Disclaimer: I do NOT own the Harry Potter series. That credit goes to the brilliant mind of J.K. Rowling. Go Jo! I also do not own some of the material used. Again, that belongs to Jo and Warner Brothers.

Chapter 2 Draco's Mission

Ron had started to notice Draco was beginning to look even paler than he normally did as the weeks passed by.

"Are you alright?" Ron asked Draco as they walked out of Potions one day.

He would have gone with Harry and Hermione, but Professor Slughorn, their new Potion's professor, had called them to his desk after class.

"I'm fine," Draco snapped.

"Okay, sorry," Ron apologized. "You don't have to bite my head off."

Draco sighed and replied, "Sorry, I've just had a lot on my mind."

Ron knew exactly how he felt.

"You want to talk about it?" he asked as they walked through the common room to go the dormitories.

"Not right now," Draco said, opening the door to the sixth-year boys' room.

"Well, if you ever feel like talking, you know I'll listen," Ron said as he sat on his bed.

"Thanks, Ron. I really just want to sleep right now," Draco replied with a yawn, letting his head fall onto his pillow and closing his eyes.

"Yeah, me too. McGonagall was brutal today," Ron said, also yawning.

He just hoped they'd wake up in time to get to their next class.

xxx

During supper a couple of days later, Ron knew Harry was itching to ask him something, and he knew what it was.

Harry walked up to Ron with Hermione as they entered the entrance hall after eating and asked, "Have you…"

"Harry, he's not going to tell me anything," Ron said, knowing Harry was going to ask him about Draco.

"Yeah, you're right," Harry replied with a sigh.

Ron looked down, and Hermione grabbed his hand and asked, "You alright?"

"Yeah, I'm fine," Ron replied.

Harry cleared his throat and said, "Well, we better get to bed. We have that Charms exam tomorrow."

Ron had completely forgotten about the exam.

He gave Hermione a quick kiss and said, "See you tomorrow, then."

As Ron got to the dormitory, Draco was already there, sitting on his bed.

"I'll tell you, but you can't tell anyone," Draco said, standing up.

"Sorry?" Ron asked.

He felt a little scared at the look on Draco's face.

"I'll tell you what my mission is," Draco said.

Ron then realized why Draco was acting the way he was.

"You don't have to," he told Draco.

Draco put his hands to his head and replied, "I'll go mad if I don't."

"Okay, then," Ron said with a sigh, sitting on his bed.

Draco glanced at the door, pointed his wand at it, and muttered, "Muffliato." He turned back to Ron and continued. "The Dark Lord wants me to kill Dumbledore."

Ron gasped and said, "But that's impossible."

"I think he means me to fail, but I'll try not to," Draco replied, letting his head drop.

"But, Draco…" Ron began, shocking himself as he put a hand on his shoulder.

"I have to do this," Draco said determinedly, his head shooting back up quickly.

"You don't have to do anything," Ron told him.

"He'll kill me and my family," Draco said, his eyes beginning to water.

xxx

It was Quidditch practice a few days later, and Ron couldn't get his conversation with Draco last night out of his head.

"Ron, start paying attention," the captain yelled at him.

"Sorry," he apologized.

"You better not be like this during the match Saturday," Draco whispered in his ear as he flew by.

"I won't be," Ron said.

Ron needed to clear his mind, but he just couldn't. He missed one Quaffle after the next.

"I'm I going to have to replace you, Weasley?" the captain asked.

"No," Ron said.

He didn't take the threat seriously, though. There was no way he'd be replaced with only a few days until the match.

"Then you better start improving fast," the captain said.

"Yeah," Ron replied.

"Ron, watch out," Draco suddenly yelled out.

"What…" he began, but it was too late though as he turned. The Bludger hit him straight in the head, sending him into blackness.

Ron blinked and found himself looking at Hermione, her eyes full of tears. They were beside the lake. But hadn't he just been at the Quidditch pitch?

"How could you?" Hermione asked.

Ron had no idea what she was talking about. By the look on his face, however, he had a bad feeling of what it was.

"How could I what?" Ron asked, wanting to hear it for himself.

Hermione grabbed his left arm and pulled up his sleeve, revealing his Dark Mark.

"You lied to me," she cried, dropping Ron's arm.

"I didn't…" Ron began, but stopped as Harry walked up beside Hermione.

"We trusted you, Ron," Harry said.

Ron looked down, guilt consuming him.

"I know, but…" he began before Harry gave a frustrated laugh.

"She doesn't want you anymore," Harry said, now wrapping an arm around Hermione. "Don't you get it?"

"I was protecting you," Ron snapped, not believing the scene that he was now seeing.

"Hermione doesn't need your protection anymore," Harry said.

And the something happened that made Ron regret ever becoming friends with Harry Potter.

"No," Ron yelled as Harry's lips met Hermione's.

Ron then felt someone shaking him awake.

"Ron! Ron, are you alright?" the familiar voice asked him.

"Hermione," Ron gasped as his eyes flew open. "Bad dream."

Her eyes weren't full of tears, and best of all, Harry didn't have his arms around her either.

"I'm glad you're okay," Hermione said as she flung her arms around Ron and kissed him lightly on the lips.

"Yeah, me too," Ron said with a smile as they parted.

'How are you feeling?" Harry asked.

Ron looked over at him, a smile still on his face, and replied, "I've been better."

"I bet," Harry said with a laugh, his voice full of understanding. "Listen, I got Quidditch practice now myself…"

"Yeah, of course, go on," Ron said.

Hermione stayed, making Ron even happier.

As the door closed, signaling Harry's exit, Hermione looked back over at Ron and asked, "Ron, are you sure you are okay?"

"I'm not so sure," he admitted as his head fell and he sighed.

"Everything's going to be fine," Hermione told Ron, taking hold of his hand tightly.

"I hope you're right," Ron said, looking back up at her.

"Of course, I am," Hermione said with a smile.

Ron couldn't help but smile also and pray that she was right.

AN:

I might actually get another chapter posted today hopefully. We'll see.