A/N: Thanks for the reviews and faves, much appreciated!

I know I take a while to update so I'm going to start putting the last sentence of the last chapter at the top as a refresher, I like when authors do that so I'll do it too!

The closing door silenced the sound of applause and Harry found himself inside a small chamber, the walls lined with portraits and a large fire roaring in the grate…

"Good afternoon Harry," Remington Pyralis greeted Harry with a warm smile.

"Nice to meet you Dr. Pyralis," Harry extended his hand out for a handshake and the other man gripped his hand firmly.

"Please, call me Remy," Remy gestured to a cozy little seat next to a table full of sandwiches, hors d'oeuvres, jugs of pumpkin juice and mulled mead. Harry felt his stomach rumble a little but still had no idea why he was in here and didn't know him company very well. For these reasons he didn't feel very comfortable stuffing his face just yet but he still took the seat next that had been gestured to him.

"So, Harry Potter, it really is an honour to meet you. I've seen you of course, everyone has, ministry events and all that. But to really meet you… wow…"

Harry felt a twinge of annoyance at the man who seemed to almost notice this change in demeanor at once.

"Not for all the "you know who" business! No! Well, not really." Harry quirked his eyebrow a little and just waited for him to continue his explanation.

"All the magic you can perform, your instincts, your auror abilities are just incredible! Could you really produce a corporeal patronus at the age of 13?"

"Yeah…" Harry felt a little less annoyed now, but a lot more embarrassed, he felt his face go red a little.

"Wow, amazing…" Remy sounded wistful. "Anyway, I've heard about these stories and I've always been interested in it, the magic stuff I mean. I follow the publicity on you looking for these sorts of things it's just too bad it's muddled with all kinds of rubbish. Do you know you've been known as "sexiest wizard" for the past five years or so?" he asked him chuckling.

Harry felt as though his face could have caught on fire. "Um, no…"

Remy was howling now. "Sorry, sorry, anyway," he composed himself. "Rubbish like that made me careful what I believed, I always looked for confirmation from people like Kingsley, or Sturgis, or Severus, you know, people I can trust. Even got into conversations about you with Dumbledore sometimes. Never said much, just enough to confirm."

Harry sat there, staring at him, having no idea where this was going.

"Right, so, to the point, why you're here, right. So of course Kingsley knew about my fascination so he knew I wouldn't hesitate when he asked. He told me, in confidence of course, of a little project you've got going on on the side. So he's asked me if I could give you a few pointers, of course I accepted right away, but I didn't wanna leave it at that! Of course not! So I told him, as soon as we got that funding from the ball I knew exactly where it could go. See, I think you could help us Harry, and in turn it could help you a great deal, we would love to have you on board!"

"Um, sorry, but what are you talking about?"

"Right right, sorry getting carried away, getting ahead of myself again. The powers you're trying to get back for your friend there. There's a place for that in Project Memory. I'm willing to bet you've got some good leads and if you're willing, I'd love to have you work with the team."

Before Harry could give him an answer he heard a low familiar voice break the silence.

"Are you done?" Kingsley asked the pair, looking into the room. He was standing in the doorway through which Harry could see the crowd getting out of their chairs and disappearing either through the door or though thin air by apparation.

"Not quite, but please come join us, you have wonderful timing as always Minister. I believe some of the information you have to offer could help Harry make his decision."

"Of course," Kinglsey took a seat in a cozy armchair next to Harry's. He began piling sandwiches on one if the small silver plates next to them and poured some pumpkin juice in a matching intricate silver goblet. Instead of drinking it he offered it to Harry. He took it gratefully and began to drink deeply from the goblet. He hadn't realized just how thirsty he was. Kingsley then handed him a silver plate before biting into his first sandwich. Harry had realized how hungry he was and couldn't help but smile a little from relief as he took a few sandwiches and began to fill his stomach.

A few minutes of silence and about ten triangles of sandwiches each later, Kinglsey brought the matter at hand back to the forefront.

"Now that we've gotten that taken care of, Harry. I'm not sure what Remy has told you but I'll give you the information I have to give of the offer."

"Oh Harry! I'm so glad you're here, we were starting to worry about you!" Harry chuckled as Mrs. Weasley enveloped him in a hug. Harry followed Mrs. Weasley into the house and through the kitchen, a glance at the clock told Harry it was a little past three.

"They're all in the living room, you go on in, I'll make you some tea," she told him cheerfully.

He continued into the living room and on his way by he glanced at the Weasley family clock which was a lot less useful for telling Harry the time but it showed most of the Weasley family to be at work, with the exception of Mrs. Weasley, Ron and Ginny who were all at home and Fred who was forever fixed on Mortal Peril.

"Harry!" Ginny exclaimed as she looked up from the exploding snap game they were in the middle of. Draco who was sitting on the floor with his back turned to him twisted around and gave Harry a big smile. Ron was across from Draco, and next to Ginny, he gave Harry a small smile before placing the next card. Harry plugged his ears as the cards exploded and took a seat next to Draco, placing a kiss on his cheek as he did so. When he did this Harry noticed Ron's whole face and ears go as red as the hair on his head as he looked away. Harry was almost positive this had nothing to do with him missing half an eyebrow after the cards exploded. Harry thought it best if he just didn't tell him and change the subject to something a little more light instead but Ginny beat him to it.

"Hey Harry, guess who we ran into this afternoon in Diagon Alley?"

"Merlin?" Harry replied sarcastically, smirking. A little something he had picked up with all his time spent with Draco Malfoy.

"Ha – Ha –" she gave him a playful dirty look, "Oliver Wood!" she told him, sounding rather excited to have run into his former Quidditch captain. Harry suspected there was probably a reason behind this, a very girly one, and decided to let it go.

"Oh yeah? How's he?" the smirk for this one was difficult to keep off his face for this. Ginny Weasley all excited to see Oliver Wood…

"He's good! Really good! He got promoted to captain this year. I've invited him to play quidditch with us this weekend, he said he ran into George last week and he's been meaning to come visit him so that works out great," she spoke very quickly and animatedly, even a little girly. Yup, she definitely had the hots for his old quidditch captain. And old was right too, how old was he now? Way too old to be liking her back, he must just not be able to pass up a game of quidditch with some old team mates, that has to be it.

"That's great! I look forward to seeing him," Harry told her, still trying to keep the smirk off his face.

Ron continued to sit there quietly, he didn't get up and leave Harry noticed, but he still didn't look like he was about to talk.

"So what kept you?" Draco asked Harry after a moment of awkward silence.

"Why? Did you miss me?" Harry grinned at Draco who would have gone red had he not been so disciplined in keeping his emotions in check.

"Maybe," he told him shortly, perhaps a little angry at the embarrassment. "So? What was it?"

"Well as you could have guessed Kingsley didn't really just want lunch."

"Somehow I figured that it wasn't just that you two had ordered an abnormally large amount of food. Draco told him, his body language feeling more warm again and teasing Harry back.

"Well, he would like me to go on a two month paid leave from work."

"What? Why? Are you in trouble or in danger or something?" Ginny looked shocked, Ron was sitting in his corner still just watching quietly but he frowned at this news, a slight crease in his forehead forming.

"No no, nothing like that, you remember that charity ball we just had?" Ginny and Draco both raised their eyebrows.

"Um, yeah it was like a week ago."

"Well, all the proceeds went to a research project at St. Mungo's and the research team wants me to work with them."

"What? Because your fame got most of the proceeds in at the ball they think you can help with the research it's going to?" Ron asked bitterly, his face getting angrier, the crease more defined, the frown now a scowl. Harry glared at him.

"No, it related to some research I've been doing on the side and they think I may have some leads and could help develop some of their ideas."

"That's awesome! Congratulations!" Ginny told him heartily, ignoring Ron's blatant, crass comments.

"Thanks Ginny," Harry smiled.

"So? Are you doing it?" Ron asked him, still sounding very cold.

"Of course he's doing it Ron! Stop being such a git!" Ron's sister chastised him, unable to ignore him anymore, or at least unwilling. "Mom! Can you feed Ron, he's being an arse, I think he's hungry!" Ginny called into the kitchen.

"He's always hungry, dinner will be ready in twenty minutes," she called back, "and watch your language!" she added.

"Ron, we need to talk," Harry stared at him fixedly as he said this.

"Fine."

Harry touched Draco's shoulder gently before he got up and started up the stairs, Ron following.

Harry closed Ron's door behind him and sat down on the bright orange covers and looked up at Ron who was still standing against the door glaring at him. They remained like that for a while until Harry finally realised that Ron was not about to talk.

"I don't get it," Harry told him, not really sure where to start.

"Get what?"

"I don't know, I just – " Harry sighed. "I thought you were getting used to Draco, maybe even warming up a little, I've seen you having civil conversations with him, hell you two were getting on just fine when I came in. I don't get it, what changed?"

"Maybe I don't have a problem with Draco, ever think of that?"

"Um… you flipped out at me for being nice to him when he first came to Grimmauld place and then you broke my arm when you found out I was dating him. Later that day you felt the need to bring up all the "evil" things he's done to us. Sorry, I don't know where I got the idea that you had a problem with him." Harry told him sarcastically getting really frustrated.

"Yeah well maybe you were right, maybe I am warming up to him. Ever think that it could not be him I have the problem with?"

Harry looked taken aback. "So what, you have a problem with me now? What did I even do?" Harry was getting really angry now, his voice was probably starting to carry out into the hall but he didn't care, this was so ridiculous. He hadn't done a thing to Ron, he's been walking on egg shells around him since Hermione told him what was going on.

"No."

"Then what are you on about?" Harry's shoulders relaxed a little as he said no.

"You two."

"But you just said you didn't…"

"Together." Ron finished, looking down at his shoes. Harry thought back to that morning on the very bed he was sitting on now. 'You know I still don't like seeing you guys together,' he'd told him, and then proceeded to tell him that he would remain civilized…

'civilized my arse,' Harry thought to himself and was about to bring this up and continue to get mad at him until he looked back at his ginger friend and realised what he was doing. He was looking down at his shoes, red hair falling over his face, and had he not seen a single drop hit his shoe he'd never have known he was crying. The anger melted away and Harry cross the room and gathered him in his arms, sitting him down on the bed.

He held him for a bit, his tears becoming less silent, his shoulders shaking. After about ten minutes of some gentle swaying and Harry rubbing his back Ron finally extracted himself from his arms and wiped his face with his sleeve.

"I'm sorry," he told Harry.

"Don't be, if you ever need a shoulder…"

"Not just that… for being an arse…" he chuckled a little through his subsiding sobs.

"It's ok… I'll try not to act like his boyfriend around you," Harry told him awkwardly, he wasn't about to tell off a bloke who had just been bawling on his shoulder.

"No, it's not. I will make more of an effort to get over you guys, I will. It's not fair for you guys to not be allowed to act like a couple when you are just because I'm a stupid jealous pratt," he laughed a little, Harry wasn't sure if he should too so he just settled for a smile.

"Look, I'll just come out with you and Draco some night, to like a gay bar or something, maybe meeting a nice bloke will take my mind off you and maybe even help me come out."

"Well, we'd be happy to have you if we went out to gay bars at all, but we don't really go out."

"Yeah? Well maybe you should start," Ron smiled.

"Alright, sounds like a plan." Harry returned his smile and gave Ron a warm tight hug before getting up from the bed. Ron didn't follow.

"Dinner's probably ready, aren't you coming?"

"Nah, I think I'm just gonna go to bed, not really hungry," he told him. Harry raised an eyebrow,

Ron not hungry? He must be upset.

"Good night," Harry nodded in understanding and left with a small sympathetic smile, shutting the door behind him.

A/N: See! I have an excuse for taking a while, it's a longer chapter than usual :P

Keep the reviews coming please! Questions, Suggestions, Comments, Compliments and Constructive Criticisms always welcome!