Draco got the latest letter from his father and suppressed a grimace. Lucius was incensed. Pansy was spitefully watching him. No doubt as to who informed his father. He sneered at her and wrote his reply, very neatly telling his father to shove it. He was summarily informed with the next letter that he was disinherited and likely to be killed. Draco burned the letter.
Snape didn't have much to say. He just looked sour. Privately, he was somewhat pleased that Draco managed to grow a backbone and become self-sufficient. In true Slytherin fashion, he acknowledged the new power Draco had and did not deem it necessary to do anything about the situation. Far be it for him to separate a Malfoy from what he wanted, even if it was a Weasley. And come to think of it, it would just mean that there would be one less Weasley breeding. A bonus if there was ever was one in this situation. And what a situation! Draco Malfoy was part Veela! Why didn't he know? Admittedly, Draco had been playing his cards very close for most of the term. And perhaps this was because when he finally laid them on the table, the results were so bizarre. Snape's mouth thinned and broadened into a parody of a smile. Ah, Narcissa, you sly witch, you. A slow, timed revenge on Lucius. Exquisite, insidious, and irreversible. Like a fine poison. And accidental at that! Snape resolved to write this down for future reference. It seems the Harry Potter Effect was good for something, unlike the Neville Longbottom Effect.
Of course, everybody else in Hogwarts who were not witness to the Hallway Episode soon found out Draco was part Veela. With his relationship with Ron, the Slytherin House was in turmoil. Of course they disapproved, but when faced with the angry claws and beak of Draco, they were browbeaten into a sullen submission. Which was something, considering that before all this business of him Blossoming, he was an absolute weakling when it came to hands on physical violence. Now, he rendered Crabe and Goyle superfluous. Before, the Slytherin House deferred to Draco because he was a Malfoy. Draco lost his right to threaten them with his father, but gained notoriety on his own. Now, they avoided his anger because he was a part-human with no scruples about using his natural weapons. And his improved senses gave him an edge speed wise when it came to throwing hexes and curses.
On the Gryffindor side, Ron got a number of strange looks. He just firmly told everyone that yes, he knew what he was doing, and no, it wasn't any of their business. Harry and Hermione stoutly stood by his side and their unconditional support really helped. Some remarks were thrown at him by some Slytherin, but it took only Draco's glare to silence them. It helped that Draco had long taken himself out of active social life by being reclusive.
Ron got some letters as well from his family. Some shock was expressed over the fact that for all intents and purposes, he was gay. Arthur had some misgivings over Draco, but considering that he was disinherited, it was obvious Lucius wasn't condoning this. And anything that infuriated Lucius was good in his opinion. Molly wrote that whomever Ron loved was a lucky person and if Draco broke his heart, she'd be there for him with some chicken soup and a good solid Howler. Percy expressed disapproval of having a relationship with someone not all human, which was promptly flushed down a toilet. Fred and George expressed some skepticism that Ron could really like the little git who gave them so much trouble in Quidditch, but ended with a 'our ickle Ronniekins has all grown up!'. The real test was Ginny's reaction. Ron never got around to telling her about his involvement and to have her find out by hearsay wasn't the best way.
"Ron, are you really sure?"
"Yeah. I wrote to Mum and Dad, didn't I?"
"But… He's so mean. And I remember he treated you and Harry and Hermione awfully."
Ginny shook her head.
"I don't even have the slightest idea on why you are with him in the first place."
"It's hard to explain. But… He doesn't look down on me. Not anymore. He's the only one who's really taken the time to like me and get to know me. And he's saved me from huge spiders…"
Ginny rolled her eyes.
"Really huge ones. And he doesn't mind when I lose my temper and he's a good chess player, he doesn't nag me about my work or treat me like I'm stupid. He thinks I look good and he won't leave me. And lots of other things besides."
"But Ron, why him at all?"
"Oh. Well… I like how he's not a pushover. I like how he talked to me about everything that came to him. I like how he looks at me. Like I'm the most important person in the world to him and he means it. Even if he's whinging about something or being sulky or whatever, every time he sees me… He gets this look on his face and I… I feel good. I'm special to him. And nobody else is."
"You know, I haven't heard you say so much about anybody else."
Ginny smiled.
"You two probably are meant to be together."
Without consciously meaning to, Draco was back to being a fixture in Hogwarts gossip. People were paying attention to him again because now he was a novelty. Only Harry could commiserate. His powers were exaggerated and they persisted in viewing him as a 'biological slut' to use Hermione's terms. It was exasperating. Girlfriends viewed him with veiled suspicion and some of the more loudly professed straight boys avoided him. Did they not see that he was happily with Ron? Bloody fools. And then there were the people who treated him like an exhibit at a zoo. People talked about how he ate more meat now, how he didn't need to blink as much now, how he sometimes cocked his head like a bird when he talked now, how he didn't feel the cold British winter as much now, and all sorts of things he did that were different now.
"If they don't leave me alone, I'll start eviscerating them now!"
And then there was also the issue of people paying too much attention when he was with Ron. Really, they were only holding hands in public. But they would never be left alone. It got to the point that Ron threatened to plant his fist in the next person who mentioned the word 'henpecked'. Specifically, one Seamus Finnegan. Ron was the one who got asked the rude questions of what they did alone. None of their bloody business! Draco, being a Slytherin, didn't have those problems from his own House, and few wanted to get him mad when he only needed to glare and switch forms. Harry would quietly advise people to shush. When that didn't work, Hermione turned on her Righteous Diatribe. With Grandiose Gesticulating. As people were treated to that with SPEW, she quickly cleared hallways and rooms. Both Ron and Draco were eternally grateful.
Ginny decided to help Draco with his clothing problem and researched. She found a charm that made clothing separate at strong stretching and meld back together once the rip's edges were realigned. That immediately won Draco's approval and partiality. Their accordance reassured Ron that his family really did respect his choice.
Of course, Draco had to consider what to do with the situation of being disinherited. Narcissa wrote her condolences and reminded him that there were other ways if one was cunning and ruthless enough. He took this advice and immediately collected various sums through judicious blackmail. He couldn't depend on his mother; she wasn't in any shape to help him, being dependent on Lucius right now. And he didn't want her to fall under Lucius' anger when she was well within range while he was safe in Hogwarts. He was surveying in the slowly thawing lake from a parapet, when Ron joined him. He wrapped his arms around him from behind, and Draco leaned back easily, Ron kissing his neck.
"What are you going to do over the summer?"
Draco shrugged.
"Maybe Dumbledore can think of something."
"Why would he? Need I remind you that I'm not Harry? And doesn't he have to go back to his horrid muggle family every summer anyways?"
Ron nodded.
"You know, I might just hide in the Forbidden Forest again. Nothing can really hurt me, I won't go hungry, it's summer so the weather wouldn't be so bad out in the open, and I'll definitely have time to finish the summer assignments."
"No. That's not a good idea."
"Then what do you suggest?"
"I just don't want you left alone."
"Mm."
Draco kissed Ron.
"I'll build a nest in a tree somewhere. I'll find an owl who's cooperative and we can write. I might even become friends with Hagrid. I'm sure he'll like somebody who can subdue wild beasties for him. Don't worry. It's not like I've got a welcoming family back home anyway, despite what Mother writes."
Ron furrowed his brow and Draco sighed.
"Do you miss her?"
"Honestly, no. She and I haven't been really close. Bought things for me, yes, but then, Father did the same thing. It wasn't until I began to Blossom that she had anything to do with me. I should be thankful she even bothered at all, actually. She's always let Father do all of the parenting, if you could call it that. Probably because she's been under Father's thumb for years."
"Oh."
Ron scratched his cheek.
"I'm sorry."
"For what?"
"For not figuring out about the flirting. If I did, you wouldn't be in this situation."
Draco snorted.
"I would still have to declare my sentiments to Father anyway. Better here where he can't touch me than at home."
"Will he try to come over here again?"
"Perhaps. And I'll just go to the Forest again. But I don't see why. I'm not a real Malfoy anymore."
"Come inside. I'll get your mind off all this."
"Mm."
TBC