Draco stormed down the corridor, robes billowing behind him. Ron could feel the other's rage as he trailed behind silently. They were nearing the out of use corridor on the right hand side of the third floor.

He had been waiting for Draco to say or think something, but could hear nothing. When they reached the abandoned corridor, Draco dragged Ron into the darkness. He shuddered as they passed a web in which a spider was taking it's dinner.

When Draco turned to face Ron, his eyes were cold and dark. They seemed to reflect dangerously. 'Myrtle should never have seen us.' He hissed icily, 'If she says something to one of the other ghosts... to anyone...'

Ron shifted uncomfortably, he wanted to reach out to Draco and comfort him, but refrained from doing so. Not only might they be seen, he found himself afraid of Draco's ominous presence in this darkness. 'I didn't know she went into that bathroom at all.' He growled.

Ron frowned, and shrugged a shoulder. 'She doesn't unless Harry is in there... or if there is something interesting going on.' He near jumped out of his skin when the sound of something shattering abruptly cut the air. He realized Draco had smashed one of the fire lamps on the floor and was now circling around it furiously. Like a wild animal in a cage.

'And Granger...' he growled, punching the wall with his fist so hard, fragments actually chipped off of it. His hand dripped with blood. 'Dammit all! Epeskey!' He shouted, his wound healing instantly.

Ron stood, frozen, watching helplessly as Draco took his tantrum and waited patiently for it to pass. He eyed the wall nervously, trying to stay out of his way until it was over.

Why so angry?

Draco didn't seem to register his thought. Too busy smashing another out of use lamp. Overtaken with rage. Ron could sense there was still something Draco was not telling him. Perhaps many things. He felt the pressure on his forehead activate on it's own, as if responding to Ron's desire to know.

He heard Draco's voice, If he finds out...

Time and space distorted around them as Ron entered Draco's mind effortlessly.

'CRUCIO!' bellowed a deep, menacing voice.

Ron heard Draco scream and his stomach twisted as he saw Lucius Malfoy point his wand. His face screwed up in disgust and hatred as he tortured his son. 'CRUCIO!' he growled again, holding the spell on Draco for several minutes as he writhed in pain on the floor. Shapes faded into view and Ron realized they were back in Draco's room.

'This is just the beginning, boy!' Lucious bellowed at Draco, whose body curled into the fetal position as he sobbed heavily. 'Father... please... stop.' He wailed.

'You'll never think such things in this house again, CRUCIO!' Draco screamed and convulsed, Ron thought he could see Draco's Mother frowning in the door frame, doing nothing.

I can read your mind as easily as you can read mine. CRUCIO!' Draco vomited on the floor. Lucious didn't release Draco from the curse for minutes longer, until he was motionless. Unconscious from the pain. Ron could almost feel it himself.

'How dare you...' He hissed, dragging Draco by his hair to the edge of a sliding door which apparently led into a small bathroom. '...even think of such abominations in my house. CRUCIO!' Draco woke with another scream that curdled Ron's blood. It was as if he was being skinned alive.

Ron's blood came to an instant boil. He realized that Draco still looked very young.

'Wash your filth away. I'll be taking you to Hogwart's tomorrow myself. There will be no need for you be on that Train.' Lucius paused for a moment, turning as if to leave Draco be. Just when the boy released a strangled sigh of relief, he flicked his wand over his shoulder.

'CRUCIO!'

Ron couldn't bare to watch it anymore, he lunged for Lucious throat.

'Ron, stop...' Draco's voice croaked weakly.

Ron felt the sparks and was pushed out of Malfoy's mind. When Ron's vision came back into focus he was sitting on Draco's chest, clenching his throat. He withdrew his hands quickly and scrambled backwards on the floor, staring at Draco wide eyed and apologetic.

'I'm sorry!' he sputtered immediately. 'I thought you were...' Ron trailed off and stared silently at Draco.

'My Father?' he spat, sitting up and leaning against the wall. He seemed rather lifeless, now. 'Have a great likeness to him, don't I?'

'Are you mad at me?' Ron asked nervously.

'I didn't take the Hogwart's Express to school in my Second Year, either.' Draco looked over to him, feigning a slight smirk. He could no longer fool Ron, who now recognized the suffering in the silvery eyes he knew so well. 'No, of course I'm not mad at you.' Draco said softly. Even a scowl seemed to require too much energy for Draco to spend, his reserves exhausted during the tantrum. 'Thank you for trying to protect me.'

Ron leaned against the wall beside him, feeling overcome with guilt. 'Draco... ' He barely whispered. Draco turned his tired gaze onto Ron. 'Was... your Father...' He struggled with the right words. He did not want to repeat aloud what he had just witnessed. He had learned the hard way that there really were ears and eyes in the walls at Hogwart's. 'Was it because of me?'

Ron watched as Draco turned his eyes onto the cracks in the floor. He caught a glimpse of what Draco was thinking. He saw a blurry memory of Draco with his head tilted back, moaning softly as he clutched a handful of red hair. Ron saw himself with his lips wrapped around Draco's erection, sucking it relishingly in an empty compartment on the Hogwart's Express. Just as he had in Suite Number Five.

So that was the dream.

He thought he could see the corner of Draco's mouth poking up in a genuine smile before he released a sad sigh. 'It's not because of you,' He said, turning his slate gaze into the darkness. 'It was because of me. You had no idea. He found out because of my carelessness... and I should have known better. There are consequences for carelessness.'

Ron stared at the wall on the other side of the corridor. He noticed a tiny window at the very top near the ceiling. It was dark already. Had they been in the Prefect's bathroom so long? 'So... he knows Legilimency, too.' Ron concluded.

Draco breathed a scornful laugh, 'I got it from him. That was the day he conjured that bench and gave me his little father son heart to heart about the Dark Lord.'

Ron sighed and leaned his head back against the wall. He wondered how his father would react under the same circumstances. He wouldn't be tortured, Ron knew that.

'It was wrong.' he said, clenching his fist, 'What he did to you that night.' He was surprised when he felt Draco's hand uncurl his fist and entwine their fingers. Ron couldn't remember a time when Draco had held his hand. He looked to his left and was greeted by Draco's devout gaze.

'Thank you. And I know.'

Ron blinked back at him, desperately wishing he could take the pain away. Wishing he had something to offer. Other than just himself and a whole lot of nothing. They sat in the silence a long time. Ron could feel that Draco was thinking but gave him the privacy of his thoughts. 'I understand.' Ron whispered after some time. 'Why we need to keep this between us.' Moaning Myrtle was the least of their problems.

'Maybe we shouldn't be isolating ourselves anymore.' Draco offered him a curious glance. 'There are too many people who can catch us here. And...' Ron closed his eyes, shaking the image of the terrifying Lucious Malfoy out of his mind. 'I don't want anyone to find out... for your sake.'

Draco smiled slightly and leaned in, pressing his lips to Ron's in spite of the risk it posed. The Gryffindor sighed in bliss at the simple contact. 'You're right.' he said. 'The Hogsmeade trip is only two weeks away.'

Ron nodded and turned back to the window at the top of the wall, leaning his head on Draco's shoulder. 'Yunno, before we... got together... I was telling myself I should spend more time in the Quidditch pitch. Since I've learned Legilimency so fast, we could focus on that.'

Draco laughed, 'Keeping your hands on the Quaffle so you can keep them off of me. Thanks.'

Ron chuckled as well, draping his free arm across Draco's waist. 'We gotta do something. Come with me?'

'Maybe you're right.' Draco mused, 'Okay. Fine. You need someone to throw the Quaffle, after all.' Ron nodded and yawned, letting his eyes slip closed. 'No one can punish us for playing a little Quidditch.' He was just relieved Draco would be around.

'So much for patrolling the corridors,' Draco muttered.

Ron offered a sleepy laugh. 'Technically you did. You were in the corridors all night.' Draco smirked.

Ron had fallen asleep there, leaning against the wall with Draco. When they awoke, the tiny window had a ray of sunlight streaming through. Their fingers still entwined beneath their robes. Ron could tell by the hue of the light that it was still very early.

Draco had woken as well and smirked down at Ron, 'You're the first person whose gotten me to sleep on the floor.' He mumbled sleepily, voice managing to ring with sarcasm even when partially conscious.

Ron laughed as they dragged each other to their feet and stumbled sluggishly out of the corridor and onto the Switching Staircase. 'We'd better get to our Common Rooms before the Professors wonder where we are. Again.'

The Slytherin Common Room was in the dungeon and Gryffindor's was in the tower. 'This is where we need to part ways.' Draco said sadly.

They stood aloof from each other. Ron felt the same gravity between them that he had felt two weeks ago when they stood at the edge of the Black Lake. It had seemed so foreign to him, then. Now it was warm and inviting. Ron had to fight against himself in order not to drift closer. 'I'll see you at breakfast?' Malfoy asked, stony eyes fixing on Ron's forgetmenott pools.

He nodded and grinned his usual grin. 'Yep, see you at the Slytherin table.' They reluctantly turned and set off to their Common Rooms to ready themselves for class.

Draco, Ron thought.

Yes? He heard Draco's voice in his ears, it was faint. As though he were far away.

Erase Moaning Myrtle's memory.

The next week was agony for Ron. Trying to keep a two foot distance between himself and Draco had proven itself a difficult task. He watched jealously as other couples were free to hold hands in the Courtyard and steal kisses in the Study Hall. It was more severe than the fact that Ron and Draco were both boys. It was a to be tortured or not to be tortured situation for Draco. Topped with a life or death situation.

As they took lunch on Monday afternoon, Draco noticed as Ron glared in irritation down the Slytherin table at Pansy Parkinson and Blaise Zambini, french kissing wildly. The Slytherins avoided where Ron and Draco sat like it was infected with the plague. Don't blame them, Draco thought at Ron, taking him by surprise, It's not their fault.

Ron smiled and thought back to him. I can't help it, and you're going soft.

True to his word, Draco intended to be at the Quidditch pitch with Ron every day after class. He had insisted on splurging on a new broomstick for Ron, who had refused several times and failed against Draco's persistent attitude. 'You can't play on that ruddy old thing.' He said to Ron with an irritated twitch of his upper lip, 'It's a safety hazard.'

Images of a bluger snapping Ron's broom in two, causing him to plummet to the ground, breaking his neck flashed through Draco's mind. The distinct sound of breaking neck resounded throughout the thought. Ron grinned at him, tickled that Draco feared for his life. 'I've always played on that ruddy old thing.' He pointed out.

'I'll send an Owl to Quality Quidditch Supply. They'll have a Firebolt here by tomorrow morning.' Draco said, pulling out a piece of parchment, ready to write the order.

'NO!' Ron cried, snatching the quill from Draco's hands. 'That's ridiculous, Draco.'

'Fine,' he said smugly, 'We'll compromise.'

The next day, the latest version of the Comet, the Comet 290 (which was only just released last summer), was in front of him. It's handle was dark and void of scratches. The finish was a deep shade of cinnabar and almost the same color as his hair. Draco smiled as he saw Ron turn the broom over in his hands several times, eyes twinkling voraciously. He had never had his own brand-new broom before.

'You deserve it.' Draco said firmly, sipping his coffee. 'Consider it a thank you gift.' Ron looked to Draco with adoration. 'Thank you for what?' Draco shrugged, 'I don't know. Being yourself?' He felt his insides split as he gazed longingly at Draco. He despised that they had to maintain a distance.

With hundreds of eyes on him in the middle of the Great Hall, he knew reaching out to Draco was impossible. They had all ready received raised brows from the extravagant delivery they had just received and the heat was not off of them yet.

Ron ignored them effortlessly. Instead, he thought of Saturday afternoon in the Prefect's Bathroom. Of Draco thrusting into him. His back arched, grinding back against the other's thrusts. Draco... his voice moaned between their minds.

The Slytherin narrowed his eyes and smirked. 'You're something else.'

An hour after class ended, Ron was ready for the Quaffle. He hovered before the three hoops a Keeper protects during a Quidditch game.

His new Comet and his old Comet were vastly different. His Comet 290 did not lag. It responded immediately to Ron's commands. It darted back and forth as sporadically as he only wished his old one could have. Draco watched him from the ground with the fond smirk that he reserved just for Ron. With the Quaffle under his right arm arm and his Firebolt in his left hand, he took off skillfully into the air until he was level with Ron. 'Ready?' he called across the field.

Ron grinned and waved an arm, 'Ready!' He leaned back on his broom. He hadn't realized how shaky his old one had been. This was a much smoother ride.

At times, Draco was a boss with the Quaffle. Sending it soaring past Ron's head with the force of a cannon, whooshing through the air as it flew past his ear. Other times he would lob the red mass, sending it plummeting into the ground with a thunk. Or it would fly astray, toward the Ravenclaw post. Sending Draco into a fit of frustration.

'The sun was in your eyes!' Ron would shout, stroking his ego.

'Yeah, you're right!' Draco would agree.

'Pitch is closing!' The voice of Madame Hooch boomed as she held her wand to her throat to amplify her voice. 'Time to call it quits.'

Ron guided his broom to the ground, making the smoothest landing of his life, and headed for the Exit. She smiled at them proudly, 'It's nice to see Slytherin and Gryffindor working together.'

She opened the door for them and locked it when they were safely outside. She used the same spell Draco had used on the door to the Prefect Bathroom to resecure it. 'I expect the next game between your teams will be extraordinary. I award Twenty Points to each of your houses for good Sportsmanship.'

'Thank you Madame.' Draco said smoothly. She offered them a smile and a short nod and before disappearing into her office.

Ron turned to Draco, dumbfounded. 'How can you be so lucky?' Draco shrugged his shoulder, a slight smile on his face. Ron was happy to see he sneered so much less. 'Always have been. Well, most of the time.' After a pause he said, 'I'm lucky now.'

'Hey,' Ron said as they passed Hagrid's Hut, 'You're an amazing Seeker, Draco.'

Draco scoffed, rolling his eyes. He cunningly identified what Ron was really trying to say. 'At times I don't have very good aim.'

Ron shrugged dismissively, 'I understand. I'm too slow to be a Seeker.' Draco smirked, 'When I tried out for the team I was going for Chaser. I failed, needless to say. My good tosses are too... random. Seeker was a better position anyway. It's easier and there's more praise.'

'You tried out!?' Ron said, surprised.

'Of course I did.' Draco snapped with insult.

Ron was intrigued. 'I thought your Father bought your ticket to the team. All the Nimbus 2001s.' Ron said as they neared the Castle.

'Those were a reward.' Draco barked.

Every day after that, they went to class and headed straight to the Pitch afterward. Draco's Chaser arm was truly bipolar. There were times when Ron wondered where the hell the Quaffle went before he realized it had soared through the hoop to his left. Once or twice, on Thursday, Ron had lost his ability to maintain his composure and burst out laughing at Draco, who turned red and cursed at him. After several failed attempts Draco had lost patience.

As they took breakfast on Friday morning, Draco turned to him, 'Fuck that Quaffle. I've had enough of it.'

Ron frowned, 'C'mon Draco. Yesterday wasn't that bad! You're getting better.' He had insisted Tuesday on Draco not giving up. 'We'll go to class and today will be better. You'll see.' The day passed agonizingly slow, save for Potions class. The entirety of which he spent slacking off during First Period with Draco.

'You feel like a little Chess after class?' Harry asked him in last period. Muggle Studies, a class Draco had been forbidden by his parents to sign up for. Ron knew he was already down at the Pitch. 'Ginny has to study for her OWLs. She's told me she needed some space to focus.' Harry looked a little depressed Ginny had blown him off to hit the books. Ron wasn't surprised.

It had been ages since Harry had asked for a game of chess. 'Sorry, mate.' he said, sounding genuinely disappointed. 'I'm going to the Quidditch Pitch this afternoon.'

Harry shrugged a shoulder, 'Can I come?'

Now it was Ron's turn to shrug, 'Draco's going to be there.'

'Oh.' Harry said faintly.

'You can still come!' urged Ron, remembering what it was like to be left out. 'It would be nice to have a decent Chaser around!'

Harry shook his head. 'Nah, I'll pass for now. Maybe tomorrow.'

Tomorrow was Saturday already and having Harry around would be perfect. He and Draco would be forced to keep their hands of each other in Harry's presence. Ron also came upon the realization that Harry had been coaching their team for nearly two years now. 'Harry?'

Harry turned to him with one raised eyebrow. 'What?'

'You coach the Chasers on our team, right?' Ron asked eagerly. Harry blinked, 'Yeah...'

'Well... see... Draco...' Ron started, trying his hand at tact.

Harry seemed confused.

Tact was never his strong suit. 'Draco has bad aim.'

Harry snorted loudly, 'You sure?'

'I meant on the Quidditch pitch, Harry!' Ron cried, his forehead falling into his palm.

'Really?' He processed this new information then asked with a grin, 'How bad is it?'

Ron grinned back and replied assuringly, 'Bad. I was wondering if you could help us out a bit. As a favour to me. We've been at it all week and nothing's working.'

Harry grinned mischievously. 'I'll be there.'

Ron nodded, 'Thank's mate. I'll give him the heads up.'

When Ron arrived at the Quidditch pitch, he found Draco waiting in the doorway. He was holding a small box with a black leather coating. Ron approached him with a smile. 'Hey!'

Draco smirked at him. 'There's a Snitch in this box.' He announced, 'I'm going to teach you how to be a Seeker!'

Ron laughed nervously. 'Fine,' he then said, 'You've humiliated yourself all week, now it's my turn.'

'Haw-haw.' Draco scoffed as they walked out onto the field. He set the box on the ground and flicked his wand at the lid. It sprang open. Inside it was lined with black velvet and there was a little silver Snitch sitting inside.

That thing must be impossible to see.

'It is.' Draco nodded, 'It's for training. It was a gift from Father.' He flicked his wand again at the Snitch and it came to life.

It took off. Ron could see it hovering just above their heads. It gleamed as it darted back and forth but still moved much slower than the Golden Snitch did. 'It seems like I could catch it.' Ron mused.

Draco nodded. 'Every time you do it moves faster. Give it a shot.'

Ron mounted his broom and took off into the air. The Snitch darted in the opposite direction and Ron chased after it. It was definitely moving a lot slower than usual. He caught it within minutes. 'Good!' Draco shouted, 'Now let it go.' Ron did, and it took of again. It was moving noticeably faster this time. Draco mounted his broom and floated effortlessly into the air. His skilled flying abilities and uncanny talent for catching the Snitch compromised for all of Draco's faults when handling a Quaffle.

Ron chased the Snitch for twenty minutes before he bested it as he rounded the corner of the Stadium. Draco smirked and praised Ron again. 'Even better! Now release and try again.'

This time Ron chased that Snitch for two hours. Twice he lost sight of it. At times he was completely unable to see it due to it's unusual silver color. Once he saw a glint of it near the announcer's box and chased it for half an hour more before he lost sight of it again. The Slytherin had to point it out for him after another entire hour.

Draco flew to his side. 'You're not bad!' He admitted, 'I thought it would take you way longer the third time.' Ron handed the Snitch over to Draco. 'It'll remember you the next time you touch it. It'll be faster.'

Draco opened his hand and the Snitch took off. It seemed to disappear as Ron blinked. Draco was gone after it just as fast. He flew through the air with incredible elegance and speed. Draco reminded him of a great green wasp as he darted back and fourth. Within minutes the Snitch was in Draco's grasp.

The grounds seemed deserted as they made their way back to the Castle. All of the fifth years were studying for their OWLs. Hermione was running a Study Group to help them in their hardest subjects.

'That's... good of her.' Draco sniffed.

'She even recruited Parvati and Dean to help teach them.' Ron smiled at her antics, 'Hermione is like that.'

Draco seemed impressed, 'I didn't know there were people like that.'

Ron turned a sympathetic gaze on Draco. 'Well... you do now.'

It was already dark. There was no one in sight and the Castle was still good a distance away. Ron grabbed Draco and pulled him close. Being so near to Draco sent fantastic shivers down his spine. Draco's eyes were wide with shock as Ron held him, leaning in slowly.

Draco stood motionless, breathing heavily in anticipation. As their lips met, Ron's body was on fire. It had been almost a week since he had kissed Draco and he felt the electricity flowing through him.

Draco leaned into the kiss, wrapping his arms around Ron's neck. They kissed passionately, enveloped in the sanctuary of the darkness where no one could see them. They lingered there for hours on the grounds.

'I've invited Harry to the pitch tomorrow.' He told Draco as they skipped rocks at the edge of the Lake.

'Did you?' Draco scoffed with a sneer. 'Just what I've always dreamed of.'

'Harry is a good Captain.' Ron ensured him. 'I think he'll be able to help.' Draco sat down on the edge of the bench, leaning forward on his knees. As Draco gazed across the Lake toward the inviting lights of Hogsmeade he breathed an irritated sigh, 'I was trying to keep it between us. Again, it isn't.'

Ron sat down as well. He peered at the conjured bench with narrowed eyes, thinking of Lucius Malfoy. He stole a kiss from Draco's lips right there on the bench in spite of the other's sorry excuse for a parent. 'Harry won't tell anyone.'

Draco frowned, 'Granger knows.'

Ron summoned the memory of a week ago in the Common Room. Much to the Slytherin's admiration (and slight dismay), it turned out he was quite good at projecting memories as well. 'And they haven't said a word to anyone else.'

'I know we've been separated...' Hermione's voice said. 'But we're best friends...'

Draco snorted, shaking his head, 'That's the sappiest thing I've ever heard.'

Ron burst out into laughter, 'It's true, though. You wouldn't understand.'

Draco turned his gaze to the ground, expression becoming vacant. 'I guess not.' Ron sighed sadly. He felt sorry for Draco. He really didn't have any devoted friends that he knew of. At least not to the degree Ron had.

That's not true anymore. Draco thought as he placed a kiss on Ron's lips. You're all I need.

Ron felt Draco's tongue flick against his lower lip and granted him access. Draco's hand traced his chest as they kissed, fingers wandering south. He rubbed Ron's semi-hard cock under his trousers.

'Mmn.' He moaned into Draco's mouth. He tightened his grip, teasing Ron through the fabric until he became so hard his member bulged against his zipper.

Draco pushed Ron backward on the bench, who went down without a resistance. He climbed over Ron's hips to straddle him, knowing this was one of the Gryffindor's favourite perspectives. He peppered his collarbone with soft, wet kisses before continuing down his chest and abdomen.

Ron shivered as the night air nipped his flesh. Draco reached his waist and unbuttoned Ron's pants. 'Draco...' Ron whimpered as his erection was released and Draco took hold, stroking it slowly. What if someone sees us...?

Draco chuckled dismissively in the back of his throat, pulling back the foreskin and tracing his tongue over the tip. 'No one's here.' Ron released a delighted moan. That was enough for him.

It seemed so long since he had felt this way. Though they were keeping busy enough, the days dragged on and on. His cock was throbbing desperately. Ron had abandoned attempts at masturbating. It was just plain disappointing. Also, he'd rather save himself for the person before him.

The feeling of Draco's warm mouth wrapped around the head of his cock was sending those lovely little shock waves through his body. It always felt absurdly sensitive wherever Draco touched him. 'Mmmyea.' he moaned, 'Feels so good.'

He took Ron into his mouth, his tongue now licking along the side of his cock. Ron thrust up into the heat. His hand wandered down to Draco's hair and grasped it firmly. Draco allowed Ron's twitching cock to slide in and out of his mouth. Before long he was thrusting up into the other's mouth. Ron moaned as his eyes rolled back into his head.

He felt Draco's mouth release him. Ron groaned out in shock when he felt the other suck one of his balls gently between his lips without warning. The Slytherin maintained his hold on Ron's cock with his fist. He squirmed, tightening his grip on Draco's hair as a substitute for moaning as he felt the roll of his tongue over his sac.

Before long, he shifted. Mouth once again closing over the head of Ron's cock, who thrust his hips forward. Draco bobbed his head in time with his thrusts, eyes flicking up to peer at Ron from beneath long, blonde lashes. As though granting him permission to keep fucking his mouth. 'Ohyea..' Ron moaned, hand pulling platinum hair slightly. Draco released a muffled sound around his cock.

I'm going to cum...

Cum in my mouth.

Ron groaned and bucked his hips upward. He felt his cock twitch as the waves of pleasure accumulated into an orgasm, shooting into the back of Draco's throat. Draco smirked as he crawled up to place a kiss on Ron's lips.

You swallowed that fast. Ron thought in amusement.

Don't mention it. Draco thought back.