Strange Connection (A Ron Weasley Love Story)

Chapter 12 - Deal

"So," Harry's voice broke the silence, "why were you heading out to the quidditch pitch in the first place?"

"I-I-" Ron stammered, trying to come up with something quick.

"Spit it out, mate!" Harry teased with a chuckle as he plopped himself onto the couch.

"I was going to meet Brooke,"
Okay, I have to admit, I did not see that coming, and I cocked my head to the side out of instinct.

"How come?" Harry asked Ron, smirking, knowing full well the answer.

"Umm," He stopped wrapping my leg for a moment to think, then continued, saying, "I was going to teach her how to play quidditch," Harry raised an eyebrow, suspiciously "nothing else!" Ron added, hastily, his ears flushing to match his hair.
He was almost oblivious that the large wolf before him was me.

Almost.

"You really do like her!" Harry exclaimed loudly, as if the actuality of his best friend being smitten was all just hitting him now.
Ron was startled by the blunt statemnt and jerked his hand quickly, bending my leg to a point where it actually hurt. I let out a small gasp, which came out as a high pitch whimper. They both looked at me in pity.

"I'm sorry, Br-" I snapped at him, instinctively, to stop him instantly from saying my name. Blood trickled down his hand. My eyes went wide. I didn't mean to even touch him, only to stop him from saying my name... I hadn't accounted for the length of my muzzle... it had been so long since I was in this form.
Harry jumped up and drew his wand, pointing it at my face from a distance.

I really am a monster...

Ron had jumped away from me, his blood making a trail from where he had been sitting, and now dripped to the floor, every drop tearing my heart a little more. I moved to stand up, but Harry took a step closer to me, his wand threatening to tear me open. I didn't blame him in the least. I wouldn't even blame him if he casted anything at me...

"Stop!" Ron quickly said to Harry.

"You are still going to protect this thing? After what it bit you??"

"First of all, SHE not IT, and second of all, it was an accident!" I shifted uncomfortably, trying not to move to much; Harry's wand now inches away from my face.

"You seriously believe that 'she', " he put air quotes around the last word, "almost bit your hand off by accident? Its a wild animal, Ron, not a house pet! I would've excepted this from Hagrid, but you? "

Ron looked down, and over at me. How could he possibly explain this without giving me up?

He couldn't.

"You've gone mad!" Harry yelled.

"I'm going to bed!" Ron tapped my shoulder and I got to my feet, limping along side him.

"You're not seriously going to let that into our room, are you!?" I hadn't thought about that. I thought that everyone would leave, I would change back and we would head off to our separate dorms. Ron said,

"Yes, where else would she stay?"

"Take her back to  Hagrid!"

"Goodbye Harry," Ron rolled his eyes and trotted up the stairs, me at his heels, struggling. I felt bad for putting a rift between them. Maybe it would have been easier to just tell Harry, but would he understand? I've heard he's pretty close to the Headmaster, and I know Hermione is a rule abider... For all I know, telling them might as well be turning myself in... I shouldn't have even told Ron and put this burden upon him too, I don't even remember why I did.

 Once we were at the spot where the stairs split, he stopped and knelt to the ground next to me and whispered,

"You are going to have to follow me and stay in the boy's dorm until Harry falls asleep. Once he does, you can change back and go into the girl's dorm. I'll tell him I took you back to Hagrid or something. Deal?" He put his hand out, as if to shake hands. His hand still had dried blood in a stream down it. I picked up my large paw to place it in his, but instead took the opportunity to lick him across the face. He opened his mouth in appall, laughing, wiping his face with the sleeve of his robe. "I'll take that as a yes," He shook his head in mock disappointment in me, smiled, stood up, and headed up the stairs. I followed wilingly.