Part One: September

Chapter 3A

The Sorting Ceremony

"Draco, there you are," a smooth masculine voice murmured against Draco's ear as he was reaching up to get down his trunk.

Draco forced a small smile on his face and turned to see Blaise Zabini standing there, a genuine smile on his face.

Blaise was the only person Draco could truly call a friend, and while he would never tell Blaise about what had happened this summer, he was glad Blaise was there.

Blaise Zabini was different from the other Slytherins. He was smart, easy-going compassionate and not afraid to make friends with people from all houses. Draco figured the only reason Blaise was in Slytherin, was because of his ambition to be noticed for his full potential, and not fade into the shadows of his illustrious family.

Draco had often thought that Blaise was not so different from Ron. Both were the youngest of many brothers. Both had high familial standards to live up to. Both were incredibly gorgeous. The biggest difference between them, in Draco's opinion, was that Ron was satisfied with just being himself, and Blaise wanted to stand apart from the crowd. And Draco could never love Blaise like he loved Ron. Blaise was like a brother to him, while Ron was his dream.

"Hi Blaise. How was your summer?" Draco asked quietly.

"Oh, you know, the same old story. Being ignored because older brother Noah came home from Auror College with the highest marks in his class. But, they were proud of me for making Head Boy. I am actually the first Head Boy in the family. Just as I was the first Slytherin, and the first to be friends with people from every house at Hogwarts." Blaise rambled as he helped Draco get his trunk down and arrange them for transport to Hogwarts. "Have you ever noticed that people don't know exactly how everything makes from the train to our dorms? Why is that do you suppose?"

Draco shrugged and followed Blaise to the carriages, where they bumped into the illustrious duo of Crabbe and Goyle. Draco could barely repress his shudder of revulsion as Crabbe's meaty hand fell heavily upon his shoulder.

"Where have you been, Draco?" he growled.

"Oh, I just needed some time alone. To think." Draco replied, trying not to let his fear show. He knew that his father had employed Crabbe and Goyle to keep an eye on him, and didn't want to let on that he knew.

Crabbe grunted and motioned for Draco to precede him into the carriage. Draco did, settling himself into one corner and trying to make himself as small and unnoticeable as possible. Blaise entered after Draco and settled himself beside the small blonde. The ride to Hogwarts Castle was spent in silence.

Once the foursome entered the castle, Draco felt himself suddenly breathing easier. When, he wondered, had Hogwarts become such a safe haven for him? Draco looked around, straining his eyes for the trademark flash of fire that would lead him to Ron. There he was. At the Gryffindor table, surrounded by laughing friends. I wish I were there. I would press my lips against his neck, and then snuggle close so Ron could keep me safe.

"Draco, you ok? You're staring at the Gryffindors like they're the only ones here," Blaise said, lightly nudging Draco to get him moving toward the Slytherin table.

Draco started and then scolded himself for being so obvious. He shook off the slight pain that came when Blaise had nudged him and sat down at the Slytherin table, scowling when Crabbe and Goyle settled themselves on either side of him before Blaise could take his seat.

The sorting ceremony went fairly quickly, and Slytherin ended up with 12 new students, seven boys and five girls. The new first years, beaming with pride, took their seats among their housemates among cheers and whistles.

Draco tried to join in, but his claps were only half hearted. He kept wondering if he had ever been as innocent as these new Slytherins looked. Somehow, he thought not.

Chapter 3B

The Gryffindor Common Room

Hermione, as Head Girl, led the 15 new Gryffindors up to the tower, and gave the password to the Fat Lady. "Unicorn horn," she said and the portrait. "Ladies, follow me, gentleman follow Harry and he will take you to your dorms," Hermione said briskly, ushering the seven small girls up the staircase leading to the girl's dormitory.

Harry, chuckling at Hermione's manner, said loudly enough for her to hear, "Don't mind Hermione, kiddies, she's just nervous on her first day as Head Girl. Let's all gave her a hand for being such a Perfect Prefect!"

Hermione glared at Harry as Ron, Neville, Seamus and a handful of other upper class Gryffindor's laughed. "Boys," she muttered as she stalked out of view up the stairs.

Harry kissed Ginny quickly on the nose and said, "I'll come back down when I get these blokes settled."

Ginny nodded and settled herself into a comfy chair by the fire. Her best friend, Colin Creevey, sat in the chair next to her, and they began to catch up after a summer of little correspondence. Colin had been to a Muggle Photography school, and thusly couldn't receive owls.

Seamus and Dean, having openly become a couple at the end of fifth year, settled together on the couch and were soon whispering sweet nothings in each other's ear. Lavender and Parvati, tanned and beautiful after a summer in the French Rivera, sat with a group of sixth and fifth years, giggling over the pictures of the handsome boys they had met on the summer.

Ron and Neville, finding themselves quite at loose ends as to what to do, decided to brush up on their Chess skills and were soon wrapped up in a brutal game. Ron was quite pleased to find out that Neville had been practicing over the summer, and was a very good opponent.

Ron smiled and made his next move. "It's great to have a worthy opponent. Hermione and Harry are quite hopeless at the game."

Neville smiled shyly even as he captured Ron's bishop with his knight. Ron winced as his bishop was dragged off the board and mercilessly beaten. "Ouch, that one hurt," Ron said, as he pondered his next move.

When Harry and Hermione came down the stairs 45 minutes later, they were shocked to see that for the first time in six years, Ron was in trouble of losing at chess. They watched silently as Neville moved his Knight and declared softly, "Check mate."

Ron stared at the board, then at Neville and then back at the board. Hermione held her breath, waiting for the explosion…that never came. Instead Ron shouted, "Brilliant, Neville! Simply brilliant! It's wonderful to have an opponent who can hold his own against me!" Ron glanced at Harry and Hermione and blushed. "No offense or anything."

"None taken, mate. We know we suck, don't we Hermione." Hermione agreed.

"Well, I am for bed. Same time tomorrow, Nev?" Ron asked.

Neville smiled brightly and said, "Sure thing Ron. Goodnight."

Ron retreated to the seventh year dorm, leaving only couples in the common room. He really didn't need to see that. It would only remind him how lonely he had been feeling lately.

As he lay in bed several minutes later, Ron tried to banish thoughts of Trent from his mind. Ever since he had returned to Hogwarts, he couldn't stop the memories from assaulting him.

He remembered the first time he had kissed Trent, right in the Great Hall in the middle of the night. He remembered holding Trent in his arms, hot flesh sliding against hot flesh. He remembered the feeling of silky lips against his skin, the all-consuming pleasure of burying himself deeply inside his lover.

But he also remembered Trent's jealous accusations. He rembered Trent's stifling, obsessive possessiveness of Ron's time and attention. And most of all, he remembered the vicious fight that had ended his relationship with Trent for good.

Rolling over, Ron banished thoughts of Trent from his mind the relationship had been cold in it's grave for a year, and Trent was thousands of miles away in America.

Ron closed his eyes and tried to fall asleep. Instead his thoughts turned to a certain blonde Slytherin. Ron pictured Draco lying naked in his bed, arms flung carelessly above his head, his slight form just begging to be covered by Ron's larger one. Ron would kneel on the bed and lean down to gently capture his lover's mouth with his own. He would slowly trace Draco's pouty mouth with his tongue, asking shyly for entrance. Draco would open his lips and their tongues would duel. Ron would then cover Draco's body with his own, savoring the feel of Draco's silky skin against his own, and Draco's long, silky legs wrapped around him. Then Ron would look deep into Draco's eyes as he slowly buried…

Ron groaned and rolled over, cursing himself as felt the sticky wetness against his pajama bottoms. He performed a quick cleansing charm and then forced himself to fall asleep. But he dreamt of Draco's soft lips and willing form beneath him.

Chapter 3B

Classes Begin

Draco awoke with a scream on his lips and just barely kept it inside. He quietly slipped from his bed, and headed for the seventh year's bathroom. He took a long shower and tried to wash away the remnants of the dream that had awoken him.

Back in the dorm room he shared with Crabbe and Goyle, he dressed quickly and then made his way to the Slytherin Common Room. He settled himself in front of the fire and shivered against the chills that always drifted through the dungeons, and waited for dawn to break.

Several hours later, Draco was sitting at the Slytherin table in the Great Hall, picking at his breakfast and studying his timetable. He smiled internally when he noticed that the Slytherins had four classes with the Gryffindors this year: Double Potions, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Care of Magical Creatures, and a new class called Practical Aspects of Self-Defense. That meant he had a class with Ron every day of the week, since potions was held on Monday and Friday, DADA on Tuesday, CoMC on Wednesday and PAoSD on Thursday. Draco cheered internally.

After breakfast, the first class of the day was Double Potions, so Draco, Blaise, Crabbe and Goyle. Draco was hurrying so quickly that he didn't notice the large redhead in his path until he painfully bounced off something hard and hit the floor.

Draco was too stunned at first to do anything, but Crabbe and Goyle weren't so slow. They approached Ron menacingly, and Crabbe growled, "Watch it Weasley!"

Ron glared at Crabbe and didn't back down. "Ferret boy bumped into me," he said clearly, missing the look of hurt that flashed in Draco's eyes for a moment, before becoming blank.

Blaise helped Draco to his feet and Draco stared at Ron. Wow, he's even more attractive than he was in June. How can one boy be so perfect?

"What are you looking at, Ferret Boy?" Ron asked meanly.

"Just your shabby robes, Weasel. Can't you father afford to clothe you in anything other than hand-me-downs. He is the Minister of Magic after all." Draco said past the lump in his throat. He hated being such a bastard, but appearance had to be kept up, if he wanted to stay alive that is.

Ron was about to make a reply when Harry and Hermione dragged him off, Harry saying, "Cool off Ron. He's not worth it," with a glare in Draco's direction.

Draco stared after the trio in sadness. Harry was right, he thought, he wasn't worth it.

Author's Notes: Poor, poor Draco. He really needs his Ronniekins, doesn't he? Soon, I promise you soon. So, what did you think of Ron's fantasy? I, for one, liked it. So, please review, and I will update sooner rather than later. Although, I need to work on Two Lives tomorrow. But, this fic is growing on me too, so it's a hard decision. Well, please write me a little love note and I will give you all cookies. Next chapter: more Ron/Draco interaction, Snape makes an appearance, and we find out what Voldemort is up too. Love to you all! Good-night.