He snuggled into his blanket but was held up. As he tugged, the blanket seemed to have snagged something. He yanked a bit harder only to hear something rustle or someone chuckle.

“I guess I won’t be having a peaceful morning.” Draco moaned as he opened his eyes much to his chagrin.

“Get up, Malfoy.”

Draco smiled. It was Ron. Ron was here to...? “Why are you waking me up?”

“Ever since you took me out here, I guess I realized that being out of that room isn’t so bad. I feared this room but now I don’t.” Ron smiled. He was seated at the end of Draco’s bed, back pressed against the metal footboard.

“You seem different.” Draco groggily sat up, yawning in the processes.

“I think I am.”

“Oh. Is this my doing?” Draco smirked.

“Perhaps.” Ron shyly smiled back at Draco. “When you kissed me last night, it brought me back to a time when kisses were something that people shared, that were innocent, that could be nothing more than a kiss. I forgot about that. You made me remember.”

At that point Draco suddenly recalled his intentions. He sensed repulsion in himself. He wanted that kiss to be more than a kiss. He wanted Ron and now he didn’t. He still lusted after Ron yet watching Ron’s demeanor changed and happier... how could he have had such false pretenses? He would stay quiet and stop thinking like that, though he knew he would never stop desiring Weasley completely.

“I’m glad I made that happen for you.”

An awkward silence developed between the two boys. What to do now? Could they continue on this path of wherever or would they leave it be?

“So, you’re leaving today?”

“Yes I am. Professor Snape wouldn’t allow me to miss any more class time. It has been a little over two weeks.”

“How can enemies change into – into whatever we are now in such a short time?” Ron wondered as he moved closer to Draco, stopping short of Draco’s sheet-covered feet.

“In the right circumstances people can be forced to realize that change is needed. I realized that you don’t need any added terror from me. And, like I told you a few days ago, I was jealous of you. I wasn’t just a little envious. I had a thing for you too.”

Ron looked into Draco’s steel eyes. “I thought you had a crush on me. You picked way too many fights.”

Draco chuckled. “Oh really? If you knew, then why didn’t you say anything? Save me the trouble!”

“I only recently acknowledged that I was a poof. You seem to be my first gay crush.”

“It is an honor. Come here.” He patted the space next to him.

Reluctantly, Ron climbed next to Draco. They sat shoulder to shoulder, taking extra care that nothing else touched.

Draco turned to him. “What now?”

“I thought you would know. I assumed you are more experienced than me.”

“I’ve had many conquests... meaning three and out of those three, I’ve only had two. One was a misunderstanding on his part and the second was mutually wanted. I’m as confused as you are.”

“No you’re not. I’ve never been with a guy romantically. I never thought that I could.” He kept his gaze in front of him. Ron was sure that Draco was watching him closely. “But here you are. You caused something inside me. It feels good to be comfortable with someone. I-I don’t know how to act with someone other than in fear.”

“You fear me?” The worry in Draco’s voice was evident.

“No. Not at all. Not anymore. Last night proved to me that you could be gentle and caring and still be you all the while. I appreciate it so much. You haven’t changed but you have. You’ve proved to be someone I can trust. I just wanted to know... um – could I hold your hand?”

Draco raised an eyebrow, a genuine smile on his lips. He laid his hand next to Ron’s thigh. Ron eagerly took it. “You don’t have to be so nervous. You don’t have to ask to do anything to me. I should ask you.”

Ron scoffed. “We still need to know what the other feels, wants... boundaries.”

“Since when was there a ‘we’?” Draco’s voice quavered a bit. He hadn’t even thought to take that step with Ron.

“I didn’t say-”

“You said ‘we’. I don’t remember there ever being a ‘we’. You’re Weasley and I’m Malfoy. There is a Ron and Draco.”

“Well, we’ll have to see if we can ever be a ‘we’.”

“You just said ‘we’.”

“Malfoy.” Ron smirked. He knew he was kidding around. It was miraculous that he could already tell there was a joking side to Mal-Draco. He liked to know that Draco wasn’t so... Malfoy.

“I know.”

“I would really like for there to be a ‘we’. I think. I’m sure. I don’t know.”

Draco laced their fingers together. “You can trust the future with me because the only other relationship to compare this prospect with is, well, rape.”

“How can you say it so nonchalantly?”

“You obviously weren’t squeezing my hand hard enough. I shiver at it but you have to control it. He can’t hurt you. Not with a Malfoy on your side.”

Ron gathered the strength he needed, turned to Draco, and kissed him softly on the cheek. “If you tease me for that.” He said threatening.

“I won’t.”

“Good to know I have you by my side.”

“Don’t get all mushy on me, Weasley. We haven’t gotten to that stage yet.” Draco couldn’t believe how much Ron had progressed.

“I know but I thought about this so much last night. This won’t be easy. Everything is stacked against us.”

“Your friends, my friends, your family, my family, your House, my House.”

“My rape. Your insane cruelty.”

“Oh and those too.”

“You have friends?” Ron asked.

Draco blistered a bit. “Excuse me.”

“I mean, you don’t have mindless drones as friends?”

“Oh,”

“Calm down!” Ron said.

“Sorry. I used to have friends. I’m stuck with Crabbe and Goyle and Parkinson. But people like Zabini and some other nameless first and second years to you were like me. They were kept under pureblood oppression. Some of them died, as you already know. Others were falsely accused, trapped in Azkaban, to keep their parents in the good graces, and loyal servitude, of the Dark Lord. We aren’t like our fathers and mothers. They told us that we were untouchable, never to serve others. We were taught to be superior. We were purebloods after all! To see them grovel, lose their dignity – pride – by kissing half-blood feet! How hypocritical of them. I, we, may never side with Potter but we’ll never bow down to Him.”

“I didn’t know.”

“Now you do. I’m stuck with mindless drones. Lucky me.” Draco frowned at the idea of going back to those Neanderthals.

Ron didn’t know what he would do if Hermione or Harry were dead or imprisoned. How was Draco able to keep going? Ron kissed him on the cheek. “Don’t make fun.” He warned.

“So touchy about that subject. I quite like it. You made two moves on me. Your first two. That’s very advanced. Why’d you do it?”

“I shouldn’t have?”

“You should.” Draco placed his other hand over top of Ron’s. “But aren’t you moving to fast?”

Ron changed the subject quite quickly. “Don’t leave me.” He mimicked Draco’s earlier moves by softly stroking Draco’s palm.

“I have to. Have you ever seen Snape upset? Wait... wrong person to ask. I would rather be here to help you but-”

“It’s Saturday.”

Hmm, it was, wasn’t? “Okay then.”

The two sat together, hands still held tight. The heat they generated caused their palms to sweat. Draco removed his palm from Ron’s, fingers still linked, and wiped his dry.

“You know I’ll never be able to kiss you in my room. I highly doubt that I’ll be able to go there.”

“At home? I understand. It’s best that I’ll be out here. If we do anything in the open, you can call for Pomfrey.”

“You told me yesterday. It’s just that bedrooms are too personal...mine is too personal.”

Draco let go of Ron’s hand. “Can I put my arm around you?”

“Of course.”

Draco did so and Ron laid his head on his shoulder. “I hope I can do this.”

“I know you can.”

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