Harry Potter - Series Fan Fiction ❯ Sakura ❯ Year Five: Chapter Seventeen ( Chapter 17 )

Disclaimer: My name is not J.K. Rowling nor am I part of the wonderful and talented mangaka quartet known as CLAMP.

Title: Sakura

Pairing: RWxDM

Rating: I'm sick of rating every chapter. This story is an NC-17.

Warnings: Slash, Angst followed by some…OMG…Fluff.

Spoilers: OOTP and HBP mostly. Maybe some DH…I'm not sure yet.

POV: Ronald Weasley; passive

 

Chapter 17

 

“What are you reading?”

Startled Ron looked up from his book to see Luna Lovegood staring back at him with her usual dreamy expression. He held up the defensive magic book.

“Oh Harry was showing me that one this morning,” she said. “Well actually he was looking at it with Hermione. I don't think he likes me very much.”

“I think it's because you're weird,” Ron said looking back at his book. He wasn't much in the mood to be nice. He hadn't gotten much sleep the past few nights since his and Draco's argument.

“Is that why the two of you don't like each other anymore?” she asked, “Because you're weird?”

“I'm not weird,” Ron snapped.

“Oh,” she said. “Well that's what everyone else is saying. That you and Draco Malfoy aren't normal.” Ron had to fight not to flinch. Even thought he had said the same thing to Draco it still hurt hearing it.

“You and Draco aren't talking now either.” It was more a statement then a question.

“No,” Ron replied.

“Why not?”

“Why does it matter?” Ron was starting to get annoyed.

“You said something mean to him didn't you?” he looked at her and she stared back at him with such a knowing look it scared him.

“Maybe,” he said hesitantly.

“You should apologize.”

“But why?” he asked.

“Because you hurt his feelings.”

“He's a Slytherin and a Malfoy,” Ron said defensively. He was about to say Draco didn't have any feelings but he could feel himself choking on the words.

“You'll feel better,” she said and started to walk towards the door.

“Luna,” Ron called after her.

She turned at the door and looked at him. “Yes Ronald.”

“What do you think?” he asked. “About me and Malfoy that is.”

She looked thoughtful for a minute. “I think everybody else is being much too narrow minded about it.” She turned but paused again. “The Slytherin team is practicing tonight. I think you should go.” Then she was gone, leaving Ron alone in the unused classroom as the bell announcing the end of breakfast sounded.

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He'd gone crazy. That's all there was to it. He had gone completely mental. It was the only explanation he could think of for why he was standing outside the Slytherin's changing tent in the freezing cold within eye shot of maybe a dozen of Draco's fan club. He swore he could see the gears in Pansy's incredibly small brain turning, plotting his extermination. Blaise didn't look very happy either. Ron was still trying to figure out what had possessed him to come out here.

Soon the team started filing out. Ron felt what little bit of color he had left leave his face as he saw Draco, flanked by his bulky bodyguards, come out and the mass of students surround him. Ron felt an urge to run away but found himself rooted to that spot.

Blaise leaned in and said something in Draco's ear. Ron didn't have anytime to feel any feelings of jealousy this time cause as Blaise pulled away Draco turned to look at him and Ron felt his whole body freeze from that icy stare.

Draco said something to the group, Ron didn't hear, and all of them very reluctantly started heading back for the school. Blaise hung back a bit longer than the rest but Draco shot him a piercing glare and he too left. Soon Ron and Draco were alone. Ron forced himself to take a step towards him, and then another. He didn't know why it was so hard. Soon he was only a few feet away from Draco.

“What do you want Weasley,” Draco said venomously, causing Ron to flinch.

“We need to talk,” Ron said through his chattering teethe.

“I think you've already said plenty.” Ron took another step closer.

“I wanted to apologize,” He quickly sputtered. Draco's features softened a bit but then, catching himself, hardened again.

“Look,” Ron continued, taking another step closer to Draco, “I'm sorry I was such a jerk the other day. I'm just so screwed up from all of this.” Draco didn't say anything, didn't move. Ron felt his stomach fill with butterflies. He readjusted his scarf and pulled his cloak tighter. He decided to just dive right in.

“It's just that you came out of nowhere with this and then we were going so fast I didn't know how to handle it.” Still Draco said nothing. “And then everything with Harry and the whole school finding out and my parents and…” Ron stopped and shakily took a breath trying to keep his composure.

“All I've been doing is arguing with myself saying that I don't want anything to do with you but then all I can think about is you,” he took another breath. “I can't stand it. All of these feelings I don't understand and they're driving me absolutely crazy.” He stopped, catching his breath. Draco stood there staring at him for a while.

“So what do you want to do?” Draco finally asked.

Ron looked at him, and after all this time he still couldn't come up with an answer. He just managed to shake his head and look down at his feet. His eyes were burning and he knew the he was about to cry again. He couldn't help but wonder how pathetic Draco must have thought he was. Draco took his hand suddenly.

“Why don't we go inside,” he said. “It's freezing out here.”

Ron smiled and nodded his agreement as the two of them started the walk around the lake back toward the castle.

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“Can I kiss you?”

Ron stopped with his foot half raised, ready to walk up the marble staircase. He turned around to see Draco still standing there looking deathly serious.

“W-what?” Ron asked.

“I said,” he sounded slightly annoyed, “Can I kiss you—please?”

“What are you asking me for?” Ron asked. He was aware of several students watching them, mostly Slytherins and Hufflepuffs, and felt his face start to turn red.

“Maybe because you're the one I want to kiss,” Draco said slowly as he smiled at Ron's dumbfounded expression.

“I mean,” Ron said quickly, “You don't usually ask. So why are you now?”

“You were the one who said that we're moving to fast,” Draco said.

“Well…” but Ron couldn't think of anything to say. He glanced towards some Slytherins standing to the side, all of them trying to overhear the conversation and failing in their discreetness.

“Can I kiss you or not?” Draco said. “It is a simple yes or no question you know.”

“Okay,” Ron mumbled feeling his cheeks grow even hotter.

He closed he eyes as Draco took another step closer. He didn't want to see all of the other students staring at them. He felt Draco's lips press against his, not hard but softly.

It suddenly felt like a dam had been broken. All of the uncertainties and aggravation—all of the confusion was just washed away. In its place he was filled with a warmth unlike anything he had ever felt before. It was comforting—it felt safe. The rest of the world fell away and soon it was like they were floating in a universe all their own. The kiss felt like it had gone on forever—and he kind of wished that it had—but to soon he felt Draco's lips disappear.

Ron opened his eyes and saw the icy gray of Draco's only inches from his. He could only imagine that the same sense of euphoria he saw reflected in Draco's eyes could also be seen in his. He could feel Draco's breath tickle across his cheek and he was suddenly overcome with an urge to kiss him again. He leaned down to take his lips back into another when he felt Draco's hand on his chest, stopping him.

“Good night Ron,” Draco said softly and pulled away completely. Left in a daze Ron watched him walk away and turn to go down the stairs that lead into the dungeons.

Ron was aware that everyone's eyes were on him but he didn't care. He felt like he was standing in a dream. He brought his fingers up to touch his lips, trying to hold onto that warmth.

………………………&# 8230;…….

 

Ron threw the door of his dormitory open so hard that it banged against the wall and scared someone who was sitting on their bed. Ron practically leaped for his trunk and pulled it open as Neville poked his head out from behind his bed curtains.

“Everything all right Ron?” he asked.

“Perfect,” Ron replied as he started pulling stuff out of his trunk. Neville climbed out of the bed and took the few steps toward Ron.

“You and Harry haven't fought again?” Harry? Ron couldn't even remember if he'd even seen Harry or Hermione sitting in the common room as he ran through.

“No nothing like that,” Ron answered as he finally pulled out the green velvet bag that he was looking for.

“What's that?”

“I don't know yet.” Ron stood up and pulled open his bed curtains so that he could sit down. Neville climbed in next to him. Ron turned it in his hands, looking at it from every angle.

“Well are you going to open it?” Neville asked staring at him.

Ron pulled at the string holding it shut and pulled open the top of the bag. He reached in and pulled out a bare tree branch. Ron stared at it feeling very confused.

“What is it?” Neville asked.

Ron didn't know though nor did he understand what it was supposed to mean. It was only about the length of Ron's forearm and was completely bare. No leaves or flowers.

“Can I have a look at it?” Neville asked, holding his hand out. Ron handed him the branch. Neville held on to it like it was the most fragile thing in the world as he turned it around in his hands.

“Well,” he said after a few minutes, “It doesn't look like it was taken from its tree very long ago. Why don't you check the bag again?”

Ron held the bag upside down and shook it but nothing else came out. Neville's eyes narrowed in thought as he started looking at the branch again. Ron picked up the small card that had been tied to it. He opened it up and could only smile at the simple massage that was written there.

“What does it say?” Neville asked. Ron handed him the card and took the branch back now looking at it as if it was the most beautiful thing he'd ever seen.

“Love Draco,” Neville read aloud and looked up at the branch in Ron's hand. “I don't get it,” he said making eye contact with Ron. “He's given you a dying tree branch.”

Ron didn't care though as he made a spot and placed it on his bedside table. He took the velvet bag and the small card and placed them under his pillow.

“So,” Neville started slowly. “You and Draco are all better now?”

Ron smiled as the warm feeling from before started to come over him again. He turned to Neville and nodded. Neville returning the smile sighed in relief.

“Well that's good,” he said as he readjusted himself on Ron's bed. “So how was your holiday?”

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A/N: Yay another one!!!