"Minerva? May I see you for a moment?"
Professor McGonagall dutifully stepped into the headmaster's office as he held the door for her. "Albus. You look a little better today."
"I am, dear. I am. I'm wondering if you might let Harry out of your class for the day."
She raised her eyebrows archly. "I might. Is there a reason why I should? Or more of this nonsense with the Weasley boy?"
Dumbledore peered at her over his glasses, his eyes twinkling.
She sighed. "I'll never understand you, Albus."
"You should if you want to take over for me someday."
She frowned even more sternly.
He chuckled. "You have to understand that for someone like Harry, simply surviving to the end of school is not enough. He needs to thrive if he's going to make it through all the troubles he'll be going through. He needs support. And, as unlikely as it might seem, I think Ron Weasley is the best possible support he could have. He's proven himself as loyal and brave, and, more to the point, the lads are friends."
"I know. You've said this before when you first brought up this situation."
Dumbledore nodded. "It's more important than you realize. It's important for Ron to have his loyalties cemented. I've allowed Draco Malfoy to insert his influence, and it had the results I'd predicted. Now Ron's future, and perhaps Harry's as well, completely depends on what he decides to do in these next few days."
"And I suppose you'd like Harry to have time to go and influence that decision."
"For Harry's sake, I'd like to give him the chance."
McGonagall smiled finally and nodded. "I'll excuse him for today. I will tell you, though, that it's a good thing these boys have Miss Granger. They'll need her help to make up all the lessons they're missing through all this."
Dumbledore smiled back with his usual cheer. "It's probably the least of their worries right now."
***
McGonagall waited until the others had filed into the classroom before holding a hand out to stop Harry.
She had to admit looking at him that Dumbledore seemed right. If there was nothing but Weasley's absence to bother him, he was bothered rather a lot. He looked like he was missing sleep, and even being pulled aside by McGonagall didn't bring much reaction.
She smiled at him affectionately. "Harry. You are dismissed from class today. Please return to your dormitory."
Harry looked up at her with his serious eyes. "What's going on?"
"You're not in trouble. But I think you may have a visitor."
Harry frowned but nodded. "Thank you, Professor McGonagall."
It was a sign of how distressed he was that he asked no more questions than that.
She watched him go and shook her head with a sigh. If Dumbledore was right about those two boys, then she prayed Ron Weasley make the right decision.
***
Ron was glad to sneak back in when everyone was in class. He didn't spot a single student from the secret entrance Fred and George had shown them last year to the picture guarding Gryffindor's dorms.
The Fat Lady in the picture did give a little smile of recognition, though, as she asked for the password.
The dorms were quiet, and Ron went in and sat on his bed.
Nothing changed. He wasn't sure why he felt like things would be different, but they weren't.
So, he was back there. In time to go to lunch, too. Which would probably be the most brave thing he would ever do, even considering chess games and all.
He heard footsteps echo through the quiet of the empty dorm, and he looked to the door to see Harry coming in.
He stood up, surprised.
Harry saw him and a smile crept up instantly. "Ron! You…" The smile faded. "Oh. Are you here to…I mean, your things…?"
Ron shook his head. "I'm not going. It was a stupid idea, anyway."
The smile returned. "I…oh."
And Harry seemed so sincerely relieved that Ron smiled faintly. "Well. Did I miss anything?"
"Nothing good." Harry went over and sat down beside him, grinning happily. "Things are boring without you here, you know that?"
Ron laughed softly. "I'd say it was probably the other way around. How did you get out of McGonagall's class?"
"She told me to go. Strangest thing. She said I'd have a visitor."
"Did she mean me?"
"I guess so." Harry thought about that. "Strange that she'd do that. I wonder if you're going to hear even a word from the teachers about missing the last couple of days."
"I don't think so. Hagrid said Dumbledore knew where I was the whole time." Ron shrugged. "I think he's known about everything. Couldn't tell you what he thinks about it all, though."
Harry hesitated, then threw caution to the wind. Seeing Ron there and almost smiling and back where he belonged made something in his chest sort of skip, and he threw his arms around his friend and hugged him tight. "I'm glad you're back," he said sincerely.
Ron hugged him back after a frozen moment. "I think I am too. I'll let you know after lunch today."
Harry pulled back at that, and his tender affections faded into grimness instantly. "Whatever happens, Ron, we're there with you. Whatever that…whatever Malfoy pulls…"
Ron grimaced. "I'm trying to expect everything. I know he'll do something I can't even think of, though. I hope…I mean…I know…" He sighed. "I know you think it's…he really got to me, Harry. For a while there I really genuinely thought…" Frustrated, he shook his head. "I guess it doesn't matter now, does it?"
"Just…we'll deal with it, Ron. Whatever you need, I'm here for. All you have to do is make sure Malfoy doesn't see what he's done to you."
Ron shook his head, and the set of his mouth was grim. "No, Harry. What I have to do is show Draco exactly what he's done to me."
He opened a drawer beside his bed then, and pulled out a hunk of dark cloth frayed around the edges.
His old robe. Harry recognized it easily.
Ron held it out, studying it, and something was glimmering in his eyes.
Harry frowned. There was obviously some idea going through Ron's head. But Harry didn't ask -- this sort of problem was too personal, he thought, to talk about so fast. He wasn't entirely certain of his own feelings about it, honestly. About Ron admitting he had fallen in love with Draco Malfoy.
He knew he would be there, though. And if he could help Ron, he would without any hesitation at all.
***
Draco sneered the minute he caught sight of red hair moving through the students to the Gryffindor table.
Ron was back.
He sat there and ignored his friends, who hadn't noticed yet, and watched Ron.
He was being led by Potter, who was smiling nervously and watchfully around them. And once they got to the table Gryffindors started popping out of their seats to welcome him back.
Disgusting.
Draco saw Ron smile, but he knew. He could read Ron's expressions by then. Become quite good at it, actually. And he could tell that Ron wasn't enjoying the return. His eyes were dull and lifeless, and his smile was forced.
Oh, yes. He was hurting.
Draco smiled to himself. He debated saying something to draw his table's attention to the Weasel, but he thought maybe he'd save it for when the meal was started and everyone was seated and stuffing their mouths full of food.
***
Ron sat down beside the grinning faces of Hermione and Ginny. Further down the table, Fred and George shot him smiles with questions underneath. They'd be bothering him for the story later, he could tell. And further down than them, Percy nodded at him, eyebrows raised.
At least Ginny wasn't pestering him yet. She was beaming and silent, shooting looks at Hermione over his shoulder.
Harry sat across from him, smiling but tense. Ready for some kind of fight.
Ron was a little too tired to be tensed up for battle. Besides, he knew it was coming, and it wouldn't be in some way he could stop with a fist. Draco was too clever for that.
He swallowed and resisted the urge to turn and look at Slytherin's table.
Dumbeldore silenced them all with his usual short little speech, and the meal began.
Ron had been for almost two days in Hagrid's house, where the cooking was interesting but never very good. Still, though he hadn't had a bite that whole time, he just wasn't very hungry. His stomach sort of flipped around at the sight of all the food.
To avoid any more stares than he was already getting he filled up his plate. He then set to work chopping and cutting and moving around and hopefully making them think he was actually eating some of it.
From Harry's frown it was clear he saw right through Ron, but at least Harry wouldn't say anything right there about it.
"So where 'ave you been, Ron?" Seamus Finnegan started the talks loudly from a few seats down from Ron.
All eyes went to Ron in curiosity.
Ron just shrugged, looking down at his plate. "Had some things to do."
"Things? What things?" Fred spoke up loudly.
Ron shot him a look. "Things."
Fred and George instantly exchanged glances, and George said something quietly.
Fred left Ron alone after that, but Ron dreaded the interrogation he knew he'd be getting later.
Conversations slowly and reluctantly started around him as the others at the table realized he wasn't going to say any more than that.
Harry stayed quiet himself, watchful, eating mechanically as he darted eyes again and again to Slytherin's table behind Ron.
Ron didn't look back.
***
Draco stood up.
The lunch was just about over. Some students had already left. And he wanted to make sure Ron didn't get away without even a hello.
That would be rude.
So he stood, and nodded for Crabbe and Goyle to follow. "You two don't say a word. We're going to have a little fun."
They nodded, eyes already eager.
"Just laugh when I do," Draco instructed. He smiled to himself. "And remember how I told you to lay off bothering Weasley?"
Another matching nod from both heads.
Draco smirked. "Forget I ever said it."
They started towards Gryffindor's table, and Draco debated all the while. Should he say something? Something that would let everyone know hat he thought of him? Or make it more personal? Something between the two of them.
Yeah. That was more like it.
Start subtly.
So when he got to the table he moved to the far side of it, so that Ron would have no choice but to see him. He gestured for Crabbe and Goyle to go on the other side, behind Ron.
Potter was on the alert, glaring at him fiercely as if he could stop them in their tracks with his mind.
Draco transformed his expression as he approached. He widened his eyes and dropped the sneer, painting a hopeful little smile in its place. He tried to look apologetic and sad as he smiled.
He probably pulled it of, too. He'd know in a minute.
Ron looked up finally when he caught sight of movement. He saw Draco there.
Draco bit at his lip, smiling apologetically.
Ron smiled back automatically, a dim light appearing in his dull eyes.
Draco burst into harsh laughter, and on the other side off the table Crabbe and Goyle echoed it raucously.
Ron's eyes dropped instantly, and Draco couldn't see his face.
As they past, Crabbe pushed at Ron's head and Goyle bumped him with his knee, making his face snap up.
Draco saw the flash of pain, the miserable look in his eyes.
He kept laughing, satisfied, and continued out the door.
***
Harry shot out of his chair, furious, but hesitated. He looked back at Ron, whose face was bowed enough to be hidden, and he sat down again slowly. "Hey. Want to go?"
Ron didn't answer for a minute. When he looked up, his expression was clear and almost blank. His lips were pressed tight together. He nodded.
Harry felt eyes on his back as he and Ron left the dining room.
***
Fred and George were angry.
Harry was sitting by himself in the common room when they came in. He had left Ron upstairs, sitting on his bed and lost somewhere in his own thoughts.
"What is going on, Harry?" The twins sat on either side of him, looking ready for a fight. "What was that about at lunch today?"
Harry sighed, glancing back towards the stairs that led to the dorms. "I can't really say anything."
Fred stood up instantly and started pacing around.
George stayed right where he was. "Come off it, Harry. He's our brother. He isn't telling us why he went missing for a couple of days, and now he's acting all different. And Draco Malfoy's coming around to laugh at him for no reason at all. What is going on?"
"I can't tell you," Harry said again. "I'm sorry, but it's his secret."
"It's about Malfoy, though, isn't it? Everything. Ever since he started making nice to that little worm we knew something bad was going to happen."
Harry grimaced. Everyone knew. Everyone but Ron. "I'll talk to him. Maybe I can get him to tell you."
Fred blew out an explosive breath, angry. "Fine. Talk to him. We're his brothers, you know? We can mess around with him all we like, but we love him. Someone else starts bothering him and we'll put a stop to it fast. Make sure he knows that, huh?"
Harry nodded.
"And…" He stopped suddenly and went back to the seat beside Harry, throwing himself down. "Whether he tells us or not, if Malfoy comes near him again we're gonna stop him."
"No."
They all turned in surprise.
Ron stood there on the stairs, watching them all with dark eyes. He came down the rest of the way slowly. "Don't stop him."
George sat up. "Why not? He's a slimy little git, Ron. Look what he's done to you."
Harry couldn't help but nod agreement. After the last three days Ron was starting to actually look different. He was thin enough as it was, and after not eating his clothes were getting even looser on him. The skin under his eyes was dark and puffy. He looked horrid, really.
But there was a gleam in his eyes as he approached where they all sat. "He's won," Ron said quietly. "Doesn't matter what happened, George. He did what he set out to do. But he thinks it's over now, and it isn't."
The twins sat up in interest.
Harry studied Ron closely as he spoke.
Ron smiled, and though it was still sad and strange-looking, it was a smile. "I'm not going to let him get away that easy." His eyes went to his brothers. "And maybe you two can help."
They grinned matching grins.
***
Draco stopped in his tracks when he heard voices right around the corner from the entrance into Slytherin's dormitories.
"--when the little rat comes back."
"Still. Not too smart meeting him right here where all his friends hang out."
"Who cares? You want to give up and go back and let him terrorize our brother some more?"
"I'm standing here, aren't I?"
"And Malfoy should be here any minute."
Draco smiled to himself. The Weasley twins. Had to be. That pompous ass Percy wouldn't dare mess with him.
He stood for a moment, indecisive. He wasn't about to run from those two ridiculous clowns.
They started talking again suddenly. "What is it you figure Malfoy did?"
"I can't figure it out. Never seen Ron acting like this."
"He should have listened when we warned him."
Draco grinned. They had warned him as well? Ron must have been getting it from all sides.
"I just don't know why he would want to be friends with that evil little git."
"He's clueless. You know that. Probably thought there was something human in Malfoy's greasy head. You can't treat people like Malfoy like human beings. There's nothing good in him at all."
"Stupid bugger should have appreciated Ron while he had him. Probably the last time anyone will ever be nice to him because they want to."
"Rather than because they're scared of him."
Draco's mouth twisted in a sneer. Nice. When had he ever needed anyone to be nice to him?
He turned suddenly. He wasn't running from them, because that was ridiculous. But he had no desire to stay there and hear more.
He left quickly, and their voices faded from his ears.
***
When he heard the soft footsteps, Fred turned to George with his eyebrows raised. "Well. Little creep ran off."
George grinned. "Wonder if that did any good."
"Don't know. I don't know what Ron means to accomplish with this, anyway."
"He's acting odd about it, that's for sure."
They exchanged shrugs and glanced around the corner. There was no sign of anyone, so they set out back for their own dorms.
***
Harry sat down slowly, unsure. "Ron?"
Ron looked at him, blinking his eyes like he as clearing a fog. "Hi, Harry."
"Can I…can we talk?"
"Sure." Ron moved over to give Harry a little more room on his narrow bed. "Is something wrong?"
Harry smiled at that. "I think that's what I'm supposed to be asking you."
Ron made a face. "Well .We all know what's wrong with me already, don't we?"
"Not…not really." Harry studied him, serious. "I just…what you said at Hagrid's."
Ron held his breath, tensing.
Harry hesitated. "Do you really think you're in love with him?"
Ron looked away from him, pensive. "I think I was. For a little while. I don't know. He just…I feel so stupid even talking about it. Everything he did that made me feel…it was all a big joke anyway. Everything he said." He sighed. "He made me feel different, you know? He said things…" He blinked back a growing brightness in his eyes.
Harry almost wished he would stop fighting it so hard. Even though they had never actually cried in front of each other, they were still best friends. Ron meant everything to him, and that wouldn't change if he cried a little bit.
Ron tilted his head back, breathing in slowly and expelling a sigh.
Harry watched him. "You know, Ron."
Ron looked back at him.
"Those things he said…I'm not sure what all they were. You told me some of it. But everything he said wasn't a lie. You should know that. It's the truth, even if he may not believe it is."
Ron smiled faintly. "Thanks."
Harry sat up, reaching out and tugging Ron's robe absently. "I mean it. When he said you were special, he was right. It doesn't matter if he said it as a joke. He was telling the truth."
"Harry, you don't have to--"
"I know I don't have to." Harry shifted on the bed, sitting right beside Ron. He looked out at the same blank wall Ron had been staring at. "I guess I'm not the best person to tell you this stuff. It's strange to me. I don't know what to say, because it isn't like anyone ever said it to me. I mean, they did once I got to Hogwarts and found out who I really was. They tell me all the time now how special I am. But I'm still the same person I always was. I'm the same as I was when the Dursleys had me. The only thing that's different is the people."
Ron looked over at him. He reached out and fingered Harry's robe hesitantly.
Harry leaned his head back against the wall, thinking. "Your family, Ron, they're different then I ever thought a family could be. I knew all families weren't like the Dursleys, but yours is still…they're great. I never would have thought that they would let someone slip through the cracks without making them feel like…I don't know. I just never thought you wouldn't know how great you were. Seems like they should have told you."
Ron frowned. "It's not their fault. I know they love me. It isn't as bad as all that. They just get so busy with everyone else."
"All that stuff you said that one day in the library with Hermione…about whether she thought what people said about your family was true…" Harry looked over at him. "Struck me as strange, because…because they say your family doesn't have a lot of money, and that you're all Muggle-lovers. And you all have bright red hair and freckles and…" He smiled faintly. "And all that's pretty much true, right? But it doesn't have anything to do with you. You know? You're Ron. I mean, you've got an old robe, but what has that got to do with anything?"
Ron met his eyes, solemn.
Harry shrugged. "I've got money, but it's just a bunch of coins in a vault that were left by parents I never knew. It doesn't really change who I am at all." He raised his eyebrows. "Does it?"
Ron smiled at that and shook his head. "Course not."
Harry returned the smile, satisfied. "Just…look. Malfoy's an idiot. He doesn't know you. And what he thinks about you doesn't really change who you are. If it did, all of us would be in trouble."
Ron laughed faintly.
Harry nudged him with his arm. "There you are. Starting to look like yourself again."
Ron rolled his eyes and looked away. His ears were pink.
Harry grinned and stood suddenly. "Hey, I've got something for you."
Ron turned back. "Do you?"
Harry went to the chest at the foot of his bed and opened it. He grabbed the box there and flashed it, smiling. "Little present."
Ron's expression went pensive again. "Harry, I don't want anything."
"Do you think that matters?" Harry went back to the bed and sat across from Ron, setting the box between them.
He knew Ron would recognize the type of box. Wizard chess sets were sold in those. Ron had seen enough of them when they went through Hogsmeade together.
Ron just frowned down at it. "Please, Harry. I don't want it. Thank you and everything, but…"
"Just open it, Weasley." Harry nudged it closer.
Ron bit his lip, looking utterly miserable again.
Harry knew well enough what he was thinking. Probably thinking about when Malfoy gave him that new robe. That had to be the first new thing Ron had ever owned.
Ron was going to learn fast that Harry wasn't anything like Draco, though.
Ron reached out slowly and flipped the lid on the box.
Harry grinned.
Ron blinked, then reached in and pulled out a pawn. An old, worn out, second-hand pawn. His own, from the set he had thrown out in disgust long days ago. "This…"
Harry nodded. "I knew you didn't want to get rid of it, you moody little git. But the bag they were in sort of burned up so close to the fire in the common room, so I filched the box."
"From who?"
"Filch." Harry grinned.
Ron laughed, lifting out one of the queens. "Harry…"
Harry waited, smiling.
Ron looked up at him, clutching the queen in his hand. "Thanks."
"Anytime. What are friends for?" Harry nodded down at the box. "Want to have a game?"
Ron smiled.
