A/N: Here we are, once again! This is actually two chapters combined into one, so...it's like a two for one special! Hope you all enjoy! Today we have...Alice 19th!

Nyozeka: I dunno if this qualifies as official Lotus Neo-masters business.

Alice: But it seems like fun! Right, Kyo?

Kyo: Sure, Alice. It sounds like lots of fun. smiles

Frey: It'd be alot more fun if I got a kiss for all this hard work. Alice?

Kyo: hits Frey over the head

Frey: How bout you Mei Pai Lin?

Mei Pai Lin: Kicks him in the shins

Frey: Mayura?

Mayura: shoots an arrow at him

Frey: Catmoongirl?

Catzy: Ooh, I would, but I can't betray Kyo...or Chris...

Kyo and Chris: What!

Catzy: Hee hee, I think Kyo's simply adorable and Chris and I...we're engaged!

Chris: When did that happen?

Nyozeka: Anyway...

Alice: Catmoongirl does not own

Kyo: Harry Potter

Frey: Any of it's characters or plot

Mayura: She does own

Mai Pei Lin: Tasha Donovan

Chris:And any original characters that may appear.

Enjoy!

Tasha blinked in surprise as her sudden impulse to yell at Ron to let her go melted away. His tenderness was like a radiating aura and washed over her in waves, a pulsating warm feeling in her chest…or was that the rapid beating of her heart? She had to stop him, but her body wouldn't comply. Instead, it was slowly leaning into Ron's, returning his kiss.He'll kill you both for this, her mind told her, you know that. You're betraying Him.

Flashes of her nightmare appeared in her mind, His fingers clutching her throat, His grip bruising her skin. He'd come after Ron when He was finished with her. She loved him too much to put Ron in that kind of trouble.

"No!" Tasha shouted, shoving him away and scrambling from his lap.

"What? What is it?" Ron asked as he tried to keep the chair from tipping backwards.

Tasha finally straightened herself out and stood up straight. "Just stay the hell away from me!" she yelled at the red head. Her hands clenched into fists at her side. "Stop following me! Don't talk to me! Don't come near me! Just leave me alone!"

Ron hung his head, his heart suddenly split in two. On any other occasion, he would have tried to stop her as she stormed out of the Common Room. He would have apologized, promised to be better, done something to make her happy. But he wouldn't do that for her anymore. He wasn't going to be her slave and get nothing from it. He wouldn't let her order him around anymore. He loved her, but she didn't love him back.

He loved her…and he let her go.

Draco shook his head as Tasha descended the stairs from the Girls Dorm the next morning. "Why the hell would you yell at Weasley that way? You know he likes you…a lot. He was simply acting on impulse when he kissed you. You shouldn't have gotten mad at him."Tasha glared at him as she threw her bag over her shoulder. "I know that, alright?" she snapped. "I'm going to apologize. I was in a terrible mood last night. I overreacted."

"Overreacted…that's an understatement. You were like a hydrogen bomb! Kaboom!"

They made their way out of the Common Room and towards the Great Hall.

When they arrived, Hermione, Ginny, Ron, and Harry were waiting for them outside the massive hall. Hermione rushed into Draco's arms to give him his good morning kiss. Tasha rolled her eyes. Hermione used everything she could as an excuse to kiss him. One for morning, one for breakfast, one for lunch and dinner, one for studying…the list was never-ending. With a deep breath for courage, Tasha walked up to Ron, ready to apologize profusely.

"Ron…"she started, trying her best to meet his gaze. "About last night-"

"No, don't apologize for it." Ron interrupted. "Don't say anything. I really liked you Tasha. You know that. I did everything for you, I carried your books, gave you gifts, showered you with praise. Every time I knew you were wrong, I told you that you were right. Every time you were upset, I changed myself to make you happy. I don't even know who I am anymore. I can't change for you anymore Tasha. I won't bend to your will anymore. You don't appreciate it and I'm sick of how you aren't even the least bit grateful. I'm sorry; I can't be your friend anymore. I think it'd be best if we just went back to the way it was before. You and I keep our distance."

Tasha stared at him in disbelief. His words were slowly ripping her heart out.

I'm sorry; I can't be your friend anymore. I don't even know who I am anymore. I won't bend to your will anymore.

Everything was beginning to slowly fall apart…her life was unraveling slowly and she had no way to salvage all the tangled threads. Tears spilled from her eyes and rolled down her cheeks, silent jewels of sadness that shattered into pieces of agony as they landed on her robe and blouse.

She wanted him to look away, to stop gazing at her with that disappointed look that spoke so loudly of refusal and alienation.

"I hate you…Ron Weasely…" she whispered, looking at her feet. "You won't even give me the benefit of pushing you away…you had to steal that from me as well."
She turned away and began to make her way back to the Common Room. She wouldn't sit in the same room with that stupid Weasley now. She couldn't bear to…

"Tasha, wait…" Ginny pleaded, putting a hand on her shoulder.

Tasha turned around, slapping the other girl's hand away. "Don't touch me you filthy Weasel! Just leave me alone!" Her anger flared and she could no longer contain it. "You're all just traitors! Go ahead…exclude me…while you're relishing in my pain, just remember that those who betray others ROT IN HELL!" She ran off, dropping her bag, books spilling onto the floor.

Ron turned away, shaking his head, ready to fill his stomach with breakfast when Draco suddenly grabbed his shirt collar and shoved him roughly against the wall. "You jerk! What the hell have you done to her!"

Ron glared at the pale haired boy. "Let go of me…" he stated calmly.

"I trusted you! I trusted you wouldn't hurt her! Look what you've done to her!" Draco's eyes flashed dangerously as he shouted at Ron, looking positively livid.

Hermione pulled at Draco's shoulders, but could not get him to release Ron. "Draco, please!"

"You're going to apologize to her." Draco ordered, "You're going to treat her with the respect she deserves."

"I'll do nothing of the kind, Malfoy, now put me down."

Draco dropped Ron and stepped back. Ron dusted off his shirt and looked up. "Are you finished?"

"No," Draco stated before kicking Ron squarely in the head, knocking him to the ground. "Now I'm done. Come on, Hermione, let's go."

Hermione looked nervously between her departing boyfriend and her best friend. Ron really had no reason to say such things to Tasha and Draco had good reason to give Ron such a beating. She followed her instincts and went with Draco.

Ginny shook her head. "Ron, you are truly an idiot…"

Ron sat up, his nose bleeding." What!" he yelled, outraged. "You're siding with him!"

"Damn right I am." She followed Hermione and Draco.

Ron looked to Harry. "Harry, mate, you believe me, right? I did the right thing, don't you think?"

Harry shook his head. "Ron, you went overboard…you didn't even listen to her. Didn't you stop to think that maybe she was afraid last night? Maybe the reason she yelled was because she was so confused and scared? No, you didn't and now you have to live with your mistake."

Harry walked away after the rest of the group

Tasha kept her head bowed as she sat at her usual table at the library. Her red locks fell in front of her face, hiding the long purple bruise running along her cheek bone, her black eye, and the cut on her forehead. She winced as she hit the bruise on her elbow again. She put her quill down, giving up on finishing her essay. She'd complete it over breakfast tommorow. She had planned on getting it done last night, but He had come for another visit.

Tasha curled into a ball, trying to protect herself from the terrible abuse. The toe of His boot kept ramming itself into her spine.

"You wench…you betrayed me!" He shouted, grabbing her wrist, pulling her roughly to her feet.

"No…I didn't…" Tasha whimpered. "I swear I didn't. I stopped him, I pushed him away."

He glared at her, his eyes glowing with flames of malice.

Then to Tasha's surprise, the flames softened to embers and He gave her what she guessed what supposed to be a soothing smile. "You're right, this must be some plan of yours, isn't it?"

Tahsa nodded, hoping He wouldn't see through her lie. "That's right…it's a plan…"

"Good, carry it out as you see fit. I shall return another night." He then dropped her onto the floor, and her head met sharply with the wooden floor. The world spun before her eyes and she retched violently, nausea overtaking her. Then, pain and exauhstion consumed her and she collapsed, darkness pressing against her eyes.

Tasha had been rushed to the Hospital Wing by the girls in her dorm. Madame Pomprey had asked about her injuries. Tasha said she had fallen down the stairs and had tried to make it back to her dorm before passing out on the floor. The nurse seemed skeptical but didn't press any further inquiries. Now, here in the sunlight of the beautiful Sunday morning, Tasha stuffed her things back into her new bag. She had never found the other one, or it's contents. She had left it sitting on the floor outside of the Great Hall the previous day.

"Hey," a voice said softly above her.

Tasha looked up to see Ron's warm brown eyes looking down at her. He was holding her bag out to her. "I…uh…wanted to give this back to you…"

Tasha looked away and threw her other bag over her shoulder, trying to hide the scars on her face. " Keep it, I don't need it."

Ron suddenly dropped her bag and grabbed her shoulders, tilting her head upwards. At first, her heart began to race, thinking that he was about to kiss her. Her lips parted in anticipation against her will and her eyes half closed. But he gingerly touched the bruise on her cheek. "What happened to you? I heard you fell down the stairs but I doubt you could have gotten this from falling down stairs."

Tasha's heart sank and she gently pulled herself away; he had placed his grip directly on a large swelling cut on her arm. The muscles had twinged in pain for so long she had to rub the spot softly to make the throbbing stop. "I'm alright, really. Now can you just leave me alone?"

Ron hastily picked up Tasha's bag and put it over his shoulder, then before Tasha could say anything, scooped the young girl up into his arms and began carrying her out of the library. "Here, I'll take you back to the Common Room. The rest of us were planning to meet there anyway."

Tasha pushed against Ron and his strong arms. "Put me down, filthy Weasel!" She tried to make as much noise as possible so that Madame Pince would insist that Ron put her down but a hand closed over her mouth before she could say another word.

"Just be quiet, alright? I'm sorry for yesterday. Draco won't let me come back to the Common Room unless I bring you with me. So just be coopperative for now…"

Tasha bit down on Ron's fingers, causing him to withdraw his hand. "I don't want you near me! I told you that!" Ron had already gotten her out of the library, ignoring all the odd looks from the other students and now, Tasha was making noise just for the sake of being loud.

Ron rolled his eyes and placed the girl back onto her feet. "Fine, walk by yourself. But either way, you're coming with me."

Tasha leaned against the corridor wall for some slight support as she began to limp down the hall beside Ron, her leg stiff with pain.

Ron watched her, refusing to help her as she struggled to get down the corridor. She didn't want his help, so he wouldn't give her any aid. He was releasing himself from her hypnotic grip on his heart one small step at a time.

Draco sat on the couch in front of the fire in the Gryffindor common room, looking particularly upset. Harry and Ginny were sitting not to far off at a table, working on their essays for Transfiguration class. Hermione, who had been sitting next to Harry, helping him with his homework, stood up and began walking to the couch. "Draco, what's wrong? It's not like you to be so quiet."

Draco didn't look up at Hermione as she sat down next to him. Instead, he continued to stare into the crackling flames of the fireplace. "I'm waiting for Weasley. That git has a lot to explain."

Hermione sighed and lightly placed a hand on Draco's forearm. "Draco, you realize asking him to bring Tasha with him would probably hold him up?"

Draco grinned. "See, that's part of my genius. By having him bring Tasha here, we can sort this out. Then I won't have to worry about anything. But, if he can't convince Tasha to come, I don't have to look at Weasley's ugly face. It's a win-win situation."

"For you maybe," Hermione stated with a sigh. "For Ron and Tasha it's a lose-lose."

"Hermione," Draco started, turning to his girlfriend. "Do you honestly think the two of them will solve their problems on their own?"

Hermione smiled weakly. "Well, to be honest, I don't have very high expectations of Ron in a situation like this."

"Thanks, Hermione, I had no idea you cared so much."

Hermione turned towards the Common Room entrance upon hearing Ron's voice. Ron had just stepped inside the Common Room and was now offering his hand to Tasha, who was struggling along.

Tasha slapped his hand away. "I can do it myself, Weasel."

Ron pulled his hand away and made no further attempt to aid her as she entered.
Draco on the other hand, was at Tasha's side in a moment. He put his arm around her shoulder to support her. Tasha accepted his help and let him lead her to the table where Harry and Ginny sat.

At this sight, jealousy flared inside Ron against his will. It was as if Malfoy was stealing away everything he cared about. He unconsciously rubbed the spot on his head where Draco had kicked him. It twinged with pain and he quickly stopped.

"So," Tasha started as she sat down next to Ginny. "Why exactly did you ask Weasel to interrupt my studying?"

"You and Ron need to sort this out, Tasha," Ginny replied, tucking her red hair behind her ear. "We can't be forced to choose sides in this.

"It's not as if it's your problem anyway. As long as I don't have to look at Weasley again, I'll be fine."

Harry shook his head. "I don't see how that can be done. You and Ron have nearly all your classes together."

Tasha shrugged. "That's what blindfolds are for."

"Be serious," Draco ordered.

"I am serious."

Ron finally approached the table and spoke up. "What is there to solve? She used me. She took advantage of the fact that I liked her."

"So what?" Tasha responded coolly. "You didn't have a problem with it before."

Ron growled in frustration. "That's not the point. The point is that you're so bloody afraid of commitment, that you were willing to hurt me to avoid it."

Tasha stood up, nearly falling over as her leg burned with pain. "I'm not afraid of commitment!"

"Then why in the world would you push me away like that!"

Tasha narrowed her eyes. "If I thought you could handle it, I'd tell you."

Ron sighed in exasperation. "Don't talk to me like I'm a child."

Then, Ginny shot up and Tasha sensed an aura of rage around her. "Will you two just stop it? This isn't right! Tasha, please just tell him the truth!"

Tasha's anger faded and she suddenly became meek and timid. "Ginny, you know I can't do that," she said softly.

"Why not? You told me.""Because if I tell him, He'll kill all of us!"

Ginny suddenly put everything together. It all made sense now. Tasha had confided in Ginny alone. And because of that, Ginny's life was now in danger. If she told Ron and something went wrong, all three of them were likely to withstand the worst of the mistake.

Ginny looked around at everyone. Ron was looking confused, Harry looked almost sympathetic as if he was beginning to understand Tasha's dilemma, and Hermione and Draco looked eager to do whatever they could to help their friend in her plight.

"Tasha," Ginny whispered. "Tell them."

"I can't -"

"Yes, you can!" Ginny shouted. "Look around you Tasha! We're all here for you! We're all willing to help! Harry and I may not know exactly what you're going through, but at least we have an idea! You think we won't help? We'll do everything we can to protect you!"

Tasha hung her head. "Ginny, you may be right...but...Ron is already in too deep. I'm afraid I can't tell you the truth yet. It's just not the right time. I care for all of you. And right now, telling you would cost you your lives. I refuse to sully my hands with your blood."

Despite the current tension between the two, Tasha and Ron met on Friday after classes to continue their tutoring. Tasha's injuries had been healed by Madame Pompfrey against Tasha's will the day before. Ron wasn't sure why Tasha insisted on keeping her bruises and scars but he didn't pry.

The conversation between Tasha and Ron was short and Tasha usually dominated the conversation, instructing Ron on proper charm casting. Whenever Ron spoke, his responses were brief, muttering the occasional "yes's" and "Hmm's". If he didn't speak, he just nodded. This was extremely unnerving to Tasha and she didn't think it improved the current situation between them.

"So," Tasha explained. "When combining the two incantations together, you have to remember to combine the proper wand waves as well, understand?"

"Whatever," Ron mumbled, his chin resting on his hands.

Tasha sighed and snapped the large charms book shut, causing Ron to jump slightly.

"Look, I'm sorry, okay?"

Ron looked over at the red head out of the corner of his eye. "Sorry doesn't always fix things."

Tasha rolled her eyes and crossed her arms over her chest. "And neither does the silent treatment."

Ron shook his head and began to put his things in his back. "That's it, I'm out of here."

Tasha jumped to her feet. "You're just afraid, you coward." she hissed at him.

Ron shot her a cold glare. "Don't assume you know what I'm thinking, you lousy snake.

If you weren't so afraid to just tell me the truth about what the heck is going on, there wouldn't even be a problem."

Tasha's hands clenched into fists. "Don't you dare Ronald Weasley," Tasha snapped, tears welling up in her eyes. "Don't start with that."

Ron jumped up as something inside him snapped. All the deception and secrecy had finally gotten to him. At that moment, he didn't know anyone he was more upset at than this belligerant Slytherin. "I'll start what I want. I'm tired of this two-timing behavior of yours. I wish you'd just come out and tell me what the matter is."

People in the library were already beginning to glance over at the two of them curiously.

It probably didn't help that Ron's comment pushed Tasha to screaming.

"I can't tell you, Ron!" she yelled, her voice echoing in the quiet library. "I want to, I want to tell anyone! But most of all I want to tell you! But I can't!"

Ron's anger softened only slightly as she began to cry, her shoulders convulsing as sobs choked her voice. "Tasha, keep it down..." He looked around nervously at all the onlookers of their argument. "Nothing to see here," he stated, waving his hands in a gesture for them to go about their business. "Just go on, keep studying or reading or whatever it is you people do."

Many of the people went back to work with the occasional frightened glance at the disruptive pair but some even moved to tables farther from them, as if they were afraid a fight would break out.

Ron rolled his eyes and put a hand on Tasha's shoulder. "Just sit down," he told her. "Just sit and calm down."

Tasha brushed his hand away and sat down, wiping her cheeks with the back of her hands to rid her face of her tears. "This is all your fault."

"How is it my fault!" Ron exclaimed quietly as he sat as well.

Tasha looked up at him and she could have sworn she heard her heart shatter. He was looking at her with an expression of extreme curiousity and she thought she saw a glimmer of tenderness in his gaze. She wanted to tell him everything, pour out all that was going on to him. But if He found out she did, He'd kill Ron just to get even and perhaps He'd even kill her. She was probably expendable by now. "I-I can't tell you, Ron. Please, you have to understand."

Ron sighed. "I figured that's what you'd say. Listen, Tasha, I'm tired."

Tasha raised an eyebrow curiously. "Then take a nap. What does that have to do with anything?"

Ron clenched his hands in frustration. "No, Tasha, I'm tired mentally. From all of this. The only reason I don't want to be near you is because I don't feel like being hated. You hate me so much and I can't stand it. I want to hate you too...I really do...but I can't."

Tasha's mind was reeling with confusion. What was he saying? Was this his way of telling her that he...

"What are you tired from Ron?"

The Weasley boy looked up at her and sighed. "Can we just...start over? Go back to the way it used to be? I'll even stop giving you gifts if that's what you want..."

Tasha shook her head. "Ron, you can't take back what you said."

"I know I can't," Ron admitted. "But I can ask for forgiveness. Can you forgive me?"

Tasha looked away. "I can try to...but I can't guarantee you..."

"That's more than I deserve," Ron stated and stood up. "Well, I'm gonna head back up to the Common Room. I promised Harry I'd meet him and Ginny for some Wizards' Chess."

Tasha stood and slung her messanger bag over her shoulder. "Me too. Draco should be getting back from his date with Hermione soon. He'll prolly wanna talk to me."

The two of them exited the library and made their way into the corridor.

Tasha turned to him when they reached the hallway that would take them their seperate ways. "I'm sorry for everything, okay?"Ron nodded and smiled slightly. "It's fine...I'm sorry too..." Then he conjured up a beautiful blue rose and leaned over, placing it in her hair behind her ear. "Goodbye, Tasha."

Tasha felt her heart skip a beat as she placed a gentle kiss on her cheek.

Then he turned and began to walk away.

Tasha watched him walk away, thoughts running through her head.

You could cover it up, you know.

No, I couldn't

You know the spell. And what would it hurt? No one would know, right?

But what if He finds out?

Hey, if it's not in writing, you can always deny, deny, deny

Tasha groaned in frustration and finally gave in. "Ron!" she called, running after the boy. "Wait!"

Ron turned as Tasha finally came up to him, looking concerned. "What is it? Did you forget something?"

Tasha took a deep breath. She was about to take the plunge into very dangerous waters. "How would you like to go on a date with me tommorow?"

Ron smiled. "I'd love to..." he stated simply. "I'll meet you out front tommorow before everyone leaves for Hogsmeade."

Tasha nodded, slightly stunned. "Yeah...okay..."

Ron turned and continued on. "I'll see you then!" He said, turning back to look at her.

I hope you all liked it! I worked hard on this piece. Reviews are great! Next chapter is the big date! Which is actually quite long...