'If you want to kill Harry, you'll have to kill us too!'

That was the moment that Harry began to see his best friend in a different light. Ron had always been special to him, but never before had Harry felt his heart ache when he did so much about thought about him.

He didn't have time to think too much about it at the time, but -in the weeks and months that followed- it continued to weigh on Harry's mind, no matter how he tried to ignore it.

This was normal, right? To have your heart ache when you thought about your best friend? To be unable to take your eyes off him whenever he spoke? To want nothing more than to make him happy?

Harry had never had a best friend before Ron, but he really hoped that these were normal feelings to have towards your best friend. He couldn't bare to think that Ron might see him as… creepy or something.

Over that summer, these thoughts continued to swirl in Harry's mind. Hopefully, his letters to Ron weren't betraying anything. Besides, Harry fancied Cho Chang! The thought of going with Ron to the Quidditch World Cup was tantalising, though, especially knowing that he'd be staying at the Burrow afterwards.

When Ron exploded out of the Dursley's fireplace, his smile wide and his blue eyes sparkling in the summer sun, Harry felt his heart double in size, and he hoped dearly that he wasn't blushing as Ron hugged him.

Ron had looked so cheerful and full of life as they chatted in his attic room. Harry had found it difficult not to smile like an idiot whenever the redhead made a joke. He almost wished Hermione wasn't there, but chided himself for it. That wasn't fair to her.

Sleeping in the same room as Ron was rather nice too. He'd never thought much about it before, but –after the summer break- he had grown much more aware of it. He hoped he would cope okay when they were sharing their dormitory again at Hogwarts.

The Quidditch World Cup had been exhilarating. Although Harry had been very confused by the Veela; yes, he had caught up in their spell, but he had been unable to meet Ron's eyes immediately afterwards. Almost like he was ashamed that Ron had seen him like that. If Ron had noticed this, he hadn't commented on it, probably understanding that Harry felt uncomfortable about it.

When they had later run into Veela again, Harry had felt a weird feeling stir in his chest as he pulled Ron away from them. He probably would have dismissed it, but Hermione seemed to be just as annoyed by it. Harry felt anxiety creep through his heart. No… why did that bother him?

Flash forward a few months, and Harry is devastated. Ron wasn't talking to him, he could possibly die in the first Triwizard task, and half the school seemed to hate him. But it was Ron's absence that was the worst. He'd said some things that he hadn't meant, but it had been too late. He'd called Ron an idiot, and they had barely spoken since. Ron thought he had deliberately joined the tournament, and probably thought Harry was a liar as a result.

Hermione had tried to get them to reconcile, but Harry didn't dare tell her just how much he missed Ron. He could barely admit it to himself and -besides- he had reservations about explaining things with Ron to Hermione anyway. He had a horrible feeling things would get worse if he did tell her.

The first task had finished, and Ron had approached him, looking very pale and worried. Before Harry realised what he was saying, the two of them had made things up. Harry tried not to smile too much; he didn't want Ron to realise just how much he'd missed him. He'd probably think it was weird, anyway.

After that, things had improved. He had Ron back by his side, and life seemed to be looking up. But then the Yule Ball had been announced, and Harry had found his stomach squirming with nerves for reasons he wasn't sure he could describe.

It had only been when Hermione suggested that Harry ask Cho Chang to the ball, that Harry had realised what the issue was. He didn't want to go with anyone but Ron.

Harry was ashamed to admit it, but he was almost glad that Ron hadn't been asked by anyone. But that didn't mean he could just go and ask Ron.

'I heard Dean and Seamus are going together.'

Harry choked on his mug of tea.

'W-what? T-to the ball, you mean?'

'Yeah,' Ron said. 'Apparently, Justin is going with Ernie too.'

'I didn't know they were a couple.'

Ron shrugged.

'I think they're just going as friends.'

'Oh… s-so people can do that, then? Go as friends?'

Ron looked up at Harry, noticing his fidgeting.

'Mate, what's wrong? You okay-'

'Doyouwannagoballwithme?'

'Er… what?'

'Do-do you want to go to the ball with me?'

Ron stared at Harry for a second.

'N-nevermind,' Harry said. 'I know. Silly idea. I shouldn't have-'

'No, it's a great idea,' Ron said. 'This way, you get a partner without having to worry, and I don't look like a shmuck stood on my own.'

'Y-you mean it? You don't mind going with me?'

'Course I don't mind.' Ron replied, grinning. 'You're my best mate, after all. We'll have a great time.'

Harry smiled back, trying not to blush.

'Yeah, exactly.'

At that moment, Hermione arrived through the portrait hole. As she approached the two boys, her eyes flicked between them, looking confused.

'What's got you two in such a good mood?'

'No reason,' Ron said, airily.

Hermione fixed Harry with a suspicious look. The boy who lived took another sip of his pumpkin juice, before discussing that Ginny was going with Neville to the ball.

After what seemed like no time at all, Christmas Day had passed, and Harry was changing into his dress robes.

'Looking good, mate.'

Ron grinned at him, and Harry turned away so the redhead wouldn't see him blushing.

'Thanks,' he said. 'How could you're not changed yet?'

Ron groaned.

'Kind hoping I could just go in my school robes.'

Harry turned back to him, noticing Ron's tone.

'We can fix your dress robes. We can use diffindo on the lacey stuff, and use a colour change spell. We can ask Hermione to-'

'Can we keep this just between us?' Ron said, quickly. 'I don't like bothering her about this stuff. Especially since she's probably getting ready herself. Do… do you know who she's going with, by the way?'

Harry shrugged, feeling another anxious feeling cross his heart.

After Ron put on his robes, Harry used diffindo on the cuffs, and -with the help of Dean (who was quite artistic)- changed the colour of Ron's robes to black, with a blue lining to match Ron's eyes. Harry really did wonder why Mrs Weasley hadn't just done this herself before she sent them off; she was a talented witch, after all. Was she really that busy?

Deciding that Ron's next birthday present from him was going to bed a set of new robes, Harry stood back to look as the redhead stared at his robes in the mirror. He looked very handsome, and Harry couldn't stop himself grinning at Ron's overjoyed expression.

The Ball itself swept by fairly quickly. No-one seemed to be bothered that Harry was going with Ron, possibly because they were inseparable anyway. Whatever it was, Harry was glad that people weren't staring weird at them. He wanted this night to be perfect. And -with Ron on his arm- the night was shaping up to be very wonderful indeed.

He did wish that Ron would stop staring moodily at Viktor Krum, though. It had been something of a shock to see Hermione with the Bulgarian. Although it was apparently more shocking for Ron.

As soon as the dinner ended, Harry immediately pulled Ron as far away from Krum and Hermione as possible. After a bit of dancing, Ron seemed to relax a bit, and even swung Harry around a few times. Harry even forgot about Cho and Cedric dancing a few feet away. With Ron dancing close to him, his worries seemed to melt away.

Out of the corner of his eye, Harry noticed Hermione glaring at them.

After the song ended, Ron bent down and –winking- kissed Harry's hand. Harry felt his pulse quicken, and his face flush as they made their way over to the drinks table.

This couldn't be….surely not….

Harry had spent the next few weeks desperately trying to ignore the feelings pulsing in his heart whenever he looked at Ron. But then the second task had happened, and Harry had spent the entire time in the water terrified that he was about to lose Ron.

After they broke the surface of the lake, Ron had awoken from his magical slumber, and Harry -without thinking- had thrown his arms around the redhead.

'What? Harry? Mate, you alright?'

'Fine!' Harry laughed happily, wiping a tear from his eye. 'Never better.'

It was at this moment that Hermione -watching from the shoreline- felt her stomach drop as she stared at her two best friends.

The rest of the year seemed to pass fairly quickly, until the third task. The night that had changed everything. And Harry found himself sat in a bed in the hospital wing, being hugged by Mrs Weasley and dearly wishing Ron couldn't see him cry.

After Mrs Weasley had pulled away, Ron wrapped his arms around Harry, and the raven-haired boy found himself unable to stop crying in the redheads shoulder, holding onto him for dear life. He didn't want to lose anyone else. Especially Ron.

Harry was dreading the final day of term. He dragged his feet onto the platform at Kings Cross, hoping to put off the inevitable.

Ron pulled him into a hug, and Harry wished he wouldn't ever have to let go. It was shocking just how much had changed over the course of barely a year.

But, despite all the danger in front of them all, Harry was buoyed by the knowledge that Ron would be by his side. And –biding both Ron and Hermione goodbye- Harry left the station with the Dursleys.