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Invitation	By : starstruck86 Category: Harry Potter > Slash - Male/Male > Snape/Ron Views: 6834 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, nor do I make any money from these writings

Chapter List
- 7
- 8
- 9
A/N: Hey all! Wow, have to say, there were so many reviews
you made me go all warm and gooey. So on with the thank you�s:

Zanzi
�Thank you for reading! I am an SSRL girl as well. I can spend a great deal of
my day distracted by that pairing. ;) Snarly Snark, I
like that *grin* I am glad I am endearing Ron to you.

Sheree
�Less people know than you�d assume. Read, good woman, read!

Cruel_Hero
�Thank you for that wonderful confidence boost! :D And I know you�re reading
the A/Ns but didn�t want to get shouted at for not putting a warning in if
someone took offense!

Kai �So you share
my love of mwahahahahaha-ing. Good. Mwahahaha.
;) Read on and see.

DaVinci
�My talent for writing the smut� I think it�s just the product of a filthy
mind. I�m glad his wandwork made up for the lack of
duplication.

Morganabythesea �Hello and thanks so much for reading,
and answering my questions! I hope this chapter has enough �us against the
world� for you. When I read your review this morning I was thrilled, as this
chapter is all about that realisation.

Talley �Ron *is*
bothered. But for very good reason you�re not seeing him display it yet.
*cryptic*

Abbi cee �We feel
the same way, I liked their equality in my other stories, but I decided to try
something different here and then got the heebie jeebies about it. And as for what happens� why don�t you
read on and find out� ;)

Thanks so much for your comments on Severus and his
dominance. This chapter was hard to write because he�s being� well, Severus.
And his reactions had to be accountable to his character, which is hard for Ron
to deal with. Just� read on! ;)

xxx

------

Ron was walking, but he wasn�t feeling anything because he
was totally numb. It was three days after Christmas, and the castle was still
miraculously empty. And what scared him the most was the fact that he had done
absolutely nothing to warrant a summons to the Headmaster�s office �there was
nobody around to get in trouble with.

Except�

He swallowed and his heartbeat racked up a notch. His
fingers were trembling where they were stuffed in his pockets.

Just deny everything. If that�s even what he wants. And who�s to say it is, we�ve
been so careful� nobody would have cause to suspect anything at all.

All too soon that stone gargoyle came into view and Ron wanted
to run and hide.

You are nineteen years
old. You�ve fought dark wizards until they came out of your ears. And yet faced
with your Headmaster you�re shivering like a wet puppy.

�Pear drops,� Ron muttered the password to the statue, and
the doorway became visible.

Voldemort probably
wouldn�t have cared you were fucking your teacher� providing blood for your
teacher�

Ron stepped onto the moving staircase and wondered quite why
Dumbledore would mind either, but Severus had been insistent they keep it quiet.
There had to be reasons for that.

Obviously to protect
Severus� identity as a vampire, and maybe not everybody knows which way he
swings? But standing on the moving staircase, Ron wasn�t sure there wasn�t
anything more sinister lurking beneath Severus� reluctance. And he felt a prize
tool for not having asked before this moment had arrived.

He stood in front of the wooden door and took a deep breath.
His palms were slick with sweat and he knew he must look like the epitome of a
guilty conscience.

Come on, grow a pair.
He growled the words inwardly, knowing it would be what Severus instructed him
to do. With that in mind, he knocked on the door and entered when beckoned.

The office looked the same as it ever had -full of
interesting artefacts and books and the portraits of Headmasters and Mistresses
past.

�Ah, Mr. Weasley, please, have a
seat,� Dumbledore gestured to the chair opposite him at the desk.

Ron sank into it, his heart in his throat. �Sir?�

�How are you enjoying your Christmas holiday?� Dumbledore
asked him.

�Er, it�s okay� a bit boring, I
suppose,� Ron answered him nervously.

�Hogwarts has always had the potential to be a very lonely
place when one is by oneself,� the old man nodded. �I must admit I was
surprised to see you here in such a way.�

Ron gave a discomfited smile and looked down at his knees,
informally clad in the tatty old jeans he�d been rolling around the dorm in.

�How are things with your schoolwork?� was the next
question.

�Going well, hopefully, I think,� Ron kept his answers as
short as he could without looking rude. He was very confused as to what was
going on. Dumbledore was talking to him informally �was this just a badly timed
coincidence?

�Funny, you have been in solitude here for a week, and yet
when Harry came looking for you yesterday afternoon to try and offer you an
olive branch back to your family home, you were nowhere to be found.�

What?! Harry was here
looking for me? Oh fuck. Oh fuck.

Ron had never been very talented at lying on the spot.
Planned dishonesty he could pull off, maybe even with a little finesse, but he
would never make it through the conversation off the bat. Dumbledore looked at
him, clearly expecting an explanation.

�I can�t believe he did that,� Ron said finally, hoping he
could deter the old man with a display of emotion. �I wasn�t expecting� anyone
to come, really.�

�Well, Mr. Potter seemed most concerned for your welfare, and he also carried
the same sentiments from your family, it would seem. I don�t think your mother
actually expected you to take her seriously.�

�Well, she could have told me that,� Ron breathed. �She
seemed pretty insistent, as I�m sure you heard.�

�Mothers think they have the right to pry in the business of their children,
even in affairs of the heart, Mr. Weasley.�

�I know that, Sir, but I just wish she didn�t have to pry in
front of the entire student and staff body.�

Dumbledore laughed then and Ron�s mood took a hopeful surge,
wondering if his decoy had worked.

�But this does not explain where you were so that you were
not there to receive Harry. Mr. Weasley, you may be overage now, and an
honorary student, but this does not grant you the complete freedom it appears
you accessed yesterday. Please tell me where you were. Your family is worried
about you and I need to give them an adequate assurance that you have not
waltzed off the planet.�

Bugger. No such fucking luck. Shit. Shit shit shit shit
shit shit shit.

Ron thought over Dumbledore�s words, those about his freedom
especially. Would sleeping with a teacher encroach on that freedom he was still
not allowed to have? With an ugly flip of his stomach, Ron knew the answer to
that. If he opened his mouth now, he would likely get Severus sacked, and
possibly himself thrown out of school. And nobody would be happy to see them
together.

�I, uh, went for a� explore of the grounds. I was out after
lunch yesterday and I fancied a walk. I got a bit lost, if I�m honest, Sir.�

�Snow will do that,� Dumbledore looked at him closely.

Is that it? Is my lie
accepted?

�Tell me, have you fully recovered from your recent visit to
the hospital wing? I hear you were there for treatment for a little anaemia?�

�Yes,� Ron nodded, wanting to groan that he wasn�t out of
the woods yet. �I feel fine now, Sir, I have no idea what caused it to flare
up� maybe stress, I don�t know?�

�I hope you�ve been using the break to catch up on your
rest,� Dumbledore smiled. �NEWT year is not easy, by any means.�

�No, it really isn�t,� Ron agreed with him with a nod and raised eyebrows.

They fell to silence and Ron awkwardly scuffed his boots
together, waiting for the Headmaster to speak again.

Then the old man sighed. �Mr. Weasley, is there anything
you�d like to tell me at all? Nothing� odd about this year that you think I
should know?�

He knows. He fucking
knows. Do I lie or is this going to be one of those stupid things where telling
the truth is going to save our arses? Fuck.

�You are conflicted in your answer,� Dumbledore said sadly.
�Then I have no choice.�

�About what, Sir?� a trickle of sweat dropped down over
Ron�s tattoo and he shivered.

�Severus?� Albus called out, and Ron�s face drew into a
baffled frown. Then out of the corner of his eye he saw a dark movement, and
Severus moved out of the darkness of the south-west part of Dumbledore�s
office.

Ron whipped round to properly look at him, his eyes wide
with fear now he knew that Dumbledore could not see him. It felt like someone
was pumping icy water through his veins, and it set when Ron fully took in the
look on Severus� face. It was a look of grim stature, almost defeat, and the
dark eyes Ron had seen so full of emotion recently were hard and glassy.
Severus moved and snapped a chair out of thin air, and sank down into it
soundlessly next to Ron, arms folded over his chest, one hand massaging roughly
over his mouth.

�I am not particularly hurt that you lied,� Dumbledore�s
voice dragged Ron to the reality he was trying to ignore by focussing on
Severus. �I expected you to. You are a very loyal character.�

Ron found he could not speak; he was forced into silent
submission by the fear coursing through him. He had known he was growing to
care for Severus in a way he wasn�t sure he�d ever cared for anybody before,
but only the thought of having the situation removed made him seriously consider
just how much he had begun to feel.

�This is an extremely serious situation. Whatever mistakes
you have made �and both of you have,�
Dumbledore sent a pointed gaze to flick between them, �This is very serious.
And I confess I do not know exactly how to handle it. I think I have seen just
about everything this school can throw at me and then it always surprises me. I
suppose the trick to that is to stop assuming arrogance��

Neither of them laughed, as maybe Dumbledore had been
expecting. Ron wanted to reach out and touch Severus, but he just knew from his
posture that it would not go down well.

�I do not know the best course of action to take,�
Dumbledore went on. �There is very deep magic involved here.�

So tell us something
we don�t bloody know? Ron�s brain kicked into action like someone had
jump-started it.

�W-what.,. How much do you know?�
Ron marshalled his tongue into a controlled manner.

�He knows everything,� Severus shot sideways, not looking at
Ron at all.

Ron licked his lips nervously. �Then you know my own actions
in this, that Severus��

�Professor Snape,� Severus snapped at him.

�That Professor Snape,� Ron continued in a quietened voice,
throat thick, �He did not� force me into anything?�

�I know your part in this Mr. Weasley. I do not believe it
will be constructive to go back over the finer points now.�

Ron was grateful for that �somehow talking about his
suddenly colourful sex life with a wizard over the age of a hundred was not
appealing.

�So� are you going to kick me out? Sack
Sev- Professor Snape?� Ron corrected himself mid-flow and coloured as
Dumbledore fixed him with a hard gaze.

�I do not know what to do, Mr. Weasley, as I have already
said.�

Palpable silence filled the room again and Ron couldn�t help
the way his hands began to violently tremble, even though nobody had threatened
him, or Severus, and his breaths sped up. He raised the shaking hand and placed
it over his mouth, where it continued to shake his face.

Come on, pull yourself
together, you�re showing yourself up here� Ron berated himself mentally but
his control was slipping away. He�s not
threatening you with anything, stop!

But Ron knew that Severus would not look so grave if that
threat was absent, even if it had been left unsaid. Looking for a source of
comfort, Ron turned his head to Severus, hoping to get a little comfort. Aren�t we in this together? He�s said it
himself before�

He was sorely disappointed; Severus was refusing to look at
him, choosing to keep his eyes trained on the wood of the Headmaster�s desk.
Ron stared at him, knowing Severus would sense him looking at him, as he had
done that first night.

�Stop it,� the command came in a low voice and Ron felt like
he needed to choke at the hostility of it.

�How did you know?� Ron turned to Dumbledore, hoping the
shock of Severus� rejection was not as apparent on his face as it was in his
heart at that moment.

�I have a rather wonderful view of the grounds from my
office,� Dumbledore said softly. �Never before have I seen Severus bother to
pay a student in the snow a visit.�

Ron coloured, remembering the way he had refrained from
throwing his arms around Severus on Christmas Day, lest they be seen. Might as well not have fought it, fat lot of
bloody good being reserved did us.

�And then, when Harry visited me, asking where you were, if
you�d requested permission to leave the castle� and of course you had not��

�Does Harry know about this?� Ron gasped.

�No,� Dumbledore assured him. �I said I would endeavour to
find you, and he left through the Floo here.�

�So� how did you��

�I am the Headmaster of this school, and I have resources at
my hands that no other teacher does. That is all I am willing to say on the
matter,� Dumbledore�s voice took on a hard edge again and Ron shrivelled back
into his chair.

�So, really� you haven�t decided what to do? Are you going
to� oh Merlin�� Ron cracked inside then, and he had to
lean forward and hide his face in his hands. �Are you going to contact my
parents?�

�You are of age,� was all the answer Dumbledore gave.

�Then what�s the problem?� Ron asked through his fingers.

�You are still my charge,� Dumbledore reminded him.

�But an of age charge,� Ron frowned. �If this is a case of
me being a student� if that is the only obstacle here then I-�

�You will do nothing of the sort,� there was a quiet thunder
in Dumbledore�s voice which Ron instantly hated, it made him feel like a storm
was brewing and it would crack open right above his head.

Silence fell again and Ron looked back to Severus.

�Why were you here?� He asked in a wobbly voice, wondering
if Severus would finally look at him.

�The Headmaster asked to see me this morning. Like you I
responded,� Severus replied dully, keeping his eyes forward.

�And then you told him everything?� Ron�s voice was suddenly
heated. �For Merlin�s sake, Severus! And you couldn�t
have lied?�

�Think before you speak,� Severus finally turned and set his
glare on Ron. �And whom you speak in front of.�

�Really, you�ve got the balls to say that to me?� Ron gaped.
�You? You who has just cocked all this up? We were
doing fine, Severus, nobody had to know.�

�As disinclined as I am to come to it, in Severus� defence,
there is a reason he could not deny me once I asked those questions,�
Dumbledore spoke again. �At the end of the war I thought it was high time I
revised the staff contracts. There had been too many cases of deception in
these walls. The staff contracts are laced with truth bonds. I ask a question
now and my staff are bound to answer it truthfully.�

�Even those of us who have served you loyally for years,�
Severus said with venom, dragging his eyes from Ron�s pale face back to the
wizened man on the other side of the desk.

�I strive for equality,� Dumbledore answered Severus
diplomatically. �And just look what it uncovered here� those who were once
loyal apparently do not remain so.�

�You know the circumstances,� Severus said heatedly. �I
could not escape that chamber; I could not escape the Invitation issued.�

�Yet your actions afterwards, Severus, those you could have
escaped,� Dumbledore answered him coldly. �You made me a solemn promise,
Severus, when I continued to let you work here��

�You wanted him working here,� Ron interrupted rudely. �You wouldn�t have
kicked him out whilst he was your spy. Let�s not insult one another�s intelligence��

Both of the older men stared at him with disbelief, Severus�
was rooted in his amazement at the boy�s gall and daring, Dumbledore�s at the
extent of Ron�s knowledge.

�I suggest we adjourn this for now,� Dumbledore snapped back
to his senses. �This will not be settled in a day. I need time to consider and
evaluate the situation. Until further notice you are dismissed to your normal
lives around the castle. I will contact you when I have made a decision, and it
should before the rest of the school returns.�

Ron shot a sneaky glance at Severus, trying to figure out
what the old man meant by his dismissal. He�s
not said we�re forbidden to see one another� is he
pardoning this?

�As the castle is relatively empty, I cannot order a
separation on the grounds of discretion. But you will tell nobody else about
this, and you will not be seen in public.�

�D�you think we�re daft?� Ron
couldn�t help the way that burst out of his lips.

Stupid
big mouth. Ah, fuck.

�Mr. Weasley, I had hoped you were not, but considering what
you entered into, my confidence in your intelligence has taken rather a
significant knock. Do not deflate it further.�

Rebuked and stung, Ron fought back his scowl.

�I do not know what you two expect to come of this,�
Dumbledore said, it was more of a question. �One of you is mortal, the other
immortal.�

�Can we not have any hint of what you�re considering?� Ron
turned on the charm to his voice, the same charm he had been using for three
days to get Severus to sleep with him again. It worked on Severus. Ron was not
so sure about Dumbledore.

�I�d kick you out if it were me,� one of the Headmasters
growled from his portrait on the wall, and he was soon backed up by a round of
jeering agreement.

�Eject you with your vampire and let you deal with the
consequences,� one old woman said snottily.

�That is quite enough from you all,� Dumbledore said to the
portraits.

�Albus, see reason!� one of them
called.

�You are dismissed, await my call.�

Ron saw Severus move immediately and the door banged behind
him as he exited the office. Somehow he managed to get to his own feet even
though his knees were knocking as much as his hands were trembling.

�You will contact both of us, won�t you?� He asked
suspiciously, as he reached the door.

�You will both be aware of my decision,� Dumbledore told
him. �Look after yourself, Mr. Weasley. I do not want to be explaining a death
to upset parents.�

�You should have more faith in him,� Ron muttered, not
knowing where his desire to stand up for Severus was coming from.

Because
he certainly didn�t bother to stand up for me in there�

Ron walked down the moving stairwell, making his head swim
with the same sort of disorientation he got from walking down moving Muggle
escalators. He stopped when he hit the solid ground of the corridor and shook
his head slightly, trying to rid himself of the sensation.

He was torn as to where he should go, and what he should do.

I�ll be damned if I�m
going to go searching for that fucking bastard. Ron�s temper was speaking
for him, and although he was hurt at the way Severus had not offered one shred
of comfort in the Headmaster�s office, he knew once he had calmed down and
remembered that was just the way Severus was, he would get over it. But at that
moment he was still trembling and he was very close to something that might
have been rage.

He turned to his left and strode down the corridor, thinking
of somewhere quiet that he could go to hide from reality for a while.

***

Severus knew he was wearing a path in his bedroom carpet,
but he was so fuming mad he didn�t care.

However, he wasn�t sure who he was angrier at �Dumbledore,
or Ron. His reasons for wanting to shove his wand down the old man�s throat
were absolute, but he was discomfited in the way he felt such irritation and resentment
towards Ron, who had been broadsided with confrontation, just as he had.

Stupid
little bastard. Honest to God,
what was he thinking disputing with the man like that? He truly has no idea how
he is expected to behave�

Severus checked himself, thinking back on his friend�s
words, about how the need would come for him to control Ron in nearly every
sense. If Ron had been like him, been another immortal, it wouldn�t have been
such a problem. Two dominant immortals fighting for control would just be the
cause of an explosive argument. But between an immortal and a mortal� the
consequences would be unconditional and fatal if they were not.

No. I am not an out of
control creature and I can, and will, control this need.

Severus forced himself to stop dead still and took three
deep breaths, his hands clenched in fists by his side. When the torrent of
anger running riot around inside of him seemed to have calmed, he chanced to
open his eyes.

I can�t believe he
hasn�t come down here� I expected him to. I hope he�s not doing anything
ridiculous.

Another pang cut through Severus� chest then, one of guilt
and worry. His volatile Imp was somewhere within the castle walls, undoubtedly
upset. And Severus had no way of locating him.

Thank God it�s just
Albus that knows about this. I don�t think I could take Minerva�s scorn at the
moment� anybody�s scorn, really.

Severus walked over and sat down on his bed, smoothing his
hand over the cover, fully cleaned after Ron�s stint a few nights before. He
had always been surprised that Albus had requested that none of the other
teachers know about his change. As it had happened out of term-time, the secret
was well kept.

Maybe it was because
he wanted to cover up any little� mishaps I might have had when he needed me
working here� but now� I suppose I�m rather expendable.

He shifted to lay down with his head on the pillows, letting
his feet hang off the side of the bed as in his temper he�d not stopped to take
his boots off. Groaning, he reached up and pinched at the bridge of his nose, a
sure sign that he was becoming far too stressed than was good for him.

Severus wasn�t exactly sure if Ron had noticed the way that
his emotions were often amplified. Small things could stress him out, the tiniest
things made his temper snap. It worked the other way, too, things which were
probably trivial gestures to those that made them meant much more to him.

That has nothing to do
with being a bloody vampire though. I�ve always been like that� except for the
Vampire Depression. That, I�ll grant, was not me.

Severus hadn�t explained about that to Ron, either, and he
was suddenly struck with the magnitude of information that he had neglected to
equip the young man with before he was dragged into the lion�s den. He had
stood and near-on blindly defended Severus against Dumbledore without knowing
the half of it. Severus gave a sigh which turned into a shudder. They were
going to have to talk about it all one day, though Severus wasn�t sure he could
stomach it.

Why couldn�t he be
like bloody Granger? If this were her I�d just give her a book and she�d have
it memorised in a day.

He startled himself by laughing at the very
thought.

But then Granger
doesn�t have a manly back, fuckable arse and hips
that I just wish my temperament would let me wrap my legs around�

The drive to claim and to taste drove through Severus in a
flash and his forearms tingled when he remembered his distance from the
redhead.

***

Ron had calmed down considerably by the time he was walking
to dinner, though his left hand had suffered the brunt of several hard punches
into the battlements of the Astronomy
Tower. He was half frozen
from his afternoon outside, but once he�d conjured the portable fire and put
out the slight mishap which occurred when his sleeve caught fire, things had
improved.

His hand actually ached rather a lot, and as he entered the
hall he tugged down the sleeve of his jumper so he could keep it hidden. There
was only one table in use seeing as there were so few people remaining at
Hogwarts that year. Ron couldn�t decide if it was because parents were just so
glad their families were safe for the meantime that they wanted them together
at every possible moment, or whether it was just a domino chain through the
pupils, once one decided to go, the others followed because they didn�t want to
be lonely.

As lonely as I fucking
am!

Ron slid onto the end of the bench and immediately set about
serving himself some Shepherd�s Pie, and dumped a healthy serving of peas and
carrots on the side. Shivering for better part of the afternoon had left him
starving hungry and he ate with relief, the hot food scorching his mouth a
little.

�Is it always this quiet here at Christmas?� One of the
Slytherin third years asked him from along the table. �I�ve never stayed before��

�Not usually as empty as this,� Ron shot him a smile and
hoped he didn�t have food in his teeth. �It�s alright if you like the peace and
quiet I guess.�

�I had to stay� my mum and dad needed to go away to see my
Nan, she�s ill and she lives in Australia.�

�I�m sorry to hear that,� Ron said awkwardly, finding
himself quite out of sorts being confronted with a conversation with someone
younger than him.

�Why are you here?� The boy asked, nervously.

�Because�� Ron faltered, and suddenly found he had no
answer, and he had lost his appetite. �I guess because things get complicated
when you get older. Enjoy being thirteen.�

He got up leaving his food half-eaten, gave a wave of
goodbye with his good hand and left the hall without another word, feeling nauseous
as the thoughts that had been plaguing him all afternoon caught up with him
again.

What on earth would I
tell them? �Hey. First off, I�m bisexual and currently I have a� boyfriend. And to top it all off, he�s my Professor. And, if you really
thought that was spectacular, the cherry on top of all of that? He�s immortal,
loves to feed on my blood and yep, you�ve guessed it, you clever people� he�s a
vampire!�

Forgetting how much his hand hurt, Ron clenched it in fear
and cried out when pain spiked through his palm and up into his forearm.

�Weasley, what�s the matter?� McGonagall�s voice cracked out
across the entrance hall and Ron froze, cursing his stupidity.

�Nothing, Professor,� he answered with what he hoped was a
convincing smile.

�What�s wrong with your hand?� She asked shrewdly, and made
a grab for it, bringing the bruised hand up so she could examine it. Then she
turned her beady gaze on him. �Explain. There�s nobody here for you to have
managed this in a brawl, so...�

�I tripped,� Ron groaned. �I punched the wall as I fell
down.�

She raised an eyebrow. �You tripped?�

�I was running,� Ron muttered. �Needed the toilet and lost my footing and�
well� wallop.�

�You are a danger to yourself, Weasley, go to the Hospital
Wing, it looks like you might have cracked something in there.�

�No, really, I�m fine-� Ron protested, and drew his hand
back, his eyes betraying him as they winced at the pain.

�Minerva, Mr. Weasley,� Ron�s spine tingled as he heard
Severus� voice behind them.

�Ah, Severus. Good Evening. I�m
just shepherding Weasley here off to the infirmary, he has a delightful story
about tripping into a wall��

�That�s what happened,� Ron shrugged. �I�ll go now.�

He didn�t want to, but it was the perfect excuse to get him
out of Severus� company, which, so moody, Ron didn�t feel he was ready for just
at that moment.

�I was heading up to the library,� Severus said. �I�ll
escort him as far as there; it seems he is unable to keep himself free of
trouble recently.�

�Recently?� McGonagall smiled at
Ron, who had already wandered over to the staircase. �From the second he set
foot in the door� Make sure you get that seen to, Weasley!� She called, and
walked into the Hall.

Severus saw his chance and flew up the stairs after Ron
before the redhead could disappear around the corner and hide.

�Slow down, Weasley,� he called in a stern tone, because he knew they would be audible in the Hall
until they got further away. �You do not want to injure that any further.�

What the fuck has he
done to himself? Severus was roiling with worry inside.

�Leave me alone,� Ron called over his shoulder, and sped up.
His reaction was undoubtedly childish and he knew it would anger Severus, but
he couldn�t help but comply with his need to be alone.

Severus rolled his eyes and hurried fast enough to catch
Ron�s arm and drag him to a stop.

�What have you done to yourself, hmm?� Severus whispered
when he was close enough for Ron to hear.

�Nothing,� Ron seethed. �It�s just� I�m going to the
infirmary. I�d appreciate it if you�d let go of my arm.�

Severus swallowed and immediately turned,
tugging Ron to a concealed tunnel at the end of the corridor they had just
entered. The entrance was hidden by a large still life of a bowl of fruit and
Severus was glad there was not a talking occupant of the frame to deal with as
he used all his strength to send Ron careening into the narrow, dimly lit
tunnel. He pulled the portrait shut behind them and glared at his redhead.

�What did you do?� he asked again, in a low voice.

Ron leant against the wall and sighed, knowing his game was
up. �I got a bit angry.�

�Well so did I, do I have a bruised hand?� Severus reached for Ron�s hand and
examined it under the candle bracket he stood next to. �No breaks. You should
keep a better hold on your temper.�

And then, because Severus felt like the animosity was going
to eat them alive, he raised the hurt skin to his lips and ghosted a kiss
there.

�What are you doing?� Ron yanked his hand back, looking
shiftily along the tunnel.

�Nobody is going to find us here,� Severus frowned.

�No, I mean, what
are you doing?� Ron breathed, chest getting tight. �Severus� you heard what he
said� it�s��

�I was under the impression that no decision had been
reached,� Severus stared at him, trying to work out what Ron might be thinking.

�Well do you really think it�s a good idea to carry on like
this?�

�Like what? We�re just standing here!�

�Together, alone,� Ron countered,
his face pale.

�Yes, like we have always been,� Severus� patience began to
fray around the edges.

�I can�t believe you told him,� Ron�s whisper was choked.
�After all those �be careful� lectures you gave me��

�You heard what he said,� Severus re-iterated. �You heard about the clause in
my contract.�

�You forgot to mention that little gem, didn�t you?� Ron threw him a filthy
look. �Just like I hardly know anything about you, or the finer points of what
you are, because you won�t tell me.�

Severus knew he had been caught out and fell silent.

�You let me go in there with nothing, Severus, no reasoned
argument at all. And then what�s fucking worse is that when I nearly lost it,
and you didn�t lift a finger to help me! What was that all about? Sitting there
you did nothing. I don�t want to get all overdramatic here but that hurt.�

�It is not in my nature to offer comfort in such a
situation,� Severus shrugged. �You are well aware of my personality by now, I
am sure?�

�That�s your answer for everything. Being an ill-tempered
prick does not excuse you when you�re a bastard, Severus,� Ron�s voice rose in
his temper. �There�s a little thing called compassion. I had hoped somewhere
within your fucking icy shell there might be some.�

Severus let Ron finish, staring at him whilst he ranted. The
insults flew over his head and Severus paid them no heed, on some levels he knew
that Ron was absolutely right. He was well known for hiding behind his acerbic
nature to get away with being rude.

Ron talked himself out and fell silent, chest still tight,
waiting for Severus to respond with his own tongue lashing.

�Just because you nearly worked yourself up into a panic
attack, it is not my job to comfort you at every god given hour of the day,�
Severus informed him. �We will not get very far at all if that is what you
expect.�

�I don�t expect that!� Ron burst out. �But for fuck�s sake. You�re sitting in
front of a man who knows you�ve been fucking your student for the past three
weeks and yet you do nothing to offer comfort to said student. Do you have any
idea how you made yourself look? And how you made me look? Some lovesick idiot
hanging around someone who it seems is just using him for blood and sex,
nothing more?�

�I don�t give a damn how it made me look,� Severus hissed. �Even
less you.�

Ron�s eyes widened at that before narrowing. �Fine. You know what, Severus? His decision can�t come soon
enough.�

Ron made to step out of the passage but Severus blocked his
way, tall and imposing with his arms folded over his chest.

�Move,� Ron glared at him.

�Why, so you can run off and hide in your tower and cry
yourself to sleep?� Severus scathed.

�What the hell would you care if I did anyway?� Ron scoffed.
�Funny that this should all happen after you�ve finally fucked me. I�m not sure
you didn�t go and tell him it all voluntarily to get rid of me.�

�Oh, don�t be ridiculous,� Severus snapped. �We both know that if I�d had
enough of you there would be easier ways to dispose of you than going to the
Headmaster and confessing my sins.�

�Are you threatening me?�

Severus stared at him for what felt like a lifetime, before
sighing. �No, I�m not, Ron.�

�Sure sounded that way. Do you realise what I�m risking for
you? I came back here for NEWTs, so I could get a
decent job, and have money, Severus. And yet I�m possibly throwing them all
away for you. I�ve estranged myself from my family-�

�That was not my fault,� Severus shouted. �Don�t you DARE
put that on me, you have nobody but yourself to blame for the way you are
currently out of contact with them.�

Ron could only breathe in response. Then he turned and
looked down the tunnel.

�Don�t bother, the end is blocked in, this leads nowhere.�

Ron spun round faster than he had intended, lost his balance
and crashed sideways into Severus, who fell against the wall.

Faster than Ron could comprehend what was happening, he was
pushed back across the tiny passage and his head made a loud cracking sound as
it hit the wall before the rest of his body. And then Severus was on him, face
undeniably angry.

It could only have been seconds, but Ron felt as though he experienced
it in slow motion.

�Severus, I fell, I wasn�t attacking you,� he gasped, as
Severus� tightness to his body encroached on his breathing room.

Chastened, Severus took a step back and assessed Ron�s face.
�I��

�I know,� Ron said glumly, and looked off to the side. �Vampire stuff, right?�

�We sense attack and we act,� Severus said softly, feeling
remorseful. He wanted to step close again and caress Ron�s face, but he did not
know if it would be permitted. �I�m sorry.�

�I need to know this stuff, Severus, if we�re going to have
any kind of chance.�

�I know you do. That was actually why I was� well. I said I was going to the
library, but I was lying to Minerva to have the chance to get you alone.�

Severus reached into his pocket and took out the book he�d
shrunk to give to Ron. He knew that the redhead was not one for reading, but at
least he was offering. �I know I should tell you these things� but if you were
me, Ron, would you find it easy to tell the person you�re� well. Could you talk
easily about such matters?�

�I suppose I couldn�t,� Ron gave a little gesture of agreement.

�This is� well, a book written about being a vampire, by
those that know. It was given to me when I was changed, Bridgette seemed to
think it was one of the most accurate and I suppose it is� but then we are all
different. No human can be defined by a text book, and nor can a vampire.�

He pressed the book into Ron�s good hand and felt relieved
when the binding left his fingers. Whatever came of Ron having that book, it
was done now. �Just enlarge it when you are ready to read it.�

�I figured, seeing as I�m not pint-sized,� Ron�s mouth
twitched, and Severus gave him a small smirk in return.

�We will work something out,� Severus said softly, stepping
closer to Ron. �This isn�t over. Just because Albus has spoken, he hasn�t
forbidden anything.�

�Yet,� Ron said ruefully, wishing the tightness in his chest
would leave. He had a sneaking suspicion he knew what it was.

�Oh, don�t mope,� Severus scolded. �Scurry off and cry
somewhere and I�m sure you�ll feel better then.�

�I am not going to cry,� Ron muttered, though he know
definitely knew what the tightness in his chest was then, and that which was creeping
into his throat. �I�ll have a read of this tonight. Thank you.�

�Go and get your hand healed. Please.� Severus affixed that
to the end in an attempt to cover his harsh words from before.

�You think a please makes up for everything,� Ron muttered
astutely.

�Does it not?�

�Not with me,� Ron rolled his eyes. �Not with many people.�

�Does this fix it?� Severus stepped forward and kissed Ron
firmly on the lips, tongue sweeping against the silken flesh in an owning
gesture.

�Marginally,� Ron flicked him a glance.

Frustrated, but trying hard, Severus tugged Ron�s good hand
to his mouth and kissed the narrow wrist. �What about this� a show of good
faith?�

�For who?� Ron snorted. �You get
blood. I get a hard-on which probably won�t go away.�

Severus ignored him and sank his teeth into the soft flesh.
Ron�s head was beginning to thump from the way he had hit the wall and it was exacerbated
by the erotic flow of blood and the stirring in his groin. He watched Severus
drink with his head still against the wall and lazily groaned. Severus groaned
right back at him and Ron wanted to curse as his prick swelled encased in his
trousers, but he couldn�t find the energy.

Detaching spotlessly, Severus checked that the puncture
marks were non-existent, then reached for the replenisher. He tipped some into Ron�s mouth without the
redhead moving a muscle.

�Thank you,� Severus whispered, and brushed a kiss over
Ron�s cheek.

�Mmkay,� Ron sighed and did not
move.

�Ron, you�re� we�re going to get through this.�

�I hope you�re right,� Ron shrugged. �I can�t work up the
energy to believe that, to be honest, but there we go.�

�Well I�m not exactly skipping with pre-empted joy here.�

�I�m glad. I don�t think Hogwarts is ready for the sight of
you skipping,� Ron grinned half-heartedly at the floor.

***

Ron was sat on his bed, surrounded by the remnants of his
raided food stash; the book Severus had given him was propped open in his lap.
He had a neck ache from sitting cross-legged looking at it for so long, but he
found that he could not stop.

The book was certainly informative; he had to give it that.
He wasn�t quite sure what it was making him feel, but so many things about
Severus seemed to fall into place as he read.

Like the way he can
only drink posh booze. It�s because his taste buds are in overdrive.

And, that apparently was the reason vampires could not eat
overly sour foods, like anything with overpowering lemon extract. Ron was
currently in the chapter one vampire psychology and behaviour. His eyes raked
over the pages, looking for something to jump out at him, when one line did. �The Vampire Depression�.

Reaching for another parsnip crisp, Ron read with interested
eyes.

�The Vampire
Depression is a common ailment which affects younglings immediately after their
change. The onset is simple �an abrupt upheaval of life: the end of the mortal
life, and dealing with the bodily and dietary changes which come with the curse
of Vampirism. The depression is, in most cases, severe, as younglings fail to
cope with their enhanced emotions sufficiently. Those who do not benefit from
the presence of a mentor are prone to suicidal tendencies, though, it is not
written than even younglings with such guidance will not feel this turmoil.�

Ron chewed on his lip. So far in the book he had not found
any reference to the change making vampires physically ill, as Severus seemed
to imply on Christmas night.

So was it this he was
referring to? And he wanted�

Swallowing hard, Ron snapped the book shut and leapt off the
bed with the intention of legging it down to the dungeons and throwing his arms
around his vampire, just to quell the sick feeling which bubbled in his
stomach. He even had the dorm door open, before he remembered he was only in
pyjama bottoms, with bare feet and top half, and it was half past eleven at
night.

And he�s not� he
wouldn�t appreciate that. You have to learn this, Ron.

Glaring at the book like it was to blame Ron sat down primly
on the edge of his bed and picked it up again, opening the cover.

�Much to the
consternation of Muggles, garlic and Christian religious symbolism have
absolutely no detrimental effects on a vampire�s health at all. In fact,
several vampires delight in garlicky food and many collect relics such as
crosses to adorn their homes �enjoying the ironic humour.�

Ron had never seen a cross in Severus� quarters, which was odd;
he seemed like sort that would find such an entendre amusing. He flicked
forward and picked out another random passage.

�Vampires are by
nature loyal, loving creatures. Experience has shown that should someone be
turned who in their mortal life was considered �flighty�, in their immortal
life they immediately choose a life partner and stay loyal. Such is the vampire
way. Love is not a feeling which can be easily cast aside by our kind.�

Ron read over that again and took in the words. Severus had
said that eventually, he and Ron would love one another. And according to that
passage, Severus would love him deeply enough that he was loyal for life.

It was a chilling and thrilling thought all at the same
time. Ron stopped reading and looked up at the wall of their dormitory. A man who would seemingly love him forever, as long as he lived.
And possibly beyond that.

He could truly love me
forever if he changed me.

Ron was beginning to wonder if something was seriously wrong
with them both. Severus had said that his friend in France had asked, and then Dumbledore
had hinted, at Ron�s mortality being a big issue. The friend in France thought
Severus was mad to keep him mortal. But Ron found he had no desire to live
forever. He pitied Severus for his curse, and wouldn�t wish it on anybody. It
was enough he had to deal with Severus suffering it.

But if he was faced with it, would Ron take on immortality,
if Severus would give it to him?

No. Not at the moment.
But then there will be years of this. Maybe at some point�

Ron gave his head a little shake. That was not the purpose
of him having the book, to think on the possibilities ahead of them. Severus
was adamant he was not changing Ron, it seemed, and Ron was content for it to
stay that way. And Ron knew Severus was surprised by that.

He can drink from me
forever� Ron shrugged. But then� when
you surpass him in age, and looks� Ron had a very bizarre image of himself
at eighty holding the hand of Severus, stuck forever at thirty-five. He would
look like the man�s father. But even that image did not make Ron yearn to be
changed, to be equal with the Slytherin.

Maybe there�s
something wrong with my head. Maybe I�m supposed to want to be changed. But
then he would have done it by now. Nobody need know� and he�d be there to guide
me through my �depression�. But he hasn�t. And I don�t want him to.

Ron stared down at the book in his hands.

Is that selfish? I�d
live my life, happy� and die happy� and leave him behind�

He sighed and looked mawkishly out of the window, which had
snow was drifting past.

Severus�d give you a right smack on the arse if he
were here.

The thought cracked a grin onto Ron�s face. Severus would
most definitely be slapping at his backside if he could see the picture Ron
painted, alone in his room, mooning over his Potions Master.

He would also wonder
why the hell you had a smile on your face� you have no idea what�s going to
happen.

Ron looked down at the old book in his hands, clearly well
used. It was good for teaching him about Severus� reactions to things, like the
anger issues and the way Ron had obtained a slight concussion from his head
hitting the wall when Severus pounced.

We�ll ignore the fact
that I�m hurt he thought I�d attack him� Ron was determined on that point.

But there were so many things the book could not teach him;
those things had to come Severus himself. Ron could
learn that he if ever had to cook for Severus not to feed him eggs as most
vampires were allergic to them, even if they were not before they were turned,
and he could learn that the scent of lilies acted as an aphrodisiac� but as to
what really made Severus tick, only the man himself could tell him.

Ron got up from the bed with the book and walked to the
window, settling down on the cold deep ledge to look out at the falling snow.
It was in that white expanse that they had been seen.

The cold dread which had been plaguing him all afternoon
struck Ron in the stomach and he braced a hand on the window, gripping until
his knuckles turned white. There was one question on his mind which kept
floating back.

If this all went to
hell in a hand basket� would you give him up?

Ron looked at the book in his hand. Ron Weasley did not read
for just anybody. And certainly, he would not desert someone who needed his
blood. Someone who would fall in love with him and that he could very easily
love back.

Then you know your
answer. So stop asking the question.

Ron set his jaw and saw his determined reflection in the
dorm window.

No. I will not give
him up.

---

A/N: Sorry for the inconclusive nature. You are hanging,
just like they are. ;)
- 7
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- 9
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