A/N:
This is a sequel to Without Grace and a part of The Third Wheel -series. TICTAC begins maybe TEN MINUTES after Without Grace ends, so I STRONGLY recommend reading WG first — at least the Part II (starting from chapter 6). Please remember, it's been almost two years since Harry and Ron last met. Things might be a bit awkward :P
This story is AU: Fred, Tonks and Remus are alive but George & Percy are dead. There's no Teddy, nor marriage between Tonks/Remus. This really doesn't matter because the story concentrates on relationships — there's really not so much plot in this : P Oh, Harry's an Auror, but Ron's not.
Super-thanks to my awesome beta Cloudy for his remarkable help with this story :3
Warning: TICTAC contains mature themes, drinking and a LARGE bit of bad language! There are also ADULT THEMES (= sex), so BEWARE! This chapter is max PG, though.
Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling owns the Potters, not me. I'm just playing with them. Don't sue!
TWO IS COMPANY, THREE'S A CROWD
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Prologue
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The orchestra began a new piece, but Harry was still sitting aside from the partying guests. His unseeing eyes were fixed on the dancers, but he didn't see them. Not really. He did become aware, though, as someone came to stand beside him. He shot the person an uninterested glance, but as he recognized the gaunt man draped in a gray cloak, he could do nothing but keep staring at him in a shock.
"Ron..."
Ron only looked at Harry from the corner of his peripheral vision.
"Hi," he said with a bleak voice.
"What... I mean, how... umm, what are you doing here?" Harry stammered. He was almost certain he was hallucinating, because how could Ron really be here? Harry's pulse raced.
"I got an invitation, too," he said shortly.
Harry didn't know what to say. Ron wasn't keen on continuing the discussion, either — not before he noticed Hermione and Fred appearing from amongst the dancing guests on the floor.
"Well, at least they look happy," he said in a voice that was neither bitter nor happy. Resigned, Harry decided.
"Y-yes," Harry admitted after glimpsing the dance floor himself.
Ron lowered his eyes and stood still, not knowing what to say or do. Coming to the wedding had been a major step for him, but he was still unsure about whether he was ready for it or not. Here he was, inside the white marquee standing in front of his old home, filled with the closest people he had; and yet, he felt like he shouldn't be here. He kept shifting weight from one foot to the other.
Harry stared at Ron unabashedly, still not quite believing his eyes. There were thousands of questions whirling inside his head: was Ron still mad at him? Where had he been these last two years, and most importantly, had he come to stay? Before he had voiced any of the questions aloud, Ron took a deep breath and let it out slowly.
"I guess it was worth it, then."
He shrugged and turned away, slipping out the same way he had come in. Harry leapt to his feet and ran after him.
"Wait for me!" Harry shouted after getting out. Ron stopped but didn't turn around. Harry hesitated. What would he say? What could he say that he hadn't said before?
"Why... I mean, how've you been?" he finally uttered, then swore under his breath — really clever.
Ron turned, though, and there was a smile on his face. Just a tiny one, but nevertheless, it made Harry's breathing a bit easier.
"Better," Ron answered, pulling his cloak tighter around him. "I mean, that's not really much when you think about how messed up I was then."
Harry's eyes widened.
"I mean, I got pretty scared," Ron continued, glancing nervously at Harry, "And ended up getting help."
"That's great!" Harry exclaimed and took a couple of steps closer.
"Yeah, it is," Ron admitted, drawing himself up. "How 'bout you?"
Harry opened his mouth, but froze, as from inside the marquee, there came loud laughter. He glanced at the opening, but looked hurriedly back at Ron, afraid that if he stopped staring at him, Ron could disappear any minute.
"Wanna go to the swings?" Ron asked, his eyes darting around at the figures looming behind the white cloth. "I'm not in the mood for explaining everything to everyone."
Harry nodded quickly and followed Ron to the maple trees standing at the end of the yard. Arthur had put up three swings on their branches years ago. The weather was crisp for June, but the excitement bubbling inside Harry kept him warm.
Ron was here!
They sat next to each other for a moment. Ron took a go on the swing, then hoisted his legs up, letting it sway back and forth.
"How was the wedding?" he finally asked.
"Okay, I guess. They both said the right names, and neither of them lost the ring."
Ron chuckled, turning his eyes finally at Harry who had been staring at him the whole time. It made Ron anxious but felt strangely thrilling at the same time.
Harry's starched, white shirt shone brightly amidst the dusky night. Ron also registered the loosened, golden tie and the opened collar underneath it — as well as the pale strip of skin that was clearly visible beneath. Harry didn't have a cloak but was dressed in a dark Muggle suit. His jacket was unbuttoned, and the silk-lined lapels rose up as he grabbed the swing ropes. Between them, Ron could see the belt encircling Harry's narrow hips, and its buckle that carried the Auror logo (the letter A formed by two wands, and the words "Great Britain" as a crossbar).
Harry cleared his throat, and Ron's eyes darted at Harry's, which were still fixed on him. For a second, they stared at each other, and then Ron lowered his eyes again.
Harry tormented his brain, trying to figure out something to talk about. What had Ron asked him before?
"Oh, yeah," he remembered at last. "I'm fine. Working mostly."
He wanted to tell Ron how miserable he had been, but couldn't find the courage. The fact that Ron was here, in the Burrow, still felt more like a dream than reality, and Harry was afraid that if he said the wrong words, Ron would disappear again. But Ron just nodded, and it seemed like he understood also the parts that Harry had not said aloud.
"Still with the Ministry?"
"Yeah. You?"
"I got a job at a Youth Centre in Leeds," Ron said. "They said at St Mungo's that I should have something to do during the days. And it's been nice, even if the kids sometimes drive me mad."
"St Mungo's?" Harry startled.
"I mean, my mind healer recommended it," Ron explained, confirming Harry's suspicions.
"Okay," Harry said, still staring at Ron.
"The mind healer I'm seeing... Well, he thought I'd be ready for this." Ron fell silent. He opened his mouth to continue, but closed it again. Harry waited. "Actually... Well, of course I wanted to see Ginny and the rest of the lot, but really, I came here to see you," Ron said in a voice that diminished so much by the end of the sentence that Harry had to strain his ears to hear the rest. "I mean... I wanted to... I mean..."
Suddenly Harry had trouble breathing.
"Ron?" he said uncertainly. Ron raised his eyes. "I'm sorry," Harry continued, "I mean about what happened. I should have never..."
"And I'm sorry, too," Ron cut in. "About what I said. I didn't really mean..."
"You don't have to..." this time it was Harry who interrupted, and they both went quiet, staring at each other. Then Ron's lip twitched, and Harry grinned.
"We're both sorry, right?" Ron said, bursting into loud laughter.
Harry chuckled once, but then fell silent. He stared hungrily at the laughing Ron. It was a sight he had especially missed during the horrible years. It didn't take long before Ron, too, noticed the change in the atmosphere. He glanced at Harry, but averted his eyes again.
"You still live in Leeds?" Harry asked quickly.
"Yeah, but my lease is up in a week. I thought of coming back to London. I don't have a place yet, but I guess I can sleep at Cal's for a few days. Just so I can search for a place of my own without having to rush."
"You can come to my place. I have an extra room," Harry blurted out, before thinking it any further. "I mean... Cal has only one bedroom."
Ron looked at Harry surprised, but then he smiled. "Yeah, I'd like that. Thanks mate."
He opened his mouth to continue telling Harry everything he had figured out during the long therapy sessions, and what he had remembered, but he was interrupted.
"Harry!"
A man wearing a kilt and a Prince Charlie was walking across the yard towards them. His shoulder-length, curly hair was flying in every direction. It was as red as the couple inches of beard he had on his chin. And, as the man got nearer, Ron saw that he was wearing a golden tie, like Harry's. Ron didn't recognize the man, but then again, he only knew half of the wedding guests.
At first, the shout had startled Harry, but now he was smiling at the advancing man. Harry grabbed the hand he offered and got up. Ron rose, too, furrowing his brow. The man was nearly as tall as him, and subconsciously Ron drew to his full height, squaring his shoulders.
"Ron, this is William MacGregor. Billy, Ron Weasley, an old friend of mine."
"How ar ye?" Billy rumbled, holding his hand to Ron. After a fast hand-shake, Ron threw a questioning look at Harry.
"Billy's my boyfriend," Harry explained.
~o~
End Notes:
Billy who? Well, definitely not Bill Weasley, I'm sure we can agree on that. Billy's my Own Character (OC) who looks like Alex Lalas ;) There are few pic-links on my profile under TICTAC section. And Cal? He's also an OC, and you'll find more about him, too, if you read Without Grace. To put it shortly: Cal's a Muggle who used to work with Ron. Oh yeah, Cal's straight ;)
Btw. There's a picture link on my profile to the Auror logo that my friend, Paula, draw from the description given in this prologue. Check it out, it's awesome :3
I can't thank enough for your support on Without Grace! And naturally, I wanted to answer to your reviews, so here it goes...
Misery-loathes-Company: One of these days I'm going to beg you to point them to me, I mean the . parts! But thank you so much for reading and reviewing and making my days better :3
Luv 2 cry: I'm happy you liked the ending :) At first, when I started to write this story in Finnish around seven years ago, I was fed up with happily ever after endings. I wanted to write something different but since I'm a sissy, I had to write this sequel. Because, well, they really have to get together in the end, don't you agree? :P
Charlie-Rose94: Now you know something, and the first chapter is from Ron's point of view, so later on, you will learn even more! :D
Riddle Payne: Ron is definitely in the plan! :D I'm glad you liked the story :)
ladyrayne13: Haha, I really enjoyed seeing you go through the story and reacting the way I was hoping a reader would react :P About Hava Nagila :D I'm glad you approved :3 but at first, I didn't even know what the tune that I was humming was! I had to call my music teacher friend who recognized it immediately, and then I found it on YouTube and finally had a name for the tune! You see, Ron "sang" it while I was writing. Umm, it's hard to explain. No, I'm not mad! O.O :P But yeah, it was quite unlike Harry to go polyjuice himself. Maybe he got a little mad (too) since Ron refused to talk with him. People do some weird stuff because they are in love.
Rori Potter: I'm glad you liked the epilogue :) There has been two years, so Harry probably would have gotten over Ron, at least a bit. One can't pine for lost loved one forever, I guess.
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Thank you for your reviews and continuous support with Without Grace :3 I hope you will follow me through TICTAC too! :)
/ I forgot to add the teaser...
Coming soon: Chapter 1: The Git, the Sod, and the Macho Scot