A Night of Exceptions

~



The night was neither kind nor long enough for Harry and Ron, both emerging, at separate times, with equally dark rings around their eyes, carefully avoiding the other. This was blatantly obvious to Hermione who knew both boys well, or apparently so for there were some things she had failed to notice, and began questioning them about why they were avoiding each other.



"You can\'t spend your final day here in an atrocious mood! I won’t have it!" Hermione growled at each of them, having forced them to sit on a couch in front of her. "So either you sort out what\'s wrong or you forget about it and move on. I\'m sure what ever it is it\'s not worth this."



Harry sighed, thinking it was all Ron\'s fault. He certainly wasn\'t going to give in and say that he knew Ron would overreact, because how was he to know? He wasn\'t. But, on the other hand, Hermione was involved and for her sake he didn\'t want to unknowingly draw her into the fight.



"I\'m sorry Hermione," Ron began. "I know this has nothing to do with you, and it shouldn\'t, but I can\'t help it that Harry and I have a problem with each other."



"And you don\'t think that what you said is just slightly selfish? Come on Ron, surely you can be civil for Hermione\'s sake." Harry said angrily. Why was Ron playing the victim?



Ron\'s face heated up. "I\'m not being selfish, and not it\'s about if I\'m civil or not." He huffed, looking extremely discontent.



Hermione was frowning at both of them. "Look, I don\'t know what happened, since neither of you will tell me, but I do know that what ever it is it\'s not worth bickering over. You two have been just about inseparable since you first met, and worked through problems before, so I\'m going to give you until tonight to sort out your differences. If not..." She narrowed her eyes, looking at each of them.



Harry bit his lip, trying to contain a grin. He knew Hermione wasn\'t being serious about the last bit, and he also knew what she was saying was true. He and Ron had been through quite a lot over the past few years, more so than most people, and Ron had even said they were better off friends than enemies. What had happened?



Ron looked at Harry hastily, trying to gauge what he was thinking. A feeling of sadness gushed through him, remembering his words from a couple of weeks ago; we didn\'t commit a crime you know. It was true, that he knew, but why was he being a prat? There was no denying his behaviour was even just slightly gratuitous, but Ron couldn\'t help but feel there was an underlying reason for it that he hadn\'t figured out yet.



"I\'ll take your silence as a sign that you\'re really thinking hard about what I\'ve said." Hermione\'s voice broke through each of their thoughts. "Now I don\'t know about you two, but I\'ve got a busy day ahead of me."



"Busy? Doing that?" Harry asked, shaking his thoughts away.



Hermione rolled her eyes. "Packing! And don\'t tell me you\'ve already done it, I know you haven\'t."



Harry and Ron smiled lightly. "Are you sure you wouldn\'t believe me?" Harry asked sweetly.



"Positively certain." She said, moving away. "I\'m not going to see either of you until the celebration tonight, and by then I want you on speaking terms at least." Hermione walked towards her room, probably to pack up her things.



"I don\'t know about you, but I\'m going to pack." Harry said in a restrained tone, getting up and walking towards the dorm, not even waiting for Ron to reply or follow.



But Ron just sat there frowning for a moment before moving. If he hadn\'t of said anything about the kiss he and Harry would still be friends, still be... still be doing the pleasure thing, and be acting as normal as always. Who would have thought that stopping their shagging would also basically cease their friendship, as they knew it?



~



Harry was in a mess, not just technically speaking. He was sitting on his bed absolutely shrouded in clothes and possessions that seemed to have accumulated from nowhere. He\'d decided that he was going to dispose of just about all of his clothes, because he neither wanted nor needed them, and was also trying to decide what else he should throw out. It was a difficult decision, Harry found, even though he was not even remotely anything like a person who hoarded and collected everything from the meaningful to the completely inane.



The photos were a must, this he knew, even the ones of Ron, especially the ones of Ron. He\'d gotten past the anger and was now sad and disappointed, wondering how everything had gone so terribly wrong. But even so, Harry would never admit that he regretted what they\'d been doing, no matter how adamant Ron was about it. Speaking of Ron, Harry looked towards his bed, not able to see past the curtain, wondering what he was thinking; the only thing he could think of was getting Ron back, because they really were better as friends rather than enemies.



With newfound determination, Harry got up from his mess and walked over to Ron\'s bed. He pulled the curtain open, startling Ron who also appeared to be sifting through possessions, only to find his words catch in his throat.



"Yes?" Ron asked, looking a little off guard.



Harry swallowed, wanting to kick himself. "I just... Ahh..." He pinched himself. "Forget it." Harry fled back to his bed; drawing the curtains tightly and throwing himself back down on his bed.



Clenching his fists, Harry wanted to yell in frustration. He\'d never had any trouble in the past talking to Ron, even when they first met each other, so why now? He grabbed his pillow and bit it, trying to relieve himself of his anger. He just didn\'t know what to do to relieve the tension.



Harry\'s hasty visit had left Ron feeling a little disturbed. Harry had been acting funny, more so than usual, and it was just a bit unnerving. He realised then that he saw himself and Harry making amends, he never doubted that they wouldn\'t again be friends. Ron knew that they both just needed time to sort themselves out, or at least that\'s what he thought. But how much time was feasible? Perhaps now was the time to do something? No, Ron decided, he needed to get packed before he did anything else. He\'d just have to talk to Harry later.



Finally Harry could safely say he was packed and almost ready to go. He hadn\'t shut his bags properly, but then he did need to get through tonight first. He\'d spread his dress robes out over his bed, eyeing them warily. It wasn\'t that he didn\'t like them, they weren\'t bad, much like the ones he\'d had in fifth year, but it was what they signified that worried him. Once tonight was over so too would be his time at Hogwarts. Hogwarts hadn\'t only been his place of education for the past seven years, but his home; the place he found his friends and fought many battles.



Hogwarts had been the turning point in Harry\'s life, this he couldn\'t deny, and leaving was a painful thought. There were just so many memories, good and bad that he never wanted to forget, and hoped that he wouldn\'t. But moving in with Sirius would also be a very momentous change, something that he\'d wanted since his third year and was now finally able to do. Life just wouldn\'t be the some without Ron, though as they say the ball was in his court. Or so Harry had decided.



The time had finally come for them to change into their dress robes, although the girls had been getting ready for the past four hours. Harry had a shower and washed his hair, before pulling on his green robes. He had to admit they were a pleasant change from the black school robes, but not as comfortable. He was pondering these thoughts as he walked out of his cubical, only to come almost face to face with Ron.



Harry paused when his eyes met Ron\'s in the mirror, but nevertheless found a small smile on his face. He almost sighed in relief when Ron returned it. Suddenly they both had something to say, and tried to say it at the same time.



"No, you can go first." Harry said firmly, walking up to stand beside Ron, pulling out his toothbrush.



"Fine. I just wanted to say that, for Hermione\'s sake," He rolled his eyes slightly, "we should do as she wishes and talk to each other. It\'s not that I don\'t want to it\'s just that..." He paused, searching for the right words.



"It\'s okay," Harry washed the toothpaste out of his mouth. "I know what you\'re saying and that\'s fine by me. Just for tonight, that\'s all." He said rather grimly, realising that Ron wasn\'t going to apologise.



Ron nodded slightly. "Thanks." He said softly, turning back to his reflection in the mirror. "So... have you finished sorting out all your stuff?" He asked awkwardly.



Harry shrugged. "I guess so."



"Oh." Ron looked around for a distraction, deciding instead to leave the bathroom, his dark grey dress robes billowing slightly with his long strides.



Harry didn\'t realise how hard he was holding his toothbrush until he put it down, his knuckles stiff and white. Tonight should be enjoyable, he thought angrily to himself, not Ron and I trying to act chummy when we\'re not. He too left the bathroom, shaking his head in confusion.



~



The Great Hall was looking different from how all of the seventh years had ever seen it, instead of there being four student tables and a teacher table there was only the teachers table, but with chairs on either side. The table had been widened, so that it could fit people on each side, which left the entire floor free. Harry and Ron groaned, on either side of Hermione, when Dumbledore announced that there would indeed be dancing.



Much like the Yule ball, all the girls had gone to much effort to look their best. Both Harry and Ron had their breath taken away when Hermione emerged in a pale yellow gown, her long brown hair sleek and smooth, flowing down her back, pulled away from her face.



The night had begun with a speech from Dumbledore, then dinner. It was strange having everyone seated at the one table, along with all of the teachers, Harry, Hermione and Ron all making sure to get a seat near Hagrid who, Merlin help, was wearing that hairy coat of his.



"I\'m glad to see that you are both making an effort for me." Hermione said to Harry and Ron in a quiet tone. "I can tell that you\'re conflict isn\'t resolved, but I just wanted you to know how grateful I am at what you\'re doing." She smiled happily at them.



Ron and Harry looked at each other briefly. "Well you were right \'Mione, as you probably know." Harry said with a small smile, and then looked at the table when something caught his eye. "Oh no, they\'re actually allowing us to drink?"



Hermione looked at the champagne glass in front of her. "One won’t hurt us."



Ron looked at her with surprise. "I thought you said you weren\'t ever going to drink again?"



"I did say that, yes, but I think it\'s safe to say I meant I wasn\'t ever going to drink that much! Besides, tonight\'s a celebration." Hermione concluded, eyeing the bottle in front of her.



"So was the other night if you remember correctly." Ron smirked, watching as the bottles levitated themselves and began pouring the bubbly liquid into their glasses.



Hermione glared at him. "This is different." She almost hissed.



"If you say so..." Ron taunted, looking to Harry for confirmation only to realise that they really were fighting.



Hermione had said that she would only have one, but that turned in to two and finally three. It didn\'t take much champagne to go straight to her head, and soon she was giggling at just about everything. Harry and Ron were also a little tipsy, which they were thankful for when it came time for dancing. The lights were dimmed, and the volume of the music increased, the floor steadily filling with people.



Seats had been arranged around the Great Halls\' perimeter, where Harry, Ron and Hermione finally met up with others from their house. Neville appeared drunk, although his swaying could be confused for clumsy dancing, and Seamus and Dean had these huge grins on their faces, probably from the champagne. The girls were much the same.



"Would you dance with me, Hermione?" Neville asked nervously, blushing slightly.



Hermione giggled. "Sure, why not?" She grinned back at Harry and Ron. "You\'ll be right for a while by yourselves, wont you?" She asked hopefully.



Harry and Ron looked at each other. "I suppose." Ron finally said.



"Well... err... you can come too." Neville added.



Ron jumped up. "Sure, okay." He said and began walking off without them.



Hermione looked at Harry. "It\'s okay, I don\'t feel like dancing. I\'ll wait here." He said, relieved that he didn\'t have to sit with Ron by himself.



"Are you sure?" Hermione asked, looking concerned.



"Yes I\'m sure! Now go, before Neville gets tired of waiting." He pushed her off, and sat back down, watching them go.



A feeling of sadness washed over Harry as he watched his friends dancing, laughing, and having fun. He was sorry that he couldn\'t be up there too, even if dancing wasn\'t his forte. Harry scanned the room, finding that even most of the professors were up dancing as well, except for a few. Everyone seemed so cheerful, although that could be expected when they were all finally finishing school at last.



Movement to his right caught his attention, and Harry was aghast to find Malfoy sitting himself down next to him.



"What do you want?" Harry asked rudely. Malfoy smiled smugly at him.



"Aren\'t I allowed to try and make amends with my school-long enemy before it\'s too late?" He continued to smile. "I\'m also wondering why it is that Harry Potter is sitting all alone, or have his friends deliberately deserted him?"



"I don\'t dance." Harry said, his eyes still narrowed.



"Fair enough. I\'d say you made that quite clear at the Yule ball two years ago. But I\'m not here to insult you." He said indifferently, using a tone he\'d never used with Harry before; he sounded almost pleasant.



"Oh you\'re not are you? Funny, you could have fooled me. What are you really doing here Malfoy? I don\'t believe for a minute you really think you\'re going to try and be my friend after all this time. Where are your body guards... err... I mean Goyle and Grabbe? Shouldn\'t they be taking care of you?"



Malfoy laughed loudly, smiling broadly, his teeth perfect and white. "Can\'t you see? They\'re over there trying to blend in on the dance floor. A hippogriff would have better luck."



Harry looked where Malfoy pointed, and saw that Grabbe and Goyle were indeed trying to dance.



"Arg, look how they\'re dancing with Parkinson, she really ought to take a good look in a mirror." Malfoy was shaking his head, looking disgusted.



"What are you really doing?" Harry asked Malfoy suspiciously, trying hard not to bite his lip with wonder.



"Not here Potter, it\'s too noisy. I don\'t fancy not being able to talk tomorrow. Let’s go, just you and me, no one else." He stood up, and waited for Harry to move.



Harry frowned. Should he go? He looked towards Hermione and Ron, noticing that they appeared to be too preoccupied dancing to notice what he was doing or whom he was socialising with. He looked at Malfoy and decided on the spot that there wasn\'t much he could do without Crabbe and Goyle flanking him, since Harry considered himself a pretty good duelist. So he decided to go, if anything it could very well prove to be more interesting than sitting on a chair by himself.



Standing up, Harry followed Malfoy out of the Great Hall and the noise, and continued walking until they reached exit where Malfoy pushed open the door, and they walked out into the mild night air.



"Now that\'s better isn\'t it Potter? Or may I call you Harry now?" Malfoy asked, leading him over towards an outdoor setting.



Harry sat down and Malfoy sat beside him. "I don\'t care." He shrugged, still confused. "What do you want?"



Malfoy smiled. "Now be nice, I know we haven\'t had a very pleasant past, but that doesn\'t mean you have to be rude to me. Don\'t forget I did extend my friendship to you when we first met and it was you who refused it."



Harry rolled his eyes. "I remember. But you must admit I\'ve got very good reason to be sceptical. Your father did try to kill me you know, not to mention all the times you\'ve tried to hurt me and my friends."



Malfoy sighed. "I know, and if it means anything to you then I apologise. My father has always been the main influence in my life, you must understand that Harry, but now that\'s he\'s not around..." Harry simply watched as Malfoy paused in thought, his pale face sad. "... but it was a good thing you see," He began again. "For I saw how wrong his ways were. I\'m beginning to learn how to be myself, and in doing so I\'ve realised how terrible I\'ve been to you. I\'d like for us to part on a good note."



Harry was stunned, looking at Malfoy with wide eyes and his mouth hanging open. "You\'re not serious, are you?"



The blonde nodded. "I most certainly am."



Harry shook himself. "Okay... I don\'t know what to say. I don\'t know if I could ever forgive you." He furrowed his eyebrows when Malfoy moved closer to him.



"I don\'t expect you to, actually. I just wanted you to know that I was remorseful about my actions." He said, and then startled Harry even more when he placed his hand on his shoulder.



Harry was looking at Malfoy in bewilderment. Was he dreaming or was the world going crazy? But maybe Malfoy was being serious? Harry looked at him, trying to read his true emotions. Beneath the cold blue eyes Harry was certain he could see something, but he didn\'t know what it was. However he was so busy pondering these thoughts that he didn\'t hear the footsteps coming up behind him until he felt two strong hands on both arms.



"What?" Harry jumped, turning in his seat to see Goyle on one side of him and Grabbe on the other, tall and menacing. Then there was laughing, Harry realising it was Malfoy.



"You should have seen the look on your face, Potter." He chortled happily, a look of sheet delight on his face. "Come on, let’s move." He said, standing briskly. Harry was pulled up harshly.



"What are you doing?" He asked angrily, trying to pull himself free of the grip on his arms.



"I wouldn\'t do that if I were you." Malfoy said as they started walking, Harry being almost dragged. He looked up and realised where they were heading- the greenhouses.



Panic suddenly rushed though him, and he thought of trying to grab for his wand, but it was tucked away safely inside of his robes, where he couldn\'t reach since his hands were being held behind his back. He continued to squirm.



"Just what are you playing at Malfoy? Why are you taking me here? Wait until Ron and Hermione realise I\'m not back..." He warned, knowing that they probably wouldn\'t even notice him missing.



"You know it yourself they\'re not going to notice, and if they do they\'ll think you\'re just being a bad sport and went up to the dorm to sulk." Malfoy magically opened the door to a greenhouse Harry had only been in once, one that didn\'t contain any plants merely pots and other gardening articles.



"We\'ll wait out side." Goyle grunted, leaving with Crabbe and shutting the door behind them. That was only after Malfoy had put a restraining charm on his wrists, leaving them bound behind his back.



Suddenly Malfoy was right in front of Harry, his body almost touching Harry\'s, and their height almost exact. There was an evil smirk on his face.



"No one is going to hear you Harry," He whispered, his hand touching Harry\'s chest, then venturing inside of his robe.



Harry tried to step away, but found that his feet wouldn\'t move. "What have you done?" He asked harshly, panicking, hating the feel of Malfoy\'s hand on his chest. He cringed, then realised what Malfoy doing when he pulled out Harry\'s wand.



"You won’t be needing this." He said, tossing it aside. Harry watched hopelessly as his wand cluttered to the ground and rolled away. He shivered, wondering what Malfoy was up to.



"Now Potter... I\'ve been thinking, and I realised something. It appears you think you have the upper hand against me, which made me become conscious of the fact I needed to make you see that you didn\'t. And to do that I needed to humiliate you, but doing so publicly has lost its appeal. So I needed another way, and then it came to me... I\'ll humiliate you personally. You have no idea how much I\'d love to hurt you, and how long I\'ve wanted to do it for, and now I\'ll finally get my chance." He smirked, his eyes glimmering a sinister crystal blue.



Harry gulped. "You may think that you\'re winning Malfoy, but you\'ll never defeat me, not matter how much you think you have. I\'ll always beat you." He said with as much courage as he could muster. "You\'re just a coward, and you know it."



Malfoy shrugged. "It may appear so, but we\'ll soon find out won\'t we Potter?" He said, and then slapped Harry hard across the face.



Harry chuckled slightly despite the sting. "You slap like a girl."



Malfoy\'s eyes flashed, before his fist made contact with Harry\'s jaw. Harry coughed, feeling blood in his mouth where he\'d bitten his tongue.



"You will shut up now." Malfoy hissed, but then reconsidered. "Actually no, you can talk all you like. Although you won’t be talking long, you\'ll be screaming. And nobody will hear you through the silencing charm." He said vehemently, his hands moving to Harry\'s belt. Harry gulped, realising what he was going to do as he pulled it undone.



"Pathetic." Harry said, shaking his head. Malfoy ignored him, choosing instead to pull Harry\'s pants down, leaving him standing there in his underpants. Harry shivered, his insides churning. Malfoy wasn\'t really going to do that to him was he? His panic was increasing, and surged when Malfoy hooked his fingers under the fabric of his underwear and yanked them down, leaving him completely bare. But Harry would never bow down in submission, keeping his eyes directed straight at Malfoy\'s.



Malfoy smiled and looked down at Harry, before looking at his face again. Wordless, Malfoy stepped out of Harry\'s sight, and Harry felt him behind him, a feeling of repulsion overcoming him when he felt cold hands on his bare hips. Harry swallowed, knowing his fate was inevitable. No body was coming to save him this time.



Harry felt Malfoy moving behind him, realising that he\'d removed his pants and was currently trying to ready himself... Harry didn\'t want to think what he was doing.



"This is it Potter, the moment I make your life even more like hell. I\'m sure the Dark Lord will reward me generously..." He whispered with his lips against Harry\'s ear. Malfoy\'s hands guided his legs apart, apparently able to control his limbs where even Harry couldn\'t, and pressed a hand to his back so that he was leaning forward slightly, almost touching the shelves in front of him.



Harry\'s mind was screaming, trying hopelessly to move his limbs, to turn around and hit Malfoy as hard as he could... but Harry could do nothing, he couldn\'t even flinch when he felt something hard and disgusting press against him, those terrible cold hands again on his skin. It suddenly occurred to Harry that Malfoy was about to rape him, destroying him in the last way possible. He contained a gasp when Malfoy moved, a sharp sting echoing throughout his body, erupting into a stabbing pain.



Refusing to let himself voice his pain, Harry bit his lip, his eyes clenched, feeling like he was going to be sick. A pain like none he\'d ever experienced was now beginning to thunder through him, and Harry felt that Malfoy was probably going to get what he had wanted. Harry knew vaguely in his mind that Hermione and Ron weren\'t anywhere near him, that they weren\'t going to suddenly burst through the door...



A bright light caught his eye and suddenly the door was crashing open. Harry blinked, thinking his mind was playing tricks on him when he saw a disheveled Ron standing next to a panting Hermione. He knew then that he must have really been loosing his mind.



Harry could only watch as suddenly his hallucination of Ron jumped forward, his fist extended. But as the fist connected with Malfoy Harry felt it too- Malfoy was ripped from within him, leaving Harry standing there still unable to move. Looking up, Harry saw Ron on the ground, on top of Malfoy, his fist moving faster than Harry had ever seen it before.



"Enough Ron, move so I can stun him." Hermione\'s voice reached Harry\'s ears, watching as a bolt of red light flew from her wand and hit Malfoy right in the face. "Oh Harry..." She sobbed, moving over to Harry. "Enervate." She whispered, and Harry collapsed, finally regaining control over his muscles.



But that was the final straw for Harry, helpless as he felt a tear sting his eye. He felt gentle hands on him, pulling up his underwear and his pants. He saw it was Hermione, who wrapped her arms around him and pulled him into a tight embrace, sitting beside him on the cold green house floor. Harry hugged her back, horrified and in shock at what had just happened.



"Are you alright Harry?" She asked, sobbing.



Harry nodded slightly. "I am now." He said softly.



"Ron, you stay here with Harry while I go and get Dumbledore." She said, letting go of him. "I\'ll be back soon, okay?" She said, wiping the moisture off his cheek, and then from her own.



Harry felt himself nod, and then watched her go. He didn\'t want to look at Ron, who did probably not even want to be there, Harry thought bitterly, probably hating Harry even more for ruining his graduation party. Harry sucked in a breath when he felt a warm hand on his shoulder, looking up to find Ron sinking down beside him.



"Harry..." Ron breathed, his brows furrowed, his heart beating furiously.



The breath caught in Harry\'s throat when he tried to speak. "I\'m so sorry." Harry said in a barely audible voice. "I\'m so sorry..." He repeated, before feeling Ron engulf him in a hug.



"You have nothing to be sorry about, this wasn\'t your fault!" Ron said, clutching onto Harry tightly, relieved when he felt Harry embrace him back.



"I\'m sorry for last night Ron, please forgive me, I don\'t know what I\'ll do without you if you don\'t." Harry held him tightly, shivering.



"Of course I forgive you Harry; I was the one being stupid." Ron pulled back so he could see Harry\'s face. "I was being stupid okay?" He paused. "Are you sure you\'re alright?"



Harry nodded, holding Ron tighter. "I\'ll be fine; I think I\'m just in shock." He said, his voice a little less shaken.



"That\'s fair enough. I think I hear Hermione coming." Ron said, and Harry expected him to let him go, to move away from him... but Ron didn\'t, he stayed sitting there with his arms around Harry.



Hermione hadn\'t just bought Dumbledore, but McGonagall and Snape as well. Thankfully it appeared that no one even noticed them leaving, as Hermione had acted as inconspicuous as possible in her state.



Crabbe and Goyle were hovered into the greenhouse and placed beside Malfoy, although they would not yet be revived.



"Harry, what happened?" Dumbledore asked, having not yet been told what had transpired. "Miss. Granger said you were in trouble."



Harry nodded, finally letting go of Ron.



"What is the meaning of this?" Snape asked, his eyes narrowed, looking at the three students from his house. "I demand an explanation! It appears Mr. Potter here has attacked..."



"If you don\'t mind Professor, I think it would be wise if you stopped right there." Hermione said in a defiant tone that was rarely heard to come from her.



Snape\'s eyes flashed. "Why, I don\'t think..."



"No, you didn\'t think." Hermione said back again, almost making Harry smile. If only the situation hadn\'t been so grim. "I think you should be quiet and hear what Harry has to say." She looked at Harry, then walked over to him and wrapped her arm around his waist; Ron had his arm around Harry\'s shoulders, helping him stand. He was still shaking pretty badly from the shock.



"Yes, I think that would be a good idea. Harry?" Dumbledore asked softly.



Harry drew a shuddering breath. "M... Malfoy... he... he..." He stopped, his voice cracking.



"It\'s okay Harry, he can\'t hurt you now." Hermione said carefully. "Do you want me to tell them?"



Harry looked at Hermione gratefully. "Yes, please." He said. "I... I don\'t want to say it."



"After Ron and I realised that something was going on, we took care of Goyle and Crabbe. When we came in... Malfoy was... he was... um..." She paused, tears forming in her eyes as she thought of what Harry must have been going through.



"He was raping him!" Ron said angrily. Not angry at the fact that neither Harry nor Hermione could say it, but because of how much damage Malfoy had done.



McGonagall let out a small yelp when Ron said this, Snape flinched badly and even Dumbledore\'s eyes widened. Obviously they weren\'t expecting this.



"Harry, Professor McGonagall will escort you to the hospital wing while Professor Snape and I contain Messer’s Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle. Once Madame Pomfrey has assured me that you are not injured, I ask that you tell me everything that happened so we can take father action. These are very consequential allegations Harry, so we must take everything very seriously."



"Allegations! Don\'t you mean what really happened, do you think we would lie about this?" Hermione asked, her voice higher than usual.



"No Miss. Granger, I don\'t think that you would. As I said, this is a serious matter and we must attend to it accordingly." Dumbledore said wisely, knowing that he needed to get them moving.



"I don\'t want to go to the hospital..." Harry started, but Dumbledore silenced him.



"Harry, I know it\'ll be difficult, but if we\'re to properly prosecute Mr. Malfoy then..." He frowned.



Harry sighed. "I know, okay." He wanted more than anything for Malfoy to be thrown in Azkaban and never released, and knew that if going to the hospital meant Azkaban for Malfoy, then he\'d do it.



Dumbledore had cast that funny disillusionment charm on Harry, Hermione and Ron, the one that Moody had used on Harry when going to Grimmauld place for the very first time. They didn’t encounter anyone on the way though, since they were all inside the Great Hall enjoying their last moments together.



It hadn\'t been very pleasant for Harry when Madame Pomfrey had examined him, and was glad when it was over. After assuring him that he would be okay, that the damage was very minimal due to Hermione and Ron\'s quick intervention, he was allowed to have his friends in there with him.



About an hour later, Dumbledore emerged looking rather grim.



"I\'m sorry Harry, but I have to ask you what happened exactly tonight. If you like Mr. Weasley and Miss. Granger can stay. I\'d rather we do this now, as you know it\'s always best to get things off your chest sooner rather than later." He said, pulling up a chair.



Harry nodded. "I\'d like for them to stay." He said, and then took a deep breath; it was now or never.



Harry re-stated everything that had happened, having to pause here and there as he gathered himself. He was still disbelieving of what had happened, that Malfoy had actually...



But Dumbledore was still looking at him with an expression he\'d never seen before. Harry had to know what he was thinking.



"I know you\'re thinking something sir, and if it\'s anything to do with..." Harry was cut off.



"Not now Harry, you need to get some rest. If you\'d prefer it I\'ll ask Madame Pomfrey to allow you to sleep in the dorm, so you\'re not alone." He smiled grimly.



Harry sighed. Dumbledore was right; he didn\'t want to be alone. But he also didn\'t want to give Malfoy the satisfaction of achieving what he\'d set out to do. "Actually, if it\'s alright, I\'d like to go back to the party." He said, and then tried to smile. "I didn\'t after all get to go out on the dance floor."



Hermione laughed, her eyes tearing up, reaching out to hug Harry. "Anything you want Harry."



With that decided, the three of them had refreshment charms cast on them before heading back into the Great Hall. A few people questioned where they\'d been for the past two hours, but they simply replied that they\'d been reminiscing outside by themselves for a while.



However, Harry couldn\'t help thinking about what had happened. He knew that it still hadn\'t sunk in properly, that he\'d probably wake up in the morning and freak out. Yet something told him that it wasn\'t as bad as what everyone was making it out to be. After all, Ron and Hermione came in just in time, even if Malfoy had already begun penetrating him, and stopped things before they got really devastating.



Soon the celebration came to an end, and sadly everyone began leaving the magnificent hall. Harry, Hermione and Ron walked together, Hermione in the middle with Harry\'s arm around her waist and Ron\'s around her shoulders.



"Now Ron, you\'re to look after Harry tonight, and if I find out that you\'ve been fighting again, watch out! Harry you know if I could have you in my room I would, but I just can\'t do that here. After tomorrow night we\'ll be fine, unless Sirius forbids it!" She smiled, pulling him into a hug.



"Thank you \'Mione, but I\'ll be fine." He said, moving away.



They all said goodnight, and Harry and Ron walked away in silence towards their beds. They entered, changed into their pyjamas, and sat on their beds looking at each other yet to say a word. It was Ron who broke the silence.



"I\'m so sorry Harry; I\'ve been such a prat since last night." He said, frowning. "I can\'t help but feel that tonight was my fault, that if I hadn\'t of..."



"It wasn\'t your fault Ron." Harry said and feeling relieved that it appeared like Ron was back to himself again.



Ron sighed, looking around the room. "We need to talk, do you want to come here or I to go there?"



Harry answered his question by getting and moving over to his bed. Sitting down on the edge, Harry watched as Ron moved aside so that he could lie beside him. They secured the curtains so that no one would hear what they were saying.



"Just let me speak okay? I don\'t know why I freaked out last night, I just did. I guess it was just kind of sinking in that we were doing something that I\'d never even thought about doing before, and getting really used to doing it. It\'s nothing to do with you Harry, don\'t get me wrong, I just needed time to sort myself out. And I\'ve realised that we have too much to let a stupid kiss get the better of us."



"I\'m so glad to hear it, because I don\'t know how much longer I could have put up with you in that mood of yours. But I understand what you mean- once you\'d reacted I began thinking about it too and couldn\'t figure out why I was kissing you, then I concluded that I was doing it simply because it was you Ron, if you understand what I\'m trying to day." Harry frowned.



Ron frowned back at him. "Just because it\'s you Harry..." Ron whispered, biting his lower lip.



Harry breathed sharply and swallowed deeply. "Ron I…”



"Don\'t say it." Ron said, moving forwards and placing his fingers on Harry\'s lips. "I know what you\'re about to say, and I understand. When you said that it was because it was me, I realised that I\'ve only been doing the things I\'ve been doing with you because it was you Harry- not because you\'re my best friend or you\'re another bloke, but because you\'re Harry..." He felt Harry smile beneath his hand.



"And you\'re Ron." Harry said in a muffled tone. He hardly realised that he\'d just about forgotten everything that had happened that night, because all he was thinking about was Ron.



Ron nodded. "I know." He smiled, taking his hand away but not moving back from his closer position. He moved his hand and gently placed it on Harry\'s cheek. "I want to hurt Malfoy so much for what he did to you, that dirty..."



"Don\'t remind me." Harry said, his face serious, his eyes drifting shut as he lent into Ron\'s touch. Harry\'s skin was tingling where Ron was touching him, and he wanted him to touch him some more but didn\'t know how Ron felt about such actions.



"Do you want me to stop touching you?" Ron asked, as if answering his silent question.



Harry opened his eyes. "No, I like it." He said, and Ron\'s other hand went to his shoulder. "Thank you." Harry whispered, leaning forwards slightly. He was grateful when he felt Ron\'s arms moving around him, tightening and pulling their bodies together. Harry wrapped his arms around Ron, putting his face in his neck, breathing in his familiar scent.



"Do you want to stay with me tonight?" Ron asked softly. "We don\'t have to..." He felt Harry nod.



"I\'d like that; I really don\'t want to be alone." Harry said, pulling back slightly.



Ron smiled. "Let\'s get warm then, it\'s a bit chilly out here." He lifted up the blankets and got under, pleased when Harry moved in close to him. They held each other firmly knowing silently that their issues had finally been resolved.



Ron was on his back, while Harry lay on his side facing him. "So we\'re friends again?" He asked with a small smirk.



"Don\'t be stupid." Ron said, smiling. "We were always friends."



"Good." Harry said in a bare whisper, feeling secure with Ron\'s arm firmly around him. "Thank you, by the way."



"You don\'t have to thank me; this was part of the job description." Ron smiled, feeling warm and secure. "I always knew you\'d be a handful."



Harry laughed lightly, the feeling reaching his eyes and projecting into Ron\'s. "Goodnight then." He whispered, resting his head on Ron\'s shoulder.



"\'Night."



~