A/N:I'm back! Christmas was great, my parents are awe-sum! Now it's updating time. Sucks that will be down on the 30th though. I'm still typing and will probably post that nights chapter on my livejounal until they fix the site.

Now as for Ron's line at the end of the last chapter, it's a bit more eloquent than he usually is because Ron hasn't reached the 'furious rage' stage yet. He's been shocked out of his freckles at the moment. Ron the bastard is making his entrance right now!

Thanks for all the reviews! I love you guys!

Chapter Thirty: Shattering the Bonds of Friendship

Harry's and Draco's heads whipped around and the Elemental Veela felt the blood leave his face as his eyes fell on the splotchy face of his best friend, Ron Weasley.

Draco did not, however move away, as Harry had gripped the front of his robes at Ron's appearance and was not letting go. The short tempered Gryffindor took this as a sign of defiance and whipped out his wand faster than either boy thought he was capable of.

"Malfoy, get you're fucking hands off of my best mate! He's taken, you git!" Ron shouted, spit flying form his mouth. Harry cringed. Not only was the picture disgusting but the statement way too suggestive for him.

Draco's eyes flashed. "Oh, you noticed did you, weasel? And as for 'unhanding' your best mate, well, perhaps it is he who should unhand me."

Harry glared at Draco, who obviously wasn't going to make the situation any better.

Ron, his wand still pointing at Draco looked over at Harry in confusion.

"Harry, what are you doing? Let the bastard go and we can bring him to Dumbledore for attacking you." Turning his head back to Draco, Ron's eyes narrowed in anger and satisfaction. "I knew you couldn't be trusted."

Feeling nervous with a wand pointed at his mate, Harry quickly let go of Draco and pulling himself up to his full height, stepped in front of his mate and his best mate's wand, it's point resting at his heart.

"It's not what you think. Put down your wand Ron." Harry said, his voice quiet but commanding and certain. Ron didn't lower his wand but instead blinked in confusion, eying his friend in worry.

"Harry, that snake was attacking you. If I hadn't come along he might have...well, hurt you."

"Harry took a deep breath. "He wasn't doing anything I didn't want him to do."

Again with the confused look. "But you mate-"

"Is standing right behind him." came Draco's voice, cold and cutting. "And I would appreciate it if you'd stop pointing your wand at Harry's heart as your family is known for making things explode."

Ron lowered his wand and literally roared at Draco, pouncing to attack. Harry caught the lanky redhead under the armpits and dragged him back from his mate. Draco stood there, one eyebrow raised in perfect disdain. Ron snarled and tried to pull away but Harry's magic kept him at bay.

"Ron, stop! Stop it! He's telling the truth! You can't hurt him, I won't let you!" Harry yelled over Ron's sounds of anger.

The corridor was silent after Harry's outburst, all three young men surprised at the meaning of the Elemental Veela's words.

"Harry, no...it..it can't be." said Ron, in a strangled voice a moment later. "You'd've told me if you had found your mate. Me and Hermione and Ginny..."

Guilt flooded Harry at Ron's words. "I tried to tell you. That night in the Common Room-"

Ron let out a bitter laugh. "That? You saying that you knew your mate wasn't in Hufflepuff or Gryffindor? I said Ravenclaw...And Hermione saying it could be a Slytheirn! She-"

Understanding filled his beady blue eyes. "She knew. You told Hermione but you couldn't tell me!"

Draco took a step forward."Don't yell at Harry. It's none of your concern who he mate is."

Ron made for Draco again but Harry stopped him before turning to the blond.

"Draco, you're not really helping. I need to speak with Ron, explain everything. Why don't you go on up tothe the Halloween feast and I'll meet you there?"

Draco looked into Harry's eyes defiantly. "I'd rather not leave you here with that great oaf."

Harry bit his lip. "Please? This is somethingI need to do alone."

The Slytherin held his gaze a few more seconds before looking down and nodding. He sneered at Ron over Harry's shoulder as he pulled the Elemental Veela close for a quick peck to the lips before truing and walking up the corridor. Just before he disappeared around the corner he turned around.

"If you hurt him in any way Weasel, remember I'm a Malfoy and we have eyes and ears in places you didn't even know existed. I will hunt you down and kill you if you've touched one hair on his head. Got it?"

Without waiting for a reply, he turned the corner, his robes billowing around him, scarily like Snape. Ron had turned red at Draco's threat and he clenched his hands into fists.

Harry quickly stepped forward and put a hand on his arm, making the Gryffindor look up.

"Can we talk about this? Will you let me explain?" Harry begged slightly. Ron nodded, the look that had been on his face since Draco had sudden thrown them 'out of the closet' was being replaced with a look of horrific understanding.

Harry led his friend into an unused classroom and magically locked and silenced the door. He used his powers to brighten the room, hoping a cheery atmosphere would help with Ron's anger. Harry's idiotic optimism didn't help as the air around Ron was buzzing slightly with his rage, his aura flaring up.

"Just how long have you known that Malfoy was your mate? Malfoy, Harry!"

The Elemental Veela in question looked down at the floor.

"I've known since the beginning of August, after I changed. I only had a week to find him and get him to accept me. If didn't I would have died. I almost did die."

To Harry's shock Ron didn't seem to care about his 'best mate's' near death experience.

"But it's Malfoy, Harry! I'd rather die than be stuck with him for the rest of my life! Not only is he a Slytheirn and pure evil...he's...a boy!"
Harry felt a spark of anger start in his stomach. "Funnily enough I think I figured that out whenI was snogging him Ron! And I'd appreciate it if you didn't insult my mate to my face while we have this conversation!"

Ron's face looked pinched. "But it's okay for him to insult me and my family?"

"You started it by pointing your bloody wand at him! He didn't even do anything to you!"

"He was snogging my best friend! That's disgusting!" Ron shouted, his anger taking over.

Harry felt hurt at Ron's obvious opinions on homosexuality but his irritation at his friend was just too unbearable.

"So snogging my boyfriend is disgusting to you? I'd dare you to say that around Charlie!"

Ron took a step back as if Harry had slapped him. "Charlie's a poof?"

Harry felt his eye twitch in fury. "A poof? Merlin you're so closed-minded! And yes he is!"

"Well, we not here to talk about Charlie, this is about you and your confusing feeling for Malfoy. Exactly how long have you liked boys? Merlin, you've been sharing a room with the four of us for almost six years! How doI know you wasn't checking me out?"

Harry couldn't help the disgusted look on his face at Ron's question.

"Gross, Ron! I'd never check you out. That's just sick and wrong!"

"Are you insulting me?" The red head demanded, looking murderous. Harry gapped at him.

"You're the one who can't stop insulting my blood and my mate and practically called me a poof!"

Both Gryffindors were silent, breathing hard but not shouting at each other for a moment. Ron drew a shaky hand threw his head and began to stalk back and forth across the room like a caged lion.

"I cannot believe this! I can't fucking believe this! Malfoy! Does Ginny know? She's liked you for ages!"

Harry scoffed. " Are you really that dense? Ginny got over that childish crush in her Second Year. Yes Ginny knows, she went to Hermione when she found out I would have found my mate this summer. Unlike you, she's fine with it and actually happy for me."

Ron looked taken back. "Happy? You want me to be happy for you when you're stuck with Malfoy? There has to be a way out of this!"

Harry shook his head. "I need Draco. He's my soul mate. My twin flame. He completes me."

"Can't you just be uncompleted like everyone else?"

"I'd die!"

"And that's worse than being with Malfoy for the rest of your life? I would never-" Ron was saying but Harry cut him off.

"It's not just about you Ron! This is my life! Draco's life! You hate Draco so much, you'd rather have me dead without him than alive and with him?"

Ron just starred at Harry. "I don't even know you anymore. You're not the same Harry I joked around with from last year."

Harry straightened. "No I'm. That Harry grew up. I'm not clouded by the prejudices of others anymore. I make my own decisions now."

Ron stopped his stalking. "That's it Harry! Choose. Right now, him or me?"

Harry looked at his best friend in horrific realization. Ron, his best mate of six years was making him do what Draco, his school rival of six years had never done. Make him choose between two people he loved.

"Don't you dare. Don't you fucking dare make me choose between you and him!" Harry spat angrily as the shock wore off.

Ron sneered. "Oh and why not?"

Angry tears jumped up in Harry's eyes. "Because you'll only end up disappointed when the answer isn't you!"

Ron froze, his eyes wide. "So that's it? You're willing to choose a Slytherin, Death Eater piece of scum over your best friend?"

"No," Harry answered, wiping his eyes. "I am willing to choose my mate over my jealous, selfish best friend."

Ron's face turned purple with anger. "So now I'm jealous and selfish?" He demanded, his eyes hard.

"My only wish," began Harry. "After Draco actually accepting me, was for him not to make me choose between him and you. I never dreamed the boy I met on the train all those years back, the friend I made, would try to make me choose."

"He's Malfoy, Harry!"

"He's my mate Ron!" Harry threw back, resisting the urge to stamp his foot. "If you can't accept him, then you're rejecting a part of me! And I can't help but be me! So if you can't accept that, tell me now."

Ron looked to be deep in thought for a minute, shaking his head and sighing. Foolishly, Harry began to hope, maybe Ron could just live with it, maybe.

"I just can't, Harry. He's Malfoy!"

Merlin, was Ron's needle stuck? Harry knew, very well actually, that Draco was a Malfoy without Ron's constant reminders.

Resentment filled the raven haired Gryffindor at Ron's answer. How could he have been so stupid as to think Ron would accept him?

"I should have known." Harry muttered to himself but Ron caught it.

"What is that supposed to mean? What with the look?"

Harry's mouth was set in a grim line. "It's disappointment."

Ron nodded stiffly. "I suppose it is disappointing to know you've got Malfoy to blame for all-"

"No Ron, I'm not disappointed in Draco or myself. It's you. I'm disappointed that my best friend isn't half the man I thought he was."

Ron pursed his lip in a disgusted manner before looking straight into Harry's eyes, his face set in anger.

"You know what? I don't need this shit. I'm outta here. Have a nice life with Malfoy, Potter. I don't ever want to see you again."

Harry swallowed away his tears. "Ditto. I just hope you remember you chose this."

Ron didn't even turn around as he stormed away, leaving Harry and their friendship in that cold, unused, dirty classroom.

A/N: Yeah, Ron was a jerk but I'm sort of a fan of Ron loving and bashing.

Please review! I type more if you review!

S.Tangerine