Can You Keep A Secret?
Chapter 1- Summer Memories
"Harry, please don't," said Ron, pushing Harry away.
"Why?" asked Harry, moving closer, trying to kiss him.
"I'm just not in the mood," said Ron, turning and gazing out the window.
"You're never in the mood," said Harry with hurt in his voice, "I wish I knew what you're problem was."
Ron couldn't figure out what his problem was either. After all, he was heartbroken when Harry broke up with him, and now that they were together he should be happy. Be he was far from happy. An emptiness he had never known filled his soul, making it impossible for him to feel joy. Because, little did Harry know, over the summer Ron had been in heaven. He truly felt he had found the love of his life, that fateful summer day.
Flashback
Ron was once again walking through the streets of town, in a daze as usual. But today he felt different. The fog of his brain was lifted slightly, as the strange feeling of being watched flowed through him. He kept looking around, expecting to see someone he knew, but he didn't. He went back to staring absentmindedly ahead, going through the horrible day of his and Harry's break-up. The scene played over and over in his head, like a broken record, taunting him, searing his soul with white hot sorrow. Tears stung his eyes as he hopped the fence and walked across the green meadow and into the shade of the woods that rested on the outskirts of town. When he had gone a little ways in, Ron sat down on the soft grass and leaned up against the trunk of a tree. He put his head in his hands and cried. Suddenly, he felt someone touch his shoulder. Ron looked up and saw Draco Malfoy standing there.
"What do you want, Malfoy?" snapped Ron, quickly wiping away his tears as he stood.
"I just wanted to see if you were all right," said Draco, "Is it a crime to care about someone else."
"I thought it was a crime for any Malfoy to care about any one other than himself," said Ron savagely, "And since when do you care about me?"
"I do care, I've always cared, you just never took the time to pay attention. All sixth year, I kept the taunts to a minimum. Just enough to let you see that I did like you." said Draco.
"What are you talking about?" asked Ron.
Draco took a step towards Ron.
"I'm talking about how I would never hurt you, not like Harry did." Draco said.
Ron looked at Draco's face for the first time since they started talking. He looked into his eyes and saw something there. Was it caring? Could it be love?
Before Ron could say another word, Draco bent closer and kissed him. Not just a regular kiss, but a passionate kiss. This was a kiss that burned through Ron like a roaring fire and pulled him toward Draco as though he were a magnet. This kiss was sweeter than anything either of them had tasted. This was kiss that started it all.
End Flashback
Yes, it was the kiss that had started it all. From that moment through the rest of the summer, Ron had dated Draco. It had been the best summer of his life. Harry had never known and he never would know. Besides, what could Ron say? After all, that summer was only a memory now.
"I swear to god Parkinson, if you don't get off me I'll hex you," snapped Draco, pushing Pansy away from him.
"Draco, you shouldn't treat your girlfriend like this," said Pansy, looking hurt.
Draco laughed.
"You are not my girlfriend anymore, you know that," he said, "We broke up last summer and I'm not in a hurry to get back together again."
"What's your problem Draco?" asked Pansy, "You've changed."
"I haven't changed," Draco said, "And if I have a problem I'm not about to tell you because it's none of your business."
"Fine, forget it," snapped Pansy.
She stood and walked out of the compartment, slamming the door behind her. Draco sighed and leaned back in his seat. He had known he was gay for years and had tried to hide it from everyone else. It had worked and he had fooled them all. But when he tried to fool himself, it hadn't worked, especially when he had fallen for Ron in his fourth year. But he knew he didn't have a chance, Ron hated him and was going out with Harry at the time and they were deeply in love. Or so he thought. During the summer, Draco had followed Ron around and found out that Harry had broken up with Ron. Draco knew he shouldn't have felt happy, but he was. He had waited until the best possible moment to talk to Ron alone and when he had, a dam seemed to burst inside him and he had poured out his soul to Ron and had kissed him. He knew now that someone else knew his secret and that he could never go back to the time when everyone was ignorant to his sexuality. He then went on to tell Ron he would never hurt him or leave him like Harry did, but his pride had made him into a liar.
Flashback
"Draco, what are you saying?" asked Ron.
"I'm saying that I can't see you anymore," said Draco, trying not o look at Ron.
"B-but why?" asked Ron, his voice trembling.
"My father's getting suspicious," said Draco, "and you know he can't know, he'd kill you."
"So. You said we'd make it through anything as long as we're together." said Ron, his eyes filling up with tears.
"I'm sorry, but no one else can know about the real me, I've got a reputation to uphold," said Draco.
"To hell with your reputation!" cried Ron, "You said you'd never leave me and never hurt me like Harry did, but now I can see it was all just a lie. You're no better than he is."
"Ron, I didn't lie to you, it's just-"
Ron cut him off, as tears spilled down his cheeks.
"Never mind, I don't want to hear it. I don't want to hear anymore lies and I never want to see you again."
He turned and started to run down the alley.
"Ron, wait!" yelled Draco.
But Ron was already out of sight and couldn't, or wouldn't, hear him.
End Flashback
Ron was right. Draco was a liar and he cared more about his pride and reputation. What he wouldn't give to have Ron back, to hold him in his arms, to feel his caress, to taste his lips once more.
But he knew it could never be that way again. He knew he would never again feel the happiness that Ron's laughter had always given him.
