Chapter Eleven - Death of My Lover

AN: I feel so extremely happy that I'm getting reviews! Thank you everyone. A special thanks to Kaimei for their numerous reviews, and adding a bit of a smile to my face with the description "The Boy-Who-Lived being shagged into a wall by the Prince of Slytherin." I love it.

Also, thank you to JettHead, who, as they have stated before, doesn't exactly agree on the sexual orientation of the character, yet still adds me to their favourites and continues to review! Thank you! THANK YOU EVERYONE! It means the world to open my inbox and find out that people appreciate my work.

The cold winds whipped the already raw faces of the Hogwarts students trudging down the hill into Hogsmede for their holiday trip. The usual track of three sets of footprints were only two, and Harry and Ron found themselves, once again, Hermione-less. Harry had neglected, purposely, telling Ron what had happened. He felt awful enough having those lies spew from him once, he didn't need to relive it. Ron was unusually quiet that day, and Harry eyed him cautiously as they opened a heavy wooden door, the warmth from inside The Three Broomsticks smothering their frozen faces, thawing them enough so their fingers untwined from clenching their scarves over their mouths. Ron stared straight ahead, not noticing Harry's unbroken gaze. They two boys made their way to a small table in the corner of the room, and Harry watched, perplexed, as Ron sat, as stiff and silent as the dead, his eyes fixed on his hands, which were fumbling with his cloak clasp.

"Earth to Ronald." Harry said loudly, and Ron looked up, his expression shocked, as though he hadn't noticed he was sitting at a table with someone. Harry sighed and pulled off his gloves. "What's with you today?"
"I could ask the same of you." Ron said slowly, not looking Harry in the eye. Harry wasn't aware that his actions were giving off the aura of someone distressed. He merely sighed and placed his chin into his hand.
"Have you seen Hermione lately?" Ron asked, still not looking at Harry. Harry's stomach dropped at the inevitable question. Hermione and Draco had not come on the trip this time, and he was sure he knew why. The days after the incident with Lucius left Harry high and dry, alone, and he received scathing looks from both Hermione and Draco in the halls. "She was with him, wasn't she?" Ron said the word him with such distain that Harry had to look up. An ugly look spread across Ron's face. He clenched his fists. "What does she see in him? What does anyone see in him?"
"I don't think she feels for him, Ron. He's not like that anyways." Harry said quietly, and Ron shot him a stinging glance.
"Not like what?" his eyes went wide suddenly, and Harry thought, for a moment, that he knew about Draco and him. But Ron only shoved his hat back onto his fiery red head, and stood up, knocking his chair back. Harry got up as well, shocked.
"Ron?"
"I know. I finally know why. Why she…and he…" Ron shook his head vigorously and flecks of water that had melted from snowflakes flew from his earflaps, and Harry squinted, the water spattering his glasses.
"Know WHAT Ron!" Harry said again, but by that time, Ron was out the door into the freezing winter wind again. Harry thought for a second to go after him, but he only sat back at the table and ordered a butter beer. Left to his own thoughts, Harry sunk into a daze, the soft clatter around him lulling him into a day dream.

Hermione sat in a similar daze, her head resting in her hand, her elbow propped up on a library book. Her grades had slipped dramatically, and she was struggling with her Potions essay that was due tomorrow. She looked down at her watch and to the Library door. Draco was supposed to be meeting her, since neither of them wanted to go to Hogsmede. But it was half past 1 and he was yet to be seen. She decided to wait a bit longer, but after ten minutes decided she would go look for him herself. There were only a few places where he could be, which sounded odd considering the size of the castle. She closed her book, knowing she would probably never get back to her homework, and shoved her quill and parchment into her bag. She walked hurriedly out of the library in sear of her missing friend.

"You alright, 'Arry?" a gruff voice and rougher hand shook Harry from his daze, and he looked up to see Hagrid standing above him. He stared up at him blearily, and realised his glasses her slightly askew from being shaken awake. He fixed them and stood up, wiping the melted snow off his neck.
"Yeah, Hagrid. Thanks."
"Yeh sure? I jus' saw Ron runnin' up the steps t'the castle when I left. Was yellin' something' about bein' like him? Like who, Harry?" Hagrid wrung his hands and gave Harry a quizzical look from beneath his bushy brow. Harry stood up wearily and threw his scarf over his shoulder.
"I better go see to him," he gave Hagrid a wry grin, "make sure he doesn't kill himself."
"Yeh, righ'." Hargrid grinned back and clapped Harry on the shoulder again. Harry, after recovering from his knees almost giving way under the weight of Hagrid's hand, walked quickly out of the bar and into the cold again. What could Ron be rambling on about now? He thought, as he trudged up to the castle, alone.

Finally, he got to the castle door, pushing it open. He just hoped that in his search for Ron, he wouldn't run into,
"Draco…" Harry stopped in his tracks, after seeing the young blond standing in the middle of the foyer. Draco didn't even look at Harry. He was staring at something else. Harry followed his gaze and saw that he was watching Ron, who stood, in a stance to fight, his wand at the ready. A small whimper from his right brought Harry's attention to Hermione who stood in the stairwell, watching with wide eyes.
"What the hell is your problem, Weasel?" Draco sneered, wrinkling his nose at Ron. Ron's wand was trembling in his hand.
"You…I won't let you take her. No, not you." Ron said, his voice quaking like his hand. Hermione covered her face with her hands and squeaked. Harry saw Draco's hand move to his pocket, but then remembered the broken wand he had found in the dungeons. It must've been Draco's. A flicker of fear flashed across Draco's face when he realised this as well, but he continued to stare Ron down.
"What? Hermione? And me?" Draco said in a steady, low voice, "Wrong, you stupid git. If you had a brain in that ginger nob of yours, you'd know it wasn't Hermione and me."
"What? But you…" Ron looked from Hermione to Draco, and then a look of realisation came upon his face. It turned paler than normal, and he turned to Harry, his eyes wide. "you?" he said quietly.
"Unfortunately." Draco growled. Harry winced at this and looked away from Ron. Ron lowered his wand and Draco un-tensed.
"I don't believe you." Ron said angrily, and turned to Hermione. "What is it you see in him? What is it? Is it this, Hermione?" Ron rolled up his sleeve as Hermione watched in horror.
"Ron, what are you-"
"Is THIS WHAT YOU WANT, Hermione! WHAT CAN I DO?" Ron flicked his wand and placed it onto the white skin on his forearm, slowly raking the wand from the crook of his elbow to his wrist. Hermione gasped and Draco watched in terror, his eyes wide. Harry couldn't move, he could only watch as red blood spilled quickly from his best friend's arm. Ron looked as though he was going to be sick, staring down at the his now stained robes and arm. He turned a sickly green, and dropped his wand. "Huh." he muttered, softly, before the pale green turned to sheet white, and Ron's body fell limply to the floor. Hermione rushed over to him and rolled him onto his back.
"RON! RON NO! PLEASE NO, RON!" she pulled him close to her by his robes, her fingers grabbing frantically, slipping on the bloodied material. Draco seemed paralysed, and Harry finally got the courage to move. But he merely stood over his friend's body, staring down at his wide eyes, which were brimming with tears. And there, in Hermione's arms, Harry watched his best friend die.