Ron walked down a few corridors after leaving the Hospital Wing, before finding Draco outside of the Library, leaning against the wall.
"Weasley, I knew you wouldn't be too far behind."
"Well, I need to finish the essay...so I was going to go study. Besides, I felt it was right to give them some time alone. I can tell when Harry fancies someone, he gets this strange glow in his eyes."
"You mean like the one in yours right now?" Draco asked, and stepped towards Ron.
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"W-What did you say?" Ron stumbled over his words.
"I asked, 'Is there something wrong with yours now?" Draco said, laughing. "There something strange about you Weasley. Look, if you want to continue to work on the essay, I'll help you, but I don't have all day, so let's go."
Ron nodded, and followed Draco into the library, still stunned. He could have swore he heard that... if only he'd heard that. If only Draco had really stepped forward in that oh-so romantic way. They sat at the very back of the library, away from most prying eyes, were Draco wouldn't be caught within ten feet of a Weasley.
"So, answer the last question in paragraph form, and slap a closing on there, and you're all set." Draco said, and flipped through the Potion's book, trying to find information that would help Ron. "Potion's is just about looking things up and sometimes memorizing them. You don't need too many brain cells for it, Weasley."
Ron blushed at his own stupidity, and started jotting some sentences down. "How's this?" he asked when he was finished the last detail paragraph.
"Splendid. Now...for the closing. Just summarize everything, and draw some conclusions about the reactants, but it isn't too hard to do that. Here, I'll show you."
Ron watched intently as Draco made some notes on a different piece of parchment, and talked intelligently about all different ingredients, and how they reacted together in all the types of potions mentioned in the essay.
"Weasley? Hello, Weasley? Are you okay?"
Ron realized he was staring, and turned away to hind his reddening face. "I'm okay, sorry. Where were we?"
"Here..." Draco handed him the notes. "Just put that into paragraph form, and you'll be done."
"Thanks again." Ron said.
"No problem. I'm off to my dorm now. I believe there's a bottle of vodka with my name on it!" Draco got a far-off gleam in his eyes before turning to Ron and nodding politely. He left the library, robes billowing behind him, with that famous Slytherin sneer on his face, as if he were never talking to a piece of Gryffindor scum like Ronald Weasley.
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Later that night in the Gryffindor common room, Ron and Harry met up, both in speechless bliss.
"Today has been a very good day..." Ron spoke after ten minutes of staring into the fire.
"Tell me about it..." Harry responded. They continued to stare, as if they were off in a dream land, but still talking to one another.
"So, how's Luna?"
"She's good... and she doesn't blame me."
"That's good."
"What happened to Luna?!" Ginny said from the floor in front of them, where she was playing chess with Neville.
"Oh... I forgot to tell you..." Harry went on to tell her the story, and she ran off to the Hospital Wing to see her best friend, not bothering to realize that visiting hours were over.
"So," Harry continued as if nothing happened, and lowering his voice. "How's Draco? And the essay?"
"I believe a bit of Weasley charm can warm anyone's cold heart." Ron smiled, finally showing some emotion on his blank face. "And perhaps I've finally earned an A in Potions!"
"Ah... life is good!" Harry said. "Hey Neville, how about a game of Wizard's chess."
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For the next few days, things went pretty smoothly. Harry and Ginny continued to visit Luna (Ron and Hermione popped in a few times as well), Ron continued to be the outcast that he was while Harry and Hermione enjoyed he company of their new friends, and Ron continued to have small but meaningful conversations with Remus. Ron did receive a good mark on his Potions essay, but Snape took twenty points from Gryffindor, because he suspected that Ron had cheated.
On Friday, right before dinner, Ron received another letter from Draco.
Dear Weasley,
Here's the second weekly required pen pal letter. My Father will be in Hogsmead tomorrow for a meeting with the other Governors. (Yes, did you know he still got his job back after being released from that horrid jail after you and your stupid friends got him arrested?) It'll be nice to see him after these few weeks, but I hope he doesn't talk to any of my professors. I have been slipping a bit in my marks...but we'll just keep that between us, eh? It's not really that I'm doing bad, it's just that it's not my usual greatness. I suppose I just have a lot on my mind.
I believe I answered your question about hating you. But to clarify it more, let me put it this way... you a hell of a lot better than that wretched Potter. And I wouldn't wish you dead... believe me, that's a lot coming from a Malfoy.
What am I into? Well, my Father has brought me on a few golfing trips with his business partners. Golf is boring weather it's muggle or Magical... there's no doubt about that, but I've somehow become good at it. As long as I have a challenging opponent, I suppose it's not so bad. I like to draw. I doubt you've ever heard of the type, but it's called Anime. The ridiculous muggles seem to think that they came up with it, but in fact, it was a Witch who started it over thirty years before they did! Anyway, I'm not so bad at it...but there's room for improvement. Father doesn't approve of it. He think any art that isn't classical and classy isn't worth a kunt, and therefore purebloods shouldn't bother with it. That's when I ignore him...
So, Weasley, got any juicy secrets that might entertain me? I could use a few laughs. Write back as soon as you can, I need an excuse to hide from Pansy...she wants to tell me about her new boy toy...as if I care.
Painfully Yours,
D. Malfoy
Painfully his? Was Ron really that bad to talk to? Never mind that, Draco would rather he from him than a fellow Slytherin! Ron got to writing as soon as he could, trying to ignore that little topic about secrets.
Dearest Draco,
Do you and your father get along? Sometimes it seems so...and then others...well you get the point. I'm sorry about that whole jail thing...but he's a Death Eater, it's against the law! I can't help that! Besides, I was stuck in another room the whole time it was happening, I really had no part of it. I wish I did though. Harry's always the one to get to have all of the adventures. But then again, it is his destiny.
So, I'm better than Harry, huh? I'm sure you're the only one who's ever going to say that to me. I'm always going to be in Harry's shadows, but I don't really mind it. He's my best mate, and I'm here for him. I'm glad to here I'm not going to be on your hit list anytime soon. Frankly, I enjoy the feeling up having my head attached to my body. Besides, I think Sir Nicholas would be jealous if I made it into the Headless Hunt before him!
You should send a drawling next time, I'd like to see some. I have heard of Anime from Dean, actually. He's an amazing drawler, and he's into a lot of muggle stuff. (I'll have to tell him about that Witch actually making it, I'm sure he'll be interested. Don't worry, I won't tell him you told me. We wouldn't want it getting back to Daddy, now would we?)
I don't really have any secrets...at least any that I'm willing to tell...at this time. Perhaps in the future, if your lucky. However, if you want to hide from Pansy, you can meet me on the stairs to the seventh floor to help me with some more Potions work. I'd be much appreciated.
Stupidly Yours,
Ron Weasley
Ron sent the letter back with Draco's beautiful Eagle Owl. Ten minutes later, a note was returned saying "Meet me there in a half hour. -D."
When Ron arrived there, Draco was no where to be seen. He talked to some of the portraits for awhile, and said hello to some passing students. Five minutes later, Draco came around a corner, wearing a black robe, with silver trim. "Showing up fashionably late?" Ron laughed.
"Always." Draco said with such charm, that Ron was sure his heart melted right down into his guts.
"Alright, I know where we can go to work on this while everyone goes down to eat. I can get us some food after, since I'm pulling you away from your meal."
"It's okay, I planned on staying in the dungeons, anyway. Anything's better then putting up with Pansy sometimes. So where are we off to?"
Ron led Draco to the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom.
Upon telling Remus about his little (okay, so it's big) crush on Draco, the professor said that Ron could use his classroom anytime to study, because it was getting colder outside, and they both figured Draco really didn't want to be seen around Ron a lot.
Ron took placed his book on Remus' desk, and opened it to the chapter they were working on. "Now," he said "the first question is: What will adding root of shrieker and ground seed of yellow musk creeper to a calming potion being fed to a Dracolisk do to the creature?"
"Er..."
"Come on, Weasley, think. What has Snape taught us? Think of their alignments."
"Well, a shrieker is pretty good, I guess. It only tortures to protect itself." Ron said, unsure of himself.
"Good, and the yellow musk creeper?" Draco pressed on.
"Well, they are pretty self-absorbed. They won't do anything wrong unless it benefits them, and they won't do anything good unless it does either. So I suppose you could call them neutral."
"And the Dracolisk?"
"Well that's obvious, it's completely evil! It came from a Rogue Black Dragon and a Lizard Baskilisk. It doesn't get much more evil then that, aside from possibly Volemort himself!"
"Exactly, so what's the problem with combining those things?" Draco's eyes lit up, and he got excited, as if an epiphany was happening.
"There's three different alignments being combined into one creature."
"There you go! And what's wrong with that?"
"It'd confuse it, make it go mad! And that's certainly not calming it!"
"See, Ron! All you have to do is piece things you know together, you just have to sort it all out. You know the information, you just need to apply yourself."
Ron only smiled, he couldn't say anything, because he was too busy screaming in his head 'HE CALLED ME RON!!!!!!'
He wrote down the answer, and read the next question. "How else would you make a calming potion for this creature?"
"Think, Ron, this one's easy!"
"Something similar, with a closer alignment. It's easier to always use neutral things, not only in alignment, but in an allergenic and proportionate way also." Ron ended with a confident smile.
"Excellent!"
The rest if the work went this way, and Ron became even better at it. Soon, he didn't even ask Draco the question before jumping at the thought process. The glow in Draco's eyes grew bigger and bigger as he watched Ron learn.
Just when they were finished, Remus came out of his office to find something.
"Ah, Ronald, taking advantage of my offer?"
"Yes, Remus...er, I mean Professor Lupin. How are you tonight?"
"Wonderful! Hello there Draco."
"Sir." Draco said, acknowledging him. "Well, it's getting late, and I want to be up early tomorrow for Hogsmead. I should get going."
Ron jumped up. "Yea, I'll walk you part of the way. Bye Remus!"
The walked for a few minutes before either of them said anything. Then Draco spoke. "I do get along with my father, but sometimes he just doesn't have any time for me. Other than my taste in art, there's nothing we disagree with...well, for the most part. And as far as the secrets go, perhaps one day I'll share mine as well. But then, I'd have to kill you, and as I've made clear, I'd prefer not to get my hands dirty."
This statement made Ron shiver. Even when Draco was threatening him, Ron's heart still melted! He was too smooth. They went around a corner and saw a figure on the floor, hunched over. There was a smothered weeping sound. As they moved closer, Ron noticed a patch of red hair.
"Ginny?" he creeped closer. Her head snapped up, and she wiped her tears away.
"Ron?" She asked.
"Gin, what's wrong!? Did someone hurt you!? I'll kill them!!"
"Weasley, you're so violent!" Draco laughed.
"Malfoy?" Ginny sounded confused.
"He was helping me with something. Ginny, tell me what's wrong."
"I suppose you'll find out sooner or later anyway." She said and took a deep breath. Ron and Draco both sat down next to her. She gave Draco a 'What are you doing here?' type of look, but Ron told him to stay, and she continued. "Luna fancies Harry. She's going to ask him to go to that coffee place with her tomorrow. All the couples go there! My life is over..."
"Oh joy..." Ron said sarcastically. "That means me and Hermione will be alone tomorrow."
"Ron! Stop thinking about yourself! Besides... Hermione is going to some book store with the literature club."
"I don't see why you're upset." Draco said.
"Please, Malfoy, anyone who's anybody knows about my sister's gynormous crush on Harry!"
Ginny reddened, and Draco stood up. "Well, since I'm nobody, I'd ought to be going. Pleasure working with you tonight, Weasley. And pleasure hearing you cry over Potty, little Weasley." He began to walk away.
"Draco, wait!" Ron jumped up and grabbed his arm. He spun around.
"Yes?"
"You are someone. Someone really smart who helped me out, thank you, again."
"No problem. Maybe I'll see you around tomorrow." without another word he disappeared around the corner. Ron slid back down next to his sister, worshiping the part of his hand that had touched Draco's flesh. The two Weasleys talked about a heck of a lot that night...
!$!$! Wowy... I'm uber sick, but I wanted to spit another one of these out to you wonderful fans! I reposted chapter 2, so hopefully that little problem is fixed...we'll just have to wait and see! Happy Thanksgiving to my fellow Americans! lol... Please review!!! Love Ambz !$!$!