Summary:

Draco and Ron have a conversation of how to handle the threat.
How will others take the two becoming closer? Will this new deal complicate thing or make them better.

Notes:

Thank you to all my readers. I have been very busy with one of my upcoming books that can be found on google play and amazon next months called When Desire Seduces Fear.
I hope you enjoy this newest chapter for now.

Chapter 4

Ron had no idea what to say or how to react to Draco's news. The other boy sure did look nervous and twitchy all of a sudden.

He decided the best way to get to the bottom of this would be by asking the most obvious question. "Why would you think someone is trying to bloody kill you, and what do you expect me to do about it?"

Draco flushed and fidgeted looking left then right. "I do not expect you to do anything Weasley. What I am asking is if you will help me."

Ronald Weasley stood their floored, the great Draco Malfoy, the once prince of the Slytherin stood here asking for his help. Not Harry's, not Hermione's but his. Would wondered never cease.

"How do you think I can help you in a way others cannot?" He asked the blond boy completely perplexed. Ron really had no idea what he could do, or why Draco sought out his help rather than Hermione or the Savior of the wizarding world for that matter.

Draco sighed in frustration before answering. "Because the person does not plan on using magic to hurt me. They say they will take me by brute force. That is what their letters say anyways.

"Let me see the letters." Ron held his hand out and waited for Draco to produce them. The other boy handed them over. There were four of them. Ron began to read silently. He felt horrified as the writer detailed what they planned to do to Draco once they had him. Ron felt nauseous at some of the graphic depictions that were painted.

Ron could feel himself turning green, no wonder Draco looked like hell. If Ron got these letters and read them, he would look like hell too.

"How long have you been getting these?" He tried to breath through his nose so the feeling of wanting to retch would hopefully vanish.

Draco looked uncomfortable down at his Italian shoes that probably cost more than all of Ron's material positions. "Since right after school started."

"What! Why are you just now doing something about it?" Ron railed at the Slytherin angerly. He had to calm himself down when instead of shouting back or lifting his chin in defiance Draco shrunk back seeming fearful at his outburst.

Shit, I keep forgetting that in a lot of ways he is not the same ferret we knew from the beginning of school.

Trying to adopt a softer tone and manner Ron ran his long pale fingers through his red tresses in frustration. "I apologize Draco I should not have yelled."

Draco only nodded keeping quite. Ron felt the need to pace his agitation getting the better of him. "So, what is it you need from me exactly?" Here he paused to look at him in confusion. Draco looked to the side once more his cheeks turning a bright red on his pale face

"I need a bodyguard." He said it so softly Ron could not be sure he heard him correctly. The red head needed him to repeat it once more just so he could make sure he had heard right.

"I am sorry, come again. Did you in fact say bodyguard? You want me to be your bodyguard?" Draco nodded while fidgeting nervously seeming to wait and wonder if Ron would agree to such a thing.

Ron thought about it. He did not see why Draco wanted him but he could not exactly tell him no. Ron could hear his siblings in his head telling him that Draco Malfoy would owe him a huge favor. He could here his parents tell him that a Malfoy is a snake and not to trust the lot of them.

Ron listened to none of them though. He came to his decision because if it were him that needed this kind of help, he knew he could rely on Harry and Hermione. Draco seemed to have no one and felt desperate enough to come to his enemy for help. Ron felt pity for the boy. He of course would never say such a thing because than Draco might go and do something foolish. Ron could not have that on his conscious no matter who it might be.

"Alright I will do it."

A look of utter relief passed over Draco's face as if a huge weight were lifted off him. "Thank you Weasley." He breathed out.

Ron help a hand to indicate he had a few stipulation to add to this arrangement. "If I am to be your bodyguard there will be no calling me Weasel or my friends names as well. No mudblood, Potty, scar-head or anything juvenile like that or the deal is off and I will leave you to it understand?" Draco nodded.

Suddenly Ron's stomach growled informing him he still had not eaten. Draco looked down at it but said nothing. He did not even have is custom sneer in place much to Ron's surprise.

"I think we will talk more once you have had a chance to eat. I would rather have all your attention than it split on two different things." Ron gazed at him speculatively wondering if Draco had meant that in more than one way or if might just be him thinking such things.

With that Draco left. Ron waited another minute so no one would gossip than headed into the dining hall sitting down he tucked in to eat as quickly before classes started.

"Hey mate, were you been?" Harry asked concerned, Ron looked up than around to see all eyes on him. Swallowing his food, he went to answer.

"I remembered I forgot something so ran back to the room to get it." With that he put his head down and began shoveling food in as fast as possible. Ron may have obtained better table manner but when the occasion was needed, he would revert back to the old Ron from a year ago.

His friends thankfully left him to it, knowing better than to come between him and his food. As Ron chewed, and swallowed, he could not help thinking once more of the blond Slytherin boy. He kept going over the letters in his mind again and again.

Ron knew it could not be the guys that had tried to hurt Pansy and Millicent because they had been expelled there wands broken, the last letter had been dated yesterday so it had to be someone going to this school or in Hogsmeade.

Ron might have understand having hatred for the parents who had done people wrong but Draco and the others were children who did not have the same values as their parents. He did not understand taking it out on a child. Maybe his younger self would have, but Ron hoped the years and war had matured him some.

When everyone finished their breakfast, Ron hung behind to see if he could catch Draco once more. It seemed that Draco had the same idea. As everyone left the great hall, he too hung back so he could talk with Ron.

The began to walk together. Now that Ron could think clearly, he started with the many questions he had running through his mind. The most pressing question Ron could think of is.
"Do you have any idea who could want to harm you the way the letters indicated?" Ron tried not to recall the graphic descriptions that the sender wrote. Though he very much imagine Draco naked he in no way ever wanted to see such things done to the other boy, no matter what.

Draco shook his head. "My father had to many enemies and I myself have never been very well liked over the years so your guess is as good as mine." Draco's face fell as he spoke his eye began looking around wildly as if afraid someone would jump out of the shadows at any moment to attack.

Ron could understand his leeriness and paranoia, if someone were threatening him the way this person had he would be paranoid too.

"Alright scratch that, have you talked to your head of house yet about this problem." When Draco gave him a look as if he were the stupidest person in the world Ron had to sigh in frustration. "Okay no I take it. That will be our first stop. We do not have to go into details I can just tell her that I want to request you to be transferred to my quarters for the remainder of the year so we can help promote inner house friendship."

Draco looked dubious at this suggestion, but Ron went on to explain. "This way if I am with you at all times, I can keep a better eye out for you. Now since I have a free period why don't we go take care of it now?"

Draco sighed resigned seemingly to his fate. "Alright, I give. We will go speak to her now I take it?" Draco said but did not look overly convinced that Sinistra would listen.

The two boys made there way to her office without incident, when Ron explained what they though might be a good idea both were shocked when she agreed with them.

"It is high time that the houses were brought together. I have always been of this mind but unfortunately many have not and do not agree with me. I believe it is a wonderful idea and since I am the Head of house now instead of Snape who though being a great Professor in a lot of waves and give his life for us, he was not what you would call a team player. Head Sinistra smiled gently recalling the other Slytherin.

Many did not know that Sinistra and Severus had a very good working relationship. They considered each other friends and it had broke her heart when Severus passed. Though they did not agree on many issues they both agreed that when the war ended the Slytherin students would have it bad because of their parents. Severus had begged Aurora to watch out for his charges in case he did not make it through the war. Severus had been correct perusal.

"I do not see why you cannot be placed together. Ron you need to talk to your head of house of course." Ron nodded in understanding, they turned and left quickly to do just that.

Heading to his head of house they were fortunate to come upon him as they traipsed down the hall towards that direction. "Professor Lupin, we need to talk to you."

Remus Lupin had been cured of the lycanthropy by Professor Snape before he died in the war. Remus had been hired after so that he could finally have a decent life. He took over the head of house duties as soon as McGonagall became Headmistress.

Remus lifted his head when he heard his name being called. "Mr. Weasley, Mr. Malfoy how may I help you?"

Ron told his head of house what he wished to do. Professor Lupins eyebrows shot to his hair line at hearing the plan. He had to admit though it would promote house unity for others too emulate. They told him that they had already talked to Professor Sinistra before him.

"I will agree to it. I do not see why it should be a problem. I will have the paperwork signed off on tonight and Draco can move in tomorrow how does that sound?"

Ron and Draco nodded. They figured one more day would not hurt. The rest of the day was spent in class or with friends. None of Ron's friends questioned why Draco seemed to be sticking close to him. They figured when Ron wished to tell them he would. Later that night Ron walked Draco to his house door than bid him good night.

As he moved down the hall Draco could not help staring after the other lad. Ron had changed so much since the war, some days it is hard to believe that he was the same Ron that all of them had know for so long. Even though Draco and he had not gotten long to well over the years Draco still like to believe he knew something about the other boy.

Now though he felt he knew nothing at all anymore. It was as if a kind of personality difference had shift over him. Ron very rarely lost his temper anymore. He seem far more relaxed and chill then before. Draco like this new Ron much better than the old one.

Draco prayed fervently that they would manage to get along while living together in a dorm room. Draco could be a little fastidious about things in the right place. Oh well it is already taken care of, so hopefully whoever is after me will give up when I cannot be found.

With that thought Draco entered the Slytherin chambers for the night. He had homework to do and maybe he would play a game of chess or exploding snap with one of the other Slytherins. Then he would head to bed. The idea of living with Ronald Weasley should not appeal to him so much but for some unfathomable reason he was excited about the idea.

Draco tried to think no more on it for the night, there just seemed to much to deal with at the moment and his feeling or lack there of for one Ronald Weasley just wasn't at the top of his list right now.