A/N: Once again, I should be doing homework. But I don't feel like it. I've been in a really weird mood about everything lately. I've been remembering things I don't want to and dealing with things I don't care for. Anyway, I digress. I'm working on two other fan fictions at the moment, so I apologize in advance if this seems all over the place. I hope that everyone enjoys it! Thank you all for reviewing last time! Please tell me what you think!
I would also like to dedicate this chapter to Mr Jakey Fakey. His kind reviews gave me the motivation to post this chapter! Thank you so much for your kind words!
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Draco had never felt more out of place and right at home it his life.
The car ride back to Ron's had been just as awkward as he imagined it, maybe even more so. Not oneword was said between Molly and Arthur. Arthur just drove, quietly humming to himself and slightly dancing a little. Molly stared right out the window, not even blinking. Ron, on the other hand, wouldn't stop talking. The entiretime, it felt like, the red head never shut his mouth. He just went on and one about nothing. Every once in a while he'd ask his parents something, but neither one of them would respond. Ron would just shrug and continue. Was he really that excited to have Draco over? It made the blonde feel a little awkward.
The one thing he hadn't anticipated was the car flying. But, then again, why would he be surprised? He's a wizard for god's sake.
It literally felt like forever until they got to the Burrow. Draco, or Ron for that matter, had never seen Molly move that fast. It was like she was trying to get out of a really uncomfortable situation, which she was. Draco, Ron, and Arthur were left in the dust of the driveway to carry the over stuffed luggage inside. Draco gave Ron a sideways look and the red head just sheepishly grinned back. Arthur sighed as he closed the car door. Even he could tell it was going to be a long day.
"Is your mom going to be ok?" Draco nervously asked as they walked down the path towards the door at the side of the house. Ron glanced at his friend before pushing the door open with his foot.
"Yeah, she'll be fine. She just has to hear you play and everything will be fine!" Ron exclaimed with determination. Draco bit back a smile. It seemed absurd, how focused and childish Ron was being. Not the bad kind of childish. The childish manor that kids have where they think everyone can be happy together as long as there's enough candy to go around. Yeah, that kind of thing. It made Draco want to just fall over and laugh.
The blonde stepped through the door and was greeted by the smell of cooking food and movement. Even though nothing was really going on, it felt like the house just moved on its own. Draco looked around himself and saw that they were in the kitchen. Even though they had just gotten there not even ten minutes ago, Molly was already cooking what appeared to be a large meal for everyone. With Ginny, Fred, George, and all the other siblings gone for a while, Draco wasn't sure why the meal was so big. He let those thoughts leave his mind as Ron motioned for them to continue along in the house. Draco nodded as he quickly followed.
The living room… it was actually quite small compared to the rest of the house. Draco assumed that they must not spend much time in here since it was still and quiet, unlike the kitchen. Off to the side of the room, near where the kitchen and the living room connected, was a rather large grandfather clock. Draco stopped in his tracks for a second, staring at his with wide eyes. It took him a second to realize that it didn't tell time.
Instead, as you all know, it had the faces of every family member on it. Home, away, school, store, various places like that were listed on the clock. Draco didn't fail to notice that Harry's name/face had been added on to it. It spiked his anger a little bit, but the blonde wasn't really sure why. Maybe he just hated the stupid Boy Who Lived that much. He turned away from the clock and quickly caught up with Ron and his dad.
"Sorry we can't take the stairs in the kitchen. I want my mum to cool off a little bit." Ron mumbled. Arthur nodded his head in agreement. Draco blinked several times. There were stairs in the kitchen? He hadn't even noticed. Ron started to trudge up the stairs, leaving his suitcase behind at the bottom. Draco gently set his down and followed Ron up the treacherous path. The steps creaked and groaned under the blonde's feet. It made him nervous.
It felt like they climbed even higher than they did for the classroom. Maybe it was just because the steps were much steeper than they were at school. This would explain how Ron is able to move around so fast. Draco, on the other hand, felt as if he was being punched several times in the gut. It was hard to breathe. Draco took this as a sign to be more active.
Finally, Ron stopped at one of the many doors along the hall. He glanced at Draco and blushed slightly, rubbing the back of his head.
"Sorry, it probably looks awful. I don't really have anyone in here except for Harry and siblings, you know." Ron bashfully said as he looked away from the blonde. Draco raised an eyebrow at him, a confused look on his face.
"Why would what I think matter?"
"C-c'mon! We have lots of convincing of parents to do!" Ron loudly said as he shoved his bed room door open. He practically fell into it. Draco slowly followed right behind his friend.
The first ting he noticed about the room was the smell. It smelled… old and dusty. Like when you open a drawer at your house where things have just been sitting there for a while. Or old clothes you forgot you had. This old, comforting smell that always made Draco feel so relaxed. The second thing he noticed was how clean it was for Ron. Of course, it was slightly messy, just like any other teenager. But, for what Draco expected from Ron, it wasn't half bad. Clothes were thrown about and his bed was unmade, but that was really about it. The room looked like it was about to fall apart, just like the staircase. Draco noticed two doors shoved off to the far side of the room. He looked at Ron, expecting an explanation.
"Told you it was awful…" Ron mumbled as he shifted about towards the back doors. Draco smiled a little, looking away from his friend.
"I think it's fine. What're those doors for?" Draco said, pointing at the doors. Ron looked behind himself, and then back at Draco with a smile.
"Oh, the one on the far left is the closet. But, this one here is something special." Ron happily replied, He reached towards the doorknob, quickly turning it and flying it open. Draco had moved over behind the red head, peering over his shoulder.
"A… bathroom?"
"Yeah! It was either a bigger room with no bathroom or a small room with one. I think it's great, really." Ron said back with such a happy smile it almost made Draco melt. He pushed back that melting feeling as he peered around the red head, his eyes wandering all over the small room.
Now, when Draco said small, he meant pretty small. There was a toilet on the other side of the room, the sink crammed in right next to it. A shower-bath tub mix faced the opposite wall of the toilet. Right next to the shower was a crooked window. Crooked. It looked as if it was meant to be a picture frame, but no matter how you hung it, it always leaned to one side or the other. Draco was now thoroughly confused as he turned back to Ron. In the short moment, he realized just how close the two were. He took a step back as he felt his heart thump.
Not now.
"What's with the window?"
"My mum liked it." Ron replied with another smile. Draco moved farther away, just slightly, since the smile was making him uncomfortable.
"Oh."
"I should go check on her, by the way. See if she's calmed down, you know. Be back!" Ron exclaimed, waving slightly. And just like that, he left the room. Draco blinked several times before his mind fully processed what had just happened.
Or, what was happening.
Oh shit.
Draco felt as if he was going to fall over. He took the short distance to Ron's bed and sat down on it. For how raggedy it looked, it was actually quite comfortable. And relaxing. And soothing. Draco didn't let those thoughts linger for his current mind frame was in a panic.
"Ok, ok, calm down Draco. What's the worst thing that can happen?" The blonde said to himself. It was that phrase and his panic state of mind that made him feel a little crazy. But it was ok, because he was alone.
Ok, face one: I'm friends with Ron Weasly. Friends or something like that. Fact two, he makes me feel weird and some other stuff I'd rather not think about right now. And that's the part confusing me the most because I don't feel like I should feel this way. Fact three: I lied to my parents and came to the enemy's humble abode and I'm staying here. Fuck, I'm going to be killed.
Draco took in a deep breath, trying to calm himself down a least a little. It all didn't feel real once it all hit him. It just seemed stupid and wild and crazy and oh my god maybe he will be killed.
The blonde suddenly stood up from the bed in one swift, fast motion. He felt like he was going to explode if he didn't play his guitar, even for a little bit. Draco left the room in a flash. Even though he didn't really know where he was going, how hard could it be to find Ron's room if the door was open? Really, it's just a staircase going straight up. The blonde quietly went down the staircase, making sure to step around the creaks the best to his ability. Before he knew it, Draco saw his luggage at the bottom of the stairs. His guitar case was neatly placed beside it. Odd… he didn't remember bringing it in.
He grabbed it in a flash and quickly dashed back up that stairs. The guitar banged against the walls and the steps, and he was sure at least someone had to hear it, but Draco didn't really care. Playing the guitar at this moment was his only way to calm his brain down and maybe even survive the ordeal. Draco couldn't even make it all the way back up to Ron's room, the case was too heavy. So he just set it down on the next landing, sitting down and breathing real hard.
It was one of those rare times where Draco wasn't fully aware of what he was doing. Like a drug-induced state. He un-clicked the case and flung it open. The guitar looked dirty and grimy under the light (more so than it usually did). The blonde pulled it from the case and rested it on his lap. It felt heavier than it normally did. Draco took a deep breath.
He started out with a small tune. It was soft and relaxing and it made him feel happy inside. He continued to hum a little tune along with it.
"Somewhere over the rainbow
Way up high,
There's a land that I heard of
Once in a lullaby.
Somewhere over the rainbow
Skies are blue,
And the dreams that you dare to dream
Really do come true.
Someday I'll wish upon a star
And wake up where the clouds are far
Behind me.
Where troubles melt like lemon drops
Away above the chimney tops
That's where you'll find me.
Somewhere over the rainbow
Bluebirds fly.
Birds fly over the rainbow.
Why then, oh why can't I?
If happy little bluebirds fly
Beyond the rainbow
Why, oh why can't I?"
Draco let the last little note fade. He smiled to himself, his mind now completely clear. The song didn't really fit his mood, and it didn't really have anything to do with anything at the moment, but it was the first song he taught himself to play, so it meant something. Or something like that. Draco looked up from the guitar and was met by the eyes of Ron. He let out a little yelp and had to keep himself from falling backwards. Ron gave him a small smile.
"That sounded nice." The red head slowly said. It was all that he could say. Draco just played too beautifully for Ron, even though he'd heard him hundreds of times before. It still sounded just as wonderful every time he heard his friend play. Draco nervously smiled at Ron, moving to put his guitar away.
"You don't have to hide it, my dad loves Muggle stuff." Ron loudly said. Draco stopped in mid movement, slightly afraid to move. Ron moved back a little, almost falling down the stairs if it wasn't for him grabbing the railing, scratching the back of his head and sheepishly grinning.
"Really?" Draco said in a small voice, even though he already knew this. His father used to make fun of Arthur all the time for the hobby. Ron nodded his head.
"Yeah, I'm sure he'd love it if you played for him sometime." Ron quickly said. Draco felt his face tense slightly and he tried to make it relax. Playing for Ron was one thing, but for a crowd of people? Draco wasn't sure if he was ready for that. But, now that he thought about it, he was trying to impress them. Draco looked at the floor, thinking for a moment before speaking.
"I'll write a song for them."
"What?"
"I'll write a song for them and play it for the both of them. Maybe then they'll be a little bit more accepting of me." Draco quickly said in a small voice. It felt like he was being crushed a little bit. When the blonde looked back up at his friend, there was a real sad look on Ron's face. His eyebrows where all turned up and his mouth was parted in a small upside-down "u". His cheeks were a slight shade of pink. Draco moved to stand up, but before he could Ron started to talk.
"Draco, my dad already likes you."
"Ron, you're dad is too nice to kill a fly. He's just being polite. And even if he does like me, I want to still show him that I can be trustworthy." Draco skeptically said as he gently placed the guitar back into the case. He grabbed it by the handle, carrying it with him as he stood up. Ron's eyes were still following his friend with that sad look.
"Draco-"
"C'mon, this can't sit on the staircase all summer, you know." Draco called down at his friend with a playful smile. Ron rolled his eyes, the sad look leaving him almost immediately as he followed his friend.
What else could they do?
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Oh my god, that took too long. I'm so sorry for how crappy this was. I was not in the right of mind when writing most of this. I have been having a lot of mental breakdowns lately, and this is what I did while having those. It's also been stressful with finals and the end of school coming up on me. Anyway, I still hope that everyone enjoyed it! Please let me know what you think!