Madam Pomfery had just finished checking Draco's vital signs, when a very out of breath Ron Weasley entered the room. "Mr. Weasley, shouldn't you be in class?" she asked, sternly. He ignored her and ran to Draco's bed side. For a moment she was worried, thinking that Ron would warm the injured boy. Then she remembered when Luna was first admitted, when Ron and Draco had stood side by side talking calmly with Harry Potter. What was this world coming to? Never mind that, she had more important things to worry about then the dramatized teenage world of Hogwarts. She smiled sweetly at the boys, and walked into her office, still wondering what the extent of their relationship was.
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"Draco, how are you feeling?" Ron asked in a worried voice.
"I've been better." Draco mumbled. "At least I don't have to exaggerate it this time, I actually have someone to care about my wounds."
"Yes, but your wounds are real for once. Oh, this is so horrible. What happened?"
"Things became a little heated, and before I new it, fists were flying, as well as spells. I was punched a few times, and hit with some hexes. I don't even know what type they were. I swear though, Ron, I didn't participate in it. I do admit to some of the name calling and threatening, but what do you expect from me?"
"You're a Malfoy, I expect no more or less, go on." Ron teased.
"I think calling Flinch-Fletchy a Mud Blood is what set it all off. I really should learn to keep my mouth shut."
"Yes, you should, or at least learn to stop using that horrid word." Ron scolded. "But never mind that now, I've brought you something." he reached into his robes, and pulled out a single white rose.
"A white rose?"
"You could use some innocence and purity in your life." Ron laughed, referring to the flower's romantic meaning. "I wanted to give it to you last night...but well, er... I was kind of scared." Ron blushed.
"It seems that great minds think alike. Although I'm a Malfoy, and Malfoys do not get scared, I admit I was a tidbit nervous last night. I didn't want you to think I was strange or mad for giving it to you."
"What does a black rose mean?" Ron pondered.
"I don't think you want to know."
"Tell me."
"In due time." Draco laughed.
Ron took a moment to look over Draco's weakened form. He had a cut across his left cheek, and a blackened right eye. His breathing was staggered, and he complained of chest and stomach pains. It pained Ron to see him like that.
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"Lupin would you stop following me! You may be a retched canine, but you are not a puppy!" Snape hissed.
"Severus, would you just listen to me!" Remus reached out and tugged the arm of his co-worked. Snape turned on his heal to face him with a most hateful expression. "I need that potion, Severus."
"Then make it yourself! I'm busy! I need to go meet Lucius Malfoy in the Entrance Hall and escort him to his son."
"Malfoy is perfectly capable of finding his own way around the school. If I don't get that potion, the head master will be most certainly disappointed. Do you want the guilt of another death hanging over you?" Remus knew he had hit a soft spot. He knew that Snape regretted ever working for Voldemort, and he regretted every murder he ever had to commit. If Remus didn't get a new batch of Wolfs' bane, he would turn into a horrible, murdering werewolf, and he would be loose in the world to kill and destroy. Severus would need to start immediately, fore the full moon would start tonight.
"Fine." Severus hissed. "You're going to escort him then, while I slave over the cauldron so you can sleep comfortably tonight." he stomped off, leaving Remus to finish the walk to the Entrance Hall by himself. Lucius was not particularly happy to see Lupin, and complained the whole way to the Hospital Wing about half-bloods teaching at Hogwarts, blaming them for his son's injuries.
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"Father!" Draco exclaimed as he saw his father and Professor Lupin walk into the hospital wing. Ron paled and turned around to see Lucius Malfoy strut in.
"I should go." the redhead gulped.
"Don't be ridiculous!" Lucius said, cheerfully. "Any friend of Draco's is welcome to stay."
"Well, I have class and-"
"It's okay, Mr. Weasley. You're excused." Remus winked, knowing that Ron would be in his classroom next.
"But I'm still in Charms, and I didn't tell the professor, and-"
"It's okay, Ron, I'll talk to Flitwick for you." Lupin walked out before Ron could protest.
Draco smiled, but it didn't calm Ron any. However, he felt he needed to stay, because it would help prepare him for the Halloween party.
"Who did this to you?" Lucius asked, sitting at his son's side.
"There was a fight. It was a bunch of Hufflepuffs, I'm not even sure of a few of their names." As he continued to describe it to his father, Ron noticed something different about Draco. Usually the blonde would dramatize everything, and command his father to find justice. But now, as Draco had said before, he actually had someone to care for him, and he didn't need to over exaggerate things. Ron smiled, glad that he could finally help someone out, and glad that someone was Draco.
Ron sighed when Lucius left to speak with the headmaster. It wasn't as bad as he thought it would be. He didn't speak unless he was directly spoken to, which wasn't often. He didn't make eye contact with the man, but instead focused on Draco's soft blue-silver eyes.
"Are you alright?" Draco asked when the door closed.
"I think so." Ron breathed and dropped his head. He was always such a coward, and he was tired of it. How was he supposed to live up to the Gryffindor legacy if he was scared of everything he encountered?
"I'm glad you stayed."
"Yeah, me too." Ron smiled and looked at the rose Draco was still clutching. The blonde smelled it's sweet scent, and looked up at Ron.
"Thank you for this."
Ron blushed. That was answer enough for Draco, who laughed and took a sip of water.
Ron stayed there for the rest of the day, skipping lunch and dinner both. Madam Pomfery had to drag him out when visiting hours were over. They talked about all kinds of things, since they finally had some time alone. Ron was sure now that Draco was really a good person when around the right people, and he knew more than ever how much he felt for him.
A few days later Draco was back in classes, and Luna was also functioning just fine. Gryffindor won the first Quidditch match of the year against Hufflepuff that weekend. The next match wouldn't be scheduled until after Halloween; Slytherin against Ravenclaw. Of course, most people would be cheering for Raven claw, but Ron found himself wishing Slytherin good luck, fore the boy he fancied would be playing Seeker.
Ron sighed as he leaned against the back of his bed, looking over at the rose Draco gave him. He knew magical flowers last a long time, but this one showed no signs of wilting over a week after Draco had given it to him. It was still as beautiful and mystical as ever. Seamus and Dean teased him about it, but he would never give in and tell them where he got it, because they'd only make fun of him more.
Harry walked in, dressed in his pajamas, and sat on his bed, next to Ron's. "What a long day, glad the weekend is tomorrow." Harry tucked himself in and said goodnight to everyone in the room.
"Harry?" Ron said, seeing if his friend was still awake.
"Yes?" Harry rolled over to face Ron, but his glasses were already off, so it was pointless.
"It's a full moon tonight."
"And?"
"Remus..."
"As long as he took his potion he'll just be a regular wolf, it's okay."
"Yeah, but that can't be too fun... spending a week every month as a wolf at night. He still gets all worn out and sometimes ever scratched up."
"Ron, what's going on? You never worried before."
"I worried...just not this much. Remus is like a true friend now, I care about him. Harry, don't you wish there was some way to help him?"
"Yeah..." Harry looked deep in thought. "Yeah, I do. He was my father's friend, I look up to him. At least tonight is the last of the moon, and he'll be back in classes Monday."
"Yeah... goodnight Harry."
"Night Ron."
The next day, Ron awoke early and headed straight to Remus' office. The professor was sitting at his desk, marking their essays. "Remus?"
"Ron! Come in, sit down." the happy professor pushed his papers aside and folded his hands. Ron noticed a scratch across his cheek, and he seemed uncomfortable in his seat, but other than that (and paleness) he was fine.
"It's good to see you."
"It's good to see anything besides my own tail." Remus laughed. "How's Draco?"
"Better, out of the Hospital Wing."
"And how are the two of you?"
"Still friends." Ron smiled, it felt good to say that.
"And nothing more?"
"Not yet." Ron grinned, mischievously.
"You have plans?"
"No... but I can't give up hope."
"Do you even know if he likes guys or not?"
"I have a feelings...deep down... oh Remus, he just has to!" Ron squealed. "So enough about me! How's your life?"
Remus had told Ron about a certain crush he had. Ron completely understood. At first it did creep him out a bit, but when comparing it to his feelings for Draco, he supposed that fancying Snape couldn't be too bad... er, if your into greasy potion's masters that is. (And Remus sure was).
"I haven't been able to see him much. I've been resting a lot during the day. He did stop in to make sure my potion had worked right, so that I wouldn't turn him into Dumbledore...er, that's a long story."
"Do you think he's gay?"
"I can only hope.... I can only hope." Remus shook his head.
"Do you think he'd be interested in you if he is?"
"No." Remus laughed. "I'm sure he's not into some dirty mutt."
"Remus! Don't say that! You're so much more than that!"
Ron knew that he had to find a way to make Remus' life better. Even if he couldn't take his pain of being a werewolf away, he had to help his friend somehow. 'Things to do before I die.' Ron thought with a silent laugh. 'Make sure Ginny finds true love... Feel Remus' wounds... Protect Harry from Voldemort... Hook Hermione up with someone... and most importantly, hold Draco in my arms and tell him that I love him.'
'Love...' Ron smiled. It had such a ring to it... but he couldn't say that yet. Love was two sided, and he needed Draco to feel it first.
!$!$! Hey guys... I'm sorry that this is so short...but it is kind of just an interlude... The next chapter will be the Halloween party! Yay...Secrets will be revealed... new characters will come into play... and love will be in the air... somewhere you didn't expect. I'll try to post it by tomorrow, but I can't make any promises! Thanks for reading...please review! Love Ambz !$!$!