20. Too Much Work
-Draco-
Draco wrote Zabini's History essay for him, but all the time he was thinking about how to handle this situation. Draco couldn't let it go on. In the old days, Draco would have had Crabbe and Goyle beat Zabini up. Of course, in the old days, this never would have happened.
But now Crabbe and Goyle were on Zabini's side. Maybe there was another way. Draco wished he could talk to Ron about it, but he didn't want Ron to get involved with his problems. A Malfoy takes care of his own problems.
But thinking of the redhead gave Draco an idea. When Ron had thought (by mistake) that Draco was going to tell everyone about their kiss, he tried to keep Draco's mouth shut by saying he'd tell everyone Draco's secret of being poor. And that would have worked, if the situation had been like Ron thought it was.
So all Draco needed to do was to find out a terrible secret about Zabini. But that would be hard and would take time. Meanwhile, he'd just have to do Zabini's homework and keep his head down. So long as Zabini didn't find out about Ron.
Draco was going to see Ron Monday night at 9 PM and he couldn't wait until then. No matter his problems, Ron always made him feel like the happiest person in the world.
Draco made it through classes the next day, including Potions class where he and Ron sat on aisle seats and exchanged glances now and then. Hopefully not enough to make anyone notice, though. That day Draco got 98% in his potion. He lost two points because his Owl Tonic potion was mint green instead of lime green.
After supper, Draco went to the library to do his homework. Ron was at Quidditch practice so they weren't meeting until 9. Draco hoped that in the library, he could avoid Zabini.
But unfortunately, Zabini found him there and came up to him, with Crabbe and Goyle behind him. "You do such good work, Malfoy," Zabini said. "I think I'll give you some more to do." He handed a list of homework to Draco. "That's all due tomorrow, so be sure I have it at breakfast."
The list was long, too much work to get done before 9 PM. "I can't get all that done in one night," Draco said.
"Too bad," Zabini said. "If I *afford* a tutor, I wouldn't need you to do this for me. So get it done or else."
Zabini turned and walked away. Crabbe and Goyle followed him, but Draco thought that they looked a little strange.
This was awful! Draco had to make a decision about doing the homework. He would have to either skip seeing Ron or stay up all night to get it done. Plus that left him no time for trying to find out Zabini's secrets.
Draco was very depressed. He knew he'd have to go see Ron. He'd just have to stay up all night afterwards.
-Ron-
Ron had a good day. He felt very good now that he had told Harry and Hermione about his being gay. They didn't really talk about it after that first conversation, but Ron had less secrets to hide now so that was a relief.
Ron was looking forward to seeing Draco that night. In Potions class, Draco looked so hot that Ron had to stop himself from staring during the whole classtime.
Quidditch practice was really good. Ron saved almost every goal that was shot at him. Plus Harry told him that his flying was really improving. Their first match was coming up soon and Ron knew he'd be ready. They weren't playing Slytherin yet, but Ron wondered what it would be like to play on the opposite team from Draco now that they were going out.
After a shower, Ron went to the special study room to meet Draco. He was the first one there so he stretched out on the couch. He was pretty tired out by Quidditch practice and before he knew it, he'd fallen asleep.
Ron woke up when he felt a light touch on his lips. He opened his eyes to see that he was gazing into Draco's dove-grey eyes. He smiled at Draco and gave him a real kiss.
"You looked so peaceful sleeping, I didn't want to wake you," the blonde said.
Ron moved over so that Draco could lie down too. They kissed a little, but it was more calm than passionate, like it was becoming an expression of their true feelings for each other.
"How long was I asleep," Ron wanted to know.
"I woke you up at 9:30," Draco said.
"You shouldn't have let me sleep," the Gryffindor said. "I never get to see you enough."
"Well, I was a little late, so it was probably good you were asleep," Draco said. "And I'm sorry, Ron, but I have to leave early, probably in about half an hour."
Ron was really disappointed to hear that. "Why do you have to go so soon?"
"I have a lot of extra work to do," Draco said with a worried frown.
Ron immediately wondered if something was wrong. "Where did the extra work come from?" he asked.
"Just some extra assignments," Draco said. "Did you want to spend all our time talking? I could tell you all about the Unicorn Hunts of 1576 if you want."
Ron laughed at that. Probably Draco was just ticked off that he had all that work to do. Ron kissed the Slytherin hard on the mouth and they made out on the couch until Draco had to go.
When Draco left, Ron sat on the couch a while longer, thinking. He was sad that Draco was gone. He looked forward all the time until they could be together. And now he thought about the tender kisses that they had shared at the beginning of their time together. Ron felt like his heart had been poured out in those kisses and that Draco had taken it away with him.
Ron realised something really important, so important that it made him jump right up to his feet. He was in love with Draco.
-Draco-
Draco wrote Zabini's History essay for him, but all the time he was thinking about how to handle this situation. Draco couldn't let it go on. In the old days, Draco would have had Crabbe and Goyle beat Zabini up. Of course, in the old days, this never would have happened.
But now Crabbe and Goyle were on Zabini's side. Maybe there was another way. Draco wished he could talk to Ron about it, but he didn't want Ron to get involved with his problems. A Malfoy takes care of his own problems.
But thinking of the redhead gave Draco an idea. When Ron had thought (by mistake) that Draco was going to tell everyone about their kiss, he tried to keep Draco's mouth shut by saying he'd tell everyone Draco's secret of being poor. And that would have worked, if the situation had been like Ron thought it was.
So all Draco needed to do was to find out a terrible secret about Zabini. But that would be hard and would take time. Meanwhile, he'd just have to do Zabini's homework and keep his head down. So long as Zabini didn't find out about Ron.
Draco was going to see Ron Monday night at 9 PM and he couldn't wait until then. No matter his problems, Ron always made him feel like the happiest person in the world.
Draco made it through classes the next day, including Potions class where he and Ron sat on aisle seats and exchanged glances now and then. Hopefully not enough to make anyone notice, though. That day Draco got 98% in his potion. He lost two points because his Owl Tonic potion was mint green instead of lime green.
After supper, Draco went to the library to do his homework. Ron was at Quidditch practice so they weren't meeting until 9. Draco hoped that in the library, he could avoid Zabini.
But unfortunately, Zabini found him there and came up to him, with Crabbe and Goyle behind him. "You do such good work, Malfoy," Zabini said. "I think I'll give you some more to do." He handed a list of homework to Draco. "That's all due tomorrow, so be sure I have it at breakfast."
The list was long, too much work to get done before 9 PM. "I can't get all that done in one night," Draco said.
"Too bad," Zabini said. "If I *afford* a tutor, I wouldn't need you to do this for me. So get it done or else."
Zabini turned and walked away. Crabbe and Goyle followed him, but Draco thought that they looked a little strange.
This was awful! Draco had to make a decision about doing the homework. He would have to either skip seeing Ron or stay up all night to get it done. Plus that left him no time for trying to find out Zabini's secrets.
Draco was very depressed. He knew he'd have to go see Ron. He'd just have to stay up all night afterwards.
-Ron-
Ron had a good day. He felt very good now that he had told Harry and Hermione about his being gay. They didn't really talk about it after that first conversation, but Ron had less secrets to hide now so that was a relief.
Ron was looking forward to seeing Draco that night. In Potions class, Draco looked so hot that Ron had to stop himself from staring during the whole classtime.
Quidditch practice was really good. Ron saved almost every goal that was shot at him. Plus Harry told him that his flying was really improving. Their first match was coming up soon and Ron knew he'd be ready. They weren't playing Slytherin yet, but Ron wondered what it would be like to play on the opposite team from Draco now that they were going out.
After a shower, Ron went to the special study room to meet Draco. He was the first one there so he stretched out on the couch. He was pretty tired out by Quidditch practice and before he knew it, he'd fallen asleep.
Ron woke up when he felt a light touch on his lips. He opened his eyes to see that he was gazing into Draco's dove-grey eyes. He smiled at Draco and gave him a real kiss.
"You looked so peaceful sleeping, I didn't want to wake you," the blonde said.
Ron moved over so that Draco could lie down too. They kissed a little, but it was more calm than passionate, like it was becoming an expression of their true feelings for each other.
"How long was I asleep," Ron wanted to know.
"I woke you up at 9:30," Draco said.
"You shouldn't have let me sleep," the Gryffindor said. "I never get to see you enough."
"Well, I was a little late, so it was probably good you were asleep," Draco said. "And I'm sorry, Ron, but I have to leave early, probably in about half an hour."
Ron was really disappointed to hear that. "Why do you have to go so soon?"
"I have a lot of extra work to do," Draco said with a worried frown.
Ron immediately wondered if something was wrong. "Where did the extra work come from?" he asked.
"Just some extra assignments," Draco said. "Did you want to spend all our time talking? I could tell you all about the Unicorn Hunts of 1576 if you want."
Ron laughed at that. Probably Draco was just ticked off that he had all that work to do. Ron kissed the Slytherin hard on the mouth and they made out on the couch until Draco had to go.
When Draco left, Ron sat on the couch a while longer, thinking. He was sad that Draco was gone. He looked forward all the time until they could be together. And now he thought about the tender kisses that they had shared at the beginning of their time together. Ron felt like his heart had been poured out in those kisses and that Draco had taken it away with him.
Ron realised something really important, so important that it made him jump right up to his feet. He was in love with Draco.