Disclaimer: This story is based upon a series of works by JK Rowling.

A/N: We have made it to the 14th chapter, and we shall keep going…IF you do, REVIEW because I got no reviews for one whole day! (tear) All I can say is it better not happen again…or else! So, the last chapter may have been emotional, and this chapter may prove to be so, but keep reading on. And keep this in mind: I am a genie in a bottle; you gotta rub me the right way. LOL! So wrong…Some thank yous:

glam4us: I guess we are all too cool for that, aren't we? And LOL, now you want to kill both Ron and Ginny, WOOT. They are pretty evil, are they not?

yunchen: I love it! That's where I hide my baby… I sleep right next to it at night, it keeps me safe and we cuddle. cuddles with rifle And it keeps the plot monkeys away from dreams. YAY! Now what will happen to Ron?

RisuMusume: Winnie the pooh! YAY! I love them, especially Tigger. Bouncing is what Tiggers do best! Okie dokie, Ron is being difficult, but he shall be taken care of…soon. (giggles happily)

Snarrygirl: I'm glad that someone understands my humor. . Glad you enjoyed it so much.

fifespice: Ron is always up to no good; I don't know if he can be salvaged. But we know that Hermione will do whatever it takes to make sure that Ron and Harry stay friends. Although the relationship has sometimes been strained by a stray crush, or even simpler things, Hopefully they can fix things that are broken, and mend new pieces that have been added to the friendship.

LuzEterna: Yes love, love has made all the characters in my writing change somewhat, eh? Draco may be soft right now, but he has been through a lot in a week. Remember that. He does not need to harden himself against the world anymore… yet.

Chapter 14: Hardheaded

Ron sat there sandwiched in between Hermione and Harry, essentially scoffing at whatever they said to him. But what Hermione had just said struck a chord within Ron.

He told her defensively, "I do not hate gay people."

"Ron, I never said that. I said you can't stand them. There is a difference," said Hermione, looking at Ron.

"Well, there's not much of a difference. And I don't know what you mean that I can't stand them. I am sitting in the room with them," said Ron swiftly.

"Oh, yes you know what I mean," said Hermione scrupulously. "I know you do. That's what made you mad today. And that's why you're still mad right now."

"Okay. Fine," admitted Ron. "But that view is completely justified."

"Ron, the problem is that view is not justified. That's why we're here…"Hermione said, careful of which words she used.

"To tell me I'm crazy? To tell me I'm some lunatic? Well I have news for you! I am not!" said Ron defiantly.

"Don't put words in her mouth Ron, she never said anything…" said Harry, interrupted by a fuming Ron.

"She might as well have said it! I know that's what she meant! And don't tell me what to do!" Ron scolded Harry, surprising them all. Harry took the backseat for the rest of the conversation. He watched Hermione and Ron talk and only talked when it was necessary.

"Ron, don't be so paranoid. I was just…" Hermione said.

"AHA! See, 'paranoid.' I told you she thought I was some lunatic," said Ron, confident that he had discovered Hermione's evil plot in this conversation.

Harry shook his head in disbelief. "Ron," he said, "You are being paranoid. Just listen to what Hermione says. She is not trying to call you crazy." Ron sat fuming for a moment, a little peeved that Harry had just told him that he was paranoid. But Harry stood his ground, not budging on what he said.

"Fine," Ron said, with a tone that left doubt in Harry and Hermione's minds about how sincere he was being.

"Well, Ron. Your views had to come from somewhere. Although traditional homophobic people such as yourself 'inherit' this type of belief from their family, you did not. Your whole family has accepted Harry, leading us to doubt that…"

"Now you're calling me an outcast. You know, most people do not take name-calling as well as…" said Ron, completely convinced that Hermione was in fact calling him some sort of a pariah.

"RON!" she bellowed. "I never said that! Listen to all I have to say! Anyway, you aren't a homophobe because of your family; we knew that much. So who told you being gay was…"

"I have other friends, Hermione," said Ron, smirking.

"What do you mean, 'other friends?'" Hermione asked.

" I mean besides you and Harry," said Ron.

"Well, we know you have Seamus and Dean, Ron. But wasn't Harry always with when you were with them?" asked Hermione.

"What's that supposed to mean?" inquired Harry, not seeing the relevance of Hermione's question.

"Looks like someone else is the paranoid one," joked Ron, making both Hermione and Harry even angrier.

"Well, Harry, we would already know if he picked up this belief from them," said Hermione, explaining her thoughts.

"That's where your wrong 'mione," said Ron.

"What do you mean, wrong?" asked Hermione as if she never could be.

"I mean you are absolutely 100 percent wrong. Before I played Quidditch, I would watch the games with them," said Ron.

"But you were with me, Ron," said Hermione, still a little befuddled.

"Newsflash Hermione, you have no idea what is happening in Quidditch," said Ron, offending Hermione, "I had to talk to someone who knew what was going on during the game. That's why I talked about stuff with them. Like the plays… I was still near you Hermione, making it so you never noticed. "

"And the topic of being gay came up?" asked Harry, trying to clear things up for all of them.

"Well, yes," said Ron, not with the air of confidence he previously held.

"How?" questioned Harry, wondering what could have made them bring up the topic if they despised it so much.

Ron seemed to be growing uncomfortable, but he still answered, "You see, there was someone playing Quidditch who we all knew was gay. And we sort of talked about it. It wasn't you Harry; we were convinced you were straight. I mean you had a crush for Cho, we all knew that."

"Then who was it?" asked Hermione, not knowing whom it had been. "I don't know anyone who is obviously gay, Ron."

"I think I do," said Harry, understanding what Ron had just said. "One of the guys on Hufflepuff. A chaser." Ron had let out a gasp in surprise.

"What do you mean? Are you suggesting Cedric was gay Harry?" questioned Hermione.

"No he isn't Hermione," said Ron, "Cedric was a seeker, not a chaser. And I think he knows which chaser it was as well."

Of course Harry knew whom Ron was talking about, it was him, the boy that Harry had watched that day, in the Quidditch match. Harry might not have known what it was then, but now it seemed to make sense. He seemed to understand why he had been attracted to the chaser, why it had felt right… But Harry could not think much of this right now; he had to talk with Ron.

"So do I have this right?" asked Hermione. "You talked about the topic because of someone who you thought was gay and you didn't even know who they were?"

"Pretty much," said Ron. Hermione rolled her eyes at this overly simple reason, but kept the conversation moving. They had dwelled on this boy too much already.

"Okay, so what did they tell you about gay people Ron?" asked Hermione, finally getting the root of the problem now that they had found it.

"Well, first of all they are just wrong. I mean a man is meant to be with a woman, not with another man!" said Ron, and Hermione nodded as she took a mental note of what Ron said. "It is a fact of nature. They're just disgusting. How can you expect me to accept something so unnatural! I shouldn't! I should try to make them feel like they should! And then they can be so obvious about it! I mean really! How a man in his right mind can act so feminine is beyond me."

Hermione took a deep breath; she was ready to counter every point that Ron had just told her. She said, with a purpose in mind, "Ron, sure most people are that way, most people like the opposite sex, but keep in mind there is an exception to every rule. Simply put, it is completely natural that a man likes another man, something natural. It is just something you are not used to. And people are often afraid of what they are not used to or don't understand. But you must, Ron. Even if you don't accept Harry, gay people are here to stay. Like I said, they are normal. And the sooner you accept that, the better."

"But Hermione!" interrupted Ron.

"I am not done Ron, please show me some manners and let me talk. Now, you said they are disgusting. Well, all that's different about them is their love. Are you saying there love is disgusting Ron? Because love is one of the most beautiful things in the universe Ron," said Hermione, with what she was saying coming from her heart as opposed to her brain.

"Love or not, I don't have to accept to them. They made a choice…" said Ron cut off by Hermione.

"Ron, that is extremely biased and untrue. Ask yourself this: would they choose to undergo all of the mistreatment that homophobes show them? They wouldn't. No one would Ron. No one wants to undergo that kind of pain, that kind of malignity."

"Hermione, you're wrong! Harry was straight! Then all of the sudden he became gay," Ron said defensively.

"That's wrong Ron," said Hermione, shaking her head. "Harry seemed to be straight, he mistook his emotions for attraction. And he didn't suddenly become gay. He just had a realization, something that made him feel right. Something that made him understand himself better, understand love."

Ron felt like he was losing ground, and he tried to battle with Hermione. He tried to make another point. He said, "They still are different from straight people Hermione. In ways other than love."

"Funny thing Ron, we've already talked about this. Harry isn't any different from when you thought he was straight. Although you thought he was, we've told you that he wanted to be with you, to still be your friend. He hasn't changed. He's the same. Don't you see? Those things you told me were just stereotypes. And stereotypes aren't all that true," said Hermione with her hand rubbing Ron's back.

"But still…" said Ron, trying to muster an argument against Hermione.

"And plus, straight guys can be feminine too, Ron. Don't you realize it? You accepted everything they told you at face value without actually looking at it to see if it was truth."

"Hermione, it's just so wrong!" said Ron yelling, feeling attacked.
"I just told you- it isn't Ron! It's just love!" said Hermione, trying to make Ron understand her at all costs.

"It's wrong!" said Ron, desperately trying to protect his beliefs.

"Love can't be wrong!" burst out Hermione, making Ron look at her with a strange look.

"I-I…That's enough, Hermione," Ron said, putting his foot down. "I think you have given me enough to think about for right now. Just let me be. Please," said Ron, giving Hermione a hurt look. She tilted her head to the side a little bit, looking at Ron.

She could tell Ron had meant what he had asked them. Hermione knew he wanted them to leave, but to do what? To think… she knew that that must be it. So maybe, just maybe, they had gotten through to Ron after all. Maybe what they told him would make a difference. All that Hermione could do was hope… AND do what Ron had told them to do. So after she gave Ron a small hug, she arose from the bed. She looked at Harry and bid for him to follow her. Draco was another story, however. He did not follow quite as quickly.

Draco was grief-stricken; it was hard enough for him not just to sob. He felt like bawling on the floor at this moment in time, rolling around trying to comfort himself. He did know that there was an immense amount of hatred in the world, sure, he knew all to well. Yet it was still not easy for him to see Ron railing on him, on all gay people. It felt so bad, so wrong. Draco looked up and noticed that Hermione was standing there gazing at him with care. It was time for them to leave Ron to his own devices, to let him brew over what information Hermione had just heralded to him. He followed Hermione and Harry out of Ron's room, letting the tears flow once they got outside.

By the time that the three had made back to Harry and Draco's room, Harry had finally noticed that Draco was crying.

"Draco, what's wrong?" asked Harry, truly wondering what was ailing his forlorn lover.

Hermione was not exactly overjoyed at Harry not understanding what was happening with Draco. She said, "It's okay Draco, Harry understands…"

"No I don't," said Harry.

"HARRY! You are not helping!" sang Hermione, who was busy assuaging the distraught Draco. "Draco, just be calm, you're with us..."

"Don't castigate Harry, Hermione. He deserves to know what is hurting me. It's sort of like a chronic pain that just was made worse by Ron, a wound opened once more…" said Draco, interrupted by his own sob.

Harry had caught ahold of what Draco was saying; he began to commiserate with Draco. "Draco, don't feel pain, I don't want you to!"

"Oh Harry," said Draco, smiling at Harry's sweetness. "It isn't that easy; I can't just turn my emotion off like that. And I think Hermione had already noticed something about me you hadn't. I think she realized I have some turbid feelings on the topic, leftover from my childhood."

"Draco," Harry gasped.

Hermione sat there, looking at the floor. She had foreseen this coming from all of the signs that Draco had shown her. There was no need for her to gasp like Harry had. Hermione was nowhere near surprised. All she wanted to do was listen to Draco telling them a laconic abstract of his troubled past. She eagerly waited while Draco thought about how he would tell them.

"The thing is, my father, Lucius, he was a homophobe. And he was much worse than Ron ever has been. You see, one day when I questioned my father on the topic of homosexuality, he beat me. I was unconscious for a day because of it." Draco paused while he recollected himself, letting the tears slide down his cheek. "The worst part is, that was only the beginning of it. Whenever he suspected even slightest hint of me liking men, such as a stray glance or a questionable remark, he'd hit me. Sure I got used to it, but it didn't make it any easier on me. Getting struck by your father, the one whom you're supposed to love, look up to… That wasn't the worst of it though. You saw it happen, Harry. When he figured out that I had found you, that I cared for you, he cast the Cruciatus curse on me. He always told me he would disown me if he ever found out." Draco burst out crying harder, feeling lost.

Hermione let her maternal instinct turn on, taking her actions over. She went in for a comforting hug, which this time, Draco did not fight away. She didn't mind that she was inundated from Draco's tears, she loved the shower in fact. Harry did feel a little left out from the love, however. He looked at Hermione and Draco hugging each other and yearned to be in Hermione's place. Needless to say, Hermione felt Harry's wanting eyes on her. She said that she became sufficiently soaked. In fact her hair was wet enough that it dripped water at quite a fast pace. She told them, "I think I better leave before catch a cold from being this drenched." She released Draco and left, leaving Harry and Draco to themselves.

"Draco, let it all out. I want you to," said Harry, with arm around Draco's neck. Draco went in towards Harry, his head resting on Harry's broad shoulders. He felt safe and warm, as though Harry was a kindling fire, keeping him alive and well, safe from an encroaching coldness. He basked in the coziness for a while, letting the tears just come out. But he didn't need to cry anymore after a few minutes; he felt snug and comfortable, not sullen with sorrow. Harry looked down at him and smiled.

"Draco, I'm sorry you had do go through all that," Harry cooed, bringing Draco's eyes up to his. They looked at each other for a while.

"Don't be; it's not your fault that happened. Not at all. And I do not want you being sorry for it," Draco said assertively, not wanting his pain to be making Harry feel as though it was his fault.

"I am human, however, and I would like to apologize for the mistakes some people make," said Harry, trying to make Draco smile. He succeeded. Draco flashed him a grin. Yet it was quickly expunged from his face.

"Oh Harry, the thing is, I don't think he's sorry about any of it," Draco said, shaking his head. It wasn't a matter of thinking to tell the truth, it was a matter of knowing. The look that Lucius had given Draco that day had sealed that idea within his mind. There was no way around it; he knew Lucius absolutely abhorred him for it.

"Draco, some people are evil. No matter what his beliefs, he should not have done that to you. There is no excuse for it. You didn't see the reaction Mrs. Weasley had when she heard that Lucius had cast that curse on you."

"Harry?" said Draco, making sure he was listening.

"Yes, Draco," said Harry, smiling at him.

"When she hugged me today at breakfast, I felt something different, something that had been missing from the hugs that Lucius or even my mother gave me. It wasn't cold like those; it was warm, full of emotion." He paused, in thought. "Oh Harry, it felt like love!" said Draco, making a realization.

"Like a weed love has grown quickly between you and Mrs. Weasley. But unlike a weed, it is a most beautiful thing, love. Love blossoms into something gorgeous, like the most divine flower imaginable. Draco, look around you. All these things, they are ephemeral, part of the moment, fleeting like the tide in the ocean. Love, on the other hand, is ever lasting, something that always will be, something you can always rely on. It connects you to those around you," Harry suggested something, but Draco did not pick up on it.

"Harry, that was so profound!" said Draco, beginning to weep again, this time it was different, however. Draco felt as though these were tears of joy.

"Sometimes the truest things in the world are so, Draco. One needs only to examine the world around them to discover what it means." Harry said, hinting at something once more.

"Harry, what do you mean?" Draco asked, but Harry had no time to answer. Hermione barged into the room, looking at them with eyes wide in expectation.

"The imminent has finally arrived," she said to Harry and Draco, receiving questioning looks. She tried to clear things up by adding, "It's lunchtime."

But they still did not understand what Hermione meant.

A/N: I think this is going very smoothly; Harry and Draco will be together before I thought! BWAHAHAHAHAHA! (cough) Ugh, I have to work on that evil laugh, it just does not suit me right now. You will have to wait until next time to find out what is happening with Ron and what he thinks. Maybe if you REVIEW I'll update sooner. But right now I think I am taking a one-day break from the computer. We had a fight and I lost… Well the details aren't important! I just have to stay away for a day. (Looks at computer with disgust) Anywho, please review in the meantime so maybe I can come back and write you a story. Maybe if I get enough reviews. Thank you for all of the support, and I hope you will continue to enjoy my story as Draco and Harry become closer, risking their lives even more than before. The next chapter is called Enough. I think I saw something shiny go by, so I must follow!