From Friendship, True Love Springs

Harry sat in breakfast with his friends Ron and Hermione. He wasn't eating very much. He had just glimpsed Cho Chang, the Ravenclaw seeker who at 17 was a year older than him, and was lost in daydreams.

"Hello? Harry?" Hermione was waving a hand in front of his face. Harry came back to reality with a jolt.

"What?"

"Harry, you haven't been listening to a word, I've been saying. I was asking about your Divination class.

"Oh right."

Harry glanced to Ron on his left. Ron wasn't eating either, which was unusual for Ron who loved his food.

"Er, Ron?" said Harry tentatively.

"Uh?" said Ron, but he wasn't concentrating.

"You're a right pair aren't you?" snapped Hermione "I'm going to the library before lessons start!"

With that she grabbed her bag and whizzed out of the dining room.

Ron had a secret. He hadn't told anyone not even Harry. And especially not Hermione. No way. It was to do with her. The secret was embarrassing enough without it being spread around.

He had spent a lot of time thinking about it, until it dominated his thoughts. It was the first thing he thought about in the morning and the last thing he thought about a night. He even dreamt about it.

It had started a couple of weeks ago. It had crept up on him so slowly he had hardly noticed. And now it had burst upon him, occupying his every thought.

Now he was in its grip and he couldn't escape. Not that he really wanted to.

It was with a heavy heart that Ron arrived at the dimly lit corridor for his Potions class that afternoon. He noted, upon his arrival, that Hermione and Harry were already there, leaning against the wall, with depressed expressions on their faces. Luckily, Malfoy was not there.

But his luck did not last out for long. Around the corner, swaggered Malfoy flanked by his cronies, Goyle and Crabbe.

"Well, well, what have we got here?" his pale features cracking into a grin. "My two favourite Gryffindors."

"Get lost Malfoy," muttered Ron. He was not in the mood for a fight

"Potter and the Weasel." The Slytherins around him sniggered. "Look forward to losing the Quidditch match next week, Potter."

"Do yourself a favour and shut up, Malfoy," threatened Harry.

"Ooh, I'm so scared," said Malfoy in mock horror. His eyes slid to Hermione. "I see you still got that Mudblood hanging around you." he sneered.

Crash! Ron leapt forward on top of Malfoy pushing him onto the floor. Harry and Hermione lurched forward and grabbed him, pulling him off.

"Stop it Ron, he's not worth it!" yelled Hermione, as she and Harry struggled to keep Ron away from Malfoy.

Malfoy sat up from where he was sprawled across the floor. " Funny how you were so desperate to protect the Mudblood, Weasel" he jeered. He glanced briefly at Hermione and then back to Ron again. "One would almost think..."

He never got to finish his sentence. At that moment Snape swept round the corner.

"Ahh, Potter, Weasley" he said, spotting his least favourite pupils gathered around his favourite. "What have you been doing to Mr. Malfoy?"

Malfoy wiped the smirk from his face and replaced it with an innocent one. "It was all Potter and Weasley sir. Weasley attacked me for no reason and Potter egged him on."

"Five points from Gryffindor each" drawled Snape as Malfoy scrambled up from the floor. "And a detention for both of you at tomorrow lunchtime." With that he swept into the classroom, the rest of the class and Hermione following him.

Harry and Ron turned to enter the classroom, but Malfoy stood in their way with a self- satisfied smile.

" So," he smirked, "Weasley's gone and got himself a bit of a crush has he? Never thought you'd sink that low. However your father's always been a fan of bits of old Muggle rubbish hasn't he? Like father, like son, eh?"

"You don't know what you're talking about Malfoy" muttered Harry but Malfoy only laughed nastily and entered the classroom.

Ron stared at the floor as he and Harry walked into the classroom, trying to ignore the sick feeling that was growing in the pit of his stomach. Now Malfoy knew his secret, it meant he had power over Ron. God knows what would happen now....

TO BE CONTINUED...