Finally I get to put another chapter up. The world has conspired against
me. Evil people. Oh well, better late than never I guess. This story has
had to battle for playing time in my head against three other upcoming
stories. Let's just say that there will be a bunch of writing in the near
future, two of which are (get ready for this) NEW IDEAS ON FFN!!! (as far
as I know, and I've checked) can you believe it? Originality on a fan
fiction site. Who'd a thunk it?? I can't wait!!! I'll just have to get
past the upcoming Neville/Seamus fluff chapter and the Mandatory Quiddich
Chapter and then we'll see what happens.
One hundred points to anyone who knows what song Ron is singing. Another hundred points for a picture of Hugh Mitchell. On with the show.
It was a sunny early fall morning. The sun just started coming in through the windows and fell on Ron's bed. He woke up and found that he felt just as good as he did last night. He looked at the clock on his nightstand. Tiny orange-clad quiddich players were swirling around in formation and displayed the time as 8:30. He yawned and thought that he ought to be tired, since he only got to bed a few hours earlier.
Ron stretched and strained and decided it was time to get up. He tried to make a smooth jump to the floor but his feet got tangled in the blankets and instead of the perfect ten pose, he landed in a loud heap next to Seamus' bed.
"Oh, bloody hell," he exclaimed, causing Seamus to poke his head out of the tangle of blankets and squint at the cause of his awakening.
"Ron mate, why exactly are you stomping about at this time of morning?"
"I'm sorry Seamus, I sort of fell out of bed and well, fell." Ron was laughing as he said that. This definitely caught the Irish boy's attention.
"Ron, are you okay?"
"Actually Seamus, I don't think I've felt better in a long time. I think the old Ron is back, Seamus. Get up and let's go get some breakfast."
Seamus looked at Ron as if he had asparagus sprouting from his nose and large horns on his head. "Ron, some of us normal people choose *not* to get up quite so early on weekends. How about you go ahead and I'll get breakfast at lunchtime."
"Suit yourself, Seamus. The early bird gets the worm, you know."
"That's what separates us from lower species, Ron. They eat worms, we eat biscuits," Seamus said in total deadpan.
"Well, then I'll bring you back a biscuit or two then."
"You do that Ron. Just bring it back later." Ron was almost skipping as he walked to the dorm room door, glancing at the spot where Dean's bed was before he moved to the girls' dorm.
"Oh, Seamus, have you seen Harry this morning?" he asked looking at Harry's drawn curtains.
"I can assure you that he isn't under here, Ron. I've checked it quite thoroughly. He's probably still asleep in the common room. Now go get those worms."
"Thanks, Seamus." Ron bounced out the door and started singing. "Man, I don't know where the time goes but it sure goes fast, just like that…"
"Who was that?" a sleepy voice called from under the sheets a few seconds later
"Ah, that was bloody Ron. Something about getting worms for breakfast or something. I don't know."
"He sounded happy, didn't he Seamus?"
"Yeah, he did. Maybe things are going to get back to normal around here."
"I sure hope so. I don't think I can tip toe under the volcano anymore," Neville said. "Are we going to get up now?" he asked.
"Of course not. We're sleeping in today." Seamus pulled the covers back over his head and returned to snuggling.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ In the girl's dorms at about the same time ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Hermione awoke to snoring. Deep snoring. Deep loud snoring. She looked over and saw where it was coming from. Dean Thomas. Why he was in this dorm, she knew not. She looked up to the author and he only shrugged. Great. She pulled on her robes and decided to go on down to breakfast since she was obviously not going back to sleep with Mr. Chainsaw in her room.
She threw a withering glance at Dean's bed and another at the author. She barely dodged a size 10 Nike thrown at her from nowhere and headed out the door. Although the sun had begun to come up, it was still cool in the castle so she pulled her robes around her a little more. She stepped into the common room and knelt down to light the fire again. That would warm it up until the sun took over. She looked over at Harry and Colin and saw that they had hardly moved all night. Colin was still curled up against Harry with an arm across his chest. Hermione smiled. She jumped with surprise when a door behind shut and someone thundered down the steps. She looked up and saw a mop of red hair and heard a voice that was unmistakably Ron's singing something.
"Oh No!" she thought. He'll see them and….
"We were wannabe rebels that didn't have a clue, in our rock and roll t-shirts and typically bad attitudes…" he stopped singing and looked her way. "Morning, Hermione. Beautiful day, isn't it?" Ron asked her, gesturing to the windows.
"Uh, yeah it is. Quite." Hermione was looking at the two sleeping boys and then over at Ron.
"Wanna get some breakfast? I'm famished." he looked at Harry and Colin and added, "I'd wake them, but they look too cute now."
Hermione was stunned. He just said 'cute' about Harry and Colin. What the???
"Hello, earth to Hermione? Are you hungry?" Ron was bubbling over.
"Oh, hungry, yes I am. Let's go get breakfast." they walked out the door and into the hallway. "This will be an interesting breakfast," she thought to herself, hoping that things might be better, but not betting the farm on it.
The two of them sat down and began eating their large stacks of pancakes and biscuits. Ron lived for Saturday mornings. He would usually eat at least a dozen pancakes, and these aren't the little bitty ones you get at Denny's, these are manly pancakes. Hermione broke the silence a minute or so into the meal.
"So Ron, how are you feeling today?"
"I feel absolutely awesome," he said pausing just long enough to say that before stuffing his mouth again.
"So what exactly is the cause of the overnight transformation?"
"Well, I was walking last night and I had a long talk with someone."
"See! I told you that it would help if you talked to Dumbledore. He is so--"
"I didn't talk to Dumbledore, Hermione," Ron said with a mouthful.
"Well then, McGonagall is just as smart--"
"It wasn't her either."
"Well then Ron, who was it?"
"Actually, I'd rather not say. It worked, and that's the important thing, right?"
"Yeah, I guess it is." Who was it?? "So are you the old Ron again?"
Ron put his fork down and looked at her very thoughtfully for a moment. "I hope so, Hermione. No, I *know* so. I've put all that behind me now. Once I got it off my chest, it seemed so trivial and silly."
"Well I'm glad to hear that you talked to someone, whoever it was. Are you going to make up with Harry?"
Ron looked at his plate for a minute and Hermione was sorry she said it immediately. Ron looked back up and said "Yes. Yes I am. Will you tell him I want to talk to him?"
"Yes! I mean, sure. When?"
"How about in an hour, out by the lake?"
"Alright. I'll tell him. I think he'll come, Ron."
"Me too. Are you going to eat that?"
"No, you go ahead." Ron ate the rest of her pancakes. "Oh, will you take these back to Seamus, please?" He handed her two biscuits and set off, more singing trailing away, "knew already there was nothing to learn, striking matches just to watch them burn…" Hermione crossed her fingers and knocked on the table and got up and headed back to the tower.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ While Ron and Hermione finish breakfast ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Seamus and Neville finally roused themselves out of bed. It was decided that a shower was a must for both of them before breakfast. After the de- stinking operation was over, they headed down to the common room once they'd put clothes on. A few others had begun to straggle into the room by then. A number of the younger students were heading to breakfast and the older ones were chatting by the fire.
"Morning Harry, Colin," Seamus called to the two newly-awakened duo.
"Good morning," they replied.
"Ah, Harry, have you seen Ron this morning?" Seamus asked out of the blue.
"No, why?"
"Well, he seemed, um, I guess the word is, um-?
"Normal. Like he used to be," Neville finished.
"Really?" Harry asked in a 'I bet there's a joke here' kind of way.
"Seriously. He was laughing and in good spirits. He didn't even look anything like he did yesterday, he looked alive." Seamus said.
"Well, maybe he's got his act together then," Harry replied, a bit pleased and his voice showed it.
The portrait swung open just then and admitted a galloping Hermione. "Harry, I have to talk to you!! It's about Ron!"
All four heads turned to her as she skidded to a halt in front of them. "I think Ron is Ron again." she looked at Harry. "Seriously. He wants to put everything right between you guys."
"I don't know, Hermione. What if it goes like it did last time he apologized?" Harry said, remembering the time in the Burrow.
"I believe him, Harry. I really do."
"I just don't know, Hermione." Harry looked at her and she could read him easily. He wanted to believe her badly, but couldn't quite do it.
"Harry," Colin tugged on his sleeve, "Do it." Colin also read Harry easily. "It'll be good for the two of you." Colin climbed out of the chair and headed to the dorms.
"Where are you going Colin?" Harry called.
"I'm going to get a shower. You sweated me pretty bad last night, remember?"
"Oh yeah, but I want you to come with me, Colin. If Ron's going to apologize, he's going to apologize to you as well. Come with me, please?"
"Harry, just go."
"No, I'll wait right here. Get a shower and change up. Then we'll go."
"Fine." Colin said that a bit dejectedly.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ In the Bathrooms ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Colin dropped his robes and his underclothes on the floor by his shower stall. He stepped in, closed the curtain, and turned on the water. Within a minute steam had filled the cubicle and was billowing over the top. He thought that he might be okay. Then his tears joined the water flowing down his face. He crossed his arms over his chest and knelt on the tiled floor and leaned against a wall. "This is it. They are going to patch things up and that's it for me." He pulled his arms in tighter. "Harry wouldn't do that, would he? No, probably not. Maybe. Probably, since the two of them have been friends for five years now, and just five weeks for Harry and I. I'm not good enough for him, I know that. I guess it was fun while it lasted."
Colin had his moment in the shower and then had a few more. He finally stepped out and dried off. He changed back in his room and did a quick spell to get the red from his eyes and walked down to the common room. Seamus, Neville and Hermione were down there with Harry. "Ready to go, Harry?" he asked.
Harry stood up and smiled at him. Colin's heart sunk. He sure was ready. "Are you sure I should go, Harry?"
"Yes, you should, now come on."
"Come on you two, I'll take you to him." Hermione said as they walked to the door. "Oh, Seamus, I almost forgot. These are for you." she reached in her pockets and pulled out two biscuits.
"Oh, bonus," he exclaimed and took them, giving one to Neville.
They strolled down to the lake and saw the red headed boy waiting for them, sitting on a rock in the warming sun. Harry took a deep breath and walked over to him. The others were in step with him.
"I guess I'll leave you boys alone now," Hermione said, shying away.
"No, I'd like you to stay, Hermione," Ron said. Harry shook his head in agreement.
"Ron, this had better not be a waste of our time," Harry said not as rough as he meant to.
"No, I promise, it isn't. Harry, I--" he glanced at Hermione for a bit of moral support, "Harry, I want to say that I'm sorry. I know that won't take back or make up for all the things I've said and done recently, but I hope that you can somehow forgive me. I'd do anything to make it up to you."
"So what's changed you, Ron?" he asked
"I talked to a very wise person last night, no, not Hermione," he said, seeing Harry's gaze shift to her.
"Who was it then?"
"I'd rather not say if you don't mind." Harry looked puzzled but a look from Hermione told him not to pursue the matter further now.
"Now, could I talk to you alone for a minute in private Colin," Ron asked.
"Sure, he said after getting a reassuring glance from Harry. They walked down to the lake shore leaving Harry and Hermione standing on pins and needles.
"Colin, I wish I knew why I said those things to you and about you. I was jealous of you and Harry's friendship. I was scared of losing him. He's very important to me, you know, he's my best friend. I'd do anything to take back all that's happened. I'd do anything to have you forgive me."
"Then never hurt Harry again. Ever."
"You have my word Colin, I swear it." They started walking back to the other two.
"So are we all on good terms again?" Hermione asked, hoping.
"Yeah, I guess we are," Harry said. Ron smiled and loosed a few rogue tears and Colin nodded affirmatively. Hermione was nearly hopping up and down.
"Why don't we get some lunch?" She asked. A chorus of 'sures' answered her.
"Hermione, you and Colin go on ahead, I need to talk to Ron for just a minute," Harry said.
"Okay, sure," she replied. Colin just nodded and turned and looked at the ground as they walked away.
Once they were out of earshot, Harry said, "Ron, I have to know, is this for real?"
"Yes."
"You're sure?"
"I promise Harry."
"Colin is very important to me, Ron. I don't know if you can understand that, but he is."
"I do understand. You love him. I understand perfectly."
"You're okay with that, right?"
"Of course, why wouldn't I be?"
"I thought, that-- maybe, well, maybe you knew how I felt for him and that was part of what set all this off."
"Maybe subconsciously that was part of it, that it was him. Not because he was a he though."
"Okay then," Harry said, glad that Ron took it much better than he expected, "One last thing."
"What?"
"Remember how you said you'd do anything to have me forgive you?"
"Uh huh…."
"Well, here it is. Never hurt Colin again. Not one more time, not ever." Harry made a sweeping gesture with his arms to emphasize the point.
"I swear it Harry."
"Then let's go get some lunch." Harry put his arm over Ron's shoulder in true friend style and they headed to meet the other two.
Colin had stopped and watched the two of them and had seen the sweeping gesture and then the arm. They were over. Harry and Ron were back. Harry and Colin were over. He held back a tear and started walking again. Harry and Ron jogged to catch them and they proceeded to the Great Hall.
Ah, that was a sweet chapter. Are Harry and Ron back on terms? Boy, does Colin have some serious issues… things might get even more angst-y soon…. Well, as always, drop a review. It's fast, it's simple, and it's free!!!!
One hundred points to anyone who knows what song Ron is singing. Another hundred points for a picture of Hugh Mitchell. On with the show.
It was a sunny early fall morning. The sun just started coming in through the windows and fell on Ron's bed. He woke up and found that he felt just as good as he did last night. He looked at the clock on his nightstand. Tiny orange-clad quiddich players were swirling around in formation and displayed the time as 8:30. He yawned and thought that he ought to be tired, since he only got to bed a few hours earlier.
Ron stretched and strained and decided it was time to get up. He tried to make a smooth jump to the floor but his feet got tangled in the blankets and instead of the perfect ten pose, he landed in a loud heap next to Seamus' bed.
"Oh, bloody hell," he exclaimed, causing Seamus to poke his head out of the tangle of blankets and squint at the cause of his awakening.
"Ron mate, why exactly are you stomping about at this time of morning?"
"I'm sorry Seamus, I sort of fell out of bed and well, fell." Ron was laughing as he said that. This definitely caught the Irish boy's attention.
"Ron, are you okay?"
"Actually Seamus, I don't think I've felt better in a long time. I think the old Ron is back, Seamus. Get up and let's go get some breakfast."
Seamus looked at Ron as if he had asparagus sprouting from his nose and large horns on his head. "Ron, some of us normal people choose *not* to get up quite so early on weekends. How about you go ahead and I'll get breakfast at lunchtime."
"Suit yourself, Seamus. The early bird gets the worm, you know."
"That's what separates us from lower species, Ron. They eat worms, we eat biscuits," Seamus said in total deadpan.
"Well, then I'll bring you back a biscuit or two then."
"You do that Ron. Just bring it back later." Ron was almost skipping as he walked to the dorm room door, glancing at the spot where Dean's bed was before he moved to the girls' dorm.
"Oh, Seamus, have you seen Harry this morning?" he asked looking at Harry's drawn curtains.
"I can assure you that he isn't under here, Ron. I've checked it quite thoroughly. He's probably still asleep in the common room. Now go get those worms."
"Thanks, Seamus." Ron bounced out the door and started singing. "Man, I don't know where the time goes but it sure goes fast, just like that…"
"Who was that?" a sleepy voice called from under the sheets a few seconds later
"Ah, that was bloody Ron. Something about getting worms for breakfast or something. I don't know."
"He sounded happy, didn't he Seamus?"
"Yeah, he did. Maybe things are going to get back to normal around here."
"I sure hope so. I don't think I can tip toe under the volcano anymore," Neville said. "Are we going to get up now?" he asked.
"Of course not. We're sleeping in today." Seamus pulled the covers back over his head and returned to snuggling.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ In the girl's dorms at about the same time ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Hermione awoke to snoring. Deep snoring. Deep loud snoring. She looked over and saw where it was coming from. Dean Thomas. Why he was in this dorm, she knew not. She looked up to the author and he only shrugged. Great. She pulled on her robes and decided to go on down to breakfast since she was obviously not going back to sleep with Mr. Chainsaw in her room.
She threw a withering glance at Dean's bed and another at the author. She barely dodged a size 10 Nike thrown at her from nowhere and headed out the door. Although the sun had begun to come up, it was still cool in the castle so she pulled her robes around her a little more. She stepped into the common room and knelt down to light the fire again. That would warm it up until the sun took over. She looked over at Harry and Colin and saw that they had hardly moved all night. Colin was still curled up against Harry with an arm across his chest. Hermione smiled. She jumped with surprise when a door behind shut and someone thundered down the steps. She looked up and saw a mop of red hair and heard a voice that was unmistakably Ron's singing something.
"Oh No!" she thought. He'll see them and….
"We were wannabe rebels that didn't have a clue, in our rock and roll t-shirts and typically bad attitudes…" he stopped singing and looked her way. "Morning, Hermione. Beautiful day, isn't it?" Ron asked her, gesturing to the windows.
"Uh, yeah it is. Quite." Hermione was looking at the two sleeping boys and then over at Ron.
"Wanna get some breakfast? I'm famished." he looked at Harry and Colin and added, "I'd wake them, but they look too cute now."
Hermione was stunned. He just said 'cute' about Harry and Colin. What the???
"Hello, earth to Hermione? Are you hungry?" Ron was bubbling over.
"Oh, hungry, yes I am. Let's go get breakfast." they walked out the door and into the hallway. "This will be an interesting breakfast," she thought to herself, hoping that things might be better, but not betting the farm on it.
The two of them sat down and began eating their large stacks of pancakes and biscuits. Ron lived for Saturday mornings. He would usually eat at least a dozen pancakes, and these aren't the little bitty ones you get at Denny's, these are manly pancakes. Hermione broke the silence a minute or so into the meal.
"So Ron, how are you feeling today?"
"I feel absolutely awesome," he said pausing just long enough to say that before stuffing his mouth again.
"So what exactly is the cause of the overnight transformation?"
"Well, I was walking last night and I had a long talk with someone."
"See! I told you that it would help if you talked to Dumbledore. He is so--"
"I didn't talk to Dumbledore, Hermione," Ron said with a mouthful.
"Well then, McGonagall is just as smart--"
"It wasn't her either."
"Well then Ron, who was it?"
"Actually, I'd rather not say. It worked, and that's the important thing, right?"
"Yeah, I guess it is." Who was it?? "So are you the old Ron again?"
Ron put his fork down and looked at her very thoughtfully for a moment. "I hope so, Hermione. No, I *know* so. I've put all that behind me now. Once I got it off my chest, it seemed so trivial and silly."
"Well I'm glad to hear that you talked to someone, whoever it was. Are you going to make up with Harry?"
Ron looked at his plate for a minute and Hermione was sorry she said it immediately. Ron looked back up and said "Yes. Yes I am. Will you tell him I want to talk to him?"
"Yes! I mean, sure. When?"
"How about in an hour, out by the lake?"
"Alright. I'll tell him. I think he'll come, Ron."
"Me too. Are you going to eat that?"
"No, you go ahead." Ron ate the rest of her pancakes. "Oh, will you take these back to Seamus, please?" He handed her two biscuits and set off, more singing trailing away, "knew already there was nothing to learn, striking matches just to watch them burn…" Hermione crossed her fingers and knocked on the table and got up and headed back to the tower.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ While Ron and Hermione finish breakfast ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Seamus and Neville finally roused themselves out of bed. It was decided that a shower was a must for both of them before breakfast. After the de- stinking operation was over, they headed down to the common room once they'd put clothes on. A few others had begun to straggle into the room by then. A number of the younger students were heading to breakfast and the older ones were chatting by the fire.
"Morning Harry, Colin," Seamus called to the two newly-awakened duo.
"Good morning," they replied.
"Ah, Harry, have you seen Ron this morning?" Seamus asked out of the blue.
"No, why?"
"Well, he seemed, um, I guess the word is, um-?
"Normal. Like he used to be," Neville finished.
"Really?" Harry asked in a 'I bet there's a joke here' kind of way.
"Seriously. He was laughing and in good spirits. He didn't even look anything like he did yesterday, he looked alive." Seamus said.
"Well, maybe he's got his act together then," Harry replied, a bit pleased and his voice showed it.
The portrait swung open just then and admitted a galloping Hermione. "Harry, I have to talk to you!! It's about Ron!"
All four heads turned to her as she skidded to a halt in front of them. "I think Ron is Ron again." she looked at Harry. "Seriously. He wants to put everything right between you guys."
"I don't know, Hermione. What if it goes like it did last time he apologized?" Harry said, remembering the time in the Burrow.
"I believe him, Harry. I really do."
"I just don't know, Hermione." Harry looked at her and she could read him easily. He wanted to believe her badly, but couldn't quite do it.
"Harry," Colin tugged on his sleeve, "Do it." Colin also read Harry easily. "It'll be good for the two of you." Colin climbed out of the chair and headed to the dorms.
"Where are you going Colin?" Harry called.
"I'm going to get a shower. You sweated me pretty bad last night, remember?"
"Oh yeah, but I want you to come with me, Colin. If Ron's going to apologize, he's going to apologize to you as well. Come with me, please?"
"Harry, just go."
"No, I'll wait right here. Get a shower and change up. Then we'll go."
"Fine." Colin said that a bit dejectedly.
~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ In the Bathrooms ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~
Colin dropped his robes and his underclothes on the floor by his shower stall. He stepped in, closed the curtain, and turned on the water. Within a minute steam had filled the cubicle and was billowing over the top. He thought that he might be okay. Then his tears joined the water flowing down his face. He crossed his arms over his chest and knelt on the tiled floor and leaned against a wall. "This is it. They are going to patch things up and that's it for me." He pulled his arms in tighter. "Harry wouldn't do that, would he? No, probably not. Maybe. Probably, since the two of them have been friends for five years now, and just five weeks for Harry and I. I'm not good enough for him, I know that. I guess it was fun while it lasted."
Colin had his moment in the shower and then had a few more. He finally stepped out and dried off. He changed back in his room and did a quick spell to get the red from his eyes and walked down to the common room. Seamus, Neville and Hermione were down there with Harry. "Ready to go, Harry?" he asked.
Harry stood up and smiled at him. Colin's heart sunk. He sure was ready. "Are you sure I should go, Harry?"
"Yes, you should, now come on."
"Come on you two, I'll take you to him." Hermione said as they walked to the door. "Oh, Seamus, I almost forgot. These are for you." she reached in her pockets and pulled out two biscuits.
"Oh, bonus," he exclaimed and took them, giving one to Neville.
They strolled down to the lake and saw the red headed boy waiting for them, sitting on a rock in the warming sun. Harry took a deep breath and walked over to him. The others were in step with him.
"I guess I'll leave you boys alone now," Hermione said, shying away.
"No, I'd like you to stay, Hermione," Ron said. Harry shook his head in agreement.
"Ron, this had better not be a waste of our time," Harry said not as rough as he meant to.
"No, I promise, it isn't. Harry, I--" he glanced at Hermione for a bit of moral support, "Harry, I want to say that I'm sorry. I know that won't take back or make up for all the things I've said and done recently, but I hope that you can somehow forgive me. I'd do anything to make it up to you."
"So what's changed you, Ron?" he asked
"I talked to a very wise person last night, no, not Hermione," he said, seeing Harry's gaze shift to her.
"Who was it then?"
"I'd rather not say if you don't mind." Harry looked puzzled but a look from Hermione told him not to pursue the matter further now.
"Now, could I talk to you alone for a minute in private Colin," Ron asked.
"Sure, he said after getting a reassuring glance from Harry. They walked down to the lake shore leaving Harry and Hermione standing on pins and needles.
"Colin, I wish I knew why I said those things to you and about you. I was jealous of you and Harry's friendship. I was scared of losing him. He's very important to me, you know, he's my best friend. I'd do anything to take back all that's happened. I'd do anything to have you forgive me."
"Then never hurt Harry again. Ever."
"You have my word Colin, I swear it." They started walking back to the other two.
"So are we all on good terms again?" Hermione asked, hoping.
"Yeah, I guess we are," Harry said. Ron smiled and loosed a few rogue tears and Colin nodded affirmatively. Hermione was nearly hopping up and down.
"Why don't we get some lunch?" She asked. A chorus of 'sures' answered her.
"Hermione, you and Colin go on ahead, I need to talk to Ron for just a minute," Harry said.
"Okay, sure," she replied. Colin just nodded and turned and looked at the ground as they walked away.
Once they were out of earshot, Harry said, "Ron, I have to know, is this for real?"
"Yes."
"You're sure?"
"I promise Harry."
"Colin is very important to me, Ron. I don't know if you can understand that, but he is."
"I do understand. You love him. I understand perfectly."
"You're okay with that, right?"
"Of course, why wouldn't I be?"
"I thought, that-- maybe, well, maybe you knew how I felt for him and that was part of what set all this off."
"Maybe subconsciously that was part of it, that it was him. Not because he was a he though."
"Okay then," Harry said, glad that Ron took it much better than he expected, "One last thing."
"What?"
"Remember how you said you'd do anything to have me forgive you?"
"Uh huh…."
"Well, here it is. Never hurt Colin again. Not one more time, not ever." Harry made a sweeping gesture with his arms to emphasize the point.
"I swear it Harry."
"Then let's go get some lunch." Harry put his arm over Ron's shoulder in true friend style and they headed to meet the other two.
Colin had stopped and watched the two of them and had seen the sweeping gesture and then the arm. They were over. Harry and Ron were back. Harry and Colin were over. He held back a tear and started walking again. Harry and Ron jogged to catch them and they proceeded to the Great Hall.
Ah, that was a sweet chapter. Are Harry and Ron back on terms? Boy, does Colin have some serious issues… things might get even more angst-y soon…. Well, as always, drop a review. It's fast, it's simple, and it's free!!!!