Disclaimer: I don't own it.

Right. Sorry for the delay folks. But I'm back. On a library computer no less. My home one broke. Right I have a choice for you, as my audience. Do you want a Ron/Draco slash or just a friendship. I'm leaning towards slash myself. But its up to you I can go either way.

Have fun reading and don't forget to review.

The Other Way

I woke the next morning to the smell of bacon. I frowned, pushed off the quilt and staggered down to the kitchenette, wondering what the hell Malfoy was playing at-did he not sleep at all?

I stared at the plate of toast and eggs on the table. Malfoy was standing by the cooker, poking the bacon around with a fork. "What's this?" I asked.

Malfoy started, nearly scalding himself with the bacon grease when the pan moved too fast. He turned, lifting the pan off and putting the bacon onto the plate. He didn't answer me. But at least he didn't seem to think I would hurt him anymore.

A definite step up.

He sat down, and waited for me to sit and eat, it was like he was saying "Thank you" without the words. I took the seat in front of the plate.

"Your not hungry?" I asked

He shook his head slowly.

"Yes you are." I told him. He looked up at me, startled, like I had just seen through his entire charade. "Look, grab a plate and take some of this."

He did as I asked and I scraped half the food onto it before eating mine. He ate it slowly, pickily. "Why won't you just tell the truth when I ask if your hungry? Did ha… he hit you if you did?" I asked.

Malfoy shook his head.

"Then why?"

He stayed silent and unmoving for a moment. Then he shrugged.

That struck me for a moment. It was the first time he had ever done it, and he didn't seem afraid of my reaction. I felt a stab of relief. I was making progress. "So your just a fussy eater then?" I continued after a heartbeat. "I suppose it's to be expected, what with you coming from a family who probably ate caviar for breakfast."

He was looking at me with a tiny frown, which disappeared and his head dropped when he saw I was watching.

There was a tapping at the window, I glanced over. An owl was hovering outside. I crossed the room to the window and let it in. it dropped a letter in my hands and flew over to Malfoy and ate his breakfast inside of him.

I ripped open the letter, but my attention was on Malfoy and that look of sadness that had washed over his face when he looked at the owl. I opened the parchment, read it quickly, and gasped. Startling Malfoy if the way the chair scraped across the floor was an indication. They'd found Harry-already-he was at St. Mungo's and he apparently didn't remember last night at all.

I looked over at Malfoy.

He was watching me carefully.

"They found Harry." I told him.

He looked down; his eyes went dull, lifeless, resigned.

Damn I hated that look! "It's ok; we won't make you go back to him. You don't even need to see him unless you want to. We're on your side Draco. Do you understand?"

He nodded, more because he felt he had to than he actually believed. I sighed to myself. "I'll take you back to the unit. Ruth will want to speak to you about last night."

He nodded again.

I finished my breakfast quickly and we flooed to the unit. I found Ruth quickly and pulled her aside.

"What's happening with Harry?" I asked her quietly.

"He's up getting a psychological examination done. He claims not to remember last night." She shook her head. "It doesn't make sense, but the results should be in fairly soon."

"I think I should go up."

"That wouldn't be a good idea Ronald." She warned.

"I need to know what's going on with him." I persisted.

"Ronald." She said pleasantly, sounding suspiciously like my mother had. "You can't get over involved. You know that."

"Damnit Ruth, I'm involved up to my neck because Harry is my friend and I need to know what's going on. The person who did that to Malfoy wasn't my best friend and I need to know what happened."

"You have a conflict of interests." Ruth sighed.

"Hell yeah I do!" I snapped. "Maybe you should hand Malfoy to Gerard, because this is going to get bloody stressful for me."

"Ronald, look at him."

I turned and looked at Malfoy and sighed. He had secluded himself beside the desk, ignoring all attempts at conversation. His eyes rose slowly to meet mine and fell away just as quickly.

"He doesn't want anybody else to help him Ronald. He doesn't trust anybody else. I doubt he'd let Gerard near him. You 'saved' him twice from Mr. Potter, which lets him know you're on his side."

"He doesn't act like it most of the time-all of the time. Damnit Ruth. We fought every time we saw each other in school." I sighed again. I wasn't going to win this argument. Sure, I wanted to help Malfoy, but I couldn't, not really. I was the best friend of the man who's done this. I didn't know why he didn't just run screaming every time he saw me.

"Ronald, I know this will be hard. But I think it's important you stay with him on this."

I sighed again-It was really starting to irritate me that sound. "Fine-I'll keep him on, but it mightn't help."

She nodded. "I'm not saying don't go and see Mr. Potter, just be aware that for the moment Mr. Malfoy is your first priority."

I nodded. "Fine. But I still want to know what's wrong with Harry."

Ruth smiled. "Go on then. We'll get him set up in another room."

I smiled my thanks and made my way out. I could feel Malfoys eyes on me the whole way. Then I was in the halls and heading for the psychiatric ward.

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