Chapter 12- An Unexpected Encounter
Ron felt awful for his best friend. He had just had to make a very difficult decision about what do with his relatives. Ron had certainly hoped that his uncle would be put a way for a very long time, but he understood that Harry didn't want the entire wizarding world to know what happened to him.
Ron was relieved to find out that his mother had requested that Harry stay with them each summer and during the holidays. Dumbledore seemed pleased that he didn't have to place Harry with another family, and he knew that the Weasleys would take good care of him. He was like family anyway so it wasn't really a big deal. Things were a lot easier on their parents financially now that the twins had moved out.
Ron was really worried about Harry right now. He had been gone more than an hour, and it was getting pretty late. When he left he had looked very emotionally unstable, and Ron was worried what the poor boy may do. He had not idea where Draco had gone off to and he really didn't care anyway. Harry was what mattered right now.
Seeing that no one was watching, Ron slipped out the kitchen door and into the darkness. He wasn't sure where he was going, but he knew that his final destination would be wherever Harry was currently. He could see why Draco went on so many night time walks. It was quite peaceful out here. He could hear the sounds of several crickets quietly chirping, and the trees blowing gently in the wind. He stopped for a moment to close his eyes and take in the cool night air.
Not knowing where he was going in particular, he began to wander aimlessly. After a half an hour or so, he heard voices in the distance. He stopped and listened carefully; trying to determine the direction they were coming from. He was unable to make out what they were saying. He approached the voices cautiously, not knowing whether they belonged to Harry and Draco or a band of death eaters.
Two lone figures came into view along side the creek. One boy with a head of dark messy hair, the other boy with platinum blond hair softly glowing in the moon light. He still could not make out what they were saying, but their position was certainly a compromising one. The sight before him was not what he had expected to find. He could see that each boy was kneeling on the ground facing one another. Still approaching the pair, he could see the tears glistening off of Harry's cheeks. What was going on? Is Harry hurt?
He watched as Draco tenderly kissed Harry a few times on his face, and then kissed him directly on the mouth as they embraced. Harry didn't even pull away from Draco.
No…this isn't happening!
Anger, unlike he had ever known, welled up in the pit of Ron's stomach. Before he even realized what he was doing, he tore away from the two young men and ran through the forest rather loudly. He bashed through the branches of the small bushes that were in his way and jumped over the fallen logs. He was running wildly now as he tried to come to terms with his raging emotions.
Finally reaching the clearing, he sprinted back to the Burrow and stormed upstairs, slamming his bedroom door behind him. Flopping down on his bed, he began to assess why he was so upset as his heart rate returned back to normal.
What they were doing was not right! It wasn't as if he was against homosexuals or anything because Fred and George were known to swing both ways. He just had a hard time thinking that Draco and Harry could ever feel anything for one another. They had hated each other for so long it seemed impossible. They had virtually ignored one another for that last few weeks.
Ron had suspected long ago that Draco fancied Harry because he sometimes talked in sleep. Apparently, he and Harry did a lot of flying in his dreams. He never expected that Harry would ever want anything to do with Draco in return. Harry was his … his friend, not Draco's!
Well, he had originally thought it would be nice if they could be friends; they certainly had a lot in common, but he never thought it would be as boyfriend and boyfriend! When did all this happen anyway? Had they been hiding their relationship from Ron? Ron realized that his anger probably stemmed from the fact that he and Harry had been best friends and apart of the Gryffindor Trio for so long, that this new relationship seemed like an invasion into their own little word. Would Harry forget all about Ron once he started dating Draco?
Ron knew that all of these feelings were irrational, but whoever said that a person's feelings had to make sense. Ron was never very good at understanding his own feelings, and tended to act on impulse, as demonstrated tonight.
Deep down Ron knew that he did love Harry, but not in a romantic sort of way. He had explored that idea long ago and discovered that he would rather play kissy-face with Hermione than Harry. He was just so protective of him because of what he had been through. He could not stand to see him hurt anymore. He was a like a little brother now, and Ron was determined to make sure that no one hurt his "family."
That was the one thing Ron was sure that Draco would do to Harry… hurt him. Some way or another it was bound to happen, and Ron was sure that he was going to be there when it did; to give Draco a good bashing and to support Harry when he needed it. Just thinking about all the nasty things that Draco had said and did over the years made his skin crawl. Sure, he had apologized, but was it enough? Could he truly be trusted?
His mother must have noticed Ron's stormy return because she knocked quietly on his door to check up on him.
"Ron?" she asked hesitantly when he didn't respond.
"Are you all right dear?' His mum entered his room quietly and walked over to her youngest son, who was lying down with his back to her. She sat down beside him and placed her hand on his shoulder.
"Mum, I'm fine," Ron said sounding irritated.
"Well, it doesn't appear that way," she responded.
"I am just worried about Harry, okay!"
"Oh, he is fine now dear, no need to worry. He came in shortly after you did. He is having a cup of tea, and is speaking to your father right now. They are going to keep the case open just in case he changes his mind about pressing charges."
"Oh, that's good. Where is Draco?" asked Ron, pretending to be relieved.
"I believe that he is in the twin's old room getting ready to sleep. Will you be alright? I need to get back down stairs," his mum said.
"Yeah, I will."
"Okay. You know you can always come to me when you need to honey," and with that she gave him kiss on his temple and retreated from his room.
After Ron was sure that his mother was downstairs, he crept down the hall to find Draco. He wanted to give him a piece of his mind. All the memories from the years past came flooding back, and he was positive that Draco was somehow luring Harry into a trap to hurt him.
Without knocking, Ron barged into the room and quickly closed the door behind him. Draco whirled around with his pajama top still in his hand. Although he had his pants on, his chest was bare. He was evidently in the middle of dressing.
"Hey, what's going on…"
Ron crossed the small room in two strides and pushed the smaller boy onto one of the beds. "What are you playing at?"
"Excuse me? What the hell are you talking about?" asked Draco utterly confused.
"You know what I mean," said Ron accusingly. "I saw you…"
"What do you mean you saw me? You are being really vague."
"I saw you with Harry in the forest, okay. Now, what the hell are you doing to him?"
Draco blushed bright red when he understood what Ron was talking about. He put on his pajama shirt and began, "That was you spying on us in the forest? We thought all that noise was from wild animal. You scared us nearly half to death with all that commotion. We were too afraid to stick around any longer."
"Yeah, well I didn't exactly like what I saw," said Ron.
"And what did you see?" Draco asked uncertainly.
"You were kissing Harry."
"Oh," said Draco obviously embarrassed.
"I don't know what you think you are doing, but if you hurt Harry I am going to personally kill you!"
"What makes you think that I would ever hurt him?" Draco asked sounding accused.
"Gee… let's see! Maybe all the awful things that you have done to him in the past? Ring a bell by chance?" Ron asked sarcastically.
"I told you that I am not going to act like that anymore. I have already apologized. Why won't you believe me?" said the blond getting irritated.
"Because it is a little too much that you are on the good side now! I still question your loyalty to the light."
"How dare you! Ron, if you only knew what I told Dumbledore about the Dark Lord you wouldn't be questioning me right now. My life will forever be in jeopardy as long as they are in power. That is why they put the wards around the Burrow. The death eaters know how much I know."
"So, tell me then."
"You know I can't," Draco said firmly.
"Than how am I supposed to trust that your intentions toward Harry are honorable?"
Draco smirked at the fact that Ron had just used the word "honorable."
"Do you find this funny?" Ron asked angrily.
"No, no. I just…well… you are making a big deal about nothing."
"I don't find matters that concern Harry nothing," Ron insisted.
"If you must know, I think I may love Harry. There I said it you stupid git! Are you happy now?" Draco said.
"Does Harry feel the same way about you?"
"I don't know. I hope so. Regardless what happens between us, I have made myself a solemn oath that I will never let Harry come to harm again; whether we are friends or otherwise. Is that good enough for you?"
"I made the same promise. That is why I am here."
"Well, it looks like Harry has at least two friends looking out for him," said Draco smiling at Ron.
"Trust me, there are many, many more. I just hope that it is enough," said Ron quietly. He sat down on the bed opposite of Draco.
"Sorry I pushed you, but I meant what I said. You better not ever hurt Harry."
"It's alright. I understand."
"Is he okay? I thought I saw him crying," said Ron.
"Yeah, I think he will be alright. He just needs some time. It is all so overwhelming."
"You sound like Hermione," said Ron wistfully.
"You miss her, eh?"
"Yeah, I can't wait to see her. It feels like it has been forever since we have seen each other."
"Are you two like boyfriend and girlfriend now?" asked Draco.
"No, but I would like to be. Are you and Harry like boyfriend and boyfriend now?" Ron asked Draco snottily. Turn about was fair play.
"No, but I would like to be," said Draco smiling.
A/N: Sorry this chapter was a little short, but it will have to do. The next chapter has Snape in it for all of you that are madly in love with the dark man.