protracted embrace…

Fawkes' croon of welcome was the first thing he heard, followed by Albus' calling his name. Harry beamed and put his arms out, sending a small pulse of Magic ahead to navigate the unfamiliar territory of the Headmaster's office. He was folded into a warm hug and returned the embrace wholeheartedly. Today was a 'good' day - he'd woken without a headache and was feeling a lot more energetic than he had of late. The slight use of Magic hadn't triggered a headache, and he was home. That fact alone gave him a bigger boost than all the others put together.

"Hello Albus," he mumbled into a velvet-clad shoulder. He could feel patterns in the robes he was holding, and knew that they would doubtless be brightly coloured.

"Good to see you dear boy," Albus sighed, and Harry heard the unspoken portion of that sentence clearly: 'though I wish you were looking a little better'. Severus was so worried about him that he had stipulated that Harry was to stop using Magic for lessons, and had changed their duels to non magical ones - in fact Harry thought of them more as a game than a duel. Too much casting during the day brought on a headache, and they were getting more and more severe as time passed. Severus had even remarked that he'd lost a lot of colour and Harry knew he wasn't putting on weight any more; the changing flavours of his breakfast indicated that Severus had been trying to boost the effects of the potions he was still under mandate to take on a daily basis.

Flash trilled gently and Severus made a very startled noise behind them. Harry twisted in the Headmaster's arms, turning towards the sound in concern.

"Severus? What's wrong?" it was getting harder and harder to put up with the constant and unending blackness; harder to have to ask than simply glance over and see the trouble for himself. Harry wanted to yell and scream and rail against it, but was so far controlling the temper tantrum, afraid that giving in to his feelings in such a manner would irrevocably harm his friendly relationship with Severus. The man prized self control and self knowledge, and Harry knew himself well enough to know that once he got started, the emotion would take control completely and allow him to say all sorts of things he would regret, about everyone.

"Ink," Severus' voice was completely disgusted and Albus chuckled. Harry could imagine the expression on Severus' face, he'd seen it often enough in class. The potion-affected kitten had not lost any of its fascination with Severus, though it no longer attacked Harry if he simply walked by. The first time it had done that Severus had very nearly drowned it in a potion the man was making. It had taken some fast-talking to save the kitten, Harry had to point out that the scratches would heal quickly, and that he'd suffered worse.

"In your bag again?" Severus had been carrying bags for them both, though Harry had argued he could manage his own luggage. The kitten had realised this morning that they were going somewhere and had tried to stow away in Severus' cloak and then his robe pocket. The Potions Master had secured his bag against invasion, muttering darkly all the while, but obviously not well enough.

"Yes, the wretched creature has mastered the strap and slid underneath."

"So much for your insistence on leaving a refilling spell on her bowl," Harry sighed, "Maybe you should get Crookshanks to have a word with her. He's half Kneazle."

"Mmm," Severus droned in response, not sounding too impressed with the thought of asking Hermione Granger's cat to sort out his unwelcome familiar. Albus rubbed Harry's back gently and Harry offered a grin in the Headmasters direction.

"Ron will be here as soon as the carriages return from the station. I believe he was seeing his sister and Miss Lovegood off to their holiday. Hagrid has asked me to issue an invitation to you to have afternoon tea with him, and Ron will find you there, if that is acceptable, Harry."

"Yeah, I'd like that," Harry admitted, stepping finally out of the protracted embrace, "Will Hagrid be coming to collect me or can I walk on my own?"

He was well aware that Hogwarts was a different kettle of fish when it came to navigating the halls and stairs. The summer house was static in its layout, and the castle was most decidedly not. He knew how confusing the place could be when you could see, and he wasn't planning to go wandering off alone. He didn't want to lose his independence though, and wondered what Albus had arranged for him. Ron would be all right, and Severus knew his thoughts on being dependent on others, but Albus was a kind-hearted man, and Harry didn't like to reject his well-meant help.

"Professor McGonagall wanted to see you as well, in fact she has just arrived at the bottom of the stairs. She will walk you to Hagrid's hut if that is acceptable to you. There will be dinner in the Great Hall as usual, Severus and I will see you there. Madame Pomfrey has insisted that you go to see her first thing tomorrow, and I imagine that Ron and Miss Granger will walk you there."

"Ok then," Harry smiled. Albus had come up with an unspoken compromise; Harry would walk only with company, but company carefully chosen to allow his independence, "I'll see you both at dinner. Am I sleeping in the Tower?"

"Ron insisted," Albus said dryly, but Harry just beamed. He was looking forward to spending as much time with Ron as possible. He'd missed the redhead immensely.

0o0o0o0

Ron wanted to urge the Thestrals to move faster. He was certain he could run to the castle quicker than these nightmarish beasts were moving and was having a very hard time not pulling his wand out to encourage them to a more speedy rate of travel. Harry was at Hogwarts - in fact at this moment he should be sitting with Hagrid, having tea and rock cakes made from real rocks. He had wanted to see his sister off on her holidays and had accepted many messages for Harry from both Ginny and Luna who had finally gotten onto the train, but right now he was regretting the brotherly impulse.

The school gates flashed by and Ron tensed, the hand that was already gripping the door handle applying slight pressure so as to be ready the moment the Thestrals stopped. Moments later he was down on the ground, ignoring the ankle deep snow as he hurried away from the House elves and stables and around the corner of the castle to Hagrid's hut.

The lopsided structure had never been so enticing, from the crooked steps to the smoke curling from the chimney. Ron had a moments worry about getting Harry safely down the steps without a handrail and then dismissed it, figuring that Hagrid would be there to catch his friend if he stumbled. In fact the half giant would probably carry Harry back to the castle if they let him. Hagrid had always had the softest spot for Harry, and Ron didn't begrudge the half-giant this opportunity to have afternoon tea with the Boy Who Lived. Harry would be staying in the Tower with Ron for the next week or so, and he could afford to share during the day with the others in the castle, at least a little. He skidded up the steps eagerly and knocked loudly, only barely able to wait until Hagrid's voice called for him to come in.

"Hello Hagrid," Ron could afford to remember his manners, especially as the half-giant had been so worried about Harry at the start of term. Hagrid looked terribly worried now, though his voice was light enough when returning Ron's greeting. A glance at the frail form in the second armchair showed why.

Harry had not gained any weight at all since Ron had last seen him, and had lost a lot of the colour he'd gained over the summer as well. There was a slightly pinched quality to the corners of his eyes that spoke of pain, probably due to another of the mysterious headaches. On the other hand he was beaming in Ron's direction and eagerly setting his tea down, standing and holding his arms out.

"Hiya Harry," Ron was quick in stepping over and folding the other teen into his arms, feeling Harry nestle close and bury his face in Ron's hair, "How are you?"

"I'm fine," Harry muffled into his neck. He was drawing in huge sniffs of air, but Ron was used to that, Harry had often sniffed him over the summer, an example of his senses compensating for his lack of sight. Ron would have been happy to stand there being sniffed all afternoon if not for the fact that Hagrid would want his hut back at some point.

"How was the trip?" Ron glanced around, "Is Flash here?"

As if called the Phoenix appeared at once, trilling and settling onto the back of Harry's empty chair. Hagrid got very interested and the Phoenix obligingly glided to the seated groundskeeper to be petted and generally admired. Harry sighed and stirred in Ron's arms, reluctantly breaking the embrace.

"Budge up then," Ron mumbled and they shared the oversized chair, squeezing in tightly. Ron watched Hagrid and the Phoenix for a moment and then turned to look his friend over again.

"How's the head?" the question was so soft that Hagrid would not have been able to hear it and Harry sighed miserably. That was all the answer Ron needed though. His next suggestion would probably earn him a glare, but he could no more stay quiet than he could stop breathing.

"You should come lie down before dinner," he suggested, "It might help get rid of the headache and I'll stay with you of course."

"I'd like that," Harry replied, "If not for the complications that could arise."

"What complications?" Flash was singing loudly for Hagrid, perched upon the mans knee. He had done that to Ron just before demanding some hairs. The redhead couldn't spare the attention away from Harry's strange comment to warn the half-giant about what was likely to happen next.

"I'm pretty sure I'm gay…" the admission was surprising to Ron and he had no problem following Harry's train of thought to its logical conclusion. If Harry were gay and attracted to Ron, there would be physical reactions to the two of them sharing a bed. They'd gotten into the habit of cuddling close during Harry's summer recovery and now that Harry obviously felt stronger…

"I don't care," Ron replied, a flash of insight telling him exactly what he'd been feeling ever since that first terrible instant he'd laid eyes on Harry this summer, "I'm pretty sure I love you."

Harry beamed and melted against his side, relief erasing subtle lines of stress from his face, lines that Ron hadn't consciously noted until they were gone. Hagrid yelped as Flash stole some hairs and flashed away, and the surrealism of the situation struck Ron as funny.

Only he and Harry could manage to declare themselves to each other in front of a beard stealing Phoenix and the Keeper of Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts, and not have either member of their audience notice it.

Harry stirred in the chair and Ron started the process of leave taking from Hagrid, promising to see the man at dinner and collecting the winter cloak that Hagrid had draped on the mantle to catch the fires warmth. He'd walk Harry back to the Tower and they'd rest for a while before dinner. With a bit of luck, Madame Pomfrey would figure out the headaches tomorrow and they could spend Christmas peaceably together.

0o0o0o0