A/N: thank you for your reviews, i'm extremely flattered. i am pleased that all of you are as angry with draco as i am. however, you've all brought up something that i would rather like to discuss.

i noticed that my assumption of draco's motives is different than everyone elses and i'd like to know your thoughts on what i think his reasons are. i've always thought of draco's gifts and his gentleness as being rather more placative than affectionate. there's no doubt that draco cares for ron, he wouldn't have ended up at his house several years after their relationship was over (which will be explained, i promise) if he didn't care for him. however, i would like to note that any real kindness towards ron (excluding the snow scene which i know draco has blocked from his memory ::ahem::) is always done after Draco has done something wrong (dark mark, the ::ahem:: hospital, some other situations you'll see later..). I always saw the acts as more of a showing of his slytherin side than anything. what do slytherins do above all else? protect their own interests. ron is most definitely his interest. he knows that ron responds to being treated lovingly, so when he thinks that their relationship is in danger, he acts accordingly to make sure ron stays. i know that he keeps him more because he cares for him than because the sex is good, but i doubt that draco would see it that way. i think in draco's mind, he is affectionate to ron because he knows that if he is not, ron will leave, and he can not have that. what do you all think?

btw, i know i'm the author and all, but i merely write down what ron tells me to. if i had any real control of the plot, the last chapter would not have happened. that being said, opinions?

-- chapter 1 -- chapter 5.2 -- chapter 4.1 -- chapter 3.1 -- chapter 6.1 -- chapter 5.1 -- chapter 10 -- chapter 11.2 -- chapter 2 -- chapter 4.2 -- chapter 3.2 -- chapter 4.3 -- chapter 7 -- chapter 9.1 -- chapter 6.2 -- chapter 9.3 -- chapter 11.1 -- chapter 8.2 -- chapter 9.2 -- chapter 8.1 -- chapter 8.3 --

- January 19 - 1998 - Seventh Year -

Justin and I were standing outside the grounds of the Shrieking Shack, hand-in-hand, fumbling over conversation. I was so nervous my palms were sweating despite the freezing temperatures and I was worried that he might notice. "That save against Warrington where you did the loop thing was brilliant. We were all singing with the Gryffindors. Even Zacharias said you did well and you know what he thinks of you and Harry."

I smiled and tried not to blush. He was gushing about the Quidditch game against Slytherin we'd played the weekend before. Just the thought of someone besides my mum gushing about my Keeper skills made my ears go red, let alone Justin actually doing it, but there it was, and I wanted to kiss him so badly. My eyes could not stray from his lips for more than a moment at a time. The urge had over-taken me when he turned to face me, slight grin on his face. I looked from his lips to his eyes and took a step closer, nervous. I'd never kissed anyone but Malfoy and I was certainly never allowed to initiate anything with him, so this was certainly new territory. "Would you mind… if I…" He froze, swallowing audibly, and for a moment I thought he might turn away. My nerve began to slip, but then he smiled again and nodded consent. I took the extra necessary step and after a few agonizingly slow inches, our mouths melted together. My world turned upside-down. This was amazing, mind-altering, on the same level as a kiss from Draco, but without the bruising or biting. And it was slow at first, tentative. Tongues were only brought in after what felt like hours. My free hand slid in place against his waist, holding him to me. He tasted like apple cider and cinnamon. He dropped my hand and cupped my face in his palms, his fingers playing with the hair at the nape of my neck.

His fingers in my hair was turning me on and I had to pull away before the temptation to strip him and have my wicked way with him became too strong. He was not Draco. This had to be taken slowly and treated delicately. His grin at me was wide when we parted lips and I couldn't help but grin back. "Want to go get a butterbeer?"

"I could go for a butterbeer, yeah."

I disentangled from him and took his hand and we headed for the Three Broomsticks. Once inside, I was faced with a dilemma. Harry, Hermione, Neville, and a few other members of the DA were sitting at a table together. Did Justin want to sit with them or find our own table? This was a date… Is it acceptable to sit with mutual friends when you're on a date? I remember Harry saying Cho went mental when he suggested meeting up with people. Would Justin? But the only free table was next to Malfoy's and I shuddered to think what his reaction to Justin was going to be.

Enough of the internal struggle. I turned to Justin. He had been surveying the seating arrangements as well, but turned and smiled when I looked at him. "Want to sit with them? Or would you rather…" He looked nervously at the table next to Malfoy and I saw a flash of something akin to dislike in his eyes. He knew sitting next to him would be a bad idea without even having to know about Draco and I's history.

I returned his smile and squeezed his hand, "With them is good." Harry was grinning from ear to ear as we pulled two chairs over to join the group. He turned to whisper something to Hermione as the others greeted us, but she only rolled her eyes and elbowed his side in return.

Neville brought us up to speed with their conversation and we fell in with them. When Madame Rosmerta came over, I paid for the drinks and Justin beamed at me. I just smiled and took his hand under the table while continuing the conversation. The rest of the afternoon went by pleasantly and I got a goodbye kiss and a glimpse of the Hufflepuff common room when it was over.

Back in the tower, I found a stuffed lion on my pillow, a toy dagger piercing its heart and its head ripped from its body, the stuffing charmed red to resemble blood oozing from its severed neck.

- May 2 - 1997 - Sixth Year -

Harry and I were out by the lake with a chessboard between us, successfully avoiding Hermione and a lecture on the necessity of studying for end of year exams. It was warm and sunny out for the first time in a week and we were both happy to be outside in the fresh air after being trapped in a damp tower all week. Harry's rook had just dismantled my pawn a space before it was to become queen when the crunch of grass made us both look up, dreading Hermione's reproachful look. But it wasn't Hermione, it was worse. Malfoy, alone and grinning maliciously. Harry sat up, glaring, as he asked what the git was doing there. I lowered my eyes back to the board. We hadn't really spoken since the incident; rather I'd been avoiding him. The thought of him made me a bit skiddish and I'd begun to bite my nails to relieve the anxiety, a habit that drove Hermione nearly out of her mind. His maliciousness towards our group had increased ten-fold since I had stopped talking to him, although whether it had more to do with my silence or a new rumor that had sprung up concerning his sexuality I was unclear of.

"I was out for a stroll and couldn't resist the temptation. I haven't had the chance to ask how Miss Lovegood is in bed and I've just been all of a dither with curiosity since I heard the rumor."

I glanced at Harry, who was giving him a scathing look I didn't think he had in him, before moving my queen in line with his king, "Check."

Harry ignored me, "Fuck you, Malfoy. Luna and I are friends, nothing more. You, of all people, should know not to listen to rumors. Or should I be asking about who you're shagging? I heard it's a bloke."

"Who I'm shagging is none of your business, Potter."

"So it is a bloke? Interesting. Wouldn't have pinned you for a queer." My eyes shot up to his face, feeling a bit hurt at the comment. He may have been the only one besides Malfoy to know about me, but that didn't give him the right to use that term, and especially not in front of me.

"Harsh words for a Gryffindor. What would your precious Dumbledore think? Or that campaigning Mudblood for that matter?"

"Sod off, Malfoy. We're busy."

"Indeed, chess, there's a shock. I see you've allowed a Weasley to beat you once more." He seemed to have moved closer to peer at the board, his expensive leather shoes coming in contact with my arm.

"Why are you still here, Ferret?"

"I enjoy watching you lose."

"Go bugger someone before we turn you into a slug."

"I think you'd be alone on that, Weasley seems to have lost his ability to speak."

I continued to look at Harry, "Check."

Harry looked from me to the board then gave a flustered puff of air, "When did that happen?" I heard Malfoy snicker as Harry began to mutter as he decided his next move. Some time while he was moving his bishop in a block, Malfoy squatted next to me, his hand imperceptibly brushing my shoulder. I glanced up to see him watching me with a raised eyebrow. I looked back to the board to move again. I had no idea what he was playing at, but I was not about to take the bate.

Three moves later, I could still feel him watching me. Harry seemed to have forgotten he was there in his struggle to evade my queen. Suddenly Malfoy's voice broke our contented silence. "Really want to know who I'm shagging, Potter?" I grew nervous, but pretended not to hear him. Harry looked at him and shrugged. "It's Weasley, for about six months. Fantastic shag, too." He was smirking and looking at me with a triumphant glint in his eye. I glared at him, my fist clenching.

Harry looked appalled and about ready to cause him serious injury. "Sod off. Even if he was gay, he wouldn't ever look at you."

"Is that right? Weasley, what do you say to that?"

"Leave us alone, Malfoy."

"I could have sworn I specifically asked Weasley, not you. Weasley?" He was looking at me expectantly and Harry's eyes were darting between us in uncertainty bordering on worry.

I fiddled with a thin, leather bracelet Draco had given me a while before and examined the board. I let the bracelet go and reached across the board to move my bishop in place. "Checkmate." I didn't look at either of them as I stood up and brushed myself off. Draco stood as well, standing uncomfortably close. "I'm not gay, Malfoy, nor would I be interested in you if I was. Don't bother us any more, I'm tired of listening to you." I gave Harry, who was starring up at me in shocked silence, a nod and turned back towards the castle. I wasn't able to breathe again until I reached the library, where Hermione was camped out at a back table surrounded by books and looking delighted that I had decided to join her. I forced a smile and grabbed a book with a shaking hand and sat down to feign studying as my mind reeled.