Strange Connection (A Ron Weasley Love Story)

Chapter 14 - Kiss of Death

We walked down some stairs, hallways, and through doors, but in no particular order. We somehow ended up in front of the doors to the Great Hall.

"After you," he said, politely, holding the door open. As I entered, I expected nothing unusual, maybe sit down and eat breakfast with Ron. However, when I entered, I was surprised to be attacked by hugs from Raya and Hermione. I didn't think that anyone (besides Ron) would have even notice I was gone. Ron stepped back and waited for them to clear.

"Are you okay?" Raya asked, looking me up and doen frantically.

"I'm fine, I'm fine, but how did you know-"

"I told her as soon you were taken by Madam Pomfrey." Hermione informed me.

"That makes sense," I said, chuckling, "so, what really did happen to me since I passed out?" I raised an eyebrow and backed up so I could see all three of their faces.

"I was in my room in the Ravenclaw dorms when it happened," Raya said.

I looked to Hermione,

"Well, I heard a knock on the door," Hermione began where I last remembered, coincidentally, "and I opened it, thinking it was probably you. Say, where were you anyways?" I nervously glanced at Ron.

"It doesn't matter," I spat out hastily.

"I think it most certainly does matter!" Hermione said, raising her voice, "because when I opened the door, you were lying there, unconscious, breathing as if you had just seen a-" she stopped herself, and had an understanding and shocked expression on her face.

"You didn't tell her?" I asked, turning to Ron. Hermione turned to look at Ron too, furious.

"You could have killed her! You and that stupid dog!" Raya stood their looking between all of us, trying to fit the pieces together on her own. Yet Hermione went on before any of us could stop her.

"We should have given that monster back to Hagrid while we had the chance, before it hurt anyone. How does that feel Ron, almost killing her? Not very sensible, hm?" With that, she shoved past Ron hard and headed out into the entrance hall.

"What was up with her?" I asked as the three of us walked over to the Gryffindor table.

"She gets worked up when me or Harry do something daring, dangerous or adventurous."

"I see... Well those just seem like the components of a fun day to me," I smiled. He noded as we began to sit down at the dining table. I sat down next to Ron as Harry, just entering, sat across from us. Raya also sat across, joining us where Hermione usually would.

"Can you pass the treacle?" Ron asks, motioning toward a bottle of syrup. Harry reached for it, but not before a hand reached out from behind me and grabbed it. I whipped my head around, as well as Ron. I saw a blonde boy with a gleam of devious satisfaction in his grey, lifeless eyes.

"You again?" I sneered. Ron stood up, protectively, staring at Draco as Draco stared at me, with loathing. By this point, the whole entire dining hall was mumbling quietly, every table filled and staring at us. Some people were even standing on the benches to see us. I was still sitting down, cautiously, my wand drawn by my side. While Ron was standing beside me, his sibling wand also pointing at Draco. Draco, still holding the bottle of molasses, took a step closer to Ron.

"Well, well, well, you're having your boyfriend fight your battles for you, now, mutt?" He taunted maliciously. I stood up, a weird combination of bravery and fury rushed through my veins, mixing itself in with the adrenaline that had been lurking there ever since I laid eyes on Draco. He was working me up on purpose, I could tell.
Raya must have told him that when I got worked up enough, I would shift without control. I looked him straight in the face and placed my wand tip gently on his throat, my face was just inches away from his. I took a deep breath to calm myself.

"Let's get a few things straight." I said with a cold, sharp voice.

"One, he isn't my boyfriend. And two," I lowered my wand, and he did, too mirroring me. "I fight my own battles." I snapped, pulling my arm back and giving him an upper cut so fast that no one had time to react. Blood trickled out the corner of his mouth as Draco stammered backwards. There were gasps from the accumulating crowd. I saw a few professors running our way from the corner of my eye. He quickly righted himself and touched his mouth with the tip of his pointer and middle finger. He pulled them back and examined his fingers, seeing the blood. To my suprise, he began to chuckle. The dining hall fell silent, staring.

"You seriously thought that this," he held up held up his fingers toward me so I could see his dark red blood, "was going to hurt me?"

"You're right, what was I thinking?" I said, smirking. Ron gave me a warning look, knowing that I was about to say something that I would regret, but I didn't regret one word of it,
"What really hurt was when I beat you up in that compartment back on the train, and when Raya broke your nose and she stole what never was yours!" I said, rather loudly, pausing for the laughter coming from every table, even a few chuckles from Slytherin. Draco's cheeks gained a pink hue and his nostrils flared.

"I don't know what you're talking about." He said quickly, enraged.

Really? That was the best he could do?

"Brooke, don't!" I heard whispered urgently in my left ear. I turned my head to Hermione.

"Relax, I've been in many fights, and I have won many fights. I know when to stop." I reassured her.

"Draco's different! He won't stop until he wins an-"

"Relax!" I whispered, harshly, back to her before standing up to full height once again.

"Well, if you are going to say that then I will say this," He rose his wand and I rose mine."Remember what your friend told me in that compartment?" The memory that he knew that did not even cross my mind. I took a warning step toward him, my eyes as wide as Draco's had been.

"You wouldn't."

"Oh, but I think we both know I would..." He narrowed his eyes and I narrowed mine. He took a step closer to me and whispered in my ear, his voice and breath like ice sent a chill down my back.

"I won't tell a soul if you meet me in the Forbidden Forest at sundown two Saturdays from now. Tell no one and bring no one. If you don't, I will tell everyone,"

"Look, I am starting not to care anymore!" I said in a sharper whisper in his ear, but no one could here us, "It's not worth being blackmailed by a coward. Maybe I'll tell everyone myself, you'll have nothing on me,"

"Well, let's make this a little more interesting then, shall we? Meet me at the Forbidden Forest, or I will tell your secret AND have Ron painfully killed. It's no skin off my bones to have one less Weasley running around,"

My heart stopped.

This was all a childish game until now.
This wasn't a game of who had the bigger balls anymore, this was about who was a bluffing game now.
He couldn't have someone killed.
That's ridiculous.

But... if I'm wrong...

I could tell by the enjoyment in Draco's voice as he said those last words that this was no empty threat. He had all the potential to follow through if I not do what he says.
I must go, for Ron.
Draco kissed my cheek as he pulled away from the whisper.
Then he walked away smoothly, as if slithering, leaving me standing there. Everyone went back to doing what they were doing, and the professors slinked away.

I have to stay away from Ron from now on. I was being selfish by putting his life on the line. The only place I could see him from now on was the Gryffindor Common Room, where even snakes couldn't slither.

Ron came up and touched my shoulder, caringly. I turned to him, tears threatening to fall down my face.

"Blimey! What's wrong?" He said, shocked to see the expression on my face, one he thought would be triumph and snidness, was one of terror and dread.
I shook my head, and I walked swiftly from the Great Hall.