Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter.

Warnings: Slash, coarse language, AU

A/N: Thank you for your reviews louis89 and deliciously forbidden and jacedamian. I appreciate you taking the time to tell me your thoughts.

"Hey! Wondered were you lot were. What's going on here?" Ron glanced around; his smile started to fade.

The twins immediately fell into hysterics at the sight of their little brother and his alleged lover.

Harry was unable to stop himself. He tried to talk over the twins laughing, "Ron? Are you gay?"

The twins stopped laughing then. Everyone stared at Ron.

"Well Ron. Are you?" Harry's tone was accusatory.

Ron stood there with his mouth agape searching the faces of everyone there swallowing hard while he ran what to say in his mind.

"It's okay if you are. You can tell us Ron." Hermione tried to quail Ron's nerves.

"Of course it is. We just want to know the truth," Ginny meekly let out.

Ron turned to Draco with a pleading look. He'd hoped Draco could talk his way out of this; instead, Draco surprised him when he reached for Ron's hand. He drew Ron to him and placed his arm around his waist.

"Frankly, it's really no one's business, but we both are gay. We're together, and if you have any problems with that, then stuff it and leave us alone."

For a minute everyone just let this news sink in.

Ron shuffled from one foot to the other while Draco rubbed Ron's side looking as assured as he could. Ron was nervous yet strangely relaxed as he leaned into Draco's embrace.

"Of course it's my business! He's my best friend. I care about Ron."

Harry was angry. He felt as if he never knew Ron. He didn't really care that Ron was gay, but Ron never seemed to be gay.

Yet, he now remembered Hermione had broached the subject after Ron and she decided it was best to be just friends after sharing a rather pedestrian kiss.

Harry had scoffed the notion away. "Come on Hermione. Just because there's no chemistry between you two doesn't automatically mean Ron must be gay." They'd both laughed it off.

Harry was shaken out of the memory by Draco's taut words.

"Why did Ron need to tell you much less anyone? Does Ron being a shirt lifter help you in someway to defeat the Dark Lord? Even if the idiot is a homophobe, I doubt using Ron as a shield would make him runaway in fear."

"I know that! Merlin on a stick! You're a wanker, Draco." Harry scowled at Ron. "What do you see in him?"

Ron thrust his chin up and spoke confidently. "He's handsome and gives the best blow jobs ever, for a start."

Draco couldn't restrain himself. All the tension he was holding left, and he exploded with laughter joined by the twins then Ginny. Hermione managed to chuckled, but Harry stood stoned face. His hands clenching in and out of tight fists.

"Laugh it up. Think this is funny do you? My best mate is seeing an ex-death eater is a laugh riot?" That sobered everyone.

"He's not your or the Order's enemy. He's here for protection. He did provided essential information for our side. Blimey Harry, he's willing to go to battle with us. I'm sorry I didn't confide in you about my sexual preference. If it's any consolation, I've not told a soul about me being gay. Well, except Draco, obviously; and he actually figured it out more than me telling him so."

Harry's glare softened and his hands now hung open at his sides.

Draco decided to set Harry straight about himself.

"I grew up following my family's beliefs, and I was eager to prove myself to the Dark Lord. I have since realized what a crock it all was.

That bastard, though powerful in magic, is the weakest creature I've ever known. Gaining and holding power is all and fine, but to extricate all who may be your competitor is cowardly. To force children to fight for you is just sad. But once you're in his grasp he never lets you go.

Hence, I agreed to come to the Order, and now agree to fight for this side. However I must admit, I now have even more reason to fight. For Ron. I want to protect him.

He's here because of you, Potter. Always has hasn't he? Have you forgotten all the times he's risked his life for you?

He bears more scares than your lone scar that marks you as the savoir of the world. You really think he'd betray you? All due to the fact he chose not to disclose the most personal aspect of his life to you."

Ron had enough. He ran out of the room and apparated back to The Burrow. Mrs. Weasley had been staring into the blazing fireplace when Ron's appearance startled her out of her reflection.

Ron murmured "too loud over there, I'm going to sleep here tonight and maybe a few more. I don't want to be disturbed, so I'm locking my door. Okay?"

"Sure dear. Anything I can help you with?"

Ron just shook his head and turned slowly toward the stairs.

Molly looked curiously up into the dark void where her youngest son had disappeared. She had noticed his erratic and melancholy behavior the past few years. But lately Ron seemed to have changed into a calmer, more confident, and happy person.

Whatever caused this transformation she did not know and did not care. She hoped his sullen attitude was a minor setback.

After Ron had fled, Harry and Draco stared each other down until Hermione and Ginny pulled Harry out of the room.

The twins slapped Draco on the back and hung on for awhile. "Whatever floats his boat, Draco. We don't care." Fred exhaled into one of Draco's ears.

George chimed into the other ear, "But we do care if you hurt him. So just consider this a forewarning."

They winked at each other then patted Draco on his back. Then they left him to be alone.

Draco fell into a nearby chair and covered his face. "Way to go, Draco. You couldn't keep your big Malfoy mouth shut. He hates you now."

Draco found himself pacing the rug in front of the fireplace once again. Draco shook his head at that memory. He thought he had lost Ron that night. Now the same feeling he had then was back constricting his heart.

He'd been mulling over firecalling Ron's family. It was coming on an hour and half past the time Ron had left.

"No need to get them maybe unnecessarily worried. It's still early."

Draco silently admitted to himself that he also didn't want to look like a clinging husband. Both of them have one time or another taken leave of their spouse during an argument. Ron in particular tended to storm off to the backyard to "take a long walk" he'd yell back behind his shoulder.

So why was Draco so prickly about Ron's absence?

"He's always comes back. I've always come back. I just need to wait it out."

Draco gave a firm nod to himself and went back upstairs to do another sweep just in case as he checked in on Molly once more.