Chapter 19

Draco woke, blinking around wearily, looking for the source of the irritating sound. He spotted Snape leaning one shoulder casually against the stone wall, knocking on the headboard of his bed with a bemused smirk on his face. He stopped knocking and folded his arms across his chest as he saw that Draco was awake.

"Bloody hell!" Draco growled, scrubbing his fingers through his hair. "Everyone keeps telling me to get some rest, then they keep waking me up! Make up your bloody minds!" He said, pulling Ginny a bit closer and trying to go back to sleep.

She woke as well, her eyes going wide as she looked up at Snape, horrified.

Draco felt the tension in her and chuckled. "Calm down. It's just Snape."

Ginny looked between Draco and Snape, dumbfounded. Surely a teacher would be shocked and upset finding two students in bed together? Ok, Dumbledore hadn't been upset, but they had been in the Hospital Wing and fully dressed that time!

Snape's smirk widened. "We're not quite as prudish in Slytherin, Miss Weasley. If you want to shag him into a coma to get him to rest, I suppose that it is as valid a method as any. In fact, its probably the easiest way in his case." He said, obviously very amused.

Her jaw dropped.

"Just came to see if you wished to stay here or return to Gryffindor tonight. From the way the other students have been today, I wouldn't suggest returning to your own House, but it's your decision." Snape said offhandedly.

"Stay HERE?" She asked, surprised. Her staying overnight in the hospital wing was nothing that unusual... but in SLYTHERIN HOUSE?

"Yes... well I can see how this would be a difficult decision for you..." He said, a hint of sarcasm creeping into his voice, "Either I can tell your head of house that Mr. Malfoy still needs looking after and that you will bunk in a cot here for the duration, send house elves to fetch some of your things, and leave you here to shag your little possessed lover all you want... or you can return to your precious tower, get taunted, ridiculed, and possibly even have some nasty pranks pulled on you as they have been doing with your dear brother..." He shrugged. "As I said, completely up to you."

"Um..." She said, biting her lip and looking over at Draco. She knew it would be even worse later if she stayed there... but then again... she wasn't sure she could face going back to Gryffindor yet... "I... think I want to stay here... for tonight at least..." She said tentatively. She could test the waters out tomorrow during classes before deciding any further ahead than that.

He nodded. "Only logical course really... but then I never know what's going on in the minds of you Gryffindors, so I thought I'd check first." He said, shifting away from the wall.

"And next time knock at the DOOR." Draco growled.

Snape snorted. "I DID knock at the door. Not my fault you didn't hear me. Besides, YOU are hardly the one to be lecturing anyone on knocking!"

Draco chuckled. "You aren't required to knock before entering a classroom!" Draco said with a wide smirk.

"Can I help it if she has a thing for classrooms?" Snape asked with a wicked smirk. "And I would have thought that a bright boy like you would have figured out that it would be best to knock before entering MY classroom after the first time! But we're off the subject..." Snape said with amusement. "Get some sleep and take care of yourself. I expect to see you EATING at EVERY mealtime as well!"

"Yes mother." Draco said mirthfully, snuggling up to Ginny.

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Ron made his way into the library wearily. It had been a VERY long day. By now he was quite longing to be ignored again. He had never heard so many 'snake lover' jokes and lewd comments in his life, and ever since what had happened at breakfast he hadn't touched food or drink that hadn't come directly from a house elf. They, at least, weren't against him.

He eyed the other students in the library warily, but they all appeared to be oblivious to his presence. He wasn't one for studying, but anything was better than hanging around the Gryffindor common room right now. Actually, his bedroom was the worst. Seamus and Dean both seemed dead set against him. Neville at least didn't seem to bear any ill-will towards him, but wasn't likely to make his opinions known, preferring to just stay away when they were having a go at Ron. The part that bugged him most about being in his room though was that every time he went in there Harry always seemed to be there... and he just kept glaring it him with silent anger the whole time. It was unsettling.

Ron walked along the shelves until he found the section on charms. He had an essay to write on Preserving charms. Pretty dry subject, and it wasn't actually due until Thursday, but he welcomed the distraction. It took him a couple of minutes to find the book he wanted, then he picked a seat away from the others, settling down and taking off his school bag. He flipped it open, reaching in it for some parchment and a quill, then jerked his arm back out with a cry of pain. He dropped the bag onto the floor and jumped up on his chair as dozens of snakes poured out of his bag. They slithered away, disappearing once they got a few yards away from the bag. The other students, who he now realized had been watching and waiting covertly, burst out into laughter.

"What's the matter Weasley?" Dean called over, "Your little snake friends turn on you?"

Ron scowled at him angrily, then eyed the dozen or so puncture wounds on his arm that were now dribbling blood freely. He stepped up onto the long table and walked far enough along it so the remaining snakes couldn't get him before jumping down and stalking off, heading for the hospital wing, already feeling queasy from the bites.

As he left the library, he spotted Harry leaning casually against the wall in a shadowy alcove, watching him with an unnerving little smirk. Ron paused. The look on Harry's face was just a little too knowing... he began wondering just who had cursed his bag...

"Getting in a little bit of studying Weasley?" Harry asked with a malicious smirk.

Ron narrowed his eyes. "Did you do that?"

Harry looked at him with an obviously effected look of innocent shock. "Me? Why Weasley, you wound me." He said, then his expression turned darker. "So quick to try to lay blame for your every misfortune on the one you betrayed. It's sad to think I once believed you were my friend... how foolish of me..."

Ron glowered at him. "I was your friend! I'd like to say I still am, but I'm not so sure about that anymore. All I did was tell the truth, Harry. You act like I was making things up to make you look bad. YOU'RE the one who made you look bad!"

Harry walked over towards him. It may have just been the snake bites effecting him, but for some reason Harry's slow, stealthy approach made Ron want to back away. He held his ground, despite the almost overwhelming sense of immanent danger that inexplicably filled him.

Harry came to a stop bare inches before him. "Truth is a matter of opinion, Weasley." Harry said in a low, growling voice. It was a tone Ron had never heard him use before, full of rage and hatred. "That despicable prat doesn't even deserve to LIVE, let alone deserve the benefit of your misbegotten opinions. I suggest you reexamine your views and make some adjustments, because all this betrayal is getting you is the loss of respect and support from your friends... do you really think Malfoy gives a fuck about you? You really think he gives a fuck about ANYONE? It's quite obvious he's somehow slithered his way into your sister's knickers already... what are you going to do in a month or two when you find yourself a friendless outcast, with a sister who's knocked up and emotionally destroyed? Hmm? Sound like a pleasant scenario, does it Weasley?"

"That's not going to happen!" Ron growled, angry despite the growing buzzing that had started filling his head.

"Yes... I think I see it now... you think Zabini will be there to protect you I suppose..."

Ron's already paling face drained of it's remaining color. "What are you talking about?"

"Oh please Ron. We both know full well the benefits of the Maurader's Map. You really think I wouldn't watch to see where you went when you ran off from Gryffindor tower and didn't return all night?"

Ron opened his mouth, but could think of no way to refute it. He had no doubt Harry HAD been watching, and the map never lied.

"Tell me..." Harry said, his tone changing. Becoming softer, "Would you have 'told the truth' if I had been the one that shagged you that night?"

Ron's throat went dry. He didn't even try to respond to that. Harry couldn't possibly have known about the way he felt about him... could he? He was feeling quite dizzy by this point.

"If all you wanted was a shag, all you had to do was ask." Harry said in a soft, sensuous voice, "I could see the desire in your eyes all along... I kept waiting for you to come to me... but you never did... never had the balls to ask I suppose..." He said with a little smirk.

Ron wavered slightly, "Wha... what about Hermione?" He asked, unable to believe what Harry was saying.

Harry gave a little snort of laughter. "You didn't really think I was going to wait forever without getting a good shag or two, did you? I'm a teenaged boy for Merlin's sake! I have needs. If you aren't going to take care of them, that doesn't mean they go away on their own."

"So... so Hermione is..." Ron began, trying to clear his befuddled mind.

"A means to an end... just like you are for Blaise. Don't fool yourself. That slut is never going to truly care for you. He only shagged you because you were exceedingly easy." Harry said with a knowing smirk.

Ron staggered back, leaning heavily against the wall, "But... but..."

Harry chuckled. "This is about that night in your bed, isn't it?"

Ron blinked up at him, his jaw dropping. He couldn't possibly mean THAT night...?

Harry moved closer again. "I gave you the perfect opportunity and you threw it away... you wouldn't have even had to ask..."

"I... I wouldn't have... I could never..." Ron said, shocked by the implication. He might have liked a bit more kissing, but he never would have shagged him while he was passed out!

Harry chuckled. It wasn't a pleasant sound. "That's your problem, Weasley... you're always so worried about propriety... always too afraid to take what you want."

The corridor seemed to be spinning around him... the colors smearing together...

"What's going on here?" A distant voice demanded.

He vaguely heard Harry saying, "Just telling Ron he should go to the Hospital Wing. He isn't looking very well..."

Ron felt a little surge of anger at the boldfaced lie, but it became unfocussed and slipped away... along with everything else...

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Ron came suddenly awake as an acrid smell invaded his nose. He coughed, pulling his head away. He tried to focus his eyes... then thought perhaps that hadn't been a good idea. Snape sat in the chair at his bedside, eyeing him shrewdly while he recapped a small green bottle that had obviously been the source of the foul odor.

"Welcome back Mr. Weasley." He said sarcastically.

Ron sat up, the sudden movement making his head swim. "What...?" Ron said, trying to figure out what was going on. When his head cleared again he saw that he was in the Hospital Wing. Madam Pomfrey was bustling over with a tall black bottle, looking upset.

"He should have been brought to me right away! Another ten minutes and my best potions would have been useless!" She said briskly, measuring out a large spoonful of black, tar-like fluid from the bottle and thrusting it into his mouth without preamble. He grimaced, trying to force the foul stuff down his throat. It tasted a bit like burnt rubber. He glanced over at the bedside table, noting the large number of bottles there. He wondered just how many potions they had already used on him...

He looked over in surprise as Snape took ahold of his arm. He watched him fearfully as he pulled out his wand, waving the dark instrument over Ron's arm and muttering softly. Ron just watched, too afraid to pull away. After a moment, he felt an odd tugging. He watched in shock as a pair of three inch black fangs pulled free of the skin. At Snape's direction, they levitated over, then dropped with a clang into a waiting metal pan.

"Bloody hell..." Ron muttered as Snape began casting cleansing spells on the remaining wounds.

"One of your little pets was a magical Flame Adder, Mr. Weasley. They leave their fangs behind, continuously sending poison into their victims, magically regrowing a new set in mere seconds and ready to strike again." He said as he worked, falling into his teaching tone, "You have been given the antidote for the poison, but it would eventually have worn off, the fangs poisoning you over and over again until you had removed the fangs or cut off the effected limb. The fangs can only be removed using a very special incantation which, fortunately for you, I happen to know. Interestingly, the Adders are not flame colored..." He said distractedly as his wand started closing the small wounds, "They're actually jet black... the name 'Flame Adder' comes from the fact that their victims spontaneously combust at the moment of death, leaving nothing but a fine ash behind. They are extremely rare, and one of the few species who's venom can, and often does, prove fatal to wizards."

Ron swallowed hard. That didn't sound good at all. He hugged his aching arm to his chest once Snape had released it, feeling cold inside.

"Who wants you dead, Mr. Weasley?" Snape asked in a low tone, eyeing him shrewdly.

Ron dropped his eyes. He had a feeling... but he couldn't prove it... and he couldn't believe it... it had to have been an accident...

Snape sighed. "Very well. Keep it to yourself, but I might not be around next time to drag you to Madam Pomfrey. Think on that."

"Well, that's all I can do for you." Madam Pomfrey said, looking at him. He could have sworn there was a hint of sadness and worry in her eyes. Admittedly, it was his third visit to her that day, but the first two times were just minor nuisances really... of course the pranks magically endowed teens played on eachother were considered minor as long as they weren't immediately life threatening and could be reversed without lasting damage... "You can stay here the night if you want." She offered.

He looked at his watch. It was a little after curfew and he had classes in the morning. Considering it was a school night, everyone would probably be asleep already so he shouldn't have to deal with anyone, and he would have to go to his room sooner or later for his books and such anyway. Besides, if he stayed there he was sure it would just increase the teasing. They would say he was hiding. He might sleep better, but he didn't think it would be worth the aggravation later on.

"I'm fine..." He said tiredly, pulling aside the covers.

Pomfrey sighed and shook her head, making her way back towards her office. Snape stood and actually helped him to his feet. He looked up at the imposing man, unsure how to take the seeming kindness from someone who had always appeared to openly hate him.

Snape didn't release his arm right away. He looked troubled. Not something Ron was used to seeing in those cold black eyes. "If... for any reason... you should feel you are in any danger..." Snape said, his voice softer than Ron had ever heard it, "Don't hesitate to come to Slytherin Dungeon. Anyone in my House will allow you entrance."

Ron stared at him, shocked. "But... I'm not a Slytherin..."

"No... but you are in danger for speaking up for one. We all know this. It isn't often someone from a different house does that. You will be safe in Slytherin House. You have my word." Snape said, then inclined his head curtly and left.

Ron watched him go in shock. This was just getting stranger and stranger. It was like everything he knew was getting turned on it's ear and shaken for good measure. He rubbed his aching arm and made his way back towards Gryffindor Tower, his mind full of confusion.

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