Chapter Text
Running face-first into him wasn’t the way Draco had intended of meeting up with Ron but it proved to be effective nonetheless.
“Shit, are you okay?” Ron asked, holding Draco’s arms to steady him. His hands were firm as they grasped him, his heat sinking through Draco's clothes to warm his skin.
“Yes, yes, I’m fine,” Draco said dismissively. “But I need to talk to you.”
Ron saw the seriousness on his face and went pale, assuming the worst. “Are your parents okay?”
Draco sighed, shaking his head. The whirlwind of emotions he had gone through in the last hour was finally catching up to him; he was exhausted and drained. “They’re fine, for the most part. But they are related to what we need to speak about.”
"Wait," Ron said, grasping his wrist to stop him from leaving. In a rush of motion, he pulled Draco into a tight hug, holding him close. "I'm glad they're okay."
"You hate them," Draco mumbled into Ron's robes.
Draco felt Ron shrug gently, careful not to disrupt him. "Yeah, I do. But, for your sake, I'm glad they're okay."
"Thank you," he whispered softly.
Ron simply squeezed him tighter, keeping him safely wrapped within his arms. Draco took the moment to appreciate what he had, if only for a small while and smiled to himself. If someone had told him a month ago that he'd end up here, hugging Ron Weasley, he would've cursed them.
As much as Draco wished he could stay in the haven he had found for himself, he knew he couldn't delay the conversation forever.
"Let's go."
The blonde began to tug Ron by his sleeves to the stairs and up to his room, so they could have some privacy, shut behind the thick wooden door. Anxiety threaded its way through Draco's mind as he planned what he was going to say to Ron, how he would confess. Being so unused to telling other's his feelings, this was a situation he wasn't used to and wasn't comfortable with. He turned to face the ginger and in doing so remembered who it was he was falling for, how had changed because of him. Ron didn't care for fancy speeches or dramatic acts of love, that could come later when there wasn't a war going on. At this moment all he needed was a yes.
"I want to do this."
Frowning, Ron inclined his head. "Um, do what, exactly?"
"This," Draco said, waving a hand between them. "Us. My parents suspect something's going on between us anyway and I don't want to have to lie to them.”
“What?” Ron squeaked. “You spent all of five minutes with them, why would they know anything?”
Draco scowled. “Because of your friend’s comments. Besides, they're not idiots. They would've noticed it eventually.”
Ron’s shoulders sagged and he let out a humourless snort. “Well, that's Tonks for you.”
“They’re going to ask me about us, I’m certain of it. And I need an answer for when they do.”
Draco sighed, looking up at Ron seriously. Ron stared back, his expression open as if he had nothing to hide.
“You have helped me in more ways than one, you saved me when you had every right to leave me to rot. Ron, you're - you're brilliant and kind and funny." Draco moved closer to him, smiling softly. "And so much more. So, what are we? What do you want us to be?”
Ron took a moment to study his face, taking in every detail before crashing their mouths together clumsily. Despite the initial forcefulness it soon calmed into gentle caresses as they spoke without words. Sighing happily, Draco let himself melt into the kiss and lean against Ron's firm torso. Eventually, the movements faded into slow pecks, as they fought to catch their breath.
“Does that answer your question for you?”
Draco looked up at him slyly. “You might need to explain it a bit more.”