Hello, everyone! I am SO sorry about the huuuuuge wait! I can't explain so please enjoy! Thank you for all the reviews. By the way, a holiday is coming up so I'll make up for all the weeks I missed.
A.N – This is what a lot of you have been waiting for! Will Ron share his secret? Find out in Chapter 11. Enjoy!
Summary - Ron's got a terrible secret. He's not eating, he's pale and he hates being touched. His friends try to find out what's wrong with him, but when Harry does, will he regret ever asking. Contains abuse scenes. You have been warned!
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Chapter 11 – The Dinner Party, Part 3
Harry repeatedly rapped his knuckles against the smooth wood of the kitchen table, waiting for what seemed like an eternity for Ron to enter the room. The image of Ron's wrist, tainted left to right with cuts and scars flashed into his mind and burned itself into his memory.
How Long? How long has he been doing this to himself? Harry's throat began to ache as he held back the sorrow.
"………..Ron." He whimpered. The kitchen door creaked open and Ron slid in, catching Harry's gaze. He looked different……worn. Then, it hit Harry; he'd been like this for ages. He just hadn't noticed! Ron staggered towards him, looking wary. Harry stood up to steady him, but Ron pushed him away.
"Don't feel sorry for me!" Ron choked, obviously fighting with tears. "I don't think I could handle that!" Harry had lost the power of speech. How did his friend fall so far!?
"Y-your wrist!" Harry started. Ron rolled his sleeve up and gave him a proper look. Harry couldn't stop the tears. "Ron, why!?" Ron sat at the table.
"Because it's real!" He hissed. Harry sat opposite him.
"I don't know what you mean! Ron!" Harry had to shake him, as he was just staring through him, as if he couldn't see him. "Tell me what's wrong with you!" Harry stammered. Ron's eyes fixed on his, making Harry to shift nervously.
"Wrong?" Ron kicked the chair from under him as he got up, sending it flying across the kitchen floor. He rolled his sleeve all the way up to his shoulder, revealing the true extent of the damage. Harry slapped a hand over his mouth in shock.
"Ron…"
"Wrong? I'll tell you what's wrong!" Ron frantically began to undo the belt on his trousers.
"What're you doing?" Ron ignored him. "Stop!" Harry hissed. Ron threw his clothes down his legs. "Jesus!" Harry gasped. Ron's thighs were covered in faded, yellow bruises. Harry grabbed Ron's clothes and pulled them back up to his waist. He looked up into Ron's darkened eyes.
"See what's wrong?" Ron whispered. Harry grabbed Ron and hauled him through the kitchen door. Before Ron knew it, he was being pushed through the dining room, attracting the gaze of everyone in the room and out the other door. Everyone stared at the door Ron left through. Harry re-entered. He was shaking from head to foot.
"Ron doesn't feel well. He doesn't feel like eating."
"What's wrong with him, dear?" Mrs Weasley said, seeing the disturbed look on Harry's face. There was no answer to her question as Harry had gone. Hermione looked over and caught a glimpse of Craig, whose eyes were wide.
Harry pushed Ron's door shut and turned on the lights. He turned around to see Ron sitting on his bed, scratching the back of his hand. Harry sat next to him.
"Who did this to you, Ron?" There was no point in holding anything back now.
"C-craig did." Ron whimpered. Harry got off the bed and kneeled in front of Ron.
"What happened? Did you have a fight? Is that why he beat you up?" Ron looked up and pushed Harry away, he was caught off balance and fell backwards onto the floor.
"Beat me up?" Ron angrily said. Harry stared up at him in confusion. "Are you totally thick!?" Harry was too surprised to stand up.
"Ron…"
"He didn't 'Beat me up'!" Ron knelt over Harry. The thought flashed through Harry's mind, but he dismissed it.
"Don't say…" Ron pressed his hand against Harry's chest, pinning him to the floor.
"He raped me!" Harry stopped struggling against him. "Understand?" Harry just lay there under Ron, breathing heavily and staring into his terrified eyes. Suddenly, Ron's dark orbs flickered between open and shut.
"Ron?" Harry whispered. Ron fell onto him with surprising force, letting out a groan of pain. Harry rolled over, switching their positions. "Ron!" Harry lifted him up onto his shoulder and dragged him over to the bed, where he lay him down. He moved up to his weary face, it seems the fatigue had got to him. "Please say you're lying, Ron!" Harry shook him slightly as he mouthed unrecognisable words In his delirious slumber. "Please…" Harry whispered, allowing the tars to fall from his face and land on Ron's pale cheeks. Harry felt like he had been hit by a massive wall of shame. "I'm so sorry Ron!" Harry pleaded as he kneeled at the side of his bed. Suddenly, there was a loud knock at the door. Fear gripped Harry as he stared at it.
"Harry? Ron?" It was Hermione. "Are you two okay?" Fear struck, Harry frantically slid Ron under the bed sheets, and then he crept over to the other bed and climbed in. He shut his eyes just as the door opened. "Harry?" Hermione walked into the room. Harry lay there, forcing his eyes to shut and his body to be still. It was weird; he could feel when she was watching him. He didn't like the feeling so…
"Ron…" Hermione jumped slightly when she heard Harry groan in his sleep and turn over to face the wall. Harry opened his eyes, staring at the pale coloured wall and listening to his own shallow breathing. Just then, he heard another voice.
"Is everything alright up here?" A deep male voice said. Harry immediately froze. It was Craig! Harry couldn't shake the image of Ron, begging to be left alone, but Craig not listening and hurting him.
"Nothing, they're both asleep." Hermione answered. Harry heard Craig step across the room, towards Ron. He tensed up, wanting to spring out of bed and strangle Craig to death. "We should go downstairs, Craig." Hermione added.
"I think something's wrong with Ron" Craig started, immediately grabbing Hermione's attention.
"Like what?" Hermione said, ever intent on helping her friend……or her more than a friend.
"I dunno, but…." Craig glanced over at Harry. "He wasn't like this when I was here last. Hey, you don't think, maybe….Harry has done something to him, do you?" Harry clutched the sheets as he listened on in anger. Hermione stood in silence.
"No" Craig looked over at her. "Harry and Ron are best friends. They're so close it's scary. In fact, sometimes…" She cut herself off and turned to leave,
"You feel left out." Craig finished her sentence.
"I'm just glad that they both managed to find someone that they would do anything for." Hermione said in a quiet tone.
"You make it sound as if they're an item." Hermione looked at him.
"Do I? Well, as far as I know, they're not. Y'know, it is possible to have someone who you would tell anything and do anything for them, without there being something else there." Hermione continued. Harry knew she was right, and felt his anger rise for Craig, who was trying to reduce their friendship to something underhand.
"I've had an idea how to help Ron. I'll have to talk to his mom about it, though." Craig said. Harry didn't like the sound of that.
"What?" Hermione said.
"C'mon, I'll tell you." He said. They left the room, leaving Harry in the bed, still pretending to be asleep.
He's right, though, isn't he? You do like Ron more than that. That's the only reason you do all these things for him, right?
That's not true!
Really? Then where were you when Ron was getting raped? Where were you when he was cutting himself? Oh, well, at least you're here now…….a little late, though. Harry felt the tear fall from his eyes as it dripped onto the mattress. He wanted to get up and see how Ron was doing, but the guilt was too much. He so badly wanted to be there for him. To tell him how sorry he was, but he couldn't bring himself to look him in the face. Tomorrow was the shopping day before Hogwarts; he would be there for him from then on, to make up for not being there when he was needed. Harry had a sleepless night, listening to the distressed cried of Ron's troubled sleep and thingking of the terrible things that had happened to him.
Craig's gonna get it! I'll make sure!
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Hey, hope you enjoyed the chapter! Sorry again for the wait, but it won't happen again. Just a spot of bother with my family, but I won't bore you with the details. It should get back to normal, now. Once a week, two weeks tops. Thanks, don't forget to review. - DL
