When Darkness Rises

Ron

In the Gryffindor common room, Ron and Ginny are having an early morning conversation.

"Dumbledore told me that Harry's rightful place is by my side. I just need a way to get him away from them stupid Slytherins, especially Malfoy."

"I think I know how. If we catch him when he is alone, even if only for a moment, we can spell him."

"Shh, Ron."

Footsteps sound on the stairs. The twins shoot them the the dirtiest look ever and walk out. More people come down.

~A few stories down....

"I have a bad feeling Draco, like something is not going to go right at all." Pansy is drumming her fingers against the couch's armrest.

Harry is just coming down the stairs, trying to brush his damp hair into submission. "Pansy." He whines out.

"Oh, come here. You and your hair." He sits in the floor in front of her, after giving her the brush.

The others in the room smile and continue on with their business.

"Your hair could almost be braided..." Pansy murmurs as she runs the soft bristled brush through his hair. The lynx neko starts to purr.  "And it is sooo soft."

"Hey now, that's my mate." Draco teases.

"Can't I keep him?"

"Nooooo," the blonde drags out.

"Damn." A few minutes later, she finishes and the small teen jumps into his mate's arms.

"I wouldn't trade you for nothing." He purrs out.

Everyone laughs and they move as a group to the Great Hall. A few minutes later, Luna comes over.

"Harry, I'd like you to know that Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff are with you. We don't believe what Ron and Ginny did was right. Hufflepuff will mostly stay out of it though, with half of the Claws. If what I am hearing is right, most of Gryffindor is with Ginny." By the time she finishes, she has a small smile gracing her features. "Most of the school is with you."

Harry hugs her. "Thank you, so much. Would you like to join us?"

"As much as I would love to, I can't. Me and a few others are studying. See you later." She moves away.

"Later!" He calls after her.

From a few seats away, Crab calls down to Harry, "If you had your way, a lot of others would be sitting with us." He giggles. Harry just shrugs.

Breakfast goes on quietly. Close to the end, Harry excuses himself. He heads to the restrooms down the hall. As he goes to leave, Ron stops him.

"So Traitor, are you ready to come back yet?" The red head sneers at him.

"I'm not a traitor, and I belong in Slytherin. I should have been in there since my first year. Leave me be."

"I think not. See, I don't know why you are so hooked up on them damn snakes. They will just leave you in the end. Or just use you."

"So you think I will be better off with your slut of a sister?"

"Don't insult my sister!" Ron charges at Harry, who jumps out of the way.

But the ginger spins around and catches the end of his robs. Ron pulls him backward and tosses him into a wall. With the air knocked out of him, Harry couldn't dodge the fist to his chest. Yowling in pain, he falls to the floor. Before he runs out, Ron hits the small teen with a spell.

Shakily, Harry gets to his feet, and walks to the Great Hall. While acting as normal as he can, he grabs his bag and walks back out with the others who has his first hour class.

"You missed it Kitten, Seamus Finnigan made a small fire in his goblet." Pike was barely containing laughter.

"Small?! It went five foot high! And Ron, who had just returned, screamed like a girl, and fell out of his seat. Everyone close, jumped away. Then calmly, Granger puts it out, grabs a cookie, and walks out of the hall." Blaise roars. Harry chuckles then whimpers.

"What's wrong Kitten?" Draco stops in the middle of the stairwell, holding Harry's shoulders.

"Oh Dragon!" He whimpers out. "It was ...." He start mouthing words.

"I can't hear you. What?" Draco cocks his head.

Harry mouths the words again, a panicked expression on his face.

"Dray, its a spell. He can't talk about what happened! Let's get to Snape!" Pansy nearly yells and bolts down the rest of the stairs. Everyone quickly follows her. They burst through the door, startling Snape.

"What's...."

"Professor! Its Harry! He can't talk. A spell was placed on him so he can't say what is wrong with him." Pansy gasps out.

"Very well." Snape gains his composure and pulls his wand. After a few moments of silent casting, a dark look comes over his features. "What happened Mr. Potter?"

"Ron. He called me a traitor, threw me against the bathroom wall, and punched my chest." A tear falls down his face. "He told me that y'all are just going to use me and then leave me behind." Silent tears race down his cheeks.

"You lot stay here. Malfoy, join Potter and myself in my office." Snape says and the door to his office closes behind them as the Gryffindor half of the class comes in.

~In the office...

"Remove your shirt Child so we can see."

Hesitantly, he removes his robe, tie, and unbuttons his shirt. When he drops it to the floor, the two in front of him gasp. A large purple bruise sets in the center of his chest.

Severus quickly grabs a vial off the shelf and hands it to Harry. "Drink. It will help that fade and the pain will go away." He drinks the potion.

He puts his discarded clothing back on. "Potter go on out. I need a word with Draco." Harry leaves quietly and takes his seat.

Snape murmurs something in Draco's ear. A slow smile spreads on each of their faces. "Game on." Draco mutters back.