Accidental Outcome

A stone skipped across a pond. Frogs croaked merrily, and a bird swooped down to catch a Water Strider. Another rock was tossed, but sank immediately.

"Ron there's... " Harry hesitated scratching his newly appearing stubble. He knew he needed to trust his friends, but he was scared of rejection. So far they hadn't abandoned him in light of his connection to Voldemort, so maybe they would support him in this too? Bloody Hell.

Ron halted his latest attempt to skip a rock. "Yeah, Mate?"

"There's something I need to tell you." Harry steeled his resolve. He could do this! Ron's attention was now fully engaged. "I was there when Remus died."

*gasp* "Cor… really?"

"Yeah…" Harry paused and took a deep breath. "I was kidnapped from the train… I didn't tell anyone because I was afraid."

"What happened?" Ron was now gaping in horror.

"There was a ritual…" Harry sat down on a log next to the pond. "A man… a crazy man had also abducted Remus, and two other men… he…" Squeezing his eyes closed, he continued. "He used a spell to make them kill themselves! It made their werewolf power combine with some other things, and the ritual… put it inside of me." Harry eye's burned at the memory. "That git was going to… to… take over my body and use me to murder his enemies."

Ron eyes were huge, and his raised to his mouth. "Harry? A-are you?"

Harry nodded his head. "It changed me. But I… that man can't hurt anyone else now." His face hardened. "I made him pay. Pay for killing Remus!" The boy clenched his fists and stared at the ground.

"Does.. does it hurt?" Sometimes Ron could surprise people. He didn't care that Harry all but admitted to killing someone, and was more concerned with his friend's welfare. He honestly, trusted the raven haired boy more completely than even he himself understood.

"No." Harry shook his head. "I didn't even feel the full moon. And there's been two since." Harry looked up. "I can… change when I ever I want. But it's not like Remus. I don't turn into that mindless mockery of a wolf. It's still me… just… angrier."

"What did Dumbledore say?"

"He doesn't know. No one does." Harry explained. "My Kendo teacher found me right after it happened. He told me to keep it a secret, or my life could be over. People would want to hurt me."

"Blimey…" Ron plopped down next to Harry on the log and looked at him. He hesitantly put his hand on his friend's shoulder, before squeezing it more firmly. "You're my best mate, Harry. I'll help you, ok?"

"Really?"

"What are best mates for?" Ron grinned. "So… can you show me?" His face was excited and interested.

"I suppose…" Harry looked around and saw that no one was nearby. He turned his body so that no one looking out of the house would see him, and made the irises of his eyes glow bright red. Raising his hands he wiggled his claw tipped fingers at his friend. "GRRR!" The sound was ferocious and his razor sharp fangs glinted through his grin.

Ron's eyes lit up. "Wow. Is that all there is to it? Like… do you get furry at all?"

"That's about the extent of it. I can shift a bit more, and look more wild. But not much more."

"Wicked!"

"I'm really strong too!" Harry was excited that he could share this with someone. He couldn't stand the idea of living with this secret, always paranoid of someone finding out. "I was able to lift a Mini over my head once. I got told off for it, but it was just so… so amazing! And that's not all!"

Standing up, Harry paced in front of his friend. "Master Yukimura - that's my teacher - said I matched a legend to a Tee. There used to be another breed of werewolves - werewolves like me! - and they were considered guardians. Protectors! I could be like them! So i've been learning how to fight, and how to control this. Honor Remus, you know?"

"Like a real life Lockhart?" Ron asserted questioningly.

"Ew! No!" Harry looked disgusted. "But I get what you're saying." With a shudder, he returned to pacing and ignored Ron's snickering. "My master told me that I should consider finding people I can trust. To build a pack."

"He told you to bite people?" Ron gasped. "Turn other people - make them like you?"

"Yeah." Harry looked at the redhead uncertainly. "I don't know if anyone would want to do it, considering the prejudices. But, Merlin… I just feel so… strong… confident… better even." Harry looked across the pond with a far away look. "I feel like i'm finally becoming what I was meant to be. I just wish it hadn't come at such a cost." Harry's face crumpled a bit.

Ron was still sitting on the log, and regarded Harry. What if he could be strong too? Be a part of Harry's pack?

But before Ron could open his mouth and enquire any further, a voice rang out over the backyard. "BOYS! Hermione is here!"

- DTFA -

" - and then she goes 'Lulu being so sorry!' and everyone just stares!" Fred finishes for George causing laughter around the dinner table.

"Psst.. Harry!" Ron nudges the boy in the ribs. "Are you going to tell Hermione?" But he was apparently not discreet enough because Fred immediately zeroed in.

"Tell her what, Ronnie-kins?" Fred leaned forward.

"Share with the rest of the class!" George joined in with a demented grin. Harry appeared to be extremely uncomfortable and looked like a deer staring into headlights. Ron winced at his blunder.

Hermione looked annoyed by the Twins' behavior, but before she could interject, Molly put a stop to it. "Fred! George! That's enough!"

"Come on, Mother Dear!"

"Inquiring minds want to know!"

Arthur gave the boys a stern look. "Listen to your mother."

Molly stood up and glared at the boys. "I will not have you pressuring Harry. If he isn't ready to tell anyone, it isn't our right to push!" This just made Harry shrink in his seat and cringe with mortification.

Hermione's eyes widened in sudden comprehension, and bit her bottom lip in consternation. Ginny looked oddly disappointed, before giving a supportive smile.

"Now drop it, and go to your room!" The Weasley matriarch pointed upwards with finality.

Later on, Harry had made an attempt at helping Molly cleanup after dinner. She politely rebuffed him, stating that he was a guest in their home, and he should enjoy his time here. Hermione was about to pull him away, when Molly held up her hand for them to wait.

Walking over to a bookcase, Molly pulled a thin book from the shelf and placed it in Harry's hands. "Now Harry. You're reaching the age where you're going through a lot of changes. And if that five o'clock shadow is anything to go by, it's happening rather fast. I want you to know that you will always have our support. Charlie went through the same thing when he was your age, and we love him no less than any of the others. Fancying other boys doesn't make you less of a man. Look at Charlie! He's a big confident man now! There is nothing to be ashamed of. In fact, I am very proud of you for having the courage to tell Ron. Now go on upstairs. You can hold onto this for as long as you need it."

Harry stared down, astonished at the book in his hands. On the cover, two Wizards were staring at each other with little hearts floating around them.

/When Wizards Fancy Other Wizards

Homosexuality and You/

"Thanks, Mrs. Weasley." Harry's voice was tight a bit squeaky, as he pressed the book to his chest. His face had gone tomato red in his mortification.

With a smile that crinkled the corners of her eyes, Molly shooed them away and turned back to cleaning the kitchen. "He's going to break so many hearts…"

"Come on, Harry." Hermione grabbed his hand and tugged him towards the stairs. "You're so brave…"

The two teenagers climbed the stairs towards Ron's room. "Harry, I'm serious! I know in the muggle world, there's a lot of bigotry. But here. Wizarding society is a lot more progressive."

"Really?" Harry looked intrigued.

Hermione nodded her head as they walked through Ron's door. "No one is going to care. I promise! Well… I suppose there's going to a be lot of really disappointed witches. But that's their problem, not yours! Anyway, I'm off to bed, I have a date with a new transfiguration book! Goodnight boys!" Hermione paused a moment and stepped forward to give Harry a bone crushing hug. She then backed out of the room and strode up the next staircase.

Harry wandered across the room, and plopped down onto his cot. Flipping open the book in his hands, he skimmed through several pages of text and what appeared to be a demonstration of an STD prevention charm.

Ron hadn't moved an inch since the two had entered. His face was contorted in amusement, trying to hold in a laugh. Then he cocked his head sideways when he realized that Harry was actually reading the book. "Er… wait… are you?"

Harry's head shot up and regarded the redhead for a moment. "Yeah… kind of? I wasn't going to keep it a secret or anything. I just wasn't sure yet."

"Blimey, Harry! I feel like a right git!" Ron cringed.

"It's ok. No harm done." Snapping the book closed, Harry ran his hand through his hair. "I hadn't had a chance to really put much thought into it lately, with everything that's been happening."

"Is there anyone that you fancy?"

"Well.. I've seen Oliver in the locker room on occasion, and liked what I saw - don't say anything! - and there are a couple of 6th year Hufflepuffs that are pretty handsome…" Harry blushed a bit, and ducked his head.

"I suppose, objectively speaking, I can understand why. Oliver isn't exactly hard on the eyes. Just be sure to learn a good silencing charm, if you bring any blokes to our dorm room."

Harry just laughed, and returned to his book.

- DTFA -

Ron stared at his unblemished arm. He was laying on his side, facing the wall in an attempt to fall back to sleep. Ron knew he should have known better, but Harry really looked distressed. His friend had transformed in his sleep, and was shredding the sheets for merlin's sake! Mum and Dad could have walked in at any time!

Mum had warned him about waking people from nightmares. They lashed out. They bite people. Granted, Ron had been seriously considering how great it would be to be super-strong and have wicked claws. But he had hoped to have a little more time to warm up to it.

'Bloody hell, that was close! It's damn lucky I have a history of tripping over my own feet at night. Mum didn't even give me a second glance when Harry blamed himself for the noise. Oh, well. Serves me right, I suppose.' The redhead pursed his lips. 'In for a knut, in for a galleon. Could be worse. I could be a mindless killing machine once a month, instead.' With a negligent shrug, Ron relaxed into his mattress and drifted off.

On the cot across the room, Harry was wearing a horribly guilty expression. His nightmares had been all over the place! One minute he was seeing an old man get murdered by a creepy looking baby, and the next he was reliving the memory of Remus driving the knife into himself. When Ron had touched him, he was in the middle of mauling the dream version of his kidnapper. 'I could have killed him… fuck!'

Squeezing his eyes shut, Harry tried to suppress the urge to cry. 'I have no idea what i'm doing.'