Burned You A Mark
By Capricious Insanity
"Ron."
There it was again, that awful dull ache inside his chest. He'd gone to the doctor several times, but none of them could offer a permanent solution. Even the bloody wizards back home couldn't give him anything, anything safe that is.
"Ron."
They had thought at first that it was a panic attack, that this could be from stress and not being able to handle difficult situations properly. He had faced and avoided death several times, so maybe all the fear he had experienced was finally having its toll. They observed him for weeks, and they helped him with the pain for a while. They merely shook their heads when he came back with the same pain, and suggested he see a therapist. There was nothing physically wrong with him, or his surroundings, as far as they could see. It was all in his head. If it was really as simple as that, then why the bloody hell did his body hurt then? Those stupid buggers.
"Ron!"
He gave a small inaudible gasp as he snapped out of his thoughts. The redhead looked at the sweet girl peering at him. Ivy, with her pale yellow hair and her worried gray eyes, gave him a soothing feeling that rested in the pit of his stomach, and somehow, the ache lessened a bit.
"Are you okay?"
She huddled closer to him on the couch, her pale hands clutching his sleeves. Ron smiled, kissed her forehead and hugged her tighter.
"Yeah, I'm alright. I was just thinking."
He paused for a bit before continuing, absent-mindedly running his fingers through her hair.
"Did you want to talk to me about something?"
She said something but it came out muffled and impossible to understand since she was almost buried in his shirt. Ron laughed a bit, and pushed her face away an inch or two.
"What?"
He asked, smiling.
"I just wanted your attention."
She tilted her head to look up at him, her eyes darting between his left and right eye, before settling on his left. She looked as if she was holding her breath, afraid that everything would be blown away from her. Her lips were a bit open, neither smiling nor frowning. She looked like she would cry. His hand moved from her hair to her cheek.
"Ron."
She said so softly, that if their faces weren't close, he wouldn't have heard at all. This made his heart thump madly. This pulsing heat filled his stomach and fluttered up to his chest and ripped his heart in a painful but pleasant way. And then she closed the gap and took his lips, her hands now up against his chest.
She tasted so much like herself, but she reminded him of someone else, of long, long ago. Someone with the same shining yellow hair, the same worried gray eyes and the same possessive hands.
He had to stop feeling and started thinking, of her, of roses and daisies, of everything and anything away from the past.
The blonde pushed him and he fell on his back on the sofa, laughing gently as their lips parted. Ivy looked down on him and gave a small grin.
"I love you."
In this angle, with her long hair tied up, she resembled him. It killed his heart. He almost sobbed a small laugh and smiled.
"I love you even more."
But it wasn't Ivy's name that rang in his mind as he pulled her to him and took her breath away with his lips. And right there, as if on cue, Harry came barging in.
"Ron, you have to hear this. Oh, excuse me."
The brunette paused a meter from the sofa, and pulled back his right hand which held two cream-colored envelopes, his face turning a shade of red. He tried to smile but couldn't, so he just faced away from them.
Ron sat up and so did Ivy, he chuckled and grinned at Harry then planted a chaste kiss on Ivy before he got up and smoothed out his clothes. The petite woman looked at Harry and smiled,
"Hello, Harry."
"I'm sorry, Ivy. I thought-"
She laughed and waved his apology away.
"It's okay. You were taking so long so I thought you'd show up later."
Harry apologized again, his brows furrowed as he explained,
"I'm really sorry I'm late. I ran into an old friend."
Ron smiled and walked towards him, pulled him along on their way out,
"I'll be back soon."
That was all he said, as he pulled Harry towards the still open door and closed it with his free hand. Outside, he looked at Harry and at the envelope he held.
"Which old friend did you ran into?"
The redhead asked, eyeing the envelope with his name written in cursive. Harry's eyes went huge at this and grabbed his left arm as they walked.
"Open it."
Harry's tanned hand almost shoved the envelope at his chest, Ron narrowed his eyes at this and carefully opened the envelope and slowly pulled the card out.
"If this is a prank, Harry, I'll have Ivy pull all your nose hair out with bloody chop sticks."
He plied his eyes away from Harry's surprised face, and what he saw almost made him choke on his own saliva, fortunately he stopped.
"Bloody hell."
It was a wedding invitation.
A bloody wedding invitation.
A bloody wedding invitation to Neville Longbottom's wedding.
A bloody wedding invitation to Neville Longbottom and Pansy Parkinson's wedding.
Their wedding.
It was Neville's marriage to Pansy.
Pansy's marriage to Neville.
"What the hell happened?"
The words resembled a squeaked. It was just too shocking, too unbelievable and yet, here it was, the proof that it was true, the image of Pansy in a white wedding gown and Neville in a dashing suit, embracing each other and laughing together as if they were silly children.
"Neville was the one who gave it to me, just as I was on my way."
The brown-haired man began, as he resumed walking and pulled Ron this time. The boy who lived often visited him, and was the one who brought him news of home.
"He was smiling and was practically glowing."
Ron took one last look at the invitation before he placed it back in the envelope and slid it inside his pocket.
"Harry, how on earth did they even happen?!"
The Weasley couldn't hide his surprise and disbelief even if he tried, this was too unexpected and where and how did those two even became a couple? The last time those two even exchanged words were on their wedding days.
"He told me that they'd been dating for four years now,"
Harry stated in a tone that said 'I-still-can't-believe-it-myself-even-if-it-was-the-groom-himself-who-told-me'.
"What?!"
Ron's azure eyes almost fell out of their sockets.
Four years?!
What the bloody hell. He meant no offense to both parties, but where and how on earth could they have hidden themselves so that no one even knew they were going out?
"Neville was having a really hard time after Hannah Died,"
The brunette's voice was soft as he spoke, and held a sad tone. This took the surprise off Ron's face and replaced it with a somber one like Harry's. Ron's voice trembled. Even if they were never close, Hannah was a good person.
"Yeah. Everybody knew that."
After some moments of silence, they started walking again and Harry continued.
"I don't know the entire story, but he said it was a year after Hannah passed away and that Pansy sent Neville a short letter about moving on."
They both halted simultaneously. Azure orbs looked at lime ones.
"Pansy did?"
This time, Ron's face didn't hold surprise or disbelief, just another serious expression. Harry nodded and motioned for them to continue walking.
"Yeah… No one ever thought that they'd ever get divorced. And I think that included Pansy as well. Do you remember how surprised we were?"
Ron nodded. As if he could forget the divorce. It was the divorce no one expected. Hell, it was the divorce everyone couldn't believe. It happened just two years after they got married. There weren't even any rumors about of them separating. It was a surprise to everyone, especially Pansy.
And Ron.
An unexpected yet expected pleasant surprise, only to him though, because Pansy was utterly devastated. No one could talk to her anymore, and she never ceased crying. He couldn't help but feel guilty for being happy, and hated himself for being stupidly naïve to think that this was it. This was that prick's way to finally be free from his father. That maybe something would happen. It was a very pleasant heartbreak.
But the part of it being pleasant didn't last long, because this was only the first surprise. Pansy desperately tried to hide the reason of their separation, but unfortunately, nothing stayed hidden for long.
Soon enough, everyone knew that it was Lucius' decision. His son simply agreed and it the marriage was over. That was what broke Pansy's heart the most, and shattered Ron's tiny hope.
He stopped believing after that.
As to why Lucius wanted the separation, even though he was the one who made the wedding possible in the first place? It was Pansy who answered. Unfortunately, she was unable to have any children, and that meant failure in Lucius' eyes.
"What's the point of being married if she can't even produce an heir?"
That was what he said, and her husband didn't even protest. Not even any sign of disapproval. The Malfoy heir was a free man again. Shortly after, another wedding took place.
It was even more grand than the last, not that Ron would know or care since he didn't attend the wedding. He received an invitation, but ripped it apart without opening it. He didn't need to see the bride, or the groom. He had already done that a lifetime ago.
This time, Lucius made sure that there was nothing lacking, because half a year later, the new wife gave birth to a healthy baby boy.
Scorpious.
"Do you mind if we postpone our trip to the bookstore for another day?"
Ron ended his reminiscing, and almost tripped if Harry hadn't held his arm.
"Ron, are you alright? We can still go to the bookstore if you really-"
"What? I'm fine, I'm fine. I was just thinking about something. You were saying? Postponing?"
Harry almost laughed but coughed instead and continued to guide Ron to their destination.
"Yeah. If it's alright with you. I have sort of an errand to do."
"Of course it's alright."
Ron smiled, and looked around them for the first time in a while and then a curious look came over his face.
"Where are we going?"
"To the park."
"Oh."
"I'm guessing you still haven't memorized the place."
The brunette chuckled as they crossed the street.
"Ivy's still not done touring me."
The Weasley grinned and looked at the trees, taking a deep breath.
"I still can't believe that you're living here."
"It's been a year and a half already."
"And you've been with a muggle that long already."
"Yeah."
It had been almost two years since Ron left the wizarding world and settled down with the muggles. Everyone back at home were surprised, but he calmed them down by saying that it wasn't permanent, just a very long vacation. He just had to get a fresh start somewhere new. It helped with the pain a lot. Most days were good here, he even met a girl that he fancied.
"Well, I think Ivy's great. She loves you a lot."
"She is great, and I love her."
Love. He smiled bitterly at the word, away from Harry's eyes.
It had been years already. They had become independent individuals, logical adults that thought and acted with rationality. Gone were the days that he could blame his misfortune on immaturity and inexperience. He was already a capable man.
Why was it that despite his growth in spirit, mind and body, it was always the same face that he saw last before slumber? Why does he always see that man's image on Ivy's face? It was cruel of him, but it wasn't just Ivy. It was the same for every woman he had ever been with. Why was he still suffering, even when he had burned that pale skin off along with his old heart?
"Mal…"
He mumbled, staring blankly at the ground. He almost tripped and immediately caught Harry's attention.
"Ron?"
The said person grinned on reflex, and lightly shook his head, shaking his thoughts away.
"We're lost, aren't we?"
Harry smiled, the corner of his jade eyes crinkling in amusement.
"I know perfectly where we are. Unlike someone, I actually listen to Ivy's directions."
After some light, merry banter, they finally came upon a wooden bench, amidst the willowy trees. It was there that Harry stopped and gestured for them to sit.
They were quiet for a while, resting after their long walk, when the brunette finally spoke.
"Oh, before I forget, your Mum asked me to give this to you."
The golden boy searched for something in his bag, and finally handed him two envelopes. Ron eyed them carefully.
"These things are going to scream at me, aren't they?"
"Your Mum's might, but I don't know about the other one."
He examined the envelopes, and immediately recognized the rose-colored one was from his mother. Grimacing, he took it.
"I'll read this later."
He said, stuffing it inside his jacket. He then held the pale blue, fat one up, looking at every angle for any inscription. When he found none, he proceeded to slowly lift the fold and lightly ripped it open.
Harry leaned in, and watched his friend pull out a box of cigarettes.
"Who's that from?"
Ron narrowed his eyes, and then slowly shook his head. The blood was beginning to rush to his ears.
"I don't know. There's no name"
He turned it over, and found nothing. He tilted the envelope and something heavy fell out. What he saw nearly burst his heart right then and there.
A shiny metal lighter, and with it, a memory he would never ever forget.
Thinking of you.
The voice echoed in his head.
You know, Weasley, for some reason, every time I look at this, I see you. In my head.
A shaky hand ran through fine, bright hair. There was no way. No, bloody way. Not after all these years, not after all he had done to make it this far.
"You're kidding me."
"Ron? You alright?"
Harry asked, concerned, and grabbed the fair boy's shoulder. But Ron didn't hear him, nor could he pay any attention to the pressure on his shoulder. He wasn't seeing the park with his best friend anymore. He saw himself as a young boy, shut away in a room with someone he wanted to forget. Once again, he was reliving the memory of that night, when someone's words had spoken the loudest.
I can't stop smoking.
Then don't. Just keep it away from me.
Do you know why?
I don't care, Malfoy.
Even if it kills me, I would never give it up. It means I'm thinking.
Oh, I thought you didn't think and evil just came out of you naturally.
Thinking of you.
The pain in his shoulder finally made it through. Ron managed a small, unconvincing smile at his dear friend.
"Ron, what's wrong? Let's go back, you've gone pale."
"Yeah. No. My head suddenly ached, I just need to relax."
His best mate appeared troubled, and was about to stand up when he grabbed his arm to pull him back down.
"I'm fine. I just, let's just sit."
He had just remembered one of the most painful memories he had with the git, and was afraid of the effect that it would have with his condition.
"Is there something wrong?"
Looking him straight in the eye, Ron could see the fear and panic in Harry's eyes. It was only right though. Anyone would freak out if they saw their friend like this. He looked at his hands, and could see that he had indeed lost color.
"I. I'm alright, Harry."
He said in the calmest and most composed manner he could muster in the current situation. Damn it all. Why now? Why in the world? And in front of Harry? Of course it would bother him. He turned his attention to the box and lighter in his hands.
"Ron?"
The said boy faced his friend, who looked questioningly at the items he had received.
"A prank. Just a harmless, bad prank."
Trying to shrug the ill feeling off, he took a deep breath before handing the cigarettes and lighter to the brunette, who had held out his hands to inspect them.
"You've never smoked, have you?"
"Never."
"Do you know who sent these?"
Ron opened his mouth but nothing came out. He couldn't lie, but neither would he be able to tell the truth. So he just looked away from those piercing green jewels. This was not a good day.
"Ron, if there's anything-"
"I'll take it from here, Potter."
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