Still trying to establish the characters at this point! Also you'll notice there is some French in this chapter. I'm going to keep it to a minimal level because it can be difficult, especially considering most people can't read french But because there's a little extra than usual, there is going to be a legend at the bottom of the page, so if there is something that you can't understand even with context, check the bottom!

The relationship between Darren and Ron is going to be slow moving, so If you're interested in a really quick romance try to be patient, trust me, it will be worth it!

Chapter 2

"…Forever?" Mrs. Weasely's words haunted him. His sight had felt so trivial once he had heard about his parents. But now he felt as if he truly had nothing. He couldn't fight the sensation to just run away from it all."What will happen to me?"

"You're under protection of the Order now…We've discussed it in detail. You will stay with us. I know it sounds like much right now dear..But you are in extreme danger. Ifyou don't want to you to we can't force you after the holiday is over and you've returned to Hogwarts. However you will stay here until you recover, and then we'll go to Gringotts. Hopefully after the vault has been emptied of some specific items you will be a lot safer."

Darren was confused. He couldn't fathom the thought of staying with a family he had barely spoken to before. Why would they be doing this? He didn't know their families had much of a relationship, if any! From what he knew, his parents were still living in Southern France at the time of you-know-who's last reign. How could they possibly possess something that he desired?

Darren's pensive state was disrupted by a loud crash that made him jump. He looked around in vain to know where it came from but it was soon followed by laughter of what seemed like kids his age.

The voice sounded familiar, he took a guess that it was Ron. However he didn't answer. Turning around to where the sound came from he looked where he thought the sounds were, and then there was silence. Ron, Ginny, and Hermione all looked into Darren's eyes silently. They exchanged looks then looked back, the seemed to have taken a physical affect on his one dull-blue eyes. The once blue eyes had turned into a nearing gray color. His expression was blank and almost disturbing as he failed to see his three peers right in front of him. His glare had sent chills down Hermione, Ginny, and Ron's bodies.

Noticing the awkward silence, Mrs. Weasely cut in at once. "Hermione just arrived for the rest of the holiday. Harry should be coming tomorrow morning." Turning her attention to the three "Off upstairs with you three!" as Mrs. Weasely nearly shooed them upstairs.

"It's fine" Darren proclaimed. He was almost shocked at his own voice, there was a cold emptiness to it that he had never heard before. "They'll know sooner or later.." Darren's eyes began to heat up with tears causing him to blink very slowly in hopes of defeating them.

"Very well." Mrs Weasely looked at Darren, the pain he was feeling seemed to ooze over onto her as her eyes began to tear up. Shaking off the tears she nodded. "Sit down, come on!" The three of them pulled up seats as Darren continued to look forward at what one would guess was a window.

"The order has taken Darren in. Last week – "She took a long pause, searching for the right words to say in front of Darren.

"Last week several eaters broke through the combined enchantments of the Order and the Luseppe's and found themselves inside the Luseppe's summer home. Both Betrand and Camille Luseppe were killed to get an item from them. The Luseppe's have been holding something very valuable for the order…we never supposed you-know-who would think to go abroad for such a thing. We were just in time to save Darren…however there was some sort of dark magic…He was at St. Mungo's for five days and there was nothing they seemed to be able to do. He will go see Snape once you all return to Hogwarts, to find out if maybe he knows a counter-curse."

Darren heard a sound. It was purely a guess but he thought it was a palm clapping against someone's mouth. Out of pure instinct Darren looked down at the table as they started to have a conversation about him as his family, but everything seemed to have turned quiet. He couldn't hear anything. He couldn't see anything. His parents absorbed his thoughts. It all came crashing down with a firm pat on his shoulder that made him jump.

"C'mon mate, I'll show you around." Ron said in a care-free tone. Darren merely nodded as he pushed back on his seat and stood. Once Darren stood up he froze in fear. The overwhelming fear that you get when you're in a dark room and cant your hand infront of you…that is how he felt whenever he stood. Darren stood silently, his body shaking as confusion took over. Taking a deep breath, he walked with both arms hyper-extended in front of him like a fool.

"Watch out, there's a bump right there. This is the sitting room. We don't really go in here much. If you walk out just a little bit there's the den, and then the garden. Here lets go to you're room, you'll be bunking with me. When Harry gets here he'll have Ron and George's room." Darren nodded trying to take in all of this information. In truth…He had no idea where Ron was showing him.

Ron began to walk up ahead without really considering Darren. He was nearly at the stairs before realizing it. He took a quick jog back Darren and took Darren's hand in his as they both walked up the stairs. Darren was speechless and kind of confused. The sensation around his hand was different than he'd ever felt before. Even though it was such a simple getsture the warmth from Ron's hand was something he'd never felt before, it simply radiated heat from his hand all the way up his arm.

"This is kinda embarrassing..but you're Ron right? Its hard to tell..voices ya know." The beginning of his sentence went from cheerful to somewhat moroes.

Ron grinned to himself "Yea mate, Its Ron. Hermione and Ginny are walking with us too." After this both Ginny and Hermione gave him cordial hello's

"Yea and Phlegm is upstairs. Her and Charlie are staying here for a couple of days, so she can meet the family and all. Harry will be here tomorrow."

"Phlegm? Who's that?" Darren asked.

"Fleur De'lacour. You probably remember her, she was in the tri-wizard tournament." Hermione interjected.

"Oh…Fleur is a distant cousin of mine. We never talked or saw each other much..only at formal occasions. Most of the pureblood families are related in one way or another."His last statement he said quietly – as if ashamed. But then Darren laughed at the thought of calling her Phlegm, how creative and oddly accurate.

"What!?" Both Ginny and Ron said in unison. Ron opened his mouth as if to say something when he was interrupted by a wordless shriek, and then Fleur running down the stairs toward Darren. "Darren!"

"Comment allez-vouz!?" She placed her hands on Darren's face looking deeply into his emotionless eyes. "C'est moi. Fleur." She took a long silence "Vos yuex.."

Darren smiled, but it was more for his cousin's sake than his. Her reaction had caught him off guard. They had barely spoken before, why was she so distraught over this? Were his eyes such an abomination? A flare of anger rose up in him before he calmed himself and shushed Fleur for comfort. "Ça va. Tout va bien. Oprosti..je suis fatigué" he comforted her before seeking escape upstairs.

Darren faced toward Ron, just realizing they had been holding hands this entire time. He could have sworn he blushed, but he could never tell. Letting go of Ron's hand he asked "Could you show me where I'm sleeping? I'm very tired." Ron merely nodded –Walking slowly so Darren could follow his foot steps. After getting to what Darren could only assume was where he would be sleeping, he could feel hands gently guiding him until he felt the cold steel of the cott set up for him. Then Darren sat, with a heavy sigh as he heard Hermione come in.

"I don't understand Fleur..I think we've spoken maybe five times in our lives"

"Probably trying to keep up her perfect image I imagine." Said Hermione scathingly. Darren heard rustling movement on the wooden floor ; he wondered if she had sat down.

"Yea..I've been thinking, is there really room for me here? There are so many people visiting.."

"Ye' we'll make do, don't worry. It'll get tight here I reckon once Harry comes tomorrow, but I'm sure mum has a plan. We'll only be here 'bout a week until we head back to Hogwarts anyway."

Darren broke out into a sad smile as the looming thoughts preoccupied his mind. He was suddenly carrying an intense guilt. "You guys really don't need to sit here and talk to me, its really fine! Ill be out of your hair in no time." Both Ron and Hermione opened their mouths but as usual Hermione beat Ron to the chase.

"Darren we're glad to have you around! I'm sure Ron will agree. I was thinking..maybe we could even practice magic somehow, find out ways around this..setback."

"Setback?" Darren said with such intense heat he was surprised at himself. "I can't see anything, I don't even know where I am. I don't know how on earth I could trust myself using my wand? I don't even know if they'll let me back into Hogwarts."

"Dumbledore wouldn't allow it, especially after what your family has done. I wouldn't worry about it..Your body will learn to..adjust."

Ron gave Hermione a look that said "Drop it." With a roll of her eyes she did. Both Ron and Hermione began to argue about O.W.Ls and it sounded like Hermione was going through conniptions. Their bickering reminded Darren how tired he really was. Without even saying anything, he lied down and began to fall into a deep sleep.

After entering the Burrow with an escort from Dumbledore, Harry began to walk up the stairs toward Fred and George's old room. There was a series of 'clunks' with each step as his trunk followed obediently behind him. Before reaching Fred and George's room he chose to peak into Ron's to see if he was still awake. After seeing the light he abandoned his trunk and turned the corner to see both Hermione and Ron sitting on the floor, talking in deep detail about something. It even took them both a moment to realize Harry was at the door. Realizing his presence Hermione almost yelled "Harry!" and ran up to him with a big hug.

"How are you?" asked Hermione excitedly.

Ron waved at Harry casually "Hey Harry. How were the muggles?"

"Eh..They were the same. They didn't talk to me much, but I like it that way. How have you guys been?" said Harry.

"Its been a bloody mess here! Fleur and Charlie are visiting, and mum can't stand Fleur. Been making all of our lives miserable because of it. It's been kind of odd.."Ron motioned to the body on the bed next to him with a slight nod of his head. "And then there's that.."

"He is not a that Ron!" Hermione whispered with strong intent.

"I know I know, he isn't a that, just the situation. Been kind of odd with him around, I'm not sure how to act. I feel bad for the bloke."

"Who is he..exactly? And why is he here?" Asked Harry. He was obviously confused with their vague argument and the seeming corpse-like person on the mattress next to Ron's.

"Umm, Its Darrel. Darrell Luseppe." Hermione explained.

"Yea, From Gryffindor. The bloke from France. The order had to place him under protection last week. Death eaters killed both his parents…and ..well." Ron stopped for a second, not really sure how to explain it, so he left it and waited for Hermione to better explain.

"The order came just in time to save him, but they were torturing him. It was some sort of dark magic but it seems like Darren is…blind. Its awful Harry, you should see his face, I've never seen someone look so defeated. I know we never talked to him much, but he was always nice and friendly, just more reserved. I think we should try to help him. Do you reckon he'll be able to do magic still? I've never read of a blind witch or wizard.." Hermione looked pensive after her little speech, and then buried herself in a book that neither Harry nor Ron could read the title.

"I dunno, I haven't read about one..but we all know you're the one that does the reading Hermione" Harry said with a grin.

Desperate to change the topic Hermione turned to Harry. "Harry! Tell us Dumbledore told you."

And with that the three stood up way past their bed time until Mrs. Weasely interfered with much yelling that seemed to wake up the entire house. Everyone had retired to their beds including Ron. His bare feet patted against the hard word floors of the room as he began to disrobe for bed. Taking off both shirt and trousers Ron sat on the edge of his bed as he put his clothes onto the ground. A lot had changed since he first started at Hogwarts. Looking at his physique, it was apparent the changes weren't only of the mental realm. He had grown significantly taller than Harry, and all of the chores his Mum had him doing during Summer and Winter holiday caused him to bulk up a bit, something that most wizards don't manage because they can use their wands for everything. Without giving this more than a second's thought he went into bed and pulled the covers over him as he heard a small whimper from Darren as he shifted in his sleep.

"Hey, Darren?" Ron asked, not sure if the boy was awake or not.

"Yea?" came from Darren's mouth. He sounded thick with sleep.

"If you ever need anything, tell me, a'right?"

"Alright.." Darren muttered quietly…and then both boys fell asleep with a smile on their face.

LEGEND

Yeux - Eyes

C'est moi - Its me

Tout va bien - Everything is Fine

Oprosti - Im Sorry

Je suis fatigué - Im sleepy

Once again please review with any thoughts it'd be so appreciated! :)