Author's Note: Well, I survived the first week of my student teaching-excuse me, it's called a *teaching internship* now :-p At any rate, the first week is over. Of course, the students show up on Monday. Five classes of 9th grade Government-I'm not sure if I should be asking for blessings or not :-p Oh well, as I promised a week ago, here's some more of 'Ashes.'
**********
"Now, Harry, are you *sure* about this?"
Harry rolled his eyes. "Honestly, I don't know who's worse-you or Draco."
Remus grinned sheepishly. "It's my prerogative." He cleared his throat. "Now, you're going to Floo over to the Burrow. This fireplace is only connected to the Weasley's fireplace, and they have agreed to take theirs off the main system while you are there. If you need us, any time, day or night, just call or come home."
"I hope I don't have to do that, though," Harry said quietly, staring into the flames. "I hope that I'll be able to stick it out."
"Don't look at it that way," Remus advised. "It makes it seem more like a chore, not a visit to friends. At any rate, I think you're about set." He looked around. "Where's Draco?"
Harry sighed. "I'm not sure, really. He didn't want to watch me go." He looked at Remus imploringly. "Watch out for him, Remus, please."
Remus blinked, but nodded. "I will. Now, you better go-unless you've changed your mind, of course."
Harry shook his head. He opened his mouth to say something, closed it, and gave Remus a hug instead. After releasing the other man, he stepped towards the fireplace and left without a backwards glance, almost as if he was afraid to.
Remus stared into the fire for a few minutes after Harry had disappeared, thinking. With a sigh, he began to wander around the house.
He located Draco in the den, staring moodily out the window. After observing the teen for a few moments, he entered the room and placed a hand on Draco's shoulder. "Care to talk about it, Draco?"
**********
Harry exited the Floo system with a jolt.
Before he could even get his bearings back, he found himself swept into a tight hug. For a moment, his old panic came rushing back, before he recognized the voice of Ron's mother.
"Oh, you poor thing," she murmured sadly. "You've been through so much...I wish we could've helped you...."
Harry was trying to think of a tactful way of asking Mrs. Weasley to back off, but Ron solved the problem for him. "Mum, you're suffocating the poor guy! He's going to be here a full week-give him some space."
Mrs. Weasley drew back, wiping her eyes. "Of course," she sniffed. "Harry. We're so happy to see you."
'We?' Harry looked around the room. Other than Ron and his mother, Harry saw Bill leaning against the kitchen counter, the twins peering in the doorway, and Ginny standing next to Ron, gazing at him adoringly. Harry swallowed. 'This might be messy....' He wondered idly where Mr. Weasley was.
"Thank you for the welcome," he said politely, nodding at Bill and directing a weak smile at the twins. "It was kind of you to extend the invitation."
"Oh, don't be so formal!" Mrs. Weasley protested, waving a hand. "You're family."
'Yes,' Harry thought. 'A family member that killed your *real* sons....'
Ron seemed to sense his thoughts. He grabbed Harry and dragged him away, mumbling something about showing Harry where he was staying. Once they were safely in Ron's room, he turned and regarded his friend. "Don't do that," he scolded. "No one blames you."
"You did, at one point," Harry pointed out.
Ron flushed and looked down. "Well, I was stupid," he mumbled, then looked up again. "They aren't. Please, Harry, you're doing so well-don't let a misplaced sense of guilt spoil that."
"I suppose that you're right." Harry sank down onto Ron's bed. "I just never realized how hard it was going to be, seeing everyone."
"Hey," Ron tried to lighten the mood, "you made Ginny's day at least."
Harry looked uncomfortable. "About Ginny," he said slowly. "There's been a new development, actually."
"Really? Do tell?" Ron sat down next to Harry, looking genuinely interested.
"You might get upset," Harry warned.
"But I might now. Now spill."
"Well...." It was Harry's turn to flush. "I...kind of realized that I love Draco," he muttered.
Ron blinked. "Did you...say what I think you said?"
Harry nodded, waiting for the explosion.
Slowly, a smile blossomed over Ron's face. "I'm happy for you," he said sincerely. "I was wondering when you'd realize that."
Harry's jaw dropped. "You...don't mind?"
"Listen, Harry." Ron picked up his friend's hands and held them. "You're my best friend. I'd have given anything to heal you, but I've always known that only Draco could do that. Even when I refused to admit it, I still knew it. As long as you're happy, I have no complaints. He didn't force you into anything, did he?" Harry shook his head. "Well, then, that's all there is to it."
Harry smiled, his first genuine smile since he had arrived. "Thank you, Ron." It was all he had to say."
"Any time, mate. Now, let's get downstairs before Mum sends a search party."
**********
**********
"Now, Harry, are you *sure* about this?"
Harry rolled his eyes. "Honestly, I don't know who's worse-you or Draco."
Remus grinned sheepishly. "It's my prerogative." He cleared his throat. "Now, you're going to Floo over to the Burrow. This fireplace is only connected to the Weasley's fireplace, and they have agreed to take theirs off the main system while you are there. If you need us, any time, day or night, just call or come home."
"I hope I don't have to do that, though," Harry said quietly, staring into the flames. "I hope that I'll be able to stick it out."
"Don't look at it that way," Remus advised. "It makes it seem more like a chore, not a visit to friends. At any rate, I think you're about set." He looked around. "Where's Draco?"
Harry sighed. "I'm not sure, really. He didn't want to watch me go." He looked at Remus imploringly. "Watch out for him, Remus, please."
Remus blinked, but nodded. "I will. Now, you better go-unless you've changed your mind, of course."
Harry shook his head. He opened his mouth to say something, closed it, and gave Remus a hug instead. After releasing the other man, he stepped towards the fireplace and left without a backwards glance, almost as if he was afraid to.
Remus stared into the fire for a few minutes after Harry had disappeared, thinking. With a sigh, he began to wander around the house.
He located Draco in the den, staring moodily out the window. After observing the teen for a few moments, he entered the room and placed a hand on Draco's shoulder. "Care to talk about it, Draco?"
**********
Harry exited the Floo system with a jolt.
Before he could even get his bearings back, he found himself swept into a tight hug. For a moment, his old panic came rushing back, before he recognized the voice of Ron's mother.
"Oh, you poor thing," she murmured sadly. "You've been through so much...I wish we could've helped you...."
Harry was trying to think of a tactful way of asking Mrs. Weasley to back off, but Ron solved the problem for him. "Mum, you're suffocating the poor guy! He's going to be here a full week-give him some space."
Mrs. Weasley drew back, wiping her eyes. "Of course," she sniffed. "Harry. We're so happy to see you."
'We?' Harry looked around the room. Other than Ron and his mother, Harry saw Bill leaning against the kitchen counter, the twins peering in the doorway, and Ginny standing next to Ron, gazing at him adoringly. Harry swallowed. 'This might be messy....' He wondered idly where Mr. Weasley was.
"Thank you for the welcome," he said politely, nodding at Bill and directing a weak smile at the twins. "It was kind of you to extend the invitation."
"Oh, don't be so formal!" Mrs. Weasley protested, waving a hand. "You're family."
'Yes,' Harry thought. 'A family member that killed your *real* sons....'
Ron seemed to sense his thoughts. He grabbed Harry and dragged him away, mumbling something about showing Harry where he was staying. Once they were safely in Ron's room, he turned and regarded his friend. "Don't do that," he scolded. "No one blames you."
"You did, at one point," Harry pointed out.
Ron flushed and looked down. "Well, I was stupid," he mumbled, then looked up again. "They aren't. Please, Harry, you're doing so well-don't let a misplaced sense of guilt spoil that."
"I suppose that you're right." Harry sank down onto Ron's bed. "I just never realized how hard it was going to be, seeing everyone."
"Hey," Ron tried to lighten the mood, "you made Ginny's day at least."
Harry looked uncomfortable. "About Ginny," he said slowly. "There's been a new development, actually."
"Really? Do tell?" Ron sat down next to Harry, looking genuinely interested.
"You might get upset," Harry warned.
"But I might now. Now spill."
"Well...." It was Harry's turn to flush. "I...kind of realized that I love Draco," he muttered.
Ron blinked. "Did you...say what I think you said?"
Harry nodded, waiting for the explosion.
Slowly, a smile blossomed over Ron's face. "I'm happy for you," he said sincerely. "I was wondering when you'd realize that."
Harry's jaw dropped. "You...don't mind?"
"Listen, Harry." Ron picked up his friend's hands and held them. "You're my best friend. I'd have given anything to heal you, but I've always known that only Draco could do that. Even when I refused to admit it, I still knew it. As long as you're happy, I have no complaints. He didn't force you into anything, did he?" Harry shook his head. "Well, then, that's all there is to it."
Harry smiled, his first genuine smile since he had arrived. "Thank you, Ron." It was all he had to say."
"Any time, mate. Now, let's get downstairs before Mum sends a search party."
**********