Chapter Eight:
"Did you hear? Ron Weasly almost died last night!"
"I heard the whole Story. Dre Jared was trying to kill him!"
"That's not what I heard, I heard that she stopped Hermione Granger from killing him."
Gossip flew like pollen through the school that Ron Weasly nearly died. What they didn't know is how, or who; so the ideas formulated very fast from "Just a guess" to "It's the gospel truth!"
"Dre! Is Ron ok?" Hermione asked, rushing up to her. Dre turned around.
"Listen to the rumors, don't you believe them?" Dre asked. Hermione laughed.
"Whatever! Listen to Parvati and Lavender? I don't think so!" She said. Dre grinned.
"Yeah, he'll be ok," Dre said.
"Alright, I'm going up to the hospital after classes, maybe I'll see you there?" Hermione said. Dre looked embaressed. After thinking over about kissing him, she felt completely embarrassed she had, and she still hadn't fussed up to Draco, which was driving her nuts.
"I might. See you later," Dre said. Hermione grinned, and then walked away. Dre sat down at her table.
"Hey Beautiful," Draco said coming up and sitting down next to her.
"Hey," Dre said. Draco leaned over and gave her a kiss on the cheek.
"You ok?" He asked. Dre looked at him. ' besides the fact that I kissed Ron on cheek, and don't have the nerve to tell you, yeah, I'm doing fine' Dre thought to herself.
"Yeah, I'm ok," Dre lied. Draco looked at her.
"Listen, if there's anything you need to tell me, I'm here," he said. "And... And I need to talk to you," He said. Dre looked at him.
"What is it?" She asked. He leaned over and whispered into her ear.
"I'm sorry, about the other night. I was just too... confused," Draco said. Dre looked at him, their faces less than an inch apart. She leaned over and gave him a quick kiss.
"Don't apologize, because... I need to tell you something," Dre said.
"DRIMETH!" A voice called, ringing through the hall. Dre looked up.
"What?" Dre said. She looked around.
"Come with me immediately," Macgongall said, looking stern as ever. Dre looked very confused. She stood up, and walked away with her, down to her office.
"Have a biscuit," Macgongall said, shoving the tin in her hands.
"No thanks," Dre said putting it onto the desk. Macgongall didn't say anything.
"Ron Weasly was sent home last night. He's still very ill. But he requested I give you this letter; in private," Macgongall said. "He said... "Make sure Malfoy isn't present," She said. "You are excused," She said. Dre took the letter, and walked out of the office. She sat down on the cold flag stone floor, and opened it carefully.
Dre,
I don't know how to say it, but Thanks a million. I don't know what's next, but I have a feeling Death is going to be after me for a while now, until something scares him away.
I love you .I really mean it
Ron
Dre folded up the letter, trying not to smile like a fool. The letter concerned her. Death... following Ron? But the last two sentences really got to her. She had to smile. Grin. Look stupidly love struck. And yet she was being dishonest with Draco.
She stood up, and walked away down the hall, up to the Charms class room.
"You are very early," Professor Flitwick squeaked. Dre grinned.
"Sorry, I just... Wanted to be on time."
"That is defiantly a first young lady," He said smiling politely. Dre grinned.
"Thanks," Dre said. She sat down, and slowly the class filled up with students. Draco came in and sat down next to her.
"What did Macgongall want you for?" Draco asked.
"It was a project thing," Dre said. "Some transfiguration crud she wants done by Monday," Dre said.
"And what did you want to tell me?" He asked.
"Tell you? Tell you when?" Dre prompted.
"Earlier, you said you wanted to tell me something," Draco said.
"Oh that well..." Dre started, when she was interrupted again.
"Class, may I have your attention? We'll be doing a review test," Flitwick said, handing out some papers, "Pass them on, pass them on," He said. Eventually, they got to Dre and Draco. They took them, and began writing.
"So now can you tell me?" He whispered.
"I have a confession to make," She whispered back, feeling color rising in her cheeks.
"Such as?" He asked, dipping his quill in some ink.
"Last night in the hospital wing..." Dre started, writing down an answer. "I... did something. Something really not good," Dre said.
"What could you do in a situation like that?" He asked.
"I kissed Ron... Not full on, just a kiss on the cheek, and there's something worse after that," Dre said.
"Can this discussion wait till after class?" Flitwick asked. Dre looked up.
"Sorry Professor," Draco said.
"Just do the test," Flitwick replied.
Dre stood up at the end of class, and walked out, Draco on her heals.
"What the worse thing?" He asked.
"He gave me this note through Macgongall today, I don't have a report or anything due on Monday," Dre said. She handed him the note. He read it. And read it again. And again.
"Well, sounds like you have your relationship worked out. This one I'm assuming is ending, so I'll see you around," He said, he turned around.
"Draco wait," Dre said, putting her hand on his shoulder. He turned around.
"What?" He said.
"I feel so stupid, I don't know why I did that," Dre said. "I don't know why, I just." Dre started.
"No, don't worry, I knew it was coming. Trewlany said you saw in a prediction in your orb, that you saw the guys you truly like, and according to your reaction, you didn't act like it was me. I knew it was going to happen, I just didn't know who or when," Draco said.
"It's not like that though, I still really love you," Dre said.
"You can't love or even like two people. Not like that. You have to choose," Draco said and he walked away. Dre felt overwhelmed with emotion.
"Draco!" Dre called, but he still kept walking.
"Dre are you ok?" Someone asked. She turned around and saw Hermione standing right behind her, a concerned look on her face. Dre started crying. Hermione gave her a comforting hug.
"I don't know what's wrong, but it'll all be ok," Hermione said.
"I hope so..." Dre whispered.
Dre walked down the halls in the late afternoon of Saturday. She hadn't spoken to Draco since he told her to choose, and she hadn't heard or seen Ron either. But she had been making decisions. Draco, no matter how cute, or funny... they would always be just friends. Kissing was awkward for them, holding hands felt funny. It just wasn't normal for them, or right. Ron almost seemed like the best way to deal with this, because she even saw the future, that that was who she liked. She also knew that time lines make shifts all the time, and that is unavoidable.
"Dre! Dre! Oh Dre guess what!" Hermione shouted at the top of the marble stairs. Dre looked up, and she started running down the steps, skipping the last four.
"Ron's coming back today! He'll be here any minute!" Hermione said grinning.
"Really? When did you hear that?" She asked.
"Harry just talked to him floo," She said.
"That's awesome, I'm glad he's better," Dre said. She really did feel happy, but she was really torn right now. No... She had to consult the orb once more besides making her decision. "Listen Hermione, I have to go to the tower really fast, do you want to come with me?" She asked. Hermione grinned.
"Sure, come on, let's go," Hermione said.
They ran all the way up to the North Tower, and finally got in. Trewlany was asleep on her chair, and there were a few orbs laying out.
"Would you grab me the smaller one?" Dre asked, as she extinguished the fires, and opened up the windows.
"Why does she always have it so stifling in here?" Hermione asked, picking up the orb.
"Because, some people are thrown into the beyond easier that way, because it stupors the mind. I however find it devastating to my concentration," She said.
"Do you need me to do anything?" Hermione asked, as Dre settled herself on a poof.
"Just stare into the orb, if you see anything, let me know when I'm done," Dre said. She was gone sooner than she expected.
Who do you love? Who do you love? Aha, yes I see it now. Here he is.
The doors of the great hall swing open, there's a tall boy standing there. He has red hair. A pale boy with a pointed face walks up.
"Hey Ron," He says.
"How are you Draco?" Ron replies.
"I'm fine. Listen, I have to talk to you about Dre," Draco says.
"What... Oh. Yeah, Draco, I'm really..." Ron starts.
"No, Don't worry about it. If she's happier with you, please take her. It's still kind of awkward between us anyway, I think we're better off as friends. Just please don't tell her we talked. Just know, you have my blessing to have her as your girl," Draco says. Ron smiles. He has a look of thanks, and at the same time not pity, but something like it. Like Sympathy.
"Ok, I'm done," Dre replied. Hermione looked up.
"That was fast. What happened?" She asked.
"Nothing much. Just something I needed to know. Did you see anything?" Dre asked.
"Actually... Yes. I saw Viktor talking to me. Almost like we were reunited," Hermione said.
"Maybe he's coming to," Dre said grinning. "Come on, I think Ron's going to be here soon," Dre said. They ran all the way downstairs, and were about to come into the entrance hall, when Dre saw Draco talking with Ron.
"Wait, let them talk," Dre said.
"What are they talking about?" Hermione asked.
"Draco is letting me go," Dre whispered.
"How do you know?" She asked.
"I saw," Dre replied. Hermione didn't pursue the subject. Draco started walked towards them.
"It's ok, we can go now," Dre said. They started walking towards Ron.
"Draco!" Dre called.
"Yes?" He replied.
"Did you make my decision?" Dre asked, a small smile creeping on her face. Draco laughed.
"Go. I know I can't win," he said. Dre walked over.
"You are my best friend," Dre said. Draco grinned.
"I know. Now go, He's waiting for you," Draco said. Dre grinned, and walked over to Ron.
"Hey!" Dre said grinning. "I ditto what you said in your note," Dre said.
"The last thing?" He asked surprised.
"You got it," Dre said. Hermione looked completely confused, but Ron smiled, broadly.
"Ditto," He said. She grinned gave him a hug, and whispered in his ear "It's good to have you back.
"It's good to be back... and with you," He whispered.
