Brothels, Blonds, and Brunettes

CHAPTER FOUR


Ron waived away the waiter coming his way, shaking his head. He was still dreadfully hungover and didn’t want to be within ten feet of alcohol. Unfortunately for him, he was the son of the Minister of Magic, and thus had to attend this party every year. He made his way out to the balcony, hoping the cool air would make him feel better. He had just started to relax and think that maybe he could make it through the party, when a voice at his back destroyed all chance of that. He wasn’t up to dealing with him right now. He’d hoped not to have to see him until Monday.

“Well look who it is. I’d have thought you’d be at home still sleeping off your hangover,” Draco said as he drained his glass of wine. He had been drinking steadily since he’d gotten there an hour before and was probably going to have quite the hangover himself in the morning.

“No I’m fine. And hungover or not, I had to come.”

“Oh yes. Wouldn’t want to upset Daddy.”

Ron watched as Draco turned and signaled a waiter, the movement not quite as graceful as usual. He narrowed his eyes. “Are you drunk, Malfoy?”


“Why yes, Weasley, I believe I am...or well on my way at least,” he answered with a grin as he took a glass of wine off of the tray. He walked to Ron’s side leaning heavily against the balcony. “Don’t worry, I won’t try to grab your arse or anything. I don’t think I could ever be *that* drunk.”

Ron’s frown deepened. Draco wasn’t usually so heavy handed in his insults. His insult, like his clumsy motion to the waiter, lacked his usual subtlety and grace. He really must be quite smashed, Ron thought astonished. In the time they’d been partners Ron had never seen him get even a little tipsy at a work function. Concerned that there was really something wrong with him he laid his hand on Draco’s shoulder. “Are you alright? I...”

“Ron!”

Ron turned to find Harry running toward him, and he let out a slight ummph as Harry crushed him in a hug. He laughed and returned the hug with equal enthusiasm. He hadn’t seen Harry in a few months and he hadn’t realized how much he missed him.

“So..how’s my favorite quidditch player?” Ron asked, drawing back from the hug.

“Well they haven’t fired me yet, so I guess pretty good,” he answered with a smile. In truth he’d been with the Chudley Cannons for a year and had won a large percentage of the games. The only thing the Cannons were regretting was that they hadn’t signed him earlier. “And how are you doing? Still keeping the streets safe?”

“Of course. It’s a hard job..but someone had to do it,” he said, sighing dramatically.

Harry laughed and slapped him on the back. “What about your love life? Is there a new girl I should know about?”

“Ah..no. No new girl,” he answered laughing uncomfortably, before jerking at the sound of Draco’s laughter. He’d forgotten that he was there for a moment.

Harry turned to Draco, his smile dimming somewhat. “Malfoy. It’s good to see you.”

“I’m sure. After all, I’m just *thrilled* to see you,” he said sarcastically. His eyes narrowed momentarily on the arm that Harry had thrown companionably over Ron’s shoulder
before he looked away in disgust.

Taking that has a sign that Malfoy didn’t want to converse any further, Harry turned back to Ron. “Well I’m actually glad that you’re not seeing someone.”

Draco inhaled sharply and Harry shot him a puzzled glance before continuing. “Hermione and I have found the perfect girl for you. She’s beautiful, intelligent, funny, and most importantly has a serious thing for red heads.”

“Harry, I’m really just not...interested in getting involved in any kind of relationship right now.” And it was true. He didn’t want any kind of relationship right now. He wasn’t lying to Harry. At least not yet. It was always like this with his family and friends. Always trying to hide he truth, but avoid lying, and he was so tired of it.

“But Weasley, you heard him. What kind of guy wouldn’t be interested in a beautiful, intelligent, and funny woman,” Draco asked, mockery thick in his voice.

Ron felt a little flutter of panic in his stomach. He’d believed Draco when he said he wouldn’t tell anyone, but he was drunk and that wasn’t something that could be regulated. It made him unpredictable and Ron was suddenly scared that Draco would tell Harry, and that Harry would be angry that Ron hadn’t told him first.

That, along with the anger and shame that were stirred up by Draco’s mockery, were the reasons that he did something he thought he’d never do. But something that he’d wanted to do so badly for so long. The fact that he was still hungover and his temper was short might have also had something to do with it. He was sick of lying to his best friend, and sick of wondering how good his friendship really was. “The reason I’m not interested,” he said turning to look Harry square in the eye, watching closely for his reaction,” is because I’m not interested in women.”

Harry stood there open mouthed for a moment. “You mean..you..you’re gay?”

Ron bit his lip and took a deep breath, straightening his spine.”Yes. I’m gay.”

“But...how could you..how could you have never said anything? Why didn’t you tell me? God to think that all these years I’ve been...It’s really kind of ironic.”


Ron looked at him with confusion. What the hell was he going on about? “What’s ironic?”

“I was scared. I mean, Hermione told me that you wouldn’t ever let anything change the way you thought about me but...you were always so damned heterosexual. I thought for sure that you’d at least be uncomfortable around me if you knew, and I hated the idea of that. To think all these years..”

“Harry what in the hell are you going on about?” Ron asked, thoroughly exasperated. Sometimes Harry tended to run on when he was nervous or excited and he always assumed that everyone knew exactly what he was saying.

“I’m..I’m gay too. I’ve wanted to tell you for so long..I was just scared.”

Ron dimly registered the sound of Draco dropping his glass but he was understandably focusing on other things at the moment. “You’re..gay?”

“Yes! And so are you! I can’t believe it!” Harry crushed him in a hug. “It’s so great to be able to finally tell you.”

Ron laughed and held him back tightly, feeling as if an enormous weight had been lifted off his chest. “I know. I know just what you mean.”

Neither of them noticed Draco walk silently back into the party.


Draco jerked on his cloak, and stormed outside into the street. What were the odds? What were the bloody odds, that Potter would be gay? Merlin, weren’t there any straight men left? But of course he would be. It was just one more way for Potter to make his life miserable. Potter always got what Draco wanted, and he wanted Ron. Wanted to be with him. If wasn’t so hard to admit when he was drunk.

But, and this was much harder to admit even with the alcohol, he wasn’t only attracted to him...he liked him. He couldn’t remember when it had happened, but somewhere along the way his insults had become more like playful teasing, and he’d actually started to be glad he’d been placed with Ron.

And just as he’d realized it, along came the fucking great Potter Pouf. Determined to save the world from the dire consequences of Draco being happy.

“Draco! Draco, hold on a minute.”

He turned to find, not Ron as he’d hoped, but Blaise running after him.

“Draco can we talk?”

“About what? Your recent penchant for thievery?”

“Look, I’m sorry about that. Could we just take a walk? I really need a friend right now.”

Draco snorted, and Blaise looked at him in shock. Snorting was not something Draco did. “You need a friend? I’m the one that needs a friend, or a physiciatrist.” His eyes narrowed as he thought of Potter. “Or an assassin.”

“What? Draco are you drunk?”

“Yes. Everyone’s very observant tonight.” He sighed. “ Alright let’s walk. I was going to anyway.”

After about five minutes of walking in silence, Draco turned to look at Blaise. Seeing the other boy biting his fingernails, something he did only when he was very upset, he sighed. “What’s wrong Blaise?”

The other boy looked up and quickly dropped his fingers from his mouth, looking guilty. “What? Nothing.”

They walked in silence for a few more moments, Draco trying to think of the words he wanted to say. Stopping under a streetlight, he turned to Blaise.“Just because we can’t be together, doesn’t mean we can’t still be friends.” Draco reached forward and lay a hand on his shoulder. “You’re still important to me.”

Blaise broke into tears, and Draco looked alarmed. There must really be something wrong.

“I’m sorry Draco. I was angry and they threatened me. I... we have to get back to the party.”

Draco was a little slow on the uptake. The alcohol muddling his thought process. “What are you talking about?”

“I should have known you’d break,” Lucius said as he stepped out of an alleyway. “You were always weak.”

Draco turned slowly to face his father. And after a moment where he just stared in absolute shock, he laughed.

Both Blaise and Lucius looked surprised and unsettled.

“Well this is just the perfect end to the day.”

“Oh the day’s not over yet, Draco. I have many exciting things planned for you.”

“Right, the torture. Well get on with it then. I’d attempt to fight you, but as I’m sure you can tell, since everyone else seems to be able to, I’m drunk. I’ve no doubt that you have quite a few of your friends lurking about. Go ahead and come out. I know you’re there. Pretty pointless to hide really.”

Several figures in dark robes melted out of the shadowy alleyways. There were at least five of them. Beyond Draco’s capabilities even when sober.

“Draco...Draco I’m so sorry.”

He turned to look at Blaise, one of the few people he’d considered a friend. “I am too Blaise. I am too.”

“Can we get this over with already? I’m kind of tired,” he said turning back to face his father.

“You’re always so flippant. That is something I shall have to cure you of.”

If you ask just about anyone, what’s the quickest way to sober someone up, they’ll say to cast ‘Sobrieutus.’ Draco, always one to go against popular opinion, would have to disagree. ‘Crucio’ was much more effective.


AN: Thanks to mistress_mazda, desi, katieK, crudedly, achick,mrpointyhorns and TrixRstrange for reviewing. To trix, as you can see harry did not in fact get married to gin and he is a quidditch player. Sorry but those are probably the only deets there will be about other people.It\'s really all about ron and draco and excepting the odd cameo from Harry, it will probably continue to be just them. This only has a few more chapters. It was never really supposed to be this long, but it wouldn\'t let me end it just yet. Just a warning: This next chapter is a little dark.