Hey again. So things in my life haven't much improved since the last time you heard from me, which is one of the reasons for this horrifically late update. So, sorry about that

Chapter 27

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Ron wouldn't look at, or speak to Harry, not even to tell him to fuck off, or to voice his disgust. They were still in the room of requirement, where they had been for at least half an hour. It was painful. At least Draco spoke, shattering the silence "Harry, I've got to go, Pansy's coming back today." Harry nodded and hugged him, he heard Ron scoff behind them.

"I'll uh, see you later then" he said to Harry and Hermione, completely ignoring Ron. He left quickly, before anyone could reply. Hermione spoke next, quietly. "Did you tell him to apologise to me?" Harry shrugged noncommittally, "We were talking about the past and he was talking about how badly he'd treated us, so I suggested he say sorry, he was dead nervous you know. He knows how much you mean to me." Hermione gave a small smile, "Tell him thank you." Ron stood up abruptly. "I can't actually fucking believe you two, Hermione, how the fuck are you treating this like it's okay?" Hermione glared at him. "Well I hardly like it, but it's not my choice who Harry dates." Harry turned to Hermione, "And he wonders why I didn't tell him"

"I'm okay with you being gay Harry, I don't give two shits about that, but Malfoy? The same Malfoy who's bullied all three of us relentlessly since we met him. How the fuck could you even consider liking him, it's impossible. How do you know this isn't some massive trap you're being led into?"

"I don't know" Harry offered up feebly after a long pause. "I don't know how I cold like him, or wht, or even if he's leading me to my death, I really like him, and I can't see that changing for a while. I've not stopped to question it. It just is."

Ron just looked at him, distaste painfully apparent. "Who else knows?"

"Dean and Seamus - I didn't tell them, they just seen us" Ron looked appalled "Un-fucking-believable, I just can't bel-"

"Look Ron, I like who I like and I can't help it, and you can't change it. I shouldn't have to justify myself to you anyway." The silence fell back over the room, the tension was palpable. "Fuck you Harry, this is wrong" Harry rubbed his eyes with the heel of his hands in frustration. He exhaled loudly and exited the room. He couldn't take it anymore, and if Ron opened his mouth again, Harry would have ended up smacking him.

Ron looked at Hermione, expecting her to be on his side. "He betrayed me right, you're with me on this one? You've got to be." Hermione sighed, "I don't know. You can't help who you love, and as long as Malfoy doesn't hurt Harry, I'm not going to tell Harry who he can and can't date. He did say sorry after all."

"Lucky you, I didn't get an apology-"

"Maybe that's because you had your fist in his eye Ronald" Ron frowned at her, confused. "Are you seriously on their side on thios?"

Hermione shook her head. "This is why people don't tell you things Ron. You don't bloody listen!" She started for the door, she turned to him, hand on the door handle. "Also, Ronald, if you tell anyone, you won't have to worry about Malfoy, or even Harry, because I will end you" And then she was gone, leaving Ron to stew in his own rage.

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That's all I've got just now, but I am working on the next chapter so I should have it up relatively soon.

I don't know how you put up with me

-zg