When the Past Catches Up with You...

When the Past Catches Up with You...

Chapter 7 - Reunion

The setting sun slowly disappeared behind the crests of the Carpathians and only thick wads of smoke still welling up from the stadium blurred the image. Even now, hours after the explosion, nobody had been able to remedy the damage. It would probably take several more days for the repair work and rumours as to the further progress of the Quidditch World Cup were bleak.

Draco Malfoy stood at the window of his lodging and looked pensively out towards the place where he had been witness to a disaster only a few hours ago. He had come back to the inn quite recently and tried to sort out his thoughts about the events.

After his encounter with Vincent Crabbe, he had sneaked back to the stadium to get a better idea of the situation. Though he knew that it could get dangerous, his curiosity had been too strong. And after all, it was a matter of finding out about his father's plans more than Crabbe could've told him.

He had been lurking all the time but he had only barely been able to escape security a few times. He had watched two of his father's henchmen getting arrested by the Aurors - both sons of two most respectable followers of Voldemort, apart from Lucius, of course. Draco was surprised that he hadn't seen any of the experienced Death Eaters. He slowly got the idea that the attack at the Quidditch World Cup had been some kind of test, a demonstration of loyalty.

'Not really successful,' the Slytherin thought as the last sunrays finally disappeared behind the mountains.

But the one thing worrying him the most was Vincent's statement. His father had never mentioned anything about an assault on the Ministry in his presence. 'How much does he really mistrust me?' The thought about his father's deceitful scheming sent a cold shiver down his back. He had learnt so much from his father during the years but he still couldn't predict what he was up to next.

But the way it looked now, all of the previous attacks had been planned as red herrings. Maybe his father's intention was that the Ministry would turn to international matters. If they thought Voldemort had decided to concentrate on other countries, they could be stupid enough to neglect their inner security. 'But whom did they infiltrate?' The blond Slytherin couldn't figure anybody the Ministry wouldn't observe suspiciously.

In spite of everything, Draco had to admit to himself that he couldn't change anything right now. And breaking off everything and going back to Malfoy Manor because of a vague idea was out of the question. 'Well, I won't get stirred from my resolve to find the diamond. So I have no other choice than to risk the wrath of my father and him abandoning me. I'd rather get on his wrong side than keep up with my life as it has been during the last years.'

He was still too agitated to stay in his room now and dwell on his thoughts. He needed something to distract him and so he went down into the small lounge, asking the publican about the possibilities in town this time of day. He was referred to a club nearby where, according to the publican's words, mainly the somewhat younger generation lingered.

The blond Slytherin didn't actually care if he was amidst contemporaries or not. However he decided that anything was better than sitting alone in his room, brooding over the Death Eaters' intentions and getting a headache from it.

Therefore he headed to the address the publican had given him, only a short walk away. On his way he didn't meet many people, apparently too many were frightened by the events of the day. Occasionally he saw some standing together in dark corners, talking excitedly. But Draco didn't understand enough of their national language to form an intelligible sentence from the fragments he caught. Yet their gestures and glances were more than enough to tell him he was right with his guesses.

When he had left the inn, it had struck him that even in its taproom it had been unusually empty. During the last days, there had been a lot going on in the small room at this hour. But today there had only been two guests present. And even they didn't seem in particularly good spirits.

Draco supposed the club his publican had recommended probably wouldn't be that crowded either and was surprised all the more when he saw how many people were in the place.

He had almost missed the entrance. Nothing but a tiny sign at a wooden door indicated a club behind the walls. But when a somewhat drunken guest came out of the door, loud music streamed out onto the street and pulled Draco out of his deep thoughts. However, he first looked around sceptically before he entered the club. In spite of everything, he had misgivings and he didn't want to get involved even more than he already was. And after all, he still wasn't completely sure every Death Eater had disappeared.

'Why am I not able to relax just once?' Draco sighed inwardly. 'It's about time I find the diamond. Then everything will hopefully get to an end.'

But when the smoky atmosphere of the club and the music enclosed him, he didn't have a chance to follow his thoughts anymore. Surprisingly, many people were in the large room, whose extent he never would've expected from the outside. In the middle of the room there was a small dance floor where varying amounts of people moved to the sounds of different types of music.

All around were bars, alcoves and tables at which small groups had formed here and there. Judging by their behaviour, they too were dealing with the events of the day, but their moods weren't as clouded as the other people of the town. Indeed, Draco picked up that some people were whispering agitatedly with each, observing their surroundings nervously at times. But most of the clientele seemed to look for diversion and distraction in this club.

Draco glanced over the room and noticed a wide staircase leading to a gallery, from which you could have a good look on the lower level. He decided to watch the happenings for a while from this place. 'Who knows, maybe this evening provides for some distraction eventually.'

After having managed to get a glass of fire whiskey from one of the bartenders, he went towards the staircase. Here and there he saw faces of the security team he had avoided during the past day at the stadium and instinctively he asked himself if Ron could possibly be here too. But he quickly pushed this thought away. If he wanted to look for some distraction, this was the last thing helping him.

But when he had walked up the first steps he noticed out of the corner of his eye the blazing red hair that was so familiar to him in one of the alcoves that he stood still in an instant. Draco's feelings were abruptly all mixed up. 'Why does HE of all people have to be here?' As much as he wanted to meet Ron again, he was also afraid of it. Memories from their shared past came up again, thoughts about how happy they had been. But all this was suddenly overshadowed by pictures of their break-up. Would Ron even want to see him? How would this reunion affect them and their new lives?

Every moment that passed, he began to think less clearly. It was as if his heart had stopped beating. Maybe it was the atmosphere of the club, he couldn't really describe it, but it was different than at the stadium when he had seen him at the VIP lounge. Or maybe it was just the lack of tension he had felt that moment.

When someone shoved him, mumbling an apology, he found himself back in the present. Inwardly he swore at himself about his reaction. 'It can't be that this can upset me so much... No, not now. Only when everything's over, maybe then I can try again. This is definitely the wrong moment.'

With feelings still confused, Draco decided to leave the club again as fast as possible. He was sure that he wouldn't be able find distraction anymore. But when he turned around his gaze once again came to rest upon the table Ron was sitting at and what he could see in the crepuscular light made him freeze instantly.

Ron wasn't alone.

Someone sat next to him and way too close for Draco's liking. He couldn't pinpoint it but it seemed as though the other person was leaning closer and closer towards Ron. Draco didn't know why but he couldn't stop himself from getting nearer, trying to see more. And when he finally was near enough to the table, he noticed that this other person was the security guy he had seen Ron with at the VIP lounge.

He watched him drawing his tongue along Ron's throat and his guts tied into a knot. He had no right to disturb this intimate situation but something inside of him couldn't stop him staring at them. A feeling of agitation, fury and jealousy welled up inside of him when he saw how Ron reacted to the actions of the other man. Memories of times where he himself had caused such reactions in Ron were all too clear in his mind and strengthened these feelings painfully.

He knew that time had changed everything and their common past was lying too far behind them for him to be somewhat entitled to be angry. But he just couldn't fight against the feelings he had tried to repress for so long.

But then he saw something that brought his mind immediately back to the present. One of the white spotlights from the dance floor had cast its light shortly over their table and Draco could see how an unusually long pointed tooth reflected the light at Ron's neck. When he realised what was going on he immediately felt this instinct to protect Ron again and he lost control to the upcoming rage inside of him. Without giving another thought, he lunged at the vampire and tore him away from Ron.

A few glasses fell from the table because of his moves and shattered into a thousand pieces, spreading all across the floor. But Draco didn't care about it as he threw the vampire into the next corner. "Don't you even dare come near him again, you blood-sucking piece of scum!" he hissed at him, a dangerous growl coming out of his throat and a flash in his eyes that left no doubt about how far he was willing to go.

It was only when he noticed that Ron was looking at him with a somewhat paralysed stare that Draco's gaze left the vampire's and looked instead into the deep blue that had haunted him in his dreams for years. And it was with that stare that he suddenly felt realisation dawn on him, understanding that his actions would change more than he had been prepared to face. He couldn't breathe anymore, an invisible hand pinching off his air supply...

^~~^~~^~

Ron needed a while to realise what had been going on but nonetheless he still wasn't able to take in everything. In front of him stood the one person who had never left his thoughts entirely, even when his life had taken a complete turn. At his feet lay a pretty confused Marian, eyes wide with fear and his mouth open with shock but no sound escaping his lips.

Only now Ron noticed the long canine teeth, obviously prominent, and a cold shiver ran down his spine. 'Had he really intended to...?' Puzzled, he glanced between Draco and the vampire.

"What...? But...?"

He wasn't able to form a coherent sentence, too many thoughts buzzing around in his head, leaving a mix of feelings behind.

What seemed like an age to Ron had in actuality probably only been a few seconds, as he looked enquiringly from one to the other. His gaze then settled on the stormy-grey eyes that brought up so many memories. Draco withstood his look with his own and Ron could see in them the same emotional mess he was afflicted with right now.

But suddenly Draco averted his gaze jerkily and Ron observed that Marian tried to steal away unnoticed. However, he hadn't reckoned on the blond Slytherin's capacity of reaction and didn't get farther than one or two metres until Draco dragged him back.

"Where do you think you're going? Do you really think you can sneak out of this that easily?"

Marian only looked confused and scared towards his assailant who, by now, had aimed his wand at him. Ron wondered how the Romanian had lost his self-confidence that fast.

Some of the guests who had been standing nearby paused their chats and looked at them with interest. But when Draco snarled at them angrily they turned their backs and recommenced talking to their respective neighbour, as though they were used to such scenes. In fact, not one person seemed worried in the slightest about a wizard threatening another person with his wand. It was likely the patrons had learned it was safer to keep out of other people's affairs. Even in a wizards' village and in dark times like these, solidarity didn't seem to be of the utmost importance.

Eventually Ron regained his speech. "By Merlin's beard, what's going on here?"

When Draco turned towards him the sparkle in his eyes was back, signalling to Ron that the Slytherin was unpredictable at the moment.

"You didn't know that he's a vampire? Even though you're working with him? That figures!"

Ron winced at the jibe. 'Since when is it me standing in the dock?' But he decided to discuss this topic later. For now he wanted to hear the truth from his colleague.

"Marian?" It wasn't more than a whisper but the other man had understood him, glancing sheepishly towards him.

"It's true. Well, at least partly... My mother's a witch and thus I'm something like a half-vampire." All this seemed to only raise more questions for Ron. He saw that Marian seemed to be uneasy but didn't want to let him go just yet. He still needed more answers.

As if the Romanian could read his thoughts he continued, halting slightly. "My kind isn't really welcome amongst the wizards, so I hid it. Who would have given me a chance otherwise?" His look got more and more pleading, as if begging Ron to not tell on him, to give him a second chance.

"And what was this just now?" Ron felt the lump in his throat but he just had to know. After all, he had been up to much more than a simple working relationship recently.

"I... I didn't... I really didn't want to hurt you. It was just... Sometimes these sensations just come over me and... there was your blood... and... suddenly I wasn't able to hold back anymore. I... I never really intended for this to happen."

Ron could see it in his eyes that he was telling the truth and while he still had so many questions and wanted to know more about him, he just couldn't bring himself to put even more pressure on Marian. In addition, he didn't know if he could bear with anymore at that moment. Besides, there was someone else he had to deal with.

Ron closed his eyes for a short moment and breathed deeply. 'Why does everything have to be so damn complicated?'

But when he opened his eyes again and looked at the spot Draco had stood just seconds before, there was nothing. 'Oh no,' Ron thought, jumping up from his seat as if an Acromantula had come down right behind him. 'You're not going to escape me that easy.' He turned to Marian and mumbled "We're going to talk later." Then he disappeared towards the dance floor, where he had spotted the blond amongst the crowd.

Due to his size, Ron had no problems keeping Draco in sight. He fought his way through the crowd, not caring who he pushed aside in his hurry or whom he stepped on. He didn't take notice of the angry comments either. What he wanted were the answers to his questions, questions suddenly brought to his mind by the Slytherin's presence.

It didn't take long for him to catch up with Draco and he stopped him with a firm grip on his arm. When he turned around, Ron noticed that the expression in Draco's eyes had changed. Though there was still anger to see, seething deep inside of him, there was more behind the façade. And he knew him too well to get fooled by it now. He would find out about the reason for the blond to come back into his life.

But Draco didn't seem to be overzealous on a conversation with his ex-lover and broke away from Ron's grip.

"What do you want?"

"I think the question is what YOU want?" Ron countered somewhat bemused. Why was everything against him today?

"I don't know what you're talking about. And now excuse me, I'm not really keen on spending more time with pathetic wizards and a spawn of vampire."

But Ron didn't let himself get misled by Draco's words. He just knew too well from experience that this was only a typical response from the Slytherin when he felt pressed or didn't know how to deal with his emotions.

"You know as well as me that's not the truth. So, just spit it out! Why all this fuss? And why are you here?"

"Not your business why I'm here," Draco hissed. "And this encounter is a mere accident. But as I already said, I won't disturb you anymore." With these words he turned again and walked towards the exit.

Ron was too puzzled for a few seconds to react directly, giving Draco the advantage he needed to get out of reach. But he didn't want to give up that fast and felt the rage beginning to build up inside of him. He was furious about the dishonesty of the Slytherin and his inability to just stand by anything for once. But despite all this, he just couldn't let him get away. He had thought of him so many times during the past few weeks that he couldn't and didn't want to waste this opportunity.

When he got to the exit, Ron just about spotted the blond man disappear though the door and went after him with quick strides. But when he stepped outside into the clear and cold night air he couldn't see him anymore. Only darkness encircled him, the light from a street lamp flickering sporadically but the light was far from enough to illuminate the surroundings.

A deep-drawn sigh escaped his lips and cursing inwardly, Ron went to the next street corner. Maybe he could still find him. After all, he hadn't been so far behind him. 'There's no way he's returning into my life just like that only to run off again just as fast without...'

But Ron didn't get the chance to finish his thought, because when he had reached the corner a hand darted out and pulled him into the small alley. He got pressed against the next wall with full force and Ron's first thought was that the Death Eaters had ambushed him. The alley was pitch black, the only lamp in the corner probably broken for a long time and Ron might as well have worn a blindfold; the effect would've been the same.

Slowly he felt panic rise. He never should've been so careless, going out on the streets without company. After a day like today when there still could be Death Eaters around. But then he heard a familiar whisper near his ear.

"Why are you following me, Weasley?"

He could stop a sigh of relief escaping his lips on realising that it wasn't a Death Eater but Draco, but at the same time the oppressive feeling in his chest got stronger and more questions formed inside his mind. 'What if Draco...? No, he wouldn't do that. Not after what we had... Would he?'

"I asked you something! Or have you lost your ability to form sentences?" Draco's voice sounded a tad taunting, which didn't help Ron to lose his confusion. He had to swallow hard before he was able to speak a single word.

"What... what do you want here?" was the only thing Ron could grind out with his shaking voice.

"I told you already that it's not your business. So why do you still care?"

Draco's stubbornness was beginning to annoy him. Who did he think he was? And somehow, Ron found the strength of his voice again, encouraged by his still not completely subsided rage over the Slytherin's obstinacy.

"Don't play one of your games with me. You were at the stadium today, am I right? Are you and your father behind this attack?" Ron noticed how the hold on his collar tightened, but slowly he got his courage back and decided to keep on talking insistently to his opponent. "What was your order? To kill me? Was this the reason why you turned up here tonight?"

A disdainful snort was the only thing Ron got for an answer before Draco let up on him again.

"You have no idea..." Ron thought he could hear a hint of melancholy in his voice, but he wasn't really sure.

"Then please explain it to me. How am I supposed to think anything else? It was always..."

Ron's sentence got interrupted abruptly when Draco pressed himself against him again all of a sudden. And then his lips were on his own, at first wild and demanding, then tender and almost shy and everything around Ron started to become blurred. Long forgotten emotions welled up again and it was as if time had stood still. Deep down inside Ron knew that it was probably not a very smart idea but at that moment in time he wouldn't have given a damn if this kiss lasted forever.