Disclaimer: My name is not J.K. Rowling nor am I part of the wonderful and talented mangaka quartet known as CLAMP.
Title: Sakura
Pairing: RWxDM
Chapter Rating: PG
Warnings: Slash, Angst
Spoilers: HBP. Also some spoilers for Tokyo Babylon.
Year Six: Chapter Two
“Oh where on earth did those three get off to,” Mrs. Weasley said, ringing her hands together anxiously. Ron and his mother made their way through the streets of Diagon Alley, both looking this way and that for any sign of Harry, Hermione and Ginny. “Ronald please tell me…did I not say to stay with me?”
“Of course you did mum,” he said. He caught sight of Neville and his grandmother leaving Olivander’s. Returning the others wave only halfheartedly he was reminded of the numerous letters that still covered his desk at home—all remained unopened.
“Oh when I get my hands on that Harry,” his mother said. Ron thought about asking her to leave some for him but thought better of it.
They were coming up level with Gringotts when the three of them appeared almost as if out of nowhere—though Ron had a pretty good guess that they had been hiding under Harry’s invisibility cloak. His mother didn’t seem to care about the abnormal return as she hugged each and every one of them.
“Don’t you ever do that to me again,” she said as she pulled away from Harry and looked him sternly in the eye. “Do you hear me? Don’t ever do that again.”
“Malfoy’s up to something,” Harry blurted out, pulling away from her next hug. “We tailed him all the way to Borgin & Burkes…”
“You what!!” Mrs. Weasley yelled. Ginny of course had to jump in.
“We were under Harry’s invisibility cloak,” she said. “Nobody saw us so we were perfectly safe.” Mrs. Weasley just glared angrily at her.
“You went into Knockturn Alley ALONE!!” Ron could have sworn that he just saw his mother’s eyes almost pop out of their sockets.
“Malfoy’s planning something,” Harry tried again. Ron felt his face burn, from hearing Draco’s name or from anger, he didn’t know. He looked at Hermione who had been quiet since they found them. She only turned away, not able to look at him.
“I don’t care,” Mrs. Weasley yelled at Harry. “I told you not to leave my sight.”
“But mum,” Ginny said. “We really do think Malfoy’s planning something. He’s even got the dark mark.” Ron felt his heart stop and his blood turn cold. Draco’s got the dark mark?
“You mean the two of you only think he has the Dark Mark,” Hermione snapped, finally coming out of her silent vigil.
“Well he showed that guy something that scared him,” Ginny said.
“That doesn’t mean it was the Dark Mark,” Ron said quickly, bringing everyone’s attention towards him.
“That’s enough,” Mrs. Weasley said cutting off Harry’s next remark. “Now lets go—no Harry I’ll not hear another word of it.” She ushered the four of them down the street. Hermione grabbed the edge of his sleeve as she passed him to get his attention. When he looked at her she gave him a small reassuring smile that oddly made his heart jump.
“Don’t worry Ron,” she said quietly, almost as if she was trying to hide what she was about to say from Harry and the others. “I’m almost positive that he doesn’t have it.” He managed a tiny nod and then she was gone, moving to catch up with the others. He didn’t really find her words reassuring.
Ron strayed behind a few steps, not really interested in hearing his mother lecturing the others, nor was he interested in hearing more of Harry and Ginny’s Dark Mark story.
Hermione was right. It was a ridiculous idea anyway. Ron certainly couldn’t fathom why You-Know-Who would want to initiate the sixteen year old son of a washed up Death Eater into his ranks. What on earth could it possibly gain him anyway?
Ron was so lost in this train of thought that he stopped paying attention to where he was going so it was no surprise when he found himself colliding with another person.
“Oy, why don’t you watch where you’re going,” Ron turned and spouted off, ignoring the fact that it was really his own fault.
“Gomen Nasai,” the other said, bowing ever so slightly. He was tall, nearly as tall as Ron, with broad shoulders and short black hair. He wore a dark gray muggle suit and he was wearing sunglasses even though the sky was clouded over.
“What did you just call me?” Ron said angrily.
“Oh I meant to say I’m sorry,” the man said with a pleasant smile. He spoke with an Asian accent.
“Everything alright Ron,” his mother called from the front of the group, who had all stopped at hearing his outburst. “I’m sorry sir but he isn’t causing you any trouble is he?” she pushed herself passed Harry and the girls to stand beside Ron.
“No ma’am it was my fault,” he continued and held out his hand to Ron who only just stared at it. “I’m sorry but I thought it was custom for two to shake hands when they first meet.” Ron eyed him, trying to peer past his glasses. Finally he took the others outstretched hand. “Sakurazuka Sieshiro,” he introduced himself as he removed his sunglasses with his free hand. Ron immediately felt the blood in his veins freeze.
He found himself staring into one gleaming red eye and one pale grayish eye that was obviously made of glass. As he stood there Ron felt as if he was being sucked into some sort of dark void feeling his lungs constrict, making it hard to breath. He managed to mumble “Ronald…” but before he could finish the introduction his mother stepped in.
“I’m sorry sir but we are in something of a hurry.” She looped her arm around Ron’s to pull him away. Ron thought he saw the other man’s now brown eye flash an angry glare at his mother.
“Of course” he said smiling and Ron wondered if he’d imagined it. “The school year is fast approaching after all. Must make sure you have everything you need.”
Mrs. Weasley smiled nervously and nodded. “Yes of course.”
“It was a pleasure meeting you Ronald-san,” Seishiro said, slightly nodding his head before he moved to walk past. Ron turned to watch him disappear into the crowd.
“Very well then,” his mother said with a sigh. “C’mon then lets be getting off.” She turned, trying to direct Ron to follow—but Ron wouldn’t move.
Across the street in the direction Seishiro had just left was Draco Malfoy, adjusting his left sleeve—the sleeve he kept his wand tucked away in.
“Ronald,” his mother chided as he broke out of her grip and started to make his way over to the blond.
From a distance Draco didn’t look very well. Ron could see that his usually well groomed hair was falling onto his face which also looked incredibly pale.
Draco had no doubt seen him since he turned and started to walk away in the opposite direction. Ron quickened his pace, ignoring his mother’s yelling for him to “get back this instant.”
“Oy, Draco,” He yelled as he closed in on the other. Draco didn’t stop—didn’t even slowdown.
“OY!” Ron yelled again, louder this time, as he came up behind him. “DRACO!” Ron reached for the other, grabbing his shoulder to pull him around.
“God Weasley,” Draco said, pushing Ron away from him. “Can’t you get the fucking hint?” Ron was about to push him back but thought better of it once he got a good look at the dark circles under the other’s eyes. Any insult he had ready fell from his lips.
“Merlin Draco, you look terrible.”
“Well maybe you don’t look too pretty yourself,” he spat back but still brought a hand up to brush his hair away from his face. His sleeve fell away to reveal the most horrid sight Ron could ever remember seeing. Without any warning he grabbed hold of Draco’s wrist and pulled it closer for him to see it better.
“What the hell do you think you’re…?” Draco started but stopped when he realized what Ron was looking at, an expression of horror taking over his own face.
On the back of Draco’s right hand was a mark in the shape of a five pointed star. It was red and bleeding—almost as though someone had just taken a knife and carved it into his skin.
“Draco what the hell is this?” Ron asked. Behind him he could hear his mother and the others getting closer. Draco didn’t answer him though. He just continued to stare at it—like it was the first time he was seeing it himself.
Ron pulled the sleeve of his robe down passed his hand and pressed it against the wound making sure to apply pressure just like Hermione had shown him once before. He pulled Draco closer so he could speak more quietly.
“Draco you didn’t do this to yourself did you?” To Ron the question sounded absurd but he asked it none-the-less. Draco still didn’t answer though, just tried to pull himself away. Ron tightened his grip and refused to let go.
“Draco?” he asked but all of a sudden the mark began to burn him through the fabric of his sleeve.
Yelling out Ron pulled his hand away and Draco quickly covered it with his own. Ron managed a quick glance at Draco’s pain expression before the other boy turned and began to make his escape mumbling, “I’ve got to go.” He was getting ready to run after him but was stopped by the firm hand of his mother grabbing hold of his arm and yanking him around to face her.
“What part of get back here don’t you understand,” she said angrily—her face all red from her hurrying after him.
“But mum Draco…” Ron started trying to turn so he could try to see where Draco had gone off to.
“I don’t care,” she said pulling him back around. “Didn’t we just get though this with Harry and the other two? Did I not say stay with me?”
“But mum…”
“Don’t but mum me,” she said taking hold of his hand that he had been cradling and pulling the sleeve up out of the way so she could look at it. There wasn’t anything wrong with it Ron noticed but it did have a little blood on it that must have leaked through from Draco’s hand. His mother looked back up at him—worried now.
“Mum,” Ron started—pulling his hand away from her as Ginny and Hermione pushed their way up closer to see. “I think there’s something the matter with Draco.”
His mother looked at him sadly and he turned to look back the way Draco had gone—but there was no sign of him.
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A/N: I have to say I haven’t been this satisfied with a chapter in a very long time.
Also sorry for the small Hermione/Ron moment (I have to admit that I ship them almost as rabidly as I ship Ron/Draco XD) It’ll happen from time to time but not very often I promise and it’ll always be small.
Next chapter should be up a little quicker since it’s already written. I just have to type it up (I do most of my writing during break time at work XD) I think it’s good more or less the way it is but we’ll see when I read through it again.
Also, can you believe it’s been over a year since I started writing this story? O.o It doesn’t feel like it.
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creative
crappy
hungry