Mae wasn't sure exactly when it happened, but she began to view Ron Weasley as more than a friend.
The two of them had begun spending time alone more frequently, either at their stone ledge overlooking the Black Lake, or in the Gryffindor common room. Mae felt very comfortable with Ron, something she hadn't truly felt with Draco. With Draco, she had always felt she wasn't good enough, and of course, he never hesitated to tell her that himself.
Ron was… so different. In a very good way. He never made fun of her admittedly loud boisterous laugh, he never made a crude comment when her hair was wildly out of place, he never gave her a dirty look when she ate. He laughed at most of her jokes, he made her feel wanted. It was a rather new thing for Mae.
Ron and her sat in the common room now, a game of Wizard's chess between the two. Ron successfully overtook Mae's king, winning the game. He gave her that smile of his, the slightly crooked, half lifted smile showcasing a glimpse of his pretty white teeth. She felt something flutter in her stomach then, and she swallowed hard as she returned his grin.
"Checkmate." declared Ron, beginning to put the game away. Mae grumbled good naturedly, rolling her eyes.
"Next time, I get to pick the game, Ronald Weasley." responded Mae loftily, brushing her hair out of her face.
Ron laughed, his eyes moving up to meet hers. They both stilled for a moment, tension between the two. Mae could feel each heartbeat thump through her chest, and she glanced down at Ron's full lips. She let herself wonder, for a moment, what it would be like to kiss him. She wondered if he felt the same thing, for he shifted in his seat and licked his lips.
"Ron beat you again, hm?" Ginny's voice broke the silence, as she plopped down on the couch next to Mae. "Guess everyone has to be talented at something."
"That sounds like an insult." remarked Ron, breaking eye contact with Mae.
"Very intuitive of you."
Mae laughed at their banter, shaking her head. The look she had shared with Ron was not forgotten, and she couldn't help but wonder if Ron would have kissed her had his sister not shown up.
She quickly squashed that thought. She didn't want to get her heart broken again.
Harry burst into the common room then, heading straight for Ron. The three of them gasped as they realized Harry was soaking wet and dripping with blood.
"Where've you-? Why are you soaking -? Is that blood?" Ron stood, staring bewildered at Harry.
"I need your book," Harry panted. "Your potions book. Quick… give it to me…"
"But what about the Half-Blood -?"
"I'll explain later!"
Ron pulled into his bag and took his copy of their Potions book, handing it to Harry. Harry ran upstairs then, and before the three could speak about what he had done, he came barreling back downstairs with his schoolbag in hand.
Mae got a bad feeling in the pit of her stomach.
"What d'you think's gotten into him?" Ginny questioned Ron, staring at the portrait hole Harry had disappeared from.
"Dunno.." Ron trailed off, staring the same.
"I don't think I've ever seen Harry like that," said Mae quietly, resting her chin in her hand. "Is his life always so dramatic?"
"Yes," both Ron and Ginny answered simultaneously.
"Alright then." Mae widened her eyes slightly, slightly amused.
"I'm going to meet Luna for dinner," Ginny stood, twisting her long red hair back into a bun. "Are you lot going to skip?"
"Ron, skip dinner?" Mae laughed, shaking her head. She stood up then, holding out a hand to Ron. "Come on, then."
Ron took her hand, and Mae couldn't stop a small smile as his large one engulfed her small one. As he stood, she took note that he didn't attempt to remove his hand from hers. Again, her stomach fluttered at the thought.
The three of them left the common room, heading down to the Great Hall. As they passed the girls bathroom, they could hear Moaning Myrtle wailing about something.
"Harry Potter has killed Draco Malfoy!"
Mae stilled, her hand slipping out of Ron's grasp. She felt as though her limbs were filled with ice, as Myrtle once again wailed the words.
"Draco Malfoy is dead at the hands of Harry Potter! Muder in the bathroom, murder in the bathroom!"
Ignoring Ron and Ginny, Mae ran into the bathroom, her heart beating wildly in her chest.
"Myrtle, where is Draco?" she asked wildly, staring at the ghost girl.
"Professor Snape sent him to Madam Pomfrey, although it's too late!" wailed Myrtle, floating around the bathroom. "So much blood!"
Mae ran out of the bathroom, barely noticing Ron and Ginny calling out to her. Her blood pounded in her ears as she raced to the nurse, hoping beyond hope that Draco hadn't really died. As she caught sight of him, she stopped.
He had been hurt, most definitely, his unbuttoned white undershirt now red with his blood. Madam Pomfrey was spreading dittany on his chest wounds, having already tended to his face. Mae felt her heart break as she waited for Madam Pomfrey to leave. Once she did, Mae walked over and took Draco's hand.
He opened his eyes slowly, unfocused as they landed on her. "What are you doing here?"
"Myrtle said you died," swallowing past the lump in her throat, Mae rubbed circles on his hand with her thumb. "I had to come see if you were alright."
"Unfortunately, I am," scoffed Draco, rolling his eyes. "Potter couldn't be man enough to kill me."
"Draco," breathed Mae, her heart stilling as his words processed. "Why on earth would you want to die?"
Draco seemed uncomfortable now, as though he wished he hadn't spoken those words. "I'm surprised you don't want me dead. Aren't you best friends with the pathetic trio now?"
"Just because I'm close with them, doesn't mean I want you to die," Mae stopped for a moment, thinking hard. "As much as I've wanted to hate you, I never could."
"I've given you plenty reason to." responded Draco quietly, averting his eyes.
"Yes," nodded Mae, still holding his hand. "You have. But… through all of it, I loved you."
"I'm sorry I couldn't love you properly," Draco shut his eyes, his voice quiet. "I never really deserved you."
"Draco…" Mae trailed off, a lump growing in her throat. She didn't know what to say.
"If it isn't too much to ask," Draco paused, forcing his eyes open. "Could you kiss me, one last time?"
Mae felt her heart breaking all over again as she nodded. If he weren't on what seemed to be his deathbed, she probably would have said no. But for the first time in months, she felt like he was the Draco she had fallen in love with.
She bent down, pressing her lips against his cold ones. His hand reached up to grasp the back of her neck, fisting in her hair. His tongue parted her lips, exploring her mouth as he had done so many times before. His other hand came up to cup her cheek, his thumb grazing over her tears that had spilled out. She placed her hands on his cheeks, and she was surprised to find tears of his own. Perhaps they were hers that had fallen on his face, perhaps they were his from his injuries, or maybe, just maybe, he was crying over what they had lost.
Mae would never know.
She pulled away first, her heart aching once more. Draco opened his eyes, his expression unreadable.
"I think I'm in love with Ron," whispered Mae, a tear slipping down her cheek. "He's nice to me.. And I rather enjoy that."
Draco shut his eyes, taking a deep breath. "Be happy with him, then."
Mae nodded, and she stood from his bedside. They gave each other once last look, and Draco seemed, for the first time, apologetic. She turned then, and left the hospital wing. Ginny was standing outside, appearing to have been waiting for her. She was sympathetic, her arms crossed.
"Ron would be better for you, you know," said Ginny quietly, shaking her head slightly. "Draco will never be the man you want."
"I know," Mae nodded, feeling confused. "I don't want Draco."
Ginny stilled, raising an eyebrow. "Then why did you kiss him?"
"Because he asked…" trailed off Mae, looking down at her shoes, and back up at the ginger. "I needed the closure."
Ginny scoffed. "Some closure. Ron saw you, you know."
"He what?" Mae looked around, but didn't see him. "Where is he?"
"Well," Ginny let out a deep breath, shifting awkwardly. "He saw, and he got mad. Dunno where he went from there."
"I just saw Ronald head back towards your common room," the girls turned to see Luna walking towards them, barefoot. "He seemed quite upset."
Mae felt panic rise in her chest. "Thanks, Luna."
"No problem." replied Luna, snaking an arm around Ginny's waist. The redhead pressed a quick kiss to the blonde's temple.
"I'm going to go explain to him." Mae told the girls, who nodded. Mae left them then, hurrying to the common room. She didn't want Ron to have the wrong impression. She had to tell him how she felt, that it was him she wanted, if he would have her.
Thankfully, Hermione was entering the common room just as Mae turned the corner.
"Hermione," called Mae, rushing over to her. "Can I come see if Ron is in there?"
"Sure." Hermione nodded, pushing the portrait open. The girls stepped inside, and Mae felt her heart freeze in her chest as she caught sight of Ron.
Ron was wrapped up in Lavender Brown, the girl sitting on Ron's lap as his hands twisted in her wavy blonde hair. They were snogging, heavily, and Mae's still fragile heart broke into bits as she witnessed the scene.
"Mae.." Hermione began, but Mae left before she could say a word.
Tears burned her eyes as she fled through the castle, her chest aching as she replayed the scene over and over in her head. She spit out the password to her dorm, rushing up the stairs to her room. The room was quiet, empty, as most everyone was at dinner. Her appetite was gone.
Her chest ached and she lay on her side, facing the wall. Tears slipped out of her eyes as she stared, unseeing, the scene of Ron snogging Lavender replaying in her mind until she fell into an uneasy sleep.
hello! hopefully you all are enjoying this story.
-TheFlyingGraysons