Ron and Ginny sat for hours talking. Talking about everything and anything that popped into their little heads. Ron told her everything; about his sexuality, about Draco. Ginny embraced it warmly, saying that Hermione had told her of her suspicions, but had never told her that Ron had come out. Things were looking up for Ron, isn't telling his closest sibling the first step to telling his parents? There were stories, laughs, and tears that night. (Okay, so most of the tears were from Ginny...but Ron was there for comfort.) Finally, when it was getting late they stood up to walk back to the Gryffindor tower together.
"You know, I missed dinner. I'm starved." Ginny said.
"I think it's time we visited a certain house elf." Ron said with a grin, and they went to see Dobby, who lavished them with dinner and dessert treats. They brought a bad of sweets back with them, and sat in front of the fire in the common room with Harry and Hermione munching on them and talking about their lives. It seemed that everyone's was getting better besides for Ginny's, and every time Harry brought up Luna, Ginny would look away, obviously hurt. Ron secretly promised to make everything better for Ginny, and to help her move on or wait for Harry...which ever her destiny was.
The next morning Ron woke up and got ready to go down to breakfast before their visit to Hogsmead. He ate fast and left Harry to drool over Luna (who was released from the Hospital Wing that morning, with a strict warning to take it easy from a worried Madam Pomfrey).
He walked around, exploring some stores he'd never been in before, and he even walked around the residential area of Hogsmead, where he saw some very interesting homes, that he could only dream of one day living in. They weren't anything rich or exciting. Most of them were small cottages; small being the word. There wouldn't be enough room for his large, loud, overshadowing family. They were a lot nicer than his house, which was obviously falling apart. Even magic wouldn't hold that thing together another ten years.
Once more students started to show up, he headed over to The Three Broomsticks for some lunch, and then went to see if he could find any of his friends. He walked past the cafe, and saw Harry talking with Luna. They seemed to be having a good time, and it brought a smile to Ron's face. He past the book store where Hermione and her club seemed to be arguing over a the last copy of a book.
He settled on a large rock by the fence around the abandoned house. He sighed and rested his head in his palms. "Be patient, Ronnie ole' boy."
"Talking to yourself now, Weasley?" came a smooth voice.
Ron looked up to see Draco Malfoy leaning coolly against a large oak tree.
"I-I...well, I was...but I'm not crazy!" Ron laughed.
"Not more than the average teenage boy anyway. Mind if I sit down?" the blonde asked, walking closer to the redhead.
"Not at all." Ron moved over to make room for Draco, and watched as his perfect form silhouetted against the sunlight as he sat down.
"How are you surviving without Scar Head and Granger?"
"...It's harder then I thought it would be. The town's not so fun by yourself."
"Need some company?"
"That'd be nice... you're not busy?"
"It's nice to get away from Crabbe and Goyle sometimes."
"Where's your father?"
"In a meeting. I'll see him later. Let's go get something to drink." Draco said, and stood up, giving Ron his hand to help him to his feet. Ron sighed inwardly, not wanting to let go, but he did and followed Draco to the Hogshead.
"Scotch on rocks." Draco said to the bar tender, who was overly excited to see young Master Malfoy. "Do you want anything Ron, I'll pay."
"Just a butter beer please, and I'll pay for myself." They sat down with their drinks at a free table and Draco downed his whole before speaking.
"What's wrong?"
"Nothing... I just don't like accepting money." Ron said stubbornly.
"Not even from Harry, we all know he's loaded, even if he doesn't act like it." Draco laughed.
"I'm proud to be a Weasley, even if the name doesn't have a large check attached to it."
There was an odd silence.
"Why do you drink alcohol?" Ron asked.
"It calms me... but don't worry. I've only been drunk twice, and it's not something I'm proud of. I can control myself now though. Why don't you?"
"I've never had anything stronger than butter beer. My parents don't even drink. It's not our thing, I guess."
"So, Weasley, you have a day away from your friends, alone with me, the wonderful Draco Malfoy, what's do you want to do? Oh, oh! Pick something you've always wanted to do, but those so called friends of yours would never allow."
Ron thought for awhile before a huge grin found a place on his face, and he jumped up, pulling Draco with him as he ran halfway across town.
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Harry slowly edged his hand along the table and cupped it overtop of Luna's. She smiled sweetly and continued to talk. "There's a rumor of a Wight on the loose. It's been spotted all over England. They are usually kept in camps like Dragons. I wouldn't want to stumble upon one of them."
Harry chuckled. "Good thing you're safe here at Hogwarts then."
"Do you believe me?"
"What do you mean?"
"About the Wight. Most people don't think they exist."
"Well, I've never heard of them, so I can't say. Besides, I believe anything is possible. I mean, after growing up like a muggle, not knowing my parents, I found out that I was a wizard. That alone is more amazing than I had ever wished for... and I've seen so much more since then... Things I never thought imaginable before I got my Hogwarts letter. Things both bad and good...but they exist. It's amazing..." Harry was speechless, he zoned off into thought while Luna just smiled at him. She understood what he was saying, even if he was repeating himself like a crazy old woman.
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Remus walked out of a small coffee shop. He stopped to smell his hot cocoa before walking along the side of the building and turning the corner to set off at finding Miverna. He had become quiet good friends with her after Sirius' death, because he really had no one left after that.
He spotted her across the street and waved to her before crossing. Just as he was stepping to the other side, someone bumped into him. He looked up and over a little to see a pale figure with black hair, who turned to him and hissed "Watch where you're going, Werewolf!"
Remus sighed. He never expected he and Severus to get along, but it would be nice if Severus could act like a mature adult. That's all he asked for... even if he wanted so much more.
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"Hair dye?" Draco asked. "Hair dye!? I ask you what you want to do when we have a whole day to waste, and you run off to buy a batch of hair bye potion!?"
"I've always wanted to change it." Ron said, playing with a lock of his flaming red hair. He was tired of it being more of an orange then a red, and he wanted to be unique. Usually redheads were unique, but not in a huge family filled with them!
He downed the potion, which actually tasted pretty good (as good as a potion can get, that is.) And waited for it to change. He watched Draco's eyes as they widened and then a strange glow rose in them.
"What's it look like?!" Ron asked. Draco merely reached into his robe's inner pocket, and took out a small mirror, which he handed to Ron.
Ron looked at his image, one he recognized, but one that looked better than ever. His hair was no longer a shade of orange, but a deep almost blood red, but a bit darker. It made his skin look more pale, but in a good milky way. (no pun intended!)
"You look...great." Draco said as Ron handed him the mirror back. Ron's jaw dropped, and when Draco noticed, he coughed and said "So, what do you want to do now? I've still got two hours before I have to meet my Father."
"There's still a road of shops I haven't explored yet! Let's go!" Ron was happier than he'd ever been in his life. He was alone with Draco Malfoy in his favorite town, and one of his wishes had just come true. Harry was right... life was good, even if he friends were slipping away from him.
Ron lead Draco to the road he had missed, and they started to explore. Draco bought a new set of robes (which were green and silver) and some supplied to restock his broom keepings kit. He offered to buy Ron everything that the redhead looked at, but he stubbornly but politely declined.
They passed a florist, and Ron admired the beautiful bouquets of daisies and lilies, which had some magical plants mixed in with them. He nearly drooled over the roses (both muggle and magical), fore they had always been his favorites.
When the time came for Draco to go see his father, he bid farewell in an almost reluctant way, and left Ron alone in the streets of Hogsmead. The redhead decided to head out to the more popular area of Hogsmead to see how people would react to his new hair color.
"Ron...?" Hermione said, walking out of The Three Broomsticks with Luna and Harry. Harry's jaw dropped. Luna stepped forward, letting go of Harry's hand, and putting a hand out to feel Ron's gorgeous locks.
"I like it." she said, plainly, and stepped back next to Harry.
"Well, I suppose it is nice." Hermione said. "But, do you think your parents are going to be okay with it?"
"I don't care what they think, I love it, and that's what matters, isn't it?" Ron gulped, hoping he'd made the right decision.
"Ron, once you get over the shock, I have to admit it's quite handsome. And how does that certain someone like it?" Harry laughed.
"He loves it." Ron whispered with a big grin.
Luna gave a strange look towards Hermione, mumbled "I'll explain later." at hearing the word 'He' escape Ron's lips.
Over the next few days, Ron's studied hard, knowing that there was finally a subject that he not only understood, but he could do in a snap. It wasn't only his written work that was improving, but now that he understood it, he was more patient with the chopping and brewing of his potions ingredients. Snape no longer accused him of cheating, but called him a know it all brat as he did to Hermione, who was overly proud of her friend.
He had talked to Draco a few times, mainly small talk between classes, and they received quite a few odd looks from passing students. Draco came up to him Wednesday after lunch, and asked Ron to meet him at seven o'clock in the astronomy tower.
He stood there, the wind gently blowing his hair, waiting for Draco to show up fashionably late. As if on cue, the blonde opened the door, and walked out into the cool air on top the tower.
"What did you need to talk about?" Ron asked, not looking at Draco.
"My Father wants me to invite my pen pal to our annual Halloween party." he said, and walked over to Ron. "I told him that would be impossible, and he laughed. 'Nothing is impossible.' he said. I told him that my pen pal was a Weasley, and his face hardened. Nevertheless, he said I should invite you."
"No way!" Ron spun around to face Draco. "If you think that I'm going to fall into the hands of a bunch of partying Death Eaters, you're out of your mind!"
"No, really Ron, it's not like that. Most of the people at the party will be members of the ministry. There will be some relatives of mine, but most of them aren't directly involved with Voldemort." his face softened, and he touched Ron's arm briefly. "I want you to go, Ron. It'll be awfully boring without you, and I need a reason not to hang out with my prat of a cousin, Gary. I'd really enjoy your company, Weasley." he laughed softly and took something out of his robes. "Please accept this as an invitation, and a token of my gratitude." he handed Ron a single black rose.
The stem as well as the flower were pitch black, and shimmering silver speckles swirled slowly around it, engulfing and illuminating it's beauty.
"I believe I saw some black roses at that flower shop...but they were nothing like this..." Ron breathed, placing his hand over Draco's grip of the rose.
"Yes, and when I saw you admiring them, and decided that a rose from my personal garden at my manor would be the perfect gift. It cost me nothing, so you can't deny it. I had my father clip it for me, and apperate back to Hogsmead with it. They are very rare." he let go of it after making sure that Ron wouldn't drop it.
The redhead sniffed it gently and looked back at Draco. "I'll go... but I can't promise that I won't be scared." Ron laughed. "Harry and Hermione aren't going to like this..."
"Ron, it's time you stopped listening to everything those morons say."
"Those morons are my best friends, Draco."
"Understood... but honestly Ron, if they are going to always be off with their other friends, you need to learn how to have some fun without them also. Otherwise you'll always just lag around depressed! I believe I'm finally making a friend... and I don't want that to happen to you... even if you are a Weasley!" Draco smiled and brushed a lock of deep red hair out of Ron's eyes. "We should go." he said, uncomfortably, and turned to leave.
"Draco, wait." Ron didn't even have to stop him. This time Draco turned back on his own. "Why do you have to go? Why can't we talk?"
"Crabbe and Goyle are getting into a fit with these two blokes from Hufflepuff. They want me there. I can't deny them that, they've served me well."
"You'll always be a Slytherin." Ron whispered and turned away from the blonde, who walked away, his pride still intact.
Ron walked back to the common room with his head down, feeling like crap. "Harry!" he whined as soon as he spotted his friend. "I think I just ruined everything!" the two friends walked upstairs to the sixth year boys dormitory to talk.
"Ron," Harry sighed after his friend told him what happened. "If you didn't mind that he was a Slytherin before, why do you care now?"
"I guess because he hasn't really been acting like one..."
"Well he didn't say he was going to be part of the fight! He'd just be there for moral support. You'd do the same for me, so what's the problem?"
"It's not as simple as that. He's not friends with Crabbe and Goyle, he just respects them, because they help him out. He doesn't have any good friends like we are."
"Then that's exactly why you can't get mad at him like that. Look, Ron, I'm not Malfoy's biggest fan, but he's human, and everyone deserves a friend. A true friend, not just someone who's out for his money or his status, but someone who really cares for him. You fancy him, right?"
"There's no denying that." Ron laughed.
"Then you have to apologize to him. If you ever want a chance with him, you have to let him know you care."
Ron realized another mistake he'd made, and jumped towards Harry, embracing him in a hug.
"Are you okay?" Harry barely said, because Ron was practically strangling him.
"Harry, I've been such an idiot! I've been moping around as if I've been loosing my friends, but you're still here for me. I just didn't see it! Sure, you hang out with your other friends and Luna, but I hang out with Draco... I'm such an ass. I'm sorry Harry."
"Ron, it's okay. I just hope you know now that I care about you. I hate to see you sad, you're my best mate. Let's go down to the common room, we went down to the kitchens earlier, I think we still have some butter beer left!" The two friends talked most of the night, catching up on things, fore it seemed that they hadn't talked in years.
Then next day Ron was worried when he didn't see Draco at breakfast, but it was even worse when he didn't see him in Care of Magical Creatures. When the Gryffindors were in Charms with the Hufflepuffs, Ron overheard Susan Bones talking with her friends.
"All of them are in the Hospital Wing. Justin was let out last night after taking a few potions, but he has detention for two weeks!"
"I heard Snape is the one who caught them. I bet he won't give Malfoy and his friends detention."
"I think he's gotten enough punishment already. I saw him when I went to visit Tom. He's awfully scratched up."
Ron's face paled (even more so than usual.) Draco was hurt, and right after their minor falling out. He had to go make sure Draco away okay. He jumped from his seat and dashed out of the room, leaving a very shocked classroom and small Professor behind.
!$!$! This chapter took me awhile. I was having writer's block. I know what's going to happen in this story...but it's those important details that I need to get down right that could mess it up...eep, so no pressure, right? lol... hehe, Thanks to Courtney A.K.A Luna for helping me out with the Luna plot... We'll have to wait and see about Hermione... so, likey? Review!!! Love Ambz! !$!$!