Chapter 16
Harry sat beside Ron's bed all morning till the first signs of light seeped its way through the green drapes. Every few minutes he would get up and pace the ward. He wanted to know who did this to him, but he wouldn't know until Ron woke up. He reached out and gripped Ron's warm hand and pressed it to his cheek. He was so happy that he had gotten up early this morning to go to the owlery, or he wouldn't have been able to help Ron. He had been so cold and disoriented when he came across him in the corridor. Harry had been coming back from sending an owl to reserve a quiet place in the Three Broomsticks for him and Ron to talk privately. He had planned on apologizing to him today once Pansy and Malfoy were back together. He didn't care about Pansy's blackmailing him anymore. He was going to come out on his own. He had to protect Ron, and if that was his only way, he was prepared to do whatever it took. It never occurred to him that something this uncivilized would ever happen to his best friend, no the person he deeply loved. He laid his head down beside Ron, still holding his hand, and closed his eyes. There was no way he was leaving his side after what had just happened to him.
"Wake up sleepy head," called Madame Pomfrey. She pulled back the drapes sending a burst of light into the dim ward, completelty waking up Harry. He looked around himself confusedly until he realized where he was. He looked down at his watch and it read 6:15 am. He looked up to see that Ron was already awake and looking at him lazily. He smiled at him then turned to Madame Pomfrey who was going through her morning routine of getting breakfast and cleaning. Harry wiped the back of his hand across his eyes and sat up embarrassingly. How long had Ron watched him sleep; he thought? Madame Pomfrey called that she was going to the Great Hall to get breakfast for them, and that she would be back in a moment. She closed the door silently behind her as she departed.
"How long have you been awake?" Harry asked.
"For about an hour I think. I'm used to her routine by now…" he paused at this and Harry knew why. The last time he was in here it had been because of him. Harry looked toward the floor shamelessly and shook his head.
"I'm so sorry Ron. I don't know what came over me that day. I was ready to come out with you, but when Seamus walked through that door I freaked. All my thoughts were of the disgrace and disappointment from everyone." He grabbed Ron's arm and looked at him pleadingly. "I know that doesn't justify what I did, but I was scared, no terrified."
"Was?" asked Ron quizzically.
"I don't care anymore. After Seamus..." He stopped at the disgust that covered Ron's face. Ron closed his eyes and turned away. He couldn't bear to hear that name; it repulsed him. Harry watched as anger cover Ron's face and it dawned on him. It was Seamus; he had done this to him.
"It was Seamus wasn't it? He did this to you!" murmured Harry.
Ron turned and looked into Harry's eyes. He could see a fire burning behind them. He knew then that Harry was on his side again. He nodded.
Harry stood up quickly and turned to leave the room. He was going to kill Seamus if he had to. Ron gripped his hand and pulled him back.
"It wasn't his fault," he confessed. He waited until Harry sat down again before he spoke.
"He was drugged."
Harry didn't understand. Why was Ron trying to protect Seamus?
"What do you mean drugged?" Ron tried to sit up, but the lower half of his body seared with pain. He laid back into his pillow again.
"It was Lavender. She drugged him and made him do what he did." Ron pulled the covers higher over him. He felt disgusting. He wanted to bathe, but Madame Pomfrey told him that they needed to get evidence for Dumbledore before he could take one. He couldn't bear to touch himself. Every inch of his body seemed tainted and unclean.
"Lavender? I knew she was crazy but I never thought she would do something like this." Yelled Harry. Ron raised his hands to his head to cover his ears. The loudness made his head ring.
"She told me that she wanted dirt on someone, and she couldn't find any," Added Ron.
"She told me that earlier too. That bitch!" sneered Harry. He recalled the look in Lavender's eyes as she pleaded with him to give her something to gossip about.
"Are you okay," he asked.
Ron inhaled and felt pain in his side. He pulled back the covers and looked down to his torso. There were blood bruises all over his chest. He lowered his arms again and pulled the covers back up.
"No Harry, I'm not okay! I was just raped and by the look of it beat up." He snapped. Harry opened his mouth to sooth him when Madame Pomfrey along with Professor McGonagall and Professor Dumbledore came through the door.
"Oh my God, what has happened here," McGonagall asked.
Ron looked at Harry then back at the teachers and started to explain everything that happened. Harry listened silently taking in all the details. With every word he grew more and more angry. He couldn't believe that he hadn't seen Ron on the sofa before he left the common room that morning; the room had been too dark.
Ron concluded that Harry had found and brought him to the hospital wing. Ron reached out to Harry and Harry grabbed it and squeezed. Dumbledore looked between the two of them. He raised his eyebrows, but nodded and smiled.
"Well, I'll handle this, you two just relax," exclaimed Dumbledore. He turned and gestured for Professor McGonagall to follow him. They exited.
Ron pulled his hand away from Harry and Harry stared at him in disbelief.
"What's wrong." He asked.
"Nothing, I just don't feel clean. Madame Pomfrey, can I shower now?" he yelled out.
"Yes, let me just get the evidence Dumbledore needs. Harry, could you step outside the hangings for a moment?"
Harry nodded and stepped back as she pulled the hangings around the bed blocking Ron from view. Harry paced again. His mind was reeling. What would make Lavender do something like this? She had to be losing her mind or had already lost it. He stopped pacing when Madame Pomfrey pulled back the hangings a few minutes later. She carried a vial with a cotton swab inside. She nodded to him that everything was all right, and then left the ward. Harry sat down next to Ron's bed and looked at him soothingly. He looked so fragile and innocent; the complete opposite of the Ron he knew.
"I guess I'll take a shower now," Ron moaned as he made to climb from the bed. It took all his energy to pull one leg up and over the side. Harry wrapped an arm around him and helped him to the bathroom where he ran a tub full of hot water.
"Hotter," mumbled Ron as he began to undress. Harry looked at him, but tapped his wand on the side of the tub and the water steamed up dangerously.
"Are you sure about this Ron?" he asked.
"Yes, I don't want any of anything left on me," he retorted resolutely as he stepped clumsily into the scolding water. Harry stepped back and sat on the floor beside the sink.
"Where is Ronald," asked a panicked girl coming from the direction of the empty ward. Harry knew it was Hermione so he stood up and went to meet her. He spotted her standing in front of a very distraught Madame Pomfrey, and right behind her was Malfoy. Harry stopped in his tracks and stared into Malfoy's eyes. Anger began to build up from jealousy at the thought of Malfoy comforting Ron. He balled up his fist, but didn't retort.
"Harry, where's Ron. I just heard what happened from Professor McGonagall when she came to get Lavender and Seamus. What happened?" she asked eagerly.
Harry briefly explained what happened and told her that Ron was in the tub bathing. Hermione covered her mouth with her hand and shook her head incredulously.
"My God Harry, is he all right?"
"I'm not sure. If he's not, he's doing a great job at pretending." He paused and looked at Malfoy. "Why are you here?" he asked angrily.
"Why am I here? I should be asking you that shouldn't I Potter?" Malfoy ridiculed. " I was waiting for Ron. We were suppose to go to Hogsmeade together, when I saw Granger running toward the hospital wing; so I followed. What's your excuse Potter," he spat.
Harry opened his mouth to snap back, but Malfoy raised his hand in his face and stepped past him and heading toward the bathroom.
"You can't go in there," Harry called. Malfoy ignored him and entered, closing the door behind him.
Hermione gripped Harry's hand and turned him to face her.
"Let him go. They're friends now Harry. I don't know why, but they are."
Harry balled his empty hand in frustration. The jealousy he felt at these words pissed him off. He was going to lose Ron to Malfoy, and he didn't know how to stop it. Hermione watched the side of his face and her eyes traveled down to his balled up fist. She knew what he was thinking. She pulled Harry in a gentle hug and rested her head on his chest.
"Let's just be happy that Ron's okay, all right," she replied as she looked up into his bitter face. He grimaced hesitantly and pulled her to a chair where they sat and waited silently.
Malfoy closed the door behind him as his eyes adjusted to the dim lighting of the bathroom. His breath was taken as the steam swirled around him. He crossed to the sink and leaned against it then; waiting for Ron to realize that he was there.
Ron's eyes were closed and his breathing unrushed. He had run another round of water that was less hot. His aching muscles were relaxed now, and his mind was completely oblivious to anything around him.
"Humph, Humph."
Ron jumped slightly and looked around. He saw that Malfoy was standing in half shadow against the wall. He sat up as much as his soreness would allow and stared at him quizzically. Malfoy came forward and bent down on his knees beside the tub.
"Are you okay Ron?"
Ron pulled the bubbles around him and nodded. Malfoy smirked at the triviality of this innocent gesture. If he was capable of feeling embarrassment then he must be okay for the most part.
Ron still wasn't use to the attention Malfoy bestowed on him. Having him sitting beside him while he was completely naked made him nervous. For a moment he forgot why he was in the tub in the first place and focused all his attention on Malfoy's concerned face.
"I'm all right, really," said Ron as he played with the bubbles nervously. Why do I have to get all nervous around him? Ron thought as he looked down into the water. He looked from the corner of his eye and saw that Malfoy was smiling at him in the sly way if his.
"What?" Ron mumbled.
"Nothing Weaselbee. I'm just amused."
"About what?"
"About the fact that you just got raped and you're sitting here pretending it didn't happen." The smile was gone from his face to be replaced by confused contempt.
Ron eyes darted back and forth across Malfoy's face and his stomach balled into knots, his eyes burned from holding back hours of tears. He didn't need him to be sorry for him. He didn't need someone else to look at him as if he were weak and helpless; like Harry did every time he looked at him. He couldn't deal with it, he wouldn't let that happen.
"Shove off Malfoy, you don't know anything about how I feel," snapped Ron as he turned his head to face the wall. Malfoy sat there in silence. He didn't get angry or irritated; he just sat, and waited.
"I said leave me alone Malfoy," shouted Ron as he made to stand. His arms gave way under him and he fell back into the water, sending hot water over the edge of the tub onto Malfoy robes and shoes. He sat there, his body trembling from embarrassment, anger and resentment. Malfoy stood; looking down at him. He shook his head and dropping his robe off him, he stepped one foot then the other into the water. Ron looked up and followed Malfoy as he sat in the water fully clothed.
Malfoy bent his legs up and reached and pulled Ron to him. Ron tried to fight and push him away, but Malfoy gripped his arms tightly to his body and pulled him forcefully to him. He wrapped both arms around Ron's trembling body and rested Ron's head on his shoulder. He leaned his head over his and rubbed up and down on Ron's back and arm and almost instantly Ron gave way to his tears. Malfoy squeezed him tighter and rocked him smoothly.
"It'll be all right," he moaned quietly.
Ron faced was lined with silent tears. Flashes of the night before flashed before his eyes. Every emotion he had felt at the time burst forth; anger, hope, sorrow. He closed his eyes tightly, before letting the tears fall. It felt so good to be in the arms of someone that cared for him, but who didn't feel sorry for him, and who didn't feel like he was weak and useless. He needed this, he wanted this. He nuzzled himself closer to Malfoy's chest.
When Malfoy felt Ron start to relax, he loosened his tight hold, and looked down at him. He brushed the stray hairs out of Ron's eyes and there gazes met. Ron's eyes were red from crying, his body bruised from subconscious surrender. Something quite unusual burned in that gaze. No longer did he just care for Ron, his feelings ran deeper than that. Something had changed. His eyes lingered on Ron's pink tear drenched lips. An innocent yet confused happiness swelled in him. He was falling in love with Ron. He held Ron's face in his hands and bent to kiss him on the forehead. Ron exhaled under him.
"Come on, let's get out of here before we turn into prumes," Malfoy joked casually. Ron nodded and leaned forward to let him stand. He reached a hand out to let Malfoy help him out of the tub. He no longer cared about being exposed. Something had changed for him too. He felt safe under Malfoy's gaze. Malfoy wrapped a towel around him, before he dried his own clothes with his wand. Ron smiled at him and Malfoy grinned back. They left separately, but somehow as one!