Chapter three

Harry did get himself contact lenses and he was able to buy a house without anyone recognising him. Hermione, Ron, Ginny and Charlie had gone with him but Hermione and Ron stayed a few steps behind so no one picked up on the fact that Harry Potter was around. Fred and George had started to clean up their shop but they also started on their new potion, the metamorphmagus potion. They knew it might not work and needed a lot of research to try and get it to work, but they weren't going to give up until they had exhausted every possibility.

So for the next few weeks, Harry and his friends including Charlie helped Harry shop for furniture for his home. He didn't stay there straight away, he wanted to spend time at the Burrow with everyone and he loved Mrs. Weasley's cooking. After all those months in the tent, he loved the fact he could eat such wonderful food but also relax with people he cared about. Harry also had Mrs. Weasley show him some good cooking spells that he needed to know.

Harry finally moved into his home when his friends were about to head off to Australia to find the Granger's. Hermione and Ron had been given money from Harry that would cover their trip to Australia. They wanted to argue with Harry but he refused to listen to them, he kept saying it was his way of thanking his friends for supporting him through everything. They sent regular letters to Molly and Arthur, also to Harry. He missed his friends, but he did spend time with Ginny now they had worked out they would only be friends, Harry also spent a lot of time with Charlie and the twins.

Even though Harry hated the Daily Prophet, it was worse now. Every time he saw it, he saw himself looking back at him. But he wanted to keep up with what was going on out in the magical world. So he was sitting at his kitchen table reading how Kingsley Shacklebolt had been given the job as minister, not just the interim minister. He also read how the Wizengamot and governors were now back working. But naturally every member was checked for a dark mark and subjected to veritaserum to make sure they were not supporters of Voldemort. While he read the Daily Prophet, one name leapt out at him, Umbridge, she had managed to escape before Kingsley and the others got control of the ministry. Everyone knew what she was really like now, so she'd be hiding, no one would want to hire her, but to Harry, that didn't mean she wasn't dangerous. He just hoped they found her before she hurt someone.

'You look pissed off about something,' Charlie said as he lent against the door frame.

Harry looked up, 'Hi Charlie, yeah I am. Bloody Umbridge escaped before they could take her into custody.'

'I'm sure they will track her down, but what's with all the letters, fan mail?' Charlie asked as he sat down.

'No, ministry people, all asking me to give an interview, asking me to talk to the people, they want to know what I'm planning on doing. They heard I was interested in being an auror and said they had worked it for me to go straight in to start training. I haven't got my N.E.W.T.s, I told them that, so their working on all of us going back to Hogwarts. They want the heroes of the war to have whatever they want. Blimey, what if we don't deserve it or fail our N.E.W.T.s. I don't want to be given anything and I told them that. I told them I'm not sure about being an auror anymore, I told them I'm not even sure about returning to Hogwarts. I feel too old to be a student. They kept sending more letters back saying they will do anything. But the last one, they want me to have protection, but wouldn't tell me why.' Harry picked up the letter and handed it to Charlie as he sat down.

'They haven't said if there's danger or if they have heard of any threats. They just want to put someone on you at all times, that's strange.'

'I said no, I had to before, but I'm not doing it again. Anyway, why are you here so early, I figured you'd still be sleeping like all you siblings?'

Charlie chuckled, 'I'm not like them, I like getting up early, been doing it for years.'

'I like mornings, so even though I do like the odd sleep in, I prefer to be up early. So have you made up your mind about staying or returning to Romania?'

Charlie noticed the slight change in Harry's voice. He tried to make it sound casual and he almost pulled it off, but Charlie could just hear just a bit of anxiety in Harry's voice.

'I decided to stay. When we all thought Fred had died, it made me think about how much time I lost with the family and it might have been my last time with Fred. So I want to stay from now on. I'm going to start seeing about work soon, they do have dragons here, mainly small ones though.'

'So you would be happy working with small dragons to stay with your family?'

'Yep, as long as I'm with the people I care about and doing something I love doing. So you don't know if you want to be an auror anymore, that surprises me.'

'I've been doing a lot of thinking, but more so since I've been getting all these letters. I'm not sure I want to work for the ministry, even if there are no supporters of his anymore they still have idiots running it. I know most of my anger used to come from him, but if I had to put up with those types of people, I think I'd crack. But I also realised I don't want a life of fighting and that's what would happen if I was an auror. I heard the stories from Kingsley, Tonks and Mad-eye. So I've been trying to work on what else I might do,' Harry shrugged.

'I'm sure something will occur to you sooner or later and as you said, you can take your time, there's no rush.'

'No, there's not. Anyway, did you just feel like a visit or are you here for a reason?'

Again Charlie heard more in Harry's voice, hope, that made Charlie smile. 'I was talking to Ginny yesterday. She's very good at reading people and good with her advice considering she's younger than me.'

'Like all of us Charlie, she had to grow up fast. We all know what could happen, so we stopped being kids and took on the responsibility of adults long before we should have or was ready, but we did, all of us did. So you should think of Ginny as someone that is older than you, I know I feel a lot older, a hell of a lot older.'

'That's true, so her advice was great and I told mum and dad, they were fine.'

'You're going to give me a headache talking in riddles.'

'I'm gay,' Charlie said simply and was pleased when he saw Harry's eyes light up, so Charlie took that as good news, maybe it will work out in the end after all.

'Gay, why didn't you tell anyone before?'

'At first I figured it wasn't really anyone's business and I lived in Romania. Now though, I thought since I'm living here I might meet someone. So it would be better coming from me then them finding out some other way.'

'Makes sense, but your parents are great people Charlie, being gay wouldn't worry them, well maybe your mother. You know what she's like, wants all her kids to get married in a big wedding at the Burrow.'

'That could still happen with me Harry, it'll just be a bonding ceremony instead of a traditional wedding.'

'So what about your brothers, not Ron as he's not here, but the others. Have you told them yet?'

'Yep, Percy was the only one that didn't say anything one way or another. Fred and George made jokes like normal. Bill and I have always been best mates, so he was fine. You seem fine with this as well.'

'Yes, I'm fine,' Harry shrugged.

Charlie sighed, 'Do you know why Ginny was okay with the fact that you didn't want to get back together with her?'

'She said she realised that all we could be was friends. Was there more to it, does she like someone else?'

'No idea about that, but you, she worked something out about you. You have to remember Harry that she has watched you, taken every little bit of information about you she could get, she was obsessed with you. That started from when she was small. So after the fighting she watched you again, listened to you and she figured something out.'

Harry looked down at the paper on the table and even though he wasn't reading it, he wasn't sure what to say.

'You haven't told anyone, have you?'

'Told them what?'

'Don't play dumb Harry. You don't have to hide it you know. Sure you'll get a bit more attention when everyone finds out, but it's who you are. So why not let it be known and on your terms.'

Harry sighs, 'How did you work it out?'

'I had my suspicions for a while now, especially watching you at Bill's wedding. Then Ginny mentioned it, so we talked about you, a lot.'

Harry slowly looked up, 'I don't really care what anyone has to say about me, I'm so used to all that. I've been written about for years, talked about all the time, it doesn't matter if it was true or not. But this, well, I wasn't sure how Ron and Hermione would take it, then Ginny. I didn't want to hurt her and I would never have gone out with her if I knew. There were times I wanted to talk to Sirius, but we couldn't. I didn't have anyone else to talk to about this, especially for someone my age. Normally it would be worked out a lot sooner.'

'True, but you had enough to think about. So even though I know and you know that now, you still haven't said it. You're not ashamed are you Harry?'

'No, I'm just trying to get used to the idea,' Harry sighed then looked at Charlie again, 'Okay, I'm gay, happy.'

'Yes and you know why?' Charlie grinned then moved closer to Harry and brushed his lips lightly over Harry's, 'That, I thought we could go out some time.'

Harry blushed again, 'I'd like that. You know, when I worked it out I realised I knew when I was fourteen, but because of what was going on, it never occurred to me.'

'Explain because I have no idea what you mean.'

'You, the first time I saw you. The moment I stepped out of the fireplace my eyes landed on you. You're long hair, your earring, your body, all those muscles. I thought you looked so cool and well…hot.'

Charlie chuckled, 'So you liked my body Potter?'

'Charlie,' Harry blushed as he looked down.

'Oh you are so innocent, considering what you've been through and done. But with relationships and normal life experiences, you are innocent and uneducated.'

'Not that innocent Charlie, sure I've never done anything more than snog, but I'm not naive to all that.'

'All that, this is what I'm talking about. Sex Harry, it's called sex and if we get on then maybe there will be sex. You are an adult now, it's something to think about.'

Harry looked up at Charlie, 'I always thought you were easy to talk to. But I've thought of…sex, only recently. I tried to keep my mind focused on him and what I had to do so those type of thoughts were nowhere in my mind. Sometimes the odd word would reach me in the common room, other boys talking about sex, which is normal I know, but not for me. Normal for me was talking about when I was going to see Voldemort again, when was he going to try to kill me, what is he planning now, how do I fulfil the prophecy when he was powerful and used dark magic, I wasn't even fully trained or of age. Those were my thoughts, had been for years.'

'I know, Ginny and I spoke about that. But he's gone now, it's time to have normal thoughts which means a lot of hard-on's.' Charlie laughed as Harry went bright red, 'Oh Harry, I think I'm going to have fun with you.'

'Oh don't do that to me.'

'Do what to you?'

'You know what, so don't play the innocent. I've been around your brothers for too long, Ginny as well. Apart from Percy, you've all got a bit of mischief in you.'

'Your right about that, we do. But I'll take it easy on you Harry.'

Harry blushed, 'So you want us to go out and maybe sex, does that mean you like me, in that way I'm talking about?'

'Yep, I watched you a lot at Bill's wedding. It was the first time I'd ever seen you look half decent. Normally you had those ugly clothes on, you always looked hurt, you always looked so serious. But that night, you dressed nice, you actually enjoyed yourself even though there were aurors and order members keeping everyone safe, you still had fun. So I got to see a bit more of you, a side I hadn't seen before and I liked it. Bill caught me checking you out a few times, so we talked. He told me to take you somewhere private and snog you senseless.'

'Why didn't you?' Harry blushed again.

'I was going to, then all hell broke loose and you were gone. I missed my chance, but I'm not missing any more chances,' Charlie put his hands on either side of Harry's head, then slowly lowered his lips to Harry's, he pushed with his tongue, Harry instantly opened to allow entry, then surprised Charlie as he slipped his own tongue into Charlie's mouth. The two men sat there snogging passionately, eliciting low moans from both. Charlie thought Harry's mouth tasted wonderful. Harry thought Charlie's tongue was so sinful and couldn't wait for it to be on and in other parts of him. Those thoughts instantly made his cock twitch so within seconds it was growing.