Disclaimer: This is based off of JK Rowling's work. So it's not mine.
A/N: Chapter 13 already? Hmmmm… it's such an unlucky chapter so I better make sure to write a very short one, just to get it over with. You know I am kidding with you, my pretties. Now come on, I will right quite a nice chapter. And I think it is going to be fairly long. But sadly, the reviews have been dropping off. It's really depressing. So REVIEW! Thanks for reading the author's note, and as always:
Silly little 13 year old: I'm glad you think that I am a very good writer because I practically abhor how I right. However, on the bright side of things, I love your axe. I told the monkeys about it and they went back a few feet. Hehehe. And now the wait is over for the next chapter.
Kari Morgana Black: You have good ideas. ;)
RisuMusume: (giggles insanely, falling out of chair) Okay, okay, so I've had some sugar today, what else is new? I hope you enjoy what Ginny has coming her way.
Caeoiminhin Vaughan D'Obsidian: I know, I am like the root of all evil with my cliffhangers, but such is life. I'm glad to see I'm both the only author and the only story on your favorites list. It just about made my dad .
yunchen: I think we are going to have a party one of these days and invite the evil monkeys, just so we can kill them all off, one by one. I love it! Thanks for the awesome review, as usual. (I like Ginny in the book better as well, but I think she's been growing up)
fifespice: Well, Harry does have to overcome some old feelings, right? He has to overcome that soon though…. At least he'll have Draco at his side.
glam4us: OMG! We must for a mob. YAY! I'll bring the refreshments so then we can push Ginny out the window. WOOT!
Lady Constance Malfoy: The slash shall come when it does; both Draco and Harry will be ready. And Ginny will get hers. Ameinias: Thank you for everything. Thank you for enjoying my writing so much; I hope that it continues to impress you. LuzEterna: LOL Bye bye sweetie. Hmmmm, some nice ideas. Well, everyone wants to get back at Ginny…And I know you have been eagerly awaiting Ginny's fate, so here it comes:
Chapter 13: Taking Care of BusinessDraco had no idea what course of action he should take to get back at Ginny. He had so many dastardly ideas, but only so much time. Eventually, after a lot of thought, he decided that he should use an amalgam of two plans that had popped into his head. Draco looked at Harry for reassurance, but all he saw was a gentle, scared gaze coming from Harry. Although his actions may be a giant leap forward in their lives, Draco felt like it was time to do this.
He walked over to Ginny who simply stood there, smirking at Draco. It was time to sweep the world out from underneath her, at least that's what Draco thought this would do to her. He stopped a step in front of her and he began to smile.
"What?" said Ginny, questioning the look she was getting from Draco.
That was it for Draco; he let loose all of the pent up anger within him. The mechanisms for control came falling down, and he raised his right hand up to Ginny's cheek.
A loud slap sounded throughout the room as Draco's hand had swung by Ginny.
Draco had bitch-slapped Ginny on the cheek.
He came back in for seconds, making Ginny's cheeks extremely red.
One last time he slapped her, making Ginny cry.
"What are you doing Draco?" she sang out, astounded he had just slapped her three times in a row, for what she thought was no reason at all. She was hurt and confused.
Needless to say, she was mistaken because there was a reason. And Draco was going to explain the whole situation to her with one action. He walked away from Ginny and back to Harry. He rubbed his hand along the middle of Harry's chest, alerting Harry of what he was about to do. Harry looked up and his eyes met Draco's shining silver. It was time and they both knew it.
Draco pulled in towards Harry, and everything around them didn't matter anymore. All that mattered at this moment was Harry, Harry and his sweet lips. Their lips touched and Harry reacted, slowly kissing Draco back, his lips exploring Draco's safe touch.
Draco's hands began caressing Harry's back, and the kissing picked up the pace. Both of them felt amazing, their love for one another filling their bodies. Just as Draco had tried to do something more than just the plain kissing, Ginny had screamed as if she had seen them commit murder right in front of her.
"OH MY GOOOOOOOOOD!" she yelled, running away, frightened down into the depths of her soul at what happened.
Draco pulled away to look at a sad Harry.
"Was that the right thing to do, Draco? I feel dreadfully bad about it," said Harry gloomily.
"Harry, it was the right thing to do. She had that coming after what she did to you. AND do not feel guilty about it. If anyone should, it will be me," said Draco, giving Harry a heartening hug.
"But…" Harry said, trying to protest what Draco had just said. He was the one who had gotten pinned up on the wall again by Ginny. And he was the one that had told Draco to let him take care of himself. Harry felt rotten about all of this. He had set up the actions that Draco had taken.
Draco felt it was still his fault, he had after all, done everything in the past few minutes. "No buts…" said Draco, laughing at what he had just thought.
"What are you laughing at?" asked Harry, bemused about why Draco had just laughed.
"Well you have anything but no butt," said Draco giggling.
"HEY!" said Harry, insulted by Draco's remark.
"Harry, you should not be offended by that. Plus, I like it better that way," said Draco, giving Harry a giant smooch on the cheek.
"Not like you have a choice," Harry said with an overly obvious wink. Soon his happiness had fled; he sighed.
Draco seemed to understand what Harry was feeling. "You ready for this Harry? You know that I am going through it with you. I am there for you. Always." Draco grabbed Harry's chin and pulled Harry's face up, looking him in the eyes. The normally clear green looked troubled, clouded with thought.
"I'm ready," said Harry, "Let's just get this over with. The sooner, the better." Harry grabbed Draco's hand and they made their way to the dining room, where everyone was sitting down to breakfast. It turned out to be the most awkward breakfast that they had ever had.
They strode into the room, eyeing all the people sitting at the table. Ron was perfectly still as he gazed upon Harry and Draco holding hands, but otherwise, the rest of them seemed to be taking it well. From the looks of things, Ginny had informed them of what had happened. Mr. Weasley simply looked over his newspaper at them, as if he could care less. Ginny was still fuming from what had happened in the hallway, but that was to be expected. They knew it would take her a while to get over the fact that she had just had her boyfriend stolen by a gay guy. Fred and George, who had joined the group for breakfast before heading off to work, just grinned. They could care less about Harry being gay, although they did make a few wisecracks to him and Draco.
As for Ron, he was a much different situation; he was red in the face, yet reserved in his manners. He was also impervious to remarks from those around him, imperturbable in fact. He would not so much as move when Hermione talked to him, or when anyone else did for that matter.
Harry sat down next to him, but Ron didn't say as much as hello. Harry tried to talk with Ron; he brought up Quidditch, he spoke about the food, and he even tried to chat about his own imminent death, but Ron wouldn't talk to him.
As for Draco talking to Ron, he didn't. He didn't even bother to mumble to Ron. Both Harry and Draco knew that Ron may be blaming Draco for this happening with Harry right now, so it was best he not speak with Ron as of yet. Harry and Draco sighed; they began to eat their breakfast while they looked bleakly at Ron.
Mrs. Weasley walked into the room while they were busy eating, stopping dead in her tracks. Harry knew that Ginny must have told her as well, just from the expression that Mrs. Weasley was giving them. She looked perplexed, like she did not understand what was going on. Her eyes were empty except for the stray emotion flying through them, and her mouth was tightly shut, not letting a single word out. She kept staring at for Harry and Draco for a while, standing their in the middle of the room. Nonetheless, she came around soon enough, giving both Harry and Draco a hug as she walked by.
So most of the Weasley family had taken it well, even though Bill, Fleur, and Charlie had been away. Draco and Harry would break it to them all later, of course, but now they had to handle the formidable Ron. They finished off the last part of their breakfast and Harry looked at Hermione, sitting across from them. She was engrossed, reading a book from the library.
Hermione felt eyes on her, scanning her face. She finished the sentence she was on and stole a glance across the table. There she saw a distraught Harry looking at her, beseeching her for help. Her eyes fell back down to her book as she thought about what Harry wanted to do. From what she had seen, Hermione surmised that Harry needed to talk to her, and urgently at that. His eyes had told her that much. Next she had to figure out how to communicate with Harry, in order to tell him that she understood what he was telling her. Yet this task had to be done without drawing any attention to herself, especially from Ron. So she nodded her head, as if it was a response to what she was reading. In this way she was able to inconspicuously tell Harry that she knew what he wanted.
They met in the living room after all the other people in the house had dispersed. It would be the first of two long discussions that day.
"Harry, I don't think that you took the best course of action today," said Hermione as she plopped down in a large loveseat across from Harry and Draco on a couch, letting her book fall gently in her lap. She had a look on her face as though she was Godzilla about to go on a rampage. Regardless, she had not started a tirade upon Draco and Harry…yet. And they had that to be thankful for.
Harry thought for a moment before he responded, "It wasn't me that did that Hermione. Draco was the one who did everything. The slapping, the…"
"The slapping?" shrieked Hermione in rage. "Ginny never told any of us about her getting slapped. DO you have any idea how much trouble you two should be in!" Harry sat on the sidelines as these two commenced a hilarious skirmish. He did nothing to help the situation at all. Nevertheless, he did at least keep his giggles to himself, for the time being.
"I guess she was too humiliated to talk about getting slapped like that. AND she's the one who kissed Harry!" said Draco, protecting his actions.
"SO you stoop to her level and slap her! AND then kiss Harry! Oh Draco, I thought better of you!" said Hermione with her head crashing into her hands.
"Hermione! I had to do that! That was the second time that scumbag tried to kiss Harry! And she actually succeeded! I don't want any whore macking on my man," said Draco.
"DRACO! Do not call Ginny a whore! I can't believe how much of a kid you are being! Why do you have to slump to name-calling," said Hermione, with her hands up in the air.
Draco was infuriated, he replied, "She was being a whore! She did that against Harry's will. You should have seen the look on Harry's face. It was absolutely APPALLING! My actions were completely justified!"
"DRACO! I cannot belief you are being so callous! JUST LET ME TALK TO YOU!" screamed Hermione. She jumped out of her seat, letting the book in her lap fall to the floor, and ran over to Draco, falling on him and embracing him in her arms.
"Someone doesn't like yelling…" said Draco, patting Hermione's hair, his eyes glazed over with affection, hiding the anger hidden beneath.
Harry couldn't help but laugh out loud after what had just happened.
It was a mistake.
Both Draco and Hermione shot him a malicious glare and yelled, "What are you laughing at?"
"Nothing," Harry said quickly, extremely sorry for what he had just done. That chuckle was completely inappropriate. Thankfully, the spiteful pair looked appeased.
"Good," said Draco, looking at Hermione. "So now what is it that you wanted to tell me."
She sniffled a little bit, then sat up in Draco's lap. She said, "Draco, I know how irritated you were with Ginny kissing Harry, but you shouldn't have reacted in that manner. I don't think it went over well the Weasley family, especially Ron. And let me say that you were tremendously lucky that Ginny did not have the dignity to tell the rest of the family the story. Because if she did…I don't know what we'd do!"
"So what, next time I should just sit there and do nothing?" asked Draco facetiously.
"Exactly. I'm glad you understand," said Hermione, completely unaware that Draco was being sarcastic.
"WHAT!" screamed Draco, "I was kidding! You can't expect me to do…"
"I do," interrupted Hermione, with an austere expression. "And we have better things to do than fight, Draco. Like take care of Ron."
"What do you mean?" piped up Harry, interested in his best friend.
"Oh Harry… Ron is almost beyond being able to be salvaged. We have to hurry, before he…well, just trust me. We have to be quick. So we will have to work together. Okay you two? And Draco, do not listen to what Ron says," said Hermione, anticipating the reaction Ron would have once they walked in and talked with him about such a touchy topic.
"What do you mean Hermione?" Draco asked wonderingly.
"I'm afraid you know very well what I mean Draco. I told you Ron was a homophobe…"said Hermione, cut off the end.
"Oh," said Draco completely devoid of emotion.
Hermione sighed at Draco's reaction. "Follow me," she said as she got up leading them to Ron's room. "You ready for this?" she asked.
Harry pulled Draco in for a long hug. The embrace gave them both the strength they needed for the coming trial. Hermione smiled as she grasped the doorknob. She let them have their moment.
"We're ready," said Harry, letting go of Draco. Hermione nodded her head; she swung the door open, exposing a dreary room with an even drearier person sitting on a bed in the back corner.
Ron was morose; he was extremely angry to see Hermione, Draco, and Harry walking into the room. Harry had split apart from Draco. While Draco had clung to Hermione's left side, Harry had gone to the right. They made sure to walk in this way as to prevent arousing even more rage from Ron.
"What do you want?" Ron asked scathingly as they sat down, Hermione and Harry by his side. The bed made a slight squeaking sound as they sat; most likely from the age of the springs housed within the mattress. Harry looked at Ron. Hermione had already put her arm around him, trying to soothe him.
"Ron, you know very well why we are here," said Hermione softly.
"SO you're siding with them now, are you Hermione?" spat Ron.
"Ron, the least you can do is hold a civilized conversation with us. Harry is your friend, Ron," Hermione said carefully, trying not to enrage Ron. But she had.
"He is not my friend," said Ron, his eyes dropping to the floor.
"What?" said Harry, sure what he had heard wasn't what Ron had meant to say.
"You are not my friend Harry," said Ron, asserting his position.
"Ron, nothing's changed about me…" Harry would have continued, but he cut off by Ron.
"Yes, yes it has. You never hang out with me; you are always with him. You always leave me out of things! We used to be the trio! Now I'm left out!"
'Oh shit,' thought Harry, realizing what had developed in the past week, all of it coming together right here and right now. It wasn't like Harry had meant to leave Ron out of things; it had just come out that way. Most of the time it was the doing of Mrs. Weasley, either he was grounded or she just had not wanted Ron to go out with them, endangering his life. Harry thought that this was a valid point that he should make. Maybe Ron hadn't realized what happened.
"Ron, Mrs. Weasley was the one who didn't let you do things with us, not us," said Harry.
"Oh sure, blame it on mum. I'm sure that you didn't try to do anything about it anyway," said Ron with his arms folded across his chest.
"Ron," said Hermione, "We tried to convince your mom to let you come along with us. But she loves you so much. She can't bear to put you in danger, Ron. Our nagging can't change that." Hermione let a tear fall from her eye. Deep down, she truly respected Mrs. Weasley, knowing that Mrs. Weasley did a superb job taking care of her family, loving each one just as much as the next. Hermione knew that she cared for Percy, even after all he had done. She admired that Mrs. Weasley was so steadfast and unmoving in her love, although she did go overboard sometimes.
"Well, that may be Hermione," said Ron, softening slightly, "But why didn't you try to take me out?"
"Ron, did you hear a word I just said?" asked Hermione, "I know I did not want to hurt Mrs. Weasley that badly, by sneaking you out. And you know she would check for you, to make sure that you are still in the house. She did do that, didn't she?"
"Yes…she did," admitted Ron. "Even if, you still should have come and seen me Harry! You should have come and talked to me! I felt left out!"
"Ron…I haven't had time," Harry said, "I've been so busy, with everything."
"What do you mean, 'busy?'" asked Ron, smirking at the absurdity of Harry's statement, "I know that you have been through a lot and all, but you've had time for showers, plenty of sleep-why not me?"
"Ron…I have been through so much, not only going outside the house, but within it," said Harry, full of emotion after Ron had attacked him like that.
Ron understood the last part, and he shook slightly, sliding away from Harry. He did not even like the careful euphemism that Harry had used. To him it was still the same as saying the real thing. Hermione saw this and sighed. She knew that the most difficult part was to come.
"Ron, I think you understand that Harry hasn't really changed. Now we need to know," she paused, almost like a warning for Ron, to prepare for the coming phrase, "why you can't stand gay people."
Although Draco felt left out, he didn't mind. When he was needed, he would be beseeched for help. And he was glad that Hermione had been so kind as not to use "hate." It made it easier on him, after all, he felt as though he was on the verge of tears. It was hard enough trying to hold them back…
A/N: This is extremely emotional. (SOB!) Who needs a tissue? LOL. I hope you enjoyed it, we are trying to get Ron back. But how will he react as we finally reach the tender topic of why he doesn't like gay people? All your questions shall be answered (maybe) if you REVIEW! Please and thank you. Sorry the slash hasn't come along yet, but there are so many things to take care of before we get there. But we are getting closer. Thank you for reading the story up until this point! I appreciate it and I hope you all have immensely enjoyed it. The next chapter shall be titled Hardheaded.