See? I can keep my promises!! On time, like I said it would be!! Now, three more weeks and you'll get more since this speedy release was only to get me back on track. So, NYAH!! You have to wait again!!
Disclaimer: Harry Potter and everything related to Harry Potter doesn't belong to me. It belongs to Goddess J.K.Rowling who will hopefully soon bestow us with Book Six. Freesia op.2 doesn't belong to me either. It belongs to my beloved Gackt-san. Sugarcult and "Hate Every Beautiful Day" belong to either themselves, or the record company. I don't know the terms of their contract, so I don't know who owns what. Anyway, this fic is done solely for fun and no profit is being made off of it. In fact, I'm losing money doing this and not working.
Warning: OOC!Draco. Will be Draco/Ron slash. They are going to have sex, but that'll come after they get together, which isn't in the close future, unfortunately.
And since I'm a copy/paste whore, I haven't forgotten this.
"blah" Regular speech
/blah/ Fwella speech.
"blah" Mermaid speech.
Freesia op.2 by Aloh Dark
Sixth Chapter
When Fwella came back she brought many treats for the boys and herself. They sat on the island and told Fwella about the encounter with the mermaids. She was sorry to have missed it but had her own interesting story to tell when they'd finished.
"My mother is what?!" Draco asked angrily.
/Throwing you a birthday party. Only, it'll be in the middle of August instead of the end of September./
"And she didn't bother to consult me?!" Draco stood up angrily.
/Oh, and it's to be at the Manor. A week from today./
Draco took a deep breath and glared at nothing. He stalked a few feet away before coming back. "Does my father know?"
/Apparently he approved everything your mother did./ Draco's jaw dropped. /And before I forget, remember that this is supposed to be a surprise party, so forget what I just told you./
Draco perked at this news. "A surprise, you say?" Fwella nodded. "Then how bout we get lost the morning of the party and not get found again until the next day?"
"Sabotage?" Ron asked.
"Exactly!" Draco said gleefully.
/My Draco. The Rebellion Leader./ Fwella said with a shake of her head that was the equivalent of rolled eyes.
/If they think they can abandon me at the Manor for the summer and expect me to play puppet when they want, they have another thing coming./ He said to Fwella, remembering Ron was there.
/And how exactly do you plan on doing this?/
"We need some place to hide out. Some place where it'd be an honest mistake that they didn't think of looking for me there but it'd also be the last place they'd expect."
"You can stay with me." Ron cut it, shocking both Draco and Fwella.
"What?" Draco asked.
"Mum, Ginny and Dad are going to be at my Gran's. Percy hasn't been home in ages. The twins are staying at Lee's for the month. And Charlie is will Bill in Croatia. So it'll just be me for about four days. I think the two you'd need are in those four." Ron told them.
"Perfect!" Draco said with a smile. "Where else would my parents never expect but the Weasleys?"
It was a few days later when Draco began to have second thoughts about staying with Ron. Everything was hinged on Ron and Draco's new, uneasy friendship. And everything nearly fell apart when Ron told Fwella that his mother was sick the day before she was supposed to leave. Everything worked out just in time in the end though.
Draco was packing his own bag the morning of his party as Vek glowered at him from the corner. Draco folded some pants before throwing them down and turning to Vek. He slammed his hands on his hips and glared back.
"What? Why are you looking at me like that?" Draco demanded.
"This wrong is!" Vek exclaimed.
"Vek, you are not to let anyone know about what I'm doing." Draco said. "That is a direct order! Now go get my violin."
Draco waited until Vek was out of the room before resuming his packing. He put a few folders full of compositions and one full of blank sheet music before repacking the pants. He always tended to over pack, just in case. When Vek came back into the room, Draco had just finished packing away his music orbs.
Draco slung the pack over his shoulder and took the case from Vek. He smiled at the sad house elf. "I'll be back tomorrow afternoon."
"Fun have Draco Master." Vek said as he left the room.
Draco watched him leave then shifted the violin case to his other hand. He left the room and walked down to the breakfast room. He poked his head in and told his mother he was going out before going to the stables. He found Fwella waiting for him with a saddle on her back.
/You're wearing shoes./ She remarked.
"You're wearing a saddle."
She glared. /I told the stupid house elf I wanted the riding pad so he puts on a saddle. Only he was smart enough to leave before I bit him./
"Doesn't matter love." Draco said, climbing into the saddle. "Grygru won't care one way or the other." And that was the last Draco said before they took off towards the lake.
Fwella did fly towards the lake for a while before turning and flying towards the Burrow, as Draco learned Ron's home was called.
After they landed, Draco took the saddle and hackamore off Fwella so she could take off again. He then left them by the back door before letting himself into the kitchen. He found Ron going over his school lists in the living room. Draco had gotten his yesterday but hadn't yet gone to Diagon Alley for the items.
"Hey." Draco said as he sat on the couch. It was only the second time Draco had ever been in Ron's home and he was constantly struck by how different it was to what he was used to.
"Mum'll not be happy when she sees these." Ron said, waving the papers he held. "Even though it's only Gin and I now, it's still a lot."
Draco wisely decided not to comment on Ron's economical status. He did, however, comment on the showy artic owl sleeping by the fireplace.
"Oh, that's Hedwig. She's Harry's." Ron said. "She's waiting for me to write a reply to Harry. She always waits around for replies. He's been sending her every week all summer. I think it's especially hard on him since Sirius died."
"Sirius Black?" Draco asked.
"Yeah." Ron said with a nod. "That was a god-awful night."
Draco knew all about that night from his father so he didn't comment. "You want to listen to some music?" He asked as he slipped his bag off.
Ron looked at Draco with empty eyes for a moment before he nodded. "What do you have?"
"I think some Sugarcult is in order." Draco said as he pulled out the box of orbs. He pulled out a sickly yellow one and turned it on. Pretty soon Draco and Ron were jumping around the living room having a bash of their own. After they jumped, danced and horsed around, they couldn't help but fall to the ground, out of breath.
"How'd you ever hear of this group?" Ron asked, his voice airy from being breathless. "I don't hear a single magical note at all."
Draco rolled onto his back and stared up at the ceiling. He rearranged himself until he found a comfortable position. Ron realized that Draco would do just about anything to buy time to think before answering sometimes. "They're muggle." Draco answered at last.
Ron sat up on his elbow and faced Draco. "Muggle?"
Draco shrugged. "I have a very eclectic taste in music." He thought for a moment. "Truth be told, most of the stuff I listen to is a muggle group or also has a muggle fan-base as well as magical."
"You?" Ron asked. "You, Mr. Muggle-born Hating, Pure-blood Fanatic listen to mostly muggle groups? Why don't I believe it."
Ron could tell by the way Draco shifted that he wasn't pleased. "I don't hate muggles or muggle-borns. I just don't think that anyone muggle raise should learn magic."
"But look at Hermione. Not even you can deny she's brilliant." Ron argued.
"And look at just the past one hundred years. Look at Hitler!" Draco argued back, sitting up. "That bastard was muggle raised and then taught magic when he was around our age. Look at what he did with that little bit of magic he'd learn!"
"One man a half century ago doesn't prove anything." Ron said.
Draco's jaw snapped together and his eyes narrowed. "I know you've heard of Tom Riddle." Draco said. "Muggle raised and half muggle himself. He was taught magic and now who is he? He's Voldermort. The Great Dark Lord. At this very moment he's either on, or planning, a killing spree. Just like the ones he headed when we weren't born yet." Ron was quiet as Draco stopped for a moment. "And you can't deny that he's brilliant." He sneered.
Silence would have reigned if not for the orb still churning out 'Hate Every Beautiful Day' into the room. The minutes ticked by as they stared into each others eyes.
"Please don't call him that in my home." Ron said softly, breaking the silence.
Draco stiffed and stood up. "Fear of the name only increases the fear of the thing itself." He said, unknowingly quoting Hermione.
"I still prefer 'You-Know-Who' to 'The Great Dark Lord.'" Ron said.
"Shit." Draco muttered. "I called him that?"
Ron nodded, he wasn't sure what was going on or going through Draco's head. "Yes."
"Double shit." Draco said, louder than before. He looked back up at the ceiling. "I didn't mean to." He said in way of apology and semi-explanation.
Ron had a sudden, tiny epiphany. "You don't like him do you? You don't want to be a Death Eater."
Draco squatted next to the now sitting Ron. He rolled his sleeve up "Feel there." He said, pointing at the exposed skin.
Ron looked at the pale, blemish-free skin before slowly putting his finger tips lightly on the skin. To his surprise, there were slight rises in the skin, as if it was scarred. He ran his fingers over the area and found the intricate lines of the scar.
"It's what the to-be Death Eaters get marked with." Draco said casually. "I got it last year."
"So you are going to be a Death Eater." Ron said. "But why let me know this?"
"I didn't want it." Draco said, pulling his arm away and rolling his sleeve back down. "That's what I wanted you to know."
"So I guess that answers my question." Ron said.
"And now it's time to eat! I'm so hungry I could eat Fwella's tack." Draco said, standing back up and pulling Ron with him. "I'm guessing that this is a spirits free zone."
"Why would you say that?" Ron asked as he led Draco to the kitchen.
"Oh just the fact that your twin brothers live here." Draco said. "I wouldn't trust yeast around those two, let alone some already fermented."
Ron laughed. "My mum has the same opinion. So, yes, this is a spirits free zone."
"You know," Ron said, sitting on the kitchen table. "You talk differently outside of school."
"Really?" Draco asked, opening and closing cabinets. "How so?"
"I don't really know. I've just noticed that you talk different when you're outside of school." Ron said with a shrug.
"I also act differently, if you didn't notice that." Draco said.
"I did. I just didn't want to comment." Ron said.
"Liar." Draco said with a smile in his voice.
"I did notice you act differently!" Ron protested. "You're more relaxed. More open. Dare I say, happier?"
Draco snorted. "Everyone is more relaxed and open when they're in a comfortable surrounding. Some people are comfortable at school, but I'm comfortable around the Manor."
"You're not comfortable at school?" Ron asked.
"What is this? Question Draco About Everything Day? And no. I'm not particularly comfortable at school."
"Third cabinet from your left." Ron said. "Care to tell why?"
"No, I care not." Draco said. "We'll just leave it at that I grew up alone and prefer to be alone."
Ron was quiet as Draco dug through the boxes in the cabinet Ron had suggested. "How about we make a deal?"
"For what?" Draco asked, standing up with a handful of cookies.
"School starts in two weeks." Ron said. "Let's make a deal about school."
"What kind of deal?" Draco asked, eating a cookie.
Ron thought a moment. "We don't provoke each other and you act like you are now."
"What do you mean, 'like I am now?'" Draco asked, biting another cookie.
"I mean, like you are now. Nice, civilized, friendly." Ron said, walking over to Draco.
"I have a reputation to uphold." Draco said.
"One built on lies and prejudice." Ron pointed out.
"I'm a hypocrite. Do you think that matters?" Draco said.
"It's one built by your father." Ron said. "Besides, won't it be a great way to get back at him for whatever you're rebelling against. Start thinking on your own."
Draco looked at Ron for a long moment. "You have the makings of a Slytherin." He said.
"I don't know if that's a compliment or not." Ron said, taking a cookie from Draco.
"It is." Draco said.
"Then thank you."
"No problem."
"But about the deal?" Ron asked.
"What do I get in return for doing this?" Draco asked.
"What do you want?" Ron asked.
Draco thought a moment. "Times when you and I are together, just us. So I can have a normal conversation."
"Okay. So the deal is this." Ron said, eating his cookie. "You act nice and civilized,"
"Most of the time." Draco cut in.
"Most of the time." Ron agreed. "And in return, I hang with you, one on one."
"On my terms and times?" Draco asked.
"Sure. On your terms and times." Ron agreed.
Draco gave Ron a genuine smile. "Deal." He said sticking out the hand that didn't have any cookies in it.
"Deal." Ron said, shaking Draco's hand.
"Now, let's listen to something else. The night's still young and this is a birthday bash for you!" Ron said, walking back towards the living room.
"And it's sure as hell a lot more fun than what my mum had planned." Draco said.
Draco raised his last cookie and was about to take a bite when it disappeared from his fingers. He looked down at his hand, then back up at Ron. Ron was grinning like a Cheshire cat, holding the cookie.
"Hey! That's mine!" Draco said.
"It's mine now." Ron said, still grinning.
"Give it back!" Draco said, taking a step forward.
"Ye-No." Ron said, shaking his head. He then took a giant bite out of the cookie before finishing it. "Hmm. Good cookie."
"Bastard!" Draco mock hissed. "This means war!"
"War?" Ron asked suddenly puzzled.
Draco didn't answer, he just slammed a pillow into Ron's face.
Ron blinked at Draco a moment before picking up another pillow. "Oh now you've done it! This is war!"
"Revolution!" Draco yelled in a bad French accent. Ron started to laugh and run as Draco chased after him with a pillow.
It was later when they were laying on Ron's bed. The pillow war had taken them all over the house and into Ron's bedroom where Draco claimed victory. Draco was laying on the bed with Ron sitting on the floor next to him.
"We have a piano." Ron said suddenly.
"So?" Draco asked with a yawn.
"Play for me." Ron said.
"Why should I?" Draco asked. Ron rolled his eyes. He'd forgotten how protective of his music Draco was.
"Because you promised to play the piano part of the violin part that you played that one day." Ron said, moving onto his knees. He rested his arms on the bed and looked at Draco.
"As I recall, I said I might let you hear it one day."
"Well, that 'might' is a yes and that 'one day' is today." Ron said, getting up.
"Why do you want me to play for you? Draco asked. He was comfortable up until the moment Ron grabbed his arm and began to pull him.
"Because I do." Ron said, leading Draco from his room and towards the end of the hall. He opened a door that opened up to stairs to the attic. They walked up the stairs and into a fairly cluttered room. With Draco's help, they navigated the room even though it had very limited lighting. When they reached one side, Ron opened another door and they stepped through. When Ron closed the door behind him and struck a match to light the candles throughout the room.
"When I was younger, I'd come up into here to get away from the rest of the family. Back when the whole family lived at home no one ever got a moments peace." Ron told Draco.
When he finished lighting the candles, the room was awash in a cheery glow. The one window in the room was in the ceiling and was letting in moonlight. The room had boxes covering the walls and in one corner, Draco saw a dusty upright piano.
"Does it still play?" Draco asked.
"Last I knew it did. And I think it's still in tune." Ron said.
"I'll be the judge of that." Draco said, pushing up his sleeves. "Now go get my bag while I check this thing out."
Ron stayed long enough to watch Draco walk over to the piano. He ran his fingers over the keys lightly and then pressed one down. Ron saw him cringe before he left. Ron hurried through the attic room and down the stairs. He ran down the stairs to the bottom floor of the house. It took a few minutes but he found the bag fairly easy. He carried the bag up the stairs and back to Draco. When he walked back into the room Draco was playing warm up scales.
"Grab the blue folder." Draco said without turning around. He smoothly slipped into another scale of keys. He stopped playing when Ron handed him the folder.
Draco opened it up and rummaged through it. He pulled out a handful of sheets after a while and threw the folder to the ground. He shifted through the papers, rearranging them to his liking before placing them onto the piano's music stand.
Ron sat on a wooden chest nearby with his back against the wall. Draco stretched his arms and fingers before turning to Ron. "Keep quiet and hold your comments to the end."
"Sure thing." Ron said with a nod. Draco soon dismissed him as he turned back to the piano.
Ron noticed Draco tap his foot in rhythm before beginning to play. When he began to play, the room was filled with the sounds. Ron could perfectly see how the violin would accompany this melody. Only, the piano told one side of the story while the violin told another. It was the tale of a love abandoned for something not nearly as good. Even to Ron's untrained ear, it was beautiful beyond reason. And when it was over Ron clapped enthusiastically.
"Like it?" Draco asked, half amused, half anxious.
"It was bloody brilliant!" Ron declared.
"Good. Glad you liked it. Because right now, I'm tired and I want to go to bed." Draco said.
Ron laughed. "But it's still early." He argued.
"If you can convince me to stay up later by the time we reach your room, I will." Draco said.
Four hours later, Draco and Ron fell into an exhausted sleep on Ron's bed.
Lalalala!!! To be continued in three weeks time!! But maybe you could convince me to update sooner with many reviews? (snicker: I love bribes)
Thanks, as always, to:
NZ-Juxtapose!!!!!!!! Thank you so much!! I hope you continue to enjoy this!
Faint Hate!!!! Lol, the excuse was no problem. I make things up like that all the time. It's not lying or an excuse if you believe it, right? Heh, yes, yes, those damn nymphs.
I Heart DM 11!!!! A little more Ron/Draco here. Hehehe. I love the implications in the last line in this chapt. In fact, I might be convinced to do a special on what exactly it took to convince him. But only if I'm asked (coughbribedcough) nicely. Heh.
ElvenGirl2!! Lol, you're so weird, my friend. If I didn't know you, I'd be confused beyond all doubts. But, yes, a lot of reviews should keep coming too. Hint Hint.