The Boy Who Wanted to Live

Take It and Hide It

Ron stood up from his bed in surprise. Draco looked around the room at the red colour scheme with disgust. Didn't Gryffindor know that too much of anything is a bad idea?
"Malfoy," Ron said with both shock and disgust. "How did- Woah. What the fuck happened to you?"
Draco turned to look at the black boy that Ron had been talking to; Dean something or other.
"Get out." He said bluntly.
"But-" Dean looked at Ron, who nodded that it was ok.
The boy grumbled in annoyance and left the room. As soon as the door shut Draco gasped painfully and collapsed onto the bed with a painful groan. Ron grimaced and walked over to his least favourite person in Hogwarts with his nose wrinkled in disgust.
Draco let out a small cry as he touched a dagger that was poking from under his ribs.
"Shit," Ron said "What happened?"
"There's," Draco said wheezily "no time." He stopped to pant heavily "I need.... Your help."
"Bloody hell, Malfoy. Why do you always come to me for this shit?"
Draco chuckled softly and winced slightly.
"Heh," he said with a dark amusement "Isn't that what cousins are for?"
"Say that again and I will take that bloody knife and kill you myself," Ron threatened.
"Calm down, Blood Traitor," Draco said, fumbling in his pocket.
Ron sighed and ran his hand threw his red hair. His blue eyes were closed in concentration.
"What," he said after a moment "what do you need me to do?"
Draco smiled, blood dripping from his lips. He pulled an object out of his pocket. It was a large, ruby red crystal. Ron let out a gasp at the sight of it and reached out to grab it from Draco. Draco snatched it away last second earning a glare from the red head.
"Now," he said panting "I need... You to... Destroy it."
"Destroy?" Ron breathed "why the hell would I do that?"
"It's dan-dangerous," Draco said wheezing harder.
"How?" Ron said taking the stone from Draco's hand and looking at it.
"I d-don't know but y-you-know-who is looking for it... And me. You have to keep it safe." Draco said, pulling on the blade to relieve the pressure from his lungs. "Don't tell anyone where you put it. J-just take it. Take it and hide it. Hide it, destroy it. I don't care. Just get rid of it. I'll owe you one."
"You still owe me one from last time," Ron muttered looking at the crystal with temptation.
"Two then," Draco said "Don't tell anyone where it went. Not even Dumbledore. You know how to practice occlumency?"
"Of course," Ron said putting the crystal in his pocket.
"Good. Use it. Remember-"
"Tell no one, got it. Now will you go to the nurse and stop bleeding on Neville's bed?" Ron asked, annoyed.
"Eh it's the only pure blood he'll get," Draco said with a smirk.
He got up and started limping towards the door.
"Destroy it. It could kill all of us," Draco said.
"Why do you care?" Ron asked, suddenly.
Draco paused, his hand on the doorknob.
"Despite popular belief, Weasel," he said "I don't want Him to come back. I'd rather have my father alive thank you very much."
Draco left the room, the door softly clicking behind him. Ron looked down at the stone and frowned. Why would he destroy something so important?