Chapter Text
It was Saturday today, finally. The first weekend of the school year.
Ron had the whole day to himself, no classes, and only a little bit homework. It was so refreshing considering all the drama that happened the last few days, then he remembered, he still had to tell Harry the news. Ugh, why did Charlie have to write it to him? Just couldn't keep his information to himself, but he guessed at least he got to warn Harry beforehand, y'know, just in case he get's burned to ashes.
He quickly got ready and headed to the common room to catch up with Hermione and Ginny, since Neville couldn't accompany him.
"Are you both ready?"
"Yeah, I'm dreading the moment when I have to help you deliver the news using the idea of yours. Why can't you find somebody else to do it?"
"Because, Hermione, you're our mutual best friend, that's why." He said while making some kind of motion with his hands.
Hermione rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. Ah- her signature move.
"Let's get going, it'd do no good wasting time here." Ginny moved her head towards the exit and looked back, signaling them to go. Ron felt guilty for almost forgetting her.
They headed to the lake, where Neville and Harry were at, he knew since Neville told him Harry already asked him to meet up before Ron suggested him to go with him.
He walked through the woods with his sister and bestfriend, enjoying how the sunlight shone on the fallen leaves, then a strong breeze blew and another patch of leaves fell from the trees again. Most of it were still green, but it was nearing the beginning of Winter, or Fall, but it was already starting to turn cold. He got reminded of how his mother used to tell all the tales while eating dinner about how him, Ginny, Fred, and George used to play in the fields beside their house and their mother called them in to wear some long-sleeved shirts.
He smiled lightly while looking down on the ground, a comfortable silence ensued until Hermione spoke up.
"Are you sure your plan's going to work?"
Ron could've sworn that was the hundred'th time he heard Hemione ask that. Typical Her, always having to make sure everything's right.
"How many times do I have to tell you? It's going to work!"
"I can't help but doubt it a little, what if Harry asks Seamus or Dean about it and they don't answer?! Harry's gonna know we were lying and he won't trust us anymore!"
"Look, no matter what, we're both still his bestfriends, well, if maybe I still am. He won't go looking for them, he'll probably go straight to Hagrid once he hears that Hagrid's looking for him. Plus, it's not like we're entirely lying too, Hagrid asked us to look for Harry too, no doubt about it being about the dragons, considering he's that fascinated by magical beasts, I see no problem with them entrusting Hagrid with the news."
He tried to soothe her by putting his hands on her shoulder but that only made her walk faster.
"Look, I think we should try another way. This is going to be too confusing. He'll probably ask me to repeat what I said again!"
"No he won't, he isn't that dumb!"
"Well, easy for you to say! You're only going to be watching. There's too many names in one sentence."
"There's only two or three if I remember correctly."
"Excactly! You can't even remember yourself, how do you expect Harry to get it too?"
Hermione let out a sigh.
"Look if you're gonna add so many people then why don't you just do it youself?!" She said in an exasperated tone, then proceeded to add.
"Ron this is your problem, not mine!"
As if on cue, they arrived and noticed Neville waving at them, it seems Harry had also noticed judging by the way he turn back in the direction Neville was waving to, which was their direction.
Hermione turned back to him.
"What did you want me to say again?" She said in a hushed voice, Ron replied back in the same tone while looking directly at Harry.
"Just add some names and tell him Hagrid is looking for him." He nudged her forward with his shoulder as a signal to start.
Hermione walked towards Harry and stopped when there was about a 4-step distance between them. She took a deep breath.
"Ronald would like me to tell you...that Seamus told him...that Dean was told by Parvati that....Hagrid's looking for you."
Harry responded immediately.
"Is that right? Well...what?" A confused expression hanging on Harry's face as he asked.
A silence followed. Darn Harry for making everything more complicated than it needed to be! Hermione walked back to where Ron and Ginny were currently standing. They shared another hushed conversation right in front of Harry, acting like he was blind or something. Hermione walked back and started.
"Dean was..told by Parvati that.... Please don't ask me to say it again. Hagrid's looking for you."
After delivering the news, she opted to quickly hurry back but the luxury of it was stopped by Harry.
"Well, you can tell Ronald-"
"I'm not an owl!"
Damn, well Hermione snapped. Way to go. She continued walking away and grabbed Ginny along, leaving Ron behind. He sent a glance to Harry before walking away too.
The walk back was silent, Ron didn't try to start a conversation, knowing that Hermione was mad partly, no fully, because of him right now. Geez, he wanted to apologize, but wasn't good with words, besides, who knows how many times she could snap in a day?! He didn't want her getting mad at him again just for trying to take accountability for his mistakes. In the end, he figured he couldn't just say nothing too, the awkwardness was getting a bit unbearable, he didn't really mind, but he knew if he didn't apologize right now, Hermione would just get more mad and ignore him until he acknowledged what he did wrong himself, so now was better then later.
"Hermione."
She kept walking faster. Great, the stubborness was already showing.
"Hermione!"
No response again. Hermione walked faster, he noticed Ginny was starting to slow down a bit too.
"Hermione! Slow down and stop dragging Ginny!"
The mention of his sister's name got her to finally stop her footsteps.
"Sorry Ginny, I didn't realize I was dragging you, are you hurt anywhere?"
It seemed Hermione was full on ignoring him right now. But nevermind, at least he was able to stop his best friend from getting his sister hurt.
"It's okay, I'm okay. I was only a little bit unable to keep up." Ginny replied in her usual voice.
"Are you sure?" Hermione asked again, Ginny nodded, so she continued walking again, not with Ginny behind her though.
They returned back to the original slow pace they started with, giving Ron a good chance to catch up. He tried to speak with her a few times again, but obviously, she still paid no mind. he gave up momentarily, thinking of another time later today. When they got back into the school, he tried again, to an avail, she whispered to Ginny to walk back to the dorms alone first before turning around. Amazing how Ginny followed Hermione's orders better than her own brother's.
"What is it now?" She crossed her arms, second time today, and glared at him.
"Sorry for making you help me even when you kept telling me you didn't want to. I guess I was too caught up worrying about how Harry was gonna deal with the news that I forgot to consider your feelings." He said sheepishly, hand moving behind his hand to scratch his hair, a habit he picked up on when he didn't know his way of words.
"Unforgiven."
She wasn't being serious, was she? Oh how stupid he felt for asking that himself, of course she was. Think! What else could he have missed? Oh yeah, he just thought of it.
"Also for telling you to go on with it?"
"The sentence is literally no different than the one you just said." Darn it!
"Sorry for not following your plan." Hermione's brows furrowed.
"Gosh! Ronald, do you seriously think it's because of that?! No! It's because of your incompetetant self not solving your own problems by yourself! I told you multiple times!"
"Talk. to. him!" She pushed him back with her finger everytime she said a word.
"You've seen how bothered Harry was knowing full well that you refused to speak to him to the point of using me as a device that complies to your every order! How hard is it to just communicate? It's pretty obvious you already know it yourself that Harry didn't put his name into the Goblet, you know he would never. Stop letting your own inferiority complex and insecurities ruin your relationship with others."
She took a breath.
"I'm sorry Ron, but until you and Harry solve your own problems out, don't talk to me." Saying those words, she walked away towards whoever knows where.
That was it, Ron officialy screwed up. He shook his head slowly and scoffed, where had he gone wrong? Was it his fight with Harry? Was it really that serious? Must've been if it was enough to tick Hermione off. How had things gone this way? He could feel a headache forming, he found a nearby wall and squatted beside it, putting both his hands beside his hands. This wasn't like him to be this sentimental out in the open, but there was too much happening right now. First, he fought with Harry. Second, Charlie wrote him a letter that contained dangerous information on whether Harry would die or live, then Hermione fighting and leaving him too. It was the first time Hermione had actually left him on his own.
What should he do? He groaned. Should he just suck it up and look for Harry to apologize to him right now? Or should he keep holding his head high? He felt his self-made headache start to get worse. What should he do? What should he do? What should he-
"Weasley? Ridiculous seeing you here."
Malfoy again, just how did he always appear in the worst of times?
"I'm not in the mood for your antics."
"Those words seem to have become a huge part of your vocabulary these days, I see."
Have they? That wasn't the point.
"It's 'I heard' not 'I see' . At least get it right."
"It's a metaphor, dumbass, if you were smart you would've know, but I should've seen that coming from a Weasley." Scoffing, he turned his head. Ron swore he could see him practically rolling his eyes.
"So, interesting seeing you here, what dumb stuff did you manage to screw up this time? Have you pissed off you mud-blood girlfriend?"
He stood up, grabbed Malfoy by the collar, and slammed him against the wall.
"Don't you ever call her that again, you think this is some kind of joke, you think this is funny?"
He laughed lightly, then smiled and said.
"Actually, yeah I think it is. It's pretty funny getting a reaction out of you, especially when it's comments about you and your petty girlfriend."
He let go a bit and slammed him against the wall again, Malfoy winced a bit, starting to get serious. Even though Ron was seen as a joke most of the times, his strength couldn't be made fun of, especially when he was going through puberty.
"Shut up! We're not in a relationship, you know nothing about us! A lot has been going on, stop trying to mess with me, what wrong did I do to you to get mistreated like this? Stop being such a spoiled, entitled person. So what if I'm poor and a 'blood traitor'? I'm still a bloody wizard like you. Being rich and having the luxury of buying whatever you want whenever you want doesn't mean you get to step down on others. I just lost both of my best friends, okay? Yeah, I lost them. Got it? So you can fuck right off and spread the rumor out to the whole school that Ron Weasley, the useless ginger head, has been unfriended by both the smartest witch of the year and the boy who lived. And once you're done, you all can gang up on me and laugh as much as you want, cause I'm tired of your bloody shit."
He could've sworn his voice and hands were both shaking, but he wasn't in the right mind to think that, he was trying to hold his own tears back from the overwhelming emotions he haven't felt in years. Then he processed all the words he had just spoken to Malfoy, and he felt embarrased, should he just knock Malfoy out then lie to him nothing was heard? Screw that, he let go of Malfoy's collar slowly, and when Malfoy was about to retort back a snarky comment, he stopped. Ron turned away and walked aroung slowly, only to stop when his enemy spoke up, speaking the words he never thought he would hear from Malfoy directed to Ron.
"Sorry, I didn't realize you had that much going on right now.... You know, I'm not a jerk most of the times. In fact, I'm pretty good at calming people down when they're out of control, you need someone to talk too? I could offer an ear, as an apology."
Ron widened his eyes, was he having nightmares? Or worse, hearing it for real. He turned back, and Malfoy's expression left him more shocked than he could ever be in his whole life. His eyes seemed teary, but were not. He appeared to be frowning. He seemed genuinly trying to make up for what he said for the past years. But what could one measly apology do compared to years of verbal bullying and taunting? He knew he shouldn't believe the words he heard, so he didn't. He kept walking, until Malfoy spoke up again.
"Please.. Your situation was the same as my ex-friend. He harmed himself because of some difficaulties. Even if I hate you right now, I don't ever want the same thing happening to another person, I know you aren't in a position to talk to Potter and Granger right now, and you obviously won't even try to talk to the other Weasleys, so I'm freely lending you my time right now. I'm not joking, I won't speak a word of our conversation once you spill your feelings out. I'm not a bad person."
He turned back again and stared right into Malfoy's eyes, searching for any sign of lies, but found none to his dismay. Could he trust him this one time?
"We could even cast a silencing spell or binding vow, if you know how."
It was so convincing, the thought of Malfoy even taking the risks of casting a binding vow when they didn't learn how to do it yet. He shouldn't trust anyone right now, especially his enemy, but what if he really was just trying to comfort Ron? Nobody would joke about a friend getting hurt badly, even for him that would be too low. He couldn't think straight, whether to accept or not, to trust him or not, or to leave or not. He decided nothing else could be worse then what he was currently dealing with right now.
"One time, let's go somewhere else."
Malfoy let out a sigh.
"Thanks for trusting me, I know it probably took a lot of courage, how about we go to my dorm? There's probably Blaise or Crabbe in my dorm now but I can just tell them to get out. Father originally wanted me to get my own room but his money was denied by Dumbledore."
Going as far as to invite him to his own private space, so unlike him.
"Going into the Slytherins dorms would be too problematic, let's just find somewhere else."
"Any ideas on where?"
He stayed silent.
"Guess it's decided then."
No, that would be too suspicious, it was already weird enough having Malfoy try to comfort him, he wasn't taking any more risks by letting himself fall into any trap Malfoy may have planned.
"Let's just sit on one of the staircases or in the courtyard."
Malfoy snorted.
"Such a great private place you reccommanded there, should've not expected- I mean, aren't there better places? No offense, I wouldn't mind if my friends saw me being all sweet with you because it was neccassary, but your friends probably would."
"My dorms then."
He really couldn't believe he was suggesting that too, but it was better then being in Malfoy's roon where his sneaky friends would probably spy on them. Malfoy scrunched his nose up, meaning something, but he quickly tried to give a reassuring smile to Ron when he caught him looking. Another weird thing he did.
"That's fine, but I suddenly think maybe you should follow me. I thought of a nice place where nobody knows."
Malfoy walked away without waiting for a reply, leaving Ron with a choice to follow him. He quickly caught up behind him. They were both quiet, just a Gryffindor willingly following a Slytherin around, nothing suspicious. He caught one or two student's glancing at them for a second on the way here. Malfoy took a lot of turns, where even was he originally going at that time when he found the so called 'place' he talked about? Then again, Malfoy did say that only he knew it. He lead Ron outside deep into the woods, Ron was starting to get a little bit scared now, he was never one to deal with the woods, especially at night. Thankfully, they stopped after a minute or two.
Holy Merlin, cause how the fuck did a place like this actually exist without anyone noticing for a long time? He had never in his four years spent here ever seen a place like this before, maybe that was why it took a long walk to even get to this place. Nevermind that, how did Malfoy even find it? Was he running away from school when he accidently discovered this place? But he knew that wasn't the conclusion.
"Amazed? You had the same reaction I did when I first saw this."
He nodded slightly, still fascinated by the sight of a small waterfall off a cliff, he had seen those kinds of things on those kinds of newspapers muggles read daily, but never one in reality. He snapped back to sense and looked at Malfoy.
"How did you find this place?"
"I was looking for a space away from my annoying friends when I heard some sounds and found this place, I had no idea I wandered that far away."
A pause.
"But come on now, that isn't really important, is it? I brought you here to gain your trust, that I actually do want to try and help you for this one time. I didn't bring you here for nothing." Malfoy snuck his hand into his pocket and did some motion while whispering something, he finished it before Ron snapped out of his trance.
Ron sighed, was he really going on with it? Now he felt guilty for reconsidering it, when Malfoy had already showed a secret place to him.
"Fine. I guess you were right about me not having anyone right now. I left Harry, and Hermione left me. And as much as much I wouldn't like to admit it, it is my fault."
He looked at the ground and sat down, listening to the loud waterfall splashing into the lake. He could remember it all like they happened a few minutes, which technically did. Even now, he was still trying to stop himself from letting his eyes water up. It had been years since he ever felt like this, which said a lot. Ron wasn't a sensitive person if you asked him, but he himself knew the truth too.
When his brothers were all sent off to Hogwarts at the start of the semester, he went with them until they stopped at the train station. He watched them dissappear behind the wall, looking happy to go back to school. He always heard from Fred and George describing about all the fun that happened while they were at school, and also read the letters with his mother whenever Percy or the twins sent them one. It made him want to experience being in school sooner. Before Hogwarts, he didn't really have anyone to call his friend, that was expected from a person who only started going to school at the age of eleven. That was why he was so happy when Harry was more than kind to let him in his cabin when he asked shyly. When he saw the sight of all the other cabins already full, he considered going back to Fred and George's cabin, but then argued against him when he remembered he stubbornly rejected their offer earlier.
"I was so dumb, I knew full well that Harry would never want to create a chance to bring more attention to himself. He faced a lot of trauma along with me and Hermione, quite some memories they were. Anyways, he told me two nights before the announcement that he would never want to experience the same kind of thing again, but if it meant making things as it were between us three, then he would go through it all again, no matter how many times, just for me and Hermione."
He laughed lightly, how dumb those words are, he wondered, that if Harry that night knew the drama that was happening right now, would he still think the same thing? Malfoy was staying silent.
"At that time, I was struck with admiration for him, thinking, how could I be that lucky to have met such a friend? One that would go through the depths of hell for a mere one or two people, one who would risk his entire lifespan for his two bestfriends to live for only a minute more. Truly, his popularity was well-earned. When I heard Dumbledore call out his name, I was mad, who wouldn't have been? I was blinded by my own unnoticed jelousy, I thought Harry, my best friend in the entire world, had gone behind my back to gain more fame. Judging by the way my mind works, I'd say it was very believable that time."
He took a deep breath.
When he recieved Charlie's letter, he abandoned all thoughts of Harry putting his name into the Goblet immediately. Really, how could one be that dumb to downplay a dangerous event into a little joke? Certainly not Harry, hell, not even Crabbe would be dumb enough to do that. Harry knew better than anyone else the consequences of putting himself in danger,he swore he didn't put his name in the goblet, Ron had no reason not to believe him, so why didn't he? Ron thought telling Harry would be the quickest way to resolve their issues, but it just made everything worse.
He told Malfoy on and on about what happened, some events not even related to the current topic on hand, he figured, if he was already spilling his feelings out why not all of them? When he was done, he went quiet. He noticed Malfoy had been quiet the entire time. He turned to look at him, expecting Malfoy to say something. He saw Malfoy look in his pocket, then he looked back up at Ron. He looked for a solid second before turned away laughing. What was so funny about a man who spoke vented his troubles out?
"What's wrong? You didn't do anything did you?"
Then he realised, he did do something. Or else he wouldn't have any other reason to be bloody laughing right now. And whatever a Malfoy did, it couldn't be good. Malfoy sneeked a peek at Ron's face again, then he burst out laughing, loudly, this time. Ron stood up.
"What did you do Malfoy?" He asked in an angry tone, half shouting, it didn't matter, this place was too far away from the school for anyone trying to eavesdrop anyway.
"Noth- Nothing." Malfoy was still laughing, even louder than before. All it took was a third look at Ron before he continued, still laughing.
"I'm just surprised at your stupidity. I- I mean, I was starting to doubt my plan the second I made it up, fearing you might catch up, but it seemed I overestimated you and didn't need to worry."
Malfoy had to catch a breath from laughing too much. He couldn't understand, he knew Malfoy did do something, but there simply wasn't anything that could lead to Ron's demise in the place, there obviously couldn't be a hidden camera or device recording their whole conversation. It hit him, there was soemthing recording him! He looked around frantically, but he couldn't find any traces of beeping or oddly shaped item around them.
"Took you long enough to get it. Don't worry, I didn't actually plant a device somewhere, got no time for those useless things."
"Stop lying, where did you hide it." He was starting to get irritated, if he wasn't before, he was now.
"Really, Weasel, are muggle devices all you can think of?" Malfoy took out his wand and pointed to it, then it dawned on him, his wand had been keeping track the whole time! But they hadn't learnt any spells that could have those kinds of abilities.
"You seem to forget we're wizards all the time, are you sure you even want to keep studying at Hogwarts? The school doesn't have time to deal with your small brain forgetting everything, I'm pretty sure hundreds of other students would be happy to take your place, one that is a lot better than you."
"Shut it, Malfoy. What dirty spell did you use this time?"
"I don't find it neccassary to tell you, wouldn't want you learning it yourself after all. All you need to know is that if you obey every of my orders for a month from now on, then I'll delete the audio, and if you don't, you can see what will appear in Witch Weekly tommorrow, granted Potter and Granger would be thanking me for mending your measly friendship, if it could even be called that when you three broke up over a little childish arguement. Keep on mind that I'm still being nice, I would've made you obey me for your whole life if it hadn't meant making me look too cruel."
Too cruel? As if he wasn't giving Ron an ultimatum right now, a bad one either way at that. That was bad, he just spilled all his secret's that had been holed up for days, even months or years at that, he couldn't even remember fully what he said, stupid him not thinking all the time. Screw this, it couldn't get any worse. He launched himself towards Malfoy's wand, opting to break it, but Malfoys reaction was quick, he barely managed to stumble out the way before Ron almost had his grip on it. He reached for his own wand before remembering he left it on his bedside table.
"Deciding to commit crimes now, aren't you? The punishment for stealing could be sentenced to a week suspension from school, or even expulsion." He smirked, Malfoy kept taking a step out of every direction Ron was trying to grab it from, just by an inch, almost like Malfoy was taunting him.
"Shut up! Recording a person without their permission is already a crime! If your're speaking about suspension and expulsion right now, then you would already be on Azkaban! Ron was exaggerating, he knew what Malfoy did wasn't serious enough to award him jail time, but if he was going to be this way, so was Ron. Malfoy rolled his eyes.
"Oh please, stop speaking nonsense, be grateful nobodies here except me to hear about your gibberish, or else they would have died from cringiness with the way you were all sad."
Ron took another step forward, he tripped and nearly fell onto Malfoy's chest, with his head high still stuck on the wand Malfoy was holding with his hand high, Malfoy stopped him with his other hand, now palm facing his front, keeping him from touching face planted onto Malfoy's body. Ron's eyes lowered to meet Malfoy's and he glared at them. They stopped in that specific position. Malfoy smiled teasingly.
"Getting handsy ? I don't think this would be an appropriate time right now to try and get a whiff of my abs, although I wouldn't blame you for taking an opportunity so obviously in front of you. Unfourtunatly , I don't swing that way if you were curious. Ron scowled and quickly grabbed the wand out of Malfoy's hand when he was busy complimenting himself. Without wasting a second like he'd seen on action movies when villians would take too much time talking and end up losing, he snapped the wand right on his leg before Malfoy could retrieve it back. He held the once perfectly fine wand that had been split into two on each of his hands.
Realizing what he had just done, another action he just did without considering the consequences, he shouldn't have let Malfoy get to him, no, he vowed to ignore Malfoy, but he didn't. He broke a wand, much more, a Malfoy's wand. How would Ron be able to repay him? Nevermind paying for a regular wand, his family didn't even have enough money to buy him a new one, he cringed at the memory of being so excited to get his own wand only to have his expectations let down by receiving Bill's wand which didn't even fit him. Malfoy's type of wand would have been any normal one when he discovered it, but his father had surely told the wandmaker to remake it using the highest of qualities.
He raised his head slowly, looking to see the reaction on Malfoys face. He looked shocked, he clearly didn't think Ron would be dumb enough to go to such lengths, but he just kept surprising him more and more. HIs face twisted into anger a few seconds later.
"Why did you break it?"
Ron, at a loss for words, could only sputter out whatever he had left.
"You- you started it first, it's not my fault you were being such a dick. If you just deleted the recording then this wouldn't have happened."
"You dare blame it on me?"
"I'm speaking facts! Your wand wouldn't be broken right now if you didn't record me. You were the one who started all this."
Malfoy looked enraged. As if he had the right too.
"You-"
He lung forward and punched Ron, making Ron fall. Malfoy didn't give me time to recover, ran and straddled Ron, punching him repeatedly, throwing one after another. It wasn't until Ron small a small opening and flipped them over. Making Ron on top, his face was full of blood, but he learned from his own weakness that he didn't have time to spare. He planted both of his hands on the side of Malfoy's neck, wondering if he should just choke him or at least make him lose his voice so he couldn't annoy Ron. Malfoy hooked a leg around Ron's waist and flipped them around.
"I swear.... I'm gonna kill you!"
They kept flipping and flipping until there were near the lake, it honestly seemed like a dog's fight rather than two grown student's fighting. Suddenly, Malfoy looked sideways and pushed Ron back off himself, he dipped Ron's head into the water and held his grip for about five seconds before Ron's resisting started to gain effect. Ron gasped for air once Malfoy made a mistake and lost control for a second, but he quickly regain focus and smashed Ron's head back into the water. He watched Ron struggle, going insane from the lack of air. Right before he fully drowned, Malfoy pulled him back up, and left him displayed on the ground before standing up. Ron was losing conscious already, unable to differentiate what was right and wrong. Panting, unable to move.
"You best believe my father will hear about this."
Malfoy kicked him one last time before wiping the blood from his nose and walked away to who knows where. Ron fell asleep after that.
Ron opened his eyes slowly. He was in a daze, where was he even? He squinted his eyes, moving his hand to them to block them from the brightness of the moon.
Oh right. He remembered what happened now. Ugh, he pushed himself up with his hands, groaning as he did that. By the looks of it, his hands had been hurt, also his face. Most of it were dried blood. It was one heck of a day for him. There was a lot of time for him to just lay there and remain unseen, but he didn't want that, he wanted to get his friends back and also get revenge on Malfoy for almost killing him, Malfoy's emotions didn't justify what he did to Ron, even if Ron did break his wand first, he would still find some way to pay him back. He noticed he was still in the forest, he shuddered, he wasn't good with them, at least there wasn't any fog, or worse, the forbidden forest. He quickly got back to the school.
He was about to enter the Gryffindor dorms before he stopped and realized he looked like shit. Ron opted to go to Madam Pomfrey to treat his injuries, but what if Malfoy was there at the same time? Nevermind, he'd never seen Malfoy go to the nurse's office before. At the same time he was too lazy to go, who wouldn't, after getting into a fight? Fuck it, he thought. He opened his mouth before Ron heard someone speak up.
"Ronald?"
No, not Hermione. It was humiliating enough he lost to him, he couldn't bear himself to appear before Hermione with how pathetic his state was in now. He couldn't avoid eye contact with her forever, he stared back into her eyes, he noticed she held two books, Hermione probably went to the library again to finish her homework. She dropped her books and rushed to Ron once she saw how badly Ron was harmed.
"What happened? How did you get hurt? Are you okay? Your wounds look as bad as Malfoy's-"
It struck her.
"You fought with Malfoy.. You idiot! Why would you do that? You told me you wouldn't let his words get to your head anymore."
Hermione had forgotten the promise she made with herself. He wanted to tell her it wasn't his fault, but it was simply too embarrasing, because he knew if he said that, he would have to explain the whole story to her, which meant admitting how he so stupidly left himself vulnerable with a Malfoy.
"None of your business. Didn't you say you want nothing to do with me?"
"Those were not my words! I said I wanted you to solve your problems with Harry yourself. "
"Just quit it!"
Hermione stopped for a moment. Her voice turned soft.
"Ron, you know I worry over you enough already. You also know whatever Malfoy said was gibberish, so why do you still fight him?"
"He started it."
She sighed.
"Come on, let's talk about it inside."
She led him inside. They sat by the fireplace, where the three of them used to sit at. Ron gave up, he always caved in to Hermione everytime.
He started telling the events of what happened between him and Malfoy, what happened at the waterfall. He didn't leave any details, he could trust Hermione. He spoke and spoke, with Hermione interuppting him every now and then.
"... I broke Malfoy's wand too. I don't know how to get him a new one."
"What! Why would you do that!"
"He threatened me! You know I'm not smart enough to think before doing certain things."
"Ron.. You know what? You should get yourself cleaned up first. I'm going to look for some medicine from Madame Pomfrey, it would lessen the work to get you to her."
Despite everything that happened that morning, Hermione still couldn't resist caring for Ron. When she got up, preparing to leave. Ron gripped the end of her shirt. Hermione turned back.
"I'll... I'll apologize to Harry tomorrow. So you shouldn't worry anymore."
Hermione brightened up.
"Thanks Ron."
Ron, in fact, did not apologize to Harry the next day. He was walking through the hallways when he bumped into Harry. And for no reason at all, the first thing he recieved was,
"You're a right foul git, you know that?"
Then he took back all the guiltiness he had felt because of Harry, no way he was going to apologize to Harry when his attitude was like that.
"You think so?" He replied bitterly.
"I know so." Ron fought the urge to roll his eyes.
"Anything else?"
"Yeah, stay away from me."
There was no way he could ever do that, considering there were literally living in the same room, but Ron cared less.
"FIne."
Then he brushed past Harry, geez, what was his problem?
That night, he slammed the door open to where his detention with Malfoy was taking place. He found Malfoy already seated in the front row, he took a seat at the back, where he hoped Snape would be blind enough to not see him. However, that would be impossible, Snape spoke the second he sat down.
"Weasley, expectedly late, 10 points taken from Gryffindor.
"What! That's outrageous, we agreed to start detention on 6:30! I was right on time!"
Snape was not having it.
"I would shut that mouth if I were you." He glared at Snape and stopped talking. Snape stood up and started walking around, a smirk starting to appear in his eyes, never the good kind.
"Today.. this session will be different from what I do to the other students. Today, you will spar."
Ron widened his eyes in surprise, surely the other teachers wouldn't allow that right?
"I'm sure that's against the rules, sir."
"It is not. It is acceptable for a punishment. You will both compete until either one of you is unhanded."
Malfoy spoke up.
"Unfourtunatly, sir, my wand is unable to use due to being snapped in half by someone."
He glared at Ron.
"So as much as I'd like to do as told, I'm afriad I can't."
Snape stayed silent, it was clear that he hadn't thought of what would happen in another case.
"Very well then. You will both write a hand-written 700-hundred word essay about why you have been sent to this detention with me. I do not care if you don't have the ability to write, you will finish it, otherwise, you can stay here for the rest of the night. If I deem your essay unfit, then you will write double the amount and give it back to me. The cycle will keep going on and on until you've accomplished what I said."
He looked at the clock in the back.
"I reccommend you start now unless you find better satisfaction in doing something worse."
He handed a blank paper to them.
Snape was snoring, loudly. Ron wanted to do Arguementi on him right now to wake him, it would be hilarious to see his reaction. How did that man even become a teacher? Rumors had been going on for years he used to work for the dark lord, guess Dumledore had favourites. He was stuck on his 650th word, he counted everytime he thought he had finished it, he was proud of himself for writing this much, even if it was just rephrasing the first to fifth sentences in different ways.
"Weasley."
He cocked his head toward where his name was called. It had been a pretty awkward atmosphere between them since yesterday, well for him it had, he was sure Malfoy had a burning hatred for him right now, he couldn't blame him, well he could, but it wouldn't change anything.
"What?"
"I'd like to make a proposal."
Things got interesting once Ron heard him.
"What do you mean?"
"Let's see who finishes first, if you do, you won't have to repay me anymore, but if I do,"
He stopped for a moment, lips twisting into a sinister smile.
"You'll have to beg me on your knees to forgive you for breaking my wand, then I might even let you off the hook this time. That would be a sight to see."
"No. You're sick if you think I'm actually gonna do that."
"Why? It's a good deal for you no matter whatever option it is, you just have to swallow your pride. Doesn't family always come first? You should be able to do that little if it meant not making your family go bankrupt. Just so you know, my father likes to sell for ten times the price, I'm sure that would cost more than your entire lifetime."
Ron stayed silent.
"How do you know I'm not one word away from being done?"
"I'm willing to gamble, whichever way it goes, there's no loss for me."
"Fine."
He just had to write 50 more words. 50, just a little more. If he didn't, he was damned. He hoped his family knew what he was doing for them right now. Begging to a Malfoy meant death and humiliation. He scribbled the remaining words quickly. He hurried to the front desk, afraid of Malfoy suddenly cutting him off. Relief washed over him once he got there. He shook Snape, Snape stirred lightly, as if he finally remembered what he was doing, he sat up straightly.
"Weasley, 500 words more and 20 points from Gryffindor for disrupting my sleep."
"That's outrageous!"
"You will do as I say and you will do it right now."
Ron slammed both of his hands on the table.
"I will not."
"I dare you to utter one more word of that."
Ron scowled and snatched the paper back from Snape's hand and got back to his seat. Now he was sure his pride was already dying.
Malfoy smiled, as if he predicted that, guess being from Snape's house provided him useless and useful information at the same time. As if on cue, he hurriedly submitted his essay right after. Snape took one look at it and he answered.
"Rejected."
Malfoy's face fell, he had not been anticipating that in any way.
"What do you mean? I met all your requirments."
"You did, but I'm not sure if rewriting the same sentence until it exceeds the limit is acceptable. That is what you did here, you didn't show any remorse. Your dumb actions could've made the Slytherin house lose the house cup, I am not above losing the house cup four times in a row. I won't keep letting you off that easy. I'm discliplining you for all of the Slytherins this one time. "
He scoffed.
"My father will hear about this."
He watched as Malfoy returned angrily. His mouth wide open, never in Merlin's sack would he have thought that Snape wouldn't pull the favourtism card. The god's were in his favour today, he still had hope.
An hour passed, Ron strolled to where Snape was seated again. He could feel Malfoy glaring daggers. Snape sent him a distrustful look before reading it. After what was possibly the twentieth time Ron saw Snape reread it, Snape grunted disgracefully.
"Scram."
There was it, the permission to leave. He was more than happy to leave the room. He sent a last look to Malfoy, it teased.
"A deal's a deal."
He had no idea what possessed Snape the moment he made the decision, but he sure as hell was thankful for it. When he laid on his bed was the moment he finally gave a breath of relief. He didn't need to go on his knees for a Malfoy, he didn't need to summon a loan, he didn't have to ask his parent's for money. He simply just needed to forget about all the stuff, Malfoy wasn't one to go back on his word, probably, besides, if he sent a letter to his father, how would he explain the situation? Exactly, there was no way to tell his father without exposing what he did first.
He heard a shuffling noise in the room, Harry had just gotten back. His mood switched in an instant, he was still bitter about what happened the morning. He felt a need to say something back at him, to make it equal.
"Piss off."
The words went out before he realized, when he did, he only proceeded to hide himself under his blanket.
Ron forgot the first task began on Tuesday, hopefully, Hagrid had already warned Harry about all the things he needed to know. How would Harry fight off a dragon? Ron hoped he would only sustained minor burn injuries at best, but he couldn't predict the future. An overwhelming feeling urged him to just apologize to Harry, despite telling him to go away a minute before. He blurted out.
"Hey."
Harry responed, voice sounding angry and sad.
"What?"
... He couldn't going to say it. No, a part of him still didn't want to tell him. There was a ninety-nine percent he already known.
"Nothing."
He stayed silent.