The soundproof study rooms in the library could be reserved for one-hour blocks. They weren't much larger than the desk and chair inside, but Ron didn't notice, nor did it matter that he'd entered the room without book, parchment or quill. He wanted the quiet and the time alone.

He sat facing the door, his hands clutching the edge of the desk. He couldn't stop the images from playing out like a movie in his head, nor was he sure he wanted to. He tried to think, to analyze, to sort out what just happened to him, but the images made his body respond in ways he couldn't control. His blood was rushing, pounding in his ears and through his groin. His brain just wouldn't cooperate.

He'd learned plenty about the mechanics of sex from his older brothers. They had discussed the pleasures and dangers, often using rather disturbing visual aids. But they'd never told him he'd feel like this, or that another person //Draco Malfoy!// would be the cause.

He could still feel the heat radiating off the Slytherin seeker. Draco's Quidditch-calloused hands exploring his body. The feeling of skin on skin was mind-blowing. His body had never felt more alive than when Draco was kissing him, touching him, coming inside of him. He remembered Draco's lips on his neck, and his skin tingled. He felt Draco's hands around his waist, unzipping his jeans, sucking and stroking his cock. The exquisite painful pleasure when Draco entered him.

Then Draco had left. Ron squeezed his eyes closed when he felt the tears well up.

"Are you crying, Weasley?" The voice, though silky-smooth, made Ron jump.

"What are you doing in here, Malfoy?" Ron asked, swiping angrily at his eyes. And how had he gotten in the room without Ron hearing a thing?

"Looking for you." Draco hopped up on the desk and slid around to face Ron, one leg on either side of the chair. The erection straining mightily under Draco's tight-fitting black jeans was unmistakable. "How much time do you have left in here?"

"Fuck off."

"Oh, good. Plenty of time." Draco had to straddle the chair when he hopped off the desk to shove it against the door. He backed away and knelt in front of Ron, his hands stroking languidly up Ron's thighs. "So, what'll it be?"

"Are you joking? What am I, your latest conquest? Think you can have it anytime you want?" Ron couldn't fathom Draco's response. Was that hurt he saw flash in other the boy's eyes?

"I thought you had a good time this morning."

"I did," Ron said quietly.

"So . . ."

"So?!? So, you left, you heartless fuck!" Ron shouted. Draco looked around worriedly before remembering the room was soundproof. "You knew it was my first time, you knew how I felt about you and you still fucking left! There's hundreds in this school who would give it to you anytime you ask, and from what I hear, you do! Why don't you go find one of them?" Ron's head snapped back as Draco backhanded him across his right cheek.

Draco stood, leaning over, nose to nose with Ron. "Don't you fucking talk about what you don't know, little boy." Draco pulled the table away from the door, hopped over it, jerked open the door and left. Ron looked at the clock. He still had 30 minutes left.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"You're coming to Snape's wedding tomorrow, right?" Harry asked.

"Of course," Ron answered, to the delight of his dinner companions. Harry and Hermione burst out laughing. "Huh?" Ron asked, obviously confused and distracted.

"You've been pushing the food around your plate since we sat down, and you haven't heard a word I've said, have you?"

"Sorry," Ron sighed. "It's been a long day. I'm going upstairs." He pushed his plate back and rose from the table.

"But you haven't finished your dinner. You've never not finished your dinner. What's going on, Ron? Hey!"

"Ron! Wait!" Hermione shouted as he left the Great Hall. "What's wrong with him, Harry?"

"I don't know."

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

Harry noticed the change in Malfoy first. Draco had lost all interest in teasing Harry and Hermione, but his ridicule of Ron and the Weasleys increased to a fever pitch. Harry and Hermione were shocked at Ron's non-response. In years past, it would have taken both of them to restrain Ron when Draco made any disparaging comment about his family. They now stood with jaws gaping as Ron simply ceased to acknowledge Draco in any form or fashion.

In fact, Ron knew exactly where Draco was at all times. Knowing he couldn't actually avoid Draco, as he would have too much to explain to Harry and Hermione, he attempted to tune out the blonde's mocking. As one day bled into the next, he became quite good at it.

When he saw the verbal taunting no longer elicited any response, though, Draco began a physical assault on the redhead. Ron found bruises on his shoulders from Draco slamming into him in the corridors. His chair was pulled from beneath him more than once in class, though he did become better at avoiding the feet that tried to trip him on his way into the Great Hall.

"That Malfoy's asking for it," Harry said angrily after Draco and Ron collided yet again, almost sending Ron tumbling down a flight of stairs.

He's already asked for it, Ron thought. I'm just not sure I want to give it to him again.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Malfoy!" Harry shouted as he walked out onto the Quidditch pitch.

"I'm not at your beck and call, Potter," Draco said. "That's what Weasley is for."

Harry grabbed the back of Draco's robe and spun him around. "Back off of Ron," Harry said, his voice low, menacing. "I don't know what you're up to, but you're not going to hurt him anymore. Leave him alone."

"I can't imagine what you're referring to, Potter. Weasley and I have become quite close in the last few weeks." Draco reached down, seemingly to adjust his cock and balls, eyes never leaving Harry's. "I'm surprised he hasn't told you."

Harry's eyes narrowed as he stared at Draco. He knew what he'd seen, but wanted to hear Draco say it out loud. "What are you getting at?"

"Well, if he hasn't said anything, I surely wouldn't presume to." Draco mounted his broom and kicked off the ground, hovering just over Harry. "This is Slytherin's practice time, Potter. If you'd be so kind as to leave. You wouldn't want to be accused of cheating, would you?"

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"I need to talk to you," Harry tugged on Ron's sleeve to pull him away from a chess game with Neville, who was losing badly.

"S'okay, Ron," Neville stood. "It's a massacre, as usual. Thanks for the game, though."

Harry waited until he and Ron were alone in the Gryffindor common room. He leaned on the arms of Ron's chair, pinning the redhead to it. "Did you fuck Malfoy?" All the color drained from Ron's face. Harry sat down hard in Neville's abandoned seat. "Oh, gods, Ron. How could you?"

"I didn't plan it, it just happened," Ron said defensively.

"But Malfoy of all people? You know his reputation. What on this earth?"

"Fine." Ron said sharply, interrupting. "You want to know what happened?" Ron asked, his voice getting louder. "I fucked Draco Malfoy. I was his most recent fuck toy. Is that the story you were looking for? Does that clear things up for you?" Ron stood and crossed to a window, leaning his forehead against the cool glass.

"It just seems so . . . unnatural. I mean, a Weasley and a Malfoy?"

"Well, he seemed to enjoy it at the time." Ron shrugged and added quietly, "So did I."

"But what could you two possibly have in common? You've loathed each other for six years, now you're screwing?"

"I don't know," Ron's fingers idly traced designs across the glass. "He came after me. He kissed me, and I didn't mind. Well, I did at first, but later, I was okay with it. I liked having someone touch me, who wanted to touch me, even it if was Draco Malfoy. And at the time, he was . . . nice. It was brilliant, really. Besides, we only did it once."

"So he didn't hurt you?"

Ron turned, leaned back against the window and nodded. "Afterwards he did. He just . . . left. Then he came back for more. Those times he was deliberately running into me, trying to knock me down?" Harry nodded. "I said something I shouldn't have, and he wasn't happy about it. So he's started acting like Malfoy again."

"I'm sorry, Ron. This is just a lot to fathom. I never would have imagined you and Malfoy."

"You think I planned this?" Ron shook his head. "You'd be surprised to know that Draco's not a bad guy. When he's in Malfoy-mode, though, . . .You won't say anything about this to anyone, will you?"

"Who would believe me?" Harry asked.

~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*

"Malfoy."

Draco stopped on hearing the voice, knowing full well who spoke. He was on his way into the prefect's bathroom for a long soak in a hot tub. He turned to see a very nervous and fidgety Ron. "What is it, Weasley?"

"We need to talk. I have to apologize to you."

Draco smiled and crossed his arms, thoroughly enjoying the moment. "Oh?" He nodded. "I definitely want to hear this. Follow me."

"Huh? Why? Can't we just . . . "

"Privacy, Weasley. The door locks from the inside."

"Oh." Ron reluctantly followed Draco into the bath. He was familiar with the room as his older brother Percy had been a prefect and had shown him around. The place was luxurious. Huge marble sinks were topped with gold fixtures. Showers and bathroom stalls were quite large and completely private. And the bathtubs were enormous, able to hold at least six full-grown men.

"Sit," Draco told Ron, pointing toward a nearby bench. Draco adjusted the water taps, steam rising immediately. There was a fine collection of liquid bath soap along the wall. Draco chose one, squeezing nearly half the bottle into the tub. He quickly shed his robe but stepped slowly into the hot bath, adjusting to the near-scalding temperature.

Ron watched the lithe figure ease into the hot, soapy water. //Gods, he looks incredible. He must use that soap a lot. That's what he smelled like that morning.// "What scent is that soap?"

"Hazelnut."

//Now I have a name for it.//

Draco settled with his back against the far side of the tub, facing Ron. His arms stretched out to the side, arching his chest forward. He sank down into the tub a little, then turned his steely eyes on Ron. The steam had raised red splotches on his otherwise pale cheeks. "You were saying something about an apology."

"I - I - I," Ron was having a hard time concentrating after seeing Draco's naked body again. He took a deep breath. "Okay, I shouldn't have said to you what I did that day in the library. It started as rumor, but I've been hearing it so long, I assumed it was true." Ron didn't think Draco had even blinked yet, so he continued. "I was just hurt, because you left, that morning in the clearing?" Still no response. "It just came out. I'm sorry." He hung his head and pulled at one of many loose threads on his robe.

"Fine. Apology accepted. Now, get in."

"I - you - what?"

"Get in," Draco smiled, motioning him toward the tub. "It's warm, and there's plenty of room. Shame to waste all this water."

Ron studied Draco's face carefully. There had to be a catch, right? He turned over the possibilities in his mind for only a few seconds before realizing he didn't care. He carefully folded his robe and placed it on the bench, the rest of his clothing following quickly thereafter. Draco's eyes seized on Ron's body and tracked him as he crossed to the tub. The water was still quite warm, causing Ron to flush red from his toes to the tips of his ears. He eased into the water even slower than Draco had, gasping when it reached his genitals. His body finally adjusted to the temperature, and he settled against the side opposite Draco.

"Nice," Ron purred. He closed his eyes and slid down to allow the still water to caress his shoulders. When he felt the water moving again, his eyes opened to see Draco straddling his lap, though their bodies were not touching.

"Nice," Draco agreed. He placed his hand under Ron's chin, his thumb caressing Ron's cheek. Ron gasped as Draco leaned in and kissed him. "I'd almost forgotten how good you taste."

Ron groaned into the kiss, almost sliding under the water. His soap-slick fingers grabbed Draco's arms, clutching tightly. Draco sat on his lap to keep him from toppling over, the tip of his cock trailing down Ron's chest. "Draco," Ron said breathlessly as his mouth was seized again, their tongues battling for entry into the other's mouth. Both were gasping for breath when Draco broke away.

"Oh, what you do to me." A smile briefly crossed his features, then his face was buried in Ron's neck, nuzzling, sucking, kissing, licking every inch, his fingers clutching Ron's fiery tresses. Ron laid his head against the back of the tub, succumbing to the need coursing through Draco. Ron could only hold on, arms around the blonde, holding him as close as he could. As if he'd had no nourishment for weeks, Draco was ravenous. He covered every inch of Ron's deliciously smooth freckled body. His teeth raked over Ron's nipples. His fingers dug into Ron's shoulders, sure to leave bruises.

"Draco, please," Ron moaned. Pale grey eyes, sparkling with lust, met his. Still straddling Ron's lap, Draco wrapped his hand around Ron's cock and directed it toward his own entrance. The tip found its home and Draco moved his hips down as far as he could, impaling himself on Ron's shaft.

Ron had thought being taken by Draco was pure ecstasy. This was beyond exquisite, his shaft deeply embedded in Draco's ass. Ron moved his hands over Draco's chest, thumbs circling his nipples. Draco began slowly pumping up and down, drawing himself almost completely off of Ron's cock before impaling himself again. Ron was in heaven and Draco was an angel.

Knowing he was nearing climax, Ron stroked Draco's cock, telling him, "I'm going to make you come." Draco groaned as he felt long fingers wrap themselves tightly around his cock and squeeze hard. Long, impossibly hard strokes started, and Draco's grip on Ron's shoulders tightened even further.

Their bodies moved in concert, Ron's hips now rising to meet Draco's as they came down; their moans the music echoing off the steamy tiles. Water sloshed over the side of the tub, sounding like wet skin slapping as the two rose to their peak. Ron felt Draco tighten around him as the cock he'd been nursing twitched and come spurted into the water. Ron came immediately, pulling down hard on Draco's hips to keep himself inside, his seed spurting deep within his lover. Draco wrapped his arms and legs around Ron and pulled himself closer, his head resting on Ron's shoulder, fingertips stroking the nape of his neck. The water and the two bodies within it finally stilled.

Only when the water cooled did either boy move. Draco raised his head and blinked. He reluctantly released Ron, sliding off his now-soft cock, and both rose and stepped, unsteadily, out of the tub. The plug was released and the water receded as the boys dried themselves and dressed in silence.

"So, um, how should we do this?" Ron asked nervously. "Do you want to leave first, then I'll wait and leave after a few minutes, or what?"

Ron was so easy to read. Draco saw the fear etched on the adorable, freckled face. He smiled, walked over to Ron and taking his hands, kissed him deeply, tongue running between his sweet, full lips. "I thought we'd leave together. Is that a problem?"

Ron grinned, that smile that lit up his face and any room he was in. "No. Not a problem at all."

Ron and Draco held hands, fingers laced together, as Draco opened the bathroom door and led Ron into the corridor to face an obviously exasperated Harry Potter. "What's the matter? Between the two of you, you couldn't remember a simple silencing spell?"

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