sharp silver blade. A few meters away from it was a redhead, lying on his own pool of blood that was slowly increasing as every drop of blood trickled onto the floor.

"Seamus.." Hermione said worriedly, putting down her quill and walking towards the sandy-blonde who was indulged in a game of wizard's chess with Dean Thomas. Seamus and dean looked up at Hermione, a hint of irritation showing in their eyes from being disturbed, too nice they didn't bother to speak of it. Hermione bit her lower lip, at a loss for words.

"What is it?" Dean asked, annoyed after a moment of silence issued.

"Seamus," Hermione took a deep breath, closed her eyes and opened them again. "I know this may sound weird but, would you check on Ron for a moment. I saw he was crying his was up the boys' dorm and all that, I guess you saw it too. But I feel very much uneasy, would you.. uh.. Go check if he's okay?"

[1] Seamus stared at Hermione for a moment, shrugged and stood up. "Tuigim." He said in a very heavy Irish accent that made both Hermione and Dean give him strange looks. "Sin e?" Seamus shook his head. "I mean, just that?" Hermione nodded, feeling a little foolish. "Thanks.." She said, feeling a little better than she did a while ago.

Seamus trudged up the staircase that led to the boys' dorm. He checked the room he shared with Ron and the others, opening the door ever so gently as not to snitch Ron's privacy. But as he scanned the room for any living creature, no one seemed to be around. It was empty, deserted, quiet.

Giving up, Seamus was about to walk back to the commonroom when he heard a clanging sound coming from the other end of the boy's bathroom door. Curious that he was, he walked to the bathroom door and turned the knob. It won't budge; it was locked. Seamus knocked lightly. "Ron. A'you there?" No answer. Seamus knocked again, louder this time. "Ron? Ron?"

Seamus took out his wand and muttered "Alohomora." under his breath. It wasn't like him to go nosing in on other people's showers but the lad's instincts told him something was wrong. Surprisingly the door clicked open and swung open. Seamus gasped. Lying there in his own small pool of blood was Ron.

Seamus run to Ron's side and cradled his head in his arms. "Ron, are you still there? Ron! Please don't die.. Don't die..."

Ron's eyes faintly fluttered opened, a muffled sob, bouncing on the bathroom walls. "Harry.." Ron's voice was broken as he only managed a wheeze. Seamus shook him violently but he wouldn't move. The Irish lad muttered a healing spell, thinking it might resolve the situation. Ron's eyes opened. But then closed again. "HELP!"

Hermione stared at Dean. "Seamus!" they both said at same time.

Dean lead Hermione to a new environment that was the boy's dorm, up the staircase from door to door till finally they reached the end of the hall where a door was half-open. Dean ran to the door and gasped, shocked and at a loss for words. Hermione laid eyes on Ron, shook her head, trying to convince herself it wasn't a dream and then passed out with a thud onto the floor. Dean was so in shock he just stood there, as if glued on his feet. Seamus looked up at Dean, "Call for help.." He whispered, tears threatening to fall down his cheeks. "Taim I Ngra Leis.." Dean gave Seamus another weird look but didn't take time to ask what he just said. Instead carried Hermione to one of the rooms and ran down to call for help.

They were sweating and panting profusely, but their eyes never failed to meet at every moment of ecstasy. Their moans bouncing off the walls as they grunted and groaned, rolled and fell onto the floor, the medicine tray falling off its feet as they accidentally bumped onto it while Draco was playing cat and mouse with Harry. [2]

Draco's gray eyes reflected the silver light from the moon as he walked over to the window, naked [sidenote: Bea, sheesh, man, grow up!], ignoring the look Harry gave him as the Gryffindor lay flat on his stomach, arms folded. "Draco.." Harry said all-too huskily, he could've kicked himself for being too seductive. Draco peered out the window, the night dawning in so fast as the moon sat in the sky, beneath it the velvet black sky, stars strewn across it. Draco looked at Harry whose eyes glittered lovingly. I just had sex with him and it felt surprisingly good "Yeah?" Harry smiled and lay on his back and then after a few seconds walked over to Draco's side, kissing his head. "What're you looking at?"

Draco rolled his eyes. "The sky, obviously.."

"Can I ask you something?"

Draco looked at Harry for a moment. "You already are." He let his usual sarcasm display even after Harry since it was such a Malfoy debonair, running in the blood.

Harry rolled his eyes. "Not that.. I mean.." Harry paused for a moment; the words stuck in his throat as a lump seemed to have started forming. Draco gave him a look. "What?" He said impatiently.

Harry shook his head and sighed. "Do you know the difference between love and attraction?"

Draco remained silent for a moment as he averted the look from Harry's eyes, turning back to the moon as if it was the most amusing thing in the world.

"I don't know…" Draco said in a whisper barely audible. "This is my first time to—well, you know.. I don't know what the difference is, either.. Do you?"

Harry caressed Draco's cheek with the side of his hand. "Draco… I don't know what I'm feeling right now. I know what we're doing is wrong. Twisted, wrong. But I think…If…If—if I'm ever getting this new emotion right, I think I lo—"

The door was rattling furiously as two voices erupted from the other end of the wooden barrier; one seemingly that of Madam Pomfrey, the other, Prof. McGonagall.

Draco and Harry looked at each other, the same horror-stricken face reflecting the other. With a swish of a wand that was lying unheeded on the floor, they were now fully dressed shoes and all. Harry then planted a kiss on Draco's lips, the Slytherin prying open the other boy's lips as his arms encircled round his waist. Harry pulled away, now gazing at the confused, sad look evidently showing from Draco's face. He pointed to the door and the other boy blushed furiously. But Harry needn't even touch the door for it burst open itself, Madam Pomfrey and McGonagall bustling in the room, lights flicking on, a boy bleeding in their arms; Arms carried by Mcgonall, legs by Madam Pomfrey as they pushed their way past the two lovers.

Prof. McGonagall was almost crying, her eyes getting watery, expression so melancholy, Harry realized as the women laid the unconscious boy onto one of the beds. Draco peered at Harry's side and stared at the figure lying on the bed. He tugged at Harry's sleeve and Harry gasped at what he saw. Lying there was Ron, his chest bleeding, he was moaning something in his trance-like state. Harry's head pounded; suddenly his head hurt and flashes of Ron crying and stabbing himself, Draco smirking and kissing him afterwards—everything that occurred that happened that week, from the train till then, came unbidden. Harry staggered backwards, tripping on Draco's food; he cradled his face in hands as he fell on his ass. [3]

Draco helped him up and nudged him on the side. "Are you okay?"

"I—"

"Mr. Potter. Mr. Malfoy, since both of your conditions are minor, I suggest you two get to your dormitories now."

Draco and Harry both instinctively looked up.

"Is Ron going to be okay?" Harry asked. "What happened—"

"Stabbed himself, luckily one of your house-mates, Mr. Finnigan knew a healing spell. Chances are, Mr. Weasley could've died.." McGonagall's voice seemed broken as if she was fighting the urge not to cry for some unknown reason.

Harry gasped as reality started sinking in.

Madam Pomfrey looked at Harry as if he'd just said something horrible. She remained silent for a moment and then said in a voice above a whisper, " I don't know.." Draco bit his lower lip. Prof. McGonagall stared at them sternly before turning back to Ron. "Gentlemen, I suggest you listen to Madam Pomfrey and go to your respective dormitories…"

Harry and Draco turned to their heel. "Professor…?"

Harry stopped dead in his tracks and wheeled around to walk to Ron's side. He gripped his hand tightly, almost squeezing it as he planted a kiss on his bestfriend's forehead. A tear slowly made its way down the lad's cheeks as he leaned his forehead against the other boy's. He was cold and pale, the sides of his eyes red and his robes drenched in water and blood. Harry let out an unexpected whimper before closing his eyes. "Please don't die.. Hang on.. I'm so sorry.. Please, Ron.. Don't die.." McGonagall/ Pomfrey stared at Harry bewildered while Draco sighed and lifted a brow, arms across his chest, feeling a tad jealous.

"Harry Potter?" Harry looked up, his hand loosening from Ron's cold ones.

"Go to your dormitory. Now.. We'll handle this in the morning."

Harry walked over to Draco before sighing and closing the door behind them as they stepped out.

"Nice show there Harry, melodramatic, I must say…"

Harry glared at his Slytherin. "Not funny, Malfoy!" He spate before they proceeded in walking.

"Oh, calling me by my last name now, are you? What'll it be next, shagging Weasley's brains out?"

Harry quirked a brow and gasped in shock at the other boy's reaction to him planting a friendly kiss on Ron's forehead.

"He's my bestfriend, don't be silly!" Harry's features softened as understanding dawned to him. "Oh, you're jealous now are you? Ooh, ickle Dracie's jealous! Jealous!" [4]

Slap.

Harry cradled his now crimson cheek with one hand. "Oww.. You just bitch-slapped me!"

"That's what you get for teasing a Malfoy.."

"But you were jealous weren't you?"

Draco gave Harry a warning look. "Okay, fine. Whatever. You shouldn't be jealous at all Draco, Ron is my bestfriend. Was my bestfriend, now I guess. But nonetheless, you shouldn't get jealous. It was a caring kiss. A friendly kiss of some sort..."

"I wasn't jealous at all.." Draco lied.

Harry stopped in his tracks and held Draco's hand, which now made him stop too.

"Ta Gra Agam Duit.." [5]

Draco gave him a weird look. "What?"

"Figure out what that means, I asked Seamus to teach me to say that.."

"Ta gramd—what?"

Harry shrugged. "I'm not repeating it.."

Draco frowned childishly.

…..

Harry broke down in tears as Draco cradled him in his arms. "Ron… Draco, he's going to die, I know it. Will he? Don't let him die please.. It was my fault that he stabbed himself, wasn't it? Oh, please, don't let him die.. Draco he wouldn't, would he?"

Draco bit his lip and tightened his arms around Harry. "He…" He took one cold, shallow breath.. "..Wouldn't…"

Harry~*

It was my fault. All my fault. I can't help feeling a pang of guilt stinging me. Oh God. I screwed up! Fuck! Fuck! Ron almost killed himself because of me!

It was such a stupid thing to do—fall in love with someone unlikely. My enemy, to be frank.

Draco was beautiful. Oh God. Who am I kidding? Delicate features, glittering gray eyes and a creamy, pale complexion. It took years for me to realize I wanted him so bad. Took me seven damn years to learn he was beautiful. Now I have him. I'm happier than anyone could be. But happiness always has a price in return, doesn't it? Happiness is the essence of life. Or is it love. Or both? Ever since Voldemort died back then, my life took another toll. Somehow Dudley's annoying whining and Uncle Vernon and Aunt Petunia's loathing of me, seemed much more interesting. I enjoyed life, not even knowing the meaning of it. Life seemed all too bleak. All too pointless. Or probably only my life does. I always felt this missing essence in my life. Like a hollow space within me. I always thought it was because my parents died earlier than I can even remember, slaughtered by the one who gave me a lighting-shaped scar. Even though with Sirius there to give me advice, I always felt empty. Like I was incomplete. Kind of melodramatic I know, but it's true. Atleast I think it is. Or was most probably.

Draco is my enemy. Was my enemy. Ron is my bestfriend. Now I'm not sure anymore.

He loved me, like he said. With all his heart, I'm sure..

But no matter how much I try to make him feel better, it will never make Ron happy. We can never be lovers. Never become soul mates. That reality is hard to face for the likes of him.

He's my bestfriend. I love him. As a friend and not anything else other than that. There are boundaries between friendship and love. A fine line between this and that. Ron is my bestfriend. That's that. Period.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~

"Stop….Harry… someone…might see …us.." Draco was panting as soon as the two pulled away from their kiss.

Harry closed his eyes for several seconds and sighed. "Ron will not die.."

"Harry, trust me, he wouldn't.." Draco said, carelessly shrugging off Harry's arms.

They were all alone in a corridor, left to the infirmary. And it had been exactly 3 minutes since they have gotten out of the Hospital Wing.

"Harry!"

" 'Arry!"

Hermione, Seamus, Dean and Neville were running towards them. Draco stepped away from Harry, winking before he turned to his heel and walked away. "Ciao, Potter!" He said in a half-purr. Harry chortled.

"Did you see Ron?" "Was he okay?" "I knew this was a bad idea, Snape will get us!" "Oh, come off it, Nev! So Harry, is Ron okay?" "I am so worried, Harry. What do you reckon will happen?" Harry's friends crowded him. They were talking at the same time, which made it difficult to understand them. Harry pushed his way passed them and raised his arms in dismissal. "Guys, guys…!" His voice softened. "I .. Don't know what will happen.. To—Ron." Hermione walked over to him and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder before pursuing in a hug.

Hermione was shaking and so was Harry.

"Is he going to die?"

"No, he isn't."

"Harry, I'm afraid.."

"It's all my fault, Herm.."

"No, it isn't. Harry don't say that."

"He's not going to die."

"Harry…"

A fine line between this and that….

Draco~* [6]

Ta Graam Dut? What the hell did that mean? Did I even get it right? I don't care actually. Harry is such a …

Harry.. Hmm.. Sometimes I couldn't believe I actually would fall for him.

Funny, I lost my virginity tonight. I lost it to Harry. Hehe..

I don't know whether or not I love him or anything. Probably attraction or lust, something or other. I don't know. But have you ever felt so happy, you can just break into a song and dance number and walk through walls or something insane like that? Actually I do right now. Add up flying in air. I feel so mushy, pathetic much? But it's true…

But..

If I ever get this emotion right, I think I'm in love with Harry.

So this is how it feels after all.. Wow and I thought it'd be painful…

Poor Weasley though.

I feel kind of sorry for him.

And I dunno? Guilty?

I guess it was my fault, not Harry's that he stabbed himself and got all suicidal.

Better tell him that first thing tomorrow..

~~~~

Draco walked into his dorm, feeling a little over-excited he could just skip like a schoolgirl. Everyone gave him weird looks, since he was smiling ever so broadly, that was so un-him.

"Hi. Pansy!"

Pansy stared at him and Draco smiled..

A piece of parchment was lying on his bed, crumpled and albeit torn.

Draco eyed the parchment curiously and grabbed it with shaking hands.

"Fuck.."

lus

TBC….

[1] Tuigim, Sin e- Irish for "Okay..I understand—Just that?"

[2] How tacky, cat and mouse—Hehe!

[3] Any other nice word for butt?

[4] This fic is getting sappy and corny

[5] Ta Gra Agam Duit— Irish, for something.. Can you guess.. I won't say anything.. Evil ain't I?

[6] Schoolgirl—yah,yah corny..

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