A/N:
Sooooo late, sorry! Huge thanks to ladyrayne13 for helping me with the grammar :3 All the remaining mistakes are naturally still mine, you don't think that I'd just give them away? :P No warnings this time, I don't think there's anything to warn about. Now, without further ado, I'll give you chapter 3!
(Don't forget to check the End Notes!)
Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling owns the Potters, not me. I'm just playing with them. Don't sue!
3. Hat Trick and Green Eyes
~.~.~
Ron's eyes flew open as he fell down from the bed. After a moment of disorientation, he realised he was in a room he didn't recognize with his legs tangled with the blanket. He blinked furiously, trying to fight the panic; it was the exact situation he had swore to avoid from here to eternity. He didn't want to wake up not knowing where he was, not anymore. Had he really gotten drunk again? Did he have a hangover? He smacked his lips together, but didn't taste any alcohol.
He looked around as he clambered back on the cream-coloured sheets. After his gaze fell on the trunk lying beside the bed which he recognised as his own, he relaxed a bit. Suddenly the memories came crushing back: how nervous he had been yesterday while arriving to Harry's. How their conversation had been cut short, and how pompous Billy had behaved. Ron remembered Dumbledore's portrait. The single toothbrush on the mirror cabinet shelf.
Ron grinned again, remembering his finding.
He yawned loudly and scratched his cool stomach. Apparently, he had slept with his day clothes on, even though he had planned only to have a short nap. The door was closed, and Ron hoped that whoever had closed it, wasn't Billy.
Ron got up and stretched his rigid muscles. He walked to the door, his bare feet slapping against the floor. As he opened the door, he stopped dead; there was Billy strolling towards Harry's bedroom at the end of the hallway.
A naked Billy.
Ron slouched to the loo, feeling depressed. He shut the door behind him, making sure that it was really locked. It seemed that in this house, people didn't exactly care who saw whom doing what.
~o~
"Good morning," Harry mumbled as he came down to kitchen.
"Mornin'," Ron answered, pouring himself another cuppa. "I made lots."
"Splendid," Harry said, yawning and stretching his arms up in the air, while heading towards the cupboard.
Ron's eyes followed the hem of Harry's t-shirt as it rose and rose, finally revealing the narrow waist. But as Ron saw the familiar dimples on top of Harry's buttocks, he swallowed hard and turned his gaze back to the magazine. He took a couple of deep breaths and tried to focus on the foggy letters. Black and white photograph of Kingsley Shacklebolt winked at him.
"Billy popped in his home, but we are going to visit Brighton today. The Pier."
Ron nodded and turned the page with a little too much force, ripping the page. Harry paused on the other side of the kitchen isle and stared at Ron for a moment, before clearing his throat.
"You wanna come, too?"
Ron looked up, feeling puzzled. Go with them?
"Well, don't get me wrong, I'd love to, but I have an appointment with Occurisdom today," he explained feeling relieved that he didn't have to lie. He had never been at Brighton, but didn't want to go there with Harry and Billy.
Harry nodded. There was something off with his expression, but he rearranged his features so fast that Ron didn't have time to figure out what it was all about.
~o~
"Sit down, please," Occurisdom offered and closed the door behind Ron.
Ron sat down in his favourite chair which was close to Occurisdom's chair but not too close. The seating arrangement was one of the things Ron had learned to appreciate; the mind healer took care of his patients needs even if they weren't aware of them.
"How have you been, Ron?"
"Well... I'm living in London now."
"Aha. I seem to recall that we talked about your moving during our last appointment."
"Yeah, we did. But, well, things didn't go exactly as I planned."
Occurisdom raised his eyebrow, clearly waiting for an explanation.
"I went home, to Ginny's wedding, and well, I talked with Harry."
"Interesting," Occurisdom stated mildly. "How did you feel about it?"
Ron cleared his throat. At first, he had found it difficult to learn to talk about things and feelings as openly as Occurisdom wanted. There were times when Ron had sulked, and other times when he had yelled at the top of his lungs, accusing Occurisdom of prying. Eventually they had found a way to operate in a mutual agreement.
"I... well, at first it wasn't easy. It had been so long, and the thing that happened between us, well, it was so strange... But I managed to apologise, and Harry did too. Actually..." Ron chuckled, recalling their simultaneous apology, but decided against of telling about it to Occurisdom. He didn't have to know everything. "Well, the point is that we fixed things, and..."
Occuridom's quill stopped, and he glanced at Ron.
"Harry offered me his guest bedroom until I find my own place," Ron said quickly.
"I see. Have you talked more about what happened when you last saw each other?"
"Well, no. Not really. I tried to, mind you, but Harry's boyfriend kind of interrupted me."
"So, Harry is in a relationship," Occurisdom concluded, scribbling something on his pad. "And, how do you think it affects on your relationship with Harry?"
"For one, it makes everything more difficult. It's not like we've had time to talk about anything, I just moved in yesterday."
"Are you jealous of Harry?"
"I guess. A little," Ron stammered.
"You have feelings towards Harry, so jealousy is only to be expected. It's very natural in a situation like this," Occurisdom pointed out. "Are they close?"
Ron threw a questioning look at the mind healer.
"What I mean is that do they show affection towards each other under your eyes?"
Ron nodded and frowned, remembering the arrogant way Billy had behaved around Harry. If Ron was totally honest with himself, he had to admit that if he had met Billy under different circumstances, he might have liked the bloke. Billy wasn't that disgusting. But the mere knowledge that he was allowed to do things to Harry, things that Ron could only fantasise about...
"Does it feel natural to you? I do not mean the jealousy, but the feeling you get when you see two men being affectionate together?"
"Well, I don't hate it or anything. Except when it's Billy who Harry touches."
Occurisdom smiled briefly, but said nothing.
"It doesn't feel any different than if they were a woman and a man," Ron concluded.
"Ron, I want you to imagine that the three of you are outside, and they continue being affectionate towards each other even if other people see it. How would you feel about it?"
"I don't know," Ron admitted, after thinking about the question.
"Would it make a difference if you imagined yourself in Billy's place?"
Ron considered it for a while. A thought of touching Harry intimately and freely was exciting, even frightening; not because of what other people might think about it, but because it was something he both wanted and didn't want.
"Yeah," he answered finally. "But it also scares me."
"Why?"
"Because it's Harry, and not just a random bloke."
Occurisdom waited with a questioning look on his face, but Ron didn't elaborate. He didn't know how.
"How was the meeting with your ex wife?" the mind healer asked after a moment.
"Umm, we haven't met yet."
"Aha."
"I mean, I thought about it, but it didn't feel right to come out to her and to my whole family while my sister was having a wedding," Ron snapped sarcastically.
He had wanted to be there, at Ginny's wedding, but had never intended of joining in. The time of explanation was not in the middle of a celebration, nor did Ron want to talk to all of his relatives. But as he had seen Harry sitting close to the doorway, he just had to say something. Anything.
"I understand."
"And, well, I've been thinking about seeing my Mom," Ron continued.
"It makes you nervous?"
"Yeah."
"Why?"
"I don't know," Ron answered. "I guess, because... well, even if I'm an adult now, it feels like I'm just a kid when she gets angry."
"Talking from a personal experience, it is a very common thing to feel," Occurisdom stated.
"Well, how do you suppose I should tell her?" Ron pleaded.
"I have understood that your mother cares for you very much. I am fairly sure that she will accept you just the way you are, no matter how you tell her."
Ron didn't answer. It wasn't the acceptance he was worried about, but saying the words aloud. Occurisdom seemed to understand the real problem.
"I assume they know about Harry's homosexuality?"
Ron nodded.
"How would you feel about asking Harry to come along as a moral support?"
"I guess... fine. Relieved," Ron burst out. He was surprised he hadn't thought of it himself.
Occurisdom glanced at his wrist watch.
"You have progressed greatly. You are clearly more self-assured and start to recognise the feelings you have towards Harry. This boyfriend of his, Billy, makes you jealous which seems to catalyze your healing process. For the next week, I will give you the same assignment: talk to your family. Tell them. It has been so long since you last saw them that a personal visit is quite mandatory."
"I guess I'll just have to pull my socks up and, well, go there."
"Haven't you missed your family?"
Ron thought about it for a minute. He hadn't stayed in touch with any of his family members, nor his old friends, even if Occurisdom had urged him to visit Burrow for over a year. Ron had put his foot down, refusing to go with such strong expressions that even Occurisdom had to back off. It wasn't until Ron had came out to Cal, that Occurisdom had mentioned the Burrow again.
It was unclear, even for Ron, why visiting home had become so big a deal. He was at peace with himself; he knew he was gay, he knew about his feelings towards Harry. Perhaps he was afraid of the regression, fearing that after going back to his childhood home he would end up hiding his true nature again.
Occurisdom had said that it was a natural thing to be worried about, though quite absurd.
"In a way. It's just that as I moved to London after the divorce, I left it all behind. It felt like the end of my childhood. So... I guess I miss them, but in the same time it all feels distant. Like it belonged to my previous life or something."
Occurisdom nodded. "It kind of did."
~o~
After leaving St Mungo's, Ron did the shopping and managed to slide inside the house carrying two enormous paper bags. He closed the door and tried to remember all the locking spells Harry had shown him. There were five of them, and after the fourth one Ron swore aloud.
"It's 'Substantious'," Harry said behind him. Ron spun around, startled by the sound.
"Yeah, right," Ron mumbled and waved his wand for the fifth time. The door glowed pale before darkening to normal.
Ron turned around to examine Harry more carefully. He was wearing the same pair of jeans and the old, faded t-shirt that Ron had seen on him in the morning.
"Weren't you supposed to visit Brighton?" he asked, and Harry gave him a weak smile.
"Maggie got ill, so Billy had to go to work."
"Oh."
There was a silence.
"Have you eaten yet?" Harry asked eventually.
"No, but..." Ron hoisted up the grocery bag from the floor, "I did the shopping, because yesterday... well, I ate almost the whole pie."
Harry chuckled. "Yeah, I noticed."
Ron gave a sheepish smile. "Well, anyway, I wanted to chip in somehow. Since you don't collect rent."
"What'd you buy?" Harry asked, hitting the lights. Ron noticed for the first time, that there was a light switch by the kitchen door.
"Umm," he answered, following Harry. He placed the bag on the kitchen table and started to hand the groceries to Harry. "Eggs, and milk, and rice, and bread, and tomatoes, and a couple of beers, and oranges, and, well..."
"Chicken tikka masala?" Harry grinned.
"Well, I don't know to make it myself," Ron said defensively, placing the hot package on the table rather carefully. "I bought it just for one, because I thought you'd be out."
"I ate already," Harry said dismissively. "Fancy a beer? And there's a game on the telly, you interested?"
"Who's playing?"
"Galaxy and Saprissa. It's the CONCACAF quarter finals."
Ron nodded. Nowadays, he was a bit more aware of the Muggle football since his ex-co-worker Cal was enormous Spurs fan. Ron grabbed a fork and followed Harry to the living room.
"What's the score?"
"1–1," Harry answered without looking at Ron.
Ron wolfed down the curry while it was still warm, keeping his eyes on the game. From time to time Harry swore, as Saprissa lead the match, but Ron didn't care much which team would win. It wasn't until the half-time when it came clear why Harry's eyes were fixed on the screen.
"Lalas," he sighed as the Galaxy GM was interviewed. Ron huffed.
"What?" Harry glanced at Ron who was rolling his eyes.
"That's why we've been watching the game?" Ron chuckled and nodded towards the screen. There was a redheaded bloke wearing a dark suit and explaining vehemently what had happened and why. Harry didn't answer, but drank in the sight of the GM while his fingers shredded the label on the beer bottle. Ron decided to drop the matter.
"Have you heard anything about Dean? Or Seamus? I guess, Neville's still teaching?"
"Neville's at Hogwarts, and Dean's firm got a contract working at Diagon Alley. Fixing the street, or something," Harry said after the interview was over. "And Seamus is on expedition, in Amazon, I think. He's working for St Mungo's."
"Wicked..."
"Yeah, Dean told me last month. He's still in touch with Seamus."
"And you are with Dean?"
"Not really. We just bumped in each other while I was... while I was visiting Fred," Harry stammered. "Have you seen them yet?"
Ron shook his head.
"Mum first," he said sheepishly. "Occurisdom pushed me to tell them, too."
Harry gave a small smile, before furrowing his brow.
"Ron, how do you... I mean, please, don't get me wrong, but how do you pay for the therapy?"
Ron blushed immediately and started to fidget in his seat.
"Well, I have some savings," he mumbled, trying not to look directly at Harry.
"From your job at the bar?" Harry asked, disbelieve clear in his voice.
Ron eyeballed him fiercely. "I don't really want to talk about it."
"But I do," Harry grinned mischievously.
"Let it go," Ron blurted and summoned a beer bottle from the fridge.
"No!" Harry insisted. He turned all the way towards Ron, bending his legs under him. The second half had started, but neither of them were interested in the game anymore. "Tell me, please?"
Ron rolled his eyes and took a long swig from his beer. He rocked the bottle in the hand that was dangling over the head rest and bit his lip. Maybe Harry would understand.
"Teeeeeeell meeeee..." Harry kept moaning. He was bouncing up and down on his seat, and Ron laughed aloud.
"Okay, okay. But not a word to anyone."
"Cross my heart."
"Well, do you remember the book I gave you when you turned seventeen?" Ron began.
"Of course. 'Twelve Fail-Safe Ways to Charm Witches'," Harry said promptly. Ron nodded.
"It gave me the idea, because, well, at least Hermione used to have an enormous pile of Muggle romance novels, and... when I wasn't working, I might have read a few. Just because I had nothing else to do!" Ron had to raise his voice towards the end, because Harry had started to snigger loudly.
"Should I just stop and let you keep on laughing?" Ron demanded. Harry sorted out his face and gestured for Ron to continue.
Ron huffed, but was secretly glad. He was really talking with Harry! This was the thing that Ron had missed most. Right this: being with Harry and talking about anything, it didn't matter what the topic was. Ron was ready to reveal his greatest secret just to have Harry back in his life.
"I got myself a Quick-Quote Quill and started to dictate even before the divorce. Well, I don't even have to dictate, it can read my mind. So, I just changed witch charms into Muggle ones, getting rid of magic and so on, and mixed it up with heroic men and brave women. The Muggle publisher was so excited, that he wouldn't even pressure me to promote the books in person, which was a good thing because I wouldn't have done it in any case."
Harry had stopped laughing; he was too busy staring at Ron.
"How come I haven't ever—"
"They're published under a pseudonym," Ron said before Harry even finished his sentence. "And no, I won't tell you what it is."
Harry's eyes flashed, and Ron's stomach gave a lurch.
"Tell me!"
"No!"
"Why not?"
"Because... Because it's embarrassing," Ron sighed.
"Oh? More embarrassing than the fact that you're writing romance novels?" Harry burst out laughing again. He guffawed so hard, he had to hold his belly. Ron couldn't help but smile.
"Veronica von Bluffenhammer," Ron said eventually. He had to repeat the name, though, after Harry got a hold of himself.
"Ve-Ron-ica," Harry giggled. "Let me see one of your books!"
"No!" Ron yelped.
"Ve-Ron-icaaa..." Harry coaxed. "Just one book?"
"No!" Ron denied again, forcing himself to keep cool, even though Harry tried to crack him by making funny faces.
"How about reading them for me? Just a few lines?"
Ron hesitated a second too long, and Harry started to bounce again on the sofa.
"Yes! Straight from the authors mouth!"
Ron rolled his eyes again, and gave a deep sigh.
"Okay, but just a little," he said, summoning his notes. "You'd better not laugh!"
Harry nodded eagerly, showing his best poker face.
"Okay, this is from the newest draft. I dictated it last week," Ron told and cleared his throat.
"Charlotte," Gerard sighed, leaning against the door frame that led to the maiden's chambers. "I apologise. How can I assure you that I feel a great remorse?"
"Go away!" Charlotte's trembling voice rang out from other side of the door. Gerard lifted his face, feeling hopeful.
"Charlotte, my love? Please, listen to me for a brief moment," Gerard prayed. "It was of most importance for me to take time to think about the matters. I was fool, I was selfish, yes, but I had to be certain!"
"I do not wish to listen to you!" Charlotte sobbed against the door, and her beatific green eyes filled with tears. In spite of the despair in her heart, her disobedient hand rose to the key and turned it, letting Gerard in.
"Charlotte, my dearest," Gerard murmured, hoisting the maiden to his strong arms. "I love you, I adore you more than you can imagine! Ever since we were youngsters, frolicking by the river without a worry in our minds, already then I knew you were my destiny. I only didn't understand it, until I was in the verge of losing you."
Charlotte laid her head onto Gerard's chest, circling his broad torso with her pale arms.
"Gerard... if you truly love me, kiss me."
And, as Gerard pressed his lips against Charlotte's, he felt forgiveness, for Charlotte entangled herself upon him, embracing him with such a forcefulness that they become as one. The all-victorious love surged inside him, and he knew that this truly was his destiny.
Ron glanced shyly at Harry, but was surprised to notice that he had stopped laughing. His eyes were huge, and there was sadness in them. Ron furrowed his brow, not knowing what to think.
"Well... it sounded good," Harry recovered quickly, trying to smile.
"Yeah, right," Ron snorted. "But who cares, as long as it's selling, right?"
Harry gave a strained chuckle, then got up to his feet.
"It's getting late. I think I'll go to bed."
"Okay, I guess you're right," Ron complied, before checking his watch — it was only eight.
Harry banished their empty beer bottles, then turned to the stairs. Ron panicked. The atmosphere had changed rapidly, and Ron didn't have a clue about what had happened. Harry was almost behind the corner when Ron remembered.
"Harry!" he yelled, and Harry spun around. "Well, I've been meaning to visit the Burrow shortly, see my Mum and tell... well, I mean, I could use a moral support."
Harry blinked a couple of times, but nodded slowly. "Of course. I get out at three tomorrow, maybe we can go then?"
"Tomorrow already?" Ron startled. Then he sighed. "Yeah, tomorrow is good."
"I'll owl Molly in the morning and make sure she's at home," Harry promised and grabbed the railing, starting to climb the stairs.
"Thanks," Ron mumbled. "And good night."
"Night," Harry answered, before disappearing to the second floor.
Ron stood still, staring after Harry, trying to figure out what he had done wrong.
~o~
End Notes:
Occurisdom belongs to Palladium, but she was kind enough to lend him to me for a while. Thank you, Palla :3 I would also like to emphasise that I have no clue about what therapy is really like. Probably something much different than how it's introduced in this story. In my defence, the therapy in the Wizarding World could be different than ours, but anygays, the locks that Ron carries inside him require probably a great deal of sessions. Summa summarum, I apologise if I managed to insult someone who has a better knowledge about these things. Please, remember, this is just fiction :)
Substantious was a marvellous suggestion for a spell from someone, but unfortunately I've forgotten who it was :/
And yeah, Veronica von Bluffenhammer. It just leaped into my mind, and it wasn't until after writing a couple more words that I realised (kind of like Harry did) that "there's Ron in the middle" :D
...then to your lovely reviews!
BlaqkRaivyn: I hope you're still reading though I've been shamelessly lazy and doing all kinds of other things apart from translating =/ Well, you liked the smut part, right? I'm glad! I used to have a reputation of a smut writer back in the day (in Finnish forums), so I'm glad I haven't lost the touch :P
makaykay15: Why, thank you! :) Men are truly unfathomable, I agree you there :D
Misery-loathes-Company: Stupid ff-net, let's egg them together! Umm, I mean, nice bigbrother, nothing to see here :3 but wow, you don't like Billy, that's a new one! :D I'm glad you're still rooting for our boys :3
ladyrayne13: My saviour :3 Am I glad that you got sucked in, haha, I hope you stay tuned for the ride! I'll try to be faster with the remaining chapters... all nine of them 8 ) But yay, thanks again for offering to help me :3 And helping me :3
SuperHeroFanGurl: May I join you? Wohoo, I'm happy that you reviewed! :D And for your second review, well, if it doesn't make you blush (or maybe faint?), it's not very well written, right? :P
zyujin: I hope you've liked the latter chapters too!
queenofthelameos: Wow, somebody reads LJ, I'm in awe! But yay, I'm glad you liked the start. Hope you'll like the rest, too :)
[At this point, my email says that I got a review for 'Without Grace' from 'Savy13' who was sad with the ending of WG. I hope you found this story, it's the one with the happy ending! Oops... did I just throw a spoiler?]
DELILAH: It makes me happy :)
Ci Malfoy: Haha, I think he was asleep, in my head canon Ron is a very good sleeper. I guess you have to be with six siblings :D But yeah, at some point, I considered whether Ron should interrupt them, but in the end I didn't want to go there. So, just the two of them ... now :P
Abbiw: I know! But thanks for reminding me, your review made me to speed up with the translation! Before your rushing words I had translated maybe just the first half of the chapter :P So thank you! :)
~o~
Phew, now I'm back in the schedule! I hope to have many more reviews to thank as soon as I get the chapter 4 translated :3
Coming later... Chapter 4: Wishful Unsubconsciousness