Wow. I think this is the longest chapter yet? The most definitely happens in it.

And I managed another cliffie, although this one is a bit different from the others. I combined two chapters into one, because they fit better that way.

Cheers!

Draco smirked at the dumbfounded faces looking back at him. Merlin's tit, he loved a good entrance.

"Hullo Granger, congratulations on your engagement. I don't think we've seen each other since we graduated from Hogwarts. My, how the time just flies." The two of them could only continue to stare back in shock.

Draco looked over at Weasley, "Ron. Do you realize that you've left me high and dry for two minutes now? Granger, if you don't mind, Weasley and I have some unfinished business that we need to attend to."

That clearly broke the ice. Hermione looked back and forth between them in confusion, and Ron's face was possibly the reddest Draco had ever seen it. Was it anger or embarrassment this time? His question was answered as Ron strode over to him and punched him right in the nose, Hermione letting out a gasp of surprise.

Draco fell backwards and grabbed his nose, feeling hot blood rush from it, "What the hell, Weasley? Are you trying to break my nose?"

"Be thankful it's just that." Draco felt his heart stop at Ron's deadly tone. It was clear from the redhead's expression that the statement was true; Ron was holding an entire beating back.

After a pause while Ron visibly pulled himself together, he continued, "Now, Malfoy, I want you to get dressed, get your shit, and get the hell out of my flat. You may have humiliated me before, and I may have let you then, but you have just crossed the line by insulting me and my fiancé in such a vulgar manner. Did you think that the Ron Weasley of Gryffindor would just take something like that? Well he wouldn't have then and he won't now."

Draco was beyond surprised and could only stutter out, "W-what?"

"It's not terribly shocking that you are so surprised, but then I guess you really haven't matured at all since that first time we met on the train. I'm a grown man, Malfoy. I'm in love with a wonderful woman, and you have bothered both of us with your rudeness. Now, please, go."

Draco continued to sit, incapacitated with shock. What? What had happened to the stuttering, useless Weasel? Who was this man who was returning to his new fiancé and talking to her so quietly, so gently?

Draco felt his chest shudder and his throat harden. Was he – was he about to cry?

Draco wiped the slight moisture from his eyes and left the room in humiliation and shock. No one had ever spoken to him in that way. Well, actually, plenty of people had. But he had always found the right thing to say, his tongue ready with some catty dodge. Something was different this time. Was it the fact that Ron had taken him by surprise, or was it that it was Ron who was telling him those things?

Draco shook his head. Surprise. He had definitely been taken by surprise that the dolt Ron Weasley had managed to put more than two sentences together.

Draco finally managed to pick himself up and swept from the room. Luckily Weasley and Granger were too busy talking quietly to further humiliate him by watching his departure.

"I cannot believe you did that! Ron, what's gotten into you?" Hermione hissed, clearly upset more with Ron's outburst than Draco's nude proposition.

Ron sighed and ran his hand through his hair, "I'm sorry, Hermione. He's just been being rude like that all day, and I couldn't take it anymore."

"Well, come now. You know better. Get some ice for his nose, and apologize. Meet me at the Burrow when you've sent him home?"

Ron kissed her softly and nodded. "Shouldn't take long. Sorry."

She nodded and left, shutting the door quietly behind her.

Ron summoned some ice and a rag from the kitchen and walked slowly to his bedroom. As he pushed open the door, he thought perhaps Draco had already left. Only to find that he hadn't, and had only accomplished putting on his shorts.

The blonde was sitting with his pale back to the door, stroking his dress shirt gently. At Ron's entrance, Draco said softly, "You washed them. My clothes, I mean."

"Yeah, I did." Ron repeated the soft tone and sat next the Draco, handing him the ice.

Draco scoffed, "I've already healed it."

"Oh. Right." Ron laughed softly at himself, "Of course."

"Why?" Draco muttered, his face stony and emotionless.

"Why, what?" Ron asked, pulling out his wand and sending the ice and rag back to the kitchen.

"Why did you wash my clothes? Bring me ice? Make me breakfast? Take me to your home?" Draco was worrying his shirt in his hands all the while, and Ron was amazed that the expensive fabric didn't tear at the strain.

"I'm not sure. It was the right thing to do, I suppose. Couldn't just leave you there in the loo, and I couldn't let your clothes get ruined by the vomit. And I suppose I wanted to help. And I felt guilty about punching you like that, when you were so defenseless."

Draco shook his head, "Granger made you feel guilty about punching me, don't lie."

Ron shook his head, "I felt guilty. She just made me come and apologize."

Draco released the shirt and pulled it on, buttoning it slowly, "You Gryffindors are so strange to me. I've never understood the whole self-righteous act."

"You know, what some people call being self righteous, others call being nice."

"It's stupid."

"Maybe, but it's less lonely, I think."

At the word, 'lonely', Draco's head spun and he looked at Ron in shock. Then anger, "I'm not lonely, Weasley! I have plenty of people who…who…"

Ron shook his head, "I never said you were lonely, Draco."

Draco shuddered with anger and hissed, "Well you implied it, didn't you?" The blonde stood up and grabbed his pants, pulling them on and buttoning them with shaking hands, "Being nice, my arse. You just like to go around judging everyone that doesn't live by your standards!"

Ron stuttered with shock, used to the emotionless Malfoy and wondering where this sudden outburst had come"I never-"

"That's well enough, Weasley. I'm leaving, as you requested. Hopefully never to return." He left the room and hurried toward the door, Ron close behind him.

"Draco, wait. I'm sorry, don't leave yet, we have to talk this through."

Draco closed on the door, "Don't want to talk Weasley, I've done enough of that with you to last me a couple lifetimes." He pulled it open, but Ron threw out a hand and shut it again, "Let me go, Weasley, or I'll just apparate right here.

Ron grabbed Draco's elbow and whirled him around so that they were face to face.

"Get off me, you huge idiot!" Draco yelled angrily, hitting Ron's chest with his fists. Ron grabbed both hands and trapped Draco against the door, stepping closer so that the blonde wouldn't be able to struggle.

Finally, Draco, powerless, said softly, "What do you want from me?" He looked up at Ron, who now saw the tears in his eyes as Draco whispered, "Why won't you let me go?"

Ron was absolutely floored. And fascinated. What had happened to make Draco so upset and desperate to leave? Draco's normal stony countenance was long gone and instead there were his emotions, raw and overexposed from being hidden too long. Ron gazed at them with tender interest as he might the stars. How lovely. Ron felt something tighten in his throat. Merlin, what was Malfoy doing to him? He suddenly found himself leaning inward, closer to Draco's trembling body, their heavy pants echoing in his ears, the blood rushing through his skull, his heart ready to beat out of his chest.

Draco's pink tongue darted from his mouth, wetting his lips. It was there Ron locked his gaze. He leaned forward even more, until their foreheads touched, and panted, "Malfoy, I…"

But Draco didn't let him finish, and tilted his head upwards, locking their mouths in a gentle kiss.

AHHHHH!

EH? EH?

You want more? Haha, I know you do, but I have almost next to nothing written for the next chapter, but loads of ideas.

Please inspire me further with dozens of loving and swooning reviews!