I Can't Make You Love Me

by Zadia Grey

Into Another's Arms

Ron rested against a tree beside the lake. His chest was hurting for no apparent reason. It felt like heartburn. . .

"Ron?" Draco hissed from behind, making Ron jump a foot in the air.

"Don't scare me like that!"

"Sorry, love. Have you decided yet?"

Ron frowned and looked back into the glassy water of the lake.

"I take that as a 'no'."

He laughed. "I'm sorry, Draco. This is harder for me than you know."

"How long are you going to make me wait?" the blond pulled closer to Ron in a seductive manner. "You do like me, right?"

". . .Yes. Of course I do. . . It's just that. . ."

"Harry?"

Ron's ears turned pink.

"You'll never stop loving him, will you?"

". . . It's hard to when you've loved someone for so long."

"Cold turkey?"

"Exactly."

"I understand." Draco placed a hand on Ron's shoulder. "You'll never feel the same for me as I do for you, will you Ron?"

Ron didn't answer.

Ron entered the common room to see Zadia on the couch, reading. He almost didn't recognize her. Her hair had changed to blond, her ears looked like Crookshanks's own ears, and her eyes were a soft brown.

The moment Zadia saw Ron she threw the book she had been reading over her shoulder, narrowly missing a fellow Gryffindor. The boy shot her a look and made a rude hand gesture behind her back.

"You! Sit!" Zadia said, patting the space next to her.

Ron reluctantly did as she said.

"What happened?"

"Long story."

"I've got time. Classes are over for the day."

Ron nodded and began to recount the events from two days ago. After finishing, Zadia stared at him for a moment in a dark way. This was not what she wanted to hear at all.

"Harry isn't with Neville," she said with a small sigh.

"How do you know?"

"I just do. They don't act like they're together. . . You and Malfoy have acted like it though."

"That was to make him jealous. Besides, I turned him down just before I came here."

"Good. You belong with Harry."

"How do you know that?"

"I just do," she answered again. "You should make a move on him before Neville really does take him off the market. I doubt the guy's going to wait forever. Handsome as he is. . . God, why do all the hot ones have to be gay!"

"How do you even know if he's gay?"

"I just do."

That night, Harry just couldn't get to sleep . . . again. At about four in the morning, he got up again, but didn't head for the common room. He slowly opened the curtain on Neville's bed and leaned in. Neville's eyes opened and he gave a slight smile.

"Hello, Harry."

"Neville."

"Something wrong?"

"I can't sleep alone to night. Can I . . . ?"

"Of course."

Neville reached over and pulled up the covers so Harry could slide in beside him. He slipped under the covers next to his friend. Harry melted into the pillow, tears threatening his green eyes.

"Don't take this as anything sexual, I just—"

"None taken. I understand." He placed a hand on his shoulder for comfort.

Harry sighed and closed his eyes for a moment, deep in thought. It was good to have someone to turn to when he needed them. Even when his so-called best friend left him for someone else . . . or over a stupid misunderstanding like in fourth year. He still had to wonder what Malfoy had said to get Ron to go out with him. . .

"It's Ron, isn't' it? The one you love?"

Harry nodded into the pillow, embarrassed.

"Don't worry. Things will turn out for the best. I hate seeing you in so much pain. . ."

Harry sniffed and let a few tears fall. He began to grip Neville's hand to relieve some stress. His heart was aching terribly and it scared him. Harry had never felt pain quite like this before. He would much rather be under the Cruciatus Curse than deal with this. It hurt far worse than any curse he had ever encountered. . .

Then a hand came out of the darkness and grabbed the front of Neville's pajamas. He was thrown off the bed as if he was made of air and rocketed half-way across the room, landing on a wall. The assailant pinned him to said wall and threw a hard punch in his face, causing Neville's nose to bleed.

One of the boys got up and turned on the lights to reveal Ron holding Neville against the wall with one hand while the other hand was poised for another blow.

A/N: God I'm mean. . . Think it took me long enough to update? I decided to take a holiday brake. Even great writers need a brake every now and then. I got a bunch of HP related stuff for Christmas: Hermione's Wand, Sirius Black's Wand, Dumbledore's Wand, Voldemort's Wand, and the Time Turner! Needless to say, I'm a happy girl!

Next chapter should be up soon. Thanx to all who have reviewed thus far!