Warnings: Language

Disclaimer: All characters belong to JK Rowling!

Thanks to everyone who's been patienly waiting, I'm working as hard and as often as I can. I'm not sure if I'll be able to work on it much at the moment though, due to the fact that my exams are coming up next week. Thanks again for being so patient! Now, on to Pain and Truth...

Chapter Twelve: Pain and Truth

"Pansy?!"

"Ginny?!"

At hearing their names, Ginny and Pansy fell off the couch where they had been snogging. Pansy just glared while Ginny blushed crimson. Draco blinked a few times while Harry stared, his mouth gaping.

"Um, Pansy . . . I didn't realize that you were interested in. . .Weasley. . .like that." Draco said after a few moments. Pansy rolled her eyes at him.

"Shut it Draco, you should be one to speak. There isn't anything wrong with developing feelings for one of your best friends!" Pansy shouted at him. Draco glared at her, signaling with his eyes that she was treading dangerous waters. Harry smiled to himself, glad that Pansy was on his side at least.

"Draco calm down, this shouldn't surprise you in the least. You knew Pansy is bisexual. Besides, I didn't know Ginny was interested in girls as well." Harry said calmly trying to soothe Draco. Draco nodded in acknowledgement of the truth.

"Yeah, you're right Harry . . . I just wasn't expecting to catch them bloody snogging on the living room couch. When did you two plan on telling us?" Draco replied after he took a couple of calming breaths. Ginny answered this time, seeming to have gotten over the initial embarrassment.

"Actually, we were going to tell you today. But we weren't expecting you back so early."

"Hermione was tired, so we left her to her rest. Gods know she needs it with the baby on the way." Draco said. Harry smiled sadly and diverted his eyes. Draco happened to catch this and frowned. 'He still blames himself for Ron's death. . .'

"You know what? Draco's got himself a date with Marcus Flint," Harry said softly when Ginny left a few minutes later. Pansy started and looked at Harry and a blushing Draco.

"Is that so?" Pansy asked sweetly. Draco nodded and busied himself with his cloak. Pansy glared at Draco's head, becoming instantly pissed at the blonde.

"Well, I need another shower, got all dusty from looking through the books." Harry said as he walked into the bed room. As soon as the door closed behind him Pansy rounded on Draco.

"What the hell were you thinking? Going out on a date with Marcus fucking Flint!" Pansy said harshly. Draco glared at her.

"Let us not go there. Did you not see the look on Harry's face when I said Hermione's name and mentioned her pregnancy?" Draco replied. Pansy scrunched her eyebrows in concentration.

"No, why?" Pansy said after a few seconds. Draco sighed heavily and sat on the couch.

"He still blames himself for Weasley's death." Draco said solemnly. Pansy sighed and shook her head.

"You know what he needs Draco. He needs to talk to Charlie."

"NO! I don't want him seeing that bloody Dragon Tamer!"

"Draco, you fucking know Charlie will help!" Pansy all but yelled at Draco. Draco scowled and crossed his arms over his chest.

"I can help Harry just fine on my own!"

"I know what this is; you don't want to risk Charlie and Harry getting together. Draco, that is so pathetic! Harry needs help, and you can't give it to him this time! You claim to love him, yet you decide to go out on a date with someone else and you refuse to ask the only other person who can help you help Harry because you know Charlie feels the same as you do for Harry!" Pansy said harshly. Draco jumped up, clenching his fists.

"That is NOT it! Not at ALL!" Draco yelled. Pansy rolled her eyes.

"Don't lie Draco, that's exactly it! And you know what?! When you decided to go out with Marcus sodding Flint on a date, you gave up any chance of going out with Harry, any right to keep him from dating another man!" Pansy yelled at Draco. He stood there, looking as if he'd been smacked, his quick retorts seeming to retreat instantly. Pansy walked over to the fire place and flooed Charlie.

Draco sat back down, defeated. He couldn't believe Pansy had said what she said. But he knew that her words were true. He didn't want Charlie here for the pure fact that Harry could end up dating him. He didn't want Harry with anyone but him, and because he accepted Marcus' invitation to go out on a date with him, he'd fucked himself over of that ever happening.

"Charlie will be over around noon tomorrow. Do yourself a favor, get over yourself." Pansy said before she walked into the kitchen, leaving Draco alone in the living room.

The next morning, Draco woke up early and put some coffee on. He decided to go through some more books in the hopes of learning what that dragon statue was. He spent the rest of the morning doing so.

Pansy woke up around ten and nearly fell off the couch when she heard Draco growl in frustration at an old dusty tomb. She rolled her eyes and got up. She went into the kitchen where she took advantage of the still warm coffee on the counter top. Harry walked out of the room around eleven, allowing Pansy to go take her beloved shower.

Draco refused to look up from the book while Harry roamed about the living room, looking for something. He felt Harry's confused gaze on him a few times. Draco felt horrible, regretting his upcoming date with Flint.

Right on time, much to Draco's chagrin, Charlie showed up. Draco felt a knife go through his heart when he saw the way Harry greeted Charlie. The look of pure joy on his face killed Draco more. Charlie pulled him aside while Harry made some tea.

"Draco, what's wrong? All Pansy would say is that Harry needs my help with something." Charlie said his concern for Harry very much tangible. Draco was about to snap at Charlie to shut the fuck up and that he could take care of it when his brain forced him to remember the words Pansy spat at him last night. Draco closed his eyes and sighed.

"Harry still blames himself for your brother's death. He hasn't said anything, but he doesn't need to. We went to visit Hermione yesterday, and he seemed normal. We walked in on Pansy and . . . Ginny snogging on the couch. After your sister left, Pans asked us what we did and I told her. I noticed how sad and quiet Harry got when I mentioned Hermione and saw in his eyes that he still blames himself." Draco explained quietly. He didn't want Charlie interfering in this, but he knew Pansy was right.

Charlie closed his eyes and slouched. He opened his eyes and sighed heavily. He looked at Draco gravely.

"Damn, I had honestly hoped he wouldn't. I know Harry's smart enough to know that someone's death isn't his fault, but his heart is so . . . Harry is so haunted by the War and all that's come with it before hand. It's not fair." Charlie whispered harshly. Draco nodded his head in agreement, while his thoughts instantly dragged him back to the past.

Draco could see Harry sitting at their table in Charms, trembling and scared. He could see the haunted look in those emerald depths that stalked Draco's dreams. He could hear each and every one of Harry's theme songs, from the first to the last. Every last word from every last lyric etched into his memory for as long as it wished.

"Draco? . . . Draco!"

Draco jumped, dragging himself from his memories. Harry was looking at him in concern. Draco smiled and took the offered tea cup, hoping that Harry wouldn't ask. For as long as they'd been friends, neither one of them had brought up the others' theme songs.

"You okay Draco? You look like you've seen a ghost." Charlie asked softly.

"More like a bad memory," Harry said jokingly, trying to lighten the tense mood. Draco dropped his gaze to the floor, the smile disappearing from his face.

"You could say that," Draco replied, his voice taking on the icy edge from their school years. Harry frowned, not liking the change in his best friend and secret love.

"Draco, you want to talk about it?"

"Nah, you visit with Charlie. I'll go for a walk, need to clear my head." Draco replied hoping his voice was less cold. Harry nodded and stared sadly while Draco grabbed his coat and walked out the door. Pansy came out of the bedroom, her hair nearly dry just as the front door slammed shut.

"Draco left, didn't he?" Pansy asked when she saw Charlie and Harry in the living room. Harry nodded and Pansy sighed heavily. "I'm going to head over to Ginny's place, okay? If neither me nor Draco is back in time for dinner, you're welcome to help yourselves." Pansy said as she walked over to the fire place. She finished making herself up in the mirror above the mantle before throwing floo powder into the fire and disappearing in the emerald flames to Ginny's. Harry shook his head at the flames and smiled up at Charlie.

"So, what are you doing here? I thought you were in Romania because they think they discovered a new species of dragon?" Harry asked cheerily. He was all too happy to see the Dragon Tamer. With the turn of events with Draco, Harry couldn't help but wonder if it was just a sign that he needs to settle down with the man who's always been a constant in his 'love life'.

"I was, but Pansy fire called me last night. Draco is very observant, that's why he's a Healer. He notices things other's don't. He told me about yesterday Harry. Do you really still blame yourself for Ron's death?"

Harry sighed heavily and sat down in the armchair. Charlie did the same, sitting on the sofa instead. He waited patiently for Harry to answer him.

"Yes," Harry said after a moment, his voice soft and sad. "I do still blame myself for Ron's death. Charlie, he never would've been abducted in the first place if it wasn't for me."

"No, Harry. It is not your fault. Tell me, what-" Charlie said, but just then Harry's memories became too much. They drowned out the other man while he was still speaking.

"I see we are both awake. How was your rest?"

Harry only glared at him, all the while wondering who else was in here with him. His question was soon answered when Malfoy lit some candles and the light cast from them landed on brilliant red hair. Harry looked on in horror as Lucius Malfoy then lit a lantern and proceeded to move closer to the other occupant of the room. The rather battered form of Ron Weasley was revealed by the yellow light.

"I see you've recognized your guest, Harry. He's been anxious to see you," Lucius whispered, all the while smiling maliciously. "And now that you've seen each other, I think it best to end the poor man's suffering. As you can see, he put up quite a fight when we brought him here."

And with that, Lucius pulled out a rusty silver dagger with the Malfoy crest on it. Harry tried desperately to stop Malfoy's advance on his best friend, but the barrier and chains prevented him from doing anything. As Lucius Malfoy brought the dagger down on Ron's chest, Harry's emerald eyes met with Ron's blue ones. Silently, Harry screamed in horror as blood poured from Ron's chest. Ron's eyes held no blame, no, they held simple understanding that Harry couldn't stop what was happening. They held acceptance. He smiled at Harry, letting Harry know that he didn't blame him for what was happening.

"Harry?"

Harry jumped in surprise, realizing that Charlie had been trying to get his attention for a few minutes. To his horror, he realized that he was crying as well.

"Harry, what's wrong? Are you alright Harry?" Charlie asked in concern. Harry nodded as he wiped his eyes on his sleeve.

"Yeah, yeah I'm fine. Just memories, nothing to worry about. Sorry to zone out on you like that."

"It's okay Harry, I understand. Sorry to bring the past up. . . .Hey, you wanna go out and eat instead of waiting for Pansy and Draco to get back?" Charlie asked excitedly. Harry smiled and nodded in ascent. He walked over and grabbed his coat and the spare keys Pansy gave him. He met Charlie at the door and they walked out of the apartment and down the street towards the busy streets of London. They talked animatedly about what was happening with this "new" dragon species that was discovered as they walked, much closer than friends would.

Author's Name: Thanks again for being so patient with me. I'll try to get the next chapter up as soon as I can. Thanks for reading! Please review!