A/N:

I know I said that I wouldn't post a new chapter this year, but since I had some time to translate Chapter 9 (and fortunately Cloudy had time to beta it!) I thought I'd give you readers a present. If you celebrate Christmas, you can think me as Santa Claus — at least, we're from the same country :P

I hope you'll like the update. And, don't forget to read the End Notes, too!

In this chapter, there's a new character, Billy (do not mix him up with Bill Weasley, they're not the same person!). Billy's my Own Character and will also appear later on this series. If you'd like to visualize him, I've added a couple of picture links to my profile, under the Without Grace -section. There's also a link to a picture of a man who I think looks like Cal.

I forgot to tell you in the last update, but Cal used to be Al (since I started to write this story in Finnish before Deathly Hallows came out). After reading the Epilogue, it started to bug me how much my Al and Albus Severus' names reminded each other, so I changed Al into Cal. He's a Muggle, very tall (though, I'm not sure if he's taller than Ron, probably not) and blond-ish. Ron and Cal are not dating, they're just friends.

About the pubs/bars mentioned in this story: Wallace is a Scottish pub owned by Billy. Bollocks is a gay bar, or maybe a night club, where both Ron and Cal are working at the moment. Steer is a "regular" night club where Ron and Cal like to go to "score some chicks" (as Cal would probably say).

Again, I want to thank you so much, Cloudy, for your remarkable help — especially with Billy! If I'd known beforehand that someday I would be translating WG in English, I never would have made him Scottish :D

Warning: This story contains mature themes, drinking and a bit of bad language! I haven't warned about a possible not-happy-ending because there's the sequel. Maybe I ought to say at least, that this story is not just about sunshine and daisies (or even butter mellow).

Disclaimer: J.K. Rowling owns the Potters, not me. I'm just playing with them. Don't sue!


~.~.~

Chapter 9: ...and little pots too

~.~.~

After the row, Ron was so angry he hardly spoke even to Cal. The customers who were used to Ron's friendly quips were dumbfounded by his sullen face and the furious, not to mention noisy, abuse of the hangers. Regulars knew without asking that something bad had happened, but all the newcomers couldn't figure it out.

"Did someone stuff a melon in your arse?" an elderly man with a moustache joked, triggering a snigger from his youngish companion. Ron scowled.

"Yeah, the same who left a dead rat under your nose," he spat out. "If the service doesn't suit you, you can fuck off."

Unfortunately, Mr Moustachio knew the owner of the Bollocks and tattled to him about Ron. Sometime later, Brian arrived and pulled Ron to the back room.

"You don't bitch at customers!" he raged, glaring at Ron.

"He started it!" Ron fumed, furrowing his brow; the situation didn't feel very fair.

"I don't care," Brian huffed. "If you have problems at home, you keep them there, understood? Or else, don't bother coming at all," Brian continued with an ominous tone.

Ron swallowed the nasty retort that was threatening to escape from his lips and nodded, his face blank.

Fucking Harry! Did he have to come back and ruin everything?

~o~

Cal kept throwing enquiring glances at Ron all evening but didn't say a thing before the end of their shift. Ron grabbed his coat, but unlike every other evening, didn't move over to the bar; instead, he stepped out to the cool mist. Cal hurried after Ron and stopped him by gripping his arm. Ron startled and pulled his arm free. He wheeled around, hands in tight fists, but seeing only Cal, he relaxed.

"Aren't we moody today," Cal noted putting his leather jacket on.

"Well, I've got a reason to be," Ron mumbled continuing down the street, Cal on his heels.

"I guess today isn't one of those getting-drunk-in-our-bar-before-going-downtown nights?" Cal asked, pulling his collar up against the chilly air.

"Yeah, didn't feel like staying."

"Brian gave you feedback?"

Ron nodded grimly.

"What a ray of sunshine you are," Cal chuckled, patting Ron on the shoulder. His good mood wasn't deflated by some minor setback like this one. Ron was grateful for it.

"Come. I know a good place not far from here. You'll love it!" Cal grinned. Ron followed him silently.

~.~.~.~

~.~.~.~

A few blocks further, Harry stepped in a cosy pub.

"Hi, Billy-Boy," he greeted the red-headed man behind the counter wearing a kilt. Billy froze and raised his forefinger in the air but didn't turn around.

"It's a ghost that be speakin'," he rumbled with his thick Scottish accent. "Or, the prodigal son 'as finally returned ta where 'e belongs."

A couple of customers, leaning on the counter, eyed both Billy and Harry, amused.

"Wrong and wrong," Harry grinned. "It's just the man of your dreams begging for an audience."

Billy turned around, the hem of his kilt flourishing, and exclaimed pretentiously surprised.

"Harry, my secret vice!"

Billy reached over the counter and pulled Harry into a tight hug. After that, he grabbed Harry by his ears and kissed him straight on the lips.

Billy's kiss tasted sweet, and Harry smiled broadly to the warm welcome. No one could ever be depressed in Billy's company for a long time. For that reason, Harry had come here. He had found Wallace during his studying years in the Academy, and additionally had found himself. Billy had been his first.

"I knew yeh wouldn't be able ta stay away!" Billy exclaimed triumphantly, patting Harry on the cheek. "Though, ye took yer time fightin' against yer destiny."

"Three years," Harry said, still smiling.

"Aye, three years," Billy repeated, taking a good look at Harry. He saw a bit thinner and wearier Harry but was delighted to note the twinkling, lively green eyes. They had always made his knees weak.

"Hold on, I'll call Maggie, and then we'll talk," Billy huffed, pushing the back door open. "Margaret Wyndan! Come ta earn yer bread and butter! I'm takin' a break."

He returned to Harry without waiting for an answer.

"The usual?" Billy asked and was pouring the beer before Harry even had a chance to nod.

After Maggie appeared from the kitchen, Billy steered Harry straight to the corner table at the back of the pub, pushing the pint in front of him.

"Talk," he blurted out and leant back. And Harry talked.

~o~

"—and then he just threw me out," Harry ended his tale and emptied his pint.

Billy didn't utter a word before fetching them both another beer.

"Yeh poor bloke," he muttered, reaching out to pull Harry's hand onto his cheek.

Harry's fingers ghosted over the rough stubble, ending up on Billy's lips. His breath warmed Harry's fingertips as he pondered the matter, his eyes never leaving Harry.

"It would've been better if ye'd stayed here with Billy-Boy," Billy grinned but grew serious after seeing that Harry didn't laugh. "Yeh realise that ye've lost that boy's faith now?"

Harry nodded solemnly.

"What the devil bewitched yeh ta lie? Didn't Billy-Boy teach yeh better?" Billy kept staring at Harry from underneath his thick eyebrows. Harry lowered his eyes, feeling embarrassed.

"It felt like a good plan at the time," he mumbled.

"And now some damage control is in order," Billy muttered, freeing Harry's hand. Harry nodded again and grabbed his full pint.

"Drop 'im on his knees," Billy said after a couple of minutes. "Forget about settlin' with the relatives. It's the boy yeh want, not 'is family!"

Harry shook his head. "Ron's too stubborn. It won't work anymore."

"Stubborn, eh? Well that's two of yeh!" Billy-Boy burst into loud laughter.

For some reason, Harry felt instantly better.

~o~

They each took yet another beer, but after those, Harry pushed his chair back.

"I have to go now. Thanks for the help, Billy — again."

Harry got up and tried to hug Billy, but Billy grabbed Harry by his neck and pulled his face almost against his own.

"Yeh sure yeh don' wanna spend the night?" he asked with a low voice.

Harry smiled. "Not this time, Billy."

Billy let Harry go and pretended to wipe a tear from the corner of his eye.

"Empty and cold bed, that awaits poor Billy-Boy again!" he cried out, smacking a passer-by on his buttocks.

Harry grinned. "That'd be the first time."

As Harry stepped out the cellar pub, Wallace, he almost stumbled backwards onto his arse — on the other side of the street was Ron, just standing there.

Harry retreated to the recess wondering if the tall man standing by Ron was the one he had been waiting for that afternoon. The man waved his arms trying to persuade Ron to step in the black door that Harry knew lead to a rather popular gay bar. The quarrel ended when Ron shrugged, looking defeated, and pushed the door open fiercely. The tall guy followed on his heels.

Harry waited for a moment before crossing the street and slipping after them.

~.~.~.~

~.~.~.~

Ron looked around, shaking his head and looking annoyed. Cal chuckled.

"Come now, this should feel homey!"

"Haven't you had enough of the gay bars?" Ron glared at his friend.

"Let's just have a couple of beers here and then go straight to Steer, okay?" Cal proposed, trying to mollify Ron.

Ron didn't answer, but instead gulped down half of his beer. Cal didn't push Ron but let him get lost in his thoughts. He knew that when Ron had enough beer in him, he would start talking. Cal was right.

"It's unbelievable how two-faced people can be," Ron snorted.

"You mean the guest you had today?"

Ron nodded, looking irritated. "He came to bring me back."

"Back where?" Cal started to get interested. Ron had never revealed anything personal before; he only mentioned being married for a few years before moving to London.

"Oh, back home," Ron answered evasively, even though he really didn't mind anymore whether Cal found out or not. "Back to the countryside."

"Why?"

"Because my ex sent him."

"Your ex-wife wants you back?"

"No!" Ron yelped. He hesitated before continuing. "My ex is a hopeless optimist. I guess she wants everyone to get along with each other in spite of how deep in their backs her knife has been drilled. She must be crazy to think that I would go back to look at her fooling around with my brother," Ron sneered, rolling his eyes.

Cal tutted and shook his head. He never knew the situation was that bad.

"Yeah, that's my ex for you!" Ron nodded with a knowing expression, downing the last of his beer. "I'm going to take a leak. If I'm not back in fifteen, you'd better come and save me," he joked, looking around suspiciously.

"That's a promise," Cal grinned, but as Ron got out of eyesight, his expression grew dark.

Poor Ron. People could be so brutal. No wonder Ron had snapped at work. Maybe Brian should think twice before telling Ron off.

Ron came back after a few minutes, and Cal stood up before Ron had a chance to sit down.

"Listen, let's go to Steer, find some chicks and fuck their brains out."

Cal's face was serious, but Ron burst into laughter.

"That was the plan," Ron confirmed.

They fetched their coats and stepped out. It had started to drizzle again, and Cal made a displeased sound as he raised his collar up.

"I hate it when it rains all the time. If I had the money, I'd move to the Mediterranean and spend my days drinking margaritas at the beach.

"Not a bad idea," Ron agreed, slouching down the street after Cal.

~.~.~.~

~.~.~.~

Harry crouched lower behind the bush as the taxi stopped in front of Ron's apartment.

"This is where I live," Ron slurred to the man who stumbled out of the car after paying the fare. The man didn't answer but grasped Ron by his flaming red hair and pulled him closer. He kissed Ron long and hard, groping his arse with his other hand.

Across the street, under the Disillusionment Charm, Harry clenched his fingers into tight fists. He had never wanted to start tailing Ron, but the temptation had been too strong. He had changed his face and followed Ron and his friend all the evening. Eventually, their paths had separated, and Ron had returned to the same gay bar across from Wallace. Harry had changed his face again before following Ron just in time to witness his steaming kiss with the man who was dry humping him against his front door at the moment.

A couple of minutes later, Ron finally managed to get the lock open. The green door slammed shut after the entangled couple.

Harry considered for a moment whether he should get his Invisibility Cloak — the Muggle lock was no match for him — but then he sighed. He knew what was happening behind the closed door without seeing it in first-hand.

He Disapparated, leaving just a faint pop behind, and landed straight on the doorstep in the back of Wallace. He had to knock for a while before the lights turned on in the second floor window.

"Harry! Come in, come in," Billy urged as soon as he got the door open. He was wearing nothing but tartan wrapped haphazardly around his waist, and his hair was wildly dishevelled.

Harry slipped in and waited patiently as Billy charmed the door shot. It was dark in the back room; the only light was coming from upstairs.

"I need you," Harry said quietly when Billy finally turned to him.

"I guessed that much," Billy answered, pushing Harry to the stairs.

~o~

Billy's hands felt familiar and safe, and he undressed Harry slowly, his stubble roughening his sweet, wet kisses. As Harry came, he kept staring at Billy's grey eyes. He hoped that the blissful expression on Billy's face while he thrust in for the last time before coming apart, shaking all over, would make him forget about Ron.

But when Billy pulled Harry into a bear hug, squeezing him tightly and falling asleep almost immediately, Harry stayed awake, unable to not think about Ron.

He should play with open cards, just like Billy had advised him, but would it make a difference anymore? The worst had happened, and his chances of getting Ron back were almost lost. But if he played his hand right, if he poured everything he had into his only chance left, then maybe...

~o~


End Notes:

Thank you all for reading and reviewing, it means a lot to me! ...and then to the reviews:

Rori Potter: Thank you! And the update came sooner than later, don't you think? :D

truelavender: Ron's a poor thing, I agree. I think he's so lost that he has to find himself before anything good can happen. I'm glad you liked the update :)

TheSmartIdiot: It's great to hear that you've liked the story — so far :P The chapters will grow in length as the story progresses, and also the sequel, TICTAC, has longer chapters. They're about 2k-3k in Finnish (except the last chapters, which are almost twice as long) and then you'll have to multiply the number by 1.3 (approximately) to get the equivalent number in English x) Yes, I'm a bit funny that way and I calculate stuff just for fun :P

lialovegood: Thank you :) I like the Ginny-chapter, too! It was refreshing to write, and while it feels (a bit) like a bridge-chapter, I, too, think that it had to be there before things could progress. The most important thing IMHO is that Ginny finally understands what happened and is able to let Harry go. Not that they actually talk about anything, well, you know Harry — you'd have to write it down in cat-sized letters for him to understand something :P

Bottle-Blues: Haha :D What can I say, I just love the cliffies :D

Teinai: Thank you! Though, I apologize, but if you are looking for a fast pace story, I guess this one is not for you. WG has approx. 30 percent of the story left, and then there's TICTAC which is twice as long. So, I'm afraid nothing happens fast in this story/series :D But hopefully you will tag along :)

~o~

Again, happy holidays! And, this time I mean it when I say: we'll see again next year! :)

/Re-uploaded for fixing a typo!