Chapter 12
Outed
"Now let us begin..." Severus said as Harry and Neville came running in and stopped just inside the doorway their eyes locking onto Severus.
Severus raised his left eyebrow at the sudden intrusion of his teaching. He was more than a little grouchy due to the lack of sleep, but given the fact that what had happened earlier that morning he decided to bite his tongue for Harry and Neville.
"Find your seats, and pay attention." Professor Snape said in an almost casual manner, surprising many of the students, including himself.
Neville and Harry went to their normal seats in the Defense Against the Dark Arts class.
"Hey Ron." Harry whispered.
"Hey." Ron whispered back.
"Sleep good?" Ron asked nonchalantly.
"Yeah...you?" Harry replied suddenly realizing that Ron must have seen him and Neville sleeping together.
"Well, I would have slept better if I was with Hermione, but yeah."
Harry smiled at Ron.
"Long night?" Ron probed.
"Slightly...I got attacked twice, thankfully Severus was there the second time to help me out."
"What happened?" Ron was becoming very curious.
Harry whispered the story to Ron over the next hour.
"There's all kinds of rumors going around school about students seeing strange things or hearing them, I guess some of it is true then." Ron conjectured.
"Yeah..." Was Harry's only reply. He didn't want to think about what was going on anymore. He just wanted to get back to some kind of normal life.
After class Harry and Ron walked out together.
"Harry, can I talk to you alone for a minute?" Ron asked.
"Sure."
Ron led Harry down a seldom used hallway and leaned against the wall.
"What's up with you and Neville?" Ron asked bluntly.
Harry felt his face burning as he blushed.
"We are friends is all..." Harry said unconvincingly.
"Blimey Harry, we've never slept like that with each other and we're best mates."
Harry looked to his side and then back to Ron. What a predicament to be in. How was he going to explain this to Ron?
"Right...I know..." Harry hesitated in his answer. "Look Ron, their has been a lot going on with me that I've never told you about."
"Like maybe your gay?" There it was. Ron had said it for Harry so he wouldn't have to.
"Yeah, that's part of it." Harry said feeling very uncomfortable coming out to his best friend. The last thing he wanted was for Ron and him not to be friends anymore.
"Bloody hell Harry, how long you been like that?" Ron asked getting upset.
"Since...always..." Harry admitted.
Ron had a disappointed look on his face.
"Why couldn't you tell me a few years ago then? I have to find out in the bloody dorm when you and Neville are all cuddled up together?"
Harry looked down at the stone floor.
"Suppose Seamus or someone else had come up there and seen you two as well? What you think might be happening now Harry?"
Harry suddenly shot his eyes back up at Ron. He didn't care if anyone knew he was gay anymore.
"So let'em see!" Harry said raising his voice. "I never told you because I didn't want to lose you as my friend Ron. How do you think I felt having to keep it a secret all these years, hiding the truth from you, and even myself sometimes, trying to play hetro when I'm the farthest thing from it!"
Ron was quiet for a moment.
"So who else knows?" Ron asked.
"Professor Snape...and Neville..."
"And Neville's gay too?" Ron had to ask to be sure.
"Yeah."
"You two boyfriends?" Ron asked.
"Well not exactly, but I think we could be very soon."
"And how did Snape find out?" Ron asked surprised to hear that Snape found out before he did. He was thinking maybe Severus had caught Harry and Neville kissing recently or something.
"He found out when I kissed him back in our third year at Hogwarts..."
"You what!" Ron blurted out his eyes were huge with disbelief.
"Ron...Severus and I were lovers until recently."
Ron was silent. He was at a total loss for words.
"We broke up recently Ron, that's why I went down to the lake, to kill myself. I walked into his room one night and he and Draco were kissing of all things."
"Bloody hell Harry..." Is all Ron could say. He was completely dumbfounded by all of this.
"And you never told me Harry...about any of it." Ron said narrowing his eyes at Harry looking disappointed again.
"How could I Ron...would have understood then any better than you understand it now?"
"Maybe not, but you could have talked to me about it, about what was going on. Your my best mate Harry, if you had killed yourself how do you think I would feel after that. Not knowing why you did it, or what I could have done to help you before you went off to the lake. I don't care if your a homo Harry, but you can't just go and off yourself and not even tell me why your doing it."
Harry realized Ron was speaking about them both being best friends. Best friends are supposed to share everything together, yet Harry hadn't. He felt like shit now.
"I'm sorry Ron...I should have told you...everything..." Harry said looking down at the floor.
Neither one said anything for the next minute. Ron was re-evaluating his relationship with Harry. Harry just thought about how he had made yet another mistake.
"Well...I'm still your best mate Harry." Ron finally said. There was no way he could possibly stop being Harry's friend at this point. They've known each other far to long.
Harry looked back up to Ron.
"Thanks Ron."
"Just don't do anything freaky with Neville when I'm in the same room." Ron said smiling.
Harry giggled. "I promise I won't." And with that the two boys walked to their next class together.
