Chapter 7: True Feelings

Upon seeing Professor McGonagall walk off down a separate corridor and out of sight, Ron and Harry proceeded to walk back to the Gryffindor Common Room. While they walked thru the empty hallway, Ron knew that he had to speak up now.

"Harry?"

"Yeah, Ron."

"I've... I need to tell you something." Ron said. "Something really important."

"Okay, sure, go ahead." Harry responded.

"No, not here." Ron said while looking around.

"Well then where at?" Harry said with a touch of impatience.

Ron looked up and down the hallway for a moment before deciding on the closest door to them. " Um.. in here, inside this classroom."

"Ron, what is it!" Harry said loudly, now having lost all patience with Ron.

"Shh!" Ron shushed back at Harry. "Only when we're inside there." Ron said while pointing at the door across from them.

They opened the door and quietly walked into the empty classroom. Ron walked around the room checking for anything suspicious that might overhear this conversation. Harry was completely irritated now at Ron's behavior.

"Well, is this a good enough place to tell me whatever it is?" Harry asked.

"Yeah, it is. Harry placed a silencing charm over the room, just to be on the safe side."

Harry scoffed a bit at this request, but done what Ron had asked him to do. "Alright, now do you want to tell me what this is all about, because I've. ---"

"Harry, just shut up, will you!" Harry was shocked a bit by this command from Ron.

"Sorry, Harry, just this isn't the time for a lecture." Ron said apologetically. "Look, I know mum is hurt, but dad is with her. She is very strong and resilient. I trust that if it was bad enough that dad would send for me."

"Yeah, but Ron-" Harry started again.

"Shush, Harry. This is really important that I tell you this, and I have to say it now." Ron said cutting Harry off in mid-speech.

"Okay, Ron, if this means so much to you then go ahead."

"Harry, it means the world to me." Ron said trying to hold back a huge, beaming smile.

Ron began to pace back and forth in front of the classroom just like Dumbledore. Harry sensing that this was very important to his best friend sat down in the front desk and waited. Harry could see Ron's mind forming the words to say to him, but was still absolutely clueless as to what would be said next. Finally, Ron stopped pacing and turned to Harry.

"Alright, you remember when you were in the infirmary, and I told you that I had something to tell you then.., Ron asked of Harry. Harry nodded in agreeance of remembering this conversation. ", but Madame Pomfrey came in just as I was about to say it."

"Yeah." Harry said, wanting to learn just what Ron was getting at.

Ron then took a few deep breaths, as he knew this was the moment. He forced the words to come from his brain to his lips.

"Harry, I'm in love with you." Ron spoke as he studied his best friend's face to see the response.

Harry didn't respond negatively, but asked inquisitively, "Sorry, come again?"

"Harry, you heard me." Ron pleaded making his case to be heard again.

"Oh yeah, Ron, of course.. I love you and you whole family too." Harry said while trying to force a confused smile upon his face.

Ron laughed a bit at this answer. He was a tiny bit surprised by it, but continued on. He knew that Harry was just trying to stall and not admitting the truth. He walked over and leaned on the desk that Harry was sitting in.

"No, Harry. What I am talking about goes alot deeper than that. I love you and want to spend my life with you." Ron said while looking right into Harry's green, beautiful eyes. For the first time in Harry's life, he was speechless. Ron could see his last few words being digested by Harry's mind. "I think you know it too only you're not letting yourself admit the truth." Ron continued.

"What?" Harry said trying to regain his thoughts. "Ron, look there's no way that, that...I...I can't love you like that." Harry paused to try to explain the thoughts in his mind and bring them to his mouth. "For one thing it's just, just..."

"Just what?" Ron asked hastily.

"Just, you know...not right." Harry said after trying to decide which way best to say it.

"Oh come off it Harry!" Ron said as he stormed from the desk Harry was sitting in full of frustration. "I've seen the way you look at me. You don't think that I notice the way our eyes lock for a moment or a few seconds at times. Go, ahead tell me that you haven't noticed and felt that!"

"Ron your crazy, you know that!" Harry protested while standing up trying to be of equal stature to Ron. "I have to admit that we've been the closest of friends over these past few years. You have been like a brother to me. You and your family have brought happiness and laughter into my life after the hell I had to endure at the Dursley's." Harry took in several deep breaths as he tried his best not to lose his temper to his best friend. "Whatever feelings you have felt for me I am sure that they are true and genuine. However, Ron, I am sorry to say that I do not hold those same feelings for you."

Ron's eyes blazed forth an unparalleled, blue fire within them. He stood there, like a statue, boring a hole thru Harry with his eyes. "Alright then, but I don't seem to remember you protesting this morning when I was holding you in bed." Ron said arrogantly.

This lit a fire within Harry, as he demanded to know an answer to this question that he had pushed aside in his mind by the day's events. "Yeah, and what exactly were you doing in my bed? Huh? I sure as hell don't remember sending you an engraved invitation to get into bed with me!" Harry said angrily.

The two were now inches apart and both of them were about to lose what tiny bit of their tempers were not showing as of yet. Ron clenched his fist so tightly that he wanted to punch Harry so badly right now for being so stubborn headed. Instead, the red head backed away from Harry and turned to walk over to the window. Outside the mornings, sunrays were beaming down upon the grounds illuminating everything in a radiance of lush colors. He sighed and looked up at the ceiling to gather control of his thoughts and to allow his temper to settle somewhat. Finally, after what seemed like eternity, Ron spoke from his heart.

"Bloody hell, Harry. I was there for you when no one else would be. I was there for you when no one would speak or have anything to do with you. It was me Harry, me, that has supported you thru all of your troubles in the past and with these dreams as of late. Yes, I did get in your bed without your permission, but I done it as a friend with the noblest of intentions at mind. Even though I can't see your dreams, I can see what damage they are doing to you. I saw your nightmare last night from this world and I knew that you needed a friend right then. "Ron walked back over to Harry before continuing on."Harry, I've known that since I first invited you to my home during our summer vacation that I've always wanted to be with you and to hold you. Now, if you want to hold a grudge or be mad at me for invading your personal space when I could see that you needed comfort and love, then so be it; go ahead and do so." Ron walked back over to the window and looked out again at the morning's beauty. He glanced back at Harry with tears beginning to form in his eyes. "You've smashed one of my dreams today; do you care to kill off the other one?"
Ron was unable to hold back the flood of tears as they came forth like a flowing river. He sat down at one of the desk, his hand covering his face. and sobs of sorrow echoing throughout the room from him. Reluctantly, but feeling a heavy pain in his heart, Harry walked over to Ron and tried to place his hand on Ron's shoulder.

"Ron" Harry started. "I...I ... I'm sorry. I didn't know that it all meant so much to you. I know it was difficult for you to talk about it, but honestly, Ron, I had no idea."

Ron shrugged a bit as he felt Harry's presence beside him, but never did look up at Harry. "Harry, just go will you," Ron said thru heavy sobs. "If you want to go face Him, then you had better be going now before McGonagall sees you sneaking out."

Harry knew that tone in Ron's voice as to not try to challenge him at this moment. Harry's eyes were now looking down on the floor, as he knew that he has hurt his best friend very deeply. He turned to walk over to the door and just as he placed his hand on the knob, he spoke again trying to be as apologetic as possible.

"Ron...I'm sorry. I do hope that we can still be friends after this?" Ron nodded in agreeance as he wiped his tears away with the sleeve of his robe. "I do care for you, but there is no way that we could have been ...lovers. Sorry, but you're just wrong on that thought."

With that, Harry opened the door and left down the hallway. Ron got up and walked over to the opened doorway. He could see Harry turning to go up the staircase that would lead him back to Gryffindor Tower. Ron spoke in a hoarse whisper. "No, mate, you're the one that's wrong and you know it. Somehow, I will prove it to you."