Ron felt helpless. He never liked the feeling; it was not something like being angry, which one could solve by having a good fight- or discussion if one was being mature about it. Draco wasn't happy. Ron knew that he was disinherited, and no one would be happy about that, but the depth in which Draco was dropping into depression was alarming. And Ron didn't know what he could do about it. But for sure, he knew he should do something. Harry couldn't help for the situation was beyond him.
"I hate the Dursleys. I'd break into song and dance if I got a chance to leave them for good."
"Merlin, Harry. Never ever do that when I'm in the same room as you. You can't sing at all."
"Ha. Ha. And Ha. I could laugh some more, only it wasn't that funny."
"Boys."
They glared at Hermione. It irritated them to no end when she used that tone of voice with them.
"Girls," they chorused.
"Back to the point. Maybe Draco didn't think his family was too bad. In our point of view, it must have been horrible to grow up that way. But in his, maybe that was the best sort of family."
"Yeah… I remember, he bragged about all the things he got. And remember when he wouldn't shut up about Lucius? Father this, Father that, Father says."
"So that might be it. He's cut off completely from the only family he has and he actually loved them. Realistically, he does know that Lucius is a bad father and his mother is… neglectful. But emotionally… they're all he has."
"What about me?" Ron asked.
Hermione raised her eyebrows.
"What about you?"
"Aren't I important to him too?"
Harry coughed.
"Of course you are," Hermione reassured him. "But not like his parents. That's totally different."
"But all he really wants is a family, right?"
"Could be. And to learn how to do a budget. He has no practical skills in living frugally at all. That's probably another reason he's down. He's suddenly poor."
Ron bristled.
"When you fall from really high up, it hurts the most," Hermione quickly added.
Ron pondered on this. There just had to be a way.
"Too bad he's so stuck on being a Malfoy," Harry quipped. "If he weren't, he wouldn't be so depressed."
Ron looked up.
"That's it! Harry, you are a genius!"
He ran out of the Common room. Harry furrowed his brow.
"What did I say?"

Dungeons are dark. Dungeons have a habit of picking up damp, musty, and generally nose-wrinkling smells. They are known to drip in places where no one could find the source. They hold the cold in all too well and are occasionally filled with tunnels and passageways that have no layout that makes sense to the average person, meaning that it was highly likely you got lost if you didn't pay attention. So it was quite a sight for many Slytherin to glimpse a flash of red going full tilt through the passageways and leaving behind a lingering echo of eager footsteps. Ron skidded to a stop in front of a blank wall, gasped for breath and glanced around belatedly realizing that he had no idea what the current password was and that he was under hostile scrutiny.
"Um… Could somebody check to see if Draco is in?"
Glances were exchanged around him.
"What for?"
"I've got to see him."
"Haven't you seen enough of him this morning? One would think you two've snogged enough for today," Pansy jeered.
Ron stuck his hands in his pockets to keep from clenching his fists.
"Please."
"Go back to where you belong, Gryffindor!"
Ron stubbornly stood his ground.
"Please. I've got to see him."
He looked around, and did not see a friendly face. Blaise Zabini, who had been leaning behind a column listening, slid forward. He passed Ron.
"Vici."
He motioned with one arm, and Ron nodded thanks before disappearing through the opening. The wall slid shut behind him and Zabini scanned the room with his inexpressive eyes, jaded and cold eyes. He tsked as Pansy and a few others began an angry sputtering.
"Shut up, all of you. Do you want Malfoy to hear how Weasley was kept from him? No? Good."
Zabini was one of the few who managed to grab the power left when Draco withdrew. He, however, understood intuitively that though Draco was out of the game, he was not to be dismissed. Zabini brushed nonexistent lint from his sleeve.
"Few brave these dungeons, even if they are Gryffindors. Especially if they are Gryffindors. It's rather ironic, no? All that boasted courage. But this one came. And not only that, requested entrance. Politely, I might add. Weasley is worthy of our consideration."
Pansy sneered.
"He wouldn't be here if he and Draco weren't-"
"In love? Of course."
They gasped at his pronouncement. Zabini was one of those Slytherin who wonder what the whole point of even getting a crush was when there was no profit. It was inconceivable that Zabini would use the word 'love'. Draco was the past master at rumor-mongering and confrontation; wounded pride or imagined slight were enough motivation for sowing conflict. Zabini himself would certainly never allow his emotions to disturb his shark-like skills at extortion. Zabini gave Pansy a baleful smile.
"I have seen nothing comparable to their relationship before. I choose not to interfere. Parkinson, if you must throw yourself at the claws of a Veela… Then you are welcome to it."
Draco was in the Common Room, going over his Transfiguration notes. His head snapped up when he sensed Ron's pheromones.
"What are you-"
"Can we go somewhere?"
Draco led the way to the dorms. He flicked his hand at Crabbe and Goyle, who immediately left the room and ushered all bystanders out.
"And what did you come all the way down here for?"
Ron grabbed both of his hands and kissed him. He was blushing and just nervous as anything.
"Draco, I love you. Marry me?"

There were few things that Draco would admit to shocking him. One of them was seeing Harry's disembodied head appear in Hogsmeade. Another was being charged by Harry's Patronus. And only because there were others present as irrefutable witness to him looking walleyed and terrified. Only then. As a rule, being a Slytherin predisposes one to dislike being shocked because it meant that something was not part of a contingency plan. And there always is a contingency plan with Slytherin. Ron popping down to the dungeons and proposing marriage to him was a shock. But not the unpleasant sort. No Slytherin were present to see Draco's sharp intake of breath. He recovered his composure immediately and nodded.
"Yes."
And the brilliant look of profound relief and love was enough to wipe whatever doubts he had in his mind about accepting the proposal. Ron kissed him again.
"I've got to tell Harry and Hermione and-"
Draco smiled fondly and kissed Ron. They were interrupted by a grunting cough.
"Uhh… Malfoy? Snape says that you better get that Gryffindor out of here or else."
Draco's eyebrow twitched in irritation.
"Yes! Crabbe, go tell Professor Snape that he'll be gone in a minute."
Shuffling steps disappeared.
"Make this minute good?" Draco murmured.
Ron leaned forward.
"Uhh… Malfoy?"
Draco stamped his foot.
"What?!"
Goyle awkwardly tried not to look at Ron, who was still holding Draco.
"Snape says you better not be exchanging bodily fluids. Whatever that means."
"OUT!"
Goyle shook his head.
"Snape says-"
Draco muttered an obscenity under his breath. Ron suppressed a smile and allowed himself to be led out the door past a dour Professor Snape, and to the Common Room entrance.
"I trust that whatever pressing news that just could not wait until tomorrow has been passed on?" Snape asked.
Ron nodded.
"Thanks for letting me stay long enough, Professor."
Snape's eyes widened a fraction before he twitched his robes closer around himself. He was just thanked by Ron Weasley! His scowl soured further. Draco squeezed Ron's hand before the wall closed behind him. He further ruined Snape's mood by smiling languorously and disappearing into the dorms with a slight skip to his step.

"I did it!"
"What?"
"Draco's going to marry me!"
Harry blinked. Hermione dropped her book.
"What?"
"You said he wanted a family. I can give that to him! He'll be part of my family!"
"Ron! Marriage is a big step and-"
Harry shook his head and clapped his hand over Hermione's mouth.
"Ron. You're my best friend. So I only have one thing to say. You two be happy."
Ron grinned.
"I've got to go owl Mum and Dad! And tell Ginny!"
Hermione pulled Harry's hand off her mouth.
"Why? It's ludicrous! I know they go well together-"
"You prefer them to live together in sin?"
Hermione crossed her arms. Harry's mouth was twitching sideways again.
"That's not the point! Draco's parents-"
"Disowned him."
"Harry, it's too sudden. They've been together only since Christmas!"
"Hermione, can't you be happy for them?"
"I'm too worried that something will happen!"
"Like what?"
"I don't know. Just something. Think. The marriage of Ron and Draco. The bizarre things that just happen to you and us."
"Oh. Yeah. Things do happen around us, huh?"
"You think?"
"Guess I'll just have to brush up on my curses in addition to my manners for the reception then?"
"Harry!"

TBC