Harry paced back and forth in his dorm room. He stopped now and then, thinking he'd heard him approaching from the hall, but he was wrong each time. He'd avoided Ron all day, and he knew his friend was getting suspicious. But how could he face him? How could he look him in the eye after the dream he'd had the night before? He couldn't. It was that simple. He couldn't bring himself to look at him, much less talk to him and act normal. It wasn't possible. Every time he tried, he felt his face growing hot and felt the nearly overwhelming urge to giggle.
He'd never had those dreams or feelings for any of the other boys, much less Ron. Why now? Was it just a dream? Did he actually have those feelings for his friend, or was he simply feeling uncomfortable because of the dream. If life at Hogwarts wasn't bad enough, throw in the fact that he might be falling for Ron Weasley, and his school life would be a complete and utter hell. If he were falling for Ron, and wasn't simply having odd, meaningless dreams, he knew that Ron would never return those feelings. He would be complete in knowing rejection if not only girls laughted at his awkwardness at showing his interest in them, but if boys started to as well. And, oh, wouldn't the Dursleys love that. Not only is their nuisance of a nephew a wizard, he might be a gay one at that. He could just imagine their faces. Although, that did bring a small smile to his own face.
Some of the Slytherins had made rude little jokes about Ron and Harry's close relationship over the last six years, but he'd always shrugged it off. There was nothing there, never would be. That's what Harry had thought, until last night. He still felt flushed even thinking of the dream. He sat on the edge of his bed and collapsed back and sighed. This was going to be absolute hell until he forgot about the dream.
"Hey, Harry." Ron said as he came in the door quickly and chucked his jacket off onto the chair by his bed. "You feeling alright?" he asked as he sat down and took his shoes off.
"Yeah, fine." Harry said as he sat up and fidgeted with the blanket. "Just been a long day."
"You're telling me." Ron groaned. "I've got detention." he said. "Stupid Fred and George. They know I can't pass up one of those roach bombs."
"Roach bombs?" Harry asked.
"Yeah, bomb that goes off, sending roaches scattering everywhere." he smiled. "It's brilliant. Until Snape catches you with one." he added as he unbuttoned his school shirt and changed into a t-shirt.
"That's rough." Harry mumbled as he looked away.
"Yeah, I wanted to go watch your practice, but I can't now." Ron said as he put on a pair of sneakers. "I've gotta go, Snape'll give me a week's worth of detention if I'm late."
"Have fun." Harry called after the red haired boy.
Have fun? He's going to spend detention with Snape, and he told him to have fun? Idiot! he scolded himself mentally. He might as well have told him to go give Fluffy a nice big hug, it was just as likely to happen. Have fun, indeed!
Harry got up and looked out the window. Quidditch practice, that would help him get his mind off that dream, and Ron. Smiling weakly, the grabbed his broom and jacket and headed out the door.
"Harry!" Hermione's voice called to him as he reached the portrait hole. "Wait for me."
"Not staying in to do your class work?" he asked as they headed down the hall.
"I'm all done." she smiled as she buttoned up her coat. "I can't believe you always practice is such horrid weather."
"Can't cancel practice because of some rain." he shrugged.
"I suppose not." she replied. "Why have you been so odd today?" she asked after a moments silence.
"I haven't." Harry quickly argued.
"Yes you have." she said. "You've avoided Ron and I all day. Are you mad at us about something?"
"I've not avoided you." he said as he looked straight ahead, not risking her knowing from his expression that he was lying.
"You barely said two words to either of us in any class." she reminded him. "And then, after dinner, you just bolted up to your room."
"I've had a long day." he said.
"You know, don't you, that if you ever need to talk, I'm here." she said softly as they walked outside.
"I know." he nodded. "I really do."
"Do you really?" she asked, not completely convinced. "If either of us have done anything to annoy you..."
"It's no you, Hermione." he interrupted. "Not you, it's me."
"What do you mean, it's you?" she asked as they neared the quidditch field.
"I can't talk now." he said as he took his jacket off and started off for the field, ready to mount his broom.
"But you will talk to me later, won't you?" Hermione asked.
"I think so." he said uncertainly. "I hope so."