Recovery

Author Notes

for some odd reason the italics weren't working in the last chapter. *cries* my poor poor italics!!!


Recovery - Chapter Three


Ron shouldn't of been doing this, he knew. He should of been asleep along with the rest of the Gryffindors. Yet, he was unable to. The full moon seemed to plague him through the crack in his curtain. Finally, Ron stood and padded over to the window, peering down at the grass below. He could see the lake a little farther away. The moon, while holding the ravaging ability to turn man into wolf (and Ron's mind briefly wondered how Professor Lupin was doing), also held the soothing capabilities of lighting a normally dark area. The silver glimmered everywhere. But it was one spot that brought Ron's immediate attention.

Again Ron told himself to go back to bed. This wasn't worth the trouble. But he had to know. He had to know why Draco Malfoy was sitting out by the lake in the middle of the night. And oddly, he felt the need to comfort him if that's what he needed.

Ron knew what sort of position he was placing him and Draco into. He had heard about the bonds that seemed to develop between two people when one helps another. It happens in every day life, even with muggles. But with wizarding abilities, human emotions and bonds were naturally stronger. So, while a muggle would be able to turn his back now and never look in Draco's direction again, Ron was still feeling the small amount of conenction they shared. They held a secret that only they, along with the one who commited the rape, knew. The secret, due to it's serious nature, seemed to fuse itself upon Ron's soul, even after nearly a week of passing.

Ron carefully slipped into his robe and opened Harry's chest. Being careful to make little noise, Ron pulled out the Invisibility Cloak and porceeded in slipping out the door. It took him little time to reach the door leading to the school grounds. Ron found himself moving quickly and without his usual clumsiness, which shocked him. Shaking any thoughts as to why he was doing this out of his mind, Ron took the last few steps that brought him a few feet away fom the pale blonde.

Draco seemed to acknowledge Ron's pressence, at least someone's pressence. His back visibly stiffened. Ron held his breath as Draco turned around and stood. Even in the pale moonlight, Ron could see the tears that were glistening on Draco's pale face. The moon seemed to make him look like a ghost, so pale and ice-like. Draco took a small step closer to Ron, who was still hidden under the Cloak.

"Weasel?"

The voice was barely above a whisper, Ron was suprised he heard it at all. He let out the breath he was holding and slowly slid the Cloak off and let it fall to the ground. Draco's eyes widened slightly and an old resemblence of his sneering slef flickered in his eyes. Ron gave him a half smile. "Go ahead. I know you want to say it."

"Did you family have to sell all your possesions to buy that, Weasley?" Draco asked.

"Actually, it's Harry's." Ron said, as though the comment didn't bother him. Draco frowned a little and turned his back to the red head, sitting back on the damp grass. Ron followed suite and gave him a confused look. "What?"

"Your suppose to get angry, Weasley. That's the way it works!" Draco insisted.

"But-"

"You insufferable prat, Weasel!" Draco suddenly roared, standing and glaring down at Ron with a furry he had never seen. "Your suppose to be my enemy! Your suppose to rage at me for making fun of you. Your suppose to hate me!" Draco's voice suddenly went extrmely soft, his eyes widening. "It should of been you."

"What the hell do you mean 'it should of me me'?" Ron asked, standing as well. Draco shook his head and turned away to look at the lake. "No, Malfoy, tell me! What the fuck did you mean by that?"

"I'm not some poor, weak, second hand pauper!" Draco yelled. Ron was shocked that he didn't wake everyone in the castle with his angry voice. "I'm a Malfoy! This sort of thing doesn't happen to Malfoy's! We... We..."

"Are the one's to do it?" Ron suddenly asked, glaring back at Draco. "The one's to force themselves on someone just to prove they are the stronger and better person? Is that what you mean, Malfoy? You think that becuase this... thing happened to you that your weak? And that it should of been you doing the forcing? Why? Why would you wish that on anyone? Even me, who you hate?"

"I don't... I didn't..." Draco fell back to the grass, eyes closed and breathing heavily.

"You don't what, Malfoy?"

"I don't wish that on you." Draco all but whispered. "Not on anyone."

Ron took a deep breath and knelt in front of the Slytherin. Draco didn't open his eyes, but Ron could see a small tear escape his eyelid. Fighting his gut instinct, which told him to turn and run far away, Ron carefully slid an arm around Draco's shoulder. He pulled the pale blonde close, until his head rested upon his shoulder. Ron looked down at him, suddenly realizing how small Draco actually as. Sure he was larger than Harry, in a lean and slim way. But he still couldn't compare to Ron's size, who was tall and was slowly filling out to a more porportionate build.

A shiver ran through Draco's body and Ron pulled him even closer. A brief picture of Goylashlashed in Ron's mind and he clenched his eyes closed at the thought of how being taken by the brute must of felt. With his eyes closed, Ron didn't see Draco look up at him. Draco lifted his head high enough until he was an inch away from Ron's face. Draco breathed deeply, the scent of Ron suddenly invading his nostrils. Draco blinked quickly, trying to keep away any thoughts that had the nerve to appear, before speaking softly.

"Weasley..."

"Hmm?" Ron slowly opened his eyes and they locked with Draco's steel orbs.

"...You didn't tell them, did you?" Draco asked, mentally cursing himself. It wasn't what he meant to say, but his pride forced himself to keep his confessions inside for a bit longer.

"I haven't told anyone, Malfoy." Ron whispered, though he wasn't sure why he chose to speak so softly.

"Why not?" Draco's brow scrunched together in a hint of confusion. Ron shook his head sadly. Was Draco really used to so many people betraying him?

"It's not my place to tell, it's yours. And..." Ron looked away. "I don't want to share it with anyone, okay?"

"That makes no sense." Draco stated, more to himself than to Ron. Ron sighed.

"Tell me about it."

And then Ron's arm was removed and the red head stood. Ron looked down at the Slytherin, who stared at the grass. Ron shook his head again to himself. He really should not be getting into this, he knew. It wasn't a good idea. He was already falling into the part of it, enjoying the fact that it was just him and no one else. Ron felt selfish. Draco needed help, and Ron was being selfish. He actually was enjoying being the only one Draco could go to for comfort. Ron frowned deeply and turned to grab the Invisibility Cloak.

Ron was covered and about to leave, but stopped when he saw Draco stand. He watched as Draco looked up at the stars and moon, and look of stress on his face. Draco's eylanclanced around the area, and he seemed to think that Ron was gone. At least Ron hopedthouthought he was gone, all considering what came from the heir of the Malfoy name's mouth.

"Ron... It should of been you..." Ron almost started yelling at the pale blonde again, but held his anger much to his own suprise. "It should of been you. Only you have the right to tarnish me like that."

Ron didn't stay. He couldn't stay after hearing that. He didn't want to hear anymore. What the hell was Draco thinking? Ron ran as fast as his long legs would carry him. Once he got back to the Gryffindor dorms, he threw the Cloak into Harry's chest and jumped into bed, shutting his curtains tightly. Holding his hands over her face, Ron bit back a groan of frustration. Nothing he did got the words Draco had spoken out of his mind. How could someone even think like that? Ron rolled over and attempted to sleep, but he just kept picturing Draco standing under the moon, speaking those terrible words.

end notes

I know what your thinking, what the hell is going through my stupid little brain while writing that! but i can assure you, it's all part of the plan! MUWAHAHHAHAHA!!!

*cough* seriously, though. i know Draco saying that was a little off the wall, but I can assure you it's not entirely unbelievable after you hear Draco's side of things, k? and his side of things will coem eventually, just got to get Draco and Ron to the 'let's have an important chat' point. *wink*