Recovery

Recovery - Chapter Six


"Ronarryarry Potter's voce piped up, breaking through Ron's thoughts. Ron blinked and glanced over at the green-eyed boy on the couch. Harry was giving him a worried look.

"What?" Ron asked, his voice sounding oddly strained.

"Are you okay?" Ron didn't say anything, hoping Harry would sooner or later ignore him, but the Golden Boy had better plans. "What's wrong? I know something is wrong, you always have that look when there is. So, what is it?"

"It's nothing, really." Ron insisted. Harry simply raised an eyebrow. Although Ron would have loved to speak about what he was feeling within his mind and heart, he couldn't bare the idea of Harry knowing. It was just too complicated. So, being a typpical Weasley, Ron reacted with anger. Jumping to his feet, Ron bounded toward the common room door, ignoring Harry's calls.

The corridor was empty. Everything was dim and dark, the only light coming from the torches on the walls. Ron was a bit suprised, he must have been sitting there looking into space for hours forto hto have gotten this dark. Ron started walking, hoping to drag himself away from the memories attacking his brain. He felt like he should be ashamed, reliving all the time he had spent with one Draco Malfoy over the school year. It had come as a shock, really. For six years they had hated each other, but now, well, now was different.

Ron couldn't honestly say that it was rape that changed things. Ron still couldn't stand the little prat, even after seeing him as a true human being. It was more when they had talked next to the lake, the night of the full moon. When Draco had actually spoke to him in a civilized manor. They had been nice to each other. That was when Ron started thinking differently. And then there was the kiss.

Christmas break was coming faster and faster, but it wasn't noticed by Ron. He spent nearly everyday re-imagining the kiss, all from different angles. He tried to think up how it would of been if Ron had kissed Draco back, or if he hadn't exploded afterwards. Or if Draco never had done it to begin with. Ron didn't like the diea of it not happening. It was weird, in a sense. Two people spawned through hate. It was like that muggle writer that Hermione forced him into reading, Shukesphere or something like that. Whatever, it was called Romeo and Juliet. Ron sighed as he turned a corner. Hermione really should stop making him read romance novels.

Being the rash person that Ron is, through and through, Ron found himself in the dungeons. Not a single thought ran through his brain to explain why he was actually there, but that didn't matter. The only thing that mattered was who was stepping out of the Slytherin common room down the hall. And then Ron knew. He knew why he had come down there. For him.

"Weasel? What are you doing down here?" Draco hissed, standing barely three feet away. Ron didn't answer. If someone was to look at Ron at that moment, they would of called him a madman. He had this glimmer in his eyes and a half-sneer, half-smile upon his lips. Draco froze and simply watched the red-head.

Neither spoke. They didn't know what to say. Who would in this type of situation? So, they simply stared. Waiting for one to move. Ron urged himself forward. Afterall, it was him that had come down here. So he found himself stepping closer to the pale blonde. THe person that he couldn't stop thinking of, all becuase fate had decided it would be him, Ron, to comfort the boy in his time of need.

Draco wanted to step away. To run. To flee from the Harry Potter side-kick. But he couldn't. Because deep down he was curious as to what the boy dared to do. He wondered just how much Gryffindor bravery, or in most cases stupidity, Ron had in him. And then, as quick as lightning, he found out.

The lips that pushed against his tasted like chocolate, and Draco reconigsed it as the flavor of a Chocolate Frog. Draco's back was being pressed against the wall, hands rested firmly at his shoulders. Flashes of memories flew through his brain. A forced kiss. And something else forced, months ago. The remembrance was painful, causing Draco shove Ron away, eyes wide with terror.

Ron gulped and pressed his won back against the opposite wall. The two boys stared at each other, not knowing what to really say. The Ron spoke, his brain relaying the words to his mouth without the simplest true thinking between the process. "Malfoy, we are telling Dumbledore about what your father is going to do. Come on, we are doing it now."

"What?" Draco asked. "How dare you!"

"Malfoy, he can't do this to you!" Ron suddenly screamed, making Draco flinched. The emotions were running high and Draco had the brief thought that neither one of them were comprehending what was going on. "Your going somewhere safe for Christmas, Malfoy. I'm not going to let you get that stupid Dark Mark."

"Why do you even pretend to care?" Draco asked. And yet, even with that question, Draco was following Ron. They were heading out of the dungeopns and to the halls above.

"I'm hardly pretending."

"I don't believe you." Draco said.

"That's your own problem. But it's the truth." Ron glanced back. "Don't ask why, because you wont get an answer." They had made it to the right hall, the gargoyle was in sight. Neither one stopped to wonder why they hadn't been caught yet.

"Dumbledore won't help me." Draco told him. "I'm the son of a Death Eater. He won't-"

"He will." Ron interupted. "Because I'll make him."

"Your an idiot, Weasel." Draco smirked.

"Could be." Draco gave the red head a startled look at this. They stopped in front of the gargoyle and Ron suddenly realized he didn't know the password. The gargoyle seemed to look them over, and then to their astonishment, jumped to the side. Draco and Ron exchanged glances before Ron pushed Draco onto the moving staircase. Draco glared at the red-head, but remained quiet as they knocked on the Headmaster's office door.

"Enter." A voice said from within. Draco gulped nervously as Ron dragged him into the office. Dumbledore was sitting at his desk, shuffling through papers. He looked up as the two boys entered, a bemused smile on his face. "Ah, Mr. Weasley and Mr. Malfoy, what can I do for you today?"

"Sir, Malfoy has something he needs to tell you." Ron said pointedly, giving Draco a little push toward the Headmaster. Draco let out a small squeek and Dumbledore raiased an eyebrow.

"Very well..." Dumbledore replied. He looked at both seriously. "Lemon drop?"

"No, that's quite all right." Draco replied softly. He looked back at Ron, who gave him an encouraging smile. "Sir... My father has alerted me of the fact that..." Draco trailed off and slumped down into the nearest chair.

"Malfoy, want me to tell?" Ron offered, taking the other seat. Draco shook his head and drew in a deep breath.

"My father plans on giving me the Dark Mark during Christmas break, Professor." Draco told, his voice gathering a serious tone that reminded Dumbledore of steel. "I don't wish for it, sir. I was wondering... Well, more Weasel than me, but... Is there anyway you could convince my fathe let let me sty here for Christmas?"

"I'm afraid I don't have that authority, Mr. Malfoy." Dumbledore replied thoughtfully.

"I told you he couldn't doa nything, Weasley." Draco muttered.

"Professor, you can't let his father force the Dark Mark on him!" Ron raged, his voice considerably soft compared to the sudden anger he was feeling. "Draco doesn't want to serve the You-Know-Who!"

"Mr. Weasley." Dumbledore interupted, a small smile on his lips and eyes twinkling. "On the contrary, I do not plan on letting Mr. Malfoy be forced into servatude if he does not wish it. As Headmaster of this school it is my job to ensure the safety of my students, and that safety expands to protection from their own parents if the need arises." Draco looked up with a relieved expression. "However, I must have liable proof from either Mr. Malfoy or a teacher that his homelife is not safe. Without that, I can not force Mr. Malfoy to stay here for Christmas."

"Well, that does it." Draco muttered softly. He drew in a deep breath and stood. "I'm sorry for wasting your time, Headmaster."

"I will look into the problem immediately, Mr. Malfoy. I can assure you that." Dumbledore nodded. "I promise you, I won't let you fall into the hands of Voldemort when you obviously wish not to."

The two boys nodded. Draco shuffled out of the door, feeling both relieved and worried. He was glad to have gotten the subject off onto someone who might be able to do something about it. But what if Dumbledore couldn't find good enough proof? Draco chewed nervously on his lower lip and jumped slightly when a hand rested on his shoulder. He glanced to his left and locked eyes with Ron, who gave him a small smile. They were silent for a moment, before Draco finally spoke.

"It's official, Weasel. We have one weird relationship." Ron raised an eyebrow at the Slytherin. Draco gave a half-hearted laugh, then rested his hand on top of Ron's briefly, before walking away.

inside his office, Albus Dumbledore tapped his chin thoughtfully, while stroking Fawkes. While the news the two boys' visit had brought was not a happy one, he was pleased. It seemed Draco had finally reached to someone. After watching the boy for so long, and with frequent talks with Professor Snape on him, Dumbledore was happy to find Draco in fact did not want to join forces with Lord Voldemort. Dumbledore sighed softly. He had to find a way to keep Draco here for Christmas, without it being connected to Voldemort. Quickly, Dumbledore took a pinch of Floo Powder next to his desk and tossed it into his fireplace, calling out a name. "Professor Snape."