Chapter Five

Harry woke up with a jolt. The infirmary had its stale smell that let him know where he was. He sat up. Draco and Hermione were slumped on the floor at the end of the bed. Hermione's arms were crossed beneath her, a book separating her arms and chest. After a complete look of what he could see, he found Madam Pomfrey wasn't in the room.

Harry swung his feet off the bed and stood up. Draco stirred. Harry walked around Draco and Hermione. He went around the curtain wall and saw that Ron was awake too.

"Where are the others?" Ron asked.

"They're still asleep," Harry replied.

Ron nodded.

"I think that is because, well, my head bashed up against a rock or something and I woke up!" Ron exclaimed.

"Yeah," Harry said. "While I was falling, I felt like someone dashed me against the side of a cliff and then I woke up too!"

Ron and he exchanged glances.

"Do you think they are still falling?" Harry asked quickly.

He felt a pang of horror in his gut that matched the expression on Ron's face as Ron nodded. They rushed over to the others. Ron pulled out the book that was under Hermione. He looked at the page.

"Ah Harry?" Ron said.

Harry snapped to attention as he had let his mind wander. He looked up to Ron. Ron "shoved" the book in his face. Harry skimmed over the page.

"Well, at least we are in one piece!" Harry exclaimed.

Ron gave him a look.

"'At least we are in one piece'?" Ron exclaimed. "Do you not care that they may be stuck there forever? They will be stuck there because of us!"

"I thought you knew me!" Harry cried. "I thought you were my friend! You've changed, Ron, and I don't think I like it!"

Ron shook his head.

"So just because of that, you are going to let them be trapped?" he exclaimed. Harry just stood there. Ron came closer to him.

"If that is what you are going to do then go away!" Ron exclaimed.

Harry backed out of the room. Truth was he didn't know what to do.

Ron knelt next to Hermione and Draco. He reread the page for the fifth time, hoping to find a way to bring them back. Ron could remember all the happy memories he had had with the both of them. He thought if only there was some way to bring them back. Ron stood up and, numb in sorrow, dropped the book accidentally. It landed on Hermione's head before sliding onto the floor. He cursed and bent over to pick it up. Ron heard a groan and jumped, dropping the book back onto the floor.

"Merlin, Crookshanks! Don't make so much racket!" a voice exclaimed.

Ron smiled.

"Hermione?" he asked.

She sat up, running a hand through her mousy hair.

"Its me," she said. "Mind telling me where I am?"

Ron grinned.

"Well," another voice started. "You are quite the pervert! I mean, walking into the boys' bathroom and all while I was taking a shower!"

Hermione looked behind her and hit the body next to her.

"I am not that sick, you prat!" She exclaimed.

"I have been called worst!" Draco said getting up. "But do you mind telling me why you drugged me so I would make out with you on the infirmary floor!"

Hermione shook her head.

"I don't need to hear about your sick, perverted dreams, you prat!" she exclaimed.

"Why don't you get the dictionary and learn a new word! Wait, you've already read the dictionary, haven't you?" Draco exclaimed.

"Oh, just sod off already!" she exclaimed.

Ron laughed and they glared at him.

"Well, I am glad to see you both are okay!" he said.

Hermione turned to him.

"Where's Harry?" she asked.

"Oh," Ron said, "he went off for a walk!"

Harry picked up his father's journal. He fingered the leather cover and wondered. He wondered if something about it had spawned the evil that haunted him from inside himself.

Harry looked through the journal.

Dear Journal,

My brother felt the calling and he died. I feel it but I am resisting. I think the switch inside of me was turned on. Padfoot and Moony, both, couldn't figure out what is wrong! What if it stays there? What if it scares her away? Or what if it has me kill her!

Harry stared. His father wouldn't have written this! Someone else did! His father wasn't evil. He flipped to the last page.

Hey [James] Potter! Do you like my joke? Did it burn a hole in your heart? Wouldn't it be funny if it became my weapon against you... maybe your boy!

It wasn't signed. Harry stared at this. Why had his father kept this? He picked it up and brought it to the fireplace in the common room. His feet got heavier and heavier the closer he got.

"What is wrong?" Ginny asked Harry.

"Nothing," he said.

She looked from him to the fireplace.

"What an odd display you are putting on, but let me help you!" she said, coming over and taking the book from him.

He watched her walk over and through it in the fire. His eyes went wide but his feet wouldn't rush forward to save it. A huge screech filled the room. A spirit that resembled a dementor without any covering swooped out of the fireplace and then out of the window.

Draco rushed down the hall, leading Ron by the arm. Ron was basically dragged behind him.

"Come on, Ron!" Draco said.

Ron quickened his pace, trying to keep up. Draco didn't let go of his arm. Ron nearly had to jog.

"Where are we going?" he asked.

Draco gave him a coy smile.

"You'll see!" he exclaimed.

Draco dragged him up to the seventh floor. He grinned as he stood in front of a tapestry. "Ron, come on!" he said as he turned to face the blank wall opposite of it.

He walked over and stood near the wall. Ron walked over to him and leaned against the wall next to him.

"I take it we are going to stay here all night," Ron said.

Ron didn't feel all that great after everything that had happened. He was rather somber. Draco looked over to him.

"You make it sound bad!" Draco exclaimed.

"I'm a little out of shape and mood," Ron said.

Draco grinned.

"Well, let me help you out!" Draco exclaimed.

Before he knew it, Draco's lips were on his. Draco's hands were in his hair. Within it, Ron felt comfort. He wrapped his hands around Draco, pulling him closer. With his tongue, Draco pushed Ron's lips apart and entered. Ron tried his best to make Draco feel as wonderful as he felt. Draco pulled away for a second, while his hands slid down onto Ron's shoulders.

"Did you just touch my ass, Weasley?" Draco exclaimed.

Ron smiled enticingly and kissed Draco. Draco pinned him to the wall. His back hit something round and hard. Draco reached around him and touched it. Ron guessed it was a doorknob when Draco turned it. Ron fell backwards, dragging Draco down with him.

Draco smiled at the redhead beneath him.

"Do you remember what happens next?" Draco asked, smiling at Ron.

Suddenly, something caught his attention. It was the room! It had everything that he wanted right then! Everywhere, there were fur rugs. The bed was draped in fur. There were even two changing rooms! He got up, not realizing Ron had started to undo his shirt.

He walked around the room.

"Where is this?" he asked.

Ron got up and looked around too.

"Don't you remember?" He said. "It's the Room of Requirements!"

Draco smiled as his head swarmed with ideas.

"Ron," he said, "why don't you slip into something more... alluring!"

"Okay," Ron said slowly.

He slowly approached one of the changing rooms. Full of laughter and feeling giddy, Draco ran more than walked into the other changing room.

Draco examined himself in the mirror he had discovered. It was near the bed. There was only one thing to change into in the changing room. He now wore it. His half-naked body was covered in only one place as he fashioned the Speedo to himself.

"I am not coming out!" a voice said.

"Ron!" Draco called, smiling to himself. "Just come out! I won't judge you!"

"Sure!" he heard.

"Just come out!" Draco half-commanded.

Slowly the door opened. Out came the amusement of the day! Ron was in a bunny suit from the floppy ears to the pawed feet. Draco tried to muffle his laughter as Ron blushed. "Come here!" Draco exclaimed.

Ron shuffled his feet over, his head down. Lovingly, Draco took off the hood and began and stripping it off of Ron. Ron got in his way and began kissing him passionately. Persistent, he managed to push Draco onto the bed, a new experience for Draco as he was used to being the one in control. Ron got Draco all of the way on the bed and straddled Draco's stomach, still kissing Draco in almost every place imaginative.

"I missed you," Ron said, kissing him again.

Draco let out a moan. Then, he rolled over, swapping positions with Ron.

Hermione looked over to Harry who was staring at the fire in a lounge chair in the common room and back to her book.

Does That Special Someone Really Love You?

Does he love you?

She looked up.

"Harry, do love me?" she asked.

He nodded.

"Sure," he said blankly.

a. Yes

b. no

c. You just asked him and he said "sure."

Hermione blushed as she circled "c."

Does he stare after other people?

a. yes, he adores women

b. no, You are his one and only

c. yes, he likes to stare at guys

Again, she found herself blushing as she picked "c." again.

You walk into a fast food restaurant with him, what does he order you?

a. cheeseburger with fries

b. he lets you chose

c. He hasn't taken you out to eat.

Hermione became frustrated as she yet again circled "c."

What does he do in his spare time?

a. he plays sports

b. What spare time does he have when he is flowering you with gifts?

c. He has enough trouble getting off of the couch

Hermione couldn't see an answer that was true but circled "a." It didn't surprise her that some answers like the couch and cheeseburgers didn't work in the wizarding world as she had bought it from a bookstore near where she lived. Also, it was from America.

What did he get you for your birthday?

a. a romantic dinner

b. he called you up as he was watching a game with his friends

c. Since when has he remembered your birthday?

She circled "c." Hermione added up the points as it was on a point scale. She circled the box that had her point range, the third lowest possible points, seven. She swallowed hard.

It might just be time for a reality check! Your man belongs out on a doorstep! Don't play the pity-party if he can't even treat you like a lady! It might be time to toughen up! The right guy might be just around the corner!

Hermione looked up at Harry. He had been watching her expression and gave her a worried glance. Hermione looked back down and breathed in deeply. They could have been wrong! It was just a stupid quiz anyway!

Harry stood up and walked over. He looked down at her. His eyes were sincere.

"Hermione, what are you reading?" he asked.

She quickly closed it, leaving the back face up, flustered.

"Just some junk! Nothing important!" she said quickly, not meeting his eyes.

She looked past him.

"Oh look! Ginny's here! I haven't talked to her in a long time!" she exclaimed.

Harry shook his head.

"You just talked to her yesterday morning!" he exclaimed.

"That was three mornings ago for you!" she corrected and walked past him to Ron's only sister.

Ron cuddled Draco, a fallen angel, his angel. Draco looked so peaceful when he slept. They had spent most of the night in the Room of Requirements. He wouldn't have known that if he hadn't of wanted to see the time. The bed was soft and, he guessed, stuffed with feathers. The pillows were puffy and the bed, although it looked as though the fur blanket-like quilt was thin, was constantly warm.

Ron stroked Draco's hair. It was soft. Ron guessed Draco had bought salon expensive shampoos as his father was rich. He nestled his face into Draco's hair.

Draco laughed and rolled over.

"I thought you were asleep," Ron said.

"I was," he replied kissing Ron on the nose.

Ron rolled onto his back, folding his hands behind his head.

"Wouldn't it be nice to wake up like this everyday?" Ron said.

Draco pulled the covers over his bare chest. He blinked and a small smile played upon his face.

"No, I think I would get bored!" Draco exclaimed.

"Draco!" Ron cried, turning to look at Draco.

Draco laughed. He caressed Ron's cheek.

"I was only joking," he said.

Ron rolled his eyes and turned his back to Draco. He felt Draco's hands traveling up his naked back and smiled despite himself. He looked over his shoulders, putting his hand on one to lock hands with Draco.

"I love you," he said.

Draco smiled.

"I know," he said. "It's written here."

He kissed Ron's forehead.

"And here."

He kissed Ron's mouth.

"Here."

He kissed Ron's neck.

"And here..."
Harry turned to Hermione. She talked with Ginny about what seemed like nothing to him. He waved away Dennis Creevy who claimed he was going to be the best still-picture photographer. He liked to get pictures of Harry with different expressions and poses and gave them odd names.

Harry tried to pry Hermione away. She gave him a fleeting look and tried to wave him off. Angered, Harry wrestled the book away from her. It wasn't that hard as she wasn't prepared for it. She looked at him with a pale, shocked expression that said, "please don't."

He went over and sat down on the steps to the boys' dormitory, opening to a page. Harry realized he needed to flip to the page before. It was a quiz on how much the special someone likes the person taking it. He guessed it was him she had done this about, as he was the only one or so he thought.

Harry blushed and his face, neck, and even ears went red. The first question she had asked him. He looked it over and read the final answer over twice. Harry knitted his eyebrows.

He looked up. Hermione was watching him with solicitude over Ginny's shoulder. She nodded as Ginny said something and bit her bottom lip as her and Harry's eyes met. Harry motioned for her to come over. Hermione excused herself and walked over to him. She took a seat next to her and Harry put his arm around her and pulled her close.

"Hey," he said. "Write your parents a note asking for permission to go to a friend's house over winter break!"

Hermione looked at him, confused.

"We're going to your house?" she asked.

He shook his head.

"No, Malfoy's!"