Harry tried hard not to laugh. 'Neville actually asked Hermione to go to the ball with him?'
Ron nodded, also trying hard to keep a straight face. 'Of course she told him she was going with someone else. I mean, who wants to go with Neville, right?'
But at that moment Neville joined them at the Gryffindor table and they had to cut of their conversation. During dinner they didn't speak a lot and when they had finished with their chicken, Ron said he was tired and wanted to go to bed, so he left.
After Harry and Neville had managed to eat two pieces of cake each, they also headed for the common room and after a quick 'G'night' to Fred and George, who were sitting in two armchairs by the fire, they climbed the stairs to their dormitory.
The drapes around Ron's four-poster were closed and Harry could hear him snore softly. He put his wand on his bedside table and undressed. When he got his pyjamas on, he pushed aside his blanket and saw something small lying there. He picked it up and immediately recognised it as a very tiny piece of sealed parchment. The moment he tried to open it, the parchment grew to normal size and Harry could read the words 'Top Secret' on it.
So he closed the curtains around his bed before he opened the fastening.
A short message was written on the inside.
Harry,
As you still haven't found anyone to go to the ball with and as I still love you, I want to ask you to take me to the Jule Ball. Sorry for never telling you, but I didn't have the guts for it. I love you.
Ron
Harry's mouth fell open when he read the name under the note. Ron? How could this be? Was is a joke? He peered through a gap between his curtains at Ron's bed. He had to find out, now.
So he pocketed the parchment, took his Invisibility Cloak from his trunk and walked over to Ron's bed. Neville groaned and Harry stood still for a moment, but then he heard Neville turn over and snore peacefully again, so he walked on.
At Ron's bed, he slowly pulled the drapes aside, to find Ron fully dressed, sitting with his head between his knees and looking up alarmed when he heard Harry. They looked at each other for a moment and then Harry took Ron's hand and hoisted him out of bed.
'C'mon.' he mumbled and he covered both of them with the Cloak. Ron protested shyly, but Harry shushed him and they walked out of the dormitory. They walked through the common room, past the portrait of the Fat Lady, through the corridors, the Entrance Hall and the oak front doors. Finally outside, Harry dragged Ron to the shadow of a three. He stopped dead and looked at Ron, who was only half-visible because of the darkness. He took the note from his pocked and read it out loud.
When he finished with 'I love you. Ron.' he felt Ron quiver.
'Is this a joke or what?' he asked his friend.
'No Harry. It's not. I love you.' Ron said.
Harry felt a jolt of panic rushing through his body.
'I'm sorry.' Ron added quietly, but Harry wasn't listening anymore.
Ron was in love with him! Ron, his friend! His male friend!
'Please don't be mad, Harry.' Ron said almost begging.
Harry recovered from the shock and looked at Ron.
'I'm not.' he said. 'I think.'
Harry tried to order his mind, his thoughts, but most of all his feelings. What he felt for Ron was friendship, definitely nothing more. But if Ron really loved him, that shouldn't be such a problem. He could live with that.
'How long?' he asked.
'More than a year now.' Ron answered. 'I started to feel this way since our Care of Magical Creatures lesson with Buckbeak. When you walked up to him, I was so scared you might got hurt. It's when I realised it had to be more than friendship I felt towards you.' he paused for a moment, then he asked:
'But you're okay with it then?'
Harry suddenly understood how much courage it took to tell someone something like this and he pulled Ron in a close hug.
'Of course I am. And I'm sorry I don't feel that way about you.' he said.
He could hear Ron sight and he patted his friend's back. 'I'm really sorry.' he said again and he felt a tear leaking out of his eye. Apparently, it had hit him harder than he had realised in first place.
He could hear Ron sniff on his shoulder; he was crying too. They stood there for a few minutes, crying and hugging, but then Ron freed himself from Harry's embrace and asked: 'So you probably don't wanna got to the ball with me, do you?'
Harry thought about it for a moment. Why not? He didn't have a partner and he really needed one. Besides, Fred and Angelina didn't have a relationship and nor did Malfoy and Parkinson. So why not?
'Of course I wanna go to the ball with you.' he told Ron. 'Don't be ridiculous, why not?'
'Well,' Ron hesitated. 'you're not gay, right?'
'Who cares.' Harry said. He had made a decision. He was going to the ball with Ron and it had to be a night Ron would never forget.