You know what I've notcied that really pisses me off? It doesn't
matter how original my idea seems to me, someone has probably used it before. So if the idea seems familar, I assure you I'm not stealing it from anyone
intentionally...I would never copy someone, but the idea might be similar. Thanks!
Sydonia
There was no way that could possibly be true. Sirius must be worng. Ron didn't have a problem with his brother
being gay, but how come he never knew? He had never known anybody
who was gay, or at least he never thought he did. Ron didn't want
to think about it anymore, so instead he went to sit by Harry's bed to
see how the nearly drowned boy was doing.
Ron dragged a chair next to the crisp white
bed and notceid how bright Harry's hair looked on the blinding white pillow. He gathered his knees to his chest and stared down at the sleeping form. Harry's chest was barely fluttering as he breathed so rapidly. Ron
could almost see the heartbeat through the thin skin on his temple. Harry's face was pale and beads of cold sweat had broken out on his forehead. His eyes were moving rapidly under his eyelids, and the little red veins
stood out like blood on snow. Ron reached up to smooth away Harry's
sopping bangs from his forehead, and was startled to find his skin was
as cold as ice. Then he notcied how Harry was shivering under the
many layers Madam Pomfrety had layered upon him. Empty goblets of
Pepperup Potion littered the bedside table, but they seemed to not have
done any good.
Ron slowly unclenched Harry's fragile hand
from the blankets edge and slowly entiwined his warm fingers with Harry's
icy ones. Harry was going to die. He almost drowned, Ron hadn't found him in time. Harry was too thin and didn't have
enought muscle mass to survive such cold water for so long in January. Why dd Ron have to crash into him like that? Now the Boy who Lived
was going to die. Ron was wallowing in self-guilt when Madam Pomefrey
came bustling in. "Good, you're awake. Listen, Mr. Weasley. Pressing issues demand me to to go see the headmaster. Mr. Potter
won't be awaking anytime soon, so if you could just stay with him, that
would be a great favor. If, by some miracle, he does awaken, give
him some more Pepperup Potion and then tell him to go to sleep. I
have locked this room so no one will be able to disturb him...he really
needs rest, you know." Ron nodded mutely and Madam Pomefry left the
two boys alone.
Ron laid his head on Harry's chest to listen
to his breathing. It seemed more rapid than usual. His lungs
rattled harshly in the red head's ear. Harry was breathing with his
mouth open and his pale lips were parched and dry. Gooseflesh had
broken out over Harry's neck and he was shivering more violently. Ron saw Harry freezing to death because his body wasn't warm enough. He pulled back the covers from Harry's thin body and the sleeping boy unconciously
tried to curl up into a smaller ball. Ron sat on the bed next to
Harry and gathered the shivering young man into his arms. He knew
what it would look like if someone were to walk in on them. He knew
this, and accepted it. So what if someone thought they were gay or
something. Did it really matter? Harry was right. No
one who was their friend would let anyone spread rumors about them. Plus, Bill was gay and everyone liked him. No, don't think about
that.
Harry's breathing deepened as he moved closer
to the warmth that was Ron. He pulled the blankets over the two of
them and rubbed Harry's back to warm him. He noticed with guilt that
Harry's ribs were sticking out and that he had let his friend get so thin. Harry had been so stressed with school that he had pretty much forgotten
to eat a lot of the time. Then Ron had hurt him so deeply for weeks
and had been acting so distant lately. How could he do that? Harry was still his best friend, him and Hermione. Harry was still
his best companion, and it didn't matter he was a little, different. But Ron was at peace, holding his best friend and feeling Harry's skin
warm and seeing the old glow come back into his face. Ron rested
his chin on Harry's mass of hair, sticking out all crazily. He still
smelled like the lake and that evening's fresh air. Sleepily Harry
buried his face into Ron's shirt and he took even steadier breaths, the
veins in his eyes dissapeared and a small smile twitched at the corners
of his lips. Ron was amazed at how peaceful Harry had become in just
a few mintues, and how calm he felt. Ron rested his cheek against
the mop of raven hair and smiled. "Ro -" Harry's weak voice was interrupted
with a jaw-cracking yawn. "Ron? What am I doing here?" He slowly
sat back then saw where he was. A look of shock covered the sleepy
face as Ron grinned at him, averting his eyes. "Ron, I'm so cold. Why am I so cold? And why am I here? Last thing I remember
was fa -" another yawn, "was falling into the lake, and then blacking out. Ron I'm so cold..." Ron wrapped his long arms around Harry once again
and drew him closer.
'Oh My God, I'm laying on Ron's lap...he isn't afraid of me anymore! I'm so cold...God he's so warm. I love him so much.'
Harry felt totally at peace with the world,
and so did Ron, until he realized what he was doing. He was laying
in the same bed as Harry Poter...his best friend. His best friend
who was in love with him. He shouldn't be doing this...it wasn't
right. Plus, Harry needed sleep. But, said the voice in the
back of his mind, he got so much better as soon as Ron added his own warmth
to the little bed. "Harry," Ron whispered into his hair, "Harry,
you have to go to sleep...Madam Pomefry told me to make sure you go to
sleep. I have to go, Harry."
"You're so warm, Ron...please don't leave. I don't want to be that cold again..."
"Okay, Harry, I won't leave. But you
need to lay down."
"Oh - Oh - Okay, Ron." Another yawn
stretched the corners his mouth and Ron let him go as he slid back dwon
and put his head on the pillows. Ron laid down next to the already
sleeping boy and soon he was asleep too.
* * * * *
"Ron? Ron? Wake up Ron! Ronniekins! Wake uuupppp!" Ron reluctantly opened his eyes and a face with round glasses and black
hair swam into focus. Ron groaned and pulled the blankets up over
his face.
"Go 'way Harry...I'm tired!" Hands
grabbed the blanket and ripped it off of him, and bright lights blinded
him. He sat up and lazily swung a punch at the person trying to wake
him up. His loosely balled fist didn't meet anything and he rubbed
his eyes and Harry laughed crazily. He was sitting on the edge of
his bed, which Ron was still laying in.
"Ron, c'mon mate, it's late."
"Alright, alright...just five more minutes
Mum..." Ron flipped onto his stomach and Harry tickled his side. Ron bolted up out of bed and was awake in a matter of seconds. "I'm
awake! I'm awake you bloke...what is your bloody problem...I'm tired,
dammit!"
"Morning, sunshine." Harry sneered sarcastically.
"Yeah yeah." Ron laguhed, but the laughter
died away when he saw Harry's face. The young man had a very serious
look on his face and was looking straight into Ron's eyes.
"Ron, I need to thank you. You saved my life
twice, you know."
"Nah, only once. Pulling you out of
the lake only counts for one."
"Ron, I ws freezing to death. My body
just coldn't make it's own heat..." The nights before suddenly came
rushing back to Ron...falling asleep woth Harry curled nest to him, no
longer shivering. His once pallid face brightening. Then Ron
noticed Harry was still talking, "...then I realized where I was...you
were still asleep, but I was so warm. I had just woken up when Madam
Pomefry came back in. She forced me back into bed but was really
surprised at how much better I was, how mch my temperature had raised. She didn't even make me take anymore PepperUp Potion. I guess she
realized that I was dying and you had warmed me or something, and your
were dead to the world, so she let you stay here. Ron, I was so cold,
you can't even believe it."
"Oh, well...yes, well, that." Ron looked
at his lap sheepishly.
"Ron, I guess it must've been, like, a huge
sacrafice for you. I mean...remembering what happened...ya know...on Christmas. But, well, I just want you to know that...I dunno, er, you're still my
best friend, and -" Ron saw the trouble Harry was having expressing
what he was saying and interrupteed him.
"It's okay, Harry."
"But, Ron, you know what I mean, right?"
'Please don't make me talk...I'm trying to remember what it felt like
to sleep in your arms...'
"Yeah, Harry. You were dying. Your
skin was so cold, so pale, you were barely breathing. I knew that
if I didn't do something, you were going to die. So whatever I did
was my own choice. You were alseep, remember?" Harry blushed
slightly and grinnned.
"Good. I'm glad Im not dead."
"Um, Harry? You got a letter while you
were asleep." Harry's eyes snapped up as Ron handed him the letter
from Sirius. Harry read the reply with wide eyes, and looked up at
Ron curiously when he was done. Ron knew what was coming...
