Chapter 12- The Slytherin Cloak

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England lost!!! I am inconsolable. Damn those Brazilians (Sorry if you are from Brazil I am just a little annoyed at the moment!) Paul Scholes better watch out because I think I am planning a trip to England to seek him out and …. You get the picture! Oh the number of people who are accusing Harry of having sexual relations with Choin my story…hehehe, little Harry is all grown up! Anyway… isn't it great to be back on FF.net?! I have had this chapter written for a while but I haven't been able to post it. Never mind it is here now. No one picked up my monty python quote! It was:

Talking to yourself is the first sign of madness."

"Really? I thought talking to you was!"

Oh well! This chapter is pretty short and nothing really much happens so I'm sorry…I promise next chapter will be Christmas Eve and lots of things will happen. Oops, I think I have stuck my neck out a bit here!

'-'=thoughts

Disclaimer: I wish I had millions of dollars…see if I was JK I wouldn't have to wish for that sort of thing!

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***

Ron yawned and rolled over landing with a crash on the floor.

'Huh?' he thought blearily then he realised he was in the hospital wing and the beds here were single compared to his double up in the Gryffindor dormitories. He rubbed the shoulder he had landed on wincing a little as he touched the area that had knocked into the bedside cabinet as he fell. He sat up shivering a little at the cold and looked around for his cloak. He couldn't see it but as he rose he saw there were two cloaks neatly folded at the end of Hermione's bed, the smaller one was obviously hers and the other one must be his. As he swirled the cloak over his shoulders he wondered why she was still asleep. Usually she was a very light sleeper and she always got up earlier then anyone in Gryffindor but even after his somewhat unorthodox way of getting out of bed she hadn't awoken. He put her tiredness down to all the time she was spending in the hospital wing and the worry over Harry; he was tired himself after all. Ron walked over to Harry and looked down at him.

"Hey Harry?" he said gruffly giving him a shove. To his immense relief Harry rolled over and stared at him. "you're awake!" Ron exclaimed overjoyed. To his surprise Harry glared at him and rolled back over to face the other way.

"Hey!" Ron walked around so Harry couldn't help but look at him. "What's wrong with you? A simple hello wouldn't kill you."

"I have nothing to say to a Slytherin." Harry said calmly.

Ron became really worried, had Harry lost his mind? "Don't be stupid I'm Ron, you know, fellow Gryffindor?!"

Harry's eyes rose to Ron's face.

"Ron it's you!"

Ron rolled his eyes "well done Harry, did you figure that out all by yourself?" he said sarcastically.

Harry ignored the tone of his voice and instead stared at him confusedly.

"What are you wearing?" he asked, shocked.

Ron rolled his eyes, "you know my pyjamas are a little short on me but its not as if you haven't seen them before…"

Harry cut him off, "no not your pj's I mean your cloak."

"What's wrong with it?" Ron asked panicky, "if I've ripped another one mum is going to kill me…"

"It's a Slytherin cloak!" Harry yelled incredulously.

"Don't be stupid Harry." Ron scoffed, "I think that fall you took must have scrambled your brains or something."

"Just look at it!" Harry insisted

Rolling his eyes Ron lifted the left hand side and looked at the badge. His eyes widened, his face went white and in one quick movement he pulled it off and dumped it on the floor.

"IT'S A SLYTHERIN CLOAK!" he yelled astonished.

"That's what I've been trying to tell you." Harry chuckled, "have you been having secret liaisons with a Slytherin, Ron?" he continued.

Ron's temper flared up again before he could stop it.

"Out of the three of us I think I am the only one not guilty of secret liaisons." He snapped.

Harry closed his mouth quickly and they heard a gasp from Hermione's bed.

"You're awake then." Ron said grimly looking over at her. "Care to explain why there was a Slytherin cloak at the end of your bed?" no answer, "should I look at the name? Though I do have a sneaky suspicion whose cloak this might be." Picking it up like it was sewerage Ron looked at the inside of the collar. D. Malfoy. "Hmm what a surprise" He said his voice dripping with sarcasm.

"Give it back." Said Hermione in a calm voice.

Ron lifted his eyebrows at her.

"I think not." He said quietly, "I'll give the cloak back to that slime ball and you stay and look after Harry. Coincidentally it wasn't a swap was it? A Gryffindor cloak for a Slytherin one because I can't find mine."

"It's under your bed." Hermione said crossly.

Ron had the grace to blush slightly and crossing the room he lifted the creased fabric up and put it on. "Well I'm off, I'll be back soon. Try and see if you can talk some sense into her." He added to Harry in a low voice as he left.

Harry nodded.

***

Arriving down in the great hall Ron realised it must be very early as no one was down there yet. He sat down on the bottom step and waited for Malfoy to appear. He didn't have to linger for very long as after only a few minutes the Slytherin swaggered down the stairs towards him with Pansy and Crabbe on one side and Goyle on the other.

"Well, well, well if it isn't little Ronnekins, what's the matter? Lost your little fri…"

Ron stood up and grabbed him by the front of his robes.

"Come here!" he roared and dragged him outside with the three other Slytherins following curiously behind. Ron stopped on the threshold of the castle where the ground was all mushy and muddy from all the feet that had trampled over the snow. He took the cloak from under his arm and laid it carefully over the puddle. Then, looking right into Malfoy's eyes, he stamped on it and kept on treading on it until the garment was ripped, muddy and beyond repair. Malfoy watched him stonily his eyes as hard as ice chips. Finally Ron's temper seemed to cool and he stopped, breathing heavily and sweating slightly.

"Finished?" Malfoy asked quietly. There was no hint of anger in his voice, there was no emotion whatsoever, and Ron glared at him, infuriated by his lack of feeling.

"Not quite." He answered grabbing Draco once more by the arm and shoving him down next to his ruined cloak in the freezing mud. There was a stunned silence for a few moments then, suddenly, Pansy threw herself at Ron in a frenzy scratching and lashing out at him with her manicured nails. Ron caught her wrists swiftly and brought them together gently so as not to hurt her. Draco noticed that while Ron couldn't care less about hurting him or his henchmen he wouldn't hurt a girl no matter how unladylike she seemed. With her arms immobile Pansy spat at him and Ron, surprised, quickly scooped her up and dumped her down beside Draco. Crabbe and Goyle swung into action and with a few well placed hits Ron knocked them both down as well, Crabbe with a bleeding nose and Goyle nursing a bruised stomach. Ron smiled down at the four defeated Slytherins.

"And on that note." He said tipping an imaginary hat, "I bid you a good morning." He marched away and even though he was still wearing his pyjamas and a crumbled robe Ron looked as noble a Gryffindor as ever.

***

Back in his dormitory Draco seethed with anger. Why had Hermione given Ron his cloak? Was she too scared to see him in case she lost control again? Draco smiled at that idea and for a brief moment relived the previous night before his rage overtook him again. Last night he was positive he would be able to tell Voldemort that he had the mudblood under control but now? He wasn't so sure…he would bet his family's fortunes on Hermione avoiding him as much as possible from now on. 'But,' he thought, 'this could be counted as a good thing. She doesn't trust herself around me, I must be cracking the ice.' "Then will you leave me alone?!" he shouted suddenly into the empty room. "If I give you the mudblood then will you stop pestering me about joining you? Will you leave me alone to live my life the way I choose?" suddenly a coldness filled the room and Draco froze, his eyes darting this way and that looking for the presence that he knew had entered.

"Yes." A smooth voice echoed around the room shaking Draco to his very core.

***

When Ron returned to the hospital wing he saw Hermione sitting on Harry's bed and the two of them conversing in soft tones.

"You have to tell him 'Mione," Harry was saying earnestly, "he's going to find out sooner or later."

"How?" Hermione asked desperately.

"Come on. We're best friends I'm can't keeping anything from him just like you can't. He knows something happened last night anyway."

"Yes but…" Hermione bit her lip worriedly, "do you know he told me once that he would kill anyone who hurt either of us?"

Harry nodded resignedly "I didn't know he had told you that but it stands to reason. I'm the same."

Hermione looked shocked, "What? You can't be serious! Neither of you would kill someone! What is with this whole macho rubbish? If someone did something to either of you I would make sure they would get punished but there's no way…" she broke off as she noticed Ron in the doorway.

"So, something to tell me 'Mione?" Ron asked settling himself down next to her on Harry's bed.

"Yes." She said determinedly, she took a deep breath then said hurriedly: "IkissedMalfoylastnightbutitmeantnothingandIstillhatehimandeverythingsopleasedon'tdoanything."

Ron surprised his friends by grinning. "I sort of guessed something like that had happened. Just make sure it doesn't happen again, alright? Now, whose for a game of chess?" he kept smiling but his teeth were clenched tightly and inside he was boiling with rage. Hermione, relieved ran to fetch the board and pieces and while her back was turned Ron mouthed at Harry:

"He's gone too far this time."

Harry nodded and mouthed back:

"We'll talk later."

'Yes we'll talk.' Ron thought as a genuine smile came to his lips, 'but there will be no peace treaty. We'll be a council of war.'

***

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Hmm…okay! This chapter is bad, I know it, you know it, let's move on! I am on 10 favourites lists! Wow (*jumps around screaming*) that is so cool! My thankyous are as follows:

Lil' dudette: Yes, sickeningly sweet! Pansy is evil I have a total thing against her, not quite sure why…yes I do know it is slightly insane to harbour hatred for a literary character! Interesting idea… Harry has too much fame, kill him! Your favourite pairings are the same as mine except I like Ron/Hermione too. Thankyou for constantly reviewing so nicely.

Sailor Earth: I am trying to keep them in character and thankyou for saying I am mostly doing alright. A lot of people include me but I believe I am learning from my previous mistakes. Thankyou for saying it is really good and for reviewing!

Dracocrazy: Wow that is so nice of you to say. You don't have to read to the end…if it becomes worse then it already is feel free to stop. I'll miss you though! Thankyou for reassuring me about the Italian. I wasn't sure if it was at all relevant. I decided that it wasn't but that I liked it anyway! Thankyou for reviewing!

Daisy: I am really sorry but it is going to be a Draco/Hermione and even I couldn't change it now even if I wanted to! I guess it sucks that I am losing your respect but the story Gods are controlling me now! Thankyou for your opinion anyway.

Lindsay: Draco and Hermione are going to get together….eventually! Thankyou so much for saying you love my story that is so sweet of you. You are on my email list so thankyou very, very much and expect to hear from me soon!

Aneonieeeeeeeeeee: I will certainly continue it…I don't know about soon but look out for it! with manners like yours how could I refuse? Thankyou so much for reviewing!

Xlkflsjgn: Nice! Short but sweet! Thankyou for saying so!

Vixen: Okay sorry about Ron's line. I meant Gryffindor because they are the lions. I know the line was all wrong but I was sick of simply writing Gryffindor all the time. I guess it didn't work and I apologise again. I was going for Ireland too and I think they did very well considering they didn't have Roy Keane. No offence if you like Roy but I think it was good of the team to get rid of him because he was so negative about their abilities. Anyway… You should study! I have mid-years coming up soon (the Australian school year starts in February) and I spend too much time on FF.net not studying! I have a drama written exam coming up too, and like you I'm not too worried about it. I will certainly keep them coming and thankyou very much for your review.

Couch-potato: Thankyou so much for saying you love it! it is so great of you to say so. Original? Gee thanks again, I sometimes worry that my story is same old, same old! The Italian bit I wasn't sure about so I am now reassured, I will keep writing thankyou for reviewing!

Stephanie: Oh shucks, I wouldn't go that far! I hope this story will be better because I am learning from my many mistakes, yay my idea was original? Fantastic! I love my stories to be a touch different though, unfortunately, I still manage to make them way too predictable! I totally agree with you on the whole Hermione over sensitive thing. I hate her in my stories, she is too weak! I am trying and hopefully she will stand up for herself a bit more. Sorry, I know she is bad right now. Anyway thankyou so much for reviewing.

Moonbeam: I know what you mean about my Draco and the Draco in the book being different. I read them the other day and I was like: "wow this guy is so mean why would Hermione even look at him?" but like you I separate them when I'm writing. I like to think that the difference in the characters is because in my story Draco is older and more mature! I think I have already said this somewhere but I was originally going to have Harry and Cho getting it off in the forest but a new idea sprung to mind, not to mention a) I don't see it in his character (oh so now I try to keep them in character!) and b) I thought it was too predictable as some people had guessed it! (like you!) Well if FF.net hadn't been down I would've had this up sooner. Thankyou so much for reviewing and you are on my email update list.

Rina: Yes, yes, nevermind little Harry will be fine. I am 16. Shocked?! I know I write like someone a lot younger but I'm not that good as a writer. It was so nice of you to say this story is great, it means a lot to me! Thanks for reviewing!

Harriet Vane: Oh but you are! I love your story so much. You have managed to keep Draco in character and it is so clever and original! It was great of you to email the story to me and I loved it by the way. Yes, I don't think git is an Italian word either but I just thought I'd slip it in! I totally agree with Draco getting too goopy. I am thinking of re-writing some of my chapters, I have already done so with the prologue. It's pretty stupid because I hate stories where he is suddenly all nice and then I go ahead and write one! I can only really imagine Harry with Ginny but usually I don't think of him at all! Were you devastated when England got knocked out? I snapped at everyone for a while but then I realised that they got very far considering they were in the 'group of death'. Thanks again and keep going with your fantastic story.

SingingVeela: Wow so many nice things in one review. I can feel my head swelling! Amazing writer is going a little far I think but it was so wonderful of you to say. Thankyou again and I will keep writing, never fear!

Blue Moon: Thankyou so much for your review. I totally agree with you!

Super cindy: I live to entertain! I certainly hope you won't get too bored. Hey, pity me. I have exams soon! JK would be shocked that people guessed Harry was having sex with Cho, oh well what the mind doesn't know the heart doesn't grieve after. Thankyou for your review and if you go to my favourite authors/stories I'm sure you'll find some stories to get you through the holidays.

Rebecca: Oh no, I'm going to have a hoard of teachers battering down my door accusing me of distracting you from your homework! It is nice to know that my story is more entertaining then a history essay! I love the PB too! (hmm a bit obvious huh?!) I might put some more quotes in soon, approve?! Thankyou so much for reviewing!

Lynn: Oh don't be at a loss for words! I like words a lot! Thankyou so much for reviewing with your fantastic comments. There will be plenty of making out soon so look out for it…in fact I think there may be some next chapter. (shouldn't have told you that!) I doubt it will take me anywhere though thankyou so saying so.

Cassandra Malfoy: Hmm, I wonder what that certain thing is?! Perhaps it is the appearance of a certain sexy Slytherin?! I will certainly look out for your story and I will also check out your 2 favourites. Thankyou so much for reviewing with your comments.

Well I think that is everybody! I have re-written my prologue and over the course of the next month or so I will be evaluating each chapter and making them (hopefully) a little better. Anyway…thankyou so much to everybody for readign and please take the time to review…you know I love 'em!

Smiles,

Jess/Star123