On the ninth day of Christmas...
First Snowfall (Ron/Draco)
Ron had been walking alone, out towards the lake, when he looked up and saw Malfoy. Maybe there was something to the still air, but Ron stopped. A shiver ran through his body and it had nothing to do with the chilly breeze.
The sun was setting in front of Malfoy and a light snow had started to fall. The pink and orange sky contrasted with the dark shape of the blond boy. His hair shimmered and Ron reflected on how vulnerable he looked. He thought Malfoy had been losing weight and his skin had a sickly glow about it.
The snow was coming down in fluffy chunks and stuck to Ron's cloak. Malfoy turned around and Ron's breath caught in his throat. But instead of the usual snide remarks, Malfoy just seemed to glide past him. He didn't speak but instead nodded at Ron.
Ron had the sudden urge to reach out and protect the boy. Maybe it was the season, maybe it was just because of his brotherly instinct, but Ron refused to believe it was something else.
"It's snowing," he said dumbly and Malfoy gave him a strange half smile. Snow was clinging to Malfoy's hair and eyelashes, the cold giving some color to his pale face. Malfoy turned and walked away and Ron had to restrain himself from calling out.
It was that moment, with the snow falling and the sun setting, that Ron would later realize that he feel for Malfoy. And whenever the snow started to fall for the first time during the year, Ron would remember every detail of that moment.